There was a great difference between the homesteaders going west who would call for help, and the people going west to Pikes Peak for gold; the latter were invariably adventurers; after they were gone some chickens were usually gone also.

     An old man named Gibson, known by the children as "Gibby," would call at the home and stay overnight, he came from Geneva and had on this occasion been to Crete, he was a dealer in cattle, and it appears that on this trip he had lost some money; the loss of which worried him a great deal. The beds were arranged in each corner of the room, and during the night someone heard him talking to himself and saying, "I will kill myself" and "throw myself in front of the train." He was remonstrated with for talking so foolishly, but he managed to secure an old razor from one of the boys for which he gave ten cents, and was found actually cutting his throat. A doctor was sent for, and he stitched up the wound, but the Newspaper report declared that the doctor had sewed the man's head on with the face to the back.

     The year 1874 in known as the grasshopper year, several incidents have already been given, it was dinner-time at this home when the dark cloud was seen; after dinner, as with others, nothing remained in the corn fields save the stump ends of the corn stalks.

HENRY HAMMOND

     Henry Hammond, a native of Indiana, went first to Illinois; afterwards coming to Nebraska, and in the fall of 1870 filed on a claim; taking the North West quarter of Section 4. He went east to Nebraska City, where he worked during the winter, and settled on his homestead in the spring of 1871; having only a yoke of oxen and five dollars in money with which to start the new life. Like most of the pioneers he met with many hard experiences, and had many reasons to be discouraged; but he held on with faith and confidence, until finally successful, raising a worthy family and living to an honored old age; the satisfactory results of years of honest toil. Most of his compeers have passed on to their reward.

     About one year after he homesteaded, he was married to Catherine (Kate) Drummond, sister to "Pat" Drummond, her sister Margaret being married to Michael Sweeley. These all homesteading about the same time and in the same neighborhood.

     In the winter after their marriage they received word that Mrs. Hammond's sister was very sick; so they set out that same night to learn more about her condition and to give what help was necessary. Having stayed over night they returned the next morning to find their house had been robbed and burnt down, and they were left with nothing but what they had on. There was abundant evidence that the house had been robbed as well as burned, for several half-burnt articles were found in parts of the room out of their proper places, and the fire had been so clever as to completely burn (?) several good sized chunks of meat, without completely burning the wood cask in which they were packed. The culprits were never definately located; though it was never thought likely that anyone had come all the way from Florida, or any other outlandish place to commit such an outlandish deed upon the struggling poor.

     Because of this misfortune many people advised them to give up and return east, but they decided to remain and fight out life's battle on the claim: believing the day would come when they would have something to call their own.

     During that winter he would haul firewood for eight or ten miles having

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this to do often in the severest weather with no better clothing than his overalls to protect him from the cold. Their daily fare during that time was mostly milk and corn meal, varied only by a change to corn meal and milk. They were thankful to possess a good cow for whose contributions to their bill of fare they were very grateful; the story of which suggests to us the title of an old English book by Leah Richmond, "The Annals of the Poor," for which Mr. Hammond who is a veteran of the Grand Army of the Republic, said he thought, "The Army rations in war time were never more limited than in this case."

     During the great blizzard, many people in the neighborhood were suffering with the measles, and Mr. Hammond lay sick with the disease at that time. This snow found its way into their house through a crack in the north side of the roof, so gently and inperceptibly, yet definitely accumulating; that by morning there was a wagon load on the floor, the beds were covered, and quite a quantitly (sic) of water (melted snow) lay in the hollow places of the pillow where the sick man lay. The fires were out and no firewood could be found anywhere, Mrs. Hammond never felt more hopeless or discouraged in her life, but the good samaritan was soon upon the scene; Michael Sweeley came to the rescue with his arms full of kindling, and in other ways helped to bring about a better state of things. He afterwards had to dig through five feet of snow to recover the Hammond hogs.

     A very acceptable and entertaining visitor to the Hammond home in these early days was a little neighbor girl named Jenny Crooker, she was always full of good cheer, and ever considerate of the wellbeing of others. Mr. Hammond had, owing to the unfortunate fire, to wear an old coat a long time and undoubtedly it was none the better for the wearing. On one occasion Jenny with her sister, Grace, was visiting the Hammond home, and Grace, probably for fun, suggested that Mr. Hammond needed a new coat. Jenny instantly defended her friend by saying, "The coat is all right, and so is Henry!"

     Many other thoughtful sayings and actions might be recorded regarding this little girl, who, though she lived but a few years; did not fail to have a mission of cheer and kindly service, which makes her memory dear and should be a source of inspiration to those with whom she was acquainted. "Go thou and do likewise!"

     The grasshoppers were just as considerate with the Hammond farm as with any in the district. After their visit, sixty rows of corn stalks contained only half a bushel of corn, and it was with perfect satisfaction that Mrs. Hammond hindered them from devouring a quilt that was hanging on the clothes line. A remarkable thing regarding the grasshoppers was their surviving a heavy hail storm, although they lay so thick everywhere, and the hail came so thick and fast that it could be scooped up by the pail full, it seemed that the hail had not killed one grasshopper. But it was not a "Survival of the fittest."

DOCTOR O. P. BAKER

     Doctor O. P. Baker first visited in this neighborhood with "Joe" Shaub who, at that time was a buyer of grain on the Burlington Railroad track. After visiting for some time the Doctor found it necessary to go two miles out of town to the Willard Payne place to eat and sleep. During that visit he bought a quarter section of land one mile east of town, then went back to Morrison, Illinois, and told the merchants there what he had seen around Exeter, and as a result of the descriptions given regarding this country and its possibilities of development; he sold five farms without their ever coming to look at them.

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     In February of 1874 he built a house on the farm he had bought, and a neighbor thought the country was getting too thickly settled; so he sold his eighty acres and left for the west. In Sepember (sic) of that year he brought a party of 275 land seekers from Illinois, and although that was the grasshopper year, he sold five farms in one day. Then again in September 1875 he brought another party numbering 265 persons and succeeded in locating 230 people within sixteen miles of Exeter.

     The Doctor advertised these Nebraska lands extensively, and though at that time a non-resident, he did a great deal to help settle this country. He moved here in 1880 and has made this his home ever since, and being a Dentist he commenced practicing his profession and did the first dentistry that was done in Exeter. He continued in the business here about thirty-two years, when, owing to failing eye-sight, he sold out, having worked continuously in his profession for forty-six years.

JAMES W. DOLAN

     James W. Dolan left Corning, Adams County, Iowa, February 1, 1871, reaching Lincoln, Nebraska, the same day. After learning about Government land at the U. S. Land Office at Lincoln, and that the first location where there was plenty of land was Fillmore County, he staged to Crete, the Burlington at that time extending no farther West than Lincoln. Arriving at Crete, in company with John F. Evans, an old army comrade, he traveled on foot Westward, following the grade stakes of the railroad. He reached the comfortable home of Warren Woodard in the evening, where he spent the night and the following day, looking at the Government lands in the vicinity, under the guidance of Mr. Woodard. He selected for his homestead the Northeast Quarter of Section 20, Township 8, Range 1, West. Walked back to Crete, then by stage to Lincoln, where at the U. S. Land Office he made a homestead filing on the above land, and preempted in the name of his brother William the Northwest quarter of the same section. This was about February 20, 1871.

     On the 13th of April he purchased at Lincoln, lumber to build a house on the homestead. It was all hauled from Lincoln to the land in one wagon load with one team of horses. The total cost of the lumber, one window and one door, being $43.00. The hauling cost $12.00. The size of the house was 12x14 feet. Siding boards were used for the roof, being less expensive than shingles. The hardware cost $3.00. A young Englishman, Wm. Haimes, assisted in the building, he being the principal builder in the neighborhood at the time. Probably the entire cost of the house was $65.00 A box bed of boards was built in one corner of the one-room dwelling. An empty nail keg and a soap box were used for seats. These along with the small board table included the furniture.

     The black crickets were quite plentiful during the summer and entered the houses in large numbers. They enjoyed roosting on and chewing Mr. Dolan's clothes during the night. It was his custom before dressing in the morning to give the clothes a good shaking to dislodge the crickets. One morning while performing this daily stunt, he disturbed a good sized rattlesnake that had entered through the floor during the night by way of an accomodating knot-hole. The snake replied to the shaking of the clothes with his rattle-box in no uncertain sound, so Mr. Snake had to be disposed of the first thing that morning. Rattlesnakes were not as numerous as crickets, but there were too many for comfort most of the time during the first couple of years in the settler's experience.

     His farming outfit consisted of one yoke of oxen, costing $135.00. One

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second hand farm wagon, $70.00. One 12 inch breaking plow, $29.00, and a limited suppyl (sic) of hand tools, spade, axe, hammer, etc.

     He and his brother William dug a well some forty odd feet deep, to provide water, and broke up some 30 acres of prairie on their claims during the spring. This was mostly planted to corn, which notwithstanding the extreme dry season, grew and did fairly well and helped to inspire confidence, there being at that time much discouragement and doubt as to the the country's future. Some hay was cut in the slough, this was done with an Armstrong Mower (Scythe). The corn was also cut and saved with the hay for feed, this all came handy the following winter. During the summer for lack of work at home, he sometimes walked to Crete where he obtained work, assisting in the unloading of lumber, for which he was paid $1.00 per car load. During the summer of 1871 the B. & M. R. R. was extended from Lincoln to Hastings.

     Through the efforts of Dr. H. G. Smith and Mr. Dolan, the Lincoln Land Co., located the town of Exeter. Mr. Dolan having served in the army in Company C, 18th Iowa, in which Company Mr. D. N. Smith, the Townsite Locater, had served as Captain and later as Chaplain of the Regiment, perhaps helped a little towards the accomplishment of this most desirble (sic) object.

     Mr. Dolan wrote and circulated the petition that brought about the establishment of the Exeter Post Office, and of the appointment of Dr. H. G. Smith, Postmaster of the new town. He assisted in the organization of the Exeter School District, building the first school house, and served as Director on the School Board most of the time during his nine years residence.

     In the fall of 1871, the new town being located, he disposed of most of his farm apparatus and engaged in merchandising with Dr. H. G. Smith as a partner. Together they erected the first building in the new town, the lower room of which was used as a store and Post Office. The upper room was used as a public hall, church, and generally for the accomodation of the neighborhood.

     Later he disposed of his interests in the store to Dr. Smith and engaged in the lumber and grain business, erecting one of the best modern grain elevators on the Burlington line.

     On the 4th of October, 1876, he was married to Ida M., the second daughter of Mr. A. T. Hager, who was also one of the early pioneers. and the first Treasurer of Fillmore County. In the spring of 1880, Mr. Dolan disposed of his business interests in Exeter and moved to Indianola, Nebraska, where he engaged in banking and real estate.

     He served as a member of the School Board most of the time of his twenty-four years residence in the town. He was also a State Senator from that district in the Nebraska Legislature during the Sessions of 1883 and 1885.

     In October, 1904, he moved to Los Angeles, California. His present address being 1747 Las Palmas Ave., where he will be glad to see any of his old pioneer friends.

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W. H. MINER.

     W. H. Miner came from Illinois in 1870 and located on the North West quarter of Section 12, Town 8, Range 1, West, and lived through the first summer in a tent, which became a well known land mark and a place of call for many of the incoming settlers. That was the time when this country side was one vast open plain without a house or tree, the wild animals being glad of any shade afforded them by the kindly weeds.

     An antelope was so enjoying what shade a large sunflower could give when Mr. Miner crept up and shot it, and in that way he secured a supply of good meat.

     He had been over to Weeping Water for a load of corn and was within three miles of Cordova on his way home when he got lost in a snow storm; so he dug his way into the snow bank, and crawled in with his blankets, staying there till morning, the horses having to make the best of the situation.

     An Irishman named Pat McMann whom he knew in Illinois, was passing over the plains to Colorado and called upon his friend Miner, and when he was going away he left him some nails, seeing his friend Miner would not accept pay for the hospitality. These nails were kept in a tub and Mr. Miner needing some one day put his hand into the tub, as he thought to get some nails, but instead, caught hold of a rattle snake.

     The most trying experience for Mr. Miner during those pioneer days was his arrest on a charge of "Riot and Murder," in connection with the well known Betz and Jones murder trial in Saline county.

     William H. Betz and Frank Jones were involved in a dispute through the jumping of a claim, when, during the night Jones seized a loaded gun and shot Betz. The unfortunate man dying soon afterwards not far from where he received his mortal wound. The particulars are as follows: --

     Frank Jones and Charlie Hanawalt - a bible agent went to Jones' claim intending to spend the night, but on reaching the shack they found the Betz's in possession with the door locked, so they could not get in. They took their bedding and arranged it, sleeping outside the shack, and on the following morning they set out for Schulyer Jones' but met him on the way. He asked them where Betz was and they told him he was in the house, and they could not get him out. Schulyer Jones called them cowards, and said he could get him out, so they all went back and Schulyer put his shoulder against the door and broke it in. Betz then met him with a gun, and he took it from him handing it to Frank Jones, and then threw Betz out of the house. This created a fight in which Betz's wife, two boys and two girls joined with pitchforks, hoe and hatchet, intending as they said, "to clean them up."

     Then Frank Jones shot Betz in self defense. After that was over Pitt Jones came to tell the sister and brother-in-law "Karlis" who lived at Miner's house, and Mr. Miner hitched up his team and took them over to Jones' place. When they got there, they found a Constable and a Justice of the Peace had already arrested F. and S. Jones and Charles Hanawalt.

     Mr. Miner then took them to Pleasant Hill and was there summoned to appear as witness, the preliminary examination was held that night, and F. and S. Jones and C. Hanawalt were bound over to the District Court, Chas. Hildreth and W. H. Miner being witnesses to appear at the same.

     A day or two before the Court sat, the Deputy Sheriff came and arrested J. Karlis, McCormick and W. H. Miner as prisoners implicated in murder, and they were held at the District Court for the trial, but the trial would not come off till the next year, so they were liberated on their own recognisances of $100 to appear when called upon.

     They appeared several times but the trial was put off each time, and at last Miner was acquitted, (with others) but it cost him a great deal of unnecessary expense, to say nothing of anxiety and suspense.

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On April 13, Mr. Miner went over to Schulyer Jones' place as they had arranged to go over to Crete for some fruit trees. It commenced to storm, so Mr. Miner remained there overnight, but the blizzad (sic) had set in which lasted three days. After it was over he had to extracate his wagon which stood in fifteen feet of snow, this being finally accomplished by the aid of a team of oxen being hitched to the axle. He returned home and found that the only loss he had there was one chicken.

WILLIAM McGHIE.

     William McGhie was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, and was therefore a citizen of no mean city. Having been born in the "Granite City" amidst its seats of learning, culture and art, beautified with its world famed granite buildings; there is no knowing what might have been the filling in of his life had all things been equal, but unfortunately he was deprived of the advantages of a true home and of a mother's love and leading, she having died in his infancy.

     After struggling up to manhood he worked about the farms on the outskirts of the city, and evidently made sufficient money to guarantee his gettlng married, and settling down in life. His first wife soon died leaving him with shattered hopes. After a time he was married to Miss Anna Gray, and to this union there were born six children, the youngest being born in this country.

     In the year 1878 he decided to try his fortune in America, having read the suggestive letters sent from time to time to the Aberdeen Free Press by the late Mr. James Alexander of this community. He was convinced as the writer had suggested, that this was a land of opportunity, so he with the mother and four children set sail for America.

     They made their way direct to Exeter and he bought railroad land from Dr. Smith, about three miles south of town, where they lived for a time afterwards moving one mile west. His opening experiences were not very encouraging, and he said to his wife, "well just bundle up what we hae and gae back to Scotland," but she replied, "Na, we're ance here and we're nae to gae back." One of his first business transactions was the purchasing of a team of horses, and for that purpose he returned to Lincoln the day after their arrival in Exeter. A man who wished to show interest in the stranger, chided his friend Alexander for encouraging him to go to Lincoln for such a purpose, for: "Depend upon it" said he, "The sharpers in Lincoln will skin him if he begins to buy a team there!" Mr. Alexander admitted the caution was not to be despised, but thought that, "if the sharpers in this country are sharper than the horse dealers in Aberdeenshire, or their word any less to be relied on, then his friend had a good chance of being skinned." But they did not skin him, for he secured a fine young team for which he paid $170 such as some of the young Scotch Lairds would fancy for carriage horses.

     His next exploit was the tethering of them out to grass, this seemed to be accomplished all right, but the young horses fancied a dance, through which act they pulled the stakes and went off like the wind, each in a different direction. Fortunately a party coming along caught one of the horses, and Mr. Alexander mounting one of his own horses set off over the prairie to try and catch the other. It was within an hour of being dark, and the beast had travelled (sic) at least two miles before Alexander could make his start, so there was no knowing where he might wander to, or where he could be found in the morning. But Mr. Alexander continued the chase and was fortunate enough to find him stabled by a friend about six miles distant. Mr. McGhie had given up the horse as lost, and was already thinking that Scotland was the better place in which to live after all.

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Six years after their coming the wife and mother died leaving him with a young family to care for, to whom he gave the undivided attention of the remaining thirty years of his life. The last two years of his life were spent in Exeter where he was greatly respected, he died on October 8, 1914, an interesting coincidence noticed at the funeral was that each of the six pallbearers, all of whom were his old neighbors were of different national birth, and all different to himself, such is the marvelous blending of the nations in this great land.

WILLIAM DYER.

     William Dyer was born in Hambridge, Somersetshire, England, where he received his education, afterwards going to Glastonbury where he was apprenticed for five years to the drygoods business. He was afterwards employed at Wallingford, then in Hastings for five years; going again to Wallingford where be lived about ten years, prior to his coming to America.

     Mr. Dyer's English associations were of a very interesting kind, but having already given something about Somerset, we confide ourselves to the place where he found his two wives.

     Wallingford the birth place of the Sevells, is in Berkshire, pronounced locally "Barkshire," and is styled the "Royal county" of England because it contains Windsor Castle, the residence of the English King, the royal seat of Frogmore, Cumberland Lodge, and Cranbourn Lodge. It was the scene of many of the most important struggles during early English history.

     Probably no particular place in the county has figured more in that history than Wallingford. This town seems to have stood in the forefront, having a past history and glory which none can deny. The beginning of the town is practically unknown, but ancient coins have been found in the neighborhood which date it back to 150 or 200, B. C.

     In known history we find that the town belonged in turns to the Kingdoms of Wessex and Mercia, finally becoming simply a town in England. In the ninth century it was the scene of some of the struggles between Alfred (afterwards the Great) and the Danes, the town was burned by the Danes in the tenth century.

     The ruins of its ancient Castle stand as witness and evidence of a past glory, it was the home of Wigod the Saxon, who was cupbearer to Edward the Confessor. Being favorable to the Normans, he afterwards accepted a Norman Baron as a son-in-law; D'oyley the Baron marrying his only child. The castle being completed by him in 1071 is therefore recognized as a Norman Castle.

     The civil war in England was concluded in 1153 by the signing of a treaty outside the walls of this castle. Its last royal occupant was Edward the Black Prince who was the first man to bear the title of "Duke of Cornwall" a title now held by the Prince of Wales. The castle afterwards became a fortress, and in the year 1646 withstood a seige (sic) lasting sixty days. Its demolition was ordered in the year 1652.

     The town also bears the marks of Roman thought and influence, the neighborhood was said to have been visited by Julius Caesar, and not far distant is the historic Runnymede where King John signed the Magna Charta which gave the English people their liberty, and freed them forever from feudal control, because they had so deliberately "Run-amuck."

     These, then, are a few of the historical associations of a family who came into these plains to help build a new town (to them) a new world, and the public press of this town has borne testimony to the worthy character and sterling manhood of William Dyer who passed away suddenly in September 1901, and was buried in the Exeter Cemetary (sic).

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     He came to America in 1871, bringing with him his wife and child (Bert Dyer, Implement Dealer) and came direct to Exeter. He bought some railroad land in Saline county, but in the fall of 1872 he homesteaded on Section 24 in Liberty township, Fillmore county, where he farmed for several years, and taught school in the district and other places. Railroad land at the time he settled here was worth from $6 to $7 an acre, the same land is now worth at least $130 an acre.

     They lived in a dugout until the year 1880 when he built a frame house, but in that year his wife died leaving him five children. In the early days Indians were sometimes seen passing along on their hunting expeditions, the men riding their shaggy mustang ponies, (ponies with long hair) these were fitted up with two long poles reaching behind, on which they carried their camping outfit; and what they were unable to load on the ponies, was carried by the squaws who, in meek subjection walked behind their mounted lords. One day Mrs. Dyer had just finished washing the baby, and had placed it in its crib when on turning round she beheld some Indians standing in the room, they having come into the house very quietly. They wanted permission to hunt beaver along the creek, and also asked for bacon and rice, these were all given "discretion being the better part of valor." It was her first experience with "the children of the plains."

     On another occasion she was busy making bread, when, on looking round she found three Indians in the room, who as usual had walked noiselessly into the house. They wanted bread which she showed them was not yet baked, but promised that they would receive some by night. When Mr. Dyer returned home from his school and learned of the visit of the Indians, he took them three loaves of bread, carrying them to their camp two miles east along the Turkey creek. These are the experiences of the past; these friends are gone, so are the Indians, let us ponder wisely the gift of life and do good while we can, for as the Omahas taught: 

Man's Life is Transitory.

"Mo yho sho gete tho

Mo yho sho gete tho he tho

Ho thi ge de sho gete tho

Mo yho, sho gete tho

Mo yho sho gete tho he tho

Sho gete tho he."

     The land, the scene one beholds shall long endure; when I am gone. Therefore said the Omaha Indian: "I shall vanish and be no more but the land over which I now roam shall remain and change not."

     During the great blizzard. the windows and door of the dugout were completely snowed under, Mr. Dyer and his family lay in bed till twelve o'clock noon wondering when it would be daylight, not knowing it was so late, until they noticed a streak of light shining into the stove; the chimney being a straight one.

     He gave up farming in 1887 having already commenced work for the Home Insurance Company of New York, and was located in Exeter, though his insurance interests extended over a very large area. He was recognized as a faithful and industrious worker. doing a large business including Auctioneering, and was at the time of his death serving in the J. N. Cox Store. He was an active worker in the Congregational Church. having been accustomed to have religious influences around his life in the old country, he sought such influences here, and was always endeavoring to comply with the requirements of a true christian gentleman. It was said at the time of his death that Fillmore county had lost one of her best citizens. His widow (The second Mrs. Dyer) and several of his children still live in the town or district.

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