JOHN BROWNER

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    JOHN BROWNER was born June 24, 1820, in Wexford county, Ireland. He came to America in 1852, remaining in New York City several months and then going to Illinois. In 1856 he came to Nebraska and was one of the organizers of Columbus. He took a timber claim out on Shell Creek, and for several years spent about six months of the year on his claim, going in the summer time to Omaha, as mason and brick layer. Later he lived in Columbus, working in J.P. Becker's and John Wolfel's grocery store.
    In 1869 he was married to Mrs. Margaret Curry, who died May 1890, leaving two children by her first husband, Sam Curry and John Curry, and by her second husband, four children, Mrs. Sam Drinnin, Will and James Browner, and Miss Nellie Browner. Mr. Browner was the fifth sheriff of the county, those in order from and including 1858 to 1867, being E.W. Toncray, J. Rickly, J.E. North, L.M. Beebe, John Browner. His official duties extended to the western boundary of the state, the counties west of Platte being unorganized. During his two years term he went as far west as North Platte. The worst case Mr. Browner had during his term as sheriff, was when a man by the name of Wilson shot a farmer, Mr. Gardner, in Butler county. Mr. Browner arrested Wilson and there being no jail or court house in which to place his prisoner, he watched over him all night in the Becker & Wolfel store where he was working. The next day he took him before H.J. Hudson, then Justice of the Peace, but during the trial, a company of citizens overpowered Sheriff Browner and his deputy, G.W. Fulton, took Wilson from the room and lynched him, hanging him to a tree that now stands west of H.T. Spoerry's residence. We believe this is the only case of lynching in Platte county.
    Mr. Browner tells of the time when he went with a volunteer army. Some Pawnee Indians had got into trouble near Omaha, he did not just remember what they had done, but thought they had broken into a house. Anyway, it was the cause of a big scare, and they sent for Col., Robinson and soldiers at Fort Kearney. They picked up volunteers on the road, many going from here. The Indians were traced down, followed about a week and cornered near where Norfolk is now located. When the poor fellows saw the cannon and the special line of soldiers, they immediately threw up the white flag and turned over their two offending Indians, who were taken as prisoners to Omaha and after a few days, released. The soldiers however, were very glad to give up the skirmish, for they were almost entirely out of provisions and were anxious to get home. On the way back, at Genoa, they met J.E. North and Frank Becher, who were coming to them with provisions, and they lost no time in having a big feast. Mr. Browner has lived on his present farm two miles northeast of the city, for twenty-five years.