York County, Nebraska - The whole text, 1913 (part 1 of 4)

Robert Copsey

Ill looking up early incidents for the Old Settlers' History, to be kept in the County Judge's office of this county, the first question was, why was the County named York? I first wrote to the State Historical Society at Lincoln, but could find no reason from there. I find from A, T. Andreas' history of Nebraska, and from the help of Judge Sedgwick in investigating the Journals of the first and second Territorial Legislatures tliat met in 1855, that one A. D. Jones, a member of the first Territorial Legislature from Douglas county, (and by the way Omaha was the capital of Nebraska at that date) was chairman of the committee on defining the boundaries and giving names to new counties, Mr. Jones X^roposed to name the new counties after prominent leaders from each political party; that accounts for the name of Polk, Hamilton, Butler, Fillmore, Clay and many others. Seward county was first named Green, after a senator who afterwards joined the rebels in 1861, and the good people of Green county petitioned the legislature and had the name of their county changed to Seward. The journal of the first territorial legislature of 1855 shows that the north line of York county was the Platte river, the boundary was later changed to include its present boundary.

I next wrote to A. D. Jones, who seemed to have a good deal to do with laying out and naming new counties in the early day, but the letter was returned, and I learned after that Mr. Jones went to heaven ten years ago. I secured from early records the names of members of the first legislature and wrote to (piite a number and some of the letters were returned uncalled for, and others were answered, stating they could remember nothing of the reason for naming York county. A party suggested that if I wrote the editor of the Bee, Mr. Rosewater, he could tell me everything, so 1 wrote, enclosing a stamp, and got no reply and he is a stamp ahead. I recently wrote to the Public Librarian of Omaha, for Omnha w^as ]\fr. Jones' home, and he was very prominent in its early liistoiy, in fact he liomesteaded the land where the principal part of Omaha now stands. I thought iliis Mr. Jones, who named York county, might have come from York, Pa. T received the following letter, which is t'le first ray of information as to why this county was named Y^ork.

Dear Sir: Your letter regarding information about A. D. Jones has been received, and we find that Alfred D. Jones was born in Philadelphia, January 30, 1814. A Nebraska handbook makes a brief mention that Y^'ork county was named after York, England, but gives no reason for it. This is all I can find. Am sorry it is so meager.

Blanche Hammond

Y^'ork County is situated in the center of the most beautiful, and when all conditions are considered, the best agricultural district to be found in the fertile and far-famed Nebraska.

Measuring from the center of the county it is ninety- tvro and one-half miles to the Missouri river, and from the same point it is sixty miles to the Kansas state line, while the Platte river is thirty-three miles north and thirty-six miles west in a direct line.

The county is as near the center of the celebrated South Platte country as it is possible to locate the center of a section of country, the extent of which is so indefinite. The county is twenty-four miles square, and contains 575 sec- tions or 368,6-1:0 acres of land. Upon the "divides" or plateaus the surface of the country is very level and smooth, slightly undulating, and as one travels towards the streams, he finds the surface traversed by numerous ravines or "draws," but very few of these are so deep or abrupt as to forbid of cultivation. They are a natural shelter for stock and in days gone by were the favorite feeding ground of the buffalo and elk. They produce the veiy best of wild native grasses, and are considered an advantage rather than a detriment. The faint outlines of the "buffalo paths" are still visible in many places and the appearance presented would indicate that immense herds once frequented these favorite haunts.

The AVest Blue River tra\'erses the southern edge of the county, running in a zig-zag course, the general direction being east and west. This stream furnishes excellent natural water-power, and there are now located upon it some of the best flouring mills in the State, three of which t;re in the limits of this county.

Beaver Creek crosses the west line of the county near the center north and south and runs nearly due east about lialf way across it, when it turns southward and runs in a southeasterly direction until it meets the West Blue River, about one and a half miles east of the county line in Seward County.

The Blue River, the least important of the four water <^ourses, traverses the northwest portion. These streams are not "mighty rivers" but furnish abundant water for stock and drive machinery all the year round.

They are skirted by a belt of timber, in some ]^laces very light, and heavier in others. The valleys formed by theiii are picturesque and very beautiful, in many localities almost enchanting.

Old Settlers' Early History

productive and fertile as the bottom lands of the valleys. Since the first settlements of the county an entire failure of crops has been unknown. There have been part/ial failures of one or more of the cereals, but there has always been a harvest, and after the first severe trials incident to the settlement of any new country have been surmounted^ the county has been more than self-supporting. There is a copious rainfall every year, and the soil and sub-soil are such that the earth is always moist just below the surface.

No settlements were made in York County until the location of the Territorial Eoad, in 1861, from Nebraska City to a point on the line of the "Old Government" or ''California Trail," forty miles due east of the ]U'eseut city of Kearney, familiarly called the "Old Oregon Trail," and more definitely known to early freighters and travelers as the Nebraska City Cut-off.

It followed the natural ' ' divides ' ' of the county, running near enough to the creeks and rivers to obtain water for the ox and mule teams of the freighters.

This historic "Trail" entered York County in the southeast corner, passing through West Blue, York and Baker Precincts on one of the continuous "divides" that across the county, running in a general course east and west, and came down on the Beaver bottom just south of York, and out on the divide crossing J. P. Miller's homestead. Southwest quarter of Section 12, Township 10, Range 3. Along the line of this trail, at convenient point for obtaining water and fuel, numerous ranches were established. Five of these pioneer hotels were located in York County, the oldest being Porcupine Ranch, situated at Porcupine Bluffs, near the west line of the county. It was inaugurated in the year 1863, by Benjamine F. Lushbaugh, United States Indian Agent of the Pawnees, and was conducted by Samuel Kearney. It was also a relay station of the Overland Stage Coach, and twenty-seven miles west of Fouse's Ranch, located at Beaver Crossing, in Seward County.

established a Stage Station, on N. W. M, 15 - 10 - 2 and placed in charge a Mr. Chapin, who kept it for a period of six months, when it passed into the hands of Jack Smith, who remained proprietor until the freight wagons disappeared, and its mission was ended.

The McDonald Ranch was also established in 1864, and is named in honor of its original proprietor. This ranch was purchased by a Mr. Baker, in the fall of 3865, and operated by him until the close of the freighting business. It was located just east of Porcupine Ranch.

Antelope Ranch was situated only a few miles east of the McDonald Ranch, and was established in the month of November, 1865, by James T. Mathewson.

Next to the Jack Smith Stage Station west was the ranch known as Jack Stone's Ranch, established in August, !1S65, by George Chapman, but operated by him for only six months, at which time he transferred it to John McClellan, alias Jack Stone, and maintained by him until the Imsiness of freighting was abandoned.

One would think from hearing of the McClellan Ranch, the Jack Smith Ranch and the Jack Stone Ranch, ail just down the Beaver Creek from York, that there were three ranches, but from information gathered from old settlers it api^ears that George Chapman first started a ranch and sold to John McClellan. Tliis John McClellan afterwards got into a fight with a, fellow and whipped him, and knocked the breath out of him, but the fellow soon got his breath and jncked himself up; and John McClellan said, "Why I thought I knocked you dead as a stone," and he was afterwards called Jack Stone, and the ranch was lastly known as the "Jack Stone Ranch."

Robert Henderson, N- A. Dean and M. Sovereign went to the site of the Jack Stone, McC^lellan, Ranch, to verify its location, also to find the location of the Jack Smith Stage Station.

Mr. Henderson, who ])ut in the first croj) on the Jack Stone ranch in 18()5, and lived there, locates the place where the ranch house stood, near the south bank of Beaver Creek and about 40 rods from the S. W. corner of Fred Whitcombs farm, the S. E. 3/4 - 9 - 10 - 2, about 4 miles S. E. from York, the Ranche was built of logs with sod roof. Marks of the buildings remain in the pile of dirt and an old caved in well. The course of the creek is very familiar to Mr. Henderson and he made no hesitancy in locating the exact spot, and by the way it is the exact location where the first white child was born in old York Precinct, our friend Mrs. Alex. Stephens now living at 815 York avenue.

Next the party proceeded to locate the Jack Smith Stage Station which was about % of a mile down the creek. There was no trouble in locating the Stage Station it was on the banks of a big draw on Sec. 15 - 10 - 2, this is the Station made famous by the shooting of a drunken stage driver by the keeper of the Station - Jack Smithy the victim was a driver in charge of the overland stage coach, and in passing over the road stopped at Smith's Station. He was, under the influence of "pioneer whiskey, "very abusive, and finally declared his intention to shoot Mr. Smith.

With this purpose in view, he went to the stage, secured his revolvers, returned to the ranch and drew a bead on Mr. Smith, just as he was about to enter the ranch.

Mr. Smith shot first, the ball entering the forehead <ind producing instant death. Our Mr. Henderson saw the fellow's hat with the bullet hole through the band.

Near the site of Mr. Smith's old Stage Station, on the bluffs, a few rods south of Beaver Creek, on the northwest Quarter of Section 15, Township 10, Range 2, may be seen the grave of the first white man interred in York County. His death occurred in 1865, was tragic and brought on by his own evil intentions.

H. H. Klone, an early settler, says that about the same time the stage driver was shot and buried near Jack Stone's Ranch a wagon boss, a stranger, Sam Tate, was passingthrough the country and was killed by lightning in a titorm, and nothing" could bo found on his body to, in any way, identify him, but $500.00 was found in liis pockets; the parties who found him buried him by the stage driver, and as a compensation for the 500.00 sent to Nebraska City and procured i)a]ing and placed a fence around his grave, the fence is supposed to be around the stage driver's grave but is by his side and around the other grave.

Mr. Henderson says he has read the lead pencil lettering many times as he went by the grave. This was 47 years ago, and the marker is in a good state of preservation was brought in by the party and left at the County Judge's office with other curios of early times.

This was the first death occuring in the county, and ;; I though assuming the form of a tragedy, Mr. Smith was justified in the course he pursued. This death occurred February, 1865.

The party also found plain marks of the famous old P'reight Trail, that so many thousands of California gold hunters passed over in "49" and later years in their untiring hunt for wealth and other thousands of Mormons on their way to Utah where they committed so many attrocities in the guise of Indians on the early pioneer emigrants.

The marks of this old Trail which brings to mind so many thrilling incidents of early times is on the banks of the big draw just below the residence of Mr. John Nelson on Sec. 15 - 10 - 2 about 4 miles S. E. of York. The emigrants used to travel in great companies for protection against the indians, and drove their wagons side by side usually making a trail two to four rods wide. Mr. Henderson says he counted 160 wagons of Mormons in one company, and it took them 3 hours to all get in camp, but in going down this steep draw they made 4 separate tracks, and came together in the draw and made one track coming out on the west side.

The first permanent settlement of the county was made by John Anderson and his son William Anderson, upon the first homestead claims in York Count v on Section 2, Town-

The early settlers without exception took up sites for their future homes in the timber groves that bordered the principal streams. The wild natural scenery of their charming valleys attracted and irresistibly drew them to their shady nooks and the priine-necessities of pioneer life^ wood and water were in abundance.

The first settlements were made in the valley of the West Blue, in the territory now embraced by West Blue Precinct. The early pioneers in this portion of the county are: John Anderson, William Anderson, Nerva Fouse, Elias Gilmore, George Stubblefield, Henry Chatterton, William J. Taylor and David Buzzard. In the northwest part, J. W. Kingston and Philando Church settled upon the Blue River in 1870, and in the north and noi'tlieast, upon Lincoln Creek, David Doan, James H. Stewart, Newton Hyett, and John A. Mercer made settlement in 1868. and C. C. Smith and a Mr. Coon, in 1867.

In the more central part along the valley of Beaver Creek the pioneers are John Kora, Julius Frost, Henry Nichols, William Sweet and Christian Bristol, the date of their settlement being 1870.

In the south and west parts, Fernando McFadden made settlement in 1866 on the West Blue, and Levi Woodruff (now deceased) in 1868, and also llie Hen.'ersons in June. 1866.

In 1870, during the month of April, the organization of the county took place. The United States census, which was made during this year, disclosed a total population of 640, one half of which had made settlement in the spring and summer.

One post-office comprised the entire mail facilities, Avhich was located upon the West Blue on the road between Faii-mont and York, at the residence of Fernando McFad- <len, established in the month of July, 1867. Mr. McFadden has the honor of being- the first Postmaster appointed in York County, and his euphonious name was also given to the post-office. At this office they were supposed to have a weekly mail, but high water, a sick horse, or some other incident often delayed it, and not unfrequently two weeks passed without any mail coming into York County.

Large numbers of buffalo invaded the county in August. 1868, which was the last appearance of these animals in any considerable numbers. Their advent was a godsend to the almost destitute pioneers, who found themselves in a position to lay in a winter's supply of meat, and it is needless to add they were not backward in taking advantage of their good fortune. During this year (1SG8) the Pawnees, Otoes, Omahas and Poncas were united in a war against their common enemy, the powerful Sioux, and invaded York County on the war-path. The line of liattle was on the south side of the West Blue, about eight miles south of the city of York. No white settlers were molested, but the Indians skirmished here and there over the southern part of the county according to their usual mode of warfare.

In 1870 there were but two or three houses between the residence of J. W. Kingston in the northwest part of the county and the city of York, and the settlements were scattered and many miles apart. Yet, those were grand old days, and the first settlers are unanimous in pronouncing them as such. They were obliged to make long journeys for their social amusements, but always enjoyed them. A tri]) of twenty-five miles for the purpose of visiting a neighbor was no uncommon occurance, and you may rest assured, those visits were always pleasant and agreeable. All were united in one common bond of friendship and hearty good will toward each other. A new settler was hailed with delight, and the neighbors (all were neighbors) would go fifteen or twenty miles to assist him in erecting his sod house, and giving him an honest welcome. The stranger became one of them and without the least formality. Such hearty good will is contagious, and no sooner did the new settler see it manifested than he took the disease, and was as jolly, free and friendly as the rest. Long trips across the country were not unfrequent, and little dreaded.

The nearest mill was located at Milford, Seward County, a distance of thirty-five miles from York, and with their little grists, they made the journey in three days and often in two. The bulk of the trading was done at Lincoln, except lumber, which was purchased at Plattsmoutli or Nebraska City, on the Missouri River. The many trials and hardships of pioneer life, interspersed with the numerous pleasures incident to it, from a volume that can never be fullv written.

Prior to the year 1870 York County was attached to Seward Countv for judicial and revenue purposes. On the 18th day of March, 1870, His Excellency David Butler, Governor of the State of Nebraska, issued a proclamation in response to a petition signed by N. A. Dean, John Anderson. William Anderson, Nerva Fouse, Elias Gilmore, George Stubblefield, Henry Chatterton, H. W. Taylor, David Buzzard, J. W. Kingston, P. Church, David Doan, James H. Stewart, Newton Hyett, John A. Mercer, C. C. Smith, Mr. Coon, David Baker, Fernando McFadden, Levi Woodruff, Robert Anderson, Randolph Fairbanks, J. W. Wartz, E. Melick, Elisha Martin, Will Whitaker, Jim Whitaker, G. W. Vance, A. J. Gilmore, Jacob Gilmore and David Henderson, the voting population of York County at that time, authorizing a permanent organization of the county.

In accordance with this proclamation, on the 2nth of April, 1870, the people of York County met at the polling ]>laces of the three precincts, and exercised their franc liise, at which election eighty-six votes were cast throughout the entire county. Of this number fifty-one were polled in Precinct No. 1, at the house of Uncle Elias Gilmore. Section 17; in Precinct No. 2, at the old pre-emption house ot' A.

A full coplinient of county officers were duly elected and the choice of the poo]ile resulted as follows: Edward Bates, Clerk; Julius Frost, Treasurer; George Flock, Sheriff; D. T. Moore, Probata Judge: \V. PL Armstrong, Superintendent of Public Instruction; Frank Mnnning, Surveyor; Dr. S. V. Moore, David Buzzard, Capt L. F. Wyman, Commissioners.

The first session of the newly elected Board of CWnty Conunlssioners was held June 4, 1870, in the old pre-emption liouse before mentioned, which was situated near the present site of the Rankin Implement Shop, just south of the public square. At this session the County Clerk was instructed to purchase, upon the credit of the county, all necessary books and stationary for keeping the county records, wliich was the first official proceeding of the board.

Messrs. David Buzzard, John D. Reed, Julius Frost, and County Clerk, Edward Bates, were appointed a committee to Investigate and settle the Individual accounts of the county with Seward County, and John D. Reed was also api)olnted Attorney for York County.

The county was divided into three Commissioners' Districts comprising the following territory: District No. 1, Town 9, Range 1, 2, 3 and 4 west. District No. 2, Township 10, Ranges 1, 2, 3, and 4, west. District No. 3, Townships 11 and 12, Ranges 1, 2, 3, and 4, west.

The second session of the board was held July 6, 1870. At this session the county was divided into three voting precincts, including the same territory embraced by the three Commissioners' Districts, and designated them by similar names. Shortly after they were given the names of West Blue, Beaver Creek, and Moore.

During this month the first tax was levied, and the following March A. E, Streeter made the first assessment of the county. The assessment roll shows a total valuation of all property, real and personal, to be $22,464, while the total tax levied amounted to $2,920.04.

On the 4th of October, 1870, Edward Bates resigned his office of County Clerk, and D. R. Creegan was appointed to fill the vacanc}'. On the 12th of this month Judge D. T. Moore, Dr. Thomas L. Myers, now of Aurora, and A. J. Gilmore, were appointed Commissioners to appraise the school lands of the county. At one of the closing sessions of 1870, held November 15, Judge Moore generously donated his salary as Probate Judge to the county and was accorded a vote of thanks by the board.

It will be remembered that at this time a court house and fire proof vault were things unknown in York County, and no secure place had been provided for the archives of the county. The old pre-emption house of A. M. Ghost, was used as a court house during this year and up to the fall of 1871. Each officer was responsible for the records entrusted to him, and was at liberty to carry them in his pocket, hide them under his bed, or make such arrangements for their safety as he thought best.

James D. Houston and wife wished to transact some business with the County Clerk, D. R. Creegan, and walked to his home, a sod house, on Section 8 in Thayer Township, and made their business known. The records were in a cracker box under a very low bed, and Mr. Greegan got down flat on his stomach to get the cracker box out, getting the necessary papers he waited on his customers, and then shoved the box well under the bed so it would be sure safe; in a few minutes Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Read came to him on some county business, down the County

Ge;rk got on his stomach ngain and fished the famous cracker box out from under the bed and waited on them. This same Capt. J. B. Read loaned York County the first money that ever g-raced the county treasury, $6.35, the money was promptly repaid Mr. Read as soon as the County was able to do so, as shown in Commissioners' Record No. 1, at Page No. 7; a little later, at page 10 of the same record we find a vote of thanks tendered Judge D. T. Moore for his generous donation of his year's salary as Probate Judge to the County. Thpjse are incidents in the struggles of our early county officers with the ]n-oblem of finances, how different now in this year of 1912 the finances of the County are so swollen that it makes our "Sunshine Billey" look like the pictures of the great trusts.

In November of this 3^ear, a new iiiail route was established from Lincoln to Grand Island, via Seward, and three new post offices were established Jin) the -county-ji named Palo, Thayer, and Aiikin's Mill, Ohancey Aikins served Uncle Sam as Postmaster at Aikin's Mill and J. H. Parker at Thayer. Soon at'ter this the citizens of York ])etitioned for a mail route between York and Fairmont by way of McFadden, which was granted on condition the people pay for conveying tlie mails. Such a piece of economy on the part of a Postmaster General of the present time seems incredible, but nevertheless it reinains a historical fact. Dr. Thomas L. Myers was appointed Postmaster at York, but the office not ]>roving \ei-y lucrative, he soon resigned and F. O. Bell was ap])ointed as his successor. He held the office for two years and was succeeded by J. E. Cochran, who resigned in a short time and Mrs. M. J. Hammond was appointed.

At the first session of the County Board of tlie year 18'1, held January 3, Beaver Creek Precinct was divided on the line between Ranges 2 and 3. and the west portion was made a new precinct, under the nai:;..^ of :P>aker, .AForton Precinct was also divided on the line between Range 2 and 3, and the portion formed into a new i)i-ecinct and named Stewart.

At an adjoiinied session of the board, convened November 2,1871, the county was re-divided into nine voting precincts, each eight miles square, named as follows, commencing at the northeast corner, and running west thence east, etc.: Stewart, Houston, North. Blue, Beaker, York, Beaver Creek, West Blue, Woodruff and Henderson.

During this year the first county road was laid out along the West Blue and was surveyed by H. Badger. Soon after this a bill was drafted by Judge D. T. Moore and D. R. Creegan, making all ssection lines a road, in certain counties, including York County. This bill passed the Legislature and became a law. The provisions were afterward extended to include all the counties of the State.

In August, 1871, it was decided to call a special election to vote upon the proposition to sell enough of the town lots owned by the county to build a court house. The proposition was carried, $1,500 worth of lots sold, and the contract to build a court house was let to Mr. Charlton. It was a fine building for that time but w^ould be rather insignificient now. Prior to this time and the building of the court house, the records were kept in a sod building of one room adjoining Dr. Tutton's drug store and the sessions of the Commissioners held in the Doctor's store, who was County Clerk until the close of 1872, resigning December 2. John H. Helms succeeded him being appointed to fill vacancy.

In the fall of 1870 A. J. Gilmore was elected County Commissioner to fill the place of David Buzzard, whose term of office had expired. At the general election of 1871 Judge D. T. Moore was elected as delegate to the Constitutional Convention. Two hundred and eighteen votes were cast in the county and the following persons were called from the walks of private life to serve the county: A. B. Tutton, County Clerk; B. M. Elliott, Treasurer; C. D. Aikins, Sheriff; S. P. Buckmaster, Probate Judge; H. H. Tate, Superintendent of Public Instruction.

In the spring of 1871 York County received its first proposal for building a railroad, Dr. Converse, Superintendent of the Midland Pacific Railroad, submitted a proposi- tion to the people of York County in which he offered to extend the company's road from Seward to York if the county would vote bonds to the amount of $150,000, payable in twenty years, and donate the right of way. The proposition met /w'ith decided o])pcHition throughout the county in general but more particuarly in the southern precincts that received little benefit in the way of building up and establisliing towns.

While the settlers were fully aroused to the necessity of having railroad facilities and fully appreciated the advantages to be derived from one, yet they were unwilling and very sensibly refused to load the young county with a debt that would have been a burden to its inhabitants for many years. A si)ecial election was called March 19, 1872, and the ])ro])osition accordingly voted down.

In the spring of 1872 an incident showing the pluck and sterling qualities of the early settlers took place in the taking of a claim in Lockridge Township. A Mr. Niles Xyster, whose ancestors had never owned land, living at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, decided he would own a farm and walked from Mt. Pleasant, Iowa to Lincoln, Nebraska, and looking over the map decided York County would suit him; selected an eighty and walked to Lockridge Township to see the south one-half, northwest quarter, section 34, township 11, range 3, walked to Lincoln, made his claim; paid the ]-equired fee, $14.00; walked back to his claim, made him a dug-out; put u]) i^ome hay; and walked back to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, a distance in all of over 700 miles. The next spring he took his family to the homestead; found the prairie fires had bui'ned his hay, but nothing daunting he went to work hapi)y in the fact that he owned a farm.

The annual election of 1873 gave the county the following officers: L. J. Gandy, Treasurer; F. W. Liedke, Clerk; W. E. Morgan, Probate Judge; J. P. Miller, Sheriff; T. A. Parkinson, Sui)erintendent Public Instruction; Frank Manning, Surveyor; T. P>rooks, Coroner; W. H. Greer and Thomjis Burgess, Commissioners, and the following year of 1874 H. S. Burtch was elected Commissioner.

One great event in the early history of York County that stands out most prominent of all, and never to be forgotten while an early settler is alive, is the awful Easter Storm that began the evening of Sunday, April the 12th, 1873. The spring had been early and small grain was all up, and farmers had their spring work well under way; the weather had been dry and the wind blowing strong from the south for more than a week, and Sunday, April the 12th, the wind quieted down and the day was j^leasant until in the afternoon a bank of heavy clouds made their appearance in tlie northwest; soon there began a heavy rain and as night approached the rain turned into sleet, and then to snow, then for three days and nights without a moment's cessation the storm raged in all its fury, with the air so full of whirling snow, it was impossible to see an object scarcely a rod away. Fortunate for the early settlers that their dwellings were mostly sod houses, or dug-outs, and in the place of being blown away they were more likely to be snowed under, which happened in many cases; in several instances the settlers took their meager stock in the sod houses with them and all lived together for three days. Many interesting incidents have been related by persons who experienced such a strange make-up of families, and although the milk and eggs were handy none have desired n repitition of the novelty. After the storm was over the neighbors who were not snowed in had interesting experiences digging their neighbors out of their dug-outs; one family that was snowed under in a dug-out held a conversation with their rescuers through the stove-pipe that stuck up through the snow, and showed them where to dig down for the door by running the broom handle up through the snow. The writer went to one dug-out where nothmg but the stove-pipe was visible, and hollooed down through the stove-pipe and asked the owner what he was doing, he promptly answered he was reading the B. & M. advertisements alDOut the beautiful climate of Nebraska. Mrs. Capt. Read tells us that Andy Hnnsen, a Dane, had a homestead on Section 32 in Thayer Township, and had built hin^ a comfortable sod house on the south side of the draw, f)-ont door opening to the north, and that he was away from home when the storm came, and that the storm blew the f'ont door 0})en, and when Mr. Hansen came home after llie storm liis house was so full of snow he eonld not find place for a dog to crawl in. In Thayer Township a band of Pawnee Indians came alon"- after the storm and discovered some stock that had drifted to the creek in the storm and perished, the Indians immediately went into camp apd remained as long as the supply of meat lasted. The Blue, near the west line of the county, was literally full of dead stock that had drifted as was supposed, from the Platte River bottoms. Mr. John Davis, who had settled in Leroy Township, did not have his stable up when the storm came, and his stock which was tied to the wn^^on all perished; much stock was lost iinder similar conditions. Our tovnsn.an, N. A. J)ean, liad his stable built under a bank; in mi;.' end of the stable weie two mules, in the center horse-, -nid in the other end hO;Q;s and chickens; the snow kept di'iflini;- in, and the mules tramping to keep on top until they got up to the roof and hroke through and went out; the hogs and chickens in the other end were snowed under at least 25 feet deep, and Mr. "Dean was surprised when on digging then, out a week later found them all alive and hungry. As far as known only three lives were lost in the storm in York County; one, the 15 year old son of J. S. Gray, in Arborville Townshi}), the boy was trying to carry a sack of corn from the barn to the liouse, missed the house and was not found until the storm was over; the other two deaths occurred in Henderson Township, a Mr. Frank Kailey had built a log house, but liad not had time to chink it u]:> when the storm came, and the first night of the storm the house drifted half full of snow, the stove and beds were under snow; they thought 1hey must go to one of the neighbors and they started, Mr. and Mrs. Kailev and their bain- l)oy, ]\Irs. Kailey soon gave out in the deep snow and awful storm, and Mr. Kailey tried to carry his wife and baby on his back but only went a short distance and gave up exhausted, then left his wife and baby and went for hel]) but never found them till he found their dead bodies in the snow drift where he had left them when he went for help. His homestead was the S. W. V-i of section 30, township 9, range 4.

the stockholders to be residents of the county. This created qnite a stir and some enthusiasm was manifested. It was meeting with some favor and endorsement wlien another proposition was received from Dr. Converse which ran the narrow gauge scheme entirely off the track. The second proposition was submitted in 1874 and demanded only $94,000, in county bonds in consideration of which the Midland Pacific Road was to be extended to York. The bond campaign of 1875 was a very warm one and meet with some opposition. Eleven hundred and seventy-five votes were cast at this election and the proposition was favored by a c'ufficient majority in the county, while the precinct of York voted to issue it bonds to the amount of $10,000 as an jiclclitional bonus. The company fulfilled its promises and the first train reached York in August, 1877. In the fall cf 1875, at the general election, Liedke, Gaudy, Miller and Brooks were re-elected. W. B. Cummins, Probate Judge; J. E. Cochran, Superintendent of Public Instruction; A. B. Codding, Surveyor;

At this election Hon. George W. Post, at this time a young and promising member of the York bar, was elected Judge of the Fourth Judicial District, and was re-elected m 1879. The first representatives to the State Legislature from York County were elected in 1876. The Senatorial District included York and Hamilton counties.

Well known men such as Hon. S. V. Moore and Hon. Lee liOve were chosen to serve the people as Representatives, and Hon. W. M. Knapp as Senator. Benjamin Woolman was this year elected Commissioner.

At the general election in 1878, AY. T. Scott and W. H. Keckley were elected to the State Legislature and F. W. Liedke as State Auditor. Mr. Liedke resigned his position as County Clerk, and the Commissioners appointed Hon. Lee Love to fill the vacancy caused.

At the election of county officers for 1879, AY. B. Cummins, J. P. Miller and A. B. Codding were again reelected. J. A. Fatherly was elected County Clerk; A. J.

In the fall of 1880 Hon. S. V. Moore and Albert Wilsey were elected as Representatives; Martin Burns as State Senator, and Jesse Love, County Commissioner.

The election of 1881 i^-ave the county the services of the efficient officials who were elected as follows: Milton Sovereign, Clerk; J. W. Bennett, Treasurer; W. VV. Giffen, County Judge; James H. Hamilton, Sheriff; E. E. Armor, Superintendent Public Instruction; A. B. Codding, Surveyor; J. W. Wells, M. D., Coroner; S. A. Myers, Commissoiner.

In the spring of 1873 the county was encumbered by a debt of $44,000 caused by the erection of bridges and other internal im]irovements, and funded its debts by issuing bonds, to that amount.

In the latter p-tirt of July, 187() the early settlers were visited by a new and unlooked for calamity of grasshoppers. In the afternoon of a hot day, July the 20th, a mysterious cloud a]3peaied in the northern horizon, and all were wondering what it was, until suddenly the awful cloud of grasslioppers covered the country, so thick at times that the sun was darkened, and all gardens and green vegetation was soon devoured; much of the small grain was in the shock and mostly saved, to the great comfort of the pioneer settlers; the grain that was standing was soon ruined, the grasshoi)pers would bite the straw off just below the head; after they had done all the damage they could they tilled the ground with eggs and left. The next spring the eggs began hatching, and the settlers were filled with alarm for the coming crops, and every device imaginable was made for catching young grasshoppers; a petition was filed with the County Board of Supervisors asking them to take measures to exterminate the young grasshop])ers; the County Board met in s])ecial session Ai)ril 25th, 1877, and Book No. 1, page 470 shows the following proceedings:

"Whereas, the grasshoppers are now hatching out in large numbers, and believing that the interests of the county demand an immediate action by the Board of County Commissioners to encourage the destruction of these pests, it is hereby resolved by the Board of County Commissioners: 1st, That all persons in the county are hereby called upon to turn out and kill and destroy grasshoppers. 2nd, That for all grasshoppers caught and killed within the limits of the several Road Districts in the county and delivered to the respective Eoad Supervisors, the Supervisors shall give his receipt, stating the amount, when and by whom delivered. 3rd, Supervisors shall receive and receipt for grasshoppers every Friday afternoon, and shall at once annihilate them by burning. 4th, On or before the I'nd day of July each Supervisor shall make and return to this Board, in writing and under oath, the amount of -grasshoppers delivered to and burned by them. 5tli, Tlie holders of Supervisors receipts shall be entitled to ]:)ay by the County Board as follows: for grasshoppers delivered on or before May 18tli, 1877 the &uni of Two Dollars per bushel, in county warrants, and for grasshoppers delivered after that date, and on or before June 1st, 1877, the suiri of One Hollar per bushel, in county warrants."

The Village of York was at that time liberal, patriotic and interested in the i^rosperity of the county as a whole, and procured devices for catching grasshoppers and used them in the town and country, catching great quantities of grasshoppers and piling them upon the court house square in great piles and burning them free of charge. Mr. H. C. Kleinschmidt tells us he has seen grasshopper piles on the public square nearly four feet high when they were small, and that a bushel of young grasshoppers would make more than a hundred bushels of grown grasshoppers, that one grasshopper egg would hatch out five or six young grasshoppers.

Much sympathy was created in the cities east of us by reports of the needs of the early settlers, and wheat, corn, flour, potatoes, beans and many things that were badly needed and greatly appreciated by the old settlers were received, and car loads of clothing, consisting of swallowtail coats, plug hats, (]uaker bonnets, hoo]) skirts and other old cast-off clothing was received that furnished a great deal of amusement to the old settlers, and was a great relief to the donors, and brought in free by the railway company.

1879-80. Commissioners - Benjamin Woolman, Thomas Gray, A. C. Eberhart, Charles Wullbrandt (1880), W. B. Cummins, County Judge; L. J. Gandy, Treasurer; John A. Fatherly, Clerk;" A. J. Bell, District Clerk; J. P. Miller,

Shall I ever forget my first sight of Nebraska, and my first sniff of Nebraska air ? We had ridden all day and all night in the close, stuffy sleeper, and about sunrise we arrived at Plattsmouth. Here, as was the custom in those days, the cars were put on the ferry boat, "Vice President," and ferried over the river. We stepped out onto the platform and drew in breath after breath of the glorious, invigorating air, fresh and sweet as if from the plains of Paradise, life-giving as the elixir of youth. "Glorious!" I exclaimed. It seemed to me that with every breath I inhaled hope and courage.

All the morning we steamed along the long rolling prairies, and about noon we arrived at the village of Lincoln, then a place of "magnificent distances" and few inhabitants, giving no indication of the busy streets, tallspired churches, magnificent schools and universities, and flourishing business houses that now fill our capital city.

My brother awaited us with his double-seated "Nebraska surrey," not quite as stylish as the surreys of the present day, but more commodious and useful. Myself and two babies dined at the restaurant around the corner, while my brother and the reverened munched crackers and cheese on a doorstep near by (this I learned afterward. I supposed at the time that they were dining at some luxurious hotel.) After refreshing the inner man, we mounted into the Nebraska surrey and started on our journey toward our "home." I don't know what were the sensations of the parson, but I felt like Abraham when he started out to find his Canaan, "Not knowing whither he went." It was a glorious October morning. All over everything lay the palpitating mists of the Indian summer, golden in the sunshine. Over our heads beamed the bluest of skies, while around us everywhere stretched the boundless prairie. We seemed to expand and grow tall as we looked out upon the sea of land rising and falling in undulating billows, like the waves of the ocean, while around and above us was the exhilirating air.

Here and there appeared little black mounds, which my brother informed us were sod houses, and now and then a group of dark, flitting figures, which they said were antelope. Aside from these no signs of life appeared. For all that we could see we were the only lonely voyagers upon the boundless prairie. The reverend gentleman became so absorbed in viewing the landscape that he missed the road.

The sun went down; the twilight deepened. One by one the stars peeped out, and still no signs of the little town of Seward, where we had ho]3ed to find supper, and a bed. About midnight, however, the hotel came in sight, and we were hospitably entertained by the landlord, who gave up his own bed to furnish us a resting place. The landlord was the Mr. Clough who was so deeply involved in the terrible tragedy which happened five years after in this same hotel. We were only too glad to stretch ourselves on a good bed, and we lay down to a dreamless sleep on this, our first night in our new Eldorado.

The next morning, bright and early, we resumed our journey under skies as fair, through air as balmy as ever. At noon we stopped for dinner at a half-way-house, and here I had my first sight of the interior of a sod house. To say that it was not inspiring would be putting it very mildly. A 'dirt floor, roof of willows upheld by a big tree for a ridgepole in the center, wooden bunks built around the sides of the walls for beds, and to complete the picture a barefooted woman in a soiled calico dress. My heart was fast going down into the region of my boots, but I called up the spirit of my Puritian ancestors I invoked the Salem witches from whom I can claim direct descent, and I set my teeth in grim determination not to be daunted by the first untoward obstacle in my path. We were refreshed by a good dinner of bacon and eggs, coffee and hot biscuits, and continued our journey, to pull up about sundown at the liospitable home of our friends, Mr. and Mrs. Tagg, where we found a good supper and a warm welcome awaiting us. Here was a sod house, consisting of three good-sized rooms, a carpeted floor, plastered walls, and many of the comforts, and even luxuries, of civilization. Here we rested and visited over Sunday.

On Monday morning I drove over to our claim to see the house which was to be our residence, for a while at least, until we should finish a frame house which my brother l\ad already commenced, and which would be ready for occupancy before cold weather. They told us, though, that Nebraska winters were lovely, and that we had nothing to fear from cold or storms.

I found a place about 10x12, half dugout, half sod, a dirt floor, dirt walls, and a shingled roof which slanted to the south. We had two windows, one on the north which I could only reach by the aid of a chair, the other on the west. Our cabin opened to the south. A sod. partition extended through the building, the east half being used as a stable for the horses and cow. My sensations can be better imagined than described as I contemplated the prospect. To add to the cheerfulness of the outlook somebody had picked a chicken and left the feathers somewhat promiscuously scattered about. However, we did not stop long to contemplate or moralize, but went vigorously to work to make the cabin habitable. We bestowed our belongings as compactly as possible, to wit: A cook stove, bed, table, and cooking utensils (which for convenience were stowed under the bed.) The rest, organ, bureau, etc., were put on the north side of the house and protected with an old wagon cover.

It had been a delightful day in Xovember, somewhere about the middle, I believe. The sun had set in a blaze of glory. I woke sometime in the middle of the night to find my bed wet with what felt like snow and the wind was howling as if all the spirits of the storm were turned loose. The morning- revealed the fact that our bed was covered with about two inches of snow, our door barricaded by a big drift, and the whirling sleet made it dangerous to venture out. We were in the midst of a genuine Nebraska blizzard. To add to our discomfort we had only green elm to bum, and a scanty supply of that. I wrapped the children in blankets and quilts and kept them as close to the stove as possible, but their little blue faces showed that our utmost efforts were unavailing to keep them even moderately warm. Meanwhile the parson put on his heavy soldier's overcoat, and chinked up the cracks and crevices through which the snow and wind were making rapid inroads.

It was, I believe, three days before the storm cleared so that we could get to the Beaver Creek, two miles away, and obtain some decent fuel. Meanwhile we whistled to keep our courage up, and emulated Mark Tapley, who got jolly in proportion as things grew dark.

We had three blizzards that winter, one after the other, and we began to think that the famous Nebraska winters were a myth. Our baby had not been well all winter, and finally grew so much worse that my husband went about six 'miles to find the only doctor in the vicinity. He came back bringing no doctor, but a bottle of carbolic acid. The doctor said that was all the medicine he had. I thought he might have come, at least. I declined to administer the carbolic acid, but happened to remember a simple, oldfashioned remedy, which I had on hand, and gave, and then I watched all night in fear and trembling- But with the morning the little fellow seemed better, and the danger was averted.

We gave up all hopes of finishing our house before spring, and settled ourselves to remain all winter in our little dug-out with as good grace as possible. One day, in April, I think it was, my husband started for Lincoln to get a load of lumber for the house. I got a friend to stay with me during his absence, as he would be gone two days. It was a warm, cloudless morning when he started, but by noon the sky was overcast with clouds, and at four o'clock it commenced to snow, and the wind began to rise. We gathered a supply of fuel, got supper, and by eiglil o'clock there was a whirling, howling blizzard upon us from the north. We got the children in bed, left the light burning and put our clothing within reach, not knowing but that before morning we should be without a I'oof to corei' us, for the wind from north lifted our roof, and all night long it danced over our heads, and we lay shivering, expecting to be driven out before the blast, ^iorning found the storm somewhat abated, and we were thankful that a roof still covered us.

My brother had gone east to bring his v ife, a New England woman accustomed to all the luxuries and refinements of the east. The parson went to Lincoln with the lumber wagon to meet them and bring them up to their future home. During his absence my friend and E fixed up the cabin. We put down a rag carpet on the three feet of floor which occupied the center of the cabin, put up white curtains at the windows, and a valance about the bed to conceal the cooking utensils, washed the children's faces and arrayed them in clean gingham gowns, and then prepared what was for us a sumptuous supper. I remember that I had concocted some mince meat out of such odds and ends as I could find, and in lier. of green apples I had used all the extracts and -cordials that I had on hand. My brother had assisted at the oi»eration. In fact lie had been chief cook upon the occasion. AVe considered it a masterpiece. This was my piecii de resistance for supper. We also had some canned cherries which I had brought from riinois, some gingerbread, molasses, and some fried bacon and warm, light biscuit, with coffee.

We flattered ourselves that we were pretty ''swell." But, alas for our expectations! Our dirt cabin and fine fixin's failed to impress Mrs. (*. She couldn't eat any supper, and evidently considererl ilie "grace.'' which was said at table an entirely superfluous affair. The parson hmiself confessed that as he drove up with his dainty New England freight, the little cabin, with the pile of debris, and the cow in front, didn't look remarkably inviting.

Some time in the spring of 1872 Brother Davis came up to York to hold a quarterly meeting. There had been a freshet, and Father Baker had ferried Brother Davis over Beaver Creek in a sorghum pan. In those days a quarterly meeting was a very important event, and as we were to entertain the elder we of course laid ourselves out in the way of housekeeping. We intended to do things up in style. We had induced the men to put us up the inevitable summer kitchen (sod) so dear to every woman's heart, and were planning on a fine lay out in the culinary department. Alas for our hope! The freshet flooded our sod kitchen to the depth of six inches or more, and I helped get Brother Davis' Sunday morning breakfast, wading around in my bare feet, in water half way to my knees. I don't suppose the brother had any idea through how many tribulations we concocted that breakfast of fried chicken, canned cherries, etc.

It was sometime in that same spring that ano.ther incident occurred, that might have forever put an end to any more pioneering. The snows had been very heavy all winter, and the roads were almost impassable. But Sunday dawned warm and pleasant and we were glad to avail ourselves of the chance to take an outing. Mr. Morgan had gone with the horse and buggy to the Buzzard school house to hold morning service and Mr. Mellersh, Mrs. Tagg and children, and myself, with two babies, started about noon in the lum^ ber wagon for Father Baker's, where Mr. Morgan was to hold services in the afternoon. We had a lovely drive through the fresh spring air, and arrived at the creek to find the little bridge covered with two feet of water. The bridge was just wide enough for a team and wagon, and one false step would precipitate us all into the water. We noticed Father Baker standing on the opposite side, jesticulating with his arms and evidently shouting to us, but our driver i)aid no attention, gave the reins to the horses, and almost as if by a miracle we passed safely over. We found Father Baker white with fear. He told us that we were the first to pass over the bridge during the flood, and that it was a wonder we were not all tipped over and drowned. I rode back in the buggy with Mr. Morgan, and we found the draws flooded with water and ice, the water often coming up into the buggy, while the horses went plunging along over cakes of ice and through torrents of water. We finally reached home in safety, as did the rest of our company, thanks to protecting Providence.

Our larder in those days was not always as well supplied as it might have been. I remember one instance, in particular, where a scarcity of provisions was very embarrassing. I think it was on Tuesday morning. We were then living' in our own sod house (quite a residence, by the way, of which we were very proud). We had a living room, bedroom, pantry, and chamber upstairs which was reached by an adjustable ladder which could be hooked up when not in use. Our parishioners had made a "bee" and laid the sod for us, and we had a very comfortable house. I remember that on this particular morning I had discovered a bedbug (T\:hisper it not in Gath), and had turned the house out of doors in consequence. About eleven o'clock I chanced to glance eastward, and there, coming over the hill, were a horse and buggy. Oh, my prophetic soul! I knew by the pricking of my thumbs that meant company. Sure enough, three ladies from town had come out to spend the day, one of them from Fairmont and whom I had never met. My first thought was, "what have I got to eat?" I made a hurried mental inventory of my edibles, and it stood thus: Meat, none. Butter, none. Fruit, none. \^jgetables ? Yes! I did have about one mess of green peas growing in the garden. I had some flour, milk and tea. So we dined ol¥ green peas, hot biscuits without butter, and tea. We had plenty of hot water, anywaj^.

Time wore on and our little church grew and flourished until we were able to put up a church building with the aid of good friends in other denominations. In those days the denominational lines were very lightly drawn. We were not Methodists, Congregationalists, Presbyterians and Baptists, but a unit of Christian people trying to establish a town and county that should be (Jod-fearing, temperate, and a synonym for the highest type of Christiantiy. I thank God that the work we did was well done, and that always the town of York has stood as a bulwark against

When we had finished our little church the reverend felt that nobody but Dr. Miner Raymond, of the Northwestern University was equal to the occasion for the dedicatory exercises. We felt that we were laying big- foundations, and we wanted a big, broad man, to lay the corner stone. Dr. Raymond consented to come, and two other churches secured his services. The reverend and I met him at Fairmont with "Tod," who was then only a three-mbnths-old baby. I can inform you housekeepers that then and there my troubles began. We were to entertain the Doctor, and he was, of course, accustomed to all the luxuries of a Chicago market. Butter was an impossibile article. Likewise fresh meat. I had no chickens, and the canned fruits which we were able to obtain were not palatable. To add to my distress the doctor was far from well, the water having disagreed with him, so that his stomach was all out of order. Hence our fare of fried bacon, eggs and sorghum was all out of the question for him. I think he lived mostly on boiled milk for the first three days of his stay with us. About Friday he felt a little better, and began to manifest a good deal of anxiety about the dedication exercises. The music, especially, seemed to weigh on his mind. ''Have 3'ou a choir!" he asked. We confessed that we qualified to such an article. In fact we had a good choir and organist, and both would have done credit to an eastern town. But I did not enlighten the Doctor. As he seemed to think that "no good thing could come out of Nazareth," I thought I'd leave him with his own opinion. On Friday evening the Doctor insisted that we have a choir practice. So about nine o'clock we went over to Mrs. Milieu's, who lived about a mile away, for a practice. The Doctor insisted on accompanying us, though we would very much have preferred to have left him at home. Wo arrived rather late, and found Mr. and Mrs. Millen in bed. She got up and dressed, however, pulled out the organ from; its box in the corner, and we sang a little, while the Doctor took a survey of the premises, A sod' house, dirt floor, dirt roof, the interior lit by a dim kerosene lamp! Certainly the outlook was not very promising. The next night we left the Doctor

On Saturday night we entertained fourteen people who had come up from the Blue, and otlier localities to attend the dedication. I'll never tell where we put them to sleep, except that the reverend occupied a pile of sacks at the head of the stairs.

The Doctor continued very suspicious about the exercises, especially the raising of the money. "Where are the people to come from?" he asked. "I don't see any houses!" And again, "Unless you are a better man than I think you (Lire, "William, you'll never raise the money." On Sunday morning the little church was packed. Teams stood thick all about the place, and men were standing outside the doors and windows. After the singing of the first hymn by the choir and congregation the Doctor settled back with a look of solid satisfaction on his face. He preached one of his best sermons. The occasion seemed to inspire him. At the close of the discouvse the men and women from the little sod houses and dug-outs scattered over the prairie, and the men from the lawyers' and doctors' offices in the town, showed the material of which they were made, when out of their limited means they subscribed $1,100, and raised every dollar of the church indebtedness.

One little incident, which gives a light among these shades, I desire to recall. The parson, after the manner of parsons, had tnided for a saddle horse, which he rode on his Sunday tours from York to Lincoln Creek and return. Xow it chanced that the parson's horse had been at some time in his life used on the race track, and was an animal of no mean pedigree or paces. One Sabbath, two of the young men of York, who have since achieved dignity with their years, accompanied the parson on his Sunday rounds, they also mounted on horseback. On the road home the parson was riding leisurely along, a little in front, when something yery much like a wink |)assed between the horsemen in the rear, and they immediately put their horses to their top speed. The parson's nag needed no spur. He "smelt the battle from afar," rose to the occasion and soon distanced his competitors. The parsoc always claimed that he pulled his horse up as soon as he could collect himself, but the "boys" tell -^ dirl'orent tale, and have never ceased to relate how the parson raced horses on Sunday.

I might tell much more. Scene after scene of those days crowds upon my memory. How we fought fire and flood, grasshoppers and famine, and above all whiskey. How hot the battle raged at times, till even the staunchest trembled. But God gave us strength to hold on, until finally victory perched uj^on our banners, and the saloon forces beat an ignominious retreat.

And now the shadows are gathering over our pathway. The faces of the pioneers show lines of care. Toil and sorrow have whitened the once sunny hair. We are facing towards the sunset. Soon the places that have known us will know; us no more. But among the cherished memories that we shall carry with us into the Land of the Hereafter will be the memory of our pioneer days in York, and among those who shall meet and greet us in the Bright Beyond^ there will be none dearer than our old friends oi York county.

That the early settlers of York County were never molested by the Indian is generally believed. The fear and apprehension which was constantly in the minds of these pioneers added to the loneliness and privation v\^liich truly called for brave hearts and strong courage, may not be so well understood.

The following experience may serve to show the cost of pioneer courage as found in one noble woman and is written as a loving tribute to one of the best of mothers.

In January, 1867, James Waddle leased what is known as the Jack Stone Ranch one of the landmarks of York County's early history. He left a man on the ranch to put in a crop and returned to Wisconsin for his family, wife and seven children. In June of the same year the family caine to this 1oin])orary lionic. The liiisband and i)art of tlie family spent the time establishing the permanent home on the Blue Kiver in Hamilton' county. It was when the family was thus separated that the following incident occurred.

One July niorning the mother and her little group were aroused by two horsemen who sought from her, food and rest and brought to her tidings that on the previous day the Sioux Indians had raided the first settlement to the west. Had taken the stock of farmers, killed two boys and carrier! two young women into captivity.

The mother faced this problem. If the Indians followed the trail or freight road she witli her children was in their path. If instead they followed the stream or West Blue the other members t)f her family were in danger.

The horsemen advised her to start at once for civilization, because they thought the Sioux would spare no one in this region. She had a team of horses and a pony.

Could she leave without knowing the fate of her loved ones?" What she decided after an hour of careful thought was at eleven o'clock she placed her oldest sou, a lad of fifteen years, on the pony with the charge that he should go to the father. The boy had been over the trip but once, no road to follow, nothing but the hot July sun to guide his ])ath from without and the boyish prompting of great danger from within. With an overwhelming desire to do well his part, he rode over the wide stretch of prairie.

The agreement was that he should ride to the family home and return by noon' the following day. If he did not return, the mother with the remnant of her flock would start toward the eastward to seek a si^ot where people "could live."

The long vigil of that night is the silent climax of this tale. It is better imagined than described. With the team of horses and wagon drawn close to the window and the faithful watch dog brought from the Wisconsin home, her only protector, crouched under the window, she sat by the bedside of her children, in her arms the writer of this sketch, a babe of four weeks.

The first hours of darkness brought a heavy electric storm. I have heard my mother say "that nature expressed and calmed the anguish of her heart as she looked into the face of her first-born, a girl just budding- into womanhood, and thought could she see her carried away by a band of Indians or rather could she see her life go out in innocence and purity?"

As the storm ceased the little group was aroused by a sound of alarm which frightened the horses, the watch dog barked and growled. One of the children exclaimed, ''Oh, there are Bob and father!" In the sweet Scotch accent always noticed in time of great earnestness the mother answered, ''No children, that's no' Bob neither is it your father. " i

The alarm increased when with one great bound the watch dog leaped through the screened window into the midst of the waiting group crouched at my mother's feet. Th« sound without was the mingling of a growl and a sharp shrill whistle. It became fainter and at last died away, the little group thinking kind providence had caused the Red man to pass them by.

The cause of this alarm was not, however, the fierce Red Skin, but pi'oved to be a wandering wild animal of the mountain lion family and so far as we know the only one of its kind that has ever been seen in this country. It killed stock in the settlement and was shot beyond Beaver Crossing the following day. The night watch wore away and with the new day came fresh courage to face life's duties. The mid day sun brought the boy on the pony, the father and the absent members of the family, for the Indian raiders had followed the stream farther to the south.

In the passing years this experience has been rehearsed with many a laugh and joke as to how we met the Indian raids. Yet this experience with its happy ending bears

The Agricultural Society of York County was organized at the .ofiice -of -F. M. 'BMwell, in" the month of June, 1872. N. AY. Graves was elected President, F. W. Liedke, Secretary, and L. I). Stilson, General Superintendent. The first fair was held in October, 1873, upon the present grounds of the society. The half mile track had been surveyed and laid out during the summer of 1872. There was a fair representation of trotting stock. The exhibits of cattle, sheep and farm produce were limited, for it will be remembered the country was then enjoying the days of its tutelage. However, there was a good representation of all classes of entries, and an interest manifested by the farmers of York County that was highly encouraging to the founders of the society. TIk^ premium list of this year aggregated $500. After a series of years of successes and reverses, and owing to the fact that so many were attracted to State, National and World fairs by the larger attractions, and especially the enticing attraction to go away from home offered by the special, low rates of fare offered by the different railway companies, the county fair has been abandoned and the grounds sold.

Old York Precinct occupied the geographical center of the county, eight miles square. On the third of August, 1869, David Baker pitched his tent on the banks of Beaver Creek, under the spreading branches of a friendly old elm, that stood on Section 10, Tov/n 10, Range 3. Mr. Baker and his family made this their home for a ])eriod of three months, during which he erected the first frame house in the precinct, hauling the lumber from Nebraska City. His settlement is the first that it is our pleasure to record. The next settlers who amved, are Isaac Crable, ex-Sheriff J. P.

Miller, Isaac Baker, Thomas Meyers and Edward Bates. Messrs. Crable, Baker and Bates took up claims on Section 8. Sheriff Miller on Section 12, Thomas Meyers on Section 2. In 1870 a large number of settlers came into the precinct, and nearly all of the valuable claims were taken up, and before the close of 1871 all the goverament land was exhausted. Among the first who came in 1870, Lorenzo D. Brakeman, F. M. Connelly and D. A. Ritner made settlements on Section 4, Town 10, Rang*e 2. Charles F. Day and A. J. Day on Section 18, Nathan Johnson on Section 20, Thomas Porter, Section 24, David Graham, J. S. Shawl also en Section 24. H. M. Detrick, J. W. Andrews on Section 30, and R. C. Shipman and John Murphy on Section 10.

The site of York was taken as a pre-emption claim by Messrs. Ghost and Sherwood for the South Platte Land Co., in the spring of 1869. They erected a small frame building which was situated just south of the public square, near the Central Hotel stables. In October, 1869, the city of York was surveyed and platted, and when the spring of 1870 opened it was represented by one sod house and the frame building referred to above. In the fall of 1870, two brothers by the name of El wood inaugurated the firsc store in York County in the old pre-emption house, whicl; tJiey maintained until the following spring, when they packed up their little stock and went sadly away, believing with all sincerity that the future city was only a phantom and unworthy to be courted. A few weeks after their premature departure, F. 0. and J. H. Bell came out from Lincoln with a wagon load of general merchandise and opened the second store where the Elwoods had vacated.

During the summer and fall of this year the city began to develop by the presence of a few frame buildings that were put up. In the summer of 1871, Dr. A. B. Tutton started the first drug store in York County on the northwest corner of the public square, and duiing the month of September J. E. Carter built a second store on the west side of the square, stocking it with general merchandise.

a slioit time after, Bralimstadt & Kleinschmidt built their store, and W. A, Reed bnilt the first liotel. In November L. J. Gandy opened the first hardware and implement house, and in January, 1872, Charles Le Count offered his services to the citizens of York as a tinsmith. Thomas (rray began pounding iron in a sod blacksmith shop in the fall of 1871, and William H. Gould opened the first wagon .-hop in the spring of 187:2. Some of the buildings erected during this year were the millinery store of Mrs. E. Wilson, Dr. Thomas L. Meyers' drug store, the furniture store of D. A. Stonecypher and the store of F. M. Connelly, occupied by Wyman & Buckmaster as an implement house. In 187J F. A. Bidwell was appointed Land Agent of the B. & M. R. R\, and opened his office at York, and in 1872 the frame court house was erected. All of these improvements gave the city the appearance of active business life and a promise of becoming, in the near future, a prominent city of the state. The success of its founders led others to cast their lines in it, until it began to acquire a growing fame and demand considerable attention from the outside world. In August, 1877, when the first train of the B. S^. M. R. R. made i'^; triumphal entry into the city, it found a town of 600 inhabitants to offer it a hearty welcome.

At a session of the Board of County Commissioners, held September 7, 1875, York was incorporated as a town, and the following Board of Trustees appointed: Hon. George W. Post, F. A. Bidwell, F. M. Connelly, W. A. Reed. The first meeting of the Board took place September 25. F. M. Connelly was elected Chairman, and W. T. Scott, Clerk. The fir'^t regular meeting was held December 6. S. M. Wells received the first ai^nointment as Marshal and F. M. Connelly, as Assessor. The town attorney was instructed to draft suitable ordinances for the government of the town and the maintainance of peace and quiet to its citizens. The election of 1876 brought into office the following gentleman: Trustees - Charles Le Count, Chairman, J. A. Fatherly, J. A. McKilli]), J. F. Green and H. C. Kleinschmidt, J. A. McKillip, Treasurer J Edward S. Connelly,

In 1877 J. P. Miller was chosen Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and his colleaoues were: W. T. Scott, C. Le- Count and A. B. Codding. J. P. Gandy was appointed Marshal, Joseph Massison, Treasurer and Assessor, C. M. Scott, Clerk.

On the fifth of September, 1877, York was formally organized as a city of the second class and divided into two wards. W. T. Scott was honored with the mayoralty of the new city; Lee Love and George Butterfield as Councilman of the First Ward, and C. Le Count and A. B. Codding as Councihnen of the Second Ward. The remaining offices were distributed as folh^ws: City Clerk, C. M. Scott; City Treasurer, D. C. Sayer; (^ity Marshal, Charles Penn; Police Judge S. M. Wells; Engineer, D. C. Evans.

At the election of 1878 all of the city officials were reelected except City Engineer Evans, who was succeeded by A. B. Codding. In the Council, the Messrs. George Butterfield and T. C. Evans were returned from the First Ward, and Messrs. G. B. France and R. H. Tuttle from the Second Ward. In the fall of 1878, His Honor Mayor Scott, was called to the higher position of serving the people of York County as member of the State Legislature, and resigned the mayoralty of the city. Mr, France, who had been (;hosen President of the Council, acted as Mayor during the balance of the term.

The election of 1879 gave the citv the following officials: Mavor, Col. B. Crabb; City Clerk, C. M. Scott; Citv Treasurer, W. W. Giffen; City Marshall, W. H. Gibbs; City Engineer, A. B. Codding; Police Judge, S. M. Wells. In the Council Jesse Love succeeded George Butterfield in the First Ward, and T. D,. Knapp came in as the successor of G. B. France in the Second Ward.

In the spring of 1880 N. V. Harlan was elected Mayor, T. E. Sedgwick, Councilman in the First Ward; George Butterfield, Councilman in the Second Ward; C. B. Allen,

The year 1881, Messrs. Harlan, Allen, Montgomery and Codding were re-elected and E, L. Hatch, City Treasurer. T. D. Knapp was re-elected in tlie Second Ward, and James McKillip as Councilman for the First Ward.

City Of York 1874

York ia situated in the geogra]^hical center of the county and in 1910 had a population of 6,500 It has three railroads. The Burlington & Missouri River railroad, which traverses the county f)om east to west; The Chicago &: Northwestern, passes through the county from northeast to south-west, and the Kansas City & Omaha, which bisects the county north and south. The principal streets are substantially paved with brick, the sidewalks are wide and are entirely of cement and brick in tiie principal ])art of the city. York has a splendid su])ply of water from deep wells, furnished by the York Water company, an electric system that covers the entire city, a large gas plant, capable of supplying the demands of tho city for many years

York is beautifully located in a valley, near the banks of the Beaver, while the repi deuces lie alomv up the gentle slopes and away on the crests of the surrounding hills. It is a city of homes and the most beautiful and attractive residences in the state. A profusion of stately trees hide with their foliage all but the tallest buildings, and many well kept la\t^ns add to the inviting appearance of the tasty and elegant homes. There are two parks, one of which is equipped with large natural shade trees, seats, swings, a band stand and is traversed by the winding Beaver Creek. Across the street from this park are the Chautauqua grounds, with a large pavilion and ample shade. Every year a ten days program is given at tliese grounds, comprising the best talent the country affords. York is a member of the state base ball league, and the grounds, convenient to the city, are provided with amphitheatre and all necessary equipment. York has a capacious opera house, two "air domes ' ' and two moving picture shows, for amusements. A lecture course is given each winter under the auspices of York College.

The first bank in York County, a scalping concern, was established in York in 1875 by Wiliam McWhirter. The laws governing banks were very lax in those days, and no one ever knew what the capital stock of the bank was, but it is thought by H. C. Kleinschmidt who was emjjloyed as clerk in the bank that Mr. McWhirter had about $1500 invested in the banking business. There were no bank examiners in those days, and no law against usury, and one of the rules of the bank was, not to buy' any paper unless it was gilt-edged, and not to pay more than 50 cents on the dollar for good notes, and to pay 45 cents on the dollar for county warrants, and charge 3 to 5 per cent a month for the choicest loans.

It seems from reliable information that Mr. McWhirter had been doing* a private brokerage business for some time, but in 1877 he procured a little room on the west side of the square and started York county's first bank.

The total of the depos'tf* a.t the end of the first month was $3,186.38. The first balance sheet showed up clear and plain. It never was footed up.

It is unnecessary to say he made scads of money, and when he died a few years later he was counted a rich man. A remarkable change has taken place in the banking business in York County the capital tock and surplus of the York banks alone amount to $424,151, and the deposits in the same banks amount to $1,816,653.00, and York can boast of as fine a four story, fire-proof bank building with all modern equipn^ents, as can be found in the state.

Agricultural implements and farm liiachinery, general merchandise, dry goods, hardware, wholesale grocers and drugs are among the many features of its general business character. ' ," '^"

It enjoys the facilities of two good hotels, several smaller ones and a number of restaurants, furnishing good and arnple accomodation to the traveling luiblic.

A growing and important industry worthy of mention is the York Nursery, comprising several acres of choice land devoted to the pro])ogation of fi-uit and ornamental trees and shrubs; and doing the largest business of any nursery in th©

The advent of the B. & M. R. R. and the location of their depot at York, about thirty rods north of the north end of Lincoln avenue, an-i consequently outside of the cit}^ limits, induced Mr. Woaley, the owner of the land adjoining, to survey and plat a town, which he named in honor of the g-reat metropolis. New York. It was incorporated as a town in 1880, and from its favorable location has assumed a promient place as a business town. It is now a part of the City of York.

In the spring of 1876 an application was filed with the city board for a license to open a saloon in the city of York to sell malt, spirituous and vinous liquors. At that time the city board consisted of five members, H. C. Kleinschmidt, J. A. McKillip, J A. Eatherly, F. J. Greer and C. LeC^ount, who was chairman; three of the board, Kleinschmidt, Le Count and Greer, were temperance, and two, McKillip and Eatherly, were for saloons; the board were to meet in the evening of the day the petition was filed, and that day a son of Mr. Greers who was attending school taught by Miss Etta Beecher (afterwards, Mrs. Dr. Wm. Knapp) committed a misdemeanor that anyone thought he ought to be nearly killed for, and his teacher gave him a severe whip])ing, his father like fool parents sometimes do, took the boy's part and wanted Mr. Kleinschmidt, who was also a member of the school board, to use his influence to prevent Miss Beecher getting the school for another term. Mr. Kleinschmidt said she was an excellent teacher and had already promised her his support for another term. Mr. Greer flew mad and said he would vote to grant saloon license, the temperance folks hardly knew what to do, the time was too short to get up a remonstrance, but they thought about Mr. Geer, practicing medicine, who a fehort time before bad been in the country to visit a sick woman wbose Imsband they saw in town, and they made arrangements with him to give Mr. Greer an urgent call to come and see his wife who lived a good way out and paid him the usual fee the doctor would charge. The party who got Dr. Greer to go and see his wife at once, went on ahead and had his wife get in bed and she was apparently very sick when the doctor got there, the council adjourned their meeting till the next night and then the temperance folks were on hand with their remonstrance with George B.France as their attorney, Edward Bates was attorney for the whiskey element. Cliarles Le Count was chairman and Mr. Greer promptly made a motion that the license be granted to the applicant and the motion was seconded. Council for the remonstrators objected to the motion and called attention of chairman Le Count that the motion was out of order, and requested that the motion be not put, or acted on, and the chairman sustained the objection and refused to put the motion; the meeting contiuued in session with more or less wrangling till seven o'clock the next morning when the ladies l3rought in an excellent breakfast. Mr. Kleinschmidt and Mr. McKillip agreed to pair off and go home to breakfast neither to return without the other, but Mr. Kleinschmidt was a little suspicious and had his little boy watch and tell him if he saw Mr. McKillip going to the court house; he had no more than gof down to the table when the little boy hollered, "There goes McKillip, father, on the run to the court house," and up jumped Kleinschmidt and raced to the court house just in time to head him off, so they all ate the nice breakfaist furnished by the temperance ladies.

George B. France and Jorn A. Fatherly, a member of the city board, were well acquainted, having resided in the village of Milford, Seward county, Nebr., together for five or six years: while there they spent much time and money attending the singing schools of the early days held during the lonely hours of the winter. When the term closed the teacher always gave a concert, and it was understood that the teacher could call on any two to sing any one of the pieces which were learned {md sung during the winter.

Eatherly and France at one of these coDcerts were called on to sing and they immediately arose and endeavored to sing the music arranged by the teacher, but made a complete failure.

Mr. Eatherly, during this night session of the city board, commenced saying rather abusive things of and to the attorney for the remonstrators, George B. France, and he was headed off in his effort to create a disturbance by Mr. France saying, "John, let us sing." This remark caused good feeling again, and Eatherly proceeded to tell of the incident of the singing school, ending with the remark, "George, what do you want?" France replied, "Adjourn the meeting for two weeks and set the application and remonstrance down for trial as provided by law." This was linally done. The following day Mr. France and F. A. Bidwell drove to Central City and obtained from George W. Post, then Judge of the District Court, an injunction restraining the city board from granting a license to the applicant, when the board next met the injunction was served.

The member of the board who changed his views was a druggist and six violations of the liquor law were obtained against him wherein he had illegally sold intoxicating liquors, and he was informed that if he ever voted to grant a license to the applicant he would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. One of those in favor of a saloon met the Rev. C. S. Harrison who was fighting strong for temperance, and told him that unless a saloon. was forthcoming in York they intended burning the houses of the temperance people one by one until such a license was granted, he was informed at once by Mr. Harrison that for every building of a temperance advocate destroyed there would be a building of a saloon advocate destroyed. The man then threatened to flog Mr. Harrison and immediately the coat of the Reverend was off, and the gentleman cuffed till he was entirely satisfied.

The good people of York were not molested again by the whisky element till after the B. & M. R. R. was built to the city and the depot located north of the city limits.

A Mr, Wooley wlio, owned the land north of town, conceived the idea of hiving out a town just north of York, leaving ki strip of land between the two towns which was afterwards called "The Dead Line". This was done, and the new town called New York, the village board was organized and saloon licenses were granted; the temperance people of York organized, raised a fund of $1500.00 to aid in lighting the saloons of the new village, employed detectives, and had the saloon keepers up before the Justice of the Peace and District Court till life with them was a burden, and their business very unprofitable. While these conditions were going on the saloon men had it in especially for a Mr. Creelman, a leader in the anti-saloon fight, this Mr. Creelman worked, together with Mr. Henry Seymour, in Mr. Chessman's elevator on the R. R. in New York; Mr. Creelman was sent to Eatlierly's store in the old town for some repairs for the elevator, two saloon men learned of his trip and decided to follow him and la^ him out, they were talking their i)lans as they passed the elevator and Henry SeyTiiour overheard them and as soon as he could leave the elevator followed them hastily, saw them go in the Eatherly store where Creelman was and rushed in after them; they had knocked Creelman down and were on top mauling him, Seymour grabbed a hickory pick-handle and began beating the saloon men, the hickory club came out first best, the saloon men were glad to get away, and left tc»"^vn for fear of arrest. The saloons sor»n quit the unprofitid:)le fiffht and there has never been a saloon near York. Since New Yoi'k had no other excuse for being a se]iarate town and soon united with and became a part of the city of York, the dead line was surveyed, r.^d platted and the fieht ended.

York School District was organized June 14, 1871. It included a territory five miles square in which the city occupied al)out the central position. Notice of the formation of tliis district was served upon the entire voting population, residing in its limits. In the school records the names of the male residents of the district are 'mtered, which will give the reader an idea of how sparsely the county was settled' at this period, and also the names of the early settlers of the now prosperous city. The total number claiming a residence in the above territory which included the city of York is only twenty- two and were the following persons: H. M. Detrick, G. W. Dixon, W. L. Draper, Thomas Mvers, Gottleib Hofer, J. H. Bell, F. 0. Bell, A. B. Tutton, J. S. Tutton, A. E. Hendricks, J. P. Miller, James J. Holley, Ichabod Cook, M. B. Noel, A. J. Day, Isaac Crable, C. F. Day, Edward Bates, L. D. Brakeman, D. A. Ritner, R. Charlton, August Bonge.

A. B. Tutton was elected director, A. C. Montgomery, moderator, and Tliomas Myers, treasurer. No further steps were made towards perfecting the organization until January 15, 1872. At a meeting held at this date, the district voted to issue bonds to the amount of $2,000 for the purpose of purchasing a building site and erecting a school house. This building was completed in season for a summer school, which was taught by Miss M. A. Hill. During the winter session of this year J. Cochran was employed as teacher. The first school established in York was taught by A. C. Montgomery in the winter of 1870-71. The old pre-emption house served as a school house, and twenty-two pupils were in attendance, some coming a distance of eight miles. It was maintained by subscription and was of two months' duration. Mr. Montgomery received his wages in wood, grain, cash, or whatever the settlers could best give from an individual standpoint.

At the annual meeting of the board in 1879, it was decided to call a special election, and submit a proposition to the citizens of York, for issuing the bonds of the district to the amount of $58,000, for the purpose of erecting a new school building, the old house having become too small to accommodate the fast growing school population. This election took place May 16, and was universally favored. A building was commenced immediately and it was completed in 1881.

Reed, F. A. Bidwell, T. D. Knapp, H. C. Kleinscbmidt, Judge D. T. Moore, C. Le Count, J. A. Eatlierly, and among the names of teachers who carried away with them the benedictions of their pupils and patrons may be mentioned: J. E. Cochran, E. J. Wiswell, Mrs. Coiner, Miss Beecher, Mrs. C. B. Allen, nee Miss Eff ie Cutter, T. A. Parkinson, ex-Mayor N. V. Harlan, Mrs. Pound, Miss Hart, Miss Gunnel, Miss Hayes, Miss Kate Keckley.

York has attained a reputation as a literary and educational center and affords the best possible opportunities for educating the young in all branches, in music and art as well as in the business, literary and classical courses. And now has three public school buildings, the Central, or High School building valued at $50,000.00, with a corps of 39 teachers, and an enrol hnent of 1,500 scholars, the school is fully equipped with all modern appliances and is doingsplendid work. York College is a religious, non-sectarian institution, offering the advantage of several courses of study, from a business or normal education to a finished classical or scientific course. It is now in a prosperous condition and is completing a new gvmnasium at a cost of about $15,000.

York Business College and Normal School is known and' patronized throughout the entire west. Its rapid growth and large student body are the best evidence of its efficiency.

Ursuline Convent school has handsome and pleasantly shaded grounds and commodious buildings. It is conducted by the Ursuline Sisters of the Roman Catholic church, and has students from a number of states and of all denominations. Many who desire to place their children under the parental care and restraint of the sisters patronize this school, regardless of religious creed. The school has an average attendance of 200 scholars, the larger part of them board, and have their homes in the buildingconnected with the school; the course of studies embrace all grades from Nos. 1 to 1'2 inclusive, and includes music, ])ainting and needle work. There are 10 teachers emi)loyed in the school work, and a good work is l)eini>' done.

The Public Schools in York County have grown from the small beginnings of the early settlement when schools were taught in private dwellings and claim shacks, and from when School district No. 1 was organized in 1869 in West Blue Township till now - (1912 there are one hundred and three scliood districts.)

Each school has its own library of reference books, maps, globes, charts etc., and throughout the country there is uniformity of text books prepared especially for the York County Schools by County Superintendent Alice Florer, practicaly the same work is being done in every school.

Many of the schools are doing excellent work in manual training and domestic science in spite of the fact that they are not yet fully equipped for these subjects. A great deal of this work has been done through the Corn Contests held for three successive years.