The territory embraced in Dawes county was first settled in 1884, by a band of as hardy and determined pioneers as ever crossed the plains to seek homes in the great west. In the spring of 1885 the county was organized, on a

petition of some of our first settlers and foremost citizens, among whom were Cyrus Fairchild, B. S. Paddock, E. S. Nesbitt, E. Egan, B. F. Carley, F. M. Dorrington, J. H. McMillan, and W. H. Reynolds.

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

On the 9th day of May, 1885, the first hoard of county commissioners met. These were appointed by Governor Dawes, after whom the county was named, and consisted of Cyrus Fairchild, E. E. Egan, H. G. McMillan, with F. B. Carley as clerk. At this meeting the commissioners created seven voting precincts : Dry Creek, Bordeaux, Chadron, Ash Creek, Crow Butte, Running Water and Snake Creek. They also issued a call for the first election. The election was held June 27, 1885, and resulted as follows:

Commissioners : D. Y. Mears, H. A. Moorehead, A. H. McLaughlin ; County Judge, Burr Shelton; Treasurer, H. G. McMillan; Clerk, F. B. Carley ; Sheriff, George W. Clark ; Coroner, R. K. Burns ; Surveyor, R. W. Calvin.

The location of the county seat was hotly contested between Chadron and Dawes City, the latter town now known as Whitney, which terminated in favor of Chadron by a majority of two hundred and fifteen votes. The number of votes cast was nine hundred and forty-nine. Chadron received five hundred and eighty-two, Dawes City three hundred and sixty-four, Bordeaux three.