Cherry County, NE History - Communities Part Two

(101) The Simeon Community is mostly in Cleveland Precinct, which precinct was named for President Grover Cleveland.

(102) The Post Office built in 1885, was named for Simeon Morgareidge, an early settler. Elias Stilwell was the first Postmaster, and had the Post Office in his home, which was located in the southeast corner of Sam Hudson's Valley.

The community is made up entirely of ranchers, and the only farming done in the entire community is done on the G. K. Sawyer Ranch, on Snake River.

Simeon Community had its beginning in 1882, and the first settlers were as follows:

Joseph Carson, whose sod homestead house was built on the site now occupied by the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph A. Baker.

Simeon Morgareidge, whose sod house was built on the bank of Gordon Creek, a short distance northeast of Swan Grove. He planted a small grove of cottonwood trees which are still living and mark the site of the first home in the Simeon Community. This land is now a part of P. H. Young's ranch.

Thomas Fox and John Pugh, whose claims are now a part of the C. S. Reece Ranch.

Sam Hudson who came into the valley which has been his home since that day, in July 1883, in time to make sufficient hay for his stock during the winter. Mr. Hudson has added to his land holdings until at this time he has one of the substantial ranches of the county. He built the first frame house in the Simeon Community in 1889 and took advantage of home improvements as they became available, until his home was made entirely modern. He owned the first purebred Shorthorn bull in this community, and is one of the Master Farmers of Nebraska. He also has the distinction of naming Steer Creek, a small stream which flows into Snake River from the west, which name he chose after finding a lone steer with a broken shoulder near the creek, during the open range days.

John W. Daniels whose arrival in 1884 was the beginning of a residence which continued until he passed away in May, 1940. Mr. Daniels served two terms as County Clerk of Cherry County in 1898-1901, and also served as County Commissioner. In common with all pioneers who stayed, he developed a ranch and herd which made a substantial business for his later years. Mrs. John Daniels, nee Minnie Davis, owns the ranch at this time, which is operated by their sons, C. A. and R. R. and families. Mrs. John Daniels was Postmistress at Simeon, (103) the office being in their ranch home for eighteen years, until she reached the retirement age. Mrs. C. A. Daniels is the present Postmistress, with five years of service to her credit.

In 1885 Messrs. G. M. Davis, C. W. Bennett, and J. B. Lord and families located in the community. They came from Kansas, bringing about 300 head of cattle with them. This trip overland with covered wagons and a herd of cattle was an important event in their lives. They were on the road four months, arriving at the Boardman Springs in early August. The herd was held in that vicinity while sod houses were built and hay made for winter. After living in the community for a few years, Mr. Davis obtained permission to put in a dairy herd near Fort Niobrara to furnish milk for the Fort. He remained in this business for a number of years. Messrs. Bennett and Lord remained in the Simeon Community the remainder of their lives. They operated their ranches, which joined, by helping each other with the ranch work. With true pioneer spirit they were helpful in times of sickness and death. Mr. Bennett prepared the bodies for burial while Mr. Lord made the caskets. Mrs. Bennett had four years' training under a woman physician, before her marriage, as a nurse, and this training became a most valuable asset in the new country in which they made their home. Mrs. Bennett heads the list on the Honor Roll in this history, with 51 years of service to her credit. She is living at this time in the community she helped to build, honored and loved by all who know her. Hers has been a wonderful life of service. Mr. Bennett's son, C. C. took over the business when his father passed away, and carries on. Mr. Lord's son, John G., was manager of the Niobrara Division of the Nebraska National Forest for 37 years. Both he and his brother, Boise, have ranches of their own. The ranches of C. C. Bennett and Boise Lord join, and they help each other with their ranch work, as did their fathers.

In 1886, W. S. Davis and his nephew, George Davis filed on homesteads in the community. School District No. 20 was organized in November, 1885. Miss Minnie Davis, now Mrs. John W. Daniels, was the first teacher. Her salary was $25.00 per month. The school house was constructed of sod, and Miss Davis used a saddle horse for transportation to and from school. Miss Davis was teaching during January of 1888 when the famous blizzard struck. Fortunately, it came so early in the morning that she had not left home for her school house.

In 1887 John F. Hobbs, with his family, came overland (104) to make their home in the locality. There were five sons and one daughter in this family, all of whom secured homesteads. By industry and careful management, they became well-to-do. None of the sons were ever married, except Edgar. At this time, only Edgar, the youngest son is living.

During the 80's, the following citizens became residents of the community: W. D. Morgareidge, Abraham Payton, Dr. Y. F. Felch, H. E. Dewey, M. Harris and sons, Edward and Charles, George Beer, Haskel A. Davis, H. A. Daniels, S. J. Hutchinson, William Mead, Archibald Thompson, C. C. Thompson, E. R. Stilwell, Henry Fliniaux, Alice Fliniaux, Lizzie Hayes. Miss Hayes became Mrs. H. A. Daniels, and they established a ranch on Beaver Lake, one of the fine fish lakes of the county, where they lived until Mr. Daniels passed away. Since then, Mrs. Daniels has carried on with the help of her daughters, Mrs. Ted Ferguson and husband, and Miss Herberta.

In the nineties, C. S. and J. C. Reece, H. B. Clapps, J. W. McLoud, Milton and Charles Latta, Grant Welker, Martin Carr and sons, T. A., J. S. and G. A., Ernest Erstling, W. H. Stratton, C. A. Austin, H. S. Savage, J. D. and Albert Spall, Robert Ellis, Warner Stratton, J. W. Burleigh, S. L. Ellis.

C. S. Reece served as Deputy County Clerk two terms; 1898 to 1901, as County Clerk two terms, 1902-1905. He served as State Representative from Cherry County during the sessions of 1923-1925, and 1931 in the Nebraska Legislature.

Following the turn of the century, P. H. Young purchased the ranches of Messrs. Morgareidge, Burleigh Austin, and Savage in 1901.

The Dewey Lake post office was established in 1910 with U. G. Welker as postmaster at his ranch home on Dewey Lake. This office was later discontinued.

Later George Christopher, Aaron Vanwinkle, J. O. Harms, J. H. Baker, and A. J. Vaughan, purchased ranches in the community. Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Fischer now operate the ranch formerly owned by George Christopher, which was recently purchased by Mrs. Fischer's mother, Mrs. H. G. Barber. L. W. Harse now owns a portion of the W. G. Ballard ranch.

Mr. Baker's grandson, Ralph A. Baker, now operates the Baker Ranch. He is serving his fourteenth year as County Commissioner of Cherry County.

(105) Mr. P. H. Young served as County Assessor five years, being the second County Assessor after the law created that office. He is also a Master Farmer.

In the first election held in Cleveland Precinct, after women were given the right to vote, Mrs. Irene Kime, Mrs. Helen Daniels, and Miss Mary Klepetko cast their votes. Mrs. Kime and Miss Kepetko were members of the election board in that election, which was the primary election of 1920.

The Simeon Community has four school districts, Nos. 20, 79, 109 and 178, all of which have nine months of school each year.

In 1917 residents organized the Gordon Valley National Farm Loan Association with J. W. Daniels as President, C. S. Reece as Secretary-Treasurer, and Warner Stratton as Investigator of Loans. This association became one of the prominent associations of the state. It loaned more than half a million dollars to ranchmen of the county, through the Federal Land Bank of Omaha, and it came through the drought and depression of the thirties with its stock unimpaired, its loans worth face value, and a substantial reserve. Mr. J. W. Daniels served as President until his death in 1940. Mr. C. S. Reece and Mr. Warner Stratton served in their respective positions until the association merged with a group in 1942.

The Simeon Community has four established herds of registered Hereford cattle. The owners are H. J. Harms, Wilbur Drybread, R. A. Baker, and R. R. Daniels. Also two young (106) men, Donald Harms and John Mulligan Jr., are laying foundations for registered herds.

H. J. Harms has the distinction of producing the highest priced Hereford bull produced in the county to this time. At the public sale of registered Hereford cattle in Broken Bow, Nebraska in November, 1943, this animal sold for $8,200.00.

Real Onward the highest priced animal ever produced in Cherry County. Bred and owned by H. J. Harms on his ranch near Simeon, Nebr. Sold Nov. 3, 1943, to Dean Burns of Guthrie, Texas, at the Broken Bow sale for $8,200.00.

Mr. Wilbur Drybread is a former 4-H Club boy who has continued in the livestock business, and he is the owner of the former H. B. Clapp ranch.

Ralph A. Baker and Ralph R. Daniels are making substantial progress in building up high class herds. All of these men are members of the Northwest Nebraska Hereford Breeders' Association.

Improvements in this community follow the same trend as in other locations of the county. The ranches are all equipped with the latest labor saving machinery. Many have bottled gas for cooking in their homes, electric lights, and either running water or kitchen pumps, and a number are entirely modern. The first telephone line was a barbed wire line, which served until the high line came in, in 1904.

(107) Registered sires have been used in the herds since soon after the turn of the century. P. H. Young purchased the first registered Hereford, and C. S. Reece purchased the first registered Angus bull in the community. The horses have also been much improved since the early days by the use of registered sires.

In 1894 a sod church was built near the Daniels Grove. Mr. John W. Daniels gave the community an acre of land for its location. For many years Sunday School was held in the neighborhood, and Reverend L. W. Horton, who was stationed at Brownlee, held services in the church twice each month. When the sod church gave away, church and Sunday School were held in the school house. These services continued for many years. The Carr, Daniels, Young, Baker, Morgareidge, Bennett, and Reece families were active in keeping these services alive.

It is believed that the Simeon Community had the first rural women's club in the county. In April, 1912, four women, Mesdames E. R. Stilwell, Martin Carr, J. W. Daniels and Harriet Reece, met at the home of Mrs. Harriet Reece and made plans to hold a meeting once a month to furnish social life for its members. There were to be no officers or dues. At each home where the meeting was held, some useful work which needed doing was done. The hostess, with the help of one or two ladies furnished the meal for that day. This club became popular and soon had most of the ladies in the community as members. This club has remained active in various forms, to the present time. It became one of the regular project clubs, sponsored by the Extension Service of the State University, for several years. During World War II, it has devoted its attention to Red Cross work.

Simeon had a country store in connection with the Post Office, for about thirty years. W. H. Stratton was the first merchant, followed by S. L. Ellis, J. D. and Bert Spall, S. Q. Spain, H. F. Kime. Mr. Kime sold out to a community group in 1919, and by that time automobiles had come into use and people went to town for most of their supplies. Therefore, the community store closed out the stock in 1921.

Simeon has had its share of tragedy. In the spring of 1887, two young men, Frank Palmer and Alva Carson were drowned in Big Alkali Lake while hunting. In June, 1905, S. L. Ellis (Postmaster, and merchant at Simeon,) was killed by lightning while surveying land with Harvey, William, Edgar, (108) and Charles Hobbs. Both Harvey and Charles were severely injured but recovered. In June 1907, Nile Latta, son of Mr. and Mrs. Milton Latta was drowned in Long Lake while riding after horses. The small son of Mr. and Mrs. F. D. Ballard was drowned in a stock tank, as was the little son of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Rounds. In 1917 Tim Daily, a soldier, was drowned in Hudson's Lake, while hunting.

In May of 1911, near the close of the day, while her mother was gone for the mail, and her father was busy with the evening chores, Lucy, the three-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Stilwell, left the ranch home and wandered away. Her parents finding her gone when they returned to the house after dark made a hasty search, but could not find her. Nearby neighbors were notified and came with lanterns to aid in the search. A line was formed with each person at a certain distance from the other, all carrying lighted lanterns to cover the ground where it was thought she might be found. All night long this line of neighbors went back and forth calling, searching, but Lucy was not found. In the morning word was sent to Wood Lake, Valentine, Brownlee, and the country round about. A generous and prompt response was made to this appeal for help, and people arrived in cars, buggies, and on horseback. A much longer line was formed the second time, mostly on horseback, as the land around the home was very rough. The riders formed close enough to each other that all of the ground between them could be seen. Noon came and still no trace of the missing child. To add to the anxiety of the searchers, a storm was forming in the northwest. Despair was written on every face. The riders had covered so wide a space that it was feared she had been drowned in the lake. Urged on by the approaching storm, the searchers put all of their energy into their task, and by this time so many people had arrived on the scene, that it seemed there was a person on every hill over a wide territory.

At 4 p.m., a bird dog belonging to George Wang of Wood Lake ran to some tall grass on the edge of a small lake and barked. Mr. Wang spurred his horse to the place and there hidden in the tall grass was Lucy, exhausted, and lying but a few feet from the water. A gun shot notified those within hearing, who sent the good news on to the others. This pond was about one mile from her home. She soon recovered from her experience, much to the relief of all concerned. Lucy is now Mrs. Leonard Mills of North Platte, Nebraska.

(109) From Simeon, we snail drive to the Kennedy Community. Midway between the Simeon and Kennedy neighborhoods, we shall pass the place where W. H. Stratton had a store, and the Oasis Post Office, now abandoned.

This inland Post Office in Kennedy Precinct is on the Gordon Creek, about forty-five miles southwest of Valentine. The Kennedy community covers a wide ranch territory. It had its beginning in 1883 when Captain D. A. Piercy, a veteran of the Civil War, with his family arrived. Later B. E. B. Kennedy, for whom the Post Office was later named, and who was also the first mayor of Omaha settled in this community. Mr. Kennedy was the first fish commissioner appointed following the enactment of a law to propagate fish to the public waters of the state. He planted the first fish in the lakes and streams of Cherry County under this law, while he was commissioner. Also Cyrus W. King and his family, and Miss Margaret Gilbert.

Within a few years, the following also arrived and settled in this community: Frank Stout, N. S. Rowley, William Erickson, Levi N. Kime, and sons, Frank, Charles, William, John, Floyd, and a daughter, Mrs. George Ladely and son-in-law, George Ladely, John Shores, Charles McCoy, David Wills, D. M. Sears, Samuel McAlvey and sons, Alec and Sam, and daughters, Lizzie and Maude. There were other members of the McAlevy family, but we do not have their names. Other early settlers were: Jasper Wallingford, W. H. Wilkinson, Milton Dunham, S. Q. Spain, John A. Gee, L. N. Layport, James, William, and Robert Gillaspie, Ira and William Richardson, C. R. Wolfenden, Ed Schriner, William Aljoe, I. N. Russell, and son, Albert, Eric Farnham, William Harnan, and T. P. Aspinall.

Robert Gillaspie "Arkansas Bob," was a prominent pioneer character, noted for his sense of humor and hospitality. His ranch was on the Boardman Creek. It is now a part of the ranch owned by C. B. Bachelor and Son. When he passed away admiring friends erected a monument at his grave, as a memorial to their pioneer friend.

Mr. King was the first mail carrier on the route, which was established from Valentine to Kennedy, via Simeon, in 1885. He served as County Superintendent of Schools of Cherry County during 1891 and 1892. It is recalled that his eight-year-old son, Gilbert, was dragged to death by a horse (110) he was riding, in 1892, and just previous to this tragic event, Mr. King's wife and baby daughter had passed away.

N. S. Rowley and William Erickson were cowboys during the open range days in Cherry County. Frank and Charles Kime were members of the crew that surveyed the railroad from O'Neill, Nebraska to Casper, Wyoming. Mrs. George Ladely, nee Kime, took charge of the ranch when her husband passed away, and she became a very successful ranch operator, and at the time this history is being written, she is living in Mullen. D. M. Sears served as County Commissioner of the County. At this time he is living in a comfortable home on the ranch he loves, which is a monument to more than a half century of saving, planning, and building. His son, Joseph and family are interested in the operation of the ranch, with him.

William H. Wilkinson was a musician of outstanding talent. While the violin was his favorite instrument, he was equally adept at playing other instruments and covered a wide territory in giving lessons on the violin, guitar, organ, and piano. He wrote his own music; was a band organizer and leader. Under his direction, many of his pupils became accomplished musicians. Mr. Wilkenson was much in demand to furnish music for dances, and on such occasions, Mrs. Wilkinson accompanied him, as she also played for dances. They travelled in a buggy, drawn by a team of horses, and carried the melodian behind the seat of the buggy. Mr. Wilkinson was also caller at the dances, and many happy evenings were thus enjoyed. Having a cheerful disposition, and being an artist at telling stories, he was the life of any gathering he attended. His son, Ernest, and daughter, Mrs. Irene Wilkinson Kime, were also accomplished musicians, having been taught by their father.

Milton Dunham served as County Commissioner of the County during the depression in the nineties. L. N. Layport served three terms as Sheriff, and was serving his second term as County Judge when he passed away on Aug. 31, 1908.

The Kennedy School District No. 31 was organized in 1886. Sunday School was organized in the eighties, and Reverend J. M. Hates, a pioneer missionary, held church services in the community shortly after it was settled. A sod church was built in 1892, and this sod church was replaced in 1911 by a frame building. The frame building was sold to W. W. Piercy in 1924, who used the material to build a modern home.

(111) In 1939 the ladies of the Kennedy Community decided that a recreation center in the neighborhood was needed so with the customary zeal for which women are noted, they organized a club to take charge of this project, and W. W. Piercy donated five acres of land, a part of which had a fine grove of trees on it. A fine frame building 24x52 feet was built, and this building is equipped with a counter, two gas hot plates, gas lights, and a piano. The building and all of the equipment are paid for. This recreation hall and surrounding park have been used for dances, dinners, school programs, track meets, and get-together meetings, as well as extension service meetings, Christmas programs, ball games in season, and it is the polling place for the Kennedy Precinct.

In 1897 D. A. Piercy secured a side hay sweep, which was a great improvement over the bull rake, described in another section of this history. In 1900 he built an overshot hay stacker. In 1904 the Stockmen's Telephone Co., built a high line from Valentine to Kennedy, on to Brownlee and the Rowley and Bachelor ranches, west of Kennedy, and this gave the community splendid telephone service.

The hay sled with cable attachment, invented by C. R. Wolfenden of Kennedy, came into use in 1918. Other improvements such as power sweeps, tractor mowers, slide stackers, power rakes, bottled gas for cooking, electricity and wind chargers, came into use about the same time as they were adopted by other communities, and described in other sections of this history.

Captain D. A. Piercy established the first herd of Angus cattle in this part of the county in 1893. When he passed away in 1907, his sons, Leonard and William, took over the ranch and continued its operation. Leonard met a tragic death in December, 1912, while taking a wagon load of hogs to market in Valentine. In some manner the six-horse team became frightened and ran away, throwing Leonard off the wagon, and injuring him so severely that he passed away within a few hours. This accident occurred near the home of Mr. and Mrs. Haskel Davis on Snake River. William Piercy continued in the ranching business and enlarged the herd of Angus, and to show for the more than sixty years he has lived in Cherry County, he now has a modern home with all the labor saving machinery used on ranches.

(112) In 1907, L. C. Beel joined the Kennedy Community, at first working as a ranch hand. Later he filed on a Kinkaid homestead and started in the cattle business in a small way. Not far from his homestead, Miss Sadie Call had a Kinkaid homestead, and in the course of time, Miss Call became Mrs. L. C. Beel. From these two Kinkaid homesteads has come one of the large ranches of the county. The Kennedy Post Office is now in their modern ranch home. A son, L. C. Beel, Jr., owns a ranch of his own, the former Frank Ballard ranch. Two daughters, with their husbands, Edmund Ballard and Joseph Hammond, are also in the ranch business. The younger son, Gerald, is now serving in the armed forces.

About the time Mr. L. C. Beel started operations in the community, another ranch was started by O. F. Swanson. Mr. Swanson selected the Angus breed for his herd, and also kept a fine herd of Belgian horses. When Mr. Swanson passed away, his sons, G. A. and James, took over the business. The ranch has been enlarged, with a corresponding increase in the herd, until it is a very substantial business. Good buildings and comfortable homes show the result of careful management.

While in the Kennedy Community, we shall stop for lunch at the comfortable modern ranch home of Mr. and Mrs. C. R. Wolfenden, where visitors are always welcome.

Two other ranches of the Kennedy Community which are now numbered among the large ranches of the county, are those established by J. H. Bachelor in 1896 and his brother. C. B. Bachelor, a few years later. These ranches are on the Boardman Creek. C. B. Bachelor, with his son, Earl, still operate their ranch. Like the other ranches of the section, they have modern equipment, and the Bell Telephone line passes their ranch and gives them good service. Mrs. Earl Bachelor is a daughter of pioneer parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Shaul of Valentine. Mr. J. H. Bachelor is now living in Valentine, but is still engaged in the livestock business. The ranch he established now belongs to Olin Ravencroft and sons.

In July of 1918, Dudley McDonald, a young man working on the Gilmore McLeod ranch had an experience which justifies a place in the history of our County. We shall let Allan G. Kime, who found him, tell the story.

"Dad, Ernest, and I were at our ranch and mother was still at Simeon in the store. Dudley was bringing some horses to Kennedy when one of them got away and started back. He (113) went after it and being unable to drive it back, roped it from a young horse he was riding, which started bucking. The other horse ran on the rope, then threw his saddle horse on top of him, breaking his leg below the knee. The saddle then broke loose from the saddle horse, leaving Dudley free of the tangle, but also leaving him without a horse four miles from our ranch which was the closest. The first day, thinking he would be hunted for, he crawled to the top of a high hill and waited. It was terribly hot, being over 100 degrees every day he was out. He removed his chaps, but was unable to get them back on over his broken leg. It took him two days and two nights to crawl to the east end of Lone Tree Lake, nearly one mile from our house. His hands and knees were worn completely raw and his broken leg had turned half way over and was dragging on the side of the foot. Ernest had gone to town with the freight wagon which was the only means of transportation on the ranch at that time. Dad and I were building a hay stacker, but it got so hot--110--that we decided to quit until it cooled off. I came out about 4 p.m. and started working. I heard a call. It was repeated several times, before I was able to detect from which direction it was coming. Then I discovered it was coming from across the water, so I saddled my horse and went to see what was the trouble, and found Dudley lying in the water at the edge of the lake. He said that was the best drink he had had for three days. I had known him for several years, but failed to recognize him. His eyes and cheeks were sunken in and his face so badly burned I had to ask him who he was. With what help he could give me, I got him on my saddle horse and took him to the house. We cut the boot from his foot and started to feed him a little at a time. I went to Kennedy to call a doctor and get a rig to move him. The Doctor took him to Valentine and later sent him to Omaha, where he remained in a hospital for several months. He remained rational all of the time and made a complete recovery."

CHERRY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

In 1928, Mrs. Irene Kime of Kennedy called a meeting to be held in the County Superintendent's office in Valentine, for the purpose of organizing a County Historical Society. This movement was popular with the pioneer of the county, which assured a success for the undertaking.

At first it was decided to hold two meetings each year. (114) Later this was changed to one meeting, which was to be held in the fall of the year.

The purpose of the association was to collect historical facts of the county life and mark places where important events occurred.

These historical meetings continued each year for several years, and proved very interesting to those attending. With the passing away of many of the pioneers, meetings have been discontinued for some time.

At this time, the information that was gathered by this Society is in the care of the County Clerk in Valentine.

Pioneers and others who took an active interest in this work were: Mesdames Irene Kime, Hattie Hudson, Wren Compton, Etta Kellogg, Alice Harvey, Dolly House, Eva Jaycox, Mae Tracewell, Margaret Erickson, Edna Jackson, Minnie Daniels, Mary Quigley, Miss Catherine Donoher, Miss Margaret Seager, Mrs. A. D. Cole.

Messrs. Dan Adamson, N. S. Rowley, George Tracewell, M. G. House, T. S. and J. S. Carr, Arthur Bowring, C. S. Reece, J. W. Daniels.

Mrs. Irene Kime, founder of the Cherry County Historical Society has an unusual record. Being unable to go to college in her youth, she longed for an education. In 1922 the teacher in her district resigned in mid-term. No other teacher being available, the School Board asked Mrs. Kime to finish the term. Having only an eighth grade education, she hesitated, but finally accepted. She found that she enjoyed the work very much. The oldest daughter was grown and could take care of the household duties, so Mrs. Kime decided she would attend summer school during the summers and teach during the winters. This she did until 1936 when she obtained a first grade state certificate. Mrs. Kime was the mother of nine children at this time, which made this undertaking especially outstanding. Later Mr. Kime's health began to fail, so Mrs. Kime gave up teaching to return to her home duties.

For a number of years there were two Post Offices west and south of Kennedy. These were Chesterfield and Newton, but both have been discontinued.

The Kennedy Community is entitled to credit for sponsoring a movement to beautify ranch homes with lawns and gardens. W. H. McLeod, who was a member of the Parks Commission in Omaha, before coming to Cherry County, disliked barren yards around homes. He developed a fine blue grass (115) lawn around his own home, which was then the Kennedy Post Office. Mrs. W. H. McLeod was Postmistress. His daughter, Mrs. Walter Pickering, sponsored a Garden Club in the community, and the club had for its aim, the making of better lawns and gardens in the locality. This club had a substantial following. Wells and wind mills were brought into use, since city water was not available. The result more than exceeded the expectations of the founders of the club, and now there are many lawns around ranch homes of this community, adding much to the attractiveness of their homes.

Leaving Kennedy we shall cross a high range of hills which forms the boundary line between the Kennedy and Snake River communities. From the crest of this range of hills a beautiful scene meets our view. Looking to the west or north not a building is in sight. Only for the presence of fences, we might imagine that the years have turned backward and that we are again in the open range days. Near where we are, the river, which flows in an eastward direction, makes a sharp turn to the north and stretches away before us for many miles.

We do not know by whom the river was named. The story is that because of the numerous prairie dog towns along the stream with the ever presence of rattle snakes in such towns, the name "Snake" was given to the river. It is noted for its even flow of water. Neither drouth nor excessive rainfall makes much difference in its volume. It is fed largely by springs. The Boardman and Steer Creeks are tributaries. Its entire length is through range land and it furnishes water for a large number of cattle.

The Snake River has the distinction of having the largest natural water fall in the state. The falls are about ten miles upstream from the mouth. The largest fall is about 20 feet high. Just below the falls the river enters a canyon which grows deeper as the river proceeds toward the Niobrara. There was much fine timber in this canyon when the first settlers came in 1884. Among these first settlers were: A. B. Butler, Wid Kinyon, Benjamin Potts, Dr. J. B. Hollinger, Mrs. H. M. Reece and sons, C. S. and J. C., and daughter, Frankie, Jay Cunningham, A. J. Wallingford and sons, James, Horace and Jasper, Mrs. Irene Squires, Odell Peterson, H. S. Lockwood, (116) Harry Moran, John Gallino, Jeff Leach, Tom and Jesse Ryder, George and Dan Hartsel, Charles A. Pote, Mr. Swatman, and the Shore Brothers. Walter Peterson joined the community in 1908. He is living on his Kinkaid homestead to which he has added other land. Not one of the original settlers is now living in the

Snake River Falls, the largest natural falls in the state. About 10 miles upstream from the mouth of the river.

Snake River community. The land now belongs to the Harms, Beel, Sawyer, Hupfer, Lord, Peterson, and Hudson ranches.

The early settlers engaged in farming and sold timber products. There were two saw mills on the river, both below the falls. One of these was owned by George Hartsel and was located near the mouth of the river. The other was owned by A. J. Wallingford and was located about midway between the falls and the mouth of the river. Settlers from a long distance came to the mills for lumber for their houses. Lumber from the mills was also hauled to Valentine where it found a ready market. Part of the first board sidewalks in Valentine were made from lumber from Mr. Wallingord's mill. It was hauled to Valentine by ox teams driven by his sons, James and Horace.

The dry years which began in 1890 soon convinced the early settlers along the Snake River that farming was not profitable. Within a few years most of them either secured loans on their land or sold it and moved away. At the present time very little farming is attempted along the river. Almost without exception the area is one vast grazing section as nature intended it to be.

(117) Because of the great depth which it was necessary to go to find water, there were no wells below the falls until after 1900. The first settlers were obliged to haul water from springs along the river in barrels fastened on wooden wheeled carts. The trip into the canyon with the water cart for the day's supply of water was a regular chore. Since the turn of the century wells have been drilled and the water cart has passed out of existence.

A short distance north of the falls under a pine tree lies the grave of Mr. Potts, father of Benjamin Potts. Mr. Potts, Sr., filed on the land on which the falls are located. The land lying west of the river is a part of the Niobrara Division of the Nebraska National Forest. During the open range days the Snake River country was a part of the range used by the Watts outfit.

The Snake River community had a post office, Burge, for several years. Mrs. Lizzie Davis was postmistress. The office was discontinued in 1942.

One of the famous land marks of the county known as "Rustler's Roost" is located in the Snake River community. "Rustler's Roost" is the name of one of the highest hills in the range which separates the Snake River valley from the hay flats. The story is that this hill has a basin or "pocket" in its top which was used by bands of horse thieves as a camping place during the days before law and order were firmly established. They operate during the open range days and for a time after the first settlers came into the county. From the top of this hill they had a fine view of the surrounding country. Here they would rest and feel quite secure from pursuing officers. There is still evidence of their camps in the form of tin cans, broken kettles, and various other things which show that there is some truth in the story. "Rustler's Roost" and the land around it are now a part of Sam Hudson's ranch.

From the Snake River community we will drive to Valentine, crossing the Niobrara River on the Adamson bridge. This bridge was named for John A. Adamson whose homestead was located a short distance above the site of the bridge. Mr. and Mrs. Adamson built their homestead house under some large elm trees near the river. These trees were ever a source of pleasure to them. Mr. Adamson has served Cherry County as county commissioner and Mrs. Adamson's name is on the Honor Roll for having rendered most useful service during the pioneer days. Their daughter, Edith, now Mrs. Charles (118) Howell, of Vale, Oregon, was county superintendent of Cherry County schools for two terms from 1915 to 1922, inclusive. Their other daughters, Mrs. Luke M. Bates, lives in Valentine where her husband publishes "The Republican." Mrs. Neil Coleman and husband lived in Cherry County until World War II when they moved to California to do defense work. Mr. Coleman was deputy sheriff for a number of years. Mrs. Alice Butler lives at McCook, Nebr.

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	Memorial On-Line Library of Historical Publications
	Livingston County MI USGenWeb & AHGP Project

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