Hitchcock County in the 1800s

Susan Doak

SW Nebraska

Genealogy Society

McCOOK, Neb. -- Once again I perused the many books, maps and information available in the SWNGS library. Among the Hitchcock County records was a compilation of news items done by Paul Davis Riley in 1978 from the records available at the State Historical Society, covering 13 different newspapers printed in Hitchcock County from 1883 to 1906. Mr. Riley had gifted this work to the SWNGS library, signing the cover page. Here are but a few stories within its' pages.

From the Culbertson paper, THE SUN:

Gunfight at McLain's ranch, Elbert County Colorado. Rossiter killed, two Jones severely wounded. Rollins and McKeever escape. (Sept. 15, 1883.)

A new ten pound daughter has been stopping at Frank Ellege's since last Tuesday. Mother and child doing well and the old man may possibly recover. Frank carried a box of cigars under his apron all day Tuesday and distributed them with the liberality of a millionaire. (March 29, 1884)

Mrs. Andrew Larson was laid away in her last resting place in the Culbertson Cemetery last Saturday. Glad to hear that Mr. Larson's hands are getting better. (The Larson's were burned in a prairie fire.) (May 3, 1884)

From the Trenton paper, THE TRENTON TORPEDO: Last Thursday evening about six o'clock, a stranger that could not speak our language appeared at the home of Charley Moore, and as the night was quite cold and the poor little fellow was not very warmly clad, Dr. Thomas prevailed on Charley to take him in and make him comfortable. He weighs seven pounds. (Dec. 12, 1885)

J.H. League of the firm of Mishler & Co. was found this Friday morning on the flat west of town, frozen to death. (Jan. 23, 1886)

A fifteen year old son of W.F. Smith met with a fatal accident on Tuesday. The little fellow went to the creek for a load of wood, taking with him a fifty caliber needle gun. He had put on his load and getting ready to start for home when he put his gun on the wagon and in some way discharged it. (July 23, 1886)

From the Culbertson paper, HITCHCOCK COUNTY REVEILLE: A band of vigilantes took Mike O'Laughlin, who resides on the mouth of the bank of the Republican river, south of Benkelman, from his bed Monday night and hanged to a tree to compel him to reveal the hiding place of stolen property. He was cut down before life was extinct. ( June 22, 1888)

C. A. Parrish is about a foot taller since Wednesday. It's a girl and mother and child are doing well with slight hope of the father's recovery with extreme care. (Aug. 24, 1888)

Bart Johnson, a night yardmaster at McCook, was run over and killed in the yards there Sunday night. His foot became fastened in a frog and his body was badly crushed. (Nov. 30, 1888)

My next two installments will cover the other ten newspapers contained within Mr. Riley's compilation. Following that, I am working on a series covering some of the businesswomen of our area that deserve recognition for their contribution to Southwest Nebraska. If you have stories of a woman friend or relative that blazed a path for future generations, please contact me at sdoak@swnebr.net.

SWNGS library, 110 West C, Suite M-3 will be open for research on July 19 from 1-4 p.m. Please join us for help in finding answers to your genealogy questions.