CHAPTER VI.

History of Precincts from "A" to "P" - Their First Settlements - Including Historic Letters from "A" by E. W. Olney - From "B" by F. M. Timblin - From "G" by James A. Brown - From "N" by I.M.K. Johnson - From "P" by Mrs. H. W. Parker, and from "G" by Mrs. Sarah F. Anderson.

"B" PRECINCT.

The ten first settlers in "B" precinct, or town twelve north, range three east, were as follows: John D. Hickman, in 1867; William, Joseph, Andrew, Henry, and Wesley Hickman, Thomas Poore, and Duncan McVaine, in 1868; John Quillon and F. M. Timblin, in 1869.

The first school-house (a sod house) was built in the fall of 1869, and the school was taught by F. M. Timblin during the following winter. The teacher was paid by subscription.

A literary club and debating society was formed, and the settlers often met for mental culture and entertainment. Herewith we append the instructive letter of F. M. Timblin, and also a communication taken from the first number of the Atlas.

In 1887 the F., E. & M. V. railroad was built through the precinct, and a station located at "B," which is rapidly coming to the front as a business point. They now have a good depot, a grain elevator, a lumber yard, two stores, and several dwellings, and it bids fairly to become quite an important village. The new church is nearly complete, of which we give the history elsewhere.

The precinct has six miles of railroad, has on the census rolls 571 inhabitants with 112 farms, which rank among the best, and has five school-houses all good frame buildings. The farmers are most universally prosperous.

"C" PRECINCT

Was first settled by Frank Shields in the winter of 1868 and 1864, on what is known as the "Casey place." His settlement was not for the history of" A" precinct the reader is referred to the valuable letter of E. W. Olney, very permanent. Among the first to make permanent settlement were Wm. Reed, Judge John W. Shields, Geo. Reed, John A. Durland, and Frank E. Pitt. These all settled in 1864 and 1865, and were soon followed by Moses Mitchell, Walter Hoops, and two or three others whose names have escaped our memory. These early settlers all located by the river, for the sake of the timber and water. Settlements did not penetrate the high prairie much until 1868, when people came like a flock of pigeons.

"C" precinct is cut in two unequal parts by Blue river, and has excellent water-powers that are yet undeveloped. Lincoln creek also cuts the south-west corner of the precinct, and furnishes a splendid water-power, which has a fine mill at Marysville. This mill was built by Luke Agur in 1870, and has been lately rebuilt, enlarged, and much improved. It is now a first-class country flouring mill with all modern improvements.

Marysville is the nucleus of a large German settlement that extends far up and down the creek, and overreaches the boundaries of the precinct. They had located a store and church, with a school-house, soon after the founding of Seward. Wm. Hornburg, John Schoepp, and old Mr. Hartman’s family were among the first to settle there. George C. McKay, John Gladwish, Father Archer and his family, and some others settled on the prairie between the river and Lincoln creek, and further up the river Thos. Corr and John Gilibanks set-tied in 1868. Marysville remains a trading point and post-office, and the Lutheran church makes it a prominent gathering place for the people.

Staplehurst was founded by George C. McKay in the autumn of 1879, immediately after the completion of the A. & N. R. R. Mr. McKay erected the first dwelling. T. W. Lowrey opened a grain house the same fall. Staplehurst, grew slowly at first, but in 1882—83 it began to assume importance as a shipping and trading point. Messrs. Goehner & Co. laid out a large addition to the town, and many business houses sprang up immediately, including two first class elevators, a good hotel, a fine church, and a host of dwellings. They have two school-houses, and maintain a graded school. The place contains near three hundred inhabitants, and is organized as a village; enjoys a good trade, and is prosperous.

"C" precinct has 1,076 inhabitants, with 139 farms and eleven manufacturing industries, and six school-houses. Many of the farms are well improved with fine orchards and many good barns. The precinct has six miles of railroad.

T. C. Allen is responsible for the following story: Probably the first time a religious meeting was held old Father Worley, of Ulysses, was preaching in a sod school-house, and was talking of hell, and heaven in an old-fashioned way, and had the congregation pretty well excited, when a serpent fell into the lap of one of the ladies, from the brush covering of the house. The audience were worse scared at the snake than at the preacher’s hell, which he was so ably describing. For further particulars the reader is referred to the Rev. Father Worley.

"D" PRECINCT.

This is the north-western precinct of the county, and is principally situated on the great divide between Blue river and Lincoln creek; however, the latter creek runs through the southern portion of it. This precinct is a most excellent farming region, and is the home of many of our best and most successful farmers. It has no village within its borders, and only a short piece of railroad. The F., E. & M. V. just clips the corner of the precinct. The people are provided with five rival markets, viz.: Ulysses, Surprise, Poston, Utica, and Staplehurst; so that all portions of the precinct are handy to good market towns.

The census tables give the precinct 777 population, 140 farms, and 5 schools, all with good frame buildings. The post-office is named Orton, and is kept at a farm house, and the mail service is by star route.

The first settlement was made in 1867 by Mr. Wm. Jackman and Mr. Jesse Horton. We remember his moving to the county with a pair of oxen harnessed like horses. Mr. Wm. Reynolds settled in 1868. He it was who committed suicide in Utica some years ago while in a fit of temporary insanity. Also Mr. Johnson, a lame man, who bought the first harvester ever taken to the Lincoln creek settlement, in 1870, and O. C. Began, of the hawk story, came the same year; also Wm. Homburg; and in 1871 the Richies—A. D., Wm., and his brother—with T. C. Allen and several others, made settlement on the high prairie, among whom were E. B. Hatch, who taught the first school in Jackman’s dug-out in 1872.

This portion of the county is finely developed, and we are free to say that it is our favorite precinct for farming purposes.

"E" PRECINCT.

Town eleven, range one east, is an unbroken plain without a running stream, and with the exception of a few marshes is wholly an excellent body of farm land.

M. C. Wright, Joseph Jones, Samuel Gleason, G. A. Derby, Mr. Greenwood, and H. M. Coleman were among the first to settle, in 1871, and were followed in 1872 by great numbers. About the

time of the first settlement the state road was located from Seward to York and passed through this precinct.

In the early history of "E" there were no such incidents of thrilling interest as occurred on the great freight roads, and the few settlers on the prairie were not so isolated from the world, as Seward was quite a town when the settlement of this prairie began. Yet the first settlers saw some rough times, although they were free from Indian scares and not in any positive danger of starving, as older settlements were near at hand. The growth and development of the farmers portion has been steady and kept full pace with other portions of the county, and now has fine improvements throughout. Finely improved farms, innumerable groves of planted timber and orchards, etc., etc.

Miss Clara Derby had the honor of teaching the first school in the precinct, in the summer of 1873. There are now outside of Utica three school-houses, and two others in which the people are interested.

Population, including Utica, 1,225, with 160 farms and ten manufacturing industries, and six miles of railroad. Their railroad station and village is the bright town of Utica, which was founded in the autumn of 1878. The first beginning and growth of Utica is related in another chapter, but its present status may be named here. The village contains between 600 and 700 people, and is third in population and business importance in the county, and has many live and energetic business men; maintains a graded school with a fine structure, a large steam grist mill, an opera house—a commodious brick structure, three grain elevators, two lumber yards, two banks, quite a large number of mercantile establishments, several churches, a fair-sized hotel, two livery stables, numerous shops, and many fine dwellings. The A. F. and A. M., the I. O. O. F., and G. A. R. each have themselves established orders. Flourishing Sabbath schools are maintained by the churches, and taken all together Utica is a pleasant village and is fairly prosperous.

"F" PRECINCT.

Thomas Skillman made the first settlement on Sec. 13, in the spring of 1865. Joseph Roberts either pre-empted or homesteaded the laud now owned by Rev. E. W. Johnson, in the fall of 1864, but failed to make settlement, and the place was homesteaded by Rev. Johnson in 1866. Mr. Roberts built or partly built a log cabin on his claim. George and Russell Rogers and their mother, Widow Rogers, each made settlement in the autumn of 1866. D. H. Figard, James Anderson, and Charles and Joseph Thurman each settled in the spring of 1867; also Abram Wallach. During the spring of 1868,a large number came, among whom were George Slonecker, Sam Stevenson, Aaron and Allen Anderson, Mr. Shockey, and Mr. Osborne.

The first school was taught in the summer of 1868, in the old log cabin on Rev. Johnson’s place.

The first church organization was effected by Rev. Johnson, at the Slonecker school-house. It was the United Brethren church.

"F" precinct, according to the last census, has 882 inhabitants and 190 farms, being the banner precinct in that she has the largest number of farms of any precinct in the county. She has five school districts, each with a creditable building; has seven miles of railroad; has one excellent mill stream, hut it is not utilized in the precinct at present. Some years ago a mill was built by Mr. Jull, but it burned down and as yet has not been replaced. It has probably the largest belt of excellent wild meadow of any one of our precincts.

Tamora, "F" precinct’s railroad station and village, was surveyed into lots in 1879, and during the fall of that year, Mr. J. W. Scott built a small grain house, put in scales, and bought grain, and Wm. Butler opened a small store. P. G. Tyler’s family was the first to settle in the new town. There was very little growth until the summer of 1882; however Morrisey Bros. built an elevator in 1881. T. W. Lowrey built his in 1882. The first school in the town was opened in the spring of 1884. The Presbyterian church was organized in 1880, and they bought a little building and used until the new church was built, in 1883. This church was dedicated Nov. 9, 1883.

The M. E. church was built in 1882. In 1886 the new two-story four-room school-house was built, at a cost of $2,100. A graded school is maintained, with two teachers, and is in a flourishing condition. There are now three elevators, a good depot, three general stores, one first-class hardware store, a fair-sized hotel, a good livery barn, two banks, a lumber yard, a drug store, and various shops, with a goodly number of cozy dwellings.

Tamora is a beautiful village with a good trade, and is a very desirable place in which to live. The people are universally intelligent and wide-awake. Have always been free from the contagion of saloons. They say that they never had any use for saloons, and they throw their surplus energy into beautifying their homes and maintaining their schools and churches. The village contains near three hundred inhabitants, and is surrounded by a beautiful and rich farming country. Anyone desiring a neat, quiet home, with excellent church and school facilities, where they are within a few minutes ride of the city, and where they are free from the influence of saloons, we cheerfully recommend Tamora as the place where they can find a genial home.

"G" PRECINCT.

So far as is definitely known, William Wymore and a brother-in-law of the name of Olmstead made the first settlement, in the fall of 1868—Mr. Wymore on Sec. 8, what is now part of W. W. Cox’s farm, Mr. Olmstead on Sec. 17, Mr. John Roberta’ north farm. These parties were deserters from the Union army and the provost marshal (Hon. O. P. Mason) had discovered their whereabouts, and they having learned this, hurriedly made their escape entirely in March, 1864. Mr. Cox purchased Mr. Wymore’s claim for seventy-five dollars, and Mr. O. abandoned his, and the land was entered by John Roberts in 865.

In the first half of April, 1864, Hon. Wm. Imlay and his father’s family moved to their claims, and Mr. B. T. Gale moved to his at about the same time. Father Dunaway settled in July, and W. W. Cox on the first day of December. In April, 1865, Thomas Dunaway and wife made settlement, and were followed in May by Richard Sampson and J. N. Roberts. Lewis Moffitt came in July, and built a log house on the future site of the city, and Rev. E. L. Clark came in October. This completed the settlements of 1865. In the early spring of 1866 the settlement was increased by the addition of E. L. Ellis, John Roberts, Sen., Joseph Sampson, and, later in the season, James A. Brown on Sec. 20, J. F. Duncan who settled on Sec. 8, Stites Wooley on Sec. 15, and Roger Cooper on Sec. 12. E. B. Shafer settled just south of the present city, and Wm. Cooper just north-east of the city.

The first homestead entry was that of Mr. Gale, of January 2, 1868; Stites Wooley (lately deceased) was the second; W. W. Cox, third, dated March 27, 1864; Father Dunaway, fourth; David P.

Imlay, fifth; Wm. Imlay, sixth; David Imlay (Grandpa), seventh; Richard Sampson and J. N. Roberts, eighth and ninth; Thomas Dunaway and Joseph Imlay, tenth and eleventh.

During the summer of 1864, there were broken thirty acres of land on three farms, viz., Wm. Imlay’s, D. P. Imlay’s, and Mr. Gale’s. The following summer there were broken about one hundred and fifty acres, on seven farms. It may be a matter of surprise that no more land was broken, but it is equally surprising, to us that understand fully all the conditions, that so much was accomplished. In the first place, we were all as poor as church mice. We had but few and very poor teams, and very few and miserably poor breaking plows. Had the reader seen the writer with a pair of plowshares, wending his way on foot to old man Morgan’s to get them sharpened by a corn-cob fire, then seen the vexation and delays in adjusting them to the work on our return, then followed us in our perambulations hunting for the lost oxen, and then accompanied us with our old ox team seventy-five miles to mill, and watched all our struggles to keep soul and body together, menaced by Indians on the one side, begging us out of countenance, and frequently showing a spirit of arrogance and impudence, so that we hardly dare leave our families any length of time. Frequently we were compelled to scour distant settlements of Lancaster, Otoe, and Case counties for meager supplies of provisions, fording streams and camping out nights. With very little or no money, no credit (there was no one in reach to credit us), a scanty supply of provisions, and still more scanty supply of clothing, we struggled against wind and tide through the weary pars of our first settlement.. In many instances we had to make "bricks without straw." Houses were to be built without proper tools, also bridges, and every class of work was accomplished under the most discouraging circumstances. The wonder is that we did not all become so much discouraged as to pull up stakes and go back to our wife’s relations, as some of the more weak-kneed folks did.

During August, 1864, the little settlement of four families became seriously alarmed on account of the Indian panic, at the same time of the exodus from Salt creek. Mr. Gale was away from home at Salt basin. The families had all gathered on Plum creek, at Grandpa Imlay’s house, and were hurriedly preparing for flight, when suddenly Win. Imlay’s wagon tire burst, and while they were all dismayed at the catastrophe it proved a blessing in disguise, for the rest of the company could not leave him and family to perish alone, and before they succeeded in getting the old wagon in shape to travel the scare was over, and all were ready to return to their homes. Thus the infant settlement was saved from abandonment by this lucky accident.

A few days after our arrival ,with our family at the new home, about the uight of the 8th of December—a very cold winter night— the gentle rapping of Joseph Imlay was heard in the small hours of the night, with the refreshing news that a child was about to be born at the house of Mr. Gale. Wife hurriedly dressed, and Joseph hitched our old "Nig" and "Darb" to the wagon, and away they went down the bottom and across the present city to the bank of Plum creek, just to the east of Mr. Bernie’ home, where a huge snow drift was encountered. The oxen were chained to the wagon, and our good wife was compelled to slide down the steep bank over the great drift of snow to reach the creek. When she reached the house she found that Miss Clara Gale had come to life and light to bless the home of her parents. We are happy to say that the young lady is yet living, and is highly accomplished and a resident of East Portland, Oregon.

During 1867 and 1868 settlement increased quite rapidly. The latter year witnessed the birth of. the future city, and the history of the precinct from that time is so blended with that of the city that we couple them in a future chapter. This, in connection with the earlier chapters of "reminiscenses," we deem a sufficient history of the early times of this immediate locality. However, there are many incidents of those days that it would be gratifying to the author to see in print, but it is not our aim to bore the reader with details unnecessarily.

Or town eleven, range four east, is one of the eastern townships, and situated on the head of the north fork of Middle creek. It is rolling land, with numerous springs and bright running streams, many of them fringed with nice young timber. The settlement is largely German. The first settler was Lewis Leibrock, on his present farm near the stone church. Conrad Grant and Deidrick Brant settled soon afterwards. Wm. Luber, Gillman Garland, B. W. Walker, Fritz Ropke, and Win. Leppe made settlement in 1868, and in 1869 Chris. Thomasand Jacob Thomas, John Westerhoff, and C. C. Davis; also Chas. Ruchiassel made settlement just at the edge of the plain on the west side of the precinct; also Henry Petrie and John Olwiler.

The first school was organized in 1869, with Wolsey Wyant, L. Leibrock, and Conrad Grant as school officers. They erected a schoolhouse on section 28, and Thos. Cowen taught the first term. The second school-house was built in 1878, in district No. 32, and Mrs. J. P. Loose, then Miss Kate Miller, taught the first term. The stone church, of which we give elsewhere a history, was built under the pastorate of Rev. Theo. Gruber, in 1872, valued at $3,000. The Lutheran society laid out a cemetery in 1868, on the farm of Mr. Leibrock. July 14, 1869, the two sons of Conrad Grant were killed by lightning, and these were the first deaths in the precinct.

Charles Grant was the first child born in the settlement, in 1868.

The Midland railroad was built through the precinct in 1873, and Germantown was laid into lots in 1874, by Hiland Frazier. F. Bick opened the first store. John Westerhoff was appointed postmaster. Charles Howland opened the second store in 1878. The first frame house was built in the precinct by Conrad Grant, in 1870. The precinct now has 1,095 inhabitants and 155 farms, with seven schoolhouses, all frame.

The village of Germantown now has near two hundred inhabitants, They have just erected a fine two-story school-house. They have two large grain elevators, two general stores, one drug store, a blacksmith shop, and numerous good dwellings. The town is in a prosperous condition. Tbe precinct has near seven miles of railroad track.

The north fork of Middle creek cuts it in two unequal parts, and the south branch cuts the south-east corner.

These streams furnish ample water supply and drainage. The north-western portion is a wavy plain, and is well adapted for farming purposes; and also the valleys are very rich, producing corn and grass to perfection. The eastern portion is somewhat broken, and is well adapted for stock growing. The creeks are bright and pure water, and the banks are lined with a growth of young timber, adding a charm to the scenery.

This precinct has but two and one-half miles of railroad, but has a station at Pleasant Dale. The eastern part is only twelve miles distant from the capital, and the western part is in close proximity to Seward and Milford. They have four schools, with good frame buildings. The population is 690, with 131 farms.

Deloss Brown and old Mr. Bird, now deceased, were the first settlers of whom we have record. They each settled as early as 1863, on the south branch of Middle creek. Joseph Forest settled in 1864, and James Iler about the same time; also one or two others. Abram Courtright settled on the farm near the railroad, where the stone house stands, in 1866.

"J" PRECINCT.

A Mr. Horton, Daniel Morgan, and his two sons, Louis and Thomas, were the first to make permanent settlement near where Ruby station now stands. They claim to have located in 1858, but of the correctness of this there is doubt. Evidently they were the first that made permanent homes on the North Blue in this county. Job T. Reynolds, J. C. Neihardt, Thomas L. Rogers, and Samuel Long settled in 1888. Mr. Rogers and wife have been dead many years. Mr. Long died in the early part of last year.

Blue river runs centrally through the precinct, and furnishes excellent water-powers, but there are none of them improved at this time.

According to the census reports there are 776 inhabitants, with 149 farms. They have no village, but a railroad station with a store, two elevators, and a post-office, Ruby. They have six miles of railroad and five good school-houses. They have excellent land and good farms, and are very handy to the city. They rank third in number of farms in the county. An excellent precinct with many advantages, although no thriving village. It seems impracticable to make a town in a precinct that nearly reaches both the city and Milford, and where thirty minutes drive will reach either of them.

"K" PRECINCT.

This beautiful township has 130 farms, 672 population, six miles of railroad, and one station (Goehner). It has five school-houses, with the same number of schools, all in a prosperous condition.

This precinct is nearly all level laud, and it has many of our most beautiful and valuable farms. There is but very little running water within its borders.

Goehner, its station, was platted in the fall of 1887, upon the completion of the railroad, and now it contains several business houses and several dwellings, including a depot, elevator, two general stores, two grocery stores, one hardware, and one drug store.

Abram Windsor built the first house in the precinct, in the spring of 1869. Wm., George, and Alfred Livesey made settlement the following summer. L. Allison, Martin and Edward Jensen, S. S. H. Williams, Martin Madson, C. Tunecliff, and Peter Ogleeby made settlement in 1870; also some others whose names we have failed to obtain.

The progress of "K" precinct has been rapid, both in settlement and improvement. There are many very fine farm houses and good substantial barns; many excellent orchards, and over a hundred fine groves of planted timber.

This precinct can boast of the only regular cheese dairy in the county. Jerome Aldrich, near Goehner, has in successful operation a cheese dairy, in which he made and sold forty thousand pounds of excellent cheese during 1887, and he proposes to enlarge the capacity to 140,000 pounds in the near future. Mr. Aldrich finds a ready sale for his product, which is accounted number one among the dealers.

"L" PRECINCT.

Town ten, range one east, was first settled by John E. Fouse, at the crossing of Beaver creek, in 1862, where he opened a ranch on the old freight road. Mr. Fouse lived here many years in a sort of a rough-and-tumble way, trading with travelers and Indians. The writer was at his place in 1864, and at the time the ranch was kept in an immense dug-out on the bank of the creek. There were a great many tough stories told in connection with this ranch in the pioneer days, but we will not reiterate them, as we are hardly able to vouch for their truthfulness. Mr. Fouse was a peculiar character, and his place became somewhat famous for the many tragic events there enacted. Whiskey was an important article of trade at the ranch.

Thos. Tisdale opened his little store and the post-office in 1869, and a Mr. Donovan also settled in the neighborhood about the same time. The real substantial settlement began in 1870, when the prairies began to be homesteaded. Thomas Foster built the first frame house in April. His mother, Widow Foster, and family, and F. M. Horton made settlement shortly afterwards. In 1871 there were great numbers who made settlement. The first school of which we can learn was taught by John Turner, on what is known as the Norman Cauler farm, in the summer of 1873. While "L" is one of our foremost farming precincts, it has no railroad and no village within its borders, but is happily situated convenient to four stations on two different railroads, and has a choice of markets within an hour’s drive from any point. The south-western portion is somewhat rough, but the lands are good. The other and larger portion is as fine farming land as can be found anywhere. It contains 139 farms and 848 people, with five schools. The precinct has the choice of Utica, Tamora, Goehner, and Beaver Crossing for market places, and the farthest farm from a station does not exceed six miles.

"M" PRECINCT

Is the south-western geographical township of the county. Daniel Millspaw settled in 1862, just west of Beaver Crossing, on what is now J. W. Thompson’s land, and opened a ranch. In 1888 John Leonard made settlement a short distance further west. In 1865 a Mr. Buzzard settled north-east of town, and Mr. G. Clark and Columbus Clark settled just to the southeast of Ross Nichols’ farm, and about the same time Isaiah and Phillip Michael located on the Migatt farm, east of town. Ross Nichols came in 1869, and located on the present town site, and had a small portion of his land surveyed into a town site in 1871, its first name being Nicholsville. Smith and Ingalls opened a store, and. Mr. Smith built the flouring mill the same season. Thomas Tisdale had a little store at John E. Fouse's ranch, and was postmaster, and the store and post-office were moved to the town in the fall of 1871. They had a weekly, or weakly,mail carried on horseback.

Beaver Crossing was a rather dull and sleepy cross-roads trading point, where a few families have resided—two little stores, a blacksmith shop, a small hotel, and a doctor’s office, with the grist-mill, and so it remained until the spring of 1887, when the building of the F., E. & M. V. R. B. was assured, then it awoke to a new life, and now all is vigor and activity. Beaver Crossing now supports a newspaper, The Bugle, a bank, presided over by T. E. Sanders, eight or more mercantile houses, and some pretty good ones, two large elevators, two lumber yards, two smith shops, a hotel, and two livery barns, and is growing in earnest, bidding fair to become one of the important towns of the county. A church and school-house adorn the place.

"M" precinct is abundantly supplied with water-courses, and the drainage is most thorough. The West Blue and its tributaries, Johnson creek, Indian creek, and the Beaver, furnish ample water and drainage. There is quite an amount of natural timber along these streams. The south-western portion of the precinct is a broad plain, and contains very many beautiful farms. The northern portion is somewhat broken. The population is 760, and there are 91 farms,. according to the last census, but the population has increased greatly within the last year. There are six school-houses, each good frame buildings. The precinct, so long isolated and kept back by circumstances will now take a forward step, and become from this time one of our most important possessions. The precinct baa seven miles of railroad. The new town of Hunkins, named for Benj. Hunkins, is situate near the extreme south-west corner of the county in the midst of a splendid farming country, and will be an important shipping point.

"N" PRECINCT,

Part of the old historic ground of the county, is largely noticed in the valuable and instructive letter of Mr. Johnson, but there are some points that should be mentioned.

This precinct at an early day was part of Walnut Creek precinct. W. J. Thompson was the first to settle and open a ranch on Walnut creek, in the fall of 1862. The Johnson family came in 1864, also David Barton and Samuel Englehoupt; and in 1865 the Campbells, the Wilsons, and McCrackens; and in 1869 and 1870 large numbers came—Irwin Stall, George Foster, S. C. Tremper, J. D. Blackburn, the Richardson family, and many others. The first school was taught by Miss Agnes Baily, now Mrs. C. West, at the schoolhouse on David Bartin’s farm in 1863, in what is district No. 3. The precinct has no village or poet-office at present, but in the early days it had one at Walnut creek, called Welden, with S. G. Keen as postmaster, and at a later date one at Pittsburg. There was a town surveyed at Pittsburg in 1873, by Chris Lezenby, where a peat deposit had been discovered, which for a time was thought to be of great importance, but its life was ephemeral.

"N" precinct is well situated so far as markets are concerned. The southern portion is very near and handy to Friend and Dorchester, the eastern part to Milford, the western portion to Beaver Crossing, and the northern portion is within easy reach of Goehner, and it is only from tell to twelve miles to the county seat.

The 1885 census gives the precinct 748 inhabitants and 184 farms, with five frame school-houses. There is splendid water-power, but as yet it remains unimproved. There are great numbers of very superior farms and orchards.

"O" TOWN

Is happily situated, so that it takes in a long stretch of our two largest streams. The North Blue cuts the north-east corner, and the South Blue cuts the south-west corner, each stream furnishing very superior water-powers of immense capacity, and they are improved at Milford and at West’s mills, yet there is ample room for more extended improvement. Had a population of 1,462 at the last census, and 146 farms, with fifteen manufacturing establishments. Has three post-offices, two flouring mills, at present only two miles of railroad, but has the track graded for about three miles additional on the Crete line down the valley. Has five schools, including one graded school, each with a good building. There are many very beautiful and tastefully arranged farms, with good buildings and orchards.

The historic town of Milford is its principal place of trade. Milford was one of the first settled portions of the county, and was for many years the leading town of the county. Held the county seat from 1867 to the fall of 1871, and was the only town in fact until the summer of 1868. Was established as a ranch and trading point in 1864. Built the bridge in the spring of 1866, and the first mill the following summer. Now has a population of near 800 souls, a central trading point with many mercantile houses; a station on the A. & N. division of the B. & M., with two very large elevators. The largest flouring mill in the state, with elevator attached, with a capacity of ninety-five thousand bushels of wheat, several fine brick blocks, the sanitarium, and the assurance of the State Industrial Home. Milford has become noted for a pleasant summer resort for tourists, where parties can fish, bathe, or take pleasure rides on the great pond, or ramble to their heart’s content in the beautiful groves. Hotel accommodations are good. The surrounding scenery is very pleasant to look upon. The village is situated on a commanding hill, where the eye can feast on the beauteous landscape either northward or southward. There are very many pleasant and commodious dwellings, with several very tastefully built churches, a commodious graded school-house; maintains two banks, and many shops of different kinds, among which are two large livery barns and several implement houses. We can see many reasons why Milford should, in years to come, be a very important town, and enjoy wonderful prosperity. If she will grasp the opportunities that present themselves, she will become a fine city ere another decade.

"P" TOWN

Is old historic ground. Camden neighborhood was one among the earliest settlements. J. L. Davison located a ranch one mile west of the old bridge in 1862, and A. J. Wallingford opened one at the bridge shortly afterwards. James Johnson settled near the bridge in the spring of 1863, and also old Mr. Bingaman. The great freight trains and thousands of movers across the plains made Camden bridge a noted place, as it was a favorite camping ground. Gen. Vifquain lived just across the county line; also Mr. Stanton and James West lived a couple of miles or so west of Camden. It was a common sight to see a hundred camps in the vicinity of the bridge. All classes of people were among the throngs of passengers, some very rich and some miserably poor. They were with all sorts of vehicles , with gilded carriages, with finely caparisoned horses, and others with an ox and a cow yoked together, with old rickety wagons; sometimes from thirty to sixty great freight wagons, with six yokes of steers to each, loaded with meat, flour, machinery, and merchandise; great droves of cattle, and once we saw an immense drove of turkeys, several thousand, wending their way to the mountains. Some of these pilgrims were of the best of people and some were of the worst. Many of them were refugees from Missouri, fleeing from the wrath that their crimes had engendered in the bloody work of that state in the early years of the war. Some of these fellows were blood-thirsty and vicious in the extreme. All classes of men carried weapons for defensive and offensive purposes, and occasionally fearful crimes were committed. Grain and hay were in great demand and brought extremely high prices. We have known corn to sell at $2.50 per bushel, and hay to bring six cents per pound. The traffic on the road was immense, and continued to increase in volume until the U. P. railroad reached Grand Island. Then this business all ceased.

H. W. Parker and Ford Roper, of Beatrice, commenced The erection of the Camden mills and founded the village of Camden in 1866. For a time Camden seemed to be a very important point, and bid fair to be the great city of this valley, but the change in the route of the main line of the B. & M. railroad changed the whole face of matters, and killed Camden as dead as a mackerel. Mr. Parker did much to build Camden, and his mill was of incalculable benefit to the early settlers.

At the old bridge was the first post-office of the county established,, and for several years Camden was the distributing point for a vast area of country. James Johnson was the first postmaster. Wm. Buchanan was the first regular merchant of the county. Thomas Graham taught Camden’s first school in the winter of 1866 and 1867.

"P" precinct has much rough land, and consequently has fallen behind many other precincts in population. The census gives her 536 population and ninety-three farms. The mill was sold to Lord Jones and moved off, and now one of the finest water-powers of our state lie. idle, but we trust that when the track is laid from Milford to Crete that that splendid power may attract attention. The precinct has six school-houses and one church edifice.

HISTORIC LETTER FROM THE PEN OF JAMES A. BROWN, FORMERLY
OF SEWARD, BUT NOW OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

Los ANGELES, CAL., Dec. 12, 1887.

W.W.Cox:

Dear Sir—Yours of Dec. 5th came to hand a few days ago. When I declined to write you a historical letter upon the early history of Seward county, I then hoped that you would not further insist upon my writing, as at present I have but little inclination in that way. But as you still insist that I must do it, I will attempt to record some of my first experiences connected with my making a home in Seward county. In February, 1866, as I was on my way from Leavenworth, Kan., to Denver, Colo., and while waiting at Fort Kearney for teams enough to get together to make a train large enough to defend ourselves from the Indians, who were very bad at that time, I became acquainted with Ramsey Grant, who lived on the south side of the Platte, opposite Columbus, and who was afterwards killed by the Indians. He described to me in glowing terms the country, to such an extent that I promised to visit him on my return from Denver, and take a look at his country. In the month of April, 1866, I came down and spent a few days with him, and spent the time in looking at the country. While there I heard that a settlement had been started on the Blue River to the south of them, and that there was considerable timber there, which was a main consideration, as the soil was good everywhere in the country. I resolved to go and see it, and when I saw it considered it good, and resolved to remain and help develop it.

I found in the north half of the county the following families, at the time of my visit: David Imlay, Sen., and two unmarried sons and a daughter, and being a bachelor, I "corralled" the daughter, and whether it was for my everlasting happiness or eternal misery is none of your business; Wm. Imlay W. W. Cox, R. T. Gale, K L. Clark, Sen., Thomas Dunaway and Mother, Richard Sampson, Lewis Moffitt, J. N. Roberts, Thomas Skillman, John Durland, and F. E. Pitt. A number of other families came in that spring, among whom were the Hagemans, K L. Ellis, John Roberts, Sen., J. C. Sampson; and in the fall a few more families arrived—Roger Cooper, Wm. Cooper, E. B. Shafer, and Geo. W. Rogers. There were also a few people at the Oak Groves, among whom were J. D. Main, Mr. John A. Scott, and a few others, I think, but am not positive about it, as I did not become acquainted over there the first year. After that year it would be difficult to keep track of all that came.

In April, 1867, the river was higher than I ever saw it afterwards, caused by the heavy snows of the previous winter, which was the coldest winter that I ever saw there or anywhere else. In fact it was terrible, and as the people bad poor houses, I was glad there were no more of them at the time. In 1867 there was a good crop of wheat and some corn and vegetables, but the grasshoppers got most of the corn. With the experience of the winter before, and with the time to prepare for it, the people were in better condition for the next winter, which being a mild one in comparison with the preceding one, but little suffering was experienced.

In the summer of 1868 the first buildings were erected on the town site of Seward. I think there were five that year, and on the Fourth of July a few of the people congregated on the public square and elevated a pole that was used as a flag staff for a number of years. Yearly additions were made to the town by buildings and people, till at present it has become as fine an inland town as can be found in Nebraska, Lincoln excepted. As I notice that you have described the county seat troubles I will not mention them.

In August, 1869, Mr. S. G. Mathewas and T. L. Norval first made a visit to Seward. At that time "Op," now the honorable judge of the sixth judicial district of Nebraska, looked like a school boy just out of school, but since that time he has acquired enormous proportion.. The Norval Bros. were among the first attorneys who located in Seward, though F. M. Elsworth was there about a year before, but we had but little use for lawyers, as it took all we could make to feed ourselves, and as to clothing, we will not mention the "old rags" that we covered our nakedness with, for we were truly what the people of Colorado called the Nebraskans when meeting them on the plains, "ragged Nebraskans." In fact the name was applicable to us for a number of years after I went there, and I do not think I should feel at home in Nebraska now unless I could be allowed to let my rags float in the breezes as of yore.

I omitted to chronicle the advent of H. L. Boyes and family in the fall of 1867, who started a saw-mill, I think in the following summer, which was a great convenience to the people in getting lumber to make themselves and stock more comfortable. Said saw-mill afterwards gave place to a flouring mill, which enabled the people to feed themselves better. All the people owe Father Boyes a debt of gratitude for first providing them with means to erect houses and then with bread, and may he and his estimable lady long live to sit upon their porch and listen to the whir of the old mill wheel, and enjoy the society of their hosts of friends. While the people had grasshoppers to contend with, Mr. Boyes had the Blue river to watch during freshets. His first grist-mill was so ruined as to be comparatively worthless, but the old man had the "sand" in his crop, and went to work with energy and rebuilt the structure, which he has again replaced with the present splendid structure to take the place of the old saw-mill. In the freshets above mentioned the people were frequently put to straits by the bridges on the streams washing out, when they would often have to travel many miles to cross the river, or swim it. A little cottonwood skiff that I made in the spring of 1867 aided a great many people to cross the river, which they otherwise could not have done.

Although we were all poor, and at times had hard work to make ourselves comfortable, yet I think we enjoyed ourselves as well as Claudius Jones does today with his fine houses and barns and premium Short-horns and untold treasures. This teaches us that wealth is not indispensable to happiness.

In the year 1874 the whole country west of the Missouri river suffered severely with drouth, which nearly annihilated the corn and vegetable crop, but the grasshoppers came in August and took what the drouth had not already destroyed, and unjustly the loss of the whole crop was charged to them.

Since 1876 the grasshoppers have not visited the state, and from that time Nebraska can date the dawning of her prosperity. With her fine soil, even if the climate is at times severe, it must soon rank as an agricultural state second to none. But as Hon. Geo. Geddes remarked some years ago, in a communication to the New York Tribune: "Any country that will produce grass will sustain a population," and Nebraska has become a better grass producing country, especially for the tame grasses, than the most sanguine dared hope

for fifteen years ago. With the surety of producing cheap food for stock, Nebraska must ever take rank among the first as a stock producing state, and the people of all stock countries may at least become independent.

I have written more than I first intended. I mean more words, but I fear that when you come to use the critic’s eye of a historian you will find but little that you can use in your book. I hope you will thus treat it for this is not intended for publication without such treatment, as I hardly know what to write, my not knowing what you have written, but if I have even furnished you with some ideas and expressions I shall be pleased.

I hope some day to visit Nebraska again, as, "with all her faults, I love her still," even if I do like the winters of Southern California better. With my best wishes for the success of your efforts, and for the future of that fair land and her prosperity,

I am yours,
JAMES A. BROWN.

LETTER FROM B. W. OLNEY, OF "A" TOWN.

December 18th, 1887.

W.W.Cox:

Dear Sir — John A. Scott located on his claim on section twenty, township twelve, range four east, in the spring of 1864, and John Owens settled on section twenty-eight in the summer of 1864. Asa Munn made settlement on section two in 1866; John Royce on section twenty-eight, J. D. Maine and J. D. Olney on section twenty-two, Warren Brown on section twenty-three. Royal Dart settled on section thirty-two in 1867; S. M. Darnall on section twenty-two, and John Darnall on section twelve, the same year.

The first school was taught by Miss Sarah A. Scott, on the Jack Royce place, in a log school-house, in 1867. Rev. George Clapp preached the first sermon in the old log school- house, in the same year. Rev. Robert Rowbottom organized the first church (M. E.) in 1875.

Until 1869 we had to go to Lincoln for our mail. At that time an office was established. G. B. Hardenburg was our first postmaster, and held his office in the old house of Milton Langdon, on section twenty-one. A steam saw-mill was established in 1868, by Kirkani and Hughes, and proved of great help to the people. Our mail was carried by a buckboard first, and later by a stage.

Our growth and progress have been slow but sure. Our growth has been steady. Quite a number of the first settlers have passed off the stage of action, among whom were Milton Langdon and wife, Mrs. Gillman Garland, David Hawkins, J. D. Maine and wife, and Simeon Munn.

This region has always been known as the Oak Groves, and it is quite historic ground. It is unlike any other portion of the county. The land is what we term rough or broken, has many quite deep canons, and each of these has a beautiful rippling brook of clear spring water. Excellent springs are numerous. When the settlement began in 1864, these caflons were all thickly set to oak timber. This timber was hauled to the salt works for fuel, and to the table-land for all purposes, and finally, when the capital was located at Lancaster (Lincoln), scores of teams were kept busy hauling wood, and before the cars had reached the new city, these fine groves were all, or nearly all destroyed. There was a vast amount of valuable timber all through this section of country, and it seems sad that it should have been so ruthlessly destroyed. Many of these hills are full of a very superior quality of limestone Many kilns of lime were burned, and the lime found a market at Lincoln, Seward, and throughout the farming region roundabout. While this is not deemed as desirable for farming purposes as the level plain to the westward, yet we have very many excellent firms in the valleys, and for stock purposes our advantages are unsurpassed.

We have three railroad stations within easy reach—Germantown, on the B. & M., Raymond, on the U. P., and "B," on the Northwestern.

Our soil is excellent, our water is of the very best, and abundant, and we generally have happy and comfortable homes. How we got our start of hogs was related by Mr. Cox, the author of this book. There was an old Missourian, we forget his name, wanted to get his hogs out of reach of the soldier boys in war time, so in about the spring of 1868, he drove forty or fifty shoats up to the Groves, moved his family along with them, and sojourned there while the war clouds hung heavily over Missouri. The hogs, like the family ran wild, and were rather more intractable, and when the old man found it convenient to move again the hogs were faring so well in the timber and tall weeds that they concluded not to move on uncertainties; they would rather stay, and they did stay. So the early settlers found the timber full of fat hogs, and they did not suffer for meat; and frequently an old sow with a fine litter of pigs was captured, and a start of hogs was secured.

LETTER FROM MRS. H. W. PARKER.

BEATRICE, Nov. 28, 1887.

Mr. W. W. Cox:

DEAR Sir and Friend - Mr. Parker received your letter, and being very much engaged in a public way, as city councilman, etc., and just on the eve of his departure for California on a visit, he has delegated me to answer yours.

I am truly interested in your letters of "Then and Now," and am very willing to contribute my remembrances if they will add interest to your work, but I have forgotten exact dates and have not the faculty of condensing and making brief my letters, so as to be suitable for publication, but I will do the best I can.

At one time (perhaps you remember), the Camden Mills was a popular resort for social and Christmas parties, dances and New Year’s gatherings, etc. One time at a large dance, when there were over a hundred and fifty people present, after the dance Major Strunk read a beautiful poem, after which he read a notice which a Methodist circuit preacher had handed me, giving notice that there would be preaching at the Mill two weeks from the following Sunday, and requesting as large a turn out as was there on the present occasion. The result was we had a large congregation, but it was hard to get a second audience, for in those days they came from ten miles distant and seemed to be attracted by amusement and recreation, rather than stale would-be preaching; but we were all interested in having good singing and enjoyed that part immensely. In those days there were no paid chorister or select singers, but all the audience joined whether they could sing or not. Ha! Ha!

The raising the mill, the washout, the high water, the losing of all our lumber, so that we bad to live in a dugout two years more, made a deep and feeling impression on my mind. Propping up the roof of our dugout with six or eight posts inside, to keep the roof from falling in, and burying us up with the wagon loads of sod and soil that formed the roof.

FLEAS.

For six mouths I know I suffered torture enough to atone for the sins of a life-time. Did I believe in eternal punishment I should say fleas had filled the bill.

The venison, elk, and antelope meat were pleasant attractions with our Indian friends, who camped one winter for about three months near Camden. The squaws used to come over and out wood for us. At one time I had two chopping wood at the door, and I had the papooses strapped on their boards and kept inside for me to watch. When they cried, the squaws would motion me to tilt the board, and the little fellows would go to sleep.

There were many little incidents of interest, but ‘twas so long ago that I cannot remember them well enough to fix them up in shape to put them into print. I forget their proper connections.

It was not me that Lawyer P. pulled the bed clothes from, but my hired girl, Miss Anna Bingaman, now Mrs. Dan Harris. I had not yet retired, but I was terribly frightened that night, and I have bad a dislike for some of those folks ever since.

Fordyce Roper and my husband (Hiram W. Parker) built the first saw and grist-mill in the county, in 1865 and 1866, at a cost of $16,000. High water delayed the completion of the grist-mill by washing out the darn and cutting out a perfect race around the mill, submerging their lumber yard, carrying down the river $2,000 worth of lumber. But with indomitable energy and will to overcome obstacles, such as losses and high prices of machinery, etc., the mill was finally completed and in successful operation, turning out good flour, which caused general rejoicing of all the settlers for many miles around, who had been compelled to go from fifty to sixty miles to mill. We had to board mill-wright, carpenters, and other hands more than a full year, instead of two or three months as we had expected, produce being extremely high. For potatoes we had to pay $8 per bushel, 40 cents for butter, and I remember we paid Uncle Billy Stanton 27 cents per pound for bacon; coffee, sugar, flour, and all other provisions in proportion. We paid the commonest carpenter $2 per day and board, and the mill-wright much more, and this was what swelled the expense of the mill. We paid $3 per day for our sawyer, $8 per week for kitchen girl, and we had no spacious mansion, our home being a dug-out. I do not remember the date they got to making flour. I know they had just succeeded in getting the three-story frame up the day before the ice went out of the river, which was in March, 1866. I know they felt safe, as the river was clear of ice, but the water kept rising for three days, which we could not account for, but when weeks had elapsed news reached Camden that there had been continuous rains on the heads of the river. This was explained too late for us to remedy the destruction of the property by the flood.

FROM THE PEN OF I. M. K. JOHNSON.

Thomas West and family, consisting of his wife, Catharine, and sons, Cornelius, Thomas, John, Charles, and James, and daughter, Isabella, settled at West Mills on the West Blue, in the spring of 1860. They had many hardships to endure in 1861; their log cabin, together with about all their worldly goods except a few cattle, were burned by the Indians, supposed to be Omahas disguised as Sioux. This was in the fall, and the family suffered great hardships during the following winter. The Indians were very troublesome, and stole much of Uncle Tommy’s crops of that year. With the exception of the families of Orin Johnson and James West, who lived near, there was no settlement nearer than Victor Vifquain, near the forks of the Blue, and the Morgans on the North Blue, from eight to ten miles distant.

Their place of trade was Nebraska City, eighty-two miles distant. Uncle Tommy started a supply store (this was in 1862, according to the best information attainable), and once a month sent a team for supplies of such goods as were in demand by frontiersmen. An invoice of a load of goods would read about as follows: Powder, two kegs; lead, from one to two hundred lbs.; percussion cape, from one to two hundred boxes; one bbl. whiskey, flour, bacon, one hundred lbs. tobacco, fifty or a hundred traps, and some miscellaneous articles. When roads were good a trip could be made in five days. Although the Indians committed many atrocities on the Platte and the Little Blue, and were very threatening, Uncle Tommy’s family never deserted their home nor abandoned it during the darkest hours, but in times of great danger guarded their stock and goods as best they could, and at last got on such good terms that they were able to do a thriving trade with the Indians. They buried their son John in 1862. This was a sad affliction. This was probably the first white person buried in the county. John was buried in what is now West Mills cemetery.

Mr. West built a saw-mill, and put in a small burr and ground corn as early as the summer of 1864.

He is remembered by all the old settlers as a genial, kind-hearted man. The latch string of his cabin door was always out, and no one in want ever called on him in vain. By his energy a post-office was established in 1866 at the mill and store. He was elected county clerk at the first organization in 1866. He died in 1879, and was buried beside his son, being followed to the grave by all his old neigh. hors as mourners of one they had known to love and respect. His widow followed him to the tomb in the winter of 1886. These dear old people have gone to the better world, leaving very many sad hearts at their departure. Uncle Tommy acted well his part in the development of this new laud, and for the many acts of kindness shown he will ever be remembered by all the earlier settlers.

(The author of this little book has a very warm place in his heart for the memory of the kind old people.)

Uncle Tommy and family came from Maryland to Missouri, thence to Nebraska. They started for California to seek gold, but became disgusted with the company that they started with, and left it, and made their home in this wilderness. His son Charles lives now on the old farm, and James and Thomas live within a mile. Isabella, now Mrs. Orin Johnson, still lives on a homestead which her husband settled upon in 1861. Her husband went to Oregon many years ago, and has not been heard from since he left, and it is supposed that he is dead. Cornelius lives in Missouri. Orin Johnson’s family lost several children in an early day—1867—with the measles. Only two of the children yet live, and they, Fanny and Ida, are living with their mother. There was no doctor nearer than Salt Basin. A messenger was sent, and made the round trip, fifty-six miles, in eight hours, bringing back a Frenchman who claimed to be a doctor, and the people expected that he knew his business. He proved to be a fraud in all but his charges. All the children whom he doctored died.

In the years 1864 and 1865 settlers began to locate all along the West Blue valley. At that time the idea prevailed that the uplands were worthless for cultivation. It was thought that the showers only followed the valleys of the streams, and that the high prairies could not be made to produce grain. The early settlers on Salt creek used to say that it never rained twenty miles west of Salt creek.

William J. Clark moved to his homestead just below West’s mill in 1862. Mr. Clark came from New York state to Illinois, when Chicago was about the size of Seward. He run a fishing boat on the lake until he moved to Seward county. He had buried his wife at Chicago, and was accompanied to this county by his three daughters. Mr. Clark proved to be a thrifty and successful farmer. He raised a large amount of vegetables and supplied the travel on the great road. He was a model frontiersman. He had had the misfortune to have his right hand crippled, yet he could do and did about as much work as other men. Mr. Clark died in 1886, leaving quite a handsome property and some money in the bank for his daughters. He was highly respected by all his neighbors, and mourned by a host of friends.

Samuel Englehouft and wife (Amanda) and their five children, Ellen, Mary Anne, George, Daniel, and Albert, moved to this county in the spring of 1865. Alice, their younger daughter, was born here in 1866. Albert died in October, 1882. When they arrived in Seward county they had only a team and wagon, a few sacks of corn meal, and not a dollar in money. He bravely went to work and raised a patch of sod corn, and worked in Mr. West’s mill, and in a few years became well to do. He was very fond of hunting; was an excellent neighbor and well respected. He died September 16, 1886, and was buried in the cemetery bearing his own name, leaving his aged widow, who, with her son George, still lives, on the old homestead. The other children are all married and doing well. The family originally came from Pennsylvania to Manona, Illinois; from there to Yinton, Iowa, thence to Nebraska. It is said to the credit of the family that no one was ever permitted to leave their house hungry.

Jesse R. Johnson and wife, Rachel, with family, William P. and Clara B., came to their present home, two and a half miles above West’s mills, in 1864. Mr. Johnson came from Cincinnati in an early day to Illinois. At toe time they settled in Seward county, provisions were scarce and high in price, and times were very hard, but by great energy the family lived it through until brighter days dawned, and now they are the happy possessors of a goodly heritage, having a fine farm and a magnificent orchard that has been bearing fruit for many years. He was the first (we believe) to plant an orchard in the county. Fruit was a hobby with him, and he always insisted that this would prove to be a splendid fruit county. Others watched his success, and now this county compares very favorably with any portion of Nebraska or the West. Mr. J. served several terms as justice of the peace, and was the first elected in the south part of the county. He was a good hunter and trapper and his table never was without meat. The furs and pelts secured were a source of profit. Through his energy school district No. 8 was formed, and a log school-house, which still stands as a landmark, was built mostly by himself. This old school-house stands on the farm of David Barton. His daughter Clara is now Mrs. A. C. Smith, and lives in the same neighborhood.

James West, brother of Thomas West, and his wife, Margaret, settled on a nice farm in the vicinity of his brother’s farm in the spring of 1860. They then had two daughters, Elisa and Kate. Alexander, their oldest son, was born November 7, 1860, and was the first white child born in the county. Alexander continued his residence in the county until the fall of 1887, or about twenty-seven years. The father and all the family, consisting at present of eight children, moved to Kansas, whither they were followed by the kindly wishes of all the neighbors. Mr. West was a very generous man, and any weary stranger found a hearty welcome under his roof. The family had their full share of privations and hardships of a frontier life.

David Barton moved to the neighborhood in the spring of 1864; was, and still is, a bachelor, but built a log house on his homestead; came with but a pittance, and has been remarkably successful; is now the owner of a large estate, and is at this time the heaviest taxpayer of "N" precinct. Mr. Barton came from England, in 1868, almost a penniless lad, and by his industry and careful management he has acquired a handsome fortune, although a generous man. Young men may take pattern of him. Mr. B. has no relative in this county.

Israel M. K. Johnson, son of Jesse R. Johnson, followed his parents to the new home in July, 1866, and took a homestead. He had just returned from the army, where be bad served three years; first in Company K, 188th Ills. Vol., and afterwards in Company E, 34th Ills. Israel was fond of hunting and trapping, and in company with the West boys he frequently made lung tripe to the Little Blue, in Kansas, and to the Platte, and once as far as the Dismal river, where be had a close call for his scalp. As he had been through the war, he had become somewhat reckless. He often guided trains to Denver, was a success as a buffalo hunter, and never returned from the chase empty-handed. At this time they were plentiful some distance westward, but only occasionally one would appear within fifteen or twenty miles. Thomas West, Jr., killed the last one ever killed in Seward county, in 1866. Elk, deer, antelope, and wild turkeys were plentiful, and were frequently killed. "Id," as they called him, was a great bunter; his rifle or revolver was never out of reach. He thought that a man that could not take horse, gun, and blanket, and rough it for three or four weeks at a time, had no business so far west as Seward county. At one time he and Mr. McFadden had their wagon wheel and harness burned by prairie fire while a hundred miles from home on a hunt, south of Kearney, and they came home with a rawhide harness and a pole under the wagon axle, It was a hard looking outfit, but they were glad to reach home even in this sorry plight, as it was at the time of the Indian massacre on the Platte. They had a bard fight with the Sioux, and if it had not been for timely assistance from Buffalo Bill (Hon. Wm. Cody) and his Pawnees, the Indians would have taken their scalps. They helped to bury two men, a woman, and a child that the Indians had murdered, just below Martin’s ranch, on the Platte. Travel on the great roads was about suspended, on account of the Indian troubles.

Rev. L. Oliver, a Methodist minister, settled near West’s mill in 1869. He bad a large family. His wife died in 1871, and he in 1874. He was one of the pioneer ministers of the south part of the county. Mr. Oliver was a good man, and did much in moulding the moral and religious sentiment of the community. We are sorry that we can give so little of his history.

Abner M. Richardson came from Iowa in June, 1869, and made his home in the south part of the county. His wife (Maria) died Sept. 19, 1886. They had lost their son Benjamin with small-pox in February, 1879. Mr. Richardson still lives on the old homestead with his children, John, Emeline, and Emarette. He is now eighty-three years old and very feeble. He has been a very industrious man. In his old age he suffers from rheumatism.

From 1867 to 1869 great numbers of homesteads were taken along the Blue. Alonzo Clark, with a large family, settled near Jesse L Johnson; also, a man by the name of Euland; and later, George Campbell and his brother Jacob, and Andrew Davenport, from Iowa. George Campbell was a blacksmith, and was of great help to the settlement, as before this we all had to go to Camden or to Louis Morgan’s, on the North Blue, ten miles away. We usually went to Morgan’s, as we could get the work the same day, and at Camden there were so many mules to shoe, and so many wagons to mend for travelers on the road, that we were compelled to remain over night or make the second strip. Mr. Campbell was just the man we wanted. From that time our community has prospered. We boast of no large towns or cities, but we have as beautiful homes as any part of the state, and enjoy many luxuries. We had in early days to struggle for food and clothing, and were often severely pinched, and bad it not been for Uncle Tommy West many of us would have been compelled to leave our homes. David Barton, W. J. Clark, Samuel Englehaupt, and my father did all that was possible to assist the people, and whether the settler had money or not, they were supplied so long as the supply lasted. Frequently corn meal was the principal diet.

Nearly all our first settlers were poor, and consequently times became very bard with them. We have known families to live a whole winter on corn meal and what rabbits they could kill with clubs. Salt was scarce, and we bad to make pilgrimages to the salt basins for our supplies. On one of these trips we first became acquainted with Mr. Cox, the author of this history, but in what year we have forgotten. We do not know if he recollects or not. Our first doctor, in any reasonable distance, was Dr. Band, of Milford. The Otoes and Omaha’s frequently brought their whole village of tents and would camp for weeks at a time near the mill, and run all the game out of the county, so that we would not be able to kill any for our use. We then, as now, thought the only "good Indian was a’ dead one." But for all that, we believe they were no worse thieves than the same number of whites under no more restraints.

What a change twenty-three years has brought! New-corners to Seward county can hardly realize the wonderful changes that have occurred in these years.

HAMPTON NEB., Nov. 27, 1887.

W. W. Cox, Esq., Seward, Neb.:

DEAR FRIEND—Your kind letter asking me to write a history of "B" precinct, in Seward county. Neb., was received several days ago. First. I did not move into that precinct until April, 1869, and there was considerable settlement there before that time. Second. I have forgotten the dates of a great many interesting events of early times. Yet, being always ready to assist a friend in any laudable enterprise, I will try to give you a few points and incidents which may assist you in your undertaking.

The precinct, as first organized, comprised township 12 in ranges 1 and 2, and the west half of range 3 east of the 6th principal meridian, being six miles wide by fifteen long, and was known as "Lincoln creek, or Plum creek, precinct." The first settlement was made along the Blue river, about 1864 or 1866, John and Thomas Shields, Robert McCrosson, and George Read being among, if not the first settlers. A few settlers also went up Lincoln creek, among the first of whom were Charles Shaffer, the Hornburgs, Jackmans, Ragans, Reynolds, and Hartmans. In 1870 I assessed this whole territory (6x15 miles) in about five days, and by going up Lincoln creek on one side and down the other, got all the inhabitants west of the Blue river. In 1868 the Hickmans (J. D., William, Joseph, J. W., and H. W.), T. J. Popre, John and Thomas Quillen, John and Peter Varner, and William Moore settled on the "divide" between the Blue and Plum creek, in what is now B precinct proper, and in 1869 F. M. Timblin, H. O. Dawley, Elias McClure, Amos Colman, William and Jesse Knight, E: H. Noxon, J. T. Davis, and James Read completed the settlement of government land on this divide (Shoestring prairie), while the Bates brothers, Amos Donaldson, Mike Dunigan, Esquire Batchelder, S. D. Love, Sabin Stanwood, and others settled the divide between Plum creek and Oak Grove.

The first school-house built in the precinct was a small sod house in the north-east corner of section 32, in the fall of 1869, and was built by the settlers, who, having no money, each did his share of breaking, hauling, and laying the sod, while some furnished poles and brush for the roof, others a door or window frame, or door or window, and each furnished seats and desks for the scholars he had to send to school. The house was built and seated in this way, but as yet there was no way provided to warm it. A stove must be had, but how? It was decided that those having timber should cut a load of cordwood, and those who had no timber of their own should go out onto section "37" and cut a load, and they would take it to Lincoln, sell it, and buy a stove. This plan was earned out, and in the latter part of November nine wagons loaded with cordwood wended their way to Lincoln through about eight inches of snow, and returned with a second-hand wood stove, and the first school-house in the precinct was ready for occupancy.

The first term of school was taught by F. M. Timblin, and was paid for by subscription. The house was small, poorly furnished and lighted, but I doubt very much if the people ever enjoyed themselves any better, spent their evenings more profitably, or formed ties of friendship which will be more true or lasting than when they met in the little old sod school-house.

The election which decided the county seat contest was held for this precinct in a house on the bill just east of the Blue river. The river happened to be very high at that time, and the only bridges were one at Seward and one at Ulysses. In order, therefore, to get the voters out, it was necessary to have a crossing near the place of voting. For this purpose ropes were procured and logs floated to a narrow place in the river, and a "drift" or "gorge" formed on each side of the stream, and connected by boards or poles laid from one to the other; and men stayed there all day to help the timid across, while wagons ran regularly between this "crossing" and the place of voting, thus taking voters to the polls and returning them to their own conveyances on the other side of the river. Elections in those days were fully as interesting and exciting as at present. At the election to vote bonds in aid of the Midland Pacific railroad every vote in B precinct was polled except five, and these five men were not in the precinct on that day. Men drove over the precinct with two or three men in a wagon, and when they found a man who was in favor of the bonds (and they all were, but had not time to go to election), some one of the party stayed and worked in his place while the balance took him to the polls, let him vote, and returned with him.

They called this "working for the railroad," but they never got any pay for it, except the benefits derived from the building of the road.

The foregoing may assist you some in your work, and I might have added that it was in the sod school-house that the Hon. T. Y. Darnell made his maiden speech. If there is anything further, please let me know, and I will do what I can to accommodate you.

Yours respectfully,
F. M. Timblin.

HISTORIC LETTER FROM THE PEN OF MRS. SARAH F. ANDERSON.

At the time of the great Indian scare of 1884, my father’s family was one of the families which the Nebraska City people heard were killed. It had been rumored throughout the little settlement that there were bands of hostile Indians approaching, that they were committing great depredations wherever they went.

On Sunday morning my uncle and Thomas Shields started down the river on a scouting expedition. After an all-day search, just at night-fall they came suddenly upon an Indian camp. The men thought their time had come, but the red-skins were equally scared. There was no chance to back out, and they resolved to know whether the Indians were friendly or hostile. As they bravely approached the camp, the Indians began to halloo, "Heap good Omaha." The men then concluded to camp over night with them, and they partook of a square Indian supper. The next morning they went home satisfied that there were no hostiles in the country.

A day or two after this my father (Mr. Wm. Imlay) and his brothers were on upper Plum creek, haying, when Grandfather Imlay became frightened and hastened over to our house and said the Indians were coming upon the settlement. He then hastened home to protect his family. About 8 P.M. we saw a drove of them approaching. They were about where the B. & M. depot now stands. We were living about eighty rods above the present iron bridge. My mother, thinking to escape them, looked the cabin door, and took all the children across the creek to the spring where she kept her milk.

To kill time she commenced churning. Very soon four Indians (great, big, ugly creatures) came riding up to the spring, and told mother that she was wanted over at the house. She said, "No, I can’t go. I am at work;" but they insisted in such a menacing manner that she felt obliged to yield and go. They said "Come, come," in a most determined manner. The children all clinging to her, she started, and those great, sneaking braves guarded her by one riding on each side, one before, and one behind. Poor mother and we four children had a slim show to escape. They watched our every movement, step by step. When we reached the cabin, there sat sixteen burly Indians in a circle around the door. When we came up, they all arose and saluted mother, then sat down again. They had a young Indian interpreter. As they thought they had the family all thoroughly frightened, the young Indian began in good shape to tell just what they wanted. They would like to have two cows, two sacks of flour, and some meat. Mother saw that she must guard the provisions with desperation, as they had cost such great effort, having hauled our provisions from the Missouri river. The Indians said "the Sioux are coming and will take all anyway, and we want some." "No," said mother, "we will take our cattle and provisions and go to Plattsmouth." "But," said the Indian, "they will be here tonight and you can’t get away." Mother at this point began to get as much angry as frightened. "I will not give you anything. You are lying to me. If the Sioux were so dose, you would all be running yourselves." At this point another brave, who had been pacing the yard, seeing mother grow so warm, picked up our axe and marched straight up to her, and threw it down at her feet. She picked it up and stood it beside her. Mother said afterward that her every hair stood on end, but knowing that Indians respect bravery, she resolved to show no cowardice. We could all see that the whole river bend was swarming with Indiana. Mother said, with emphasis, "I now want you to take your Indians and begone at once." Then they said, "You are a brave squaw," and the old chief motioned to his braves and they all marched off to camp. The next day our family all went over to Plum creek and remained until things became settled.

The following winter father was at Omaha attending the legislature; and I am sure that over a thousand Indians passed our place during the winter. It required pluck to withstand the thievish beg.. gars. Sometimes they would sneak up and peep in at the window. Then others would beg for hours to get into the house.

A great amount of snow had fallen, and shortly after father’s return home a heavy winter rain inundated The author of the above sketch was born in Wabash county, Indiana, August 20, 1864. In 1856 her father moved to Harrison county, Iowa, and in 1858 to Case county, Neb, and in the spring of 1863 to Salt Basin, and to his present home In April, 1864; and there on the frontier Miss Sarah grew to womanhood. She taught two terms of school in 1872, in her home district. At nineteen was married to Allen S. Anderson, one of the soldier boys that made Seward county his borne after the war. Mr. Anderson enlisted in company D, 206th Penn. volunteers, and served during the war. To Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have been born four children, all girls, viz.: Jessie, Nellie, Adie M., and a young babe, Mary J. The family now have a beautiful home, only about a mile from the scenes of her childhood which she has so ably depicted.