Then a Star route was put on from Kimball to Gering, which took in Ashford as an intermediate point, and dropped mail for Livingston, at the latter point. From that time Gering had quite a regular mail service.

Jones M. Clapp was the first carrier on this route into Gering. The route is still in service, although the method of travel has changed from the broncho buck board to the automobile; and the rough trail of the first year- has changed to the fine state and federal aid scenic highway.

The first carpenter and builder in Gering was Martin Bristol, soon to be joined in that work by Ed. Bosley and C. F. Berry. Orf Fanning came a little later.

Wm. and Frank Stalcup were the first blacksmiths.

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

In May, 1887, Lamont brothers were making plans for a hotel and livery stable. However the Pioneer Hotel, in fact and name, was built by C. W. and Elmer Hogaboom.

Early Talk of Railroad

As early as 1885, the Union Pacific filed a plat through government land up the North Platte valley. As Perry Braziel recently stated, "It has been about forty years since they first planned building up here," and they had not yet reached his place in western Scotts Bluff county. And he was "going to stay there forty years longer and if he did not have a railroad by that time he was going to move out."

the first institutions was a band. Geo. Luft arrived from Seward, in May, and went into partnership with Dr. Charlesworth of the Gering drug store. There had been some talk of a band and with the arrival of Luft, it became a surety. He was the band leader. The other members were : A. B. Wood, Ed. Gering, Oscar and Charlie Gardner, Bert Hubbard, Frank Garlock, John Gorten, and Horatio Knapp.