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HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA & ITS PEOPLE

CONTENTS

(Note from Sandy SS who contributed this material -
"The pages INSIDE the book do not match 'to a T' the table of contents
(the author skips chapters in the Table of Contents)"

Jump to

Cattle Ranching

Box Butte, Cheyenne, Deuel, or Kimball County

PART I

CHAPTER I............................................................1
Nebraska Came From the Sea
 
CHAPTER II...........................................................4
Old Trails
 
CHAPTER III..........................................................6
The Flag of France in the Wilderness
 
CHAPTER IV..........................................................8
The Fur-Traders
 
CHAPTER V...........................................................10
Robert Stuart's Winter Camp
 
CHAPTER VI..........................................................12
Jacques Laramie's Caravans and Fleets
 
CHAPTER VII.........................................................14
General William H. Ashley's Trappers - Death of Hiram Scott
 
CHAPTER VIII........................................................15
Joshua Pilcher and Forty-Five Trappers
 
CHAPTER IX..........................................................17
First Wagons on Overland Trails
 
CHAPTER X...........................................................19
Wyeth, of "Cape Bay," and His "Down Easters"
 
CHAPTER XI..........................................................21
Nez Perce and Crow Indians - Crow Creek Named
 
CHAPTER XII.........................................................22
Little Moon Lake - Famous Missionaries
 
CHAPTER XIII........................................................24
Forts at Laramie
 
CHAPTER XIV.........................................................26
Robideaux of St. Genevieve - Kiowa Raid by Red Cloud
 
CHAPTER XV..........................................................28
The Steamboat El Paso Here - Reuleau, the Trapper
 
CHAPTER XVI.........................................................30
Government Buys Fort Laramie - Fort Fontenelle is Built
 
CHAPTER XVII........................................................32
Brady Island Tragedy - French Boat Song - Jim Bridger Meets Sir
George
 

PART II

 
CHAPTER I...........................................................34
Indian Migration across the Platte
 
CHAPTER II..........................................................36
Indian War and Legend - The Story Teller
 

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA & ITS PEOPLE

CONTENTS

vi

CHAPTER III........................................................39
The Pawnee Pilgrimage - The Spotted Robe - Ti-wa-ra, The God of
Court House Rock - Battle of Ash Hollow
 
CHAPTER IV..........................................................42
The Legend of the White Hawk - Old Bull Tail's daughter
 
CHAPTER V...........................................................44
Belden, Bridger and Baker Episodes - Early Conferences With
Indians
 
CHAPTER VI..........................................................47
Songs of Parker and Minto
 
CHAPTER VII.........................................................49
Red Cloud and Spotted Tail - Massacre of Cottonwood Canyon
 
CHAPTER VIII........................................................51
Sunset on the Platte - The Gibralter of Nebraska - Cheyenne S on
Bellechugwater
 
CHAPTER IX..........................................................53
In the Shadows - The Fire Fly Song - Cached Furs - Old Land Marks
- Trapper's Rock
 
CHAPTER X...........................................................55
Stage Drivers - Road Agents - Pony Express Riders - Chas. Cliff's
Adventures - Jules and Slade Feud - Creighton's Quick Fortune
 
CHAPTER XI..........................................................57
Sacrifice of Frontier Women - Indian Execution at Ft. Laramie
 
CHAPTER XII.........................................................59
The Grattan Massacre - Spotted Tail's Dramatic Deed
 
CHAPTER XIV.........................................................62
Butler's Story of the Cow War - Harney the Squaw Killer - Another
Ash Hollow Battle
 
CHAPTER XV..........................................................65
Murder of Spotted Tail - Cow Dog's Punishment - Battle in
Scottsbluff Mountain Pass
 
CHAPTER XVI.........................................................67
A Buffalo Bill Episode - More Indian Troubles
 
CHAPTER XVII........................................................69
The Battle of Horse Creek - Colonel Moonlight's Mistake -
President Lincoln's Message to the West
 
CHAPTER XVIII.......................................................72
Julesburg Burned - Mud Springs Attacked - Battle on Cedar Creek
 
CHAPTER XIX.........................................................75
Coad's Battle on Lawrence Fork - "Shorter" County Organized - Tank
Fighting on the Platte - Buffalo Bill Kills Tall Bull
 
CHAPTER XX..........................................................77
Indian Agencies Adjusted - Sitting Bull's Determination - Battle
on War Bonnet Creek
 
CHAPTER XXI.........................................................79
Sand Hills Station Robbery - Big Bear, or Crazy Woman - The Sod
Cabin - Privations of Early Years
 
CHAPTER XXII........................................................82
Revolt of Dull Knife - Winter Fighting in the Pine Ridge - End of
Indian Wars - Sign Language
 
CHAPTER XXIII.......................................................84
The Winding Story - Sages Tale of Orgies - The New Dawn
 

PART III

 
CHAPTER I...........................................................87
When Cattle Men Were Kings
 

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA & ITS PEOPLE

CONTENTS

vii

CHAPTER II..........................................................90
Stage Station Ranches - Naming Fort Mitchell - First Ranches on
the North Platte River
 
CHAPTER IV..........................................................92
The Battle of Sixty-Six Mountain
 
CHAPTER V...........................................................95
The Ride of Dan Dillon and Others - The Start of the Texas Trail
 
CHAPTER VI..........................................................97
Cowboy Escapades - Death of Jimmy Tate - Red Path Bill - Fraternal
and Class Sentiment
 
CHAPTER VII........................................................100
Coad's Ranch at Scottsbluff Station - Sheedy's Seven U Ranch -
Anecdotes About Them
 
CHAPTER VIII.......................................................102
Surveyor Schleigel's Teamster Hung at Sidney - The Bosler Range -
The VB Brand - Minnie Montgomery Honeymoon - The House of LaGrange
 
CHAPTER IX.........................................................104
Creighton's - The First Ranch of All - Death of Creel in Bull
Canyon - Tom Kane's Adventure - A Cowboy Wedding
 
CHAPTER X..........................................................106
First Ranch in Nebraska West of North Platte, Keith & Barton - H.V.
Reddington's Ranch - Nerud's Corner - Later Snake Creek Ranches
 
CHAPTER XI.........................................................109
Colonel Charles Coffee of Creighton's, Box Elder, Rock Ranch, Hat
Creek and Chadron - Emmet & Brewster - Arrest of Fly Speck Bill -
First Garden in Sioux County
 
CHAPTER XII........................................................111
John Adams Joins Redington in First Ranch of the Panhandle - The
Rustlers - Orign of Ranches on Cedar Creek - Smith's Fork or Rush
Creek - Vantassel's Tie Contract
 
CHAPTER XIII.......................................................113
Jim Kidd's Training Ground - Y-Cross and Cherry Creek Ranches -
Henry County Hughs - Little Moon Postoffice - Oelrich's Wild
Escapades
 
CHAPTER XIV........................................................116
Around Camp Wagons - A Horse Trade With Doc Middleton - Arbuckle's
Break Post - Scotchmen Buy Big Ranches - John Clay and the Two-Bar
 
CHAPTER XV.........................................................118
Frewen's Ranch Experience - Hanging of Billy Nurse by Vigilantes -
Holding up Doc. Middleton - Death of Famous Character
 
CHAPTER XVI........................................................121
Perry Yeast's Success - Judge Gaslin, Who Wrote "The Law of the
West" - Tom Ryan's Defiance
 
CHAPTER XVII.......................................................123
Newman's Ranch on the Running Water - Bartlett Richards & Company
- The Scourge of the Land Inquisition - Cattle Rustlers - Hall &
Evans - Even Battle For Right - First Dairy Herd
 
CHAPTER XVIII......................................................125
Big Ranches Round About - First Dry Farming at Big Springs - Other
Ranches on Lodgepole - Newman Leads the Turks Through "Jerusalem"
- Walrath, from Ox Team to Aeroplane
 
CHAPTER XIX........................................................127
Creighton Expands - Snodgrass and McShane - McIntosh Founds "The
Circle Arrow" - Simpson Organizes the Bay State Company
 
CHAPTER XX.........................................................129
Early Sub-Irrigation - Bay State Buys Coad's North River Ranch -
J.S. Robb, Foreman - Mary Rose's Grave - The Grout House - J.H.D.
Ranch - Round up at Circle Arrow- Death of "Sky Pilot" at Pine
Bluffs
 

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA & ITS PEOPLE

CONTENTS

viii

CHAPTER XXI........................................................131
Paxton's Ogallala Company - Hall's Famous Drive to Pine Ridge -
Dick Beans Death - Gun Men and Frantz's Comical Episode
 
CHAPTER XXII.......................................................135
E.A. Hall and Robert Graham's Old Time Ranch - Ogallala Men and
Events - Indians Get Southers - Bargan Sales of Ranch Locations -
Harper's Deal
 
CHAPTER XXIII......................................................137
An Indian Wagon Race - Building Camp Clarke Bridge - Round-up -
Wild West Shows - Tom Horn's Outlaw Horse - Six Thousand Cattle
Milling in the River
 
CHAPTER XXIV.......................................................140
The Farquerers and Cross Country Riding - Hunting Geese on Hughes
Island - Fun of the Frontier - Jimmy Moore's Long Walk
 
CHAPTER XXV........................................................141
The First Grangers - Murder of Collins at Camp Clarke - Sheriff
Campbell Gets Doc. Romine - Beginning of Minatare
 
CHAPTER XXVI.......................................................143
Perry Braziel Arrives on the Texas Trail - Trailing Cattle to
Judith Basin - Sunderling's Elkskin Trousers - The Drive to Pine
Ridge - Two Girls of the Prairie
 
CHAPTER XXVII......................................................145
Laing's Ranch - The Water Holes - Death of Wheeler - First Hogs on
North River - First Hogs on Pumpkin Creek - Killing Rattlesnakes
 
CHAPTER XXVIII.....................................................147
The Virginian - Arbuckle's Ranch - Romance of Parents of Madeline
Force - Lingle of Valley View - Connoly's of the "PF" - New
Ranches - Hank Inghram's Narrow Escape
 
CHAPTER XXIX.......................................................149
The Shifting Sands - The Storm of '78 - First Settlers on Pumpkin
Creek - First Cow in Western Nebraska - Mental Giants of the Big
Cow Days
 
CHAPTER XXX........................................................152
Vigilantes Hang Reed at Sidney - The Great Bullion Robbery -
Whispering Smith Gets Two
 
CHAPTER XXXI.......................................................154
Oberfelders Demonstrate Hog and Alfalfa Combination - Later
Ranchers Near Oshkosh - Poor's Ranch, Where Sheldon Hit the West -
Cowboys Maraking Graves - The Midnight Ride of Wild Horse Harris
 
CHAPTER XXXII......................................................156
McDonald Hung by Vigilantes at Sidney - Sheriff Trognitz's Joke -
Practical Jokes of Old Timers
 
CHAPTER XXXIII.....................................................158
Gordon's and Whitehead's Ranches - Yoder's Beginning and Expansion
- New Development in Goshen Holes - Beginning of Alfalfa and Sugar
Beets
 
CHAPTER XXXIX......................................................160
Sand Hill Ranches of Today - Dangers of the Stampede - Origin of
Some Western Expressions - Pranks of Early Days
 
CHAPTER XXXV.......................................................161
First Ranch in Dawes County - Graham and Snyder of Niobrara River
- Other Ranches Near Fort Robinson - Stampedin' on the Old Trail
 
CHEYENNE COUNTY
 
CHAPTER I..........................................................165
History of the County
 
CHAPTER II.........................................................171
Sidney's Wildest Days
 
CHAPTER III........................................................176
Organization of Cheyenne County
 

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA & ITS PEOPLE

CONTENTS

ix

CHAPTER IV.........................................................182
Lodgepole
 
CHAPTER V..........................................................188
State Officials
 
CHAPTER VI.........................................................191
The Press
 
CHAPTER VII........................................................192
Fraternal Orders and Clubs
 
CHAPTER VIII.......................................................194
The Church - The Bar - The Medical Profession
 
CHAPTER IX.........................................................197
The World War
 
 
BOX BUTTE COUNTY
CHAPTER I..........................................................199
Organization of the County
 
CHAPTER II.........................................................207
Churches - The Press - The Bar - Professions and Businesses
 
CHAPTER III........................................................210
Military History
 
CHAPTER IV.........................................................214
Civil War Veterans
 
 
DEUEL COUNTY
Portions of the following chapters are located in the NE Archives:
Deuel Co - G.A.R. Officers for 1921
Deuel Co - WW I Activities, Volunteer Org.
Deuel Co - WW I Servicepeople & Casualties
Deuel Co - IOOF & Dau. of Rebecca, lists
Deuel Co - Royal Neighbors, lists
Deuel Co - Modern Woodmen, lists
Deuel Co - Royal Highlanders, members
Deuel Co - Eastern Star, lists
 
CHAPTER I..........................................................220
Organizations of Deuel County
 
CHAPTER II.........................................................221
First Settlers
 
CHAPTER III........................................................222
County Organization and Development
 
CHAPTER IV.........................................................224
Irrigation in Deuel County
 
CHAPTER V..........................................................226
County Officers
 
CHAPTER VI.........................................................228
Towns
 
CHAPTER VII........................................................233
Schools in Deuel County
 
CHAPTER VIII.......................................................235
The Churches in Deuel County
 
CHAPTER IX.........................................................237
The Press - Banks and Finance - Bench and Bar- Medical Profession
- Fraternal Organizations
 
CHAPTER X..........................................................242
Deuel County's War Record - Grand Army of the Republic
 
CHAPTER XI.........................................................244
Climate and Products of Deuel County
 

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA & ITS PEOPLE

CONTENTS

x

GARDEN COUNTY
CHAPTER I..........................................................246
Early History
 
CHAPTER II.........................................................252
Boundary Disputes - As Between Individuals
 
CHAPTER III........................................................254
Agricultural and Live Stock Industries
 
CHAPTER IV.........................................................256
Town in the County
 
CHAPTER V..........................................................264
Railroads - Schools- Churches - The Press - Bench and Bar -
Banking and Finance
 
CHAPTER VI.........................................................271
The County's Part in the World War
 
CHAPTER VII........................................................274
Social and Fraternal Organizations
 
CHAPTER VIII.......................................................276
The Medical Profession
 
 
SIOUX COUNTY
CHAPTER I..........................................................277
Description of Early History
 
CHAPTER II.........................................................280
First Settlers and Early Town Histories
 
CHAPTER III........................................................284
Medical Fraternity - The Bar - Story of the Schools - The Churches
 
CHAPTER IV.........................................................288
Banking and Finance - Fraternal Organizations - Industries
 
CHAPTER V..........................................................292
The Organization of Sioux County - County Officials
 
CHAPTER VI.........................................................296
Sioux County in the World War - Early Schools - Wild Life
 
 
KIMBALL COUNTY
Portions of the following chapters are located in the NE Archives:
Kimball Co - City Government to 1920
Kimball Co - Civil & Spanish War Veterans
 
CHAPTER I..........................................................302
The History of Kimball County
 
CHAPTER II.........................................................313
Soil, Climate and Possibilities
 
CHAPTER III........................................................321
Transportation - Highways
 
CHAPTER IV.........................................................325
The Community of Kimball
 
CHAPTER V..........................................................357
Kimball County in the World War
 
 
MORRILL COUNTY
CHAPTER I..........................................................348
Morrill County
 
CHAPTER II.........................................................360
Transportation Development
 

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA & ITS PEOPLE

CONTENTS

xi

CHAPTER III........................................................363
How the Land Changed
 
CHAPTER IV.........................................................371
Government Irrigation
 
CHAPTER V..........................................................380
Bridgeport Business Directory - The World War - Other Activities
 
CHAPTER VI.........................................................397
Bayard
 
CHAPTER VII........................................................405
Morrill County in the World War
 
 
SHERIDAN COUNTY
CHAPTER I..........................................................417
How We Began
 
CHAPTER II.........................................................422
Creation of Sheridan County
 
CHAPTER III........................................................428
Banking and Finance
 
CHAPTER IV.........................................................434
The Story of the Schools
 
CHAPTER V..........................................................440
Sheridan County and the World War
 
 
SCOTTS BLUFF COUNTY
CHAPTER I..........................................................444
When Part of Cheyenne - Early Experiences
 
CHAPTER II.........................................................449
Gering - First of Many Things
 
CHAPTER III........................................................454
City of Scottsbluff
 
CHAPTER IV.........................................................463
The Newspapers - Early Days in the County
 
CHAPTER V..........................................................469
Incidents and Personalities
 
CHAPTER VI.........................................................476
The Story of Irrigation
 
CHAPTER VII........................................................480
More of the Irrigation Story
 
CHAPTER VIII.......................................................487
Scotts Bluff County Schools
 
CHAPTER IX.........................................................490
Officials of Scott Bluff County
 
CHAPTER X..........................................................494
The Farmers Revolution
 
CHAPTER XI.........................................................498
The Church - Its Accomplishments - First Religious Services
 
CHAPTER XII........................................................502
Scenic Beauty - Manufacturing and Other Industries
CHAPTER XIII.......................................................508
The County Military Record - Honor Roll - Fraternal Orders

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA & ITS PEOPLE

CONTENTS

xii

BANNER COUNTY
CHAPTER I..........................................................511
Following Horace Greeley's Advise - Early Experiences
 
CHAPTER II.........................................................515
Beautiful Scenery - Tragedies - Ranches and Schools
 
CHAPTER III........................................................520
How the County Began - Early Officers
 
CHAPTER IV.........................................................523
Once a Part of Lyons County - Banks - The Press - Industries
 
CHAPTER V..........................................................526
Irrigation - Early Postoffices - Early Experiences
 
 
DAWES COUNTY
CHAPTER I..........................................................530
The Earliest Years
 
CHAPTER II.........................................................534
Climate - Agriculture and Soils
 
CHAPTER III........................................................540
Settlement and Indian Days in Dawes County
 
CHAPTER IV.........................................................547
Early Days - And Crawford - Many Things
 
CHAPTER V..........................................................550
County Organization and Government
 
CHAPTER VI.........................................................553
Town of Chadron
 
CHAPTER VII........................................................568
Business and Professions
 
CHAPTER VIII.......................................................571
Churches and Schools - Banks - In the World War
 
 
LIST of ILLUSTRATIONS

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Contributed by Sandy Smith

© 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 for NEGenWeb Project by Sandy Smith, Ted & Carole Miller

  Feb 2000