HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID
RG4572.AM: Henry Clay McMaken, 1840-1912
Reminiscences: Undated
Plattsmouth, Cass County, Neb.: Farmer, Soldier, Freighter, Businessman
Size: Three items
BACKGROUND NOTE
Henry Clay McMaken, son of Joseph H. and Catherine (Bacon) McMaken, was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana on January 21, 1840. After a brief stay in Burlington, Iowa, McMaken arrived in Plattsmouth, Nebraska on May 22, 1857. After farming for a couple of years, McMaken became a freighter, first trading with the Pawnee along the Loup River. During 1860-1861, he made three freighting trips to Pike’s Peak.
Henry C. McMaken and Kate Mannering were married on September 12, 1862 and shortly after, on November 1, 1862, he enlisted in the 2nd Nebraska Cavalry and was assigned to Co. H. He participated in the Battle of White Stone Hill against the Sioux in 1863 before being discharged on December 8th of that year.
After his military service, McMaken engaged in farming. From 1870 until about 1875, he worked in western Nebraska as part of a government surveying party. From 1877-1882, he freighted from Sidney, Nebraska into the Black Hills. During this time he also worked the McMaken mica mine in South Dakota. In 1884 McMaken began H. C. McMaken and Sons of Plattsmouth, dealers in cement, coal, and ice, while also operating a transfer company. He was active in the business, civic, and social affairs of Plattsmouth until his death on January 17, 1912.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
This collection consists of three reminiscences by Henry C. McMaken, in typescript form. Entitled, “A Primitive Christian,” “Early Troubles With the Pawnees in Cass County,” and “Frontier Justice,” these manuscripts relate to McMaken’s experiences as an early settler in Cass County and as a freighter on the plains during the years 1858-1860.
INVENTORY
Item
Subject headings:
Cass County (Neb.) — History
Freight and freightage
Frontier and pioneer life — Nebraska — Cass County
Indians of North America — Nebraska
McMaken, Henry Clay, 1840-1912
Pawnee Indians
Plattsmouth (Neb.) — History
Religious services
AIP/ksa 07-1991
11-06-2009 Revised TMM/tmm