Knox County
Creighton Centennial, 100 Years of Progress Creighton, Nebraska 1874-1974, Creighton
(1974)
Creighton: railroad crossing at Bazille Creek on Main Street p. 117 1885 map
Antelope County
A. J. Leach, A History of Antelope County Nebraska. From Its First Settlement in 1868 to the
Close of the Year 1883, Chicago: The Lakeside Press, 1909.
The Poncas and Santees not infrequently came into the county from their reservations and spent
some time in trapping along the Elkhorn, or passed on southwest to go on a hunt. These Indians
brought their families and tepees along as well as their horses and dogs, were always very
friendly, and gave no trouble at all. [65] [perhaps there were well-known routes that they would
have taken from reservation through Antelope County? Elkhorn valley above Neligh?]
[First settlement in August 1868, railroad in November 1879] Counting the distance from Neligh
by the most direct traveled roads in was sixty-five miles to Wisner, sixty-seven miles to
Columbus, seventy-two miles to Yankton, one hundred ten [89] miles to Sioux City, and one
hundred twenty-five miles to Fremont. At this time there was only one road leading out of the
county. This road followed down the north side of the Elkhorn River to Norfolk. At Norfolk it
divided, one branch leading northeast to Sioux City, the other keeping on down the valley to
Fremont. From 1868 to the fall of 1871 all the travel to and from the county passed over this road
on the north side of the Elkhorn. [90]
In the summer of 1871 the merchants of Columbus, having heard that the middle Elkhorn valley
had been settled to some extent, took steps to open a road from the present site of Newman
Grove to Cedar Creek. From Newman Grove to Columbus there was already a road that had
been used about two or three years. This road was first made by the soldiers in their trips through
the country for the purpose of keeping the Indians quiet. The road followed down Shell Creek
valley, and the soldiers had bridged the small streams tributary to Shell Creek. As Shell Creek
was settled, this road had been used and the bridges kept in repair by the settlers. [90]
[1871, roads built between Cedar Creek and the road on Shell Creek. Also from St. Clair
and from Ives Creek valleys.] [I]n a short time [90] it became the main thoroughfare. These were
not regularly established roads, but were marked out and used by the settlers for their
convenience until county roads were legally established. [91]
In the spring of 1877, while the Ponca Indians were enroute from their old home on Ponca Creek
to the Indian Territory, in charge of an agent, they stopped for several days in camp near Neligh
on account of rainy weather and the bad state of the roads. While there an Indian child died and
was buried in Neligh cemetery. The agent employed Stephen Hills to make a cross of oak lumber
to place at the head of the grave. On this cross was placed the following inscription:
"White Buffalo Girl, died May 23, 1877, aged 18 months, daughter of Black Elk and Moon
Hawk, of the Ponca Indian Tribe enroute to their new home."
At the grave the father made the following address, speaking in his own tongue which was
interpreted to the audience: "I want the whites to respect the grave of my child just as they do the
graves of their own dead. The Indians do not like to leave the graves of their ancestors, but we
had to move and hope it will be for the best. I leave the grave in your care. I may never see it
again. Care for it for me." The mother was not present. [photograph in Neligh folder of info
about Ponca, 129.]
Prior to the summer of 1875 there was no bridge over the Elkhorn River anywhere in Antelope
County. The small streams in the county had been bridged on all the principal roads throughout
the most thickly settled parts, but the bridging of the Elkhorn was a big undertaking . . . [138]
[First bridge across the Elkhorn was built at Neligh in July 1875; another in 1876 at Snider's
ford, "near the south line of the southeast quarter of section 6, in Burnett township." 139]
Antelope County Historical Society, The History of Antelope County Nebraska 1868-1985,
Dallas: Curtis Media Corporation (1986)
At first there was only one road leading out of the county, going along the north side of the
Elkhorn River to Norfolk. There it divided and one route with northeast to Sioux City and the
other one down the valley to Fremont. From 1869 to 1871, all the travel to and from the county
was over this road north of the Elkhorn. [34]
In 1871, the merchants of Columbus opened a road from the present site of Newman Grove to
Cedar Creek, the road from Newman Grove to Columbus already having been in use about three
years.
Stakes were placed along routes for use by settlers until roads were established. [34]
[Photo on 35 of a "pioneer family camped at Riverside Park on their way west." This is most
likely where Ponca camped.]
[Laurel Hill Cemetery in Neligh] White Buffalo Girl, the second burial in Laurel Hill Cemetery,
daughter of Black Elk and Moon Hawk of the Ponca Indian Tribe, died May 23, 1877. The tribe
was enroute from Ponca Creek to Indian Territory. At the funeral service, Black Elk made this
request, "I want the Whites to respect the grave of my child just as they do the graves of their
own dead. The Indians don't like to leave the graves of their ancestors, but we had to move and
we hope it is for the best. I leave the grave to your care. I may never see it again." [71 –photo]
To the north of Neligh there is a background of hills, in places rising to an elevation of 60 or 80
feet. The elevation of Neligh is 1744 feet above sea level. To the south the land is rather flat,
then goes into gently rising sandhills. To the east, there is flat to rolling farmland, and on the
west, in the distance, a vast expanse of hay meadows stretches away. [173]
[Riverside Park is NOT where Google directed me to. Actually, it is directly south of Highway
275 where it meets the railroad which ends parallel to it. Russell Park is to the northwest. It is
between Neligh Mills State Historical Site and Antelope Country Club on the railroad/highway
275. Nevermind. The Riverside Park bit is for Seward County.]
[photo of map p176]
An event in Antelope County which as had a longtime effect on the residents took place in 1877.
[quotes Leach] . . .
Through the years the people of the are honored the father's request.
It has been a tradition that the grave would have an abundance of flowers placed on it every
Decoration Day. Many people remember decorating the grave as a special act they performed as
children.
Years elapsed and the oak cross decayed and entirely disappeared. No markings were left except
the grass mound in the cemetery. The matter was discussed by a number of Pioneers (the
forerunner of the present Antelope County Historical Society), shortly after the Leach History
was published and they felt a suitable marker should be placed at the grave of the little Indian
girl. In 1912 the secretary of the society consulted John L. Babcock of Neligh, who talked to
F.G. Auringer, owner of the local monument works, who offered to donate the monument with
the inscribed data and the message of Black Elk and set the stone at the head of the grave. After
this was done, a suitable dedication ceremony was attended by members of the Pioneers and
Neligh citizens. in later years, Neil Ashburn of the Tilden Monument Company noted that the
stone was tipping and he set it on a cement base.
On July 16, 1972, the Nebraska Historical Society erected a marker at the entrance to Laurel Hill
Cemetery, about 200 feet north of the gravesite. . . . [177 –photo]
A marker along highway 275 points out the location of the historical marker. [178 –photo]
Madison County
Newman Grove Centennial History Book Committee, Newman Grove Centennial Our First
Hundred Years 1888-1988, Marceline: Walsworth Publishing Company, 1988.
[photo, map p.1]
A few scattered settlers found their way into the area searching for a place to locate and
homestead a claim in this new strange land. Most came up the Platte River Valley through
Columbus and a few came from the Elkhorn River Valley. [1]
The Town was located on the west side of Shell Creek Bridge. [2]
[Pawnee removal sounds similar to Ponca. Could mean the Ponca did pass through Madison
County, as it was an established route by the army. Had previously been talking about Genoa
trading post and Nance County.] In 1876 the Pawnee Indians were removed from Dakota south
to Oklahoma. About 25 soldiers would escort them and camp in this area on their way to
Columbus. The soldiers would then return for another group. [3]
The Texas Cattle Trail passed through Shell Creek Valley at Newman Grove and at times
thousands of cattle could be seen making their way to Texas from the north, driving by wild
cowboys. [3]
There were times when a tribe of Indians of about 1000 came through Newman Grove and
camped in the area. [3]
Platte County
Margaret Curry, The History of Platte County, Nebraska, Culver City: Murray & Gee
(1950)
A road was badly needed at that time to run from the north end of Washington Avenue in
Columbus to Shell Creek which would bridge the latter stream. [32] [Also] . . . a road from
Columbus to Buchanan in Platte County and the bridging of the intervening sloughs. [33] [this is
in 1858]
When the advance guard of the Poncas, under military escort, reached Columbus in June, 1877,
the entire band—including bucks, squaws and papooses—numbered about six hundred. Camping
south of the Loup, about a mile and a half from town, they remained for two days while a large
number of Columbus residents went out to the edge of town to see the "grand Indian
jollification" that was expected.
The Poncas, however, remained glum. In spite of the fact that they were joined by a band of
friendly Otoes, there was a marked feeling of resentment at their predicament. Finally, to oblige
the people of Columbus, and add to their own meager funds, a few young bucks of the tribe did
some war dances about the town. Following this last ceremony, the Indians broke camp and
continued their journey. [39]
The few redskins who remained in the valley of the Platte were never integrated into the
community, but remained aloof as a relatively unimportant part of that life. One typical news
item of 1880 reported that "a lot of Omaha Indians have been in town from their reservation for
several days past, seemingly with no other occupation than to gaze in at the windows, frightening
women and children nearly out of their wits." This was a common practice of the Indians, to
invade the white's privacy. [39] [This speaks volumes towards the beliefs of the author, and
could explain the demeaning portrait of the Ponca's removal.]
Soon after Nebraska became a Territory in 1854, the Federal Government began to build wagon
roads through it. These roads were primarily for mail and military purposes, but also to facilitate
general travel. On February 17, 1855, Congress made its first appropriation of fifty thousand
dollars for a road to run from a point opposite Council Bluffs, now Omaha, to the new Fort
Kearney. On March 3, 1857, a second appropriation of thirty thousand dollars was made for a
road from the mouth of the Platte River to the mouth of the Niobrara.
The first road was constructed in the years 1856, 1857 and 1858. The main work was in bridging
water courses; some grading was also done.
At that time the Elkhorn Bridge was the principal structure on the road and Congress refused
again, over persistent local petitions, to appropriate money to bridge the treacherous Loup River
at Columbus. In 1860, a short line ran from Nebraska City to the Platte River. This line crossed
the Salt Creek eight miles south of Lincoln and was built by local enterprise. The original road
crossed the Salt Creek at Ashland. [448]
Butler County
Seward County
O. T. B. Williams, Seward County. Its Description, Resources, and Advantages. Milford:
Culver & Parsons, 1872.
Milford: "It is situated on the west bank of the Big Blue, about six miles north of Camden, and
on the old steam wagon road from Nebraska City to Fort Kearney—the mainly traveled
thoroughfare west from Lincoln. The best bridge in the county here spans the Blue, and was built
entirely by the private enterprise of early settlers in the immediate vicinity." (15)
Roads: "The old military road from Omaha to Fort Kearney, a distance of one hundred and
ninety-seven miles, another road from St. Joseph, in Missouri, through north-eastern Kansas and
southern Nebraska to Fort Kearney, the old Steam wagon road from Nebraska City to Fort
Kearney, were the three principal routes to Denver, in Colorado, before the construction of the
Union Pacific. The old Steam wagon road runs through the southern portion of Seward county,
and is still as good a road as when first traveled years ago." (21)
Railroads: "The B. & M. railroad company have begun the construction of a railroad up and
down (21) the valley of the Big Blue, and have the cars running from Crete, in the northern
portion of Saline county, about five miles south of the Seward county line, to Beatrice, a distance
of about 35 miles. It is understood that the road is to be continued north through Seward and
Butler counties to intercept with the Union Pacific at Columbus, in Platte county, and south into
the State of Kansas to intersect with the Kansas Pacific. A road running west from Lincoln
through the central portion of Seward county is one of the probabilities of the future. One of the
greatest needs of Seward county at the present time are bridges across its largest streams." (22)
Eldon Hostetler, Early Milford People Stories (1995)
Our story begins on June 6, 1877, when the party arrived in Milford and pitched their tents on the
north side of the river, probably near Riverside Park. . . .
When Milford High seniors interviewed Frank D. Todd, early Milford resident in 1932, he gave
this account of the story: "the Ponca Indians were ordered to leave their homes in the Niobrara
Territory for new homes in the Oklahoma Indian country in 1877. It was a rainy spring, and
many were sick. Prairie Flower, daughter of Chief Standing Bear, and wife of Shine White died
of consumption and was buried in the north part of town." . . . Today Milford natives often
speculate as to the location of her grave. Is she buried somewhere in the north part of town, or
was she buried in the Blue Mound cemetery like everyone else at that time? One tradition says
she was buried on the north end of Milford near the old "Dugdale house" where bone fragments
were found while a contractor was doing excavation work. [61 –photos]
One more version is told by former Milford resident Dr. Stanley Welsh. His parents, John and
Mary Welsh were early settlers in this community. "Nearly 500 displaced Ponca [63 –photos]
Indians migrated from north of Omaha on the Missouri River toward more dry acres south in the
Indian Territories. These Poncas camped for a while on the horse shoe bend timber strip where
they could find shelter, fire wood, water and food. The Indians were usually well treated at
Milford, and with a familiar camping spot on the timber land we learned to know more of them.
On one visit a daughter of a friendly Chief was known to be dying from tuberculosis. The
accompanying Indian Agents compelled the tribe to move along until they reached Camden,
where beautiful Prairie Flower died. Upon the death of the Chief's daughter the Indians insisted
on returning to Milford to bury her. My mother (Mrs. John Welsh, Mary) made a new dress to
cloth her, and Mrs. Borden prepared the body for burial. One of the Milford carpenters made her
a new coffin.["] J. Stanley Welsh, Reminiscence. . . . Where were they buried is the question?
Although the Blue Mound Cemetery was not bought from the railroad until June 8, 1879, and
Prairie Flower died in 1877, from other news notes we know it was used for burial by Milford
residents as early as December of 1874, when the two Haverstock [64 –photos] boys were
drowned in the mill lake. One grave in Blue Mound is dated 1870, the earliest one I have been
able to find. . . .
The final chapter of our Ponca story is still being recorded 118 years later. In the fall of 1994,
this news item was published in many national newspapers: "Divided since the 1870s, members
of the Ponca Indian Tribe plan to dance together once again in their ancestral home on the
Niobrara River in northern Nebraska. The two branches of the tribe—the northern tribe in
Nebraska—and the southern tribe in Oklahoma are plannning [sic] a ceremonial reunion August
12-14 near the village of Niobrara. This is the beginning of the renewal of the culture and
customs of the Ponca tribe of Nebraska said Aljo Picotte head of the committee in charge.
Picotte is the grandson of Chief Standing Bear, a key tribal leader during the time of the Ponca's
separation. In 1877, the government forced the Poncas to relocated from their home in northern
Nebraska to Oklahoma. About two years later, Standing Bear returned to Nebraska to bury his
son. He was later arrested for leaving the reservation. In a "land mark" trial in a Federal Circuit
Judge ruled that an Indian is a person within the meaning of the law, and the government could
not force his return to Oklahoma. Evidently, the Poncas forced to the Oklahoma reservation
never did return to Nebraska, but the tribe was split in two sections, one known as the Northern
Poncas, and one known as the southern Poncas." Lincoln Journal. [65 –photos]
Photo: Seward County Guide, Nebraska State Genealogical Society, Lincoln NE 1999, p23
which one of these is the map?
Photo: Jane Graff, On a Bend of the River: The Story of Seward and Seward County Ne, with
personal reminiscences, ed. Stephen J. Korinko, Henderson: Service Press, 1967, p 24
which one of these is the map?
W. W. Cox, History of Seward County Nebraska (1905)
Milford's Unwelcome Guests
. . . As they passed through Seward all seemed cheerful and happy. We recollect that the tribe
was well provided with excellent teams, new wagons, and all the necessaries of life, but there
was an under current of dissatisfaction at having to leave the old home. Shortly after leaving
Seward one of the teamsters had an accident which started trouble. This was a bad omen to the
mind of the Indians, at same time a chief's daughter was very sick, and was carried on a litter.
Late in the day the band arrived at the proposed camping ground near the bridge, and just at this
time the young squaw died. This was another bad omen, and the Indians were becoming excited
thinking the great spirit was angry at them. The major saw there was a spirit of great discontent,
and he promised them a week of rest.
The teppes [sic] were placed and camp fires were started, just then a furious storm broke upon
them. One squaw had a kettle of boiling water suspended on a tripod over the fire. Some children
were seated near the fire an awful gust of wind overturned tents and threw the camp into dire
confusion, and the huge kettle of boiling water scaled one child to death, and another was
seriously burned by being knocked into the fire. Confusion ruled the hour, Pandimonium broke
loose.
Fortunately the bucks had just been shooting beeves and had used up all the ammunition at hand.
Major Howard sent a messenger post haste up town for a doctor. Dr. Brandon quickly responded,
little thinking that he was to "walk into the jaws of death; into the mouth of hell." Dark- [284]
ness began to veil the sky, and peal on peal of dreadful thunder with the ghastly scene only
illuminated by the flashes of lurid lightning and the whole camp in the wild revelry of a war
dance and ready to wreak vengeance upon the pale face. Major Howard had under his command
about thirty white teamsters with the doctor; in their midst a hollow square was formed and the
men with revolvers were given strict orders to fire to kill provided the ferocious savages made an
onslaught with raised tomahawks, and scalping knives. The doctor of course was brave, but
somehow his hat raised a foot or more. Thirty white men had to cooly face five hundred
infuriated savages. The moment was awful in the extreme. The Indians were so frantic with rage
that it was with great difficulty that a parley was effected, but finally a truce was made, when the
poor creatures could be made to understand that it was the medicine man come to relief, when
they quieted down. The people of Milord [sic] knew nothing of the trouble or danger until it was
all over.
If a blow had been struck or a shot fired there would probably have been one of the bloody
tragedies of history to relate for the village would only have been awakened when the work of
death and distruction [sic] had commenced. [285 –photos]
Saline County
DeWitt Historical Society, 125 Years of History of DeWitt Nebraska Its Families, Its
Community 1872-1997
The summer and fall of 1871, the B. and M. railroad built a branch from Crete to Beatrice down
the Blue River Valley and missed Swan City about 2 1/2 miles and laid out the townsite of
DeWitt. (188)
22 Dec 1871 -- Railroad track was completed from Beatrice to Crete by way of DeWitt. (188)
22 Jun 1876 -- The bridge over Swan Creek will have to be built on edge of the farms of William
Remington and James Bingham. (SalCoInd) (241)
F. J. Elliot, History of Saline County (Wilber, NE: n.d.) (probably 1930s)
The railroad reached Crete in the summer of 1871 and went on to what is now Dorchester and
Friend that fall. The first train came into Crete July 4, 1871. A little later in the fall of 1871 they
started to grade the road down the river to Beatrice. They just got the track layed to the Tobias
Castor farm home one and one-half miles south of what is now Wilber, when the ground froze
too hard to work. In the spring of 1872 they went on to Beatrice. That was the end of the road
until 1880. (9)
J. W. Kaura, Saline County Nebraska History beginning in 1858 (Lincoln: Augstums
Printing Service, 1962)
One stage line was operated from Brownville or Nebraska City to Hebron by way of Beatrice,
Swan City and Alexandria. Later one route went up the Blue Valley to Milford. (50)
This [DeWitt] was on the railroad route that ran from Crete to Beatrice, and the first train from
Crete to Beatrice passed through to Beatrice on November 19, 1872. (87)
The first train came through DeWitt and on to Beatrice was December 19, 1872. However, the
track to the Beatrice depot was not completed until December 22, 1872. (91)
The first train came into Crete July 4, 1871. (120)
Annadora Foss Gregory, Pioneer Days in Crete, Nebraska (Lincoln: State Journal Printing
Company, 1937)
Early roads in Saline County often followed old Indian trails with their three characteristic ruts.
Hoof of patient Indian ponies carrying luggage from one camp to another had hollowed out the
central rut, the other two ruts had been worn by the inevitable tent poles, fastened on each side of
the ponies, but which were so long they (20) dragged behind them on the ground. There were
such Indian trails running north and south along both sides of the Big Blue. In the early sixties, it
was common for settlers to "strike out across the prairie" or go "across lots", following ridges
between streams, regardless of trails. (21)
Near the close of the decade, roads were more definitely established. In a state law of February
16, 1867, commissioners were named to locate a territorial road, starting where a county road
from Beatrice, in Gage County, terminated at the line between Gage and Saline counties. From
there, the road was to follow the Big Blue valley through Saline, Seward, and Butler counties to
Columbus. (21)
A well traveled road of the later sixties ran from Swan City north to Milford in Seward County,
by way of Camden. From Swan City it followed the Blue River Valley on the west, crossing over
to the east at one of the fords south of the present location of Crete. One of the fords was in the
northern part of township seven, range four east, and another was located near the center of the
boundary between sections thirty-three and thirty-four, in Crete precinct. (21)
[21n27] The first ford was about two miles south of Crete, a little east of the present (1932)
bridge over the Blue. . . . The second ford was just below the present (1932) lower mill dam.
. . . to or near the line between sections twenty-eight and thirty-three in township eight, range
four east. This bridge, west of Crete, was completed during the winter of 1870-1871, and many
immigrant teams passed over it during the seventies. A bridge over the Blue in the northern part
of township seven, range four, several miles north of Crete, was built in 1872-1873. (22)
Traveling facilities in Saline County were improved by the establishment of stage lines. As early
as October, 1870, the Blue River Stage Company ran a daily line of coaches between Lincoln
and Blue River City [opposite or near Crete]. In December, 1879, James Remington was in
charge of the "Blue Valley Stage Line" with its route extending from Milford to Swan City by
way of Camden, Pleasant Hill and Blue Island. (40)
Gage County
Ila L. Malicky, Barneston: The First 100 Years 1884-1984 (Barneston Centennial
Committee)
The site selected for their village and the agents residence was a slightly elevation about half a
mile east of the river where a spring that issued from a limestone ledge afforded an ample supply
of pure water. Near the spring were the agency building, the school house, Indian tepees and
burial place. A residence for the government agent was built about 100 feet north of the spring. It
consisted of a one and a half story frame with an ell on the rear, and contained in all six rooms
with large basement. There was a latticed porch in front, with balcony over the same, that
commanded a view of the whole village. Near the agent's house was a large barn and over
outbuildings. The main village consisted of about 49 large earth-covered lodges. Each lodge was
circular in form with a entrance through projecting passageway opening towards the east, and
was usually not less than about 49 feet in diameter, inside measurement. (2)
Photos from Beatrice Nebraska Centennial 1857-1957 Heritage of the Blue Souvenir
Program
Gage County Historical Society, Gage County Nebraska History (Dallas: Taylor Publishing
Co., 1983)
[Barneston] Near this spring, south of the village, were the agency buildings, a school house,
Indian teepees and a burial ground. South and west of the village across Plum Creek at the
junction of Plum Creek and the Big Blue River the United States government maintained a steam
saw, grist mill, blacksmith shop, and the government employees residences. (24)
. . . Blue Springs a small settlement on the Blue River about twelve miles south east of Beatrice.
Blue Springs was located on the main traveled road from Marysville, Kansas, which went
through the Otoe Indian Territory to Beatrice. The Otoes had a small Indian Village on the same
site. (26)