In
1872 the most of the settlement was made in the
vicinity of Plum Creek, though occasionally a settler
scattered out
into other parts of the county. Captain H.
C. Stuckey, Jeremiah Smith and Simon Fetters settled
in what is now
Mellott Precinct, and each took a homestead claim.
During the year immigration continued, and
by fall, Dawson
County had attracted considerable attention and
land seekers, looking at the natural advantages
of
the
county.
During
the spring and summer, a very large acreage of prairie
land was broken or plowed, but of course only small
crops
were reaped. There was however a great deal
of sod corn planted out, and the yield was fair.
In
1872, the first 4th of July celebration in the county
was held at Plum Creek J. H. McCall,
who settled on Plum Creek
in 1869, was president of the day. and Daniel Freeman,
the pioneer settler of the county. was the speaker.
The
settlers from all parts of the county attended,
although they were small in number, an enthusiastic
celebration was
held.
The
first post office was established at Plum Creek,
in the spring of 1872. It was housed at the
Union Pacific depot.
An old box was used as a receptacle for the
mail. The telegraph and station agent, J.
A. McDonald was
the Postmaster until his death in January 1873.
In
1872 there was only one school district, and that
covered the entire county. In the census
taken in the spring there
was only six children of school age in the county.
The
first Sunday School was organized at Plum Creek,
in the summer of 1872. J. W. STuckey was superintendent.
Nearly
all of the residents, young and old, attended.
The
first social gathering known to have been held after
the organization of the county was a New Year's
night dance
held at Plum Creek in 1872.
The
first birth in the county was that of Esther M.Krier,
daughter of E. H. and Mrs. Alice Krier, born July
18, 1872, at
Plum Creek.
The
first boy born in the county was Willie Baldwin,
son of S. S. and Mrs. A. C. Baldwin, born August
18, 1872.
The
largest number of the new settlers chose lands in
the vicinity of Plum Creek, although a large number
were scattered
along the Platte River and its tributaries.
The
breaking plow was soon started, and by July a
large acreage had been added to the cultivated lands.
In
1873, the settlers had no crops planted except for
sod corn. The entire crop was destroyed by
grasshoppers.
The
settlers during these years were of limited means,
and the loss of this crop placed them in tight circumstances,
although
enough corn was saved that there was probably not
much suffering.
Among
the settlements made in the spring of 1873, was
the vicinity of Overton, along the Union Pacific
Railroad.
Among
the first settlers of this area were:
James
N. Patton
Prof.
D. B. Worley
The
first house built was that of James N. Patton. The
second home built was that of George Slocum.
Platte
Precinct was also settled in April of the same year,
by P. B. Danielson, who settled one of the large
islands
of the Platte. The island on which he settled
still carries his name and has one of the most picturesque
scenery
seen anywhere in the county.
Coyete
Precinct was settled in April of 1873, by S. S.
Baldwin, later that year several more families had
settled in
the area.
March
of 1873, Willow Island was settled by Josiah Huffman,
more farms were settled in this vicinity later that
year.
During
April, James P. Mellott moved to the Wood River
Valley in the northeastern part of the county. He
was the
first of this area and lived a long time miles away
from any neighbors.
In
the fall of 1873, John Cozad bought 40,000 acres
of land near the western part of the county and
sought to
start town with his name. He returned to his
home state, Ohio, and organized a group. Upon
their return about
thirty of this group settled in the area about December
of the same year
During
the summer of this year, the population much more
than doubled. Settlements had been made in
the vicinity
of the railroad stations in the county. The
main growth was in Plum Creek, the county seat.
The
first newspaper in the county was the Pioneer,
published in Plum Creek. It was established
by Daniel Freeman,
the pioneer settler of the county. The first
paper was issued, November 20, 1873.
Though
Plum Creek was quite a village, it was not laid
out or platted as a town until 1873. This
was the first town
in the county.
The
first marriage in the county was, November 24, 1873.
Hon. T. L. Warrington and Miss Mary A. Smith
were
married at Plum Creek by Judge R. B. Pierce. This
couple still lives here. Mr. Warrington is
one of the leading
men of the county. He has represented the
county in the Legislature of the State and is now,
in addition
to his law practice, engaged in business and is
one of the editors of the Dawson County Press.
.