Game-birds and Market Prices at Historic Brownville

The uniquely expressive valley of the Missouri River valley and its westward uplands hills and prairie were a faunal haven when Brownville, Nebraska was established in the mid-1850s. Once pioneer settlers created this residential place, thenceforth came a newspaper, the Nebraska Advertiser as started by Robert W. Furnas during the latter summer of 1856.

Its pages soon included terse but expressive details about local game birds, and their pursuit by various men with a loaded gun.

One of the earliest known instances reported was late May, 1858, when a prominent local sportsman gave some edible birds to the paper's editor:

"Mr. Wm. T. Den will accept our thanks for a present of a bountiful supply of local game — duck, plover and snipe of his own shooting. Mr. D. is sure shot, especially among feathered game. His delight is with gun and dog, and he never fails to bag game sufficient for his own bachelor table, and to divide with his friends. Long life to him."

There were wild geese and a vast myriad of other birds present along the wild environs of the river's flowing waters, sandbars, wooded islands, oxbow lakes and other associated habitats. The harvested take was indicated on more than one occasion when results were significant enough for the paper editor to scribe details. There was a variety in how particulars were presented.

An especially unique presentation was game as featured at one of the first banquets held in this river town, associated with a so-called "Christmas Hop" at the slight city of Brownsville.

"Do not forget the Christmas Ball, at the residence of A.M. Barnes, Esq., on Monday evening next. Mr. B. will spare no pains to get up an entertainment that will be agreeable to everybody accustomed to attend social balls. We are informed he is procuring an inexhaustible supply of quails, wild geese, wild turkeys, and everything else necessary to gratify the tastes of epicurians. He has also secured the service of a Brass and String Band, also a Melodeon. We suppose this will be the most brilliant affair of the kind that ever come off in the vicinity of Brownville."

Was it a grand event? The expressed plans indicate features that would result in a grand festivity for attendees.

There are so many unknown details, including the people that attended, and why. The pages of the newspaper may contribute further specifics as to reportable details and perhaps, based upon further focused research into census details or homestead particulars could convey a sense of local historic particulars and associated specifics of the people at this place.

As known newspaper reports continued, an upland bird species, was the subject of the next article, from a December 1860 issue of the Advertiser.

"That Eli Wilcox and John Coddington are some at bagging quail, and that Eli knows how to fix 'em up, we do assert; — Evidence that "quail fry" the other night."

It must have been an affair lively enough to get attention from the paper's reporter, whether by actual experience or from someone's comments.

Takable game was a repeated subject. A short article on "Game" on the same page of this paper's issue also mentioned quails, which along with "prairie chickens, rabbits, turkeys and deer, are now plenty, and fat as butter."

During the right time within these years, any epicurian or patron with money that wanted to feast on flesh of some wild bird only had to walk though the door, and take a seat at a table within a Brownville eatery and place an order for a delicious meal.

There were a variety of establishments ready to serve a suitable meal of bird meat.

"Those prairie chickens and quails, filled in with fresh bivalves, kept constantly in hand by Bob Morrison, at the Union Eating Saloon of this city as some, and no mistake, for all sich, a cup of good coffee; ham and eggs, etcetera, Bob's is a mighty good place." — January 1861

The plethora of wild game taken for eventual sale to consumers was once again indicated, in the next week's issued of the city paper.

"Western grub. So far as eating is concerned, the past few weeks, we have been enjoying the fat of the land. Venison, turkey, prairie chickens, quail, rabbits, fresh buffalo steaks and roasts, fried sassengers, and sich. Too good for poor folks." — January 1861

There were was an article issued as news to bring customers to the eateries, from February, 1861. It indicated there was "Food for the Hungry. Uncle Ben Whyte, long a favorite in this community and famous for getting up good things to eat," had opened a new eating establishment next door to the U.S. Land Office along a primary street within the river city. On the menu were chickens, quails, oysters, and ham and eggs.

A two-line advertisement was lower down the same column of newspaper print:

"For quail and prairie chicken - Uncle Bennys - We know the way!"

Another "eating house" was actively pursuing customers.

"Chapin is still running the City Eating House, in connection with Worthing's Saloon. He is prepared to accommodate day boarders, furnish single meals at all hours, and answer promptly to the call for oysters, pig's feet, ham and eggs, prairie chickens, quail, hot coffee, etc. etc."

Obviously wild game, including several sorts of birds, were readily available to be served, well cooked, and presented suitably upon a plate and provided to a patron at this Brownville business.

There are certainly other indicative facets of birdly facts among the pages — which would require an intensive, visual search of each and every page.

Search services indicate the next readily discovered item of interest is also from December, but in 1868.

Notes of occurrence for prominent fowl continued after the paper got a new owner, when J.L. Colhapp was the editor. Consider:

"Winter has only just set in this section, as wild geese were seen flying south yesterday." — December 1868

In January 1870, businessman J. Huddart wanted game, indicating a particular interest in prairie chickens, quail and wild turkeys. He would pay cash, according to his paid advertisement.

An alternative perspective of the diminutive quail was expressed in an October 1870 editorial, which conveyed the need to restrict "town boys" from hunting quail in the town suburbs. A few days before the paper was published, there was an outrage, with a resultant perspective indicated in an editorial:

"Monday three lights were broken out of the front windows of Tom McLaughlin, on the hill, and two of his children were standing in the door when the shot was fired, and heard the shot rattle against the side of the house."

The editor of the newspaper called for action to bring an end to this recklessness!

"This must be stopped even if it be necessary to arrest the boys, and put them through for it. Parents are responsible for the action of their minor children."

Sportmen at Brownsville

Mr. Den, as previously noted, was active in the shooting scene years later, and in 1871, because of his personal interest as well as his business, which sold supplies important to the fraternity. A spring event was noted on the page of the paper usually devoted to local events.

"A grand pigeon shooting match will take place at the Fair ground, at Brownville on Friday afternoon, the 28th inst., the winner of the match to receive a Parker's celebrated breach loading shot gun, worth $75.00, the pigeon will be shot at 21 yards rise from the trap and 80 yards boundary. All sportsmen are invited to participate, as a full supply of birds will be on the ground." — April 1871

Based upon the given details, it seems that domestic pigeons were to be the targets. The only other option would be wild pigeons, which may not have been readily available at this place, and at this time.

Interest in shooting sports and its camaraderie, continued to occur and the men soon formed an association, according to a blurb on page 3 of the Advertiser.

"Notice to Sportsmen. That a Brownville hunting club has been organized and that a meeting will be held at the store of W.T. Den on Saturday evening the 9th inst., for the purpose of adopting a constitution and by-laws to govern said club. All sportsmen are invited to attend and become members of said club. By order of, Captain." — December 1871

Spring shooting was prevalent these years, and another May report indicated the variety of Missouri Valley species in 1872.

"A good day's shooting was that of Henry Baker and Charley Whitman, on Thursday last; they bagged near a hundred birds, such as plover, snipe, curlew and duck." — May, 1872

The terse identifications convey such a variety. The plover may have been Killdeer or Upland Plover or any of several species; snipe could have been the Wilson's Snipe or maybe even any one of many sorts of sandpiper; curlew seem to indicate the Long-billed Curlew, put perhaps it was a godwit; and as for the variety of duck, well that could represent at least a dozen species.

Some of the earliest records of prices for game were issued during the first months of 1875 at Brownville, Nebraska. It was an era when game could still be shot and taken at any time, based upon state game laws.

This included harvesting wildbirds for what was an active game market along the Missouri River valley.

A perspective article was published in the January 13, 1876 issue of the Nebraska Advertiser on the "Game Law of Nebraska" considered the situation, and included this sentence of particular interest: "The farmers of the State probably netted from $20,000 to $30,000 last winter from the sale of prairie chickens," as known from the months prior to January, 1874.

There was obviously an active profitable market and an unknown number of shootists made money from selling taken prairie chickens to brokers or market reps for shipment beyond the confines of the state of Nebraska. Some indications of the market value for these game birds were denoted in the "Market Reports" section among the local news columns of the Nebraska Advertiser.

Prairie chickens and quail were the only two bird species available, and list in the "Market Reports" section, along with other items such as apples, flour, crop commodities, potatoes, eggs, domestic dressed turkeys and chickens, lard and dressed hogs. As a comparison, a few items were given for the representative, and very active Chicago market.

The season's news associated with game birds started in the January 14th issue of the Nebraska Advertiser, among the other newsy items in the Local Matters was the indication that: "Prairie chickens plentiful in market." Subsequent details provide actual prices and indicate that they were mostly constant for a two-month period. Prairie chickens started at $1 per dozen, and then remained at $1 to 1.50 per dozen. Quail were consistently offered at 60 cents per dozen.

Market Item Date	Prairie Chickens (Greater Prairie Chicken)	Quails (Northern Bobwhite)
01/20/1875	$ 1.00 per dozen	0.60 cents per dozen
01/27/1875	$ 1.00 @ 1.50 per dozen	0.60
For comparison, on March 2nd at Omaha, further north along the Missouri River, prairie chickens were selling at $1.75, apparently for a dozen, and quails were being sold for $1.
02/03/1875	$ 1.00 @ 1.50	0.60
02/10/1875	$ 1.00 @ 1.50	0.60
02/24/1875	$ 1.00 @ 1.50	0.60
03/10/1875	$ 1.00 @ 1.50	0.60
03/17/1875	$ 1.00 @ 1.50	0.60

The March 24th market report did not list any game items.

During the weeks while these prices were given, there were vast flocks of migratory fowl moving northward along the Missouri River. There were wild geese. Wild ducks were prevalent.

This issue on the 24th for this newspaper said the wild geese and ducks were becoming plentiful on the area rivers and ponds.

In late March, the "Local Matters" column mentioned:

"Many of the ungodly Nimrods of this city went hunting ducks and geese last Sunday. Their guns and dogs seemed to work just as well as if it had been the middle of the week, but they will get hell for it hereafter, however, unless we have been misinformed about the matter." — April 1

In mid-April, wild geese were numerous, and there were "tem million cranes" on a river sandbar every night east of Hillsdale which was a place along the river's edge, and where the details referred to a river sandbar near this place, just a couple of miles north of the southern boundary of Nemaha county.

With the multitudes of many sorts of different birds shot during the migrational seasons, there is no apparent reason why geese and ducks were not available at a market at a local town. Yet, there was no apparent details indicated on the pages of the Advertiser.

Later in the year, there was an indication of market interest in Nemaha County, at Sheridan, according to the "Sheridan Short-stops" column, also in the Nebraska Advertiser in November. It said: "There will be a market at Sheridan for prairie chickens, quails, &c., as soon as the weather is cold enough to ship them."

Its an indication that local birds were being purchased for shipment to other, likely eastern, markets.

An extent of readily available prairie chickens, especially, was indicative for the mid-1870s among the Missouri River valley, which at this time must have had a greater prevalence of grassland habitat so essential for these prairie-land birds.

This unique historic perspective is indicative of another distinct aspect of the ornithology for Nebraska, and which has not been previously considered!

Diary of the Brownville Buffalo Hunters

Brownville, Neb., Jan. 10, '71.

This morning seven wagons and fifteen men of us start for a general hunt on the Republican and Soloman [Solomon] rivers. We made the city of Tecumseh the first day, all in good spirits, the weather being very mild and pleasant.

Jan. 11.— Rolled out of camp bright and early, and traveled to the third crossing of Yankee Creek, and, taking dinner there, we traveled on to the city of Beatrice, situated on the Big Blue, and camped for the night. The weather began to get colder in the night and near morning, it began to snow and kept increasing, so we concluded to lay by that day. We spent the day in getting up wood and making fires. There were six rabbits and several quail killed while in this camp.

Jan. 13.— Got up and had our breakfast so as to start by daylight. It was a very disagreeable day to travel, the snow blowing and drifting so that it made it hard on our teams, we finally reached the Little Sandy a small stream running into the Little Blue river, not stopping at noon to feed. We had plenty of wood, so we had a good comfortable fire.

Jan. 14.— We drove out of camp bright and early, crossed Big Sandy, a very pretty little stream running in to the Blue river. We then drove about three miles and passed through the thriving little village of Meridian, situated on the Little Blue river. We then traveled fifteen miles and crossed the Little Blue at Hebron. We then traveled about four miles and camped on Springs Creek. On going into camp Samuel Summers killed a fine wild turkey, which we had for supper.

Jan. 15.— Got up at 4 o'clock and eat our breakfast and started as soon as it was light. Three of the boys, Wm. Morris, Nate Westfall and Capt. Starry, followed up the stream and succeeded in killing three wild Turkeys and some other small game. We then traveled until we came to a small stream by the name of Oak Creek, where two of our party had a battle on our fall hunt, about some misunderstanding. We celebrated the event by a speech delivered by the Rev. Mr. Brookens, a colored gent who was along with our party.

Jan. 16.— We rolled out of camp early and traveled up the Republican river all day. We passed two stockades on the river, about twelve miles apart; there were eight or ten families at each of them. We also passed several hunting parties going home with fine loads of game. They reported game a good ways off. We drove into camp on the Republican river about 4 o'clock. Upon making fire it caught in the grass and came very near getting the start of us. It raised quite an excitement in camp, and there was some lively kicking and stamping of fire there for some time. We finally succeeded in extinguishing the fire, and prepared our evening repast.

Jan 17.— Got under way about 7 o'clock, and drove four miles and tried to cross the river, but did not succeed, the ice not being solid enough to bear our teams. We then drove about ten miles and then unhitched our teams and drew our wagons across by hand. We then drove up the river five or six miles. We found a small gang of turkeys, on driving to camp and killed five. Wm. Moore, Capt. Starry, John Summers and H. C. Baker brought down one each. We seen several deer but did not get a shot.

Jan. 18.— Traveled all day on the dividing ridge between the Republican and Soloman river. Did not stop for dinner. We met several hunting parties, who reported game very scarce unless we would go a long ways. We pitched camp about four o'clock on one of the tributaries of White Rock; wood and water plenty. Capt. Starry killed three turkeys; John Summers and H.C. Baker killed one grouse each.

Jan. 19.— We kept on the divide all day not stopping for dinner. Seen some pretty fresh signs of Buffalo, but seen none of the beasts themselves. Sam. Summers, Capt. Starry and Hugh Baker started out on their ponies hunting, but seen no game except a gang of turkeys, or which they killed four. Camped on a small stream running into the Soloman, about ten miles west of what is called the Hay Stack Mound, a very high hill that can be seen some twenty-five or thirty miles off.

Jan. 20.— Drove out of camp early. Three of the boys, Capt. Starry, Sam. Summers and John Crook rode out on horseback prospecting for game. About noon one of them came to the teams, reporting a herd of buffalo off about three miles. We drove to a suitable place and stopped, unhitched and prepared to make chase. In the mean time we spied, as we supposed, a much larger herd than the first. So the Captain gave orders to hitch up again and drive for the larger herd, about two miles distant. Some of the boys that had never seen buffalo were very anxious to get after them; so much so that they rode a good ways ahead. Just as we were coming out of a draw on higher ground, so we could have a better view of the them, they proved to be a band of Red Skins, numbering about one hundred, with their ponies loaded with buffalo meat, and on the travel. It was amusing to see how quick the boys that were on ahead stopped, when the cry of Indians was raised. We did not make chase after them, that was not the kind of game we wanted to meet. We wheeled around and made chase after the buffalo that we had first seen. After getting as close as we could conveniently with our wagon, we stepped and eight or nine of us started after them; four were mounted; we found we could not get close enough on foot, as they were moving, so the horsemen started on the chase. They run them about a mile and finally got them turned about, and here they came. John Summers, H.C. Baker, John Crook and Hugh Baker started to head them off and stayed down flat on the ground, near where they supposed the buffalo would pass. Capt. Starry separated two from the herd, and drove them toward the footmen and here came the Captain on a the full run with his long hair flying in the air, driving the buffalo in front and heading them straight for the footmen. When about-twenty yards off H.C. Baker and John Summers fired, succeeding in bringing one of them down, and Capt. Starry killed the other one. James Coons also killed one. Several others were crippled but got away. We then dressed our game and drove into camp on the Middle Fork of Soloman. Some small game was also killed.

Jan. 21.— Left camp about half past seven o'clock and traveled five or six miles when we spied a herd of buffalo off about three miles. After driving down and camping on the South Fork of Soloman, seven of the boys mounted and gave chase; while the horsemen were chasing the first herd. Geo. Peabody and H.C. Baker started off on foot and after going four or five miles they found a herd feeding quietly, and crept up on them and fired. H.C. Baker killed a fine cow. Peabody wounded one but did not get it. The horsemen killed eight. Capt. Starry, killed four, Sam. Summers two, and Nate Westfall two. H.C. Baker also killed a jackrabbit.

Jan. 22.— Laid over all day and all have been hunting. John. Summers, H.C. Baker and Geo. Peabody killed one buffalo; John Crook killed one; Capt. Starry, Sam. Summers and Hugh Baker each killed one. They then rode to camp, took two teams and hauled their game into camp.

Jan. 23.— Laid over all day and run buffalo Sam. Summers killed two, Capt. Starry five, and John Crook three, John Gelphart, Wm. Morris each killed. one. They reported large herds of buffalo south of our camp, about ten miles.

Jan. 24.— Got up early and loaded our meat, drove about ten miles and camped on the same stream we left in the morning; killed no game except a couple of prairie dogs.

Jan. 25.— Got up in the morning and found it snowing, it continued until about four o'clock; the snow was about four inches deep on a level. Mr. Brookens, our colored gent amused us most of the day with songs and dances. Hugh Baker and John Crook killed one buffalo. Some grouse were also killed. We decided to start homeward the next day thinking we could finish loading our teams on the road back.

Jan. 26.— Rolled out of camp bright and early; had a very pleasant day after the storm; drove about five miles and Capt. Starry halted the train, he had seen a small herd of buffalo; in company with Sam. Summers and Nate Westfall, he started after them. Westfall and Starry each killed one; they then came to the teams and H.C. Baker took a pony and started down through the breaks, and succeeded in killing one buffalo. After strapping the quarters on the pony he started for the train and found it in camp on a beautiful little stream running into the Republican river, on the south side, by the name of Prairie Dog; wood and water plenty. The timber consists of cottonwood, elm, ash, and also some cedar.

Jan. 27.— We concluded to lay by and hunt turkey, as there were plenty of fresh signs, and we had not killed many. The boys all got ready and started out, except H.C. Baker, he could not go on account of having a lame foot. They had good luck. Samuel Summers killed eight, Capt. Starry nine, John Crook four, James Coons three, John Summers five, Wm. Morris five, Hugh Baker six, Westfall, jr. three, Geo. Peabody went out after buffalo, and killed one and brought it into camp on his horse. When they all got in and gathered around the camp fire the Captain left it to a vote whether we would stay there another day or not. As game was plenty in that vicinity, all voted for staying. So every fellow went to work cleaning and getting his gun in order.

Jan. 28.— All hands that were going hunting rolled out by sun rise. Several turkeys were killed. John Crook went buffalo hunting and killed two.

Jan. 29.— Got under way early. The weather was fair until about eight o'clock, when a heavy fog came up making it very hard for us to keep our course. We lost our course several times and had to turn back, but we finally got straightened up all right. Seen one herd of Buffalo. Starry and Morris gave chase. The teams moved on and went into camp again on Prairie Dog. Starry and Morris got in about eight o'clock at night with three horses packed with buffalo meat. They each killed one.

Jan. 30.— We drove down Prairie Dog until noon, then we fed our teams and, drove to the divide between Prairie Dog and Soloman; we kept on that until camping time, then drove to a small stream that flows into the Soloman and camped; water plenty but wood scarce. Capt. Starry killed wild turkeys.

Jan. 31.— Drove on the divide all day. Seen about two hundred buffalo but did not give chase; also seen some elk but did not get any. Camped on a tributary of Prairie Dog; wood plenty but water very bad. Capt. Starry killed three turkeys, and Nate Westfall killed a Porcupine.

Feb. 1.— Rolled out of camp bright and early; drove on the divide all day, not stopping for dinner. Starry and Coons killed one buffalo and three turkeys. Camped at the head of White Rock; wood and water plenty.

Feb. 2.— Traveled the divide all day again. The wind blew very hard making it disagreeable traveling. We struck the Republican river about six miles above the upper stockade and camped. Captain Starry killed three turkey.

Feb. 3.— Got up early and crossed the river. One of the party broke the coupling pole of his wagon, which delayed us about half and hour. We then started down the river, passing the two stockades, camped on Beaver Creek; wood and water in abundance.

Feb. 4.— Rolled out of camp and traveled until about nine o'clock, when we spied a herd of elk. We drove down to the river and unhitched and prepared to give chase. Sam. Summers, Nate Westfall, John Crook, James Coons, John Clark, Wm. Morris and Capt. Starry then mounted and chased them about ten miles, succeeding in killing nine. They came to camp, and drove out and got them. Then we drove about five mile to Oak Creek, and camped for the night.

Feb. 5.— Rolled out of camp before daylight; traveled until about four o'clock, when we reached the Little Blue river at Hebron. We crossed and camped; wood not very plenty. Coons killed one elk and brought the hams to camp.

Feb. 6.— Traveled all day, passing through Meridian; stopped on Big Sandy for dinner. We then drove to Little Sandy and camped.

Feb. 7.— Drove out of camp before daylight; reached the city of Beatrice stopped there a few minutes, then drove to Bear Creek, five miles from there and camped; wood very scarce.

Feb. 8.— Got up in the morning and found it snowing; we rolled out however, and drove across an eighteen mile ridge suffering considerably with the cold and eat our dinners and fed our teams. We then drove to the last crossing of Yankee Creek, and camped close to the Wild Irishman's. By night it cleared up nice, but was very cold. While we were getting supper, the Irishman came to camp and talked a while, wanting us to come and stay in his house, we declined his offer on account of having our supper most ready, and had our teams fed. He saw that we were pretty short of wood and told us if some of us would go with him he would give us some wood, three of the boys went along, he gave them all they could carry, after they had got to camp, we heard a wagon coming, some one remarked that there was a team out pretty late, he drove up to our camp and stopped, and behold it was the Irishman with a load of wood and hay, it was very acceptable. We acknowledged it by giving him several nice pieces of buffalo meat and a turkey. He certainly was a gentleman in every respect. We can recommend him to any one traveling that way as a gentleman, that has a good place to stop at.

Feb. 9.— Traveled all day hard, and passed through the city of Tecumseh and made home about eight o'clock at night, tired and hungry. The total amount of game killed was 40 buffalo, 10 elk, 105 wild turkey, 3 jack rabbits, 3 porcupines, and a number of grouse.

Anonymous. February 23, 1871. The diary of the Brownville buffalo hunters. Nebraska Advertiser 15(19): 1.