Quigley, and others in early ranching invaded the territory that was later to become Sheridan county, from the days when Nick Janis, and Ben Tibbets first set foot upon its virgin soil, from the later date, that John A. Scamahorn was the Moses that led his colony through the sand hills, and the 10+ splendid settlers that came with him, from the time that the Pawnee City contingent arrived, and Rush Valley settlement came into existence, the territory and the county have assumed the role of progress and advanced ideals. Even when the wild soul of Doc Middleton was free upon the wide prairie, there was little of the rancor and hostility that frequently existed in the transition of the ranges to farms.

The people have always supported the most

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

progressive forms of government and law. In no county in the state has there been such a uniformity of press support of good and modern ideals. There is not an old line conservative in the newspaper business and there has been none for years. Mayes. Leedoms, Johannsen, Clark, Broome, and Cooper, are all progressive up-to-the-minute scribes and recorders of

the passing events. These men have performed no small part in the building of the foundations of Sheridan county, upon the firm and enduring basis of sound intelligence. The exercise of the brain has had and will have much to do in the future in retaining for this county, the excellent place it has won among the counties of the state.