Chapter V.

SOME FIRST THINGS.

NARRATED BY MRS. JOSEPH VANVALIN.

 

   WE came to Saunders county, Nebraska, in 1871, and removed to Nuckolls county in September, 1873; making the trip overland with two wagons, one being drawn by oxen; was eight days on the road.

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   Mr. VanValin had been here during the summer breaking and planting the ground to sod corn. The next year he planted wheat and corn. The wheat was securely stacked when the grasshoppers came and deliberately robbed us of every bit of corn and garden truck, except parts of several cabbage heads, which, after considering my safety to venture forth into such an army, I gathered a wash boiler full of the remains of the garden.

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   Frank Thompson stated that one of the big grasshoppers had the audacity to ask him for a chew of tobacco. They certainly were saucy enough to do anything.

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   The school house in District No. 14, two miles east of Nelson, was built that fall, and the first teacher was Miss Ola Carlon, afterwards Mrs. Ethan Parker, who is well known here by the older citizens.

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   The first church building was erected by the members of different denominations, but owned by the so-called Christian church.

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   It is interesting to settle on the frontier and watch the progress and development in the different stages.

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   What we considered the greatest thing with which we had to contend was the prairie fires.

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   Despite the struggles and privations there were pleasures on every hand, if we would but look on the bright side.

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   F. A. Long conducted the first hotel in Nelson.

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   The first newspaper, The Inter Ocean, was established by Dr. Case, assisted by a young man named Oakey Mamey.

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   Dr. Case was Nelson's first physician.

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   The first legal light was Dan Barker.

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