Dakota County, Nebraska - Chapter 10, 1893

Chapter 10

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 entei-ed their house and ransacked it generally, frighteninij' 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Crime Akd Casualties

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 hunting 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 entire 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.

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--

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.

Edward Bankoski was killed on the --Island" Api-il 27, 189], by being thrown fi-om a wngon as he was returning 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-eward of ,^20C for the ari-est of the robbers.