History of Buffalo County
and Its People
by Samuel Clay Bassett

110

CHAPTER XXVI

HOMESTEADERS IN BUFFALO COUNTY--A LIST OF 1,265 PERSONS TAKING HOMESTEAD AND PRE-EMPTION CLAIMS IN BUFFALO COUNTY PREVIOUS TO 1880--ARRANGED BY TOWNSHIP AND RANGE, GIVING YEAR OF FILING ON CLAIM.

THE HOMESTEADER

   As a pioneer in the settlement of the county and state the homesteader takes first place--first rank. As a rule the homesteader was of limited means and ventured everything in the effort to establish a home. The rapidity with which the county was settled beginning in 1871 is best illustrated by a table showing the number of homestead and pre-emption claims filed upon in the county previous to the year 1880.
   A table giving by years the number of homestead and pre-emption claim filed upon in Buffalo County:

1867 ...................... 1
1870 ...................... 2
1871 .................... 165
1872 .................... 177
1873 .................... 150
1874 .................... 143
1875 ..................... 71
1876 ..................... 50
1877 ..................... 29
1878 .................... 268
1879 .................... 209
    Total.............. 1,265

   The setback which not only Buffalo County but the state received in the drouth and grasshopper years of 1874, 1875 and 1876 is only half illustrated in the above table, for not only were there comparatively few newcomers, but hundreds of those who had taken claims left the county and state, deserting their claims, which were in later years taken by others.
   The rather large number of claims recorded as taken in the years 1878-79 is in part accounted for by the fact that the Fort Kearney Military Reservation ten miles square and four-tenths of which was embraced within the limits Buffalo County, was thrown open to homestead entry in 1878 under condition

111HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY

which permitted the head of a family to homestead 160 acres, and in the years 1878-79 all these lands were filed upon in the United States Land Office, and as there were no railroad lands in the reservation, every quarter section contained a homesteader. The belief that the reservation would be thrown open to homestead entry led interested parties (the chief promoter being Dr. J. J. Saville) to employ S. and J. Murphy, civil engineers, living at Kearney, to survey the reservation, this about the year 1876, and at that date practically the entire reservation, was taken by "squatters," who, when the lands were thrown open to homestead entry in 1878, having the first right to make entry, filed their claims in the land office.
   Believing that in a history of Buffalo County the name of every person taking a homestead or pre-emption claim, in the early days, is worthy of being made a matter of record, and that to future generations it will be of interest to know who made the first settlements in the various townships of the county, the editor has copied from the United States Land Office records the names of all those taking a homestead or pre-emption claim in the county previous to the year 1880.
   This list is here given by Government township and range, and in the spelling of the names great care has been taken to follow the record in the land office. It will be noticed there are some duplication of names. This is accounted for from the fact that some settlers took both a pre-emption and a homestead claim, it being legal and proper so to do.
   List of persons taking homestead and pre-emption claims in Buffalo County previous to the year 1880:

PLATTE TOWNSHIP--TOWN NO. 8, RANGES 13 AND 14

   1878--Jacob Miller, Nelson Jaco, C. E. Darling, F. C. Goodwin, Edward Broderick, A. Smith, H. S. Towers, R. H. Pember, John Stutz, Fred Donner, Henrich Brenkman, W. H. Wallace, John Nash, Wm. Moreland, Wm. J. Willars, John Hartwell, John Pember, E. Slatie, L. Morrow, Thomas Carson, Sarepta Patterson, A. Johnson, G. W. Rishel, N. Platt, M. Martin, F. A. Morgan, J A. Combs, Sophia Holbrook, P. McBride, Silas Troop, A. A. Robinson, T. L. Graffius, H. Wilcox, Samuel Boyer, Charles Ernst.
   1879-John Vanwey, George Stearley, J. W. Weaver, M. O. Kessler, John W. Shahan, John T. Gilliland, T. Swenier, I. A. Matlick, W. H. Fulton, J. Kent.

SHELTON TOWNSHIP--TOWN NO. 9, RANGE NO. 13

   1870--O. E. Thompson, Andrew Buest.
   1871--August Meyer, L. Worthington, B. C. Bassett, Henry Fairchild, Robert Waters, S. C. Bassett, A. S. Craig, J. H. Darby, Ed Lovall, W. H. Sprague, James Oliver, H. C. Green, M. Stearley, H. Goss, B. F. Sammons, Ira L. Bunker, L. N. West, F. F. Blanchard, C. Putnam, Dr. I. P. George, W. H. Kelly, Theron D. Yost, J. N. Allen, B. Austin, J. M. Bayley, C. O. Childs, Kingman Fisher, J. M. Erwin, J. F. McKinley, Isaac Starbuck, James Wilkie, F. B. Reider, Paul Litterman, W. H. Gray.

112HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY

   1872--Edward Oliver, Ephriam Oliver, Henry Dugdale, E. M. Fargo, John Gagin, H. Stockwell, Orin Pratt, S. B. Lowell, A. D. George, Rodney George, George W. Brown, James Wilson, John Haug, Fred Haug, George Stearley, Joseph Buck, Sr., A. W. Zimmerman, J. R. George.
   1873--Joseph Owen, Elizabeth Hurley, Mrs. Mary Day.
   1874--Patrick Walsh, J. A. Brown, M. Breed, H. Thompson, F. J. Jenns, L. M. Sanford, B. Ashton.
   1875--Wm. Nutter, Montrose Fisher.
   1876--L. D. Craven, Mrs. E. Pember.
   1877--M. G. Lee.
   1878--D. S. Meals, D. M. Swayze, W. G. Devall, Mary M. Kirkpatrick, Eli Meals, B. P. Thompson, W. H. Curtis, J. O. Vanwey, George Trace, Jr., L. Vohland, W. H. Bell, N. Meals, M. W. Winchester, W. H. Mauer, J. Bishop, W. H. Ashton, J. P. Bastian, S. L. Boyer, J. B. Loury, J. J. Brown, James Wilson, H. H. Winchester.
   1879--George Mortimer, J. H. Leisey, J. Miller.

SHARON TOWNSHIP--TOWN NO. 10, RANGE NO. 13

   1871--V. Armbus, Wm. M. Craven, Albert Washburn, Geo. L. Thomas, O. B. Washburn, O. C. Hancock, Simon V. Seeley, F. D. Boardman, James Garfield, Jame E. Judd, T. D. Thacher, Lorenzo Plumb, J. W. Vance, J. A. Barnes, George Meisner, Casper Meisner, D. Fox, Henry Fieldgrove, John P. Smith, A. Barrett, Alzo Plumb, J. H. Mills, S. R. Traut.
   1872--Mrs. Lois N. Ayer, E. Buno, L. Sturges, P. Ruth, R. A. Fox, Robert Goar, T. J. Taylor, J. E. Miller, C. E. S. Cooper, E. Miller, J. M. Kean, J. K. Lux, C. W. Davenport, J. C. Standley, P. McCullough, S. F. Henninger, J. J. Whittier, D. W. Johnson, R. Neil, D. Stonebarger, Mrs. E. Pember, Nathan Mills.
   1873--A. Rines, C. S. Bailey, E. S. Judd, T. E. Mundle, A. D. Barnhart, John Henry, M. S. Henry, Daniel Dye.
   1874--H. S. Colby, J. D. H. Koch, J. M. Devall, Geo. F. Klingst, F. A. Kappler, O. Gumprech, Isaac Willard, B. Whittaker.
   1875--E. W. Borman, J. P. Turbell, E. M. Devall.
   1876--F. W. Killner, T. F. Craig, W. S. Freeman.
   1877--D. Otto, F. W. Schiemann.
   1878--W. F. Koster, H. Sutter, George Conroy, John Conroy, Geo. D. Williams, C. H. Cudney, G. A. Blume, A. Hoag, W. H. Bentley, Florence E. Brown.
   1879--John Lubbin, E. L. Smith, T. D. Allen.

GARDNER TOWNSHIP--TOWN NO. 11, RANGE NO. 13

   1874--D. Barrett, A. Bromley, Wm. Barrett, S. Chandler, J. T. Badger, T. J. Smith, Saml. Urwiller.
   1875--Geo. L. Gardner, Luke Barrett.
   1876--Geo. K. Peck, Wm. Weeces.
   1877--W. S. Elliott, Emma T. Peck, S. McCutchen, Henry Willey, G. W. Archer, C. Riddle.

113HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY

   1878--Max Schlund, Claus Sothmann, F. Hentz, H. Muhlbach, R. Beekman, H. Cassidy, J. H. Barrett, G. H. L. Harding, J. G. A. Muhlbach, Jas. Hutchinson. S. R. Hankins, C. C. Knapp, W. L. Lewis, L. Krenzwieser, V. E. Bush, H. Harris, J. G. Harris, Elizabeth J. Aufderhide, John Luce, Robt. Taylor, F. Urwiller, Thomas Carroll, Emil Keehler, C. Karp, George Best, D. Scrivin, J. Urwiller, F. A. Muhlbach, W. F. Muhlbach, J. P. Curry, J. B. Wrightington, Joanna Dean, A. G. Welch, Henry Decker, J. Hendrickson, D. Riley, F. Rohrbach.
   1879--Samuel Urwiller, E. Muhlbach, F. A. E. Novck, John A. Hogg, E. Riley, L. Waldron, James Cleary, George S. Post, Wm. Sprect, E. J. Stephens, J. Y. Swigart, George W. Carr, Danforth Demary, C. N. Klammer, John Stuber, R. J. Welch, Eli Campbell, P. Dooley, J. Billingsly.

CHERRY CREEK TOWNSHIP--TOWN NO. 12, RANGE NO. 13

   1876--E. Locke.
   1878--A. Kyne, G. M. Hankins, R. J. Hodson.
   1879--A. J. Hodson, J. D. Mathews, M. Kyne, E. J. Varney.

GIBBON TOWNSHIP--TOWN NO. 9, RANGE NO. 14

   (Note--The southwest quarter of section 14, town 9, range 14, in this township, known as "Boyd Ranch," was the first claim taken in the county by Joseph Boyd in 1867, and was the first piece of deeded land in Nebraska west of Hall County.)
   1867--Joseph Boyd.
   1871--A. F. Gibson, W. H. Kenny, W. J. Knight, Coe Killgore, Clara E. Lew, John Lloyd, C. A. Monks, W. F. McClure, E. Northrup, A. J. Oviatt, Wm. Patterson, C. T. Silvernail, H. P. Rogers, John Lucas, Geo. H. Silvernail, Wm. Roach, John Silvernail, Jacob Booth, R. E. L. Willard, J. W. Wiggins, S. M. McDuffee, Aaron Ward, W. D. Hick, C. E. Brayton, John W. Forrest, Wm. Brady, Robert Hick, I. D. LaBarre, R. Forrest, Geo. Gilmore, P. K. Drury, L. S.Hough, J. Delos Drury, S. Rosseter, V. T. Mercer, U. A. Day, John Stern, D. R. Davis, O. A. Buzzell, Asa Fawcett, W. J. Carson, W. W. Gibson, D. P. Crable, M. D. Thomas, A. Kennedy, J. S. Chamberlain, R, S. Shiffert, L. D. George, J. Gable, T. J. Hubbard, W. N. Jackson, E. M. Hubbard, G. A. King, Saml. Mattice, R. Wallace, John Grabach.
   1872--P. T. Davis, A. J. Snowdon, W. C. Drury, J. W. Berry, Mary J. Mercer, J. E. Kelsey, D. P. Ashburn, John P. Putnam, T. J. Fisher, D. B. Worley, Wm. Stern, J. A. Danner, H. B. Mercer.
   1873--J. Marsh, T. B. George, W. P. Trew, T. J. Mahoney.
   1874--Ebon Bray, J. J. W. Place.
   1878--A. P. Johnson, H. Lewis, R. W. Wallace, P. Crawford, A. J. Murrish, John J. Marrs, Charles Riley, Wm. Manix, John Murrish, B. M. Guiles, M. Meals, J. McWhiney, T. Pratt, A. H. Boltin, Elisabeth Baker, W. H. Chapman, W. O. Altaffer, S. M. Palmer, H. Cook, F. H. Cook, Mary A. Reis, E. S. Edwards, J. M. Applegate, P. E. Foxworthy, Hattie B. Cook, A. Eddy.
   1879--Peter DeClark, Isaac DeClark, A. L. Chase.

114HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY

VALLEY TOWNSHIP--TOWN NO. 10, RANGE NO. 14

   1871--N. W. Short, M. Gray.
   1872--T. L. Mitchell, J. R. Beach, S. A. Barrett, E. Graham. 1873--W. T. Beatty, H. H. Haven, W. A. Losee, S. F. Berry, M. Oard, A. M. Campbell, George Simpkins, Samuel T. Walker.
   1874--Thomas Jones, John Brennon, W. R. Wheeler.
   1875--P. C. Shannon.
   1876--Wm. Puttergill, S. D. Kooser.
   1878--J. B. Wheeler, Geo. E. Fredericks, T. Q. George, O. Knepper.
   1879--R. R. Rathbon, Joseph Glaze, Wm. Trivelpiece, L. C. France, J. Kinnett, G. W. McKay, David Roach, G. W. Walker, N. H. Smith.

SCHNEIDER TOWNSHIP--TOWN NO. 11, RANGE NO. 14

   1874--J. Schuller, John Petz, F. Frederick, G. Schiem.
   1875--W. Fischer, J. G. Grossen, P. Mundscheuk, A. Schueller,C. Murbe, F. A. Schmidt, C. Kaubler, F. Lochr, F. L. Berbig.
   1876--C. W. Grosser, T. Kender, F. Winkler, G. Middleton, Robert Penson.
   1877--F. A. Scheick, F. Reinhold, F. Gruenther, W. Weber.
   1878--J. Lindloff, Anna Murgerl, J. Soukup, Frank Schuler, E. Goehring, W. A. Shreve, Mary Schuller, W. Freyberg, F. Guenther, J. H. Richardson.
   1879--C. H. Dow, Elizabeth Porter, A. Burgess, S. H. Hogg, Silas Robinson, R. Goehring, W. Z. Tillson, B. F. Gardner, C. T. Frederick, A. Scheick, F. A. Weidner, F. L. Weidner, J. Schmidt, A. W. Clark, J. Weigel, W. W. Pool, W. Freyberg, Hans Voss, T. Blaschko, Granvill Robinson, J. A. King, J. Zulauf, Peter O'Brien, R. McKutchen, J. H. Vorys, T. Hodges.

GARFIELD TOWNSHIP--TOWN NO. 12, RANGE NO. 14

   1874--Erastus Smith, H. J. Alward, Wm. Eastridge, D. Miller, W. Freel.
   1876--E. Veith.
   1877--J. T. Lewis.
   1878--F. Stark, A. A. Hixon.
   1879--J. C. Stark, P. Gehrt, J. W. Mommesson, J. M. Smith, C. Uri, W. Brough, B. F. Peck, P. N. Round, C. Landers.

CENTER TOWNSHIP--TOWN NO. 9, RANGE NO. 15

   Also all of town No. 8, range No. 15, embraced in Buffalo County.
   1871--George N. Smith, H. Hillficker, R. Kiligore, B. F. Bengsloe, John Blanchard, A. H. Brundage, H. D. Smith, W. A. Hunter, Wm. Smith, George Hoge, George Enderly, J. H. Miller, George Flehearty, J. H. O'Neil, S. A. Mack, A. Shovel, T. M. Faddis, I. B. Wambaugh, H. Comstock, H. T. Faddis, C. A. Smith, John Davis, A. W. Tabor, A. L. Ketchum, F. Moore.
   1872--W. H. Killgore, J. Hillficker, J. Wood, John Mahan, L. D. Forehand, G. M. Hively, John Hively, J. Enderly, J. Loverin, J. N. Loverin, Mary A.

115HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY

Smith, A. P. Mitchell, J. Gabriel, A. B. Richardson, J. C. Pierce, I. L. Cuttler, H. S. Guy, J. McClure, G. W. Kern, Jr, S. I. Asterheid, C. I. Asterheid, D. B. Marsh, S. Brandal, A. Row, W. S. Spooner, J. Crinyan, H. Worden, W. M. Brookover, C. Parry, J. Hively, A. Henderson, T. Garland, C. T. Weldin.
   1873--J. M. Frantz, N. D. Brooks, George Grabach, A. W. Hanson, D. Bean, W. Troop, Robert Haines, A. Scott, Maria J. Sadler, Mary A. Smith, J. M. Thomas, J. Thomas, H. V. Westhoven, H. W. Morse, J. S. Harrington, J. B. Ingram, J. A. Waters, G. W. Clem, John Hoge.
   1874--B. Fancette, L. Troop, J. Scott, J. Troop, E. A. Hartman, C. Lee, P. D. Keys.
   1875--J. Hormel, D. Clelland, A. A. Brown.
   1876--F. E. Babbitt, B. F. Vandyke, S. Van Scyoc, C. C. Black, F. Reynolds, A. H. Edwards.
   1877--J. Trumbull, Wm. Schranm, L. Korecek, C. Osterheid.
   1878--W. T. Scott, F. J. Switz, H. Burritt, Mary A. Vance, L. M. Brigham, E. C. Calkins, M. Saville, C. A. Westervelt, A. Bessie, Samuel L. Savidge, C. E. Paist, A. B. Clark, I. Henthorn, J. Layton, J.A. Harron, J.E. Lund, M. F. Martin, S. H. McNutt, A. D. Randall, M. O. Riley, H. J. Mack, E. Mathews, G. W. Mecum, M. M. Martin, D. Allen, J. M. Chism, R. W. Russell, S. Landis, C. D. Ayers, H. C. Sams, W. H. Salisbury, S. Wenzell, D. Webbert, W. L. Nash, J. S. Sizer, S. J. Waldron, L. W. Zook, P. Ford, W. E. Hawley, J. Eaton, J. W. Winslow, T. T. Clelland, J. McKain, M. M. Allen, M. Henthorn, T. McBride, James Evans, Rosa Grant.
   1879--W. B. McBride, B. H. Goulding, R. H. Eaton, J. Anderson, E. D. McCalve.

THORNTON TOWNSHIP--TOWN NO. 10, RANGE NO. 15

   1873--C. A. Borders, B. Turner, F. Chisler, F. J. Weldin, M. Conners, J.C. V. Kelley, B. J. Holmes, W. S. Hall.
   1874--S. S. St. John, J. M. Smith, J. Gass, N. L. Coombs, Joel Miller, N. Fellers, J. Trumbull, W. J. Neely, J. E. Holloway, F. G. Hamer, B. Streigle, G. H. Cutting, W. G. Patterson, S. W. Thornton, E. Goodsell.
   1875--G. R. Tracy, S. W. Powers, H. Stanford, J. Schutrum, P. D. Keys, J. H. Borders, D. K. Larimer, E. Cooperider.
   1876--G. P. Caldwell, J. A. Waters, G. Schmid.
   1878--J. Lake, George Gilming, Z. A. Weldin, L. W. Weldin, D. McCan, W. Weldin, Rebecca S. Neely, C. C. Smith, W. J. Turner, T. Spencer.
   1879--Caroline M. Gilming, J. Gass, L. F. Lyberger, R. Gass, F. Gunst, W. S. Ball, T. Caton, A. Henderson, A. W. Smith, I. S. Tracy, F. W. Magee.

CEDAR TOWNSHIP--TOWN NO. 11, RANGE NO. 15

   1873--M. A. Young, I. Bates, Joseph Clayton, S. A. Marshall, S. Kinsey, E. West, E. W. Carpenter, Joseph White, S. J. Houston, J. M. Treichler, S. Higgins, J. Dance.
   1874--A. St. Peter, J. McCool, J. Rink, H. Luce, J. E. Miller.

116HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY

   1878--W. C. Tillson, J. Mapes, C. H. George, G. Vater.
   1879--A. Barker, J. Barker, G. W. Duncan, J. M. Shields, A. J. Stover, C. W. Putnam, D. McCool, W. Bigsty, T. Hunnegbun, G. A. Tuppan.

BEAVER TOWNSHIP--TOWN NO. 12, RANGE NO. 15

   1873--H. Hughes, J. P. Christensen.
   1874--J. Armstrong.
   1875--J. E. Nave, J. McGee.
   1876--B. F. Parkhurst, H. C. Padelford.
   1877--J. W. Herbough.
   1878--E. Nervig, W. A. Weller, J. Michie, T. W. Smay, Robt. Hutchinson.
   1879--H. Work, W. Lee, Ole Lee, J. L. Miller, T. J. Cocking.

RIVERDALE TOWNSHIP--TOWN NO. 9, RANGE NO. 16

   Also town No. 8, range No. 16, as embraced in Buffalo County.
   1871--George E. Smith, Jas. A. Smith, W. F. Marsh, E. T. Jay, Pattie Gidddings, W. W. Patterson, Mahlon White, L. S. Dickenson, J. W. Whitlock, J. Q. Potter, J. F. Chace, G. S. Ball, W. S. Croy, N. Gould, A. M. White, I. White, H. Van Arman.
   1872--John Henning, D. Lewis, W. Slote, D. M. Logan, James Jenkins, I. Webb, F. L. Perkins, Joseph Scott, J. M. Winterbottom, George E. Smith, A. M. Gay, I. J. Hillman, Anna M. Smith, J. W. Leland, L. B. Fifield, D. Rowan, D. Anderson, A. Fellows, F. W. Dart, A. W. Barlow, Ashbury Collins, F. N. Colwell, C. Winterbottom, F. G. Keens, A. J. Gibson, A. Larson, H. Miller, J. C. Bunnell, L. B. Cunningham, B. C. Byrd, C. Sischo, J. F. Jones, P. Calhoon, C. Stevenson, F. Cuddebach, J. Cuddebach, J. W. Kick, E. S. Perkins, W. G. Carson, J. B. Sammons, S. Wenzell, C. Gould, Wm. Morse.
   1873--F. R. Woods, Hannah Jay, Geo. E. Norris, J. N. Keller, J.W. Bradley, W. J. Perkins, J. G. Carson, E. P. McDonald, J. C. Bunnell, J. R. Hurst, J. Carr, A. E. Russell, J. H. Hollenbeck, E. Spencer, W. Smart, A. W. Reddish, Wm. Swartwood, W. C. Griffith, A. H. Connor, J. A. Smith, M. Smidt, W. S. Gregory, W. C. Turner, Max Boetsch, J. Williams, Walter Colby.
   1874--J. W. Nash, C. Baumgartner, M. M. White, C. Israel, J. Fish, E. H. Wilcox, W. Hewitt, N. C. Honnold, E. L. Lull, P. Keefer, F. Reynolds, H. W. Ross.
   18750--M. N. Hildebrand, J. B. Wicker, J. R. King, C. Larson, Ole Larson, B. Tuesdale, C. Abrandt, W. B. Brown, Wm. Moner, T. C. Roberts.
   1876--John Pfrom, C. S. Hill, S. S. Hill, C. W. Porter, L. Wenzell, T. S. Nightengale.
   1877--H. H. Magill.
   1878--N. Campbell, M. Nevius, H. E. Swan, H. Lantz, D. Lowenstein, C. L. A. Klatte, Julia Haven, C. C. Black, J. S. Atwood, John Barnes, Joseph Black, E. Kleber, J. M. Feather, James Cox, W. S. Slate.
   1879--J. H. Lantz, H. Lowenstein, N. D. Bort, S. R. Black, I. J. Sommers, W. L. Nash, W. M. Guardian, M. Smith, A. J. Crossley, J. L. Seymour, A. Sheifeldt.

117HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY

DIVIDE TOWNSHIP--TOWN NO. 10, RANGE NO. 16

   1872--Wm. Willard, W. Richardson, V. O. S. Reynolds, A. D. Raymond, W. F. Piercy, J. L. Chevaux.
   1873--J. F. Young, S. Herod, A. E. Thomas, G. N. McKeen, M. J. Spry, I. Neff, E. A. Cutting, W. L. Willard, G. S. Duncan, I. S. Knight, Mrs. M. B. Fox, D. Inman, D. A. Dorsey, E. W. Thomas, C. A. McConkey, J. Joseph, A. L. Spry, J. Brown, S. A. Atwood, G. L. Bakewell, C. Lewis, B. C. Sprague, J. E. Spry, S. N. Spry, D. Vance, R. H. Eaton, H. W. Collins, T. G. McLaughlin.
   1874--T. J. McKee, H. Mitchell, G. Beal, H. Sievert, J. Ginther, C. Kirk, F. Siewert, F. Riesenweber, A. Davidson, F. Willoper, H. Baumgarn, S. Miller, T. Turney, J. Rilinger, A. H. Cleaveland, C. Bishop, John Swenson, J. Schutt.
   1875--L. Logan, J. H. Harrison, L. N. Thorndike, D. H. Compton, J. Sommerville, Thomas Ginther, O. Neff, Wm. Hueselton, F. Weiss, A. Gartley, H. Randolph, C. Schandtz, E. Cuddebach, A. L. Hopwood, A. Ayers.
   1876-L. G. Walter, N. Boquet, C. Stierlen, L. Brucker, A. A. Brucker, T. Hutchinson.
   1877--V. H. Barrager, Robert Scheiching.
   1878--F. Hone, Lydia P. Bever, A. Stedwell, Robt. Knittel, F. Juhl, C. Scheiching.
   1879--Emory Peck, J. W. Lalone, W. H. Pettit, D. Hamilton, B. Koeppe, M. S. Stover, H. A. Wells, K. Holmes, Xaver Hoell, F. Juhl, G. Scheiching, Wm. Stover.

RUSCO TOWNSHIP--TOWN NO. 11, RANGE NO. 16

   1873--E. M. Holly.
   1874--A. Peake, John Wilson, L. H. Johnson, J. L. Scott, L. Allen, B. D. Graham, A. M. Morse, F. Boyer, J. H. Lockard.
   1875--W. H. Jordon.
   1876--W. Rusco.
   1877--M. P. Baker, C. Scott.
   1878--J. W. Phillips, A. D. Colwell.
   1879--E. Beyer, J. A. Beyer, J. T. Field, A. O. Olsen, C. E. Field, S. A. Field, Kate M. Trott, F. M. Moore, J. Nickman.

LOUP TOWNSHIP--TOWN NO. 12, RANGE NO. 16

   1874-H. F. Hand, J. T. Palmer, L. A. Colburn, C. B. Oakley, N. Dick, N. A. Brunce, J. Welch, H. H. Clark.
   1876--E. Colburn, J. C. Carr, John Sheckler.
   1878--O. F. Madsen, J. H. Booher, R. Reiter, J. J. Parks, C. A. Turner, O. Holmes, J. Pearson, I. Holmes, D. A. Parks.
   1879--H. H. Smith, E. Reiter, D. A. Peterson, J. F. Hunter, W. H. Sparks, J. Unick, D. Rohrbarer, C. E. Parks, F. Scholtz.

ODESSA TOWNSHIP--TOWN NO. 9, RANGE NO. 17

   Also that portion of town No. 8, range No. 17, embraced within the limits of Buffalo County.

118HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY

   1871--Dan A. Crowell, B. Allen Crowell.
   1872--R. D. Gould, J. Zerk, D. Brown, E. Christianson,, C. Christianson, J. F. Suplee, S. Tolefsen, R. Vails, S. W. Homer, Flora Thomas, H. Brown, J. B. Vincent, M. Fagley, H. F. Leonard, Wm. C. T. Kurth, Geo. W. Tovey, J. Ratliff, M. Homer, J. E. F. Vails, John D. Seaman.
   1873--C. S. Greenman, E. N. Lord, Geo. D. Aspinwall, George Hall, R. F. Watters, Theadore Knox, James Sturrock, A. Ream, J. E. Chidester, J. Homer, Jr.
   1874--James Halliwell, D. Harpst, John T. Brown, Edward Keltner, Wm. F. Reeves, J. M. Grant, Thomas Maloney.
   1875--George Jones.
   1876--H. Ransom, Catherine Edwards.
   1878--F. W. Nickols, J. Vails, George A. Bailey, Susan C. Hurlburt, R. D. Gould, D. Hostetler, H. H. Achey, Susan Grant, L. C. Skelley, Ada Grant.
   1879--J. Segard, John Davis, W. Broat, Cordelia M. Waite, J. B. Neal, John Work, George T. Broughton, Wm. H. McNutt.

GRANT TOWNSHIP--TOWN NO. 10, RANGE NO. 17

   1872--John Groves, J. Atkinson, Jr., Richard Bell, J. J. Roberts.
   1873--M. B. Hunt, W. White, E. S. Marsh, G. L. Kough, A. M. Mudge, J. K. Sanford, W. H. Brown, G. F. Hesselgrave, T. E. Foster, Wm. N. Brown.
   1874--Wm. Grant, G. W. Coffman, A. Thompson, Lydia M. Mace, H. Coffman, J. H. Coffman.
   1875--H. A. Jules, G. H. Sand, D. Halsey, Charles Wandel, C. L. Hamilton.
   1876--M. Butler, A. Clark, L. Major.
   1877--Katie Lander, J. W. Brewster.
   1878--Daniel Holden, P. H. Esler, M. E. Lathrop, H. L. Seaman, Pat Riley.
   1879--J. H. Fisher, B. L. Mushrush, H. Brown, F. C. Almy, W. J. Clark, H. B. Gilbert, J. C. Douke, Wm. M. Hoover.

SCOTT TOWNSHIP--TOWN NO. II, RANGE NO. 17

   1873--Benjamin Scott, John Laro.
   1874--W. Hanshen, J. P. Gilmore, James A. Betts.
   1878--J. J. Moore, James Broadfoot.
   1879--W. W. McLea, O. H. Lowery.

SARTORIA TOWNSHIP--TOWN NO. 12, RANGE NO. 17

   1878--B. Lee, Nels Lee, Mattie Stockdale.
   1879--P. Pierce, W. Cook, C. Cook, W. J. Grant, George Pfeiffer.

ELM CREEK TOWNSHIP--TOWN NO. 9, RANGE NO. 18

   Also that portion of town No. 8, range No. 18, embraced within Buffalo County.

119HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY

   1871--A. F. Fraser, T. J. Holt, B. Foot, H. Ryan.
   1872--Fannie Nevius, James Tyler, W. Shreve, R. M. Holt, M. Stout, F. Ryan, D.McAlister, W. S. Leake, J. E. Anderson, P. Hansen, D. T. Hood, W. V. Hoge, J. McKee, J. W. Stevens.
   1873--H. B. Steele, John Tyler, D. C. Bond, D. Dooley, J. Degler.
   1874--C. J. Swayne, H. T. Morton, J. Meach, J. Dane, J. Ulrich, William Dawns, J. T. Shufflebarger, Wm. Snell, F. Foster, J. DeKam, Charles Davis.
   1875--L. Kocker, A. S. Leake, S. T. Wolf, A. Shufflebarger, J. Shufflebarger, Sarah J. Calkins, George Miller.
   1876--G.W. House, J..P. Arndt.
   1877--D. I. Brown.
   1878--R. K. Potter, W. C. Shufflebarger, J. R. Churchill, M. Hurley.
   1879--J. Somell, A. Straight, S. M. Tingley, H. Hobson, C. E. Holmes,.L. Knapp, D. Browning, A. S. Sabin, L. P. Wells, J. Demuth, A. Jarchke, Thomas Bolan, N. O. Calkins, J. B. Wait.

LOGAN TOWNSHIP--TOWN NO. 10, RANGE NO. 18

   1878--C. A. Willis, Ella A. Willis.
   1879--Anton Rager.

ARMADA TOWNSHIP-TOWN NO. 11, RANGE NO. 18

   1873--H. C. Harbough, A. J. Fennell, Wm. Carr, R. Burney, Thomas Jeffry.
   1874--John Mercer, J. H. Brown, Robert Miller, Oscar Hamilton.
   1873--I. Lamb, J. F. Mackey.
   1877--A. L. Armstrong.
   1878--Wm. M. White, G. A. Roach, H. Zarrs.
   1879--J. L. Abel, R. F. Simpson, F. B. Craps, A. F. Burt, H. T. West.

HARRISON TOWNSHIP--TOWN NO. 12, RANGE NO. 18

   1879--John Hurse, J. W. Cassell, E. Miles, C. Olmstead, W. N. Wright, A. Woodbridge, Cannute Lee.

120

CHAPTER XXVII

FIRST FOURTH OF JULY PICNIC, 1872--HELD IN DUGDALE GROVE--SUNDAY SCHOOLS FROM BUFFALO AND HALL COUNTIES PARTICIPATE--300 CHILDREN IN ATTENDACE--SAMUEL B. LOWELL, PRESIDENT--COL. H. D. NILES DELIVERS THE OKATION--PROF. D. B. WORLEY IN CHARGE OF MUSIC.

FIRST FOURTH OF JULY PICNIC

(From Buffalo County Beacon, July 13, 1872)

   The day was ushered in by the booming of a big cottonwood log and the ringing of bells. It was one of those beautiful days only to be seen in Nebraska. The Sunday schools of Gibbon and Wood River Union (Centre Township) and their friends assembled at the schoolhouse in Gibbon at 11 A. M., where conveyances were ready, for all who wished to participate, for the grove, situated about four miles east of town on grounds owned by Henry Dugdale. On arrival at the grove, we found it a cool and delightful place on the banks of Wood River, carefully cleaned of underbrush and fitted up with seats, swings, rostrum, etc. District No. 1 and Wood River Station (Hall County) schools were already on the ground. After a short time spent in preparation, the different schools, headed by their superintendents, marched into the grove, the Wood River School first, numbering sixty members and bearing a banner trimmed with colored rosettes and ribbon streamers. The center was the figure of an. eagle of beautiful needle work, bearing in its beak a scroll inscribed with the national motto, "E Pluribus Unum." This banner was the work of Japanese men and was presented to the school by Doctor Patterson. Rufus Mitchell was superintendent of this school. Next in the procession came District No. 1 School numbering 115 members with Rev. J. N. Allen as superintendent. Then came the Gibbon School, 150 member, bearing a banner inscribed "Gibbon Sunday School" and on the reverse side "Holy Bible," the banner trimmed with evergreen, Rev. O. A. Buzzell superintendent. Last came the Wood River Union School, sixty-five members, carrying the Stars and Stripes, and a plain banner with the inscription "Union Sunday School" and on the reverse "God is Love," W. H. Kinney, superintendent.
   The assemblage was called to order by the president of the day, S. B. Lowell. Rev. Wm. Morse offered an appropriate and impressive prayer. The audience then sang the national hymn, "America," led by Prof. D. B. Worley, who presided at the organ, this followed by the reading of the immortal declaration of independence by Rev. J. J. W. Place. The remaining exercises were as follows:
   Song, "Beautiful River," by the Gibbon School.
   Oration, Col. H. D. Niles.

121HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY

   The afternoon exercises consisted of a musical selection by Prof. D. B. Worley; an address by Rev. J. N. Allen and recitations by Misses Edith George, Flora Sprague, Carrie Marsh and Flossie Day. * * * It would have taken a great stretch of the imagination to have pictured to the mind the scene which actually took place on the Fourth at Dugdale's Grove. Not less than five hundred children assembled and singing praises to God where eighteen months before the wild Indians roamed at pleasure and herds of buffalo occupied the very grounds the picnic was held on. It shows with what a bound civilization has advanced over the prairies of Nebraska within a short period of time. May the children who took part in the first celebration of our national holiday in Buffalo County live to see many more such.