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Early
County Settlement
The
first white men to settle in what is now Nance County was in 1857, by a colony of Mormons. They
come from near St. Louis, under the leadership of H. J. Hudson, and after
attempting to settle in Platte, moved to what was then Monroe County, beginning
operations near the present town site of Genoa.
There
were 100 families altogether, and the fall was occupied in constructing cabins
and dug outs for protection during the winter.
In
the spring following, a survey of the lands squatted on was made, and shares
allotted. Two thousand acres were surrounded by ditches and fences, and 1,200
acres were put under cultivation.
A
post office was established, and called the Genoa office. H. J. Hudson was
appointed Postmaster.
Although
extreme privations were undergone during the first year of settlement, the colony
was very prosperous in 1860, when
the Pawnees arrived to take possession of their reservation.
During the three succeeding years, the Mormons
attempted to remain and hold their possessions, and live in proximity to the Indians;
but the numerous struggles between the Sioux and Pawnees kept them in constant
jeopardy, and in 1863 they broke up and scattered.
Many
located in Platte County, but the greater portion left the country entirely,
some going to Iowa and many to Salt Lake.
In
1875 the government removed
the Pawnees and their land was
put up for sale. Under charge of the agent, William Burgess, they left the reservation,
and in 1876 ratified the net of
Congrats, under which the lands wore brought, upon the market. Owing to the
delay caused by the appraisement, the sale did not take place until 1878, but
the early settlement began in 1876.
Many
were willing to make improvements and take their chances of securing titles.
Among
the earliest of these was Robert Compton, who came in 1876 and located eight
miles above the mouth of the Cedar.
During
the same fall, W. A. Davis squatted on his half section, about half way between
Genoa and Fullerton: and James Scully took the land which he afterward sold to
N. Crabtree, who came in the fall of 1878.
Mr. Derrick also came in 1876, and located where he now lives, seven
miles northwest of Genoa.
In
the western part of the county, the Crow brothers squatted during the same
fall. With them came Mrs. H.. H. Knight, a sister, and the first white woman
who came into the county to settle.
They
found Randall Fuller herding cattle on the present town site of Fullerton, and
mistaking his stock for antelope, were preparing for sport. They discovered
their error before any damage was done, however.
In
the winter A. H. Crow and Mrs. Knight went back to Minnesota, leaving Edward.
One of his experiences was an hour's swim in the Cedar, during the winter. He
had been calling on his neighbors, Compton and the Johnsons, a Norwegian
family, then the only two families in that section, and was on his return, when
he broke through, and by almost superhuman efforts broke ice to shore and
escaped.
In
1877, a few more settled, and awaited the sale to secure their improvements.
In
the eastern part of the county, Clark Cooney came in with Davis, and located
near him. Eric Nelson and Andrew Thompson settled a little west of them. Frank
Hodges took a claim at the mouth of Timber Creek in September. Farther west,
W. H. Bowman and Alfred Bixby settled during the year. Bowman came from
Minnesota and met Bixby in Iowa, and together they traveled to the reservation.
Bowman settled three miles north of Fullerton, where he now lives. Bixby
located a little south of him, where he lived until 1878, when a sudden illness
carried him off. It seemed doubly
unfortunate that after enduring the perils of pioneer life, and then just
fairly securing the title to his fine property, he should be removed from the
enjoyment of it
In 1878, prior to the sale, O. E. Stearne arrived, and squatted on the quarter cornering with the town site
of Fullerton on the northeast. Soon after locating he secured the post office,
which was the first west of Genoa. There
was no regular mail carrier, and each of the early settlers did service in turn
and brought the mail in his pocket.
It
was not long after that a mail route was opened between Central City and
Albion, and J. F. Bixby, one of the enterprising editors of the Journal, and
early settler, tells jovially of the first trip over the route, when the mail
consisted of one postal card.
During
that year, also, A. Brown located, and was the first settler in the valley of
Cottonwood.
When
the sale occurred in July, there was not above twenty families in the
county. Most of those who had squatted
went to Central City and secured their titles, and the actual settlement began.
Little
was done during 1878, and the rush of immigration did not begin until the year
following.
During
1879, the towns were laid out, and immense quantities of land were sold. People flocked into the county, and the rapid
settlement, which has not decreased since that time, was began.
History
of Nebraska 1882
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