Tekamah and Vicinity, Noteworthy Men of

made during years of strength. He was again married October 25th, 1898 to Mrs. Sarah Ritter.

WELLINGTON HARRINGTON was born in Milwaukee county, Wisconsin, in the month of March, 1839. With his parents, he drove an ox team, across the prairies of Illinois and Iowa, landing in Omaha, July 10th, 1855. The Harrington family remained in Omaha about a month. While there they fell into the company of Col. Benjamin R. Folsom, who had been up in this county with a party and located the town. A band of Sioux Indians having made a dash through this section of the state and killing a number of imigrants (sic), a company was organized at Omaha to go out and investigate. The Harringtons and Col. Folsom joined the party. Reaching Fontanelle, then a place of a few huts, Wellington turned back and returned to Omaha. His father, in company with Mr. Folsom, also left the party and persuaded by the latters' glowing description of this section, the elder Harrington accompanied him to Tekamah. Reaching here he was pleased with the country and he and Mr. Folsom returned to Omaha.
The Sioux raid having frightened the few settlers along the river a company of soldiers was formed, which both the Harringtons and Mr. Folsom joined. With a load of provisions for soldiers to be stationed at Tekamah, these three, together with Z. B. Wilder, William and Edward Bates left Omaha, reaching this place about August 6th, 1855. Mr. Harrington says that at this time two houses in course of erection, one the corner opposite the Fire house, the other on the C. M. Schroeder corner, were the extent of the buildings on the present townsite. The building known as the "Old Block House," located on the corner opposite the present High School building, was immediately erected as a fort and a station where settlers could congregate and protect, themselves against the Indians. The Harringtons, the Petersons, W. B.

Beck, F. E. Lange and the Folsom's all aided in the erection of this building; logs for which were brought from the river.
   During that fall many settlers flocked to Tekamah and twenty or more houses were built: all of logs. The Harringtons built on the ground east of the present mill site, now the home of Henry Stork, and here they lived for many years.
   Mr. Harrington says the first farming done in this locality was in 1855 on Colonel Folsom's land adjoining town on the south and now owned by C. W. Conkling. In 1856 Mr. Harrington raised the first wheat that was raised in this county. It was on land belonging to Z. B. Wilder, north of the Ed Shafer spring. The land having been broke the year previous by Mr. Wilder.
   When Tekamah was first laid out the land all belonged to the government. It soon came onto the market and Col. Folsom went to Omaha and purchased the entire townsite, turning over to the residents here the lots on which they had settled and retaining the remainder for himself.
   In the first legislature ever held in the state Col. Folsom served as senator from Burt county and it is related how he and three or four companions drove up from Omaha as far as the creek north of Blair and there they held an election, and Mr. Folsom returned to Omaha with the senatorial credentials.
   Mr. Harrington says the town had its first mayor in 1857. Dr. Potter, who was a practicing physician here, bore the honors. He remained here but a few years and then returned to his old home in Iowa
   The first school was in '56 and J. S. Gibson, son of I. Gibson, was its teacher.
   The first bank was established in 1856 by Milton Hitt and was known as the "Bank or Tekamah." It was during the wild cat currency days and the notes of this bank secured a wide circulation. Milton Hitt would go to St. Louis and buy merchandise and sup-


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