L. T. Mead was a native of Fort Branch, Gibson County, Indiana, and
came to Nebraska in March 1870, bringing with him his wife and
little son the two daughters coming later. They settled in Lincoln
where he worked as a wagonwright for David Bowen, the first
blacksmith in Lincoln, Mr. Mead being the first man to do the wood
work.
In the fall of that year he came out west and secured
a claim, but returned to Lincoln where he worked until the next
spring. They came to the homestead in March 1871, it being the South
East quarter of Section 4, Town 8, Range 1, west. Their first house
was one room, eighteen feet square and made of wood, and in this
they were often called upon to entertain travelers passing over the
prairies; the small house being often taxed to its utn.ost capacity.
Their first barn wherein they kept their cow was a teepee or tent,
and so severe was the weather that winter, that the cow had its
mouth badly frozen, but with careful nursing it recovered from that
misfortune. It is also remembered that Mr. Mead harvested his wheat
one year wearing an overcoat so severe was the weather that season.
On one occasion a dinner was given to some Pawnee Indians,
and when it came to the helping of themselves with the butter, they
simply took a chunk in their hands and ate it clear. There was no
need of knives or spoons, they were in no degree fastidious, but
were evidently quite original; fingers having been made long before
spoons.
A neighbor named Wright, with his wife and children
were going to town along with Colonel Babcock who provided the
conveyance. When about half a mile from Mead's house they were
overtaken by a fearful wind storm. None of the party can remember
just how it happened; but they found themselves lying in Mead's
wheat field. The wagon box in which they were sitting was carried
off the running gear and tipped over into the field. The party was
badly scared though none were injured.
Because of the
apparent damage done to the young wheat. Colonel Babcock suggested
payment for the same, but Mr. Mead said, "We will wait till harvest
and see how things turn out."
The incident was always a
standing joke with Mr. Mead, as he always said, "he had better wheat
on that particular spot than anywhere else in the field."
Mr. Mead built a sod workshop and did a great deal of wagon
repairing and other work for several years.
One of the most
pleasing sights in those early days was the prairie mirage, when, in
the clear weather of the early morning they would often see that
wonderful phenomenon which has unfortunately proved such a snare and
disappointment to weary travellers on the plains. This optical
phenomenon would sometimes give the effect as of a vast sea, or a
river with trees growing on its banks, or a great city. At other
times it would come more as the "Looming" when distant unseen
objects would be observed in the sky; the town of Fairmont being
reflected in that way. The local people who enjoyed this wonderful
sight, said, "the air is rarefied," so one morning the Mead boy went
out of doors, and upon seeing the mirage, ran into the house saying,
"O mama, the air is glorified this morning!"
Mr. Mead lived
on the homestead eleven years, and then moved into Exeter, where he
died on April 17, 1901, in his 75 year. Mrs. Mead lived until
February 8, 1913, and was 82 when she died. They both joined the
United Brethren Church held in the Redfern school house, of which
body Mr. Mead remained a member till his death. Mrs. Mead was a
member of the M. E, church when she died.
It is worthy of
mention, that Mrs. Mead could trace her family genealogy back to
show her relationship to General Robert E. Lee, of Civil War fame,
and Mr. Mead could trace his back to show relationship to Sergeant
John Prichett, a soldier of the Revolution.
Pioneers of Fillmore and Adjoining Counties
Source: Pioneer Stories of the Pioneers of Fillmore and adjoining Counties, by G. R. McKeith, Press of Fillmore County News, Exeter, Nebraska, 1915
