Chapter I: Front Matter

The Conquest

_The Story of a Negro Pioneer_

BY THE PIONEER

1913
THE WOODRUFF PRESS
Lincoln, Nebr.

Entered according to the Act of Congress in the year 1913,
by the Woodruff Bank Note Co., in the office of the
Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D.C.

First Edition, May 1, 1913

_To the_ _HONORABLE BOOKER T. WASHINGTON_

_INTRODUCTORY_

_This is a true story of a negro who was discontented and the circumstances that were the outcome of that discontent._

INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

Became number one in the opening 56

Everybody for miles around had journeyed thither to
celebrate 113

Made a declaration that he would build a town 128

Although the valley could not be surpassed in the production
of grain and alfalfa, the highlands on
either side were great mountains of sand 133

On the east the murky waters of the Missouri seek
their level 140

The real farmer was fast replacing the homesteader 145

Everything grew so rank, thick and green 160

Had put 280 acres under cultivation 177

Bringing stock, household goods and plenty of money 192

Were engaged in ranching and owned great herds in
Tipp county 209

As the people were all now riding in autos 241

A beautiful townsite where trees stood 251

Ernest Nicholson takes a hand 256

The crops began to wither 289

The cold days and long nights passed slowly by, and I
cared for the stock 304

LIST OF CHAPTERS

PAGE

I Discontent--Spirit of the Pioneer 9

II Leaving Home--A Maiden 18

III Chicago, Chasing a Will-O-The-Wisp 24

IV The P----n Company 34

V "Go West Young Man" 48

VI "And Where is Oristown?" 54

VII Oristown, the "Little Crow" Reservation 61

VIII Far Down the Pacific--The Proposal 67

IX The Return--Ernest Nicholson 72

X The Oklahoma Grafter 74

XI Dealin' in Mules 79

XII The Homesteaders 86

XIII Imaginations Run Amuck 91

XIV The Surveyors 94

XV "Which Town Will the R.R. Strike?" 104

XVI Megory's Day 108

XVII Ernest Nicholson's Return 117

XVIII Comes Stanley, the Chief Engineer 123

XIX In the Valley of the Keya Paha 126

XX The Outlaw's Last Stand 132

XXI The Boom 134

XXII The President's Proclamation 140

XXIII Where the Negro Fails 142

XXIV And the Crowds Did Come--The Prairie Fire 148

XXV The Scotch Girl 153

XXVI The Battle 164

XXVII The Sacrifice--Race Loyalty 168

XXVIII The Breeds 175

XXIX In the Valley of the Dog Ear 182

XXX Ernest Nicholson Takes a Hand 186

XXXI The McCralines 193

XXXII A Long Night 201

XXXIII The Survival of the Fittest 208

XXXIV East of State Street 216

XXXV An Uncrowned King 233

XXXVI A Snake in the Grass 241

XXXVII The Progressives and the Reactionaries 251

XXXVIII Sanctimonious Hypocrisy 265

XXXIX Beginning of the End 273

XL The Mennonites 280

XLI The Drouth 284

XLII A Year of Coincidences 294

XLIII "And Satan Came Also" 297

The Conquest