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Continued.....
FIRST THINGS.
The first permanent settler in the county was E. S. Comstock, locating at Oak Grove, on the Little Blue, with his family in 1861.
The first marriage ceremony in the county was performed March 6, 1872, by Judge E. A. Davis, being about his first official act. The contracting parties were Mr. J. C. Bunker and Miss Martha Johnston. Being his first attempt, Mr. Davis desired to show dispatch and said: "Since there is no prescribed law in Nebraska for marrying people, I pronounce you husband and wife."
The first death occurred on Spring Creek in 1872, and the person so soon called from her new home was a Miss Jasperson.
The first white child born in the county was Ella, daughter of Adam Simington, in the spring of 1872.
The first sermon in the county was delivered in the summer of 1872, by Rev. Mr. Penny, of the Presbyterian Church.
The Elkton Sunday School was organized June 12, 1872, being the first in the county, by four members, R. Hollingworth, C. C. Fletcher, Joseph Carlon and Maggie Follmer.
There are now about sixteen church religious organizations in the county.
Besides those at Superior and Nelson, there are Presbyterian and Methodist at Elkton, Presbyterian at Henrietta, Christian at Ox Bow, Methodist Episcopal and Presbyterian at Nora, Roman Catholic at St. Stephen's, which number about seventy families. It was organized by Father Ferdinand Lechleitner, but now in charge of Father B. Kuppenbender.
The last buffalo was killed on the Republican bottom, just below Superior, in 1875, by William Crable.
The first Fourth of July celebration was held at Oak Grove about two weeks after the first election in 1871. On that day, a few of the settlers gathered and were quite demonstrative. Seeing that they were not threatened by the Indians, and beholding such a grand prospect for a great county, of fertile and well-watered lands, filled with happy and prosperous homes, they rejoiced that Columbus had crossed the Atlantic, and that fortune had favored this new nation with so grand and memorable a day as the 4th of July. The lone prairies that had so long been familiar with the savage war-whoop, heard for the first time the salute from musketry, and the joyous shout and hurrah of America's 4th of July.
PIONEER REMINISCENCES.
When the first court was held in Nelson, there were only two houses in the town, and they were overrun with boarders.
The second day, Judge Weaver was hearing the case of a horse-thief. When court adjourned for the night , it was evident that the Judge would have to send the fellow to Lincoln for a few years.
That night the Judge, Sheriff, the thief and his lawyer and some others occupied the same room. The thief awakening in the night, and finding all asleep, except perhaps his lawyer, saw his best chance to get "clear" and silently betook himself from the overcrowded bed-room and left for parts unknown, taking with him the Judge's boot worn on his crippled foot. The Judge was so annoyed and discomfited without his boot, that he declared he could acquit the man if he would only return this important article.
A Mr. Butterfield, a wholesale merchant of Atchison, Kan., and his daughter, came up to Oak Grove in 1863 on a visit, and to participate in a buffalo hunt. A very stylish and exceedingly nice young man from the East, by the name of Ensworth, stopping at a neighboring ranch, became deeply enamored of Miss Butterfield, and was paying her marked attention. One day he called at Oak Grove, attired in his best dress suit, to see the young lady, and on finding that she had attended the buffalo hunting party, determined to follow. So, leaving his coat, as the day was excessively warm, he started in pursuit, riding a handsome black mare, of which he was as proud as of his apparel. He came upon the party, consisting of Butterfield, Munger, a mail agent, George and E. S. Comstock, two of his daughters and Miss Butterfield, just as they were prepared to partake of their dinner. They had captured a buffalo bull calf, which wearied with its fruitless efforts to escape, had lain down by the wagon to which it was fastened by a long lariat. Young Ensworth rode up to the wagon, which was about five or six rods from where the party were awaiting his coming before commencing their repast, and fastened his horse. The young captive sprang to his feet, for the moment surprised, as the young man stood before him stroking him on the forehead. But doubtless reeking for revenge, and indifferent upon whom he obtained it, the young buffalo bull, lowering his shaggy head, quick as a flash, made for the young Ensworth, who stood facing him, with all his fury, thrusting his head between the young man's handsomely attired legs, and carrying him with great speed toward the party, all of whom were breathlessly awaiting the result. This first buffalo ride could not be protracted long without serious results. Reaching the end of his lariat, the stopping was even more sudden and terrific than his starting; but the momentum young Ensworth had gained carried him on back over the young bison's head, but the sprouting horns catching in the young man's pantaloons, retained that necessary part of his toilet. The male portion of the party were carried away by hilarious emotions, while the female portion turned away, we may say, bewildered, trying to repress their desire to laugh but in vain. One of them laughed, and the others were compelled to join in the expression of mirth, Miss Butterfield saying, "It is too dreadfully comical. I must laugh, or I'll be sick."
In his embarrassed condition, the young man fled to the opposite side of the wagon, where he was joined by Mr. Butterfield, a man over six feet in height and quite portly. He had an extra pair of pantaloons in the wagon, which Ensworth for the time borrowed. But his slim legs (for he was little over half the size of Mr. Butterfield) felt out-doors in their temporary habitation, and after lapping them over about five inches at the waist, and turning them up at the bottom, his appearance so disparagingly contrasted to what it was with his well-fitting doeskins, that he could not meet the eye of her who has so touched the chords of his heart, and without listening to the entreaties to remain, he sprang upon his horse and retreated.
A love match was ended, and the young man returned to his lodging, if not crestfallen and with diminished stock of pride, at least without feasting with his love and minus a very fine and artistically fashioned pair of doeskin pantaloons, but richer in experience.
In 1863, Bierstadt, on his return from his travels in California, stopped at Oak Grove for rest and recreation. He desired to see an enraged buffalo so that he could the better paint the picture of one charging in his gigantic fury. Accompanied by a writer for the New York Evening Post, George and E. S. Comstock, they proceeded to the grove, about a mile west of Superior, where they found buffalo. The succeeded in getting a large bull separated from the herd, when they shot him, after the artist had seated himself for the purpose of sketching the scene. The bull not being very ferocious, Bierstadt desired to have him wounded again. One man stood ready to make a fatal shot should it become necessary, while another again wounded the monster. Infuriated with pain and bleeding at the nostrils, he made for his assailant, but perceiving the artist, he turned toward him. Bierstadt, dropping his work, took to his heels, The bull struck the temporary table at which Bierstadt had been sitting, shattering it and strewing the artist's utensils far and wide, but did not check his speed toward the fleeing artist, who, frightened nearly out of his wits, perhaps was making the "best time" of his life. Seeming to know that the object he was pursuing was the author of his pain, the bison, bellowing terrifically, had so nearly overtaken the artist, that he snorted blood and foam upon him before the fatal shot was fired which brought the bull to the ground and saved Bierstadt from a terrible death. Bierstadt was in imminent danger, for had the gun missed fire or the aim been less accurate, in a moment more he would have been gored to death.
When Bierstadt had gained sufficient breath to speak, he said, "That's enough; no more buffalo for me."
The account given by the reporter in the New York Evening Post, it was thought for vividness, could not be surpassed, but when Bierstadt's picture of an enraged buffalo bull pursuing a man was completed, it seemed more a reality than a picture.
Cuts of this painting have since been used in geographies to picture the American bison for the benefit of the future aspirant for the Presidency.
INDIAN TROUBLES.
Next to Thayer County, Nuckolls suffered from Indian raids and depredations more than any county in Southern Nebraska. Of a large number that tried to settle permanently in the county previous to 1869, there are but B. S. Comstock and his family left to tell the story. Mr. Comstock says he could not be induced to seek another frontier.
In the great raid of August 7, 1864, which extended from Gage County to Denver, Colo., Oak Grove, the home of Mr. Comstock, was the only place in Nuckolls that held out against the Indians.
To every station and settlement in that carefully planned and skillfully executed raid, was allotted a certain number of Indians, and, as Oak Grove Ranch was quite formidable, forty well-armed braves were sent against it. At the time of attack, Mr. Comstock was over twenty miles away, but, besides his family, there were five or six men at the stockade. At noon, the Indians came to the ranch, leaving their horses about a quarter of a mile away. They were permitted to come into the ranch and get dinner, with their bows hanging already strung to their backs, which is a sure sign of malicious intentions. They had finished their dinner and received each a portion of kinnikinnick tobacco and some matches, when, without the least warning, they in concert drew their bows and commenced shooting the white occupants of the ranch, and, but for the presence of mind and dexterity of one of Mr. Comstock's boys, they would have killed all the men and part of the women, carrying the rest into a more dreadful captivity. a Mr. Kelly, from Beatrice, was there, and had a fine revolver in a belt at this side. He fell at the first discharge of arrows, and two or three rushed to secure the revolver, but young Comstock secured it and shot the foremost aspirant for that deadly weapon. The prize he coveted became his executioner. At the report of the revolver, the Indians rushed for the door as though an army was at their heels, but three of them never did get out of the door alive, as that revolver had fallen into skilled and determined hands. Kelly and Butler were killed outright; two men by the name of Ostrander--one of whom died--and a boy, were wounded, and most of the others had their clothing pierced with arrows. The Indians rushed for their horses, and, while they were away, the dead and wounded were removed to the second story of the house, the main door bolted, and a person so stationed, with a gun, about the building, which had two additions, that all points of it were protected. The attack occurred about noon. After they surrendered their first advantage, which they gained by their "friendly game," they were unable to get close enough to the house to even set it on fire, but they rode around the premises until after dusk, shooting and yelling. One Indian rode a white horse, and, just before leaving, made two very near approaches to the house. One of the men had decided to shoot him if he again returned. Mr. Comstock was on his way home, also riding a white horse. It was now too dark to distinguish one man from another. Mr. Comstock rode up just about the time for the Indian to return, and the gun was raised to shoot, when one of Mr. C.'s daughters remembered her father was riding a white horse, and to be certain she shouted "Father, is it you?" Receiving an affirmative reply the man lowered his gun, and Mr. C. was spared the reception of a bullet designed for an Indian.
Mr. Comstock had always befriended the Indians, which, he thinks, that day at least saved his life. He had just reached the brow of a hill as he met a man descending. The man had only reached the bottom when he was attacked by Indians in the brush beside the road. The Indians must have seen Mr. C. as he passed only a moment before, and spared him because of the favors they had received from him.
About five miles east of the grove, Ulig, a boy about eighteen years of age, was met by two Indians. One shook hands with him while the other pierced him with a spear, and when he had fallen they took his whole scalp. The boy was riding a much better horse than theirs and could have escaped had he known of their evil design. But such is an Indian's warfare. He is never brave if he is in danger. He will take no chances, and when he has the advantage he never shows mercy, but delights in seeing his victims in torture.
They left the poor boy there on the dry prairie in the scorching sun to die slowly and with excruciating pain. O, how many generations under the benign influence of civilization it would take to change such savage natures till the finer attributes of the heart would predominate!
Generation No. 7
Father: James Marvin. COMSTOCK b. 6 Jul, 1840 in Albany, N. Y. - d. 22 Oct., 1922 in Oak, NE (Farmer); m. March 1861 Angeline Perlina CARTWRIGHT (also documented as Pauline and Carlina).
Mother: Angeline Perlina CARTWRIGH b. 31 Oct., 1840 in Rensselaerville, Albany Co., N. Y., - d. 2 Apr., 1904 in Oak, NE. Daughter of Loman and Elizabeth (SHAFER) CARTWRIGHT.
Children:
1. Frederick b. may 23, 1862 - d. Apr. 1865
2. Erastus Selden b. Pawnee Co., NE Nov. 21, 1863 - d. Sep. 1933.
3. Eunice b. Sep 15, 1865 - d. Oct. 28 1865
4. Charles Edgar b. Pawnee City, NE, Feb. 6, 1867 - d. Jan. 24, 1891.
5. Will b. Pawnee City, NE, Feb. 17, 1868 - d. Jul 18, 1940; m. June 14, 1900 Iona JOHNSTON.
6. Mary Alice b. Ruskin, NE., Mar. 29 1870; d. Mar. 19, 1927; m. Jan. 19 1895 Cireanus A. WILKINS.
7. Effie b. Ruskin, NE, Dec. 20, 1874; m. 5 Sep., 1893 James Albert GRAHAM.
8. Harry b. 20 Dec. 1874 in Ruskin or Oak Precinct, Nuckolls Co., NE - d. ????; m. Nov. 9 1898 Flossie or Flora BURKETT.
9. Mabel b. Ruskin, NE Jan. 1, 1877 - d. Nov. 1938; m. Sep 3 1894, Judd MILLER.
10. Frances b. Oak, NE Aug. 31, 1879 - Sep 1942; m. Oct. 9 1902, Frank Ulysses YOUNG.
Generation No. 8
Father: Harry b. 20 Dec. 1874 in Ruskin or Oak Precinct, Nuckolls Co., NE - d. ????; m. Nov. 9 1898
Mother: Flossie or Flora b. 20 Nov., 1881 in Oak Precinct, Nuckolls Co., NE - Sep 23 1919, daughter of Peter and Jessie (BERRIER) BURKETT.
Children:
1. Bessie b. 3 Aug. 1899 in Oak Precinct Nuckolls Co., NE - d. Dec. 1980 in Superior, Nuckolls Co., NE; m. 20 Oct. 1914 Jess E. DUNN
2. Jessie b. 26 Oct. 1901 in Oak Precinct NE; m. 1st 2 Oct. 1914, Roy SNAVELEY; m. 2nd Jun 1928, William VOUGH
3. Ray b. 20 Aug., 1904; m. 3 May 1928, Pearl POSTELTHWAITE.
4. Carl b. 8 Apr., 1907; m. Feb. 1, 1929 Ella JENISON.
5. Glenn b. Sep 3 1909
6. Blanche b. 8 Feb. 1911; m. Sep 6, 1923 Emory BROWN
7. Fay b. 5 Jun. 1912; m. 3 Feb., 1928 Daniel BOONE
8. Frank b. 24 Oct., 1912; m. 11 Aug., 1934 Opal Irene FORMAN
9. Wilbur b. 27 Jun., 1915; m. 19 May 1940 Norma BRIDWELL
10. Edward b. 19 Oct. 1917
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