Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-22
one OF THE OLD SETTLERS
Recent Death of a Pioneer Recalls His
Interesting History.
WAS IN THE MEXICAN WAR WITH TAYLOR
Fought Indians in Nebraska, Was
May or of Florence Several Years
and Justice of the Pence ut
Time of His Death.

In the passing OF James II. De Land oil
Florence upon the evening of January q
last, Nebraska lost her oldest and one of her
most respected pioneers. Mr.. De Land had
reached the ninety-fourth mile post Of his
journey through life before he succumbed
to the inevitable.
His name has been so closely linked with
the history of the town of Florence and
eastern Nebraska that reference to it will
bring back a flood of memories to the minds
Of many OF the old settlers. Born in Oneida
county, a short distance from Utica, N. Y,
in July, 1902, MIR. De Land passed his younger
days upon a farm. Upon the breaking out
of the Mexican war in 1916. he was among
sc first to enlist under the flag of General
Zachary Taylor and he followed the fortunes
of the great fighter all through this cele-
brated campaign. Among the conflicts in
which he took part were the battles of Palo
Alto, May s, 1876; Resaca de la Palma,
May 8, 1876; Monterey, September 20, 1916,
and in the defeat of General Santa Anna at
Buena Vista in February, 1S47. This last
battle gave to the American general the
possession of all the northern Mexican prov
inces and Mr.. De Land remained with the
victorious army until the disbanding Of its
forces.
He returned to his old nome in the state
OF New York and engaged once more in the
cultivation of his farm. In 1857 he married
Miss Ella Buckley of Buffalo, N. Y, and
then removed to Minnesota a short distance
from Minneapolis. He remained there but
a short time and then with his family went
to Davenport, la. The cry of Westward
no" was in everyone's mouth and falling a
victim to the fever De Land packed his
household chattels and followed the long
line of emigrants bound for the great Ell
dorado.
HEARD OF A BEAUTIFUL CITY.
While coming across the state of Iowa he
met many travellers who had secured the
western country far aud near. They de-
scribed the location Of Florence, with its en-
circling hills and clear streamlet, as the
most beautiful spot encountered in all their
journeJings. The country round about was
springing into activity aud the Indians had
been pushed back from the lands bordering
the Missouri river. So in the year 1858 De
Land crossed the turbid Big Muddy and drove
north from the landing at Omaha to the new
settlement. He was charmed with the beau
tiful little nook in the bend OF the big river
and determined to make 1t his home. The
IN under Joe Smith and his sub
elder, Brigham Young, had taken possession
Of the town the year before and all was life
and hustle. Long trains of wagons we're
arriving hourly from the east and the little
plateau was dotted by the white tents OF the
emigrants.
lllDh L htNtl q as =" i1N>
of men and women as the MormOnS were
said Mrs. De Land, in speaking of this pecu-
liar folk, a few days ago. The women, par
ticularly, were noteworthy, on account of
their magnificent physiques. Although
many of them travelled in wagons, by far
the greater portion were on foot and pushed
their belongings ahead of them in a hand
cart. The hand carts were two-wheeled
affairs, and it usually developed upon the
women to prCpel them, as the men were
NJ hprp,iy "a u rod i'm Hpiyinp n1tt1a and in
guarding their families, by scouting around
about, against the Indians. The roads lead
ing out from Florence were very steep, yet
these women by means of broad leather
straps attached to the handles OF the carts
and which passed around their shoulders,
would propel the heayily-laden vehicles over
the hills with apparently little effort. The
Mormons were peaceable folk, and when,
after living with us for about three years,
they took up the westward trend of their
journey, am sure we all felt sorry to
part with ITEM"
RECEIVED MUNICIPAL HONORS.
Mr.. De Land took a prominent part in the
affairs of Omaha'S historic little suburb and
was it's second mayor, DR.. Harsch being the
first. He afterwards filed this Office a num-
Der of times, the terms being of only one
year duration. For the last twenty years
and up to the time of his death Mr.. De Land
held the position of justice of the peace, and
as the population of the town dwindled and
the thriving youth to the south outshone 1t,
he was regarded, in the snug little community
as chief magistrate of the settlement. Many
were the knotty problems of law which were
submitted to the discretion of De Land. and
numerous were the decisions rendered by
the honored old justice which many times
kept the cases out Of a higher court.
In the troublous times experienced by the
earlier settlers De Lands name will always
be remembered as prominently connected
with law and order. He was one of the prime
movers in the organization of the Anti-Claim
club, which succeeded at length in driving
the more lawless society from that section
of the country, and he took an active part
in the Pawnee war, which occurred in 1861.
The war was only Of a months duration, but
was carried on against the willy savages by
a large number of Omaha and Florence set
tiers until the marauding Indians were driven
along the valley of the ElkhOrn back to their
reservation.
down A | Brayton and Jack Daley from a
tree on the hillside at Florence, where they
had been lynched for the theft Of a team of
horses from Bob Connors. Brayton and
Daley had formerly worked for Connors,
and in departing from his farm had taken
the team in alleged payment for back wages.
They were overhauled before they had gone
many miles westward and were brought
back to Florence, where a terrible fate was
meted out to them.
The remains of De Land are inferred >on
the side of a gentle slope at Forest Lawn
cemetery. He who visits the grave may
look up the valley of the Missouri for many
miles, while just below, a short distance
10 the north, are the familiar scenes of the
little hamlet which, during life, were so
i 1nar IN tho baort ~ tho gItt n, hprip N t,iprpar