The hardships of these years tested the endurance of these brave people to the limit and only the strongest

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

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ones remained. It was during those dry years that A. D. Remington, who had located at Day, on the south table in 1887, did so much for the preservation of the settlers. He had started a store, postoffice, dairy and creamery. At the crisis in the dry years he loaned money to those in need, helping them to pull through until good crops came again. He was the means of keeping a good many people from leaving the country at that time. He was a wonderful help all through that famine ; for it grew very serious. Many gathered bones of animals bleached and dry, selling them to buy groceries. They would camp out a week at a time gathering bones. Stock was allowed to roam where it could snatch a little to eat. Potatoes were like hickory nuts but were gathered very carefully nevertheless. Victor Marsh's father, W. D. Marsh, living near the river was a carpenter so went where he could work at his trade. Others, like Mr. I. H. Kimbel and Kirk McCall living near Oshkosh and George Gilliard near Lewellen, made money by hunting. They would come home with a wagon load of geese, ducks, etc. They would dress, pack in barrels and ship them to Denver or Omaha making enough to buy groceries for themselves and often for a less fortunate neighbor.