The passage of what was known as the Kansas and Nebraska bill May 30, 1854, providing for the organization of those territories, attracted the attention of the people very generally of the North and South, and many were ready to remove to those sections of the country. I had long had the intention of finding some point in the northwest for settlement, and in the spring of 1854 had taken a trip to Nebraska in view of spying out the land. I was so well pleased with the appearance of the country that I determined to locate in Omaha, which had then been laid out and planted in anticipation as the future capital city of Nebraska. In September of that year I arrived in the city of Council Bluffs, which was then the stopping place for all persons intending to locate in the central portion of Nebraska. I was accompanied by my wife. We found there at that time a number of persons who helped to lay the foundation of the territorial government. I recall the Hon. J. Sterling Morton and wife, Dr. George L. Miller and wife, A. J. Hanscom and wife, Samuel Rogers, Thomas B. Cuming and wife, Mrs. Murphy, and Frank Murphy, and others whom I can not now recall. All the gentlemen whom I have named, with the exception of Thomas B. Cuming, are now living, and all located in Omaha opposite Council Bluffs.
   President Franklin Pierce by proclamation opened the territory for settlement and appointed a set of officers. He selected Francis Burt of South Carolina for governor, and named Thomas B. Cuming of Keokuk, Iowa, to be secretary of state, and Mark W. Izard for United States marshal. Governor Burt started with a view of making the journey to, what was to be to him, his future land of promise, but he was

in poor health at the time, and as he journeyed toward Nebraska his health grew worse and became very much impaired while on a steamer from St. Louis to Bellevue. The steamer could go no farther than St. Joe, from which place he proceeded in a hack to Nebraska City and from there in a wagon to Bellevue. He was taken into the Old Mission House at that point and continued to grow worse, and he finally died there in a few days, never having assumed the duties of office as governor. By the organic law his death devolved the duties of the office of governor upon the secretary of the territory appointed, Thomas B. Cuming above named. The latter assumed the duties of the office of acting governor, and soon put the machinery of organization on foot, laying off the territory into counties and providing for the election of members of the legislature. President Pierce did not immediately fill the office of governor by another appointment, but finally did appoint Mark W. Izard, who was then U. S. marshal, who, being on the ground, immediately assumed the duties of the office. Governor Cuming had developed into an active, energetic, broad-minded governor, filled with new ideas of progress, while Governor Izard was of the reverse order, and it was a mystery to many people why he had ever been selected for the governorship. It was a general conclusion that the delegation from Arkansas felt under obligation to provide a place for him. The legislature elected under the proclamation of Governor Cuming met during the winter of 1854-55. I was unexpectedly called back east and was gone some weeks. While I was away the legislature had made provision for laying off the territory into a brigade, and had elected me brigadier-general to command the frontier and to struggle with the Indians. I did not give much thought to the subject at first, but thought I would undertake whatever duties might devolve from it. I found subsequently that it became a more serious subject than I had supposed.
   I had built a small house on the site of Omaha and on my return from the East occupied it. We had just about got settled in it when I noticed, one afternoon towards evening,

Governor Izard coming over towards it, and I said to my wife, "I wonder what is up now?" He called upon me and I soon found what his call was for. He said to me the couriers had just arrived, informing him that the Pawnee Indians were making a raid on the settlers along the Elkhorn river, stealing their stock and driving it away, and consequently the people were greatly alarmed and appealed to him for protection; and that he felt it his duty to call upon me to go at once to the Pawnee village and hold a council with the chiefs, with a view of inducing them to keep their Indians in subjection and not to meddle with the whites. Here was a development which I was not looking for. I had no familiarity with the Indians and had hardly ever seen them. Here was a call upon me which I could not escape. I had made up my mind not to shirk any duty, and taking a cheerful view, I determined to be of use to the settlers if it was in my power. There was nothing left for me then but to make preparation to visit the Pawnee village.
   The village of the Pawnees was on the south and west side of the Platte river, on a very high point a few miles this side of where the town of Fremont had just commenced a settlement. The Governor said to him that Mr. Allis, who had formerly been a missionary to the Pawnees and had been employed as interpreter for that tribe, was living in a little town on the east side of the Missouri river in Iowa, opposite Bellevue, and that he would send a messenger for him to come to Omaha at once and accompany me on the expedition, as it would be necessary to have his services as an interpreter, and I was very glad to have him associated with me. O. D. Richardson, who had settled in Omaha, having formerly been lieutenant-governor of Michigan, kindly volunteered to accompany me in this movement. I had decided also to take along John E. Allen, a brother-in-law. That made up the party of four. I had purchased a team for farming purposes and took that as the means of our conveyance. I, of course, could not tell how long we would be absent, but I determined to provide a goodly supply of good things, so that

we might live well, no matter what hardships we might meet with. My wife was an excellent cook, trained in a good New England home, and she volunteered to prepare rations for us that would last us some days. She at once set to work and baked a half dozen loaves of bread, boiled a whole ham, baked six or seven mince pies, and fried nearly a half bushel of doughnuts, ground coffee for several days' consumption, put in a full supply of condensed milk, pickles, and other good things, all of which was a portion of supplies that we had laid in for the winter. She was engaged all one day and all one night in preparing these articles of food and the part of next day in order to get them ready for us. When the interpreter arrived we were prepared to start on this trip to the Pawnee village, putting in feed for the horses, and taking some blankets with us which we expected to sleep in, or in the wagon if there was room enough. The Governor came over to see us off and say good-bye, expressing the hope that we would make the Indians behave themselves. He was a kindly old gentleman, a tall six-footer in size, and a good chewer of tobacco. It was reported of him that he was a retired Baptist minister, all the way from the wilds of Arkansas. He had many qualities which made me like him. He evidently was trying to do the best he could for the settlers. Being thus prepared we started on the expedition. We took the trail leading west from Omaha, and in a few hours crossed the Elkhorn river on a flat-bottomed boat, near where a family had located, and then made for the direction of the Pawnee village on the high bluff to which I have alluded, reaching a point on the Platte on this side of it. The village was entirely exposed to our view and the hundreds of Indians loafing around it. They soon discovered our train approaching their direction and were a good deal excited at the apparently strange appearance to them. We could discover a crowd on the bluffs as they were drawn by curiosity to come out and look at the strange team that was approaching. We halted in full view of the village, and the interpreter signalled to them to send a number of Indians across

the river to lead us back, as we were coming to see the chiefs. Soon some twenty Indians crossed over to the place where we were awaiting their coming. The interpreter informed them that we wanted them to lead us back across the river. The Platte river was as it is now, a dangerous stream to cross without a guide who is familiar with it; so it was arranged that we should take my two horses and unharness them, and Gov. O. D. Richardson ride one and I the other, and the Indians furnish a pony for the interpreter, one of them giving up his pony and doubling upon the back of another. I left Allen in charge of the wagon and the supplies in it, having no suspicion of treachery on the part of the Indians. While they were with us and around the wagon they took good care to learn what was in the wagon. When we were ready to cross the river our escort of Indians took the lead and we followed in single file. When perhaps about half way across the Platte I suddenly realized that my horse was sinking in quicksand, and instantly slid off into the river, realizing the serious danger from the quicksnad. I gave him a touch with my whip, and with an unearthly yell, renewing the whip, caused him to make a tremendous effort to get his limbs out of the quicksand and plunge forward, and fortunately he struck hard sand and thus saved himself. I led him along a few rods and then got onto him again and thus we crossed the river without further incident. I was the only one who had the wetting in water up above my waist.
   On reaching the first bank we were led up into the heart of the village and into what appeared to be a great council tent, constructed in the shape of an amphitheater, by poles set upon the ground, then spliced at each end and forming a wide circle. The poles were bound with leather strap made of buffalo skins. This tent was filled with as many of the Pawnees as could get into it. We were led into the center of it and there the old chief and his associates were squatted on the ground. By my direction, Mr. Allis introduced me to the chief, telling him who I was and for what purpose I was there, that I had come to make complaint to him that the

members of the Pawnee tribe were committing depredations upon the settlers. The old chief received me very kindly with the usual grunt. He extended his hand and then handed me the pipe of peace, which I took. I knew I would be expected to puff it a little and did so, and then it was passed around among the subordinate chiefs. While remaining in my position there I cast my eyes into an immense iron kettle which was suspended by ropes made of skills from the central opening at the top, in which kettle there seemed to be a dark colored liquid in which there was something resembling beef stewing. It did not look inviting to me, for I had heard of the Indians cutting up dogs and stewing them, and the thought occurred to me that as a part of their hospitality they would invite me to take some of that stew, which was not a pleasing thought, but I had determined that I would draw the line there against that dish; but fortunately they did not offer it to me. The interpreter was then directed by me to state more in detail the object of our visit in language which I dictated to him. I said the knowledge had reached the Great Father that the members of his tribe, the Pawnees, had been committing depredation upon the white settlers, stealing and driving off their cattle, and causing great fear to prevail among them along the Elkhorn river. I had come to say to him and to the subordinate chiefs that these wrongs must not be continued. When he came to reply the chief said to the interpreter that these marauding acts had been committed by their young men, and that they could not control them. I replied to him that they must control their young men, and put an end to the wrongs which these young men were inflicting upon the peaceable settlers. I felt the necessity of replying to him in a strong language, stating that the government had purchased these lands and had paid for, or was paying for the same -- that the government had opened them up for settlement, and that the settlers were there by right and must be protected in the possession of that property, and that the government would protect them, and adding that if it was not done the government would send

troops out here to punish and suppress the Indians; saying to them that if I had to come here again on account of these outrages committed by their tribe I should come with a force of troops to punish the marauders. The chief then promised that they would do everything in their power to prevent any wrongs being inflicted on the settlers, saying they desired to live in peace with their white brethren. I repeated my message to him in order to make as strong an impression on them as possible. Of course I could not tell what effect it would have on them, but it was all I could then do. After giving me the strongest assurances that they would behave themselves properly and let the whites live in peace, and the other chiefs united with him in the assurances he gave by such a way of approval, the council was concluded. It lasted probably two hours. I informed the chief we should need parties to escort us back across the river to our wagon; the escorts he readily furnished, but not the same ones who had escorted us over to the village. At that time the weather was cold and chilly. That was about the 15th of April. [It was May 25.--Ed.] I was beginning to think of the good things we had in our wagon, and the splendid supper we were to have under the tree -- with a huge fire in front of us. That anticipated supper was in my mind during the whole passage of the river. I had a special reason myself allowing for the fire and the supper, for I was the only one who had been in the river, and still had my wet clothes on and no chance to improve my condition. Visions of cold ham, bread and butter, doughnuts, mince pie, and hot coffee with condensed milk and with all the good things enumerated above ready at our call. Well, on arriving at the wagon our astonishment was overwhelming when we were informed by Allen, the fellow who had stayed at the wagon, that about twenty of the Indians came there as soon as we had reached the council tent, and overpowered him, took by force everything in the wagon, and had taken them across the river again. It was a disappointment for which I never had language to express my indignation. The treachery of the Indians has been fully impressed on my

mind ever since, although I have found some good Indians among them, but the sufferings which I was enduring, cold and wet and hungry, are too much for me to describe at this late day. There we were, just at night, with nothing left to us but our blankets which the Indians kindly left us. My first thought was "what shall we do?" Recalling the fact that we had found one family at the ferry where we crossed the Elkhorn, in a log cabin, we determined to return there and seek what relief we could by way of supper and something to eat. We hitched the team again and drove to that point. Fortunately the ferryman had been out hunting prairie chickens that afternoon while we were in the council and had brought in some half-dozen prairie chickens. His good wife set to work, dressed and cooked those chickens, and having some bread and butter we fared reasonably well, and determined to stay there for the night, which we did.
   I had reason to believe afterwards that the party of Indians, who crossed over and led as back to the village quietly reported to the chief what we had in our wagon over the river, and that they went back with the permission of the Indians, and robbed as of all we had. Thus, while we were holding council and demanding assurances that they would control their men, their own Indians were across the river and were plundering our wagon of all our supplies -- the kind of treachery for which there is no name to designate. I determined at that time if I had ever a chance to get at them and have some satisfaction I would do so. I should have mentioned among the things which they stole from my wagon was a present from a friend of mine who brought it to me as I was about leaving -- a bottle of very old choice brandy, saying to me that I might some time need it to head off snakebites when roaming over those prairies of Nebraska. I had not opened the bottle since leaving Boston, but when making preparation for this expedition it occurred to me that it might be very useful to me, but the Indians had taken that. I hope my friend Wolfenbarger will forgive me for taking along the bottle under the circumstances, and enabling the

Indians to have a set-to over the use of that firewater. Some three years afterwards the whole tribe entered upon one general marauding excursion up the Platte river, destroying everything within their reach. The reign of terror prevailed over the whole Elkhorn valley. They destroyed everything in their path, and then I raised the force of 194 men and pursued them. Coming up with them at daylight we captured the whole tribe. Then the chiefs came rushing out of their tepees, making every sign of surrender, exclaiming to me "Good Indian," and begging me for mercy.
   That tribe had given much trouble at different times, but after this capture of the whole tribe they were put on their reservation and the government took immediate charge of them, and after that they never gave the whites any trouble.
   Years ago the Pawnee tribe was a great, powerful nation among the Indian tribes. It was a warlike nation, fighting battles with different tribes, but it gradually got upon the downward grading and became greatly diminished in numbers till I believe it is but a remnant of the Pawnees now in the Indian territory.

   Alexander Majors, the founder of the greatest freight company that was ever formed to do a freighting business with teams and wagons, commenced the business with six yoke of cattle and one wagon. His first trip was from Independence, Missouri, to Ft. Union, New Mexico. He kept adding teams to his outfit until he had twenty-six teams and wagons. He then formed a partnership with two men under the firm name of Majors, Russell & Waddell and they kept enlarging their business until the year 1860-61 they had six hundred teams and wagons with six yoke of cattle to the wagon.

   I think that the old freight road that used to pass up the Little Blue river was once the greatest thoroughfare that was ever traveled in any country. In the year 1860 there were never less than three hundred and sometimes over five hundred wagons passing over the road every day for over five months, not counting any teams coming from the West, and probably three-fourths of these same teams traveled over the same road going west.
   On the open prairie, where there was plenty of room, the road was worn down smooth for one hundred yards wide. I have seen three trains traveling abreast. Just imagine five hundred wagons strung out on the same road, each team taking up at least one hundred feet, making a distance of over nine miles. I have seen over four hundred wagons camped in one bottom, their corrals covering a space one mile long by one-half mile wide.
   In regard to the Indians, we lived here on the Little Blue river for four years in perfect peace with them. We did not mind them any more than we did the birds that were flying about us. There would not have been any trouble with the Indians if it had not been for the Rebellion. There were, among the Indians, some of the rebels who put them up to go on the war-path. There were twenty-three persons killed within thirty-five miles on the Little Blue, and seven ranches burned in the first big raid. Among the killed were six of the Eubanks family and six freighters. The rest were killed, one and two at a place, all this being done at the same hour of the day. There was one married woman and her two children by the name of Eubanks and one young lady, Laura Roper, who were taken prisoners in the year 1860.
   By the year 1866 nearly all the old ranchmen had gotten back on the Little Blue river and things were going along nicely. I had in 155 acres of corn, the Comstocks had in ninety acres, and all the others had in from forty to sixty acres. It was a fine growing spring. We had all plowed our corn over the first time and had commenced to go over it the second time. I had three hired men, two of whom wanted to

go down to Brownville on the Missouri river to the land office to enter some land. I took three big teams and went with them. I loaded my teams with corn and started back. I got to the Sandy, near where Alexandria now stands, where there was quite a little settlement, some six or eight families. To this place the stage coach had come down the day before and brought the news that all the men had been run out of the fields, and one man, who was breaking prairie just one mile above where the town of Oak now stands, was killed. We ranchmen all had men standing guard over the men that were plowing in the fields, so that the Indians could not get the drop on them. That was the reason the men all got out of the fields without any more of them being killed. Well, the people around Sandy were all getting ready to leave the country again and go east to the big settlements. I commenced to talk to them kind told them that I was going to stay, and said to them, "Let's go out and give those Indians a good drubbing and then they will let us alone. We can whip all the Indians in the Sioux and Cheyenne nations with the advantage we have in arms." We all had heavy rifles, sixteen shooters, or Spencer rifles, seven shooters. We counted up and we could raise fifty men and still leave two men at each ranch. I told them that I would furnish grub for the men and feed for the animals. This was on Friday morning. It would take me two days to drive home. Well, they all agreed to come to my place Saturday night so that we could start out on Sunday. On Sunday morning the coach came up and brought me the news that every ranchman and all the settlement at Sandy had left the country except at the stage stations where were a dozen soldiers as a guard. I talked with my hired men, of whom I had four, and told them that if any of them were afraid to stay to say so and I would pay them off. One of them said he would rather not stay, so I paid him off and he went down on the next coach. The other three said they would stay if I did. I wanted my wife and small children and hired girl to go to Beatrice, but my wife would not go and leave me on the Blue. I had to let part of my corn go

without tending, except the one plowing. I had to put a man at each end of the field and one man had to be at the house the most of the time. Whenever we saw an Indian or Indians we mounted our horses and made them bounce. They would always make for a large body of timber about four miles up Liberty creek. They would generally have so much the start that they would make the timber before we could overtake them. We made it hot for three of them one day. We shot the pony from under one of them just before they reached the timber, but he got up behind one of the others and got away before we could get him. If the ground had not been rough for the last quarter of a mile we would have gotten all three of them.
   My farm lay between Liberty creek and the Little Blue river. The day before the 4th of July an Indian came down the south side of Liberty creek to a high piece of ground and sat on his pony watching for an hour the boys plowing and the men on guard. On the next day, the 4th of July, an Indian came and sat around on his pony the same as the day before. At the same time sixteen of them crossed Liberty creek on foot, the banks being too steep for their ponies to cross. The field was one-half a mile long and the boys were plowing up and down the creek. The northeast corner of the field ran up on to high ground so that the man on guard at that corner of the field could see all over and across to the other side of the creek. There was a draw about sixty yards from the west of the field and quite straight so that the man who was on guard could look down to the timber. He saw the Indians come out, but at first thought they were wild turkeys as they were crawling in the grass. But to be sure he jumped on his horse and ran down where the boys were just coming out at the end of the field. The Indians had crawled up the draw directly opposite where the boys would come out. When the guard reached the boys he galloped over toward the draw, and the Indians jumped up and began to shoot. By this time the boys had gotten out of the corn, and the man who was riding the plow jumped and ran

around his team, and his second shot killed an Indian, and the rest ran back into the draw and to the timber, keeping down under the bank, making their way toward the ranch. By their motion the boys thought there was another party attacking the house, so as quickly as the boys could unhitch they jumped on their horses and took down through the corn rows. The Indians saw that the boys were going to beat them, so they jumped up from behind the bank and commenced shooting again. The guard was riding a running horse and was about three rods ahead of the others, so the Indians did all their shooting at him. The boys behind said they made the dust fly about three or four feet behind him. They were not like old Davy Crockett. He allowed for the coons crawling, but the Indians did not allow for the horse running.
   The buffalo were so plenty on the Little Blue river and between the Little Blue and Platte rivers that it seemed as though the whole face of the earth was covered with them. For four days several big freight trains lay in camp on the divide between the Little Blue and the Platte rivers, not daring to move, being entirely surrounded by buffalo. Had they known the nature of the animal there was not a particle of danger, for when they are in such large bodies they never stampede, as they move together and in one direction.
   In the year 1860 I had a contract for putting up hay for the stage company, about four miles from Thirty-two Mile creek station where there was a large bottom of fine grass for hay. All the rest of the country was eaten up and tramped into the earth. There was a small creek that ran into the Blue river right at the upper end of this bottom, and the buffalo were just above this. I was afraid they would come down and tramp the grass into the earth, so I took five men on horses and we worked for four hours and did not move them half a mile, only just crowded them a little closer together. We worked away and cut all that bottom, and the buffalo were all that time within three or four hundred yards of us.
   A short time after I finished my hay a couple of men came

in from a trapping expedition on some of the creeks that ran into the Republican river, and they told me that they had seen eight head of big fine horses on a small creek, so I took another man with me and led an extra horse with blankets, feed, and grub and started early in the morning, and when we had gotten one mile from my ranch we ran right into a body of buffalo. We rode on a trot all day, and I am certain that we rode fifty miles and never saw an acre of ground but had from twenty to fifty buffalo on it. We would just make a lane through them not more than fifty yards wide and it would all be closed up one hundred yards behind us. When night came we went into the timber and camped. The next day we went back over another route but found it just the same.
   In the year 1861 Ed S. Stokes, the man who killed Jim Fisk in New York, came from San Francisco on the stage. He laid over one day at my ranch to take a buffalo hunt. I had a splendid buffalo horse, and I put him on that and I hitched up a couple of pretty good horses to my carriage and we started out. We had to go but two or three miles before we came to a small herd. He wanted to kill the buffalo himself. He had two big dragoon revolvers and I had two more in the carriage and a heavy rifle. He started out after the buffalo, and I let my team go and kept pretty close to him. When he got within one hundred yards of the buffalo he commenced to shoot. I told him to let the horse go up close, but he kept back until he unloaded both his revolvers and came back to the carriage for another. I then told him to go up within twenty feet of the buffalo, but he was still afraid and went up to within about forty feet, and at the seventeenth shot he got him down, and then taking my rifle finished him. I have taken the same horse and a revolver and had three buffalo down before it was empty
   The first cabin built on the Little Blue was at Oak Grove in Nuckolls county. It was built by Majors, Russell & Waddell to leave their lame cattle when they were freighting west.
   I am almost positive that my oldest son, James H. Lem-

mon, Jr., was the first white child born in the territory of Nebraska. He was born the 20th day of June, 1853, in a tent on the Platte river, not over five miles from where Kearney now stands. I was on my way to California.
   There was no settlement in Nebraska at the time I crossed the Missouri river about four miles below where Omaha now stands. Peter A. Sarpy had a little cabin in the bottom under the bluff one mile above where I crossed the river.

   On the 4th of May, 1853, I crossed the Missouri river at Otoe City (Gideon Bennett, ferryman), in company with R. B. Lockwood and Lafayette Duncan; we were then on our way to Plain creek with two wagonloads of groceries, for the purpose of trading with the California and Oregon immigrants on their way to the gold fields of the Pacific slope.
   First, we camped on the headwaters of South Table creek, now owned by our worthy old settler, John Hamilton, where he has a farm. We made our journey to Plum creek, sold our

groceries, and returned to Old Fort Kearney, arriving there June 16 of the same year. On our arrival we found H. P. Downs and family occupying the old government hospital and entertaining all who chose to put up with them. The Missouri river at that time and for nearly two months afterwards was bankful, and the land directly opposite the city, where the B. & M. depot now stands, was fully two feet under water. The bottom extending to the bluffs was one sheet of water ranging from two to eight feet deep. Many of the settlers in the bottom were compelled to leave their homes and find a dry location on this side of the river. Among the number who moved over were Andrew Hixon and family, Hugh McNeely and family, John B. Boulware and family, and many others whose names I can not now recall. John B. Boulware went, from what is now the foot of Main street, to the bluffs near where Eli Slusher then lived, four miles above Hamburg, in a skiff, carrying with him the United States mail just in from Ft. Kearney, and Sergeant Mix of the regular army. The trip was easily made after leaving the main channel of the river about two miles above the present ferry landing on the opposite side.
   On the 4th of July Lafayette Duncan, myself, and seven Otoe Indians started for the highlands in Iowa in canoes. We left the foot of Main street early in the morning expecting to reach Sidney, Iowa, by 10:00 A. M. in time to take part in the celebration of that place. We aimed to go through the heavy timber directly opposite the city, but after paddling our way for a few hours we found we could not get through on account of the driftwood afloat.
   We sent the Indians back, tied most of our clothing around our neck, and started afoot for the Bluffs, a distance of about eight miles, at which place we arrived about dark, traveling in water from two to eight feet deep.
   We arrived at Sidney at 1:00 A.M. on the 5th to find the celebration all over and the people in bed.
   About the middle of August we got our teams over, and thus ended my experience with Nebraska until the 10th of

May, 1854, when, in company with A. J. Donahue and family and Miss Ruth Ann Wade, we left Sidney for this place, arriving here a little before sundown after a hard day's ride in an ox wagon.
   We put up with our old friend, H. P. Downs, with just ten cents in our pocket. We here met T. E. Thompson, C. H. Cowles and family, Simpson Hargus and family, Richard Pell and family, Andrew Hixon and family, Joseph Blunt and family, Wilson Maddox and family, Harvey C. Cowles and family, Ed Sprather, Peter Valier, Charley Bierwagon, and Conrad Mullis. T. E. Thompson and myself, being single men and having come west with a view of making our fortune, held a consultation as to what we should do to accomplish that object.
   Thompson made the first raise. He caught a catfish at the mouth of Table creek and sold it to Downs, for which he received fifty cents credit on his first week's board. Next came my time, and I got a job of dropping corn after the prairie plow of Richard Pell who was then breaking all that portion of the city west of 6th street to 14th street and south to Kansas. For this work I got one dollar per day and boarded myself. After the corn was planted Ed Spratlin and myself were awarded the job by the town company of splitting fence posts and fencing in the field. We got one dollar per hundred for cutting and splitting the posts, and for setting them in the ground and nailing on the boards we got one dollar per day and board, board being the essence of the contract. The work was completed about the middle of June, after which Downs thought it to the interest of the town to have a street one hundred feet wide cut through from near the crossing of 6th and Laramie streets to the residence of Simpson Hargus in Prairie City. This work - the first toward building a city - was done by T. E. Thompson, George E. Baker, and myself, for which we received the usual fee and board.
   The 4th of July being near at hand, it was determined to have a grand old barbecue, and every one set to work doing

what they could to make it a success. Arbors for eating, speaking, and dancing were erected near where the Seymour house now stands. Everybody was invited far and near. There were at least one thousand persons present, Atchison county, Missouri, and Fremont county, Iowa, furnishing most of the white people, while our own locality furnished many whites and a host of Indians. Dancing and eating commenced about one o'clock of the 4th and wound up by a "big injun" dance on the evening of the 6th. And be it said to the credit of the earlier settlers of Otoe county, not a drunken man was seen nor were there any disturbances of any kind during this three days' barbecuing.
   The glorious old Fourth having passed off to the satisfaction of all concerned, the town proprietors thought it about time to commence the work of building up a great city on the west bank of the mighty Missouri.
   On the 10th, the following persons could be seen standing near the present crossing of 6th and Main streets: S. F. Nuckolls, Allen A. Bradford, Hiram P. Downs, C. H. Cowles, T. E. Thompson, A. M. Rose, A. B. Mayhew, Charley Bierwagon, George H. Benton, Dr. Dewey, and others whom I now forget. Dr. Dewey was the surveyor, J. W. Pearman flagman, A. M. Rose and A. B. Mayhew chainmen, and T. E. Thompson axman. The first stake was set where the northwest corner of Robert Hawke's store now stands, and was firmly driven in the ground by a heavy stroke of the ax from each one present, and with a few appropriate remarks from Messrs. Nuckolls and Bradford, wherein the gentlemen called the attention of those present that in a few years we should see a city built up here containing at least twenty thousand inhabitants, the corner stake was set, and from that stake the survey of the city commenced. A line was then surveyed east to the river on the south side of Main street, then on the north side west to 6th street, at that time the western boundary of the city. As soon as the lots were numbered so that parties could tell where to build - houses commenced going up very rapidly. H. P. Downs built the first hotel on the

grounds where now the Seymour House stands. It was a large frame building two stories high, and was the only hotel in the city until the Nuckolls House was built, which burned down in 1860. I should have stated before this that C. U. Cowles erected the first dwelling-house some time in March or April, previous. It would have been built on lot 7, block 25, directly north of the Christian church. Mr. Cowles also built the first storehouse opposite where the Seymour House stands and kept the first store. He continued in the business until late in the fall of the same year, when he sold out to H. T. Walker & Co.
   Mr. Cowles and George H. Benton, who built the Downs hotel, were the first carpenters in the city. James H. Decker made and burnt the first brick and built the first brick house for S. F. Nuckolls, now used by the Nebraska City Transfer Company for office purposes. Joseph Blunt made the first shingles, which were used in covering the Downs hotel. William B. Hail & Co. sawed the first lumber. The mill was near where the gas works now stand. Price of lumber $2.50 per hundred feet.
   C. H. Cowles built the first bridge across Table creek, about the same place where the Main street bridge now stands.
   The first white child born after the city was located was a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. George H. Benton. I understand the child is yet living. Its mother's death was the first that occurred after the child was born, and she was buried near the residence of William R. Craig. This was in August, 1854. Mrs. Joseph Blunt died in the country during the same year.
   The first old fashioned "ho-down" was danced at the residence of William B. Hail - in the old government hospital which I have before mentioned. Laura Hail, Celia Hail, Phil and Tabby Hail, Susan and Anna Pearman, and two Miss Kennedys and Mary Pell were the ladies present. C. C. Hail, Frill Hail, Floyd Hail, George Nuckolls and some more Hails, and myself also, were present. A pleasant evening was spent in the old way of dancing, and the mother of all the Hails said this evening's entertainment reminded her of "Old Vir-

ginny" more than anything she had seen since she left there. John A. Gilman was the first butcher. He opened a shop in the old block house. Col. C. B. Smith, U. S. deputy marshal, took the first census of the county. I accompanied him with a petition for signatures, asking the governor to convene the first legislature at Nebraska City. The first day out we found Joe Helvey, William Anderson, better known as "Black Bill," Dr. William T. Fowlkes, George Gline, and Gideon Bennett. We stayed all night with Mr. Bennett at Otoe City. Next night we camped with old man Jameson and son, on Camp creek, where the old man now lives. All four of us slept in a wagon-box, and next morning after eating breakfast we gave that little stream the name of Camp creek, which name it has ever gone by to this day. From here we struck out for Brownville, arriving there about sundown, found the proprietors of the town, Dick Brown and a few others, skinning a beef. Stayed all night and next morning crossed the river and stopped over night at Senora, Missouri, where I got a large number of signers to the petition. On our return to the city I delivered the petition to Mr. Nuckolls, who gave me lot 6, block 5, where John K. Gilman's house is now located, for my service rendered. Soon after this an election was held for members of the legislature and delegates in Congress. There being no party lines drawn at that time, every man ran for office that wanted to. Those elected to the lower house were William B. Hail, James H. Decker, Harvey C. Cowles, Wilson, M. Maddox, H. P. Bennett, and Gideon Bennett. Those to the upper house or council were Henry Bradford and Charles H. Cowles. At this election a tie vote occurred between C. H. Cowles and H. P. Downs. A new election was ordered; Cowles was elected by one majority. Napoleon Bonaparte Giddings, who lived then and does now in Andrew county, Missouri, was elected delegate to Congress, beating Bird B. Chapman, of Ohio, a few votes. Atchison county, Missouri, and our neighbors across the river assisted us very much in polling a heavy vote at that election.
   Dr. John C. Campbell was the first practicing physician.

He came here early in the fall of the year 1854 and took up a claim where John Sheperd's orchard now stands. The Doctor was a live man then as he is now among the old settlers. And I believe he claims the honor of being the first one in the county afflicted with the "Missouri scratches or Illinoy Mange."
   Rev. W. D. Gage preached the first sermon in August, 1854. Nearly all the citizens were present and listened attentively to what he said, while a lot of Indians played "moccasin" behind the block house.
   The first watermill was built by Henry C. Cowles and D. N. Martin on Walnut creek. The same property is now owned by U. S. Simpson.
   E. Wilhelm established the first steam sawmill in the bottom below town.
   Jacob Jameson established a sawmill about the same time on Camp creek. The saw went up one day and down the next, making three strokes a week.
   Sam Carson was among the first scientific ox drivers.
   Miss Maggie Martin was the first school teacher.
   Henry Bradford & Co. opened the first drug store and did the first house painting.
   The first postoffice was established early in 1854 and called "Table Creek Postoffice," with H. P. Downs as postmaster. The office was first opened in Charlie Cowles's store, Mr. Cowles acting as deputy. But little mail matter was received or sent off, as there was no service, and the people generally depended on the Sidney office for their mail. In 1855 C. W. Pierce became Downs's successor and kept the mail in his house near where the Press office stands.
   The Nebraska City News is among the oldest settlers in the state, having issued the first paper November 14, 1854. Henry Bradford was editor, Giles N. Freeman and Hal. A. Houston printers. The News belonged to the town company until 1855, when its present owner, Thomas Morton, purchased the whole concern and continued the paper with J. Sterling Morton as editor.

   S. F. Nuckolls was the first man to suggest the idea of purchasing grounds for a cemetery, and at a citizens' meeting a committee was appointed to select a place for burying purposes. The committee selected the present Wyuka cemetery, and John Clemens was the first person buried in it. He died on the island above the city and was buried about the middle of January, 1855. C. C. Hail, Laura and Celia Hail, J. W. Pearmau, and a few others were present at the grave.
   The first whisky shop was established by the writer in the fall of 1854, which "busted up" in just one month, to the entire satisfaction of the proprietor.
   J. W. Pearman was the first store clerk in C. H. Cowles's store.
   H. W. Cornell established the first harness shop.
   Hon. Edward R. Harden, of Georgia, was the first district judge, and held the first term of court in January, 1855, in the dancing room of the Downs House. All that was done at that term of court was to admit H. P. Bennett, A. A. Bradford, William McLennan, and Dr. William C. Fowlkes to practice. Dr. Fowlkes passed the best examination, and was highly complimented by the court. M. W. Riden was the first district clerk, and issued the license to the above attorney.
   George W. Nuckolls and Sarah Kennedy were the first couple married.
   The first lodge of Good Templars was organized in the old log house occupied then by Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Craig directly in the rear of the Seymour House. Early in the year 1855, Hon. T. B. Cuming, acting governor of the territory, appointed the following county officers: M. W. Brown, probate judge; Thomas Donahoo, Sheriff; T. E. Thompson, deputy; C. C. Hail, recorder; W. D. Gage, treasurer; William Anderson, justice of the peace. Mr. Gage never qualified, and at an election soon thereafter J. W. Pearman was elected.
   John B. Boulware paid the first money into the county treasury, a ferry license required of him annually, amounting to $30.

   J. H. Decker and William Hurst had the first lawsuit before Squire Anderson, about the proprietorship of a claim upon the public lands near Wyoming. H. P. Bennett and J. Sterling Morton were Decker's attorneys, and Jacob Dawson, Hurst's attorney. The trial lasted for several weeks until the court dismissed the case for want of time to hear the evidence and pleading through.
   Lewis Hax established the first cabinet shop and sold furniture at a large profit.
   William McLennan ran the first steam ferry boat. The steamer, Banner State, was the first landed here after the town was established. John Nash was the first well-digger and dug the first well for S. F. Nuckolls on lot 12, block 6, where the, transfer company is now located.
   George North opened the first jewelry store in a small frame building on Main street, opposite the court house.
   J. Dan Lauer rode the first balky mule in the city. Dan came from Squaw creek on the said mule to purchase groceries for his father's family, and after laying in a supply of "fine cut" and a side of bacon started for home. His muleship would not move a step until Sam Carson assisted him with his ox whip, upon which the mule started on the double quick, leaving Dan and his groceries lying in the street.
   A. B. Mayhew owned the first Shanghai rooster.
   The first election occurred in May, 1855. Henry Bradford was elected mayor; William B. Hail, W. R. Craig, and J. W. Pearman, alderman; M. W. Riden, clerk; J. W. Stull, marshal. The same officers were reelected in 1856 except Mr. Craig. At the close of the second year the council passed an ordinance allowing themselves $50 each for their services. This was about all they did in the two years.
   Under the territorial laws, William B. Hail was elected probate judge and issued the first county orders. William P. Birchfield was the first sheriff elected, and collected the first county taxes.

   By an act of the legislature in the winter of 1854, introduced by J. H. Decker, the name of the county was changed from Pierce to Otoe -- the acting governor having first named it Pierce county in honor of Franklin Pierce, then President of the United States.
   The first grand jury was impaneled in the fall of 1855, John B. Boulware foreman. Nearly every man in the county, including the jury itself, was indicted for gambling and was fined by the court in sums ranging from five to ten dollars each.
   James H. Masters came here in 1855 and established the first nursery, where he now lives.
   Hugh Pearman planted apple trees in the same year on lot 1, block 26, where they are still growing.
   Martin V. Boutton was the first one afflicted with measles.
   J. Sterling Morton, who moved here early in 1855 and took charge of the editorial columns of the News, owned the first jack, which he named Henry Ward Beecher.
   The M. E. church was the first to organize and erected the first house of worship. William R. Craig was made one of the trustees at the first organization.
   T. E. Thompson, deputy sheriff, made the first assessment of the county.
   Henry Bradford, mayor of the city, entered the town site and obtained the land officer's receipt for the entrance fee, March 31, 1857.
   John Nash, the well-digger, received the first certificate of entry from the U. S. land office that appears on record.
   Elijah Yates was the first boot and shoe maker. Opened up a shop upstairs over Henry Bradford & Company's drug store, December, 1855.
   Conrad Mullis was the first blacksmith. Opened his shop in the old soldiers' quarters, June 1854, near where R. M. Rolfe's house now stands.
   Joel Helvey established the first bakery and baked the first bread. He located his bakery near the west end of the present Otoe street bridge, in the spring of 1855.

© 2000, 2001 Pam Rietsch, T&C Miller