Brownville in Nemaha County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

1854 Didier Log Cabin

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 12, 2021

1. 1854 Didier Log Cabin Marker

Inscription.

1854 Didier Log Cabin. . John B. Didier, Frenchman/Fur Trader. . December 25, 1827 , Birth of John B. Didier, II to John and Anna B. Didier in France . 1827 , Arrived in America, settling in Cincinnati, Ohio . 1849 , Moved to St. Louis, MO, worked for Pierre Chateau, Jr. . 1852 , Oversaw fur trading post five miles below Fort Laramie, Wyoming . August 19, 1854 , Experienced and endured the Grattan Massacre , all of the soldiers were killed. Their remains are at the National Cemetery at Ft. McPherson in Nebraska. John survived and reported the battle and loss to Mr. Chateau. . 1854 , Came to Nebraska, erected the 1854 cabin, living there 63 years. . 1855 , Married Mary Peneaux Beauvais Red Nose Didier Desera in Brownville, NE by Judge Whitney. . 1918 , John died September 27 and is buried at Barada, NE, Mary Peneaux, Rosebud Sioux Tribe. . 1831 , Born to William Louis Peneaux and Tapankeska Mazawin . Mary married Beauvais and had four children. . Mary married Howard Red Iron and had three children. . 1855 , Mary married John B. Didier II and had eight children. Most of the Didier children lived in this cabin. . June 26, 1901 , Died and is buried at St. Francis Indian School in South Dakota, being enrolled in the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. , Log Cabin History. The original cabin was erected by John B. Didier in 1854 in what is now Richardson County, Nebraska, ten and one-half miles south of Brownville. The cabin was located in Section 3, Township 3, north of range 16. Records indicate he was the second white settler in this area. , The cabin was built with whole logs running the length of the cabin, seven logs high with dovetailed corners. These logs are 8" to 15" in diameter, each chinked. The woods used in the reconstruction were oak, walnut, pine, cottonwood and cedar. , The foundation is constructed with large limestones. The loft is 7' X 15'. The main room, 15' X 15', was used as a bedroom, sitting room, and dining area. The porch, 7' X 15', was probably used as a summer kitchen originally. , The Brownville Historical Society purchased the cabin from the Last Family and moved the remaining logs which were located 10½ miles south of Brownville. In 2011 and 2012 the cabin was rebuilt by Jim Doty Construction. The cabin is the same size as the original structure and is located in Boettner Park, 2nd and Main Streets, Brownville, NE. , Appreciation The Brownville Historical Society thanks the: Nemaha County Development Foundation B.H.S. Members and Friends Casey's General Stores for the Cabin Signage. . This historical marker was erected by Brownville Historical Society. It is in Brownville in Nemaha County Nebraska

John B. Didier, Frenchman/Fur Trader• December 25, 1827 — Birth of John B. Didier, II to John and Anna B. Didier in France
• 1827 — Arrived in America, settling in Cincinnati, Ohio
• 1849 — Moved to St. Louis, MO, worked for Pierre Chateau, Jr.
• 1852 — Oversaw fur trading post five miles below Fort Laramie, Wyoming
• August 19, 1854 — Experienced and endured the Grattan Massacre — all of the soldiers were killed. Their remains are at the National Cemetery at Ft. McPherson in Nebraska. John survived and reported the battle and loss to Mr. Chateau.
• 1854 — Came to Nebraska, erected the 1854 cabin, living there 63 years.
• 1855 — Married Mary Peneaux Beauvais Red Nose Didier Desera in Brownville, NE by Judge Whitney.
• 1918 — John died September 27 and is buried at Barada, NE

Mary Peneaux, Rosebud Sioux Tribe• 1831 — Born to William Louis Peneaux and Tapankeska Mazawin
• Mary married Beauvais and had four children.
• Mary married Howard Red Iron and had three children.
• 1855 — Mary married John B. Didier II and had eight children.

Marker detail: John B. Didier image. Click for full size.

2. Marker detail: John B. Didier

Click or scan to see
this page online

Most of the Didier children lived in this cabin.
• June 26, 1901 — Died and is buried at St. Francis Indian School in South Dakota, being enrolled in the Rosebud Sioux Tribe.

Log Cabin HistoryThe original cabin was erected by John B. Didier in 1854 in what is now Richardson County, Nebraska, ten and one-half miles south of Brownville. The cabin was located in Section 3, Township 3, north of range 16. Records indicate he was the second white settler in this area.

The cabin was built with whole logs running the length of the cabin, seven logs high with dovetailed corners. These logs are 8" to 15" in diameter, each chinked. The woods used in the reconstruction were oak, walnut, pine, cottonwood and cedar.

The foundation is constructed with large limestones. The loft is 7' X 15'. The main room, 15' X 15', was used as a bedroom, sitting room, and dining area. The porch, 7' X 15', was probably used as a summer kitchen originally.

The Brownville Historical Society purchased the cabin from the Last Family and moved the remaining logs which were located 10½ miles south of Brownville. In 2011 and 2012 the cabin was rebuilt by Jim Doty Construction. The cabin is the same size as the original structure and is located in Boettner Park, 2nd and Main Streets, Brownville, NE.

Appreciation
The

Marker detail: Mary Peneaux Didier image. Click for full size.

August 12, 2021

3. Marker detail: Mary Peneaux Didier

Brownville Historical Society thanks the:
Nemaha County Development Foundation
B.H.S. Members and Friends
Casey's General Stores
for the Cabin Signage

Erected by Brownville Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers • Wars, US Indian. A significant historical year for this entry is 1854.

Location. 40° 23.837′ N, 95° 39.448′ W. Marker is in Brownville, Nebraska, in Nemaha County. Marker can be reached from Main Street just west of South 2nd Street, on the left when traveling west. Marker and subject cabin are located on the west side of Brownville City Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 213 Main Street, Brownville NE 68321, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Brownville (a few steps from this marker); Late 1800's Road Grader (a few steps from this marker); Company C 1st Regiment of Nebraska (within shouting distance of this marker); Muir House (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Large One-bottom Plow (about 600 feet away); The Nebraska State Teachers' Association (approx. 0.2 miles away); Brownville Bridge (approx. 0.6 miles away in Missouri); Peru State College (approx. 6.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brownville.

Also see . . .

Marker detail: Original 1854 Cabin image. Click for full size.

4. Marker detail: Original 1854 Cabin

Didier Cabin in Brownville, Nebraska.

Dr. Bob Chitwood, Brownville resident and Historical Society past president, shares the history of the Didier Cabin, which was restored and is opened to the public from Boettner Park in downtown Brownville.

(Submitted on April 5, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 12, 2021

5. 1854 Didier Log Cabin Marker

(marker is beside sidewalk on right)

Restored 1854 Cabin image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 12, 2021

6. Restored 1854 Cabin

Credits. This page was last revised on April 5, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 4, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 104 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on April 5, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.