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In the Early Days Along the Overland Trail in
Nebraska Territory, in 1852.

BY

GILBERT L. COLE,

1905.

COMPILED BY MRS. A. HARDY.

Press of
FRANKLIN HUDSON PUBLISHING COMPANY,
KANSAS CITY, MO.


[Illustration: GILBERT L. COLE.]


COPYRIGHT, 1905,
BY GILBERT L. COLE,
BEATRICE, NEB.




TESTIMONIALS.


A true story plainly told, of immense historical value and fascinating
interest from beginning to end.

DR. GEO. W. CROFTS,
Beatrice, Nebraska.


I have read every word of "In the Early Days," written by Mr. Gilbert L.
Cole, with great interest and profit. The language is well chosen, the
word-pictures are vivid, and the subject-matter is of historic value.
The story is fascinating in the extreme, and I only wished it were
longer. The story should be printed and distributed for the people in
general to read.

July 27, 1905.
C. A. FULMER,
_Superintendent of Public Schools_,
Beatrice, Neb.


At a single sitting, with intense interest, I have read the manuscript
of "In the Early Days." It is a very entertaining narrative of
adventure, a vivid portrayal of conditions and an instructive history of
events as they came into the personal experience and under the
observation of the writer fifty-three years ago. An exceedingly valuable
contribution to the too meager literature of a time so near in years,
but so distant in conditions as to make the truth about it seem
stranger than fiction.

REV. N. A. MARTIN,
_Pastor, Centenary M. E. Church_,
Beatrice, Neb.


NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
LINCOLN, Nebraska, July 28, 1905.

_To whom it may concern_: The manuscript account of the overland trip by
Mr. Gilbert L. Cole of Beatrice, Nebraska, in my opinion is a very
carefully written story of great interest to the whole public, and
particularly to Nebraskans. It reads like a novel, and the succession of
adventures holds the interest of the reader to the end. The records of
trips across the Nebraska Territory as early as this one are very
incomplete, and Mr. Cole has done a real public service in putting into
print so complete a record of these experiences. I predict that it will
find a wide circulation among lovers of travel and of Nebraska history.

Very sincerely,

JAY AMOS BARRETT,
_Curator and Librarian Nebraska
State Historical Society_,

Author of "Nebraska and the Nation";
"Civil Government of Nebraska."


EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
LINCOLN, Nebraska, July 28, 1905.

_To whom it may concern_: It gives me great pleasure to say that the
publication, "In the Early Days," written by Mr. Gilbert L. Cole, of
Beatrice, Nebraska, is a very interesting and profitable work to read.
It bears upon many subjects of great historical value and no doubt will
prove a very interesting book to all who read it and I take pleasure in
recommending the same.

Very respectfully,
JOHN H. MICKEY,
_Governor_.


_To whom it may concern_: It is with pleasure I write a few words of
commendation for the book written by Mr. Gilbert L. Cole, of Beatrice,
Nebraska, entitled "In the Early Days." It is well prepared and full of
interest from beginning to the end. It is of great value to every
Nebraskan.

_July 28, 1905._
D. L. THOMAS,
_Pastor Grace M. E. Church_,
Lincoln, Neb.


An interesting, thrilling and delightful bit of prairie history hitherto
unwritten and unsung, which most opportunely and completely supplies a
missing link in the stories of the great Westland.

MRS. A. HARDY,
_President Beatrice Woman's Club_,
Beatrice, Neb.


BEATRICE, NEB., July 30, 1905.

I have just read "In the Early Days," by Col. G. L. Cole, and I find it
an interesting and instructive narrative, clothed in good diction and
pleasing style. Few of the Argonauts took time or trouble to make note
of the events of their journey and our California gold episode is
remarkably barren of literature, a fact which makes Col. Cole's book
doubly interesting and valuable.

M. T. CUMMINGS




CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.--Setting up Altars of Remembrance,             13

CHAPTER II.--"God Could Not