Historical marker may designate the early location of Red Willow town

If Densel O’dea’s hard work comes to fruition, there will be a new Historical Marker in Red Willow County located at the site of the town of Red Willow.

I had always thought that the town lay around the school house located on the highway between Indianola and McCook, that is, I always believed that until Densel approached me with the information about the actual site south the old school near the railroad tracks.

John Gavin O’dea was one of the original settlers to the town having been given a Land Grant in 1869, the original still in the family’s hands today. Densel is in the process of raising the funds to have the Nebraska State Historical Society marker committed to the site and I wish him well.

Because it is a perfect example of the treacherous conditions our predecessors faced when settling this area, I believe another historical marker should be placed at the site of this tragedy that happened in May of 1885: The McCook Tribune, June 3, 1885 shares this sad story.

“On Tuesday evening a party of seventeen Bohemians from Brainard, Nebraska, enroute to Dundy County, camped in Richman canyon, about half a mile from the Republican River, and nine miles east of this place (Indianola). At dark a heavy rain set in and about ten o’clock a water spout bursted a short distance above where the party was camped, flooding the heretofore dry canyon to a depth of fifteen feet. This came down the canyon in waves each rising a foot higher than the preceding one. There were three wagons in which the party were asleep when the flood came upon them.

The one nearest the bed of the stream was occupied by John Macek, wife and son. The centre one by John Osmer, wife and four children and two children belonging to another man. The third wagon was occupied by Joseph Havelic, wife and three children.

When the flood struck their wagons, John Havelic was the first to arouse. Jumping out he grasped the tongue and attempted to pull the wagon out of the water. As he swung it sidewise, fresh waves struck it twirling the tongue out of his hands and carrying the wagon and contents out into the raging flood. While this was transpiring, Osmer and jumped out of his wagon and succeeded in pushing his way with four children to shore and started to return to the wagon for his wife and remaining two children, when he discovered by a flash of lightning his wagon was gone.

The first thing that Macek knew of the situation he was sailing downstream. Seeing a tree just ahead, he bid his wife and son to cling to him and he would try to catch the tree. He succeeded in the attempt, but the shock caused by the sudden stop was so great that his wife and son let go and went down into the flood. Macek climbed into the tree and stayed there until rescued in the morning.

During all this time the rain was pouring down in torrents. After wandering around for some time, Osmer and Havelic found the residence of Samuel Jennings, a half mile distant, and as well they could made know what had happened. A search party was organized at once, and watch was kept up until daylight. Word was sent to Indianola, and by noon many hundred people were searching the canyon and river.”

Those drowned were: Mary Macek, 48; Frank Macek, 12; Anna Osmer, 31; Joseph Osmer, 11; Christine Osmer, 3; Fannie Havelic, 32; Michael Havelic 7; Poley Havelic, 4; Mary Havelic, 2. Up to Wednesday morning only two bodies had been recovered, to wit, Mrs. Havelic and Mrs. Osmer.”

I searched further in the pages of the Tribune for any indication that the men and children who survived stayed in Red Willow County but could find no proof. Perhaps they picked up their animals, who had been spared because they were on a side hill above the wagon encampment, and went on to Dundy County, only the succeeding generation knows.

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