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Archiver > NEBRRoots > 2004-11 > 1101661477


From: Becky Applegate <>
Subject: Catherine Parmele, pioneer memories
Date: Sun, 28 Nov 2004 09:04:37 -0800 (PST)


Plattsmouth Journal, Thursday, August 31, 1916
VERY INTERESTING PIONEER STORY BY MRS. C.H. PARMELE
A most interesting story of Pioneer life and times is told
by Mrs. Catherine PARMELE, widow of C.H. PARMELE, who was
an active factor in the early history of Plattsmouth and
Cass county. She with her husband, located in Plattsmouth
in 1857, Plattsmouth at that time was a lively frontier
town, and an outfitting point for Pikes Peak and the
mountains.
Mr. Parmele was one of the early freighters, making many
trips across the plains; the Indians on some of these
occasions giving them much trouble. In 1857, the Pawnee
Indians were still around Plattsmouth, and the Parmele
family had the usual experiences with these aborigines.
They were always a source of annoyance, and created a good
deal of fear among the women and children. Mrs. Parmele
calls to mind that the business of the village was
transacted on Second street, for several blocks north and
south on the river front. Boats were constantly landing and
discharging their cargo. It was one of the amusements of
the times for the young people of Plattsmouth to have
dances on the boats, and frequently these parties would
last for the trip to Omaha and return. In those days,
people were generally very sociable and more unselfish
than in later years.
Mrs. Parmele mentions among leading citizens of that date,
T.M. MARQUET, Willett POTTENGER, Tootle and Hanna, Wheatley
MICKELWAITE, Samuel H. ELBERT, and many others who were the
moving spirits of that time. Houses were scarce for renting
purposes and their first home was in what was known as
Patterson Row, which was situated near the Catholic church.
Mrs. Parmele has resided for over fifty years in the
residence she now occupies on Vine street, which was
considered at the time of its construction a pretentious
building. Mrs. Parmele is mother of one of our fellow
townsman, C.C. PARMELE, T.E. PARMELE, banker at Louisville;
Mrs. Myrtle ATWOOD, of Lincoln; and Mrs. Nellie AGNEW, now
visiting in this city.

*More information about the Parmeles is available at
http://www.rootsweb.com/~necass/
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec?htx=board&r=rw&%20p=localities.northam.usa.states.nebraska.counties.cass


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