HE
haven of the Indians, the birthplace of the great Sioux chief Red
Cloud, the resting place of weary Mormons and Forty-niners, the
battleground of some of Nebraska's bloodiest Indian fights--these
are a few scenes from Garden County's varied history. From such a
colorful background this panhandle county has developed into one
of Nebraska's leading ranching regions.The earliest known expedition by white men through Garden County was made by John T. Brackenridge, in 1810. Three years later a party led by Robert Stuart traveled along the North Platte on its way from the Pacific coast to St. Louis.
This party of seven men was returning to report to John Jacob Astor after successfully founding a trading post for him at the mouth of the Columbia river. Stuart's diary shows he camped one-half mile west of where Oshkosh is now located on March 25, 1813. An entry for the next day records the party sighted "sixty Wild Horses and for the last three days march, the country is, I may say, literally covered with Buffalo."
Because of its rich grasslands, this area was, as Stuart said, the grazing land of thousands of buffalo. These beasts, in turn, attracted Indians, among the most powerful of whom were the Sioux nation. Red Cloud, great chief of the Oglala Sioux, was born in Garden County in 1821, and became a leader early in life. It was he who forced the whites to sign the Fort Laramie treaty of 1868, after refusing to let immigrants travel the Bozeman Trail into Montana and defeating the soldiers sent out to protect it.
In 1841 the party of Joseph Williams, enroute from Indiana to Oregon, crossed the South Platte with much difficulty. On the evening of June 13, the party camped eight miles below Ash Hollow, where a young man named Shortwell was accidentally shot. He was buried the next day. Ash Hollow, in the southeastern part of the county, about three miles from the present Lewellen, was the scene of many dramatic and significant incidents in Garden County history.
Ash Hollow, bounded on the north by the North Platte river, was the converging point of the Mormon Trail and two branches of the Oregon Trail. The general course of this latter trail was along the South Platte to a point near the present Big Spring. There the South Platte was crossed, and the trail led northward to Ash Hollow, where the travelers rested before continuing westward. Another trail crossed the South Platte at Hershey, in Lincoln County, following the river's north branch from there to Ash Hollow. This was the path followed by most of the Mormons in 1846.
A party led by James Clyman, traveling east, reached Ash Hollow July 2, 1846. A journal which was kept contains the following: "We found a company of Mormon emigrants encamped at Ash Hollow, consisting of nineteen wagons. These people are on their way to Oregon." Whether the party reached its destination is unknown.
Ash Hollow is most famous for the Harney Massacre of 1855, in which General Harney's army of seven or eight hundred men had ambushed a band of Brule, Oglala and Minneconjoe Sioux and a party of Northern Cheyenne, all under the command of Little Thunder.
General Harney's force of dragoons, artillery, and six infantry regiments united at Fort Kearny, moving up the Platte from there. Upon reaching Ash Hollow, they discovered the Indians had left a day or two before. Continuing up the North Platte, scouts soon found the Indians camped at the mouth of a Platte tributary. Arrangements were made to attack at dawn, and at 10:00 o'clock that night the stream was forded. Harney planned to hem the Indians between the cavalry at their rear, and the infantry, who would approach from the front. But while Harney's men were quietly assuming their positions during the night, they were sighted by an Indian woman and her two children, who spread the alarm. The Indians prepared for battle by donning war bonnets and shouting challenges from the opposite river bank.
In the ensuing battle, the Indians were routed. Most of them retreated to the north, but a small force hid themselves on the slopes of the hills. They were driven out by the infantry while the cavalry pursued those who retreated. An officer reported hearing shots from a hill fronting the river, and a force was organized to drive them out. This hill was rotten limestone, filled with tiny caves and covered with underbrush. When the piercing cry of a child indicated women and children were hidden in these caves, the troops retired. Gen. Richard S. Drum later told of finding an Indian child abandoned in some thick grass after the battle. When a sergeant attempted to pick up the baby it scratched and bit him, and refused to be quiet. General Drum then gave the sergeant his canteen, which contained
* Compiled with the aid of Betty Brennan and John Grieve, high school students. Emil Kopac furnished books and early historical data and residents of the community were interviewed.
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"lemonade with a fair amount of whisky." This soon quieted the
baby, and she was taken to the prisoners camp.
After another battle between the Sioux and white
immigrants on the Overland Trail, one of the chiefs under Little
Thunder, before he was killed in the Ash Hollow affray, said the
Indians at that time thought so many whites had gone from the east
to the west that they believed they could defeat all those left in
the east. After the immigrations of 1849, 1853 and 1854, the
Indians might well believe there could be few whites left in the
east. The size of these immigrations may be estimated from a
notation in the diary of Henry Page, who was traveling westward in
1849. He writes, "A man passed us this morning going back, that
said our wagon made 484 wagons he had passed since daylight."
After the Ash Hollow battle, General Harney
erected a small field works there. He wanted to establish a post
for the support of immigrant trains and to furnish escorts for the
monthly mail passing between Forts Kearny and Laramie. A small
garrison was stationed there for only a month, however.
Another interesting Indian battle was the one at
Mud Springs, a telegraph station 105 miles east of Fort Laramie in
what is now Garden County. On Feb. 4, 1865, when Colonel Collins
received word Mud Springs was being attacked, he dispatched
Lieutenant Ellsworth from Camp Mitchell to the scene with 36 men.
Colonel Collins left Fort Laramie that night with 120 men, and
reached Fort Mitchell the next morning by marching all night.
After a short rest there, he went on with 25 men, who reached Mud
Springs at 2:00 o'clock in the afternoon. The Indians, who had
been stealing cattle in the area around Mud Springs on February, 4
and 5, were surprised at the increased force of men when they
returned February 6.
At dawn, warriors began coming over the bluffs
from all directions, firing sporadically in an attempt to cut off
some of the troops who were then arriving at the station. The
soldiers were at a great disadvantage, being exhausted from their
night travel in forced marches, and many of them frostbitten.
However, after about four hours fighting, the soldiers began to
press back their enemies, and the Indians' fire slackened about
2:00 o'clock. Seven soldiers were wounded in the fighting, three
seriously, and some animals were killed. The number of Indian dead
was estimated at about forty. There had been from 500 to 1,000
warriors engaged in the battle, armed with rifles, revolvers, and
bows and arrows. There were white men and Mexicans with them and
some rode American horses.
Two days after the fight, the soldiers set out
in pursuit of the Indians, finding their abandoned camp at Rush
Springs. The size of this camp indicated the number of Indians had
been underestimated. Apparently this camp had been used for about
three days, and had been abandoned only a short time before.
Pressing forward, the soldiers soon located the Indians, now
camped on the other side of Rush creek near where it joined the
Platte. With the aid of field glasses, the officers soon
discovered there were at least 2,000 warriors in sight, and no
women, children, dogs or lodges were visible. This group of
Indians apparently was a combination of all the hostile tribes who
had been terrorizing the South Platte valley.
The soldiers were soon sighted, and Indians
began crossing the frozen river one or two miles above and below
their position. The battle was severe, but only two soldiers lost
their lives, Private John A. Harris and Private William H.
Hartshorn. Their bodies were later taken to Fort Laramie for
burial. Soon after daybreak the next day a band of approximately
four hundred warriors circled the camp, and, after exchanging a
few shots, hurried away into the sandhills to rejoin their
families. After several years, however, the Indians had been
almost completely subdued and the white man now was king of all he
surveyed.
The first to utilize Garden County's resources
were the large ranchers. One of the most important of these groups
was the Oshkosh Land and Cattle Company, headed by Henry and
Alfred Gumaer, George P. Kendall, H. W. Potter and John Robinson.
They drove their first herd through from St. Paul, Neb., in 1885.
Three years later Deuel County was created out of the old Cheyenne
County. Deuel, as first organized, included the territory which
later became Garden County.
In 1889 Oshkosh was the site of a two-story
frame building, which served as a store, postoffice, and had rooms
above. A year later a sod school building was established on Lost
creek, eight miles north of Oshkosh, and in 1894 August Sudman,
Eugene Fish and Fred Sudman bought the Oshkosh store.
Garden County was organized in 1909, being
formed out of the north portion of Deuel County. J. T. and W. R.
Twiford, real estate men, gave the county its name. First county
officers were D. F. Fickes, William Barnell and M. P. Clary,
commissioners; Robert Day, clerk; A. W. Gumaer, judge, T. C.
McKee, superintendent; Walter Clark, sheriff; Charles M. Davis,
treasurer. The final separation of the counties was effected Feb.
14, 1910, but the commissioners held their first meeting January
15 of that year. The lower part of the Oshkosh rooming house was
rented for a courthouse, amid a heated dispute over location of
the county seat.
Since Oshkosh was incorporated in 1911, the
village has grown steadily. The Methodists first organized in
1904, and in 1913 they dedicated a new church. The history of the
Catholic Church begins as early as the town, for a priest from
Omaha was an occasional visitor here. Later, priests came from
Sidney and Scottsbluff, saying Mass in homes every several months.
In 1916 the Catholics constructed a church, under the supervision
of Father O'Byrne of Scottsbluff. St. Mark's Lutheran Church was
organized in 1906, when fifteen persons assembled
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with W. C. Heidenreich as pastor. Their church was built and
dedicated three years later.
By 1913 Oshkosh had a population of 300, three
general stores, two drug stores, bank, hotel, large hardware and
furniture store, lumber yard, grain elevator, two newspapers, and
other businesses. Its' population today is nearly 1,000. In more
recent years, Garden County has improved itself with better
schools, better roads, and an increased community spirit.
ALDRICH, HAROLD N: Manager of Oil Co;
b Pender, Neb Apr 1, 1895; s of O D Aldrich-Dora L Abbott; ed U of
N, BA 1918; Phi Gamma Delta; m Edith L White Oct 26, 1919 Rosalie;
d Ruth Harriet, Maurie, Beverley; 1919-29 asst cash of bank,
Rosalie; 1929- in oil bus, Oshkosh; during World War enl May 3,
1917 CAC & QMC; O/S May 2, 1918-July 6, 1919; disch July 12,
1919; Rotary; AF&AM 186, sr deacon; res Oshkosh.
BAILEY, JOSEPH B: Railway Agent; b Long
Pine, Neb June 26, 1885; s of A Bailey-Dema Kilgore; ed Wood Lake;
m Anna Canton Oct 23, 1907 St Joseph Mo (dec Sept 12, 1939); s
Dewayne; 1901-08 emp by C&NW RR as teleg opr at various towns,
tsfrd to Pilger 1905-08; 1908-15 UP RR teleg opr & agt,
various mid-western Neb towns; 1915- agt for UP RR Oshkosh; Comml
Club; AF&AM 208; Dem; hobby, golf; res Oshkosh.
BLAUSEY, ALICE M: County Superintendent
of Schools; b Ogallala, Neb Oct 4. 1901; d of Wilbert Warner
Aldridge-Caroline Louise Aufdengarten; ed Garden Co HS, Oshkosh
1920; CSTC summer sessions at various times 1922-32; m Clarence
Blausey Nov 11, 1923 Julesburg Colo; s Bob; 1920-21 & 1926-35
sch tchr, Oshkosh; 1921-23 sch tchr, Lisco; 1923-24 sch tchr,
Lemoyne; 1935 Garden Co supt of schs; RNA; OES 264, Oshkosh; Luth
Ch, mbr of guild; hobby, collecting dog statues; res Oshkosh.
CASEY, SAM: County Judge; b Sauk Rapids,
Minn __ 1870; s of Thomas Casey-Hattie Trace; ed State Normal,
Mich; m Nellie Tucker Mar 4, 1896 Almena Kas; s Ross W, Max L; d
Lois Irene (Mrs Howard Preston); 1890 came to Furnas Co; 1914-19
rancher, Garden Co; 1928- Garden Co judge; hobby, golf; off
Courthouse; res Oshkosh.
CLARK, MRS CORA E: Homemaker; b Shelby,
Neb Aug 5, 1878; d of Ira Paisley-Mary M Wilson; ed Lewellen; m
Walter M Clark Apr 24, 1898 Ogallala (dec Dec 6, 1935); 1886-1906
resided at Lewellen; 1906- resided at Oshkosh; OES, past worthy
matron; Federate Womens Club; ladies guild of Luth Ch; Presby Ch;
Rep; hobby, flowers; res Oshkosh.
CLARY, MORSE P: Rancher; b Quincy, Ia Oct
20, 1858; s of D B Clary-Rachel Hooper; ed Mount Ayr Ia; Indianola
Ia; m Louisa McNaucht Jan 20, 1881 Indianola Ia; s March, Frank,
Ray, Oren; d May (Mrs C R Minchell), Genoa (Mrs Ray Brown), Jocie,
Dolly (Mrs Bernard Collins); prior to 1886 farmed with father in
Ia; 1886- ptr of sons March & Oren in oprn of ranch near
Lewellen; has 4820 A, runs 250 cattle; past dir Farmers Life Ins
Co, Denver; past dir Fairview Mining Co, Denver; past pres Farmers
State Bank of Lewellen; treas sch bd 53 years, org sch dist 55;
treas Lewellen HS past 11 years; past treas Garden Co, Fair bd;
Commi Club; AF&AM 286, Garden Co comm 1891-97, 1909-14; Meth
Ch; Rep, chmn Co Central Com; hobbies, travel, collecting Indian
relics, has one of most complete Indian relic collections in the
state; O V Clary has contributed lower jaw of shovel toothed
mastodon to museum of U of N; res Lewellen.
CROSBY, WILLIAM W: Pharmacist; b Sioux
City, Ia, Sept 22, 1876; s of William M Crosby-Lorinda
Collingwood; ed Bloomfield HS 1898; Omaha Coll of Pharm 1903; m
Anna Maim Sept 22, 1910 North Platte; s William Russell; d
Dorothea (Mrs Percy Reins), Vivian (Mrs Daniel Bray), Pauline (Mrs
Byron Roberts); 1893-1909 worked in various drug firms in
northwestern Neb also worked in drug stores in Wausa; Sutherland,
Chappell & Emerson; 1909- pharm Lewellen; owner 880 A ranch NE
of Lewellen; 1912-15 mbr sch bd; past mbr town bd, 7 terms; Rep;
hobby, hunting; res Lewellen.
CURTIS, HERBERT J: Attorney; b Knoxville,
Ia, Sept 24, 1871; s of Stephen S Curtis-Louesa A Coons; ed home
study in Marion Co Ia; review courses 3 weeks each summer in
Marion Co Normal Institute & Knoxville Ia HS, recd 1st class
co tchrs certificate; Highland Park Coll, Des Moines Ia, BDi in
1895, MDi 1897; U of N, LLD 1910; Delta Chi; m Lille P Gilbert
July 26, 1899 Memphis Mich; s David G, Robert A; d Helen (Mrs
Frank E Robinson), Carol (dec 1903); as oldest in family of 7
children managed farm after death of father; tchr rural schs in
Ia, also Newbern Ia, 1889-93; passed US civil service examination
1895; 1895-97 prin Colo River Indian Boarding Sch, Parker Ariz;
1897-98 supt Ouray Indian Boarding Sch, Randlett Utah; 1898-1903
supt of Pine Point Indian Boarding Sch, White Earth Indian
Reservation, Ponsford Minn; 1903-06 in gen mdse bus, Ponsford
Minn; 1910-15 in priv law prac, Oshkosh; 1915-22 Garden Co atty;
1922- priv law prac, Oshkosh; Neb St Bar Assn; Country Club; U of
N Alumni Assn; MWA; AF&AM 286, past master; OES 264; hobbies,
hunting, golf; Dem; off Courthouse; res Oshkosh.
DELATOUR, BEN CLAYTON: Bank President; b
Cambridge, Neb Oct 6, 1883; s of Samuel P Delatour-Lucy McGraw; ed
Neb; Kearney Mil Acad 1898-99; Sch of Mechanical Arts 1899-1901; m
Agnes E Mapel 1926 Oshkosh; d Joy Jean, Bonnie Ben; 1904-11 emp,
on ranch in Deuel & Garden Cos; 1911-14 an org & cash
Garden Co Bank at Lewellen, merged 1914 with Bank of Lewellen, of
which he was cashier until 1930; 1930-38 cash of bank reorg as
First Natl Bank of Lewellen; 1938- pres; Neb Stockgrowers Assn;
Secy of Garden Co Fair Ed several years; Comml Club; AF&AM
286; Dem; hobby, reading; off First National Bank; res
Lewellen.
DUTTON, FRANK ARTHUR: Attorney; b Portage
Co, O Sept 26, 1887; s of Merritt Dutton-Janet Mott; ed Geauga Co
O; prep dept, Hiram Coll, Hiram O; U of N, LLB 1910; Delta Chi;
Theta Kappa Nu; m Clara Dutton Jan 30, 1907 Telluride Colo; s,
Bryon C; d Jeanette, Mary Louise (Mrs Vern Reierson); 1900-07
tested ore in assay off, Telluride Colo; 1910-12 indep law prac,
Grand Junction Colo; 1912- prac law, Oshkosh; notary public;
Garden Co atty 2 terms; helped org irrigation dists; regent Garden
Co HS; Neb St Bar Assn; Comml Club; MWA, consul; Meth Ch; Rep,
chmn Garden Co Central Com; hobby, historical reading; off Dutton
Law office; res Oshkosh
FERRELL, FLOYD LISLE: Banker; b Wallace,
Neb Dec 27, 1896; s of Edward R Ferrell-Josephine Barnbrugg; ed
Wallace; Holdrege; Curtis HS; LBC 1916-17; m Margaret Filbert Apr
1918 North Platte; d Marjorie Jean; 1917-22 asst cash Citizens
Security Bank, Wallace; 1922- cash Neb St Bank, Oshkosh; Neb &
Amer Bankers Assns; C of C, past pres; Rotary; AF&AM 276, past
treas; Meth Ch; Dem; father rancher, farmer & banker,
homesteaded in Lincoln Co 1883; res Oshkosh.
GRIEVE, JOHN A: Plumber; b Williamsburg,
Neb Sept 28, 1884; s of John A Grieve-Jessie Frazer; ed Kearney; m
Ada Naslund Aug 29, 1918 Julesburg Colo; s John Robert,. Martin
George; d Margaret Ann; 1890-1909 carp, painter & plumber,
Kearney; 1909-19 plumber in Neb, Colo & Wyo; 1915-19 plumber,
Bridgeport; 1919- plumber, Oshkosh; Platte Valley Plumbing Assn;
Indep; hobbies, hunting, fishing; parents were first couple
married in Presby Manse, Kearney; res Oshkosh.
HEHNKE, ROBERT H: Merchant; b, Cairo, Neb
Dec 6, 1904; s of C Hugo Hehnke-Bertha Kindler; ed Grand Island
Coll 1922-23; KSTC 1926-27; U of Colo 1927-28; m Mary Grovert Dec
27, 1930 Haxtun Colo; d Elva Jane, Mary Kay; 1920-33 in merc bus
for father, Paxton, emp on ranches short time & helped survey
new road from Ogallala to Paxton; 1933- opr groc bus in Corner
Store, Oshkosh; Rotary; C of C; mbr town bd; hobbies, hunting,
golf; res Oshkosh.
JENSEN, OSCAR A: Theater Owner &
Farmer; b Shelby, Ia May 3, 1893; s of Christ Jensen-Ida Jacobsen;
ed Garden Co; m Pearl Zorn June 3, 1917 Julesburg Colo; s Howard
Phillip; d Marjorie May; 1909-17 farmed with father on original
homestead near Oshkosh; 1917-26 owned & oprd farm, raised
purebred Guernsey cattle & Duroc-Jersey hogs; 1926- mgr Silver
Hill Theater, Oshkosh, still active in cattle breeding &
farming; mbr Zorn Theater Co; past mbr city coun; C of C; Luth Ch;
Rep; hobby,
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Who's Who |
Guernsey cattle breeding; 1897 parents came west in covered
wagon, filed on tree claim; res Oshkosh.
JOHNSON, ARCHIE: Oil Station Manager; b
Garden Co, Neb Oct 19, 1893; s of Fred Johnson-Anna Lambke; m
Edith Birchard Sept 12, 1931 Lewellen; homesteaded in Wyo 1917;
1919-21 lived on homestead in Wyo; 1921-26 farmer, Garden Co;
1926-27 emp in meat market & groc; 1927- in oil & gas bus,
LeweIlen, now opr Beard Service Station; during World War enl June
5 1917 Co H 6th Neb inf; went O/S Sept 17 1918 retd June 26 1919,
disch July 8, 1919, Des Moines Ia; mbr city coun 8 years; 1938-
mayor; C of C; hobbies, fishing, hunting; res Lewellen.
JOHNSON, FRED R: Grocer; b Lewellen, Neb
May 7, 1902; s of Fred Johnson-Anna Lambke; ed Garden Co; m Myrtle
White Aug 24, 1929 Julesburg Colo; s Richard Neil; d Marilyn Ann;
prior to 1929 with father on farm near Lewellen; 1929-35 emp in
meat market, Lewellen; 1935- owner & opr meat market &
groc store, Lewellen; mbr town bd; Comml Club; Luth Ch; Rep;
hobbies, hunting, gardening; res Lewellen.
LAUX, EDWARD: Rancher; b Burlington, Ia,
Mar 29, 1879; s of Henry Laux-Louisa Luth; ed Elliotts Bus Coll,
Burlington Ia; m Grace Weiler July 19, 1927 Kearney; s Billy; d
Georgia; with parents came to Franklin Co 1886; 1904-08 traveled
in U S as representative for Mfg firm of Burlington Ia; 1909-12
traveling representative in Ia & Mo for impl house, Omaha;
1912-15 in grain bus; 1915-19 in real est bus, Hastings, brought
land seekers to Julesburg Colo; 1919-28 in real est bus Garden
& Morrill Cos with hdqrs in Oshkosh; 1928- rancher &
stockman, has 4000 A pasture land, 350 head whiteface cattle;
Clarence W Chadwick Students Assn; Chris Sci Ch; hobbies, good
horses & cattle; res Oshkosh.
LISCO, ADDIE R MILLER: Retired; b
Kalamazoo Co, Mich June 21 1864; d of Harrison Miller-Helen
Henderson; ed Grand Junction Ia; m Rubin Lisco Feb 5, 1895
Chappell (dec); 1882-85 tchr in Mich & Ia rural schs; 1885-95
emp in various vocations, 1894 came from Mich to Chappell; 1895-
homemaker; OES; Presby Ch, aid soc; Rep; hobby, homemaking; Mr
Lisco came to Platte Co 1873, elec Deuel Co sheriff 1889 &
served 4 terms, estab the town named after him; helped org Rush
Creek Land & Livestock Co in 1890, VP & gen mgr until his
death in 1935; res Lisco.
LORENZEN, RUDOLPH J: Grain Dealer; b
Grand Island, Neb Nov 11, 1885; s of William E Lorenzen-Anna
Hansen; ed Hall Co; Grand Island Bus Coll; m Margaret D
Christensen Feb 28, 1907 Wood River; s Murray R; 1905-09 farmer in
Hall Co; 1909-28 rancher in Garden Co; 1928- mgr & part owner
Farmers Elevator, Lisco; past mbr Deuel Co rural sch bd; Neb Grain
Dealers Assn; AF&AM 286, Past master; Lutheran Ch; Rep;
hobbies, hunting & fishing; father one of early settlers in
Hall Co, owner & opr store several years; res Lisco.
OLSON, HAROLD BENGHT: Bank Vice
President, Rancher; b Genoa, Neb Jan 20, 1896; s of Nels
Olson-Anna Benson; ed Genoa HS 1913; U of N 1915-17; Phi Sigma
Kappa, ch mbr; Silver Lynx; m Helen Peterson June 10, 1925 Omaha;
s William Stanford, Thomas Herald; d Marjorie Ann, Barbara Helen;
1919-22 east cash Maxwell State Bank; 1922-24 asst cash Farmers
State Bank, Wallace; 1924- cash & VP Lisco State Bank; 1935-
secy-treas & dir Rush Creek Land & Livestock Co, opr of
114,000 A Neb land; past mbr Lisco sch bd 9 years; past mbr Garden
Co Fair Ed; during World War in U S army inf, 1 year Camp Funston,
commd lt; Amer Leg 309, past comm, helped org Beek Heath Post of
Wallace & Fort McPherson Post of Maxwell; Neb Stockgrowers
Assn; Neb Bankers Assn, pres group 6; AF&AM 286; Presby Ch,
treas; Rep; hobby, hunting; parents homesteaders in Perkins Co in
early 1880's; res Lisco.
QUELLE, AUGUST RUDOLF: Farmer; b
Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany; s of Franz
Quelle-Wilhelmine Werber; ed Handewitt Volkschule,
Schleswig-Holstein Germany 1883-88; Deuel Co, now Garden Co; m
Rosa Augusta Anna Albrecht Feb 3, 1904 Oshkosh; s Reinhardt
Albert; d Marie Alwine (Mrs ___ Utesch), Della Wilhelmine (Mrs ___
Caldwell); came to U S May 3, 1888, came to Cheyenne Co, now
Garden Co Aug 28, 1888; first job was killIng rattlesnakes;
1890-92 herded cattle, Colo & Neb; 1892-98 worked on farms
& ranches; 1898-99 worked in coal mines, Rock Springs Wyo;
1899-1902 on freight wagon between Chappell & Oshkosh; 1902-03
on freight wagon between Big Spring & Lewellen; 1903- farmer
near Lewellen, lived in sod house until 1917; 1939 one of 48 Neb
farmers winning U of N & Omaha C of C certificate of award for
contributions to progress of Neb agr through superior pasture,
forage & livestock prac; 1923-35 pres bd of edn; mbr Garden Co
soil conservation com since 1937; 1930- treas Blue Creek
Irrigation Dist; pres Lewellen Natl Farm Loan Assn since 1933;
1929 mbr bd of dirs Lakewater Carrying Co; mbr Farm Bur Fedn since
1933; Grace Luth Ch, mbr ch coun & secy since 1937; hobby, hog
raising; res Lewellen.
QUELLE, REINHARDT ALBERT: High School
Principal; b Lewellen, Neb Feb 14, 1905; s of August Rudolf
Quelle-Rose Augusta Anna Albrecht; ed LewelIen HS 1922; Midland
Coll, BA 1927; 1924 del from Midland to Internatl Students Conv,
Indianapolis; mbr natl coun Luth Student Assn of Amer 1927, del to
internatl conv, Madison Wis, spoke before student groups in Neb
colleges; Blue Key; grad work U of Chicago; Colo St Tchrs Coll,
Greeley; m Irene E Stroup Jan 3, 1934 Evanston Ill; d Gretchen,
Karen; 1918-22 with father on farm near Lewellen; 1923-27 emp in
registrar's off while at Midland; 1927-28 field secy, Midland;
1928-29 prin, tchr & athletic coach, Carleton HS; 1929-30 tchr
of literature, Lewellen HS; 1930- prin Garden Co HS, Oshkosh;
1984-85 AAA off asst during summers; past VP of 6th dist NSTA,
pres 6th dist debate section since 1935; past mbr AAAS, del to
natl conv, Kansas City 1926; secy C of C; dir Rotary; VP Garden Co
Hist See; Neb St Hist Soc; compiled Garden Co hist for Who's Who
in Neb; mbr coun, Luth Ch, secy of congregation, SS supt; Rep;
hobbies, bee-keeping, study of history, horseback riding; res
Oshkosh.
RICHARDS, E E: Attorney; b Warren, Ill
May 14, 1880; s of E J Richards-Catherine S Smith; ed Warren Ill
HS 1897; Warren Ill Acad 1898; U of N. LLB 1904; grad work U of
Ia; m Daisy M Allard Oct 20, 1902 Orange City Ia; s Everett O; d
Hazel E (Mrs Alvin Kingery); 1900-01 tchr rural Bch, O'Brien Co
Ia; 1904-18 supt schs in various cities; 1919-22 prac law in firm
Richards & Carter, Bayard; 1922-23 prac law, Denver; 1923-
indep law prac, Oshkosh; 1935- Garden Co atty; secy & atty
North River Irrigation Dist; during World War June 26, 1918-June
1, 1919 with YMCA, O/S 9 mos; IOOF, Past noble grand; Neb St Bar
Assn; Comml Club; C of C; ch mbr Rotary; mbr Garden Co HS &
Oshkosh grade sch bds; Prot; Rep; hobby, travel; off Courthouse;
res Oshkosh.
ROBINSON, BRUCE E: Manager Lumber Co; b
Waukee, Ia June 3, 1881; s of Henry H Robinson-Victoria Fagen; m
Mildred Messenger, Aug 17, 1909 Julesburg Colo; s John H; d
Virginia (Mrs Ralph Hays), Beth Nadine; 1881-95 with parents came
from Ia to Kimball; 1895-96 worked on ranch, Garden Co; 1896-1902
worked for Victoria Livestock Co, Wray Colo, foreman 1899-1902;
1902-09 owner & opr ranch, Julesburg Colo; 1909-10 emp by Katy
Lbr Co, Omaha; 1910-17 with Poster Lbr Co, Curtis; 1917- with
Sterling Lbr Co, Oshkosh, now mgr; C of C; Rotary; AF&AM 286,
past master; hobbies, golf, hunting; res Oshkosh.
SAGER, JOHN T: District Manager Telephone
Co; b Moorefield, W Va Apr 10, 1881; s of Thomas Sager-Mary See; m
Sofia Slettvedt June 7, 1906 Grand Forks N D; s Clarence T, Delmas
K, Norman F, Russel D; d Virginia, Florence, Lucile; 1899-1901
cattle feeder, Ia; 1901-02 emp by Martin Tele Co, Webster City Ia;
1902-03 cowboy, Mont; 1903-09 emp by Bell Tele Co, Grand Forks N
D; 1909-10 dist cable man Bell Tele Co, Billings Mont; 1910-17
cable man Bell Tele Co, Omaha; 1917-20 construction foreman Bell
Tele Co, Cheyenne Wyo; 1920-25 in indep trucking bus in oil field,
Lander Wyo; 1925-28 construction foreman for Platte Valley Tele
Corp, 1928- dist mgr, Oshkosh; 1938 mayor; 1935-37 town trustee; C
of C; AF&AM 286, worshipful master 1935-37; Gering RAM; hobby,
fancy chickens; res Oshkosh.
SMITH, HENRY: Store Manager; b Republic
Co, Kas Nov 20, 1902; s of Charles E Smith-Mary E Graham; m Irene
Stella Lee July 23, 1934 Denver Colo; s Daryl Lee; 1917-21 clk in
gen store; Deuel Co; 1923-28 farmed in Kas; 1928-32 farmed in
Deuel Co; 1932- mgr H H Reese Co, Lewellen; C of C; hobby,
fishing; res Lewellen.
STEVENSON, WILLIAM CARLISLE: Merchant; b
Amherst, Neb Oct 1, 1885; s of John Carlisle Stevenson-Florence
Hemmingway; ed Amherst
|
in Nebraska |
Garden |
HS 1903; York Coll; m Stella M Outson June 19, 1908 old
Cheyenne Co; s Marvin William; 1905-17 agt & teleg opr for UP
RR at various locations; 1917-33 with brother R O in gen store at
Lisco; 1933 owner & opr of store; Fedn of Neb Retailers;
Oshkosh Country Club; AF&AM 286, past master; MWA, past coun
mbr; Dem; hobby, golf; parents homesteaders Buffalo Co in early
1880's, father Buffalo Co treas 7 years; res Lisco.
TILGNER, IRVING E: Postmaster; b
Birdwood1, Neb June 22, 1895; s of Henry Tilgner-Bertha
Kirsh; ed Garden Co; Fremont Normal Acad 1912-16; U of N 1916-17;
m Aria Pearl Higgins Dee 22, 1917 Deming N M; s Irving E Jr;
1919-28 secy-treas Blue Creek Light & Power Co; 1919-31 bkkpr
& later asst cash Farmers State Bank, Lewellen; 1931- P M,
Lewellen; past city clk 5 years; treas & dir Garden Co HS bd
of edn since 1930; during World War in Co H 6th Neb inf, tsfrd to
Co F 109th engrs, 34th div, O/S 9 mos, in service 24 mos; Amer Leg
14, ch mbr & past comm; 1928- secy Sailors & Soldiers
Relief Commission Garden Co; Neb League of Dist P Ms; BSA, mbr
town com 2 years; Comml Club; AF&AM 286; Grace Luth Ch, treas
since 1920; hobby, aviation; father came from Germany 1868, moved
from Wis to Redwillow Co 1885, homesteaded, later moved to Garden
Co; off P O; res Lewellen.
1Birdwood was a small postoffice NE of Sutherland; now discontinued.
WEINSHEIM, E J: Merchant; b Neosho, Wis Nov 15, 1888; s of John Weinsheim-Elizabeth Eister; ed Neosho Wis; m Amanda Kaschke Oct 8, 1924 Sterling Colo; prior to 1917 in meat bus; 1919-24 cash Farmers State Bank, Sedgwick Colo; 1924- opr meat market & groc store, Lewellen; instrumental in obtaining city drainage system & street improvement; past Garden Co commr; mbr town bd years, past chmn; during World War enl June 15, 1917 in US army, 2 years O/S, QMC, disch July 2, 1919; Amer Leg 14, past comm, has held all offs; past grand IOOF; Rep; hobbies, golf, hunting, fishing; res Lewellen.
WIDNER, HAROLD L: Grocer; b Conway, la Jan 7, 1905; s of R B Widner-Viola Dee Herron; ed Sutherland HS 1924; participated in HS athletics, basketball & track; m Alice P Dikeman May 18, 1925 Julesburg Colo; foster s Walter; foster d Alice (Mrs Bert Roberson), d Mardine Faye; 1924-30 emp in Wiigs Gen Store, Sutherland; 1930- mgr Wiigs Service Store, Lewellen; secy sch bd; mbr town bd; pres Comml Club; IOOF 402, past grand; MWA; Meth Ch; Rep; hobby, collecting old family records; res Lewellen.
WOOD, ED SAMUEL: County Treasurer; b Sutton, Neb July 15, 1800; s of Rev Samuel Wood-Gertrude Reeder; ed York HS; m Nora Deaver June 9, 1909 Des Moines Ia; s Orien Edward; 1897-1900 in groc, York; 1900-05 worked on ranch of John Orr in old Deuel Co; 1905-06 with William Brown Cattle Co, Big Spring; 1906-07 on M C Remington cattle ranch near Lewellen; 1907-13 & 1914-22 gen foreman for Western Land & Cattle Co ranch, Lewellen; 1908-23 also homesteaded small ranch near Lewellen; 1919-23, 1929- Garden Co treas; 1923-39 Garden Co dep treas; regent Garden Co HS 12 years, pres bd 1 year; past mayor of Oshkosh; mbr town bd 4 years; past chief vol fire dept; past mbr & trumpeter, Co A NNG, York; C of C, past secy & past pres; Oshkosh Country Club; Neb Assn of Co Treasurers; AF&AM 286, past master; OES; MWA; IOOF 388; Rep, past secy Central Com; hobbies, trout-fishing, golf, hunting; father came from Ireland to U S came to Neb 1873; off Courthouse, res Oshkosh.
WRIGHT, IRL W: Mortician; b Rockford, Neb Oct 11, 1885; s of Isaac W Wright-Louisa F Dobbs; m Edith M Jeffreys Feb 22, 1905 Sabetha Kas; s Noel W, Kenneth J, Claude W; d Vera Edith (Mrs H W Lanman); 1906-11 emp in hdw, furn & undertaking establishment at Peru, 1911 pur undertaking bus, 1919 pur hdw & furn bus, 1920 sold both; 1920-27 pur hdw, furn & undertaking bus, Shubert; 1927-29 in undertaking bus, Sidney; 1929- in undertaking bus, Oshkosh; Rotary; C of C; res Oshkosh.
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