HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

Everything worth while seems to be disputed. Lem Wyman has claimed the distinction of being the first permanent settler for many years, but the question is now settled because Lem has moved away. Both these excellent people were cowboys back in the seventies, and both came on to this range at about the same time. Both settled down, and were good citizens for about forty years, raising families and developing farms.

There has also been a dispute as to where the Union Pacific should put its station. Partisans for the Mihan location were contested by the partisans of the Lyman location, the two being about one and one-half miles apart.

Perry Braziel, a settler since 1882, lives near Lyman and Foster nearer to the Mihan quarter. While each was a partisan of his favorite location, there was no bitterness in the contest, the "old-timer fraternity" being so much stronger the tie that binds.

Runey C. Campbell came along about 1883, and the following year he appropriated some choice hay meadows adjacent to the old Coad ranch. Shortly after "Sailor Joe" Hansen, built a log cabin in Mitchell valley, but he left after a short time, when he lost his boy, who was dragged to his death by a runaway horse. "Sandy" Ingraham caught the horses, but the boy was dead.

Then William R. Akers, John Coy, and Virgil Grout came up from the Greeley district, and started the work of the Lucerne canal, the story of which is told elsewhere. Then came the Tabor or Minatare settlement.