Full text of "History of Dixon County, Nebraska. Its pioneers, settlement, growth and development, and its present condition--its villages, townships, enterprises and leading citizens, together with portraits and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men, incidents of pioneer life, etc"

'?9W7W1 m > 1 1 I l«W^"^^WW^™>^

"^^

GrC M* Lt

978.201

D64h

1200114

GENEAuu

w , ^oulECTION

ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

833 01066 5476

HISTORY

DIXON COUNTY,

NEBRASKA.

Its Pioneers. Settlement. Growth and Development, and

Its Present Condition - - Its Villages. Townships.

Enterprises and Leading Citizens.

Together with Portraits and Biographical Sketches of

Some of Its Prominent Men, Incidents

of Pioneer Life. Etc.

WILLIAM HUSE.

PON LA. NEBRASKA.

1896:
Press of The Daili News

NORFOLK.

1200114

PREFATORY.

The following book of the county's history, early incidents,
legends, stories, etc., hopes to meet with approval. That there
are some errors, there can be no clonbt, but the bulk is as
correct as the memories of old settlers will permit.

The book is much larger than it was expected to be. The
material on hand would have made a thousand pages, and
hence to bring the size within reasonable bounds, it was
necessary to abridge and cut clown whenever it could be
done. Especially so in our notices of the citizens of the
county, which we have been compelled to shorten to one-
fourth the length we had intended.

We have been greatly helped in the history of old times by
the valuable memories of C. F. Putnam, A Davis, S. B.
Stough. N. S. Porter. Dr. Porter, L. T. Hill, and other pio-
neers, such memories being about the only sources of
information to consult on such matters. For matters per-
taining to the several townships and their present residents,
we are greatly indebted to the friendly assistance of the
citizens and especially the supervisors of such townships.
Without such aid it would have been impossible to have
given the many brief notices of citizens, and it is likely that
even with all such assistance, some mistakes and omissions
have occurred, especially in the south half of the county.
To Wm. Wheeler, P. Kerwin, T. Hoy, W. Jenkins, J. Martin.
A. D. Morgan and Geo. Herrick, we are also under great
obligations for information in relation to the several vil-
lages of the county.

Without further words we will now introduce it to readers.

"ev

CONTENTS.

Part First.

CHAPTER I.

Introductory Brief Preliminary Survey of Frontier Life
in Northeast Nebraska Thirty-five to Forty Years
Ago 9

CHAPTER II.

The Organization of the Territory of Nebraska The
First White Settlers in Dixon County and the Re-
linquishment of Indian Claims -Names, Dates of
Arrival and Where From, as Near as Can be Ascer-
tained of Pioneers From the First Arrival in May.
1856, to the Time When Dixon County was Organized
in the Fall of 185S 14

CHAPTER III.

Particulars and Experiences of First Settlement of
County — The Rapid and Increasing Tide of Pioneers
—The Birth of Ponca— Paper Towns and the Town-
site Business in 1856 and 1857— Concord, North
Bend, Dixon and Ionia— The Desire for County Or-
ganization-Attending Election at St. Johns The
First Grasshopper Raid Seen by the Pioneers— Or-
ganization of County and Location of County Seat-
First Election of County Officers 24

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER IV.

Dixon County's Progress -Its Officials and Their Methods
of Doing Business First Hoard of Commissioners,
Their Proceedings and Records, and the Many Dif-
ficulties They Had to Encounter— The First Assess-
ment of Property and the Poverty-stricken Display
of Wealth Hard Times and Few Improvements
First School in County— Call for Troops in 1862 and
Enlistment in Dixon County— Ed. Freeman Killed
in Battle of Whitestone Hill -Indian Scares in 1863
Stampede of Settlers from the Niobrara Country-
The Drouth in 1864 and the Great Crops in 1865
The Growth of Ponca and the Rise and Fall of Ionia. 40

CHAPTER V.

Indian Scares and Annoyances— N. S. Porter's Interview
With "Smoker"' of "Little Rabbit's" Band— L. T.
Hill's Experience with Indians at Ionia— J. Murphy
of South Creek has an Unpleasant Visit-Indian
Pow-wows and. Dances — The Ancient Indian Tribes
and Legends 53

CHAPTER VI.

Courts and Crimes of Dixon County in 1870 Indians
Brought Before the District Court for the Murder of
Munson in Wayne County— The Court of Judge
Lynch and the Trial and Conviction of Mat Miller
for the Murder of Mr. Dunn— Mysterious Fate of
James Bigley 64

'^'

CHAPTER VII.

Story of a Rascally Little Railroad -The Covington.
Columbus and Black Hills Narrow Gauge Enter-
prise — Its Rise and Career — Its Exploits in Finance
and Building and its Final Sale by a Receiver 73

CHAPTER VIII.

The Growth of the County Continued The South Half
ot the County Commences Settling Up Martins-
burg Started in 1872 Blizzards and Loss of Life in

CONTENTS.

1872— Grasshoppers in 1874, 1875 and 1876 The
Black Hills Excitement of 1875 and the C. C. & B. H.
R. R. -The Increase in Size and Business of Ponca,
Martinsbnrg and New Castle— The Earthquake of
1877 — First Steps Toward an Agricultural Society
Terrible Prairie Fires in March, 1879 71J

CHAPTER IX.

The Coal Discoveries and the Ups and Downs of Mining
In Dixon County During the Past 38 Years The Al-
leged Immense Beds of Black Diamonds in the River
Bluffs and the Determined Efforts to Find Them
Have Seductive Hope Before and Black Disappoint-
ment Following After -Every Attempt to Find a
Paying Vein is a Total Failure —"Old Joe Brewer"
and his Discovery of the Plesiosaurus — His Mound
Building Theories The Ionia Volcano and Indian
Superstitions Regarding it C J0

CHAPTER X.

The Building of the Railroad up the Logan Valley and
its Great Help in Settling up the Southern Part of
the County The Terrible Winter of 1880-81 The
Spring Break-up of the Ice in the Missouri and the
Damage and Loss of Life Ensuing -Great Bend is
Cut off From Dixon County by a Change of the River
and Becomes a Part of Dakota Territory — The Flood
at Ponca and Along the Aoway and Logan- The
Starting of Wakefield in 1881— A Tragedy Near New
Castle— The Agricultural Society Project Revived
and the First County Fair in September, 1882
Record of General Growth -Indian Raid on Emer-
son -Organization of the First G. A. R, Post in
Comity— Brief Review at End of 188*2 99

CHAPTER XT.

From 1883 to 1886— The Agricultural Society Holds its
Annual Fairs— Talk of a Railroad Bridge -Robbery
of the County Treasury— Treasurer Knapp and His
Bondsmen— Township Organization Voted on in
1883 and Goes into Effect in 1886 -Another Count \

CUM TENTS.

Scat Project Voted on — Great Storm in June, 1885
Murder of Alexander by Blair in 1885 108

CHAPTEB XII.

Railroad Rumblings The Building of the Short Line

The Extension of the Ponca Branch to New

Castle— The Burning of the Mill at Ponca— The

Failure of the First National Bank — The Starting

of Allen. Concord. Waterbury and New Castle 117

CHAPTER XIII.

Assessments. Population, Improved Land. Fruit and
Forest Trees -Marriages, Births and Deaths from
the Organization of the County to the Present
Time — Lists of County Officers, Clerks, Treasurers,
Commissioners and Supervisors, Probate and County
Judges. Sheriffs and Superintendents of Public In-
struction. County Attorneys, Clerks of Court and
Surveyors, from the First until Now 128

CHAPTER XIV.

Members of the Legislature Sent from Dixon County
District Judges J. B. Barnes and W. F. Norris
-Schools and Scholars — The First Deed Recorded
in County— Grist Mills, Saw Mills and other Manu-
factories 1 40

CHAPTER XV.
Ponca ( Jity — Its Past and Present 140

CHAPTER XVI.
Ionia and Ponca Townships Their Citizens, etc., etc. . . 199

CHAPTER XVII.

Silver Creek. Daily. Hooker, Clark and New Castle

Townships, and New Castle Village 215

CHAPTER XVIII.
Otter Creek. Galena, Springbank and Emerson 233

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XIX.
Logan. Wakefield and Concord 251

List of names of teachers whose portraits are given 226

Part Second.

LEGENDS, STORIES, ETC.

Among the Indians — Adventures in the Dixon County

Country in 1810 273

The Sacred Rock of the Arapahoes — A Legend of the

Ionia Volcano 280

Indian Cruelty — The Murder of the Wiseman Family.. . 288

THE REALM OF FICTION.
The Brazilian Traveler and the Narrow Gauge Railroad 21)2

Dixon County's Caves, and Professor Perrigoue's Re-
markable Discoveries Therein 299

Volcanic Phenomena — Thrilling Adventures of a Party

while Making Investigations 309

Indian Scare and Massacre 321

SHORT SKETCHES.

A Surveying Expedition 329

Story of Adventures with a Drove of Wild Beasts 334

Reminiscences, and How We Ran for Office 338

A Bull Fight 342

An Irrepressible Conflict Concerning a Hog Trough 344

A Confidence Game 347

CONTENTS.

Prof. Perrigoues Fight wit li Fire 349

Burglars in Town 3 ;F >1

An Indian Duel 354

The General's Jollification Meeting 356

[ndex 361

LIST OF ENGRAVINGS.

The board of supervisors, fronting title page.

Portraits of teachers, following prefatory.

Map of county, facing page 9.

First house in county, May, 1K56, by Adam Smith, facing
page 16.

Lutheran church, Ponca, facing page 149.

Dr. S. B. Stough's residence, Ponca. page 141).

Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Muse, following page 152.

J. W. Porter, between 154 and 157.

J. J. McCarthy's residence, Ponca, between 154 and 157.

John Stough 102

Mrs. John Stough 163

J. M. Davey 168

Mrs. J. M. Davey 169

K. II. Pomeroy 174

Mis. R. H. Pomeroy 175

Judge A. W. Rose ISO

Mrs. Carrie L. Rose 1 Si

S. P. Mikesell 1S(>

S. P. Mikesell's residence 187

T.J. Sheibley 192

Miss Anna Sheibley 193

M iss I iarriet A. Pomeroy 193

W. W. Cooper " 197

Prof.B. II. Culver 197

L. T. Hill 204

Mrs. L. T. Hill 205

C. F. Putnam 212

CONTENTS.

A. Davis 212

0. M. Childs ............." '....'. 218

W. P. Lo^an 227

Patrick Scollard 236

H. H. Hart and family 245

C. T. Barto ......... 254

M rs. C. T. Barto 254

H. P. Shumway 258

MAP OF
NEB.

HISTORY

Dixon County, Nebraska

PART FIRST.

CHAPTEB I.

Introductory- -Brief Preliminary Survey of Frontier
Life in Northeast Nebraska Thirty-five to Forty
Years Ago.

The rich land, pure water and healthy climate of Nebraska.
together with its rapidly growing cities and towns, its rail-
roads, markets, schools, churches and innumerable enter-
prises and improvements, present a wonderful contrast to its
condition thirty-five to forty years ago. In many respects it
is now regarded one of the best states in the union, but at
that time it was hardly known. Then it was generally be-
lieved that Nebraska (and especially that part of it where
Dixon county is.) was chiefly a desert, with little good land.
Inning an atmosphere laden with malaria, without timber,
and with water abominable to the taste and smell. Those
who desired to make a home in this part of the west, were
liable to lie discouraged when they looked at the map and
saw "Great American Desert" written across it. and especially
when they listened to tales which asserted that in Nebraska
the face of the country was a succession of sand hills, that
its few white inhabitants were hardly superior to savages,
and that an existence here would be unhappy and useless.

Prior to 1850, Nebraska was principally inhabited by In-
dians. The dusky tribes who made Dixon county their

[0 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

stamping ground the Omahas, Poncas, Sioux, etc., were
generally not the kind of noble red men immortalized by

Cooper. They hunted, fished and stole ponies, and occasion-
ally when a trader came and supplied them, they drank fire-
water and Eoughl with one another. The numerous Indian
graves on the bluffs alone the Missouri are about the only
mementoes we now have of our copper colored predecessors.

It will be seen that the pioneers who first braved the perils
of frontier life in Dixon county had no easy lot for awhile,
nor were the times considered any too safe in the presence
of the Indians, who deemed this their especial country and
regarded the whites with aversion. In view of this unpleas-
ant fact, settlers often had to follow the New England custom
of two hundred years ago, and go about their work.' guns in
hand, and with eyes and ears ever open.

Most of those who ventured into this country, thirty to
thirty-nine years ago. were poor in cash, hut they usually
had what was better, viz: a good supply of practical sense,
and plenty of energy and perseverance. Some began life
here as farmers, others hung out their shingles and announced
themselves as blacksmiths, carpenters, lawyers, doctors or
land agents. In all the trades and professions to which they
applied themselves, grit and good judgment usually con-
ducted them to the top. One might commence anything if
he only had brains and assurance enough, and apparently
with nattering prospects of success, whether keeping cattle.
raising corn and potatoes, selling farms and town lots or scalp-
ing Indians, and finally, if he could in the meanwhile keep out
of the penitentiary, he might expect to go to the legislature
or to congress. All were ambitious to succeed, and concern-
ing state and county affairs every man was a politician.

In 1859, the Pike's Peak fever carried away a large number
of inhabitants, and in 1862 the Indian troubles drove away
many more. Afterwards, for several years, improvements
were slow. Those who remained in spite of the hard times
which stuck to them like a brother, saw the tide finally turn,
and to-day have no cause for regret. Of those first settlers
now living, who had the grit to stay and see the dark side of
life during the first few years of this country, there are few
who are not in prosperous circumstances.

Prior to the time Nebraska became a state. Dixon count)

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 11

was exceedingly slow moving. With no railroads and few
markets, and with poor postal facilities and little news of
what was going on in the world, life here was peculiarly
humdrum. Among the few 7 exciting occasions on the frontier
were the raisings, when the settlers met and helped up a
house or barn of logs or sod. and generally wound up the
propitious event with a royal time of joy. Again, excitement
brewed and bubbled up when an election took place. Then
the citizens in determined and friendly contest, showed the
merits or demerits of the respective candidates, argued the
pros and cons, made the air vibrate with eloquence, and car-
ried the day one way or the other with as much fervor as
though the fate of Home was to he decided.

In those primitive days, official business was not as heavy
as it is now, and state and county officers had little except-
ing their official dignity to sustain them. Not as now were
comities compelled to build offices for their clerks, treasurers,
judges and sheriffs, nor was much room required for records,
nor iron safes for a county's money. Then, county officials
were not troubled to find office room. An empty cracker box
or nail keg was deemed good enough for papers of minor im-
portance: valuable records, however, were more carefully
protected, and clerks and treasurers for safety and convenience
usually carried them around in their hats. And in that age of
Arcadian simplicity, he who. in obedience to the voice of his
fellow citizens, donned the judicial ermine, administered jus-
tice in a manner as patriarchal as was practiced in the days of
Abraham. A stump or a surveyor's quarter section mound
often became the seat of justice, and a much thumbed book
of Ohio or Pennsylvania forms, the only legal compass to
guide the decisions from the bench. Law suits were often
settled by the court and constable giving oft' their costs, and
in extreme cases the bystanders would chip in and make up
the amount in dispute.

The most violent disturbances of public quiet took place
at the time of county seat contests. Then it was that
embryo metropolitan cities, whose log houses and corner
groceries could have been counted on the ringers, entered the
lists, and like young, untamed colts, furiously competed and
ran against each other for the coveted prize. Such elections
were always close and amid great excitement. Very often

12 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

the official count showed more votes polled than there were
white men. Indians, horses, buffaloes, coyotes and prairie
dogs in the count)'. This habit of extensive voting never
prevailed in any other kind of a contest, and in this was
not confined to any one voting precinct, but was practiced
equally and impartially at all of them. Hence, no serious
harm could ensue. It increased the excitement and fun of
the voters, and the result was generally the same as if no
such extreme methods had been adopted.

Society showed some curious features during those primi-
tive times. People came here from all parts of the east and
south, and brought to the common stock, the habits, laws,
customs, notions of religion and methods of business prevail-
ing at their old homes. The bracing air and boundless
prairies around them expanded their minds and hearts. If
they brought with them littleness of soul, they were soon
seen to be forgetting narrow and selfish views of life and
developing generosity and nobility of character. As in all
new and thinly settled countries, the people became acquaint-
ed and friendly, and their social and business intercourse,
though sharp, was not often tinged with meanness. If a
family was in distress, its neighbors gave relief if they could.
They had probably been there themselves. Settlers might
differ with each other on politics and perhaps feel justly sore
over a land or horse trade, but if one were sick or hard up.
his neighbors forgot past differences and became unselfish
and generous.

A Nebraska man might wink at an attempt to steal a
county seat, but he would strictly stand by his friends and
insist on fair play for the community in which he lived, re-
dress their wrongs with promptness and vigor, and if the
courts were lax, as was often the case, he would not hesi-
tate in extreme cases of wrong doing, to usurp the functions
of the highest tribunals.

Such was frontier life during the infancy of Dixon County
as well as elsewhere in Nebraska. Though the country was
thinly settled and its wealth could excite neither vanity nor
envy, the people, even with all their privations, had many
grounds for contentment. Nearly every one had good health.
Occasional good crops and profitable ventures sustained am-
bition. In this prolific atmosphere the often advent of heirs

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 13

increased the joy of households and helped to swell the cen-
sus. No man or woman gave special heed to fashion books
or to the cut of their garments. There were no bickerings,
back-bitings or jealousies. All were equally rich and equally
poor. As a consequence early settlers were, in the main, a
harmonious brotherhood, and now are worthy of the remem-
brance and respect of those who follow them.

K HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

iv u.

CHAPTE1

The Organization of the Territory of Nebraska The
First White Settlers in Dixon County and the Relin-
quishment of Indian Claims Names, Dates of Arrival
and where from, as near as can be ascertained of
Pioneers from the First Arrival in May. 1856, to the
Time when Dixon County was Organized in the Fall
of L858.

In 1803, the country which is now the state of Nebraska,
was a part of the province of Louisiana and under the domin-
ion of France. In 1854, this country, (which during the in-
terval between 1803 and 1S.")4. had been ceded to the United
States and had successively been part of the territories of
Louisiana and Missouri.) was organized by an act of congress,
as the territory of Nebraska. As thus organized, Nebraska
territory was of vast dimensions, including not only the pres-
ent state of Nebraska but also the great region to the north
and west now occupied by the Dakotas, Wyoming and Mon-
tana.

Prior to the formation of Nebraska territory in 1854, as
well as for two years afterwards, that part of it now known
as Dixon County had never had a permanent white settler.
I Indeed, white settlers in Nebraska were few and far between
in those early times, there being in the whole territory in
L855 only about 3,500.) From time to time, people had pass-
ed through on their way to the far west, or had visited it to
purchase furs of the Indians or for the perilous excitement
of hunting and trapping on Indian lands. In 1 S47 and the
following year several large companies of Mormons went
across the country on their way to Salt Lake, and their
various routes, the "Old Mormon Trails" as they are now
called, hard and worn like turnpikes and devoid of grass, are
in many places plain to be seen.

This country, then claimed by the Indians, was a region
little known and its reputation as being a part of the "Great

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 15

American Desert" rendered it far from inviting to settlers.
Soon after the territory was organized, the Omaha Indians
ceded to the government a large part of their lands west of
the Missouri amounting to about 4S5 square miles. This
great tract embraced what is now known as Dakota county
and extended up the river to Aoway Creek (now known as
South Creek, i in Dixon County. West of that creek and be-
tween it and Fort Randall, the country was claimed by the
Ponca Indians. Hence a pioneer could by virtue of the
treaty with the Omahas, come in peace and safety up the
country as far as the Aoway, but to cross that stream and go
farther into the promised land laid him liable to incur the
high displeasure of the Poncas. Such Indian title was often
disputed by pioneers, who, looking across the Aoway and
seeing beautiful valleys and plains beyond, longed to cross
and in fact often did cross and braving opposition, occupy
claims on the forbidden ground. 'Phis disputed region was
as yet unsurveyed, and the uncertainty of title and the pres-
ence of the copper colored majority naturally unfriendly
under the circumstances rendered the position of the ven-
turesome pioneers anything but pleasant or secure. Fortun-
ately this insecure and chaotic condition of things lasted but
a couple of years, and when Dixon County was organized in
1858, all differences between the whites and the Ponca In-
dians had been happily settled by the latter ceding to the
general government all claim to land west of the Aoway ex-
cepting a tract west of the Niobrara river, to which reserva-
tion they soon after removed.

Dakota county which was organized in 1855, (three years
before Dixon County,) was bounded on the west by the line
between ranges 5 and 6. Thus, as will be see nby reference
to the map, Ponca and Ponca township as well as a strip run-
ning north and south and three miles wide, now embraced
in Dixon County, was at the start apart of Dakota county.

The first white people who made homes in what after-
wards became Dixon County, came in May. 1856, and an in-
creasing tide of pioneers rapidly followed. The first settle-
ments were at or near Ponca and from thence extended up
South Creek and West Creek. In the main they came from
the eastern states, and were hardy, resolute and industrious
men, else they would not have come. They had their pick

16 HISTOKY OF DIXON COl'XTY. NEBRASKA.

of t he lands and selected wisely. They were mostly poor
luit to their joy they found rich land and a genial climate.
Here they built their homes, cultivated their lands and reared
the^ir families. It was a venture, thus entering a new and
almost unknown country, but their faith was well founded
and though the road to wealth has beeu long and not one of
cut ire sunshine, yet as they now look back over it and sec
how the start was and how things are now. none can say
they arc not content.

We have endeavored to obtain the names of all who came
here from the first settlement to the time the county was
organized and the first election of officers was held in the
fall of 1858. Between May, 1856, and the year 1858, there
was no organization, no surveys of land, nothing in fact but
a sort of "squatter sovereignty," and the uncertainty of the
future and the possibility of losing all the fruits of their in-
dustry, required the pioneers to be men of unbounded hope
and perseverance. That they came and remained rendered
them worthy of remembrance. Hence we have prepared a
list of those pioneers, desiring not to omit a single one. Pos-
sibly there may be three or four omissions, but there cannot
he more. To obtain this list of names, where they came
from, when they came and where they located in the county,
we have been compelled to rely on the memory of those old
pioneers who now remain. The help especially of Messrs. S.
B. Stough, C. F. Putnam, A. Davis. L. T. Hill and N. S. Porter.
has been invaluable, and their excellent memories of pioneers
and pioneer days, have enabled us to accomplish far more
than we had at first expected.

The following is the list referred to. Immediately after
the name of each pioneer will follow the name of the place he
came from, the date of his arrival and where he located. In
many instances, however, information has been scanty as to
such dates, etc.. and in some cases we have been able to give
only the names:

Edward Arnold, Massachusetts, May 7. 1S57. i Was father
of the second child horn in comity, viz.: Wm. Arnold. Feb.
I. 1858.) First located west of M.Gorman's place between
Ponca and Martinsburg. Was first clerk of county, elected in
fall of 1858.

James Alexander, Iowa. December, '56.

t— I

O
a;

Q
C

td
d

00
Cn
OS

d
>

ep 'iSSSP

'■■i I

IHlfc .

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 17

Robert Alexander, Iowa, December. '56.

Thomas Alexander. Iowa, December, '56.

Sam Alexander. Iowa. December. '56, went to Pike's Peak-
in '60. The Alexanders located on Powder Creek.

C. Andrews, Ohio. '57, located on Ionia bottom.

J. P. Allison. Ohio. '57. located in what is now Silver
Creek Township, on the farm where C. F. Putnam lives.

J. \Y. Bramble. Vermont, came in fall of '56, moved up
his store from Logan in spring of '57.

S. P. Baltzly. '57.

Oliver Baltzly. '57.

B. Beeson. Iowa, spring of '57. located in Ionia bottom.

Wm. Bigley. Sr.. and his sons.

Wm. Bigley, Jr.. and

James Bigley. came from Pennsylvania in fall of '56,
located near Ponca in South Creek valley, on farm now
owned by the family.

Parker B. Brown, Massachusetts. August. '56, took claim
on South Creek.

George Brown. Massachusetts, August. '56, took claim on
South Creek.

E. M. Bisbee. New York, spring of '58, Ponca.

James Barrett, New York, '58, Ponca.

Charles Buckman. Pennsylvania. May, '56, vicinity of Ponca.

J. P. Burgman. '57.

M. B. Bellows, '58, settled near Lime Creek.

John Buntz, Pennsylvania, May. '56, near Ponca.

Jacob Buntz. Pennsylvania, May. '56, near Ponca.

O. Bottleson. '57.

E. Baker. '50.

James Clark. Ohio. August. '56, located on West Creek.

Oerhart Carstines. May, '5(5, near Ponca.

A. Curry, from Philadelphia. Pa., came May 7. 1857, set-
tled on South Creek, where Harry Filley now lives. In 1860
moved to his present location on \Yest Creek, five miles west
of Ponca.

John Cavanagh came from Holioke. Mass.. and arrived
May 7. 1857, took claim near head of South Creek, as also
did his son, Bernard Cavanagh, who came from the same
place with him.

18 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Carson, Iowa, an uncle of "Kit" Carson. He came with
Frank West in August. 1856, to lay out Ponca.

C. B. Cummings, fall of '56, located near Dixon on Lime
Creek and was one of the founders of that town.

Lor is Castner, came down the Missouri from Fort Ben-
ton in spring of '57.

John Carpenter ami his brother. New York, '57, settled at
North Bend.

Hugh Compton, New York, '57, settled near North Bend.

L. Cross. Vermont, '57. took claim near Ionia.

Doe Conkling, Ohio, started saw mill at Dixon in 1857.

P. Dailey, Massachusetts, spring of '57, first settler in
Daily valley.

Jacob Duel, New York, '57, settled near North Bend.

Leander Davis, New York, in spring of 58, first settled
on West Creek, six miles west of Ponca. Same year moved
to Ponca.

M. DeLoughry, Ohio. May 7. 1S57, settled on South Creek.

Dkming, Pennsylvania, May 7, 1857, located on South
Creek. Moved away in '58.

D. Donnelly. '56, South Creek.

Daniel Donlin, June '56, located where his son, Wm.
Donlin. now resides near Martinsburg. Said son was the
first white child born in county, August 5, 1857.

P. Dempsey came from Girard, Erie county, Pa., '57, first
located up South Creek. Afterwards removed to West
('reek.

Dexter, Ohio, a brother-in-law of F. Freeman, came in
fall of '56. He was a partner of Whitcome in the first saw
mill near Ponca.

Donahue took claim up South Creek in '57.

J. B. Denton, New York, '57, near Ionia. Was first judge
of county, elected in fall of 1858.

John Ernst, Pennsylvania. '56, Ponca.

Francis Freeman, Ohio, fall of ,56, located at first on
claim near river, afterwards removed to Ponca.

Henry Ford, Pennsylvania, spring of '56.

Nathan Felter, Illinois, '57, Ponca.

Wm. Fister (or Pfister,) Pennsylvania, '57. The farm he
located and lived on up to the time of his death is two miles
southwest of New Castle.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 19

Farwell, Illinois. '58, Concord.

Henry Forth, spring of 'H'). took claim on creek cast of
Ponca.

Abe Forney, Illinois, spring of '57, located in South Creek.

Henry A. Fuller. New York, fall of '56, was one of
Ponca's town proprietors in company with Dr. Stough and
Frank West. Fuller moved away in '63 and now resides in
Omaha.

Harry Filley.

.Michael Cillan and his son. Wm. Gillan, came from
Pennsylvania in November, '56. Wm. Cillan now lives on
land near Martinsburg, then taken. Started from Pennsyl-
vania day after election, when they voted for Buchanan,

aIurtha Gorman. Pennsylvania, '50, South Creek, between
Ponca and Martinsburg, and about live miles from Ponca.

Pat Green and his sons. Thomas Green and Pat Green,
Jr., arrived May 7. 1S57. from Taunton, Mass. They took
a claim adjoining what was afterwards known as the "Win-
ston place." three miles south of Ponca.

J. H. S. Grove. Pennsylvania. '57. near Ponca.

J. Guilberson. '58, at Dixon.

Henry Hoese.

Frank Hoese and

Wm. Hoese came in '56 from Pennsylvania. They built
the first house in Ponca in fall of '56, near creek.

Dan Hannafon. '56, located up South Creek. Was thought
to be too free with neighbors' cattle. Left in two years to
the joy of all.

Preston Hotchkiss and

Fn Hotchkiss. in '56 from Ohio, came with the Whit-
comes, and Preston Hotchkiss had an interest in Whitcome's
mill near Ponca.

R. M. Hotchkiss. Iowa, spring '57. located in what is call-
ed Brookey's Bottom in northwestern part of county.

J. C. Harrington. Massachusetts. '57. Ponca.

Richard Haggin. Iowa. '57, located near Dixon. Was the
second sheriff of the comity.

Thus. Halverson, Wisconsin, spring of '57. lived in Big-
ley's revine.

L. Houten. '57.

F. Harder, New York. '58, village carpenter of Ponca.

20 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

John Haggin. Iowa. '57, Dixon.

Z. Haggin. Iowa. '57. near Dixon.

0. F. Haggin, Iowa. '57. near Dixon.

Frank Jordan, New York. '58, located near Ponca; came
with Leander Davis.

Bill Jones, in spring of '57; lived up South Creek way.
The first (and last) buffalo ever killed in county was killed
in fall of '57 by Jones and Forney. There were plenty of elk
in those days, but buffalo meat was a rarity.

Isaac Kugler, Pennsylvania, came with first party of
settlers in May, '56; located near Ponca.

Abraham Kneiss, Iow r a, '58; took claim near Bigley's
ravine.

Marcellus Lathrop, in August, '56, from Massachusetts;
located on West Creek, on land west of the Todd place, now
owned by Koden.

La Fabre. '57; located near New Castle.

Eli Loyd and

Cyrus Loyd, came in '56 from Pennsylvania and left in
'57; Ponca.

d. \Y. Logan. '57; near Dixon.

-John McKinley, came from Philadelphia. Pennsylvania,
and arrived May 7, 1S57; first located in South Creek valley,
then removed to farm now 7 owned by Sam. McKinley two
miles west of A. Curry's place, and from there to farm where
he now resides, adjoining Ponca on the west.

John Ma lone, '57.

Wm. Malone, '57. and

Peter Malone, '56, from Hanging Rock, Ohio, and first
located on Powder Creek, where Dan Curry now lives. John
Malone was first treasurer of county, elected in fall of '58.

J. Murphy, Massachusetts, '57; South Creek valley.

Daniel McKenna, Pennsylvania, '56; took claim in South
Creek valley.

Robert McKenna. Pennsylvania, '56.

Mulholland. '56 ; near North Bend.

Michael McCue, '58; near Ponca.

John Massinger, New York. '57.

John Mascall and

Zeb. Mascall. located on Lime Creek in '56. John Mas-

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 21

call resided there until 'U4 and then removed to Vermillion,
South Dakota.

Mons Nelson, '56; near North Bend.

E. Nelson, '58; North Bend.

James O'Conner,

John O'Conner and

Andy O'Conner, from Massachusetts in '56. They first
located on the extreme southern frontier of settlement in
county, about two miles south of Cavanaghs. They after-
wards moved to places between Ponca and New Castle.

Charles F. Putnam, Massachusetts, August 1. 1856,
located near Ponca on West Creek. First sheriff of county,
elected in fall of '58. Built first frame house in comity in
fall of '57 on the claim he took, section 8, township 80.
range (>. J. ((. Crowell now owns place.

N. S. Porter, New York, June 27, 1858, located in Ponca.
Pewitt, '57, at North Bend.

-J. J. Pierce and his son

H. M. Pierce, came from Davenport, Iowa, in the spring
of '58, and located at Ionia.

H. Paschall, Pennsylvania, spring of '56. On creek east
of Ponca.

John Roden, fall of '56; located where he now lives,
three miles west of Ponca on New Castle road.

E. Ricker, Vermont, 'Mr, owned the Jeff Wilbur place
near Ponca.

Frank Ricker, Vermont, '56; Ponca.

R. Rogers came from Pennsylvania to Dakota county in
'56, and moved to Ponca in '57; was the village blacksmith.

John Russell, '58, near Dixon.

M. Russell, '58, near Dixon.
Robinson, '58, North Bend.

John Stough, Pennsylvania, November, '56, Ponca.

Dr. S. B. Stough, from Pennsylvania, came August
IB, 1S56, Ponca.

Jacob Stough, Pennsylvania. October, '57. Ponca.

Maurice Scollard, and his nephews, viz:

John Scollard, and

Pat Scollard, came from Pennsylvania in '56, located
between Ponca and Martinsbnrg.

Edward Serry, from Massachusetts, in '56, and moved

22 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

his family herein '57. Located on West Creek. ;i mile west
of where Roden now lives. Place new owned by Rogosh.

Philip Sherman, Wisconsin. *57, Ponca. Stayed till "5 ( .)
and went to Oregon.

Hans Stinson, Wisconsin, '57. near Ponca.

.). Southerland, Illinois. 57. located at North Bend.
Was the wealthiest settler in the country at that time.

Elias Shook. Iowa. '58, lived in Ponca.

Yankee Smith, New York, '57, between Ponca and New
Castle.

-John Singelton, Ohio, summer of '57, was engineer of
Conkling's mill at Dixon. Left in '59.

Ich. Sherman, Wisconsin, '57, Ponca.

John Snyder, Pennsylvania, spring of '56, took claim up
South Creek.

Adam Smith, Pennsylvania, came in May '56, was with
first party who entered county. Took the land now owned
by Wm. O'Connor, (half a mile south of Ponca), who bought
it of Smith in '64, Mr. Smith now resides in Missouri.

Oustavus Smith, brother-in-law ot the Hoeses, came
from Chicago in the spring of '57, took the claim now com-
prising part of New Castle village. He lived there until his
death. July 27. 1880.

John Sader, Pennsylvania, '57. located about a mile west
of New Castle, between there and the Fister place.
Smathers lives on the place now.

Owen Sweeney, Pennsylvania, spring of '57, located near
the "'Lone Tree" in the Daily valley.

J. Stefanni. spring of '57. located on Ionia bottom.

C. W. Todd, Vermont, spring of '58, located on West
Creek, two and a half miles west of Ponca.

W. Tripp, located in '57 near Ionia,

F. Vazanni. '57, near Dixon on Lime Creek.

Frank West, Iowa, came in August, '56, laid out first
twenty-four blocks of Ponca that fall. Was there part of the
time for several years, now lives in Des Moines, Iowa.

Mr. Whitcomb and his two sons, Josiah Whitcomb and
Frank Whitcomb, from Ohio, came in fall of '56, located on
river bottom northeast of Ponca. where they put up the first
steam mill in county.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 23

Whitcomb, cousin of Josiah and Frank Whitcomb, came
at same time, located on adjoining land.

P. J. Winston, Pennsylvania, "57, South Creek.

E. P. Webster, Massachusetts, '57. one and one-half miles
west of Ponca.

J. P. Webster, Massachusetts, '57, near Ponca.

Eugene Wilbur. New York, '58, located in Ionia bottom.

A. White, '57. Ionia bottom.

Richard Zack. '57. near Dixon.

(Mention is made of Dixon and Concord. These are not
the present villages of those names, but were in what is now
Hooker Township,)

24 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

CHAPTER III.

Particulars and Experiences of First Settlement of
County The Rapid and Increasing Tide of Pioneers
The Birth of Ponca -Paper Towns and the Town-
site Business in 1856 and 1S57-- Concord, North Bend,
Dixon and Ionia --The Desire for County Organiza-
tion-Attending Election at St. Johns The First
(Jrasshopper Paid Seen by the Pioneers — Organiza-
tion of County and Location of County Seat First
Election of County Officers.
As appears from the list in the foregoing- chapter, a good
sized crowd of settlers made homes, in 1 S5(>. 1857 and 1858,
in the country which afterwards became Dixon County. The
list contains about one hundred and fifty names, many of them
heads of families, and represent not less than two hundred
and fifty or three hundred persons.

It will be noticed by looking over the names and dates of
settlement, that the first party of settlers arrived May 9, 1856,
a little over thirty-nine years ago. They camped the first
night on the south bank of Aoway Creek, and but a stone's
throw from where Ponca now is.

They had a right to come that far under the treaty made
the year before with the Omahas, but could not legally cross
to the north side of the creek, as there the Ponca Indians
still held sway. Hie party consisted of Adam Smith and
wife, Henry Paschal, Henry Ford, Charles Buckman, Mrs.
Buckman, John Bimtz, Gerhart Carstines, Isaac Kngler and
wife and John Snyder, most of whom were from Pennsyl-
vania. They selected their lands near each other for mutual
protection and company, Mr. Smith taking land which is now
the farm of Wm. O'Connor half a mile south of Ponca, and
the others making claims in his neighborhood up and down
the creek, being careful, however, not to encroach on the
adjacent hostile territory.

The above, whose names are especially mentioned because

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 25

fchey were the first in the comity and who properly divided
the title of "first settler" between them, were soon followed
by others. For a few months not many cared to
incur the hostility of the Poncas, and cross the Aoway. But
as time went on. settlers became less fearful, and occasional-
ly one would venture over the boundary and take possession
of one hundred and sixty or three hundred and twenty acres,
(generally the latter. i as near as could be guessed at. the
lands not yet having been surveyed. For safety, the settlers,
whether located on government or Indian land, organized a
"squatters club," so called, which assumed to protect its
members in their claims and to settle any disputes which
might arise. The meetings of the squatters were held at
the house of Adam Smith and for about two years were the
only dispensers of law and order in the country. They ran
things about as equitably and fairly as one could expect.

Crimes in those days were rare, and the fact that no
courts, dilatory motions or rules of law could interfere be-
tween an offender and his deserved punishment, had a ten-
dency to keep things straight. We venture to say that leg-
islatures and courts of justice of the present day could with
profit study the law making and law enforcing squatter
government of our predecessors thirty-nine years ago.

From the first start in May. the rush of pioneers rapidly
increased and soon became very great. Favorable reports of
the country were sent back by the settlers to their old homes
in the East and there incited the "Nebraska fever" to rage
and grow. All now know how attractive this country is in
the spring and summer. The grass covered and flower be-
decked prairies, hills and valleys, the trees and vines, the
Italian sky and genial sun. all these radiant beauties peculiar
to this country and climate presented a picture strongly in
contrast with what eastern people had been accustomed to
see. Hence the desire became almost universal to come.
Not all could come, indeed not many when compared with
the whole, but all longed to see a country where dingy fogs
and bottomless mud were unknown and where farms equal-
ling those of the Mohawk valley could be had for the asking.

Prominent with the throng which came during the sum-
mer and fall of 1856, may be mentioned Dr. Stough, John
Rouen. James Clark. Marcellus Lathrop, George Brown. C.

86 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

F. Putnam. John Stough, Henry. Frank and William Hoese,
the Malones, the Scollards, the Gormans, the Gillans, McKen-
nas. O'Conners, etc. The attractive valleys of South Creek
and West Creek soon began lilling up, and in the choicest
locations were seen the homes of settlers and fields coming
under the dominion of the breaking plow.

In August, (1856), Frank West and Mr. Carson came up
from Sioux City. Like those who came before them they
saw the ominous sign which one Charley Kulo. a half breed,
had put up on the bank of the Aoway. warning
settlers not to cross under the penalty of being
tired back by the Ponca Indians. Nevertheless.
West kicked aside the threathening notice, and with
Carson crossed the Rubicon to where Ponca City now is. In
the October following. West platted the first twenty-four
blocks of this place and named it Ponca, after the Indian tribe.

Frank West, who took so prominent a part in the starting
of Ponca was quite a rustler in his way. He was the son of
a banker at Des Moines. Iowa, and had unlimited nerve,
plenty of money and a large number of friends. He had
various town site projects, one of which was Niobrara, and in
that business was generally successful. He was an expert
marksman and a great Indian tighter, and in the Niobrara
country and south and east of there his name was a terror
to the Pawmees and Poncas.

In Ittofi, the town site business was extensively followed.
and in the hands of speculators like West was made very
profitable. It did not much matter whether buildings were
erected or anything else was done, except to survey out and
number the lots and blocks, drive the stakes, give names to
the streets and make and record the map. Then the pro-
prietor would he in a position to sell his lots and gather in
from credulous eastern people of wealth a golden harvest.
The scheme generally resulted profitably to the lot sellers.
A beautiful map of an alleged town, with pictures of churches,
opera houses and elegant residences nicely shown on the
margin, was attractive, and many were bitten by their anx-
iety to purchase lots, the price of which seemed to them
dog cheap. As an instance, the town site of Curlew in Cedar
county, Neb., was probably the most glaring and successful
fraud of all the fifty or more town sites in the river counties

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 27

of Northern Nebraska. Curlew had ten thousand lots, and
it never had a house then or since.

But though houseless, its fascinating map and pictures,
demonstrating the tremendous growth and importance of
the place, gave the lots a rapid sale in New York and other
eastern cities. Its ten thousand lots brought to its proprie-
tors not less than $1 50.01 10. It was that sort of townsite
speculation which generally prevailed in Nebraska, in
1856 and 1857; Whether Ponca was or was not started by
Mr. West for purposes of speculation in the east, or with the
object of making more than a paper town, cannot be told.
but whatever the intent may have been at the first, the ad-
mirable location, the unfailing water power, the protecting
hills and the presence of a vast body of valuable timber
on one side and innumerable acres of rich land on the
other, soon showed that this would, in earnestness and
truth, become a real and permanent town.

In the spring of 1857 the balance of the town, comprising
in all three hundred and twenty acres was platted by Messrs.
Stough and Fuller. The land had not yet, however, been
surveyed by government and not until after such survey
were Stough and Fuller enabled to perfect their plat so as to
make it harmonize with the lines of the government sur-
veyor. Such completion of the ma}) was made May 5,
1858, and the same was duly hied in Dakota county clerk's
office, June 15th. of that year.

In the neighborhood of Ponca, other towns were also
staked out in the fall of 1856. On the hills a short distance
southeast of Ponca the rival cities of St. Paul and Addison
were surveyed, and being on land south of the creek where
the title was not disputed by the Indians, it was thought
that one of them would take precedence as the coming
town, instead of Ponca. Put nothing more than the platting,
was done in behalf of St. Paul or Addison and they both soon
became settlers' farms.

During that fall also, a town was started near where
Lime Creek enters the Missouri river, in the northwestern
part of the county, by Messrs. Muholland and Cummings, and
by them given the name of Concord, and another embryo city.
North Bend, was located a mile north of Concord, by Jacob
Duel and two or three others. Afterwards, in 1858, North

28 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Bend and Concord were each desirous of becoming the coun-
ty seat of the new county, and their antagonism toward each
other resulted in the platting of a paper town, Dixon, be-
tween them, thereby uniting the whole as one.

In L856, also, parties living in Sioux City located Ionia
town site, building no houses, however, nor doing anything
to hold the claim. In 1858 Ionia came into the possession
of L. T. Hill, in whose hands it had prosperous growth for
several years, but in 1878 the Missouri changed its channel
and raided the town, and the ground on which it stood was
washed away, together with its improvements and hopes for
greatness. Accounts of those early towns, Concord, North
Bend, Dixon and Ionia will be more fully given elsewhere.

As to Ponca, it did not at first grow very rapidly, and it
remained a town only on paper until late in the fall of 1856,
when Messrs. Henry, Frank and William Hoese built the
first house. It was a comfortable log building one story
high and was located near the creek. No farther advance
was made until the next year. The country was growing
faster than the town, a condition of things always taken as
a healthy sign.

In December, "Old Man \\ nitcomb." as he was called, his
sons and a partner (Dexter) and two assistants (Preston and
Hotchkiss) came from Ohio and brought with them a steam
saw mill which they located on the Missouri river bottom, a
mile below Ponca landing. This, the first mill in this part
of the country, suggested the possibility in the near future
of houses of boards instead: of logs, and hence was deemed
an establishment of much importance to the settlers.
Whitcomb's mill did a prosperous business for several years
and eventually a small run of burs was added to it for grind-
ing corn, so that the laborious task of grinding out a grist in
a coffee mill which had been the general custom, became a
thing of the past.

In the spring of 1857 the second house in Ponca was put
up by Stough brothers and the third by H. A. Fuller and
John Cavanagh. In dune a store building, (a pretentions,
one story structure. 16 by 40 feet), was erected by Mr. Bram-
ble, and soon after a house and shop by Mr. Rogers, the vil-
lage blacksmith. All were built of logs, and in fact log
houses were all they had in the countv until the fall of 1S57,

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 39

when C. F. Putnam built a frame house on his farm. The
first frame building in Ponca was commenced in 1858 by
Mr. W nitcomb, and finished in 1859. It was designed for a
hotel and was quite large, and its two tall stories loomed up
with metropolitan dignity. No one ever occupied it any
great length of time, although people stopped there tempor-
arily for want of better quarters, and during a few weeks in
1859 Preston Hotchkiss used it as a hotel. Its emptiness ex-
cept on special occasions and its general creaky and rattle-
trap condition gave it the name of the "Old Air Castle."
Despite its name, however, the "Air Castle" was quite a use-
ful building during its existence. Here were held religious
and political meetings, elections, debating societies, probate
courts, Indian shows and public gatherings of all kinds.
But in the course of time the building without care or re-
pairs went into decline, and during the winter of 1862, when
the soldiers stored in it a few loads of corn, its floor fell
down and collapse and chaos ended its career.

In 1857 and 1858 the circle of settlement continued to
widen and extend. Of those arriving up to the close of 1858
it has been very difficult and many instances impossible to
obtain full particulars. Among the few T who now reside in
the county are Dr. S. B. Stough, John Stough, Jacob Stough,
John McKinley and N. S. Porter, of Ponca city; P. Dempsey,
of Silver Creek township; C. F. Putnam, of Ponca township;
John Roden, Bernard Cavanagh, John Maskall, Alexander
Curry and John Malone. These comprise nearly all who re-
main out of the one hundred and fifty who came in those
first three years. During the long interval between then
and now, death has removed many from the country which
their enterprise helped to subdue. Among them are Judge
Arnold. John Cavanagh. William and James Bigley and
their father, P. J. Winston. E. M. Bisbee. Francis Freeman,
Edward Serry, James and Robert Alexander, Custavus
Smith, the founder of New Castle; Michael (lillan, Murtha
Gorman, Maurice Scollard. William Pfister, John Sader and
P. Dailey. There are of course many others. Some of the
early settlers, after remaining a few years, moved away and
are spending useful lives in other places. Of the more
prominent. Messrs. Fuller and West, once town proprietors
of Ponca, now reside, the former in Omaha and the latter in

30 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Des Moines, Iowa. I,. T. Hill, the father of the once pros-
perous hut now defunct town of Ionia, is a citizen of Cali-
fornia, and D. T. Bramble, who kept the first store in Ponca,
removed many years ago to Yankton. And the Hoeses.
Adam Smith, dames Barrett, Leander Davis and a host more
have gone, so that by death and removal, as well as by the
constant additions of new comers, one wdio only knew the
country and people in lS5('>-7-S. would now. if here, find him-
self almost a stranger in a strange land.

The number of those who came here in 1857 was much
greater than in 1856. In 1S57 the Indians assigned their
claims to the country and it was surveyed and brought into
market and the uncertainties as to title and possession no
longer gave trouble. 'This year, also, there was plenty to
do, breaking land, building houses, barns and fences, and
labor was in great demand at high prices.

These considerations, together with the promise of good
crops encouraged everybody. The general prosperity and
the rapid increase of population aroused, during the sum-
mer, the ambition of settlers to have a county organization.
Ponca, then in Dakota county, but in the northwestern
corner of it. hoped to be taken into the new county, as its
future in such a new deal, would become more promising.
With these ambitious desires in view, the Ponca people at
an election, held August 8, 1857, brought forward Dr. S. P.
Stough as their candidate for the territorial legislature.
Their voting place had been previously and was that year at
St. Johns, a town about a mile north of Jackson. St. Johns,
though now extinct, was then the largest town in Dakota
county and of so much importance that it had recently been
nearly successful in an effort to become the county seat in
place of Dakota City. In such effort St. Johns received a
majority of the votes but not two-thirds, and that being the
number required, Dakota City continued to hold the fort.
St. Johns did not want Ponca to go into a new county, as it
would then make the location of the former too far to one
side, and thereby in any future struggle for county seat, be
apt to defeat its efforts. On the contrary for the same
reasons, residents in the eastern part of Dakota county w T ere
anxious to be rid of Ponca and territory enough on the west
to bring Dakota City near the center and thus assure its

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 3]

destiny forever as a county seat. Hence Dakota City and
Ponca joined hands to elect Dr. Stough to the legislature,
knowing that his election would result in the desired law
and would he beneficial to both.

At this election, the last at which Ponca had to go away
from home to vote, twenty-seven of Ponea's citizens piled
into G. F. Putnam's big hay wagon and went down to St.
Johns. The voters of St. Johns objected to their voting,
and much eloquent wind was expended on both sides. The
St. Johns folks challenged the right of the Poncaites to
come there to vote and made threats of black eyes and
possible annihilation. In fact there were two or three
moderate tights, and both sides had coats off and decks
cleared for action, and there would have been a desperate
scrimmage had it not been for Father Tracy, the Catholic
priest. He quieted the uproar and poured oil on the
troubled waters. The men from Ponca put in their votes
and tried their best for Dr. Stough. Dakota City helped all
it could, but there were not enough votes, all told, to elect
him. Hence the new county project was knocked in
head for that year.

Misfortunes come in pairs. That truth was demonstrated
on the same day their election resulted so disastrously.
Their second misfortune was a grasshopper raid, something
the settlers had never seen before. Late in the afternoon as
the hay wagon with its twenty-seven closely packed voters
was returning from St. Johns to Ponca, a phenomenon
was seen entirely new to them. It was a great, dark
cloud rapidly approaching from the north. As it came near,
they saw it was not a rain or dust cloud, and it was
thought to be composed of a great collection of cottonwood
seeds floating together high in air. When near them, part of
the cloud came to the ground and Putnam and Hoese
climbed down from the wagon and made examination.

The new visitations resembled the eastern grasshopper
somewhat, and as Messrs. Putnam and Hoese had often heard
of the dreaded western variety, they readily determined as
to what they were.

When the party arrived in Ponca, they found a sorry state
of affairs. The 'hoppers, innumerable hosts of them, had
come down and were busy eating the gardens and corn fields.

:;-j HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

They did not stay long, but diligently improved their time.

Out of this grasshopper raid grew a lawsuit the next day,
One, Benniphon, residing up South Creek way, and said to
have an inordinate love for his neighbors' property, came
before the Squatters Club, and claimed that the cattle of
William Jones had destroyed his corn. A committee con-
sisting of Messrs. Forney, Hoese and Harrington, accom-
panied by Putnam as Sheriff, went out to Henniphon's place
to examine the field. They saw no cattle tracks hut found
plenty of evidence that the damage had been done by
the all devouring 'hoppers, and that hence the cause of action
was beyond the jurisdiction of the Squatter Court. This
little lawsuit episode had for the time, diverted the atten-
tion of the settlers from an examination of their own fields.
Hut the sight of Henniphon's demolished crop, opened their
eyes to the tremendous strength and industry of a grass-
hopper's jaws, and they made haste with many forebodings,
to investigate. They found that this first grasshopper visit,
though short, had wiped out the growing crops of every one
of them. During the balance of the fall the new county
project was subordinate in all minds to the question as to
what they would have to eat the coming winter. Really,
the loss was not great, as only about two hundred and
seventy-five acres were in crops that year, but it was all the
people had and though now-a-days the loss of ten times that
amount would cut no figure, then it was a most serious
matter and foreshadowed hungry days.

Nor were the fears ill founded. With 1858 hard times
came in earnest. In 1856-7 money had been plenty, wages
from $8 to $5 per day and enough to do. But in 1858 and
from that time to and including 1860 there was hardly a dol-
lar between Sioux City and Niobrara. Crops were poor and
provisions scarce and the ambition of settlers and the
prices of land went down to bed rock. Mr. Putnam says that
during those unpropitious years a good farm could have
been bought for a dollar. The main difficulty in making
such a purchase was to get the dollar.

In these first years of Dixon County life, the pioneer had
the usual troubles of those who settle in a new country.
Generally with a thin purse and little credit, privations
naturally followed. At the start it was expensive for

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 33

settlers to come to the west, and when here to plow and
plant, build cabins and stables and fairly get business under
satisfactory headway. But such expenses and labors even
with the additional disappointments and losses from hard
times, grasshoppers, short crops, etc.. did not often dis-
course the settlers of Dixon County, especially in the first
three years. The pioneer realized that he could well afford
to suffer privations. Instead of costing the earnings of a
lifetime to purchase a farm, as in the east, he had here a
better farm given him. Here was a beautiful country,
fertile soil, timber, pure water, and above all a
healthy climate. What more could reasonably be asked.
What though he might suffer backsets at first and be
made to feel the want of many things which in the east
were considered indispensable.

Allowing that his purse was empty, his family on short
rations, and that a good square meal and a comfortable coat
were known to him only in his dreams. These were not
calamities but temporary privations which energy and
perseverance would cure. But it would have been a ca-
lamity to have left his farm with its attendant privations,
and go back east. and. no longer the lord of a manor,
himself, become a hewer of wood and a drawer of water for

others.

The hard times of 1858 did not prevent the settlers from

reviving the project for a county organization. This year
the election turned out better than it had the year before,
and I). T. Bramble, the merchant of Ponca. and naturally
greatly interested in its welfare and in the welfare of the
country tributary to it, was elected to the territorial legis-
lature, the next session of which was held at Omaha, com-
mencing September 21. 1858.

At that session an act introduced by Mr. Bramble organ-
izing the County of Dixon was passed and duly approved
November 1. 1858, with an emergency clause attached.
Such act was as follows:

An Act to Organize and Define the Boundaries and Locate
the County Seat of Dixon County.

Section 1." Be it enacted by the council and house of
representatives of the territory of Nebraska, that all that
portion of the territory with the following boundaries,
to-wit: Commencing at a point where the township line

34 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

between townships twenty-nine and thirty strikes the Mis-
souri river; thence west along said line to the section line
between sections three and four, township twenty-nine,
north, range six, east; thence south to the south line of Da-
kota county; thence west to a point due south of the south-
east corner of Cedar county; thence north to the middle of
the main channel of the Missouri river; thence down said
channel to the place of beginning, be and the same is here-
by organized under the name and style of Dixon County.

Sec. '2. The first election for county officers shall be
held in said county on the second Monday in December, A.
D. 1858, and shall be conducted in the same manner and gov-
erned by the same laws as govern the elections of other
counties, excepting that the returns shall be made to the
probate judge of Dakota county, who shall issue certificates
of election to those who have received a plurality of the
votes cast for the respective officers, who shall hold their
offices until the next general election.

Sec. 3. At the first election, each qualified voter may
designate on his ballot the place of his choice for the county
seat of said county, and if any one place receives a major-
ity of the votes cast, it shall be the county seat; if not, the
county commissioners shall order a new election to be held
within twenty days, and they shall give eight days' notice of
the same, when the choice shall be between the two places
that receive the highest number of votes at the first elec-
tion, and the one receiving the majority shall be the county

Sec 4. At the first election, the polls shall be opened
and an election held at Ponca, Galena, Ionia and North Bend,
and the same shall be conducted by judges of election ap-
pointed by the probate judge of Dakota county, who shall
give due notice of the election.

Sec. 5. All acts and parts of acts conflicting with this act
are hereby repealed.

Sec. (>. This act to take effect and be in force from and
after its passage.

Approved November 1, 1858.

The language used in the above act defining the bounda-
ries of Dixon county, is not the same as that which the .stat-
ute now prescril >es. It means precisely the same, however.
The change of the wording was by an act of the legislature
in 1859, "To change and redefine the boundaries of Dixon,
Cedar and 1/ Eau-qui-court counties" and which went into
effect January 13, 1860. Under that act the boundaries are
as follows:

Commencing at the southwest corner of township

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 35

twenty-seven, north, range 4, east; thence east to the line
dividing sections thirty-three (33) and thirty-four (34) in
township twenty-seven, north, of range six east; thence
north to the dividing line between townships twenty-nine
and thirty, north, of range six east, thence east to the
middle of the main channel of the Missouri river; thence up
said channel to a point where the dividing line between
ranges three and four, east, intersects the same, thence south
to the place of beginning. 12001.1.4

Up to the time the organization act Took effect, Novem-
ber 1, 1858, the government township including Ponca
and a strip running north and south, therefrom across
the county and three miles wide, had been a part of
Dakota county, and it had been expected by many and
hoped by all who lived in the western part of the region
affected, that the boundary of Dakota county would not be
disturbed and that Ponca w T ould remain there.

As heretofore mentioned, two ambitious towns had been
started near the mouth of Lime Creek in the northwestern
part of that which afterwards became Dixon County. One
of those towns, Concord, had a store, post office, a saw mill
and four houses, and the other. North Bend, had a mill and
a few houses, and in size and population about equalled Con-
cord. Concord and North Bend were less than a mile apart
and much rivalry existed between them. In the summer of
1858, when the necessity of a county organization became ap-
parent, it was generally supposed that none of the territory
of Dakota county would be disturbed, but that instead, a
range of townships on the west (afterwards included in
Cedar county) would be incorporated in the new county.
Thus Ponca would be left out and either Concord or North
Bend was sure to become the county seat.

There would then be no other place of importance in the
county, not considering Ionia and Galena, which had but
two or three houses apiece, and hence Concord or North
Bend would naturally get the prize.

But which of the two was the question. Each wanted
it and under no circumstances would consent that the other
should have it.

To settle this destructive rivalry the statesmen of the
two villages put their heads together and evolved a plan
which they immediately put into execution, viz: the towns

:{<; HISTORY < )F DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

being but a short distance apart, the land between them
was laid out into a new town, and named Dixon. Thus the
rivals came into one town and the central part, Dixon was,
expected to become the county seat, and its name. Dixon
would henceforth be the name covering the whole.

The new name. Dixon, was made the name of the count),
but as afterwards appeared, the honor of naming the new
count\ was all that Dixon received. The member of the ter-
ritorial legislature in 1858, .Mr. Bramble, saw that if Ponca
became a part of the new county it would be a powerful and
probably successful rival of Dixon. Ponca had already
while in Dakota county shown an ambition for county hon-
ors. At an election a year or two before to decide the location
of Dakota county's capital, Ponca had entered the lists and
had received a few votes, and the desire to get rid of the
presence of a possible future competitor may have had
something to do with Dakota City's ready consent to the loss
of that part of Dakota county which included Ponca.
Hence the foregoing act for the organization of the county,
was advocated by Mr. Bramble without opposition of im-
portance from Dakota county, and none which was effect-
ual from the friends of the new town of Dixon.

But while Dakota City was glad to thus get rid of an
ambitious neighbor, the fears of the friends of Dixon that
the death knell of their town had thereby been sounded,
especially as the desired range of townships on the west had
not been taken in. rendered their welcome to the new comer
anything but cordial. That their fears were well founded,
soon after became apparent.

The act organizing the county provided that on the sec-
ond Monday of December, 1858, the election of county offi-
cers, and the designation of the county seat should take
place, and that polls should be opened at Ponca, Galena,
Ionia and North Bend.

In the short time between the approval of the kiw and
the holding of the election, every one was busy in behalf of
his favorite town for county seat and his candidates for
county officers. The combination of North Bend and Con-
cord gave them encouraging strength, yet Ponca had eight
buildings and about a dozen families, thus equaling the Con-
cord-Dixon-North Bend triumvirate in that respect.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 3?

Not very metropolitan were these young cities, it must be
confessed, but in ambition, hope and good feeling they were
equal to many towns that put on more size. The entire
population of the county at that time was about three
hundred.

When the election came off desperate efforts for success
were made by each of the rival localities. It has been said
by some that the tremendous array of votes on that occasion
indicated that the population of the county had suddenly
jumped to greater proportions than ever before or since.
Whether voters came from across the river or whether votes
were put into the box in behalf of absent eastern friends, as
asserted by some and denied by others, can hardly be told at
this late day. Nor does it specially matter, as all, if any, re-
sorted to the same tactics and the result was probably the
same it would have been had the extra votes been left out.
So long as it did not affect the result, it did no harm to vote
absent friends or even Indians and in fact might have been
useful as a showing that Dixon county was rapidly acquiring
an immense population.

The result, loudly celebrated in Ponca on election night
after the returns were in, was that Ponca had been victori-
ous and that its eight buildings were located at the capital
of the county. Tradition informs us that on that happy,
exuberant occasion, the countenances of its citizens,
Messrs. Bisbee, Porter, Stough, Todd, et al, shone with joy
and enthusiasm.

But while Ponca rejoiced, the defeat of Dixon caused it
to soon disappear from the map and even from memory. It
never had a house, and being on low ground was unfit
for a house to stand on. Its only use was to marry the rival
towns of Concord and North Bend, and after its mission had
been fulfilled and had failed to do them or itself any good, it
once more was thought of as a tract of cheap prairie, tit
only for hay land. It now is a part of the farm of John
(i undersoil.

It may be proper to add here that in a few years Concord
and North Bend petered out. their buildings were moved
away or torn down, and their town sites became farms. Such
is the frequent end of western town site enterprises.

The election which transformed Ponca into a county seat

38 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

also provided its first officers. They were:

Commissioners John Cavanagh, H. A. Fuller and J.

Massinger.

County Clerk Edward Arnold.

County Judge- J. B. Denton.

Treasurer John Malone.

Surveyor S. B. Stough.

Sheriff Charles F. Putnam.

Thus Dixon county was finally started out on its official
career. Those who were elected were men of integrity,
and their careful and intelligent management of county af-
fairs showed that the confidence of voters had not been mis-
placed.

We do not learn the names of those who were elected
at- this first election, from any records. There are no rec-
ords which we can find here or in the secretary of state's
office at Lincoln showing that any election was held at all.
In all things therefore relating this election we have been
compelled to rely entirely on the memories of a few of those
who were present on that occasion.

As will be seen from its metes and bounds, Dixon county
touches the Missouri on the north, has the river and Dakota
county on the east, Wayne county on the south and Cedar
county on the west.

It has four hundred and eighty-six square miles, or three
hundred and eleven thousand and forty (811,040) acres. It is
a tract of land which is most fortunate in several respects.
It has not a single worthless or marshy acre. About one-
fourth of it is bottom land, the balance is rolling, and all of
it has a rich soil, varying from three to six feet in depth and
capable of producing immense crops.

There is no lack of water. The Logan river runs through
the southern part, and the Daily, Aoway, West Branch, Tur-
key, Powder and Lime creeks in the central and northern
parts of the county. In addition are a great number of
small tributaries, so that nearly every quarter section in the
county has a living stream upon it. Along the Missouri the
vast tracts of timber, oak, elm, black walnut, hickory,
etc., warranted to settlers abundant supplies of lire wood
and lumber.

Such was the unsurpassed country which by the grace of

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 39

the genera] government, the territorial Legislature and the
industry and energy of the pioneers, became Dixon county
and the future home of thousands of prosperous citizens.

After the election of its first county officers and the
location of its capital, the new county of Dixon moved forward
as hopefully as could be expected. Dixon, by becoming a
full-fledged county, did not disturb the equilibrium of the
other counties of the state, nor by its growth excite their
jealousy. Nor did Ponca under its new honors become
unduly swelled with pride and importance, nor bound into
notice as a rival of Omaha, [ts growth from that time for-
ward, was at about the same pace as previously, somewhat
slow, yet its future, under the circumstances, seemed more
assured than before.

40 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

CHAPTER IV.

Dixon County's Progress Its Officials and Their
Methods of Doing Business- First Hoard of Com-
missioners, Their Proceedings and Records, and the
Many Difficulties They Had to Encounter- The
First Assessment of Property and the Poverty-
stricken Display of Wealth Hard Times and Few
Improvements First School in County -Call for
Troops in 1862 and Enlistment in Dixon County Fd.
Freeman Killed in Battle of Whitestone Hill In-
dian Scares iN 1863 Stampede of Settlers from the
Niobrara Country The Drouth in 1864 and the
Great Crops in 1865 -Railroad Proposition of 1869
The (Irowth of Ponca and the Rise and Fall of Ionia.

There are no records in existence of what the first board
of county commissioners did, or where they met. Old
settlers, however, say that the first meeting was held in
Bramble's log store, that the second was in blacksmith
Roger's house, and that afterwards and for several years the
commissioners met in Davis' tavern (now Bigley's).

As to the other county officers, they did business
wherever they happened to be. and carried their records in
their hats.

Of the commissioners acts at their first meeting, or
during the first year we have but slight information. If
they kept any proceedings at all, they were not preserved.
II may reasonably be presumed, however, that they came
together, swore one another into office, and in some way
more or less skillful, commenced turning the new county
machinery. They divided the county into commissioner's
districts, appointed the metes and bounds of' road and school
districts, took into consideration two or three proposed
roads, and talked about the prospect of raising money in the
future by taxes so as to keep the wheels of the county's

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 41

progress suitably greased. It is not likely that at the first
meeting of the commissioners, nor indeed during the first
year, many bills were presented. If there were, we may
safely assert that none were paid. There were no funds and
it was generally understood that any pay for what was done,
was. as to the county, a long way off.

The county did not in fact, start out in a very propitious
time. The prosperous days of L856 and 1857 had gone by.
Then every one had his pockets full of money and felt rich;
now the reverse was the rule. The winter of 1S57-S had
been one of tremendous snows and much suffering. In the
spring following, hard times, and scarcity of money and
provisions had induced many to leave, some to Pike's Peak,
others to their old homes in the east. While many left, the
few new settlers who came in were not one-fourth as many
as in 1856 or 1857. The winter of 1858-9 was also a hard and
unhappy winter and the general scarcity of provisions and
other comforts of life which had prevailed for more than a
year past, seemed to have become chronic. Hence when the
commissioners and other officers started in to pilot their new
county during the first part of its voyage, the outlook was
discouraging. That they persevered and kept up the organ-
ization when everything naturally seemed to indicate that
the abandonment of the country to the Indians again would
be the result in the near future, was certainly in their favor.

In the following spring, '1859) the first assessment of the
county took place. It was made by Sheriff Putnam and was
one of the most poverty-stricken displays of a county's
wealth ever seen before or since. Mr. Putnam lells us that
about twenty tracts of land, each of one hundred and sixty
acres, were assessed, the valuation being fixed at $1.25 per
acre. There were also a few hogs and cattle and half a dozen
horses. That was all there was of it. There were no such
elaborate inventories of property as are used by assessors
now-a-days. There was no need. A trivial array of cattle,
horses and hogs, and the few tracts of deeded land com-
prised the entire property, the assessed valuation of which,
according to Mr. Putnam's recollection was not far from
$4,800. It is obvious that the assessment was not a job
which occupied any great length of time.

In the June after, the commissioners came together and

12 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

proceeded to equalize the assessment and make the levy,
and take such further steps as would at the proper time in
the future, result in the collection of taxes, the amount of
which was about $300.

During this year very few buildings were built in Ponca
and not many in the country. Here and there a new comer
would be seen putting up a sod or log house on his claim, or
breaking a few acres of land. A feeling of discouragement
had grown until settlers were averse to improving their
places, and they preferred to sell out if they could, and go
elsewhere. Many did go, so that in 1859 the county had less
inhabitants than two years before.

Of course under such a state of affairs, improvements,
public or private, were not thought of. The roads were
mere paths over the face of the country. Bridges were, as
yet, too costly a luxury for the county to build. Groves,
fruit orchards and vineyards had not yet been dreamed of
and were not for several years afterwards.

Residents of Dixon County, who in these later days talk
about hard times, do not realize that their predecessors had in
1858 and 1859, more real, solid privations in one hour of time
than can now be suffered in an entire year.

In the following year, I860, the pressure of hard times
was not quite so severe. In the spring a grist mill was built
at Ponca by Stough Brothers and N. S. Porter. Thus a
little more life was given to the town, and a better market
for the county. Aside from this there were few new build-
ings or improvements. As a pointer showing what was
being done, take the amount of land broken. In 1857 there
had been about two hundred and seventy acres: in 1858, four
times that amount, and in 1859 and I860, scarcely any.

As in the previous year, many settlers moved away in
1860 and few came in to take their places, and the population
dwindled down to about two hundred. Not very en-
couraging, in fact, to those who remained. It is said that
more would have gone, if they had been able to raise money
enough to pay the ferriage across the Missouri, which, as
merciless as the river Styx, barred the way. Among those
who went to Pike's Peak were Messrs. Putnam. Farwell.
Carpenter, Alexander, Felter and Higgins. They went in the
spring and a few of them returned in the fall.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 4:5

In the meanwhile, in spite of the universal discourage-
ment, the county officers, in a dim sort of way to be sure,
kept up the county organization. The commissioners met,
ordered an assessment, levied taxes, established voting
precincts and went through the forms and ceremonies which
they deemed necessary to keep the flag of Dixon county Hy-
ing at mast-head. During this year, as in the year before
and for several years afterwards, county offices were not
much sought after. Neither the honor nor profit sufficiently
compensated for the trouble and annoyance. Hence, when
one was elected he was liable to neglect the honor thrust
upon him and the office would become vacant and have to be
filled by the commissioners. In another place we have given
a list of the officers of the county from its organization to
the present time. That there are probably mistakes, especially
in regard to the sheriffs and commissioners, is owing to the
frequent changes and neglect to record them.

In some instances the only proof to be found that a man
had held an office at all, was the account which he hied with
the commissioners for his services. Such account being ap-
proved and allowed (though with the depleted treasury we
may be sure it w T as not paid) became conclusive proof.
There were no records of commissioners' proceedings at all
until July, 1860, and for years they were too incomplete to
give much of an idea what was being done. It was on
account of the slipshod way of doing business in those days,
that the legislature afterwards came to the aid of the com-
missioners, and by a legalizing act covered, as with a merci-
ful blanket, their illegal omissions and commissions.

The years 1861 and 1862 may be said to have been
repetitions of 1860. Hard times continued and the few who
came hardly equalled the number who went away.

In the spring of 1862 the first school of which there is any
account, was held in the county. It was taught by Miss
Mary Jones, of Elk Creek, Dakota County, in the first school
house built in Ponca on the ground where Ponca's school
building now is. That school is claimed to have been the
first nor is there much to show to the contrary, the only
paper bearing on this point being a report from Ionia in
October, 1860, which notified the county board that there
were fifteen children of school age in that district.

44 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Whether the Ionia report was merely a hint that a school
was needed or whether it is proof that Ionia school district
had a school in full blast, readers must determine for them-
selves. From such report it appears that the seven families
which contributed the aforesaid fifteen children to the popu-
lation of the county, were those of 1,. T. Hill. S. P. Baltzley,
A. Curry, Henry Hoese, Oustavus Smith. K. A. Hotchkiss. and
A. Smith. The distance between the places where these
families resided at that time, indicates that their school
district was fully as large as two government townships.

In 1862 the settlers were first invited to help in the war
then raging, and in the fall of that year, a number of the
patriotic residents of Dixon county enlisted in Company I of
of the 2nd Regiment of Nebraska Infantry, commanded by
Colonel Furnas. This company was recruited from Dakota,
Dixon and Cedar counties, and camped a part of the winter
of 1862-3 at Ponca.

Those who enlisted from Dixon county were N. S. Porter,
Pat Scollard, John Scollard, Bernard CaYanagh, Francis
Freeman. Charles Freeman. Ed. Freeman. Edward Arnold.
.John Malone, James O'Conner, John O'Conner. 0. P.
Baltzley, Frank Jourdan, W. P. Heydon, Nelson Feauto.
James Clark, Elias Shook, P. J. Winston. James Alexander,
M. Lathrop and Mons Nelson. The next spring, (1863) Gen.
Sully ordered the regiment to go up the river to assist in
capturing the Sioux Indians which were then on the war-
path. In the battle of Whitestone Hill. Company I partici-
pated, and one of its members from Dixon County, Ed. Free-
man, was killed. The regiment returned down the river in
November and was mustered out of service.

Dixon county since its first settlement had sometimes had
Indian scares and in 1863 they were more frequent and
serious than before. Once, four marauding Sioux Indians
made a raid to steal cattle and horses. Messrs. Porter, Wil-
bur and some others went after them, exchanged shots
with them and chased them out of the South Creek and
Silver Creek country, and finally ran them across the Missouri.

One day in the summer a great crowd of people, com-
prising nearly every one living west as far as the Niobrara
river came rushing into Ponca. They came with wagons,
horses, cattle, furniture and provisions, and were frightened

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 45

almost to death. They reported that the Indians were
coming in force, killing and burning everything in their
path. The terror stricken people had not seen the Indians
nor any evidence of Indian depredations, hut a vague
rumor started by some rascally up-river traders had excited
them into an ungovernable stampede. So they came, agreat
drove of unreasoning and wildly frightened people, into
Ponca. They proposed to continue their flight the next
morning hut by the efforts of cooler headed men in Ponca,
they were induced to stay until a party could go hack and
see what real reason there was for the panic.

Accordingly a company of forty well armed frontiersmen
started on the back track the next morning. They saw no
Indians hut they saw and shot at several buffalo. The
prairies were generally on lire on both sides of the river.
They went to Niobrara and never in the whole trip saw a
hostile face. Their trip lasted about a week and in that
time many fat turkeys and chickens, and all the government
tobacco and whiskey within reach were disposed of to the
satisfaction of all concerned. After their return the
frightened up-country people laughed at their previous fears
and took up their line of march back to their homes again.

About this time a much more serious matter, a most
atrocious tragedy in fact, occurred. In Cedar county and
near the Dixon comity line, a small party of Sioux Indians
who came over from Dakota, murdered the Wiseman family.
The murderous band was immediately pursued but escaped
across the river. All these matters kept up much unhappy
excitement throughout the river counties, and not until the
Indians were again brought under subjection were settlers
fully assured of peace and safety.

Thus the county, without much improvement and with
many hardships, drifted along until 1S(U. and this year
seemed to be the climax of grief. There was a drouth that
year. Previously they had grumbled over poor crops. Now
there were no crops at all.

Concerning that ill-fated season. C. F. Putnam and John
McKinleytell us that there was not a drop of rain from late
in the fall of lSC>o to early in the spring of 1865, fifteen
months. A terrible experience, certainly, and presenting an
almost hopeless outlook. The torrid heat, the ground baked

If, HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

to the hardness of brick, the failing springs and streams and
not a blade of corn or grass, or sign of crop of any kind to
vary the desolate monotony, seemed to denote that the
productive forces of nature were dead and the country had
become a desert.

There was no corn, no vegetables and no grain, and no
grass excepting a little on Logan Slough. Corn and wheat
which had been put into the ground in the spring remained
there all summer without a sign of life. That the settlers
managed to get through the trying time was a source of
wonder even to themselves. Their land was barren and
worthless for the time and the livelihood of themselves and
cattle had to be obtained from other sources.

How did they manage? Old settlers say that the body of
timber along the Missouri helped them to bridge the crisis.
From this forest, great numbers of logs, especially of black
walnut, were cut by the settlers, some from their own land
and others from that of the government, and rafted down the
river and sold. Again, settlers went out (not for fun, that
word being out of date that sea.son) and beat the fields and
woods for game and the river and creeks for fish. Deer,
wolves and bear w r ere met with sometimes, and squirrels.
prairie chickens and wild ducks. In the winter, mink,
beaver and muskrat were trapped and their skins sent to
market. Those who had cattle and hogs, sold them when
want pinched too hard. Thus in various w T ays the flour
barrel was kept replenished, and means provided to sustain
life, give shelter and clothing and drive the wolf from the
door.

Another such a fifteen months, hid it then followed
would necessarily have driven out of the country every man.
woman and child.

Fortunately at the end of this fifteen months of hades.
rain came. Not a gentle moisture, daintily spread, but an
abundant and long continued downpour. The hard baked
earth yielded to its influence and vegetation awakening
from its sleep again bedecked the valleys and plains with
verdure and flowers. Courage came back, and again the
settlers plowed and planted, and their hope turned into joy
as their crops boomed and rich harvests became certainties.
No more hungry days w x ere in store, no more trapping of

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 47

muskrats or stealing government timber, and no more
solacing ravenous hunger with corn bread and salt, washed
down with brackish water. As if ashamed of itself for its
previous niggardly treatment of the settlers, nature gave
them in 1865, enormous crops, the greatest, grandest and
most lavish that had ever been seen in the country.

The year 1865 was indeed, a most generous year. More
land was broken, more houses built and more improvements
made than all combined since 1S57. Grand crops, a big-
emigration and a general lifting from despair to joy and
plenty. The tide had now turned, and from that time for-
ward, rapid growth and development was assured.

The great number of those who came in 1865 as well as
in succeeding years to make their homes in Dixon County,
renders it impossible, except in few instances, to mention
them separately. In another place, however, notices of
many of the leading pioneers will be given, as well as
sketches of those citizens whose energy and good works in
behalf of the county are and have been prominent.

In the presence of plenty, the previous hard times were
soon forgotten, and the incoming settlers, from 1865 onward
during many prosperous years, joyfully took their home-
steads, plowed and put in crops, fenced, built houses, started
groves and planted orchards. As time went on, and people
became able, the desire was awakened to have homes which
were more than mere shelters from the storm. No longer
the gloomy cabin, the rude home-made benches and table,
and from the narrow window, no longer the dreary outlook,
sufficed. The neglected garden, usually a wilderness of tan-
gled growth, was made useful as well as beautiful in its or-
der and cleanliness, and its vegetables, sweet corn, grape
vines and shrubbery.

The home by degrees became transformed into a brighter
and more enjoyable place to rear a family in. The rude
necessaries gave place to tasty furniture and adornments,
the dingy walls, doors and casings were made new and cheer-
ful by paint and paper, and larger windows were demanded
to give views of the gardens, flower beds and fields. Even
some homes had carpets, and the family library, previously
a collection of almanacs, could boast of a few useful and
interesting books.

48 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

A great field of wheat or corn, or herd of fat cattle, de-
manded of the farmer that he become posted on the mar-
kets, and hence newspapers became necessary, and he was
thus introduced to what was going on in the outside world.
Previously his main care had been to feed and protect his
family, now, however, under the stimulus of prosperity and
awakened reflection, the feeding of the stomach became
secondary to the desire to learn and know, and to give his
family those advantages of education and society which he,
himself, had by his lonely frontier life been deprived of.

In those days Sioux City was the main place of market
for the residents of this county. To go to Sioux City and
return, required two days' time and a hard journey by
wagon. Merchandise was brought in that way, and as to
wheat and hogs, what was not sold in Ponca was carted to
Sioux City in a laborious and expensive manner.

A. railroad into Dixon county, therefore became a grow-
ing desire. The first project of that kind was in 1869. It
was originated by S. T. Davis of Sioux City, who proposed
to build a railroad from that place through Dixon County to
Niobrara. Preliminary surveys were made, and all that was
needed to complete the undertaking was the money neces-
sary to build and equip it. Propositions for aid were there-
fore made to Dixon and other counties on the west. Dixon
County was asked to vote $68,000, and the people were as-
sured that if such bonds were furnished, the road would be
built without delay.

The proposition, plausible and alluring, inasmuch as a
railroad was exactly what the county needed, was talked
over and considered by the citizens, but they hardly felt
able to incur a debt of such magnitude. It was, therefore,
abandoned, and railroad building had to wait until a more
propitious time.

As has been mentioned in chapter third, Ponca was
surveyed in part and named in the fall of 1856, and a log-
house was built by Hoese Brothers, and in 1 S~>7 houses were
put up by Stough Brothers, John Cavanagh and H. A. Ful-
ler, a house and blacksmith shop by Mr. Rogers and a store
by Mr. Bramble.

In 1858, the growth of the town continued though
slowly. During this year several houses were built, and one

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 4!»

which stood on the claim of Leander Davis near New Cas-
tle was moved to Ponca and placed on a lot near where the
school house is. Afterwards in 1860 it was moved by Por-
ter. Bisbee and Todd to the Biglcy lot on East street. To the
same lot they soon after moved a house which had been
built in 1859 for Mr. Bramble on the lots where Dr. Stough's
residence now is. These two buildings were joined together
and made into a hotel (the first hotel in town) which was
kept by Mr. Davis and is now known as the Bigley House.

Up to 1858, Ponca people crossed the Aoway by a log
bridge which had been built by settlers two years before.
It was a dubious sort of a bridge and dreaded by everyone
who crossed. In 1858 the government built a good, substan-
tial bridge, and passing over the Aoway was no longer a ter-
ror to man and beast.

Among other evidences of Ponca's rising importance
it may be mentioned that on May 14. 1859, it held its first
election of trustees. Five were to be elected, and tw r elve
votes were cast. Of these N. S. Porter received ten votes;
Leander Davis, nine; E. M. Bisbee, eleven; H. A. Fuller.
eleven; D. T. Bramble, ten, and C. W. Todd, J. C. Harring-
ton. H. Rogers and .lames Barrett received one each.

In 1859, Francis Freeman completed a dwelling house.
Blacksmith Kogers built a frame residence. Mr. Chapman a
blacksmith shop and two or three small houses were put up
by parties whose names are now unknown.

In that year Ponca's first school house was erected.
It was on the ground where the high school building now
stands and was built by subscription. The building was af-
terwards sold and removed, and a larger school house built
about the year 1865 by H. Beardshear.

In 1860, several more buildings were erected, one of the
most important of which was the grist mill of Stough
Brothers. Two years afterwards a saw mill was built in
connection with the grist mill.

The first Fourth of July celebration ever held in Ponca.
took place in that mill in 1862. On that momentous occa-
sion the eagle was assisted to scream by W. H.James (after-
wards governor of the state) who was orator of the day, and
Judge Arnold who read the Declaration of Independence.

50 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

The music was by (Justavus Smith and family of New
Castle.

In 186] the first Lutheran church was built and was the
only church building in town until 1S71 when churches were
erected by the Presbyterians and Methodists.

During the years from 1862 to 1870 the growth of Ponca
continued very slow. In 1869 a store building was erected
on Third street by Stough and Mikesell and another by Por-
ter and Gamble in 1S71 on the corner of Third and East
streets.

hi '69, '70 and '71 an unusually large number of resi-
dences were built, some of them quite expensive and stylish.
Among them was the brick house of John Stough (the first
brick house in town), and the large frame residences of Dr.
Stough and N. S. Porter.

From 1860 to 1870 and for a few years afterwards, the
town next in importance to Ponca, was Ionia. Ionia had a
beautiful, but as it burned out, unfortunate location on the
bank of the Missouri.

In 1856, a Sioux City company, in which were said to be
Messrs. Cunningham, White and John H. Charles, sur-
veyed and staked out the town of Ionia, twelve miles from
Ponca up the river.

In the spring of 1857, L. T. Bill, a merchant of Daven-
port, Iowa, engaged J. J. Pierce and his son, H. M. Pierce,
of that city, to come west and locate a town site for him.
The accordingly journeyed across the state to Sioux City,
and from thence into Dixon county. It was a long trip.
There was no railroad, and an ox team and wagon was with
them as it usually was with others at that early day, the
mode of conveyance.

In Dixon county they found that the Sioux City proprie-
tors of Ionia wished to sell out, and Messrs. Pierce pur-
chased and held the site for Mr. Hill until May 22. 1859,
when he and his family arrived.

He found a very wild country. A few settlers were scat-
tered up and down Aoway Creek, and two families were liv-
ing near the new town of Ionia, one of which was that of
Mr. Massenger and his son-in-law, Andrew White, and the
other was the Hotchkiss family on the Hotchkiss bottom, so
called. In Ionia two small buildings had been built the year

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 5J

before, and during the vear 1859 two or three more were ad-
ded by Mr. Hill.

From this time forward for several years, Ionia, like
other new western towns of that period, was not
greatly encouraged by growth and business. In I860 Mr.
Hill built Ionia's first ferry boat, a boat which was a great
assistance to the farmers of Dixon and Dakota counties
who had to cross the Missouri while making trips to Fort
Randall with produce. Fort Randall with a garrison of live
hundred soldiers furnished an excellent market, the best
within reach, and high prices were paid for everything the
farmers had to sell.

In 1862, the large amount of timber on the Ionia river
bottom induced Mr. Hill to erect a steam saw mill there.
Tt was started in December and for several years did a large
business. In the spring of 1865, the excessively high water
in the Missouri cut away the bank and endangered the mill,
and in the next year it was moved to a safer point, and a
grist mill was added in ISfw. In that year, 1867, Messrs.
Fitzgerald and Lynes built the first store, and in 1868 Isaac
Hughes built a hotel.

In 1869 Levins and Rose built a large, two story store and
put in a good stock of general merchandise.

An encouraging number of residences, shops and other
buildings were also added in that year, and in 1870 a large
amount of building was done, and the town was increased
by many new families.

An inventory of Ionia's business houses at that time
shows in addition to the mill and hotel, three stores, one
blacksmith shop, one wagon and repair shop, one shoe maker
shop and several carpenter shops.

Also Ellyson Brothers built to run between Ionia and the
Dakota side the first steam ferry boat on the river
above Sioux City.

In 1870 and 1S71 Ionia continued to grow in size and
increase in business, and in 1872 it had a population of about
three hundred.

In 1S74 the encroachment of the river, which previously
had not excited much apprehension became alarmingly
worse. The channel changed so that its force threatened
the destruction of the town. Afterwards up to 1878, the

52 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

cutting away of the bank continued and increased. For
safety many of the buildings were moved away, and in that
year the river swept out a large share of the town site
and within two or three years thereafter the work of de-
struction was completed. Such in brief was the beginning
and end of Ionia.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 58

CHAPTER V.

Indian Scares and Annoyances --N. S. Porter's Inter-
view with "Smoker" of "Little Rabbitt's" Band - L.
T. Hill's Experiences with Indians at Ionia — J.
Murphy of South Creek has an Unpleasant Visit-
Indian Powwows and Dances -The Ancient Indian
Tribes and Legends.

Before continuing the history of the general progress of
the county from and after 1869, we will make reference to
Indian scares and experiences prior to that time as well as
to the tales and legends concerning the savage red men who
seventy-five or a hundred years before had ruled in Dixon
county.

In the time elapsing since the first white settlers came,
little real trouble had been occasioned by the Indians except
in the few instances related in the last chapter. Indian
visits were generally nothing worse than attempts on their
part to raid corn cribs or pork barrels. Hence there are no
tales of Indian wars in Dixon county since its first settlement
by the whites, no massacres of defenseless inhabitants, no
midnight glare of burning buildings and no hordes of
painted savages with reeking tomahawks. None of these
things were ever seen by the settlers, nor often heard of
except in the blood curdling tales of eastern romancers,
nine-tenths of whom never saw an Indian or knew what
they were talking about.

Yet though nothing especially serious ever took place in
their intercourse with the red men. old settlers, on looking
back over those first years will recall many little ex-
periences which they had with them, and which might have
been described as comedy but never as tragedy. About the
only exceptions to this rule near Dixon county was the murder
of the Wiseman children in Cedar county and that of
C. S. Munson in Wayne. Aside from these instances.

:.l HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Indian visits were more amusing than terrifying, and
served to break the sameness of frontier life.

The first of such harmless Indian scares took place a day
or two after the arrival of the first batch of settlers in May,
1856. On that occasion a squad of Poncas crossed the Aoway
and visited the settlers' camp while the men were away look-
ing out claims in the neighborhood. With a great flourish of
tomahawks and knives the Indians frightened the three
women in camp almost to death and made them glad to
purchase peace by giving up a generous share of their
provisions. This sort of annoyance from roving bands was
often afterwards practiced on the settlers, and the story
of one was generally the story of all. There would be a
blustering display of knives and hatchets, a big fright among
the women and children, and finally peace obtained by hand-
ing over corn and bacon and whatever else the visiting In-
dians took a fancy to carry off.

En the fall of 1859, N. S. Porter had an interview with
one of the Ponca tribe, which terminated in less fun for the
Indian than usual in such cases. Mr. Porter was helping I).
T. Bramble in his store in Ponca. One day Mr. Bramble
went to Sioux City leaving Porter in charge of the business.
At that time the goods most in demand were bacon, salt,
tobacco and whiskey, the latter being only sold by the
gallon. In the afternoon of the day in question, a band of
Ponca Indians about a thousand strong came in from their
reservation west of Niobrara and camped east of town in the
grove now known as Stough's grove I near the present fair
ground).

Possibly to fittingly celebrate their visit to their ancient
home, two young warriors came up from their camp early in
the evening and bought and carried back with them a
quantity of tobacco and a jug of whiskey. Soon after they
left, Porter was greatly alarmed on learning from -John
Bramble the brother of the proprietor, that by selling liquor
to the Indians he had violated the law, and his worry was
kept at a fever heat by Bisbee, Todd and Clark, who were at
the store at the time and who enlarged on the enormity of
t he crime and the dire punishment that would follow if
found out. To add to his trouble as the evening advanced
the uproar in the Indian camp increased as though the

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 55

jugful 1 was doing considerable execution, and that an In-
dian outbreak was liable.

The Indians kept up their dancing and shouting until
near midnight when twenty of them came to the store and
loudly called for more whiskey. Porter refused their de-
mands and told them he had no right to sell to them,
and advised them to return to their camp. Instead of doing
so. they commenced to beat the door with their hatchets.
Porter partly opened the door when they shoved in their jug
and it was broken, and one of them named "Smoker" of
"Little Rabbit's" band raised his hatchet to strike. Porter
caught the Indian's arm and grabbed up a stick of wood,
then threw it away and gave the Indian a tremendous blow
with his fist under the jaw. The Indian fell as though shot,
striking on his head several feet away, and lay there ap-
parently lifeless. Porter barred and closed the door and
listened tremblingly to the loud threats of fifty or more
Indians who had by that time gathered around the fallen
brave. In a few minutes, however, the noise ceased, and on
looking out. he saw the Indians steering for their camp, two of
them leading the one who had been knocked down. Soon
after, the proprietor, Mr. Bramble, came home and Porter
told him what had occurred. Bramble said it might have
been very serious but he hoped the danger was over.

At sunrise the next morning. Chief "Iron Whip" and about
fifty warriors came up leading the victim of the night be-
fore. His head and face appeared as though banged
by a trip hammer.

Iron Whip told Bramble by signs that Smoker was badly
hurt, but if he could have some whiskey to dose him with
and some more to bathe him in. he thought he could cure
him. Bramble took the chief and Smoker and two others
into the back room and when they came out wiping their
mouths, their faces shone with satisfaction and they ex-
pressed the opinion that Smoker would now feel a "heap"
better. As a final token of friendship they demanded that
Porter and the wounded Indian shake hands. This was
done and harmony again prevailed. During several years
after. Porter often met Smoker and other members of Little
Rabbit's band, and they showed no resentment toward him.
They said Porter was a brave man for striking with his fist

56 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

when he could have used a club, and no doubt this was the
reason for not resenting the blow and taking his seal]).

The above, one of many similar incidents of frontier life,
was somewhat threatening at first, but wound up at the end
in renewed peace.

Mr. L. T. Hill gives the following account of the visit in
the fall of 1860 of a band of Indians to his house in Ionia
during his absence in Omaha. He says "I left Charley Smith
to protect the family and look after things generally. One
day while Charley was away, Mrs. Hill left the children at the
house and went up the ravine to pick some plums. While
there she thought she heard voices, and on looking in the
direction of the sound, she saw several Indians mounted on
ponies rapidly coming down the ravine towards her.

"She was greatly alarmed and started for home on a run.
By taking a short cut across a held she reached the house
before the Indians and shut and barred the doors. The In-
dians did not attempt to enter, but she could hear their
voices and she finally came to the conclusion that if her fate
was doomed she might as well face it.

"She thereupon took the children with her and went out
to where they were. A little way from the house stood a
grindstone and the Indians were there sharpening their
hatchets and knives. That naturally added to her terror,
but knowing her inability to escape, she put on a bold face.
They greeted her in their usual manner, "how. how' and said
"tobac, tobac'

"We had a barrel of hue cut in the house and Mrs.
Hill went in and brought out a large pan full of it and told
the Indians to help themselves. She said they expressed
great joy at the sight of so much 'tobac' and stowed it away
in a short time. After a brief jabber among themselves
one of them ran to where their ponies were tied and
brought to her a large chunk of jerked venison. Then they
finished grinding their knives, and to the great relief of
Mrs. Hill and the children, mounted their ponies and left.
It was afterwards learned that the Indians were from
Dakota and had heen over in the Elkhorn valley on a pony
stealing raid, and now on their return were hunting for a
place to ford the Missouri."

Mr. Hill also furnishes an account of another adventure

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 57

at Ionia with the Indians. The trouble which grew out of
a lawsuit is thus described by him: "In the winter of 1860
one John Gidross, living temporarily on the Hotchkiss place
near Ionia, became indebted to J. J. and H. M. Pierce,
$30 or $40. and without paying them moved his cattle and
goods across the Missouri into Dakota where there was no
law.

"One morning the oxen of Gidross were found on the
Nebraska side, having crossed the river on the ice. Being a
Justice of the Peace I was called upon to issne an attachment
for the oxen, and James Barrett then acting as sheriff, levied
on them, and placed them in the care of Andrew White
until they could be advertised and sold. The day of sale
came as did the sheriff. About ten o'clock in the morning.
Gidross and a friend of his, a Frenchman, were seen to come
out of the timber opposite Ionia and start across the river.
They had found out where the sale was to take place and
not knowing that the sheriff was on the ground thought it
a good time to recapture the cattle. When they were across,
they waved their caps and in a few moments six Indians
came out of the timber and followed Gidross.

"There was no little excitement but Barrett was cool
and told the people (only about half a dozen) not to be
frightened but get their guns ready. At the same time
he sent a messenger down the river to Andrew White and
his father-in-law. Massenger, not to bring the oxen, but
to come at once with their rifles.

"In a few minutes the Indians were on the Nebraska side
and they and the Frenchman went into the cabin of the Pierces,
and soon after two Indians were seen to bring H. M. Pierce
out. he not resisting much. They led him a little way and
began to trip him. Barrett could plainly see that the In-
dians felt ugly. He said 'Bo vs. them cusses mean trouble:
get your guns,' and led the way followed by six well armed
men.

"As they came into view of the Indians, Barrett shouted
to them with a loud voice and a big oath. "What in
h— 1 are you doing there, let that man alone.' It was no
sooner said than done. They left Pierce and hurried back
into the cabin. Barrett followed them and ordered them
out. and gave Gidross and his gang five minutes to get across

58 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

the river, saying that if they were not off in that time
he 'would kill every <l <1 one of them.' Barrett, was a large,
powerful man with a voice corresponding in size, and with
an eye that emphasized every word. The French-
man said a few words to the Indians and they lost no time
in getting upon the ice and from there into the Dakota
timber.

"After a short consultation it was agreed that it would be
best to adjourn the sale to Ponca and to have the oxen
removed there that night. They were accordingly taken
there, but the following morning no oxen were to be found.
It was evident the cattle had been followed and stolen and
were now across the river. That was the most exciting ex-
perience we ever had at Ionia with the Indians."

After the removal in 1S57 of the Poncas to their lands
beyond the Niobrara, Dixon county was on the route be-
tween that reservation and that of the Omahas, and bands
of Indians often passed through from one reservation to the
other. On their trips they generally behaved themselves,
though sometimes, as has been said, they frightened settlers
into giving them what they wanted, that being the Indian
way of begging. One of these scares was given J. Murphy
who settled in 1S57 in South Creek valley, south of Cavan-
agh's place. In the fall of 1858 a small party of Indians in
their trip across the country camped for a while near
Murphy's claim and sometimes stole corn out of his crib for
their ponies. One day he found a young Indian in the crib
and kicked him out.

That night at midnight the whole band, twenty or more
in number came and surrounded his cabin and called to him
to come out. As he cautiously opened the door an
Indian reached in and pulled him out by his hair, tearing off
his shirt in the squabble. The Indians then stationed him on
a knoll where the keen wind would, bite his limbs and
around him formed a ring in which they also placed the
young fellow who had been kicked. Then singing and
whooping and pounding a drum, they circled around in a
war dance, and when the chorus would come in. Mr. Murphy
would be kicked by as many feet as could conveniently
reach him, and the young Indian would draw his tomahawk
and pretend he would strike him.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 59

For an hour or two. the Indians thus enjoyed themselves
w iiile Murphy's wife and children were begging them not to
kill him. At last they consented to spare his life if his wife
would give them all the flour and bacon she had on hand,
which she gladly did. Murphy was taken into the house
where a good fire soon thawed him out, but the fright of
himself and family was so great that they dared not stay
there longer, and in a few days they abandoned their claim
and moved to Dakota county.

Very often, and especially in the peaceable years follow-
ing the troubles of 1863, parties of Indians while passing
through the county on a hunting or visiting tour, would camp
at night a short distance from Ponca. On such occasions, if
in summer, the warriors were dressed in their warm weather
costume of mainly paint and feathers, and were generally
accompanied by some venerable copper colored patriarch as
chief in command. If squaws were with such parties they
were gorgeously arrayed in gaily colored blankets, which,
together with pappooses, ponies, tepees, dogs and the ket-
tles to cook them in. made up quite an interesting aborigi-
nal crowd.

Sometimes the chief in command would be one who had
been a "big Injun" at an earlier day. One afternoon such a
party passed through town and camped at their usual place,
and was said to be in charge of "Wabashaw," one of the
noted chiefs who had handled the scalping knife and toma-
hawk with much skill and murder in the Minnesota massa-
cre a few years before, and who for his misdeeds had been
sent to rusticate during the balance of his life with the rest
of the Santee tribe on a reservation near Niobrara. Sev-
eral went out to see and strike up acquaintance with so re-
nowned a killer, and found him a harmless personification
of good nature, of whom it was difficult to believe that in
1SH2, he used to relentlessly prance down the warpath after
the whites, his most cherished ornaments being a dozen or
so of scalps. It is said he was the most fastidious scalper of
the Santee Sioux, and loved the headgear of women and
children for ornamental purposes better than any other.
When last in Minnesota he grieved because he had not suc-
ceeded in cleaning out the whole state. On the occasion of
this visit to him. the only thing which seemed to trouble

60 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

his placid nature was the fact that water was no longer cap-
able of assuaging his thirst, and if his visitors had a bottle
of tire water with them, he would like to gather a little of
it under his wings. When his visitors told him they were
not prepared in that respect, he looked sad and incredulous,
and refusing to talk to them more, folded his arms and
gazed contemplatively towards the setting sun.

Occasionally when a band of Indians came along, the set-
tlers would have the fun of seeing an Indian dance. Such
entertainments were grand, gaudy and peculiar, and were
always witnessed by a large crowd of spectators. A circle
of ten or fifteen tremendous, face painted warriors would show
an agility and leg lifting talent entirely different from what
the white people were accustomed to see. Accompanied by
music pounded out of a drum or kettle, the performers would
squat about half way to the ground and hump themselves
around in a stiff legged sort of way. juggling their bodies up
and down like jumping- jacks.

At such times they were always arrayed in buckskin
striped in red and yellow and ornamented by bells, feathers,
beads and fringes. Each carried a tomahawk in hand and
from a cord around his neck were supposed to be hung the
scalps he had gathered during the past season. Then, to the
great enjoyment of settlers, 'to whom such an exhibition
was as good as a circus now-a-days,) the dancers would whoop
and dance with more fury and noise than pandemonium
turned loose.

An initation "war dance." in which a grand panoramic
display of the waving arms and leathery legs of a bewilder-
ing constellation of bespangled and revolving savages with
flashing knives and red painted tomahawks, usually conclud-
ed the performances.

The foregoing are samples of the early Indian exper-
iences in Dixon county. Many other similar stories could be
told, hut they are as bloodless and sealpless. and of as little
importance as these we have related.

In marked contrast to the above trivial, latter day Indian
stories, are the tales and legends concerning what happened
here a hundred or more years ago.

From such legends it appears that the Indians in the old

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 61

days were much more warlike and cruel than those with
whom the pioneers of Dixon county had to deal.

The frequent discoveries that have been made in this
country of stone arrows, axes and other mementos of the
ancient inhabitants have kept alive an interest in the legends
which come down through the many years elapsing since the
events occurred on which they were founded.

In 1875 while at Niobrara the writer was introduced to
an old Scotchman named McFarline who had lived nearly
all his lifeas a hunter and scout among the tribes west of
the Missouri, and was acquainted in a great degree, with
their languages, customs and traditions. Before Dixon
county was settled by the whites, Mr. McFarline had
frequently been here, and this region was therefore famil-
iar to him. He said the last time he was in Dixon county,
about forty years before, he accompanied a small party of
Brule Sionx who came with the purpose of trapping and
hunting, and if occasion ottered, of stealing a few horses
from the Ponca Indians. He said that at that time this
country was beautiful though wild and uncultivated. It was
with great pleasure that he talked of the wonderful changes
which had taken place since that time.

Among several curious stories of tribes formerly here Mc-
Farline related the history of a certain blood-thirsty chief.
Mish-te-ne-wah by name, and of his numerous wars and
raids upon surrounding tribes. It appears that at the com-
mencement of this century and doubtless during many long
years before, the country embraced within the counties of
Northern Nebraska along the river, was densely settled by
Indians. In Dixon county were several very large Indian
towns. One of the most extensive was located in the tine
valley of the Daily and had a large population. Doubtless
Messrs. Addison, Sherman, Thomas and others whose farms
are within those old Indian grounds, often find such
mementos as arrow heads, stone axes, pipes, etc.

At the place where the Daily intersects South Creek,
near the spot where Martinsburg now is, there was another
Indian town, a smaller place, however, than the other.
Three miles this side there was still another village, which
in an unlucky hour for it was destroyed, and all its inhabi-
tants—Indians, squaws and pappooses— to the last one

62 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

were killed and scalped by a raiding band of Chippeways.
The mound marking the resting place of these unfortun-
ates, is still to be seen.

There was also an Indian village occupying the ground
where Ponca is. Another was about three miles east and
down the valley; and along the bluffs on the north were
several more. One of these, quite a large town, was on the
farm of Joseph Brewer. Near where Ionia was, were two
villages, one of them as large as the town in the Daily
valley.

The tough old chief Mish-te-ne-wah above alluded to,
lived in the Indian town in Daily valley. It w r as his capital
city and was about eighteen miles west of where Ponca
now is, and its only monument is the one great tree of the
valley. There he ruled supreme over a large force of
warriors. When the spirit moved him to do so, he marched
out his fighting men and made fearful raids upon the more
peaceful tribe along the river near Ponca. Mish-te-ne-wah
was a skillful hand in the lighting and strategical business
and was therefore generally successful in his battles, taking-
large numbers of scalps and conveying home a numerous
company of prisoners who went with the comfortable assur-
ance of being burnt at the stake on their arrival.

But finally Mish-te-ne-wah came to grief. He came down
one night with a band of warriors, when a large party
of Indian hunters went for the marauders and hemming
them into one of the ravines between Ponca and the river
captured or killed the whole crowd.

Those who were taken prisoners were tied to stakes,
wood piled around them and various interesting ceremonies
were gone through with, the crowning feature of which was
the torturing and burning of the captives, who sang
bravely their w T ar songs until the flames choked them off.
Among the thirty or forty who were captured and burned
was the warlike Mish-te-ne-wah.

The place where they had their threads of life burned
off was, according to Mr. McFarline, about a mile northerly
from Ponca. This was in a measure corroborated a few
years ago by exploring a mound on the farm then owned by
Mr. F. Conrad. There, on one of the high bluffs which over-
look the Missouri, is a mound of circular form about twenty

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 63

feet in diameter and ten feet in height. Its appearance in-
dicates that it was constructed by human hands, and a few
years ago N. S. Porter and others investigated it to see what
it contained. The ground was packed down very hard, so
hard that it was almost as impenetrable as rock. With
great difficulty and labor, the explorers with pickaxes and
spades were enabled to excavate a hole from the top of the
mound downward about eight feet and some four feet across.
They were rewarded by finding the bones of numerous
human skeletons.

These skeletons showed that those buried there were of
great size, the skulls were large but thin and the jaw bones
were powerful and armed with tremendously strong double
teeth. With these bones they found a quantity of charcoal.
The skeletons had been placed side by side in a sitting posi-
tion and fronting the north. With them no beads, pipes or
weapons were found, thus showing that the occupants of
the mounds had been deprived of their weapons and orna-
ments before burial.

It is not unlikely that this was the place of torture and
burial of Mish-te-ne-wah and his band. The presence of
the charred wood indicated that they were here tortured by
fire. That they met their death by violence and were buried
without the respect which Indians always bestow upon their
friends is shown by the ignominious manner of their burial.

When Indians bury their friends they place in the graves
with them their pipes, beads, weapons, etc., in order to
give them a suitable outfit to start business in the next
world. But in this case not an arrow or bead was bestowed
upon them, nor even a pipe with which to enliven the jour-
ney to the happy hunting grounds.

And from the manner in which the Indians were placed
it would seem that those who buried them did not propose
they should ever get to the happy hunting grounds at all.
Their faces were turned to the north, away from the sun,
in which condition according to ancient Indian theology,
the spirit is supposed to always grope in darkness, thereby
rendering the chances of success in finding the Indian para-
dise very doubtful indeed. This is the Indian method of
cruelty beyond the grave.

»M HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

CHAPTER VI.

Courts and Crimes in Dixon County in 1870- Indians
Brought Before the District Court for the Murder
of Munson in Wayne County The Court of Judge
Lynch, and the Trial and Conviction of Mat Miller
for the Murder of Mr. Dunn Mysterious Fate of
James Bigley.

For several years after the county was organized, people
were too busy and law abiding to have many lawsuits.
Once a year a term of district court would he held hut there
were few cases to try, disputes having generally been
settled by friendly arbitration. About the only use of court
week was to give to grand and petit jurors, witnesses, sheriff
and spectators an opportunity to rest from their labors,
renew old acquaintances and enjoy a sociable day or two.
Discussions as to the crops, the increase of improvements and
population and the chances of candidates for county office
were held of more interest than the consideration of any
civil or criminal docket.

About the only important criminal case ever before the
district court of the county up to 1870 was that of five Win-
nebagos who had been arrested for murder. The crime was
not committed in Dixon county, but in Wayne, then attached
to Dixon for judicial purposes. From the evidence it ap-
peared that one C. S. Munson in the early part of the sum-
mer of 1870, while at work on his claim near Plum Creek.
Wayne county, was attacked, killed and scalped by the live
young Indians in question. They killed him and took his
scalp, not especially on account of malice but because they
wished to obtain a "brave" reputation with the tribe. They
were caught on the Winnebago reservation soon after, and
in August. Sheriff Dewitt brought them to Ponca for trial.

On the day court was held, two hundred Winnebagos
arrived in town to protect the interest of their fixe arrested
brethren, and whether or not Judge Crounse deemed it un-

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 65

healthy to proceed with the trial he transferred the case to
Washington county. They were accordingly taken there by
sheriff. On the route he was waylaid twice by armed bands
of several hundred Winnebagos who insisted on the release
of the prisoners, but his firmness kept them at bay. It was
only fear of future consequences that saved him on that
occasion of being scalped himself. However, he sucessfully
stood them off and went through all right. The prisoners
were afterwards tried at Blair and convicted and sent to the
penitentiary. The evidence that convicted them was a scalp
which was found in one of their tepees and which was
identified as Munson's by a peculiar scar or mark. One of
the prisoners was afterwards reprieved and the others died
in prison.

But while a case of murder had never been tried before
the district court of Dixon county, there was in 1870 atrial
of that kind in the court of Judge Lynch.

In July of that year the county was excited by a tragedy
within its borders, and for a short time the Arcadian pur-
suits of peace were laid aside and the citizens became stern
and relentless judges.

An account of the murder and of the swift and effectual
manner in which justice was administered will be interest-
ing to remember. This prompt method of settling with the
criminal, in which no delays, new trials nor appeals were
allowed to defeat the ends of justice, did more thereafter to
make wrongdoers avoid the county than a whole bench of
big wigged judges and lawyers could do. For several years
afterwards, if a man wanted to commit murder or steal a
horse, he was careful to see that it was done outside Dixon
county lines.

On the 1st day of July. 1870, an old gentleman named
Dunn started from his home in Clinton, Iowa, on a visit to
Northern Nebraska. Mr. Dunn was a farmer and not very
well off financially, and his desire to provide a home for his
family induced him to make a journey to Nebraska, design-
ing to purchase a farm if the country suited him.

Mr. Dunn, by those who knew him in Iowa, is said to
have been an honest and exemplary man and respected in the
community where he lived. When he left Clinton, he told
his wife that he would be absent about a month. He

M HISTORY <JF D1XUN COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

wished, he said, to see Dixon county, of which he had heard
favorable reports, and if the laud was as good and cheap as
represented, he would buy a farm and in a month's time
would be back after his family. Thus with cheerful antici-
pations he set out on his journey.

Mr. Dunn's western trip, until he reached Sioux City, was
by railroad. There he found further progress would have to
be made on foot or by stage. In those days there was not.
as now, a railroad between Sioux City and Ponca and the
best a traveler could do was to take the stage which made
two trips per week. If the traveler did not in his move-
ments hit the starting time of the stage, he would either
have to remain in Sioux City until its next trip, three days.
or provide some other means of conveyance. When Mr.
Dunn arrived in Sioux City he learned that the up-country
stage had left the morning before.

In as costly a stopping place as Sioux City was, the
thought of staying there two or three days was discouraging
to him. He would have immediately set out on foot, but
hesitated thus entering a sparsely settled country which he
was wholly unacquainted with. Fortunately, as it seemed
to him. he met a young man who said he lived in Dixon
county and was expecting to go there the next day. He said
he would go on foot, and he offered if Mr. Dunn desired, to
conduct him to Ponca.

Mr. Dunn gladly accepted the friendly offer, and on the
next day, July 3, the two crossed the river to Covington and
started on their walk toward Ponca, twenty-five miles
distant. The companion of Mr. Dunn was a young man
about twenty-two years of age. In size he was yet a mere
boy, having a slight form and a thin, beardless face which,
however, bore the marks of dissipation. He said his name
was Mat Miller.

They left Covington before noon and at three o'clook had
progressed on their trip as far as the little town of Jackson.
Here they rested a short time, and then again started on
their road. As they journeyed along Mr. Dunn appeared much
pleased with the country which he then saw for the first
time. In his unsuspecting honesty he did not hesitate to
tell his youthful companion that the object of his visit
was to buy a home for himself and family, and he made

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. «7

many inquiries as to the quality of land, the price per acre,
the climate, society, schools and churches. Thus in friendly
inquiries and conversation the tedium of their walk was
worn away.

Half an hour before sundown they came to a little
stream. Badger Creek, which crossed their road about three
miles from Ponca. On the bank of this rivulet the weary
travelers saw with pleasure a cool and inviting thicket
of timber, and entering its refreshing shade they sat down
to rest a few moments before completing the remainder of
their journey.

From the timber, so pleasant and inviting to a man worn
by a twenty mile tramp over hot and dusty roads, scarcely a
a sign of life was visible on all the surrounding landscape;
not a cultivated field could be seen nor habitation excepting
one homesteaders cabin on a distant hill.

The road which Mr. Dunn and young Miller had followed
was not in those days much traveled. To the homesteader's
family in their cabin on the hill it was an event worthy of
notice and mention, when they saw the accustomed solitude
disturbed by passing travelers. On this occasion the family
saw the two footmen, (one of whom they recognized as a
young man whom they had seen in Ponca) long before they
reached the thicket of timber. They saw them plod wearily
along and when they reached the timber, saw them enter.
In half an hour afterwards and just as the sun was going
down, they saw the young man, Mat Miller come out. The
other man was not with him. Miller pursued his way
towards Ponca.

Twenty-live years ago, Ponca was not as large a town as
at present nor was it blessed with its present bustle and busi-
ness. Two or three stores provided for the town and county,
a single tavern fed and bedded the few who came in from
abroad and a single saloon invited the thirsty to enter. Of
these several institutions, it is probable the saloon did the
greatest business. It was kept by a man, whose son, Mat
Miller, had become very reckless and dissipated. He often
absented himself from home and devoted his time to the
lowest and vilest haunts of Sioux City. During these ex-
peditions he had fallen under the influence of one of the
abandoned sirens of that city. He was infatuated with her.

tjfc HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

and she by her seductive wiles not only led him far away
from honor, but took what money he could beg from his
father or steal from others. On his last visit to his charmer,
she had warned him that if he expected farther favors and
friendship from her he must bring her more money, a big
pile, in fact, or else, to use the expressive language of the
bagnio, she would "shake him."

On the evening of the day when Mr. Dunn and Mat
Miller journeyed on foot towards Ponca, old man Miller, the
saloon keeper, was roused from the contemplation of his
row of bottles and the drinkable treasures they contained
by the arrival of his son. "Hello Mat" and "Hello dad,"
were all the salutations which, in no very gracious manner,
passed between the pair. Mat went to the bar and helped
himself to some of his father's strongest poison, and then
turning to the old man told him that he was going away "for
good," and if he had any money to give him before he left,
he wanted it for he was going the very next day. His father
answered Mat by a surly refusal to give him money then
or ever. "I don't care," retorted Mat, "I have more money
than you have, and I could buy and sell you twice over."
So saying he drew from his pocket a large roll of bills and
exultingly displaced them before the old man's eyes.
"There is what I've got since I've been gone" continued Mat,
"and I can do it again, and I don't ask any odds of such an
old fool as you are." "How you earned it," replied his
father, "I don't know, but I should think in the butcher
business, for your bills are all blood and so are your shirt
sleeves."

A thirsty customer now entering the saloon for his even-
ing bitters, put an end to this interesting conversation be-
tween father and son. But though the conversation ended,
what had been said and the unusual spectacle of a roll of
bills in the hands of Mat Miller had been fastened upon the
memory of the only spectator of the scene, old Dan Foley, an
honest but chronically befuddled toper, who, half drunk,
but not too drunk to see and hear, reclined on a bench in
the corner. As the customer entered, Mat hastened to put
the money out of sight, and soon after left the saloon.

The next day was the 4th of July and was duly kept and
honored at Ponca by the people of that town and.vicinity.

HISTUKV OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 69

Matt did not go away that day, as he had declared he would,
but remained, and no doubt, as far as his blood stained con-
science would permit, participated in the enjoyments of the
occasion. In the evening a grand ball wound up the
festivities and Mat was one of the fiddlers, and, to use the
words of one who was there, "fiddled all night without drop-
ping a note or missing a drink."

The next morning before "sun up" Mat left town. He
was noticed going towards Ponca landing, a mile north on
the river, and from that time forward he was seen there no
more, until he was returned to participate in scenes of won-
derful interest and excitement. It was afterwards learned
that when Mat left, he crossed the river and went down on
the Dakota side to Sioux City where he gladdened with
gifts of money and jewelry the heart of his painted doxy,
and soon after, accompanied by her, he journeyed to Council
Bluffs and there among kindred spirits scattered money
right royally.

The same day Mat Miller left Ponca, a hunter made a
discovery in the thicket of timber previously mentioned. It
was a dead man whom he saw lying there. The head was
beaten almost to a jelly, the throat was cut from ear to ear
and the body had as many as twenty stabs. In the pool of
blood surrounding the corpse, were seen the club and knife
which had been used to complete the cruel work. The club
was the hickory cane which Mr. Dunn had carried.

When a murder is committed in a law-abiding commun-
ity, it naturally creates far greater excitement and indigna-
tion than it would in localities where such crimes are of
frequent occurrence. Here was a murdered man, who,
when due investigation was made by the coroner's jury and
on examination of the papers discovered on the body, was
found to be Mr. Dunn whose arrival in Ponca had been ex-
pected for ten days past by those with whom he had corres-
ponded in relation to purchasing land. That he had been
murdered for his money there could be no doubt. Who had
done this damnable deed? Evidence was immediately forth-
coming. There were those who remembered seeing Mr.
Dunn and Mat Miller leave Covington on foot together. At
Jackson their presence was recalled. The homesteader's
family saw them enter the thicket together, and soon after-

70 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

wards saw Mat go away alone. The bloody knife was recog-
nized as one which Mat had bought at a store in Ponca a
few weeks before. Old Dan Foley cudgeled his alcoholic
brain and brought out what he had seen and heard when
Mat and his father had their talk in the saloon. From all
this evidence, the conclusion was inevitable that Mat Miller
was the red handed criminal.

Then eager enquiries were made for him. There was ex-
treme anxiety that he be punished. Here was a man who
had been struck down while coming to be one of the good
citizens of the county. Anger excited every breast and the
whole community burned with a desire to see that such
swift, retributive justice be done to the murderer, that in all
future time the memory of it would protect others from a
similar violence. But where was Mat Miller?

Sheriff Dewitt hunted for him. His inquiries tracked
him to Sionx City. From there he followed his trail to
Council Bluffs, and there, riotously squandering the money
of his victim, the sheriff found him.

On the 23rd day of July, Sheriff Dewitt brought Mat
Miller in irons back to Ponca. Then the people of the
county, impelled by the stern determination to see justice
done without delay, assembled and took Mat from the
sheriff, and before a self-organized and orderly tribunal,
held in a church and presided over by a minister of the gos-
pel, tried him for his crime.

Mat confessed his guilt. He related to the people that
when resting in the thicket of timber with Mr. Dunn,
the thought first came into his mind to kill him.

He said he wanted money for the girl he loved in Sioux
City. If he had money, she would go away with him where
they could always live together. If he did not get money
she threatened to discard him. As he thus reasoned to him-
self he drew his knife and attacked his victim. He stabbed
him repeatedly and lest those terrible wounds were not enough
to kill him, cut his throat and crushed his head with a club.
Then without remorse he robbed the body, and bore away
the harvest of money he had acquired.

This was substantially his confession. A vote was taken
by the great jury of 500 people assembled in the church,
whether the criminal should be punished by hanging. Al-

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 71

most unanimously that question was decided in the affirma-
tive. Whereupon the reverend presiding 1 officer, who had
opened the investigation with prayer and had conducted
the proceedings with solemnity and decorum, now sentenced
the criminal to death. The prisoner was placed in a wagon
and immediately taken to the western end of town for exe-
cution.

The gallows consisted of three scantlings joined at the
top. The wagon was driven beneath, the rope adjusted to
the prisoner's neck and the wagon drawn from under him.
His neck was not broken and hence his sufferings must
have been great. At the end of thirty minutes it was an-
nounced he was dead. The body was then taken down,
placed in a coffin and removed to the church where, an hour
before, the trial had been held. The next morning it was
buried.

Several months after the summary trial and hanging of
Mat Miller there were vague rumors bearing on his case.
One was that by the skill of doctors he had after his hanging
been brought back to life again. Another rumor was to the
effect that it was known to at least four of those who at-
tended the burial, that instead of the body of Mat Miller it
was a coffin of brick which was interred. Still another
rumor was listened to and believed by some, that he had
been seen on the Omaha reservation. One night, a few
years after the hanging, a citizen insisted that he saw him
on the streets of Ponca.

All these rumors were, however, found to be ill founded.
To settle the question, a number of citizens opened Mat
Miller's grave and were convinced that it was Mat himself,
and not a coffin of brick, which had been buried.

Such is the history of Mat Miller's crime, trial and hang-
ing. That he deserved the fate he received none will deny.
And in view of usual court proceedings in criminal cases,
can we not believe that the services of Judge Lynch are
sometime necessary.

It was thought bv some of the old settlers that the mur-
der of Mr. Dunn was not the first crime of the kind which
Mat Miller had been concerned in. In 1869 James Bigley
and his brother, William Bigley. and W. I). Long were keep-
ing a grocery store in Ponca. One day in the fall. James

7^ HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Bigley went to Sioux City to get some repairs for a thresh-
ing machine and also to pay $400 to Booge & Co. for goods
for the store.

At Sioux City in the evening, Bigley was seen on the
streets by several who knew him, and an old friend, Fitz-
gibbons, who lived in Sioux City, desired him to go home
with him and stay over night but he refused.

Next morning Bigley was missing. His coat and hat
were found on the steamboat Miner which was lying there,
but he was never found, and from that day to this his
fate has been a matter of mystery and conjecture. Among
the many rumors, it was said that he was seen that
evening with Mat Miller and a fellow called "Fiddler Jim,"
and that they killed and robbed him at a house near Perry
Creek and after the murder put the coat and hat on the
steamboat as a blind. Whether there was any truth in the
story it is now impossible to say. Mr. Bigley was a good
citizen, upright in his dealings and beneficial to the com-
munitv where he lived.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

CHAPTER VII.

Story of a Rascally Little Railroad The Covington,
Columbus and Black Hills Narrow Gauge Enterprise
Its Rise and Career Its Exploits in Finances and
Building and its Final Sale by a Receiver.

Old settlers of the county remember the general anxiety,
twenty-five years ago, to have railroad connection with the
outside world. In 1869 the so-called St. Paul and Nebraska
Railroad company had offered to build such a road if bonds
were voted to aid the enterprise. The project fell through
and for several years thereafter railroad building here was
dormant. But as time went on and the need of such a road
grew more urgent, citizens seemed willing to do most any-
thing by way of aid could they but see the cars rolling into
Dixon county.

hi July, 1873, their hopes were aroused for a short time
by the announcement that the St. Paul and Nebraska Com-
pany would that year build from Sioux City to Jackson,
twelve miles, and from there to some point in Dixon county.
All this was, however, mere talk; the St. Paul and Nebraska
Company could not out of its own funds have built a rod of
road. It was supposed by many to be simply a scheme to
make a stake out of Dakota and Dixon counties.

hi 1S74. discoveries of gold in the Black Hills and the
great rush of people to that point increased the railroad
fever. Dixon county was on the route then followed from
Sioux City to the Hills and it seemed reasonable that the
long desired road would now come. Nor were people mis-
taken. In 1875 several capitalists or pretended capitalists
whose lack of funds was compensated by hardness of cheek,
came together at Sioux City and concocted the "Covington.
Columbus and Black Hills railroad" scheme. It was pro-
posed to build a road commencing at Covington, and run-
ning west through Dakota, Dixon, Cedar and Knox counties,

74 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

and from thence by one branch to the Hills and by another
to Columbus, there making connection with the Union Pa-
cific. The name given to the proposed road, "the Coving-
ton, Columbus & Black Hills" expressed the points of de-
parture and termination.

After the scheme had been fully prepared, the men in
charge of it devoted several months to soliciting aid from
several counties. At a meeting of the county commission-
ers of Dixon county, held November 24, 1875, a committee
of smooth and plausible men, mainly of Sioux City, headed
by J. B. Hubbell of Mankato, Minn., appeared and submit-
ted their proposition, which in substance was as follows:

If Dixon county will donate to the Covington. Columbus
tV: Black Hills Railroad Company, $87,000 in the coupon
bonds of said county, dated January 1. 1876, payable in
twenty years, with interest semi-annually at the rate of ten
per cent per annum, said company will build a railroad from
Covington, Nebraska, to and through said county, upon the
most practicable route east and west.

When said railroad is graded to the center section line of
range five, the builders shall have $20,000 of said bonds,
and when the road is completed from Covington into the
county three miles, and trains running, the company will
receive the remainder of the bonds.

The grading to said center section line to be completed
within a year, and the completion of the three miles into
the county, within fifteen months from November 24. 1875.

After due consideration, the county commissioners,
Messrs. 0. P. Sullenberger, W. H. Clark and J. Martin, de-
termined to submit the proposition to the voters and for that
purpose ordered an election held December 27. 1875. At
such election five hundred and seventy-two votes were cast,
of which four hundred and sixty were for railroad bonds,
and one hundred and twelve against, thereby carrying the
proposition by more than a two-thirds vote.

The C. C. & B. H. Co. made similar propositions to Da-
kota county on the east and to the counties of Cedar and
Knox on the west, all of which voted the bonds asked for.

On April 20, 1S7C>, the company commenced at Covington
to grade their road, and pushed it forward with vigor, hop-
ing to reach Ponca by July 4. that town having been de-
cided by the company to be on the best and most practica-
ble route. The road was not built into the county as soon

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 75

as July 4, but in September it was completed and cars run-
ning between Covington and Ponca, and the grading finished
to the center section line of range live, and thereupon the
bonds were turned over to the company, $20,000, on Sep-
tember 16th, and $67,000 on September 22; total $87,000.

But though the letter of the contract had been complied
with so the commissioners could not refuse to turn over the
bonds to the company, yet the road had not been completed
in good faith and according to the implied understanding.

The amount of bonds donated, justified the people in be-
lieving they were to have a road of standard guage, solidly
built, and with the best kind of ties and iron. Instead of
that, fraud seemed to be written all over it. A little con-
temptible affair, with a three and a half foot guage and con-
structed throughout with cheap and inferior material and
labor. No wonder people were disappointed and enraged.
They had saddled on the county a debt of $87,000 for a road
which could have cost little more than that sum, and the
thought naturally arose whether so much fraud and ill faith
<m the part of the company did not release the county from
paying the $87,000, or any part of it.

In the meanwhile, insignificant as the road would have
been in a country where railroads were frequent, its coming
gave the county quite a push for a short time. It was sup-
posed there would be more desirable markets for what was
bought or sold, that people would come and locate, and that
reil estate of all kinds would be more in demand and at
better prices. These hopes only in a very small measure
were realized.

The benefit was trivial compared with what it would
have been had the road been of standard guage and first
class construction. Grain, cattle and hogs could then have
been shipped direct to Chicago without changing cars at
Covington or Sioux City.

The fact was, the cost of sending a car of cattle or pro-
duce to Sioux City over the narrow guage and then chang-
ing to a car of standard guage was fully as great as it was
to send them by wagon in the old fashioned way. Hence
aside from the amusement of seeing the little engine and
rattle trap train of cars creep out in the morning and creep
in at night, one hardly saw any great benefit therefrom and

JQ HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

especially a benefit equivalent to the gift of $87,000.
When people thought of these matters, and reflected how
gross and expensive a swindle it had been to them, how
much had been paid and how little received, their indigna-
tion grew until almost uncontrollable.

In the spring of 1S77 the work of grading west of Ponca,
was resumed. Grading was pretended to be done to the
west side of the county and from there to the center of
Cedar county and a certain amount of work had to be done
before such bonds could be claimed. Fortunately for Cedar
county, a sensible mob assembled one day at St. Helena and
seized the bonds amounting to $150,000 and made a bonfire
of them. Thus that county was saved the grief and expense
of a big suit in the United States Court.

Knox county had also the good fortune and good sense to
destroy their bonds. Towards fall the company began to
feel hard up. There were no more counties to plunder of
bonds and hence no more bonds to sell. Men who had
worked on the grade for the company, clamored for their
pay.

As to the road as far as it was built an 1 operated, it did
not pay expenses. Sometimes a run would be made between
Ponca and Covington without a single passenger or pound
of freight and nine times out of ten there were not over
three or four passengers. Not a very prosperous outlook,
certainly, for the railroad company.

Towards the fall of 1S77 the company lead a new general
manager, one Davenport, who was said to be as remorseless
an old scoundrel as ever struck the country. So unpopular
did he become in a short time with the workmen that he
was in danger of personal violence. Once it was rumored
he had been shot by a grader who could get no pay for his
work, and it was said by one who had more wit than sym-
pathy, that the rumor was circulated for the purpose of
raising the market value of the company's stock.

At one time several hundred unpaid men who had been
working on the grade west of New Castle were at Covington
waiting for their pay. Either by some knot of red tape or
with hopes of wearing them out. the crowd of men were
kept dancing attendance from dav to day, all on expense.
many of them wholly destitute aid actually suffering for

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. ;,

the necessaries of life, waiting for the wages due them, and
as it appeared, waiting in vain. The feelings of the crowd
seemed exceedingly vindictive towards General Manager
Davenport. One day a hungry but resolute looking in-
dividual made the following brief remarks: "We are here
after our pay and we are going to have it, you bet. If we
don't get it. we'll help the devil to foreclose his mortgage
on old Davenport." With these words he made a horrible
grimace and putting his hand on his throat stuck out his
tongue and pointed significantly to a tree near by.

Another story which was told and which helped to excite
the wide spread indignation was: A man had worked two
months on the grade in Cedar county. His wife and
children were in Sioux City. To them he sent the vouchers
he had received for his work and his wife went to the office
of the C. C. & B. H. Company to get the money. The
general manager listened to her request with insolent
indifference and gruffly told her he had no money f oi-
lier. She told him of the destitution of herself and
family and implored him to pay a part at least. She offered
to let him have the vouchers for her husband's work for
live dollars. She offered them for $3; for $2; for $1.50. To
all her appeals she merely received a grunt of disapproval,
and the poor woman retired from the presence of that
dignitary in tears and despair.

Such are samples of the numerous stories of injustice
which were told of the C. C. & B. H. Company. It is said
that hundreds were kept out of their earnings, in fact were
never paid, and that not the slightest effort was made by the
company to meet its obligations or to relieve the distress
of the defrauded workmen. There were in that company two
or three honorable men. but they were in the minority and
to them these criticisms do not refer.

In September an application was made to Judge Dillon
of the United States Court to place the road in the hands of
a receiver. The application was denied, but the Judge
stated that if the company failed to proceed in good faith
and without delay in the construction of the road, a receiver
would be appointed.

The existence ot the company continued longer than any
one expected. It struggled, lied and swindled its way along

78 H1STOKY UF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

through the fall, winter and spring and finally in May, 1878,
was placed in the hands of Judge Love, of Des Moines, Iowa,
as receiver. It was said the company was then indebted for
work done on the road to the amount of 175,000 and that
not a dollar of it was ever paid.

From that time forward there was nothing done on the
road even to keep it in repair. The worthless cotton wood
ties crumbled with old age and rottenness and the
rails degenerated into two parallel streaks of rust. The
little train trundled up and down between Ponca and Cov-
ington every day, on time or off, it mattered little, as it
generally carried neither passengers nor freight. It was a
worthless fraud and had been from the start.

Finally to the joy of everybody, it was. in October, lS7i).
sold by order of the United States Court to the corporation
now known as the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha
R. R. Company and in a few months a great change for the
better took place. The track was widened to standard
guage, new ties and rails replaced the wretched Cottonwood
sticks and worthless strap iron and the bridges and road bed
were reconstructed. From a roaring and costly farce the
road soon became and has since continued one of the best
in the state. The ancient habit of running slow (acquired
during the days of the C. C. & B. H., when, it was said, the
solitary passenger could hold long conversations with farmers
plowing in neighboring fields and only ceased when the
plow beat the train.) no longer wears time and patience.

As to the $87,000, action was commenced against the
county in the United States Circuit Court in 1S7S and was
afterwards appealed to the Supreme Court of the United
States and there in 1884 was finally decided in favor of the
county. Thus freed from claims and out of debt the county
could joyfully admit the truth of the maxim that "all is well
that ends well."

In this effort to extort from Dixon county $87,000 for
three miles of pocket railroad, it was believed that some of
the leading business men of Sioux City had much to do, and
had played a part as shameless as that of Shylock in his
resolve to cut out the heart of Antonio. Whether the be-
lief was well founded or not. it created a distrust of that
city which still continues and will require years to remove.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. n

CHAPTER Vill.

The Urowth of the County Continued The South Half
of the County Commences Settling up- Martinsburg
Started in 1S72-- Blizzards and Loss of Life in 1872
-Grasshoppers in 1874, 1875 and 1870 -The Black
Hills Excitement of 1875 and the C. C. & B. H. R. R.
The Increase in Size and Business of Ponca, Mar-
tinsburg and New Castle -The Earthquake of 1877

First Steps Toward an Agricultural Society
Terrible Prairie Fires in March 1879.

During the years in which the C. C. & B. H. R. R. Co.
troubles, briefly related in the last chapter, were foremost
in the minds of citizens, the county was gradually increasing
in wealth and population. There were occasional short
crops, especially during the grasshopper years of 1874 and
1875, but otherwise the general prosperity of the county was
all that could be expected.

Before 1869 the southern half of the county had been
almost entirely unsettled, and in a very large proportion of
the balance of the county, there was much vacant land.
In '69, 70 and 71. the region of country now known
as Wakefield, Logan, Emerson, Concord. Springbank and
Daily townships, began to grow in citizens and improve-
ments.

The first white settlers of Wakefield and Logan town-
ships came there in 1869. As the years went by their num-
bers were slowly added to. Springbank had previously but
a handful of settlers, but in that year and afterwards had
many. To Daily in 70 and 71 came a large number: and
Clark had its first resident in 1871. Galena, which had
already had a few residents, made rapid increase in 1870 and
following years. The same may also be said of Silver Creek.
Hooker, Ionia, Otter Creek and Ponca townships. Emerson.
Wakefield and Logan did not for several years grow as

80 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

rapidly as the other townships we have named. Though

having excellent land and presenting unusual attractions,
the lack of markets and railroad facilities kept them in the
background in a great measure until 1881 when the Norfolk
branch of the St. Paul railroad was built through them.

The healthy increase in population from and after 1870 is
seen by figures. In the summer of L870 the number was
1,345, and in 1875, 2,886, a gain of over 20 per cent each year.
New farms and improvements were more and more seen as
time went on and occasionally a new post office, mill or
small center of trade would be started.

Martinsburg, a pleasant and prosperous village in Galena
township was founded by Jonathan Martin in 1872. It is
situated at the junction of South and Daily Creeks and near
the center of the county, and being surrounded by a wide
area of rich farming land, and having an excellent water
pow T er it was thought it would develop into a successful rival
of Ponca for county seat honors. In 1873 a grist mill was
built by Mr. Martin which was soon after destroyed by a
freshet and was the next year rebuilt. Other branches of
of business were also soon after started, a store, hotel, black-
smith shop, etc.. and several dwelling houses. Afterwards
in 1875, an effort was made to remove the county seat to
Martinsburg, and at the election held. October 12. of that
year to decide the question, that town came within about a
dozen votes of winning the prize. A second unsuccessful
attempt to remove the county seat to that place was made a
few years later. It will so continue to result until Martins-
burg is connected with other places by railroad, when it will
probably become one of the most important towns in the
county.

During the interval of 1870 and 1875 the growth of Ponca
village was small, although it was the principal trading
point for a large extent of country and did a good business.
But it lacked railroad facilities and hence could not expect
to be a desirable market town. When the narrow gauge
railroad project was started, Ponca as well as a large part of
the county were strongly in favor of it. It came as has been
seen, but it was of little benefit until it fell into better
hands several vears afterwards.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 81

Dixon county and especially in the southern half of it
where there were no hills and timber to give protection, was
noted in an early day for its tremendous prairie tires in the
spring and summer and for its blizzards in the winter. In
the northern part where the country was rougher and the
grass less luxuriant, tires were generally kept under control.
But in the southern valleys and great stretches of unbroken
and nearly level land covered by a dense growth of dry and
inflammable grass, with neither trees or hills to ward off the
wind, a tire once started swept everything before it with
irresistable power. In later years it has been different.
(Proves and plowed fields subdue the fury of tire and wind
and settlers with ordinary care can feel secure.

As to blizzards, they were worse in the unprotected
level lands of the southern part of the county. A blizzard
swept the county February 12, 1S72, and was especially
terrible in the Logan valley. On the morning of that day.
Joseph Bolsom (who lived in the southeast corner of what is
known as Concord township and who came there in 1871)
went with (I. W. Packer of Logan to Graves' grove on South
Creek, two miles away, to get wood. The day was clear and
no hint was given of a coming storm. They went to the
grove, each with a team and sled, and had loaded up and
started for home, Bolsom in advance, when the blizzard struck
them. It was impossible to see the road or each other and
each had to guess his way through the storm as best he
could. Packer went through to Hind's house in Logan all
right, arriving there late in the afternoon. He felt no
anxiety for Bolsom whom he supposed had also made a safe
trip home. The next morning the air was again clear and
still, and Packer saw Bolsom's team standing in the valley
half a mile away, no one near them. Packer hastened down
to see what the trouble was and found Bolsom lying on the
ground near the sled, nearly covered by snow and frozen
stiff. It was supposed that he had been wandering around
nearly all night before finally succumbing to the storm.
During the same blizzard, old man "Austin" as he was called,
who since 1869 had lived near the Taft post office a few
miles from Logan, went about six miles to get wood on the
Winnebago reservation, and was lost in the storm and
perished.

82 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

One day in February of the next winter, Henry Harden,
who lived near the Bolsom place went with his sleigh and
horses to sec a neighbor, Spaulding, who lived a mile
distant. He was accompanied by his grandson, a boy twelve
years old. While at Spaulding's place a blizzard came up
and Harden and his grandson made a start for home.
Neither was ever again seen alive and Harden was never
seen at all. Two days after, the sleigh was found and in it
the hoy frozen to death. The horses had there become de-
tached from the sleigh, and as their tracks showed, they
went with the storm and in the direction of the reservation.
There they were found afterw r ards. Mr. Harden was never
found.

The first death in the county of a white man by freezing
was that of Daniel Donlin and occurred February 13, 1866.
He had been to Sioux City and on his return was caught by a
blizzard and perished within a mile of home. He lived in
Galena, a short distance from where Martinsburg now is,
removing there in 1856 from Iowa.

Such are among the blizzard experiences of the early
settlers and probably are the worst. Lives were not often lost
though there were many narrow escapes.

As the prosperous years went by, settlers hardly ever
thought of the grasshopper raid of 1857 or reflected that
the 'hoppers were liable to come again. From this forgetful-
ness they were awakened one day in the summer of 1873, by
the arrival of a small cloud of them from the northwest
which came down upon the fields and gardens. They re-
mained but a short time and did little damage. They gave
notice, however, that they still continued on earth and as
was afterwards seen were the trivial advance guard of an
innumerable host the year after.

In the east, the destructive western grasshopper is hardly
known, but here their appearance heralds annihilation to
every growing crop. The abiding home of these raiders is
on the high, dry plateaus of New Mexico and Arizona and
the foot hills of the Rocky Mountains. There they multiply
with astonishing rapidity and become to numerous to sub-
sist, and then like bees, they swarm and migrate to other
countries. They go with the wind. Hying until hunger
brings them down, and then woe to the field they alight on.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 83

From their home in the mountains they do not all go at one
time nor to one place. They become widely separated after
starting, but in almost any case, whether the grand army or
some principal detachment, they are as the sands of the sea,
myriads of millions. Coming in the distance they look like
a light cloud rapidly riding on the wind, and under the
blazing noon day sun they glitter like snow flakes, extend-
ing from near the ground to the height of half a mile.
When they drop down to feed, every green thing is covered
in a minute and they sweep everything eatable before them.

Such was the visitation which Nebraska received from
them in the summer of 1S74. It was a calamity none could
foresee or avoid.

They came in countless myriads, sometimes in such dense
clouds as to obscure the sun. The morning of the day they
came, the fields promised a great harvest of corn, wheat and
vegetables. At noon the hoppers had come in force, the air
was full of them, and every stalk of corn and wheat, every
tree, every species of vegetation even to the grass was black
with them, and when night came nearly every growing crop
had been destroyed. Therefore there was nothing of im-
portance raised that year.

Suffering, of course, ensued, and many, fearing a recur-
rence of the scourge, sold their farms for whatever they
could get and left the country. Those who thus made haste
to leave, have without doubt often regretted their action.
The 'hoppers came again the next year, (1875) but in less
force and in 1876 a few scattering ones only. That was the
last of them. Since then scarce one has been seen in Dixon
county

In the spring of 1S75, several matters of importance to
the county diverted attention from the bad results of the
grasshopper raid of the year before. One was the conven-
tion to amend the state constitution, and on April 6, S.
H. Coats was elected county delegate. Another matter of
still greater interest, was the recent discovery of gold in the
Black Hills and the rush which then commenced of thou-
sands of adventurers to that country.

On April 16. the first Black Hills party (the Andrews Com-
pany, organized at Sioux City and containing seventy-eight
men and fifteen wagons I passed through the county on their

S4 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

way. camping at Ponca their first night out. This was the
last town they would see on their trip. This first company
was soon followed by many others. It was a long, tedious
journey to the "Hills" in those days and accompanied with
much danger. There were no railroads to convey them and
no towns on the route to receive them or furnish supplies.
The usual time of making a trip was about forty days. It
was through a wild country, much of it desert, that the
dreary forty days' journey had to be taken. Many became
sick and some died on the route from hardship and exposure,
and a few were killed by the Indians, who, regarding the
Black Hills as sacred Indian ground, did all in their power
to drive back or destroy those who were invading it. Being
on the main travelled route to the "Hills." was the cause of
the invention of the Black Hills Railroad scheme through
Dixon county.

After the grasshopper raids were over, the greatest dam-
age being in 1S74. and the loss in 75 and '76 not to exceed 5
per cent, the county quickly recovered its usual courage.

The county thus far in its life had been ably conducted
by those in charge of its affairs. In the selection of county
officers, citizens had looked more to the fitness of the candi-
dates for office than to the political party they belonged to.
Hence, from the first, some favorites were democrats and
others were republicans and if an incumbent was compe-
tent, faithful and popular, he generally held the office as
long as he wished, whatever his politics, or even if he had no
politics at all.

The non-partisan course thus adopted was one which was
judicious. It really matters little as to party in selecting a
county officer. If he does his work faithfully and is guided
by fairness and honesty, nothing more can reasonably bo
asked.

During the first few years of the county, the democratic
party was much the strongest, although since then that
rule has been reversed, yet the proportion of democrats
elected to county office was no greater, considering their
number, than that of the republicans. As the county became
older, party lines were more strictly observed, yet always,
even to this time, the ability and personal popularity of a
nominee for county office, is more regarded than his politics.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 85

Iii 1S75 the board of commissioners had submitted to
them the proposition of the 0. C. & B. H. R. R. Co. to build
their road into the county if $87,000 in bonds were donated,
and the election to decide the question resulted in favor of
it, The history of this swindle we have given. Suffice it
here to say, the road was pushed along by its managers, and
entered Ponca in September, 1S7(i, with cheek and assurance,
and with an extended hand for the $87,000.

Being narrow guage, its arrival did not help the county
as much as had been expected. Really, aside from the name
of having a railroad, it was practically of little value. It
was as cheap to carry passengers or produce to Sioux City
by wagon as it was by rail.

In Ponca several hundred village lots were donated to the
Railroad Company and a right of way granted through the
town. A depot and a few other buildings were erected, and
people kept up as good courage as could be expected with an
$87,000 debt staring them in the face.

The coming of the road did not increase the value of
or demand for real estate in Ponca or in the county to
any great extent. During the fall of '76 a few residences
were built and occasionally a business house. However, al-
though the business of the place did not increase much, it
was certainly as good as before the road was built. The lo-
cation of Ponca gave it as in the past, the patronage of a
great number of settlers. Aside from the tooting of the
whistle of the little railroad train the town moved along much
as usual.

Among other improvements in 1876, if it be called an
improvement, Ponca was incorporated, and henceforth a
board of trustees looked after its streets and sidewalks and
controlled its affairs. Ponca had years before been incor-
porated, but the annual election of village officers had been
neglected and finally given up.

In the spring of 1877, Ponca had three general stores, two
hardware and two drug stores, one bank, two hotels, a grist
mill, harness shop, market, furniture store, lumber yard,
grain dealers, insurance and real estate agents, two physi-
cians, five attorneys, etc. The population of the place was
clanned to be at that time, about eight hundred.

86 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

In the summer and fall, work was slowly going forward
on the railroad grade between Ponca and New Castle and
from the latter place to the center of Cedar county.

hi June, 1S77. a cheese factory was started near Ponca by
Heydon and Wilbur and run two months. The factory closed
August 23, having made in two months 2,( N >< I pounds of cheese.
This was one of the first cheese factory experiments in the
county.

In the same year Stough and Mikesell built a large brick
store on the corner of East and Third streets, two stories
high, twenty-eight feet wide, and extending back on East
street, eighty feet. This was the first brick business house
in Ponca.

The question of having township organization in Dixon
county was discussed in the summer and fall, and at the
election held November 6, 1S77. was voted on. Two hundred
and forty-three votes were cast in favor of and two hundred
and forty-two votes against it. thus carrying the proposition
by a majority of one. It came to nothing, however, forin the
January following, the supreme court of the state decided
the township organization law inoperative and void.

hi 1S77. the attention of some of the farmers was turned
to the profit of wool growing. In October. Joseph Morton
shipped 'J, 720 pounds of wool to market, and received a good
price for it. This was not a great thing, but was a starter.

Martinsburg and New Castle were active in 1S77. At
Martinsburg, Wright and Lockwood's store and Duren's mill
did a large business and a cheese factory and other buildings
were contemplated. At New Castle the expected C. C. & B.
H. h\ R. kept things booming.

At noon, November 15, 1S77. the county was shaken by
an earthquake, the worst this country had experienced for
many years, and for about a minute everything seemed to
be on the move. Houses shook and swung, windows and
doors clattered, trees and chimneys tottered and wood piles
nun bled their logs, and for the time being all nature trem-
bled with rage. The performance was soon over, how-
ever, and but little harm occurred except to a few broken win-
dows. At John H. Armstrong's farm in South Creek valley
and Rev. Hutchinson's place in Daily the shock was quite
severe.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. *;

Iii the same month of the earthquake, though perhaps
not occasioned by it, Ponca started its first brass band, the
members being Prof. Davis, Guy Wilbur, Level Jones, Fred
Burroughs, John Stough. Jr., Fred Powers. J. A. Mikesell
and J. B. Barnes.

The fuel question was always an important one in Dixon
county, and particularly in the southern part where timber
was scarce. Hence the announcement in the fall of 1877
that an eighty acre bed of excellent peat had been discov-
ered near Park Hill, (Logan township), excited general at-
tention for a short time. But excitement in this country,
whether over coal or peat, are not lasting, people having
come to the wise conclusion that there is more warmth in
the imagination of the finder of coal or peat than there is
in the article found.

On January 1. 1878, the railroad grading was reported to
have been completed and bridge piles driven from Ponca to
seventeen miles beyond New Castle. Aside from criticizing
the railroad and its officers, a more useful subject of thought
began to occupy attention. An agricultural society for
Dixon county had been favorably thought of for several
years by the farmers, and especially that winter. This agi-
tation in favor of an agricultural society resulted the next
spring in a mass meeting held, (April 11), 1878) in Ponca,
when the preliminary steps toward such a society were
taken. A committee was appointed to draft a constitution
and by-laws, and report proceedings at an adjourned meet-
ing, May 4. This was done and the constitution and by-laws
were accepted. S. I. Hart of South Creek was elected presi-
dent of the society; L. T. Hill, of Ionia, vice-president; W.
W. Atkinson, of Daily Branch, treasurer, and J. U. LaFol-
lette, of Ponca, secretary. Several other meetings were
held in the summer but that was substantially all that was
done that year in behalf of Dixon county's agricultural so-
ciety.

At the annual school meeting in Ponca, April 1, 1878, it
was voted to build a new school house to cost $8,000. The
house was built by Leech and Todd and was completed in
September. A large amount of building was done in 1878
throughout the county. Crops had been good the year be-
fore and the present prospects were in every way promising.

88 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

As on nearly every previous 4th of July since 1865, that
day was duly honored this year. Celebrations were held at
Ponca, New Castle and Martinsburg, and patriotism was
shown in speeches, music, sociable picnic dinners, dancing
and horse racing, winding up with grand displays of fire
works in the evening.

Among other improvements. Rev. VV. H. Clark built the
Silver Ridge Seminary (in Silver Creek township) and opened
it for school in duly. It was a large building and commodi-
ously arranged for scholars. It was continued several years
but was finally given up, not being sufficiently patronized to
make it successful.

The year closed with full granaries and corn cribs and
good prices for produce of all kinds. Wheat had yielded
from twenty to thirty bushels to the acre.

In the latter part of March. 1S71), terrible prairie tires oc-
curred and great losses ensued in consequence. On March
18, a tire commencing near Daily Branch, was the prelude to
a devastating conflagration which swept over the central
part of the county the next day. Under the influence of a
hurricane, the tire was irresistable in its course of destruc-
tion, jumping roads and creeks with ease and could not be
checked by any ordinary tire guards.

About noon David Holmes while lighting tire about half
a mile from Martinsburg, was surrounded and fatally burned.
He was taken to the hotel at Martinsburg, Drs. Hassen and
Rowe were called, yet so shockingly was he burned that he
died the next day. Mr. Holmes' farm near Martinsburg was
swept of everything combustible, except his house. His
stable, hay. horses, etc., were burned, the value of which was
about $700.

The houses of Jud Holmes. Wm. Holmes. D.M. Nelan and
Ceo. Mattison were also burned andall their contents. Manly
Wyman, Geo. Castle and \V. C. Smith, lost everything from
their farms but the houses.

In the surrounding ocean of flame, it seemed almost a
miracle that Martinsburg village was not burned up. and it
would have been but for the herculean exertions of the citi-
zens.

Before reaching the vicinity of Martinsburg the tire ran
over the farm of Sheriff .Jones on Silver Creek, burning cribs

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 89

and stables, and hundreds of bushels of wheat, corn and oats.
His grove, one of the best in the country and covering six
acres, was utterly destroyed; only his house was saved.

The farms of Samuel and Thomas Jones were also visited,
burning twelve acres of groves, hay, etc.

The lire swept over several farms of residents of Otter
Creek, among whom T. Marron and Mr. Bales had their houses
burned, and Mr. Casey lost everything but his house.

On March 29 and 30, there were more fires. In Hooker pre-
cinct much property was destroyed. Wm. Bailey, D. D. Grif-
feth, J. W. Johnson. John Cummings. Wm. Pfister and John
Powers were the worst sufferers, many of them losing houses,
barns, farm machinery, grain, hay and fences. Prairie fires
so destructive and uncontrollable never before or since
occurred in the county and with ordinary care never may
again.

yo HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

CHAPTEB IX.

The Coal Discoveries, and the Ups and Downs of Mining
in Dixon County During the Past 38 Years- The
Alleged Immense Beds of Black Diamonds in the River
Bluffs and the Determined Efforts to Find Them
Have Seductive Hope Before and Black Disappoint-
ment Following After Every Attempt to Find a
Paying vein is a Total Failure --"Old Joe Brewer"
and his Discovery of the Plesiosaurus- His Mound
Building Theories The [onia Volcano and Indian
Superstitions Regarding it.

The brief allusion, a few pages back, to the fuel question
and its importance to residents, will remind old settlers that
at various times much hope and excitement has been
aroused in the county over the alleged discovery of coal.
It will be well to give a history of the various efforts to
mine for coal since the county was first settled.

In L857 some of the settlers while examining the river
near Ponca landing, discovered cropping out of the base of
the bluffs, a thin layer of inferior coal, or more properly,
lignite. With the hope that this thin layer would increase
in thickness and improve in quality as it extended under the
hill, a number of the citizens, among whom were the Stough
Brothers and E. M. Bisbee, made efforts in that year to open
and work the vein. As they drifted into the bluff, they were
for a time encouraged in the hope of developing a rich and
valuable mine, the layer of coal becoming thicker and better
as they proceeded in.

Where it cropped out at the foot of the bluff, its thick-
ness was but three or four inches. Within, at a distance of
thirty feet, the thickness was found to be fifteen inches.
The coal at the outset was utterly worthless, and was useful
only as a hint and suggestion of a more valuable find farther
back under the rocks. The encouraged miners did indeed find

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 1)1

a better quality as they progressed with theirdrift, but it was,
after all. and at the best, but a poor quality of lignite.

In the absence of wood, it would answer as an apology
for fuel. Hut with the abundant timber which this county
was blessed with, especially along the river, the alleged coal
find was worthless. The greatest thickness of the vein
never exceeded eighteen inches, and the coal itself, charged
with sulphur, emitted such Stygian and suffocating fumes
that few would after one trial ever attempt to burn it again.

Messrs. Stough. Bisbee and others who were engaged in
it. finally came to the conclusion that time and money would
be foolishly squandered by continuing their coal exploration
and so abandoned it.

But the extreme anxiety to find coal in this country and
the fear that our supply of timber would fail to meet the
constantly increasing demand for it. soon after induced Mr.
Bisbee to open another mine a short distance from the first
one. He drifted in about sixty feet but found no improve-
ment in thickness and quality. The same dirty and sulphur
laden material was met with, and when burned, the same
unbearable fumes discouraged further efforts.

Professors Aughey and Hayden, both of whom were noted
geologists, visited this locality at about that time (1857)
to see the coal of which much had been published, and their
decision was that the vein was not. properly speaking, coal.

It was merely lignite, coal in its infancy, and might after
ages, become coal. It is safe to say that neither Mr. Bisbee
or others desired to wait that length of time to make a
paying coal business, and again coal mining was dropped
for pursuits which had a nearer ] refit. So the matter rested
awhile.

However, the adverse verdict of Professors Aughey and
Heydon was in a measure forgotten after a few years and
other confident explorers started in from time to time to
try their hands at making a better coal discovery in the
bluffs.

In 1S74 Joseph Brewer (who the year before, dug out the
Plesiosaurus, an account of which will be given in this
chapter) dug into the bluff about twenty feet and announced
that he had struck a wonderfully thick layer of excellent
coal. Much excitement was caused by his report and many

92 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

went to see his discovery. They found Mr. Brewer prodding
into the same old vein which had been ineffectually labored
in years before, and in which he had a thickness of about
fifteen inches. What little he was enabled to get out, he
had a sale for, but at the price received could barely earn
enough to keep famine at bay, and hence in a short time, he
too, like the others who had preceded him. Hung up the
sponge and retired from the business.

In the spring following, (1S75) several enthusiastic parties
formed a company to open another hole into the bluff in
search of coal. One of the company by the name of Werni-
mont was recently from Eastern Iowa and claimed to be an
expert in geology and especially in coal and stated that
nearly all his life had been devoted to it.

It was afterwards learned that his labors in that respect
had been of a practical nature rather than scientific and that
his experience had been previously confined to handling a
pick at $1.50 per day in an Iowa coal bank. But what he
lacked in knowledge of geological formations he kept to
himself and courageously asserted that Professors Aughey
and Heydon were entirely mistaken in disbelieving in the
existence of a paying deposit of excellent coal a few hundred
feet farther under the bluff.

Accordingly Prof. Wernimont started bravely in, he fur-
nishing the science and labor and the others the money, and
in a few weeks had penetrated the bluff to the distance of
on? hundred and thirty-five feet, the mine being five feet
high and six feet wide. In that distance he was never able to
get under solid rock, nor did the coal become thicker or
better, and it looked after all, as though Profs. Aughey and
Heydon might possibly be right and Prof. Wernimont
wrong. At the end of one hundred and thirty-five feet.
Prof. Wernimont drilled down perpendicularly to the depth
of ninety-five feet, when finding nothing and his courage
oozing out, his scientific labors were brought to a close.

Soon after this, Mr. Bisbee's ambition to possess a rich
coal mine revived again and he commenced to re-open the
old mine he had worked in years before. He and his men
worked diligently and drifted in about one hundred feet.
But like Prof. Wernimont, he found no improvement in the
coal. He got out considerable, however, which was sold for

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 93

fuel. But as was seen in the former efforts to burn it, the
sulphurous smell of it, (suggestive of that torrid country
where sulphur is a main article in business) rendered it
unfit for use unless one held his nose.

One day while Mr. Bisbee was laboring in his mine, the
roof fell upon him and crushed him badly. Not fatally,
fortunately, although several months elapsed before he could
get around again. This disastrous incident dampened his
mining enthusiasm and he quit it like the many explorers
and investigators who had gone before him.

Then the coal business took another long rest and the
next experience of the kind was in 1880 when a stock
company was formed for the purpose of exploring deep down
into the 1 towels of the earth in search of a thicker and
better quality of coal than that which had been worked in
the bluffs. The company raised the necessary money, pur-
chased an engine and drill, and employed a number of
experienced men.

After several months' labor on the Heydon farm a mile
west of Ponca, a hole was drilled to the depth of five hun-
dred and seventy-six feet. There it was announced a vein
of coal was found, four feet thick. Under the advice of
Prof. Aughey the company proceeded on down, expecting to
find a still thicker vein within a short distance.

Before finding the thicker vein the drill broke off and
was lost in the hole and the labor terminated. As to the
alleged four foot vein, it was, on reflection, deemed a matter
of doubt whether any coal had been found at all. So much
doubt, in fact, that no one felt like contributing money to
sink a shaft. Hence this exploration went the same beaten
road of former efforts.

Again there was a lull in the coal exploring business but
after several years people again forgot their misfortunes and
failures in this respect and gave the coal business another
trial.

In 1SS7 a company was formed under the leadership of
one Newman, a Cornish miner, so called, and a new drift
was made into the river bluffs. The company went into the
hill about three hundred and fifty feet, finding the same sort
and thickness of coal, no better and no worse, than that
which Brewer, Wernimont and the others had found years

94 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

before. Hence, in time that effort petered out and the com-
pany disbanded.

One would think that after all these numerous failures
in which not a single glimmer of hope was given to cheer
and encourage, people would have been shy about having
anything more to do with coal mining in this vicinity.
They were shy for a while, but not for long.

In the fall of 1SSS another company was organized and
with a diamond pointed core drill, a prospect hole was put
down to a depth of seven hundred feet, on a lot in the north-
ern part of Ponca. The core, which was carefully taken
out and preserved, showed not the slightest indications of
coal. The fact is, there is no coal here as has been conclus-
ively proven by the long series of costly investigations.

Since the failure with the core drill, there have been no
farther efforts to date, to hunt out a coal vein. As years go
by. however, people may again forget their former bad luck
and try it again.

We referred previously in this chapter to the unearth-
ing of the "plesiosaurus" by Mr. Brewer, and a brief account
of it and of Mr. Brewer's other discoveries will be inter-
esting.

"Old Joe Brewer" familiar to all in Dixon county twenty-
years ago, had little education that had not been derived
from experience instead of books. He owned what is now
the farm of H. I. Brown, two miles northwest of Ponca.
There, with a family of fifteen children, Mr. Brewer lived
many years. He was a man whose study was nature and
whose unfaltering enthusiasm and expectation led him to
see wonders in every hill and to expect valuable minerals in
the rocks and slopes of every ravine.

His land, which extended to the river a fearful array of
bluffs and gorges, was in his belief the place where mound
builders many ages ago had lived. He pointed out excava-
tions and artificial mounds which he believed corroborate* I
his conclusions, and exhibited bones and fragments of pot-
tery which he had found. The place where he claimed this
ancient city to have been was on the bluffs, and three hun-
dred feet above the Missouri.

From that elevated position a wide view is had in every
direction: across the level Dakota land to the north and

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 95

for miles up and down the river, and on a clear day the
buildings of Sioux City are plainly visible. That this ele-
vated land was the home of mound builders may be doubt-
ed, although it is likely that a large Indian village had been
located there, a hundred or more years ago.

Along the precipice of rock which bounded the river side
of this "mound builders' city," Mr. Brewer devoted much
time to exploration. He tried to find gold, silver and other
minerals; he also delved for coal, and in 1S74 rediscovered the
worthless vein which Bisbee and others had before and since
tried to make profitable. The only thing which Mr. Brewer
ever found in all his explorations which was of value, was
a petrified skeleton of some great antediluvian animal, said
to be the remains of a plesiosaurus.

One day in the spring of 1S78 while passing along at the
foot of the precipice, Mr. Brewer noticed that the high
water of the river which is ever encroaching and undermin-
ing, had caused a large fragment of rock to fall. On exam-
ining the place, he observed that an immense skeleton had
been in part revealed. It was near the bluff that he found a
small part of the fossil protruding, the remainder of it was
still covered by the ledge of rocks three hundred feet high.
With little idea of what animal it had been or of what value
it would be to the scientific world, Mr. Brewer and his sons
set to work to dig it out. Had care been used in the exca-
vation, a most valuable petrification would have been ob-
tained. As stated, it was afterwards found to be the petri-
fied bones of a plesiosaurus, the second one that had ever
been discovered. Hence if brought to the outer world in as
perfect condition as it was found by Mr. Brewer it would
have been a most important discovery. But the digging it
out w 7 as nearly the ruin of it. With crow bar and pick axe
and careless indifference whether one broke the rock or the
fossil, the diggers were as destructive as a bull in a china
house. So that when the bones were all dug out they w r ere
broken into a hundred pieces. Yet, badly as the break-
ing was, the immense pile of bones showed that the animal
had been one of the most enormous of the ancient denizens
of the earth.

The bones were sold soon after by Mr. Brewer to some
parties residing in Covington and they removed them to

96 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

Sioux City, and the bones thus badly broken wore after much
labor cemented together again.

The size of the petrification could now he better seen. Its
length was about eighty feet, and the backbone was eighteen
inches through it. The weight was over six tons. The rep-
tile when alive could not have been less than 100 feet long.
and could lift its head thirty-five feet above the ground.
Prof. Aughey. the state geologist, stated that the animal
lived over five hundred thousand years ago.

After its fragments had been cemented together the pet-
rification was exhibited in Sioux City and elsewhere by the
Covington parties, and was finally taken to Chicago and sold
to a museum there.

Another of Dixon county's curiosities and which at-
tracted as much attention twenty years ago as the plesios-
aurus or coal mines, was its volcano at Ionia. It was first
seen by white men in 1S04 and was then discovered by the
Lewis and Clark exploring expedition, the first company of
white men who for purposes of observation, ever visited the
country now forming the state of Nebraska.

The passage of the Lewis and Clark expedition up the
Missouri was marked by many adventures and discoveries.
They often landed on the western shore, and going back of
the ranges of bluffs, saw a beautiful and densely populated
country. On the gently rolling prairies which stretched
away to the west, they noted great herds of buffalo and an
unending variety of game in the forests and fish in the lakes
and streams. The copper colored inhabitants were friendly
and hospitable, and intercourse with them was not marked
by the treachery which in later times has generally been as-
sociated with the name of "Indian."

The expedition landed at two or three places in Dixon
county, and at the place known of late years as the "Ionia
Volcano" they stopped several days to investigate the phe-
nomenon which was, as since, an interesting mystery.
Here, as at other points on their route, they were welcomed
by the Indians with the utmost courtesy and hospitality.
Fish and game were supplied them and joyful Indian dances
were held in their honor. By the aid of their interpreter,
the travelers were made acquainted with several stories and
old legends relating to the tribes who then and in still more

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 97

ancient days had lived in this country, their towns, wars and
most noted warriors, their laws, customs and amusements.
Among other things the voyagers were told the legends
especially relating to the volcano and the story of the elves
and supernatural inhabitants on Spirit Mound, a few miles
above and on the opposite side of the river. Thus with
feasting and pleasure the travelers passed a several enjoyable
days, and their departure up the river was a source of regret
to the friendly tribe whose guests they were.

The so called "Ionia Volcano" is (or more properly speak-
ing was until 1878, when the river undermined and sw T ept
it away) located on the bank of the Missouri, in Dixon
county, at Ionia, about twelve miles above Ponca and thirty-
six miles from Sioux City. The bluff that has exhibited the
phenomena ascribed to volcanic action was about 1,100 feet
long, and 160 feet high, and sloped irregularly to the river.

The phenomena witnessed on this bluff led many to be-
lieve that the presence of a genuine volcano was indicated.
Sounds were heard proceeding from below, especially on
placing the ear to the ground. Occasionally flames were
seen to break forth, especially at night, as at that time they
were more easily observed. Steam also escaped from num-
berless crevices and where openings were made the heat be-
came too intense to proceed further. Some of the lime
stone was changed to quick lime, and the temperature of
some portions of the interior was sufficient to raise it to a
red heat. Incrustations of mineral salts were abundant on
top and on the sides of the mass, and like all the rock of
this description along the Missouri, crystals were abundant.

The rocks at this point are, as geologists inform us, of
the cretaceous age, and largely composed of carbonate of
lime. Innumerable crystals are also found of the bi-sul-
phide of iron which is popularly known as 4 'fools gold."
or iron pyrites.

Now. at this so called volcano the heat was occasioned,
not by internal tires but by the decomposition of the iron
pyrites and the carbonates of lime and magnesia, such de-
composition being occasioned by exposure to air or water.

One of the histories of the voyage of Lewis and Clark,
while .speaking of the discovery by them of this remarkable
burning mound, mentions that this phenomenon was well

98 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

known to the wild tribes scattered along the river and had
from time immemorial, been regarded with much supersti-
tions fear. Evil Manitous were supposed to dwell in the sul-
phurous fires, and many legends in which they were alluded to,
were handed down from one generation to another, and lost
none of their interest by the transition nor by the vivid im-
agination of the narrators. Elsewhere in this book will
be found one of the principal legends referred to.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 99

CHAPTER X.

The Building of the Railroad up the Logan Valley and
its Great Help in Settling up the Southern Part of
the County -The Terrible Winter of 1880-81-
The Spring Break-up of the Ice in the Missouri and
the Damage and Loss of Life Ensuing — Great Bend
is Cut Off From Dixon County by a Change of the
River and Becomes a Part of Dakota Territory -- The
Flood at Ponca and Along the Aoway and Logan -The
Starting of Wakefield in 1881 A Tragedy Near
Newcastle --The Agricultural Society Project Re-
vived and the First County Fair in September, 1882
. — Record of General Growth- -Indian Raid on Emer-
son-Organization of the First G. A. R. Post in
County - Brief Review at end of 1S82.

As stated in chapter seven, the hope that Dixon county's
narrow gauge railroad would pass into other and better
hands, was realized in the fall of 1879, and soon a general
overhauling and improvement ensued.

Commencement was also made by the new owners of the
road to build from Coburn Junction, between Jackson and
Dakota City, a branch line to the southeastern corner of
Dixon county (where Emerson now is) and from there a line
to Omaha and another to Norfolk. The Norfolk branch
would run up Logan valley, and thus aid in opening the
southern part of the county to settlement. There was
also talk of extending the Ponca branch into Cedar county,
either by the way of New Castle or Martinsburg. Cedar
county was asked to vote bonds but its narrow escape from
being bitten by the 0. 0. & B. H. Co., defeated the pro-
posed extension.

The Logan valley under the stimulus of the expected
Norfolk branch railroad, rapidly came into notice in 1880.
Many settlers were seen moving in and buying farms which

100 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

could be obtained at from $2 to $8 per acre. (That land
now sells readily for $25 to $40 per acre.) On October 14,
the railroad company bought one hundred acres of land at
Demy's -1 unction (Emerson) for a town site. In November
the road was completed and cars running to Omaha from
Coburn Junction, so that Ponca had direct communication
with that city.

In this year 1 1880) this country had a short autumn. On
October 15. a great storm of snow covered everything and
plunged the country at once into winter. The winter thus
commenced continued until the next April. The river was
frozen over November 18, and remained so until in the
spring it broke up and swept away a large amount of
property. The winter which thus commenced so early,
found farmers ill prepared for it. The corn was not all
harvested and preparations for the housing of stock were
in many instances not completed.

The winter showed no mercy. A succession of storms
swept across the country in untiring and persistent rapidity.
Railroads in all sections were blocked by snow, till regular
trains became a novelty and more accidents were caused
than ever before during the same length of time in the
history of railroading. To add to the discomfort and danger
in the northern portion of the county, small pox broke out
across the river in Dakota. Fortunately it did not extend to
the Nebraska side. Hut bad as the winter was and much as
was the suffering occasioned by it, the worst was yet to
come. When in April the snow melted and the rivers and
streams were overflowing their banks, then disaster com-
menced in earnest.

When the Missouri broke up. Dakota for many miles up
and down the river and for twenty miles back from it. ap-
peared from the bluffs on the Nebraska side, as a vast sea
tilled with floating ice. The country thus submerged was
the richest and most beautiful in Dakota territory. It was
tilled with highly cultivated farms, the tine dwellings and
groves of which evinced comfort and prosperity. Now all
that splendid region was overwhelmed with water and great
masses of ice, and chaos and destruction ruled supreme.
Tremendous gorges were formed at many points which were
rapidly added to. so that between Sioux City and Niobrara

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 101

the extent of such gorges up and down the river was not less
than 75 miles. Just below Ponca landing was an ice gorge
12 miles long and extending across the river and for
miles into Dakota. It w T as packed solid to the bottom and
rose above the water from ten to twenty feet. This enorm-
ous mass, tens of thousands of tons of ice, blocked up the
course of the river and threw it over on the Dakota bottoms,
literally drowning out all the country until stopped by
bluffs. '

It was reported that Niobrara was destroyed, that Yank-
ton was in a great part under water and that Green Island,
in Cedar county across the river from Yankton, was totally
swept away. These reports were not greatly exaggerated.
Every building in Green Island w T as carried away, and men.
women and children were seen clinging to trees or on float-
ing buildings or cakes of ice. By great exertions the lives
of all at that place were saved.

Among the buildings seen floating past St. Helena was a
church from Santee agency, the bell of which fittingly tolled
a requium over the scene of destruction. At Vermillion its
business part was under water from ten to fifteen feet. Op-
posite Vermillion was the peninsula of Great Bend, around
which the river had its course. The river cut a channel
across the neck of the peninsula and therefore left that large
part of Dixon county attached to Dakota. The people living
on the peninsula escaped by boats. The channel across the
neck of Great Bend w T as not cut by the force of the water
running over from the upper side, but by undermining the
bank on the lower or east end of the new channel, which
kept caving off till within a short distance of the upper cur-
rent, when with a mighty roar that could be heard for miles,
the river broke through, and a new channel for that part of
the Missouri was made.

The peninsula of Great Bend was one of the largest on
the river. It was in the form of an elongated ox-bow very
narrow at the points. Across its neck was only half a
mile, while to make the distance around by the river it was
necessary to pull about eighteen miles against a stiff current.
This freak of the river left Vermillion an inland town so far
as the Missouri is concerned by about three miles.

The farm of Mons Nelson lav on the neck of Great Bend.

102 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

and the channel cut across, taking his buildings and im-
provements and literally destroying the farm. Thus, Great
Bend, hitherto belonging to Dixon county, and having rich
lands and the richest body of timber within a hundred miles
became an island belonging to Dakota.

On the river bottoms of the Dixon county side of the river,
as on the low lands in Dakota, not a farm escaped the
devastating raid of water and ice. Houses, barns, and im-
provements were greatly wrecked and many destroyed, and
the loss in cattle drowned and other personal property
ruined or carried off was enormous. .1. Brocke in the north-
western part of the county, near the river, had a good house
and barn, sixty head of cattle, nine horses, farm machinery,
etc. The river came upon him and ruined him in one night.
Huge cakes of ice dashed in his house, his barn was wrecked
and with its contents washed away, and his horses and
cattle were drowned. In the neighborhood of Mr. Brocke,
several hundred head of cattle were drowned, every farm was
deluged to the depth of from ten to fifteen feet and the in-
habitants lost everything and were indeed glad to escape
with their lives.

Such is an outline of the great Hood of the spring of 1881
so far as it related to the Missouri river bottoms in Dixon
county. There were great Hoods also, along the Aoway and
Logan, but aside from carrying off a few bridges the loss was
comparatively trifling.

In Ponca, on that occasion, people saw A'enice without
going aw 7 ay from home. A large part of the town appeared
as though built in the sea. Four spans of the new railroad
bridge went out, and eighty rods of railroad track were de-
moralized and in part carried off. Sidewalks rose from
their foundations and sailed away and piles of cord wood
were distributed in all directions. Cellars, generally, were
tilled and many residences and some business houses had
water from one to four feet deep above the lower floor. It-
was unpleasant except to those who enjoyed navigating the
streets on rafts but it was nothing compared to the loss and
suffering on the Missouri bottoms.

At Martinsburg the damage w r as not as great as had been
expected, the main losses being a part of the mill dam and
the bridge across South Creek.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 103

In spite of flood or other mishaps, the citizens continued
in the season of 1881 in good heart, and plowed, planted,
harvested and improved with usual energy and had suc-
cess and good crops.

During this season the line of the Norfolk branch of the
railroad then building up the Logan valley, was vigorously
pushed, and in August the new town of Wakefield was
started. The first building was the barn of Mr. Skinner, fol-
lowed by D. D. Lash's hotel, J. T. Marriott's store and sev-
eral dwelling houses. Mr. Marriott became the town's first
postmaster — October 31. The railroad was completed to
that point in December, and a commodious depot was fin-
ished about the first of January. The town was named
after Chief Engineer Wakefield who located the railroad
line from Emerson to Norfolk. The town of Wakefield,
thus advantageously located and having a tine water power
and a rich tributary country around it, started with encour-
aging prospects. In the previous spring and summer many
had settled in Logan valley, and within a radius of five
miles around Wakefield about sixty farms had been opened
and improved.

The central and northern part of the county during 1881,
were not behind the Logan valley, and new farms w T ere
opened and new houses, barns, groves and fields were seen
in every direction.

On November 10, 1881, a tragedy took place at the farm
of W. H. Aucmoody. a few miles northwest of New Castle.
The cattle of a neighbor, L. 8. Bishop, had strayed upon the
land of Auchmoody. Bishop came for the cattle and at-
tempted to retake them, whereupon Auchmoody shot him.
from the effects of which he died a few days after. Auch-
moody was afterwards tried, convicted of manslaughter and
sent to the penitentiary two years.

In February. 1882, the agricultural society project,
which had slept since 1878, was revived. A meeting of
prominent farmers met February 17. at Ponca, and resolved
that Dixon county should no longer be without an agricul-
tural society and fair. A committee was appointed to draft
the constitution and by-laws of the society, which, at an ad-
journed meeting in March were adopted, and P. G. Wright
of South Creek, was elected president, and Dayton Ward, of

104 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Silver Creek, secretary. At a subsequent meeting held May
27, it was decided to locate the fair grounds at Ponca, that
town having donated $500 to the society. The time fixed

for holding the fair was September (>, 7 and 8. Forty acres
of land were procured for fair grounds a short distance
northwest of town and steps were taken to make the fair
successful.

The fair was duly held at the time and place appointed
and was largely attended. The grounds had been suitably
prepared, and buildings for offices and an amphitheater for
the accommodation of those who attended had been built.
There was also a half mile race course and stalls and stables
for horses and cattle. This, the first fair of Dixon county,
was a success, not only in the display of fat cattle, horses,
hogs, corn, grain, vegetables, fruits and Mowers but also in
the social enjoyment it brought to old friends who met there.

The first day of the fair was devoted mainly to making
entries and arranging articles for exhibition. On this day
also, eating houses, lemonade stands, shooting galleries,
swings, etc., were put Up and by night things looked gay and
attractive. On the second day an immense crowd attended
from all parts of the county. Horse racing, ladies riding, an
eloquent address by Lieut. Norris and a thousand other in-
teresting matters made an enjoyable bill of fare to all present.

The number was also large on the third day. There was
horse racing, mule racing, glass ball shooting, etc.. and the
examination of the articles on exhibition and the decision
of the judges. At night when the fair closed, it was declared
without a dissenting voice that this, the first fair in Dixon
county, had been triumph that could bespoken of with pride
by the citizens.

The amount of money taken for gate money and stands,
swings, etc., was $423.20, enough to pay premiums and debts
and have something left to keep things in order and fix up
for another year. Dixon County's Agricultural Society and
Fair, thus auspiciously inaugurated has continued from that
year to this and its fair has since been regularly and success-
fully held every year, excepting 1894.

The record of general growth in the county in 1882 was
fully up to what it had been in previous years. Wakefield,
commenced the fall before, had in March (1882) two general

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 105

stores, a hardware store, a hank, hotel, drug store, lumber
yard, grain buyers and ware houses and numerous offices,
shops and dwellings. In the spring, Philo Graves, one of
the proprietors of the townsite, built a school house and
donated it to the town. Village lots were in demand and
wore selling at good prices. It was thought Wakefield would
double in size and population before the close of the year.
At Ponca a creamery was started in April as well as various
other enterprises of general benefit.

At a suburb of the new town of Emerson the citizens had
an experience. May (>. not altogether pleasurable. The suburb
was a mere collection of temporary shanties planted on land
belonging to the Winnebago reservation where it had no
right to be. Those who put up the shanties, probably never
thought the day would come when retributive justice would
visit them in the shape of a war like Indian chief and anni-
hilate their works. But so it turned out. On May 5, the
\\ innebagos solemnly decreed in council to blot that part
of Emerson out of existence and early the next morning the
residents suddenly heard issuing from the mists along the
plain the hoarse voices of the Winnebago retributionists who
were advancing in force upon the place.

Mounted on ponies and presumably carrying an irresista-
ble arsenal, the Indian band rode into the town and ordered
the people to get oil' the reservation forthwith, giving them
one hour in which to do so. Then there w T as a wild huiry-
ing and scurrying to and fro. No one thought of offering-
resistance, but all went to work and soon their town, to the
last board of the last shanty was toted off the reservation
and up the hill. There, where is now the prosperous town
of Emerson the discomfitted squatters on Indian land rebuilt
their homes before resting from their toil. The Indian
braves shook their fists after their vanquished foes and then
hied back to their tribe.

Aside from this little raid on Emerson, (which more ludi-
crous than serious, is here inserted to break the monotony
of dry facts and figures,) there were no occurrences in the
county in the spring and summer that readers will specially
care to hear of. except the rapid settlement, good health and
cheerful outlook. On the Fourth, the good times seemed to
increase patriotism, so that on that day the usual celebrations

lOti HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

were largely attended and much enjoyed at Ponca, Martins-
burg, New Castle, Wakefield, Springbank and other points in
the county.

After the agricultural fair was over, (previously described
in this chapter) the old soldiers on October 4, held an enjoy-
able re-union in Ponca, on which occasion a post of the Grand
Army of the Republic was organized. The name given it
was Stoneman Post and the following officers were elected:
L. W. Herring, post commander; J. T. Finch, senior vice-com-
mander; E. R. Richmond, junior vice-commander; A. G.
Kingsbury, adjutant; J. W. Jones, officer of the day; Jacob
Sides, surgeon; Elijah Beller. quartermaster; and T. J. Caffee,
sergeant major.

Late in the fall of 1882, the great brick flouring mill of
Ponca Mill Company was finished and commenced business.
This was a most important help, not only to the town, but
to all the tributary country.

A few words in review of the county and towms as they
were at the end of 1882 may now be interesting.

Ponca, located in a beautiful valley and then developed into
a town of about 1.2(H) inhabitants, had many prosperous bus-
iness establishments and enterprises, fine schools, churches
and residences, and it seemed that it w r ould in the near future
become far more extensive.

Between Ponca and the healthily growing town of Mar-
tinsburg at the junction of two wide valleys, and from there
up South Creek and over the divide to the Logan, one saw
a continuous succession of splendid farms, hue farm houses,
buildings and groves and numerous herds of cattle.

Another of Dixon county's lively towns, Wakefield,
located in the valley of the Logan, largely had the trade of
the southern part of the county. Two years before, Wake-
held did not exist, but now had five hundred inhabitants.

Twelve miles northwest of Ponca was New Castle, which
contained a hotel, a large store, a school, a Catholic church,
residences, etc. From New Castle across the country to
Daily Branch, as well as through Silver Creek and along the
valley between Ponca and New Castle a grand and thickly
settled country was seen.

Dixon county was, then as now. all right. Its location
on the Missouri, gives it along that river, vast forests of

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 107

timber, comprising oak, elm, Cottonwood and black walnut.
Hack from the river the county is traversed by the rich
valleys of the Logan, Silver Creek, Daily, South Creek and
Aoway, which with their numerous tributaries, are wonder-
ful hay producing regions, live tons to the acre being not an
unusual yield, while the ranges of hills between the valleys
are the best of pasture lands. In all the county there is not
a marsh nor an acre of poor land. On the contrary the soil is
from two to six feet deep, and is equal to any in the world,
as is shown by its crops of corn and wheat. Hence the old
saying "that an acre of Dixon county land is equal to five
in the Genesee valley," is not so wild an assertion as might
at first be supposed. In all the valleys are clear, cold and
unfailing streams and indeed there is scarcely a quarter
section in the whole county that is not well watered.

With all these advantages of rich soil, meadow, pasture,
water and wood in abundance, the whole presenting a land-
scape of surpassing beauty, and over the whole a clear air
and healthy climate, Dixon county is naturally a favorite
with those seeking homes in the west.

108 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

CHAPTER XI.

From 1883 to 1886 The Agricultural Society Holds its
Annual Fairs - Talk of a Railroad Bridge - Robbery
of the County Treasury Treasurer Knapp and his
Bondsmen -- Township Organization Voted on in 1883
and Goes into Effect in 1886 — Another County Seat
Project Voted on-Great Storm in June, 1885-
Murder of Alexander by Blair in 1885.

The year of 1883, was without events of more than ordi-
nary nature. There was some talk this year as there had
been in 1882 of rebonding the county in order to pay the
old C. C. & B. H. R. H. bonds and thus settle the suit which
the county had in the U. S. supreme court, but such talk
came to nothing. Dakota county had rebonded, and good
attorneys thought the wisest course for Dixon county would
be to do the same. But Dixon county refused then and
afterwards, and was wise in so doing, as in the next year,
1SS4. the U. S. court settled the hash of the $87,000 fraudu-
lent C. C. & B. H. bonds and Dixon county had that burden
lifted from its shoulders forever.

In February the business of the agricultural society
came to the surface again, and its officers for the ensuing
year were elected. P. G. Wright was re-elected president
and J. \V. Radford was elected secretary. From the
interest which citizens throughout the county took in the
society it was evident that the second fair would be as well
patronized as the first.

In Ponca, Wakefield and other towns, as well as generally
all over the county, everything tended to encourage citizens,
and a healthy advance was made during the year. Crops,
and especially wheat and oats, were good, as in fact they
usually were every year.

The talk about extending the railroad from Ponca began
to revive again and it appeared there was also a possibility

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 109

of a road being built from Omaha to this county and here
crossing the river into Dakota. Both of these projects fell
through.

It was and is a fact that at Ponca landing there is a
better crossing for a railroad bridge over the Missouri, than
can elsewhere be found on the river within a hundred miles.
The river at that point has a rock bottom and has never
since the first settlement of the country, changed its course.

Instead of extending the railroad west from Ponca, it was
finally decided by the company to build a branch into Cedar
county from Wakelield. On that branch work was com-
menced in -Inly and late in the fall was completed and in
running order to the new town of Hartington near the
center of Cedar county.

The second Agricultural fair of Dixon county was held
on the 18th, 19th and 20th of September and like the first
fair had a large attendance of citizens, and a great number
and variety of exhibits in every department. Those who
attended realized that one great advantage to be derived
from a county fair is by seeing what others are doing. Men
have their specialty. Some succeed in one thing, some in
another. By coming together from all parts of the county,
each one bringing with him specimens of his peculiar skill
and comparing notes, the whole county is benefited. One
man learns from his neighbor the method of procedure by
which he attained success in his department, and in turn he
imparts the secret of his success in another department, so
the fair is in one sense an agricultural school; the best kind
of a school; one of practical instruction which leads or
should lead to immediate results in improved farming, im-
proved stock, improved fruit culture and general elevation
of agriculture in all departments.

On Sunday of fair week, a great sensation was occasioned
by the announcement of County Treasurer Knapp, that dur-
ing the night before, the treasurer's office had been entered
and the safe broken open and robbed of between $8,000
and $4,000. Detectives were at once sent for for the pur-
pose of unraveling the suspicious mystery which seemed to
surround the affair, but they were not able to fix the robbery
upon those whom Mr. Knapp had pointed out as possibly the
guilty parties. Mr. Knapp had been treasurertwo years and

110 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

had not Itoen renominated at the republican convention hold
a few days before the robbery. While treasurer, Mr. Knapp
had operated at Ponca an extensive creamery, which it was
alleged had resulted in a financial loss. Those facts together
with the fact that he had little property when he became
treasurer, occasioned some doubt among many as to the
reality of the alleged robbery.

This matter occupied much attention for two or three
years and finally, on the charge of defrauding the county,
Knap}) was tried in the district court at Dakota City, (to
which place the trial had been transferred from Dixon
county) and on such trial he was acquitted.

The acquittal, however, did not save Knapp's bondsmen
as treasurer. There were forty of them, each of whom had
to assist in filling up the vacum in the county treasury.
At the time the bondsmen settled the affair with the county
commissioners, (August, 1SS4,) Knapp in addition to what
his bondsmen paid, deeded to the county a tract of 1()<> acres
in Ponca township, which tract afterwards appropriately be-
came the county poor farm. Knapp's deficiency was claimed
to be about $9,000.

Late in the fall, (1883,) the new court house was com-
pleted. It had been commenced in the summer and was
on one of the most desirable locations in Ponca. It was
built of brick and had a large court room in the second
story and commodious Offices for the various county officials
beneath.

At the fall election of '83, the question of township
organization was again voted on and carried, but did not go
into effect until January. 1886.

During the years 1883 and 1SS4 a very largo amount of
building and improvement was seen in the county. The
county was filling up rapidly and land was in greater de-
mand and at better prices since the decision in the railroad
bond case.

Among the improvements during these years it may be
mentioned that at New Castle were built a gristmill, a
church and several dwellings. A great number of farms in
the county had in 1884, new houses, barns, fences and
groves. A general awakening seemed to have taken
place all over the county to the desirability of citizens

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. Ill

making improvements and additions to their possessions.
Such improvements were mainly substantial and valuable
and from them it might be certified that those who made
them were contented with Dixon county and had concluded
to stay in it. A few of the many farmers who thus helped
to swell the list of improvements, were the Ellyson Brothers
near Ionia, Enders near Ponca, S. Welden, (I. D. Russell, A.
Caft'ee, Pat Casey, H. H. Jenkins, P. Bennett, John Roden,
Win. Porter, V. Wilcox. E. Wilkinson, E. Manley, W. Blake,
Aaron Smith, S. I. Hart, etc. In Ponca the value of im-
provements in '83 and \S4 was about $60,000. Of the more
prominent improvemens were the brick M. E. church and
the brick business houses of Thomas Crew, J. A. Mikesell
and the Dorsey Brothers. The large flouring mill was also
enlarged and improved. The largest skating rink in this
part of the state was built and Gamble's opera house was
doubled in size and attractions. Near the school house, S.
P. Mikesell at a cost of $6,000 erected a magnificent resi-
dence and Mrs. Addis transformed her place into one of the
best in town. These are a few of the most expensive build-
ings erected during the year. There were many others in
all parts of town, some costly and others cheap, but there
was not a house or building in town unoccupied.

Another county seat removal project came up in 1884
and was voted on at a special election held September 18.
It resulted in 779 votes for Ponca and 605 for Martinsburg.

The first lawless act in the history thus far of the Agri-
cultural society took place at the fair held September 23,
24 and 25. T. J. Caft'ee was attacked and stabbed by W. W.
Westbrook. The trouble grew out of a dispute on the race
course. Caft'ee, though badly hurt, recovered and West-
brook was arrested, tried and sent to the penitentiary.

In the spring of 1885 a proposition to issue $80,000 in
bonds to pay the debts of the county, was voted down at a
special election.

In April, the Logan Valley Agricultural Society was
organized by citizens of Wakefield and the southern part of
the county, and it was resolved to have a fair in the fall.

The month of June of that year, is noted as having had
the worst wind storm ever experienced in Nebraska within
the memory of man. On Sundav. June 14, a hurricane inter-

112 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

spersed with a myriad of small but vindictive tornadoes,
swept over the county like a besom of destruction. At about
ten o'clook in the evening an immense cloud, extending as
far as the eye could reach to the north and south, and so low
down as to nearly touch the ground, was seen approaching
with rapidity from the southwest. The tremendous roaring
of the wind, the vivid lightning and peals of thunder gave
warning that an appalling storm was at hand.

Doors and windows were hardly closed to make everything
as secure as possible, before the storm burst in unexampled
force. In its grasp, as in the hands of an army of giants,
every house in the county was shaken, some were moved
from their foundations and others were crushed and scatter-
ed before the gale. Fortunate houses indeed, were those
which lost only chimneys or roofs. Barns, sheds and out-
houses were tossed about and in many instances were broken
up and their fragments swept away. Fences were overthrown
and trees were torn up by the roots. But little was seen of
the storm by the people, beyond their own houses. Without,
its devastating energy moved forward in its work wrapped
in nearly impenetrable darkness. Occasionally a flash of
lightning lit up the scene for a moment, and gave a tran-
sient view of what was transpiring in the distance.

The storm raged an hour. Those who had cellars went
into them for safety, and in a few instances saw their houses
carried away over their heads. Some went out of their
houses intending to find safer quarters elsewhere. In such
efforts they were beaten to the ground in a moment, or blown
before a wind which the strongest man could not withstand.

In this terrific shaking up, Ponca fared badly. Its churches
seemed special objects of fury. The new brick M. E. church
was crushed into a shapeless mass of brick, mortar and broken
timbers. The Baptist and Lutheran churches were also vis-
ited, the former being wrecked and the latter so racked and
twisted as to render a new one necessary to be built. On
Third street, Bauer's implement warehouse, an immensely
large building which was filled with machinery, was blown
down and ruined, together with much of its contents.
Stough & Mikesell's store, the mill, the store of John Davey.
the railroad depot, Gamble's warehouse, the livery stables
and many residences lost their roofs; some were removed

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 11:'.

from their foundations and the new houses of A. Porter and
I\ H. Beller were entirely swept away. Nearly every build-
ing was more or less damaged, and barns and sheds general-
ly here and elsewhere were tossed to destruction by the gale.
A hundred chimneys were overthrown in town, windows
were blown in, costly fences were torn in pieces and groves
and gardens were ruined. The wind blew from seventy-five
to one hundred miles an hour.

For miles in every direction around Ponca, evidences
were seen of the destructive march of the storm. The house
on the Blackard farm, the Green brick house, Shomber's
house, the houses of Carnell, Smith and Marble, the school
house in the Roden district and the next one west, W. Matte-
son's mill near the landing, the Silver Creek school house,
were total wrecks. Rev. Clark's academy at Silver Ridge
lost its cupola and chimneys, and near New Castle, Tim
Ralm's large two story house was scattered with all its con-
tents.

At New Castle the Congregational ch urch was turned around
and near there, in Ionia township, Warner's mill and num-
erous houses and barns were greatly damaged. At Martins-
burg, J. Martin's store was torn down, Shultz and Matteson's
store and the mill were unroofed, and many buildings in
(lalena and Springbank were either destroyed or greatly in-
jured.

At Wakefield and Emerson the loss was comparatively
light, though in the country tributary to those towns, a few
houses and barns were wiped out of existence. In the storm
but one loss of life occurred, Henry Erickson,who was killed
six miles west of W r akefield by the timbers of a falling house.

Among other damage was that to the agricultural society
buildings, on the fair grounds. The fences were blown away
together with nearly everything inside of them, excepting
the race course and the well. The agricultural hall was
blown entirely off the grounds, and its fragments were dis-
tributed throughout the length and breadth of HammeFs
corn field on the east.

The foregoing is but a partial list of the losses in the
county. Nearly every building, grove and fence was injured,
some slightly, others irreparably. The total loss in the
countv was estimated to be from $35,000 to $50,000. As to

114 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

the crops, the damage done to them was not so severe as
might have been expected. Small grain was but little
injured, and corn, though badly whipped about, was not so
hurt that two weeks time would not restore it. Hence,
after people recovered from the fright and saw that no
material injury was done to the crops they were not dis-
couraged but went to work to clear away the wreck and re-
pair the damage. This was their first great storm and their
hope that it would be the last has up to date been realized.
But the storm induced nearly everyone to build a storm
cave, to which when the clouds threatened they could retire
and feel secure.

The census of the county which was taken in duly showed
a great increase in the number of its inhabitants. It had
5,591) a gain of about 40 per cent in live years.

In following the path of events as they occurred, the
reader is now brought to another tragedy, the most horrible
in the life of Dixon county since the murder of Mr. Dunn in
1870 by Mat Miller who therefor was promptly hanged by
the citizens as related in a former chapter.

James Alexander, one of the pioneers of the county, had
lived on his farm about six miles west of Ponca many years.
Robert C. Blair, a young man 26 years old, had been working
a farm adjoining, and boarded with Alexander. On the even-
ing of October "2*2. (1885,) Alexander and Blair went to the
granary to sack wheat and while there Blair shot and killed
Alexander and then mounting his horse tried to escape out
of the country. Immediately pursuit was made and the day
after the murder Blair was captured. Alexander was un-
armed at the time he was killed and hence Blair's claim that
he shot him in self defense was exploded. The further fact
that Alexander had been shot in the back, made proof con-
clusive that the murder was cold blooded and deliberate.

Blair's trial came befoie the district court at Ponca.
November 5, less than two weeks after the crime w T as com-
mitted. After a careful investigation of the facts the jury
found Blair guilty of murder in the second degree and ho
was sentenced by Judge Crawford to imprisonment for life.
A week after he was taken to the penitentiary by Sheriff
Pomeroy.

As township organization was to go into effect the

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 115

next January the county was in the fall divided into town-
ships and at the election in November a board of fifteen
supervisors were elected in place of the three commissioners.
The first meeting of the board under the new order of things
was held January 12, 1886, and consisted of the following
members: A. Reynolds, Ponca township; Dr. Hasson, Ponca
village; G. W. Waitt, Wakefield; P. G. Wright, Galena; C.
W. Sherman, Daily; J. W. Ellyson, Ionia; Frank Renter.
Logan; W. Jenkins, Concord; W. H. Pomeroy, Springbank;
M. L. Rossiter, Emerson; D. F. Curtis, Clark; H. C. Fields,
Hooker: G. C. Wilson, Silver Creek; H. Sayre, Otter Creek:
H. Richards. New Castle.

In the early part of the winter of '85-'86, Sioux City
parties bought lands of W. H. Porter, F. Conrad, A.
Reynolds, F. Baker and others, GOO acres in all, along the
bluffs north of Ponca and near the river. The sudden de-
mand for land in an unattractive locality, gave plausibility
to the assertion that it was purchased for a company which
had in view the building of a railroad and bridge across the
river. In connection with this purchase, we will add that
in the following August a Mr. Massey of Rockford, Illinois,
came and bought another large tract of bluffy land near
that of the Sioux City parties. He said he wanted it for
an "Angora goat farm." a business that needed the roughest
land. It was noticed that the land touched Lime Creek
ravine where the Nebraska end of the much imagined rail-
road bridge was to be. For some land which had been
deemed too worthless to pay the taxes on, Mr. Massey paid
from fifty to one hundred dollars per acre.

There is no doubt of the fact that a great project was in
view, which, had it been carried out, would have brought
one or more railroads and a bridge into Dakota. But like
many other schemes in the west it resulted in nothing. The
only ones who received benefit were those who had unloaded
their worthless lands on the bluffs.

In the fall of '86, the Dixon County Agricultural fair had
some novel features which will he useful as hints to the
managers of fairs in future. There were special premiums
by which the handsomest couple who would be married
in Floral Hall on the third day of the fair, received an
elegant rocking chair. The most attractive girl, the hand-

110 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

somest woman and the best appearing man, all of Dixon
county, lnul an appropriate gift to each. To the prettiest
baby under twelve months, tive dollars in gold. To the man
with the longest nose, and he who had the largest feet, were
also remembered by special premiums. With such a re-
markable combination of attractions it may safely be said
that the fair was a great success. It was held four days that
year and had an attendance of between three and four
thousand.

On November 6th, the trustees completed by ordinance
the organization of Ponca into a city of the second class.

Thus we have briefly touched on the main events which
transpired up to the close of 1886. At that time the country
and the towns seemed on the high road to prosperity.
Dixon county was gradually emerging from obscurity and
the truth was generally becoming known that in agri-
cultural wealth it was nearly at the top of the column of the
counties in the state.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 117

CHAPTER XII.

Railroad Rumblings The Building of the Short Line-
The Extension of the Ponca Branch to New Castle
The Burning of the Mill at Ponca --The Failure
of the First National Bank --The Starting of Allen,
Concord, Waterbury and New Castle.

The life of a county, like that of an individual, is
generally made up of a succession of little events, scarcely
one of which, detached from the others, would be worth
mentioning;. This fact has thus far appeared in this as in
every other history, and without doubt w T ill be seen in the
future. The small incidents separately not of much account,
which occur in the course of a month or a year, make up
the great bulk of its history, out of which arises, at rare
intervals like a solitary rock on the prairie, some conspicious
event of real importance.

Looking back from the commencement of 1887 we saw
the growth of business up to that time had been rapid. As a
sample, take the railroad business at Ponca, The total
amount of freight received at that station during the year
18S5 was 8,981,628 pounds; during the year 1886 it was 10,-
159.419 pounds. Total amount of freight forwarded during
the year 1885 was 9,703,013 pounds; during the year 1S86 it
was 11,750,851. Total increase of tonnage 8,225,575. Gross
earnings of station for 1885 was $44,451.18; for year 1886
was $49,968.35, an increase of $5,517.17 in station earnings.
Such an amount showed that the people of the northern part
of the county who sent or received it, were not idle. Nearly
the same amount of business was done at Wakefield, in-
dicating altogether, as reliably as a barometer of the
weather, the condition of business in the county.

In 1887, as in 1SS6, there were innumerable rumors of
new railroad prospects affecting Dixon county. Parties of
railroad surveyors would pass through, diligently running

118 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

lines and driving stakes, but answering no questions. Some
came from the southwest and others from Sioux City. The
Springbank region frequently had hope excited by the sight
of such surveyors in all the panoply of compasses, levels,
transits and chains, moving to and fro. Surveyors claiming
to be from North Platte ran a line along the Otter Creek
valley and soon after was followed by Union Pacific sur-
veyors over the same ground, and another surveying outfit
was seen measuring and staking its way along the valley of
Elk Creek. Surveyors ran a line from Clairmont station in
Cedar county, down Tarbox Hollow, so called, to the South
Creek valley and from thence to Martinsburg and Ponca.
Others came down Daily valley to Martinsburg and from
there headed towards Sioux City leaving Ponca out in the
cold. It was confidently asserted by those who claimed to
know all about it, that the Union Pacific railroad would be
extended from Norfolk to the Missouri river at Ponca and
there by a bridge cross into Dakota. It was also said by
others with equal confidence that the Union Pacific would
not build such a line to Ponca but would branch off through
Springbank and the Elk Valley to Jackson and from there
to Covington. In such a multitude of reports, many of them
conflicting, no one could tell which to believe. The safest
way was not to believe any, and as matters turned out, such
a general disbelief would have been the most correct method
of dealing with the subject.

At the time of these rumors, a new excitement, not
quite so important as the railroad stories but more interest-
ing, was started by a man named Keyser, who claimed he
had found a diamond. He had in fact found in Lime Kiln
ravine a transparent stone, weighing about two ounces, but
whether a genuine diamond or a diamond of the Alaska
variety, was the question. If it were genuine, it was worth
enough to build a railroad and a bridge across the Missouri,
but if an Alaska diamond, it was not as valuable as an
equally sized seed potato. Excited by the "•diamond" dis-
covery, several parties went prospecting in the bluffs along the
river for gold, and an enthusiastic resident of Ionia township
claimed he had discovered a rich deposit of plumbago.

These various excitements, — railroad, diamond, gold and
plumbago, — caused some one on April 1 (All Fools' Day Ho get

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 119

up a burlesque report that live large companies of railroad
surveyors were approaching Ponca from as many different
directions. The story in full, as it was told, although not
exactly the right thing to put into the pages of a sedate
history, will still be useful as showing what a healthy and
vivid western imagination can do. as also the fact that
people had in those days lots of fun occasionally. Here it
is: "A large force of railroad engineers are now beating up
the ground in "Tarbox Hollow." One of the engineers
was heard to say to another that they 'would in 24 hours be
where they could get their canteens tilled.' That, consider-
ing the direction they were moving and the time indicated,
meant Ponca. Therefore the surveyors will soon be in
Ponca.

"Another large crowd of surveyors are now advancing
down South Creek, preceded by a full military band led by a
drum major in the gorgeous custume of an Abyssinian prince.
As they march along, the neighboring hills resound to the
music of trumpets and shawms. A long line of w r agons are
carrying the surveying instruments and camp equipage.
They will get to Ponca tomorrow.

"Two full corps of opposing railroad engineers are neck
and neck running lines down Silver Creek. The needles of
their compasses point toward Ponca. The chief engineers
on sorrel horses ride in front cheering on their men. It is
impossible to determine which will get there first.

"A company of forty surveyors approach by the way of
New Castle. The chief engineer in the costume of a Turkish
pasha, is leading the procession mounted on a burro and
followed by a company of bespangled sword swallowers, ball
tossers. wire dancers, tumblers and contortionists, who in
their professional capacities entertain the party as it comes
down the valley. After these comes a large platform or
float on wheels drawn by a long train of oxen. On the float
the surveyors are stationed with theodolites and other
instruments, and determine as they move along, the heighth
of the hills and all questions of grade, cut, till, etc.

"A tremendous tiring across the river is said to indicate a
salute on approach of the surveyors from Elk Point."

During the year there were few matters of any great im-
portance occuring in the county. Railroad rumors. Lime

120 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Kiln ravine bridge matters and other fictioDS for boom pur-
poses, furnished something to talk about while the crops
were growing and the cattle on the thousand green hills and
valleys were getting fat and ready for market. On the Fourth
of July the various towns had their celebrations largely
attended. There was building and improvement as usual
and an increasing demand and higher prices for farms. The
county fair in the fall was well attended and a big balloon
and an oration from Hon. J. M. Thurston of Omaha were
drawing attractions.

When at the end of the year Christmas and New Year's
days came with the usual church decorations, gifts and re-
unions of families and friends, the citizens of the county had
reason from the experiences of the past to face the future
with confidence.

The commencement of the year 1888 was marked by the
greatest blizzard (January \2) that this country ever saw
since its settlement by white people. In this state as well
as in Iowa, Dakota and Minnesota, the oldest inhabitants
could remember nothing approaching it in severity. In ail,
about two hundred and fifty persons were frozen to death
and the loss of stock, especially in the western part of Ne-
braska, was very great. Dixon county came out of the
ordeal much better than most localities. There was much
suffering here and some narrow escapes by being caught out
in the storm but none were frozen to death and the cattle
were generally well sheltered and in safety.

During this year, as in the year before, there was a con-
tinuous succession of rumors and surmises on future rail-
road possibilities. In June a party of railroad surveyors
commenced at Randolph, Cedar county, to run a line east-
ward towards Sioux City. When on their route the sur-
veyors came to Dixon county, they ran various lines, so that
scarely a valley in the central part of the county was not
decorated with the stakes of a preliminary survey. One
route crossed South Creek valley at Martinsburg and another
several miles above. The lines came together at Mr. Her-
rick's place in Otter Creek valley where it was thought would
be a railroad town. Where Tarbox Hollow opens into South
Creek valley another town was deemed liable. If the Mar-
tinsburg route was followed, that village being near the cen-

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 121

ter of the county, would become a place of importance. The
final result of the various surveys was that the Sioux City
and Ogden Short Line Railroad was located and built through
the county.

In April, L889, contracts were let to build 100 miles of it.
Work soon after commenced and in the spring of 1890 the
track was completed through the county. On this part of
the route three new towns were started. One of them, Allen,
was on the farm of Henry Allen in Springbank township,
about twenty-nine miles from Sioux City and twenty from
Ponca.

Another town was on Mr. Herrick's land in Otter Creek
township and on the eastern side of the county and was given
the name of Waterbury. The third town located was Con-
cord near the county's west line. All the three places had
encouraging growth, and Allen, on account of its central
location, might, it was claimed, become the county seat of
the county.

The county thus, with these three additions, had nine
thriving young cities, viz: Ponca, Wakefield, Martinsburg,
Concord, Emerson, New Castle, Allen. Dixon and Water-
bury, all of which excepting New Castle and Martinsburg
were railroad towns.

In May, 1892, there were rumors that the C, St. P., M. &
O. R. R. would soon be extended from Ponca to New Castle.
In the course of a few months it was seen that the rumor
would be a certainty. In September a committee of New
Castle business men, the most prominent being Thomas Hoy.
the leading merchant of that place, went to St. Paul, where
they met President Hughitt and General Manager Winters
of the Omaha company. They were given audiences by those
gentlemen and made a statement of their case. They show-
ed that the extension they asked would be a cheap one to
build, and would be certain to secure enough business to be
profitable. As a result of this interview, the Omaha people
made a proposition to the New Castle men. They stated
that if they made the extension they would have to buy
about sixty-five acres of land for right-of-way and forty to
fifty acres more at New Castle for yards, station room, etc.
They did not place any figures on this property, but told the
New Castle people to go back home and find out on what

122 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

terms it could be secured. After they had done this if they
would raise the money or secure donations enough to meet
half the expense of purchasing it, the road would give serious
consideration to the proposition for an immediate extension.
The committee returned home and at once called a meeting
to discuss ways and means for complying with the demand
of the road. At such meeting subscriptions to the amount
of $3,000 were secured. This promptness and energy on the
part of Mr. Hoy and his friends resulted in the decision of
the railroad company to make the extension.

In November the contract was signed by the company to
build its line to New Castle and have it in operation not
later than September, 1898.

Aside from these railroad matters which had occupied
general attention for several years, the progress of the county
had continued at its usual speed. There had been new en-
terprises and a long succession of good crops. People were
in fact, if they but realized it, on the high road to wealth.
and all that was required to attain it was industry, energy
and a determination to avoid debt. A great number of new
families had moved in and but few went away, and those
who went some to California and others to Florida in nine
times out of ten returned in a year to Dixon county more
contented than ever before.

Life was not, however, without an occasional drawback.
Sometimes we had too much rain or too little for the good
of the crops and at long intervals a prairie fire or a heavy
wind would do some damage. In the spring of '89 quite
extensive prairie tires were in Silver Creek, Ponca, Ionia and
Daily and occasioned much loss of property. These tires
were not as bad as those that occurred a few years before,
but they were bad enough.

The year 1893 was in some respects an unfortunate one
for Ponca. Up to that time it had grown and prospered,
and its good fortune for years had been uninterrupted. Hut
this year a series of troubles came upon it, perhaps none that
would materially interfere with its future prospects, but
troubles which were discouraging and exasperating.

First, in February, the Ponca mill with its adjacent build-
ings and a great quantity of Hour and grain was burned.
The night of the tire was extremely cold and disagreeable,

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 123

and a tierce, catting gale blew from the northwest making
the work of lighting the flames most difficult. The mill and
contents, including 4,000 bushels of wheat and about four
carloads of Hour, together with the elevator containing
14.000 bushels of wheat, and the dwelling, was a total loss,
and the Hour house was practically destroyed, making a loss
on the buildings of about $32,000 and on the grain and flour
of $1*2,000. The mill and machinery had an insurance of
$14,700 and the elevator was insured for $1,500, and there
w r as some insurance on the grain and flour.

The mill was built by John Stough, Sr. and S. P. Mike-
sell in 1882-83, and was operated by the founders until Sep-
tember 13, 1883, when S. K. Bitten bender was taken into
partnership. The mill was incorporated in 1886 and was con-
ducted from that time under the corporate name of Ponca
Mill Co. It was distinguished as being one of the best con-
structed mills in the w 7 est, with every adjunct and improve-
ment that would facilitate its work and enable the making
of high grade flour for which it had an enviable reputation.

The main building, 40x60 feet, had four stories, and was
built of stone and brick. The floors were of white oak and
hard maple, and all of the spouting were hard dressed, bead-
ed and shellaced, thus showing, in part, how well the struc-
ture was built. The machinery was of the ''long system
style," and, always kept in repair, was by no means inferior
to any modern mill. Its average yield, as shown by auto-
matic scales, was forty-two pounds of flour for every bushel
of cleaned wheat, which fact alone placed it among the best
mills of the day. In fact it would be folly to try to build a
better mill or one that would maintain a higher standard of
effective work.

The mill usually ground 100,030 bushels per year and
found a ready market in Nebraska. Iowa and South Dakota,
and great quantities of flour were also furnished to the
United States army as well as to the Indians in Dakota and
Montana.

The system of waterworks which had been building in
town was not yet fully completed and hence on the occasion
of the Are was nearly useless.

A second misfortune was the disastrous failure of the
First National Bank of Ponca on April 27. On that day a

124 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

notice was posted on the door of the bank stating that "owing
to the recent failures in Sioux City and elsewhere, and being
called upon for money due, the bank is compelled to close
temporarily, and that depositors will be paid as soon as mat-
ters can be adjusted." It was hoped by depositors that the
suspension was as stated in the notice, only temporary. The
sworn statement made out under the supervision of the bank
examiner the month before, showed conclusively that depos-
itors were absolutely safe. Under that statement the re-
sources of the bank were over $2(10.(100 and the indebtedness
to the depositors about $100,000.

But notwithstanding the assertion of the entire safety of
depositors, a thousand rumors were soon in circulation as to
the cause of the failure and the amount of assets and liabil-
ities. By some it was said that the bank was and had been for
along' time hopelessly rotten, that depositors had been hood-
winked, and that their money had been unscrupulously used
in extravagance and recklessness in transactions outside the
legitimate business of the bank.

The man who seemed to have the most to do with the
control and management of the bank up to the time of its
failure was F. M. Dorsey. A few years before, he came to
Ponca and opened a private bank in the name of Dorsey
Brothers, and from that commencement the First National
Bank was developed and Ex-Congressman (tco. W. E. Dorsey
became president of it. F. M. Dorsey was a man whose ex-
travagances, enterprises and expenses required a large
amount of money. He built on Fast street a residence cost-
ing several thousand dollars. He had a large stable of fast
horses, and was the main stay of the "Diamond Stock Farm."
so called. He was also one of the leading managers of the
"Ponca Driving and Fair Association," and in all respects
appeared to be a "'high roller" with plenty of money at all
times and always ready to expend it for his own gratification.

As receiver of the bank, Albert Watkins of Lincoln was
appointed soon after the failure and immediately entered
upon the duties of the office.

The failure of this bank created great distress among
many. There was a large number of depositors, some of
whom had placed in the bank every dollar they had in the
world. They were old men and women and even children.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 125

who deposited and lost their little savings, and starvation or
the poor house seemed to be the only relief for them. As
people began to believe that the wreck was caused by cir-
cumstances not beyond the coutrol of F. M. Dorsey and
his coterie of sympathetic aiders, public indignation grew
until almost unbearable.

In October a dividend of 20 per cent. w T as paid to the de-
positors. No farther dividends have been paid up to this
time, (December. 1 S*)~> ) but it is hoped there will be.

Soon after this failure Dorsey was indicted in the United
States Court at Omaha for falsifying the books of the bank
and other charges, but thus far he has not been tried. A
favorite method by which to get hold of the money of the bank
was, as reported by those who claimed to know, the following:
A man deposits $500 in the bank. Thereupon Dorsey goes
to one of the hostlers in his stable or to some other sub-
servient satellite, and gets him to sign a note for $500.
This note is then endorsed "Dorsey Brothers," and dis-
counted at the bank. Thus, Dorsey captures the $500 and
the bank has the note. Then the bank sends the note to an
eastern bank and it is re-discounted, and then the First
National gets its $500 again. Then if Dorsey desires more
money he can make another note and have it signed by
some willing tool, and he is enabled to get hold of the $50(1
again. And so on ad infinitum. It was a great scheme and
as long as eastern banks would re-discount western paper,
was better than a first class gold mine.

What will ever be done with Dorsey. no one can tell.
Had he been merely guilty of petit larceny, or if hunger had
driven him to steal a loaf of bread, he would have been
punished long ago. But in this country the maxim seems
to be, "the greater the crime the greater the safety of the
criminal." Dorsey did not stay in Ponca long after the
failure but went to Sioux City where, amid society more
congenial to him, he has since remained.

The hard times and the failure of the First National
Bank brought about the downfall of the Ponca Driving and
Fair Association. The track, a mile around it and the best
in this part of the state, had been perfected by great labor
and expense. A large number of costly buildings, amphi-

12(5 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

theater, stables, sheds, fences, etc., had also been built and
it seemed a pity that all should come to nothing.

Another misfortune of the year was the burning in
December of the Aoway Valley Creamery at Ponca. The
building was a good one and had the latest and best ma-
chinery and improvements, and was doing an extensive
business and giving employment to a large number of men
during a part of each year.

The railroad was duly extended to New Castle in 1893.
That ambitious and deserving young city is situated in the
Aoway valley. The founder of the town was (lustavus
Smith (or more properly, Schmidt) since deceased, who
many years ago laid out the place and gave it its name.

In 1871 a few houses, mostly log, were all there was to
New Castle. The "first store" was built by Mr. Smith in
1871 and was stocked by S. Reineman of Covington and
managed by his brother, Albert. The venture was unsuc-
cessful and the proprietors were numerous for the next ten
years, of whom were Mr. Smith, S. B. Hughes and then Thos.
Hoy. Mr. Hoy burned out, rebuilt, and sold a half interest
to John Coleman. The firm of Hoy & Coleman did a fine
business for a number of years, but dissolved about a year
before, Mr. Hoy taking the stock, which he still owns and
manages, and Mr. Coleman going into general hardware
trade. The country around New Castle is among the most
productive in the state and is settled by progressive and in-
dustrious farmers.

In the winter before the railroad was extended and be-
fore the "boom" struck New Castle, that town had not over
ten or fifteen buildings all told, among which were two
churches, Catholic and Congregational, and a school house.
But during that winter, in anticipation of the expected road
the place commenced to grow and soon iu the course of
erection was a bank to be managed by W. P. Logan, of
Ponca; a mill by Jas. B. Connery and Jas. McGrath with a
capacity of fifty barrels per day; another hotel by W. H.
Hopkins; two lumber yards; two livery barns; a saloon: a
meat market, and last but not least a newspaper.

In January after the road was completed New Castle was
a brisk and well built railroad town. Its growth since a
year before had been constant and healthy and it now con-

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 127

tained three large general stores, two drug stores, a grist
mill, two hotels, a good newspaper, numerous shops, offices
and dwelling houses.

Notwithstanding all the buffetting of ill fortune during
1893, Ponca at the end of that year and during 1894 had
every appearance of being still in the ring and all right.

On September 13, 1S94. the pioneers and old settlers of
the county held their first picnic. It was in Hurley's grove
near Martinsburg and attended by about 8.000 people. At
that time there was a permanent organization of the "Old
Settlers and Pioneers' Society" of Dixon County. A consti-
tution was adopted and the following officers were elected:
C. F. Putnam, president; N. S. Porter, vice-president; George
Herrick, treasurer, and C. W. Sehram, secretary.

The second annual picnic of the association was held at
the same place, September 5, 1895, and the attendance was
larger than the year before. The officers elected for the en-
suing year were: President, David Murphy, of South Creek;
vice-president, George Mattison, Ponca township; treasurer,
(Jeo. Herrick. Otter Creek; secretary, C. W. Sehram, Silver
Creek. On both these occasions orations, music and elegant
picnic dinners made an enjoyable bill of fare. It is to be
hoped these reunions, thus auspiciously commenced, will
always be continued.

12H HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

CHAPTER XIII.

Assessments, Population, Improved Land, Fruit and Forest
Trees, Marriages, Births and Deaths, from Organiza-
tion of the County to the Present Time - Lists of
County Officers, Clerks, Treasurers, Commissioners
and Supervisors, Probate and County Judges,
Sheriffs and Superintendents of Public Instruction,
County Attorneys, Clerks of Court and Surveyors,
from the First Until Now.

Dixon County, which commenced with nothing except
brains and energy, has now much to show. The first settlers
found when they came in the spring of 1856, a wild, un-
broken and unimproved country peopled only by Indians.
The whites who came were poor, having in a great majority
of instances scarcely any money and a very meager supply
of goods or other property.

Had an assessment been made in the summer of 1856 of
the taxable property in the country which afterward became
Dixon County, the value would of course have been ex-
pressed by a cypher. Starting thus at zero in 1856 let us
see how the county has developed since then.

First, as to population:

On May 1. 1856, nobody; January 1, 1857, estimated at
from 150 to 200; January 1, 1858, according to old esttlers
there were from 300 to 400 people here. Then hard times
came on and for a few years the population decreased some-
what.

In I860 there were only 240 residents in the county and
there was little increase until after the year of the great
drouth, 1864, then it commenced gaining rapidly, and in
1870 was 1,345.

During the next five years the population more than
doubled, being in 1S75, 2,886.

In 1878 there were 3.512 and in 1SS0. 4.177. and ten

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 129

years later the population had almost doubled, the number
in 1890 being 8,084.

Carefully figuring the same rate of increase the citizens
of Dixon county numbered not less than 12,(100 on January
1. 1896.

Taking into consideration the numerous vicissitudes and
drawbacks, the drouth, grasshoppers and failures of crops
during several years, and the consequent discouragement
and moving away of many of the people, the progress as to
population, has been beyond the average of the counties of
the state.

Next, as to improved land, groves and orchards:

Starting at zero in 1856, we find that half way on the
journey from that date to the present time there were 18,-
500 acres of land under cultivation, 12,700 acres fenced,
6,000 fruit trees and about 1,250.000 forest trees had been
planted, of which 1.000.000 were cottonwoods, and the re-
mainder were soft maples, walnuts and box elders. This was
a good showing for the first nineteen years, hut the next
nineteen years show a much greater advance.

In 1884 the acres of improved laud were 136,066

The number of fruit trees ... 286,<>0()

Grape viues 99, 250

Forest trees . 5. 500, 000

It appears from the above that during the first nineteen
years, there was an average of nearly one thousand acres
improved every year. In contrast with this during the next
nineteen years, the average number of acres of land im-
proved per year was over six thousand.

A much more wonderful rate of increase may be seen
by comparing the fruit and forest trees planted during the
two periods. During the first nineteen years. 6,000 fruit
trees and 1,250,000 forest trees did not evince a very
energetic desire to have orchards and sheltering groves, and
the showing is insignificant when compared with what was
done in the next nineteen years.

During the latter period, instead of a trifle over 300 fruit
trees per year, the average planted annually w T as 14,768, and
the forest trees came up to the enormous average of 223,600
per year.

In IS95 the amount of land under cultivation was. for

130 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

wheat 20,45«S acres; corn 61,367 acres; oats 17,462; barley 456;
flax 1,500; potatoes 300; sugar beets 50, and millet 565 acres.
Daring this year 4(),4()5 fruit trees were planted, 1,756,230
forest trees and 15,365 grape vines.

In may seem almost impossible that these figures are
true, but they are obtained from records and reports in
the county clerk's office and may therefore be depended
upon as reliable.

The assessed valuation of property:

r rhe rii*st assessment was made in 1859, and as we are told
by the assessor there being no record on the subject extant,
the valuation was about $4,800.

From 1859 to 1864, live years, — there is nothing written
or verbal to give any certain information as to what the
valuations were. Old residents tell us that assessments
were made and that during at least two of the live years,
the valuations were even less than they were in 1859. The
hardness of the times had driven away many, and money
was scarce and improvements few. The first assessment
after 1859, of which we can find authentic information, was
that of 1864.

This was the most disastrous year of all, yet the assessed
valuation loomed up in great proportions, viz: $44,S54.
This enormous increase of valuation after all the previous
poverty stricken years, was of course not occasioned by any
increased prosperity on the part of the actual settlers. But
great quantities of land had been bought from the govern-
ment by non-resident speculators, and it was mainly this
land, and probably at as large a price as the assessor's con-
science would permit, which swelled the valuation to such
large figures. In that year the number of acres assessed
was 15,239, and it is safe to say that not a tenth of it was
owned by actual residents of the county.

In 1865 the valuation was $48,863. Not a very wonder-
ful advance over that of the previous year, but at the time
the assessment was made in the spring, settlers had barely
emerged from the terrible fifteen months of drouth, which
came near wrecking the county and driving everybody out
of it, and of course during the time that lasted, dragging
down the values of lands and improvements to their low-
est ebb.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 131

The next assessment, spring of 1866 — everything boom-
ing again the valuation rose to $64,204. From this time
forward there was a very rapid increase. The following are
the figures:

1867 I 71, SIM oo

1*6* 100,890 00

1869 150,845 00

(The rapid increase of the valuation will be noticed from

1867 to 186S. There was a gain of about $29,000, and from

1868 to 1869 a gain of $50,000.)

INTO $223,746 00

1871 803,600 00

1872 460,870 00

1873 610,854 00

1874 ... 717,620 00

From 1S71 to 1S74, inclusive, the yearly increase of valu-
ation was from $100,000 to $150,000. People were evidently
enjoying most prosperous years.

In 1875, however, things went the other way for a time.
The grasshoppers had come in the summer of 1S74, and had
made a clean sweep of every growing thing. People were
discouraged again, — many sold out at half price and moved
away, and the value of property fell. Hence, in 1S75 the
assessed valuation tumbled from $717,620, as it was the year
before, down to $587,331, being a shrinkage of $130,289.

However, in 1876, the scare was mainly over, property
went up in value again, and the assessed valuation jumped
up to $780,515, being about $13,000 above what it had been
in 1S74.

In 1S77 the valuation was $990,268, showing the enor-
mous increase of $2511,753 over that of the previous year. The
next two years the valuation went down again. The figures
are as follows:

1S7S $ 883,935 00

1S79 782,388 00

1880 ,xi)4,347 00

1881 928,218 00

1882 963,016 00

1883 1,168,581 00

1554 . . 1.333.035 00

1555 1.519.623 00

1KN6 1,598,107 00

1SS7 ... 1,545,730 00

1888 1,529, 16S oo

1889 1,504,726 oo

1890 1,451,935 00
1S91 ... 1.520,364 00

1892 .... 1,616,521 00

1893 1,617,234 00

1894 1,644,804 00

1895 1,567,402 00

132 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

For the past eight years the valuation has increased but
little. This was not occasioned by the county standing still
in its efforts for wealth. The actual increase in value has
been as great as during the most prosperous years of the
county, but the rates of assessment were greatly reduced,
and the assessed valuation was kept in the neighborhood of
$ 1,5()0,IK 10, each year.

In considering the progress of the county, it will be well
to consider the number of marriages and births and deaths.

The records of the marriages in the county, after its
organization, are not complete during the first one or two
years. According to the books in the county judge's office
the first couple married in the county was S. B. Stough and
Helena Ernst on May 15, 1861. That they were not the first
is shown by the memory of old residents who claim that
from thirty to forty had been married previous to that time,
the record of which has been lost.

From the records in existence it appears that nine hun-
dred and seventy-live marriages have taken place in the
county since May 15. 1861. If thirty-five couples had been
married before that date, Dixon county has had one thous-
and and fifty-three marriages since its first settlement up to
the present time. In the past few years the number of mar-
riages per year has greatly increased. In 1892 there were
sixty-one, in 1893 seventy-nine, in 1894 forty-eight.

As to births and deaths there are no records from which
to obtain information From the best evidence that can be
had it is presumed that there have been not less than two
thousand, eight hundred births in the county since its organ-
ization and nineteen hundred deaths, the births being much
greater in number than the deaths. The difference being
eight hundred and fifty, it is plain that so far as health and
longevity are concerned, this country is fully equal to Min-
nesota, where the annual death rate is about nine out of
every thousand.

Dixon county officers from the first election in 1858 to
the present time.

COUNTY CLERKS.

Edward Arnold, from first election held in December,
1858, to October. 1859.

Edward Serrv. from October, 1859, to October. 1863.

HISTORY OE DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 133

E. M. Bisbee, from October, 1863, to October, 1865, when
he resigned, and Edward Serry was elected from October,
1866, to October. 1868.

C. W. Todd, from October, 1868, for one year.

W. 1). Long, elected in October, 1869, and continued to
September (}, 1870, when he resigned and T. J. Welty was
appointed to till the vacancy.

E. M. Bisbee from October 19, 1870, to October 26, 1871.

T. J. Welty, from October 26, 1871, through '72, '73 '74, '75.

E. M. Bisbee, in 1876, 77. 78, 7*). 'SO. '81, '82, 'S3, '84 and
'85.

-1. W. Radford. '86, '87, '88 and '89.

T. .1. Shiebley. '90, '91, '92, '93, '1)4 and '95, and was suc-
ceeded on January 1. 1896, by J. 0. Ekeroth.

COUNTY TREASURERS.

John Malone was elected in December, 1858. He was the
first treasurer of the county. Held the office until October
1 1. 1859, and was re-elected for two years and until October.
1861.

Gustavus Smith. October, 1861, to October, 1863.

Leander Davis from October, 1863, to spring of 1865, when
he resigned and moved to Sioux City and W. P. Hey don was
appointed to fill the vacancy.

In the fall of 1865, A. Davis was elected and was treasurer
during 1866, '67, '<)S, '69, 70. 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, ten years,
and was followed by Dennis Hurley from January, 1 S7<>. to
January, 1882, six years. He was succeeded byR.H. Knapp,
who held the office until 1884.

C. T. Barto was treasurer from January. 1884, to January,
1SSS.

M. L. Rossiter from January, 1888, to January, 1892.

H. H. Pomerov from January. 1892, to January 1. 1896,
when he was succeeded by J. D. Stough.

COMMISSIONERS AND SUPERVISORS.

At the first election held in 1858, John Cavanagh, H. A.
Fuller and J. Massinger were elected commissioners until the
next general election in October, 1859.

October 11. 1859, were elected W. W. Benedict, J. 11. S.
Grove and M. Gorman.

In June, 1860, the commissioners were M. Gorman. Mau-
rice Scollard and H. M. Pierce.

IM HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Iii 1861 and until June, 1862, M. Scollard, S. P. Baltzley
and H. M. Pierce.

From June, 1862, to October of the same year, William
Gillan, M. Scollard and S. P. Baltzley.

October, 1862, M. Scollard, S. P. Baltzley and John Cava-
nagh.

October, 1863, M. Scollard, James Alexander and A. Kniss.

October, 1864, William Gillan, 0. Smith and John Cava-
nagh.

October. 1S().">, (i. Smith, John Stough and John Brookey.

October, 1866, John Stough, M. Gorman and John Sader.

October. 1867, the same.

October. 1868, the same.

October. 1869, John Stough, M. Gorman and Otis Dygart.

October. 1870, M. Gorman, Otis Dygart and N. S. Porter.

October. 1871, Otis Dygart, N. S. Porter and I. N. Moore.

October. 1872, Porter, Moore and O. P. Sullenberger.

October, 1873, 1. N. Moore, 0. P. Sullenberger and W. H.
Clark.

Previous to this time the commissioners commenced in
October, as soon as the vote was canvassed. Afterwards they
took the office on the 1st day of January.

January, 1S74, Moore. Sullenberger and Clark. April 17.
1S74, Moore resigned and C. M. Crowell was appointed.

January. 1875, O. P. Sullenberger. W. H. Clark and J.
Martin.

January, 1876, W. II. Clark. J. Martin and Philip Dough-
erty.

January. 1S77, J. Martin, P. Dougherty and John Mc-
kinley.

January, 1878, P. (J. Wright, John McKinley ami C. W.
Sherman.

January. 1879, W. W. Atkinson. P. G. AVright and John
McKinley.

January. 1880, P. (J. Wright, W. W. Atkinson and A.
Drager.

January. 1881, W. W. Atkinson. August Drager and h\ H.
Pomeroy.

January, 1882, the same.

January. 1883, W. W.Atkinson. H. H. Pomeroy and Anton
Engle.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 135

January, 1884, Anton Engle, W. W. Atkinson and Seth
Hamlin.

January, 1885, N. S. Porter, Seth Hamlin and J. W. Elly-
son,

(In L886 the supervisor system came into effect.)

SUPERVISORS.

18S6 — P. G. Wright, chairman. Galena; A. Reynolds.
Ponca township; D. W. Hasson, Ponca village; G.W. Waitt,
Wakefield; C. W. Sherman, Daily; J. W. Ellyson, Ionia;
Frank Reuter, Logan; W. Jenkins, Concord; W.H.Pomeroy,
Springbank; M. L. Rossiter, Emerson; D. F. Curtis, Clark;
H. C. Fields, Hooker; G. C. Wilson, Silver Creek; H. Sayre.
Otter Creek; and H. Richards. New Castle.

1887— W. H. Pomeroy, chairman, Springbank; I).
F. Curtis, Clark; J. F. Gibbs, Ionia; T. A. Brennan.
Hooker; G. B. Francis, Ponca City; G. 0. Acres.
Concord; John McGough, New Castle; Frank Reuter.
Logan; W. A. Neeley. Wakefield; M. L. Rossiter, Em-
erson; M. B. DeWitt, Ponca township; C. W. Sher-
man. Daily: L. Harper, Otter Creek: P. Dempsey. Silver
Creek: Lyman Wright, Galena.

18SS — W. H. Pomeroy, chairman. Springbank; Frank
Reuter, Logan; G. 0. Acres, Concord; J. Sullivan, Clark; C.
W. Sherman, Daily; T. H, Brennan, Hooker; W. A. Neeley,
Wakefield; D. Hurley, Galena; J. F. Gibbs, Ionia; H. Rich-
ards, New Castle: James Monier, Emerson; L. P. Harper.
Otter Creek; M. B. DeWitt. Ponca township; A. Drager.
Ponca City: P. A. Dempsey. Silver Creek.

1889 G. 0. Acres, chairman. Concord; A. Drager, Ponca
City; M. B. DeWitt, Ponca township; W. A. Matteson, Galena;
Nels Johnson. Hooker: H. Richards. New Castle; J. H.
Addison, Daily; J. H. Cole. Otter Creek; A. W. Rose, Ionia:
C. Mitchell. Clark; J. F. Pomeroy, Springbank; P. A.
Dempsey. Silver Creek; James Monier, Emerson; Philo
Graves. Wakefield; and William Johnson, Logan.

1S90 J. F. Pomeroy, Springbank. chairman: A. Drager,
Ponca City: M. B. DeWitt, Ponca township; A. H. Ellyson.
Ionia; J. H. Addison, Daily; M. A. Vaughn, Galena: R. A.
Poole, Emerson: J. W. Hypse. Logan; A. S. Palmer. New
Castle: Nels Johnson: Hooker: J. H. Cole. Otter Creek: C.

136 HI8TOKY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Mitchell. Clark; P. A. Dempsey, SilverCreek; Philo Graves,

Wakefield; and G. 0. Acres, Concord.

1S1I1 .). F. Pomeroy, chairman, Spring-bank; A. Drager,
Ponca City; A. Davis, Ponca township; .). H. Addison. Daily;
A. 8. Palmer, New Castle; Philo Craves, Wakefield; A. II.
Ellyson, Ionia; M. C. Vaughn, Galena; P. A. Dempsey, Silver
Creek; It. 1). Hall. Concord; S. Roberts, Otter Creek; J. Sulli-
van, Clark; ,1. W. Hypse, Logan; K. A. Poole. Emerson; A.
C. (Iran, Hooker.

1892 J. F. Pomeroy, chairman, Springbank; J. D. Stough,
Ponca City, A. Davis, Ponca township; Wm. Svveenev. Emer-
son; F. C. Spannuth, Logan; Mathew Conway, Daily; W. J.
White, Galena; Thomas Hoy. New Castle; J. B. Pettifc, Ionia;
A. N. Gran, Hooker; H. D. Hall. Concord. J. Sullivan. Clark;
S. Roberts, Otter Creek; Philo Graves, Wakefield; P. A.
Dempsey, Silver Creek.

1898 -J. 1). Stough, Ponca City, Chairman; A Davis, Ponca
township; F. Renter. Logan; Wm. Thompson, Concord; .1.
Sullivan, Clark; A. N. Gran, Hooker; I. N. Belknap, Wake-
held; W. N. White, Galena; C. W. Schram, Silver Creek; H.
J. Stinger, Otter Creek; Wm. Sweeney, Emerson: J. F.
Pomeroy, Springbank; M. Conway Daily; T. Hoy, New
Castle; and J. A. Pettit. Ionia.

1894 J. I). Stough, Ponca City, chairman; Daniel Crow-
ley, Galena; James Tobin, New Castle; Frank A. Hypse.
Logan; M. Conway, Daily; W. A. Morgan, Springbank: Wm.
Sweeney, Emerson; T. -J. Ryan, Ionia; Wm. Thompson. Con-
cord; J. Sullivan, Clark; A. N. Gran, Hooker; 1. N. Belknap.
Wakefield; C. W. Schram. Silver Creek; A. Davis. Ponca
township; H. J. Stinger, Otter Creek.

1895— To October 18 of that year, J. D. Stough. Ponca
City, chairman; Daniel Crowley. Galena; James Tobin, New-
Castle; Frank A. Hypse. Logan; M. Conway, Daily; W. A.
Morgan, Springbank; Wm. Sweeney. Emerson; T. -I. Ryan,
Ionia; Wm. Thompson, Concord; Perry Dempster, Clark;
A. N. Gran, Hooker: C. T. Barto, Wakefield; C. W. Schram,
Silver Creek ;M. B. De Witt, Ponca township; and H.J. Stinger,
Otter Creek.

On October 18, 1895, under the new law relating to super-
visions and township organization, the number of supervis-
ors was reduced to seven. These were chosen bv lot from

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 13?

the old hoard. The supervisors thus chosen were J. I).
Stough, representing District No. 1, comprising Ponca City;
T. -I. Ryan, District No. 2, Ponca Township, Ionia and New
Castle: C. VY. Schram, District No. 3, Silver Creek, Daily and
Hooker; Perry Dempster, District No. 4, Clark, Concord and
Logan; C. T. Barto, District No. 5, Wakefield; W. A.Morgan,
District No. (i. Springbank and Galena, and Wm. Sweeney,
District No. 7. Emerson and Otter Creek. These held their
offices until January 1. 18-96, and were then succeeded by E.
,1. Berry, District No. 1; A. S. Palmer, District No. 2; C. W.
Schram, District No. 3; C. Wischoff, District No. 4; C. T.
Barto, District No. 5; W. A. Morgan, District No. (>. and A,
Isenberg, District No. 7.

SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS.

W.P. Heydon, 1868 and 1869.

I. N. Powell, 70 to September 6, when J. K. Addis was
appoined to till the vacancy to the next October election.

S. P. Mikesellin 1871.

W. S. Bates, during 1872, 73, 74 and 75.

-). H. Addison, in 76 77.

A. S. Palmer, 78, 71). 'SO.

(i. VY. Walbeck, '81, 82, '83, '84 and '85.

Dayton Ward, '86, '87, '88, '89.

Miss Mary Schroer. '90, '1)1, '1)2, '1)8. '1)4. and '95, her term
ending January 1, 1896, and was succeeded by Miss Sadie E.
Poff.

PROBATE AND COUNTY JUDGES.

The first judge was J. B. Denton, who was elected at the
first election held in the county in December. 1858.

October, 1859, Leander Davis was elected for two years.

October. 1861, N. S. Porter was elected for two years. He
served one year and resigned and E. Serry was appointed to
till the vacancy.

October, 1863, W. P. Heydon, two years.

October. 1865, Edward Serry, two years. He served one
year and resigned and on October. 1866, W. P. Heydon was
elected to fill the vacancy.

October, 1867, L. T. Hill, two years.

October, 1869, Edward Serry, two years.

October. 1871, -1. \Y. Porter, who held the office during
1872, 78, 74 and 75.

188 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Edward Arnold, 1876 and 77.
R. H. Knapp, 1S7S and 79.
W. C. Smith. 1880, '81, '82, '83, '84 and '85.
0. E. Martin, 1886, '87, '88 and '89.
A.Reynolds, 1890, '91, '92 and '93.

A. W. Rose, 1894 and '95, and was re-elected for the term
commencing January 1 . "9(5.

SHERIFFS.

The first sheriff elected in the county was 0. F. Putnam.
He was elected in December, 1S5S, and held the office until
October, 1859, when R. H. Wilbur was elected for two years.
Mr. Wilbur only retained the office until the next spring,
and Richard Higgin was appointed to till the vacancy, and
held the office in 1861. J. Clark, James Barrett and C. F.
Putnam, each held the office a part of the time in 1862.
Putnam held the office from October, 1862, to October. 1863.

A. Kniss. from October, 1863, to October, 1864.

C. F. Putnam, from October, 1864, to October, 1865. He
held the office either as principal or deputy most of the time
since the county was organized.

William Bigley, from October, 1865, to October, 1867.

M. B. DeWitt! from October. 1867, Jirough '68, '69, 7(1.
71, 72, 73.

B. H. Beller, 1874 and 1875.
M. B. DeWitt, lS76and 1877.

E. H. Jones, 1878, 1S79, 18S0, IS81, 1882 and ISS3.
John F. Pomeroy. 1884 and 1885.
Mark Brown, 1886, 1887, 1888 and 1889.
J. Boeckenhauer, 1890 and 1891.

P. McOabe, 1892, 1893, 1894 and 1895, until January 1.
1896, and was then followed by H. H. Hart.

SURVEYORS.

S. H. Coats, 1872, 73. 74 and 75.

J.G.Miller, 1876. 77.

0. P. Sullenberger, 1878 and 79.

G. 0. Lampher. 1880, '81.

0. T. Granger. 1882 and 'S3.

G. 0. Lampher, 1884, '85. '86 and '87.

J. W. Jones, 1888.

.1. Leonard. 1SS9.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. W

M. V. Richards, 1890 and '91.

S. B. Stough, 1892, '93, '94 and to the end of '95.

COUNTY ATTORNEYS.

\Y. F. Norris was elected for two years, commencing
January 1. 1888. He resigned at the end of a year and J. J.
McAllister was appointed to fill the vacancy.

A. E. Barnes, 1889 and '1)0.

J. J. McCarthy. 1891, '92, '93, '1)4, '95 and '96.

CLERKS OF THE DISTRICT COURT.

James E. Moore. 1892, '1)8.

.1. I). Harris. 1894 and '95 and was succeeded by W. W.
Cooper on January 1, '96.

140 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

CHAPTEB XIV.

Members of the Legislature Sent From Dixon County
District Judges J. B. Barnes and W. F. Norris
Schools and Scholars The First Deed Recorded in
the County Crist Mills and Saw Mills and Other
Manufactories.

Those who were sent by Dixon county to the legislature
were generally men of the requisite energy and ability to
till the important positions of law makers. Before Ne-
braska became a state this county was represented in the
territorial legislature by three of its citizens, viz: D. T.
Bramble, in 1858; N. S. Porter, in 1864, and R. H. Wilbur, in
1S65. All these gentlemen did well for their constituents,
so well, indeed, that Messrs. Porter and Wilbur were sent
there again after stateship was adopted, and Mr. Bramble
for his efficient efforts in the organization of the county
would undoubtedly have been again elected if he had re-
mained here. He removed to Yankton, where he died a
few years ago.

After Nebraska became a state, Mr. Porter was elected
state senator in 1866 and again in 1868, and Mi-. Wilbur was
a representative in 1866. Oliver Baltzley was the represent-
ative in 1868, and was followed by Mr. Wilbur in 1872. As
to politics, Porter and Baltzley were republicans and Wilbur
a democrat.

In the fall of 1876, -I. P. Walters, democrat, was elected
representative for two years, at the end of which time he
was succeeded by W. H. Yanderbilt, republican of Silver
Creek.

In 1878 O. P. Snllenberger, democrat, was elected to the
senate. He then and since has resided in Ponca. Previously
he lived in Ionia and in company with Messrs. Newton and
Landon had a large mill there. As senator, as well as in the
office of county commissioner, Mr. Snllenberger gave good

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 141

satisfaction. He was one of the commissioners at the time
the narrow gauge railroad was born.

A. S. Palmer, republican, was elected to the house in
1880 and re-elected in 1882. He was, and is a farmer re-
siding a few miles from New Castle, well educated, able
and popular. — and frequently served the county in various
responsible offices.

\Y. F. X orris, republican, became senator in 1882. He
had been educated at West Point Military Academy and
afterwards served in the army seveial years and until he
resigned and came to Ponca to engage in the practice of
law.

In lss4. (i. \Y. Waitt, republican, was elected representa-
tive. Mr. Waitt was a prominent business man of Wake-
Held.

He was suceeded in 1SSC>. by P. Gt. Wright, democrat, a
resident of Galena township. Mr. Wright had formerly been
a member of the legislature of Iowa, and his experience there
as well as his sound judgment and earnest efforts enabled
him to pass through the legislative ordeal with credit. Mr.
Wright was several times an efficient county commissioner
and supervisor. He died at his home near Martinsburg, June
30, 1891. He had been a resident of Dixon county about
fourteen years. He was a just and honorable man and had
many friends.

In 1SSS, A. D. Whitford of Springbank. republican, was
the representative. Mr. Whitford was a prosperous farmer
of Springbank where he had lived since 1871. He was
followed by P. E. Rohan, elected in 1890. Mr. Rohan was a
member of the party now known as the ••populist." He was
a farmer living a few miles from New Castle and has resided
there many years.

In 1890, H. P. Shumway, republican, one of the most
prominent and popular members of that party in the dis-
trict, was elected to the senate. Mr, Shumway resides in
Wakefield where he is conspicuous by his energy and suc-
cess in business and by his popularity in social life.

In 1892, E. E. Ellis, republican, of Springbank township,
was elected representative. He settled in Springbank in 1869
and now has a tine farm of 280 acres three miles from Allen.
He was an efficient member of the house.

142 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Iii 1894, George Matteson, a prominent republican citizen
of Ponca township, became representative. Mr. Matteson is
a farmer and is an active and successful business man. As
a legislator he gave entire satisfaction.

The office of district judge has been successively rilled
by two citizens of Dixon county:

John B. Barnes, a native of Ohio and a soldier in an Ohio
regiment during the war, located in Ponca and was admitted
to the bar in 1S78. In W7 "> he was elected district attorney
and served as such i . the spring of 1879, when he was
appointed district judge by Gov. Nance to fill the vacancy
occasioned by the resignation Oi Judge Valentine, and in the
fall of that year he was elected to that office by a large ma-
jority. Judge Barnes now resides at Norfolk. He was an
able judge and is a successful lawyer lavinga large practice.

W. F. Norris. who, as previa - 1 r - .entioned, was a state
senator for this county one term and afterwards county at-
torney, was in 1SS7 elected district judge and in 1891 was re-
elected to the same office, his second term expiring January
1, 1896. Judge Norris during hi eight years on the bench
gained the respect and esteem of the district and earned the
reputation of being an honorable and upright judge.

Both Judge Barnes and dge Norris are republicans
and were elected by that party. Politics, however, so far as
judges are concerned, is beginning to be regarded by the
people of advanced thought as of little importance. If a
man has the requisite ability and honesty and is clear beaded
and impartial, the question whether he believes in a high
tariff or low, or is a si' L6 to 1 advocate or a gold bug,

cuts no figure, nor does n matter whether he is labelled as
democrat, republican or populist.

After having thus briefly alluded to those who have been
furnished by Dixon county to till legislative and judicial
offices, the next important matter to notice are the schools,
without due instruction in which, legislative ami judicial
honors would be few indeed.

As to the schools in Dixon county in an early day. there
is on that subject as on many others pertaining to county
affairs, a most discouraging lack of information. That there
were schools during the first few years of the county, there

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 143

ran he no doubt, and good ones too, judging from the intel-
ligence of those whose youth was spent here.

In 1869 there were ten school districts and two hundred
and twenty-nine children of school age in the county. In
1870 there were twelve school districts and three hundred
and thirty-four scholars; in 1871, seventeen districts and five
hundred and sixty-five scholars, and in IS72. twenty-one
districts and seven hundred and six scholars. This rapid
increase it is needless to follo\, office it to say that
schools and scholars were growing in numbers in proportion
to the growth of everything " ;e in the county. As a mat-
ter of course, at such a rate of speed, such numbers have
now swelled into quite gigantic proportions.

At this time, (fall of .895), instead of ten school districts
and two hundred and + -entvnine scholars as in 1S69, Dixon
county has seventy-eign school districts, ninety-three
schools, about one hundred teachers and three thousand,
four hundred and sixty-four scholars.

Such are the figures furnished by Miss Schroer the
accomplished superintendent of public instruction.

Every summer since 1878 a teachers' institute has been
held, during which the ser " ^s of some of the best and
most advanced instructors m the state are obtained, and
those designing to teach in the county are required by the
superintendent to attend. At the institute held this year
1 1895) one hundred and nine teachers were in attendance.

With such earnest efforts to have competent teachers, it
is needless to say that Dixon coir has good schools and as
a consequence good scholars.

What a wonderful concrast there is between the schools
of the present west and their improved methods of instruc-
tion, and the old fashioned "deestrict" schools of New York
and New England, thirty-five years ago.

A few "odds and ends" entirely disconnected and not ap-
propriately fitting into any other chapter we will insert
here, as some or all of them may be of interest.

The first deed made and recorded in Dixon county after
its organization in 1858, was from Wm. Bigley to Murtha
Gorman. The deed was dated December 21, 1859, (a short
time after the first election of county officers) and was re-

HI HISTORY OF DIXON mi'NTY. NEBRASKA.

corded February 22, 1859. The amount of land conveyed
was 120 acres.

Dixon county's large tracts of timber alongthe Missouri
and the generally great and certain crops of wheat and corn,
brought about the establishing, from first to last, of numer-
ous grist and saw mills.

Whitcomb's saw mill on the river bottom near Ponca
was the pioneer and was followed by the grist mill of
Stough Brothers at Ponca and the mill of L. T. Hill at Ionia,
all of which have been previously described.

Among the saw mills in the timber along the Missouri
was that of .Joseph Stobaugh near Ionia in '68, and that of
Elias Warner in '69 which latter has continued to this time.
A saw mill on the Aoway. about two miles below Ponca.
was built by Jonathan Martin in 1S7<>.

George Matteson. from 1S74 to a few years ago. was en-
gaged extensivelv in that business. His mill was in the tim-
ber near the river, and between Ponca and Ionia.

All the above mills were run by steam power excepting
Stough Brothers' mill at Ponca and Martin's mill two miles
below. The mill at Ponca. when the country became older
and the increase of business demanded it. developed into
the extensive roller mills built by Stough and Mikesell and
afterwards owned by the Ponca Mill Company. Steam and
water were both used as motive powers. The mill was burned
in the winter of 1893 and has not been rebuilt.

Afterwards a large steam flouring mill was built in Ponca
by the Messrs. Crew which in January, 1895, burned.

At Wakefield is the well known flouring mill of .1. 0.
Milligan. It does an immense business and is under excel-
lent management. There is also a large mill at Emerson
and another at Dixon. The mill at Martinsburg and the
new mill at New Castle are first-class in machinery and have
a large patronage.

In connection with mills for making lumber and flour
other manufacturing establishments may be here appropri-
ately mentioned.

In Ionia. T. J. Ryan has a steam syrup factory fitted up
with the best machinery and latest improvements, in which
he made about live thousand gallons of sorghum syrup in
'94 and and the same in '1)5.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 145

At Dixon a very large creamery has been in successful
operation for a year past, and at Waterbury another was
completed in the summer of '95. There are also several
smaller establishments of the same kind in various parts of
the county and doing good business. All such institutions
are generally made profitable to the owners and they are
certainly a help to the county at large.

The immense water powers along South Creek. Aoway
and Logan, are capable of turning many more wheels than
they now do, and it is to be hoped the time is not distant
when the water of those rapid streams, now in a
great measure going to waste, will be utilized.

In addition to excellent schools the county has many
churches and benevolent societies. The rude school and
church buildings of the pioneers, as good as they could have
at that time, have given place to structures wherein refine-
ment and good taste are conspicuous. All the various edu-
cational, moral and intellectual efforts in the county have
been added to and improved from year to year, and now it is
hardly possible to find a better condition of society than
Dixon county is favored with.

As the pioneers and old settlers look back to the hard-
ships they passed through in early days, they see the marked
contrast between what life was then and what it is now.
And while amid their former hard but adventurous frontier
life they probably enjoyed as much real happiness as at the
present time, they realize that in material comforts and ed-
ucational and social advantages the present is superior to
the past.

This county, since its organization, suffered from a
grasshopper raid in 1S74 and a severe drouth in 1S(>4. and
another and milder drouth in 1.S94. thirty years after. This
is a good showing: three bad years out of the thirty-nine
years of the county. Such drawbacks occurring only at long
intervals, are no excuse for despair. There is no country
which has less failures of crops and the great majority have
more.

146 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

CHAPTEK XV.

Ponca City Its Past and Present.

In the preceding pages, the gradual growth of Ponca from
a houseless town site to a brisk business town is seen. As
previously stated, the location is most favorable for a large
place, being at the junction of the valleys of South Creek and
Aoway, and surrounded by a rich agricultural country.

The proprietors of Ponca were not only wise in making
its location near the timber and at the confluence to two
such fertile valleys as Aoway and South Creek, thereby to a
great extent commanding the trade of both and of their
tributaries, but they showed good judgment in the selection
of a place where is a water power which surpasses any on this
side of the Missouri within a hundred miles. With these
natural advantages, a prosperous future was reasonably
expected.

Its growth was slow for many years. Its plat of 320 acres
looked forlorn in its solitude, and though big in its frame-
work was most lean and lank in its filling. It did indeed
move ahead slow. So slow that for several years it required
a marvellous imagination to see that it moved at all. In
1S73, seventeen years after it first saw light, Ponca had a
population of possibly 2(H). At that length of time ago, a
Sabbath day quiet brooded over the town, which was then a
mere hamlet compared with what it now is. Then, what
little there was of it, was quickly seen. As you crossed the
bridge, coming from Sioux City, you saw Mr. Bigley's hotel,
(the Valley House.) and Stough & Brothers' grist mill, and as
you passed on you came successively to F. Gould's grocery,
the county clerk's office, the stores of S. Gamble and Stough
& Mikesell, the which, together with two or three shops,
comprised the business part of the place. Itsdwelling houses
were few, and all its business establishments from its stores
down to its blacksmith shop could be counted on the fingers
of the two hands.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 14?

From 1873 to 1876 the town improved a little faster than
before. Another blacksmith shop was started. Somebody
also built a barn. A lean-to was added to the town grocery.
One man built a new fence and painted his house. Another
proposed, in the bright near future, to build a hog house.
Thus enjoying present prosperity and anticipations of the
future, Ponca drifted along the stream of time.

When the narrow gauge railroad arrived, the town moved
a little faster than before, though not as rapidly as it would
with a more desirable road. When that road, after a few
years, fell into the hands of a rich and energetic company and
was built over and given standard gauge, new iron and better
cars. Ponca really had for the first time, the prosperity which a
good road brings. Its growth, hitherto slow, rapidly increas-
ed, and new enterprises and new arrivals of people became
frequent.

From year to year its energy and good fortune continued.
Old business houses and residences surrendered their loca-
tions to those which were more commodious and elegant.
The spacious brick store which Stough & Mikesell built in
1S77, established the popularity of brick for buildings and
such within a few years took the place of many of the hum-
ble business structures of earlier days.

Now. the four corners at the intersection of East and
Third streets, are adorned by large blocks, fully equal to
what are usual in very much larger towns. From that inter-
section west along Third street, and south on East street,
business buildings thus elegantly constructed, are with few
exceptions general.

The first brick store built by Stough & Mikesell, has
doubled its former size. From there along the north side of
Third street, is almost a continuous line of elegant busi-
ness houses to Ionia street where S. P. Mikesell's
palatial establishment is located. The same splendid array
of buildings is seen on much of the opposite side of Third
street and on East street. This part of town where the
Stoughs, Mikesell, Davey and Gamble do business, is nearly
every day a crowded scene of activity.

At the foot of East street stood the great mill built by
Stough and Mikesell, and which was burned nearly three
years ago. It was an imposing structure, and added greatly

148 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

to the business and business look of the place. With so tine
a waterpower it i? likely that another mill will, ere long,
be built there.

Outside the business part of town many fine residences
claim attention. Good taste has generally prevailed in build-
ing them and in the arrangements around them. Twenty-
five years ago the entire town could not boast of more than
a score of trees: now it has at least ten thousand. They til 1
most of the lots which are occupied and beautify the sides of
nearly every street. These, with the shrubbery, vines, gar-
dens and flow r er beds, and the neatness displayed in all,
have made Ponca homelike and enjoyable. Pictures of a
few of such line residences are seen in this book and each
tells a story of refinement.

The same good taste is displayed in the building and
adornment of the churches, in the school houses and grounds
around them, in the grading of the streets, in the building
and repair of sidewalks and crossings, and in the clean and
orderly methods by which the whole are supervised. All
this has been the gradual outcome of a slow growth of twenty-
five years. The other tine towns of the county will in a
short time enjoy the same attractive adornments, indeed,
with the energy and ambition of the residents, the question
of trees, vines, flowers and shrubbery is only one of the time
required for their growth.

Let us briefly glance over the business men in Ponca. It
will be seen that they cannot be counted on the fingers as in
1873.

The general stores are those of Stough Bros.. S. P. Mike-
sell, J. M. Davey, M. F. Gamble and Drager Bros.

Of these, the Stough Bros., Mikesell and Davey have been
in business many years. Stough and Mikesell commenced
as partners in 1869 in the store on Third street now occupied
by Eames & Searing, and removed in 1S77 to their brick store
then recently finished. They dissolved in 1886, Mr. Stough
retaining the location and soon after Mr. Mikesell built the
fine place he has since occupied. Mr. Davey has been in the
mercantile business twenty years, and has a large establish-
ment on East street. Mr. Gamble came here in 1872 and was
clerk for S. Gamble and Stough & Mikesell until January,
1 SSI, and has since been in business for himself. He has a

LUTHERAN CHURCH, PONCA.

DR. S. B. STOUGH'S RESIDENCE.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 15]

commodious store on East street. Drager Bros, occupy the
store on the southwest corner of East and Third streets.

Eames & Searing, R. P. Armstrong, A. 0. Bladen, I. Con-
ner and A. W. Beeson have well stocked stores for groceries,
notions, etc. Eames & Searing commenced in 1890, and now
do a large business. Mr. Bladen opened his store in April,
1895, and Mr. Beeson in February, 1894. Mr. Armstrong
came to Dixon county in the fall of 1N70 and located on a
homestead in Clark township, and several years later remov-
ed to Ponca, and in September, 1883, opened his present store.
Charles Schroer commenced with a bakery in 1885, and in
connection has now a restaurant and a good business and
location.

Ponca's has three good hotels, viz: The Valley House,
the "Hotel Rakow" and the Merchants. The Valley House
is the oldest hotel in town. It was bought of Leander Davis
many years ago by Wm, Bigley and kept until his death in
1878, and since by his widow Mrs. Bigley. Mr. and Mrs.
Bigley were among the early settlers and their hotel was a
prominent and popular stopping place. The "Hotel Rakow"
is a large and elegant brick building on Third street, bought
by A. F. Rakow in April, 1895, of J. F. Smith. The Mer-
chants Hotel was built nineteen years ago and is now owned
by Ceo. Bolton, formerly of Daily Branch. There was a
fourth hotel, the Central House, a commodious and popular
establishment, built by S. Gamble in 1877. It was burned
in January, 1895, and Mr. Rakow, the proprietor, afterwards
purchased the "Hotel Rakow" as above stated.

Among its prosperous institutions, Ponca has three drug
stores, two millinery establishments, two hardware stores, a
furniture store, a harness shop, two markets, etc.

The oldest drug store in town is that of T. R, Orr. It was
started in 1876 by L. Kryger and afterwards sold to M.O. Ay-
ers, and by him in 1878, disposed to Mr. Orr who came from
Chicago a short time before. With the exception of about
two years, he has continued the business ever since. His
partner is F. G. Hebron who came here in 1884. Another
drug store is that of J. D. Forbes who bought it in the spring
of 1893 and has since continued it. Another popular drug-
gist is W. M. Mahoney who purchased in October, 1893, the

152 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

drug store of N. Hamm. These three establishments are
large and well managed.

The oldest millinery store is that of Mrs. M. B. Biggins
who commenced about nineteen years ago, and another store
of the kind has been kept by Miss Rogers several years.

As to the hardware stores, that ofWm. Auge is the oldest
in town. Mr. Auge came to Dixon county in November,
bS()7, and located on a farm in Silver Creek. From there he
moved to Ponca eighteen years ago, and engaged in the hard-
ware business with James Hobbs. Seven years afterwards
Mr. Hobbs retired, and Mr. 4uge, (with an in-
terval of one year.) continued the business from
that time to this with great success. Mr. Auge is
president of the Security Bank of Ponca and is a prosperous
and reliable citizen. Mr. Hobbs came to Ponca about twen-
ty-four years ago and was in the hardware business most of
the time until he sold out to Mr. Auge. He went to Grilroy,
Cal.. since then, and is engaged in fruit raising.
The other hardware store in Ponca, is that of L. Baltzly who
has had it several years.

The furniture store is that of J. A. Mohr who commenced
that business in the spring of 1886 with James Hobbs, and
since 1887 has continued it alone and with a prosperous trade.

Ponca's harness establishment is owned by E. J. Berry,
who, with his father, cams here from Illinois in March.
1873, and commenced that business in 1882. For that pur-
pose he had a tine building on East street, which in January.
'95 was burned with most of its contents. He has since re-
built. Mr. Berry was mayor in 1888 and has served as
councilman several terms. He is now the supervisor of the
first district of the county.

The oldest market in town is owned by Lister & Logan
who have been together in business since 1SS7. .1. H. Logan
came here in 1878 from Dakota county, and has been en-
gaged in buying grain much of the time. He was appointed
postmaster by President Harrison and gave entire satis-
faction during his term of four years. His partner Wm.
Lister came from Illinois in May, 1S75, and has been in the
market business most of the time since 1879. Has been
mayor of the city two terms and is a reliable and much
esteemed citizen. Speaking of the mayorality we will state

WM. HUSE.

MRS. WM. HUSE.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 153

that his next door neighbor in business, Mr. Searing, of the
firm of Eames & Searing, also was one of Ponca's most
popular and efficient mayors, his term ending in May, 1895.

The most prominent dealer in farm machinery is August
Bauer who came to Ponca in 1881 and commenced business
the same year. He has two large buildings on Third street
(115 by 25 feet and 70 by 28 feet,) both of which are occupied
by an extensive stock. Has been councilman of the Third
ward for two years, and is a good business man.

Wm. (Troth, commenced in 1883 in the business of making
cigars and has been prosperous and successful. His building
is on East street.

Ponca's jeweler is E. W. Gray, who first came here in
1883, was absent from '84 to '91, since when he has had a
successful business in his line.

The two barber shops are those of A. M. Coats, com-
menced in 1S83, and U. P. Kauffman in 1892. Both are
good citizens and shave with keen razors. Mr. Coats does
business in a large brick building which he built on Third
street a few years ago.

Ponca had three banks, the First National, Dixon
County and Security, up to 1893 when the First National
bank went up the spout to the distress of depositors and the
disgrace of its managers. The Bank of Dixon county was
started in 1881 and the Security bank in 1890.

One of Ponca's prominent young men is T. A. Berry who
came here in 1890 and has since been manager of the Ed-
wards and Bradford Lumber Company at this place, and in
the large business he transacts has become very popular.

H. C. Howe, who came here in 1881, and M. I. Mellon
in 1886, the former the cashier of the Dixon county bank
and the latter filling a similar position in the Security bank,
are among Ponca's progressive young men of business.

(I. C. Hamilton, the photographer, located here in 1888
and has since remained. A number of his excellent pictures
are seen in this history.

The lumber dealers are Edwards «fe Bradford and Francis
& Son. An advertisement for Edwards & Bradford is on
one of the last pages of this book.

The music store is kept by E. H. Dierenfield and was
started by him two or three years ago.

J. J. MCCARTHY'S RESIDENCE.

DR. J. W. PORTER.

i See page 1S9. )

HISTOBY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 157

that of Gen. Harrison a short distance north of town,
manufacture all that are needed.

Ponca's postmaster is R. R. MacMullen, who was ap-
pointed by President Cleveland about a year ago. Major
MacMullen is an old army officer with an honorable record
and is an excellent postmaster. Among the postmasters in
the past have been N. S. Porter. E. D. Higgins. A Reynolds,
Harry Dorsey, W. T. Chapman, I. Conner, J. H. Logan and
after him the present incumbent. The office has in the past
twenty years increased largely in business and is now a
presidential office.

This being a county seat, it is the natural home of
attorneys. Among the first were Barnes Brothers and W.
E. Garitt, who did a leading business for several years. The
present attorneys are J. J. McCarthy, A. E. Barnes, J. M.
Hench. A. G. Kingsbury, C. A. Kingsbury, J. V. Pearson and
T. J. Welty.

Concerning J. J. McCarthy a more extended notice is
given elsewhere. A. E. Barnes came here in 1S77 from Ohio;
studied law in the office of his brother Judge Barnes and was
afterwards one of the firm. He is now one of the most
prominent and successful lawyers in this part of the state.
J. M. Hench, a well-read and able lawyer, came to Allen
from the east in 1893 and from there to Ponca in 1S94, since
when he has been in the office with Mr. Barnes and has had a
first-class practice. A. G. Kingsbury has been in practice since
1S77 except one year while at Ann Arbor law school, where
he graduated in 1895. C. A. Kingsbury studied law with A.
Gr. Kingsbury and was admitted a few years ago. T.
.1. Welty. also became an attorney several years ago, and
has recently opened an office. John V. Pearson, who
graduated at the Ann Arbor law school a year ago, was
in the office of J. J. McCarthy until August. 1895, when he
became one of the teachers of the Ponca high school.

The most prominent of those in the insurance business in
Ponca are C. J. Story. R. R. MacMullen and W. W. Cooper.

Here are the names of a few of the old settlers, most of
whom are not elsewhere mentioned. Nearly all were identi-
fied with Ponca village, though a few resided in Ponca town-
ship:

Joseph Walters, elected by accident to legislature in 76.

158 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

C. W. Todd, machinist and builder, '58 to '90. Helen M.
Todd, sister, of some literary ability and teacher in music,
now in Vermont; C. W. is in Wyoming. James Rueker,
father-in-law to John Enders, came here in '67, now in
Washington. C. M. Drake, 70 to 74, had a collegiate
course and given much to music, natural philosophy and
evolution, is now in California and is devoting his time to
study. Dr. J. K. Addis, '69 to death in 74. John Lawrence,
'69, now in Wayne county. Oliver Baltzley, member of
legislature '68, carpenter and builder, now in southern part
of Nebraska. Kreiger, druggist. Avery Barber and family,
'(7, died in '92. LaFollette. M. Wigton. W. B. Douthi't,
Mr. Fero, first harness shop, 70, returned to New York in
74; his son John now here. C. W. Smith, '69, resides here
now. W. C. Smith, former county judge. Wesley Mattison,
came in '65, died in '93, wagon maker and mechanic. J. W.
Jones, real estate agent, 79, now in Missouri. Frederic Hig-
gins and family, 70, died in '88. Geo. Russel, from Inde-
pendence, Iowa, 70, died in '94. J. McQuaid, 70, died in '91.
William McDonald, 70, died in 77. B. O. Smith, '68, died in
'87. James Smith, his son, now resides in Dakota county.
Geo. Conrad, '(7, died in '98; his wife still living. Charles
B. Conrad, '(7, moved to Iowa in '94. Win. Henchbarger,
'64 to '89. A. G. Wheeler, '68, went to Australia in '95.
Joseph Porter, '(7, died February, '68; wife, Martha, died in
70. W. Freeburn, '69, moved to Washington Territory in
77. Rev. Walter Clark. 71. J.Peters, 71 to '92. Lorenzo
Smith. '(7 to present time. James Hammell, mason and
bricklayer, '60. J. Perrigoue and J. Brewer, philosophers
and explorers. Dr. Hughes and family. 75 to 77. Ed.
Healy, lawyer. A. A. Porter, furniture store and builder,
'()Sto'95.

In addition to the above, some of those doing business
here during a part or all the time since 1870, but now dead,
moved away or gone into other business, were: J. P.
Hingtgen, merchant; F. M. Hewett, bricklayer; F. Pletsch
and J. Volkmar, boots and shoes; Mr. Gallagher, tailor; J. U.
LaFollette, wagon maker; C. W. Bates, G. D. Russell, F. N.
Johnson and W. Hunter, blacksmiths; J. Krause and Chas.
Metz, harness makers; Dean Palen, John Lawrence, A. A.
Thompson and Mr. Green, livery; H. Ernst and A. and F. A.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. L59

Porter, furniture; S. Gamble, Fred Gould, C. S. Ford and
.!. A. Mikesell, merchants; T. C. West, Rose & Potter and
Dr. Wyckoff, druggists; A. H. Gould, hardware; E. and E.
Barding, B. W. Powers, E. D. Higgins, 0. M. Childs, Miss
West, groceries and restaurants; Stough Bros. & Welty,
bankers; 0. P. Sullenberger, Central House; J. F. Myers,
Valley House; Jones & Moore, W. P. Heydon, J. Leach, D.
Hurley and J. W. Radford, farm machinery; 0. L. Parke,
musical instruments; Mrs. Addis and Miss Feauto, millinery;
Leach & Drew, wheat buyers; the Herley Bros., lime burn-
ers; Guy R. Wilbur and W. E. Butler, lawyers; Dr. Rowe,
physician; etc., etc.

We have been aide to obtain brief histories of a few of
the pioneers who first settled in Ponca and vicinity and also
of some of the later generation.

Among them was Wm. Bigley Jr., who lived in Ponca and
vicinity twenty-one years and died here, March 27, 1878.
He was born in County Westmeath, Ireland, and came to
Philadelphia. Pa., when he was nine years old and remained
there until he came to this county. He and his brother,
James Bigley, (an account of whose murder at Sioux City
has been given in a preceding chapter) were men of activity
and push, and greatly helped the growth of the town and
county. At his death Wm. Bigley left a wife and three
children, and James Bigley a wife.

Another early settler was Edward Serry. He came from
Iowa in 1856 and first located on a claim (near John Roden's
place) five miles from Ponca. He was the first clerk of the
Squatters Club and court, which ruled this part of the
country for several years. One of his duties under
squatter rule was to allot half a section of land to every
new settler. This held good only until the land was sur-
veyed and brought into market in 1857. Mr. Serry was
county clerk several terms and in that office became very
popular. He died about twenty-five years ago leaving a
wife and several children, the oldest of whom, John Serry,
now lives in Vermillion, S. 1).

H. A . Fuller and Frank West have been briefly men-
tioned in a previous chapter. Fuller went away in '61.

The Stough Brothers, viz: John Stough, Dr. S. B.

160 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Stough and Jacob Stough came here, the hrst two in '56 and
the latter in '57.

John Stough was horn in Westmorland county, Penn.,
September L2, 1828. He was raised on a farm, and in 1852
moved to Ohio. In '54 and '55 he taught school in Tusca-
roras county, that state. In 1856 came to Ponca where he
has nearly all the time since heen one of the most promin-
ent of the business men in farming, merchandise, milling,
building and various other useful enterprises, among which,
during a few years past he has had a large interest in an ex-
tensive cold storage establishment in Sioux City. As a mat-
ter of course, good management has given success and he
is now considered one of the wealthiest citizens of the county.
Mr. Stough was married in 1862 to Elisabeth Ernst. Have
had seven children, three of whom are now living. In
county and city affairs, Mr. Stough has been safe and reliable
in the matters intrusted to his care. He was one of the
county commissioners for five years, (1865 to and including
1869), and was mayor of Ponca for two years.

S. II Stough. born September 13, 1826, and like his
brothers, was raised on a farm. He came to Nebraska in
1856, a few months before his brother John. Like him he
has been engaged in various pursuits and with profitable
results. Across the Missouri in Dakota he had for several
years a large mill which did an extensive business. He was
also connected with a bank at Elk Point and until a year
ago was president of the Security bank at Ponca. In com-
pany with John and Jacob Stough, he has been in the
mercantile and milling business in Ponca. All these with
farming, building, and his duties as surveyor for the county
most of the time, have given him active life. Dr. Stough
was married in 1861 to Helena Ernst. They have had five
children, four of whom: are living. They live in a fine
house on Third street, a picture of which is given herein.

Jacob Stongh, born in 1 S82, came here in 1S57 and has
been indentified with his brothers in business most of the
time since. Like them he is wealthy and is one of the heavy
stockholders of the Security bank. He was married to Anna
Sheffel, and has two children.

J. I). Stough and Win, Stough. the sons of John Stough,
ably manage the large store of Stough Brothers. J. D.

JOHN SSTOUGH.

( See page 160. )

MKS. JOHN STOUGH.

i See page 160. )

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 165

Stough has a tine business education and is very popular in
the county. For two years he has been chairman of the
board of supervisors, and was this fall. 1895, elected county
treasurer.

Judge Edward Arnold was born near Cork, Ireland, May
1. 1822. Came to New York in 1S45, and soon after moved
to Massachusetts, where for several years he was engaged in
cotton manufacturing. Came to Ponca in spring of 1857.
At the time he came, Ponca was a part of Dakota
county, and he was elected in the fall of '57, superintendent
of public instruction for that county. Was first clerk of
Dixon county after its organization in 1858. In '62, enlisted
in Company I. First Nebraska Cavalry, and served twelve
months. In '7(> and '77, was the first judge under the new
constitution. Was a man of tine education and ability, and
was prominent in county and town affairs. Had a large
farm where he resided many years and up to the time of
his death, about a mile west of Ponca. He died in 1893,
greatly respected and regretted by the citizens of the
county. He left a wife and two sons.

Francis Freeman, came to Ponca in '57, and lived there to
the time of his death. May 5, 1886. Age. 73 years. He was a
worthy and honest citizen with many friends. Two of his
daughters now live in the residence he built on Front street.

Wm. Long, formerly a soldier, came to Ponca about 1865
and became clerk for Wm. and James Bigley in their hotel
and store. He was a good penman and was well acquainted
with western business, and was a clear headed and influential
helper in building up the place. He moved away in 1870 and
now lives in the southern part of the state.

Another of the first settlers of Ponca and Dixon county
was E. M. Bisbee. He was born at Westtield. Chautauqua
county. New York, and lived there and at Jamestown, N. Y..
until in company with N. S. Porter and C. W. Todd, he came
to Ponca, arriving in 1S5S, where he resided most of the time
until his death, March 27. 1893, aged about 61 years. When
he first came here he found few white people and towns, and
generally an uncultived country. It was the home of Indians
and buffaloes and remote from eastern civilization and society.
For a number of years he was a farmer and also worked at
his trade of millright. He gradually saw the country around

tti.i HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

him settle up and improve, saw the Indian and buffalo dis-
appear, farms opened and cultivated, and houses, churches
and towns built. In 1863, he was unanimously elected coun-
ty clerk and held the office until 1865, and afterwards from
October, 1870, to October, 1871, and from 1876 to 1885. It
was not very a lucrative office at first, and the records required
no safes or vaults, and in fact needed no other office than his
hat; hence, as it was a frontier custom to wear one's hat dur-
ing all waking hours, it could he safely said that "Honest
Old Ned." as he was culled, was always in his office and ready
for business. At his death he left a wife and six sons and
daughters, of whom five are now living, viz: Mrs. J. N.
Hoskinson, Mrs. E. C. Ollerman and Mrs. F. Hebron, and
Carl and Clarence Bis bee.

John M. Davey, now and formany years an honorable mer-
chant and citizen of Ponca, was born in Washington county,
Wisconsin, in 1845 and lived in that state until his twenty-
eighth year. He then came to Nebraska, and located on
Elk Creek. Dakota county. After two years, he removed to
Ponca. (1875,) where he has been in the mercantile business
most of the time since. His large store. (25 by ^<> feet.) is on
East street, and from t'.ie first he has had a large patronage
and a wide circle of friends. Mr. Davey married thirty-three
years ago a lady who died at the end of six years. His
present wife, to whom he was married nineteen years ago. was
Mary McCormick whose parents resided in Dakota county.
He has had ten children, three by his first wife and seven by
his second. Mi'. Davey has an attractive and homelike
residence just outside of Ponca. In financial affairs he has
been very successful and is now a large land owner in Da-
kota and Dixon counties.

X. S. Porter was born in 1832 in the town of Poland.
Chautauqua county. N. Y. Lived in that county until 20
years old, and then with his father went to Pennsylvania to
build mills. Stayed there three years and returned to James-
town and was foreman in the mill business until 1857. Then
with E. M. Bisbee and C. W. Todd came west. They spent
the winter of 1857-'58in Wisconsin, and in '58 came to Ponca.
and soon after he bought the claim he now lives on. From
'58 to "70. worked mainly at mill building. Was married in
1868 to Louisa Tiffany of Jamestown. N. Y. Have had four

JOHN M. DAVEY.

(See page 166.J

MRS. J. M. DAVEY.

I See page 166 )

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 171

children, three sons and one daughter, two of whom, Albert
and Joseph are now living. His wife died November 16,
1883. In '(r2 and '63 he enlisted and helped to recruit and
organize Company 1 of the First Nebraska Cavalry. Was
mustered out in fall of '63. In '(>4 was a member of the
territorial legislature, and in '66 was elected senator to the
state legislature and re-elected in '68. Was in the mercan-
tile business with S. Gamble or alone, in "(ill, "70. 71. Was
county commissioner four years and was elected inspector
of prisons for two year. From '79 was agent at the Fort
Peck Indian Agency. Montana, for four years; was appointed
by President Cleveland, in 1886, to allot lands to Indians on
Indian territory and re-appointed by President Harrison and
served three years. Has since remained at Ponca. Mr.
Porter has had a busy and responsible life.

Samuel Gamble, was one of the early settlers of Northern
Nebraska. First residing in Dakota county and afterwards
and up to the time of his death in Dixon, he was in both for
many years a prominent citizen, closely connected with their
history, enterprise and business. He was born August S.
1817, in Westmorland county, Penn..grew to manhood there,
and lived in that county more than half his life. Was
married April '22, 1842, to Mrs. Eleanor McCauley Adair, with
whom, sixteen years afterwards, in 1S")H, he removed to Da-
kota county, this state. At the time of his death. September
2. 1SSS. he had been a resident of Nebraska for over
thirty-one years, and it may be assumed that like all first
settlers of a new country, he and his wife endured for a time,
perhaps for years, the privations and hardships incident to
frontier life. In 1866 he was afflicted by the death ef his
wife, who died on the "20th of April of that year, after a
married life of about twentv-four years. During his resi-
dence in Dakota county, Mr. Gamble's correct business
methods and merits in wmatever position he was placed,
gained him from the first, the confidence of the citizens.
He was for several years a county commissioner, and after-
wards was sheriff for six years. In 1862 he enlisted in
Company I of the First Nebraska Cavalry, and as quarter-
master served thirteen months. During his service his
regiment was most of the time on the western frontier
assisting to quell the Indian outbreak which was then so

L72 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

desperate, especially in Minnesota and parts of Dakota, and
which occasioned the wildest terror and panic in the then
sparsely settled comities of North Nebraska. In 1S(>7. Mr.
Gamble married Miss Celestie Manard. In that year he
removed to Ponca and engaged in the mercantile business
which he continued until 1S77.

I\. H. Pomeroy, was born in Stenben county. N. Y ..
September 11). 1844. Landed in Dixon county. September
19, 1868. Located on the southwest quarter of section 21.
township 28, range 5. (Springbank township.) The 160
acres he first took he still retains. Was county com-
missioner three years. ('81, '82, '83) and has been county
treasurer two terms, his present term ending in January. IS96.
Mr. Pomeroy has been an influential and useful citizen for
the county. Mainly through his efforts, the attempt to re-
bond the county to pay the old narrow gauge railroad bonds
was defeated, thereby saving the county near $100,000. He
was married, March 15, 1868, to Agatha 1). Chapel, of Spring-
grove. Wis. They have had five children, four of whom are
living.

Harriet A. Pomeroy. daughter of H. H. Pomeroy. was
appointed deputy treasurer, .January 7. 1892, and has held it
four years, fulfilling the duties with entire success.

John McKinley was born in County Antrim. Ireland, in
1833. He came across the ocean in '51. and for a while was
at Williamsburg, N. Y., where he shoveled dirt and graded
streets. From there he went to Connecticut, near New
Haven, and worked on a farm and in a saw mill. Returned
to New York again and quarried stone one winter. Then
went to Philadelphia; worked at various things there and
out in the country until 1S07, when he came to Dixon coun-
ty. First took a claim on the Jourdan branch (in the South
Creek region), and held it down a year, and then went to St.
Louis, Mo., and from there to New Orleans and other places
in Louisiana. Returned here and entered 160 acres seven
miles from Ponca, up West Creek, and lived there four or five
years. Then traded that place for the one he now lives on
adjoining Ponca. He has 280 acres. He was a reliable and
efficient county commissioner and held that office three
years, '77, '78, '79. He was married in 1861 and has one son
and three daughters.

;^|W^_^

4JH

R. H. POMEROY.

( See page 172. 1

MRS. K. H. POMEROY.

I See page 172.)

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 177

J. J. McCarthy was bora in Dane county. Wis., 1857, and

lived on a farm except when at school. When 19 years old
he commenced teaching mathematics in the Albion (Wis.)
Academy, where there were fifteen teachers and 300 scholars.
Taught two years. When 21 years old he came to David
City, Neb., and taught school and studied law. In 1882, came
to Emerson and went into the law and real estate business.
Built a residence and store, and Emerson's first newspaper
office, and was connected with its first paper, the "Emerson
Echo." Has been in the mercantile business at Emerson,
with Theodore Kuntz for several years past, and president of
the German American Bank since it started in 1892. Mar-
ried June. 1SS4, to Nelly McGowan of Seward county, Neb.
Have five children, all living. Elected county attorney in
1890 and has held it ever since, his present term expiring a
year hence. Removed to Ponca in 1SS9. As county attorney
he has been thorough and successful, and has given excellent
satisfaction.

John A. Mohr was born in Clayton county. Iowa, and in
Clayton and Delaware counties lived twenty-six years, during
the last few years of which he was largely engaged in manu-
facturing and bridge building. He removed to Ponca in
September. 1881, and has remained here, actively occupied
since then. He was engaged in merchandise three and one-
half years, and afterwards in 1886, went into the furniture
business with James Hobbs. In 1887, he bought out Mi-.
Hobbs. and has since continued in the same business. During
the time, he also built agreatnimiber of the excellent bridges
which the board of supervisors have wisely supplied the
county. Mr. Mohr was mayor of Ponca during one year,
from May, '93, to May. '1)4. and has been on the school board
seven years, all of the time except one year as director.) and
his present term expires two years hence. He was married
in February. 1SS5, to Maggie -I. McKinley. daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. .John McKinley of Ponca. and has two children
boys. Mr. Mohr has been very popular with the citizens by
reason of his efforts in advocating improvements and enter-
prises which were beneficial to the city and county. He has
done a large and honorable business and his store has an
immense stockof goods and a great community of patrons.

L78 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Asa \Y. Rose was born in Norwich. Connecticut, in 1847.
His parents removed to Muscatine. Iowa, in 1854, where
they resided for one year when they removed by team to
what is now Rock Falls in Cerro Grordo county, Iowa,, and
two years later settled upon their farm near Plymouth in
same county until 1866. The subjectof this sketch enlisted in
Company M. 1st Iowa cavalry and served two years and eight
months and was discharged at St. Louis at the close of the
war. when he returned home, and the next year with his par-
ents removed to Union county. Dakota, where they settled
upon homesteads in the western part of the county on the
hanks of the Missouri, opposite the town of Ionia. In 1868,
he was married to Almira J. Bishop, who died a few months
later. In the winter of 1869 he removed to Ionia, where he
with a Mi 1 . Leavens opened a general store. In December,
1870, he was married to Carrie L. Hill, daughter of L. T. Hill
of Ionia, where they resided until 1SS9, when they removed
to Ponca township, where they have since resided. In Jan-
uary, 1893, Mr. Rose was appointed county judge pro tern,
by the board of county supervisors during the illness of Judge
Reynolds, and in duly of the same year upon the death of
Judge Reynolds was appointed county judge. In the fall of
the same year was elected to the same office and in Novem-
ber. 1895, was again elected, breaking the record and receiv-
ing the largest vote ever cast for any one man in Dixon

county.

Carrie L. Rose, the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. T.
Hill, was born in Boston, Mass.. in 1853. With her parents,
came to Davenport, Iowa, in '56 and to Ionia in '59, where in
70 she was married to Asa W. Rose. In the spring of 1892,
Mrs. Rose with her children removed to Soquel, Cal., in the
hopes that the health of their eldest daughter Alice E. Rose
might be benefitted. Their hopes were not realized, for in
October of the same year she died at that place, aged 20 years.
Mrs. Rose and children remained at Soquel until the fall of
1894 when they returned to Ponca.

M. F. Richards came here from McHenry county, Mich.,
in 1885, and is a most reliable resident. He has been city
marshal, and for a year past deputy sheriff, and has been
appointed deputy by Sheriff Hart for the term commencing
Jan. 1. '96.

JUDGE A. W. ROSE.

(See page 178.)

MRS. A. W. ROSE.

-Seepage 178.)

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 183

W. W. Cooper was born in Sauk county, Wisconsin, July
8, I860. His father owned a large farm on which he worked
until the age of 21. He attended common school winters
and worked on the farm the balance of the year, till 17 years
old, when he finished the "Course of Study for Country
Schools" and attended Spring Green high school one term.
In the following spring he attended teachers' examination
and secured third grade certificate and the following winter
taught his first term of school. He continued to teach in
winter and work on farm in summer until spring of 1SS2,
when he, with two other brothers, went west and settled in
Spink county, S. D., and took a claim and remained there
two years, when, owing to complete failure of crops, he re-
turned to his home in Wisconsin and again taught school
in winter and worked at other work in summer. In
1886 he again came west and accepted a position with his
brother in the office of county auditor at Canton, S. D., which
he held two years, when he resigned to accept the position
of deputy treasurer, which he held till spring of 1893, when
he resigned the position and came to Ponca and opened a
real estate and abstract office. August 1, 1892, he was
married to Miss Eva A. Prince at Canton, S. D. Mr. Cooper
was elected in the fall of 1895 to the office of clerk of the
district court for Dixon county, commencing his duties in
January, 1896.

W. P. Logan, a prominent young business man, now of
New Castle, was born at Troy. Kansas, Nov. 29, 1868, and
came to Nebraska at an early age with his parents and to
Ponca a few years ago. Was employed in the Farmers and
Merchants bank and First National of Ponca from 1SS5 to
1893, and was city treasurer in 1S92. In March, '93, was
elected cashier of the Farmers State bank at New Castle, of
which he was one of the organizers and stockholders, and to
which place he removed. Mr. Logan was largely instru-
mental in the building of the new $4,00(1 school house there
recently, while director of the district. He is now serving
his second term as village treasurer of that place. Mr.
Logan is a young man of tine attainments which are shown
in his efforts for the up-building of New Castle. He was
married, December 28. 1S90, to Gail Conner, of Ponca. and
now has two children.

184 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

S. P. Mikesell was horn iii Indiana county, Penn., June

14. ls:} ( .). Received a preparatory education for college, at
Eldersridge Academy, and entered the Sophomore class,
Pennsylvania College, in 1861. Left the junior class in 1863
and joined the 26th Regiment of Pennsylvania volunteers.
commanded by Col. Jennings.

After the battle of Gettysburg he was appointed clerk in
the ordinance office, war department, Washington. Resigned
this position in the fall of 1865, and came to Nebraska in
March. 1866. Was a resident of Dakota City and Sioux City
three years. In dune. 1869, located in Ponca and entered
the mercantile business with John Stough under the firm
name of Stough & Mikesell. On January 1. 1886, the firm
was dissolved, and in September of the same year, Mr. Mike-
sell opened the large store (38 x 100 feet) which he had pre-
viously built and which he has occupied from that time to
the present. Mr. Mikesell is one of the most successful
and reliable merchants in the county, and in other pursuits
as well as merchandise, has an immense business. In
education and executive ability he probably has no superiors
in the county. At New Castle, Mr. M. has another extensive
mercantile establishment of which J. M. Hoskinson is mana-
ger. Mr. Mikesell has a wife and three grown up sons. A
view of his large residence, as well as his portrait, are seen
on the following pages.

P. McCabe has been an excellent and popular sheriff four
years, his term ending January 1. 1896. He came to this
country at an early day. and has a large and valuable farm
on which as in other business he has been successful.

J. I). Harris, who has been the clerk of the dis-
trict court for several years, resides a stone's throw outside
the city limits, where he and his family have a pleasant home.
Mr. Harris has also been deputy county clerk several terms,
and in official business of that kind, it is not likely he can be
excelled.

Dr. Stevenson, a reputable dentist, recently located in
Ponca. taking the place of Dr. Wasson, who removed to
Sioux City.

Dr. J. M. O'Connell has been a successful physician at
this place for the past fifteen years, and has the confidence
of the people and a large practice.

1 w

tj.

S. P. MIKESELL.

(See page 184.)

S. P. MIKESELL'S RESIDENCE, PONCA.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 189

Bion H. Culver was horn in Granby township, Oswego
county. X. V.. in 1857. In 1860, his parents removed to a farm
near Dixon, 111., where his father died in 1865. In 1870, he
and his mother came to Nebraska and lived on a homestead
near Pleasant Dale, in Seward county, till the fall of 1S75.
While living here he attended school in district No. 17 about
eight months, the only public school he ever attended. In
the spring of 1875, passed examination before the county su-
perintendent of Lancaster county and received his first teach-
er's certificate. In September, 1875, he entered the State
University as a student, He worked his way through an
eight-year course at the University by occasionally teaching,
and graduated with the class of 1883, receiving the degree of
B. S. After graduating he was elected principal of the pub-
lic schools at Kulo. He served a short time, and was then
called back to his alma mater, the State University, to take
the responsible position of instructor in modern languages.
He held this position for three years after which he went to
Denver to take a position as teacher but failing health com-
pelled him to abandon school entirely for some time. In
1888, he went to Europe to complete his studies in the lan-
guages. While there he attended a post-graduate course of
lectures at the Bavarian Royal University at Munich, Ger-
many. Since returning to America has been constantly en-
gaged in school work and is now serving his fifth year as
principal of the Ponca public schools. Prof. Culver was mar-
ried Aug. 1). 1893, to Miss Cynthia J. Culp of Constantine,
Mich., who for several years has been the efficient assistant
principal of the Ponca high school.

Dr. J. W. Porter was born in Chautauqua county, New r
York, and came to Ponca in 186S. He was elected county
judge in October, 71. and held that office until January 1.
1876. Since then he has had a very successful practice as a
physician. He has a wife and four children.

T. J. Welty came to Ponca in 1869. Was a farmer at
first, then a merchant, and afterwards gave excellent satis-
faction as county clerk for five years.

J. Hewett came to Dixon county at an earlv day. First
settled in Silver Creek and afterwards removed to Ponca,
where he now resides. Has had various city offices and is
much respected by the citizens.

190 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

T. -I. Sheibley, was born in Duncannon, Perry county, Pa.,
July 12, 1845. Was raised on a farm and lived there till
April 19, 1861, when he enlisted at Duncannon in Company
B of the First Pennsylvania Rifles. (Bucktails,) and was dis-
charged, November 19, 1864, at Harrisburg, Pa, During all
the time he was in the army, he was in active service and
in many engagements. He participated in the battles of
Mechanicsville, Va„ June 26, 1862; Gaines Mill, Va., dune 27;
Charles City Cross Roads. Va., June 30; the second battle of
Bull Run, Va., August 29 and 30; South Mountain. Md..
September 14; Antietam, Md., September 16 and 17; Fred-
ericksburg, Va., December 13; all the above being in 1862.
In 1863 he was in the battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 2 and 3.
where he was slightly wounded. Was in the Mine Run
campaign in December, 1863, and in the battle of Spottsyl-
vania Court House May 8 and 9, 1864, where he lost a leg.
That ended his military career. He was discharged in the
November following. The "Bucktails." celebrated as among
the bravest troops on the northern side, were skirmishing
and scouting nearly all the time and at the end of the war
over three-fourths of them had been killed or wounded. Mr.
Sheibley on his discharge, returned to Duncannon. where,
from June, 1865, he was postmaster until May 15, 1869. He
was elected register and recorder of Perry county in October,
'1)1), and held the office three years. In June '73. removed to
Dixon county and settled on the southeast quarter, section
8, township 28, range 6, (Otter Creek township. I He now
has 320 acres there. In October, 1885, on account of ill
health of wife, removed to Florida and returned to Ponca in
June, 1SS7. Was elected county clerk of Dixon county.
November 5. 1889, and was re-elected in '91 and '1)3, during
the six years, holding the office with ability and to the entire
satisfaction of all, being, indeed, one of the most thorough
officers the county has ever had. He was married July <>.
1872, to Sarah Wertz of Landesburg, Pa.. They have one
daughter, Miss Anna Sheibley. who has been deputy county
clerk for four years, and who. in knowledge of the office ami
in business accomplishments, has few superiors.

Mark Brown, another worthy citizen, honorably served
in the war four years, and was sheriff of the county two
terms.

T. J. SHEIBLE7.

i See page 190. )

2 K

h- 1

w
F

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 195

There are a great many more citizens of Ponca who are
deserving of special notices, but the extraordinary length of
this chapter requires that the list be abridged.

Of those residents of Ponca not thus far mentioned but
deserving of it and only lack of room preventing, are J. W.
Armstrong. Wm. Austin, J. H. Cole. F. Conrad. E. B. Camp-
bell. L. J Coyle. (the agent at the railroad depot,) Thomas
Crew. Daniel and Michael Donlin who are further mentioned
in the part relating to Ponca township, Wm. Dnllaghan the
present efficient city marshal, A. J. Deal. Nate Heyden, ().
L. Longmire, Fay and Selim Mattison. C. H. Marble, T. S.
Myers. M. M. Myers, Albert Meyer, John McClary, P. J.
Morris, A. J. Phillips. J. N. Peel, James Hush, Mr. Rogers.
W. E. Pogue, Henry Shett'el, Jacob Sailor, Lee and Cy.
Sincenbaiigh. J. Thompkins, J. P. Travis, etc., etc.

Combined, the citizens of Ponca form a community which
in intelligence, enterprise and morals is not surpassed by any
town in the state.

Ponca has five churches, viz: The Lutheran, which has
hid the following pastors. Dr. W. Kuhns of Omaha came in
lStf"). followed in '67 by Prof. Samuel Aughey a short time
and after him Rev. J. F. Kuhlman from 78 to 78, followed by
Revs. (I. H. Schnnr. A. B. Schrader. Samuel Smith and W.
C. McCool. An elegant church, one of the finest in this part
of the state, was erected in 1892.

The Presbyterian church, organized in 1S71. has had the
the following pastors in the order here given: Revs. W. H.
Clark, Chapman. R. L. Wheeler, 1 12 years.) Smith. Craves
and Young. The society has a fine church well fitted up
and furnished.

The Methodist church, has had the following pastors:
Revs. J. B. Leedom; W. J. Barger. 76; F. H. Calder; Joel A.
Smith. 79. 'SO; J. Fowler. '80, '82; J. B. Priest, '82, '85; C. F.
Havwood. '85; J. H. Keeley: J. L. St. Clair. '88; J. H. Frazer:
W. P. Kingsbury: J. H. Johnson: W. H. Linn, 93: J. M. Both-
well. 94; and F. (I. Perry. '95. The Methodist society have a
large and well arranged church, built in 1885 to take the
place of the one blown down.

The Baptist church was organized in 1880, and has since
had the following pastors: Revs. J. B. Ward, J. R. Wolf, F.

196 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

(i. Boughton and 1). \Y. Bouck. The church building is like
the others, tastily built and comfortably arranged.

A large and commodious Catholic church was built in
1890, and its pastors have been. Fathers Schmit, Hanley and
Geary. This and the other churches named have large con-
gregations, and are prominent in good works and in the
promotion of morals.

As has been previously mentioned, Ponca's large school
building was built and took the place of the old one, in 1S7S.
Tt has since been doubled in size, and a smaller school build-
ing erected on another street. For several years past, from
six to eight teachers have been employed nine months in
the year. The school is graded and the teachers are well
skilled, and with the lagre number of scholars, improvement
is rapid and satisfactory.

The lodges and benevolent societies in Ponca are the
following: A. F. & A. M., I. 0. of 0. F„ Knights of Pythias,
Woodmen, Workmen, Daughters of Rebekah, Knights of the
Maccabees, Women's Relief Corps, (I. A. R„ W. R, C. and VV.
C. T. U.

All the above have large memberships. The Masons,
Odd Fellows and (!. A. R. have large halls appropriately
fitted up and furnished.

The city council for this year are G. L. Wood, mayor; W.
VV. Cooper, clerk; and M. M. Sencenbaugh, A. J. Phillips. M.
1. Mellon, E. E. Halstead. E. J. Berry and Julius Drager,
councilmen.

Ponca has a line system of waterworks at present under
the superintendence of 0. P. Sullenberger.

John Austin and sons at Ponca landing have a ferry so
that those who so desire, can without much expense escape
into South Dakota.

"8 Q

IT W

C
S3

7.
1

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I'M

CHAPTEB XVI.

IONIA AND PoNCA TOWNSHIPS THEIR ClTIZENS, ETC., ETC.

IONIA TOWNSHIP.

The region comprising the township of Ionia is bounded
on the north and east by the Missouri river, south by
the townships of New Castle and Ponca, and west
by Hooker. Except the bottom land along the river, the
country is rough and hilly, but all. whether hill or valley,
has excellent soil, good water, and, especially on the bottoms,
large tracts of valuable timber. The township has now
about 550 inhabitants. It has had no village since the
town site of Ionia was swept away by the river. The only
reminders of that unfortunate place now remaining, are the
Ionia ferryboat which, as near as may be. still traverses its
ancient path across the river, and the Ionia post office a
mile or two east of where old Ionia stood. To this part of
the county the notice of settlers was attracted at an early
day, and at one time, as we have seen in the preceding pages,
Ionia was a place of much importance and business. Among
those who have been in the past or are at present prominent
in Ionia, are the following:

L. T. Hill was born in West Concord. Vt.. in 1823. Vwis
married to Sarah J. Smith in Boston, Mass.. in 1852, and in
1857 they removed from Boston to Davenport, Iowa, where
he was engaged in business until the spring of 1859 when he
came to Ionia, that town site having been purchased for him
the year before by the Messrs. Pierce. To the building up
of Ionia, Mr. Hill, with energy and success devoted several
years, and saw it advance from a naked town site to a pros-
perous place of business, with a population of several
hundred. A more extended account of its growth has been
given elsewhere. During the Indian scare of 1863, Mr. Hill
was away from home and his wife refused to leave the place,

200 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

herself and family being the only ones in that part of the
comity that were not frightened away. In 1861, with the
assistance of John Taffe, then delegate in congress from
Nebraska, Mr. Hill succeeded in establishing a post office at
Ionia, and at the same time a post office at Vermillion, Da-
kota the latter being the first post office established in that
territory. In 1881, Mr. Hill, with his family removed to
Canton, Dakota, where he btiilt a large grist mill, and where
he resided until 1892. Tn that year he went to California
where some of his children had preceded him and where ho
now resides. During all the years that he lived in Ionia, his
doors were always open to any and all who chanced to come
that way, and his hospitality knew no bounds. Mr. Hill was
a prominent citizen of Dixon county during his residence
here. He was probate judge for several years.

Henry M.Pierce and his father, J. J. Pierce, were fitted
out by L. T. Hill in Davenport in 1858 and employed by him
to come west and locate a town site somewhere in the wilds
of Nebraska, and the same year they secured the town site
of Ionia which had been previously located. Mr. Hill join-
ing them the following year. J. J. Pierce died in North
Bend in this county about twenty years ago. Henry M.
Pierce is now living in Sioux City, Iowa.

Nelson Feauto and Isaac Feauto, brothers, settled upon
the farm now owned by J. F. Gibbs, northwest of Ionia in
1861. Isaac Feauto died upon the place he located in 1872.
The wife of Nelson Feauto died and was buried upon their
farm in 1870, and he died at St. Helena, Cedar county in
1890. Both brothers left large families. Nelson Feauto, Jr.,
of Emerson, is the only descendant of the two families living
in the county.

Charles H. Smith, came with L. T. Hill to Ionia in 1859,
was married in 1862 to Clarissa Pierce, and now resides on
his farm of over 200 acres near the original town site of
Ionia. He has for several years past been postmaster at
the Ionia post office. He has the finest farm and the finest
buildings in all that part of of the county and has raised
a family of eight children, seven of whom are living, and
three are married and settled near him.

Almond Smith and wife, the father and mother of Mrs. L.
T. Hill and C. H. Smith, came to Ionia in 1860 where they

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 201

lived with their son, C. H. Smith, and where Grandma Smith
died in 1878 and Grandpa Smith in 1880 at the ages of 78
and 86 years respectively. Both were buried in the Ionia
cemetery. They enjoyed the distinction of being the oldest
couple in the county for several years.

Roswell Hotchkiss settled above Ionia upon the place
now owned by T. J. Ryan, in 1856. Removed to Colorado in
1868 where he still remains

Joseph Stefani settled in Ionia township in 1859 upon the
place now owned by J. F. Gibbs and was married to Betsey
Sutherland in 1S69. He conducted a general store in Ionia
in 1872 and 1873 and removed to Burb.mk, Dakota, in '73,
near which place he now resides.

In 1870 William B., Allen H. and John W. Ellyson,
brothers, settled in Ionia, and together built the first steam
ferry in operation in the county. They are now all prosper-
ous farmers in Ionia township. A. H. Ellyson was county
commissioner and supervisor several terms.

Edward Newton and family settled in Ionia in 1869. He
with Bosley and Landon leased and run the Ionia steam
saw and grist mills of L. T. Hill for live years. Bosley re-
tiring, 0. P. Sullenberger took his place in the firm the
second year. Mr. Newton is now a successful farmer, living
upon one of his farms in Ponca township.

Dexter Rice settled with his family upon the place now
owned by A. H. Ellyson in Ionia township in 1866, removing
from there in 1S7B to a valuable farm in Hooker township
where he now lives.

Benjamin, James P. and Sylvester Cook, brothers, settled
near Ionia in 1864. Benjamin removed, went to Iowa in '86
and remained there. James P. removed to Ponca in 1880
and lias since lived there, and Sylvester still resides, a well
to do farmer, upon his farm in Ionia township.

T. J. Ryan, the supervisor of Ionia at this time (1895),
came to that township in 1SS1 from Dakota and devoted him-
self to farming and stock raising with great success. He
now owns 1.120 acres, a large share of it being rich Missouri
river bottom land, 450 acres of which are under cultivation,
300 acres of timber and the balance meadow and pasture.
His farm has two good houses, several large farm barns, one
of them being SoxlOO feet, two flowing wells, respectively

202 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

407 and 265 feel drop, the first wells of the kind in the coun-
ty, a steam saw mill, and in connection a steam syrup fac-
tory, all with the best machinery and latest improvements,
in which he made 5,000 gallons of sorghum syrup in "1)4 and
the same in ' ( .>~>. He is one of the most progressive and inde-
pendent of Dixon county farmers and cannot be worth less
than $35,000. His family consists of a wife, one son and
six daughters. See his portrait elsewhere.

Amasa Pettit, supervisor in '92 and '1)8. came from Dako-
ta about 1885. He has 2(MI acres of bottom land and is a good
farmer in good circumstances. He has a large family.

John F. Gibbs is one of Dixon county's best citizens, re-
sides in Ionia, where he and his sons own 600 acres of excel-
lent valley land. Mr. Gibbs was a member of tin 1 board of
supervisors in 1887-8.

Among the other prosperous farmers of Ionia at this
time, may be mentioned Eli Heald and B. Pearson.

Rev. W. S. Bates, a much esteemed former resident of
Ionia, died at Nevada. Iowa, October 28, 1879. He was sup-
erintendent of schools for Dixon County during 72-78-74
and 75.

As a matter of course there are many more farmers in
the township, thickly settled as it is, than those we have
mentioned above. Among them are Elias Warner, quite an
old settler and who. in addition to farming, has had a mill
since L869; M. L. Smathers, Andrew Spellacy, etc., etc. The
names of others have not been furnished us.

Ionia township has good school houses and the schools are
generally well attended and have efficient teachers. Ionia
used to be celebrated for its valuable timber, its volcano, its
towm and its hospitable citizens. Of the timber there is yet
much remaining, although the best has been cut off and made
into lumber. The volcano and the townsite are now both
buried in mud at the bottom of the Missouri river and the hos-
pitality and good society of an excellent class of citizens
alone remain.

The portraits of Mr. and Mrs. I, T. Hill, will by their
many former friends ami neighbors in Ionia, be seen with
pleasure, and they will be found on the next pages. They
will bring back the remembrance of old times and the hard-
ships and pleasures of frontier lite.

L. T. HILL.

-**«* s$i

V w. '

•

W^:,

^*^'^i2r : ' , ''~^^l

■

MRS. L. T. HILL.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 307

PONCA TOWNSHIP.

The good citizens of Ponca township have been and are
now numerous, and the names of a few of them will here be
found.

Charles F. Putnam, one of the most respected of the
pioneers, was born in Cavendish, Vt.,in 1835. Went to Massa-
chusetts in '46, came to Ponca in '56, and made his home there
or in Ponca township ever since. Roughed it in early times
with the rest of the settlers. Lived in Ponca one year, then
took as a homestead a place now owned by -I. G. Crowell, a
mile west of Jeff. Wilbur's farm. The farm he now owns
and has lived on for the past twelve years contains ISO acres,
and is well located and cultivated. Mi-. Putnam was the
first sheriff of the county, and has since usefully rilled sev-
eral offices. He is in every respect a worthy citizen and
highly esteemed throughout the county. His excellent
memory of past events has greatly assisted in the prepara-
tion of this history. Mr. Putnam is married and has two
sons and one daughter.

A Davis, another pioneer, came to this county January
3, 1861, and first located at Ponca. In the fall of '65 he w 7 as
elected county treasurer, and held that office year after year
by the almost unanimous consent of the citizens, until Jan-
uary. 1876 ten years. Much of the time, Mr. Davis, like
Bisbee, carried his office in his hat, yet with such extreme
carefulness, that every cent received was promptly account-
ed for. A few years ago he removed to Ponca township,
wdiere, on an excellent farm and with a clear conscience, he
passes his honorable days with his family in peace and com-
fort,

M. B. Dewitt came here in 1866, took a homestead and
now lives on what was the old Beardshear homestead. He
and his children have 510 acres well cultivated and good
buildings. Has a wife and 4 sons and 3 daughters. He was
sheriff five terms, and supervisor six years. His portrait ap-
pears with those of the supervisors of 1895. In the preced-
ing pages some of his experiences as sheriff appear in con-
nection with the Mat Miller trial and the Indians who mur-
dered Munson.

Rev. H. Beardshear, the father-in-law of Mr. Dewitt,
came in 1865, and located where he now lives.

208 HISTORY <>F DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Samuel Biggerstaff, 1864, lived and died in Ponca town-
ship. Owned 160 acres. Thomas Stobaugjh and Joseph
Morehouse came with Biggerstaff. Morehouse is dead and
Stobaugh in Missouri.

S. H. Coats, I867 r came from Iowa, was county surveyor
several years and had a farm near Sheriff Hewitt's. He was
prominent in county affairs and a useful citizen. He went
to the Black Hills about 1875.

Mordecca Smith came in 1870 and has a good farm where
he resides.

John Roden is one of the wealthiest men in the county..
He has several hundred acres where he lives, and is largely
engaged in farming and stock raising. He was one of the
early settlers of the county, coming here in 1856.

Jefferson Wilbur has been a resident for over thirty-five
years. He has a large farm about a mile west of Ponca and
owns property in town.

David Carnell came with Mr. Dewitt, his brother-in-law.
and settled near him. He died many years ago, leaving a
large family. His widow married Charles Barber.

(Jeorge Mattison was an early settler and is a prominent
farmer and business man. For several years he was in the
milling business and is now largely engaged in farming,
buying and shipping cattle, etc. He has a large farm,
tine house and improvements where he and his family
reside, and has the respect and esteem of the county at large.
He was elected to the legislature a year ago and served his
constituents with ability and success.

B. H. Beller and his' brothers, E. Beller and Phil Heller,
came here at an early day. They first located in the town-
ship and B. H. now resides there. The others have removed
to Ponca city. B. H. Beller wa; sheriff of the county in 1S74
and 1875. All are respected and worthy citizens.

"Old Mam' Shook, as he was called, came here in 1862
from Sioux City and lived in the timber several years. He
died about twenty-six years ago.

John Enders came in the fall of '65 and his brother, Jesse
Enders, about '()(>. Both are farmers and both have valuable
farms and improvements. They have families and are in
comfortable circumstances.

Julius Shirner came with Nick Wallenstein from Germany

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. •,><>!)

in 1873, and owns ;i valuable farm of 400 acres. Has a large

family.

Benjamin Sencenbaugh, the father of Lee Sencenbaugh
and Cy Sencenbaugh of Ponca city, located about 1866 in
Ponca township on a homestead adjoining and south of the
Donlin place, (a mile east of town). Late in the fall of '69,
while digging a well, and when at a depth of forty feet the
hoisting box tilled with dirt came loose and fell that distance
upon him. injuring him so severely that he died that night.
He was a good and industrious man and much liked in the
community.

Daniel Donlin. from Bear Creek. Iowa, settled near where
Martinsburg now is. in June, 1856. He lived there till Feb-
ruary 18, 1866, and was then frozen to death in a blizzard
while returning from a trip to Sioux City. (An account of
this is given elsewhere.) He left a wife and ten children.
In March, 1886, his wife and a part of her family removed
to their farm of 160 acres, about one and one-half miles east of
Ponca. and has lived there since. Two of the sons, D. F.
Donlin and Mike Donlin. live and are in business in Ponca;
Wm, and Thomas Donlin at Martinsburg, and James and
John on the farm east of Ponca.

Wm. O'Connor came from Erie, Pa., in 1863. Bought
the place where he now lives, in October of that year. Left
and went to Iowa after buying the land and was there five
years. Married in Iowa in 1865. Came back here in 1868
and bought Adam Smith's farm south of Ponca. Lived there
ever since '68. Has six children, all living and all born here
but one. Mr. O'Conner knew President Garfield in L848,
when both were drivers on the canal in Ohio. Mr. O'Conner
is noted as having an excellent memory and education.

John McKinley and Judge Arnold, both of whom have
been in a great measure identified with Ponca township,
have brief sketches in the chapter relating to Ponca city.

Wm. Shea was a soldier in the regular army from 1835,
for near twenty years. Was stationed at Fort Randall in
1861, and from there went south and came back in 1864.
Soon after, he took a homestead of 160 acres in this town-
ship, adjoining the Arnold farm, and bought eighty acres
more on which he lived. He died in 1882. He had no fam-
ily. The farm is now owned by Wm. O'Conner.

•J 10 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

D. P. Sherwood came here from the east with his family
in 1876, and bought and located on the farm of Phil Beller.
about a mile northwest of Ponca. The same year he com-
menced raising an orchard. Since then he has added to the
first quarter section until he now has 7*20 acres, hill and \ al-
ley, well watered and suitably divided into fields by several
miles of fence. Since the first also, he has devoted his at-
tention largely to orchards and fruit. He has now over
8,000 fruit trees, mainly apple, 5,000 of which are old enough
to bear. His trees are divided into four orchards, in the first
of which, about 1.000 trees are seventeen years old. In addi-
tion to apple trees, he has pear, plum and cherry trees and a
large number of choice grape vines. He has demonstrated
that fruit, and good fruit, can be raised here in abundance
and with profit. Mr. Sherwood deserves the friendly re-
membrance of the citizens of the county for the persistence
with which he has, in the face of difficulties, short crops and
many discouragements, kept to his determination to have a
great fruit farm. Within a few years, when all his great
army of trees are bearing, the result will be thousands of
bushels per year. It is to be hoped he will live to see and
enjoy the daw Mr. Sherwood is married and has a large
family of sons and daughters.

Charles Frederick Blecker came from Prussia in 1862.
Stopped in Pennsylvania seven years and then came to
this township. Wm. Blecker and August Blecker came
with him. Wm. died after being here a year, and August
moved to Iowa about sixteen years ago. Charles bought a
farm of 160 acres and paid $310 for it. He has now 480
acres well improved and in as fine a location as the county
affords. Has three sons, two of whom Robert and Charles
A., are married and have good farms near by, and one
daughter, married to Fred Rogosh, who lives on West
Creek.

Barney McShane. another prosperous proprietor of a
large farm came here some fifteen years ago.

H. F Brown has a large farm, highly improved and
cultivated, a fine residence, and groves, fruit trees and
grape vines in splendid condition, about two miles north-
west of town. Mr. Brown came here a few years ago and
has since been prominent in public affairs.

; ~4

be
a)
P.
aj
ii
■Ji

H
P

be
«

;«

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 21 3

M. Huddleston owned and ran the ferry across the Mis-
souri at Sioux City in 1857 and conveyed across a large num-
ber of the people who at that time came to Dixon county.
He afterwards went to Niobrara and in 1864 came here and
bought of John Stough the farm he afterwards lived on up
to about four years ago, when he sold it to the Ponca Driv-
ing & Fair Association for fairgrounds, racecourse, etc. Mr.
Huddleston was never married. A short time before he came
here, his brother, Wm. Huddleston. became a resident of
Ponca, and lived there much of the time since then. Both
are men who have a multitude of friends and without an en-
emy in the world.

B. (I. Rahn. a resident for a number of years past, has a
well improved farm of 400 acres.

Perry Douthit came from Iowa in 1870. Has 400 acres.
Is largely and profitably engaged in dairying.

F. S. Payne, a successful farmer, has resided here 6 or 8
years.

A. Reynolds, up to his death about two years ago, resided
for several years on his farm, a short distance northwest of
Ponca. He was county judge in '90, '91, '92 and '93, and
performed the duties of the office acceptably. 'He had also
been supervisor of Ponca township in 1886, and some years
before was postmaster at Ponca. He left a wife and several
children, who still reside on the pleasant farm owned by
him.

E. W. Shaw came from New York in 1S79. Started a
harness shop in Ponca and then bought a farm two miles
east. He has 383 acres, well improved, and is a successful
farmer.

W. F. Robinson and family came here from Meigs
county, Ohio, in April. 1890. Wm. Scott and J. D. Kautz
(sons-in-law of Mr. Robinson.) and their families came with
him. All live in Ponca township. Robinson has 160 acres,
and Scott and Mr. Kautz 200 each. Mr. R. has a wife and
nine sons and daughters, six of whom are married.

Antone Engle, came to Ponca township about 1872 and
is a successful farmer. He was one of the county com-
missioners in 1883 and 1884, two years, at the end of which
time he resigned.

S14 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

0. Waterman came in 1883 from [da county. Iowa, where
he had been auditor and clerk forten years. He first bought
10f> acres here, and now owns 401), all fenced and improved..
Has a wife and eight sons and daughters, all married
except two.

An institution that in a County of so much abundance is
next to useless, is the county poor farm. The farm is in
Ponca township and is situated three miles west of Ponca
on the Silvercreek road and contains 160 acres of good land.
The house is 24x50 feet, and two stories high, containing 18
rooms. The grounds around the house are artistically
arranged ami attractively tilled with shade trees, vines, etc.
The building was completed in the summer of 1894 and on
the 1st of November of that year was opened. R. P. Wil-
liams, an energetic farmer of Otter Creek, was appointed
superintendent and remained a year giving good satisfaction
by his excellent management. During the time there were
from two to three inmates.

The names of other of the residents of Ponca township are
doubtless also deserving of mention. These brief notices in
all townships are furnished us by those who are acquainted
with the residents, but of course they have been liable to for-
get many of them.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 315

CHAPTER XVII.

Silver Creek, Daily, Hooker, Clark and New Castle Town-
ships and New Castle Village.

silver creek township

Is hounded on the north by New Castle, east by Ponca,
south by Galena and west by Daily, and is six miles square,
with not an acre of poor land in it. The township is settled
by a class of citizens whose farms, dwellings and improve-
ments are evidences of prosperity and good taste. There
are no villages in the township. There is one postomce,
(Hazel), six schoolhouses and two churches, the West Union
(Presbyterian) and the (M. E.) Central.

In 1S74 the Silver Ridge seminary was opened by Rev.
Walter H. Clark, and was conducted several years and
finally discontinued.

In this township are a large number of orchards, prom-
inent among which are those on the farms of Mr. Murlin
Mr. Blecker (the farm bought by him of F. S. Payne) Miller,
Merritt. Miille, Mendenhall, Russell, Weidenfeldt, Schram
and Armstrong. With proper attention fruit does well here,
as it does in every part of the county.

C. W. Schram is a native of New York state, from whence
he came to Belle Plaine. Iowa, and from there in 1871 to
Omaha, and the following year to Dixon county, locating in
Silver Creek township. He now has a farm of 820 acres, all
under excellent cultivation, and the best buildings in the
township. When he came here he hadn't money enough to
buy a pair of boots. He is now worth at least $10,000. He
has held township offices for the past twenty years, and is
now a member of the board of supervisors. He is married
and has nine children, all living. See the page of portraits
of supervisors of 1895.

Dan Curry came to Dixon county from Pennsylvania in

■_>,,; HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

1868. Is a farmer, and he and his sons own nearly two sec-
t ions in the township.

Frank and Gottlieb Miille came to this country from Ger-
many and located in Silver Creek in 1868. Frank now owns
1,000 acres of well improved land. Has eight sons and
daughters, four of whom are married. He pays the most
taxes of any man in Silver Creek. Gottlieb owns about a
section of land, well improved. Has eleven children, two of
them married.

1'. Dempsey, the first settler of Silver Creek township,
was born in County Killdare, Ireland, 75 years ago. He
came to New York in 1848, and afterwards removed to Penn-
sylvania, and from there to Dixon county, arriving May 7th.
1857. Has lived since 1860 in Silver Creek, where he has
800 acres of tine, improved land. Is worth about $30,000.
Has had ten children, all of whom, except two, are living.
Mr. Dempsey has been prominent in public affairs, and was
supervisor for Silver Creek several years.

Mark Runyan located in Silver Creek in 1870. He is a
farmer, has half a section of land, good buildings and im-
provements and is out of debt. His wife died about a year
ago. Never had county or town office and would never
accept any.

Herman and Henry Wendte. brothers, came in 1875 from
Germany and brought considerable money with them. Her-
man has three-fourths of a section, and Henry half a section
of excellent land. Both married and have large families.

-John Mannion came in 1870 from Ireland. He is the
largest cattle feeder in Silver Creek. Has over a section of
land, well improved, good buildings, etc. Has a wife and
six children.

J. L. Murfin came from Illinois in 1882, and has 200 acres
in tine condition. One of the best farmers in Silver Creek.
Has a wife and eight children, two of them married. Worth
about $8,000 and out of debt.

David Armstrong located in Silver Creek in 1885. Has
three quarters of a section of land. Is well fixed and is a
good farmer. Has the only brick house in the township.
Has ten children living, eight sons and two daughters.

C. G. Wilson lives on the "Kus. Wilbur farm," which he

O. M. CHILDS.

(See page 219.)

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 219

bought in 1880. Was the first supervisor of Silver Creek
under township organization.

Thomas McClary came here in 1870 and bought and now
occupies a farm of 200 acres. Has eight sons and daughters,
all grown up, and all married but one.

E. L. Heidy came in 1874 from Illinois. His farm has 200
acres, with good improvements. He is out of debt and is
worth $5,1)00. Has a small family.

Fred Stark arrived from Germany in 1869, took a home-
stead and added to it until he now has a farm of 480 acres.
Good buildings, orchard, grove, etc. Has a wife and thirteen
children.

William Stark came from Germany and took a home-
stead in 1875. Has a wife and eight children. Is comfort-
ably fixed and has located his three sons on farms near him.

Joe Mendenhall came from Indiana in 1S75, located on 160
acres of land and occupies it at the present time. A thrifty
and substantial farmer. He has a wife, six girls and a boy.

Ernst Stettin, from Germany. First located in Daily,
then removed to Silver Creek in 1S70 and has lived there
since. Has a farm of 240 acres.

R. H.Hannant settled in Silver Creek twenty-five or thirty
years ago and was a successful farmer. He sold his place
about twelve years ago to Geo. Lamprecht, who has since re-
sided there.

Dayton Ward was superintendent of schools a few years
ago. He has a farm of 160 acres.

E. H. Jones, for several years sheriff of the county, settled
in Silver Creek in 1871 with his parents and brothers and en-
gaged in farming. He was elected sheriff and served with
great success in that office for three terms commencing Jan-
uary 1st, 1878. He was highly esteemed as a citizen and
justly popular as an officer. He died at Ponca in 1890. His
family remain in Silver Creek.

Squire Hewett. now living in Ponca city, formerly lived
on a large farm which he had in Silver Creek.

A. Drager was a successful Silver Creek farmer, removing
to Ponca several years ago.

0. M. Childs. born in 1834 in Pennsylvania, was married
at Erie Dec. 4, '65, to Mrs. Sarah Peabody of Crawford
county, that state. Enlisted Aug. 8, '62. for i) months in Co.

220 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

A. 1 :> 1 st Reg't., Pa. Vol., and was wounded Dec. '62, in the
Fredericksburg fight. Was in the government construction
corps one year. Re-enlisted in 1864 in Co. I. 8th Reg't, Pa.
Cav., for one year. Was wounded in front of Petersburg and
discharged on account of it. July 13, '65. Was in nine hard
fought battles. Moved to Nebraska in 1S70, and located in
Silver Creek, where he and family now reside. Has a farm
of 160 acres, well improved and fenced, with a good house,
grove, etc. He and his wife have two daughters, who reside
with them, and one son. J. A. Childs, married, and living a
mile west on a 120-acre farm of his own. Mr. Childs has
also two daughters in Pennsylvania.

There are many other farmers in Silver Creek of
whom no special mention is made for the want of informa-
tion concerning them.

The following are the names of some:

George Foulks, K. N. Crandall, L. Coleman. Gr. Dudley,
Roy Dudley, II. S. Cummings, Charles Crofoot, John Wilbur,
H. Lowe. J. Kendall, R. Andrews, Chub Hines; C. E. Merritt.
Fred Weidenfeldt, Frank Engle. Stephen Gasser, W. S,
Russell, etc.

DAILY TOWNSHIP

Has thirty-six square miles of tine farming land. It has
Hooker township on the north. Silver Creek on the east,
('lark on the south and the county line on the west. Daily
has no villages; one postoffice, Daily Branch, six school-
houses, and one church, the Tara Hill church (Catholic),
built about twelve years ago.

In this township there were very few settlers until 1870,
in which year a large number came, mostly from Galena,
Illinois. As is the general rule in Dixon county, the people
who have homes in Daily are enterprising and prosperous.

M. Conway came to Daily township in the spring of 1873,
from Clayton county, Iowa, with a small amount of money,
and took a homestead of 160 acres. He now has half a sec-
tion, with good buildings and improvements. By his energy
and good management in farming and other business he is
now amply able and has no debts or liabilities. Has a wife
and nine children, all living at home. Has had town offices
frequently and was elected supervisor in 1891, and held that

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 221

office until the re -organ ization of the board in October, 1895.

His portrait with those of the other members of the board
is seen on another page.

J. H. Addison came in hs7<> and took a homestead, which
he still occupies. He now has one-half a section, well im-
proved, and is in good pecuniary circumstances. He was
county superintendent of schools one term, and a member of
the board of supervisors four years.

In 1S70. C. W. Sherman came from New York. poor, took
a homestead, was energetic, and has now a valuable farm of
240 acres, and is in excellent financial condition. He is one
of Dixon county's very best men. His wife and one son
comprise his family. He was the first supervisor of Daily,
after township organization was adopted, and was county
commissioner several years previously.

Ben. McGuirk came in 1871 from Galena, 111., hard up,
and took a homestead, and now has one section all in first-
class shape.

Thomas I. Thomas came in 1870 or 1S71 from Galena.
111. Has at least a section of land, and is considered the
richest man in town and worth $25,000 or more. Has a
large family, all living at home.

Pat Bennett located in Daily in 1870. His farm of 480
acres has tine improvements and the best house iu town, and
his circumstances are in every way prosperous. He has a
wife and seven children. A year ago. Mr. Bennett moved to
New Castle and engaged in the business of buying grain.

Edward McGrrath, another good farmer and stock raiser
of Daily, came from Galena. 111., in 1870. Has a wife and
seven sons and daughters, all grown up and living near him.

Peter McClusky about 1870 took a homestead, and now
has 280 acres, together with cattle, horses, etc., and is out of
debt.

John O'Grady about 1870 came from Galena, 111., and took
a homestead of 160 acres. He has now 240 acres, with build-
ings and improvements 0. K. Has a large family of sons
and daughters, mostly grown up.

Sol Cu minings came about three years ago from New
Castle and bought a quarter section. Is a successful farmer.
Has a wife and several children.

Pat McGuirk. son of Ben McGuirk. has two good farms in

->.)■)

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Daily and another in Clark, and is successful in business and
popular with a host of friends.

John McGrath, son of Edward McGrath, is another good

farmer in Daily.

Ed. Wilkinson located in Daily about 16 years ago. He
has a well improved 160-acre farm and is well off.

W. \Y. Atkinson came at an early day and bought 320
acres. Died about two years ago. His wife was post-
mistress at Daily postoffice for eighteen years. No children.
Mi\ Atkinson was a county commissioner for several terms
and an excellent, popular and useful citizen.

Wm. Mallory came in 1873, and took a homestead where
he still lives. He and his family are in comfortable circum-
stances.

Mike Donahue took a homestead in 1870, and now lias a
line farm of 520 acres well improved. Has a wife and eight
children living.

Pat Morris and John McManus both came about the same
time. 1870, took homesteads and lived there till a year ago
when they removed to Ponca. Both are comfortably off.

James Hillen. 1870, farmer. 280 acres. Good improve-
ments. Large family.

Michael Dougherty, from Galena, 111., in 1S70. Owns 320
acres and is out of debt.

Wm. Cady located in Daily about twelve years ago. Has
160 acres nicely cultivated and improved.

John H. Powers came from Galena, ill., in 1870, and has
about 500 acres. He was poor when he came, but energy
and industry have brought success and good fortune.

Josiah Hoover took a homestead in 1870, and was there
until his death in 1891. His family yet live there.

Brian Manley took a homestead in 1870 and yet lives on
it. Has a large family, all at home.

Herman Baker, an old settler, has a good farm and a
blacksmith shop, and is well off.

Peter Askin came here about fourteen years ago and
bought a good farm of 160 acres, well improved, where he
and his family now live.

H. H. Grosvenor is an old settler and successful farmer.

James Ward, a worthy citizen of Daily, died several

HISTORY OF DIXON' COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 233

years ago. He had a good farm on which his wife now re-
sides.

In addition to the above there are numerous other citizens
of Daily concerning whom we are unable to obtain infor-
mation as to when they came, their farms, etc.

Among them are: David Monfort, Dan McDonald,
Charles Martin. Phil Dougherty Jr.. Mike Dougherty. Bait
Addison, Taylor, etc.. most of whom are successful stock
growers or farmers.

HOOKER TOWNSHIP

Is situated in the northwest corner of the county. It ad-
joins Ionia and New Castle on the east. Daily on the south,
Cedar county on the west, and the Missouri river bounds it
on the north. It contains about fifty square miles. Hooker
has now no village, and though the ancient villages of Concord-
Dixon-North-Bend were once prominent on the map of the
town, they have not been in existence for nearly thirty-five
years. The face of the country in Hooker is somewhat
rough, but the soil is excellent and along the river timber is
abundant. Stock raising was for many years a leading en-
terprise, but as the population increased, the stock business
has given place to general farming.

A few of those who have been prominent as citizens or
early settlers of Hooker are the following:

A. N. Gran and S. X. (J ran and their father Nels H. (Iran
came from Norway. A. N. ({ran in '68, and S. N. (Iran and
their father in '70. and located on homesteads in Hooker in
1871. A. N. Gran and his brother now occupy the same
claims first taken by them: their father lived on his until his
death in 1889. Both the brothers are successful and enterpris-
ing men and have large farms which are well improved and
profitably worked. A. N. has 250 and S. N. 240 acres. The
former has a wife and four children living and the latter has
a wife but no children. Both are prominent in township
affairs, and A. N. Gran has been Hooker's member of the
board of supervisors several years, his term ending in Octo-
ber, 1895, on the reorganization under the new law. His
portrait will be seen with the rest of the board on another
page.

-I HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

John Maskell, an excellent citizen and fanner, settled in.
Hooker in 1856, and resided there until he removed to Ver-
million. S. !>.. in L894. During his long residence in that
township he has been successful in business and has seen the
hardships of frontier life give place to the comforts and in-
dependence of the present. His farm is now occupied by his
son Andrew Maskell.

II. Weidenfeldt, from Wisconsin in 1870. Homesteaded
1(')() acres and still occupies it. In addition to cultivating
and improving his farm, he has been largely engaged in the
stock business. His family consists of himself, wife and
twelve sons and daughters.

Mr. McCleary settled at an early day where Lime Grove
postoftice now is. Moved away about twelve years ago.

H. Tarsony took a homestead in Hooker over twenty-five
years ago. Now has about a section of land and tine im-
provements. Has been mainly engaged in stock raising.

O. Iv. Anderson, an early settler was successfully engaged
in farming and stock raising until five years ago. since
which time he had been in the western part of the state.
His family still occupy the farm in Hooker. Has four sons
and two daughters.

Mons Nelson, farmer and stock raiser since he located
there in the fall of 1856 up to 1880, when the Missouri river
cut across North Bend and swept out his farm. In 1880 he
removed to South Dakota, and now lives in Gayville, in that
state.

.John Connery became a resident in 1868. Has now a sec-
tion of land profitably farmed.

Dexter Rice. (See Ionia township).

Charles Brookey lives near the Missouri river, and is well
fixed. He came there at an early day with his father, John
Brookey, who was one of the county commissioners in 1865.

dames G. Bailey and sons came to Hooker more than
twenty-five years ago. He was a prominent and influential
citizen up to his death four years ago. His sons. John,
William, James and S. D. Bailey, are successful men in busi-
ness and all reside in Hooker, except James, who lives on his
farm in New Castle township.

Nels Johnson and his sons. Nels C. Johnson, Casper John-
son and Christ Nelson, are prosperous farmers and own val-

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 225

liable lands. They came to Daily township from Florence,
Nebraska, in 1871, and afterwards removed to Hooker and
bought the farm of McCleary at Lime Grove, where Nelson
is postmaster and has a general store.

NEW CASTLE TOWNSHIP.

The face of the country in New Castle township is much
like that in the towns adjoining. Hills, fertile to their tops,
fertile valleys and numerous unfailing streams, furnish a
farming and stock growing region that can hardly be sur-
passed. The township is well settled up. Many of the
citizens are wealthy, and nearly all are in independent cir-
cumstances.

The citizens never had a market near at hand until the
extension of the C, St, P., M. & 0. R. K. from Ponca to New
Castle in 1893. When that extension was made, the hitherto
dormant hamlet of New Castle developed rapidly, as related
in a former chapter, into a brisk railroad town. Grustavus
Smith, the leading spirit of that locality up to the time of
his death, (July 27, 1880,) would have been glad to have lived
to see such growth and advancement in the place he founded
and named years before.

One of the first settlers in what is known as New Castle
township, was William Prister, who came from Harden county,
Iowa, in 1 858. He was a man possessed of good judgment and
courage, and came with the expectation of finding a wild and
unsettled country with Indians for neighbors. He was not
greatly mistaken in his forecast of the future. The country
was indeed wild when he came, white settlers were miles
away, and for years his most frequent visitors were the
roving Indians passing through that part of the country on
their road between the Omaha and Santee agencies. He took
a claim a few miles from where New Castle village is, and cul-
tivated and improved it from year to year, built a farm house,
barns and fences, started a grove and orchard, raised wheat
and corn, cattle and hogs, and in due time was rewarded
with plenty. For years after he located there, he could look
in every direction and see no house or cultivated fields ex-
cept his own. It was a solitary life, yet with his constant
labor in improving and cultivating, his time was occupied,
and life, though on the remote frontier, was pleasant, The

rji. HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Indians who often passed, became acquainted and friend-
ly, he could talk with them, and they showed no disposition
to plunder or harm him. Sixteen years ago when the great
prairie lire swept over that pact of the county, he lost house,
fences, stacks and nearly everything on his farm that would
burn. In time he recovered from that visitation. He died
in May, is 1 .)"), after an industrious life of 65 years. On the
same place where he first located, he lived up to the time of his.
death. He lefta valuable farm of 320 acres, good buildings
and a large amount of stock. His wife survives him and now
resides on the farm.

New Castle village, incorporated May 16, 1893, has a class
of citizens whose energy and enterprise is seen in the con-
tinned improvement of the place.

A.mong the most prominent of the citizens is Thomas
Hoy. to whose efforts, as described in chapter XII. the exten-
sion of the railroad to that place is mainly due. Mr. Hoy
came when young to New 7 Castle from Pittsburg, Pa., in the
spring of 1872. He attended school, developed business habits,
and finally taught school three terms. In 1878, he engaged
in the mercantile business and has continued it all the time,
substantially, since then. In 1880, was appointed postmaster
which position he still tills. In 1SS2 his store and goods
burned, there being a. total loss, and soon after he rebuilt.
He was a member of the board of supervisors in '1)2 and '93,
and since the incorporation of New Castle has had a leading
and progressive part in the official life of that place. His
mercantile business is large, and after so many years in it.
he has the acquaintance and confidence of a great share of
the people in that part of the county. He was married in
1SS4 to Ellen McAndrews, and has five children, four girls
and one boy.

W. P. Logan, another prominent young business man of
New Castle, the cashier of the Farmers State Bank of that
place, has already been noticed in the part devoted to
Poncacity. where he formerly lived. His portrait is seen in
this chapter.

E. E. Carder, the depot agent, came to New Castle in Sep-
fcember, 1893. He is married and has two children. Is
an efficient and popular railroad man.

John Coleman came from Sioux Citv in 1877, farmed three

W. P. LOGAN.

(See pages 226 and 183.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 229

years, and then went into business with Mr. Hoy. Their
partnership was dissolved four years after and Mr. Coleman
is now engaged in the sale of hardware. Coleman Bros, have a
large store and a desirable patronage. Mr. Coleman is mar-
ried and has four children.

James Tobin, son of Michael Tobin who has been a resi-
dent twenty years, lives near New Castle village. He has a
good farm and is successful in business. Was supervisor
of the township two years. See his portrait with those of the
supervisors of '1)5.

Dr. Manning has been located here since the spring of
1SS4. Has a drug store and a good business and is a physi-
cian of tine education.

E. J. Eames is the editor and proprietor of the New Castle
Times which was started about three years ago. and which
has been conducted with ability by Mr. Eames since the
spring of '95. He is also a lawyer, in which, as in his
editorial business, he is well qualified and successful.

W. A. Clingan. druggist, commenced business in July,
1893. Has a good location in town and a desirable business.

F. D. Rumford, has a large trade in groceries, confec-
tioner's goods, etc. He commenced in the summer of '98.

The Edwards & Bradford Lumber Company have had a
large yard here since the summer of 1893, of which J. Mar-
shall is manager.

Herman Rahn has had livery and feed stables here since
spring of '98.

Robert Ross has also had a livery barn in Newcastle since
spring of '95.

Mikesell & Company have a large and well filled general
store in Newcastle, which was opened May 1. 1895 and since
managed by J. M. Hoskinson. It has a large trade.

New Castle has a good hotel, the Commercial House,
started in September '94 and conducted by C. N. Smith.

James H. Bailey commenced in the mercantile business
here in the spring of "98.

Johnson Brothers, dealers in furniture, also opened bus-
iness the same year.

Connery & MeGrath established the New Castle Roller
Mills in '98. They make excellent flour and do a large busi-
ness.

•_>.;,, HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

Dr. \\ . I\. Talboy located here in 'M and Dr. C. L. Roland
in the spring of '95. Both arc experienced physicians and
surgeons.

II. \Y. Hopkins, stock buyer, came in '93.

Pat Bennett commenced buying grain here a year or more
ago, and J. B. Flack for Peavey & Company last summer.

Suecker & Anderson, contractors and builders; Fred
Calvert, market: Smith & Davis, blacksmiths; Frank Pletsch
and Dougherty & Bennett, billiard halls; have been in New
Castle from two to three years.

The school house at New Castle was recently built by
Suecker & Anderson at a cost of about $4,000. it is a tine
building ami a credit to the town.

New Castle has a large Catholic church, built many years
ago, and of which Father O'Toole was pastor for about
twelve years. He removed to Grand Island three years ago
and Father Waldron has since been in charge.

The Congregational society at New Castle has also a tine
church, of which Rev. -John Roberts is pastor.

A. S. Palmer came from Floyd county, Iowa, in 1868.
Was married in 1872 to Marcelia L. Rice, daughter of Dexter
Rice. Was. as mentioned on page 141. representative two
terms, being the only representative ever re-elected in the
county. He was also twice elected superintendent of schools.
He has 200 acres, well improved, etc. He has four daughters,
one of whom was married in June last to J. Y. Pierson of
Ponca.

John Malone, one of the pioneers of the county, is a well
to do farmer of New Castle. He has a large farm pleasantly
located on the road between New Castle and Ponca,

Alexander Curry, living near Malone's place, is also a
farmer in excellent pecuniary circumstances.

Andy O'Conner is another old timer; came from New
Orleans with his brothers in 1856, and farmed in the county
ever since.

(lottleib Rahn. came in 1870, has a large farm and like
most of the New Castle farmers is well off.

Henry Richards, from Wisconsin in I860. Has 320 acres
and is in Hue circumstances and a leading citizen of the
township. He was supervisor in '88 and '89.

Thomas and W. A. O'Toole were from Pennsylvania in

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 331

1880. Each has a good farm of about 240 acres. They have
families.

Win. Sullivan, an early settler and has 160 acres well
improved. Is married.

Owen Finuigan, L870, married, and is a farmer with luO
acres.

There are other notable citizens and business men in
Newcastle village, and many other farmers in the township,
who on account of lack of information we are unable to
mention.

CLARK TOWNSHIP.

Is thinly settled and has much uncultivated land. The
land is rolling, the soil is excellent and water is good and
abundant. It has no timber except the groves that have
been planted. There are four school districts in town. The
population is about 825, mostly American born. Clark town-
ship is six miles square and is directly south of and adjoins
Daily and has Cedar county on the west.

Captain Burdick was the first to settle in this township.
He came here twenty-three years ago as agent for the Bos-
ton Land Co., which owned 45,000 acres in Dixon and Cedar
counties, and a large tract of it was in this township. Cap-
tain Burdick purchased 1(50 acres of it for himself, built a
house and made many improvements, and on his own land
as well as that of the Land Company planted numerous large
groves, several hundred acres in all. Captain Burdick sold
his farm about fifteen years ago to A. .1. Sparks and moved
to Kansas.

A. .1. Sparks has lived on the Burdick place since he
bought it fifteen years ago. Among the many improvements
and attractions on this farm may be mentioned the large
groves and the orchard of apple and cherry trees.

John Donovan is the oldest settler now living in the
township. He has been here nineteen years. He has three
fourths of a section of land and is a enterprising farmer.

A. Coleman came here from Jones county, Iowa, fifteen
years ago. Has a quarter section on which is the largest
grove in the county. He has a large family, ten sons and
daughters.

282 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Perry Dempster was elected supervisor of Clark township
a year ago and served until January 1st, 1896. He removed
to the township in March, 1892, from Crawford county,
Iowa, where he was census enumerator for that county in
1890. No has a half section of land, of which 190 acres
are under cultivation, tine house, barn, groves and other
improvements. His family consists of himself, wife and
seven children, (four sons and three daughters,) all of
whom are in Nebraska, excepting one daug-hter, who lives in
Shelby county. Iowa.

J. Sullivan came here twelve years ago from Indiana,
Has a fa I'm of half a section, and buildings, grove, orchard,
etc. Last winter he removed to Dixon village. His family
consists of himself, wife and five sons and daughters. He
w r as supervisor for Clark two or three terms and up to
January, 1895.

0. C. and Henry Tuttle, farmers, have half a section,
fairly improved. Came from Iowa fourteen years ago.

J. D. Reising. from Minnesota, fourteen years ago, has a.
farm of 320 acres, improved- and well farmed.

W. H. Gibson came here from California about fourteen
years ago and bought 160 acres of land. He and his family
now live in Dixon village..

A. I). Morgan and J. L. Schouten are also well-to-do
farmers, concerning whom we have been unable to obtain
information, except their names.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 233

CHAPTER XVIII.

Otter Creek. Galena Springbank and Emerson Townships.

otter creek township,

Bounded on the north by Ponca township, east by county
line between Dixon and Dakota counties, south by Emerson
and west by Galena and Springbank. It is nine miles north
and south, and three miles east and west.

Otter Creek is hilly in the main, but has some fine bottom
land. It has abundant cold, clear water in the creeks, as
also in wells from ten to twenty feet below the surface.
There is a small amount of timber along the streams, and
nearly every farm has a fine grove. The soil is good even to
the top of the hills.

The fertile South Creek valley passes across the north-
western part of the township, and settlement was there made
iu the early days of the county. Prominent among the first
settlers may be mentioned P. J. Winston, the Bigleys and
Maurice Scollard, all of whom are dead. Maurice Scollard
was one of the county commissioners in lS60-'61- ? 62-'63.
Of his nephews. John Scollard still resides there, and
Patrick Scollard died several months ago. In the north-
western part of the township is the South Creek Catholic
church, built in the spring of 1875.

Otter Creek has one village. Waterbury , a station on the
Short Line railroad, which passes through the township.

The townsite of Waterbury. about eighty acres, was on
May 29, 1889, donated to the Pacific Townsite Company, by
George Herrick. The location is in a beautiful valley, twenty
miles from Sioux City, twelve miles west of Jackson, seven
and one-half miles from Allen, and eight miles south of
Ponca.

The village is still small, containing only about forty
buildings and 125 inhabitants, but it is a No. 1 market for
grain, produce and live stock. It has a railroad depot, two

j.K HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

grain warehouses, two coal yards, three genera] stores, a
harness shop, blacksmith shop, shoe shop, etc.

The leading business men arc J. F. Hall, insurance,
U. T. Forney (who built the first store here in July. 1890)
and L. II. Whitman, merchandise; H.Sayre, postmaster; C. R.
Noe, lumber dealer, and P. S. Beekley, station agent and
grain buyer.

The Waterbury Creamery company completed this season
a large creamery at the cost of $4,000. An M. E. church
costing $1,200 was also built this year. (1895). Waterbury is
especially favored as to water, which from the "big spring*'
(SO called) near the railroad depot, ever Hows a copious
stream, pure and cold, which winter cannot freeze nor sum-
mer warm.

Those who have been or are now among the prominent
citizens in Otter Creek, are the following:

George Herrick, formerly of Racine, Wisconsin, and after-
wards of Yankton, Dakota, removed from the latter city in
August, 1S74 to where he now lives adjoining the townsite
of Waterbury. There he has 880 acres of land, admirably
improved and a residence not surpassed in the county.

C. C. Cleveland, from Wisconsin about 1875 located
where he now lives. Has half a section, good improvements,
and the best orchard in the township. His apples took the
first premium at the Sioux City corn palace fair in 1892.

Henry and -John Harney, are prosperous farmers, living
near the South Creek church.

James Harding came in 1881 from Dakota county, owns
two large farms.

James H. Cole came in 1882, had 200 acres. Moved to
Ponca in 1SD4.

H. J. Stinger came in October, 1880, from Webster county,
Iowa. Taught school three years and then bought a farm.
He now has 120 acres, well improved by grove, orchard, fences,
buildings, etc. Has a wife and four children. Has been
supervisor for Otter ('reek for three years, up to the re-or-
ganization in 1895.

M. Burgett, old settler, and moved in 1882 to a farm three
miles south of Ponca,

J. E. Chase came from Jasper county. Iowa, in 1883 and
lias 200 acres where he now resides.

PATRICK SCOLLARD AND HIS SISTER, MRS. BLAKE.

(See page 237.)

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 237

Jacob Pegley located in Otter Creek in 1881 and in 1895
moved to Allen. Has a large family of grown up sons and
daughters, all married and mostly living in the county.

C. M. Crowell, 1866, 160 acres, was county commissioner
one term. Lately removed to Central City, Nebraska.

John Delaney. 1870, bought and settled on the 1(50 acres
where he now is. Large family, mostly living in his vicinity.
Has a magnificent grove of 80 acres.

Pat Cavanaugh. 1871. Has 420 acres, orchard, grove, etc.

John R. Hoopingarner has been here fourteen years, and
has a tine farm of 160 acres.

Patrick Scollard, one of the wealthy and prominent
citizens of the county, died at his home in Otter Creek town-
ship. May 1 . 1 895. Mr. Scollard was born in Ireland, and at an
early age crossed the ocean to this country. He was one of
the pioneers of Dixon county, coming here in 1856 with his
brother and his uncle Maurice Scollard. who, during several
of the first years of the county, was one of the commis-
sioners. In 1862 the subject of this sketch enlisted in Co. I
of the 2nd Nebraska cavalry, and was honorably discharged
after a service of thirteen months. During his youthful ex-
perience as a pioneer, he and his mother and sister traveled
across the plains with ox teams to Montana, While there,
he was in the business of hauling freight to Fort Benton.
On such trips he would be on the road five days without see-
ing a white person or white settlement. During those lonely
trips he carried his provisions with him and slept in his
wagon bed at night. He followed this hard life five years.
Afterwards he returned to Dixon county and became a
farmer. He was shrewd and careful and was generally suc-
cessful in all business matters. He was married in January,
1875, to Isabella Tracy, from Holly, New York. They have
eleven children living, seven boys and four girls, the young-
est two of whom, twins, were born seven months after his
death. His death was very sudden. In the morning at
about 8 o'clock he was busy at work in the field, riding a
corn planter, and apparently in good health. Suddenly he
was prostrated by paralysis, and was brought to the house,
where he died at 1 o'clock, five hours after he was attacked.
At the time of his death he left 440 acres, most of it fenced
and cultivated, fine buildings, groves, orchard, etc.. together

•>:\s HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

with cattle and horses and other property there and elsewhere.
Mrs. Scollard and the family now reside on the pleasant
farm which his energy provided for them. His portrait is
s(>i>\\ in this chapter.

1\. P. Williams, a native of Iowa, came to Dixon comity
in 188] and bought a, farm in Otter Creek of 12Q acres, which
he lias since made valuable by improvements. In 1894 he
was appointed superintendent of Dixon county's poor farm
for a year, and gave entire satisfaction. Mr. Williams was
all over Nebraska while a soldier of Uncle Sam during the
war.

Fred Hall came to Otter Creek with his father, Geo. W.
Hall. 24 years ago from Iowa. Each took homesteads of 160
acres. Ceo. YV. Hall died in 1SSS, leaving one son and seven
(laughters, all of whom but one reside in that neighborhood.

Among the many. other good farmers of Otter Creek, we
will mention the following:

.John Hones, Fred Bollmier, M. Benton, Pat Bergen,
Henry Marron, David Curry. Thomas Casey, J. B. Fleming,
C. H. and H. A. Harper, J. C. Harrington, J. E. McGruire,
Michael Mnllaly, John O'Hara, L. P. Harper (now lives in
Allen) and Samuel Roberts.

(4ALENA TOWNSHIP.

Is bounded on the north by Silver Creek, east by Otter
Creek, south by Springbank, and west by Clark.

The township has the same kind of productive land which
is general throughout the county and is well watered by
creeks and springs. There are no more beautiful valleys than
those along South Creek, Dailey and their tributaries, and
no better water powers in the country for mills and machin-
ery than are afforded by those streams. The land in the val-
leys is nearly level, back of which are low hills and rolling
prairie. Throughout the township are excellent farms, good
residences, orchards and groves, some of the latter along the
creeks being of natural growth. The township has one vil-
lage, Martinsburg, the commencement and growth of which
has been traced in former chapters.

The founder of Martinsburg, Jonathan Martin, still re-
sides there. He came to Dixon county in 1 S67 from Peoria,

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 239

Illinois. Be was born at Fall River, Mass.. in 1822. Came
west as far as Chicago in L839, when that place was a frog
pond, and land there could be bought for $8 an acre. He
stopped there a number of years, worked at carpenter work
and became a contractor and builder. Afterwards went to
Peoria and was engaged in the distillery business, which in
due time became extensive and profitable, and employed
forty men for several years. In '66 he was assessed as worth
$70,000 but was soon after defrauded of a large amount, and
selling out he removed to Dixon county, saving about $20,000
with which to commence life anew. His first enterprise here
was to build a mill two miles east of Ponca. In 72 he
started Martinsburg. and built a grist mill and opened a
store, which latter he still continues, and was postmaster
several years. He was one of the county commissioners
during '75. '76 and "77. Mr. M. was married in LS4S to
Amanda Douglass of Onondaga county. New T York. They
have had five children, three of whom, daughters, are living
and married. Mr. Martin is a citizen whose business energy
in the past has been valuable to that locality, and he is
rewarded by the general respect of the citizens.

Another prominent citizen of Galena township was P.
G. Wright, who died in 1891 at his residence near Martins-
burg. aged 73 years. Mr. Wright came from Iowa and had
been a resident of Galena about fourteen years. During that
lime he was county commissioner several years and repre-
sented the county in the legislature one term. Hewasajust
and reliable man and clearly understood his duties as an offi-
cer of the county.

John E. Schultz, one of Martinsburg's popular merchants,
came from Wisconsin in 79, does a large business.

Ben and Burt McClary. sons of Thomas McClary of Silver
Creek, have had a general store in Martinsburg since '88.

John Duren owns and runs the Martinsburg grist mill-
He came from Wisconsin in 74. His mill is doing a large
business and furnishes excellent flour.

Harry Filley. a soldier during the war. came in 1866 from
Alamakee county. Iowa, and has in Galena a large farm on
which he lived until a few years ago. He has since been
landlord of the Martinsburg Hotel. In list of pioneers
which is published in one of the first chapters, Mr. Filley's

840 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

name is erroneously placed among those who came here
between the spring of '56 and the fall of '58.

Fred Jeffrey is Martinsburg's postmaster and has been
since 1889.

Martinsburg has two churches, viz: The Congregational,
Rev. Nichols, and the Lutheran, Rev. Hansen. Both of
the church buildings are good and are largely attended.
In the village is a well built, well arranged school house with
two teachers and about fifty scholars.

Martin and William Lockwood came here from Wankon.
Iowa in 70. Martin first lived in Springbank township
and in 74 moved to Martinsburg and purchased an interest
in the town site and mill. Afterwards was in the drug busi-
ness at Ponca and in '89 went to South Sionx City where
he now is. Wm. Lockwood first settled and still resides on
a farm in Galena. Martin Lockwood Jr., a son of Wm. Lock-
wood, is also a good farmer of Galena township.

Wm. White came about 70 from Indiana and has a good
farm near Martinsburg of half a section, where he and his
family reside.

Matt Engle and John Engle are successful Galena farmers
who came in 75. They have about 200 acres each.

Gottleib Keoppie has been here many years and has a
large farm.

William Gillan whom we have mentioned as one of the
pioneers, has a good farm of 200 acres near Marti nsburg„
where he and his family live.

Jacob and Sol Bombard live on a farm of 280 acres a short
distance from Martinsburg.

Hugh Sweeney came from Galena. Illinois, in 70 and
has a farm of 200 acres.

David Murphy, one of Galena's most thorough farmers,
was born in Ireland, came to New York in '56; to Chicago
in '51) and to Dixon county in '66. He has 480 acres in South
( 'reek valley where he resides.

Frank and John Jourdan, born in England came to
I lalena about thirty years ago. Both took homesteads which
they made into valuable farms. Frank Jourdan died August
1, ls ( .)4. leaving a wife and one daughter. He owned at the
time of his death 311 acres of land all in a fine state of im-
provement. John Jourdan still resides on the farm he first

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 241

occupied and is well off. He has a wife and one son.

James Jeffrey located in Galena in '67 and died in '94.
Left a large family.

Charles F. Schram, settled here many years ago and
with his family lives on a good farm of half a section.

Lyman Wright, son of P. (J. Wright, lives about three
miles from Martinsburg where he has 200 acres.

Bernard Cavanagh, once a prominent citizen of Galena
now lives in Allen. The large farm in Galena of several
hundred acres to which he devoted many years of improve-
ment he still owns.

I). Hurley, a prominent citizen of the county, was born
in Ireland, and at an early age came with his parents to
Watertown, Wisconsin, and in 1866 to Galena township. He
was treasurer of the county from January, 1S76, to January,
1882, six years, and afterwards represented Galena township
on the board of supervisors one term. Mr. Hurley has a very
valuable farm of 200 acres about a mile northeast of Martins-
burg, on which he and his family reside.

Wm. Donlin, the first born in the county, as heretofore
mentioned, now lives near Martinsburg and on the farm
where that event took place. He has 240 acres.

Daniel Crowley, from Watertown, Wis., settled here in
1880. He has a good farm of 300 acres and is one of the
leading citizens of the township. He was supervisor from
January. '1)4. to January, '96.

Nick Wallenstein came in 1873 from Germany, where he
was a soldier. Has 570 acres of valuable land, a fine house
costing $1,300, and other good improvements, among which
is a mammoth barn, 58x60 feet. He is one of the most suc-
cessful farmers in the county.

In addition to the foregoing are B. Dunlavey who came
in '79 or 'SO; Hiram Wright, '76; Wm. Witham, '65; Wm.
Krause and his sons, Gottleib, Henry and William, Jr., '75,
and Joseph Prue, '68; all of whom have farms of from 160
to 320 acres.

The farms above referred to are generally all well im-
proved and desirable for profitable farming, and are pleasant
homes for families. As a general thing also, the residents
are in good circumstances and have enjoyable surroundings.

242 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

SPRINGBANK TOWNSHIP,

[s six miles square and is between Galena on the north and
Wakefield on the south, and has Emerson and Otter Creek
on the cast and Concord on the west. The Pacific Short
Line h\ |{. passes through the north half of the township.
The business center of Springbank in Allen.

There are no other villages in the township. About three

miles di ast of Allen and near the head of Elk Creek, is a

small settlement where is the old Springbank post office, a
school house, church, (Friends,) and a few dwellings. A few
miles south of this settlement is another church of the same
kind, (the South Valley church.)

Two large streams. South Creek and Elk Creek, together
with a small branch of the North Logan rise in this town-

's*

ship. These streams, with numerous smaller tributaries
provide water in abundance.

Like most of the farmers of Dixon county, the residents:
of Springbank have devoted much time and energy to im-
proving their farms and surroundings. Good dwellings,
houses and barns, large groves and orchards, good fences and
nicely arranged and cultivated fields are almost invariably
seen.

It was not until 1869, that this township could boast of
more than a handful of settlers. Some had come in the
earliest days of the county but from fear of Indians or dis-
taste for the lonely lives they had to lead, remained but a
short time. Andy O'Conner and his brothers, James and
John, are said to have been the first settlers. They took
claims there in '56 or '57, two or three miles south of the
Cavanagh farm in Galena, remained but a short time, and
removed to new claims between Ponca and New Castle.

Among the most noted settlers who came therein 1869
and since then, may be mentioned the following:

E. E. Ellis, '69. He has been a prominent farmer and was
Dixon county's representative in the legislature in 1893 and
ls l .)4. His farm (280 acres) is three miles from Allen village.

Wm. Ellis, came in '69.

Aaron Smith also came in the same year. Has a well im-
proved farm of 240 acres near the old Springbank post office.

V. H. Herfel and his familv came from Wisconsin in '69.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 343

Has 240 acres, well improved, line house, orchard, etc. Has
six children.

John Herl'el, brother of the above, moved here the same
vear, settled on 160 acres and now lives there. His family
consists of a wife and seven children.

In 1870 the arrivals greatly increased. Among them
were:

Joseph Isom, lives two miles south of Allen; has 420
acres, farmer and stockman.

Wm. H. Pomeroy, prominent farmer and citizen. Was
supervisor of Springbank several terms and chairman of
the board of supervisors in 1887 and 1888. He now resides
in Allen.

Henry Allen. A part of his large farm became the town-
site of Allen, which place was named after him.

Sol. Koser, J. Kellogg, Charles Kellogg, John Green
and John Allen also came in 1870.

A. D. Whitford, 1871. Came from Wisconsin; lives one
and one-half miles south of Allen where he has a farm of
240 acres; large family. Represented Dixon county in the
legislature in 1889-90. '

John F. Pomeroy, 1871. Farmer, has 240 acres. Was
sheriff of Dixon county in 1884 and 1885, and was supervisor
of Springbank live years and chairman of the board in
1890, '91 and '92. An excellent and popular county officer.

R. H. Pomeroy, 1871. For sketch and portrait see Ponca
City.

Nelson Pomeroy, father of W. H. Pomeroy, John F. Pom-
eroy and R. H. Pomeroy, located in Springbank in 1871. He
died about ten years ago.

Seth Hamlin, 1872. Is a successful farmer OAvning 900
acres of land. He was one of the county commissioners in
1884 and 1885.

S. H. Wheeler. 1872.

S. 1. Hart, in 1877. Came from Dakota county where he
had lived since 1867. Has 280 acres of choice and well cul-
tivated land two and one-half miles from Allen, in which
village he now resides.

James Stewart, who came in 1861 and Elijah Roberts and
John Borg. are prominent residents of Springbank, and have

•-,, HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

large farms. -John Borg has one of the best in the county,
containing 480 acres, five miles southeast of Allen.

Allen is situated on a slight elevation from which a view
is had of a fine farming country, beautiful valleys and roll-
ing prairie. It is on the Short Line railroad, and hence is a
good market town, being in the centre of a very rich country
in id one which is thickly settled by well to do citizens. Allen
naturally has a large business and a continued growth.

Allen was incorporated May 1(), 1893, and now contains
idan. 1. 1896) about 800 people.

As in all localities where education and religion are con-
scientiously looked after and advanced. Allen has a line. new.
two story school house, a graded school and good teachers.
The town also has two churches, viz.: Catholic and Metho-
dist, and the Campbellites have an organization. All have
good attendance. There are also the Masonic. 1.0. of 0. F.,
and M. W. A. societies, each of which has a good hall and a
large membership.

Among its prominent business men is W. A. Morgan who
came to Allen about three years ago from Dakota county
where he w r as born. Since coming here, he has been actively
engaged in the mercantile business, and is a member of the
firm of Armour & Morgan. He has been an efficient supervisor
of Springbank for '94 and '95, and under the new law relating to
supervisors, was in the fall of '95 elected to represent Spring-
bank and Galena on the board of Supervisors for two years
longer. With the other members of '95. his portrait is seen
on another page of this book.

Another of Allen's prominent young business men is H. H.
Hart, whose popularity with the citizens last fall elected him
sheriff of the county. Mr. Hart was born in Richland. Keo-
kuk county, Iowa, April IS, 1S!>7, and came to Dakota county
with his parents the same year, and to Springbank, Dixon
county, in 1876. Was married. November 24. 1SS7. to Nellie
Isom. who was born in Dane county. Wis., and came with
her parents to Springbank. Mr. and Mrs. Hart have one
child. A portrait of the group is in this chapter.

Wilson Brothers and W T m. Filley also have large stores
and good stocks of goods. '

W. L. Mote is the popular and gentlemanly cashier of the
Allen State Bank.

MR. AND MRS. H. H. HART AND CHILD.

(See page 244.)

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 347

The two hardware stoics are those of Tripp & Company
ami ('. A. Coffin, the latter being also postmaster.

The Edwards & Bradford Lumber Company and Snyder
& Company, have each large lumber yards in town.

One good newspaper, the Allen News, has been estab-
lished several years.

J. K. Lennox has a real estate office, J. F. Hall deals in
farm machinery, Jack Cavanagh has a livery stable, Mrs. Put-
nam keeps a good hotel, and C. A. Thompson and H. H. Hart
buy grain.

Allen's physicians are Dr. Wanzer and Dr. Puft'et. Such is
a brief outline of a few of the leading kinds of business in
Allen.

In Allen resides Henry Allen the founder of the town, S.
1. Hart, Bernard Cavanagh, one of the first settlers of the
county, and many other worthy and respected citizens.

In addition. Allen has a good railroad depot and telegraph
office, freight office, warehouses, etc. A number of trades
and kinds of business not above referred to are well repre-
sented in town.

EMERSON TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE.

The village of Emerson is situated in the extreme south-
eastern part of the county, on the Chicago, St. Paul, Min-
neapolis & Omaha railroad, with a population of about 800.
The Winnebago reservation, Thurston county, borders it on
the south, and the county line between Dixon and Dakota
counties is its Main street north and south. It was estab-
lished in 1881 and is the junction of the Chicago, St. Paul.
Minneapolis & Omaha railroad and its Norfolk branch. The
first building erected was the depot, followed by three sec-
tion houses. Boyle brothers built the fifth building where
they kept a store, and Wm Warnock built the sixth, which
was the first dwelling house there.

In 1883 R. E. Kuhn platted the original town site and
commenced the erection of a bank, which was completed in
1884, since which time additions have been made by D. W.
Mathews, Atlee Hart, W. Warnock, Emerson Mill & Im-
provement Company. James Monier and others. The first
lumber yard was started by J. J. McCarthy and M. L, Ros-
siter, which is now known as the Edwards & Bradford

348 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Lumber Company. A man by the name of Dean opened a
real estate office at the same time, and afterwards removed
to Sioux City, la. Two general stores were then opened,
.me by 0. B. Morey and one by Paul & Flint. Flint dying
soon after, the business was conducted by Paul.

Among the firsl residents who located upon the prairie and
hills and founded the town of Emerson were Wm. Warnock,
l\ 11. Boyle, H. S. Boyle, Patrick Bannan, W. S. Lippold,
John Engelen, M. Pruden, M. L. Rossiter, J. J. McCarthy,
D. W. Parmalee. R. E. Kuhn, C. A. .Johnson and Nelson
Feauto. There are a few of the old homesteaders left on
the homesteads in Emerson township yet; among them are
Enos Demme, P. Kerwin, T. J. Beith,Wm. O'Neill. Sr.. Wm.
Kerwin. J. A. Mandaville and Wm. O'Neill. Jr.

The Echo was the first newspaper venture in the town.
established in the spring of '83 by Nelson Feauto who was
succeeded by Joshua Leonard, July 21. '85. Mr. Leonard
• •hanged the name of the paper to the Emerson Era and con-
ducted it until * ( .>2. when it expired. In a few weeks
thereafter Harry S. Swanson and Chas. S. Packard started
the Emerson Enterprise, and the paper was sold to Frank
Bancroft, who in December of the same year sold to H. W.
Conley, he selling to S. E. Cobb, June 2, '93. The Emerson
Times was established March 25. '1)3. with A. L. Moore as
editor, but two weeks of journalistic life was enough for him.
and the paper was sold to Z. M. Baird. he selling to E. E.
Smith in March. '95, who is its present editor.

There are three good church buildings in the town. The
Presbyterian, L. W. Scudder. pastor; St. Paul Lutheran,
•I. Bohnstengle, pastor; Catholic, J. Barry, pastor. The
Presbyterians and Catholics have erected parsonages for
their pastors. In '85 the school district was bonded for
$5,000 and a large, fine school building was erected which is
a credit to the district.

The first secret society organized in the town was the
Grand Army of the Republic, which established C. K. Weaver
Post 185 on April 111. '1)4; J. F. Warner, then commander of
the post at Dakota City, being installing officer. Among the
charter members were William Warnock. B. F. Goodwin.
John Bennett, 1. M. Shockley, N. Feauto. J. Dixon, Charles
Boyle. E. Barber and John Ward. The Masons organized

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 249

here Jan. 25, '93, with M. H. Evans, W. M., and J. W.Fisher,
secretary.

In November, '92, a meeting was held in the town at
which time the Emerson Mill & Improvement Company
was organized, and the following spring, work was com-
menced on the Emerson Roller Mills, which were completed
Jan. 1. '94. The mill completed cost $15,000: has a capacity
of 100 barrels per day and bin room for 10,000 bushels of
wheat. The officers of the company are (J. Y. Bonus, presi-
dent; R. L. Currie, vice president; P. U. Fancher, secretary
and treasurer.

Emerson has four general stores; Davis & Fuller, Kuntz &
McCarthy, E. H. Monroe & Co., and the "Fair," with J. K.
Lenox, proprietor; two hardware stores, Painter & Isenberg,
and Krattle & Brustkern; two drug stores, John Connor and
H. 0. Armour & Co.; laundry, D. Beck, proprietor; two boot
and shoe repair shops, Aug. Yenger and A. Assenan; one
furniture store, Parmalee Bros.; two banks, Farmers State
Bank. Ceo. H. Haase, president, Fred Bloom, vice president,
C. C. King cashier, German American Bank, J. J. McCarthy,
president, Wm. Warnock, vice president. H. F. Moseman,
cashier; two physicians, M. H. Evans and W. A. Lee; three
attorneys, W. A. Martin, Paul Bergin and Joshua Leonard;
two saloons, 0. E. Danielson and McCoy & Ha mm; meat
market, Aug. Paul; two blacksmith shops, J. C. Winters and
Doyle & Wellington; two lumber yards, Edwards & Brad-
ford, Wm. Crahan, manager, and Jansen & Wiseman; two
livery barns, Mark Engelen and Robt. Poole; contractors
and builders, Jansen Bros.. I. A. Omsted, Chas. Anderson,
John Schaub; grain, flour and feed, L. F. Demers; two ele-
vators, L. F. Demers and F. H, Peavey & Co., J. H. Ritchie,
manager: school, T. E. Stevens, principal; S. E. Cobb, Myrtle
Foget, Lulu Neihart, teachers; real estate, Wm. Warnock,
Joshua Leonard and Boyle Bros.; dress making and millin-
ery, Mrs. 0. H. Lowe, Mrs. I, F. Squires and Miss Anna
Clark; station agent. F. 0. Paulger: operators, F. J. Hayden
and F. B. Smith: live stock, Kellogg, Jensen & Schopke,
Davis <fc Fuller; brick and tile works, M. A. Mines; creamery,
W x m. Warnock; hotels. B. J. McDonald, Frank Jones, Mrs.
Fligg, Enoch Beals; mail carrier, Chas. Varvais; postmaster,
P. Kerwin; loan and insurance, notary public and justice of

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

the peace, W. Warnock; wagon shop, windmills and pumps,
A. X. Carlile; harness shop, W. Metz; confectioners, .John
Estaque and Frank Jones; barbers, II. Parmalee, Jack But-
ler, Geo . McPherron; masons. Englen & McCallough; village
board, II. 1\ Moseman, chairman; Jacob Jensen. Louis
Swartz, L. V. Demers, A. A. Davis, trustees: H. Parmalee,
clerk; ('. C. King, treasurer; W. A. .Martin, attorney: K. A.
Toole, marshal.

We have been unable to obtain the particulars concern-
ing the residents of Emerson township outside the village,
except in a very few instances. Among them is J. I. Brown
who has lived in the township about nineteen years, and has
200 acres nicely located and improved.

Patrick Kerwin has also been a farmer and land owner
there for years before the village was started. He has been
and is now a leading citizen of the township and is well
known and well liked throughout the county. Aside from
farming he has had other business enterprises, in all which
he has had success. He is now the postmaster there. To
Mr. Kerwin we are greatly indebted for valuable assistance
in collecting facts in relation to Emerson village.

Another popular and influential citizen of Emerson is
Wm. Sweeney, who has been the supervisor for that town-
ship during '92, '93, '1)4 and '95. His portrait is seen with
the other members of the board for that year.

Wm. Warnock who from the foregoing is seen to be one
of Emerson's most enterprising citizens, came there in 1SS1
and served as postmaster ten years, giving entire satis-
faction to the citizens.

Emerson has many other worthy citizens in the township
and village, than those w T e have mentioned. Outside the
town is a tine region of country, good farms and farmers,
and the buildings and improvements show unmistakable
prosperity. In the town there are many tine residences and
business houses.

Being an important railroad point. Emerson, has an
assured future growth. The time is not far distant when its
business and population will be at least double what it now
has.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 251

CHAPTER XIX.

Logan, Wakefield and Concord Townships.

logan township

Is west of and adjoins Wakefield, and is bounded on the
south and west by Wayne county and on the north by Con-
cord township. It is a superior farming country. The land
is rolling, the soil rich and water is plenty. The North and
South Logan rivers pass through the township.

As in Wakefield and the other townships in the southern
part of the county the soil is especially adapted to the growth
of sugar beets. Fifteen tons to the acre is about the average
crop.

Logan has no timber, except the numerous groves planted
in the past twenty years, some of which are very large. The
township has no village, and the market places are either at
Wayne or W T aketield. Logan also has no post office. It had
one established in an early day. Park Hill post office, so
named after William Park, the postmaster. It was discon-
tinued about January 1, '82.

Logan has 750 inhabitants, six school houses and one
church, German Lutheran. A large proportion of the resi-
dents of the town are Swedes and Germans. They are an
enterprising and reliable class of citizens, and as a general
rule are prosperous and successful farmers.

George Fenton. who came with his family in the fall of '69,
was the first settler. He and his wife now live in Wakefield.
His old homestead in Logan, a well improved farm of 240
acres, he still retains.

A. F. Hinds, 70, and Pitt M. Hinds, 72, and their families;
each had a good farm of 100 acres. A. F. Hinds sold out and
moved away a few years ago, and now lives in Tennessee.

Pitt M. Hinds died in '94. His wife died in 72. Hers
was the first death known to be natural in that part of the
county.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

lrvin Packer, one of Logan's settlers in 71. now lives in
Minnesota.

(». W. Packer, who also came in 71, still resides in that
township, and lias a valuable 160 acre farm.

William Park, 72, lived in the township until '93, when
he removed to Wakefield, where he now resides. He still
retains his old farm of half a section in Logan.

T.J. Postlewait came in 78, and has been engaged in
farming and stock growing.

Thomas Graham came to Logan in 74 or 75. He is now
temporarily in California. Owns a farm of 160 acres in the
township.

Frank A. ffypse came to Logan in '82, from Ford county,
111., and has a farm of 160 acres, improved, with orchard,
grove, etc. His family consists of himself, wife and five
children. For several years Mr. Hypse has ably served
Logan township as supervisor, his term ending in October, '95,
when the board of supervisors was reorganized under the
new law. His portrait is seen with those of the other mem-
bers of the board on another page.

J. W. Hypse located in Logan in 'S3, has a large family
and is a successful farmer. Was supervisor of the town for
three years.

Frank Huyter, an old settler, was county commissioner
and supervisor several terms.

Gust us Johnson, from Ford county, 111., in \82. The first
Swede to locate in Logan. Has a 400 acre farm and good
improvements and buildings. Has seven sons and daughters,
all grown u p.

Chris. Wischhof, '84, farmer, has 220 acres. Prominent in
township affairs and a reliable citizen.

Henry Lessman, '84, farmer, 160 acres, improved, stands
high in the township.

The following are a few of the other farmers in town.
Their farms are generally large and in tine condition as to
buildings, groves, orchards, etc. The date of arrival, and the
amount of land follow the names.

Andrew Beckstrom, '82, 160 acres; C. J. Swanson, \S3, 820
acres; C. J. Frederickson, '84, 160 acres; Henry Meyer, '84,
large farm; Henry Henrich. 'SI, large farm; Wm. Henrich,
'84, large farm; Henry Rober. '84, large farm; Wm. Wilmer

')*

O
H
«

ffl

be
«
&

u
11
■i.

■A

i/i

6£

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

'84, large farm: Wm. Lillie, '84, large farm; Flage, '84,
about 4<>0 acres; Ellis Ellison, '86, large farm; Olof Elliason,
'87, 820 acres; S. M. Anderson '85, 1(50 acres; J. A. Johnson,
large farm.

WAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP.

Is bounded on the north by Springbank, east by Emer-
son, south by Wayne county and west by Logan. The justly
celebrated Logan river, and valley from two to three miles
wide, passes through the southwestern part of the township,
furnishing the excellent water power facilities which have
been utilized by the flouring mills at Wakefield village.

One of the first settlers in this part of the county was C.
T. Barto, whose frontier experiences here form an interest-
ing part of the history of Wakefield. C. T. Barto was born
in Bradford county. Penn., February 8th. 1837. His father.
N. H. Barto, who was born at Bainbridge. N. Y., 1812, and
still living, removed to Chemung county, N. Y.. near
Elmira in 1843. C. T. Barto married Estella Cooley, January
3rd, L861, and removed to Illinois in April. 1861. There
they rented a farm in DeKalb county, which they after-
wards bought. In 1868 they sold their farm and started on
their pilgrimage west and located in what is now Wakefield
township on May 3rd. 1869. At that time the nearest settler
on the road to Sioux City was Boedkey, twelve miles east
of Wakefield, and the next Jesse Wigle, twenty-one miles
east of Barto's place on Wigle creek, two miles south of the
present town of Homer. South there was no settlement
short of the Elkhorn river. West, no settlement short of
Norfolk, at that time called Yellowbanks. The nearest post-
office was twenty-four miles east in Dakota county and
Major C. H. Potter was postmaster, and there also was
located the nearest flouring mill run by a man named David
and now operated by Sam Coombs. North there was prac-
tically no settlement nearer than South Creek, the Pome-
roys settling in Springbank in '70 or '71, and the Herfels
and George 0. Lampher about the same time.

At that time Sioux City was the only market and over
that forty miles Mr. Barto had to do all his hauling until '82.
In the winter of 73. he spent sixty days on the road between
his place and Sioux City, and carried his own hotel right

•.»;,(; HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

with him, and this was one of the coldest winters he has ex-
perienced since he has been in the state. For fuel he used
wood which he brought from the Missouri river on his return
dips, lie would haul to market grain or hogs and bring
back wood which he cut himself. Had he not come from a
long lived race and hard to kill. these privations would have
cut short his early career.

Mrs. Barto was born May 5th, '45. also in Bradford
county, Penn. Her parents removed to Chemung county, N.
V.. in '55. Her mother. Mrs. Elizabeth Cooley, died at Mr.
Barto's place in January, '1)5, aged eighty-two years.

Mrs. Barto is well preserved, hale and hearty and prom-
ises to reach as good an old age as her predecessors in the
family line.

The portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Barto, taken on their road
to this country twenty-six years ago, will be seen on another
page. Mr. Barto's long hair as seen in the picture, used to
he greatly admired by the Indians, and to prevent their
stealing it, 'and perhaps his scalp at the same time), he had
to cut it off. Mr. and Mrs. Barto have had seventeen child-
ren, of whom fifteen are living. They have a beautiful farm
of 560 acres, all under cultivation or in use, groves, orchards,
etc. Mr. Barto is a prominent citizen and much esteemed in
the county. He was county treasurer for four years and has
been and is now a leading member of the board of super-
visors. With Mr. Barto. when he came, was C. I. Blake, also
from Illinois.

In the fall of '69 George Fenton and family came and A.
F. Hinds and family the following year. G. W. and Irving
Packer and Pitt M. Hinds and family came in 1871, William
Park in 1872 and T. J. Postlewaite in 1876. Of these. Mr.
Blake settled near Mr. Barto, and the others located in what
is now known as Logan township.

Mr. Blake now occupies the same place he located on in
1869. He has eighty acres and is a good farmer. His family
consists of self, wife and several children.

Philo Graves was also one of the early residents of this
township. His father, Willard Graves of Illinois, in the
spring of 1868, located 4(1 sections of land (25,600 acres) in
Cedar and Wayne counties and in the southern part of Dixon
county, and in the following year brought here his family

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 25?

and a colony of people, a large share of whom bought farms
in Wayne county. A few, however, became residents of the
present townships of Wakefield and Logan.

The first school ever taught in Wakefield township was
by Miss Lucy Morey. who commenced January 7th. 1875.
The children of Mr. Barto constituted the whole school. He
was director. C. I. Blake was moderator and Philo Graves
treasurer. The three were about all the heads of families in
the district, and as the moderator and treasurer were unable
to famish scholars for the school, that duty devolved en-
tirely upon the director as above stated. In those early days
settlements were far apart. The great valley of the Logan,
now thickly settled and rich in farms and improvements,
was then nearly as wild as when under Indian sway. The
few white people who came, had a lonely life, which for
many years was almost unbroken.

In 1881, the railroad which was being built from Sioux
City to Norfolk was completed through the town, and the
station, Wakefield, was established. Immediately the sleep-
ing valley was awakened to new life, and the few people
who had ruled the township year after year, soon saw their
number grow. Laud which in past days of discouragement
and home-sickness had been offered at less than government
price, and could not be sold at any price, suddenly rose into
notice and demand. Mr. Dixon, who for twenty years had a
farm near where the village of Wakefield is. told as that he
had tried time after time to sell his land at one dollar per
acre. Rich and beautiful as was the valley, as long as its
ocean of tall grass was undisturbed by a railroad, few want-
ed it. Finally the road came and with it came a great tide
of ambitious and enterprising settlers.

WAKEFIELD VILLAGE.

The village of Wakefield was incorporated in the summer
of '83, having at that time more than two hundred inhabit-
ants. The prime movers in the incorporation were Philo
Graves the town site proprietor, and George W. Waite, at
that time manager of the flouring mills, and a leading busi-
ness man of the town, but now a live stock dealer in Sioux
Citv.

358 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Wakefield, Like most western towns situated in a good
level country, and which followed the completion of a line
of railway and the establishment of a station, has had a
steady growth, and for the most part her citizens have
prospered. Many of her business men have obtained a start
here, and gone to other places to continue a successful
career. Others who have remained, are now the substantial
men of the town.

The C, St. P., M. .V O. railroad reached Wakefield late in
the summer of '81 ; hut ere its arrival the first enterprising
comers were already erecting buildings. The town site was
surveyed by Engineer Wakefield of Sioux City, whence the
town derives its name, as well as from its wide awake people.

The first store was running in the fall of 'SI and the
building was put up by John T. Marriott, who owned and
conducted the store. It was a medium sized, frame structure
and stood opposite where the post office is now located.

George Guilds also had a hardware store which stood ;i
few lots south of Marriott's store. Both of these men are
still in business in Wakefield.

In the summer of 1SS4 most of the brick buildings were
erected from brick made at the Wakefield yards. The build-
ing of the Wakefield and Hartington line about this time,
gave the town considerable impetus and her business sub-
stantial gains.

The first county seat town of Wayne county. La Porte,
was mostly moved to Wayne, but three of the buildings were
moved to Wakefield.

There have never been any fires of importance in the
town, and now there is a complete standpipe system of water
works, affording ample protection.

From a population of 200 in '83, Wakefield has increased
to nearly 1,000 in '95, with every prospect of becoming in as
much more time (a dozen years) a prosperous town of from
2,000 to 8,000 people. There are about fifty business houses
or lines of business represented.

There are five churches: Presbyterian, Methodist, Chris-
tian, Swedish Lutheran and Swedish Mission.

The public school has 200 pupils enrolled, with five
teachers in charge. The main building is brick, and a frame

HON. H. P. SHUMWAY.

(See page 261.)

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 261

building was erected this year at a cost of $1,000 for the
primary department. There is no school debt.

Among the leading business men is J. 0. Milligan, proprie-
tor of the Wakefield Roller Mills; Shumway, Everett & Co.,
lumber and farm implements, and representing the oldest
established business in the town; Rawlings Bros, and A. L.
Button, hardware; Wm. Harrison & Co., Ekeroth, Carlson &
Co., Blotcky Bros, and I). Gr. Metcalf, general merchandise;
C. W. Long and T. A. McKichan. druggists; C. H. Merritt,
furniture; C. L. Herrington and J. F. Slinger, hotel keepers;
J. I). Haskell & D. Mathewson, and L. Kimball, bankers;

C. F. Howard, jeweler; Nels Lingren, gunsmith and city
engineer; Noah Weaver, wagon maker; B. C. Whitaker.
harness maker and contractor and builder; Gr. W. Green,
livery; C. E. Hunter, postmaster and justice of the peace;
W. S. Cook and H. Lambert, buyers and shippers of live
stock and meat market; C. Hinrich, meat market; Collins &
Henry, clothing; I. M. Belknap and 0. E. Martin, law and
real estate; S. Osier, livery; Turner & Brenner, Peavey
& Co.. and J. 0. Milligan, dealers and shippers; John T. Mar-
riott, E. D. Smith, Nels Hansen and Jas. Malloy, real estate;
H. A. Schoregge, bakery; Mrs. Frank Rice, millinery; Ed-
wards & Bradford and Geo. Child's, lumber and coal; Ole
Lundberg. shoe store; Wm. Wheeler, Wakefield Republican,
established 14 years ago; F. M. Bloodhart. barber shop;

D. W. Walker, cold storage; Charles Foltz, ice dealer; John
A. Larson and A. G. Messer, contractors and builders; A. E.
Quimby, contractor; J. G. Moir, harness shop; Paul Nindel,
soda water and pop factory ; Robert Kneebs & Son, breeders
of fine horses; Dr. B. T. Harman and Dr. Robt. Q. Rowse.
physicians.

Wakefield societies: Masons, Odd Fellows, United Work-
men, M. W. A., R. A. M., I. F. A., and Wakefield Building-
Association. All are in a prosperous condition.

One of the prominent citizens of Wakefield is Herbert
Paine Shumway who was born at Caledonia, Minnesota.
April IS, JS56. His father, J. Shumway, was a native of
Connecticut, and his mother, Mary M. Shumway, was a
native of Pascoe, Rhode Island. They moved to Minnesota
in 1S53, where was born to them a family of six sons and
two daughters, of which the subject of this sketch is the

262 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

oldest son. He was brought up on a farm and attended
district school in the winter until he was eighteen years old
when lie prepared for college at Caledonia Academy and
graduated from the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis
in the scientific course in June, 1882. He supported himself
during his college course by teaching or working on a farm.
In the following July he came to Wakefield, Nebraska, and
engaged in the lumber business to which was subsequently
lidded coal and farm implements. But believing there is
nothing like the farming lands of Nebraska he has been for
the past ten years occasionally buying lands until he now
has an improved farm of 1,000 acres in a body lying in the
Logan valley one-half mile from Wakefield. He is somewhat
interested in politics and was elected in '90 to the state
senate, being one of the two republican senators elected from
north of the Platte river. In '92 he was an alternate dele-
gate to the republican national convention at Minneapolis.
He served on the staff of Governor Crounse as colonel. In
'1)4 he was a candidate for the nomination for lieutenant
governor and received 366 votes out of 806. Mr. Shumway
has been a trustee of the M. E. church of Wakefield since it
was built in 1882. In Wakefield, Mr. Shumway's influence
has always been devoted to the promotion of the best in-
terests of the place and citizens. He is chairman of the
village board and is, as he has always been, prominent in
advocating improvements and beneficial enterprises.

CONCORD TOWNSHIP.

Is bounded north by Clark, east by Springbank, south by
Logan and west by Cedar county.

Concord township has two villages, Concord and Dixon,
the first located on the Hartington branch of the C, St. P.,
M. & 0. R. R., and the latter village on the Short Line road.

The township is generally level or slightly undulating.
There are plenty of springs and streams and the Logan passes
through the south half of the township. There is little native
timber but nearly every farm has a good grove.

Outside of the villages the township has four school houses
and good schools.

In the earlydays of thecounty there were also, as we have
seen in this history, two villages named Concord and Dixon,

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 263

but in nothing except names were they identified in any
manner with those of the present township of Concord.

One of the leading residents of Concord township is Willis
Jenkins, who was horn in New York; went to Illinois when
21 years old and the next year to Iowa, and from Iowa in 78
came here. He was married in Iowa and has a son and
da ughter. He has half a section and first-rate improvements.
He was the supervisor of Concord in 'SI), heing the first member
from that town after township organization vvas adopted.
When Mr. Jenkins came to the township there were not over
half a dozen settlers there before him.

Wm. Cowie who came here about twenty-three years ago
is now in Missouri.

W. W. Crain came twenty-six years ago, and now lives in
Benton county, Ark., where he removed four years ago.

Henry Thompson, (the father of the supervisor of '95) was
in the township when Mr. Jenkins came. Mr. Thompson
has a farm of 200 acres and is well fixed in every way.

0. O. Acres came and settled on a homestead in 1S7S. A
sketch of him appears in connection with that of Concord
village.

H. D. Hall came here eleven years ago, and has a well
improved quarter section of land. He w r as supervisor in '91
and '92.

P. A.. C. J. and C. H. Nelson, from Iowa, and Mike Carroll
and John Gillan. from Wisconsin, came nine years ago and
have good farms, from one-fourth to one-half a section apiece.

Robert Delay came about eight years ago from Iowa and
has 200 acres.

All those mentioned have good houses and most of them
orchards and groves.

Wm. B. Hall also came from New York 11 years ago and
lias a valuable 160 acres.

J. W. Thompson was supervisor for Concord in '93, '94
and '95. His portrait appears elsewhere. He is an intelli-
gent and successful farmer and stock raiser, and was an ex-
cellent supervisor. In mentioning Mr. Thompson in the list
of supervisors on page 136 we have written his name as Wil-
liam Thompson. It should have been J. W. Thompson, as
appears by his signature below his portrait.

.>r,l HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

II. I). Hooker came from New York nine years ago and
bought an improved half section. He died a few years ago.
His family still reside on the farm.

John B. Lysle, John Eckert, Wm. Haberman, Mr. Bosse
and Wm. Shilling, came from Iowa nine years ago and have
good farms and are successful farmers.

Royal Thompson located here about 20 years ago. He
now lives in Concord village.

James Barnhill first came about 14 years ago. Has been
absent part of the time since. He farms on a quarter section.

Joseph Classman, from Minnesota, has been here six
years. He has a farm of 120 acres and is fortunate in busi-
ness.

John Newman is another enterprising farmer. Came
from Iowa eight years ago and has 160 acres.

Thomas Long has been here eight years. He owns the
old Royal Thompson farm of a quarter section.

John Mills came here a year ago and bought Porter
1 )ewey's farm of 8( I acres.

Jerry Sullivan lives in Dixon village where he moved
from Clark a year ago.

Mr. Trow has been here four years on his farm of 320
acres.

C. W. Gurney, the proprietor of the Hesperian Nurseries
of Concord, came from Iowa about 14 years ago. He bought
200 acres on which he has since had a large nursery busi-
ness. He recently removed to Yankton.

Concord village contains about 150 inhabitants and has
not been incorporated. The two villages. Concord and
Dixon, are only two miles apart. Both are good business
points.

Ceo. 0. Acres, a leading citizen of Concord village, built
the first house in that vicinity and ferried all the lumber
across the river at Sioux City with which to build it. Mr.
Acres was born in '55 at Manchester, Iowa, and came to
Nebraska in '78 and settled on a homestead in what is now
Concord township, where he lived until the fall of '89, when
he bought out the lumber and coal business of Shumway &
Everett at Concord village. He sold lumber, bought live
stock and grain until 1893. and was interested in all improve-
ments in Concord. In '90. when the Concord State Bank

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 265

was instituted, he was elected a director and was an active
worker, helping to make it one of the best banks in north-
eastern Nebraska, In '93 he became cashier, which posi-
tion he now holds.

The village of Concord has now two good stores of which
Messrs. Clark and Kemp are proprietors and Mr. Clark is the
postmaster of the place. H. Shilling deals in hardware; Dr.
McColm has a drug store; R. N. Smith, harness shop; John
Brannaman. billiard hall; G. 0. Acres, lumber yard, and Mrs.
Foote has a hotel. There is also a grain buyer there in the
interest of the Peaveys. The Concord State Bank does a
good business under the cashiership of Mr. Acres.

Concord has a good school and one church, (Swedish) a tine
building and well attended.

Dixon village was incorporated May 1(>. 1893, and now has
a population of 250. A good steam grist mill is in operation
here, owned by Keil Bros., and does a successful business. An
energetic creamery company has built and operates a large
creamery. It is an establishment of much benetit to the town
and surrounding country. Among the business men and
houses, we notice C. Stimson, banker; O'Flaherty Bros., mer-
chants, stock dealers and grain buyers (and really a large
share of the life of the town); A. E. Sparks, general merchant;
,1. C. Ecker. druggist; D. Carroll, hotel, grain buyer, etc.; G.
P. Wright, hardware; E. W. Clawson. agent of the Edwards
& Bradford Lumber Co.; Isaac Brannaman, furniture; W.
H. Gibson, postmaster and grocer; J. Nichols and David
Avers, restaurants; G. \V. Holder, market; C. Brannaman.
livery; F. Wiedenfeldt and G. W. Hayn, blacksmiths, and
one interesting and well supported newspaper, the Tribune.
Dixon has a hrst-class school and teachers. The school
liouse.a line, new bailding, was burned a few months ago, and
another will soon be completed to take its place. There are
two churches, the Catholic and Christian, each of which has
a good building. Dixon has also lodges of Modern Wood-
men, Good Templars and Knights of Pythias, all in a flour-
ishing condition. Dixon is a pleasantly located young busi-
ness place, it has good buildings and its citizens have the
right kind of push and energy to make their town grow.

866

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Portraits of Dixon County Teachers.
One of the principal engravings near the title page of
this hook presents a group of ninety or more of the teachers
who attended the Teachers' Institute at Ponca in August, '95.
The engraving is from a photograph taken at the time by
Mr. Hamilton, and a list of the names of those whose por-
traits appear there has been kindly furnished by Miss Mary
Schroer, the popular school superintendent of the county.
The following is the list:

Estella Forney,
Daisy Herrick,
Dora Kavanaugh,
Julia McQuillen,
Stella Wilcox.
Mrs. J. V. Pearson,
Evalena Rohan.
Vida Palmer,
Mrs. Hetta Surber,
Isa Ward,
Mary McKinley,
Mrs. J. M. O'Connell,
Clara Cordon,
Stella Brown,
Anna Sheft'el,
A n na Wenstrand ,
Lillie Busby,
Mrs. B. H. Culver,
Elizabeth Everett,
Ethel Duncan,
Jessie Scott,
Swain Olson,
Edna Hamilton,
Albia Brown,
Irene Stover,
Will O'Connor.

Mabel Fero,
Charlotte Wasson,
Ada Phillips,
Rosa Kingsbury,
Minnie Thompson.
Mertie Cummings,
Hunter Brown,
C. Wright,
Anna Walbeck,
Lizzie Cavanaugh.
Anna Doyle,
Jennie Robinson,
Ella Kingsbury,
Ceo. Beith,
Katie Byrne.
Kate Bones,
Jessie Bailey,
Eliza Park,
Emma Anderson.
Jennie Bovee,
Lizzie O'Connor.
Attie Acres,
Irene Boekenhauer,
Minnie Beers,
Rosa Reising,
Kate Sullivan.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

267

L. M. Powers.
John McClusky,
J. V. Pearson.
Maud Jones,
Cassie MeKinley.
Carrie Harper,
Ida Lock wood,
Hallie Bennett.
Frances Stimson,
Myrtle Weaver,
Lettie Heikes,
Myrtle Foget,
Clarissa Flageolle,
Lucy Flageolle,
Rosa Byrne.
Maggie Ma lone.
Mrs. C. E. Davis.
Prof. H. E. Kratz,
Mary Schroer. Co. Supt.
Prof. F. M. Harding,

Mary Keegan.
Evelyn Palmer.
Adda Martell.
Lillie Shellington,
Kate Marron.
Florence Busby,
Gertie Grosvenor,
Carrie Stewart.
Minnie Beardshear,
Minnie Sheffel,
Rose Hughes.
Lizzie Armstrong,
Minnie Mills,
Gertie Culp,
Jessie Gibbs,
Anna Leggett.
Bert Brown,
( !ora Scott.
Mamie Dewitt.
Lottie Cassavant.

There were a few on the picture when it was first taken
which do not appear there now. In order to tit the engrav-
ing to the size of the book, a small part had to be taken
from the sides of the picture, and by so doing the following
teachers were unavoidably left off:

Thuie Poff. Maud Woodward.

Mrs. H. J. Caulfield, Dennis Kinnaman.

John Richards. Mamie Jones.

Mrs. May Porter.

PART SECOND.

NOTE.

Legends, stories, adventures, every day incidents, etc.,
etc. All relate to Dixon county in the past or present.
Some of them are true in every word and others are, in a
greater or less degree, founded on facts. But whether fact
or fiction, we trust they will be found interesting, and with
that hope we dedicate them to friendly perusal.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 273

AMONG THE INDIANS.
Adventures in the Dixon County Country in 1810.

In the spring of 1810, more than three-quarters of a cen-
tury ago, two young and energetic men who were ascending
the Missouri in a canoe, landed at the mouth of the stream
known at present as Aoway Creek, about four miles east of
where Ponca now stands. Thus commences a story related
to us twenty-five years ago by a venerable hunter and trap-
per who had passed nearly his whole life among the Indian
tribes of the northwest.

The two men above mentioned were Scotchmen, lately
from their native country and who. instigated by love of ad-
venture had wandered off into this region, then so remote
from civilization and society, a country whose reputation
was most dreary and repulsive.

The names of these hardy adventurers were Alexander
Mackenzie and Donald Campbell. The first was many years
later in the employment of the Northwestern Fur Company,
while the latter, Campbell, became afterward celebrated
among the tribes along the upper Missouri and Yellowstone
under the name of I-och-e-gah, or White Chief, as one of
their most distinguished and successful warriors.

Our adventurers, as they coasted along the muddy, turbu-
lent river, saw the little stream debouching through an open-
ing in the hills, and were glad to rest from the wearing labor
of urging their canoe against the rapid current, by landing
and camping under the shade of the trees upon the bank.
At a short distance to the right and left they beheld rough,
high hills, and were struck by the v ildness and rugged
grandeur of the scene.

Here they camped, and determined to rest a few days,
and perhaps explore and hunt game in the grim regions indi-
cated by the forbidding hills surrounding them. In the little
clump of timber where they pitched their tent they saw no

274 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

sign of life, and as the gloom of the approaching night fell
upon them, made ten-fold worse by the deep shadows of the
bluffs and the sighing of the wind through the ravines, it
seemed to them that they had entered the kingdom of solitude.
Here they built their fire, ate, drank, and in their blankets
slept undisturbed.

In the morning they arose invigorated, and after a hearty
breakfast started westerly along the south bank of the creek,
determined to explore the interior of the country. A weari-
some tramp through brush and marsh and further west along
a wide and level tract, brought them where several valleys
converged; a spot which by its beauty and the splendor of
its scenery, fully compensated them for all their toil. Here,
no longer within the dominions of solitude, they beheld
life and animation at every turn. The grass gaily decorated
by a wilderness of brilliant flowers formed a rich acd
enticing carpet for their feet. As they advanced, the joyful
music of countless songsters of the wood and prairie greeted
them. Along the neighboring hillsides they saw herds of
buffalo, while in the distance they beheld a large and popu-
lous Indian village.

Startled by finding themselves in the neighborhood of an
Indian town, and not knowing whether their reception would
be friendly or hostile, they nevertheless hesitated not to go
forward as coolly and apparently as unconcerned as though
among their native Scottish hills. As they approached the
village, its inhabitants, most of whom had never before seen
a white man, came out to meet them, and received them
with kindness and honor, so greatly did they admire the un-
daunted yet evidently peaceful bearing of their two visitors.

So kind a reception determined Mackenzie and Campbell
to remain several days and learn the ways of Indian life.
The pipe of peace was often smoked around the council tire.
The best lodge, the softest bed of furs and the choicest game
was dedicated to them. They on their part showed their
new-found Indian friends the mysterious workings of their
guns, which, speaking with voices of thunder, could kill a
buffalo at a great distance. Such weapons had never before
been seen by the tribe, and were a source of great astonish-
ment and awe to them.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 275

After a few weeks of this luxury, most fascinating to the
frontiersman, the Scotchmen proposed to depart and resume
their journey up the river. But the Indians, who it seems,
had made up their minds that their guests should stay with
them always, objected, and with various excuses refused to
let them go. Once they stole away at night, and had nearly
reached their canoe, when through the brushwood
rushed a horde of Indians in hot pursuit, who seized them
and triumphantly bore them back again

Thus time passed on, the greatest kindness was lavished
upon them, so great indeed that feeling their bonds as a
chain concealed beneath garlands of flowers, their captivity
was in a measure bearable.

Soon they became acquainted with the language of their
entertainers, who took much pains to teach it to them. They
went with them on their visits to other villages of the same
tribe, of which there were several within a day's journey,
and they twice assisted in beating off the raids of a band of
desperate warriors, Arapahoes, under the redoutable Mish-
tenewah, who had a town in the valley now known as the
Daily. Mishtenewah's tribe seemed to be at enmity with all
the others along the river. He was a most cunning,
indomitable old scoundrel in whose vocabulary any word
signifying "peace" had been utterly blotted out.

Finally, in one of his forays, he was so far successful as
to take several prisoners, and among them was Campbell.
Mishtenewah did not stand long on ceremony after getting
back home, but burned the Indian prisoners at the stake
without unnecessary delay. The white man, however, was
a curiosity he had never seen before, and he reserved him
for further investigation. Campbell, on his part, took the
scrape he was in philosophically, and explained to the grim
Indian king who he was and where he hailed from. He also
caused Mishtenewah to expand his massive jaws into a grin
of delight, as he showed him the skill with which he slaugh-
tered game with his wonderful gun. the like of which the
chief had never heard of before.

So Campbell's life was spared, and he was formally in-
stalled as one of the tribe. He was taken to the lodge of an
ancient squaw and informed that she had adopted him for
her son, her own son having been recently killed in battle.

376 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Mishtenewah, besides being great in war, had other am-
bitions of a rnore peaceful character. He had a large number
of wives already, but his harem was like an omnibus,
in that it could always hold one more inmate, especially
if she was youthful and good looking. In the village was a
young and very handsome squaw named La-sha-na, upon
whom the chief cast a longing eye, and was determined to
take her to wife. The girl was, however, averse to the
royal honor offered her. She had seen and admired the
good looks and brave demeanor of Campbell, and they had
found such a mutual attraction in each other that they often
wandered away together, and looked and talked love as
they sat beneath the council tree of the village. (This is
said to be the great tree long noted as the Lone tree of the
Daily valley. It is some three feet in diameter and its
trunk is indented with the numerous cuts and carvings of
the tribe which flourished around it. »

It certainly is not to be wondered at that Campbell should
prefer the society of this young Indian lass, to being
cooped up in a not very sweetly smelling tepee with the
mumbling old crone who by the verdict of the tribe called
herself his mother. It was at this time that Mishtene-
wah saw the girl and licked his bloody chops with joy, for
he thought he saw another sheep for his fold. She on her
part avoided him as much as possible, and hence the loving
walks and tete-a-tetes with which Campbell and the young
stjuaw whiled away many pleasant hours, were in the even-
ing, the better to avoid the sight and anger of the chief.

One evening as the pair sat beneath the waving branches
of the great tree, contemplating a speedy flight from that
irksome captivity, old Mishtenewah came nosing mistrust-
fully along, and seeing them, he drew his knife in jealous
fury, and swiftly sprang forward to prod Campbell with it,
then and there. And he would doubtless have done it, had
not Campbell, equally as quick, knocked him down with the
butt end of his gun. He would have shot him. but the noise
would have aroused the village. Concluding that his enemy
was knocked senseless but for a short time, and knowing
that such an insult to the chief would not be overlooked,
Campbell and the girl, without delay, fled. They made as
quick time as possible down the valley, cautiously avoiding

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 277

other Indian settlements, intending to seek the protection of
the tribe where Campbell's friend, Mackenzie was. They had
come to within a few miles of their destination when they
heard an uproar behind them, and the rays of the moon
brightly shining-, revealed Mishtenewah and his whole pack
in full pursuit. So certain was he of their capture that he
even disdained to adopt the usual Indian tactics of stealth
and silence in the pursuit.

It would appear that the old chiefs skull was of a very
tough and durable nature, so that the pounding it received
did not prevent him from collecting his senses and wits to-
gether within a very short period of time after the fugitive
lovers had left. He roused the town in a trice and he and
his band of marauders followed the fleeing pair, who now,
just as they were approaching a haven of rest and safety saw
their pursuers bursting upon them like infuriate thunder-
bolts. Close pressed, the fugitives made for the hills
along the west side of the valley, hoping to throw their
enemies off their trail. But well trained bloodhounds could
not follow their path with greater exactness. Campbell and
the girl flew like the wind, yet closer came the whooping
and howling band of savages behind them. Thus mile after
mile was measured off. over hills and through ravines
and valleys, yet their untiring and implacable foes fol-
lowed on, evidently lessening the distance between them
every moment.

In that fearful flight. Campbell and the girl must have
crossed the hills and struck the Aoway valley some two or
three miles west of where Ponca is. Leaving the valley
they again sought refuge among the hills and ravines toward
the river. It appeared to be of little use however. The
yells, tearing through the night air like the blood-curdling
voices of infuriate demons, resounded nearer and nearer.
After crossing Aoway valley the fugitives turned their course
somewhat to the northeast, hoping they would be able to
reach the banks of the river in the treacherous waters of
which they deemed they would find far greater safety than
in the hands of the miscreants behind them. Thus onward
they sped, while gleaming knives and tomahawks flashed
forward a warning of the bloody harvest soon to come. They
struck the bluff overlooking the river, a few hundred yards

278 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

cast of what is now known as the Bigley ravine. Half a mile
to their left was a small Indian hamlet, but by its insignifi-
cance it could afford thorn no protection, even if they were
enabled to roach it. Without pause they rushed down a
narrow gully or water course at that point, in which a path
now leads to the low land along the river. As.they emerged
from the ravine into the heavy timber below they heard the
rush of their pursuers down the defile.

Let us go back a little. A quarter of an hour before, a
large party of keen-eyed Indian hunters accompanied by
Mackenzie, returning from a trip along the river bank had
ascended the same ravine. On reaching the top of the bluffs
they saw in the distance the swiftly approaching fugitives,
and heard the deadly yells of their pursuers. Resounding
above all others was heard the terrible voice which they
recognized as that of the much hated Mishtenewah. They
saw the fugitives turning their steps toward the head of the
ravine. Mackenzie and his Indian friends quickly formed
their plans for vengeance on Mishtenewah and his band.
They knew 7 that down that ravine both pursued and pursuers
would pass. With a grunt of satisfaction the hunters slipped
noiselessly back into the thick brush overhanging the sides
of the narrow gorge. The fugitives passed down, not dream-
ing of friends and almost worn out by their desperate
exertions and expecting death in a few moments more.

Suddenly, above the yells of the furious Mishtene-
wah and his band, were heard other shouts, the twanging of
bow-strings, the whizzing of arrows and tomahawks, and all
the crash and din of a deadly conflict. The roar of Macken-
zie's gun as it reverberated through the forest was to Camp-
bell the sweetest music. Mackenzie and the hunters had
quickly prepared an ambush for their enemies. They arrayed
themselves along the sides of the ravine, and when Mish-
tenewah and his warriors entered, and down which they
could only go in single tile, they fell upon them with fearful
rage and slaughter. In ten minutes the battle was over.
Not one escaped. All were dead and dying except some
lifteen or twenty who were taken prisoners, their lives being
spared solely for another and more dreadful tragedy.
Among these was Mishtenewah. The next day, with the

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 279

torturing ceremonies then customary among Indian tribes
toward their enemies, the prisoners were burned at the
stake.

In the joy of once more meeting his brother Scot, Camp-
bell did not forget the beautiful young squaw. He was duly
married to her according to the Indian rites and customs,
and it is to be hoped their lives passed smoothly and happily.
About a year after this occurrence, Mackenzie went with a
party of hunters far to the north, and his friend never saw
him again. As for Campbell, he now remained willingly,
and conforming to Indian customs and dress, soon became
chief of the tribe. Here, under his wise administration his
tribe prospered and remained until the year 1814, when the
tide of Indian wars drifted them far away to the northwest
beyond the Yellowstone valley.

This story is referred to in one of the early chapters of
this book, where, as will be recollected, the mound is de-
scribed in which the bones of Mishtenewah and those burned
with him are supposed to have been buried.

880 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

THE SACRED ROCK OF THE ARAPAHOES.

A Legend of the Ionia Volcano.

More than a hundred years before the exploring expedi-
tion of Lewis and Clark (whose visit to the so-called Ionia
volcano is referred to in Chapter IX), the country up and
down the south bank of the Missouri for many days journey ,
was the dwelling place of a vindictive and powerful tribe
known and dreaded as the most blood-thirsty nation of
Indians between the Mississippi river and the Rocky
Mountains.

This warlike people, the progenitors of the present cruel
and untamable Arapahoes of Wyoming, was ruled by
hereditary chiefs, assisted by counsellors selected from their
most successful warriors, and were described as having been
tall, active, of prodigious strength, undaunted bravery and
remarkable cruelty.

Like the Aztecs of Mexico, from whom, doubtless, they
had received in ages long before many of their customs and
beliefs, they were lire worshipers, and sacrificed to the god
of lire the sick, the aged and the infirm of their own nation,
and all prisoners taken during the wars which they
were continually waging against their neighbors, and es-
pecially against the numerous tribes across the river, who.
under the general name of Acoutahs (afterwards called
Dakotahs), occupied the vast regions lying between the
Missouri and the Red River of the North.

About two miles south of the place where in later years
has been seen the volcanic phenomenon referred to, was the
capital town of the nation, vestiges of which were still visi-
ble at the time of the visit of Lewis and Clark in 1805, the
many excavations and mounds where the town had stood in-
dicating that it had been of great size, covering indeed,
several hundred acres. Here had dwelt the hereditary chief

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 281

or king, whose simplest word was law from which there was
no appeal, and who held unquestioned power over the lives
of his subjects.

Whatever the "Ionia Volcano" may have been, the
Indian tribes at that early time, and especially the super-
stitious Arapahoes, regarded its tires with awe and the
region near it as sacred ground, over which, within certain
limits, no one had the right to pass except the ruling chiefs
and their medicine men. He whose boldness or folly led him
to violate this decree, paid for his temerity with his life.
This taboo, however, was removed every full moon, at which
time all the tribes might assemble around the volcano to
witness the horrible sacrificial ceremonies there enacted.

On these occasions the old and feeble were dragged for-
ward, the prisoners taken in battle and the squaws and
children from conquered towns, and all were immolated
with prolonged and merciless torture, to the deity whose
immediate presence was supposed to be revealed in the lurid
flames and stifling vapors around them.

A short distance to the west of the volcano and within
the limits of the tabooed precinct, stood an immense rock,
which, from its description, must have towered several
hundred feet toward the sky, a vast square fortress in ap-
pearance and visible at a great distance. The rock was
honey-combed by numerous passages, caused by the action
of water ages before when an ocean covered all this
country. One of the passages led to a large and lofty cavern
which nature had in like manner hollowed out in the in-
terior of the rock.

Here, say the old legends, on a stone platform or altar
rudely built by the Indians, the preliminary ceremonies and
torturings of the unhappy victims took place before they
were consigned to the embraces of the more merciful tires of
the volcano.

At the time of the visit of Lewis and Clark this great
mountain of stone had disappeared and the place where it
was said to have stood was occupied by a marshy pond-
When inquiry was made as to what had become of it, the
bravest warriors would tremble with awe as they related the
gloomy legend, that, a thousand years before, the Great

282 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Manitou had been angry; that his voice had been heard like
the roll of many thunders, and that in his wrath he had
crushed the rock into the earth.

Such a phenomenon would at this day he regarded as
merely one of the results of a tremendous earthquake — most
interesting, but nothing supernatural, yet, among the ignor-
ant and superstitious savages it would naturally be consid-
ered as a special sign of vengeance of an outraged deity.
To this cause, the destruction of their sacrificial temple, is
attributed the flight of the greater portion of the tribe im-
mediately after the catastrophe to the far west, leaving for-
ever a home which they deemed as accursed by the Great
Spirit.

Among the present Arapahoes (the descendants of those
who thus migrated), the "Legend of the Great Rock" is
remembered, recounting the disaster which drove their
ancestors from their former fertile plains to the sterile
mountains of Wyoming. According to this Arapahan le-
gend, many hundred years ago. their nation, as yet not driven
from its home near the Missouri, was in the height of its
glory and strength. Their warriors were as numerous as the
blades of grass, and disgraced, indeed, was he who could not
count his years by the number of scalps upon his shield.

Then ruled Kah-da-che-gha, whose name (signifying
"The Bloody Hand,") carried terror to his enemies. For
many seasons his braves had been waging a war of conquest
and extermination against the Wapahas, a once strong tribe
and one of the numerous families of the Acoutahs, whose
towns were across the river and one or two days' journey
to the north.

Among the Wapahas were many warriors of distinguished
valor whose backs were never seen by their foes, and who
acting on the defensive, had held their enemies at bay during
a long and fearful series of conflicts. At length, conquered
and over-run after desperate resistance and nearly annih-
lated. the captives taken were driven southward by the
triumphant Kah-da-che-gha toward the capital town of his
nation.

Among the prisoners was a young warrior named Wa-
che-pah, (or "Long Knife,") who had become renowned for
his bravery and the numerous Arapahan scalps which deco-

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 283

rated his girdle. Only taken when six of his assailants were
slain, he could, of course, expect no mercy from his enemies.

After a weary march across the prairies, he was brought
with his fellow captives to the Missouri, across which, swift
and gaily decorated canoes speedilv conveyed them. They
arrived at the town of the warlike Kah-da-che-gha most
opportunely, for it wanted but two days of the great full
moon festivities, at which time, these prisoners, with many
others,— the fruits of various raids during the past month
-would be sacrificed and burned according to their ancient
customs.

The young captive, Wa-che-pah, well knew the fate which
was in store for him and his fellow unfortunates, yet, with
the stoicism of his nature, he looked forward to the approach-
ing disgraceful tortures and death with indifference, nor
would he have deigned to have asked for his life, even
could he have obtained it by so doing. On the contrary he
sought to improve the little time remaining to him, by re-
counting to his enemies his many exploits against them, and
bringing to their memories the long array of scalps which
their nation had hitherto furnished to his knife.

On the day before the sacrifices were to take place, as
Wa-che-pah gazed upon the group of despondent captives
he saw to his horror among them, two, whose lives he would
have purchased by submitting to all the indignities which
the ingenuity of Ka-da-che-gha and his tribe could invent.
These two were his young brother and sister upon whom
he had centered all his affection, and who. until this moment
he had supposed to be in a place of safety, and now dis-
covered them in the clutches of those whose mercy was only
shown when they permitted death to seize the tortured vic-
tims.

When the young warrior saw the helpless children thus
in the deadly toils of his enemies, he sought out the chief and
asked that which he would have scorned to have done for
himself, namely, that their lives might be spared. Such a
request was an act of folly, which, on cooler reflection, he
would never have humbled himself to commit, for sooner
might he have expected mercy from the hungry wolf of the
prairies.

js ) HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Iii answer to the petition, the chief consented in part to
grant it. on conditions, however, in which were displayed
a refinement of cruelty, most diabolical. He would
spare one of the children, if Wa-che-pah, previous to
his own death would act as the executioner of the other.
As the price of his brother's life, Wa-che-pah, must inflict
on his sister all the tortures to which he, himself, would
afterwards be subjected. The young chief well understood
the meaning of the terrible sentence thus pronounced. His
hand would bestow the agonies of a thousand deaths.
Eyes wrested from their sockets; the limbs slowly burned
off by means of red-hot flint-stone knives; the skin torn
in strips from the body, which, after being immersed in
boiling pitch, was to be hurled into the ever-burning fires of
the volcano.

Wa-che-pah heard the horrible and revolting proposition
-cast his eyes around unavailingly for a friendly knife or
tomahawk with which to visit vengeance on the dastard
chief before him — and then, hoping to discover in the future
some chance of escape for the sister he loved so well, con-
sented. Leaving the presence of his vindictive enemy, Wa-
che-pah again found himself wandering amid the groups of
doomed captives. The sight of his brother and sister filled
his heart with despair. As to them, they were yet so young
as to imperfectly realize the horror of their position, and as
they saw their brother approaching, all dangers and priva-
tions were forgotten. With shouts of joy they fiung their
arms about him, and with many caresses, implored him to
take them back to their distant home. As he stood, listen-
ing to the innocent and childish prattle which pierced him
like the stroke of a dagger, he moodily revolved in his mind
their chances of escaping the doom which the next morn-
ing's sun would reveal.

Were there no means of escape? In all directions triple
lines of pickets closely guarded them, and attempts to break
through were vain indeed. At the north the battle-
ments of the sacred mountain reminded him of the gloomy
cavern, its dreadful altar, and the fate aw liting one at least
of the innocent children who clung confidingly to him.
Night came on. The savage guards closed about their vic-
tims. For the last time they saw the moon rise, smiling in

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 285

her fullness, pass over, and sink in the west. Dawn again
appeared. Then, to the deafening sound of drums, and in
the center of the death dance, in which thousands of war-
riors participated, the captives were swept slowly forward,
as by a resistless tornado, toward the grim rock and the
fearful destiny which there aw 7 aited them.

( Hinging to Wa-che-pah, his young brotherand sister went
joyfully, thinking they were starting for their home again.
About half way from the village to the place of sacrifice,
Kah-da-che-gha appeared, arrayed in his barbaric war cos-
tume, and carrying upon his hoop the numerous blood
stained scalps which his hand had taken. At his command the
revolving dance was stopped, and addressing Wa-che-pah, he
renewed the fearful proposition of the day before, and
asked him if on those terms he was prepared to save his
brother. The agony of the young warrior at that moment
before his enemy no tongue can portray. Yet, with a
countenance apparently unmoved, he replied in the affirma-
tive. Then the little brother, wondering, was torn hastily
from his sister, and the savage dance recommencing,
the captives were again urged tow r ard their doom, now
near at hand. "Darling of my soul," said Wa-che-pah to his
sister, "listen to my words. Our brother we will see no more
until we meet him in the hunting grounds of our fathers.
He will remain here a little while, but we shall go forward
before him." The sadness of his voice, more than his words,
revealed to her the presence of some dread danger. "Let
us then," continued he, "go joyfully the Great Spirit and our
fathers call us."

Understanding for the first time his meaning, his sister
realized that the revolving circle of dancing demons about
them were conducting them to their death. With a
shudder she pressed closer to her brother's side, thus mutely
expressing her willingness to make the dread journey with
him. The captives, slowly approaching the rock, were now
within the shadows of the lofty pinnacles which towered
above them, and in front of which, the chief and his medi-
cine men had assembled. To the right, the dense smoke
of the volcano revealed the god of fire in waiting to receive
his victims.

286 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Thus approaching the goal the orgies of the demoniac
horde grew wilder, and as they swiftly rotated in their
infuriate dance, the captives, deafened by the terrible yells.
which resounded on all sides, saw the air darkened with a
rain of innumerable knives and stone axes which were
hurled over their heads. This pastime of their enemies was,
however, harmless, as such weapons were skillfully thrown,
not to injure, hut merely to extort signs of fear, and were
hut the prelude to the tragedy yet to follow.

At a sign from the chief the chaos and uproar ceased,
and the medicine men stepped forward to receive the pris-
oners. These unhappy wretches, some of whom were squaws
with frightened children clinging to them, were now ar-
ranged in a <dose column and driven forward into the main
entrance to the interior of the rock.

At the head of the procession and leading his sister by
the hand walked Wa-che-pah, to outward appearance fearless
and undaunted, as became a warrior. Thus passing on they
were soon assembled in the cavern, whose gloom was but
partially dispelled by the torches and the tire upon the altar.
Here were the knives with which the cruel work was to be
done sharpened stakes for impalement, and upon the tire a
stone caldron of seething pitch. Wa-che-pah, lifting his
eyes from the appalling preparations before him. met the
gaze of Kah-ta-che-gha. who, pointing to the trembling child
at his side, ordered him to commence the torture. Thus
brought face to face with the awful deed with which he was
compelled to purchase life for his brother, the soul of the
young warrior revolted. He grasped the knife, but instead
of turning its glittering blade toward his sister, he hurled
himself upon the chief with the fury of a thunderbolt. The
rage and strength of a lifetime was concentrated in that
moment, as he stabbed his fiendish enemy again and again,
and hurled him, a scalpless corpse, among his followers.

Animated by the desperate valor of the young warrior
his fellow prisoners rushed upon their guards, from whom,
wresting knives and tomahawks, they drove them from the
cavern with the slaughtering fury of madmen. Dripping
with the blood of his foes and uttering the war-whoop of his
tribe, Wa-che-pah led forward the captive braves and after

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 287

a conflict which choked the passage-way with dead, expelled
their enemies from the rock.

From the outside thousands, as they saw their temple
thus desecrated by the slaughter of their friends, arose the
yells of a fury which knew no bounds. But now, as though
to stay the bloody carnival, a terrible manifestation held
both sides aghast and powerless. The ground beneath them
and the rocks above reeled and trembled as if the Great
Spirit had smitten them with an angry hand. Far below
was heard a roar like the concentrated thunders of a
thousand years, and with a crash the earth was torn open
and the great rock sank into the abyss and disappeared, con-
signing living and dead to one common grave.

J88 HISTOKV OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

INDIAN CRUELTY.
The Murder of the Wiseman Children.

Though Dixon county has never since its settlement by
white people been made the scene of Indian war and cruelty,
vet near by in the adjoining county of Cedar the barbarous
and cold-blooded murder of the Wiseman children by the
Indians took place in the summer of 1863.

Henson Wiseman and his family had in '60 or '61 taken a.
claim near the Missouri river on what is called "Brookey's
Bottom" in Cedar county and about two miles from the
Dixon county line. His family consisted of his wife and five
children, viz.: Three sons aged respectively 17. S and 5
years, and two daughters, 15 and 13. Mr. Wisemans nearest
neighbor was Mr. Brookey, who lived two miles away in
Dixon county, and another neighbor, Mr. Ames, lived about
three miles in an opposite direction, in Cedar county. Aside
from these, Wiseman and family had no neighbors nearer
than the village of St. James, some four or live miles distant.

In 1862 Wiseman enlisted in Company I, of the Second
Nebraska Cavalry, and in the spring of '63 went up the
river with his regiment to join Gen. Sully near old Fort
Berthold, in the campaign against the Indians. Wiseman's
absence left his wife and children entirely alone. They re-
mained on the claim, and with the occasional assistance of
their neighbors, Brookey and Ames, cultivated their land
and, aside from the loneliness of their location, were content,
having no thought of danger.

Across the river, however, and not many miles away, the
Indians were brooding over imaginary troubles and dream-
ing of war. They had heard of the massacre in Minnesota
by the Santee Sioux, and their ambition had thereby been
aroused to also sharpen their knives and gain a name and
a rich collection of scalps. Wiseman's family did not real-
ize the exposed and dangerous situation they were in.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 289

Near the river and far away from neighbors. Indians might,
if they saw fit, come at any time and perpetrate barbarity or
murder. Unconscious of this danger the Wiseman family
had no thought of leaving their claim, and indeed they were
not molested for sometime after Wiseman went away. This
security, unfortunately, was not lasting.

One day in the summer of "03. Mrs. Wiseman went to the
village of St. James to buy groceries, leaving the children at
home. She started on horseback in the middle of the after-
noon and expected to return before dark. But when at St.
James a rain came up and she w T as delayed on account of it,
and did not reach home until nearly nine o'clock in the
evening. Supposing everything as safe as usual, she placed
her horse in the stable and started toward the house. A
few feet from the door she stumbled over the body of one of
her sons. Frightened but not yet realizing that a terrible
tragedy had taken place, and thinking that her son had met
with an accident, she rushed to the door to call for help. As
she opened it she heard groaning within and other sounds
which she thought were from Indians, whom she then imag-
ined were in the room concealed by the darkness, and wait-
ing after killing the children, for her to enter and meet the
same fate. Terror-stricken and hardly knowing what she
did she turned and ran to the road and thence toward
St. James. The few miles were quickly passed, yet the time
seemed an age. There she reported what she had seen and
heard and implored immediate help. The people in St.
James were frightened and slow in responding. In the ex-
citement which ensued they believed the timber along the
river contained a horde of savages who. in number, equalled
the trees which concealed them. The news that Mrs. Wise-
man had found her children murdered, traveled quickly, as
evil tidings always do.

Mr. Ames, the neighbor who lived three miles from Wise-
man, was then at St. James and heard the story, and rushed
home and taking his family into his wagon drove all night
towards Ponca. reaching there before sunrise the next morn-
ing. There he reported the massacre, and immediately, N.S.
Porter and three others returned with Ames to the scene
of it. When they arrived at Wiseman's they found the

290 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

people of St. James had come and taken the children to
that place. Of the five children, everyone was killed or
fatally wounded.

The following is the story of the murder as near as
could he ascertained:

It took place only a few minutes before Mrs. Wise-
man arrived home that fatal evening, but when she opened
the door, she heard no Indians in the house. They were
gone, and what she heard were the struggles and groans of*
her dying children. Had it not been for the rain she would
have been at home when the Indians came. Possibly that
would have saved them, but probably she would have added
one to the number of the slain. As was learned by the
tracks in the mud. there were four Indians who participated
in the massacre. When they entered the house, the oldest
girl was churning, and they asked her for a drink of butter-
milk. She handed them a dipper of it, when they struck her
over the head, knocking her down, and it is to be merci-
fully hoped, senseless. At about this time the oldest
son. who had been hunting, returned and opened the door.
Instantly he realized the situation and made a gallant defense
of his sisters and younger brothers. He died righting and his

was the body which Mrs. Wiseman stumbled over in the yard
on her return from St. James. The barrel of his gun was

bent by the blows he had given his assailants. The eldest
girl lived five days but never spoke after she was found by
her friends. Her person had been brutally outraged and
mutilated, the back of her head crushed, a cartridge had been
exploded in her mouth and an arrow pierced the lower part of
her body, passing out above the hips. Though she lived five
days she was unconscious. The youngest child, a boy of live
years, lived three days. The other three were dead when
found.

The four Indians who committed this terrible crime were
supposed to be Yankton or Santee Sioux. They came across
from Dakota in a canoe, and after the murder they robbed
the house and took a horse on which they loaded the plunder
and swam it over the river. News of the murder was im-
mediately sent to Sioux City and a company which had
recently been recruited there started out to capture the
murderers if possible. They took their trail at the crossing

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 291

at Wiseman's and followed it north until near Sioux Falls
and there they lost it. The wretches who committed the
deed were never caught. For anything known to the con-
trary they may be at this moment posing as "good Indians"
on some reservation.

In a few weeks after the murder the news of it reached
Wiseman at Fort Berthold. As soon as he heard it he went
to Gen. Sully and told him what had occurred and asked for
a furlough, and was humanely granted an indefinite leave of
absence. He immediately started on horsehack for home
where in about ten days he arrived. It is said that on fully
learning the fate of his children, he swore that he would
kill every Indian who crossed his path. No one can blame
him for the oath or for his justifiable vengeance during
the thirty-three years that have passed since then. He has
killed many and his name is a terror to them. But the four
he has most wished to find he has never knowingly met.
He and his wife still live where the tragedy occurred.

.".»i HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

THE REALM OF FICTION,

WITH AN OCCASIONAL. FACT THROWN IN.

THE BRAZILIAN TRAVELER AND THE NARROW

GAUGE RAILROAD.

A Twenty Year Old Parable Concerning Dixon County's
Narrow Gauge Railroad at that Time-- Its Exam-
ination by Senor Algamonez and his Conclusions
Thereupon.

| Those who read this old parable should, in order to fully
understand and appreciate it, first read the chapter in this
book entitled "'Story of a Rascally Little Railroad." This
parable, though now somewhat out of date, will, perhaps, be
enjoyed by old settlers who remember the time and road
referred to. |

In the summer of '77 Dixon county was visited by Senor
R. de Algamonez, an illustrious savant, scholar and trav-
eler from the ancient city of Penumblebuz, Brazil. Taking
shipping at Rio Janeiro, on the twenty-fifth day of July, he
journeyed in the Brazilian war brig Physsle, to New Orleans,
where he arrived August lsth. From thence, in the staunch
steamer Waterwitch, he ascended the Mississippi to St.
Louis, from whence in a Missouri river boat, the "Riproarer."
he came up the Big Muddy and disembarking at the land-
ing, walked from there into Ponca.

The object of the visit of this distinguished Brazilian
gentleman may be explained in a very few words. It appears
that divers disputes and differences of opinion having arisen
between the people of the counties of Dakota and Dixon on
the one part, and the Covington, Columbus & Black Hills
Railroad Company on the other, concerning the said road,
its gauge, its management, etc.. and desiring to settle all

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 293

these matters harmoniously, it had in the early part of the
summer been determined by a committee of citizens duly
selected from said counties, that some good and unbiased
person be appointed to examine with a vigilant and impar-
tial eye into all the disputed questions, and upon such
arbitration make due decision as to which of the contend-
ing parties was in the right, which decision it was determ-
ined should be binding (all courts to the contrary notwith-
standing), in order that law suits might be avoided and that
peace and good will might prevail.

In looking around for such arbitrator it was found to be
impossible to obtain him in Nebraska, as every man had
formed an opinion, and hence could not act with the im-
partiality which the importance and gravity of the case
demanded. The committee then scoured other states for
their arbitrator; they even went as far as California to hunt
him, but there were none, not even the Chinese and Indians,
but had heard about this railroad, and had made up their
minds. In desperation the committee finally applied to the
emperor of Brazil who at that time was traveling in the
United States, and he after mediation, referred them to Senor
Algamonez, and issued an order that said senor should im-
mediately come and adjudicate in the matter. The order
was forthwith transmitted to Brazil by steam balloon, and in
obedience to such command, the senor started for this place
at the time above stated.

Hence it came about that at three o'clock one afternoon,
this well known scholar walked into town, and as he had no
time to spare, he declined all receptions and other tokens
of respect from the citizens, and immediately proceeded to
the business on hand, viz: To interview the road, its officers,
etc., and we desire to say here that Senor A. was peculiarly
well fitted to act in this matter impartially, as, although he
had often read of railroads, he had never in his life before
seen one. Thus at about 4:30 p. m. he crossed the bridge
near Bigley's and soon was seen pacing down the valley
east of town. As he moved forward he beheld before and
around him a landscape unsurpassed in the gardens of the
gods, and he felt assurance that this was the choicest region
under the sun. Everything seemed different from his native
country, and the many improvements unfamiliar to him

394 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

struck him with wonder and admiration, and he examined
critically and carefully many things which a resident would
have passed unoticed. As he walked along delighted with
the pastoral beauty of the scene, he suddenly saw before him
t wo tiny parallel strips of iron stretched along the valley, the
sight of which filled him with amazement, as he could not
comprehend for what purpose they had been placed there.
"What these little rods were designed for," said the Senor.
"I am at a loss to understand. Doubtless, however, some
inexpensive yet pretty plaything, which perchance the in-
habitants of this country have considerately and kindly
provided for their children."

As he thus meditated, he suddenly heard from the east a
feeble squeak, and saw a small cloud of white vapor which
seemed to be rolling slowly toward him. On closer inspec-
tion he saw through the smoke, what appeared to his unso-
phisticated gaze, to be a gaily decorated, four wheeled boiler
or wash pot, from whence came the smoke, and to which
were attached several small covered carts. Such a singular-
scene, so different from anything he had ever heard of, in-
duced him to postpone all further search for the railroad
until he had investigated this gay and gallant little string of
vehicles. He was touched also at the sight, and was almost
moved to tears, for it reminded him of his home in distant
Penumblebuz, and of his children who in their play made
wagons out of strings and spools.

"If I ever get home," said he as he wiped his eyes,
"I will take to my infants a whole box of just such nice little
toys as these."

Pausing in his walk, he waited until the phenomena
approached, then turning and walking leisurely along by the
side of the gay train of wagons a.s they advanced at full steam
up the valley, he found much pleasure in critically examining
them, walking around them and stepping over them, to
determine their magnitude, kneeling down and looking
under them to see the wheels revolve, leaning over them in
order to see both sides at once, and feeling of them tenderly
with his hands lest something be dissarranged.

It was in fact with great curiosity and satisfaction that he
viewed the cavalcade rolling along, and in his ecstacy he ex-
claimed in his native Brazilian Spanish, as was his custom

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 295

when excited: "Wha tan infer nal'umbug!" (Which being
interpreted signified, "What a wonderful invention!")

"These carriages," said he to himself, "must indeed afford
infinite amusement to those who see them. And so inexpen-
sive, too," and he laid his hand caressingly upon them.

Then a fearfully heavy voice issued from the smoke, and
was heard saying:

"Sir. you mistake: this is not an inexpensive child's toy,
but one which has cost Dixon county $87,000. It is the
lightning express train on the C, C. & B. H. Narrow Gauge
Railroad and I am the general manager thereof, and I will
thank you to take your hand off the engine so that we can
get along."

"Ho le Mozees!" ejaculated the senor in astonishment.
"And so it cost $87,000! Well, well! But even that is in-
expensive if the dollars are as lilliputian as the railroad."

"No," replied the gruff voice, "the dollars are of the
standard gauge and are secured by bonds, which operate as
a mortgage on all this fair county. Then we get $95,000
more out of Dakota county. Then we have mortgaged the
road tor $90,000 more, the whole amounting to $272,000 for
building the road twenty-seven miles. Could von do better
than that in Brazil? And it is a great thing for Dakota and
Dixon counties. We carry their freight nearly as cheap
as they used to haul it in common wagons, and passengers
are conveyed at but a trifle in advance of the old fashioned
price. People also have the fun of seeing this train run
every day up and down the valley, and for the sight, in con-
sideration of the $272,000, we don't at present make extra
charge. Nor have we made so much as you might think in
this enterprise. We have not saved to exceed $70,000 out
of the $272,000 after building and equipping the road,"

"Verily," quoth the senor. "all this is wonderful to me.
A I) igg rabb!" which, being interpreted, means that it "shows
remarkable financiering."

"But will you build it further this year?" continued the
senor.

"Yes." replied the voice, "we have the iron for eighty
miles more: we also have the ties, and we are having our
work done cheap, very cheap indeed."

296 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

"Where is this vast amount of iron and ties?" inquired
the senor.

"They will be found in the affidavit lately made before
Judge Dillon in the case of Hubbell vs. The Company.
Hut I must hurry along; good bye/'

As Senor Algamonez was returning toward Ponca after
thus interviewing the railroad train and the general man-
ager, he was so stricken with amazement at what he had
seen and heard that he could not hut reflect that it might
he most expedient for him to throw up the commission
which brought him here, and retire bv the shortest route
from the country.

"And especially," said he. "do I desire once more to see
mv native land, for I have caught an idea that will make
me rival the imperial Dom Pedro in riches. As soon as I
get there I will set forth with my children and we will dig a
furrow across the plain which lies between the cities of
Penumblebuz and Baradocia, and along the apex of the welt
then made, we will stretch two slim spindles of iron, and
thus we too will have a railroad. Allured by the wonderful
invention which I will bring from Dixon and Dakota
counties, Penumblebuz and Baradocia will hasten to vote me
bonds for $182,000, and 1 will mortgage the road for $90,000
more. Thus with my money and my road I will be rich. My
brother Azbigasell shall be master mechanic, and he shall
build and guide the little wagons whose wheels, like revolv-
ing fly specks, shall bowl along. My cronies, Toda and Lick-
mishoe. and also my progeny, shall stand around and see
that the peons build the track and bridges, and shall also see
that they do the work for nothing, for I cannot afford to pay
out the money I shall earn with such hard thought. As for
me. I will be the General Manager." Thus meditating, he
noticed a heavily laden freight car standing on the switch at
Ponca depot and stopped to examine it.

'This tiny and fragile shell," said the senor, "is neverthe-
less as neat and commodious as the hollow of my hand. My
brother Azbigasell shall build me several of these. The
temptation comes strong upon me, born doubtless of my new
views of life since my interview with the General Manager,
to appropriate and carry off this little box. Yet greatly as I
desire to pocket it, I will resist the thought. I might have

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 297

to throw out its load of grain, and God forbid that I should
waste even a kernel of corn, much less these several quarts
of good wheat, and thereby deprive some poor fellow of a
meal."

As he turned regretfully away from the temptation, he
again heard in the distance the shrieks of the little train,
whose quivering squeals pathetically reminded him of the
little pigs that played about the streets of Penumblebuz.

On his return to Brazil a few weeks after, Senor Algamo-
nez went into the business of railroad building, taking as a
pattern the road he had seen.

It may be of interest if we relate how the senor succeeded
in his undertaking.

Penumblebuz and Baradocia are. as is well known,
situated in a remote part of Brazil, wherein, hitherto, no
railroad had been built. Hence, when the senor after his
return home, suggested such an enterprise, the citizens of
that country were greatly delighted, and especially were they
pleased to think that the road would be continued to the
rich mining and lumber region of Terra Del Fuego, thereby
opening an avenue of trade and commerce, establishing
markets for produce, etc.

Baradocia immediately voted $87,000 in bonds and
Penumblebuz voted $90,000, to be paid when the road was
completed between those places. As the distance across the
plains between the two towns was not great, (about twenty
miles.) this large amount in bonds was encouraging, as it
was more than sufficient to complete the work. Yet to
make the road surely successful in a financial point of view,
the senor before commencing work, mortgaged it for $4,500
per mile. Thus he had an abundance of means wherewith
to triumphantly carry out this great project of internal
improvement, and hence set to work with a cheerful heart.
He employed all the men and teams within a two day's
journey to come and work, and they shoveled and dug. and
with so much industry and diligence that in a short time a
ridge of dirt was developed across the plain. Then a vast
number of little sticks were hauled in and laid upon the
apex of the ridge. Then many pounds of iron in long strips
were nailed upon the sticks in two parallel lines some three
feet apart, thus forming the track. Then a whole wagon

898 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

load of engines and cars were brought and planted on the
track. Then the whistles of the engines tooted, the bells
rang and the people shouted for joy, and they said: "Behold
the Narrow Gauge! Lo, the Penumblebnz, Baradocia &
Terra Del Fuego Railroad is a success."

In his business excitement the senor omitted (uninten-
tionally) to pay those who had dug up the ground for him,
who had hauled dirt in wagons, who had brought in and
laid down the little sticks and who had furnished the iron,
the engines and cars. But he was reminded of these slight
omissions when the bills were presented. From the bills it
appeared that the entire charges for all these matters
amounted to about $75,000. The senor could, of course, have
paid that amount readily, for the bonds from the towns and
the mortgage on the road, had realized $274,500. Hence
after paying the $75,000, he would have nearly $200,000 left,
and he would also have the road, which he very properly
estimated to be worth something. At least the track had
some market value, even if he considered it as no more than
old iron.

But the senor wisely concluded that even if he were
making a good thing out of the enterprise, it was no sign
that those who furnished the iron, ties and labor should
charge the exorbitant sum of $75,000 therefor, consequently
he very properly refused to pay a cent of it.

When the ungrateful people who had been blessed with a
railroad, tried to force him to pay, he put all his property
into the hands of his brother Asbigasell, rather than submit
to extortion. Thus we perceive that virtue triumphs in
Brazil as well as in this country!

Then those who held the mortgage foreclosed the same,
a receiver was appointed to take the road, and the senor
went into bankruptcy, broke down and with the money
safely buttoned in his pockets, retired like a persecuted
martyr from a remorseless country! Such is the brief
history of the 1'., B. & T. I). F. R. R.

After these vicissitudes the senor again came to this
country where thereafter he proposed to reside and en-
gage in the construction of railroads. He contemplated
locating at some center of vast enterprises of that kind and
join in the work with other capitalists of like ambition.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 299

"We will," said the senor, "combine oar intelligence and
capital, and will build (or at least we will promise to build)
railroads for those localities which will vote bonds to us.
We will, perchance, form a society, which for its great use-
fulness and beneficence, will be handed down to posterity
under the distinguished name of 'Inh ung swind lers,'
(which being interpreted from the Brazilian signifies. 'A
confederation of narrow gauge magnates.' ) Thus honored and
prosperous in this world, we shall in the next be entitled to
fill comfortable stations in that radiant clime where cold
weather never penetrates."

DIXON COUNTY'S CAVES.

And Professor Perrigoue's Remarkable Discoveries of Pre-
historic Vegetation and Animals Therein.

The story of Dixon County's alleged great caves and the
marvellous discoveries there about twenty years ago by Pro-
lessor Jeremiah Perrigoue, will to most readers be found
more interesting than an unromantic journey through a dry
and unembellished routine of facts and figures.

Jeremiah Perrigoue came to Ponca in 75, and for several
years dug wells and ditches, and when he had leisure hunted
in the rocks and bluffs along the river for minerals and fos-
sils, desiring to find gold, silver or coal; or if he could not
strike a deposit of such valuable minerals he hoped at least
to unearth a plesiosaurus as Mr. Brewer had done some years
before. By the aid of an old book on geological formations
and the ancient gigantic vegetation and animals that once
were on the earth, he accumulated a long list of jaw-
breaking names like Thascolotherium, Ichthyosaurus,
Pterodactyl. Lepidodendron, Dinotherium, Giganteum and
others, and though he could not talk very learnedly about
those ancient vegetable and animal productions he certainly
could discourse glibly concerning them, (and probably with
as much knowledge of what he was talking about as the ma-
jority of mankind) and about the cretaceous and carboni-
ferous ages and the old red sandstone and Potsdam periods,
as familiarly as though he had been well acquainted with
them all his life.

During the summer of '76, some parties dug a large hole

300 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

near Ponca Landing for the purpose of finding coal. The
shaft was four feet in diameter and was sunk to a depth of
eighty-five feet, when becoming discouraged and out of
money to continue the work, the parties abandoned the enter-
prise. Mr. Perrigoue, whose geological researches along the
bluffs had given him the name of "professor," was one of the
workmen, and when the shaft was abandoned he assumed pos-
session of it and proposed to make further investigations on
his own hook.

A few days after, he appeared in town and announced
that he had made some marvellous discoveries, and had
passed through experiences so incredible and astonishing
that he hesitated about telling them. He said that during
the greater part of two days, he had been at least a thousand
feet under ground and had traveled miles and miles through
a great net work of lofty caverns. If his story were true,
one would be led to believe that Dixon County was above
an immense, petrified, primeval forest of the carboniferous
age, in which were trees fifteen to forty feet in diameter,
and the fossil remains of many of the ancient organic beings
of that period. Animals which, in everything excepting life,
appeared as natural as when they were on earth a million or
more years ago.

The story of his subterranean travels and discoveries as
he related it. was indeed wonderful. If he did not actually see
what he claimed, he might have dreamed it, or if he did not
di:eam he may have been overcome by an unharnessed imag-
ination run wild. But here it is, substantially:

While the shaft above referred to was being dug, Prof.
Perrigoue said he noticed that the workmen were greatly
troubled in their digging by water, yet when they had pene-
trated to a depth of about 60 feet the water suddenly disap-
peared. This phenomenon was precisely what happened in
that vicinity a few years before when Mr. Wernimont was
boring for coal. Reflecting on this. Prof. Perrigoue came to
the conclusion that the leakage was caused by a fissure in
the rock communicating with some opening beneath and
possibly with a cavern of greater or less dimensions.

Animated by this hope, he set to work after the shaft had
been abandoned by the others, and determined to make a
thorough examination of it. As he descended to the bottom

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 301

of the shaft, 85 feet, he carefully examined its sides, (the
last forty feet of which were in a rock formation) and he dis-
covered a long, narrow seam extending from the bottom up-
ward a distance of twenty-five feet or more, through which
had escaped the water referred to. Near the bottom of
the shaft he was enabled by a miner's pick to easily enlarge
the crevice to the distance of a few feet, the rock being soft
and porous, and to his joy he saw the seam had widened to
such an extent that no further labor was required to pass
through it. The direction of the crevice was northeasterly
and descended at an angle of about 50 degrees.

Carefully groping his way along in the dim light of a
miner's lamp, he had entered the passage not to exceed two
hundred yards when his route turned sharply to the left and
a most startling scene met his gaze. He saw a vast cavern
beneath, through the roof of which opened the crevice he
had followed. This subterranean world was pervaded by a
weird and ghostly light coming from whence he knew not
but the cause of which he afterwards ascertained.

The roof of the cavern was supported by an innumerable
number of what appeared to be immense stone columns of
great diameter at the base. He noticed that these columns
were not stalactites, which, as one may say, start from the
roof and grow downward; but were larger at the floor and be-
came smaller as they ascended. In this as well as in other
respects, they resembled trees; thus, frequently a column at
the height of a few hundred feet became divided into many
smaller branches, and would finally be lost in what a slight
stretch of imagination would picture as an ocean of foliage,
now, however, by the process of petrifaction, turned to stone,
and forming the roof of the cavern.

On descending to the floor of the cavern, which he easily
did by means of the petrified foliage, he found that the mas-
sive columns were, indeed, fossil trees, probably the lepidod-
rendra and the sigillaria, which are often found in coal forma-
tions, and were gigantic in size, from 500 to 800 feet high,
and most prolific in foliage. Hence he concluded that he
was in an ancient petrified forest, and he naturally inquired
how it was possible that this vast primeval growth of enor-
mous trees and magnificent foliage could have been thus
buried so far below the visible world, and by what freak,

302 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

aature had planted and sustained upon their tops the rocks
and hills of Dixon County.

From these reflections, coupled with the knowledge of
the assertions of geologists as to the different formations of
this country, he came to a conclusion, which, although in
some respects at variance with geological theories, is prob-
ably the only one by which the phenomena can be accounted
for. His opinion was that ages ago when this immense
forest grew and nourished, the floor of the cavern was the
surface of the earth. That the great inundation spoken of
by geologists as having occurred during or shortly after the
carboniferous period, covered the forest to the topmost
branches, and that this beautiful and fertile country was
overwhelmed by a great inland sea, sweeping down from the
north with vast force, and bearing upon the surface of its
rapid current, great masses of ice, earth and even rocks,
which, finding a small lodgment at first upon the top of the
forest, was added to year by year during the countless ages
of the flood's continuance, until where once was a wide
waste of water, the fair hills and valleys of Dixon County,
rose in all their beauty like Venus from the foam of
the ocean. But the foundation beneath was sound and
secure, the same power that planted 600 feet of rocks and
earth upon its top, transformed the forest and its foliage
into the hardest flint, upon which a much greater weight
could rest with safety. Then when the flood passed away,
it left the ancient forest as Professor Perrigone now found
it.

From this theory he deduced other conclusions, viz: If
this w^ere once a forest, he would find within it the petrifica-
tions of the ancient gigantic animals which made it their
home. Should he not find them, too, as perfect in their pre-
servation as were the trees and plants about him? Ani-
mated by these thoughts, he resolved to explore the cavern
to the utmost. To determine his exact direction he exam-
ined his pocket compass, hut to his annoyance he found that
the needle would no longer work with precision, and he was
led to believe that large beds of iron ore were in that
vicinity. The compass being no longer a safe guide it was
necessary to move with caution, lest he lose himself in the
vast solitudes and never be able to make his way out to the

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 303

upper world. Therefore, critically observing bis where-
abouts as he proceeded, he moved slowly forward. As he ad-
vanced, the light, which he had noticed at first, became
more and more brilliant and he had accomplished 4,000
paces (about two miles), when the scene was lit up as by
a noon-day sun.

In the meanwhile he noticed many other proofs that this
was an ancient forest. Clumps of smaller trees, bushes,
vines, etc.. were seen in all directions, and he could hardly
realize that they were petrifications, so natural and perfect
did they appear. The ground (or rather rock), upon which
he walked, was nearly level, yet he was greatly annoyed by
the broad leaved petrified grass, which ran up like so many
sword blades, and rendered his journey not only difficult, but
extremely dangerous. The grass upon which the Mammoths,
Mastodons, Dinothera and other monsters of old had pastur-
ed, would not naturally be of a rank growth in a dense
forest like this, yet he noticed many of the stalks were fif-
teen to twenty feet high.

As he struggled slowly forward through the stony net-
work of vines and tangled grasses, he fortunately came to
what seemed to have been a broad and well defined path, on
which he found he could travel with comfort and safety, and
which in the prehistoric ages had doubtless been the tramp-
ing ground of the denizens of the forest. In this path he
noticed several footprints, unlike anything he had ever seen
before, some of them of a very great size. One of them, es-
pecially, was so exceedingly large that he measured it, and
found its diameter to be a little over four feet, The steps of
this old prehistoric king were about thirty-seven feet apart.

A little further on a very interesting sight met his gaze.
Over a clump of small trees or bushes, which did not exceed
125 feet in height, a mass of vines had grown. Upon these
he saw vast numbers of berries of a beautiful red color,
which, mingled with the dark green of the leaves, presented
a very attractive appearance. These berries were from ten
inches to two feet in diameter, and the leaves from six to
eight feet long, and about half that in width. Very tiny
specimens indeed, of the age of gigantic vegetation. So per-
fect did this charming bower of vines appear, that at first he
was almost constrained to believe that here was something

304 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

which had escaped the general curse of fossilization. Upon
one of bhe berries which had fallen to the ground, he noticed
a petrified worm about twenty inches long, whose depreda-
tions on this particular berry had, a million years ago, caused
it to fall before its time.

More closely viewing this natural arbor of fruits and
vines In' saw upon one of the branches, a bird, which in
man) respects, resembled a gigantic pigeon; round smooth
head, short but broad wings, and in color a dark blue, and
which in its day was doubtless deemed a beautiful and
peaceable songster. Its height was at tout five feet.

A little way below this bird, was another winged denizen
of the forest. Its body was small, not to exceed six feet in
length, but it had a head nearly as long and as large as its
body. Its powerful jaws, tilled with long sharp teeth, gave
it a most forbidding aspect. It had four feet and broad
membranous wings, from which the professor concluded
that this was the terrible and ferocious winged reptile of the
Tertiary period, known as the Pterodactyl, the fossil remains
of one of which he had seen in Chicago, and this there-
fore he readily recognized. This cruel reptile had evidently
been laying in wait for the bird over his head with intent
to devour it, when the flood sweeping down had destroyed
both, and turned them and all their surroundings to imper-
ishable stone.

Having sufficiently viewed these relics of a buried age,
the professor passed onward, following the old beaten path
as before. He was now about two miles from the place of
entrance. As he advanced, he noticed directly before him
what he at first supposed to be a lofty mound. He ap-
proached it. feeling assured that here was some new wonder,
nor was he mistaken. Before him was the monarch of the
forest, the same old Mastodon or Dinotherium, whose tracks
had hitherto excited his attention. In shape, the monster
somewhat resembled an elephant; it was built heavily and
clumsily, but instead of two tusks it had four, and its mouth
was armed with formidable teeth, from two to three feet
long. In length it measured about 90 feet, its breadth :>4
feet, and its height when standing must have been not less
than 60 feet. Its trunk, 35 feet in length, measured 12 feet
in diameter at its base, and tapered gradually to its end.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 305

The tusks were from 18 to 20 feet long. The eyes of this
monster, three feet across, seemed to scan their visitor with
such an appalling glare, that all his fortitude and philosophy
were required to restrain him from turning and fleeing from
the fearful presence.

Moving forward, the professor soon found himself upon
the bank of a narrow, subterranean river. In the distance,
and at a point inaccessible to him. a broad sheet of water
fell with a deafening roar from the roof into the river below.

He was here enabled to ascertain the cause of the bril-
liant illumination of the cavern. High up in the roof and
apparently not far from the source of the stream, was a
fracture, through which rays of sunlight, reflected from the
rocks above, were thrown with great brilliancy upon the
waterfall, which thus blazed like a great curtain of fire.
How the light could be thrown down such a distance and
produce a result of such remarkable brilliancy, he was at a
loss to comprehend. Yet of such being the fact, he had
optical evidence.

As he was meditating on this and on the other wonders
he hud that day seen, he noticed that the waterfall was
becoming more and more dim, and in a short time the light
totally disappeared, leaving him with but his lamp to illumi-
nate the solitude. Looking at his watch, he saw that it was
sundown, and being very tired, he camped upon the bank of
the river for the night.

At six o'clock the next morning, he noticed a faint light
upon the waterfall, indicating the first blush of dawn in the
world above. In a short time the light increased, until at 8
o'clock the waterfall gleamed as brightly as the day before.
Then he arose, ate breakfast and drank from the river, and
pursued his investigations.

Wandering along the bank, he noticed a little thicket a
few paces back, through the matted foliage of which he dis-
covered another remarkable petrifaction. It was a huge
animal, resembling a sloth, only vastly larger. Its length
was 24 feet and was about 14 feet high. It had a large body
and strong legs; its head was round or nearly so, and in its
solid jaws were planted a double row of massive teeth. It
had four legs, and on its feet were three immensely long and
powerful claws or fingers. A broadtail, resembling in shape

306 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

an oar blade, bui of amazing length, swept the ground for
i:> or 20 paces. The appearance of thishuge beast indicated
that it was not carnivorous, but was designed to make its
home among the branches of the trees, the hark and
leaves of which furnished it food. The professor concluded,
and doubtless correctly, that this was the ancient Megathe-
rium, whose gigantic fossil remains are often found in the
Tertiary period of the Mamallion age.

A little further, he came to what resembled a turtle. It
had an oblong flattish body, was about ten feet long and
stood some live or six feet high. It was covered with scales
and was equally at home on land or in water. It had eyes
of most malignant expression, and teeth which when it lived
would have made it a very unpleasant acquaintance.

Pursuing his investigations down the river, the professor
next came to where several enormous reptiles had been
caught by the Hood and all destroyed while in the very act
of a desperate battle. He counted three of these formidable
carnivorous animals, two of which were plesiosaura and
seemed to have been united in giving battle to the third, an
ichthyosaurus of an amazing size. All of them were lizard
like in shape, the ichthyosaurus was, however, three or four
times as large as the plesiosaurus. The ichthyosaurus was
in length about 60 paces, or about ISO feet, and in all its pro-
portions was the most enormous of anything he had yet
seen. The jaws of this monster, 60 feet in length, and armed
with a fearful array of powerful fangs, would, when expand-
ed, have compassed and crushed within them at one gulp
half the buildings of Ponca. In this battle with his more
feeble adversaries, he was evidently on the offensive. The
necks of the plesiosaurans he held crushed in his jaws, and
there, mangled and dying, these reptiles had in their agonies,
torn up the earth as by the shock of an earthquake.

From the scene of this fearful conflict, the professor now
found another path leading back into the forest. As he re-
resumed his walk he could not forbear reflecting on the
littleness and insignificance, not only of mankind hut of
all things now living, animal and vegetable, when compared
with the tremendous creations surrounding him. The tiny
flowering plants of the upper earth, were magnified a thous-
and fold. The insignificant tadpole species, here became

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 307

salaniandroids, with round bodies six feet in diameter, while
in place of the harmless lizard he beheld what he recognized
as the magalosaurus and iguanodon, 60 to 90 feet long, and
whose powerful tails would at one sweep overthrow the
largest trees and rocks of our day.

In an open glade he saw collected a number of enormous
beasts and reptiles, the names of which he found no difficulty
in determining. Among the in, he recognized the clinotherium,
an animal whose height was thirty feet, while its body
was three times that in length, with a girth of least eighty
feet. The ferocious aspect of this monstrosity of nature, the
malignant and baleful glare of its eyes, its tusks, sharp as
swords and of such an amazing length that sixty feet could
be measured between their points, and more than all, the
vast strength displayed in its trunk, fifty feet long and thirty
feet around it at the base — made a spectacle which would
have struck terror to a heart less stout than that of Prof.
Perrigoue.

The lifelike appearance of the different petrifactions was
startling, and could hardly be accounted for by any known
laws of nature. The color, the hair, even the expressions of
countenance, were so perfect, that one could with difficulty
believe that these animals only existed a long series of ages
ago.

Near by, the professor also saw the paleotherium, another
immensely large and strong beast, the progenitor in remote
ages of the hippopotamus and rhinoceros, and even, as is
claimed by some, of the tapir and hog, but unlike them in
its extraordinary size, being eighteen feet high when standing
erect, with a body proportionately large and of a length not
less than forty feet. Here, also, were several species of the
saurian tribe, and to the left, were a group of horned serpents
and winged frogs. One of the latter, measured by the pro-
fessor, was found to be thirteen and one-half feet high.
Pursuing his way, the professor next entered a portion of the
forest which seemed to combine the brilliant splendors of the
tropics with a grandeur aud magnificence, rarely to be seen
on the upper earth. On either hand, the towering trees were
almost hidden by their luxuriant foliage and the innumera-
ble vines and plants which, creeping upward by a myriad of
convolutions, had woven themselves together, and overhead

808 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

had formed a perfect arbor. Through this dense growth of
vegetation, by some curious freak of nature, opened a wide
avenue. As the professor walked along it, he gazed with
admiration upon the choice and many colored fruits and
flowers on either h ind. Amid the variety of fruit he recog-
nized none as belonging to this age, except the grapes, which
hung in great abundance and in clusters of such size that a
single one would have weighed him dow 7 n. Slowly he
traversed this romantic pathway, drinking in the beauty of
the scene, and it was with great difficulty he could realize
that all these regal splendors were but the petrifactions of
existence in the earth's infancy.

After a walk of several miles through these scenes, the
professor returned toward the river and at night found him-
self again on the bank, where he slept on the camping ground
of the night before. The next morning he deemed it proper
to leave the cavern, his provisions being nearly exhausted,
proposing, however, to revisit it again, and bring away, if
possible, some of the fossils which there abounded. He
therefore retraced his steps, regaining with some difficulty,
the crevice in the rocks by which he had descended. From
here, after resting himself a short time and making a final
survey of the great cavern he was leaving, he started for the
outer world. In the passage leading up to the shaft he
noticed that the air was becoming very impure. In the
lower cavern he had not been troubled by fire damp, but in
this upper passage, it seemed exceedingly and dangerously
prevalent. Ashe passed on, he saw that the air inside of the
gauze covering to his lamp had taken fire. The safety
lamps of coal mines, w r hen properly constructed, can be
easily regulated, and if the air takes lire within the lamp, it
can be readily extinguished; but in this home-made lamp.
Professor P. found it impossible to extinguish the flame. He
knew that in a few T minutes at least, the protecting wires
would become red hot, then melt, and an explosion would oc-
cur which would inevitably bring the roof dowm upon him
and bury him alive. With horror, he hurled the lamp from
him, and fled as fast as possible. So rapid w r ere his motions
that in Ave minutes at most, he passed from the crevice into
the shaft and from thence to the upper world again. As he
emerged from the shaft the roar of the explosion greeted

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 309

his ears. He immediately examined to ascertain what dam-
age, if any, had been done by the explosion, and he found
that though what dirt had been thrown into the shaft could
easily be taken out again, the worst calamity resulting had
been the settling of the rocks and the closing of the fissure
through which he had entered, and possibly throughout its
entire length. Greatly disappointed at this disastrous con-
clusion of his adventures, he came up to town as stated at
the commencement of this narration and made report of his
discoveries.

VOLCANIC PHENOMENA.

Thrilling Adventures of a Party of Scientists While

Making Investigation.

The story of Prof. Perrigoue's discoveries a few pages
back, and this one about the Ionia volcano, are samples of
what old settlers sometimes amused themselves with. They
have all been forgotten in late years. As to the volcano,
that as well as the pretty village of Ionia, were long ago
washed out by the Missouri, and the memory of them alone
remains.

In 1876 and 1877 there was much talk and many theories
in relation to the phenomena that were seen near Ionia,
known as the "volcano." A great many people went there
to see it, and returned home no wiser than before. They
saw a burning hill which threw off intense heat and suffo-
cating fumes and in the darkness of night glowed like a
great bed of fire, but the cause of it was a mystery, and
aside from the explanation given by Prof. Aughey, is as much
of a mystery now as it was then. It is not likely there was
anything about it resembling a volcano, yet some insisted
that it was one, and in corroboration, claimed that occasion-
ally sounds could be heard beneath the surface, and that at
such times, steam would escape from the crevices, and dirt
and even stones be thrown up.

Among those whose curiosity gave them a desire to visit
and see the alleged volcano, were three gentlemen from
Iowa, Messrs. Vance, Andrews and Brown. They came up to
Ponca from Sioux City one afternoon late in the fall of '77,
and the next morning employed Mr. Green of the livery

310 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

firm of Green & Palen to take fchem to the scene of mystery.
As tin 1 gentlemen had with them a number of scientific
instruments, such as a compass and chain, several long,
diamond-pointed drilling rods, a thermometer, etc., curiosity
was considerably aroused as to who they were and the
cause of their visit. It was said by some that they were
railroad engineers: others maintained they were a party
of land hunters, while others on seeing the drilling
apparatus, affirmed that the strangers were prospecting for
coal. A facetious surmise was, that one of them, a tall, fine
looking gentleman with a slightly foreign cast of count-
enance, was the Brazilian Traveler; that another, a short.
energetic man. was Gen. Manager Davenport, of the C. C. &
B. H. R. R., and that the intellectual appearance of the
third, denoted Prof. Jones of New York. All joking aside,
however, the gentlemen really bore the commonplace names
above mentioned and were not known to fame by anything
remarkable. A natural diffidence about exposing to the
public the object of their visit, led them to be reserved and
reticent. After a trip which lasted three days the party
returned from Ionia and the next morning took the train
for Sioux City.

Out of this little expedition to see the Ionia volcano, grew
various stories, and the numerous yarns, aided and added to
by the imagination of the tellers, made out that the gentle-
men in question had made some very important discoveries
and in doing so, had passed through many exciting ad-
ventures. In due time a few of these stories were collected
together and boiled down and their differences harmonized
as much as possible and the result was a narrative probablv
no more improbable than the account which Prof. Perrigoue
gave of his discoveries of caves and the petrifactions of pre-
historic animals.

According to the story, Messrs. Vance, Andrews and
Brown, accompanied by Mr. Green had visited the volcano
and explored it thoroughly, and in doing so had. indeed, pass-
ed through some dangerous adventures. The account of
their trip thus given was that at noon of the day they start-
ed out from Ponca, they arrived at Ionia. Leaving the town
to their right, they in a short time reached the rough dis-
trict in the neigborhood of the volcano, the close proximity

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 311

of which was indicated by dense sulphurous fumes prevail-
ing the atmosphere. The horses were now securely tied,
and the party proceeded forward on foot. Approaching by
means of difficult paths through a wild region, they soon
stood on the summit of a lofty bluff, overlooking the river,
and from which a wide extent of country was visible. In
front rolled the tumultuous Missouri, across whose dirty
bosom nature had commenced throwing a bridge of ice. Be-
yond and about a mile away, were the low lands and dense
forests of Dakota. At their right they looked down into the
pleasant little valley in which nestled cosily among its
shrubbery and trees, the little town of Ionia. On their left
and up the river, they beheld a long range of bluffs and
broken land as far as the eye could reach.

The wild grandeur of the scene, was, however, disregard-
ed, as they beheld the real object of their search revealing
itself by its spires of smoke, just below and immediately in
front of them. Hastily scrambling down the almost perpen-
dicular sides of the bluff, the party stood on the spot so well
known as the Ionia volcano. Imagine an oblong tract con-
taining perhaps ten acres, whose myriads of funnel shaped
mouths continually emitted a murky cloud. As they went
forward over the plateau, the heat was intense. Beneath
their feet sparkled beds of coals, and the air laden with
noxious vapors, was almost overpowering. The phenomena
seemed more wonderful as night came on. What in the
daylight appeared as jets of vapor, resembling smoke, were
now of a bright bluish color, and as their columns ascended
were variegated with brilliant flashes. It was noticed that
this luminous vapor did not discharge itself uniformly, but
would continue only from four to six minutes, then cease for
a short interval and then commence again. It was also no-
ticed that the discharges of vapor from the numerous orifices
all occurred at the same time, thus indicating by their con-
cert of action that their streams were all from one common
reservoir. Just previous to an irruption, a low rumbling
sound would be heard, accompanied by a slight trembling of
the earth. All these various phenomena would in the light
and noise of day hardly be noticed, but now were clearly
apparent.

Mr. Vance stated that during his travels in South Amer-

312 HISTORY OF D1XUM COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

ica and especially in Europe he had visited several volcanoes
and had studied them considerably, and he was compelled to
acknowlege that this, though on a small scale, bore a strik-
resemblance to them. The discharges at regular intervals,
the jailing of the earth and the dull sound which anticipat-
ed the eruptions, were a counterpart of the phenomena he
had witnessed at Vesuvius and iKtna.

For the purpose of more fully testing the question
whether these eruptions were occasioned by volcanic action,
the party now proposed to drill down through the earth anil
rock, which was an easy matter as the rock, owing to the
extreme heat, seemed to be softened to the consistency of
dry clay.

Taking their hollow diamond pointed iron rods, they
selected a spot near to one of the largest jets of vapor, and
were enabled to drill downward very rapidly. In the course
of three hours they penetrated to a depth of about sixty feet.
The drawing of the rods occupied some time as they were
white hot, and it was near midnight when the last joint was
taken out. Then a heavy explosion took place, accompanied
by a tremendous discharge, not of luminous vapor alone, but
of what appeared to be a stream of liquid fire, which thrown
to a height of at least 75 feet, fell like a cataract of flame.
The display lasted a little less than five minutes, then
ceased, and after this first grand exhibition of earth's tire-
works, the eruptions were merely of luminous vapor, the
same as was emitted by the thousand little volcanic
mouths around them.

This wonderful discharge of fire was accompanied by a
number of red hot stones; some of them, indeed, were melted
by the violent heat. It was afterwards ascertained that this
brilliant display was witnessed by several persons about ten
miles distant in Dakota, who supposed that an enormous
meteor was rising above the horizon. Mr. Vance, by this
experiment, was more than ever convinced that this was a
veritable volcano, and he assured his companions that the
great source or fountain of tire was but a little way beneath
them.

It now being early morning, the party went back to
their carriage and rested until daylight, when they again
returned to the volcanic field. The displays of the night

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 313

had passed with the darkness, and only a few spindles of
vapor were visible, and a stranger might pass over without
discerning anything unusual. He would find his mistake,
however, if he attempted to walk with bare feet. The most
sedate personage in such predicament, would undoubtedly
perform a hornpipe in a very undignified manner. The
morning light revealed several other interesting facts which
had hitherto escaped attention. Though the weather was cold,
and as a general thing vegetation had been dead for two
months past, it was noticed that in several ravines adjacent
to the volcanic field, the grass was green and luxuriant.
Some of it was six inches high, and evidently growing in a
good, healthy condition. Mr. Andrews clipped some to take
east to show his friends what Nebraska could do in the
winter time. Mr. Green also took occasion to cut off a
quantity of it for his steeds, to whom it was a luxurious
repast.

The earthquake, which a few weeks before, had been
severely felt in Dixon county, was referred to in the conver-
sation respecting the volcano, and inquiry was made of Mr.
Vance, who seemed to have a very complete knowledge of
such matters, as to whether in his opinion such earthquake
was in any manner connected with the phenomena they
were witnessing. The reply of Mr. Vance gave a new and
startling theory. "Here," said he, "is an undoubted volcano.
Below the surface, (nor is it far below, as we saw last night),
is a reservoir of fire, doubtless communicating with the in-
ternal fire of the earth. Near by flows the Missouri. My
opinion is that the earthquake was occasioned by the river
breaking through into the fiery caldron beneath us. If, for
example, you were to turn a stream of water into a crucible
of melted iron or any other mineral substance, a violent
commotion would immediately occur, and if the stream was
large an explosion would take place. The first will illustrate
an earthquake, the second a volcano."

To illustrate the truth of his theory, Mr. Vance poured
some water into the hole that had been drilled the
night before. Intantly they were saluted by an explosion
and a shower of stones. "Had this," said he "instead of a
quart of water, been one-tenth part of what flows by this
point in an hour, we would have had an earthquake like the

.-;,, HISTORY OF J)L\oN COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

one occasioned a few weeks ago. Finally, as the river con-
tinues fco encroach, a great breach will be made in the divid-
ing walls and an immense flood will rush in upon the molten
mass below. Then the spot where we stand, and perhaps
some space around will be tossed toward the clouds, stones
and lava hurled out, and a full-blown volcano inaugurated.
When the overflow of lava into the river blocks up the un-
derground channel and thus shuts off the irritating cause of
the commotion, the volcano will die away to a mere smoke
pot as it is called, until other changes cause the river to
break through again. If it were possible to discover this
underground channel, one might regulate the earthquake
and volcanic display at pleasure. Such was Mr. Vance's
theory.

The party deemed it now proper to further investigate
the bluffs in the neighborhood. As they wandered along-
they noticed in the ledges of the rocks many curious forma-
tions and petrifications. The whole day was thus occupied
in viewing these interesting subjects of study. Evening
came as they were resting at the foot of a rocky eminence,
preparatory to returning to the volcano which was about a
mile away.

Suddenly to their unutterable amazement, they distinct-
ly heard a distant musical sound, which continued a long-
time, then died away, and then commenced again. It w r as
faint, and as they heard it, seemed unearthly, yet it was mi-
ni istakeably military music. From whence it came they
had not the slightest idea, but it seemed to issue from a
crevice at the base of the rock. This astonishing phenom-
enon was worthy of immediate investigation. The crevice
which poured forth these sounds was about six inches in
width. With pick and bar the party proposed to drift their
way into the interior and discover if possible the cause of
such a new and unheard of mystery.

The opening from which the sounds emanated, seemed to
be an irregular fracture or break in the rocks, which ex-
tended perpendicularly some distance and which near the base
of the ledge was six or eight inches in width. A few blows
ot the pick upon the soft rock soon enlarged the crevice con-
siderably, and it was seen that that the opening rapidly

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 315

widened as it extended into the bluff. Having prepared
their lamps, the party made their way into the interior,
Mr. Vance taking the lead.

They found themselves in a ragged and rapidly widening
seam, the direction of which from the entrance was south-
easterly, and which was simply one of the innumerable net-
work of fissures and seams which intersect the bluffs along
the river.

The party scrambled along the rough pathway for 60 to
70 feet, when the passage, which had hitherto had been
growing wider, suddenly contracted, so much so, indeed,
that it was with the utmost difficulty that they were en-
abled to preceed at all.

At intervals they heard the same musical sounds which
had startled them at the outset.

About fifty feet farther on, the party found the fissure
intersected nearly at right angles by a still narrower crevice.
From this new r break in the rock, which was not over two
inches in width, they found proceeding the subterranean
melody, which they now heard w T ith much greater distinct-
ness than before.

So distinct, indeed, were the sounds, that the tones of the
different instruments were clearly distinguished. Mr. Green,
on listening intently, stated that the different melodies were
those usually played by the Ponca band.

Yet it could not be possible, the distance, 12 miles, utterly
precluding such a conclusion. Mr. Green also now called to
mind that this was the evening which had been selected by
the band for practice.

"If such is the case," said Mr. Vance, "this musical phe-
nomena can be explained. As in all volcanic countries, this
region is permeated by an infinite number of breaks or fis-
sures. These fissures are so many pneumatic tubes, through
which, sounds may be conveyed to a great distance. Exper-
iments have demonstrated that even so low a sound as a
whisper may be heard miles away. If, therefore, this band
is playing near some opening, as for instance a well, which
is intersected by this natural system of pneumatic tubes un-
derlying Dixon county, we need seek no further for the solu-
tion of this apparent mystery."

The party listened for some time, and until the distant

316 HISTORY i)V DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

music died away and finally ceased altogether. Even though
they could readily account for it, yet such sounds in that
rocky retreat were peculiarly interesting. The explanation
which Mr. Vance had given as to the cause, was now veri-
fied by the sound of a distant bell, which was instantly
recognized by Mr. Green as belonging to Ponca, and whose
sounds, lie stated, lie could not mistake. This hell, evi-
dently ringing tor nine o'clock, reverberated through the
rocky fissures in a weird and unearthly manner.

The party now proceeded on, intending to explore to the
end of the passage, which by reason of the rapidly closing-
walls seemed not far off. As they moved forward they
noted the different formations of the rocks, and perceived
occasionally, thin veins of coal, from six to ten inches thick,
embeded in layers of the finest slatestone. In one spot they
saw a vast accumulation of copperas; at another place a
species of yellow clay which Mr. Vance stated would,
if properly mixed with oil. make a most valuable mineral
paint. But what was still more wonderful, they found in
many spots great numbers of shells, thus indicating that
life had once existed wTiere the solid rock now stood. Thus
examining these interesting discoveries, the party slowly
continued to advance until they had penetrated to the dis-
tance of not less than 150 feet.

The passage had now become so extremely uarrow that
the explorers found very great difficulty in crowding them-
selves forward. In addition to this inconvenience they
found at this place, the way partially blocked up by a large
rock which had fallen from overhead. Beyond they saw by
throwing forward the light of their lamps, a much larger
opening in the rocks. With the aid of a pick they set to
work to break away a portion of the intervening rock, and
with so much success that in a short time they were able to
crawl past it. In their eagerness to get forward they did not
notice as they loosened the boulder, that the rocky walls en-
closing them trembled, nor did they realize their danger
until it was too late. This keystone, as it may have been
called, torn away, the walls closed with a crash, and only
because they had hastily scrambled through into the wider
passage beyond, were they saved from being crushed by the
rocky jaws.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 317

One can hardly imagine a more unfortunate situation
than that in which these adventurous gentlemen now found
themselves. The seam or fissure thus far followed, had
closed up behind them, and they were buried, as it appeared,
beneath 150 feet of rock.

The passage, wherein they were so fatally imprisoned,
was somewhat wider than the one they had traversed, but
its length they found to be a few paces only. Thus trapped,
they gloomily contemplated the dungeon surrounding them.

What was to be done? If anything could be accomplish-
ed to escape from their rocky tomb, it must be done without
delay. Even now, one of their lamps was going out and the
other would last but a short time longer.

Mr. Andrews seized the pick and wildly endeavored to
break his way back through the rock. A few blows showed
how utterly foolish and unavailing was the attempt.

Mr. Green, whose presence of mind under these appalling
circumstances was remarkable, suggested that probably
they would be searched for, their place of entrance discover-
ed, and if so, strenuous exertions would be made to break in,
to their relief.

But such a cheerful termination to their adventure could
not, on reflection, be entertained. Mr. Vance stated that
from his examination of the slope of the rocks as they passed
through, he felt sure that the closing of the crevice had ex-
tended to the surface, and that the exterior opening as well,
was so closed as to be visible only as a narrow seam. He
reasoned that there was no ground to hope for a discovery
of their situation by outside parties, and that even were it
possible to break their way back to the pneumatic tube and
through that give information to their friends of their
whereabouts, several months of hard labor would necessarily
be required to re-open the passage through the rock to them.

Mr. Green proposed as their retreat was cut off, they
should examine and see if there were not some other outlet
to the cavern.

Messrs. Green and Andrews went along the walls, exam-
ining them critically. At the farthest extremity, blows on
the rock revealed by the hollow sound an opening beyond.

It seemed that this part of the passage had been blocked
up by some loose pieces of slate rock, the removal of which

318 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

showed the continuation of the way into the bluff.

"Going in (Iocs not seem like getting out," said Mr. Vance
erimlv "still we will move in thai direction, rather than
give up in despair/'

The passage they continued to be the counterpart of
thai they had already traversed. But the rough walls,
veined with irregular layers of coal, slate stone and an occa-
sional deposit of (day and shells, no longer received the
geological attention of Mr. Vance. He and his companions
wot 1 too deeply engaged in meditating on the problem of
escape to the outer world, to regard the surroundings with
scientific interest. Had the rock inclosing them been pure
gold they would gladly have exchanged it for a safe deliver-
ance from their situation.

Thus, slowly and despairingly they moved forward, a
hundred or more yards. The walls, hitherto nearly parallel,
now contracted rapidly, and soon the fissure became so nar-
row that they dragged themselves along with difficulty, and
were in imminent danger of suffocation. The imprisoned
gentlemen were about to abandon all further exertion, and
yield themselves to the fate which seemed inevitable,
when suddenly the walls expanded into a wide and magnifi-
cent cavern. The roof was lofty, and from it, descending
to the floor, were seen immense stalactites, whose covering
of quartz blazed in the light of the lamp like mirrors of
silver.

A grand sight, truly, and one which under other circum-
stances would have delighted the eye of the geologist. Hut
in their unfortunate condition, the brilliant splendors which
surrounded them were scarcely noticed, and the sad pro-
cession of adventurers pressed wearily forward.

Traversing the length of the dazzling subterranean hall,
the party found and entered at its eastern extremity another
crevice or irregular seam in the rocks, the course of which
seemed to bear nearly to the northeast.

They now for the first time heard at regular intervals,
the low. throbbing sound of the volcano, which, therefore
they concluded was not far off. As they advanced the
sounds became more and more distinct, and the poisonous
fumes of sulphurous vapor, at first hardly discernable, soon
by their growing intensity, warned them of their approach

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 319

toward the abyss underlying the volcanic Held. Ere long,
far in the distance, through the dense vapors in front, the}'
caught glimses of a lurid sea, a chaos of Hame and smoke,
the intense heat and suffocating fumes of which utterly pre-
cluded further advance in that direction. There seemed,
then, to be no other alternative but to retrace their way.
Yet, where could they go? Was it possible to find an es-
cape from these labyrinths? As they revolved in their
minds these important questions, they saw in a little hollow
in the rock a small quantity of water. Perishing with thirst
this fortunate discovery was most welcome. Mr. Vance
noticed that to the right of the pool, and running northerly,
was a narrow opening, the sides and floor of which were
smoothed as by the action of water. By his advice the
party changed their course into this new passage, which,
unlike the irregular fissures they had previously followed,
was an easy pathway to their feet.

As they advanced they observed that pools of water in
their path became more numerous and finally covered it
altogether, thus presenting before them a channel, which,
as they found, grew deeper at every step.

Hence it seemed that their retreat in this direction was
also to be cut off. But the general despair at the new dan-
ger which menaced them, was not shared by Mr. Vance. On
the contrary, for the first time since their incarceration he
seemed encouraged and hopeful.

"It appears evident," said he, "that we have struck the
subterranean channel leading from the Missouri to the vol-
canic matter. Through this channel, when the river is
high, water will find its way to the abyss of fire, and other
conditions being favorable, an earthquake, or even an erup-
tive volcano will be the result. The surface of the water
before us shows the height of the river. Hence, let us go
forward. When we can walk no farther we will swim. It
is our only hope."

With these words he took the lead along the fast deepen-
ing channel. Soon the water came up to their necks, and
the lamp becoming extinguished, they were left in impene-
trable darkness. While in this fearful predicament, the par-
ty ascertained that the roof of the cavern was gradually

330 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

sloping downward as they proceeded, and was now within a
short distance of thesurfa e of tJ ' water, and must soon
sink beneath it.

The danger which this new discovery foreshadowed, and
which in their despair seemed the natural culmination of
the night's disastrous experiences, was forgotten as a shout
from Mr. Vance directed their attention to what appeared to
he a faint point of light, some distance in front of them.

As they swam toward it they became conscious that the
roof of the passage was descending more and more, until
finally, between it and the surface of the water, intervened
scarcely a hand's breadth of space, through which, however,
the light now gleamed brilliantly like a star of hope.
A moment more and they emerged from their watery prison
which here opened into the river. Fortunately the ice had
not yet formed at this point and they experienced no further
trouble in this most remarkable escape. As they came out
they found it was broad day — so they had been all night
wandering in the subterranean solitudes.

The joy of the adventurers at once more standing on the
upper earth, knew no bounds. Warming themselves by the
heat of the volcano, they hastened to where the horses were
tied and started for Ponca, where they arrived that evening.
The next day Mr Vance and his friends departed for the
east.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 8*1

INDIAN SCARE AND MASSACRE.

Story of the Perilous Days When Dixon County was on

the Frontier.

| The following story — written by one of our family -was
published several years ago in an Omaha paper. The story
is founded on the great scare of 1862, and the murder of the
Wiseman family, both of which have already been described
in these pages, and which took place about a year apart, but
for the purposes of this story are represented as occurring at
the same time. As to the flight of settlers from Niobrara
and the expedition from Ponca to that place in search of Indi-
ans, the story is nearly historically correct, and for that reason
is here inserted, but the part relating to the murder of the
Wiseman's is a long way off, and is not one-tenth as terrible
as were the actual facts.]

Dixon county was first settled about thirty-five years
ago. previous to which time, with the exception of an occa-
sional white man who ventured here to trade or hunt, the
Indians were the sole occupants. The first white men who
saw this country were Lewis and Clark, when they passed up
the Missouri river in 1804 on their expedition to the Pacific
coast.

Indian legends inform us that in very early days a
large Indian village was located near where Ponca now stands,
another one at Ionia, and still other important Indian towns
at Martinsburg and Dailey. In these various villages
resided portions of the Omahas, the Dakotas and the Poncas,
the latter being the predominating tribe in this part of the
country. These different bands were frequently engaged in
quarrels with each other, which often led to bloody conflicts.
One desperate battle which took place about a mile north of
Ponca, near the river, between a large number of Omaha and
Ponca warriors, resulted in a great slaughter of the former.
The Omahas had come down from the Dailey country, where
their town was located, on a raid, and were ambushed and
nearlv everv one slain.

......

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

However, these desperate encounters between different
bands occurred many years before the country was inhabited
by whites. It was in 1856 when the first adventurous spirits
located here, at which period the Indians in the vicinity, in
Qumbers or hostility, were not generally dangerous neigh-
bors. They would steal horses, but unless they had increas-
ed their courage and animosity by a supply of firewater,
they never showed a desire to practice on the whites any of
those hairlifting ceremonies which, among themselves, they
had previously been accustomed to engage in. Still, for
several years, it was not deemed entirely safe to be far away
from home without a gun.

Although those few primitive settlers experienced many
hardships and discouragements nothing of a startling charac-
ter occurred until 1S62. It was on October 14 of that year
when Ponca, then a village of perhaps forty people, was sud-
denly turned into a state of wild excitement and her usually
quiet streets were tilled with terrified men, women and
children.

The country between Poncaand Niobrara in 1862 w T as very
sparsely settled. Only at great distances apart could the
homesteaders' cabins be seen, and only now and then could
be found the soil turned over for cultivation. Those who
had drifted from the east and located in this part of the
country were forced to confront the usual disadvantages of
pioneer existence, and many obstacles fell in their paths to
thwart their hopes and intentions. This was the year in
which the Indian outbreak took place in Minnesota and
Dakota, thus creating general discontent among the Indian
tribes. Each night during this threatening period the fami-
lies in their lonely cabins knew it was possible that before
the dawn of the following morning they would be toma-
hawked and scalped and their homes reduced to ashes. Their
fears increased as the days went by, but. unwilling to aban-
don all their worldly possessions, they remained, only hoping
for the arrival of the time when the savages would be quelled
and peace and safety restored.

In October of the year in question, a friendly Winnebago
half-breed Indian passed through the settlements between
Ponca and Niobrara, scattering the report that an immense
number of Sioux warriors were approaching, bringing

HLSTOKY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 323

great destruction to lives and property, burning houses and
massacreing the in unites. So terrible a story of imminent
danger carried dismay into every household and caused the
strongest hearts to quail. On receipt of this awe inspiring
tale the question arose in the homesteader's mind as to
what course should be pursued to best secure protection
against the approaching danger.

In Ponca. on the October day above mentioned, about 5
o'clock in the afternoon, Mr. M. Q. DeAgley, the only mer-
chant of the town, was in the act of closing his place of busi-
ness for the day. when he heard the din of wagon wheels and
the tramp of horses, and in the course of a few moments a
long train of wagons, one after another, appeared, coming
over the hills which skirt the town on the west. Mi-. DeAgley,
knowing of the Indian outbreak, although it was at a consider-
able distance, was stricken by the fear that the moving wagons
were those of the red men and that they were stored with
the plunder reaped from the rural settlers, and that in am-
buscade lay the warriors waiting for darkness to come, when
Ponca should be spoliated, her inhabitants scalped and her
few rude dwellings and business houses swept aw T ay in smoke.
Mr. DeAgley went forthwith to state his fears to his neigh-
bors, and to assist them in preparations for defense against the
danger which seemed to be pending. But before he could
make the rounds, the streets were thronged by wagons
occupied, not by Indians, but by homesteaders who had been
impelled to make an exodus for the east by the report that
the Sioux savages were marching on Xiobrara. and were
designing to wipe out that place, as well as all the white set-
tlements between there and Sioux City.

It seems that a man named E. G. Smith, who lived about
eight miles south of Xiobrara. was the first recipient of the
exciting news, and without hesitation, he gathered into his
wagon his family, together with all the provisions, grain and
household goods that he could conveniently carry, and im-
mediately started out in an eastern direction. The dwellers
in the first cabin which he reached on his journey very wil-
lingly adopted his plan, and also loaded their wagons with
portions of their scanty wealth and followed on his eastern
exodus. In brief, each pioneer along the road did the same.

.;.., HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

until, when the company entered Ponca.it consisted of about
sixty teams and 200 persons.

The good people of this town, loth to see the desertion of
such a rich territory, encouraged the settlers to halt at this
point and consider what, under the circumstances, would be
best to do. A public meeting was held that evening to con-
sider the matter. It was an exciting gathering. Many
speeches were made, some maintaining that if they re-
mained in this country their lives would be in peril, while
others held that the story might be exaggerated and would
bear investigation.

After a careful and thorough discussion of the question
it was concluded to organize a corps of horsemen who would
leave the next morning and examine the territory between
Poncaand Niobrara. Those who could best leave their fam-
ilies were chosen to make up this company of scouts which
embraced about sixty hale and vigorous young horsemen.
some from Ponca. though the majoriity were of those who
had tied from the Niobrara country. The visitors were pro-
vided with quarters for the night, barns and cellars being
converted into places of lodging. Everybody arose early
the next morning to prepare for the departure of the mili-
tary force. However, the arrangements were not very ex-
tensive, consisting mainly in obtaining a sufficient number
of guns and horses.

About >S o'clock a. m., they assembled and after electing
A. \j. Merser as commander of the expedition, and after an
exchange of parting words with their relatives and friends,
the gallant company rode away. Through a wild coun-
try, and one especially gloomy on their route through
the forest along the Missouri, the company pursued its course
toward Niobrara. At any moment the men, knowing the
Indian style of warfare, would not have been surprised to see
the enemy spring from some ravine or dense thicket of timber
and attack them. The commander kept strict watch over
the surrounding country, and directed his forces to be pre-
pared for battle on an instant's notice.

As they came at long intervals to the deserted cabins of
settlers no sign of life was visible, but as yet no injury had
been dealt out to them. By noon a distance of twenty miles
had been covered and a halt was made on one of the Lime

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 325

Creek hills, near the county line between Dixon and Cedar
counties, for rest and refreshment. The fact that not an
Indian had so far been seen gave encourage merit to the
scouts, especially to those of them who had only the day be-
fore fled from their homes. After a half hour spent in eat-
ing and rest, the march was resumed. For three hours they
rode along undisturbed, nothing of note developing until
within a short distance of St. James, a little town about
thirty miles northwest of Ponca. At this point, about four
miles east from St. James, their attention was attracted to a
large rock, a short distance north of the road. Partly hidden
by the vines which festooned the rock, they saw a little girl,
probably 12 years old. She was apparently in great distress,
and on near approach it was seen she was covered with
blood. When she saw the scouts, she called to them, and
ran, as fast as her wounded condition would permit, to claim
their protection.

This great rock, where the girl had concealed herself, is
familiar to all settlers in that part of the country. At that
date it was of significant meaning to the superstitious Indians.
Like Spirit Mound, directly across the river from this point,
this rock was believed to be haunted by malignant and life-
destroying spirits and that certain death would be the por-
tion meted out to the venturesome Indian who approached it,

The soldiers found the girl to be suffering from a painful
wound inflicted by an arrow which had penetrated her left
arm. Between sobs she told a mournful story. It was
gleaned that her name was Mary Wiseman and that she, to-
gether with her mother and two brothers, lived in a little
log cabin some distance off the road, her father having
several months previous joined the United States army.
About 3 o'clock on that afternoon Mrs. Wiseman went to
St. James to purchase groceries, leaving her three chil-
dren, Charley and Henry, aged 10 and 16 years respec-
tively, and Mary at home. While the mother was absent,
four big Sioux Indians came to the door and demanded ad-
mission. The door was locked and barred, but it was soon
beaten down, and the savages entered to perpetrate their in-
human designs. Henry, the older boy, had in the meantime
secured a gun and made a defense as best he could. But his
head was soon pierced by a bullet, and his heroic efforts in

32t>

II IS TORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

behalf of their home were suddenly ended by death. After
murdering Henry, Charley became the next victim. In the
meanwhile Mary escaped through the door, and, putting
forth her utmost speed, fled. Fortunately for her, and almost
providentially it would seem, her stops were directed toward
the rock, where she was afterwards found by the soldiers.
She was pursued some distance and received an arrow in the
arm, bul the superstitious fears of the Indians would not
permit them to approach too near the haunted rock.

A-fter hearing 1km- story, Mary was accompanied by the
soldims to her home which was found to be in the timber
ncai- the river and nearly a mile from the road. By the time
they arrived there, the Indians had gone. The scouts found
the house plundered. Henry lying dead in a pool of blood
and the grief stricken mother, just returned from St. James,
I .ending over Charley, who had been stabbed in the breast
and who though unable to speak, was yet alive. There was
no hope for him. however, as he was mortally wounded, and
in a few minutes his life and sufferings were ended. It was
decided to convey the family to St. James and it was done,
although considerable time was spent in effecting the neces-
sary preparations for removal, and it was near 8 o'clock in
the evening when they reached that place.

The hospitable people there tendered every assistance in
this time of great need. The remains of the two boys were
placed in one of the dwellings to await burial, and Mrs. Wise-
man and her little girl were comfortably provided for, the
wounded arm was attended to and everything was done to
console them in their distress and bereavement. ,

At St. James the company of men remained during the
night. The people manifested great joy in seeing them, and
were very solicitious in providing for their wants. Some of
of tin 1 inhabitants had deserted the town, but several fami-
lies were still there, probably either being unable to get away
or considering the circulated rumors not well founded. The
next morning the little army resumed its road toward Nio-
brara. It would have gained several new recruits at St.
.lames, but the known presence of the Indians in the timber
near by, made it necessary that they should remain for home
protection. During this day, their second day from Ponca,
they traveled thirty-five miles to the little town of Frank-

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 327

fort. Throughout the journey the same dilligent watch was
kept for the enemy, but not an Indian came into view.

Frankfort had been totally abandoned, and as the soldiers
entered the town they were received, not with gorgeous
pomp, but by a number of unostentatious chickens, which
assembled from fences and barn tops, and which, wrestling
with hunger, were much pleased to welcome the visitors. In
the unpeopled houses they established quarters for the night.
They had become extremely fatigued by their two days' ex-
perience, the journey had been very irksome, few having
saddles and many being wholly unaccustomed to horseback
riding.

They arose early the next morning to find, not the hue
weather which had previously prevailed, but a sky heavy
with clouds and a drizzling rain. Here the army tarried un-
til 10 o'clock, when the clouds dispersed and the sun once
more gave out its genial rays. The air after the shower was
exhilarating and the trip was continued with renewed vigor.
The rain had laid the smoke which before filled the sky and
darkened the surrounding landscape. Burnt tracts over in
Dakota could be seen, and it was evident that the smoke,
which had proven so great an alarm, had emanated from
prairie fires. As they pressed on through the solitude and saw
the broad and fertile valleys awaiting only the hand of civi-
lization to convert them into luxuriant fields of cereals and
vegetables they grew more ardent and determined in carry-
ing out the purpose of their expedition. At 7 o'clock in the
evening the company arrived at Niobrara, located on the
Missouri river, about twenty-five miles from Frankfort.
Niobrara, previously a noted and vigorous frontier town. now.
from the quiet which everywhere reigned, seemed almost
deserted. It was at first concluded that this place also had
been forsaken, but a light glimmering through a window
proved the contrary. The travelers followed the light and
soon reached the building, which was of considerable size in
proportion to the town.

Although the inmates were startled by the unexpected
appearance of the scouts, their presence was, as would be sup-
posed, very welcome. At Niobrara, it seems the scare was
equally severe. Those who had not left the town were col-
lected in this building, where they hoped to make an effec-

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

fcual defense should the Indians come. Supper was gladly
served to the soldier guests and everything done to secure

t heir comfort.

The territory had been carefully examined and nothing
appeared to indicate any danger. It was thought these four
savages, who had committed the fiendish crime at St. James,
were the only hostile Indians in this part of the country and
were the sole incentives of the entire Indian scare. Hence
the party concluded that further investigation was unneces-
sary and decided to return to Ponca. So, after a few days of
much needed rest, the return march began.

At St. James. Dr. P. A. Glen, who was a member of the
expedition, stopped to look after the interests of Mrs. Wise-
man and her child and to give them a sum of money which
the generous hearted members of the company had con-
tributed to assist them in their troubles. The four renegade
Indians had not been again seen, nor, indeed, were they ever
afterwards seen on this side of the Missouri. In Ponca, the
suspense of the women and children, and the few men who
were unable to undertake the hazardous trip, was painful to
bear. Imagination pictured their friends and relatives un-
der the knives of the remorseless savages, and all were wrap-
ped in gloom and despondency until the safe return of the
pioneers turned their forebodings to joy. In a few days those
who had fled to Ponca from their homes returned to them,
thankful to know their property was not devastated and that
the lives of themselves and families were secure from danger.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 329

INCIDENTS OF EVERY DAY LIFE.

A SURVEYING EXPEDITION AND THE TRIUMPH OF

GOOD LUCK.

Not long after becoming a resident of Nebraska, I had
the pleasure of making the acquaintance of the recently
elected county surveyor, Mr. Sullenberger. Mr. S. was the
genial captain of a saw mill near the river, and his long ex-
perience among the machinery of the mill, was to his en-
thusiastic constituents, a sufficient assurance that he was
fully capable of managing and boxing around such a little
thing as a surveyor's compass.

Hardly was Mr. Sullenberger's election, as well as his
somewhat prolonged celebration of so important an event,
safely over, when he enjoyed his first experience as a practi-
cal surveyor. A Mr. Martin, who lived about twenty miles
or so out on the prairie, near the Cedar county line, wanted
to find the exact centre of one of his quarter sections of
land for the purpose of locating at that point a school house.
He therefore notified surveyor Sullenberger, who agreed to
be on hand the next day and do the work. As this was to
be his first effort as a surveyor he invited the writer to ac-
company him as assistant. He also, with some appearance
of nervousness, inquired if 1 had ever had any experience
as a surveyor, and was cheered with the assurance that I
had often ran lines, though I deemed it unnecessary to state
that the only lines I ever ran were clothes lines, which,
often on blue Mondays, a combination of circumstances had
required to be stretched from pole to pole.

Accordingly, the next morning we made ready for the ex-
pedition. Deeming that no surveyors, however well versed,
could expect to correctly bombard their way from the cir-
cumference to the center of a quarter section without instru-

880 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

merits, we first drove to the house of Mr. Eaydon, the former
surveyor, to borrow the necessary utensils of him. Mr. H.
cheerfully complied with the request. He brought out a
brass bound, shallow, three legged dish, in which swam like
a fish, a long and slender finger resembling the hour hand
of a clock. "This," said Mi-. Haydon, "is the compass."
Then he gave us further instructions he spoke of verniers.
of degrees, of sights and of water levels, all which were duly
appreciated, lie said the vernier should he so regulated
that the needle (by which we supposed he referred to the
aforesaid fish), would point twelve degrees away from where
it oughl to point. It appeared from his remarks that it is
the rule among surveyors to make such a variation on ac-
count of the earth having at some time or other flopped its
north pole away twelve degrees from the locality to which
the head of said fish had been accustomed to point, hence
the twelve degrees were to make allowance, as it were, for
the perversity of the earth and the stubbornness of the fish
aforesaid.

Having thus been duly instructed, we took the compass
and a chain to measure with, and started on our road to Mr.
Martin's place, where we arrived at noon. We were wel-
comed by Mr. Martin and his family with hospitality, our
tired horses were fed and we were furnished a dinner fit for
a king. After dinner, Mr. Martin showed us around his
farm, pointed out his numerous improvements and his big
herd of cattle.

Hut the time had now arrived when it became necessary
to forego further pleasure, and come down to business. Mr.
Martin was anxious to have the centre of his section of land
found and located, and Mr. Sullenberger had come for that
purpose; it was therefore high time we were about it. as it
was getting late.

As we went to get the compass, Mr. Sullenberger said he
would say strictly in confidence that his experience as a
surveyor was not very extensive and the only feat he ever
performed in that branch was when he once assisted to run
a line of half a mile, during which he made a variation of
about 300 yards. "So small a discrepancy, is, to be sure,
hardly worth minding." said Mr. S.. "yet probably you had
better attend to the compass and I will boss the chain."

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 331

It now became my turn to confess in like confidential
manner that I was also not heavily burdened by carrying
around what I knew about surveying, and that sooner than
use the compass, I would attempt to run the lines by walk-
ing across the field blindfolded.

So here we were in a fix. Mr. Martin a little distance
off waited expectantly and confidently. But though dis-
mayed for a moment at this mutual revelation, we rose in
our misfortunes, equal to the occasion. "I will manage the
compass," said Mr. S., and with the dignified gravity of an
old government surveyor general, he took it out of the
buggy, and mounting it upon its three legs, shouldered it
and started for the field of action.

Arriving on the ground, Mr. Martin pointed out the place
where he desired us to start from. He wished a line to be
run a mile long, when, if correctly done, it would intersect
the mound on the other side of the section.

We now proceeded to the task, and this scene is particu-
larly described as it will be instructive to other surveyors.
The three-legged instrument having been duly boxed and
shook up, so as to make its internal organization work
freely, was planted over the desired spot. A thunder storm
now appeared and we hastened to make what speed we
could in the performance. But there seemed to be many
discouragements. The compass wouldn't stay level, and the
needle twirled and wiggled around and pointed in all direc-
tions except the right one.

"The fluctuations of the needle," said Mr. S., "or to speak
in plainer language, its wabbling and spinning on its pivot
like an impaled June bug, are often occasioned by the ap-
proach of thunder storms as in this instance, at which times
streams of electricity break up through the, earth and come
ripping and tearing out of the ground, thereby disarranging
the motions of all such instruments. Nearness to lava or
iron ore also produces the same result. Thus; as you may
be aware, I formerly resided at Ionia, and indeed, as you
may say, under the shadow of the volcano at that place.
Now t in that country the slugs of iron and lava which vol-
canic action has slung out and scattered around, effectually
preclude the use of the ordinary compass in the ordinary
way. The needle scurries around like a bean in a hot

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

skillet, and the only proper method by which to manage it
is to take it oui altogether and let it play and kick around
aw hile on the grass, until it gets the electricity out of it. If
you attempl to work it otherwise, you might have to chain

it down."

Thus enlivened by scientific discourse, we prepared for
the final onslaught. We had been instructed by Mr. Heydon
to make an allowance of 12 degrees; on which side however,
we had forgotten, but we were greatly assisted in determin-
ing, by observing a neighboring corn held, whose rows were
said to run north and south. At last, everything being
ready, Mr. S. took a long squint over the compass, and gave
a military order for the chainmen and flagman to shoot out.
So, out we shot, Mr. Martin as flagman, leading the way
with his handkerchief tied to a pole, and the rest of us fol-
lowing with the chain, with which we diligently proceeded
to measure off the ground.

It is critical business measuring land, especially if the
line runs across ravines, through brush and over hills. Some-
times one forgets to count the chains, and at other times in
the excitement of tumbling into a ditch one may count
rather faster than the law requires.

When we had proceeded forward some distance, the indi-
viduals officiating at the two ends, compared notes to see
how they agreed. They simply varied in their figures, eleven
chains, and in order to settle the difficulty without hard feel-
ings, they split the difference and moved on again. Half w r ay
across, w r ith all these precautions, the spot at the centre of
the section should be found for the location of the school
house. Mr. Martin had previously piled a quantity of brick
as near to such centre as he could ascertain by pacing. This
I tile of brick was a great comfort and materially assisted in
the labors of the day.

A few rods west of the brick, the central point was an-
nounced and a stake driven down. Then Mr. Martin wanted
ns to continue our journey in the same line so as to hit the
mound on the western side, and thereby prove the truth of
our survey. This we deemed unnecessary, but still we did
it. We concluded that we could not come out over five
hundred yards away from the mound — at all events w T e were
reasonably confident that we should not get off the section

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. m'd

altogether. But for a wonder, (occasioned doubtless by a
special interposition of Providence i. we hit the mound fair
and square, and the center of the section was therefore as cor-
rectly demonstrated as though a whole congress of surveyors
had determined it. "I see," said Mr. S. with scientific severi-
ty, "that we have missed the mark by about one inch. Still,
in view of the thunder storm, and coming the distance of a
mile, perhaps that slight variation may be excusable."

Having thus overcome all the difficulties which beset us,
we wended our way back to the house and started for home.

:;:;i HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

AN OLD FRONTIERSMAN RELATES THE THRILLING

EXPERIENCE OF HIS DAUGHTER WITH A

DROVE OF WILD BEASTS.

Twenty-five years ago the bluffs and ravines along the
Missouri were the well populated homes of bears and timber
wolves, and were therefore rich fields for the hunter. It was
on account of such large game that Messrs. Wheeler and
Barnes of Ponca went up one summer day to hunt in
the Walnut creek ravine, a few miles above Ionia. They
entered the ravine about nine o'clock in the morning, well
prepared with guns and ammunition, and made their way
along the gloomy defile through an almost impenetrable
chaparral. As they advanced they frightened the timid
ground squirrel and chipmuck, startled the fierce prairie dog
and sharp-toothed muskrat. and by their warlike appearance
even caused the pugnacious coon to hie away to his lair. In
that sad and sombre retreat, rendered still more so by the
unwonted appearance of armed and intruding hunters, the
jack rabbit silently and pensively skipped to his den. the soft
and dulcet notes of the boogum and the bombajar were
hushed, the rattlesnake forgot to shake his musical tail, and
the mosquitoes bit with fear and with less venom than of
yore.

At noon the hunters reached the head of the ravine.
They had killed nothing so far, being determined to reserve
their fire for larger animals than any they had seen. As
they emerged from the ravine they were pleasantly surpris-
ed to see near by, the house of an old frontiersman. They
found him at home and expressed to him their ambition to
kill something beyond mere chip-squirrels or jack-rabbits,
and asked to be directed to the haunts of more worthy
game. As they told of their hunting aspirations and desires
it was noticed that the old frontiersman partially closed one
eye, and with the other took a long and searching survey of
his visitors. Then he glanced at the beautiful green of the

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 335

trees and then again looked at the hunters as though the
contrast between them and the foliage was presenting to
his mind the solution of philosophical question. Then he
replied to their inquiries.

He told them that bears, wolves and wild-cats were
frequent, and that buffaloes were occasionally seen, al-
though he thought the latter were becoming more rare,
and that in forty or fifty years thev would not be found in
the neighborhood, excepting, perhaps, on the Lime creek
hills. He told the hunters he thought they would find a
few w r olves and bears without difficulty, and he graphically
related some of his own hunting experiences. Then he
again looked out at the foilage, and again earnestly gazed at
his visitors. Then taking an immense quid of tobacco from
his mouth and laying it away for future use. he related to
them the astonishing adventures of his daughter. Mahitabel,
with a den of wolves and bears, the last summer.

This was the story: One day that summer, Mahitabel. a
healthy, strapping lass, as resolute and powerful as an ox,
was out in the held planting corn. She heard a noise in the
house, and she went to see what w r as the matter. There she
found six wolves and four bears, and quite a large attend-
ance of cubs, all eating out of the swill barrel. With a yell
which would have frightened a Camanche, she seized the
family musket and turned to meet the foe. But the
menagerie had tied. Sniffing danger at the approach of
such an amazon (she weighed 250 pounds, her father offered
to "give his bond and affidavy to/') the bears and wolves and
their respective families of whelp- and cubs, had made a
sudden rush for timber.

Mahitabel. pursued. She jumped the barnyard fence as
the bears and wolves went through the hog yard. In the
meadow beyond, the long grass so tangled her up that the
fleeing drove were enabled to gain on her for a time. Still
undaunted, she continued to pursue with energy, and though
the fugitives disappeared from her sight in the thick under-
brush, she fortunately by means of the heavy fall of snow,
was enabled to track them, and for the same reason, while
they waded and wallowed in it with difficulty, she was
enabled to utilize her number fourteen rubber boots as snow
shoes, and skim along quite rapidly. Thus coasting on the

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

top of fche hard crust, and using her feet with the agility of
a clog dancer, she soon began to overhaul them again.

At last she overtook them. It was in a deep and lonely
dell where the flowers bloomed in the noontide effulgence,
where humming birds sipped and sang and blue bottle Hies
and big beetles buzzed. There, where all nature wore a
quiel and peaceful garb, and naught was heard save the soft
song of the tree frog, the low rustle of the leaves and the
gentle voice of the modest mosquito, the fugitive bears and
wolves with their fleeing progeny, had made their stand.
Mahitabel approached gallantly, and leveling her musket,
blazed away. One hear fell. The other bears and all the
wolves, evcepting one, fled. They ran up a tall pine stub,
and entering a great hole in the top, disappeared from view.

But the wolf that did not flee turned upon Mahitabel and
tackled her. Then she also gathered up her feet for flight.
She climbed an umbrageous beach which considerate provi-
dence had kindly planted near by. The pursuing wolf
closely followed after, and like her, shinned his way up the
tree. In the meantime Mahitabel had climbed to the top-
most branches, where, as she could go no farther, she calmly
awaited her approaching enemy. The w r olf carefully picked
his way up the tree until he came within about four feet of
her. Then, as he stopped to reconnoitre, our heroine reach-
ed over and took him by the tail and turned him around,
and he saw himself suddenly looking down the tree and
growling in great wrath. But this relief from danger w r as
momentary. The wolf, madder than ever, turned back
again as soon as she let go her hold, and again looked at her
and attempted to glare her out of countenance. Then once
more she reached over him and grabbed him by the tail and
switched him around. Whereupon, dismayed and overaw 7 ed
the wolf jumped for a neighboring tree.

As he jumped, she seized his tail in her teeth and with a
large sized darning needle in each hand she spurred the wolf
behind. She also unlimbered her feet with the force of two
pile drivers and kicked him fearfully and wonderfully. The
wolf reached the next tree and hung on. She also hung on.
The wolf now greatly frightened ran to the top, she still
hanging to him and spurring and kicking him as before.
Then the wolf jumped to the next tree top and so on from

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 337

tree top to tree top, she still hanging on and looking like a
cloud disturbing Venus, as she floated high aloft, spurring,
kicking and whooping through the atmosphere. At last they
reached the hollow pine stub where the other bears and
wolves had taken refuge. Then the immense beast broke
loose from the clutches of our heroine and entering the hole,
joined his brother wolves and bears.

Mahitabel, left master of the situation, like a good gen-
eral immediately mounted guard over the whole outfit, and
there, undismayed by the growling and grumbling of the im-
prisoned beasts beneath her, she remained until an hour later
when her brother came within hail. Being made acquainted
with the situation, he went and brought the oxen and hitch-
ing them to the pine stub, tipped it over and caught the en-
tire band of wild beasts in the hen house which he had
brought down for that purpose on the stone boat.

In proof of this story the old frontiersman showed the
hunters the hen house where the bears and wolves had been
kept, and also pointed out the pine stub and the hole. He
would in farther proof, have shown them the valient Mahita-
bel, but he said she was then some distance away in the
timber cutting cord wood. On seeing such incontestable
proof of the presence of wild and savage beasts, the hunters
concluded, especially as it was near night, to go home and
get more ammunition and finish their hunt another day. As
they left, the old frontiersman again gazed long at them and
at the bright green foliage which soon hid them from his view.

538 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

REMINISCENCES, AND HOW WE ONCE RAN FOR

OFFICE.

The life of a country editor, for nearly twenty-five years at
the sameold stand, publishingthe same old newspaper he then
commenced, and year in and year out diligently wielding the
same old editorial shears and paste brush, is none too exuber-
ant even under the most favorable conditions, yet it some-
times lias a few gleams of excitement in it. As he treads
and retreads his accustomed round, diligently threshing out
disquisitions on every subject from the rise of parties to the
price of corn, from "the tariff" down to self congratulatory
blowouts over "our immense circulation" and from thence to
a notice of Neighbor Jones' patch of big watermelons, "one
of which is on our table," his life, we say, though it would
appear to be a perpetual round of monotony, is not altogeth-
er so. Thus, when, as occasionally happens, insatiate credi-
tors on the one hand and delinquent subscribers on the other,
conspire to locate him on the ground said to be "between
the devil and deep sea," he forgets the sameness of his exist-
ence in solving the interesting problem of ways and means
how he is to rescue himself from the threatening perils un-
scathed. Or when, in his efforts to serve to his constitutents
their weekly allowance of literary fodder, he unexpectedly
has the good fortune to nail some incident, legend or adven-
ture of more than ordinary interest, he forgets all else in the
joy of rescuing the nugget from its sand — perhaps he publishes
it at all events he clothes it as gorgeously as imagination
will permit, and. for future use, carefully lays it on the shelf,
where his pipes, unpaid bills and other valuables are kept.
In the course of twenty years one may harvest quite a large
number of these nuggets, some of which are worth saving,
while others will be found glittering, but useless pyrites.
The facts, fancies, legends and incidents in part second of this
hook, were collected in the manner above hinted, and the
publication of them is for the purpose of keeping alive the
memory of pioneer days.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 339

In those old days, twenty-five years ago, there was little
local news outside the ordinary routine of life. Twice a
week, when the mail arrived from Sioux City, (we had no
railroad then), we learned of what was doing in the outside
world, its excitements, wars, politics, crimes and accidents—
but here at home there was little to stir the blood, and aside
from politics, little to excite attention. Thus in a civil,
peaceable, law abiding way the people on this frontier drifted
along, improving their farms, building houses, and, whether
farmers, merchants or mechanics, gradually enlarging the
business they were in and slowly but surely becoming more
independent and comfortable.

Speaking of politics, we will say that we never had any-
thing to do with it except once, and the history of that one
time we will add here, in order to suitably lengthen out this
sketch to proper proportions. Many have heard the story
before but they will perhaps like to hear it again.

About twenty years ago we had the ambition to become
county judge. Why we had such a wish the Lord only knows.
Perhaps we caught it as one catches the measles or whooping
cough. At all events we had it, mildly at first and increas-
ing in violence as time went on. The office of county judge
was not one of great wealth and in those days the incumbent
had little to do. But what the office lacked in business or fees,
it made up in dignity. The ponderous, heavy sounding and
big bodied name of "judge" was not to be scornfully sneezed
at. And it would be a great honor in after years, to be able
to swell up one's diaphragm and speak of the time when "we
were on the bench." etc. Consequently we proposed to fasten
to the judgeship.

In pursuance of this project. Ave confidentially whispered
to certain friends that certain other of our friends had whis-
pered the idea to us, and that while we did n't want the office,
still, for the sake of harmony, we might possibly, though
with great reluctance, be prevailed upon to run. if the party
desired it. Then our friends went around and told how.
without our wishes and in a great measure unbeknown to us,
there seemed to be a spontaneous uprising of the bone and
sinew of the county, in order to give us that tremendous
office and its still more tremendous title.

340 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

It was no doubt tile reluctance on our part to accept this
great office, that induced sixteen of the twenty-eight dele-
gates to conic and see us, each one separately and privately
before the convention came off, and earnestly insist on our
accepting the distinguished trust. Our continued labors for
the party, they said, were duly remembered. Our lack of
legal knowledge, we were sympathizingly informed, did not
disqualify us. as in that office no such knowledge was neces-
sary. Each of the sixteen went away bathed in tears of joy,
for we consented to run.

We were unable to attend the convention, but afterwards
heard that when it came off we did not quite get six-
teen out of the twenty-eight votes. In fact, when the votes
were counted, we seemed even to fall somewhat short of a
majority. Perhaps you will be surprised, but we did not get
twelve votes out of the twenty-eight. If the truth must be
told we couldn't boast of nine votes. If we had had eight
votes we should have been better off than we were. We are
compelled to remark that had we received seven votes, we
should have been much encouraged, for seven is a lucky num-
ber. But we did not get seven, nor indeed six votes. It is a
great cross to admit it, but we lacked some of getting five
votes. We should have been thankful if we had had three
votes, as that is said to be a rising number. We certainly
ought to have received two votes, and we probably should if
some one had joined with the lone and lonesome delegate
who voted for us.

Yes, we had one vote.

It has always been a source of gratification to reflect that
when that vote was put in there was no convulsion of na-
ture, no stopping the earth in its motion, nor even an earth-
quake. On the contrary, everything continued the same as
before. The sad and solitary vote was dropped so meekly
and unobtrusively into the hat that no one would have noticed
anything out of the ordinary course of events, unless, per-
haps, that the delegate appeared to be a little ashamed of
himself.

After the convention, the sixteen delegates came one
after another and made us a visit of condolence. Each with
sorrow depicted on his contenance expressed in moving ac-
cents his deep regret, and stated how hard he had labored.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 341

It appeared that each of the sixteen was the identical one
who had voted for ns. Such sympathy, so reliable and
truthful, greatly calmed and encouraged lis, and since then
we always believe every word a delegate tells us. We after-
wards learned, however, that the unfortunate man who did
give us that one vote was not one of our friendly band of
sixteen, but he voted for us because he knew us less than he
did the other candidates.

W HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

A BULL FIGHT.

In Spain, bull tights are very frequent. In this country,
however, they are not .so common, yet they sometimes
occur. Josh. Bennett was the fortunate owner of a very
fine, thoroughbred bull. A bull of powerful neck and won-
derful horns and whose geneology could if necessary be traced
back in a. direct line to the ancient and aristocratic family
of the bulls of Bashan. Picketed to a stake back of Josh's
barn, his (the bull's) melodious voice was often heard in tones
defiant, inviting other bulls, (of which this country had the
pleasure of having several roaming around,) to approach and
hold a conference. Early one Saturday morning, while the
aforesaid Taurus was trying the strength of a 100-foot picket
rope— trying also occasionally the strength of his lungs, a dis-
tant sound like the roar of approaching thunder was heard
coming over the bluff. A cloud of dust first was seen,
which moving down the hill side like a small tornado, reveal-
ed within it the contorting and cavorting form of another
bovine —a bull, black as ink who pranced upon the scene
with head down and tail up, with flaming eyes and furi-
ous horns. As he thus in full fighting trim appeared
Josh's bull, eagerly smelling the impending conflict, hastened
to meet him. Josh having at the first note of war untied the
rope so that no undue advantage could be taken. Thus ad-
vancing, they paused a moment when at a little distance
apart, each to more closely view his antagonist, to paw the
ground, and to pipe out the stirring note of battle. In the
meanwhile the spectators speedily scaled the neighboring
fences for safe keeping. Then with a preliminary roar the
Taurian gladiators rushed upon each other. They speared
in wit h their horns and tried to exalt each other thereon, they
hutted with their heads, they tore up the ground, they lashed
their sides with their tails; each tried to dislocate the others
neck, to cut his sides open, to break his back, both at the
same time shooting off their mouths in voices of blood and

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 343

fury. Thus they fought. With amazing celerity they twist-
ed and flounced around each other, goring and goading, sup-
ple as eels and with the fury of tigers, while the air resound-
ed with the din, and the earth trembled as though a whole
drove of antediluvian monsters had come again.

Being of about the same size, and both of them large and
in perfect fighting trim — for some time it was hard to tell
upon whose banner victory would perch. At first it was
thought that the black bull would get away with the other.
For a few of the first rounds he seemed to butt and gore with
such remarkable ability and science that it looked as though
he would soon be master of the situation. But finally Josh's
bull turned upon his adversary with a desperation which re-
gained in a twinkling all the ground he had lost in the fight
theretofore. The battle raged until the antagonists, covered
with wounds and bathed in blood and foam, were nearly ex-
hausted. Then the black bull, which had been losing ground
for some time, gave a parting roar, and turning, fled, and
the other was too nearly played out to follow far. Then he
was tied up again, and peace once more spread its white wings
over the scene.

:;il HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

IRREPRESSIBLE CONFLICT CONCERNING A HOC

TROUGH.

As people of peace, this country used to have few quar-
rels and fights, and when one came off it was remembered.
I never, for twenty years after coming here, saw but one
real hard fought battle, and that I will now describe.

One day 1 had a trip to St. Helena in Cedar county, and
on the route I came, not far from the county line, to a small
la it romantic valley which, embowered among the hills,
presented a beautiful and attractive landscape. A silvery
stream, over which was thrown a rustic bridge, sped merrily
along, and on either side were tine farms with highly culti-
vated fields. A more peaceful, pleasant spot one could
hardly find, and it would lie difficult to believe that in so
charming an Arcadian retreat, had been heard the shouts of
combatants and the crash of war. Yet such, I regret to
say, was the case.

Near the stream just mentioned was the farm of a man
whom 1 will call Smith, (that not being his right name)
and his house, but a short distance from the bridge, was
tastefully situated amid trees and vines. With old man
Smith and his wife lived two slab-sided, strapping sons and
their wives, all of whom, generally peaceable and sluggish,
were at the time I came to the bridge in question, engaged
in warlike demonstrations of no make believe variety. As
they occupied the bridge, I could not pass over, and hence
had to stop and see the scrimmage.

The names of the two sons were Joe and Jim, and from
what I could learn as to the cause of the row. it appeared
that they had had certain differences of opinion, whereby
lengthy and earnest discussions and exhaustive arguments
ensued, concerning their respective rights and duties in re-
gard to t he cleaning out of -a certain hog trough then and
there being. Joe insisted that Jim should cleanse and scrape
the said trough, whereas Jim maintained with equal force of

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 345

words and power of logic that it was Joe's business and not
"his'n." As neither could convince the other, there was but
one way left, and that was a resort to arms. Whereupon
they rushed to the shock caparisoned and panoplied in this
wise, — Joe grappled in his left hand an old breech burnt re-
volver, the which, as it was not loaded excepting with the
accumulated rust of the past five years, was not as danger-
ous a weapon as would appear at first glance. In his right
hand he carried a long stake, plucked from a convenient
sled. To oppose this wrathful attack. Jim grabbed a
churn having a few gallons of buttermilk in it, and desiring
to open the battle by an artillery duel, discharged the con-
tents at long range upon the advancing foe. Then, while
his enemy was demoralized by the deluge of sour milk, Jim
picked up a "swingletree," and fearlessly faced the cavernous
mouth of the revolver, and. regardless of the sled stake,
rushed upon Joe and knocked his two eyes into one, — made
more room in his mouth by taking therefrom four teeth, and
plastered his upper lip like a poultice of apple butter all
over his face.

But this little episode did not check the undaunted soul
of the warlike Joe. With his sled stake he ironed down
Jim's nose until it resembled a pound of suitably hammered
beef steak, one ear hung down like a broken sunflower, and
a resounding pelt on his frontal bone caused him to see stars,
planets, comets and suns without number.

But now Jim unlimbered again and let fly with his
swingletree and nicely skinned from his antagonist's sconce a
strip of scalp long enough for a halter strap, split his nostrils
apart until they looked in two different directions like the
protecting guns of an assaulted fortification, and with a back
action upward movement stroke, knocked his chin into his
nose, thereby transforming his frontispiece into a beak.

And now. the battle becoming hot, the wives of the com-
batants gallantly moved to the conflict and reinforced, one
on each side. And old man Smith and his wife also rushed
down to the bridge where the tight was coming off, and
tried to quell the tumult, but not being successful, finally
joined in. one favoring Joe and the other Jim.

Then surged and resurged the battle on the bridge, and
red ran the stream beneath it. Each combatant as he or

346 HISTORY < >F DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

she pranced into the fight, had brought such weapons
as were most convenient. On the left where the heaviest
force seemed to be engaged, a shovel and a mop as opposing
banners led the van. while through the air like chain shot or
bursting bombs, came a skillet, an ash pan, two stove hooks
and a pail of swill.

At the centre of the hard fought held, Joe wielded his sled
stake again and let it fall like a trip hammer, cutting a hole
in Jim's head, though not letting out any brains for obvious
reasons. And in response Jim plied his swingletree bravely
and vigorously, and with the determination never to yield, but
to knock Joe out. gave vigorous and repeated blows upon the
region of his pericardium and supergasticus. Also knocked
off the single button holding up Joe's pants, which therefore
becoming demoralized, Joe kicked them off as scornfully and
disregardingly as the hero who burned his ships behind him.
Then Joe lifted his sled stake and discharged a fearful blow
at what was left of Jim's head. Had the blow hit square,
the history of this tight would there and then have been
concluded. But providence so ordained that as the blow de-
scended. Jim, in trying to avoid it, fell into the creek, and
Joe's tremendous exertions pitched him headlong after Jim.
The creek, though not deep, was muddy, but regardless of
the water and mud, they continued to light, and grappled
with one another and pounded and clawed until old man
Smith, again assuming the position of mediator, waded out
to them and with afire shovel proceeded to administer judi-
cious slaps here and there, and impartially and indiscrimin-
ately paddle the beligerant and slippery bodies which
squirmed and flounced around in the mud like eels in a soap
1 11b. Then he took a fence rail and pried them asunder and
peace was once more proclaimed. Then the sole specta-
tor of the scene, drove on. How they finally decided the
question of cleaning the hog trough we never heard.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. :J4T

A CONFIDENCE GAME TAKES PEOPLE IN.

"Gimme seventy-five cents for this dollar bill!" yelled a
chap standing in a carriage on Mikesell's corner, one Satur-
day afternoon.

There was nothing in the appearance of the man to war-
rant the supposition that he was insane. On the contrary he
looked about as sharp as they make 'em.

"Gimme a quarter for a half-dollar, ten cents for a quar-
ter, who'll have 'em?" he vociferated, as the crowd gathered
around.

Of course such an opportunity for speculation was not to
be passed by and while setting him down as an escaped
luuatic, several bystanders snapped up his baits in a hurry.

"I tell ye. fellers," he cried. "I've got lots of money, and
I'm tryin' ter get rid of it. I'm on the hunt of my dad's
reputation that he lost up here ten years ago. None of ye
hain't seen nothin' of it have ye? Who'll have ten cents
jist to 'mem Iter me by?"

The crow T d grew, and our lunatic drove a thriving busi-
ness, occasionally varying the performance by scattering a
little loose change on the ground, where the crowd nearly
mashed each other's shins in picking it up.

"I tell ye I'm rich!" he shouted. "Our hull family's that
way. I've got the nicest farm ye ever saw down in Iowa.
'Nuther man's farm lays right on top of it. Who wants this
elegant quarter for only a dime?"

By this time the crowd numbered about a hundred, and
then the sad-faced stranger began to come down to business.

He opened a valise of microscopic dimensions, and took
out a case of Peter Funk jewelry. Picking out a common
collar button, he explatterated thus:

"Gentlemen, I am traveling agent for the Chicago jewelry
firm of Clapp <fc Co. We have lately patented a new article
of jewelry, which we are desirous of introducing into your
town. Composed of equal parts brass, tin, copper and plat-
inum, warranted good as gold, will not rust, discolor, rip,

848 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

tear, ravel or run down at the heel. I have here a few
samples, which I wish some of you intelligent gentlemen to
examine, so that next week when our selling agent arrives
with a large stock, you may know what quality of goods he
has. Bui to guard myself against loss, while you are exam-
ining tlif button, please hand up ten cents, its value, which
shall be returned to you when you have done."

Quite a number of verdants complied with his request.
Their money was returned to them after the examination
and he also generously allowed them to keep the button.
This performance was gone through with on several differ-
ent articles and the rush became great, for lie generally re-
turned more money than had been given him.

Meat last brought out a case of the meanest of mean
luass rings for which he asked a dollar as security. The
careful observer might have observed that this time he
didn't promise to return the money worth a cent. People
hit as usual, however. Then he brought out some more
rings tor which he asked two dollars security. Meanwhile
he hadn't returned the one dollar men's scads. But these
innocents waited patiently. He exhorted the crowd to come
up and invest in the $2 rings. "'Just to make the $1 men
sick." said he. Quite a number again bit, some of the $1 men
among the number.

He now had in his hands some $20 or $25. .And now 7
this peculiar acting agent began to act still more peculiar.

Like Elisha, he "riz right up" in his carriage and politely
informed the crowd that he had given them a good article
of experience at a nominal price, and they should be satis-
lied.

"This money," said he, 'T might return to you; and. agin,
I moughtn't. I might donate it to the Young Men's Chris-
tian association; but I won't. 1 might give it to the
churches; but it wouldn't do to divide such a small amount
of money between so many churches. I might jam it down
my jeans; and I'll be denied if I don't think I will!" And
before the astonished victims could get this meaning through
their hair, his buggy wheels had disappeared around the
corner. They never saw him nor the money again. It w r as
a good lesson, showing as it did, the "ways that are dark
and the tricks that are vain."

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 349

PROF. PERRIGOUE'S FIGHT WITH FIRE.

The passengers on the train one evening, saw on the hills
and the ravines northeast of Ponca, a tremendous tire. Little
did they imagine that in the centre of that magnificent dis-
play of flame a cruel scene was being enacted.

Professor Perrigoue, (w T ell known to science as the dis-
coverer of Dixon County's subterranean wonders), built, a
few weeks before in one of the ravines, a building designed
for an observatory, but which lately he had been utilizing
as a lime kiln. On the evening in question, he was attend-
ing to his kiln and stirring up the tire with as much dili-
gence as he had often previously exercised in more scientific
enterprises. Thus, earnest and busy, he did not for some
time see two long lines of tire approaching him. the one
from the west and the other from the east. The roaring of
the rapidly advancing fires finally aroused him from the con-
templation of his labors. The sight which greeted him was
an appalling one. He saw himself in a narrow lane between
parallel walls of fire. Escape seemed impossible. Yet, un-
dismayed by the thought that he would soon be broiled alive,
he surveyed his situation with the intrepid calmness of an
old Indian fighter on the plains of Montana. A short dis-
tance away the professor saw a tall cottonwood tree. In a
moment he reached and climbed it. Yet. swift as were his
motions, they were none too soon for safety, for as he climb-
ed the angry tires swept under him and long fingers of flame
reached up and tickled his lower limbs and scorched his
coat tails. He climbed and climbed and scaled the tree to
its highest branches. He saw that he was not alone in seek-
ing that place of refuge. Driven forward by the fire and
now surrounded by it. several snakes and animals attempted
to escape by climbing the tree. Among those who came up
were four rattlesnakes, which, in the presence of common
danger, offered at first no violence to the professor nor to
the dozen squirrels, the two wild cats, the four coons, and

HISTORY (>V DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

finally the five skunks that. Hastening up the tree, had
perched upon its branches. The terrible heat, below had in-
deed tenanted the tree with a wonderful variety of inhabi-

taut ?.

The raging fire and the clouds of smoke at last awakened
the anger of the professor's neighbors. The rattlesnakes
partly unwinding from the branches to which they clung,
struck at him with fury. The wild cats arched their backs
and spit at him. Even the peaceable coons and squirrels
showed their teeth and extended their claws toward him.

And now a new danger beset him. The tree itself took
fire and its trunk dead and dry. burned with frightful vio-
lence, and soon burning off at its base, tottered and was
about to fall and hurl the professor and his companions into
the lake of tire below. At this supreme moment and in this
fervid heat, the discomfort of his unhappy situation was
greatly increased by the five skunks, which, located in differ-
ent parts of the tree and hitherto quiet and peaceable, now
seemed to regard him as the author of all their trouble.

The tree commenced to fall. Was there no hope? Alas!
no. Without a special interposition of Providence how was
it possible for the professor to escape. The fire below and
for half a mile on every side was ten feet deep.

The tree continued to fall. We ask our readers w T hat
could the tortured denizens of that tree do under such cir-
cumstances. How could the professor get away unless he
had wings. But he neither had wings nor time to sprout
any. Could he get off on his ear or could he etherialize him-
self and float safely away on a cloud of smoke? Assuredly
not.

In the meantime the tree continued to fall. Some there
are who might possibly contrive some plan whereby the pro-
Eessor could find a place of safety. If so. they can do more
t lian we can.

As we have before remarked, the tree, remorseless and re-
lentless, continued to fall.
Well, let it fall.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 351

BURGLARS IN TOWN.

Before the railroad struck this country, no such person
as a burglar was ever known to visit it. Whether the peo-
ple were too poor to be robbed or whether a lack of the
necessary swift transportation to and from, caused the burg-
lar fraternity to give Dixon county the go by, cannot be said.
It may be that the way with which the people dished out the
law to Miller the murderer of Dunn, may have made thieves
a little skittish about coming here to do professional work.
At all events they stayed away, and people scarcely ever
thought of them.

When robbers raid a town, and break into houses, and
slam around aud carry off goods, with terror going before
them and leaving destitution in their footsteps, then it is
that the hearts of the stoutest are tried. Ponca had hoped
to avoid such an ordeal as this, and although near by, at
Sioux City, burglars had often tried their hands and got
away with considerable swag, yet Ponca escaped until one
night when certain events transpired, a history of which we
will relate.

In the northwestern part of town resided a family named
Rooks. On the evening in question. Mr. Rooks himself was
away from home, and there was no man about the house
except his son, a youth of about twenty-two summers. As
the shades of evening crept down, and weird and ghostly
shadows and silence fell upon the landscape, the family
heard what was supposed to be a light footstep in the upper
story of their house. They had been away during the day,
and this fact together with the fact that a small sum of
money was deposited up stairs, impressed young Mr. Rooks
with the certainty that robbers, bold, insatiate and remorse-
less, had invaded the peaceful precincts of his home and
wpre now laying in wait and would when night had farther
advanced and sleep had wrapped up the household, issue
forth in their furious, raw -head and bloody bones manner,

.;.,.. HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

and murder him and steal the money. Consequently the
youngman immediately took measures for offense and de-
fense. Grasping a formidable butcher knife he Hung open
the front door and stationed himself therein, having first
opened the front gate, thus wisely remembering that one
of the duties of a sagacious genera! before commencing bat-
tle, is to provide avenues of safe retreat in case such retreat

should bec< necessary. Having thus formed his line of

battle in the doorway, he deemed it expedient to send for
reinforcements before opening the contest. He therefore
sent his brother, a lad of six years, after Rev. Mr. Smith,
wlni boarded there hut was now down town.

Accordingly the lad came down on a run, and hunting up
Mr. Smith, told him that robbers had broken into the house,
and Mi-. Smith ran back with him. On their way they over-
took \V. Clark, Jr., and impressed him into the service, and
all soon arrived at the scene of danger. Here they found
Rooks still intrepidly holding the post in the doonvay, and
in a dauntless manner, though with trembling legs, prepar-
ing for the onslaught. On casting about, it was seen that
the only weapon of war the whole array had, was the
butcher knife. The little brother was therefore sent to a
neighbor's for arms, and he soon returned bringing a
revolver. It was an ancient firearm, and might possibly
have been young at the siege of Troy. Yet in the darkness
its slight defects w^ere not visible, and, as will be seen in the
sequel, it did just as good execution as a Winchester rilie.

The troops and arms all being provided, Captain Rooks
before leading them to the field of battle, took the pistol,
and addressing his men, pointed out the dangers to be un-
dergone, and directed Mr. Smith, as second in command, to
take charge of the butcher knife, which however he declined
in favor of Clark. The captain then said that as soon as
they met the horde of armed and desperate robbers up stairs,
he would probably be shot, and when that happened he
wished Mr. Smith to take the revolver and finish the battle.

The force having formed for the purpose of advancing up
stairs, the captain lifted his voice and in words trembling
with brave emotion, warned the robbers that they were all
now about to be killed. And rattling his revolver he reso-
lutely pushed forward legs which seemed to want to go

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 353

another way. Then came Clark with the butcher knife,
with which he occasionally prodded his leader in the back
when he leaned or wobbled. The next should have been
Rev. Smith, but alas, at this critical period he hauled off and
retreated from the held. Thus the army was depleted one-
third, without firing a gun. Notwithstanding this discour-
aging circumstance, the remaining two continued their
march up stairs, and after some time, being often required
to pause to reform the line and brace up, they arrived at the
top.

And now occurred a series of military movements worthy
of Marshal Turenne. They hammered the walls and floor
and made a noise as though a whole regiment was at their
backs, then they partly opened the door, peeked in and
jumped nimbly aside. The robbers within never let on,
never said a word nor made a sign of their presence. Then
the captain ordered Clark to deploy in and reconnoitre,
while he would hold the post at the door. Mr. Clark accord-
ingly marched in and explored the mysteries of the room.
The robbers still making no insistence, the captain moved
to Clark's assistance, and together they examined the
premises.

They stripped off the bed-clothes from the bed, slung
aside the ticks of feathers and straw, and with the bed-slats
punched and jammed into every nook and cranny where a
robber might be hid. Only once when punching and prod-
ding under a bureau did they think they had caught him.
Then forth leaped the ready revolver in the captain's strong
right hand, and he prepared to shoot at once. Things were
evidently approaching a crisis. Fortunately at this junc-
ture, it was discovered that what had been supposed to be a
robber was a bag of old clothes. In fact, no robber was
found, nor anything with the disposition of one, except a
mouse which crept timidly along the wall, to see what all
the uproar was about.

Having thus defended the domicile, the captain confi-
dently remarked as to what he would have done had he seen
the robbers. Then they went down stairs, and the conflict
ended.

854 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

AN INDIAN DUEL.

One hot summer's day, ten or fifteen years ago, a party of
four young Indians passed through town going northwest.
A few miles out they stopped and arrayed themselves in war
costume and put on ominous black and red paint, thus indi-
cating that they were on a mission not wholly peaceful. The
secret of the matter was, two of the Indians were going out
to tight a duel. They were two young Santee Sioux, named
respectively Slit Lip Bob and Sam Squire. They had been
down to the Omaha reservation on a visit and while there
had both fallen in love with an Indian squaw named Sail
Molly, the beautiful daughter of old Billy Bumbottle, one of
the chiefs of the tribe. The two Indian beaux, Bob and Sam,
went dead in love with the alluring Sail, and, according to
Indian custom, each tried to buy her of her affectionate par-
ent. His price was twenty-four ponies, which was not high,
considering that she was a stout, strapping squaw, good
tempered, and capable of hoeing corn and doing housework,
in all of which accomplishments she was well versed, having
already had much experience. Consequently both the beaux
were willing to pay the twenty-four ponies, and the question
then naturally came up as to which one it should be. The
case was referred to Sail herself, but she could not fully de-
cide, as she liked them both almost equally well. They were
indeed both tine Indians, and in many respects w T ell matched.
If there was any advantage at all it was probably in favor of
Sam. who was younger than the other and had already only
two wives, whereas Bob w T asthe possessor of four helpmeets.
But Sail could not decide which she would make happy, and
her two swains agreed to settle the matter by lighting.

So they started out to find a suitable place for the battle,
bringing with them two Indian friends to act as umpires and
bottle holders, and passed through town as before related.

After donning their war paint they went up to a secluded
spot in the Lime creek hills, and then laying aside all weap-

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 355

ons excepting two stone headed war clubs, they mounted
their ponies and tackled one another with great fury. After
circling and whooping around as a sort of preliminary exer-
cise, the combatants came to close quarters, when Bob deliv-
ered a fearful blow with his club at Sam, who slipped to one
side and the blow fell on the head of his pony and made him
feel very demure for awhile. Then Sam got in a blow which
lamed his opponent's leg severely. They then fell to and
whacked and banged away at each other, but without much
effect till finally from exhaustion both dismounted and sat
down on the grass and glared at each other in silence. And
now the spirit of peace, compromise and conciliation stole
over them, and Bob proposed if Sam would give him five
ponies, a revolver and two knives, that he would throw up
the sponge and let his rival have the girl without further
trouble. Sam joyfully agreed to this, and then washing off
their paint and dirt, they and their two friends returned back
to the agency, and the next day the wedding took place.
Bob, conciliated by his five ponies, his revolver and two
knives, rejoiced in happiness second only to that of the
bride and groom.

If we had a novelist's pen, we should stretch this roman-
tic tale of Indian life into a novel of six books. The inci-
dents were related to us by one of the Indians who attended
the fight and are substantially correct, excepting the names
of some of them, which, as our memory is not good in such
matters, we may have miscalled.

356 HISTORY OF DIXON col'.NTV. XEBKAKKA.

THE GENERAL'S JOLLIFICATION MEETING.

''Uncle Jimmy" Patton, who was a settler on the "Mis-
souri bottom" near Ponca in '65, was a genial old soul and a,
great singer. He was also sometimes given to thirst and
"lire water," at which times his usual peaceful disposition
was overpowered by largely developed war-like propensities.
On such occasions he would march upon the town, heralding
his advance by a voice like the first blast of an approaching
storm. It was probably his tremendous roar, iike that of a
park of artillery which gave him the title of "general," for
that was always his title when ugly and drunk, though plain
"Uncle Jimmy" when good natured and sober.

One evening the voice of the "general" was heard in the
distance and in a short time, with blood at fever heat, he
appeared in person upon the streets and furnished to his
fellow citizens an entertainment fully in keeping with what
might have been expected from one of his versatility of
genius as a singer and outdoor orator.

Soon after his arrival the general turned himself loose
and organized the town into a concert hall, and gave his
audience many choice songs. In executing his musical
selections, he by turns appeared witty, grave, gay, sad. mad
and pugnacious. Atone time he laughed, and again, his
soul was possessed by inexpressible grief, and he wept,
lie sang many hymns with great fervor and in a voice that
could be heard two miles away. It is said that the wild
beasts on the neighboring hills tied that night, thinking
they heard the roar of some destroying enemy. At the first
blast of that awful voice, all the dogs in town crawled
under bains and groaned and howled. Then, also, rose
up every man and lit his lantern and went forth to see if the
unearthly explosion of sounds which smote his ears, were
from the gasping agonies of dying cows and calves.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 357

Little thinking of the amazing uproar and excitement
he was arousing in this part of the country, the general
diligently continued his programme. He sang "When 1
Can Read My Title Clear" with such knock-down force that
it shook windows and dashed out glass as though a cannon
had been fired under them. He executed "Sweet Bye and
Bye" with terrific violence, and poured out his soul in "Green-
land's Icy Mountains" in a manner suggestive of a heavy
storm at sea. Then with the roar of a famished cannibal
he hurled himself upon Poet-Laureate Rock well's latest
psalm, and rent it limb from limb. So shocking was the on-
slaught, that of those who heard it. many thought the crack
of doom was at hand or that the chief boss of Hades had
broken loose.

Varying his strains from solemn to gay. be now like an
avalanche thrashed his way into "Mulligan's Guards," where-
upon all the cats in town scooted for the housetops and
caterwauled in unison. The general then assaulted and
stormed the symphony entitled "Finnigan's Wake," and
then with the graceful poise of a five gallon jug. he gnashed
his jaws upon "Johnny Fill Up the Bowl." It is reported
that on account of this song, several people went deaf, and
others had their hair whitened before morning. Then he
concentrated his bass, treble and baritone, and all his dif-
ferent hurricanes of melody, into one solid chain-shot of
electrical, blasting energy, and hooted forth "We Shall
Gather at the River." He closed his singing by hammering
out the doxology. which he discharged into the town like a
thunderbolt, and led people to believe that a comet or an
anvil chorus had struck the place.

He then indulged in several ear-splitting, earth-quaking
Indian war whoops. A small party of Indians camped on
the summit, five miles away, hastily struck their tents and
mounting their ponies broke for the woods.

After these musical exercises, the general danced clog
dances, Virginia break-downs and Highland Mings — the
which, as he delivered his hoofs upon the sidewalk,
sounded like a dray of bricks suddenly unloaded and falling
from a great height, He wound up by taking off his coat
and inviting those who desired it. to stand forth and be
whipped. As no one responded to the invitation he put on

858 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

his coat again and with the appearance of one who had
done his duty and could do no more for the gratification of
his friends, took up his homeward march.

The above, a sample of what occurred occasionally for
several years, shows that though we had no regular theatres
in early times, we had other entertainments equally as
good.

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 361

INDEX.

The names and brief notices of the pioneers from the first settlement in
May, 1856, to the organization of the county and its first election in Decem-
ber, 1858, will be found on pages 16 to 23, inclusive. The names of the most
prominent of those pioneers are also in this index.

Names of teachers attending Institute in August, 1895, will be found
on pages 266, 267.

Not all the persons mentioned in the History are referred to in this
index. The number is so great that a full index is impossible.

Arnold, Edward 29, 38, 49, 165, 209

Alexander, James and Robert 29, 114

Agricultural Society and Fair 87, 103-4, 108, 115

Atkinson, W. W 87, 222

Auchmoody trial for murder of Bishop 103

Armstrong, R. P 151

Aoway Valley Creamery 126

Armstrong. David 216

Auge, Wm 152

Addison, J. H 221

Askin. Peter 222

Anderson, O. K 224

Allen, John 243

Allen, Henry 243, 247

Allen Village 121.244,247

Allen Churches 244

Allen Societies 244

Allen News 244

Armour & Morgan 244

Acres. G. O 263. 264

Barrett, James 30

Buntz, John 24

Buckmans. The 24

Brown, Geo 25

Bramble. D. T 28, 30, 33, 140

Bigley, Wm. and James 29, 71. 72, 151, 159,233

Bisbee, E. M 29, 92, 93, 165

362 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Beardshear, II 49, 207

Blizzards 81, 82, 83

Blizzard of January L2, 1888 L20

Bolsom, Joseph 81

Brewer, Old Joe 91, 94, 95

Halt /.ley, Oliver 140

Hanics. J. B 142

Barnes Brothers l."»T

Beeson, A. W 151

Barnes, A. E 157

Berry, E .1 152

Bauer, A.ugus1 153

Brown, Mark 190

Blocker. Charles Frederick 210

Bates, Rev. W. S 202

BiggerstafT, Samuel 208

Barber, Charles 208

Beller, B. II., E. and P 208

Brown, II. I 210

Bennett, Pat 221,230

Baker Herman 222

Brookey Charles 224

Bailey, .lames G 224

Bailey. John. James. Wm. and S. D 224

Burdick, Captain 231

Burgett, M 234

Borg, John 243

Brown, J. 1 250

BartO, C. T 255,256

Blake, C. 1 256

Barnhill, James 264

Black Hills excitement 83

Carst ines. Gerhart 24

(Mark. James 25

Carson. Mr 26

Oavanagh, John 28

Gavanagh, Bernard 29, 241

Curry, A 29, 230

Courts and crimes in Dixon county 64

C C. & B. H. Bailroad 73, 78

Clark. Rev. W. \l 88

( 'oal discoveries 90

Census of county. 1885 114

Census in various years since 1856 128

County officers from ttrstelection to present time 132, 140

< tounty seat election Ill

Creameries 145

Conner, 1 151

Conrad, V 154

Cooper, W. VV 157,183

Culver, Bion H 189

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 336

Cook, Benj., J. P. and Sylvester 201

Coats, S H 208

Darnell, D 208

Curry, Dan 215

Chilcls, O. M 219. 220

Orandall, K. N 22u

Coleman. L 220

Cummings. II. S. 220

Coleman. A 231

Conway, M 220

Cummings, Sol 22 1

Cady, Wm 222

Counery . John 224

Carder, E. E 226

Coleman, John . .... 226

Clingan, W. A 229

Connery *S: McGrath 229

Calvert. Fred 230

Cleveland. C. C . . 234

Cole. J. H . 234

Chase. J. E .. ... 234

Crowell, C. M. ... 237

Cavanaugh, Pat 237

Crowley. Daniel 241

Cavanagh, Jack 247

( '< (NOORD Village . . . 262. 204. 20.",

Business firms ... . . . 265

Schools and churches 265

The ancient village of (see North Bend).

Davis. A 10. 207

I tempsey, P . 29. 218

Daily, P 20

Davis. Leander 30

Dixon County. Its name 36

Organization and boundaries .... 33

First election of officers and fixing county seat 36. 37. 38

Size, land, timber and water 38

Growth 70

First meeting of county commissioners 4o

First assessment and tax list 41 . 42

Members of legislature from organization to date. 140. 141
County officers from first election to present time 132. 140

First grist mill 49

First school 43

First Fourth of July celebration 49

Marriages in county since its organization 132

Mirths and deaths in county since its organization 132

Assessed valuations of property from "56 to now. .130. 131. 132
Improved lands, groves, orchards and forest trees. 129. 130
Schools. ... 142, 143. 144. 145
Poor farm 214

864 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Dixon Village 121, 262, 265

Business linns 205

Mills 205

Churches, schools ;in<l societies 2(>5

(Old village of Dixon, sec North Bend.)

Drouth of 1864 45

Drouths 145

Dewitt, Sheriff 64, 65, 207

Donlin, Daniel 82, 209

Diamonds 118

Denton,J.B 38

I >orsey, F. M 124, 125

1 >riving and Fair Association 124, 125, 12(1

Davc.v. .1. M 147,148,166

Drager Bros 148

Drager, A 219

Dixon County Bank 153

Dierenfleld, E. II 153

Douthit, Perry 213

Dudley. C. and Koy 220

Daily Branch P. O 220

Donahue, Mike 222

Dougherty, Michael 222

Dougherty. Jr., Phil 223

Dougherty, Mike 223

Donovon, John 231

I tempster, Perry 232

I >elaney. John 237

Duren, John 239

I lemme, Enos 248

Davis & Fuller 249

D.-lay. Robert 263

Ellyson, W. B., A. II. and J. W 51, 201

Earl hquake 86

Ellis, E. E. and Win 141, 242

Eames & Scaring 151, 153

Eames, E. .1 229

Edwards & Bradford 153

Enders, John and Jesse 208

Engle, Antone 213

Engle, Mat and John 240

Emerson 105, 247, 250

< Inirches and schools 24*

Societies 24K

Business men and firms 249

Mill and Improvement Company 249

Firsl party of ssttlers 24

Henry Ford 24

Puller. II. A 28.29,159

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 365

Freeman, Francis 29, 49, 165

First visit of grasshoppers 31

First visit of hard times 32

Flood and great damage in Spring of '81 100, 101, 102

First National Bank of Ponca 124, 153

Forbes, J. D 151

Francis & Son 153

Fields, II. C 154

Franz. G-ustav 154

Feauto, Nelson and Isaac 200

Foulks, George 220

Flack, J.. B 230

Finnegan, Owen 231

Fegley, Jacob 237

Fillcy, Harry 239

Fillt-y, Wm 244

Fenton, Geo , 251

First deed recorded in county * ... 143

Gormans, The 26, 29

Gillans, The . . .26, 29. 240

Great crops in 1865 47

Grasshopper raids : 82, 83. 145

Great Bend cut off by change of river 101, 102

G. A. R . first organized : 106

Growth and business up to 1887 11"

Grist and saw mills 144

Gamble, M. F -. 147, 148

Gamble, S ...::..... 146, 171

( rrot h, Wm 153

Gray, E W : . •. 153

Green, John ( Ponca) 154

Green, John (Allen) 243

Gantt. W. E 257

Gibbs. J. F 202

Grosvenor, H. H 222

Gran, A N. and and S. N 223

Gibson. W. H 232

Graham. Thomas 252

Graves, Philo 256

Gurney, C. W 264

Hill. L T 16, 30. 50, 51. 199, 200

Hoese, Henry. Frank and Wm 26, 30

Hotchkiss, family 50

Hotchkiss, Roswell 201

Hughes, Isaac 51

Harden, Henry 82

Hart, S.I 87,243

Hart, H. H 244

366 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Hebron, F. G 151

Higgins, Mrs. M. B 152

Hobbs, .lames 152

Howe. H. C 153

Hamilton, G. C 153

Huse, Wm.. W. N. and E. W 154

I Ietieh. .1 . M 157

Harris. .1. I) 184

Hewett, J 189

Heald, Eli 202

Huddleston, W. and M 213

lleidy. E. L 219

II anna nt. R. II 219

Hazel Postoffice 215

Hi lien, James 222

Hoover, Josiah 222

Hoy, Thomas 226

Hoskinson, .1. M 229

Hopkins. H. W 230

Herrick, Geo 234

Harney, Henry and John 234

Harding. James 234

Hoopingarmer, John R 237

Hall, F. and G. W 238

Hurley. D 241

Ilerfel. Y. II. and John 242, 243

Hamlin. Seth 243

Hinds. A. F. and Pitt M 251

Hypse, Frank A. and J. W 252

Hall. H. D 263

Hall, Wm B 263

Hooker, H. D 264

tONlA 28. 35, 51, 52

Ionia volcano 96, 97, 98

Indian scares 44,45,53,60

Indian visits and dances 59,60

Indian stories and legends 60. (il

Isom. Joseph 243

Jones. E. H 219

Johnson, Nels, Nels C. and Casper 224

Johnson Bros 229

Jeffrey, Fred 239

Jeffrey, James 241

Jourdan, Frank and John 240

Johnson, Gustus 252

Jenkins, Willis 263

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 367

Kugler, Isaac 24

Kingsbury, A. G 157

Kingsbury, C. A 157

kautz, J. D 213

Keoppie, Gottleib 240

KLrause, VVm. and his sons 241

Koser, Sol 243

Kellogg, Chas. and J 243

Kuhn. R. E 247

Kerwia, P 248,250

Kerwin. Wm 248

Kuntz & McCarthy 249

Lothrop. Marcellus 25

Levins & Rose 51

Long, W. D 71

LaFollette, J. U 87

Lockwood. Martin and William 240

Leech & Todd 87

Logan Valley 99, 100. 103, 257

Logan Valley Agricultural Society Ill

Lister. Wm 152

Logan, J. H 152

Logan. W. P 183, 226

List of old settlers, most of whom are not mentioned elsewhere and

a large share of whom have died or moved away 158, 159

Lennox. J. K 247. 249

Leonard. Joshia 24s

Lesman, Henry 252

Lime Grove P. O 225

Malones. The 26

Malone. John 29. 38, 230

Maskall, John 29.224

Maskall. Andrew 224

Massenger, Mr. 50

Mat Miller's trial before Judge Lynch for murder 65, 71

MARTINSBURG 80. 86, 106, 240

Mart in. J 80, 238, 239

Matteson. Geo 142. 208

Mahoney, W. M 151

Marble, C. H 154

MacMullen. R. R 157

Mannion. John 216

Mendenhall, J 219

Mallory. Wm 222

Mauley, Bryan 222

Martin. Chas 223

Manning. Or 229

368 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Marshal, .1 229

Mellon, M. 1 15a

Mikesell, S. P 147, 148, 184

Mikesell & Co 229

Mi ill.'. Frank and Gottleib 216

Milligan, J. O 261

Mohr, J. A 152, 177

Morehouse. Joseph 208

Morris, Pal 222

Mi hi Tort. David 223

Morgan, A. D 2:52

Morgan, W. A 244

Monroe & Co 24!)

M ii I li< ilia i id and Cummings 27

Murder trial 64

Murfln, .1. L 216

Murphy, David 240

Mule. W L 244

Myers, M. M 154

McKinley, John 29,172,209

McKennas, The 2<i

McCarthy. . I. J 157,177,247

McCabe, P 184

McShane, Barney 210

McClary, Thomas 2li>

McClary, Ben. and Burt 2:!!)

McGuirk, Ben 221

McGuirk. Pat 221

McGrath, Edward 221

McGrath, .lohn ±22

McClusky, Peter 221

McManus, John 222

McDonald, Dan 22a

McCleary, Mr 224

North Bend (and Concord and Dixon the old towns) 23, 27, 28, 35, 36, 37

New Castle, town and village 86. 106, 110, 126, 127, 225 to 229

Business men and Arms 226 to 230

( 'lunches, schools, etc 23u

New courl house 110

Newton, Edward 201

Nori is. W. F 141 ; 142

Nelson, Mons 224

Nelson, Christ 224

Nori hern Nebraska Journal 154

Nelson, P. A., C J. and C. H 263

O'Conner, Andy and brothers 26. 230, 242

Orr, T. I! 151

O'Connell, Dr 184

O'Connor, Win 209

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

369

< )( ; racly. John 221

O'Toole, Father 230

O'Toole, Thomas and William 230

i( Oki Man" Whiteomb, the first mill builder 28, 29

••( )ld Man" Shook 208

Putnam, C F 16, 26. 29, 38, 207

Porter. N . S 16, 29, 140, 166

Porter & Gamble 50

Porter, Dr. J. W 189

Paschal, Henrv 24

Pflster, Wm.. 29,225, 226

Pierce. J. J. and IT. M 50. 200

Prairie fires 81, 88, 89, 122

Packer. G. W 81, 252

Politics and party lines in first years 84

Peat discoveries 87

Plesiosaurus, The 95, 96

Pioneers and Old Settlers' association 127

Palmer, A. S 141, 230

Paull, C. E 154

Pearson, J. Y 157. 230

Pomeroy. R. H.

Pettit, Amasa

Pearson. R

Payne. F S.

P< iwers, John H

Pomeroy, W. H.

Pomeroy, J. F.

Pomeroy, Nelson

Park. Wm

Park Hill P. O .....

Postlewait, T. J

Ponca .26, 27. 28, 37. 48 to 50. 77. 80, 85

•■Old Air Castle.'' first frame house in town 29

First election for village officers -19

School houses . 49, 87

Schools • 1!l,i

Churches 50. 195. 166

106, 123

172, 243

. . . 202

202

. 213

222

243

.243

251, 252

. 251

When railroad first came
Mill company and mill

A city of second class
Business men and firms

Societies

City council for '95-6. . . .
Waterworks

. .116, 146

146 to 196

. . 196

19K

196

Roden, John

Rivers and creeks. . . .

Railroads, projects

C. C. & B. H

25,29,208

73 to 78

370 HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Railroads: From Sioux City to Emerson 99, 100

i|i Logan valley 99, loo

Proposed bridge over t he Missouri at Ponca 109, 115

Humors of roads to be built 117 to 121

Tales of 1 he imagination 119

The Pacific Short Line 117,121

Extension From Ponca to New Castle 121.122, 126

Rose, A W 178

Review of county and towns at end of '82 106, 107

Robbery of county treasurer's safe 109, 110

Richards, M. F 178

Rice, Dexter... 201

Ryan, T. .1 201, 202

Rahn, B. G 213

Reynolds, A 213

Robinson, W. F 213

Runyan, Mark 216

Rumford, F. D 22!>

Rahn, Herman. . . 229

Ross, Robert 229

Roberts, Rev. .John 230

Rahn. Gottleib 230

Richards, Henry 230

Reising, .1. D 232

Roberts, Elijah 243

Ruyter, Frank 252

Smith, Adam 24,30

Snyder, John 24

Squatter government 25

Stough, S. B 16, 25. 29, 38. 159. 160

St. nigh. John 2(i. 29, 160

Stough Jacob 29,159,160

Stough Bros ..." 147,148,159

Stough, J. D. and Wm 160. 161

Scollards, The 26

Scollard, Maurice " 29,233

Scollard, .John 233

Scollard, Patrick 237

Scrry,. Edward 29, 159

Smith, Gustavus 29,225

S;idcr. John 29

Stouyh \ Mikesell.. 50

Shumway, H. P. ... 141,261,262

Sullenberger, < > I' 140

S\ nip Factory 144

Seen riiy hank 153

Stevenson, Dr 184

Sbeffel, Win and Peter 154

Smith, II. E 154

S 1 1 iiy , C. .J 157

Sheibley, T. .J ..liio

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 371

Smith, O. H 200

Smith, Almond 200, 201

Stefani, Joseph 201

Smathers, M. L 202

Spellacy, Andrew 202

Smith, Mordecca 208

Shinier, Julius 208

Sencenbaugh. Benj 209

Shea, Wm 209

Sherwood, 1). P 210

Shaw, E. W 213

Scott, Wm 213

Schram, C. W 215

Stark, Fred and Wm 219

Stettin, Ernst 219

Silver Creek Churches 215

Sherman, C. W 221

Smith, C. N 229

Suecker & Anderson 230

Smith & Davis 230

Sullivan, Wm 231

Sparks, A.J 231

Sullivan, J 232

Schouten, J. L 232

South Creek Church 233

Stinger, H. J 234

Schultz, John E 239

Sweeney, Hugh ■ 240

Schram, C. F 241

Springbank Postofflce 242

Springbank Churches 242

Smith, Aaron 242

Stewart, James 243

Sweeney, Wm 250

Town site business in 1856 and 1857 26, 27

Todd, C. W 49,165

Township organization 110

Township organization, first election of officers under 115

Tara Fl ill Church 220

Thomas, T. I 221

Tarsony, H 224

Tobin, James 229

Talboy, Dr • 230

Tuttle, O. C. and Henry 232

Tripp & Co 247

Thompson, C. A •• • -247

Thompson, Henry 263

Thompson. .1. W. 263

Thompson, Royal 264

HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Volunteers from county in i*t>2 44

Vahderbilt, W. II 140

West, Frank 26,29, 159

Winston, P.J 29, - ;{:l

White, Andrew 50

Wheeler, Wm. 261

Wrighl & Lockwood 86

WcrniiiK.nl. "Prof." • 92

Winterof 1880-1 100

Wakefield 103,104,105,108

Village 257,258. 261,262

Business tlrms 2<>i

Mill 261

( 'lunches and schools 258

Societies •' 2(51

Republican 2(il

Whitford, A. D 141,243

Waitt.CW 141

Walters, j. P 140

Wilbur. R. II 140

Water powers 145

Welty, T. .1 157,189

Warner. Klias 202

Wilbur, Jefferson 2ns

Waterman, O 214

Williams K P 214,238

Wendte, Herman and Henry 216

Ward. J. (Daily) '. '. 222

Weidenfeldt, H 224

Waldron, Father 230

White. Wm 240

Wright, Lyman 241

Wallenstein, Nick 241

W i lson Bros 244

Warnock, Wm 247.250

Wischhof, Chris 252

Wright, P. G 103,141,239

Wind storm and great damage in 1885 111. 112, 113

Watkiuuky Village 121,233

Business firms • • 234

Creamery 234

Churches 234

W. C. EDWARDS,

President and Treasurer

C. H. BRADFORD,

Vice-President and Secretary

Largest Lumber and Coal Dealers in North-
eastern Nebraska.
Large Stocks. Leaders in Low Prices.

....YARDS ON.

The Chicago, St. Paxil, Minneapolis and Omaha

AND

The Sioilx City, O'Neill and Western.

...YARDS IN DIXON COUNTY...

Wakefield, Emerson. Ponca,

New Castle,

Allen,

Dixon.

Come and See Us and Get Acquainted With the
Way We Do Business. It Will Pay You.

J4HAD...
OFFICE

Edwards & Bradford Lumber Go.,

Sioux City, Iowa.

.•^r- •:>«•» *--»»-:::-C-00000 *********************** * , M»**********
as A .■'-. .'-. .v *

IFJ.O. MILLIGAN,

Wakefield Roller Mills.

Proprietor
of the

HI \ I IK IN.

* j Grain a nd

..liive Stoek.

* !

ioo Barrels,
20,000 Storage,

*
*
*

49*

Water Power. ^gt

£****
************************************* **************

& vkn I 1 — -A n

UAl

O^O

o o

unrg<f ©rococo

HEW CMSTLL, * * *

SKASM D

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ****** * ******* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I CHAS. H- mERRlTT, **%

$ Call and Examine
X and Learn Prices.

.DEALER IN

Furniture....

*
*
*

A Full hine of Excellent Goods in Stoek.

WAKEFIEliD, Nebraska. J

**v.-
***-£fc

****$>. *

***************************************************

R. Q. ROWSE, M. D. |

1 Physician and Surgeon. |

OFFICE

First Door West of Corner Drug Store.

Wakf:field,

Nebraska.

•1906