Dakota County, Nebraska - Chapter 1, 1893

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 country 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 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)etween 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 privates during the expedition, which began ascending tike

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, taking 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 remember 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 Samuel Dearing place, (now owned by Andrew J. Parker), opposite a large island, which included the Wm. Altemus 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 exploring 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 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 eightynine 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 Parker's place, Auguit 13tli, going southward came to Omaha 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- 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 vicinity 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.

The pioneers well remember wlie7i Omaha cr^ek, instead of flowing into the Misioiiri, as at present, extended 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 desirous 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 announced 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 Dearing cut the second largest of these trees, which had 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 quoted 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 assembled at ten o'clock, we explained the speech we had already sent from Council Bluffs and renewed our advice. They all replied in turn and the pi-esents were Hien distributed. * * * After a more substantial presentation 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 mentioned, were: Karkapaha or Crow's Head, and Neuasawa 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

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 subsequent 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 letter." 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.

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 titting 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.