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.

Old Camp Clarke wanted it to come that way, but Gardner planned to have it brought from Redington, then considered a better and quicker way. The carrier from Sidney to Camp Clarke frequently carried it on to the river post-office, nnd at least once lost it on the prairie where it lay until his return trip. Kimball put in a bid to get a route established across country from …

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 …

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 …

They came back down to the young town, and told the folks that they could see a train coming up the south side of the river. This of course w'as what was hoped would some day occur and for long years it was Gering's fondest wish. Eventually the dream came true. In the same month Ed Gering came to the new town and pre-empted a half mile south. He said he was near enough to the …

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA ed by Martin Gering and others. This bank is now the Gering National and its destinies are presided over by Al Mathers. The first record of a birth was a son to Mr. and Mrs. A. Porter Pritchard, born June 6, 1887. A girl was born to Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Lamont shortly afterwards. It may be that there were earlier births, but they escaped the …

As he left the place he met Frank Sands, and told him to go into Schiffbauer's store and ask to see the "gold." Naturally the shoemaker would be surprised that Sands should know anything about it ; then Sands was to tell him that King, whom he had pledged to secrecy, had given it away. The "little Dutchman" lost faith in humanity, and in King in particular, at that fime. Some …

He had a claim near town and one day while he was putting clown a well he found a pocket of bright yellow metal. Like many he hoped and believed he had struck gold, and he carefully wrapped it up and brought a quantity to politics of the state, and organizer of the "ship by truck" movement between Omaha and Lincoln. Gering school district was organized in July, 1887, with …

Campbell and Ingraham had at an earlier date "put one over" on the Bay State boys and they were ready for real contests. That other occasion was when Campbell had heard from Ingraham that the Bay State fellows had some race horses. Ingraham said, "Runey, that hoss of yours can beat any of them for I have timed them, but how can we get them to bet?" "I will fix that," said …

There were bucking contests and other amusements and red lemonade. The bowery dance was well patronized. Walking a Tight Wire; Old Gering could improvise amusements when all the regular stunts were over. On one Fourth a few years later, all the usual affairs Were over, and there were some who proposed to keep alive the interest by something new. Lee Dozier proposed for five …

However he had failed to take into consideration the sagging of the wire, and as he left one building he moved one foot to take the first step the other hook began to slide. He slid some distance from the building, and becoming panicky was unable to get the other hook over the wire. There he hung waving the disengaged foot in vain effort, and calling for help, while the crowd …

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA F. Furnas, secretary, on August 5. 18S7. James Westervelt was president, and C. W. Johnson, secretary. Sidney woke up and organized an association also, but was a little too late. This peculiar attribute later followed for after county division had set the Gering association outside of Cheyenne county, Bayard organized and was recognized as the home …

The boxes formerly made by the commercial club at Scottsbluff were turned over to the association, and other recepticles provided. The exhibits were made for a number of years and with a*lways an increasing number of premiums. Hundreds of ribbons have been awarded to Scotts Bluff county -- not only at the state fair, but at the international show at Kansas City and elsewhere …

Another postoffice was established at Mitchell, which was then on the south side of the river about two miles west of the south end of the present .Mitchell bridge. Geo. L. Shockley was appointed postmaster. In thirty-four years of existence Gering has had hut five postmasters. O. W. Gardner was the first. Ed Thornton followed and then Fred A. Wright. With the return of the …

They had pulled the augur from the hole preparatory to going into dinner, when a two-year old child ran, fell, and toppled head-long into the hole. The distance was some eighty feet to the bottom of the hole. In the neighborhood there was a boy about eleven years old who was very slim. He consented that they tie a rope to his feet, let him head first into the well, and he …

Scottsbluff was established by the Lincoln Land Company, upon the southeast quarter of section 23, township 22 north and range 55 west 6th principal meridian. The principal part of the town as originally platted was on land patented to Elizabeth McClenahan by the United States. Anselmo B. Smith surveyed and the plat was filed covering fifteen original blocks, which with …

business men stayed with the "old town," and but a few moved across the river. The Homestead, then published by Geo. E. Mark, now of the Mitchell Index, was one of the important factors in the fight. First Enterprises The first business in Scottsbluff, was that of lumber yards. Geo. W. King and Carr & Neff Lumber Company, began about the same time, and John A. Orr closely …

Scottsbluff, and for years held the office in this building. In addition he put in a small stock of merchandise. Kirkpatrick then went to Geo. King, who had sold him about eighty dollars worth of lumber for his store, and told him that he wanted to sell it back. He said there was not business enough for two stores in Scottsbluff. thus being the first man to express the …

The first hardware store, which soon after put in furniture, was started at the very beginning-- early in 1900 by George B. Luft and Frank A. McCreary, under the name of Luft & McCreary, at the corner of Broadway and HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA Sixteenth street. This was a one story frame twenty -five feet wide and about fifty feet long. The papers of 1901 say that they were …

An earlv advertisement of this store which was named the Fair, speaks of a "rush for fancy dress shirts at 39 cents, work shirts at 50 cents, shoes at $1.50, and suits at $8 to $10.00." Prices like that would create a riot in the years 1920 or 1921. First Bill of Groceries As stated, the first grocery store was built and run by Mr. Kirkpatrick, and the first bill of groceries …

Westervelt as editor and proprietor ; he is still guiding its destinies. The second paper was started by E. F. Moon and called the Herald, being established about two years later. In 1907, Peter J. Barron established the Star. The two latter have been consolidated under the name of Star-Herald, which is managed by H. J. Wisner, and owned by Wisner and A. B. Wood. C. C. Cross …

Currens first put up a tent in what was then a cornfield, and went out to Jacobus' to stay all night. In the morning Jacobus' daughter looked out the First Church, Scottsbluff window of the soddy, and exclaimed; "Mr. Currens, the tent is down." During the night there had been quite a gale, which not only blew down the the tent, but damaged it so that it could not be put up …

The cost they found would be about forty-eight hundred dollars, and there was a valuation in the district so that the limit of a bond issue was fourteen hundred dollars. The matter was finally solved by the issuance of warrants to make up the amount, and these were sold by John A. Orr. The building was of frame, and veneered with brick. From the beginning the schools of …

Orr still continues the business in 1921. This veteran of the valley and city has seen many of his dreams come true. The first contractors and builders were Winfield Evans and Charles E. Dooley. The elder ipm "iniiifiiifr'Ufliiii^lii i Reoideno. of T. C. H«Uy J_-"-"' Mr. Andrews did some carpenter work, as did also Andy McClenahan. Charles H. Simmons also used the saw and …

It carried and the bridge was built, and in service until 1918, when the new concrete structure was completed. At the meeting of the commissioners, July 20th, aforesaid, the county attorney was' instructed to take such necessary steps to legally prevent the removal of buildings from Gering to Scottsbluff, until the back taxes on the lots were paid. This resulted in the payment …

At that time the McClenahan fence occupied the middle of the "county road," now named "Overland Road." The town board wanted it set back the two rods ; the boys were a little slow about doing it, so the board set Jerry Ragan, then marshal, to do the job. Some division existed on the council for the McClenahans were strong factors in the town at the time, and it was feared they …

C. W. Baysinger was chosen marshal. In 1905, Morrill was re-elected and L. A. Larson made the new member, and chairman of the board, with Raymond again chosen clerk and attorney. were bought and piled into the streets during the summer, and covered with gravel. On July first. Tom Hall was allowed a bill for hauling one hundred and thirty loads of gravel at seventy cents a …

Frogs sang merrily in the streets, and called vivid attention to what was necessary to be done. The old sod corrals of John Hall and John Emery full new village board were elected: E. T. Westervelt and Winfield Evans for the twoyear term ; and S. W. Ripley, A. J. Shumway, and W. H. Gates for the one-year term. Ripley was elected chairman, and L. L. Raymond, clerk ; with II. T …

The dry ordinance was passed, and since that date the town has been without a saloon. W. Cox, J. J. Harrison, and J. A. Orr, judges ; and W. A. Hale and A. Crawford, clerks. Evans was re-elected on the council and Harry Wisner succeeded Westervelt as a member. Raymond and Bowen were again named clerk and treasurer respectively. T. C. Bottom moved from town and A. J. Shumway …

This was partly because the fire had not gained much headway when the fire was discovered. That was the beginning of the Scottsbluff municipal water system. In 1908, the election board consisted of L. was granted, to install at the comer of Broadway and Seventeenth street a cement watering trough. This was put in late in July and for nearly ten years was of service to the …

Vandenburg was the first to build, and has the credit of being the starter of the- fourteen foot sidewalks now on Broadway. While the board was debating about the width of the sidewalks, which had previously been but ten feet, Vandenburg planted his curb at fourteen feet, and began work. The First National Bank, which was then at the location of the present east entrance of …

It was built upon lots purchased and owned by the city, where the water tank and city wells were likewise placed. In the April election of 1909 Jesse Babcock, J. H. Graves and H. W. Neff were elected members of the board, in the place of Cole, Coleman and Shumway. Two hundred votes were cast. T. F. Kennedy was named clerk and Fred Wright as attorney. The importance of the …

At the village election Wisner and Evans were re-elected on the board, and the question of "city" or "village" was voted upon, resulting in sixty-six for city and twelve for village. The larger element brought an action in the district court to declare their ticket the true officers of the city of Scottsbluff. but it was not sustained. Judge Grimes ruled that while 'in fact …

Electric," came into existence. This rendered splendid service during the management of Mr. Roberts, and he also installed a municipal heating plant, and later an artificial ice plant. The Intermountain Railway, Light & Power Company, purchased the plant in 1918, since which time the patrons have found much fault with the inadequacy of the service. The growth has caused an …

Price and Chas. Tohnson ; fourth ward, C. H. Westervelt and E. E. Maxon. Stark did not qualify as clerk and during the year there were several clerks who served for a short time. C. C. McElroy was the first, fol- HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA A. T. Crawford's Garage. Scottsbi.uff HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA lowed by W. L. Greenslit, and then by M. J. Murphy, who also acted as …

Peter O'Shea was elected treasurer for a second term; D. R. Schenck was elected police judge for a second time; C. A. Liljenstolpe was chosen city engineer ; Chas. Deulin, W. P. Young, I. N. Wallace, F. D. Schofield, and L. Crasher were elected members of the council, and W. H. Gable and S. K. Warrick members of the school board. G. L. Shumway was appointed water commissioner …

L- Simmons were selected to fill their places. The highlights of the McCaffree administration were extension of water works, sewers, and street improvement. The first time that the water works proved to be more than selfsustaining, the beginning of public park improvement, and the beginning of the city library. Under the excellent management of the city physician, A. M …

Stark failed to qualify as city clerk and G. L. Shumway held over, also retaining the position of water commissioner until July first when O. M. Finley was appointed. Councilman Crasher removed from ward four, and L. W. Cox was appointed in his stead. During the illness of chief Guernsey, Frank H. Koenig was chief of police. G. L. Shumway was appointed street and park …

Everett and H. T. Bowen were re-elected councilmen, and Milo Jones in the third ward. J. M. Carr and S. K. Warrick were re-elected on the school board. Beach Coleman was appointed city attorney, Winfield Evans water commissioner and J. L. Martin as chief of police and street commissioner. In December, 1916, the city voted thirty-two thousand dollars in waterworks extension …

Mayor Faught also delegated to F. H. DeConley, president of the council much of the duty attendant as acting _ mayor. There were no mayor, clerk, treasurer or water commissioner to be elected in 1918, but the councilmen chosen were T. D. Deutsch, F. F. Everett, Frank H. Cowen, O. M. Finley, A. G. Rvan, and M. J. Higgins. For the school board W. H. Gable and A. F. Baldridge …

Simmons was appointed. The election of 1919 was hotly contested and a heavy vote polled. For the first time women were partisans in the fight. A total of nearly sixteen hundred votes were cast. F. A. Mc- Creary was elected mayor, J. W. Bly as clerk, Frank Fischer as treasurer, Winfield Evans as water commissioner. C. N. Wright, F. M. Bryan, O. M. Finley and M. J. Higgins were …

The question of Sunday shows was decided against the movement. The proposed bonds for purchasing the river front and islands for park purposes was likewise defeated. Winfield Evans and A. L. Selzer were chosen members of the school board. The Republican was named the official paper. The building of the Irrigation college by the state upon west Twentieth street extension …

Wisner, Winfield Evans and A. J. Shumway constituted the village board, or in 1908 and 1909, stands out as a period of municipal advancement. In its life as a city, Scottsbluff has had excellent management from the start, the administrations of Fred Alexander and F. S. McCaffree, appearing to have the advantage in municipal progress. The latter worked under a handicap of a …

"This is our town too." Deutsch was elected and began his administration by some excellent appointments: P. J. McSween chief of police; A. R. Honnold as city attorney ; F. M. Cline, street commissioner ; arc! Dr. S. G. Allen, city physician. The administration started off with marked executive standards and conservative economies. "It is no public crib to run to" for salaries …

Then there were times when a load of wood or a little provender looked very good to be taken on subscription. This has all changed and the newspapers are today the lords of the land. The fact is they have been re-organized upon a business basis and there has been business in the last number of years. The Dean The dean of Panhandle and Scotts Bluff county journalism is without …

It is the antecedent of the Bayard Transcript as we now know it. It was at Minatare in 188S. G. E. Mark Will A. Hale once ran the Homestead in Gering. Geo. E. Mark of the Mitchell Index acquired the outfit and it was later moved to Mitchell where for twenty or more years Col. Mark has run the Index, the only paper of the city. Mr. Mark is one of the old timers who takes …

Moon was a consistent progressive and for a clean town at all times. Col. Barron arrived on the scene when the village was emerging into a city and was foremost in the movement that made Scottsbluff the leading city of the North Platte valley country. Col. Wisner associated with A. B. Wood consolidated the two and have made it a live journal. They inaugurated a daily edition …

Cox a mortal enemy of the saloon and in all a man of great ability and progressive ideas was editor of the paper at Alinatare. He formerly had been connected with and was one of the editors of the Lincoln Daily Call. Minatare was infested with a bunch of boot-leggers and E. S. Kennison of the hotel was friendly because of the weakness he had for something stronger than water …

It took two counties and two juries to put him there and there have been many and futile attempts to get him out by pardon and parole. Other Newspapers The Morrill Mail and the Henry Item constitute the papers not mentioned heretofore in the little live cities of their position. Each have been very useful for their communities and the editors deserve all the support that they …

The Gering Courier, which I have conducted personally from that day to this, was first issued on April 27, 1887, and was a patent inside sheet with the two outside pages printed "at home." The honor of being the pioneer in the North Platte valley was not easily achieved for less than a week later the Minatare Trumpet appeared, its publisher being John F. Ringler. Neither the …

This outfit, a lot of groceries for the only store in the North river valley, a couple or three trunks and a number of other articles were only enough to make a moderate sized wagon box full which Avas hauled out for me, and with me, from Sidney, seventy miles across country. Final proof notices were the first objective in the establishment of newspapers, but closely …

Totten, and he at •once espoused the cause of a point west of Minatare, called Millstown, as a county seat contender, but after this idea was eliminated by the selection of Gering, its publication was continued at Bayard, and the sheet was purchased in July, 1889, by Col. Francis O. Wisner, a fine type of the old school journalist, and published by him until his death. Today …

Randall, who has since become known to fame as the California prohibition congressman, was the founder of the Centropolis World, of which a copy indicates he was the best real newspaper man of us all in those days. Ashford, in the northern part of the county, made a strong fight for the Banner county seat, and was really a good trading center already. They entered the campaign …

The latter being a democrat conceived the idea of securing all the government patronage, and one fine day a paper came over to Gering out of his shop bearing the title of the Gering Democrat. He started a similar process to get the coveted business in other sections also, since the law required the publication of land notices in the paper published "nearest" the land ; but the …

expired with its issue of November 9, 1888, after the presidential election result became known. The next newspaper enterprise in this section was the Independent Union, in which A. F. Snyder, for the period from April, 1891, to February 18, 1892, espoused the cause of the farmers alliance movement, then suspended and went to Cheyenne. In the fall of 1893, the Nebraska …

Mark moved his plant to Mitchell in April, 1901, changing the name to the Mitchell Index, which is conducted by him at this time and is one of the most stable institutions in the valley. The Burlington railroad marked also the beginning of much additional newspaper history. E. T. Westervelt founded the Scottsbluff Republican and E. F. Moon the Scottsbluff Herald. The former is …

Its history covering the murder of Cox in a fight growing out of Cox's espousal of the temperance cause is no doubt covered elsewhere in this volume. In the meantime, the Minatare Free Press was established by Worth F. Graham, and afterward consolidated with the Sentinel. Passing through the respective ownerships of W. F. Harper, Clarence E. Lee, I. N. Lyman and R. O …

After the Union Pacific railroad came into the valley, the McGrezv Messenger was established by the writer on October 28, 1912, and printed (in Gering) until February 19, 1913, when it was sold to G. J. Long. In November of that year, he removed the plant to Gering, where it was published as the Wasp for something like a year, then sold to Hammond & Cloud, who changed its name …

This article has made no mention of publications not in the accepted newspaper class. Several papers of a general character nave been printed here, among them the Nebraska Odd Fellow with a statewide circulation with my own name as publisher, but in reality a commercial proposition for the actual owners. The Hammer was an engineering paper printed in Gering for some time, H …

In December, 1909, pursuant to call, a number of the citizens gathered together in the office of Carr & Neff Lumber company, and organized a Volunteer Fire Department, which was the beginning of the city's present vigorous fire fighting machine. The first meeting was held on the eleventh, when Fred Alexander was elected president ; P. J. Barron, secretary-treasurer ; and J. C …

Schofield was selected. The council during this year passed an ordinance charging fire insurance companies doing business in Scottsbluff an annual license of five dollars for a fireman's fund. P. T. Sheffer was appointed assistant chief, and the department divided into three groups. Hose Cart No. 1 had Hill, Morrow, Edgar, Schofield and Barron, while No. 2 had Sheffer …

Baskins was re-elected in 1912, with Drew Rogers, chief; and W. L. Simmons, secretary-treasurer. In 1913.' Harry Wisner was elected president, being re-elected the following year. Jack Carlisle was chief in 1913, and Bert Lynch, secretary. Geo. Bohnert was chief in 1914, and Guy Lane, secretary. In 1915, F. G. Warrick was president ;' Wash Scott', chief; and Dan Ayres …

In 1921 Lee Wright is the secretary and Ervin again looking after the treasurer's office. In 1919 the new city hall was built with accommodations for the department including club rooms, and the old hose house was abandoned. A combination truck was purchased that year, and put in charge of G. F. Ervin. driver, and he has been the driver since that time. In 1921 the new …

Armstrong, then came from Alliance and built a story and half frame near the depot, where he opened for a time. A colored tramp painter came along and Armstrong had him print a sign upon the roof, in letters seven feet long. It was not a neat job, and not evenly spaced. Armstrong made him paint another "N" on the name, so that until the building burned some years later, the …

Yet, when Scottsbluff came into existence there were numbers of the old regime, who took it upon themselves to give the new town a touch of high life -- to stage a sort of a realism to the order, or lack of order that once obtained. This throwback of ten or twenty years was the end of the wild west in Scotts Bluff county. Naturally, there were some really lawless episodes …

He never waited for the ordinary method of getting the gun in action, but started a rapid fire, by striking the hammer part way back and releasing it. The cylinder was quickly emptied toward the offender, and one bullet hit his finger. He lost no time in going out of the door and across the street, where a tree that stood at the McCreary corner checked his progress for a …

It is said that Casselman collapsed after the woman passed on, and had to be carried into the bank. John Konkle can also remember when he first came to Scottsbuff, and was camped on First avenue, near the present Emery Annex. A bullet carelessly sent on its way passed through the top of his wagon cover. Whether or not this was the reason, John returned to his home in the south …

Harrison who sometimes worked in the back room, counting eggs or checking in merchandise. Mrs. Harrison's eyesight was very poorly at the time, and she could not attend the wants of customers, but occupied a rocker. When the gun was discharged it so startled her that she went over back in the rocker, and Mr. Harrison fell over a crate of eggs in his haste. But Herman was out …

In 1889, he dropped in where the election was being held in Tabor precinct, and made some remark about what the governor of North Carolina said to the governor of South Carolina. He had about a pint of that now obsolete beverage in a quart bottle, and passed it to the nearest member of the board. It went the rounds and Phil replaced the cork and put what was left in his …

He paid the money which then was a big sum, after which he' exclaimed : "Well, Judge, we will sure win the case now, won't we ?' "No-o" drawled the judge as he tucked away the twenty, "No-o -- we will lose the case, Phil." "What,"' yelled the surprised client, as the money disappeared into the judge's watch pocket, "me paying you twenty to tell me I am going to lose?" "Well," …

Fairfield had done much, and out of deference to him was the name. Fairfield was one of the old surveyors for the government and he was also one who surveyed out Minatare canal, and others of the early days. He was an enthusiast of irrigation, and in pioneer development. Tim; Quagmires Fairfield's spectacular language is written into the field notes now on file with the state …

There are two groups of these bogs in the county, about two or three miles apart : one just east of the Crocket ranch and the other on Honeycutt hill. Each group has a dozen or more of the bogs about ten feet across, twenty-five feet and upward apart, and sometimes connected by trenches that seem to be cracks, possibly made by an upwards pressure of underneath forces or …

Other Early Names It would have been more in keeping with proprieties to have given Tabor precinct the name Harshman. Theo. Harshman furnished :e or Jesse Pickering Xear Mi knows to what depths these bogs extend but at least it is presumed that they reach down to the Laramie formation and perhaps a far greater depth. One can shove a pole or post into the muck with little …

He arrived in the spring of 1886, from Iowa, with several covered wagons, as there were twelve children (and they were all good workers). He built a sod house 30 by 75 feet, in which. the family resided for twenty years. He brought a complete blacksmith outfit and put up a shop, which was a great convenience to the neighborhood. He also brought the first herd of dairy cows …

Akers and Johnson worked along together and Bert was the boy of the crowd. Johnson killed fourteen of sixteen flushed up, and Akers not one. Among the advantages permanently to the good of the county for C. T. Johnson having resided here is that Harry T. and Frank Johnson are among the present citizenship of Minatare. Harry served for years as county commissioner and Frank …

It went the rounds that way, and the man to whom it belonged considered it a community chain. He therefore kept it handy on a post so that the neighbor who wanted to borrow it could take and was welcome if he returned it to the post as soon as through with it. One day it was gone and never came back and he considered it stolen as soon as it failed to be returned in a day or …

Barbour northwest of Scottsbluff. Joe Emery was also a successful grower of trees, and fruit trees as well. When Mrs. Emery was a little girl, she planted a lot of small trees that her father had brought up from the river ; and the people who attend the Scotts Bluff County Fair, at Mitchell, year after year, should know and realize whose hand it was that planted those …

Will Ashford, Daniel Stouffer, and Emma J. Leach planted those groves. The first two have "gone on" and the latter now lives at Long Beach, California. These are in Banner county development, but they are nevertheless a part of the tree planting story of the Panhandle. Ten miles east of this road the editor-in-chief planted his several thousand trees that grew and thrived so …

When the country traversed became too sandy, or for any cause the wheeling was too heavy, the party would make a cache of a part of the provisions, to pick them up at a later date in case of need. Owing to the danger of other parties finding the cache and appropriating the goods to their own use, or destroying them, it was necessary for them to obliterate all traces of the …

They picked up every kernel of corn they could find and then obliterated the burying place and the tracks to and from the wagon by smoothing the sand. Some weeks later, on their return, they found that some of the wasted corn had not been recovered, and that there was a row of growing corn from the wagon tracks to the cache at the top of the blowout, thus clearly pointing out …

They were running a "base line" to the west and had to continue for several days. The burnt prairie did not offer an inviting condition for feed for their horses and mules. But it so transpired that some natural obstruction had broken the progress of the flames at nearly every natural camping place, leaving a spot of unburned prairie. In one place the grass had been flattened …

To the north was a high rocky ridge. They got along with the meagre supply of water on hand, postponing further search until the following day. The Mirage In the dawn they witnessed the most remarkable mirage that was ever witnessed in western Nebraska. Two or three hundred miles to the southwest were Long's peak, Pike's peak, and the Mountain of the Holy Cross ; and they were …

When the work of subdividing townships was taken up, a large number of men were employed, and some of the parties were not very careful of their work. In some places the lines are as crooked as the proverbial ram's horn and have caused innumerable controversies and litigation over the boundary lines. There have been overlapping claims, and strips of "no man's land," and …

Frank evidently felt he could take on more clients and he accepted the work of chiropractics in helping to legalize their profession. The result was disastrous to the state. The chiropractics won. the state lost. No other county has been able to secure adoption of this abortive survey, although they have sought, or individuals have sought from time to time to make the Alt …

Charlie Trognitz also had some fine drivers that he would let out occasionally to Farm R people that he was sure would not over drive. Sam Fowler had some fair horse stock down on Lawrence Fork. These were the old people and their pride. The Post ranch on Pole creek a few miles north of Cheyenne was a place where one could find some good horses and some of these found their …

"On the way," said Neeley, "I figured that the way to sell the hay and be sure it was sold was to open an account with them. So I sold them the hay at their figure, and took as part payment six mares valued at $900, which I brought home with me." Frank had made a shrewd move, for he not only got some good horse stock, but they sent a large number of their horses to Mitchell …

The emigrants moving into the far west occasionally were inconvenienced by the sudden mountain storms that still visit here once in a while. They sometimes were just sudden deluges of w"ater that lasted an hour or two. At other times they were accompanied by hail of such severity that such legends as that of Cannon Ball river result. Along this stream are piles of rounded …

In 1884 there was also a bad loss of cattle, incident to a storm, but strong or well fed cattle survived it. The storm of March 22, 1886, was tremendously destructive. It continued for about ten or eleven days, "sometimes letting loose a little to get a better hold," as the people said. It occurred after an extended period of fine weather. The grass had started and cattle …

I milked the cows, fed the horses and cattle, pumped water with an ordinary pitcher pump for them all, churned the butter, and looked after several hundred hens. Early cows were dropping their calves in snow drifts, where I would find them and take them by the wheelbarrow route to the kitchen. Here I would rub them dry with a gunny sack, feed them some hot diluted milk, and …

So that, when on May first, 1887, the snow began to fall about our cabin on Pumpkin creek, it was a most wonderful sight, and when it continued for the greater part of the day and lay a foot deep across the prairie, it was little short of marvellous to me. Snow in Illinois had meant the death of any green herbage and I anticipated that it meant the same here. We have since …

The latest snow storm of consequence that has occurred here began on May 19, 1914, and continued for three days. On May 23 we went to our buried garden, dug down through about sixteen inches of wet snow, and pulled some crisp radishes for our dinner. That night it froze quite hard, but as everything was covered with a blanket of snow, no damage was done except to fruit …

The rocks on either side stand up on edge because of the great internal disturbances that made the Black Hills. Over a radius of several sections there was a deposit of mud, rushes, turtles, and fish, several feet deep and a deluge of water. In a torrent the water rushed through the gap and a few miles below utterly destroyed eleven wagons that were loaded with miscellaneous …

Culbertson who came from a peppermint farm in Michigan was a musician and carried a "lap organ" which he used to entertain the boys at night about the campfire. He could play well and was a good singer which adds to the glory of the open life. This party was in the vicinity of section 36-28-36 which is south of the Bordman. Mr. Harvey noticed a strip or wide swath where the …

A strip on each side had been -wept bare to the clear white sand below. Thus was explained what might have been a geological mystery. HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA Geo. Fulton Murdered In July, 1888, Geo. Fulton was shot and instantly killed by a man named Arnold. Fulton had been a good friend of Arnold but there seemed to be a little difference between them with relation to …

Mrs. Fulton and her sister had run out of the house but he followed them around the house and Mrs. Fulton emptied the contents of her purse -- which was little enough -- into his hand. He then went to Wellington Clark's place and told of the killing. He was arrested and at first the case was called at Sidney where a continuance was granted. The trial came on after Scotts Bluff …

Since then climatic and soil conditions must have changed, for the application of water by irrigation to the same lands today, brings marvelous result. The first dry farming in western Nebraska, as heretofore stated, was by Otto Baumgarten, at the Shiedley ranch near Big Springs. He raised some vegetables on a plat plowed upon an island, but this had the benefits of …

Bob was told to "turn himself loose," and he had one of the finest of gardens, principally potatoes, growing, when the grasshoppers came along and left the ground absolutely bare. The trees however, were doing fine, and the more venturesome and home-loving were making attempts with flower gardens. These generally developed until ten years after irrigation was put in, the …

The stream thereby became little cascades at irregular distances, and then instead of running waters, there were rather quiet lagoons above each of these artificial rapid places. The waters were held at higher levels, and soaked back into the banks as intended. The next step was to build small ditches to lead the water away from the natural channels, across the flat grounds …

The Lucerne canal was completed in due time, and still does service in an excellent manner in the territory about L ingle ; and the original costs were so small as to be negligible. ney, who represented the district, introduced and secured the passage of a short bill for irrigation regulation in the manner of appropriating water. A number of filings had been previously made …

The celebration had been during the day, but the water had proceeded more slowly along the canal than anticipated, and it was nightfall before it reached the waiting people. In the classic language of the old surveyor ''the silvery moon was high overhead when the water rounded the bend above the crowd, and on it came, like a silver ribbon unrolling itself upon the prairie." …

They took a team, and without leveling apparatus, plowed furrows from the running water into the field. The water followed behind the plow, and soon there was a demonstration of what resulted from the artificial application of water to growing crops. The following year, there was considerable activity in the subject of irrigation, and but little building of ditches. Nebraska …

They made some reports on the acreage and the probable cost of building the canal unit by unit, and the prospect of settlers taking the water, and paying for it. Back in Rutland, Vermon, was F. C. Colburn, an old family friend, and a substantial financial character. He agreed to raise the money to build the ditch, up to four hundred thousand dollars ultimately, which was the …

Here I am fourteen miles from nowhere, with a broken axle and not a bit of baling wire to mend it." In those days the baling wire that came around baled hay, was used for almost universal repair work, a broken hamestrap, tug, or other parts of the harness, or double trees, neckyoke, tongue and some parts of the wagons, but just how it could be used to mend a broken axle, was …

An agreement was entered into between the local management of the Farmers Canal company, and Jesse Harrison and others, whereby the latter agreed to build and complete the canal for $400,000. Because of the stringency in the money market, and the lack of financial ability of the Harrison company, the deal fell through. In the meantime individuals along the route had been …

Wright was appointed the trustee, and how faithfully he fulfilled the trust was shown by the ultimate report, that brought back to each investor the sum invested together with interest for the full time the money had been out of hand. Eventually the ditch was sold to H. G. Leavitt and associates, and while it cost many times the original estimates, and while there was no doubt …

The wasteway constructed some distance down the ditch from the headgate, contains nineteen miles of re-enforcing steel rods, the body being of concrete. Massive iron gates that can be raised or lowered at will, govern the flow of the water into the main canal. Each day the ditch superintendent receives reports by telephone, the needs of the water users along the sixty-mile …

When emergencies arose regarding right-of-way, he invariably proved the man of the hour; sometimes by buying outright the property that caused the friction, and sometimes taking necessary court action to prevent obstruction of the work. He could if he wished, tell of the hot-summer conferences in Omaha, when others were away on vacations, and even the courts were not to be …

Green was sent out by Stout at the request of the Tristate people. Before leaving, Stout gave his student one parting piece of advice that has made Green one of the foremost engineers in the land today. Stout said: "Remember, Green, you are going out there to build a big ditch. You will find all kinds of reasons for slowing down, for stopping the work from time to time, but …

Some of the camps were entirely of negroes, and the first requisite with them seemed to be a gun and a razor. Frequently one would come to town slashed up, or with a wound of some sort, and require the attention of the doctor. Each of the negro camps held some of the female variety, and these were eternally at war. More wounds were made by the one-fourth female population, and …

Near where he was standing there were a pair of partly exposed boots, of the kind worn by the laborers. They were in a position that indicated they might be upon feet. The dirt had been partly dug out with a spade, and the hole again refilled, and it had the appearance of a partly buried man. Williams called to the driver to dump his dirt over the boots, "and finish burying …

This policy was followed by the Mitchell ditch, the Central, and some of the others farther down the valley. Winter Creek Canal The people under the Winter creek canal line, managed to scrape together enough money to have their line run out and cross-sectioned, but the building seemed too large to undertake. Finally Dan D. Johnson grew weary of just laying around and plowed up …

I rented the land on which this canal was located and did some work in extending it to get it upon our homestead. A small ditch constructed by Jim Walters to water his timber claim, crossed this homestead making a little garden spot that we could irrigate. All told I had about twenty acres under ditch. Will C. (Pink) Reed and Jake McClune had a few acres under the same canal …

White and I had been associated in a number of affairs, and we discussed the Deuel county proposed experiment, and the methods sought to raise money to build ditches. That was the big question on the North river. There seemed some sort of an injustice in bonding a precinct to build a ditch that would water only a part of the precinct; and out of the consideration of the …

Darner introduced the bill. Crane was still irritated by what he considered Senator Darner's neglect, and he picked some holes in the bill, which he put up to Senator Stewart. No doubt some of them were weak points, but in the main the opposition came from a lack of understanding the purpose, and in that day when populism had emerged to power, there was a fear of a joker in …

Wood was that such a bill would do in California, "where the land had a basic value, but here our lands had no value of consequence." Captain W. R. Akers came to the defense of the proposed principle, and in two years that followed it was pretty well threshed out, and practically approved. Senator Akers, who was chosen from this district for the legislative session of 1895 …

Frank Sands, Wenzel Hiersche, and other affected by this decision, and through the years opposed to the appropriation, had given the immediate time to the bill proposed in 1893, and the bill then became a law, that the story would have been written differently. The water right of the Farmers canal would have died a natural death. However, that is not important now, for all …

Its right in Nebraska, comes from the years of time it has been applied to the land, the fact that water and land are inseparable under the state laws, and the fact that the territory and the water users therein qualified under the state irrigation district law shortly after its passage. Ten years (the Mitchell ditch easily had twice that) of undisputed used of water, makes …

The total bond issue was about thirteen dollars per acre, and a warrant indebtedness of four or five dollars existed shortly alter. The engineering difficulties getting the canal through HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA Spillway Pathfinder Dam. Nebraska's X HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA the bad lands north of the mountain, were no small matter. Private local enterprise made some …

It was not conceded on his part that this was right -- no indeed -- but the pride of achievement, the desire to finish the job. inspired to the sacrifices he was about to make. The Gering debt seemed like a heavy load, for a time, but in the growth of years and the knowledge of what irrigation can be made to do in the fertile lands of Scotts Bluff county, the amount now seems …

The late John Hall said that later men in yellow britches were doing some good work, but the epoch of real achievement was when men built without money, and almost without machinery. He tells of when Anton Hiersche, Will Young, and many of the older crowd used to go to Colorado to "pick spuds" for a 'grub stake." Once they observed some discarded scrapers lying by the …

The power and finance of the United States were put behind the building of systems that before were too large or complicated for the undertaking of private enterprises. The North Platte valley was singularly fortunate, and Scotts Bluff county most favorably located to invite the building of a vast federal project. After the work of seventeen years, there is yet a tremendous …

Here he put in a number of years in building an independent irrigation project which he has completed, and owns a lot of the land thereunder. About one-half of the sixteen hundred acres covered by the ditch belongs to Mr. and Mrs. French, her homestead being a part of the watered tract. The permit is taken from the river in Wyoming, but Mr. French secured his rights by proper …

Farmers canal, September 16, 18S7, from North Platte river, 60,000 acres; Minatare canal, January 14, 1888, from North Platte river. 12,000 acres ; Winter creek canal, October 18, 1888, from North Tlatte river, 7,000 acres ; Enterprise ditch, March 28, 1889, from North Platte river, 12.000 acres ; Castle Rock canal, April 18, 1889, from North Platte river, 5,000 acres …

Pizer, and a few others have small appropriations from Horse creek, Kiowa creek, Sheep creek, Winter creek, and other small streams. The acreage given in the foregoing list is approximate. In some cases the original intentions have been enlarged, and a few of the smaller projects entirely abandoned. A larger number of the small appropriations have been merged into the …

The building of this canal was simultaneous with that of the Tristate or Farmers canal, and the incidents and conditions obtaining in the construction years were similar to those related under the former story. This difference occurs : government work was eight hour labor. Under the civil service rules and the rapid expansion of the government department, there were those in …

The territory embracing something near 140.000 acres is changed from grazing land to splendid irrigated farms. There have been many changes from the original conceptions and altruistic ideas. There have been a number of modifying acts relating to the irrigation statute, making longer time for the payments, but the costs have mounted rather higher than the original estimates …

Arnold, John Powers, Elmer Hathway. and John Hall. The capital stock was originally $200,000. The inception of the water users plan found its origin in the Salt River valley, Arizona. The editor-in-chief was informed of its existence by the editor of the Irrigation Age, Mr. D. H. Anderson, of Chicago. Immediately, I wrote for a copy of these articles, and with some amendments …

The official roster of the North Platte Valley Water Lasers Association is interesting. Few of the incorporators have held office for any length of time. Of the original seventeen, ten have never been officials. Five of these still are farming under the government ditch. Three others who have held office are farmers under the project. Of the present officials I think only one …

This proposition met with considerable favor and would no doubt have been made had not two discouraging elements injected themselves at that time. The Belmont and Froid affair was just then receiving an airing, and was referred to as the "Belmont & Fraud" canal. Bering & Brothers, of London, were behind the Cheyenne aggregation, and just at that time they blew up, which made …

At "No. 6" fill there occurred a disastrous washout in December, 1900, which while discouraging never made the stout hearts stop beating. It really served as a permanent benefit, for thereafter all the fills and high banks were "puddled." I. J. Ross. Stilts & David, and Koenig Brothers, each had contracts widening the rock excavations, while farther along and around "Cedar …

The latter were without cost to the Indians, but there seemed no way to convince eastern congressmen that the building of irrigation works would serve a double purpose : make homes on the land and control stream flow. Congressmen called the reclamation act a "slick steal" saying that never a dollar spent would be paid back. In this the prophets were not accurate, although …

The expense of this dam has been charged to the water users in the North Platte valley, although the benefits are fully as pronounced in Arkansas, Louisiana, and other states of the south. On the north side of this valley, in Scotts Bluff county, there are two constructed reservoirs along the line of the Interstate canal. Lake Alice, so named in respect of Theodore Roosevelt …

Then into the clayrock, a trench was cut to a depth of forty to sixty feet in places, or until it wras believed that the excavation was below any possible seams in the formation. In this trench was built a concrete core for the dam. The length of the dam is 4,000 feet and the maximum fill is sixty-five feet. The top oi the dam is twenty feet wide making a maximum width of 350 …

Into these by hydraulic power were forced several carloads of concrete, and ultimately effectively stopped the leads. During this process, the force of the hydralic machinery caused bubbling out in the lake a quarter of a mile from the dam showing the points at which the water had found the subterranean channels. The historian has gone extensively into the details of this …

One crop Nights. SCOTTS BLUFF COUNTY SCHOOLS The beginning of the school in the North Platte valley was in Horseshoe Bend, when a part of Cheyenne county. A new district had been taken from the old number ten and number eleven by the Williams, the Shobars, the Rayburns, and others. Gertrude Ashford taught this school, and she stayed at the Rayburn homestead during the week …

Every farmer has the benefits of the experiment station, the irrigation college, the county agent, and the expert irrigators and field men in connection with the sugar company. They are principally without cost to the people. The chautauqua is another way by which we become informed. This institution was first brought into Scotts Bluff county by some of the Scottsbluff people …

With the sound of his ax and hammer as he fashioned his log shanty, came the echo of these tools as they helped to fashion the first rude school house. Or, if you please, the stubborn sod, which parted from its mother earth that the plainsman mijjht build a home for himself and family, had* its companion turf peeled back clean cut and left to dry in the sun for the school …

All honor to the ambition and perseverance of the early pioneer and pathbreaker whose foundations made possible more pretentious and useful superstructures. Within the meager walls of crude buildings his children learned Well, besides book learning, many lessons of patriotism and community welfare ; of honesty, industry, and thrift; of steady self-reliance, without which …

The school houses were community meeting houses, useful alike for church, Sunday School, singing school, spelling bee, box supper, pie supper, political caucus and the neighborhood dance. It is small wonder that those buildings still in existence have sagging sills and much carved furniture. The shed-barn was often a necessary part of the school property, in sparsely settled …

The pupils were transported in a carry-all drawn by horses and hired at district expense. Lake Alice school, with a five acre site, has a substantial school building, cottage for jitney driver, garage, gasoline tank and pump and a many roomed dormitory, modern in every respect. This dormitory will house the teachers, the jitneys and the departments for Manuel Training and Home …

During the past year, besides carrying on an excellent quality of work, Sunflower boys and girls have had the advantage of art and music lessons under the able direction of well trained specialists. During 1920-21 the Sunflower high school had intensive training in Agriculture and Home Economics and Lake Alice had Home Economics work. These courses were handled by instructors …

While improvement of roads and added valuation are needed to permit any consolidated school in Scotts Bluff county to attain to its highest possibilities, we find the consolidated rural school competing well with any town school of its size. Since the consolidated school offers improved buildings and equipment, some specialization of work, the association of teachers and a …

Short courses and vocational work under the supervision of state and federal specialists and partly supported by stale and federal funds go with the consolidated rural school. We believe that, wherever a territory of sufficient size and valuation and with sufficient number of pupils may be found, the consolidated school will eventually be located, by the wish of the patrons in …

Scottsbluff and Gering have installed equipment and specially trained instructors for teaching Smith- Hughes Home Economics. Scottsbluff has also the Smith-Hughes agricultural work, both cities in these courses receiving special state and federal aid as well as detailed state and federal supervision in this work. The boys learn practical and scientific agriculture with the …

Nine Mile school, which has had a mushroom growth during the last five years, and now has ample quarters for three teachers and their classes. Creighton Valley, Number Eight, Number Seventeen, and Number Twelve have remodelled their buildings to take care of the increasing attendance and to make it possible to add one teacher each. District Ten West has provided space for two …

When these buildings have been completed the present urban population of our county will be well cared for, but the building of sugar factories at Minatare and Mitchell, together with the rapid growth in population throughout the county, will doubtless require continual school building for years to come. Among the better urban school buildings may be mentioned the substantial …

Written and oral examinations will gradually give place to the more scientific and adequate measurements and tests which are taking prominent places in the school programs of the leading schools of the country today. Night schools for foreigners, summer schools for the children of beet workers and more continuous use of the school plant will be factors of our educational …

Increased salaries for teachers, better training for teachers, improved buildings and equipment are helping to return a hundred-fold to parents the increased taxation which makes possible added opportunity for the training of their boys and girls to enjoy wholesome industries and pleasures of farm and city. With Scotts Bluff county's infinite resources and the tireless energy …

Johnson, of Winter creek precinct; all as justices; and Theodore Harshman, of Tabor, as assessor; and Dwight H. Hawley, of Wrinter creek as constable. These bonds were first filed with the parent county of Cheyenne. The county was organized in January, 1889, with the following officers : J. M. King, county judge : Frank Beers, treasurer; T. J. Fanning, sheriff; J. L. Gilmore …

Bishop were candidates against Richardson for county attorney; and there were six candidates contending against the successful three for commissioners in the names of Ellis Lowry, D. D. Johnson, F. J. Irvine, Charles Bouton, Bennett Chapman and Samuel J. Clarke. The tickets were represented as democratic, republican and peoples. The peoples indorsed C. T. Johnson, the …

These papers were then published on "patent insides" that is they received from the Newspaper Union theii* papers with two pages printed, and printed the other two at home. These were brought in by the stage from Kimball, the nearest railroad express office, and sometimes they missed connections. Sometimes the weather kept the stage from running, and sometimes the ready prints …