Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-09-22

charge of murder. Citizens con-
ferred with Judge V,akeley and
Prosecutor Doane and it was agreed
that the prisoner should play for the
dance. At daylight the prisoner
musician was taken back to his cell.
F. B. Kennard of Omaha recently
wrote from memory a list of many
of the early settlers of De Sofa. His
uncle, T. P. Kennard, now living in
Lincoln at the age of 81, was an at
torney in the former seat of Wash
ington county. He served as the
first secretary of state of Nebraska.
M. w. Kennard, the Omaha mans
father, also was one of the men who
beheld visions of De Sofas future
greatness.
"reminiscences of Kennard.
Among Mr.. Remarks reminis-
cences is one which relates to
George E. Scott, who was cashier
Of wildcat bank. Scott is said to
have dropped S. gold pieces into the
church collection box. E. A. Allen
moved from De Sofa to Omaha
when his Broadway realty holdings
became aenemic. Allen gained
prominence in Omaha as the man
who gilded the hoofs of his horses
with silver.
Another pioneer mentioned by Mr..
Kennard was the late Charles Seltz,
whose son, Harry, now resides in
De Sofa. The Seltz family, like the
Smiths, was identified with the seed
corn industry.
West of De Sofa is a Mormon
graveyard, a grim reminder of the
days when these pilgrims made their
overland trip through Nebraska to
Salt Lake City. History of early
Nebraska would not be complete
without reference to these Mormons
who were encamped north of Oma-
ha for a winter and who suffered
many deaths on account of hunger
and illness.
Buffalo wallows on the hilltops
recall the days when the monarch
of the plains roamed over the virgin
soil. Along the river, in a south
easterly direction from De Sofa, is
the site of Rockport, a village which
disappeared without even a marker
left to remind the passerby of its
former existence.
"Uncle Sam" Bowler.
Going to De Sofa without seeing
Uncle Sam" Bowler would be like
going to London in tie old days
without visiting Madam Tussard's
wax figure exhibit. The Bowler
home is situated few rods up the
draw from the Smith house and is
cbscured from the view as one ira
verses the main highway. "Unc.e
Sans" father, Louis Bowler, trav-
eled from Louisville, KY, to De
Sofa in the early COS. Sam has
lived on the old homestead during
all of the years and his habitat is
noted for its hospitality. The Bou-
vier house is quaint old domicile
which rests beneath the protecting
presence of studded bluffs. The
scene is picturesque.
I'D know you if you were in a
haystaek and your feet were stick
ing out" is a characteristic greeting
from Sam as he appears in the door
way, shouting welcome to the Wis
itor within his gates.
Oldest Inhabitant Claim in Dispute.
Sam wears medal and thereby
is a story which may be unfolded.
The Nebraska Territorial associa
ton presented this medal to Bou
vier upon his claim Of being the old
est inhabitant in this state, oldest in
years of residence. The oldest in
habitant question remains among
the unfinished business Of the old
settlers organizations. The dis
pute has never been settled to the
satisfaction of the pioneers them
selves, except, prehaps, to Bowler,
who shows his medal as the best evil
dence Of his claims. Two sisters
living in Sarpy county are contend
ers for the honor, while Urban Cach-
elm at present in De Sofa, claims
that he has lived in Nebraska longer