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Newspapers
September 8,1874, Mr. Edwin A. Fry published the
Niobrara Pioneer, the first newspaper ever issued in the county. He
first commenced with an eleven by fourteen sheet four page paper, and five weeks
thereafter enlarged it to double its first size. The paper is still: flourishing
and its proprietor hopes to make it one of the permanent institutions of the
county.
United States District Land Office
October 1,1875, the land office for this district was
opened in Niobrara, having been changed to this place from Dakota City. The
location of this office to our county seat has proved to be one of the greatest
benefits and accommodations yet secured by the citizens of our county.
First Natural Deaths
The first natural death among the whites in the county
was that of a Mrs. Smith in 1859. The next was a Mr. Young, in 1861.
In 1860 one Dutch Fred was
killed by lightning near the Bazil Mill. It was supposed that he was chopping
and had his ax raised in the air to make a blow as the lightning struck him. The
position of his body and the shattered ax handle indicated this. In 1867 an
Indian tepee on the Bazil was struck by lightning, in which there were seven
Indians, and all were killed with the single exception of a babe which remained
uninjured in the arms .of its dead mother. In August, 1873, the house of T. G.
Hullihen was struck by lightning and set on fire. His wife was very seriously
injured by the same stroke, and was for some time thought to be killed. She
still suffers from the effects.
In 1865 T. N. Paxton had a son
drowned in the Missouri.
Murders
Charles Kohe was shot through the heart, at Frankfort, in
the winter of 1857, by Rudolph Grasso. The shooting was the result of a quarrel.
No arrest was ever made.
In 1859 one Frank West while
drunk in Niobrara deliberately shot and killed a Ponca Indian. No
arrest.
In 1859, one Mary Wiseman and
child were supposed to have been poisoned by George Star, the reputed father of
the child, who thus destroyed the child of his lust and his victim.
In 1869 James T. Small was shot
and killed in his own door, while alone on his claim nine miles above Niobrara.
The perpetrators of this murder were never discovered.
In 1870 Alexander Cook was
killed, it was supposed by Indians, while building the Bazil Mill. The Indians
were arrested, but as nothing could be proved, were discharged. This was the
only arrest ever made in the county for murder. In 1870, two children of Thomas
Brobbanec, one a girl of thirteen, and the other a boy about eight years of age,
were killed by Indians, supposed to be either Pawnees or Sioux. His wife was
shot at the same time, but feigned death and thus escaped with her life.
Thus have I sketched the origin and past history of our
county so far as I have been able to ascertain them.
I desire to tender my
acknowledgments for assistance in this work, to G. W. Bly, Justus Loeber, Frank
Weigand, Miner W. Bruce, T. G. Hullihen, H. Westermann, T. N. Paxton, Frank
Janausck, Herko Koster, B. Y. Shelley and especially to A. L. Towle who prepared
the account of the Bruce Colony and the settlement of Creighton.
Transcribed
and Contributed By: Jrice
Source:
A Historical Sketch of Knox County
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