Valentine, who took charge in 1914.

In 1905, LaSalle & Miles built and opened up a general store, half way between the hotel and Corner Store, and Dan Atchinson started the first drug store just north of them and called it the Oshkosh Drug Company. W. W. Bowers and Mr. "Dad" Potts bought this, carrying it on under the same name. It still goes by the same name, although it has changed hands a number of times ; L. H, Stroud and Sons now own it. J. F. Crane was the druggist until 1910, when he went into business for himself under the name of the Oshkosh Pharmacy : this was sold to Melvin & Riddle in 1919.

Oshkosh has never had a very destructive fire, flood or storm. On the night of May 24, 1915, however, a tornado of the right size and force to destroy the whole town struck a short distance north of it. This was a particularly wicked twister. It struck with the greatest force at the home of Mr. James F. Blair, twisted his buildings into splinters, picked him up out of the house and broke every bone in his body, and left him lying lifeless on the prairies about a half mile east of his home.

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

The splinters and pieces of furniture and books lay along the path of the storm for a distance of three miles. He had several valuable documents in his trunk. Of these, his will was the only paper found. It was found right close to Curt Farris' house, a mile and a half from the Blair place.