In Dad's Day

The political pot was boiling up with the Democrats united against a divided Republican party. James G. Blaine had at least secured the nomination, however, the split caused by the reform element, resulted in Cleveland becoming our President.

Father voted with the Democrats for the first time Presidentially. The Republicans had deserved the defeat and so a Democrat was to enter the White House for the first time in 28 years, long years. In Norfolk the Democrats polled in the majority - the German element supporting Carl Schurtz, the reformer who campaigned for Cleveland. They celebrated with an ox roast - Norton, Bell and Phillips furnished music patriotic.

October 27th, the first Norfolk fire department was organized. Marks, Lederer and others participated. Norfolk had everything beaten in her water supply. On November 17th the village Dads ordered four wells to be dug on Norfolk Avenue, at 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th. Each to be 8 feet across and to hold 8 feet of water with a plank covering.

In May, a circus came to town. Father and Mother took time off to enjoy the parade with us boys - something that quite a few parents failed to do.

Near Uncle Mart's farm there lived the Isaac Best family. Some time in 1883, poor Isaac accidently struck his noggin against a cow stable beam, resulting in his going to the cemetery « mile over the hill, for keeps. Father and Mother contacted the widow Catherine and rented the 80 acre farm for one year.

Come January, Mother and we kids made the exciting move from town to the log house which was surrounded by tall cottonwood and other trees which opened up to seemingly wide spaced fields. Father remained on the job at Flynns brick yards while the farm operation was opened by Mother, assisted by her brother John from Illinois and such aid as we four sprouting farmers might render or more often hinder. Other activities aside from brick finisher was carpenter work about town and on the school house in our new neighborhood - the Low school. Also repair of a threshing machine for J.W. Beat.

Mother was the busy farmer, farmers wife, saleswoman for butter, eggs, potatoes, 8 hogs and 2 calves. Also the buyer for household and feed for livestock - making record of all with painstaking correctness. We boys remember keenest her ability to doctor us up. Charley when he jumped from barn to hay pile, thudding to the ground headfirst - Noah when he tied old Whitefaces lead rope around his waist to be tobogganed in the dust at full cow speed, and the eldest who was old enough to know better, peeled his tongue skin deep trying to melt the frosty iron on top the wagon box edge. Then there was Johnnie, now 3, keeping us all busy locating him from time to time.

Father had bought an accordion for $6.50 which he now traded for a ton of hay and two bucks. Later a second one was purchased which remained with us for years. On this instrument we learned our first chords of harmony, from him. He also taught us the rudiments of jewsharp and harmonica playing.

An item of purchase noted was powder, shot and caps for a muzzle loader. Father was a fair shot and numerous prairie chickens and rabbits reach our table to make a final appearance.

Our Spring school days at the Low school with Mary Foal teaching were interesting. We tried to keep up with much older pupils - the Madsens, O'banions, Fitches, Lows, Farleys, Bests, Ommermans, Brubakers, some of whom sorely tried the patience or ability of the teacher. The following Autumn a male teacher was hired - Hanson from Dakota Territory, slight of build but athletic. The tough young giants of the locality learned to respect him after three of them hit the dust in about an eye's twinkle. After which we all dug in to study.

Father came home at corn-husking time, now to gather his own crop and to teach us boys the technique of husking the down row fast enough to keep fingers from freezing with he and Uncle John on opposite sides facing away from us.

The cottonwood log cabin was curtained off, one room for sleeping or sitting, the other part for cooking and eating. When company came, the premises were well populated, as for instance the time 4 youthful Marks overnighted with us. 3 Marks and 3 of us were to sleep crosswise of the berth allotted. It was never tried again.

On Sunday, Mother sometimes attended Sunday School at the schoolhouse, led in song and study by Mrs. Fitch. We kids learned to sing a sort of acapella. One neighbor, Daniel Jones, a confirmed middle age bachelor, sometimes attended. He was a self-styled atheist and usually came unshaven and attired in an old coat turned inside out. He was a kindly character to us kids and seemed to honor some who he deemed practical in their religious activities. He was heard to remark of Mother and one or two others that he believed their religion worthwhile.

Christmas was made a Merry occasion by Uncle John playing Santa with a home made costume and false face covering his well waxed black mustache and with Father home to make it 100% real and all of us happy.

On December 6th, 1884, the Washington Monument was finished. Thus 85 years after his death was this fitting memorial dedicated to the honor of the Father of his and our Country, our first President of the United States of America.

The passing of a great man and famous inventor, Cyrus McCormick, occurred this year, at the age of 75. Father was keenly interested in all the many inventive efforts of this remarkable man who did much to relieve the hard hand labor of the American farmer and to the agriculturist everywhere.

Cleveland took office as our 22nd President at 47. Was of English descent - a Presbyterian - married, had one son and 3 daughters.

Norfolk's growth was always keenly noted by Father, especially her development along railway lines. By 85, service had increased to a daily train on the UP via Columbus and Omaha in 8 hours. Omaha to Norfolk via Sioux City in 11 hours. Five incoming and the same outgoing trains daily. Streets were being widened, Main Street renamed Norfolk Avenue and corporate limit extended.

At the close 84, Father looked about to locate a farm for the coming year. He had bought another horse, a mare "Dolly" from David Whitla for $125. This made a team with equipment to start with. Up the North Fork valley he came to Hadar, thence 3 miles west where he rented a farm of August Rhode in Pierce County. Old Rhode as we called him, had recently vacated his old log home for a new house newly built. On March 3rd we moved into this log structure. Mr. Rhode was of the stern religious type whose fervor rose and fell like the thermometer. If the day went well, there was peace, but if his livestock, the neighbors or especially we kids, irked him then his contacts for the day had best beware. It came about that some of us were caught fretting his cows in our play and this being reported to Father in all severity we had to go through the form of pretense punishment. This episode was shortly followed by Fathers and Mothers decision to move to other parts.

In April, Father learned of a timber claim eighty located only « mile to the west, owned by George Harvey. On the 16th we bought same for $600, paying $100 down, balance in yearly payments of $150 at 9% interest. May 25th, Father bought a breaking plow and with neighbors, Kollmar, Kimmerle, Harvey, Littell and Uncle Mart, broke prairie for a brand new sodhouse. We boys will remember how Jake Kollmar yelled "schnell" (hurry) at our carrying of sod slabs to Father who laid them plumb and secure. After roofing with boards, tarpaper and then sod, we moved into our first farm home - our very own! A news item from the Pierce County Call at a much later date quotes - "Chas. Lederer built a sod house in Blaine precinct. He sheared the sod on the outside and gave it several coats of whitewash. The effect was like a white stone house standing out on the prairie."

Tree planting with cottonwood cuttings took place about Arbor Day time and for 61 years thereafter Father never missed a year, in the planting of trees or at least a tree in season. As late as December 28th that year, there being no frost in the ground, Father planted young cottonwoods along the south line of our 80, beginning at the SE corner. We oldest were supposed to be helpers - were at least witnesses. It is recalled how Father explained the method of locating the Government surveyed section corners, then stepping off an allowance for roadway - planting tree one on the proper line. At this spot there stands today after 61 summers and that many winters this same first cottonwood in magnificent prime - sturdily alive as though it was endeavoring to live as long as it's honored planter. Honorable mention has been given it in Pierce County Historical records.

Early neighbors and dates of their settlement at or near Pleasant Valley:
Harvey 1879 By covered wagon.
Littlell 1880 By train to Norfolk.
Rhode 1870 By covered wagon.
Kollmar 1880 By covered wagon.
Kimmerle 1880 By covered wagon.
Wilde 1879 By covered wagon.
Wilgocki 1885 From Neligh, NE
Apfel 1870 By covered wagon.
Synovec 1886 From Wilber, NE
Fix 1878 By covered wagon to Madison, NE,
Brodhagen 1887 By covered wagon.

The Harvey's had arrived by covered wagon from Buckhorn, Iowa, in the spring of 79 when the railway from Omaha reached Stanton. They were our first good good neighbors to help us in many ways.

The Kollmars came from Illinois where Father had known the Mr. as a baker and as a student preacher. They were located in a cave dwelling upon our arrival in Nebraska.

The Kimmerles were living in a "dobe" house, made of clay and straw mixed and stamped in the walls by the childrens bare feet. The roof was of long slough grass thatched tightly so as to keep out a minimum of rain. We knew of none other dwelling of its kind nor has such been mentioned in any Pierce County history. This was situated on SE 1/4 of 33-25-2.

The Wilgockies from Neligh homesteaded in the section NE of us. Sons Henry and Oscar helped Mrs. W. improve and farm while Mr. W. an ex-Polish Army officer held a job in the land office at O'Neill.

Father carpentered at the Wilgocky home and gave us boys lessons in breaking prairie, planting corn and how to dig a cave in which to keep milk and butter or a place to use suddenly as living quarters in an emergency.

Come a June night when a baby tornado lifted the lid off our soddy - the family of 6 skedaddled for the cave, only finished the day before. No casualties except for a shinbone scratch on one of our elders and the loss of a wall ornament featuring in ancient technicolor Noah welcoming the animal kingdom into the ark. These were pictured in pairs with Noah carefully examining certificates of wedlock. We have often wondered how such a small looking craft could ever house such an array of animals together with Mr. and Mrs. And his near relatives. This story in picture was obtained from a high-powered agent back in Illinois about the time of Lederer Noah's arrival, and the above account of same can at least be attested to by three of us.

Within 24 hours and with only one old mare and rider to broadcast our predicament every neighbor was busy getting the soddy repaired and the roof back on. Father and Mother were ever thankful for their lot among such wonderful pioneer associates.

Father sold our 85 mule and the 84 model as well to Ommermans. Old "Fly" mare refused to mother anything else. Upon her strong back, with or without a thin blanket, we boys took turns going after the mail - first 4 miles to Hadar and later 6-1/2 miles to Pierce. Our parents, ever interested in our education, saw to it that we attend school in our District #6. This was 2 miles NE on the Chas Apfel homestead (Apfel was Co. Treasurer in 1877). Some of the scholars were Apfel, Gehm, Ihlenfeldt, Littell, Braasch, Spieling, Kimmerle, Wilgocke, and of course three Lederers. James F. Priest was the teacher and of the sort that his pupils will always remember for lasting good. We recollect having won a spell down on the word "kerosene" - our parents being as proud as was good for us.

On a Friday, December 4th, we four juveniles were invited by "Aunty Gosky" to stay the night at her home. Returning next day, we were permitted to have a peek at our new brother, Cleo A. Soon after, while watching Father fashion the small pine box for the twin baby sister who had passed away at birth, we listened to his words of explanation and comfort. Now we began to understand more fully something of the more serious pioneering problems that confronted our parents. After the snow storm subsided, Father drove the 10 miles to Uncle Marts and on to the little Best cemetery in hills nearby. We cannot show all his thoughts on this trip, but are sure he drew heavily upon the Almighty's promises to be with Mother and the children at home. Back in the soddy, Mother was aided and comforted by loving neighbors, Havey, Littell and Wilgocki.

Thus this Christmas was a combination of Thanksgiving and Yuletide. Happy were we with the new baby, the exciting new home, new neighbors that meant new blessings and the look ahead ever more widening.

To Cleo, we ever ascribe the honor of being the only Lederer sod house born. As to the name of Cleopas Abram: We know that the first name was taken from the bible, the New Testament, mentioned by both Luke and John. This is the name that has never been marred by a nickname and is one that seems to fit him especially well. The Abram is also an uncle, Mother's brother, as well as an outstanding bible character.

Ex-President Grant dies at the age of 63. As Lincoln's right hand warrior, he had made an honored name as an American.