which to keep the sleeping place dry. The house was the last one west at that time, the next being twenty-two miles away.

     It was in this house of one room, two windows and a door, that they entertained the gentleman sent out in behalf of the government to take the particulars in the laying out of the town.

     The nearest post office was Lincoln, the mail being brought by any friend visiting the town. Provisions were scarce in the immediate neighborhood. Dr. Smith had brought a good supply for their own use, but was not willing to sell out of the little stock. As a result of so doing he was led to order a stock of goods from Chicago, and open up a store. They built a store room 8 feet by 16 feet, the counter was composed of two drygoods boxes. The stock of goods arrived at Lincoln in due course and Dr. Smith went to town to look after them but hadn't the money to pay the freight. Their doings as heretofore were left in the hands of a Kind Providence, and as the Dr. wandered about Lincoln wondering what to do, he was accosted by an old friend who on learning that he had ventured onto a claim, and knowing something of the needs relative to such an undetaking (sic), suggested that he must need money, and if such was the case he had just to ask and receive! In this way the case was providentially met. The Dr. received his goods, returned home and was able to meet the demands of the neighborhood through the little store.

     The nearest medical doctor was twenty-six miles away, which made it necessary for Dr. Smith to attend many sick cases; though he came west with the intention of being free from medical practice. The exigencies of the hour often found in him a responsive heart and a willing hand. The doctor also acted as land agent for the railroad company and others for many years.

     In due course a larger store was built by Dr. Smith and Mr. Dolan, for general merchandise. This building was built where Ziska's store now stands. Over the store was a large hall, in which services were held. The Sunday School and church services being union gatherings. The Congregationals were organized as a church in March, 1872; the Baptists in May, 1872; the Methodists about the same time, but they met together as one organization until 1878. The Congregationalists provided preaching half the time and the Baptists and Methodists the other half. Then as a result of denominational pressure from without rather than from within these disbanded and became seperate (sic) Churches.

     In 1878 the Congregationalists suggested the building of a church between the Baptists and themselves, but their suggestion was not accepted.

     The Union Sunday School was disbanded in January, 1879, what little property there was being divided between the three denominations.

     Among the pleasant gatherings were what were known as "the sings," held in the homes of the people, When the singing of favorite Hymns was a joy and delight to all. As many as fifty people coming from far and near to share in the gatherings.

     The jumping of claims has been a common practice in the western states, and many were glad to know of such a possibility. One such case was that of the Rev. Ingham, a Baptist minister, who came here looking for land. Dr. Smith knew of a claim two miles west of town which was abandoned, and others had their watchful eyes upon the place, waiting for the day when they might lay claim to it. The Dr. knowing when the time would expire, had the Rev. gentleman well posted, and with a Mr. Payne, a member of the Baptist church, who loaned a plough and team, they went out, and had just struck a few furrows when another man came rushing from the west on horseback, but he was too late, the land was taken.

     The Smith house was once visited by two Indians from a car that had been switched off near the town. As their custom was they stealthly (sic) drew near the house, looked through the windows and then walked in. Mrs. Smith was

4

scared at first. She says one was a handsome young. man, stately in bearing, he carried a bow about four feet across, and a quiver of arrows." After a serving of fried cakes and other eatables, they went away satisfied. On another occasion, a Pawnee Indian called. Mrs. Smith happened to be out of the house, and after trying the doors and windows, he passed on his way.

     One day an Irishman arrived on horseback and wanted a drink, probably the white flag with the red S, used as a Store sign attracted his attention, this being in some parts the Saloon sign. The pail of water with dipper stood quite near, so he was told to help himself, but I want a drink; said the Irishman. Well then, there's the water, help yourself! said the mistress of the house. But I want whiskey! and on being told that no such drink was kept there, he tried several of the patent medicine bottles and failing to find whiskey he left.

     During a thunderstorm, a flash of lightning made its way down the chimney, and melted the ends off the wires which stretched across the. store, upon which were hung different kinds of tinware, the commotion can well be imagined, but fortunately the lightning missed the Kerosene Can and passed through the corner of the floor without causing a fire.

     The first child born in Exeter was Anna E. Smith, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Smith.

     The first post office for this community was opened in the spring of 1871 at the Woodard home, and called Woodard, with that gentleman as post master. It was soon moved to Exeter and Dr. Smith was appointed the first postmaster at a salary of $10.00 a year.

MR. AND MRS. JOHN K. BARBER ARRIVED OCTOBER 14, 1870.

     Mr. and Mrs. John K. Barber came to this neighborhood from Woodstock, Illinois, with a wagon and team. They were five weeks on the road, and were laid up one week because of bad weather. They arrived here on October 14, 1870, when upon recommendation he bought a filing without going to see the land. They used a sod shanty near the Turkey Creek, until their Dug-out home, dug-out barn, and cellar were ready for use, this being accomplished, they entered the new home in January, 1871.

     They soon opened their home for religious purposes, and had the first preaching service held in Fillmore County, the Rev. Whiting, a Free Methodist, being the preacher. In their home was organized the first Sunday School in the County, a Mr. Snowdon coming from Lincoln, for that purpose, he bringing with him some twenty volumes of books to commence a library. After some months the preaching service and Sunday School were moved to the Mount Zion School House, where the Free Methodists carried on the work, the room often being packed full for the preaching.

     Their first year of farming was not very encouraging, they had planted Sod Corn, Buckwheat, Squash, Turnips and Beans. Everything looked promising until a hail storm struck the farm, which dashed everything to pieces, excepting the turnips. This was in the month of July, the hailstones being as large as pigeons eggs. Then it was that Mr. Barber longed for the old home and would have returned had it not been for Mrs. Barber refusing. She believed they could fight it out, so they remained and have made good. In spite of drawbacks they were able to have "high" living in those days, at any rate they can boast of having Venison for food; this was considered so good that some Esau came round when the Barbers were away from home and stole half of the precious "deer." Mr. Barber also killed two Antelopes and received a share of Buffalo meat from Palmer Lanacaster (sic), this Mr. Lancaster, on one occasion, secured, with his own and Mr. Barber's shot gun, thirteen out of a flock of fourteen wild Geese. During these early

5

days the Geese, and Cranes were so numerous that he paid a man one dollar a day to kill them off, otherwise there would have been no crops.

     It was no uncommon thing to have their home full of passing strangers, this of course meant a pull on their larder - callers were usually fed. The Indians would often call, begging for "meat", they must have heard of the good game caught near this homestead.

     The Barbers like others suffered with the grasshoppers. The day of their arrival was very hot, even the meadow larks sought shade in the houses, then, what appeared to be a black cloud was seen to the North, and making its way in a South Westerly direction, grasshoppers began to fall and in twenty minutes the ground was covered, devastation, began, and soon everything green in the garden was eaten, the vines were stripped clean, and it beautiful cornfield of 100 acres was soon nothing but a patch of short coin stalks. Mr. Barber tried to save a cabbage patch by covering it with straw, but it was found the grasshoppers had made their way underneath, and only stalks remained, so he set fire to the straw, many thousands of grasshoppers perishing in the conflagration.

     Mr. Barber helped to organize Fillmore County, this taking place in Mr. McCalla's dug-out. He also helped to secure the placing of the County seat at Geneva; having the help of the Germans living in the South Eastern portion of the County in deciding the deal.

MR. AND MRS. PARSONS SETTLED ON NOVEMBER 7, 1869.

     Mr. and Mrs. Parsons settled on Nov. 7, 1869, ten miles North East of Exeter, on section 10, in York County, and went through many of the Pioneer exepriences (sic), they had their losses in the Blizzard and Grasshopper years. For several years they kept the district Post Office and could tell many stories similar to those recorded about the visits of Indians, the scaring of women, etc., etc.

     One incident worthy of being mentioned was their first religious service. This was held in Buzzard's Dug-out at Blue Vale, some miles up the Blue River from their home. Elder Colwell of the United Brethren Church was the preacher, there were about 12 whites and 6 Indians in the house when they arrived - the Omaha Indians were in the neighborhood at the time, fishing and hunting, it being estimated that the party was 300 strong. As the service was commencing a young lady came into the house and sat down on one of the benches without at first noticing her neighbor, but, when she looked round and found she had sat next to an Indian she became frightened. The Indian noticing her embarrassment, turned with a smiling face, saying, "Do not fear! Me Omaha, Me a good Indian!"

T. B. FARMER CAME IN OCTOBER, 1870.

     Mr. T. B. Farmer came from Indiana, and in October, 1870, in company with Warren (Boss) Woodard arrived in this neighborhood from Lincoln. Mr. Farmer filed on the east 80 acres of the present Kinney's farm. He spent the winter near the Blue River in the Sutton and Grafton district trapping mink and beaver, and living on Grouse, Rabbits and Turkeys, shot in the neighborhood. Here, with a companion, he had made a small dug-out, but was several weeks alone, this being the case when, on returning one day from looking over the traps he saw several hundred Omaha Indians, and being alone he naturally felt somewhat alarmed. These Indians, as before mentioned, were out hunting and fishing with no intention of injuring anyone. He saw them go into camp, after which a few would

6

come round and look into his shack, but in no way interfered with his property.

     In the spring he homesteaded on his place, built a sod house, and the following year Mrs. Farmer arrived. She expected to come to a town and wondered why she was dropped of the train onto the open prairie. Why am I left here she asked? Where is the depot? Then she found to her amazement that the town of Exeter consisted of one building; the Store recently erected by Messrs. Smith and Dolan.

     In due course the grasshoppers relieved them of five acres of corn, besides garden truck, and the mosquito netting from the windows.

     But here they are still living, and with others have seen very wonderful changes during the intervening years, and in that time they have raised and given to the Country one of its best Singers, Mr. Frank Farmer of Denver, Colorado.

COLONEL N. S. BABCOCK ARRIVED IN 1871

     When Colonel Babcock came from New York State in 1871, there was no railroad beyond Lincoln, he had made his way to Seward, and walked on from there looking for a family near Indian Creek, nothing like a house could be seen anywhere, at last he noticed a stove pipe sticking out of the ground on a little hill, and on making closer investigations found a dug-out having one of the best rooms he ever saw. He afterwards made his way nearer to Exeter, the only house visible at that time being the one built by "Boss" Woodard. When crossing the country he noticed the horses acting rather queer, then, a man mysteriously put in an appearance, asking the Colonel what he was after? He assured the man that he was after no mischief, when the man said, but you have your horses on my house!

     When the Colonel brought Mrs. Babcock to the claim North East of town, they came in a wagon which was without springs, and their seats were wooden chairs, certainly not an ideal outfit for a fifty miles trip over the prairies. Their household goods did not arrive for a week afterwards, so a fire had to be built in the hillside, their meat was cooked on the end of a stick, the potatoes boiled in a teakettle, and for plates they used shingles, which, with the companioinship (sic) of silverware provided ideal contrasts in past and present experiences.

     In their part of the country there was nothing to distinguish weekday from Sunday, in which condition Sunday was extinguished. They lost track of the Sabbath for a time, and were no doubt glad when they once more knew one day from another. Rattle Snakes were numerous then, no less than 36 were caught in one day. Mr. Babcock had several rattles until recently when they passed into the hands of younger members of their family.

     When speaking of the Grasshopper times they mention having sent word to a brother back East, giving an account of the numbers and destruction of the invading host, but the brother sent word back, "that is a good fish story you have out West." They finally sent a small piece of soil about an inch square back East so that they might see the grasshoppers hatch out, instructions were given what to do. That small piece of earth contained so many young grasshoppers that they never more doubted the western story.

JOHN T. BORLAND.

     Mr. John T. Borland had made his way over the country from Crete to Pleasant Hill, and when there met Mr. James Horne who persuaded him to

7

come nearer his place where he might find a location, he accepted the help offered and Mr. Horne helped him to locate one mile West of his own homestead. Mr. Borland returned to Illinois, and making everything ready he and his wife with their goods came over with a Mule Team, commencing the journey on April 17, and reaching the homestead on May 12, 1871, having crossed the Mississippi at Keithsburg and the Missouri at Plattsmouth, nothing of an unusual character happened on the way, they had the common experiences of Pioneer Emigrants.

     On reaching their homestead, Mr. Borland set to work and made a kind of gipsy (sic) tent or cabin, by making walls of sod on which he placed the top boards of the wagon box, and the wagon cover. In this home, the size of an ordinary wagon box containing one room which did service as kitchen, bedroom and living room, they lived nearly three months. The cook stove stood at the entrance with the cooking plate just inside the tent, the back part and pipe being on the outside; their bed of straw covered the ground floor, and of course was on the ground, but was carried out of doors in the day time to give moving room.

     During these early experiences, Mr. Borland bad occasion to go to Lincoln with Mr. O. P. Chapman, another Pioneer, since gone to his reward, Mrs. Borland being left for a few days with their only child. On the third evening after his departure, Mrs. Borland retired as usual, having as was her custom, carefully fastened herself in the little home by means of a Shawl spread over the entrance; the lower end of which rested on the baby's chair and was held in position by a jug of water placed on the edge, somewhere near the uncanny hours of midnight, that Jug of water was knocked over, giving a pair of feet an unexpected baptism, and their owner a great fright. Up to that time Mrs. Borland had never felt nervous. The secret of the affair is not to be found in an Indian story. Mr. Borland had found it possible to make the homestead a day earlier, but in trying to do this was caught in the darkness and missed his road, it was late when he found his bearings and reached his little home, then in trying to make an entrance he unexpectedly found a miniature "moat" behind the shawl, which on account of its being above instead of below the level of the ground he up set it, the sleeping woman receiving the benefit of the accident. There were Moats, and a Shawl, which played an important part in the life story of the unhappy Mary, Queen of Scots, but these in the life story of Mrs. Borland, were in no sense of a tragical nature.

     The first July Fourth celebration held in the neighborhood was at the Turkey Creek, when a Rev. Beggs of the Free Methodist Church gave the Address, everyone present enjoying the event. This taking place July 4, 1871.

     Mr. Borland soon set to work and erected a sod house with a shingle roof, a board floor and plastered throughout with a mixture of lime and sand, having one of the best equipped houses of that day. Being some three miles from the railroad, they were not visited by either the Indian or the Adventurer, but they had their share of visits from the Coyotes, which relieved them of their chickens and turkeys. They also lost a few small pigs in the Blizzard of 1873, otherwise they were comfortably fixed. An interesting incident regarding the grasshoppers, was the way that nature freed the country of the pest. As a result of their visit there were millions of eggs left in the soil waiting to be hatched in the spring, but the spring that year was of a varied character, thus, when a few warm days helped to hatch out the young grasshoppers, then there would come a cold rain or snow or a frost and killed them off. This happening several times until hardly a grasshopper remained. Mr. Borland had the honor of bringing the first load of lumber into the town of Exeter, it was secured at Crete, and used in the Smith and Dolan's Store Building.

     It was customary in those early days to have a lantern burning at the

8

top of a high pole especially on very dark nights to help any belated traveler to find his way over the prairie. The Rev. Whiting's house being on raised ground was especially suited to this service and he never failed to keep the light shinning. In this way he literally fulfilled the schipture (sic) injunctions in two ways - "Let our light so Shine," "Ye are the light of the World" - in the service of his fellowmen.

     Among the many sad things that happened to the pioneers, perhaps the suffering and loss caused by the blizzards were the worst. Many indeed were the lives lost in those storms, parents, school teachers and children alike becoming victims in their efforts to save each other.

     It has been known for men in their efforts to save their lives when caught in a blizzard on the open prairie, to kill their horses, and rip them open that they might have the warmth of their intestines in he (sic) hope that the storm would soon pass over and hey (sic) would be saved in this peculiar way. One man so caught in a storm had actually crawled into the horses body and sheltered there, but unfortunately the storm was long in passing and he was ultimately found frozen to death, his strange couch having become his tomp (sic).

MR. CHARLES N. PHILLIPS

     Mr. Charles N. Phillips came with his wife from Pennsylvania, in 1871, leaving there on April 23, and arriving near Exeter. on the first day of June. He filed on section 24, town 8, range 2, and had only $10 in money with which to start this new life. A sod house was built, not an inch of lumber being used, and in this rude dwelling they lived until money was forthcoming with which to buy some lumber. Those were trying days with hard experiences, but somehow things would work to their advantage at least to enable them to secure food. Mr. Phillips remembers well his going to the Smith Store with his watch to secure some groceries, money, there was none, and the watch might act as security for the goods until he could pay for them. On making his request known, Mrs. Smith who at the time was serving in the Store, said: he might have some goods without leaving the watch, he would need that! She knew the goods would be paid for as soon as possible. This was a kindness in the hour of need which he will never forget, and for which he was very grateful.

     Those were days when they had to grind corn in a Coffee Mill, that they might have flour, and the corn had to be bought at Lincoln.

     The first winter was a severe one, he would often make a start towards the Blue river in search of firewood but was glad to turn back, the cold being too intense for such an undertaking. The snow storm of 1873 is very prominent in his mind, many during that storm were unable to leave their barns, however much they desired to be in the house. His barn was filled with the snow which had made its way through cracks and crevices. He had also to sweep the snow out of the house in the morning before he could get the fire lighted.

     During the first summer, droves of Texas cattle used to pass over the prairies going to Fremont for shipment. One day Mrs. Phillips had set out afoot to visit the Rice's home, a distance of about five miles, when she was unexpectedly surrounded by one of these large droves of cattle, she had never felt so uncomfortable in her life, but she managed to get out unharmed, it was, nevertheless a grand sight to see those cattle passing over the prairie.

     In the following year the rains were so heavy as to make the Indian Creek overflow its banks, the flood washing out the B. & M. railroad bridge.

     It was in this year they had their first experience of a prairie fire, it looked as though the whole world was on fire, Mrs. Phillips ran for safety to

9