Of
WAYNE COUNTY
Nebraska
Its Pioneers, Settlement, Growth and Development
Together With a View of The Territory
By
Dorothy Huse Nyberg
Printed by
The Wayne Herald 1938
P 26, 27
“The trip from Missouri Valley Junction to Sioux City was difficult because of the heavy rains. Twelve wagons started the trex(sic). The Mormon Trail was followed. The little Sioux River had over flown its bank and spread like a sea of water over the valley. The caravan started at nine am of Easter Sunday, April 17, 1870: the wagons were piloted one by one through the river and it was sundown when the last reached the other side of the stream. The animals swam when the current was too strong for them, men threw ropes over the animals heads and helped pull them through-------“
“After the party reached Sioux City they waited about ten days for the flood water’s to subside before making the rest of the journey to their new homes. The caravan crossed the Missouri River at Sioux City by ferry April 28, and arrived at their homesteads in Wayne Co. May 5th”
“Alonzo Allen who had come in 1869, built a hay stable to house his family temporarily on his land a mile east of LaPorte. The stable was built with four uprights covered with straw on top and with boards on the bottom. W. A. Hunter, nephew of the Allen’s, was one of the party staying at the Allen home until he built his own place. The night of May 5th, 1870, when the newcomers arrived, the older persons were allowed to sleep in the one bed in the home. Others were lying on the floor. That night rain, hail and snow came in such a storm that straw on the floor was ankle deep in water when Mr. Hunter arose in the morning.”
Pages 74-75
William Hunter Is Frozen To Death
It was in Nov of 1871 that WA Hunter’s father, William Hunter, was frozen to death. He and W H Allen and Albert Miner had gone to the reservation southeast of their homes to get wood. They were returning on Nov 23 when a severe storm came. The three tried to stay together. Mr. Hunter took the wagon box from the wagon and tried to seek shelter in this. The other two wandered apart. Mr. Miner got close to the home of his brother, Isaac Miner, though he did not know where he was. Mr, Allen reached the Nathan Miner place. The barking of a dog led Nathan Miner to investigate an object near the barn. The object proved to be Mr. Allen who was crawling on his hands and knees through the snow. Mr. Allen was badly frozen. Mr. Miners feet were frozen so they had to be amputated.
When the men received word that Mr. Hunter was left near the wagon, Nathan Miner and William Vroman started to search for him. At 3 o’clock the next afternoon they found Mr. Hunter frozen but still able to speak. He died soon after,however.
Individual Note:
HISTORY
Of
WAYNE COUNTY
Nebraska
Its Pioneers, Settlement, Growth and Development
Together With a View of The Territory
By
Dorothy Huse Nyberg
Printed by
The Wayne Herald 1938
P 26, 27
“The trip from Missouri Valley Junction to Sioux City was difficult because of the heavy rains. Twelve wagons started the trex(sic). The Mormon Trail was followed. The little Sioux River had over flown its bank and spread like a sea of water over the valley. The caravan started at nine am of Easter Sunday, April 17, 1870: the wagons were piloted one by one through the river and it was sundown when the last reached the other side of the stream. The animals swam when the current was too strong for them, men threw ropes over the animals heads and helped pull them through-------“
“After the party reached Sioux City they waited about ten days for the flood water’s to subside before making the rest of the journey to their new homes. The caravan crossed the Missouri River at Sioux City by ferry April 28, and arrived at their homesteads in Wayne Co. May 5th”
“Alonzo Allen who had come in 1869, built a hay stable to house his family temporarily on his land a mile east of LaPorte. The stable was built with four uprights covered with straw on top and with boards on the bottom. W. A. Hunter, nephew of the Allen’s, was one of the party staying at the Allen home until he built his own place. The night of May 5th, 1870, when the newcomers arrived, the older persons were allowed to sleep in the one bed in the home. Others were lying on the floor. That night rain, hail and snow came in such a storm that straw on the floor was ankle deep in water when Mr. Hunter arose in the morning.”
Pages 74-75
William Hunter Is Frozen To Death
It was in Nov of 1871 that WA Hunter’s father, William Hunter, was frozen to death. He and W H Allen and Albert Miner had gone to the reservation southeast of their homes to get wood. They were returning on Nov 23 when a severe storm came. The three tried to stay together. Mr. Hunter took the wagon box from the wagon and tried to seek shelter in this. The other two wandered apart. Mr. Miner got close to the home of his brother, Isaac Miner, though he did not know where he was. Mr, Allen reached the Nathan Miner place. The barking of a dog led Nathan Miner to investigate an object near the barn. The object proved to be Mr. Allen who was crawling on his hands and knees through the snow. Mr. Allen was badly frozen. Mr. Miners feet were frozen so they had to be amputated.
When the men received word that Mr. Hunter was left near the wagon, Nathan Miner and William Vroman started to search for him. At 3 o’clock the next afternoon they found Mr. Hunter frozen but still able to speak. He died soon after,however.