The company was composed of a man by the name of Hurst, his wife and children. It created quite a stir; the show was given in the school house. Everyone who heard of it was there if possible.

After the railroad was surveyed through the valley, 1. C. McCoy laid out the village of Lewellen in July, 1906. The first addition was soon needed and was platted in ( >ctober, 1907. Two additions have since been added, making about sixty aero altogether.

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

The Lewellen Lumber Company was organized by Roy Brown and Sudman, Fish and Company. Their first carload of lumber was hauled over from Chappell before the railroad reached Lewellen. Roy Brown was manager. This was sold to the Sterling Lumber Company of Denver, in 1917. This company has also bought the yards at Oshkosh and Lisco.

The completion of the railroad to this point in 1907 gave new life to the village. The first station agent was W. A. Hostetter who remained there a number of years. F. J. Ritter is agent in 1920.

The M. S. Gates Hardware Company is the successor of the Rohlfing and Berquist Company, who sold to them in 1916.

The first church was the Methodist, which was built in 1889, although it had been organized before that. Services were held in the school house. In 1910 the Baptist church was built, Rev. Elkins being pastor at the time. A small organization was formed and has continued to thrive. A. J. Coffee is pastor now. A Lutheran church was built and dedicated in 1915 while Rev. Clark Powell was pastor.