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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 thecircumstances 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
The Conquest: The Story of a Negro Pioneer Page 1