Jas. C. Dellette, Sec.
Received for record and recorded the 10th day of
May, 1855, at 11 o'clock a. m.
A true record. Attest,
L. Richardson, Register.*
The settlers at Iron Bluffs, then a small village on the
Elkhorn river, on sections 34 and 35, township 15 north,
of range 10, east, in Douglas county (but which ceased to
exist many years ago), organized a claim club, the record
thereof being in volume A, page 196, deed records of Douglas
county, the boundaries taking in all that part of Sarpy
county west of the Bellevue Claim Club's territory.^
IRON BLUFFS ACTUAL SETTLERS CLAIM CLUB
At a mass meeting of the resident claim holders, held
at Iron Bluffs Ferry on the Elkhorn river in Nebraska
* See Illustrated History of Nebraska for further accounts of claim
clubs and additional light upon this one of the Bellevue propinquity.— Ed.
6 See A, 332. In all references "A" means the volume of the Douglas
county records, and figures refer to the page. — Ed.
78 NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
territory, July 19, 1855, called for the purpose of organizing
a settlers club, A. R. Drake was called to the chair, and
H. N. Cornell was appointed secretary.
On motion a committee of three was appointed by
the president to draft preamble and resolutions to be
adopted at this meeting. Committee reported as follows,
to- wit:
Whereas, the territory of Nebraska is and has been
declared open for settlement by our legally constituted
and accredited representatives, and that we believe in
squatter sovereignty, that the people have the right to
make their own laws, and that for our mutual protection it
becomes necessary for us to establish a code of laws, demo-
cratic and equitable in themselves for the purpose of
protecting actual settlers in the equitable possession of
their claims.
Therefore, resolved, that this society shall be known
as the Iron Bluffs Actual Settlers Club.
2d. Resolved, that the territorial boundaries shall be
as follows, to- wit: Commencing at a point where the west
line of the Platte Valley, Bellview and Indian Village Club
strikes the Platte river, thence north on the west line of
said society to a point east of Spoon Lake, thence west to
the Platte river, thence down the Platte river to the place
of beginning.
3d. Resolved, that we recognize the right of all
residents of the territory of lawful age, or the heads of
families, to hold claims. That claims shall be made by
blazing exterior lines in the timber and staking on the
prairie, and by erecting mounds at convenient distances,
so as to be readily traced by one accustomed to tracing
lines. Corners shall be marked with claimant's name,
time of making and No. of acres. Claims shall not contain
more than 320 acres, but may be held in two parcels, and
shall not contain more than eighty acres of timber.
4th. Resolved, that any person making a claim shall
within sixty days after making build a good comfortable
dwelling house thereon and within four months shall be
living on his or her claim, or have some good citizen thereon
jn his stead, unless excused by vote of the club.
EARLY DAYS IN AND ABOUT BELLEVUE 79
5th. Resolved, that [the] officers of this society shall
be one president, one vice president, one marshal and one
secretary who shall act as treasurer and recorder.
6th. Resolved, that any person wishing to become a
member of this club shall present his or her name at a
regular meeting of the society, and may become a member
by a vote of the meeting by subscribing his or her name
to the rules and by-laws of the society.
7th. The duty of the president shall be to preside at
all regular and adjourned meetings, claim trials etc. He
is also authorized to call special meetings of the club when
he may see fit.
8th. It shall be the duty of the marshal to enforce
the decisions of the club and keep order at its meetings.
9th. It shall be the duty of the secretary to keep the
minutes of the club, to record all claims presented by
members, for which he shall receive one dollar for each
claim recorded, and shall act as treasurer.
10th. All claims filed for record shall be acted upon
at the next regular meeting of the society and upon a
majority vote shall be received for record.
11th. Claimants having difficulty shall hand in a
statement of their grievances to the president, who shall
summon the parties to appear before him in not less than
three nor more than ten days. The president may try
said disputes, but if required by either party he shall call
a jury of six by writing down the names of eighteen mem-
bers of this club. Disputants shall mark off a name alter-
nately until six remain, the defendant marking first, dis-
putants may agree on any less number, and the decision of
the jury must be unanimous to constitute a decision, and
if said jury cannot agree, a new jury shall be chosen until
a decision is made.
12th. The regular meetings of the club shall be the
last Saturday of each month.
13th. Resolved, that the foregoing by-laws and reso-
lutions can be altered and amended at a regular meeting
by a two-thirds vote of all of the members.
14th. Resolved, that the proceedings be signed by
the officers and recorded in the recorder's office in Omaha
City as the laws of this club. A. P. Drake, President.
H. N. Cornell, Secretary.
80 NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
It is unfortunate that none of the records showing
action of the above named clubs at their meetings can
now be found. DiHgent inquiry among "old timers" of
Sarpy county failed to discover any trace of them, but
the search should be kept up by every member of this
society and results filed with its collections. Very many
claims were recorded in the county records at Omaha,
some of which show a former record by the club recorders;
but many of the claims cannot be shown upon a map
without those original claim club records. There is no
record of the D. E. Reed claim, but it is the boundary of
so many others that it is easily located. Part of this claim
and part of the I. H. Bennet claim were evidently jumped
by Charles Christopher, for his description (Claims, 14)
seems to cover portions of each of those; but the records of
Sarpy county show that Daniel E. Reed received a patent
for the southeast quarter of section 1, township 13, range
13, which would be approximately the east half of his
original claim.
All descriptions of claims in the Bellevue district, of
which any record was discovered follow, and a blue print
map, showing their location, has been deposited with the
State Historical Society. The first record was that of Dr.
Charles A. Henry, which, according to some evidence at
hand, originally belonged to Kinney, Greene & Co., and
was jumped by Dr. Henry.
A-5. Charles A. Henry Claim. Recorded March 3, 1855.
Commencing at an oak tree 75 rods north of the
northeast corner of the southeast quarter of Mission
Reserve; thence north 135 rods to northeast corner of
Mission Reserve thence to low water mark of Missouri river;
thence down the Missouri river 320 rods; thence west 180
rods to the southeast corner of William Hamilton's claim;
thence north 185 rods to the northeast corner of William
Hamilton's claim; thence west 140 rods to beginning, con-
taining 320 acres, more or less.
EARLY DAYS IN AND ABOUT BELLEVUE 81
Strangely enough the next claim recorded is that of
George W. Hollister, who was killed by Dr. Charles A. Henry,
April 20, 1855, accidentally he contended. Upon the trial Dr.
Henry was acquitted and discharged.
A'8. George W. Hollister Claim. March 5, 1855.
Bounded on the north by Geo. A. Izard's claim, on east
by Missouri river and lands unknown, on south by Fla-
vius Izard's claim, and on west by lands unknown, containing
320 acres.
(See A-18)
A-10. G. F. Turner Claim. March 5, 1855.
Commencing at a tree on the River Platte, running one
mile north, thence east half mile to a stake marked, thence
south one mile, thence half mile west to place of beginning.
It is bounded on the west by Daniel P. Turner, on east by
J. K. Skirvin, on the north by Mr. George Izard, and on
the south by the River Platte, containing 320 acres.
A'lO. J. K. Skirvin Claim. March 5, 1855.
Commencing at a tree on the River Platte, running
north one mile and from thence half a mile east to a stake
marked, and from thence one mile south to a tree marked
on the bank of the River Platte. It is bounded on the west
by G. F. Turner, on north by M. W. Izard, on the east
by Francis M. Privit, and on the south by the River Platte.
Containing 320 acres.
A-11. Wm. A. Griffin Claim. March 5, 1855.
I hereby give notice that I will claim and offer for
record at the next regular meeting of the Bellevue Settlers
Club, 280 acres of land lying in Nebraska, and bounded as
follows: Beginning at the northwest corner of Bellevue
Mission Reservation, running north nearly one mile, thence
west half mile, thence south nearly one mile, thence half
mile to beginning. It is bounded on south by Dellette's
claim, on the north by Wm. Gilmour's claim, pledging my-
self not to run onto his claim as already surveyed.
(Recorded Feby. 14, 1855, in Bellevue Settlers Club.)
Wm. a. Griffin, Recorder.
82 NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
A'll. Daniel P. Turner Claim. March 5, 1855.
Commencing at the River Platte, running one mile
north to a stake, thence east half a mile, thence one mile
south to the River Platte, there marked on a tree, and from
thence half a mile west to place of starting. It is bounded
on the west by J. S. Morton and P. Cook, on the north end
by J. Enoch, and unknown, on the east side by G. F. Turner,
and on south by Platte river. Containing 320 acres.
A-12, P. A. Sarpy Claim. March 6, 1855.
Bounded on the south by the Mission Reserve, on the
west by lands unknown, on the north by Stephen Decatur,
and on the east by the Missouri river. Containing 320
acres.
A-12. S. M. Breckenridge Claim.. March 6, 1855.^
(As recorded, page 29, Bellevue Settlers Club).
Bounded on the east by the Missouri river, on south
by Wales Sanford, on west and north unknown. Con-
taining 320 acres. Said claim is one mile long east and
west, and one half mile wide north and south. Made
February 21, 1854, and recorded November 25, 1854.
A-17. Joseph Bennet Claim. March 5, 1855.
Bounded on the north by Ansel Briggs, on west by
R. J. Gilmore, on the south by H. P. Bennet and on the
east by Bellevue Mission. Containing 320 acres.
A-17. H. P. Bennet Claim-. March 5, 1855.
Bounded on the north by Joseph Bennet, on the west
by A. R. Gilmore, on the south by George Hepner, and on
the east by D. E. Reed. Containing 320 acres.
A-18. George Hepner Claim. March 5, 1855.
Bounded on the north by H. P. Bennet, on the east
by E. Butterfield, and Wm. Bennet, on the south by Chas.
F. Watson, and on the east by U. Upjohn. Containing
320 acres.
A-18. A. W. Hollister Claim. March 5, 1855.
Assigned from Geo. W. Hollister, the north fractional
EARLY DAYS IN AND ABOUT BELLEVUE 83
half of section 27 and the east half of the northeast quarter
of section 28, both in township 73, range 45.
Note. — The sections, township, and range, above
mentioned, were intended to continue the surveys in Iowa,
across the Missouri river.
A-16. Stephen Decatur Claim. March 5, 1855.
As recorded on page 14 of the records of the Bellevue
Settlers Club. Bounded on the north by Widow Thomp-
son, on the east by lands unknown and Missouri river.
On south by P. A. Sarpy and on west by Wm. Gilmour
and C. E. Smith. Containing 320 acres. Claim being one
mile long north and south and half a mile east and west.
A-17. I. H. Bennet Claim. March 5, 1855.
Bounded on the north by Bellevue Mission, on the
east by P. J. McMahon, on the south by D. E. Reed, and
on the west by Bellevue Mission. Containing 300 acres.
A-17. P. J. McMahon Claim. March 5, 1855.
Now assigned to Messrs. Brown and Knipper.
Bounded on the north by Jno. F. Kinney's claim, on
the west by I. H. Bennet and D. E. Reed, on the south by
Wm. R. English, and on east by Missouri river. Con-
taining 820 acres.
A'17. W. R. English Claim. March 5, 1855.
Bounded on the north by P. J. McMahon, on the
east by Missouri river, on the west by U. Upjohn and on
the south by B. Tzschuck's claim. Containing 160 acres.
A-19. Tyson and Sharp Claim. March 13, 1855.
Bounded on the north by Joseph Dyson and Jonathan
Tyson claims, on the west by John W. Winters, south by
Platte river. Commencing on a large island at the south-
east corner of Winter's claim, thence easterly along north
shore of said river 80 chains, thence north 30 chains, thence
westerly along north line of timber, thence southwest to
beginning, being on the upper part of an island in Platte
river. Surveyed by me October 11, 1854.
0. N. Tyson, Surveyor.
84 NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
A-23. Fenner Ferguson Claim. March 11^, 1855.
Beginning at a stake near a cottonwood tree 32 inches
through, standing on west bank of the Missouri river, on
the south Hne of A. W. Hollister's claim, thence west 69
chains, thence south 67 chains and 16 Unks to the PappilUon
Creek, thence down said creek as it winds and turns to
the Missouri river, thence up the Missouri river to be-
ginning. Containing 320 acres.
A-23. Erastus N. Upjolm Claim.. March lU, 1855.
Beginning at the southwest corner of lands claimed
by Fenner Ferguson at a point on north side of Pappilhon
creek, running thence north 67 chains and 16 links, thence
east 40 rods, thence north 40 chains, thence west 20 chains,
thence south 40 chains, thence west 25 chains to the east
bank of the Pappillion creek, thence down the said Pap-
pilhon creek as it winds and turns to the place of beginning.
Containing 320 acres.
A-2J^. Uriah Upjohn Claim. March IJf, 1855.
Beginning at the northeast corner of the land claimed
by George Hepner, thence east along the south line of D.
E. Reed's claim one mile, thence south half mile, thence
west one mile, thence north along the east line of said
Hepner half mile to the place of beginning. Containing
320 acres.
Note. ^ See A-195 and comments thereon.
A-62. Bridgeport Town Claim. March 30, 1855.
A plat of Bridgeport Town Claim, situated 18 miles
south of Omaha City and about 8 miles southwest of Bellevue,
and about 8 miles northwest from Plattsmouth. Articles
of association made and entered into by Isaac Tyson,
Jonathan R. Tyson, Emery L. Sharp, and Benjamin A.
Cleghorn, this day for the purpose of laying out and build-
ing a town on the north bank of the Platte river about 8
miles from its mouth in the county of Douglas, temtory of
Nebraska, to be called Bridgeport. It is mutually agreed
by the parties to this agreement that the expense and labor
of the association are to be equally borne, and the profits
and losses equally shared by them respectively.
EARLY DAYS IN AND ABOUT BELLEVUE 85
That the town claim shall consist of nine hundred and
sixty acres (960) bounded east by Joseph Dyson, south
by the Platte river, west by John Newton, and 160 acres
of timber land lying south of Dyson's, on the island in the
Platte river. Said claim having been surveyed and recorded.
A-80. James Hoive Claim. April 17, 1855.
In Belle\aie district, commencing one and one-half
mile south and 80 rods west of the lower ford of the Pap-
pillion creek, at southwest corner of a little hardwood
grove, thence north 160 rods, thence east 320 rods, thence
south 320 rods, thence west 80 rods, thence north 160
rods, thence west 240 rods to place of beginning. Con-
taining 320 acres, and bounded on the south by J. S.
Morton, east by U. Upjohn, north by John Moon, and
west unknown.
A-82. B. P. Rankin Claim. April 16, 1855.
Lying between the Papeo and Platte rivers, com-
mencing at a small tree on the Missouri river, the north-
east corner, which tree is also the southeast corner of the
Watson or Izard claim, running thence west one half
mile, thence south, parallel with ridge which borders the
marsh land on the Missouri river one mile, thence east
one-half mile to said ridge.
A-82. J. S. Morton Claim. April 16, 1855.
Commencing on the Pappillion at the northwest corner
of the Watson or Izard claim, thence up the Papillion
to Jimmy Howe's line on the Papillion, thence west along
Howe's line to the northeast corner of John Butcher's
claim, thence south to Turner's southwest corner, or to a
point on Turner's line, agreed upon, thence east along
Turner's line to Kentuck's northeast corner, thence north
to beginning.
Note. — The two claims last above were apparently
a partnership affair for on April 20, 1855, J. Sterling Morton
made a quit claim deed to B. P. Rankin for "All my
right, title and interest in the two claims near Bellevue,
known as the Rankin and Morton claims. (Sevastapol &
Inkerman)."
86 NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
A-83. S. A. Strickland Claim. April 17, 1855.
Bounded on the north by James Tozier and on the
west by P. Myers and on south and east by unknown.
Commencing at a point on east and west line between
Tozier and Strickland, as agreed upon by them, and running
south one mile, thence east half mile, thence north one
mile, thence west one-half mile. Containing 320 acres and
known as the east part of the Hull & Bevens claim.
A-90. Jonas Mitchell's Claim. April 19, 1855.
Lies 4 miles southwest of the Omaha village on the north
side of the Platte river, commencing at the southeast corner
of McLaughlin's grove at a marked tree, running thence
half mile west, thence one mile north, thence half mile
east, thence one mile south to the place of beginning.
Containing 320 acres. This claim was made on or about
the 1st day of March, A. D. 1855.
A'123. H. H. Smith's Claim. May 12, 1855.
Bounded on the north by Farer, east by J. Tyson,
south by Platte river, west by Old Missouri claim. Con-
taining 160 acres.
Note. — No record is found of original claim on the
two following, but quit claim deeds for their conveyance
appear.
A-123. C. R. Lloyd to Simeon Alson. May 12, 1855.
Land bounded on the north by P. Riley, east by Wm.
S. Howe, south by Platte river, and west unclaimed, running
north and south one mile, and east and west one-half mile.
Containing 320 acres. Said claim known as Old Missouri
Claim, about 7 miles southwest from Bellevue City.
A-12Jf. Wm. L. Lloyd to Hyrum N. Smith. May 12, 1855.
Land bounded on the west by Mr. D. Meier (?),
north by Jos. Dyson, east by Isaac Tyson, and south by
Platte river. Containing 80 acres. About 8 miles south-
west from Belle\aie Citv.
EARLY DAYS IN AND ABOUT BELLEVUE 87
A-132. Thomas McMaster's Claim. May 26, 1855.
I have marked a claim to Grape Island, bounded by the
Missouri and Platte rivers and a sand bar, 320 acres, which
covers the whole island, except 80 acres claimed by Geo.
F. Walbridge on west end of said island.
A-133. Wm. A. Grifin. May 26, 1855.
Beginning at the southwest corner of the Mission
Reserve in Bellevue, thence south 40 rods, thence east one-
half mile, thence north 40 rods, thence west one-half mile
to beginning. Containing 40 acres.
A-lJf.3. Claim of George L. Langley. June IJf, 1855.
This is to certify that I claim a piece of land in
Nebraska territory on the Platte river, some three miles
from its mouth and bounded as follows, on the east by
claim of Daniel Turner, on the north by claim of Cook
and Tinkel, on the west by the claim of Jonathan Tyson,
and on the south by the Platte river. Said claim is well
staked and blazed and contains near 250 acres, more or
less. Said claim was made originally by J. Sterling Morton
and transferred to me by him March 8, 1855.
Note. — The "claim" on the south side of the Pap-
illion at its mouth is not recorded in the Douglas county
records, but is referred to as bounding other claims. It
seems to have been owned jointly by Governor Mark W.
Izard and Eli Watson, as shown by the following quit
claim deeds.
A'l 60. Mark W. Izard to Roswell G. Pierce. June 19,1 855.
Beginning on the west bank of the Missouri river, at
the mouth of the Papillion Creek, running with the main
channel of said creek up to the corner of the Morton claim,
thence due Sv^uth 27 chains and 60 links to a stake, thence
due east to the Missouri river, 95 chains and 35 links,
thence up said river to beginning.
A-161. Eli Watson to Rosivell G. Pierce. June 19, 1855.
The undivided half of the following claim and premises
in Douglas county, consisting of 320 acres, bounded as
follows: (Same description as last above).
88 NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
A-176. William G. Preston's Claim. July 6, 1855.
William G. Preston's claim in Nebraska, lying on both
sides of the Papillion creek and bounded on the north by
the claim of C. D. Robinson, on the east by E. P. Watson
and Mr. Finney, the same being one mile north and south,
by one-half mile east and west. Containing 320 acres of
land.
A-177. William R. Watson's Claim. July 6, 1855.
Claim of William R. Watson in Nebraska, described
as follows: The east half of section 19 in township being
a continuation of township 73 north of range 44 west for
the state of Iowa.
A-177. James M. Pike's Claim. July 6, 1855.
Beginning at stake and mound in valley on prairie
southwest from the point where the Papillion first touches
j;he bluff on south side west of Sailings Grove, and
runs east 80 chains, to a stake and mound, thence north
40 chains to stake on north side of creek, thence west,
crossing the creek four times, 80 chains, thence south 40
chains to beginning. Containing 320 acres. Situate in
Bellevue district.
A-177. Eli P. Watson's Claim. July 6, 1855.
The N. W. i of section 18 and the S. W. i of section 17
in township being a continuation of township 73 north of
range 44 west of Iowa.
A-178. S. M. Pike's Claim. July 6, 1855.
Commencing at a stake in prairie, southeast from the
south end of what is known as Sailings Grove, 8 chains,
and runs thence west 40 chains to stake in valley, thence
south 40 chains to stake on side hill, thence east 80 chains,
thence north 16 chains to Spring branch, and 40 chains, to
John Sailings southeast corner, thence west 40 chains to
beginning. Containing 320 acres. Situate in Bellevue
district.
A-178. Chas. E. Watson's Claim. July 6, 1855.
Being the S. E. i of section 20 and the S. W. I of
section 21, township 73, north, of range 44 west, which
EARLY DAYS IN AND ABOUT BELLEVUE 89
said lines have been continued across the Missouri river,
and go to make up fractional township numbered as above
in Iowa. It is further bounded on the north by the city of
Belleview, on the east by land claimed by F. Calkins, on
the south by Job Moon and on the west by claim of William
Bennet.
A-178. Francis E. Caldwell's Claim. July 6, 1855.
Being the N. W. | of section 29, and the N. E. | of
section 30, in the township being a continuation of town-
ship 73 north, of range 44, west, for the state of Iowa.
A-179. George F. Wallhridge Claim. JuUj 6, 1855.
Commencing at F. E. Caldwell's southeast corner, and
runs south 26 chains to land claimed by J. Butcher, thence
west along the north line of said Butcher and J. Enoch
and P. Cook, 80 chains, thence north 27.50 chains to Cald-
well's southwest corner, thence east along his south line
80 chains to beginning. Containing 216 acres.
A-189. James C. Dellette. July 13, 1855.
Claim bounded on the east and south by the Mission
Reserve, west by lands claimed by C. D. Keller, on the
north by land claimed by William A. Griffin. Containing
160 acres of land lying in a square form as near as may be.
A-190. A. N. Briggs Claim. July 13, 1855.
Commencing at the southwest corner of C. E. Watson's
Claim, thence one-half mile south, thence one mile east,
thence one-half mile north, thence one mile west to the
place of beginning. Bounded on the north by C. E. Watson,
on the west by Caldwell, on the south by James Howe,
on the east unknown. Containing 320 acres formerly
claimed by Joab Moon, a non-resident. This claim made
June 15, 1855.
A-195. Claim of H. T. Clarke. June 27, 1855.
Beginning at the northeast corner of land claimed by
George Hepner, thence east one mile along the south Une
of D. E. Reed's claim, thence south half a mile bounded
by T. G. Shoultz, thence west one mile bounded on the
90 NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
south by Calkins, thence north to the point of beginning.
Containing 320 acres.
Note. — This description is identical with that of the
claim of Uriah Upjohn {A-2J^) who was a brother of the