Last Updated on August 26, 2012 by Dennis The newcomers who followed the cattle men were mostly farmers with a few doctors, lawyers, preachers and merchants, all seeking the free land that could be obtained under the homestead law. The head of a family or any citizen twenty-one years of age could obtain one hundred […]
Last Updated on August 26, 2012 by Dennis At the general election of 1883 these special officers were re-elected with the following exceptions: Clerk, B. H. McGrew Treasurer, J. A. Plympton Sheriff, H. J. Simpson Coroner, J. H. Spafford J. F. Burns was appointed county attorney at a salary of $100 per year. In June
Last Updated on August 26, 2012 by Dennis Delving into the original records of Rock county for information, one finds that the first entry in Record book A is a copy of the proceedings of the county board of Brown county on August 1, 1888. At this meeting M. E. Freeman and others filed with
Last Updated on August 26, 2012 by Dennis In the fall of 1881 Long Pine was a hustling little frontier town only a few weeks old. It was headquarters for Berry Brothers stage line and all freight and supplies for Fort Niobrara and surrounding country. The Railroad eating house was operated by Mr. and Mrs.
Last Updated on August 26, 2012 by Dennis A Methodist church was built in 1884. The United Brethern church was organized December 12, 1885, Rev. Campbell, minister. Among the very earliest ministers was John Calvert. Rev. Elias Frame and Jeremiah Frame filed on claims near Johnstown on April 7, 1880, the first filings made in
Last Updated on August 26, 2012 by Dennis One of the most interesting localities in the county is that adjacent to the Niobrara where Nebraska highway No. 7 crosses this stream. It has a scenic beauty all its own and is almost without a rival in the entire state. It has an historic background, replete
Last Updated on August 26, 2012 by Dennis Kid Wade, a young outlaw supposed to be one of the famous gang that operated in this section in early days, was lynched in the early morning hours of February 8, 1884. He was captured in Iowa by a band of vigilantes, given a trial and turned
Outlaws and Pawnee Indians of Brown County, Nebraska Read More »
Last Updated on August 26, 2012 by Dennis In December, 1882, Frank Sellors and Merritt Griffiths circulated a petition asking that the coming legislature pass an act establishing a new county from unorganized territory lying west of Holt county. The boundaries as set forth in the petition included what is now the three counties, Brown,
Establishing a New County called Brown County, Nebraska Read More »
Last Updated on May 1, 2021 by Dennis (Lila McAndrew) School District No. 10, Ainsworth was organized August 25, 1883, E. A. Palmer was director, J. W. Alden moderator and S. G. Chaney treasurer. The first school in district No. 10 was held in a little log building, northwest of town, on the north bank
Last Updated on August 26, 2012 by Dennis The progressive spirit of Brown County, Nebraska was very suddenly checked when crops began to fail for lack of rains. In 1890 many farmers failed to raise enough to feed their stock and family, and appealed to the county for relief. The county, in turn, appealed to the
Last Updated on August 26, 2012 by Dennis Cattle ranches were the first settlements made in northwest Nebraska. The surplus stock from these ranches was bought by the United States government at good prices, so the business was a profitable one for a few years. To the west of Brown county several large outfits were
Cattle Ranchers and Native Americans of Brown County, Nebraska Read More »
Last Updated on August 26, 2012 by Dennis Fort Hartsuff near Ord, Nebraska, was built in 1874 to protect settlers of the Loup Valley from Indians and outlaws, but it was too far away to afford any protection to the country along the Niobrara. Congress decided to locate the Sioux on reservations where they could
Last Updated on August 26, 2012 by Dennis Another class of men sometimes came into this wild, new country. They planned their travels carefully that they might leave no trails for others to follow. They were outlaws who lived by stealing horses from farmers in Iowa and eastern Nebraska. The stolen stock was brought to
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Last Updated on August 26, 2012 by Dennis The fact that our sister county, Keya Paha, was a part of Brown from February 19, 1883 to November 4, 1884, gives us an active interest in her early settlement and history. The name “Keya Paha,” meaning in the Indian language, “Turtle Hill,” was given to that
This historical sketch of Brown County, Nebraska, primarily sourced from the early settlers’ recollections, aims to capture the essence of the region’s past, strongly tied to its pioneer spirit. Before the arrival of white settlers, the vast prairies, known for their “sea of grass,” served as hunting grounds for local Native American tribes and provided pastures for buffalo herds. The text not only charts significant events like harsh winters and droughts from 1880-1895 but also notes aspects of local life such as the establishment of schools, churches, and law enforcement. The compendium underscores the interplay between the environment, the indigenous people, the wildlife, and the settlers, all converging to shape the civilization that emerged in this part of Nebraska. Through these narratives, the author wishes to honor the fortitude of those early pioneers and provide insight into their lives and challenges.
Last Updated on August 26, 2012 by Dennis To pioneers the early mills are of great value. The fine running streams on the south side of the Niobrara offered ample water power which was early utilized for grinding grain and sawing lumber. On Pine creek were the Ritterbush mills for both flour and lumber, Richard
Last Updated on August 26, 2012 by Dennis “About one-half of each homestead was broken up by 1893. Crops had been good, and you would find lots of cattle south, with some north and west of town. In 1893 the drought started in July. It was dry and hot. Corn that year averaged about five
1893-1895 Drought Years in Brown County, Nebraska Read More »
Last Updated on August 26, 2012 by Dennis Sheldon’s History of Nebraska gives this interesting account of the explorations by the Spaniards. One expedition led by a Scotchman, James Mackey, (Fr. Jacques Machey) reached the region of the North Loup River in 1795-96. He continued westward to the great Sandhill lakes of Cherry County, then
Last Updated on August 26, 2012 by Dennis But all these matters faded into insignificance before two great questions, namely, county division, and the building of a courthouse. As early as October, 1883 residents of the eastern part of the county petitioned for an election to vote on county division, the new county to be
Last Updated on August 26, 2012 by Dennis The winter of 1880-’81 has gone into history as one of the most severe that was ever known. The prairies were covered with snow so deep that the cattle could not graze on the buffalo grass on which the ranchers relied for their winter feed. The snow
