of city government and a permanently platted city engaged much attention, although gold was the item of paramount interest to everyone. It was not until May 1, 1877, that a plat of the town was filed.

In 1876 and 1877, there arrived and departed from Sidney about fifteen hundred people daily in the rush to the Black Hills for gold. People were going to and from the Black Hills, except for a few who stopped in Sidney

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

a few days farther west, also itinerant gamblers and the following of every gold rush.

Growth of Business

Business grew and was well represented in Sidney in 1876 and 1877, but of the men then engaged in retail trade only two merchants remain in business today, namely : the Oberfelder Brothers, clothiers. During the rush through this section P. J. Cohn & Company,

ture store, Kelley & Cameron and G. H. and J. S. Collins carried harness and saddles. "Regular outfitting stores were owned by C. A. Moore, R. S. Van Tassel and the Oberfelders. At the latter the office of the Stevenson stage line was maintained with an all night service. The only jewelry store was owned by B. M. L. Thoelecke ; C. E. Borquist was the pioneer druggist of Sidney, establishing his store in 1871, and in 1876 C. F. Goodman opened the second drug house.

MOORE' H'lTEL

cJLl

operated the Star Clothing House which for a time rivalled the Oberfelder store. P. J. Cohn was the original senior member. His nephews operated the store. Louis and Mike Cohn were cousins and Louis later became sole owner. Mike sold his interest for $40,000, took it to Chicago, and lost it. William France had a hardware store here in 1876, and among the grocers were Henry Gantz & Son, wholesale merchants ; W.