EARLY HISTORY OF CHERRY COUNTY, NEBRASKA

     (17) The settlement of Cherry County could be said to have begun in the summer of 1878. That year the government located the Sioux Indians, numbering about 5,000, on the Rosebud Reservation, which joins Cherry County on the north. The government agreed to furnish beef for them, which meant that large herds of cattle were brought into the county from places as far south as Texas, and grazed along the Niobrara River.

     One of the cowboys who helped bring one of these herds from Dodge City, Kansas into Cherry County, was A. J. Abbott, father of C. J. and LeRoy Abbott. The herd brought by A. J. Abbott was held on Schlagel Creek until delivered to the Indians. Mr. Abbott became a very successful stockman and one of Nebraska's largest operators. His brother, Harry, was killed in an Indian raid in Kansas.

     The owners of the cattle, as well as the cowboys in their employ, were quick to see the natural advantages of the nutritious grasses and abundant water supply. Consequently, open range ranches were established at various places in the county and these ranches continued to operate until incoming settlers took up much of their range land. That period of time in Cherry County is referred to as the "Open range days."

     There is no more colorful period in the history of our county, than the open range days. Cowboys trained during that time became skillful riders and ropers. They were a fearless, rugged class of young men, noted for their faithfulness, generosity, and loyalty. Such a thing as one of those young men notifying his employer that he was quitting before his term of employment was over, was unheard of. The words, "I'm going to see my mother, when the work is all done this fall"--from one of their favorite songs, expressed their sentiments exactly.

     On the open range ranches during the summer and fall, there were two distinct round-ups. The fore part of the season was given to the calf round-up, during which time the work of branding calves was kept up until all calves belonging to the herd were properly branded.

     Round-up time was a busy time for the ranchers. Some ranches ran only steers, bringing them up from the south as yearlings or two year olds, and keeping them until they were (18) ready for market. The work of gathering these mature cattle and sorting them from the rest of the herd, was called the "beef round-up". It began at the close of the calf round-up and continued until the cattle ready for market were gathered and shipped. It was always an inspiring sight to see a bunch of trained cowboys branding calves. During the round-ups, the cowboys lived on the range, and a chuck wagon was their home. Each boy had a bed roll, which consisted of a number of blankets rolled in a heavy tarpaulin to keep the bedding dry. Sometimes conditions were such that the bedding became wet in spite of this protection. The tarpaulin was usually twice as long as the blankets, and was stretched full length on the ground. The blankets were placed on one end and the tarpaulin drawn up over them. The bed was made on the ground near the chuck wagon, as a rule.

     Each boy had a string of seven to twelve saddle horses. By changing to a fresh horse frequently, he kept his horses in good condition. These ranches ran herds numbering into the thousands.

     The period known as the "open range days" began in Nebraska when Ed Creighton brought a large herd of cattle from Texas into what is now Cheyenne County, in 1869, and located on the North Platte River, near Ogallala. They came over the Chisholm Train. Soon other ranches were established along the North and South Platte Rivers.

     Those days were sometimes marred by a tragedy. James Williamson, 26 years of age, and Felix James, cowboys working for the McCan Ranch, with headquarters on the south side of the Niobrara River, near the canyon that bears that name, were gathering horses along the Snake River and Boardman Creek, to be used in the spring round-up. On May 6, 1879, they had gathered the horses and were taking them to the home ranch. Williamson had just changed mounts before they reached Steer Creek. The horse he had roped had wintered on the range and was not in good condition. At that point a band of Indians appeared, and the boys started for the home ranch at top speed with the Indians in pursuit. The horse ridden by Williamson soon became exhausted and the Indians overtook and shot him. Felix's horse, having been well fed, was more than a match for the Indian ponies and therefore reached the ranch safely with his rider unharmed.

     Immediately the entire force, on fresh horses, started to the rescue of Williamson. They found the dead body but the (19) Indians had fled. The body was taken to the home ranch and buried on a bluff overlooking the Niobrara River. A monument erected by friends marks the grave. The location of the grave is on the ranch now owned by D. J. Sanford.

     The horse that carried Felix James to safety became famous for his great run and was named for the brand he carried --"U L". Mr. James prized him so highly that he kept him for his private horse for many years and cowboys referred to him affectionately as "Old U L".

     Another tragedy marked the shipping season in the fall of 1882. The F. L. Outfit had loaded out a shipment at Thacher. One of their cowboys was shot and killed by mistake by a man who was looking for another man whom he wanted to "get". The body was buried about one fourth mile north of Thacher.

     Each rancher in those days selected certain territory for his range and built a house of logs or sod, also built a corral, bunk house, and barn. This territory was all government land, but the early ranchmen respected the right and territory of their neighbors. The extension of these ranches gradually worked northward and reached Cherry County in 1878.

     Open range days continued in Cherry County until 1885, when the last round-up was held and the big ranches moved west, on account of so many settlers having come into the county and filing claim to the land.

     All of the land being government land, and subject to homesteading, the incoming settlers had the right to file on the land then being used by the large ranchers. This they did, and were entitled to the right of possession. There was nothing else for the large ranchers to do but vacate and leave the land to the legal owners who had filed on it under the homestead law.

     The cattle gathered in the beef round-up of 1882 in Cherry County were shipped from Thacher. Those gathered in 1883, 1884, and 1885 were shipped from Valentine. Since that time cattle were shipped from the stations along the Northwestern Railroad.

     In moving a herd of cattle, a system was used which prevented a duplication of effort. Near the head of the herd, on either side, a rider was placed, and it was his duty to direct the cattle in the right direction. These stations were called points; the right and left point. Behind the point riders, at some distance, depending upon the size of the herd, was (20) another rider on each side of the herd. These riders were called flankers. In very large herds, a number of flankers were used. The rear of the herd was called the drag. Beginners and tenderfeet were usually given the drag positions. No rider was supposed to change his station during a drive. It was a proud day in the life of a young cowboy when he was assigned to a point position. In addition to his bed roll, a well equipped cowboy had a good slicker which he kept tied on his saddle. He also had chaps, spurs, and a six shooter.

     In moving a beef herd to market, it was necessary to night herd them in order to keep them from scattering out and getting away. The night was usually divided into four shifts called reliefs, consisting of two hours each, which were called first relief, second relief, and so on. Most everyone wanted the first relief, but the foreman did the assigning and there was no grumbling about his decisions. Many cowboys kept a special horse for the night work, and these horses often displayed almost human intelligence. A good night horse was an appreciated animal.

     The ranches operating in Cherry County during the open range days were as follows: The headquarters were always located on a stream or lake.

     The headquarters of ranches during the open range days were always located on a stream or lake, and those operating in Cherry County were as follows:

     E. S. Newman's Open Range Days ranch buildings on Antelope creek near where it joins the Niobrara, in 1884.

     (21) From west to east on the Niobrara River, the E. S. Newman Outfit, carrying the brand of N had the home ranch on the north side of the river near the mouth of Antelope Creek, not far from the Lavaca Bridge. Two of the cowboys who worked on this ranch during the winter of 1879 were Charles and Bob Ford, who later killed the famous Jesse James.

     Down the river twenty miles from the N Ranch, was the ranch of Carpenter and Moorehead, having an apple as a brand, and called the Apple Outfit. Their headquarters were located at the Boiling Springs on the north side of the river. Mr. J. H. Quigley was foreman of this ranch in 1883, and the ranch is now owned by the Quigley family of Valentine.

     Next down the river was the J. P. Pore Ranch, with JP as their brand, and known as the Pore Ranch.

     Down the river from the Pore ranch was the XX ranch, located near the McCann Canyon, and D. J. McCann was the owner. It was on this ranch that James Williamson was working when he was killed by the Indians. Felix James who was with him that day, also worked on the McCann ranch.

     Down the river at the mouth of the Gordon Creek was the Ox Yoke Ranch, and a Mr. Creighton was the owner.

     The next ranch was at the mouth of the Minnechaduza Creek, and was known as the Peter Sharp Ranch, brand unknown.

     Six miles east of the Peter Sharp Ranch, at the Berry Bridge, was the Koontze, Yates & Company; their brand being (_--_) a hat, and was called the Hat Outfit.

     Continuing down the river, at the mouth of Seven Creeks, was a small ranch owned by Drexel Brothers, brand unknown.

     South of the Niobrara River, in the central portion of the country, were the following ranches:

     The figure 4 Ranch, with headquarters on the Snake River, near the head of the stream.

     The Watts Ranch, headquarters on Boardman Creek, near its mouth, and camps on Watts and Bull Lakes. Their brand was the running W. Watts Lake was named after Mr. Watts.

     The above list comprises the open range ranches of which the writer and his collaborators have any knowledge.

     The following well known citizens of the County worked as cowboys during the open range days: John Enlow, Ed T. Ross, N. S. Rowley, Bill Erickson, Ed Richards, J. H. Quigley, Dan Adamson, Pete Rousch, Charles Larsen, Harper (22) Cleveland, Larkin Cleveland, Charles Sherman, Charles Strickland, R. F. Gillespie and L. J. Jaeger, also known as Billie the Bear. All of these men, with the exception of Charles Sherman and L. J. Jaeger took up homesteads and engaged in the livestock business, establishing ranches of their own. Mr. Sherman became deputy sheriff of the county and was a popular livery man in Valentine. L. J. Jaeger, also known as Billie the Bear, became lost in a blizzard, and suffered the loss of his hands and feet from being frozen. He later became clerk of the Federal Court in Chadron, Nebraska.

     There were many high class men among the cowboys of the open range days, as shown by the words of Badger Clarke. The scene which inspired the words of the following prayer, is said to have been in the Valley of the Cheyenne River, Wyoming. A beef herd was on its way to market, and the time was a beautiful evening in late September. Near the river, the lazy smoke of a camp fire ascended where the round-up cook was preparing supper. A number of cowboys were lying on the grass nearby, waiting for their evening meal. Their saddle horses stood around with the bridle reins down, cow-horse fashion. Near the herd on an elevation, the sentinel of the herd stood guard. With his fine, sun tanned face toward the setting sun, his very being thrilled by the beauty of the scene round him, his heart went out in gratitude to his Maker, as he said:

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