Dixon County, Nebraska - Chapter 19, 1896

Part First

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

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

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

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

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

was exceedingly slow moving. With no railroads and few markets, and with poor postal facilities and little news of what was going on in the world, life here was peculiarly humdrum. Among the few7 exciting occasions on the frontier were the raisings, when the settlers met and helped up a house or barn of logs or sod. and generally wound up the propitious event with a royal time of joy. Again, excitement brewed and bubbled up when an election took place. Then the citizens in determined and friendly contest, showed the merits or demerits of the respective candidates, argued the pros and cons, made the air vibrate with eloquence, and carried the day one way or the other with as much fervor as though the fate of Home was to he decided.

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

The most violent disturbances of public quiet took place at the time of county seat contests. Then it was that embryo metropolitan cities, whose log houses and corner groceries could have been counted on the ringers, entered the lists, and like young, untamed colts, furiously competed and ran against each other for the coveted prize. Such elections were always close and amid great excitement. Very often the official count showed more votes polled than there were white men. Indians, horses, buffaloes, coyotes and prairie dogs in the count)'. This habit of extensive voting never prevailed in any other kind of a contest, and in this was not confined to any one voting precinct, but was practiced equally and impartially at all of them. Hence, no serious harm could ensue. It increased the excitement and fun of the voters, and the result was generally the same as if no such extreme methods had been adopted.

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

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

Such was frontier life during the infancy of Dixon County as well as elsewhere in Nebraska. Though the country was thinly settled and its wealth could excite neither vanity nor envy, the people, even with all their privations, had many grounds for contentment. Nearly every one had good health. Occasional good crops and profitable ventures sustained ambition. In this prolific atmosphere the often advent of heirs increased the joy of households and helped to swell the census. No man or woman gave special heed to fashion books or to the cut of their garments. There were no bickerings, back-bitings or jealousies. All were equally rich and equally poor. As a consequence early settlers were, in the main, a harmonious brotherhood, and now are worthy of the remembrance and respect of those who follow them.

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

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

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

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

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

The first white people who made homes in what afterwards became Dixon County, came in May. 1856, and an increasing tide of pioneers rapidly followed. The first settlements were at or near Ponca and from thence extended up South Creek and West Creek. In the main they came from the eastern states, and were hardy, resolute and industrious men, else they would not have come. They had their pick of t he lands and selected wisely. They were mostly poor luit to their joy they found rich land and a genial climate. Here they built their homes, cultivated their lands and reared the^ir families. It was a venture, thus entering a new and almost unknown country, but their faith was well founded and though the road to wealth has beeu long and not one of cut ire sunshine, yet as they now look back over it and sec how the start was and how things are now. none can say they arc not content.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-John McKinley, came from Philadelphia. Pennsylvania, and arrived May 7, 1S57; first located in South Creek valley, then removed to farm now7 owned by Sam. McKinley two miles west of A. Curry's place, and from there to farm where he now resides, adjoining Ponca on the west.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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