Omaha daily bee., 1914-10-02
PIONEERS TALK OLD TIMES
Early Settlers Of Nebraska Tell Of
Hardships They Endured.
SOME BATTLE WITH INDIANS
Each Has story of MS Efforts In
Assistina In COnauerinE the
Glorious West from the
Redman.

More than 1S5 visiting Nebraska pioneers
registered at headquarters in the court
house AZ noon yesterday and more
were arriving from all portions OF the
state The exhibit. including various ar
ticles Of early days, is installed and Is
attracting much attention, the museum
being visited by large numbers Of city
people and visitors.
The program was IN the nature Of a
round table talk. pioneers telling OF their
early experience. IL started with a piano
solo by Mrs. Alice A. Minnick. 1857. now
residing in Dundee. who formerly, with
her parents. located at Nemaha City and
afterward removed to Brownsville, which.
at that time was Nebraska's metropolis.
Colonel Hopper OF Omaha, 1850. re-
counted the fact that soon after his ar
rival he engaged in frcightng. between
here and Denver. incidentally being lured
10 Pixies Peak in the hope Of finding
gold. Returning to Omaha they stopped
for the night near where the town OF
Chappene is located That night several
OF their horses were stolen and twenty
four hours later the bodies of two OF the
thieves ornamented two Of the cotton
wood trees along the Platte.
A < sheldon, 1850 Lincoln. told the
story Of settling in Seward county. then
wilderness Of prairie, and breaking
prairie with two yoke Of oxen.
+. A. Truen. 1880. Lincoln. was another
riCnccr who was lured 20 Pixies Peak in
the hope Of finding gold. A year later ne
enliszed and served three years in the
WAE, coming hack 90 Nebraska In 1869
and reaching Omaha the day OF the driv-
ing OF the golden spike, marking the
ccnpletion of the Union Pacific rail-
road. He flied and iYed on a homestead
in Lancaster county.
Game with or Team.
Milton May. iS59. North Bend, noted
the fact that he drove an OK team all
the way from Iowa City and after get
ting here could not make a living. He
went hack 10 Ohio. but the western fever
again attacked HIM ana no returned to
Nebraska. filed on land in Dodge county
Ind resided there many years. subse-
duently aiding in the establishment OF
the wholesale grocery firm OF May Broth
ens, Fremont.
Gus Lochner, 1865. Omaha, told Of his
experience in farming in Butler county,
having journeyed up the river on n
burned him out, grasshoppers ate him
out and then the Indian tried TO steal
what little remained. He overcame all
tlle hindranees and remained in the state.
Frank L. Bojohn. 1857. Blair. arrived IN
Nebraska with his parents when he was
but't years OF age. His parents located
at Calhoun, went TO Desota and subse-
quently located near Blair, where he has
since resided.
d. A. Zimmerman. 1850. Norfolk, came
from Indiana and ate his first dinner in
Omaha around a camp fire with his par
ents. Then they drove 10 Norfolk, where
father and son took homesteads seven
miles northwest OF the town, tho latter
having to borrow IS In order to have
enough money TO pay the land office fill
ing fee.
Two Claim the Honor.
At the afternoon session q ID. Bowler
from Dc Sofa arrived and laid claim
90 being tho oldest Nebraskan in point
OF residence. He came to the territory
in April. 1854. and there was no person
except A. N. Yost who sought to dispute
the honor. Mr.. Yost came about the
same time and the honora Of being the
first resident at this time are divided.
The afternoon session started off by
Elijah Allen, who came to Nebraska in
1873 and who IL past % years OF age,
singing solo. Mrs. Allen announced
that she was also something of a singer
and when her husband had concluded, she
entertained with a solo. insisting that she
did not want any piano accompaniment.
When the two pioneers had concluded
their solos. and ali Joined in singinE
america. after which Miss Blanche soren-
son sang.
Mayor Dahlman. In q short address,
welcomed tho pioneers to the city, as
surfing them they were most heartily well
oone. adding. You are the men and
women who are responsible for tho foun-
dalton that was laid 10 make Omaha the
greatest city between the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts and Nebraska the greatest
state in the union. You laid the foun-
station for the people who are TO tcome
after you, including all future genera
1ons"
Yost Voices HIS Sentiment.
The mayor dwelt with statistics 10
proce what Omaha and Nebraska have
been doing in the past and in conclusion
informed the pioneers that the city Il
theirs to do with as they please.
A. n. Yost, president OF the Nebraska
Pioneers association responded, insist.
ing that Nebraska is the greatest stats
of the states. its people the best inth,
union, and Omaha the greatest OF the
cities, And all OF this" he added 'ha,
hesn brought about by the men anc
women about me and the others OF theil
Kind. who have passed away. There wer,
tho ones who blazed tho trail and toll
the Initiative in the development OF thi
great west"
Governor Aorehead. unable 20 be pres
ent and speak for the state ofNebraska
sent his private secretary, a. NJ. Nor
risey, who assured the audience that
was with the keenest regret that tn
governor had been forced to cancel In
engagement, as he felt that he was
pioneer. and his sympathies were with IN
pioneers.
Mr.. MOrrisey assured the pioneers tina
the governor arrived in Nebraska thirty
two years ago with $50 in his poke
and that shortly thereafter he secured
job blowing corn. receiving co cents pc
day.
Tot he pioneers Mp. Morrisey said