This
is
a
collection
of
copies
of
a
series
of
historical
newspaper
columns.
They
were
published
weekly
in
the
DeWitt
Times-News
beginning
11
Nov
1926
through
18
Oct
1928.
Then
Editor
Ed
Rossiter
asked
Frank
F.
Nicholas,
DeWitt's
Oldest,
Living,
Native
Son,
born
26
May
1861
to
work
with
him
to
relate
Frank's
memories
about
early
DeWitt
and
the
surrounding
area
history.
The
columns
are
written
in
conversational
style
and,
as
in
such
conversations,
the
topics
skip
around
quite
a
lot.
It
isn't
long
before
others
begin
to
add
their
recollections
or
corrections
about
events
described
by
Mr.
Nicholas
resulting
in
a
wonderful
description
of
life
and
events
in
the
early
settlement
of
this
area.
It
is
important
for
the
reader
to
read
the
entire
text
as
sometimes
the
authors
talk
over
their
memory
of
an
event
and
then
change
or
enhance
the
story.
Thus
you
should
not
draw
conclusions
from
the
first
account
which
you
find
but
keep
reading.
As
interest
grew
in
this
project,
others
began
writing
letters
which
are
included
in
the
columns.
You
will
find
writings
by
Wes
Cox,
G.E.
Lemmon,
W.H.
Daubendick,
T.
U.
Whiffen,
CW.
Buck
and
others.
The
writings
provide
the
reader
with
an
idea
of
how
people
lived
and
survived
when
the
nearest
supplies
were
at
either
Nebraska
City
or
St.
Joseph,
MO.
Some
of
the
columns
were
typed
from
the
newspaper
copy
and
the
balance
are
copies
of
the
newsprint.
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Some
of
the
newsprint
is
hard
to
read
but
with
patience
most
of
the
words
can
be
figured
out.
I
have
begun
the
book
with
an
article
from
DEWITT
OPPOSITION,
13
JAN
1876,
which
lists
short
biographies
of
some
of
the
businessmen
of
that
time.
I
also
inserted
the
history
of
the
ZION
EVANGELICAL
CHURCH,
a
listing
of
DeWitt
School
Dist.
#
6
students
for
the
years
1876
and
1877,
and
a
list
of
Civil
War
veterans
buried
in
Oak
Grove
Cemetery
as
of
June
1915
at
the
beginning
of
the
book.
You
will
find
first
hand
accounts
of
people
who
knew
Wild
Bill
HICKOK
and
knew
first
hand
the
circumstances
of
the
Rock
Creek
Station
incident.
Also
there
is
recounting
of
the
Indian
Raids
in
August
1864
from
people
who
were
there.
As
a
genealogist
and
historian,
I
have
found
these
columns
to
be
very
valuable
and
unduplicated
in
helping
us
to
understand
the
early
days
of
DeWitt
and
the
DeWitt
area.
Also,
I
have
copied
the
articles
from
the
DeWitt
Times-News
and
any
errors
in
the
writing
are
those
of
the
original
authors
and
I
can
not
be
responsible
for
them.
It
is
a
pleasure
on
behalf
of
the
DeWitt
Historical
Society
and
myself,
to
present
this
volume
to
you!!!
Doris
A.
Peters,
Editor
15124
North
Blue
Ridge
Road
DeWitt
NE
68341 |
