Dixon County, Nebraska - Chapter 10, 1896

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

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

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

The Logan valley under the stimulus of the expected Norfolk branch railroad, rapidly came into notice in 1880. Many settlers were seen moving in and buying farms which could be obtained at from $2 to $8 per acre. (That land now sells readily for $25 to $40 per acre.) On October 14, the railroad company bought one hundred acres of land at Demy's -1 unction (Emerson) for a town site. In November the road was completed and cars running to Omaha from Coburn Junction, so that Ponca had direct communication with that city.

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

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

When the Missouri broke up. Dakota for many miles up and down the river and for twenty miles back from it. appeared from the bluffs on the Nebraska side, as a vast sea tilled with floating ice. The country thus submerged was the richest and most beautiful in Dakota territory. It was tilled with highly cultivated farms, the tine dwellings and groves of which evinced comfort and prosperity. Now all that splendid region was overwhelmed with water and great masses of ice, and chaos and destruction ruled supreme. Tremendous gorges were formed at many points which were rapidly added to. so that between Sioux City and Niobrara the extent of such gorges up and down the river was not less than 75 miles. Just below Ponca landing was an ice gorge 12 miles long and extending across the river and for miles into Dakota. It wTas packed solid to the bottom and rose above the water from ten to twenty feet. This enormous mass, tens of thousands of tons of ice, blocked up the course of the river and threw it over on the Dakota bottoms, literally drowning out all the country until stopped by bluffs. '

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Ponca, on that occasion, people saw A'enice without going aw7ay from home. A large part of the town appeared as though built in the sea. Four spans of the new railroad bridge went out, and eighty rods of railroad track were demoralized and in part carried off. Sidewalks rose from their foundations and sailed away and piles of cord wood were distributed in all directions. Cellars, generally, were tilled and many residences and some business houses had water from one to four feet deep above the lower floor. Itwas unpleasant except to those who enjoyed navigating the streets on rafts but it was nothing compared to the loss and suffering on the Missouri bottoms.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Silver Creek, secretary. At a subsequent meeting held May 27, it was decided to locate the fair grounds at Ponca, that town having donated $500 to the society. The time fixed for holding the fair was September (>, 7 and 8. Forty acres of land were procured for fair grounds a short distance northwest of town and steps were taken to make the fair successful.

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

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

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

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

The record of general growth in the county in 1882 was fully up to what it had been in previous years. Wakefield, commenced the fall before, had in March (1882) two general stores, a hardware store, a hank, hotel, drug store, lumber yard, grain buyers and ware houses and numerous offices, shops and dwellings. In the spring, Philo Graves, one of the proprietors of the townsite, built a school house and donated it to the town. Village lots were in demand and wore selling at good prices. It was thought Wakefield would double in size and population before the close of the year. At Ponca a creamery was started in April as well as various other enterprises of general benefit.

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

Mounted on ponies and presumably carrying an irresistable arsenal, the Indian band rode into the town and ordered the people to get oil' the reservation forthwith, giving them one hour in which to do so. Then there wTas a wild huirying and scurrying to and fro. No one thought of offeringresistance, but all went to work and soon their town, to the last board of the last shanty was toted off the reservation and up the hill. There, where is now the prosperous town of Emerson the discomfitted squatters on Indian land rebuilt their homes before resting from their toil. The Indian braves shook their fists after their vanquished foes and then hied back to their tribe.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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