Skip to main content

Full text of "Warner's history of Dakota County, Nebraska, from the days of the pioneers and first settlers to the present time, with biographical sketches, and anecdotes of ye olden times"

See other formats 


.uv.umu^ 


wm 

1 

■■■ 

lO 


©ENEALOC5Y  COLLETCTIOR 


WARNERS   HISTORY 


OF 


DlKOTACOOmiElASKA, 


FROM    THE    DAYS   OF   THE 

Pioneers  im  First  Settlers 

TO   THE    PRESENT   TIME, 

WITH    BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES,  AND 
ANECDOTES  OF  YE  OLDEN  TIMES, 

BY 

M.  M-  WARNER, 

DAKOTA   CITY,  NEB. 


rur.LlSIIED    HY 


l.voNs   MIRROR  Job  Office. 
1893. 


1242315 

DEDICATION 


To  T!ii:  MiaioKv  OF   My  Father    ami*    jMother.     Mr. 
AM»  Mrs.  Col.  Jkssk  F.  Warner: 

"l^lONFn^^RS  of  Dakota  county,  through  whojsf 
ilK^  public  spirit,  untiring  energy  and  sociability 
^ir  greatly  aided  in  the  public  and  social  affairs  of 
early  times — the  former  by  his  lemarkable  gift  of 
oratorical  elo(juence,  was  ever  on  the  alert  to  lift  up 
his  voice  foi-  right  and  justice,  for  truth  and  moral- 
ity, and  fur  the  public  good  and  welfare  of  Dakota 
county — to  them  tliis  volume  is  reverently  dedicated 
by  the  author. 


PREFACE 


§0  fierce  has  been  the  mighty  conflict  between 
advancing-  civilization  and  the  wild  abo- 
^jj.-  rigines  of  the  West,  that  for  many  years 
these  border  lands  were  one  vast  graveyard, 
strewn  with  the  bleaching  bones  of  unbiiried 
heroes. 

Behold  the  wonderful  changes  wrought  by 
the  resistless  arm  of  Time  since  the  advent  of 
the  pioneers  to  Dakota  county!  It  seems  but 
yesterday  that  these  daring  men  crossed  the 
Missouri  river  and  laid  the  foundation  of  all  the 
wealth  and  prosperity  of  to-day.  Pioneers  are 
generally  individuals  or  families  of  limited 
means.  As  population  increases,  all  the  wealth 
and  luxuries  of  life  fall  into  the  hands  of  the 
rich,  who  wisely  determine  to  enjoy  the  comfort 
of  their  old  homes  among  friends  they  have 
grown  up  with,  and  leave  to  others  less  fortunate 
the  task  of  opening  up  new  roads  and  subjugat- 
ing new  countries.  It  requires  considerable 
nerve  and  force  of  character  to  do  this,  and 
none  but  the  bravest  and  stoutest  hearts  can 


muster  up  courage  to  undertake  tlie  daring  ex- 
periment. In  after  year^  when  the  impartial 
historian  shall  chronicle  the  rise  and  progress 
of  this,  the  greatest  country  the  sun  ever  shown 
upon,  no  grander  tributes,  no  higher  monuments 
will  ever  be  reared  to  any  individual  or  class 
than  to  those  who  shouldered  their  axes  and  ri- 
fles, and  with  families  and  the  little  they  could 
gather  around  them,  bidding  a  sad  farewell  to 
friends  and  the  home  of  their  birth,  plunged  he- 
roically into  the  wild  west  and  drove  back  the 
hordes  of  savage  foes  that  lurked  in  the  way. 
Here  they  built  rude  cabins,  reared  stockades, 
and  with  such  improvised  fortifications  with- 
stood the  hardships  and  privations  and  won  vic- 
tories over  opposing  forces  that  justly  entitles 
them  to  the  world's  highest  consideration.  The 
wealthy  seldom  emigrate.  But  in  all  thickly 
populated  countries  there  are  those  possessed  of 
proud  spirits  and  unconquerable  energy,  who, 
rather  than  remain  and  battle  with  a  consuming 
poverty  they  can  never  hope  to  shake  off,  seek 
new  homes  where  land  is  cheap  and  fertile,  and 
where  they  may  hope  to  reach  independence  and 
a  respectable  standing  among  their  fellowraen. 
It  matters  not  whether  this  year  or  in  the  years 
to  follow,  when  you  chance  to  look  over  this 
beautiful  valley  and  the  beautiful  blurt"  lands, 
covered  with  thrifty  farms  and  happy  homes, 
with  school  houses  and  churches,  with  railroads, 
thriving  towns  and  villages,  pause  for  one  brief 
moment  to  give  praise  unto  the  daring  pioneers 
to  whom  you  are  greatly  indebted  for  the  bounti- 
ful blessings  which  you  to-day  enjoy,  and  whose 


I'RKFACK.  MM 

names  and  the  record  of  their  heroic  .■struggles 
appear  in  this  book. 

The  task  of  writing  this  book  has,  indeed- 
been  no  easy  n^^atter.  It  covers  a  period  of  more 
than  live  years  of  work  in  collecting  data,  inci- 
dents, etc.,  whii^h  has  bronght  me  face  to  face 
with  every  old  settler  of  the  county,  of  whom  I 
liave  gathered,  from  their  own  lips,  the  material 
contained  in  this  history.  One  by  one  the  pio- 
neers are  passing  away,  and  my  object  was  to 
collect  from  each  one  facts  which  in  a  few  more 
years  would  have  been  bnried  with  them  in  the 
grave  and  forever  forgotten.  I  hope  the  children 
of  the  pioneers  will  preserve  this  record  and 
keep  forever  green  the  memory  of  our  county's 
early  settlement. 

M.  M.  Warner. 
Dakota  City,  Neb.,  December  25,  1893. 


LOaiSTIC 


^ONOR  to  tlie  pioneers!  Honor  to  tiieir  no- 
r)  l)le  wives,  who  had  the  conrage  to  share 
■—  (  alike  with  their  husbands  the  trials  and 
hardships"  of  early  times.  People  are  a!)t  to 
make  light  of  the  assertion  that  the  pioneers 
were  brave  men,  but  brave  men  they  wei-e,  and 
who  can  ever  truly  deny  it^  They  went  forth  in 
the  si)ringtime  of  their  years— in  the  morning  of 
their  lives,  and  after  penetrating  the  ''far  west" 
beyond  the  borders  of  civilization,  finally  stood 
as  embattled  heroes  upon  the  wild  primeval 
prairies  of  Dakota  county.  Heroic  men,  they 
marched  with  dauntless  courage  as  veterans  in 
the  cause  of  civilization — as  vanguards  at  the 
head  of  that  vast  army  of  emigrants  which  sub- 
sequently rolled  across  the  rich  and  fertile 
plains  of  the  west.  Behold  the  scenes  that  met 
the  gaze  of  this  sturdy  race  of  men  thirty-seven 
years  ago;  no  beautifid  farms  and  pleasant 
homes;  no  thriving  towns,  schools  and  churches. 
The  land  was  enveloped  in  rank  prairie  grass 
and  wild  jungles — it  was,  indeed,  one  vast  wil- 


XVI  KILOGISTJU. 

(leriieps,  where  the  birds  of  the  air  and  the  wild 
aiiinialy  of  the  forest  lived   unmolested.— Here 
they  lived  to  endure  the  hardships  and  priva- 
tions of  pioneer  life,  to  fight  the  battles  of  ad- 
versity, to  meet  and  overcome  the  trying  obsta- 
cles whieh   everywhere  obstructed   their   path- 
way,  until   these   once    wild   and    uninhabited 
prairies  were  transformed  into  waving  fields  of 
grain,  dotted  here  and  there  with  happy  homes, 
They  are  truly  bricks  interwoven  in  the  founda- 
tion and   general   makeup  of  Dakota    county 
demented  with  a  spirit  fit  to  conquer  a  wilder- 
ness and  prepare  for  you  and  your  children  the 
fairest  land  on  earth.    The  pioneers  of  Dakota 
county  are,  as  they  richly  deserve  to  be,  not  only 
the  representative  men  of  their  own  h)cality,  but 
of  all  Northern  Nebraska.    Although  some  of 
them  are  well   advanced   in   years,  their   might 
and  influence  still  sways  the  course  of  enterprise 
and    progress  throughout  this  region,  and   the 
effect  of  their  remarkable  activity  will  continue 
to    live  and  be  felt  long  after    they  will   have 
passed  away.    The   changing  yeais  passed  on, 
the  pioneers  conceived  the  idea  of  holding  an- 
nual reunions,  and  it  is  truly  a   beautiful  sight 
to  see  gathered  together  in  one  assemblage  be- 
neath the  shades  of  pleasant  groves,  those  once 
sturdy  pioneers  of  other  days— the  founders  and 
builders  of  all  this  n)agnificent  country,  and  to 
see  them  meeting  and  shaking  hands  with  each 
other,  and  talking  over  the  bygone  times  of  more 
than  a  third   of  a  century  ago.     And   let  them 
talk  it  over  and  over  again,  for  those  were  heroic 
times  in  a  heroic  period  of  our  county's    history, 


and  the  stories  of  their  fortitude,  nritirin.i,'- en- 
ergy and  triumphant  battles  in  subjugating  the 
wild  and  uninhabited  lands  of  the  west  will  be 
told  and  retold  to  coming  generations.  In 
memory  they  live  again  a  few  brief  hours  oi  tlir 
past,  and  with  the  flight  of  imagination  (Hkc 
more  they  behold  Dakota  county  in  ils  primev.il 
state,  covered  with  deiise. jungles  and  rankwe;-*!- 
and  prairie  grass.  They  were  then  in  the  prinu' 
of  their  lives,  but  now  they  meet  with  locks 
whitened  by  the  frostof  years,  to  talk  over  tli(  sr 
thrilling  scenes  of  the  days  that  are  no  more  in 
which  they  were  once  actors,  and  to  renew  their 
allegiance  to  the  friendship  formed  in  pioneer 
times,  w4iich  death  alone  can  sever.  Praise  tn 
the  pioneers!  Build  them  a  monument,  and  let 
it  be  reared  aloft  from  some  high  peak  as  a  fit- 
ting tribute  in  commemoration  of  the  grand 
victory  they  have  won.  And  may  their  honored 
names  forever  shine  upon  the  fairest  pages  of 
our  county's  history,  and  be  chanted  in  song 
by  coming  generations  long  after  the  last  gray- 
haired  veteran  shall  have  filed  down  the  silent 
aisles  to  the  River  of  Death  and  pitched  his 
tent, lighted  his  campfire  and  taken  up  anew 
claim  in  some  other  and  better  and  grander  ''far 
west"  beyond  the  gulf  of  Eternity  on  the 
shores  of  everlasting  time. 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS, 


Old  Si)ring  Grove  Pioneer  Log  Schoftl  House 6 

Primeval  Scene Ifi 

Dakota  City  Lutheran  Church 6(i 

Sioux  City, Iowa,  and  South  Sioux  City.  Nebraska 97 

Corn  Palace  of  1887 98 

Corn  Palace  of  1888  and  1889 99 

Corn  Palace  of  1890  and  1891 lOd 

Proposed  Corn  Palace  (never  built) 102 

Blyburg  Lake 118 

Seal  of  Nebraska 121 

Col.  Charles  D.  Martin 207 

Gen.  Joseph  Hollman 211 

('ol.  .Jesse  F.    Warner 227 

Mrs.  Flannah  M.  Warner 229 

Judge  Kelly  W.  Frazer 247 

Residence  of  William  Taylor  and  family 259 

Dr.  E.  J.  Deliell 291 

Capt.  William  Luther 306 

Mrs.  Capt  William  Luther 307 

Col   Warner^s  Wild  West  Wire  Stretcher 361 

Adam  WenzePs  Corn  Planter 362 

Eugene  B.  Wilbur 369 


IBLE  OF  CONTENTS, 


CHAPTER  I. 

Earliesst  Explorers ,..  Si 

Lewis  and  Clarke  Expedition i2 

Death  of  Sergeant  Floyd 8H 

CHAPTER  n. 

Territory  of  Louisania  and  Missouri 40 

First  Steamer  to  Reach  this  Point 40 

Other  Adventurers   . . 41 

Treaty  with  the  Omahas 42 

CHAPTER  HI. 

Territory  of  Nebraska 43 

Dakota  County  Organized 48 

Advent  of  the  Pioneers 44 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Geology 47 

Natural   Resources 47 


W  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  V. 

Extiiu't  Towiis 49 

Ouiadi 49 

Logan •^- 

St.  Johns   ^5^ 

Pacific  City ^4 

Franklin  City •'^4 

Blyburg ^4 

Verona 54 

Randolph    •>■> 

I>o(li ^^ 

Knunett ■'^•"^ 

CHAPTER  Vr. 

I )akota  County  Towns -i^i 

Dakota  City '3« 

Covington : 71 

Jackson "^ 

Homer 8H 

Hubbard 88 

Emerson 89 

South  Sitiux  (;ity 92 

Elk  Valley 97 

Coburn  Junction 97 

Xecora   97 

( Joodwin    7 

CHAPTER  Vn. 

Products  and  Improvements   9S 

I  'rizes  and  Medals         99 

Cheese  Maker's  Association    HH 

I'armers  Club 191 

Bridges  and  lioads   Kil 

iiailroads lOM 

(CHAPTER  VHI. 

Indians H'H 


CONTENTS.  XXI 

"The  Logan   War" • 108 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Population 110 

CHAPTER  X. 

Crimes  and  Casiialties Ill 

CHAPTER  XL 

Fires   115 

CHAPTER  Xn. 

(jireat  Storms  and   Blizzards 119 

CHAPTER  Xm. 

I'ublic  Schools 122 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

(\ainty  Officers  and  Date  of  Their  Election 127 

County  Clerks 127 

County  Treasurers 128 

County  Sheriffs 128 

('ounty  Judges   ...    129 

County  Superintendents 130 

County  Surveyors 131 

County  Coroners   131 

County  Attorneys ....  132 

County  Registers 132 

County  rommissioners 132 

Board  of  Supervisors 133 

•Justice  of  the  Peace-   Omadi 135 

Justice  of  the  Peace— Dakota 135 

•Justice  of  the  Peace-  St^  Johns 136 

J ustice  of  the  Peace  -Covington 137 

Justice  of  the  Peace  — Piaeon  Creek 138 

Justice  of  the  Peace-  Summit 138 


XXII  CUNTKNTS. 

Justice  of  the  Peace—  Pender 13 

Justice  of  the  Peace— Hubbard 13y 

Justice  of  the  Peace  — Emerson 139 

County  Assessors ■ I4(i 

Assessors— Omadi , 140 

Assessors— Dakota  City 141 

Assessors— St.  Johns 141 

Assessors  -Covington 142 

Assessors  —Hubbard 

Assessors— Pigeon  Creek 14a 

Assessors  -Summit 143 

Assessors  -  Emerson   , 143 

Assessors  —Pender 144 

County  Vote  for  Presidents 144 

Members  of  the  Territorial  Legislature 144 

State  Representatives 145 

Members  of  the  Territorial  Council 145 

State  Senators 146 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Special  Offices 147 

Census  Enumerators 148 

Other  Elections 148 

District  Court  Judges 148 

Organizing  the  Precincts 150 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Public  Cemeteries 153 

t'ublic  Libraries 154 

Holidays loo 

Bottom  Disease 157 

Lost  Steamer  Nugget 158 

Base  Hall 158 

Camp  Meeting 159 

lierger  Poor  Farm 159 

Soldiers'  Uelief  Commission KH) 

Brass  Bands HJl 


CONTENTS.  XXITI 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Ki(>iiT;ii)hif'al  Sketches 1«3 

CHAPTER  XVIII- 

rioneers  and  Old  Settlers  Association 312 

CHATPER  XIX 

Anecdotes  and  Stories  of  Ye  Olden  Times 344 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Dakota  County  Inventions  and  Patents 361 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

Miscellaneous— County  Seat  Fight— Election  of  1893,  etc.  366 

CHATPER  XXII. 

Additional  Biographical  Sketches 368 


HISTORICAL 


CHAPTER    I. 


Kart.ikkt  Explorers-  Lewis  and  Clarke's  ExPEonfoK 
AND  Theik  Sojourn  in  This  Vicinity, 


THE    BEWINNINO. 

fK(>BABLY  the  Hrst  wliite  men.  except  fur  trader.s. 
who  ever  gazed  upon  the  rich  a»d  fertile  prairies  of 
Dakota  coutjty,  were  those  of  the  Lewis  and  Clarke 
<'xpedition,  althou<i^li  Father  Marquett,  ou  a  map  drawn  in 
the  ye:ir  of  our  Lord,  167.3,  traced  the  Missouri  river  at 
this  point  very  accurately,  and  it  may  be  that  he  trav- 
<M'sed  tlie  very  soil  where  one  hundred  and  eighty-tw(» 
ye:irs  afterward  was  organized  Dakota  county.  And 
it  may  he  barely  possible  that  Gen.  Coronado,  a  Spanislt 
<'avaliei-,  who  is  said  to  have  reached  the  present  limits 
<»f  Nebraska  in  his  expedition  from  the  city  ot  Mexico 
in  1541,  also  beheld  Dakota  county  in  that  year. 
Anion*;  other  things,  Coronado  in  desciibint)j  the  coun- 
try says:  "Here  I  found  plums,  such  as  I  have  seen  in 
^^pain,  walnuts  and  excelleiit  ripe  grapes.'"  Now  the 
fact  that  Dakota  county  contains  tlie  oldest  ajjiJ  hirirei^l 


H2  W  ARNKr's   lllSTOKY   OK    l>AKOTA   (((I'NrY. 

walnut  trees  in  Nebraska,  inakeb  it  appear  plausible 
that  Ooronado  and  his  1,100  men  actually  stood  upon 
what  is  to-dav  the  banner  corn  county  of  the  state  of 
Nebraska,  three  hundred  and  fifty-three  years  age.  As 
a  number  of  walnut  trees  cut  down  in  this  county  have 
been  found  to  be  three  hundred  and  eighty  years  old. 
Coronado  could  liave  gathered  walnuts  from  any  of 
them  when  they  were  thirty-one  years  old. 

In  May,  1609,  Iberville,  a  French  officer,  planted  a 
(•ulony  on  the  Bay  of  Biloxi,  within  the  present  limits 
(tf  the  state  of  Mississippi,  and  took  all  the  country  l)e- 
tween  the  Alleghany  and  Rocky  Mountains  in  the  name 
of  France.  This  region  was  called  Louisiana,  and  although 
what  is  now  Dakota  county  was  a  small  portion  of  it, 
nevertheless,  it  was  under  French  rule  until  Noveml)er 
H,  1702,  when  the  Province  of  Louisiana  was  ceded  to 
Spain.  Tliis  region  was  then  under  Spanish  control  for 
thii-ty-seven  years,  when  the  Province  of  Louisiana 
was  re-ceded  to  France,  and  about  three  years  later,  on 
the  30th  of  April,  1803,  it  was  ceded  to  the  United 
States.  Thus,  for  the  first  time,  the  soil  on  which  we 
statid  was  under  the  ownership  of  our  own  country. 

THE  LEWIS   AND  CLARKE  EXPEDITION. 

On  the  acquisition  of  tliih  vast  territory  to  the 
United  States,  the  president.  Thomas  Jefferson,  planned 
an  exploring  expedition  to  ascertain  the  courses  and 
sources  of  the  Missouri  river  and  most  convenient  water 
communication  thence  to  the  Pacific  Ocean.  Captains 
Merriweatlier  Lewis  and  William  Clarke,  both  army 
officers,  were  placed  in  charge  of  the  command,  which 
consisted  of  nine  young  men  from  Kentucky,  fourteeit 
soldiers  of  the  United  States  army,  who  volunteered 
their  services,  two  French  watermen,  an  interpretei"  and 
hunter  and  ablack  servant  belonging  to  Captain  Clarke. 
All  these,  except  the  last,  were  eidisted  to  serve  as  pri- 
vates during  the  expedition,  which  began  ascending  tike 


I.KWIS  AND   <;i.AKKK  KXPEUniON.     '  ^iH 

Mii?souri  river  tVoin  its  cuiiflneTice  with  the  Mississippi. 
May  14th,  1804.  Three  sergeants  were  appointed 
nniono-  them,  and  besides  the  above  named  crew,  there 
uei'e  a  corporal  and  six  soldiers,  also  nine  waternien  who 
were  engnged  to  accompany  the  expedition  as  far  as  the 
Mandah  nation.  They  had  three  boats  or  barges,  tak- 
ing with  them  necessary  stoi-es  and  presents  for  the 
Indian^,  while  two  horses  were  led  along  the  banks  of 
the  river  to  be  used  in  Ininting. 

'  The  expedition  reached  what  is  now  Dakota  county. 
Monday,  August  13,  1804,  and  passed  up  through  what 
is  now  Blyburg  lake,  (then  the  Missouri  river)  to  a 
point  opposite  the  old  George  Smith  place,  where  they 
found  the  month  of  a  stream  which  they  called  Maha 
creek.  This  was  Omaha  creek,  and  the  old  settlers  re- 
member when  it  emptied  its  waters  at  the  above  named 
point.  They  moved  on,  passing  over  the  very  place 
where,  in  recent  yeare,Amberry  Bates  and  othei-s,  raised 
cropfe  of  corn— ti'en  the  middle  of  the  river,  and  camped 
that  night  at  a  point  on  the  river  north  of  the  old  Sam- 
uel Dearing  place,  (now  owned  by  Andrew  J.  Parker), 
opposite  a  large  island,  which  included  the  Wm.  Alte- 
mus  farm  and  what  used  to  be  known  as  the  "George 
Woods  Timber."  The  river  at  that  time  extended 
around  south  of  1).  0.  Dibble's  farm  and  out  as  far  as 
A.  II.  Baker's  farm,  thence  south  and  ihen  east  to 
Parker's  place,  as  above  stated.  Here  they  remained  in 
camp  for  several  days  treating  with  tiie  Indians  and  ex- 
ploring the  adjacent  coujitry. 

Soon  after  they  had  halted  on  the  18th,  Sergeant 
Ordway  and  four  men  were  detached  to  the  Maha  villao-e, 
which  extended  from  the  Heniy  ream  place  near  Homer, 
to  the  old  Muses  Kreps  place,  now  owned  by  David 
Waterman.  They  starred  southward  and  traveled  down 
a  portion  oi  what  for  many  years  lias  been  known  as  the 
Rathbun  lane  and  came  to  Omaha  creek,  at  a  point 
west  of   tlie  Gideon    Warner  farm,    where    the  guide 


84  warnkr's  history  of  Dakota  county. 

meridian  crosses  that,  stream,  thence  west  along  its  bank 
to  where  the  Oak  mill  was  bnilt.  Here  they  crossed 
the  Elk  creek,  which  they  called  "the  north  branch"  and 
started  south  up  Omaha  creek,  passing  over  the  land 
now  owned  by  Tim  Murphy,  D.  Allen  and  Join* 
Braunt.  Here  is  the  diary  for  the  expedition  after 
they  crossed  Elk  creek: 

"The  walk  was  very  fatiguinjj,  as  they  were  forced  to 
break  their  way  through  grass,  sunflowers  and  thietles, 
all  above  ten  feet  high  and  interspersed  with  wild  pea. 
Five  miles  from  our  camp  they  reached  the  position  of 
the  ancient  Maha  village;  it  had  once  consisted  of  300 
cabins,  but  was  burnt  four  years  ago,  soon  after  the 
small  pox  had  destroyed  400  njen  and  a  proportion  of 
women  and  children.  On  a  hill,  in  the  rear  of  the 
village,  are  the  graves  of  the  nation,  to  the  south  of 
whicii  runs  the  fork  of  the  Maha  creek;  this  they  crossed 
where  it  was  a])out  ten  yards  wide,  and  followed  its 
course  to  the  Missouri  river,  passing  along  a  ridge  of 
hill  for  one  mile  and  a  half  and  along  p(jnd  between 
that  and  the  Missouri;  they  then  re-crossed  the  Maha 
creek  and  arrived  at  the  camp,  having  seen  no  tracks  of 
the  Indians  nor  any  sign  of  recent  cultivation." 

Although  the  above  narrative  was  written  eighty- 
nine  years  ago,  the  exact  extent  of  their  wanderings  can 
,  readily  be  determined.  As  has  been  above  stated  they 
left  their  camp  on  the  river  somewhere  north  of  Par- 
ker's place,  Auguit  13tli,  going  southward  came  to  Oma- 
ha creek,  thence  west  along  its  bank  to  Elk  creek,  which 
they  crossed  and  proceeded,  south  to  where  Homer  now 
stands.  Here  in  the  vicinity  of  Homer  they  camped 
that  night,  and  the  next  day,  the  14th,  they  explored 
the  ruins  of  the  ancient  village  of  the  Omaha  Indians. 
They  then  crossed  Omaha  ci-eek  at  a  point  near  where 
Henry  Ream's  house  is  now  t^ituated.  The  ei'eek  was 
then  thirty  feet  wide  and  the  water  stood  almost  level 
with  the  banks,  and  this  branch,  or  rather  arm  of  Oma- 


I.KWIS  AND   CLARKE   EXPEDITION.  35 

ha  creek  run  from  Homer  ^outli-east  along  the  foot  of 
the  high  bluffs  through  what  is  to-day  known  as  the 
Eeam,  Ashford,  O'Connor  and  "Warner  iarujs,  a  distance 
from  Homer  of  about  two  miles  and  a  half,  M'here  it 
again  connected  with  the  main  stream.  Of  course  the 
water  of  this  portion  of  the  stream  would  be  stagnant 
except  in  high  water,  when  it  would  become  a  running 
stream.  It  appears  that  thej  mistook  this  for  a  regular 
branch  of  Omaha  creek.  The  party  then  climbed  to 
the  top  of  the  bluffs  at  the  Henry  Eeam  place,  where 
they  found  the  graves  of  hundreds  of  Omaha  Indians, 
who  had  died  of  the  small  pox.  These  graves  can  be 
seen  to  this  day.  They  followed  along  the  top  of  the 
bluffs  back  of  the  present  site  of  Ashford's  and  O'Con 
nor's  residences  and  descended  to  the  base  of  the  bluffs 
near  Pilgrim  hill,  thence  along  Omaha  creek  to  where 
it  emptied  into  the  Missouri;  here  they  again  crossed 
the  creek  and  turned  to  the  north-west,  passing  ever 
what  used  to  be  the  Isaac  Lamoreaux  place  and  thence 
north-west  to  their  camp  i  ^X'^'X  1  ^ 

On  the  morning  of  the  IStTi  they  saw  a  large  smoke 
ascending  from  the  forest  to  the  north-east  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  the  "George  "Woods  timber."  Some  men  were 
sent  to  ascertain  its  cause  and  found  that  a  small  party 
who  had  lately  passed  that  way  had  left  some  trees 
burning 

On  the  same  day,  while  the  expedition  was  waiting 
for  the  Indians  to  come  and  meet  with  ttien)  in  council, 
some  of  their  men  went  down  to  the  Omaha  creek,  south 
of  the  old  Charles  Bliven  place,  now  owned  by  James 
Allovva}\and  made  a  kmd  of  drag  with  small  willows 
and  bark  and  swept  the  creek  where  it  was  dammed  up 
by  beaver.  They  caught  318  fish,  consisting  of  pike, 
bass,  fish  resembling  salmon,  trout,  red  horse,  buffalo, 
rocktish,  flathack,  perch,  catfish,  silverfish  and  shrimp; 
here  also,  they  found  very  fat  muscles,  and  ducks  and 
plover. 


i^fi  \V^  KNKU'S  HISTOKY   OF    KAKOTA   <X^U>  TY  . 

The  pioneers  well  remember  wlie7i  Omaha  cr^ek, 
instead  of  flowing  into  the  Misioiiri,  as  at  present,  ex- 
tended along  east  ot"  the  old  Rathbnn  and  Bliven  places, 
and  a  short  distance  south  of  the  latter  the  creek  Was 
mercred  into  a  large  pond  or  lake,  caused  by  beaver 
uannningthe  creek.  This  is  the  pond  mentioned  in  Lewis 
and  Clarke's  diary  for  the  13th  and  14th,  On  the  16th 
they  again  dragged  this  pond  and  got  800  flsli. 

On  the  evening  of  August  17th,  one  of  the  party 
who  had  been  sent  back  to  the  (.)toe  nation,  returned 
with  the  information  that  the  rest  were  coming  on  with 
a  deserter  and  three  chiefs  of  that  tribe,  who  were  de- 
sirous of  making  peace  with  the  Mahas.  As  the  Mahas 
had  all  left  their  village  the  surrounding  prairies  were 
set  on  fire,  which  was  a  customary  signal  in  those  days 
by  traders  to  apprise  the  Indians  of  their  arrival;  ii 
was  also  used  between  different  tribes  as  an  indication 
of  any  event  which  had  previously  been  agreed  to  be  an- 
nounced in  that  way,  and,  as  soon  as  seen  cullecttd  the 
neighboring  Indians,  unless  it  was  appreheided  to  have 
been  made  by  enemies. 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  next  day  the  party  sent  to 
Council  Bluffs  returned  with  Little  Thief,  Big  Horse 
and  six  other  Indian  chiefs  and  a  French  interpretcu'. 
Six  of  them  were  Otoes  and  the  other  two  were  M  issouris. 
It  was  a  hot  July  day  and  Lewis  and  Clarke  n»et  them 
under  the  shade  of  five  cotton  wood  trees  then  standing 
on  what  is  now  the  Parker  place.  The  pioneers  well 
remember  these  trees,  as  they  formed  a  shelter  for  many 
a  camping  paity.  In  January,  1890,  Parker  cut  down 
the  smallest  of  these  trees,  which  was  ninety-eight  year^i 
old;  previous  to  this  he  had  cut  another  which  was 
about  one  hundred  and  twenty  years  old,  or  thirty-four 
years  old  when  this  famous  council  was  held  beneath 
its  shade,  and  five  years  old  when  the  battle  of  Bunker 
Hill  was  fought.  Before  this,  however,  Samuel  Dear- 
ing   cut   the    second  largest  of  these    trees,    which  had 


r.EWlS   >Nn   CLARKK    EXI'KDITIOK.  37 

withstoiKi  tlie  stoi-ins  utid  battles  of  the  elements  cf  one 
linndred  and  thirty  years;  and  the  largest  of  all,  which 
was  five  feet  in  diameter,  fell  a  prey  to  the  Old  Muddy 
in  1876.  The  following  account  of  this  council  is  quot- 
ed from  their  journal: 

"We  met  them  under  a  shade,  and  after  they  had 
finished  a  repast  with  which  we  had  supplied  them,  we 
inquired  into  the  orijjin  of  their  war  between  them  and 
the  Mahas,  which  they  related  with  great  frankness.  It 
seems  that  two  of  the  Missouris  went  to  the  Mahas  to 
steal  horses,  but  were  detached  and  killed.  The  Otoes 
and  Missouris  thought  themselves  bound  t<.»  avenge 
their  companions,  and  the  whole  nations  were  at  last 
oMiged  to  share  in  the  dispute.  They  are  also  in  fear 
«»f  war  from  the  Pawnees,  whose  village  they  entered 
this  summer,  while  the  inhabitants  were  hunting,  and 
stole  their  corn.  This  ingenuous  confession  did  not 
make  us  the  less  desirous  of  negotiating  a  peace  for 
them;  but  no  Indians  have  as  yet  been  attracted  by  our 
fire.  The  evening  was  closed  by  a  dance,  and  the  next 
day  (August  19tli)  the  chiefs  and  warriors  being  assem- 
bled at  ten  o'clock,  we  explained  the  speech  we  had 
already  sent  from  Council  Bluffs  and  renewed  our  ad- 
vice. They  all  replied  in  turn  and  the  pi-esents  were 
Hien  distributed.  *  *  *  After  a  more  substantial  pre- 
sentation of  small  articles  and  tobacco,  the  council  was 
ended  with  a  dram  to  the  Indians.  In  the  evening  we 
exhil)ited  different  objects  of  curiosity,  and  particularly 
the  air-gun,  which  gave  them  great  surprise.  These 
people  are  almost  naked,  having  no  covering  except  a 
.'^ort  of  breech-cloth  around  the  middle,  with  a  loose 
blanket  or  buffalo  robe,  painted,  thrown  over  tiiem. 
Tlie  names  of  these  warriors,  besides  those  already  men- 
tioned, were:  Karkapaha  or  Crow's  Head,  and  Neua- 
sawa  or  Black  Cat,  Missouris;  and  Sananona  or  Iron 
Eyes,  Neswaunja  or  Big  Ox,  Stageaunja  or  Big  Blue 
Eves,  and  Wasashaco  or  Brave  Man,  all   Otoes,      These 


IW 


WARNERS   HISTORY   OF   ItAToTA    COUNTY. 


two  tribes  speak  nearly  the  same  lannfiianre.  Tliey  all 
begged  us  for  whisky.'' 

The  next  morning,  August  20tli,  the  Indians  were 
given  a  canister  of  whisky,  when  they  mounted  their 
horses  and  road  away. 

The  expedition  then  set  sail  and  passed  two  large 
islands  on  the  north — one  including  the  old  Geo. 
Woods  place,  the  other  where  McUenry's  saw  mill  is 
located.  While  they  were  thus  passing  along  the  sub- 
sequent site  of  Dakota  City,  Sergeant  Charles  Floyd 
was  writhing  in  the  last  throes  of  death,  and  died  as 
they  reached  the  high  bluffs,  about  one  mile  south  of 
the  Floyd  river,  which  was  so  named  in  honor  of  this 
brave  soldier.  Just  before  his  death  he  said  to  Captain 
Clarke:  "I  am  going  t.»  leave  you," — his  strength 
failed  him  as  he  added,  "I  want  you  to  write  me  a  let- 
ter." They  buried  his  body  on  the  lop  of  the  high 
bluff,  with  military  honors,  and  the  grave  was  marked 
i)y  a  cedar  post,  on  which  his  name  and  the  day  of  his 
death  were  inscribed.  The  place  of  his  burial  was  called 
Floyd's  bluff.  It  seems  that  his  death  was  caused  by 
an  attack  of  billions  colic,  bi-ought  on  l)y  eating  wild 
honey,  which  the  party  had  found  either  at  Col.  Baird's 
l)luffs  or  along  the  bluffs  east  of  Romer — 0r  possibly  on 
Honey  creek.  They  camped  that  night  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Floyd. 

On  the  morning  of  August  2Lst  they  sailed  by  the 
site  of  Sioux  City  and  at  three  miles  from  the  Floyd 
came  to  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Sioux,  which  then  flowed 
into  what  is  now  Crystal  lake,  opposite  South  Sioux 
(yity.  After  passing  through  that  lake  they  came  to 
the  site  of  old  St  John's,  where  they  killed  their  flrst 
buffalo,  also  a  deer  and  beaver  were  killed,  and  they 
saw  two  elk  as  they  scampered  over  the  hills  to  where 
Jackson    now  stands. 

Lewis  and  Clarke,  after  reaching  the  headwaters  ot 
the   Missouri,  passed  over  the  mountains    and     thence 


LKWISANl)  CLARKE   EXPEDITION,  8'.) 

down  the  Culuiubia  river  to  the  PaeiHf  Ocean. 

On  their  return  trip  they  readied  Floyd's  Hiiiir  at 
noon,  Septenibei  4,  1806,  and  found  tlie  grave  of  Floyd 
liad  been  opened  and  was  lialf  uncovered.  They  filled 
it  up  and  proceeded  down  to  their  old  canipiuiJi;  place, 
near  Parker's  house,  and  remained  there  ovcm"  nicvlu, 
where  they  dried  all  their  !)agga<i[e,  whicli  had  l)een  wet 
by  rain  on  the  previous  evening. 

They  landed  in  St.  Louis  September  28.  ISOC). 
having  traveled  about  eight  thousand  miles,  tiie  tinse 
consumed  in  making  the  journey  being  two  years,  four 
months  and  ten  days. 

In  the  spring  of  1857  Floyd's  grave  was  partially 
washed  away  by  the  Missouri,  and  the  skull  and  other 
bones  were  taken  to  Sioux  City,  where  they  remHine<l 
in  the  olhee  of  Moore  &  Clapp  until  "T'liy  of  the  same 
year,  wlien  the  grateful  citizens  of  that  place  re-interred 
them  on  a  blutf  two  hundred  yards  east  of  theold  grave. 
The  grave  of  this  daring-  adventurer  may  still  be  •  seen, 
marked  «i,s  it  is,  by  a  small  cedar  post,  instead  of  a  tit- 
ting  monument  in  memory  of  the  first  person  to  die  in 
that  world-renowned  expedition, 

William  Clarke  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1770,  and 
died  in  1838.  Was  the  last  territorial  governor  of  Mis, 
riouri  and  also  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs. 

Merriweather  Lewis  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1774 
and  died  in  1800,  Was  Ti-esident  Jefferson's  private 
jsecretarj. 


CHAPTER  II. 


Territory  of  Louisiana  ani>  Missouri — First  Steamer 
TO  Reach  This  Point—  Other  Adventurers — 
Treaty  With  the  Omahas. 


By  an  act  of  congress,  passed  March  8,  1805,  the 
District  of  Louisiana  became  the  "Territory  of  Louis- 
iana;" what  is  now  Dakota  county  being  included  in  the 
new  territory.  St.  Louis  was  made  the  capital  and 
President  Jefferson  appointed  James  Wilkinson  govern- 
or and  Frederick  Bates  secretary.  On  the  4tli  of  June. 
1812,  the  "Territory  of  Missouri"  was  organized,  within 
the  bounds  of  which  was  the  present  area  of  Dakota 
county.  The  legislature  of  this  territory  adopted  the 
common  law  of  England  for  the  regulation  of  its  affairs. 

Prior  to  this,  however,  in  1808,  the  Missouri  Fur 
(V^mpany  was  established  with  Pierre  Choteau,  William 
Clarke,  Sylvester  Labodie,  Manuel  Lista,  Auguste 
Choteau  and  Pierre  Menard  as  principal  managers. 
Their  first  expedition,  under  Maj.  A.  Henry,  passed  up 
the  Missouri  along  the  boundary  of  what  is  now  Dakota 
county  and  established  a  trading  post  on  the  headwaters 
of  the  river.  There  is  no  record  of  what  they  saw  in 
(Mir  county  or  what  was  their  opinion  of  it. 

the  first  steamer  to  beach  this  point. 

The  Western  Engineer,  a  government  steanier. 
started  from  Pittsburg  on  the  8rd  of  May,  1811),  iiaving 
on  board  an  exploring  expedition  sent    out     by     ordei- 


OTHER        ADVENTURBBS.  41 

of  the  president  to  explore  the  Missuuri  river  and  the 
country  west  of  it  to  the  Rockj  Mountains.  The  expedi- 
tion wati  under  the  coininaiid  of  Maj.  Stephen  H.  Long, 
and  arrived  at  St.  Louis  on  the  20th  of  June  and  reach- 
ed a  point  live  miles  below  Council  Bluffs  September 
lOth,  where  they  remained  that  winter.  The  following- 
p.pring  they  received  orders  from  John  C.  Calhoun, 
secretary  of  war,  to  proceed  overland  to  the  headwater.- 
of  the  i\rkansas  and  Red  rivers.  The  Western  Engi- 
neer then  received  anew  commander  and  was  used  foi' 
the  traxisportation  of  government  supplies  to  the  forts 
and  trading  posts  along  the  Missouri  which  was  the 
first  steamer  that  ever  passed  along  the  borders  of  Da- 
kota county. 

The  second  steamer  to  find  her  way  up  the  Missou- 
ri was  the  Yellowstone,  belonging  to  the  American  Fur 
Company,  landing  here  in  the  summer  of  1881  and 
commanded  by  Capt.  Bennett.  The  men  who  man. 
aged  the  boat  ofttimes  commented  upon  the  beauty  of 
tin's  land  and  wondered  if  it  would  ever  be  peopled  by 
white  men. 

OTHEK    ADVEKTDKEES. 

Fr«m  time  to  time  other  adventurers  and  traders 
are  known  to  have  crossed  over  the  beautiful  land  that 
forms  our  county,  but  as  they  have  left  no  traee  of  their 
sojourn  here  we  pass  them  by. 

In  1822  William  H.  Ashley,  in  the  interest  of  the 
Rocky  Mountain  Fur  Company,  of  St.  Louis,  equipped 
two  boats  to  ascend  the  Missouri  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Yellowstone,  and  thus  again  white  men  gazed  up<:»n  the 
land  of  Dakota  county. 

In  184:7  the  Mormons,  on  their  way  to  Salt  Lake, 
erossed  the  Missouri  at  Bellevue  and  traveled  along  the 
divide  between  the  Logan  and  Missouri  rivers,  which 
brought  them  across  the  south-western  portion  of  Dakota 
county,  and  to  tJiis  day  can  be  seen  the  oid    '^Mormon 


42  Warner's  history  of  Dakota  (;ounty. 

Trail"  made  by  this  expedition. 

Another  large  expedition  of  the  Mormons  crossed 
the  plains  to  Salt  Lake  dnring  the  summer  of  1853,  and 
a  portion  of  them,  who  were  late  in  the  fall  getting 
started  were  overtaken  l»y  cold  weather,  M-ent  into  wintei- 
quarters  near  the  site  of  old  St.  Johns,  where  they  re- 
mained until  spring. 

In  1848  William  Thompson  built  a  log  cabin  on 
the  east  side  of  the  Missouri,  at  Floyd's  Bluff,  about 
three  miles  below  Mdiere  Sioux  City  was  afterwards  lo- 
cated, and  the  following  year  Theophili  Brughier,  a 
Canadian  Frenchman,  settled  at  the  mouth  of  the  Big 
Sioux  river,  who  is  now  living  near  Salix,  Iowa.  The 
same  year,  (1849)  liobert  Perry  located  on  Peri-y  creek 
and  in  1850  Paul  Pacquette  made  his  home  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Big  Sioux.  In  1851  Josepli  Lionias, 
who  had  previously  been  employed  on  the  upper  river 
by  a  fur  company,  settled  within  the  present  limits  of 
Sioux  City,  Iowa.  These  facts  concerning  Sioux  City 
and  vicinity  are  given  so  as  to  form  a  more  perfect  his- 
tory of  Dakota  county  from  the  eai'liest  times,  and  in 
this  connection  might  be  mentioned  Dr.  John  K.  Cook, 
the  founder  of  Sioux  City,  who  surveyed  that  town  in 
1854. 

TREATY   WITH    THE    OMAHAS. 

By  a  treaty  made  with  the  Omaha  Indians  and 
proclaimed  J\me  21,  1854,  all  their  land  west  of  the 
Missouri  river  except  the  "Omaha  Keservation,"  con- 
taining 310,000  acres,  was  ceded  to  the  United  States. 
and  tlius  the  land  that  constitutes  Dakota  county  was 
opened  for  settlement.  Prior  to  this,  altliough  it  w;is 
an  ''Indian  country,"  several  of  our  pioneers  crossed 
over  here  to  get  a  glimpse  of  this  country,  among  whom 
were:  John  B.  Arteaux,  June  6,  1851;  Thos.  L  Grif- 
fey, in  the  fall  of  1851;  Gustave  Pecaut,  in  1852;  Wm. 
H.  James,  Leonard  I^)atcs  and  Wm.  L.  Madden,  in  1853. 


CHAPTER  III, 


Territuky  of  Nebraska—  Dakota   County  Oroaniz-ki 
— Advent  of  ti[e  Pioneers. 


For  more  than  thirty-two  years  after  the  adiui!>- 
sioii  of  Missouii  as  a  state  into  tlie  Union,  iSTebraska 
was  practically  without  a  government,  although  it  was 
incliuled  in  what  was  known  as  the  "JSlorth western  Ter- 
ritory,"' but  as  it  was  "an  Indian  country,*'  there  wa;- 
very  little  except  Indians  to  be  governed.  Nebraska 
Territory  was  organized  by  an  Act  of  Congress  passed 
March  4,  1854,  and  indorsed  by  the  president  on  the 
;}Oth  of  the  following  May,  and  at  that  time  included 
l»esides  the  present  state  of  Nebraska,  a  portion  of 
Colorado,  North  and  South  Dakota,  Montana,  Wyom- . 
ing,  and  part  of  Idaho.  Francis  Burt  was  appointed 
])y  President  Pierce  as  first  gov^ernor. 

DAKOTA  COUNTY  ORGANIZED. 

Dakota  county  was  organized  by  an  act  of  the  first 
territorial  legislature,  March  7,  1855,  in  response  to  a 
petition  presented  January  22,  1855,  signed  by  J.  D. 
M.  Crockwell  and  thirty-one  others.  Its  boundaries 
were  as  follows:  Fro!>i  north-east  comer  of  Blackbird 
county,  up  main  channel  of  Missouri  to  line  between 
ranges  six  and  seven  east,  thence  south  to  north  line  of 
Blackbird,  thence  to  place  of  beginning.  Countv  seat. 
Dakota. 

In  1858  a  bill  was  passed  by  the  legislature  annex 


-44  wakkek's  history  of  Dakota  county. 

in^  to  Dixon  coinitv  one- half  of  townships  27,  28  aiul 
29,  and  all  of  townships  30  and  31,  making  it  tliesniall- 
est  county  in  the  state  except  Sarpy.  In  1879  its 
southerii  boundary  was  removed  downward  to  the 
middle  line  of  township  25,  thus  including  for  "elect- 
ive, judicial  and  revenue  purposes"  a  portion  of  the 
Winnebago  and  C)maha  Reservations. 

In  1889  Thurston  county  was  organized,  with  tiie 
northern  border  of  the  Winnebago  Reservation  for  its 
north  boundary,  leaving  Dakota  county  boundaries  as 
follows:  Bounded  on  the  north  by  the  ]Vlis?ouri  river 
and  Dixon  county;  on  the  west  by  Di'xon  county;  on 
the  south  by  Winnebago  Reserve  or  Thurston  county; 
and  on  the  east  by  Missouri  river — containing  about 
two  hundred  and  twenty-five  square  miles,  or  nearly 
one  hundred  and  twenty-nine  thousand  acres.  The 
county  was  surveyed  by  Samuel  F.  Watts,  employed  by 
the  government  contractor,  Dr.  John  K.  Cook,  of  Sioux 
City,  Iowa,  in  1857. 

advent  of  the  pioneers. 

Early  in  the  year  of  1855  the  advance  picket  of  that 
remarkable  army  of  pioneers,  who  invaded  this  then 
wild,  primeval  land  and  in  a  few  fleeting  years  trans- 
formed it  into  beautiful  homes,  dotted  here  and  there 
with  stirring  towns  and  villages,  arrived  upon  the  east- 
ern shore  of  the  miglity  Missouri,  proclaiming  to  the 
woods  and  the  prairies,  to  the  hills  and  vales,  and  to  the 
beasts  and  birds  thereof,  that  they  had  "come  to  stay.'' 
Some  of  them  settled  on  that  side  of  the  river,  in  Sioux 
City  and  Woodl^ury,  while  others  casting  their  advent- 
urous eyes  beyond  the  turbulent  waters  of  the  Missouri, 
beheld  the  fairy-like  land  of  Dakota  county.  Among 
these  were  Henry  Ream,  who  on  the  15th  of  May,  1855, 
crossed  the  river  and  after  penetrating  the  rank  grass 
and  weeds  and  jungles,  stood  upon  the  bluffs  near 
where  Col.  H.  Baird    afterward  located.        Soon    after 


ADVENT  OF  TUp:    PIONEERS.  46 

this  Adam  Beuner  and  Charles  Rouleaux  explored  the 
county,  Benner  settling,  as  it  is  claimed  by  soine,  in 
what  is  now  Dixon  county. 

Father  Jerniiah  Trecy  and  his  brotlier  John  J. 
Trecy  arrived  from  Dubuque,  Iowa.,  June  25,  1855,  in 
search  of  a  location  to  estal)lisli  a  colony.  After  ex- 
ploring the  country  tliey  selected  the  land  where,  the 
following  spring,  old  St.  Johns  was  founded,  by  a  colony 
of  Irish  from  near  Dubuque,  Iowa, 

On  the  first  day  of  July  of  the  same  year,  George 
T.  Woods,  in  company  with  a  frenchman  (Armell,)  and 
two  Blackfeet  Indians,  crossed  the  river  and  went  afoot 
to  the  Col.  H.  Baird  bluffs,  thence  south  to  the  Tim 
Murphy  place,  and  here  on  the  afternoon  of  July  1, 
1855,  he  drovedown  the  first  claim  stake  ever  driven  in- 
to Dakota  county  soil.  There  were  no  impressive  cere- 
monies or  eloquent  "corner  stone"  speeches  on  the 
occasiuii,  although  it  will  ever  stand  out  as  a  very  im- 
portant step  in  tlie  history  of  Dakota  county. 

One  or  two  days  later  a  party  was  made  up  in 
Woodbury  of  the  tbllowinij^,  as  near  as  can  be  ascer- 
tained: Jacob  H.  Ilallock,  George  T.  Woods,  Charles 
Rouleaux,  Ray  Harvey,  John  Samuels,  John  Bay  and 
Robert  G.  Alexander,  who  crossed  the  river,  going  west 
to  where  St.  John's  was  located — here  they  found  the 
Trecys  cutting  grass^ — then  to  where  Ponca  now  stands, 
and  back  to  the  Col  Baird  place.  The  party  took  claims 
at  different  points  along  their  journey. 

On  the  4:th  of  July,  1855,  nearly  the  same  party 
crossed  over  to  tlie  subsequent  town  site  of  Omadi  in 
the  way  of  celebrating  the  national  holiday.  Witliin  a 
few  days  Chauncey  A.  Ilorr  joined  the  party. 

On  the  19th  of  August  of  this  year  Jesse  Wigle 
and  party,  consisting  of  Spenaer  Moore,  Robert  and 
William  Pilgriin,  and  others,  crossed  over  to  Dakota 
county.  Mr.  Wigle,  who  was  the  first  white  man  to 
settle  here  with  his  family,  had  visited  the  county  prior 


4<)  WARWBR's  history  of   DAKOTA   COUNTY. 

to  this  time — in  June  of  the  same  year.  Tliis  party 
had  "come  to  stay, "and  brought  M-ith  tliem  their  liousr. 
hold  effects. 

During  the  fall  of  1855  a  number  of  settlers  ar- 
rived, among  whom  might  be  mentioned:  Harlon 
Baird,  Abraham  Hirsch,  Benjamin  Hicks,  Moses  Krep.-. 
Joseph  Brannan,  A.  H.  Baker,  William  Cheney. 
Florace  Dutton,  Squire  Button,  William  B.  Tayli>i\ 
Henry  Young,  Gastave  Pecaut  and  George  L.   Boals. 

The  county,  it  might  be  said,  was  now  fairly  start- 
ed on  its  prosperous  career. 

For  further  particulars  about  the  early  settlement 
of  the  county,  tlie  reader  is  referred  to  the  bi()graphies 
of  the  pioneers. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


Geology  and  Natural  Kesgurces, 


Prof,  Samuel  Aughey,  in  his  essay  on  geologj 
says: 

"■As  now  understood  from  its  roeks  memorial. 
there  have  been  five  great  eras  in  geological  history, 
viz:  ArcliiBan.  Paleozoic,  Mesozoic,  Cenozoic and  Pscj- 
cliozoic.  During  the  early  part  of  the  first  or  Archaean 
era,  our  globe  was  companion  star  to  the  sun,  and 
glowed  by  a  heat  and  shown  by  a  light  of  its  own.'' 

Dakota  county  has  been  visited  by  a  number  of 
■(.nninent  geologists,  l*ef'ause  of  its  peculiar  geological 
formation,  and  the  "Dakota  Group"  was  so  named  from 
the  fact  that  these  stratums  of  different  grades  of  sand- 
stone were  first  discovered  in  this  county  along  the 
bluffs  east  of  Homer  which  was  once  the  bed  of  a  sea. 
.and  this  group  was  formed  by  sedimentary  deposits. 

The  county  is  well  supplied  with  good  building 
stone  and  there  is  plenty  of  s.ind  for  phistering  pui-po- 
ses  on  the  Missouri  bottom,  also  in  the  uplands,  where 
it  crops  out  on  high  Miififs.  An  excellent  quality  of 
•clay  is  found  here  for  )naking  brick.  The  soil  of  Dako- 
ta county  is  the  very  best  in  the  state,  the  loam  or  loess 
formation  is  hei-e  a!tout  two  hundred  feet  in  deptlL 
One  half  tlie  C(Minty  is  Missouri  bottom  land  aJid  the 
•other  poi"ti<ui  upland  and  valleys. 

NATUKAL  KKSOURCES, 

When  the  })ioneei-s  first  came  here  they  found  large 
forests  which   in    later    years    siiccnmljt^d    to  the  w^iwx,)- 


48  Warner's  history  of  dakota   county. 

man's  ax. 

'•In  1851,"  said  Thos.  L.  Griffey,  "the  land  along 
the  river  between  Dakota  City  and  Covington  was  cov- 
ered with  the  largest  and  most  dense  timber  ever  seen 
in  the  west." 

Bnt  notwithstanding  the  vast  amount  of  timber 
that  has  been  consumed  and  sent  to  mai-ket,  Dakota 
county  still  has  a  supply  to  last  her  people  for  many 
years  to  come.  On  the  Missouri  bottom,  generally  bor- 
dering the  river,  are  groves  of  cotton  wood,  white,  yel- 
low, prairie  and  red  or  diamond  willow,  boxelder,  ash 
and  white  elm,  also  some  soft  maple.  Along  the  small- 
er streams  and  on  the  high  bluff  lands  interspersed 
witli  deep  ravines,  is  to  be  found  excellent  timber,  such 
as  walnut,  red  and  burr  oak,  red,  white  and  i-ock  elm, 
ironwood,  boxelder,  cottonwood,  hickory,  cot^eebean. 
mulberry,  hackberry,  dogwood,  haw-thorn  and  bass- 
wood.  Some  of  the  cottonwood  trees  are  over  three 
huiidred  years  old  and  black  walnut  trees  have  been  cut 
down  wiiich  have  withstood  the  storms  of  three  hundred 
and  eighty  years.  In  1805  and  '(56,  500,000  feet  of 
walnut  lumber  were  shipped  to  Onidui. 

Among  the  wild  fi-uits,  berries  and  nuts  are  to  be 
found:  Plum,  grape,  strawberry,  raspberry,  mulberry, 
gooseberry,  haw-thorn,  chokechei'ry,  hazelnut  and  wal- 
nut. 

The  county  is  abundantly  supplied  with  water. 
Besides  being  bounded  on  the  north  and  east  by  the 
Missouri  river,  it  is  drained  by  a  number  of  creeks  and 
contains  hundreds  of  springs  of  pure  water,  principally 
on  the  uplands.  Omaha  the  laigest  creek  of  i he  county, 
enters  it  from  the  south,  and  after  receiving  the  waters 
of  Wigle,  Fiddler  and  Elk  creeks  from  the  west  and 
northwest,  it  Hows  into  the  Missouri  river,  about  five 
miles  south  of  Dakota  City. 

The  native  gnisses  yet  generally  prevail — a  few 
farmei-s  raisini;  timothy,  clover  and  blue  grass — slough 
grass  on  the  bottoms  and  blue  joint  on  the  uplands. 


CHAPTER  V, 


EXTINCT  TOWNS. 


Omadi — Logan — St.  Johns— Pacific  City — Franklim 
City— Blyburg — Verona — Randolph — Lodi. 


The  pioneers  had  one  weakness,  at  least,  and  that  was 
a  bad  one,  in  other  words,  to  use  the  modern  phrase, 
"tliey  had  it  bad" — a  mania  for  laying  out  town  sites. 
At  one  time  ten  towns  along  the  river  from  Blyburg  to 
Fonca,  with  tlieir  additions  included,  contained  over 
ten  thousand  acres.  Of  these  towns  but  two  ai-e  now 
existing-— only  in  the  memory  of  the  early  settlers,  ex- 
cept Ponca,  v,hich  by  a  change  in  the  boundary  line  i« 
now  in  Dixon  county.  The  two  surviving  towns  are 
Dakota  City  and   Covjngrton. 

Omatji--  The  first  of  rlie  extinct  towns  to  be  laid 
out  was  Omadi.  This  town,  with  Hve  additions,  was 
situated  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Missouri  river,  near 
the  line  between  townships  27  and  28,  range  9,  about 
live  miles  south  of  Dakota  City,  on  a  claim  taken  by 
Charles  Rouleaux.  The  first  settlers  were  Geo.  T. 
Woods,  Chauiieey  A.  Ilorraud  Moses  Kreps,  m' ho  crossed 
the  river  September  1,  1855,  and  began  building  a  log 
cabin,  which  was  one  of  the  tirst  constructed  by  wliite 
men  in  the  county  (except  jwssibly  a  cabin  built  on 
tlie  present  site  of  Covington  by  Gustave  Pecaut,)  to 
live  in,  while  they  were  building  a  saw  mill.  Mr. 
Woods,  foreseeing  the  coming  of  fntureevents,  reasoned 
that  a  human    tide  wcuild  soon  roll  across  the  rich    and 


OO  WAKNEr's  history  of  DAKOTA  COUNTY. 

fertile  praii'its  of  ]Vel)i-asl<ti,  and  that  a  lai-ge  q'^aiitity 
of  lumber  woiiKl  be  reqnii'ed  to  satii«ly  tbe  demand.  A. 
H.  Balver  and  Jacob  11.  IJalloek  soon  joined  tliem  in 
tbe  wo)k,  wliicli  tbey  kept  up  aU'wimer  and  tlie  saw 
mill  was  put  into  operation  April  1,  1850.  'Iliey  sold 
Inmber  at  $80  per  tlionsand  ftet,  and  tlie  li.ist  piircbased 
by  llie  settlers  Mas  nsed  in  the  construction  of  the  old 
Gideon  Warner'lionse,  now  standing  on  bis  farm  in  that 
vicinity.  While  the  mill  was  in  conrse  of  construction 
otheis  settled  in  the  town.  Cliai-les  Rouleaux  erected 
tbe  second  cabin  and  John  Bay  put  together  a  log  store 
building,  M'bicli  constituted  the  entii'e  village  for  the 
winter  of  '55  and  'Sf),  and  besides  the  above  n.entioned 
setters  its  iidiabitants  were:  AVm.  Cheney,  Benjamin 
Ilicks,  Jdhn  Gallagher,  Eobert  Alexander  and  a  few 
others,  all  of  whom  crowded  into  the  three  lonely    cab- 

In  the  spring  of  1850  new  settlers  began  toarrive» 
the  town  was  properly  laid  out,  AVilliain  C.  AIcBeath 
opened  Jip  a  store,  Stephen  Draper  brought  in  a  steam 
saw  mill,  and  before  fall  it  had  grown  ti)  he considei'able 
of  a  town.  It  flourislied  until '57  ^nd  '58,  when  it  bad 
reached  the  zenith  of  its  glory.  A.  good  frame  school 
bnildiuir  was  ei-ected,  which  was  afterwards  moved  down 
justn(»rth  of  Thomas  ISniitlrs  pbice  wbei-e  it  was  ui^eCl 
as  a  school  house  for  tliat  district,  and  the  town  con- 
tained a  population  of  about  i'our  hundred  inhabitants. 
Abraham  llirsch  opened  upthefii'st  hotel  in  1850  and 
Henry  Ilea**)  soon  afterwards  engaged  in  tlie  same  busi- 
ness. VVilliam  Young  also  kept  a  boarding  house. 
Miss  Putmun,of  Sioux  City,  taught  the  first  school  in 
Oniadi,  commencing  abovit  the  middle  of  April,  '57, 
which  w;is  also  the  first  in  the  county,  and  Maria  Pai-- 
soiis  and  Julia  jVash  wei-e  the  next  teachers.  Dr.  (t. 
\V.  Wilkinson  taught  school  here  in  1858  in  what  is 
now  Wm.  ^'heney's  old  loi>-  barn,  which  was  moved  to 
Dakota  (Jity  bv  C.  F.  Elkhart.  Among  bis  schoiara 
were  Charley  Ford^  Michael    Kenuelly,    MiU'cellus   and 


EXTINCT  TOWNS.  51 

Oliarles  Keaiii  and  Mary   Eeam  now    Mrs.  W.    0.    Mc- 
I^eatli. 

Tlie  lirst  newspaper,  wliicii  was  also  tlie  first  in 
the  eonnty,  called  the  Oniadi  Enterprise,  was  established 
here  in  July,  1857,  and  was  edited  Dy  George  W.  Rnst, 
afteivvards  editor  of  the  Stock  Jonrnal.  at  Chicago 
The  paper  was  sold  to  Griffin  and  Taff'e,  in  1858,  and 
expired  in  the  same  year.  A  shingle  mil)  was  operated 
by  Shnll  &  Ilartman. 

The  first  city  election  ot  wljich  there  is  any  record 
w«s  held  on  Monday,  March  22,  1858,  the  ibHowing 
officei-s  being  elected  for  a  term  of  one  year:  M.  G. 
Wilkini'On,  ma^or;  Wm.  D.  Smitii,  recorder;  Wm. 
Cheney,  assessor;  Win.  C.  McEeath,  treasurer;  J.  B. 
Dickey,  marshal;  Geo.  T.  Woods.  G.  W.  Burks  and  S. 
G.  Cochran,  aldermtn.  At  a  special  election  held  Jnne 
27,  1&5J»,  tlie  following  officers  uere  electtd:  John 
Taffe,  mayor;  Geo.  \V.  AVilliamson,  recorder;  A.  11. 
Baker,  marshal;  Alexander  Ford,  assessor;  Wm.  C. 
McBeatJi,  treasurer,  S.  G  Cochran,  M.  Kennelly,  IJeni-y 
Ream,  E.  Ji.  Kash  and  Domonic  Bciliiibki,  aldermen. 

Omadi  pest  oftice  was  established  in  1857  with 
Henry  IJeam  as  postnjaster,  succeeded  by  A.  IJ.  Baker 
and  Asa  Bathhun.  It  was  then  turned  over  to  J.  W. 
Davis,  on  Grnaha  creek,  and  was  alterwaids  moved  to 
Charles  H.  Bottei-'s  place;  was  discontinued  in  1872 
and  Homer  post  otMce  establh^hed. 

Bev.  Wm.  M.  Smith,  a  Methodist  minister,  held 
religious  services  in  the  Omadi  school  house. 

About  this  time  Wm.  Ashburn  came  to  the  town 
and  began  preparations  lor  the  hiiildiirg  of  a  large 
hotel.  Thos.  Ashford  burned  the  brick,  the  cellai-  was 
d'lg  while  Ashbnrn  was  bus-ily  engagtd  colUcting  a 
hiiiie  sum  of  ''bonus  money,"  which  he  took  wilh  him 
as  he  tied  the  count I'y,  and  the  hotel  echeme  was  a  tail- 
tire.  This  Mas  a  forerunner  of  moie  and  greater  disas- 
ter, as  the  village  hegan  to  decline,  the  trcacheious  Mis- 
son  i-i  washed  away  a  poition   of  the  town,  and  thus  tlie 


52  Warner's  history  of  Dakota  county. 

march  of  decay  went  on  until  1865,  when  every  liotise 
liad  been  removed,  some  to  Dakota  City  and  others  up- 
on farms,  Tlius  tliesite  of  a  once  prosperous  and  buoy- 
ant town  was  turned  over  to  the  merciless  ravage  of  a 
relentless  river  and  Omadi  sleeps  to-dny  in  the  broad 
bosom  of  the  Missouri  river. 

Logan. — Was  situated  on  the  Missouri  river,  now 
Crystal  lake,  the  Meridian  line  between  townships  28 
and  29,  forming  its  main  street.  It  was  surveyed  in 
June,  1856,  by  ISamuel  F.  Watts,  and  filed  for  record 
July  16th  ot  the  same  year,  several  additions  being 
made  to  the  town  afterwards.  Tiie  town  grew  very 
rapidly  and  soon  became  the  rival  of  Omadi  and  other 
towns  of  the  county.  Among  its  early  settlers  were 
Horace  Dutton,  John  Pierce,  Samuel  Whitehorn,  Leon- 
ard Bates,  Jan>es  Westcott,  Jesse  F.  Wai-ner,  Harry 
Lyons.  W.  W.  Marsh,  Robert  Carnihan,  Jnmes  Ashley, 
G.  McFall,  (founder  of  the  town),  John  Joyce,  Charles 
T.Parker,  i).  B.  Dodson,  Caleb  Leg,  Wm.  Carnihan, 
John,  Thomas,  Daniel  aiul  Frank  Virden  and  Alfred 
Elam.  Two  stores  were  kept  Ly  Harry  Lyons  arul  Wm. 
Carnihan.  The  Virden  Bros,  opened  up  a  lai-ge  hotel 
(now  known  as  the  old  T.  L.  Grifley  house  at  Dakota 
City,  which  was  afterwards  moved  there);  James  Ashly 
conducted  a  blacksmith  shop  and  Dr.  M.  Saville  was 
physician.  L»  the  sumnier  of  1858  a  sul)scription 
school  was  opened  with  Ottie  Marsh  as  first  teacher, 
and  among  hei"  scholars  were  Mrs.  E.  J.  DeBell  nee 
Nellie  Warner,  Mrs.  Clark  Ellis  nee  Mary  Willis,  Mrs. 
John  McQuilken  nee  Alice  Push,  Mrs.  Wm,  Armour 
nee  Jane  Garner,  William  Push  and  James  Willis. 
During  this  year  Logan  hsid  reached  jthe  height  of  its 
prosperity,  containing  at  that  time  more  than  twenty- 
five  housi-s,  when  the  Missouri  began  to  gnaw  away  its 
northern  portion  and  its  inhabitants  commenced  to 
iriove  their  houses  to  Dakota  City  and  adjacent  farms. 
By  1860  the  town  was  entirely  deserted,  the  Virdens 
being  the  last  to  leave. 


KXTlXcr    TOWN!:.  53 

St.  JoHNS--\Vas  also  called  St.  Patrick's  colony. 
located  on  the  Missouri  river,  about  one  mile  north  of 
rliicks<»n,  in  tdun^^liip  29,  range  8;  surveyed  and  plotted 
hy  John  J.  Trecy,  in  Jnne,  1856,  and  incorporated  by 
the  county  commissioners  in  January,  1857 

Oil  tiie  second  day  of  June,  1856,  a  Catholic  colo- 
iiv  from  near  Dubuque,  Iowa,  arrived  on  the  town  site, 
consisting  of  eigliteen  wagons  and  abiuit  sixty  persons, 
some  of  whom  remained  in  the  village,  others  selecting 
claims  in  what  is  now  St.  Johns  and  Summit  townships. 
This  colony  was  under  the  charge  of  father  .Jeremiah 
Trecy  and  its  members  were,  as  near  as  can  be  learned: 
r'ather  Trecy's  mother  and  fallier  and  widowed  sister 
Mrs.  C'oyle,  Daniel  Diiggan,  James  Kellehan,  George 
Portiss,  Michael  Mclvivergan,  James  Jone">  Michael 
McCormick,  Charles  J^oyle,  John,  James  , Patrick  and 
Nichohis  Ryan,  William  IlotJjan,  Simon  Magen,  Patrick 
Twohig,  Arthur  Short,  John  Trecy  and  Edward  Jones, 
all  but  tiie  last  four  having  families.  Tliomas  Curren 
and  Joseph  Ijrannan  kept  the  first  stores.  Drs.  En- 
right  and  Matthews  were  the  lirst  physicians.  In  1857 
a  steam  saw  mill  was  built;  a  log  school  house  was 
erected  and  Miss  Rosana  Clark  taught  the  iirst  school, 
wliich  was  the  second  school  in  the  county,  commencing 
about  the  third  week  in  April  of  that  year.  The  year 
1858  witnessed  the  town's  palmiest  days,  when  its  pop- 
ulation numbered  nearly  tw(»  hundred. 

At  a  special  town  election,  the  first  of  which  there 
is  any  record,  held  at  the  house  of  John  J.  Tiecy,  Feb- 
ruai-y  15, 1858,  the  fcdlowing  otHcers  were  elected:  John 
.J.  Trecy,  mayor;  Gerald  Dillon,  recorder;  Cornelius 
O'Connor,  assessor;  Arthur  Short,  marshal;  Thomas 
(Jni-ren,  John  Williamson  and  Duncan  McDonald,  al- 
derniLMi.  Tiie  liallot  box  used  at  this  election  is  now  in 
the  posbcssion  of  Mrs.  Capt.  C.  0'(X)nnor. 

The  people  l)ecame  dissatisfied  with  the  location  of 
St.  Joiins  find  its  gradual  dept)pulation  began,  until 
e\'ery  resident  had  moved  away.       The    town    site    was 


54  Warner's  history  of  Dakota  countt. 

vacated  in  accordance  with  a  petition  pj-esented- to  the 
county  cotnnjissioners  by  James  A.  Trecy,  owner  of  the 
land,  December  3,  1806,  and  thus  St.  Johns  was  oblit- 
erated from  the  face  of  the  earth. 

Pacific  City. — Was  surveyed  and  plotted  October 
18,  1856,  by  G.  W.  F.  Sherman,  its  incorporators  being 
Alonzo  Moses,  Joseph  Ilollman  and  Andrew  i«l.  Hunt, 
with  an  addition  by  San  ford  and  Martin.  The  town 
was  situated  about  where  South  Sioux  City  is  now  built, 
in  township  29,  range  9,  east,  and  was  incorporated 
June  7,  185S,  with  the  following  trustees:  11.  C. 
Tili'ey,  J.  F.  Sanborn,  D.  P.  Kent,  Charles  Kent,  and 
Samuel  A.  Ayres.  In  1857  it  contained  ab«»ut  ten  good 
frame  buildino;s,  but  its  inhabitants  becomincr  discon- 
tented  with  the  location,  all  moved  away,  Mr.  Sanford 
being  the  hist  to  leave;. 

Franklin  Citv. —  Was  situated  in  section  32  and 
33,  township  29,  range  9,  east,  about  two  miles  north 
of  Dakota  City,  and  incorporated  June  7,  1858,  wirh 
tlie  following  trustees:  Alanson  Baker,  Nathaniel 
Watts,  Henrv  Henuiugs,  John  Hope  and  Eugene  L. 
Wilbur,  who  were  Mppointed  by  the  county  commis- 
sioners. The  founders  of  the  town  were  Joseph  T. 
Turner  and  John  Feenan;  the  plot  was  filed  for  record 
January  30.  1857.  It  never  had  the  honor  of  contain- 
ing a  single  house,  although  a  number  of  lots  were  sold 
to  eastern  parties. 

Pr.YBUKG.— Was  surveyed  and  founded  September 
20,  1856,  by  Col.  E.  John  "Pleyel;  situated  in  the  ex- 
treme south-eastern  part  of  the  county,  Iiordei-ing  the 
Indian  reservation,  but  contained  only  two  cabins,  and 
was  soon  deserted  by  its  proprietors.  Its  oidy  settlers 
wei-e  E.  John  Pleyel.  John  Tulo.  Uriah  Nickorson 
and  Benjamin  Trusedale.  The  country  in  this  vicin- 
ity is  still  called  Blyburg. 

Vkkona.— I^'ounded  by  Jos^eph  Kerr  and  W  D. 
Kol)ei-ts,  was  situated  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Floyd 
river,  below    Covington:    incorporated     November    20, 


EXTINCT  TOWN  P.  OO 

1858,  with  tlie  following  trustees:  Joseoh  Kerr,  Ellis 
W.  Wall,  W.  D.  Roberts,  W.  Cohh  and  R.  R.  Mask- 
ino-.      The  town  never  contained  ;uiy  houses. 

IIandolvu.  -Was  a  post  office  until  1877,  and  sit- 
uated about  four  iniles  south-west  of  Homer,  on  Wigle 
creek:  so  named  in  honor  of  its  first  mail  carriei',  Jasper 
ivandolph.  The  post  office  was  kept  at  the  house  of 
Wm   L.  Coveil,  who  was  its  only  postmaster. 

LoDi. — Was  a  post  office  located  at  Oak's  mill,  two 
miles  north  of  Homer,  nnd  its  postmasters  were  Sam.  A. 
(\)ml)s,  John  Oak  and  John  Bridenbaugh.  In  1874 
Mr.  Bridenbaugh  moved  the  office  to  his  farm  and  the 
foUowinii^  year  it  was  discontinued. 

Emmktt. — A  post  office  situated  in  the  northern 
j)art  of  the  county,  was  discontinued  in  1873. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


DAKOTA  COUNTY    TOWNS. 


Dakota  City — Covington Jackson — -Homer — Hub- 
bard— Emerson — South  Sioux  City — Elk  Valley 
— ^CoBURN  Junction — Necora — Goodwin. 


Havino- traced  the  extinct  towns  from  their  rise  to 

o 

decay,  the  surviving  towns  and  new  ones  will  now  re- 
ceive attention. 

DAKOTA  CITY, 

(/Ounty  seat  of  Dakota  county,  was  temporarily  surveyed 
in  1855,  and  the  foUowinj^  year  it  was  re-snrveyed  un- 
der tliB  direction  of  the  Dakota  City  Company,  of  which 
Augustus  Kouncze,  afterwards  a  wealthy  banker  of  New 
York,  was  president.  A  plot  of  the  town  was  tiled  for 
record  September  20,  185r3,  by  J.  D.  M.  Crockwell, 
agent  for  the  Dakota  City  Company,  and  the  city  was 
incorporated  by  the  county  commissioners  April  5,  1858 
with  the  foUowiiiL^  limits:  East  one-half  of  section  8, 
and  sections  U  and  lO,  township  2S,  range  1),  east.  On  the 
same  day  trustees  were  appointed  as  follows:  Barna- 
bas Bates,  (too.  a.  Hiiisdale,  Wm.  H.  Jaines,  E.  Wakely 
and  John  C.  Turk.  S.inuel  Whitehoru,  W.  H.  S. 
Hno-hes    and    Jaines    W.  Virtue    were    also  selected  as 


DAKOTA  ("ITY.  57 

judges  for  the  first  towii  election,  held  on  Monday,  Mhj 
3,  1858,  at  which  time  the  abo\-e  trustees  were  re-elect- 
ed, with  the  exception  of  E.  Wa]<eiy,  and  he  was  super- 
seded by  J.  D.  Ivi.  Ciockwell.  At  a  special  election  held 
February  7,  1S59,  which  Mas  the  fiist  to  select  town 
officei's,  the  followincr  were  elected:  Barnabas  Bates, 
m:;yor;  James  W  Virtue,  recorder;  CliarlesF.  Echhart. 
assessor;  J  .  M.  Yanauhen.  marshal;  Thomas  T.  Collier, 
treas-urer;  J.  IS'.  PI,  Patrick,  Wm.  PI.  James.  John  0. 
Tiu-h,  E.  F.  ]\Jason  and  John  B.  Zeiplei-,  aldeiinen. 

Fairly  S>'j'Ji.nviJh]ST. — About  the  Hrst  step  in  the 
fouTiding  of  Ea]<ota  City  was  wheii  J.  D.  M.  Crockwell 
applied  to  the  Teri'itoiial  I  eoislatuie  lor  a  ferry  iran- 
chii-e  8t  rbat  point,  on  the  Missou]'i  liver,  January  31, 
1855.  which  was  granted  Feb] nary  9,  cif  tbe  srme  yeai'. 
The  iiri-t  house  in  the  t»  \\  n  wms  built  liy  Benjamin  F. 
Clifinibeis,  in  IViaicb,  IbCf),  nutde  of  Iol'S.  wiih  flat  dirt 
roof,  ^- round  f  ooi-,  one  hole  i'oi-  a  door  and  anothci-  foi'  a 
window,  wliich  whs  afteiwaids  in  Tiov(d  Miid  Ixfjt  as  a 
hotel  by  J.  D.  ]\i.  Cicicbwell.  and  li^;mfd  tbe  "Chibua- 
hua  liou!-c."  An  org  the  frt-t  to  ai'rive  were:  "VA'm. 
II.  Jiin.es,  John  IVIcQuilhen.  AAin.  Adair.  Samuel  Mc- 
Cartnty,  Jmnts  P;i(h(y,  Jos(]b  Ilolln  mu,  W.  G.  Craw- 
foid,  !•  .  A.  i;<  1  ini-di.  J(  In  IV';  fzi^'ci',  J(  bn  IS'iK'hUsch, 
Clins  F((n',  P.  (t.  Pficlaid  find  sisKi-  Po)ii,(''a.  after- 
wj'ids  wife  (f  J<  1  n  ^-.f'/.i^ir,  mid  Ceo.  A.  IliiiKhde. 
John  JSablzigc  1- ojiciud  up  lie  Hist  store  ;ind  Ilollman 
c^'  Ci  Mw  fold  tbe  ti  1st  law  (  fb'ce.  k^on  e  of  the  Mi-iivals 
for  ]^57  :iiid  'CSwtre  Aiio„stT.  Ihuii-e.  C.  F.  Eckhnrt, 
B.  Pat(s,  F.  P,  Mason.  John  B.  Zeigler,  Michael  Mc- 
Paii}.'lilin,  Henry  W.  Wood.  W.  F.  Pocbwood  and  Geo. 
F.  JS'icbols.  iUo.  lb  (ii.'fi  1  iiilt  a  stffim  saw  mill  in 
tbe  M)ntli-west  ptirt  of  town  in  18(12.  Wm.  Cheney  and 
]).  Bates  assistii  g  in  the  work.  The  first  bii'th  in  the 
town  was  a  cbild  born  to  ^Ii-.  and  Mrs.  ("has.  Room  in 
tbe  spring  of  1857,  aiid  tbe  second  wsis  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ileniy  Wood's  <l}irghter.  Stella,  now  ]\Iis.  Pvinan  W. 
White,  of  Woodbine,  Iowa,  bom  December    "ll,    1858. 


58  Warner's  history  of  dakota  county. 

The  first  deaths  were  JMrs.  Charles  Reom  and  her  child 
and   L,  G.  Packard. 

Bates  House. — The  'd>ooin"  had  struck  Dakota 
City  and  the  town  was  full  of  life  and  activity.  A  large 
three-story  l)otel  was  erected,  with  a  two-story  wing, 
in  1858,  at  a  cost  of  ^16,000,  and  called  the  Bates 
House,  with  E.  F.  Mason  as  proprietor.  The  structure 
was  built  by  the  "Town  Compai-y.'"  At  times  tliis 
imuiense  bnildiiig  was  crowded  to  its  utmost  capacity 
with  boarders,  but  it  was  doonied  to  decay.  After  the 
close  of  the  war  things  were  not  as  active  hei-e  as  they 
had  bean  and  the  large  hotel  was  no  longer  needed, which 
was  abandoned  and  toi'n  down  in  1879,  and  sold  as  old 
lumber.  It  stood  on  the  corner  of  Bruadway  and 
thirteenth  streets. 

CnuRcuKs.-^The  first  denomination  to  hold  divine 
woi'ship  in  Dakota  C^ity  was  tlie  Presbyterians,  with 
Rev.  Thomas  Chestnut  of  Sioux  City,  Iowa, as  minister, 
who  conducted  the  first  services  ever  held  tiiere  in  the 
spring  cf  1857,  in  a  snndl  log  hou:>e  that  stood  on 
Broadway,  opposite  the  Chihuahua  IJonse.  John  j\;ilf- 
ziger  and  wife,  F.  A.  Robinson  and  wife^  and  about  a 
dozen  others  attended  this  meeting.  Other  Pi-esbyter- 
ian  ministers  have  since  held  sei'vices  in  the  town  l)nt  no 
edifice  of  their  ow;i  was  ever  built.  In  1881  Rev.  II. 
Wilson  was  a  resident  n.inister,  who  in  October  of  that 
year  took  charge  of  a  new  educational  institution  at 
0;d<dale,  Nebraska,  since  which  time  they  \\n\e  had  no 
ministei'. 

The  Methodists  next  orgarized  here,  in  June. 
1857,  and  their  ministers  from  the  earliest  times  down 
to  the  present  were:  Revs.  Doi'sey.  AVm.  M.  Smith.  Y. 
B.  Turmann,  Munhall,  Amsbiirv,  Reed,  S.  P.  Yandooz- 
er.  J.  II.  DeLaMatyi-,  JohnS.'On-,  Gearheai-t,  J.  M. 
Richards,  Joel  A.  Sinitli,  1).  Maiipiette,  W.  11.  Carter, 
Wm.  II.  VVorley,  II.  W.  C.>i,Uy,  ,] .  W.Jennings,  D. 
AV.  McGregor  and  11.  C.  Myers^  In  1878  the  present 
brick  Methodist  church  was  built  at  a  cost  of  ^4,000. 


DAKOTA    CITY.  61 

Rev.  II.  W.  Kuhns,  a  inissioiiai-y  sent  to  Nebraska 
Teri'itt^ry,  preached  the  fir^t  Lutheran  sermon  at  Dako- 
ta City  in  the  front  room  of  the  Rates  House,  in  No- 
vember, 1858,  and  on  the  22nd  day  of  July,  1859  he 
(organized  a  church  society  there.  The  foHowiuiij  names 
were  given  in  for  membership  and  were  the  founders  of 
the  church  :it  tliat  place:  John  B.  Ziegler,  Caroline 
Ziegler.  Charles  F.  Eckhart,  Elizal)etli  Eckhart,  Conrad 
Arnibreclit,  Melosine  Armbrecht  and  Augustus  Ilaase. 
Tiie  members  at  once  began  preparations  for  a  liou'e  of 
wor>iiip.  A  store  building  was  purcliased  in  tlie  aban- 
doned town  of  Pacific  City,  but  it  v.-as  burned  by  praii-ie 
tire  while  being  moved  to  Dakota  City.  In  tlie  spring 
and  summer  of  1860,  tlie  present  Lutheran  cliurch  was 
erected  by  Augustus  Haase  at  a  cost  of  t^2,000.  This 
was  the  tirst  Lutheran  church  in  the  town,  county  and 
state,  and  it  to-day  the  oldest  church  edifice,  ofany  de- 
nomination, now  standing  in  Nebraska,  Inconsequence 
of  the  above  facts  a  lai-ge  photograph  of  this  church 
was  sent  to  the  World's  Fail*,  at  Chicago  in  1893. 
Their  ministers  have  been  H.  W.  Kuhns  (1858),  Sam- 
uel Augliey,  J.  F.  Kuhlman,  J.  Zimmerman,  J.  C. 
Brodfuh"rer,'j.  P.  Schnure,  W.  C.  iVicCool,  C.  Baird,  D 
Sprecher  and  II.  J.  Ilapeman.  The  .  territorial  court 
was  held  in  this  church  for  many  years. 

The  Episcopalians  also  have  a  church  society  here, 
but  no  edifice  or  resident  iniiuster. 

Court  House. --For  more  than  fifteen  years  the 
county  records  were  scattered  around  in  log  cabins  and 
rented  houses.  January  2,  186U,  the  county  commis- 
sioners ordered  that  steps  be  taken  for  the  Iniilding  of 
a,  C(Mirt  house  and  jail,  but  the  project  failed  for  the 
want  of  sufficient  funds.  A  special  county  election  was 
held  June  18,  1870,  to  vote  on  a  proposition  to  bond 
the  county  for  the  erection  of  a  !i^l5, 000  court  house, 
$5,000  to  be  paid  by  Dakota  City,  at  wliich  time  there 
were  170  votes  for  and  165  against  bonds.  Commis- 
sioners    ordered    bonds     issued    September    15,    1870, 


r)2  WAKNER's   history   of   DAKOTA   COUNTY. 

Contract  let  to  A.  H.  Baker  and  A..  T.  Haase.  October 
8,  1870,  for  the  construction  of  said  court  house,  bi'ick 
to  be  manufactured  and  furnished  by  Geo.  T.  Woods. 
October  25,  1871,  court  house  was  completed  and 
turned  over  to  the  sheriff  of  said  county. 

Post  Office. — The  postmasters  at  Dakota  City 
have  been  James  W.  Virtue,  C.  F.  Eckiiart,  Barnal)as 
Bates,  Helen  Bates,  M.  O.  Ayres,  Henry  Herweg,  D. 
C.Stinson  and  Mell  A.  Schmied.  This  is  a  postal  note  ;in<l 
money  order  ofKce.  The  post  office  was  first  kept  in 
the  Chihuahua  House,  then  moved  to  a  building  oppo- 
site the  Bates  House  on  Broadway,  then  to  a  house  east 
of  the  old  Griffey  residence,  from  here  it  was  taken  to 
C.  F.  Eckiiart's  store,  then  to  Bates  House,  to  Col.  B. 
Bates'  residence  on  Walnut  street,  to  M.  O.  Ayres* 
stores  on  Broadway,  to  Stinson  &  Herweg's  stoi-e  on 
corner  of  Broadway  and  Fifteenth  street,  tiien  to  its 
present  location  on  corner  of  Broadway  and  Fourteenth 
street. 

Schools. — The  present  tvvo-storv  brick  school  house 
M-as  erected  in  1866  at  a  cost  of  $4,500  and  the  frame 
building  neai-  it,  which  was  used  as  a  high  school  was 
built  in  1874.  Prior  to  this  time,  in  1857,  the  first 
school  was  taught  by  Mrs  L.  C.  Packard  in  the  old  log- 
court  house  oti  tiie  corner  of  Broadway  and  Nineteenth 
street.  In  1892  bonds  of  $4,000  were  voted  and  in  the 
fail  of  that  year  an  elegant  frame  two  stoiy  building 
was  completed. 

Societies, — Among  tlie  tirst  societies  of  Dakota 
City  was  the  Sons  of  Malta,  of  which  Col.  13.  Bates 
was  the  principal  factor,  and  he  relates  many  amusing 
incidents  of  the  doings  of  that  organization.  See  bio- 
graphical sketch  of    his  life  elsewhere  in  this  book. 

Omndi  lodge  J\o.  5,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  was  chartered 
June  2,  1858,  with  eight  members,  the  piincipal  officers 
being:  Maldon  G.  Wilkinson.  W.  M.;  E.  G.  Lampson, 
S.  W.:  A.  W.  Puett,  J.  W.  The  lodi>e  was  moved  from 
Omadi  to  Dakota  (^ily  in  1862.  Vv'hich  is    located  in  the 


DAKOTA  CITY.  63 

upper  story  of  the  briclc  school  house. 

The  Dakota  City  Literary  Society,  was  organized 
November  30,  1867.  J.  F  Warner  was  chosen  as  pres- 
ident and  11.  II.  Brown  secretai-j.  Among  its  first 
members  were:  Mrs.  Lizzie  Aughey,  Wm.  II.  James, 
Thos.  Griffey.  C.  D.  ]\[arrin,  S.  P.  Mikesell.  P>.  Bates, 
Mrs.  IL  M  .  Bates,  J.  G.  Oguen,  JMrs.  E.  J.  O-den,  J. 
A.  Mikesdl.  IL  II.  Buekwalter.  M.  M.  Pean^,  A.  G. 
Lnnipson,  Helen  E.  Bates,  Rev.  Samuel  Anghey,  Mrs. 
A.  J.  Bradbrary,  Mary  Ream,  J(.lin  Oesterling,  11.  IL 
Brown,  J.  F.  Wnrner.  Lucy  Martin,  Chas.  S.  Ford,  C. 
Caivin  Martin,  IL  IL  Wilson.  Henry  Ream,  Wm. 
Adair,  C.  F.  Eckhart.  Jarne*  Willis,  Kellcy  W.  Frazer, 
Mi-s.  llettie  L.  Frazer,  D.  W.  Dodson,  Mrs.  Mary  E. 
Dodson,  Jacob  B.  Wertz,  B.  F.  Chambers,  Amelia 
Oesterling,  Mary  E.George.  Mrs.  A.J.  Willis,  Emma 
Whitehorn,  Ella  JNeveile,  Emma  Willis,  Ellen  Mc- 
Cready,  Ella  Keel,  Anna  J).  Wertz,  Nellie  Warner,  Dr. 
M.  P'inkerron,  John  B.  Barker,  W.  W.  Grant,  Mary 
Evans.  E.  D.  Ayies,  Manly  Wiij^ht,  James  Stott, Thom- 
as J.  Skidmore,  <':iiarles  F.  Hay  ha,  B.  F.  VVJiitten,  A.  P. 
Wilgoski,  Alice  Warner,  Horatio  Bi-aunt,  B.  Brown, 
Gus  A.  Frazer,  Cyi'us  WHy,  Etfa  Mershon,  Leander  R. 
Eckhart,  Hem V  A.  Bai'taiff,  Ida  James,  John  Davis, 
Sm rah  Goodhue,  Wm.  Willis,  C.  T.  Seeley,  Ida  Woods, 
W.  IL  (-Jolty,  Lizzv  Adair.  Anna  E  Frazer,  A.  11. 
Baker,  G.  W.  W^ilkinson,  Fannie  Ream,  Inella  Ilirsch, 
Dora  Baker,  1),  F.  Urmy,  Ida  Eckhart,  and  Geo.  W. 
Obeilu-ltzer. 

Ihe  Dakota  City  I.  O  O.  F.  lodge.  No.  48,  held 
its  Hrst  meeting  in  the  town  AunUfto,  1874.  and  elected 
the  f(.ll..wing  otlicei-s:  d.P.  Eckhart.  N.  G;  doliu 
INlitcliell,  V.  G.:  James  Stott,  t^ccietary;  Lnther  Ilai- 
<leii.  tr(>asni'ei".  The  s<iciety  owns  the  second  st(n-y  of 
the  brick  Imilding  on  tlie  north-west  corner  of  Bioad- 
way  and  fourtet  nth  streets. 

Kelly  W.  Frazer  was  president  of  the  first  temj)ei-- 
jiiice  meetino-   ever  oriianized   in    the     county,     in    the 


64  wakmek'.-  Hi>roiiv  ok  daku'ja   county. 

Dakota  City  Lutheran  cliui-ch,  Jaiiuary  7,  1871,  wliich 
lias  since  merged  into  the  Red  Kibbon,  Good  Tenjplai> 
and  other  societies. 

The  CI.  A.  R.  Crittenden  Post,  No.  170,  was  or- 
ganized in  18S3,  and  was  re-organized  h\ter  and 
called  McBeath  Post,  in  honor  of  AV.  C.  McBeath. 
The  charter  was  surrendered  in  1892. 

The  Dakota  County  Teachers'  association  was  or- 
ganized November  28,  1875,  at  the  high  school  build- 
ing in  Dakota  City,  with  Jolin  T.  ISpencer  cluxirman 
and  Rev.  J.  Zimmerman  secretary.  Prior  to  this,  how- 
ever, on  Septeml)er  5,  1870,  the  Teacliers'  Institute  of 
Dakota  County  whs  organized  at  the  same  place. 

The  Dakota  County  Bible  society  was  organized 
April  28,  1869,  by  Rev.  Wm.  McCandish,  General 
A  gent  for  the  Amei-ican  Bible  society  of  JS'ew  York. 
The  following  w(!re  its  first  officei's:  Rev.  Sau)uel 
Aughey,  president;  P.  Mikesell,  vice  president;  Mrs. 
JohnG.  Ogden,  corresponding  secretai-y;  John  P.  Bayha^ 
txeasiirer.  This  society  is  not  a  thing  of  the  past  but 
still  lives. 

The  Dakota  City  Improvement  company  com- 
menced business  on  the  25th  day  of  October,  1880;  its 
principal  agitatoi's  lieing  Isaac  Powers,  ji-  .  G.  W  Wil- 
kinson, George  T.  AVonds,  C.  P.  lleatli,  Wm.  Adair,  T. 
L.  Gritfev,  Sumner  Whittier,  A.  IJ.  Bakei-,  A.  '\\  Ilanse, 
D.  C.  I)ibb-!e,  John  R.  Sprague,  Pius  Netf,  J.  O.  i-ish- 
er,  H.  W.  W..U,!  nud  J.^seph'  il.»llmaii.  The  ..bj^ct  of 
the  association  was  to  ;!d\-ancH  tlie  material  interests  of 
Dakota  City.  After  doing  considerable  busine>s  tiie 
company   was  dissolved. 

Crystal  Degree  hod-e  ^'o.  53,  Danj^hters  of  Pve- 
bekah,  was  chartered  September  29,  1891^  and  the  fol- 
lowinu'  were  the  first  olKce'-s  elected;  Mrs.  Pelia  Bry- 
ant, N.  D.;  Mrs,  Elia  Ibyant,  V.  G  :  M  r>.  Kn'ie 
Kordyke,  sccivtaiy ;  Mrs.  Klizal>etli  Scliriever,  ti-eas- 
ui-er. 

Dakota  Chapter  Order  <d'  the  Eastern  Star  was  in- 


DAKOTA    CITY, 


65 


stitiited  by  Mrs.  Ada  S.  Billings,  state  organizer,  on 
October  19,  1892,  with  the  following  as  principal  offi- 
cers: Mrs.  Martha  F.  Adair,  W.  M.;  R.  E.  Evans,  W. 
P.;  Mrs.  Martha  J.  Combs,  A.  i>l.;  ]\[ollie  Baker,  secre- 
tary; Mi'S.  Anna  M,  Evans,  treasnrer. 

Land  Offick. — The  land  office  was  established  in 
Dakota  City  in  March,  1857,  and  closed  at  4  o'clock  p. 
m.,  August  31, 1875.  when  it  was  moved  to  Niobrara 
It  aoain  closed  at  that  place  July  1,  1888  and  moved 
to  O'Neil,  where  it  was  opened  July  16  and  still  remains 
there.  Tlie  f(>llo\ving  have  been  its  officers  and  the 
year  in  which  they  wej-e  appoinied: 


RECEIVERS 


J.  C.  Turk 

1857 

|J.  ^'.  11   Patrick.. 

1857 

Geo.  H.   Graft.... 

18-59 

|Aifred  H.  Jackson. 

1859 

Alex.  McCreadv. .. 

1863 

Kloris  Van  Ren  th  .  . 

1862 

Clias.  D.   Martin.  . 

1864 

Win.   11.  James.  .  . 

18B4 

James  Stott 

1869 

G.  W.   Wilkinson. 

1870 

JN.  8.  Lovejoy  •  •  •  • 

1880 

B.  F.    Chambers.. 

1876 

Yac   Kandsi 

188-J 

M.  W.  Bruce 

1884 

San  ford  Pni'ker. ,  .  . 

!883 

Frank  Welna 

1887 

A.  B.  Cbarde 

1887 

■fohn  R.   Markley. . 

1887 

A.  L.  Towie 

1890 

P».  S.  Gillespie.... 

IS  89 

W.   I).  Matthews.  . 

)  893 

PRESS   OF  DAKOTA  CITY, 


This  was  tlK?   first  yiaper    ever    established 


in  the 
town,  and  the  sec<*nd  in  the  county.  The  first  issue 
was  jiublislud  July  15.  1857,  by  Joseph  B.  Sti-ickland, 
and  edited  by  luiliei't  A.  llow.-ird.  From  this  issue  is 
<(ju()ti'(l  the  following   exci-aet  in    descril>ing    the  1th    of 


66  Warner's  history  of  oakota  county. 

July  celebration  at  Logan: 

"A  meeting  was  held  in  a  largo  unoccupied  room  fitted  up  for  the  oc- 
casion. Upon  motion  of  Dr.  M.  Siiville,  of  Logan.  Gen.  Jos.  Ilollman  w,i» 
called  to  the  chair.  He  made  a  few  pertinent  reuiarks,  stating  the  object  of  th» 
meeting  and  the  propriety  of  the  peoplethus  uniting  together,  liiying  asideall 
jealousies  to  rejoice  in  a  common  privilege.  He  concluded  by  introducing  to 
thciuulienco  Mr.  J.  F  Warner,  of  Logan,  who  re:id  in  an  eloquent  manner  the 
Dec'iiration  of  Independence.  The  orator  of  the  day,  W.  G.  Crawford,  Esq., 
of  Dakota  City,  w:is  then  pie.-entcdby  the  president." 

The  advertisei's  in  the  same  issue  were:  II.  D. 
Johnson,  stage  line  between  Dakota  City  and  Oinaha; 
Jolm  JS'att'ziger,  general  store,  corner  of  Broadway  and 
13th  streets;  Charles  Ileoiii,  joiner  and  carpenter;  Geo. 
A.  Hinsdale,  land  agent;  U.  A.  Howard,  attorney: 
Holhnan  iSc  Crawford,  attornevs;  J.  I).  M.  C]t)ckwell, 
pi-oprietor  of  Chihnahna  House;  Dr.  Al.  iSaville.  physi- 
cian at  Logan. 

One  column  is  devoted  to  the  proceedings  of  a 
Democratic  Mass  Convention,  of  which  Win.  H.  James 
was  president,  held  at  St.  Johns  on  tlie  11th  of  July. 
1857.  A  committee  consisting  of  Hfirlon  13aird,(if  the 
Bluffs,  Daniel  D.iggau,(.f  Elk  Creek,  Haughey,  «.f  Cv- 
ington.  Gen.  Ilollman,  of  Dakota  City,  Jose[)h  Bran- 
nan,  of  St.  Johns,  D.  T.  J^ramble.  of  At>way  Creek. 
Dr.  M.  Saville.  of  Login,  Junies  t'arrell,  of  l^'ranklin 
City,  and  C.  llowai'd,  of  l-'aeiHc  City,  was  appoinred  to 
nominate  couutv  ofhcers  hut  after  further  consideration 
the  convention  adjoui'iied  to  meet  at  the  same  place  on 
the  18th  of  July. 

The  Herald  w=is  afterwards  sold  to  Diley  .^  Foley 
ami  published  Jibmir  one  vear,  when  it  was  disfoiirjn- 
ued.  It  was  again  revived  in  March.  ISoU.  by  Daniel 
McLaughlin  and  apj>eaf.s  to  have  been  discontiniieil  tor 
a  while  wIicm  that  gentleman  re>nmed  its  pnblieation 
March  80,  18()1,  un<ler  the  name  of  the 


ai.d  fi-om  the  issue  of  that  datei.-  taken    the    tbllowing: 

'•On  WediHS.hiv  moniilig  hi-l,.;U;iu  early  lioiir,tlie  pottdry  "t  /.icgl.i& 


DAKOTA   CITY.  67 

Eckhart,  of  this  plaee,  was  found  in  allies. 

Marriki). — In  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  on  thelSth  insi.,  by  Kev.  Mi-.  Hoy(, 
Mr.  .Tauies  E.  B..oge  to  Miss  Anna  M.  Ilubbell,  all  of  that  place." 

The  issue  of  April  Gtli,  1861,  contains  the  follow- 
ing nijin-iage  notices; 

"On  Monday,  the  Ist  inst.,  by  Rev.  Father  Dillon,  at  St.  Johns,  Mr. 
Thomas  Asbfordto  ^Margaret  Duggan,  all  of  this  county. 

OnTliuisday,  the  4th  in-t.,  'iy  Kev.  Mr.  Brown,  Mr.  AVilliam  Bouton, 
of  this  county  to  Mi-s  Rose  Bates,  of  Woodbury,  Iowa." 

Ill  the  same  issue  are  the  following  items: 

"The  frame  work  on  tlie  new  pottery  was  reaiy  to  erect  on  Wedne?d.ay 
morninrr. 

Di-.  (ieo.  B.  (iraffliad  the  huinanity  to  pres«;nt  tiiis  ofBee  with  a  jug  of 
old  .Tamaic:i  rum  this  wG4ik.  May  the  Dr.  live  a  thousand  years  and  the 
Deuiociat  liieto   chronicle  his  di-ir.ise. 

Edw.inl  Mor:in.  Esq.,  of  St.  Johns  left  here  on  Friday  last  for 
Denver  City  with  a  load  of  butler,  eggs  and  laiil- 

On  Tuesday  night  Harlon  Baird,  Esq.,  phiced  four  trnps  on  the  edge  of 
the  lake  ;m'l  on  the  fulluwin,'  iiioining  found  jceuiely  f.istened  in  them  three 
large  beavers  and  one  uiink." 

A.-bury  Gritiiii  I)>;Uglit  the  democrat  and 
chanu't'd  its  name  to  the 

VKB'i  kSKA   NORTH, 

the    fir-t    issue    making  its  appfaraiice  July  81,  18G2, 
iVuui  which  is  copied  the   following: 

"iJuriiig  the  iiroMiit  eonfl  ict  f(U-  the  jircsen  ation  of  the  Government, 
we  will  !.<>  io(lc])eiiilcMit  as  m  o;nt>  issues,  for  this  is  jiot  the  tiiae  for  jiatriots 
to  wpiuigh'  ab  Mit  p.rty,  wliile  ('oM^t:lullollMl  Lib<,-rty  is  being  assailed  by 
triiito:-.-.  Let  us  liirlit  'uniil  the  hi>t  ariii^d  foe  expires.'  and  when  peace 
^iUci'  lucre  n  suups  her  away  an.l  fhp  country  ein€rg-es  from  the  vortex  of  war, 
piiiiicscan  tiien  enter  the  ar«na  and  pour  lorth  tlu-ir  wrii;tl!  in  floods  of  spleen. 

Our  poilery  is  tio.v  in  lull  blast,  A  large  shipuieait  of  slooewaie  was 
auiideon  tiled   uimardtrip  ol  iheFloience, 

Eliuililc  lots  in  tn.\  II  Mieiapidy   li.-iiiiin  value. 

Our  iej;i-tei.  Mr.  \»\]  Heiith,  has  titted  up  a  iieatofficc  on  the  corner  of 
Bro:i(lu:iy  Mild   Hill  >triet-." 

Ill  the  issue  of  Aucriist  7tli,  1802,  appeal's   the  foi- 

Jowilio; 

•'Miiisiiies  ai-e  being  taken  tohnilda  very  ncatbriek  school  house  with- 
5n  our  ton  n  limits. 

AullMHiy  J.  Myei-smaKes  a,  .  o(,d  inliel..  of  lime. 

J.t  apjMuis  .that   CaiiadiaJi  Cub   «l..eat  is  the  best  adajitid  to  thcNoiJ 


()»  WARNERS  HISTORV   OK   DAKOTA    CODNTY. 

iiboiit  Covington.  Wm.  Leiich  lins  just  liarresterl  thirty  liusbols  to  tlie 
ncre. 

Chns,  Goodfellow.  of  i^t.  Jolin'.<,  has,  we  learn,  the  best  crop  oi'  Rio 
ijrnnde  wheat  in  his  vicinity.  It  will  average  a  little  over  tliirty  bushles 
to  the    acre." 

Among  tlie  advei'tisei'S  in  tin's  issue  arc:  Henry 
Reaui,  proprietor  of  the  Eates  House;  C.  F.  Eckhnrr, 
dry  goods  and  gi'ocei-y  store;  Willirims  &  Very,  })roprie- 
tors  of  new  i'ei'i'y  bttween  Dnkotti  City  and 
Sergeant's  Blnfts;  J.  B.  Zieglei-,  proprietor  of 
Dakota  City  pottery;  John  Tafie,  T.  L  Griffey  and  A. 
II.  Jackson,  attoineys  fit  law;  J.  W.  Virtue,  cashier 
Bank  of  Dakota;  John  lUigy.  proprietor  Ilngy  Plouse, 
Sioux  City,  Iowa;  H.  A.  Fuller,  pi'oprietor  Wauregan 
House,  Sioux  City,  Iowa;  L.  D.  Parmer,  di-y  goods,  etc., 
Sioux  City,  Iowa. 

The  iSehraska  jS'orth  was  fifterwfirds  sold  to  A.  H. 
Jackson,  who  sigain  chiinged  ils  luinie  to 

TIIK    NOliTII    NF.BRASKAN 

which  pHper  expired  a  few  montlis  later. 

Dakota  City  was  ihen  without  a  newspaper  until 
July  21J,  1870,  when  the 

DAKOTA    f'lTV      MAIL 

was  esta])lished,  located  in  the  I'i'oyhillliouse  on  Broad- 
way, ojiposite  the  court  house,  with  F.  JNI.  MacDonaiih 
and  r.  F.  C'SuUivan  as  editors. 

In  its  first  issue  apj)eai'  the  following  items: 

"Tbo  brick  fo.-  the  new  ouur>iy  court  house  is  being  riipiilly  IiiiiiIimI  on 
tlie  grouml  by  th';  contrarlor,  Mr.  Woo'l.-.  The  brick  was  biii-ot'il  by. Mr. 
Woiids  ill  bis  Kihi,  in  this  city,  niid  is  of  a  tir-t  c'a.-s  quality — equal  to  any  in 
this  s<<!lion  ol'tbo  countiy  and  cxocllcd  by  n^ne. 

Ue|.oits  from  a)l  parts  of  Di.\  m.  Ce  bir,  L'eim  Qui  Court  and  i.thcr 
coui.ties  in  the  vicinity  r)f  DaKotn,  s|iijik  well  of  ihc  rapidity  with  which  they 
are  settling  n\>  with  stauncdi,  h:ird.v,  indu^trious  eniigrants." 

At  the  top  of  one  column  is  found  these  liead- 
liues: 

"CIIIMI-:  AND  ITS  RXPIATTOX. 

MAT  MILLEn  EXErUTEn   AT  rOXCA   I'OH  1  U  K  Br>UTAI,    MVltDER  OF  W.  C.  DIINN."' 


DAKOTA  CITY.  61> 

C.  F.  BH3'ha  took  charge  of  the  Mail  October  27, 
1871,  and  the  paper  was  again  sold  to  John  T.  Spencer, 
October  9,  1874,  who  employed  Will  S,  Jay  as  assistant 
(MJitor  December  15,  1870  to  i\  iignst  17,  '  1877.  The 
Dakota  City  Mail  was  suspended  September  28,  1877 
and  revived  in  Covington,  Deceml)er  21st  of  the  sanu; 
year  niider  the  name  of  the  Mail, and  its  publication 
was  forever  discontinued  March  1,"  1S7S,  the  good  will 
and  subscription  list  being  purchased  by  Hart  &  Martin, 
who  consolidated  it  with  The  Kagle,  of  Dakota  City. 
John  T.  Spencer  on  retiring  from  the  journalistic 
field  said  in  his  valedictory; 

"Iloiiiiig  iill  uiav  liavc  a  siifCf.<.-fui  journey  throusrli  life,  we  now  lay 
a>iile  our  iMjitori;il  innntle;  how  soon  we  iiuiy  put  it  on  iigain,  it'e/er,  we  can- 
not s:iy,  tlie  future  abne  will  fleteiinine." 

THE  NORTH  NEBRASKA  KAGLE 

began  its  publication  at  Dakot>^  City,  May  24,  1870, 
with  Atlee  Uart  and  Will  S.  .lay  as  editors,  and  the 
following  appealed  in  its  salutatory: 

'•rolitically,  while  ie<i-i  v  in:-  the  ri:;lit  to  txpiess  indepenilcnt  opinions 
up<in  the  po'icy  ot  :iny  a<^lnini^l  iiitiiin,  or  upon  tlic  course  of  any  ]iaity  or 
its  leiuler.-,  Tiie  E  igle  will  be  devote  i  to  a  disL-riiijinating  sujport  of  the  Dern- 

OiiOctober  4,  1870,  Will  S.  Jay  sold  his  interest 
ill  the  paperto  Dr.  E.  J.   Del'ell;    DeBell     selling  to  C. 

J).  Martin  October  80,  1877.  Col.  Martiti  commenced 
the  publication  of  a  lomantic  continued  story  August 
24tii  of  that  year,  entitled.  '-The  Conflict — Love  or 
Money/'  The  Kagle  was  enlarged  to  an  eight-column 
folio  papi-r  Maivh  8,  187S.  March  18th  of  the  same 
year  Alcs>rs.  Hart  cV'  Martin  l.onght  the  Mail,  which 
was  coii^olidnted  with  The  Kagle.^  CD.  Martin  sold 
his  interest  t<.  (^eo.  T.  Woods  May  2,  1871),  who,  after 
one  is^ne^ol.l  to  Will  S.  Jay.  j'ldy  15,  1881,  Jay  sold 
his  half  to  Hart,  who  l)ecaM:e  sole  owner  of  the  paper. 
On  May  20,  ISSO.  I'beKaule  was  enlarged  to  a  six- 
colninii"<piarto.  On  tiic  7tli  day  of  A])ril,  1882,  John 
T.  Sj)^jncer  houo-ht  one-half  interest  in  The  Kagie  and 
sold  t<»  (ieo.  Herb,  January  1,  1884,  who  sold    hnclc     to 


I  I)  WARNEKo   HISTORY    OFDAKOIA    COVSVY. 

Hart  May  15,  1884,  tliis  date  being  the  commeiice- 
nient  of  the  ninth  voliinie.  On  March  26,  1885.  The 
Eagle  assumed  an  entire  change  in  typographical  ap- 
pearance, putting  on  an  entii'e  new  dress  and  on  March 
24,  1887,  another  improvement  was  made  hy  tlie  pi'o- 
prietoi'S  putting  in  a  new  power  cyh'nder  press,  the 
only  one  in  tiie  county.  Aiell  A.  Sclimied  Ixnight 
one-half  interest  in  The  Eagle  January  1,  1889,  and 
tiie  papei-  is  now  owned  hy  IJart  &  Schmied,  the  senioi- 
editor  remaining  with  the  institution  since  its  establish- 
ment. May  15,  181lO,  it  was  again,  enlarged  to  a  seven- 
column  quai'to,  which  makes  it  one  oftlie  lai'gest  coun- 
tiy  weekly  newspapers  puhlisiied  in   Kebraska. 

THE  NORTH  NEBRASKA  ARGUS. 

was  the  next  paper  established  at  Dakota  Citv.  May  7, 
1880,  by  C.  D.  Martin  and  J.  11  Goslu.rn,  t'he  bitter 
selling  his  intei'est  to  the  fti!»nei-  in  September  follow- 
ing. January  1,  1887,  Will  C.  Dibble  bought  one-half 
interest  in  the  Argus,  selling  back  to  Martin  January 
1,1888.  The  p:iper  was  sold  to  Eugene  P..  AVilbur 
September  28.  1888.  who,  in  his  salutatory  says: 

"Wliile  flie  Ar;;Hs  will  Ciiirncstly  uijvoeite  Hie  pnnBi|iler!  of  deinocrncy, 
its  publisher    will  devnte  es^iieuiiil  jxiins  ti>  inikinsr  it  a  hoine  newsDnpi'v.'' 

Ilarrv  A.  McCormick  leased  the  p-aper  fi-om  May  3, 
1889,  until  January.  1891  when  its  MWJier  took  chai-ge 
otthe  paper,  and  moved  it  to  South  Sioux  City,  Novem- 
ber 9,  1891. 

In  December,  1889,  Will  S.  Jay  moved  some 
nniterinl  to  this  place  from  South  Sioux  City  and  started 

TJUC  SViN, 

but  aftei-  a  few  short  weeks  it  sticeuujbei)  to  the  inevit- 
able. 

Dakota  City  in  189:}. —  Population  seven  hundred. 
Two  genend  store  s  conducted  by  W.  P.  KMtbburn  & 
(Jo,  and  D.  C.  Stiiisnii;  one  irroci 'ry  stcre.E.  A.  P(^l»in- 
pon  [)ropi'i('tor;  two  diiio  stores,  |{.  J.  Ravmoiid  and  D. 
C  Stinson;  one  hardware  store,  Fred  Schrinver  Oc  C(!V. ; 


DAKOTA  CITY.  71 

one  bank,  M.  O.  Ayres;  two  hotels,  William  Foltz  and 
Mrs.  W.  I.  Broyhill;  two  agricultural  implement 
stores.  George  Barnett  and  M.  M.  Ream;  one  tm  shop, 
Frank  Ayres;  one  meat  market,  Woodward  &  Smith; 
one  i-estaii rant,  James  Willis;  one  barber  shop,  C.  E. 
Doolittle;  two  shoemakers,  Peder  Hammer  and  Henry 
Niebnhr;  surveyor,  Alex  Abell;  one  livery  barn,  J.  E. 
Easton;  one  blacksmith  shop,  William  Plammett;  two 
physicians,  C.  H.  Maxwell  and  D.  C.  Stinson;  one  bill- 
iard hall,  William  Foltz;  three  contractors,  August  T. 
JLiase,  Julius  Messeidioeler  and  William  Foltz;  five 
carpenters,  Howard  Crozier,  Daniel  Hager,  Edward 
Phillips,  George  and  Henry  Niebuhr;  live  stock  and 
grain,  E.  H.  Gribble  and  J.  W.  Fern,  confectionery, 
Smith  and  Woodward;  Dakota  City  feed  mill,  Atlee 
Hart;  one  I'.ewspaper,  Eagle,  with  Hart  &  Schmied  as 
publishers;  dressmaking.  Misses  Mamie  ^dair  and 
Lettie  Hammond;  two  draymen,  William  Bennett  and 
Charles  Phillips;  three  masons,  A.  H.  Baker,  B.  Bates 
and  O.  C.  Crone;  windmills,  and  drive  wells,  M.  M. 
Ream;  monuments,  Henry  Niebuhr;  sewnng  machine 
agent,  Mrs.  Mary  R.  McBeath;  four  music  teachers, 
Carl  Schriever,  Nina  M.  Ream,  Mell  A.  Schmied  and 
D,  W.  Griffey;  lumber  and  coal,  Edwards  &  Bradford 
Lniuher  Co.;  ocean  steamer  agency,  Mell  A.  Schmied; 
n^.anufacturer  of  patent  corn  planters,  Adam  Wenzel; 
real  estate  and  live  stock,  Atlee  Hart;  insurance,  J.  N. 
Hamilton;  three  school  teachers,  J.  S.  Buckley, — prin- 
cipal. Miss  Ethel  Durgen  and  Mrs.  Annie  E.  Frazer; 
two  ministers,  Revs.  H,  J.  Ha]jfeman  and  H.  C.  Myers; 
seven  lawyers,  Mell  C.  Jay  and  Mell  C.  Beck  of  the  firm 
of  Jay&  Beck,  John  T.  Spencer,  Kelly  W.  Frazer,  W. 
P.  Warner,  J.  J.  McAllister  and  John  E.  Kavanaugh; 
abstractors,  Dakota  County  Abstract  Co. 

COVINGTON, 


Thi'^  town  is  situated  on  the    Missouri     river,    five 
I  lies  due  north  of  Dakota    City    and     opposite    Sioux 


72  Warner's  history  of  Dakota  countv. 

City,  Iowa.  It  was  first  taken  as  a  town  site  in  1856, 
by  tiie  old  Sioux  City  Company,  of  wliicli  Dr.  John  K. 
Cook  was  president,  and  was  called  Harney  City,  after 
Gen.  Harney,  wdio  at  that  time  had  charge  of  troops  in 
this  vicinity.  The  town  site  M'as  jumped  by  a  com- 
pany, consisting  of  Thomas  L.  Gritt'ey,  James  Kelehan, 
John  Feenan,  J.  M.  White,  W.  W.  Culver,  William 
Kapp,  Jacob  Ludvvig,  Gustave  Pecaut  and  John  T. 
Copelan,  and  the  name  was  changed  to  Newport,  plotted 
January  19,  1857,  located  in  sections  21  and  16,  town- 
ship 29,  range  9,  east.  But  before  it  was  filed  fov 
record  February  -1,  1857,  thy  name  was  airain  chano;ed 
to  Covington,  and  was  incorporated  by  the  county  com- 
missioners April  5.  1858,  who  appointed  Thomas  L. 
Grififey,  Gust-i.ve  Pecaut,  James  Ploy,  Jacob  Ludvvig, 
and  William  Kapp  as  its  first  trustees,  and  at  the  first 
town  election,  May  3rd  of  the  same  year,  all  the  above 
named  trustees  were  elected  except  James  Hoy,  John 
Feenan  taking  his  place.  On  the  1st  of  September. 
1858,  the  county  commissioners  incorporated  South 
Covington,  with  the  following  limits:  North-east 
quarter  of  the  north-west  quarter  and  the  north-west 
quarter  of  the  north-east  quarter  of  section  21,  town- 
siiip  29,  range  9,  east,  and  appointed  trustees,  and  at 
its  first  election,  April  5,  1859,  trustees  were  again 
chosen  as  follows:  Tliomas  L.  Grifiey,  Wm.  Schmied, 
Gustave  Pecaut,  William  Cobb,  and  James  McKenna. 
The  entire  town  was  incorporated  under  tlie  name  of 
Covington,  April  5,  1870,  and  Thomas  Carter,  William 
Bingham,  Gustave  Pecaut,  C.  P.  Heath  arid  D.  B.  Dod  ■ 
son  were  appointed  trustees. 

Early  SKTTLEME>fT. — Gustave  Pecaut  was  the  first 
settler  in  Covington,  who  built  a  log  cabin  there  in 
1854,  which  is 'said  to  have  been  the  earliest  in  that 
vicinity. 

During  the  winter  of '55  and  '56,  Horace  Dntton 
and  others  wintered  here  and  hauled  wood  to  Sioux 
City. 


COVINGTON.  73 

Anion^  tlie  settlers  of  '55  to  '50  were  G.  Pecaiit. 
Tlioinas  L.  Grilfej,  J.  Ludwig,  James  Kelehan,  G.  Ilat- 
tenbacii,  Wm.  Eapp,  W.  W.  Culver,  J.  M.  White,  J. 
T.  Copelai),  John  Feenan,  James  Farrell,  D.  Canghlin, 
Andrew  Johns,  J.Gillett,  Charley  Higgins,  diaries 
Collins,  R.  Wilbur,  George  Griffey,  Enos  Whinnery. 
Henry  Chaptnan,  Thomas  McConehey,  William  Cope- 
Ian,  J.  Brown,  J.  Pearson,  John  Yeoman,  J.  McCarty, 
William  Smith,  William  Leach,  William  Brown, 
James  Seaton,  William  Senton,  A.  Baker,  H.  August, 
John  Stranney  and  James  McKenna;  and  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Covington  resided  James  Stott,  C.  D.  Martin,  J. 
Fitzpatrick,  R.  R.  Kirkpatrick,  D.  JV.  Finkerton, 
Eugene  L.  Wilbur  and  William  Frazier. 

In  1S5()  William  Rapp  opened  up  tlie  first  hotel, 
the  '-Rapp  Tavern,'' and  John  Virden  brought  a  saw 
mill  from  Sioux  City  in  Jnly,  In  November  of  the 
same  year  C.  D.  Martin  started  a  shingle  mill  on  his 
pre-emption  south-west  of  Covington.  John  Feenan 
operated  tlie  tirt^t  ferry  boat  and  in  the  fall  of  1858  R. 
R.  Kirkpatrick  built  a  steam  mill  for  grinding 
corn.  The  first  child  born  in  the  town  was  John 
Qiiinn,  in  1857;  first  marriage,  John  Feenan  to  Mar- 
garet Boyle;  and  Hv^t  death  was  of  an  old  man  found 
dead  near  the  river.  The  first  school  was  taught  in 
1857  by  Mary  Finkerton,  in  a  little  old  log  school 
honse  situated  near  the  site  of  the  present  school  build- 
ing, which  is  still  standing,  although  previous  to  this 
time  Mrs.  Charles  Kent  had  tanglit  school  in  Pacific 
City. 

Relioion. — The  first  sermon  ever  delivered  in  Cov- 
ington was  by  Rev.  Thomas  M.  Chestnut,  a  Presbyter- 
ian clergyman  of  Sioux  City,  who  preached  here  each 
alternate  Sunday  in  the  old  school  house  which  is  yet 
standing  north  of  the  present  school  building.  Rev.  C. 
D.  Martin  also  expounded  Presbyterian  doctrines  to  the 
early  settlers. 

The  tii'st  and  only  ehiirch    edifice    erected    in     the 


(4  WAKKEK  S   HISTORY   OK   DAKOTA   COLKTY. 

town  was  built  in  1871.  Rev.  S.  P.  Voiidoozer  being-  the 
first  minister  to  occupy  its  pulpit,  althougli  Rev.  Dor- 
sej  and  others  had  previously  conducted  services  in  the 
school  house. 

History  of  the  Fekry'.- — In  1855  John  Fennan 
launched  a  rude  looking  flat  boat  upon  the  Missouri 
river  and  carried  passengers  between  Sioux  City  and 
Covington,  This  was  the  first  ferry  of  any  kind  to  ply 
l)etween  these  points.  lie  took  Harry  lluddleson  in 
as  a  partner  in  185(3.  In  1857  '(Charles  Howard  and 
L.  Rol)inson  began  operating  the  steamer  "Robert 
Burns"  as  a  ferry  and  continued  to  run  ihe  boat  until 
1864,  when  it  sunk  in  the  Missouri  river.  Chai-les 
Howard  and  E.  L.  Wilbur  then  run  a  flat  boat  until 
April  22,  1866,  when  James  A.  Sawyers  and  William 
Leach  were  granted  a  charter  for  six  years.  William 
Leach  conducted  the  flat  boat  two  years  and  Sawyers 
then  managed  the  ferry  himself,  until  April  10,  1873, 
when  the  fianchise  was  granted  to  C.  E.  Hedges  and 
James  A.  Sawyers  for  a  pei'iod  of  six  yeai's.  The  steatn- 
er  ''Undine,"  was  then  brought  into  service  and  there  is 
not  an  old  settler  in  Dakota  county  who  does  not  re- 
member the  "Undine"  and  especially  the  ^2.00  a  ti-ip 
he  had  to  pay  to  cross  the  I'iver  on  her.  April  1,  1879, 
Grant  Marsh  &  Torinus  were  granted  the  ferry  fran- 
chise for  ten  years  from  date.  They  beg^an  running 
the  "Andrew  S.  Bennett,"  with.  C-.  Larson  as  captain. 
The  next  change  in  boats  was  April  17.  1878,  when  the 
"Dr.  Burleigh"  steamed  across  the  river  to  Covington. 
On  the  23rd  of  July  18S8,  the  county  commissioners 
granted  the  franchise  to  Ebenezer  Ayres  and  Wm.  Lu- 
ther until  April  1,  1891.  The  "Andrew  S.  Bennett" 
with  Wm.  Luther  as  Captain,  continued  to  be  used  as 
means  of  transportation.  The  "Mary  E.  Bennett^' 
was  used  as  a  passenger  ferry  and  pleasui'e  boat  in  1888. 
In  1892  the  franchise  having  been  granted  to  Selzer 
Bi'os.,  of  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  for  a  period  of  ten  years,  the 
Sioux  City  &    Covington    Fei'ry    Company  was    organ- 


COVINGTON.  75 

ized,  composed  of  Nick  Malier,  Jolm  N.  Peysen,  James 
P.  Twohi^  and  Selzer  Bros.,  who  brought  the  ''Yhit 
Stillings"  up  from  St.  Louis  and  operated  it  for  several 
weeks,  but  it  soon  ceased  to  be  a  paying  investment  and 
the  boat  was  tied   up. 

In  1889  John  M.  Moan  and  others  built  a  pontoon 
bridge  across  the  river,  which  was  opened  for  travel 
with  a  great  celebration  May  18th  of  that  year.  Six 
hundred  teams  crossed  the  bridge  and  ten  thousand 
people  witnessed  the  ceremonies.  It  cost  about  |20,000. 
Capt.  "Wm.  Luther  liad  charge  of  the  bridge  until  1892 
when  the  structure  was  sold  to  the  Pontoon  bridge 
company  with  Capt.  Dick  Talbot  as  manager,  un- 
der whose  supervision  it  now  is.  The  rates  for  cross- 
ing are:  Team  and  driver,  with  members  of  family, 
each  way,  25  cents:  foot  passengers,  each  way,    5  cents. 

In  1890  thegeneral  government  was  asked  tu  Dro- 
tect  the  river  bank  at  this  place,  but  no  action  being 
taken  in  the  matter,  the  Pacific  Short  line  Bridge  Com- 
pany undertook  the  work  as  a  protection  to  its  pro- 
posed new  combination  wagon  and  railroad  bridge,  from 
Prospect  Hill  un  the  Iowa  side  of  the  river  to  Coving- 
ton on  the  Nebraska  side.  This  protection  to  the  banks 
was  made  of  willow  matresses,  interwoven  with  steel 
wire  and  fastened  to  iron  plates  which  were  forced  into 
the  bank  ten  feet.  At  present  extensive  preparations 
are  being  made  by  the  railroad  companies  to  protect 
the  banks  from  the  Short  Line  Bridge  down  to  the 
bridge  of  the  Chicago,  St.  Paul,  Minneapolis  aiid  Omaha 
road. 

Thousands  of  dollars  have  been  expended  to  protect 
the  Iowa  shore  along  the  town  site  of  Sioux  City,  until 
to-day  the  banks  are  safe  from  the  inroads  of  the  Mis- 
sou  I'i  river. 

As  land  inci-eases  in  value  and  expensive  bridges 
aiid  buildings  are  endangered  by  the  ever  shifting  cur- 
rent of  the  Missouri,  greater  efforts  will  be  put  forth 
to  protect  the  shore. 


76 


WARNER  S  HISTORY  OF  DAKOTA  COUNTY 


The  following  are  tlie  dates  of  freeziiio-  and  hi'eak-    ' 
ing  up  of  ice  in  the  Missouri  river  at  this    point     since 
the  settlement  of  the  county: 


December  24 

1 855 

Marcb  26, 

1856 

December  9 

1856 

1857 

1858 

1859 

March  27, 

1857 

December  23, 

March  8 

1858 

November  2o, 

March  20 

1859 

December  15, 

February  27 

J860 

December  11, 

18BU 

March  13 

1861 

December  11, 

18(31 

March  18.. . 

1862 

November  21, 

1862 

March  1, 

1863 

November  19  . .   . 

1863 

February  23, 

February  20, 

1864 

December  10 

1864 

1865 

Decembers 

1865 

February  28 

1866 

December  10 

1866 

1867 

Aoril  2, . .  .  . 

1867 

December  18 

Febiuary  23, 

1868 

December  9, 

1868 

February  28 

February  15, 

1869 

December  24, 

1869 

1870 

December  21, 

187U 

Febiuary  22 

1871 

November  26 

1871 

February  24, 

1872 

November  28 

1872 

March  3 

1873 

December  3 

...    .1873 

March  16 

1874 

1874 

1875 

Maich  26 

1875 

November  22,     .    . 

April  2 

1876 

November  30, 

1876 

February  16 

1877 

November  29 

1877 

January  19 

1878 

December  18 

1878 

1879 

March  6, 

1879 

December  11, 

Januarv  11, 

1880 

November  19 

1880 

1881 

March  24, 

1881 

December  18 

Februarv  11, 

1882 

December  8 

1882 

March  4 

1883 

December  19, 

1883 

March  15, 

1884 

December  18 

1884 

1885 

Marcli  9, 

1885 

December  7 

March  17 

1886 

December  -5 

1886 

March  9 

1887 

November  27,. .  .  . 

1887 

March  17 

* 

1S88 

1888 

1889 

1889 

Decern  bf-r  31 

March  20 

1890 

December  30 

1890 

March  31 

1891 

November  25, 

1891 

1892 

March  5 

.1892 

December  19 

March  11 

1893 

^Did  not  freeze  over  during  the  winter  of  1888. 


COVINGTON.  i  i 

The  Press. — The  Covington  News  was  the  lirst 
newspaper  established  in  thits  town  by  B.  L.  North- 
rop, in  1870,  who  sohl  one-half  interest  to  Erwin  Wood, 
and  the  following  year  Wood  bought  the  entire  outfit, 
which  expii-ed  the  same  year. 

In  1  77,  I..  N.  Taylor  established  the  Covington 
J(ini-ii;d  which  did  not  live  to  celebrate  the  anniversary 
of  its  first  birthday,  expiring   November  10,  1877. 

John  T.  Spencer  conducted  the  Dakota  County 
Mail  in  Covington  from  December  21,  1877  to  March 
1,  1878,  when  it  was  moved  lo  Dakota  City  and  con- 
solidated with  The  Ea^le. 

Tlie  Covington  Courier,  a  branch  of  the  South  Sioux 
City  Sun,  made  its  first  appearance  September  1,  1888. 
It  was  run  in  the  interest  of  the  liquor  element,  but 
soDU  afterwards  ceased  publication.  After  a  four  weeks 
demise  J.  L.  Donham  took  hold  of  it  and  endeavored  to 
do  something,  but  failing  in  liis  efforts  the  paper  was 
forced  to  ijive  up. 

The  Clipper,  another  Covington  entei'prise,  made 
its  first  appearance  August  10,  188l»,  with  Fred  P. 
Herbert  at  the  helm.  Four  long  weary  weeks  through 
the  heat  was  all  that  it  could  endure. 

Post  Office. — A  post  office  was  established  in  the 
town  in  1857  and  its  postmasters  have  been:  Charles 
D.  Martin,  James  Ogg,  John  Cavanaugh,  William 
Cobb,  John  Riley,  Henry  Powers,  J.  V.  Mellette,  C. 
Yordy,  Mrs.  E.  L.  Osman,  R.  L.  Grosvenor  and  John 
A.  Williams,  the  last  named  holding  the  office  when 
it  was  discontinued  January  1,  1890. 

Covington  in  1893. — Owing  to  the  ravage  of  the 
turbulent  Missouri,  about  one-half  of  the  town  site  of 
Covington  has  been  wasted  away  by  that  stream  and 
eacli  year  shows  further  marked  inroads  of  the  current. 
Upon  the  passing  of  the  prohibitory  law  in  Iowa 
in  1888,  the ''bum"  element  of  Sioux  City  was  driven 
across  rhe  river  and  they  established  themselves  in  this, 
heietofore  quiet  burg,    and  at    one  time  the    town  con- 


78  Warner's  history  of  Dakota  county. 

tained  upwards  of  fifty    saloons    and     nearly     as    many 
bawdy  bouses  and  gambling  dens. 

^t  present  tbere  is  in  tbe  town  one  large  two -story 
scliool  house  one  of  the  finest  in  north-eastei'u  Nebras- 
ka, costing  $10,000,  being  erected  in  1890.  F.  D. 
Fales  is  principal,  and  Miss  Fern  Stamm  primary 
teacher.  There  are  two  general  stores,  Nick  Maher  and 
C,  D.  Shreve  proprietors;  one  blacksmith  shop,  A.  L. 
Saltsgiver;  one  livery  barn,  B.  F.  Sawyer;  one  lawyer, 
John  A.  Williams;  two  real  estate  ofiices.  J.  H.  Burke 
and  C.  Erwin;  two  hotels — Hotel  McIIenry,  William 
York,  landlord,  and  the  Cosmopolitan,  J.J.  Truax, 
landlord;  one  laundry,  WaLee;  one  butcher-shop,  C.  D. 
Shreve;  eleven  saloons,  J.  R.  Judson,  Selzer  Bros., 
flittle  &  Weir,  Hittle  &  Cofifell,  G.  G.  Castler,  Marshall 
Luthe)-,  Mandersheid  &  Loup,  T.  A,  Provost,  Hugh 
McGoffin,  W.  J.  McGofiin  and  James  Sprey.  In  1893, 
Covington  and  South  Sioux  City  were  consolidated  un- 
der the  name  of  the  latter  town,  and  henceforth  Cov- 
ington will  be  known  only  in  the  history  of  the  past. 
Its  last  trustees  were:  Nick  Maher — Chairman,  X.  J. 
McGofiin,  PI.  A.  McCormick,  John  A.  Williams  and 
Marshall  Luther. 

JACKSON. 

This  town  was  laid  out  by  Barrett  and  McOormick, 
and  is  situated  on  Elk  creek,  where  that  stream  emerges 
from  the  bluff  land,  nine  miles  west  of  Dakota  City^ 
and  was  at  first  called  Franklin,  but  as  there  was  another 
post  office  in  the  state  by  that  name,  the  county  com- 
missioners in  session  January  2,  1865,  incorporated  the 
town  under  the  name  of  Jackson.  The  petitionei-s  were 
Gerald  Dillon,  John  Dillon,  James  Maloney,  Michael 
Kennelly  and  Thomas  Barrett,  who  were  appointed 
trustees.  On  the  4th  of  April,  1871,  the  commissioners 
extended  the  boundary  lines  and  appointed  Gerald  Dil- 
lon, Martin  Barrett,  Michael  McCormick,  Jason  Pass- 
more  and  Joseph  Brannan  trustees. 


.lACKSOX.  79 

Thomas  Sullivan  afterwards  laid  out  an  addition 
-Mutli  of  the  C.  E.  Hedges  addition. 

Soon  after  the  founding  of  Jackson,  the  residents 
<lcserted  old  St.  Johns  and  moved  to  the  new  town. 

Early  Skttlkment. — Gerald  Dillon  erected  the 
iirst  fri'.nie  house  in  1860  and  Thomas  Barrett  and 
Joseph  Brannan  kept  the  first  two  stoi-es,  John  Mc- 
Ginn huilt  the  first  brick  house,  Michael  Kennelly  op- 
erated the  first  blacksnjith  shop,  Clark  &  Preston  built 
ji  Lyrist  mill,  Father  Dillon  delivered  the  first  sermon,  a 
.^ehool  house  was  built  and  Gerald  Dillon  taught  the 
first  school— all  in  1860. 

1-tKLiGious  PROSPERvrv. —  The  first  pastor,  Father 
Ti-ecy,  spared  no  pains  to  promote  the  happiness  of  his 
people.  His  foresight  and  enterprise  gave  renewed 
couracre  to  them  to  press  onward  to  success.  In  1860 
he  withdrew  from  his  charge — the  founder  of  this 
settlement  and  of  the  others  that  have  sprung  from  it, 
for  mott  of  the  old  settlers  at  Hubbard,  Brady's  Cross- 
mo;  and  nil  around  had  their  homes  first  at  Jackson  or 
jit  St.  Jolms — and  well  may  he  be  called  the  great  bene- 
iVictoi'.  Several  priests  succeeded  Father  Trecy  in  the 
years  that  have  since  elapsed.  Among  those  who  are 
now  living  and  will  be  remembered  by  many  of  the  old- 
er citizens  were  Revs.  Fatlier  Pyan,  Father  Kelley  and 
Father  Lawless. 

Up  to  1887  the  people  had  a  very  unassuming 
building  for  a  church.  Father  Lawless  who  took  charge 
of  Jackson  and  surrounding  country  in  1887,  was  en- 
abled by  the  good  will  and  generosity  of  the  people,  to 
build  the  present  fine  brick  church  in  1879  and  1880. 
The  building  is  36  feet  wide  by  100  feet  long.  The 
Cost  was  between  five  and  six  thousand  dollars. 

In  1881  a  hirge  bi'ick  p:irsonage  was  built,  which 
owing  to  defective  foundations  and  poor  material  be- 
came unsafe  and  had  to  be  taken  down  in  1892.  In 
the  fall  of  1891  a  priest's  house  (frame)  was  commenced 
<on  the  west  side  of  the  church,  whicli    was   linished    in 


80  Warner's  history  ok  Dakota,   county. 

JMiirch,  1892,  at  a  cost  of  nearly  .183,000. 

Father  Lawless  left  Jackson  in  the  early  part  of 
March,  1887.  Father  Lysaght,  the  present  pastor,  suc- 
ceeded him. 

Since  then  many  improvements  liave  been  made  in 
the  church  property.  In  July,  1892,  the  foundation 
of  the  new  convent  building  was  laid.  It  is  built  on 
the  site  of  the  old  brick  parsonage.  It  is  among  the 
finest  and  most  iinpusing  looking  buildings  of  the  kind. 
is  a  credit  to  the  Jackson  people  and  to  the  whole  coun- 
ty, and  will  place  in  our  midst  an  educational  institution 
equal  in  inerit  to  any  of  the  kind  in  the  state  The 
building  will  be  ready  for  occupancy  in  (3ctober  "  1893, 
costing  the  sum  of  ^20,000.  It  will  be  a  bonrding  and 
hIso  day  school. 

The  church  trustees  are  James  Ryan  and  Gerald 
Dillon. 

The  St.  Patrick's  Bet\evolent  Society,  of  Jackson, 
was  organized  March  17,  1888.  The  constitution  was 
adopted  April  15,  1888.  This  society  has  among  its 
members  the  best  men  of  the  community,  old  and  young; 
men  who  are  industrious,  honest,  temperate  and  always 
ready  to  help  every  good  move  made  in  the  parish. 
The  organization  has  done  a  great  amount  ot  good 
socially  and  intellectually  in  the  community.  A  good 
society  should  be  helped  on  all  sides  and  by  all.  The 
St.  Patrick's  society  has  a  fine  hall  west  of  the  new  par- 
sonage on  the  same  property.  The  liall  is  fni'nisiied 
with  a  stage  and  -has  seating  accommodation  for  tlve 
hundred  persons.  The  society  has  a  tife  and  drum  l)and 
and  is  supplied  with  beautiful  Irish  and  American 
Hags,  badges  and  such  other  paraplieriialia  as  generally 
'belong  to  societies. 

The  Press. — ^Tlie  Jackson  Herald,  the  first  paper 
printed  in  the  town,  was  established  March  1,  1878  and 
expired  in  1879.  Geo.  P.  G(»ldie  and  Will  Dawley 
were  the  editors. 

The  Jackson  Reporter  is  tlu'  name  of  another  pap8i% 


.lACKSON.  81 

wliich  Win.  llnse  ik  Son,  of  Ponca,  were  the  fathers. 
It  was  printed  in  the  office  of  the  Ponca  Journal  and 
only  lived  to  make  a  few  friends  for  four  brief  months 
in  the  summer  of  1879. 

The  Jackson  Citizen  was  established  May  15,1885, 
and  expired  about  a  year  later.  A  Matthews  and  Wm. 
A.  Nead,  editors,  the  type  so  long  used  in  publishing 
Tlie  North  Nebraska  Eagle  being  purchased. 

The  Criterion  was  started  April  1,  18S5,  by  James 
P.  Twohig  and  Wm.  T.  Bartlett.  Soon  after  starting 
Twohig  transferred  his  interest  to  his  partner  who  has 
ever  since  conducted  it.  On  the  night  of  April  25, 
1890,  the  entire  outfit  was  consumed  by  fire  but  new 
material  was  immediately  ordered.  The  editor,  Mr. 
Bartlett,  was  considerably  burned  in  ti-ying  to  save  his 
property. 

Post  Office. — Gerald  Dillon  was  Jackson's  first 
postmaster.  Joseph  Brannan  was  appointed  postmaster 
in  1867,  and  held  the  office  until  1889,  when  Mr.  Dillon 
was  again  appointed.  The  present  postmaster,  D.  C. 
Ilelfernon,  was  a  pointed  in  1895. 

Schools, — Jackson  has  one  of  the  finest  brick 
school  houses  in  northern  Nebraska,  it  being  erected  in 
1886  at  a  cost  of  $4,000.  Prior  to  that  time  school  was 
conducted  in  a  frame  house  in  the  west  part  of  town. 

Jackson  in  1893. — Since  the  establishment  of  the 
town  it  has  enjoyed  a  good  substantial  and  steady 
growth,  until  to-day  it  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  best, 
if  not  the  best,  town  in  Dakota  county.  Nearly  every 
branch  of  l)usiness  is  represented  and  the  merchants  are 
all  in  prosperous  condition.  The  citizens  are  a  unit  For 
any  cause  that  will  help  build  up  their  town  and  will 
support  any  measure  in  a  liberal  manner 

The  Ponca  division  of  the  Chicago,  St.  Paul,  Min- 
neapolis &  Omaha  railway  and  the  Pacific  Short  Line 
passes  through  the  town  and  each  company  has  a  neatly 
erected  depot — one  in  the  west  and  the  other  in  the  east 
part  of  town. 


82  wakner's  history  ok  Dakota  county. 

At  present,  (1893,)  there  are  four  general  stores 
with  the  following  proprietors:  Frank  Davey,  D.  F. 
Waters,  C.  D.  liyan  and  W.  B.  Brannan  &  Co.;  one 
drug  store,  J.  B.  Jouvenat;  one  bank,  Bank  of  Dakota 
Connty,  Ed,  T.  Kearney,  cashier;  one  restaurant  and 
confectionery,  M.  E.  Ken  nelly;  one  confectionery,  Mrs. 
Annie  Sinnott;  two  meat  markets,  Michael  Heffernon 
and  M.  E.  Kennelly;  three  blacksmith  shops,  John  C. 
O'^Jeil,  T.  Kulkins  and  Finnell  &  Kennelly;  one  wagon 
shop,  Finnell  &  Kennelly;  one  barber  shop,  MMtZulauf; 
one  variety  store,  H.  II.  Beals;  one  school,  J.  A.  Hall 
principal,  the  school  board  consisting  of  Gerald  Dillon, 
Michael  Boler  and  C'.  D.  Ryan;  one  Catholic  cliurch, 
P.  A.  Lysaght,  priest;  one  newspaper,  Jackson  Criterion, 
W.  T.  Bartlett  publisher;  six  carpenters,  H.  H.  Beals, 
T.  F.  McGrath;  J.  T.  Daley,  R  A.  Clark,  J.  M.  Sever- 
son  and  Sanford  Brown;  two  physicians,  D.  D.  Barr  and 
R.  B.  Leahey;  one  painter,  H.  11.  Beals;  tiiree  dress- 
makers, Mrs.  D.  C.  Heffernon,  Mrs.  Patrick  Harty  and 
Miss  Alice  K-^nnelly;  paper  hangers.  John  Severson 
and  O'Brien  Bros.;  dealers  in  live  stock,  Frank  Davey, 
C.  D.  Ryan  and  J.  M.  Barry;  one  hotel.  Hotel  Sawyer. 
B.  F.  Sawyer  proprietor;  Jackson  Roller  Mills,  Bleisnei' 
&  Heyl;  one  undertaker,  B,  F.  Sawyer;  one  race  track.. 
Jackson  Race  Track  Association,  Thomas  Sullivan, 
president,  W.  T.  Bartlett,  secretary;  one  picnic  grpund, 
Barry's  Grove;  one  saloon  and  billiard  hall,  Jerry  Mc- 
Bride;  three  grain  buyers,  Frank  Davey.  C.  D.  Ryan 
and  J.  Q.  Adams — with  R.  S.  Renniger  as  manager  for 
the  latter;  two  implement  dealers,  C.  D.  Ryan  and 
Frank  Davey;  one  livery  barn,  B.  F.Sawyer;  one  society 
hall,  St.  Patrick  Benevolent  Society;  one  convent;  one 
lumber  yard,  with  J.  J,  Serry  as  manager;  four  wooO 
dealers,  Frank  Davey,  C.  D.  Ryan,  Thomas  Clark  and 
William  Renniger;  four  insurance  agents,  D.  C.  Heffer- 
non, J.  W.  Brannan,  Ed.  T.  Kearney;  and  W.T.  Brtletf ; 
veal  estate  dealers,  Clark  &  Sullivan;  one  opera  house» 
William  Riley,  propi'ietor;  one  post  office,  i).  C,  Hetier- 


IIOMEK.  83 

11011,  postmaster;  two  justices  of  tlie  peace,  Michael 
Keiinellyand  W.  T.  Bartlett;  two  notaries  public,  Ed.  T. 
Kearney  and  Joseph  Brannan;  one  drayman,  B.  F.  Saw- 
yer; two  station  agents,  J.  II.  Lynch  and  John  Lily; 
town  council,  Thomas  Sullivan  chairman,  W.  T.  Bartlett 
clerk,  Thomas  Clark,  William  Brannan  and  Patrick 
Harty;  one  mason,  M.  U.  Morrissey;  general  loan  agent, 
J.  M.  Bfiri-y;  farm  loans,  J.  W.  Brannan. 

HOMER. 

The  location  on  which  Homer  is  built  has  witnessed 
many  interesting  scenes  and  sanguinary  conflicts  in  the 
mighty  contest  of  advancing  civilization  with  the  wild 
aborigines  and  uninhabited  prairies  of  the  west.-  The 
very  ground  upon  whicli  Homer  -now  stands  was  in 
1800  the  home  of  hundreds  of  Omaha  Indians.  Their 
village  which  was  one  of  the  largest  in  tlie  north-west, 
extended  from  Homer  to  the  Waterman  farm.  In  this 
year  the  small  pox  broke  out  in  the  tribe  and  they 
burned  their  village  and  moved  south.  On  the  18th 
day  of  August  ISOi,  some  of  Lewis  and  Clarke's  men 
explored  the  ruins  of  the  ancient  village  and  crossed 
Omaha  ci'eek  wliere  Homer  is  now  situated. 

Jesse  Wigle  moved  his  family  to  Dakota  county 
on  the  19th  day  of  August  1855,  and  on  St.  Patrick's 
day,  1856,  moved  to  his  claim,  which  included  the  self 
same  ground  wliere  Honier  is  built,  and  erected  a  house 
at  the  foot  of  the  bluffs,  probably  near  where  C.  J. 
O'Connor  s  residence  is  built.  Here  he  lived  to  witness 
the  terrible  winter  of  '56-7,  which  is  among  the  things 
aievei"  to  be  forgotten  by  the  sturdy  pioneers  of  those 
brave  old  times. 

In  the  summer  of  1855  Chauncy  A  Ilorr,  George 
T.  Woods  and  others  planted  their  claim  stakes  on  the 
3an<)  adjoining  Homer. 

Oil  the  18th  day  of  May,  1856,  Thomas  Smith  iiad 
his  dinner  cooked  on  a  camp  fire  just  across  the  creek 
fro'/i  Homer, 


84  vvakner'g  history  of  Dakota  county. 

October  1,  1871,  'Squire  Martin  S.  Mausiield 
crossed  the  Omaha  creek  on  a  low  bridge,  where  Homer 
was  subsequently  built,  with  a  load  of  lumber  and  his 
tools.  When  the  sun  went  down  on  that  memorable 
day  in  the  history  of  Homer  he  had  completed  the  first 
liouse  ever  erected  in  the  town,  which  was  occupied  be-' 
fore  dark  by  John  and  Joseph  Smith  with  a  stock  of 
general  merchandise. 

The  changing  years  roll  on.  Where  but  a  few 
years  ago  all  was  wild  jungles  and  high  prairie  grass 
to-day  is  reared,  magic-like,  thriving  towns  and  villages. 

The  town  is  suri-ounded  by  a  very  fertile  farming 
country  and  is  situated  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Omaha 
creek,  near  the  junction  of  Wigle  and  Fiddler  cieek 
valleys,  about  ten    miles  south-west  of  Dakota  City. 

Early  Settlement. — The  second  building  to  be 
erected  was  a  more  substantial  store  house  in  Noveni- 
ber,  for  the  Smith  Bros.,  on  the  north-west  corner  of 
John  and  Fi'ont  streets,  and  the  third  house  was  Smith 
Bros.'  blacksmith  shop,  which  was  placed  in  charge  of 
Charles  Nystrand,  while  the  fourth  building  was  M.  S. 
Mansfield's  residence.  About  this  time  Herbert  Har- 
ris erected  a  hotel  building  on  lot  6,  block  4,  facing  on 
John  street,  in  which  he  also  kept  the  first  saloon.  This 
building  was  subsequently  pui-chased  by  the  school  dis- 
trict for  a  school  house,  and  varied  and  many  are  the 
scenes  that  transpired  within  the  walls  of  this  small 
building.  For  years  nearly  every  soul  in  Omadi  pre- 
cinct would  at  times  congregate  hei-e  at  school  exhibi- 
tions, enthusiastic  religious  revivals,  Christmas  enter- 
tainments, etc.  It  M'as  used  for  school,  church  services, 
concei-ts,  shows,  political  meetings,  voting  place  and 
various  other  purposes.  The  next  building  wms  Joseph 
Smith's  residence,  on  "the  south-west  corner  of  J(>linand 
Front  streets. 

In  1872  the  Omadi  post  office  was  moved  to  Homer 
from  Charles  H.  Potter's  fann,  and  John  Smith  war;  irs 
first    postmaster,    followed    by    Millard    Logan,    C.    J. 


HOMER.  85 

O'Connor.  Albert  Nash,  M.  S.  Mansfield,  Joseph  R, 
Kelsey  and  James  L.  Blanchard.  Tlie  office  was  kept 
in  the  store  on  corner  of  John  and  Front  streets  until 
1883,  when  Albert  Nash  moved  it  to  the  stoi^e  of  Nasli 
&  Herman,  and  afterwards  to  Herman's  residence,  in 
the  same  block,  with  Miss  Mary  Herman  as  deputy.  In 
18S5  M.  S,  Mansfield  moved  the  office  to  the  corner  of 
John  and  First  streets,  Joseph  K.  Iveisey  moving  it  in 
188s  to  the  south-west  corner  of  Robert  and  Front 
streets,  afterwards  to  the  site  of  the  old  Homer  saloon, 
school  and  town  hall  bnildina.  The  office  is  now  locat- 
ed on  John  Street. 

Ill  1874  the  Smith  Bi-os.,  founders  of  the  town, 
hud  the  site  surveyed  and  plotted  by  John  H.  Maun, 
altiiough  previous  to  this  time  William  Adair  had  sur- 
veyed John  street. 

February  1,  1875,  the  county  commissioners  in- 
corporated the  town  under  the  name  of  Homer  and  ap- 
pointed the  followino;  trustees:  Robert  Smith,  A.  F. 
DeBorde,  Alfred  Pilgrim,  Henry  Loomis  and  John 
Smith,  jr.  Alfred  Pilgrim  was  chosen  chairman  and 
John  Smith,  jr.  as  clerk.  The  town  government  pro- 
gressed for  two  years,  when  it  was  entirely  ignored  by 
the  citizens  until  May  23,  1887,  when  through  the 
efforts  of  M.  S.  Mansfield  the  Incorporation  was  revived 
by  the  county  commissioners  and  the  following  trustees 
appointed:  Samuel  A.  Brown,  Henry  Loomis,  Albert 
Nash,  Arthur  W.  Turner  and  Thos.  Ashford,  jr. 

The  first  child  born  in  Houier  was  Walter,  son  of 
Joseph  Smith,  and  the  first  death  was  Milton,  infant 
son  of  Robert  Smith.  The  first  school  was  taught  by 
Henry  Ream,  who  also  conducted  the  first  Sabbath 
school.  Homer  now  has  a  good  substantial  school 
building,  situated  in  the  western  part  of  town. 

CnuRonKS. — The  first  church  edifice  built  in  Hom- 
er was  by  the  United  Brethern  denomination,  undei"  the 
management  of  Rev.  James  P.  Griffin,  and  dedicated 
June  15,  1S81:.       This  church  is  at  present  occupied  by 


86  Warner's  history  of  dakota  countv. 

the  Lutherans.  There  are  also  one  Methodist,  one 
Catholic  and  a  Danish  Lutlieran  church  in  the  town,  all 
good  substantial  buildings. 

College  Enterprise. — A  meeting  was  held  in 
Homer,  Jannaiy  29,  1885,  for  the  purpose  of  taking 
steps  in  the  matter  of  building  a  large  and  costly  college 
under  the  auspices  of  the  United  Brethern  church.  A 
board  of  incorporators  was  organized  and  during  that 
year  the  college  foundation  was  laid  on  a  liigii  bluff 
adjoining  the  town  on  the  north-west.  The  people  of 
Homer  and  vicinity  subscribed  liberally  to  the  building 
fui>d,  but  owing  to  the  failure  of  the  United  Brethern 
church  to  fiirnish  their  share  of  money,  the  enterprise 
was  abandoned.  In  the  fall  of  1887,  however,  tlie 
Lutherans  established  a  seminary  in  the  United  Bretli- 
eran  church,  which  had  been  purchased  and  fitted  up 
fur  that  purpose,  but  after  a  couple  of  years  it  was  sus- 
pended. 

J^ewspapers. — The  first  newspaper  ever  printed  in 
Homer  was  called  the  Herald,  the  first  number  of  which 
appeared  tlie  first  week  in  July,  1889,  with  Geo.  E. 
Henry,  editor.  The  plant  was  owned  bv  J.  L.  Knesen, 
of  Lemars.  Iowa. 

The  Independent  succeeded  the  Herald  with  L. 
M.  Warner  as  editor,  who  conducted  it  until  February 
3, 1893.  when  Elmer  E.  Smith  purchased  a  one-half  in- 
terest in  the  same. 

Homer  in  1893. — There  are  five  general  stores 
with  the  following  proprietors:  M.  S.  Mansfield,  M.J. 
Hermann,  Thomas  Ashford  jr.,  B.  McKinley,  and  IL 
A.  Jandt,  w^tii  D.  L.  Allen  as  manager  of  tlie  latter:, 
one  drug  store,  M.  Mason;  one  hardware  store,  L.  M. 
Warner;  one  meat  market,  B.  McKinley;  one  millinery 
store,  Mrs.  L.  M.  Warner;  two  hotels,  Far)ner's  Home. 
A.  S.  Richards,  landlord,  and  the  Pilgrim's  Home^ 
William  Pilgrim,  landlord;  one  l)arbei'  shop,  Todd 
Christopherson;  two  livery  barns,  A.  S.  Richards  and 
Joseph  R.  Kelsey;  one  stage  line.  A,  S.   Richards;    one 


H  )MKK,  87 

l)ank,    Huiner    State,   with  C.  J.  O'Connor   as  cashier; 
two  dressmakers,  Mrs.  Carrie  Rockwell  and  Mrs.    Alice 
M.  Bolster;    two   blacksmith  and  wagon    shops,    S.    A. 
Brown  and  Hansen  &  Frederickson;  two  notaries  public, 
M.  S.  Mansfield  and  C.  J.  O'Connor;  two  justices  ot'the 
peace,  M.  S.  Mansfield  and  Seth  Barnes;  one  saloon,  G. 
F.  Hammer;four  churches,  Methodist,  Lutheran,    Dan- 
ish   Lutheran    an(i    Catholic;    one    newspaper.    Homer 
Independent,  L    M.  Warner  and  E.  E.  Smith  publishers; 
two  carpet  weavers,  Mrs.  John  Trask  and  F.  M.  Robin- 
son;   one    dealer    in  butter,  eggs  and    poultry,    Albert 
Phillips;  two  carpenters,  Ephiaim  Rockwell  and  A.  Mc- 
EntarA'er;  one  liouse  and  sign  painter,  J.  B.  Bubb;   two 
plasterers  and  masons,    M.    McEntarffer  and    John    B. 
Myres;    post   office,  James  L.    Blanchard,     postmaster; 
one  house  mo^aM',  M.  C.  Thorn;  one  well  digger,  Robert 
Smith;    real  estate    and    loan,  J.  W.    Davis    and  L.  M. 
Warner;  three  draymen,  Robert  Tague,  T.  M.  Rol)inson 
and    M.    C.    Thorn;    one    confectionery    store,    L.     M. 
Warner;  two  insurance  agents,  J.    W.   Davis  and    Seth 
P.  Barnes;  Homer  Roller    Mills,  Sam  A.    Coiitbs;    one 
scho<-»l,  S.  E.  Col)b,  principal  and  Josie     Kennelly    pri- 
mary teacher;  two  bands.  Homer    Cornet    and    Homer 
Orchestra;  dealer  in  livestock,  W.  C.  Ream;  one  brick 
yard,  Edward  Norris;  Homer  Drivini^  Park  and   Picnic 
Grounds  Association,  oi-ganized  in  May,    1889,  with  C. 
J.  O'Connor  aa  president,  A.  W.  Turner    secretary    and 
Col.  H.  Baird  treasurer.       They    have  a  half  mile  race 
track    and    picnic    ground    one-half    mile  north-east  of 
Homer,  and  the  officers  are  Thomas  Ashford  president, 
and  M.  S.  Mansfield  secretary;  one  mill  wright,  Thomas 
(Miristophersoii;  one  village  jail;  one  circulating  library, 
estal)lislied  in  1889;  one  harness  shop,  Thomas,  Abhford; 
tou'u   eouncil.    Todd    Christopherson  chairman.    M.    S. 
Maiisfield  clerk,  S.  A.  Brown  treasurer,  Rasmus    Fred- 
crickson,  B.  McKinley  and  Ephraim  Rockwell;  marshal, 
A.  Kinuear;  street  commissioner,    Set.li  P.  Barnes;  one 
town  hall  O'Connor's  Hall.      Population,  four  hundred. 


88  Warner's  histoky  of  Dakota  county. 

In  the  spring  of  1893  an  Independent  Order  ot  Good 
Templars  Lodge  was  organized  here  with  eigiity-five 
ehartei-  members,  which  is  the  largest  charter 
member  lodge  in  the  state,  and  has  swelled  its  mem- 
bership to  more  than  a  hundred  and  forty  members. 

HUBBARD. 

This  town  is  located  on  the  Chicago,  St.  Paul., 
Minneapolis  &  Omaha  railroad,  about  ten  miles  souths 
west  of  Dakota  City,  which  was  laid  out  by  that  com- 
pany in  1880,  and  so  named  in  honor  of  Judge  A.  W. 
Hubbard,  first  president  of  the  Covington,  Columbus  vfc 
Black  Hills  railroad. 

Th'e  station  building  was  the  first  to  be  erected  in 
the  town  and  John  F.  Myres  kept  the  first  store,  and 
was  also  first  postmaster,  who  was  succeeded  in  that 
office  by  J.  F.  Duggan,  J.  C.  Duggan,  J.  W.  Briden- 
baugh  and  Thomas  Cullen. 

The  town  has  never  enjoyed  much  of  a  growth  but 
is  a  good  business  point. 

Religious  Advancement. — In  1885  the  people  of 
Hubbard,  who  until  then  formed  a  part  of  Jackson 
parish,  wishing  to  have  a  church  built  for  themsehes. 
were  organized  into  a  parish  of  their  own  with  Homer 
connected.  They  soon  built  a  church  and  a  parochial 
i-esidence,  both  of  which  have  been  added  to  and  im- 
proved a  great  deal  since.  In  1887  thei-e  was  a  large 
debt  of  ^1,600  or  more,  which  fell  to  the  lot  of  Father 
Lysaght,  of  Jackson,  who  was  then  attending  to  the 
spiritual  wants  of  the  people,  to  liquidate,  in  the  absence- 
of  their  regular  pastor.  This  w^as  a  big  debt  in  so  small 
a  community,  but  big  though  it  was  they  paid  it,  and 
had  a  nice  little  sum  of  about  3100  over,  which  Father 
Lysaght  felt  proud  to  be  able  to  hand  to  their  next  reg- 
ular pastor.  Rev.  J.  T.  Smith,  now  of  North  Omaha. 
This  fact  of  the  debt  is  mentioned  because  it  was  the 
great  event  in  the  history  of  the  Hubbard  church,  which 
pi'oved  the  face    and  generosity  of    the  people.       Since 


HUBBAKI).  89 

tlien  many  substantial  improvements  have  been  made, 
until  now,  with  the  indefatigable  Rev.  J.  M.  Delbove, 
as  pastor,  the  people  have  as  desirable  church  property, 
and  unincumbered,  as  any  congregation  in  the  state, 
considering  their  needs. 

The  generosity  of  the  Hubbard  people  is  not  con- 
tined  to  home;  they  who  have  been  called  upon  by 
Father  Lysaght  to  help  him  out  with  the  convent  build- 
ing, at  Jackson,  have  most  liberally  and  cheerfully 
given  their  big  hearted  donations;  and  it  is  just  as  cer- 
tain that  the  others,  when  called  npon,  will  be  equally 
generous  in  the  good  cause. 

Hubbard  in  1893. — There  are  two  general  stores 
with  Barney  Gibble  and  Thomas  Cullen  as  proprietors; 
lumber  and  coal  dealer,  Cornelius  Oshea;  one  black- 
smith shop,  Albert  Foster;  one  saloon,  Louis  Eby; 
three  carpenters,  T.  F.  Magee,  R.  D.  Eockwell  and 
Thomas  Cullen;  station  agent,  J.  R.  Derington;  one 
Catholic  church,  J.  M.  Delbove,  Priest;  one  school. 
Miss  Mary  Howard,  teacher;  three  dressmakers.  Misses 
Maggie  and  Mary  Howard  and  Olive  Gribble;  music 
teacher.  Miss  Mary  Howard;  one  livery  and  feed  barn, 
Thomas  Cullen;  one  justice  of  the  peace,  John  B. 
Rooney;  one  hotel.  Hotel  Kent,  Henry  Kent,  landlord; 
notary  public  and  post  master,  Thomas  Cullen;  one 
mason,  M.  J.  Morrissey;  one  drayman,   Michael  Cullen. 


This  town  is  situated  in  the  extreme  south-western 
part  of  the  county  on  the  Chicago,  St.  Paul,  Minneapo- 
lis it  Omaha  railroad,  with  the  Winnebago  Reservation 
or  Thurston  county  bordering  on  the  south  and  tlie 
county  line  between  Dakota  and  Dixon  counties  is  its 
Main  street  north  and  south.  It  was  established  in 
18S1  and  is  the  junction  of  the  C,  St.  P.,  M.  ct  O. 
railroad  and  its  Norfolk    branch. 

The  first  building  erected  was  the  depot,  and  the 
second  was  a  section  house.  Boyle  Bros,  built  the  third, 
where  they  kept  a  store,   and    William    "Warnock   l)nilt 


90  Warner's  history  of  Dakota  county. 

the  fourth,  which  was  the  first  dwelling  house  there. 
In  188311.  E.  Kuhn  plotted  the  ori<^inal  town  site, 
since  which  time  additions  have  been  made  by  D.  W. 
Mathewson,  Atlee  Hart,  William  Wat  nock,  Emerson 
Mill  and  Improvement  Company  and  othei-s. 

First  Settlers.- — Among  the  first  residents  wiio 
located  upon  the  prai]-ie  hills  here  andfounded  the  town 
of  Emerson  were  William  Warnock,  P.  H.  Boyle,  H. 
S.  Boyle,  Patrick  Bannan,  W.  S.  Lippold,  John  Eugelen, 
M.  PVnden,  M.  L.  Rossiter.  J.  J.  McCarthy,  L).  W. 
Parmelee,  R.  H.  Kuhn,  C,  A.  Johnson  and  JMelson 
Feauto. 

Newspapers. — The  Echo  was  tlie  first  newspaper 
venture  in  this  town,  established  in  the  spring  of  1883, 
by  Nelson  Feauto,  who  was  succeeded  by  Joshua  Leon- 
ard, July  21,  1885.  Mr.  Leonard  changed  the  name  of 
the  paper  to  the  Emerson  Era  and  conducted  it  until 
1892  when  the  paper  expired.  In  a  few  weeks  there- 
after Harry  S.  Swenson  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,  1893. 

The  Emerson  Times  was  established  March  25, 
1893,  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,  April  8,  who  is  its  present 
editor. 

Churches  and  Schools. — -There  are  three  good 
church  buildings  in  the  town,  the  Presbyterian,  Albert 
A.ston,  pastor;  St.  Paul  Lutheran,  Emile  Asbrans,  pas- 
tor; Catholic,  J.  Barry,  pastor.  The  Presbyterians  and 
Catholics  also  have  built  parsonages  for  their  pastors. 

In  1885  the  school  district  was  bonded  for  ^5,000, 
and  a  large  fine  school  building  was  erected  which  is  a 
credit  to  the  district. 

Societies — The  first  secret  society  organized  iis 
the  town  was  the  Grand  Annyof  the  Republic,  which 
established  C.  R.    Weaver  Post,  Na    185,  on  April  1^, 


EMERSON. 


91 


1884,  J.  F.  Warner,  then  Coiiiinander  of  the  Post  at 
Dakota  City,  being  installing  officer.  Among  tlie 
charter  members  were  William  Warnock,  B.  F.  Good- 
win, John  Bennett,  I.  M.  Shockley,  N.  Feauto,  J.  Dix- 
on, Charles  Boyle,  E.  Barber  and  John  Ward. 

The  Masons  organized  here  Jan  nary  25,  1893, 
witli  M.  11.  Evans,  W.  M.  and  J.  W.  Fisher,  secretary. 

The  A.  O.  U.  V^.  have  a  Lodge,  with  J.  W.  Fisher, 
W.  M.  and  L.  Wakefield,  recorder. 

An  Independent  Order  of  Good  Templars  Lodge 
was  oi'ganized  here  in  the  spring  of  1893.  L.  Wake- 
field is  Chief  Templar  and  Hallie  Bennett,  secretary. 

The  Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union  have  a 
society,  with  Mattie  Parmelee  as  president  and  Winnie 
Fnller  corresponding  secretary. 

Grist  Mill. — In  November  1892  a  meeting  was 
held  in  the  town  at  which  time  the  Emerson  Mill  and 
Improvement  Company  was  organized,  and  the  follow- 
ing spring  work  was  begnn  on  the  Emerson  Roller 
Mills,  which  were  completed  June  1.  1893,  The  mill 
complete  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.  L.  Davis,  president; 
Benj.  Bonderson,  vice  president;  C.  C.  King,  secretary 
and  generaf  manager  and  S.  W.  Appleton,   treasurer. 

Emerson  in  1893. — Tliere  are  three  general  stores, 
Dax^is  &  Fuller,  Knntz  &  McCarthy  and  M.  A.  Mines; 
one  hardware  store,  Painter  and  Isenbei'ii:;  one  druw; 
store,  J()hn  Connors;  one  furniture  store,  W.  M.  Kel- 
logg; one  clothing  store,  E.  J.  Smith;  undertaking,  W. 
M.  Kelloj^g;  two  banks.  Farmer's  State,  with  S.  W.  Ap- 
pleton as  president,  Fred  Bin  me,  vice  president  and  C. 
(\  King,  cashier  and  the  German  American  with  E.  J. 
McCarthy  as  president,  William  Warnock,  vice  presi- 
dent and  H.  F.  Moseman  as  cashier;  one  physician,  M. 
H.  Evans;  one  attorney,  Joshua  Leonard;  one  saloon, 
Borowsky  &  Scheuneman;  two  meat  markets,  Theodore 
Rliode  and  Charles  Mann;  two  blacksmith  shops,  J.   C. 


92  Warner's  history  of  Dakota   county. 

Winters  and  L.  J.  Edgar;  two  lumber  yards,  Edwards 
&  Bradford  Lumber  Co.,  W.  H.  Crahans,  as  managei- 
and  Jensen  &  Wiseman;  two  livery  barns,  John  Enge- 
len  &  Son  and  Kobert  Poole;  contractors  and  builders, 
A.  N.  Carlile,  P.  G.  Fancher,  P.  J.  Bannan,  John 
Schaub,  Jensen  Bros,  and  S.  "R.  Davis;  grain  flour  and 
feed  store,  L.  F.  Demers;  proprietor  steam  elevator,  L. 
F.  Demers;  one  school,  J.  W.  Fisher,  principal,  L. 
Wakefield  and  Miss.  Sarah  Jones,  teachers;  real  estate 
dealers,  Wm.  Warnock,  Joshua  Leonard,  Joseph  Holl- 
man  and  Boyle  Bros.;  dressmaking  and  millinery,  Mrs. 
Ward  Parmelee,  Misses  Scollard  &  Kerwin  and  Mioses 
Witt  &  Erwin;  station  agent,  F.  Paulger;  dealers  in 
live  stock,  Webb  Kellogg,  John  Doran,  Davis  &  Fuller 
and  J.  W.  Bridenbaugh;  hotels,  P.  Doyle,  Chas  Zapp, 
Mrs.  Flegg  and  Enoch  Beals;  mail  carrier,  A.  N.  Car- 
lile; loan  and  insurance,  notary  public,  justice  of  the 
peace  and  postmaster,  Wm.  Warnock;  auctioneers,  John 
Doran,  and  A.  Ira  Davis;  agricultural  implements,  G. 
A.  Puis;  cement  work,  AVilliam  Harte;  cigar  factory. 
Henry  Stahl;  wagon  shop,  wind-mills  and  pumps,  Car- 
lile and  Fancher;  real  estate  and  insurance,  H.  W.  Con- 
ley;  harness  shop,  William  Metz;  barbers,  Howard 
Parmelee  and  Thomas  Coyle;  masons,  William  E.  Shane 
and  H.  D.  Engelen ;  the  railroad  companies  have  a 
good  substantial  depot  building,  three  section  houses, 
extensive  water  works,  car  scales  and  e:ood  stock  yards; 
the  village  board  is  as  follows:  H,  T.  Moseman  chair- 
man, L.  F.  Demers,  F.  O.  Paulger,  W.  L.  Ross  and  H. 
D.  Engelen,  trustees;  W.  H.  Crahan,  clerk;  A.  IS'.  Car- 
lile, treasurer;  Joshua  Leonard,  attorney;  Lo\iis  Gigear, 
marshal.      The  population  is  six  hundred. 

SOUTH  SIOUX  CITY. 

This  is  the  youngest  town  in  Dakota  county  and 
was  incorporated  by  the  county  commissioners  January, 
i,  1887,  in  accordance  with  a  petition  signed  by  E.  L. 
Will)ur  and  forty-one  others  residino' there.       Ked    H. 


SOUTH   SIOUX  CITY,  93 

Kinery,  J.  L.  Krceseii,  C.  D,  Smiley,  D.  C.  Willnir  and 
C;i?s  Brainiainan  were  appointed  trustees.  The  original 
tdwn  site  included  section  21  and  all  of  section  22.  ex- 
cept a  portion  of  the  north-west  corner  which  had  been 
washed  away  by  the  Missouri   river. 

John  M.  Moan  bought  the  Tiffey  land  in  Septem- 
bftr,  1886,  which  was  a  portion  of  the  old  Pacific  City 
town  site,  laid  it  out  in  lots,  and  sold  anuniber  of  them 
at  a  great  auction  sale  held  there  in  October.  A  town 
company  was  organized  consisting  of  J.  M.  Moan,  Fi-ank 
Hunt  and  E.  C.  Palmer. 

The  first  house  was  built  on  lot  7,  block  5,  and 
occupied  by  C.  D.  Smiley,  March  1,  1887,  with  a  stock 
of  groceries,  he  being  the  first  resident.  This  building 
now  stands  on  Main  street,  lot  14,  block  9.  The  sec- 
oiuJ  building  was  occupied  on  the  lower  floor  by  Gil- 
lette Bros,  as  a  hardware  store,  and  in  the  upper  story 
the  News  was  published. 

The  Pkess — The  News  was  the  first  paper,  which 
was  established  there  in  April,  1887,  and  consolidated 
with  the  Sun  January  1,  1889. 

The  Sun  was  established  August  27,  1887,  by  Will 
S.  Jay  and  Al  Fairbrother,  the  latter  selling  his  share 
to  W.  C.  Fairbrother  that  fall.  The  Sun  and  News 
were  consolidated  with  Jay  &  Fairbrother  proprietors, 
who  managed  the  paper  until  January,  1891,  when  the 
plant  was  transferred  to  II.  A,  McCormick,  who  changed 
the  name  of  the  paper  to  the  Democrat. 

The  Times,  by  Z.  M.  Baird,  was  established  March 
U,  1890,  and  expired  July  6,  1892. 

The  Argus,  formerly  published  at  Dakota  City  wa% 
removed  by  its  proprietor  E.  B.  Wilbur,  to  this  place 
jNlovember  9,  1892. 

Churches  AND  Schools.— The  flrst  church  edifice 
was  built  by  the  Presbyterians,  thi-ough  the  liberality 
^)r  E.  L.  Wilbur  and  others,  in  1887.  The  Presbyterian 
4-hurcli  was  used  for  school  purposes  until  the  town 
voted  35,000  bonds    for    the    erection   of    the    present 


94  warnek's  history  of  daiota  county. 

school  building.  A  Catholic  church  is  now  in  course  of 
construction. 

The  Grace  Evangelical  Lutheran  church  was  dedi- 
cated October  12,  1890,  Rev.  D.  Sprecker  conducting 
the  services,  assisted  by  Rev.  8.  B.  Rarnitz,  who  deliv- 
ered the  dedicatory  sermon.  The  buikling  was  begun 
in  1887,  under  the  supervision  of  Rev.  C.  Baird,  and 
cost  ^1,600. 

The  Covington  and  South  Sioux  City  Street  R. 
R.Co.  was  organized  and  road  built  in  1887, the  incorpo- 
rators being  E.  C.  Palmer,  J.  M.  Moan,  b'rank  Hunt, 
C.  D.  Smiley,  E.  B.  Wilbur,  Atlee  Hart  and  Judge  T. 
L.Griffey.  The  first  officers  were  E.  B.  Wilbur,  presi- 
dent; J.  M.  Moan,  vice  president;  Frank  Hunt,  secre- 
tary; C.  D.  Smiley,  treasurer.  In  July,  1889  the 
South  Sioux  City  Electric  Motor  Street  R.  R.  Co.  was 
organized,  the  old  Company  being  absorbed  in  the  new 
one.  The  present  officers  are  C.  D.  Smiley,  president; 
E.  C.  Palmer,  secretary;  Frank  Hunt,  treasurer.  The 
line  will  be  extended  to  Crystal  Lake  on  the  completion 
of  the  Short  Line  combination  bridge  across  the  Mis- 
souri river. 

Societies. — An  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows 
Lodge  was  organized  here  in  July,   1890. 

The  next  secret  society  organized  Iiere  was  theGrand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  Banner  Post,  No.  308.  August 
16,  1890,  with  the  following  charter  members:  Samuel 
B.  Funk,  Henry  C.  Phillips,  Daniel  Martin,  James  W. 
Heath,  John  N .  Conkiing,  Clymer  Shadinger,  John  W. 
Gibson,  William  McDonald,  William  E.  Everett,  James 
H.  Bliven,  William  E.  Shane,  William  H.  George, 
James  H.  Loomie,  John  M  Church,  Isaac  J.  j^mmer- 
man,  Andrew  Christensen  and  James  M.  Woodcock. 
Following  are  the  officers  for  1893:  S.  R.  Cowles,  com- 
mander; James  H.  Bliven,  senior  vice  commander;  John 
McConeiiey,  junior  vice  commander;  William  E.  Shane, 
officer  of  the  day;  C.  Erwin,  quartermaster;  M.  B.  Slo- 
cum,  adjutant;  W.  H.  Georye,  officer  of  guard. 


SOUTH   SIOUX  CITY.  95 

The  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen  organized  a 
Lodge  January  27,  1S91. 

Modern  Woodmen  organized  February  18,   1891. 

The  Knights  of  Labor  organized  July  30,  1891. 

An  Independent  Order  of  Good  Templars  Lodge 
was  organized  July  26,1892. 

South  Sioux  City  in  1898. — There  are  two  general 
stores,  C.  D.  Smiley  and  Louis  Jeep;  one  drug  store, 
L.  Krygeritvvo  hardware  stores,  J.  L.  Kloster  and  O. 
J.  Yalentine;  one  lumberyard  for  distributing  lumber 
to  various  towns  in  northern  Nebraska,  Edwards  & 
Bi-adford;  one  variety  store.  T.  A.  Teter;  four  grocery 
stores,  H.  Lindsay,  B.  H.  Lampson,  A.  Steel  and  J. 
^"an  de  Zedde;  one  bakery,  J.  Van  de  Zedde;  two 
butcher  shops,  A.  Steel  and  C  C.  Scott;  one  bank.  Citi- 
zens State,  W.  II.  liyan,  president— J.  P.  Twohig, 
cashier — O.  W.  March  assistant  cashier;  two  hotels, 
Merchants,  Mrs.  William  Luther — Hotel  Heath,  J.  W. 
Heath;  one  shoemaker,  Patrick  McCabe;  one  millinery 
store,  Mrs.  II.  Everett;  two  barber  shops,  Willian/ 
Gramanz  and  II.  W.  Everett;  one  billiard  iiall,  Geo.  E. 
Bidwell;  two  saloons,  Schumacker  &  Mappes  and  J.  N. 
Peysen;  one  livery  barn,  B.  V.  Sawyer;  four  draymen, 
P.  Stoffell,H.  C.  Vegan,  A.  Lufkin  and  W.  J.  Jones; 
one  photograph  gallery.  King  Brothers;  two  architects, 
P.  B.  Funk  and  John  Jeid<ins;  eight  caz'penters,  A.  H, 
Bliven,  P.  S.  Everett,  J,  B,  Earlywine,  N.  Coraneau, 
Oscar  Stamm,  Elias  Stamm,  Frank  Ackerman  and  W. 
E.  Blair;  five  painters,  William  McDonald,  W.  L.  Mc- 
Donald, Isaac  Pouts.  James  Loojnis  and  Fred  Martin; 
two  paper  hangers,  Pied  Martin  and  Isaac  Pouts;  one 
wag'on  shop,  S.  B.  Hoover;  one  blacksmith  shop,  A.  A. 
iSunde;  four  masons  and  plasterers,  D.J.  Savidge,  Philip 
Reiss,  William  Shane  and  Lewis  Anderson;  six  lawyers, 
li.  B.  Daley,  T.  J.  King.  M.  B.  Slocuni,  J.  Fowler,  J. 
P.  Twohig  and  E.  B.  W"ilbur;  two  physicians,  R.  G. 
ilandlton  and  A.O.Allen; one  school,  Prof.J.  G.  Ilaupt, 
|;rincipaj,  with  Lehdi  Kryger.  Mattie  Daley    and    Edith 


96  Warner's  history  ot  Dakota  county. 

Phillips  as  teachers;  two  newspapers,  Argns,  with  E. 
B.  Wilbur  as  editor,  and  tlie  Democrat,  edited  by  H. 
A.  McCormick,  two  station  accents,  E.  E.  Carder  for  C. 
8t.  P.,  M.  &  O.  company,  and  Frank  McCnmber  for  the 
Short  Line;  one  opera  house,  Levi  Smith  proprietor; 
feed  and  grain,  II.  C,  Vegan;  one  brick  yard,  Peter 
Meiseh;  one  harness  sliop,  E.  R.  Wilbur;  seven  notaries 
public,  J.  P.  Twohig,  R.  B.  Daley,  J.  P.  Meredith, 
Win.  S.  White,  T.  J.  King,  M.  B.  "Slocuni  and  E.  B, 
Wilbur;  one  flouring  mill,  erected  in  1893,  100  bbls. 
capacity,  W.  RL  Shook  and  J,  H.  Rank  proprietors;  H. 
O.  Dorn,  grain  and  stock  buyer  and  auctioneer;  B.  F. 
Sawyer,  buss  and  hack  line. 

Stanton  Addition.— In  1S56  Marion  Pinkertoi 
and  John  Fitzpatrick  entered  a  tract  of  land  east  of  the 
town  site  of  Covington.  E.  L.  Wilbur  pureh  sed  the 
Fitzpatrick  portion  and  sold  it  to  E.  D.  Stanton  in 
1864,  the  latter  laying  out  the  town  of  Stanton  here, 
in  1870.  The  town  never  made  any  progress  until 
1889,  when  the  pontoon  bridge  was  built  across  the 
river  with  the  Nebraska  terminus  at  the  foot  of  Blood- 
good  street.  That  year  it  grew  very  rapidly  and  built 
up  with  a  large  number  of  saloons,  gambling  houses,, 
etc.,  which  were  afterwards  burned  to  t'lo  ground,  (see 
chapter  on  fires.)  When  South  Sioux  City  was  estab- 
lished Stanton  was  incorporated  in  that  town. 

Consolidation. — On  the  4th,  of  April,  1893,  a  vote 
was  taken  on  the  matter  of  consolidating  South  Sioux 
City  and  Covington  which  resulted  as  follows:  Vote  of 
South  Sioux  City — for  consolidation,  83;  against,  12. 
Vote  of  Covincjcon — for  consolidation,  50;  against,  15. 
The  consolidation  w^as  accepted  by  the  Board  of  super- 
\iiiors  and  certified  to  bv  the  county  clerk,  to  date 
from  May  1st,  1893. 

ELK    VALLEY- 

This  .is  a  post  office  located  between,  the  two 
branches  of  the  railroad,  about  five  miles  west  of  Hub- 


GOODWIN,   NEUORA   AND   COBURN  ,!  UNCTION.  U7 

l)nrJ  and  eii^ht  miles  north  of  Emerson.  Its  postmas- 
ters have  been:  John  G.  Hibl)s,  James  L.  Mitchell, 
Monroe  Minter  and  James  Knox. 

COBURN    JUNCTION 

Is  situated  about  tive  miles  due  west  of  Dakota  City, 
on  the  C,  St.  P  ,  M.  &  O.  railroad,  at  the  junction  of 
the  Ponca  branch.  There  is  neither  a  settlement  nor 
post  ofhee  at  this  point. 

NECORA, 

Whicli  was  formerly  called  Simon's  Siding,  is  located 
seven  miles  south-west  of  Hubbard  on  the  main  line  of 
the  C,  St.  P.,  M.  &  O.  railroad,  and  a  post  office  was 
established  there  in  1S92  with  Henry  Danker  as  post- 
master. 


Is  located  on  th«  Pacific  Short  Line,  about  ten  miles 
south-west  of  Jackson,  and  was  established  in  1892  by 
John  C.   Duggan,  who  conducts  the  only  general    stort^ 


and  is  postmaster. 


lOUX   CITY.    IOWA. 


JSOFTU   SKUA    CI  I 


CHAPTER  VII. 


Pkoducts  and  Improvements. 


The  first  wheat  raised  in  the  county  was  in  1856. 
A.  H.  Baker  sowed  one  acre  of  this  jcrrain  on  weed  land, 
east  of  his  present  farm  and  south  of  wliere  D.  C.  Dib- 
.ble  now  liv^es,  in  section  30.  He  did  not  thresh  it,  but 
it  was  estimated  to  have  yielded  twenty  bushels,  which 
constituted  the  entire  wheat  crop  of  Dakota  county  for 
tliat  year.  What  a  contrast  to  the  crop  of  1874,  with 
113,150  bushels,  threshed  by  D.  Y.  Hileman,  Henry 
Shull,  Theodore  Haase,  Dutton  Lane,  James  Mitchell, 
Asa  Rath  bun,  Jos.  A.  Jackson  and  S.  Guetzer. 

In  1892  Dakota  county  contained:  3,910  horses, 
valued  at  ^62,737;  13,644  cattle,  valued  at  ^56,494; 
339  mules,  valued  at  ^6,285;  59  sheep,  valued  at  ^34; 
11,331  hogs,  valued  at  313,387;  1,144  carriages  and 
\vao;ons,  valued  at  ^5,796;  and  railroad  property  valued 
at  1288,525.  These  are  tlie  taxable  values  which  are 
one-third  the  actual  values. 

Here  are  the  "as- 
sessed total  valua- 
tions" of  the  county, 
that  of  1855  and  '56 
beins^  estimated: 

1855." $       2.000.00 

185H lO.OOO.OO       f.  1/  u  ^  j^_ 

1865 280.046.00 


1867 330.6S2.»)(>       1  J#^;'      I  ^j 


1868.  .......  380.917  00    l/t\J/7h:  -'!'''"'tf  ^\'il^T^l  ,  Aj 

1870 610.730.(11)  ;J7.-  ■•"'''i^- 

1871 653.384.01  >!^vt  '  gWlj 

1872 734 , 1 63  (10  •^'X'.^--^i^„  .y^  -.t,-  t-S-^cr^ ''' 

1873 7:^1.180.00  te    ostirr::;^rr'M      ..^ 

1874....  676.822.00  ^      -UL-'.y----     «*^ 

1875 637.665.00  CORN  PALACE  OF  1S87. 

1876; 801 ,018.00 


PRODUCTS. 

IS  77 840,047.S(5 

18  78 834,700.00 

18  79   720,780.50 

1880 775,4So00 

1881 759.712.41 

1883 834,562.00^ 

1.S83 999,917.30p^ 

1884 1.076,139.S')f- 

1S85 877,731.7i> 

1886 1,048.923.(1"' 

1887 1,217.383.5(1 

1888 1,374,974.7(1 

1889 1.744,861.5(1. 

1890 1,859.427.5(! 

1891 1,916.234.5(1 

1892 1,682.158.3) 

1893 1,544,803.0(1 

■  -^    Dakota  county  ha-- ; 
500    farms,  valued    at 
31,000,000,  and  the  niacin, 


iii|. 


375,000. 


Prizes  and  Med- 
als.— At  the  second 
national  Corn  Palace 
in  Sioux  City,  Iowa, 
September  24th  to  Oc- 
tober 6, 1888.  Dakota 
county  was  awarded 
first  premium  on  corn, 
and  second  on  fruit, 
and  also  second  on  best 
general  exhibit.  Then 
again,  at  the  third 
Corn  Palace  at  the 
('i)R\  PAL\CK  OF  1889.  Same  place  from   Sep- 

tember 28rd  to  October  5th,  1889,  it  won  first  prize  on 
'•l)est  i^eiieral  exhibit  of  corn,  grasses,  grass  seeds,  vege- 
tables and  fruit,''  3300;  second  prize  on  "best  separate 
exhibit  of  corn,"  325;  the  first  prize  of  350  on  fruit  was 
<livided  between  Dakota  county  and  Monona  county, Iowa, 
Dakota  Co.  also  took  prizes  at  the  first  Corn PaUice, 
wliioh  opened  October  3rd  and  closed  October  8th,  and 
at  the  PaUice  for  1890,  (Sept.  5th  to  Oet.  4Hi,)  and  18^.1 


100 


WAKNEe's  HISTOKY   of  DAKOTA    COUNTV, 


The  county  com- 
missioners in  session 
September  11,  1890, 
appropriated  ^250  tu 
defray  the  expenses  of 
collecting  the  county 
exhibits  for  the  Corn 
Palace  of  that  year. 

In  1889,  at   the  ^ 
great    Universal    Ex- 
position      iu     Paris,  J- 
France,Dakota  county 

was  awarded  an   hon-  corn  palace  "of  Ys9u. 

orary  diploma  for  her  exhibit  of  corn,  selected  and  for- 
warded by  a  committee,  of  which  A.  T.  Haase  was  chair- 
man. The  following  letter  was  sent  to  Dakota  county: 
The  Golden  Book  of  Memorial  Diplomas  of  tub  Uni-  j 
VERSAL  Exposition,  of  1889,  Pkesident,  M.  J.  Berkin, 
15  St.  Sulfide  Street,  Paris.  ) 

Paris,  8  December.  1889. 

giii — The  administration  of  tlie  Golden  Book  of  the  Universal   Expc'Si- 
tion  has  dedicated  to  you  a  memorial  dii)loiDa  of  the  Universal  Expo; 
of  1889.  ,      , 

In  conferring  on  you  this  diploma,  imperishable  symbol  of  the  1; 
you  have  imposed  on  yourself,  we  wish  tn  perpetuate  tlie  memory  of  the 
legitimate  rewards  earned  by  your  products  in  the  immense  inten.atiunal 
concourse  in  which  all  the  nations  of  the  universe  have  taken  piirt  Please 
accept  with  the  assurance  of  my  most  distinguished  consideraiion. 

J.   Berkin,   President. 

The        Dakota 
county      agricultural 
society  was  oi-ganized 
at  Dakota  City,  N.T., 
March  11,  1805,  with 
David  Boals,     presi- 
dent,   and    Thos.    L. 
(ii-iffey  secretary.   At 
t'ueir  third    meeting, 
!!J^  April    22nd,    J.    H. 
3^  Williams  was  chosen 
CORN  palace  of  16'Ji.  as  chairman    a)id    T. 


ition 
bors 


t 


SOCIETIES.  101 

L.  Griffey  secretary,  wlien  tlie  followino-  officers  were 
elected  for  the  ensuing  year:  Alfred  Elani,  president; 
Barnabas  Bates,  vice  president;  Win.  Adair,  secretary; 
John  Smith,  sr.,  treasurer;  Win.  Ilogan,  J.  H.  Willii.'us, 
James  Stott,  Henry  Ream,  Simon  Dewitt  and  Teter 
Myers,  directors;  C  1).  Martin  and  Wm.  H.  James, 
corresponding  secretaries.  This  was  the  first  agricul- 
tural society  of  any  kind  oro;aniz;ed  in  Dakota  county. 
Among  its  meml)ers  not  l)efore  mentioned  were:  C.  F. 
Eckhart,  John  Naffziger,  Samuel  Whitehorn  and  James 
Maloney. 

The  Mehidian  Cheese  Maker's  Association  of 
Dakota  County. — Was  organized  at  the  residence  of 
Leonard  Bates,  June  1,  1875,  electing  the  following  of- 
ficers for  the  ensuing  year:  George  Boals,  president; 
C.  II.  Brown,  vice  president;  John  Joyce,  secretary; 
Henry  Wood,  treasurer  and  salesman.  The  factory  was 
located  on  Bates^"  i.  rm  and  did  a  thriving  business,  but  the 
price  of  butter  advanced  and  the  cheese  enterprise;  was 
finally  abandoned. 

The  first  clieese  manufactured  in  the  county,  how- 
ever, was  by  Jesse  F.  Warner,  on  the  farm  now  owned 
l)y  George  Leamer,  in  1858,  where  a  large  quantity  of 
cheese  was  made. 

Farmers  Club. — This  society  was  organized  in 
1886  and  held  a  great  "Farmers'  Institute"  in  a  grove 
near  Homer,  July  30,  1887.  Its  principal  members 
were  Pius  Neff,  D.  C.  Dibble,  G.  W.  Wilkinson,  Sam 
A.  Combs,  JNelson  Cowles,  Will  C.  Dibble,  Dennis  Ar- 
mour, Thos.  L.  Griffey,  Wm.  Armour,  Asa  Rathbun, 
Wm.  Holsworth,  Thns.  Ashford,  Capt.  C.  O'Connor, 
Wm.  Nixon,  C.  B.  Bliven,  A.  T.  Haase,  J.  O.  Fisher, 
Wm.  Taylor,  Harlon  Baird,  J.  F.  Warner  and  Henry 
Ream. 

Bridges  and  Roads — Dakota  county  has  expended 
thousands  of  dollars  in  the  construction  of  bridges  and 
grading  roads,  tlie  county  commissioners  having  pur- 
chased a  road  grader  in    1880,    and    today    the    public 


^^ 


I  'W  I 'II  III,     * 


KAILKOADS. 


108 


highways  thi-uiighout  the  county  jire   in    excellent    con- 
dition. 

The  lirsf  public  thoroughfare  established  through 
the  county  was  the  old  Platte  river  and  Kunningwater 
military  road,  surveyed  by  Col,  Sites,  employed  l)y  the 
government  in  1858,  from  Omaha  via  Dakota  City  to 
the  mouth  of  the  Niobrara  river,  (then  called  Running- 
water.  The  road  entered  the  county  fi'om  the  south  at 
the  identical  point  on  the  line  of  the  "Winnebago  Reser- 
vation wheie  James  Biggs  kept  an  Indian  trading  post. 
This  old  road  is  still  visible  at  places  and  can  yet  be  seen 
as  it  winds  up  Pilgrim  Hill,  on  the  old  Col.  Warner 
place,  two  miles  enst  of  Homer.  The  first  good -bridge 
built  in  the  county  was  on  this  road  across  Omaha  creek 
nenr  Omadi. 

An  act  of  the  Tei'ritoriid  legislature  was  approved 
June  22,  1867,  appointing  John  F.  DeBorde,  Peter 
Myers  and  Mai-teu  Stuefer  as  a  board  t>f  commissioners 
to  locate  a  public  road  from  Covington  to  West  Point 
in  Cuming  county.  An  act  was  also  approved  Febi'uary 
18,  1867,  appointing  James  Clark,  John  Boler  and 
Patrick  Twohig  as  a  board  of  coiiMuissioners  to  estab- 
lisli  a  road  from  Jack>on  to  intei'sect  h  road  leading 
from  Ponca  to  West  Point. 

On  August  27,  1885,  the  county  commissiimers  let 
a  contract  to  Macritchie  &  JN'ichols,  of  Chicago,  for 
draining  the  '-swamj)"  which  was  caused  bv  Elk  and 
Pigeon  creeks  being  damned  up  by  beavers.  It  cost 
^10,846.50,  ;ind  was  a  gi-eat  benefit  to  the  county,  in- 
creasing the  value  of  bind  in  the  vicinity  from  ^1.25 
to  ^20  per  acre.  Theic  were  46,952  yards  of  e.^rth  le- 
moved. 

Railkoads-- At  a  special  election  held  in  Dakota 
county,  March  25,  1872,  to  vote  on  ^65,000  bonds  for 
iSorthern  Nebraska  &  Central  Dakota  i-ailr^ad  com- 
pany, there  were  375  vot'^s  "for"  and  186  "against" 
bonds.  The  company  failed  to  luiild  any  load  and  re 
leased  payment  of  tlie  bonds  Jaiiuai'y  7.  LSS8. 


104  Warner's  history  of  Dakota  county. 

A  special  election  was  held  February  10,  1873,  to 
vote  on  ^73,000  bonds  for  the  St.  Paul  &  Nebraska 
railroad  company,  at  which  time  there  were  289  "for" 
and  187  '-against''  bonds.      The  proposition  was  defeated. 

On  December  27,  1875,  a  special  election  Mas  held 
to  vote  195,000  bonds  for  the  Covington,  Colnmbns  Sz 
Black  Hills  railroad  company.  There  were  cast  at  this 
election  486  votes  "for"  and  94  "against"  bonds. 
Preparations  were  at  once  made  for  bnilding  the  road 
and  on  the  24th,  day  of  June  1876,  at  9:30  a.  m  ,  Judge 
Hubbard  drove  the  first  spike  on  this  road,  which  wfis 
also  the  iirst  ever  driven  on  any  railroad  in  Dakota  county 
and  on  the  29th,  the  first  engine  brought  to  the  county, 
''Dakota  No.  1,"  was  crossed  over  the  river  at  Sioux  City. 
The  road  was  soon  completed  through  the  county  from 
Covington  via  Dakota  City  and  Jackson,  a  distance  of 
twenty-two  and  a  quarter  miles  and  bonds  were  issued 
to  the  railroad  company.  It  was  a  narrow  guage,  be- 
ing three  feet  and  six  inches  wide.  This  company  also 
did  considerable  grading  on  the  Omaha  brancri  to  Em- 
erson, but  did  not  complete  the  load.  Tlie  Chicago, St. 
Paul,  Minneapolis  &  Omaha  railroad  company  havin^. 
purchased  the  Covington, Columbus  &  Black  Hills  rail- 
road, changed  it  to  a  standard  guage  in  1880  and 
built  the  road  through  the  county  to  Emerson  via  Hub- 
bard, and  nov/  has  over  forty  miles  of  railroad  in  tlio 
county  valued  at  ^190,000. 

A  first-class  steel  railroad  bridge  was  built  across 
the  Missouri  river  between  South  Sioux  Citv  and 
Sioux  City  in  1888,  at  a  cost  of  $2,000,000.  "'  This 
railroad  and  bridge  property  has  passed  into  the  control 
of  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  system. 

In  1889  the  Sioux  City  tt  Ogden  Short  Line  com- 
pany graded  a  railroad  bed  through  the  county  fron> 
South  Sioux  City,  passing  north  of  Dakota  City,  tlience 
to  Jackson  and  up  the  valley  of  Elk  Creek,  and  a 
winter  In-idge  was  completed  and  engine  No.  374: 
crossed  over  to  Covington    January  27,  1890. 


RAILUOADS. 


105 


A  nuinher  of  railroad  surveys  have  been  made 
through  the  southern  part  of  the  county  t)y  different 
companies  by  way  of  Homer,  but  as  yet  no  railroad  has 
been  constructed,  altliough  the  route  from  Dakota  City 
up  the  (^inalia  creek  valley  to  the  Logan  river  is  one  of 
the  best  to  be  found  in  this  section. 

The  first  projected  railroad  in  the  county  was  the 
Sioux  City  6z  Columbus,  organized  in  1867.  The  first 
survey  was  made  in  1868  and  was  surveyed  by  Wil- 
gosci,  surveyor,  James  Stott,  J,  F.  Warner,  William 
Adair,  C.  F.  Bayha,  Gideon  Warner  and  John  G.  Ogden. 
The  route  they  surveyed  is  the  exact  location  of  the  rail- 
road now  built  to  Emerson.  It  was  intensely  cold  weather 
^iud  a  great  snow  storm  overtook  the  party,  freezing  some 
^)f  them  badly  but  not  seriously.  J.  F.  Warner  was  sent 
to  Washincrton  to  ejet  a  "restoration  of  the  Union  Pa- 
cine  land  grant"  to  npply  on  this  road,  but  congress 
failed  to  do  this  and  the  Sioux  City  &  Columbus  road 
was  not  built. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


Indians — "The  Logan  War. 


Dakota  county  has  liad  very  little  trouble  with  the 
Indians  since  its  settlement  by  whitt;  people. 

In  September,  1855,  twenty-one  Sioux  Indians 
came  upon  a  small  company  of  settlei-s  on  the  Omadl 
town  site,  stealing  everything  they  had,  including  theii" 
boat,  which  was  their  only  source  of  reaching  supplies 
on  the  Iowa  side;  but  fortunately,  after  fasting  three 
days  they  found  a  half  decayed  hawk,  with  which  they 
appeased  their  hunger,  until  a  Fi'enchman  happened  to 
come  along  with  a  boat. 

During  the  summer  of  1855  Adam  Benners,  with 
his  family  settled  in  the  northwestern  pai-r  of  the  county, 
and  one  day  while  Mr.  Benners  was  absent  tiiree  Fonca 
Indians  came  aloi;g  and  aftei-  ransacking  the  house  en- 
tered the  room  wliere  Mrs,  Bennei's  lay  sick  in  bed, 
with  her  new  born  I)abe  by  her  side.  They  pulled  the 
feather  bed  off  onto  the  floor,  the  woman  and  child  with 
it,  which  so  friglitened  her  that  she  died  from  the  ex- 
posure aiid  shock  of  the  fright,  who  was  survived  but  a 
few  days  by  her  babe.  The  three  Indians  were  delivered 
up  to  Cien.  Harney,  at  Ft.  Rimdall,  ti-ied,  conoemned 
and  executed  for  the  crime. 

This  is  the  only  killing  of  white  people,  by  Indians^ 
in  Dakota  county,  although  the  Winnebiigo  Indians 
have  killtd  several  white  men  in  this  vicinity.  C.  S. 
M.unson  was  killed  in  1870  by  five  Winnebagoes  on  the 


INDIANS.  107 

western  border  of  the  Reservation,  and  Holly  Scott,  a 
Winnebago,  killed  Geo,  Skinner  near  the  Winnebago 
Agency  in  May,  1879,  and  another  white  man  was 
killed  there  about  this  time.  Scott  was  sentenced  to 
ten  years  in  the  state  penitentiary,  but  died  before  his 
time  had  expired. 

Dakota  county  is  bounded  on  the  south  by  the 
Omaha  and  Winnebago  Reservations,  (now  Thurston 
county,)  and  contains  about  1,200  Winnebagoes  and 
1,100  Omahas.  The  U.  S.  Indian  Agents  have  been 
for  the  Winnebagoes:  St.  A.  D.  Balcomb,  who  in  1864 
came  with  them  from  Crow  Creek,  in  Dakota  Territory ; 
Cliarles  Matthewson, appointed  in  1865;  Howard  White, 
in  1869;  Taylor  Rradly,  in  1874;  Howard  White,  again 
appointed  in  1878;  Arthur  Edward,  in  1880;  Dr.  G. 
W.  Wilkinson,  Oct.  17,  1881;  Charles  H.  Potter,  Aug. 
7,  1885;  Gen.  Jo'^'-ph  HoUman,  appointed  in  1886,  but 
failed  to  take  cl...rge;  Col.  Jesse  F.  Warner,  Nov.  1, 
1886;  Robert  T.  Ashley,  Sept.  16,  1889;  Captain  W. 
H.  Beck,  June,  1898.  Agents  for  the  Omahas:  John 
Hepner,  appointed  in  1851;  John  Robertson,  in  1856; 
William  Wilson.  1858;  W.  E.  Moore,  1859;  Geo,  B. 
Gralf,  1860;  O.  H.  Irish,  1861;  Robert  W.  Furnas,' 
1863;  William  Gallon,  1866;  Edward  Painter,  1869; 
T.  T.  Gillingham,  1873;  Jacob  Yore,  1876;  Howard 
White,  1878;  since  which  time  one  Agent  has  had 
charge  of  the  affairs  of  both  tril)es  of  Indians. 

Another  chapter  was  added  to  the  history  of  Da- 
kota county  when  three  Winnebago  Indians  were  called 
upon  to  take  their  seats  in  the  tribunal  of  Justice  as 
jurymen  at  the  JMarch  term  of  the  district  courc,  1889, 
and  there,  in  the  presence  of  their  paler  brothers,  wielded 
the  power  confided  to  a  jury  in  behalf  of  right  and  jus- 
tice. Surely  the  world  doth  move,  while  the  vast  and 
rapid  strides  of  civilization  g02o  sweeping  onward.  A 
few  years  ago  the  Winneb,i;]i;  j  Indians  decked  in  wai- 
paint  sent  forth  a  war-whoop  in  the  terrible  "Minnesota 
Massacre"  which  will  go  on  s  )undingdown  through  the 


108  WARNEe's  history   of  DAKOTA    COUNTY. 

jears,  reviving  in  the  minds  of  coming  generations  the 
most  cruel  and  cowardly  drama  to  be  found  throuahout 
all  the  pages  of  history.  And  today,  three  nieniLers  of 
this  self  same  tribe  are  cbosen  as  jurymen  to  decide  in 
the  court  room  the  fates  of  members  of  the  race  whom 
a  few  short  years  ago  they  slew  with  the  tomahawk. 

Below  we  give  a  short  sketch  of  the  fii'st  three  In- 
dian jurymen  ever  chosen  in  JNebraska: 

David  St.Cyr.— Was  born  on  Christmas  Day.  1864.  at 
Crow  Creek,  D.  T.;  was  eldest  sou  of  Mitchell  St.Cyr,  who  died 
at  Louis  Jopu's  place  in  1889.  David  attended  the  Hampton 
Indian  School,  Virginia,  three  years,  where  he  receivsd  a  good 
common  school  education.  Here  he  also  learned  to  be  a  first- 
class  penman  and  for  this  reason  was  chosen  as  one  of  the 
clerks  of  election  for  Winnebago  piecinct.  After  all  the  poll 
books  had  been  received  at  the  court  house,  it  was  the  general 
comment  that  David  St.Cyr  had  sent  the  neatest  and  most 
complete  poll  book  oi  any  polling  p'ace  in  the  county. 

Prosper  Amell.  — Was  born  March  14,  1845.  at  Four  Lake 
Madison,  Wisconsin.  Came  with  the  Winnebago  Indians  to 
Nebraska  in  1865,  and  located  on  the  north  boundary  of  the 
reservation  near  Omaha  Creek,  where  he  bus  resided  to  the 
present  time,  except  three  years  when  he  was  a  cow  boy  and 
with  '*the  cow  boys  stood."  along  the  Elkhorn  and  Logan 
rivers.  He  has  a  fair  education  and  can  talk  both  the  Indian 
and  English  languages. 

Alexander  Payer— Was  born  March  18.  1820.  at  Mil- 
waukee Wisconsin.  Moved  to  Nebraska  with  the  Winnebago 
Indians  and  has  acte<i  as  U.  S.  Indian  interpreter,  captam  of 
police  and  held  various  other  offices  at  the  WinneLago  Agency. 
Has  a  fair  education— talks  both  Indian  and  English.  Is  a  good 
carpenter  by  trade.  Now  living  on  a  farm  near  the  agency.  Was 
one  of  the  judges  of  election  in  1889  for  Winnebago  precinct. 

"THE  LOGAN  war." 

In  order  to  protect  themselves  against  ^'ont-side 
claim  jumpers"  the  pioneers  organized  claim  clubs,  one 
at  Omadi  and  one  at  Logan.  In  the  sprino:  of  1857 
there  was  a  difhcnlty  at  Logan,  growing  out  of  a  claim 
contest.  Joseph  Conley  had  jumped  another  man's 
claim  and  on  the  16th.  of  April  the  quarrel  reached  to 
something  like  a  riot — Conley  was  l)esieged  in  a  bouse 
guarded  by  Harlon  Baird,  John  W.  Virden,  Alfred  Elam 


"the  LOGAN   WAR."  101) 

:iiid  otliers,  who  were  iiiarchiiigai-onnd  the  buildino-  wit'i 
their  gniiS.  Some  time  previous  to  this,  during  tl.t' 
<l:vy,  a  few  shots  were  ti)'ed  by  each  side  in  whicdi  Josepii 
Conley  was  shot  in  tlie  slioulder,  and  by  evening,  things 
assumed  a  war  like  appearance.  The  Omadi  club  was 
appealed  to,  to  quell  the  disturbance,  late  in  the  night, 
and  in  less  than  an  hour  thirty  armed  n)en  vvei-'j  march, 
ing  through  the  darkness  to  tlie  scene  of  the  conflict, 
•led  by  the  courageous  Deputy  Sheriff,  Tom  Jvyan.  It 
was  aftei-  midnight  when  they  halted  at  the  Chihuahua 
House  in  Dakota  City,  where  Col.  Bates  was  indulgiuii' 
in  his  tirst  sleep  in  Dakota  county.  lie  was  aroused 
from  his  slumbers,  and  looking  out  of  the  second  stoi-y 
window  he  be'neld  the  war-like  scenes  below,  and  won- 
dered what  kind  of  a  country  he  had  gotten  into,  where 
armed  men  met  in  such  boisterous  conclave  in  the  dark- 
ness of  the  night.  In  that  mass  of  defiant  faces  he  saw 
(Jeo.  T.  Woods.  A.  li.  Baker,  Henry  Ream.  ]\[oses 
Ivreps,  Jolin  Taffe,  John  B.  Arteaux,  Jacob  Rallock, 
Tom  Ryan,  Robert  Alexander,  Charley  Morse,  Abra- 
ham liirsch  and  W.  C.  JMcBeath.  Here  the  sheriff, 
Geo.  W.  Williamson  took  charge  ot  the '-warriors"  and 
;j^ave  the  command,  '"forward,"  and  they  hurried  away 
to  Logan,  arriving  tliere  just  as  the  first  rays  of  light 
were  peeping  over  the  eastern  hills.  At  first  the  rioters 
showed  signs  of  resistance,  but  the  brave  and  fearless 
sheriff,  knowing  the  flghting  qualities  of  his  supporters 
demanded  peace  and  ordereJ  Conley  turned  over  to  him. 
which  was  immediately  complied  with.  Thus  quiet  was 
restored  without  bloodshed,  and  the  prisoner  taken  to 
Omadi  for  pi-otection. 


CHAPTER  IX, 


Population. 


In  1854  tliere  was  not  a  single  white  settler  in 
what  is  now  Dakota  county;  the  wild  animals  roanjecl 
with  freedom  over  the  prairies;  the  winding  streams 
conrsed  down  to  the  rivers  unobstrncted  by  the  hand  of 
man,  and  thesnn  shone  npon  a  primeval  land.  The 
following  figures  show  the  growth  of  population  since 
1855: 

1876 3006 

1877 3192 

1878 3107 

1879 3108 

188U   3210 

1890 5599 

The  census  of  1890  divides  the  population  in  the 
diflt'erent  precincts  as  follows:  Dakota  1,677,  Cov- 
ington 1,028;  St.  John's  076;  Emerson  434;  Oinadi 
1,028;  Hubbard  385;  Pi i^eon  creek  359;  and  Summit 
399. 


1855 

86 

1856    .  . 

646 

1860 

1869  

819 

1598 

1870 

..2040 

1874 

2759 

CHAPTER  X 


Crime  and  Casualtie!^. 


There  have  been  very  few  tragic  deaths  within  the 
borders  of  Dakota  .county,  conipai'ed  with  those  of  other 
localities.  The  first  death  ot  a  white  person  here  was  that 
of  Mrs.  Adam  Benners,  who  Jived  m  the  northwestern 
pai't  of  the  counry.  It  was  in  the  summer  of  1855, 
dui-jng  Mr  Benners  absence,  three  Ponca  Indians  en- 
tei-ed  their  house  and  ransacked  it  generally,  frighten- 
inij'  Mrs.  Benners  to  such  an  extent  that  she  died  in  a 
short  time  afterwards. 

In  Aug.  1856  Moses  Bacon,  a  brother  of  J.  M. 
Bacon,  formerly  of  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  was  drowned 
while  attempting  to  cross  the  Missouri  to  Covington  in 
H  small  boat,  whiclr  ran  upon  a  snag  and    was  capsized. 

William  Tucker  came  to  Dakota  county  in  185b 
and  took  a  claim  which  is  now  Thos.  Ashford's 
ineadow.  In  the  spring  of  1858  he  was  killed  in  the 
Omadi  saw  mill  by  being  caught  in  a  belt  and  *  carried 
around  between  it  and  the  Hy  wheel.  ,  A.  H.  Baker 
and  J.  II.  Bliven  were  eye  vvitnessess  to  this  sad 
accident. 

John  Fitzpatrick  was  shot  by  Geo.Gi-iffey  in  a  saloon 
at  Covington  in  Aug,  1857-  They  were  quarreling  about 
;i  claim  at  the  time.      Fitzpatrick  died  almost  instantly. 

John  Murdick  was  drowned  in  a  well  in  Omadi  pre- 
cinct August  22,  1868. 

John  Dunn,  a  nephew    of    Patrick    Monahau,  was 


112  warnee's  history  of  dako'ja  county. 

drowned  while  bathing  in    Crystal    Lake,    August   15, 
1871. 

xArchey  Peasley  was  drowned  in  u  freshet  on  Elk 
Creek,  while  trying  to  save  a  bridge,  in  June,  1874. 

A  ten  year  old  son  of  Geo.  E.  Ironsides  was 
drowned  in  the  Missouri  at  Covington,  July  6, 1874. 

James  E,  Kemper  was  struck  by  lightning  and 
instantly  killed  on  a  sand  bar  at  Covington,  March  20, 
1878.  A  man  was  killed  by  lightning  on  the  same 
spot,  eight  years  before. 

Henry  Mellon  came  to  his  death  by  sunstroke,  July 
13,  1878,  a  few  miles  west  of  Jackson. 

Domonick  Beilinski  shot  and  killed  Jim  Harris, 
a  Winnebago  Indian,  whom  he  claimed  was  cutting  a 
tree  on  his  land,  in  January.  1878-  Beilinski 
'•jumped  his  bail"  and  his  whereabouts  is  yet  unknown. 

October  12,  1878,  Wiley,  a  15  year  old  son  of 
(^liristopher  Irwin  accidently  shot  himself,  while  hunt- 
ing along  Crystal  Lake. 

Thomas  Hardin,  a  Winnebago  Indian  was  killed 
while  drunk,  by  a  load  of  merchandise  which  he  was 
hauling  to  the  Winnebago  Agency,  upsetting  and  fall- 
ing upon  him,  in  the  western  part  of  tlie  county, 
August  23,  1879. 

.L  B.  Hoyt  fell  from  a  scalibld,  while  working  on 
a  granary  for  Jacob  Heikes,  and  died  October  19,   1879. 

Michael  Dorsey  was  shot  and  killed  at  Jackson,  by 
Patrick  Boyle,  February  5,  1880.  Boyle  was  cleared 
on  the  grounds  of  self  defense. 

Mrs.  Rev.  Hays  was  killed  on  Fiddler's  Creek  near 
Louis  Blessing's  place.  May  1,  1880,  by  being  thrown 
from  a  wagon." 

May  8,  1880,  Eddie  and  Howard,  two  sons  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Wm.  Cheney  were  drowned  in  Crystal  Lake. 
This  is  one  of  the  saddest  events  that  ever  occured  in 
the  county. 

Emma  Biggs  jumped  from  the  feii-y  boat  at  Cov- 
ington, July  14,  1880,  and  was  drowned. 


CRIME  AKD  CASUALTIES.  118 

William  Cniiiiinghaui  was  drowned  near  Coving- 
ton in  the  high  water  of  April,   1881- 

William  Hull  shot  and  killed  himself  in  a  ravine 
south-east  of  Homer,  in  the  winter  of  1881- 

Clinton  Norris  was  shot  and  killed  in  the  Chas, 
Curtis  drug  store,  in  Homer,  January  3,  1887,  by 
Newton  Purdy,  wlio  was  tried  and  sentenced  to  serve 
a  term  in  the  penitentiary,  hut  being  granted  a  new 
trial  was  cleared  on  the  grounds  of  self  defense. 

Henry  Herweij:  was  drowned  in  the  Missouri  river, 
below  Dakota  City,  April  5,  1889.  He  had  gone  hunt- 
ing  across  the  river,  in  company  with  M.  O.  Ayres  and 
Will  C.  Dibble,  and  had  shot  a  goose,  which  he  wats 
endeavoring  to  reach  when  the  skiff  was  capsized 
This  sad  accident  cast  a  shadow  of  sorrow  over  the  en- 
tire county.  The  body  was  afterwards  found  and 
interred  in  St.  Mary's  cemetery,  near  Homer. 

Mat  League  was  shot  and  killed  by  John  Severson 
in  Jackson,  December  22,  1888.  Severson  was  cleared 
of  the  charge  of  murder  on  the  plea  of  self  defense. 

September  13,  1888,  William  Crone  died  at  the 
Court  house  in  Dakota  City,  from  the  effect  of  poison- 
ed whisky. 

Fi-ankie,  an  eight  year  old  son  of  Mr.  and  Mi's. 
Lucia  was  run  over  by  the  cars  at  South  Sioux  City, 
and  died  the  next  day,  July  12,  1889. 

Mrs.  Ludwig  Kipper  cut  her  throat  at  her  home 
near  Homer,  and  died  August  25,  1888.  Ill  health 
was  the  cause. 

December  15,  1889,  El  Erwin  was  stabbed  and 
killed  in  a  saloon  at  Covington,  by  James  Toohey.  He 
was  tried  and  convicted  of  manslaughter,  at  Dakota 
City.  Septeml)er  27.  1890  and  sentenced  to  two  years 
in  the  penitentiary. 

Miss  Elizabeth  Lapsley,  who  came  to  Dakota 
county  with  her  parents  in  1870,  while  in  company 
with  otiier  members  of  the  family,  was  accidentally 
killed  by  an  engine  while  they  were  crossing   the    rail-- 


114  Warner's  history  of  Dakota  county. 

i-o!ul  tracks  in  the  eastern  part  of  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  on 
November  29.  1890. 

Christian  Jaeohson,  a  young  tanner  twenty-two 
years  of  age,  son  of  C.  Jacobson,  was  killed,  May  22, 
1891.  supposed  to  have  been  kicked  by  one  of  tlie 
horsies  while  doing  the  chores  on  his  father's  farm 
nortli  of  Homer. 

Will  Kelsey  came  to  Dakota  county  in  1886,  was 
drowned  in  Omaha  creek,  August  20,  1891. 

Edward  Bankoski  was  killed  on  the  --Island"  Api-il 
27,  189],  by  being  thrown  fi-om  a  wngon  as  he  was  re- 
turning from   Sioux  City  to  his  home  in  Brusliy  Bend. 

P.  J.  Keeffe  was  run  over  by  a  steam  threshing 
machine  in  St.  Johns  precinct,  September  24,  1891, 
and  died  from  the  effect  of  the  same,  two  days  later. 

The  Homer  State  Bank  was  robbed  of  31,500  on 
tlie  night  of  October  31,  1891,  Herman  Freese  being 
cashier  at  the  time.  There  was  iio  clue  as  to  who  did 
the  i-obbing.  The  county  conjinissioners  offered  a  i-e- 
ward  of  ,^20C  for  the  ari-est  of  the   robbers. 


r 


,^-3,.Y"j1 


CHAPTER  XI. 


FlKEt^ 


Dakota  Count)'  has  siiiiered  more  from  prairie  tires 
than  any  otlier  kind.  Years  ago  when  the  county  was 
sparsely  settled  the  ravage  of  tlie  prairie  fire  was 
indeed,  appalling,  as  it  went  sweeping  over  the  land 
uninterrupted,  burning  the  lonely  pioneers  out  of 
•'house  and  home,"  and  almost  devastating  the  reo-ion 
over  which  it  passed.  ^^ 

Probably  the  greatest  prairie  fire  since  the  advent 
ot  the  pioneers  to  Dakota  county  was  in  the  fall  of 
1867.  A  strong  wind  was  screeching  down  from  the 
northwest  and  darkness  had  just  settled  upon  the  land 
when  the  people  of  the  ]VIissouri  bottom  and  Dakota 
City  were  startled  at  a  great  mass  of  flames  rolling  over 
the  hills  between  Pigeon  Creek  and  Jackson.  In  a 
few  minutes  later  the  fire  dashed  down  upon  the  bot- 
tom, over  the  swamp  which  was  covered  with  grass 
more  than  ten  feet  high.  At  this  time  the  crash  of 
the  flames  resembled  the  roar  of  distant  thunder  and 
the  earth  and  sky  was  grandly  illuminated,it  was  almost 
as  light  as  day  at  Dakota  City.  In  less  than  thirty  min- 
utes the  fearful  fire  had  reached  the  Omaha  creek  at 
the  old  Rathbun  place,  burning  everything  that  came 
111  Its  way— many  horses,  cattle  and  hogs  were  burned 
to  death.  The  next  day  a  wind  set  in  from  the  south  and 
carried  the  fire  north  through  Dakota  City  and  through 
the  dense  timber  then  standing  between  that  town  and 
Covington,  doing  great  damage. 


116  AVAKKKK't^   HJlJTOHy    OF   DAIXiTA    CdU^'JY. 

A.  II.  ]^akei-"s  residence  was  burned,  in  Oniadi, 
in  1S58  with  all  Ins  bonsehold  goods.  They  had  been 
out  attending  a  party  and  relurned  jnst  in  time  to  see 
their  home  destroyed. 

Tiie  Dakota  City  E*ottei-y,  which  stood  on  the 
river  bank  at  that  place,  was  totally  destroyed  by  lire 
March  28,  1861. 

In  1865  John  Montgomery  occupied  a  house  in 
Dakota  City  as  a  barn  for  his  horses.  wJiich  stood  on 
the  north  side  of  Br(,)adway.  and  had  formei'ly  been 
used  as  a  residence.  Dni-iuLi;'  the  year  it  csuglit  lire 
and  w^as  l)urned,  destroying;'  two  valuable  horses  l>eloug- 
ing  to  Mr.  Montgomery, 

In  the  winter  of  1868,  Jotichini  Cesterlin^'s  resi- 
dence, which  stood  on  tlie  corner  of  Hickory  and  15th 
street,  in  Dakota  City,  was  burned  to  the  ground.  This 
building  was  the  old  Rouleaux  liouse  moved  from 
Oniadl. 

The  next  night  aftei-  the  l)ui'ning  of  the  Oester- 
ling  house,  the  old  log  Chihiialiiia  IJcuse,  wliich  was 
occup'ed  by  Mrs.  Peter  Goodhue  Mas  burne(i.  It  stood 
on  Broadway  west  of  w^iere  is  located  the  present  Court 
House. 

On  the  26th  of  November  1870  the  old  Eush, 
school  house  in  the  Meridian  district  which  was  made 
of  logs  in  1858,  was  destroyed  by  lire.  It  st(»od  on  the 
tract  of  land  just  west  of  Geo.  Learner's  place.  Sam- 
uel Gamble  taught  the  first  scliool  in  this  building, 

E.  D.  Ayres'  saw  mill  in  Brushy  Bend  togethei- 
with  40,000  feet  of  lumber    was   burned  Sept.  2,^1871. 

On  the  7th  of  May,  1871,  Dakota  City  experi- 
enced one  of  the  most  destructive  liies  that  ever 
occurred  in  Dakota  county.  Thei-e  were  four  estab 
hshments  burned, — C.  F.  Eckhart's  store  on  the  corner 
of  Broadway  and  14th  street,  and  John  Rhode's  shoe 
shop,  Jake  Mikeseli's  store,  David  Bales'  harnets  shop, 
all  west  of  Eckhart's  store    and    in    same    block.     The 


FIRES.  117 

Are  originated  in  Mikesell's  store. 

A  large  prairie  fire  passed  over  the  western  part  of 
tlie  county  April  14,  1873,  burning  up  W.  H.  Way's 
home,  gr;iin  and  hay,  on  Elk  creek. 

The  Ogden  House,  situated  on  tlie  corner  of  Wal- 
nut and  15th  street  was  completely  destroyed  by  fire, 
March  14,  1876.  Loss  ^6,000,  insurance  ^4,000.  This 
was  the  old  Wm.  Lockwood  building,  erected    in    1858. 

Briton  Willis'  large  two  story  house  on  his  farm  in 
Brusliy  Bend  was  destroyed  by  fire  March  27,  1876. 
This  was  the  John  Virden  house  moved  from  old  Logan. 

Feb.  20,  1880,  the  store  room  of  M.  P.  Ahern  and 
a  saloon  were  burned  at  Jackson. 

The  residence  of  James  Conners,  and  saloon  occu- 
pied l)y  Michael  Kenneliy  were  burned  at  Jackson,  July 
28,  1884. 

The  SalcMi  Evangelical  Lutheran  church,  sitnated 
three  miles  directly  west  of  Dakota  City  was  struck  by 
lightning  and  burned  to  ashes,  Aug.  6,  1886-  Another 
church  was  immediately  erected  on  the  same  site. 

The  greatest  fire,  in  loss  of  buildings,  occured  Jan. 
30,  1890,  in  Stanton,  where  seven  saloons,  restaurant, 
etc.,  were  burned  to  the  ground.  Total  loss,  about 
$40,000.  with  some  insurance. 

A  fire  broke  out  in  Jackson  at  1  o'clock  Tuesday 
morning,  December  30,  1892,  in  the  merchandise  store 
of  Thomas  Clark,  burning  it  and  an  adjacent  building, 
owned  by  Thomas  Hartnett  and  occupied  by  Peter 
Gauthier  with  a  small  stock  of  dry  goods  and  a  res- 
taurant in  connection.  Mr.  Clark's  goods  were  all  con- 
sumed, but  Mr.  Gauthier's  goods  were  carried  into  the 
street.  The  damage  done,  including  the  buildings  and 
goods,  is  estimated  at  a})out  $2,000,  with  a  light  insur- 
ance. 

The  law  ofhce  of  Jay  &  Beck  was  burned  at  Da- 
kota City,  July  15,  1891. 

The  •'Fashion  Theatre''  and  William  Leech's  sa- 
loon Iniilding  were  burned  in    Covington,    January    18, 


lis  WARNTKk'o    history    of    DAKOTA    COUNTV. 

1892. 

John  Sides  lost  his  barn,  horses,  hay,  etc.  by  tire 
in  the  fall  of  1888,  The  origin  of  the  tire  vras  clouded 
in  mystery. 

The  Brnshy  Bend  school  house  was  burned  January 
21,  1893. 

On  Monday  night  June  5,  1898,  tiie  jaii  building. 
or  calaboose,  at  Jackson  wa^  burned,  supposed  to  have 
been  of  incendiary  origin. 


IJl.VUnKi    LAK; 


CHAPTER  XII. 


Great  Stoems  and  Blizzards. 


The  memorable  cold  and  stormy  winter  of  '56  and 
'57  xvill  never  be  forgotten  by  Dakota  county  pioneers. 
For  forty  days  the  thermometer  did  not  register  above 
the  freezing  point,  and  the  snow  stood  four  feet  deep  on 
the  level.  ^ 

""On  New  Year's  day,  1864,  a  violent  blizzard  swept 
over  the  entire  western  country,  continuing  three  days. 
The  Civil  War  was  then  in  progress,  and  what  few  pio- 
neers remained  here  suffered  intensely,  as  did  stock  of 
all  kinds. 

A  severe  blizzard  began  at  2  o'clock  p.  m.  on  Sun- 
day, March  12,  1870,  and  continued  seventy-two  hours 
without  cessation.  The  wind  blew  with  a  terrific  fury 
and  the  air  was  tilled  with  a  blinding  mass  of  snow. 

On  the  9th  and  lOtli  of  May,  1870,  a  great  snow 
storm  prevailed  throughout  this  part  of  the  country. 
Enough  snow  fell  to  make  sleighing  good. 

A  great  blizzard  swept  over  Dakota  county  and  ad- 
jacent country,  begining  on  Nov.  18, 1871,  and  continu- 
ing with  a  fury,  such  as  was  never  before  witnessed  by 
tlie  pioneers.  There  was  intense  suffering  among  the 
people  as  well  as  stock  of  all  kinds.  On  the  hrst  day  of 
the  storm  William  Hunter  was   frozen   to    death    while 


12C  Warner's  history  of  Dakota  county. 

returning  to  the  Logan  valley  with  a  load  of  wood, 
Harrison  Allen  and  Albert  S.  Miner  who  were  in  com- 
pany with  Hunter  were  also  badly  frozen,  but  not  fa- 
tally. 

The  morning  of  January  8,  1872,  was  pleasant  and 
mild,  the  snow  was  melting  in  the  warm  sunshine,  and 
the  people  everywhere  were  working  with  coats  off — but 
at  lU  o'clock  a.  m.,  in  an  instant  without  the  least  warn- 
ing the  wind  swept  down  from  the  northwest,  and  the 
ground  was  soon  covered  with  drifting  snow.  The  ther- 
mometei'  fell  fifteen  degrees  in  ten  minutes,  and  an  old 
man  named  Austin  was  frozen  to  death  on  tlie  Looan 
river. 

April  14,  1873,  a  blizzard  passed  over  Nebraska, 
but  was  not  as  severe  in  Dakota  county  as  it  was  fur- 
ther west,  wdiere  the  people  suffered  intensely  and  a 
large  amount  of  stock  perished. 

Dakota  county  was  visited  by  a  severe  blizzard 
Feb.  23,  1875,  in  which  Sabin  Bailey  lost  his  life  in 
trying  to  reach  his  home  on  Pigeoji  creek.  He  had 
been  to  Jackson  to  get  his  horses  sliod,  when  he  lost 
his  way  and  was  found  frozen  to  death  the  next  morn- 
ing.    The  roads  in  many  places  were  impassable. 

The  winter  of  1880  and  '81  will  be  remembered 
in  this  locality  for  many  years  by  the  inhabitants.  Dur- 
ing that  winter  eight  feet  of  snow  fell  and  the  ground 
everywhere  was  covered  to  the  depth  of  four  feet,  roads 
in  many  places  were  abandoned,  many  lives  were  lost  in 
.the  west,  stock  by  the  hundreds  were  frozen  to  deatli 
and  in  the  spring  break-up  all  the  low  lands  were 
flooded,  bridges  carried  away,  and  a  vast  amount  of 
property  destroyed.  The  first  snow  storm  occured  Oct. 
15, 1881,  and  up  to  the  1st  of  May  following  snuw  could 
he  seen  in  the  ravines  of  the  bluffs. 

June  6,  1881,  the  southern  part  of  the  county  was 
swept  by  a  severe  wind  and  hail  storm,  demoralizing 
crops,  and  doing  considerable  damage  to  buildings, 
wind  mills,  etc. 


GREAT  STORMS   AKD  BLIZZARDS. 


121 


A  great  wind  and  hail  storm  passed  over  Dakota 
county  from  the  northwest,  June  14,  1885.  Davy  t'c 
Earry's  store  in  Jackson  was  overturned,  fronts  of  Lnild- 
iiigs  blown  in,  and  barns,  wind  mills  and  other  bnild- 
ings  torn  to  pieces.  The  smoke  stacks,  cabin  and  pilot 
house  of  the  ferry  boat.  Andrew  S.  Bennett  wei'c  blown 
off,  and  crops  o^reatly  damaged. 

Jan.  12,  1888,  one  of  the  greatest  blizzards  ever 
seen  in  the  west  swept  over  the  country.  The  inhabi- 
tants were  taken  by  surprise.  All  day  a  mild  soutli 
wind  wafted  the  lai'ge  soft  snow  flakes  gently  to  the 
ground,  until  about  4  p.  m.  when  all  of  a  sudden  a  icr- 
I'ilic  northwest  wind  tilled  all  the  air  M'ith  a  seething 
mass  of  snow.  People  blinded  by  the  whii'ling  snow 
lost  their  way  and  many  perished  in  the  storm.  But 
not  a  life  was  lost  in  Dakota  county.  People  arc  now 
too  well  protected  by  groves  for  the  storms  to  do  much 
dam  acre. 


CHAPTER  XIII 


-Public      Schools. 


As  has  been  stated  the  lirst  school  taught  in 
Dakota  county  was  by  Miss  Putnam,  in  Omadi,  about 
the  middle  of  April,  1857,  and  a  week  later  Miss 
Rosana  Clark  began  a  school  in  St.  Johns.  The  tii-st 
schools  were  all  carried  on  by  subscriptions. 

There  are  thirty-seven  districts  in  the  county  with 
good  substantial  school  houses  in  each  one. 

As  near  as  can  be  ascertained  the  teachers  of  the 
county  from  1857  to  the  present  time  were: 

EARLIEST  TEACHERS. 

Mary  De  Borde 
Mrs.  Caroline  Ogg 
Maggie  McCready 
Simon  De  Witt 
II,  H.  Brown 


Miss  Putnam 
Rasana  Clark 
Ottie  Marsh 
Mary  Pinkerton 
Mrs.  L.  G.  Packard 
Mrs.  Joseph  Bradbrary 
Edward  Arnold 
Wm.  H.  Ceilings 
Phoebe  Wigle 
Maria  Parsons 
G.  W.  Wilkinson 
Jnlia  Nash 
Johannah  O'Brien 
Z.  B.  Turman 
Samuel  Gamble 


Mary  Ann  Boyle 
Jeremiah  Lucy 
Samuel  Williamson 
Jennie  Pierce 
Octavia  Mershon 
Mary  F.  Jones 
Etta  Mershon 
Sarah  Wilson 
Wm.  Holsworth 
Charles  H.  Potter 


PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 


123 


OTHER 

Adair,  Lizzie 
Ashford,  Mary 
Adair,  Clara 
Ashford,  Maggie 
Adair,  Mattie 
A.rmour,  William 
Abell,  Mrs.  O.  N. 
Ashford,  John 
Allen,  Amelia 
Abell,  Otis  N. 
Adams,  Chas. 
Armour,  Nettie 
Antrim,  Edward 
Adair,  Mamie 
Alcock,  J.  A. 
Ayres,  Florence 
Allen,  Bessie 
Anderson,  Lydia 
Beechan,  A.  H. 
Burds,  Mrs.  E.  C. 
"Bliven,  Anna 
Boyle,  Patrick 
Biggs,  Anna 
Bridenbavigh,  John 
Baird,  Emma 
Bille,  Geo.  C. 
Bates,  Jennie 
Blanchard,  Jennie 
Barrett,  Mrs.  Ada 
Baker,  Mollie 
Baker,  Nellie 
Barber,  Chas. 
Baird,  Bessie 
Benton,  Minnie 
Bauer,  R.  C. 
Brannaman,  Thena 
Brower,  Ollie  N. 
Bates,  Edith 
Barnes,  R.  P. 
Bridenbaugli,  Benjamin 
Biggs,  Emma 
Barry,  Kate 
Burns.  J.  ti. 
Bashor,  Chas.  H. 
Brill,  Emma 
Bartlett,  Wm.  T. 
Bridenbaugh,  Wm. 
Buddie,  Chas.  A. 


TEACHERS. 

Buttler,  Ida 
Brannaman,  Perry 
Buttler,  Sadie 
Brown,  Ella 
Buckley,  J.  S. 
Carpenter,  Alta 
Campbell,  J.  A. 
Campbell,  Wm. 
Commerford,  Mat.  C. 
Clapp,  William 
Covell,  J.  H.  B. 
Cole,  A.  D. 
Cullen,  Katie 
Campbell,  Lucy  J. 
Cowles,  Matie 
Conley,  Donnie 
Cullen,  Thomas 
Cord,  Minnie 
Christopherson,  Christina 
Crawford,  Mrs.  R.  B. 
Cole,  Mrs.  A.  D. 
Carroll,  S.  E. 
Clai7,Ellen 
Cuppett,  Milf(jrd, 
Carney,  Mary 
Cain,  John 
Dillon,  Gerald 
De  La  Matyr,  U.  H. 
Drake,  C.  M. 
Davey,  Frank 
Dow,  Minnie 
De  Long,  Jennie 
Duggan,  Kate 
De  Long,  Lucy 
De  Zell,  Addie 
De  Long,  Edward 
Dennis,  Mrs.  J.  W. 
Downs,  F.  11. 
Delaney,  Laura  A. 
Dickinson,  Eva 
D'Neut,  George 
Davis,  Winnie 
Dorn,  Lillie 
Daley,  Sarah  K. 
Daley,  Mattie 
Engelean,  EflSe 
Engelean,  Jennie 
Elcock,  Mary 


124 


WARNER  S  HISTORY  OF  DAKOTA  COUNTY. 


Brucly,  Celin 

Hlessing,  Anna 

Crawford,  R.  B. 

Coats,  C.  C. 

Clark,  Joseph 

Collins,  John 

Eiiach,  Sarah 

Ford,  Charley 

Fair,  Kate 

Fair,  Ella 

Fair,  George  U. 

Fisher,  Myra 

Fair,  Gertrude 

Fair,  Helen 

Finnerty,  Maggie 

Franciscns,  H.  A. 

Flint,  S.  N. 

Fair,  Lem 

Finnerty,  Dennis 

Fair,  Porter 

Fegley,   Laura 

Frazier,  Mrs.  A.  E. 

Fowler,  Mamie 

Fales,  F.  D. 
Goodhue,  Sarah 
George,  Martin 

(ireter,  Mrs.  E.  P. 
George,  Mary  E. 
Gribble,  Lizzie 
Godfrey,  Rose 
Graves,  Guv  T. 
(Jilliiand,  D.  W. 
Gribble,  Josie 
Graves.  Stella 
Gaughran,   John 
Goble,  A.  L. 
Greenwood,    Lucy 
Gallagher,  Rose 
Gillen,  Mary  N. 
ilall,  Edward  P. 
Hirsch,  Luella 
Horn,  Lucretia 
Hileman,  Kate 
Hager,  Rose 
Hager,  Anna 
Hamilton,  Belle 
Hamilton,  Blanche 
Haase,  Lizzie 
Hibbs,  Ina 


Elcock,  Anna 

Eckhart,  Ida 

Eckhart,  Clara 

Ellis,  Cora 

Eckhart,  Wm. 

Erlach  L. 

Hall,  Joseph 

Hoyt,  Zula 

Hunt,  Emma 

Holmes,  Samuel 

Hogan,  Agnes 

Herb,  George 

Hunt,  Kittie 

Hoover,  Malinda 

Heikes,  S.  A. 

Howard,  Mary 
■Howard,  Mattie 

Haupt,  J.  C. 

Jones,  J.  L 

Jones,  Rose  W. 
Jones,  Lillian 
Joyce,  Clara 
'  Joyce,  Mina 

Jones,  Sarah 
Johnson,  Mary 
Jones,  Mary 
Jester,  J.  1. 
Kennedy,  Daniel 
Keel,  Mary 
Kingsbury,   A.  G. 
ICuhn,  L.  J. 
I^napp,  Mrs.  Geo.  A. 

Kinnear,  Eva 
Knapp,  Daniel. 
Knox,  Rebecca 
Kennelly,  Josie 
I'Cennelly,  Anna 

King,  Thomas  J. 
Kramer,  A.  J. 
Knox,  Mamie 
Krygger,  Lei  ah 
Leamer,  Fremont 
Learner,  Jessie 
Lapsley,  Eliza 
Leffingwell,  Cora 
Lake,  Hattie 
Mitchell,  Elmira 
McNeal,  Andrew 
Martin,  Ella 


PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 


125 


Morgan,  "W.  A. 
Monahan,  Mary 
Matthews,  A. 
McHenery,  Ella 
McHenery,  Katie 
MeCune,  J.  G. 
March,  Flora 
McQuilkiii,  Mattie    • 
Manning,  Nettie 
Martin,  Millie 
Moriarity,  Minnie 
Moriarity,  Nellie 
Marquess,  W.  B. 
McShane,  Allie 
McK;inney,  Nellie 
Mikesell,  S.  P. 
Manning,  Willis 
Manning,  Mary 
Mallory,  M.  B. 
McCnrdy,  Nellie 
Monfort,  Mary 
Marqness,  Maggie 
McAfee,  Philo  A.  S. 
Mansfield,  Minnie 
McDeWitt,  Belle 
Muri)liY,  Maggie 
McGibiion.  J.  H. 
McCoc.l,  AV.  C. 
McCool,  Mattie  A. 
Nicklin,  Mattie 
Norman,   Harry 
Nicklin,  Hattie 
Naffziger,  Wm. 
Neff,  Mary 
Orr,  Lillie 
O.Neil,  Michael 
0'("(inn(ir,  Jnlial 
O'Couiior,  Mary 
O'Connor,  Katie 
(rConnor,  Lottie 
O'Neil.S.  E. 
Owens,  Tina 
O'Xeil,  Emma 
O'Neil,  Lucy 
O'Connor,  Ella 
Price,   Helena 
Parker,  Nettie 
Pliillips,  Emma 
Pri chard,  Sadie 


Pinkerton,  Nellie  M. 
Priest,  J.  B. 
Phillips,  Edith 
Ream,  Henry 
Ream  Fannie 
Ryan,  Julia  E. 
Rathbun,  Annie 
Rathbun,  Francis 
Rockwell,  Minnie 
Rockwell,  Ella 
Ream,  Nina 
Ryan,  Ella 
Roberts,  Hugh 
Roberts,  Alice 
Ream,  Mable 
Rathbun,  Irene 
Rush,  Frankie 
Rogers,  Lizzie 
Rock,  E.  M. 
Rogers,  James  J. 
Richmond,  Belle 
Ryan.  Mary  Ann 
Roy,  D.  W. 
Rundle,  Mary  C. 
Rogers,  Minnie 
Rutter,  Retta 
Rice,  W.  R. 
Sale,  C.  E. 
Sheridan.  Ella 
Stoner,  Anthony 
Sloan, T.  G. 
Stinson,  Samuel 
Sides,  John 
Smiley,  Laura 
Smiley,  Eva 
Shanklin,  Hattie 
Smith,  Jettie 
Sullivan,  Mary 
Smitli,  Elmer'E. 
Stamm,  Elias 
Stamm,  Fern 
Senter,  Gertrude 
Savage,  E. 
Stinson,  Ida 
Sabin.  A.  I. 
Thomas,  H.  C. 
Trinkler.  Maggie 
Warner,  Nellie 
Warner,  Alice 


126 


WARNER  S  HI8TOBY  OF  DAKOTA  OOUNTY. 


Warner,  Horace 
Way,C.  B. 
Wilson,  W.  S. 
Wliiteborn,  Emma  F 
Wilbur,  Emma 
Wilson.  Madge 
Woodward,  Etta  O. 
Winkhaus,  Lizzie 
Winkhaus,  Mary 
Warner,  William 
Warner.  Emma 
Wood.  D.  H. 
Way,  Hettie 


Waldvogle,  Lena 
Wellington,  Effle 
Wilbur,  Eugene  B. 
Welly,  Henry  J. 
Wigle,  Emma 
Way,  Lizzie 
West,  Miriam 
Wright,  Lettie 
Webster,  Mrs.  O. 
Young,  C.  Y. 
Zimmerman,  Minnie 
Zimmerman,  Ada 
Zimmerman,  Luther 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


County  Officers  and  Date  (jf  Theik   Elec 


COUXTY  CLERKS, 


Jacr»b  H.  Hallock.  November* ISoG 

William  G.  Crawford,  May  20t 1857 

John  M.  Gritiiu,  A.ugust  3* 1857 

lames  W.  Virtue,  August  2 1858 

James  W    Virtue,  October  11 1859 

James  W.  Virtue.  October  8* 1851 

i^eorge  1^.  UraiT,  April  4 1863 

George  B.  Graff,  October  13J  IStJ'^ 

Jaaies  Stott,  October 1865 

..himes  Stott.  October  8 1867 

William  C  McJieath.  October  12 1869 

William  C.  Mclieath,  October  U) 1871 

William  C.  Mclieath,  October  11 1875 

William  C  Mc  Keath,  October  12  1875 

William  C.  MoBeath,  November  6 1877 

William  C.  NJcBeath.  November  4. 1879 

Henry  Stott,  November  8 1881 

Henry  Stott,  November  6 18S3 

James  H.  Twohig,  November  3 1885 

James  i'.  Twohig,  November  8 188J 

•James  r  Twohig,  November  5 1889 

T.  V.  I'.ranuan,  November  3'i 1891 


^Resigned  May  2i\  1857.    Resigned  April  5,  1858.    Resigned, 
t  Appointed  by  Commissioners. 
JSpecial  election  (clerk  and' register.) 
k  Term  expires  January  4,  J 894. 


128  Warner's  history  of  Dakota  county, 


COUNTY  TREASURERS. 

William   Young,  November 1856 

Charles  Young,  August  3* 1 857 

Barnabas  Bates,  November  6t 1857 

George  A.  Hinsdale.  November  30J 1857 

Dr.  M.  Pinkerton.  October  11 1859 

John  McCarthy,  October  8 1861 

John  McCarthy,  October  13^ 1863 

William  Adaii-,  May  9t 1864 

William  Adair,  October  10 1864 

William  Adair,  October 1865 

William  Adair,  October  8     1867 

Enos  Keel,  October  12 1869 

Enos  Keel,  October  10||   1871 

William  Adair,  October  .7t •  •  •  ■    1873 

Pius  Neff,  October  14 1873 

Pius  Neff,  October  12 1875 

Dr.  G.  W.  Wilkinson,  November  6 1877 

Dr.  G.  W.  Wilkinson,  November  4 1879 

Pius  NefiE,  November  8  1881 

Pius  Neff,  November  6 1883 

Dr.  G.  W.  Wilkinson,  November  3 18.^5 

Dr.  G .  W.  Wilkinson.  November  8 1887 

Cornelius  J.  O'Connor,  November  5 1889 

Cornelius  J.  O'Connor,  November  3Tf 1891 


^Resigned  November  6,  1857. 

t  Appointed  by  County  Commissioners. 

JSpecial  election. 

^Removed  May  9,  1864. 

lIDied  October  2,  1873. 

TJTerm  expires  January  4,  1894. 


COUNTY  SHERIFFS. 


George  W.  Williamson.  November 1856 

Thomas  C.  Rvan.  August  3 1857 

Edwin  R.  Nash,  October  11 . . .    1859 

Henry  Ream,  October  8 1861 

Samuel  Gamble,  October  13 1863 

Samuel  Gamble,  October* 1865 

Briton  Willis,  July  2t 1866 

M.  Hnkerton,  October  9  1866 

Benjamin  F.  Chambers,  October  8 1867 

Benjamin  F.  Chambers,  October  12 1869 

Benjamin  F.  Cliambers,  October  10 1871 

Nicolas  Maher,  October  14 1873, 


COUNTY  OFFICERS.  12U 

Nicolas  Malier,  October  13 187o 

Nicolas  Mailer,  November  6 1877 

Nicolas  Maher.  November  4 1879 

Thomas  0.  liaird.  November  8 1881 

William  P.  Rathbun,  November  6 1883 

William   P.  Rathbun.  November  3 1885 

Nicolas  BrasHeld,  November  8 1887 

William  H    Ryan.  November  5 1889 

William  H.  Ryan,  November  8% 1891 

^Resigned  .luly  2,  1866. 

t  Appointed  by  County  Commissioners. 

X  Term  expires  January  4,  1894. 


COUNTY  JUDriES 


Chauncy  A.  I  lorr,*  fall  of 185o 

Chauncy  A.  Horr.  November 1856 

Alexander  Johnson,  August  3 1857 

Tiiomas  T.  Collier,  August  2 1858 

Alexander  H.  Baker.  October  11 1859 

Simon  i>e  Witt,  October  8t 1861 

Jolm  Naffziger .  January  18J 1862 

James  H.  Williams,  October  13 1863 

Samuel  Whitehorn,  October 1865 

Henry  II.  Wilson   October  8g 1867 

William  C.  Mciieath.  August  291J 1868 

Samuel  Whitehorn.  September  1811 1868 

ii.  K.  in-own,  October  13f 1868 

Samuel   Whitehorn,  December  1211 1868 

Kelly  W.  Frazer,  October  12 1869 

Kellv  W.  Frazer,  October  10 187] 

Kell-y  W.  Frazer,  October  14 1873 

Kelly  W.  Frazer.  October  12 1875 

A.  1).  Cole.  November  6  1877 

Kelly  W.  Frazer,  November  4 1879 

K-lly  W.  Frazer,  November  8 1881 

I'homas  ,J.  King.  November  6 1883 

Eugena  i !.  Wilbur.  November  3 1885 

Eugene  B.  Wilbur.  November  8 1887 

William  P.  Warner,  November  o 1889 

William  P.  Warner.  November  3 1891 


*Appointed  by  the  Governor, 

t Failed  to  qualify, 

JSi)ecial  election. 

^Resigned  August  29.  1868. 

II  Appointed  -refused  to  qualify. 

"(Appointed  by  Commissioners. 


30  WARNHIli'o  HISTORY   OF  DAKOTA    COUNTY. 


COUNTY  SUPERINTENDENTS  OF  PUBLIC   INSTRUCTION. 

H  arlon    Baird.  A ugust  3* 1857 

William   Ivi.  Smith,  i^ovember  ISf 18c7 

Edward    Arnold,    .April   5% ISoS 

Edward  Arnold,  August  2 1858 

William  H.  Collings,  October  llg 1859 

Samuel  Augliey,  December  3J  186H 

'  .John  H.  Maim.  April  51| 1869 

Samuel    Aughey .    July    S.J 18B9 

Charles  D.  Martin,  October  12 1869 

Thomas   .1.    King,    October   11 1870 

-iesse  F.  Warner.  October  10^ 1871 

John    f I .    Maun.   February   28J 1872 

John   T.    Spencer,   October   8 1872 

John   S.  Orr.  October   14tt 1878 

John   T    Spencer,    October  SJ 1875 

J .  Zimmerman.  October  12 1875 

J.  Zimmerman.  November  6 1877 

Thomas   J.  Sloan.  November  4 1879 

Thcmas  J.  Sloan.  November  8 1881 

A .  M  atthews,  November  6 , 1883 

Guy  T.  (iraves.  November  3tJ 1885 

William  C  Dibble,  January   I3j 188»> 

William  C.  Dibble,  November  2 1886 

John   I.   Jones,    November  8** 1887 

Ijawrence  Erlach.  November  6 1888 

Lav^'rence  Erlach,  November  5 1889 

Lue    A..  Hirsch,   November   3§? 1891 

VV.  T.   Bartlett.    June   181||| 1892: 

W .   T.    Bartlett,   November    8 189:^ 

*R3signed  November  6.  1857. 
tApppointed— resigned  April  5,  1858. 
I  Appointed  by  County  Commissioners. 

I  From  1860  to  1868  there  was  a  Board  of  School  Examiners, 
instead  of  a  County  Superintendent  and  the  following  named 
persons  served  as  examiners:  William  H.  Collings  John 
Taffa.  William  Adair,  Thomas  L.  Griffey.  John  Joyce  and 
A.McCready.  The  members  of  the  board  were  appointed  by 
the  County  Judge. 

II  Appointed  and  resigned  July  5,  186.9. 
ijBefused  to  qualify. 

ttKesigiied  October  5.  1885. 
**K8signed  November  1,  1888. 
JjResigned  April  1.  1886. 
^.H^esigned  June  18,  1892. 
nil  Appointed  by  Supervisors. 


COUNTY  OFFICERS.  131 


COUNTY    SURYEYOR; 


Robert  Alexander,  August  3* ISi" 

Michael  Gxirady.  November  30t 1857 

Roljert  Alexander,  (.)ctober  11* 1859 

Mvron    L).   J  offers.  January   28t 1860 

Leonard  Bates,  October  10 1860 

Leonard  Hates.  October  8 1861 

Leonard  Bates.  January  18t 1862 

Leonard  Bates,  '}ctober 1865 

Samuel  Aughey,    October  8% 1867 

George  C.  Granger,  January  6^ 1868 

Samuel  Aughey,  J  uly  30§ 1869 

Samuel  Aughey,  October  13 1869 

John  Jl .  Maun,  October  10 1871 

John  U.  Maim,  October  14 1873 

John  H .  Maun,  October  12 1875 

George  C.  Granger,  November  6         1877 

George  C.  Granger.  November  4 1879 

John    H.  Maun.  November   8 1881 

Leonard  liates,  November  7 1882 

Alex  Abell,  November  6 1883 

Alex  Abell,  November  4 1884 

Alex  Abell,  November  3     1885 

Alex  Abell,  Novembers 1887 

George  C.  Granger,  November  5 1889 

George  C.  Granger,  November  3  1891 


*  Resigned. 

tSpecial  election. 

JFailed  to  qualify. 

^Appointed  by  County  Commissioners. 


COUNTY    CORONERS. 


M.   Pinkerton,   October    8 ]  861 

George  E.  Ironsides,  October  14 1862 

\^an  Buren    i-'eriis,   <^)ctober  13 1863 

liarnabas  Hates.  <')ctober       .• 1865 

Baniaitas  Bates,  Octoljer  8 1867 

I'.arnabas   liates.  Octolier  13 1868 

lleiirv  Ream,  October  12* 1869 

Daviil  J^,ales,  April  of 1870 

A.  G.  Manchester,  October  11 1870 

Joachim  Oesterling.  Octol)er  10 1871 

Barnabas  I'Jates,  October  14         1873 

Barnabas  liates,  October  12   ■ 1875 

Robert  Campbell,  November  6 1877 


132  ^VAl^^•KK'f^   history   (IK  DAKOTA    (  OLNIY. 

Robert  Campbell,  November  4 l.syy 

Robert  Campbell,  November  8 1N81 

Jesse  Wigie  November  6* 1883 

Barnabas  Hates,  March  29t 1884 

R)ljert  Campbell,  November  3 18So 

J-*..  F.  S'lVtver.   November  8 1887 

HariKii  as  hates,  November  5 1889 

B.    F.  Sawyer,   November  3 1891 

*  Failed  to  qualify. 

tAppointed  by  County  Commissioners 

rOTTNTY   ATTORNEYS. 

William  II.  James.  June  10* 18(51 

Thomas  L.  Griffey,  October  18  18(51 

William  H    James,  October  13t 1863 

Kelly  W.  Frazer,  November  3 1 88(i 

Kelly  W.  Frazer,  >:  ovember  6J 1888 

George  11 .  Fair,  January 8g 1890 

J.    i.  McAllister,  >Jovember    4 1890 

J.    I.   McAllister,    November   8 1892 

'Ap])()inted  bv  County  Commissioners. 
tOHice  disenntiniR-d  in  1N(55  until  18(58.- 
ifCounted  out  by  Suiireme  Court 
^Successfully  contested 


(OU.N'IY    REGISIERS 


William  Pilgrim,*  fall  of 1855 

William    Filgrim,    November 1856. 

John  M.  Mayes.  August  3i 1857 

Francis  M.  Vilrden,  October  lit 1859 


*Appointed  by  the  (Tovernor. 

tLast  Register,  served  till  October  17,  1861. 


COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS 


Alexander  H.  Baker,  Movember 1856; 

Samuel  Gamble,  November 1856; 

John  J.  Trecy,  November 185(5; 

Samuel  Gamble,  August  3. .  . .  1857' 

Elbridge  G.  Jbampson.  August  2t li;'5«^ 

John  .1.  I'recy,  October  11 18oft 

Asa  Uathbun,  October  10 [86fli 

James  O.  Fisher,  Oxjtober  K)  ...._. 18.60) 


COUNTY  OFFICERS.  133 

Jesse  Wigle,  October  8 1861 

Daniel  Diiggan,  October  1-i  1862 

John  Naffziger,  October  13 1863 

Henry  Ream,  October  10 1864 

Michael  Kennelly,  October 1865 

John  Naffziger,  October  9 1866 

William  'I'aylor,  October  8 1867 

Patrick  Twohig,  October.  13 1868 

Harnabiis  Hates ,  October  12  1869 

Thomas  Ashford,  Sr..  October  1    1S7(I 

John  Howard,  October  lOJ 1871 

(ieorge  C.  (Granger,  October  8 1872 

Daniel  C.  Dibble,  October  8 1872 

Josiah  W.     Davis,   October   14 1873 

George  C .  Granger,  October  13 1874 

John   C.    Gribble,   October   12 187-5 

I J enry    Ream.   October  7 1876 

Patrick  Ryan,  November  6§ 1877 

John  C.  (Tril)ble,  November  5 1878 

Henry  Ream,  November  4 -  1879 

John    Holer,     Febrnary    51] .- 1880 

John    Holer,    November  2 - 1880 

Engene  L.  Wilbur,  November  8 188) 

Henry  Loomis,  Noveml)er  7 1882 

John    lioles,    November  6 1883 

William  iJrown,  November  4  1884 

Anthony  J.  Myers,  November  8   1885 

Patrick  Casey,  November  2 1886 

William    Brown,   November   8 1**8T 

William  Taylor.  November  6 i.88« 

Michael  Heacom,  November  5 1889 

J .  O   Fisher,  November  4 1890 

Nick  Thyson,  November  3T| 1891 

tDied  1859. 

t Failed  to  qualify  and  was  appointed. 

<(i)ied  .laniiary  18,  1880. 

11  Appointed  to  till  vacancy. 

TlCommissioner  system  discontinued  and  Thysoai  did  not 
qualify.  The  last  meeting  of  the  Commissioners  was  held 
November  14,  1891. 


BOARD  OF  SUPERVISOaS. 

At  the  general  election  held  ]S'oveiTilK?r  3,  lf^91, 
the  proposition  to  adopt  toMnsliip  organization  wa*; 
!?nUiTiitted  to  the  voters^,  whicli  carried  l>y  a  large  ma- 
j-oiitj.      At  the  s.aine   tijtie  the   tbllowiii|Li:   township  sn- 


134  Warner's  history  of  uakota   county. 

.pervisors  were   chosen,  and  clerks    and  feasnrers  after- 
wards appointed: 

St.  Johns.— T.  J.  Chirk,  Supervisor;  W.  T.  Bart- 
lett,  Clerk;  Ed  T.  Kearney,  Treasurer. 

Omadi. — Geo.  W.  Kockwell,  Supervisor;  J.  R. 
Kelsey.  Clerk;  Joseph  Smitii,  Treasurer. 

Dakota  City. — W.  P.  Alteinus.  Supervisor;  Mell 
C.  Beck,  Clerk;  A.  T.  Haase,  Treasurer. 

Covington. — John  N,  Peyson,  Supervisor;  H,  A. 
McCorniick,  Clerk;  C.  D.  Smiley.  Treasurer. 

Pigeon  Creek. — J.  W.  Minter,  Supervisor;  (xeo. 
Barnes,  Clerk;  Jesse  Williams,  Tieasurer. 

Emerson. — Nick  Tliyson,  Supervisor;  Joseph 
Burd,  Clerk;  John  Doran,  Treasurer. 

Summit. — M.  Hines,  Supervisor;  Dennis  Hogan. 
Clerk;   Michael  Beacom,  Treasurer. 

Hnbhard  failed  to  elect  a  Supervisor,  and  at  the 
first  meeting  of  the  Board,  iVovend^er  18,  1891,  Thus. 
M.  Cullen  was  appointed  for  that  township,  witli 
Henry  Cain  as  Clerk  and  James  Hartnett  as  Treasure)-. 

Township  officers  for  lS9'2-93  chosen  by  election 
November  8,  1892,  and  by  appointment,  have  been: 

St.  Johns. — T.J.  Clark.  Supervisor;  M.  Kenneliy. 
Clerk;   M.  M.  Boyle,  Tre;isurer. 

Omadi. — Geo.  C.  Bille,  Supervisor;  M.  S.  Mans- 
field and  M.  Mason,  Clerks;  James  L.  Blancluird  and 
Asa  Rathbnn,  Treasui-ers. 

Dakota  City. — Atlee  Hart,  Supervisor;  John  T. 
Spencer,  Clerk;   A.  T.  Haase,  Treasurer. 

Covington. — S.  K.  Cowles,  Supervisor;  H.  A.  Mc- 
Cormick,  Clerk;   C.  D.  Smiley,  Trea^urer. 

Pigeon  Creek. — Patrick  Sweeney,  Supervisor; 
Frederick  Voss,  Clerk;  John  Sierk,  Treasurer. 

Emerson. — Fred  Blume,  Supervisor;  E.  J.  Smith, 
Clerk;   Benjamin  Bonderson,  Treti.^urer. 

Summit. — M.  Hines,    Supervisor;   W.    W.   Sheahan, 
Clerk;  John  C.  Duggan  and  John  Rush,  Treasurers. 
Hubbard. — George  Hayes,  Supervisor ;  U.  G.  Briden- 


PRECINCT  OFFICERS.  185 

baugh    and    Henry    Caiii,  Clerks;  Thomas   M.   ('nlleii. 
Treasurer. 


JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE— OMADI  PRECINCT.f 

Alexander  Ford.  Elbridge  G.  Lampson.  August  3 1857 

A  sa  Rathbun.  .John  Li.  Hrown,  October  11 1859 

William  Nixon,  Alexander  Ford,  October  8 1861 

John  U.  Williams,  October  14 1862 

William  Nixon,  Thomas  Ashford,  October  13 1863 

James  H .  Williams,  October 1865 

John  Smith,  Sr.,  October  9 186« 

Cornelius  (.)'Connor,  John   Smith,    Sr.,  October  13 1868 

William  Clapp,  October  12 1869 

Charles  U.  Potter,  William  Pilgrim,  October  11 1870 

Charles  S.  Ford,  Thomas  C.  Clapp,  October  ]() 1871 

Jesse  F.  Warner,  April  15:1: 1872 

Jesse  F.  Warner.  Samuel  A.  Combs,  January  9% 1873 

Martin    S.  ^Nlanstleld,    April    7J 1874 

A.G   Manchester,  October  13 1874 

John  Ru  Sprague,  John  Smith,  Jr.,  October  7 1876 

Martin  S.  Mansfield,  John  R.  Sprague,  November  6.. . . .   1877 

Henry   Loomis,   Martin  S.  Man sti eld,  November  4 1879 

Henry  Loomis^  Martin  S.  Mansfield,  November  8 1881 

John  H,  Rockwell,  November  7 1882 

-John  H.  :^.  Covell,  Martin  S.  Mansfield,  November  6 1883 

M.  N.  ["urdy,  John  D.  Welker,  Ndvember  3 1S85 

L.  M.  Warner,  Joseph  Smith,  Nt)vember  2 1886 

John  R.  Sprague,  John  D.  Welker,  November  8. . .   1887 

Henry  Loomis,  April  IJ -  • 1889 

John  H.  H.  Covell,  Henry  Loomis,  November  5'i 1889 

L.  M.   Warner,    Mai-ch    17J 1891 

M.  S.  Mansfield,  Seth  JSarnes,  November  3 1891 

tCalled  Omaha  Creek  Precinct  until  April  18,  1863.. 
JAppointed  by  County  Commissioners. 
? Henry  Loomis  resigned  March  9,  189L 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE— DAKOTA  PRECINCT. 

.Samuel  Smitht •  ■ 1856 

Jesse  Wigle,  July  6t 1857 

•George  A.,  ilin.sclale,  October  5J 1857 

W.  H-S.  Hughes,  Simon  DeWitt,  October  11 1859 

J.  D.  M.  Crockwell,  January  21 1866 

William  H.  James,  April  2X 1860 

iBarnahas  Bates.  Mav  2% 1860 

:1)anielMcJ.aughlin,  Jamiarv  21J ..,..-  .......  186JI 


1 36  Warner's  history  of  Dakota  coiiNTr. 

Alfred   Elam,    Augvistus   Htiase,  Octobsr   8 LS'b'l 

C.  F.  Mason,  October  ITJ 1861 

Rarnal.as  Bates,  1  Jriton  Willis,  October   14 1SG3 

Samuel  Whiteliorn,  October  18 18'63 

.James  Kitson,  April  2% 186t> 

Simou  DeWitt,  Joseph  Hradbrary,  October  9 ISidCy 

Samuel  Whitehorn,  October  8 1867 

Peter  Mikesell,  David  locals,  October  13 1868 

J;avid  Hoals.  (October  12  18K)> 

Alexander  il.  Baker,  Octobsr  11 1870 

Alexander  H.  leaker,  M.  Pinkerton,  Octobsr  10 1871 

Samuel  I.  Uart,  October  14 1878, 

E.  A.  Benedict,  October  18 1874 

W.  H.  Jioals,  John  T.  Spencer,  October  13 1875. 

Samuel  Whitehorn,  John  T.  Spencer,  November  6..        .  1877 

W.  il.  Boals,  November 5 1878 

W.  H.  lioals,  James  L.  Mitchell,  November  4 !879' 

W.  11 .  Hoals,  November  8 1881 

John  Manning,  F.  A.  Robinson^  November  & 188S. 

W.  II.  Boals,  W.  I.  Broyhill,  November  4 1884 

11.  1).  Rogers,  Fred  Heerman,  November  3 b'-85. 

Marcell  Jaj-,  June  4t  1887 

Marcell  Jay,  John  Joyce,  November  8 1887 

William  Cheney,  November  6 1888 

.lohn  Naffziger,''W.  R.  iCinkead.  November  5 1889' 

John  Naffziger,  I>.  C.  Stinson,  November  3 ISO? 

tResigned  July  6,  1857. 

t Appointed  Dy  Comity  Cbmmissionei-s. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE— ST.  JOHN'S  PRECINCT. 


John     Clark,    October     14t •. 1857 

Thomas  B.  Coleman,  August  3 1857 

Edward  Arnold,  October  20t 1857' 

.)(jhn  McGinn,  (ierakl  Dillon.  October  11 1859> 

.lohn  McGinn,  James  Hums,  October  8 1861 

Jolm  Dennison.  October  14. 1862- 

John  Dennison,  October  13 . . 1868" 

John  Hefiernon,  Jr.,  April  26t 1864- 

.james  Burns,  John  Dennison,  October 1865> 

John  H.  Maun,  Mav  23t 1868: 

GiiV'dia  I  )illo.n,  October  13 1868: 

.lames  Clark,  October  12 ". 1899» 

Jolui  Heffernon,  J.  Doherty,  October  11 187(b 

John  Heffernon,  Michael  Kennelly,  October  10 1871 

Michael  Kennelly,  October  14 1878; 

P.  IJ .  Hoyle,  October  13 1874- 

John  M   Davy  ,P.  H.  Boyle,_  October  12 1875 


I'RECINCT  OFFICERS.  137 

Michael  Kennelly,  October  7, 1876 

P.  EI.  iioyle,    William  Hedges,  JSIovember  6 1877 

John  liooney,  P.  H.  Boyle,  November  4 1879 

John  Rooney,  Daniel  C.  Heffernon,  November  8 1881 

Edward   Ryan,  Daniel   C.    Heffernon,    November   6 1883 

Michael  Kennelly,  D.  H.  Woods,  November  4 1884 

James  B.  Eby.  Daniel  C.  Heffernon,  Novembers 1885 

Oerald  Dillon,  William  A.  Nead,  November  8 1887 

Michael  Kennelly,  July  7t 18;88 

Michael  Kennelly,  November  6 1888 

William  T.  Bartlett,  A  pril  lOf 1889 

Michael  Kennelly,  William  T.  Bartlett,  November  5. . . .   1889 
Michael  Kennelly,  William  T.  Bartlett,  November  3 . .    .    1891 

t Appointed  by  County  Commissioners. 

JUSTICES  OP  THE  PEACE— COVINGTON  PRECINCT  . 

Charles  D.  Martin,   June  13t 1859 

William   W.  Seaton,   Alex  McCartney,  October   11 1859 

James  Stott,  Patrick  Dorsey,  October  8 1861 

James    Stott,  October    13'       1863 

Thomas  Barrett,  October  10 .... , 1864 

Fred  L.  Clark,  October  9 1866 

Fred  L.  Clark,  October  8 186'7 

■(jleorge  E.  Ironsides.,  John  Cavamaugh,  October  13.. 1868 

^Teorge  E.  Ironsides,  October  12 1869 

J.  H.  Northup,  October  11 1870 

A.  G.  Manchester,  J.  B.  Johnson,  October  10 1871 

•George  E.  Ironsides,  lanuary  9t 1872 

W.  R   Bowman,  July  If 1873 

(..  M.  Hubbard,  October  14J , 1873 

E.  E.  Parker,  January  7t 1874 

E.  E.  Parker,  Isaac  Powers,  Sr.,  October  13 1874 

•E.  E.  Parker,  George  E.  Ironsides,  October  13 1875 

E.  E.  Parker.  E.  K.  Webb,  November  6 1877 

'C .  Irwiu.  November  4 ...:... 1879 

E.  E.  Parker.  November  8     ...  1881 

.John  A.  Williams,  November  8 1881 

James  Slagle,  February  l«t  • •  -    ■   1882 

.M    Fague,  John  A   Williams,  November  6 1883 

James  Slagle,  C.  Irwin.  November  4     1884 

John  A.  VVilliams,  November  S. 1885 

James  Slagle,  January  13t 1886 

John  A.  Williams,  November  2 1886 

Jolm  A.  Williams,  C.  Irwin,  November  8 1887 

W.  '•'<.  Ammerman,  Charles  Brannaman,  November  5'^.     1889 

John  A.  Williams,  September  2t 1890 

Jobu  A.  WilJjanis.  Noyember  4> .. .  , . .  .      J S9D 


138  waknp:r's  history  of  Dakota  county. 

N.  J .  McGoffln,  John  Jenkins,  November  3 1891 

Thomas  J,  King,  November  8  1892 

f.Vppointed  by  County  Commissioners. 

JResigned  January  6,  1874. 

^^Charles  Brannaman  resigned  September  2,  1890. 

JUSTICES  OF  the  PEACE— P[(iEON   CREEK    PRECINCT. 

John  G.  nibbs,  October  14 187a 

liobert  Campbell,  C»ctober  '3 1874 

Kobert  Campbell,  October  12 1875, 

James  L  Mitchell,  October  12 1875. 

Robert  (3ampbell,  November  6 1877 

.lames  Knox,  November  6  1877 

James  Knox,  Kobert  Campbell,  November  4 1879» 

Robert  Campbell,.  November  8 1881 

James  Knox,  November  8 1881 

Arthur  Campbell,  November  6 1883. 

.lames  Knox-  November  4  .      ...  ...    1884 

William  Farrell,  November  4* 1884 

William  A .  Nead,  November  3 1885 

A.  A.  Snrber,  November  3 1885> 

William  Farrell,  November  2* 1886 

James  Knox,  November  2 ^ 1886. 

Robert  Campbell,  January  Ut •  •   1887 

A .  H .  Surber,  November  8 1887 

James  Knox,  November  8 1887 

A.  11.  Snrber,  Novembers 1889' 

J.  H^  McAfee,  November  5 1889- 

James  Knox,  January  13t 1891 

J.  H.  McAfee,  Johu  Siei'k.  November  3 1891 


*  Failed  to  qualify. 

t Appointed  by  County  Commissioners. 


JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE— SU.MMIT  PRECINCT. 

I'erry  Clark,  November  6 1877 

Peter  McShane,  November  6 1877 

Frank  Tappan,  November  4 1879' 

Peter  McShane,  November  4. 1879' 

I'eter  McShane.  November  8 1881 

John   Dennison,  November  6 1883< 

Peter  Rush,  November  4 1884 

Dennis  Beacom,  November  4.. 1884 

Peter  McShane,  November  3 1885^ 

John  Dennison,  November  3 I880.. 

Peter  Bush,  November  8 1887/ 


PRECINCT  OFFICERS.  139 

]/awreiice  Smith,  November  8 1887 

T.  McShane.  November  5 1889 

Patrick  Casey,  November  5 1889 

Perry  Clark.  November  3 1891 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE— MOUND,   OR  PENDER,  PRKCINCT.* 

John  G.  Artliur.  July  25t 1884 

Jerry  Potter,  July  25t 1884 

George  F.  Chittendon,  Peter  Sharp,  November  2 1886 

George  F.  Chittendon,  November  8 1887 

.}.  G.  Downs,  November  8 1887 

*  l^ender  Precinct  was  organized   into  Thurston   county  in 
1888. 
t  Appointed  by  County  Commissioners. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE— HUBBARD  PRECINCT. 

Thomas  Jones,  November  6 1883 

Peter  Henry,  November  4  1 884 

J.  T.  Leedom,  November  4 1884 

John  Rooney,  November  3 _ 1885 

John  C.  Smith,  November  3 1885 

John  Roonev,  November  8 1887 

R.  D.  Rockwell,  November  8 1887 

lohn  Rooney,  Novenilier  6 1888 

John  Rooney,  November  5 1889 

.lohn  Rooney,  L.   U.  Smith,  November  3 1891 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE— EMERSON  PRECINCT. 


Arthur  Cami)bell,  November  4 

Nelson  Feauto,  November  4 

Jesse  Wigle,  November  3 

Patrick  H.  Boyle,  November  2 

\\  illiam  Lippold,  November  8 

Robert  Campbell.  November  8 

Nelson  Feauto,  November  6 

1.  J.  Fuller,  November  5 

Fred  lihxme,  November  5 

Robert  Campbell.  March  18* 

Nelson  Feauto,  Henry  Stahl.  November  3. 
Robert  Campbell,  April  8t 


884 
884 
885 
886 
887 
887 


890 
891 
892 


^Appointed  by  County  Commissioners, 
t  Appointed  by  Board  of  Supervisors. 


140  Warner's  history  of  Dakota  county. 


COrXTY  ASSESSORS. 


James  Stott,  January  2* 1865 

Gerald  Dillon,  October  9 186B 

Daniel  Duggan,  October  8 1867 

Simon  DeWitt,  October  13 1868 

Peter  Myers,  October  12 1869 

William  Weston,  October  11 1870 

William  H.  Clapp.  October  10 1871 

Charles  S.  Ford,  October  8   1872 

Michael  Beacom,  October  14 1873 

William  Holsworth,  October  13   1874 

Michael  M.  Beacom,  October  10 1875 

■^Appointed  by  County  Commissioners. 


ASSESSORS— OMADI  PRECINCT. 


J acob  IJ.  Hallock,  January  21* 1861 

Michael  Kennelly .  October  8 1861 

Thomas  Ashford,  March  14* 1868 

Thomas  Ashford.  October  18 1863 

Tliomas  Ashford,  October  lOf 1864 

William  Holsworth,  C-ctober  7 1876 

M arion  Hoffman,  November  6 1877 

Walter  W.  Beardshere,  November  5 1878 

Charles  H.  Potter,  November  4 1879 

Charles  H.  Potter.  November  2 1880 

William  Holsworth,  November  8 1881 

J.  H.  Rockwell,  November  IX 1882 

William  Holsworth,  November  6 1888 

Timothy  J.  O'Connor,  November  4 1884 

John  H.  B.  Covell,  November  8 18^5 

John  H.  B.  Covell,  November  2 1886 

Charles  S.  Ford,  November  8 1 887 

D.  L.  Allen,  November  6J 1888 

Charles  S.  Ford,  April  10* 1889 

Samuel  Heikes,  November  5 1889 

George  C.  Bille,   November  4 1890 

George  C.  Bille,  November  8 1891 

J.  P.  Rockwell,  November  8 1892 

*  Appointed  by  County  Commissioners. 
tFor  eleven  years  after  this  Assessors  were   elected  by  tlie 
county. 
J  Failed  to  qualify. 


FKECINOT  OFFICER? 


141 


ASSESSORS— DAKOTA   PRECINCT. 


Alex  McCready,  January  21* IHOl 

John  McQuilkin .  October  8 1 861 

Herman  Graff  .October  14 1 863 

Henry  Ream,  March  14* 1863 

John  Joyce.  October  10 1864 

James  M.  Biggs,  October  7 1876 

Jacob  Sides,  iSovember  6 '. 1877 

J ames  M.  liiggs,  November  5 1878 

J  .  l\  Eckhart,  November  4  . .    1879 

J  acol)  A.  Sides,  November  2 1880 

)  acob  A.  Sides,  November  8 1881 

J  acob  A.  Sides,  November  7 1882 

J  acob  A.  Sides,  November  6 1883 

Fremont  Leamer,  November  4 1884 

Jacob  A.  Sides,  November  3 1885 

(isorge  Barnett,  November  2 1886 

U.  K.  Knapp,  November  8 1887 

(ieorge  IJarnett,  November  6       1888 

William  Morgan,  November  5 1889 

D.  E.  Kuapp,  November  4 1890 

A.  T.  Uaase.  November  3 1891 

S.  A.  fleikes,  November  8 1892 


Appointed  by  County  Commissioners. 


ASSESSORS— ST.  JOHN'S  PRECINCT. 

(ierald  Dillon,  February  2* 1861 

Patrick  O'Neil.  October  8 -. 1861 

Pcxtrick  O'Neil,  October  14 1862 

John  Heffernon,  October  13 1863 

Michael  Kennelly,  October  lOf 1864 

Frank  Davy,  October  7 1876 

V.  11.  Boyle,  November  6 1877 

I'eter  llagan,  November  5 1878 

James  Hartnett,  November  4 1879 

James  Hartnett,  November  2  1880 

.James  Hartnett.  November  8 1881 

D.  J  .  Ryan,  November  7 1882 

Gerald  billon,  November  6 1883 

I).  J.  Ryan,  November  4 1884 

M.  M.  Bovle,  November  3. I880 

M.  M.   Bovle,  November  2 1886 

M.  M.  Boyle,  November  8 1887 

M   M.  Bovle,  November  6 1888 

Joseph  Carney,  November  5 1889 


142  Warner's  history  of  Dakota  cou>fTY. 

M.  M.  Boyle,  November  4 189U 

J.  J.  Ryan.  Novembers 1891 

P.  F.  Carney,  November  8 1892 

'  Apppointed  by  County  Commissioners, 
tFor  eleven  years  after  this   Assessors   were   elected  by  the 
county. 

ASSESSORS-  rOVINiiTGN  PRECINCT. 

Alexander  McCartney,  January  21* 1861 

.lames  Stott,  October  8 1861 

James  Stott,  October  14 1862 

J  ames  Stott,  October  13 1863 

James  Stott.  October  lOf 1864 

Joseph  Clements,  October  7 1876 

E.  E.  Tarker,  November  6 1877 

H.  D.  Rogers,  November  5 1878 

E.  E.  Parker,  November  4 1879 

John  A.  Williams,  November  2 1880 

James  Slagle,  November  8 1881 

John  Jenkins,  November  7 1882 

John  Jenkins,  November  6 1883 

John  A.  Williams,  November  4 1884 

•fohn  A .  Williams,  November  3 1885 

John  A.  Williams,  November  2 1886 

John    \.  Williams,  November  8 1887 

John  A.  Williams,  November  6 1888 

William  Ammerman,  November  5 ...     1889 

Isaac  Fonts,  November  4t 1890 

J .  H.  Hurke,  January  13* 1891 

J.  H.  Burke,  November  3 1891 

J.  H.  Burke,  November  8 1892 

*Appointed  by  County  Commissioners. 

tFor  eleven  years  after  this  Assessors   were   elected  by  the 
county. 
{Failed  to  qualify. 

ASSESSSORS— HUBBARD  PRECINCT. 

James  Hartnett,  November  7 1882 

James  Hartnett,  November  6 1883 

James  Hartnett,  JNovember  4 1884 

John  Collins,  November  3 . —  1S85 

John  Collins,  No  vember  2   1886 

James  Hartnett,   Novembers 188T 

Thomas  S.  J  ones,    November  6 1888 

Henry  F.  Cain.  X  ovember  5 188& 


PKECINCT  OFFICERS. 


143 


H.  F.  Cain,  November  4 1890 

H.  F.  Cain,  November  3 1891 

Thomas  Diiggan,  November  8 1892 

ASSESSORS— PIGEON  CREEK  PRECINCT, 


Timothy  Carrabine,  October  7 1876 

H.  C.  Phillip,  November  6 1877 

John  T.  Fitch,  November  5 1878 

John  T.  Fitch,  November  4 1879 

John  T.  Fitch,  November  2 1880 

William  Minter,  November  8 1881 

Arthur  Campbell,  November  7 1882 

William  Minter,  November  6  1883 

James  L.  Mitchell,  November  4 1884 

George  W,  Shiebley,  November  3 1885 

James  M.  Minter,  "November  2 1886 

lames  M.  Minter,  November  8 1887 

James  M,  Minter,  November  6 1888 

James  Knox,  November  5 1889 

James  Knox,  November  4 1890 

Asmus  Thompson,  November  3 1891 

Asmus  Thompson,  November  8 1892 

ASSESSORS— SUMMIT    PRECINCT. 

Fred  W.  Sims,  November  6 1877 

Fred  W.  Sims,  November  5 1878 

Michael  Beacom,  November  4 1879 

John  Dennison,  November  2 1§8() 

John  Dennison,  November  8 1881 

John  Dennison,  November  7 1882 

John  Dennison,  November  6 1883 

John  Dennison,  November  4 1884 

John  Dennison,  November  3 1885 

John  Dennison,  November  2 1886 

John  Dennison,  November  8 1887 

Jolm  Dennison,  November  6 1888 

John  Dennison,  November  5   1889 

Jolm  Dennison,  November  4 .  .  1890 

John  Dennison,  November  3 1891 

John  Dennison,  November  8 . .  1892 

ASSESSORS— EMERSON  PRECINCT. 

W.  A,  Dean,  November  4 1884 

Fred  Blume,  November  3 1885 

F.  W.  Lippold,  November  2 1886 

Ira  Dnvis,  November  8 1887 


14.4  \^AK^ER>  mrn  h\  (I  iah^aa  colmy. 

.loliu  L.  J  avis,  ^.ovtmber  6 1888 

Uerruau  btaik,  JiJoveniber  5 1889 

Herman  Stolz.  November  4 1890 

Michael  SchincUer,  ]Sovember  3 1891 

ASSESSORS— MUUN^.  OR  PENDER  PRliClN,J'].t 

Andrew  lugie,  November  3 1886 

Aaron  i'onng,  November  8 1887 

William  Myers,  November  6 1888 

tSince  attaclied  to  Tliurston  county. 


COUNTY   VOTE  FOR  PRESIDENTS. 


Horatio  Seymour,  D.,  November  3,  1868 

U.  S.  virant,  K.,  November  3,  1868 

Horace  breeley,  D.,  November  5,  1872 

U.  S.  Grant,  K..  November  5,  1872 

Samuel  J.  Tiklen,  D.,  November  7,  1876 

Rutherford  H.  Hayes,  K.,  November  7,  1876. 
Winheld  S.  Hancock,  i>.,  November  2,  1880. 
James  A.  (jarrield,  R.,  November  2,  1880    .. 

Grover  Cleveland,  D.,  November  4,  1884 

James  (i.  lilaine,  li.,  November  4,  1884 

Grover  Cleveland,  1>.,  November  6,  1888 

Benjamin  Harrison,  LI.,  November  6,  1888.. 
Grover  Cleveland,  D.,  November  8,  1892.. .    , 
Benjamin  Harrison,  E.,  November  8,  1892  . . 
J.  B.  Weaver,  Ind.,  November  8,  1892 


141 
144 

104 
215 
476 
263 
386 
328 
458 
476 
895 
7U6 
171 
405 

6y- 


111 
213 


18 
189 


28 


MEMBERS  OF  THE  TERRITORIAL  LEGISLATURE. 


Samuel  Watts,  Dakota  county,  ( .,  .  „„.„=.„,  ^sr^,,, 
Thos.  B.  Coleman,  Dakota  county,  i  "^^^^  session,  i>o\. 
Edward  C.  Jones,  Dak.  and  Cedar] 

counties,  ,'    .,   ^         .        o 

Wm.  G.  Crawford,  Dak.  and  Cedar  ^^^  '=''^''-'  ^^"^-  '^• 

counties,  J 

John   Taffe.  Dakota,  Cedar   and  [ 

L'Eau  Qui  Court,  _       t  5th  session, 


D.  T.    liramble,    l^akota.   Cedar 

and  L'Eau  Qui  Court  J 

George    A.  Hinsdale,  Dak.  county, 
Uaruabas   Bates,  Dak.  county. 


Aug. 


1856 


185* 


18)8 


[6th  session,  Oct.  11.  ISoi^t. 


LEGISLATIVE    OFFICERS.  145 

Wm.  Lockwood,  Dak.  county,      i  7th  spssinn    Ort  10       18fi(t 
Ihos,  B.  Coleman,    Dak.  county  \  '^^  session,  Uct.  lU....  I86(t 

Cornelius  O'Connor,  Dak.countv  ] 

Harnabas  Bates   Dak.  county    '   (.  gth  session,  Oct. 8. ,. .  1861 

Dan'l  McLaughlin   (float),  Dak.,  j  ' 

Dixon  and  L'Eau  Qui  Court  J 
James  O.  Fisher,  Dak.,  Dixon  and  L'Eau  Qui  Court,  9th 

session,  October  13 1863 

John  lleffernon,  Dakota  county  ) 

Nathan  S.Porter  (float).    Dak.,  WOth  session,  Oct.  10..   1864 

Dixon,  Cedar  &  L'Eau  Qui  C't  ) 
Cornelius  O'Connor,  Dak.  county  ) 
R.  H.Wilbur  (float).  Dak.,  Dixon,  V  11th  session,  Oct 1865 

Cedar  and  L,Eau  Qui  Court  ) 
Daniel  Duggan,  Dakota  county,  12th  session.  Oct.  9 1866 

STATE  REPRESENTATIVES, 

Alexander  H.  Haker,  Dak,  county  ) 

R.  EJ.  Wilbur  (float).  Dak.,  Dixon,  >  1st  session,  June  2. .  1866 
Cedar  and  L'Eau  Qui  Court         ) 

James  Preston,  Dak.  county  ) 

Benry  Morton  (float).  Dak.,  [■  2d,  3d,  4th  sessions,  Oct.  9  1866 
Dixon,  Cedar,  L'Eau  Qui  ) 

John   Nalfziger,    Dakota   county,  5th,  6th,  7th  sessions 
Octoberl3 1868 

James  Clark,  Dakota  county,  8th  session,  October  11... .  1870 

R.  H.  Wilbur,  Dakota  and  Dixon  counties,  9th  and  10th 
sessions,  October  8 1872 

Benjamin  F.  Chambers,  Dakota  county,  11th,  12th,  13th 
sessions,  October  13 1874 

John  C.  lleffernon,    Dakota   county,   14th  sessson,  16th 
district,  October  7 1876 

Jesse  F.  Warner.  Dakota  county,  15th  session,  16th   dis- 
trict, November  5 1878 

Joseph   IloUman,    Dakota  county,  16th,    17th   sessions, 
16th  district.  November  2 1880 

Joseph  Hollman,  Dakota  county.  18th  session,  Nov.  7...   1883 

William  Holsworth,  Dak.  county,  19th  session,  Nov,  4. .   1884 

Harldn  liaird,  Dakota  cdunty,  2(»th  session.  Nov.  2 1886 

P.  F.  O'Sullivan.  Dak.    iiiid    Cuming   counties,  21st  ses- 
sion, 16th  district,  Novendjer  6 1888 

John  M.  Moan.  Dak.,  Thurston   and   Cuming  counties, 
22d  session,  16th  district,  November  4 189U 

R.  Kloke,   Dak ,   Thurston   and   Cuming  counties,  23d 
session,  16th  district,  November  8 1892 

MEMBERS  OF  THE  TERRITORIAL  COUNCIL. 

Alfred  W.  Fuett,  Dakota  county,  3d  session,  Nov 1856 


146  Warner's  history  ok  Dakota  county. 

Alfred  W.  Puett,  Dakota  county,  4th  session,  Aug.  3.    .   1857 

Wm.  G.  Crawford,  Dak.  county,  5th  session,  Aug.  2 1858 

Thos.  'x.  Collier,  Dak.  county,  6th  session,  October  11.. .  1859 
John  Taffe,  Dak.,  Dixon,  Cedar  and   L'Eau   Qui  Court, 

7th  session,  October  10 1860 

John    Taffe,  Dak.,  Dixon,   Cedar  and  L'Eau  Qui  Court, 

8th  session,  October  8 186t 

A.  H.  Jackson,  Dak  Dixon,  Cedar  and  L'Eau  Qui  Court, 

9th  session,  October  13 1863 

Thos.    L.   Griffey,   Dak.,  Dixon,  Cedar  and   L'Eau  Qui 

Court,  10th  session,  1st  district,  October  10 1864 

Thos.  L.  Griffey.   Dak.,  Dixon,    Cedar   and    L'Eau  Qui 

Court,  nth  session,  1st  district,  October  1865 

Barnabas    Bates,   Dak.,  Dixon,    Cedar  and   L'Eau  Qui 

Court,  12th  session,  1st  district,  October  9 1866 


STATE  SENATORS. 

I^athan  S.  I'orter,  Dak.,  Dixon.  Cedar  and  L'Eau  Qui 
Court,  1st  session,  June  2 1866 

Harlon  Baird,  Dak.,  Dixon,  Cedar  and  L'Eau  Qui 
Court,  2d.  8d,  4th  sessions,  1st  district,  October  9 1866 

Nathan  S.  Porter,  Dakota,  Dixon,  Cedar  and  L'Eau  Qui 
Court,  5th,  6th,  7th  sessions,  1st  district,  October  13...  1868 

A.  W.  Tennant,  Dak.,  Stanton,   Caming,  Dodge,    Cedcir 

and  L'Eau  Qui  Court,  8th  session,  10th  dist.,  Oct.  11...  1870 

Jas.  C.  Crawford,  Dak.,  Stanton,  Cuming,  Dodge,  Cedar 
and  L'Eau  Qui  Court,  9th,  10th  sessions,  10th  district, 
Octobers... 1872 

Alex.  Bear,  Dak.,  Stanton,  Cuming,  Dodge,  Cedar  and 
L'Eau  Qui  Court,  11th,  12th  sessions,  10th  district, 
October  13 1874 

Isaac  Powers,  Dakota  and  Burt  counties,  13th,  14th  ses- 
sions, 10th  district,  October  7 1876 

W.  B.  Beck,  Dakota  and  Burt  coixnties,  15th  session, 
10th  district,  November  5 1878 

Isaac  Powers,  Dak.  and  Burt  covmties,  16th,  17th  ses- 
sions. 10th  district,  November  2 1880 

W.  F.  Norris,  Dak.,  Dixon,  Cedar,  Knox,  18th  session, 
nth  district,  November  7 1882 

John  T.  Spencer,  Dak.,  Dixon,  Cedar,  Knox,  19th  ses- 
sion, nth  district,  November  4 1884 

n.  E.  Bonesteel,  Dak.,  Dixon,  Cedar,  Knox,  20th  session, 
nth  district,  November  2 1886. 

I.  C.  Kobinson,  Dak  .  Dixon,  Cedar.  Thurston,  Knox, 
21st  session, 8tb  district,  November  6 1888 

H.  P.  Shumway,  Dak  ,  Dixon,  Cedar,  Thurston,  Knox, 
22d  session,  8th  district,  November  4 1890' 

B.  F.  McDonald,  Dak,,  Dixon,  Cedar,   Thurston,  Knox, 

23d  session,  8th  district,  November  8 1892: 


CHAPTER  XV. 


Special  Offices.— Census  Enumeeators.— Other, 
Elections.— District  Court  Judges,— Organiz- 
ing THE  Precincts. 


auissioners  hi 


SPECIAL  offices. 

County  Physieians.— Feb.  15,  1889,  county  Com- 
iioners  appointed  Dr.  J.  H.  Brewer  to  this  office  for 
1889,  resigned  Sept,  10,  1889,  and  Dr.  R.  G.  Hamilton 
was  appointed  to  fill  the  unexpired  term. 

Special  County  Attorneys.^March  14,  1863,  A. 
H.  Jackson  was  appointed  by  the  county  Commission- 
evA  as  an  attorney  to  examine  the  county  Treasurer's 
books.  From  time  to  time  others  have  been  appointed 
for  special  purposes,  among  whom  were:  Thomas  L. 
Griffey,  John  T.  Spencer,  Mell  C.  Jay,  Isaac  Powers 
and  J  ,  B.  Barnes. 

Special  County  Commissioners. — Nov.  7th,,  1864, 
the  Territorial  Legislature  appointed  Thomas  L.  Griffey. 
Gerald  Dillon  and  EJenry  Ream  as  special  commission- 
■ers  to  ascertain  the  indebtedness  of  Dakota  county,whicb 
•they  found  to  he  ^7,205.71. 

April  19th,  1S65,  Thomas  L.  Griffey  was  ap- 
pointed to  index  the  county  records. 

In  1873  the  county  commissioners  appointed  J.  G. 
tOgden,  Daniel  Duggan'  and  A.  McCready  as  a  board  to 
iin.v.estigate  the  indebtedness  of  the  county. 


148  WAK^KkV  HJbTOKV   OF  DAKOTA   CoLKTY. 

Kelly  W.  Frazer  was  appointed  Deputy  Clerk  of 
the  District  Court,  November  18,  18&U,  and  re-ap- 
pointed each  year  since. 

Alex  Abell  wms  appointed  May  9,  1893,  by  the 
Ixjard  of  supervisors  as  civil  engineer  to  establish  a 
ditch  from  Pigeon  creek  to  the  "swamp  ditcli,''  as  pe- 
titioned for  by  Benjamin  Bridenbaugh  and  others. 

CENSUS  ENUMERATORS. 

In  1859  Elbridge  G.  Lampson  was  appointed  to 
take  the  census  of  Dakota  couniy,  but  died  before  lie 
had  completed  the  work.  James  W.  Virtue  and  others, 
tinisbed  it, 

Daniel  Duggau  was  appointed  to  this  office  May 
B,  1869,  and  Charles  H.  PoUer  for  188U. 

Owing  to  some  irregularities  in  the  Nebraska  cen- 
sus for  1880,  enumerators  were  appointed  in  each  pre- 
cinct to  rectify  the  mJstake. 

The  enunierators  for  1890  werei  Dakota  precinct,. 
Mrs.  Mary  R.  MoBeath;.  Omadi,  A.  P.  Bach;.  Coving- 
ton, W.  H.  Mitchell;  St.  Johns,  Norman  C.  Brewer;. 
Hubbard,  R.  D.  Rockwell;  Summit,  Kate  C.  Duggan;, 
l*igeon  Creeks  Wm.  T.  Bartleit;.  Emerson,.  Nelson 
Feanto. 

OTHEK    ELKCl'lONS. 

August  2.,  1857,  generf)!  election  o-ii  removal  of 
county  seat.— -St.  Johns  received  2.63,  Dakota  City 
260,  Covington,  -12,  Logan  2  and  Ponca  2,  votes.  There^ 
not  being  the  required  majority  for  removal  the  county 
seat  remained  at  Dakota  City. 

March  5,  1860,  spiicial  election  on.  s^tate  go.vernment.. 
— The  vote  s-tood  24  for  and  Igg  against.  The  meas- 
ui-e  was  defeated  in  the  te-rrltory  by  2,37.2  for  to  2,094 
agtiinst  it. 

Jane  2,  1886>  special,  election  to-  vote  on  the; 
adoption  of  the  first  state  constitution. — The  vote  stood 
1C6  for  and  32  against.  The  territorial  vote  was 
3,938   foi!  and.   3,,83.8    against  the  constitution-   whick 


OTHER  ELECTIONS.  149 

WHS  adopted  by  ICO  Dijijoiity,  and  Nebraska  was  ad- 
mitted into  the  Union  March  1,  1867. 

September  9,  1871,  special  election  to  vote  on 
proposed  new  state  constitution.^ — The  vote  stood  11 
for  and  297  against.  Total  vote  in  the  state  was  7,986 
for  and  8,627  against  the  constitution,  which  was  de- 
feated. 

October  12,  1875,  geneial  election,  at  which  time 
tlie  present  state  constitution  was  adopted  by  a  vote  of 
S(J,202  to  5,474.  The  county  vote  was  262  for  and  35 
iigainst.  Isaac  Powers  was  Dakota  county's  member 
to  the  constitutional  c<^nvention,  having  been  elected 
at  a  special  election,  April  6,  1875,  receiving  118  votes 
.and  his  opponent,  Samuel  Whitehorn,  46  votes;  scat- 
tering, 18. 

]Moveml>er  7,  1-882,  general  election.- — For  woman 
suffrage  iimendment  to  constitution^  304;  against  325. 
The  amendment  was  defeated  in  tlic  state.  At  the 
.same  election  there  wer«  319  votes  for  bounty  on 
■wolves,  etc.,  and  152  against.  For  township  organiza- 
tion, 324;  against.  268.  Duriiig  the  campaign, 
Susan  B.  Anthony  spoke  to  a  large  audience  at  Dakota 
'City  on  "Woman's  Suffrage,"  October  30,  187:2;  also 
at  Homer  and  Orove  ^churclx,  on  Fiddler^s  creek,  the 
following  daj. 

jAt  the  general  election.,  November  4,  1890,  the 
■vote  on  prohibition  was:  For,  874:  against,  365.  At 
the  same  election  the  vote  on  high  license  was.:  For, 
314;  agaijist,  314. 

IMSTBICT    COURT    JUDG-ES. 

Changes  have  been  made  from  tiiite  to  time  in 
•'this  judicial  district,  which  is  at  present  the  Seventh., 
:and  its  judges  have  been:  Lorenzo  Crounse,  SamueJ 
Maxwell,  Thomas  L.  Griffey,  E,  K.  Valentine,  J.  B. 
Barnes,  J.  E.  Crawford,  Isaac  Powers  and  W.  F. 
jXorris. 

The  .teri'i.to)'ial  court   tor  .the   Third   d.istrict   ,w.a>^ 


J  50  Warner's  history  of  Dakota  oouNTr. 

lield  at  Dakota  City,  and  its  judges  were,  up  to  tiie 
time  tlie  state  was  admitted  into  the  Union,  in  1867: 
Eieazer  Wakely  and  William  F.  Lockwood. 

ORGANIZING    THE  PRECINCTS. 

In  organizing  Dakota  county  it  was  divided  into 
four  precincts,  to-wit:  Dakota,  St.  Johns,  Coving- 
ton and  Omaha  Creek,  the  latter  so  called  until  April 
18,  1863,  when  the  name  was  changed  to  Omadi. 

April  2,  1873,  Pigeon  Creek  precinct  was  estab- 
lished. 

July  3,  1877,  Summit  precinct  was  established. 

Hubbard  precinct  was  organized  in  1882. 

July  23,  1884,  Pender  and  Emerson  precincts 
were  established. 

October  23,  1888,  Winnebago  precinct  was  estab- 
lished. In  organizing  Thurston  county  Pender  and 
Winnebago  precincts  were  stricken  from  Dakota 
county. 

Various  changes  have  been  made  in  the  boundary 
lines  of  the  precincts.  Their  boundaries  until  Novem- 
ber 18,  1889,  were  as  follows: 

Dakota  Precin.ct. — Beginning  where  the  line  be- 
tween Townships  28  ai'd  29  intersects  the  Missouri 
river;  thence  west  to  gjuide  meridian;  thence  north  tO' 
old  state  boundary  line  to  the  Missouri;  thence  up. 
main  channel  to  line  between  Sections  33  and  34,. 
Township  29,  Range  8;  thence  south  to  the  south  west- 
corner  of  Section  22,  Township  28,  Kange  8;  thence 
east  to  the  Missouri;  thence  up.  main  channel  to  place 
of  commencement, 

Covington  Precinct. — Beginning  at  the  northeast 
corner  of  Dakota  precinct;  thence  up  main  channel  of 
river  to  old  state  boundary  line,  in  middle  of  Crystal 
lake;  thence  along  said  line  to  guide  meridian-;  thence- 
south  to  line  between  Townships  28  and  29;  thence 
east  to  place  of  comuiencement. 

Omadi    Precinct. — Beginning    at    the     southwest 


ORGANIZING    THE  PRECINCTS.  151 

corner  ot  Dakota  precinct;  thence  west  to  the  north- 
west corner  of  Section  27,  Township  28,  Range  8; 
thence  south  to  the  northwest  corner  of  Section  10, 
Township  27,  Kange  8;  thence  west  to  northwest  cor- 
ner of  Ssction  8;  tlience  south  to  northwest  corner  of 
Section  17;  thence  west  to  northwest  corner  of  Sec- 
tion 15.,  Township  27,  Range  7;  thence  soutli  to  south- 
west corner  of  Section  15;  thence  south  to  the  VVinne- 
bago  reserve;  thence  east  to  Missonri  river;  thence  up 
twain  channel  to  place  of  commencement. 

St.  Johns  Precinct. — Beginning  at  the  northwest 
corner  of  Dakota  pi-ecinct;  thence  up  main  channel  of 
the  Missouri  to  middle  line  of  Section  9,  Township  29, 
Range  7;  thence  south  to  line  between  Townships  28 
and  29;  thence  west  to  northwest  corner  of  Section  5, 
Township  28,  Range  7;  thence  south  to  southwest  cor- 
ner of  Section  5;  thence  east  to  the  sontheast  corner  of 
Section  4:,  Township  28?  Range  8;  thence  north  to  place 
of  commencement. 

Summit  Precinct. — Beo-innino;  at  the  northwest 
corner  of  St.  Johns  precinct;  thence  up  main  channel 
of  the  Missouri  to  line  between  Townships  29  and  80; 
thence  west  to  northwest  corner  of  county;  thence 
sonth  to  southwest  corner  of  Section  34,  Township  29, 
Range  6;  thence  east  to  middle  line  of  Section  33, 
Township  29,  Range  7;  thence  north  to  place  of  com- 
mencement. 

Hubbard  Precinct. — Beginning  at  the  northeast 
corner  of  Section  9,  Township  28)  Range  8;  thence 
west  to  northwest  corner  of  Section  8,  Township  28? 
Ranoje  7;  thence  south  to  southwest  corner  of  Section 
32;  thence  east  to  southeast  corner  of  said  section; 
thence  soutli  to  southwest  corner  of  Section  9,  Town 
sliip  27,  Range  7;  thence  east  to  southeast  corner  of 
Section  12;  thence  north  to  northeast  corner  of  said 
section;  thence  east  to  the  southeast  3orner  of  Section 
■4,  Township  27,  Range  8;  thence  north  to  place  of  com- 
mencement. 


152  wakner's  history  or  Dakota  county. 

Pigeon  Creek  Precincr. — Beginninar  at  tlie  iiortli- 
east  corner  of  Section  6,  Township  28,  Kange7:  thence 
west  to  county  line;  thence  south  to  southwest  corner 
of  Section  34,  Township  28?  Range  6;  thence  east  to 
southeast  corner  of  Section  31,  Townsliip  28?  Range  7; 
thence  north  to  p'lace  of  commencement. 

Emerson  Precinct.  —  Beginning  at  the  northeast 
corner  of  Section  5,  Township  27,  Range  7;  thence 
west  to  county  line;  thence  south  to  Winnebago  re- 
serve; thence  east  to  line  between  Secti<ms  34  and  35, 
Township  27,  Range  7;  thence  north  to  northeast  cor- 
ner of  Section  22;  thence  west  to  northwest  corner  of 
said  section;  thence  north  to  northeast  corner  of  Sec- 
tion 16;  thence  west  to  the  northwest  corner  of  snid 
section;  thence  north  to  place  of  commencement. 

JNovember  18,  1891,  the  Board  of  Supervisors 
changed  precincts  as  follows: 

Dakota  precinct  is  enlarged  as  follows:  To  take 
in  all  of  Sections  25,  26,  27,  in  Township  28,  Range  8. 
east,  and  Sections  29  and  30,  in  Township  28,  Range 
9,  east. 

Covington  precinct  to  be  enlarged  as  follows:  To 
take  in  all  land  riorth  of  the  7tli  standard  parallel,  and 
bounded  as  follows:  Commencing  at  the  southeast 
corner  of  Section  36,  Township  29,  Range  8,  east; 
thence  west  to  the  southwest  corner  of  Section  34; 
thence  north  to  the  Missouri  river;  thenco  following 
the  Missouri  river  to  the  southeast  corner  of  Section 
34,  Township  29.  Range  9,  east;  thence  west  to  place 
of  commencement. 

At  that  time  the  supervisors  numbered  the  pre- 
cincts as  follows:  Covington,  No.  1;  St.  Johns,  No. 
2;  Summit,  No.  3;  Dakota,  No.  4;  Hubbard,  No. 
5;  I'igeon  Creek,  No.  6;  Omadi,  No.  7;  Emerson, 
No.  8. 


CHAPTER  XVI, 


Public  Cemp:teries — Public  Libraries — Holidays — - 
"Bottom  Disease" — Lost  Steamer  Nugget — Base 
Ball — Camp  Meetings — Berger  Poor  Fari«^ — Sol- 
diers' Eelief  Commission — Brass  Bands. 


public  cemeteries. 


The  first  cemetery  in  the  county  was  the  old 
Oaiadi  cemetery,  situated  on  a  sand  ridge  south  of  A. 
H.  Baker's  farm  and  east  of  wliere  Gnstave  Berger 
lives,  in  Section  30.  Henrietta  Hirsch,  a  daugiiter  of 
Mrs,  Henry  Ream  was  the  first  person  buried  here. 

St.  Johns  cemetery  is  situated  two  miles  north  of 
Jackson,  on  the  east  line  of  Section  23,  Township  29, 
Range  7. 

Dakota  City  cemetery  is  situated  within  the 
corporate  limits  of  that  town,  on  its  northern  boundary. 
The  first  to  be  buried  here  were  Mrs,  Charles  Reom 
and  child,  L.  G.  Packard  and  a  child  of  Geo.  A.  Hins- 
<lale,  in  1857.  The  cemetery  at  present  is  enclosed 
with  a  good  substantial  fence,  and'  otherwise  in  first 
class  condition. 

The  Taylor  cemetery  is  situated  in  the  northeast 
■quarter  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  Sec.  34,  Township 
28,  Range  8,  near  Wm.  Taylor's  house,  eight  miles 
southwest  of  Dakota  City,  on  the  high  bluffs,  con- 
taining three  acres,  and  deeded  to  the  Salem  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  church  by  William  Taylor.     The  first 


154  "WAEKEK's  IIIfeTOr.Y   of   VAJiCIA    COIKTY. 

buried  there  was  a  cLild  of  William  Gribble,  in  the 
winter  of  1856. 

The  Omaha  Creek  Yalley  cemetery,  formerly  known 
as  the  Potter  cemetery,  is  situated  near  the  northwest 
corner  of  Section  25,  Township  27,  Eange  8,  two  'miles 
south  of  Homer. 

Grove  cemetery  is  located  in  tlue  southeast  corner 
of  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter  of 
Section  14,  Township  27,  Eange  7,  on  fiddler's  creek. 
The  following  officers  were  elected  by  the  association. 
May  10,  1893,  for  a  period  of  two  years:  II.  F.  Shull, 
treasurer;  C.  M.  Antriu),  Eobert  Gurnsey,  Geo.  San- 
ford,  John  Welker  and  Fred  Wilkins,  trustees. 

St,  Mary's  cemetery  lies  less  than  a  mile  to  the 
northwest  of  Homer,  and  was  established  in  1889. 

The  Hubbard  cemetery  is  situated  on  the  high 
hills  a  short  distance  south  of  the  town  of  Hubbard, 
and  was  deeded  to  the  association  by  John  Howard. 
The  first  person  buried  there  was  James  Thornton, 
who  died  on  his  farm  west  of  Hubbard. 

Green  Valley  cemetery,  or  Johnson's  cemetery  as 
it  was  formerly  called,  is  situated  on  Wigle  creek  near 
the  Johnson  school  house. 

PUBLIC  LIBRARIES. 

There  are  a  number  of  private  libraries  in  the 
county,  but  as  yet  there  are  no  public  libi-aries,  al- 
though three  attempts  have  been  made  in  that  dir^c- 
tion,"which  have  entirely  failed.  In  1878  L.  M.  War- 
ner established  the  "Dakota  County  Lil)rary"  in 
Omadi  precinct,  several  hundred  volumes  being  con- 
nected with  the  institution. 

In  1880  another  attempt  was  made  at  Dakota 
CitY-  A  meeting  was  called  for  the  purpose  of  organ- 
izing a  "Library  Association,"  October  5,  and  Eev.  II. 
Wilson  elected  president;  M.  M.  Warner,  vice  presi- 
dent; Will  S.  Jay,  secretary,  and  Mrs.  M.  O.  Ayres, 
treasurer. 


PUBLIC    LIBE/.KIES HOLIDAYS.  155 

JRev.  J.  Zimmerman  endeavored  to  create  a  public 
library  at  Dakota  City  in  1884,  but  all  that  remains  of 
it  sit  present  is  a  few  books  at  Dr.  Stinson's  store. 

There  was  also  a  "Circulating  Library"  partially 
established  at  Dakota  City  in  1888,  but  it  is  not  in  the 
nature  of  a  permanent  institution. 


Fourth  of  July. — The  first  attempt  at  celebrating 
our  nation's  birthday  was  July  4,  1855,  when  a  party 
of  men  came  across  the  river  from  Sergeants  Blufl:  and 
planted  the  stars  and  stripes  upon  the  subsequent  site 
of  old  Umadi,  little  apprehendmo-  that  in  less  than  six 
years  from  that  date  several  of  their  number  would  be 
marshaling  in  defense  of  that  same  noble  flag. 

The  first  regular  Fourth  of  July  celebration  in 
Dakota  county  was  held  in  1857,  at  Logan,  in  the  old 
house  that  Col.  Baird  afterwards  moved  to  his  farm  for 
a  residence.  J.  F.  Warner  read  the  Declaration  of  In- 
dependence, and  William  G.  Crawford  delivered  au 
oration  that  fired  the  hearts  of  the  pioneers  with  patriot- 
ism and  devotion  to  their  country,  as  was  demonstrated 
when  the  great  war  cloud  burst  upon  the  land,  A 
grand  ball  was  held  in  the  evening. 

In  1873,  the  Matrons  of  Husbandry  organized  sev- 
eral "Granges"  in  Dakota  county,  and  that  year  held  a 
great  celebration  at  Baird's  grove,  at  which  time  they 
wore  their  sashes  and  uniforms.  Speeches  were  made 
by  J.  F.  Warner,'D.  C.  Dibble,  J.  W.  Davis  and  John 
Naffziger.  Other  enthusiastic  celebrations  have  from 
year  to  year  taken  place  at  Dillon's  grove,  in  Jackson; 
Ashford's  grove,  Baird's  grove,  Shulls'  grove  and  Ha- 
ger's  grove,  and  Clinton  park— the  two  latter  situated 
near  Dakota  City. 

Memorial  Day. — Which  occurs  on  the  30th  of  May 
of  each  year,  has  beeu  duly  observed  in  Dakota  county 
feince  the  holiday  was  established.  The  graves  of  our 
dead  heroes  are  annually  strewn  with  the  choicest  flow- 


156  warnek's  hi&tory  of  Dakota  county. 

ers,  as  a  fitting  tribute  in  conitnenioration  oi  their 
heroic  services  in  oor  country's  darkest  hour.  One  of 
the  most  successful  observances  of  this  day  was  at  the 
Dakota  City  Cemetery,  May  30,  1884,  conducted  by 
the  Crittenden  Grand  Army  Post,  with  Rev.  Carter 
chaplain;  Col.  J.  F.  Warner,  commander;  W.  R.  Kin- 
kead,  corporal,  and  Frank  11.  Ayres,  adjutant.  C)ne 
thousand  people  witnessed  the  ceremonies,  and  Mrs. 
Kelly  W.  Frazer  read  a  beautiful  poem  entitled  "The 
jS^ation's  Dead/'   of  which   the    followino-   is   the   first 


Four  hmidred  thousand  men— 

The  brave,  the  good,  the  true — 
In  tangled  wood,  in  mountain  glen, 
On  battle  plain,  in  prison  pen, 

Lie  dead  for  me  and  you ! 
Foiir  himdred  thousand  of  the  brave 
Have  made  our  ransomed  soil  their  grave 
For  me  and  you! 

Good  friend,  for  me  and  you! 

The  Following  original  poem,  composed  by  Mrs> 
Lucy  Bullock,  was  recited  in  a  maniier  that  would 
have  done  credit  to  an  elocutionist  by  Nora  Miller,  a 
bright  little  10-year-old  girl,  whose  elocutionary  power 
is  marvelous: 

DECORATION    DAY. 

Adown  the  sunny,  dusty  street 
A  little  child  was  trudging  on; 
One  dimpled  hand  a  banner  grasped, 
The  other  tilled  with  lilac  bloom. 

"Oh,  why  such  haste  with  flag  and  bloom, 
A  crowd  is  coming  little  lass, 
With  banners  waving,  drums  abeat— 
Stay  here  with  me  and  let  them  pass." 

"Oh.  no,"  she  cried,  "my  flowers  may  fade; 
I  must  be  there  before  they  come; 
On  papa's  grave  this  flag  I'll  place. 
And  tlien  I'll  wait  'till  they  are  done." 

Oh,  Soldier's  child!  thy  tender  heart 
For  father's  sake  the  honor  craves; 


HOLIDAYS.  157 

Assured  that  others  bearing  bloom 
Will  decorate  anew  his  grave. 

Wave,  flag  of  freedom! 

Well  thy  folds  were  borne  along  to  victory's  heights. 

Hy  heroes  brave  whose  graves  to-day 

We  decorate  with  stai's  and  stripes. 

The  years  have  passed,  that  flag  still  waves, 
A  symbol  grand,  since  slaves  are  free; 
And  Liberty  enthroned  yet  guards 
O'sr  all  the  land  from  sea  to  sea. 

For  long  ago  in  springtime  fair, 
Beneath  that  flag  they  marched  away: 
Undaunted  hearts  to  tight  for  right 
They  bore  their  part  in  freedom's  fray. 

Oh,  Decoration  Day  so  fair! 
AVith  buds  and  blossoms  for  each  tomb. 
Oil!  day  of  days,  thy  sunshine  bright 
Bathes  every  mound,  dispels  the  gloom. 

Anew  we  gather  where  they  lie. 
Each  soldier "s  grave  is  marked  the  same— 
One  silent  band  where  rank  is  naught. 
Their  names  are  green  in  memory's  chain. 

Brave  Colonel  Warner— rest! 

That  flag  shall  wave  o'er  all  the  boys  who  wore  the 

blue; 
Till  roll-call  answered  one  by  one 
They  join  with  j^ou  the  last  review. 

Arbor  Day. — Tin's  is  a  day  set  aside  for  planting 
trees,  originated  by  Hon.  J.  Sterling  Morton,  of  JN'e- 
braska,  in  1873,  and  afterward  designated  as  a  legal 
lioliday  by  the  Legislature,  and  the  time  fixed  was 
April  22,  of  each  year.  The  day  has  been  generally 
observed  in  Dakota  county,  and  has  greatly  encouraged 
tree  planting.  On  Arbor  Day  in  1889  the  Dakota 
City  schools  planted  an  evergreen  tree  in  memory  of 
their  departed  teacher,  Julia  O'Connoi'. 

150TT0M   DISEASE. 

In  1857  Alfred  Elam  lost  a  horse,  which  died  of 
.-;)ii>e  strariire  disease. and  from  that  time  on  the  farmer* 


158  Warner's  HISTORY  of  dakota  county. 

on  the  Missouri  bottom  lost  many  valuable  horses,  when 
the  disease  became  generally  known  as  the  -'Bottom 
Disease.-'  The  cause  of  this  wholesale  destrnction  of 
horses  could  not  be  ascertained,  some  attributing  it  to 
iron  in  the  water,  and  various  other  theories  were  ad- 
vanced. It  was  discovered  that  mules  were  not  subject 
to  the  disease,  and  all  the  farmers  procured  these  ani- 
mals to  work  on  their  farms.  After  a  lapse  of  more 
than  thirty  years  of  the  ravage  of  this  disease.  Dr.  G. 
"W.  Wilkmson  discovered  the  true  cause,  which  v/as 
from  eating  the  "rattlebox,"  a  plant  which  grows  in 
the  grass  on  the  bottom,  and  bears  a  small  pod  contain- 
ing the  poisonous  seeds  which  destroys  the  horses, 
when  it  is  fed  to  them  with  the  hay.  The  farmers  are. 
now  keeping  horses  by  feeding  them  straw  fodder  and 
hay  which  is  cut  before  the  rattlebox  has  matured. 

LOST    STEAMER    NUGGET. 

On  January  1,  1871,  Henry  Ream  and  his  sous, 
Charles  and  Marcellus,  George  Shiebley  and  Charley 
Martin  discovered  on  a  sandbar  the  wreck  of  the  lost 
steamer,  J^ugget,  which  sank  in  the  Missouri  river 
about  live  yeai^  before,  at  a  point  two  miles  up  the 
river  from  the  mouth  of  Omaha  ci^eek.  A  company 
was  formed  and  considerable  property  taken  from  the 
wreck,  such  as  flonr,  meat,  whisky,  spades,  shovels,  and 
other  tools.  The  "wrecking  company"  was  composed 
of  the  following  members:  George  T.  Woods,  Harlon 
Baird,  Gideon  Warner,  Henry  and  M,  M.  Ream,  John. 
G.  O'gden,  Charley  Martin,  George  Shiebley,  George 
Bayha,  Andrew  Forbs,  James  Willis,  Britton  Willis- 
and  Chai'ley  Ream.  Charley  M.irtin  had  the  misfor- 
tune to  contract  a  severe  spell  of  sickness  from  expos- 
ure to  the  cold  while  workiTig  at  the  boat,  which  re- 
sulted in  his  loss  of  hearing  and  speech. 

BASE    BALL. 

The  first  base  ball  clulj  in   the   county  was  orgaiij- 


BASE  BALL CAMP  MEETINGS.  159 

ized  at  Dakota  City  July  16,  1870,  by  electing  John 
G.  Ogden  president,  J.  P.  Bayha  vice  president,  J.  A. 
[vlikesell  secretary,  John  Mitchell  treasurer,  William 
Adiir  umpire,  M.  O.  Ayres,  David  Bales  and  P.  F. 
O'Snilivati  board  o£  directors.  For  years  this  club  was 
recognized  as  being  one  ol:  the  very  best  in  northeast- 
ern Nebraska,  Marcellns  Ream  acting  as  pitcher  from 
its  organization  to  the  present  time.  Other  clubs  have 
since  been  organized  at  Homer,  Jackson,  Brushy  Bend 
and  South  Sioux  City,  and  many  are  the  exciting 
games  wiiich  have  been  played  by  tliese  clubs, 

CAMP    MEETINGS. 

Rev.  S.  P.  Vandoozer,  a  Methodist  minister,  in- 
augurated the  lirst  camp  meeting  in  the  county,  be- 
ginning at  Col.  Baird's  place  on  September  7,  1870, 
and  lasting  about  one  week,  conducted  by  Presiding 
Elder  A.  Of.  White,  Rev.  S.  P.  Vandoozer,  Rev.  J.  A. 
Suiith,  Rev.  Mr.  Easterbrook,  Rev.  John  Trineand  and 
Rev.  Moses  Warner.  The  meetings  were  largely  at- 
tended, and  the  ministers  were  much  encouraged  by 
the  result. 

The  following  year  another  enthusiastic  camp 
meeting  was  held  on  Col.  Warner's  place,  nine  miles 
south  of  Dakota  City,  and  continued  two  weeks,  end- 
ing September  13,  1871.  Great  religious  excitement 
prevailed,  and  on  Sunday  more  than  1,0C0  people  as- 
sembled "beneath  the  groves,  God's  first  temples,"  and 
made  the  hills  and  woods  resound  with  their  songs  of 
rejoicing.  Many  people  brought  a  good  supply  ot 
tents  and  household  effects  and  lived  on  the  meeting 
grounds.  Restaurants  and  eating  houses  were  also  es- 
tablished. 

BERGER  POOR  FARM. 

For  a  number  of  years  the  project  of  establishing 
a  poor  farm  for  Dakota  county  was  agitated,  but  noth- 
ing was  done  until  Gotleib  Berger   died  in  Sioux  City, 


160  WARNEH's  history   ok  DAKOTA    OOUNTT. 

Iowa,  February  3,  1890,  bequeathing  to  t!ie  county 
^5,000  with  which  to  provide  for  the  poor. 

On  the  17th  day  of  October,  1891,  the  county 
commissioners  bought  \vith  this  money,  of  J.  P. 
Twohig,  tlie  north  half  of  the  nortlieast  quarter  of 
Section  25,  Township  28,  Range  8?  for  the  sum  of 
$3,600,  to  be  known  as  the  "Berger  Poor  Farm.'' 
Dennis  Armour,Thomas  C.  Ohipp  and  Thorns  Sullivan, 
Jr.,  were  appointed  as  trustees.  W.  T.  Bartlett  was 
appointed  as  overseer  of  county  poor  March  9,  1891. 

March  15,  1892,  W.  P.  Altemus  and  J.  N.  Peyson 
were  appointed  to  draw  up  plans  and  specitications  for 
a  poor  farm  house,  not  to  exceed  ^1,400,  and  the  con- 
tract was  let  April  8,  to  T.  F.  McGee,  of  Hubbard,  for 
$1,297.50,  who  accordingly  erected  the  building. 

SOLDIERS"  RELIEF  COMMISSION. 

In  1889  the  Nebraska  State  Legislature  established 
a  "soldiers'  relief  fund"  for  each  county  of  the  state 
for  the  benefit  of  indigent  Union  soldiers,  sailors  and 
marines,  and  indigent  wives,  widows,  and  minor  child- 
ren, not  over  fourteen  years  of  age  in  the  case  of  boys,. 
and  not  over  sixteen  years  of  age  in  the  case  of  girls, 
uf  such  indigent  or  deceased  Union  solaiei"s,  sailors  or 
marines  having  a  legal  residence  in  said  county.  A 
'•soldiers'  relief  commission,"  to  manage  the  distribu- 
tion of  th9  fuuds  was  appjinteJ  by  tlie  cc/unty  commis- 
sioners, consisting  of  S.  R.  Covvles,  John  Blessing  and 
Henry  Loomis.  since  which  time  others  have  served  on 
the  board  as  follows:  W.  R.  Kinkead,  April  6,  1891, 
to  succeed  Henry  Loomis.  wlio  resigned;  H.  Sayre  and 
Andrew  Forbs,  Mirch  15,  1892.  On  January  24tlu 
1893,  the  present  board  oj"  commission  was  reorganized 
by  appointing  Andrew  Forbs  for  a  period  of  three  years:, 
A.  H.  Baker,  two  year.3,  and  Harlon  Baird  one  year. 

The  establishment  of  this  relief  fund  is  truly  a. 
noble  act  on  the  part  ot  our  st:ite  legislature,  in  recog- 
nition of  the  heroic  services  of    brave    Union    soldiers- 


BRASS  BANDS.  161 

who  rallied  in  defense  of  this  nation  in  tlie  darkest 
hours  of  its  existence,  and  marched  witli  dauntless 
courage  to  southern  fields  of  war,  snatched  the  flag  ot 
treason  from  its  height  and  subdued  a  rebellious  and 
ari'ogant  people.  The  unflinching  courage  and  heroic 
deeds  of  those  daring  men  in  their  struggle  for  liberty 
and  union  will  ever  mark  the  standard  of  loyalty  and 
be  tlie  gauge  of  patriotism  until  the  government  of  the 
United  States  of  America  shall  be  no  more. 

BRASS  BANDS, 

The  Smith  Band  of  years  ago,  which  was  tlie  first 
ever  organized  in  the  county,  consisted  of  Uncle  Johnny 
Smith  and  three  sons,  Joseph,  George  and  John,  and 
Joseph  and  Herb  Harris. 

It  was  the  4th  of  July  1862,  and  they  uere  to 
furnish  the  music  for  the  celebration  held  that  day  in 
the  Cottonwood  grove  south  of  Dakota  City.  The 
"band  wagon"  with  the  pioneer  musicians  arrived  at 
Dakota  City  bright  and  early,  with  the  stars  and 
stripes  floating  in  the  breeze  above  them.  They 
joined  the  procession  as  it  marched  to  the  ground, 
but  the  man  who  held  the  large  flag  could  not  keep  it 
steady  against  the  strong  wind  that  was  blowing  that 
■day,  and  consequently  the  emblem,  ot  the  brave  and 
free  was  oft  times  trailed  in  the  dust, — whereupon 
Isaac  Monroe  jumped  up  and  declared  tliiit  lie  conld 
*'by  the  help  of  the  Almighty  hold  that  flag  and  three 
fence  rails!"  and  he  did  hold  the  flag  pole  with  his 
powerful  arms  as  firm  and  steady  as  though  it  had  been 
bolted  to  the  wagon. 

The  president  of  the  day  c;dled  out:  "Music  by  tfie 
l)and!"  and  they  struck  up  in  fiire  shape.  Geo.  Smith 
led  with  the  E  clarionet,  followed  bv  Joim.  with  the  K 
■clarionet.  Uncle  Johnny  tuned  in  with  the  bass,  Joseph 
■Smith  gripped  the  trombone.  Herb  and  Joseph  Harris 
chimed  in  with  their  horns,  all  bright  as  bright  could 
be,  and  made  those  old  \yoods  ring  to  the  anthem  of  the 


162  Warner's  history  oj  dakota  county. 

free.  Then  everybody  sang  "Away  down  South  in 
the  Land  of  Dixie,"  ate  a  good  dinner,  for  those  dis- 
tant days,  and  went  home  happy. 

There  was  no  other  attempt  at  organizing  a  band 
for  a  number  of  years  after  tliis,  and  the  Smith  band 
held  full  sway  in  Dakota  county's  "musical  world.*' 

Bands  have  since  been  organized  at  Dakota  C'ity, 
Jackson,  Homer.  Emerson  and  South  Sioux  City.  The 
Dakota  City  Cornet  band  consists  of  the  following  mem- 
bers: Mell  A.  Schmeid,  leader  and  instructor,  1st  B 
flat;  C.  P.  Brannaman,  solo  B  flat;  D.  W.  Griffey,  pic- 
colo; Geo.  W.  McBeath,  2nd  B  flat;  Wm.  Leamer.  3rd 
B  flat;  Elmer  Robinson,  1st  alto;  Geo.  H.  Haase,  1st 
tenor;  R.  E.  Evans,  baritone;  Paul  Pizey,  B  flat  bass; 
Henry  Niebnhr,  E  flat  bass;  S.  A.  Stinson,  bass  drum 
and  cymbals;  Chas.  S.  Hollman,  snare  drum. 

The  Hoiner  Cornet  band  is  made  up  as  follows: 
John  Ream  solo  B  flat,  Wm.  Lam  son  E  flat,  Leon 
Ream  E  flat  clarionet,  IS'elson  Jones  1st  B  flat  cornet, 
Walter  Smith  solo  alto,  John  Harris  1st  alto,  Hans 
Anderson  2nd,  Tim  O'Connor  3rd,  George  Harris  1st 
tenor,  Rasmus  Fredrickson  2nd,  Joseph  Harris  baritone, 
Alonzo  McEntarffer  tuba,  Wm.  Ream  snare  drum,  J.  R. 
Kelsey   bass   drum.     Grganized    October,  1888, 

The  Homer  Orchesti-a  was  organized  in  January, 
18S9,  as  follows:  John  Ream  1st  violin,  Hans  Ander- 
son 2nd  violin,  Carl  Fredrickson  flute,  Chris  Hansen 
clarionet,  Ras)nus  Fredi'ickson  bass. 

Following  are  tlie  parts  taken  by  each  member  of 
the  Emerson  Cornet  band:  ^l.  M.  Engelen  and  Chas. 
Borowsky  solo  B  flat  cornet,  C.  W.  JVlcQuaid  solo  alto, 
T.  Kuntz  1st  alto.  Z.  M.  Baird  2nd  alto,  Chris  Larson 
1st  tenor,  H.  D.  Engelen  baritone,  James  Bannon  tuba, 
J,  H.  Winters  snare  drum,  John  Bannon  bass  drum 
and  cymbals. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 

CHAPTER  XVII. 


Pioneer  Settlers  of  1855, 

Jesse  Wiole,  the  sage  of  the  pioneers,  and  first  set- 
tler of  Dakota  county,  journeying  across  the  uninhabited 
Jands  of  the  west,  halted  one  pleasant  morning  in  June, 
1855,  upon  the  present  site  of  South  Sioux  City.  He 
3)eheld  the  high  bluffs  more  than  twenty  miles 
$iway  to  the  south  and  southwest,  but  no  where  over 
all  this  great  scope  of  country  were  there  any  signs  of 
•civilization — it  was  one  vaet  wilderness,  where  the  song- 
sters of  the  groves  and  the  wild  animals  of  the  prairie 
:and  forest  lived  unmolested.  He  was  looking  for  a 
location,  and  ix)w  he  had  found  the  land  of  his  choice. 
Ketracing  his  steps  back  over  the  wiW  prairies  of  north- 
western  Iowa  to  get  his  lamily,  lie  again  landed  upon 
the  baidss  of  the  Missouri  river  in  August,  opposite 
•^vhere  Dakota  City  no'w"  staiids,  and  on  the  17th  crossed 
•over  to  Nebraska.  After  looking  over  the  country  for 
two  days  he  crossed  the  river  to  n-armte  to  his  irlends 
.;glowingaec<:nints  of  tlie  rich  and  beautiful  country  he 
had  seen.  So  strong  was  his  enthusiasm  he  determined 
that  hencefortli  iiis  abode  would  be  upon  the  soil  of 
Dakota  county,  and  on  the  19th  of  August,  1855, 
crossed  his  family  to  Nebr.asJia^wlikOi  was  the  iiist  wjjite 


164  waknek's  history  of  Dakota  county. 

family  that  settled  in  the  county.  Pie  crossed  on  Dr. 
J.  D.  M.  Crockwell's  ferry  boat.  Along  with  him 
came  Spencer  Moore,  Robert  and  William  Pilgrim, 
and  others.  They  camped  the  night  of  the  20th  at 
the  foot  of  the  bluffs  near  where  John  Brannt  now 
lives.  Just  tifty-one  years  before  this,  on  the  morn- 
ing of  August  20,  1804,  Lewis  and  Clarke  set  sail  from 
a  point  on  the  river  near  where  Omadi  used  to  stand, 
and  camped  in  the  evening  on  the  Floyd.  During 
that  day  Sergeant  Floyd  died,  and  was  buried  on  the 
high  bluffs  southeast  of  Sioux  City.  The  Jesse  Wigle 
party  next  camped  on  the  Col.  Baird  place,  where  they 
remained  until  march  17,  1856,  when  Mr.  Wigle  moved 
onto  the  tract  of  land  where  Homer  is  now  located, 
and  afterwards  settled  on  a  piece  of  land  north  of  wiiere 
Capt.  O'Connor  now  lives.  !Next  moved  to  Wigle  , 
Creek — so  named  in  honor  of  himself — in  1863.  Here 
he  lived  for  many  years  and  witnessed  the  transforma- 
tion of  a  wild  and  almost  uninhabited  country  into  a 
rich  and  prosperous  county,  as  we  behold  it  to-day.  In 
1883  he  moved  to  a  tract  of  land  east  of  Emerson,  on 
the  north  boundary  line  of  the  Winnebago  reservation, 
where  he  lived  to  the  time  of  his  death,  April  13,  1893, 
leaving  a  wife  and  three  children- — Marion,  Jason  and 
Loretta.  The  other  three  chihlren — Emma,  Mary  and 
Flora — are  dead.  Emma  was  the  first  child  bc>rn  in 
the  county.  Jesse  Wigle  was  born  January  29,  1825, 
at  Frankfort,  Ross  county,  Ohio.  Went  with  his  parents 
to  Union  county,  Ohio,  and  from  there  to  Jefferson 
county,  low^a,  in  1847,  where  he  was  married  to  Nancy 
H.  Burdett,  August  9,  1849.  Afterwards  went  to  El- 
dora,  Harden  county,  Iowa.  Started  westward  in 
search  of  a  home  in  1855. 

George  T.  Woods,  in  company  with  a  Frenchman 
and  two  Blackfeet  Indians,  rowed  across  the  Missoui-i 
river  to  Nebraska  in  a  skiff'  on  the  1st  day  of  July, 
1855.  He  had  come  over  to  look  at  the  country;  went 
afoot  to  the  Col.  Baird  bluffs,  had  wild   turkey  for  din- 


SETTLERS  OF   1855.  165 

ner;  thence  soutlnvard  to  what  is  dow  known  as  the 
Titn  Murphy  place,  and  here  on  the  afternoon  of  July 
1,  1855,  he  drove  down  the  first  claim  stake  ever  driven 
into  Dakota  county  soil.  There  were  no  impressive 
ceremonies  or  eloquent  ''corner-stone"  speeches  on  the 
occasion,  although  it  will  ever  stand  out  as  a  very  im- 
portant step  in  the  history  of  the  county.  On  the  1st 
of  September  Chunr.ey  A.  Ilorr  and  Moses  Xreps 
crossed  the  river  with  him,  and  they  be^an  bniklini)^  a 
log  cabin  where  Omadi  was  afterwards  located.  This  is 
supposed  to  have  beau  the  first  house  erected  in  the 
county.  They  were  getting  ready  to  build  a  saw  mill  on 
Omaha  creek.  Mr.  Woods  foresaw  the  couiing  of 
future  events;  he  reasoned  tliat  a  luiman  tide  would 
soon  roll  across  the  fertile  prairies  of  JS'ebraska,  and  a 
great  quantity  of  lumber  would  be  required  to  satisfy 
the  demand.  While  they  were  at  work  a  band  of  In- 
dians came  along  and  took  all  of  their  provisions  and 
everything  else  they  could  get  their  hands  on,  includ- 
ing their  boat,  "and,"  says  Mr.  Woods,  "they  came  very 
nearly  taking  our  scalps."  They  were  now  left  with- 
out a  mouthful  of  provisions  and  without  any  means  of 
renching  the  Iowa  siiore.  They  found  a  dead  hawk, 
which  was  all  they  had  to  eat  for  three  days,  when  a 
Frenchman  happened  to  come  along  with  a  boat  and 
rook  them  across  the  river.  But  this  little  drawback 
did  not  keep  them  from  returning  to  Kebraska  and 
completing  the  saw  mill,  which  was  put  into  operation 
on  the  1st  of  April,  1856.  Sold  lumber  at  ^'60  per 
1,000  feet.  The  first  lumber  sawed  by  this  mill  and 
sold  to  the  settlers  was  used  to  build  Gideon  Warner's 
old  house.  Began  running  a  steam  saw  mill  in  Omadi 
November,  1856;  was  also  engaged  in  the  butchering 
business  in  the  lall  of  1856,  killing  as  high  as  four 
beeves  in  one  day,  on  certain  occasions,  to  feed  the 
hungry  travelers  who  were  pouring  into  the  counti-y. 
In  the  meantime,  he  had  abandoned  the  Tim  Murphy 
claim  and    had   taken   what    is   now    known  as  the  old 


166  WARKEr's  IlISTdRY  OF  DAKOTA  COrNTY. 

Charles  Bliven  place,  as  the  latter  was  much  nearer  to 
where  he  wa?  at  work  in  tiie  saw  mill,  b'ebruary  27, 
1857,  he  started  for  Colorado,  came  back  the  next  fail. 
Was  married  to  Catherine  Ream,  sister  of  Henry 
Ream,  September  23,  1860,  in  Omadi,  by  Elder  Smith. 
Moved  on  the  D.  Y.  llileman  place  in  1861,  having 
previously  purchased  tlie  same  of  George  Fangley.  En- 
listed in  Company  I,  Second  Nebraska  Cavalry,  October, 
1862;  mustered  out  November  19,  1863.  Engaged  in 
farming  until  1881,  when  he  commenced  building  the 
Oak's  mill,  situated  one  and  one-half  miles  north  of 
Homer.  He  has  from  time  to  time  been  encragecl  in 
brick  burning — made  the  brick  used  to  build  the  court 
house,  the  industrial  school  building  at  the  Winnebago 
agency,  and  many  other  buildings  in  the  county.  Has 
since  been  eng-aged  in  farming,  general  merchandising^ 
etc.  Was  lirst  president  of  the  old  settlers'  association. 
Has  never  lost  his  residence  in  Dakota  county  since  his 
first  settlement  here.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Woods  there 
were  born  four  children — Ida,  Fannie,  Robert;  one  son 
died. 

George  T.  Woods  was  born  February  23,  1831,  in 
Chautauqua  county.  New  York.  March  9,  1854,  went 
to.  McHenry  countj,  Illinois;  remained  there  the  fol- 
lowing summer  and  then  went  to-  Delaware  county, 
Iowa,  and  engai^ed  in  wagon  makino'.  Came  to  Wood- 
bury  county,  Iowa,  May  3,  1S55, 

Henry  Ream,  as  has  been  before  stated,  crossed 
the  Missouri  river  to  Dakota  county  on  the  15th  day 
of  May,  1855.  Before  him  stretched  one  vast  wilder- 
ness where  the  tread  of  civiliziitio-n  was  yet  unknown.. 
He  made  his  way  afoot  to  the  high  blull's  where  Col. 
Baird  afterwards  located.  The  grass  and  weeds  were- 
more  than  ten  feet  high,  and  it  was,  indeed,  a  weary 
journey.  But  long  before  he  again  readied  the  lowtii 
shore,  the  marvelous  richness  and  fertility  of  the  soil 
had  been  fully  determined  by  him.  To  iiimself  he- 
kept  repeating  over  and    over    again  L     ''Upon,  this  fair 


SETTLERS  OF  1855.  167 

];in(l  I  will  settle,  and  it  shall  ever  more  be  my  home." 
This  was  more  than  thirty-eight  years  ago,  and  Henry 
Ream  is  still  living  up  to  his  promise,  on  liis  farm  ad- 
joining Homer  on  the  east. 

On  the  1st  day  of  May,  1856,  he  moved  his  family 
from  Sergeant  Blutfi  to  old  Omadi,  and  lived  in  a  tent 
while  he  was  constructino  a  residerice.  He  opened  np 
the  first  hotel,  and  was  tlie  hrst  postmaster.  Settled 
on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides  in  1864,  but  his  wife 
soon  afterwards  died  and  he  moved  to  Dakota  City, 
where  he  took  charge  of  the  Bates  House.  Was  mar- 
ried a  second  time,  to  Mrs.  Almeda  Hirsch,  widow  of 
Abraham  Hirsch.  Mrs.  Hirsch  was  one  of  first  pio- 
neer women  to  reach  Dakota  county,  and  the  second 
child  that  died  in  the  county  was  an  infant  daughter  of 
hers.  She  had  two  children  by  her  iirst  husband — 
Frank  and  Luella.  Mr.  Keam  has  five  children  by  his 
first  wife — Marcellus  M.,  Charles,  John,  Mrs.  Mary  R. 
McBeath  and  Mrs.  Fannie  Easton.  By  their  second 
marriage  they  have  four  children — Nina  M.,  Mabel, 
Leon  and  William.      Moved  back  to  their  farm  in  1871. 

Henry  Ream  was  born  in  Somerset  cuunty,  Penn- 
sylvania, in  1822,  and  came  west  in  1853. 

A.  H.  Baker  came  strolling  along  through  the 
west  and  crossed  over  the  river  to  Dakota  county 
August  23.  1855.  He  was  "young  and  full  of  vim," 
an(l  went  to  work  building  a  saw  mill  on  Omaha  creek, 
near  the  town  of  Oniadi.  Besides  himself  there  were 
interested  in  this  mill,  Jacob  Hallock,  Geo.  T.  Woods 
and  Chauncey  A.  Horr.  It  was  one  of  the  finest  mill 
sites  ever  seen  in  this  part  of  the  country.  Omaha 
Creek  at  that  time  made  a  square  angle  about  a  mile 
south  of  where  is  now  located  the  Gideon  Warner 
farm,  and  turning  southward  until  it  reached  the  bluflfs, 
thence  east  to  the  river  below  Blyburg.  But  during 
the  Hood  in  the  spring  of  1857,  when  a  great  volume 
of  water  broke  over  the  river  bank  above  old  St.  Johns, 
and  rushing  down  along  the  bluff's  past  Col.  H.  Baird's 


168  ■  Warner's  HISTORY  OF  DAKOTA  county. 

place  into  Omaha    Creek,  so  great   was  the   pressure  of 
this  vast  amount  of  water  that  it  cut  a  channel  straicrlu 
through  to  the  river.     It  was   in  the   summer  of   1855 
when  he,  in  company  with   George  T.  Woods,  William 
Clieney  and  others,  crossed  tlie  Missouri  river  and  went 
on  a  claim-hunting  expedition.     Tliey  crossed  over  at 
Omadi,  went  south   to  the    bluffs    through  liigli  grass, 
jungles,  mud,  water,  cre«eks   and    the    wildest    looking 
country  ever  seen  by  mortal  eyes    in    the  west.     Went 
eastward  along  the  blulfs  to  Blyburg,  struck  across  the 
hills  to  Squaw  Creek,  where  Samuel  Eymell  lives,  then 
to  where  Homer  now  stands   and  on  up  to  Col.  Baird's 
place.     Here   they    crossed    and  re-crossed   the    creek. 
Every  time  they  came  to  a  bead  in  the  stream  they  sup- 
posed it  was  another    creek    and   would   plunge  in  and 
swim   across.     They    thought    they  had    nevei-    before 
seen  such  a  country    for    ci-eeks.     It    was    night  when 
they  reached  their  boats  at  Omadi,  and  a   more  weary, 
liungry  and  foot-sore  crowd   had  never   before  or  since 
been  seen  in  Dakota  county.     To  show  the  reader  what 
a  trip  they  made  that    day  we  will    state  that;  the  sauje 
Journey  can  hardly    be  male    to-day  by    the  strongest 
person,  when    he    would    have   the   advantage  of   good 
road*.     The    winter  of   1855   was   extremely  cold,  the 
mercury  never   getting   above   the   freezing  point  from 
the  23d   of   December  until   spring,  and  the  snow  was 
eighteen  inclies  deep  most  of  the  winter,  never  drifting 
in  the  least.    These    sturdy    pioneers    worked  away  at 
the  saw  mill,  and  by  spring  had  it  ready  to  go  to  saw- 
ing lumber.     They  sold  the    mill    and  bongiit  a  steam 
saw  mill    in   the    town    of    Omadi,     Here  Mr. '  Baker 
worked  about  seven  years.      Was   elected   county  com- 
missioner  at  the  first  election  held   in    Dakota  county^ 
ill  Xovem-ber,  1853.     In  the  summer  of  1858,  while  he- 
was  commissioner,  the  question  of  submitting  a  propo- 
sition to  the  vote  of  the   pjople  in  regard  to  changing 
the  county  seat  from    Dakota  City,  which   had  been  lo- 
cated there  by  an  act  of  the  legislature   passed.  January: 


i^ETTLERS  OF   185").  169 

23,  1856,  to  some  other  point,  came  up  lefoie  the  board 
for  action.  Tlie  affirmative  was  represented  by  John 
Talf,  negative  by  Wm.  Lockvvood,  Tafi  opening  tlie  dis- 
cussion. He  wanted  the  county  seat  moved  to  Oiriadi. 
Loud  was  his  voice,. and  defiantly  did  he  "saw-  the  air'* 
with  liis  long  arms.  Lockwood  replied  with  a  still 
more  fiery  speech,  and  it  looked  at  one  time  as  if  there 
would  be  a  mortal  combat  between  the  two  men.  Taff, 
who  was  afterwards  called  to  congress  from  this  state 
to  appear  before  the  nation's  Avise  debaters,  v/on  his 
point,  and  the  commissioners  allowed  the  people  to  vote 
on  the  proposition  August  2  of  that  year.  Dakota 
City  came  out  victorious.  Mr.  Baker  was  afterwards 
•elected  probate  judge  lor  Dakota  county.  But  let  us 
tell  you  what  he  had  done  in  the  meantime.  He  was 
not  contented  with  three  partners  in  the  milling  busi- 
ness; another  partner  seemed  essential  in  the  running 
•of  that  mill.  Now,  Jacob  Hallock  had  a  sister,  Miss 
Rose,  who  promised  to  be  Mr.  Baker's  partner  to  the 
end  of  life,  and  accordingly  on  the  20th  of  September, 
1857,  they  were  mai-riod,  and  liave  three  dangliters — 
Mrs.  Wifliam  Eckhart,  Mollie  and  JVellie. 

In  1863  he  removed  to  De2atur,  woik-ed  at  the 
an.nson  trade  al)out  two  years,  then  retuined  to  Dakota 
•City;  i-iin  a  saAV  mill,  which  stood  in  the  southwestern  , 
part  of  the  town,  two  jears,  then  removed  to  the 
Winnebago  agency,  ran  the  saw  mill  there  about 
two  years,  then  i-eturned  to  Dakota  City,  and  resided 
there  until  1884,  when  he  w-as  appointed  miller  and 
sawyer  at  the  Winnebago  agency  under  Agent  Wilkin- 
son, lie  has  also  been  member  of  the  Nebraska  legis- 
lature and  held  variems  other  offices.  Was  one  of  the 
partners  who  built  the  Emmit  inill  at  Jackson. 

Mr.  Baker  was  born  in  Chautauqua  county,  Kew 
York,  in  1834,  afterwards  came  to  McHenry  county, 
Illinois.  In  the  fall  of  1864  he  removed  to  Delaware 
<county,  Iowa.  Landed  on  Kebraska's  fertile  soil  Aug. 
.^3,  1855,  whicJi  has  ever  since  been  his  home.     By  his 


170  WAKMR's  BISTCI.T   Cr   TATXTA  COUKIY 

square  and  straightforward  dealings  with  his  fellowmen 
he  has  won  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  who  know 
him. 

KoBERT  Pilgrim  crossed  the  Missouri  river  at 
Sergeant  Bluffs  with  his  father,  William  Pilgrim,  Jesse 
Wigle  and  others,  on  the  19th  dav  of  August,  1855. 
They  camped  on  the  west  bank  of  the  river,  and  the 
next  day,  August  20,  proceeded  to  the  Col.  Baird  bluffs, 
where  they  camped  about  a  week,  and  then  moved  their 
tents  down  to  where  John  Braunt  now  lives.  Took  a 
claim  in  September  two  miles  east  of  Homer,  the 
old  Col.  Warner  place,  and  built  a  log  cabin  by  the 
spring  near  the  Spring  Grove  school  house,  in  district 
No.  14.  Lived  here  cluring  the  winter  of  1855-'56,  lit- 
tle dreaming  that  in  future  years  a  school  house  would 
be  reared  upon  the  site  of  his  lonely  winter  quarters. 
Was  married  in  1858  to  J\iereb  Braunt,  daughter  of 
Jeremian  Braunt,  who  then  lived  on  the  old 
Josinh  Davis  place.  He  went  to  Colorado,  and 
on  his  return  moved  to  the  Lewis  Blessing  place. 
Took  a  claim,  now  owned  by  Barney  Gribble,  on  Fid- 
dler's creek — so  named  from  the  fact  that  the  people 
who  lived  on  the  creek,  were  all  fiddlers. 

Robert  Pilgrim  was  born  February  15,  183C,  in 
Langeville,  Indiana.  He  went  to  Illinois  with  his 
parents  about  1842,  and  then  to  Iowa  in  1844,  where 
he  lived  until  1855,  when  he  started  for  iS^ebraska, 
Has  five  sons  and  three  daughters- — Jeremiah,  Will- 
iam H.,  Horatio,  John  K.  and  Ira;  Mrs.  R.  M.  Snyder, 
Mrs.  Bosa  Antrim  and  Melissa. 

Leonard  Bates,  in  company  with  ex-Governor 
Wm.  H.  James,  crossed  the  Missouri  river  at  Sergeant 
Bluffs  in  a  canoe  to  JS'ebraska  in  the  fall  of  1853,  but 
finding  nothing  but  brush  and  wild  jungles  they  re- 
turned to  the  Iowa  shore  with  the  opinion  that  JSebraska 
was  one  vast  brush  patch.  He  again  crossed  the  river 
in  the  fall  of  1855  and   wended  his  way  westward  until 


SETTLERS  OF  1855.  171 

he  came  to  the  beautiful  prairies  of  Dakota  county. 
Took  a  claim  which  is  low  cm  red  ly  John  Blessing 
and  Eph  Eunt.  Built  a  log  Ixuge  in  Logan  in  the 
summer  of  1856,  and  the  lolloMirg  winter  sold  the 
house  and  also  his  claim.  "Went  to  Sergeant  Bluffs 
and  remained  one  year,  when-  Ije  returned  to  Nebraska 
andj,took  a  claim  in  the  winter  »f  '56  and  'oT,  where 
he  now  lives,  three  miles  west  of  Dakota  City.  This 
claim  was  adjoining  Logan  on  the  west.  Went  to  Colo- 
rado in  1859.  About  this  time  he  csme  to  the  conclu- 
sion that  he  would  do  something  that  would  break  him 
of  moving  around  so  often,  and  accordingly  was  mar- 
ried to  jVlies  ^lay  "Weaver,  February  27,  1860,  in  Da- 
kota City,  by  Wm.  Denton,  a  United  Brethren  minis- 
ter. They  immediately  started  on  their  wedding  tour 
toji is  claim.  Here  he  has  lived  to  see,  as  it  were,  a 
vision  pass  belore  his  eyes.  The  wild  prairies  disap- 
pear and  behold  the  land  teeming  with  wealtli  and 
prosperity.  The  tcMn  of  Icgan  rites,  falls  and  decays 
until  to-day  there  is  no  trace  of  a  town  there.  Has 
five  children  living  and  one  dead.  Has  been  elected 
county  surveyor  four  times  on  the  Republican  ticket, 
and  was  chosen  as  vice  president  of  the  Pioneers  and 
Old  Settlers  Association  at  tlieir  annual  re-union, 
August  11,  1886,  and  elected  as  president  at  their  meet- 
ing September  1,  1888. 

Leonard  Bates  was  born  April  5,  1833,  in  "Winsor 
county,  Vermont.  Left  there  with  his  parents  when 
three  years  old  for  Indiana.  Went  to  Linn  county, 
Iowa,  in  1847,  and  was  engaged  in  farming.  Was  edu- 
catedin  the  public  schools.  Started  west  July  18,  1852, 
and  Ian  ded  in  vYoodltury  county,  Iowa,  August  8,  1852. 
Was  employed  by  the  government  to  survey  the  town- 
ship lines  between  the  Big  and  Little  Sioux  rivers.  One 
day  while  they  were  out  surveying  they  were  over- 
taken by  a  great  prairie  fire,  such  as  no  man  will  ever 
i^ee  again  in  this  section  of  country,  and  one  man  was 
burned    to  death   and   others  badly    injured,   but  Mr. 


172  wakner's  history  of  Dakota  coukty. 

Bates,  like  the  three  men  we  read  abont  in  tlie  Bible, 
came  out  of  the  lire  unharmed.  Took  a  claim  wh.ere 
Sergeant  Bluffs,  now  stands.  Thus  closes  the  history 
of  another  "sturdy  pioneer." 

CoL.  Baelon  Bajed,  on  the  27th  day  of  Septem- 
ber, 1855,  crossed  the  Missonri  river  to  Djttota  county 
and  proceeded  to  the  bluffs,  where  he  selected  the  farm 
on  which  he  has  lived  to  the  present  time, "about  eight 
miles  southeast  of  Dakota  City.  So  much  has  already 
been  said  in  regard  to  Col.  Baijd.  in  this  book,  that  to 
give  a  fall  biography  now  of  his  life  would  only  he  a 
repetition; 

.  His  good  and  noble  wife  died  June  5,  1.888,  leaving 
three  children — Thonuis  C,  Ileni'y  Clay  and  Emma, 
wife  of  Benjamin  Bridenbaugh. 

When  the  war  broke  out  he,  with  JWaj.  McBeatli, 
Mat  Patrick  and  Billy  Curl,  were  among  the  first  in 
Nebraska  to  otter  their  services  for  the  country's  good. 
They  enlisted  in  August,  1861,  in  the  Nebraska  cav- 
alry, a  batallion  raised  in  Omaha.'  This  was  after- 
wards consolidated  with  troops  from  Iowa,  Minnesota 
and  Missouri  and  an  independent  regiment  formed  and 
assigned  under  the  state  of  Iowa,  and  by  special  order 
was  made  the  Fifth  Iowa  Cavalry.  It  was  more  widely 
known  as  "Curtis  Horse"  cavalry.  They  were  known 
throughout  the  war  as  one  of  the  pluckiest  and  hardest 
fighting  regiments  on  the  ground.  He  mustered  in  as 
a  private,  was  selected  as  a  captain  by  his  comprny, 
and  by  promotion  soon  received  the  honor  of  C(.)lonel. 
He'  to-day  suffers  from  wounds  received' while  fighting 
for  his  country.  He  was  discharged'  from  the  service 
July  27,  1865.  Wlien  Nebraska  was  hi'st  admitted  as 
a  state  Col.  Baird  was  wisely  s'elected  by  the  people  of 
Dakota  county  to  represent  them  in  the  legislature,  and 
he  did  much  work  in  helping  to  frame  and  adopt  the 
constitution.  It  was  at  this  session  that  the  great 
tight  was  for  the  removal  of  tJie  state  capital,  Columbus 
and  Lincoln  being    the  two    leading    points.     Alter  it 


SKTTLERS  OF   1855.  178 

was  found  that  TJncoln  had  a  majority  of  the  votes  all 
those  who  had  voted  for  Columbus  had  changed  their 
votes  to  Lincoln  but  the  colonel,  and  if  the  records  are 
correct,  his  vote  alone  will  ba  found  standing  there  in 
favor  of  Columbus,  He  believed  Columbus  to  be  the 
proper  place  for  the  state  capital,  and  he  intended  to 
stand  l)y  his  belief.  He  has  always  been  an  unswerv- 
ing Republican. 

Charles  Rouleaux  was  an  Indian  trader  in  Da- 
kota county  in  1855.  Took  a  claim,  which  was  subse- 
quently tlie  town  site  of  Omadi;  afterwards  laid  out 
the  town  of  Rulo  in  the  southern  part  of  the  state, 
where  he  died. 

Judge  Thomas  L.  Griffey  was  standing  on  the 
east  bank  of  the  Missouri  river,  some  three  miles  below 
where  Sioux  City  is  now  located,  in  the  fall  of  1851. 
and  saw  several  deer  come  down  to  the  water  on  the 
opposite  side  to  drink.  He  was  just  as  fond  of  hunt- 
ing then  as  he  was  all  his  life,  and  forthwith  he  pro- 
ceeded to  cross  the  river  on  a  hunting  expedition, 
which  was  the  first  time  he  had  ever  touched  the  soil 
of  Dakota  county.  "At  this  time,"  said  Mr.  Griifey, 
"there  w^as  the  most  dense  timber  and  the  largest  trees 
l)etween  where  Dakota  City  and  Covington  now  stand 
that  I  ever  saw  in  my  life."  T.  L.  Griffey  was  born 
June  28,  1827,  in  Alexandria,  Campbell  county,  Ken- 
tucky; went  to  Kanesvilie,  now  Council  Bluffs,  in 
March,  1849;  was  on  his  way  to  Colorado,  but  was 
taken  sick  and  postponed,  the  trip- indefinitely;  first 
stepped  upon  the  soil  of  Nsbragka  territory  in  1850; 
started  up  the  Missouri  river  from  Council  Bluffs  in 
the  fall  of  iS51  with  a  load  of  groceries  to  trade  to  the 
Indians  for  furs;  established  a.  trading  post  .  where 
Woodbury  is  now  located;  ^vas  married  August  7,  1853, 
to  iMary  I.  Brown,  daughter  of  Rev.  Samuel  Brown,  a 
Methodist  minister,  who  lived  near  Council  Bluffs,  In 
the  fall  of  1853  was  employed  by  United    States  Indian 


174  warnee's  histoky  op  dakota  county. 

Agent  Ilepner  to  escort  a  delegation  of  Onialia  Indians 
of  whom  tfie  Fontenelle  boys  were  leaders,  up  the  river 
to  look  at  a  tract  of  land  .ubove  where  Ponca  was  after- 
wards located,  and  .f  they  chose  to  do  so  the  govern- 
ment gave  them  the  right  to  select  land  there  in  lieu 
of  the  reservation  on  which  they  are  now  living.  They 
concluded  they  would  select  the  latter  for  their  home. 
The  first  night  the  party  camped  on  what  was  after- 
wards to  be  known  as  the  Col.  Baird  farm.  When 
they  awoke  the  next  morning  they  found  a  bee  tree  di- 
rectly above  their  tents,  from  wliich  over  fifty  pounds 
of  honey  was  obtained.  After  the  party  had  returned 
from  up  the  river  they  proceeded  to  the  mouth  of  Wood 
creek,  where  the  town  of  Decatur  was  afterwards  built, 
and  began  selecting  a  tract  of  land  to  contain  about 
3CO,000  acres,  which  is  now  called  the  Omaha  reserva- 
tion. Mr.  Ciriifey  drove  down  the  initial  stake  about  a 
hundred  yards  from  the  bank  of  the  river,  immediately 
north  of  the  forty-second  parallel  of  north  latitude. 
They  then  surveyed  about  twenty-four  miles  due  west, 
eighteen  miles  north,  and  thence  east  to  the  Missouri 
river  below  Blyburg.  In  1854  helped  to  frame  the 
territorial  government  of  Nebraska,  named  all  the 
northern  counties,  including  Dakota  county,  which  at 
that  time  was  spelled  Dacotah.  He  organized  Wood- 
bury county,  appointed  a  full  set  of  county  ofHcors  and 
located  the  county  seat  near  the  grave  of  Sergeant 
Floyd,  below  Sioux  City,  and  named  the  town  Sergeant 
Bluffs,  which  was  afterwards  moved  to  a  point  opposite 
Dakota  City  and  called  Sergeant  Bluffs.  In  1856  took 
a  claim  within  the  present  limit  of  Sioux  City,  which 
to  this  day  is  known  as  the  Griffey  addition;  sold  his 
entire  interest  in  the  land  which  had  been  in  litigation 
for  many  years  by  the  Iowa  Falls  and  Sioux  City  rail- 
road company  to  S.  T.  Davis,  of  Sioux  City,  for  more 
than  ^25,000.  Was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Sioux  City 
in  1856,  and  went  into  the  law  and  real  estate  business. 
Located  in   Covington   in   1857  and   moved  his  family 


SETTLERS  OF   1855.  175 

there  in  the  spring  of  185S.  In  the  spi'inor  of  185U 
went  to  Pike'a  Peak  and  returned  in  the  fall.  His 
family  had  the  ague,  so  he  concluded  to  get  np  on 
liigher  ground  and  niov^ed  to  Cedar  county  in  1860. 
Moved  to  Dakota  City  in  1S61;  was  deputy  county 
clerk  in  181)2  under  Dr.  G.  B.  Graff,  in  1862  he  err. 
listed  in  C.)inpany  I,  Second  JN'ebra-.ka  Cavalry,  under 
coniniand  of  Gov.  Robert  W.  Furnas.  Marched  up 
the  river  to  Ft.  Sully  and  fought  in  the  battle  of  White 
Stone  iJill  against  the  Indian  warriors.  Was  orderly 
sergeant,  and  was  mustered  out  November,  1868. 
Served  in  territorial  council  from  1864  lo  1866;  was 
elected  on  tlie  Demosratic  ticket  in  a  strong  Repub- 
lican district  against  Hon.  Ex-Governor  William  II. 
James,  and  was  appointed  on  the  committee  on  scliools, 
where  !i6  did  niucli  hard  work  to  shape  and  mold  the 
school  laws  for  Nebraska.  Was  county  attorney  for 
seven  yjirs.  [n  1875  was  elected  judge  ot  the  Sixth 
judicial  district  of  Nebraska  on  the  Democratic  ticket, 
against  Hon.  E.  K.  Valentine,  Republican.  Served  on 
the  bench  more  than  a  year,  when  he  was  counted  out  by 
a  Republican  legislature  which  decided  that  Valentine 
had  oeen  decte  f  by  2  ani  21-100  votes.  On  the  26th 
day  of  May,  1882,  was  stricken  with  apoplexy,  which 
rendered  his  left  side  useless.  Up  to  this  time  he  was 
enjoying  one  of  the  largest  law  practices  ever  acquired 
l>y  any  one  man  in  the  county  bef  >re  or  since.  His 
wife  died  in  October,  1885,  leaving  four  children,  of 
which  three  are  dead.  Was  for  years  one  of  the 
heaviest  tax  payers  of  the  county,  and  ever  took  a  deep 
interest  in  the  agricultural  advancement  of  Dakota 
county.  Was  the  lirst  president  of  the  Dakota  County 
Farmers'  Institute,  organized  in  1886.  In  1885  moved 
on  his  farm  a  short  distance  northeast  of  Dokota  City, 
builr,  a  substintiai  residence,  good  barn  and  other  com- 
fortable out  buildings  for  stock.  It  is  a  strange  coin- 
cideiu^e  tliat  he  settled  near  the  spot  whei-e  in  the  fall 
of  1851  he  crossed  tlie  river  io  Dakota  county,  long  be- 


J7t)  WAKNKk's  HISTORY   OF  DAKU'JA    ooL:^•T^. 

fore  there  was  ;i  solitai'Y  white  man  there:  when  tliere 
was  no  Sioux  City  and  the  county  was  wihl  and  in  its 
priirieval  state.  How  uiarvelous  it  must  seem  to  a  man 
to  liave  seen  this  country  in  its-  uninliahited  condition 
and  then  look  iij)oii  it  in  its  pi-esent,  wonderful,  pros- 
perity. He  died  at  ins  home  in  Sioux  City,  iowa, 
January  1,  18U2. 

John  13.  Akteaix,  in  company  with  Cliaries  llou- 
leaux,  crossed  tlie  .MissiHiri  river  in  a  canoe  to  whei-e 
Oniadi  was  af  terwaids  founded,  and  selected  his  claim 
September  5,  1855,  whicli  is  situated  west  o!:  the  Gideon 
Warner  place  on  Omaha  creek.  Jle  visited  Dakota 
county  prior  to  this,  June  (i,  1851,  while  employed  by 
the  i:\merican  Fur  company,  and  in  1853,  wnen  he 
camped  on  tiie  subscipient  town  site  of  Ojnadi.  lit. 
liv'edin  Dakota  coir.itv  until  1884,  when  he  moved  to 
Sioux  City,  Iowa,  uhere  he  has  since  resided. 

B.  M.  PizY  was  born  in  England,  and  visited  what 
is  to-day  Dak<jta  county  in  April,  1850.  He  was  Sioux 
City's  pioneer  stage  di'iver.  Afterwards  settled  in  Da- 
kota City,  where  he  now  resides.  Was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  Pndcerton,  a  pioneer  school  teacher  of  the  county., 
in  September,  1864.  Has  two  sons — Alfred  and. 
Paulding. 

Moses  Ki^Erscame  to  Daktita  county  in  the  fall  of 
1855.  Took  a  claim  in  Omadi  precinct,  now  ownel  by 
David  Waterman.      He    is  now  living    in    Dakota  City. 

Horace  Dutton  rode  on  a  horse  across  the  unin- 
habited lauds  of  Iowa  in  July,  1855.  Tlrere  were  no 
roads,  and  he  lost  his  way  and  for  two  diays  did  not 
see  a  human  being.  Fir'aily  he  reached  Woodbury,, 
losva,  vviiere  hj  rjmainal  ua;;il  Dacembar  (5,  1855v 
when  he  cro.sse;!  over  the  river  to  Dakota  county  and 
took  a  claim  where  John  Joyce  now  lives.  Spent  thai: 
winter  in  the  Covington  timber  hauling  wood,  to  Sioux. 
City.  Enlisted  in  Company  1),  Fifth  Iowa  Cavnlry,  in. 
jN'ovenrber,  1861  aud    served    four    years.      Jlarried   to- 


SETTLERS  OF   1855.  177 

Sarah  Sanlsberry  in  1867  and  settled  on  a  farm  five 
miles  west  of  Dakota  City,  where  he  resides  at  present. 
They  have  two  daughters — Maud  and  Knth. 

Squire  Dutton  came  to  Dakota  county  with  liis 
brother,  Horace,  December  6,  1855.  Settled  in  Logan. 
Died  at  his  home  in  Pagosa  Springs,  Colo.,  December, 
1885,  leavincr  a  widow  and  two  sons. 

John  J.  Trecy  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1827.  Emi- 
grated to  America  with  his  parents  in  1833,  and  located 
in  Lancaster,  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania;  in  1854, 
with  tiie  family  m<.ved  to  Dubuque,  Iowa;  in  the  sum- 
er  of  1855,  in  company  with  his  brother,  Father  Trecy, 
who  vvas  then  looking  for  a  location  to  establish  a 
colony,  drove  across  the  state  of  Iowa,  locating  in  what 
is  now  called  Old  St.  Johns.  In  1862  was  married  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  McLaughlin,  and  moved  to  Huntsville, 
Alabama,  returning  to  Dakota  county  in  1870.  In 
1881  they  moved  to  Wayne,  JN'ebraska,  where  they  now^ 
i-eside.  Tliev  have  fivechildrjen — Francis  S.,  Augustus 
J.,  liaymond  J.,  Mrs.  Minnie  Frazier  and  Mrs.  Annie 
Ivohl.  He  was  one  of  the  first  commissioners  of  Da- 
ki^ta  county,  being  re-elected  October   11.  1859. 

John  and  William  Bay  came  to  Dakota  county, 
in  1855,  and  started  a  general  store  in  Omadi.  John 
afterwards  went  to  Washington  Territory  and  William 
went  to  Illinois. 

Edward  0.  Jones  was  born  in  1832  in  West 
Meath  county,  Ireland,  and  came  with  his  parents  to 
America  in  183B.  Came  to  Dakota  county  in  1855,, 
returned  to  low^a  and,  in  con.)pauy  with  Trecy's  colony, 
lagriin  renched  this  county  June  1,  1856.  Enlisted  in 
tlie  war  for  the  Union,  and  served  two  years.  Was 
•also  member  of  the  territorial  legislature  in  1857  and 
1858.  Died  at  Neblette  Lauding,  Boliver  county, 
Aliss.,  April  13,  188J. 

Gustaye  Pecaut  w^as  born  in  Switzerland  in  1826. 
'Came  to  /imerica  and  crossed  the  Missouri  river  where 


178  wakkek's  history  oi<  Dakota  couisTy, 

Sioux  City  was  al'teiNvaids  luilt,  in  1852,  selecting  a 
claim  wLeie  Covington  is  now  located.  In  1S54  built 
the  first  log  cabin  in  the  county.  In  those  days  deer 
were  very  plentiful  in  the  lai'ge  timbei-  of  tliat  vicinity, 
and  he  Idlled  many  of  them.  Was  married  to  Miss 
Clii'istiana  Held  lelnuai'y  10,  ISoU,  near  Jaclvson. 
Have  tliree  sons  and  one  daughter.  Moved  to  Sioux 
City,  Iowa,  in  1871,  where  lie  has  a  good,  comfortable 
home  on  the  very  soil  which  years  ago  lie  beheld  in  its 
wild,  primeval  state,  coveied  with  lank  prairie  grass. 

Marcellus  M.  Ream  was  born  April  14,  1848 
Came  with  his  parents  to  Sergeant  BlufTs,  Iowa,  in  the 
summer  of  1855,  and  the  10th  of  Cctober  crossed  over 
the  Missouri  river  to  Dakota  county,  being  the  first 
white  boy  to  cross  the  river.  His  parents  moved  to 
Omadi  in  the  spring  of  1856,  and  he  attended  the  first 
school  ever  taught  in  the  county,  by  Miss  Putnam. 
Afterwards  went  to  school  to  G.  W.  "Wilkinson.  Was 
married  to  Miss  Jennie  Eroyhill  May  8,  1871,  in  Da- 
kota City,  where  he  has  resided  to  the  present  time. 
Was  clerk  in  the  Land  Office  and  deputy  county  clerk 
for  Henry  Stott,  Have  one  child,  a  daughter — Edna. 
Postofiice  address,  Dakota  City. 

Jacob  H.  HALLOCKwas  born  October  11,  1833,  in 
Bath,  Stueben  county,  New  York.  Arrived  at  Sergeant 
Bluff's,  Iowa,  about  the  1st  of  May,  1855,  and  about 
the  1st  of  July,  in  company  with  George  T.  Woods  and 
others  crossed  the  Missouri  river  at  a  point  above 
where  Dakota  City  was  aiterwaids  Itcaltd.  Went  up 
to  the  blufls  at  a  point  wliich  \\as  later  named  St. 
Johns,  then  to  where  Ponca  is  now  built,  and  then 
down  to  where  Col.  Baird  subsequently  settled. 
Helped  to  build  one  of  the  first  log  cabins  erected  in 
the  county,  and  also  helped  to  build  the  first  saw  mill, 
in  the  winter  of  1855-5(3,  in  Omr.di.  Was  elected  first 
county  clerk  in  1856,  while  absent  in  Kew  York  to  get 
the  girl  he  left  beliind    hiii: — Miss  Mary   O.    Nash- 


SETTLERS  OF  1856.  l''^ 

m-Ikhii  lie  iiiMiricd  at  Ciibji,  Kew  York,  IS'ovtirjl  er  10, 
1856.  In  1862,  assisted  in  oigaiiizing  Ccrajfiny  1, 
Second  JNebraska  Cavalry,  and  was  second  lieutenant 
of  that  company,  mustered  out  in  December  1863, 
and  moved  to   Cuba,  IStw    To)k,  vLere  he  still  resides 

SETTLEK8  OF  1856. 

Wm.  C.  McBeath,  jouriieying  into  the  wild  west, 
crossed  over  the  JVli^souri  liver  in  the  sj,riEg  of  1856 
aud  branded  Nebraska  as  liis  state,  Dakota  as  his 
county  and  Omadi  for  liis  home.  Here  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  business  for  nearly  three  years. 
He  Mas  a  kind  and  generous  hearted  man,  and  the  suf- 
fering caused  by  tlie  severe  winters  of  1856  and  1857 
offered  an  opportunity  for  testing  these  predominating 
traits  of  character.  "Times  were  hard,"  the  pioneers 
were  on  the  eve  of  starvation  and  the  future  prc>spect 
for  Dakota  county  was  decidedly  gloomy,  l^ut  this 
generous  hearted  merchant  of  Omadi  was  equal  to  the 
emei-gency.  He  sent  word  to  all  the  needy  pioneers 
that  they  could  have  flour  or  anything  else  he  Lad  in 
liis  store,  and  pay  for  it  when  they  got  able  to  do  so. 
Although  thirty  years  of  wonderful  changes  have  passed 
away,  those  pioneers,  now  grown  old,  with  whitened 
locks,  still  revere  and  hold  in  sacred  remembrance  the 
honored  name  ofWm.  C.  McBeath.  When  the  war 
broke  out  he  enlisted  in  Company  D,  Fifth  Iowa  Cav- 
airy,  promoted  to  second  lieutenant  in  1862, afterwards 
fri'st*lieutenant.  In  August,  1868,  was  promoted  to 
captain  on  account  of  the  deaih  of  Capt.  Win.  Curl. 
]n  June,  1865,  for  gallant  and  efficient  service  as  a 
-soldier,  he  was  promoted  to  major,  wdiich  position  he 
held  when  he  was  musteied  out,  September,  1865. 
Kemained  south  abvut  tliree  yeais,  then  returned  t© 
Dakota  county,  t'oon  after  was  tnarried  to  Mary 
lieam,  eldest  daughter  of  Henry  Eeam.  The  grateful 
people  lemembering  his  lavors  to  then),  felt  that  a 
Iriend  in  need  was  a    fi'ieiul    indeed — that    they   owed 


180 


WARNER  S  HISTCiRY  OF  DAKOTA  COUNTY 


liim  sometliing,  and  pi-oceeded  to  elect  liiin  county 
clerk  twelve  years  in  succeesion,  beginning  January  1, 
1870.  and  ending  January  1,  1882.  Under  Dr.  G.'W. 
Wilkinson's  administration  as  agent  tor  the  Winnebago 
and  Omalia  Indians,  he  was  appointed  to  the  position 
of  clerk  at  the  Winnebago  agency ;  ai'terwaids  appointed 
snperintendent  of  the  industrial  school  at  the  Omaha 
agency.  After  this  his  liealth  began  to  fail,  and  he 
took  a  trip  to  Eosebnd  agency,  in  the  hope  of  regain- 
ing his  strength.  He  was  horn  in  Wayne  county,  Ky., 
November  15,  1833.  Died  at  his  residence  in  Dakota 
City,  Nebraska,  March  30,  1886.  Mrs.  Mary  R.  Mc- 
Ijeath  and  two  children — George  and  Mrs.  Gertie  Best 
— survive  hiuj,  and  reside  in  Dakota  City. 

Thomas  Asuford  made  his  first  footprints  upon 
Nebraska  soil  on  the  morning  of  March  lU,  1856,  and 
since  that  time  his  vigilant ''footprints"  have  ever  borne 
a  conspicuous  part  in  the  general  history  of  Dakota 
county.  In  1858  he  burned  a  kiln  of  brick  for  AVill- 
iam  Ashburn,  who  was  intending  to  build  a  large  hotel 
in  Omadi  and  "was  putting  on  lots  of  style,"'  says  iVir. 
Ashford,  "just  like  many  other  people  who  have 
no  money."  i^nd  sure  enough,  he  didn't  have  any 
money  except  what  he  swindled  the  people  out  of.  He 
'^skipped  out,"  and  thus  left  Mr.  Ashford  with  a  lot  of 
brick  on  his  hands,  some  of  which  he  eold  to  the  fet- 
tlers.  Went  to  Colorado  in  ]859  and  remained  theie 
nearly  two  years,  engaged  in  mining.  Came  back  to 
Dakota  county  in  November,  1860,  to  look  after  his 
claim,  which  lie  liad  taken  previous  to  his  trip  to  Colo- 
rado. This  claim  is  the  one  wliere  he  lives  at  the 
present  time,  located  a  mile  east  of  Homer.  He  now 
found  use  for  the  biick  that  he  still  owned  in  Omadi, 
and  built  a  substantial  dAveliing  on  his  claim  with 
them.  It  was  now  more  than  six  years  since  he  had 
come  to  Nebraska,  and  he  saw  that  if  he  ever  expected 
to  accomplish  much  in  the  wOrld  he  must  immediately 
■^settle  down  to  business,''    and  in  order    to    do  tiiis  he 


SKTTLKKS  OF    ISoG.  ISl 

iiin>t  have  somo  one  to  li'lpliiiu  out  with  it.  Maggie 
Dnggaii,  sister  of  Hon.  Daniel  Diiggan,  of  Jackson, 
\\  as  also  studying  the  sairie  proposition,  and  somehow 
"!•  another — the  worhl  will  pr.)h,d)ly  never  know  how  it 
ilid  happen — but  liistoi-y  tells  us  that  they  were  niar- 
li-'d  ill  the  Catholic  chu'ch  at  Jackson,  Nebraska, 
.V|)ril  1,  1861.  'I'hey  '-settled  down"  on  his  claim, 
whei-e  they  ha\"e  since  i-esided  to  the  present  time- — 
lived  to  see  tin  country  all  ai'ouiid  th3m  seftled  up,  and 
none  but  those  w!io  saw  it  in  those  days  can  iniacrine 
the  great  contrast  between  tlie  landscape  then  and  the 
civilized  condition  in  which  we  behold  it  to-day.  Mr. 
Ashford's  life  has  been  a  busy  one,  both  on  the  farm 
and  in  public  enterprise,  inchiding  politics.  He  has  a 
first- class  farm,  a  pleasant  hotne,  and  many  warm 
friends.  A  person  is  naturally  led  to  admire  the  energy 
and  enterpi-ise  that,  spurs  a  man  on  from  compirative 
obscurity  to  wealth  and  a  higher  estimaticm  among  his 
fellownjen.  The  record  of  such  lives  should  evei-  be 
prominently  displayed  before  the  people  as  guiding 
landmarks  and  lasting  examples  to  many  of  the  young 
men  who  are  wdiiling  away  the  springtime  of  theii- 
lives  in  idle  shiftlessness.  Tlius,witli  this  aim  in  view, 
we  tliought,  per  chance,  some  wayward  traveler  reading 
about  those  heroic  veterans  of  early  days,  might  ''take 
lieai-fc  again,"  pick  up  his  gripsack  and  p;iss  on  thi-ough 
this  vale  of  tears  with  a  lighter  spirit  toward  the  goal 
of  honor  and  respectability.  He  was  born  April  10, 
1828,  in  vVicklow  county,  Ireland.  In  1849  he  came 
across  the  ocean  and  lar.ded  at  New  Orleans,  and  after 
J'emaining  there  two  months  went  to  Cincinnati  by 
steamboat.  In  the  spring  of  1850  went  to  Butler, 
Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  and  remained  tliere  two  years. 
Ill  1853  went  to  Indiana;  lived  there  until  February, 
1856,  when  he  began  prepai'ations  for  that  memorable 
joni-ney  to  Nebraska,  which  was  undoubtedly  the 
luckiest  move  of  his  life.  Has  six  children  living — 
Thomas,  John,  George,  Mary,  Mrs.  Dr.  C.  II.  Maxwell 
;.ind  Julia, 


182  wakkkk's  history  or  Dakota  county 

William  Nixon  bent  his  steps  westward  in  1856, 
laniJing  upon  Dakota  county's  fertile  soil  March  20,  of 
that  year,  and  since  that  time  the  fertility  of  her  soil, 
added  to  his  exhanstless  energy,  has  yielded  for  him 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  tar'ns  in  northern  Nebi'aska,. 
He  tirst  located  on  the  C.  B.  Bliven  place,  and  after- 
wards took  a  c'aim  a  short  distance  south  of  where 
Homer  now  stands,  Mr.  Nixon  hought  five  sacks  of 
Hour  of  W.  C.  McBeath,  of  Omadi,  built  a  rude  house, 
and  otherwise  prepared  for  that  stormy  winter  of 
'56-'57.  In  the  spring  he  went  to  Council  Bluffs  for 
supplies.  The  roads  were  almost  impassable,  many 
abandoning  their  loads  until  the  roads  were  better. 
He  made  slow  progress,  averaging  but  five  miles  a  day. 
and  tinally  the  roads  got  so  muddy  and  he  made  such 
slow  progress  that  he  found  it  convenient  to  stop  at 
the  same  house  two  nights  in  succession.  There  were 
but  few  licuises  between  Dakota  City  and  Council  Bluffs. 
Here  on  his  claim  he  has  liverl  to  the  present  time,  and 
when  an  honest,  upright  man  oi'  pu>h  and  energy  set- 
tles down  on  a  piece  of  land  and  sticks  to  it  for  more 
than  thirty  years,  you  may  be  sure  tliat  he  will  have 
something  to  show  for  it.  He  has  had  his  battles  to 
fight  with  mishaps  and  accidents,  just  the  same  as 
other  mortals.  But  men  are  not  alike.  Some  sink  i)e- 
neath  the  weight  of  their  trials  ami  troubles,  others 
are  seen  above  the  foam  where  wme  but  the  brave  and 
strong  can  float.  Whyisitthat  those  who  began  the 
race  for  fortune  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century 
ago  are  now  so  widely  scattered  along  the  line?  Life 
is  a  battle,  and  energy  is  the  cannon.  Perhaps  those 
who  are  accustomed  to  seeing  Mr.  Nixon's  luxu- 
rious iion:ie  of  to-day  would  like  to  have  a  pen  picture 
of  it  as  the  pioneers  knew  the  place  in  early  times.  lie 
lived  in  a  small  log  cabin,  and  sheds  took  the  place  of 
his  large  barn  and  other  substantial  buildings;  stock 
of  all  kinds  was  rather  slim  around  the  premises;  not 
a  fruit  tree  wa&  to  be  seen;,  no   beautiful   groves — aU 


SETTLERS  OF  1856.  183 

was  a  i)ai-ren  prairie— -and  some  of  tlie  good  old  vet- 
erans who  lived  on  the  bottom  said  he  was  foolish  fi'r 
going  ''SO  far  out  among  the  desolate  hills"  to  live. 
But  he  went,  all  the  same,  and  has  lived  there  to  wit- 
ness the  human  tide  that  subsequently  rolled  across  the 
wide  Missouri  valley,  dotting  the  land  with  pleasant 
homes,  until  to-day  he  is  in  the  midst  of  a  thickly  set 
tied  community.  He  was  born  August  13,  1818 
in  \Vigtonshire,  Scotland.  Came  across  the  ocean  in 
1852  on  a  schooner  of  which  his  brother  Samuel  was 
captain  and  part  owner,  who  was  afterwards  drowned 
on  the  ocean  in  the  time  oi  a  great  hurricane. 
Ir  was  f(jrty-tvvo  days  tVoai  the  time  he  start- 
ed until  he  reached  New  York,  after  passing 
through  some  very  severe  storms.  He  went  to  Pitts- 
l)urg.  Pa.,  July  4,  1852,  and  worked  there  two  years  in 
a  glass  tactory.  In  1855  went  to  Grinnell,  Iowa,  and 
started  with  an  ox  team  for  JN'ebraska  in  1856, 

John  McQuilkin  walked  across  the  Missouri  river 
on  the  ice  at  Sergeant  Bluffs  March  20,  1856,  in  search 
of  a  place  to  settle  down  and  tight  the  battle  of  life, 
and  it  is  safe  to  presume  that  these  stirring  engage- 
ments were  many  and  oft  times  severe,  when  we  con- 
sider the  nuinerous  trials  and  obstacles  that  confronted 
tliose  fearless  pioneers  who  subdued  the  "western 
wilds"  and  made  it  possible  for  us  to  enjoy  the  bounti- 
ful blessings  bestowed  upon  us  to-day.  Across  the  ice 
with  him  came  Benjamin  Chambers,  William  Nixon, 
Louis  Blessing  and  James  Dickey.  They  had  gone 
about  half  way  across  when  Louis  Blessing  broke 
through  the  ice  and  went  down  to  his  waist  in  the 
water.  But  pioneers  generally  accomplish  their  aim, 
and  they  found  another  crossing  place  and  landed 
safely  on  Nebraska's  soil.  Mr.  McQuilkin  stopped  in 
a  shanty  on  the  river  bank  that  night,  and  went  out  to 
Col.  Baird's  place  next  day  to  look  for  a  claim.  Not 
finding  anything  out  there  that  suited  his  taste,  he  lo- 
cated on    the    Mark  Fair   place  of   120    acres,    east  of 


184  Warner's  history  of  Dakota  couMTr. 

Dakota  City,  broke  ten  acres   and    built  a  log  cabin  14 
by  16  feet.      An  early  fall    was    setting  in,  and    things 
generally  indicated    that    the    winter   was   going  to  be 
very  severe.     That  winter  he  lived  alone  on  the  Cham- 
bers place,  just  east  of  Dakota  City,  and  if  you  want  to 
hear  sOine  big  stories  about    that    awful    winter  of    '56 
and  '57,  he    can    satisfy   you  on  this    particular    point. 
He  farmed  the  Chambers  pUice    in    1858,  and  the  next 
year    the  John  Wright  place,  about  three  miles  east  oP 
Dakota  City.     In  1862    he  farmed    Samuel    Gamble's 
place,  now  owned  by    Eston    Rush,    and    situated    due 
east  of  Dakota  City.     October  18,  1862,  he  enlisted  in 
Company    I,    Second    Nebraska    Cavalry,  and    in    the 
spring  of  1868    marched    up    the    Missouri  river  with 
the  army,  crossed    at    Ft.  Randall    and  went    on  to  Ft. 
Pierre.     He  fought  in  the  battle   of  White  Stone  Hill, 
Dakota    territory,  and    was    mustered    out    November^ 
1863.       January  13,    1864,  he    married    Alice    Rush, 
daughter  of  Eston  Rush,  and  settled  down  on  his  claim, 
proved  up  on  it,  and  lived  to  see  the  wild  prairie  of  '56 
thoroughly  settled  up  with    an    honest,  thrifty    class  of 
people.      He  sold  his  farm    to    Mark   Fair  in  1874  for 
^3,500,  and  moved  his  family  to  Webster  county,  Ne- 
braska.    In  the  spring   of  1884    he    located  on    a  piece 
of  land  four  miles    northwest  of   Emerson,  built  a  barn 
and  lived  in  that  until  he  had  completed  a  substantial 
dwelling  house.      He  has   a   good   or3hard    started  and 
several  acres  of  forest  trees  planted.     He  has  six  child- 
ren.    He   was   horn    June    8-,  1827,  in   Westmoreland 
county,    Pennsylvania,  went   to    New    Castle,   Pa.,    iiv 
1852,  and  in  1853  to   Muscatine    county.  Iowa,  by  way 
of  Louisville,  Ky.      Was  engaged  as  painter  and  finish- 
ing furniture.     He  went    to    Grinnell,  Iowa,  in    1855, 
and  the  following  spring  jained  a  three-ox"  team    expe- 
dition   for    Nebraska.     This   cotiipletes  the  history  of 
another  pioneer. 

Louis    Blessing,    on   the    20th    of    March,    1856,. 
while  attempting  to  cross  the  Missouri  river  on  the  iee> 


SETTLERS  OF  1856.  185 

broke  through  and  came  very  near  being  drowned,  but 
he  did  not  give  up.  He  tried  another  place,  and 
reached  Dakota  county  in  safety,  which,  since  that 
eventful  day,  he  has  called  his  home.  Located  on  a 
claim  just  west  of  Homer,  where  he  resides  at  the 
present  time.  He  was  born  in  Wurtemburg,  Germany, 
August  11.  1825,  and  was  married  to  Catharine  Riddle 
at  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  July  28,  1860.  Has  two  sons 
and  three  daughters — George  C.  and  William;  Chris- 
tiana E  ,  EllaE.  and  Anna  JVI. 

Benjamin  F.  Cha.mbees  was  born  in  "Westmore- 
land county,  Pa.,  in  May,  1882;  was  married  to  Nancy 
M.  McCartney  at  Indiana,  Pa.,  by  Pev.  David  Blair, 
in  August  1853;  came  west  in  the  spring  of  1855  and 
stopped  at  Grimiell,  luwa,  where  his  wife  died  in 
August  of  that  year.  While  there  he  heard  many 
glowing  accounts  of  the  beautiful  county  of  Dakota,  in 
tlie  territory  of  Nebraska,  and  started  to  see  for  him- 
selt  if  they  were  true,  arriving  here  on  the  20th  day  of 
March,  1856.  He  at  once  became  convinced  that  Ne- 
braska was  good  enough  a  country  for  him,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  build  the  tirst  house  ever  erected  in  Da- 
kota City.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  returned  to  Penn- 
sylvania, and  was  married  to  Sarah  A.  Hull  in  Mar.ch. 
1857,  by  Rev.  C.  A.  Carson.  Returned  to  Dakota 
county  in  April  of  same  year.  The  story  of  the 
trials  and  hardships  in  tlie  years  that  followed 
is  fresh  in  the  minds  of  the  pioneers.;  of  hard 
winters,  storms  and  drouths;  of  encounters  with  thy 
festive  n)osquitoes,  and  later  on,  the  thrilling  period  of 
the  grasshoppers,  which  caused  suffering  and  devasta- 
tion to  the  countrj.  These  destructive  insects  swarmed 
over  tlie  country  in  great  clouds,  oI)scuring  tlie  light  of 
the  sun  to  some  extent,  and  flying  into  houses,  wells, 
and  everywhei'e,  so  that  it  was  with  the  greatest  difli- 
<;ulty  that  they  were  kept  out  of  the  victuals  on  the 
table.  Served  thirteen  months  in  Company  I,  Second 
Nebraska  Cavalrj.     In  this   connection,  Mr.  ChanjUej-ij 


186  waknek's  history  oi<  Dakota  coukty. 

says:  "I  lived  on  grasshopper  soup  for  several  years 
and  occasionally  had  a  mosquito  sing.  Paid  ^5  for  a 
mosquito  bar  and  put  it  around  my  bed,  but  it  was  no 
go,  the  mosquitoes  got  inside  and  could  not  get  out 
after  they  got  full  of  blood."  He  also  says  that  there 
were  plenty  of  deer  in  the  county  in  1856,  but  the  se- 
vere winter  and  deep  snow  of  '56  and  '57  destroyed 
most  of  them.  Was  three  times  elected  sherifl  of  Da- 
kota county;  was  deputy  United  States  marshal  four 
years;  represented  Dakota  and  Dixon  counties  in  the 
legislature  in  1874:-'75;  was  register  of  the  United 
States  land  office  at  Niobrara  from  May,  1876,  until 
July,  1884.  Has  resided  in  Kiobrara  since  1876.  Has 
had  four  sons  and  four  daughters,  two  of  whom  are 
dead  and  three  are  married.  JMr.  Chambers  took 
much  interest  in  the  general  welfare  of  Dakota  county 
in  its  pioneer  days  and  kelped  to  get  it  started  on  its 
prosperous  career. 

Dr.  M.  Pimkerton,  on  the  last  day  of  March, 
1856,  crossed  the  Missouri  river  at  Sioux  City  alone  iri 
an  old  skiff.  Took  a  claim  in  Covington  timber,  built 
a  log  cabin  and  enjoyed  the  wildest  looking  scenery  im- 
aginable.  Here  he  lived  to  experience  the  terrors  of 
that  fearful  winter  of  '56  and  '57,  about  which  to  this 
day  the  pioneers  love  to  tell  'dong-winded"  stories. 
The  prairie  chickens  sought  the  woods  for  protection 
from  the  severe  weather,  and  would  light  in  the  large 
trees  around  the  cabin.  Mr.  Pinkerton  and  his  com- 
rade, Fitzpatrick,  who  was  afterwards  killed  in  Coving- 
ton, had  all  the  chicken  that  they  could  make  use  of. 
At  different  times  has  held  the  office  of  county  treas- 
urer, sheriff  and  justice  of  the  peace.  Was  married  to 
Martha  Mershon  Febvuary  20,  1861,  in  West  Spring- 
field, Erie  county,  Pa.;  has  two  children.  Moved  to 
Dakota  City  in  1865,  and  was  there  proprietor  of  the 
"Pinkerton  House,"  located  in  the  so\ith  part  of  town. 
In  1878  moved  to  Glenwood,  Iowa,  and  has  lived  there 
and  at  Tabor,  Iowa,  ever  since. 


SETTLERS  OF   1856.  187 

William  Harvet  Boals  came  to  Dakota  county 
April  20,  1856;  was  married  toFlorettaA.  Beardsliear 
ill  December,  1872,  Has  one  adopted  son.  Lives  on 
a  farm  five  miles  west  of  Dakota  City.  He  well  re- 
members when  Dakota  county  was  one  vast  wilderness, 
where  the  wild  beasts  roamed  unmolested  and  the 
streams  went  gliding  on  unobstructed  by  tlie  hand  of 
man. 

Charley  Eeam  came  with  his  parents  to  Dakota 
county  in  the  spring  of  1856.  Married  to  Sina  Mc- 
Pherson.     They  have  live  sons  and  three  daughters. 

George  L.  Boals,  Jr.,  came  to  Dakota  county 
April  22,  1856,  and  the  following  winter  the  house  in 
which  he  lived  was  entirely  covered  up  with  snow. 
Was  married  in  1874  to  Hattie  Plank.  Has  two  sons 
and  three  daughters.  He  is  a  farmer,  and  lives  six 
miles  west  of  Dakota  City. 

Joachim  Oesterliko  stood  upon  the  hills  where 
Sioux  City  is  now  located  on  the  otli  day  of  May,  1856. 
and  viewed  the  wild  and  fertile  prairies  and  timber 
lands  of  Dakota  county,  wondering  what  the  future 
years  had  in  store  for  himself  and  the  surrounding 
country.  There  were  a  few  houses  along  the  river 
bank.  He  opened  up  the  Des  Moines  House  and 
■operated  it  lur  three  years-  Bought  a  tract  of  land 
above  Yankton  on  the  Nebraska  side  of  the  Missouri 
river,  on  v.hieh  he  proceeded  to  found  the  town  of 
Frankfort.  Erected  a  large  hotel  and  other  buildings; 
a  postofhce  was  established,  and  he  was  appointed  post- 
master, and  just  as  he  was  about  to  make  a  fortune  out 
of  his  new  town  the  war  came  on  and  left  hini  a  poor 
anan  on  a  deserted  town  site.  Moved  to  I^  iobrara  in  I860 
where  he  kept  hotel  and  a  store  and  served  as  post- 
master three  jears.  Came  to  Dakota  City,  arriving 
iiere  in  the  spring  of  1863.  Here  he  worked  at  the 
furrier  trade  until  1868.  While  in  Sioux  City  for  a 
^?npply  of  raw  furs  in  the  winter    of  that    year  his  resi- 


188  Warner's  history  of  Dakota  county. 

deuce,  which  stood  near  the  Lutheran  churcli,  was 
burned  to  the  ground,  notliing  being  saved  but  a 
bureau.  Was  coroner  of  Dakota  county  two  years. 
Built  the  Farmers'  hotel,  now  the  Eureka  House,  in 
1870,  where  he  acted  as  proprietor  for  seventeen  years. 
In  1886  he  sold  the  hotel  and  built  a  neat  residence  in 
Dakota  City.  Was  just  getting  comfortably  settled 
in  his  new  home  when  be  was  stricken  with  paralysis, 
from  which  he  sufiered  a  great  deal.  His  wife  died 
on  Thursday  evening,  March  15,  1888,  at  the  age  of  61 
years,  2  months  and  2  days.  The  funeral  took  place 
March  17,  conducted  by  Rev.  W.  C.  McCool,  all  the 
children  living,  except  three,  being  present.  He  was 
born  March  21,  1821,  in  Hesse  Darmstadt,  Germany; 
crossed  the  ocean  and  came  to  Columbus  in  1816,  then 
to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  the  next  year,  where  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Mary  E.  Guyer,  at  tbat  place,  Angust  5, 
1848.  To  them  were  born  ten  children,  of  whom  seven 
are  living  and  three  are  dead.  The  next  year  he  went 
to  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  where  he  followed  painting 
and  glazing  three  years,  when  he  moved  to  Terre 
Haute  and  then  to  Gosport.  In  1854  he  moved  to 
Des  Moines,  Iowa,  and  in  the  spring,  two  years  later, 
started  on  the  crowning  jonrney  of  his  life  over  the 
wild,  uninhabited  prairies  of  western  Iowa  to  the  beau- 
tiful and  tertile  country  of  Nebraska,  where  in  the  years 
to  come  himself  and  family  were  to  occupy  an  im- 
portant place  in  the  general  bistory  of  Dakota  county. 
Died  at  Seward,  Nebraska,  April  S",  1892. 

James  Stott  was  a  native  of  England.  Came  to 
Massachusetts  in  1852,  then  to  Connecticut;  soon  after 
to  Wisconsin.  Four  years  later  Mr.  Stott  came  to  Da- 
kota county,  Nebraska,  and  located  on  a  pre-emption 
of  120  acres  in  the  timber  southeast  of  where  Coving- 
ton now  stands.  Here  be  engaged  in  farming  on  a 
small  scale  and  also  in  the  wood  and  shingle  business. 
Was  appointed    deputy    collector  of   internal    revenue, 


SETTLERS  OP^   I806.  189 

served  about  five  years.  In  the  spring  of 
1856  lie  wa.s  appointed  by  the  commissioners  as  county 
assessor,  and  that  fall  was  elected  county  clerk  and  held 
the  office  two  terms;  was  appointed  receiver  of  the 
government  land  ofifice,  which  he  held  for  nearly  twelve 
years.  Soon  after  his  settlement  in  Nebraska  his  wife 
died,  lie  was  married  to  Mrs.  C.  Davis  in  1868.  His 
failing  health  compelled  him  to  retire  from  all  active 
business  the  last  few  years  of  his  life.  He  died  at  his 
residence  in  Dakota  CityJnly  16,  1882.  His  second 
wife  and  two  step-children — ^John  Davis  and  Mrs.  Tim 
Carrabine — are  living  in  the  county.  Three  of  his  own 
chidren  are  living — ^Mrs.  Yan  Harden,  JSiobrara,  Neb.; 
Mrs.  Sumner  Whittier  and  Mrs.  David  Neiswanger, 
Sioux  City.  Iowa.  His  son  Henry  died  January  5, 
1887. 

Thomas  Smith,  at  the  helm  of  a  "prairie  schooner," 
steered  his  way  far  into  the  great  west,  beyond  the  line 
of  civilization,  until  on  the  14th  day  of  May,  1856, 
when  his  eyes  first  rested  upon  the  beautiful  land  of 
J^Jebraska.  He  had  never  beheld  such  a  desirable  coun- 
try before,  an.d  forthwith  determined  that  Dakota 
county  should  thenceforth  be  his  home.  Across  the 
river  with  him  came  Uncle  Henry  Pilgrim  and  family. 
Camped  on  the  river  bank  and  went  to  Omadi  the  next 
morning,  remaining  there  until  about  the  middle  of 
May,  when  he  started  for  his  claim,  which  he  had  se- 
lected about  two  miles  south  of  where  Homer  is  now 
built.  His  team  gave  out  at  Omaha  creek  and  one 
horse  died,  so  he  hired  William  Jones  to  complete  the 
journey  for  him.  When  he  reached  the  Henry  Ream 
place  they  stopped  for  dinner,  and  his  wife  and  son 
Lewis  had  ague  chills,  "but,"  says  Mr.  Smith,  "that  is 
the  last  time  they  ever  shook."  Nebraska  climate  is 
not  a  good  breeder  of  ague.  On  the  19th  of  May, 
1856,  he  was  "at  home"  on  his  claim,  resting  from  his 
long  and  tedious  travels.  His  neighbors  at  that  time 
were  not  visible  to    the    naked    eye,  school  houses  had 


I'JO  waeker's  history  or  Dakota  county 

not  yet  sprouted  and  the  churches  were  God's  first  teirj- 
ples — the  trees.  But  such  an  uncivilized  state  of 
things  vv^as  not  destined  to  continue  long.  Tiie  stream 
of  emigration  soon  began  to  pour  in  and  neighbors  be- 
came plentiful,  especially  about  watermelon  time; 
school  houses  sprang  up  magic  like,  and  the  old  church 
bell  of  other  daYS  was  once  more  heard  in  the  land, 
awakening  in  the  minds  of  the  sturdy  pioneers  thoughts 
of  the  pleasant  homes  and  dear  friends  that  they  had 
left  in  other  climes.  The  old  Omadi  school  house, 
erected  in  the  spring  of  1857,  which  was  the  tirst  one 
ever  built  in  the  county,  was  moved  to  a  point  less 
than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  north  of  wdiere  he  iived,  A 
school  district  was  organized,  and  Thomas  Smith,  Wm. 
iN'ixon,  and  Jesse  Wigle  were  elected  as  its  tirst  board 
of  directors.  Wheii  Jan)es  Stott  was  county  clerk,  by 
sonie  revision  of  the  numbers  of  the  school  districts. 
this  was  called  district  No.  9,  ndien  it  should  have 
been  No.  1,  as  it  is  now  the  oldest  in  the  county.  Thos. 
Smith  was  born  June  21.  1823.  in  Darbyshire,  Eng- 
land; came  across  the  ocean  in  1845  and  landed  in 
New  York;  then  went  to  Erie  county,  Ohio,  and  froui 
there  to  Sandusky.  In  1853  went  to  Iowa  county, 
Iowa,  and  engaged  in  farming.  Was  married  in  Sep- 
tember, 1851,  to  Sarah  Smith,  of  Erie  county,  Ohio. 
Had  seven  cliildren,  three  are  dead.  Started  for  jS'e- 
braska  in  1856,  which  closes  the  story  of  another 
pioneer. 

William  Pilgrim  stepped  no-t  from  the  Mayflower 
upon  Plymouth  rock,  but  from  a  flatboat  upon  the 
river  b?ink  at  Covington,  on  the  morning  of  May  14, 
1856,  with  his  father,  the  Uncle  Henry  Pilgrim,  who,, 
until  his  death,  was  honored  and  respected  throughout 
all  this  region.  They  baught  a  claim  eight  miles  south 
of  Dakota  City,  the  Warner  place,  now  known  as  Pil- 
grim Hill.  Here  he  built  a  substantial  house,  bam 
and  other  out  buildings,  which  decaying  time  has  com- 
pletely raz.ed  to  the  earth,^  and  aot  a  single,  vestige  of 


SETl'LERS  OF  1856.  191 

the  buildings  remain.  At  this  time  Col.  Sites  was 
grading  down  the  military  road,  makicg  times  quite 
lively  for  a  while.  When  the  road  was  completed 
there  was  a  great  deal  of  travel,  and  William  took  in 
many  a  dollar  by  "giving  the  teams  a  pnll  up  the  hill,'* 
which  was  very  steep  indeed,  as  many  of  the  old  pio- 
neers know  fr<)m  experience.  When  the  war  broke 
out  he  joined  a  company' of  cavalry  and  marched  to 
battle  against  the  red  forces  of  the  upper  country.  He 
was  born  October  18,  1839,  in  Illinois,  and  after  set- 
tlinor  in  Nebraska,  was  married  to  Diana  Corwin  June 
1,  1865.  Has  eight  children — four  sons  and  four 
daughters. 

Henry  Pilgrim  was  born  in  1820,  in  North  Caro- 
lina. Afterwards  resided  in  Indiana,  Illinois,  Iowa, 
Missouri,  and  worked  two  years  in  the  mines  of  Colo- 
rado. Came  to  Dakota  county  in  May  14,  1856,  and 
settled  on  the  place  now  known  as  the  Col.  W^arner 
farm.  Afterwards  moved  to  Blyburg,  where  he  died 
January^  11,  1880.  His  widow  still  survives  him,  and 
is  now  residing  in  Homer. 

JouN  Ryan  drove  off  of  John  Feenan's  flatboat  at 
Covington  with  a  yoke  of  oxen  and  a  wagon  containing 
all  he  had  in  the  world.  May  15.  1856.  Took  a  claim 
two  miles  west  of  Jackson,  where  he  lived  until  his 
death.  He  was  bom  in  1820,  in  Ireland,  and  was  mar- 
ried in  1855  to  Margaret  DeWire.  Had  nine  child- 
ren, five  of  whom  are  dead.  Those  living  are  John, 
Mrs.  Kate  Clark,  Mrs.  Julia  Waters  and  Annie.  He 
died  at  his  home,  near  Jackson,  in  1892. 

James  Ryan  cametu  Dakota  county  May  15,  1856, 
and  took  a  claim  two  miles  west  of  Jackson.  Died  in 
the  fall  of  1863.  His  wife  and  two  children — James 
and  Catharine — live  on  the  old  place. 

John  Naffziger  found  his  way  to  Dakota  county 
in  the   spring    of   1856,  and    opened  up    the  first  store 


192  WAL'>."r.K"p   HISTORY   or    PAKOTA   a)UNTY 

ever  established  at  Dakota  City.  Served  as  county 
judge  one  term  and  as  coinmissioner  two  terms.  Rep- 
resented Dakota  county  in  the  5tli,  6th  and  7tli  sessions 
of  the  state  legislature,  and  has  held  other  minor  offices. 
Married  to  Miss  Lnrinda  Packard.  Has  two  sons  and 
four  daughters — William  and  Frank;  Mrs.  George 
Xiebulir,  Mrs.  Henry  Niebuhr,  Mrs.  Harriet  VVanhoz 
and  Mrs.  John  Grimm.  John  JNaffziger  was  born  in 
Bavaria,  and  came  to  America  in  1826.  Has  always 
been  a  prominent  and  energetic  citizen  since  he  settled 
in  Dakota  county.      His  wife  died  July  5,  1891. 

William  Adair,  as  conductor  of  a  ''praii-ie 
scho(^ner"  loaded  with  provisions  and  drawn  by  three 
yoke  of  oxen,  with  D.  W.  Lowry  as  assistant,  wended 
his  way  over  the  uninhabited  prairies  of  northwestern 
Iowa,  until  the  22d  day  of  May,  1856,  when  he  beheld 
the  beautiful  Missouri  va'ley,  but  it  was  a  dili'erent 
sight  Irom  that  which  we  behold  in  1893.  No  beauti- 
ful faruis  and  pleasant  liomes,  no  towns  or  villages 
dotted  its  surface — all  was  wild  jungles  and  lonely 
prairies.  He  crossed  the  Missouri  river  at  18ergeant 
BlutiS  and  landed  upon  JN'ebraska  soil  in  what  he  sup- 
posed from  previous  reports  was  the  thriving  town  uf 
Dakota  City,  but  no  town  was  to  be  seen.  Ko  sign  of 
habitation.  Nothing  but  willows  as  far  as  the  eye 
could  penetrate.  He  started  westward  along  a  path, 
and  going  over  a  mile,  he  came  to  one  lonesome  look- 
ing house,  wliicJj  constituted  the  town  of  Dakora  Ciry. 
Jt  consisted  of  four  log  walls,  dirt  roof,  no  floor,  one 
hole  for  a  door  and  another  for  a  window.  The  build- 
ing was  occupied  by  B.  I^\  Chambers,  John  McQuilkin 
and  Samuel  McCartney,  and  afterwards  became  the 
"Chihuahua  House,'-'  under  the  management  of  Dr.  J. 
D.  M.  Ci'ockwell.  Took  a  chii.u  adjoining  Dakota 
City  on  the  west,- a  portion  of  it  now  being  the  Cheney 
farm.  Built  a  log  house  and  spent  the  remainder  of 
the  season  breakin<»:  on  his  own  land   and  others,  doing: 


SETTLERS  OF   1856.  19  3 

his  cooklnu;  all  suininer  on  a  log  tire  in  front  of  his 
cabin,  utilizing  it  at  night  to  drive  away  mosquitoes. 
Next  year  sold  his  claim  and  bought  another  one  half  a 
mile  farther  west,  a  portion  of  which  he  owns  at  the 
present  time.  Farmed  during  1857,  '58  and  '59. 
Moved  to  ISioLix  City  in  the  fall  of  1859,  and  taugir: 
school  till  July,  lotk),  when  he  resigned  and  came  lo 
Dakota  City  to  sell  goods  forC.  F.  Eckhart,  with  whom 
he  remained  until  1870,  when  he  went  into  the  real 
estate  business,  and  continued  there  i:ntil  the  spring  ut' 
1877,  when  he  was  appointed  clerk  ac  Ft.  Ftck  agency, 
Montana,  which  place  he  left  in  the  fall  of  1880,  owing 
lo  the  failing  health  of  one  of  his  children.  Was  ap- 
pointed postal  clei-k  on  the  Sioux  City  and  Omaha  rail- 
road in  the-springof  1881,  which  position  he  now  holds. 
Was  appointed  treasurer  of  Dakota  county  by  the  board 
of  commissioners,  to  till  nn  unexpired  term,  in  1,863, 
and  at  the  next  election  was  chosen  for  another  term. 
Was  a  member  of  tlie  board  of  regents  of  the  State 
University  for  nine  year.-,  being  elected  by  the  state 
legislature  for  a  term  of  three  years,  ai.d  at  its  close  was 
elected  by  the  people  for  a  term  of  six  years.  Has  been 
a  prominent  member  of  the  Methodist  church  for  a 
number  ot  years,  and  an  active  Sabbath  school  worker 
in  Dakota  City,  wliere  his  family  has  resided  continu- 
^)usly  since  July,  1860.  Was  married,  the  second 
time,  to  Martha  l'\  Ford,  of  Griunell,  lowa»  Noveml)er 
11,  1857.  ll:vs  ten  cliiidreu  livi;i_r.  six  sons  and  four 
daughcei-s.  His  two  oldest  daughters  are  resting  in 
the  cemetery  at  Dakota  City.  He  was  ;)orn  in  West- 
moreland county,  Pa.,  Aprd  17,  1832.  Spent  his 
earlier  years  on  a  farm,  until  at  the  age  of  16  ye;irs, 
when  he  went  to  West  Lebanon,  Indiana  county,  Pa., 
aiul  M^as  engaged  in  teacliing  school  and  in  the  mercan- 
tile business.  Was  married  to  Isabella  McCartney,  of 
SoutJi  P.end,  September  15,  1853.  She  died  April  12. 
1855.     In  June,  1855,  he  shipped  a  stock  of  goods  from 


194  Warner's  HiSTCtRY  of  Dakota  (  orNTY. 

Pittsburg,  Pa.,  by  river  to  Muscatine,  Iowa.  Went  to 
Griiinell,  Iowa,  in  a  iiack  (b'a^vn  by  lour  horses,  which 
were  (h'iven  by  himself.  Opened  up  a  geneml  store, 
and  the  next  spring  sokl  out  and,  as  we  have  stated  be- 
fore, launched  his  "prairie  schooner"  upon  the  wild 
praii'ies  of  tlie  west,  and  came  to  JN^ebraska  to  "ii;row  up 
with  the  country"  and  to  be  numbered  among  lier  up- 
right and  honorable  citizens.  Here  he  has  watche:! 
the  mai'ch  of  civilization;  the  settlement  ofawild  conn- 
try;  the  work  of  the  ax  and  breaking  plow;  the  rise  of 
towns  and  villages,  and  every  industry  that  helps  to 
make  a  rich  and  prosperous  country.  ThirtT-six  years 
ago  he  plodded  along  behind  two  yoke  of  oxen  and  a 
breaking  plow  on  his  claim  west  of  Dakota  City,  to- 
day he  rides  over  the  selfsame  ground  on  the  cars  as  a 
postal  clerk. 

David  Boals  was  born  in  Center  county,  Pa.,  and 
after  learning  the  carpenter  trade,  came  to  Dakota 
county  in  April,  1S56.  Married  in  his  native  state  in 
1847,  to  Hannah  J.  Boyd,  who  was  one  of  the  Hrst 
white  women  to  arrive  at  Dakota  City.  Took  a  clain» 
about  five  miles  west  of  Dakota  City,  wliere  they  live:! 
to  endure  the  hardships  of  pioneer  life,  and  to  wittiess 
the  storms  and  the  sunshine  of  the  years  to  the  present 
time.  Has  been  a  inen:iber  of  the  school  board  of  his 
district  tor  many  years.  Has  two  sons  and  two  d.-iugh- 
ters — William  H.,  George  L.,  Mrs.  Marenda  Plank  and 
Lizzie.  Sarah  A.  died  July  4,  1856,  and  was  either 
the  first  or  second  white  child  buried  in  the  county. 

WiLLiA  !  BouTON  was  born  in  Delaware  county. 
N".  Y.,  and  came  to  Dakota  county  in  the  spring  of 
1856.  Took  a  claim  about  four  miles  northwest  of  Da- 
kota City,  whei-e  he  has  resided  to  the  present  time, 
witnessing  the  transformation  of  the  wild  prairies  into 
rich  and  prosperous  farms.  Was  married  to  Rose 
Bates,  sister  of  Leonard  Bates,  April  4.  1861,  by  Pev. 
Brown.     She  died,  and  he  was   married  a  second    tiuiCs 


SETTLERS  OF  1856.  1^5 

to  SiiSiin  Biggei'staff.      Has  live  children,  two   sons  •.i\\i\ 
tliree  chmgiiters. 

G.  IlATTENHAcn  Came  to  Dakota  county  and 
opened  up  a  grocsry  store  in  Ornadi,  in  the  spring  of 
1850.  Whs  one  of  the  founders  of  Covington.  Died 
in  Sioux  City,  where  five  children  now  live — Nathan, 
Ludwig,  Mitchel,  David  and  Mrs.  D.  A.  Magee.  Two 
of  his  clKldi-en  ai'e  in  Deadwond,  S.  D. — -Joseph  and 
Aaron. 

Patrick  O'Neil  was  born  in  Ireland  in  March,  1825. 
Married  there  to  Bridget  McNauiara,  April  12,  1817. 
and  Hi-rived  in  America  Jurie  17,  of  the  same  year.  On 
the  lOth  day  of  May,  1856,  he  found  his  \vay  to  Da- 
kota county,  wliere  he  has  lived  to  the  present  time,  on 
a  farm  near  Jackson.  Has  three  sons  and  three 
daughters—  Stephen,  Michael,  Henry,  Mary,  Margaret 
and  Alice.  Mr.  O'Xeil  has  lived  to  see  Dakota  county 
changed  from  "one  vast  wilderness"  to  a  rich  and  pros- 
perous land,  as  we  behold  it  to-day.  In  1883  he  took  a 
ti'ip  back  to  old  Ireland,  and  enjoyed  himself  ve'-y 
much. 

Daniel  Duggan,  guided  by  the  invisible  hand  of 
Destiny,  found  liis  way  to  Dakota  county,  June  1, 1856, 
and  located  on  aclaitn  above  the  pi'csetit  town  of  Jack- 
son Here  he  lived  to  see  the  once  wild  country 
jiround  him  l)edecked  with  comfortable  homes  and  en- 
terprising  towns  and  villages.  Was  at  one  time  a  niem^ 
bei-  of  the  legislature,  i-cpresenting  Dakota  county; 
held  several  offices  of  responsibility  in  the  countv, 
such  as  county  coiumiseioner,  etc.  Was  one  of  the 
thiee  conimissionei's  appointed  by  the  seci'etary  of  the 
intei-ior  to  appraise  the  Oraaha  Indian  knds  in  1883. 
Took  a  deep  interest  in  all  public  movements',  was  a 
]ife  long  Democmt.  «nd  from  the  earliest  titnee  was  an 

i active  participant  in  all  political  campaigns,  which  en- 
titled bin)  to  be  known  as  a  leader  of  his    party.      Was 


196  waknee'b  history  oi'  Dakota   county. 

citizen,  and  accumulated  considerable  property'.  He 
was  born  in  Canavee,  County  Cork,  Ireland,  February 
20,  1822.  Was  married  to  Catharine  Lucy,  February 
18,  1846.  Came  to  America  in  1852,  arriving  at  Bos- 
ton in  May  of  that  year,  and  proceeded  to  the  ''far 
west."  Died  at  his  home  in  Summit  precinct,  Dakota 
county,  Neb.,  on  Saturday,  August  14,  1886,  at  9  p.  m,, 
aged  64  years,  5  months  and  24  days.  His  disease 
was  dropsey.  Had  been  complaining  for  some  six 
months,  but  was  confined  to  his  bed  but  two  months. 
The  funeral,  whicii  was  on  Monday,  August  16,  1886, 
was  very  large,  friends  from  all  parts  of  the  county 
and  many  from  Sioux  City,  being  in  attendance.  The 
services  were  conducted  by  Rev.  Father  Clements,  of 
Hubbard,  under  the  rites  of  the  Catholic  church,  of 
which  the  deceased  liad  been  a  member  for  many  years. 
It  will  be  remembered  that  the  very  day  on  whicli  he 
died  the  pioneers  and  old  settlers  of  Dakota  county 
were  holding  their  fifth  annual  reunion  in  Hileman's 
grove.  He  had  been  their  vice  president  for  two  years» 
and  the  greatest  sympathy  was  expressed  for  their  ab- 
sent member.  Resolutions  to  this  effect  were  unani- 
mously adopted  by  the-  association,  with  a  rising  vote — 
honors  such  as  no  other  old  settler  had  ever  received 
from  the  society.  It  was  a  touching  and  fitting  token 
of  remembrance  kindly  paid  to  one  of  the  oldest  pio- 
neers. His  wife  and  seven  children  survive  him,  six 
sons  and  one  daughter — -Dennis,  lerry  F.,  Corneliu- 
H.,  Daniel  E.,  John  C,  Michael  J.  and  Katie  L. 

DAXIEL   DUGGAN. 

Behold  that  man  upon  the  bier 
A  noble,  honest  pioneerl 

On  Nebraska's  virgin  soil 

He  began  with  pluck  to  toil. 

And  with  pluck  and  wisdom .  mixed 
He  launched  his  plow  betwixt, 

Where  coyote  and  savage  trod 

And  broke  the  maiden  sod.. 


I 


SETTLERS  OF  1856.  197 

With  iron  will  and  manly  strength 
Me  saw  himsslf  at  length 

Surrounded  with  kine  and  golden  grain, 

His  noble  work  of  hand  and  brain. 

Hut  alas!  for  human  strife, 
Man  is  doomed  to  part  from  life, 
Whether  rich  or  poor, 
Death  knocks  at  his  hall  and  door. 

Friend  and  patron  of  my  muse. 
These  feeble  lines  of  mine  excuse. 
Accept  and  not  decline 
As  they  are  sent  to  thee  and  thine. 
Hubbard,  Aug.  16,  1886,  L.  E. 

Francis  A.  Kobinson  whs  born  January  12,  1825. 
ill  Alaiichester,  Indiana.  Came  to  Dakota  City,  May 
28,1856.  Took  a  cJaim  one-half  mile  north  of  that 
town,  and  i?aw  the  iirst  paper  ever  printed  in  Dakota 
City  taken  from  die  pre^s.  Married  to  Zernah  Fisher. 
January  12,  1859,  in  Whiteside  county,  Illinois.  }1\9, 
wife  died,  leaving  one  soti,  0.  Elmer. 

Michael  McKiveugan  was  horn  in  1827,in  Ireland 
and  came  to  America  iS'ovember.  1848,  remaining  in 
Mew  York  six  years.  Came  to  Dakota  county  June  1, 
1856,  with  Father  Treoy's  colony.  His  wife  died  that 
winter  in  Omadi.  Took  a  claim  in  the  spring  of  1857, 
hut  on  account  ol  extrenie  hard  times  he  failed  to  pay 
for  it,  and  it  went  into  other  lunds.  Took  a  homestead, 
where  he  now  lives,  six  miles  due  west  of  Jackson, 
which  is  a  good,  comfortable  home.  Was  married  a 
second  time,  in  1863,  and  h  is  ten  children  living. 

Samuel  Sijltll  was  bom  in  Ohio,  in  1832,  and 
moved  with  his  parents  to  Indiana  in  1837,  thence  to 
Iowa  in  the  fall  of  1855.  In  the  spring  of  1856  crossed 
wver  the  Missouri  river  to  take  a  look  at  JS^ebraska,  and 
iinding  it  to  be  an  excellent  country,  located  that  fall 
•on  Fiddlers'  creek,  where  he  lived  to  see  the  wild  conn> 
try  around  him  settle  up  with  thrifty  farmers.  Moved 
to  Montana  in  1879,  where  he  is  at  present  residing. 


198  wabneb's  history  of  Dakota  county. 

Patbick  Twohict  crossed  the  Missouri  river  at 
Sioux  City  on  John  Feenau's  llatboat  on  Saturday, 
June  1,  1856,  in  company  witli  Father  Trecy's  colony. 
As  he  slowly  wended  his  way  along  behind  his  ox 
team,  he  gazed  out  upon  the  wild  and  uninhabited 
prairies  of  the  Missouri  bottom,  little  dreaming  what 
vast  changes  the  fleeting  years  would  bring  about. 
That  night  the  entire  colony  camped  on  the  banks  of 
what  is  now  Crystal  lake,  then  the  Missouri  river,  and 
just  as  the  sun  was  peeping  over  the  eastern  hills  on 
Sunday  morning,  June  2,  18u(3,they  broke  camp  and 
moved  on  to  St.  Johns.  He  took  a  trip  up  Elk  Creek 
valley  that  evening,  and  selected  the  claim  where  he 
lived  until  his  death,  March  5,  1891,  four  miles  west  of 
Jackoon.  In  the  winter  of  '50  and  '57  chopped  210 
coi-ds  of  wood  at  50  cents  a  cord,  in  the  timber  south 
of  Dakota  City.  Time?  were  hard,  and  he  was  forced 
to  sell  his  work  cattle  for  ^52  to  get  numey  to  prove 
up  on  his  claim.  Having  borrowed  ^j5U0  to  pay  his 
expenses  on  his  journey  west,  and  expending  it  all,  he 
was  in  embarassing  circumstances,  hut  the  pioneers 
were  not  easily  battled.  He  went  to  work  with  a  de- 
termination to  succeed,  and  to-day  his  linanciai  stand- 
ing shows  what  pluck  and  courage  will  do,  Was  mar- 
ried to  Katharine  Jones,  September  7,  18G2,  in  Jack- 
son. Enlisted  soon  after  in  Company  I,  Fir^t  Ne- 
braska Cavalry.  His  son,  Janjes  P.,  held  the  othce  of 
county  clei-k  three  terms. 

Michael  MoCokmiciv  came  to  Dakota  county  June 
1,  1856,  and  took  a  claim,  which  is  part  of  the  present 
site  of  Jackson.  Was  one  of  the  founders  of  that 
town.  Died  September  28,  1880.  There  are  two  sons- 
and  two  daughtert: — ^lichael  J.,  Kobert  H.,  Mrs.  Sarah 
Erlnch  and  Mrs.  Mury  Da\ey. 

James  Kelehan  was  born  December  26,  ISdl,  \n 
Ireland,  and  c;ime  to  Dakota  county  June  1,  1856,  with 
Father  Trecy's  colony.      Was  one    of   the    founders  of 


I 


SETTLERS  OF  1856.  199 

(^ovin<Tton.  Married  in  the  full  of  1855  to  Bridcret 
Miuminij^.  She  died  October  11,  1881.  There  are  two 
children  living — Matthew  and  Delia.  Four  children 
have  died. 

James  McHenry  was  horn  September  13,1837,  in 
St.  Louis,  Mo.,  where  he  lived  until  1856,  when  he 
was  employed  by  the  JMorthwestern  Fur  company,  and 
took  p-issatre  on  a  steamer  for  the  upper  Missouri 
I'iver,  landing  in  Dakota  county  at  old  Omadi,  June  9, 
1856.  The  boat  then  proceeded  to  Ft.  Randall,  where 
he  worked  for  the  fur  company  at  their  trading  post  at 
that  place.  In  1861  he  established  a  store  in  Vermil- 
lion, Dakota  Territory.  He  went  into  the  army  in  the 
fall  of  the  same  year.  Again  settled  at  Verujillion  in 
1865,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  mercantile  and  mill- 
ing business.  Was  married  to  Mary  F.  Jones,  one  ot 
the  early  scliot>l  teachers  of  the  county,  in  J\lay,  1865, 
at  Jackson,  Neb.  In  1877  located  in  Jackson,  and  run 
a  saw  mill  there;  moved  to  the  Logan  valley  in  1879, 
where  he  was  proprietor  of  a  gri^t  mill  near  Wakefield. 
Moved  to  the  fai'iu  along  the  northicrn  boundaiy  of  the 
Winnebago  reservation,  where  he  now  resides,  in  1888; 
since  which  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  farming,  and 
in  the  milling  business  in  Blyburg  and  south  of  Dakota 
City,  two  miles.  Has  six  children  living — two 
sons  and  four  daughters. 

o 

Thomas  B.  Jones  was  born  April  16,  1842,  in 
New  York,  and  came  with  Father  Trecy's  colony  to 
Dakota  county,  June  1,  1856.  Married  in  1868  to 
Oatharino  Ryan.  Has  ten  children — -James  J.,  John 
F.,  Thomas  1).,  Mary  Ellen,  Sarah  B.,  Katie,  Maggie. 
Laura.  Hattie  and  I^ucy.  Lives  on  his  father's  old 
place,  four  miles  west  of  Jackson. 

CiiAULEi  BoYi.E  was  bom  in  1808,  in  Belfast,  Ire- 
land, and  at  the  age  of  22  years,  came  across  the  ocean 
to  Philadelpliia,  La.  Lived  live  years  a  few  miles 
c-outhwest  of  Dubuque.  Iowa.     In  the  summer  of  1856 


200  Warner's  history  of  Dakota  oocnty. 

came  with  a  colony  of  Catholics  from  the  latter  place 
and  settled  on  a  tract  of  land  adjoinin<y  old  St.  Johns. 
A  portion  of  the  colony  came  a  month  before,  under 
the  charge  of  Father  Trecy.  He  had  ten  children,  six 
of  whom  are  living— Mrs.  Mtiggie  IIoltain,of  Rey- 
nolds, Indiana;  llrs.  John  13.  AiyeiP,  Homer;  Mrs. 
Ella  Bnrd,  H.  S.  and  Patrick  H.,  of  Emerson;  Michael 
M.,  Jackson. 

Charles  C.  I'liven  was  bi>rn  Oetol)er  30,  1811, 
in  Washington  county,  Khode  Island.  At  about  the 
age  (if  ten  years  he  c^;H)e^vith  his  piU'ents  to  Allega- 
ny county,  iVew  York,  where  he  learned  the  carpenter 
trade.  In  about  1832  came  to  Tioga  county,  Pa.,  and 
followed  the  carpenter  trade.  In  1842  canjo  to  Ivock 
county.  Wis.,  and  worked  at  his  ti'ade.  In  1850  re- 
moved to  Fayette  county,  lov/a.  Also  worked  at  his 
trade  in  Davenport,  Iowa,  building  the  lirst  frame 
building  there.  Was  married  a  second  time,  Febrnarv 
20.  1867.  In  1853  came  to  Minnesota.  Two  years 
later  returned  to  Davenport.  In  1856  came  to  Dakota 
county,  and  worked  at  his  trade  until  1862,  when  he 
removed  to  Henry  county.  III;  in  1866  to  Washin;j:ton 
county  111.,  and  returned  to  Dakota  county  in  1870, 
where  he  located  on  a  farm  six  miles  due  south  of  Da- 
kota City,  built  a  substautifd  dwelling,  good  barn,  and 
improved  his  farm  in  general.  Mr.  Bliven  was  always 
a  quiet,  peaceable  and  upright  citizen,  with  a  large  cir- 
cle of  friends  and  few  enemies.  In  18S3  his  wife  died. 
]\lr.  Bliven  then  lived  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Anna 
Bougus,  urjtil  his  death,  August  17,  1884. 

L.  M.  Huffman  was  borji  in  1843,  and  came  to 
Dakota  county  with  his  step-father,  Isaac  Monroe, 
June  2J,  1856.  ^larried  to  Fidela  Shook.  Has  three 
sons  and  three  daughters.  Two  children  have  died. 
Lives  in  Blyburg. 

Isaac  Monroe  came  to  Dakota  county  June  20. 
1856,  and  settled  on  a  farm  south  of  Homer,     Died  in 


SETTLERS  OF   1856.  201 

Kansas  Jiily'4,  18S0.  There  are  two  of  his  own  child- 
ren and  one  step-son  living — John,  Mary  Monroe  and 
L.  M.  Huffman. 

Robert  Collingwood  came  to  Dakota  county 
June,  185G.  Died  in  western  Nebraska,  leavinjj  eighc 
children,  two  of  whom  reside  in  Dakota  county — Mrs. 
Woods  Hileman  and  LeRoy.  Mrs.  John  Brassfield, 
Mrs,  Will  Crosby  and  Bird  live  in  Woodbury  county, 
Iowa. 

John  Braunt  crossed  the  Missouri  river  into  Da- 
kota county  with  his  father,  Jeremiah  Braunt,  June  26, 
1S56,  and  settled  on  the  old  Josiah  Davis  place.  Was 
married  to  Mary  E.  Pilgrim.  Has  one  son  and  two 
(laughters — John  H.,  Julia  and  Lillie.  Lives  on  the 
old  Spencer  Moore  place,  one  mile  north  ot  Homer. 

James  Garner  was  born  in  1815,  and  celebrated 
the  4tli  of  July,  1856,  by  settling  in  Dakota  county, 
where  he  i-emained  until  1865,  when  he  removed  to 
Waterloo,  JN'el).  He  died  at  that  place  Fridny,  March 
1^1,  1800.  leaving  two  sons — Aleck  and  Leander;  four 
(laughters — Mrs.  Wm.  Armour,  Mrs.  Hattio  Boden- 
bender,  JVlrs.  James  Ashley  and  Mrs.  John  Paige. 

Col.  Charles  D.  Martin,  stood  upon  the  deck  of 
the  "Arabia"  on  the  evening  of  July  8,  ]856,  and  as 
she  passed  ai'ound  the  high  bluffs  below  Blyburg  his 
eyes  for  the  first  time  rested  upon  Dakota  county.  In 
those  days  Col.  Martin  was  young  and  in  his  prime — 
seeking  a  home  in  the  ^"far  west  "  The  steamer  landed 
at  Omadi  and  unloaded  a  steam  saw  mill  for  A.  H. 
Baker  &  Co.,  and  while  this  was  being  done  he  went 
ashore  and  took  in  the  town.  It  was  night  when  the 
boat  hinded  at  Covington,  and  the  next  morning  found 
him  on  an  exploring  journey  in  search  of  a  home. 
After  looking  over  the  country  thoroughly,  he  located 
on  a  pre-emption  near  Covington  and  east  of  the  lake. 
He  was  looking  abend  in  the  year:.?  to  come.  Purchas- 
ing another  piece  of  land  further  down    the    river,    he 


202  WAKNEE^S  HISTORY   OP    DAKOTA    COUKTY. 

said  to  his  friends:  '-Isow  I  liave  two  pieces  oi:  land 
and  as  the  country  grows  in  wealth  and  prosperity 
there  is  certain  to  be  a  raih-oad  bnilt  across  the  river 
at  Sioux  City  and  thence  southward,  and  it  is  bound 
to  cross  one  or  the  other  of  these  tracts  of  bind,"  We 
will  now  follow  hiui  down  through  the  years  and  see 
how  far  sighted  he  was.  He  set  to  work  building  a 
log  cabin,  lived  in  a  tent,  used  water  of  Covinoton  la):e 
and  found  it  healthy.  In  October,  1856,  went  down 
to  Oniadi  in  company  with  Alonzo  JMoses,  and  pur- 
chased a  keg  of  nails  of  Wni.  C.  j\lcBeath,  paying 
therefor  10  cents  per  pound,  while  at  the  same  time 
Sioux  City  merchants  were  selling  them  at  12^  cents 
per  pound.  They  passed  over  the  ground  on  whicli  now 
stands  Dakota  City  and  found  but  one  log  house, 
covered  with  dirt  far  a  roof,  which  was  ounied  by  J. 
D.  M.  Crockwell,  who  was  the  founder  of  Dakota  City. 
September  11,  1856,  moved  his  family  into  the  pre- 
emtiou  cabin  which  after  the  lapse  of  more  than  thii'ty 
years  of  changing  scenes  is  still  standing — a  time 
lionored  land  mMrk  of  the  early  settlement  of  our 
county  and  a  relic  of  tlie  years  that  have  passed  away. 
Purchased  a  shingle  mill  in  November  and  manufact- 
nre<l  shingles  all  through  that  cold  and  stormy  winter 
of  '56  and  ^57,  which  will  ever  be  reinembeied  for  its 
tb)'ty  days  of  continuous  freezin<jj  weather.  Was  np- 
appointed  postmaster  at  Covinii^ton  In  1858;  was  also 
justice  of  the  }>eace.  May  1851.  appointed  clerk  oi.'  tl;e 
U.  S.  district  court  for  the  Third  judicial  district  of 
the  territory  of  Nebraska  and  held  that  othice  six 
years.  In  1864  w^as  appointed  receiver  of  the  U.  S. 
land  office  for  Dakota  City  land  district  and  held  tluit 
o-fBce  four  years  and  seven  months,  and  on  settlement 
of  accounts  was  found  short  two  cents,  which  amount 
was  at  once  forwarded  to  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Omaha.  In  October,  1877,  Col.  Martin  boucrht  one- 
half  of  the  Nebraska  Eagle:  afterwards  sold  his  in^ 
terest  and  founded  the  Argus   in  May^   1880.     Daring 


I 


SETTLERS  OF   18.56.  203 

hi?  Jonnuilistic  life  lie  had  written  a  continued  story — 
''The  Conflict;  Love  or  Money" — and  published  in  the 
Eagle  and  the  Argus,  which  is  remarkable  for  its  great 
number  of  chapters  and  the  liberal  comments  it  receiv- 
ed at  the  hands  of  the  Nebraska  newspaper  men.  His 
wife  died  April  16,  1887,  of  congestive  chills,  leaving- 
three  daughters  and  one  son.  In  the  fall  of  1886  Soutii 
Sioux  City  was  laid  out  along  the  east  baid^s  of  Silvei- 
Lake,  adjoining  his  old  pre-emption.  Land  rapidly 
increased  in  valuation  anci  in  tlie  spring  of  '87  tjje  town 
l)egan  to  boom.  The  first  of  J  une,  1887,  Col.  ivlartin 
laid  out  his  pre-emption  land.  What  a  contrast  be- 
tween the  two  scenes — that  of  settling  on  his  pre-emp- 
tion inl856and  layingitout  in  town  lots  in  1887!  A  life 
time  often  embraces  aperiod  of  many  wonderful  changes. 
Was  married  a  second  time  to  Louita  Hansen  of  Jackson 
county.  Minn.,  July  18,  1888.  He  died  at  South 
Sioux  City  in  1891.  Col.  Martin  was  born  March  26. 
1817,  in  Bath,  Grafton  county,  "New  Hampshire,  At- 
tended tlie  public  schools  ten  years  and  remembered 
when  Kev;.  David  Sutherland  was  paid  his  salary  as 
minister  by  taxing  all  property  holders.  At  18  years 
if  age  attended  a  Literary  Institute  in  Loraine  county, 
:  )iiio,  and  there  studied  the  languages  four  years. 
Taught  school  in  ]\[iami  county,  Ohio,  in  1839  and 
traveled  as  a  missionary  in  Ohio  up  to  1841.  Then 
l)ecame  postmaster  in  Athens  county ,  Ohio,  and  was 
married  at  that  place  to  Nancy  Dunlap,  May  6,  1843. 
Moved  to  western  Pennsylvania  and  then  to  Xew 
Orleans,  December.  1849.  Spent  the  year  of  1850  in 
southern  Arkansas  near  the  Lonisana  line;  moved  to 
,-outhern  Illinois  in  1855,  and  then  to  Leavenworth, 
Kansas,  where  he  took  passage  on  the  steamer,  "Ara- 
bia," for  Covington,  Nebraska.  This  completes  the 
story  of  a  busy  life. 

William  Fkazier  was  born  in  York  county,  Penn- 
tsylvania,  Noveufber  7,  1820.  Came  from  Council 
Bluifs,  Iowa,  to  Dakota  county  on  the  steamer    Arabia 


204  Warner's  histc»rt  of  Dakota  coui^rrT. 

landing  here  June  8tlr  1850.  lie  settled  near  Coving- 
ton where  he  has  resided  to  the  present  time,  witne.->s- 
ing  the  transformation  ofawikJand  uninhabited  land 
to  a  rich  and  thickly  settled  community,  as  we  behold 
it  today.  Married  to  Catharine  Donlen  at  Dakota 
City,  by  Prof.  Samuel  Aughey,  May  2,  1867.  Post- 
office,  South  Sioux  City. 

Andrew  Johns  was  born  1834,  in  Ohio,  and  came 
to  Dakota  county,  July  13,  1856,  settled  in  Blybiirg, 
where  his  wife  died  leaving  two  sons — George  W.  and 
Joseph  H.;  three  daughters—  Mrs.  Wesley  McPherson. 
Mre.  Cora  Stubbs  and  Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Harris.  P.  O. 
St.  James. 

D.  W.  Griffy  in  company  with  W.  C.  McBeath 
followed  an  old  Indian  trail  from  Omadi  to  Covington 
in  the  summer  of  1856,  and  along  their  Journey  tiiey 
saw  no  signs  of  civilization.  I).  W.  Griffey  was  born 
June  24,  1834,  in  Kentucky.  Was  married  a  second 
time  to  Florence  McConnell.  Has  one  son,  Martin  W. 
Was  one  of  the  first  party  that  evei-  reached  Pike's 
Peak,  in  1858-  Enlisted  in  the  war  for  the  Union, 
in  1st,  and  2nd.  Colorado  Cavah-y,  aud  fought  the 
''bush-whackers"  of  Missouri.     Postoffice,  Dakota  City. 

Thomas  Curran  was  born  in  Tipperary  Co.,  Ireland, 
December  23,  1823,  where  he  was  married,  and  came 
to  Dakota  county,  in  the  summer  of  1856.  Kept  the 
first  store  in  St.  Johns.  His  wife  died  in  1861  leaving 
three  children — John,  James  and  Maggie.  He  mar- 
ried a  second  wife,  whu  died  in  1877,  leaving  two 
children — Thomas  and  Mary.  He  died  at  his  residence 
in  Summit  precinct,  March  21,  1890,  of  lung  fever. 

Henry  F.  Shull  Avas  born  November  1.  1S40,  in 
DeKaib  county,  Indiana.  Moved  to  Iowa  in  fall  of 
1855,  and  on  the  15th  day  of  August,  1S56,  stood  for 
the  first  time  upon  the  soil  of  Dakota  county,  in  com- 
pany with  his  father  Daniel  Shull.     Was  employed    as 


SETTLERS  OF   1856.  205 

■  )()k  at  the  Sluill  niid  Ilartmaii  shingle  mill  in  Oinadi, 
;id  afterwai'ds  cooked  in  Menry  Ream's  hotel.  Bought 
chuH)  on  Fiddlers  Creek,  and  moved  there  with  the 
:  linll  family  in  the  fall  of  1856,  where  he  still  resides 
thi-ee  nnies  west  of  Homer.  Married  January  17, 1882,  to 
Olive  Taylor,  a  daughter  of  Win.  Taylor.  lias  three 
(laiicrhters — Hattie,  Nellie  and  Effie. 

Patrick  Ryan  was  born  in  Tipperary  county 
Ireland,  1827,  and  came  to  Dakota  county,  September 
8,  1856.  Took  a  claim  in  what  is  now  knuwji  as  Sum- 
mit precinct,  and  soon  afterwards  built  a  comfortable 
residence.  Was  married  to  a  daughter  of  Wm.  Tlogan 
shortly  after  coming  to  Nebraska.  Was  a  hard  work- 
ing njan,  accumnlating  considerable  property  on  his 
farm,  and  elected  County  Commissioner  .on  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket,  November  6,  1877,  but  died  January  18, 
1880.  before  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office.  His 
wife  having  died  October  11,  1871,  leaving  three  child- 
ren, one  daughter  and  two  sons,  who  are  still  living — 
one,  Wm.  li.  elecled  sheriff  in  1889.  The  daughter 
(lied  Kebrua'T,  1872. 

John  Joyce  took  his  first  tramp  in  Dakota  county 
from  Covington  to  the  old  town  of  Logan,  on  the 
morning  of  November  26,  1856,  and  as  he  plodded 
along  he  had  ample  opportunity  to  view  the  wild  land 
which  everywhere  met  his  gaze.  He  little  dreamed  of 
the  vast  changes  which  a  few  fleeting  years  would  bring 
to  this  uninhabited  country  as  well  as  to  his  own 
iinancial  standing.  Lived  in  Logan  in  the  winter  of 
'56  and  '57  and  made  rails  and  cut  saw  logs.  The 
snow  was  over  four  feet  deep  in  the  timber  and  the 
weather  it! tensely  cold,  i)uc  still  he  worked  on,  and  to- 
day as  you  drive  by  his  pleasant  countrj'  home,  four 
miles  M^estof  Dakota  City,  just  remember  how  he'  got 
his  start  in  the  world.  Took  a  claim  in  Brushy  Bend 
timber  and  afterwards  bought  the  farm  where  he  now 
lives  of  Horace  Dutton.     There  was  another  wise  thing 


OOG  wakkkk's  history  or  Dakota  county 

he  did  to  get  a  start  on  the  road  to  fortune,  and  tluit 
was  to  marry  Miss  Phoebe  Wigie,  sister  of  Jesse  Wigle, 
November  14,  1861-  The  wedding  took  place  at  the 
residence  of  the  l)ride's  brother,  wliicli  stood  on  what 
is  now  known  as  tlie  Capt.  O'Connor  lane,  Rev.  Tiirrnan 
otficiating.  They  at  once  moved  to  his  farm  where  they 
liave  ever  since  resided,  and  witnessed  the  t^ettling  up 
of  the  wild  land  around  them.  Have  adopted  three 
ciiildren  and  celebrated  their  silver  weddinir,  Novembei' 
14,1886.  John  Joyce  was  born  June  5,  1837,  in 
Duchess  county,  N.  Y.;  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools.  At  tiie  age  of  12  years  \vent  to  Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming.  J.eft 
Wisconsin  in  the  spring  of  1856  for  Iowa  and  thence  to 
Nebraska. 

Patrick  Auesn  was  born  in  1827,  and  came  to 
Dakota  county  in  1856.  Lived  in  the  western  part  of 
the  county  until  his  death,  April  7,  1874. 

William  Gribble  was  born  in  1828,  in  England, 
»and  came  to  America  about  1834.  settling  in  Dakota 
county  in  1856-  Took  a  claim  in  Brushy  Bend.  Mar- 
ried to  Lorinda  Logan  about  1855-  Died  in  1881  ai, 
Sioux  City,  Iowa,  leaving  a  wife  and  four  daughters. 

David  Shull  was  born  in  Indiana,  in  1848,  and 
came  to  Dakota  county  October  14,  1856,  taking  a 
claim  on  Fiddlers  Creek,  January  1,  1857,  where  he 
has  remained  continuously  to  the  present  time.  Wlien 
Samuel  Watts  came  along  in  1857,  surveying  tiie  county 
he  found  that  <nit  of  the  entire  luale  population  along 
this  creek,  thirteen  in  number,  all  were  tiddlers  but 
David.  Watts  immediately  named  it  Fiddlers  Creek. 
Was  married  to  Anna  Winkhans,  ]\I;irch  13,  1879.  He 
established  ''Hillside  Daii-y"  on  his  farm  two  and  one- 
ha,lf  miles  west  of  Homer,  in  1881.  Died  in  July, 
1891,  leaving  a  wife  and  one  daughter. 

i\Mos  Lami'son  wliile  in  the  prime  of  life  turned 
his  iace  westward  and  crossed   the   Missouri  river   into 


# 


COL.  CHARLES  D.  MAETIN. 


(See  page  201.) 


SETTLERS  OF   1856.  209 

Dalsota  county,  October  25,  1856.  He  had  come  to  see 
for  himself  if  the  wonderful  stories  he  had  iieard  of 
Nebraska  were  true,  and  he  was  not  long  in  coming 
to  the  conclusion  that  he  had  found  a  land  in  which 
he  wished  to  spend  the  remainder  of  his  days.  He 
moved  his  family  to  Dakota  county  in  November  of 
the  same  year.  Early  in  the  month  ice  began  run- 
ning in  the  rivei-  and  everything  indicated  that  an  ex- 
tremely severe  winter  was  at  hand.  He  is  one  of  the 
few  who  still  live  to  tell  about  that  ever  memorble  cold 
;ind  stormy  vvinter  of  '56  and  '57.  He  lived  in  Omadi 
that  winter.  Hearing  about  the  wonderful  rushes  around 
Blyburg  lake  where  stock  were  successfully  wintered 
without  hay  or  grain,  he  tried  the  experiment,  but  be- 
fore winter  was  half  over  he  lost  every  head  of  his  cattle. 
The  following  spring  moved  down  to  Blyburg  and 
opened  up  two  wood  yards  on  the  bank  of  the  river. 
Those  who  had  occasion  to  visit  Blyburg  in  early  days 
will  remember  the  big  bend  in  that  locality — it  was  a 
few  hundred  yards  by  land  across  the  neck,  but  a  num- 
ber of  miles  by  water.  Well,  at  the  lower  end  of  the 
bend  he  had  a  wood  yard,  also  one  at  the  upper  end, 
and  lie  generally  wooded  up  a  steam  boat  from  his  first 
yard,  then  in  tlie  afternoon  or  the  next  day  would  step 
across  tiie  narrow  isthmus  and  sell  wood  from  his  other 
yard  to  the  same  boat,  which  had  been  a  day  or  so  in 
getting  around  the  big  bend,  filled  with  ugly  snags  and 
trencherous  sand-bars.  So  you  see  this  is  the  way  Mr. 
Lampson  utilized  the  crookedness  of  the  "old  muddy'' 
and  made  "piles  of  money"  thereby.  This  was  one  kind 
of  "crookedness"  that  was  "straightforward."  In  Oc- 
tober, 1861, he  joined  the  army  against  the  Indian  foes; 
served  until  May,  1862.  Can  remember  when  Blyburg 
was  all  prairie  except  large  elm  trees  next  to  the  lake 
and  river,  and  the  grass  grew  to  a  great  height.  While 
riding  on  a  large  horse  through  the  grass,  was  wet  to 
the  shoulders  with  the  dew,  so  the  reader  can  easily 
imagine   how   tall    the  grass  must  have  been.     Amos 


210  Warner's  history  of  dakota  county. 

Larapson  was  born  July  24,  1815,  in  Byron,  Genesee 
county,  Kew  York.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  moved  to 
Wisconsin  and  built  a  bi'idge  ?-crosfe  Fox  river.  Hewed 
every  stick  of  the  timber,  planks  and  all.  "Worked  in 
a  mili  in  Missouri  five  years  and  was  nsarried  to  Anna 
Jackson,  of  Clark  county,  Missouri,  in  1843.  Mo\e(l 
to  Lee  county,  Iowa,  then  to  Clark  county,  and  iji  Oc- 
tober, 1856,  started  for  Nebraska.  His  wife  died  in 
Homer,  September  5,  1888,  leaving  nine  childi-en- — four 
sons,  Albert,  George,  "William  and  Frank;  live  daugh- 
ters, Mrs.  Lorenzo  Whitehorn,  Mis.  Caleb  Lane,  Mrs. 
Elias  Shook,  Efiie  and  Florence. 

Gen.  Joseph  Hollm.an  was  born  in  Williamsport, 
Washington  county,  Maryland,  April  29,  1825.  At- 
tended Jefferson  college,  Pennsylvania,  and  afterwards 
studied  law  at  Ilagerstown.  He  caught  the  "westei'n 
fever,'  and  leaving  his  home  January  19,  1846.  jour- 
neyed to  Lee  county,  Iowa,  where  two  years  later  he 
was  elected  prosecuting  attorney.  Was  appointed  by 
President  Pierce  as  United  States  district  attorney  for 
Nebi-aska  territory,  and  settled  in  Dakota  county  on 
May,  1856,  on  his  pre-emption  adjoining  Dakota  City, 
whicli  he  still  tnvns.  Ileretnrned  to  Lee  county.  L»vva, 
in  1859,  where  he  was  elected  as  state  senator.  After 
remaining  there  for  a  few  years  he  again  came  to  Da- 
kota county,  where  he  has  ever  taken  an  acti\e  pavt  in 
all  pui>lic  affairs  pertaining  :o  the  welfare  ot  the  peo- 
ple. It  is  not  nei  es>aiy  to  give  further  sketch  of  his 
life  here,  as  ;i  full  account  is  given  in  dilieient  parts 
of  this  book. 

Samuel  WiirrEiiOKN  was  born  in  Rutland  county. 
Vermont.  Went  to  Yates  county  at  the  age  of  se\en- 
tf^en,  where  he  learned  the  tailoring  trade.  iXcxt  moved 
to  Ontario  county,  nnd  ther.ce  to  Seneca,  Falls  in  LS87. 
where  he  worked  at  his  trade  two  ye^irs.  Came  to  [);'- 
kota  county  No\-ember  20.  1856,  and  settled  in  kogaii. 
where  he  kept  a  boarding  house.    Movt'd  to  Dakota  City 


«. 


'^:i^' 


'n 


GEN.  JOSEPH  HOLLMAN. 


SKTTLKRS  OF   1856.  213 

the  following  year  and  opened  up  a  brick  yard,  manu- 
facturing the  first  brick  made  in  Dakota  City.  In  1872 
located  on  a  farm  three  miles  west  of  Dakota  City,  where 
he  lived  until  he  moved  to  the  state  of  Washington.  En- 
listed in  1862,  in  Co.  I,  2nd  Nebraska  Cavalry  and 
served  thirteen  months.  Married.  October  17,  1837, 
to  Mary  Beach  of  Seneca  Falls,  New  York.  She  died 
June  11,  1846,  leaving  two  sons — Leander  and  Lor- 
enzo, and  a  daughter  who  is  dead.  Was  mai'ried  a 
second  time  to  Sarah  A.  Evans,  of  Seneca  Falls,  New 
York.  Has  three  children  living  by  his  second  wife — 
one  son  and  two  daughters,  George  C,  Mrs.  Ralph 
Goodwin  and  Nellie.  His  daughter,  Emma  F.,  who 
was  loved  and  respected  by  a  large  number  of  friends 
died  August  21,1889. 

Alanson  Baker  came  to  Dakota  county,  Novem- 
ber, 1856,  and  helped  Father  Martin  to  manufacture 
shingles  near  Covington.  Married  to  Lizzie  George — 
a  sister  of  Mrs.  E.  L.  Wilbur.  Has  one  s<»n  and  two 
daughters,  Alanson,  Sarah  and  Avis.  Lostofhce,  Ak- 
ron, Iowa. 

Crittenden  McDonald  came  to  Dakota  county 
November  20,  1856,  was  afterwards  badly  hurt  by  fall- 
ing from  a  tall  cottonwood  tree,  where  he  liad  clinibed 
after  an  eagle's  nest,  and  soon  afterwards  went  ea^t. 

William  H.  Collins  came  to  Dakota  county  in 
1856,  lost  a  lot  of  cartle  that  winter.  At  that  time 
owned  the  Adam  Sides  farm,  enlisted  in  Co.  I.,  2nd 
Nei)raska  cavalry.  He  afterwards  wont  to  Missouri 
where  he  died. 

Alexander  Foito  came  to  Dakota  county  in  the 
fall  of  1856.  Lived  in  Omadi,  afterwards  moved  to 
Dunlap,  Iowa,  where  he  now  resides.  Has  two  chil- 
dren, Charles  S.  and  Mrs.  Julia  Pease  of  Dunlap,  Iowa. 

Charles  S.  Ford  was  born  June  17,  1847,  in  Buf- 
falo, N.  Y.;  came  with  his  parents  to  Dakota  county  in 


214  Warner's  history  oj*  Dakota   colnt^  . 

the  fall  of  185(]  and  helped  his  father  put  up  hay  ueai- 
Oiiiadi.  Attended  the  first  school  e\er  tanght  in  the 
eonnty,  atOmadi,by  Miss  Pntnani,  afterwards  attended 
school  at  the  same  place  taught  by  Di'.  G.  W.  Wilkin- 
son. His  parents  moved  to  Serg'eant  I;5inlf.-  and  soon 
afterwards  returned  to  iS'ebi-aska,  locating  on  tlie  Tim 
JMnrphy  phw;e,  north  of  where  llonier  now  stands. 
From  here  they  went  to  DesMoiues,  Iowa.  Chus.  Ford 
again  returned  to  Dakota  City  in  1867  and  was  em- 
ployed in  the  Bates  IJonse.  Taught  school  in  a  little 
old  school  house  that  stood  near  Col.  [jainl's  old  honse; 
went  to  Ponca  and  taught  two  tei'ms  ot  scho:)l  in  18GU. 
In  1870  opened  up  a  general  stoi'e  near  the  Oaks'  mill, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1871  he  and  Sim  A.  Comb.s  bonght 
the  Fi-ontier  Mills.  Here  in  connection  with  the  mill- 
ing business  he  operated  a  general  store  near  by.  Was 
married  to  Harriett  Myers,  iSeptembei-  17,  1872,  at 
-Jackson,  Neb.  Sold  his  share  in  the  miil  to  ('ol.  Baird 
m  the  fall  of  1873  and  moved  tu  Ponca  wheie  he  bonght 
out  Scimnel  Gamble's  storo  and  remained  in  this  busi- 
ness until  1881,  when  he  moved  to  Bancroft  and  opened 
np  a  general  store.  In  1883  he  sold  out  and  again 
moved  to  Ponca  and  built  a  large  skating  rink  3r).'vllO 
leet,  with  a  gallery  on  all  sides.  This  was  said  to  have 
been  the  finest  skating  rink  this  side  of  Omaha.  The 
"■roller  skate  craze"  became  vei-y  dull  and  he  sold  the 
building.  In  the  spring  o"  1888  started  the  hrst  h:ird- 
ware  store  in  Homer  with  Hugh  Myei'S,  under  th?  firm 
name  of  Ford  &  Myers.  He  soon  afterwards  houglit 
Myers'  share.  Has  five  children,  four  sons  and  one 
daughter.  JVlr.  Ford  has  l)een  an  eye  witness  to  most 
of  the  improvements  which  we  heboid  in  Dakota,  county 
to-day  and  is  now  located  and  doing  business  within 
three  miles  of  the  place  where  he  first  lived  in  the 
county  more  than  thirty-five  yeai's  ago.  "Was  apiioinled 
postmaster  at  Homer  in  1893. 

John  "W.  Vkkdkn  came  to  Dakota  county  in  185() 


SETTLEKS  OF  1856.  215 

and  began  operatljjg  a  saw  mill  iu  Covington,  October, 
1856.  Afterwards  run  a  saw  mill  in  Brushy  Bend. 
Went  to  Colorado  and  built  another  saw  mill.  He 
also  had  three  brothers,  Frank,  Thomas  and  Daniel,  all 
early  settlers  of  Logan. 

Stephen  Ullery  came  to  Dakota  county  in  1856 
and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Omadi. 
Afterwards  moved  on  the  old  Charley  Eckhart  farm 
two  miles  south  of  Dakota  City.  Moved  to  Omaha  and 
then  to  Missouri;  was  in  Ohio  when  last  heard  from. 

CoL.  John  Plyel  arrived  in  Dakota  county  in 
1856,  and  founded  the  town  of  "Plyburg,"  afterwards 
called  Blyburg.  The  town  was  named  after  its  founder, 
and  located  in  the  southern  part  of  the  county.  Some 
claim  that  this  man's  name  was  John  Bly,  but  this  is  a 
mistake.  He  afterwards  operated  a  drug  store  in  the 
town  of  Omadi,  went  to  Odell,  Iowa. 

Benjamin  Trusdale,  Buckwalter  Bros.,  John  Tulo, 
Wrn.  Burnett,  Thomas  Prior  and  others  came  to  Da- 
kota county  in  1856,  forming  a  coal  company,  and  went 
to  prospecting  for  coal  along  the  high  bluffs  in  Bly- 
burg. This  was  the  first  "coal  excitement"  the  county 
ever  had,  but  as  they  did  not  iind  anything  but  a  ten 
inch  vein  they  soon  abandoned  the  project, 

Uriah  Nickerson  came  here  in  1856,  and  was 
engineer  in  the  Omadi  steam  saw  mill;  owned  a  large 
tract  of  timber  in  Blybui-g,  where  his  wife  died  and 
was  buried.  Went  to  Woonsocket,  R.  I.,  and  died  there. 

John  Hommell  came  to  Dakota  county  in  185C, 
worked  at  the  carpenter  trade,  owned  a  farm  in  Bly- 
burg where  his  wife's  father,  John  Fisher,  died  and 
was  nearly  eaten  up  by  hogs  before  any  one  knew  of 
his  death.      Moved  to  (Jmaha. 

Alfred  Ei.am  came  to  Dakota  county  in  1856  and 
pre-empted  the  place  now  owned  by  Jacob  Leanier. 
Went  tu  Ft.  Scott,  Kansas, 


2 If)  Warner's  history  of  dako-ia  county. 

William  Silence  came  to  Dukota  couiity  in  1856; 
was  six  feet  and  two  inches  in  liei^bt  and  bnilt  for  a  tii>:ht- 
ing  man,  bnt  one  of  onr  leading  pioneers  who  is  still 
living  in  the  county  gave  liim  about  all  the  tight  he 
wanted  one  summer  day  in  1858.  Silence  lived  on  the 
AVm.  Taylor  land  and  liis  opponent  lived  in  Omadi. 
They  were  to  meet  half  way,  each  one  to  be  accom- 
panied by  his  seconds,  judges  and  friends.  Tliey  met 
somewhere  on  the  bottom  noi-th  of  where  the  Oaks 
n)ill  was  built,  and  it  was  not  long  before  a  great 
t-rowd  assembled  to  witness  the  exciting  conflict.  Peo- 
ple could  be  seen  coming  across  the  prairies  from  all 
directions  —from  the  hills  and  vallejs — from  Omadi. 
Logan  and  Dakota  City.  Silence  married  Ziber  Mil- 
lage's  daughter  and  afterwards  moved  to  Missouri  and 
then  to  Nebraska  City,  A^eb. 

Ziber  Mileage  came  to  Dakota  county  in  185(). 
and  lived  on  the  Wni.  Taylor  place.  Afterwards  moved 
to  Missoui-i  where  he  died. 

JosEt»n  Imhoff  came  to  Dakota  county  in  1S5G; 
v.ent  into  partnership  with  C.  0.  Bliven  in  the  carpen- 
tering business  at  Omadi.  Afterwards  went  to  Ne- 
braska City,  and  then  to  Lincoln,  where  he  became  pro- 
prietor of  the  Commercial  House. 

SETTLERS  OF  1857. 

John  W.  Hazlegrove  was  l)orn  in  Kentucky,  in 
1842  and  began  pioneer  life  in  I)ak(jta  county  March 
10,  1857.  Was  married  to  Margia  Officer  near  Dakota 
City,  November  30,  1862.  Has  three  sons  and  four 
daughters,  William  I.,  Cliaries  E.,  John  L..  Mrs. 
'/anny  Gray,  Rose  M.,  M*ary  IL  E.  and  (jporgia  B. 
lives  on  a  farm  west  of  Dakota  City.  Mr.  Hazle- 
grove says:  "the  flrst  year  I  was  in  the  connty  1 
mowed  my  hay  with  a  scythe  and  cut  my  wheat  with 
a  ci-adie.     Thei-e   was    not    a    ujowini2:    machine  nor    a 


SETTLERS  OF    1857.  217 

reaper  in  the  county.  I  operated  the  hrst  reaper  ever 
used  on  Elk  Creek  Valley.  I  cut  grain  for  Ilogans, 
Beaconi,  Jones,  liyans,  McCormick  and  for  several 
others  on  the  bottom. 

William  Armour,  in  March,  1857,  crossed  over 
the  river  to  Dakota  county  and  camped  on  the  present 
site  of  Ponca.  When  he  returned  the  following  day  he 
found  the  buttom  all  covered  with  water  from  the  melt- 
ing snow  and  the  ground  still  being  frozen  prevented 
the  water  from  escaping.  He  supposed  the  whole  bot- 
tom was  one  vast  swamp  and  at  that  time  had  no  use 
for  it.  But  during  that  year  when  the  water  had  sub- 
sided he  again  ventured  to  the  county,  and  has  lived 
thirty-seven  years  on  this  supposed  "swamp,"  five 
miles  southwest  ol  Dakota  City.  Married  in  1864  to 
Jennie  Garner.  Has  five  sons  and  three  daughters, 
Leander,  William,  Henry,  George,  Marvin,  Lucy  G., 
Jeannette  and  Nellie. 

Dennis  Armour  was  born  March  29,  1838,  in 
Delaware  county,  N .  Y.,  and  landed  in  Dakota  county 
at  Omadi,  on  the  steamboat,  "Asa  Wilgus."  That 
summer  raised  a  crop  on  the  John  Braunt  farm,  and 
took  a  claim  in  1858,  where  he  now  resides,  four  miles 
southwest  of  Dakota  City.  Went  to  Colorado  in  1860 
and  engaged  in  freighting.  Enlisted  in  Co.  I,  2nd  Ne- 
braska Cavalry,  in  the  war  of  the  liebellion.  Was  niar- 
I'ied'  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Hileman  on  Christmas  day,  1872, 
Ilev.  J.  Zimmerman  officiating.  Has  six  children,  three 
sous  and  three  daughters. 

James  O.  Fisher  stepped  upon  Dakota  county  soil 
from  a  flat  boat  at  Covington,  April  4,  1857,  and  gazed 
upuu  the  wild  country  around  him,  wondering  what  the 
future  had  in  store  fur  him.  He  went  to  Logan  where 
he  lived  al)out  live  years  engaged  in  farming;  took  a 
claim  of  160  acres  about  five  miles  west  of  Dakota  City, 
where  he  is  now  residing.  Was  married  to  Mary  Dut- 
ton  [a  sister  of  Horace  Dutton,)on  the  25th  day  of  No- 


218  Warner's  iiistohy  oi-  dakota  county. 

vemher,  1858.  Mr,  Fislier  was  elected  county  coiiuuis- 
sioner  on  the  democratic  ticket  in  1859,  serving  three 
years,  and  represented  Dakota  county  in  the  9tli  terri- 
torial legislature,  which  convened  at  OniMlia,  January 
7th,  1864.  Has  been  connected  with  the  school  board 
in  his  district  for  more  than  twenty  years,  and  has,  al- 
ways taken  an  active  part  in  the  promotion  of  public 
schools,  as  well  as  all  other  projects  looking  to  the  ad- 
vancement and  stability  ot  the  general  welfare  of  Dakota 
county,  and  has  lived  to  see  the  wide  Missouri  valley 
giadnally  transformed  from  wild  prairies  to  a  thickly 
settled  community  teeming  with  life  and  activity. 
Has  been  a  witness  to  every  movement  and  every  step 
of  progress  in  the  county,  from  tiie  building  of  fences 
to  the  erection  of  the  court  house;  from  the  b'-eakin^ 
up  of  the  prairie  to  the  rise  and  flourish  of  towns  and 
villages,  and  from  the  old  time  "fords"  to  the  building 
of  costly  bridges,  grading  of  highways,  and  the  tri- 
nmpiiant  march  of  lines  of  railways  across  the  country. 
On  the  26th  of  August,  1882,  was  appointed  by  the 
Pioneers  and  Old  Settlers'  Association  to  represent 
Dakota  precinct  on  the  Committee  of  Arratigements. 
Hon.  E.  K.  Valentine  attended  their  first  meeting  in 
Baird's  grove,  September  23,  1882,  and  some  of  the 
politicians  w^anted  him  to  make  a  speech.  The  matter 
was  referred  to  Mr,  Fisher,  who  then  and  there  barred 
out  the  introduction  of  politics  into  the  society,  and  no 
one  since  has  dared  to  broach  the  subject  of  politics  in 
public  at  their  annual  reunions.  "No,  gentlemen,  said 
Mr.  Fisher,  "we  want  one  society,  at  least,  in  the  county 
free  from  politics."  Many  censured  hi  in  at  the  time  for 
this  remark,  bnt  as  the  years  pass  on,  all  will  admit  tliat 
he  was  right  His  wife  died  November  19,  1889^  leav- 
ing seven  children — -three  sons  and  four  daughters,  Ir- 
ving, Henry,  Oliver,  Mrs.  Etta  Vosburg,  Mrs.  Myi-a 
Taylor,  Currence  and  Mary.  Ja'.ues  O.  Fisher  was  born 
in  Blackstone,  Mass.,  and  raised  in  Connecticut.  He 
went  to  California  in  1852,  returned  to  Coimecticut  in 


SETTLERS  OF  1857.  219 

1856,  tmd  the  following  year  made  the  most  important 
move  of  his  life — came  to  Nebraska,  '-and  grew  up  with 
tlie  country." 

CoL.  Barnauas  Batp:s  drove  up  to  Luther  Wood- 
ford's residence  in  Sergeant  Bluffs  on  the  16th  day  of 
April,  1857.  Leaving  liis  team  there  he  proceeded  to 
cross  the  Missouri  river  to  Dakota  City  in  a  skiff". 
About  this  time  preparations  were  beinoj  made  by  the 
''Town  Company'"  for  tlie  building  of  the  large  hotel 
"Bates  House,"  which  for  so  many  years  stood  in  the 
northeast  portion  of  Dakota  City,  and  he  was  employed 
to  go  to  St.  Louis  to  purchase  the  necessary  material, 
returning  July  12th.  He  invested  |1,000  of  his  own 
money  in  the  enterprise.  In  the  fall  of  1857  went  to 
get  a  load  of  lime  to  be  used  in  the  buildinsj,  at  the 
lime  kiln  up  the  ravine  west  of  Col.  Baird's  house. 
Slept  on  the  ground  and  killed  a  night  hawk  and  cooked 
it  over  a  tire  for  breakfast.  The  hotel  was  finished  in 
June,  1858,  at  a  cost  of  ^16,000.  In  the  fall  of  1859 
was  elected  to  the  territorial  legislature  on  the  demo- 
cratic ticket  and  went  to  Omaha  and  served  during  the 
winter  of  '59  and  '60.  Was  appointed  by  President  Bu- 
chanan as  postmaster  at  Dakota  City  and  served  seven 
years.  In  1858,  in  company  with  Elbridge  Lampson, 
—  a  brother  of  Amos  Lampson, — E.  F.  Mason  and 
Stephen  Ullery  went  on  a  twenty  days'  hunting  expe- 
dition along  the  Elkhorn  river.  Camped  right  where 
Norfolk  is  now  located.  They  saw  thousands  of  elk 
and  soon  loaded  a  four  horse  team  with  elk  meat.  In 
those  days,  this  was,  indeed,  a  wild  barren  looking 
country.  The  last  house  on  the  Elkhorn  was  eight 
miles  up  the  river  from  West  Point.  Was  married  a 
.second  time  in  1860  to  Mrs.  Hannah  Nevell,  at  Et.  Cal- 
iioun,  Washington  county,  Nebraska;  soon  after  rented 
the  Bates  House  and  kept  hotel  there  for  two  years.  In 
the  summer  of  1862  moved  to  his  residence  in  Dakota 
C'ity  where  he  has  since  resided.  Here  his  daughter 
Helen  kept  the  posroffice  for  a  number  of  years.    About 


220  WAKKKlt's   riS'lOKY    OV    DAKOTA   COO'TY. 

this  time  huiU  ;i  Uvick  scliciol  house  in  Sergenut  BliiUs 
wliifh  is  still  in  use.  In  the  fall  of  1861  vvas  re-elected 
to  the  lower    house   of    the    territorial    legislature.      In 

1865  built  the  Dakota  City  brick  school  house;  1868 
A.  H.  Baker's  residence;  1871  the  Charley  Eckhart 
store — afterwards  owned  and  used  by  M.  ( ►.  xVyers  as  a 
drug  store,  and  helped  to  build  the  court  liouse  and  the 
iMethodist  church — all  in  Dakota  City.  Has  served  as 
notary  public  and  coroner  of  Dakota  county  for  a  num- 
ber of  years;  was  also  deputy  clerk  of  the  district  court 
for  the  northern  district  of  Nebraska.      In   the  fall  of 

1866  was  elected  on  the  democratic  ticket  as  member 
of  the"  territorial  council  against  Col.  H.  Baird.  In 
those  days  there  was  a  society  called  '-Sons  of  Malta,'' 
which  was  not  overburdened  with  religious  and  moral 
teachings.  To  illustrate  the  tendency  of  its  workings 
the  initiation  of  Col.  Bates  into  the  society  is  here 
given:  It  was  while  he  was  serving  as  member  of  the 
territoriid  council  at  Cmaha  that  liis  friends  induced 
him  to  join  the  society.  After  taking  him  through  all 
kinds  of  ridiculous  performances  they  gave  him  a  papei- 
to  sign  which  purported  to  be  the  constitution  of  the 
society.  Then  a  grand  rush  was  n.ade  lor  the  neai'est 
restaurant  where  all  partook  of  a  hearty  supper.  Loud 
Was  their  laughter  and  jolly  indeed  was  the  crowd  as  if 
some  good  joke  ^^•as  about  to  he  pei-petrattd  on  some 
one,  and  sure  enough  this  was  the  case.  Just  as  rhey 
had  finished  their  supper  the  proprietor  stepped  up  to 
Col.  Bates  and  prc!sented  to  him  the  paper  lie  had 
signed  supposed  to  be  the  constitution,  but  instead  it 
was  an  order  on  the  restaurant  for  anything  the  mem- 
bers miglit  wish.  It  cost  him  just  !$40.  The  "Sons 
of  Malta"  organized  a  society  in  the  Bates  liouse  and 
had  '^oceans  of  fun"  out  of  it,  as  many  of  the  pioneers 
well  ren)ember,  as  well  as  a  numhei-  (,f  the  leading  men 
of  Sioux  City.  E^^ery  man  that  signed  the  "constitu- 
tion" had  a  restaurant  bill  to  pay.  His  wife  died  Feb- 
ruary  15,   1879,  leaving   two   daughters  and   one  step 


SETTLERS  OF   1857.  221 

(l.ui^-hter.  On  the  6th  of  July,  1881,  started  from 
Sioiix  City  for  Ft.  Assinnboine,  Montana,  to  work  on 
the  fort,  afterwards  went  to  Ft.  Peck,  J\t.  T.,  and  built 
sevei'al  l)uihlings  for  school  purposes,  also  bnilt  a  saw 
mill.  Returned  to  Dakota  City,  October,  1883.  Has 
been  chief  marshal  of  the  Old  Settlers'  Association  for 
tlie  years  '83,  '84,  '85,'  '86,  and  '87.  In  the  early 
days  teams  were  very  scarce  and  people  often  wanted 
to  oo  to  Omaha  and  do  their  shopping.  He  had  about 
the  only  team  to  be  had  in  all  this  section  and  ujany 
we)-e  the  trips  he  took  to  Omaha  and  back.  There  was 
a  spring  on  the  old  military  road  near  the  line  between 
the  Omaha  and  Winnebago  lands.  Here  the  travelers 
in  those  times  would  stop  to  feed  and  get  dinner.  On 
one  occasion  he  noticed  a  large  number  of  bees  on  some 
cobs  and  watching  them  take  their  flight  soon  fo\ind 
^heir  home  in  a  large  leaning  burr-oak  tree,  just  over 
the  brow  of  the  hill  to  the  north.  He  expected  to  cut 
it  that  fall  but  when  he  went  down  he  found  that  some 
one  hrid  been  ahead  of  him  and  taken  the  honey  away, 
after  hiving  the  bees  in  a  box  where  they  were  busily 
at  work.  It  was  Henry  Ream  and  his  son  Marcel  who 
liad  cheated  him  out  of  his  honey,  but  this  fact  he  did 
not  know  until  the  lapse  of  neariy  thirty  years,  and,  of 
course,  it  was  not  worth  while  quarrelling  about  it  then. 
Henry  Ream  now  has  a  large  number  of  stands  of  bees 
and  could  easily  return  the  borrowed  honey  with  thirty 
years  interest  thereon.  Col.  Bates  has  always  taken  an 
active  part  in  politics,  ever  casting  his  weight  and  in- 
fluence with  the  democratic  party.  He  was  employed 
to  assist  in  the  gathering  in  of  color-ed  corn  for  the 
gi-ent  Corn  Palace  inaugurated  in  Sioux  City  on  the 
3rd  of  October,  1887,  find  continued  until  the  8th  of 
the  same  month.  Col.  Barnabas  Bates  was  born  De- 
cember 15,  1817,  in  Chautauqua  county,  New  York, 
received  his  education  in  the  district  school  of  Sheri- 
dan, New  Yoi-k,  lived  on  a  farm  until  eighteen  years 
ot    ;ige.      Ivcarned    the    mason's    trade    and    carried   on 


'^k5'^  WARKER's  HISTC>RY  of  DAKOTA  COUNTY. 

business  in  Canandagua,  Ontario  county,  New  York, 
for  fourteen  years.  Was  married  to  Lizzie  Stacy  in 
184:6  at  Canandagua.  She  died  in  June,  1848,  leaving 
one  daughter,  Helen.  Came  west  to  DesMoine?,  Iowa, 
m  June,  1855,  and  remained  there  and  worked  at  his 
trade  until  April.  1857,  when  summoned  by  the  unseen 
power  that  guides  the  minds  of  men,  he  started  on  the 
wisest  journey  of  his  life — that  journey  to  Dakota 
county  in  April,  1857. 

John  Snyder  was  born  Der.eniber  2,  1831.  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  landed  in  Omadi,  April  26,  1857. 
He  was  the  first  constable  in  that  precinct.  Married 
to  Em.ily  Pilgrim.  They  have  three  sons  and  two 
daughters,  and  live  in  Blyburg. 

James  McKenna  crossed  over  the  river  from  Sioux- 
City  to  Coving-ton,  on  Sunday  Api-il  28,  1857,  and 
found  the  pioneers  all  at  work,  sawing  luml)er,  i-olling 
logs  and  chopping  down  trees.  There  were  some  pious 
people  among  them,  but  the  April  showers  were  com- 
ing on  and  they  must  have  lumber  for  shelter.  Settled 
in  the  town,  afterwards  lived  in  Sioux  City  nine  years 
when  he  again  located  in  Covington  where  he  remain- 
ed until  his  death.  May  22,  1891.  Mr.  McKenna  was 
born  in  Tyrone  Co.  Ireland  in  1819,  and  married  in 
his  native  land.  His  wife  died  in  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  in 
1870.  Was  married  a  second  time  June  1873  to  Mrs. 
William  Leach. 

James  Ashley  was  born  in  England  and  came  to 
New  York  in  1852.  In  the  spring  of  1857  located  in 
Dakota  county,  in  the  town  of  Logan,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  the  blacksmithing  business.  Moved  to  Da- 
kota City  in  the  fall  of  1858  where  he  carried  on  the 
same  trade  until  1860,  when  he  removed  to  the  Omaha 
Reservation,  and  is  at  present  living  in  Decatur,  Burt 
county,  Nebraska.  Is  a  brother  to  Robert  T.  Asnley, 
who  was  appointed  U.  S.  Indian  Agent  for  the 
Omahas  and  Winnebagoes,  in  1889.     Has    four    child- 


SETTLERS  OF  1857.  ZZ6 

ren    Jiving,   John,  Jennie,    wife  of    Charles    Maryott, 
Frederick  and  Charles.     His  son  George  is  dead. 

Michael  Kennelly  packed  his  family  and  all  his 
earthly  effects  into  a  wagon  at  Omaha,  in  1857,  and  on 
the  7th  of  May — what  a  beautiful  day  it  was,  when  he 
halted  upuii  the  sumniit  of  old  Pilgrim  Hill,  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  county,  and  gazed  out  upon  the 
hroad  Missouri  valley.  He  beheld  Omadi  in  all  its 
glory,  "and  then"  says  Mr.  Kennelly,  ''I  thought  I  had 
indeed,  found  the  laud  of  'milk  and  honey'  of  which  I 
had  heard  so  much,  but  later  on  1  learned  that  it  was 
ojily  whisky  and  molasses,  and  that  soon  played  out — 
and  t!ie  people  on  the  verge  of  starvation  climbed  to 
the  top  of  the  highest  hills  to  see  if  there  were  any 
boats  coming  with  supplies."  He  then  proceeded 
down  the  old  Military  road  from  Pilgrim  Hill,  and 
landed  in  Omadi,  where  he  engaged  in  blacksmithing 
until  1800  when  he  established  the  first  blacksmith 
sliop  in  Jackson.  Was  elected  county  commissioner 
in  October,  1865;  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  for  St. 
Johns  pi-ecinct  for  many  years,  which  office  he  liolds  at 
the  present  time,  was  also  assessor  for  Omadi  precinct 
in  1802.  Mr.  KenneJIy  was  born  in  Ireland,  Septem- 
ber 10th,  1820,  and  came  to  America  m  February, 
1849,  settlitig  in  Hartford,  Connecticut,  where  he  re- 
mained until  his  journey  Uj  the  land  of  ''milk  and 
honej."  Was  married  a  second  time  to  Mrs.  Finnell, 
September  6th,  1852.   They  have  eight  children  living. 

Jamks  Wescott  M'as  born  in  1819,  and  came  to 
Dakota  county  in  1857.  settling  on  a  tract  of  land 
abont  five  miles  west  of  Dakota  City  which  to  this  day 
is  known  as  the  old  Wescott  place.  He  w^as  an  honest, 
hard  working  man  and  built  for  himself  and  family  a 
good  comfortable  liome.  Planted  one  of  the  first 
oi-ch;irds  in  the  countv.  Died  at  his  residence  west  of 
D^kotM  Citv.  June  14th,  1877,  and  his  remains  were 
mtencd  in  the  Sioux  City  cenieteiY.    His  wife  and  two 


224  Warner's  histouy  of  dakoia  count  v. 

sons — Charles  T.  and  Geo.  T.  are  now  living   in     Sioux 
City,  Iowa. 

John  Blessing  began  his  career  in  Dakota  county 
in  the  spring  of  1857  and  by  hard  labor  and  living  au 
honest  and  upright  life  has  furnished  us  with  another 
example  ot  what  plurk  will  do.  lie  was  willing  to 
work  and  wait — '-Home  was  not  built  in  one  day"-  - 
and  lived  on  corn  bread  with  the  hope  that  a  better 
day  was  coming  and  as  the  years  went  l)y  it  came,  just 
as  it  always  does  to  those  endowed  with  courage  anvl 
energy.  The  young  man  who  bits  on  a  dry  goods  box 
today  wondering  why  he  is  not  better  fixed  in  the 
world  should  study  the  lives  of  our  pioneei-s.  lit- 
located  in  Oniadi  pi-ecinct.  in  18(52  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany I,  Second  INebraska  Cavalry,  served  tliirteen 
months,  then  returned  and  located  in  Dakot;i,  precinct, 
settled  on  liis  present  farm  in  Brushy  Bend  i-.i  18(54. 
Mr.  Blessing  was  born  April  l-l,  1832,  in  Wurtembei-g. 
Germany.  In  1850  came  to  Erie  county.  New  Yu:k, 
there  learned  the  carpenter  trade  where  he  worked 
about  five  years  and  then  came  west.  \V;is  married 
in  185(5  to  Mary  Willyuung,  of  Elsace,  New  York. 
They  have  ten  children  -tour  sons  and  six  daughters. 
Has  a  good  farm — over  80U  acres  of  laud  and  (juite  u 
large  amount  of  stock. 

John  FiNNERTY  was  bom  in  Irelaud  July  11. 
ISKx  Came  to  America  in  1851.  Went  to  ('inciu- 
iintti  where  he  married  Katie  Smith,  June  27.  1851. 
On  the  12th  day  of  May,  1857,  crossed  the  Missouri 
i-iver  into  Dakota  county  aud  located  on  a  piece  of  land 
along  the  south  bank  of  Cryst  d  Lake,  .ibout  two  miles 
northwest  of  Dakota  City.  Here  he  lived  for  many 
years  farming  his  land,  building  a  sui)stantial  dwelling 
and  otuer  houses  fur  stock  and  grain.  Planted  a 
good  orchard  aud  was  an  eye  witness  to  every  stroke  of 
improvement  for  miles  around  him.  Has  three  child- 
ren—Dennis ]).,  mari'ied    to   Hattie   McKinney,      Mrs. 


SETTLERS  OF    1857.  225 

John  CKutoii  und  Mrs.  Morgan  Heafey.    His  wife   died 
in  iSonth  Oinalia  Septenjber"24th   181)8. 

Patuick  Monahan  was  born  in  Ireland  in  182(j 
and  crossed  the  ocean  to  Aniei-ica  in  1849,  landing  at 
iN'ew  York  City.  Moved  t(.  Ohio  and  lived  seven  yeari? 
in  Sandnsky  and  Dayton.  Was  fireman  on  a  railroad. 
Was  married  at  Dayton  in  1854,  to  Miss  Bridge:  Smith, 
lias  six  children,  two  of  whom  ai'e  dead.  Three  daugh- 
ters, Katie,  Mary  aiid  Biidie,  and  one  i-on,  Thomas,  are 
living.  Ml'.  JMonahan  had  lieard  wonderful  stories  about 
tlie  ricli  and  fertile  prairies  of  the  west  and  determined 
to  seek  a  home  there.  Jn  May  1857  he  bid  farewell  to 
his  Ohio  home  and  turned  his  face  toward  the  western 
land,  ana  the  21.~t  day  of  May  found  him  on  board  of 
a  steamer,  with  all  liis  woildly  possessions,  winding 
along  up  the  Big  Muddy  ihiough  what  is  to-day 
Crysral  lake.  He  informed  the  captain  of  the  boat 
tlint  his  destinatioii  was  St.  Johns.  But  the  captain 
said  the  landing  was  unsafe  at  that  place  and  he  would 
hri\e  to  eitliei'  get  off"  at  Logan  or  E*onca  and  he  chose 
the  i'ormei-,and  so  he  was  left  at  Logan  among  strangers 
in  a  strange  lami,  except  John  Kinnerty  und  family  who 
had  cctme  with  him.  Alfred  Elam  agreed  to  take  him 
to  St.  Johns  for  $7.50.  His  hired  hand,  J.  O.  Fisher, 
was  Called  in  and  told  to  hitch  up  the  driving  team  (a 
good  steady  yoke  of  oxen)  and  the  outfit  was  soon  wind- 
ing their  way  toward  their  long  looked  for  home.  They 
had  m>t  proceeded  far  until  they  ran  into  a  mud  hole 
and  the  oxen  ''got  stuck"  and  all  hands  had  to  climb 
out  into  the  mud  smd  water  and  wade  to  the  shore. 
Mi's.  Finnerty  had  to  carry  her  son  Dennis  and  get  to 
the  shore  with  him  the  iiest  she  could.  Mr.  Monahan 
took  a  claim  on  Pigeon  creek,  joining  John  Howard 
on  the  southwest.  He  got  some  breaking  done  at  tlie 
rate  of  SIO.OO  per  acre  and  raised  a  small  crop  that 
yvar.  Moved  down  to  C'ovington  that  fall,  and  lie  and 
John  Finnerty  bought  two   lots    of   John    Feenan    and 


^^D  WARNERS   HISTdKY   (»K    DAKOTA   COUKTY. 

built  a  lioui-e  to  live  in.  In  the  fpiiug  of  1S58  lie 
l)Ouglit  the  place  where  he  is  now  living  and  when 
South  Sioux  City  t<»ok  its  boom  sold  all  his  i'ai'ni  ex- 
cept five  acres  to  be  laid  out  in  town  lots.  How  vast 
are  the  changin*;  scenes  which  Mr.  Monahaii  lias  wi; - 
nessed  since  his  advent  to  the  wild  primeval  lands  of 
Dakota  county.  He  has  lived  to  see  towns  and  \i!- 
laoes  rise  up  and  flourish  and  crunil)le  and  decay  unril 
they  are  known  today  only  in  history.  He  has  lived 
to  see  a  once  wild  and  nninhal)ited  land  transformed 
into  a  rich  and  prosperous  community.  He  saw  the 
rise  and  fall  of  Pacific  City,  which  was  situated  on  tlie 
present  site  of  South  Sioux  City,  in  township  20.  range 
9  east. 

AViLLTAM  Cr>'NrNunAM  came  to  Daktjta  county. 
May  12,  1857,  find  took  a  claim  which  is  now 
a  portion  of  South  Sioux  City,  where  he  was  drowned 
in  1881,  in  the  high  water  of  that  year.  His  wife  and 
one  daughter  survive  liim.  The  daughter  is  nuu-ried 
to  Tim  Shanahan.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shanalnui  have  six 
children. 

Peter  ]\Iyers  joined  the  great  army  of  emi- 
grants, and  iound  his  way  into  Dakota  county  May  12, 
1857.  Took  a  claim  on  the  bluffs  near  TVilliam  Tay- 
lor's farm.  His  wife  died  in  1859  leaving  three  child- 
ren-two sons  and  one  daughter,  John  E.,  Geo.  W.  and 
Mrs.  Emma  Kice.  Lives  in  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  was  a 
Union  Soldier  in  the  Rebellion, 

CoL.  Jesse  F.  Wakner,  piloting  a  "prairie  schoon- 
er" over  the  wild  and  desolate  prairies  of  the  west, 
found  a  landing  place — named  Dakota  county— -]\I ay 
17,  1857,  and  probably  no  pilot  while  sailing  upon  the 
deep,  or  along  the  inland  rivers  was  ever  more  pleased 
with  a  landing  than  he  was  with  the  place  that  was 
henceforth  to  be  his  home.  He  located  on  what  is  now 
known  as  the  George  Leamer  farm,  lived  in  a  house 
which  he  moved  from  the  town  of  Logan,  situated    one 


^^ 


COL.  JESSE  F.  WARNER. 


MRS.  HANNAH  M.  WARNER, 

(AVife  (»f  Col.  Jessi'  F.  AVanier.) 


SKTTI.KKS  OF   18")".  231 

half  mile  north  of  his  hiiuL  Opened  up  a  farm  and 
made  other  substantial  improvements.  Tn  company 
with  pioneers  took  many  hunts  beyond  the  settlement 
for  deer,  elk,  etc.,  and  therefore  had  an  opportunity  of 
seeing  North  Nebraska  in  its  wildest  state.  Passed 
over  tiie  country  wliere  Emerson,  Wakefield,  Wyyne. 
Norfolk,  Madison,  Wisner  and  Coleridge  are  situated, 
years  before  there  was  a  single  settler  in  all  that  re- 
gion. In  fall  of  '57  went  to  eastern  lov.a  and  l)i'oug]it 
back  a  herd  of  cows  and  in  summer  of  '58  drove  200 
hogs  from  centralIowa,f  rom  which  cows  atid  hogs  origi- 
nated a  large  portion  of  the  stock  of  early  days  of  Dakota 
county.  Was  admitted  to  the  bar  before  Judge 
Eieazer  Wakly  at  the  District  Court  held  in  Dakota  City 
in  1857.  From  early  manJiood  he  took  an  active  interest 
in  politics  and  when  the  break  up  in  parties  came  and 
the  old  Whig  party  was  dissolved  he  threw  all  his 
talents  and  energies  into  the  struggle  over  the  slav- 
ery question  out  of  -which  the  Republican  party  was 
i)orn.  In  '54  and  '50  was  quite  prominent  on  the 
stunij)  which  grew  into  more  than  local  prominence.  In 
1800  was  a  delegate  from  Nebraska  to  the  ever  memor- 
jible  convention  at  Chicago  which  nominated  Abraham 
Lincoln.  He  leaves  to  the  family  his  certificate  signed 
by  "John  M.  Thayer,  chairman  Republican  Territorial 
Committee,"  which  he  preserved  as  one  of  his  choicest 
treasures.  When  the  great  war  cloud  burst  with  all  its 
fury  over  our  land  he  started  on  tlie  day  the  news  of 
the  falloF  Sumpter  reached  him  for  his  oM  home  in  Iowa 
to  i-aise  irjen  for  thesei-vice,  entei-ing  ihe  army  at  once 
MS  2nd  lieutenent,  7th  Iowa  Infantry,  without  waiting- 
tor  an  offer  of  a  bettei'  position,  was  promoted  to  the 
(•aptaincy  and  aft(>r  more  than  three  long  years  of  fierce 
battles  and  weary  mai-ches  was  compelled  to  i-esign  on 
account  of  injuries  and  broken  health.  Soon  after  his 
return  to  Iowa  was  chosen  colonel  of  one  of  the  "Border 
State  Regiments''  for  home  defense  !)ut  as  the  enemy 
was  driven  so  far  from  the   Iowa   border    the   regiment 


232  WAKKEii's  HISTORY  Ol'   DAKOTA  COUNTY. 

was  not  called  on  for  duty.  Col.  AVurner  was  witli 
Grant,  Logan,  McClernaid  and  others  who  )"Oge  to 
prominence  afterwards,  in  their  first  baptism  of  fire  at 
Belmont.  Commanded  his  company  in  the  cliarge  tliat 
carried  the  works  at  Donaldson  where  he  received  se- 
vere injury  which  caused  him  many  ye^rs  of  suffering 
and  finally  caiT'ied  him  away  to  his  eternal  home,Wed- 
nesday,  March  20,  1890,  at  Dakota  City,  Nebraska, 
leaving'  a  wife  and  six  children — Nellie,  wife  of  Dr.  E. 
J  .  De Bell,  who  died  at  Lyons,  Nebraska,  September 
8th  1892;  Lee  M.,  Homer,  Nebraska;  Cle)na,  wife  of 
R.  C.  Bauer;  Mary  M.,  wife  of  D.  W.  Parmelee;  Ern- 
est J.,  Rosebud  Agency  S.  D.,  and  Moses  M.,  Lyons, 
Nebraska.  Located  in  Dakota  City  in  1867  and  estab- 
lished a  land  office  lor  the  purpose  of  surveying  land 
and  locating  homesteaders.  Selected  claims  for  many 
of  the  old  settlers  of  Dakota,  Dixon,  ('edar,  Wayne, 
Madison  and  Stanton  counties.  Lfis  familiarity  with 
this  country  from  hunting  over  it  in  its  wild  state  en- 
abled him  to  carry  on  this  business  with  much  success. 
Practiced  law  in  Dakota  City  most  of  the  time  from 
1868  to  1878.  In  1869  purchased  the  old  Pilgrim 
place  known  as  "Pilgrim  Hill,"  eight  miles  south  of 
Dakota  City,  and  in  connection  with  the  farm  raised 
fruit  and  bnrned  lime- — furnished  the  lime  for  nearly 
all  the  houses  that  were  built  in  the  county  at  that 
time,  including  the  court  house,  Methodist  churches  at 
Dakota  City  and  Covington  and  the  industrial  school 
building  at  the  Winnebago  Agency,  also  furnished  the 
rock  for  the  foundation  for  the  hitter.  Was  a  presi- 
dential elector  in  1868  and  cast  Nebraska's  maiden 
vote  for  Gen.  Grant;  represented  Dakota  county  in 
the  state  legislature  in  1879— '80.  Took  charge  as  U. 
S.  Indian  Agent  of  the  Omaha  and  Winnebago 
agencies  November  1st,  1886,  which  position  he  held 
until  September  l6th,  1889.  The  Indians  under  his 
administration  did  remarkably  well  with  their  farming 
and  general  behavior.     August  80,  1889,  was  presented 


SETTLERS  OF    1857.  238 

with  a  gold  headed  cane  by  the  emph)yes  of  the 
Omaha  and  Winnebago  agencies.  Cob  J.  F.  Warner 
was  born  at  Wooster,  Ohio,  September '^6,  1826-  In 
1842  his  parents  moved  to  Keokuk  county,  Iowa,  and 
lived  on  a  farm.  Was  married  to  Hannah  M.  Wood- 
ward, Septemuei-  7th,  1849,  at  Richland,  Town,  by  Rev, 
Frederick  Lyons,  a  Methodist  minister.  The  spirit 
of  energy  turned  his  face  to  the  great  west  where  he 
could  '\grow  up  with  the  country."  So  ends  the  story 
<»f  another  of  our  pioneers,  who  being  considered  an 
able  orator,  was  olten  called  upon  to  appeal*  before  the 
people  at  important  public  gatherings. 

James  Connor  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1823,  in 
Wicklow  county  and  came  to  Dakota  county,  May 
18,  1857-  He  took  a  claim  in  St.  Johns  precinct.  At 
present  living  at  Jackson. 

Cai't.  Cornelius  O'Connor  was  born  September 
17,  1821  ill  the  county  of  Cork,  Ireland,  and  came 
with  liis  parents  to  America  in  1829-  Lived  in  Bos- 
tun  until  he  was  twenty-eight  years  of  age.  Went  to 
New  York  where  he  remained  live  years.  Was  Tuar- 
ried  to  Catharine  Duggan,  April  3,  1852.  In  1857 
came  west  and  took  a  steamer  at  Omaha  for  Dakota 
county,  landing  at  St.  Johns  May  18th.  Took  a  claim 
on  Elk  Creek  where  he  lived  several  years,  when  he 
moved  to  where  he  lives  at  the  present  time  two  miles 
east  of  Homer.  Here  he  and  his  noble  wife  lived  to 
experience  the  hardships  and  trials  of  frontier  life. 
He  represented  Dakota  county  in  the  8tli  and  lltli 
sessions  of  the  Territorial  le<>islature,  and  has  been 
Director  in  his  school  district  for  more  than  twenty 
years.  Enlisted  in  the  Mexican  War.  Has  four 
'•hildreu  living — two  sons  and  two  daughters,  Corne- 
lius J.,  County  Treasurer,  and  Timothy,  Mrs.  Helena 
Green  and  Charlottie  G.  His  daughter  Mary  died  in 
1887,  find  in  1889  Daniel  and  Julia  followed  her  to 
eternal  rest.      His  youngest  son  Frank     died    July     5, 


2)34  vvarnek's  history  of  dako'ia  county. 

1890,  and  within  two  years  Katie  and  Maggie  dieii. 
Jn  1851  Governor  Richardson  coinniissioned  Air. 
O'Connor  as  Captain  of  a  Company,  which  was  formed 
to  resist  attacks  from  the    Indians. 

John  C.  Gribble  crossed  the  river  at  Dakota  City. 
May  18,  1857,  with  all  his  earthly  possessions — a  set 
of  carpenter  tools.  Took  a  claim  in  Brushy  Bend,  and 
was  married  in  1860  to  Mary  Couroy.  Has  six 
children — three  sons,  Barney,  John  and  Thomas: 
three  daughters.  Mrs.  Lizzie  Ilerwig,  Mrs.  Josephine 
Stinson  and  Olive.  Settled  on  a  fai'm  four  miles  and  a 
half  west  of  Dakota  City  in  1870,  wliere  he  has  ]-esided 
to  the  present  time.  Was  county  comnnissioner  six 
years. 

Easton  Rush  was  born  in  Somerset  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  came  to  Dakota  county  in  the  spring  of 
1857.  Took  a  claim  two  miles  west  of  Dakota  City 
where  he  lived  many  years.  Built  the  first  house  cov- 
ered with  shingles  in  Dakot.i  precinct.  Mai-ried  March 
17,  1844  to  Mary  Ann  Wirsini,^  lias  six  children- 
one  son  William,  and  five  daut>;hters.  He  is  living  at 
Wakefield,  Nebraska. 

Albert  H.  Bliven  was  born  June  8,  1883,  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  Dakota  county,  Jane  1st. 
1857,  on  a  steamboat,  landing  at  the  old  town  of  Oma- 
di.  Went  down  to  Missouri  in  1867  and  was  !nan-ie<l 
to  Adella  Playes.  Took  a  Injmestead  in  1868  on  rhc 
site  where  Wm.  C.  Orr  afterwards  operated  a  sawmilL 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  county.  Afterwards  moved 
to  where  he  now  lives  seven  miles  southwest  of  Da- 
kota City.  AVas  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion, 
enlisted  at  Omaha,  August,  1863,  in  Co.  I.,  1st  Neb. 
Cavalry,  and  served  two  years.      Has  eight    children. 

Edward  Aknoi  d  was  born  in  Hvland  May  1,1822. 
and  settled  in  Ponca,  which  was  then  a  ])art  of  Dakota 
county,  in  the  spring    of   1857-      Elected  County     Su- 


SETTLERS  OF   1857.  235 

periiiteiideiit  A  Ui>ust  2,  1858, was  also  appointed  Justice 
<.r  the  Peace  for  St.  Johns  precitict,  October  20,  1857. 
a!id  served  in  the  2nd.  Ne\>,  Cavalry.  Was  Di.xon 
county's  first  clerk,  and  resides  tliere  at    present     time. 

JouN  TwoniG  was  born  in  the  county  of  Coi'k. 
Ireland,  and  came  to  America  in  1853.  Located  in 
Dakota  County  in  1857,  having  traveled  by  boat  from 
St.  Jost^ph.  Took  a  chiim  on  Elk  Creek,  adjoining  his 
brother  Patrick,  on  the  s(.uth.      Died  in  1889- 

C.  D.  Ryan  was  born  in  1854  in  New  York,  and 
came  with  his  parents  to  Dakota  county,  on  a  steam- 
boat in  MMy  1&57.  Located  in  St.  Johns  and  then 
moved  to  Jackson  where  he  opened  up  a  general  stoi-e 
i!\  1873,  which  he  is  conducting  at  tlie  present  time. 
Married  to  Mary  E.  Brannan  at  Jackson  in  1876.  lias 
three  daughters. 

John  Heffern.^x  was  born  in  1821,  and  came  to 
Dakota  county  in  June  1857.  Was  well  known 
throughout  the  county  asa  shrewd  businessman,  a  good 
<'itizen  and  a  tirm  friend.  Died  at  his  liome  in  Jack- 
.-on  September  8,  1880.  There  are  ten  children  living 
— s'x  sons,  Daniel  C,  John  C,  Geo.  A.,  Maurice  P., 
Cornelius  K.,  Michael  E.;  four  daughters.  Mrs.  Mary 
McConigal,  Mrs.  Agnes  McCormick,  Norali  and  Liz 
zie.     His  son,   John  tleffernan,    died    June  28,   1881. 

James  Hakvey  Bliven  was  born  May  10,  1846, 
in  Tiogue  county.  Pennsylvania,  Went  to  Wisconsin 
in  1854,  tlien  to  Iowa,  Minnesota  and  came  to  Dakota 
countv,  Nebraska,  June  1,  1857.  Came  up  the  river 
on  a  steam Ijoat.  Entered  the  war  of  the  rebellion  in 
1^)61,  enlisting  in  the  Ninth  Hancock  Veteran  Reserve 
corps,  and  fought  in  tlie  terrible  battles  of  Fredericks- 
burg, A  ntietam,  Gettysburg,  Golden  Farm  and  many 
others.  Was  mustered  out  February  5,  1865,  and 
married  to  Flizabeth  Hayes,  of  Indianapolis,  Indiana, 
in  18(>5.      Afterwards  came  back     to     Dakota     county, 


236  Warner's  history  oj  Dakota  county. 

M'here  lie  has  lived  a  quiet  and  peaceful  life.  Moved  t<> 
IIoDiei-  in  1885,  and  built  a  substantial  residence. 
l^)uilt  two  tenement  bouses  in  South  Sioux  City  in 
1887  where  he  now  resides.  He  is  a  son  of  Charles  C. 
Bliven. 

Nois  E.  Bliven  was  l)orn  June  26,  1844,  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  crune  to  Dakota  county,  June  1, 
1857.  Was  married  to  Mary  Corwin  in  BIyburg  in 
1864.  lias  five  sons,  Frederif'.k  V.,  Wm.  Henry, 
Arthur,  Birdie  and  BeTijamin;  two  danghteis,  Katie 
and  Rosa.      P.  ().  Homer. 

W1LLIA.M  Leach  was  Ijorn  in  Hadnuni,  England 
and  came  to  America,  settling  in  Illinois,  and  located 
in  Dakota  county  June  7,  1857.  Took  a  claim  on  the 
present  site  of  South  Sioux  (-ity.  Run  feri-y  boat  two 
years,  ar-d  carried  the  mail  between  Covington  ai  d 
Sioux  City.  Married  in  England  in  1848  to  Susan 
Edwards.  He  died  in  1870,  leaving  a  wife  and  three 
children,  Joseph,  William  and  Mrs.  Mary  Cave,  of  Chi- 
cago, Illinois.  Seven  children  have  died.  Mrs  Leaci> 
«as  married  a  second  time  to  James  McKenna,in  1S74. 

Henry^  Youno  was  born  in  Washington  county, 
Indiana,  March  15,  1827.  Was  married  at  Columbus 
in  October,  1850  and  nine  years  later  crossed  the  west- 
ern plains  to  Oregan,  Washington  and  Montana.  He 
embarked  on  the  steatner  ''Uncle  Sam"  at  San  Eran- 
ciscofor  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  where  he  went  a  dis- 
tance of  twenty  three  miles  and  paid  twenty  four  dol- 
lars to  go  that  distance,  and  took  the  "North  Star" 
for  the  United  States.  He  went  to  St.  Louis  and  came 
'oy  steamboat  to  Omaha  and  from  there  he  came  on  to 
Dakota  county  on  the  old  time  buckboard,  arriving 
here  June  11,  1857.  He  took  a  homestead  where  he 
has  resided  to  the  present  time,  about  live  miles  north- 
west of  Homer.  Here  he  has  spent  a  quiet  unassuming 
life,  honored  and  respected  by  all  who  has  ever  had  any 
dealings  with  him.  This  year  he  visited  his  old  home 
in  Indiana  for  the  first  time  since  he  settled  here. 


SETTLERS  OF   1857.  287 

13.  (Ti-ibble  traversed  the  soil  of  Dakota  county 
fur  the  tirst,  June  12.  1857,  and  aitliough  he  was  not  a 
tra'nip,  he  had  very  much  the  appearance  of  one,  witii  a 
knapsack  on  his  back  containing  all  his  earthly  possess- 
ions except  a  rifle,  watch  and  !^15.00  in  njuney,  Er.t  he 
was  enei'getic  and  ambitious  and  after  the  enduring 
hardships  of  pioneer  life  accumulated  considerable  prop- 
erty, lie  was  married  to  ]S'ellie  Walden  March  29th 
1864.  Has  si.\  children.  Emniett,  John  W.,  George, 
Emma,  Maggie  and  iS'ettie.  His  wife  and  two  children 
are  dead.      Post  office  address,  Dakota  City. 

MicuAEL  oEACOM  was  Lorii  in  Ireland  in  18-lC 
and  came  to  Dakota  county  June  13th  1857.  Bought 
the  Edward  C.  Jones  faim  four  niilesand  a  half  north- 
west of  Jackson,  where  he  still  resides.  Enlisted  in  2nd 
Colorado  Cavalry,  Co.  B.  and  served  three  years.  Was 
married  in  18(39  to  Mary  Goodfellow.  Das  five  sons 
and  four  rianghteis.  Was  elected  county  commissioner 
November  5tli  1889. 

TnoM.\s  Beacom  came  to  Dakota  county  June  13. 
1857  and  settled  four  miles  and  a  half  north-west  of 
Jackson.  He  died  in  1888  leaving  live  sons  and  one 
daughter — Michael.  John,  Dennis,  Timothy,  Martin 
and  Ellen. 

MicuAKi.  Delououerv  was  born  in  Ii-eland  in 
1824.  Came  to  America  and  settled  in  Dakota  county 
in  1857,  on  a  claim  in  Dixon  county.  Located  in  St. 
John's  presinct  in  18()0  whei-e  he  has  resided  to  the 
present  time.  Mai-ried  in  Ohio  to  Julia  McMarra,  lias 
six  childi-en  live  sons  and  one  daughter — Joseph, 
James,  Michael,  Patrick,  Cornelius  and  Mary. 

Damkl  ('.  Hkffeknan  was  boi-n  in  Jamestown 
Pennsylvania  in  1851,  and  came  with  his  parents  to 
Dakota  county  June,  1857.  Married  May  16,  1883 
to  Katie  Kelly.  Have  thi-ee  children — two  sons  and 
three  da\ighter&.  JJves  in  Jackson,  and  is  postmaster 
i\t  that  place. 


238  Warner's  history  of  Dakota  county. 

D.  F.  McDonald  was  boi-ii  in  1885,  and  came  to 
Dakota  county,  July  10,  1857.  Married  in  1858  to 
Catharine  Dillon.  Has  three  children  livin*;- — Alex- 
ander, Dillon  and  Saiah.  Two  children  have  died. 
Has  lived  twenty-Jive  years  on  his  farm  south  of  Jack- 
son. 

Brixton  Willis  was  born  in  Kentucky,  and 
married  in  Clark  county,  Missouri,  in  1854.  Came  to 
Dakota  county,  August  28,  1857,  and  settled  on  a  farm 
five  miles  north-west  of  Dakota  City,  wliere  he  remain- 
ed until  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  broke  ont,when  he  en- 
listed and  served  in  the  Union  army  one  year,  after 
which  he  lived  in  Dakota  City.  His  wife  oied  Octo- 
ber 24,  1874  and  seven  years  later  he  moved  :o  Cald- 
well, Kansas,  where  he  now  resides.  Has  four  children 
living,  James,  William  B.,  Charles  M.  and  Mona,  wife 
of  L.  M.  Warner. 

Asa  Ratiiblin  was  born  June  14,  182S,  in  Wash- 
ington county,  Ohio.  Moved  to  Henry  county,  Illinois 
in  ]843  where  he  farmed  two  years  and  went  to  Peoi'ia. 
He  was  married  to  Caroline  A.  Wright,  March  15,  1854, 
and  three  years  later  took  a  trip  to  the  great  west  to 
look  up  a  home  for  himself  and  family,  landing  in  Ser- 
geant Bluffs,  Iowa,  October  15,  1857.  Crossing  the 
rivei"  to  Dakota  county  he  soon  made  up  his  mind  tliat 
lie  had  f(jund  the  land  of  his  choice,  and  purchased  a 
tract  of  land  north  of  the  Capt.  O'Connor  farm.  On 
the  14th  day  of  May  1858  he  airived  in  Dakota  county 
with  his  family  and  all  his  earthly  possessions  in  two 
wagons,  each  drawn  by  two  yokes  of  oxen.  He  lived  in 
Omadi  until  September  29th,  when  he  moved  to  his 
farm  on  Omaha  Creek  near  old  Omadi  where  he  resid- 
ed until  April  IS,  1886,  then  moving  to  the  old  Josiah 
Davis  farm  two  miles  south  of  Homer,  where  he  now 
resides.  Has  three  sons  and  four  daughters,  William 
Pitt,  John  A.,  Charley  W.,  Anmi,  wife  of  Thomas 
Baird,  Mary  E.,  Fi-ancis  O.  and  Irene  L.  Mr  Rnthbun 
in  company  with  Col.  II.  Baird  owned  the  first  thresh- 


SETTLERS  OF    185".  23I:* 

i  /machine  ever  seen  in  the  Elkli'>rii   aiid    Logan    val- 
1   \  s  west  of  Dakota  county. 

John  Habtnett  was  i:)orn  in  the  county  of  Limer- 
ick, Irehiiid,  in  1823  and  caine  to  Aniei-ica  at  the  a^^e 
of  twenty  iive  years,  locating  in  Dakota  county  in  the 
spring  of  1857.  He  settled  on  E^igeon  creek  wiiere  he 
i-esided  until  his  death,  caused  i)y  the  cars  running  ovei- 
him.  October  5th  1893.  He  left  four  sons  and  one 
(laughter  to  mourn  his  departure,  Daniel,  James,  John, 
William  and  Mrs.  T.  W.  McGee.  He  was  married  to 
Margaret  Fitzpatrick,  at  Alta,  Illinois,  in  1853,  but  she 
(lied^February  10th,  1804.  In  the  winter  of  18(32-3  he 
Was  caught  out  in  a  blizzard  and  froze  his  hands  so  bad- 
ly that  It  was  necessary  to  amputate  all  of  his  fingers. 
He  was  a  '-pioneer  among  pioneers"-]ovial  and  whole- 
soul. 

M.  M.  Boi'LE  came  to  Dakota  county  in  the  fall 
1857.  Married  to  Maggie  Connors  March  5.  1878- 
She  died  September  27,  1887-  Tliere  is  one  son  tind 
two  daughters  livincr.  Lives  three  iniles  north  of  Jack- 
son.  His  brother,  P.  H.  Boyle,  also  came  at  the  same 
time.  He  was  born  at  Valley  Forge,  Pennsylvania  in 
1855.  Has  been  a  justice  of  the  peace  at  Jackson, 
where  he  also  taught  sciiool.  Post  office  address,  Em- 
erson. 

Simon  DeWitt  came  to  Dakota  county  in  1857, 
and  settled  in  Brushy  Bend.  Was  justice  of  the  peace 
in  18()l).      Died  in  1874  at  his  home   in   Brushy   Bend. 

Samuel  Grim  son  of  Andrew  Grim,  came  to  Dako- 
ta ct)unty  in  1857,  and  settled  in  Brushy  Bend.  Mar- 
ried a  second  time  to  Mrs.  Simon  DeWitt,  she  having 
come  to  the  county  March  29th,  18(54.  He  died  in 
1872.  Mrs.  Grim  lives  at  Dakota  City.  Has  three 
childr-n  living. 

Henky  O.  Griggs,  came  to  Dakota  county  in  1857, 
and  owned  the  old  Wright  farm  west    of    George    Lea- 


240  WAKNEJ^'S  HJSTOKY   OV   DAKOTA  COUNTY. 

mer's  place     Went  into  the  cattle  bui-iness  and  accnni 
ulated  17,000  afterwards  went    to  Oalifoi-nia,    wlieie  he 
died. 

L.  C.  Veets  came  to  Dakota  county  in  1857. 
Owned  a  farm  north-east  of  George  Learner's  farm.  Af- 
terwards went  to  Connecticut. 


SETTLERS  OF  185S. 

Dr.  G.  W.  Wilkinson,  in  the  spring-time  of  iiis 
life  sought  a  home  in  tise  great  west,  and  hearing 
glowing  accounts  of  the  Monderful  beauty  and  fertility 
of  Dakota  county,  thitherward  he  bent  his  steps,  land- 
ing iiere  in  the  spring  of  1858,  in  old  (^madi,  whei'e  he 
pi'acticed  medicine  and  taught  school.  When  the  wai- 
clouds  hovered  over  our  land  he  joined  the  First  Ne- 
braska Cavalry,  and  was  commissioned  surgeon.  After 
serving  to  the  close  of  the  war  he  again  chose  Dakota 
county  as  his  home.  Was  appointed  physician  for  the 
Winnebago  Indians,  which  position  he  held  two  years. 
Was  appointed  Kegister  of  the  United  States  Land 
Office  at  Dakota  City,  in  1870,  and  held  the  office  five 
years.  In  the  fall  of  1881,  was  appointed  United 
States  Indian  Agent  for  the  Omaha  and  Winnebago 
Agencies  and  served  four  years.  Was  county  Treasurer 
eight  years.  Married  to  Hattie  Matthewson  in  Nor- 
folk at  the  residence  of  her  father,  Col.  Matthewson,  on 
Thursday,  October  15th,  1874,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Kidder. 
Has  two  cbildren  Lyle  and  Ned.  In  the  spring  of  1890 
was  appointed  by  Govei-nor  Thayer  as  Superinten- 
dent of  the  Norfolk  Itisane  Asylum.  He  was  boi-n  in 
Parke  county,  Indiana,  and  attended  the  Indiana  As- 
bury  Univei'sity,  After  finishing  a  course  there  enter- 
ed Rush  Medical  College,  of  Chicago,  where  he  gi-adu- 
ated  in  1857.  His  career  in  Dakota  county  has  indeed 
been  marked  with  a  spirit  of  enterprise.  In  all  the 
years  since  pioneei-  times  he  has  ever    taken    an    active 


SKTTLEUS  OF   1S-5.S.  241 

interest  in  tlie  welfnie  of  Dakdtji  connty.  Looking 
l)ack\v;ird  ovei-  the  yeai-s  that  have  passed  away  we  see 
liis  liandiwork  stamped  npon  the  eiforts  of  every  pub- 
lic movement.  Hand  in  hand  down  through  tlie  years 
lie  l)as  marched  with  the  progress  and  pi'tjsperity  of  our 
county.      Is  at  pi-esent  ]i\iiig  at  Norfcdk. 

IIknkv  W.  AVooi)  was  horn  March  8,  1834.  in 
Dehiware  county,  Is'ew  York,  and  came  to  Dakota 
cjiunry  in  1858,  where  lie  purchased  a  one  third  interest 
in  the  Dakota  City  pottery.  Afterwards  went  to  Pikes' 
Peak,  and  returned  and  took  a  pre-emption  south-west 
of  Dakota  ^'ity,  which  he  sold  to  D.  C.  Dibide,  and 
hoiight  the  old  Matthewbon  place,  situated  exactly 
midway  between  Dakota  City  and  Jackson,  four  miles 
;ir.d  a  half  from  each  town,  where  he  has  resided  to  tlie 
[)i-es(Mittime.  Was  married  to  Sarah  J.  Abell  in  Franklin. 
Delaware  county,  New  York,  in  1855-  Has  two  children 
living — one  son,  Frederick,  and  one  daughter,  Mrs.  L. 
AV.  White.  Three  children  have  died.  His  family  is 
now  living  in  New  York. 

CnAKLES  GooDFKLLOAv  was  borii  in  Ireland  and 
came  to  America  in  1852.  Settled  in  Dakota  county 
in  1858-  Lived  to  accuundate  and  build  up  a  fine  es- 
tate. Died  at  his  liome  in  Jackson.  January  13,  1884. 
leaving  a  wife  and  five  children  to  mourn  his  departui-e. 

CoNKAi)  Akmubiocht  began  life  in  Dakota  county 
on  the  18th  day  of  April,  1858,  away  down  at  the  bot- 
tom of  the  financial  ladder,  but  gradually  he  climbed 
up  round  by  I'ound  until  to-day  he  has  a  very  respect- 
able standing  on  tiiat  identical  ladder.  In  early  times 
he  did  all  hi^i  farming  with  a  yoke  of  oxen.  Took  a 
pre-e;n[)tion  about  five  miles  due  west  of  Dakota  City 
where  hv  iias  ever  since  resided,  and  by  his  skill  and 
hard  labor  to-day  has  accumulated  some  wealth  in  the 
v>'orld;  ha.-^  consideral)le  stock  and  200  acres  of  land. 
Mi\  Armbreclit  was  born  at  Kor  Ilassen ,  Germany, 
Auiiust  0,  1818:  canje    to    Wheeling,    West    Virginia, 


242  Warner's  histc<ry  of  Dakota  county. 

August  6,  1850;  worked  at  different  kinds  of  labor 
until  lie  came  to  Dakota  county  in  1858-  Was  mar- 
ried in  185C  to  Malesene  Haase  at  Hanovei-;  she  died 
in  the  fall  of  1877.  He  has  lived  a  quiet,  unassuming 
life — has  many  friends  and  few  enemies  and  deserves 
the  richest  rewards.  He  has  four  children — two  sons, 
William  and  Louis  H.;  two  daughters,  Mrs.  Fred  P)eei'- 
man  and  Mary. 

John  Gaughkan  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1838  and 
came  to  Dakota  county  April  25,  1858.  Settled  on  Elk 
Ci'eekc  Afterwai'ds  lived  in  Covington  and  taught  two 
terms  of  school  there.  Married  to  Catharine  Brady  in 
Sioux  City,  Iowa,  October  13,  1868.  She  died  and  he 
was  married  a  second  time  February  11,  1871.  Has 
three  children— two  sons,  Patrick  and  John  C,  and 
one  daughter,  Catharine.  His  brother,  Hugh,  canie  to 
the  county  in  1856;  served  four  years  and  a  half  in  th.e 
war,  under  Capt.  Tripp.  Died  at  Jackson,  March  15, 
1888. 

Anthony  J.  Mykks  "packed  up"  all  his  earthly 
possessions  and  started  west,  landing  in  Nebraska  in 
the  spring  of  1858;  located  on  a  piece  of  land  above  the 
Col.  Baird  farm,  afterwards  moved  to  a  tract  of  land 
north  of  where  Mr.  Taylor  lives,  eight  miles  south-west 
of  Dakota  City.  He  built  the  lirst  brick  house  ever 
erected  in  Sioux  City.  Has  been  prominent  in  all  po- 
litical affairs  of  the  county  from  the  earliest  times  and 
can  tell  as  big  stories  about  the  exciting  elections  of  ''ye 
olden  times"  as  any  man  living.  Was  elected  county 
commissioner  on  the  republican  ticket  ]N'oveml)er  3, 
1885,  which  position  he  still  holds,  receiving  a  total  of 
666  votes  and  a  majority  of  168  over  his  opponent. 
Thomas  C.  Clapp.  Mr.  Myers  was  born  in  Lycoming 
county,  Pennsylvania.  In  1855  came  to  Dubuque, 
Iowa;  followed  plastering  and  brick  laying  during  the 
summer  and  was  on  ihe  police  force  in  the  winter, for  two 
years.      Was.   married    in    1852  to  Catharine  McGiidey, 


SKTTJ.KKS  OF    l.S.lN.  243 

of  JLaiiC'Uster  county,  Peiiiisylvaiiia.  ll:i,>  an  excellent 
fain)  and  a  pleasant  liuine  at  the  foot  of  the  high  i)lnft" 
in  the  vvestein  pai't  of  the  county.  Great  changes  have 
taken  place  since  lie  settled  in  the  county,  when  tliere 
was  not  a  single  house  on  the  road  from  Dakota  City  to 
his  place.  A  person  could  di'ive  across  the  hottom  in 
any  diivction  without  coining  in  contact  with  barhed 
wire  fences  or  any  other  kind  of  fences;  tiie  wild  geese 
went  sailing  along  without  hearing  the  crack  of  a  mus- 
ket every  now  and  then,  and  he  did  not  have  to  l)other 
his  head  about  goint;-  to  old  settlers'  reunions  and  the 
<lays  of  base  ball  clul)s  were  yet  to  come.  Has  nine  chil- 
dren— four  sons  and  five  daugjiters,  John  F.,  William. 
Richard,  George,  Mrs..  Charles  Ford.  Mary,  Mrs.  J.  P. 
'I'wohig,  Grace  and  Helen.   His  son  Hugli  died  in  1S'J2. 

Gideon  Warner  rode  up  to  the  banks  ot  the  Mis- 
souri river  at  Sioux  City  in  the  spring  of  1858  at  the 
liead  of  a  herd  ot  cows  that  he  had  brought  from  eastern 
Lowa.  He  crossed  over  to  Dakota  county  June  20,  1858 
and  sold  the  cows  to  the  settlers.  In  company  with  a 
nninber  of  friends  took  an  elk  hunt  on  the  then  wild 
and  unsettled  valleys  of  the  Logan  and  Elklu)rn.  there 
was  not  a  solitary  white  man  to  l)e  seen  in  ail  that 
country.  They  hunted  north  of  where  Norfolk  now 
stands.  A  far  different  view  now  presents  its  self  t(» 
the  traveler  t()-day.  On  the  hi  oh  rocks  near  Col. 
liaircTs  home  is  enuiaved  -'G.  Warner.  July  22,  1858.'' 
On  the  4th  of  July  of  that  year  he  joined  an  excursion 
parry  on  the  steam  leiry  "Dakota,""  commanded  by  Capt. 
Robinson,  which  steamed  up  through  what  is  lunv  known 
as  Crystal  lake.  They  passed  on  up  the  river  far  bey«>ud 
the  line  of  civilization  and  had  a  picnic,  expecting  at 
any  moment  to  be  tired  upon  by  the  red  cliildren  of  the 
woods.  He  moved  his  family  to  Dakota  ccuinty  on  the 
:2;h-d  day  of  April,  1867,  and  settled  on  a  farm  purchased 
<jf  Wm.  Cheney,  situated  on  Omaha  Creek,  five  miles 
ojirectly  sou:lw)f  Dakota  City.      In  1877  he  started  on 


344 


WARNER  S   HISTORY    01'    DAKOTA     COUNTY. 


a  two  years"'  joiiriie}'  into  tlio  ''far  west,"  stopping  to 
take  a  glance  at  the  Black  Hills  country,  crossed  over 
the  Big  Horn  mountains  and  through  Pryor's  Pass. 
visited  the  Xational  Park,  Custer's  battle  ground, 
wintered  at'Ft.  Custer,  prospected  lor  gold,  passed  on 
down  the  Yellowstone  river  to  Ft.  Keogh  and  Miles 
City,  made  lots  of  money,  saw  lots  of  sights  and  came 
home  November  2,  1879,  to  rest  from  his  long  journey 
and  tell  wonderful  tales  about  the  far  away  golden  land 
of  Montana.  Built  a  new  and  comfortable  residence  in 
18(S6-  Gideon  Warner  was  l)orn  July  13,  1823,  in 
VVooster.  Wayne  county,  Ohio,  and  njoved  with  his 
parents  to  Richland,  Iowa,  in  October,  L842.  The 
ti'eaty  with  the  Blackhawk  and  Sax  and  Fox  was  com- 
pleted the  next  May  at  Agency  City  and  the  country 
settled  up  very  rapidly.  Was  married  in  1848,  but  in 
iiijout  a  year  his  wife  M^as  bitten  by  a  rattlesnake  and 
died,  leaving  a  child,  which  also  soon  after  died.  Was 
married  again  in  October,  1851^  to  Matilda  Brubaker, 
of  Eddyville,  Iowa.  In  1859  went  to  Colorado,  in  the 
great  gold  excitement,  located  on  a  mine  where  George- 
town is  now  situated.  Has  nine  children  living — four 
sons  and  five  daughters,  Daniel  Webster,  William  P., 
George,  Elmer,  Mrs.  Jane  Ward,  Mrs.  Alice  Bevins, 
Mrs.  Ella  Cobnrn,  Mrs.  Emnia  Pathbun  and  Lizzie. 
ilis  daughter,  Mrs.  Julia  Clapp,  died  in  1893. 

Augustus  T.  Haase  was  boi-n  May  5,  1835,  in 
Hanover,  Germany.  Started  for  Amei-ica  May  5, 1848. 
landing  at  New  York  City,  June  26th,  msdving  a  journey 
of  49  days  on  the  ocean.  Went  to  Virginia  and  soon 
after  turned  his  face  to  the  great  west  to  see  wiiat  it 
had  in  store  for  hinj.  Guided  by  some  unseen  power 
he  found  his  way  to  Dakota  City,  Neb.,  on  the  2r)th 
day  of  June,  1858 — -jnst  ten  years  to  a  day  from  the 
time  he  landed  in  America — where  he  has  resided  ever 
since.  Has  worked  at  the  carpenter  trade'  since  1850. 
and  some  of  the  oldest  houses  of  the  county  were   built 


SETTLKRS  OF    IHoS.  24:5 

1>Y  liini.  TjoiiDlit  a  farm  four  miles  west  of  Dakota  City 
in  1858  and  it  was  there  lie  built  his  first  house  in  ]N'e- 
hraska.  Afterwards  built  a  substantial  residence  and 
carpenter  shop  for  himself,  in  Dakota  City.  Was  con- 
tractor for  the  building  of  the  court  liouse.  Previous  to 
this  time  he  had  entered  into  auothei-  kind  of  a  contract 
with  Miss  Louisa  Eckhart,  sister  of  J.  P.  and  C.  F. 
Eckhart,  M'hereiu  it  was  stipulated  that  on  and  after  the 
8th  day  of  December,  1864,  they  would  tiieuceforward 
be  equal  partners  in  the  proceeds  which  might  be  de- 
I'ived  from  the  framing  of  houses  as  well  as  additions 
from  other  sources,  and  the  building  of  hopes  and  plans 
and  ''castles  in  the  air."'  The  yeai-s  passed  on  and  for- 
tune "smiled  upon  them.'''  They  have  three  children  — 
two  sons  and  one  daughter,  George  H.,  Frank  and  Lizzie. 
Mr,  Haase  was  city  treasurer  for  twelve  years  and  has 
been  a  member  of  tlie  school  board  for  moi'e  than  fifteen 
years.  Was  chosen  as  chairman  of  a  comujittee  ap- 
pointed to  take  charge  of  the  Dakota  county  exhibit.- 
at  the  great  Corn  Palace  held  in  Sioux  City,  Iowa, 
from  September  20th  to  October  5th,  1889.  *  Decem- 
ber 8,  1889,  one  hundred  and  sixty  friends  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Llaase  njet  at  theii-  i-esidence  in  Dakota  City  to 
<'elebrate  the  twenty-tifth  annivei'saiy  of  their  marriage. 
amon<>;  whom  were  four  persons  who  witnessed  the  cere- 
mony twenty-five  years  before — Mi',  and  Mrs.  VVm. 
Adair,  Col.  B.  Bates  and  Conrad  Armbrecht. 

Kai.ph  C4oot)W]n  was  born  May  27,  1837,  in 
Dai-bysviiie,  Eng]an<i.  Crossed  the  ocean  with  his 
parents  in  1847;  landed  at  New  York.  Went  to  Dane 
county,  Wisconsin,  wliei-e  he  was  engaged  in  farnjing. 
Crossed  the  Missouri  river  at  Sioux  City,  Jnly,  1858. 
and  tooiv  a  claim  in  Cedar  county.  Kebraska.  Moved 
to  Dakota  county  in  18(51  ano  there  enlisted  in  com- 
patiy  I,  2nd  Nebraska  Cavalry.  Marched  up  tiie  river 
with  the  army.  Petnrned  to  Dakota  City  and  was  en- 
gaged jji  teaming  and  ) mining   a    butcher  shop.      Mar- 


246 


WARNER  S   HISTORY    OF  DAKOTA    COUNTY. 


ried  to  Mary  Wbitehorn,  dan^litei-  of  Samuel  Wliite- 
liorn,  March  21,  1864,  have  one  child.  Bought  a  piece 
of  land  north  of  Dakota  City  of  Philip  Eckliart  and  be- 
gan to  improve  it;  broke  prairie  with  a  home  made 
breaking  plow  manufactured  by  John  11.  Sprague  in 
ids  blacksmith  shop  at  Dakota  City.  Hei'e  he  lived  to 
see  the  wild  land  all  around  him  settled  up  with  a 
thrifty  class  of  farmers,  built  a  substantial  dwelling, 
l)arn  and  other  buildings  for  liis  stock,  planted  a  line 
grove  of  black  walnut  trees  which  will  be  a  ci'edit  an  I 
an  ornament  to  Dakota  county  long  after  the  hands 
that  planted  them  shall  hav-e  mouldered  to  dust. 

James  S.  Teller  came  to  Dakota  county,  August, 
1858,  and  took  a  home>?tead  in  "Todd's  Point"  north  of 
Jackson.  Married  to  Elizabeth  Ford.  Has  eleven  chil- 
dren— ^live  sons  and  six  daughters.  Is  living  in  Jeffer- 
son, S.  D.  Three  of  his  cliildren — George  W.,  Mj's. 
Margaret  Edwards  and  Mrs.  Dora  Reninger  are  living 
in  the  county. 

E.  F.  Mason  came  to  Dakota  county  in  1858,  and 
was  the  first  proprietor  of  the  "Bates  House."  One 
day  he  was  riding  a  fast  horse,  which  stumbled  and  fell 
upon  him,  causing  injuries  from  which  he  died  in  seven 
days  afterwards. 

A.  F.  Berger  was  born  in  Germany  and  landed 
in  New  York  September  24,  1852.  Settled  in  Dakota 
county  July  15,  1858.  and  took  a  claim  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  county.  Married  to  Lucy  Murdick  in  1857. 
Has  two  sons  and  iive  daughters — Mrs.  Ed.  Norris., 
Mrs.  Sam  Stewart,  Mary  J.,  Anna  L..  Margaret  Ellen 
and  Emma  Kehecca.  Enlisted  in  Company  I.  2n(l: 
JVebraska  cavalry  in  1862.  Farnier — si.x  miles  south- 
west of  Dakota  City. 

Juj>GE  Kelly  W.  Frazer  pitched  his  tent  and 
lighted  his  camp  fire  on  the  west  bank  of  Perry  creek, 
neur  its  mouth,  on  Sunday.  November    2,  1885,    which 


JUDGE  KELLY  W.  FRAZER. 


SETTLERS  OF  1858.  249 

is  the  selfsame  ground  upon  which   Sioux  City  is  now 
built.      He  shot  three  squirrels  in  some  large  elm  trees 
then  standing  on  the  creek  bank.       Grossed    over    the 
Missouri  river  the  next  morning  on  the    ferry    "Rob-  . 
ert  Burns,"  and  stood  for  the  first  time    upon    the   soil 
of  Dakota  county,     JS^ovember  3,    1858.     Started    for 
Knox  county,  November  7th  and  took  squatter's  claim, 
as  the  government  had  not  yet  surveyed  this  portion  of 
tlie  country.      Opened  up  a  farm  and  started     a    black- 
smith shop.  At  the  general  election  of  1859  was  chosen 
probate  judge  of  Knox  county.    Appointed  to  the  posi- 
tion of  blacksmith  on  the  Ponca    reservation,     twenty- 
two  miles  up  the  Niobrara    river,     February     1,  1861. 
Returned  to  Niobrara  in  1865  and  in  1866  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  house  of  representatives  of  Nebraska's 
first  state  legislature  from  Dixon,     Cedar     and     L'Eau 
Qui  Court  counties,  which  assembled  at  Omaha,    July 
4,  1866.     Moved  to  Dakota  county,  arriving    at     Da- 
kota City,  August  10,  1867.   Bought  a  blacksmith  shop 
of  Jacob  V^an  Aukin,  where  he    worked     until     1869. 
His  wife  died  May  20th  of  that    year.        Completed    a 
course  of  reading  law  and  was    admitted     to     tlie    bar. 
Married  a  second  time  to   Miss   Anna    E.     Gulbertson 
in  Henry  county.  Grand   Rapids,     Ohio,     August     25, 
1870.      Was  elected  county  judge  on     the    democratic 
ticket  five  times— in  1869, 1871;  1873,  1879  and  1881; 
was  defeated  in  the    nomination    in    the   convention    of 
1877  and  1883  and  the  office  went   into    the  hands   of 
tlie  republicans.      Appointed    September    1,    1885,    by 
Indian  Agent  Chas.  H.  Potter  to  the  position  of  super- 
intendent of  the  industrial  boarding  school  at  the  Win- 
nebago agency,  Nebraska,  and  held  the  office  until   Oc- 
tobei-  18,  1886.  Was  nominated  on  the  democratic  ticket 
for  the  office  of  county  attorney  October  23rd,  of   the 
same  year  and  elected  by   a   large    majority   November 
2nd.     Was  the  hrst  person    to    fill    tliis    office    in    the 
cuunty,  tlie  same  having  been  established    by  the  state 
legislature  tlie  previous  year.  Is  the  father  of  three  sons: 


250  Warner's  history  ok  dako'ia   county. 

Gustaviis  Allen,  born  June  15,  1856.  in  Iowa;  William 
Kelly,  born  December  14-.  1860,  at  Niobrara,  Nebraska: 
and  Douiijlas  yt)nncr,  born  on  Ponca  Indian  reservation, 
I).  T..  March  17,  1865-  Kelly  W.  Frazer  was  born  of 
Scottisli  and  Irish  parents,  near  Millersbiirg,  Holmes 
county,  Ohio,  May  30,  1832;  lived  on  a  farm  until 
eighteen  years  of  age,  when  he  learned  the  blacksmith 
ti-ade  in  his  native  town  with  li.  W.  and  John  Cott'ey; 
was  niarried  to  Miss  Hettie  Louise  Beam,  February 
"29.  1855,  in  Millersburg;  started  for  Iowa  April  1. 
1S56;  traveled  by  rail  to  Mississippi  river  and 
crossed  at  Bnrlin>/ton;  took  stage  for  Wintersett,  ar- 
living  there  at  midnight  April  5th.  On  the  last  days 
of  October,  1858  an  emigrant  might  have  l)een  seen 
wending  his  way  over  the  primeval  prairies  of  the  west 
toward  Nebraska  witli  a  yoke  of  oxen — it  was  a  forlorn 
looking  outfit,  but  the  daring  pioneer  was  full  of  am- 
bition and  enthusiasm  which  nerved  liim  to  the  task 
of  liidding  farewell  to  old  home  and  friends  and  plung- 
ing far  beyond  the  line  of  civilization  to  lend  his  mite 
in  opening  up  new  roads  and  subjugating  a  new  coun- 
ti-y.  This  emigrant  was  Kelly  W.  Frazer,—  who  was 
aftei'wards  destined  to  play  such  an  important  part  in 
the  general  history  of  Dakota  county  and  who  little 
di'eamed  as  he  camped  upon  the  banics  of  the  Perry 
November  2,  1858,  that  after  the  lapse  of  just  twenty- 
eiglit  years  to  a  day.  he  would  be  elected  county  at- 
torney for  one  of  the  l)rightest  counties  of  the  west. 

SETTLERS  OF  1859. 

Stephen  G.  Hale  was  born  in  Tennessee  in  1812, 
and  came  to  Dakota  county  June  15th,  1859.  Settled 
in  Blyburg  where  he  lived  until  his  death.  May  15th, 
1876.  Was  married  twice  before  coming  to  the  county. 
His  second  wife's  maiden  name  was  Mary  D.  Wright. 
who  still  survives  him.  There  are  two  children  living 
by  his  first  wife,  and  eight  by  his  second  wife  of  whoui 
six  are  at  pi'esent   living. 


SETTLERS  OF   1859.  251 

William  lIiGGiNiiOTiioM  was  horn  October  2nd., 
ls;iS.  in  Wyota  Lafayette  county,  Wis.,  and  came  to  Da- 
kota county.  June  iSth.  1859.  Located  in  Blyburs^ 
tlmt  fall,  which  was,  indeed,  a  wild  looking  country  at 
tiuit  lime.  Was  married  in  Colorado,  June,  1860.  to 
Miss  Lane,  sister  of  Dutton  and  Caleb  Lane.  Went  to 
(xraL'd  Ishmd  in  18()5,  and  back  to  Dakota  county, 
187(3.  Have  eight  children.  He  is  at  present  living 
in  South  Sioux  City,   Nebraska. 

I'lus  Neff  was  boi'ii  in  Baden,  Germany,  in  1848, 
and  came  with  his  parents  to  America  when  he  was 
•  'ighr.  years  of  age.  He  learned  the  pottery  trade  in 
New  York,  and  in  the  spring  of  1859  came  to  Dakota 
county,  makiny  the  journey  from  (3maha  to  Dakota 
('ity  afoot.  He  had  been  engaged  to  work  in  the  pot- 
tery at  Dakota  City,  and  at  once  began  work.  After 
years  of  careful  management  and  hard  work  he  has 
accumulated  considerable  property,  and  is  held  in  the 
highest  esteem  by  the  people  of  this  county.  Llis,  noble 
wife  died  December  28,  1891,  leaving  one  daughter, 
Mary. 

Isaac  ILazleorove  was  born  in  1838,  in  Indiana, 
and  came  to  Dakota  county,  in  1859.  Afterwards 
went  to  the  Rocky  mountains  and  is  now  living  at 
Salt  Lake  City.  Was  married  to  Sarah  Wilson  and 
they  have  five  cliildren,  all  sons. 

SETTLERS  OF  1860. 

JosiAU  W.  Davi>,  long  before  Horace  Greeley 
ev<n'  told  the  young  men  to  "go  west,"  bid  his  friends 
ndicii  nnd  crossed  over  the  Missouri  river  to  Dakota 
county  <»ii  the  I8tli  <lay  <.f  April,  1860,  with  a  deter- 
luinatioM  to  settle  (l.,\vn  on  the  primeval  prairies  of 
Nebraskii  and  -grow  up  with  the  country," — the 
tii^etiiig  y^'ars  pis-^ed  on  ami  sure  enough  he  kept  pace 
with  our  comity's  mar -h  to  prosperity.  Leaving  his 
fnwiWy  on  ijje  L)e  Borde  place  he     pushed     on     to     the 


252  Warner's  history  op  Dakota   county, 


Rocky  Mountains  in  quest  of  wealth.  Returning  in 
tlie  fall  went  to  Wisconsin,  sold  propert}'  there  and 
wintered  in  the  old  town  of  Omadi.  Bought  a  piece 
of  land  some  two  miles  south  of  the  pres^eut  town  of 
Homer,  of  Jeremiah  Braunt,  father  of  John  and 
Horatio  Braunt,  and  moved  his  family  there.  In  18()2 
was  elected  to  the  legislature;  was  county  commis- 
sioner three  years,  and  run  on  the  democratic  ticket  for 
state  senator  in  ihe  fall  of  1892.  Built  the  Sam  Combs 
mill  in  1868.  His  wife  died  in  1872,  leaving  six  j 
children.  Was  married  to  Mary  O'Chander  in  1873;  j 
have  six  children  by  this  marriage.  In  1886  sold  his  | 
farm  to  Asa  Rathbun  and  purchased  a  piece  of  land  j 
adjoining  the  Wm.  Nixon  farm  and  built  a  substantial 
resi(ience.  He  was  born  June  2,  1826,  in  Guilford. 
Maine;  went  to  Grant  cou-nty,  Wisconsin  via  Albany, 
Bulfalo  and  Chicago;  worked  in  the  lead  mines  until 
1850  when  he  went  to  California.  This  was  indeed  a 
wild  journey  as  there  were  no  settlements  west  of  the 
Missouri  river.  Went  back  to  Wisconsin  in  1854  and 
on  the  31st  day  of  August  of  that  year  was  married  to 
Margaret  A.  DeBorde.  Kept  hotel  until  he  started 
for  Nebraska  in  1860.  Mr.  Davis  has  always  taken  an 
active  part  in  the  politics  of  Dakota  county,  is  consid-  j 
ered  a  good  debator  on  all  subjects  that  have  from  time 
to  time  agitated  tlie  minds  of  the  people  and  has  \v(»n 
the  reputation  of  being  an  honest  upright  citizen. 

Goodwin  Tayxor  was  born  1806,  in  Virginia. 
Settled  in  Cedar  county,  Iowa,  1836,  and  came  to  Da- 
kota county,  in  1870.  Located  on  the  old  William 
Silence  place  at  the  bluffs  eight  miles  south- west  of 
Dakota  City,  where  he  lived  an  honest  upright  life, 
honored  and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  Died  at 
his  home,  July  11,  1881,  his  wife  luiving  pi'ecteded 
him  to  the  realms  of  eternity,  January  8,  1871*. 

MiCMAKL  M.  Bkacom  wms  boi'n  Fel)ruai-y  1848,  in 
Ireland,  Tyrone  county.      Moved  to  Wisconsin,  then   to 


SETTLERS  OP'    186U.  253 

Iowa,  and  settled  in  Dakota  county,  April  29,  1860. 
Lived  seven  years  on  Elk  Creek,  when  he  located  one 
mile  and  a  half  east  of  Hubbard,  where  he  still  resides. 
Married  to  Lizzie  Mclnlyre  in  IBTi,  and  has  seven 
childi'en  living,  five  sons — James  E.,  Michael  T.,  John 
P.,  George  T.  and  David  P.;  two  daughters,  Mary  N. 
and  Alice  M,      "Was  the  lai-t  county  assessor. 

Michael  Beacom,  Sk.,  came  to  Dakota  county 
April  20,  1860,  where  he  and  his  wife  died,  leaving 
three  children,  Mrs.  A llice  Sullivan  and  Michael  M.; 
and  Mrs.  Susan  JVlitchell,  the  latter  now  dead. 

DuTTON  Lane  came  to  Dakota  county  May  U, 
1860.  Was  married  to  Adaline  DeBorde  March  22, 
1875.  She  died,  leaving  two  daughters.  Had  made 
himself  famous  hy  killing  a  mountain  lion,  an  aligator 
and  an  enormous  fish,  all  in  Dakota  county.  He  died 
in  1893,  on  Walker's  Island. 

Joseph  Smith  was  horn  June  1,  1845,  in  Erie 
county,  Ohio,  and  came  to  Dakota  county  May  10, 
1860,  settling  in  Blyburg  where  he  helped  his  father 
in  the  saw  nnll,  which  was  established  in  1864.  Was 
married  to  Margaret  J.  DeBorde  in  1868.  Was  one  of 
the  founders  of  H(  inei-,  where  he  lived  until  1875  when 
he  went  to  Oregon.  Afterwards  returned  and  is  now- 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Emerson.  Has 
eight  children  living — >'even  sons  and  one  daughter. 
One  child  is  dead. 

Joseph  IJakeis  Avas  lorn  February  15,  1831,  in 
Stalliridge,  England,  and  came  to  Dakota  county  May 
10.  I860,  settling  on  a  farm  two  miles  south-east  of 
Homer,  Mhere  he  still  lives.  ]\Ia]ii(d  in  the  fall  of 
1860  to  Doiothy  S'mitli.  Has  ten  children — four  sons. 
George,  John,  Joseph  and  Eobert;  six  daughters,  Mrs. 
Thomas  McMahoii.  Mrs.  Wm.  Maney,  Mrs.  Joseph 
Johns,  Amelia,  Joanna  and  lio^e. 

Hekbkkt  Hakhis  was  born  in  England  in  1838, 
and  came  to  Dakota  cjunty  May  10,   I860.     Married  a 


25J:  WAKKEK's  history   of  DAKOTA  COUl«iTY. 

second  time  to  Elva  Endsby.  Has  four  sons,  Joliii  Ed- 
ward, Tildeii,  Leonard  and  Daniel ;  three  daughters,  JMary 
E.,  Lydia  and  Dora  A.  Was  a  member  of  the  lirist  band 
of  Dakota  county,  where  he  played  the  B  claroner. 
Postoffice,  Homer. 

IcOBERT  Smith  was  lorn  in  E)-ie  county,  Ohio. 
March  25,  1857,  «nd  came  to  Dakota  county  June  15. 
1860.  Was  married  to  Eliza  Ketherford  June  18,1874. 
Has  two  sons,  liohert  Miltim  and  Jefrey  K.\  two  daugh- 
ters, Lillie  Mand  and  Goldie  Dott.  One  so)i  Mud  one 
daughter  have  died.  Lives  one-halfmile  south  of  Homer. 
"Dui'inu  tny  first  years  here"  says  llobert,  -'I  saw  some 
hard  times,  but  still  I  thiifR  there  is  no  place  like  home, 
in  Dakota  county." 

GusTAVK  Bkkoek  was  horn  March  12.  1840,  in 
Germany,  and  came  to  America,  arriving  in  Dakota 
county  December  5,  1860.  His  father,  mother,  brother 
Gotleib,  aiul  sister,  Mrs.  Niggernian,  came  with  him. 
Stopped  a  few  days  in  Omadi,  wliich  he  says:  "Was  at 
that  time  a  dead  town,"  Enlisted  in  Company  I,  2nd 
Nebraska  cavali-y.  Settled  where  he  now  resides,  five 
miles  south-west  of  Dakota  City,  in  1867.  Was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Minerva  Taylor,  October  20,  187'J,  and  she 
died  Febi-uai-y  4,  1893,  leavii^^g  a  little  daughter.  His 
fathei',  Frederif.k  Bergei',  died  Jan  nary  26,  18(51. 

GoTLKiB  Berqkr  was  born  in  Germany,  and  came 
to  Dakota  county  Decemi)er  5,  1860.  Took  a  claim 
south-east  of  Dakota  City,  where  he  lived  to  accumulate 
considerable  amount  of  property.  Died  in. Sioux  CitVt 
Iowa.  February  3,  1890,  from  effects  of  "■LaGrippe.'" 

SETTLERS  OF  1861. 

C.  C.  Ork  was  l)orn  March  17,  1817,  and  came  to 
Dakota  county  in  May,  18(j1.  Lived  in  Dakota  City 
live  years.  Had  one  son,  William  C  He  o\vned  large 
tracts  of  land  in  Dakota  county.  Died  at  his  home  in 
Sii.ux  City,  Iowa,  February  12.  1893. 


SCTTLKRS  OF   ISfU.  ";j!3 

.I(MiN  B.  MvKus  inin;lit  liavc  Ihcii  seen  i<'<j,<iiiii4- 
aldiior  (.11  the  ••l)ii('kl)<>;ir(r'  frciii  Oiiialia  to  Dako;;; 
(•(luiiry  ill  AuLi;nst,  1S»)1.  It  was  a'uont  noon  on  a  hot. 
sultry  August  dav  when  his  journey  terminated  hy 
iialtiiig-  in  front  of  A.  II.  Baker's  hotel,  in  Omadi.  and 
inaiiv  <»f  the  western  jxiople  know  what  an  enorni..us 
apperite  it  irives  a  person  to  ride  a  hundred  miles  i>n  ;i 
'  l)uekl)i>a!-d."  The  landlord  stood  off  m  the  CDrner  <if 
tlic  room  tiiid  as  he  watche<l  him  devour  everythin^^  in 
I'each.  he  wondered  liow  much  more  that  man  could  hold. 
Jle  proceeded  to  his  hrother's  place,  A.  J.  JMyei-s.  wiio 
tiien  lived  a  short  distance  up  the  ravine  west  of  Col. 
BiinlV  farm.  Worked  at  plastering  and  nearly  all  of 
the  older  houses  of  the  county  are  witnesses  to  the 
handiwoi'k  of  his  trowel.  Went  to  Omalia  and  Xe- 
hraska  City  and  worked  a  while  at  his  trade  in  those 
places.  Ahont  this  time  he  concluded  to  take  unto 
himself  a  wife.  His  first  step  was  to  go  out  and  fall  in 
love  with  a  pretty  school  ma'm  and  on  the  Ot)i  of  Jan-' 
nary.  1867,  was  married  to  Mary  Ann  Boyle,  daughter 
oi"  Chas.  Boyle,  in  the  Catholic  church,  at  Jackson,  hy 
Ilev.  Father  Eriach.  He  at  once  settled  on  a  farm  five 
miles  southwest  of  Dakota  City  wliere  he  resided 
many  years,  an  I  has  always  been  a  respected  and 
law  ahidinii;  citizen.  Has  lost  a  number  of  horses  with 
what  is  known  as  the  -bottom  disease"  but  in  later  years 
did  his  farming  v.-ith  mules.  John  K.  Myers  was  born 
ApVil  18,  1832,  in  Cambria  county,  Pennsylvania.  In 
1854  went  to  Chicago  and  from  there  to  DubuqueJowa. 
"Went  down  to  New  Orleans  and  then  back  to  Dubuque 
and  remained  there  seven  or  eight  years,  after  which  he 
went  to  St.  Joe,  Missoui-i,  in  1859,  then  to  Pennsylvania. 
Came  west  again  to  Keokuk  the  followinor  year.  When 
the  great  civil  war  broke  out  he  enlisted  in  Company 
A,  2lst  Missouri  Infantry,  commanded  by  Col.  Moore. 
Participated  in  the  battle  of  Shiloli.  After  leaving  the 
army  came  north  to  Dakota  county,  wdiich  closes  the 
story  (»f  another  pioneer.  He  is  at  present  living  iji 
Homer,  Nehi'aska. 


256  Warner's  history  ok  Dakota  county. 

SETTLERS  OF  1862,  1863  AND  1864. 

John  Myers  was  born  in  Ireland,  in  1837  'And 
came  to  Dakota  county  in  1862.  Located  on  a  farm 
and  afterwards  kept  store  in  Jackson,  wliere  he  was 
married  in  1869,  Has  two'  sons,  Matthew  and  John; 
one  daughter,  Mary.  Is  at  present  living  in  Sioux 
City,  Iowa. 

John  and  LIenry'  Johns,  two  brothers,  came  to 
Dakota  county  in  the  fall  of  1862.  Settled  in  Blyburg. 
John  married  Cynthia  A.  Pilcrrim — has  five  children. 
Henry  m.arried  Eliza  Bailey — has  six  children, 

John  Eooney,  Sr.  was  born  in  Scotland  in  1828, 
and  landed  in  America  November  17,  1851.  Settled 
in  Dakota  county  in  1863,  where  he  has  resided  to  the 
present  time.  Was  married  in  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  to 
Bridget  Long.  Has  five  sons  and  six  daughters — John, 
Thomas,  Peter,  Hugh,  Henry,  Ellen,  Mary  Ann,  Katie, 
Maggie,  Agnes  and  Anna.     P.  O.  address,  Hubbard. 

Nicolas  R.  Bkasfield  was  born  in  Indianapolis, 
Indiana,  April  28,  1850.  Enlisted  in  Company  B,  8th 
Iowa  Infantry  in  1861.  Came  to  Sergeant  Bluffs  April 
11,  1863,  and  hunted  wild  turkeys  in  the  timber  south 
of  Dakota  City,  that  year.  Was  married  in  Madison 
county,  Iowa.  His  wife  died  and  he  married  Miss 
Katy  J.  Hileman,  at  Dakota  City,  July  26,  18S3,  Rev. 
D.  Marquett  officiating.  Was  elected  sheriff  of  Dakota 
county  November  8,  1887. 

Samuel  Curtis  came  to  Dakota  county  in  July, 
1864,  and  settled  in  Blylairg,  where  he  died.  There 
are  three  sons — Calvin,  Tunis  and  Samuel;  one  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  Ida  Lane.  Mrs.  Curtis  married  John  Tryon 
and  they  live  at  Blencoe,  Iowa. 

John  A.  Williams  came  with  his  parents  to  Da- 
kota county,  February  9,  1864.  Lived  in  Dakota  City, 
while  his  father  was  in  the  ai-my,  three  years.  Then 
located  in  Covington,     where     he     has     since     resided. 


SETTLERS  OF   1864.  257 

Married  in  18S7  to  AlmaMcEilianey.   Has  one  son  and 
two  daughters. 

Thomas  Christophekson  was  boi'n  in  JS'orway. 
1835,  and  came  to  Dakota  county  in  1864.  Settled 
along  the  bluffs  in  the  soutliern  part  of  the  county  wirh 
his  brother  Peter  and  was  killed  near  Covington  No- 
veniber  9,  1878,  by  his  team  running  away,  upsetting 
the  wagon  which  fell  upon  him.  His  wife  had  pre- 
viously died,  leaving  four  children — Christopher, 
Todli,  Mrs.  Miron  Sutton  and  Anna. 

John  Wjlltams  was  ])orn  1821  and  came  to  Da- 
kota county,  February  9,  1864  locating  in  Covington, 
where  he  ccntinued  to  reside  until  his  death,  at  the 
residence  of  his  son  John  A.  Williams,  on  the  16th  of 
May,  1889.  His  remains  were  interred  in  tlie  Dakota 
City  burying  ground.  His  wife  and  three  daughters 
had  previously  gone  to  their  eternal  rest.  Three  grown 
sons  survived  him — John  A.,  Charles  F.  and  James  M. 

John  Duggan  was  born  in  1832,  in  Ireland,  and 
canie  to  Dakota  county  in  the  spring  of  1864.  Took  a 
homestead  near  Jackson.  Lives  one-half  mile  east  of 
Hubbard.  Married  to  Cathaiine  Hogan;  they  have  five 
sous — Patrick.  Thoujas,  Eobert.  John  and  "William;  two 
daughters — Mrs.  Tliomas  Long  and  Johannah. 

Prof.  Samuel  Atghey  was  born  in  Juniatta  county, 
Pennsylvania,  February  8,  1831,  and  settled  in  Dakota 
City  in  the  fall  of  1864.  Graduated  from  the  Pennsyl- 
vania college  in  1856.  In  the  autumn  of  1857  entered 
the  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  re:nained  four  years.  P'rom  boyhood  days  took 
great  interest  in  geology,  and  is  to-day  f)ne  of  the  emi- 
nent geologists  of  oui-  countiy.  Married  to  Elizabeth 
C.  Welty,  in  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania,  Oc- 
tober 14"^,  1858.  ILis  one  daughter,  Helen  B.  After 
»rriving  in  Dakota  City  was  the  Lutheran  minister 
there  tliree  years,  aleo  County   Surveyor   and   Superin- 


258  Warner's  history  of  Dakota  county. 

tendent  of  Public  Schools.  Has  liekl  many  responsible 
positions  in  scientiiic  and  geological  departments  since 
moving  away  from  Dakota  county. 

Benjajviin  Corwin  came  to  Dakota  county  in  iSlJ-i 
and  settled  in  Blyburg  where  he  died,  leaving  one  son 
— George;  six  daughters — Mrs.  Wm.  Pilgiini.  Mrs. 
T^ois  Bliven,  Mrs.  Alfred  Pilgrim,  Mrs.  Eldred  Shook, 
Mrs,  Taylor  Osburn  and  Mrs.  Frank  Hale.  His  wid(.w 
was  married  to  Andrew  Johns  in  1881. 

Dr.  Joseph  Bradbrary  was  married  in  111.,  and 
came  to  Dakota  county,  1864.  Located  in  Dakota 
City,  where  he  died  in  1868.  His  wife  was  married  a 
second  time  to  John  Smith,  Sr.,  in  1870.  and  died  at 
Dakota  City.  July  11,  1880,  leaving  one  daughter. 
Josephine,  wife  of  Theodore  D.   Curtis. 

Peter  Christopherson  was  born  in  Norway. in  1S38. 
Came  to  America  1859  and  settled  in  Dane  county. 
Wisconsin,  where  he  was  married.  Came  to  Dakota 
county,  in  the  summer  of  18()4  and  camped  ou  tlie 
banks  of  Blyburg  lake  and  soon  after  purchased  a  tract 
of  land  of  Col.  Orr,  adjoining  Capt.  0'Ct)nnei-''s  farm, 
also  tiled  on  a  homestead,  joining  this  land  on  the  east, 
and  proved  up  on  tbe  same.  His  wife  died  June  30tli, 
1882.      Has  seven  children  living  and  four  dead. 

SETTLERS  OF  1865. 

William  Barnett  was  i)orn  in  1837,  in  Pen-y 
county,  Pennsylvania.  Was  .married  in  1859  to  Agnes 
Bell,  and  came  to  Dakota  county  in  thespi-ing  of  1865. 
flas  four  sons — Geoi'ge,  Joseph,  William  and  James; 
five  daughtei-s — Mai-y  J.,  Belle,  T^  el  lie,  Florence  and 
Hattie.  His  bi'othcr  Joseph  li\ed  here  onii  year,  now 
resides  in  Pennsylviinia. 

William  Taylok  was  born  in  1839,  in  L)wa,  and 
on  the  11th  of  March  1865,  made  his  first  ap[)earanc(,' 
in  Dakota  county.      He  at  once,    !)y     his     integrity  and 


lo 
o 

><1 


SETTLERS  OF  1865.  261 

fair  dealings  among  his  fellowmen,  became  a  prominent 
citizen,  and  was  elected  county  commissioner  October 
8,  1867.  Was  again  elected  to  the  same  office  twenty-one 
years  later,  which  position  he  held  until  the  commis- 
sioner system  was  discontinued.  Settled  on  a  farm 
eight  miles  south  west  of  Dakota  City,  where  he  still 
resides,  lias  lost  three  wives,  and  has  eight  children 
living — four  sons,  R.  Lee,  Goodwin  P.  William  and 
John  L;  four  daughters,  Mrs.  Olive  Shull,  Mrs.  Viola 
Xixon,  Sylvia  and  Mable  C,  wife  of  M.  M.  Warner. 
Three  children  have  died.  His  daughter  Eltna  J.  died 
September  4,  1888.  She  was  loved  and  respected  by  a 
large  circle  of  friends. 

IX  MEMORIAM. 


[In  fond  remembrance  of  Elma  Taylor.] 

Dear  Elma  lies  still 
In  the  graveyard  on  the  hill. 

And  while  the  autumn  winds  wave 
All  night  long  around  her  grave  — 

Her   many  friends    will    say: 
•'How  oft  along  the  vanished  past. 

Still  with  the  lines  of  youth  aglow, 
Spring  up  the  flowers  that  faded  fast  — 

The  scented  bloom  of  long  ago! 
Where  is  the  heart  that  would  forget 

The  smile,  the  look,  the  embrace? 
Amid  the  years  we  treasure  yet. 

The  contour  of  her  loving  face, " 

A  Young  F'riend,   M.  M. 
Soutli  Sioux  City,  Neb.,  September  10,  '88. 


Steven  M.  Rockwell  came  to  Dakota  county, 
August  28,  1865,  and  operated  a  carpenter  shop  at 
Dakota  City  and  in  Omadi  precinct.  His  two  sons 
Ephraim  and  Henry  live  in  Homer.  He  and  two 
(laughters-— Eliza  C.  and  Rodema  live  in  Indiana. 
Tliree  children  are  dead. 


262  Warner's  history  of  Dakota  coumtv. 

SETTLERS  OF  ISC.C. 

(teorge  Leamer  was  boi-n  in  lilair  coiiiit^y,  Ph., 
and  came  to  Dakota  county,  April  2,  1866.  Boiiglit 
J.  F.  Warner's  farm,  two  miles  west  of  iJakota  City, 
where  he  has  lived  to  the  present  time.  l]nilt  a  fine 
brick  j'esidence  on  his  farm  in  1872,  at  a  cost  of  ^4,- 
000.  Married  i?i  1852  to  Mai-garet  Geesey  or"  Blair 
county,  Pa.,  She  died  ApvU  1.  1885,  leaving  eitrht 
sons. 

C.  B.  Howard  was  born  Febi-nary  24,  18-17  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  Dakota  county  April  10, 
1866.  In  the  spring  of  1870  took  a  claim  on  Fiddlers 
Creek.  Married  to  Mary  Piiillips.  lias  one  son  aTid 
three  daughters.     Postoiiice  Homer. 

Albert  M.  Harrington  was  born  March  23,  1838, 
in  Connecticut.  Was  married  to  Jennie  S.  Kimball  in 
Massachnsetts.  September  27,  1862,  and  came  to  Da- 
kota county,  April  26,  four  years  later.  Was  employed 
as  carpenter  at  the  Winnebago  Agency  two  years  and  a 
half.  Afterwards  took  a  homestead  on  Fiddlers  Creek 
wliich  he  stills  owns.     Postoffice  Homer. 

Enos  Keel  was  born  in  Perry  county,  Pennsylvania 
in  1822,  and  came  to  Dakota  county  in  July  1866- 
Was  Treasurer  of  Dakota  county,  and  died  when  hold- 
ing the  ofhce  at:  10:30  a.  m.  October  2,  1873,  at  his  res- 
idence five  miles  west  of  Dakota  City.  There  are  six 
children  living — one  son,  Enos;  and  live  daughters — 
J\Irs.  Emma  Myres,  Duarte,  California;  Mrs.  Mary 
Culver,  Monte  Vista,  California;  Mrs.  Ella  Brown  and 
Mrs.  Jennie  Page,  Lyons,  Nebraska;  and  Miss  Lizzie, 
Los  Aiigeloi:,  California. 

Charles  H.  Potter  was  born  in  Woodstock, 
Windham  county,  Connecticut,  and  spent  his  earlier 
years  in  the  place  of  his  birth,  receiving  his  education 
from  the  common  school  of  the  county.  Enlisted  in 
the  war  for  the  L^nion  as  a    private,     in     company    D. 


SETTLKIiS  OF     1  S«)(i.  26;} 

18tli  Connecticut  Inf.  Vol.  Soon  after  entering  the 
service  was  promoted  to  1st  Lieutenant  and  placed  in 
coiiiniand  of  company  H.  24tii  United  States  Colored 
Ti'oops.  Was  actin<j:  Adjutant  of  the  reginier.t  and  act- 
in  o-  assistant  Adjutant  General  on  the  staff  of  Major 
(ireneral  Barnes  and  when  the  regiment  was  mustered 
out  was  chosen  Provost  Marshall  of  Halifax  county. 
Virginia.  Was  three  years  head  elei'k  at  the  Winne- 
l);ig(»  Agency  undei'  Agent  Matthewson's  administra- 
tion. Was  married  in  18(38,  to  Maria  Norton,  at  Da- 
kota City  by  H.  II.  Wilson.  Located  on  a  farm  on 
Omaha  creek  near  Comb's  mill  where  he  diligently 
la!)ored  fur  many  years  until  he  had  reared  for  himself 
and  wife  one  of  the  neatest  and  most  comiortable 
honies  to  be  found  in  the  county.  Was  appointed  Su- 
perintendent and  his  wife  Matron  of  Industrial  School 
at  the  Winnebago  Agency,  under  Agent  G.  W.  Wilk- 
inson's administration,  which  position  he  held  until  he 
was  appointed  United  States  Indian  Agetit  for  the 
(Jinaha  and  Winnebago  Agencies,  to  succeed  Wilkin- 
son, August  7,  1885,  which  position  he  held  until 
November  1,  of  the  next  year.  Moved  to  Wakefield 
and  thence  to  Alabama,  where  he  has  an  interest  in 
some  oyster  beds.  Mr.  Potter  is  a  good  scholar,  an 
able  debator,  and  taught  school  for  a  number  of  years 
in  Dakota  county. 

Geo.  C.  Granger  was  born  September  12tli,  1S20. 
in  Saratoga  county,  JN.  Y.  Came  to  Dakota  county, 
September  1866.  Located  in  the  timl)er  si.\  miles 
northwest  of  Jackson,  where  he  opened  up  a  wood- 
yard  and  sold  wood  to  passing  steamboats.  Was 
twice  a  widower  before  mari-ying  his  present  wife, 
Miss  Eliza  E.  McKenzie,  Septeiul)er  8rd,  1867.  Has 
three  children  living.  Has  served  a  number  of  years 
as  county  commissioner  and  surveyor.  Was  elected  to 
the  hitter  othce  November  3,  1889,  and  is  now  filling 
that  office.      Was  also  elected  as     surveyor     for     Dixon 


264  WARNER't^   HISTORY   OF  DAKOTA   COUNTY. 

county,  November  2,  ISSO.      He  is  at  present  livino-   in 
Sonth  Sionx  City. 

Jacob  A.  Sides  vvas  born  December  31,  1844,  in 
Indiana  county,  Pennsylvania.  Enlisted  in  the  late 
war  when  but  16  years  of  age,  in  Company  D  4tli 
Regiment  i'ennsylvania  Vol.  Mounted  Inf.  lie  set- 
tled in  Dakota  county  May  5,  18(35,  on  a  piece  of  land 
two  miles  and  a  half  south-east  of  Dakota  City.  His 
wife  died  in  1867,  and  was  married  a  second  time  to 
Miss  Alice  E.  Wrieht,  Aneu^t  15,  1872.  He  vvas 
accidentally  shot  Friday,  J  lily  11,  ISUU,  a  short  dis- 
tance south  of  the  two  Lutheran  churcbes  west  of  Da- 
kota City,  leaving  a  wife  and  six  children,  one  by  bis 
tirst  wife  and  live  by  second. 

Adam  Wenzel  was  bom  January  20,  1820,  in 
Germany  and  came  to  Dakota  county  in  April,  1866. 
Served  thi-ee  years  as  a  Union  soldier  in  the  Rebellion. 
Was  married  in  Peora,  Illinois.  He  has  a  step-son — 
Wm.  Ganunet,  and  lives  on  the  Island  northwest  of 
Dakota  City.  He  invented  acorn  planter  and  received 
a  patent  for  it. 

Milton  Foeeshoe  was  born  November  2*^,  1844, 
in  Pennsylvania.  Married  to  Emaline  Sides  April  24. 
1866,  in  his  native  state.  Came  to  Dakota  county. 
May  5,  1866,  and  took  a  homestead  near  "Wm.  Taylor's 
place.  Afterwards  moved  to  where  he  now  lives  five 
miles  southwest  of  Dakota  City.  Has  one  son,  Milton. 
an<l  two  daughters,  Altaand  Pessie. 

S.  P.  MiKESELL  was  born  in  Indiana  county. 
Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  Dakota  county  in  1866  set- 
tling in  Dakota  (b'ty.  Afterwards  moved  to  Ponca  in 
1869  where  he  still  lesides,  ami  is  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile business 

Michael  Keel  ^vas  !)()rn  Novemljer  5,  1815,  in 
Perry  county,  Pennsylvania,  crossed  the  I'iver  into  Da- 
kota'county,  July  5,  1866.      Lived  on  the  bottom    west: 


SETTLERS  OF   18(i7.  2()5 

iif  I);il<(;ta  ('ity  foi-  thi-ee  years,  when  he  moved  to  the 
ahove  iiaiued  town  wliei'e  he  lived  nntil  liis  deatli. 
Fehniary  28,189:2. 

M.  W.  Beardshear  made  his  iirst  journey  to 
Dakota  connty  on  a  sled  in  January  1867.  Was  mar- 
ried to  Josiah"  W.  Davis'  eldest  daughter,  Elien  S.. 
Decemher  25,  1868.  Has  four  sons,  the  names  of  the 
three  eldest  being  Frank,  William  and  Edward;  three 
d;iiiuhters,  Lille,  i3ertha  and  Roselin.  Lives  on  a  farm 
three  miles  south  of  Homer.  Mr.  Beardshear  was  born 
in  Knox  countv,  Ohio,  April  18,  1842.  Has  served  as 
assessor  for  dniadi  precinct. 

Taylor  Osburn  was  born  in  1848  in  Indiana, 
and  came  to  Dakota  county,  June  1867.  Was  married 
to  Rosa  Carwin  in  1873,  and  has  seven  children  living 
^three  sons  and  four  daughters.  One  child  died. 
He  is  at  present  living  in  lilyburg. 

Charles  D.  Bayliss  was  bom  in  West  Virginia 
in  18o7.  When  the  war  of  the  rebellion  broke  out  he 
enliste<l  in  the  Third  West  Virginia  Infantry,  and  at 
the  close  of  the  war  received  a  certiticate  of  thanks 
from  the  governor  for  his  gallantry  and  bravery. 
Oame  to  Dakota  county,  Nebraska,  in  the  spring  of 
18()7,  located  in  Covington,  and  with  Wm,  Hedges, 
started  a  meat  market  at  that  place.  Afterwards  moved 
to  the  Omaha  Indian  reservation,  where  he  married 
.Mrs.  Moneravie,  in  1880,  and  died  at  his  home  on 
Omaha  creek,  August  8,  six  years  later.  His  wife  and 
two  children  survive  bin). 

Martin  S.  Mansfield  was  born  about  1830, 
in  Marion,  Grant  county,  Indiana.  In  1840  went,  to 
t'haiupaign  county.  111.,  where  he  was  engaged  atfarm- 
ing  and  learning  the  carpenter's  ti-ade.  Enlisted  in  the 
Avar  for  the  Union  June'l,  1861,  in  Company  C.  25th 
.Illinois  Infantry,  under  Col.  W.  N.  Coller.  After- 
wards sci'/ed  in  >[issonri  under  Gen.  Siegel  and  fought 
h}    that    great    battle    of    the    southwest — Pea     liidge. 


266  WARNKi^'s   HISTORY   Ol'    UAICOTA  COUNTY. 

March  6,  7  and  8,    1862.       Was    detached    to  the  8th 
Wisconsin  battalion,  liglit  avtilieiy,  August   18,   1862. 
Was     at     the      evacuation     of    Corinth,      Mississippi. 
marclied  from  there  to  Perry ville  and    participated     in 
the     engagement  of     (Jctober  8,  1862;      was    captui-ed 
near  Nashville.  Tennessee,  November  7,  1882  by    John 
Morgan,  and  was   taken   to    Lebanon,     Tennessee,    was 
paroled  but  not  released.     Escaped  by    running    across 
some  ditches  where  he  could  not  be  followed  by    horse- 
men.     Was  sent  to  Camp  Chase,  Ohio,    where    he     re- 
mained until  March  8,  1863,  when  he  returned    to     the 
command      at     Murfreesborough,       Tennessee.       Aftei- 
participating  in  the    battles  of  Chickamauga,    Lookout 
Mt.  and  Missouri  Ridge,  returned   to  Murfreesborough. 
Fought  in  the  i)attles  of  Kennesaw  Mt. and  Peach  creek; 
was  released  at  Atlanta,  August  3,  1864,   and     sent    to 
Springfield,  Illinois.       Came     to     Decatur,     Nebraska, 
June,  1865,  and  worked  at  tiie  carpenter's  trade.     Went 
to  the  Winnebago  Agency,  Neb)-aska,  October  1,  1866, 
to  do  some  carpenter    work    and    spent    the     following 
winter  in  Decatur.      On  the  7th  day  of     March,     1867, 
he  stood  for  the  first  time  in     his     life     upon     Dakota 
county  soil.      Llelped  to  bnild   the     Sam     Condjs     mill. 
Was  married  October  20,  of  that  year  to  Sarah  C.    De- 
Borde,  fifth  daughter  of  J.   F.     DeBorde — one    of    the 
pioneers     of     Dakota     county,     Covington.     Nebrask;?. 
October  1,  of  the    following    yeai-,     crossed     over     thy 
bridge  on  Omaha  creek  where    Homer  was  soon     after 
located,  with  a  load  of  lumber  and  his  tools.      F>y  night 
of  the  same  day  he  had  e.ompleted  the  first  house     ever 
erected  in  the  town  of  Homer,  which  Mas  occupied    l)e- 
fore  dark  by  John  and  Joseph  Smith  with   a     stock     of 
general  merchandise.     The  following  spring    he     built 
several  other  houses  in  the  new  town,  wliieh  had  in  the 
meantime  been  staked  off  into  lots.       Smithville     was 
suggested  as  the  name  for  the  town     in     honor    of    its 
founders,  whereupon  Mr.  Mansfield    replied:     "Gentle- 
men, I  want  a  name  with  one  mouthful,  the    new  town 


SETTLEKS  OF    1867.  267 

will  he  called  Horner."  Was  commissioned  a  notary 
public  in  1885  and  appointed  by  President  Cleveland 
as  postmaster  at  Homer,  which  office  he  took  charge  of 
on  tlie  12tli  day  of  February  of  the  next  year.  The 
Homer  postoffice  was  raised  to  a  money  order  offi(.'e 
July  1,  1887.  Has  six  children  living.  He  has  ever 
taken  a  deep  interest  in  all  enterprises  looking  to  the 
welfare  of  the  county,  is  considered  a  good  public 
speaker  and  has  always  identified  himself  with  the  dem- 
ocratic party  in  Dakota  county  politics  and  no  history 
of  the  county  can  ever  be  impartially  written  without 
the  name  of  M.  S.  Mansfield. 

William  Hedges  was  born  April  lOth  1887,  in 
Beverly.  Washington  county,  Ohio;  moved  with  par- 
ents to  Athens  county,  and  then  to  Morgan  county, 
where  he  lived  on  a  farm  until  the  begiiming  of  the 
war;  enlisted  in  April,  1861,  in  Company  H.  17th 
Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry.  Was  promoted  to  orderly 
sergeant,  after  being  wounded  in  the  charge  at  Fort 
Wagner.  Gen.  B.  F.  Butler  recommended  to  the 
governor  of  Ohio  that  ''William  Hedges  be  promoted 
to  the  rank  and  pay  of  1st.  Lieutenant,  for  meritorious 
conduct  in  front  of  the  enemy  at  Richmond."  In  ten 
days  afterwards  was  again  promoted  as  captain  of  his 
company,  which  position  he  held  until  after  the  close 
of  the  war.  Was  mustered  out  of  service  November 
7th,  1865,  and  i-eturned  to  his  home  in  C)hio.  In  the 
spring  of  1867  started  west  and  crossed  the  Missouri 
river  at  Decatur,  took  passage  on  the  stage  going  north 
to  Dakota  county,  arriving  at  Isaac  Moni'oe's  place 
mow  owned  by  Geoi'ge  Peterson)  March  15th.  He 
began  the  next  day  to  drive  the  stage,  which  car-ried 
the  mail  between  Moni'oe's  place  and  Sioux  City.  Was 
niaiTied  to  Miss  Sarah  Dorsey,  at  Dakota  City,  Sep- 
tember 23rd,  1868.  by  Judge  Samuel  Whitehorn. 
Was  appointed  farmer  at  the  Winnebago  Agency,  by 
Agent  Col.  Arthur  Edwai-ds,  in  1880.      In  1881  moved 


268  WARNEK't^   HISTORY    OF   DAKO'lA     COUNTY. 

to  Dakota  City,  and  retui-iicd  to  Jacksop.  in  tlie  spi'ino 
of  1882,  wLere  he  again  opened  up  ;i  meat  market. 
Was  again  appointed  as  farmer  at  tiie  Winnebago 
Agency,  by  Charles  H.  Potter,  wliicii  position  he  lield 
until  he  received  a  ficeiise as  Indian  trader  at  the  same 
agency,  under  Agent  J.  F.  Warner.  Mr.  Hedges  ha^ 
always  been  considered,  by  those  who  have  had  deal- 
ings with  him,  to  be  an  honest,  upright  citizen.  lla> 
two  children,  ijhinche  and  Tlionias. 

William  Lapsley  was  born  August  5,  1805,  in 
Indiana  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  I);d<:ot;i 
county,  March  19.  1867.  Settled  on  a  farm  southwest 
of  Dakota  City.  Married  to-  Isabella  Matthews  in 
1885.  He  died  at  his  residence  September  17,  1887- 
leaving  a  wife  and  eight  children — four  sons,  James  J.. 
William,  of  Pennsylvania,  Robert  L.  and  John  A.: 
four  daughters,  Mrs.  J.  N.  Hamilton,  Eliza  J.,  Rebecca 
and  Matilda  B. 

David  Y.  Hileman  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in 
1828,  and  landed  upon  Dakota  county  soil  Marcdi  22. 
1867.  Purchased  a  tract  of  land  of  Geo.  T.  W^oods. 
six  miles  southwest  of  Dakota  City,  where  he  has  re- 
sided to  the  present  time.  His  wife  died  leaving  two 
sons — Woods  M.  and  Robert  O.;  two  daugliters,  Mrs. 
Dennis  Armour  and  Mrs.  Albert  Heikes.  Mr.  Hile- 
man  is  one  of  the  prominent  men  of  the  county  and  he 
always  has  been  considered  hs  an  honest  and  upright 
citizen. 

Daniel  Sullivan  came  to  Dakota  county,  March 
22,  18(n.  Was  married  the  same  year.  Has  out'  son 
and  four  daughtei's;  one  child  died.  Lives  eight 
miles  northwest  of  Jackson. 

John  II.  Bhidenbaugh  was  boi-n  Septembei-  80tli. 
1820,  Petersburg,  Huntington  county,  Pennsylvania. 
Spent  liis  early  days  on  the  farm,  afterwards  leai-ned 
the  millinii  i)U.'-^iness;      was  mai'ried  to    Rosana    Wertz. 


SETLKKS  OF   1,SH7.  269 

in  H(i]lidaysbui-g,  Pennsylvania.  January  2(j.  1843. 
Was  a  soldier  in  the  late  war  and  ''with  the  seldierss 
-tood/"  Enlisted  in  ('onipany  F.  55tli  Pennsylvania 
\'et.  Inft.,  February  13,  1864.  '"Marched  down  to 
Washington"  and  was  disf'Jinrged  in  1865.  In  the 
spring  of  1867  he  heeame  convinced  that  the  great 
west  was  the  place  for  hini  and  began  preparations  for 
a  journey  to  Nebraska,  crossing  the  Missouri  river  at 
Sioux  City,  April  1().  Moved  his  family  to  the  old 
Charley  Flckhart  place,  two  miles  directly  south  of 
Dakota  City.  December  1869,  moved  down  and  took 
charge  of  the  Oaks  mill,  where  he  remained  until 
April  1870,  when  he  went  to  Jackson  and  took  charge 
of  the  grist  mill  at  that  place.  Here  he  remained  until 
JNovember  1870,  when  lie  purchased  a  ti-act  of  land  of 
Anthony  J.  AJyies,  six  miles  southwest  of  Dakota  City, 
where  he  has  resided  to  the  present  time.  His  wife 
died  Deceujber  29,  1891,  leaving  eight  children — six 
sons,  Phillip  W.,  John,  Benjamin  N.,  Samuel  A., 
Williau'  H.  and  Ulysses  dr.;  two  daughters.  Rebecca 
and  Mrs.  Mary  Fair  of  Pennsylvania.  Four  children 
have  died. 

M.  J.  Hermann  looked  out  upon  what  was  after 
wards  tv>  !)e  known  as  Dakota  county,  in  May,  1855. 
From  the  Blyburg  hills  to  the  l)luffs  at  St.  John's,  he 
beheld  one  vast  expanse  of  wild  praii-ies  and  almost  un- 
penetrable jungles.  He  was  on  his  way  to  the  Yellow- 
stone i-iver  (111  the  steamer  "Genora,"  with  Thogmartin 
as  captain  and  Garnian.  clei'k.  Saw  great  herds  of 
buffalo, and  the  Indians  showed  such  a  war-like  disposi- 
tion that  the  boat  was  anchored  in  mid-river  to  keep 
them  from  attacking  it.  They  killed  their  own  meat 
and  clKjpped  their  own  wood.  ^Vs  they  passed  along 
by  the  beautiful  laiuls  of  northeastern  Nebraska. 
Capt.  Thogmartin  s;iid :  '-Mr.  Hermann,  I  do  not  ex- 
p'^ct  to  live  to  see  it  myself,  but  should  you  live  to  be 
tifty  years  old.  you  will  see  this    one    of    the    grandest 


270  vvarnkk's  history  ok  Dakota    county. 

comities  in  the  world."  Lived  in  Sioux  City  in  18(59 
and  uftervvards  was  engaged  in  business  in  Oinahn. 
]\Ioved  with  his  family  to  Dakota  county,  Marcli  187'.' 
and  went  into  business  in  Homer,  under  tlie  tirm  nai^e 
of  iSash  &  Hermann,  dealers  in  general  merchandise, 
which  was  afterwards  dissolved  and  Mr.  H.  established 
a  store  of  his  own.  The  store  with  all  gocnls  was  Inii-ned 
in  1893.  M.  J.  Hermann  was  born  December  16,  1839, 
in  St.  Charles  Parish,  Louisana.  VVorked  on  boat  Ite- 
tweeii  New  Orleans  and  St.  Paul  and  also  on  the  Ohio 
and  Missouri  rivers.  Remembers  the  time  vvhen  there 
was  not  a  single  house  between  St.  Joe  and  Council 
Bluffs.  Was  employed  on  the  boat  that  bi'ought  Capt. 
O'Connor  to  the  county. 

Chris  Mikesell  was  born  in  1839  Jind  came  to  Da- 
kota county  in  the  spring  of  1867.  Bought  John  Nafi- 
zigger's  farm.  Was  married  in  1869  in  Pennsylvania, 
to  Julia  F.  Fair  and  returned  to  Nebraska,  arriving 
here  '-wdth  the  girl  he  had  left  behind  him"  March  20. 
Settled  on  a  farm  where  he  now  j-esides,  three  milep 
west  of  Dakota  City.  Has  one  son — Willian  F.;  four 
daughters — Nellie,  Mary,  Gertie  and  Lizzie. 

Luther  Harden  was  born  December  27,  1833,  and 
came  with  his  parents  to  Iowa  in  1837.  Was  married 
to  Snrah  Jane  Underwood  Mai-ch  6,  1857,  i"  Jeflferson 
county,  Iowa.  Moved  to  Dakota  county  May  9,  1867- 
and  camped  near  C.  D.  Martin's  old  pre-emptitJii  c;d)in 
that  night.  Afterwards  lived  in  Dakota  City,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  butciierin>i:  business.  Located  on  a 
farm  one-half  mile  north  of  Dakota  City  whei-e  he  srill 
resides.    Has  two  children    -Mrs.  John  Orr  an<l  Burt  G. 

John  R.  Sprague  spent  his  first  night  in  Dakota 
county  at  Joslah  W.  Davis'  old  plnce  south  of  Homer, 
June  1, 1867,  fi^^id  the  next  morning  as  he  looked  around 
lie  little  dreamed  that  he  whs  viewing  a  country  destined 
to  be  rich  and  prosperous, over  which  he  would  be  called 
upon  to  preside  as  justice  of  the  peace  and  be  hailed  as 


SKTTLERS  OF   lH(i7.  271 

••*LS(|nire  Spragne,"  twenty  years  later.  During  that  suin- 
nier  helped  to  build  tiie  Gideon  Warner  bridge  across 
( )niaha  creek.  Built  a  blacksmith  shop  near  the  old 
(diaries  Bliven  place  and  after  working  at  his  ti-ade 
there  for  a  while  removed  his  shop  to  Dakota  City. 
Aiidut  this  time  Ivalph  (Troodwin  wanted  to  break  up  a 
piece  of  land  northeast  of  Dakota  City,  but  there  was 
udt  a.  breaking  plow  to  l)e  had  at  any  of  the  stores  in 
the  county,  whereupon  Mr.  Spragne  made  a  breaking 
jdow  complete  for  him.  Has  been  proprietor  of  general 
stoi-es  in  Dakota  City  and  Homer.  Was  democratic 
candidate  for  county  commissioner  fur  Omadi  precinct 
in  1882  and  was  defeated  by  a  majority  of  tliree  votes. 
Has  six  childi'en  living  and  two  dead.  Builtagood  sub- 
stantial residence  in  Homer  in  1887  and  has  at  different 
times  owned  some  of  the  best  farms  in  the  county. 
John  R.  Sprague  was  born  March  30,  1842,  in  Milton, 
Rock  county,  Wisconsin.  Learned  blacksmithing  while 
a  \oung  man  and  worked  at  that  trade  until  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  Rebellion,  when  he  "shouldered  his  mus- 
kec"  and  marched  to  the  scene  of  conflict.  Enlisted  in 
Company  E,  22nd  Wisconsin  Infantry,  August  11,  1862. 
AVent  to  Cincinnatti  and  thence  to  Kentucky  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  battle  of  Brent  Wood,  March  5,  1863, 
where  he  was  captured  by  the  rebels  and  taken  to  Co- 
lumbia and  from  there  to  Libbie  prison.  Was  released 
June  Gth  and  went  to  City  Point,  Virginia,  and  fi'om 
there  to  Annapolis,  Indiana.  Went  to  St.  Louis  wliere 
he  joined  a  re-oi-ganized  regiment  under  General 
llosencrans  and  afterwards  ''marched  with  Sherman 
down  to  the  sea,"  which  is  a  little  incident  of  wliich 
his  children  may  well  feel  proud.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  went  to  Milwaukee  and  was  married  to  Sarah  J, 
Simerson  at  Edgerton,  Wisconsin,  September  2,     1805. 

-fouN  Nixon  was  born  in  Scotland, 1820,  and  married 
at  an  early  age.  Ilis  wife  died  in  her  native  land,  and 
Mr.  Nixon  with  his  five  children    soucrht    a     home     in 


272  Warner's  mistohy  of  darota    colntv. 

America,  his  brother  William  having  preceeded  liim. 
Arrived  in  Dakota  eonnty,  June  27,  18(J7  and  lived 
with  his  brotlier.  Died  January  15,  1882,  leaving 
five  children — two  sons,  Alex  M.  and  John  J^.;  and  three 
daugliters,  Lizzie,  Mrs.  Jean  Waite  and  Martha  L.,  the 
latter  was  the  wife  of  Wm.  Taylor— died  in  May  1889. 

William  Holswoktii  was  horn  in  Pittsburg, 
Peuiit-ylvania,  March  -ith,  1841  the  day  upon  which 
William  Henry  Harrison  was  inaugurated  as  Fi-esident, 
and  for  whom  lie  was  named.  Moved  with  his  pai'ents 
to  Monroe  county,  Ohio,  early  in  1845,  where  he  spent 
his  childhood  days  in  the  woods  and  wilds  of  that 
country  as  it  then  was,  and  there  he  received  an  eau- 
cation,  such  as  could  be  obtained.  Here  he  lived  until 
1865,  when  he  went  to  Wisconsin,  and  remained  there 
two  years,  which  time  he  spent  teaching  school  in  the 
city  of  Watertown  and  Jefferson  county.  Previous  to 
this  time,  however,  he  had  been  teaching  in  Ohio  and 
what  is  now  Western  Virginia.  Was  married  to  Mary 
Holsworth,  Auojust  19,  1867,  at  Watertown,  Jefferson 
county,  Wisconsin,  and  immediately  w^ent  to  Omaha, 
arriving  there  September  26tli,  where  he  remained  un- 
til July,  1868,  when  he  turned  his  face  northward,  de- 
tei'mined  to  find  a  location  for  a  home.  Aiul  he  found 
it,  on  the  3d  day  of  July,  1868,  on  a  south  branch  of 
Wi'gle  creek,  in  Dakota  county,  where  he  at  once 
located,  and  where  he  has  since  resided.  Here,  amid 
the  wild  prairies  of  those  days,  he  began  to  build  a 
comfortable  home  for  himself  and  family;  to  In-eak  up 
the  prairie  and  plant  beautiful  groves  of  maple,  bo.\eld- 
er,  walnut  and  other  trees;  which  will  add  beauty  and 
wealth,  and  stand  as  stately  landmarks  to  call  up  the 
memory  of  an  old  settler,  when  the  hands  that  plantetl 
them  shall  long  have  mouldered  into  dust.  Here,  also 
he  has  thus  lar  raised  eight  children,  the  eldest  24,  and 
the  youngest  10  years  old — all  l)eyond  the  cradle,  at 
least — and  he  never  had  a  cradle  in  the  house.      He  has 


SETTLERS  OF    1867.  273 

tuiitflit  seliool  in  fonr  different  states — Virginia,  Ohio. 
Wisconsin  and  Nebraska.  His  services  as  teacher  will 
long  he  remembered  as  heing  among  the  most  success- 
fnl  schools  ever  taught  in  Dakota  county.  He  has  al- 
ways taken  an  active  interest  in  county  affairs,  and  is 
considered  as  an  able  debater  and  eloquent  orator,  and 
as  puch  has  often  been  called  upon  to  appear  before 
public  gatherings  and  important  assemblages,  includ- 
ing political  conventions,  Fourth  of  July  celebrations, 
the  "Farmers'  Club,"  and  reunions  of  the  Pioneer  and 
Okl  Settlei-s.  In  all  his  dealings  between  man  and 
men  his  conduct  has  always  been  honest  and  upright, 
and  liis  generous  and  valuable  services  in  the  effort  to 
bring  Dakota  county  from  Its  wild  and  almost  nnin- 
Jiabited  condition  to  the  present  wealth  and  prosperity 
will  long  be  remembered  by  its  citizens. 

Timothy  Mukphy  was  born  in  Ireland,  in  1844 
and  came  to  Dakota  county,  September  1867.  Settled 
on  a  farm  one  mile  and  a  half  north  of  Homer.  Mar- 
ried in  1868  to  Mary  O'Neill.  Has  one  son — Thomas; 
four  daughters — Mrs.  Thomas  Ashford  Jr.,  Maggie. 
Loreine  and  Pearl.     Postofhce  Homer. 

John  Oak  landed  upon  the  site  of  Tekamah,  Ne- 
bi-askn ,  July  28,  1855,  and  settled  in  Dakota  county  in 
1867,  where  he  was  proprietor  of  the  Oak's  mill.  Here 
he  and  his  wife  died.  Oakland,  Nebraska  was  named 
in  honor  of  him. 

S.  I.  Hart  came  to  Dakota  county,  (>ctober  20. 
1867,  and  settled  in  Brushy  Bend.  Took  an  active 
part  in  the  Grange  organization  in  the  county.  Mar- 
ried to  Mrs.  Washington  Warner,  which  was  his  se- 
cond marritige.      Lives  in  Di.\on  county. 

SETTLERS  OF  1868. 
J.  11.  Rockwell  came  to  Dakota  county,    January 


274  Warner's  history  of  Dakota  county. 

2S,  1868,  and  took    a     homestead     on     Fiddlers    creek 
where  he  now  lives.   Has  two  sons  and  three  daughters. 

Calvin  Rockavell  settled  in  Dakota  county.  Jan- 
uary 28,  1868,  and  took  a  homestead  in  Pigeon  creek. 
Married  to  Marilda  Smith.  Has  tliree  sons  and  two 
daughters. 

Thomas  Havnes  came  to  Dakota  county  in  March. 
1868,  and  took  a  homestead  six  miles  west  of  Jackson. 
Died  in  1879,  leaving  a  wife  and  live  cliildren — four 
sons,  Patrick.  James  L.,  Michael  and  Daniel;  one 
dangliter,  Mrs.  Thomas  Rusli.  His  son  Michael  li\es 
on  the  old  place  and  is  mai-ried  to  Mary  Gormaley. 

Alexander  Berndt  plodded  tliiongh  the  mud 
across  Dakota  county  March  4.  1868.  Took  a  home- 
stead where  he  now  lives,  two  miles  Avest  of  Homer. 
Married  in  1862  to  Friederka  Broecker. 

Joseph  Hileman  was  born  in  1830,  and  came  fi'om 
Pennsylvania  to  Dakota  county  March  27,  1868,  and 
located  on  a  farm  west  of  Dakota  City.  Eno-agetl  in 
the  livery  business  afterwards,  in  Dakota  City.  Was 
married  to  Sarah  Lingenfelter  in  1858.  Died  at  his  resi- 
dence in  Dakota  City  August  26,  1877,  leaving  a  widow 
and  nine  childre«ri — eight  sons,  Harry V,,  A^ndrew  Curten, 
Ulysses  G.,  Willijun,  Emmett  L.,  John  B.,  Guy  and 
Walter;  one  daughter.  Mrs.  Katie  Brasfield. 

John  Mitchell  was  born  September  8,  1813,  in 
West  Newton,  Pennsylvania.  Came  to  Iowa  in  1851 
and  settled  in  Dakota  county,  April  11,  1868,  where  he 
oppei-ated  a  blackmitli  shop  at  Dakt)ta  City,  for' 
many  years.  Mari'iecl  September  15,  187()  to  Mattie 
Oesteriing,  at  Dakota  City.  Has  one  child-- I'loi-ence. 
Postofiice,  Sioux  City,  lovva. 

Joseph  McPheuson  was  born  in  1828,  North  Car- 
olina. Married  to  Nancy  Ann  Deer  in  Morgan  county, 
IndiaiJa,  and  came  to  Dakota  county,  in  the  spring    of 


SlSTI.KliS  OF  18H«.  275 

1868  where  lie  opened  up  a  brick  yard.  In  July 
18(U  enlisted  in  the  7th  Iowa  Infantry,  and  was 
uiustered  out  in  18()4  at  Chattanooga,  Tennessee. 
Moved  to  Hitchcock  county,  Nebraska,  August  1884, 
being  one  of  its  pioneer  settlers.  Has  eight  children, 
two  sons —Wesley  and  Samuel  J.:  six  daughters — 
Mr*;.  Thena  Ream,  Mrs.  Lydia  Phillips,  Mrs.  America 
Duncan,  Mrs.  Nettie  Hammond,  Mrs.  Mary  Smith  and 
Mrs.  Jessie  Little. 

Will  S.  Jay  was.  born  in  1853,  in  Knoxville,  Iowa, 
and  came  to  Dakota  county,  ^pril  23,  1868-  Has  been 
ill  the.newspapei-  business  in  the  county  for  a  nuinbei- 
of  years.  Married  to  Georgia  Grifiey  in  187*J.  Has 
three  sons. 

Petkr  Mikksell  was  born  in  Indiana  county, 
Pennsylvania.  Came  to  Dakota  City,  Nebraska,  in 
1868,  where  he  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace.  Died 
at  Dakota  City.  March  21,  1872,  and  buried  near  the 
Lutheran  church  of  that  place. 

C.  M.  Crowell  came  to  Dakota  county,  May  5, 
1868  and  lived  on  J.  F.  Warner's  farm  m  the  southern 
part  of  the  county.  Went  ro  Dixon  county,  where  he 
lived,  until  he  moved  to  Central  City,  Nebraska,  where 
lie  now  i-esides.  Mari'ied  in  1850,  his  wife  died,  was 
married  a  second  time  in  1859  to  Sarah  Marquess. 
Has  three  children — one  son  and  two  daughters. 

Jacou  Hkikes  was  born  May  5,  1837,  in  Mitiiin, 
Juniata  couiity.  Pennsylvania.  Was  married  to  Mary 
J.  Aughey  Fel)ruary  16.  1858,  and  came  to  Dakota 
county,  Mai-cli  17,  1868.  Located  on  a  farm  three 
miles  southwest  of  Dakota  City  where  he  remained  16 
years,  when  he  moved  to  Wayne  county  and  built  a 
comfortable  liome.  Has  nine  children,  foui-  sons — 
Albei't  A.,  Luther  A.,  Samuel  A..  Charles  A.;  and 
Hve  daughters  — Mrs.  Ida  V.  Milligaii,  Mrs.  Anna  B. 
Long,  Mrs.  Tillie  Slaughter.  Mary  M.  and  Lettie  P.. 
His  son  Luthei'  is  livino-  on  the  old  fai-m. 


276  wakner's  history  or  Dakota  county. 

MicnAKi,  Cain  was  born,  in  1830,  in  Iieljind.  and 
came  to  America  in  185(),  arriving  in  Dakota  connty. 
May  8th,  1868.  Located  in  Jackson  where  he  remain- 
ed nine  years.  In  1877  settled  on  a  piece  of  land  one 
and  a  half  miles  from  where  Hubbard  now  stands.  Was 
married  to  Miss  Maggie  Brackin,  in  Massacliuserts,  in  • 
1860 — liave  seven  children  livino;  and  foni-  dead. 

Kntd  Hanskn  was  burn  in  Denmark  in  1883.  and 
H-as  married  to  Fredcnkke  Joro;ensen  in  1865.  Have 
one  son — Christian;  three  daughters — Carrie  M., 
Eliza  M.  and  Emily  S.  Took  a  homestead  on  Wigle 
creek  in  June  1868.  where  he  has  lived  to  the  present  time. 

Charles  JJ.  Phillits  was  horn  August  23,  1831. 
in  Foster,  Rhode  Ishmd,  and  when  sixteen  years  old 
went  to  Connecticut,  thence  to  Illinois.  Was  married 
to  Miss  Evaline  Hunt,  in  Lake  county,  Illinois,  in 
1860,  and  moved  to  Dakota  county,  June  23,  eiglit 
years  later.  Located  on  the  Louan  river  in  Dix(^n 
county,  and  returned  to  Dakota  City  in  186U  where  he 
has  resided  to  the  present  time,  engaged  in  tlie  dray 
business.  Has  live  childi-en  living — three  son^^,  and 
two  daughters,  and  three  children  have  died. 

M.  O.  Ay  RES  was  born  in  Lee  county,  Iowa,  and 
came  to  Dakota  county  in  1868-  Married  to  Ella 
Nevelle.  step  daughter  of  Col.  Bates.  Has  one  son, 
Edgar,  and  two  daugiiters,  Florence  and  Marion.  He 
kept  a  drn_2"  store  for  a  number  of  years  and  is  at  pres- 
ent pi'oprietor  of  the  Bank  of  Dakota  City.  He  did 
not  sit  around  and  wait  for  something  to  turn  up,  but 
he  set  his  hands  and  iu'ains  to  work  and  to-day  he  has 
something  to  sliow'  for  it. 

Samuel  A.  Comds  began  paying  his  respects  to  Da- 
kota county  on  the  10th  day  of  August,  1868.  Was 
engaged  in  the  milling  business  for  several  years  at 
Lodi  and  Jacksoi;.  Afterwai'ds  pni-chased  tlie  Frontier 
Mills^  tvv(.)  miles  south  of  lIomei',wIiei'e  he  still  resides. 


SKri'LKIi>   OF     1S«S.  Z  i  ( 

Cluiiicred  luiiue  to  ILmier  Rollei-  Mills.  Was  nuirried  to 
Martha  J.  Wirtz  in  1869  at  lliidsou.  Michigan.  Has  one 
soil,  Frank,  and  two  daughter:?,  Sarah  E.  and  Helen  E. 
Three  cdiildren  have  died.  Their  daugjiter  Jennie 
died  August  30th,  1887,  leaving  a  large  cii-cle  of 
friends  to  inoiirn  her  untimely  death.  Sam  A.  Com  Us 
was  l)orii  April  27,  1846  in  St.  Clair  county,  Michigan. 
Moved  with  parents  in  1848  to  Ontario  (bounty,  iSew 
^'t»rk,  where  he  learned  tlie  milling  trade.  Eetnrned 
to  ]\[ichigan  in  1866.  His  sojourn  in  Dakota  county 
has  l)eeii  marked  with  push  and  energy. 

Willia;m  L.  Covell  came  to  Dakota  county,  in 
1868,  and  took  a  homestead  on  Wigle  creek,  five  miles 
Southwest  of  Homer,  where  he  kept  the  Randolph 
postoffi(,-e.  After  living  in  the  county  eight  years 
ino\-ed  to  Jackson,  Michigan,  wdiere  he  now  resides. 

Lewis  Jopp  was  born  in  Germany,  and  came  to 
Dakota  county,  August  1868.  Took  a  homestead, 
where  he  lives  at  the  present  time  five  miles  east  of 
l^^merson.  Married  the  same  year.  Has  one  daughter. 
Katie.      Four  children  have  died. 

Daniel  C.  Dibule  was  born  in  Delaware  county. 
New  Yoi'k,  and  came  to  Dakota  county  in  18(58.  He 
located  upon  the  wild  prairie  land  two  miles  southwest 
of  Dakota  C'ity,  and  began  the  task  of  opening  up  a 
farm.  After  many  years  of  hai'd  work  he  has  succeed- 
ed ill  accumulating  considerable  wealth  and  has  a 
beautiful  farn^  and  home.  He  was  married  to  Jane 
Wood,  in  January,  1S61,  and  has  one  son,  "William  C. 
and  one  daughter,  Nellie.  Has  served  as  county  com- 
missioner and  has  at  all  times  assisted  in  public  enter- 
prises crtlcuiateci  to  better  the  welfai-e  of  the  county. 
PostofHce,  Dakota  City. 

Tno^EAs  J.  King  c;inie  to  Dakota  county,  Septem- 
ber 23.  11S()8,  and  tc^ok  a  homestead  on  Pigeon  c/'eek 
one  mile  southeast  of  IIubb;ird.        Married     to     M.    J. 


2(8  WARNER  S   HISTORY    OF  DAKOTA     ('OUNTY. 

Exliue  ill  Ohio,  Jaimary  20.  1859.  lliis  six  sous — 
ThoiiiMS  E.,  G.  M.,  Melville  T.,  L.  L.,  M.  U.  and  Charles 
S. ;  three  daughters — Mrs.  Flora  E.  Kaualy,  Maude  and 
Lamenta.  Eidisted  as  1st  Lienteiiant  in  Company  A. 
SMJtli  Ohio  Infantry.  Was  afterwards  trausfen-ed  to  the 
82nd  Ohio  Regiment.  Has  been  county  judge  a!id  su- 
perintendent of  public  instruction.  At  present  engaged 
in  the  hiw  business  at  South  Sioux  City. 

John  McConehey  was  born  1850,  and  came  to  ])a- 
kato  county  in  October,  1868,  Was  a  union  soldier  in 
the  Rebellion.  Lives  on  his  farm  two  miles  and  a  half 
southeast  of  Soutli  Sioux  City 

.  Dennis  Mitchell  came  to  Dakota  county  Octobei- 
13,  1868,  Jiiid  took  a  homestead  six  miles  west  of  Jack- 
son. Married  to  Catharine  Cullen  in  18()4:.  Has  two 
sons  and  one  daughter. 

Tim  Carrabine  was  born  Marcli  9th,  1851,  in  Peter- 
borough, Canada,  and  came  to  the  United  States  at  tht 
age  of  ten  years.  Came  to  Dakota  county  October  10th. 
1868.  and  was  employed  three  years  in  the  Ferry  House 
at  Covington,  after  which  he  worked  in  Reinnaman's 
store.  Bought  a  half  interest  in  Nicolas  Maher's  gro- 
eery  store  and  later  purchased  the  entire  stock.  He 
was  also  postmaster  at  that  place.  Was  married  to 
Emnnx  Davis,  a  step-daughter  of  James  Stott,  Novem- 
l)er,  2nd,  1873,  at  Dakota  City.  Moved  to  a  forty  acre 
farm, (at  jH'eseiit  1280  acres.)  in  tlie  spring  1875.  F)uijr 
a  fine  residence  in  Emerson  and  moved  thei-ein  tiie  fall 
of  1884.  Went  into  the  stock  business  in  1886.  and 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Emerson,  undei 
the  firm  name  of  Davis  &  Carrabine.  In  1887  ^vent  in- 
to the  live  stock  commission  business  in  Sioux  City. la., 
under  the  firm  name  of  Ingei-son,  Cari'abine  c^'  Lye. 
Have  one  child,  a  daughter. 

C.  ^V .  Payne  came  to  Dakota  county  in  fall  of  LS6'*''. 
and  took  a  homestead  on  Wigle  Ch'cek,  nov/  owned  by 
('hris.I>ille.      l^ivts  in  flackson.  Michio-Mii. 


SKTTLKRS  OF    186S.  ^(i* 

I1li.1i  AV.  (tai.i.A(;iikr  whs  boni  Septeiiil)er,17.185(). 
in  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania,iiu<l came  to  Da- 
kota county  March  l!~t,1868.  Was  married  to  Emma 
Antrim  Jnne  ITtli,  1882.  Haveone  son  and  t\vodan«:li- 
ters.      Lives  on  farm  three  miles  south  of  Hubbard. 

W.  I.  Bkoyiiii.i.  was  l)oi'n  in  Moni-oe  county, 
Tennessee.  Auuu&t  2i*.  1821,  and  moved  with  \\i> 
jjarents  to  Illinois  in  1830;  lived  in  a  small  cal)in  that 
v.-inter  near  Springtield,  and  while  there,  a  <;-i'eat  snow 
fell  which  was  more  than  four  feet  deep  -"on  the  level." 
Deer  was  very  plentiful  and  they  were  easily  killed 
with  clubs  as  they  would  break  through  the  snow  crust 
while  a  man  conld  walk  on  the  surface.  All  they  had 
that  winter  in  the  way  of  provisions  was  hominy  and 
venison.  VVa?  nuirried,  November  1, 1847  to  Margaret 
Hutchinson,  of  Dliio.  who  was  born  in  Kentucky.  Came 
from  l>rio;hton,  Iowa,  to  Dakota  county  July  12.  18P)9, 
nnd  took  a  homestead,  wdiich  is  now  known  as  the  Cal. 
NordyUe  farm.  Was  getting  ready  to  build  a  residence 
wlien  all  his  lumber  was  burned;  sold  his  claim  and 
moved  to  the  Wm.  Cheeney  farui.  west  of  Dakota  C^ity 
where  he  i-emained  one  year  and  six  months.  Then 
bought  the  old  Murdick  farm  (which  is  to-day  ail 
washed  away  by  the  Missouri  river,)  and  ^'wheii  1 
found"  said  Mr.  Broyhill,  "that  the  Old  Muddy  held 
a  nwi-ttrage  on  it,  and  not  wishing  to  make  a  contest 
with  the  thieving  tyrant,  I  took  advantage  of  its.  old 
frozen  carcass  and  crossed  over  to  Iowa."'  Came  back 
to  Dakota  county  in  1874;  bought  the  Geoi'ge  \yo<»tl> 
fai'm  west  of  Dakota  City,  and  after  living  there  two 
years  sold  it  and  settled  in  Dakota  City  where  he  died, 
Wednesday  December  14.  1892,  leaving  a  wife  and  six 
sons — Charley.  James,  Richard,  Lincoln,  William  and 
Frank;  three  daughters  Mrs.  Marcellus  Rean'.  Mrs. 
Chas.  Herrick  and  Ellen. 

Lawrence  Erlach  was  born  in  Austria.  Europe, 
Augnst  1.  1S88.  Received  a  liberal  classic  education 
and  graduated      at      the    Austrian     Militai-y    Nornuil. 


2(S0  Warner's  history  of  dako'ia   rorNTV. 

Afterwards  served  as  seeoiul  and  first  Lienreuant  in 
tiie  Austrian  army,  and  fouijjht  in  tlie  oi-cjit  Itattle  of 
(yiistozza,  Italy.  Arrived  in  Aniei'ica  December  '2:2. 
1866  and  settled  on  a  I'ai'm  near  IlnUh.ird  two  years 
later  where  he  lias  since  resided.  Was  mai-ried  to 
Sara!)  McCormick,  at  Jackson,  May  29,  I86U.  and  has 
ti\e  sons  and  six  danghters;  Robert  Lawi'enee. 
Micliael  Thomas.  Jjhn.  Sarali,  Josephine,  Martha. 
Thei-esa,  Helen  and  Knth.  One  child  died.  In  speak- 
ing of  his  settlement  in  America  he  said:  ''I  havt^ 
nevei-,  as  yet,  regretted  the  day  when  I  became  a  citi- 
zen of  tlie  grandest  and  strongest  and  best  Repnbbc  on 
earth."  Be  has  composed  a  number  of  poems,  some 
of  which  have  atti-acted  more  than  local  attenti<;>u 
among  these  is  the  following: 

VER.VAL  THOUGHTS. 


15right  is  the  orb  of  day, 
Merrj^  the  birds  on  the  spray, 

While  the  kine  on  the  prairie , 
And  the  maid  in  the  dairy. 
Each  with  its  reason 
Welcome  the  season. 

Glorious  Spring!     Who  would  decline 
In  thee  to  behold    a    power  divine, 

That  paints  the  plain  green 
With  pencil  unseen, 
Arraigning  *-liobs"'  speeches 
As  sad  moral  leeches. 

Behold  that  feathery  throng 
Chirping  your  shade  trees  among! 

Take  leave  from  your  book. 
Step  out  to  the  brook, 
Which  murmurs  in  tjlee 
because  of  being  set  free. 

Well  may  our  time  honored  race. 
Freed  by  God's  and  Washington's  grace, 
IJemember  each  Spring 
'I'heir  broken  chains  cling 
And  join  in  the  laughter 
Of  freed  rivers  hereafter, 

LaWRKNCE  EKLACrB. 


SKTLKliS  OF   ISH'J.  281 

SETTLERS  O.E  186VI. 

Pf.tku  Rrsii  \v;!s  born  Febrnui-y  :2.  183-i,  in  Ii'e- 
land,  couiitj  of  Tyrone,  and  came  to  America  and  set- 
tled ill  Illinois.  Located  in  Dakota  county  March  L7. 
1869,  and  took  a  homestead  in  Summit  precinct,  where 
he  lias  resided  with  his  family  to  the  present  time,  seven 
miles  west  of  Jackson.  Was  married  June  15,  1861. 
to  Ann  Bnrte,  Jo  Daviess  county,  Illinois.  His  wife 
<lied  in  1885  leaving  ten  children — six  sons,  Daniel. 
Thomas,  John,  Peter,  Charles  and  Francis;  and  four 
daughters — Magxrie  Ann,  Lizzie,  Ella  and  Katie.  The 
latter  died  in  January,  1890. 

James  Rush  was  born  in  1833,in  Ireland,an<l  came 
to  111.,  where  he  enlisted  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion. 
Married  to  Cathai-ine  Burte,  and  came  to  Dakota 
county,  March  17,  1861).  Took  ■  a  homestead  seven 
miles  west  of  Jackson  where  he  has  i-esided  to  the 
present  time. 

William  P.  Altemus  was  bi.rn  April  19,  1838,  in 
Indiana  county,  Pennsylvania.  Enlisted  in  the  war 
for  the  Union,  in  1861.  and  served  to  its  close.  He 
beloncyed  to  the  12th  Pennsylvania,  reserve.  Company 
IT.  and  was  wounded  at  Richmond  in  1862.  Came  to 
Dakota  county  April  1,  1869,  and  bonght  Kelly  W. 
Fi-azer's  blacksmith  shop,  which  stood  on  the  cornei-  of 
Walnut  and  1-lth  streets.  Since  engaged  in  mercantile 
^nsiness  and  at  present  lives  on  his  farm  two  miles  due 
L^outll  of  Dakota  City.  Married  to  Nanie  M.  Hugh, 
March  4,  18()9,  in  Pennsylvania.  Has  four  childr*3n. 
<jnie  son  and  three  daughters, 

('ooK  D.  Critchfield  was  born  in  Holmes  county. 
Ohio,  1849,  and  came  to  Dakota  county.  May  23,  1869. 
Was  married  to  Lilly  Dalt(m  August  27,  1879.  In 
March,  1886,  moved  on  a  farm  in  western  part  of  the 
^^ounty,  in  Pigeon  creek  precinct  on  Elk  Creek  where 
he  i-ei^'ides  at  the  present  time. 


28™  Warner's  history  of  Dakota    couN'rv. 

.loiiN  H.  V,.  CovKij.  wus  l)oni  Sei)teinl>(M'  10.  1837. 
ill  New  ^'ork.  and  came  to  J,)akota  couiitv.  rjiiiie  2rt. 
1S(;U.  Took  a  homestead  six  ii'iles  southwest  of 
[Joitier,  whei'e  lie  lives  to  the  prestait  time.  Was  inai"- 
ried  to  Jane  W.  George  at  Brooklyn.  ?^ew  York,  in 
18()5.  Has  three  sons,  Wni.  X.,  Frank  and  Harry; 
three  danohters.  liosa  W..  Neliie  E.  and  Klhi  A. 
Their  ehlest  danghtei-  is  dead.  Was  twice  elected 
assessor  for  ()madi  precinct. 

A.  11.  AND  ('.  J.  XoRDYKK,  two  hi'othei's  canie  to 
Dakota  county  from  Iowa  in  18(51*,  and  took  homesteads 
i»n  KIk  creek.  A.  H.  was  killed  hy  the  cai's  in  southern 
Nebraska,  December  18,  1888-  His  wife  and  seven  chil- 
dren are  still  living  in  the  county.  ('.  J.  is  living  in 
Sioux  City.  Iowa. 

Frkdkkiok  IjANGe  came  to  Dakota  county  in  18()9, 
and  took  a  liomestead  on  Wigle  creek.  He  and  his  \vile 
are  both  dead.  There  are  six  (diildren  living — Joseph 
and  five  danghtei's. 

Fred  Ui.ume  was  born  in  1855.  in  Prussia,  aiid 
came  to  America,  settling  in  Dakota  county  July  9, 
18()9.  I^xiught  a  farm  of  Dave  Shull,  four  miles  aid 
a  half  noi'theast  of  Emerson,  whei-e  he  lives  at  thepi-esent 
time 

J.  X.  1I.\M1LT0N  was  born  Xoveniber  7,  1832,  in 
HIair  countv,  Pennsylvania,  ('ame  to  Dakota  county 
■June  7,  18()9,  and  was  mai'ried  to  Mary  Lapsley  thi-ee 
days  later.  Went  to  Pennsylvania,  i-etiir-ned  and  set- 
tled ill  the  county  April  29,  1879.  Operated  saw 
mill  and  threshing  machine  and  a  store  all  in  Dakota 
cminty.      lias  six  children,  all  daughters. 

Richard  D.  Rockwell  came  to  Dakota  county. 
August  1S()*I.  Married  in  1873  to  Susan  Myei's.  Has 
two  sons  anil  two  daughters.  One  child  died.  Post- 
office.  Hubbard. 

Calei:  Lane  came  to  Dakota     ci-unty     Septembei-. 


I 


s?:ttlers  of  1869.  283 

18(59,  and  settled  in  Oiiiadi  precinct.  Married  to 
Dina  Lanipson  in  1871.  Has  fonr  sons,  and  three 
daughters,  Anna,  Dora  Belle,  Edward  Caleb,  Frank, 
Susan  May,  Dallas  and  Albert.  One  child  died. 
PostofHce  address,  Flonnioy. 

James  Mitchkll  came  to  Dakota  county,  October, 
18()9,  and  took  a  homestead  on  Elk  creek.  Moved  to 
Richland,  Iowa.      Has  seven  children. 

Gkorge  W.  Rockwell  drove  off  of  the  ferry  boat 
at  Covington,  with  his  family,  ISTovember  10,  1869, 
and  settled  on  a  farm  three  miles  west  of  Homer, 
where  lie  still  resides,  on  Fiddlers  creek.  He  was  born 
September,  16,  1836,  in  Ohio.  Was  married  to  Eliza- 
beth Widner,  November,  2,  1859,  in  Indiana.  Has 
three  sons,  Louis  V.,  Wm.  H.  and  Freeman  A.;  two 
daughters,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Bruce  and  Mrs.  Minnie  A. 
Hruce. 

Stephen  Joyce  came  to  Dakota  county,  December 
3,  1869.  Married  July  17,  1877,  to  Renora  Rush, 
Kelly  W.  Frazer  officiating.  Has  two  sons  and  two 
daughters.  Lives  two  miles  and  a  half  west  of  Dako- 
ta City. 

WvcoFF  Ensdekby  was  born  in  1849,  in  Vanburen 
county,  Iowa,  and  came  to  Dakota  county  in  the  win- 
ter of' 1869.  Was  married  to  Elizabeth  Haunchild, 
December  11,  1870.  at  Dakota  City,  by  Kelly  W. 
Frazer.  Has  two  sons.  He  is  at  present  living  in 
Homer. 

SETTLERS  OF  1870. 

Van  Harden  came  to  Dakota  county,  January  14, 
1870.  Married  May  8.  1872  to  Esther  Slott.  Has 
two  daughters — Ada  M.  and  Maud  M. 

Patrick  Hogan  came  to  Dakota  county,  January, 
1870,  and  lives  three  miles  west     of     Hubbard.        Has 


284  WAKNEU'S   HISTORY   OF   DAKOTA   COUNTY. 

two  sons — James  and  John;  i'ouv  daughters  — 
Mrs.  Julia  Cerwiii.  Mrs.  Mary  Deloiigiirey.  Mrs.  Anna 
Hy-du  and  Mrs.   Fitzsimmon. 

Scott  Duncan  was  born  in  1841)  in  Pennsylvaiii.i 
and  came  to  Dakota  county  March  11.  1870,  settled  m 
Dakota  City  where  he  has  lived  to  the  present  time. 
Married  to  America  McPherson  in  1877.  Has  two 
children,  both  daughters.  Rendered  valuable  assist- 
ance to  the  people  in  the  great  flood  of  1S81. 

Seth  Barnes  came  to  Dakota  county,  M;irch  13. 
1870,  and  took  a  homestead  between  Wigle  and  Fid- 
dlers creeks.  ]\[arried  in  1868  to  Mary  E.  Buckland. 
Have  one  step  son,  William  Buckland. 

Oscar  H.  Lake  was  born  September  ll),  1841». 
and  came  to  Dakota  county,  ]\Iarch  3,  1870.  Took  a 
homestead  on  Fiddlers  creek.  Was  married  to 
Meroah  I.  Oepburn  in  1870.  Has  five  sons  and  one 
daughter.      Postofiice  Homer. 

Mitchell  Heath  was  born  in  Cobit.  Yei-mont 
in  1807,  and  came  to  Covington.  Nebraska,  in  1870. 
wliere  he  died  Marcli  29,  twelve  years  later  and  was 
buried  in  the  Dakota  City  cemetery.  Was  the  father 
of  Dr.  C.  P.  Heath,  Mrs.  E.  E.  Parker,  Mrs  Do'v  and 
Mrs.  Ferrand 

James  Knox  was  born  May  1st,  1840,  in  Tyrone 
county,  Ireland.  Came  to  America,  arriving  in  Dako- 
ta county,  September  yUi,  1870,  and  located  on  Elk 
creek  valley,  where  he  took  a  homestead,  proved  upon 
it,  and  has  since  resided  there.  Has  been  Justice  of 
the  Peace.  Notary  Public  and  postmaster  at  Elk  Val- 
ley Postofiice.  Was  mari'ied  in  Ireland.  Has  eight 
children. 

Samuel  Osman  was  born  April  11,  1815,  in 
Pennsylvania.  Was  married  in  his  native  state,  Imt 
liis  wife  died;  two  sons  survive  her — Win.  A.  and  H. 
H.  Osu)an.      Married  a  second  time  in  the  same    state. 


SETTLERS  OF   187(1.  285 

tu  Elizji  Lauihoin.  Owin^-  to  the  f;iiliii<.;'  health  of  Mrs. 
<  )siii;ui  he  sought  the  genial  hiiul  of  Nebraska,  laiulinu' 
ill  Dakota  county,  April  1,  1870.  Mrs.  Osman  was 
appointed  postmaster  at  Covington  May  10.  1876,  :hi(] 
i-esignc(l  September  20,  1S80.  Moved  \o  Dakota  City 
St'pteinber  1889,  where  Mr.  Osnian  died. 

Albert  Lake  was  born  Febriiai'y  22,  1845,  in 
San  ford,  Vermont,  and  came  to  Dakota  county,  May 
1870.  Settled  on  Wii^le  creek,  where  lie  has  remained 
to  the  pi-esent  time.  Was  married  to  Sophia  L.  Jones 
and  has  seven  cliildren. 

Ma.i.  S  R.  Cowles  was  born  Octol)er  28,  1828  in 
llamsiiire  county,  Massachusetts.  Married  in  1840  to 
Elvira  Johnson.  Has  one  daughter.  Enlisted  in  the 
Union  army  in  1862,  and  was  commissioned  by  the 
Governor  of  New  York  as  captain  of  company  fj.,  10th 
New  York  heavy  artillery.  Promoted  to  Major  in 
1864.  After  the  war  caitie  to  Iowa  and  then  to  Dako- 
ta county,  arriving  here  in  May  1870.  Located  in 
Covington,  where  he  was  employed  as  engineei',  pilot 
and  captain  of  steamboats  on  the  Missouri  river. 
Postotfice,  South  Sioux  City. 

O.  D.  Bates  came  to  Dakota  county,  June  1, 
1870.  and  took  a  homestead  on  Fiddlers  creek,  in 
section  13,  townsliip  27,  range  7  Has  four  sons,  and 
one  step-son,  Eugene  Kraber.  Was  a  union  so'dier  in 
the  Rebellion. 

D.  NiGGERMAN  was  1)orn  in  (irermany,  October  5 
1832.  and  arrived  in  Dakota  county,  June  18,  1870 
Married  to  Caroline  Berger  in  1871,  and  settled  west 
<d"  Dakota  City  where  he  now  resides,  on  a  good  sub- 
stantial farm. 

F.  Stolze  was  born  September  26,  1830  in  Ger- 
many. Married  May  21,  1865  to  Maria  T^mbert.  Has 
three  sons,  Hernuin.  Cliarles  and  Henry.  Came  to  Da- 
kota county.  August  5,  1870.  Postoliice  addre.ss, 
Emerson. 


286  WABNEit's   HISTORY   OV    DAKOTA   COUNTY. 

Frank  Aykks  was  born  Febi-nary  5tb,  1832,  in  St. 
Cliarlefe  county,  Missouri.  Went  with  his  parents  to 
Ft.  Madison,  Lee  county.  Iowa.  His  father  was  one  of 
the  oldest  settlers  and  helped  to  build,  the  fort  ai  that 
place.  Went  to  California  and  returned  to  Ft.  Madi- 
son in  1859.  In  November,  1861,  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany G,  4th  Iowa  cavalry  and  was  mustered  out  of  the; 
service  in  July,  1862.  Was  mari-ied  to  Harriet  A. 
Elder,  November,  18th,  of  the  same  year,  at  Ft.  Mad- 
ison, Iowa.  Has  four  children  living,  and  one  dead. 
Came  to  Dakota  county,  Septetnber  2nd,  1870.  'H'd  lo- 
cated in  Brush  Bend,  where  he  worked  in  his  brother. 
Ebenezer's  saw  mill  situated  on  the  Island.  He  took  a 
homestead  in  Brushy  Bend.  Helped  to  organize  the 
Crittenden  G.  A.  R.  Post,  No.  64,  at  Dakota  City. 
Postoffice,  Dakota  City. 

Harvey'  D.  Nordyke  came  to  Dakota  county 
October  1,  1870,  and  located  in  Dakota  City,  where  he 
has  resided  to  the  present  time.  Was  married  to 
Catharine  Twamly,  Deceml)er  4,  1878.  Has  two 
children,  Helen  and   Mary  B. 

Hon.  Isaac  Powers  was  born  in  Lenawee  county, 
Michigan,  and  came  to  Dakota  county,  in  1870.  where 
he  practiced  law.  In  1875  was  a  member  of  the  con- 
stitutional convention,  was  member  of  state  Senate  in 
in  1877,  also  in  1881;  elected  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Regents  of  the  State  University,  and  aftei- 
wards  elected  Attorney  General  for  Nebraska.  Is  "at 
present  living  in  Norfolk,   Nebraska. 

John  P.  Smith  was  born  October  9,  1820,  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  Dakota  county,  October  6- 
1870.  Took  a  homestead  on  Pigeon  creek,  where  -lie 
lives  at  the  present  time,  four  miles  west  of  Hoiner. 
Has  seven  children — four  sons  and  three  daui^hters. 

Frederick  Bekrmann  was  born  October  23,  184(5. 
in  Germany,  and  came  to  Dakota  county.  October  18. 
1870.     Married  in  1872  to  Anna  H.  Ambrecht.       Has 


SKITLERS  OF    ISTl.  287 

three  soi;fcCli;irlej,  Fredei-ick  and  Erici-::  three 
(l;iuo;hters--Ida  Etta  and  Lillie.  Lives  live  miles  west 
(.»f  Dakota  City. 

SKITTERS  OF  1871. 

MicHAKL  Fague  came  to  Dakota,  county,  Marcli  (J. 
1S71.  Lives  in  Covincrton.  Married  a  second  time  in 
i'n trier  connty,  Iowa.  Has  two  cliihiren  livini;  and 
r.mr  dead. 

Samuel  Dkering  was  born  in  1846  in  Juniata 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  Dakota  county 
AFirch  17,  1871.  Took  a  homestead  the  same  year, 
four  miles  bontli  of  Dakota  City,  now  owned  i.y  A.  J. 
Parker.  The  Lewis  and  Clarke  expedition  up  the 
Missouri,  camped  seven  days  on  this  place.  Was  mar 
ried  to  Ilannali  C.  Aiigliey,  in  Pennsylvania,  1863. 
Has  one  daughter,  Mrs.  Belle  Davidson.  Theii-  only 
son  died. 

Henky  Xiebuuk,  Sr.,  came  to  Dakota  county,  in 
1869.  and  located  in  Dakota  City  two  years  later.  His 
wife  (lied  in  1876,  aiul  he  followed  her  to  thy  silent  land 
January  4,  1884.  He  left  three  children,  two  s-iuis 
and  one  dauijhter.  All  married.  Henry  Jr.  and  George 
each  married  dauo^hters"  of  John  Naffziger.  The 
dauii^hter.  Dora,  is  married  to  Ashly   Londrosh. 

OsiAR  B.  Weustek  was  born  March  26^  1848,  in 
liliuois.  and  came  to  Dakota  countv,  March  28,  1871. 
i't'itk  a  homestead  on  Fiddlers  creek,  where  he  has  re- 
^ided  to  the  present  time.  Was  nuirried  to  E.  A. 
uam.-ey,  in  1869,  anil  has  two  children  —  one  son  and 
one  danghtei'. 

William  Walway  was  bcrn  in  1844,  in  Ger- 
m-iny,  and  came  to  Dalc(»ta  county,  in  the  spring  of 
1871.  Was  uuiri-ied  the  same  year  at  Dakota  City,  to 
Henrietta  Oetsmyer.      Has  five  sous  and  two  dauohters. 


288  Warner's  history  ok  Dakota   (;ountv. 

His  Ijrother  Frederick  lived  here  five    year?,  ami  died  in 
Council  Blntt's,  wliere  his  four  children  live. 

Christopher  Irwin  began  life  in  Dakoti  county 
at  Covington,  April  14,  1871,  where  he  resides  at  tiie 
j)resent  time.  Married  in  186.2  to  Amelia  A.  Dilley. 
Had  one  son  who  was  accidently  shot  and  killed  near 
Covington.  Has  been  Justice  of  the  Peace  fur  Coving- 
tun    precinct. 

John  D.  Mann  was  Ijorn  in  Scotland  in  1838, 
and  came  to  America  A.ugust  20,  1854.  Seeking  a 
home  in  the  "far  west."  he  landed  in  Dakota  county. 
;it  Covington,  May  2,  1871,  whei'e  he  remained  two 
years  when  he  moved  to  Jackson  and  conducted  the 
grist  mill  there  until  March  28,  1872.  He  tlien 
moved  to  Burt  county,  Nebraska,  where  he  lias  lived  to 
tiie  p'-esent  time.  Lived  on  a  farm  for  a  number  of 
yeai-6  l)ut  is  now  residing  in  Lyons.  AVas  uicii-j-ied  to 
.vlary  Sharp  in  1856,  in  Ontario,  Canada.  Has  six 
children  living,  Helen,  wife  of  Walter  Everett,  Wm. 
A.,  Henry,  Charles,  George  and  Isabella  Aiueiia. 
wife  of  Eugene  Everett,  died  in  Lyons  in  1893 

Nicolas  Maher  was  born  in  Irehmd.  March  28, 
14'' 7,  and  came  to  Dakota  county,  May  5,  187L 
S<  tried  in  Covington,  where  he  resides  at  the  present, 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business.  Married  in  Sioux 
City,  the  same  year,  to  Agnes  O'Brien.  Has  three 
children  living — two  sons,  VVm.  B.  and  Loyola,  an(i 
one  daughter,  Mary  Agnes.  Was  elected  Sheriff,  served 
o\er  eight  years  in  that  office. 

Anders  Larson,  was  born  in  1831,  in  Deinuai-k. 
and  came  to  Dakota  county,  in  May  1871.  j'otdc  a 
homestead  thi'ee  miles  southeast  of  Homer,  and  one 
mile  and  a  half  south  of  Col.  Warner's  place.  xAfter- 
wards  sold  his  farm  and  mo^ed  to  Battle  Creek,  a  ti-ib 
ntary  to  Omaha  creek,  so  named  by  William  Hols- 
worth,  because  two  men  Colter  and   Hartmeii  once    met 


SKTTLKKS   OK      IhTl.  ~S'-I 

il.cre  ill  :i  .^;;rgiiii)a)  y  contiict.      ]Ii>  .^tcji-^cni  C'ui-l   al.-o 
lives  vu  this  stream  just  iioi'tli  o\'  liiin. 

1Ik/i<.ki,\ii  "Way  was  boiii  X(,\eiiiler  '2.\K  l^:i~  in 
Indiana.  Was  niai'i'ied  in  Cass  eouiitv.  Nelirar-iva.  lo 
Sarah  M.  Davidson,  and  eanie  to  Jjakota  eonnty  -luin' 
17,  1871.  (Jamped  on  the  site  of  South  Sioux  Titv. 
Took  a  homestead  on  nortli  I)i'ancli  of  Klk  ereek,  wheic 
lie  lias  since  I'esided.  Has  nine  chiUlren  li\iii<^  iwo 
sons,  Frank  and  Enmti  J.;  and  seven  daughters.  Mrs. 
Elizabetli  Linefelter,  Mrs.  Ann  Ilerrick,  Mrs.  lletiie 
Sur1)er.  Emma,  Mary,  Katie  and  Martiia. 

Julius  MksskiNiioelkr  was  Ixirn  Maieh  ;U,  lb;]'.), 
in  West  Khalia  Province,  Gernuiny.  Came  to  Amer- 
ica and  located  in  Dakota  county,  in  1871.  Eugaijcd 
with  A.  T.  llaase  in  the  carpenter  tiade.  and  tritd 
farming  eight  years.  Sold  Farm  and  went  to  contract- 
ing and  building.      Postoffice  Dakota  City. 

Henry  Oetsmykr  was  born  in  Germany  and  cane  lo 
Dakota  county,  July  4.  1871.  Took  a  liomestcad  i/ii 
Fiddlers  f-reek.  Now  lives  three  miles  r.oitli  ot  lie  lut  r. 
Mari'ied  in  18(17,  to  Augusta  Ijiinkmann.  Has  three- 
sons  and  four  daughters  liviuu'.      One  ehild  died. 

John  T.  Spencer  was  bom  in  Crawford  coiinly. 
Pennsylvania,  June  24,  1844,  on  a  faini.  After  leavini;- 
the  common  school  he  prepaied  for  collei:e  at  the  Siaic 
^'ormal  School,  Edmboro,  Pennsylvania,  and  gradiiateil 
at  Alleoheney  CoEege,  Meadville,  Pennsylvania.  Juno 
t23,  IS'lO.  Was  principal  of  the  Union  Schcol.  at 
Sherman,  New  loik.  one  year,  in  the  mtan  time 
studying  law.  Came  to  Dakota  county,  Septemljcr  P.). 
1871,  and  settled  in  Dakota  City  wlie:e  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  that  tall.  Todk  chaige  of  the  Dakota 
City  Mail  in  1874  and  tdittd  tiiat  jajer  four  ^eais. 
Jn  1874  was  appoin1(d  I'.  S.  Circuit  Court  Comllli^ 
sioner,  which  j)osition  i)e  still  holds.  In  lb87  was  ap- 
pointed a  iiu  mber  of  the  P'oard   of     Education     ot    tlie 


290  waknek's  msToin   ofdakoia   colniv. 

State  2s^ or mal  Sell 00 1,  which  prjsitioii  he  also  retain-. 
Became  Superintendent  of  the  Industrial  sclmol  --r  ri  c 
Winnebago  Agency,  where  he  remajntd  two  Yt;'i>. 
Assumed  charge  of  the  North  Nebraska  Eagli!.  ;i> 
responsible  editor,  April  2,  1882.  having  pnirliaMM! 
one-half  interest  of  the  paper.  Was  ujai-ried  Sejjreni- 
ber  13.  1871,  to  Miss  Etta  Mershou,  a  graduate  of  ili.- 
State  Normal  School,  Ediuboro.  Peunsyh'aiii:i,  wlio  h,  d 
been  principal  of  the  Dakota  City  schools  live  vc'nis. 
They  have  seven  children,  thi-ee  sons — .lames  M.  (rnig 
L.  and  John;  four  daughters — Helen  E.  Maiy,  Malx  1 
Claire  and  Mildred  J. 

John  Orr  was  l»orn  Decembei-  11.  1842.  in 
Milton,  Halton  county,  Canada.  Came  to  the  United. 
States  and  landed  in  Dakota  county,  in  the  fall  of  I'STl 
and  so  pleased  was  he  with  ''this  o:arilen  of  IvleiT'  that 
he  permanently  settled  at  Dakota  City,  two  years  later. 
where  he  has  remained  to  the  present  tin)e,  engaged  in 
farming  and  stock  business.  Has  a  good  farm  norti  - 
west  of  Dakota  City  and  a  meadow  and  hav  land  south 
of  the  same  tow?i.  Was  mai-ried  to  Eva  Harden.  July 
18.  1881,  by  Kev.  Joel  A.  Smith. 

John  H.  Campbell  came  to  Dakota  counry.  No- 
vember 1S71,  and  took  a  liomestead  wliei-e  he  im)V.- 
lives  six  miles  southwest  of  Jackson.  Married  in  l^.jS 
to  Elizabeth  Ann  Colter.  Has  ten  children — sevt-n 
sons  and  three  daughters — all  living  in  Dakota  coniry 
but  three. 

Dr.  E.  J.  DkIjkll  is  a  native  of  Crreen  county. 
New  York.  In  186(5  he  commenctd  the  stll(I^  ol' 
niedicine  and  graduated  at  the  x\lbany.  New  VoiK. 
Medical  College  three  years  later.  He  then  went  to 
Illinois  and  came  to  Dakota  county  in  1871.  whtie  he 
was  appointed  as  United  States  Physician  at  AVinne- 
bago  Agency.  Aftei-wards  held  the  same  j)osition  at 
Pine  Ridjre  Apency,  I).  T.      Moved  to  Dakota  C\t\    in 


mi.  E.  J.  dkhkll. 


SETTLERS   OF    1872.  2l»3 

1879  and  practiced  medicine.  Was  married  to  Miss 
Nellie  Warner,  January  9,  1873.  She  died  at  Lyons 
NeUraska,  Septeinber  8,  1892,  leaving  a  husband  .  and 
three  daughters, -Georgia.  Florojice  and  Nellie.  He  is 
at  pi-esent  post  trader  at  Rosebud  Agency,  South 
Dakota. 

John  B.  Rockwell  was  born  in  1824  and  came 
tVom  Indiana  to  Dakota  county,  in  1871.  Died  at  liis 
home  in  the  southern  part  of  the  county,  Septemi)er 
l'^,  1884,  leaving  a  wife  and  six  children  to  niourn  his 
sudden  departure  to  a  purer  and  better  laud.  There 
are  three  sons — Richard  D.,  Stephen  and  JeH'erson; 
three  daughters — Mrs.  John  Welker,  Mrs.  All)ert 
I'etei'son  and  Mi's.  Wni,  Walters. 

William  Brown  was  born  December  27,  1828, 
in  llarrisburg,  Pennsylvania.  J\loved  to  Juniata 
county,  1835.  Served  as  brakenian  on  the  first  rail- 
road between  Columbia  and  Philadelphia,  and  continu- 
ed in  the  railroad  service  for  many  years  as  fireman, 
conductor,  etc.  In  1871  came  to  Dakota  county  to 
look  up  a  home.  Settled  on  the  bottom  southeast  of 
Dakota  City  where  he  resides  at  the  present  time. 
Was  elected  county  cotninissioner  in  1884  and  re-elect- 
ed in  1887-  Ilii^  six  children  living,  Samuel  A., Wesley, 
Mrs.  Jacob  Leamer,  Mrs.  Irvine  Fisher,  Frank  P.  and 
Harry. 

Franklik  Dunnell  came  to  Dakota  county  in 
the  fall  of  1871  and  took  a  homestead  on  Omaha  creek 
three  miles  south  of  Homer,  afterwards  settling  on 
Fiddlers  creek.  He  was  married  to  Mary  A  Kimball 
in  Massachusetts  and  they  have  four  children,  Mrs. 
.lennieS.  Harrington,  Mrs.  Wm.  A.  Kimball,  Geo.  F. 
and  l''i'edcrick  L.,  and  ;>ne  adopted  child  Leslie  Siici- 
man   Churchill, 

SETTLERS  OF  1872. 

I)k\ILL(>  KxaiM'  was  born  February     9,  181j,    i:i 


294  Warner's  histciry  of  Dakota  county. 

J\tcHeiiry  county,  Illinois.  Enlisted  in  Conipany  i). 
15th  Illinois  Infanti-y,  afterwards  joined  the  65tli 
Vol.  Infantry.  Taken  a  prisoner  at  Harpers  Ferry  and 
paroled  the  next  day;  exchanged  for  rebel  soldier  the 
following  spring.  Was  shot  in  left  leg,  July  U,  1803. 
which  necessitated  its  amputation.  Remained  in  hos- 
pital until  close  of  the  war.  Married  to  Synthia  How- 
ard in  1869,  in  Linn  county.  Wisconsin.  Canie  to 
Dakota  county,  April  4,  1872,  and  took  a  homestead 
on  Fiddlers  creek,  where  he  lived  live  years,  when  he 
l»i-ought  his  family  to  Dakota  City,  whei-e  he  operated 
a  wagon  shop,  etc.  Has  two  children — Daniel  and 
Stella      PostotKce,  Knoxville,  Tennessee. 

Hiram  Gray  was  born  in  Oanada,  Decembei-  9. 
1849  rind  came  to  Dakota  county,  April  9,  1872.  Was 
mai-ried  to  Miss  Fannie  Ilazlegi'ove,  and  they  have 
rliree  children — Nellie.  Harry  and  Charley.  P.  O.  ad- 
dress Dakota  City. 

OwKN  MgIntyre  was  born  in  Ireland  and  came  to 
America  1848.  Settled  in  Dakota  county  May  25,1872. 
in  Summit  precinct.  Was  married  to  Elizabeth  Nichols 
in  Ireland.  There  are  six  children  living  and  one  dead. 
Three  sons — John,  Owen  and  James  P.;  three  daught- 
ors--Mai'y  Ann,  Mrs.  Cathaiine  Heenan  and  Mrs.  M. 
M.  Beacom. 

Geo.  C.  Bille  was  born  in  Denmark.  July  5, 
1858.  Arrived  in  Dakota  county  in  June,  1872.  Mar- 
ried Anna  C.  Nelson  Septeml)er''30.  1876.  He  then  set- 
tled on  the  farm  where  lie  still  resides.  Has  two  sons 
and  five  daughters — Alice,  Matilda,  Julia,  Mary,  Elsie. 
Max  and  John.  Two  daughters  died  with  diphtheria. 
Mr.  Bille  has  one  of  the  best  improved  farms  in  what 
is  called  the  hills  on  Wigle  creek.  Has  a  large  house, 
built  of  stone  which  he  quarried  and  did  all  of  his  own 
MiMsonry  work.      Has  a  tine  barn  by  his  own  labor. 

Mn  HAKr,  MrrcMKLi,  came   to    Dakota    county    June 


'■K  187:..  ;•;!(!  ton'c  ;j,  li():ii'.'.>Leii;l  I'onr  miie.-^  ^(_)lllllu■(^-^ 
..M*  j';i('l<S()ii .  \V:is  i!i;Ui'i(;(l  ;i  t^ecoiid  lime  to  Mi\r\ 
l^'plTrTJ- V.      Has  fowl-  sons  xii'l  ()i;f  daiijilitc:'. 

Jo:!N  II.  Pki :-::■■!■  (Mino  to  Dakot;,  county,  July  1, 
1S7:2.  :u:'.l  tool<  ;l  hoiiic.s'e;^!  on  Wi^^le  creek , 'w lit; re  lie 
<lieil.  Iciivino  ft'iir  sons  — ,;oli;i  Henry.  Alljci't,  initlier 
!■:.  ;;n(l  i-"r;ink;  tliree  <!;;ngiiter.- ,  Mrs.  8eili  l;:irnes. 
Ahv.   Ailiert  Lake  a-d  Mr..  J  .  .1.  Spooner. 

l-"i;.\Ni;  Davkv  wms  hojni  .June'),  fool,  in  Miiwnin 
kcc,  \Visconsin.  Uauie  to  Daicot  i  countv.  -Inly  IN. 
1612.  Married  to  ]\[ary  nari'y.  NovcnnU^n-'  VI.  '\^1^. 
Has  two  son-  arid  two  d  ;r:.;'!i:er.-..  One  child.  dic(K  H'e 
is  k--'ei)ii:o-  a  store  in  ._hic!'C~on,  an.'d  was  elec^ed  Ircar-urer 
of   Dakoia  countv,  r<o\-ee,;  i)er  7,    l^-'oo. 

KoinoiiT  C'A^[r];!-::.r>  -A'as  Imrn  -laniM!-\-  2.    1818,     in 
Sr.)tland.  and  can)e  to  America  \'.-i;!i  ids     j)aienr>,     set- 
tliin'-  on  tlie  i'eil   KivLM- of  riie    North.       Went     to     illi 
nois  aird  cann.'  V>  l.).d:ora  count',-  in   1^72.      Seiected  tlie 
j)hice  wliere  he  has  i-esided  to  ;.  nt     rime,     four 

udles  soutji  of  linhh:inlon  Pi;,  .  .  .  i..  wdiicii  is  a 
neat  coinforiahle  honie.  lias  heiiJ  a,  niimb'jr  u[  ofdces 
in  the  county,  sneli  as  c 'roner.  as,'es■^ol■,  ju:-tice  ok  liie 
j)eace,  elc.  Was  niaiaied  Hdy  1.  1847,  i"  ■'"  Davies.-^. 
Illiiiui.^,  to  ^^nerva.  Vv.  Crai^-.  wiiose  mother  was  the 
o-reat-ixrand-danolitcr  ok  Haidel  Poone.  'idiey  have  ten 
idiihh'en.  live  si-ns  ■  [^ohcrt  Arilinr,  dames  A..  AVm. 
A..  Daviii  A.  and  hhmitd  Hoone;  Hn<i  ilve  <iauuhters-- 
:\frs  Wm.  H.  (dnnnnan,  Mrs.  Wash  !.,-edo;n.  Mrs.  A. 
d.  i)-v:-.    Mrs.    Sol.nm.n     DeBonIo     ;  '::-..     Frank 


ilAUinso.x  S  vyi-K  (M-o-sed  li:e  riser  ;iL  Covdnoton. 
Bc})temii<'r  '2iK  ]S7'2.  Took  a.  homestead  ill  Di.xon 
c.onniy,  aiuj  se'.tk^i  in  DalvOta  county  si.xieen  yt-'ars  hi- 
ter.  'Poslwii'.e.  Hakoni,  riry.  Has"  live  son^ 'and  two 
di.iu<,>iit:'r.^.  ]-hiiisted  in  c(mii)anY  (h  18;li,  "Wisconsin 
jid'anri-y,  in  fakl  ol  18o2,  and  sei'vcd  to  liie  ch:je  (d'  war. 

JH;>;kv  Loo.mi>^  was  hoini  July  20,  18o6.  in  Oswei^f) 


'2U(»  WaKMOkV    llis'l'di;^-    UKDAKO'IA     CorNTV. 

cniuit}',  ?Ve\v -lei'seA-.  Aluvrd  i,.  Iliiiiois  \vli"re  he  was 
mari'ied  to  Siisnii  AI.  Sraiifoi-d,  April  7,  1S56-  Caiiu' 
to  Dakota  <-oiii,tY.  Sc])teiiil)ei-  81,  1872.  and  took  ;; 
lioniesri'ud  on  Piy-eon  ci'eek.  Afterwai'ds  ipoved  to 
lionicr.  Has  held  the  oliice  of  conin^v  romniissioiier. 
justice  of  the  peace. road  >u[)ervisor  and  town  trustee  fer 
'llonier.  Was  a,  Tniou  soldier  in  the  Kehellion.  Has 
two  sons — Euijene  II.  and  llirani  Leoiiaid;  three' 
danj^hrers  — Mns.  Martha  Pric.r.  Sadie  J.  a;;d  Pho^l)ia 
Etta. 

Patriciv  IIeknkv  came  to  Dakota  eonnry  in  1872 
IJas  two  cri'owii  sons  and  one  danoliter— Mrs.  Joiin 
Mclntyi-e.  James  lieeney  eidot  soii.  lives  in  Emer- 
son pi'ecl'ict  and  has  six  childi'en.  Fi-;!iik  lieeney- 
second  son.  preceded  the  family  to  tlie  county  one  year 
and  he  has  foni-  sons  and  one  dangditei'.  Lives  in 
[Ichhard  precinct. 

John  Welker  was  hoi-n  April  12,  1840.  in  Butler 
county,  Pennsylvania.  Came  to  Dakota  county,  Oc- 
tober 26,1872,  and  settled  on  Fiddler^  cr(  ek  where  lie  has 
resided  to  the  present  time.  \\^is  luanied  Api-il  7, 
1864  to  Mary  Jane  Rockwell.  Has  one  child.  Mrs.Eu- 
Lfene  Tl.  Loo  mis. 

SETTLERS  OF  1873. 

RicHAKi)  SnoKTLKv  cauic  to  D;d\ota  counlv,  Feh- 
rnary  7,  1873  and  settled  in  J^akota  City.  Was  a  na- 
tive of  Canada.  Has  four  children — one  son  and  three 
daughters. 

losEPH  C'l.KMENTs  was  liom  in  Milton,  Ca"ada. 
February  12.  1.S44.  and  came  to  Dakota  county.  Mandi 
30,1873.  Located  on  a  farm  we.-^t  of  Dakota  City. 
Was  mari'ied  to  Lavina  Oi-r  in  Canada,  -lanuai-y  29. 
1873.  lias  one  son— (duiides.  Is  at  jji'esent  employ- 
ed at  Rosebud  Agency,  South   D;d<ota. 

James  Harris  came  to  Dakota  county  ti'om  EnglaiKL 


SKTTLKKS  OF    IS't'-K  297 

laiulino-  ill  LJoiiRT.  May  1,  1878.  iri^i'iii"  tJie  last  cent 
lit'  had  for  crossiiio  the  I'iver.  Lives  two  miles  south- 
east of  Homer.  Married  in  186',>  to  Jane  Bar<j;ery.  Has 
live  sons  and  one  daughter. 

Geouge  Lakskn  was  born  in  Denu)ark,  June  1. 
1854  and  came  to  Dakota  county.  June  1,  1873.  Mar- 
ried at  Dakota.  City.  Auo'ist  1.  1879  to  Sotie  Christen- 
son.  Has  two  Sons — lohiiC.  and  George  P>.;  foui- 
<laiiiihters— Mary,  dnlia,  Kmma  und  Gertie.  i\)stoffice 
lloiucr.  His  tatiier  and  iiioiiicr  ai'iived  in  the  county 
NovL'iiiher  lo.   1^74.  ihe  hitter  died    .V[)i'il  29.  1882- 

Albeet  Nash  was  l)orn  March  9.  184  9.  at  St. 
Lonis,  Missouri,  and  cmie  to  Dakota  county,  S.pteni- 
l)er  19,  1878.  Opened  up  a  trading  post  with  the 
Indians  in  IJlyhui'g.  and  afterwards  moved  to  Homer, 
where  he  enteied  the  nitrcantile  llU^iMe^^.  Was  aj)- 
pointed  postmaster  in  1881-  Ha.-  seven  ehihiren  - 
three  sous  and  four  daughters 

fJouN  \\  .  .McKi^'XKY  was  l)i>rn  in  ('olund)ia,  Han- 
over county.  ()\\\(K  Man-ied  in  Indiana  to  Elizabeth 
Fi-eenum.  Has  tweUe  sons  and  daughrei's,  those  liv- 
ing are  IJyi'am.  Luther,  Libbey,  John,Zetta,  Ada.  Ltu- 
etta  and  Hattie.  Tho.-e  dead  are  Mary.  Robert,  Walhice 
and  ('hirry.  He  came  to  Dakota  county  on  the  9th 
day  ol  Septend)cr  1878  and  setth-^d  on  Walkers  Ishind 
wliere  he  now  lesides.  His  j)ostoflice  a<idress  is  South 
Si(ni.\  C'ity.      His   wife  died  about  nine-  years  ago. 

Pkok.  a.  W.  SchmIED  was  born  in  Pi-ague,  Prov- 
jiu-eof  Pohenua.  .A iisti'ia.  ,1  anuary  2(5,  1820.  and  came  to 
Amei-ica  in  ISoo  wiih  \n>  wife  an<!  three  children. 
.Si'ttled  in  IJaltimoiv.  Maryhmd.  and  afterwards  lived 
in  Lancasiei'  Citw  l\nn>vlvania.  where  his  wife  <lied. 
\Vas  married  a  .-econd  time  in  18()-"J  to  Mi's.  Hart, 
mother  (d'  Atlee  ILirt.  Located  in  Sioux  ("ity.  Iowa, 
in  1871  and  moved  to  Dakota  City  two  years  later 
where  he  resided  until  his  death,  'August  ■'24-.  1884. 
Had  one  son  by  his  second  wife,  Melford     A.   Schmied. 


•J.\'^  WARNKIv  S    i;;:   i:ii;V   VF   DAKOTA     COL'NTY. 

•  loiiN  BAroors  cuiiic  to  Dakotn  eoniitj.  Xoveinbci' 
■JO,  1S73  ar.d  worked  in  Paniie!-cr''s  saw  mil!  in  Oniadi 
pi'eciiic't.  Married  to  Miss  Anna  P)li\-cn  in  1875. 
Has  I'oni-  !-oi)S — John  W.,  C'har'e.-;  G  ,  Harold  B.  Jiiid 
Biclia.rd  JI.;  one  <lauixliter--E!sie.  Liveb  thi'ee  miles 
northeast  of  Homer. 

JojiN  I{o(;ak  is  a  I'arniei-  on  Elk  creek,  and  came 
to  fh.e  eoimty,  Decen.her  lN73.      Postofiice  Elk  \'ailey, 

\V:>r.  FoLTz  was  horn  iii  1844, _  in  Juniata  eor.nty' 
!'enn^yl\-a,nia,  and  came  to  Dakota  county,  Marcli  27* 
1874.  Located  at  Dakota  City  wiiei'c!  he  has  resided 
to  the  present  time.  Is  a  earpente)'.  ]\[arried  to 
Alary  E.  Deering  in  iS(w.  Has  seven  cliildi'en  -four 
.-■ons  and  three  (langhtei'S.  Eri listed  in  comp/iny  E. 
nth  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  Septtmiher  11),  18()4."  and 
"Marrhed  with  (lenei-a!  Sliei-man  to  tlie  Si'M." 

SETTLERS  FROM  1874  TO  1880. 

Tiio:\!As  MiT(M!i-i.i.  came  to  Dakota,  county,  in 
1874  and  lived  in  the  westei-n  pni-t  of  t!ic  county.  ^Vas 
married  to  ]]rii>'et  Powers  in  l8Si.  Has  one  S(in  and 
thi'ce  dauuhtei's. 

An!)i;i:w  I'onn:?  came  to  Dak-ota  county  .\pril, 
1874.  Afterwards  was  engineer  on  sevei-al  steamboats 
and  eiioineei-ed  the  Silvei-  Lake  np  the  i\nssouri  with 
supplies  in  tiie  (his;er  Indian  \var.  M.'viried  to  Liohie 
Don,  ill  1.^73;  t'ley  have  t!ii-ee  (vi Jiilrea,  tuo  ^ons  ai.id 
(»ne  daui^hter. 

Au(;i:sT  AM)  ]'hn:ni:R'.(K  Wii.KTiXS  came  to  Dakota 
county,  A jn-il  4-,  1874.  Augu-t  was  married  in  1883- 
Has  1i\e  (diildi-en.  Idves  two  miles  and  a  liaM'  mM'tii- 
we^t  of  iL)mei-.  l'he'lei'i(d<  was  m  irried  In  LS84  'o 
f.izzie  I.-enberge.  Has  foin-  children  and  lives  Ibnr 
niiies  west  of  ILueer. 

EijJAU  Ham^lo.m)  was  horn  '\\\  1823,  in  New  Yoik 


>KTTLKRS   OP^    187o.  299 

and  came  to  Dakota  county,  in  1874.  He  died  in  Da- 
kota t'ity.  January  24,  1882,  leaving  a  wife  and  five 
children  to  mourn  his  departure  to  the  realms  of  the 
l)!e>t,  four  of  wlioni  are  now  living-— Almond,  Rhoda. 
Edward  and  j^ettie.  Mrs.  Hammond  was  married  a 
second  time  in  1884  to  N,  H.  Barto,  an  old  s^ettler  cf 
Di.\o!i  county. 

i^NDREAS  p.  BiLLE  was  horu  in  (3openhagen,  Den- 
mark, lV[arch  "ZQ,  1814.  Was  married  to  Anna  Jor- 
gensen  and  arrived  in  Dakota  county  in  the  fall  of 
1874.  Died  in  the  spi'ing  of  1877-  Had  four  children. 
one  daughter--- ^^al•ie,  wife  of  John  Johnson;  three 
sons---(ieorge,  Henrv  and  Jofin,  all  livino  in  this 
county. 

William  Hogax  came  to  Dakota  county,  ]\larch 
1,  1875,  and  lives  three  miles  west  of  Hul)bard.  Has 
one  son---James,    and   two  daughters — Kaiie  and  Mary. 

TnoMAS  IIooAN  settled  in  Dakota  county,  March 
I.  1875  and  lives  two  miles    west    of    Hubbard.       Has 

I 'lie  son  ;;iid  four  dauuhters. 

PiO'nou  .!ou;>.\K  came  tu  Nebraska  in  1870  and  set- 
tied  in  Dakota  county,  dune  9,  1875  in  the  "Big  Tim- 
ber,''eight  miles  noi-th  of  Jackson.  Has  six  sons  and 
ibur  (huighters.  Their  eldest  daughter  is  married  to 
Fr.incis  Snydei'. 

H.  D.  RoGints  was  born  in  Girard,  I^ennsylvania, 
member  17,  1882.  Was  married  in  Kdinborough, 
[""ennsylvania,  to  Miss  JLlizibeth  Graces,  April  25, 
18()I.  Had  two  Mins  and  three  dangiiter6--Win  G., 
AVintiM-  S.,  Marion,  Kli/cabeth  and  Ilairiet  S.  His  wife, 
one  t^on  and  one  daughter  are  dead.  Moved  to  Dakota 
counry.  August  15,  1^75,  and  practiced  law,  at  Dakota 
City.  Aioxefl  to  Ponca.  Dixon  county  in  1888,  whicii 
is  Ids  present  address. 

Jonx  Hagk!!  came  to  Dakota  county  May  ;5,  1,S76, 
1  serried  in   Dakota  City  wliei'e  he  now  resides.    Mar- 


800  Warner's  history  of  Dakota  county. 

ried  October  22,  1864,  to  Sarah  Howard.  Has  two  son.'^ 
— John  and  Jacob;  three  daughters — llosa,  Anna  and 
Josephine. 

Thomas  McKkever  was  born  in  Irehmd  and  came 
to  Dakota  county  March  20,  1877.  Bought  a  fai-ni  nine 
miles  west  of  Jackson  where  he  now  rec-ides.  Mnrried 
to  Ann  Cu-ff.      Has  one  son,  Hugh.      P.  O.  Elk  A^alley. 

James  Flynn  came  to  Dakota  county  April  1,  1877. 
Was  married  to  Mari'  J.  llyan  in  1886.  Has  one  son. 
Is  pi'oprietor  of  a  meat  market  at  Jackson. 

Edward  Easton  came  to  Dakota)  county  Jui>e    14. 

1877,  and  settled  in  Dakota  City  where  he  has  since  le- 
sided.  Was  mari-ied  to  Fanny  lieam  June  5,  1882,  He 
has  two  sons  and  one  daughter. 

Patrick  Casey  was  born  August  8,  1849,  in  Ot- 
tawa, Canada,  and  came  to  Dakota  county  in  1877,  lo- 
cating on  a  tract  of  land  near  the  Missouri  i-iver.  in 
yummit  precinct,  eight  miles  north  of  Jackson,  wiiere 
he  has  since  res^ided.  \V;is  married  to  Catliaiine  Hod- 
gins  October  10,  1877,  has  tive  children.  Served  three 
years  as  county  commissionei\ 

Andrew  J.  Parker  was  born  in  1834,  in  Thomp- 
son county.  New  York.  Was  married  to  Maggie  Wi;- 
cox  in  1863,  and  came  to  Dakota  county    February    28, 

1878.  Kow  owns  the  old  Samuel  Deering  phiee  lour 
u)iles  south  of  Dakota  City,  whei-e  he  is  at  pvesent  liv- 
ing. It  was  under  some  lai-ge  cottonwood  ti'ees  on  thit- 
land  that  Lewis  &  (Marke  held  a  council  with  the  In- 
dians August  IS  and  11),  1804.  Has  tive  eliiUlren  — 
three  sons  and  two  daughters.    Tliree  childien  are  dead. 

Joseph  li.  Kklsey  was  l)orn  October  6.  1851,  in 
Toledo,  Ohio,  and  came  to  Dakota  eounty  Mai'di  6. 
1878.  Opened  up  a  farm  on  Omaha  creek,  four  miles- 
south  of  lIomer,wliere  healso  estal)li^hed  the  first  t^heep. 
l-auch  in  Dakota  county.    Was  married  to  Mary  B.  Henry; 


^Ii■rLK.c:^  (M--    1S7N. 


801 


.-.r   Winuel.aoo  A^cimy.   May  28,  1882.      Was    appointed 
posnnaster  at  IIomkm-'  April  8.  1889. 

Louis  AM)  Jami;s  liLANCHARi).  two  brotliei's  cunie 
to  Dakota  county,  March  G,  1878.  James  was  nuirried 
!o  Iverzell  Wamsley  in  1883---lias  two  sons.  Samuel 
Mild  Joliu.  Louis  was  married  to  Anna  Sierk — has  two 
<hiuo-liters,  .Jennie  and  Flora. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  C.  Owens  came  to  Dakota 
<-onntj.  March  17,  1878.  Her  iiusband  died  April  6. 
1871)  in  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  leaving  one  son,  Rnssell,  and 
•sex-eii  daughters,  Mrs.  Marv  Norris,.  Mrs.  Hannah  M. 
Cone,  Mrs.  (Jlive  J.  Linkswiler,  Mrs.  Martha  Twainley, 
Mrs.  ilattie  M.  Paulson,  Louisa  E.  and  Tina  I.  Lives 
■on  a  farn)  two  miles  and  a  halt'  north  of  Homer. 

I).  W.  HocH  came  to  Dakota  county,  April  4, 
1878.  Man-ied  to  lz<Mia  McFarland  the  same  year. 
Has  three  sons  and  one  daughter.      Postoffice  Homer. 

George  Peterson  came  to  Dakota  county,  July 
15.1878.  Married  in  1870.  Has  eight  children  liv- 
:ing  Bought  the  old  Isaac  Monroe  place  south  of 
Homer. 

Geo.  H-  Cook  ^vas  horn  in  Denmark  on  the  10th 
•of  Septemliei-,  1849.  Came  to  Dakota  county  on  the 
loth  day  of  July  1878.  Mar-ried  to  Mary  Olson  on 
the  29th  day  of  Octolx^'.  1881.  Has  two  sons  and 
two  daughters,  Creorge,  Clarence,  Elizabeth  and  Isa- 
hella.      His  postoffice  address  is  Emerson. 

Ethel  Woodard  with  his  wife  and  thi-ee  child- 
ren came  to  Dakota  county,  August  15,  1878-  Lives 
ill  Dakota  Cit_v  Carried  the  mail  between  Dakota 
City  and  the  Winnebago  Agency,  two  years. 

Pi/rKii  Cakxkv  was  It.>rn  in  Ii'eland  and  settled  in 
St.  Johns  precinct  one  and  a  half  iiiiles  north  of  Jack- 
son in  1878.  Mai-ricd  in  1858  to  Catharine  Cain,  sis- 
;ter  <d'  Michael  Cain  of  iliihhard,  and  has  six   children^ 


:i02 


(•(<r.\rv. 


four  sons.  J^osepli  P.,  Pcler  F.,  lie 
cliuel;      two  clauglitei's,  i\l!'5.  Jolm   I.k'ncoiu    iuid     },I:>j-v. 

J.  B.'  EKKYcanieto  Port  couiii  v,  Xehraska.  in  IsTT 
Mild  settled  in  Dakota  CDUiity,  tiie  following  veaj-.  where 
lie  foil  jwed  the  inilliiiw  buf-iness.  Was  iiiariie<!  in 
iS()(J.  Has  one  son  and  two  daugliter.--.  I'o.^tdtlice. 
Lester,  Iowa. 

Samuel  Rymill  was  boi'uin  Knoiand  ;ind  c'line 
to  Dakota  connty,  November  1,  IbTU.  iMarricd  t«> 
Miwj  E.  Atkins'oj-'  Ohio.  Has  two  sons  and  four 
daughters.  Li\'es  on  ;-i  farm  foni-  miles  ;nid  a  iialf 
sonth-east  of  Jloinei-. 

John  Mannincj  eanie  to  Dakota  eonni\-,  Fehrnary 
PJ,  1880.  ;ind  settled  on  V/alkerV  Island  nortin-ast  o'f 
Dakota  City,  wiiere  lie  now  i-esides.  Has  three  sons 
and  tliree  dano'litei's.  Emisled  in  coin[);iny  I'P  88th 
Indiana  Infantry,  and  ser\'ed  three  years. 

Dr.  D.  C.  STI^■K0^•  cmne  to  Dai<o;a  county  fi'oni 
Ohio,  June  -L  18S(').  AVas  niarrieci  to  Liz;c;e  Moon  in 
Kansas  Oeioher  1-i-,  1S75.  Has  thi'ee  ehi!dre:i  li\-in<4- 
and  one  dead.  Ojiened  dj)  a  drw^  store  ;it  Dakota 
(htv.  GraduMte.i  at  K'okuk.  lowM,  Me.lical  Codege. 
Jnm;  1(),  1874. 

Gus  A.  I:-t\;;ui:..  was  hi)r<i  in  (-Jernniny  April  P. 
1867  inid  eanie  to  Dakota  eoiinly,  .lime  15.  1880- 
k'ai'nier  in  .  Ein(Uvou  precinct.  Married  to  Jennie 
Pectehe  at  Dakota  City  Febrna.ry  12,  181)0. 

Jaimks  P>.  S^rrni  was  !'orn  June  8,  P8-i-7,  and  set- 
tled in  Di.\(»ii  connty,  Nehrat-ka.  in  18G8  Oaine  to 
Phikota  connty  in  PSbO.  .Married  in  1867.  to  ISasar.  J. 
Holtnes  and  ha-  live  sons — George,  William,  Purt. 
Chett  and  Jo;d;ili ;  rhree  danolirer.-^  iPs.  A!i-ert  Ar- 
nold. Minnie  and  Plamehe       P.  O.  Jackson. 

TerkenCE  CulKIJS^  came  to  D.-dcot-.  county  Aumist 
lo.  1880,  engaged  in  Ulacksmitliing  a.t   Ja.d<>(»n.      .Ahir- 


OTIIIOK    SK'n.KK.-. 


ao:? 


nvA  a  sf<-.)ii(]  tiiiM-  111   IS^O  t..  Ami   Dillon.       lias    thrt'i- 

son?.  iU!<l    tlllH'e   (lllllnlltt'lS. 

I'iCN.iAMiN  !•'.  ISawvki:  came  to  Dakota  coiiiit' . 
August  21,  1880.  and  settled  in  Jackson.  Married  to 
ICatie  Boler.  June  5.  18S2.  Has  two  adopted  children. 
Was  Deputy  SlieriiT  tliree  years  and  ('ouiity  Coroner 
two  years.  Engaged  in  the  livery  business  and  is  pro- 
])rietor  of  an  uiulertakers  estahlishiuent. 

AVii.i.iAM  KKNMiiKK  settled  Iti  Dakota  county. 
.\oveinl>er  1,  1S8(>,  on  a  farm  six  miles  north  of  Jack- 
son. Married  in  1852,  in  Fi-anklin  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania to  Mary  Weaver.  Has  three  sons  -AVilliam  W,. 
Simon  K.  and  Henry;  three  daughters  -Mr*.  Alice 
M.  Bowles.  Hattie  and  Emma    C. 

OTHER  SETTLERS. 

W.  K.  KiNKKAD  and  wife.  April  1881;  Post 
ofHce  Dakota  City.  Has  four  sons  and  three  daugliters. 
Enlisted  in  company  ¥.  12th  Michigan  Yeteran  V'ol. 
Infantry. 

D.  W.  Wakefield  came  from  Indiana  county. 
Pennsylvania,  to  Dakota  county,  March  14,  1881. 
Married  to  Blanche  Smith,  in  1880.  Has  four  ciiil- 
dren  living.     Two  children  are  dead. 

William  Warnock  was  born  March  12.  1844,  and 
settled  in  Dakota  county,  November  1.  1871,  where  he 
toek  a  homestead,  which  lie  sold,  and  moved  to  Emer- 
son in  1881,  building  the  first  residence  in  that  town. 
When  our  flag  was  fired  upon  by  rebel  hands  he  en- 
listed in  company  I.  126th  Hlinois  Volunteer  Infantry 
and  served  three  years.  Married  to  Zilpha  Brown. 
September  20,  1866,  in  Rock  Island  county,  Illinois. 
Has  one  daughter,  Mrs.  Mattie  Falep. 

T.  J.  Clakk  landed  upon  Dakota  county  soil, 
March  14,  1882.   Was  married  to  Katie  Ryan.  August. 


■'O-J-  WAKNKU'S   lIlt^TOUV    OF   DAKOTA     COUNTV.  I 

I 

l^So.  and  li;is  two  daiiglitei-s.  ICeeps  a  geiiei'al  stole  ! 
ill  Jacl<son.  j 

Mr.  and  Mi!S.  Capt.  William  LuxiuiK    settled     in  r 
( "oviiigtoH  eoniing  from     Arkansas.        Mr.     Lntlier     ai 
•  >nce  took  gi-eat  intt'i't'st  in  river  niuttt'i's     as     that     \\a> 
liis  calling.      The  people  learned  to' rely     on     him     i'oi- 

services  and  information  in  everything  jieitaining  to  ' 
navigation  at  that  point,      lie  also     I'endered    valuahle 

assistan'-e  oii  the  pontoon     bridges     which     have    been  [ 

constrncted  across  the  river  tliei'e.       On     the     "^Sid     ol  | 

July,  IS^S  he  and  Ebenezer  Ayies  were  granted  a  j 
franchise  to.i'nn  the  fei-ry  i)oat  nntil  April  1,  18U1.     Jii 

1893  he  constructed   a    pleasure     steamer     on     (hystal  , 

lake,  which  furnished  much  pleasui-e  foi-  the  people     at  { 

the  Old  Settler  meeiing  of   that    year:    ■    Mrs.     Lnther  | 

kept  the  Merchant  ]u)tel     in     South     Sioux     City     two  i 

years.  Tiiey  havt'  foiir  children.  Marshall,  Harry,  Mrs.  ' 
Roofers  an(J  Mi's.  Bennett. 

I 

A.  P.  l)Acn  was  lioi'ii  iii  183o,  in     Ge)-many,     and  - 

came  to  Dakota  county.  May  HO.  1882.  Settled  on  ' 
Fiddlei-s  creek.  Married  to  Olive  15ailey  in  Wiscon  j 
sin.     Has  one  adopted  child.      Postotiice.  Hubbard.  j 

Michael  I>.  Smith  and\vire,  April  8,  1882.  Post- 
office  Dak()ta  City.  Has  eleven  cl'iildreii.  1i\e  living  in 
Dakota  county  and  six  in  Pennsylvania. 

Newton-  L.  Ckipi'in  and  wife;     fall  of  1882.   Post     ! 
office  Hofner.      His  wife  died  February  15,  18*J(),    leav-    \ 
iiig  three  children,  two  children  having  preceeded     her    [ 
to  eternal  rest.      He    was    afterwards    niarried    to    Niln 
Wi  Ison,  in  Homer. 

Mecune  Thorn  came,  to    Dakota    county,     Xo- 
veinber  22,  1882.      Settled  in    Homer,   wdiere     he    noN\     ' 
resides.      Has  one  son      Ira    Z.    and     three     dar.ghtei's. 
Mrs.   Alzada    MclMitarlfer,     kora    and     Pizzie.    '  ,  Tw^ 
cliildren  have  died.  ...  ' 

George  A-.  Knafp    vy'HS    born    in    Illinois    and    1, 


CAPT.  WILLIAM  LUTHER 


^•' 


MRS.  CAPT.  WILLIAM  LUTHER. 


caiiK'  to  Diik-Dta  cuuiitv,  February  lo.  1883.  Mairitd 
t(t  \(\n  K.  Klliott.  Is  at  present  engaged  in  the  whole- 
sale eonunissiiin  business,  Sioux  City,    Iowa. 

Levi  Fkancisco  aiid  wife  came  to  Dakota  county. 
Jauiiary  1884.  Has  two  sons — \Villiani  and  Heniy: 
two  dauirhters     (Mara  and  Blanche.  I'osroffice.  Jackson 

Andrew  Hakkigfeld  came  to  Dakota  county, 
March  3,  1884.  and  settled  6n  a  farm  two  miles  east  of 
Emerson.      Mas  tliree  sons,  Ernest,    Chris  and  Geoi-ge. 

Samukl  a.  S'i'ixsox  came  to  Dakota  county,  in  the 
spi-ino;  of  1884,  and  was  mari'ied  to  Josephine  Gl-ibble 
in  188().  .  Mas  two  sons  Joiiii  W.  and  Henry  Cruy. 
Postoffice,  Dakota   City. 

John  S.  Doran  came  to  Dakota  county,  April  115. 
1884,  and  settled  three  and  a  half  miles  noi'tlieast  of 
Emerson.      Has  a  wife,  two  sons  and  one  dangliter. 

Joshua  Leonard  was  born  iVovembei-  15,  1888. 
in  New, York  and  settled  in  Emerson  May  '25,  1884. 
where  he  established  the  Emerson  Era.  He  has  since 
lived  in  that  town. 

.  Benone  MpKiJsiLEY  came  to  Dakota  county.  May 
25,  1884,  and  settled  in  Homer.  Married  to  Bertha 
Kinnear  1878.      Has  four  sons  and  two  daughters. 

William  A.  Francisco  and  wife,with  one  dangli- 
ter settled  five    miles    south    of    Hubbard    in    Octol)ei'. 

1884. 

A. >rnERV  Bates  settled  in  Blyburg  in  1884.  although 
he  had  visited  the  county  in  1857.  Has  five  children 
livino-. 

JosEPn  11.  McAfee  came  to  Dakota  coimty  March 
11,  1885^  and  settled  on  Elk  creek.  Married  to  'Anini 
Stiiison.  Served  three  years  in  tlic  l()th  Ohioi\^ol. 
Infantry.      Has  eight  children. 

D.  L.  Ai-.i.ET^  \va>  born  January  21,  I860,    in  LXew 


oiiii:i:  sKTii.Kiis.  310 

Yci'k.  and  anivtd  in  Dakota  county  July  28,  1885. 
Jloiijrlit  tlie  old  Sam  Sliiill  homestead,  one  mile  north 
of  Homer. 

Samuel  Shaffek    arrived    in    Dakota  conntv    in 

1885.  P.  O.   Homer. 

Eli  Francisco  came  to  Dakota  comity  Novemher 
-2,  1885.  Was  married  in  1876  to  Frances  Lesley.  Has 
two  sons.     Lives  five  miles  north  of  Jackson. 

Jacob  Iler  and  wife  arrived  in  the  county  Fehru- 
ary  20,  1886.  P.  O.  Dakota  City.  Came  from  La- 
LTrange  county,  Ireland.      Has  one  child  living. 

W.  M.  Wilson  and  wife,  six  children — three  sons 
and  three  daughters,  arrived  in  Dakota  county  April  3. 

1886,  and  settled  on  Omaha  creek'. 

Michael  P.  Doran  and  wife,  two  sons  and  one 
daughter,  settled  one  mile  north  of  Emerson  in  1886. 

John  Jordan  and  wife  arrived  in  Dakota  county 
April  20,  1888,  farmer.  P.  O.  Emerson,  lias  four  sons 
and  four  daughters. 

H.  A.  McCoKMiuK  was  born  May  22,  1863, in  Linn 
county,  Iowa.  Came  to  Dakota  county  May  1,  1888, 
and  located  in  Dakota  City,  where  he  took  charge  of 
the  Argus.  Moved  to  South  Sioux  City  in  January, 
1891.  Was  married  to  Lina  J.  Flint  January  14,  1884. 
Has  two  children,  Ralph  Edwin  and  Frances.  Two 
cliildren  have  died. 

Geo UGE  Henry  came  to  Dakota  county  in  July. 
1888,  and  edited  the  Homer  Herald.  Married  to  Hattie 
E.  Robinson  June  5,  1887. 

Michael  Hakty  was  born  in  Ireland  and  came  to 
America  in  1853.  Settled  on  a  homestead  in  St.  John? 
precinct  where  he  resided  until  his  death  July  16, 1883. 

William  Clapp  was  born  in  Connecticut,  June  5, 
1842,  and  arrived  in  Dakota  county  May  1,  1866.   Mar- 


OTIIKR  SETTLERS.  311 

lied  at  Dakota  City,  September  15,  1877,  to  Annie  M. 
Sluive.  Has  one  son  and  two  dangliters,  David,  Mary 
and  Mabel.  Settled  on  a  farm  on  Omaha  creek  sonth 
nf  IJouier  where  lie  lives  at  the  present  time.  He  ha- 
a  line  farm  and  pleasant  home.  It  seems  but  a  short 
time  since  he  settled  on  this  tract  of  wild  land  and  be- 
wail to  improve  it.  The  change  wrought  there  l)y  \\\> 
^kill  and  energy  is.  indeed,  marvelous. 

William  Hogan  was  born  in  the  cunnty  of  Tip- 
perary,  Ireland,  in  1803,  and  came  to  America  in  1848. 
Settled  in  Dakota  county  in  1856.  Died  at  his  borne  in 
Jackson,  September  11,  1880. 

John  II.  Macn  was  born  in  New  Castle,  Limerick 
<'ounty,  Ii-eland,  in  1811),  and  received  a  good  education 
in  his  native  counti-y.  Came  to  America  and  settled  in 
]\[iami  county,  Ohio.  Enlisted  in  the  Union  Army,  in 
■-iiid  Nebraska  Regiment,  and  was  promoted  to  Lieuten 
ant  of  his  company.  Came  to  Dakota  county  in  eaidy 
times.  Was  a  true  friend  of  his  native  Ireland,  and 
aided  bei-  people  by  iiis  voice,  pen  and  purse,  lie  held 
a  nnmber  of  offices  in  the  county,  such  as  County  Sni-- 
veyor,-  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction,  etc.  Died 
at  his  residence  in  St.  Johns  precinct,  April  29,  1887. 
The  funeral  services  were  held  at  the  Catholic  cliurcli 
in  Jackson,  Rev.  Father  Lysaght  officiating. 

TnoMAS  LoN(;,  Sr.,  was  boi-n  in  Ivilkenny,  Ireland, 
in  1830.  Married  his  first  wife  in  Ireland,  who  boi-e 
liini  live  children,  and  died  March  15,  1872.  Was  iMar- 
ried  again  in  1874.  Died  at  his  home  in  Hubbard. 
April  13,  188a 


CHAPTER  XVIII 


Pioneers   and  Old  Settleks  Association   of   Dak< 
County,  Nebraska. 


From  time  to  time  there  was  talk  of  organizing  aii 
old' settlers  assoeiation,  but  no  action  was  taken  in  tiie 
matter  until  1882,  when  the  following  call  for  a  meet- 
ing appeared  in  the  county  newspapers: 

FIRST  CALL. 

Dakota  City,  Xeb.,  August,  1882. 
At  the  suggestion  of  several  of  the  pioneers  set- 
tlers of  Dakota  county  theie  will  be  a  meeting  at 
Homer  on  Saturday  the  26th  of  the  present  month  at 
2  o'clock  p.  m.  to  effect  an  organization  for  this  county 
and  appoint  a  time  and  place  for  our  first  regular 
meeting.  We  will  be  glad  if  all  those  interesred  in 
this  organization  will  make  it  convenient  to  meet    with 


us. 


GeORCJK  T.   Wt)01)S. 
FIRST  MEETING. 

At  the  meetiriij:  held     in     Homer    on  the  26th    of 


PIONEERi*   AND  OLD  SIOrTI.KRS    ASSOUIATIOX.  313 

Ai!L:nst  1SS2.  pnrsnant  to  cnll  lieretofor.^  made,  tlie 
j)io;ieers  and  old  settlers  asseml)led  and  effected  a  tein- 
t)i)rarv  oi-ganization  liy  selecting  (reo.  T.  Woods,  chair- 
man; M.  M.  Wanici-,  secretary,  and  ao;ree(i  to  organize 
;i  pei'inarient  association  for  Dakota  county. 

It  was  agreed  to  hold  the  Jirst  annual  reunion  on 
Saturday  the  ~;ird  day  of  Steptember  at  Baird's  grove. 
A  committee  of  the  following  named  gentlemen  were 
iippointed  to  draft  a  constitution  and  by-laws  Tor  the 
a-soci;itinn  to  report  at  the  annual  meeting:  Joseph 
Jlolhiian,  -T.  F.  Warner,  Danniel  Duggan,  Joseph 
l?rannan  and  E.   B.  Wilhur. 

A  committee  of  arrangements  was  then  appointed 
to  make  all  needful  preparations  for  the  reunion  as 
follows:  ■  From  Omadi  precinct — J.  W.  Davis.  Thos. 
A^hford.  Wm.  Xi.Nou;  Dakota -J.  O.  Fisher,  John 
Joyce,  K.  W.  Frazer;  Covington — Wm.  Frazier. 
James  McKenna.  P  AEonahan;  Jackson — Gerald  Dil- 
lon, P.  O'Neill,  P.  Barry;  Summit  -  Michael  Mc- 
Kivergan,  P.  Twohig,  John  Dennison;  Pigeon  Creek 
— Tim  Carrahine,  Wm.  Minter,  Wm.  Farrel;  Hub 
iiard — John  Howard,  John  Hartiiett,  James  Lehey. 

It  wa^  aii;reed  that  all  who  came  into  the  county 
prior  to  December  31st,  1860,  shall  be  denominated  as 
pioneers  and  all  who  came  after  that  date  and  prior  to 
Dt'.cember  3 1st,  1868  be  denominated  as  old  settlers. 
The  committee  of  arrangements  is  requested  to  meet  at 
the  Court  House  in  Dakota  City  on  Saturday,  Septem- 
ber. l)th  1882,  at  1  p.  m.  for  theptirpose  of  making  the 
necessary  arrangements  for  the  reunion. 

M.  M.  Waunkr,  Secretary. 

SECOND   ISlKKTIN(i. 

The  committee  of  arranjreinents  appointed  by  the 
Homer  meeting,  met  at  the  Court  House  in  Dakota 
(yity.  at  1  p.  m.  Saturday.  September  9th,  1882,  pur- 
suant to  notice.  Gerald  Dillon  was  elected  chairman, 
■■u\(\  by  re(juest  John   T.   Spencer    acted    as     secretary. 


314:  Warner's  history  of  Dakota   county. 

Col.  I].  Baird  was  selected  to  act  as  iiiarslml.  and  Tim 
( )'('oiiiior,  James  Twohig,  Henry  O'Neil  and  E.  I^>. 
Wilbur  assistant  marshals.  L.  M.  Warner.  Dnt  Lane. 
Daniel  ()'Connor  and  Tom  McMalum  were  appointed 
a  committee  on  grounds,  music,  dancing,  etc. 

The  following  programme  was  provided  snbject^to 
clianges  hereafter  if  necessary: 

Calling  meeting  to  order  by  the  president — Geo.    T 
Woods. 

Prayer  by  Chaplain. 

Itepo)'t  of  committee  on  constitution  and  by-laws. 

P^lection  of  ofticers. 

Introductoi'y  remai-ks  by  Gen.  Joseph  1  loll  man. 

A  fifteen  minntes  speech  by  Col.  Jesse    F.    Warner. 

Excercises  to  be  interspersed  with  music. 

Every  )nan,  woman  and  child  in  the  county  is 
especially  invited  to  be  present  and  bring  along  baskets 
of  provisions  for  self  and  visiting  friends.  The  com- 
mittee hopes  there  will  be  a  very  large  gatheriiig  at 
this,  the  first  reunion  of  the  old  settlers  of  Dakota 
county.  The  place  selected  is  Col.  I^aird's  grove  The 
exei'cises  are  to  commence  promptly  at  10  o'clock. 
Geram)  Dillon,  of  Jackson,  Clniirman. 
John  T.  Spencer,  of  Dakota  Citv,  See.  pi-o  tern. 


FIRST  ANNUAL  REUNION. 


Saturday,  September  23rd,  1882,  was  the  time  and 
Baird's  grove  the  place — in  the  southwestern  part  (d" 
the  county,  for  holding  the  first  annn;d  ivunion  of  tlie 
pioneers  and  old  settU'r.s  (>r<;aniz.a.  ion  of  Dakota  coun- 
ty. Fi'om  early  morn  until  nearly  noon  tlie  roads 
I'loni  all  directions  U-ading  to  rlie  litautil'ul  grove  was 
thi-onged  with  teams.  |n;iil(Ml  down  with  happy  people 
going  for  a  day's  eIljo^  iiieiit,  until    good     judj^es    esti- 


TIOMOIlK^   and   0LI>    SKTTr.Ki;S   ASSOCIATION.  olo 

iii:;Iim1  the  ci-owd  ;it  2,000  people.  The  grounds  had 
liec!rc:iret'nl!y  cleared  ofJ'  for  the  occafiou,  and  the 
eoinniittee  had  erected  gs'od  conifoftahle  seats  beside^ 
the  stand?  and  (huieino;  platfoi'in.  iVfter  spcndiiiij:  a 
few  hniirs  convt'i'sini:,- and  forniincr  new  acquaintances, 
the  meeting  \va>  called  to  order  liy  Geoi-ge  'l\  W(>od>. 
one  of  the  very  oldest  settlers  of  the  county,  who  aftei' 
making  .-i  few  a])propriate  i-emarks  introduced  (reneral 
Joseph  Uollnian  who  delivei-ed  the  following  addi-c;-s 
of  welcome: 

''PlONKKliS,   OlA)  SliTTLKliS  AND    FeIKNDS: 

At  the  request  of  the  committee  of  arrangements 
I  have  the  ])ri\ilege  of  extending  a  cordial  and  sincere 
weirome  to  all  present  today,  for  I  can  assure  yon  the 
latch  string  ever  hangs  out  to  all  old  settlers  and 
fi'iends.  A  How  me  to  congratulate  ^  on  on  this  tii'st 
coming  together  in  I. )ak'ota  county,  and  1  pi'cdict  the 
arrangpinents  made  hei'e  today  for  our  annmd  coming 
together  will  he  the  source  of  many  pleasant  )-ecollec- 
tioiis  in  the  future. 

Moi-e  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  has  passed  away 
since  I  first  met  many  of  you  whom  I  see  before  me 
today.  Others  of  those  have  been  gathered  to  their 
home,  while  many  have  left  here  for  otiier  localities. 
Twenty-tivfc!  years  ago  1  remembered  it  was  no  com- 
fortable task  to  pitch  Your  tent  and  build  your  cabin 
west  of  the  Miss(mri  river,  and  it  is  said  that  on  this 
ground  where  we  have  met  was  ei-ected  the  first  log 
cabin  in  this  county,  and  for  this  reason  this  place  was 
selected  fur  our  reunion  today.  The  recollections  of  life 
in  the  early  times  of  loy-  cabin,  puncheon  floor,  the 
sour  tioui-  -AWi]  Corn  l)read,  the  dangers  and  privations 
underiioiie  bind  the  old  settlers  together  in  a  bond  of 
frifud.-hip  tiiat  c;innot  l>t"  understood  by  any  people 
(iifferenriv  >itn;i;Ml.  While  we  may  congratulate  our- 
stL'ivt'.->  on  t  lie  ini  proved  conditions  of  Dakota  'iouiity 
from    pioiicer    o:i\,-    yet    we    may    be    certain  that  the 


•jK)  Warner's  history  of  Dakota  couniy. 

iVifinMiip  ai!(l  brotliei'ly  love  of  the  first  settlei-s  has 
not  heeii  improved  upon  or  excelled  in  the  cnnnty  sijice 
ir,-  si'tlUMiient  by  the  wliite  inHii.  i)nt  this  can  only  he 
appi-fciateil  l)y  those  who  lived  here  in  ;in  eai'ly  day. 
The  tiehls  of  waving  siuall  i^rain,  atid  rustling  corn 
have  taken  the  phice  of  the  wild  prairie  grass;  the  lug 
ca!>in  has  l)een  replaced  l)y  a  coinforlal.)le  residence,  ami 
I  might  say  the  canoe  hy  the  steamboat;  churches 
;;nd  school  houses  dot  the  prairies,  luibi'okeii  then,  hy 
the  teepee,  the  Indian,  while  the  whistle  of  the  iron 
hoi'se  was  not  heard  west  of  the  Mississippi.  The  old 
settlei's  ui'ider  Divine  Providence  were  tlie  advance 
gr.ards  of  ci\  ilization  in  opening  np  this  country  and 
performed  their  work  fearlessly  and  well.  I  believe  it 
was  once  said  hy  Mark  Twain  that  if  the  settlers  were 
hi  g"  to  lieaven  and  find  they  could  go  no  further  west. 
ti;ey  would  not  want  to  remain.  There  is  gi'eat  profit 
in  these  meetings.  The  old  settlers  meet  and  talk  over 
the  scenes  of  olden  times  and  ]-enew  the  friendship  of 
their  youth,  detailing  to  one  another  the  many  liard- 
shii)s  and  privations  they  endured,  which  must  and 
will  he  very  intei'esting.  In  conclusion  let  me  again 
.-ay  that  in  hehalf  of  the  committee  I  again  e.\tend  to 
you  a  cordial  welcome." 

Col.  J  .  F.  Warner  was  then  introduced.  lie 
s])i)ke  at  length  on  the  early  settlement  of  tiie  county, 
the  rapid  progress  u)ade  by  the  pioneers;  the  constant 
increase  in  population,  wealth  and  prosperity;  the 
iK^dthy  climate  and  many  other  interesting  points 
which  was  I'eceived  with  great  applause.  As  soon  as 
the  CoU)nel  had  Hnished  his  bidlliant  remarks  a  recess 
vvas  taken  for  dinner.  The  heavy  laden  baskets  were 
soon  emptied,  and  spread  indifferent  parts  of  the  gro\e 
where,  the  hungry  ones  were  supplied. 

After  dinner  the  younger  generations  indulged  in 
(lancing,  swinging,  etc.,  while  tiie  oldei'  ones  were  seen 
ai'ound  in  groups  talking  over  the  scenes  of  ear!y  times 
with  all  its  trials  and  privations,  and  pleasant  memu- 
I'ies. 


I'loNKKRS    AM)   OLD   SETTJJCliS   ASSOCIATION.  -SIT 

Hon.  E.  K.  \'aleiitine  and  liis  son  Kim  wei'e 
\i  si  tors. 

At  2  o'clock  p.  111.  tiie  meeting  was  ac^ain  called 
to  order,  to  elect  otHcers,  effect  a  pe;MTianent  organiza- 
tion and  to  adopt  a  constitution  and  bydaws  arid  receive 
members.      The  following-  was  adopted: 


CONSTITUTION 


ARTICLE   1. 

Sec.  I.  This  organization  shall  be  known  as  the 
Pioneers  and  Old  Settlers  Association  oi'  Dakota  County, 
Nebraska. 

ARTICLE    II. 

Sec.  I.  The  object  of  this  association  shall  l)e  to 
])romote  friendly  intercourse  among  its  members,  keep 
a  record  of  events  occurring  in  the  early  history  of  Da- 
kota county,  and  to  preserve  for  our  children  and  those 
who  foUow  us,  the  memories,  incident  to  tlie  settlement 
of  our  prosperous  state. 

ARTICLE  in. 
Sec.  I.      All  persons    who    settled    in    this  county 
prior  to  tlie  31st  day  of  December,    18(K),    ai-e    entitled 
to  admission  as  "pioneers.'" 

Sec  11.  All  persons  who  settled  in  this  county 
prior  to  the  31st  day  of  December,  18GS  are  entitled  to 
admission  as  '-old  settlers." 

Sec.  III.  Any  pei-son  of  the  classes  named  in 
the  two  preceding  sections,  who  desire  and  shall  pay 
into  the  treasury  fifty  cents,  and  shall  sign  this  con- 
stitution, shall  be  members  of   this  associatitu:. 

Sec.  IV.  A  memhership  of  head  of  the  family 
entitles  all  members  of  the  immediate  family  to  an 
honary  membership  in  this  association 


31S  Warner's  history  of  Dakota   county. 

Sec.  V^.  In  all  aimual  reunions  and  business 
transactions  the  classes  named  in  sections  one  and  two 
of  this  article  third,  are  blended  in  this  association. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

Sec.  1.  The  officers  of  this  association  shall  con- 
sist of  a  president,  vice  presidetit.  secretary,  assistant 
secretary  and  treasurer. 

Sec.  II.  The  officers  named  in  the  preceding 
section  shall  be  elected  at  each  annual  meeting  of  the 
association  and  shall  hold  their  respective  offices  until 
their  respective  successors  are  chosen  and  installed  in 
office. 

Sec.  III.  It  shall  be  the  duty  ol  the  president  to 
preside  at  all  meetiiii^s  of  the  association  and  when  re- 
(|uested  by  live  members  in  each  precinct  of  the  county 
to  call  special  meetings  of  the  association  during  his 
term  of  office. 

Sec.  IV.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  secretary  to 
keep  accurate  minutes  of  all  business  transactions,  con- 
duct all  correspondence,  receive  all  monies  due  the 
society,  and  which  may  come  to  it,  and  piy  the  same 
over  to  the  treasurer,  taking  his  receipt  therefor,  draw 
all  orders  on  the  treasurer  fur  disi)ursements,  and  to 
keep  a  careful  record  of  all  deaths  or  removals  of  mem- 
bers during  the  year  and  report  the  same  to  tlie  next 
annual  meeting  of  the  society. 

Sec.  V.  It  shall  be  the  duty  ot  the  treasurer  to 
safely  keep  all  monies  and  property  of  the  association, 
to  disburse  the  same  upon  on  the  order  of  the  secretai-y 
countersigned  by  the  president  and  to  turn  over  to  his 
successor,  all  books,  accounts,  monies  and  property  of 
the  assuciation  remaining  in  his  hands  at  the  expira- 
tion of  his  tern)  of  office. 

ARTICLE  V. 

Sec-  I.  There  siiall  l)e  an  annual  meeting  of  the 
society  at  such  a  time  as  may  l)e  agi'eod  upon  by  the 
association  at  their  annual    meeting    and    such     special 


l'I('x\v,KKS   AND  OI.I)   SKTTI.KKS   ASSOCIATION.  311* 

iDcetiiio^s  as  pi'ovid'^d  in  stiction  tlu'ee  of  m-ticle  four    of 
this  eoii^titntion. 

AUTR'l.E  VI. 

Tlie  associativ)ii  may  adopt  sucli  by-laws  v-r  l•ule'^ 
not  inconsistent  with  this  coiistitntion  as  a  majority  of 
the  menibers  present  at  a  i-egnhir  meeting  may  agree 
upon. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

See.  1.  This  eouttitntion  n.-ay  be  amended  at  an\ 
rntruhir  meeting  of  the  society  by  giving  three  nujiith.-- 
notic  i>f  tlie  pio])osed  amendments  to  the  secretary. 
\viu>  shall  cause  the  same  to  oe  published  in  some 
newspaper  in  the  county,  at  least  four  conseeu ti'sc 
weeks,  and  such  notice  to  be  complete  thirty  days 
prior  to  the  annual  meeting  of  the  associati<)n. 

The  organization  was  perfected  by  electino  the 
following  officers  for  the  ensuing  year:  President, 
(leorge  T.  VV^oods;  Vice  President,  Daniel  Diiggan: 
Secretary,  i\ .  li.  leaker;  Ass'stant  Secretary,  Chas.  II. 
Potter;  Treasni'ei-.  Thos.  Asliford. 

A  motion  prevailed  that  the  next  annual  meet- 
ing of  the  association  shall  be  held  at  Asliford V  grove. 
August  25,  1S»3. 

A  large  nundiei'  of  the  pioneers  and  old  seftler> 
became  mem  hers  <»f  the  association,  and  when  they 
departed  for  theii*  homes  were  well  please-i  with  theii' 
day's  enjoyment  at  this  their  iirst  Hnnual  reunion. 

.VMKXn.MENlS  To  THE  ('ON.STITUTION. 

At  the  fifth  annual  reunion  held  at  Jlileman's 
-•rove.  Satur<hi_\,  Aii«;u^t  U,  i8<S(),  William  llolswoith 
offered  the  followiiio-  amendment  to  the  constitution, 
whieh  was  unanimously  adopted: 

••That  the  con.--tirut  ion  be  so  aineiided  as  to  admit 
all  per.-ons  whd  .-hall  have  li\td  in  the  eminly  for 
tifteiMi  years,  at  the'  time  ..f  tln'ir  enrollment  as  iiiem- 
■bei-.-  (d''rhis  s(.ciety. 

.\t  the  same  mcetini;-  Sam  A.  Combs  oifej'ed  the 
followin^;;-  which   w  !>  a(|oj)led; 


.i,w  WAIiJXkiiS    IIISTUKV    OF    DAKOTA     CorXTV. 

'•Tliat  the  society  appoint  u  historian  whose  duty 
it  shall  he  to  write  a  short  biography  of  the  old  setrlei.- 
in  a  book,  to  be  purchased  for  that  purpose,  and  l]\v 
L'oiupeusation  to  be  ^25. 00  per  annum."     Adopted, 


^EC0NI3  ANNUAL  EEUNION. 


Great  intei'est  was  taken  in  tlie  seroiid  annua;; 
reunion  whieli  was  held  in  Ashford's  grove,  one  Ira!  f 
mile  east  of  Homer,  August  25,  18S3.  David  Boah- 
acted  as  chaj)!ain,  and  Miss  ]M;iry  Warner  and  othei-- 
rendered  some  beautiful  music  foi-  the  occasion.  CoL 
J.  F.  Warner,  Gen.  Joseph  llollman  and  Col.  B.  l>ates 
ileli\-ered  elo<|uent  addresses  on  the  subject  of  pioneer 
times.  Officers  weie  elected  for  the  ensuing  yeai'  as 
follows:  -lesse  Wigle.  President;  A.  H.  I'>aker,  Sec- 
reta!y;C.  11.  Potter,  Assistant  Secretary;  and  Th(jma>- 
A>-lii'or(l,  Ti\';is!irer.  A  nieniorial  committee  vvas  ap 
poiiiti'd.  c'(Mi>i:-riiig  of  Col.  , J.  P.  Warner,  A.  T.  ilaase 
and  William  llolsworth. 


THIRD  ANNUAL  REUNION. 


The  tliird  reunion  was  also  he'd  in  Aslil'oidV 
grove,  Augn^^t  80,  is>i,-\r.  Cyalt-b  Anti-im  acting  as 
ch;iphdn.  and  Gen.  Jo.-eph  UoHm.iii  delivering  tlie- 
annual  address  (>1*  welcome.  O.  (-.  Treadway,  of  Si<m.v 
City.  L)wa,  delivered  the  or  ition  of  the  day,  which  was 
received  with  nnirketl  arrention.  The  following  officer.- 
were  el e(*- ted:  Ca>\.  .lesse  1"\  Wai'uer,  President;  Daniel 
Dugoan,  Vice  President;  A.  11.  Baker.  Seci-etary;  C. 
H.  Potter.  Assistant  Secretary;  Tlioma-  Asjii'ord.  Ti'cas- 
ni'.T.       Tne   uicinorial  eoin  m  i  t  tc-  was  clioseu  as  fol.l"W>  ; 


I'lUXKKKS   AND   OLD   SKTTLKKS   ASSOCIATION.  321 

'•Ailliaiii   liolswortli.  William  Adair  and   Joseph    Bran- 


FOURTH   A.WNUAL  REUNION 


The  tbiirtli  reunion  was  held  in  Hileman's  o['ove. 
two  miles  north  of  Homer,  August  22,  1885,  William 
Xiff/jcrer  acting  as  chaplain.  The  pi-esident,  Col.  J. 
F.  Warner  delivered  the  annual  address  of  welcome, 
which  was  followed  by  toasts  and  responses:  "JS'e- 
;>ia>ka,*'  hy  Andrew  Bevins  of  Omaha,  Nebraska; 
••The  Old  Settlers,"  Gen.  Joseph  HoUman;  "The  New 
Settlers/'  Mell  C.  Jay,  -Dakota  County,"  D.  C.  Dib- 
b!e;  "Our  Schools.'"  Siipt.  A.  Matthews; '-Early  Times," 
VViliiani  Huliswortli; '-'riie  Old  Settleresses  and  the  New 
SHttleresses."'  (-ol.  ]].  Bates.  The  ofiicers  of  the  associa- 
tion were  all  I'e-elected. 

Col.  Warner's  address  of  welcome    was  as  follows: 

-ProxKKKs  AN'D  Old  Settlers  ok  Dakota  Coukty  akd 

VlSITIXO    FiitENDS:  — 

No  poor  words  of  mine  can  convey  or  give  utter- 
ance to  the  feelings  of  niy  heart  and  express  the  wel- 
come I  a-n  called  upon  to  fxtend  to  one  and  all  hei'e 
to  (hiy.  In  the  welcome  hei'c  your  President  can  only 
in  an  imperfect  manner  [)ertor!n  his  part.  Tlje  work 
of  niakino'  this  a  most,  a(rrt'ed»;e  and  pleasant  reunion, 
to  be  a  complete  sccees.-,  must  be  d-uie  !>y  each  and 
evcrv  «>!ie.  To  this  end  let  us  lay  aside  all  stiff"  for- 
mality and  cold  reserve  and  greet  each  other  and  all 
who  :v:c  wiili  us  as  we  did  in  the  early  days  when 
■wt'  vivited  in  lude  rabins  and  '-dug  outs.''  Let  us 
try  for  a  <1  ly  to  live  the  past  o\er  ai'-ain,  and  our 
gatiiciMMg  will  then  be  a  perfect  success.  With  a 
ijjJl  lieai-r  I  o-i-;.("r  yoii   and   extend   a   most  cordial    wej- 


322  WAKNKR's   history   of    DAKoIA    COUN'l'Y. 

(•(line  to  this  oui'  fourth  annual  I'ennioii  of  the    jjioiicei's 
and  old  settlers  of  Dakota  county. 

We  do  not  claim  snperioi"  merit  for  the  old  settler.-- 
nvei-  tlie,  new,  but  from  natni-;d  causes  and  coiMlitioiib 
t  liey  uiu»  cut  loose  from  old  homes  of  the  oidei  com- 
munities— who  leave  the  graves  of  their  ancestors  and 
the  homes  oi*  their  f;ithers  to  bring  the  savage  wilds  of 
a  iie\v  Country  under  the  hand  of  man  and  present  as  an 
:iC(juisition  to  civilization  must  necessarily  l)e  brave  and 
('oura^ei.us.  They  must  he  intelliii'ent  and  self  i-eliant. 
Tliev  mnst  have  outgrown  the  gregariousness  of  theii- 
hai'baric  ancestors  and  arrived  at  the  full  measui'e  of 
J'ldepiMident  manhood.  Not  that  they  ]ia\'c  outgrown 
tliL'  tine  social  character  of  oui-  race,  hut  on  the  con- 
ti-ary  they  become  niore  cosmopolitan  and  regard  all 
men  as  brothei's.  The  pioneeis  in  all  countries  are 
I  lie  ujost  hospitable  a-nd  generous  class  of  men.  ever 
ready  to  welcome  the  strangei"  to  the  humble  home  and 
to  divide  the  meager  rations  with  him. 

The  world  lauds,  the  histoi-ian  Hattei's.  wliile  poets 
-ino  the  praises  of  him  wlto  conquors  a  fair  ci>unti-v  and 
forcibly  takes  from  those  Mdio  have  by  theii'  patient  toil 
l>iiilded  for  tliemselves  pleasant  homes  and  luxuriou^ 
-urroinidings.  IIow  much  more  ci-edit  is  due  to  thosf 
who  hnd  -  found  and  build  a  country  foi"  themselves  f 
Their  conquest  is  not  over  a  ^-ountry  in  ruins  witls 
devastated  fields,  villages,  cities  and  homes.  Xo  fel- 
inws  rights  ai'e  disregarded  or  property  appi-fipi-iated 
iii  coiujuest  Uy  the  damnable  doctrine  of  the  ancients 
tliat  'might  makes  i-iglit.'  Peace  hath  irs  victoi'ies  no 
les-  than  war.  Ours  is  such  a  one.  ()  ir  CMii(|nest  is 
'>\'ei-  the  wild  forces  of  nature,  I)ring  them  under-  tiibute 
to  the  wants  of  luai;  and  the  requirements  of  civilization 
.•ind  commerce. 

That  our  lot  has  beeji  cast  i?i  such  a  goodly  laiu! 
we  should  be  truly  thaid<ful.  WIkmi  our  eyes  lirst  he- 
iicld  this  counti-y  with  rank  liTowth  of  vegetation  and 
herbage,  nothino  short    of   nronhetic    vision    could   luivi; 


l'li>NKKR>    AM)   ol.l)   SKTl'LlOliS    AS'^OCI  ATH  ).\.  .>^;5 

{■.)i-('sec'ii  rlie  Dakota  coiiutv  (if  to-diiy  with  its  wealth 
of  cro])s  and  especially  the  wilderness  of  growing  com 
which  is  not  excelled  by  any  comity  in  the  state  or 
United  States.  I  ha\e  never  been  so  fully  impressed 
with  this  thought  as  during  an  extended  joiirneY  to  the 
t'a>t  of  u>  this  se:is(tn.  throuo-h  the  states  of  Iowa,  Uli- 
!ioi.~.  Miehioan.  New  York,  all  the  New  England  states, 
[-"ennsylxania,  ]\ew  Jei'sey  and  Maryland,  also  a  long 
run  throuoh  Canada.  I  assure  you  that  on  my  return 
1  fo'iinl  more  corn  in  ludk  to  the  acre  in  our  county 
tiian  (HI  anv  two  acres  1  saw  in  ail  niv  ramble.  l>ii 
.-iiies  I  found  tliat  tlie  people  in  far  east  are  behind  us. 
In  neai'ly  every  instance  east  of  Michigan  they  were 
iMit!  ing  tlieii"  hay  with  the  old  scythe  and  the  wheat 
with  the  cradle.  This  may  !)e  becar.se  a  machine  could 
Mi>r  pass  between  the  rocks  and  their  neighbor  •'vouldn't 
Jet  tlieni  iiavu  room  to  tui'u  around;  their  fields  ai'e  too 
small  to  null  in  -L'i'ey  are  aliead  ot  us  in  one  thing 
4)nly  and  that  1  obsei"\ed;  their  harvest  begins  earliei' 
than  ours.  In  tact,  the  first  woi'k  when  the  snow  is 
■o-oMt'  with  them  is  to  gathei-  the  annual  crop  of  rocks. 
I'he  yield  is  the  only  heavy  ci'op  tliey  harvest.  'J'hey 
^)uild  fences  with  them  until  their  little  fields  are  about 
■all  co\eied  with  fences,  and  then  build  jnveiiile  moun- 
tains ami  still  their  lan<l  is  covered  with  r(»cks.  In 
many  places  tliey  import  the  dirt  by  cars  to  br.ru 
brick.  Out  there  is  u  rompen.-atioii  in  all  things,  no  i(;ss 
withuut  some  gain.  Tliey  have  I'eady  made  monu- 
mriiis  enough  to  hu-t  until  the  last  S(»n  of  Adam  is  laid 
nwny.  wliiL-h  Could  not  be  done  too  soon  for  me  if  I  had 
to  scratch  among  tho>e  rocks  and  roll  them  ;iroiind  for 
•I  scanty  cro[).  J  think  I  >hoiild  want  to  m(i  iiit(»  ca  up 
beside  the  Hist  bio-  bo'ulder.  A  man  must  either  be 
buried  in  s(mie  iirtle  creek  llat  where  the  waters  would 
.How-  over  his  orive  or  wait  the  pi'ocess  of  interment 
M-hiif  ids  lrie;ids  bhist  out  a  loinb  iu  the  rocks  of  the 
Jdo-her  land,  oi-  rather  rocd<s.  [or  all  abo\-e  high  water 
jjjyi-k  is  rock.      'J'lie  L(.u(.l  lias  been  kind    [o    the    peojiif;' 


•  v-4  w'aknkk's  hi!^t«)KV  ok  dako'ia   ('<>L■^'•^v. 

111  !')!('  tiiiiif.',  their  i&  no  luini  and  all  tlieii-  r^acU  arc 
iicadaiiiiziMl  for  rliein  l)y  tlie  Great  Creator.  This  is  an 
iiiijji'oveinent  on  onr  mud  roads,  hut  I  rather  like  the 
materials  tVoiri  wliicli  mud  is  made,  provided  always 
that  it  is  uot  too  thin. 

Tiie  first  yeaj-s  of  Dakota  county  were  cast  on  a 
sr<trniY  fHid  tempestuous  sea.  In  1S57  and  '5S  the 
i^reat  crisis  completely  paralized  our  infant  s-ettle- 
uient.  Scarcely  had  we  commenced  to  I'ally  when 
the  war  chjud,  which  had  been  gathering  for  years. 
bnr.^t  with  all  its  fury  upon  tiie  nation.  Nehrask.n 
cut  no  small  ligr.re  in  the  great  contest.  In  fact,  tlie 
very  enuhliiig  act  which  gave  political  existence  to  our 
ten-it(U'y  rekindled  tie  tii'es  which  Inid  been  smouldei'- 
ing  since  1820, — revived  the  old  animosities  and  com- 
pleted the  estrapgenieut  of  sections  nntil  brother  wa^ 
ready  to  meet  brother  in  deadly  coutiict.  Wliile  Ne- 
bi'aska  was  the  innocent  cause  of  the  trouble  her  |)  irt 
in  the  great  contest  was  necessai'ily  limited,  yet  the 
territory  of  jN'ebi'aska  did  her  little  part  noldy.  In 
proportion  to  members  she  g.ive  of  her  sous  as  frt-ely 
;is  the  states.  Some  ol  Dakota  county's  bloud  miugied 
witli  that  of  the  nation  which  flowed  so  freely  in  a  holy 
cau^-e.  Some  of  her  smis  sleep  beneath  the  sonthern 
shades. 

'On  fame's  eternal  camping  ground 

Their  silent  tents  are  spread, 
While  glory  guards  with  solemn  round 

The  hiviouac  of  the  dead.' 
During  the  great  contest  the  wheels  of  progress  in 
■  lui-  section  were  turned  backward.  A  threatened  h\- 
dinn  war  almost  de])oj)nlated  the  conntv.  I'or  a  time 
it  looked  as  if  ihis  fair  land  \\(Uild  again  be  the  iierit- 
iiue  of.  the  Indian  and  the  buif  ilo.  l>iit  when  tiie  white 
winged  d(.>ve  of  peace  once  nunc  brooded  over  our  ;d'- 
llicted  country  ami  war's  desolation  ee;ised,  a  new  era 
dawned  upon  our  county.  As  with  the  nation  at  laigi- 
out  of   death    s|)rnu.o-    new    life.       The    oreat    energu'-- 


I'lONKKRS  AND   OLD   SETTLKR8  A.-^SO(  lATK  )i\.  325 

which  tlic  wai-  developed  were  turned  to  tlie  paths  of 
peace  until  today  tlie  nation  stands  a  century  aiiead 
where  only  two  decades  ai'e  passed.  In  this  genera! 
progress  we  liave  also  shared  liberally. 

But  I  must  not  longer  trespass  upon  the  ground 
of  other  speakers  in  an  address  of  welcome.  I  fear  I 
have  already  stolen  some  of  our  orator's  thunder. 

Another  year  is  past  and  we  see  many  of  the 
familiar  faces  of  20  to  25  years  ago.  Time  has  dealt 
kindly  with  our  pioneers  Many  have  survived  the 
(juarter  of  a  century  since  first  we  met  in  Dakota 
county.  k5ome  have  removed  to  other  lands;  others 
have  gone  to  their  long  homes.  They  sleep  beneath 
the  soil  of  their  chosen  county.  Since  our  last  meet- 
iivg  some  have  gone  to  the  silent  land;  but  still  a  larger 
number  live  and  remain  with  us.  Let  us  rejoice  that 
so  m.ttiy  are  v.itli  us  to-day.  Aii;ain  I  welcome  you.  one 
and  all.  and  expi'ess  the  hope  tliat  we  may  enjoy  many 
more  of  these  annual  meetinos.-' 


Following  is  Mr.  Dibble's  address    at    this    niuL't- 
ing: 

'•DAKOTA   COUKTY." 

•'Ladiks  AiSD  Gkntdkmkn: — 

Wl;en  the  tiivt  white  nnui  placed  foot  within  tlu' 
con  lines  of  wliai  is  now  known  as  Dakota  county,  or  to 
whom  belongs  that  honor  is  yet  unknown.  It  is  proli- 
ab'e  though  that  some  wandering  Arab  of  the  prairie 
— ibe  restless  Indian  trattei- — first  overlooked  the  broad 
]\ris,-(.\iri  liotfom,  saw  tlie  j)eaks  of  the  adjacent  hills 
overlnpping  one  another  in  sytunietricai  l)eauty  and 
oj'zed  down  upon  theeN[)anse  of  ri  ^-er.  sparkling  in  riie 
sunlight  like  a  silver  ihr-nid,  meandering  in  endless 
con''u--'on  to  the  sea.  V/l  at  must  have  bten  tiic 
tloHohts  and  feelii  gs  incident  to  a  scene  like  tlnit; 
And  if  he  were  l;ere  to(\'iy  what  a  change  must  iia\i: 
come  o\er  the  spirit  of  his  di'cam. 


826  Warner's  history  of  Dakota    colntv.. 

Where  not  fifty  years  ago,  you  now  sit  circled 
with  all  that  exalts  and  embeilislies  civilized  lil'e,  r!ic 
raidv  thistle  nodded  in  the  wind,  today  the  thistle  still 
nods  and  is  considered  by  experience  to  be  raid-;,  xury 
indeed.  Then  the  wild  coyote  dng  his  hole  iinseared. 
today  he  is  dug  out  of  his  hole  by  a  medley  of  men 
and  hounds,  who  are  all  in  a  hurry  to  be  in  at  the 
death  and  give  chase  until  he  gains  another  hole,  also 
unscared.  Then  lived  and  loved  another  race  of  being- 
bays  Sprague;  beneath  the  same  sun  that  rolls  over 
your  heads  the  Indian  pursues  the  pantiiio- (leer — today 
the  panting  hunter  pursues  the  deei';  gazing  on  the 
same  moon  that  smiles  on  you  the  Indian  lover  wooed 
his  dusky  mate;  the  pale  face  still  wooes,  l»iit  today 
the  smile  of  the  maid  has  more  charms  than  the  smile 
of  the  moon.  Change  tomdies  the  dimpled  cheek  of 
the  infant  and  he  becomes  the  bearded  man;  he  ti'aces 
wrinkles  upon  the  brow  ot  the  aged  and  iiitei-sperses 
silver  threads  among  the  iiolden  tresses.  lie  places 
his  hand  upon  the  cradle  and  it  btcomes  a  t'othn. 
Nations  rise  cast  abroad  the  luster  of  th-.-ii  names; 
change  says  '4^resto''  and  they  fall. 

'Turn,  turn  my  wheel  all  tilings  must  cliauge. 
'I'o  something  uew  to  soruetliing  strange, 
Nothing  that  is  can  pause  and  stay, 
■J'he  moon  will  wax,  the  moon  will  wane. 
The  mist  and  clouds  will  tuiu  to  rain, 
Ihe  rain  to  mist  and  cloud  again, 
To-morrow  le  to  clay.' 

This  law  of  mutation  which  is  jiere,  there  ami" 
everywhere,  a  part  of  nature's  pUiii^  yields  willing 
obedience  to  man,  hiiuself  a  servant  and  creatiife  of 
change.  It  can  be  for  better  or  for  worse,  areording 
as  he  wills  it  by  his  energy  oi-  his  sloth.  lietter  that 
a  child  should  never  be  born  tiian  that  he  .-hould  join. 
the  army  of  sluggaixls.  Better  that  a  legion  shonhl^ 
i-emain  in  its  pristine  wilderness,  its  native  grandner 
than  that  it  sluiiild  be  iilolently  or  carelessiy  redeemed. 

The  county  in  which  we  reside    was    \k>v\i    Marclu 


mONEEKS   AND   OLD   SETTLKliS  A!:^SuClATIOI«I.  iJ27 

1S55,  dulv  christened  Dakota  after  the  Dakota  Indians, 
and  sent  forth  to  battle  with  the  world  to  gain  riclies. 
fame,  glory,  success  and  perforce  happiness;  and  now 
that  the  thirtieth  milestone  has  been  reached,  m)w 
that  thirty  harvests  have  been  reaped,  garnered  and 
dii^tribnted.  it  is  pre-eminently  a  pn>per  time  to  ]-ake 
ovev  the  embers  of  the  fire  and  listen  to  the  cricket  on 
the  hearth,  and  it  does  not  require  an  acute  ear  to  hear 
this  philosopher  say  that  progress  has  been  steady  and 
great.  To  an  inhabitant  of  the  slow,  conservative 
eastern  coast  it  would  seem  incredible  to  hear  re- 
lated tliat  in  a  growth  of  thirty  years  within  an  aiea  of 
lii(),(JOO  acres,  and  without  any  lai'ge  town  a  county  in 
the  west  luid  attained  a  population  of  4,005,  it  would 
cause  his  'diair  to  stand  on  end  and  his  voice  to  stick 
in  his  throat"  when  he  realized  that  without  a  sign  to 
mark  the  pi'esence  of  man  35  years  ago.  There  are 
now  225  S(piare  miles  in  Dakota  county,  d  jtted  thickly 
willi  neat,  commodious  and  elegant  dwelling  houses, 
the  native  bareness  relieved  by  700  acres  of  homemade 
forests,  traversed  its  entire  length  by  the  iron  horse, 
.and  supplied  with  busy  thri vino-. energetic  towns.  What 
old  settler  is  there  here  today  who  would  liave  been 
bold  enough  to  prophesy  thar  in  i8b5  there  would  l>e 
in  cultivation  and  raising  wheat  10,000  acies,  corn  15,- 
<IO(l  acres,  oats,  bai'ley  and  potatoes  3,000  acres  ^  Tell 
me  old  settlers,  if  in  your  wildest  di'eams  id*  Utopian 
plenty,  did  you  dare  to  think  that  in  thirty  years,  scarce 
tiiirry  years,  there  would  bj  U.O'IO  hoi's^s.  t2,0l)0  cat- 
tle, ii).'00U  hitgs  and  [)i-op  M'ty  to  the  taxable  value  of 
8S()0.01)1)::  Ir  there  wa^  or  U  such  a,  man  let  him  seep 
forward.  f<u"  he  is  a  proplu't  greaic^r  than  Kli.-li  i.  lie 
was  an  optimist,  he  had  undmited  conlidence  ;iu;l  he 
has  seen  it  vertiiied. 

Fui'therniore  tiiere  is  this  tho .ght  whate'.'er  has 
been  wrought  in  this  cou"t\-  iias  been  iloue  by  the 
mu^ck'  and  ihtci'm  imirion  of  its  ritiz-'iis.  Large 
.amounts  of  capital  lia\e  not  bn_'n  mx'ested.   our     people 


828  Warner's  history  of  Dakota  county. 

for  the  most  part  cnine  here  poor  men  and  whatever 
competence  they  may  have  attained  has  not  been  the 
result  ol  big  interest  on  big  investments  but  a  mod- 
erate income  due  to  good  judgment  and  hard  work. 
The  student  of  political  economy  sees  mucli  cause  lor 
congratulation  in  a,  condition  like  this,  all  things  are  on 
a  tirni  equitable  basis;  where  all  men  are  comfortably 
well  off  there  may  be  fluctuations  but  never  distress, 
there  may  be  hard  times  but  the  people  of  '-JJakoia 
county"  will  live  and  make  money.  The  spirit 
of       change        njeans         here  the  spirit  of 

progress.  Note  the  improved  machinery,  tlie  better 
grade  of  cattle,  the  introduction  of  tauie  grass,  and  the 
raising  of  the  standard  of  the  farm  in  every  particular; 
and  yet  they  have  not  gone  too  fast.  There  ai'e  very 
few  mortgages  hanging  like  an  angry  thunder  'dou'd 
over  the  farms  and  it  is  to  be  prayed  there  may  never 
be  more.  Finally  allow  me  to  ask  what  l>etter  lot 
could  fall  to  man  than  to  be  a  farmer  in  the  county  of 
the  Dakota.  The  turtle  dove  cooes  of  peace  and  good 
will  in  the  foi'est  which  his  hand  has  made  in  the 
pasture,  his  cattle  chew  the  cud  of  contentment,  the 
tassels  waving  in  the  breeze  and  the  golden  grain  pro- 
duced by  a  soil  which  was  never  known  to  fail,  tell  him 
of  a  good  living  and  a  little  more.  This  is  the  picture 
and  it  represents  work  of  thehands  and  work  (»f  the  brain 
luxury  and  liberty  culture  and  contentn)ent. 

Any  person  who  owns  a  farm  in  Dakota  county 
and  has  it  paid  for  is  fixed  as  '-snug  as  a  bug  in  a  rug" 
and  if  he  is  nor  fairly  satisHed  it  is  a  foregone  conclu- 
sion that  he  couidn'c  i)e;  that  if  he  rolled  in  the  wealth 
of  Croesus  he  would  oI)ject  to  the  color  of  ^■()ld,  that  if 
he  sipped  of  nectar  wiUi  the  Gods  he  would  find  fault 
with  its  flavor,  but  foi-tunately  tiiei-e  are  few  of  such 
people  in  this  comiiiuniry.  If  they  occasii)n;illy  see 
the  opposite  side  of  the  picture  I  have  portrayed,  if 
the  cows  throw  away  the  cud  of  contentment  and  get 
into  the  corn  they  (piietly  di'ive  them  out  and  flx  the  fence. 


PIONICBRS    AND   OLD   SETTLKKS   ASSOCIATION.  321t 

If  once  in  a  life  time  a  gentle  zepliyi'  rudely  nproots  a 
IVw  of  the  trees  and  hastily  overturns  a  few  windmills 
or.r  people  on  the  morrow  plant  some  more  trees  and 
erect  better  mills,  (there  are  also  caves  promptly  dug. 
I'ut  that  is  irrelevant  to  the  question.)  If  occasionally 
it  is  too  wet  for  wheat  or  too  dry  for  the  corn  oui-  peo- 
ple do  not  don  the  brow  of  despondency  and  look  as  if 
ihey  had  seen  their  last  friend  and  had  a  iij^htwitii  him 
but  the  chances  are  they  will  be  planning  for  iiextyears" 
ciop  and  pointing  with  pride  to  the  fact  this  is  the  very 
iir.*t  reverse  in  the  last  ten  or  fifteen  years.  And  by 
the  way  don't  be  ashtimed  of  that  word  "Pkide,"  fondle 
it,  cai-ess  it  and  don't  lose  it.  Have  a  proper  pride  in 
the  county  which  has  made  you  and"  which  you  have 
lielped  to  make.  We  love  qur  government,  our  state 
and  let  us  extend  the  same  spirit  to  the  community  in 
which  we  live.  Let  us- try  to  make  our  part  of  the 
United  States  of  America  as  progressive,  as  beautiful 
and  as  moral  as  we  can.  It  is  a  part  of  us,  "bone  of 
our  bone  and  Hesh."  If  we  adorn  our  homes  let  us  do 
it  with  the  thought  that  we  are  adorning  our  county, 
onr  state  and  our  Union.  As  a  single  ray  of  ligl)t 
pa&ses  throngh  the  prism  and  becomes  the  seven  colors 
of  the  rain-bow,  so  will  a  strong  pride  in  our  county 
foster  s^icial  relations,  coml)at  selfishness,  instill 
patriotism  and  till  the  soul  witii  noble  and  happy 
thoiiojits. 

Dakota  connty  in  tlu^  past  has  been  progressive, 
Dakota  county  in  tiie  present  is  on  a  iirm  foundation 
witli  the  outlook  good;  what  will  Dakota  county  be 
in  the  future^  Old  settlei-s,  your  heritage  to  youi- 
childi-en  is  great  and  wortliy  of  your  vnior.  Settlers  of 
today,  it  is  a  pertinent  question  to  yon.  what  shall  your 
heritage  he(  Again  thei'e  v>-ill  be  a  change;  it  can  not 
he  avoided,  it  mu>t  I»o  made  subservient. 

'Turn,  turn  my  wheel  all  life  is  brief, 
What  now  is  l)iid  will  soon  be  leaf. 
What  now  is  \v;\l'  will  soon  decay, 


■Sol*  \VARNKi;V    HISTORY    OK   DAKolA     OorN'I'V. 

The  wind  blows  east  tlic  winds  l)!()w  west. 

'I'lie  blue  eggs  in  the  robins  nest. 

\\il]  sdon  have  wings  and  beak  and  erest. 

And  Ihitter  and  fly  away. 
Tliei^eloi-e  it  iiiav  rea;=onably  be  expected  that  '>y 
The  time  Uiirty  s-eat-ons  shall  have  come  and  Joined 
those  that  have  ^oiie  on  before,  that  many  of  those  who 
are  j)ioneers  and  (dd  settlers  now  Avill  he  Jiesv  settler.- 
ill  the  land  which  is  JDeyond  the  rising  snn.  and  that 
the  yoiino-  nien  of  the  present  will  be  old  settlei's  then. 
It  may  reasoua!>ly  be  expected,  even  amid  the 
vicissitudes  of  hiinuui  fortune,  that  Dakota  county  will 
coiitinne  to  prosper  and  increase  in  wisdom  and  plenty. 
It  is  expected  of  you  yonno;  men  and  women,  into 
whose  hands  this  tsaist  will  soon  be  given,  that  you  will 
advance  the  county  in  intelligence,  morality  aiul  wealth. 
It  is  expected  of  you  that  you  will  keep  step  with  the 
march  of  pro;;'ress,    i:hat  you  will — 

•Be  bold,  be  bold  and  everywdiere  be   bold-  -Better  the  excess. 
Than  the  defect,  better  the  more  than  less, 
Better  like  Hector  in  the  held  to  die. 
Than  like  a  perfumed  I'aris,  turn  and  fly." 


FIFTH  ANNUAL  ULUNION. 


The  associati(m  again  met,  and  held  tlieir  iiftii  re- 
union in  lliieman's  grove.  Saturday,  Anoiist  14,  I8b(). 
William  Woiley  acting  a.>  riiap.a'D.  Coi.  J.  K.  Wai'uer 
delivtreil  the  aMUUal  addie.-s  ..f  welccuiie  as>igned  t^^ 
the  i)i-esident.  The  memoi-ial  commiitee  (H>n'-i>ring  of 
William  il  dswortii,  Sa.u  .v.  CoMihs  and  M.  M.  Wai-nei- 
then  ollered  reboliiuoiis  on  i  uo  deaths  of  W  i  lliam  C.  iMc- 
Beath,  Willian.  Uovell,  Knos  Whinery  ami  Chas.  1>. 
jiaviiss,  which  wei'e  ad<ipM  d  by  the  association.  An, 
iidilress  wa.-  thru  made  oy    v\'i,iiaiii    it.    :Smiih    of    Siou.v 


PIONEKKS   AND  OLD   SETTLERS   ASSOCIATION.  331 

City.  Lowa.  The  following  officers  were  chosen  for  the 
eusuiiii;  year;  Col.  Plarlaa  Baird,  President;  Leonard 
Bates,  Vise  President;  Thomas  Ashford,  Treasurer;  D. 
r.  Dibble,  Secretary;  Tim  Carrabine,  Corresponding 
Secretary.  Memorial  committee:  William  Holsworth. 
(rerald  Dillon  and  Curtis  B.  .Bliven. 

Sam  A.  Combs  offered  a  resolution  that  the  society 
>e!ect  a  historian  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  write  bio- 
oraphical  sketches  of  the  members,  The  resolution 
was  adopted  and  M.  M.  Warner  chosen  historian  for 
the  association. 


SIXTH  ANNUAL  REUNION. 


Ililenian's  grove  was  again  selected  as  the  phice  to 
hold  tlic  si.\th  annual  rennion,  on  Saturdays  August  13. 
l~^^7.  Divid  Boals  acted  as  cliaphun  and  Col.  J.  F. 
AVurner  di'li\ered  the  address  of  welcome.  For  and 
in  behalf  of  the  association  hn  extended  to  one  and  all 
a  cordial  greeting,  jind  tx])re^^ed  a  hope  that  they 
might  be  permitted  to  meet  on  many  more  such  happy 
occasi(»ns.  ile  com  pared  the  wild  and  uncivilized 
scenes  (if  tiiii-ty  yeais  ago  wirli  the  grand  changes  which 
we  to(hiy  heho'ld' while  viewino-  the  beantifid  farms  and 
ple'asMi;!  honie>  of  I  lakoui  comity.  Lieutenant  W.  F. 
Norris  t'ilh)\\i  (I  with  rhe  oration  of  the  day.  He  paid 
a  glow;:iu- li-ibiire  to  the  weiilih  :iii(l  pi  <>>|)eri  ty  oi  Da- 
kota couiitv.  ■  iid  the  energy  and  enterpi-i.-e  of  her  peo- 
j)h'.  'I  i,e  nu  n.oii;:!  coinmitiee  then  oifei'ed  I'esolutions 
on  the  deatlis  of  .John  II.  Mann  and  Dmiel  Duggan, 
which  we:e  ;dM|. red.  f;h  crion  ol  officers  for  tiie  en- 
suing year  resiibed  -is  foi!o\v>:  Dr  (r.  W.  Wilkinson, 
,  piesiden.t;  .Joseph  Hranmm.  vice  president;  l\I.  M. 
VVjii-ne.-.  ^ecr  •■:  r\  jokI  lii>rorIan;  '1  homas  Ashford. 
treasure)-;      \V    C    I  )i  hl)le.  correspond  ing  secretary. 


■■]H2  \vaknh;k's  history  ov  Dakota  county. 

SEVENTH    ANNUAL  RErNION. 


Once  more  the  association  met  in  its  sevenrli  an- 
imal reunion  at  Hileman's  grove,  on  Satnr<]a'v.  Septem- 
ber 1,  1S88,  David  Boals  acting  as  cluiplain.  The 
president,  Dr  G.  W.Wilkinson  delivered  the  address 
of  welcome.  Speeches  appropriate  for  the  occa^ion 
were  then  made  by  Leonard  Bates,  J.  C.  (\  lloskins 
of  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  Jesse  Wigle,  N.  S.  Porter  nf 
Ponca,  Col.  C.  D.  Martin,  Col.  Jesse  F.  Warner.  S.  A. 
Combs  and  Dennis  Ai-monr.  The  following  officers 
were  elected  for  the  ensuino;  year:  Leonard  Bates, 
president;  D.  C.  Dibble,  vice  president;  ]\L  M. 
Warnei',  secretary  .and  Justorian;  Atlee  Hart,  cor- 
I'csponding  secretary ;     Thomas  Ashford,  ti'easnrer. 


EIGHTH.  ANNUAL  REUNION' 


The  eighth  annual  reunion  wns  held  on  the  gi'ound 
of  the  Homer  Driving  Park  associatioiu  neai-  Homer, 
on  Saturday,  August  17,  1881).  Ptev.  I'eanlsheai',  of 
Ponca,  acted  as  chaplain.  The  ])fesi(lent.  Leonard 
jjates,  delivered  the  address  of  welcome.  The  orution 
of  the  day  wss  delivered  by  Gov.  John  Rl.  Tha\er. 
The  memorial  conimittfe  had  recorded  tjie  death  of  the 
following  during  the  year:  Daniel  McETitarffer,  Ellen 
T.  Jones. -lohn  Williams,  Jclia  L..  Mai'y  L.  and  Daniel 
C.  O'Connor.  Anna  A.  Latnp-on,  Elma  J.  Taylor,  Ellen 
G.  Gribble,  Martha  Taylor  ai;d  Jtjseph  Smitlu  Officers 
foi-  the  ensuing  year  were  elected  as  follows:  Dennis 
Armour,  president;  Joseph  Br;inn;in.  vice  picsident: 
M.  M.  Warner,  secretary  and  historian;  S.  A.  Combs, 
L.  M.  Warner  and  Dr.  G.  W.  Wilkinson,  memorial 
committee. 


PIONKKKS  A^'D  OLD  SETTLEKS  ASSOCIATION.  888 

NINTH  ANNUAL  REUNION. 


Aoraiii  the  association  met  on  the  gTouiids  of  the 
llomer  Driving  Park  association,  in  tlieii"  nintli  annual 
reunion,  on  Saturday,  Septeinl)er  6.  1890.  President 
Dennis  Armour  delivered  the  annual  address  of  wel- 
come as  follows: 
••Friends  and  Neighboks: — 

Moses  has  it  in  the  program  that  I  am  to  deliver 
the  openincp  address.  I  don't  mean  Moses,  the  law 
o'iver  and  liistorian  of  Israel,  but  Moses,  the  historian 
and  secretary  of  the  Pioneers  and  i)]d  Settler's  associa- 
tiun  of  Dakota  county,  Nebraska— the  man  that  is 
doing  the  n'ost  work  to  preserve  from  oblivion  the 
luemory  of  the  early  settlers  of  Dakota  county.  Moses, 
the  son  of  Col.  J.  F.  Warner,  our  departed  friend  and 
associate  and  one  of  the  most  eloquent  men  of  the 
northwest.  He  has  crossed  the  dark  river  and  is  on 
the  bright  shore  where  sorrow  comes  not  and  tears 
never  flow;  but  we  miss  his  genial  presence  and  the 
warm  pressure  of  his  hand. 

It  is  part  of  our  lot  to  mourn  departed  friends. 
Onr  bodies  are  but  earth  and  it  is  according  to  the 
laws  of  natiiie  that  all  bodies  composed  of  matter 
should  have  a  period  of  life  and  end  in  dissolution. 
Sience  teaches  us  that  not  for  eternity  is  written  on 
the  stars  of  heaven  that  light  with  beauty  the  mid- 
night sky.  Hilt  the  soul,  the  spirit,  is  not  composed 
of  matter,  is  not  subject  to  the  same  law  and  it  has 
bct'ti  believed  every  since  the  first  dawn  of  intelligence 
among  human  beings  that  this  life  is  out  the  moi'ning 
of  an  eteriud  existence;  that  tlie  soul  will  be  ever  grow- 
ing. (>ver  iiicreas'ng  in  happiness  within  itself.ever  more 
ca|);ilile  of  imparting  happiness  to  others.  It  is  to  be 
hoj)ed  tliat  we  will  all  niake  a  good  use  of  our  life  so 
as  to  secure  hapf)iness. 

Let  us  greet  each  other  as  l)eloved    friends   to-day. 


334 


WARNEitS   HISTORY   Ol'    DAKOTA   COUNTY. 


Let  all  that    would    hinder   disappear   as    tlie    Dioi'niiio- 
mist  before  the  rising  sun. 

Welcome,  pioneers!  Weleonie,  old  settlers  I  Wel- 
come, new  settlers!  to  our  reunion.  To  those  who 
have  removed  from  our  county  we  say.  Welcome! 
May  your  hearts  be  gladdened  by  meeting  the  friends 
of  your  early  years  and  your  eyes  view  with  joy  the 
wonderful  prosperity  and  beauty  of  your  old  home,  Da- 
kota county. 

Tu  onr  friends  from  fSioux  City  we  say,  Welcome! 
We  are  glad  to  meet  you  here.  You  are  our  friends. 
We  feel  and  know  that  the  prosperity,  that  the  beauti- 
ful homes  we  possess,  are  largely  dne  to  onr  living  near 
a  good  market  town.  Your  enterprise,  your  public 
spirit  has  been  of  great  benetit  to  Dakota  county.  Tnat 
muddy  stream  that  liows  between  does  not  divide  (uir 
interests  nor  our  sympathies.  Sioux  City  is  the  com- 
mercial metropolis  of  Northern  Nebraska. 

W^e  greet  you,   Welcome!" 

The  memorial  committee  made  their  I'cport  show- 
ing the  deaths  of  thii'ty-live  people  within  one  year, 
anmng  whom  wei'e:  Stephen  Siniuitt,  KdWiii  Briindi, 
Mrs.  Emma  F.  Whitehorn,  John  rwoiii^r,  Aii's.  J. 
O.  Fisher,  liotleib  lierger,  Airs.  N .  D.  Crippm.  Alfred 
Vigo  Clauson,  Estelle  Victoria  Hunt.  Sumn.  r  NViii trier. 
Thomas  Cnrren,  Col.  Jesse  F.  \Varnt'r.  John  Shelock. 
Frank  O'Connor,  Jacob  Sides,  John  Smitli,  Sr.,  Eimei 
McQuilkin,  Mrs.  Mafgaret  Endei\-by,  Aii-s,  iviary  Mc- 
intosh and  Rebecca  Jane  I>aird.  Speeches  weie  made 
by  William  R,  Sndth,  J.C.C.  Lloskins,  John  LL  Chai'les. 
E.  C.  Palmer,  Mr.  Kirk  and  A.  (Tro.iiinger,  all  ot  Sioax 
City,  L)vva.  Remarks  were  also  made  by  W' iliiam  Uoh 
worth,  Gen.  Joseph  IlcUmaii.  J.  J.  .McAllister,  Meil  C. 
Jay  and  J.  J.  McCarthy.  OtHeers  tor  the  ensuing  year 
were  cho.-en  as  follow.--:  Josejiii  Ibannan,  Fi'csuietir; 
Thomas  J.  King,  Vice  Presidenr;  M.  M.  W^rn  r,  Sec- 
retary and  llistoi-ian;  Atlee  llait,  (\ii;  (-.-pondin::-  See- 
retary:  Thomas  Ashfoi-d,  Sr..  Tre;i!-ni-er:  S  m  ..('onil)-. 
John  T.  Spencer  and  C.  15.  i>liven,  Menmi'ial  (Jommittee. 


'Io^:-;eks  a>1)  ojji  .--ettlkk^  as>u(  jatio.x.  ;JH." 

TENTH  ANNUAL  REUNON. 


The  tenth  aiiiinal  ixMinioii  was  held  in  C'liiiton 
Park,  adjoining-  Dakota  City  on  tlie  west.  Saturday. 
August  22,  1891.  Uncle  David  Boa  Is  aoain  acted  as 
chaplain.  The  president,  Joseph  Brannan.  omitted  his 
annual  address  of  welcoine  to  shorten  the  proifrani  in 
conse(i[uence  of  threatning  weatlier.  William  Jj.  Joy. 
of  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  delivered  the  oration  of  the  day. 
He  iriade  an  eloquent  speech  tracing  this  country  from 
its  geological  period  down  to  the  present  time.  The 
memorial  committee  reported  thirty-three  deaths  dur- 
ing the  past  year,  among  wdiom  were:  Thomas  Ilodgin. 
Miss  Elizabeth  Lapsley,  Miss  Maggie  Gribble,  Samuel 
Gatton,  Anna  Booney,  Mrs.  Cliarles  Tennant.  Matt 
Coilins,  George  Herb,  Daniel  McMillen.  Patrick  Two- 
hig,  William  Winkhaus,  Col.  Charles  D.  Martin,  Mrs 
Alex  Nixon,  Jermiah  Lucey,  Christina  Jacobson,  Jame? 
McKeiina,  Samuel  Osman,  Mrs.  B  L.  Thompson.  Mrs. 
John  Naffziger.  Katie  O'Connor.  David  W.  Shuil  and 
William  Kelsey.  Election  of  officers  for  the  ensuing- 
year  i-esulted  as  follows:  Gen.  Joseph  Hollman,  Presi- 
dent; D.  C.  Dibble,  Vice  President;  M.  M.  Warner. 
Secretary  and  Historian;  Thomas  Ashford,  Sr.,  Treas- 
urer; Sam  A.  Coinbs,  John  T.  Spencer  and  Gerald 
Dillon,  Memorial  Committee. 


ELEVENTH  ANNUAL  REUNION. 


It  was  tho-iglit  best  to  change  tlie  locatioii  to  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  county,  cot^sequently  the  eleventh 
•annual  reutiion  was  held  in  Barry's  beautiful  grove, 
west  of  Jackson,  on  Saturday,  August  20,  18U2.  Tliat 
venei-able  pioneer  chaplain.  Uncle  David    Boals   offered 


38()  WAKNKii's   HIS'iOKV    'Ji'    DAKOTA  COLM  1  V. 

a  fei'veiit  prayer  uppropriate  for  the  uccasion,  after  wliirii 
the  president, Gen.  Joseph  Holhnan  delivered  the  ii'.iuu.il 
address  of  welcome  Ed.  T.  Kearney  in  l)ehalf  of  Juri^ 
Mill  welcomed  '"Our  Guests,"'  and  did  it  well  and  l-I..- 
(|nently.  The  nieniorial  committee  made  their  icjiurr 
for  the  past  year  recordino-  the  deaths  of  tvveiity-eMlit 
uid  settlers  as  follows:  Airs.  Thomas  llooan.  Father 
Wm.  Hamilton,  P.  J.  Keetfe,  Charles  E.  Hazel  or,,  ve, 
Daniel  E.  Diigtjan,  Mrs.  Maggie  Kelley,  Mrs.  Pin.- 
Neff,  George  E.  Ii-onsides,  Mrs.  John  H.  I3ridenb;iiigh, 
Thomas  L.  Grilfey,  John  Ryan,  Charles  Donahue,  Mrs. 
Marinda  Westcot^  Mrs.  John  Dillon,  Hugh  Myer>, 
Dntton  I^ane,  Michael  Keel,  Martin  Dewire,  James 
Williams,  Michael  Dewire,  Joachim  Oesterling,  Mrs. 
F.  A.  Eobinson.  Williani  A.  Campbell,  John  Howard, 
Mrs.  Caleij  Antrim,  J  i\,  Mrs.  Joseph  Goodiiow,  John 
McGee  and  James  Laiiey.  In  the  afternoon  Mell  C. 
Jay  delivered  the  following  eloquent  address: 

"THE  WHEELS  OF  PEOGT^ES?." 

"Mk.  Fkesidk^t,  LAniES  aku  Gentlemen: — 

The  toast  master  Inis  re(|nii'ed  of  me  a  ditHcult 
task — to  repiy  to  the  toast,  -The  Wheels  of  Progress,'' 
and  tiuit,  too.  in  five  minutes 

The  proo-ress  of  niaid<iiid  embraces  the  histoi-y  of 
the  world,  and  tiiis  our  civilization,  imperfect  as  it  may 
l)e,  is  the  result  oi  lon^-  centui'ies  of  struggle  and  toil. 
This  fair  land  of  ours,  covered  with  homes  and  harvests, 
filled  with  the  sound  of  indnstiy.  has  been  made  possible 
only  by  a  C(»iitest  that  has  been  as  l)itter  as  the  human 
passions  .and  ;is  long  continued  as  the  ceni-uries. 

Ilunnin  pi'ogi'ess  is  only  possibu'  with  human  lib- 
erty. You  chain  a  nnuTs  hands  and  you  chain  his  heart 
and  brain.  It  has  heen  fre(|nently  ashed  how  it  w;is 
possible  foi-  this  I'epuUic  to  make  the  advancement  in  a 
liundred  vears  that  other  mitions  h:,ve  failed  to  reich  in 
centui'ies.  The  answer  is,  because  this  government  be- 
lieved in  the  ])i  inciple  that  before  na:ions  nuide  citizens. 


I'lONEERS  AND  OLD   SETTLERS  ASSOCIATION.  337 

H  great  nature  iiad  made  men;  men  free  to  act  plan  an 
think  for  tliemselves. 

A¥hen  the  leaders  of  the  revolution  were  canvassing 
the  advisability  of  issuing  the  declaration  of  independ- 
ence. Tom  f*ajne  said:  ''Tliat  under  tlie  priuciples  of 
the  government,  resting  upon  the  will  of  the  people, 
there  would  spring  forth  upon  this  continent,  an  em- 
pire that  would  stretch  frum  sea  to  sea,  and  whose 
j^uwer  and  influence  would  be  felt  world  wide,  and 
whose  civilization  woukl  be  reflected  wherever  the 
liearts  of  men  throbbed  with  the  love  of  justice,  lib- 
erty and  law.''  It  was  a  prophecy,  to  be  sure,  but  it 
came  true.  Then  was  lit  tlie  great  beacon  light  of 
progress,  that  wms  tu  light,  and  guide,  and  direct  hu- 
manity in  the  Solution  or  tiiat  most  diflicult  pi'oblem. 
■\  govei'iiment,  for  and  th rough  the  people.  The  con- 
test was  long  and  bitter,  l)ut  tiie  progress  has  been  sure. 

A  Conflict  that  was  to  test  our  form  of  government 
in  the  great  crucible  of  conflict;  a  contest  that  was  to 
[)e(»pk'  our  soil  with  thousands  of  graves,  whose  occu- 
pant- hail  given  ail,  that  the  light  of  liberty  and  pi'og- 
ressshonni  not  go  out,  and  that  the  love  of  human 
rights  ••-houki  at  la?t  bear  down  all  opposition.  W'e 
have  not  yet  I'eached  that  p(jint,  but  have  made 
wonderfiii    ad vai.ci-ment   in    that   direction. 

\\\-  are  fi'upKiitly  told  that  American  advance- 
menf  ami  .American  j)rogie?s  is  a  myth,  guided  and 
<liieeU(i  U\  baO  uiau  and  luid  mo-tives,  in  which  hiiniau 
i-ighi.-  are  l«ic,c  sight  of;  biit  be  not  deceived — true  there 
an-  auu  es.  Ait  n  ;ire  ii(,)L  periect,  neitiier  ai'e  govein- 
mt  nt^.  but  tiie  pmposes  of  oiii'  people  are  right;  sonie- 
tnio  |)a?siou  and  piejudice  may  ciog  the  great  wheels 
il  |)i"gi"e.-s,  btit  in  tlie  end  all  will  be  well.  From  the 
t)  '  nuaiis  ctrried  tneii'  eagles  over  the  world   to 

ti.  .    iiir    l^.ngli.-h    King   (.7eorge,    there   btalkfd 

;t:'  'u  a  griiii  sjiecife  of  war.  ui  famine,  of  slavery  and 
<d  ill.-,,  (Ill  the  w.n-hi  was  drenched  and  re-drenched 
■^'  .  ••    ;:;Hi   with  the  biood  of  starvino-  and  miij-dcied 


8H8  Warner's  history  of  Dakota  county. 

millions.  But  tlironu-h  it  all  thtTe  still  lived  that  love 
ofliinnan  lil)orty,  tliiit  wa-at  Inst  destined  to  be  refiected 
ill  the  Auiei'ieini  ivjiiiltlie. 

Not  ill  one  direction  only  have  we  seen  the  advanee- 
nieiit  of  the  wheels  of  jirooress.  hut  in  everything  that 
adds  to  or  contributes  lo  the  happiness  or  comfort  of 
man.  In  the  in<liistrial  and  intellectual  worlds  tiie  peo- 
|ile  have  kept  pace  with  the  centuries,  and  umler  the 
impulse  <»f  American  ueiiins  the  great  piiwers  of  elec- 
tricity and  sream  have  \vr(»noht  a  re\-oliitioii  in  the  com- 
mercial and  industrial  world. 

()ur  ci\ili/.;ition  has  e\tende<l  to  the  furthermost 
parts  of  the  earth  and  the  history  of  (Uir  progress  lias 
stirred  the  hearts  wherever  intelligence  and  enterprise 
is  known  aiul  I'espected  by  men.  I)o  not  nndei-stand 
me  to  say  that  our  government  is  yet  perfect,  but  the 
great  wheels  of  progress  are  turning  the  I'ight  direction. 

Lincoln  signed  but  one  page  of  tlie  emancipation 
of  ineii;tliere  is  another  yet  to  sign,  and  soon,  and  when 
that  is  signed  it  will  take  out  of  the  cotton  mills  and 
coal  mines  of  the  east,  thousands  of  little  chiidren  and 
feed  and  clothe  and  school  them.  Then  will  never  be 
heard  the  tramj),  tramp,  tramp  of  armies  of  men  out  of 
work.  Then  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  settle  disputes 
between  em  plover  and  employee  by  gunpowder  and  steel. 
Then  will  be  taken  from  the  streets  of  our  cities  tlie 
thousands  of  young  women  and  gir's  driven  there  by 
the  want  of  bread.  Then  shall  be  declared  that  Divine 
law,  that  man  is  a  man,  entitled  to  the  rights  of  meiu 
freed  from  the  iron  grasp  of  king,  maii-stealer  and  mo- 
nopolist. 

Ceaseless  growth  means  ceaseless  e)nancipations 
and  the  chorus  that  Lincoln  lieard  in  the  guns  of  Fort 
Sumpter  and  the  Wilderness,  plays  on,  and  one  by  one 
the  cry  of  the  imprisoned  and  the  iinprisoner  blend  into 
the  strains  of  a  widening  freedom,  and  the  wheels  of 
progi-ess  will  roll  on  until  every  question  hetvveen  man 
and  man  will  be  considered  a  question  of  moral  economy.. 


I'lONEERS  AND  OLD  SETTLKKS  ASSOCIATION.  339 

till  one  man  will  not  l)e  allowed  to  offer  charity  where 
he  offers  justice.  But  the  other  day  the  news  was  flashed 
over  the  sea  that  even  aristocratic  England  had  declared 
in  favor  of  home  i-nle  for  old  Ireland.  Yes,  the  light  of 
human  liberty  and  progress  is  still  shining  on  land  and 
sea.  Let  ns  hope  that  its  light  may  never  grow  dim, 
but  let  it  light  poor  humanity  "until  the  great  chorus 
will  roll  round  the' entire  earth.  "Peace  on  earth,  good 
will  towards  men."' 


The  following  was  written  by  Dr.  G.  W.  Wilkin- 
son (»n 

"the  early  settlers  of  dakota  county." 
"Mb.  President,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen: — 

To  do  justice  to  the  early  settlers  of  Dakota  county 
as  I  view  them,  to  tell  of  their  good  qualities  as  I  have 
known  them,  to  set  them  before  the  world  as  I  have  seen 
them,  to  re-count  their  heroic  deeds  in  the  army  and 
their  noble  deeds  at  home,  would  require  not  five 
minutes,  but  days;  not  a  short  paper  like  this,  but  a 
1>ook. 

The  early  settlers  of  Dakota  county  came  here 
from  almost  every  state  in  the  Union,  from  the  Do- 
!ninion  of  Canada,  and  from  every  country  of  Europe. 
They  jostled  down  together,  rounded  off  each  others 
square  corners,  copied  eacli  others  good  qualities,  drank 
water  out  of  the  same  tin  dipper,  drank  sometliing  else 
out  of  the  same  jug,  faced  the  same  blizzards,  cussed 
the  same  grasslioppers,  shared  the  last  ten  pounds  of 
corn  meal,  divided  the  last  pecic  of  potatoes,  until  they 
came  to  be  l)ound  together  by  ties  that  can  never  be 
broken  in  this  life,  more  like  brothers  than  neighbors, 
and  became  knit  together  into  the  best  and  the  most 
harmonious  community  in  the  state  of  Nebraska. 

I  wish  I  had  hours  of  time  in  which  to  tell  you  of 
the  surpassing  excellence  of  character  of  the  individuals 
of  the  early  settlers  but  that  is  impossible.     1  hope  and 


o4<*  Warner's  history  of  Dakota   county. 

lielie\e  that  the  coming  race  of  men  and  women  of  Da 
kota  L-ounty  will  be  an  honor  to  the  state  and  to  Imman- 
ity.  The  best  I  can  wish  for  them  is  that  they  may  \>v 
an  honor  to  their  parents,  the  early  settlers.  And  I  pre- 
dict that  these  young  men  and  maidens  lifty  years  from 
now,  when  tlieir  hair  is  grown  gVay  and  their  eyes  ai'e 
grown  dim,  will  gratefully  remember,  the  early  settler,- 
(it  Dakota  county,  and  say,  we  nether  shall  see  their  like 
again.  _        . 

Already  the  people  of  Dakota  county  ai-e  beginning 
to  I'ererence  the  memory  of  VVm.  McBeath,  of  Daniel 
Duggan.  of  Col.  Warner,  of  Jas.  Stott,  of  John  How- 
ard, of  John  Heit'ernan,  of  John  Maun,  of  Goodwin 
Taylor,  of  John  Ryan,  and  scores  of  others  who  have 
^(»ne  before. 

And  of  the  early  settlers  who  are  still  living,  whar 
-hall  we  sa\  ?  To  look  into  their  faces,  to  take  them  by 
liie  hand,  to  lieai'  tlieir  cordial  trreetincr,  to  breathe  the 
;:tniosphere  of  tlieir  honest  welcomes  of  each  other  and 
ol  one  and  all,  is  a  tiaie  inspiration.  They  are  worthy 
:-ons  of  a  noble  state.  To  name  them  would  take  all 
I  ay.  They  are  all  about  you  here.  You  can't  go  amis^. 
That  man  at  your  elbow  is  one  of  them.  When  these 
(  hiidren  come  to  lo(d\  Icick  thi'ough  the  golden  haze  of 
fifty  years  they  will  appreciate  the  true  worth  of  these, 
(lod's  noblemen. 

])Ut  if  we  sav  so  much  of  the  men  of  the  early 
^ettlers,  \\hat  can  we  s;iy  ot  the  women  r  They  shared 
onr  hardest  lot  without  complaining.  Oiir  privations 
'\cre  here  only  in  gi-eater  deuree.  If  we  iiad  but  tlnee 
I dtaldts  ibr  dinne!'.  she  ate  but  one.  ISlie  has  siuiinn.'red 
:iii(l  winteied  us  all  liiese  ytai's.  8he  has  siimotlicd  oui- 
^uiula\-  shirts,  and  our  rufHed  temper.  They  sewed  on 
t  111'  buttons  ..nd  spanived  our  babies  and  boiled  our  po- 
i;it<ies,  and  now  ami  then,  when  occasion  re(juired  it,  .-he 
gave  us  a  ju't  ce  of  iiei'  mind,  and  told  us  lot^  of  truth 
;diout  us,  and.  it  did  us  good.  And  then  siie  took  np 
the  burd"n    of    lite    iigain,    patiently    toiling,    burdene.l 


I'lONEEKS  AND   OLD   SEITLEKS  A.SSOCIATloN.  ;j41 

witii  cares  and  anxieties  we  could  not  share;  with 
Cliristian  spirit  she  led  her  children  and  us  in  the  het- 
ter  way.  Time's  footprints  are  putting  wrinkles  on  her 
hrow.  The  frosts  of  many  winters  are  gathering  on  her 
head.  But  to  us  she- seems  more  beautiful  than  eve;-, 
(lod  hless  hei". 

The  early  settlers  are  the  crowning  glory  of  Dakw  , 
county  and  Dakota  county  is  the  crowning  glory  of  Ihi  - 
the  lie.-t  state  of  all  this  glorion-s  American  land.  On., 
early  settlers  are  the  best  pioneers  of  the  whole  woild 
Their  wives  ai-e  a  little  better  than  the  men.  Our  yoiin:: 
men  are  the  most  promising  of  all  anfl  our  young  womc;! 
have  promised  to  marry  them,  ov  will  when  rliey  -aw 
asked  to,  our  children  ai'e  tJie  brightest  and  our  bai)ie> 
a,re  the  sweetest,  our  apples  are  ihe  biggest  and  our 
cherries  are  the  reddest,  our  corn  is  the  tallest  and  oui 
soil  is  the  richest  of  any  in  this  big  round  world.  Ami 
away  down  in  the  bv-ttom  c.f  our  hearts  we  do  pity  pim- 
ple who  don't  live  in  Dakota  county." 

The  followin>j^  officers  were  elected  loi-  the  cnsiii:ii^ 
year:  John  Naffziger.  President;  1).  C.  Dib!)le.  X'w  ■ 
Pi-esident;  M.  M.  Warner,  Secretary  and  Historian: 
Thomas  Ashford.  Sr.,  Treasurer;  Atlee  Hart,  Cmiih' 
s|)ondiiig  Secretary;  Sam  A.  Combs,  Joiiy  T.  Spencc.i- 
nnd  Gerald   IJillon,  jMemoiial  Comniittee. 


TWELFTH  ANNUAL  KKIWIOX. 


The  association  hehl  theii-  twelfth  annual  leniiiun 
■nn  tlie  beautiful  shoi'es  of  Crystal  lake,  aiKiut  midway 
between  South  Sioux  City  and  Dakota  City,  on  Thurs- 
day. Auirust  ;-51.  18<J3.  At  l():;iO  the  president,  Jolm 
Nafiziger,  called  the  vast  assemblaue  to  ordei".  which 
■was  estinnited  to  iia\'e  been  about  5,000.  V.  A.  Roli'n 
L-on  offered  up  a  pi-ajer  suitable  for   the  occasion,  aftej 


34:2  WARNEK  S   mSTOKV   OF    DAKOTA     C0I:NTY. 

which  the  president  delivered  the  usual  address  of  wel- 
come. He  recalled  the  fact  that  thirty-eight  years  a<j;u 
Jesse  Wigle  nuule  the  iii'st  penuaiient  settlciueut  in  Da- 
kota county.  He  recalled  the  ])rivations  and  sufterings 
of  1856-7;  remenihered  Father  Tracey  and  his  H'ish  col- 
ony, that  had  camped  on  the  very  grounds  where  the 
children  and  grand  cliiidren  of  the  colonist>  were  now 
assembled  to  pay  tribute  to  those  who  .  had  lain  the 
foundations  upon  which  ihe  present  piosperity  of  the 
county  has  been  built.  The  men  who  camped  on  the 
lake  thirty  jears  ago  were  youths  or  men  in  the  prime 
of  life.  They  revisit  its  sliores  and  there  are  luany 
feeble  among  them  and  many  gray.  But  they  came  to 
Crystal  lake  upon  a  great  mission  thirty  years  figo. 
They  came  to  found  homes  and  they  founded  them. 
His  address  touched  the  heart  of  every  pioueer  who 
heard  him  because  they  knew  he  was  talking  from 
actual  experiences,  having  shared  alike  with  thejn  the 
trials  and  privations  of  early  times. 

Sam  A.  Coml)s,  chairman  of  the  memorial  com- 
mittee reported  twenty-six  deaths  during  the  yeai*. 
among  whom  were:  Peter  Carney,  Mrs.  Di-.E.  J.  Deljell. 
John  M.  Moan,  John  Sohn.  Mrs.  O.  H.  Lake,  Abraham 
Drake,  Jamos  T.  McHenry,  W.  I.  Broyhill,  Mrs.  Gus- 
tave  Berger,  George  Franulin  Wood,  Col.  C.  C.  Orr. 
Mrs.  Peter  Rooney,  Jesse  Wigle,  Mrs.  Thos.  C.  Clapp. 
Mrs.  Flora  Whittecar,  William  Cullen,  Mrs.  Carl 
Larsen  and  Mrs.  Jeanette  Armour. 

John  T.  Spencer  of  the  memorial  committee  made 
some  very  appropriate  remarks  on  the  lives  of  those 
who  had  departed  to  the  silent  land  during  the  past 
year. 

Mell  C.  Jay  then  responded  to  the  toast;  ''Eulogy 
to  the  Pioneers." 

Remarks  were  made  by  Dennis  Aruiour,  Ed.  T. 
Kearney  and  Isaac  Pendleton.  Following  is  a  beautiful 
poein  composed  and  read  on  thisoccasion  by  Mr.Kearney 
in  opening  his  address: 


PIONEERS  AND  OLD  SETTLERS  ASSOCIATION.  34^ 

UAIL  PIONEER! 

Kail  Pioneer— through  the  woodland — glad  resounding, 
Come  the  shouts  of  joy  and  glee; 
Banners  waiving,  mirth  abounding. 
Causing  -sorrow  grim  to  flee. 

Once  a  year— the  scences  repeated, 

While  the  autumn  still  is  young. 
And  thou- oh,  Pioneer  -  who  in  these  sylvan  shades 
Didst  first  Dame  Nature  battle  give,  lirst  rudely  mar 
The  foi'ests  grim  repose  -  carving  from  out  her  rugged  trunks* 
A  lowly,  happy  home  -aye,  upon  her  bosom,  wildly  fair. 
Made  there  thy  haven  and  thy  rest. 
Hail,  J^ioneer— nor  deem  it  wrong, 
When  the  autumn  with  the  ripened  stores  comes  tripping 

o"er  the  hills, 
With  its  garnered  fruits  and  grains; 
Ilail  thou  -oh,  sturdy   I'ioneer— who  when  thy  years  were 

young, 
Thy  strength  and  vigor,  zeal  and   nerve,  against    Dame  Na 

ture  flung. 
Unfair  seemed  then  the  conflict, as  a  gnat  against  lion  strong 
But  (iod  was  Willi  tlie  I'ioneer,  to  Him  the  thanks  belong. 
Full  long  thy  arduous  labor— full  sore  thy  grievous  pain, 
Init  now  the  victory's  won  -thy  toil  hath  beautifled  the 

I  laiiis: 
bor  age  thy  praises  will  be  sung,  thy  name  held  ever  dear, 
Long  mayest    thou   live,    and  dying   find   sweet   peace  -oh 
I'ioneer 


Officers  wei'o  chosen  t'oi-  the  ensuing  year  as  fol- 
lows: John  \X .  Ilazleorove,  I'resideiit;  Capt.  Cornelius 
<  )"('(iiiiioi',  y\('e  President;  John  T.  Spencei-,  Seoretai-y; 
M.  M.  NVnincr.  II  istorian  ;  Thos.  Ashfonl,  Sr.,  Treasurer; 
\^'illi;nii  P.  Warner.  ( 'ofrespondincr  Secretary;  A.  II. 
IJakcr,  l'"inancial  Seci'otary;  ISam  A.  Coiiilts,  John  T. 
Spencer  and  (Jcrahi  Dillon.  Menh)rial  ("onimittee.  It 
was  decided  to  hold  the  next  annual  reunion  at  Dakota 
Oiry,  in  Clinion  Park,  Thiuvday,  Aug.  1(),  18'.J4:. 


ANECDOTES. 


CHAPTER  XIX 


Pioneers'  ''Experience  Meeting. "—Stories  of  Ye 
Olden  Times. 


liKLoNiiHI)  TO  'I'HE  (JOTNTY. 

A.  IJ.  Baker  told  the  following:  It  was  in  1857. 
when  two  strangers  coming  from  the  steamboat  landing 
at  Dakota  City  found  a  J$20  gold  piece.  Both  saw  it  at 
tlie  same  insrant.  but  of  course  only  one  of  them  could 
pick  it  up,  and  the  fellow  that  got  left  appealed  the  case 
to  Cliauncy  A.  Horr,  Probate  Judge.  His  Honor,  with 
all  the  dignity  of  a  judge,  agked  the  man  to  let  him  sec 
the  gold  coin,  wiiereupon  he  slipped  it  down  into  his 
pantciloou  pocket,  witli  the  remark  that  "this  belongs  to 
the  t-ountv."  and  proceeded  !o  adjourn  court. 


)KiKs  OF  YE  uj>ij::n  times. 


TO  PRESERVE  FARM  LANDS. 

Col.  Baniabus  Bates  came  forward  and  stated  tliat 
away  back  in  tlie '50s  udien  every  man  that  came  to  the 
county  thono^ht  he  was  ordained  to  be  the  founder  of 
soiue  mighty  city,  it  began  to  look  as  if  the  whole  Mis- 
souri bottom  would  be  laid  off  into  town  sites,  and  in 
order  to  protect  the  agricultural  interests  he  introduced 
;i  bill  in  tlie  Territorial  Council,  while  a  member  of  that 
l)ody,  which  ^-reserved  every  tenth  eection  for  farming 
purposes." 


DISTURBING  THE  PEACE. 

Charles  Reom  married  Dr.  Crockwell's  hired  giri 
at  Dakota  City,  and  of  course  the  boys — (now  ^vay 
iiaired  pioneers,)  gave  him  a  charivari.  One  of  the 
guests  told  Reom  to  take  a  cow  bell  and  go  out  and 
iieip  the  boys — but  he  liad  only  begun,  when  he  was 
arrested  for  disturbing  the  peace  and  lockeil  up  for  the 
lught  in  jail. 


DEDICATION. 

Wm.Cheeney  tells  about  the  dedication  of  tlielir.-.r 
saloon  of  Dakota  City.  The  Omadi  boys  were  invited 
up  to  manage  the  ceremonies,  and  James  Dickey, Charlev 
Kelly.  Charley  Morse,  Robert  Alexander,  and  others  of 
iliiit  town  met  at  the  Dakota  City  saloon  and  with  much 
delii)eration  and  solemn  speeches  dedicated  it  under  the 
nnme  of  the  "Calf's  Tail." 


WAS  THE  RIVER  SAFE? 

"Once  upon  a  time"  before  the  advent  of  the   rail- 
inndstu  Dakota  ('ity  Mai-cellus  Ream  took  two  stranger. 


^46  Warner's  histokv  of  Dakota    coiN'rv. 

over  to  Covington  with  hi?  team,  for  wliich  they  were 
to  pay  him  $2.50.  When  they  reached  the  river  hank, 
it  was  just  gettins:  dark,  and  Mr.  Iveam  remarked  that 
as  it  had  been  so  warm  that  day  the  river  was  prohably 
unsafe,  wlierenpon  the  strangeis  volunteei-ed  to  go  down 
and  see  if  the  river  was  safe — which  was  the  last  he 
eve'"  saw  of  the  men  or  tlie  n^2.50,  that  they  wei'e  to 
pay  him,  and  to  this  day  JVlarcellus  wonders  if  the  river 
M'as  really  safe. 


A  MILL  SITE. 

In  eaily  times  Dr.  Crookweil  located  in  Sergeants 
Blnff,  Iowa,  and  tiitd  to  liocini  that  ])lHce  by  extensively 
advertising  it  as  an  e,\ti;,<ii(li!,aiy  mill  site.  One  night 
a  Jjarty  arrived  thtre  1o  look  njt  n  location  for  a  mill, 
and  the  next  mornin;^  incjnintl  ot  Uroekwell  where  the 
mill  site  wai- — *'l  ]>  theie.  t;eiit  U  men."  he  replied,  pt)int- 
ing  to  the  to])  ot  the  high  bmlit-.  "tlieie  is  one  of  the 
finest  mill  sites  in  the  world — theie  is  always  wind 
enough  np  there  to  I'lin  any  kind  of  a  mill." 


GEOROE'S  LITTLE  HAY  STACK. 

One  time  in  the  fall  of  18*)^  Samuel  AVhitelioi  ii 
had  just  completed  puttiiiu  np  a  lonii'  stack"  of  hay  at 
Dakota  City,  and  his  little  son  (leoige  imagined  that. 
he  was  a  tai-mer  and  pi-oceeded  to  gatliei-  up  the  loose 
hay  aroinul  the  stack  and  built  one  of  hi^  own  on  a 
smaller  scale.  i\fter  he  had  tinished  his  stack,  tho 
idea  dawned  unon  his  mind  that  it  would  make  an  ex- 
cellent bon-tire — but  his  fatlu^V  great  siaclc,  where.  O, 
wl)ere  was  it — go  ask  of  the  tlames  that  devoured  it. 


IT   WAS  A   15 1(!   SPREE. 

In  1857  Omadi's   leadinu'    lights    notilied    all    the 


;'i()Kii-:s  or  ^k  of.dkn 


34- 


ruwii  citizens  tliat  the  credit  and  stability  of  the  place 
depended  on  its  diinkiii<;-  (jnalities — and  sent  notices 
out  tliit  K\KKy  man  in  town  had  to  i^et  dniuk.  This 
w.is  olorions  news  to  nine-tenths  of  them,  bui:  tiie 
others  i-esisied,  wheieiipon  ''the  boys  proccedtd 
to  catch  them  and  poui-ed  tiie  whiskey  into  tl  eir 
mouths  with  a  funnel;  one  old  man  was  forced  to 
drink  two  l)ottlef  of  castor  o"l  in  lieu  of  whiskey;  Hen- 
ry ileam  --stood  them  all  off,"  and  said,  '-gentlemen  I 
am  not  going-  to  driid<,  and  now  if  you  want  anything 
more,  just  come  along;'"  but  they  did  not  want  to  tackle 
his  tigiiting  qualities,' and  then  went  to  the  hotels  and 
poured  whiskey  in  all  the  dishes,  in  the  sugar  bowls 
and   over  the   butter. 


FOUND   LO'l'.s  OF  FENCES. 

John  I!ay  started  fi-om  Julius  Floeder's  snloon  one 
nigh.t  to  go  down  to  the  liates  House,  in  Dakota  City. 
His  steps  were  not  as  steady  as  they  might  have  l)eeii 
and  instead  of  goiug  down  liroadway  he  went  to  the 
middle  of  the  block  iioi-th  ot  tiiat  street,  and  then,  sup- 
posing that  he  was  on  the  light  sti'eet,  he  proceeded  to- 
war(U  the  hotel,  climbing  o\er  fence  after  fence.  The 
next  morning,  looking  up  the  sti'cet  he  inijuii'ed  of  the 
laiidl(jrd  "where  in  thunder  are  all  t!io,-e  fences  that  1 
climbed  over  la^t  nij^ht  while  1  was  ctmiing  down  Ib'oad- 
wa  >  :"' 


NEWSl'Al'KK  IJl  i;iAI.. 

-•Turn  backwaid.  turn  backwai'd  tlie  ^ide  (d'  the 
years''  until  we  gi't  a  glimpse  td'  tiic  (»iice  rlouri^lllng• 
town  ot  ()m;uli,  wliicli  stood  where  tin'  turbulent  water.-. 
<.f  rlie  Old  iMmhly  to.hiy  "r<.ll  down waid  to  the  sea." 
The  town  was  located  jiImiuI  hvc  miles  south  of  Dakota 
(  it\   on  the  banks  of  the    ii\er,  ano  in  .luiy.  1>>'"1,  Geo. 


34:8  VVAKNKk's    lliSTOKV    OF    DAKolA     CuLMlV. 

W.  Jiust  estaMislied  the  :)iiiadi  ExTKRiM-eisK.  whicii  was 
the  tirst  newspaper  ever  printed  in  tlie  c-ouiity.  In 
1858  tlie  paper  was  suld  to  Griffin  ik  Tatte  and  dieii  a 
•'natural  death"  the  same  year.  Col.  J3.  iiates,  one  o. 
our  oldest  pioneers,  tells  tlie  following-  story  in  connec- 
tion with  the  sad  fate  of  theENTEiiFiiiSKand  iiuw  jjimlc- 
ful  citizens  honored  it  withalittini;-and  becoming  funeral: 
"•After  the  last  issue  had  l)eeii  published  and  the  sad 
news  heralded  over  tlie  conntry  mat  the  paper  was  dead, 
forever  dead,  a  number  of  men  from  Umadi  gathei-ed 
together  all  the  copies  of  the  ENrEKPKisE  that  coulJ  be 
found  and  proceeded  to  give  the  poor  dead  paper  one  oi 
the  most  imposing  funerals  ever  since  given  u>  a  nev.>- 
paper.  The  funeral  train  started  north uai'd  liom  On,- 
adi.  chanting  a  sad  and  solemn  funeral  dirge.  As  ox- 
en were  very  scarce  in  those  days  and  horses  scarcely 
ever  seen,  it  is  supposed  that  the  pall-bearers  strappe.i 
the  corpse  upon  ilieir  backs.  When  they  reached  the 
place  now  owned  by  W.  P.  Alteinns  the  p,dl-beai'ei-s 
'••struck"  for  a  rest,  and  then  and  there  the  ide.i 
dawned  upon  their  minds  that  they  had  gone  far  enoiti^ii 
out  of  town  to  lay  out  a  cemetery.  Some  one  was  chos- 
en as  sexton,  wno  a^  oacj  Odga.i  co  dig  tiie  gravj.  Af- 
ter it  was  completed  tlie  pall- bearers  walked  up  auvl 
gently  and  tenderly  laid  the  last  remains  of  the  O.iiaa. 
KjsiTEKPiiiSE  in  its  eternal  resting  place.  And  ^nch  a  fu- 
neral sermon  as  was  there  deli\eied  has  probably  uev.  i- 
been  equaled  to  the  preoent  time  for  its  elo(juence  and 
solemnit}'.  Then  they  cnanted  a  beautiful  requium  and 
the  soft  and  gentle  btrains  were  wafted  on  until  they 
died  away  in  the  wild  dense  timber.  Alxnit  Lhia  i.iiu 
the  pali-oearers  snowed  signs  of  uncasiuj^.-  and  iatigue 
and  one  ot'  them  remarked  that  •it  was  getting  to  be  a 
long  time  between  drinks,'  and  proceeded  to  make  a 
motion  that  the  coat/reiiation-was  yettincr  to  be  e.\('ee<l- 
ingly  dry.  The  motion  cari-ied  with  a  •hip-hurrah.''  1  hen 
was  enacted  a  genuine  liull  Itun  upon  the  primeval 
prairies  ot  Dakota  county.      It  was  a  run  for  the  -'Ualf 


STOKIKS  OF  YK  Ol.DEN   TIMKS.  349 

r.iii."'  a  t^alooii  whicli  was  situated  in  the  soutli-eastern 
part  of  Dakota  City.  The  pall- bearers,  preacher  and  all 
iorojot  the  dignity  of  their  positions  and  got  'gloriously 
drunk,'  vvdiich  was, as  they  termed  it,  an  appropi-iate  and 
fitting  token  in  commemoration  of  the  death  of  the 
Entekprisk. 


TOWN   STAKES. 

Amos  Lan^pson  said  one  day  in  the  summer  of  1857 
when  nearly  all  of  Dakota  county  had  heen  laid  off  in- 
to town  lots  he  went  down  to  the  river  to  see  a  steam- 
boat land.  On  board  the  steamer  was  Frank  West, 
•'about  full' as  usual.  West  staggered  up  to  Captain 
Wyhind  and  told  him  that  he  was  a  fool  for  hauling 
passengers  and  freight  up  to  this  country.  The  Capt. 
asked  him  what  he  would  carry  if  he  did  not  bring 
passengers  and  freight.  "Why,"  replied  West,  "you 
could  make  your  fortune  hauling  up  town  stakes." 


FISH  STORY. 


In  1S50  Henry  Ream,  Col.  Warner,  Wm.  Silence, 
Ziber  Millage  and  Rev.  Munhall  dragged  Blyburg 
lake  wirh  a  seine  and  on  the  first  haul  caught  enough 
fish  to  fill  three  wagon  beds  level  full.  This  is  a  true 
fish  stoi'v. 


LOi  ATINC   A  ROAD. 


It  was  away  back  in  the  '50's  when  A.  II.  Baker, 
Samuel  Gamble  and  John  J.  Trecy  were  county  com- 
niissioiieis,  and  this  MUgust  body  used  to  sit  upon  high 
benches,  look  a.s  wise  as  sages,  and  locate  a  road  in  the 
•■twinkling  of  an  eye."  It  was  sometini'^  along  in  these 
vt■a^^  that    thi-    load    from    St.    Johns    down    along    the 


:^")0  WAKNEk's   HIsroKV   OK    DAKOTA   COLWIV. 

lilnlfs  came  up  for  coiisicleratiuii  and  hel'oix'  you  t'oul! 
say  "jack-rabbit'''  tlie  Honorable  county  coniuiisr-ionei-,-- 
attached  their  ii)inioi-t:il  names  to  t!ie  important  dccu- 
ment.  which  runs  soniething  simihii-  to  this: 

"Commencing  in  the  centre  of  St.  Peters  and  14th  streets, 
of  St.  Johns;  thence  south  along  14th  street  to  tlie  place  where 
Gerald  Dillon  upset  with  a  load  of  hay:  thence  south  to  tlic 
right  bank  of  Elk  Creek,  in  a  bend  where  Jos.  IJrannan  sliol 
three  ducks;  thence  south  to  foot  of  bluffs  where  Mike  Jjcaconi 
got  stuck  in  the  mud  with  a  load  of  sand;  thence  to  a  stake: 
thence  south  along  section  lines  between  sections  13  and  14. 
township  28,  range  7  east,  to  one-fourth  col'ner;  thence  sontli 
to  Pigeon  Creek  to  stake  on  right  bank  where  there  is  a  l)ig 
bunch  of  grass;  thence  south  to  a  line  stone  18x14  inches,  op- 
posite E.  (t.  Lampson's  house;  thence  south  along  the  bluffs 
till  you  come  to  a  cottonwood  tree  twenty  inches  in  diameter, 
on  right  bank  of  creek  where  Col.  Bates  killed  a  crow;  thence 
southeast  along  Wm.  Silence's  corn  field  till  it  strikes  Ziber 
tillage's  lower  pig  pen  and  rebounds  a  trifle  to  the  east  when 
in  strikes  the  corner  of  Col.  Haird's  garden,  where  he  used  to 
throw  all  of  his  empty  bottles;  thence  along  the  bluffs  to 
C>maha  Creek;  (where  Uomer  now  stands)  thence  east  across 
said  creek  to  the  spot  where  Thomas  Smith  camped;  thence  in 
a  southeasterly  direction  up  a  long  ridge  back  of  lienry  Ream's 
place,  to  a  high  point  on  the  bluffs,-  (the  identical  .bluff  on 
which  the  Homer  celebration  floated  its  flag  pole  so  many 
years  afterward;)  thence  directly  east  down  a  sharp  pitch  and 
then  whoop  'em  up  a  rugged  point  to  the  southward;  thence 
in  a  winding  southeast  direction  up  hill  and  down  hill  and 
then  up  hill  and  down  hill  again  until  your  horses  are  about 
tugged  out,  when  you  come  to  a  stake  on  Platte  River  and 
Running  Water  military  road,  on  bluff's  south  of  Henry  Pil- 
grim s  house,  from  which  a  burr  oak  tree  fifteen  inches  in  di- 
ameter bears  S,  81;  E,  1,"  37,  and  containing  three  notches  on 

A.   D.,   1859,  by  M.  D. 
xon,  A.  I'richaid. 
James  W.  \'iitTtK, 

County  Clerk. 
This   I'oad  is  now  known  as  the  road  from  Jackson 


west 

Surveyed   Octobei 

21,  22  and  24, 

Jeffers,  surveyor.     Cli, 

linnien,  Wm.  >,' 

STOKTKS  OF    VE  OLDKN    TlMEi^.  351 

to  IloiiuT  rla  Vo\.  Baird's  and  from  Homer  it  run  along 
tlie  In'oli  ridge  of  the  bluffs  back  of  Henry  Ream's,  Thos. 
Ashtoid  s  and  Capt.  O'Connor's  farins,to  military  road. 
(Ill  bluffs  south  of  the  old  Col  Warner  place.  The  bunch 
of  gi-as.s.  stumps,  bottles,  trees,  corn  fields  and  pig  pens 
liave  long  since  passed  away  but  the  road  is  "still  there.'* 


(iEOlUJE  L.  BO^LS,  JR.,  TELLS  A  STORY. 

It  was  the  22nd  day  of  April,  1856,  wheiu  George  L. 
Inuds,  jr.,  plodded  along  through  the  mud  and  brush 
Irdui  the  river  to  Dakota  City,  with  his  parents.  They 
1  cached  Dakota  City  and  to  their  astonishment  it  con- 
tained all  of  one  solitary  house — and  that  was  a  bach- 
eh)i-\s  hall  witli  Ben.  F.  Chambers,  John  McQuilkin 
and  Wm.  Adair  as  chief  cooks.  Here  they  remained 
tliat  night  and  George  had  always  been  used  to  a  good 
warm  bed.  "but"  he  says,  "their  beds  consisted  of  poles 
laid  around  a  fire  and  back  of  this  was  thrown  on  the 
ground  «ome  slough  grass."  The  next  morning  he 
was  awakened  by  the  clash  of  frying  pans,  etc.,  and  for 
the  fiiv~t  time  in  his  life  he  saw  inen  doing  the  cooking. 
llcstai-fed  with  his  parents  for  his  Uncle  George's 
claim,  an<l  when  they  got  there  a  man  was  sitting  by 
the  h're  drying  his  socks.  As  Mrs.  Hannah  J.  Jjoals 
stepped  into  the  log  cabin  the  man  was  struck  with 
terror  and  ran  out  of  the  house  and  disappeared  in  Boals' 
gi-ov(\  She  M'as  the  first  white  woman  he  had  seen  in 
the  county.  ;in(l  in  fact,  the  (tidy  woman  in  the  north- 
ern part  of  tlip  county  at  that  time.  That  winter  all 
the  f5oals'  of  Dakota  county  crowded  into  that  log  cai)- 
iii  (tliev  couldn't  do  it  now),  and  ouf  morning,  after 
a,  cold  and  stoi'my  night,  they  thought  the  king  of  day 
was  a  long  time  getting  around  with  his  light.  P'itial- 
ly.  they  saw  a  i-ay  of  light  coming  tln'ongh  a  iiail  hole  in 
the  roof  and  on  fui'ther  examination  if  was  discovered 
that  the  entire  cabin  was  envelojjcd  in  a  gieat  mass    of 


352  warnek's  histuky  of  Dakota   county. 

snow.  A  liole  ',vai<  cut  thioiigli  the  roof  and  a  luaii 
was  sent  out  to  dig  a  tunnel  tlirougli  the  snow  to  the 
door.      This  is  one  thing  that  (Jeorge  will  ne\tr  IVu'Met. 


HENRY  SIIVLL'S  STORY. 

After  the  ''break  np"  in  the  spring  following  theeold 
and  stormy  winter  of  '56  and  '57,  all  streams  were  Hood- 
ed, including  the  Missouri  river,  which  bi'oke  ov^r  the 
banks  near  old  St.  Johns  and  rushed  down  along  tho 
bluffs.  The  Shull  Brothers  spent  the  winter  on  Fid- 
dlers creek,  and  hauled  their  provisions  most  of  the 
time  on  a  hand  sled  from  old  Omadi.  They  lived  on 
the  old  David  Shull  place.  One  spring  morning  Hen- 
ry and  Samuel  Shull  left  their  honie  to  go  to  Omadi 
for  a  load  of  lumber  and  provisions,  and  just  as  they 
had  crossed  the  bridge  ovei-  "'the  lake,"  which  stood 
somewhere  in  the  vicinity  of  the  fork  of  Elk  and  Pigeon 
creeks,  it  went  down  the  stream,  they  narrowly  escaping 
n  watery  grave.  Samuel  got  on  a  log  and  recrossed  the 
flooded  stieam,  and  retni-ned  to  help  his  friends  over 
there.  Tliey  at  once  commenced  to  build  beats  so  as 
to  be  prepared  to  escape  should  the  watei-  coi'tin\ie  to 
rise.  In  tlie  mean  time  Henrv.  a  boy  of  only  fifteen 
years  c.f  age,  proceeded  on  up  b'iddiei-s  creek  with  his 
load.  It  was,  indeed,  a  lonesojiie  joni-ney  for  a  yi^'ung 
man.  He  had  taken  his  boots  off  while  wading  in  tlir 
water  to  get  across  the  creeks, and  now  they  had  sh)-ank 
np  so  he  could  not  get  tnem  on  again.  Then  he  had  [(>■ 
wade  on  through  the  snow  and  ice  in  his  stockini,'  ftet. 
when  he  got  to  the  north  foi'k  of  Fiddlers  ei-eek.  neai- 
the  farm  now  owned  by  B.  Gi'ibble  he  got  stuck  in  tho 
mud  and  had  to  carry  the  entire  load  of  goods  to  tlu- 
other  side  of  the  creek.  By  this  time  it  was  getting 
dark  and  he  was  nearly  chilled  to  death.  When  jio 
finally  drove  up  to  iiis  home  he  was  so  cold  that  lu- 
eould  not  unhitch  the  team  and   barely   managed   to   1«- 


ITORII^S  OF   YK  OI.DKN 


358 


al)l('  to  walk  into  the  house.  Fortunately  thei-e  was 
some  lire  in  the  '*fire  place''  and  he  rolled  on  some 
wood  and  thus  saved  himself  from  perishing.  The 
next  day  he  went  down  to  the  hill  tops  on  the  Louis 
Blessing  place  to  see  if  he  could  discover  any  of  his 
friends,  hut  all  he  could  see  was  a  great  sea  of  water 
(tver  the  Missouri  bottom.  For  a  whole  week  he  re- 
mained at  his  lonely  home  on  Fiddlers  creek,  the 
sole  inhabitant  fi-om  there  to  the  Eocky  mountains. 
Fvery  day  he  would  go  down  to  the  Blessing  place  to 
see  if  any  one  was  coming,  but  each  time  he  w^as  disap- 
pointed, until  the  next  Sunday  morning,  when  to  his 
joy  and  delight  his  brothers,  Samuel  and  Solomon,  suc- 
ceeded in  crossing  the  raging  waters,  and  found  him  in 
ids  solitary  quarters. 


HAT    STORY. 


In  early  times  Wm.  Cheney,  Dr,  G.  W.Wilkinson. 
A.  11.  Baker  and  others  lived  in  Omadi.  One  day  John 
Snyder  came  up  from  his  brush  home  in  Blyburg  and 
ihese  gentlemen  and  otiiers  played  a  good  joke  on  him. 
The  men  all  circled  around  a  table  on  which  was  placed 
a  hat.  At  a  given  signal  all  were  to  dive  their  fore 
lingers  into  the  hat,  and  the  last  one  in  was  to  treat  the 
crowd.  John  got  right  close  to  the  hat  and  was  positive 
that  he  would  not  have  to  do  the  treating.  The  signal 
was  given  and  down  went  John's  finger  into  the  hat, 
while  the  others  jumped  back  the  other  way  and  won 
the  treat  on  him,  as  he  was  the  first  and  last  to  put  his 
tinger  in  the  hat. 


HEADLESS  INDIAN. 


When  Father  Jermiah  Trecy  came   to    the  county 
]r'  WM8  accompanied  l)y  Adam  Henners.      They  camped 


854 


WAliN  Kli 


ol.'e  uijjlit  iit'hi'  v\l;fie  lea  Gii)\e,  Iow,*i.  is  'Wow  located. 
Fatliei-  Trecy  was  building  the  camp-fire  while  Jk'iineis 
went  upon  the  hillside  to  gather  up  some  wood,  lie 
had  not  gone  far  when  he  discovered  an  Indian  sittiniz; 
up  by  a  large  tree.  He  hailed  the  Indian  and  called  in 
vain  to  attract  his  attention.  Finally  he  mustered  up 
courage  to  go  and  touch  him,  when  hi^^  head  rolled  ott 
and  down  the  hill.  The  Indian  was  probably  killed  i)y 
some  hunters  and  atter  cutting  his  lieaci  off  had  set  it 
on  again  in  this  manner.  Benners  was  so  frightened 
that  he  rushed  down  tlie  hill  and  right  into  Father 
Trecy's  cauip-tire  and  litterally  stamped  it  out.  '-Hey I 
Hey!"  cried  Father  Trecy, '"what  is  the  matter^'  "We 
will  all  be  killed,"  he  replied,  'T  found  an  Indian  up 
there  and  his  head  came  off."  ''Well,"  retorted  Father 
Trecy,  ''How  can  lieadless  Indians  harm  us — get  out  of 
my  camp-firel" 


HUNTING  FOR  PONCA. 


Ill  pioneer  times  Rev.  H.  W.  Kulins,  of  Omaha, 
was  sent  to  preach  the  gospel  to  the  inhabitants  of 
Ponca,  wa)rd  liaving  been  sent  out  tliat  it  was  a 
flourishing  town,  in  those  days  ministers  traveled 
horseback  and  carried  their  blankets  with  them  and 
hauled  up  (»n  the  wild  prairies  wherever  night  over- 
took them.  He  was  tohl  tliat  Ponca  was  about  tweniy 
miles  north-west  of  Dakota  City  and  he  expected  to 
make  it  before  night.  Put  he  traveled  on,  darkness 
overtook  him.  There  was  no  one  to  be  found  to  in- 
quire as  to  the  whereabouts  of  the  town,  so  he  tied  his 
horse  to  a  post  that  stood  by  the  roadside.  He  spread 
his  blankets  on  the  ground  and  went  into  "quarters"* 
for  the  night.  The  ne.xt  morning  he  noticed  a  .-igo 
buard  on  the  top   of    the   post,   and    got    up    and    read:. 

^•TlUS  IS   PoJSOA." 


STORIES  OF   VE  OI.DEN   TIMES.  855 

TAKIN(i  THE  CENSUS. 

It  will  be  reMiembered  that  Elbridge  G.  Lanipson 
was  appointed  to  take  the  lirst  census  of  Dakota  county, 
but  he  died  before  the  work  was  completed.  James  W. 
Virtue  and  others  proceeded  to  finisli  it  by  going  downi 
to  the  old  Bates  House  in  Dakota  City  and  copied  all 
tlie  names  that  had  ever  been  written  in  the  hotel  regis- 
ter, including  visitors,  steamboat  men  and  negro  deck 
liands.  They  believed  in  making  a  big  showing  in 
population. 


TOO  MUCH  WHISKEY, 


Years  ago  there  was  an  old  building  on  the  lot 
now  occupied  by  Marcelhis  Ream, in  Dakota  City, where 
a  crowd  of  pioneer  bachelors  lived.  One  morning  Col. 
Bates'  happened  over  there  and  they  invited  him  to 
t)i'eakfast,  v\'liich  consisted  of  a  large  dish  pan  full  of 
whiskey  with  a  few  doughnuts  swimming  around  in  it. 
Re  saw  a  storebiil  from  one  of  the  merchants  which 
read  about  like  this:  "Five  pounds  of  bacon,  one  gallon 
of  whiskey,  one  sack  corn  meal,  one  gallon  of  whiskey, 
salt,  one  gallon  of  whiskey,  pepper,  one  gallon  ot  whiskey, 
three  jngs  of  whiskey.'' 


NEGRO  STORY 


A  M.  Ilolman,  of  Sergeants  Bluff,  Iowa,  being 
requested  told  the  following  comical  story,  which  is  a 
sam})k'  of  how  our  pioneers  used  to  "boom"  their  towns 
and  sui'rt)\in(lini);  country :  "The  history  of  the  'Negro 
Story'  I  consider  one  of  considerable  importance  to  the 
early  history  ot  Dakota  City.  Tlie  importance  of  the 
scheuie  in  stealing  the  negro  bore  the  same  relation  to 
a  "boom"  in  those  days  that  the  more  modern  means 
does  in  these  times,  and  it  shows  to  me  that  such   men 


;).■")(')  WAKNEk's    HISTOKY   op    DAKOTA   COl'NIV. 

a^  Col.  Bates,  Col.  xMason.  Dr.  Croekuell,  \V.  P.  IL.l- 
iiiaii,  Mr.  Lockwood,  Col.  Warner  and  a  few  others  of 
our  early  pioneers  had  advanced  ideas  of  which  this 
country  iiad  in  its  possibilities,  and  foresaw  tlie  fntnre. 
And  really  they  were  30  years  in  advance  of  the  times. 
To  bear  me  out  in  this,  note  the  formation  of  an  organ- 
ization of  the  Sioux  City  and  Columbus  Ry.  by  these 
same  men  nearly  30  yeai's  ago,  I  think.  Tlie  time  was 
not  ripe  for  it  then,  but  the  same  scheme  was  taken  uj) 
in  later  years  by  others  and  successfully  carried  through. 
When  Kountz  put  ins  steam  ferry  l)oat  into  play  between 
Dakota  City  and  Sergeants  Bluff  before  they  had  one  at 
Sioux  City,  these  two  towns  were  the  leading  towns  in 
the  Northwest.  When  on  the  wane,  these  men  I  have 
mentioned,  rallied  their  energies  to  keep  alive  the  in- 
terests of  the  two  towns,  as  so  went  one,  went  the  other. 
SiouxCity  was  going  ahead  slowly.  In  antislavery  times, in 
the  winter  of  1860,  1  l)elieve,  after  several  corjf'erences 
and  tlie  last  of  which  was  held  in  father's  hotel  at  Ser- 
geants Bluff,  1  remember  the  circumstance  from  the 
fact  as  a  boy  I  came  into  the  room  during  the  confer- 
ence, and  was  at  once  ejected  and  my  curiosity  was  very 
much  aroused.  I  think  there  were  eight  men  from  Da- 
kota City,  those  mentioned  being  a  part,  closeted  with 
my  father  nearly  one  whole  afternoon.  The  Slavery 
(juestion  and  the  Fugitive  Slave  Law  engrossed  and 
was  the  leading  topic  of  all  newspapers.  To  get  any 
notoriety  from  the  public  press  a  scheme  having  an 
outrage  perpeti'ated,  involving  a  negro  was  the  only 
way  to  make  Dakota  City  and  Sergeants  Bluff  take  a 
prominent  place  in  the  newspapers.  Uncle  Bill,  a 
negro  who  had  been  the  servant  of  Gen.  Harney  for 
years,  and  with  him  in  his  Indian  campaign,  and  whom 
my  father  hired  in  1856;  and  being  the  only  negro  in 
this  part  of  the  country,  had  to  be  the  victim.  This 
negro  was  known  by  all  the  people  in  this  as  well  as 
Dakota  county,  and  being  so  well  known  and  known  to 
liave  lived  in  our  family  tor  nearly  four  years,  to  have  a 


STiiRIKS  OF    VK   (II.DKN    TIMES.  iioT 

sla've  ou  iier  eume  and  claim  him  as  a  '••nigger''  who  had 
■'recently"'  run  away  from  Ids  home  in  Alabania  was  too 
transpai-ent  a  fraud,  and  evidently  an  attempt  to  take  a 
free  negro  into  slavery.  Following  the  interview  men- 
tioned, just  how  long  I  do  not  remember,  my  father. 
I'ncle  Bill  (Wm.  Pliillips)  and  myself  were  hanlinu' 
wood  from  the  sand  bar  between  Dakota  City  and  Ser 
geants  Bluff.  On  the  retnni  for  the  last  load  in  the 
afternoon  father  told  me  that  Uncle  Bill  and  hiniself 
would  go  after  that  load  and  I  should  have  the  '"ehores" 
done  up.  While  on  the  bar,  Dr.Crockwell  and  a  stranger 
came  up  to  them.  Dr.  Crockwell  asked  tiie  stranger  if 
that  was  the  ''Nigger."  He  said  it  was.  Then  Di-. 
Crockwell,  as  constable,  took  out  a  warrant  and  lead  it, 
describing  Uncle  Bill  perfectly,  claiming  him  as  a  run- 
away and  arrested  him.  My  father  objeced  to  the  |)ro- 
ceedure,  claiming  him  to  be  on  Iowa  soil  and  his  war- 
rant not  good,  being  issued  in  Nebraska,  etc.,  etc. 
Father  gave  Uncle  Bill  assurance  that  our  people  would 
be  over  and  bring  him  safely  away.  Father  ran  his 
team  home.  Men  were  dispatched  in  all  directions, 
and  in  a  short  time  about  IDO  meu  with  guns  and 
revolvers  were  on  their  way  to  Dakota  City.  Meanwhile 
the  news  liad  gone  out  over  there  and  by  the  time  our 
people  reached  the  Bates'  house,  crowds  had  congregated 
from  that  side  as  indignant  as  our  folks.  Speeches  were 
made,  etc.  Dr.  Crockwell  representing  the  majesty  of 
the  law,  claimed  his  prisoner  must  have  trial  etc.  Cries 
were  made  for  tlie  man  from  Alabama;  but  he,  one  of 
the  citizen?,  had  taken  off  his  false  whiskers  and  was 
mingling  with  the  crowd.  Violence  would  have  been 
done  him  could  he  have  been  found.  Several  deputy 
constables  were  guarding  Uncle  Bill  upstairs  in  the 
Bates'  house.  The  demand  lor  Uncle  Bill  being  re- 
fused, a  rush  was  made  for  the  stairs  and  in  a  few  mo- 
ments men  appeared  with  Uncle  Bill  and  he  was  seized 
and  tiorne  on  tlie  shoulders  of  his  friends  to  the  hotel  in 


:i58  wakner's  histokv  of  Dakota    corNTv. 

Sei'geaiits  Bluff,  wlitre  nmid  rejoicnig  lie  was  the  hero 
of  the  hour,  and  a  iiiigbty  happy  negro.  The  paper  in 
Dakota  City  came  out  in  glaring  headlines  and  devoted 
a  great  deal  of  space  and  hundreds  of  copies  were  sent 
all  over  the  north.  The  JS'ewYork  Tribnne  copied  with 
copious  comments  as  did  other  papers.  The  feeling  was 
so  strong  that  the  inside  facts  of  the  scheme  were  not 
known  for  years.  The  man  from  "Alabama"  was  a 
young  man  in  Dakota  City.  He  went  to  Omaha,  doned 
false  beared,  put  up  and  registered  from  Alabama;  told 
he  was  looking  for  a  valuable  runaway  "ISIigger,"  gave 
the  description  of  Unele  Bill,  and  was  told  that  sucli  a 
negro  was  in  Sergeants  Bluff.  He  then  got  out  his 
warrant  and  started  for  Sergeants  Bluff.''' 


THAT   SNOW  BALL. 


In  early  times  Gerald  Dillon  was  the  Jackson 
school  teacher,  and  on  one  occasion  he  severely  chastis. 
ed  William  Mann,  M'ho  is  living  at  Lyons,  Nebrask.-i. 
Mr.  Mann,  like  all  the  boys,  was  full  of  mischief,  in 
those  days,  but  he  did  not  think  he  was  exactly  en- 
titled to  a  flogging,  so  after  the  close  of  school,  he 
"laid''  for  Gerald  Dillon  with  a  large  icy  snow  ball,  and 
as  lie  came  along,  let  him  have  it  right  on  the  side  of 
the  head.  Mr.  Dillon  dropped  to  the  ground  and  after 
"coming  to"  rose  to  his  feet  and  gazed  around  to  see 
who  threw  the  ball.  But  lie  never  found  out  and  he  is 
wanderincr  to  this  day  "M'ho  in  thinidci-  threw  that 
snow  balH" 


CRADLE  STORY. 


A  certain  prominent  gentleman,  who  lived  in  Da- 
kota City  in  pioneer  times,  and  who  afterwards  became 
a  state  officer,  came  liome  one  night  "full"  as  usual. 
His  wife  had  left  the  cradle  in  front  of  the  door  and   of 


MnUli;S   el-     ^  K   (II. 1)1- .N     IIM1>.  8o-) 

cduix'  lie  ^t^,llll)lc(l  (iNcrir.  :iii(l  when  he  cj;ot  up  lie 
>t;ii'fc(l  I•i^•llr  l):ick  \\\v  (i]i[)()>ite  way,  {ju>t  like  a  <iniiik 
man)  and  went  over  rlit-  ri'adle  again.  He  kept  this  up 
nnril  lie  had  tiiniMe<l  over  the  cradle  i'oni-  times,  when 
he  lit  a  match,  and  eNclaimed  to  his  hetter  half:  --wilV'. 
what  in  the  world  are  ymi  doiiiii'  with  all  these  cradhs 
ill  the  house:!  i  ha\'e  tnnihled  o\er  four  of  them  an! 
hei'c  is  another  one  of  tiiem  rioht  in  front  of  mel" 


K.MTTIN(}  NEEDLK  .STOIIY. 

A  nunilx  r  of  years  aero  one  of  .Iack?on"s  leadino 
lights  had  occasion  to  visit  Dakota  City,  nnd  his  wife 
told  him  to  be  sure  to  get  sonu;  knitting  needles — "and 
not  to  foi-get  it."  The  iirst  tiling  lie  did  when  he  got 
to  Dakota  City  was  to  "fill  up"'  on  'vhiskey, 
tiiiie  through  the  day.  when  lie  would  sohei 
he  would  reniemher  his  wife's  order,  not  to 
needles,  and  would  call  at  one  of  the  stores 
supply  of  knitting  needles,  until  he  had  ali  his  pocket:; 
full  of  packages  of  needles.  Thus  loaded  down  lu 
went  home,  to  astonish  liis  wife  with  se\-eral  hundiiei 
knittino'  needles. 


and    evei 

"V 

;ip  a    litt 

le 

forget    tl 

le 

n.i     hny 

a 

CABBAOE    AXD  STAKCII. 

1  ears  ago  tliei'e  was  a  prominent  poliriciaii  living 
in  the  south-eastern  part  of 'Dakota  City,  and  one  time 
his  wife  told  him  that  she  was  going  to  have  cahhagc 
for  dinner,  as  he  was  very  fond  of  it.  Well,  hmg  he- 
fore  12  o'clock  Imd  an-ived  he  was  so  drunk  he  could 
not  go  home  for  dinnei'.  He  sohered  up  sometime 
(luring  that  night  and  staggered  down  home,  still  re- 
inenihering  something  about  the  cabbage,  and  when 
he  entered  the  house,  he  went  to  the  cupboard  and  gor 
what  he  supposed  was  tlie  cabbage,  and  ])rocee<.led  to 
sample  it.      His  wife  had  retired  for  the  night  but    she 


360  WARNEii's   HISTORY   Ol'    DAKOTA   COUNTY. 

heavcl  him  chewing  very  hard  and  asked  liini  how  jio 
liked  the  cabbage.  "The  gravy  is  pretty  good,  hut  the 
cabbage  is  awful  tough!"  was  his  reply.  His  wife  now 
came  out  to  where  he  was  and  in  amazement  exclninied : 
••William,  you  are  chewing  my  collai's  and  cuffs  that  1 
put  in  a  bowl  of  starch!" 


LARGE  AND  INTELLIGENT  AUDIENCE. 

Rev.  W.  II.  Kuhns  the  pioneer  Lutheran  minister 
of  Dakota  county  was  cauglit  in  a  great  blizzard  at  Da- 
kota City  many  years  ago.  It  was  Sunday  and  he  felt 
that  he  must  fill  his  appointment  storm  or  no  storm. 
When  he  got  to  the  church  he  found  C.  F.  Eckhart  and 
J.  B.  Zeigler  there,  which  constituted  his  congregatit>ii 
for  that  day,  but  he  went  on  and  delivered  a  very  im- 
pressive sermon,  just  as  though  the  honse  was  full. 
After  his  return  to  Omaha  he  was  asked  how  lie  got 
along  at  Dakota  City.  '-Weil,"  replied  Mr.  Ivuhns, 
''I  had  a  very  large  and  intelligent  audience."  Mi\ 
Zeigler  being  a  very  large  man  and  Mr.  Eckhart  a  very 
intellio^ent  man  corroborated  him  in  his  assertion. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


Dakota 


CoTNTY  Inventions  and  Patents. 


WILT)  WE8T  WIRE  STRETCHER. 


rr-y  H-I'*^  wire  stretcher  was  in- 
tI-  vented  by  Col.  J.  F.  War- 
ner, and  patented  October  2, 
1888.  A  large  number  of  them 
liave  been  fiiiished  up,  at  Dakota 
City  under  the  management  of 
Frank  Ay  res.  In  this  tool  there 
is  a  perfect  stretcher,  staple  ex- 
ti-iictor,  and  bar  to  run  spools  of 
wire  off  on;  also,  a  good  tamp- 
ing stick.  There  is  no  wear  to 
this  tool.  It  will  out  last  a  gen- 
eration. It  draws  the  wire 
around  corner  posts  just  where 
it  is  wanted.  A  man  can  stretch 
enough  more  wire  in  a  day  with 
this  than  any  other  stretcher  in 
use  to  pay  the  cost  of  it.  In  fact 
the  labor*  of  stretching  wire  is 
nothing  with  this  implement. 
This  invention  is  the  result  of 
actual  work  in  tlie  field  and  the 
unsaiisfactory  use  of  various  oth- 
er stretchers. 

J.  F.  Warner  also  invented 
and  received  a  patent  for  a  port- 
able fence,  but  on  account  of  high 
winds  in  this  section  it  was  not 
a  success  here. 


:^ 


i|ii\\ii 


INVENTIONS   ANl 


3oa 


Admu  Weiizel  invented  ii  corn  planter,  the  picture 
di'  wliicli  will  1)6  seen  on  another  page.  It  is  said  to  be 
a  lirst-class  invention  and  he  has  already  been  offered 
a  iai-oe  sum  of  money  for  it.  Had  Mr.  Wenzel  been 
a  mail  of  capital  he  could  have  handled  his  patent  to 
hi'tter  advantiioe.  As  he  is  comparatively  a  poor  man 
it  has  been  slow  work  for  him  to  introduce  it  to  the 
j)ubl  c  sutKciently  to  create  a  demand  for  the  planter. 

S.iinuel  Slinll  received  a  patent  in  1887  for  a  "Self 
(Jar  Coiinlei'/'  which  is  said  to  be  one    of    the    best     in 


Jjizerne  King,  son  of  Thomas  J.  King,  of  South 
Sioux  City,  on  January  17.  1893  i-eceived  a  patent  for 
:i  ••(Juttiiio  Machine  for  Mowers  and  Reapers."  Thisis 
a  I'adically  new  and  supei'ior  device.  It  is  well  kuow-n 
that  sickle  sections  are  usually  riveted  to  the  sickle  bar 
permanently,  and  this  fact' makes  the  grinding  a  task 
of  i^reat  labor  and  uncertainty,  requiring  considerable 
caie  ;iii(l  skill.  Should  a  section  be  broken  by  accident. 
the  rivets  must  be  removed  by  a  blacksmith.  In  the 
pie>-ent  case,  no  rivetiiiy^  vvhatever  is  requii-ed,  ar.d  the 
i-ntire  series  of  sections  can  be  removed  by  the  simple 
removal  of  some  nuts  and  a  bar.  The  sickle  bar  is 
foi'iiied  with  a  vertical  front  lip,  cut  out  at  intervals 
corresponding  to  the  sections.  Each  section  is  formed 
with  >](U'  recesses  at  a  point  between  the  shank  and  the 
(■lilting  eilges,  makiuiz;  s(jmewhat  a  dart  shape.  In  [)\;\c- 
iiig  the.-e  ^e(•ti(^n^,  iherpfore,  the  recesses  engau;e  the 
vi'i'tical  projections  of  the  l)ar.  and  it  ouly  lemains  t(t 
lay  on  the  top  bar  and  bolt  it  down  tiat  on  the  shanks 
t,)  secure  the  sections.  i>y  this  arrangement  each  sec- 
tion eaii  be  reiiiovt'd  and  separately  ground,  insni'ing  a 
biltir  edge  at  far  less  trouble  and  time.  This  is  an 
emiiu'iirly  piactical  in\ention  that  presents  decided  ad- 
\  aiitages. 

(reoinc  iMii.xwcll  invented  a  niowint;  ma(diine,but  he 


;i()4  Warner's  histokv  of  dakota   cointy. 

(lid  not  have  tlie  means  to  ^et  it  properly  l>efore  the 
people  and  thus  far  he  lias  not  realized  anything  from 
it,  although  mechanics  claim  it  is  a  first  class  machine. 

There  have  been  numerous  other  inventions  l)y  Da- 
kota county  people,  but  we  have  been  unal)le  to  learn 
enough  facts  in  regard  to  them  to  give  them  further 
notice. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

MlSCELLANKOT^S— Cor:NTY     SeAT     FKtHT — F^LKCTION 

OF  18V)8,  Etc. 

COUNTY  SFAT  FKillT. 

During  the  summer  of  1891  a  petition  was    circii- 

liitetl  asking-  that  an  election  be  called  to  vote  u|)(»n  the 

(|ne?tion  of  the  removal  of  the  county  seat  from  Dakota 

City.      After  i-eceivino-  the  required  number  of    signers 

the  election  was  called  aiid     held     on     Septembei-    10. 

1891.     The  vote  on   the     question     stood     as     follows: 

Total  vote  1202.     South  Sioux     City.     000;        Dakota 

City  250;     Jackson.  327;     Hubbard,  21;       Homer  4. 

The  \'ote  exhibited  in  a  most  favorable    manner,   Soutii 

Si<')ux  City's  strength  in  the  fight,  but  it   was  necessai-y 

for  her  to  receive  three-lifths  of  all  the  votes  cast,    and 

according-  to  law  another    election     was     called.        The 

second  election  was  held  on  the  15th  day  of  October    of 

the  same  year,  with  the  following  result.        Total     vote 

1220;     South  Sioux  City^    822;'     Dakota    City,   3U8. 

This  vote  was  sufficient    to    declai'c    South  Sioux    Citv 

the  county  seat,  but  pi-evious  to  this    the    Dakota    City 

jieople  commenced  a  suit  in  the  disti'ict  court  attacking 

the    validity    of  the     oi'iginal    petition    on    which    the 

election  was  called.     As  soon  as  it    was    made     known 

that  South  Sioux   City    had    the    requisite    numl)er    of 

votes,  ai)  injunction    was    secured    restraining    the    i-e- 

moval  of  the  records  during  the  pendency  of    the    suit. 

On  Decembei"  2,  Judge  Noi-ris  rendered     his     decision 

sustainiiii;-        the         validity         of  the         jetition 

]>r.t  Dakota  City  was  despei'ate  in  hei-  efforts   to    iH-tain 


866  WAItNKlt's    HISTdKV   OF    DAKOl'A   COUNTY. 

the  sent  of  govei-niiient  Jiiul  as  soon  as  Jiultre  Noi-ris" 
decision  was  rendered  they  had  secnred  a  restiainiiju 
order  from  the  supreme  court  and  the  records  remaint'd 
at  Dakota  City.  On  the  17th  of  March,  1892,  the  su- 
preme court  delierved  a  decision,  i-eversing  the  decision 
of  tlie  district  court  on  the  validity  of  the  CDunry  s^at 
petition.  In  the  mean  time  South  Sioux  City  liad 
kept  faith  and  delivered  every  promise  in  the  iiolir. 
A  handsome  new  court  house  had  been  consti-iK-fed 
at  a  cost  of  -|18.000,  which,  but  for  the  ruling  of  a 
court  of  last  i-esort,  would  now  be  the  property  of  tiie 
county,  free  of  any  cost  to  the  tax  pavers  outside  of 
South  Sioux  City.  This  ended  the  tii^Iit.  Durin:^^  tlie 
latter  part  of  1892  anotlier  petitiou  was  circulated,  bn.t 
for  prudent  reasons  it  was  never  presented    for    action. 


GENERAL  ELECTION  OF  18!):',. 

At  the  general  election  held  in  Dakota  count  v.  on 
Tuesday,  Novemi)er  7,  1893.  the  following  county 
officers  were  elected:  P'rank  Davey,  treasurer;  1).  i  . 
Meft'ernan,  Judge;  T.  V.  Brannan,  clerk;  W.  K. 
Kelley,  sheriff;  J.  G.  Haupt,  Superintendent;  15.  1''. 
Sawyer,  coroner;  Alex  Abell,  surveyoi-.  All  of  the 
above  being  democrats,  except  ITaupt  and  Ahell.  repub 
licans.     Township  officers     were    elected     as     follows: 

Covington  township  No.  1— Wm.  Lopp  supervisor; 
Geo.  E.  Bidwell,  assessor;  Thomas  J.  King.  Justice 
of  the  Peace;  Samuel  Jenkins,  constable;  K.  Stamm 
treasurer;      Oscar  March,  clerk. 

St.  Johns  towrifchip  No.  2  — M.  M.  UdvIc.  assessoi'; 
Sandy  McDonald,  Justice  of  the  Peace;  Af.  \i.  Kvw- 
nelly,  constable. 

Summit  township  >.'o  3 — James  llusli  assessoi- 
John  Dennison.  Justice  of  the  Peace;  J.  Duggaii. 
treasurer;      W.  W.  Sheahan,  clerk. 

Dakota  township  No.  4— W.  P.    Kathhuni.    tresis- 


COINTV  ELECTION  OF   1893.  367 

iirer;     John  T.  Spencer,  clerk;    S.  A.  Ileikes,  ast^essor; 
John  Joyce,  Justice  of  tlie  Peace. 

Hubbard  township  Xo.  5 — Daniel  Hartnett,  su- 
pervisor; Tliomas  Duggan,  assessor;  John  Rooney, 
Justice  of  the  Peace;  Sfeve  Whittecar,  constable; 
T.  M.  Cullen,  treasurer;      T.  S.  Jones,   clerk. 

Pigeon  Creek  ttrvvusliip  No.  6 — Jesse  AVilliaui.-. 
treasurer;  Philo  McAfee,  clerk;  Geo.  Barnes,  asses- 
sor; Peter  Nelson.  Justice  of  the  Peace;  J.  F.  Con- 
nor, constable. 

Oinadi  townsliip  >»o.  7 — Geo.  VV.  Rockwell,  su- 
|)ervisor;  J.  P.  Rockwell,  assessor;  M.  S.  Mansfield 
and  Seth  Barnes,  Justices  of  the  Peace;  P.  McKinley. 
constable;  Thomas  Asliford,  Jr.,  clerk;  J.  D.  Welk- 
er,  treasurer. 

Emerson  townsliip  No.  8 — Michael  Schindler. 
assessor;  Nelson  Feauto,  Justice  of  the  Peace;  R. 
E.  Kuhn,  constable;  Fred  Biede,  clerk;  Charles  Bor- 
..wskj    treasurer. 


CHAPTER  XXII 


Additional  Biographical  Sketc^hes. 


Eugene  B.  Wilbur  is  the  eldest  son  of  our 
pioneer,  E.  L.  Wilbur.  Was  born  August  15,  1858  \n 
Covington  precinct,  in  this  county,  Beo^an  attending 
school  in  1866  in  a  log  house  known  as  the  Miskey 
building  which  stood  upon  the  banks  of  tlie  river, 
taught  ny  Mrs.  James  Ogg.  Moved  with  pai-ents  to  a 
farm  one  mile  southeast  of  Covington  in  the  fall  of 
1870  which  is  the  present  town  site  of  South  Sioux 
City.  In  the  winter  of  1878,  taught  his  first  term  of 
school  in  the  Island  district  No.  20.  Graduated  at  the 
Sioux  City  High  School  in  spring  of  1878.  Married 
to  Miss  Mary  E.  Savidge  at  Covington,  Nebraska. 
September  18th,  1878,  by  Judge  A.  D.  Cole.  '  Moved 
to  his  father's  farm  in  Dakota  Territory. five  miles  west 
of  Sioux  City,  March  14,  1879.  Here  he  h:id  crops  in 
l)roniising  condition  when  the  grasshoppers  destroyed 
all.  Moved  back  to  Dakota  county,  July  25th  and 
located  on  a  piece  of  unimproved  land  wliich  he  had 
previously  purchased, adjoining  his  fatlier's  farm  on  the 
south,  where  he  built  a  residence.  Taught  school  in 
the  summer  of  1880  in  his  home  district.  Taught  his 
last  term  of  school  in  the  winter  of  1884.  Spring  of 
1884  sold  his  farm  to  C.  C.  Orr  for  ^>30  per  acre  and 
moved  to  the  Island  and  opened  up  a  stock  farm. 
Moved  to  Covington.  March  19,  18S5.  Elected  county 
judge  November  3,1885,  by  ii)  majority,  took  charge  of 
office  January  7,  1886,  and  on  the  27th  day  of  August 
sold  the  town  site  of  S<)uth  SiouxCity  to  John  M.  Moan 


EUGK^K  B    \AI1  lU  K 


ADDITIONAL    HIOCiKAPHICAL   SKi;i(III'>.  iTl 

and  aftenvai-(l.<  sold  SI -3,000  worth  of  j)ro[)trty  in  tliat 
vicinity.  Tliat  iall  he  huilt  a  residence  in  Dakola 
City.  In  1S87  sold  8105,912.50  wortli  of  pio])e]  ty  and 
built  a  brick  block  an<l  two  frame  buildings  at  /Soiitli 
Sioux  City.  Kt-e'ected  for  County  Judoe  ISoveinber 
8,  1887,  defeatino-  A.  C.  Abbott,"  of  Pei,der.  by  131) 
majority.  Was  t-eci'etary  of  thcCovinoton,  ^'oulli  Si(iU\ 
City  and  Electric  Eailway  Co.,''  wiiich  was  organized 
in  i888  and  elected  president  oi'  same  the  followincr 
year.  In  partnership  with  his  bi other.  '.).  C.  opened 
up  a  harness  shop  at  Dako':a  City,  in  1888.  In 
I"el)ruary  of  the  same  year  bought  The  Aigns  at  Da 
kota  City,  afteiwaids  moved  to  South  Sioux  City.  j\Ir. 
Wilbur  is  a  yojing'  man  of  moie  than  (.idinaiy  (luipy 
and  ])ush.  Alt^'ongh  not  confronUd  with  as  tiyii  g 
ottstacles  as  tliose  whicli  the  older  iiii  iieers  met  and 
overcame,  he  has  liad  tiinls  and  })rivati(_nis  in  the  sli;i{)c 
of  grasshoppers,  lo^s  (d'  stock,  etc.,  through  all  of 
which  he  has  suivived  and  won  for  himself  the  posiiion 
which  he  now  occupies  lie  has  five  childien,  Eugene 
Clinton.  Emma  iTi-ac--,  Ralph  Raymond,  Lee  L.,  ]\[or- 
ton  C.      lie  was  admitted  to  the  bai    Alarcn     11,     1S'.»1 

Caleb  Monrok  Antrim  was  born  in  Ibitler  countv 
Ohio.  March  0,  1810.  Was  married  to  ]\liss  Ilnunaii 
Jeff'ery  at  Qnincy,  Illinois,  December  5,  1861.  lie 
ari-ived  in  Dakota  county,  with  his  fnniily.  Mai'ch  1(1. 
1872,  wdiere  he  has  since  resided.  In  sj)eaking  of  Ids 
journey  to  Nebraska  he  said:  "As  I  came  to  the  lank 
of  the  Missouri  river,  the  crossing  was  daiigei-ous.  and 
I  employed  l)'>ys  enough  to  take  my  things  across  on 
hand-sleds.  My  mother  was  wit li  me.  and  ,-he  being- 
very  old  I  took  hold  of  hei-  and  told  her  to  be  careful, 
and  started  down  the  haidv.  and  as  I  took  the  hrst  stt  p 
my  foot  slipped  and  I  lell  and  my  motlier  on  'opot  nie 
but  no  one  was  hurt,  but  we  i-olled  clear  down  ti  e 
bank.  U\  mother,  Martha  .\ntrim.  died  Octol.ei-  15. 
1880,  at  the  aoe  of  100  years,  C)  nuuiths.  and  15  days.*" 


372  WARNKii's   HISTORY   Ol'    DAKOTA   COUNTV. 

He  lias  rive  children  living,  CliaiJes  ■  lleni-y,  Cilel) 
JefFery,  Edward  Thomas,  Einiiia  Ettu  and  Elizabeth 
Ann.      His  son  Wilbur  is  dead.     Postoffice.  Homer. 

Agustus  C.  Dodgk  was  born  in  Cedar  county. 
Iowa,  March  25.  1851  and  came  to  Dakota  county. 
September  15,  1878,  fettling  on  the  tVirni  now  owned 
by  Benjamin  Bj'idenbaugh.  Afterwards  moved  to  :i 
farm  south-east  of  Hubbaid  wliere  he  live<l  at  the  time 
of  his  death.  May  7,  1888.  He  was  married  to  J.uura 
Seeley  at  Vinton,  Iowa,  July  26,  187().  He  left  three 
children,  William,  Leroy  and  Charles  Ea-.vrence.  His 
mothei',  ivho  is  a  sister  of  William  Tayloi-,  and  his 
brother,   William  Dodge,  are  living  at  Ponca. 

EuGKNE  L.  WiLnuK  found  his  way  to  Dakota  coun- 
ty August  25,  1850,  landing  in  Coviniiton.  i'y  his  fair 
and  upi'ight  dealings  with  his  fellowmen  he  has  won 
an  honored  name  in  the  hearts  of  Dakota  county  pK  - 
pie.  It  is  not  necessary  to  give  a  sketch  of  his  life  here 
as  it  will  be  found  elsewliere  in  diiiei'ent  parts  of  this 
book. 


CONCLUSIOlSr. 

Our  work  is  finisbrd.  The  History  of  Dakota 
county  i^  completed,  on  which  we  have  spent  so  uumy 
tedious  boms  in  dii^jjing  iij).  as  it  weic.  ;ind  :in- 
earthing  dim  and  do)i)iant  history  of  the  dead  jiasr. 
Pioneers,  presei've  this  book,  that  comiui:  gc  iiei'ations 
may  pi'olit  by  and  h'aii)  to  rexeie  the  memoi'y  of  your 
gi'and  and  hei'oic  sti'uogle  and  rinal  victory  in  coiKjuer- 
ing  these  once  wild  ]»iimeval  lands,  opening  the  way  lor 
all  the  wealth  and  jirosperity  which  abounds  every wl, ere 
n  Dako'ia  Coris'iY. 


ZI^TZDEi:!^. 


PAGE. 

Abell,   Alex 71,  181,  148 

Abell,  (>.   N 128 

Ahell,  Mrs.  Otis  N 128 

Advent  of  the  Pioneers 44 

Adair.  William. .  192,  57,  (58, 

1)4,  .^5,  101.  10.5,  128,  180,  159 

A<lair,   l.i/.zie G8,J28 

Aduir.  :Maniie 71,  123 

Aaair,  Clura 128 

Adair,  Vlattie 123 

Adauis,  .J.  Q 82 

.\dams,  Charles 123 

A  hern,  M.  1' 2UG,  117 

Alcoelv,    I.  A 123 

Alexander.  Robert  li      .  ..45. 

50,  109,  131 

Mien,  I)   L 8t)9,  86,  140 

Allen,  A.  ()   95 

.\Ucn,  Amelia 123 

■  Mien,  liessie 123 

Altemns,  Wni.  V  ..   28i,  134.  100 

Anihbury.  Hev 58 

.\nmierman,  \V.  B 137.  142 

Antrim,  lOdward 128 

Antrim,  0.  M.,  Sr   371,  154 

Anecdotes 344 

ApiJleton.  S.  W 91 

Arnold.  Kdward.  ...234,  122. 

130.  130 
.\rteanx.  .loini  1'.    .  .    .170,  42,  109 

Arnihrcchl.  :,!( losine 01 

Ai-mlirccht.  ('(  iirad.  ....  .241,  01 

Arnionr,  Dennis..  .    217.  KM,  100 

Arnionr,  Vvilliam,  Sr 217,  lol 

.Wmonr.  William  (J 123 

A-r.ionr,  Nettie 123 

Arniell,  I'rosper 108 

Arthnr.  John  t.    139 

Asiiburn,  William 51 

.Xslitord.  Tlioinas.  Sr.  .  .  .  isii 

51,  (57,  101,  133,  140 
.Vslifoi-d.  'rlionnis,  Jr 85,  87 


PAGE. 

Ashlord.  Aiary 123 

Ashford,  Maggie    123 

Ashford,  John 123 

Ashley,  Robert  T 107 

Ashley,  James 222,  52 

Asbrans.  Emile 9(t 

Aston,  Albert 90 

Aughev.  Prof.  Samuel.   .257, 

47,  61,  03,  64,  130,  131 

Aughey,  Mrs    Lizzie 63 

Ayres,  Samuel  .A. 54 

Ayres,M.0..276,  63,  71,  113,  159 
Ayres,  Ebenezer  D..  .  .63,  74,  116 

Ayres.  Frank 286   71.  150 

Ayres,  Florence .123 

Bates,  O.  1> 285 

Kates.  Amberrv 309,  33 

Bates,  P:dith 123 

Bates.  Leonard... 170.  42.  52, 

101,  131 

Bates,  Col.  R 219,  56,  62, 

63,  71.  109,  128,  131,  132, 
133,  185,  136.  144.  145,  146 

Jiates.  Helen 62,  63 

liates,  liose 67 

Bates  House 58 

Rates,  Jennie  P 123 

Raker.  A.  n..l67.  46.  50.  51. 
62,  63,64,  71,  98.  109.  111. 

116,  129,  132.  136,  145 

!   P.aker.  .\lanson 213,  54,  73 

'  Baker,  :)()ra 63 

Raker.  Mollie 128 

Raker,  Nellie 123 

Bach.  A.  P 304.  148 

liav.  John 177.  45,  50 

I'.aird.   Ihonnis  C   129 

Baird,(\)l.li..l72.  44.  45.46, 
00,  t)7.  87,  101.  108,  120. 

145,  146.  15.V 

P.aird.  Rev.  C 61,  94 

Baird.Z.  M 90,  93,  162 


:]7-l: 


PAGE. 

]5aird,  Emma 123 

Jjaird,  liessie 123 

Baiicioft,  Frank    90 

Ba^'lia,  Cliarles  F.    . .  .63.  69.  lOo 

Hayha,  John  F 64,  159 

Bayha,  George 158 

Hai'iiett,  (ieovge 71,  141 

l'.arnett,  William 258 

Barrett.  Martin 78 

Barrett,  Thomas 78,  187 

jiartlett,  William  T...81,  82, 
83,  123,  130,  133,  137,  148,  160 

Barrv.  J.  M    82.  83 

Barrv,  Rev.  J 9u 

Barry,  Kate 123 

Bairy,  Patrick 313 

Base  Ball   158 

Barber.  E 91 

Barr,  Dr.  1).  D 82 

liarnes.  .1.  B 147,  149 

Bailies,  (icoroe 134 

Barnes,  Setli  V 284,  87.  135 

Baniiaii.   Tiitrick 90   92 

l^aniion.  .lolin .162 

Bauer,  [{.  V 128 

iJaiigoiis.  John 298 

iJavliss.  Charles  D 265 

Bale.s,  David 116.  131.  159 

liergnr,  A.  F 246 

Berger,  Giistave 254.  153 

Berger.  Gotleib 254,  159 

lieerman.  Kred 286,  136 

liear.  Alex 146 

J!eii)ier.  Adam 45,  106.  Ill 

Beliuski,  Donionic 51,  112 

leek.  Mell  C 71,  134 

I'.ennett,  William 71 

15eals,  II.  II      S2 

Bennett.  John 91 

IJeniiett.  Ilallie 91 

B;'a!s  Enoch 92 

Beardshere,  Walter  W 140 

I'.eck.  \V.  r, 146 

F>eck;  Capt  W.  II 107 

Berndt.  Alexander 274 

Beaconi    Michael,  iSr 253 

i>oac;)in.  Thomas 237 

Beac.)iH.  .Michael... .237,  r'3, 

134,  143 
Beacom  Michael  M 252,  140 


I'AOK. 

Beaconi,  Dennis 13S 

Beardshear,  M.  W 2()5 

Blyburg 54 

iUeisner  &  Heyl 82 

Bhinchard  Lewis 301 

Blanchard.  J 801.  85.  87,  134 

Blanchard  Jennie 123 

iUume  Fred...282  91.  '34  139    143 

Blessing,  John 224.  160 

Blessing.  Anna     124 

Bit^ssing.  Lewis 184 

Bliven,  A.  11 234  95 

Bliven,  .James  II 235,  94   111 

iiliven,  Curtis  B 101 

Bliven,  Chas 200 

Bliven.  >Jois 236 

Bliven,   Anna   123 

Biggs.  lames  M.. 141 

l^iggs,  Emma   112,123 

Bitigs,  Anna 123 

Bille,  Andreas  F 299 

Bille,  George  C 123.  134 

140.  294 

Biographical 163,  368 

Booge.  James  E 67 

iionton    William 67,194 

Boler.  Michael 82 

ik)ler.    lohn 103.  133 

Bolster, Mrs.  Alice 82 

Bovle,  B.ros S9,  97 

Bovle,  F.   H.    ...91,  112,  F23. 

13(),  137,  141 

Boyle,  M.  S 90 

Boyle,  Charles 199.91   53 

Boyle,  \  ary  Ann ...  122 

Boyle,  M.  M 239,  134, 

141.  142 
Bouderson.  I'enjamin. .  .  .91.  1H4 

Boals,  David 194,  100.  186 

Boals,  (Jeorae  L 187,46    101 

Boals,  William  ii 187,  136 

Bonesteel,  11.  E 146 

Bottom  Disease '57 

Borowsky.  Chas 91.  162 

Brughier.  Theophili 42 

Brown.  C.   II 101 

Brown,  Samuel   A 85.  8i 

Jirowu,  Saul'onl 82 

Brown.  Ii.  11 68,  122 

Browu,  Ella 123 


875 


I'AOK. 

Ihowu.  WilliMui    .        .      .1;-;;}.  293 

UraiiiiMu.  T.    V 127 

linuiiiau,  .)o^e]>li.    Mi.  o;5,  fi«i, 

78,  81.  88 

Biaijiiaii,  W.  b 82 

liiauium.  William         88 

J^ianiuimaii,  Cass 98 

i.raniiamaii,  Tlieiia   123 

Bramiaman.  Perry 128 

P.rannan)an.  Cliarles 187 

Hrasfield.  Nicholas 129.  256 

lirass   I'.ands 161 

niodiiilirer.  Rev.  J.  C 61 

l5rovl.ilI.  W.  I 279,  136 

i;rc)vliill.  Mrs.  W.  I 71 

Brady.  Celia 124 

Bradly.  Taylor  107 

Bruce,  M.  W 60 

Hridenbaiigh.  U.   G 134 

r.rideDbaiigh. benjamin.  .123.  148 

l^rideiiliaiiuli.  Joliii  W 123 

r.rulenl.aiioli,  .lolm  H.  ..   55.  268 
liiideuliauoli,  J.  \V....88.  92,  123 

Bradbrary.  Mrs.  A.  J 63.  122 

l^radbrary.  J)r.  Joseph. ...136,  25S 

Biaiuit,  i!oratio 63 

Biaiiiit.    .lohi!    .201 

lirewer.  ./.  H 147 

Buckley,  J.  S 71,  123 

B>iiiL;liani.Willian) 72 

Jiin'ks.G.  VV    51 

liurke.  J.  H 78.  142 

r.iickwalter,  11.  II  63,  215 

B.urds,  Mrs.  E.  C 128 

I'.iird,  Jose])li 184 

<'arnihaii.  Robert 52 

<';!ru)liaii.  William 52 

<'avauau<i]i.  Joliu 77    187 

<";niile,  A.N 92 

Ciirter,  Uvv.  W.  II 58,  156 

< 'alter,  Thomas 72 

■(•prrabiue.  Tiiu 143,  278 

<'j)ri)euter,   .Alta 128 

<'aniey,  Mary 123 

<';'niev.  .losepli 141 

<'arr.ey.  I'.  F 142.  301 

laii!])  meetiusi- 159 

i('ar,:iil:e!i    IJdl crt .  ...131 .  132 

13S.  139.  295 
I'au'i'lfll.   Wju 123 


('aui])l)ell,  Lucy  J 12J 

('anii)bell.  Arthur....  i3S.  139,  14:^ 

('anii)bell.  .John  II 29i) 

Cain.  John 123 

Cain.  Henry ...135.  142.   1 13 

Cain,  Michael 27() 

Cemeteries,  I'ublic i5:! 

Casey,  Patrick ...    ..3(i(i.   133,  139 

Census  Enumerators 14". 

Cheney,  Wm 46.  5o  51 

112,  13'; 
Chambers.  Ik^njamin  P.. .185 

57,  63.  65    128,  145 
Chihuahua    House...  57,    109,  1  k; 

Chestnut, Rev.  Thomas 58,  7o 

Charde,  A.  B 65 

Chapujan,  Henry 73 

Cliristoi)he]-soii."Todd 86,  S7 

Christoiiherson,  Thomas 87 

Christopher.->on, Christina 123 

Christopherson,  Thomas 257 

Christoi)herson,  Peter 25S 

Church,  John  M 91 

< "hittendon,  Geo.  F  18U 

Clark,  Kosana 58,  122 

Clark.  R.  A 82 

Clark,  'I'homas. . . 308.  82. 

83.  117.  134 

(;iark,  James 103,  )^5 

Clark,  John 13« 

Clark.   Perry 138.  139 

Clapp,  Wm 31(1,  123.  140 

Clai)]),  Thomas  (' ifio 

Clements,  Joseph .  .296,142 

("ororiado.  Gen , 81 

<'ook.  Dr.  lohn  K 42,  44.  72 

Cook.  Geo.  H 301 

Cochran.  S.  (i         51 

Cobb.  W   .10,  72.77 

Cobb.S.  E   87.  9(» 

Covell,  Wm.  L ....55.  277 

Covell.  John  H.  15 281. 

123.  135,  140 
Combs,  •^amuel 276.  55. 

87     101,   135 
Collier,  'i'honias  T...   57,  129,  14(5 

Collins,  John 124.  142 

<'<)nlev.  I  'oiinie J23 

Conley,  Hev.  H.  W r)S   90,  92 

'  'onnoj-,  James -.117,  'i'oH 


Ti; 


( 'onnoi",  John 91 

<  ouvt  House fil 

Covington 71 

Copelan,  John  T 72 

Collins,  Charles 73 

Collins,Wm.  H 122,  130,  2  2 

(>jle.  A.  D J29 

Collin gwood,  Robert 201 

Coyle,  Thomas 92 

Cowles,  Mai.  S.  R.    ..28-5.  94 

101,  134,  IfiO 

Cowles.  Matie 123 

Coburn    Junction 97 

Cole,  A.  D 123 

Cole.  Mrs.  A-  D 123 

Oord.  Minnie 123 

Corn  Palace 98,  99,  100,  102 

Coiwin,  Benjamin 258 

Crockwell,  Dr.  J.  D.  M.  ...o6 

57  ,66  ,135 

Crawford,  James  C 146,  149 

Crawford,  Wm.  G 57,  66 

127,  144.  146,  155 

Crawford,  R.  B 124 

Crawford.  Mrs.  R.  B 123 

Cro'/ier,  Howard 71 

Crounse.  Lorenzo 149 

(;rowell,  C.  M 275 

(ritchfield.  Cook  D 281 

Crippen,  Xewton    J  304 

Crimes  imd  Casualties .11 1 

Crahans,  W     H 92 

Culkin,  Terrence 302 

Cnll.'n,  Thomas.. ..88,  89,  123,  134 

Cnllen,  Michael 89 

Cullen.  Katu Iv3 

Curran,  Thomas 204.  53 

Culver,  W.  \V    72 

Lhniningiiam   Wm 22fi 

('urtis,  Samuel   256 

Iv'akota  County  Organized. . .  .4:5 

Dakota  (Miv.  .'...... 56 

D.ivis.  .losiali  W 251,  51 

87.  133. 155 

Davis    John  L 63.  91.  144 

Davis  &  Fuller 91,  92 

Davis.  >.  R 92 

Davis.  A.  Ira 92.  143 

Davis,  Winnie 123 

Davis.  S.  T. 174 


Dawlev.  Will so 

Davev"  Frank 295.  82, 

1'23,  141 

Davey,  John  M 130 

L>aley.  J.T 82 

Dilev,  R.  B 95.  9'i 

Daley,  Mattie 95^  12:; 

Daley,  Sarah  K 123 

Danker,   Henry 97 

Dean,  W.  A  .  . ". 143 

DLUmison.  John 136.    138,  143 

Deering.  Samuel 287 

D'  Lh  Matyr,  Rev.  J.  H 58 

D.'Bell.  Dr.  E.  J 09.290 

D  -rriufiton.  -j.  11 80 

DjBorde,    A    F So 

DaMon'e.    John  F 103 

DaBor<  e.  Mury 122 

DelB()\e.    Hn-.  J.  M \<9 

D^meiv.  L.   1'^ 92 

DeWitt,    Sio  on   ....2H0.  101 

122.  129,  136,  140 

De  L')ng,  Jennie 123 

De  Lcng,  l.ucy '23 

De  liOng,  Edward 123 

Daloughery.  Michael -37 

Dickey,  J .  B 51 ,  57 

Dillon.  Gerald 53.  78.  79 

80.  ,si,  82,  123.  136 

140.  141,  147 

Dillon,  John   9s 

Dillon,  Father 79 

Dibble,  D.  C 277.  64.  98 

101. 133.  155 
Dibble,  Will  C...70.  101.  113.  i;:o 

Dodge,  Augustus  C ">'i2 

Dodson,  \K  n 52,  63.  72 

Dorsey,  Patrick 137 

Dorsev.  Rev 5s 

Doolittle,     .  E 71 

D)nham   J.  L 77 

Doran,  John 3-;i9,  92    134 

Doran,  Michael   F ..3io 

Doyle.  F 92 

Dow.  Minnie 123 

Downs.  F    II 123 

Downs,  J.  ii .139 

Draper   Stei)lKMi 50 

Dunnell,   Franklin 293 

Dutton.  Horace.... 176,  46,  52,  72, 


I  M  1 

ihittoii.  Siiuin^ 1 77,  40 

Diiogaii,  Daniel li>o.  •'):]. 

;i(;.  18:;.  ij.o.  ]-[-> 

147.  14S 

i)ii-o-;in.  .(oliii  (' ss.   .S7.  l:!4 

DuLigaii,  Kate liio,  14s 

Diiiigaii,  'I  lionias 14:] 

1  'uggan    Idhii ..■_'o7 

Duiican.  Scott ■JS-! 

Diirgeii.EllK'l 7  J 

l-:astuii-  .1.  ;■:  . .  .:;ni.  71 

EliY.  J>(>ui.s SS) 

Kl)v,   iaiucs   l;  ..  ;;i2.  U!7 

Kcidiart,  C  F...  .     ry.}   :>7,  (ii 

lii,  li.i.  11)1.  1 1-; 

i-:ckh-\rt.  Elizabeth (il 

Ki'kliai-t,  I.eaiidn-  U  •>:; 

lu'khart,  .1 .  V h;5,  141 

Kckhait,  Ida crA.  124 

Eckhart,  William 124 

Eckhart,  Clara 124 

Edgav.  I..   I i)2 

Edwards  &    Hradlord    i.mi:- 

ber  Co 02 

iMlwards.  Arthur 107 

J<:iaiii,  Alfred.  .  .  .rtJ,  101.  los 

l:Jo,   i;5ii.  loT   2in 

Elk  Valley   Oii 

I'dt-ctions.  Other MS 

Emery    Ned  II ..1)2 

!■  meisoii 8i) 

I'liimett o-') 

Eurio-ht    J)r oA 

Eiii'-eleii,  .lobii 1)0 

Euiieleii.  .[oliu  Al  Son 92 

Engelen,  iilffie   12;] 

Eiigelen,  .Jennie 12:^ 

EuWk'M.  M-    M 162 

iMigelf'ii,  H.  I) 1()2 

Ei.sderbv,  WycolT 28;-] 

Erwin    C 7«   91 

Erhudi,  Sarah   124 

Krlaeh.  i,awrenee.    .27!).  124.  i;^0 

Evans.  K.  E 102 

Evans,  M.   (I !)l 

Everett,  William   E 94 

i-'ai  rell,   .lames 00 

Earrell     William 1:]S 

lales,  F.    I) 7S.  124 

FaiKdier.  F.  G 92 


.\.  .) .  i 

I'uirbrutiier.  .\1    .  .0;; 

i-air.   Kate .  .124 

Fair,  Ella 124 

I-air,  (ieo.  U 121    i;J2 

Fair,  (iertrnde   124 

Fair.  Helen 124 

'i-':ih\   Lem 124 

!-"air    Forter 12-1 

I'^igi:.'.  M l:]7.  2S7 

ierii.  .1.    \\ 71 

i'cenan    .lolm 72.  74 

ivautc).  Nelson 90.  i;-!9.  14s 

Fi^^her,  Mvra 124 

lishcr.  .1.  ()...  .217.    04.    101 

i;-;2  i;^>;^.  u.i 

lislur.  J.  W 91.i)2 

Fritzpatrick.  -lohn  ...    7:'.,  9;».  1 11 

Fires   Ho 

'^'iteh.  .lohn 14;^> 

Finnerty   Di-nnis 124 

F  nnerty,  lohn 224 

FiOyd.  Sergeant,  ('harles ;^s 

Flegg.  Mrs   !)2 

Fivnn.  .lames 300 

Ft'rlie.  .\ndi-ew 298.  158.  KHi 

Ford.  Charles.  .  .  ,21;^,  50.  08, 

124,  13.5,  140 

Ford,  .\lexander 218,  51,  185 

Foltz.  Wm ....71.298 

Fjsler.  Albert 89 

Fjwler.  .1 95 

F.iwlcr,  Mamie 124 

Fjreslioe    .Miltcn    264 

Francis-o.   I  evi 809 

Francisco.  Wm.  A 8(»9 

Francisco.   Eli    810 

Franklin  City 54 

Frazer.  Kellv  W.. 240. 08,  71, 

129,  182.  14S 

Frazer.  i.us  .\ 08 

Frazer.  Anna  E..08,  71.  124.  MO 

Fonts.  Isaac 142 

Frazier.  Wm 208.  78 

Frcpse.  Herman 114 

Frederickson.  Hasmus 102 

Funk   Samnel  I'. 94.  9.> 

Fuller,  Winnie 91 

Fuller    I    .1    180 

[Mirmis    Robert  W   ...07 

(Jailagher.  Hugh  W 219 


378 


PAGE. 

Gallagher,   Rose 124 

Gallagher.  John 50 

Garner,  Jane   52 

Garner,  James 201 

Gamble.  Samuel. . . .  122.  128,  132 

Gtuighran.  John 124,  242 

Gearheart,   Rev 58 

Geology 47 

Gillespie.  B.  S ....65 

Gigeai-,  Louis 92 

Gillette  Brothers 93 

Goodhue,  I'eter IW 

Goodhue,  Sarah 63.  124 

Goltry.  W.  H 03 

Goodlellow,  Charles   68.  241 

Goble.  A.  L 124 

Goldie.  George  V 80 

G<i(j(i\\in,B.  K 91 

Gi)od\vin 97 

Goodwin.  Ralph 245 

Griggs.  Henry  O 239 

Gritlev.  Thomas  h 173.42 

48,  62,  64.  68.72,  94. 

100.   130.  132,  146,  147 

Giiffev.  George 73   111 

Griftey,  I).  VV 162,204 

Glim   Samuel 239 

Grant.  \V.  W ...63 

Gray.  Hiram 294 

Graves.  Guy  T 124.  130 

G!-aves.  Stella 124 

Grilible.  Harney  B   ..    89 

Gribble,  Olive 89 

Gribble.  E.   i^ 71 

Gribble.  i.i/.zie 124 

Gribble,  John  C  Sr 133.  234 

Gribble,  Wm   154,  205 

Gribble,  B 237 

Grosvenor.  R.  L, 77 

Griffni,  Rev.  James 85 

Graff.  (George 65,  67,  107.  127 

Granger.  George  r.    131  .  183,263 
Elallock.  Jacob  H    ...178,  45 

58.  109.  127,  140 

Harvey.  Ray 45 

n^iskiiig.  \i.  U 55 

Iliase.  Augustus    T    244 

57^61    62,  64,71,  100 

101.  134. 136.  141 
H.iase,  Theodore  ,.      98 


PAGE 

Ilaat-e,  Geo.  H    16-^ 

Hogan.  I'etei 141 

Harrington,  Albert  M 262 

Hapeman,  Rev.  H.  J 61.  71 

liager.  John 68.299 

Hager,  Daniel 71 

Hager,   Rose 124 

Hager.  Anna   124 

Hart.  Samuel  I 136,  273 

Hart,   Atlee 70   71,  90,  94 

Harte,  Wm 92 

Hale,  Stephen  (,   251- 

Hammer,  (ieorge   I*'   87 

Hammer,   I'eder 71 

Hammitt,   William 71 

Hamilton,  J.N 71.  282 

Hamilton.  R.  G 95.  148 

Hamilton.  I'.elle 124 

Hamilton,  Hl-iuelie 124 

Hammond.  Elijah 2i)s 

I  lamey  (;ity 72 

Hayes,  George 134 

Havnes.   Thomas 274 

llattenbach.  (-i 73,  19.^ 

Hall,  Joseph   A 72.  124 

Harty.  Mrs.   Patrick 82 

Harty.  i'atrick 1-3 

Hartv.  Michael 3 i 0 

Harris,  Herbert 84.  101,  2.-)3 

Harris,  (ieorge   161 

Harris,  Joseph 25'^ 

[1  arris,  -fames -.296 

Tiarrigfeld,  Andrew   309 

Hansen  &  Krederickson 87 

Fl ansen,   Knud 27i5 

Haupt,  J.   <i 95.  124 

[larden.  Van 2>-3 

Harden,  Luther 270 

iiartnt^tt,  Thomas 117 

riartnett,  .fames. .  ..134,  141,  142 

yrartnett,  .John 2.')9 

nazelgrove,  .lohn '-'1*» 

riazelyrove.   Isaac 25t 

Hedges.  William 267,  137 

nennings,  Henry 54 

Herweg,   1 1  enry 62.  1 1  :i: 

Heath,  Mitchell .284 

Heath.   lames 94.  9.> 

Heath,  C.  I' 64,  72; 

Herb,  (ieorge '>> 


37  J) 


PAGK. 

lledties,  C.   E 74,  79 

ileffernaii.  1).    C.  .  .  .81,    82, 

137,  235,  237 

neffernan,  Michael 82,  235 

Heffenian.  -John  C  .136,  145,  235 
Heffernan,  John   .  .  .141,  145,  235 

Herman,  Mary   85,  310 

Herman,  M.   i 269 

Henry,  i.eorge   8B 

Henry.  Peter 139 

HeiReti,  .lacob 112,275 

ileikes,  S    A 140,  141 

Ileeney,  I'atrick 296 

Hirsch,  Abraham. 46,  50, 109,  167 

iiirsch,  jAiella 124   180 

Hicks,  Henjamin 46,  5o 

Higs/ins,  Charles 73 

Higi'-inbotliom,  William 251 

HilVbs,  .lohn  (r    97,  138 

Hileman,  1)   Y 98,  2H8 

llilemaii,  Kate 114 

Hileman,  Joseph 224 

nines,   Vlichael 134 

Hinsdale,  (ileorge  A  . .  .56,  57 

66.  128,  135,  144,  153 

Hoch,  D.  W 301 

Holtman,  Marion 140 

Ho<'an   Thomas 299 

Hdgtwi,  William   299 

Hoii-an.  William 53,  101,  311 

llogan,  Agnes 124 

i  logaii,  1  >ennis 134 

llogan,   Patrick   283 

Hogan,   lolin 298 

Holidays 155 

iloUuian,  Charles 162 

Hollman,    -losei)!) 54,    57 

64,  61).  92,  107,  145.  210 

llommell,  -lohn    215 

Uu]}e.  -lolin 54 

liovt    .1    IS 113 

llovt  Zula 124 

Howard,  .lohn    133.   154 

Howard,  Mattie 124 

Howard   C    !J   262 

Howard.  Robtjrt  A 65.  66 

Howard.  Cliarles 74 

Howard   Mary 89,  124 

Howard,  Maggie 89 

Homer 83 


PAGK. 

Holswortli,  William 272 

101,  122.  140.  145 
Horr,  Chauucey  .A  .  .  .  .45.  49 

Hoy.  James 72 

Huffman,  L.  Y. 200 

Hunt,  Kittie 124 

Hunt.  Emma   124 

Hunt,  Adrew  M 54 

Hunt.  Frank 93,  94 

Hughes  VV.  H.  S 56 

lluse,  William  &  8on 81 

Hubbard 88 

Hiiddleson,  Harry 74 

Iberville 32 

Indians 106 

ingle,  Andrew 144 

Ironsides,  (-Jeorge  E.102,  131,  137 
Irwin,  Christopher..  112.  137,  288 

Imhoff.  .loseph 216 

1  ler .  J  acob 310 

Isenberg.  Gus  A   302 

James,  William  H  ...  .42,  56 

57,  63.  65,  66,  101,  132,  135 

James  Ida   63 

Jackson,  Alfred.. 65.  68,  146,  147 

Jackson 78 

Jackson.  Josepii  A 98 

Jay,   Will  S...275,  69,  70,  93,  154 

Jay.  Men  C   71,  147 

Jay.  Marcell 136 

Jandt,  H.  A 86 

Jennings,  Hev.  I .  W ...58 

Jensen  &  Wiseman •.  ..92 

Jensen  Urtoliers 92 

Jeep.   i..ouis 95 

Jenkins,  John 95,  138,  142 

Jordan,  John    310 

Jordan,  I'eter 299 

Jones.  I'homas  •> 199 

Jones,  Nelson 162 

Jones.  Tliomas 139,  142 

Jones.  John  [ 124,  130 

•loiies,  Lillian 124 

Jones,  .\larv   124 

J(mes,  Edward  C...    52.  144,   177 

Jones,  Sarah  A 92,  124 

Jones,  Marv  F 122 

,K)Vce.  John 205.  52    101 

130,  136,  141 


H80 


PAGE. 

Jovce.  Stephen 283 

Joyce,  Miua 124 


Joyce,  (.'Icii'ji. 


124 

Johns,  Andrew 73,  204 

Johns,  John 256 

Johns,  Henry   256 

.I'ouvenat.  J.  15 82 

Johnson,  C.   A .....90 

Johnson,  Mary 124 

Jopp.  Lewis 277 

Ju  1,4-i's  District  Court 149 

Ka\an;iu;j,li,    John  E .71 

Kellelian,   lames 53,72,   198 

Kelloo-o-,  \V.  M 9],  92 

Kent,  D.   1' 54 

Kent,  Henry 89 

Kent    Mrs.  CJiarles 73 

Kent,  Charles 54 

Kennelly,  Alice 82 

Kennelly   M    E..      82 

Kennelly. Michael 223.  50 

51,  78,  7^    82,  83,  117.133 

I'U,  136.  137.  140.  141 

Kennelly,  Anna 124 

Kennelly,  Josie 124 

Kerr,  Joseph 51.  55 

Keel,  Enos 128,  2(52 

Keel,  Ella 63 

Keel,   Marv 124 

Keel.  Michael 264 

Kelley,   Father 79 

Kearjiev    Ed.  T 82.  83.  134  i 

Kelsey.  Joseph  R  . .  .300.  12. 

85.  8H.  134.  162 

Kennedy.  Daniel 124 

Kinkea.i,  W.  11.136.  156J  160^  3(»3 

Kirkpatrick,  U.  H 73 

Kinnear,  Albert 87 

Kinnear,  Eva   124 

KiiiKslairy.  A.  (t 124 

Kin^.  C.  C 91 

King.  Thomas  J 95.  96 

124,  129.  130,  138 

Kipi)er.  J.,udwig 1 13 

Kloster,  J.  L 95 

Kioke,  i; 145 

Kiio.x,  .lames.    ..97,  138,  143,  284 

Knox,  Hehecea 124 

Kno.x.   Mamie 124 

KiKix,  Anna 124 


PAGK. 

Knapp.  Daniel 124 

Knapp,  Deyillo  E 141.  293 

.Knapp,  Geo.  A 3U4 

Kountze,  Augustus .56 

Krosen.  J .  L. 86,  9;^ 

Kreps.  Moses 46,  49,  )us.  i7(j 

Kryger,  Leonard 95 

Kryger,  Lelah 95.  124 

Kuhns.  Rev.  H.  W 61 

Jvuhn,  R.  E 90 

Kulilnian,  Liev.  J.  F 61 

Kulkuis.  Terrance 82 

Kuntz  &  McCarthy 91 

Lake,  Uattie 124 

Lampson,  Elbridge   G 62 

132,  135,  148 

Lampson,  William 162 

Lampson,  Albert  G 63 

Lampson,  Amos 206 

Lawless,  Father 79,  80 

Larson,  Anders 288 

Larsen,  (Teorge 297 

Lapsley,  Elizabeth 113.  124 

Lapsley,  William 268 

Lane,  Dutton 98,  253 

Lane.  Caleb 282 

l^ange,  Frederick 82 

Lake.  Albert 285 

Lake,  Oscar   11 284 

J>ewis  &  Clarke 32,  39,  83 

Legg,  Caleb 50 

Leach.  William  tjr 236, 

68,  73,  74 

Leach,  William  Jr 117 

Leahey,  R.  li 82 

Leonard,  Joshua  .    ..  .92.  9:),  309 

Leamer,  George ,l,  262 

Learner.  Fremont 124,  141 

Leamer,  Rev.  Jesse I24 

J-eedom,  J.  F 139 

Libraries,  l-ublic 154 

Lionias.  Joseph 42 

Lily.  John 83 

Lippokl,  \V.  S (,'0 

LocKwood,  William. 117,  145.  150 

Logan 5(1 

Lodi ,V) 

Lovejoy.  N.  S i)5 

Logan.  Millard 84 

Loiian  War 108 


m\ 


PAGE. 

l.ooniis.  lleiirv 205.85, 

133,  135,  160 

Long.  Thomas 311 

Lucy,  .Jeremiah 123 

iiUdwig.  Jacob 72 

Luther,   Marshall 78,  304 

Luther.  William 74.  75.  304 

Lyon,  Harry 52 

Lynch, J.  H ^3 

Lysaght.  Father  l\  A. .80,  82 

88,  89 

Marquette.  Rev.  D 58 

Marquette,  Father 31 

Madden.  William  L 42 

Marsh,  W.  W 52 

.Marsh,  Ottie 52,  122 

Matthewson,  Charles 107 

Matthewson.  D.  W 90 

Matthews,  IJr 53 


Matthews,  3.1) 

..65 

Matthews,  A 81,  125,  180 

246 

Mason.  E.  F 57 

136 

Mason,  M 8(3. 

134 

Martin,  ( 'harles  L) 201  (53 

(55,  HO,  70.  73,  77.  101 

130, 

137 

Martin,   Lucy 

.63 

Caivin 63 

Daniel 91 

Ella 124 

Charles 158  ! 

.  John  H 65  j 


Alartin. 
Mai-tin, 
Martin, 
Martin. 
Markley 

Maxwell,  Dr.  C.  H 71 

Maxwell,  f^amuel   149 

Maher,  Nicholas 288,  75 

78.  128.  129 

Mandershied  &  Loup 78 

Maloney.  James 78.  lol 

MansHeld,  Martin  ^^ 265 

84.  85,  86,  87,  134,  135 

Mansfield,  Minnie 125 

Maun.  John  II 311,  85 

130.  131,  136 

Magec,  T.    F b9 

Maiiu-  John  I) 2S8 

Mann,  Charles 91 

.Manuing,  Nettie 125 

Mngen.  .Simon 53 

Miinning.  Willis 125 

Manning,  Mary 125 


I'AGK. 

Manning,  John 13(> 

McBeath,  William  C....179 

50.  51.  64.  109.  127.  12it 

McFalLG 52 

McKivergan.  Michael       .53.  197 
Mccormick,  Michael. ..53.  78.  198 

McCormick,  Harry 310. 

70.  76.  93.  95.  134 

McDonald,  Duncan 53.  238 

McDonald,  Crittenden 313 

McDonald,  li.  F 146 

McQuilken.  Jolm. .  .  .57.  141.  183 

Mo  artney.  Samuel 57 

McI  aughlin,  Michael 57 

McLaughlin.  Daniel 66 

McGregor.  Rev.  D.   W 58 

McCool,  Rev.  Will  C 61.  125 

McCready,  Ellen 63.  122 

McCready,  Alexander...   65 

130.  141.  147 

McAllister.  J.  J 71.  132 

McKenua,  James 72.  73.  222 

McConehey,  Thomas 73 

McConehev.  John 94.  278 

McGoffin.  N.J 78.  138 

McAfee.  FhiloS 135 

McAfee.  J.  H 138.  309 

McGinn.  John -..79.  136 

McGrath.T.K     83 

Mc  1  ride.  Jerry 82 

McKinley.  iienone   86.  309 

AicEntarffer.  A 87.  162 

Mc  Entarffer.  M 87 

McGee  T.   F 160 

McCarthy,  L  J 90.  01 

Mci  onaid.   William 04 

Mcpherson.  Jo,se])h 274 

.^.c^ieal.  Andrew 124 

Mc  Henry.   Ella 125 

Ivic Henry.  Katie 125 

McHenrv.  James 199 

McKinney.  John  W 297 

McShane.  Peter 138 

xNicShane.    V 139 

Mclntyre.  Owen    294 

McKeever.  lliomas 300 

Messenhoelcr.  -lulius 71.  2M) 

A  ellelte.  J.  \' 77 

Metz.  William 92 

Mereditli.  J.  F  96 


382 


PAGK. 

Merslion.  Etta 63.   122 

Mikesell,  Chris 370 

Mikesell.  Peter 136.  275 

Mikesell.  S.  P 63.  125.  264 

Mikesell.  J.  A 63.116.  159 

Millage,  Ziber 216 

Mitchell.  Dennis 278 

Mitchell.  Michael 294 

Mitchell,  Thomas . .  .298 

Mitchell,   Elmira 124 

Mitchell,  .John 63.  159.  274 

Mitchell,  James  L.97,  98.  138,283 

Mines,  M.  A 91 

Minter,  James  M 134,143 

Minter.  Monroe 97 

Mischliscli.  .John 57 

Minter,  William 143 

Moran,  Edward    67 

Moan,  .Jolin   M 75,  93.  94,  145 

Morrissey.  M.  (i     83,  89 

Moore,  Spencer   45 

Moore,  A.  L 90 

Moseman.  H.  F 91 

Moses,  Alonzo 54 

Merman,  F 41 

Monahan,  Patrick 111.  225 

Monahan,  M  ary 125 

Montgomery.  John 116 

Monroe,  Isaac 161.  200 

Morgan,  W.  A .125.  141 

Morton,  J.  Sterling .157 

Mnrphy,  'i'imothy    45,  273 

Mnrphy.  .Maggie  A 125 

.\lnnhall.   Hev 58 

Mnnson,  C.  S 106 

Murdick,  John   lU 

Myers,  Hev.  II.  C 58,  71 

Myers,  Anthony  J... 67,  133.  242 

Myers,  John  i'> 87,  255 

Myers,  John    F 88 

.Mvers.  Peter .  ..101,  103,  140,  226 

Myers,   William 144 

Myers,  John    25K 

Natural   Ue.sonrces 47 

Nasli,  .lulia 50.  122 

Nasii.  Edwin  H 51.  128 

Nash.  Albert    85.297 

Naffziger,  John 191 .  57 

58,66,  101,  129.    136,  145,  155 
Naffziger.  William 125,  133 


PAGE. 

Nevf-lle    Ella 

63 

Nebraska,.  I'erritory  of 

43 

Neff.  Pins 54   101. 

128 

251 

Neff.  Marv 

.125 

Newport 

r-.) 

Nead.  William  A.  .   81, 

137. 

138 

Necora 

97 

Nickerson,  Uriah 

.  54 . 

215 

Niebuhr.  Henry. .  .    .71. 

162. 

287 

Niebuhr,  George 

..71 

Nixon.  William   101 

135. 

182 

'^71 

Nicklin,   Uattie   

125 

Niggerman.   1) 

.285 

Northrop,  H.  I 

...77 

Norris,  Edward 

...87 

Norris,  W.  F 

.146 

149 

Norman.  Harry 

.125 

Nordyke,  A 

9H9, 

Nordyke,  Harvey  D. .    . 

.286 

Nordyke.  C.  J 



-282 

Nugget,  Lost  Steamer. . 

.158 

(Jaks  Mill 

55 

55 

'>73 

O'Brien  Brothers 

..82 

Oberholtzer,  (ieorge  W . 

..63 

O'Connor,  Captain  C. . . 

.233 

53. 

101, 

M5 

O'Connor.  .Mrs.  Capt.  C. 

...53 

O'Connor,  C.  J.... 88,  85.  8? 

128, 

l'?5 

145 

O'Connor,  Jnlia 

.125, 

157 

O'l.'onnor,  Mary 

.125 

O'Connor,  Katie 

.125 

^) "Connor.  Lottie 

.  125 

(J'Connor,   Ella         

1 25 

OToniior.  Timothy  J.... 

.140 

162 

Oetsmyer,  Henrv 

.289 

Oesterling,  Amelia.    .  .  . 

...63 

Oesterling.  Jonchim..ll6 

,  131 

,187 

1  Olficers.  County 

.127 

1  Ollices,  Special 

.147 

1  Oi^-den.  J.  a 63,  105, 

147. 

158 

Ogden.  Mrs.  E.  J 

...6;-i.  (i4 

Ogg.  .lames 

..77. 

122 

4-^ 

Omadi 

...49 

O'Neil,  Michael 

.125 

o'Neil,  S.  E 

.125 

1'55 

;j83 


PAGE. 

O'Neil,  Lucv 126 

(>']Seil.  Patrick 141,195 

O'^'eil,  Jolin  C ...82 

Urr.  C.  C. 254 

Orr,  Lillie 125 

OiT.  Rev.  Jobii  S 58.  130 

On.  John 290 

0"!>ullivau,  P.  F 68.  145,  159 

Oilman,  Mrs.  E.  li 77 

Ot^mall .  Sanmel 284 

Osliea.  Cornelius 89 

Osbiirn.  Taylor ...265 

Other  Adventures 41 

0^vens,  Elizabeth  C 301 

Pac(iuette    Paul 42 

Faryons,  Maria 50,  122 

ParKer.  Charles  T 52 

Parker.  Sanford 65 

I'arker,  Kettie 125 

Parker.  E.  E 137.  142 

Parker.  Andrew  J  . . . .  800,  36,  8;h 

Pacific  City £4 

Patrick,  J.^S.li 57,  65 

Packard,  I.  G 57    122.  158 

Packard,  Charles  S 90 

Parmer   L.  D .68 

Pasi^nore.  Jat-on 78 

I  armelee.  Ward 92 

Pain;elee,  I).  W 80 

Parn.elee.  Mattie 91.  92 

I'arir.elee.  Howard 92 

Painter  &  IsenLerg 91 

Panl{;er,  F !  1' 

l"aln!er.  E.  V 93.  94 

Payer.  Alexander 1(8 

jayne.  C  VV 278 

Price.  Ilelera 12;- 

Presicent.  <onn1y  vole  for 144 

Precincts.  Orgai  izin^  tl.e. . .    150 

Peteri-on.  (.'eoijic 30i 

I'cy^en.  John  I^' . . .    95  i;'4 

Peiry.  Polert.. 42 

PccfHit.  GriHtave....42,  4(i.  49,  177 


I  hilliis 

Fdwaid. . 



..71 

I'l  illi]s 

Charles.. 

71. 

!'7(i 

PI  illiis 

Hein  C  . 

...    .    94, 

14;^ 

I'hilliis 

AlVert... 

...87 

Pil<.rin!, 

Willi:  ni.. 

.    45,  182. 

190 

Pilj-irim, 

Robert . . . 

45. 

170 

Pilti-iii\ 

Allrec' . . . 

...85 

PAGK. 

Pilgrim.  Wiliiam  W 86,  lo5 

Pilgrim,  Iknry 191.  190 

Pierce.  John 52 

Pinkejton,  Lr.  M  ...   186,  68 

78,  96,  128.  131,  18(> 

I'inkerton.  Mary 73   12L 

Pinkertcn,  Nellie  M  ..... .   .115 

Pioneers  and    Old    Settlers 

Association SlL' 

Pizy,  h.  W ..j76 

Pleyel.  E.  John 54,  215 

Pcweie,  h{!8C  Jr.. .   £86,  64, 

137,   146,  147.  149 

Powers,  Henry 77 

Potter,  (  liarles-  P  .. .   262  48 

51.  107.  1£2, 135   140.  148 

Potter   Jerry 139 

Poole,  Bobert 92 

Pcrtiss,  Geo.  C 53 

1  oinlation iio 

Poter,  JSathar;  S 145.  l.-,0 

1  cor  ham l£9 

I  riest,  John  h St.r 

Puoicts-  and  In  pioven  ents...9^ 

Pnti;iin     A:is.'-- 50.11:. 

1  iftt.  Allitd  T\  ...    .62.  145,  146 

Pvls.  (-;.  A 92 

I'rndy   ISewton ..118,  135 

Eathbnn.  Asa 288.    51. 

9P,  101,  109,  182,   134,  135 

Patlilnn.  W    P 70.  129 

HathUin.  Anna 125 

Pathlnn,  Francis. 125 

Eathbnn.  Irene  I 125 

Eaiidolih     . .      .    55 

Paiidol]  h.  Jasper .55 

handa.  Vac 65 

Pavn  (nd,  E.  .1 70 

h.qV;  TMllifiD, 72 

Railroads ..     108 

Pun     Pfnrv...   166.  44,  50. 
n.  (?,  I'i'.  85.  101.  125.  128 

131,  133.  141,  147. 158 
Pean  ,  RIarcellus  ^\ . . . .   178, 

51.68.71,158 

Pean'.  Charles 61,  168,  187 

Peam,  A  ary 51 

Pean;.  jS'ina 71,  167 

Peam,  "VV.  i .87 

Peani.  Kannie 125 


384 


PAGE. 

Ream,  Mabel 135,  167 

Ream,  John 162 

Reom.  Charles 57,  66 

Reed,' Rev 58 

Reniiiger.  R.  S 82 

Renniger,  William 303 

Rhode,  Theodore 71 

Richards,  Rev.  J.  M 58 

Richards,  A.  s 86 

Riley,  John 77 

Riley,  William 82 

Rossiter,  M.  L 9«» 

Rouleaux. Charles... 45,49.  50.  173 

Roberts-  W.  D 54,  55 

Robertson,  E.  A 70 

Robinson.  I.  C 146 

Robinson,  F.  A.. ..57.  58.  336.  167 

Robinson.  Charles  M 74 

Robinson.  F.  M 87 

Rockwell,  J.  H 140,  273 

Rockwell,  J.  P 140 

Rockwell.  Stephen 261 

Rockwell,  Calvin  274 

Rockwell,  John  13 293 

Rockwell,  Geo.  VV 134.  283 

Rockwell,  Mrs.  Carrie 87 

Rockwell.  Ephraim 87 

Rockwell,  R   D...89,  139,  148.282 

Rockwell,  Minnie 125 

Rockwell,  Ella 125 

Rogers,  H    D 142,  299 

Rogers.  James  J 125 

Rogers.  Minnie 125 

Rogers,  Ella 125 

Rooney,  .John  Ii..89,  137,  139,  256 

Rush.  Jamqs 28 1 

Rush,  Alice 52 

Rush,  William 52 

Rush,  P'rankie 125 

Rush,  John 134 

Rush,  Peter 138,281 

Rush.  Easton 234 

Rust,  George  W 51 

Rutter.  Rrtta Iv5 

Rvan    John 53.  191 

Ryan,  James 53.  80.  191 

Ryan.  Patrick ..53.  205 

Ryan,  Micholas ....53 

Rvan.C  I) 82,  235 


I  PAGE. 

!   Ryan.   Father 79 

I   Ryan,  W.  H   95.  129 

Ryan   Thomas 109.  128 

I   Ryan,  -lulia  E 125 

j  Ryan,  .Vlary  Ann 125 

Ryan,  Ella" 125 

I   Ryan    Patrick 133 

Ryan,  Edward 137 

Ryan    D   .1 141 

Ryan,  J.J 142 

Rymill    Samuel '^02 

Samuels.  John 45 

Sawyers.  James  A 74 

Sawyer.  U.  F   303.  78    82 

95.  96. 132 

Saltsgiver,  A.  L 78 

Saville.  Dr.  M 52.  66 

Sabin.  Prof.  A.  I 125 

Sayer,  11    160.  295 

Savage    Ernest 125 

Sanford.  George   154 

Schools 122 

Schindler   Michael 144 


Schnure.  Rev.  J.  I'   .  . 

..61 

Schmeid,  Mell  A 

..62.  70 

162. 

297 

Schmeid,  William   .  . 

72 

Schmeid.  Prof.  A.  W 

.297 

Schollard  &  Kerwin 

93 

Schaub.  .John 

.92 

Shockley.    1.  M 

..9] 

Seeley.  Charles  T 

.68 

Seriy,  J.    1 

*.. 

..82 

Severson.  J.  M  

.      .82. 

113 

Keaton.  James 

.74 

Selzer,    brothers 74,  75 

Senter,  Gertrude 125 

Shumway,  11 .  P 146 

Shaffer,  Samuel   310 

Shnrp,   I'eter 139 

Sheahan  William  W 134 

^hort.  Arthur 53 

Sherman,  (i.  W.  F         54 

Sliortley,   Richard 296 

Slirlever,  Kred 70 

Shriever,  Carl 71 

Siireve  ('.   I> 78 

Siiull.  [lenrv  F 98,  154,  204 

Shull,  Samuel 197 


385 


PAGK. 

Shull.  David 206 

Shiebly.  George  W 143.  158 

Sierk.  John 134   135 

Sinnott.  Mrs.  Annie 82 

Sides,  John US,  125 

Sides,  Jacob 141,  264 

Simon's.  Siding 97 

Sims,  Fred  W 143 

Silence.  William 216 

Slocum,  M.  li 94,  95.  96 

Sloan.  Thomas  J 125,  130 

Slagle  James 137,  142 

Smith,  Michael  B 304 

Smith.  William  D 57 

Smith.  Kev.  \A  illiam  vi . .  .51 

58,  130 

Smith   Thomas 83,  189 

Smith,  Joseph.  .  .  .84,  85.  134 

135,  161,  253 
Smith.  John 84,  85.  101 

135.  161.  286 

Smith,  Robert 85,  254 

Smilh.  Walter 85. 162 

Smith,  Elmer  E 87.  125 

Smith.  Rev.  J.  T 88 

Smith.  Rev.  Joel  A 58,  159 

Smith,  Jettie 125 

Smith,  E.  J 134 

Smith,  iolm  Jr 135 

Smith,  Lawrence 139 

Smith.  John  C 139 

Smith,  James   li 302 

Smiley.  V.  D 93,  95.  134 

Smiley.   I^aiira 125 

Smiley,  Eva 135 

Snvder.  John 222 

South  Sioux  City 92 

Soldiers  lielief  Commission. .  160 
South  Sioux  City  Street  Hail 

Road  Company 94 

Sprecher,  Rev.  i)   61.  93 

Spencer,  John  T.. 289.  64,  69, 

71,  77,  130.  136.  146,  147 

Sprague,  John  H 64,  270 

Steamer,  Western  Engineer. .  .40 

St.  Johns 45,  53 

Stinson,  D.  C 302,  62.  70 

71,  136 

Stott.  James 188.  63  05 

73.  101.  105.  127,  137,  140.142 


PAGK. 

t  stott.  Henry 127 

!  Stories  of  Olden  Tinies 344 

'  Strickland.  Joseph  B 65 

'  Stamm.  Elias 125 

I  Stamm.  ?'ern 78.  125 

I  Stahl    Henry 92,  139 

I  Stanton 96 

Stolze.  F   286 

I  St.Cyr,  David 108 

!  Stark.  Flerman 144 

I  Stolz,  Herman 144 

I  Storms  and  Blizzards,  Great.  119 

1  Stinson.  Samuel 125.  162.  309 

Stinson,  Ida 125 

Sullivan .  Daniel 268 

Sullivan.  Thomas 79,  82,  160 

Sullivan.  Mary         125 

Surber.  A    A 134 

Sweeney.  F^atrick 134 

Taffe,  John 51.  68,  109 

130.  144,  146 

Talbot.  Captain  Dick .75 

Taylor.  I  N 77 

Tavlor,  VV  dliam 268,  101 

133.  153 

Taylor,  William  B 46 

Taylor,  Goodwin 252 

Tappan.  Frank 138 

Territory  of    !.,ouisiana  and 

Missouri 40 

Teller.  Janips  S 246 

The  lieginning 31 

Thomas,  H.  C   125 

Thompson,  Asmus 143 

Thompson,  William   42 

'lliorne,  M.  C  77,  304 

Thyson.  Nick 133,  134 

Tifley.  H.  C 54 

Towns 56 

Towns    Ex  tinct , . 49 

Towle,  A.  I • 65 

Trecy,  Father  Jeremiah.  45 

53,  79 
Trecy,  John  J  .  .  .   45.  53.  132,  177 

Trecy.  .lames  \ 54 

Trusedale.  I'.enjamin. .    .  54,  215 

Truax   J.J 78 

'I'urner,  Arthur  W 85 

Turner.  Joseph  T 54 

Tulo,  John    54,  215 


sm 


PAGE. 

Turk,  John  C 56.  67,  65 

Turman,  Z.  B 58,  123 

Twohig.  Patrick ....  198,   53 

103,  133 
Twohig,  .J.  P...70.  81,  95,  96,  127 

Twohig,  John 235 

Urmy.  D.  F 63 

LTIlery,  Stephen    215 

Vanauken,  .J.  \I ..57 

Vandoozer,  Rev.  S.  P. .58.  74,159 

Van  Rueth,  Bloris   65.  67,  74 

Valentine,  O.  J   . .    95 

Valentine,  E.  K 149,175 

Verona 54 

Veets,  L.  C  240 

Verden,  .John 214,  52.  73 

lOS,  117 

Verden.  Thomas r)>,  215 

Verden,  Daniel 52,  215 

Verden,  Frank 52,  132,  215 

Virtue,  .Jau'ds   W 56.  57 

62,  68,  127.  148 

Vos.s.  Frddsrick    134 

Warner.  Col.  ./esse  F....22o 
52,  63,  68,  91,  101,105 
107,  130,  135,  145,  155,  155 

Warner,  (Tideon 50,  105,  243 

Warner,  A.lic3   63,  125 

Warner,  William  P.. 71,  123,  129 
Warner,  L.  M    ...86  87,  135,  151 

Warner,  N"8llie   52.  6-:5.   125 

Warner.  Enni .123 

Warner,  M.  M 13,  151, 

313,330,  331 

A^irner,  Ernest     332 

Warner.  Rev.  Moses .......   .159 

Waldvogle,  I^ena 126 

Walway,   WiUian 287 

Watts,  S  unuel  F 44,  52.  141 

Watts,  .N'atlimiel   ...51 

Wall,  Ellis  W 55 

Wakely,  .Judge  Eleazer .  ..56, 

57.  150 

Waters,  1).  F 82 

Way,  ! lezekiah 2S9 

Wav,  ("v'lus 63 

Wav,  W.    II !17 

W:\y.C.  15 12() 

Way,  llettie ..   126 

Way  Lizzie 126 


PAGE 

Waterman.  David 83 

Warnock,    William 303, 

89,  90.  91,  92 

Ward,  .John   91 

Wakefield,  D.    W 303 

Wakefield.  L  91,  91 

Welker.  John  D. . .  .  135,   154,  296 

Webster.  Mrs.  O 126 

Webster.  Oscar   B 287 

We.scott.  James 52,  223 

Wertz,  Jacob  B 63 

Wenzel,  Adam 71,  264 

Welna,  Frank 66 

Whitehorn,  Samuel 210, 

j  52   56    101,  129,  136 

I   Whitehorn,  Emma 63,126 

I  White,  .Virs.  Lvman  W  57 

:   Wiiite,  Win  S 96 

Wliite,  .1.  M 72 

Wliite  How.ird 107 

Whittier.  Sumner 64 

Whinnery,  Enos    73 

Wigle,  Jesse 45,  49.83, 

132,  133.  135,  139,  163 

Wigle,   Phiebe 122 

Wigle,  Enna 126,  164 

Williams,  Jesse 134 

Wilkinson,  Dr.  (i.  W   ...240 
50,63,64,  65,  101,  107 

122,  128.  158 

Wilkinson,  Mahlon  G   51,62 

Wilkins,   August 298 

Wilkins,  Frederick  154,298 

Williamson,  Samuel   122 

Williamson,  George    W...  51, 

109,   128 

WilliamsDu,  John 53 

Willis,  Miry 52 

Willis.  James 52,  63,  71.  158 

Willis,  Enmi 63 

Willis    Willi  im 63 

Willis,  Brittijn 238,  117 

128.  13  i,  158 

Wilbin-,   Eugene  L  373 

54,  70,  73,  74,  92,  93    93,  133 

Wilbur.  Eugene   li  368. 

70.93,  94,  98,  128,    129 

Wilbur,  R.  II      73,  145 

Wilbur,  D.  C '3 

Wilbur.  Emma 125 


PAGK. 

Wilson,  Rev.  il    58,  lol 

Wilson   W.  M 310 

Wilson,  Henrv  II    63.  129 

Wilgoski,  A   i' 68,  10.) 

Williams,  John  A    .  .  .256,  77 

137,  142 
Williams.  James  II      .  ...100, 

101,  129.  135 

William    -ioliii    257 

Winters,  .1.  C 92,   162 

Witt  iSi    iCrwin    92 

Winkhtius,  1/izzie 126 

VV^n'xhaus,  Mary 126 

Wood,    Errt-^in 77 

Wood,  Stella ....57 

Wood,  ifenry  W..57,  64,  101,241 
Woods,  George  T.  .    .164    45 

51.  62.  64,  68,  69,  83,  109,   158 

Woods,  Ida   63 

Woods,  I).   H 137 


I'AGK. 

Woi-ley,  Rev    William   II .58 

W^oodttock, -lames  vi   94 

Woodard.   Ethel    301 

Wriu-ht.  Manley 63 

Yeoman,  .John .73 

York.   William ......78 

Young,  Henry 46 

Young.  William   50.  12s 

Young,  Charles 128 

Young,  .\aron   144 

Young,  Henry 236 

Zeigler,  .1.  K  57.  61.  (iS 

Zimmerman .  Rev.  .J 61. 

64.  130,  155 

Zimmerman.  Minjiie 126 

Zimmerman,  Ada   126 

Zimmerman,  Luther 126 

Znlauf.  Matt 82 

Zapp .  Charles 92 


.S4^H