Nance is a unique county in Nebraska. Most counties and the land that they encompass were settled through the Homestead Acts that came through congress in the 1800’s. Through this settlers could come out to the western half of the US and plot their land to sow and bring fourth new prosperity to the land. It was a great way to get rid of a lot of land and try to repurpose it to productive agricultural use.
The story of Nance is a little different. This land wasn’t originally apart of the homestead acts but was cut out to be the Pawnee Indian Reservation back in 1857. Back then the Pawnee Tribe traded it’s land, then current tribal land, to the US government for this partial of land in Nebraska. This was all fine and dandy until Nebraska became a state ten years later in 1867.
The newly formed state superseded the federal government’s deal with the tribe and started selling the land. By 1876 the Pawnee were transferred to Oklahoma where they are there to this day.
While the tribe itself was transplanted down south to red dirt country a school was established in 1884 in the town of Genoa. The Genoa Indian Industrial School was in operation there until 1934. It was built and used to integrate Native American children into Christianity, modern American education, and society. You can go to the Genoa Indian School Museum and learn more about this time in American history.
Now, there is a lot more that is involved in this but since you are all “sporting folk” I will leave the history lesson to a minimum.
So, on to the football.
Fullerton, the county seat, has had a few players who went on to gridiron glory for the scarlet and cream. The first one being the great James Porterfield. James joined the squad back in 1890 at the T position. Not 100% what the “T” position was back in 1890. I am guessing it was a tackle of some sort but you will have to ask someone like Hoss the exact situation there.
The area also saw Frank Johnson come aboard in 1907 and played the E position. Again, I can only guess it was an end of some sort. At this point football players were dying like it was their job to do so. Who knows what the “E” position was supposed to do and if it even had any relevance to anything that is happening on the field today.
There have been a few more players but none of them really tricked my trigger. If you’re from Nance county and feel that I have left out anyone that you admired then please let me know in the comments section below and I will try to care.
Finally, it’s summer. Put your computer/phone/tablet down and go out side. It’s better for you than this.
Thank you for reading...