Morey, one of the first board of county commissioners ; John Hassler, editor at Pawnee City, took a tree claim but never came here to reside; and C. C. Akin, went away without filing on any land. The section had as attractions besides good land, close proximity to the pine ridges for fuel, and abundant good water at from ten to eighty feet below the surface.

North of the present site of Rushville was a community center, called "Rush Valley," in

1884. The homesteaders were overflowing 'the plains west of the sand hills, and as was usual, the first consideration was feed for their stock. Buffalo grass furnished a much better pasturage than it appeared at casual glance, and it was too short for hay, so the attraction of a natural hay meadows was sufficient to induce first settlers in the matter of location.

"Rush Valley" had some natural meadows. For the convenience of the public, and incidentally the profit in the business, each community early had a store. Two miles north of the present county seat, Henry Crow started a store in 1884, and soon thereafter had a postoffice, he being the first postmaster. A mile farther north Cal Weeter started the second store in the "Rush Valley" settlement.

"With the coming of the railroad the following year, the new town sprang into existence. Morse & Shepherd started a general store in a tent one-half mile west of town, then built the frame store in Rushville, upon the site of the present feed store. Mercantile business started with a rush, and in structures that were boxed up a few feet from the ground, the balance being tent. Early in the mercantile line were A I osier & Tully's general store, Emmet & McEachron in drugs, and O. F. Farnam also in drugs.