Black Settlement
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Establishment of the Settlement - A Thriving Community - Post Office - R.M.C. Church - Ending of the Settlement
Establishment
of the Settlement
In 1908 the Black Settlement of Brownlee was established. Three families from
Dawson County settled on a vacant section that was ten miles up the North
Loup River. They claimed these plots of lands by filing on Kinkaid homesteads.
(The Kinkaid Land Act was enacted in 1904. It changed land laws to benefit
homesteaders in the area he represented and set a model for future land laws
in the West.)(Lynn Waterman, 1) Eventually other families came, mostly by
covered wagons. The settlement grew immensely and extended up the North Loup
River for 15 miles.
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A
Thriving Community
By
1912 there were more than 79 claims staked, and by 1913 there were 183 people
living in the settlement. Buildings were constructed and soon the settlement
had a church, cemetery, and two school districts with schools. Despite the
population, there was not a single white person on the settlement. Later,
a third school district was organized. Miss Goldie Walker and her sister,
Fern Walker, were teachers there.
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Post
Office
What would a town be without a post office? This structure was established
later and was named for the first Postmaster who was one of the first settlers
to arrive there. It was called DeWitty, but it was later changed to Andacious.
The last Postmaster, Dennis Meehan, was also a school teacher. However, the
glory of this settlement wouldn’t last long…
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R.M.C.
Church
Religion
and church were very important to the settlers of the Brownlee area. Before
they had an actual church, church services and Sunday school were held in
various homes. However, in 1910 it was decided that a church would be built.
A bee was given and a generous response came immediately. Because of the available
funds, the church was completed very quickly. Inside was mostly handmade furniture.
Two stoves were donated, as well as a large Bible that was given to the church
by the County Judge of Cherry County. The church was organized and was named
St. James R.M.C. Church. This church represented all denominations but it
was different because all the denominations were joined in services and supported
the one church. Reverend Burkhart was the first pastor. He was originally
from Lincoln, Nebraska. While preaching, he lived with William Steadman until
a parsonage was built. The second pastor, Reverend Manse, filed for a homestead
and the community built a parsonage for him on the place. W.P. Walker was
the superintendent of Sunday school and also a leader in prayer meeting services.
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Ending
of the Settlement
This settlement ended gradually and faded from time. Most of the inhabitants
were from the city and either didn’t like country life or eventually
gave up. Those that didn’t like the lifestyle made final proof on their
claims, sold their holdings to ranchmen, and returned to the city. Others
tried to make a living, but gave up and sold their property during the Depression
following the first war.
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