Some Prominent Settlers in Early Buffalo County
 

Gibbon Township
 

WILLIAM T. BEATTY –

Came in October, 1872;

operated a hotel in Gibbon for three years and homesteaded five miles northwest of Gibbon.
Farmed there for about three years and then moved to another farm east of town.

He was born in Clermont County, Ohio, September 11, 1817.

Made a trip over the great plains in 1852, (age 35) to California, and stayed two years, engaged in mining.

Returned to Ohio in 1854, farmed until July, 1861, when he joined the Union Army.

Received a ball through his right limb and seven balls through his clothes. Went back into battle after three months, received three wounds, & his horse was shot under him. Captured, and was held prisoner a year at Libby Prison and stockade, at Macon, Ga., and the jail in Charleston, N. C. He was exchanged and mustered out in November 1864.

He returned home to Ohio, sold out after 3 years, and moved to Indiana, farmed 5 years; sold out and came to Gibbon, Neb, in 1872.

He was married and had five children. Only the youngest, George S., lived here at Gibbon.

DAVID M. FULMER –

Farmer, bought land at Gibbon in August, 1879, during a visit. He returned to Syracuse, N. Y., and moved his family here the following February, (1880)

Owned 400 acres on the edge of Gibbon village site.

He was born in upstate N. Y.

He owned and operated a farm until ten years previous to settling in Nebraska when he followed mercantile business.

He was married and had five children--Charley E. and Henry E., both teachers of good standing, Clark A., Minnie L. and Nellie E

Shelton Township
 

THERON F. ALLEN –

Located short distance southeast of Shelton in November 1878.
Engaged in farming and raised some stock.

He was born in Penn. Went to Illinois and farmed four years; returned to Pennsylvania and farmed about eight years; then came to Nebraska.

He was married while in Ill. Wife immigrated from Norway. Had 3 sons.

He is a member of the School Board of his district and a member of the Buffalo County Agricultural Society.

HARRISON A. LEE –
 

Came to Buffalo County, Neb., in April, 1873 and located 2 ½ miles southeast of Shelton, a mile or so southeast of Mr. Allen.

Owned a section of land. He believed in raising a variety of crops, but made corn the principal one. Also had large herd of stock.

Born in Ohio. Enlisted in 1861 and served in the Union Army as Bugler for about a year. Re-enlisted in 1864 (to end of war)

Returned to Ohio, married the following year, had one daughter

He was a member of the Robert Morris Lodge of Masons at Kearney.

He served three years as County Commissioner of Buffalo County.

Has been since its organization, President of the Buffalo County Agricultural Society.

He was one of the committee that came out with Mr. John Thorp to select a location for the Soldiers' Homestead Colony from West Farmington, Ohio. They arrived at Gibbon February 27, 1871, and being favorably impressed with its location, as well as the appearance of the surrounding country, it was decided to come to Gibbon.

GEORGE SMITH –

farmer, located by the river, south and a little east of Shelton in the fall of 1871. Moved is family in July, 1872

His 480 acres included twenty acres of cultivated timber. He was engaged largely in stock-raising.

George born in Pennsylvania

He spent three or four years in California in mining, etc.

He was married and had five children

Sharon Township
 

GEORGE MISNER –
 

Farmer, located a couple miles north of Shelton on a homestead of eighty acres, April 1, 1871,

Began breaking the prairie and farming, turning over eighty acres of sod the first year.

The next year he broke up 240 acres. (1872)

Produced 8,000 bushels of wheat and 16,000 bushels of corn in 1875.

In 1882 he owned 3,000 acres of which 1,500 acres was under cultivation, and employed four men. Was making stock-raising a specialty, and owned at present 500 head of cattle of all kinds.

He was born in Germany and came to America with his parents when he was 4. They settled in Troy, N. Y., then; moved to Tama County, Iowa, in 1855.

He was married in Shelton, Neb., in October 1877, to Miss Rachel Fieldgrove, of Pennsylvania. They had four daughters--Eldora and Elnora, Cora and Lulu. She died Nov. 9, 1889

Kearney Hub, Nov. 22, 1889 – From Natural Causes
The body of Mrs. Geo. Meisner was exhumed at Shelton yesterday, but the coroner, Dr. Humphreys, said there was not sufficient evidence to warrant the holding of an inquest, and that death resulted from natural causes.

Loup Township

(in top tier, includes Pleasanton)
 

The first settlers (who took homestead claims in the year 1874) were
H. F. Hand
J. T. Palmer
N. Dick
N. A. Brunce
J. Welch

L. A. Colburn
C. B. Oakley
H. H. Clark
All located in Pleasant Valley. The original survey was so faulty it was necessary for Mr. Clark to return to Kearney and secure the services of the county surveyor in order to properly locate their claims.

The country was wild, there being many antelope, some deer and a small herd of buffalo.

Mr. Clark and Mr. Colburn left the country, but Charles B. Oakley stayed

He saw the country grow up from a wild region, passing through the sod-house period to one of the many prosperous settlements of Buffalo County.

During the grasshopper years most of the settlers left this part of Buffalo County, so that Mr. Oakley saw this locality settled twice, so to speak, he remaining through all the trials incident to pioneer life.

And also -----

1887

June 11, 1887 – Kearney New Era
The Chief of Police desires to state that all parties staking out their cattle so they can cross the street will be subject to a fine of $1.50 each.

1890

Shoe social - All ladies behind a screen, tips of shoes showing. Gentlemen choose a shoe.