CHAPTER 2.
The Organization Of The Territory of Nebraska-The First White Settlers In Dixon County And The Relinquisment Of Indian Claims-Names, Dates Of Arrival And Where From, As Near As Can Be Ascertained Of Pioneers From The First Arrival In May, 1856, To The Time When Dixon County Was Organized In The Fall Of 1858.
In 1803, the country which is now the state of Nebraska, was a part of the province of Louisiana and under the dominion of France. In 1854, this country, (which during the interval between 1803 and 1854, had been ceded to the United States and had successively been part of the territories of Louisiana and Missouri,) was organized by an act of congress, as the territory of Nebraska. As thus organized, Nebraska territory was of vast dimensions, including not only the present state of Nebraska but also the great region to the north and west now occupied by the Dakotas, Wyoming and Montana.
Prior to the formation of Nebraska territory in 1854, as well as for two years afterwards, that part of it now known as Dixon County had never had a permanent white settler. (Indeed, white settlers in Nebraska were few and far between in those early times, there being in the whole territory in 1855 only about 3,500.) From time to time, people had passed through on their way to the far west, or had visited it to purchase furs of the indians or for the perilous excitement of hunting and trapping on Indian lands. In 1847 and the following year several large companies of Mormons went across the country on their way to Salt Lake, and their various routes, the "Old Mormon Trails" as they are now called, hard and worn like turnpikes and devoid of grass, are in many places plain to be seen.
This country, then claimed by the Indians, was a region little known and its reputation as being a part of the "Great American Desert" rendered it far from inviting to settlers. Soon after the territory was organized, the Omaha Indians ceded to the goverment a large part of their lands west of the Missouri amounting to about 485 square miles. This great tract embraced what is now known as Dakota county and extended up the river to Aoway Creek (now known as South Creek,) in Dixon County. West of that creek and between it and Fort Randall, the country was claimed by the Ponca Indians. Hence a pioneer could could by virtue of the treaty with the Omahas, come in peace and safety up the country as far as Aoway, but to cross that stream and go farther into the promised land laid him liable to incur the high displeassure of the Poncas. Such Indian title was often disputed by pioneers, who, looking across the Aoway and seeing beautiful valleys and plains beyond, longed to cross and in fact often did cross and braving opposition, occupy claims on the forbidden ground. This disputed region was as yet unsurveyed, and the uncertainty of title and the presence of the copper colored majority-naturally unfriendly under the circumstances-rendered the position of the venturesome pioneers anything but pleasant or secure. Fortunately this insecure and chaotic condition of things lasted but a couple of years, and when Dixon County was organized in 1858, all differences between the whites and the Ponca Indians had been happily settled by the later ceding to the general goverment all claim to land west of the Aoway excepting a tract west of the Niobrara river, to which reservation they soon removed.
Dakota county which was organized in 1855, (three years before Dixon County,) was bounded on the west by the line between ranges 5 and 6. Thus, as will be seen by reference to the map, Ponca and Ponca township as well as a strip running north and south and three miles wide, now embraced in Dixon County, was at the start a part of Dakota county.
The first white people who made homes in what afterwards became Dixon County, came in May, 1856, and an increasing tide of pioneers rapidly followed. The first settlements were at or near Ponca and from thence extended up South Creek and West Creek. In the main they came from the eastern states, and were hardy, resolute and industrious men, else they would not have come. They had their pick of the lands and selected wisely. They were mostly poor but to their joy they found rich land and a genial climate. Here they built their homes, cultivated their lands and reared their families. It was a venture, thus entering a new and almost unknown country, but their faith was well founded and though the road to wealth has been long and not one of entire sunshine, yet as they now look back over it and see how the start was and how things are now, none can say they are not content.
We have endeavored to obtain the names of all who came here from the first settlement to the time the county was organized and the first election of officers was held in the fall of 1858. Between May, 1856, and theyear 1858, there was no organization, no surveys of land, nothing in fact but a sort of "squatter sovereignty," and the unccertainty of the future and the possibility of losing all the fruits of their industry, required the pioneers to be men of unbounded hope and perseverance. That they came and remained rendered them worthy of remembraance. Hence we have prepared a list of those pioneers, desiring not to omit a single one. Possibly there may be three or four omissions, but there cannot be more. To obtain this list of names, where they came from, when they came and where they located in the county, we ahve been compelled to rely on the memory of those old pioneers who now remain. The help especially of Messrs, S.B. Stough, C.F. Putnam, A. Davis, L.T. Hill and N.S. Porter, has been invaluable, and their excellent memories of pioneers and pioneer days, have enabled us to accomplish far more than we had at first expected.
The following is the list referred to. Immediately after the name of each pioneer will follow the name of the place he came from, the date of his arrival and where he located. In many instances, however, information has been scanty as to such dates, etc., and in some cases we have been able to give only the names:
Edward Arnold, Massachusetts, May 7, 1857. (Was father of the second child born in county, viz.: Wm. Arnold, Feb. 1, 1858.) First located west of M. Gorman's place between Ponca and Martinsburg. Was first clerk of county, elected in fall of 1858.
James Alexander, Iowa, December, '56
Robert Alexander, Iowa, December, '56
Thomas Alexander, Iowa, December, '56
Sam Alexander, Iowa, December, '56, went to Pike's Peak in '60. The Alexanders located on Powder Creek.
C. Andrews, Ohio, '57, located on Ionia bottom.
J.P. Allison, Ohio, '57, located in what is now Silver Creel township, on the farm where C.F. Putnam lives.
J.W. Bramble, Vermont, came in fall of '56, moved up his store from Logan in spring of '57.
S.P. Baltzly, '57.
Oliver Baltzly, '57.
B. Beeson, Iowa, spring of '57, located in Ionia bottom.
Wm. Bigley, Sr., and his sons.
Wm. Bigley, Jr., and
James Bigley, came from Pennsylvania in fall of '56, located near Ponca in South Creek valley, on farm now owned by the family.
Parker B. Brown, Massachussetts, August, '56, took claim on South Creek.
George Brown, Massachussetts, August, '56, took claim on South Creek.
E.M. Bisbee, New York, spring of '58, Ponca.
James Barrett, New York, '58, Ponca.
Charles Buckman, Pennsylvania, May, '56, vicinity of Ponca.
J.P. Burgman, '57.
M.B. Bellows, '58, settled near Lime Creek.
John Buntz, Pennnsylvania, May, '56, near Ponca.
Jacob Buntz, Pennsylvania, May, '56, near Ponca.
O. Bottleson, '57.
E. Baker, '56.
James Clark, Ohio, August, '56, located on West Creek.
Gerhart Carstines, May, '56, near Ponca.
A. Curry, from Phillladelphia, Pa., came May 7, 1857, settled on South Creek, where Harry Filley now lives. In 1860 moved to his present location on West Creek, five miles west of Ponca.
John Cavanagh came from Holioke, Mass., and arrived May 7, 1857, took claim near head of South Creek, as also did his son, Bernard Cavanagh, who came from the same place with him.
Carson, Iowa, an uncle of "Kit" Carson. He came with Frank West in August, 1856, to lay out Ponca.
C.B. Cummings, fall of '56, located near Dixon on Lime Creek and was one of the founders of that town.
Louis Castner, came down the Missouri from Fort Benton in spring of '57.
John Carpenter and his brother, New York, '57, settled at North Bens.
Hugh Compton, New York, "57, settled near North Bend.
L. Cross, Vermont, '57, settled near North Bend.
Doc Conkling, Ohio, started a saw mill at Dixon in 1857.
P. Dailey, Massachusetts, spring of '57, first settler in Daily valley.
Jacob Duel, New York, '57, settled near North Bend.
Leander Davis, New York, in spring of'58, first settled on West Creek, six miles west of Ponca. Same year moved to Ponca.
M. DeLoughhry, Ohio, May 7, 1857, settled on South Creek.
Deming, Pennsylvania, May 7, 1857, located on South Creek. Moved away in '58.
D. Donnelly, '56, South Creek.
Daniel Donlin, June '56, located where his son, Wm. Donlin, now resides near Martinsburg. Said son was the first white child born in county, August 5, 1857.
P. Dempsey came from Girard, Erie county, Pa., '57, first located up South Creek. Afterwards removed to West Creek.
Dexter, Ohio, a brother-in-law of F. Freeman, came in fall of '56. He was a partner of Whitcome in the first saw mill near Ponca.
Donahue took claim up South Creek in '57.
J.B. Denton, New York, '57, near Ionia. Was first judge of county, elected in fall of 1858.
John Ernst, Pennsylvania, '56, Ponca.
Francis Freeman, Ohio, fall of ,56, located at first on claim near river, afterwards removed to Ponca.
Henry Ford, Pennsylvania, spring of '56.
Nathan Felter, Illinois, '57, Ponca.
Wm. Fister (or Pfister,) Pennsylvania, '57. The farm he located and lived on up to the time of his death is two miles southwest of New Castle.
Farwell, Illinois, '58, Concord.
Henry Forth, spring og '56, took claim on creek east of Ponca.
Abe Forney, Illinois, spring of '57, located in South Creek.
Henry A. Fuller, New York, fall of '56, was one of Ponca's town proprietors in company with Dr. Stough and Frank West. Fuller moves away in '63 and now resides in Omaha.
Harry Filley.
Michael Gillan and his son, Wm. Gillan, came from Pennsylvania in November, '56. Wm Gillan now lives on land near Martinsburg, then taken. Started from Pennsylvania day after election, when they voted for Buchanan.
Murtha Gorman, Pennsylvania, '56, South Creek, between Ponca and Martinsburg, and about five miles from Ponca.
Pat Green and his sons, Thomas Green and Pat Green, Jr., arrived May 7, 1857, from Taunton, Mass. They took a claim adjoining what was afterwards known as the "Winston place," three miles south of Ponca.
J.H.S. Grove, Pennsylvania, '57, near Ponca.
J. Guilberson, '58, at Dixon.
Henry Hoese,
Frank Hoese and
Wm. Hoese came in '56 from Pennsylvania. They built the first house in Ponca in the fall of '56, near creek.
Dan Hannafon, '56, located up South Creek. Was thought to be too free with neighbors' cattle. Left in two years to the joy of all.
Preston Hotchkiss and
Eli Hotchkiss, in '56 from Ohio, came with the Whitcomes, and Preston Hotchkiss had a intrest in Whitcome's mill near Ponca.
R.M. Hotchkiss, Iowa, spring'57, located in what is called Brookey's bottom in the northwestern part of county.
J.C. Harrington, Massachusetts, '57, Ponca.
Richard Haggin, Iowa, '57, located near Dixon. Was the second second sheriff of the county.
Thos. Halverson, Wisconsin, spring of '57, lived in Bigley's revine.
L. Houten, '57.
F. Harder, New York, '58, village carpenter of Ponca.
John Haggin, Iowa, '57, Dixon.
Z. Haggin, Iowa, '57, near Dixon.
O.F. Haggin, Iowa, '57, near Dixon.
Frank Jordan, New York, '58, located near Ponca; came with Leander Davis.
Bill jones, in spring of '57; lived up South Creek way. The first (and last) buffalo ever killed in county was killed in the fall of '57 by Jones and Forney. There were plenty of elk in those days, but Buffalo meat was a rarity.
Isaac Kugler, Pennsylvania, came with the first party of settlers in May, '56; located near Ponca.
Abraham Kneiss, Iowa, '58; took claim near Bigley's ravine.
Marcellus Lathrop, in August, '56, from Massachusetts; located on West Creek, on land west of the Todd place, now owned by Roden.
La Fabre, '57, located near New Castle.
Eli Loyd and
Cyrus Loyd, came in '56 from Pennsylvania and left in '57; Ponca.
J.W. Logan, '57, near Dixon.
John McKinley, came from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and arrived May 7, 1857; first located in South Creek valley, then removed to a farm now owned by Sam McKinley two miles west of A. Curry's place, and from there to a farm where he now resides, adjoining Ponca on the west.
John Malone, '57,
Wm. Malone, '57, and
Peter Malone, '56, from Hanging Rock, Ohio, and first located on Powder Creek, where Dan Curry now lives. John Malone was the first treasurer of county, and was elected in the fall of 1858.
J. Murphy, Massachusetts, '57; South Creek valley.
Daniel McKenna, Pennsylvania, '56; took claim in South Creek valley.
Robert McKenna, Pennsylvania, '56.
Mulholland, '56; near North Bend.
Michael McCue, '58, near Ponca.
John Massinger, New York, '57.
John Mascall and
Zeb Mascall, located on Lime Creek in '56. John Mascall resided there until '94, and then removed to Vermillion, South Dakota.
Mons Nelson, '56; near North Bend.
E. Nelson, '58; North Bend.
James O'Conner,
John O'Conner and
Andy O'Conner, from Massachusetts in '56. They first located on the extreme southern frontier of settlement in county, about two miles south of Cavanaghs. They afterwards moved to places between Ponca and New Castle.
Charles F. Putnam, Massachusetts, August 1, 1856, located near Ponca on West Creek. First Sheriff of county, elected in the fall of 1858. Built the first frame house in county in fall of '57 on claim he took, section 8, township 30, range 6. J.G. Crowell now owns the place.
N.S. Porter, New York, June 27, 1858, located in Ponca.
-Pewitt, '57, at North Bend.
J.J. Pierce and his sonH.M. Pierce, came from Davenport, Iowa, in the spring of '58, and located at Ionia.
H. Paschall, Pennsylvania, spring of '56. On creek east of Ponca.
John Roden, fall of '56; located where he now lives, three miles west of Ponca on New Castle road.
E. Ricker, Vermont, '56, owned the Jeff Wilbur place near Ponca.
Frank Ricker, Vermont, '56, Ponca.
R. Rogers came from Pennsylvania to Dakota county in '56, and moved to Ponca in '57; was the village blacksmith.
John Russell, '58, near Dixon.
M. Russell, '58, near Dixon.
-Robinson, '58, North Bend.
John Stough, Pennsylvania, November, '56, Ponca.
Dr. S.B. Stough, from Pennsylvania, came August 13, 1856, Ponca.
Jacob Stough, Pennsylvania, October, '57, Ponca.
Maurice Scollard, and his nephews, viz:
John Scollard, and
Pat Scollard, came from Pennsylvania in '56, located between Ponca and Martinsburg.
Edward Serry, from Massachusetts, in '56, and moved his family here in '57. Located on West Creek, a mile west of where Roden now lives. Place now owned by Rogosh.
Philip Sherman, Wisconsin, '57, Ponca. Stayed until '59 and went to Oregon.
Hans Stinson, Wisconsin, '57, near Ponca.
J. Southerland, Illinois, 57, located at North Bend. Was the wealthiest settler in the county at that time.
Elias Shook, Iowa, '58, lived in Ponca.
Yankee Smith, New York, '57, between Ponca and New Castle.
John Singelton, Ohio, summer of '57, was engineer of Conkling's mill at Dixon. Left in '59.
Ich. Sherman, Wisconsin, '57, Ponca.
John Snyder, Pennsylvania, spring of '56, took a claim up South Creek.
Adam Smith, Pennsylvania, came in May '56, was with the first party who entered county. Took the land now owned by Wm. O'Conner, (half a mile south of Ponca), who bought it of Smith in '64. Mr. Smith now resides in Missouri.
Gustavus Smith, brother-in-law of the Hoeses, came from Chicago in the spring of '57, took claim now comprising part of New Castle cillage. He lived there until his death, July 27, 1880.
John Sader, Pennsylvania, '57, located about a mile west of New Castle, between there and the Fister place. Smathers lives on the place now.
Owen Sweeney, Pennsylvania, spring of '57, located near the "Lone Tree" in the Daily valley.
J. Stefanni, spring of '57, located in Ionia bottom.
C.W. Todd, Vermont, spring of '58, located on West creek, two and a half miles west of Ponca.
W. Tripp, located in '57, near Ionia.
F. Vazanni, '57, near Dixon on Lime Creek.
Frank West, Iowa, came in August, '56, laid out first twenty-four blocks of Ponca that fall. Was there part of the time for several years, now lives in Des Moines, Iowa.
Mr. Whitcomb and his two sons, Josiah Whitcomb and Frank Whitcomb, from Ohio, came in the fall of '56, located on river bottom northeast of Ponca, where they put up the first steam mill in county.
_ Whitcomb, cousin of Josiah and Frank Whitcomb, came at same time, located on adjoining land.
P.J. Winton, Pennsylavania, '57, South Creek.
E.P. Webster, Massachusetts, '57, one and a half miles west of Ponca.
J.P. Webster, Massachusetts, '57, near Ponca.
Eugene Wilbur, New York, '58, located in Ionia bottom.
A. White, '57, Ionia bottom.
Richard Zack, '57, near Dixon.
(Mention is made of Dixon and Concord. These are not the present villages of those names, but were in what is now Hooker Township.)
Copyright (C) 1998-2001 Robin Mosier
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