This line was built in 1907 and 1908, reaching Lewellen in 1907, and the first train arriving at Oshkosh on August 8, 1908. In September a huge celebration and barbecue was held at Oshkosh to show to the world the gladness of a new railroad town. People came from miles around Julesburg, ( Igalalla, Chappell, etc. All went well and everyone had a good time, even though the meat was not done to a turn.

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

Lewellen, Oshkosh and Lisco at once began to boom. The rapid growth of these towns, and the development of the surrounding agricultural lands, soon brought on clamor for county division, and in 1909 the new county of Garden was formed out of the north part of Deuel.

The first depot agents at the towns along the line were, at Lewellen, W. A. Hostetter ; at Oshkosh, Frank Maryott ; at Lisco, R. C. Cary, who is still there. At Oshkosh the changes have been many since Maryott left. 1920 finds J. B. Bailey at Oshkosh 'and F. J. Bitter at Lewellen.

Schools

During the early days, the school advantages were the same as in all new settlements. Very few schools and often none for many miles. A number of those early schools were practically private schools held in the home of some fortunate settler. It was a common occurrence for the children to be obliged to go from five to eight miles to school.

The first school building in the county was in what is now Joint district No. 2. known as the Wendt school on the south table west of Ash Hollow. It was built of sod in 1887, by M. F. Clary, Nicholas Opp, Bob Taylor, and Pete Ferry, on section 33, southwest corner. Eva Gilliard (now Mrs. J.