One familiar name of that old neighborhood is that of Muhr. John Muhr was among the first grangers -- a pioneer also in the temperance movement. The names of J. L., W. G, and W. A. Muhr are among

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

the Banner county people who grew up and stayed with the land. In Horseshoe Bend, John McNett still holds bachelor hall as of old. A. F. Burnett, Richard Skinner, and W. M. Wisner, are familiar names to old timers.

Around Big Horn

When we topped the hill to Big Horn valley in that summer day of thirty-five years ago, there were but few settlers there. Crickbaum had almost full sway in the first section of the valley, and in the west section Geo. A. Cashier had settled. We selected a timber claim adjoining Cashier's, and a pre-emption cornering therewith. Soon about our places there were homestead domiciles : J. W. Thomas, the veteran surveyor; the Jensens, the Randlemans, the Wisconsin boys, Frank Heinz and Joe Hammerly, the Fryes, the Filers, the Brays, and Theo. Johnson with his blacksmith shop.

In the summer of 1887, Nora Thomas died and was buried on the Deaton hill, north of Big Horn. I was suddenly and unexpectedly called upon to perform the last sad rites. I quoted from Bryant's "Thanatopsis," at the grave. Nora Thomas was the daughter of the veteran surveyor.

In 1887, J.' S. Clarkson offered a prize of one hundred dollars for the best five acres of corn grown in Cheyenne county without irrigation. John S. Wright of Pumpkin Creek won the prize; he raised fifty bushels per acre. The variety grown was squaw corn which gave rise to some argument, but there was nothing in the specifications that would bar any variety of corn.