Nebraska's Black Homesteaders Recognized
Momument a Tribute to Historical Hector's Bliss
Mar 14, 2009
More than 100 years ago, a group of Black settlers left the southern states and landed in the sandhills of Wheeler and Holt Counties In Nebraska after learning free farmland was available to anyone. The story of the Black homesteaders’ hopes and hardships resulted in the publication of Dennis Vossberg’s historical novel, “Hector’s Bliss, Black Homesteaders at Goose Lake, Nebraska”
Ironically, the settlement was named ‘Bliss’, for the name of the first family in the community that had a post office in their home.
Lost Cemetery Draw Intrigue
The account of the Black settlers could have ended upon publication of the novel, but interest continues to grow. While researching for the novel, Vossberg discovered that after the Black families left the sandhills, several of their ancestor's graves at the original cemetery blew open during sand storms in the 1920s and 30s. Caucasian neighbors retrieved the exposed skeletal remains and re-interred them at Valley View Cemetery.
The exact location of the lost cemetery is difficult to pinpoint. Some area residents remember hearing stories that the cemetery was directly south of Goose Lake. Others offer accounts of the site being located southeast of the lake.
According to Vossberg, a recently surfaced written record specifies the cemetery’s location was east of the lake. “Since those general directions cover potentially up to three square miles, we haven’t exactly got it pinpointed,” said Vossberg.
A church sat next to the cemetery, but it was town down and the lumber used for a small barn. Unless someone stumbles upon the old foundation, narrowing the possible location might take some time. Grave witching hasn’t produced any results. Ground imaging companies don’t hold much promise either.
Someday, Vossberg hopes a trained archaeologist will inspect the area. “We strongly suspect there are still some burials left in the old cemetery,” said Vossberg.
Memorial Draws Interest from Community and Settler's Family
In the book’s epilogue, Vossberg wrote that he hoped the book generated enough interest to create a movement to place a monument at Valley View. “It took a hold and people started sending me money,” said Vossberg.
Members of the cemetery board increased fundraising efforts. And, as the saying goes, the rest is history.
Eileen Watson of Selma, Alabama, whose great grandmother was a member of the Fears family lineage, traveled to Nebraska to take part in the ceremony. Watson said the fundraising efforts and the monument are an awesome example of the relationship that existed between the Black and Caucasian settlers at the turn of the century, as well as today.
“We’re talking about a group of Black settlers living in a remote area. There is still interest today from Caucasians about the Black culture. It’s a piece of forgotten history,” said Watson.
Vossberg said that based on his research, the racial tolerance in this area was ahead of most other areas of the country during the late 1800s. “The facts speak for themselves: an integrated school, church, cemetery, and even a baseball team,” said Vossberg.
Watson said her conversations with elderly relatives concerning the monument brought responses of surprise. She said they can scarcely believe that the white residents of Goose Lake cared enough to erect a monument to commemorate the Black presence that once lived in the area.
Vossberg said that his experience shows that the white community maintains an interest in and respect for the unique contributions that the Black pioneers made to the history of their area.
By 1900, most of Watson’s ancestors had moved to Grand Island since the land was not conducive to farming, and most secured jobs in factories. She said she believes they made an unselfish decision by putting their family’s needs before the need to own property.
"I know my ancestors are looking down and they are very pleased," said Watson.
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