Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-12-15
,tPubZc Library

or word Of warning, the militia,
headed by the gallant general,
charged full upon the Indians. OF
course, the whites were in fun, but
the Indians were not used to that
kind of amusement, so they took to
their heels, shouting with fear. The
whites later pacihed the frightened
Indians by giving them the remains
of the days feast.
During the summer of 1859 the
government removed the Pawnees
to a reservation about 20 miles west
of Fremont, near Columbus"
The town of Fremont was incor-
porated by authority of the legisla-
ture on November 2, 1853, although
the name had been adopted two
years before that date In August,
1856, Col. John c. Fremont and
James Buchanan were opposing
presidential candidates. Fremont
had visited this part OF the country
on his exploring expedition and his
rame was known to the western
pioneers. A town site Is miles west
of Fremont was named buchanan"
i'll the same year.
Named For Iowa Senator.
The county of Dodge, of which
Fremont is the seat, was named in
honor of Senator Augustus Caesar
Dodge of Iowa, supporter OF the
Kansas Nebraska bill. The first
boundary lines of Dodge county
were announced in a proclamation
issued by Acting Governor Cunning,
November q, 1854. The legislature
in 1855 established new boundaries
and named Fontenelle as the county
seat. In 1860 Fontenelle was placed
in Washington county. DR.. NJ. H.
Clark was the first member from
Dodge county to the territorial
council, the first county election be-
ing held in Fontenelle, December
II, 1854 Judge J. w. Richardson
and Col. Z. r. Doyle were the first
members elected to the territorial
house OF representatives.
The present townsite of Fremont
was "claincd' by E. II. Barnard
and John A. Kountz, August %,
1856. Their first claim stake was
placed at a point which is now the
intersection of D and First streets.
They surveyed their lines two miles
west to the cabin of Seth P. Mar
win, who had arrived three weeks
before with his wife and two chill.
dren from Marshalltown, la. George
M. Pinney, James G. Smith, Robert
Kittle and Robert Moreland, who
had established conflicting claims.
pooled their interests with Barnard
and Kountz at the Marvin cabin. A
townslte company was formed with
Smith as president. Barnard and
kittle were uncles of Mrs. Ross
Hammond, present-day resident OF
Fremont.
First Building.
: The first building in Fremont was
crude affair erected by Barnard
and kountz on a site later occupied
by the Congregational church. This
humble structure served as board
ing house where Leander Gerard
presided as cook, later rising to the
position of banker in Columbus.
Neb. This pioneer hostelry was said
to have accommodated as many as
IS at one time. A story is told OF
the cook being blown out of this
boarding house during memorable
Northwestern on December /, 1856
A searching party found the cook
in Judge Smiths dug-out. The first
permanent houses were erected by
Robert Kittle and William G. Bow
man. Rev. Isaac E. lHeaton, Con-
gregationalist, delivered the first
sermon in Fremont on November 2,
1856. He became pastor of the first
church organization, August 2, 1857.
His family is said to have been the
first to settle permanently in the
town. Mrs. L. H. Rogers, now re-
siding in Fremont, is daughter OF
Rev. Mr.. Heaton. James G. Smith
is credited with having been the first
merchant; John c. Flor, first hotel
keeper; Fred Kittle, first male child
born; Alice Flor. first girl born;
Luther Wilson and Eliza Turner,
first groom and bride. The first
settlers in Dodge county were Mrs.
Wealthy Beebe and children, and
her son-in-law, Abram McNeal, and
his family. They located two miles
west of Fremont.
First Stage Line.
A stage line station was opened
in Fremont during July, 1858, when
the maha-California stage line was
established. The station was To-
Gated at point now known as FIFTH
and Main streets and was near a
hotel conducted by Mrs. Turner,
mother of Thomas, Ben and w. H.
(Hank) Turner. w. H. Turner still
lives in Fremont and is one of the
oldest living residents of his town
and county. He was a freighter in
the old days. Part Of the old mill
tary road, Omaha to Fort Kearny,
is now known as Military avenue in
Fremont. The advent of the Union
Pacific to Fremont, January "a, 1866,
marked the passing OF the stage line.
The Tractor City" has in recent
years been the scene of tractor