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Arnold Area Historical Museum, Arnold, NE (2026)

10/01/2026

“Jake Miller ... and Mr. Babcock from Garfield precinct were in town a day or so this week conferring with a Denver party who had option on silica deposit found on their lands in Garfield precinct. The substance is placed on the market under the name Tripoli and is used in polishing stone and metal. The Denver man secured a renewal of the option and an engineer will be sent here next week to make surveys and examinations after which arrangements will be made to excavate and ship the silica, which is found in almost unlimited quantities on that land.” (North Platte Telegraph, March 10, 1904, newspapers.com)

One Hundred Years on the South Loup, p.96, adds the following: “The country was excited in the early 1900's by the discovery in the clay hills west of Arnold of deposits of Tripoli, said to be ‘a sparkling snow-white substance in solid form, yet assuming the fineness of flour when crumbled in the hand, a rare and valuable find.’ …

“Early settlers had long used the white powder, now called silica, for cleaning and scouring, but had no idea of its worth until Garfield Table farmer Jacob Miller sent samples to Denver chemists, whose drilling tests revealed great quantities of the product. Miller visited Denver and arranged to have it placed in the hands of promoters, who organized a company to mine the deposit and manufacture soap and other cleaners. Between 1903 and 1907, carloads, hauled to the railroad at Callaway by team and wagon, were shipped to Denver for the production of a cleaner called "Sel-on-Site," shipped back to be sold in area stores. Due to the lack of a nearer railroad, the venture proved unprofitable and was discontinued. However, throughout the years since its discovery, quantities have been hauled from the deposit, put to a new use in 1982 as an additive to road surfacing material. The silica quarry is still a point of interest, and can be seen six miles southwest of Arnold, in the northeast corner of Lincoln County, on land belonging now to Lawrence Anderson.”

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Jake’s Dugout

Unique among Jake Miller’s many residences through the years is what Garfield Stories identifies as his “dugout home” located on the north side of section 15 (Robbie Smith’s big pivot). It is pictured on page 35 and page 195. Land records show that homestead law allowed Jake to acquire this 40-acre tract in 1906 through what was called a “cash entry”, meaning he paid $1.25 per acre for it. Jake had made a homestead claim (1890) and a tree claim (1892) in section eleven, a mile and a half northeast of the dugout.

Newspaper clippings provide references to Jake and his wife living various places through the years. It would appear that they were not always living together. This would give a possible explanation as to why Jake would be living in the dugout in 1906, four years before his wife moved to Iowa. For this land to be unclaimed until 1906 is a bit unusual, but it was an isolated 40 acres of rough ground. It is likely that the owner of the adjoining land had previously made good usage of a few extra acres of grazing land.

09/24/2026

Sheriff Jake Miller

Last week we introduced Jake Miller, blacksmith, as a key player in the settlement of Garfield. While he moved on from the blacksmith career (he apparently sold that business in 1887), he continued to be involved in the community. Indications are that he was active in trading livestock. A legion building was put up on his property. He was among the first in the area to have an automobile. But, his most notable accomplishment was that he became sheriff of Lincoln County in 1893. This would seem to be a bit unexpected of a farmer/rancher in the northeast corner of Lincoln County, but Jake somehow became known in North Platte.

My impression from reading North Platte newspaper clippings is that Cyrus Fox chose to do his trading in North Platte and he and his gregarious brother-in-law became well known there. (There are many newspaper entries stating that Jake Miller and/or Cy Fox were in town from Garfield. At times, it is even stated that they stopped by the newspaper office.) During the early 1890s, dry weather, low commodity prices and national political turmoil were undoubtedly “cussed and discussed” at great length. Jake’s success in promoting various projects through the years demonstrated his ability to persuade people. This made him an ideal prospect as a candidate for the newly formed Peoples Independent Party, commonly known as the Populist Party. In the 1893 election for sheriff, Jake got 1151 votes, the Republican candidate got 1127 votes and the Democratic candidate got 75 votes. In the Garfield precinct, Jake got 35 votes and the Republican candidate got 10. Jake was reelected in 1895 for a second two year-term.

He built a new house in North Platte but did not live there long. It appears that Jake’s public activity had a negative effect on his family life. His third son was born about the time he was elected to his second term. His other sons were nine and three at the time. His wife divorced him about ten years later and moved to Davenport, Iowa. She was buried at Eagle, Nebraska. Jake’s latter years in Nebraska were spent at the home of his sister, Mrs. Cy Fox, in North Platte. His last four years of life were spent in Montana at the home of his son, Richard. He was buried in Circle, Montana.

George was the only son known to have been involved in business in Garfield. He purchased the local grocery store in 1907 and operated it for two or three years. George homesteaded in Montana in 1940. Richard homesteaded in Montana after World War I. As of 1938, Phillip lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

After serving as Sheriff, Jake was involved in a number of ventures. In 1902, he accepted a position as patrolman for the Union Pacific road. In 1911, he accepted the position of special agent for the Union Pacific “and has charge of the watchmen at this point.”

Next week we will share Jake’s adventure in mining Silica near Arnold. (Sources: Garfield Stories, newspapers.com and obituaries from findagrave.com.)

09/16/2026

Jake Miller

Jake Miller is the fourth of the occupants of “Four Corners” (also known as “Old Garfield”) to receive our attention. Jake’s family was not as well known as the Foxes and Aubles. But, he was an important player in early settlement and was a brother of Mrs. Cyrus Fox.

“Jacob Miller, son of John and Sophia Miller was born at Watertown, New York, January 26, 1862. He moved with his parents and family to La Porte City, Iowa, from there to Madison, Nebraska, then to Eagle, Nebraska, where he learned the blacksmith trade.”

Jake, a single man, was part of the caravan from the Lincoln area who came to the Garfield area in September of 1883 and staked his claim. Also on the caravan were a widow and her son, Mrs. Lucy Burdick Brazeleton and her son Frank. After the group staked their claims, they returned to the Lincoln area for the winter.

“… Jacob and Lucy were married February 14, 1884, at Eagle, Nebraska, and in the spring they came to Garfield.... As a homesteader he continued his trade as a blacksmith.” The first building erected was a sod structure for Jake’s blacksmith shop.

Jake Miller started his blacksmith work as soon as the machinery could be unloaded. “His blacksmith work was of the utmost importance, as the new settlers were anxious to get to their plowing and planting of their spring crops and build their new homes.”

I am fascinated by a comment from page 15 of Garfield Stories about the first Sunday School being held in Jake Millers “little old” blacksmith shop. It was “little” because it was only 10’ by 12’ in size. It was old because it was replaced by a new shop after an April 20, 1888 tornado. According to Beulah Sensel, Jake Millers “roof was blown off his house, and the shop was all blown down”. The reader is challenged to envision Sunday School in a ten by twelve sod building housing blacksmith equipment.

Another fascination is a comment by Lizzie Auble Kinley: “Jake Miller ran the first hotel and blacksmith shop.” It is unclear when this hotel was operational but her next sentence is: “About this time we had a destructive cyclone that did quite a lot of damage.” (Garfield Stories, pp. 6, 20, 50, 53)

09/10/2026

James Harvey Hughes Sr., Part II

Last week we introduced you to the Hughes Family. They were one of the families that settled on “Four Corners”, considered to be the first settlement on Garfield Table.

“The first home was a tent set over a hole dug down about two feet in the ground. Later each individual had a pioneer sod house, on their ‘claim’ as it was called. Mail was received once a week by someone going horseback to Lexington. Later they got their mail from Gandy. Water was their real major problem. The lagoons were the water supply until they dried up, and then water was hauled in barrels from the Loup River some 7 or 8 miles away. It was decided that the community must have water and so four men signed an agreement to dig a curbed well. This was done on April 18, 1884 by James Hughes, Jacob Miller, James Auble and Cyrus Fox. They realized their dreams as it was a real success. This well was located on the corner of the Jacob Miller land, convenient to all four families. After this beginning, George H. Hughes helped make many wells throughout the territory.

“Harvey Hughes, Jr. was the first school teacher on Garfield Table. In the autumn of 1887 an epidemic of Typhoid Fever attacked the Hughes family. Mrs. Hughes, Mary, Gus, and Harvey, Jr. were all seriously ill at the same time. Harvey, Jr. passed away September 16, 1887. Mrs. Stella Dillon Smith and Mr. John Griffith were two of the faithful neighbors who cared for the other sick members of the family for many weeks. They finally regained their health and resumed their usual duties.

“Another winter was ending when a boy friend of Web’s, a Chappell boy from Gandy, had stayed over night at the Hughes house. On this normal winter morning the boys started walking into Gandy, a distance of 11 miles. In a few hours a heavy snow was falling and the wind rising. Grandma Hughes became so worried that my father took his horse and little dog and started after them. The boys had reached their destination shortly before my father arrived. Of course there was no such thing as telephone communication at that time. The two Hughes boys immediately started on their return trip back to Garfield, taking turns, one riding the horse and the other walking. The snow was deep and the horse wasn’t able to carry both at one time. By this time the raging blizzard of January 12, 1888, had covered the plains. The dog took the trail on ahead, as the crow flies, as there were no fences or fields. As it was getting dark, they were all back home, tired and happy. Thus this courageous energetic group of people endured the sorrows and hardship of pioneer life that we might enjoy this wonderful country we have today.” (Gertie Hughes Fablinger, Garfield Stories, pp. 7-8)

Mr. Hughes died of tuberculosis March 22, 1913, at the Soldiers Home in Grand Island, Nebraska, and is buried in McCain Cemetery. His wife, Sarah, passed away December 21, 1915, and is also buried at McCain along with three of their children, Augustus, George and James Harvey Jr. (Source: findagrave.com)

09/03/2026

James Harvey Hughes, Sr.

James Harvey Hughes, Sr. was another of the pioneers who settled at the “Four Corners” on the Garfield Table. Gertie Hughes Fablinger (James’ granddaughter) wrote the following about his life:

“My grandfather, James Harvey Hughes, Sr., was born in Algiers, Pike County, Indiana [September 8, 1834]. He was of Welsh descent; his grandfather was a Baptist minister in Wales.

“On March 11, 1858, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Rothrock who was of Penn Dutch descent. Some of her relatives owned a part of the Rothrock or Wyandotte caves on the Kentucky border. Her father was a lumberman and took lumber down the Ohio River on a flat boat or barge. On one of these trips he contacted yellow fever and died. The Hughes were farmer folk. When the Civil War broke out, grandfather joined the Union Army, in Co. 1, 42nd Indiana Infantry and was in Sherman’s March to the sea and served until the close of the war.

“Grandmother was left home to care for two small sons, Augustus Milton and George Harbin and her six year old sister, Charity… . While grandfather was in service, another son, James Harvey Jr. arrived December 6, 1862.

“They had one faithful sorrel mare with which grandmother tended the fields and made trips to town and the neighbors. Cotton was one of the main crops and I still have a quilt filled with some of this cotton that grandmother harvested and corded [carded?] herself.

“After the war was over, two more children arrived in the home. They were Mary Elizabeth and Alvin Webster. As the boys grew to manhood the parents began to look for a worthwhile future.

“In the year 1884 a number of families in Indiana and Illinois were told about or heard of a land of opportunity out in the new State of Nebraska. In February 1884, the James Hughes, Sr. family of Pike County, Indiana was one family who decided to venture into this new country. So after having a sale of most of their property they loaded what they thought would be the essentials into an immigrant car and set out for “Plum Creek” now being Lexington, Nebraska. There they unloaded and set out by team and wagon for northern Lincoln, Co., now known as Garfield Table. As there were no roads, no fences and no neighbors, a surveyor came to locate each on their homestead, which consisted of 160 acres of open prairie land, no trees, no creeks, and the price to obtain the title was to improve it and make it their permanent home for five years.

“Mr. Hughes chose the S.W. ¼ of 2-16-27 and later donated the plot for the Garfield Cemetery. A.M. or Gus chose the 160 acres just north of his fathers and George H. the 160 just one mile west. The Harvey Hughes homestead was across the corner from the present Garfield Church and their sister Mary joined his on the east. Webster was too young to be allowed a homestead.”
(Garfield Stories, p. 7)

It is to be noted that Gertie lists 5 claims made by the Hughes family. Land records show that a tree claim was also made by George. The fact that families could make multiple claims and cooperate in working them was a big boost to their success.

08/22/2026

The Colorful Life of Cyrus Fox, Part III

The June 9, 1921 edition of The North Platte Telegraph provides another fascinating look into the life of Cyrus Fox. “BANK PRESENTED WITH PICTURE OF HISTORIC VALUE. Cyrus Fox, survivor of the burning of Julesburg in 1865 gives pen drawing to First National.

“… The picture is taken from a pen drawing by W. F. Cody and Sam Watts, pioneers of the territory as they viewed the spectacle.

“Julesburg was attacked and burned in February 1865, by 1500 Sioux Indians under the guidance of the famous chief Sitting Bull, and Spotted Tail. The stage was robbed at this point and Ben Holliday, the owner of the stage and five other were saved by secreting themselves in a cave near the stage house.

“The fort at Julesburg was defended by but fifteen soldiers, one of whom was Cyrus Fox, the donor of the picture. Mr. Fox says that the soldiers did not offer much resistance to the marauders, because of the great number and the fear of losing more at the fort.

“The picture shows the village in places, the two Indian Chiefs in consultation and Chief Sitting Bull’s famous white horse the likeness of which Buffalo Bill afterwards rode in his circus. In the back of the scene is the fort with the soldiers a short distance away.”
(www.newspapers.com, The North Platte Telegraph (North Platte, Nebraska), June 9, 1921, p.1)

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Ben and Mary Ann Fox (Ben’s father was Ed Fox, son of Cyrus; Ben’s children were Jim, Marvin, Byron, Kathy, Karen, Roger and Kevin) wrote the following about continuing the family legacy on Garfield Table. “Ben started farming in 1943, renting from George Hughes, the quarter which is adjacent to us, using his Dad’s machinery until he could buy his own. The first tractor he bought was a Ford 1944, and cost $1,500, and a lister and go-dig to go with it. We bought a new 4020 John Deere Tractor in 1968 costing $8,500. Wheat in 1947 was $2.00 a bushel and in 1968, $1.09. …

“We bought the farm from Ben’s parents in 1951, also have rented another quarter from them, which in part is what was formerly the homestead of James Auble, on the 4 corners.

“In 1909, shortly after they were married, Ed and Clara [Ben’s parents] built what is presently our house for $500, and 2 years later they added the porch to the south and east side, which cost them $700…

“To improve the farm and keep the top soil from washing and blowing away, we have put in several miles of terraces, seeded sandy land back into grass, planted several acres to trees, and practiced strip farming for several years. We were presented a tree planters award in 1967 from the State of Nebraska-Centennial Commission.

“Ben can remember writing with his finger in the dust and dirt on the window sill that blew into the house in the 1930’s. We are still finding and pulling hog wire fence out that was completely buried during those times; it is gradually blowing out again.” (Garfield Stories, p. 157)

08/14/2026

The Colorful Life of Cyrus Fox, Part II

Following are excepts from a 1936 article about 91-year-old Cyrus Fox written by James Kirkman:

“From Schooners to air liners, from pony express to radio from an endless expanse populated by unfriendly Indians to one of the most fertile agricultural sections of a great nation – this drama has unrolled itself during the lifetime of Cyrus Fox, 91, of North Platte … Cyrus Fox was a part of the romantic old west, helped break the trail into the civilization of today …

“Fox hobnobbed with such colorful persons of pioneer fame as Buffalo Bill Cody and California Joe. ‘Why, I was in town when Cody was practicing for his first wild west,’ he boasted. ‘He started with five wagons, and few of us thought anything would ever come of it.’

“At 19, Cyrus came to Nebraska with the 7th Iowa Cavalry, C Company and assisted in the building of Fort Cottonwood, later known as McPherson … The succeeding two years were eventful and hazardous. … ‘I shall never forget that day back in April, 1865,’ Fox said in describing his closest call with Indians. ‘Our Cavalry was temporarily stationed near Julesburg, Colorado and about half a dozen Sioux made their appearance on the ridge of the hill to the south. They got off their ponies, then remounted, gradually edging closer to us, but taking care not to get within range. Finally 16 of us led by Lieutenant Belden were commanded to take after them.’

“‘We followed them up a long gradual incline, and then into a canyon. No sooner had we gotten into the hills than we saw hundreds of Indians completely encircling us, and we realized that we had been led into a trap. Belden told us that we wouldn’t all get out, but insisted that our only chance was to rush a particular point. We made for the thickest bunch of Indians. This took them by surprise, and 12 of us got through.’ From then on, Fox says, the cavalry never chased the Indians into the hills. He explained that the cavalry was assigned to this district to protect the mail and immigrants going through.’

“… Fox was discharged from the cavalry in November of 1865, and homesteaded in this sector. …

“Fox passed through the disastrous prairie fire of 1886, which destroyed his farm and equipment but he replaced what he had lost and made improvements. …

“… Cy Fox has been active in preserving of the old West here. His name appears on the statue of an Indian which he was instrumental in having erected at the summit of Sioux Lookout overlooking the Platte Valley, along the Old Oregon Trail, ten miles southeast of here along with several other markers of historical points of interest.

“Cy is still active, is a great hunter, and can out do many of his younger friends.” (Garfield Stories, pp. 70-71)

08/09/2026

A huge thank you to our very special Donor #113 for helping us continue to grow the Still Growing campaign! Your generosity and support are helping move the vision for the Arnold Area Historical Museum forward, and we are so incredibly grateful.

As we look ahead, we’re excited to begin the next chapter of this journey. There’s more on the horizon for the museum, and we can’t wait to share what’s next. Thank you for continuing to grow with us! ✨

08/06/2026

The Colorful Life of Cyrus Fox, Part I

Last week we introduced you to Cyrus Fox, one of the early settlers on Garfield Table. He lived quite an amazing life, living on Garfield Table from 1884 until 1920 when he and his wife (Katherine Miller, sister of Jake Miller, one of the original Four Corners settlers) moved to North Platte where they resided until 1937. At that time they moved to Arnold and made their home with their daughter (Beulah Sensel) until Mrs. Fox’s death on June 4, 1937, at which time Cyrus moved to be with his son, Edward, on Garfield. Mr. Fox died on June 12, 1942, at the age of 96. Both are buried at Fort McPherson National Cemetery.

“Defender of Stage at Plum Creek, Soldier, Scout, Stage Driver, and Ranchman takes world easy in his old age. North Platte, July 12, 1923.

“The days of the covered wagon and the pony rider and stage coach driver to the era of the transcontinental train, the airplane, the moving picture and the radio and phone cover an enormous stretch in the development of mankind in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries; yet every hour and every event of this memorable transition epoch has fallen within the manhood life of Cyrus Fox …

“… 58 years ago and later, Mr. Fox … knew Half Moon, Big Crow, Little Crow, Gall, Crazy Horse, Spotted Tail and Sitting Bull. His acquaintance with the Indians also included Red Cloud and Dull Knife …

“… Mr. Fox loves the memories of the vivid, romantic past, but he is also an interested citizen of the opulent world of today. ‘I am glad indeed that I have lived in two such different times, that my life has been prolonged to the day of so many wonders that would have been regarded as miracles had they been thought of when I was a boy,’ Mr. Fox said … for I enjoyed to the fullest every day of these two widely different ways of living and thinking. … I see the mail planes flying up the valley above the road over which I used to carry the mail astride a pony. Every night I see the ray of the searchlight at the aviation field sweep the country for hundreds of miles to guide the night planes, and I smile as I think of the feeble beacon fires lighted by the Indians for hunting parties and war scouts so long ago. However, we had the best of times in those old days. We used to get a wagon and go on a week’s picnic and hunting trip. Game was plentiful and we could shoot all the [prairie] chickens and ducks we could eat.

“… I have seen this valley black with buffalo and swarming with cattle. I recall the day when the open range was ridden by real cowmen. …

“… He knows the location of every historic ranch, long since subdivided into smaller tracts. …

Referencing the Platte Valley Round-up or Pioneer Days Celebration, “you will have the chance to shake the hand of Cyrus Fox, 77, the only man alive out of 20,000 troops who camped at Fort McPherson away back when the fort was new. …” (Garfield Stories, pp. 67-68)

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