Arnold Area Historical Museum

Arnold Area Historical Museum Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Arnold Area Historical Museum, History Museum, Arnold, NE.

Our goal is to preserve our roots; to investigate, illustrate, and honor Arnold, Nebraska, and the surrounding area's rich history, and bring to life the stories that accompany the people and events through time by creating a museum.

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)

******

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)

A huge thank you to our very special Donor #113 for helping us continue to grow the Still Growing campaign! Your genero...
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)

08/04/2026

Another of the early Garfield Table homesteaders was Cyrus Fox. He was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, on October 27, 1845, one of six children, two of whom died early in life. Garfield Stories has this to say about his father: “Desiring to take advantage of the opportunity offered by the government for securing land from the p***c domain, William L. Fox freighted his household possessions and family overland from Dubuque, Iowa, which he had reached by train, to Black Hawk County [Iowa] in a wagon, and there he homesteaded. Later he went into the hotel business in that region, and was a well known man at the time of his death [75 years of age].”

Cyrus, the eldest child of William and Sarah Fox “grew up on the homestead and acquired what schooling he could, but his plans were broken in upon by the war between the North and the South, and he enlisted in Company C, Seventh Iowa Calvary, … and served as a brave soldier. …

“In 1864, Cyrus came to Nebraska and assisted in building Fort McPherson, first called Cotton Wood. He took part in the punishment of the Indians for the Plum Creek Massacre, he being one of the escorts guarding the stage from Cottonwood to Ogallala for a period of six months, and took part in the engagement with the Indians at Julesburg, Colorado.

“His service in this region gave him some idea of the possibilities of this section where he homesteaded and also took up a tree claim. At that time there were very few settlers and only one house stood between his homestead and North Platte…”

“… Like all early settlers, the Fox’s went through all the difficulties and trying experiences of pioneer days, including the tornado, grasshoppers, prairie fire of 1886, having to haul water, and having to freight from Gothenburg and North Platte. Cy was one of the co-owners of the first well dug on the Garfield Table.”

“Cyrus Fox … the last surviving Civil War Veteran in Lincoln County, died at the home of his son [on June 12, 1942] … and was buried with full G.A.R. rites, conducted by the Spanish-American War Veterans and the Daughters of Union Veterans, at Fort McPherson National Cemetery…”

“… Mr. Fox hadn’t been in such good health so he missed carrying the flag at the Memorial Day services at Fort McPherson National Cemetery for the first time this year. Mr. Fox enjoyed attending G.A.R. conventions, and in 1938 traveled to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg.”
(Garfield Stories, pp. 4-5)

Thank you to the South Loup River Blues Fest Organizers for being part of this chapter! Just one more Still Growing dono...
07/31/2026

Thank you to the South Loup River Blues Fest Organizers for being part of this chapter! Just one more Still Growing donor left to recognize before we share what's next! 🎉

Thank you so much for your support! We’re so grateful to have you as part of this!
07/18/2026

Thank you so much for your support! We’re so grateful to have you as part of this!

07/16/2026

Mrs. Abe Auble (Minnie Ione Goodenow Auble) wrote a very enlightening description of her life. “My days of young motherhood are typical of about all the pioneer mothers of my age. … We were married almost two years when a little daughter came to brighten our home only to be with us for five short weeks and was our first great sorrow. … in those days we knew nothing of the services of an undertaker. We had the best of neighbors who came and helped lay away our loved ones, and it was a rare thing if a doctor was called and then only in very critical cases. … Everybody lived in sod houses, which by the way were very comfortable in winter and also cool in summer. Most of the roofs were covered with tar paper and sod which worked very nicely for abut two years and until the dirt would blow or wash out of the cracks. We never knew when they would spring a leak and we would have to get up in the middle of the night and hold an umbrella, if we were fortunate enough to have one, and get our pans and basins to catch the water that would drip all over the house.

“After the death of our little girl, we had three boys. The youngest was with us only 3 ½ years … In those early days droughts were frequent, and also had three years of grasshoppers. Needless to tell you, money was scarce. No one could afford to hire their work done, so we mothers would get out and help do a lot of the field work. We felt we couldn’t afford to keep our boy out of school. One year I plowed 30 acres with the sulky plow while Mr. Auble plowed with the walking plow. I also mowed and raked about 100 acres of prairie grass for hay. In the spring I would disc while he sowed grain.

“… In the early days, if one raised a crop, well and good; if not we would have to rustle around and get a little grain and start in all over again. Working our horses during the summer without grain, letting them graze at noon for a couple of hours was done. … eggs were 5 cents a dozen. Butter was as low as 6 cents a pound and corn at one time 8 cents a bushel. No one ever thought of buying more than 25 or 50 cents worth of apples at a time and no chance to get any other fresh fruit. Sand cherries, one could get by the tub fulls out in the Sandhills. Now they have all disappeared.

“People could go to the Dismal River and get wild plums by the wagon load and also plenty of grapes and choke cherries. For about 15 years fleas made life miserable for most people, saying nothing of flying ants, buffalo gnats, and rattlesnakes which were very plentiful on my homestead. There was a large prairie dog town on it and the snakes would gather in the fall and on sunny days would come out of the holes to sun themselves. We would burn off the dog town in the fall so we could easily see the snakes and Mr. Auble has killed as high as 35 in one day and 200 in one fall and spring.

“… Not withstanding the fact that the pioneer mothers went through many hardships and inconveniences, now in the evening of life, it gives us great pleasure to look upon the younger generation of good citizens with all their modern conveniences and feel well repaid for all the efforts we put forth.

“Regardless of all the handicaps, we spent many of our happiest days pioneering.” (Garfield Stories, p. 69)
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If you have stories or pictures to share, please contact me at [email protected] or 308-870-6138.

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