#1 Sept 28, 1893- The Pilot- Mrs. E. R. (Richardson) Kline

ANOTHER OLD SETTLER GONE

Mrs. E. R. Kline, formerly Richardson, was buried at Fontanelle last Friday. Mrs. Kline was one of the first settlers of Fontanelle, and this brings to mind that it was in her and her then husband’s (Richardson) board shanty that the first term of the District court for Dodge County was held in April, 1855, Fontanelle then being the county seat of Dodge County.

The officers of the court were James Bradley, Judge, E.H. Clark, clerk, E. Estabrook, U.S. District Attorney, and Col. E.R. Doyle, U.S. Marshal, all of whom drove out from Omaha over the trackless prairie in a conveyance owned by the late O.B. Seldon, father of the editor of The Pilot. Not a house or tree was then to be seen along the entire distance, and known direction of Fontanelle from Omaha was the only guide, although directions had been given to follow the divide until such a creek was reached, then cross over and follow another to another creek, etc. all of which was wholly unintelligible to greenhorns who had never seen a boundless prairie before. The party provided themselves with blankets, provisions and cooking utensils, armed themselves with guns and revolvers and made more ado over starting than was necessary in after years for a trip to the Black Hills. But Indians were supposed to be ambushed in every ravine, and as it was not known how many days it would take to make the trip, it was consequently necessary to be prepared. Rattlesnakes were reported also to be very thick on the route, and a good supply of the cure for their venomous bite was not forgotten.

Fontanelle was safely reached in one day, however, and a cordial reception given by Col. And Mrs. Richardson, who had that day built a board house of one room for the own occupancy, but kindly turned it over for a United States court house, and lodging house for the honorable court officers, they occupying their tent along side. Court was formerly opened at 8 o’clock next morning and the session lasted about twenty minutes. The business transacted was the admission of the writer to the bar of Nebraska on his credentials from Indiana, and an order of the court of a venire for a United States grand jury at Tekamah, Burt County, the next month. Dodge, Burt and Dakota counties then composed the Third Judicial District of Nebraska. The courts were both Federal and State and at the May, 1855 term, at Tekamah, a large number of indictments were returned for cutting timber on government land, the parties arrested, tried, and acquitted at the June, 1855 term of court at Dakota City.

#2 Sept. 26, 1893 Fremont Herald

DEATH OF MRS. E.R. KLINE

The funeral of the late Mrs. E.R. Kline took place at Fontenelle on Friday morning at 10 o'clock, her death having occurred on the farm of Chas. Dake, near Osceola, Polk county, after a lingering illness. Her age was 79 years. Deceased will be remembered by all our older residents, herself and husband (Col. Kline) being among the original pioneers--the latter being killed in an accident some twenty or more years ago. Mrs. Kline was a woman much beloved by all who knew her, and possessed much intelligence and force of character.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska ~~~

FindaGrave #236592496