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Franciscans

Other Counties of Mid-Nebraska

Chapter VII

MADISON COUNTY

After giving the detailed historical sketch of Platte County, which contains most of the parishes treated in "The Franciscans in Nebraska", we have to add some short sketches of the remaining counties of Mid-Nebraska. As these sketches were to be penned by a different hand and the time is now very short and the historical sources very scant, we can only give an outline of the early times, based chiefly on The Andreas Company, Chicago, 1882, "History on Nebraska", and "Nebraska", issued by the Union Pacific H. R. System and some other sources. We have also quoted the 1930 census figures, where they were available. As we have so far found many mistakes in the various histories, especially in dates and names, and as it is impossible to consult many pioneers in the time at our disposal, we crave the indulgence of the kind reader, if real or apparent mistakes be found in this book and kindly request him to notify us of mistakes that he thinks he discovered for correction.

--E. H., O. F. M.

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY

Madison County was created by the Territorial Legislature in December, 1867. Its boundaries have never been changed, and to the present day it comprises 576 square miles or 368,640 acres. The surface of the county is divided into upland, forty per cent; valley, forty per cent; bluff and sandy lands, fifteen per cent; and bottom lands, five per cent. Union and Taylor valleys are in the southeastern corner, and Shell Creek Valley in the southwestern. The uplands vary from 30 to 200 feet above the bottom lands. The soil of the former is mainly dark sandy loam varying in depth from two to eight feet. Beneath this the subsoil is either sand or clay.

NATURAL RESOURCES

At the arrival of the early settlers considerable timber was found along the creeks and the Elkhorn river. Cottonwood, box elder and willow comprised most of the groves, and were largely used for lumber and fuel. Since the advent of the settlers, cottonwood, ash and walnut groves have been planted. Near Norfolk and Madison good brick clay is found.

PIONEER SETTLERS OF THE FALL OF 1865--
THE FOUNDING OF NORFOLK

Herman Braasch, Frederick Wagner and John Gensmer (or Jesmer), three Germans from Ixonia, Jefferson County, Wisconsin, were the first explorers of Madison County. They left Wisconsin, September 1, 1865, and travelled (sic) by way of St. Louis, St. Joseph, Omaha, Elkhorn City, Fontenelle and West Point, where they hired a team to take them to the Northfork of the Elkhorn River. The most advanced settler lived eight miles above West Point. The three reached their destination the same month, selected a location for the colony and returned to Wisconsin for the winter. On May 23, 1866, twenty-four families, about 125 persons, started for Madison County, Nebraska. Their leader was the explorer, Herman Braasch. The colonists reached West Point, Cuming County, July 4th, and, after building numerous bridges to cross various streams, they reached, on July 17th, 1866, the present site of Norfolk, which is situated on the Northfork of the Elkhorn River, about four miles from its confluence with the main stream.

Martin Braasch, Gottlieb Rohrke, Chas. Nenow, Wm. Ruhlow and Wm. Winter were among the first settlers. They found, upon their arrival, that a party of young men from Illinois had already settled there in May, 1866. They were William A. Barnes, L. D. Barnes, Wm. H. Bradshaw, D. L. Allen, and Mathias Kerr. Being Americans, these young men did not care to live in the same neighborhood with the Germans and sought a more congenial location. M. Kerr sold his claim to H. Braasch for $200.00, which was a 160-acre in rectangular form along the Northfork.

To form a compact settlement, they took rectangular claims with the end towards the creek on either side, to guard more easily against Indians in case of an attack. William Scharpe made the first rude survey by means of a pocket compass and a pair of harness lines. The allotments were then written on slips of paper, put into a hat and a blindfolded person drew the lots. Thus did they recognize the equality of all before the law and prevent further bickerings and envy.

The colonists lived in their wagons until log

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houses could be built. The winter proved to be a severe one. In October Rev. John Hoeckendorf arrived and taught the first school in Madison county.

The colony soon received additions. In 1867 Sam H. and A. J. Thatch settled south of Norfolk on the Elkhorn River.

MADISON CITY PIONEERS

In December, 1866, Henry M. Barnes, Frank W. Barnes and William J. Barnes selected a place on Union Creek and settled there May 3rd, on the spot where Madison now stands. Their number was soon augmented by P. J. Barnes, Henry Hill, Horace Severance, Thomas R. Bickley, Henry Platts, Charles Huylar and others. In the following year came Peter H. Fedderman, William Ellis, B. C. Hicks, Henry Maurer, Sr., John Maurer, Henry Maurer, Jr., Philip Schwartze, Henry C. Brown and others, all of whom settled on or near Union Creek.

SHELL CREEK

John Bloomfield was the first bona fide permanent settler on Shell Creek. He came there in 1868. Captain O. O. Austin was a squatter sovereign, building a log house on a piece of land and remaining there about a year. William Meneice also came in 1868. Niels Nelson, Andreas Larsen, Newman Warren and Lewis Warren, the latter of whom settled on Austin's vacated ground, came in 1870.

BATTLE CREEK

The name is a misnomer and is derived from the battle threatening between the forces of General Thayer and the Pawnee Indians, who here capitulated, July 12, 1859. Battle Creek began to be settled in 1867, at about five miles above the present site of the town of Battle Creek, one mile above the junction of Battle Creek and the Elkhorn river. George St. Clair, or "Ponca George", as he was familiarly called, was the first settler there. He arrived January 10, 1867. Then followed Patrick Scully on March 1, 1867, Benjamin Spellman, January 10, 1868. In April, 1869, quite a number of Missourians, attracted by the fine timber near Battle Creek, comprising splendid stands of burr oak, and red and white elm, made a settlement. Among them were: John and Henry Tiedgen, August Eyl, with three sons; Theodore, Henry and Fritz Tomhagen and H. Woste. Later on, in 1869, L. D. Barnes, Patrick O'Neill and John Ahrens settled in this neighborhood. Henry Stelle, W. A. Barnes, Mr. Bennet and others came in 1870; J. T. Hale, F. J. Hale, D. A. Hale and J. D. Hale came from Virginia and settled between Emerick and Fairview, as also did T. C. Osborn and C. H. Reeves. The townsite belonged to a company consisting of F. J. Hale, John F. Tiedgen, Hogrefe and P. J. O'Neill, father of the famous artist and writer, Rose O'Neill. J. D. Hoover laid out the town and became a storekeeper and the first postmaster in 1874.

The first sermon preached was in the school house in May, 1872, by Rev. Jacob Dellinger, a Baptist clergyman.

Sidney Fuller was murdered in a field near Shell Creek. Two cattle dealers were arrested and implicated in the murder, but no real proof was presented against them, and, as no one else was ever arrested, the murder has never been cleared up. The first natural death was that of Mr. Seckel in 1870.

THE INDIANS

The Indians gave the settlers little trouble except in the spring of 1867, when, after a severe winter, their food supply was very low. The settlers themselves had but little to live on, having to get provisions mostly from Logan Creek, a distance of sixty-five miles.

Moved to desperation, the Indians devoured dogs, poisoned cattle, and the decayed carcasses of timber wolves shot three weeks before. Led on by their hunger, a party of Sioux Indians raided Shell Creek in 1869, killed some stock belonging to Lewis and others, shot Mr. Nelson, but not fatally, and got away with considerable provisions.

THE COUNTY IS ORGANIZED

Madison County was organized in December, 1867, the first election being held in a small frame house on Taylor Creek, on January 21, 1868. The first regular election was held October 11, 1868.

There have been several contests regarding the location of the county seat. The first election, in January, 1868, placed it near the present site of Norfolk. But the town did not grow and the county officials moved it illegally, but without contradiction, into the town. Again the question of the site came up and the vote, July 13, 1875, stood 256 for Battle Creek, 211 for Madison and 205 for Norfolk. None having received a three-fifths majority, another election was held on September 6th, with almost similar results. The third election took place on October 12th, at which Norfolk was again turned down. Trouble continued for many years when the litigation was finally settled by placing the county seat at Madison.

THE RAILROADS IN MADISON COUNTY

In 1872 the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad made its selection of 88,000 acres within the county. A brief history of the difficulties connected with the titles to these lands and of the county contests over the payment of taxes

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Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Adelman, Madison.	Mr. and Mrs. George Borowiak, Duncan.
	Mr. and Mrs. M. Borowiak, Jr., Duncan.
Bird Fountain, St. Anthony's Church Grounds.
	The Chas. Skorupa Family, Duncan.

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is contained in the Andreas "History of Nebraska", under the caption of "Antelope County".

The United States District Court for Nebraska, with Judge Elmer S. Dundy presiding, settled the case after five years of litigation stretching from 1873 to 1877 inclusive, and costing $7,135.43 for each of the five years. The Railroad Company practically gave Madison County a bonus of $5,000 to bring the case to court. The finding of the District Court was that the taxes were void and not a lien upon the lands, but also that a cloud rested upon the company's title. The defendants were enjoined from collecting any taxes, and the cloud upon the title was removed. So the county lost the snug little sum of $29,677.14 it had claimed.

The Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley R. R. had asked the people of Madison County for bonds amounting to $40,000, to extend for twenty years at 8 per cent interest. But the proposition was turned down at the election held May 3, 1879. The votes for were more than against, but not the required two-thirds majority.

The Omaha, Niobrara and Black Hills Railroad proposed to build twenty-seven miles of track and maintain three depots in Madison County and asked the voters to help with $52,000 in bonds. In the election held on June 14, 1879, this was also turned down.

The Fremont, E. & M. V. (N. W.) R. R. built into the County without the taxpayers' aid and reached Norfolk, September 15, 1879. The Omaha, Niobrara and Black Hills Railroad reached Norfolk in 1880, and the St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad, about April 15, 1882.

THE POPULATION

In December, 1867, Madison County had a population of thirty families, or about 150 people. In 1876 there was a population of 3,288; in 1880, of 5,577; in 1920, taken from the United States Census, a population of 22,511 out of a population of 1,296,372 for the entire state of Nebraska. The 1930 census gives Madison County a population of 26,037.

The principal towns of Madison County are Norfolk, Madison, Newman Grove, Battle Creek, Tilden, Meadow Grove, Enola and Warnerville. The population of Newman Grove (1930) is 1,146.

NORFOLK

The city of Norfolk is located on the Northfork of the Elkhorn River, in the northeastern part of the county, about four miles above the junction of the forks with the main branch of the river. The valley is low and occasionally flooded.

The town of Norfolk was incorporated in 1881. The first board of trustees were Charles P. Matthewson, chairman; A. P. Pilger, John Koenigstein and Fred Lukus. John E. Olney was elected Clerk and Samuel W. Hayes, Treasurer.

John E. Olney was one of the first settlers in Madison county, coming probably in 1869, the same year a gentleman named Bussman came. Bussman erected a splendid store building in 1879. Carl Asmus came in 1871. Mr. Asmus built his store of home-made brick in 1880. J. S. McClary and A. P. Pilger arrived in 1871; W. H. Widaman and S. W. Hayes, 1873. John Koenigstein came in 1871, and erected his elegant brick business block in 1880.

The present population of Norfolk is 11,303.

In November, 1866, Mr. Evan Jones kept the first small store in a dugout, near the present site of The Norfolk Cereal and Flour Mills, which was built by Colonel Chas. Matthewson in 1870. The location of the site of Norfolk itself was laid out by Colonel Matthewson in 1869. The first store of Norfolk was built by him in the spring of 1869, as was also the first frame house, which stands at the corner of Main and State Streets. Colonel Matthewson died in May, 1880.

Fred Haase was the first child born in Norfolk, in the fall of 1886. He died, the first natural death in the county, after a few weeks. A Mrs. Carr died the following March.

The first postoffice there was "Norfolk", and was established in 1869, and so named because it was on the Northfork of the Elkhorn River. The first Postmaster was Mr. August Raasch.

The Germane of the Lutheran faith erected the first church building in Norfolk, the logs being paid for by Herman Braasch, costing $40.00. The Rev. John Heckendorf preached the first sermon in that building. The log church was replaced by a frame edifice which was dedicated August 23, 1878. In 1872 the Congregationalists erected a church with Rev. J. W. Kidder as first minister. The Methodists built their church building next, with the Episcopalians following soon after. The history of the Catholic Church is given in a separate article.

The first term of school at Norfolk was taught June 8, 1870, in the log Lutheran church, by Mrs. Mary Kidder. School District Number 2, Madison County, which included Norfolk, voted bonds to build a school house in April, 1882, to the amount of $5,000.

The first bank at Norfolk was opened in 1872 in a small frame building and conducted by J. and C. P. Matthewson. The latter became sole owner of the bank in 1878. The large, two-story brick building costing $5,000 was erected in 1880. The population in 1930 was 10,717. The Norfolk Daily News was founded in 1887. Its proprietor and editor is E. F. Huse.

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MADISON

Madison is situated in the Union Creek Valley on the confluence of Union and Taylor Creeks, thirty-six miles north of Columbus. The townsite was once the property of Frank W. Barnes who platted the town in 1871. The first store was built by Michael Bauch in 1872.

The first settlers at Madison were H. M. Barnes and his sons, Frank W. and W. J. Barnes. The town is situated on the claim of Frank W. Barnes, who built the first log house in the fall of 1868. To H. M. Barnes belongs the honor of having erected the first frame house in town, in May, 1867. Mr. Koenigstein and Mr. Neidig opened stores about 1872 or later. The first postoffice was established in 1871 with Mr. Sylvester Speed in charge. Frank W. Barnes and Phoebe Bauch were the first couple to get married, on May 2, 1872. Leroy S. Rounds and Mary E. Flower were the first couple in Union Creek Settlement, early in 1869.

The first newspaper published in the county was the Madison Review, established by T. M. Blakely in 1873. In 1878 it was purchased by Phillip Bauch and re-named the Madison Chronicle. Mr. Barnes, the veteran editor of the Madison Star-Mail, sold out to Frank Connelly.

The land surrounding it is valley and rolling prairie, well adapted to mixed farming. To the west are some of the finest and most fertile farms in the state. The population of Madison in 1920 was 1,735. The 1930 census gives the population of Madison city as 1,842.

CHURCHES

The Presbyterians organized in 1870, and Rev. J. M. Wilson was the first to preach a sermon. Their church was built in 1871. The Methodists organized in the same year, 1871. Elder S. P. Vandoozer preached the first sermon. In 1877 they erected their church. The Catholics organized in 1880 and their church was built in 1881, and named St. Leonard's. In 1875 the Lutherans organized, but they had no building at first until later.

NEWMAN GROVE

Newman Grove is situated in the extreme corner of the county in the Shell Creek Valley. Some of the finest farm land in the state is found around Newman Grove. Newman Warren was the first settler, coming in 1864. In 1866 John Bloomfield, Nils Nilson and Wm. Manco followed.

The first child born at Newman Grove was Lewis M. Hovland, in 1877. A school house was opened in 1872; a postoffice, established in 1874, and a church built in 1881. G. J. Hamre was the first postmaster at Newman Grove and opened the first store there.

STANTON COUNTY

(See P. 1435, Andreas History of Nebraska, 1882).

THE SETTLEMENT ON THE HUMBUG

Stanton county was at first called Izard county and is one of the smallest counties in the state. It was named in honor of Edwin M. Stanton in 1867, when its present boundaries were re-defined. Its area is 432 square miles.

The first men to enter the county in 1865 and locate farms were Charles and Mitchell Sharp. When returning to Omaha, they met on the way the first settlers, Jacob Hoffman and Francis Scott. In winter the men cut ties for the railroad and hauled them with an ox team; thus they made a living. In spring, 1866, W. D. Whalen and Andrew Bortoff arrived and settled near Stanton. In the fall of 1866 a body of Germans, including August Draube, Fred Cook, Adam Nye and Carl Schwartz, located five miles north on the Humbug. About the same time, I. R. Layton, Andrew Schauble, John Rustemeyer and Paul Heyse also settled on the Humbug. In the same year August Wagner founded his home south of the river. During 1868-'69, the settlers became more numerous. In spring of this year George Graves opened the first store in the Humbug settlement. If one asked for a dollars worth, Graves used to exclaim: "Higorry! Can't you get along with a little less? Higorry! I wish you would." Hence he was soon known as "Higorry".

CLINTON

In 1870, Kendall and Jensmore opened a store at Clinton, a place three miles distant from Humbug. The first school house in Stanton county was erected at Clinton in the year of 1867, Gustav Sonnenschein being the first pedagogue. The first frame school house was put up at Humbug in 1870. It was later used at Pilger. Rev. W. L. Bowman held the first religious service in the log school house constructed near W. D. Whalen's farm about 1870, or soon after. For years Mr. Bowman was the only minister preaching in Stanton County.

Ida Hoffman (daughter of James), whose birthday was on December 9, 1867, has the honor of being the first child born in Stanton county. In fall, 1869, Mr. Herman Mewis and Miss Emma Hinkle pledged their troth for life. Lewis Ley was the first lawyer in Stanton county. His first fee was five pounds of sausage. In 1871 the bridge across the river was constructed at an expenditure of $4,200.

The year 1867, witnessed the establishment of the Clinton post office, with Fred Biehle in charge. Another post office was established about the same time west of Stanton by Fred Helmerich. George Baily carried the mail from

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West Point in his pocket. The nearest mill was Logan Creek Mill, a distance of sixty miles.

ORGANIZING STANTON COUNTY

Stanton county was organized January 23, 1867, with a population of 14 families and an assessed valuation of $850 personal and $9,700 real property. Thirteen votes were polled at the first election of county officials, held October 6, 1866, at the Humbug settlement. In 1869, the county seat was moved to Stanton. Wm. Kendall built the first court house (16x22 feet) for $475. In 1879-'80, the Sioux City and Pacific Railroad, which reached Wisner in 1871, was completed, $40,000 in bonds having been voted. It follows the Elkhorn Valley throughout the county (22 miles of track). Since then Stanton county has developed rapidly.

In 1882, the average yield of wheat was 15 bushels; of corn, 50; of oats, 55 bushels. The county is watered by the Elkhorn river and by Union Creek.

STANTON CITY

The site, comprising forty acres, was first platted in 1871, by L. C. Lehman, S. L. Holman, and George Graves. The first building in Stanton (16x24x12 ft), was erected by C. M. Densmore, and occupied by Cornelius Nye as a residence and county clerk's office. In the same year Kendall and Densmore opened a store (18x32 ft.). The first school, in 1877, was taught in the Murphy building. F. A. Frost was the teacher. Wm. Kendall was the first postmaster. The population of Stanton County in 1930 is 7,809.

In 1873, the Stanton "Bugle" was started by Lewis Ley. It was printed at Omaha and soon after at West Point and Madison. It died 1877. The "Index" was published by M. Robertson till 1879. The Stanton "Register" was first issued October 8, 1879.

CHURCHES

Among the churches, Salem church, of the Evangelical association of North America, was the first to be organized in 1873 by Rev. Otto RohI, of West Point, after having services occasionally since 1870. St. John's church, of the Evangelical Lutheran Society, was organized in 1871, Rev. W. A. Freese, pastor. The Congregational church dates back to 1878. The Methodist Episcopal Church was part of the Wisner circuit till 1880, then of the Norfolk circuit.

BANKS

The Stanton County Bank, belonging to F. McGiverin, opened its doors, September 20, 1879, In August, 1880, the Ley Brothers Elevator began business. The Arthur Graves lumber yard dates back to May 26, 1879. "The Nebraska House" was built in 1871 by John Wright, who, after eight months, sold it to M. B. Sharp. A severe cyclone at 2 p. m., on September 28, 1881, demolished twenty-six buildings, thereby causing a damage of $15,000. Happily no lives were lost.

PILGER VILLAGE

Pilger is situated eleven miles from Stanton, on the Sioux Pacific R. R. It was laid out om 1880 by the Elkhorn Valley Land & Town Company.  Its present population is 578.

COLFAX COUNTY

Colfax county is located in the Platte river valley. It was named in honor of the then Republican vice president of the United States, Schuyler Colfax. Its area is 405 square miles, its population (including many Bohemians and Germans), in 1920: 11,624; in 1930: 11,434. The crops are chiefly wheat, corn, oats, etc. Many fine herds seen in the pastures show that dairying is fast becoming a leading industry. The milk is shipped to nearby creameries.

There are fifty-four rural schools and four accredited high schools. The normal rainfall is sufficient to raise the proper crops. Land sells for $100-$l50 per acre. The Lincoln Highway crosses the county. Numerous other highways link the towns together. The rainfall is normal.

HISTORY

Colfax was originally part of Platte county and Buchanan was founded on April 27, 1855, or about a month sooner than Columbus. Its life was of short duration. See the Chapter on "Columbus".

Dan Haschberger came in October, 1856. The severe winter of 1856-'57 caused similar hardships as at Columbus: Trips to Omaha for food in the cold winter. Fortunately, game was then abundant. Albertson shot, in that winter, thirty-three deer and eight elk. In 1857, came R. W. Corson, Henry Kemp, and Joseph Skinner. The story of Neenah has already been told.

MOSES SHINN

Moses Shinn, afterwards one of the wealthiest citizens of Omaha, preached the gospel in those days to emigrants who passed through that city enroute to the great west. When Pike's Peak excitement was on the rampage, he is said to have reaped many sly dollars by interspersing among his sermons many well turned advertisements holding up the advantages of Shinn's ferry over the Columbus institution.

Previous to the coming of the Union Pacific road, there were not, in fact, more than a dozen families, who could be called actual settlers in what is now Colfax county. There were the Albertsons, the Toncrays, Michael Erb, Jonas Welch, William Wetherer, Abraham Beaman,

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Joseph Russell, Joseph Skinner, William Davis, Messrs. H. Bushnell, George Spaulding, S. H. Fowler, the Quinns, A. Dunlap, and a few others along the line of the military road from east to west. Soon after Buchanan was platted, however, Mr. Albertson was appointed postmas- [sic] site, donated block 113 as a site for the county honor for some time. When the road was built, the trains at first ran very irregularly. It happened, moreover, that they generally passed Buchanan at night, the mail bag being thrown at random, if the train was anywhere in the vicinity of the "post office". The postmaster's duties, therefore, as an anxious office holder in continual search of his official documents, were quite arduous. Mr. Davis, the incumbent, at this time, felt that sufficient safeguards were not thrown around the sanctity of the United States mail, upon being informed once upon a time, that a squad of Indians were coming up the track trying to sell the contents of the bag to all the section hands whom they passed. P. M. Davis, therefore, sent in his resignation, and Mr. Albertson again assumed the duties of his position. A petition was circulated for the appointment of Daniel Haschberger at "Shell Creek". It was granted by the government, and the new appointee marched over to Buchanan. Mr. Albertson reached overhead and unfastening from the rafters a pine box about three feet in length and two feet in width, passed the office and its honors over to Postmaster Haschberger, who took both with him to the future Schuyler.

SCHUYLER

As the county was named "Colfax", so the county seat was named "Schuyler" in honor of the same vice-president. The site then belonged to the Union Pacific railroad, there being a depot, a section house and one or two shanties. On March 20, 1869, a meeting of the commissioners was held. A general election took place October 12, 1869, and resulted as follows: Isaac Albertson, probate judge; R. W. Corson, treasurer; J. W. F. Williams, county clerk; Adolph Ernst, sheriff; L. C. Smith, Surveyor; John van Housen, school superintendent; Alva Skinner, coroner. The commissioners were: J. P. Maple, Frederick Stevens, W. P. St. Clair and Daniel Anderson. Schuyler city was platted April 6, 1869. The first trustees of the new corporation were. B. F. King, H. P. Upton, C. M. Greenman and S. P. Van Doozer. Clarkson Brothers, then the owners of the site, donated block 113 as a site for the county buildings. Platte county was paid for old debts on the court house $5,223.48, and for other debts only $49.57. On February 11, 1871, a special election voted $60,000 in bonds for a bridge across the river and $20,000 for a new court house. The bridge was completed by H. F. Clark, of Bellevue, at a cost of $65,000. There were nine spans, each 150 feet, eight stone piers and two abutments. The town was platted by H. M. Hoxie and Webster Snyder, officials of the Union Pacific R. R. Mr. E. E. Greenman, surveyor, laid it out and Clarkson Brothers, who had acquired possession of it, made an addition December, 1869. The Dan Haschberger Addition was made in January, 1870. H. Holcomb, later editor of the Schuyler Herald, occupied the dwelling erected for P. P. St. Clair, the agent for the railroad. W. Dworak, dealer in farm produce, owned a flouring mill on Shell Creek, four miles north of Schuyler in 1873. It had four runs of stones. The building was 40x60 feet and four stories high. Its capacity was (in the year 1882) 100 barrels a day. F. Folda opened a general merchandise store at Schuyler in 1869. The Schuyler Sun was established in 1871, by J. C. McBride. It first appeared as the Register in September of that year, George S. Witters, editor and proprietor. In December it was changed into the News and, finally, into the Herald. The Democrat appeared in June, 1878.

RICHLAND (BENTON)

Benton is a station eight miles west of Schuyler, now called Richland. It was laid out on a forty acre tract on the north side of the railroad track. A. L. Payne was the first store keeper. The station is now on the south side of the track. There was once a Catholic church in the country. The late Rev. John Mueller, who passed away in March, 1930, at Columbus, was the first resident pastor.

The land office of the Union Pacific R. R. was established in 1881. The 1930 population in 174.

CHURCHES

On December 15, 1869, the Presbyterian church was organized, Rev. Alexander Sutherland being the first pastor. The Methodist Episcopal Church was begun July 4, 1870, but met with their Bishop's approval only in 1878. Rev. O. C. Dake had held services occasionally in 1869 in the village. The church was erected in 1875. It cost $3,000, a donation by Miss Cole, of New York, who was a daughter of Edwin Cole, ex-governor of Illinois.

ST. PAUL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH

St. Paul's Catholic Church was organized in 1879, and the church, costing $700, was erected the same year by Father James M. Ryan, of Columbus. It was attended by Father Ryan and O'Connor occasionally. The Catholic Bohemians also have a church, erected in 1914.

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THE SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS

The Seventh Day Adventists held services since August, 1881, with twenty to thirty worshipers in a rented room. Rev. A. J. Cudney had charge of the meetings.

The population of Rogers is 138; that of Clarkson 918; that of Leigh 698; that of Howell 952.

In 1882, the daily attendance at the Schuyler schools was 244 with J. P. Sprecher as principal.

In the sixties a certain Mr. Hill was murdered by the Brady brothers in a quarrel and Justice Henry Kemp, after spitting the stove all over several times to gain time for reflection, gave his verdict: "No cause for action".

Colfax Precinct, Wilson Precinct with a large Bohemian settlement and a fine church and cemetery, and Stanton Precinct deserve mention.

BUTLER COUNTY

Butler County is named after Mr. W. O. Butler, of Kentucky, who had been named governor of the territory of Nebraska before Governor Burt, but who declined the honor. Butler county is bordered on the north by Colfax and Platte counties; on the east, by Saunders county; on the south, by Seward county; on the west, by Polk county. Butler county is about fifty-one miles west of the Missouri river; about one hundred and thirty-five miles from the western border of the state and almost midway between north and south Nebraska. The area is about 583 (590) square miles. More than one-sixth of the land is gently rolling. The soil is fertile and adapted to agriculture. The average rainfall is 25 inches. The chief products are: Corn, alfalfa, wheat, oats, etc. In the hilly eastern lands there is excellent pasturage land. The fairly level western half contains the best farm land varying in value from $100 to $150. The altitude is about 1,500 feet above sea level. Drainage is excellent and the water supply is wonderful within ten to sixty feet of the surface. The climate is healthful.

The population of Butler county in 1920 was 14,606, the 1930 census gives it 14,410.

THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS

The original inhabitants of Butler county that we have reliable knowledge of were the Pawnees. This region was often visited by the friendly Omahas and the Otoes, but was also frequently invaded with murderous intent by the Sioux, who committed many atrocities, possibly in retaliation for former Pawnee outrages (Skull Creek near Linwood). Kittikorak's band lived on the site of Savannah probably until about 1785, when they went south.

THE FIRST WHITE MEN IN BUTLER COUNTY

The first white men in Butler county were probably General John C. Fremont, the Pathfinder, and his men, who passed here in 1846. The Marmons (sic) came next. Then the Waverly Townsite Company settled, 1857, near Skull Creek. But this was given up when the Pike's Peak excitement came on in 1858. Shinn's Ferry was established in 1858 near the residence of Tennis Hookstra. The first permanent white settlers who established ranches were: D. H. Gardner, 1859; Simpson, 1859, (afterwards Ransel B. Grant's, who was murdered by Robert Wilson at Columbus, in January, 1867); McCabe's, 1859, on Deer Creek; Thompson Bissel, on Elm Creek, 1860, and David Reed, 1862. Near this place a number of graves mark the site, where several forty-niners were laid to their last rest. Ranch life lasted from 1859 to 1869, when the county was organized and the "freighters' customs and road laws gave way to legislative enactments." (Andreas, History of Nebraska, p. 448).

THE OLD MORMON TRAIL

The "Old Mormon Trail" enters the county in the southeast part of section 24, Township 13, Range 4, on the east, then following up one of the continuous divides to the table lands, and thence around its northern edge to the point where Deer Creek leaves the hills, where it descends another short divide, to the Platte bottoms.

MORE PIONEERS

Other pioneer settlers were: Solomon B. Garfield and James Blair with their families, 1858; Thompson Bissell, William Bissell, W. Earl, J. W. Seely, Moses Shinn, 1859; William Butler and S. D. Shinn, 1860; A. U. Briggs, 1861; Jehiel Hobart, F. C. Johnson, 1862, and two or three others settled near Linwood. Levi Clark made the first location in Pepperville Precinct in 1863 and Joseph Shields settled upon the Big Blue river in 1864. In 1865, Isaac Clark and Hubbel Pepper located in Pepperville Precinct. The first ones to settle in Oak Creek Precinct in May, 1865, were: James D. Brown, Christopher Davis, James Darnell, George Heed, Robert Reed, G. McCarty settled in the neighborhood of Ulysses. Mr. McCarty homesteaded the townsite. In 1869, a school district was organized. In 1867, a son was born to Doctor S. T. W. Thrapp, the first born in the county. Mr. Thomas Shields and Miss Adeline Stillman were the first to plight their troth for life, the ceremony, however, was performed in Seward county, the reception held at the bride's home, in 1869. A son of Jacob Kenauber was the

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first victim of death near Ulysses in 1870.

In 1870, Messrs. O. H. Ford, J. C. Ford, George Fox, J. Zimmerman, Jacob Kleinhahn, Thomas Dowling, William M. Bunting, John Bunting, J. D. Van Tassell, W. Jackson, Thomas Preston, E. Ackerman, L. Ham, J. Shotwell, E. Shotwell, Milo Yaw and Louis Brown made the first settlement upon the table land. This remarkable influx of settlers was caused by the completion of the Union Pacific R. R. which afforded an inlet and an outlet to the heretofore isolated territory. More than 40,000 acres of sod were turned over by the plow and many dwellings erected in this heretofore lonely, silent solitude, unbroken save for the whistling of the winds, the tramp of the bison or the footstep of the redman.

SETTLEMENT OF THE HIGHLAND

The pioneers settled where they found the prime necessities of life, water and wood. They were the first permanent settlers in Butler county. Portions of the valley were first settled when the antelope and coyote still inhabited the wilderness of the highlands. Thompson Bissell and William Bissell, William Earl, J. W. Seely, Moses Shinn, Simpson Beardsley, Davis H. Gardner and Mccabe settled on ranches established in 1859. Some settled on ranches, others near Savannah and Linwood. Thompson Bissell remained on his ranch until 1865, when he moved to Bissell's Grove, near Wahoo, Saunder (sic) County. David Reed settled on the Big Blue river in 1867. Mr. Simpson upon Oak Creek Wm. Butler and S. D. Shinn, in 1860, located near Savannah. Mr. Shinn later on owned Shinn's Ferry. A. M. Briggs located, 1861, (near Grant's ranch). Jehiel Hobart, F. C. Johnson and two or three others, in 1882, at Linwood (old Waverly townsite) on the east bank of Skull Creek. The town of Skull Creek began about 1870-'71. Josh P. Brown, S. O. Crawford, Gilbert Hobart, John L. Smith, Wm. Spring and James McBride were early settlers at Linwood. Efforts to locate coal failed. In May, 1865, Mr. James D. Brown settled on Oak Creek and soon after J. C. Hatchett, J. Crowley and Robert Lee at Urban in the timber groves on Oak Creek. The Post Office was established 1868, with Mr. J. D. Brown as postmaster. In 1865-'66, Mrs. Frances G. Crowley opened school at the house of J. C. Crowley. In fall, 1867, a sod house school was erected and Rev. George Worley preached the first sermon in Urban Settlement. Thomas Hattchell, son of J. C. Hattchell, was the first child born there on October 1, 1866. The first couple married there were Thomas Worall and Miss Polly Brown. Mr. L. Simpson was the first victim of the grim reaper in fall, 1870.

BUTLER COUNTY ORGANIZED

The county was organized in 1856, by order of the territorial governor, Cuming, and politically in August, 1868, when it numbered about 200 people, mostly single men, veterans of the Civil war, who lived along the Platte river. At the first election held by order of governor David Butler at two polling places Ulysses and Bone Creek in 1868, a total of seventy votes was polled and the choice of the county seat resulted in the selection of Savannah. The first commissioners were: H. C. Wilson (first district), James Green (second district); J. D. Brown (third district). The following were the first county officers: D. R. Garner, treasurer; H. Pepper, county clerk; Wm. Butler, sheriff; C. C. Loomis, probate judge; J. A. Taylor, coroner; W. T. Richardson, surveyor. The first meeting of the commissioners was held at the Bone Creek school house on October 21, 1868. James Green was elected chairman. They met from house to house. The first levy for taxes was made July 5, 1869. The county was at first divided into four precincts: Bone Creek, Pepperville, Ulysses and Oak Creek precinct. The deed for the county seat is recorded: 1/4 of W1/2 of S1/2 of section 12-16-2. On December 20, 1869, the county court house was ordered built on N 3/4 E Quarter 12-16-22 "provided that it be built at reasonable figures." The court house was 20x32 feet with an addition 8x14 and built by J. D. Martin for $915. It was to be completed in 30 days from January 4, 1870. The location was named Savannah by motion of R. C. Wilson, January 4, 1870.

SAVANNAH

Savannah was settled in 1859 by David R. Gardner, the original proprietor of the townsite. It remained the county capital from 1869 till 1872, and boasted of a court house, a hotel, two stores, a blacksmith shop, and a dozen other buildings. The glory of Savannah was of short duration. When the railroad was surveyed, the engineers refused to build too near the Platte river banks and this settled the fate of Savannah and once more there was an exemplification of the poetic sentiment expressed by Oliver Goldsmith in "The Deserted Village." David City was chosen as the county seat.

April 16, 1872, the county was divided into nine (later into fifteen) precincts (beginning on the northeast, going west, then back proceeding east: Linwood, Savannah, Bone Creek, Plum Creek and Oak Creek (these three derive their names from the streams that pass through them). Alexis, Summit, (from Summit, Wis., former residence of C. C. Cobb, Esq., merchant, 1872) Olive, Franklin Skull Creek, (from the many Skulls along the stream that flows

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through it), Oak Creek, (for the stream passing through it); Center, (for its geographical position), Reading, (for a Michigan town of that name), Reed, (in commemoration of David Reed, pioneer settler), Ulysses, (in honor of General U. S. Grant), Plum Creek, (from the stream of that name), Richardson, (in honor of W. T. Richardson, an old settler end first county surveyor), Pepperville, (in honor of Hubbel Pepper, an early settler and county clerk), Bone Creek, (from the stream).

TRANSFER OF COUNTY SEAT FROM
SAVANNAH TO DAVID CITY

The transfer of the county seat from Savannah to David City was achieved after a bitter and protracted struggle by a majority of thirty-nine votes. The transfer was "to the east one-half of the southwest one-quarter, and the west -one-half of the southeast quarter of Section 19, Town 15, North, Range 3, east of the Sixth Principal MeridIan." The ground belonging to Mr. Davids, a friend and relative of Mr. William Miles, patron and part owner of the site. The ground was immediately surveyed into blocks and lots and a neat and commodious court house was erected at the new site. To this the records of the county were moved, on August 6, 1873, The "S" in Davids City was soon dropped for convenience sake. The population of David City in 1930 was 2,333.

CHURCHES

The first church in Butler county was the Congregational church. Rev. Amos Dresser was the first Congregational minister. He came in 1869 and organized the first church and Sunday school. He preached and taught in the Savannah Court House for a long time. Rev. Markett held services for the Methodist Episcopal at Captain Coon's house at David City, 1871-'74, when a church was erected. It cost $1,500. The Congregational church was organized in David City in 1878 and worshiped in its own church the year following. Rev. Amos Dresser, during seven years, was the first pastor. The Rev. Jacob Earnhardt established a Baptist mission in 1870. In 1879, a second church was organized by Rev. Mr. Maynard.

THE CATHOLICS

The Catholics began to organize about 1877, Father John Gafron, O. F. M., celebrated the first Holy Mass at the court house in September, 1877. According to others, Rev. Ambrose Janssen was the celebrant. The church was probably built in 1878. The Franciscan Father came from Columbus twice a month. In 1882, the membership was about two hundred and the church property was valued at $3,000. See special article.

THE PRESS--PHYSICIAN

On September 25, 1873, The Butler County Press, a weekly journal, issued its first number under the auspices of Charles D. Casper and W. G. Rutherford. Calmer McCune, February 6, 1877, issued the first number of the David City Republican.

Thomas J. Murphy, M. D., came to Nebraska in 1868, practiced at David City, March, 1877, and again after 1881. He was a Civil War veteran and one of the charter members of Assumption parish at David City.

Ulysses, Rising City, Brainard, Bellwood, are to be noted.

DAVID CITY

May 23, 1873, the county seat, was located at David City, on Section 19-15-13. This site was owned by Mrs. Phoebe Davids Miles, of Corydon, Iowa. She employed Willis T. Richland, the county surveyor, to lay out and plat the townsite at once. The county court house was the first building erected,

The county was given complete title to one-half the lots so platted. One block was set aside for a court house square; two lots for various churches were reserved as was the right to name the new town. The plat that was recorded revealed the name of David's City, thus perpetuating the maiden name of Mrs. P. D. Miles.

The first real hotel was the old court house of Savannah, which Mr. Perkins had acquired and which he had transported to the new county capitol. Wm. Turner had a boarding house west of the court house. B. O. Perkins, Jr., was the first white child born at David City, being born in December, 1873. The first dry goods and grocery store was opened by John T. Myers and a small drugstore by Thornton F. Myers. F. H. Angel opened another general store on the site of the City National Bank. John Dean and Son, of Hartfort, Connecticut, were the more successful merchants. The first attorneys that came to David City were: John T. Myers, Horace Garfield and A. J. Evans. This was the day the county court was moved to the new location. Peter Graham was the first cobbler; H. T. Hawes the first harness-maker; W. G. Boston opened the first hardware store.

Schweser's Store was started about 1888.

The first school was taught in the winter of 1874-'75 by Miss Hattie Brezee (Mrs. F. H. Porter). The upper room in the court house was utilized for a school room. Early in the fall, 1875, the frame school house of section 29-15-3 was moved into David City to the site now occupied by the high school. W. A. Hague of Linwood taught there.

The first grand jury was called in 1872, Wm.

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M. Bunting, foreman, Hon. George B. Lake, of Omaha, on the bench.

BRAINARD

Brainard, the oldest town in eastern Butler county, is situated on the Union Pacific R. R. and the Chicago and Northwestern R. R., arid is surrounded by fertile and improved lands. Its population is 400. Brainard has two churches, the Catholic and the Methodist church; a public school having twelve grades, and a large new parochial school erected in the year 1916.

Brainard is also well supplied with business houses: Three banks, four general merchandise and hardware stores, three soft drink parlors, three elevators, two garages, two oil stations, one hotel and a fine flour mill, etc.

The Catholic parish of The Holy Trinity consists largely of Bohemian Catholics and has as its pastor the Rt. Rev. Monsignor Alois Klein. The parochial school is taught by nine Sisters of Notre Dame and one lay teacher and has an enrollment of 152 pupils.

DWIGHT

Dwight is a village situated in Richardson township. On section 21 there are found traces of a Pawnee Indian village. The first settlers were Clinton Latton, 1866, and W. T. Richardson, who came soon after. The township is named after the latter. In 1869 both settled on section 27. Wild deer, antelope and prairie chicken and, in spring and fall, wild geese and white brant were found in abundance. Song birds, especially the spotted magpie, filled the air with their notes.

In 1871 there was a star mail route via Ulysses and Valparaiso to Lone Tree. This lone star post office was located at the residence of J. P. Dunlap. The mail was carried by W. Taylor, of Valparaiso, over road and no road. He made one round trip per week. The post office was later moved to the home of W. D. Kerr and in 1883 to that of Henry Glower, one mile southwest of Dwight.

The name of the post office was now changed to Dwight, probably after Dwight, Illinois, the former home of Mr. H. Glower.

Frank Coufal, in 1878, settled on section 8 in Richardson Township. In 1882, W. F. Wheeler, of Philadelphia, owner of a large tract of land on Plum Creek, opened it for settlement and many located here in 1882 and 1883. The first settlers were poor financially and traded with Plattsmouth and Nebraska City as their market towns till the road to Lincoln was built in 1872. Ox teams were used.

In 1870, school district No. 12 was formed at Dwight. Messrs. Shelley Davis, A. C. Albright and J. P. Dunlap were the first school officers.

In spring, 1871, a school house was built and school opened on October 2, 1871, on the southwest corner of Dwight. The first teacher was W. D. Kerr. Later the school was built in Dwight on the present site. It was soon replaced by a frame structure and eventually by the present two-story brick school house.

In 1887, the F. F. & M. V. R. R. was built and the post office moved to the railroad station which was called Dwight. W. H. Tewilliger was the first depot agent and built the first grain elevator. Charles Fledman was the first section boss. Ormsby and Tewilliger opened the first store, Joseph Hulchopik the first blacksmith shop.

Dwight was incorporated as a village December 29, 1904. In the fall, 1878, John Thompson was dangerously burned by a prairie fire while trying to backfire it.

On January 12, 1888, an awful blizzard from the northwest raged; the moisture in the air quickly turned to snow and it became quite dark with scarcely a minute's notice. The roar of the storm prevented the calls for help from being heeded and the cold increased rapidly. The children in school house 12 stayed there till next day. A conflagration in 1912 destroyed about one-half the business section of Dwight. Phoenix-like new and better structures replaced the buildings consumed by fire. In 1924, 126 cars of grain and 253 cars of live stock were shipped from Dwight.

The first preaching was done in the school house by George Clapp, a Baptist minister from Seward county, on October 29, 1871. At present Dwight has a fine Catholic (Assumption) church and a modern brick school taught by five Ursuline nuns. The number of pupils is 132 (12 grades). Rev. F. Kopecki succeeded the late F. Suesser (1929) as pastor.

POLK COUNTY

Polk County comprises 432 square miles and in 1920 had a population of 10,714. The land is generally rolling and well adapted to diversified farming and stock raising. The average annual rainfall is 30 inches. Three railroads, three arterial highways and scores of lesser roads afford good transportation facilities. There are about sixty-six rural grade schools and six accredited high schools with a total of 125 teachers in Polk County. Osceola is the county seat. Other towns of note are Stromsburg, Polk and Shelby.

HISTORY

Polk County was originally a part of Butler County. By an order issued by Governor Butler, an election was held on August 6, 1870, with the following people elected as the first county

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The John English Home in Humphrey.

The St. Mary's Band, Southeast of Humphrey.

The Humphrey Steam Brick Yards, Now Demolished.

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officers of Polk County: Frank Reardon, County Clerk; James Query, Probate Judge; Hon. John M. Mickey, County Treasurer; Ole Bredeson, Sheriff.

In August, 1870, the county seat was officially placed at Osceola. In December of the same year, F. M. Stone was appointed County Surveyor, and John Fox, County Superintendent of Schools.

In this same year the county was divided into two precincts: Hackberry and Clear Creek, the former occupying the southern and the latter the northern part of the county. In 1871, a part near the center running north and south, was constituted as Platte Precinct.

Mr. M. W. Stone built the first court house, which was accepted by the commissioners, March 20, 1872. On January 1, 1881, this building was destroyed by fire and most of the records up to that year lost.

OSCEOLA

Osceola was first located three miles southeast of the present site. This was in 1870. But in October, 1871, the present location was selected and made permanent. The town site was platted in June, 1872, where the first building of the town, the court house, had already been built by W. M. Stone.

In and about this site settled Rev. James C. Query (1869); J. R. Steward; George Kerr; John A. Beltzer; Henry Hildebrand; G. W. Kenyon: J. F. Campbell; William Query; Lumin Van Hoosen and H. T. Arnold.

In May, 1872, W. H. Water built the first general merchandise store in Osceola. This store was likewise the first in Polk County. In October following, John H. Mickey and Wm. F. Kimmel erected the first residences. The post office was established in June, 1872, with W. E. Loring as the first postmaster. The Omaha and Republican Valley Railroad ran into Osceloa (sic), June 23, 1879. A large brick school, costing $6,000.00 was erected in 1882.

Evan Mickey was the first child to be born in Osceola, his birth occurring January 26, 1874. In 1877, Albinus Nance, a distinguished citizen of Osceola, became Speaker of the House of Representatives at Lincoln, and subsequently served two terms as Governor of Nebraska.

The Homesteader (later the Osceola Record) was edited in 1872 by H. T. Arnold. The Herald was founded December 24, 1879, by George R. Nunnelly: The Polk County Times was established at Stromsburg by W. D. Ferre in 1876, but discontinued after a run of six months.

CHURCHES AT OSCEOLA

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in the winter of 1872-73 by Rev. J. F. Elliott, at the home of L. F. Whitehead, with seven members. The First Congregational Church was begun August 26, 1872, by Rev. A. Dresser of Linwood, Nebraska, Rev. J. F. Elliott of Columbus, and Rev. O. W. Merrill, state superintendent of American Missions, at the home of W. E. Loring. The Presbyterian Church dates back to June 22, 1879. It was organized by Rev. G. A. Little. In 1882 it had a membership of twenty.

PLATTE PRECINCT
CLEAR CREEK PRECINCT

Platte Precinct owes its name to the Platte River. Captain W. T. Dodge and P. E. King were the first settlers, they coming in March, 1871. Clear Creek Precinct is named after a stream by that name. George D. Grant was the first settler on railroad land there. He was followed by G. E. Barnum and Levi Kimball.

District School Number 4 was started here in the spring of 1872. A Miss Vandercoff was the first teacher.

The Redville Post Office was established in 1871, with David Redpath in charge. It was discontinued in 1876. The Conkling Post Office was opened in 1879, with John Morrow as its first postmaster.

STROMSBURG PRECINCT

W. H. Records settled here first, in the fall of 1869. School District Number 10 made its appearance here in the winter of 1871-'72, and the post office, with J. C. Smith as its first postmaster, in the winter of 1873.

The town of Stromsburg was surveyed in June, 1872, and The Stromsburg Town Company erected a store there in the same fall. In the following year, Rev. Simon Barrows organized a Congregational Church Society at Pleasant Prairie, while Rev. N. E. Axling began the First Swedish Baptist Church in the Spring of 1873, Rev. Lungrene serving as the first pastor. The Swedish Lutheran Church dates back to the spring of 1874, with Rev. M. Sweder in charge. The Methodist Episcopal Church was founded in the winter of 1879-1880; the Presbyterian Church by Rev. Panghom in the fall of 1881. The population of Stromsburg in 1930 was 1,320.

CANADA PRECINCT

The first settler in this portion of the county was Dr. S. O. Whaley, who came in the spring of 1871. The first school dates back to July, 1872. It was known as the Burley School House and had an enrollment of twenty-six pupils. Near it, in 1873, Rev. L. F. Whitehead, of the Osceola circuit, erected the Wesley chapel. The first post office was at Cyclone, Mr. Albert Cowles being the first postmaster. D. Merick entered the first land.

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ARCADE, NOW SHELBY
ORIGINALLY CYCLONE

Arcade was started when the Union Pacific came to this place. The site of Shelby belonged to Gilbert Vanvorc, by virtue of a timber claim. In August, 1879, he and Peter Matter gave the Union Pacific a half interest in the property. In the same month J. T. Dunning erected a grain elevator. The first general merchandise store was opened in September, 1879, by Messrs. H. C. and Frank Dunning.

In November, 1879, Chas. Krumbach and Conrad Thelen opened the first hardware store, and the same date saw Messrs. Fox and Giffin with a dry goods and grocery store. The first drug store, with John Stalnecker as proprietor, opened its doors in April, 1880.

The name Arcade did not last long. It was changed to Shelby in the winter of 1880-'81, and J. T. Dunning became the postmaster, being at his work only until April, 1881. Previous to that H. O. D. Cunningham was the postmaster of Arcade. The present population of Shelby is 630. The Sacred Heart Church is treated in a separate article.

HACKBERRY PRECINCT

Hackberry Precinct is the oldest and most populous in Polk County. It is drained by the Blue River, where there is a natural growth of timber. The first settler there was Albert Seiver, in the spring of 1867. Following soon after appeared Thomas Connolly, John Patterson, Jas. Clark, John H. Mickey and W. W. Maxwell. In 1859, James Query, with wife and sons, and W. W. Maxwell, arrived.

P. V. Davis settled on a little stream, which was eventually called Davis Creek. The first birth in the precinct was that of Edgar Roberts, the event happening November 30, 1868. John A. Griffin taught the first school in the spring of 1870, having 38 pupils.

PLEASANT HOME PRECINCT

Pleasant Home Precinct is in the extreme southwestern part of the county, where S. C. Davis was the earliest settler, coming October 2, 1870.

ISLAND PRECINCT

Island Precinct is in the northwestern part of the county, and is so named from being located between the two channels of the Platte River.

In the summer of 1870, came Mr. Bouker Beebe, the first settler. Following him appeared, in the spring of 1871, Rudolph Kummer, Holly M. Mills, M. D.; Wm. Thomas, Hy. Augustine and Alex T. Simmons.

Miss Jennie Osterhout taught the first school (District 17) organized in the spring of 1872.

MERRICK COUNTY

Its area comprises 463 square miles. The population in 1920 was 10,763, in 1930 10,619. As there was a scarcity of natural timber, when the county was first settled, many trees have been planted. The black loam soil is almost level and well adapted to all crops raised in this state, such as corn, alfalfa, wheat, oats, potatoes, barley, rye, etc. Farming and cattle feeding, dairying and poultry raising are the leading industries. In 1929, there were about 1,000 acres under irrigation. The annual rainfall is 28 inches. The water supply is inexhaustible. One well near Central City yields 1500 gallons per minute. As there is a gentle slope seven feet to the mile, irrigation is easy.

The Lincoln Highway, the White Way and good state and county roads exist throughout the county. Fifty-four rural schools and eight accredited high schools and a staff of 115 teachers afford excellent educational opportunities.

The land sells for from $125-$175 per acre.

The county seat is Central City. Its population in 1920 was 2,410, in 1930 2,474.

HISTORY

"The Western Stage Company", carrying the United States mail and having stations every twenty miles, established a station at Lone Tree and erected the first building in Merrick county. It was an uncouth, small affair and composed of unsealed cottonwood logs and a sod roof. Weekly trips were made with a four-horse stage. The famous lone tree was a cottonwood patriarch on the north bank of the Platte river, about three miles southwest of the present Central City. It was visible to within a radius of twenty miles and the general favorite, which popularity endangered its life, many camping here inscribed their names and the date of camping and lighted their camp fires until its roots were weakened and a strong wind in 1865 uprooted the tree and threw the old landmark to the ground. The jack-knife artists no doubt hastened the death of the tree leaving a stump four feet in diameter.

THE FIRST SETTLER

The first settler in Merrick county was the gold hunter from California, James Vieregg, in fall, 1859, His brother John had settled in Hall county some years before. On September 15, 1859, James Vieregg staked off his claim, thus becoming the first settler in Merrick county. His land was afterwards purchased by Claus Stoltenberg. On the same September 15, 1859, towards sunset, Jesse Shoemaker and Charles Eggerton, of Douglas county, established a ranch under the Lone Tree. Mr. Shoemaker found business profitable and, after establishing an-

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Residence of C. A. Allenberger, M. D.

Residence of D. T. Martyn, Jr., M. D.

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other ranch eight miles farther west, he brought his family from Elkhorn river. The first family to locate permanently in Merrick county was that of Jason Parker. In 1861, the first post office was established with Mr. W. H. Mitchell as postmaster. It was called "Shoemaker's Point" and was situated near Chapman Station. In 1875, it began to be called Central City. Mrs. Jason Parker was the first to die in Merrick county, on July 15, 1862.

NEWSPAPERS

The first newspaper was established on March 21, 1872, at Lone Tree, the county seat, under the name of "The Merrick County News". It was Republican in tone. The editor was Henry Kelsey. April 10, 1873, appeared the "Lone Tree Sentinel", with W. H. Webster and George A. Percival as editors. On the 9th of April, 1874, "The Lone Tree Courier" appeared. "The Clarksville Messenger", James G. Kreider, editor, began publication on May 4, 1878. "The Merrick County Item" made its first appearance January 14, 1880. On January 1, 1882, Millard and Holcomb started the stalwart Republican Central City "Nonpareil".

CHURCHES

Elder T. B. Lemon, of the Methodist Episcopal church, organized the first religious services at the home of James G. Brewer, June 24, 1866. In 1871, the Methodist Episcopal church was organized. The Baptist society was formed January 19, 1872. Among the first members were: E. H. Wilder and wife, Mrs. Hilton and H. C. Osterhout. On April 14, 1872, the Presbyterian Church of Lone Tree was started with George W. Newell as the first pastor. The Congregational church dates back to April, 1872, with Rev. L. Jones as pastor. The Catholics had services when the Union Pacific R. R. was built in the county. Father J. Ryan, of Columbus, officiated at Central City in 1866. About 1868, the Catholics erected a church which in 1882 had a membership of twenty-seven families. Father E. Geary took charge in October, 1881, with the missions of Clarksville (twenty-three families in 1882) and Aurora, Hamilton county (forty families). Christ Church (Episcopal) dates back to 1874, with Rev. H. C. Shaw, of Silver Creek, in charge.

CLARKS

Clarks was settled in April, 1865, by C. B. Hartwell, locating on a ranch, The Huntington Ranch, on the old military road, three miles east of town, which is situated on the Union Pacific R. R., 12 miles west of Central City. The town was platted in fall, 1866, and was named after Mr. S. H. H. Clark, superintendent of the U. P. R. R. Other pioneer settlers were: John McLean, F. Coyle (1866), A. Kerr and Thomas Tague (1868). The district school was erected in 1880, at a cost of $3,000, and had in 1882 an enrollment of 100 among a population of 300. The post office was established in 1869, with Mr. A. Kern as postmaster. In September, 1871, Mary Walkey taught the first school in a sod shanty. This stood on Mr. Hartwell's land. L. B. McIntyre built the first house in 1871, and opened the first store.

The first child born was John F. McLean, Jr., in 1867. The first marriage taking place was that of John McLean and Mary E. Hartwell, in December, 1866. Jennie Hartwell was the first to succumb to the grim reaper.

In 1882, there were at Clarks four churches: The Catholic, with Rev. Ed Geary, rector; The Episcopalian, Rev. Sam Goodale, pastor; The Congregationalists; and the Methodist Episcopal, Rev. Joseph F. Buckley, rector.

SILVER CREEK

Silver Creek is situated in a rich stock raising country, eleven miles west of Clarks, on the Union Pacific Railroad. The name is derived from the "clearness, sparkle and color of the little stream near town". Silver Creek was platted by the Union Pacific Railroad in November, 1866. Next to the section house, stations, etc., the first building was put up by one B. F. Hobart early in 1870. The "Lee House", a hotel, was put up in September, 1870, by Cyrus Lee. Soon after a residence was constructed by Thomas Lee. Other early settlers in this section were: Shaw Brothers, Mr. Lathrop, J. and Edward Howland and James Brown, about 1871. A district school was organized in 1871. Thomas Gannon and Mary Foster were the first to pledge their troth for life. The flour mill, operated by Craword and James in 1882, had been erected in 1879. The population in 1930 is 464.

The first post office was at Lathrop's ranch, two miles below Silver Creek. It was called "Silver Glen", but was moved to Silver Creek later.

The town now has a fine brick school. July 4, 1871, D. C. Kelley and Ella Lee followed their example.

The Congregational church formed in March, 1884.

CHURCHES

The Episcopalians organized in 1870, Rev. H. C. Shaw, pastor. The Congregational church dates back to 1874. Rev. L. H. Jones was their first regular pastor. The Catholics at first attended the church at Crakow or Clarks. In 1902 Mr. H. Lawrence Rossiter, formerly county surveyor of Platte county, and Father Rembert

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Stanowski built a Catholic church. This was enlarged. The parish is attended by Rev. Kunkel of (Marks.

CENTRAL CITY (LONE TREE)

Central City has good railroad facilities, the Union Pacific and Burlington & Missouri River R. R. The town was platted in the fall of 1863(?), by the Union Pacific Railroad Company.

As we have already seen, the first settler here was James Vieregg, a dealer in grain and farm implements and first county treasurer (1865-1876). He was a native of Germany, where he was born. He came to Nebraska in 1858, took a homestead of 160 acres in Merrick county and farmed till 1870, when he moved to Central City, to engage in the real estate and loan business, and in 1876 became a dealer in farm implements and grain.

CHAPMAN

Chapman is located eleven miles west of Central City on the Union Pacific R. R., which passed through here in 1856. In 1861, John L. Martin stopped one and one-half miles from town, near Chapman; John Donovan was the first section boss here. In 1871, Lincoln, Reed and C. A. Leake erected residences. In 1878, a fine bridge (2800 feet in length and costing $14,000) was completed across the river, Chapman took on some importance, but the building of new railroads near by again impeded its growth. Its population in 1920 was 224. The first school was taught by Mrs. Aurand at her home, in 1871. In 1872 the first school was erected. The Chapman House, a hotel, was put up in 1877, by C. C. Dodson. An elevator was built in 1877. It has a capacity of 4,000 bushels. In 1878, J. Vieregg built another elevator.

NANCE COUNTY

Nance County is near the center of the state from north to south. Eighty per cent is upland and preferred for grain. It is drained by the Loup river and Cedar Creek. It was named for Governor Albinus Nance, who was a resident of this county. Its area is 450 square miles. Its population in 1920 was 8,712; in 1930 is 8,718. Fullerton, the county seat, had a population of 1,595 in 1920; 1,680 in 1930.

HISTORY
THE MORMON COLONY, 1857-1863

In 1879, an act of the Legislature established the boundaries of Nance county as follows: "All that portion of the State of Nebraska included in and known as the Pawnee Reservation" (a rectangle, 30x15 miles in extent). Later an extent of unorganized territory was included and, owing to corrections of former survey lines, comprises 450 square miles. The land was subject to neither homestead nor pre-emption or any other acts of congress, but was sold for cash, the proceeds going to the Pawnees. The price ranged from $2.50 to $4.00 and $5.00 per acre and near Fullerton, even from $5.00 to $10.00 per acre.

A colony of about one hundred families of Mormons, led by H. J. Hudson, were the first settlers in Nance county, in 1857. They came from near Alton, Illinois, and St. Louis, Missouri. After enduring great hardships and making many improvements in the colony near Genoa, the government made this a Pawnee Indian reservation and, in 1860, brought the Indians there and began to disperse the Mormons, without ever re-imbursing them for the improvements made or crops lost. Some went to Columbus, or to Iowa or to Salt Lake, Utah. Mr. H. J. Hudson was the first postmaster. There were struggles between the Sioux and the Pawnees here for fifteen years. William Burgess was the Indian agent, when the Pawnees were taken to the Indian Territory (Oklahoma) in 1876. Robert Compton settled eight miles above the mouth of the Cedar in 1876, the year the settlement of Nance county began. W. A. Davis came in the fall of 1876; the Crow Brothers squatted before lands were sold; O. E. Stearns came in 1878.

THE SOIL

Nance county, having a sandy loam, raises large crops of corn, wheat, oats and alfalfa. The surface is level in the south quarter and rolling in the northern three quarters. The average rainfall is 28 inches.

There being plenty of pasture and feed, live stock raising and feeding are carried on profitably. Dairying is on the increase. The price of pasturing and grazing lands is $50-$100 per acre, according to location and improvements. The county has good state and county highways. There are 67 rural schools and three accredited high schools with a corps of 110 teachers.

The Crow Brothers squatted before the land was being sold. Mrs. H. H. Knight and Mrs. A. H. Crow returned to Minnesota in winter, Edward Crow remained. They found Fuller herding cattle on the prairies, the site of Fullerton. In the southern part of Nance county, Clark Cooncy and Davis, Eric Nelson and Andrew Thompson; W. H. Bowman (from Minnesota) and Alfred Bixby; Frank Hodges (near the mouth of the Timber Creek). These came in 1877.

The first post office west of Genoa was secured in 1878 by O. E. Stearns. The first mail between Central City and Albion consisted of one postal card. For a time the old settlers in

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turn brought the mail in their pockets. The sale of lands began July 15, 1878, at Central City. D. A. Millard secured the section of Genoa and Randall Fuller secured the two sections upon a portion of which now stands Fullerton. A. Brown was the first settler in the valley of the Cottonwood. In 1879, the rush for lands began, towns were laid out and steady progress has been made since.

BOONE COUNTY

Boone county probably got its name from Daniel Boone, the famous Kentucky pioneer. It is situated 100 miles from the Missouri river and is bordered on the north by Antelope county; on the east by Madison and Platte counties; on the south by Nance county and on the west by Greely and Wheeler counties. Its area is 634 square miles, or 437,760 acres. The black alluvial soil is underlaid with a porous clayey subsoil and is well adapted to agricultural purposes. The county is watered by the Beaver, the Cedar Creek, Shell Creek, the Elkhorn river (the "Garden Valley"), Fox Creek, etc. Its area is about 685 square miles.

The county was inhabited before the seventies by roving Indians and wild animals. Outside of the government surveyors, explorers and daring trappers, the first white men that came as prospective settlers were S. D. Avery, Ralph Vorhees, Robert Hare, James Hare and two others, who did not remain. The first real white settlers belonged to a company of twelve, formed at Columbus, Nebraska, who sent a committee to select and pre-empt a number of claims. One of the quarters of the present town section was pre-empted by Avery, the other three-quarters of the section were for John Stauffer, Robert Kuemmel, and Rev. Henry Wilson, of Columbus. On April 13, 1871, the first actual settlers, fourteen men from Columbus, arrived and worked on a dug-out in a severe snow storm. They were: S. D. Avery, Albert Dresser, N. C. Myers, W. H. Stout, W. H. Prescott, John Hammond, Thomas Smith, Julius Day, Charles Basset, John McGould, Robert Hare, Mr. Walkup, and two Missourians, who did not locate permanently. Other early settlers were: In May, 1871, Elias Atwood and son; Theodore Tilson and William Comstock who settled three miles west of Albion; and soon after, Joseph Green, Albert McIntyre, Charles Downs and C. M. Selby, who located in Milwaukee Valley. In June, 1871, George Crites and Mark Mattison came. Albert and Ralph Vorhees settled four miles east of Albion; Edward Dwyer located near St. Edwards. Adam Smith contracted with the B. & M. R. R. to sell 60,000 acres of their land and figured prominently in the history of Boone County.

The second house put up was the "Frontier House", serving as a hotel, later as a temporary court house, a store, church, school, residence, etc. The old court house, 20x30 ft., was constructed in 1874 at a cost of $1,200, by W. J. Nelson. Soon two post offices were established in the county: That of Hammond in 1872, which in August, 1873, was changed into Albion; the second post office was that of Boone. The county was organized on July 28, 1871. Hon. I. N, Taylor, Probate Judge of Platte county, swore in the three commissioners, John Hammond, Harvey Maricle and S. P. Bollman. The county seat chosen by them is the present site of Albion. October 8, 1872, an election definitely decided the question of the county seat.

The first election was held January 12, 1872, and resulted in the choice of S. P. Bollman for probate judge; Silverton Kinney, county clerk; T. H. Bowman, county treasurer; Need Myers, sheriff; William Evans, coroner; S. P. Bollman, superintendent of schools; A. Crites, T. T. Wilkinson and Ed. Dwyer, county commissioners.

HAMMOND NOW ALBION

The County Seat selection which gave Albion 67 and Boone Post Office 21 votes was held on October 8, 1872, and Albion was definitely chosen, and was to be located on the N. W. Quarter of Section 22, Township 20, north of Range 6, west of the principal meridian. This was the site of the present Albion or Hammond as it was first named. The land was the property of Loran Clark who platted it on paper before the election, to avoid the risk of paying the expense without achieving his aim, and had It surveyed by George W. Newbury. It is located as above. Mansfield's Addition was recorded July 6, 1877, and Clarks Addition was made December 5, 1877. The Clark, Connelly and Stout Addition was recorded on September 26, 1879.

Albert Dresser was the first postmaster at Hammond (Albion). Michael Welch carried the mail on horseback. No bag was needed, his pockets held all the mail. In August, 1873, the office was moved and the name Hammond was changed to Albion. The first doctor in Boone county was Dr. D. A. Lewis, who settled in 1875. John Hare opened a harness shop in 1874. A. L. Nickerson built his store in 1876. Sackett and Crouch erected their mill in 1875, on the Beaver River, a mile and a half southeast of Albion. Hannaman and Tollman erected their flouring mill at Waterville (name since changed from Waterville to St. Edward), also on the Beaver river. In 1876, Dr. D. A. Lewis built a drugstore, but discontinued it upon the death of his brother. Later the drug store became the Gorman store. In August, 1885, Dr. George F. Brown settled at Albion. In 1877. the

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J. W. Riley hardware store, later occupied by the Loran Clark store, was erected.

The first school was opened in 1811, in a house belonging to Mrs. Mattison, who soon after married Loran Clark at Columbus. Miss Sarah Rice was the first teacher and received $20 per month. Six or eight children were her first pupils. The first school building was erected in 1873 at a cost of $1,300. The Albion Private School was started by the Rev. J. A. Hungate.

CHURCHES

The oldest church organization in Boone county is that of the Methodists. Rev. S. P. Bollman came to Boone county in June, 1872, and was soon placed on a circuit in Nebraska. In September, 1874, the Congregationalists organized in a meeting held at John Hammond's. The Rev. O. W. Merrill presided. The Baptists followed with an organization in October, 1878. The Catholics had already formed a congregation in 1877, under the Rev. J. M. J. Smyth, of Platte Center. About them more anon.

The first child born in Boone County was Clara Boone Mattison; the first one to die was a child of Elias Atwood. The first bank established at Albion was the Boone County Bank. A second bank started in 1882, was "The Thompson and Baker Bank". The Columbus Lumber & Grain Company was located west of the railroad station. The Loran Clark Lumber Yard was located east of the depot. It also controlled an elevator. In 1882 its capacity was 5,000 bushels.

NEWSPAPER'S

"The Boone County News" was established in 1874 and passed out of existence after six months. "The Boone County Argus" first appeared June 30, 1876, with W. A. Hutton as proprietor and editor. A. W. Ladd revived "The Boone County News" in 1879.

REFERENCE

See Andreas History of Nebraska, 1882, and the Argus, Albion, Nebraska, August 22, 1929, Address by F. D. Williams.

Rev. Nicholas Wegener, His Parents, Sisters and His Nieces.

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