Introduction
This is a collection of copies of a series of historical newspaper columns. They were published weekly in the DeWitt Times-News beginning 11 Nov 1926 through 18 Oct 1928. Then Editor Ed Rossiter asked
Frank F. Nicholas, DeWitt's Oldest, Living, Native Son, born 26 May 1861 to work with him to relate Frank's memories about early DeWitt and the surrounding area history.
The columns are written in conversational style and, as in such conversations, the topics skip around quite a lot. It isn't long before others begin to add their recollections or corrections about events described by Mr. Nicholas resulting in a wonderful description of life and events in the early settlement of this area. It is important for the reader to read the entire text as sometimes the authors talk over their memory of an event and then change or enhance the story. Thus you should not draw conclusions from the first account which you find but keep reading.
As interest grew in this project, others began writing letters which are included in the columns. You will find writings by Wes Cox,
G.
E. Lemmon,
W.
H. Daubendick,
T.
U. Whiffen,
C.
W. Buck and others. The writings provide the reader with an idea of how people lived and survived when the nearest supplies were at either Nebraska City or St. Joseph, MO.
Some of the columns were typed from the newspaper copy and the balance are copies of the newsprint. Some of the newsprint is hard to read but with patience most of the words can be figured out. I have begun the book with an article from
DEWITT
OPPOSITION, 13
Jan 1876, which lists short biographies of some of the businessmen of that time. I also inserted the history of the
ZION EVANGELICAL
CHURCH, a listing of DeWitt School Dist. # 6 students for the years 1876 and 1877, and a list of Civil War veterans buried in Oak Grove Cemetery as of June 1915 at the beginning of the book.
You will find first hand accounts of people who knew
Wild Bill
HICKOK
and knew first hand the circumstances of the
Rock Creek Station
incident.
Also there is recounting of the
Indian Raids in August 1864 from people who were there.
As a genealogist and historian, I have found these columns to be very valuable and unduplicated in helping us to understand the early days of DeWitt and the DeWitt area. Also, I have copied the articles from the DeWitt Times-News and any errors in the writing are those of the original authors and I can not be responsible for them.
It is a pleasure on behalf of the DeWitt Historical Society and myself, to present this volume to
you.
Doris A.
Peters, Editor
15124 North Blue Ridge Road DeWitt NE 68341
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