It has had a prosperous existence and continuous growth and is numbered 961. It now has a membership of over six hundred and owns a handsome building located on Box Butte Avenue between Fourth and Fifth Streets.

Other fraternal orders which have had more or less precarious existences are the Modern Woodmen, Woodmen of the World. Ancient Order of United Workmen, Highlanders, Eagles, Owls, Modern Brotherhood of America, as well as other fraternal labor organizations.

Among the social organizations are The Rotary Club, Tost M., Travelers' Protective Association, Lions Club, Country Club. Womans Club, P. E. O., while all of the churches have their guilds and aid societies.

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

MILITARY HISTORY

I >wing to its isolation, the county has never taken any important part in the wars which have occurred since its organization. The first military unit formed in the county was a troop of cavalry organized at Nonpareil during the summer of 1888 and named in honor of the then governor of the state, John M. Thayer. This consisted of forty-two members. Temporary organization was formed by electing A. L. Field Captain ; F. M. Sands, First Lieutenant ; Fred A. Shonquist, Second Lieutenant ; and Michael Shindler, Third Lieutenant. There was really no place for third lieutenant, but as Mike was the only man in the company who had any cavalry experience, this honorary position was created in order to give him authority. After a sergeant major and other sergeants numbering up to the eighth, with a corresponding number of corporals, musicians, saddlers, and farriers were appointed, there were just two left as privates. These were James H. Danskin and Ira E. Tash, who, because they could not have any office, refused to be sworn into service. This broke up the company, as the officers did not have anyone to command, but all of the members retained their sabers and several of them still have them as souvenirs of their first experience as warriors.