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Dugout Ruins Near Niobrara River. Photo 1889.  Butcher Collection in Nebraska Historical  Museum.

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Reaching the place I told them to go over first. Then I said to them that the devil got into men's minds very suddenly at times, that I might be half way over and that he might put it into their minds just to shoot a bullet into my body knocking me into the current, that it would carry me down some place under the ice and I might never be found. They went over first as requested. Once over they said, "Take this path winding among the willows about one-half mile, then follow the directions given and you will be 0. K." "Now", I said, "Boys, I object to that too, let one of you go ahead and I will follow," to which they consented.

One of them, a young man about twenty years old, took the path and I followed. When through the willows I persuaded him to go farther with me and on a hill before we separated I prayed to God for him and he consented to quit the "Pony business". I went on. He returned.

Valentine and Colonel Wesley Tucker.

The following spring I visited Valentine and had the people gather at a private home. In addressing the assembly, I remarked that I had come to the place to help start a Sunday school before a graveyard was started. At that remark Colonel J. Wesley Tucker arose and said, "Elder, you came too late," stating that already there were planted on a little hill nearby, eighteen persons who died with their "boots on", sixteen men, one woman and one little girl of twelve years. I found out that the sixteen men were sixteen of the "Pony-Boys" whom at Carns I had told "to quit or to get". They had been killed. The woman was a poor prostitute young person who was killed in a saloon, and the little girl was shot as she sat in the window of her father's house by some reckless man.

Ten years afterwards at the close of a meeting which I held near the Cheyenne Indian Reservation in Montana, a

man came to me and said that he was the "Pony-Boy" whom I prayed for on the hill at Carns and he had done as I advised him "quit".

It was my privilege in after years to revisit Carns, and for the plac -- -then a village -- organized a Sunday school for a grateful people.

Tar and Feathers to Christmas Tree.

I would be pleased to write an account of many Sunday schools which by Divine help, I planted on the front and in isolated communities, however, I cannot desist in relating one more, viz., the Emerick Union Sunday school in Madison county, Nebraska.

This settlement in its early beginning was supplied with two young unmarried ministers, following one after the other, who, by unwise conduct, so incensed the inhabitants that they declared, that a coat of "Tar and Feathers" would be given to the next minister or Christian agent that might enter the neighborhood. The threat was heralded widely. It was told me by many persons that it was not advisable to undertake to do anything for the community, but the time came that I felt impressed that it was my duty to make an effort at least. Thus late in October, 1881, on foot, I made my way thither. Upon reaching a point from whence I could look over the two valleys which embraced the settlement, I counted thirty houses. On my knees I prayed to God that the Holy Spirit, in the name of Jesus, might fully direct me for the task. I had no fear of receiving the coat of "Tar and Feathers" threatened; but just how to reconcile the people and to accomplish something beneficial and of eternal good for them, I left it with God.

It was near sundown when I selected a plain home 16'x24' in dimensions at which first to call. It proved to be the home of Mr. James Switzer. Reaching the house I knocked at the door, Mrs. Switzer answered. Before entering I told her my name and my mission, she replied that it was best for me, at once to retrace my steps, she believing that the neighbors might do violence to me. In

answer, I told her that I was very tired and that it was late and I was hungry. She then said for me to come in and she would give me something to eat.

Chaplain Frady Feeds the Hogs.

I remember the menu, from the barrel in the corner by the stove she brought forth a saucer of sauerkraut and from the cupboard a chunk of cold cornbread. I ate the same, then she insisted that I had better go. I noticed that she was about to go to milk the cows. Then I quickly took one pail and went along and milked two of the cows, then hearing the pigs squealing I carried the slop to them. By that time it was dark. I saw plainly that she did not know just what turn to take to get rid of me. She finally said that the house was small and she had only one bed in the room, that her children had to sleep in the garret and that she had no convenience for me. I told her just to give me a cover of some kind and I would go out and sleep with the dog on the haystack.

She told me that her husband had gone to Madison and would be back she thought about ten o'clock. To amuse the children I told many a story. Finally I sang some old familiar songs to which she said, 'I wish that Mr. Switzer was home, that he liked to sing so well." At last I had found the key to the situation. The clock struck ten, the dog gave one yelp and down the road he went. The children said "Papa is coming". I told Elmer, a lad of about twelve years of age, that we would go out and unhitch the team and let his father come in the house at once. Doing so, I unhitched one horse in a jiffy and then told the boy to take the team to the stable. I followed Mr. Switzer into the house, immediately, before his wife could inform him as to who I was and my business.

Old Time Songs Win Favor With Pioneer.

I talked so rapidly to him about things in general and about Pennsylvania, from which he emigrated, that his wife had no chance to get a word in edgeways. She got his supper ready and he "sat in" (as we say on the front) and as he had his mouth full and his ears open, I began to

sing, he squared his chair around and said, "Gosh, that's fine". I handed him a copy of the "Gospel Hymns"; song after song we sang, quitting long after midnight then, he asked, "Who are you?" I told him and he said it was then too late for me to go. Mrs. Switzer went up in the garret and slept with the children and I snoozed with Mr. Switzer. In the morning, he suggested that I return from the neighborhood, but I told him if he and his good wife would allow me to return to their home at eventide that I would call upon his neighbors. They consented, provided I would assume my own risk.

It was enough said, I visited different homes from day to day for two weeks, went away to my appointments on intervening Sundays. I helped the men husk corn, chopped wood for the women, spoke words of cheer to the sick, and took down the names of every person, old or young, in the community, but kept out of the houses only when the men were present. I announced a meeting for the second Sunday. When the hour for service arrived Mr. Switzer and two of his children were all that came. Then he said it was no use to go further with the effort for the place, but I told him that I would try two weeks more, which I did. At the appointed hour for the second meeting Mr. Switzer came and seven children but no adults. To my appeal, Mr. Switzer agreed to take charge of the Sunday school as superintendent and teacher.

Christmas in Emerick.

I supplied the school in full and told him to advertise at once. "A great time for the coming Christmas", that I would look after presents for the people, that he was to get as large a Christmas tree as would go in the schoolhouse, to which he agreed.

I had the name of every individual in the settlement and their respective ages. The list of names I sent to a

Emerick precinct and post office in western Madison county are directly south of the present town of Tilden, where the editor conducted his first newspaper venture in 1884-86. The population of Emerick was largely foreign, but industrious and hospitable to a marked degree. My newspaper circulated in Emerick precinct and many warm friendships there are still cherished.

© 2004 for the NEGenWeb Project by Ted & Carole Miller