Charlie Trognitz also had some fine drivers that he would let out occasionally to

Farm R

people that he was sure would not over drive. Sam Fowler had some fair horse stock down on Lawrence Fork. These were the old people and their pride.

The Post ranch on Pole creek a few miles north of Cheyenne was a place where one could find some good horses and some of these found their way into the North Platte valley.

Neelev's Ride Frank Neeley had taken the job of putting up the hay on the Ray State meadows in Mitchell valley and during the winter of 1886- 1887, he was' worried as to a market for the product. He made ten trips to Cheyenne, and had agreed to price as to the hay: and that William A. Force, the manager of the Post ranch, was to send some of these horses over to the river to be fed. One day during a snow

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

storm, Neeley received a letter from Force not to consider the matter farther ; that his brother in California was not expected to live, and he was to start in a few days f^r the bedside. Neeley considered that he must get to Cheyenne the next day or lose out ; even then he might not make a deal, but it was his one chance.

He rode all night through the driving snow and the next morning was at Cheyenne. "On the way," said Neeley, "I figured that the way to sell the hay and be sure it was sold was to open an account with them. So I sold them the hay at their figure, and took as part payment six mares valued at $900, which I brought home with me." Frank had made a shrewd move, for he not only got some good horse stock, but they sent a large number of their horses to Mitchell valley to winter feed.