But the location had so long been intimately associated with the name of Chadron, the creek and French trapper pioneer and the former postoffice of Chadron, that the new settlers desiring to preserve, as far as possible, the history and traditions collected and handed down by those who for ages had traveled the ancient Indian trails, protested against the name of O'Linn and transmitted to Washington a remonstrance signed by nearly every settler in the country and succeeded with the assistance of our representatives in congress, in having the name changed to Chadron. Mrs. O Linn had erected a little log shack on her claim where she resided for a time, and it was in this humble home that the present Methodist church of Chadron was organized and conducted its first service. She was destined to become one of the most widely known and respected women in the northwest She was present at the first wedding, the first birth and the first funeral in Dawes county. The first burial was very sad. and more so because the death was accidental and came without a moment's warning. Bert O'Linn, oldest son of Mrs. O'Linn, had accidentally shot himself. His remains were interred near their new home, but later were moved to Blair, Nebraska, and now rest in the family lot in the cemetery of that place.

The autumn of 1884 found a few families and business houses at the old town on White river near what is now Dakota Junction. These people existed there through the most severe winter that the oldest settlers have experienced in this country. The snow was so deep that travel with any conveyance was impossible.