This surveyor party was at work when some of Scotts Bluff county people were on their way to Colorado to pick spuds, among whom were William P. Young and Antoine Hiersche.

Cochran was never tried for the murder. He was tried for cattle stealing, convicted and given forty-five years in the penitentiary at Canyon City. After about twenty years penal servitude, he was paroled on account of being tubercular, and if yet living, is still at large.

County Officers

When the county was organized in 1887, the first officers elected were only for the completion of that year. On November 4, 1887, the regular election was held and at this time officers were chosen for the following regular terms. A roster of such officers is as follows:

Judges: The first county judge was A. L. Field. He was followed by 1). K. Spacht, who was succeeded by James H. H. Hewitt. Bruce Wilcox then served one term, he being followed by D. K. Spacht who was returned to the office. Abel Hill next followed, and he died in office, after a few months' service. B. F. Oilman completed the term, after which L. A. Berry assumed the judicial ermine and held the office for eleven consecutive years, retiring January, 1917. Ira L. Tash then assumed the office, and has held it since.

Clerks : The office of county clerk was also ex-officio clerk of the district court, and of the board of county commissioners, when the county was organized. The first clerk who served for the nine months of 1887, was Geo. W. Clark. At the regular election following Charles A. Burlew was elected, and he was follwed by Ira L. Tash. Mr. Tash was clerk at the time the county seat was moved from Nonpareil to Hemingford. Next following was Joseph K.