It is located in the southeastern part of the county on the Union Pacific railroad in the Platte valley; is the center of a fine irrigated farm district and is a growing town of progressive people. Big Springs was platted and the plat recorded at Sidney, November 6, 1884 ; the Union Pacific railroad filed the plat. At an earlier date the station was known as Lone Tree. Big Springs was known at an early day as it was not far from the present town that tin- "crossing" of the famous < )regon and California trails occurred. This history is given iii the general history of the Panhandle.

J. H. Jewett, who was the first state senator from the Panhandle, induced the bonding of the Big Springs precinct for a bridge across the South Platte river in 1885. The famous Jewett ranch was located near Big Springs and its history is also given in another place in this history. Near the town site Otto Baumgarten demonstrated practical dry farming a number of years before homesteaders spread over the high lands of Deuel county. In 1883 Big Springs settlement consisted of one adobe house aside from the railroad section house and depot, which were small affairs. About the first store in Big Springs was erected by Abbott & Kimball. Old timers will remember the sign on the side of the building, "Ott & Kim," and thereby hangs the tale. A tramp painter arrived in Big Springs and struck Abbott and Kimball for a job of sign painting; they told him to paint the name of the firm on the side of the store building. Carefully measuring the space, he began in the middle with the form "&." then the last letter of Abbott and the first of Kimball ; he persevered until he had the last three letters of Abbott and the first three of Kimball; then he rested, and for aught they know he is resting still.