Taking care of your neighbors

When my parents moved us to McCook from Indianola, I found myself in the middle of a “neighborhood”. Of course, we had neighbors down the lane when we lived on the acreage out of town, 2 families to be exact, but living on Sunset Road meant we had neighbors everywhere. It was a new experience for my brother and I, actually having people our own age within a few steps and for myself the girl on the block ended up being my lifelong best friend.

Our mother thrived in this environment, returning to McCook and establishing friends throughout the block and beyond. The ladies had coffees, some played cards, and everyone traded recipes, etc. As we all grew up and left our parental homes at first it was the retired couples, then as husbands passed away the neighborhood became a closely-knit group of women who looked out for each other. If someone’s curtains weren’t open or shades raised in the morning, phone calls not answered, etc., they knew something was wrong, and acted, but they did not go as far as the following article notes.

Neighbors were even farther apart in the early days of Red Willow County, but even more important to the survival of all involved. Both Hitchcock and Red Willow Counties had Driftwood Precincts, the Willow’s laying SW of McCook. It was a thriving area with many very familiar names living within its’ boundaries, but not all of the population left future generations behind.

I found this obituary in the McCook Tribune, November 02, 1894 issue. It takes us back to when neighbors were more than just a wave as you’re collecting your mail. “James Hill Laid to Rest: Mr. Hill was born in Pennsylvania on the 27th of October, 1827, from which state he moved to Jackson county, Michigan, and in the spring of 1873 came to Red Willow county and settled on the Driftwood with a soldier named John Long, and has been a citizen of Red Willow county since that time, making an occasional visit to his friends back in Michigan, usually driving east and returning by rail. His partner, Mr. Long, was murdered by Indians in the sand hills near what is now Benkelman, in April 1875. Although Mr. Hill had no relatives in this part of Nebraska, he leaves many friends who have been drawn to him by his sterling worth and every-day honesty, in fact to be “as honest as Jim Hill” is high praise for integrity. Quick consumption was the cause of his death, which occurred at the home of his old friends, Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Stone, with whom he was visiting. His death came quietly and unexpectedly, Friday morning, October 26th, he arose and dressed himself as usual, taking a short walk and returning to the house; feeling slightly chilled he decided to go back to bed until breakfast was ready. When Mr. Stone went to speak with him, he found him in bed, completely covered with clothes, his hands peacefully folded on his breast, and he was dead. The funeral occurred on Saturday afternoon at the M.E. Church in this city and were conducted by Rev. Forman. A large number of his old friends followed the remains to their last resting place in Longview cemetery.”

Now imagine you taking in one of your old neighbors or friends because there was no one else to care for them. These were the days before assisted living or nursing homes and the hardships they had faced together bound them closer than blood relation. This man was one of the first to settle in Red Willow county when he was 44. He lost his partner to Indians, lived a good life according to legend, and died in the home of friends rather than alone. A good life, a good ending, it seems.

SWNGS monthly meeting will be Saturday at 1 pm, 110 West C, Suite M-3. The public is invited to attend.