could be Buffalo's crossing the platte

 Research Papers


Today is:

People in the 1908 Tornado


Tornados in Joplin, Missouri (2012); Moore, Oklahoma (2013)
        – Reporters did/doing human interest stories in days following the storms


We intended to do that today in connection with the tornado in 1908 and the people affected
 

But there is time for only one because he is such a complicated character


1st hit in the 1908 tornado – W. H. Cash farm south of Kearney [south of the Platte, in Kearney County]
While Mr. Cash was in town.


– totally destroyed, all buildings, all animals except small dog that crawled in well hole with Mrs. Cash, 2 daughters & grandson. Pump pipe above them was twisted off. Mrs. Cash and a daughter each lost a gold watch which were blown away.
 

– a week or so later as Cash rode into town, he spied one of the watches on the ground
        Back was missing but crystal face was unbroken & it still ran


Who was W H Cash?
 

Places he lived before the tornado
 

William Cash was born in Wisconsin, came by way of Iowa to Nebraska
    According to places of birth of 2 sons, the family was back and forth between the two states


By 1880 the family was in St. Paul in Howard County where William was a wagoner
        Family consisted of Cash, his wife, Laurilla, sons William S (8) and Albert (3) and Abbie Smith and her two boys

             Willis (2) and a 4 month old who was unnamed. The Smiths lived in the family and Abbie did housework.

When the 1885 Neb census was taken they were living in Riverdale.
        Abbie was listed as a widowed boarder.
        Her two sons were listed as Cash’s adopted sons.
        The baby had been given the initials L. G.
                Maybe the letters did not represent names; he was known for the rest of his life as Elgie.

Laurilla apparently died soon after the move to Riverdale because in Aug. 1888 William Cash and Abbie were married.

The Cash family apparently moved nearer to Kearney because William was frequently involved in activities in the city.

Spring 1901 – they moved to Kearney Co. just across the Platte slightly east of Kearney
        Living there when the tornado struck in 1908.

Places he lived after the tornado
   

After the tornado the family moved back to Kearney
        Lived in at least two different houses on 2nd Av

When Cash was 65 he sold his household goods and possessions and moved to Montana to live with his son, Albert (Allie).

Almost 30 years later, at age 94, he died at the home of his son, Allie, who then lived in Seattle

        His body was brought back to Kearney and he is buried in the Kearney cemetery

His political activity


Wm Cash was a Republican
        He was involved in Rep. party politics from 1890 until his death.


Attended county conventions
        Elected delegate to state Senatorial conventions
        Went as a delegate from Kearney Co. during the time he lived across the river.


Would go to Lincoln to attend opening day of the state legislature and served as “assistant doorkeeper” at one time.


Fencing the north end of Kearney Lake
This happened in April 1897, four years before moving to Kearney Co


Police chief reported to city council that complaints had been lodged regarding “parties fencing up streets on Tower hill.”


W. H. Cash had leased land at the north end of Kearney Lake and proposed to fence it which would close a graded road around the head of the lake.


The street and alley committee was appropriate committee to address the issue
        They wanted to refer the matter to the whole council.
 

Apparently the road had been in use for 24 years which according to one council member made it a legal public road.
 

It was decided to refer the question to the city attorney.
 

Nothing more was published about the issue other than a correction a week later
        The road which Cash had fenced was not in the Tower Hill addition west of Kearney Lake

        It was the road east of the lake


As the father of four boys
 

1. Escape at State Industrial School - (Dec. 7, 1896)


        – 40 boys made a dash for freedom as they left supper.
        It was dark;
        Attendants caught one apiece, the rest got away in the darkness.
        8 were captured within a couple of hours;
        19 had been recaptured by morning.


W. H. Cash’s son worked there.  [not named so we do not know which one
        By the time he learned what was going to happen there was not time to warn officials.


There was a reward of $10 for each boy returned.

2. Serving liquor to minors -

 

Mar 15, 1897
        – One or two of Cash’s sons, minors, had been frequenting saloons in Kearney.
                Notice had been served to keep the boys out.


“Cash and Cornelius [who operated a saloon business in the Opera House building] met at the Union Pacific depot Sunday, and Cornelius struck Cash several times in the face, bruising him considerably.


Charges were filed against Cornelius who was fined $1 plus $3.70 costs.


Apr. 6, 1897 [week later]
        – Cash submitted a statement to the City Council listing these points:

1. Cornelius had sold liquor on the four Sundays in March 1897


2. Cornelius had served liquor on week days and Sundays to minors, knowing they were minors after being petitioned by their parents not to serve them.


3. Cornelius permitted and encouraged gambling at a dice game called “craps”


4. In apartments under the bar Cornelius aided and assisted in exhibiting a game of cock fighting over the past six months.


Cash asked the city to investigate those charges and to revoke Cornelius’ liquor license.

Apr. 14, 1897 [another week later]
        – Hearing before license committee of the city council.


        Cash testified to the four points that had been presented to the city council


        His son, Willis, testified that he was 19, had entered the saloon by the back door on Sunday Mar 14 [the day before Cornelius struck Cash at the depot] and seen four persons shaking dice.
        He also testified that last Oct. he had been served a drink there.


        The other witnesses, Elgie Cash, Allen [Allie/Albert] Cash and another boy all gave similar testimony.
 

Missed by a Hair - Oct 10, 1898


        – W. H Cash had been looking at some property just west of the water works Sunday evening.

 
        He then got into his buggy to return to where he lived in the Greene tenement at the foot of the hill on Ninth Ave [Green Terrace Hall??]


        Coming up 9th Ave at between 24th & 25th – his horse suddenly stopped as though running into an obstruction, then lunged and took off.

 
        Cash leaned forward to gather in the reins, heard the report of a revolver and felt something graze the back of his head.


        He had dimly noticed a figure on one side of the road and a horse on the other.
        He concluded that a rope had been attached to the saddle and stretched across the road and this was the obstruction.


        He went to a doctor who lived nearby who dressed the wound.
        If he had not leaned down at the moment the revolver was fired he would have been killed.


        It was unknown whether the assailant was a robber or an enemy.

 

 


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