Document text
Ere, Jennie fterhart
Wordage
District 44
MART1810 RANCH AND INDIAN ATTACK
The George Martin family was the first family to settle in Nall
County on the south side of the Platte River. Mr. Martin same from
England in 1050, lived for a short time near Elgin, Illinois, from
there he moved to Fremont County, lowed and engaged for several year*
frieghting to Denver from Nebraska City. It was on these trips that
he beeame impressed with the location as a desirable place for settle—
ment, locating near Doniphan in 1862.
Previous to his settlement, he, aceompanied by two of his sons
Nathaniel and Robert made a well along the side of the road at the
place where he afterwards located. With a short handled spade he dug
to the depth of 15 feet, then, sank into the sand at the berm thereof.
a barrel having both of the heats removed. The peeping water soon
filled the barrel. After removing the sand it was allowed to again
fill, this time the water was clear and sparkling. Nathaniel one of
the eons, who later figured so oably in an Indian attaek, cut wood
iN
A.Ar<
from the nearby i trees and they curbed the walls to prevent any cave.
in. The well)waiied to a depth of 15 ft. with two buckets attached
by a rope for drawing the water from the it, thus became, due to its
location on the main traveled road from Nebraska City to the western
parts "an oasis in the desert." It was extensively used in the 00te
and 70's by emigrants, stage passengers, hunters and trappers. The well
was not abandoned until slam 20 years later when a patent pump was
installed and located near or the house site.
a.
7:artin first built a mod house fur his fatally cloJe to tho
rook beinc frequented as a stozpinC cleee by omicr-uts and tralrelers
on t1:4 ,Junney ovor Vas road, After three yerzy bo built a much better
Lowe fram 1;)zz eat frfn the iJlana abole, liter thrjsons '4ded the
fAhor in plintin: v fCottfl me of the yeanc traes 91antog
sin;:ly, by th yoanceot w -in Allies. was only 7 or tnehos in *bight
vhen :lqntla,but after n cre'Jth of ylPrzi into rs,cnificent
4:4
eprn tro.ith diain3er of Gfeet end ,,ffi.s mash clive. It
duria: ye,r 1334 th.at the Ittack by Indianv referrea to krwriousLy
tocic
L., rartiri soca Nathrtiol and AoUert ore hn.ulik; hay
.%41th to0-ens. 2he father on ane load,th two bey followlne on the
second load4 bein11:drawn oxen balt hiving their pony tied behind
t' ie loid, 'Men Vitt three miles from home they ;,,oro4tt.ctrxihy. the
/r2 .110 ,after uoundinc DIr. Murtini, notiood the Yu ;-1*''' their load
ana th kony. The, bop' von seeing the Indians immadiately =yokel
their oxen turninc them free, As 7,11tokly as poorible they cot upon
the I,enz4 Eebert in th frAlt it! Nathaniel behind him and sttxted
for The Indian ainod divn thee in thu chime and when within
•aartor of L mile from tho hoaeo enG 6f thk;, IndinWsParru%s pi. -reed
NathaLicl betivon too, shoulder blade dna tht,. back bone, come out Et
tho rtrtt .Ad e ,.:,breast pewtro.tad hiu brethar rittinc in front
of Map Jnninc two tosether. while otaer arroc4J shot at thus
lodced Ln various part of their bodies1 ore in the arm of Nathaniel
and othore in thc hip and the thigh LA! Robert. lading. thus until
Nathaniel became disAy and faintediveheroupen both boys fail from tile
3.
horse, which also beeame entangled in the loosened rein and fell to the
ground. The Indians after viewing them, thought their arrows had
killed them, drove away leaving the boys *here they had fallein.
The parents removed the arrows, which they have carefully preserved:
and immediately started for Nebraska City with the boys for gurgles'
treatment, but they being weakened from the lose of blood and the shock,
were unable to make the entire trip and were forced to stop at an
abandoned house by the wayside, where after several weeks of careful
nursing by their mother they returned home.
A
Nathaniel was not as severely injured as Rovert, for he lived to the
ripe ease of 79 years, but Robert never overcame his injuries dying in
a hospital at Kansas City some years later, from spinal meningitis which
was believed to have been browht on as a r.isult of his wounds. (1)
Nathaniel before his death acquired many acres of good farming
land in South Platte Township, Doniphan vicinity, Hall County about
1028 acres. Here he raised horses*, mules and cattle begide the regular
farm crops.
He lived =Operated the same until 1911 when he retired from
active duties. It is now occupied and managed by his son-in-law, Mr.
A. ii. Johnson, with wh,m Mt. Martin made his home, after his wife's
death a year and a half previout o his own death which occurred May 23,
1928. (2)
William E, Martin the youngest of the three boys has been a loading
fruit grower, stock raiser and gardener on his farm in Martin township
near the village of Loniphan, Nebr. As a hortieultusist, he raises
peaches, apples, and other fruit. From an orchard of 500 apple trees,
5 years old the marketing product was 1000 bushels of many varieties as
Game. Son Dario. Winesay. Healiacr. lassommi Ifttim. and ethers. In
him widen crop eeticheew•end-sediewhei. yrodeetimM of blob yeliallteeth
sweet potatoes ant melons hs has also been seesseeful organ oft lb.
greutes Welber of awards where ais exhibits hove been displayed at the
county faint throughout Central Sehr. One 50 awe field of Ida
potatoes hrougilt 4300 bushels. 20 soiree of sweet potatoes and eater
melons netted $100 ger sere. Se fount the latter crop Isere profitable
as the cost at produstion required less expenditure,
e.Uartin is (Ally one c,f the smog, early settlers who has gassed
through the various stages uf pioseer boy: *shoal or college studio*.
being a graduate of grand Island Smithson Collsget seterprieleireities4
of Hall Coontp promoter of many alias ergenliations with his leader-
ship And flaaneial support. and last but not least that of the seeesseful
farms and boinfiescipliMAirci----- Ave t
(1) Hall Co. History, Ages 88. 070, 078t Seuealer and Barri 10201
v•ooptern kWh Co.$ Umeol.n.Nebr.
(2) Grand Island Daily Independent. Whey 24. 192S.
Grand Island Daily Immilenidan% Olt. 4, 1913.