NEBRASKA HISTORY AND RECORD OF PIONEER DAYS VOL I, NO. 6, OCT 1918 Transcribed from a copy of the original publication by the submitters. Submitted to the USGenWeb Nebraska Archives, January, 1998, by Ted and Carole Miller (susieque@pacbell.net). USGenWeb Project NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the internet, data may be used by non-commercial researchers, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, nor for presentation in any form by any other organization or individual. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than as stated above, must obtain express written permission from the author, or the submitter and from the listed USGenWeb Project archivist. *************** NEBRASKA HISTORY AND RECORD OF PIONEER DAYS Vol. I, no. 6, Oct. 1918 (Original had no Table of Contents) Announcements: NSHS at State Fair; 1860 political medal; M.E. Smith & Co. 50th Anniv. 1 Broken Bow; Old Battlefield near (Custer Co) 1 Custer County Camp Site (Indian relics) 1 Grave of Settler on Oregon Trail - John HOLLMAN, d1853 near Oshkosh, Garden Co 2 Nebraska's Troubled Beginning, Reminder of (early financial scandel) 2 Passing of NE Pioneers (death notices since 15 Aug 1918) 2-3 BALDWIN, John J. - Antelope & Pierce Counties 2 MELCHER, John Michael - Cuming Co 2 WITTWER, Mrs. David - Richardson Co 2 WALKER, James Allison - Cass Co 3 BANNING, W. H. - Cass Co 3 ALLEN, Mary Ann - Saunders Co 3 RICKLEY, Albert E. - Platte Co (died in OK) 3 PEDERSEN, Peder - Douglas Co 3 KLEIHAUER, Mrs. Frederica - Nemaha Co 3 WHORTON, Susan Catherine - Cuming & Jefferson Counties 3 CORBIN, Capt. Wm. Harrison - Red Willow & Box Butte Counties 3 SORTER, Elijah - Seward Co 3 NICHOL, Mrs. Sarah - Nemaha Co 3 JOHNSTON, Ben - Pawnee Co 3 BULL, Christian - Douglas Co 3 OTTENS, Mrs. Mary - Nemaha Co 3 SHOCKEY, Eli Davis - Richardson Co 3 HANLON, James Sr. - Nemaha Co 3 RICHARDSON, George W. - Burt Co 3 BELL, Mrs. Elizabeth Reed - Otoe Co? 3 GRAHAM, Mrs. Jeannette - Seward & Douglas Counties 3 Recent Acquisitions of NSHS (documents from St. Louis; SARPY family) 3-4 Early Fur Trader Dies - John B. DIDIER, Richardson Co. 4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ NEBRASKA HISTORY field situated in Custer county AND RECORD OF PIONEER DAYS about seventeen miles northeast of ------------------------------------ the town. Published Monthly by the Nebraska The field was probably an State Historical Society intrenched camp, consisting of 108 ------------------------------------ rifle pits arranged in the form of Editor, ADDISON E. SHELDON an ellipse and enclosing five or Associate Editors six acres or ground. The ellipse is The Staffs of the Nebraska State about 550 feet long north and south Historical Society and and somewhat less in breadth. It is Legislative Reference Bureau situated upon a rise of ground in a ------------------------------------ branch of Clear Creek valley. The Subscription $2.00 Per Year site was chosen for defense, ------------------------------------ commanding the Valley in every q All sustaining members of the direction. The trenches vary from Nebraska State Historical six feet to thirty feet in length Society receive Nebraska and are now about three feet deep. History without further payment. The bottoms and sides are grassed q Entered as second class mail over, and the earliest settlers in matter, under act of July 16, that region found them so when they 1894, at Lincoln, Nebraska, April came there about forty years ago. 2,1918. The trenches were well calculated ------------------------------------ for defense, being double at the VOLUME salient angles, thereby giving a I. OCTOBER, 1918 NUMBER 6 defending force better protection ------------------------------------ over their flanks. At least one hundred men, and The Nebraska State Historical probably two hundred, were in the Society made its usual exhibit at company which constructed these the state fair this year. The walls defenses. A smaller number would of the booth were covered with not have made so extensive an photographs of Nebraska soldiers enclosure. At the north end they and other war workers. The pictures overlook a ravine about thirty feet on the swinging frame attracted in depth which is a water course much attention. This frame carries for heavy rains. It runs into what numerous photographs of pioneer is said to be it permanent water days as well as many others of hole about a quarter of a mile from historical interest selected from the camp. our collection. The traveling On digging down into some of the museum case, which contains some rifle pits to a depth of six feet valuable and curious museum abundant charcoal was found at the specimens mounted for use in bottom, showing that fires had been schools and libraries, helped to made there by the men building make the display attractive. them. The butt of an old rifle lay ------- on the slope of one trench. Apparently this fortification was Mrs. John T. Borland, of Exeter, made more than fifty years ago. Nebraska, has given to the Apparently also it was a temporary Historical Society a medal of camp, since wood and water were to Lincoln and Hamlin which was struck be found at a distance of three or for the campaign of 1860. This four miles in the main Clear Creek medal is about the size of our valley, and if it had been intended twenty-five cent piece and contains to be permanent the camp would have a tintype of Abraham Lincoln on one been placed near them. During the side and of Hannibal Hamlin on the period of hostilities between reverse. John T. Borland, who died Indians and white intruders, some June 19, 1916, settled on a forty years, there were numerous homestead near Exeter in 1870. Mrs. military expeditions into the Borland has lived there since 1871. region of the Loups, but we have no Mr. Borland presented to the report that any of them established Society The Montana Post, printed a camp in Clear Creek valley. at "City of Virginia," Montana, Diligent inquiry will perhaps April 29, 1865, and containing an discover some account of this one. account of the assassination of Unless it is very old, which, in President Lincoln. the circumstances is not probable, ------- it could not have been of more than temporary importance. Otherwise On September 11, M. E. Smith & there would he accounts of it in Company, of Omaha, celebrated the the records of the war department fiftieth anniversary of the and in more popular forms. founding of their business, which ------- was started in Council Bluffs in 1868 and removed to Omaha in 1869, A CUSTER COUNTY CAMP SITE with a style show in which past and On August 20 of this year the present styles of clothes were curator of the museum of the exhibited. Among the interesting Historical Society, in company with gowns was one which has been worn Augustus G. Humphrey, of Broken at the inauguration of Governor Bow, inspected an old Indian site Saunders fifty-one years ago; some four miles northeast of others worn at the opening of the Sargent. About a mile back from the Grand Central hotel, and at the low crown of bluffs which skirts governor's ball. There were Paisley the Middle Loup on the north, is a shawls in the exhibit ranging in hill-encircled valley containing value from 1,000 to $3,000. about two hundred acres of level, By the way, the Grand Central fertile land. Immediately west of was the pride of Omaha because it this valley, on the bluffs which was the first hotel there which in encircle it, they found fragments style and dimension satisfied the of pottery, and chips of flint, cosmopolitan aspiration of the indicating that Indians once still somewhat mushroom town. The inhabited the vicinity. name indicates the feeling toward From inspection of the the pretentious edifice. It was surrounding country, it appears built upon the lagging proceeds of that at some date prior to the time public subscription - started in when Indians of the plains 1871 - opened in October, 1873, trafficked with white men some and, after a successful, but short tribe used this secluded valley as career of five years, was destroyed a hunting camp. Here perhaps they by fire on September 24, 1878. The came, year after year, to procure Paxton Hotel succeeded to its site. their winter supply of meat and ------- hides. Some of their headmen died while the company sojourned in this AN OLD BATTLE-FIELD NEAR BROKEN BOW summer camp, and they were laid to On August 18 the secretary and rest on the hill which towered curator of the Historical Society, above it to the west. with a party of about twenty people This was the former domain of of Broken Bow, including several the Pawnee, and the curator thinks old settlers in the vicinity, that the texture and appearance of visited what is known as the old the potsherds found indicate that battle- the site was occupied by them at an early date and that the chipped flints and arrowheads which have been found on the plowed fields of the level valley indicate that their tepees were pitched there for the summer hunt. There is an easy route in a southeasterly direction to the banks of the Middle Loup, and along it potsherds were found. This trail is about five miles due east of Sargent and about a mile southeast of the site of the camp. Chips of flint which originally came from Texas were found along this route and also at the camp; so perhaps the material for making implements was brought by Pawnee on their northern migration. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 Nebraska History and Record of Pioneer Days ------------------------------------------------------------------------ GRAVE OF A SETTLER ON THE OREGON ly, as Mr. Sweet asserted, a bill TRAIL was passed requiring the, treasurer On August 30, this year, Thomas to keep on hand the identical funds Moran wrote to the secretary of the deposited in the treasury, thus state of Nebraska, from Oshkosh, to depriving him of the opportunity or say that John Hollman, who died in using them to his own profit and 1853, was buried on a hillside continuing his compensation to the above a sandy draw in section 9, beggarly salary. Soon afterward the township 16, range 44 west; that a legislature changed the law so as recent heavy rain washed away the to permit loaning the School funds bank of the draw to a point within to private persons on their own ten or twelve feet of the grave, security. Consequently some twenty- and that the next flood would take five needy next friends of the it off. Mr. Moran properly urged administration procured loans, many that this old and interesting or them on worthless or inadequate landmark should be protected from security, resulting in a great its imminent danger. The Historical scandal and much loss to the state. Society hopes to gain the One of these lame duck loans, cooperation at residents in the $10,000, was to A. 0. Tichenor, vicinity of the grave in preserving nominal proprietor of the Tichenor and marking it. House, in Lincoln, afterward called Oshkosh, the county sent of the Oriental Hotel, with only a Garden county, is situated on the third mortgage on the property for Union Pacific railroad about a mile security. The state brought suit north of the North Platte River. against Sweet for the face of the The Oregon Trail ran through loan and interest, whereupon he section 9, which contains Mr. agreed to pay the principal and Hollman's grave. This section lies part of the interest. He made the on the South side of the river and last payment in 1879. about four miles southwesterly from In 1871 Governor Butler was Oshkosh. impeached on eleven articles, or ------- causes of action, the first one charging that he had Reminder of Nebraska's Troubled misappropriated to his personal use Beginning money belonging to the school fund, $16,881.26 in amount; and on this The recent visit to the article he was convicted and headquarters of the Historical removed from office. The defense Society of Mr. J. H. Sweet, editor turned on the contention that the of the Nebraska Daily Press, in governor deposited the money in the company with Mr. George H. Heinke, treasury and then borrowed it, and also of Nebraska City, recalls he tried to persuade Sweet to incidents of the rough-house days testify to the truth of this of the later sixties and early contention, which he stoutly seventies. Mr. Sweet is a refused to do on the ground that to grand-nephew of James Sweet, the comply would not only be perjury, second state treasurer of Nebraska. but would make him and his bondsmen At the preliminary election held on liable for the misapplied funds. So June 2, 1866, were chosen the four the plucky treasurer had the last executive officers which the word if not the last laugh touching constitution provided for, a the most notorious and perhaps the representative in congress, members most tragic scandal in the history of the first state legislature, and of the state. three justices of the supreme Sweet established the first bank court. Augustus Kountze, afterward at Lincoln, but his young nephew, a very prominent banker at Omaha, Nelson C. Brock, conducted its and New York, was the first business and also that of the State treasurer. He was treasurer of the treasury. Sweet continued to live territory from January 1, 1862, in Nebraska City and made only until he became state treasurer occational visits to Lincoln. He when the territory was admitted testified that he knew nothing into the union on March 1, 1867. about the loan of the school money James Sweet was elected treasurer to the governor, or his at the regular election of 1868 and appropriation of it to his own use, held the office from January 21, until a year after the transaction 1869, to January 11, 1871. At the occurred. The evidence showed that election of October 11, 1859, he Brock, as banker, credited Butler's was a candidate on the republican account with the money. Nine of the ticket for the office of twelve Senators who constituted the territorial treasurer and received jury of the court of impeachment 2,644 votes against 3,683 cast for and found him guilty of this William W. Wyman, his democratic charge, evidently decided that the opponent. He was a resident of money was not deposited in the Nebraska City, continuously, from treasury at all. Mr. Brock, one of May, 1857 to May, 1866. the few surviving actors in this Throughout tile territorial typical drama of our western period there was hostility between frontiers, is still in active the two sections divided by the business in Lincoln. It appeared Platte River, but although there that the money was used by the was a preponderance of population governor to build his "mansion." in the southern section, so long as which, much made over, is now the the executive officers were home of the Country Club of appointed at Washington it could Lincoln. not get a governor friendly to its In compassing removal of the project of removing the capital capital Nebraska City had the front Omaha to some point South of rather slim satisfaction of beating the troublesome stream. At the Omaha at her own game, but first election of state officers, afterward had the chagrin of however, a governor of and for the finding out that she, too, had paid South Platte was chosen, and under dear, very dear, for her whistle. his aggressive leadership removal For by establishing Lincoln she was at once accomplished. But the destroyed her own certain prospect more difficult task was to keep the of being always one of the most long coveted prize. The first important cities in the state, and requirement was to erect a capitol the probability of remaining the and other public buildings with the second city. Moreover, it is at proceeds of the sale of lots in the least doubtful that the loss of the projected capital city. James Sweet capital injured her rival at all. was one of a group of men from Even J. Sterling Morton's wonted Nebraska City who undertook to buy clear foresight was temporarily enough lots to give the scheme a clouded at this critical juncture substantial start. Though the act in the fortune or the town of which of removal required that the he had been almost from its proceeds of the sale of lots should beginning a tutelary patron, by the be deposited in the state treasury, illusory scheme of hurting Omaha, a the astute managers of the relative long distance rival, by adventure flouted the law rather starting anorther rival almost in than trust the precious funds to the beneficiary's dooryard. So that the custody of Treasurer Kountze, his decrial of the misadventure who was of and for Omaha. So they when the pudding soon came to be made Sweet the custodian. In proved in the eating lacked the furtherance of this safety first full force of an I told you so. policy, Governor Butler procured ------- the choice of Sweet for treasurer at the election next following the Passing of the Nebraska Pioneer act of removal. The other three of the first state officers, being The territorial pioneers, some safe for the south side scheme, of whom had moved on many times were reelected. before they settled permanently in But, though Sweet was true to Nebraska, are rapidly passing to his specific trust, he paid dear their very last resting place. for his whistle. When he declined Nebraska History Magazine will to become a candidate for the record the deaths of these pioneers treasurership because he could not month by month, beginning with afford to hold it on the salary of August 15. Territorial pioneers four hundred dollars, Governor comprise those who settled in Butler advised him that such a Nebraska within its territorial meagre compensation was specified period - prior to March 1, 1867. in the constitution with the The data of these records are understanding that the treasurers accredited to the newspapers in would make use of the balances for which they are found. their personal profit and thus get adequate payment for their Deaths Since August 15. services. Presently the treasurer John J. Baldwin, born in Jackson and the auditor - John Gillespie - county, Iowa, April 24, 1840; died proposed to invest $25,000 of the at his home in Plainview, August permanent school fund in 15. he crossed the river at Omaha territorial and state warrants, June 9, 1859, and homesteaded in which was authorized by statute. "A the Missouri valley. Later he lived short time after," as Mr. Sweet in Antelope county, and thirty-five publicly recalled, "a gentleman years ago moved to Plainview. - from Omaha, some way connected with (From the Plainview Republican, the Republican newspaper, appeared August 22.) at the state treasurer's office and John Michael Melcher, 97 years asked me not to advocate or urge old, died August 22, at Benson. He the investment of the permanent was born June 1, 1821, at School funds in general fund Brandenburg, Germany, came to warrants. Said he had formed a America in 1848; settled first in syndicate of men at Omaha with Wisconsin; in 1865 moved to plenty of money to buy up all the Nebraska, taking a homestead in general fund, territorial, and Cuming county. It took him five and state warrants, and after they had a half weeks to make the trip west. done so then Gillespie and I could The boys drove the cattle and sheep change our minds and urge the and the older people rode in wagons investment of the school funds in drawn by oxen and horses. - (From the warrants. Told my interviewer, the Cuming County Democrat, West 'I am not a thief and will have Point, August 30.) nothing to do with any such Mrs. David Wittwer, of Humboldt, conspiracy to rob the state'." died September 18. She was born in Consequent- Richardson county on December 3, 1860, and lived there all her ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Nebraska History and Record of Pioneer Days 3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ life. - (From The Humboldt Leader. years. She was a native of Ireland: September 26.) came to America at the age of James Allison Walker died at his sixteen years; a year later, 1855, home in Murray, September 20, aged married in Minnesota to Bernard J. eighty years. He came to Nebraska Ottens; they came immediately to from Pennsylvania in 1861, settling Nebraska and settled on a homestead first at Rock Bluffs - (From the in what is now known as the Hickory Nehawka News, September 20.) Grove neighborhood, in Nemaha W. H. Banning, eighty-one years county. - (From the Nemaha County old, who had lived near Union for Herald, September 6.) the past sixty years, died Eli Davis Shockey, born in September 25. - (From the Morning Kentucky, May 25, 1824, died at his World-Herald, September 26.) home in Hastings, August 7, aged Mary Ann Allen, of Overton. died ninety-four years, two months and September 19. She was born at fourteen days. He came to Winterset, Iowa, October 9, 1864, Richardson county, Nebraska, and moved to Nebraska with her fifty-one years ago, where he parents in the year of her birth. - resided to the time of his death. - (From the Ashland Gazette, (From the Locomotive, Lawrence, September 26.) Nebr., September 6.) Albert E. Rickley, son of John James Hanlon, Sr., died Rickley one of the founders of September 2, at Peru. He was born Columbus, and who was born in that in Ohio, September 30, 1850; while town November 7, 1858, died at he was a child the family moved to Hobart, Oklahoma, September 26. - Kentucky; on account of political (From The Columbus Telegram, persecution near the beginning of October 1.) the civil will, they came to Peder Pedersen, born in Denmark, Nebraska, where they have lived but a resident of Omaha for the ever since. Mr. Hanlon was married last fifty-four years, died to Miss Nettie Vance October 28, September 27. He drove ox teams 1874. - (From The Peru Pointer, hauling freight wagons between September 6.) Omaha and Virginia City, Montana, George W. Richardson, born in 1864, and was afterward a February 22, 1847, at Cleveland, carriage builder in Omaha. - (From Ohio; died August 24, near Oakland: The Omaha Daily Bee, September 28.) served in Company K, Third Mrs. Frederica Kleihauer, born Regiment, Ohio Volunteers, during in Germany. January 20, 1843, nineteen months of the civil war; herself mother of twelve children, came to Omaha in 1867 and for died at her home in Auburn, several years drove a stage between September 17. She settled on a farm Blair and Omaha, Calhoun and Omaha near Johnson in 1865. - (From the and Herman, Tekamah and Decatur. - Nemaha County Herald, September (From the Oakland Independent, 20.) August 30.) Susan Catherine Wharton died at Mrs. Elizabeth Reed Bell died the home of Mrs. Gilbert Blauser, August 26 at Palmyra. She was born near Diller, September 2. She was in England, February 9, 1827; born in Effingham county, Illinois, married to Thomas Bell, August 6, July 30, 1838; married to Rev. L. 1849; they came to Nebraska in B. Wharton, a Baptist preacher, 1867. Mrs. Bell was the mother of near her home, April 3, 1856; the eleven children. - (From Palmyra family removed from Illinois to items in the Nebraska Daily Press, Cuming county, Nebraska, in 1867, Nebraska City, September 1.) and again to Harbine, Jefferson Mrs. Jeannette Graham, widow or county, where they have lived ever Thomas Graham, died at Omaha, since. Mr. Wharton died December August 29, aged eighty-one years. 14, 1897. - (From The Diller The Grahams settled on a homestead Record, September 6.) in Seward county in 1857; but Mrs. Captain William Harrison Corbin Graham moved to Omaha several years of Alliance died at Monticello, ago. - (From the Blue Valley Blade. Illinois, September 11. He was born Seward, September 4.) in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, ------- September 14, 1838; served in the One hundredth Regiment, Some Recent Acquisitions of Pennsylvania Volunteers, throughout the Society life civil war, rising to the rank of captain; returned to Monticello The principal founders of St. Louis whence he came to Nebraska in 1867; were an adventurous group of at first was employed by the Union Frenchmen whos principal business Pacific Railroad Company; afterward was trading with the Indians of settled in Red Willow county, where "the Nebraska Country", exchanging he was county judge and county merchandise or money for furs and clerk; removed in 1887 to Box Butte peltries. The profits of this trade county, where he conducted a ranch were a very important factor in the until 1900, when he became vice growth of the city for more than president of the Alliance National half a century. Thus St. Louis and Bank, holding the office until his Nebraska mutually started each death. - (From The Alliance other. The names of these traders Semi-Weekly Times, September 13.) were applied to many settlements, The military records show that towns and other geographical Mr. Corbin enlisted on August 27, features in the valleys of the 1861, as a sergeant in Company E. Missouri and the Platte - though One hundredth Regiment, not as numerously, I think, as they Pennsylvania Volunteers; was ought to have been. discharged December 28, 1863; Consequently St. Louis is the reenlisted, and finally discharged principal depository of the early March 14, 1865, with the rank of history of Nebraska, including second lieutenant. This newspapers beginning in the year organization was distinguished as 1808, and biographical sketches, the Roundhead Regiment. business records and portraits of Elijah Sorter, born at Mayfield, the pioneers adverted to. I have Ohio, November 7, 1845, died at his laboriously examined the larger home, near Seward, September 2. At part of these records, taking notes the age of seventeen he enlisted in or copying data appertaining to the 150th Regiment, Ohio Nebraska and the outlying Volunteers, and served throughout Northwest. In April, 1917, I called the war. At its close he came west on Mrs. Armand B. Peugnet at her to Iowa; attended the state home in St. Louis for the main university at Iowa City for a time; purpose of obtaining information then came to Nebraska, walking all about her uncle, Peter A. Sarpy, the way; in 1870 took a homestead who was the first permanent white near Tamora; was married to Miss settler in Nebraska. Mrs. Peugnet, Elizabeth Pickrel, July 3, 1875, whose maiden name was Virginia and seven children were born to Sarpy, was born in St. Louis on them. He was a member of the G. A. July 4, 1827, daughter of John R. post at Seward. - (From the Baptiste Sarpy and Adele Cabanne Seward Independent-Democrat, Sarpy and niece of Peter A. Sarpy. September 12.) She was anxious to learn from me, Mrs. Sarah Nichol of Auburn died in turn, all that I knew about her September 10, aged eighty-nine uncle's life in Nebraska and years. She was born in Scotland, presently called my attention to an February 28, 1829; came to Illinois oil portrait of him hanging in an when she was sixteen years of age; adjacent room. Impressed by the was married there in 1854 to fact disclosed in my information William Archibald; soon afterward that his career here had been the family came to Nebraska, taking conspicuous and important, she a homestead in Nemaha county; not promptly agreed that the portrait long after her husband died, and ought to be placed permanently with two years later she was married to the Nebraska State Historical Walter Nichol, in Illinois, but Society. Mrs. Peugnet died on they came to Nemaha county and August 11, 1917, at the age of remained permanently. - (From the ninety years and a month. In the Nemaha County Herald. September following June, her daughter, who 13.) was present when her mother Ben Johnston, aged sixty years, promised that she would leave the died at his home at Steinauer, portrait to our Society, wrote me August 31. He was known all over that it would be sent as soon as a eastern Nebraska and Kansas as a copy of it for the family could be trainer and driver of fast horses. taken. Last July I again met Mrs. His father, who was born at Berthold in St. Louis and we made Sterling, Nebraska, November 23. final arrangements for shipping the 1857, was a pioneer preacher; the picture. It is of somewhat more son lived at a number of towns in than life size, and it will be, Nebraska and Kansas before moving perhaps. the most valuable of the to Steinauer. - (The Pawnee Chief, Society's collection of portraits. September 13.) A copy of it hangs in the gallery Christian Bull died at his home of the Missouri Historical Society. in Millard on September 4, aged Last June Mrs. Berthold seventy-eight years. He came from presented to the Society Mecklenburg, Germany, in 1865; photographic copies of portraits of settled first in Pennsylvania and Madame Peugnet; John B. Sarpy, born came to Nebraska two years later. to St. Louis, January 11, 1799; He lived on his farm near Millard Sylvestre Labadie, born in St. from 1876 to 1900 and since 1900, Louis in July, 1779, maternal uncle in Millard. - (From the Morning of Peter A. and John B. Sarpy; World-Herald, September 6.) Emilie Lauveur Labadie, sister of Mrs. Mary Ottens died September Sylvestre, born in St. Louis in 4, at Auburn, aged eighty 1781, and married in 1794 to Bernard Pratte, who was licensed in the eighteen- (Continued on Fourth Page.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 Nebraska History and Record of Pioneer Days ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Early Fur Trader Dies the Blue Water, in which eighty-six [Image] men, women and childreen were killed. This event was also JOHN B. DIDIER commonly called a massacre. Dr. George L. Miller so denounced it in An intelligent biographical his newspaper, The Omaha Herald. sketch of Mr. Didier, written by While both catastrophes might have Mr. L. C. Edwards, is printed in been avoided by due wisdom and The Falls City News of October 4, justice on the part of the whiles, 1918. Mr. Didier was born in France in the circumstances the punishment on Christmas day, 1827, and he died inflicted by General Harney was on September 27, 1918, at the perhaps necessary. residence of his daughter, in The Battle of the Blue Water - Barada precinct, Richardson county. the name by which it was called in He settled on a claim, now in the official report - was fought in Barada precinct, in 1854 and lived the valley of Blue Water Creek, there continuously until his death. between six and seven miles It is said that he was the first northwest of the month of Ash permanent settler in Richardson Hollow, the name by which the county, but claims of that kind are battle is commonly known. It came nearly always disputed, as this one to be so called because Ash Hollow is, and it is usually impossible to was an important and well known settle such disputes. rendezvous or station on the Oregon Mr. Didier came from France to Trail, so that its application to America in 1847, stopping in the battle-field most conveniently Cincinnati two years; went to St. indicated its approximate location. Louis in 1849 where he was employed This misleading name should now be by Pierre Chouteau, Jr., & Company; abandoned in favor of the original in 1852 was sent to the company's and appropriate one. trading post five miles below Fort ------- Laramie: while he was in charge of (Continued from Third Page.) the post, on August 19, 1854, the so-called Grattan massacre occurred twenties to trade with Indians at at Sarpy's Point, on the Platte Bellevue, and was one of the most River about eight miles below the famous operators in the Northwest. fort. Lieutenant John L. Grattan, a The parents of these French young and inexperienced officer, founders of St. Louis came from was detailed from the fort to France. Their descendants arrest an Indian who had stolen at intermarried intricately. Mrs. cow from a Mormon emigrant. On the Peugnet was a very handsome woman refusal of the culprit to surrender and in the forties the acknowledged the soldiers were ordered to fire belle of St. Louis. The original upon the Indians indiscriminately, portrait of John D. Sarpy, in the whereupon they were attacked by the gallery of the Missouri Historical entire body, more than a thousand Society, shows that lie was very in number. All of the command, distinguished in appearance, and comprising Lieutenant Grattan and the contemporary newspaper notices twenty-nine men, were killed. of him disclose that he was one of The Indians, who comprised the most important men of the city. Oglala, Brule, and Miniconjou While in St. Louis last July, I Sioux, were in camp waiting for an obtained from the "Chouteau expected distribution of presents, Papers", among the collections of which were at the house of the the Missouri Society, copies of American Fur Company, of which the business documents written and Choteau company was a branch. The signed by Peter A. Sarpy, as enraged savages carried off or manager, of the American Fur destroyed a large part of the Company at Bellevue, in 1844, 1847. company's goods. and 1850, respectively; another Lieutenant Grattan and written and signed by Peter A. Lieutenant H. B. Fleming, of the Sarpy and signed also by John B. Sixth Infantry, commandant at Fort Sarpy and Frederick Berthold, in Laramie, were both condemned for 1853: another by Peter A. Sarpy incompetency and commended for dated Point aux Poules - opposite their conduct in the contemporary Bellevue - afterward Traders Point, accounts of the tragedy printed in June 8, 1846; and another written the St. Louis newspapers. Mr. and signed by the eccentric Stephen Didier believed that it was caused Decatur as Peter A. Sarpy's clerk, by the foolishness of the at Bellevue, August 13, 1852. Mr. commanding officers. Immediately Sarpy wrote a beautiful hand. The after this affair, he quit the copies were taken by photostat. service of the Chouteau company and I also procured a typewritten then settled in Richardson county. copy of an order book in Peter A. He came from St. Louis to St. Sarpy's handwriting, containing a Joseph by steamboat and the rest of long list of goods ordered for his the way by land. store at St. Mary (not far below About a year later - September Bellevue on the Iowa side of the 3, 1855 - an army under command of river) in 1855. This document is in General William S. Harney punished interesting disclosure of the kinds the Indians at the Battle of of goods in demand at that time. Mrs. Nettie Harney Beauregard, archivist of the Missouri Historical Society, is related to those old French families through her mother. She is grand-daughter of General William S. Harney, a famous fighter of the Mexican war and against the Indians of the Nebraska plains, and daughter-in-law of the noted Confederate general, P. T. Beauregard. The Nebraska Stale Historical Society is greatly indebted to Mrs. Beauregard and Miss Stella M. Drumm, librarian of the Missouri Historical Society, for its acquisitions from St. Louis. - A. W. Following is a facsimile of an order, somewhat reduced in size, written by Peter A. Sarpy at Bellevue in 1844: [Image] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Produced for NEGenWeb, 1998 by Ted & Carole Miller