Richardson County, Nebraska - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 22 of those read), 1917 (part 1 of 2)

Chapter with an unread heading (no. 22 of those read)

The following, written by the Hon. William Fenton, at one time a member of the state Legislature and for }ears a prominent resident of Dawson, appeared in an issue of the "Pioneer Record", under date of Decemlier. 1893. 'and throws light on conditions in the county in an early day.

The writer, llmugh something of an old timer, cannot lay claim to being one of the party with Wiltse Maddox and Jesse Crook, when they dug the channel for the Xemaha, and from the zigzag joli thev made of it, it is verv evident a prohil)itioni.st had no hand in the formation of the outlandish liierogl\ phics for water to follow.

The movement for the purpose of keeping green the memory of old times is a laudal)le rind sacred one. The pioneers had their frailties and \irtues like otlier mortals, but tliey were the vanguard of an ad\ancing civilization and as sucli tliey are entitled to the respect .and gratitude of a generation that profited In- their trials and tribulations.

However, it is not the province of an historian to dwell entirely upon sentimental gush about the hardships and privations of the settlers of the early fifties. The blood-curdling adventures, the hairbreadth escapes from hunger, strangulation by bears, decapitation l)y llie Indian scalping knife, etc., recounted at old settlers' picnics, mostly originate in the lirain of some dime-novel romancer and are flimsy fictions.

The pioneers of the tlecade from 1850 to i860 were really more fortunate in Ijeing al)le to i)rovidc for themselves with the solid comforts of life, than were those who followed in the si.Kties ; the former were in time to locate along the streams that afforded i^lenty of timber for the houses, stables, fences and fuel. They fenced and farmed the choicest of bottom lands and turned tlieir fast-increasing herds to roam at will over the boundless prairie. Instead of want and misery. tlie\- li\c<l like tlie lords of feudal asi;es and looked with great disfavor uj)on any encroachments on their domain by the plebians. who had the temerity to settle on their stock rantjes.

At the clo^e of the war the ,t;;reat tide of immigration set in, and it was the intrepid spirit and indomitable pluck of this class of settlers that moulded the future of our young state and made it what it is - one of the most enlightened and prosperous in the Union. The writer has no wish to speak aught Imt good of the dead, but the fact should be stated that most of the original pioneers gave a very cold reception to those who came at this time.

Of the number who settled in 1865 to 1868, many were the followers of (Irant. Sherman. .Sheridan. T.ogan and the dashing fellows who followed the fortunes of the starry banner from Bull Kun to Appomatox. These, with congenial spirits from the loyal states, were not the kind to be appalled liv the seliish and unchristian attempt to "freeze them out," im the part of, the timbered proprietors: the effort to do so, however, created a wide diverg- -ence of opinion Ijetween the two classes of settlers.

To protect themselves from the ravages of roaming herds, the homesteaders united for the ])assage of a herd law, which was opposed with eijual zeal by the cattle men, many of whom did not yet know of the passage of the Homesteatl .\ct, and had the notion they could monopolize the air and the sunshine as well as the timber and the water.

The Herd Law fight terminated in favor of the homesteaders in 1867, and Hon. J. M. Deweese was elected a member of the first session of the state Legislature. The thousands of miles of live hedge in the county, and innumerable acres of groves surrounding happy homes are monuments to pro\e what the law had accomplished for the state.

The (juestion of organizing school districts, locating and building school houses, voting taxes, were matters ujion which the people divided with greater alacrity than they do on the latest fad of a president.

^'our correspondent finds himself in the stirring little village of I'alls City today - and when I sa\ stirring. 1 mean all that goes to make full the term. 1 will speak of jxichardson county.

As you well know, Mr. Editor, there has been so many conflicting- and erroneous statements regarding- various localities, that it almost seems like presuming too much on the reading public's credulity, for a fair and impartial history or description of this country, to be read and appreciated. For that and one other reason, I will only notice a very few of its attractions as a county.

In the first place its citizens claim for it the geographical center of the Union, reasoning on the hypothesis that oiu' territorial extension is from the 30th to the 50th degree, north latitude, and from the 67th to the 124th degrees, west longitude. The southwestern part of the county being 40 degrees, north, and 95.5. west, is the spot claimed by every town for a hundred miles west of the ]\lissouri river in northern Kansas, and the same in southern Nebraska. There is but one question in my mind at present, and that is, whether the seat of go\ernment will be moved to Falls City, where they already have nearly one thousand souls, and rapidly increasing, besides being the center, or whether Leavenworth will be the favored spot. True, you have in your city nearly 30,000 people, and Uncle .Sam has nearly 6,000 acres of land joining the coqwration on the north; but mind what I tell you, that nothing short of a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull all together, will ever defeat b'alls Tity in this little move.

In 1854 si.x families crossed the }^lissouri river and commenced the settlement of this portion of Nebraska. Previous to this, however, a few i'rench had o\ercome the repugnance of color and race, and mingled and amalgamated with the Indians, b\- which they aided others, or rather opened up the way through which others might bring civilization, and peacefully reclaim this section from the vast wilderness which then existed. Since then, Richardson, as a county, has attracted much attention. Today, I find through statistics (kindly furnished me by ^Ir. C. C. Smith), that Richardson county boasts of aI)out 345,000 acres of as gcjod land as can be found in one body in the United States, all of which is taken up. I find hundreds of farms in this county whicli would do lionor to Illinois or any of the older states noted for their cereals. It was my pleasure to meet Mr. Charles Steele, who, bv the wav, is one of the staunch citizens and farmers of the county, and who informed me that wheat, oats, rye and barley had never yieliied more abund;uitl\- th.an the jiresent year, while corn throughout the count}- i)r(.mised utnisuaih- 1ar<;e.

It is nut unfreiiucnt in my pcresjrinations, tliat I litar tlie scarcity of liniber nientidiied as the .^rcat and only objection to holh Kansas and Xel)- raska. Pnit little argument is necessary to convince such persons that what a man actuall}- needs is but \er_\- little in comparison with the amount which he thinks he needs. 1 sometimes meet wooden men - to all such, I recommend the pine regions. The Missouri is belted by a very heavy body of timber varying from three to six miles in breadth, comprising some of the \ ery best quality of hard wood. In this county, the Xemaha. Muddy, I'ony and their tributaries, are skirted by various kinds of valuable hard wood timber.

There has not \et been sufficient demands in the immeiliate vicinit\ of Falls Citv. to induce the investment of capital in mining; although near tiie southeastern line, line veins of bituminous coal are being worked, from which the demand is supplied.

I will now ask the attention of your thousands of readers east of the Mississippi, while I say something for location, improvements, business and l)usines;i men of the little village of I'alls Citv, which is the capital of ]\ichardson countv. Ten miles west of the ^Missouri river and four miles north (jf the Kan.sas and Nebraska state line, may be found I'alls City, in one of the most beautiful valleys it has ever been my good fortune to see. South of the ti>wnsite, the north fork of the Xemaha. Pony creek and what is known ;is Muddy, mingle their waters. All of these streams are fringed with heavv tinilier - to the north, east and west, as far as the eye will extend, may be seen vast hekls of grain. The small grain is being harvested as fast as the most modern machinery will accomplish the work, while hundreds of acres of corn that may be seen, are all nmk and black. I have the first lield of sickly corn in the vicinity to see.

The Methodist congregation have a house of worship completed, while the I'-piscojjals ha\e a verv good church contracted for, and the basement walls are alre.adv up and when finished. I am informed will be used for a select school.

Business Men

I will now mention a few of the business men it was my pleasure to meet. In this I must l)e brief, as such a notice as I would like to make W(.)uld infringe upon your valuable space :

A. Schoenheit and E. S. Towle are engaged in the law and real-estate Inisiness. I am indebted to both of these gentlemen for the use of their well-arranged offices and other courtesies.

Alessrs. Holt and Scott have been engaged in the mercantile business since 1868. They carry one of the heaviest stocks of general merchandise offered in the city.

E. K. I.. .Stoughton, having just completed a good two-story frame Ijusiness house on Stone street, has opened a well-selected stock of piece goods, in connection with merchant tailoring.

I met ^Tr. J. H. Burbank, who came to the county in 1858. I found him '.ery interesting, and would space permit, would take pleasure in narrating the scenes of Falls City as witnessed by iNIr. Burl)ank. Mr. Burbank disposed of a farm the first of the month, which he had improved, realizing the neat little sum of ?20,ooo - not bad.

J. G. Giiod, proprietor of the Union House, will open his new hotel, which is now nearing completion .alxnit the first of next month. 1 think diere is a good opening at this point for a blacksmith and wagon-maker. Parties wishing to engage in the kimber business will find this a good location.

The following very interesting sketch of early life in the county was pre- [lared by Mrs. J. Iv. Wilhite, now a resident of the city, who was a daughter of Uncle Jesse Crook, and tells as she rememljers it the story of their coming into the county in 1855 :

P.. F. T.eechman. still a resident of a farm north of Falls City, was the first white child liorn in Richardson county. This notable event occurred on August 18, 1855.

The tirst recorded marriage, that of Wilson M. jNIaddox to JMiss Margaret Miller, occurred at Archer in October, 1855. j\Irs. Maddox is still a resident of Falls City.

The first school was taught in 1856, by Mrs. Samuels, a one-armed lady. The scliool liouse was a small log hut near the Muddy creek ; the boys chopped the wood and built the fires, and the girls swept the cabin and carried the water from a nearby spring for the use of the school. The school children's dinner consisted for most part of corn bread and bacon. Wheat flour in those days was considered a luxury ; the writer remembers an incident where a family had bought a sack of flour and baked some biscuits for their breakfast and had sent us children some for dinner, and what a treat it was for us.

Uncle Jesse Crook, with his wife and three small children, with a small colony from Tennessee, arrived on the Muddy creek in this county on the 17th da\- of April. 1855. ]e>^t Crook in .\ugust. 1854, came over and took up his claim, and in j-ebruary. 1855. came o\er and made other improvements. He crossed the Missouri river at sundown, at what was then known as St. Stei)hens, having his household goods in a wagon drawn by oxen, and in driving off of the ferrv boat, the wagon upset, throwing most of the household effects into the Missouri river, there being no landing other than what nature iiad made. We stopped over night at St. Stephens ; and the next day. April

A Pionkek Cabin

We found our cabin with no windows, one door, a stick and clay chimney, completed only about half way the end of the cabin, and with no other improvements.Those of the men in the party were compelled to sleep in the wagons while the women occupied the cabin. The cooking was done on the outside by a camplire. There was nothing to be seen but the wolves, Indians and vast prairies, and the howling of the wolves was all the music we had. The Indians were very fond of coming to our cabin and watch us in our work.

When we crossed the Muddy to our new home, the banks were so steep that ropes were fastened to the end of the wagon boxes and the men held the otiier end of the ropes to keep the wagons from tipping over forward on the nxen, in going down the banks of the stream.

The first Fourth of July celebration in Richardson county was held at Salem on the 3rd. 1856, as the Fourth came on Sunday, and another was held at Rulo on the 5th, 1856.

The first Fourth of July celebration ever held at Falls City was in 1857, and General Jim Lane was the orator of the day. Major Burbank ran the only confectionery stand, and the music for the occasion consisted of a fife and drum. The exercises were had and the dinner was served under a brush arbor. Mrs. Jesse Crook and other pioneer women, most of whom have long since passed to the great beyond, prepared the dinner for the celebration and the great feature of the occasion was a "war dance" given by the Indians, and we gave them their dinner for their part of the entertainment.

The Indians were friendly; their reservation was but about three miles south of Falls City, and was a most interesting place for the white settlers to visit.

Religious Services Held In Groves

For years we had no church houses, and our religious services were held in the groves on the banks of the streams and in the cabins of the settlers. The early people had great reverence ftir religious services and I have known men, women and children to attend these services in their bare feet.

The first church building (Methodist) to be used exclusively for church purposes in the county was erected in h'alls City, in 1867, and dedicated that same year.

Most of the provisions, such as coffee and sugar, flour, etc., was brought from St. Joseph, ^Missouri, by teams, so that often we "were short of the necessaries of Hfe. I knew one family who lived for weeks in the winter of 1855 'i"*^! 185^ o" nothing but corn bread and coffee made of corn meal, and another family who had nothing to eat for weeks but parched corn. The father of this family went over to Missouri, more than twenty miles through sleet and snow, two or more feet deep, and returned home with only a ham of meat for his long journey.

The town of .\rcher was laid out in the summer of 1856, on the east side of the Muddy creek, and about three miles northeast of Falls City, on government land, by J- L. Sharp and others, and near the claim of Judge Miller, who had moved thereon the same summer. Judge Miller was the father of Mrs. Margaret Maddox and her marriage to Wilson Maddox (now deceased ) took place at the home of her father in Archer.

The town of .Archer consisted of one hotel, owned by Judge Miller, two general stores, kept bv Abel D. Kirk, and John P. Welty - the first men to engage in the mercantile business in l^ichardson county : one blacksmith shop, four or five dwelling houses, and two lawyers, William Loan and Abel D. Kirk. The first county officers were: ¥. L. Goldsbury, county clerk; Louis

The townsite of Archer was abandoned in the year 1857, by reason of the fact that the government survey in the allotment of the land to the Indians included the townsite.

Isaac Crook, brother of Jesse Crook, located here with his family on or about April 15, 1856. where his children grew to man- and womanhood, the father and mother having long since passed to their reward. Isaac Crook for a number of vears served the countv as treasurer.

Among the many hardships we had to endure in those early days, not the least was the fighting of prairie fires. \ ery often the settlers would be compelled to turn (Jut and fight the fire demon day and night in order to protect dieir homes, crops and stock from being totally destroyed, which in very many instances happened.

- David Dorrington and Mother Dorrington with their children located in Falls City in Sei)tember, 1857, built their home and made many other valuable improvements in the citv. and resided here until their death and where their cliiklren still reside, i. e.. William E. Dorrington, Mrs. .\nna M. (Dorrington) Reavis, wife of Judge L<ham Reavis, and Kittie L. ( Dorringtoii) Towle. wife of Edwin S. Towle. William E. Dorrington is the oldest citizen in point of time, now a resident of I'^alls City. Squire Dorrington as he was familiarly called, held many important positions in the city - justice of the peace, meml)er of the citv council, memher of tlie sclmol hoard, mayor of the city, and other important places of trust and responsihility.

Wilt.Tam E. Dorrington S Rkcoi.I.Fxtions

David Dorrington and family arri\ed in Falls City from Kansas in Septemher. 1857, and moved into the house located on lot No. 2 of block Xo. 71. and in the spring built a house on lots ii and 12 of block No. 71.

The first store was run by 1. L. Elamby on lot No. 20, block No. 70, and a short time afterward William Brooks erected a store building on lot 12 of block Xo. 90, and occupied it himself and it was run b\- E. \[. Dorrington ; it was a branch store from his main mercantile establishment at Doniphan, Kansas, moving here just after the "unpleasantness" in Kansas between the Free Soilers and the border ruffians. Quite a number of the Free Soilers, "Jim Lane's men," came here, young men full of fun and tight. They naturally drifted this way.

Isaac L. Hamb}- and J. lulward llurliank laid <'Ut the townsite of Falls City. Jim Lane and his men on their way to Kansas jn i<^55-56 camped on the ground now occupied by the coin-t house. The future of Falls City lookefl so good to Lane that he went into the town compan}-.

Isaac L. Hamby liuilt a house jtist on the brow of the hill (at the foot of Chase street in the south part of town), just south of the present home of "Mrs. .Sandusky, on lot 5 or 6, in the block just south of Ninth street on Chase street. He also built and ran a saw-mill on the five acres now (in 1917) owned by George Messier in northwe.'^t rpiartcr 15-1-16, near the Leo cider and vinegar factory, and got water for the boiler from a spring still there ; the mill was just east of the s]:)ring. Hamby also owned the one hundred and sixty acres now known as the \'an Duesen land, just south of the old lownsite. Mr. Hambv sold the mill to T. J. Meeks, who was afterwards killed in the struggles incident to tlie location of the county seat of justice at balls Cit>. He was killed in the <)ld Minnick hotel, which stood on the ground now occupied by the Richardson County Bank, just south of the court house and facing ."^tone street.

Oi2 Richardsox Covnty. Nebraska

The tig-lit started hack of tlie Httle hrick law office of Judge Dundy, which was located on the west side of Stone street on lots g of hlock 71. Meeks was city marshal and tried to stop a fight that was started by Doctor Davis, of Rulo, and a Mr. Dunn, of Salem, to break up the election, as Rulo and Salem were fighting Falls City for the county seat. They forgot that the^- were up against a hard proposition, as this man Meeks and quite a number of others were some of Lane's men and would rather fight than eat. Meeks was hit three times while back of the voting place and went to the house we used to live in - as we were then living in our new house on lots 11 and 12 (just across the street west from the building at present occupied by the Harry Jenne shoe store ), and the office was on lot 9 of block Xo. 71, to reload his gun. He went back to the voting place in the court house square and found none of the scrappers. He then went back to the Minnick hotel and Mr. Minnick would not admit him to the bar room as Doctor Dunn was there. He went around to the side door, (mi the north side of the house, which was locked while he was on his way around to it. The north door of the building faced toward the court house. Doctor Davis shot through the second story window at Meeks. He then knew where they Avere and being a l)ig strong man he threw his weight against the hall door and burst it open. .V man employed at the hotel grabbed him and undertook to prevent his ascent of the stairs, liut he forced his way up and shot Davis. Doctor Dunn stuck liis gun just under ^ifeek's right arm and shot him clean through. Aleeks walked to the bottom of the stairs before dropping dead and Davis died four days later. The last I ever heard of Dunn, he was throwing up dirt around the soldiers' tents in St. Joseph, having been arrested as a sympathizer at the Ijeginning of the war. He, however, had no yellow streak in him. for he was around the countrv for some time after the nuirder.

As I said before some of Lane's men came here and remained until the beginning of the war and the call of the gun was too much for them and they all went. A funny tiling happened to one of them - Harry Gilmore - he was one of Lane's liest lighting men - fighting for Free Soil, yet was colonel in a l\e])el arm\- from Baltimore, and another, William Buchanan, organized a company and went to Brownville on a call from there to protect the land office. A fter the ones organized to rob the land office found them well protected, they skipped - Buchanan finding- nothing else to do, decided to come home via Rush Bottom to see what they could find. Some of the boys not l^eing well mounted, decided to exchange horses and in some cases forgot to leave their horses, so they were named "jayhawkers," and tliey sure made a lot of good Union men out of some radical sympathizers - on coming back home. They found a few days after that that the folks over the river and some on tills side, had organized a big crowd to come and make them disgorge; and they succeeded in getting some soldiers to come with them and when they arrived at Falls City, and no jayhawkers in sight, they lined up in front of our house and asked father as to the wherealx)Uts of those whom they were seeking. He told them the men had gone South, so they started after them and went down crossing the Nemaha at Bremen's ford, most of them going on to Padonia, while a few of them went up Pony creek to get the Marcum boys. The ones going to Padonia put up there for the night and while eating breakfast in an old store building, the jayhawks came up to the door and windows and told them to file out and. leave their guns behind them. On coming out the officers seeing- the Stars and Stripes said he could not fight the flag. Buchanan told the soldiers they were fighting for the same cause and for them to get their guns and horses and that they could go whene\er they wanted to, or that they could stay with them, Init that the others could get back the best way they could find and ordered them to do that quick. They were glad to go, but they had a hard time getting home because the Nemaha had got past fording on account of the heavy rains upstream.

The captain of the jayhawkers sent most of the horses to l""t. Leavenworth and the balance of the company came back to live off the folks, whose sympathies were favorable to the South. After staying- here long enough to make this part of the country enthusiastically loyal, they went South to become a part of the Army of the North. I last saw Buchanan in Chicago, where he was emploved in the secret service of the government early in the spring of 1865. His was a dangerous position and one that took a man of nerve to fill. .\ brother of our late townsman, D. P. Brannin, was killed in that service.

The first public house or hotel w;is run by Mr. and Mrs. Rickards on the corner of Sixteenth and Stone streets, on lot 13, of block No. 70, at present occupied by the Harry M. Jenne shoe store, and later was run liy Aaron Kinsey and wife, and uncle of L. I.. Kinsey. who still resides in the county. An hotel was then built bv Jesse Crook, the father of \\". H. Crook and Mrs.

J. R. Wilhite. Mr. Crook at that time owned and was living on a farm over on the Mudd\- creek, a part of which is now owned by Napoleon DeMeres. Following this was the Union House, built by Jacob G. Good, and is still doing business under the excellent management of our friend. Adam Vogel.

Following this was the Grable House now known as the National Hotel. Next in order came the Eating House at the Burlington & Missouri railroafl. in late years owned and run by Ross Goolsby.

The Fikst School

The tirst school was run by Miss Darnum. where the Gehling Opera House now stands, in a building twelve by fourteen, afterward used as a saloon.

The third \vas a house now owned and occupied by Caroline L. Hurling, on lots II and 12 of block 153. at the corner of Eleventh and Chase streets.

The fifth. We now had a .school on lot 17, of block 91, and in this room was held the first meeting called for the purpose of considering measures for the building of a public school house.

This first building was built on lots 3 and 4. of block No. loi. This was followed by a tw()-stor\- frame building in the same place. The Ijuilding was afterwards used as a business college by Professor Barrett on another site to which it had been removed.

First Minister In Falls City

The first minister we had to gi\e us a sermon w^is tlie Reverent] Taylor of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he used to give us something to think aliout. He was strong in going after the men for running open saloons and gambling liouses on Sunday, smoking, etc. Tie said the only thing a cigar reminded him of was. "fire at one end and a fool at the othei," and tiie only use lie had for a man of tliat kind was to stand him up in a corner.

Indians Troublesome

In the fall of 1862 the Indians became very hostile in the northern part of the state, near Decatur, and up through that part of tlie country. The government having its hands full in the South, there was a call for volunteers from the west to go out and look after the Indians. The second company vi'as called for, so they started to raise a company here, and through the eflforts of J. W. Dorrington, Captain Bain and some others the ranks were soon filled and it was known as Company G, Second Nebraska Cavalry. Each man of the company had to furnish his own horse and the government was to pay for the use of them. The company went to Omaha and remained there for some time.

A little later another company was organized and went into service as Company L of the same regiment. When it was found that they were not going out on the campaign until spring, David Dorrington went to Omaha with quite a number of requests to have the two companies stationed here and. after some hard work, the order went forth for each company to go to their own town and take up quarters until ordered out in the spring. Mr. Dorrington had told the captain of the companies that just as soon as the order came to pull for home, there was talk of sending each company to a different place from the one they had come from. The order was obeyed and die companies did not get away any too soon, for, just as they had crossed the Platte river, another order came for them, but the orderly could not get across the river as the boys had left one or two men to hold the boat until the companies could get scattered for home. They certainly scattered, as only about one-half came in as a company; the remainder got lost and did not lind Falls City until several days afterward, and did not find it then until they went home to find the direction to Falls City.

Some of the lx)ys resided several miles south of Falls City. They did not play much soldier that winter. From three to five and six of tlie b(i\s would go together to the home of a family in Falls City and get leave to stop there by furnishing their rations and a girl to help tlie lady of the house with the work. There were plenty of girls in town at that time who were glad to play their part, and the reader can rest assured that times were lively enough that winter. We had three or four dances each week and many other kinds of amusement and entertainment. The g(jvernment was ver\ liberal witli the rations for the soldiers. The amount furnished five men, properh handled, would make a living for a dozen. Father was c|uarterniaster and for this reason I feel that I speak with a first-hand knowlediije of the situation in this respect. We bought all the hay, all the beans, and nearly all the fat cattle within fifteen miles and for beans we went as far west as Pawnee City and as far east as St. Joseph ; in fact, all our merchandise had to be hauled from St. Joseph. ^lissouri, that winter, and the same cijudition obtained most of the summer. Sometimes shipments would be made on the river to Rulo or St. Stephens and the haul was made from those places. In the early winter of 1862 David R. Holt took three teams to St. Joseph for the purpose of bringing goods home. When we got to Elwood on this side of the river, near that place, we were informed by the ferryman that no crossing could be made for the reason that the city was in the hands of the Confederates. On looking to the opposite side we noted that a large gun was pointed in our direction, so we made no attempt to cross that night, but arranged to stay over in the town. The next morning we beheld a change in the presentment of the picture we had seen the previous evening. The Union men were now in charge and we at once crossed and loaded the wagons, but it took us some two or three days to obtain the supplies we sought. _ During this time it had turned cold and the ri\er filled with ice and we could not cross. We then started north on the INIissouri side of the river, going through the towns of Savannah, Oregon, and Forest City to White Cloud, but the ice was not strong enough for our teams and the loaded wagons, so we \\alked over and left the teams on the other side until morning, when David Dorrington gave a man ten dollars to bring them safely to this side. The horses were first led across alone and the goods brought in small portions on sleds, while the empty wagons were brought last. Finally across and reloaded we recommenced the journey and landed safely in due time at our homes in Fails City. From the foregoing it can be noted that the journey was not like what might happen in these clays of the fast-moving trains, when the trip miglit be made in a couple of hours at most any time of year.

Brick School House Erecteo

It wa> at alxiut tiiis time that i"alls Citv made such a good showing that we had to rent the basement of the St. Thomas Kpisco])aI church (the old church) for school purposes and then built the two-story frame building that, was hardly completed when the present brick school house, known as the "Central" had to be cnntracted tor t<' accommodate the ever-increasing' number of students.

The contract was let to John H. Burhank and the rock work was put up by John Gehling, of St. Joseph. He did all the carving on the door and window caps. This building was only partly finished until 1877-78.

In the daj's near the close of the war we began to make many improvements. W'e began to farm as they did in Missouri. Our old friend, Robert Harlow, father of Ferd M., of this city ; Bob and Rice and three girls, Uncle Thomas Moss and Jim and Will, and William L. Paxton and family, the latter having a large family of boys, James, William, Thomas, Samuel, Galen C, Charles, and a number of daughters, were all here. We all put in some wheat, oats, etc. When it came time for cutting they all joined together and dug up from somewhere an old reaper and "she" was a good one, the frame work for the reel was made of timber and oak^ about six inches scjuare. I know it took one blind horse, two blind mules, and one mule with only one good eye to pull it at that time. Horses and mules with good eyes were not to be had in tiie country and we did not think of having a sound horse at the time. Such an equipment would hardly be used by the poorest of Richardson count}- farmers today, but we managed well with it and saved the crop and were very thankful to be thus well equipped, as what we had was much better than many others could boast of at that time.

Our old friend Harkendorf, the father of Fritz Harkendorf, residing north of Falls City, built a house that season of lumber, which was sawed out by hand. They dug a pit - one man Ijelow and one above - and used a whipsaw. At this time many people began to arrive in the country, including Judge Van Dusen, Mr. Messier, father of Adolph ; Jake. Doctor and Mrs. Albert Norris. Their brother. Chaimcy, later of Table Rock, had been here for some time as he was merchant here in the early days and also an officer in Company L, Second Nebraska Cavalry.

At the election relating to the choice of a county seat for Richardson county the following judges and clerks were appointed for the district:

The road to Archer m tliose days did not follow section lines as now. hut started from the old hotel at the Richardson County Bank corner on Stone street, at the southwest comer of the court house square, and run northeasterly across the court house grounds and passed the First ward water works plant and down the hollow through block No. i and the Joseph Portrey place to the east and on over to the Jesse Crook farm, now owned h\- William Xutter in the east half of the northeast one-quarter of section 2, township i. north of range 16, east of the sixth principal meridian, and across the Muddy to Archer. ^Ve used to go there to attend the Good Templars' lodge and tiie dancing and "bussing" bees, ^^'e used to have many parties at Jesse Crooks and at the home of his brother, Isaac Crooks.

By an act of the county commissioners at their meeting held at Salem the 27th day of December, 1858, the voting place was moved from Archer to Falls City. The third election on the count)- seat was held on the loth of Januarv, 1859. The following were named judges:

On June 21st. i860, the board of county commissioners met. Present: Charles Cornell. Thomas Mclntyre. By an act of the Legislature approved in i860, to locate the county seat at Falls City, the commissioners declared Salem no longer the county seat and instructed that the books and papers lielonging to the county be moved to Falls City. .\nd then l)egan the tug of war to settle permanently the location of the county seat, a more extended ;iccount of which is told in another part of this volume.

W'e used to have some very enteqjrising merchants at aliout this time. P)eing in one of the stores one day. a lady came in and asked for some calico. The merchant without getting off tlie counter reached over on the shelf and took down the only piece he had. She asked the price : it was twenty-five cents per yard: she told him it was too much. He immediately put it 1)ack with the remark: "She can lay thar and rot before I will sell it for less." His little son came in a little later and said : "Pop, niarni wants two pounds of sugar." He replied: "Tote yourself home, sonny, and tel! yer ma T liain"t only one-half pmmd in the store."

Francis M. Stump.O Tells A Story

Francis M. Stuiiibo, who was born in Cass county, Iowa, 1842, and who came to this county with his parents when but fourteen years of age, in 1856, was as well posted as any now living on the history of the Sac and Fox Indians, who occupied lands near Falls City. His parents settled at the Falls Mills, or Nemaha Falls, an obsolete village on the banks of the Nemaha, just southwest of the present site of Falls City. At the time of their arrival here they found the Indians and had them as their nearest and only neighbors. Air. Stumbo grew to manhood among these very Indians and acquired a conversational knowledge of their language. Having Indian boys as his only companions, lie spent much of his time in their lodges and learned their mode of life. Speaking of their ceremonies he saAS :

I was on such friendly terms with the Chief Mas-sau-quit as a boy that he always addressed me as "son"; though not formally adopted as a member of the tril^e, I practically made my home with them, sleeping in the teepees with the Indian boys, and was not excluded from any of the many ceremonies, which were generally of a religious nature and, in fact, I seemed a favorite with the people.

Among the rites practiced by those of the Sauk people residing at the reservation here, I remember their "green corn dance," which was indulged in supplication to the Great Spirit, invoking a good result for the crops, and the "buffalo dance," wliich preceded the big hunt; but the greatest dance was the "scalp dance," in celebration of \ictory in battle. Some times this dance might cover a week's duration.

Here at Sauktown. as it was called, near Nemaha F'alls, the tribe's head- ((uarters, they had a council house, large enough to accommodate several fires ; and, upon one occasion, in making ready to receive a visit from their friends the "Otoes," who were located at that time further west and on the Blue river, near VVymore - I was present. The members of the tribe had gathered in the council house in the form of a circle and were addressed by Mas-sau-quit, the chief, who inquired as to what each might volunteer to contribute as a token or present to the visitors. Each was supposed to make some sort of a donation, I)oth in the wa)- of provisions for the feast, which was to be held in their honor, and something, besides, as a token of esteem for the visitors. The donor was allowed to designate later which of the visitors was to receive the presents. A committee of three was ajipointed to take charge of whatever was given.

turn a< to wliat they might \v;int to give, finally addressing me thus: "Son, what will yon f^ive?'" I answered, stating that, I was only a boy and did ni.>t ha\e \ery much, but would give two half-grown dogs, a sack of flour and a hog. At this Mas-sau-quit stopped me, saying "that's enough." The gifts, which could l^e. were brought to the council house and stored therein. The feast was held in the council house and participated in by the Sauks and their visitors, at which the l)est feeling prevailed.

One evening at a date somewhat later in the fall. Mas-sau-quit sent an Indian boy for me and upon my appearance before him he said, "Son, we are to visit the Otoes ; do you wish to go with us ?'" I readily assented, knowing it would be great sport, and he inquired as to whether T had a mount. I told him that T had one at home, but that it was oitt on the range and that I would go at once and get it. To this he objected, .saying that it were l>etter for -me to remain with them during the night, as they would start before dawn and that a horse would be provided. He called a ^Mexican, then living with the tribe, and ordered some ponies brought up and told me to make a choice. T indicated a beautiful spotted pony which had not been broken, and he ordered the Mexican to try it out. This was done and I rode the puny with the band on the trip.

We arrived in due time at the lodges of the Otoes and enjoyed ourselves nuich and were feasted as we had feasted them. They had provided presents ior us and the same were distributed as we stood in the form of a hollow S(|uare on the prairie.

An old squaw led a line sorrel ])ony int(i the open space and announced th:a it was to ])e a present for the little white boy. Our chief, Mas-sau-quit told me to accept the horse and tie it to a small tree at one side of the gathering. This I did. and returned to m\ place in the line. Later, ari Indian lad brought in another sorrel pony, which was given to me also. The next, an Indian maiden, came into the square leading a Ijeautiful pony, having a silver colored mane and tail. This she signified should also be mine, but at that moment an old s(|uaw apjiroached her and whispered something which seeined to displease her greatl}-. She thereui)on led the pony a short distance from the company, though in plain view of the council, and jerking a dagger from the folds of her dress slashed the horse across the throat.

This act of the Indian girl was so apparently out of keei)ing with the spirit of the occasion, that it created no little excitement for the time, but was

Besides the ponies I also received a fine silver-beaded blanket, or bufifalo, which I afterward sold for one hundred and fifty dollars: a bow and quiver and a pair of fine moccasins.

I brought the presents home with me and on our arrival here, Mas-sau- (|uit said to me, "Now. son, see what you have; you gave little and have received much. That is our custom, we always try to give more than we receive."

There \\ere about five chiefs here - sub-chiefs or police - but j\Ias-sau- (|uit was the head of the tribe. He did not speak English, l^ut was accounted an orator in his way.

When I left to join the Seventh Kansas Cavalry during the Civil War, L hief Mas-sau-quit presented- me .with an elalx)rate belt, which he insisted that I should ahxays wear when in battle, sa}ing that if I did so I would never be injured. The belt, which I treasured very highly, was later stolen from me at Columbus, Kentucky. \Miile on a furlough home, I met my old friend, Mas-sau-cjuit, and he noticed at once that the l>elt was gone and when 1 told him what had become of it, he said that it was too bad the same had Ijeen taken, but that it would never do the one taking it from me any good as he would ])e sure to get killed wearing it.

Ouack-a-ho-sa was the medicine man of the Sauks here. He was the prelate and always before eating gave a sacrifice. If he ate meat or bread, he would always take a small ])ortion of eacli and liurn the same as a sacrifice to the Great Spirit.

The Sauks here moukled their own IniUets. I have often seen the s(|uaws go out and he gone for a half a day's trip up the Nemaha and on their return would bring lead or metal, but T never knew from whence they got the same. They would melt it up and there seemed but little dross in it. It appeared as if they had taken tomahawks and cut it out.

He Old Table Rock

The "Table Rock" was the stone from which the town. Table Rock, (located in what is now Pawnee county, but what was formerly a part of Richardson countv, and but alxiut two miles west of the jiresent west bound- ai-\ of this county) derived its name. About a mile and a half east of Table Rock, in a romantic locality on the side of a wooded bluff, stood the old nmnument. and in the earlier days of the county it was the spot to which all settlers and visitors made pilgrimages, a very "blarney stone." to which all paid tribute - not by kissing, but by carving their initials on its surface, or on the face of some large boulder lying near by. Here old John Brown, "whose soul is marching on," made many visits, and those of us who were here twenty years ago, still saw his name carved on the rock, the date, "1856," being still readable. About the year 1880 some vandal scratched out llie name and the date to make room for his own scrawl.

The rock \\as photographed by a wandering artist about thirteen years ago, and only two copies are known to be in existence. Since the rock is gone, these pictures are highh' prized. As seen by the first settler some forty years ago. the rock was shaped like a low-set goblet, flat on top, and measuring about ten feet across its surface. On top was a stone table, standing on four legs, about eighteen inches. How the table came there no one knew, but the old table rock was alwa}'s thought to have been a religious altar or watch tower of the early Indian tribes. This is quite probable, as in the two holes in the rock near the top were found bits of charred wood and bones - evitlentlv the remains of superstitious orgies. About 1861 the table on the top of tile rock disappeared, and in a few years later a stroke of lightning threw down one side of the rock. In 1892 it became top heavy and shaky on its one leg and it now lies scarred and broken on the hillside - a fallen monarch, indeed.

The locality where the table rock stood is still a weird and beautiful one. Strange and giant rocks stand about, hiding t-heir heads among the branches of the oaks, while on the face of each boulder is carved the name of many a curiositv seeker. The place is lieing fitted up for a park, and is a favorite spot for ])icnics, where the romantic maidens and lovesick swains wander about the shaded nooks, or while awa\- the time boat riding on the Nemaha, which flows near by.

(The following romantic legend, directly relating to Table Rock, was published in the .-Itehison (Kansas) Daily Champion in 1877. and repul)lisiied in Boston's Immigration Guide in 1878. ) by Cortez - the Aztecs inhalMted the valley of the Nemaha and adjacent counti'}'. They were a happy and prosperous [leople and were far advanced in civilization. It is not known when they first took possession of the valley, but the traditions preserved by the Pawnee Indians (who are descendants of the Aztecs,, as is well known to every student of history) would seem to indicate to the pioneers of that fertile part of Nebraska that they planted their standard long centuries before the occurrence of the romantic incident which we are about to relate.

We have said the Aztecs were far advanced in civilization. The statement will appear more plausible when we say that they were unexcelled in the arts and sciences. Their architecture was grand and marvelous. Towering castles of granite and lordly palaces of marble dotted city and plain. Except that these piles were on a larger scale, we have no doubt (judging from ruins that have been exhumed in various places) that they somewhat resemble the Alhambra in architectural design.

The Aztecs were doubtless attracted to this valley by the richness of its soil. They tilled this soil and such was its exceeding fertility that in time they became as we have described them.

It was a religious custom of the Aztecs to sacrifice a beautiful and chaste maiden every year to their idol. This was done by burning her on a high granite altar or table, after bleeding her to death. It was believed by the people that if they failed in this duty, that the idol would be so incensed as to destroy them. In accordance with this custom, a maiden was, once upon a time, chosen by lot, and duly sacrificed upon the high altar. The maiden thus sacrificed had a lover - a nobleman and one of the most astute of Aztec statesmen. At the time of the sacrifice he was in a distant part of the empire, attending to weigiit\' state affairs, and not until his return did he learn who had been sacrificed. And then his sorrow was pitiful to behold. He cried aloud and tore his hair in a perfect frenzy of grief. But, finally, he became calm and apparently reconciled. He went out, with a melancholy face, it is true, but he made no demonstration of grief. However, he was not the same man after this. He took no part in state affairs, and was seldom seen at court, where he had formerly been a favorite. He sought the companionship of the peasantry, witli whom he was always found in close consultation.

Rebellion

One day the news was brought to the lunperor that the peasantry, headed by Pueblo, the melancholy nobleman, iiad arisen in insurrection. When his imperial majesty heard this, he ordered his generals to go fortli and seize the rebels, and bring them before him when he would condemn them to death. The generals went forth, but returned empt}-handed. They represented that the rebels were organized into a great army, which could not be put down in a day. Then the Emperor called together a mighty amiy, and. putting himself at the head of the same, sallied forth to meet the rebels. The opposing armies met just outside the walls of the capitol (the capitol stood where Pawnee City now stands) and before the battle commenced the I'.mperor sent a truce, and asked parley with Pueblo, which was granted. I'ueblo met the Emperor half-way between the two armies. The Emperor w as the first to speak. "Oh ! Pueblo, formerly my most devoted servant, why hast thy rebelled against thy sovereign ? Speak." "Oh, sire," answered Pueblo, "thou hast asked why I have rebelled against thee, and it is fit that I should answer thee. 1 rebel against thee because thou hast sacrificed the light of my e3-es, the joy of my soul, the maiden \vhom I loved, to the idol. Oh, sire. I have sworn to destroy every city, hamlet, and hut in this beautiful valley ;md leave but one single relic of its present grandeur. Oh, sire, I have spoken." After this parley Pueblo and the Emperor returned to their places at the head of their respective armies.

We shall not attempt to describe the battle, for it dift'ered little from other battles of that age. It was fierce and the slaughter on both sides terrible, but at last Pueblo's army was compelled to flee. After the defeat of Pueblo's army the Emperor offered amnesty to all rebels who would lay down their arms and return to peaceful pursuits. And nearly all of Pueblo's army accepted the offer. This was almost a deathblow to Pueblo, for he was compelled to flee the country. But he did not give up in despair ; after a .short exile he returned and sowed the seeds of another insurrection. Before longhe raised another army, but again he was defeated. This time he was taken prisoner by the Emperor's army, and, along with his bravest generals, condemned to death. The}- were publicly executed near the sacrificial altar.

The Sequel

This altar is what is now known as Table Rock. Then it was supported by two massive stone columns and was some twenty feet high. Now it has fallen, one of its columns having given away after a service of so many centuries. This altar was the only structure sacred to Pueblo. On it his beloved had died, and by it he had sworn that it should last longer than the Aztec nionarchv. TTe swore bv the blood of his Ijeloved that had stained the altar that it should last long after every vestige of the former greatness of the Aztecs had been swept away from the valley. Before his execution he exhorted his followers to remember his oath. He exhorted them to kill the followers of the Emperor, and sack and burn the cities and villages. After the death of Pueblo a sort of guerrilla warfare was commenced against the government by small bands of desperate men. Cities were suddenly surprised, and then were sacked and burned. These depredations increased to such an alarming extent that many people were panic-stricken and fied the country. They drove the enemy out of the valley toward the southwest.

After the conquest the rebels finished the work of demolition they had commenced. Castles, palaces, and huts alike were town down and the debris buried in deep trenches. After this the people became nomadic and worthies*^. Having been reared as warriors they had no taste for civil pursuits. They lodged in tents and fed on wild game, which was. as it is now, abundant in the valley. They never tried to improve their condition. On the contrary they became worse and worse, tmtil they finally degenerated into the savage Pawnee of the present day. A copper plate covered with ancient hieroglyphics ^\'as recently found in the fallen column of Table Rock, which Prof. Pierre Vulierre, of the Paris University, has succeeded in translating, and kindly furnished Professor Pangburn with a translation. This tablet is now in the possession of C. Foote, passenger conductor of the Atchison & Nebraska railroad, and from it we have been enabled to gather some of the facts set forth in the foregoing narrative.

.V visit to Table Rock will repay anyone, but more particularly the lover of romantic history. None can look upon the time-worn altar and not meditate upon the great devotion of Pueblo. No one can think of Pueblo and not wish there were such lovers nowadavs.

In April, 1855, I, with my parents, Jesse Crook and wife, moved to wiiat was then the neighlxr.rhood of old Archer, located about two tniles north of Falls City in the southwest quarter of section No. 36. of township No. 2, north, of range No. 16. of Ohio township. It was not until that fall that an attempt was made to start a townsite, which they called Archer, consisting of a little hotel of logs, three or four log hou.ses, a postoffice and store, which

I'rom St. Stepiiens, in the northeast corner of the county, down t<j Archer, the cnuntr\- was a vast unbroken prairie and anything but a bright future greeted us on our arrival. The sufferings and trials of some of the settlers that year are pitiful to relate. The country lieing new, and having little to do with, our existence that winter depended a great deal on the killing of game, and some parched corn we had saved up. No vegetables had yet been raised, and those wanting meat were forced to go to Missouri, a distance of fifteen miles. The unfortunate ones who were not blessed with a team or horse were forced to struggle through the long, trying winter, as best they could, with the kind of assistance their neighbors were able to give. Thanksgiving time and from then to April, the ground was never free from snow, rhis winter was particularly a hard one. and we had nothing to do with, and the lianl sleet and crusted snow made it almost impossible for travel. The cattle could not stand on it and we depended almost exclusively on the oxen for moti\"e iK>wer at that time.

My father, Jesse Crook, in c(3mpany with another man, named Samuel Howard, started out for A.ndrew county, ^Missouri, with their team to get supplies of meat and groceries. They killed hogs, dressed them and threw them in the wagon like logs of wood, and started home. They had just crossed the ^lissouri river at St. Stephens, when they were overtaken l)y a blizzard and could not see their wax. My fatiier started out on a horse to try to break a road for the team as the lilizzard by this time was worse than e\er. ]\Ir. Howard abandoned the team and started out on foot alone. He got as far as the mouth of the Muddy, when he was so nearly frozen he gave up to die. Just then he heard a dog bark and the tinkle of a bell and he knew that an Indian camp must ])e close at hand, as the Indians always kept bells on their ponies. \\'ith a little renewed energy he struggled across the frozen ri\er. and was taken in by the Indians. His boots were frozen on his feet, riiey cared for him that night, giving him food and shelter, but his feet were l)adl\ frozen and he was laid up all the winter suffering with them. The next da\-, ha\ing failed to retum home, his friends and neighbors started out in search of him. The team and wagon were found and they learned from a man named Hughbank that a white man was taken by the Indian camp. So he was found and taken in by his friend, Jesse Crook, and cared for that winter.

A family, !)\- the name of Dudson, residiiit;' near Salem, !i\ed for three weeks that winter on little besides parched corn. They were among the unfortunate ones, having no horses, and the heavy snows had almost completel\ blockaded them from any outside help. Realizing that starvation was ine\- i table, the father started on foot from Salem and struggled his way clear through to Missouri for meat and carried a ham of meat that distance on his shoulder. He was nearly dead when he again reached home, but his heroic effort was the only thing that saved his little family from actual starvation.

Another incident that [ now recall to mind was that of John Hoitt ami wife, who resided in a little claim shanty on what was later known as the John R. Smith farm near b'alls City. The neighbors had not noticed smoke coming from the chimney of their little home for three days and fearing something was wrong- went to the rescue. They were found in bed, nearly frozen to death, and had had nothing to eat for the three days and no fuel in the house. They were carried from the house to that of a neighbor, where, with kind assistance, they were able to survive the winter.

.\nother memorable incident that hapi>ened during the year 1856 and remembered by many of the early pioneers, was that of ^Ir. Tones and his son. Some time in the early part of November, 1856, Mr. J^ones and his son. Lirus, started out from their home near Mound City, Missouri, with a sleigh loaded with their household effects. Their intention was to locate on a claim on the Xemaha in this county, just west of what we know as Pearson's Point, a little east of the present I'alls Cit)-. Tliey had intended to stop over night w ith his son-in-law, Charles Robertson, who then lived one-half mile east of what is now known as the Pearson cemetery, east of Falls City. It was after nightfall when they reached the place and found to their disappointment that tlie son-in-law had moved away. A terrific blizzard was upon them, and being already fatigued and cold from their long, tiresome trip, it was useless to tr\ to proceed any further. Of course the cabin was cold, there was no fuel <ir stove and nothing to eat. Unable to tight for existence, they were found so badlv frozen in the morning that they both died from the effects, the father dying one week later, while the .son survived a little longer. They w ere the first white people to die in the neighborhood, and they were buried near Pearson's Point. This was the beginning of what we now know as Pearson's Point cemeterv.

Died Within Sight Of Help

Another sad experience during the winter of 1855 was that of Martin Rutherford. The snow was very deep, and it was bitterly cold, and he had started back home, as he lived near Barada, on horseback. Finding the road could not be traveled by his horse he got ofif and tried to walk. The ice and snow soon became too much for him. Weak with the cold and the plodding thn^ugh the snow, he crawled on his hands and knees, perceiving a little house nearby. By a great effort he finalh' managed to reach the door of the cabin, but died before anything could be done for him.

The winter of the early sixties brought forth many renewed hardships. Cattle froze in their sheds and food was scarce. Many days we trapped game for food, by stacking the corn in ricks to tempt the quails and prairie chickens. The snow was so deep the women could not think of doing any work out of doors without high top boots. Having no place to store the winter's supply of meat, the hogs were stood up on their hind feet l^y the chimney on the outside of the house, and whenever we needed meat, we would take an axe and chop off as large a piece as we wanted, just as we would chop a piece of wood. My brother, W. H. Crook, then a small lx)y, had a number of calves, whose horns and ears were frozen off, and to keep them alive he put them in the cellar and cared for them all winter.

Many times during the winter of 1863 and 18^14, the children would climb out of tlit upstairs windows and play in the snow, as it had drifted as high as the top of tlie house.

People in this day of modern advancement and the conveniences we now have, little realize the hardships endured by the pioneers of this county, and it is those wIki lia\e gone through all these struggles who can fully appreciate the comforts nf a wiirm and comfortable home.

L. B. Prouty, wiio liad the lionor of presiding as postmaster at Elmore, a l)ygone postal station. ](Kated near the i)resent site of Strausville and perhaps forgotten by most of our people, had tliis to say of tlie last visit of John Brown :

"1 saw and conxerscd with John l:5rown, of Ossowattomie, the last time he went tiirough Ridiardson county, which was but a short time before the llari)er's l-'erry episode. His companions said that the old man was losing his mind, i)Ut that tliev intended to .stick to liim to the last, which they did."

Large Tree

One of the largest trees grown in the county was on a farm six miles west of Salem. The farm at one time was owned by George Marsh. It was a Cottonwood and measured twenty-seven feet in circumference. During the World's Fair, the owner, Mr. Marsh, was offered seventy-five dollars for it. delivered at the railroad at Dawson, by the World's Fair commissioners, but owing to the fact that IMr. Marsh was not possessed of any means of moving the tree the offer was declined.

There are many versions for the cause of the application of this unpleasant "cognomen," which all agree originated in territorial days and lingered until the state assumed respectful size in point of population and wealth. The one, however, which seems most plausible came about, it is said, from the visit of an Easterner who arrived here during the ravages of the "grasshopper period," and who, on his return, upon being asked as to conditions in the territory made reply substantially as follows :

"Oh, everything is gone up out there. The grasshoppers have eaten the grain up, the potato bugs ate the 'taters up, and now the inhabitants are eating the bugs to keep alive." This statement got to the newspapers of the time and, like now. they made much oi it and the name of bug-eaters.

L. B. Prouty, who arrived in the county in 1857, was the publisher for a time of the Broad Axe. the first newspaper issued from an office in Falls Cit\-. He was later postmiister at Elmore Station, near V'erdon in this county.

David T. Brinegar came to the state in 1855 and took up a homestead near the present town of SaleuL Mr. Brinegar was a public-spirited man and served the county on the board of supervisors and was the first treasurer of the countv fair, which was held for nianv vears annnallv at SaleuL

Joshua (i. lialicdck. a pioneer of the west end of tlie county, settled there in 1N57. in the year iSO^ there was much political rivalry near the town of Table i\ock and he was present on one occasion when trouble arose from a faction of so-called L'opperheads and Republicans. It is said his ])ersonal )tiiis{ of one I'.iirke. of the Copperhead faction, as one of the ieadins farmers near Humboldt, etlle

The memory of the grasshopper visitation calls to mind a page of hi. - tory filled with gloom and, looking backward from this distance, it seeni^ like a nightmare, but its actual presence was realistic enough to those here at the lime, and filled the land with foreboding. The hoppers which caused the trouble were not the common green or yellow kind st) numerous and apparently harmless in these days, but were the Rocky mountain grasshoppers, with slender bodies, light grey wings and enormous appetites. Their home was far to the west on the high plains and foothills of the mountains; there they lived, fed and raised their young. In the dry \ears when food i\as scarce at home they assembled and flew a\\ay in great swarms to the South and East. They migrated for hundreds of niilc^. ofttimes tra\eliiig at night, if it was moonlight and the weather warm. In tho^^e journev s they were known to alight and after a feed and rest might resuine tlieir trip on the following day.

Between the years from 1857 to 1875 .some part of the state had a visit from these unwelcome guests. Nearly a dozen of such visits are recorded in the time mentioned, but the really great invasion anil the one that cast a l)light on this county, came about the 20th of July, 1874. There were untold millions of them coming in great clouds which darkened the sun and the vibrations of their wings made a sound resembling the roar of an approaching storm, followed by the deep "hush" as they descended to earth to devour the growing crops. Incredible as it may seem tt) us, it is said that on alighting in the fields of corn they filled the rows between the corn to a depth of from five inches to a foot. The corn croj) disappeared as if by magic in a single da\'. Where there had been grven fields at break of day. giving ])roniise of a bounteous crop, there were but stumjis at nightfall co\ered with hungry hoppers. They gnawed holes in carpets and ruined whatever they touched. The\- followed the smaller vegetation into the earth and devoured the roots. It was thought when the i)ests had gorged themselves the\- would leave, but not so, they burrowed intt) tlie earth and tilled the holes with eggs to hatch later and cause more trouble. The farmer stood helpless and awed by the strange phenomena, which he was so powerless to combat. It amounted to a deluge; it was like, in effect, to the devastation spread Ijy the tornado, as the blight of a drought, no force could stay its movement.

The condition of the settlers became acute and many were faced with actual starvation and those who could, were glad to make their escape from the country. In such forced departure nnich land was either abandoned (jr sold for almost nothing. Those who stayed the winter through saw dark days with little hope ahead for the coming year, because of the uncertaint\- made known to them by the fact that the soil was impregnated with eggs winch would bring forth another crop of hoppers.

The year 1875 was one long to be remembered in Richardson county. It is known as the "grasshopper year.'" In the month of May of tli;it year, the pests hatched out, and settled down on the standing grain of all sorts antl made a clean sweep of it. Coming as it ilid, it was particularly unfcirtimate from the fact that the county, like nian\- other sections, had not full\- recovered from the after effects of the war and had made Init \ery little material progress during that period. The loss of tlie fanner's crops, then in growing conrlition, spelled ruin to many of the farmers. By the middle of the second day they had performed their mission leaving the fields as bare as ;i desert.

When the scourge was at its worst the country became aroused to such a pitch that a mass meeting was held at the court house to devise ways an<! means to combat tlic further evil that would come from the young hoppers. The meeting took jjlace on June 5di and was called to order at three o'clock in the aftern(jon by C. C. Smith. Kev. D. 1*". Rodabaugh was present and made a speech urging the necessity for getting new seed immediately to replant the devastated fields. He was followed b\- other speakers, among whom was August Schoenheit. who ])resented a motion providing for a committee who should address the county board of commissioners, with a \ie\\ to induce them to suspend the collection of taxes for si.x months. The committee was composed of August Schoenheit. Kdwin S. Towle and Joseph Afevers. After the resolutions were adopted, a committee, composed of ?2dwin S. Towle, A. L. Rich, Joseph Meyers, C. C. Smith and Warren Hutchins was appointed with instructions to get into correspondence with the state and national authorities in an effort to get relief. .\ copy of the resolutions .adopted was sent to the governor at Lincoln.

Catholic Church Takes Action

On the day following, June 6th, the members of the Catholic Church throughout the county held a mass meeting in this city to take action on the matter and get a general report of the condition in the county. Such a state of destitution existed universally, that a resolution was adopted sending Rev. J. A. Hayes East in an endeavor to raise supplies.

A committee on correspondence composed of L. A. Ryan, James 1". Casey and John F. King, of Fails City, and Patrick and James Murphy, of Barada precinct, was appointed. The condition was such as to warrant the adoption of the following resolution : "That we appeal to the charity of all persons, irrespective of creed or nationality, for any assistance that they nia.\ be pleased to contribute to relieve the suffering in Richardson county." In accordance with the instructions of the meeting, Reverend Hayes departed for the East on July 9th.

A special meeting of the county cominissioners was called on July 9 for the purpose of considering the best method of providing relief for the farmers of the county. On this occasion speeches were made by George Faulkner, William R. Cain, C. C. Smith, W. P. Page, Judge Dundy and others. Judge Dundy pointed out that in his belief the commissioners were without authority to remit or suspend the collections of taxes as had been proposed, and urged that relief might have to come from some other source, if the same were to be done legally. Accordingly, subscriptions were taken up. Mv. Faulkner gave three steers; Mr. Rickards, fifty dollars: Joseph Meyers, mortgages on an eighty-acre tract, and Judge Dundy offered eighty acres of land and money, if the same were needed.

While every effort was employed to obtain relief, both locally and from the outside, those affected were improvising every means possible to combat the plague and save the fields from further ravages. Districts were set off in sections of the county and every available man volunteered his services to give assistance. Many methods were devised, but the most effective seemed to be the use of kerosene. The liquid was placed in large shallow tin tanks, which were pulled either liy horses or by men through the fields and soon became filled with the hoppers. The kerosene .seemed most effective in killing the pests, from the fact that almost instantly upon coming in contact w ilh it death ensued. Rut in spite of all heroic measures brought to bear, the situation attained its worst in the almost complete ruin of the growing crops. Their departure, liowever. was as >iulilon and unexpected as their coming.

and the people were surprised one morning to see the vast army arise and wing their way into the distance, never to return. Crops were at once replanted and because the season was favorable, the outcome in the fall was not so bad and gave reason for universal rejoicing among the people.

Stories of the work of the grasshoppers were as numerous as the yarns of a sailor, and as unbelievable - but at the time it was no laughing matter among the people.

During the grasshopper scourge, the visitation of which spread distress and despair over the county in 1876-77, Judge J. J. Marvin, of Falls City, penned the following lines:

The Grasshopper Rally

We are coming, Uuele Samuel, three hundred billions more, To divest your fertile lands, from the mountains to the shore. We have whet our hungry bills and greased our supple thighs, yVe are bound to eat whatever across our pathway lies.

We are not the sous of sea cooks, that made King Pharaoh m.ul. But you bet your bottom dollar, we are just three times as bad ; We've been studying progression, since the i>yramldal age, And loftier heights and broader fields, our efforts now engage.

We left the land of Palestine, as soon as we heard the news. That the Bible gave the privilege to those lank and hungry .Tews, On whose grain we relied and expected to be fed That they might roast our tiny carcases and tuiii them into bread.

Francis W'itliee. a plainsman, tells the following story: I crossed tlie Missouri river and landed at Brownsville the afternoon of June 27th, 185S. I was fourteen years old the following November and was born in the state of Ohio. I accompanied my father, stepmother, her mother and my brother, George, six years my senior. We liad been living in Iowa, and were fourteen days on the way, stopping two days with friends in Wayne county. The trip was made with five yoke of oxen, and seven head of loose cattle, which were driven by myself.

My father had been reading from time to time in tlie .Vi'tc York Tribune of the proceedings in Congress at W^ashington. about the Kansas- Nebraska bill, which became a law in 1854. The passage nf this bill occu-

])ied much space in the paper at that time; the land coming in for entrv and pre-emption and treaties witli the Indians were discussed fullv. and tliis lerl my father to come to this state to cast liis lot. But after paying the ferryman at Brownville he had left only one dollar and seventy-five cents in money. The ferry fee at that time was one dullar for the wagon and team, and ten cents a head for the lnose cattle, wliicli meant tlmse driven and not hitched to the wagon.

My stepmother had a sister li\ing near Brownville. and to her home w'e went and stayed one month. Tiien a little log cabin was rented for four dollars per month, and most of the rent paid hy team work for the owner. The log cabin was sixteen by eighteen feet, and this seemed to have been tile prevailing size in those days.

I helped break prairie for ten breaking seasons, and in one .season until late in the fall. I worked only in the breaking season, and in the ten years helped to break, or broke alone, altogether one thousand acres. I made my home with my father for twelve years after coming to Neliraska. W'e l>egan l)reaking prairie the first fall we came here. An eighteen-inch Tiskiliwa rod plow was used, and instead of trucks we used a gauge wheel rec|uiring two persons to <iperatp. one to drixe the five yoke of oxen and tlie other to hold the plow, and I took my turn doing botli. Many people used different kinds of trucks, which were to liold the ]j1ow stead}-. The truck was fastened to the beam in front, and when used, one man could manage the ])low. I'lenty of breaking plows of various makes were for sale at Brownville. They were worth from one dollar to one dollar and twenty-five cents an inch: consequently, an eighteen-inch plow was worth eighteen dollars. The l)rice for breaking prairie fluctuated with different seasons, from two dollars and a half to three dollars. It was customary often to break twenty-five acres of prairie for a good }'oke of oxen, valued at seventy-fi\e dollars. It often took much longer for us to get our pay than it did to do the work, as the times were hard. Saying that money was scarce, would be i)Utting it mildly. In the fall of 1858 my father bargaineil widi C. E. L. Hohus to break one hundred and twenty acres of prairie for sixty acres of land near Xemaha City, on the Missouri river. Myself and father broke ninety-five acres, gave Holmes a yoke of oxen and l)oth parties called the deal square. .My father traded two yoke of oxen and a wagon for eighteen acres north of the sixty acres alread}' acquired; then he traded the hou.se on this tract for a yoke of oxen. Later, he traded two yoke of oxen and a wagon f(.)r sc\enty-seven acres of land, southwest of Xemaha City and alMiut five miles north of the present village of Stella. This seventy-seven acres is a farm that sold two or tliree years ago for at one lumdretl and two and one-lialf dollars per acre. My father traded after a while this seventy-seven acres for the balance of the fractional section where was located his land near Xemaha City, there being- al^out one hnndred and sixty acres in the fractional section. To make this trade even, my father ga\e two yoke of oxen and broke ten acres of land.

Crossing The Plains

1 made three trips across the phuns with freighting outfits, October i. 1862, in company with my brother, George, Artemus Armstrong, and Joe and Jim Coker. I went from Nemaha to Nebraska City to "whack bulls" to Denver. We remained at Nebraska City for ten or twelve days, waiting for freight to arrive on a steamboat. Thomas I'itzwater. from southwest of Brownville, near Bracken, was the wagon "boss." The wages for the men were twenty dollars per month for the round trip, or thirty-five dollars per month if discharged at Denver. Myself and brother and three of our friends took the thirty-five dollars per month proposition. We paid eight dollars each to ride in the return wagons from Denver to Nebraska City, clubbing together and lioarding oursehes: slept at ranches, occa.sionally in a stable, and ;i few times were out on the prairie at night. .\t that time beyond Kearne\- all prairie was called "sand hills."

On this trip the train consisted of tiiirteen wagons, with six voke of oxen to each wagon. - The freight carried was powder, fuse. Hour. whiske\-. drugs, quartz, mill repairs and cast-iron plows. Forty-seven days were reipiired to make the trip from Neliraska Cit\- to Denver and sixteen days for the return.

The freight wagons were ponderous, weighing two thousanddne hundred |)ounds, and were on tiie "wide track." They were four inches wider than the ordinary farm wagons of today and were longer at the top than at the bottom b\- two feet. Tlie bottom length was twelve feet.

On this first trip two bosses killed a buffalo at fifty-mile post, a name which indicated that that point was that distance from Kearney. This was near Mallaley's ranch, a place known to all freighters. We took with us as much of the bufifalo meat as we could pack on a mule - perhaps two hind quarters. At another time on this trip Fitzwater, the wagon boss, tradeil a side of bacon for a buffalo ham. The younger generation sometimes believes the freighter feasted on all kinds of fresh lueat and wild game as they crossed the plains. l)ut this is erroneous. Cured meat was carried with

The ranch business in those days usually was a place that dealt a good deal in the supply of hay and whisky. Some kept clothing, canned goods and other supplies. The ranchers got hold of cattle with lame feet from the freighters, and did a "swapping" liusiness wath these cattle, when tlie animals had recuperated. Our train ranched cattle that were disabled, taking a receipt from the rancher, who either later had to turn the cattle over to the owner or to make good to him their losses.

Paid In Gold Dust

On my first freighting trip 1 was paid at Denver, in gold dust, at sixteen dollars per ounce. I disposed of the dust in Denver to speculator Jews at a value of fifteen dollars in greenbacks for an ounce of gold dust. 1 remember that on one of the trips a man bought some meat and had ten cents due him, and tlie ten cents was paid him in gold dust of that value, actual weight of it being made. Later, the man traded the gold dust for a pipe valued at twenty-five cents. Again the gold dust was weighed, and the weight this time made it have a value of fifty cents, different scales at tlie different times being used.

I freighted to Jtdesburg, Colorado, in the fall of 1864. T. S. Sloan, of Nebraska City, was the wagon boss, and there were tiiirty-four wagons. The start was made with eleven five-yoke teams and twenty-three six-yoke teams, which means there were three hundred and sixty-six head of cattle to transport tliis train. This was a hard trip. Snow fell for twenty-four hours on October 23 and -'4, when tlie train was just east of W'ahoo creek, in Saunders county, on the old government trail. Returning in Decemljcr. myself and fellow fre'ighters were caught in a blizzard between Salt creek and Stevens creek, near where is now the Nebraska State penitentiary, on the "steam wagon road." \\'ages were better than on the first trip - two dollars per day or sixty dollars a month, for the round trip; or one hundred and ten dollars a month with discharge at Jule.sburg. One dollar in gold at that time was worth two dollars and a lialf in greenbacks.

The last freighting trip I made was in the year i8()6, when I went to Denver with (Overton Brothers, of Nebraska City. Twenty-one six-yoke teams were in this train. Tlie wagons were loaded with sugar, canned goods, ca.-icd litjuors. candles and nails. The candles were made in St. Louis. The nails and heavy stuff were placed in the bottom of the wagons.

and the candles and other light stuff placed on top. The teams left Nebraska City on September 14th and arrived there on the return trip on Thanksgiving Day. The wages on this trip were one dollar per day or forty-fi\e dollars per month, discharge in Denver.

In my trips across the plains we left the cattle in winter quarters on the range. We came back with mules to haul our "grub" and blankets. We had to walk most of the way. On the Julesbui-g trip we left our wagons there and five of the 1x)ys took the cattle farther up the river to Moore's ranch. After they got the cattle to the ranch, Watts, the boss herder ; Elias Bills, of Wayne county, Iowa; John Coen, of Springfield, Illinois, and Jolin R. Martin, bushwhacker, of Missouri, were killed in an Indian fight, and tlie cattle scattered. Alex Street, of Nebraska City, was the owner of the cattle - about three hundred and seventy-five head - and it cost him ten dollars to get them rounded up. All were found but seventeen head. Although the Indians caused all this blooshed and trouble, they didn't want the cattle, but it may be they killed one or two.

By the spring of 1863, my father by actual survey, had only fifty-five acres left of his one hundred and sixty-acre farm, the rest having been swallowed up in the Missouri river. The part that was left Ijetween Nemaha City and Brownville was traded for two hundred acres two and one-half miles northwest of where Stella is located, and to get a full half section, one hundred and twenty acres were broken for the necessary one hundred and twenty acres, and we came to this land to live, thus I have a continuous residence of nearly half a centuiy on the same farm. The house built by my father in 1864, was taken down in the fall of 1907, to be replaced by a new house, in which w as used some of the lumber from tlie old house. When I first came to my new home the nearest neighbors were three miles and a lialf distant. I was a member of the school board in my district for fort\ five vears.

Inducements For .Settlement

An impetus was given to settlement in Richardson county by a change in the land laws. In the year 1854, a settler could take one hundred and sixt\ acres and after living on it for six months, could buy it from the United States for one dollar and twenty-five cents i)er acre ; this was called a preemption. In 1863, the homestead law went into effect. Under this a settler could take one hundred and sixty acres and have it free by living upon it for live years. In 1873 the timber claim act was passed. Under it out could f(et one hundred and sixty acrees by planting ten acres of it in trees and takintj care of it for eight years. All three of these laws were in force from 1873 to 1891 and under them a settler could, in a few years, get four hundred and eighty acres of land. The land in this county, however, was taken up \cry uarly and hut little of it was left fwr the operation of the later land laws.

One of the very necessary conveniences in a new coiuUry is some kiml of a mail service that those coming may have communication with home, and the absence of it was no small drawback to the early pioneers of Richardson county.

Those hrst U> arrive found this part of the West without local mail facilities, from the fact that prior to that time in 1854 the whole country west of the Missouri was "Indian country," and had not been opened to settlement. Nebraska at this time had but just been erected as a territory.

The first mail routes to cross what is now officially recognized as a part of Richard.son county, were estal)lishe(l by an act of Congress passed on the 3d day of March, 1855, just one year after the first of the pioneer settlers took up their abode on the banks of Mudilv creek in section 36. of Ohio township.

This first route, so important to the people in this part of the then territory, .started from Oregon, in Holt count}-, Missouri, to Ft. Kearney on the Platte river, by way of Stephen Story's ferry in section 1, .\rago township, on the Missouri river, between the two Xemahas, to Francis X. Purkett"s, on the Muddy creek, near Archer; thence to John A. Singleton's on the (ireat Xemaha; thence west to the home of Christian Bol)st. tin the Creat X'emaha. in the northwest (|uarter of section ..'3. township 1. north of range i_'. but now included in wliat is known as .South b'ork precinct of I'awnee countx'. \'nv i|iiite a long iicriod the entire west end of Richardson, now known as I'awnee countv. received mail at the residence of Judge Christian Bol)st on the South b'ork of the Xemaha. l-'rom th:it place the mail was later carried to what is now Table Rock by ^^rs. Lydia Holmes, nee Giddings, a daughter of b'lder C. \\'. Ciiddings, the founder of Table Rock. She was the first mail carrier in that \icinity and is now at an advanced age, a resident of Kansas City, Missouri. This route continued on from the P.obst home to Marysville on the I'lue river in Kansas.

Indian agency, just south uf the Xebraska-Kansas state line iu Kansas, north by way of Stephen Story's hume at the ferry, in what is now section i of Arago township, and on to Brownville, Nebraska City, Omaha City, Winter Quarters, Black Bird Hills, and thence north to the mouth of the Niobrara river.

On August 18, 1856, a route was established Ijy act of Congress from the Missouri river at St. Stephens, by way of Archer and Salem, west to Christian Bobst's and on to the Big Blue in Gage county.

^Another mail route was established by an act of Congress on June 14, 1858, from Brownsville by way of Nemaha City, Nemaha county, to Archer. Ohio township ; Falls City, Falls City township ; Monterey. Porter township : Salem, Salem township; Pleasantville, South Fork precinct, Pawnee county, just west of Speiser township. Richardson county, and Pawnee City to Table Rock.

Another was Brownsville south by Peru and Nemaha Cit\- in Nemaha county, to St. Stephens, St. Stephens precinct in this count\' and Winnebago in Arago township, Yankton, Rulo township, one and one-half miles north of the present village of Rulo and on to St. Joseph, Missouri. It will be observed that the towns mentioned on the line in this county were all towns located on the banks of the Missouri river.

Thk First Postmaster

The honor of being the first postmaster of Falls City must Ije assigned to John H. Burbank, who was succeeded by C. Norris. Following Mr. Norris the following have served: William Watts, N. O. Pierce, J. J. Mar\ in, John Wilson, George Van Deventer, M. .\. Frank, George E. Dorrington, W. Riley Crook, L. A. Ryan; E. J. Holbrooke, Irvin Maust (as bondsman to succeed Holbrooke, who had died). Asa Hollebaugh, Ellis O. Lewis. G. J. Crook, Aaron Loucks (as bondsman who succeeded Cr(X>k, resigned), and Charles C. Davis, the present incumbent now serving on tlie second ^-ear of his term.

The fir.st postoffice was on lot 21. of block 70. near the public square, and none of the latter places of holding the office liave lieen more than the length of a square from the same place. The second office was on lot 22, in block 68, the third in the old printing office, where later the Tarpley &, Company store was housed, and the fourth in the store of Reavis & Cameron, lot 12, block 71 ; its subsequent locations have been in Judge J- J. ^larvin's house, lot 20, block 91 ; lot 11. block 58. and lot 22, block 70, where it occupied a building on the west side of the second lot from the south side of the block. It was removed in the month of Juy of the present year (191 7), to the new federal building on lots 19, 20. 21, 22. 23 and 24 of block 92.

Away back in the history of Richardson county, before Falls City was a I)lace of an}' considerable commercial importance, when Archer was a flourishing town - when the county was comparatively "a howling wilderness," and Stephen B. Miles, Sr., David R. Holt and Uncle Isaac Crook and a few more of the "early birds" were the leading spirits at camp meetings and dances, there were many events transpiring, that in themselves were very simple and ridiculous, but yet, when called to mind, cannot fail to provoke a smile on the placid faces of some of our old residents.