02/12/2024
Kinkaiders
Part 3
The Kinkaid Act of 1904, like many government programs, had a good intent and some good outcomes, but was also abused for personal gain. Peggy Benjamin particularly faulted unscrupulous “locators” who over-promised on the potential of the land and even led some settlers to claim land that was not available. This led to major conflicts between cattlemen and settlers.
Peggy, who was the daughter of Dan Haskell, the first manager of Milldale Ranch and two other ranches farther west, tells the story in her book, Years to Share: “Spurred by the belief that the land locators had told the truth, the Kinkaiders banded together determined to wrest the valleys, meadows and lakes from the Milldale Company and other cattlemen. Prowling about with guns, …the Kinkaiders opened gates, turning their livestock into the meadows to devour the fresh, green grass, tear down the haystacks, drive the herds off the reserves, even shooting some of the animals, leaving the carcasses to rot and decay.
“When action was taken against them, the Kinkaiders, instigated by the land locators, rushed to Omaha to consult with lawyers about dealing with the cattlemen’s wrong-doing. The lawyers, often acquaintances of the land locators, eager to collect as much of the Kinkaiders money as possible, listened to the woes and pretended sympathy while instituting suits that were never settled.
“Having to deal with hostile Kinkaiders, Papa sought patiently to set them straight. Eventually he persuaded a few of them to understand the situation. But it was a long, grueling process. Armed with his land maps and his surveying outfit, using all the
diplomacy at his command, he gradually won a degree of confidence from a few while others remained hostile as long as they lived in the sandhills.”
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Pictures of the Frank Hall Kinkaid claim are available on the page of the Arnold Area Historical Museum. Parts one and two of the Kincaid story are also available. We are very thankful to those who have shared their pictures and stories. We encourage you to share yours as well. You may contact me at [email protected] or 308-870-6138. The museum’s email is [email protected]; their address is P.O. Box 241, Arnold, NE, 69120.
