Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-09

- trades. He sought to produce
&9A a little Of everything he needed.
49, The new farmer is looking
ebout for an opportunity to specialize In
% le particular line suited to his tempera-
nSnt and advancement. The old-time
sefmer grew every kind Of crop known to
fxon county, and with the aid OF the
middle men, marketed in some fashion a
little Of each. And so the results were
financially unsatisfactory. The up-to-date
and scientific farmer finds that the capital
necessary and the knowledge required to-
care properly for and breed fine animals,
to grow products and look after the sale
Of the same, is too much for one individual.
AS a consequence, he speclalizes and limits
his activities and endeavors to get his
ueighbors to do the same. His supreme OBJ.
iect Is to grow a few articles well and then
turn them over to a specialist to market
them. The work Is done through a farm
ers' organization or association. The MOD
ern farmer has come to realize that spe-
cialization is the foundation Of Industrial
development Of the last century and that
organization is the means by which 1t is
carried forward. The old farmer may op-
pose the idea OF organization If he sees fit,
but the knowledge, use, economies and
united efforts are such that II he would at.
tain financial success, will be compelled
to adopt the principles worked out and
used by special industries.
1t will be seen that the pioneers who
braved the perils of frontier life in Dixon
county had no easy task for many years.
Most Of those who v~entured into the county
had a good supply of common sense and
plenty of courage and perseverance,. Some
began life here as farmers, others hung
nnf THAR ohtpoIae o-A
selves as carpenters. blacksmiths, lawyers,
'~ctors and land agents. In all of their
Trades and professions they could pride
themselves on their good Judgment and
hence they ultimately were successful.
Dixon county was organized by an act
OF the territorial legislature in 1858. Its
boundary lines as first established have
never been changed. The county contains
between thirteen and fourteen townships
and $4,000 acres. The northern part of the
county is quite rugged, though the surface
or the entire county is sufficiently diversi-
lied. Among the rugged hills in the north
ern part wind the Lime, Turkey and
Powder creeks. There are ten streams In
the county, making It one Of the best
watered section Of the state. Valleys along
these streams vary from one-half mile to
three miles In width and comprise in the
aggregate about one-third OF the county's
surface. Very little timber is to be found
along the small streams, but along the
bluffs quantities of huge timber are found.
the Popca Indians were the most numer-
GUS OF the three tribes. Their PRINCIPAL
village was near the present location of
Ponca, the county seat. The first settlers
who came into the county arrived In 1870
among them were John s. Olomon, B.
Jacob Slough and two brothers by the
name OF Brown. In June, 1858, N. s. Todd
and c. w. Todd moved In, and In the fol-
lowing August e. NJ. Bisbee, who was ar
one time county clerk. 1t this time there
were about 100 people in the county. and
twenty Of them were in Ponca.
Dixon county, in common with other
counties of the territory, suffered largely
from the hard times Of 1857 and '5s. Gold
and silver disappeared and paper money
OF the wildcat species became entirely
worthless. In 1862, the settlement of the
county was again retarded by fears of a
general Indian massacre. The progress OF
the county was steady, however, until the
famous grasshopper visitation OF 1874.
Previous to December. 1863, Dixon county
was attached to Dakota county for legts-
lative and revenue purposes. In Decem-
Der. 1855, an election was held for the
purpose Of determining the county seat.
Several places desii ed to become the CAPT.
tai of the county and a heated contest was
the result. At that time there was a town
called North Bend at the northern bend
OF the river. of about four houses. and
another named Concord, on Lime creek. of
about the same size. Poncs, then, was a
town of four log houses and a grocery.
Since then there have been attempts to re-
move the county seat, elections having
been held at different times. The most
violent disturbances among the people took
place at these contests. Then II was that
the embryo of civilization in the shape OF
q few log houses and a general grocery