Sam Ewing

Sam Ewing

I came to Dundy in April 1885, put on the papers on my claim, and then left until-September, when I returned. At that time I broke out some land, it was the first time a plow had turned the sod of Parks precinct---and Parks precinct was no little thing at that time--it extended from the Kansas-Nebraska base line to the Dundy-Chase county line...

There were two ranches at that time, the Oak Ranch laid north of me, and the present Phelan ranch was south--my place was between and it all connected the others,...

I worked for the Oak concern in 1886--and in 1887 became their overseer--we threw the three places together so that I could handle my own place, as tell as the Oak ranch and Phelan Ranch....

Frank Pay Started the Oak Ranch in 1883, I believe. The original buildings were about three miles above the present ranch buildings of the Bombargers....Frank Pay told me the story that he started from Texas with one bull and when he arrived it Nebraska he had a sizable herd of cattle...That is about the way most of the cattle ranches started in those days--on a shoestring and a fellows guts...

So for as I know of', no trail ever crossed close to us. The Texas trail was used to Buffalo creek before the railroad came--and it was used some after the rail--but with the coming of the homesteaders the trail business ceased. Rock Creek, upon which the Oak Ranch laid, was a favorite place for the Indians to camp--and the head of the creek was a place they usually hit as they migrated back and forth between the South and the North...However, no Indians were in the country for many years before I came..

Originally Jim Morning had located on Rock Creek  - I do not know what year it was, but perhaps not much before the time Frank Pay came in.  Ives had met Pay somewhere and said he was interested in a ranch, providing he could get a start. That was how Jim Morning got mixed in the affair. To get Jim to sell to them, Ives and Pay made Jim their foreman.  That increased the size of the ranch by having the punchers take tree claims--which were turned over to the concern when they proved up...

Jim Morning kept "Book Account" for the ranch, and when Pay sold to Ives, there was supposed to have been 900 head of cattle--but I was never able to account for more than 250 or 300 head and I do not think there was Ever more than that many cattle. This all started from the one bull that Frank drove in from Texas....

The- consideration was "$186,000 for the ranch, which included 7 tree claims and 400 head of cattle driven in, besides 5 or 6 car loads that came in by rail--what became, of them I never knew, but it was my business to find 400 head and 41 head of saddle horses.  Earnest Fletcher worked for Pay--he was sent out for cattle--his instructions was to round up the brand and bring them home--he went as far as the Arkanses and when he returned, he had a sizable herd--There were several brands--but it was not my business to question that part of the affair so long as our own brand was applied.  Earnest could find cattle where no one else could.

Bill Chance was one of our punchers-and a better man was hard to find. Bill liked his liquor--and sure enjoyed getting likkered up.  One day he decided to have some fun with the trainmen. There had been some sport on the part of the punchers as they sat on the side hill near the tracks and would shoot at the lanterns as the trainmen rode the top of the cars. Bill decided to go them one better. He went over to the depot one night  and made the conductor dance.  The affair held up the train for sometime.

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(Following related by Sam Ewing, 1939)

I was batching on my homestead north of Ives and at the same time I was manager for the Oak Ranch up on Rock Creek.

One evening, just after dusk, I heard a horse approaching at a rapid trot and the thought came to me, "What the Sam Hill is all the hurry, that don’t sound good.”

Just before the stranger arrived at my shanty, he slowed down to a jog and as he reined up at the door, tried to appear unconcerned and unhurried. He wanted to know the way to the Oak Ranch. I told him I could direct him in the daylight, but it would be impossible for him to find the ranch at night. He insisted that he must go there. I then told him I was the manager of the Oak Ranch, and as well as I knew the country, I would not care to start out at night. It was then he told me he was looking for Sam Ewing, and had been told that I would help him.

I had noticed that his horse was in a heavy lather, and the fellow seemed about tuckered. I broke one of the laws of hospitality of the West when I asked him what his business was and what was the trouble as I knew something was the matter else he wouldn’t have pushed his horse so hard.  He tried to evade the question. After some insisting, he decided to stay the night with me, but he said he preferred to picket his horse out and would sleep with he horse. That made me the more suspicious.

Come morning, we saw some horsemen approaching, it was then he told me the sheriff in Benkelman had directed him out to my place and that he was being pursued by the sheriff from Rawlins County in Kansas and he assumed the people who were coming, would be that party. I took him to task for not appraising me of the offense the evening before. I would then know what to do.  Now it was almost too late.  However, inasmuch as our sheriff had directed him to me, I advised him to go on over the hill where his horse was roped, and to keep out of sight.  I would see what the newcomers wanted.  He said, “Well, thanks Pard.  All I done was to get in a little jam with a girl.”

After a bit the people arrived; there was a spring wagon, with a young lady aboard, and with her was a couple of horsemen, one whom I recognized as our local sheriff.  He gave me the wing, and said they were looking for so-and-so and I told them I didn’t know where the man was, but that he had stopped over night with me.

They said they had a statuary charge against him and here was the lady and the baby and the baby buggy, all complete.  I sent the people on to the Oak Ranch and then hunted up my fine feathered friend. I told him what was up and that he was going with me and that he was going to be a married man before night or a dead man. He seemed to be much relieved.  “Oh shucks, I ain’t the marrying kind but I reckon I can marry that gal.  I sure in hell kin skip anytime she gits to naggin  me.”

“That’s where you are wrong, Pard! You are going to marry that gal and you are going to like it.  If she was good enuff to lay up with, and knock up, she sure n hell is good enuff to live with.”

We went on over to the Oak Ranch, where the people were waiting. They went back to town and the Justice of the Peace tied them tighter than a drum----and to-day they are still married and they raised a fine family and are the “salt of the earth” as Pop Eye says.

It happened that this train carried mail and they used that as an excuse to claim that Bill Chance had taken one too many chances by "holding up the government mail"---which was a very serious thing.  Bill heard of the charge that was to be brought  against him--and he pulled out.  When the government Inspector arrived--Bill had already departed, and no one ever heard of Bill again, so far as I know.

The first year on the Oak Ranch was the latest that buffalo was seen in Dundy.  Earnest Fletcher and another waddie run across a cow and calf--they roped the buffalo calf and after hogtying it, came to the ranch for a wagon to haul the calf in.  I hitched up, and we drove back for the calf, but when we got there, the little fellow had died from the exertion.. The old cow drifted off, and a day or so later I heard it had been killed near the south Fork.

Fletcher was mixed in the horse rustling affair with Reynolds.  He drove a team of mules up from Texas and had them on the ranch for sometime. He then moved them away--I do not know just what he did with them.  However, at the time it was my duty to ride the west line of the ranch to guard against fires, as well as to keep the cattle back on our own range. Ives came riding up to me one day, his horse all in a lather and asked me if I had seen Earnest.  I told him I did not know where he was.  He then told me Earnest was with me, that the officers were after him--and he wanted to get Earnest out of the way.  He asked for the keys to my shack, I gave them to Ives and told him how to get there.  The keys were given to Earnest.  They had not been gone long when the sheriff came.  He asked for Ives, I told him the boss was "on ahead"--they also asked about Fletcher and I told him the same thing--they insisted on knowing more, but I told them the same story again and again.  At last they left.  As soon as they were gone, I thot it best to get to my claim and see if Earnest was hidden in the barn as I had instructed--when upon arriving, all I found was the keys hanging in the padlock.  Earnest had decided to leave the country--he went across into Missouri and that was the^, last seen of him until fall.

Some 27 head of cattle were stolen on the Bird City divide.  The rustlers were pretty slick.  Their idea was to bring in the cattle and turn them in with other cattle--or place them with some rancher whom was known to be alright.  That way they were rid of the cattle until the stealing died down, then they would go get the stock.  They would also hire innocent young men, or farmers to pasture and move the stock. Then, if overtaken by the Law, they could pass the buck to innocent parties.

Bob Gustard was perhaps one of the worse characters we had.  He had the nerve along with some brains.

A Kansas City out fit was running quite a lot of cattle on the South Fork^-with Charles Richardson,  Bob Gustard and Lon Scott decided to tie into a bunch of these cattle--and I believe Earnest Fletcher was also in the deal.  Anyway, 27 head were picked up, driven across to the Oak Ranch and throwed into our herd while they found a man to move the stock.

One of our men was named Patterson, he refused to permit the stolen cattle on the place--which led to trouble--and one day he discovered Bob Gustard holding a 45 Colt in his stomach. Gustand hoped for Patterson to make a break, wherepon he would have killed the man--but Patterson was careful, and for his pains. he was knocked down by Gustand.  Gustand make the remark, that I would be next except, I was more apt to be a corpse than anything else

Before coming from Virginia, I had been on a mail route and I carried a small caliber pistol--but after coming to Nebraska and seeing the size of their guns--and how handy they were with them--I decided to leave the gun business alone. Consequently, I was never armed--until after I had been threatened..

One day I met Gustand in Benkelman--I had my hand on my gun and when I met him--I told him I had heard he was threatening to get me--and now was a fine time--altho I advised him to keep his hands away from his gun as I had a self-acting six-shooter and the first crooked move he made I would begin to shoot.  I guaranteed I would place the first shot within half an inch of his heart and the other shots would be close.

However, I did tell him that I would give him a chance--he could start for his gun and when his hand reached it I would go into action.  But he decided he would have none of it--thereupon, I told him what my proposition was--He had to either shoot it out right then and there or he had to go with me before the judge and check in his guns.  He decided to check his gun. However, he figured he would leave the country, and he did.

That was at the same time that Lon Scott had got in a jam with the same cattle business and had pulled out.  It was about 1900 that Lon got in his cattle jam.  One night, after l had gone to bed, someone came to the house and called me.  They told me to go down town to the John Smith store and to tap at the back door.  That sounded like a "plant" and my wife asked me to stay at home.  However, I decided to see what was really in the air--so I went down town.  I told her I could shoot as good as they--if necessary.

After entering the store--there I saw Lon Scott, Jim Morning, Jeff Gallagher and Jack McEvoy.  We visited until midnight.  The boys said they had to leave the country.  That was the last I ever saw of either Lon Scott or Jim Morning.  No one ever knew just what had become of them, altho I did hear Lon went to Canada.

However, just a few months ago, I heard thru a good source that Scott had been living in Kansas for a great many of years--altho everyone supposed he had died--and I know the Law would have given a lot to have caught up with him.

Jeff was another fellow that felt good when he got an extra drink.

After becoming sheriff, it sort of went to his head--Jeff was always a gentleman and very considerate--but when he got a little too much whiskey under his belt--he then "felt too good." One night he took the midnight train for Denver--he had been with the boys a time or two when they shot out the lights in the saloon--and he decided it would be fun to do a little shooting on the train-whereupon he began to shoot out the lights in the coach...It caused quite a stir.

(Supposedly dictated by Sam Ewing.  Not sure of date.  Typist unknown, four pages. Any mistakes in copying are mine or else they were that way in the manuscript. There were some handwritten notes with some dates saying that Sam had been a banker, legislator, commissioner, Master Mason, and that he had married Bell Hamilton. At least that’s what I think the handwriting was. Hard to read.)

Printed in the Benkelman, NE Post, January 1942

Samuel Mitchell Ewing

Death came to Samuel M. Ewing at a local hospital on last Friday morning. His death was not unexpected since he had been ill since Christmas with a severe chest cold and cough which daily drew his strength and weakened him. He was conscious almost up until the hour that death called him.

Mr. Ewing lived as useful a life as it was long. It was in 1885 that he located on his homestead north of Parks and from that time until his going he remained an influence for advancement and for good in Dundy county. He was a man of more than ordinary mental capacity and much of that advantage fell to the good of his community. He helped organize the United Presbyterian church north of Parks and remained a faithful member to the end. But his connection with that church did not cover all because for seventy years he had been a supporter and contributor to church work. Likewise he gave freely of his time and talents to schools and other activities of a cultural nature. He was of a tolerant disposition and could see the good in his fellow man and to a very great degree overlook his shortcomings. He was of an optimistic nature and much preferred to look for the brighter things in life and to aid in making things brighter for those with whom he labored and dwelt.

This point was nicely brought to light in a telegram received from the veteran Nebraska publisher and Congressman, Edgar Howard of Columbus, Nebraska, upon receipt of a telegram sent him by Charley Ewing, notifying Mr. Howard of Mr. Ewing's death, whereupon Mr. Howard sent Charlie a telegram, as follows: ,

"Dear Charley: In the death of your Uncle, Hon. Samuel Ewing, I have lost almost a life-long friend. He was in many respects my mentor in the, pioneer days. I love to remember his always kindness and his unfailing loyalty to his espoused political and religious principles. He was my ideal old-fashioned Virginia gentleman, an evangelist, and always in behalf of the gospel of clean living. I cannot be with you tomorrow at the funeral hour, but shall devoutly plead that the soul of my loved and lost friend may find sweet peace in the paradise of God.—Edgar Howard."

Funeral services were held at the, United Presbyterian church Sunday afternoon being conducted by Rev. J. C. Foster. Singers were Harry and Elizabeth Ough, Mabel Lewis and Lloyd Boswell with Ann Benge at the piano. Pallbearers were Reece Hardwick, George Hamburg, J. F. Premer, Fred Pringle, George Kuhlman and Elmer Hester. Interment was in the Benkelman cemetery.

There were eleven children in the Ewing family, nine of whom survive, they being Mrs. May Nelson, Honey Creek, Wis.; Lenna E. Purdy, Benkelman; Henry J. Ewing, Riverside, Calif.; Ida Toler, Benkelman; Ann McEvoy, Benkelman; Merle A.. Sacramento, Calif.; Florence, Washington. D. C.; Gladys Borchert, Lincoln, and Robert L. of Durango, Colorado. All of the children were present at the funeral save Mrs. Gladys Borchert who was ill and unable to come to Benkelman. Other relatives present at the funeral were Harry Vanderhoof and daughter Gladys of Denver, and Mrs. M. R.. Sprout of Franklin, Nebraska, and Charlie Ewing of Benkelman. Mrs. Sprout and Charlie Ewing are brother and sister and niece and nephew of the deceased.

The children who preceded their father in death were Hattie C. Vanderhoof who died in 1924 and Sam W Ewing who died in 1931.

Samuel Mitchell Ewing, son of William and Lydia Patterson Ewing was born in Bedford county, Virginia, November 6, 1851. and departed this life at Benkelman, Nebraska, on January 2, 1942, at the age of 90 years, 1 month, 27 days. Mr. Ewing was a direct descendant of Robert Ewing of Londonderry, Ireland, who came to America and settled in Virginia, about 1750. Mr. Ewing attained his early education at Blacksburg Academy in Virginia. later graduating from Bryan and Stratton Commercial and Banking School at Ewalt College, now a part of Pittsburg University.

Early in his life he became interested in public work, and through his many years of activity, was constantly associated with some community interests. He was awarded one of the earliest contracts for carrying mail in Virginia, where he was also engaged in farming and as a civil engineer. In 1883, he and his brother moved to Franklin county, Nebraska, and two years later, moved to Dundy county where he filed on his homestead north of Parks. On this land he lived and reared his family, leaving it only when his advanced age made it impossible for him to personally operate it. The old homestead was one of his most prized possessions at the time of his death. He served his county and community as councilman, school officer, County Commissioner, banker and State Legislator. He enjoyed a large acquaintance among state leaders and his opinion was often sought and followed.

Mr. Ewing was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason at Bradford, Virginia, on October 23, 1882. He was one of the two surviving charter members of Justice Lodge No. 180 at Benkelman, the only charter member who retains his membership in his home lodge, which he had served as treasurer for more than 30 years. He loved this Order, its teachings were his gospel and there are few local Masons over 30 years of age who did not receive a part of their teachings from his store of Masonic lore. As a tribute to his love and devotion to the order, he was awarded the coveted Jordan Medal by the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

On March 8, 1888, he was united in marriage with Addie Belle Hamilton, who preceded him in death on March 4, 1925. Of the eleven children born to this union, nine are living, who, with his 21 grandchildren, mourn his passing.

Probably no man in Dundy county has been more active in public affairs over the great number of years as had Mr. Ewing. The story of his life and deeds has built a monument to his memory which will endure forever in the hearts of his family and his friends.