Other farmers questioned why large fields would not yield as well as small ones. Macaroni wheat was introduced, which had drouth resisting qualities. Farmers remembered the years of 1893 and 1895, which were well nigh rainless. The pioneer merchant. W. S. Woolsey, became busy and prosperous and another man ventured into the station town to establish the Clough store. During this period farms grew closer to the village and a small school was established. From

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

this time the town grew ; gradually more buildings of good and permanent character were built for commercial purposes. Livery and feed barns sprang up to accommodate the farmers ; the postoffice was established in the Woolsey store; J. A. Walford and C. B. Shanks ran a grocery and meat market ; the Bridgeport Lumber Company established a lumber yard under the management of Jesse Ewing, and J. C. Franden opened a drug store, while Dr. A. E. Hedlund was the early physician to open an office, and enjoyed a good practice. Not long after, when farm lands began to sell. H. C. Anderson opened a real estate office. The busy blacksmith shop was conducted by Herman Martin and a hardware and furniture store by Charles Veith ; a confectionery store by H. C. Christensen and a livery and implement house by C. W. Handley. J. B. Hire managed a restaurant while A. P. Gustin operated a pool hall and barber shop. The garage of Dalton was opened by Ben Carter, while his wife was in charge of the telephone exchange. Steve Davis, the well driller, was a busy man.