From Stories of Nebraska, pages 75-76, some paragraph breaks inserted

Chapter XXXXIL

William 0. Crom was born in Ohio and when a child, went with his parents
to Illinois, where he grew up to manhood.  He was married to Lydia Bentley 
who was also of Ohio but had lived most of her life in Illinois.  A year after 
their marriage they decided to try the pioneer life in Nebraska and made their 
way westward in a wagon, entering the State by way of Plattsmouth and finally 
reached the home of H.B. Macklin a brother-in-law living in the Atlanta precinct,
Saline county.

In a short time a suitable piece of land was found on Section 34-7-1 and they
filed thereon building a sod house.  They had stored their fruits, vegetables
and other things ready for winter, and one Sunday while attending Sunday School 
at the Eli Crom home two miles south of their place, a prairie fire came along.
This they saw would endanger their home so they hastened back and reached the 
place just as the roof of the burning house fell in and very little of the home
was saved.  They then went to live in the Macklin home until some new plan 
could be made for their future happiness.  

During their stay here the men went on a Buffalo hunt. The party consisted of 
Mr. Macklin, Mr. Sam Barr, Mr. Crom and Mr. John Fenton (brother-in-law).
Their destination was about the present location of Red Cloud on the Republican 
river which was the nearest place to meet the Buffalos in that day and they had 
a good hunt.  The men usually went in pairs, and when successful in killing 
their game they took only the best meat.  Then, having driven some wooden stakes
into the ground and placed poles across, strips of meat were hung thereon and 
dried over a fire.  Fresh meat also would be saved and in an ordinary season 
would freeze solid and it provided good frying steak which tasted first rate 
served with corn broad and coffee made from wheat - luxuries of pioneer days.  
These men secured plenty of meat and each brought home a green buffalo robe.

On their return Mr. Crom found his land had been taken by Mr. Josiah Miner. 
Hearing that a Mr. Sutton was willing to trade his claim on Section 14-6-1 
Mr. Crom made a trade for the 80 acres by giving half a barrel of dried buffalo
meat, one green buffalo robe and five dollars in money.  There was on the land 
a small dugout about 10 feet square, no window, and only a hole in the door for 
light and ventilation.  In this humble abode Mr. and Mrs. Crom commenced 
housekeeping afresh, the bed was a home-made temporary affair fastened into 
the wall,  and the other furniture was a box-table and two chairs but, 
they had faith and courage.

When company came they were entertained both as regards the visiting and
eating in God's great out-of-doors.  There was so little room that indoor
company was impossible and unwanted excepting for the baby that happened
along in those days.  But, one day as they were sitting in the home Mrs. Crom
saw a rattle snake lying coiled up under Mr. Crom's chair.  It was killed and 
found to have eight rattles.  Mrs. Crom declared that if another snake was seen
in that house she would not sleep there again, and that very evening as she was
about the supper she saw his majesty crawling along the ridge log under the roof
and he made his get-away.  That was enough, the next sleep and many another 
was in the wagon-box until a sod house was built.

After two years in the soddy they built a frame house, this being the third abode
on the place.  It was unplastered, and it was necessary for Mr. Crom to work 
away threshing, when for two weeks Mrs. Crom had nothing but cornstalks for 
firing.  When the time came to prove up, they went down to Beatrice and the 
land agent was very anxious to know if they had ever been off the place?  
"Yes" replied Mr. Crom, "I had to be away at times for work, but my wife 
has been off the place only one night in five years."

Mr. Crom moved to Missouri where he died February 19, 1919.  He was the son 
of the Rev. Jacob Crom of the United Brethren Church, and his grandfather was
the Rev. John Crom one of the first U. B. Ministers in the wilds of Ohio and 
his brother was the Rev. Martin Crom, while his nephew is the Rev. W. Crom
of near Beatrice, Nebr.  His widow lives in Missouri but visits at times 
in Friend with his sister Mrs. David Henry.