On May 1, 1858, Victor Vifquain and his bride, Caroline, rode to find a place for a Belgian colony.
They crossed Missouri and Bleeding Kansas, then followed the Big Blue River across undeveloped Nebraska Territory until they met Salt Creek. They followed the creek as it diminished, then rode in large circles, searching.
The varied land sometimes stretched out in level plains, and then broke into wide, flat valleys. Sometimes the couple rode up and down graceful hills.
They scrutinized it all until they found, near Big Blue, the perfect spot. On July 11, they squatted on it, becoming the first white persons to settle in Nebraska's Saline County.
Miles and miles of unclaimed land surrounded theirs. Just right for Victor's Belgian colony to take root.
Coming soon in
THIEVES, RASCALS & SORE LOSERS
by Marilyn June Coffey
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