Omaha daily bee., 1909-07-04
Nebraska
CITY AGED FIFTY
Nebraska Town Will Celebrate Semi.
Centennial Monday.
MANY STORIES OF PIONEER DAYS
Early settlers Had Thrilling Adveu-
tures with Indians, B~Iissards,
and GrasshOppers
-IRtereatinE Incidents,

The preparations for observing Central
Citys nftieth anniversary, July s. have
awakened many memories long dormant
In the minds Of the old settlers. Many In
cidents have been revived to illustrate
phases Of pioneer life. Some Of them
would justify the securing a poets license
In order to vaporiSs; some would put a
smile on the most solemn visage, while
others would make a small boy Jingle with
desire for adventure. And through them
all runs a deep vein Of interest, and the
old settlers in relating them have been
having everything their own way.
Central City was never a bad mans
town. but It and the surrounding country
have had their share Of exciting, interest
Ing and pathetic incidents, which taper
down from murderous acts by blood-thirsty
Indians to the p~itifully tragic fate of an
aged English couple who came into the
new country without money and friends,
and. being too proud to beg, tried to live
through a long, hard winter on a diet of
summer squash, but died before spring
came.
The most interesting part of the history
Of this town is included between the years
1~S6O-1s75. Then Central City was known as
Lone Tree, the name being borrowed from
a gigantic cottonwood which stood on the
north bank OF the Platte river and held
exclusive sway on the prairie for many
miles. The old tree after being a land
mark for years went down in a terrible
storm in 1866. Within sight of It the first
settlements in the county were made. The
Indians at that time were very annoying.
but their depredations consisted mostly in
carrying off household goods and stock
and chickens.
Adventure with Indians.
Yet there were times when they could
prove themselves a dangerous element, as
may be seen from the experience of John
L. Martin and his son Henry, who settled
near Chapman in 1853. They were blowing
in the field, when a band of Sioux Indians
came up and demanded one Of Mr.. Mar
tins oxen. Refusing, one OF the Indians
attempted to stab him and only failed
when Mr.. Martin jumped backward. Young
Henry, going to his fathers rescue, threw
a monkeywrench at the Indian and
knocked him down. Then they fled to the
house, closely pursued. BY running around
in the house and showing their rifles
through the various loopholes they made
the Indians believe that they had several
comrades with them and thus frightened
the redskins away.
Another encounter with Indians did not
terminate so fortunately. In 1869 two horses
were stolen from Mr.. Martin. and two
young men by the names of William Shout
ders and John Stafford followed the trail
to the Platte. Breasting the swift current,
they made for the south bank, where a
horse was seen grazing. As they neared
the bank a party OF indians suddenly APP
peared and opened fire. Both men were
killed and their bodies were never recov-
cred. being either secreted by the Indians
or carried away in the torrent. A posse
was organized. but failed to overtake the
Indians. 1t was thought that the guilty
Indians were Cheyennes. rs their ire had
been aroused by the action Of the govern
ment In presenting their foes. the Paw
nees, with a small cannon, and they con-
sidered all white people their foes.
Another barbarous crime was committed
by the Indians in 1868, when John vieregg
and a neighbor. Claus Gottsch. accom-
panied by the latter's son and a hired boy,
were encamped near the Loup river. The
two men left the boys In charge Of the
camp. and when they returned in the even
Ing they found the two boys murdered and
the horses gone.
Single Case of LynehInE.
The one case of capital punishment melted
out In this county occurred about this
time, when a horse was stolen from John
Kyes. The thief proved to be a tramp, and
he was captured after crossing the Platte
river by a desperate effort. He was taken
to some timber near the old lone tree and
strung up, although the rope broke twice
during the operation.
In 1868 the Platte sprang a big surprise
on the settlers by going dry. This hap
pens every year now, since the advent OF
irrigation, but in those days II was a won
derful phenomenon. Even the Indians had
no tradition OF such an occurrence and
were as much surprised as the whites. II
was extremely difficult to obtain water
for the stock. as the quicksand filled up
the holes that were dug. Many old settlers
feared that one OF the tributary streams
Of the Platte had been blocked by a land
slide in the mountains. and that the Amer
lean desert, which depended upon the river
so much. would remain such forever. II
was with the greatest relief that a silver
thread of water was observed glittering in
the sun far up the river about November 1
When the war broke out there were
probably not more thai a dozen men in
Merrick county capable OF bearing arms.
Yet seven enlisted in Iowa or Colorado
regiments. They served their country from
the beginning to the end OF the war. They
were: Frank Jewell, George Thompson.
Ed Parker, Joseph Whaley, Charles Hart
ley, Henry C. Martin and Benjamin Hur-
ley. None OF them were Obliged to Law
down their lives or wear an empty sleeve
but as Wells Brewer remarked years ago
III Uncle Sam had been consulted he
would have doubtless said that there was
more cash value in seven case-hardened
acclimatsd and disciplined old veterans
than there could be in the same number
OF dead heroes"
First Church I'm Liquor store.
Religious organization made its appear
ance not long after the war. An inter-
esting account Of services held In the one
store Of which the young settlement
boosted mas been preserved. The minister
was obliged to hold services in a room
in which the stock OF liquor was kent
When the minister announced his text ana
started his sermon, some OF the young
men got their cards and commenced a
game Of sledRe, giving as mueh att.n,o.