The first item following is an extract from a more complete article on Jane's son John.
The parents of Mr. McNett were William and Jane (Deming) McNett, the former of whom was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, in 1817, the latter of whom was born at Troy, New York, in 1820. As long as she lived she took pride in the fact that when a child of five years General La Fayette, shook her hand and that her grandfather was an aide on the staff of the great French commander during the Revolutionary War. Her father had charge of the Continental fleet and her mother was a niece of Benedict Arnold. The paternal grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and John McNett, an uncle, was made a guard at Buffalo, when he was but twelve years old, and Mr. McNett of Banner county was named for this uncle.
In 1883 the father of Mr. McNett located in Michigan. He was a cooper by trade. He grew up in hatred of human slavery and was a pronounced Abolitionist prior to the organization of the Republican party in 1857, at which time he united with it. When the Civil War came on he enlisted and has the unique record of serving one day. He was delegated a mechanic in the Fusileers, an organization that existed one day and was disbanded on the next. Thereafter, during the continuance of the war, he exerted his influence as a civilian. He survived until 1873, dying while on a visit to New York state, when aged fifty-three years. The mother of Mr. McNett lived into old age, passing away at Gothenburg, Dawson county, Nebraska, in 1911, having passed her ninety-first birthday. Of their seven children, three are living: a son and a daughter in California, and Mr. McNett, and his sister, Anna Miller, died in August, 1919, in Nebraska.
Source: History of Western Nebraska and Its People; Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, and Sioux Counties. A Group Often Called The Panhandle of Nebraska, Vol. 3, 1921
Transcribed by: Mary Saggio.
John McNett
Who is one of Banner county's most respected and best known pioneers, still lives on his ranch on section thirty, township twenty, range fifty-three, land which he pre-empted thirty-five years ago. Coming to this section originally in search of health, he not only long since attained his object, but at the present time is an example of vigorous robustness for his years, that reflects great credit on Nebraska's climate. He was born February 8, 1855, on the river Raisin, on the old Tecumach camping ground, Michigan.
The parents of Mr. McNett were William and Jane (Deming) McNett, the former of whom was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, in 1817, the latter of whom was born at Troy, New York, in 1820. As long as she lived she took pride in the fact that when a child of five years General La Fayette, shook her hand and that her grandfather was an aide on the staff of the great French commander during the Revolutionary War. Her father had charge of the Continental fleet and her mother was a niece of Benedict Arnold. The paternal grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and John McNett, an uncle, was made a guard at Buffalo, when he was but twelve years old, and Mr. McNett of Banner county was named for this uncle.
In 1883 the father of Mr. McNett located in Michigan. He was a cooper by trade. He grew up in hatred of human slavery and was a pronounced Abolitionist prior to the organization of the Republican party in 1857, at which time he united with it. When the Civil War came on he enlisted and has the unique record of serving one day. He was delegated a mechanic in the Fusileers, an organization that existed one day and was disbanded on the next. Thereafter, during the continuance of the war, he exerted his influence as a civilian. He survived until 1873, dying while on a visit to New York state, when aged fifty-three years. The mother of Mr. McNett lived into old age, passing away at Gothenburg, Dawson county, Nebraska, in 1911, having passed her ninety-first birthday. Of their seven children, three are living: a son and a daughter in California, and Mr. McNett, and his sister, Anna Miller, died in August, 1919, in Nebraska.
John McNett had educational opportunities in the common schools of both Michigan and Indiana. He remained at home and was the mainstay of the family, assuming responsibilities and over taxing his strength until twenty-eight years old. It was then he came to Nebraska, locating in Cheyenne county in 1886, now Banner county. He pre-empted land and now owns ten hundred and thirty three acres, much of it range land but two hundred acres in timber and farm land. He has raised as many as twenty head of calves a year, but is not as active in the stock business as at one time.
As noted above, Mr. McNett came to this section for his health and for some years hunting was engaged in both as a sport and for the wild game diet. He lived in a tent for a time. He tells of an early hunting expedition when he and his brother covered seventeen mountain sheep in a pocket, as they supposed, as the cliffs were so steep it did not seem possible the sheep could climb out, but since then he has learned more about the agility of mountain sheep, for when he returned in a few moments with his gun the sheep had vanished, having climbed an almost perpendicular bluff one hundred feet high. Another hunting experience that Mr. McNett tells of might have resulted fatally. It was his early ambition to kill a mountain lion and one day after his skill as a marksman had been pretty well-established, he discovered the tracks of a lion in the snow, followed them into a gulch in the Horse-shoe Horn and climbed the ridge. He found his game so suddenly and unexpectedly that he had no opportunity to hide. The lion emitted a yell that was very threatening and the situation was made worse by Mr. McNett, discovering that the snow had dampened the caps in his old-style rifle. He had no time to replace, but with remarkable presence of mind raised the weapon in firing position and slowly retreated, in the meanwhile keeping a careful eye on the lion. For some reason the animal did not take advantage of the encounter, but the occurrence was sufficiently alarming and Mr. McNett was completely cured of desire to hunt mountain lions.
During those early days in Banner county Mr. McNett assisted in the digging of many wells, owning a regular outfit. He had many experiences in this work, some of them being amusing and others partaking of tragedy. He has been concerned in many movements of a public nature and at one time was appointed a justice of the peace. He qualified but afterward, finding that a large measure of his official duties consisted of performing marriage ceremonies, in which the happy bridegrooms took refuge in scarcity of money in the country to avoid paying a fee, and that cost Judge McNett twenty-five cents to register, he resigned the office with its doubtful emoluments, and retired to private life.
In 1886 or 1887, when the county seat fight came up, Mr. McNett, as a resident of the north part of the county favored Ashford instead of Harrisburg. Ashford was a village, with a store and flour mill, named for William Ashford, who had established it, and the latter would have been pleased to have his village accepted and before the decision was not above diplomatically distributing a few deeds for land among those whom he considered would advance his ambitions. When his town was not chosen he made no secret of the fact that he would like those deeds returned. Finally a proper occasion arose and Mr. McNett returned the deed he had received but never profited from.
There is a grotto on Mr. McNett's land that has a notoriety extending far beyond local circles. It is not a cave although the sun never shines into it, but seemingly a natural configuration of the land. For years visitors have come from far and near and among the many names and dates therein inscribed may be found notable signatures and dates as far back as 1861. Mr. McNett, has never married. He lives a contended, independent life, looking after his ranch as suits his convenience. A worthy visitor with proper credentials will meet a generous hospitality and find in McNett a jovial, genial host, whose natural friendliness has brought him a wide circle of well wishers. In politics he has always been a Republican and his influence in county affairs is considerable.
Source: History of Western Nebraska and Its People; Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, and Sioux Counties. A Group Often Called The Panhandle of Nebraska, Vol. 3, 1921
Transcribed by: Mary Saggio.
Contributor: (46921462)
The parents of Mr. McNett were William and Jane (Deming) McNett, the former of whom was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, in 1817, the latter of whom was born at Troy, New York, in 1820. As long as she lived she took pride in the fact that when a child of five years General La Fayette, shook her hand and that her grandfather was an aide on the staff of the great French commander during the Revolutionary War. Her father had charge of the Continental fleet and her mother was a niece of Benedict Arnold. The paternal grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and John McNett, an uncle, was made a guard at Buffalo, when he was but twelve years old, and Mr. McNett of Banner county was named for this uncle.
In 1883 the father of Mr. McNett located in Michigan. He was a cooper by trade. He grew up in hatred of human slavery and was a pronounced Abolitionist prior to the organization of the Republican party in 1857, at which time he united with it. When the Civil War came on he enlisted and has the unique record of serving one day. He was delegated a mechanic in the Fusileers, an organization that existed one day and was disbanded on the next. Thereafter, during the continuance of the war, he exerted his influence as a civilian. He survived until 1873, dying while on a visit to New York state, when aged fifty-three years. The mother of Mr. McNett lived into old age, passing away at Gothenburg, Dawson county, Nebraska, in 1911, having passed her ninety-first birthday. Of their seven children, three are living: a son and a daughter in California, and Mr. McNett, and his sister, Anna Miller, died in August, 1919, in Nebraska.
Source: History of Western Nebraska and Its People; Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, and Sioux Counties. A Group Often Called The Panhandle of Nebraska, Vol. 3, 1921
Transcribed by: Mary Saggio.
John McNett
Who is one of Banner county's most respected and best known pioneers, still lives on his ranch on section thirty, township twenty, range fifty-three, land which he pre-empted thirty-five years ago. Coming to this section originally in search of health, he not only long since attained his object, but at the present time is an example of vigorous robustness for his years, that reflects great credit on Nebraska's climate. He was born February 8, 1855, on the river Raisin, on the old Tecumach camping ground, Michigan.
The parents of Mr. McNett were William and Jane (Deming) McNett, the former of whom was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, in 1817, the latter of whom was born at Troy, New York, in 1820. As long as she lived she took pride in the fact that when a child of five years General La Fayette, shook her hand and that her grandfather was an aide on the staff of the great French commander during the Revolutionary War. Her father had charge of the Continental fleet and her mother was a niece of Benedict Arnold. The paternal grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and John McNett, an uncle, was made a guard at Buffalo, when he was but twelve years old, and Mr. McNett of Banner county was named for this uncle.
In 1883 the father of Mr. McNett located in Michigan. He was a cooper by trade. He grew up in hatred of human slavery and was a pronounced Abolitionist prior to the organization of the Republican party in 1857, at which time he united with it. When the Civil War came on he enlisted and has the unique record of serving one day. He was delegated a mechanic in the Fusileers, an organization that existed one day and was disbanded on the next. Thereafter, during the continuance of the war, he exerted his influence as a civilian. He survived until 1873, dying while on a visit to New York state, when aged fifty-three years. The mother of Mr. McNett lived into old age, passing away at Gothenburg, Dawson county, Nebraska, in 1911, having passed her ninety-first birthday. Of their seven children, three are living: a son and a daughter in California, and Mr. McNett, and his sister, Anna Miller, died in August, 1919, in Nebraska.
John McNett had educational opportunities in the common schools of both Michigan and Indiana. He remained at home and was the mainstay of the family, assuming responsibilities and over taxing his strength until twenty-eight years old. It was then he came to Nebraska, locating in Cheyenne county in 1886, now Banner county. He pre-empted land and now owns ten hundred and thirty three acres, much of it range land but two hundred acres in timber and farm land. He has raised as many as twenty head of calves a year, but is not as active in the stock business as at one time.
As noted above, Mr. McNett came to this section for his health and for some years hunting was engaged in both as a sport and for the wild game diet. He lived in a tent for a time. He tells of an early hunting expedition when he and his brother covered seventeen mountain sheep in a pocket, as they supposed, as the cliffs were so steep it did not seem possible the sheep could climb out, but since then he has learned more about the agility of mountain sheep, for when he returned in a few moments with his gun the sheep had vanished, having climbed an almost perpendicular bluff one hundred feet high. Another hunting experience that Mr. McNett tells of might have resulted fatally. It was his early ambition to kill a mountain lion and one day after his skill as a marksman had been pretty well-established, he discovered the tracks of a lion in the snow, followed them into a gulch in the Horse-shoe Horn and climbed the ridge. He found his game so suddenly and unexpectedly that he had no opportunity to hide. The lion emitted a yell that was very threatening and the situation was made worse by Mr. McNett, discovering that the snow had dampened the caps in his old-style rifle. He had no time to replace, but with remarkable presence of mind raised the weapon in firing position and slowly retreated, in the meanwhile keeping a careful eye on the lion. For some reason the animal did not take advantage of the encounter, but the occurrence was sufficiently alarming and Mr. McNett was completely cured of desire to hunt mountain lions.
During those early days in Banner county Mr. McNett assisted in the digging of many wells, owning a regular outfit. He had many experiences in this work, some of them being amusing and others partaking of tragedy. He has been concerned in many movements of a public nature and at one time was appointed a justice of the peace. He qualified but afterward, finding that a large measure of his official duties consisted of performing marriage ceremonies, in which the happy bridegrooms took refuge in scarcity of money in the country to avoid paying a fee, and that cost Judge McNett twenty-five cents to register, he resigned the office with its doubtful emoluments, and retired to private life.
In 1886 or 1887, when the county seat fight came up, Mr. McNett, as a resident of the north part of the county favored Ashford instead of Harrisburg. Ashford was a village, with a store and flour mill, named for William Ashford, who had established it, and the latter would have been pleased to have his village accepted and before the decision was not above diplomatically distributing a few deeds for land among those whom he considered would advance his ambitions. When his town was not chosen he made no secret of the fact that he would like those deeds returned. Finally a proper occasion arose and Mr. McNett returned the deed he had received but never profited from.
There is a grotto on Mr. McNett's land that has a notoriety extending far beyond local circles. It is not a cave although the sun never shines into it, but seemingly a natural configuration of the land. For years visitors have come from far and near and among the many names and dates therein inscribed may be found notable signatures and dates as far back as 1861. Mr. McNett, has never married. He lives a contended, independent life, looking after his ranch as suits his convenience. A worthy visitor with proper credentials will meet a generous hospitality and find in McNett a jovial, genial host, whose natural friendliness has brought him a wide circle of well wishers. In politics he has always been a Republican and his influence in county affairs is considerable.
Source: History of Western Nebraska and Its People; Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, and Sioux Counties. A Group Often Called The Panhandle of Nebraska, Vol. 3, 1921
Transcribed by: Mary Saggio.
Contributor: (46921462)
The first item following is an extract from a more complete article on Jane's son John.
The parents of Mr. McNett were William and Jane (Deming) McNett, the former of whom was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, in 1817, the latter of whom was born at Troy, New York, in 1820. As long as she lived she took pride in the fact that when a child of five years General La Fayette, shook her hand and that her grandfather was an aide on the staff of the great French commander during the Revolutionary War. Her father had charge of the Continental fleet and her mother was a niece of Benedict Arnold. The paternal grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and John McNett, an uncle, was made a guard at Buffalo, when he was but twelve years old, and Mr. McNett of Banner county was named for this uncle.
In 1883 the father of Mr. McNett located in Michigan. He was a cooper by trade. He grew up in hatred of human slavery and was a pronounced Abolitionist prior to the organization of the Republican party in 1857, at which time he united with it. When the Civil War came on he enlisted and has the unique record of serving one day. He was delegated a mechanic in the Fusileers, an organization that existed one day and was disbanded on the next. Thereafter, during the continuance of the war, he exerted his influence as a civilian. He survived until 1873, dying while on a visit to New York state, when aged fifty-three years. The mother of Mr. McNett lived into old age, passing away at Gothenburg, Dawson county, Nebraska, in 1911, having passed her ninety-first birthday. Of their seven children, three are living: a son and a daughter in California, and Mr. McNett, and his sister, Anna Miller, died in August, 1919, in Nebraska.
Source: History of Western Nebraska and Its People; Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, and Sioux Counties. A Group Often Called The Panhandle of Nebraska, Vol. 3, 1921
Transcribed by: Mary Saggio.
John McNett
Who is one of Banner county's most respected and best known pioneers, still lives on his ranch on section thirty, township twenty, range fifty-three, land which he pre-empted thirty-five years ago. Coming to this section originally in search of health, he not only long since attained his object, but at the present time is an example of vigorous robustness for his years, that reflects great credit on Nebraska's climate. He was born February 8, 1855, on the river Raisin, on the old Tecumach camping ground, Michigan.
The parents of Mr. McNett were William and Jane (Deming) McNett, the former of whom was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, in 1817, the latter of whom was born at Troy, New York, in 1820. As long as she lived she took pride in the fact that when a child of five years General La Fayette, shook her hand and that her grandfather was an aide on the staff of the great French commander during the Revolutionary War. Her father had charge of the Continental fleet and her mother was a niece of Benedict Arnold. The paternal grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and John McNett, an uncle, was made a guard at Buffalo, when he was but twelve years old, and Mr. McNett of Banner county was named for this uncle.
In 1883 the father of Mr. McNett located in Michigan. He was a cooper by trade. He grew up in hatred of human slavery and was a pronounced Abolitionist prior to the organization of the Republican party in 1857, at which time he united with it. When the Civil War came on he enlisted and has the unique record of serving one day. He was delegated a mechanic in the Fusileers, an organization that existed one day and was disbanded on the next. Thereafter, during the continuance of the war, he exerted his influence as a civilian. He survived until 1873, dying while on a visit to New York state, when aged fifty-three years. The mother of Mr. McNett lived into old age, passing away at Gothenburg, Dawson county, Nebraska, in 1911, having passed her ninety-first birthday. Of their seven children, three are living: a son and a daughter in California, and Mr. McNett, and his sister, Anna Miller, died in August, 1919, in Nebraska.
John McNett had educational opportunities in the common schools of both Michigan and Indiana. He remained at home and was the mainstay of the family, assuming responsibilities and over taxing his strength until twenty-eight years old. It was then he came to Nebraska, locating in Cheyenne county in 1886, now Banner county. He pre-empted land and now owns ten hundred and thirty three acres, much of it range land but two hundred acres in timber and farm land. He has raised as many as twenty head of calves a year, but is not as active in the stock business as at one time.
As noted above, Mr. McNett came to this section for his health and for some years hunting was engaged in both as a sport and for the wild game diet. He lived in a tent for a time. He tells of an early hunting expedition when he and his brother covered seventeen mountain sheep in a pocket, as they supposed, as the cliffs were so steep it did not seem possible the sheep could climb out, but since then he has learned more about the agility of mountain sheep, for when he returned in a few moments with his gun the sheep had vanished, having climbed an almost perpendicular bluff one hundred feet high. Another hunting experience that Mr. McNett tells of might have resulted fatally. It was his early ambition to kill a mountain lion and one day after his skill as a marksman had been pretty well-established, he discovered the tracks of a lion in the snow, followed them into a gulch in the Horse-shoe Horn and climbed the ridge. He found his game so suddenly and unexpectedly that he had no opportunity to hide. The lion emitted a yell that was very threatening and the situation was made worse by Mr. McNett, discovering that the snow had dampened the caps in his old-style rifle. He had no time to replace, but with remarkable presence of mind raised the weapon in firing position and slowly retreated, in the meanwhile keeping a careful eye on the lion. For some reason the animal did not take advantage of the encounter, but the occurrence was sufficiently alarming and Mr. McNett was completely cured of desire to hunt mountain lions.
During those early days in Banner county Mr. McNett assisted in the digging of many wells, owning a regular outfit. He had many experiences in this work, some of them being amusing and others partaking of tragedy. He has been concerned in many movements of a public nature and at one time was appointed a justice of the peace. He qualified but afterward, finding that a large measure of his official duties consisted of performing marriage ceremonies, in which the happy bridegrooms took refuge in scarcity of money in the country to avoid paying a fee, and that cost Judge McNett twenty-five cents to register, he resigned the office with its doubtful emoluments, and retired to private life.
In 1886 or 1887, when the county seat fight came up, Mr. McNett, as a resident of the north part of the county favored Ashford instead of Harrisburg. Ashford was a village, with a store and flour mill, named for William Ashford, who had established it, and the latter would have been pleased to have his village accepted and before the decision was not above diplomatically distributing a few deeds for land among those whom he considered would advance his ambitions. When his town was not chosen he made no secret of the fact that he would like those deeds returned. Finally a proper occasion arose and Mr. McNett returned the deed he had received but never profited from.
There is a grotto on Mr. McNett's land that has a notoriety extending far beyond local circles. It is not a cave although the sun never shines into it, but seemingly a natural configuration of the land. For years visitors have come from far and near and among the many names and dates therein inscribed may be found notable signatures and dates as far back as 1861. Mr. McNett, has never married. He lives a contended, independent life, looking after his ranch as suits his convenience. A worthy visitor with proper credentials will meet a generous hospitality and find in McNett a jovial, genial host, whose natural friendliness has brought him a wide circle of well wishers. In politics he has always been a Republican and his influence in county affairs is considerable.
Source: History of Western Nebraska and Its People; Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, and Sioux Counties. A Group Often Called The Panhandle of Nebraska, Vol. 3, 1921
Transcribed by: Mary Saggio.
Contributor: (46921462)
The parents of Mr. McNett were William and Jane (Deming) McNett, the former of whom was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, in 1817, the latter of whom was born at Troy, New York, in 1820. As long as she lived she took pride in the fact that when a child of five years General La Fayette, shook her hand and that her grandfather was an aide on the staff of the great French commander during the Revolutionary War. Her father had charge of the Continental fleet and her mother was a niece of Benedict Arnold. The paternal grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and John McNett, an uncle, was made a guard at Buffalo, when he was but twelve years old, and Mr. McNett of Banner county was named for this uncle.
In 1883 the father of Mr. McNett located in Michigan. He was a cooper by trade. He grew up in hatred of human slavery and was a pronounced Abolitionist prior to the organization of the Republican party in 1857, at which time he united with it. When the Civil War came on he enlisted and has the unique record of serving one day. He was delegated a mechanic in the Fusileers, an organization that existed one day and was disbanded on the next. Thereafter, during the continuance of the war, he exerted his influence as a civilian. He survived until 1873, dying while on a visit to New York state, when aged fifty-three years. The mother of Mr. McNett lived into old age, passing away at Gothenburg, Dawson county, Nebraska, in 1911, having passed her ninety-first birthday. Of their seven children, three are living: a son and a daughter in California, and Mr. McNett, and his sister, Anna Miller, died in August, 1919, in Nebraska.
Source: History of Western Nebraska and Its People; Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, and Sioux Counties. A Group Often Called The Panhandle of Nebraska, Vol. 3, 1921
Transcribed by: Mary Saggio.
John McNett
Who is one of Banner county's most respected and best known pioneers, still lives on his ranch on section thirty, township twenty, range fifty-three, land which he pre-empted thirty-five years ago. Coming to this section originally in search of health, he not only long since attained his object, but at the present time is an example of vigorous robustness for his years, that reflects great credit on Nebraska's climate. He was born February 8, 1855, on the river Raisin, on the old Tecumach camping ground, Michigan.
The parents of Mr. McNett were William and Jane (Deming) McNett, the former of whom was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, in 1817, the latter of whom was born at Troy, New York, in 1820. As long as she lived she took pride in the fact that when a child of five years General La Fayette, shook her hand and that her grandfather was an aide on the staff of the great French commander during the Revolutionary War. Her father had charge of the Continental fleet and her mother was a niece of Benedict Arnold. The paternal grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and John McNett, an uncle, was made a guard at Buffalo, when he was but twelve years old, and Mr. McNett of Banner county was named for this uncle.
In 1883 the father of Mr. McNett located in Michigan. He was a cooper by trade. He grew up in hatred of human slavery and was a pronounced Abolitionist prior to the organization of the Republican party in 1857, at which time he united with it. When the Civil War came on he enlisted and has the unique record of serving one day. He was delegated a mechanic in the Fusileers, an organization that existed one day and was disbanded on the next. Thereafter, during the continuance of the war, he exerted his influence as a civilian. He survived until 1873, dying while on a visit to New York state, when aged fifty-three years. The mother of Mr. McNett lived into old age, passing away at Gothenburg, Dawson county, Nebraska, in 1911, having passed her ninety-first birthday. Of their seven children, three are living: a son and a daughter in California, and Mr. McNett, and his sister, Anna Miller, died in August, 1919, in Nebraska.
John McNett had educational opportunities in the common schools of both Michigan and Indiana. He remained at home and was the mainstay of the family, assuming responsibilities and over taxing his strength until twenty-eight years old. It was then he came to Nebraska, locating in Cheyenne county in 1886, now Banner county. He pre-empted land and now owns ten hundred and thirty three acres, much of it range land but two hundred acres in timber and farm land. He has raised as many as twenty head of calves a year, but is not as active in the stock business as at one time.
As noted above, Mr. McNett came to this section for his health and for some years hunting was engaged in both as a sport and for the wild game diet. He lived in a tent for a time. He tells of an early hunting expedition when he and his brother covered seventeen mountain sheep in a pocket, as they supposed, as the cliffs were so steep it did not seem possible the sheep could climb out, but since then he has learned more about the agility of mountain sheep, for when he returned in a few moments with his gun the sheep had vanished, having climbed an almost perpendicular bluff one hundred feet high. Another hunting experience that Mr. McNett tells of might have resulted fatally. It was his early ambition to kill a mountain lion and one day after his skill as a marksman had been pretty well-established, he discovered the tracks of a lion in the snow, followed them into a gulch in the Horse-shoe Horn and climbed the ridge. He found his game so suddenly and unexpectedly that he had no opportunity to hide. The lion emitted a yell that was very threatening and the situation was made worse by Mr. McNett, discovering that the snow had dampened the caps in his old-style rifle. He had no time to replace, but with remarkable presence of mind raised the weapon in firing position and slowly retreated, in the meanwhile keeping a careful eye on the lion. For some reason the animal did not take advantage of the encounter, but the occurrence was sufficiently alarming and Mr. McNett was completely cured of desire to hunt mountain lions.
During those early days in Banner county Mr. McNett assisted in the digging of many wells, owning a regular outfit. He had many experiences in this work, some of them being amusing and others partaking of tragedy. He has been concerned in many movements of a public nature and at one time was appointed a justice of the peace. He qualified but afterward, finding that a large measure of his official duties consisted of performing marriage ceremonies, in which the happy bridegrooms took refuge in scarcity of money in the country to avoid paying a fee, and that cost Judge McNett twenty-five cents to register, he resigned the office with its doubtful emoluments, and retired to private life.
In 1886 or 1887, when the county seat fight came up, Mr. McNett, as a resident of the north part of the county favored Ashford instead of Harrisburg. Ashford was a village, with a store and flour mill, named for William Ashford, who had established it, and the latter would have been pleased to have his village accepted and before the decision was not above diplomatically distributing a few deeds for land among those whom he considered would advance his ambitions. When his town was not chosen he made no secret of the fact that he would like those deeds returned. Finally a proper occasion arose and Mr. McNett returned the deed he had received but never profited from.
There is a grotto on Mr. McNett's land that has a notoriety extending far beyond local circles. It is not a cave although the sun never shines into it, but seemingly a natural configuration of the land. For years visitors have come from far and near and among the many names and dates therein inscribed may be found notable signatures and dates as far back as 1861. Mr. McNett, has never married. He lives a contended, independent life, looking after his ranch as suits his convenience. A worthy visitor with proper credentials will meet a generous hospitality and find in McNett a jovial, genial host, whose natural friendliness has brought him a wide circle of well wishers. In politics he has always been a Republican and his influence in county affairs is considerable.
Source: History of Western Nebraska and Its People; Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, and Sioux Counties. A Group Often Called The Panhandle of Nebraska, Vol. 3, 1921
Transcribed by: Mary Saggio.
Contributor: (46921462)
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