Scharf, J. Thomas, ed. History of Westchester County, New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II. Philadelphia: L.E. Preston & Co., 1886.
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Hickman, George Rudisil, all of Broadwater, Nebraska ; A. O. Cole, Alliance, Nebraska. Weir-Lisco Precinct : Olaf Lindberg, chairman ; Mac Radcliff, D. A. Colyer, J. A. Millett, Jr., all of Broadwater, Nebraska. Gilchrist Precinct : Charles A. Snow, chairman ; W. E. Rice, Frank Cantrell, Joseph Bignell, all of Alliance, Nebraska. Redington Precinct ; E. P. Loy, chairman …
Dean, Henry Franklin, all of Bridgeport, Nebraska ; Peter Riley, Broadwater, Nebraska. Mark Spanogle, county chairman; Frank N. Hunt, county secretary, both of Bridgeport, Nebraska. In the bond drive, Morrill county subscribed $10,000 more than her quota of $124,200, prorated among the various precincts as follows: Camp Clark-Bridgeport, $31,450; Bayard, $28,250; Broadwater …
Golden, chairman; C. A. Wagner, Harvey Bruner, T. C. Haiston. Bonner: Frank Woods, chairman; Fred Case, Angora. Camp Clark : G. F. McDougall. chairman ; H. H. Vandeventer, Bruce Wilcox, F. H. Putman, L. R. North. Court House Rock : T. E. LeBlanc, chairman, J. S. Trott, F. R. Reddish, W. C. Dugger. Eastwood: John Thompson, chairman; C. S. Cheney, W. S. Hinman. J. J. Cain …
Yockey : Ellis Judd, chairman ; J. E. Parsons, C. I. Hoxworth, Roy O'Neall. Red Cross Work The Red Cross workers in Bridgeport did some very energetic and effective work in the drive for their funds in May. A. W. Atkins conducted the work in town, acting as precinct chairman and being ably assisted by the members of the local Red Cross chapter. Headquarters were opened in the …
The Morrill County unit of the National Food administration was elected in December, 1917, with Judge J. H. Steuteville as County Food Administrator. The main assistants in this work as it progressed through the ensuing month were G. W. Tudd, Bayard ; C. B. Mernitt, Broadwater; R. T. Eli and Mrs. D. C. Henderson, Angora; Harry King of King precinct ; H. A. Gillman, Redington …
H. Steuteville, M. B. Ferris, William I. Dyson, A. W. Atkins. Other parts of the county were gathering at their public places to pay farewell tribute to the boys departing from their neighborhoods. During the fourth week in June, the entire community in the vicinity of Redington wasg devoting itself to a series of farewells and receptions, to Sherman Wilcox and Forrest Ridge …
Another large contingent was given a rousing farewell at Essig hall on June 27th. Rev. McDougall called the assembly to order and stated briefly the purpose of the meeting, bringing in a little story to indicate how the boys were going to "sit on the Kaiser." The first number was a song by the Bridgeport borne guards under the leadership of Ed. Morris, and the guards were …
As many of them had to go on the northbound train at 10:30. the proceedings were cut short and refreshments were served early 1>\ the members of the woman's club. Then a large crowd escorted the soldiers boys to the train and gazed after them in tears as the train pulled away from the depot. The crowd Was even larger than on Monday night, showing that our people do not weary …
He offered some excellent advice and much encouragement to the boys who were entering army life. Editor Casper spoke of his experience as a soldier of the Civil War, and made a good, sound and effective speech that was well received by the soldiers as well as the audience. Rev. McDougall made a strongly eloquent plea for the defeat of Germany -- "to her knees" -- which …
He told graphically of the atrocities committed by the Huns, and eulogized the men who were going over to stop the barbarians. Professor Henri Deschamps, a Frenchman by birth and who has been doing psychological work in Bridgeport for some time, made a very touching address to the soldier boys and told of how France needed them in this hour of peril. The professor spoke …
Judge Steuteville closed the program with a forcible talk on the duty of Americans, and especially American housekeepers, in conserving the food which must be had to win the war. The judge was deeply absorbed in his duties as chairman of the county food administration and was using every bit of energy he possessed to encourage people in obeying the food regulations. The next …
The Third Liberty Loan was going strong and Morrill county was headed, in the first five days for that usual mark, "surpassing its quota." A rousing series of patriotic meetings were held on April 7th and 8th at Broadwater and Bayard and Bridgeport with serious patriotic addresses by Hon. W. L. Dowling, of Madison, Nebraska. The United States Boys' Working Reserve was prepared …
Parsons, Yockey ; J. L. Finn, Simla ; Miss Mabel Johnson, Bridgeport ; T. B. Estill, chairman, Bridgeport. Morrill county went over the top on this campaign in March, 1918, and pledged 20 per cent more than her allotted quota, thus doing her full share in helping to make Nebraska the first state in the Union to subscribe its quota. The fifty-two districts o<f the county …
They inculcated into the minds of the people lessons of patriotism and principles of thrift that were worth the effort, and it is probably not amiss that at this point due credit should be given to those who assumed the responsibility of these organizations. September, 1918, Registers Thursday, September 12, 1918, was another historic day in the United States. On that day the …
Lieutenant William Ritchie, Jr., came home in July on a short leave of absence from Camp Dodge, Iowa. Lieutenant H. R. Van Home then assigned to a command in Headquarters Company of trench mortars, 136th Infantry, at Camp Cody, arrived for a short visit. He reported that Charles Gadd was then first sergeant of Company F, 109th Engineers, and soon expected to enter an officers' …
It is doubtful if any county in the United States that possessed at the beginning of the great world war a bar composed of more than two or three active practicing attorneys, can show a record that excels that of the Morrill County bar. At the opening of the war, there were eleven members of this bar. including County Judge Steuteville, who was not very actively engaged in the …
The Armistice Following the close of the Fourth Liberty Loan, the war work went on during October at the usual pace, until about the middle of the month, when the influenza epidemic which was sweeping the country at that time made its appearance in various parts of this county. It became necessary for the Board of Health, the Board of Education, the Council of Defense and the …
The status of this drive early in December was as follows : Bayard $ 7,125.50 Union 298.00 Bonner 270.00 Yockev 67.50 Court House Rock 330.50 Broadwater 673.00 Camp Clark 1,500.00 Eastwood 456.21 Wier-Lisco 262.50 Goodstreak 84.50 Hickerv 55.00 Storm Lake 370.00 Redington 316.00 King 50.00 Haynes 312.25 Total for county $12,170.96 Victory Loan The Fifth or Victory Loan …
They were compelled to take men from their families and relatives, and place them on the firing line of death. Women deluged the board with protesting tears, and men with angry remonstrance and, in some cases, threats. The board stood firm through it all and cut through like a knife -- fairly and impartially, as nearly as they could with hastily assembled facts, sometimes …
Flags were flying everywhere, inspiring band music stirred our people to a greater exhibition of patriotism, a magnificent program had been fully arranged and was carried out so that the guests of honor were being entertained every minute from noon to midnight. The banquet was one of the finest ever given in the city, and. best of all, our heroes entered into the spirit of the …
A couple of hours were spent in hearing the program, when Captain Willis dismissed the audience so that they might have an opportunity to see a war tank that was being paraded through the streets. The tank was one that had been used in the Victory loan drive in Wyoming, and was being shipped back to Kansas City on a fiat car. Chairman Spanogle was apprised by telegram of its …
The tank had seen considerable service at the battle front in France, and had many dents in it from hard nosed bullets that had been used in vain by the ones whom it had attacked. It was painted in various colors, as a camouflage, and was one of the most interesting things of the day. Mark Spanogle, district chairman of the Victory loan organization, mounted it and made a …
The evening program began with an overture by the Bavard band, followed by a reading by Mabel Ericson entitled, "Minnie at the Movies." Miss Ericson's work is entitled to much credit, and she was trongly applauded. The band filled in the intermission with a number of selections, and then the comedy company presented the one-act comedy entitled, "Foiled by Heck !" It was a …
The guards were organized on March 1, 1918, and not only drilled faithfully and continuously in the manual of arms, but they kept the morale of our citizens high during the struggle of the world for independence. Invitations were sent out a few days before, HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA to the members of the company and several of their friends, requesting them to appear at the …
March!" First Sergeant Morris gave "Company Dismissal." There were also read letters from Chaplain McDougall and Private Deulen, who were absent: After the banquet Captain Willis presented to each member of the company an honorable discharge from service and the gun and equipment that had been used by the members while in service. The arm and equipment becomes the property of …
Jones ; Privates, Albert Dugger, George Cope, Ralph Riddle, Joe Humpal, Monte Farris, Don Duelen, Bob Estill, Leslie Hascall, Howard Burke, Herbert Haines, Earl Steuteville. Jesse Payne, J. H. Steuteville, Clarence Gregg, Arthur Ishmeal, Edgar Clark, Alex Scott, Ernest Michael. Howard Kilburn, Earl Ishmael, Fred DeGraw, E. B. Newkirk, Melvin Long, Ivol Thostesen, Ora Vannater …
Ashby, Harry H., Anderson, Grif A., Anderson, Arthur C, Amsberry, Earl T., Anderson, Walter D., Amsberry, Louis F., Anderson, Raymond, Anderson, William L.. Andrews, Ira G., Allen, Lee, Acker, Albert A., Ackerman, William P., Aspden, Raymond W., Brines, John W., Berwick, Fred, Brumm, George H., Booker, Robert L., Burry, Charles, Blackburn, Ira, Blackstock, Aubrey F., Bankson …
Castellow, Theodore, Colwick, William C, Chapman, Ralph D., Cade. Clarke H., Capron. Albert M., Clark, Harold E., Church, James A., Cain, Edward A., DeArmond, Clarence A., Brescher, Roy R., Dibbles, Herbert O., Daugherty. Jerry W., Determan, Edward, Dushole, Edward F., Dockrell, Gage W., Daugherty, Orange J., McDermott, George, Deines, Carl A., Dudderar, Russel A., Dean, Guy …
Jarrett, Herman,, Jones, Frank W., Jones, Arleigh, Jones, Lawrence R., Johnson, Clarence, John, Roy, Jines, Flector, Kinney, Harry E., Kleich, Emil, Kennedy, lames D., Kellev, Robert E., Kirby, John W., Kittell, Willard J.. Kolar. Frank L., Kenzie, James E., Klemke, Alfred E., King, Martin, Klemke, Erich H., Kolzow, George F., Kyle, Earl. Krupp, Charles B., Koonce, Dwight B …
Jr., Payne, Lee A., Parachini, Charles, Pearson, John C., Perry Claibourne G, Payne, James L., Peck, Maurice M., Pearson, Ralph, Parriott, Delbert, Price, Ray, Palmer, Lee O., Pfeiffer, Carl W., Parkhurst, William, Roberts, Perry W. L., Ruby, Clarke E., Rodriguez, Juan, Rodgers, David A., Ridge, Forrest, Ring, Otto W., Ross, James M., Rowen, Carl F., Reynolds. James P …
Harry R., Warren, Ralph W., Walter, John J., Whetstine, Sherman, Wesley, Charles, Wilson, James C, Weaver, Turner, Walden, Emmet R., Waggerby, Prince W., Wilson. Harry E., Waite, Cecil, Wedell, Jesse P., Weber, Fred, Wilcox, Sherman, Welton, George W., Jr., Werber, Carl T„ Watson, Lucien C, Wilken, William J., Walsworth, Henry J., Winegar, Guy L., Wright, Frank L., Weaver …
Another turned it entirely over to the third who wrote us one of the most disheartening letters we have received. However, the following made the supreme sacrifice: Jess N. Snider, Broadwater, died in France ; James Leonard Payne, died in France; Roy Johnson, Bridgeport, died at Chateau Thierry, July 15, 1918; Earl Berry, lost in Argonne Forest, died working a machine gun …
Each has its own peculiar attributes, its peoples, and its dragons to slay. The great plains region has a similarity in some respects, but each subdivision, county, community or town has its own environment, and its own human as well as its wild elements to consider. Truly as related in the blanket history, the fact that Coronado and the Spanish adventurers came into the north …
The story of trappers, and wars, and cattlemen are told in the blanket history of the Panhandle, incorporated in this volume, and this part of the narrative begins with the settlements of the grangers. Sometimes it is "the period of liquidation" which charitable and apologetic people use to tell of legalized highway robbery, that drives people into the west and sometimes it is …
Scamahorn, a sufferer from stomach troubles and complications to the extent that the doctors had recommended a "change of climate." Judge Tucker was always an enthusiast for Nebraska, and told in glowing terms a story of the paradise of the west. He found Reverend Scamahorn a ready listener, and assured him that northwestern Nebraska was the most salubrious climate in the …
He had a cow, a hog, two old horses, and sixty dollars in money. Not enough for carfare for himself and wife, but he managed to arrange to go as caretaker of one of the cars, and that gave him free passage, while the money enabled the wife to travel with the others. .Mrs. Scamahorn, who still lives (1921) at Gordon, had in her Indiana home a new, upholstered parlor set, which …
The colony went into camp at Valentine, until they could make their land entries, Valentine still being the terminus of the railroad in March, 1884. From here they made their overland trip to near where Gordon now stands and here most of them made their permanent abiding place. Mr. Scamahorn drove the oxen, which being slower than horses, gave him and his wife much of the …
Her baby was sick, and she feared it was going to die. Her greatest lament was that it had never been baptized. Great was her manifestations of joy when Mrs. Scamahorn told her that her husband was a minister, and that he would baptize the baby. So here in the humble sod cabin, Rev. Scamahorn read the first baptismal service in that part of the state, and the mother in her …
She woke her husband, who at first was in despair, but she had recollected the story of Kit Carson, and howhe had fought fire by backfiring the prairie. The story of their youthful days, brought fruition, for by burning the grass about the wagon, they escaped the "red terror" that came after them over the distant hills. The others were not in the path of the fire, and were …
As before, the oxen could not be controlled and turned stubbornly down the stream. The "old preacher" jumped into the water waist deep and made the team head for the shore without accident. Mrs. Scamahorn said she was concerned lest the chicken crate should fall into the water and her fowls be drowned. The cow-boys cheered and said they guessed he "would do." He asked to buy …
He was a personal acquaintance of the Postmaster General, and had received an appointment as postmaster, so as soon as their tent was up, HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA Mrs. Scamahorn emptied a trunk and using a cigar box for stamps, the first postoffke at Gordon was established. Newman's ranch had, since the Black Hills excitement, served as the mail collecting and distribution …
The dead pines and cedars, lying in drifts in the gulches, or in tangled masses where the winds had torn them out by their roots, was an excellent fuel supply, and but for this provision of nature the rigors of the winters would have been felt far more keenly. But when the man of the house went after firewood, the time was long until his return. If he was late, the wife would …
Scamahorn and prized livestock back to the "home range." They refused any pay for the service, but were very glad indeed to accept a sack of fresh eggs. Another time, Mr. Scamahorn had left early for Pine ridge for wood. He thought the trip would take two days, and had gone to a neighbors to get a girl to come over and stay with his wife, but she could not come. Shortly after …
The evening wore on, and along in the night she heard the approach of wagon wheels, and to her intense relief Air. Scamahorn drove up to the tent. He said that he just felt impelled to get home that night, and everything had worked out right for it. He found wood at the first ridge, quite easy to load, and the oxen had walked exceedingly well. In the morning the strangers were …
The text chosen was, "Then Simon Peter answered and said, To whom shall we go. Thou hast the words of eternal life." Great earnestness and zeal marked the words of Reverend Scamahorn, and they made their impress upon the lives of pioneers of thirtyseven years ago, in that vicinity. Following the service the class was organized ; there were thirteen members. Just thirty years …
A very useful man in the story of Sheridan county, the pioneer pilot that led the Hoosier colony beyond the great sand hills into the high plains region -- the fertile, healthful land in which we abide. The original town of Gordon was a mile east of the present fair grounds. The first general store in Gordon was established by Tom Glover. He started in a small shanty in the …
It was in section 22. A year later, or a little less, a postoffice was established here. A sod school house was built at the southeast corner of section 16, in this neighborbood, in 1885. Bruce Hewitt, the present county treasurer, was one of the pioneers in this section. His claim was the southwest quarter of five, while his brother's was in the northeast of ten and his …
As stated, Tom Glover moved from his old town shanty into the new store built by him at the corner of Alain and Second streets. Others besides the people from Indiana, had their eyes upon the west. Eastern Nebraska had been built up by the pioneer spirit, and the children of those who had crossed the Alissouri were looking with longing eyes toward the sunset. Somewhere out …
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 …
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 …
Jones, the pioneer, will soon have a place in the conversation, for his life of active business, and excellent memory, makes him one of the most excellent sources of old history of the Rushville settlement. The second lumber yard was started soon after, by Herman O. Morse, and was doing business before the close of 1885. The first bank established in the town was bv H. A …
For a long time Rushville told newcomers that the climate was so healthful thereabout, that they had to kill a man to start a graveyard. The fact is that a man was murdered near the town, and was the first person to be buried in Rushville cemetery. William Shafer and George Ginger were partners living in a tent at the time the railroad was building into the community. In some …
Early in the historv of the town they opened a five and ten cent store on the lot north of the present Recorder office. Their business expanded, and they bought the building now occupied by the printery, then the W. W. Wood building north. Mr. Zoll then bought the corner building, which was known as the Armstrong store. All through their mercantile experience these courageous …
While the railroad had passed both Gordon and Rushville, and they had become established in history before Hay Springs came into existence, and while Chadron was to be the division station, and thereby overshadow its near neighbors, in some respects the town of Hay Springs made a very important mark in history. "This town is near the west line of the county of Sheridan as …
F. 1 tfffenbacher was there in 1885 and preached also occasionally elsewhere, being one of the tir-t to preach at Rushville. Rev. Diffenbacher preached the sermon in commemoration of the life of General Grant, in 1885, in a big tent which had been set up by the quartermaster of Civil War veterans, in the town of Rushville. The first marriage license issued in the new county of …
The duties of these officers were to conduct the county affairs through the formation stage of an election for the selection of the county officers in a regular way, and for the location of a permanent county seat. The board met on the 25th day of July, 1885, and its first act was to divide the county into three commissioner districts. All of ranges forty-one and forty-two …
Thompson's store ; "Rushville" precinct at Wood & Weeter's law office ; "Gordon" precinct at Ladd's law office ; "Heywood" precinct at G. A. Heywood's residence ; "Hunter" precinct at Hunter's ranch ; and "Mirage" precinct at S. Dewey's store. The clerk was ordered to issue call for an election and prepare ballots and ballot boxes for these ten precincts. First Officers …
The first meeting of the newly elected board of commissioners was held in Rushville September 15, 1885, and there were present T. B. Irwin, J. D. Woods, and G. T. Morey, commissioners ; and Abel Hill, clerk. The bond of C. Patterson as county judge was approved, after which the judge approved the bonds of the three commissioners. The bonds of the clerk and sheriff were also …
This arbiter they would not dispute, but select a judge from the crowd and it was an invitation to argument and misunderstanding. At this first meeting of the board, the clerk was instructed to prepare lists of the books and supplies needed by the new county, and ask for bids. W. W. Wood, C. C. Akin and W. H. Westover each made a proposition to the commissioners to act as …
"It looks like Rushville had lost out." Riggs asked how far it was hehind Hay Springs and was told, "about 200 votes." Riggs is said to have remarked that he guessed he would have to go back to the ranch and get some more votes. The facts are that the returns from Hunter precinct gave 226 votes for Rushville. The canvassing board consisting of Abel Hill, clerk, and James W …
But a story had come in that Hunter precinct, which was for Rushville, had voted a lot of illegal votes : that the ranch had voted its payroll for years gone. After the lapse of years, it will do to tell the story, which may or may not have any foundation of fact. It was stated that John Riggs was bringing in the returns from Hunter ranch when he met a friend and stopped to …
that Sheridan county was to have political contests the same as "back east." Except for the candidate for treasurer, A. McKinney, and Commissioner, G. T. Morey, there were contests for the several offices. The results also showed the isolated votes; one or two votes for this or that person, and the humorist was also in evidence. There was one vote for "Baby Tucker." whom we …
McDonnell a team of mules, harness and wagon for $75, on April 10, 1885, due in six months and drawing interest at ten per cent per annum. The witnesses to the transaction were J. R. Jordan and G. A. Beeler. These people were from Gordon. The first in the Rushville neighborhood was Edwin C. Miller to W. W. Wood, filed in Sidney July 2, 1885, and covered a team of mules, five …
Rushville At the meeting of the county board on October 9, 1885, a petition was presented asking for the incorporation of the village of Rushville. The petition being legally sufficient, the board named the following members of the first Rushville trustees : Peter Bruhn. Chris Mosler, Ed. McEachron, L. F. Enderly and O. Meservy. The first levy of taxes for village purposes was …
Hill was village clerk, and the first levy was ten mills for village purposes. Hay Springs November 19, 1885. the people of Hay Springs also presented a sufficient petition for the incorporation of the village. The county commissioners named the following persons as trustees for the village : William Waterman, A. McKinney, George Millard, George Ballet and J. E. Brown. On June …
Bresee later bcame state senator. He resigned the office of judge in June, 1899, when John Beely was appointed to complete the term. J. H. Stanchfield was elected in 1900 and served until November 20, 1901. Then began the long period in which Jesse H. Edmunds wore the county judicial ermine For over thirteen years he maintained the office, yielding in 1915 to R. G. Dorr, who …
In 1896 he had former clerk Barnes for his deputy. H. F. Wasmund, junior, was then county clerk for four years or two consecutive terms. At the beginning of his second term he departed from the usual custom and named Maude E. Gillespie as clerk. This element of progress in the county of Sheridan was so popular, that Miss Gillespie was elected county clerk, being so far as the …
The first treasurer as heretofore stated was A. McKinney who was re-elected without opposition. In 1888, John H. Jones, the pioneer lumberman of Rushville, became treasurer. Jones was re-elected in 1890. He had for his deputy F. M. Godfrey. J. H. Hamsberger was elected in 1892, and after one term was succeeded by Henry Murphy who served two terms, the legal limit. In 1898 …
Kelley served the longest term of any superintendent to date. In 1919 Mrs. Pearl Summers was inducted into the office and has been re-elected. Mrs. Summers is holding high the standard set by Sheridan county women in public life, and if men do not look well after their official duties, the example set by women officials will have a tendency to impress the public mind, and …
Looking back across the thirty-six years of intervening time, it appears that the appointment of D. C. Middleton as deputy sheriff by John Riggs was a wise bit of strategy. Doc Middleton might not have complete respect for the ownership of horses and cattle, but while deputy sheriff it is safe to say that the stock of Hunter's ranch and Newman's ranch were absolutely immune …
He assisted in the surveys in the southwest part of Scotts Bluff county, and was with the party that found the big cedar with a seven foot trunk. This cedar was so near to a proper corner for a section, that it was so designated. Some years later the timber scavengers cut it, but the perpetrators of the deed were never found. A tree seven feet in diameter should make a large …
Pitcher arrived in Gering at the right time and tarried for several days. He went out and located the stump of the tree, but the other party failed to come. Y\ "hen he got home there was another letter to the effect that the Denver man had been sick, and it set another date for the meeting, but as Pitcher tersely expressed it: "I had one wild goose chase, and I am not going on …
Mitchell then served for a number of years, and McCarthy was recalled to the office in 1910, serving several terms. In 1917, Sydney H. Foster was elected and served until 1919, when Robert McCarthy was again returned to the office. The veteran and pioneer of the Gordon settlement was rechosen in 1921, and is on the work at the present time. In 1918 he was county highway …
Graham was elected in 1888, and Geo. Spend was appointed special deputy. Thos. M. Redlau was chosen in 1889. Robert M. McGee in 1891. and then, in 1893. W. H. Westover was recalled to the post. Charles E. Woods followed for three terms, and then William W. Wood for one term. C. Patterson served from 1903 to 1906, inclusive, after which W. W. Wood served another term. In 1909 …
Ed Hopkins, F. M. Jennings, A. W. Brownell, John Hage, Wr. C. Shattuck, C. A. Turner. H. S. Burlingmier E. Bauder, O. J. Marcy, P. F. Johnson, L. R. Bray, J. W. Grubb, Elza Walls, J. D. Stauffer, R. W. Reid, J. F. Mc- Parland, Tohn Coleman, Anton Jansen, Robert M. Bruce. P. S. Parker, Fred Graeber, Otto Smith. Fred C. Duerfeldt, William Hollstein. Smith, Duerfeldt and …
The first sheep inspector was Samuel T. Wallace in 1896. He was followed by Geo. P. Auker in 1898. The first Soldiers Relief Committee filing bonds for service were : W. M. Alexander in 1890, and J. F. Powers and John Beeley, in June, 1891. The last Soldier's Relief Committee bond filed is that of C. S. Gates in 1921. Not many of the brave boys of 1861-65 remain this side of …
Woods won a reputation in the house by shutting off useless debates. He would "move the previous question," and thus end wearisome arguments that otherwise seemed to have no termination. Combinations of politics kept Sheridan county out of representation in either house or senate for many years. In 1919 the potash interests demanded the retirement of Lloyd Thomas, of Alliance …
Then Joe Armstrong with the Farmers and Merchants bank, and then M. P. Musser & Company. The evolution of banking has wrought many changes in the finances of the people of the county. The potato enterprise for instance has such a firm foundation that crop loans for a moderate amount upon the growing potato crop is not considered hazardous, wihile in the early days that …
The cash reserve of this bank is high also, about twenty-eight per cent during the stress of money matters in the spring of 1921. Lewis Oberwetter is president; W. F. Stratheide, vice president ; G. E. Ellsworth, cashier ; and M. M. Wahlford, assistant cashier. Gordon is the only town in Sheridan county with a population of over one thousand, according to the census of 1920 …
One of the oldest banks in Sheridan county is at Hay Springs, being more than thirty years in the service of the community. The Northwestern State Bank was organized in 1890. It has a capital of $50,000 and a surplus of $23,- 000. According to recent reports it has deposits of over half a million dollars, and loans and discounts of approximately eighty per cent of the …
A. Goff, cashier and T. R. Morrison, assistant cashier. The Clinton State bank was organized in 1917, with a capital of $15,000. It has accumulated a small surplus. It has deposits of $86,000 and loans and discounts of $71,000, with a cash and undivided profits account of over $20,000. The present officers are : Noah Mose, president ; Nels S. Larsen. vice president ; R. O …
and that year two banks were organized and opened for business in the potash metropolis. According to the figures of a local census the town had two thousand people at one time, but many of them were transients and the closing of potash works, and the burning of the mills has reduced the population until it will hardly qualify as a city of the second class, to which honor it …
000, with cash and undivided profits of upward from $28 000. H. A. Copsey was president; Chas. E. Brittan, of Alliance, vice president; and James P. Thomas, cashier. Potash State Bank had $20,000 capital and $1,000 surplus; its deposits were $60,000 and loans and discounts $48,000 with cash and undivided profits of over $18,000. The officers were: W. H. Ostenberg, president …
The bar of the county is pretty well represented in the roster of the prosecuting attorneys through the years. R. J. Graham, Thos. M. Redlau and Geo. Spend were present in the late eighties. Robert M. McGee and Charles E. Woods joined in the legal services of the community during the nineties. C. Patterson was in the profession about twenty years ago, and Roscoe L. Wilhite who …
Dr. C. L. Bates and Dr. L. Quast are dentists. At Gordon there are Doctors Edward H. Dwyer, James Q. Elmore, Loren Jones, S. E. Overmass and Geo. F. Bartholomew. In dentistry there are Tim Woolm and G. R. Brownfield". At Hay Springs, Doctors Anderson, A. N. Sheffner, Stanley Clements, and Albert J. Molgalm are the more recent administers to public health. county bar: with …
Moore attends the sick of southern Sheridan county also, and for awhile Dr. E. L. Emerson, whose main occupation was ranching, was nevertheless called upon as occasion required. The Churches The story of the church has been partly told. Rev. J. A. Scamahorn on the second Sunday in May, 1884, organized the first Methodist church west of Valentine, in the north part of the …
He cleared off a faro layout in the back part of the building for the minister to use for a pulpit, then he went to the bar, and rapped upon it with his six-shooter. The noise eased down, and he said, "Boys, the preacher man is going to be the main game for awhile. He is going to talk, and if there is anyone here who feels he can't keep still, he had better vamouse ; for if he …
The first church in Rushville was the Methodist, which was a log structure, about a block south of the present site of the postoffice. It was built in 1885, and was afterwards used for Rushville's first school. Minnie Buchanan was the first teacher. Rev. R. H. Gammon, still living and often to be seen about George Peck's hardware store, was also a pioneer Methodist minister …
Some distance south of Gordon is Lavaca Parsonage, and there are gatherings in almost every community for services from time to time. At Antioch there are Methodists, Congregationalists and Catholics served by local ministers or from Alliance which is close at hand. The transient population built up by the potash industry also helped to build places of worship, but they did …
It is a wonderful record to read after years has tempered the judgment of the reader. The Rushville Standard is the dean of the press in Sheridan county. Thirty-six years ago it was founded by Ed. L. Heath, who afterwards served the county and district in the state legislature. For many years this journal has been in the capable hands of C. L. Mayes, who delights to reproduce …
Lyon the present postmaster of Gordon, who takes an active interest in historical affairs, was owner. H. D. Leedom once owned it, and sold it to J. G. Clark. Clark sold it to the two Leedoms, who are the present owners. The antecedent of the Journal, was the Sheridan County Gazette, established in 1884, by L. O. Hull. This was the first paper published in the county, and had …
Broome, was the man of the hour when the potash town wanted a paper, and the Antioch News was the result. Broome, as a public man and publisher, has had a lifetime of experience in western Nebraska. When 'Gene Heath left for other lands the old 'Gene Heath's Grip was passed to the stewardship of Frank Broome. The editor in chief during his whiil upon the sea of journalism …
Then there has been some co-operative effort in marketing and buying that deserves honorable mention. Outside of the railroad towns in both the north and south portions of the county, there were early established country stores. There were Albanv, Adaton, Hunter, Grayson, Lavaca, Mirage and many other places, some of which still maintain stores, and some of which are …
Hay Springs has nearly six hundred inhabitants, has three churches, two banks, two grain elevators, a potato market house, opera house, electric lights, water works and Beaver Valley telephone. It has the Northwestern railroad, Western Union telegraph and American express. It is on the state highway from Norfolk and Sioux City to the Black Hills, and at the junction of a state …
In the spring of 1921, a number of the farmers and owners of land in this vicinity, made a tour of inspection of the irrigated territory in and around Scottsbluff, and so enthusiastic are they that now the project is to be revived under the name of Hay Springs Irrigation HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA District. The development of this idea will mean a family on each eighty acre …
Grubb homesteaded north of town about a mile, in 1884, and has been in business in town for almost thirty years. Also may be found there from time to time W. J. Zoll, who takes great interest in old times and has a splendid memory to assist. He is a brother of Kate M. Zoll, one of the splendid, brave young women who came to Rushville when it was still Rush Valley, and …
But the transition of Rushville from a tent town in 1885, to the present place of substantial buildings, and excellent mercantile attainments is one of the remarkable stories of progress which covers the high plains. Scientific farming, following the disasters of the early nineties, shows the ingenuity of man, and capableness of the home making human being to survive and …
The story of the Gordon rifles and the burning of the Gordon wagons and equipment, was one of the unwise affairs of handling the Indian question, and Indian country, that has marked the administration of that department from time to time. This event occurred near the Sheridan-Cherry line, some distance south of Gordon and a little east. The finding of relics is yet of frequent …
To the north is the Indian country, to the east the cattle country, and to the west and south dry-fanning makes it situated ideally for steady trade. No depression of any one, can so effect the other two of Gordon's sources of business. Flour mills, elevators, electric lights, water works, four churches, two hotels, two banks, a live newspaper, and a generally wide awake …
The first schools of the High Plains were necessarily crude affairs. Log houses and sod houses were generally thrown up as soon as possible, and sometimes the first schools were in the claim shack of some settler, and occasionally that of the teacher. The first school district organized in Sheridan county was at Gordon, Otcober 9, 1885. The county had been created the previous …
District number three at Hay Springs, on October 28. 1885. Three other districts came to life upon this same date : Number four, the Pawnee City settlement, north of Clinton ; Number five, north of Hay Springs ; Number six at the state line north of Gordon. Seven other districts were organized before the close of 1885. By June, 1886, there were nine additional dis- • tricts …
No. 1. eight mills; No. 2, twelve mills; No. 3, fifteen mills; No. 4, none; No. 5, fifteen mills ; No. 6, twenty-five mills ; No. 7, fifteen mills; No. 8, fifteen mills; No. 9, none; No. 10, fifteen mills; Nos. 11 and 12, none; No. 13, twenty-five mills. There seems to have been a break in the numbering of districts at this time for several numerals are missing. Of the …
In 1920 report there is shown in Sheridan county a total of 116 districts. Ninety-two of these are housed in frame school houses, five in brick and four in stone or concrete. There are eight log and three sod school houses in the county, and all the houses are in fair condition. There are 3108 pupils in Sheridan county, and 169 teachers, nine of whom are male and one hundred …
Summers is investigating, and if there is more due the county, she will get it for the county schools. In 1920, twenty-three schools in the county had nine months of school. There were thirtythree that had eight months and forty-three that had less than eight months school. Eleven schools had no school or less than four months. Each and every district in the county has …
Predominent export products of Sheridan county in the agricultural lines are potatoes and wheat. Other ordinary farm products are raised, and there is considerable alfalfa and hay. In the valleys of the sand hills are many beautiful meadows, but their product is almost if not entirely for home use. The Spade ranch, while appropriating much of this valuable land to its own use …
Men that never help a fellow man, men whose object seeems to be to accumulate, and accumulate. Harsh men, but fortunately they are few. I could name dozens, of the most excellent characters that the broad acres of sand hills have developed into giants of character, men like Festus Caruthers, only perhaps few that have attained the high degree of usefulness to the world. Festus …
Coffee, Musser, stalwart characters of the cattle days ; there are Eugene E. Thompson, David Briggs, William G. Wilson and Herman Krause, who have carried all the modern conveniences into their ranch homes. Of the smaller ranches there are many worthy of especial mention, among which we find Frank E. Jesse, Frank H. Palmer, Leonard Boyer, Frank C. Reeves, Henry Heir, Jacob …
He is not in the nursery business, except in the way that it will benefit and improve his home, his neighborhood, his county and his state. In one distinctive feature has Sheridan county passed all her contemporaries. Potash production in Nebraska, as an industry, is practically confined to this county, although frayed edges are over the county lines in adjoining and nearby …
Simonson insisted that it go with the others. Later it proved worth many thousand dollars for the potash it contained. On another occasion John Krause bought some land containing a lake from a party named Long. It developed that Krause had made an examination and knew the lake to be rich in potash. In the courts Long recovered something over seventy thousand dollars, said to …
Surveys were made by the department of surveys, under order of the commissioner and computations were made as a basis of the pending suit. In the case of Tom Briggs lake, Briggs applied to the state for the right to extract the potash, which was the honorable thing to do. There was no law! for mineral leasing in the state, but Attorney General Reed held that the board of …
The court declared these mineral leases were without authority, and void. Then at the extraordinary session of the legislature in April, 1918, a mineral statute was enacted, and the board sought to proceed thereunder. Again the courts were invoked, and again the delay. In the end of two or three years of litigation, Briggs secured the potash rights on the section for a five …
Both of these plans failed, and the fact that the state did not receive a large revenue from potash production, and the fact that disputants failed to realize any considerable sums from potash taken from state lands, is due to the alluring appeal of extraordinary legalany other mill in the section, being one of the first in operation, and continuously a producer when any …
The Lakeside plant had a bad fire at one time, entailing a loss of many thousands of dollars and an additional loss of time at a period when potash was bringing good prices. More recently there have been two fires at Antioch in the potash works. The latter practically destroyed the American plant, which was owned by the Western, or generally referred to as the Sharp interests …
The Midwest company has done some drilling in the county of Dawes only a few miles from the county line, and at present the Big Chief company is drilling just over the South Dakota line. This company is operated from Rushville, and is owned in large part by Sheridan county people. If this well becomes a producer, well number two will be put in on the HISTORY OF WESTERN …
Herman Lund and Tom Lincoln were active in the promotion of the enterprise, and "Red" Mc- Clure spudded the well, the depth of the drill in March. 1921, being about five hundred feet. Nothing speaks more eloquently for the substantial character of Sheridan county, than the story of its agricultural development. The first turning of virgin sod smiled back at the first settlers …
One of the persistent ambitions of Gordon is to become a county-seat town, and one of the dreams of the future is a new county formed out of a part of Sheridan county, and a part of Cherry county, but the difficulties in the way of such an accomplishment is the consent of the two counties named. Shortly after the building of the Burlington through the south part of the county …
The courthouse, while very nice, artistic and convenient, was constructed at small cost as compared with the present costs of such structures. The county debt is small. Fraternal Organizations On the 30th of July, 1887, Amity Lodge No. 169, A. F. & A. M., was given a dispensation under authority of the Grand Lodge of the state. The charter members were : James M. Baker, Orren …
The present officers are; .Frank H. Black, master; Clarence O. Sawyer, senior warden ; John C. Dullaghan, junior warden ; Horace C. Dale, treasurer ; and Zadok T. Daniel secretary. Dr. Daniel is a patriarch of the order. Born at Eufala. Alabama, he is a Tangier life member Omaha Temple V A. ( ). N. M. S., is a past master, ex-scribe Podge of Perfection Scottish Rite, and lias …
Evans, Dora Dullaghan, Marie L. Aplin, Ollie Franzen, Martha West, and Althea Bell. Rushville Lodge No. 369, I. O. O. F. This lodge was organized and chartered June 5, 1912, with fourteen charter members. B. F. Ray was the first noble grand, and C. L. Mayes, the first secretary. The lodge now has sixty-five members and the following officers : Ross Merrill, noble grand ; H. M …
S. Stinson, vice consul ; Luther Davis, worthy ndvisor ; C. L. Mayes, clerk ; and M. O. Keiffe, banker. Royal Neighbors The companion lodge of the Woodmen organized June 12, 1901, Rose Lodge number 2616, with twenty-three charter members. This lodge has the largest membership of any fraternity in Rushville and is officered as follows : Mrs. Jesse French, oracle ; Mrs. Mary …
The pioneers who came to Sheridan county, and the children of those pioneers, had within them the blood of independence and self-sacrifice. They had stood the test of early years, and they met the test in the supreme trials of war. The people gave of their time, their means and their own blood. The liberty loans were met and passed in regular order, the thrift and war savings …
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA Sheridan county has a list of the boys who went into the war, far more nearly complete, than any county of the Panhandle, which it has been the privilege of the editor to examine. The state wide instruction to assessors, to do as Sheridan county has already done, is a trifle belated, but is better by far than not doing at all. Even then there will …
Coon, Elmer E. Casselman. Eldon E. Cunningham, Rufus L. Childester, William Clauson, John C. Cline, Edward W. dishing, Jr., Moses Clayton, Frank J. Crom, Lewis N. Carrier, Lewis W. Coon, Martin Curtis, Ralph L. Clancey, William D. Coffey, Earl Chamberlain, Guy 'P. Christie. Herbert H. Clarke, Patrick N. Carroll, W. G Carlton. Emil II. Dryson, Lawrence E. Dunn, Virgil C …
Heesacker, Walter D. Horden, Ivan E. Hayes, John Havlik. Forest E. Hippach, Myron P. Hallowell, Frank G. Horn. Howard G. Hoselton, Carl W. Hagedorn, William H. Hagedorn, Audley T. Harp, .Mike W. Hindman, William M. Humphrey, Henry J. Huckins, Albert Hagedorn, Roy L. Hoffland, James W. Hare, James C. Holley, Levi A. Hahn, foe Harter, Robert Hinton, Clarence II. Hills, Mon …
Mellon. Martin L. Melcher, Charles C. Miller, Alberts I. Milford, Walter R. Miller, Floyd M. McCluskey, Frank S. Mauk, Wayne E. Mapes, Gilbert L McCreath. lames M. Miller, William G. Moss, John Mclntire, Wilber G. Merritt, Charley E. Macumber, Noah Myers, Ernest L. Matthews, Ellis R. McCrary, Warren W. Mapes, Boyd B. Morev, Herman W". Mueksch, August ]. Mussack, Bert G Muelke …
Savage, Homer Spaulding, Carl A. Smith, Jerry D. Stouffer, Clyde H. Speer, Harry A. Smith, Harrison Strasburger, George H. Smith, Milo C. Shafer, Louis C. Stiehl, Ernest J. Scherbarth. Paul Shrewsbury, Erick O. Schultz, John E. Sherlock, Robert G. Slocum, Lynn Stone, Arthur L. Schiedt, Fred Stone, Harry L. Sandoz, Don B. Shrewsbury, Paul A. Stover, Howard A. Speer, Wilbur S …
Wilson, Carl S. Williams. Frank C. Winters, Samuel E. H. Waldron, Henry M. White, John L. Wehr, Joseph A. Wehenkel, John E. Yowell, Ben Zurcher. Of this total of 368 sons of Sheridan county that went forth to do their part in the world conflict, 142 were volunteers, and 226 were inducted. Few communities will show a greater proportion of volunteers for service, and a number of …
The signing of the armistice was an occasion of great rejoicing. It was the greatest bit of news that ever reached Sheridan county, for it went to the heart of nearly every home. Following the War of the World, the returning soldiers created a fraternity called the American Legion, the purposes of which are well known and splendid. It was organized in December, 1919. The first …
Quigley, and others in early ranching invaded the territory that was later to become Sheridan county, from the days when Nick Janis, and Ben Tibbets first set foot upon its virgin soil, from the later date, that John A. Scamahorn was the Moses that led his colony through the sand hills, and the 10+ splendid settlers that came with him, from the time that the Pawnee City …
Leedoms, Johannsen, Clark, Broome, and Cooper, are all progressive up-to-the-minute scribes and recorders of the passing events. These men have performed no small part in the building of the foundations of Sheridan county, upon the firm and enduring basis of sound intelligence. The exercise of the brain has had and will have much to do in the future in retaining for this …
Scotts Bluff county was a part thereof, in the extreme northwest corner of its limits. School district number one was organized at Sidney, and Scotts Bluff county was also a part thereof. Taxes from the Coad and Sheedy and other big ranches were paid into Sidney. Even the ranches that were over in the unorganized county of Sioux, as far east as Valentine and the Long Pine …
When the building of the frame school house came up. the settlers were locating in the east end of Banner county as it now exists, and they wanted the school house at Freeport. Hugh Milhollin was elected on the school board. A compromise was reached, and two school houses were built in 1886, one at Wright's ranch and the other at Freeport, both of frame. They are still in good …
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA Everything worth while seems to be disputed. Lem Wyman has claimed the distinction of being the first permanent settler for many years, but the question is now settled because Lem has moved away. Both these excellent people were cowboys back in the seventies, and both came on to this range at about the same time. Both settled down, and were good …
Shortly after "Sailor Joe" Hansen, built a log cabin in Mitchell valley, but he left after a short time, when he lost his boy, who was dragged to his death by a runaway horse. "Sandy" Ingraham caught the horses, but the boy was dead. Then William R. Akers, John Coy, and Virgil Grout came up from the Greeley district, and started the work of the Lucerne canal, the story of …
George came up to where the men were working near the top of the sod walls. It was evening and the sod were seemingly very heavy, so heavy that Mills and his assistant had improvised a slide from the wagon to the top of the wall, by using the endgate. George was asked to wait until they finished unloading the sod and they said they would get supper and he could bunk with them …
B. Purdy, and Joe Smith arrived at the same time from Sidney. They were in Sidney when Mills left that town for the North river country. They arrived at their selected claims about September 10, 1886. Primed the Pump With Milk Their first act was to drive down a well point, and attach a pitcher pump. Having no water to prime it, and the pump refusing to act without priming …
Oscar Gardner tells of his experience at the old Coad ranch, where he stopped the first night. Here he met Runey Campbell and Jim Shaw, who were looking after the Bay State affairs at the ranch. He was invited to stay, and took supper with them. At bed time he shared with Shaw a bunk on the kitchen floor. He was awakened in the night by the sniffling about of some night …
Later it was determined to rid the place of the skunks, and the manner was as novel as the way of cleaning the kitchen. So accustomed were the animals to the presence of man, that they would move about close to their feet, as though scarcely aware of their presence. It is said that a skunk has no sense of pain and from the story told one must believe that it is true. The …
It was necessary to get fuel, for nature had bestowed upon the hills south of the valley, the timber supply that assisted the early people of the valley. There were several places found along the river, where by passing from island to island, and sand bar to sand bar, there was little difficulty or danger. If one followed the track of the wagons gone before, a good load could …
The Dvorseks had a place a short distance down the river from Fanning's and he had some heavy draft horses. A team of these and a rope reaching to the shore were secured ; Kamaan broke the ice which had frozen thinly across the space, and waded out to the wagon in the icy cold water. The team pulled the wagon out, and he proceeded upon his way. Experiences similar or …
There have been so many characters in the "Iliad of Hardships of the Pioneer," that run along certain struggles and needs, that I have chosen for one the story of Captain Akers, as told to me, some years before he went to the "Farther Frontier." It tells the steps by which several generations have moved on and on from land to land, like the generations of men have moved since …
Years earlier, when the United States Bank went down under the onslaughts of General Jackson, the nation had a severe blow in the matter of credit. Individual America was broke, and all were in the same boat, just as they were in 1907, when clearing house and cashier checks were substituted for money. It was this early cataclysm of the country's finances that caught …
Others have told of his war record at Henry, Donaldson, Shiloh, Lays Ferry, Lyuca, Resaca, Corinth, and other places until after three and a half years, he was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky. Triumphs of Peace When I was young, we were taught that deeds of valor were the greatest achievements, but now we find greater triumphs in peace. One of the most heroic things that …
Miss Susan Karnes, of Loudenville, Ohio, had become Mrs. Akers, and together they reasoned that there were greater opportunities in the west. Captain Akers hung out his shingle in Fort Collins in 1882. Mrs. Akers was preparing to join him. She had a sale of the most of their household effects, and went to a neighbors to spend the night. On the morrow she was to journey to far …
Irrigation -- that ancient-modem science -- claimed and chained his intellect and activities, first a galley slave, and then a master in the conquest of the arid west. He heard of the great North river, with its mighty volume of water and its fertile acres, where no white people lived except the cowmen, and few real homes had foundations. Captain Akers, Virgil Grout, and John …
He told the ranchman his plight. He had not misgauged the great heart of the west, and he borrowed a wagon and HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA continued his journey into the promised land. The broken wheel was left at Fort Laramie to be repaired, at a cost of $7.50 which was yet to be secured, and which financial achievement was made by borrowing it from an Englishman, then about …
There was a time, one winter in the middle eighties that brought the question of sustenance for the next meal. The autumn previously, Mr. Akers, having time and idle horses, had put up several stacks of the coarse stemmed sand grass. The ranchmen told him that it had no feeding qualities, but he thought it would be better than nothing.,. Winter came, and he found his horses …
"How much for the stack?" he asked. "One hundred dollars," bravely said, but with inward dread that the man would vanish. Sells Some Hay The man laid down $20 in gold, and gave him a check for the $80. At noon Mother Akers returned to try to improvise a meal. Captain Akers met her at the door, and said : "Mother, I have sold a stack of hay." "How much did you get for it …
Here was the vagrant river and the desert land, and here now is the green oasis of thousands of homes. The blossom which I now lay upon his bier, is but poor tribute and only one ; of the mamhe has made to bloom, but I am glad that while he lived I also gave him flowers, and never failed to render him true homage for the service he has rendered to all our Scotts Bluff country …
This man with Gardner under the name of Gering & Gardner put in the pioneer store of the town. It confined its mercantile activities to implements and hardware. F. A. Garlock (now of Harrison) and T. S. Franklin put in the second store, which was a general merchandise establishment. The third business enterprise in the town was a newspaper started and still conducted by A. B …