The county was named in honor of United States Judge Elmer S. Dundy, of
the United States Circuit Court. Though termed a county, it has no
organization as such, but is attached to Hitchcock county for revenue,
elective and judicial purposes. It is in fact but one large precinct of
the latter named county, and has no
powers other than as a precinct
organization.
The settlements in the county are few and the population small. The
census of 1880 showed a population
of but thirty-seven, but this has
increased to a considerable extent. Among the settlements is a cattle
ranch
at the mouth of the Arickaree, owned by J. Higgler, who located
there in 1872.
This was about the time that cattle were first brought into
the Republican Valley to any extent. Before this
time, they were kept out
through fear of the Indians, except by a few of the more venturesome
cattle
owners.
There are two or three settlers on Rock Creek, and Richard
Davenport has a stock ranch on Horse
Creek, but the principal settlement
is at and surrounding Collinsville.
Early in 1882, the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad was
completed through the county. This railroad extends from the Missouri
River to Denver, Colo. Regular freight and accommodation trains were put
on during March, 1882.
The North Fork of the Republican River flows across the southern
portion of the county, at a distance
varying from three to ten miles from
its southern boundary. The South Fork of the Republican enters the
county
from the south and flows in a northeasterly direction, emptying into the
main stream near the eastern boundary of the county. The Arickaree River
enters the county from Colorado, and, after flowing a short
distance,
enters the Republican.
Besides these streams, Rock, Horse, and several
other small creeks enter the Republican from the north.
The valley of the
Republican is broad and level, skirted with a narrow strip of steep
bluffs, after which
comes the gently rolling upland prairies.
The
winters are usually mild, with little snow. Shelter is never provided
for stock, for, in the spring, after
one of these mild winters, they are
in as good order as if put up and fed with hay all winter.
But occasionally, there is a winter that is severe, with a heavy
snowfall. During such seasons, there is a
large percentage of loss, for,
whenever a snow-storm does visit these Western prairies, it is terrible in
its effects. These storms usually last two or three days; a heavy wind
blowing incessantly during this time,
the fine dry snow constantly blowing
and whirling, renders it impossible for men to be out without losing
their
way, and cattle keep moving before the wind to seek shelter, if possible,
in the bluffs near the streams.
To this is added the fact that when the
ground is covered with snow, it is impossible for them to secure feed,
and, of course, many die of hunger.
The winter of 1880-81 was specially a
very severe one. Snow storms came every few days and the weather
was very
cold. As a result, the loss of cattle was large. Several flocks of sheep
were nearly destroyed.
But such a winter as this is unusual.
Source:
Andreas History of Nebraska - Dundy
County