The FRONTIER and HOLT COUNTY

INDEPENDENT

Thursday, Aug. 25, 1966 - Volume 78 - Number 34


Inman Pioneer Day Celebration Slated For This Saturday

Saturday, August 27, will be the day the Pioneer Day Celebration in Inman. The activities will begin with the parade at 2:00 p.m. There have been many entries received for the parade. Immediately following the parade, the welcome and introduction of honored guests will be given. Among the honored guests will be the John Inman family from Smithland, Iowa. The Inman family are descendants of Will Inman after whom the town of Inman was named.

The Inman Dancers from the Kearney Boys Training School will perform their dances after this. At 4:00 p.m. the Tug-of-War teams will challenge each other. During the afternoon there will be a basketball throw, mad scramble, and a fishpond besides the new game imported from the West Coast called Sockeroo. Sockeroo is a good game for all ages and will help relax all of your tensions. There will also be a horseshoe pitching contest, a display of Antiques at the school shop building and an antique tractor and machinery display on main street. The ladies of the Methodist WSCS will have a Bazaar at the church annex immediately following the parade and the ladies of the Methodist Church will serve a Pioneer Supper starting at 5:30 p.m. at the church annex. The evenings activities will begin at the IOOF Hall at 7:30 p.m. with the Holt County Centennial Chorus singing and the Centennial Sweethearts form O'Neil performing their dances. The tree dance will follow with music furnished by the Elkhorn Valley Musicians and the Disterhaupt Brothers. There will be a five dollar cash drawing every hour throughout the afternoon and evening with the $25.00 jackpot drawing at 10:30. Tickets for the drawings will be on sale throughout the day for those who have not purchased tickets previously. There will be refreshment stands in several locations throughout the afternoon and evening. These are being sponsored by the Inman Workers Extension Club and RLDS Church members. All concession stands will open at 1:00 p.m.

Excerpts From the Diary of Peter Inman in 1871

The story of the Inmans' family trip from Wisconsin to the village is recorded in the following excerpts from Peter Inman's diary.

A brief outline explaining the trip follows and then the actual day by day trip to Inman.

William Inman and his two brothers, Peter and Cyp, left Wisconsin in the spring of 1871. They traveled through Iowa and crossed the Missouri river at Council Bluffs. They came through Omaha, Fremont, Norfolk and up the Elkhorn river where they staked a claim along the Black Hills and Lincoln freight trail.

Peter Inman, author of the diary, returned to Wisconsin and then later settled in Iowa. Peter's son grew to manhood in the Smithland, Iowa community and later Peter's grandson John Inman also farmed in the community.

John Inman and his family are coming to Inman on August 27, 1966 to help the community celebrate its 95 years of existence and will be special guests of the Pioneer Day Celebration. They will visit their great uncle's homestead which is now owned by Charles Boyle.

At the time the homestead was made the group petitioned the state to establish a county government. Around 1876 this was done and the first seat of the county government was established on the Ed Boyle quarter just east of the land homesteaded by Inman. William Inman was appointed the first county clerk by the governor. In 1881 the railroad came on up the Elkhorn Valley and the grocery and general store which the Inman's had operated for ten years was moved to the new town site and this was how the village of Inman got its name.

In the fall of 1881 William Inman went out to gather wood and did not return. Many of the older settlers of the area believe that he was killed by Indians.

This is the letter that Addie Inman mailed to brother Peter.

"Dear Brother Peter, It is with the sadest of hearts that I write you this letter. Willie is dead. He died the 26th of October. I tried to get a telegram to you but the operator said that the other operators would not respond. I keep him one day for you to come, buried him Friday at 3:00 o'clock funeral sermon by Rev. D. Wilson. Write soon from your sister. He went after wood with the team. Minutes after he left the house he was dead. From your sister Addie Inman."

May 23, 1871

We started from home for Nebraska about 8 o'clock A.M. We got to Sandusky about 10 o'clock and waited there for Harrison Palmer until after 5 p.m. when we traveled about __ miles until we came to Nebel's saw-mill on Rear Creek where we camped for the night. We traveled but 6 __. Roads are very hilly but otherwise good. Father O'Burt came with us as far as Sandusky with the horses and helped us up the hills. I visited the school at Sandusky taught by Wm. A. Twist. There were 19 scholars present but he said there were a few more attending. Their deportment was good but recitation poor. The school was begun only the day before so it was not fairly organized. It is a good frame school house quite well seated but a very poor blackboard and no apparatur what ever. Scholars, small and backward. We passed two log school houses this morning.

Harrison came to us about 5 p.m. so our whole company consists as follows: Cyp, his wife Catherine, their children Elmer and Mary; Will, Casildea and myself with one wagon, a span of horses, 1 cow 2 dogs and our baggage. Harrison Palmer, his wife Maria, their children, George 9 years old, Mary about 7, and Walter about 2 or 3 years old. Harrison has a wagon, 2 horses, 1 cow, 1 yearling heifer, and a dog.

Little Willow Creek
Wednesday, My 24

We left camp about 7 a.m. and came over a rough hilly road to the place (about 9 miles) arrived at 2 p.m. Passed 1 log school house and 2 frame ones. We came through Ithaca, a small village in Richmond Co. There are 2 stores, 1 blacksmith shop, a cooper shop and a saloon. It is situated on the Big Willow (which is a branch of Pine R.) It appears to be quite a business place for the size. Roads dusty.

We left our camp crossed Keg creek, Little Musquito, from there over a hilly road 1 mile to the Big Musquito where we got dinner. We left this place about 4 o'clock came over another hill to Council Bluffs which is built in a valley and some along the Missouri Bottoms. It is 4 miles from the center of the town to the river.

There are 4 railroads running to this place.

Will lost his dog here. We drove near the river and camped for the night. It has been a very warm day.

Friday, June 23, 1871

We had a hard fight with mosquitoes last night. I slept but very little.

Will went after his dog, so we laid over to-day. He came back about sundown without Watch. A warm day.

Saturday, June 24th

We crossed the Missouri River this morning, rates $1 for team and wagon, 10 cents for the cow. We staid in the wagon so we were not charged. There was a flock of 450 sheep at the same time.

We passed by where the railroad bridge is being built. It is a very high structure. Iron piers are sunk down to the rock some 70 feet.

Omaha the county seat of Douglas county is built on the side of a hill and contains about 20,000 inhabitants. The streets are regularly laid out and numbered from the river.

In waiting for the mail to be distributed Harrison and I got separated from the other wagon. We drove out on the old military road towards Fremont, whilst Cyp drove towards Blair. We drove to Big Papillion - 12 miles from Omaha and camped. We did not know where the other wagon was until Cyp came where we were, which was about sundown.

We have come today over a hilly country but little settled. We were told it is owned by speculators. We passed Ranche No. 1 Little Papillion which is a small creek with steep banks but no wood.

Big Papillion has some willow and other brush along it. It also has steep banks as have almost all the creeks in Western Iowa.

Sunday, June 25th

Cyp came to where we were. We found Bushark and Orr here when we came and al lay over here for the rest of the day.

Timber is scarce here and we passed through but little in coming from Omaha. There is a spring of good water about 20 rods below the bridge on the west side of the creek, within about 10 feet of the stream.

Monday, June 25, 1871

We came through a hilly country, passed the 17 mile ranch, which is an old log house with an addition of a frame boarded upright wherein is kept a saloon. A stable and yard and small garden comprise the surroundings. We passed another ranch neat the Elkhorn which river we crossed on a food bridge and camped on the bank. There are some large cottonwood trees here, one I think is 4 ft. in diameter.

We came through Elkhorn City, which consists of a farm & school house built on a tableland.

Corn is good, wheat is poor and rusty; there has been a drought here so that wheat has done poorly.

This is a clayey soil so compact that wells 30 and 40 feet deep are walled but 10 feet form the bottom. I drew water from one that has no wall at all.

June 27, 1817

It rained this morning so we did not leave the Elkhorn until noon. We traveled in a flat, level valley which grows very tall grass and good corn, some oats look well. We were told that in some places the quicksand is within a foot of the surface, but in other places there is 3 or 4 feet of clay, then a soil 3 or 4 feet deep. The water was very poor until we got to Fremont where it is good. None but in wells.

Fremont, a station of the U.P.R.R. & county seat of Dodge Co., is a business town of about 2000 inhabitants and situated in the Platte Valley within 2 miles of the Platte River.

We traveled 2 miles N.W. of town and camped on the Rawhide, which is a stream in wet times.

Wednesday, June 28th

Today has been cool and the rain has settled the dust so that it has been pleasant traveling. We did not start until near noon, we have come about 12 miles to a place that has water sometimes and is called Maple Creek. Some timber along the bank.

We have come through the most beautiful country that I ever saw, after leaving the Platte Valley we came on a tableland living between the Platte and Elkhorn. It is a gentle rolling prairie. Good water by digging 20 or 30 feet.

Thursday, June 29th

We lay over most all day on Maple Creek because Kate was sick, but we came about 7 or 8 miles to Pebble creek, where is built the small village of Pebble.

Friday, June 30, 1871

It rained some last night. After taking a breakfast for bread and milk we started for West Point 16 miles distant, which we reached about 4 o'clock and drove 2 miles to Plum Creek where we camped.

West Point, the capital of Cumming County is a station on the Fremont and Elkhorn Valley R. R. which road is completed but a few miles above W.P. but is being worked on.

Saturday, July 1, 1871

It rained hard last night and today, roads muddy. Cool today. Camped most all day, but traveled some towards evening and camped by a school house. There is also a store close by where they have two young foxes.

Sunday, July 2nd

It has been a cloudy and cool day but we traveled only a few miles and camped on the Elkhorn about two miles from Humbug Creek.

We came through a place where they have staked the prairie off in town lots and call it Wisner. It is to be the terminum of the F. & E. V. R.R. for a while. There were 4 tents and 2 board shanties in it, where the R.R. hands board.

Monday, July 3rd

A hard shower last night but pleasant today.

Kate is so sick that Cyp concluded to stop here so Harrison and family left us today about 11 o'clock A.M. for Antelope County. (Insert: Sept 8th, Harrison did not go to Antelope Co. But to the Bruce Colony on Leau Qui Court Co. Where he took a homestead.

Tuesday, July 4, 1871

I spent my 4th by writing a letter to Burt, taking it to the office and sleeping. We are still encamped on the Elkhorn.

There has been a strong wind all day, looked very much like rain in the evening.

Cyp and Will went hunting ducks this afternoon and killed 4 ducks.

Wednesday, July 5th

The owner of the house which is near where we camped told us this morning that we might move in the lower room of his house which offer we gladly accepted and moved in.

There was a hard shower last night, the wind broke one of the tent ropes and blew one end down. Water soaked under the blankets, not very good place to sleep.

Thursday, July 6th

There was a storm of wind, rand and hail yesterday afternoon. I have heard today that there was a house blown over near West Point, 1 man killed in it. Also a train of cars was blown off the track, some 13 of the passengers were wounded. A pleasant day.

Friday, July 7th

A warm and windy day. Cyp and Will went to Stanton, I staid at the house and chopped wood.

Saturday, July 8th

Cyp, Will and I started to look for land intending to go above the French settlement, which is situated on the Main branch of the Elkhorn about 70 miles from place of starting. Our road is up the Elkhorn Valley, and today it has been a good level road, no hills. We came through Stanton, the capital of Stanton Co. Which is a small village but has a nice location, and Norfolk the capital of Madison County. It is built on the North Branch near its confluence with the South. Has a good grist mill, several stores and blacksmith shop. They are building a brick school house and some other buildings. From there we drove to the Yellow Bank, a place where the river runs to the hills and it is the Y.B. as the earth is yellow. Wheat and oats look much better here than blow Norfolk. It has been a good day for traveling, a little cool

Sunday, July 9th, 1871

We started a little after sunrise crossed the Yellow Bank (which is not as bad as some hills we crossed in Iowa) and kept on the north side of the valley. Got to Snyder's about 10:30. At the bank there is some Bur-oak. There is plenty of cottonwood along the stream. There are a number of creeks flow into the river on each side which are skirted with timber and we were told that there are groves of timber back in the hill, so there is no lack of firewood. After leaving Snyder's we crossed some nice land belonging ro the St. This is the most beautiful country that I have seen. There is plenty of good water and in most places a good soil, but in some places it is too sandy.

We reached the French Settlement at dusk and camped above it.

On the 10th we went above the upper Yellow Banks, crossed the Elkhorn above Ash Grove, killed a crane, drove to the creek and cooked dinner. After dinner I shot a large pickerel with my revolver. Afterwards we took the net and caught some in it. Drove a few miles above and camped. A hard shower just after we stopped.

We found plenty of claims here untaken, in fact but two were taken above Ash Grove. The country is very beautiful. The valley gets wider as we went toward the source of the stream until the hills entirely disappear and the country spreads out into an extensive plain. The soil is of a sandy loam and produced well. The south side of the valley appears to be lower that the north and is covered with blue joint. On the 11th we went a few miles above where we camped, crossed tot he north side of the valley and started down for the South Fork, which we did not reach until next morning.

We did not like the land as well here, as we did above. We left a box at Gunter's and planted some potatoes which we had and caught some fish (Gunter and Ewings assisting.)

We started for Graves which we reached the morning of the 14th.

We stopped here and worked through harvest and stacking at $2 a day.

We started for the Upper Elkhorn the 5th of August, arrived at Mr. Ewings the 10th. Here we stopped and again Cyp, Will and I went above to pick out our claims which we did in Town 28 N Range 11 West and returned the 14th. On the 15th we moved to our claims. Built a cabin on the line between Will's and Casildea's.

When we were building the cabin Cild and Kate were both sick, so that we had to wait on them and do our own cooking.

Notes on the back pages:

Canton, Stanton Co., Neb. July 22nd 1871.
Allison Parody, Dr.
To 1 days work (harvesting) $2.00
To C. Inman, harvesting, $2.00
To Wm. H. H. Inman, harvesting, $2.00.

July 29th, 1871, A. Parody, Cr.: By 1 scythe & Snrath $1.50; by 1 bushel potatoes 50 cents; by 25 lbs. Flour at $3.50, 90 cents, or 80 cents.