YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT OF WESTERN NORTH AMERICA COLLECTION OF WILLIAM ROBERTSON COE History of Hall County Nebraska ^¦"C ^ *f« ''^ '-'^ '(Wl^ HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA A NARRATIVE OF THE PAST, WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS UPON THE PIONEER PERIOD OF THE COUNTY'S HISTORY. AND CHRONOLOGICAL PRESENTA TION OF ITS SOCIAL COMMERCIAL, EDUCATIONAL. RELIGIOUS, AND CIVIC DEVELOPMENT FROM THE EARLY DAYS TO THE PRESENT TIME, AND SPECIAL ANALYSIS OF ITS MILITARY AND CIVIL PARTICIPATION IN THE LATE WORLD WAR BY A. F. BUECHLER AND R. J. BARR ' ' ' EDITORS-IN-CHIEF DALE P. STOUGH associate compiling editor ADVISORY editorial BOARD JUDGE BAYARD H. PAINE, C. H. MENCK. R. R. HORTH, J. L. CLEARY, S. N. WOLBACH, Grand Island; DAVID D. O'KANE, Wood River; WM. THOMSSEN, Alda; GEO. W. WINGERT. Cairo; W. E. MARTIN, Doniphan AND NUMEROUS CONTRIBUTORS LINCOLN NEBRASKA WESTERN PUBLISHING AND ENGRAVING COMPANY 1920 COPYRIGHT. 1920 BY WESTERN PUBLISHING AND ENGRAVING COMPANY ALL RIGHTS RESERVED THE TORCH PRESS LINCOLN. NEBRASKA AND CEDAR RAPIDS. IOWA DEDICATED 1857—1920 This work is respectfully and appreciatively dedicated jointly: I To those thirty-five courageous colonists who ventured forth from Davenport, Iowa, in 1857, in search of a home, and from all this boundless, un settled, and wild prairie between Columbus, Nebraska, and the Rocky Mountains, chose the banks of the Platte within the present confines of this county, and by their steadfast persistence and labor called in being HAI.L COUNTY, NEBRASKA II To Hall County's heroic sons who entered the service of our country, in the recent World War, and made the supreme sacrifice in defense of their coun try's right and in the sacred cause of liberty and freedom PREFACE This volume is divided into historical and biographical matter. For the former the editors are responsible, but for the latter the responsibility of the editors is limited to such few short biographical paragraphs as appear in the text of various chapters — the remainder having been prepared under the su pervision of the publishers, The Western Publishing and Engraving Company of Lincoln, Nebraska, by their staff of expert writers along that line of matter. The aim of the editors in preparing the text of this book has been to achieve both fidelity to facts and all possible comprehensiveness in gathering historical facts as to each distinct subject taken up. It is not claimed, however, that all has been set down that should have been written for a work of this character, nor that the narrative on every point is as complete in every instance as could be desired. With over two dozen separate phases of the life of the community to consider, and the limitations of space for each subject to be met, as well as the limitations of time governing the preparation, it has been necessary to ex clude much material that the editors would gladly have included. Fortunately much of the history of Hall County was preserved first-hand in historical edi tions of the early newspapers and in past historical researches. But even then, much valuable historical matter has been lost because it was not recorded in writing while the original pioneers were with us to narrate it personally. But much more has been preserved because this work was undertaken even at this late hour, instead of being delayed a few years longer. Whatever faults the critical may discover in the following pages, this much can truthfully be said of this history — it constitutes an earnest effort to give both the subscribers and the public a readable and reliable history of Hall County, something that has not hitherto been attempted on a scale as extensive as this effort has produced. This history is not the work of any one man, or exclusively the product of the pens of the undersigned editors, Mr Buechler and Mr. Barr, and their as sociate, Mr. Stough. The editors not only desire to acknowledge their indebt edness to some of those mentioned hereafter, who have rendered most valuable assistance in the preparation of this history, but they take pleasure in acknowl edging the authorship of many parts of the text to those to whom such credit deservedly belongs. Particularly do we wish to acknowledge our indebtedness to Mrs. Clarence S. Paine, librarian of the State Historical Society, Lincoln, Nebraska, and to the other officers of that society, for material kindly furnished to us ; to J. E. X . PREFACE Lyle, county clerk, and his deputy, R. A. Odum; Richard Buenz, register of deeds; Walter H. Rauert, clerk of the district court; Gus E. Neumann, county treasurer ; John Allan ; City Clerk Henry. E. Clifford ; County Agent J. R. White ; S. E. Sinke, secretary of the school board; L R. Morearty, city engineer; H. H. Long, secretary of the Central Labor Union ; Ira T. Paine ; Rev. L. A. Arthur ; Rev. R. R. Coon; Judge Bayard H. Paine; J. Lechinscky; and numerous contributors of Grand Island; W. J. Burger and City Clerk H. E. Clar- no, of Doniphan; John Thomssen, John McLellan, and J. W. Modesitt, of Alda; Geo. W. Wingert and G. H. Vant, of Cairo; O. M. Quackenbush; Mrs. James Jackson, Chas. E. Towne, and John Hoye, of Wood River; Rev. J. M. Bates, of Red Cloud, Neb. ; Chief Justice Andrew M. Morrissey, of the Nebras ka supreme court, Lincoln, Neb. ; W. W. Haskell, of Ord., Neb. ; and to all of the editorial advisory board. Furthermore, most valuable assistance has been rendered by permission to use sketches and articles prepared by those who contributed to the Semi-Centen- nial edition of the Grand Island Independent, June 29, 1907, notably the histor ical articles prepared at that time by Fred Hedde, Christian Menck, Wm. Stol- ley, Mr. and Mrs. John Thomssen, Aug. Schernekau, while they were still with us; also by reference to historical researches recorded by Prof. M. A. Lesson, Dr. J. P. Patterson, H .H. Foght, Gen.G. M. Dodge, and the authorities of the Federal Government. A. F. Buechler R. J. Barr Dale p. Stough CONTENTS CHAPTER I — Hall County, Nebraska, Prior to 1858 1 Purport of County History — Discoveries Affecting Hall County — Territorial Rule — Lewis and Clark Expedition — The Astorian Expedition — Long's Expedition in 1819 — Fremont's Description of Grand Island — Initial Steps in Formation of Ne braska — Territorial Government Prior to 1858 CHAPTER II — Settlement of Hall County 10 Naming and Settling the County — Fred Hedde's Narrative — The Origin of the Idea — The Colony Starts in 1857 — Nebraska's Few inhabitants — The Platte Valley, Fremont, and Columbus — Grand Island Settlement — The Colony on Half Rations — The First Winter — A Second Colony — The Failure of the Davenport Company — "Pike's Peakers" — Extensions of Settlement — Wood River's Settlers — Mormon Way Station — Indian Scare of 1864 — The Grasshopper Years — When the Union Pacific Came — Grand Island City — Returning Prosperity — The Remaining Pio neers—An Early Hall County Bridal Couple, by Christian Menck — 1857-1869 — The Dream of Future National Capital, by William Stolley — Organizing the Colony of 1857 — Terms of Expedition — Personnel of Colony — The Advance Party — Decide to Build — Second Colony — Market for Corn — Davenport Company Fails — Some of the First Things — Hunting in 1860 — Interruption of a Prayer — Garrisons Called Away — First 'Massacre' by Indians — Panicky Feeling Results — "Fort Independ ence" — The Settlement Protected ¦— Some Pawnees Treacherous — Discover Enemy in Time — Goettsche-Frauen Massacre — Government Makes Survey — Contractors Take Timber — The Grasshopper Scourge — ¦ Ask Congress for Help — Appears Before Garfield — Calls on Magnate (Jay Gould) CHAPTER HI — Indian Occupation and Legends. 34 Early Redmen Occupants — The Pawnees — Treaties of Amity — The Decay of the Pawnees — The Sioux — The Outbreak of 1864 — Major Frank North and the Paw nee Scouts — ¦ Local Indian History — Two Boys Pinned Together by Arrows — The Campbell Raid — Recollections of Fred Stolley — ¦ First Recollections — Took Our Dinner — The Sioux — ¦ Indian Boys' Sports — Puppy Dog Soup — White Man's Treatment of the Redman — "Nezarrazarries" — ¦ An Indian Love Story — A True Red Friend — Fort O. K. — Fort Independence — Goettsche-Frauen Massacre — Indians Journeying to the "Hunt" — An Indian Dance — Buffalo Hunt — The Endurance of a Papoose — ¦ Mirages — Indian Horsethieves — Depending on the Gun for Food — The Antelope — Feathered Game — The Indian Pipe CHAPTER IV — Other Pioneers — and First Settlers 55 The Tread of Pioneers — Early Travel and Transportation — "Have You an Eye ?" — The Oxegon Trail — Its Effect, on Hall County — The Overland Trail — The Fort Kearney and Nebraska City Road — The Decline of These Trails — The Stage Coaches — The Pony Express System — Land Highway and River Navigation — Then and Now — Tlie Mormons — The Gold Hunters — Arrival of Permanent Set tlers — -The Cowboy Regime — The Mitchell-Ketchum and Oliver Tragedy — -Life on the Plains Passes — The Early History of the Wood River Valley — Early Settle ment — The First Postoffice — Old Wood River Station — Present Wood River Starts — Wood River Valley Settled — The "Jim Boyd" Ranch CHAPTER V ^ Reminiscences and Narratives oe Pioneers .... 76 Details of the Anderson-Smith Massacre, by Mr. and Mrs. John Thomssen, Sr. — Her Quota Furnished, by A. Schernekau — Reminiscences of a Hall County Pioneer, by Norman Reese — Early Life — Arriving at Grand Island — Other Early Settlers in Wood River Valley — Our First Farming — Stage Routes — Squire Lamb's Route — During the Civil War — Indians Had Visited — Pressed into Service as Scout — Uncle Sam's Surveyors — Many Middle Men — The Right of Way — During the Last Days of Indian Occupation, by W. E. Martin, Doniphan, Nebraska — Settlement Here — An Early Serviceable Well — Our Early Neighbors — Indian Visitors — Indians' Outfit and Customs — Let the Women do the Work — The Indians' Camp — Their Evening Mtal and Menu — Preparing Clothing and Meats — A Broken Axle — 101 xii CONTENTS Samuel Clay Bassett — A Few Glimpses of Early Life in Hall County — William (Jack) Anderson Settlement — Goes into Business — The Storm of 1873 — The Cow boy Regime — Three Years at Sidney — A Freighting Experience — Grand Island in Early 'Eighties — Early Horse Race — Other Early Recollections — A Rattlesnake on Locust Street CHAPTER VI -^ The City oe Grand Island First Buildings — Organization of the Town — Action taken by Commissioners — Town Officials of 1872-1919 — Property Belonging to City — Parks — Amusement Parks — The Fire Department— Paving— Sewers — Lighting Plants — Municipal Light and Water Plant— Sources of Taxation and Revenue — Grand Islands Tax Rate — The Public Library CHAPTER VII — Other Towns oe Hall County .... .120 Wood River — First Wood River — Early History of Village of Wood River, by O M Quackenbush— Settlement of Town — Officers of Town — Early Builders of Wood River — James Jackson — Henry O. Gifford-O. W. Eaton — N. T. Brittin Richard Mankin — W. L. G. Trapp — S. MacMurray— Patrick Hoye— Wm. and Fred Thorpe — W L. Sprague — Ewing Family — James Ewing — O. M. Quackenbush — First General Stores — W. W. Mitchell— S. A. Sheppard — Hardware and Imple ment Stores — Drug Stores — Early Commercial Interests, 1879— Five Years Later, 1884— Another Five Years, 1880— Ten Years Later, 1899 — Ten Years Later, 1909 — Another Ten Years, 1919 — Doniphan — Town Started — Early Events m Community — Doniphan's Big Fire, 1887 — Incorporation of Town — Succeeding Town Trustees — Commercial Changes — Cairo — First Settlement — Town Government — Village Clerks, Treasurers, Marshals — Business Houses — Business Directory, 1907 — Business Directory, 1919 — North & Robinson Co.— Alda — Abbott — Schauppsville — Under wood — Spencer — Orchard — ¦ Easton — Runnelsburg CHAPTER VIII — The Townships oe Hall County 145 The Early History of South Side of Platte River, by W. J. Burger — Arrival — First Visits of Indians — The Buffalo — Early Settlement around Doniphan — Storms, Grasshoppers, and Troubles — ¦ Early Community Activities — To the Second Genera tion — Martin Township, by Stephen B. Binfield — Early Landholders South of Platte River — Doniphan Township — Washington Township — South Platte Township — ¦ Martin Township — Jackson- Wood River Townships — • Patrick Moore — John Maher — Other First Settlers — ¦ Early ' Landholders in Jackson Township — ¦ Wood River Township — ^ Cameron Township; by Edwin S. Lee — ^ Early Landholders — Harrison Township — Mayfield Township, by R. C. Perkins — Landholders of Mayfield and South Loup Townships — ¦ Prairie Creek Township — ^Mat Rauert, by Eli A. Barnes — Center Township — Early Landholders — ¦ Alda Township — ¦ Claud Stohenberg — Z. H. Denman — Early Landholders — Washington Township — • Early Landholders — ¦ Lake Township, by Wm. Guenther — ¦ Early Landholders — Township Government — First Division — Formation of Various Townships — ¦ Present Township Officers CHAPTER IX — Organization and Government of the County . . . 166 Establishment of the County — Book "A", Commissioners Records — Early Proceed ings of the Board — Platte River Bridge — Building a Court House — Proceedings from 1873 — • Township Organization — Subsequent County Boards — New Court House — County Clerks — Clerks of District Court — Sheriffs — County Judges — Superin tendent of Schools — Supervisors — Coroners — • County Attorneys — Volume of Work in County Offices iSow — -Report of County Attorney's Office- — Tax Levy for 1919 — Fiftietli Semi-Centennial Celebration 1907 CHAPTER X — Hall County's Part in State and Federal Government . 181 Hall County's Part in Early State Government — - Sixth Legislature — Judge Augustus Hall — First Statehood Election — Representation in State Senate — Members in House of Representatives — Constitutional Conventions — Constitutional Conventions of '71-75, by O. A. Abbott, Sr. — Governor John M. Thayer — ¦ Lieutenant Governor O. A. Abbott, Sr. — State Treasurer Henry A. Koenig — State Auditors John Wal- lichs and Silas R. Barton- — ^Secretaries of State — Supreme Court Justice Harrison — Commissioner Glanville — The State Soldiers' and Sailors' Home — Part in the Federal Governmtent — ^Postmasters — ^ Grand Island Land Office — Other Federal Officers CHAPTER XI — The Flora, Fauna, and Natural History of Hall County . 195 Elevations — The Fauna of Hall County — The Grasshoppers — The Flora of Hall County, by J. M. Bates — - Climate of Hall County — Bad Storms — Easter Storm of 1873, by Judge Charles B. Letton — Another Decade-and-half of Storms — Blizzard of 1888, by Minnie Freeman Penney — Storm of March, 1913 — Cyclone of August 12, 1919 CONTENTS xiii CHAPTER XII — The Topography and Soil of PIall County ... 206 Description of the Area — Natural Transportation Advantages — Soils — Hall Silt Loam— Hall Very Fine Sandy Loam — Hall Fine Sandy Loam — Hall Sandy Loam — Hall Clay Loam — Cass Series of Soils — Grundy Soils — Marshall Loans — Colby Series — Valentine Sand — O'Neill Sands — O'Neill Loam — Lamoure Loams — Gan nett Soils— Summary of Classes of Soils — Rapid Rise in Values in 1919 CHAPTER XIII — Agricultural and Live Stock Industries ... 223 When the County was Twenty-one Years Old— Growth in Acreage Cukivated — Introduction of Alfalfa into Nebraska — Surplus Crops Shipped Out, 1917 — Early Agricultural Organizations — The Grange Movement — Live Stock and Dairying — Organization — Expedition of 1876 — Hall County Agricultural Society — State Fair Proposition — Association Reorganized — The Beet Sugar Industry — Hall County Farm Bureau ^ Farmers' Unions — Elevator Enterprises CHAPTER XIV — Industrial History of Hall County .... 236 First Industries — Steam Power — Milling Industry — Grand Island Canning Fac tory — Grand Island Brewery^ Beet Sugar Factory — Grand Island Creameries — Granite Works — Building Materials — Grand Island Iron Foundry and Fence Fac tory—Broom Factory — Bottling Works — Furniture Factory — Planing Mills — Hurst Sash & Door Co. — Cigar Factories- Steam Laundries — Culvert and Metal Works — Hide Industry — Serum Co. — Floral Industry^ Printing and Calendars — Nebraska Telephone Co. — The Stock Yards — Loup Valley Packing Co — Grand Island Horse, Mule and Cattle Market ^Growth of Market — Firms and Dealers on Market — Wholesale Houses — Mintoti-Woodward Co. — Donald Co. — Dolan Fruit Co. — Brown Fruit Co. — Nebraska Mercantile Co. — Etting Candy Co. — Moving Picture Industry — Local Picture Theatres — - The Automobile Industry — Growth of Automobiles, Trucks and Tractors in Importance, by V. E. Evans — ¦ Bicj'cle Industry — ¦ Grand Island Aero Industry CHAPTER XV — Commercial History of Grand Island .... 263 Commercial Beginnings of Grand Island — Stores in 1873 — Business Leaders of First Decade — Businessmen of 1876 — -During the Next Ten Years (1876-1886) — During the Last Thirty-two Years — - The Hotels — Restaurants — Confectioneries — Saloons Barber Shops — Livery, Feed and Sale Stables — Blacksmith Shops — Agricultural Implements — - Elevators — Flour and Feed — ¦ Lumber and Coal — Coal — Grocery Stores — ¦ Meat Markets — Bakeries — • Ice Dealers — Dry Goods and Shoes — Wol- bach Stores — Shoe Stores — Clothing Business — Millinery Stocks — Drug Stores — Book Stores — Jewelry Stores — Furniture and Undertaking — Wall Paper Stocks — Hardware Stores — Other Stores — ¦ Commercial Organizations — Hall County Im migration Society — The Merchants Club — The Board of Trade — The Business Men's Club — The Commercial Club CHAPTER XVI — Banking and Financial Institutions op Hall County . 297 State Central — - Citizens State Bank — Grand Island Banking Company — ¦ Charles F. Bentley— George B. Bell — The First National Bank (Grand Island) —The Bank of Commerce — The Security National Bank — ¦ The Commercial State Bank — State Bank of Grand Island — Nebraska State Bank — People's State Bank — -Bank of Don iphan — Comrnercial Exchange Bank of Doniphan — Alda State Bank — Farmers State Bank, Alda — Cairo State Bank — Farmers State Bank (Cairo) — Building and Loan Associations — Equitable — ¦ People's - Wood River — Other Financial Institu tions — Trust Companies — Grand Island — Nebraska CHAPTER XVII — The Railroads of Hall County 316 Importance of the Railroads — ¦ "How we Built the Union Pacific," by General Gren- ville M. Dodge — "What the Engines Said," by Bret Harte — Early Service and Tar iffs — Local Management of Union Pacific — Superintendents — Trainmasters — Me chanical Departments — Master Mechanics — i District Foremen — Train and Engine- men in Service Over Twenty Years — Station Agents — St. Joseph and Grand Island Railroad — Union Pacific Branches — The Burlington Railroad CHAPTER XVni — The Churches of Hall County 328 The Catholic Church — Wood River — Grand Island — Other Parishes — Grand Is land Diocese — Protestant Episcopal Church — St. Stephen's Parish, Grand Island — Historical Letters by R. C. Jordon and Dr. H. D. Boyden — Methodist Churches — First, Grand Island — Trinity, Grand Island — Doniphan — Others — Lutheran Churches — Evangelical Lutheran Trinity — German St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran, Grand Island— St. Paul's English, Grand Island — Fifth Street Evangelical — Ev angelical Lutheran Zion's (Worms Church) — Free Evangelical Lutheran — Pilgrim Congregational, Grand Island — Baptist Churches — First, Grand Island — Immanuel, xiv CONTENTS Grand Island — Others — Presbyterian, Grand Island — Wood River — Congregational Church, Grand Island— United Brethren Society — Christian Church — Other Churches in Hall County CHAPTER XIX — The Schools of Hali, County 348 • The First School, by Fred Stolley — County Superintendents — District Number One — District Number Four (J. M. Hanssen) — District Number Two, Grand Island — Extended Facilities in the 'Eighties — School Census of 1872 — Gradual Growth -- School Board, Grand Island -District No. 26, Doniphan - District No 8 Wood River -Schools of Wood River - District No. 12, Alda -- District No. 72, Cairo - District No. 80 — District No. 101 — Directory of Present School Officers of County — Grand Island Business and Normal College — Grand Island College — Parochial Schools — Increasing Cost of Public School Education CHAPTER XX — Fraternal and Social Organizations of Hall County . 368 Lodges of the County — Masonic Lodges — Ashlar Chapter No. 33, Grand Island — Deuel Chapter No. 11, R. A. M.— Mt. Lebanon Commandery, No. 6, K. TV— Ma sonic Building Association — Cement Lodge No. 211, Wood River — I. O. O. F.— Grand Island Lodge No. 22 — Wood River Lodge, 158, by W. L. Sprague-- Cham berlain Encampment 34 — Truth Rebekah (Mrs. Luella B. Nelson)— Wood River Rebekah 287 — Knights of Pythias — Nysian Lodge 46 — Ancient Order of United Workmen — Grand Lodge — Harmony Lodge 37 — Charity Lodge 91 — Other A. O. U. W. Lodges — Degree of Honor — Knights of Columbus — Elks — Eagles — Moose — Royal Highlanders — M.( '.B. A. — Maccabees — Modern Woodmen of America — Woodmen of the World — Bands — Athletic Organizations — Lodges in the 'Sev enties — Organizations in the 'Eighties — In the Last Quarter Century — Wheel Clubs — Liederkranz — Plattsdeutche Verein — Country Clubs— Wood River's Lodges — Don iphan's Lodges — St. Ceceha Society —T. P. A.— U. C. T.— Ladies Auxiliary B. of R. T. — Y. M. C. A. — Y. W. C. A. CHAPTER XXI — Organized Labor in Hall County 392 Knights of Labor in the Eighties — Railroad Organizations — Central Labor Union in Hall County — . Official Union Roster — American Federation of Labor — Growth in Membership — Growth in Units — Official Roster CHAPTER XXII — The Press of Hall County 395 First Paper, The Banner — Platte Valley Independent — The Daily Independent — Grand Island Weekly Times — The Democrat — -Grand Island Anzeiger and Herald — - Central Nebraska Republican — The Free Press — Up to Date Ideas — The Volante — Miscellaneous Publications — Wood . River, Doniphan and Cairo Papers CHAPTER XXIII — The Medical and Dental Professions in Hall County 405 The Doctor — Doctors Here in the 'Seventies — - Early Physicians Registered — During the 'Nineties — Since Then — Osteopathic Doctors — Hospitals — • St. Francis Hospital — - Grand Island General Hospital — Dentists of Hall County — Dr. Howard C. Miller — D. A. Finch — Between 1885 and 1896—1896 to Date CHAPTER XXIV — The Bench and Bar op Hall County .... 413 The First District Court in Hall County — Second Term of District Court — Third Term 1871 — Term of April, 1872 — Court in 1873— Court Work, 1874 — Court in 1875 — In the Fourth Judicial District — Court in 1877 — Court After 1877 — From 1893 on — In the Matter of the Change from the Old Court House to the New — Re tirement of Judge John R. Thompson — Court Officials of Last Fifteen Years — The Lawyers of Hall County --At the Beginning of Hall County Court Work, 1868 — Those Who Came During the 'Seventies — Arrivals During the 'Eighties — -During the 'Nineties — Arrivals Since 1890 CHAPTER XXV — Chronological Survey of PIall County's Progress . 429 CHAPTER XXVI — Hall County's Participation in Military Affairs Prior to April, 1917 433 Hall County's Quota in the Civil War — Indian Troubles — Fort Kearny — Lyon Post No. 11, G. A. R. — G. A. R. Building Association — Encampments at Grand Island— Spanish- American War— Co. M of 2nd Nebraska Infantry —Chas. E. Norris Post No. 6— Spanish- War Veterans — Co. M., Fifth Nebraska National Guard, to Mexican Border, 1916— History of Fifth Nebraska Infantry (134th U. S. Infantry) Mustered Into Federal Service in World War CONTENTS XV CHAPTER XXVII — Hall County^s Participation in the World War 1917- 1918 441 Nebraska in the War — Nebraska's War Drive Records — Nebraska's Record on War Savings Stamps — Hall County's Serive "Back Here"— First Meeting, April 5, 1917 — Red Cross Organized, April, 1917 — Enlistments for Service — To First "Train ing Camp — Ft. Snelling — Drives Fast and Furious — Registration Day, June 5, 1917 — The Early Summer of 1917^ The First Drawing — Late Summer and Early Fall, 1917 — Late Fall and Early Winter Activities — - The Ouestionaires — - The Legal Advisory Board — During the Early Part of 1918 — - During the Spring of 1918 — 1918 Registrations — The Last Lap — September 12, 1918, Registration — The Third Drawing — The Happiest Day Hall County Ever Knew — - The Hall County, Nebraska Chapter, American ¦ Red Cross — Organization — - Women's Committee — Membership and Financial Campaigns — Executive Committee's Work — New Board and Officers, 1918 — Women's Bureau — Financial Report and Status of Chapter — The Hall Coun ty Council of Defense — Hall County Service Board, Governpient Appeal Agent — Ladies Auxiliary Council to Council of Defense — War Activities Committee — Other Liberty Loan Campaigns — The Home Guards — - The Food Administration — Federal Fuel Administration — Four Minute Men — War Savings Stamps Campaign Committee United War Work Campaign — Other War Organizations — List of 1237 Men Who Entered Service from Hall County Roster and Record of Hall County Patriots 485 CHAPTER XXVIII — Personal Mention of Some of Those Who Have Been Prominent in the Upbuilding of Hall County 562 ILLUSTRATIONS R. J. Barr WiLLi.'VM Clark and MeriwEather Lewis J. Sterling Morton John C. Fremont . .... Stephen A. Douglas .... Gov. Francis Burt Survivors of Hall County's Original Colony — in 1907 Log House Built in Late Fifties and Part op First Settlement Soldier's Monument, Grand Island, Showing Cannon Used in 1864 Indian Houses PiT-ALi-SHARu-u (Pawnee Chief) .... . . Red Cloud (Sioux Chief) Indian Relics " Map of Hall County Showing Rivers and Trails Concord Stage-Coach . Freighting Scenes . . . Early Scene in Western Xebr.\sk.\ Wood River Valley A. Schernekau xA-N Indian Village ... Panoramic View of Grand Island, 1879 Centennial Envelope Used in 1876 for Pony Express Business Grand Island in 1874 Panoramic View op Grand Island in 1919 . ... Grand Island in 1875 City Hall, Grand Island . Pioneer Park, Grand Island Second Street, Grand Island Central Power Company Plant, Grand Island Municipal Water and Light Plant, Grand Island Public Library View op Grand Island About 1890 Showing Street Railway System James Jackson Interior of James Jackson's Store Interior of Citizens State Bank, Wood River Frontispiece 4 5 6 7 8 16 21 273637 4044606162 67 727789 96 103107108110 110112 113 114116118123 124 128 XVlll ILLUSTRATIONS Scenes in Wood River .... Bank op Doniphan, 1888 Street Scene in Cairo .... First Settlers of Hall County Present at Old Hall County Court House New Hall County Court House O. A. Abbott George H. Thummell .... Silas R. Barton Soldiers and Sailors Home, Grand Island Old Postoffice, G'rand Island U. S. Postoffice, Grand Island Early Factories and Railroad Facilities in Grand Island Canning Factory Views of Sugar Beet Industries Fairmont Creamery Company Plant, Grand Nebraska Telephone Company Building Glover Building, Grand Island Proposed Addition to Loup Valley Packing •Grand Island Horse Market . Grand Island Horse and Mule Co. Plant, The Donald Company Building Nebraska Mercantile Company Building, Ford Building, Grand Island Wheel Club, Grand Island Boyden Drug Store, Grand Island, in the Fred Hedde's Grand Island Store . Grand Island's New Hotel Independent Building, Grand Island Third Street, Grand Island, Middle '90's Third Street, Grand Island, 1919 . WoLBACH Store, Grand Island, 1874 Locust Street, Grand Island, 1919 Third Street, Grand Island, About 1893 C. F. Bentley Union Pacific Shops Union Pacific Depot, Grand Island C. B. & Q. Depot, Grand Island Some Grand Island Churches Catholic Church and Parsonage, Wood Rt\ Grand Island Churches Grand Island Churches . 131 136 141 the Quarter Centennial, 1882 . 159 169 . • * • 176 186 . 187 190 191 192 192 Grand Island 238 239 240 Island 242 . 247248 Company Plant, Grand Island 250250252253 Grand Island 254259261 '80's 268269270279282283284285286 300322 324 325 330 'EU .... 331 336 338 ILLUSTRATIONS xix Ev. Lutheran St. Paul's Church, Grand Island 341 Wood River Churches 344 Dodge School (Old High School) Grand Island 352 Grand Island High School 352 Grand Island Schools . . 354 Wood River School 360 Grand Island Business and Normal College 363 Grand Island College Buildings 365 Proposed Masonic Home 371 A. O. U. W. Building 371 I. O. O. F. Building 371 Old Masonic Temple 371 Elks Building, Grand Island 378 Plattesdeutsche Heim, Grand Island 384 Liederkranz, Grand Island 384 Y. M. C. A. Building, Grand Island • . . . . 388 Independent Building, Grand Island 396 Facsimile Page, Grand Island Daily Evening Times, No. 2 . . . . 397 Facsimile Page, Daily Times, Grand Island, for October 9, 1874 . . . 399 Facsimile Page, Daily Times, Grand Island, Showing Business Firms . . 401 St. Francis Hospital, Grand Island 409 Grand Island General Hospital 410 View op Doniphan 449 Tank at Grand Island 451 New High School, Grand Island 483 LIST OF PORTRAITS Abbott, O. A. . Barnes, Mr. and Mrs. Eli A. Barr, R. J Bentley, Charles F. Boyden, Dr. Henry B. Buechler, A. F. Burger, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Carr, George W., and family Carter, Mr. and Mrs. J. J. DoDD, Dr. Edward Edwards, Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Eggers, Mr. and Mrs. Jasper Ellsworth, John Etting, Albert . Farnsworth, Dr. A. H. Geer, L. T Gideon, Jacob M., and family Glade, Henry . GoEHRiNG, Richard, Sr. . Graham, Alexander, home Green, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hagge, William A. . Hainline, T. M. Hainline, Mrs. T. M. Hann, Mr. and Mrs. John C. C Hanna, James R. Hakrison, W. H. Harry, Henry . Harry, Mrs. Henry . Hedde, Fred HuLETT, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Jones, Glenn Kelley, Dr. Peter C. Knuth, Henry, and family Kruse, K. Henry I/Eschinsky, Julius, and famil McCuTCHEON, Ruben P. . McDowell, W. H. . Martin, H. N., and children Martin, W. E. . Mettenbrink, Charles H., and children Frontisp 566 614 iece 689b 599 818 845626 925 729 779 840 689a. 669 675623892 583 701868895 ¦752 691a 691b 774 605 613 650651 563 899 619 706765 883635664865 861 879792 XXll LIST OF PORTRAITS MiCHELSON, James Mieth, August, St. . Mullen, Mr. and Mrs. W. C Neumann, Gus E. Orvis, H. C Paine, Bay.'\rd H. Paine, Ira T. . Peters, Henry, and family Rathbun, Mr. and Mrs., and family Rickard, Mr. and Mrs. Charles L, Rickard, Mr, and Mrs. George Roby, Gustave, and family Sass, Detlef Sass, Mrs. Detlef Schimmer, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Schimmer, Martin . Schumacher, Henry SiEK, Mr. and Mrs. Hans Smith, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Starkey, Dr. Harvey L. . Stoeger, Mr. and Mrs. John Stolley, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Stolley, William Stough, Dale P. Stratman, H. H. Stratman, H. L. Taylor, Robert . Taylor, Robert Bruce Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. Dell Thompson, Judge John R Thompson, W. H. Tilley, Mr. and Mrs. A. D Tiviotdale, Robert . TULLY, C. H. . Veit, Louis Voss, Fred, and family Watson, Dr. E. Arthur Wiles, F. M., and family William, Edward, and family Windolph, Mr. and Mrs. Adam Windolph, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Wingert, Jeremiah A. Yund, J. H 693854857 570 905813 823808886 827 827836 786 787797 770 711. 881871933875 715724 913 681681686688 719 639629 783 725a 579 ^91 644 595 848 696 725b 747 737733 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA CHAPTER I HALL COUNTY, NEBRASKA, PRIOR TO 1858 Purport op County History — Discoveries Affecting Hall County — Territorial Rule — Lewis and Clark Expedition — The Astorian Expedition — Long's Expedition in 1819 — Fremont's Description of Grand Island — Ini tial Steps in Formation of Nebraska — Territorial Govern ment Prior to 1858 The work of the student of history has heretofore been confined almost wholly to the political, religious, and literary develop ment of peoples. Their industrial, commerc ial, local, and individual work-a-day and so cial development has been subjected to inex cusable neglect. In school, at home in the recesses of our private libraries, in the club, and in the public library we spend our hours in devouring the history of the World; the narratives of the nations, and once in a-while we drop down to the story of the state in which we live. Those of you who have read through the first volume of this set will have become familiar with the story of the state of Nebraska. But even when that has been mastered there remains the fact that the his tory of Nebraska is fundamentally built upon the individual activities and cooperation of the ninety-three counties, each one of which is a separate and somewhat sovereign community in itself, as well as an inseparable integral part of the state. Not a day passes but that men and women of little note, do great deeds, speak great words, and suffer noble sorrows; of these obscure heroes, philosophers, and martyrs the ereater part will never be known till that hour when the many that were great shall be small and the small great. The foundation of the spirit that we call the Nebraska spirit lies in the struggles and individual freedom that have been evidenced by the pioneers and builders of each of these ninety-three counties. The history of a na tion, when given a broad general examination, seems to be a narrative of wars, political struggles at the polls and in the legislative halls, with an occasional venture into the original development of an important venture, or opening of a new source of commercial growth. The biographies of presidents and rulers ; of commanders of the armies ; of the statesmen who struggle in the forensic battles of the legislative halls ; of explorers who open up new realms, seem to be the structure around which the history of the nation is written. Then to come down to the county, the com munity in which one resides, is not the same rule true? Is not each home, each school, each church, each lodge, and each administra tion of local county and city government a similar step in the development of that com munity ? HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA The history of Hall County naturally begins with the history of Nebraska, of which it is an inseparable part. Wherever each individ ual student of history would agree that the history of the United States begins, there likewise the history of Nebraska, and, indi rectly, that, of Hall County, begins. It is un necessary to consume the pages of this volume to be devoted to the particular history of Hall County, with a detailed though interesting narrative of the general early history of Ne braska except inasmuch as the more impor tant facts have a direct bearing upon the par ticular stretch of territory that eventually be came Hall County. discoverers When Christopher Columbus dared to ad venture where others feared to go, and by a single act revealed to the astonished gaze of Europe the existence of new lands of won derful beauty and promise where none were believed to exist, and, at a blow, dispelled forever the ignorance and fear which hitherto had enslaved the mind and paralyzed the en deavor of the most favored and most intelli gent portion of the globe, he opened up to the descendants of many European peoples the fertile soil of the Platte and indirectly discovered Hall County, just as much as any other portion of the United States. The dis coveries that followed during the next century. also indirectly applied to Nebraska and to Hall County. The people of all western Europe during the fifteenth century were emerging from the "Dark Ages" and freeing themselves gradually from the forms of gov ernment which had characterized the feudal system, and for the first time since modern Europe had arisen from the fragments of the Roman Empire its governments were coming into the hands of able rulers, the common people of each country were beginning to think for themselves along currents that evolved the influences and motives that three hundred years later drove their descendants across the broad Atlantic and impelled them half-way across the undeveloped Western continent and invited them to settle down along the broad banks of the Platte and build . the community, the growth and development of which we are about to narrate in the follow ing pages. The history of Nebraska is generally and properly said to begin with the voyage of the heroic LaSalle in 1682. Preceding that, the story of the explorations of Louisiana Ter ritory by Spaniards in 1539-44 reads more like a mediaeval romance than an authentic his torical record, and the discovery of the Mis sissippi River by the valiant cavaliers of that period opened up the way for subsequent events. DeSoto's little band, the flower of Spanish chivalry, had bravely wandered for about four years through the almost impen etrable forests and recesses of the new Con tinent until they wound up in the lower Mis sissippi Valley. In the spring of 1541 the glorious sight of the broad Mississippi — the mighty Father of Waters — burst upon their wondering vision. DeSoto crossed the mighty river in hastily constructed boats, and pursued his wanderings on the western side. It is" probable, but not certain, that his eyes may have rested on the broad prairies of the now fertile state of Nebraska. But it is cer tain that Nebraska must have been visited by Spanish explorers long before the advent of the earliest French and English explorers to whom we can trace events with an unbroken ¦ record, for portions of the armor and equip ment of the Spanish adventurers have been discovered in this state in years past. Just to whom these relics belonged is a secret that may forever be locked up in the breast of un written history. For nearly a century and a half after the ill-fated DeSotp slept beneath the waters of the great river which he discovered, the Mis sissippi Valley, and naturally likewise the Missouri and Platte valleys, remained undis turbed in the possession of Indians. Spain made no direct effort to civilize the region she already could claim by right of discovery. France and England in the meantime became rivals for the affections and possession of these new fields of conquest. England was establishing herself along the coasts of the HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Atlantic, and France was obtaining a foot hold at Quebec and pushing her hold up the St. Lawrence River. The first men to enter upon a systematic exploration of the vast region of which Nebraska is a part were the Jesuits, or members of the Society of Jesus, a famous religious society founded by Ignatius Loyola, a Spanish knight of the sixteenth century. The work of the Jesuit missionaries led to the discovery of the Ohio River and the partial exploration of two routes to the Mis sissippi, before the eyes of the territory-hunt ing Europeans rested upon the northern por tion of that great river and its tributary ter ritories. A young fur trader, Louis Joliet, and a Jesuit missionary, Jacques Marquette, set out on a perilous undertaking on May 17, 1673. After a month of steady pushing for ward, paddling in canoes along the swift cur rents of unknown streams, and threading their way through dense forests, on June 17 they reached the mouth of the Wisconsin. Then they pushed their canoes out into the broad, rolling Mississippi, and drifted rapidly down its current. They passed the mouth of the Missouri, on down to the mouth of the Ohio, and still further down until they came to the mouth of the Arkansas. They brought the emblazoned trail of travel a little closer to the unlocked bosoms of the Nebraska prairies. But as said before, it remained for another intrepid Frenchman to complete the work left unfinished by Marquette and Joliet, and to take formal possession of Louisiana in the name of the King of France. An historical sequence of events leads the mind steadily forward from the discoveries and accomplish ments of Sieur de LaSalle till by well defined processes of differentiation and elimination a point is reached where the commonwealth of Nebraska stands forth clearly defined in the mighty sisterhood of states which comprise this North American republic. In 1682, LaSalle set up his wooden column on which had been inscribed the following: "Louis the Great, King of France and of Navarre, King. April 9th, 1682." Then he spoke the words that brought the great basin of the Mississippi under the scepter of Louis XIV, and standing on the delta of that great river, he called into ex istence the territory of Louisiana, out of which came Nebraska, and the first semblance of organized, political government was ex tended over the vast and unknown regions of dense forests to the north and west, to the apparently limitless prairie watered by thou sands of streams and peopled then only by savage Indian tribes, the abode of buffalo and other wild denizens of the forest and plain. The following list of viceroys who ruled over the vast territory of the New France in central North America may be indirectly said to be the first governmental administrators of this part of the continent from which Ne braska and her county daughter, Hall, even tually sprang. Robert, Cavalier de La Salle 1682-1688 Marquis de Sanville 1689-1700 Bienville 1701-1712 Lamothe Cadillar 1713-1715 De L'Epinay 1716-1717 Bienville 1718-1723 Boisbriant 1724 Bienville 1732-1741 Baron de Kelerec 1753-1762 D'Abbadie 1763-1766 In 1762, France was compelled by force of military necessity to relinquish to Spain her title to Louisiana. During that time the terri tory destined to form Nebraska, and its sub division, Hall County, was under Spanish sovereignty. That government combined the semi-military government until 1803, when the territory passed under the flag of the United States. The hst of Spanish governors of that period were: Antonio de Ulloa 1767-1768 Alexander O'Reilly 1768-1769 Louis de Unzago 1770-1776 Bernardo de Galvez 1777-1784 Estevar Miro 1785-1787 Francisco Luis Hortu, Baron of Carondelet 1789-1792 Gayoso de Lemos 1793-1798 Sebastian de Casa, Calvo y O'Farrel 1798-1799 Jean Manual de Salcedo 1800-1803 Although France regained possession of Louisiana on October 1, 1800, Jean Manuel de HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Salcedo remained as governor until the United States took formal possession. The account of the negotiations which led of the peaceful acquisition of Louisiana forms one of "the interesting chapters of our national history, and both familiar and available enough to render it unnecessary to detail it in full at this point. During the years in which Spain had controlled the central portion of our continent, her policy in restricting the free navigation of the Mississippi River had stirred up much contention between the isiana Purchase than the real development of that region began. It was indeed a tremendous accession to the territory of the young re-- public. The very figures that attempt to con vey to the mind some idea of its superficial area are themselves impressive. It more than doubled the previous land area of the United States. In round numbers it exceeded 883,- 000 square miles. Out of it, in addition to the present state of Louisiana, there have been carved Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kan sas, Nebraska, Iowa, North and South Da- United States and the Spanish government. France had been delayed long enough in tak ing actual possession of Louisiana that cir cumstances forced its cession to the United States before there could be any change in policy. The Mississippi River formed, at that time, the only outlet for the products of the settlers west of the Alleghany Mountains. The change from Spanish to French control did not augur any real relief, for Napoleon fully appreciated the immense value of Louisiana and at once began the work of fortifying the entrance to the Mississippi. LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITLON No sooner had the United States govern ment acquired the vast territory of the Lou- K./^ZjeAAyyv^e/^nZ\. o^a/^-l/"-*-** kota, two-thirds of Minnesota, one-third of Colorado, and three-fourths of Wyoming. At the time of its accession to the United States its known population did not exceed five thou sand souls, nearly one-half of whom were slaves. In 1810 the first federal census showed a population of twenty thousand, of whom one-half were still negro slaves. If taken today, a census of the same territory would hover around twenty million, all free men. But the sagacious and energetic Jefferson had matured a plan for exploring the Mis- , souri River country, almost before Congress, had ratified the treaty under which possession was acquired. That least known portion of the territory, then, in fact, almost an unknown land except possibly to the Indians, fur HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA traders, hunters, and some French priests, ¦who appear to have visited nearly every por tion of the territory, lay awaiting some di rected attention. In May, 1804, the far-famed Lewis and Clark expedition was started up the Mis souri River charged with the duty of explor ing that great river from its mouth to its source and then on to the Pacific Ocean. This party, consisting of nine young men from Kentucky, fourteen soldiers of the United States army who volunteered their services, two French watermen, an interpreter and hunter, and a black servant belonging to Cap tain Clark, with several other members, as watermen and assistants, set forth. Follow ing up the Missouri River, they came in sight of the present Nebraska on the afternoon of July 11, 1804, and camped opposite the mouth of the Big Nemaha. This expedition is of particular import ance as it gives the first historical glimpse of the eastern border of Nebraska. From the point where it first touched the present state at the southeast comer to the point at the northeast corner where the Missouri River reaches its borders the distance is 277 miles as the bird flies. According to the govern ment survey, the distance between these two points is 441 miles, following the meander- ings of the river. The Lewis-Clark expedi tion recorded 556 miles of river front for the state in 1804. The journals of Lieut. Wil liam Clark and Capt. Meriwether Lewis did not chronicle any thing definite as to Hall County or the Platte Valley, but their journey past Nebraska brought one step nearer the arrival of attention to this Platte Valley. In 1806, General James Wilkinson, then com mander in chief of the United States army and also governor of the territory of Louisi ana, sent forth the expedition of Lieut. Zebu- Ion M. Pike, which resulted in the discovery of Pike's Peak. This party travelled a route that lay somewhat south of the Platte, and in fact it has been somewhat the subject of controversy as to whether their trail crossed north into Nebraska or stayed in northern Kansas. THE ASTORIAN EXPEDITION The spirit of commerce that led to the first exploration and civilized occupation of the Northwest, including Nebraska, operated a step further. In 1810 John Jacob Astor ^ of New York organized the Pacific Fur Com pany for the purpose of colonization and trade at the mouth of the Columbia River. J. Sterling Morton This expedition started out in September, 1810, and founded Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia River in the spring of the fol lowing year. On the 28th of June, 1812, Robert Stuart started from Astoria with five of Hunt's original party on a return over land trip. In southeastern Idaho he was joined by four men whom Hupt had detached iln 1810 John Jacob Astor organized the Pacific Fur Corporation, a partnership including himself, Wilson Price Hunt, Robert Stuart and others for the purpose of colonization and trade at the mouth of the Columbia river. Hunt with a party m three boats left in October, 1810, a month following the party led by the partners who founded Astoria. Hunt's party reached Astoria in February, 1811. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA from the party on the 10th of the previous October. After a journey of terrible hard ships they established winter quarters on the North Platte River not far east of the place where it issues from the mountains. At the end of six weeks they were driven out by the Indians and proceeded three hundred and thirty miles down the Platte; and then, des pairing of being able to pass safely over the desert plain covered with deep snow which John C. Fremont confronted them, they went back over seven ty-seven miles of their course until they found a suitable winter camp in what is now Scotts Bluff County, where they went Jnto winter quarters on the 30th of December, 1812. On the 8th of March they tried to navigate the stream in canoes but found it impracticable, and proceeded further on foot. It is chronicled that they came down the river to "Great Island," where they bought some elk's hide boats. It is possible that this was tlie first official mention of the future Grand Island. At least the party proceeded to a point about forty-five miles from the mouth of the Platte, and there embarked on April 16 in a large canoe they secured from the Indians. long's expedition in 1819 In 1819, Major S. H. Long travelled with a party of twenty men from the Missouri ^ River up the Platte to the head waters of its. south fork near' Denver. The most important feature of this trip, as affecting Hall County, is the description in Major Long's journal of the hopelessness of the Platte Valley : In regard to this extensive section of coun try, I do not hesitate in giving the opinion, ¦ that it is almost wholly unfit for cultivation,-! and of course uninhabitable by a people de pending upon agriculture for their subsistence. Major Long, in his final estimate, after the foregoing opinion was rendered, continued: Although tracts of fertile land considerably/* extensive are occasionally to be met with, yet , the scarcity of wood and water, almost uni formly prevalent, will prove an insurmounta ble obstacle in the way of settling the country. \ This objection rests not only against the sec tion immediately under consideration, but ap^ plies with equal propriety to a much larger - portion of the country. . . . This region. however, viewed as a frontier, may prove of infinite importance to the United States, inas much as it is calculated to serve as a barrier to prevent too great an extension of our pop ulation westward, and secure us against the machinations or incursions of an enemy that might otherwise be disposed to annoy us in that part' of our frontier. In a similar vein is the comment of Dr. James, another narrator of the same expedi tion : We have little apprehension of giving too unfavorable an account of this portion of the counti-y. Though the soil is in some places fertile, the want of timber, of navigable streams, and of water for the necessities of life, render it an unfit residence for any but a nomad population. The traveler who shall at any time have traversed its desolate sands, ; will, we think, join us in the wish that this ; region may for ever remain the unmolested . haunt of the native hunter, the bison, and the jackall. Could Major Long see the Platte Valley*' in 1919, one hundred years after his observa-\ tion, he would, to say the least, request an other guess. During the years 1808-1820, HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Manual Lisa, of Spanish descent but a citizen of the United States, became the leading fur trader and explorer of the Nebraska region. CHANGES in THE TERRITORY, NOW NEBRASKA The Nebraska region was part of the terri tory of Indiana from October 1, 1804, until July 4, 1805. On March 3, 1805, Congress changed the district of Louisiana to the ter ritory of 'Louisiana and it remained a portion of that territory with the capital at St. Louis, until, in June, 1812, when by act of Congress, the territory of Louisiana became the terri tory of Missouri. January 19, 1816, the legis lature governing this territory passed a law making the common law of England the law of the territory. On March 2, 1819, Congress created the territory of Arkansas out of the Missouri territory, and preparatory to the ad mission of Missouri to statehood, and on March 6, 1820, an act was approved author izing the people of Missouri territory to form a constitution and state government. After Missouri became a state Nebraska was a part of an unorganized "Indian country." June 30, 1834, by an act of Congress all that part of the United States west of the Mississippi and not included in the states of Missouri and Louisiana or the territory of Arkansas was taken to be "Indian country" and its status specifically defined as between Whites and Indians. In 1832, Captain Na thaniel J. Wyeth led an expedition over the Oregon Trail, and from then on numerous ex peditions crossed this trail which took them very near to the present borders of Hall County. ' . Fremont's description op grand island ¦ The most important of the explorations of the Northwest, under the auspices of the gov ernment, were those of General John C. Fre- ' mont. His first party to pass through Ne braska by the Oregon Trail was in the sum mer of 1842, an expedition of twenty-seven men. Fremont's orders were "to explore and report upon the country between the frontiers of Missouri and the south pass in the Rocky Mountains and on the line of the Kansas and Great Platte rivers." This was accomplished by the middle of August, and the party re turned by the same route, reaching the junc tion of the north and south forks on the 12th of September. The part of Fremont's journal that applies to Hall County is told in his own language, as follows : On the morning of- the 15th we embarked in our hide boat. Mr. Preuss and myself with two men. We dragged her over the sands for three or four miles, and then left her on Stephen A. Dougi,as the bar, and abandoned entirely all further attempts to navigate this river. The names given by the Indians are always remarkably appropriate ; and certainly none was ever more so than that which they have given to this stream — "The Nebraska, or Shallow River." Walking steadily the remainder of the day, a little before dark we over-took our people at their evening camp, about twenty-one miles below the junction. The next morning we crossed the Platte, and continued our way down the river bottom on the left bank, where we found an excellent plainly beaten road. On the 18th, we reached GRAND IS LAND, which is fifty-two miles long, with an average breadth of one mile and three quart ers. It has on it some small eminences, and is sufficiently elevated to be secure from the 8 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA annual floods of the river. As has already been remarked, it is well timbered, with an excellent soil, and recommends itself to notice as the best point -for a military position on the Lower Platte. INITIAL STEPS IN THE FORMATION OP NEBRASKA ripnpral Fremont, then Lieutenant Fremont, [proposed] territory." The first real bill to organize the new Nebraska territory was in troduced in Congress December 17, 1844, by Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois. This bill failed to pass. In 1848 Douglas introduced a second bill, which also failed. In 1853 a third bill was likewise defeated. In 1854 a fourth Francis Burt, First Governor oe Nebraska Territory in his reports, as liereinbefore indicated, spoke of the "Nebraska River," using the Otoe In dian name for the Platte, from the Otoe word "Ne-brathka," meaning "Flat Water." Secre tary of War William Wilkins, in his report of November 30, 1844, says : "The Platte or Nebraska River being the central stream would very properly furnish a name to the Nebraska bill, now called the "Nebraska-Kan sas bill," was passed after a prolonged and bitter struggle and signed by President Frank lin Pierce on May 30, 1854. In the Congress that had assembled in 1851-52, Willard P. .Hall, a representative from the state of Mis souri, had offered a bill having for its object the organization of the "Territory of the HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Platte." A bill offered in February, 1853, called for the organization of the "Territory of Nebraska," and when the final measure went through, it bore the name of "Nebraska." TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT PRIOR TO 1858 Francis Burt, of South Carolina, was the first governor of Nebraska territory. He ar rived at Bellevue, October 7, 1854, and died there October 18. He had taken the oath of office on the 16th, before Chief Justice Fergu son, so was governor only two days. Thomas B. Cuming became acting governor. On No vember 23, a proclamation was issued ordering ah election of delegate to congress and legis lators. This first territorial election held on December 12, 1854, was too early for Hall County, but not very many years too early at that. On December 20 Acting Governor Cuming issued a proclamation fixing the time and place of holding the first session of the territorial assembly. The struggle between the new town of Omaha and the old town of Bellevue for the territorial capital was practic ally determined in favor of Omaha by Acting Governor Cuming's call to the legislature to meet in Omaha on January 16, 1855. Gov. M. W. Izard, successor to Governor Burt, took office on February 23, 1855. Governor Izard resigned on October 25, 1857, and the vacancy was filled by Secretary Cuming. From Jan uary 12, 1858, to December 5, 1858, William A. Richardson was governor. He resigned on December 5, and the vacancy was filled by J. Sterling Morton, secretary, until May 2, 1859, when the new governor, Samuel W. Black, arrived. The organization of Hall County had been authorized on November 9, 1858, and on December 9th Acting Governor Morton per formed one of his first official acts when he wrote the letter transmitting the appointments he had made for offices of the new county. From this point on, the matters pertaining to the territorial and state government that have particular application to Hall County will be treated mainly in the chapter on "Hall County's Part in the State and Federal Gov ernment," and incidentally in other phapters. CHAPTER II SETTLEMENT OF HALL COUNTY Naming and Settling the County — Fred Hedde's Narrative — The Origin op the Idea — The Colony Starts in 1857 — Nebraska's Few Inhabitants — The PLA-fTE Valley, Fremont, and Columbus — Grand Island Settlement — The Colony on Half Rations — The First Winter — A Second Colony — The Failure of the Davenport Company — "Pike's Peakers" — Extensions of Settlement — Wood River's First Set tlers — Mormon Way Station — Indian Scare op 1864 — The Grasshopper Years — When the Union Pacific Came — Grand Island City — Returning Prosperity — The Remaining Pioneers-^ An Early Hall County Bridal Couple, by Christian Menck — 1857-1869 — The Dream of Future National Capital, by William Stolley — Organiz ing THE Colony of 1857 — Terms of Expedition — Personnel of Colony — The Ad vance Party — Decide to Build — Second Colony — Market for Corn — Davenport Company Fails — Some op the First Things — Hunting in 1860 — Interruption of a Prayer — Garrisons Called Away — First Massacre by Indians — Panicky Feeling Results — "Fort Independence" — The Settlement Protected — Some Pawnees Treacherous — Discover Enemy in Time — Goettsche-Frauen Massacre — Govern ment Makes Survey — Contractors Take Timber — The Grasshopper Scourge — Ask Congress for Help — Appears before Garfield — Calls on Magnate (Jay Gould) Hall County is the name given to one of the fairest political divisions of Nebraska. Though Judge Augustus Hall was a member of the territorial supreme court and chief justice of the same in 1858 and 1859 when the legal steps were taken and carried out that formed this county, the name "Hall" is attributed in the early lore of local history to have been taken from the surname of a man named Hall, who was an early partner of William M. Spiker in business here and who afterwards lived in Colorado. In 1857, when the spring sun rose over the prairie there was not a white man within the present boundaries of Hall County. Dur ing that year a little band of thirty-five peo ple arrived and located in the great solitude. A year later the legislature gave to the locality a name and a local government. The story of the settlement and the strug gles of the first pioneers cannot be told by those of the succeeding generation with any thing approaching the accuracy, detail, or rea lism that has been employed by several of that little band of thirty-five who, fortunately for the succeeding generations of Hall County citizens and Nebraskans in general, preserved. that wonderful story during their lifetime. Therefore, this chapter on the settlement of Hall County and its first colony will be given to our readers in the words of three of the leading spirits of that colony, Frederick Hedde, Christian Menck, and William Stolley. NARRATIVE OF FREDERICK HEDDE WRITTEN IN 1897 The first discussions in Congress in ante bellum times about the construction of a trans continental railroad, which to all expectations 10 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 11 would have to run along the Platte River Valley, with branch roads to join the main road a distance west of the Missouri, started the idea among some gentlemen in Davenport, Iowa, to form a settlement and lay out a city in the then new territory of Nebraska, at a point in this valley where it was hoped that junction of the three roads would take place. A company was formed to furnish the financial means for the existence of the settlers in the uninhabited wilds of Nebraska, and for making improvements in the intended city, and a party of thirty-five persons were engaged for the formation of the settlement under the main leadership of the civil en gineer, R. C. Barnard. Mr. Barnard and four others were native Americans, all others Germans, mostly from the Schleswig-Hol- stein territory, who had been a few years in the United States. Quite a number of the latter had been in the military service in Ger many, some during war time. In Davenport this expedition was considered as a fool-hardy undertaking, as the middle of Nebraska was entirely without any inhabitants except Indians, who were considered very dangerous. But our prospective settlers did not allow themselves to be scared out of their plans. Five of them even took their wives along with them, and a young girl was also enterprising enough to accompany her brother and sister- in-law. THE COLONY starts IN 1857 In the spring of 1857, as soon as there was grass enough for the teams, the future set tlers of Grand Island started from Davenport. A surveying party started a few days in ad vance of the main party under the lead of Surveyor Barnard. This party consisted of his four American friends, the narrator, Fred Hedde, and Christian Menck, the latter two being the only participants of this expedition who yet live in the city of Grand Island. This party traveled with a four-mule team. The other large party followed in four wagons drawn by several yoke of oxen each, under the lead oi William Stolley, who brought the same as far as. Omaha. From here he re turned to Davenport, and Fred Hedde then led this party from Omaha to the place in the interior of Nebraska, which afterwards was selected for this settlement, the surveying party being about a day's travel ahead. NEBRASKA'S FEW INHABITANTS Nebraska was at that time a very new territory with perhaps 20,000 inhabitants, mostly settled along the Missouri River. Omaha, which was reached June 18, was at that time about three years old and had a population of about 2,000, although they claimed a good many more. It had a lively rival in Florence, originally a Mormon set tlement, a town of about 1,000 inhabitants. Each boasted of becoming the great city and of annihilating the other. But when seven years later the Union Pacific railroad was located at Omaha, many of the Florence es tablishments were moved to Omaha, and others collapsed, a very little village remaining there, while Omaha grew to the great city it is today. THE PLATTE VALLEY, FREMONT, AND COLUMBUS A few settlers had at the time gone into the Platte Valley, and had crossed the Loup River which empties into the Platte about 85 miles west of Omaha. About every four or five miles, a house was found, some with canvas roofs or otherwise unfinished. But generally a great city was attached to the house, adorned with a big name, painted on a sign that was fastened to a tree. The only two young embryos- of future cities were Fremont and Columbus, each consisting of about a dozen block houses. All the other imaginary cities of those days have never come into existence. At Columbus, also a German settlement, the settlers tried to persuade our pioneers to stay and settle with them, but the latter all preferred to go farther. As at this place the Loup River could not be forded and there was here neither bridge nor ferry, they crossed the river about ten miles above this point, where there was a sufficiently good ford and a Mormon settlement. 12 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA From here they went about 65 miles farther west until they struck Wood River, and about ten miles from the point where this little river emptied into the old narrow north chan nel of the Platte River, opposite the large island in the Platte called Grand Island, the new settlement was located July 4th, 1857. GRAND ISLAND SETTLEMENT The Island was formed by a very narrow channel branching off from the main Platte about fifty miles above, and joining the main river again about ten miles below the new settlement. This little branch was fringed with a narrow strip of cottonwood trees, fur nishing logs for buildings and firewood. On account of its timber, at other places in the valley very scarce, the name of this island was already well known, and gave the settle ment the name of Grand Island settlement and the later city the name of Grand Island. Our pioneers then went to work putting up some log houses near the present dwelling houses of the Menck and Stuhr farms, a little east and south of the present city, so near together that they could protect each other in case of trouble with the Indians. And they broke as much land as the late season would allow. Our surveyor succeeded in laying out a town, which covered the southern portion of our present city of Grand Island but never advanced beyond the char acter of a paper town, because the Davenport company which , had started the enterprise, and which was bound to make improvements in the new town, in consequence of the crisis of 1857 broke up, about a year later, and con sequently abandoned their scheme. THE COLONY ON HALF RATIONS Before this happened another danger threatened the new settlement with speedy dissolution. Two loads of provisions had been hauled out by hired teamsters to the place of the new settlement, accompanying the pioneers, and they were sent back to Omaha, where a large amount of provisions belonging to the company was deposited, to bring out two more loads. But they never came back. and when we h^d no more hope of their re turning, and the provisions began to be scarce, - - - something had to be done. Fred Hedde, who had charge of the distribution of the pro visions, saw there was not a sufficient amount left to keep the settlers fully provided; and since Mr. Barnard, the main agent, made no adequate arrangements, took it upon himself to send some of the settlers to Omaha with their ox teams. Such a trip, over 300 miles going and returning, took at least from seven teen to eighteen days and there was not enough of provisions left here if everyone, as before, received as much as he wanted. Mr. Hedde presented the situation to the men, proposing that only half rations be issued in the future, in which case the rations would last about twenty days. They all agreed with the exception of Barnard and his few friends, who wanted whatever they liked. But they were made to obey. Thus the pioneers pa tiently stood nearly three weeks of hunger without being starved; and when at the end of this trying time the men with their loads of good things arrived there was great rejoic ing, because there was once more plenty and - the settlement had been saved. THE FIRST WINTER With renewed vigor all preparations for the coming winter were then made. In No vember a heavy snow storm set in quite sud- - denly while two men, a stranger who stayed with our settlers and one of the latter, Henry Joehnck, had gone out to Prairie Creek on a hunt. They could not find their way back to • the settlement, and when they were discovered by the men who had started for their rescue, the strange man was already dead, while Joehnck's life was saved with difficulty. After this storm the weather throughout the winter was exceedingly mild, a kind of continual Indian summer, and very favorable for the winter work of the pioneers, who were sufficiently protected in their houses. Though they lived sixty-five miles from the last traces ; . of civilization and never saw any travelers'' excepting once in the late summer of 1857, when a party of Calif omians returned along HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 13 the Platte Valley, they enjoyed that lonely time in peace and happiness. A SECOND COLONY At the end of the next spring, .1858, an accession came, a second colony, from Daven port, all Germans. They joined the Grand Island settlement and later others came from other parts of the United States and from Gemiany directly to this settlement. The settlers spread out, each taking up his own farm, and going over from the main land of the valley to the big Island. This is the reason that the neighborhood of the present city of Grand Island, for five miles down and six or seven miles up Wood River, and nearly the whole island is settled almost exclusively by hard-working German farmers, nearly all of whom are well-to-do, and some of whom are rich, owning from 1,000 to 2,000 acres of land and from 100 to 300 head of cattle, though all of them, with great perseverance, had from time to time to withstand hard years. THE FAILURE OF THE DAVENPORT COMPANY The first misfortune came over the settle ment when, in the winter of '57-58, the Dav enport Company, in consequences of the crisis of 1857, broke up. Then, of course, no more provisions were furnished and all hope for improving the town site was gone. That, however, did not discourage our settlers. A large number of the younger ones found em ployment at good wages at Fort '^ Kearny, about forty miles up the river and situated on the other side of the Platte. The others attended to their fields and new breaking. Late in the fall of 1858 another misfortune befell the settlement. Traveling teamsters set fire to the prairie while the grass was long and dry, and the houses of the settlers were not well protected against such occurrences. Seven of the new houses were consumed, but even that did not dampen their courage. New houses were built and hopes sustained for the better times which they saw coming. And they came. "pike's peakers" In the fall of 1857 the first rumors came from the west about gold being discovered at Pike's Peak, the Colorado mountain not far southwest of the present city of Denver. At first the reports were not credited, but in spite of this doubt in the next spring quite a number of gold-seekers started along the Platte Valley for the new Eldorado, the em bryo of Denver and the state of Colorado, and though many of them returned in the fall, disappointed and sad, the stream of emigra tion, not only to Colorado but also to the other gold countries of Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Utah, and the Pacific coast, yearly increased, so that for seven or eight years hundreds of parties, some of them with a number of wagons and teams, passed daily and camped on the Platte near our settlement. These gold fields and the march of the "Pike's Peakers" as they were called, had no attraction for our pioneers, who did not suffer with the gold fever. But this continuous moving mass of gold hunters was of great advantage to them. Our settlement was nearly the last place where the travelers could buy anything, and in con sequence the pioneers had a splendid oppor tunity to dispose of their hay, corn, oats, garden vegetables, and some provisions at high prices. From $1.00 to $1.50 for a bushel of grain was an ordinary price, and upon ex traordinary occasions the price went con siderably higher. Some contracts of several thousand bushels were taken by the settlers from the commanding officers of Fort Kear ny, to be delivered there at $2.04, about half the price the government had previously paid for their com which had to be delivered to them from St. Joseph, Missouri. The Grand Island settlers had no large fields as yet, and their crops were small crops, paid better than large crops now, and gave the settlers an ex cellent start, putting them in good condition as they were generally saving as well as in dustrious. EXTENSIONS OF SETTLEMENT During these years the Grand Island settle ment extended to the east and west, almost exclusively Germans from the northern part of Germany joining it, and all were busy in spring, summer, and fall in their fields. They 14 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA also, until large stores were established here, had to make one or two trips yearly to Omaha to buy and transport hither, with their teams, the necessary provisions, and they had, in winter, to go frequently to Ft. Kearny for the delivery of the contracted grain. Since at Kearny the broad and somewhat danger ous Platte had to be crossed these trips were sometimes very disagreeable, but, going in companies, the men helped and cheered each other, and when the weather was good they really enjoyed it. WOOD river's first settlers In the course of time the country settled up somewhat more rapidly. There were some settlers between Columbus on the Loup and Grand Island, and people had also settled west of Grand Island along Wood River, a little stream which for a long distance runs almost parallel with the Platte. The first settlers on Wood River, in the neighborhood of the pres ent village and station of Wood River, were the two brothers, Pat and Alex Moore, who were soon joined by their brother-in-law, O'Brien. The Moores were Americanized Irishmen, and after some years a large num ber of Irish people settled around them. They were good, hard-working men, who got along well, and with whom our Grand Island pio neers lived on terms of friendship. Between them and the Grand Island settlement a num ber of Americans took claims. Most of these, however, left again. MORMON WAY STATION Beyond this Irish settlement, not far from it, there was also for some years, a Mormon colony, a way station for the Mormon emi grants, who sometimes with wagons and teams and drawn by the travelers themselves, marched on their tiresome road to Salt Lake. These people were full of fanaticism, ad monishing us to go with them if we wanted to be saved from worldly and eternal des- tmction, which we could not avoid here. This they believed because their prophet had said so. But no one followed them. INDIAN SCARE OF 1864 The Sioux Indians formerly had come through our settlement many a time to fight the Pawnee Indians, who lived nearly one hundred miles east of us in the Platte Valley, opposite Fremont; and though these Sioux had so far always behaved peaceably, they had during the Civil War become unruly, stirred up by the rebels. Roving bands com mitted some murders in the Wood River coun try and south of the Platte Rivdr, where some white people had settled. But they never troubled the Grand Island settlement, prob ably thinking it too strong. At the end of the spring of 1864 there be came current a rumor that the Sioux would come down in force and clean out the whole Platte Valley, and the people had their imag ination worked up to such an extent that nearly all Wood River people in long pro cessions marched, with all they could carry with them, through our settlement down below Columbus and some did not stop before they reached Council Bluffs. No Indians ap peared and when the fugitives came back their cornfields were full of weeds and their crops lost. Only a few remained at that time on Wood River. The Grand Island settlers gathered mostly at the O. K. Store, centrally situated in the settlement, erected there some fortifications, ready to defend themselves, and stayed there a few days. But they soon retumed to their farms, attending to their work and losing nothing. The scare blew over as a wind storm without doing great damage, and peace reigned apparently. But soon a more danger ous enemy appeared. THE grasshopper YEARS Some time later swarms of grasshoppers came, something never yet seen by our settlers. They went from south to north, alighted here awaiting a favorable wind. When they left they had destroyed a good portion of the crops and what they had not eaten was liable to spoil. Such an attack was worse than an Indian attack as there was no defense possible against it. These numberless swarms, which when in motion high in the air looked like a kind of snow storm, wandered north and east, up to Minnesota and beyond the Mississippi HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 15 River. They troubled this country more or less for a number of years, but have during the last twenty years not put in an appearance. They came from the Rocky Mountains and probably emigrated from there when espec ially favorable circumstances caused an over production of their tribes. During these grasshopper times the farmers suffered con siderable losses. But their often-tried cour age did not fail them. Most of them could already stand a loss. WHEN THE UNION PACIFIC CAME Since 1862, when the first larger store was erected southeast of the present city by Henry A. Koenig and Fred Wiebe, which was followed in 1864 by the opening of Fred Hedde's store five miles further west, on his farm, and by Jim Jackson's Wood River store, the old custom of marking trips to Omaha for buying provisions ceased, and by and by reg ular trade was established right here. All these stores were kept right on the old emi grant road to catch the emigrant trade, no city as yet existing. But in 1864 the construction of the Union Pacific railroad commenced and when it reached our settlement in 1866 a small town was laid out by the railroad company, receiv ing the old name of Grand Island, and cover ing a considerable portion of the old aban doned town. Now the solitude was gone, and the old relations were more or less changed. GRAND ISLAND CITY A number of settlers moved into the new town, the stores went away from the former emigrant road. The farther the railroad ex tended the more the old travel disappeared on this road until it finally stopped entirely and the old profitable trade with the gold hunters was entirely gone. But the farms in the meantime were enlarged, the acres were broadened, and large crops at smaller prices replaced the old high prices of small crops. The city grew, but slowly only, until 1869 when the Union Pacific and the Central Pa cific railroads were finished. This great event started a large emigration into Nebraska from all parts of the United States, of which Grand Island and its neighborhood received its due share. Until then most all of the newcomers had settled in the Platte Valley, but from 1869 on they went north from Grand Island to and beyond Prairie Creek and Loup Fork and began to fill the valleys of the Loup. Grand Island was for a number of years the center of trade for this whole country and grew fast. It was then the shipping point for their pro duce, sending it to east and west, and supplied them with all the goods necessary for their settlements. Grand Island's trade reached out for more than a hundred miles. The trouble with the grasshoppers which had commenced in the 'sixties continued dur ing the first years after 1870, but then dis appeared fully. And city and country had a continual, healthy growth until 1892, when the wild wave of free trade struck and re duced the city in population, depressed busi ness, and ruined many firms totally. In addi tion to this misfortune there came, in 1894, that unfortunate year of drouth. All Nebraska, with few exceptions of favored localities, suffered from an unusual drouth, which deprived most of the farmers of our neighborhood of their crops. Most of our farmers were, however, in such good financial condition that they could stand it without material injury, and the business men of Grand Island felt the injury perhaps keener than the farming community. However, the followifig years of bountiful crops, especially the last two, made amends for the short comings of that bad year of 1894. RETURNING PROSPERITY Since that time the farmers had to build new additions to their cribs and store rooms, and the good prices have made them so inde pendent that large amounts of mortgages have been paid off, though great quantities of grain are still in the hands of the farmers. The city has also felt the effect of the good times which began after the fall election of 1896 and have made prosperity return. All business has re vived, vacant houses are inhabited again, the people have regained courage and have taken in hand the work of improving the business prospects and favoring the growth of the city. 16 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Grand Island is now again on the up grade and probably wiU make fast progress. THE REMAINING PIONEERS Of the original pioneers who came here over forty years ago not many yet remain in our city and county. Barnard and his friends lived here only a few years. The German pioneers had better staying qualities, but now stout young oak that sprung from a little acorn, bound to grow and live for ages. Nearly all of the men and women who came here in the beginning were poor in a financial point of view. But they were rich in courage, energy, perseverance, industry, honesty, and frugality. They acquired a competence and laid the foundation of a prosperous city and county. Semi-Centennial Celebration 1857 the Settlement of Hall County, l907 Eight Survivors op Originae Coeony Fifty Years After and then a number of them left for other parts of the country and a goodly number of them have died. At present there live, in the city of Grand Island, only Fred Hedde and Christian Menck, a retired farmer, and in the county of Hall there are still living, on their farms, Wm. Stolley, Wm. A. Hagge, Kai Ewoldt, Marx Stelk (who passed away be tween the writing and first publication of this sketch), Hy. Joehnck, Sr., and two ladies, Mrs. Joehnck, wife of Hy. Joehnck, Sr., and Mrs. Anna Thomssen, wife of John Thoms sen, Sr.^ In Ploward County, near Dannebrog, lives Joach. Doll. That is all. This historical sketch shows how from a small beginning our present fine and promis ing city of Grand Island has grown, like a AN EARLY HALL COUNTY BRIDAL COUPLE By Christian Menck When in the year of 1857, on the 4th of July, we located here, with thirty men, six women and one child, we had seventeen yoke of oxen (five teams) and one team of mules. The latter was purchased by the company which provisioned the colony for the purpose of transporting supplies for us from Omaha. Mr. Barnard was the engineer and chief of the company and Mr. Hedde the leader of the Germans in the colony. 1 The above paragraph the reader will note refers to 1907. In 1919 the only surviving members of the colony are Hy Joehnck, Sr., Wm. A. Hagge and Mrs. Anna Thomssen. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 17 After we were here a week or ten days we began to wonder why Mr. Barnard did not send the team back to Omaha for the supplies. Mr. Hedde, therefore, and the writer, went to Mr. Barnard to take up the matter with him. Mr. Barnard was of the opinion that the mule team was not good enough and had appointed the man who had come out with him to bring a load of provisions out. When Mr. Hedde inquired what security he had for the man — that he would return — Mr. Barnard was of the opinion that he was a gentleman. Mr. Hedde was not satisfied, however, with this and thereupon four men were sent with an ox team to get provisions from Omaha. When our four men arrived at Omaha they ran across the man who had promised to bring out the provisions, walking on the streets. He excused himself by saying that his horse was taken sick. In the settlement all provisions were brought out of the wagons, in the meantime, in order to make inventory of what there was left and to gauge the use of them accordingly. It was estimated that at least fourteen days would be required before our team could re turn. Rations were reduced to one-third of one pound of flour per day for each person or we would have suffered from hunger the first four weeks of our settlement here. Mr. Hedde, thus, from the beginning, came to be the adviser of the settlement. We thereupon began to cultivate the land and to prepare for permanent occupancy by building houses on the four adjacent comers of forty-acre tracts about a mile southeast of the business center of the present city of Grand Island, the purpose being to be close together, in the event the Indians should be come troublesome. When, in September, our team was again sent to Omaha to secure provisions for the winter and when the party goinjg with it arrived in Omaha there were no provisions for us, and the money which the company had deposited in the Omaha bank for the use of the colony had been used by Mr. Barnard, our captain, and his four colleagues. Mr. Hedde, who was one of our party, had in tended, after loading the wagon with pro visions, to go to Davenport to spend the winter there. But when we found that there were no provisions for us Mr. Hedde hurried to Davenport for the purpose of reporting the condition of the settlers. He did so and urged that the company as speedily as possible send some money to Omaha or he would have to return immediately in order to secure other means to prevent hunger and suffering. Finally the company sent a man with money to Omaha with instructions to buy provisions, but in the meantime another month passed by. W^hen finally the wagon had been loaded and when it reached Columbus the river was full of floating ice, and the ferry boat had, furthermore, been washed down the river. The team was driven to Genoa, where there was also a ford, but here the same trouble presented itself. In the meantime the settlers fortunately sent another team east, as far as Columbus. A small boat, which had been made here, was taken along in order to get provisions across the river — for the condi tions of the river could be gauged here — and, the other team returning from Genoa, pro visions were finally brought across. When the provisions finally arrived it was the 24th day of January, 1858, five months after the start had been made. During this winter there were many snow storms and the Indians in the winter began the practice of hanging around the settlement. They wanted our provisions, saying that we were on their land and owed it to them. We had, however, no serious trouble. It was about the beginning of July that Mr. Hedde returned from Davenport and, later, Mr. Stolley, Henry Vieregg, Augiist Schern ekau, now of Astoria, Oregon, John Hann, Hoeppner, Bohnsack, and somewhat later John Vieregg and Fred Moeller. Mr. Stolley retumed after two weeks to Daven port. In the early part of September Mr. Schernekau and the writer went to Omaha to bring Mrs. Hedde and my wife-to-be to the settlement. Mr. Hedde was sick and could not undertake the trip. Mrs. Hedde took the stage to Grand Island. Mrs. Menck and I 18 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA were united in wedlock at Omaha and for our wedding trip went to Grand Island — per ox team. But we always look back to the happy days, notwithstanding their hardships, with pleasure. About the middle of January, 1859, we had the first fire. It was a big fire in those days and we refer to it still as a big fire because it destroyed several houses — all but one of the immediate settlement. Several others, in the course of construction, were also destroyed. My own household was almost entirely des troyed. We saved only enough bedding for one bed. We had provisions for the entire winter and clothing for several years. It all went. The fire was incendiary in origin. The vagabond who set the prairie afire above us did it, as he boasted, because the "damned Dutch had no right to establish a settlement here." The incendiary's name was Tottel, or Tailes. Our captain, Mr. Barnard, went to Fort Kearny to see if he could not do some thing for those who had been burned out but the colonel of the fort said he could only give fourteen days' rations. And we had to get along as best we could with this help. In the summer of 1859, 1,500 Sioux passed through our settlement, but they were friendly to us. As a matter of course we had quite a large number of Indians about us every winter, in those early years. In 1862 Mr. Schernekau enlisted in the war of the rebellion, so that even this frontier settlement, doing the battle of reclamation of the wilderness, furnished a member of the Nebraska volunteers. He was a member of the first Nebraska regiment and was wounded in battle. In 1864, when the Indian trouble took place on the south side and above Fort Kearny, we built a fort, in order to be more safe. It was for many years used as the O. K. store. Our American colonists and neighbors, be lieving Indian troubles to be sure, left for the east. Later a militia company sent us a cannon — the one which is now in the charge of the county authorities and which, for sev eral years, stood in the old court house square. In 1866, the Union Pacific was built to Grand Island and in the same year the first houses in what is now Grand Island city were built. We lost one of our oldest settlers through accident in this year. His name was John Hamann. He was run down by a loco motive — in just what way the engineer did not himself remember, but it was in connec tion with a fractious team of horses. In the winter of 1866 to 1867 we had at least twenty snowstorms, each of them as a rule lasting three days. In 1868 I sustained the loss of my horses, through theft. I never learned anything of their whereabouts. On July 14, 1869, our little house was struck by lightning and brought with it our first great sorrow. I was compelled to carry our little child, a boy of six years, lifeless from the home and my wife was rendered un conscious, but, fortunately, soon recovered. For thirty-three years we remained on the original farm and still retain "the old home stead" though, of course, it was not a home stead under what is commonly known now as the homestead law but the taking up by pur chase of government land. For the past seventeen years we have taken life more easily and have lived in the city, watching, with ap preciation, its gradual development, and im provement. THE DREAM OF FUTURE NATIONAL CAPITAL DETAILS OP ORGANIZATION — EARLY REMINISCENSES By William Stolley Written in 1907 It was in the winter of 1856 and '57 when A. H. Barrows of the banking house of Chubb Bros, and Barrows of Davenport, Iowa, a branch house of the banking house of Chubb Brothers and Barrows of Washington, D. C, called on me, to participate in the location of a settlement somewhere in the central portion of Nebraska in the Platte Valley. Mr. Barrows alleged that influential and wealthy parties, among them members of Con- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 19 gress would back and support this enterprise, with the expectation that sooper or later a railroad must be built up the valley of the Platte River, crossing the continent, and that eventually the national capital would have to be moved from Washington City to a centrally located point. The object of these speculators was to locate a town as near the central part of the continent as possible, there to secure a large tract of land, and attempt, in the course of time, to have the national capital located in that place. They contemplated sending a surveyor and four or five persons to locate and start a town in the then unsurveyed country, as the govern ment survey did not extend in those early days west of Columbus on the Loup River, and the country on the north side of the Platte River had but recently been ceded by the Pawnee Indians to the government of the United States, while the Sioux Indians claimed to be the owners of all of the land on the south side of the Platte River, including all the lands along the Blue and Republican rivers. While I declined to become a partner in the town company, I agreed to participate personally in making the settlement, and con sidering the dangers the first settlers would be subjected to on account of the hostile Indians I proposed that in addition to those four or five persons a body of able-bodied young men, numbering from twenty to thirty, be engaged by the company to afford suffi cient strength for self-protection in case of Indian attacks. The proposition was accepted by the com pany. The town company, as far as known, consisted of A. H. Barrows, W. H. F. Gurley, and B. B. Woodward. By a territorial law, then considered con stitutional by the people but which proved to be unconstitutional afterwards, every settler was entitled to claim and hold three hundred and twenty acres of land. terms of EXPEDITION The conditions under which the pioneer settlers of Grand Island settlement were en gaged by the town company was, that parties were to claim and hold three hundred and twenty acres of land each, wherever the com pany surveyor would direct them, that the town company was to furnish all the funds for the final purchase of the land, and that in consideration of this the settlers should deed half of the land claimed by them to the town company, while the other half of the land claimed by them, that is, one hundred and sixty acres each, should remain the prop erty of the settlers, and besides this the settlers were to get ten town lots each, in the town to be located. Parties who had not the means were to be provided with provisions for the first twelve - months by the town company, but were to reimburse the town company as soon as circumstances would permit. These are the main features of the original arrangement as between the town company and the pioneer settlers of Hall County. The following persons participated in the enter prise as actual settlers: personnel of colony R. C. Barnard, surveyor from Washington City, D. C. Lorens Barnard, his brother, Washington City. Joshua Smith, Davenport, Iowa. David P. Morgan, Davenport, Iowa. William Seymour, Davenport, Iowa. The above were the five Americans. William Stolley, of Holstein, Germany. Fred Hedde, of Holstein, Germany. William A. Hagge, of Holstein, Germany. Henry Joehnck and wife of Holstein, Germany. Christian Menck, of Holstein, Germany. Kai Ewoldt, of Holstein, Germany. Anna Stehr, of Holstein, Germany. Henry Schoel and wife, of Holstein, Ger many. Fred Doll and wife, of Holstein, Germany. George Shultz, of Holstein, Germany. Fred Vatje, of Holstein, Germany. Johann Hamann, of Holstein, Germany. Detlef Sass, of Holstein, Germany. Peter Stuhr, of Holstein, Germany. Hans Wrage, of Holstein, Germany. Nicholas Thede, of Holstein, Germany. Cornelius Thede, of Holstein, Germany. Henry Schaaf, of Prussia. 20 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Matthias Gries, of Prussia. Fred Landmann, of Mecklenberg, Germany. Herman Vasold, of Thuringen, Germany. Theo. Nagel, of Waldeck, Germany. Christian Andersen, wife and child 4 years old, of Schleswig, Germany. Thus the parties participating in the first settlement of Hall County, when the entire country west from Columbus on the Loup River to California was uninhabited by whites, the garrisons at forts and the Mormons ex cepted, consisted of: five Americans, twenty- five German men, five married women, one single woman, and one child four years old — thirty-seven persons in all. THE ADVANCE PARTY The surveyors' party, consisting of R. C. Barnard and the other four Americans, Fred Hedde, Christian Henck, with a company mule team left Davenport, Iowa, a few days ahead of the main party. Wm. A. Hagge and Theo. Nagel were detailed to proceed by the river to St. Louis, to purchase a supply of provisions, firearms, ammunition, blacksmith tools, etc., and have it shipped up the Mis souri River to Omaha in time for the arrival of the main party there. On the 28th day of May, 1857, five heavily loaded wagons drawn by sixteen yokes of work oxen, the remainder of the colonists named, left Davenport in my charge. After a pleasant trip across the state of Iowa our train arrived in Omaha on the 18th day of June, 1857. From here the expedition proceeded west ward on June 19th, headed by this surveyor, Barnard, since I was compelled on account of business to return to Davenport. Henry Egge, who kept the daily account says, in the diary: "Our train passed Fre mont June 23d, which town at that time had ten log houses; arrived at Columbus, which had eighteen log houses, on June 26th ; crossed the Loup River June 27th at Genoa about twenty miles up stream from Columbus, and on July 2nd Wood River was reached, over the wild prairies of the valley, where the pioneer train of Hall County made the first wagon trail." DECIDE TO BUILD A meeting of all settlers was then called and it was resolved that four log houses would be first built, each 14x23 feet and the inside divided by two partitions, thus making two rooms of approximately 14x12 feet each and an entrance large enough to answer the pur pose of a door. At the same time the breaking up of the prairie had to be attended to without delay, as the season was already far advanced. Only about SO acres were broken the first season, all told. On July 12th the work began in earnest; some chopped logs, others hauled them to the place of building, stiU others prepared wood for the burning of charcoal to start the black smith shop. In the meantime a train was dis patched to Omaha on the 23rd of July to get a new supply of provisions. On Saturday, August 15th, some of the new settlers could already move into their new houses, and on 27th of August all four houses were occupied. These houses were built on the south half of the northwest quarter of section 14, town 11, range 9, now part of the farm owned by Chris. Menck, one of the pioneer settlers. In the meantime another town had been located about seven miles west of ours, which was called Mendotte, by David Crocker, Wm. Potts, and Wm. Painter, but this town was abandoned soon after and the townsite was occupied by David Croclcer who afterwards sold his claim to Fred Zoaas and then moved to Santa Clara County, California. On Monday, September 21, 1857, four teams were dispatched again to Omaha after provisions and clothing, which were shipped, the provisions from St. Louis and the clothing from Davenport, Iowa. Fred Hedde retumed to Davenport, Iowa, and brought a long hst of clothing of which the settlers were urgently in need. The town company was not obliged to furnish the clothing needed, since their contract only called for provisions. I took the matter in hand and went to Mr. Barrows, who was sick at his house. I presented the matter in a forcible way and told Mr. Barrows that I certainly should advise those in need HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 21 of clothing to abandon the settlement unless the clothing and bedding needed was fur nished. Mr. Barrows was a very kind hearted man. After he had listened to my pleading he said: "Stolley, hand me that check book." He gave me a check for $500 and remarked : "There is the money, the boys need the clothing, the Germans are honest people." And our pioneer settlers were en abled to remain in the settlement. SECOND COLONY On July 5, 1858, more new settlers arrived who participated in the year 1857, because they had a much harder and more tedious journey and they had none of the advantages the first company had in the Town Company furnishing them provisions in the first year. The first Pawnee Indians visited our settle ment in November, 1858, but on the 27th day of August, 1859, about 1,500 of them passed through the settlement committing some dep redations by stealing green corn and taking and digging potatoes, but they were otherwise friendly.^ On January 8, 1858, the house of Wm. Stier ''^iii^'r^^'X^ff^'''f^'f&i, * ¦ Log Cabin of One of the First Colony to Settle in Grand Island from Davenport, Iowa, with a train of ten teams, bringing in addition about 20 persons, 20 yoke of oxen, besides milch cows and a number of young stock; and thus matters began to look brighter in our young settle ment. The pioneer settlers in the year 1857 had a soft snap crossing the state of Iowa com pared with those following them the next year. I had no trouble keeping our train together, and it was a harmonious lot when we reached Grand Island on the 5th day of July, 1858. I will say this much for those who joined our settlers in our Grand Island settlement in the year of 1858, that everyone of them is entitled to as much credit as any one of those and Henry Schoel was consumed by fire and hardly anything saved. A meeting of all settlers was called and the sufferers were cared for as best could be done. A year later, Tuesday, January 18, 1859, a great calamity befell our young settlement. Three men from Florence, near Omaha, on their way home from the newly discovered gold fields in Colo rado, recklessly set fire to the cinder dry prairie, one of them remarking, "I am going to burn the God d — d Dutch settlement," and they came very near destroying every house so far built. 1 Mr. Menck says 1500 Sioux and Mr. Stolley says ISOO Pawnee came through in summer of 18S9. Whether they spoke of the same Indians or there were two the editors have not ascertained. 22 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA The principal sufferers were Wm. Christian Menck, Mart Stelk, Frederick Aatje, Hans Wrage, Matthias Gries, Rudolph Matthiesen, and myself. The good people of Omaha, so it is said, made up a purse for the sufferers, but the party who was to deliver this help to us kept it for himself, and has never been heard of since. Verily these were trying times for the pioneer settlers of Hall County. At the time this took place I was back in Davenport trying to wind up my affairs there so as to move my family out to Nebraska. I lost all and everything I had in the world but the suit of clothes I had on my back. In 1859 I took my family, consisting of wife, two year old boy, and a newly born daughter, out to Grand Island to stay. The settlers planted their newly broken land to corn and the crops amounted to over two thousand bushels. MARKET FOR CORN When I arrived in the settlement to stay for good, I advised that we try to sell and de liver our corn to the government for the troops stationed at Ft. Kearny. Colonel May, then in command at Ft. Kearny, proved to be a strictly honest man and also a warm friend to us settlers. I had no trouble at all to interest him, and through his instrumentality I made a contract for the delivery of 2,000 bushels of corn, more or less, at $2. per bushel, 1,200 bushels of it to be delivered as shelled com at Ft. Kearny and 800 bushels to be delivered at Braks camp in the ear, where the government cattle herd was kept. This co-called "Braks camp" was about twelve miles down the river, hence only about 28 miles distant from our settlement, and on Grand Island itself ; thus not requiring the hauling of corn across the several chan nels of the Platte River. Heretofore the corn had been freighted from Fort Leavenworth at an expense of $3.50 to $4.00 per bushel, and Colonel May had many difficulties to overcome before he finally succeeded in obtaining a permit from the war department to contract for the sett lers' corn at almost half the price the govern ment had to pay before. Contract rings existed even at that time, who enriched themselves by fraudulent con tract. Many of our settlers found remunerative employment at Ft. Kearny at times when their presence at home was not needed. Be sides this trade with the emigrants to the newly discovered gold mines in Colorado, to California and the new territories of New Mexico, Montana, and Oregon, became quite profitable to the settlers. For a number of years we settlers had an excellent market for our produce at home as well as the 40-mile distant Ft. Kearny. A good sized cabbage sold frequently for fifty cents and a fair-sized watermelon at $1.00. Gold and silver coin was the only medium in trade. Large trains of prairie schooners passed almost every day up and down the Platte Valley, and frequently lame cattle and young calves could be bought at extremely low prices by the settlers, which in a few weeks were all right again. Thus the Grand Island settle ment prospered and soon became one of the best in the state notwithstanding the very severe drawbacks we had been subjected to. DAVENPORT COMPANY PAILS While the actual and bonafide settlers were doing well in our settlement, it was the very reverse with those who expected to make a paying speculation out of it. It soon became apparent that it would be quite awhile yet be fore the seat of the government of the United States would be removed to the original town of Grand Island, containing an area 1,440 acres, the southwest corner of which is to be found on my old pioneer fann. The terrible financial crisis of 1857 swept away many a banking house tliroughout the country, and among them was the banking house of Chubb Bros, and Barrows, of Wash ington City, Boston, and Davenport. Difficul ties arose between the Town Company and the settlers, and the result was that the Town Company soon gave up the idea of carrying- on the speculation farther after they had in vested $6,000.00, all lost to them, and A. H. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 23 Barrows, personally; $500.00 paid out for the purchase of clothing. A. H. Barrows, so I have been advised, died in Philadelphia in a poor house. W. H. Gurley died soon after him in Davenport, Iowa, and also B. B. Woodward died in Davenport many years ago. R. C. Barnard, Lorens Barnard, Joshua Smith, David P. Mor gan, and Wm. Seymour, left the settlement soon and I cannot say what has become of them. Of all the German settlers who par ticipated in the settlement in the year 1857 the following parties are still alive: Fred Hedde, Wm. A. Hagge, Henry Joehnck and wife. Christian Menck, .Kai Ewoldt, Wm. Stehr, Fritz Landmann, Herman Vasold, the four year old child. Line Andresen and my self. Hence, twelve of the original thirty still reside in or near Grand Island, except Wm. Stehr who lives in Iowa, Herman Vasold who lives in Saginaw, Michigan,^ and Line Andresen, who is married and lives near Omaha, Nebraska. Of the pioneer settlers now dead Fred Vatje and Fred Doll committed suicide, Vatje tak ing strychnine and Doll shooting himself. J. Hamann was thrown by the upsetting of his wagon on the tracks of the Union Pacific railroad and the cars passed over him, kill ing him. All the rest have died a natural death. The first child bom in Hall County was Nellie Stehr, daughter of William Stehr, on March 3, 1858. In the spring of 1858 a lot of Mormons settled on Wood River and opened up quite a number of farms, and the first newspaper ever published in this county was published by them. It was printed weekly and named The Banner and was edited by Joseph E. Johnson. SOME OF THE FIRST THINGS In the spring of 1863 the Mormon colony removed to Salt Lake City and with it The Banner, but this paper was republished in that city by the same Mr. Johnson under the name of The Mountain Eagle. Hall County was organized in the year 1859 and the first officers elected were: Probate judge, Fred Hedde; county clerk, Theo. Nagel; county commissioners, Hans Wrage, James Vieregg, Henry Egge; justices of the peace, William Stolley and R. C. Barnard; sheriff, Herman Vasold; treasurer. Christian Andresen; assessor, Frederick Doll; consta bles, Christian Menck and Matthias Gries. But when a case was brought to trial be fore William Stolley, justice of the peace, viz : Lorens Barnard, killing, by shooting, one of the horses of John Vieregg, the case was ap pealed and carried into the Omaha courts, and there it was decided that our county organi zation was illegal, and the consequence was that we got along without law and courts much better and at less expense for years. Later on the legislature of the state legalized the first named officers. Great times we had in those early days. The first postoffice was established in the spring of 1859 and R. C. Barnard was ap pointed the first postmaster of the county. The first weekly stage was put on the road from Omaha to Fort Kearney on October 1, 1858. It changed to a tri-weekly in 1860, and became a daily mail in 1864. HUNTING IN 1860 In the month of October, 1860, Christian Andresen, two others and myself, ventured with one ox team and one horse team for the first time to cross over into the Loup River country on a hunting expedition. After ' marketing our produce at Ft. Kearny we recrossed the Platte River and went up Wood River for a distance of about 12 miles. Here we stopped for the night. We noticed that a prairie fire was raging over towards the Loup River, and after going into camp, and after the sun had disappeared, I noticed some thing passing over a ridge towards the Loup on the other side of Wood River. We con cluded it must be a bunch of buffaloes coming from the Loup. Three of our party took our rifles and crossed Wood River to meet our meat as we supposed. We found a well beaten buffalo path which only strengthened our sup- 1 Herman Vasold, first sheriff of Hall county, died in Michigan in August, 1919. 24 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA position that buffaloes were coming that way. So we took our position under a steep hill over which the buffalo path was leading. Meanwhile it had become quite dark and we had squatted down on our knees, our rifles all ready for action, expecting every moment for the buffaloes to appear over the abrapt hill be fore us, and ready to send our rifle balls crashing through their bodies — and they came ! I could see plainly their silhouettes appearing as they came into sight not over thirty yards away over the top of the hill, but I saw that they had the sharp figures of horse ears and nothing similar to the heads and forms of buffaloes, so I whispered to my friends, "For God's sake don't shoot — they are horses — and no buffaloes." As soon as the approaching game reached the top of the hill I called a loud halt, and said, "Who are you ?" at the same time ready to pull the trig ger of my rifle. Instantaneous came an an swer in plain English "Good friends." That ended our buffalo hunt that evening. They proved to be two trappers who had come from Des Moines, Iowa, to hunt and trap in the coming winter up and down the Loup Rivdr. They had not been careful with their camp fire and while they were out setting their traps for beaver and otter the rising wind set the prairie grass on fire, and nearly every thing they had was destroyed, provisions to last them three months, ammunition and all, even their guns but one. Their wagon was burned, and only the rear part of it was left on which they were riding now to reach the nearest settlement. Of course, we helped them all we could. I bought all their lead and gave them something they could eat, and we all went to sleep, glad that we had been spared to kill people who were in distress, and they were glad they got hot coffee and everything needed for them to get on the way home. Well, that fire their carelessness had started crossed Wood River and burned 400 tons of hay in stacks, on the north side of the Platte River, opposite Ft. Kearny, belonging to the government. The next day we crossed over to the Loup River and had a week of hunt ing. We killed five buffaloes and loaded our teams with choice meat. I also got quite a number of grey wolf pelts and beaver skins, and what was more we captured a fine Indian pony, which we found running wild in the Loup bottom. The pony came visiting our horses and one of our party who was pretty good at throwing the lasso, managed to thr6w the noose over the head of the animal. We valued the pony at $80 and Chris Andresen bought the pony, paying each of us $20 in cash. INTERRUPTION OF A PRAYER On our way home on a very cold and stormy day, we reached the dug-out of Henry Peck, a Mormon, who was living with his wife and a lot of children, all boys, in a cave 12x20 feet, which was located about where the town of Wood River is now. Henry Peck was the first storekeeper in Hall County, and was very anxious to sell us his goods, which he had in the rear of his cave^ We asked to stay all night with these people, and our request was cheerfully granted, and Mrs. Peck made her self busy at once to make supper for us. Meanwhile Henry showed us his grand stock of merchandise, consisting principally of caU- co, sheeting, two pairs of cheap blankets, pins, needles, buttons, and other trinkets. When supper was ready we were invited to sit up to the table, which we did. The cave or dugout was about seven or eight feet deep from the level of the ground. A long heavy cottonwood log had been placed lengthwise over the cave, and willow brush and slough grass covered with a layer of mother earth constituted the roof, which rose not much above the level of the prairie. When we were about to help ourselves to the supper, our host, the cave dweller, gave us to understand that he was to offer prayer first. So with forks and knives in hand we obeyed orders. Henry Peck proved himself then and there to be very devout, and we were enduring an ex ceedingly long winded "prayer." There seemed to be no end to it, and at last I could hardly hold my eyes open owing to having been out all day in a cold wind, and now the sultry, impure air in that dug-out, without any venti lation, had its effect on me. Vehemently the Mormon elder (for that HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 25 rank our friend Peck held in the church) once more thanked his heavenly Father for the blessings of the day, when a crash of the roof above us startled us all. Presently dirt began to fall right on our table, and much quicker than I can describe what happened, piles of dirt came down, and then four legs of an ox were dangling right over our table. And while the poor ox let go an unearthly sound, plainly expressing his fright, our pray ing Mormon friend lifted his fist toward that ox in distress, and stamping one foot, said "God damn you" where his meek "Amen" should have been. On the next day we arrived home after a pleasant outing of three weeks. GARRISONS CALLED AWAY During the first years we had no trouble with the Indians, the Pawnees, the Sioux, Cheyennes, Kiowas, or Arapahoes, altho the Pawnees were continually at war with the last named tribes, and raids by either party were often made, when they would pass our settlement with their booty and trophies, the latter in shape of bloody scalps tied to long poles, and singing as they passed their monot onous song of victory or defeat as the case might be. So little we feared them, until trouble be gan, that we did not stop the work of hauling hay in the month of September, 1869, when a running fight took place between the Pawnees and the Sioux on the island opposite our farm, although we heard distinctly every shot fired, and saw the Pawnees retreating down the river pursued by the Sioux. But this feeling of safety did not last long. When the re bellion broke out and the first shot had been fired at Ft. Sumter, all troops stationed on the frontiers were ordered east. Nearly all the officers then at Ft. Kearny were southern ers, and hostile to the northern cause. A Lieutenant Tyler, left with a small com mand at Ft. Kearny, immediately after the departure of the greater portion of the gar rison Spiked all the cannon there, twenty in number, claiming that he feared a surprise from Missouri rebels, and then resigned his commission as officer and departed to join the confederates. I was well acquainted with a number of the officers at Ft. Kearny and had warm friends among them, and they urgently advised us before they left that we had to abandon our settlement as the Indians surely would clear the territory of Nebraska from all white men as soon as the troops were withdrawn. While heretofore all Indian depredations had been committed up the valley of the Platte River toward the Rocky Mountains we were now to have our share of. it in this county. FIRST MASSACRE BY INDIANS Nearer and nearer to us serious depreda-. tions were committed by the savages. It was on February 5, 1862, that we were startled by the first massacre of whites by Indians in Hall County. Joseph P. Smith and Andresen, his son-in-law, farmers on Wood River, living about twelve miles west of Grand Island, went out after some building logs to the north channel of the Platte River, about two miles south of their claims (farms) accompanied by two of his sons, William, 11 years of age, and Charles, 9, and his grandchild Alex And resen, about 14 years of age. Andresen, who took a load of logs home in the morning, re turned to the woods where he had left his father-in-law Smith and the above named boys and two teams, the property of Smith, about 9 a. m., and found all of them brutally massacred by a band of Sioux Indians. The old man Smith had several arrows in his body and was lying on the ice with his face down, holding each of his boys by one hand. His son William was still alive when found. He was shot with an arrow and one of his cheeks was cut open from the mouth up to the ear. He soon bled to death after being carried home. The other son, Charles, had his skull mashed in and his neck broken, probably with a war club. Young Andresen was found some distance off in the woods with his skull broken. The four horses were taken away by the Indians. Joseph P. Smith immigrated to Hall County in the fall of 1861 and came from Lake 26 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA County, Indiana. Besides farming, Mr. Smith had opened a small store on his farm. I he settlers throughout the county, upon being advised of the massacre, were in the saddle at once and went in search of the mur derers, and Jesse Eldridge with seven other settlers on Wood River captured 17 Sioux, all armed with bows and arrows. These Indians, were captured about 18 miles east of Ft. Kearny in the dry channel of the Platte where they hovered under the bank of the channel, evidently trying to hide from pur suers. The military authorities at Ft. Kearny with Captain Johnson in command requested that the Indians captured by the settlers be turned over to them, which was acceded to, and after some time had elapsed the Indians were re leased. Captain Johnson remarking, that he would rather see twenty farmers killed than one Indian, for fear that Ft. Kearny would be attacked by the Sioux. However, it was proven that the parties captured were not the guilty ones in the massacre of the Smith family. Two girls, nieces of Mr. Campbell, re spectively 17 and 19 years of age, and also two little twin boys four years old were carried away captives by the brutes. At the same time a German by the name of Henry Dose was killed near the Campbell place. The Indians robbed the house of all they wished to, killed some stock and got away without being overtaken. Months afterwards the government bought the two little girls and two little boys from the Indians, paying them a ransom of $4,000 in money, so it was reported at that time, and in addition had to release a Sioux squaw and papoose captured by Ed Arnold's company of Pawnee scouts at Elm Creek the same season. PANICKY FEELING RESULTS In August and September, 1864, all sorts of rumors about hostile Indians were afloat. It was reported that they were coming in a great force to take Ft. Kearny and devastate all settlements below. Many feared that even Omaha was not safe. The very soldiers sta tioned at Ft. Kearny surely were not able to protect themselves, let alone settlers and settle ments. So it was that soon the wildest panic prevailed. From far up the Platte Valley to Columbus the settlers, with very few exceptions, left their homes, and even east of Columbus many people were fleeing for dear life. It was re ported that even the drygoods clerks in Omaha handled the muskets, and were out on picket, and it was said that our governor sent his family across the Big Muddy into Council Bluffs on account of the imminent danger of an Indian attack on the good city of Omaha. At Grand Island for a distance of twenty miles the main traveled road along the Platte River was covered with fugitives on the 13th and 14th of August, 1864. In vain I urged a number of them to stop and take matters coolly. Heavy loaded wagons with household goods and provisions, bedding, etc., droves of cattle and horses, cats and dogs, people on foot and horseback hurried along in great con fusion. The rising dust clouds everywhere along the road gave evidence of the fearful paiiic that prevailed. It was truly a most pitiable sight to see those people leaving their homes, their ripening com and vegetable crops, we may say "their all." But the settlement of Grand Island was not deserted. The people of our settlement re solved to give Mr. Indian a warm reception should he venture to attack us. Two years previous, in the year 1862, I began to build my own fort. 'This fortified log house I built about 150 yards south of my farm house. It was 24x24 in size, pro vided with 25 port holes, had a well inside; all that was needed to complete this place of comparative safety, was to put on a proper roof. When the above mentioned panic set in I had my pick and call among the settlers to join me, and thus I soon had my fort well manned by those who were likely to fill their places in case of an Indian attack. We were 35 persons in our fort, women and children included, and we soon had the fort completely finished, by adding an underground stable for HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 27 horses 88 feet long in connection with the fortified log house. "fort independence" This was the first nucleus of defense orga nized to repel an Indian attack in the Grand Island settlement. A small United States flag had been purposely made for us by a lady friend, Henrietta Axalsen, in Davenport, Iowa, which I tied to a pole and raised it over our fort — which we called "Fort Inde pendence." This was the first star spangled banner that ever floated the air in Hall County. We have kept the little old flag in remem brance of the times gone by, never to return. We had sufficient firearms to fire 72 shots without reloading, about 50 pounds of powder, and other suitable ammunition in proper pro portion, besides an ample supply of provision. A proper organization was effected and cartridges to fit each and every gun were pre pared in quantity. So our little party of men, women, and children were cared for com paratively well. But the fortification here described afforded protection to only a small portion of the then already numerous settlers ; therefore, it was resolved to fortify the O. K. store kept by Henry A. Koenig and Fred Wiebe, about a mile and a quarter due south of us. William Thavenet engineered the work and later on was also employed by the officers at Ft. Kearny to engineer similar work there. Dr. A. Thorspecken was chosen as captain. The combined force at this place soon erected a formidable breastworks of sod which sur rounded the buildings. The breastworks were provided on each corner with a tower built from green cottonwood logs, and these towers projected out far enough to shoot any party who would venture to crawl under the cover of the breastworks from outside. Sixty-eight men and about 100 women and children gath ered into this fortification as a place of refuge and comparative safety. THE SETTLEMENT PROTECTED Requisitons were made for arms from the state but were responded to very slowly, and only 17 old muskets with ammunition were furnished, for which the freight had to be paid by the settlers. Every day squads of men on horseback were sent out in all directions to reconnoiter the country, and at different places piles of straw and bmsh were • pre pared to serve as alarm fires in case of an approach of ' hostile Indians, to warn those absent. On August 22, 1864, Major General Curtis arrived with the first regular volunteeer Soldiers' Monument, Grand Island Showing the cannon used in 1864 veteran cavalry, carrying with them one six- pounder cannon. The general's inspection of both fortifications resulted in his highly prais ing the settlers of our settlement for the efficient measures adopted by them for their self-preservation. He left the cannon with, us, remarking that it ought to be left with us for all time to come, as an acknowledgment of the pluck exhibited while all the rest of, the settlers in the upper Platte Valley for hundreds of miles had abandoned the country. General Curtis considering the Grand Island settlement safe pushed on the same day of his arrival to reinforce the garrison at Ft. Kearny. 28 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Here I will remark that after various and repeated trials in later years I was at last successful in having the cannon left with us, turned over to me by the proper authorities in Washington, D. C, and that I in turn have turned it over to the county authorities of Hall County, which fact is a matter of record. And thus the suggestion of General Curtis has been complied with. It is but proper and due to Squire Lamb, as he used to be called, that he be remembered and his name mentioned when the Indian troubles of those days are referred to. Mr. Lamb was the frontier stagedriver of the Platte Valley. He and his son Henry and three other men who kept the overland stage station on Wood River about eight miles west of Grand Island did not abandon their station but kept a sharp lookout for the danger signals to join the fortified forces of our settlement in case of need. SOME PAWNEES TREACHEROUS Although we were on good terms with the Pawnee Indians, they camping near the settle ment and trading with us, all of them could not be trusted, as the incident which I shall relate will bear witness. I have found good and noble individuals among them and mean and treacherous devils. In this respect they tally about even with us whites. In the month of October, 1866, John Vieregg and I had trapped and hunted for about four weeks on the Loup between what is now called McKines Bluff and the junction of the river with the north fork near St. Paul. It was principally beaver we were after, and occasionally we picked up other game, mostly antelope. Toward the end of the month we moved down the river to a point some where opposite where Dannebrog is now located on Oak Creek, where we went into camp early toward evening. While fixing the camp and preparing our supper two Indians joined us and we gave them their supper, coffee and pancakes, or flapjacks, as we used ta call them. These two Indians told me that they were Scidies, meaning wolf, a branch tribe of the Pawnees, and that they were out on a scouting expedition to locate hostile Sioux and their allies, should they infest the Loup country. These Indians seemed to be very friendly and invited us to cross the Loup and told us that there were lots of deer and elk (Baa) on Oak Creek. That this statement was true I knew, because I had observed coming down the river a large bunch of elks numbering about eighty, and I was anxious to get a nice fat elk for winter meat before we started for home, which we contemplated doing very soon. But my part ner, John Vieregg, did not favor the scheme, he did not want to cross the river and the ox team we had was his, hence I was depending on his good will. Up to that time I had killed in all seven antelope, which had been taken home by Charles Petersen, who had been with us until recently. The Indians told us that they had some furs they would trade us, and that they would call on us the next day at 9 o'clock, that is, when the sun would have risen to a certain height on the horizon. I being anxious to get the "elk" went with the Indians to see them across the river so as to ascertain the feasibility of crossing with our team on account of the quicksand and water condition of the river. In watching the Indians crossing the stream diagonally I noticed that the water was hardly knee deep and their walking was steady, hence the quicksand not dangerous. When in the middle of the river, one of them stopped for a moment, and cried out : "kaki-heap a water kaki," meaning to say to me there was no deep water and that our crossing the stream would be done with safety. When I returned to our camp I was so much encouraged that I could see, in my imagination, a big fine elk laying stretched out in our wagon when going home. The next thing in order was the setting of our traps. While John Vieregg went on the river setting his traps, I went down the river toward the junction of the Loup. It was nearly pitch dark when John and I got back into camp, and I was ready to preach quite a sermon to John to induce him to cross the river after that "elk." Before I proceed to relate what happened, I must describe our camp somewhat HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 29 We camped on one of those ravines and sand ridges which often stretch from one bed of the river to the next, and which are often deep enough, if the winds do not blow them away to somewhere else, to give temporary protection. DISCOVER ENEMY IN TIME In one of these ravines, or rather on the north side of one of them, our camping place was located. With a spade I had dug out in the side of the abrapt ravine a seat to sit on. Thus my back was protected with solid ground. Right in front of me was our camp- fire — and a fine one we had that evening! John Vieregg was sitting on a turned-up bucket, on the left of the camp fire. Toward the river stood our wagon and trapping trophies, and on the outside of the wagon near our campfire leaned our rifles and shot guns handy for us to get and ready loaded for immediate use. It was a pitch dark night, no wind was stirring, and right behind our wagon in the lower part of the ravine and stretching toward the Loup River was slough grass almost as long as a short grown person. Such were the conditons when John and I were sitting near our blazing campfire, and I was at it in the most eloquent way at my command to con vince John of the easy task of crossing that infernal river so as to get that "elk" I had in my head. This was about 10 o'clock p. m. when, while I paused talking to John for a moment, my attention was attracted by a very slight noise, which caused me to look in the direction it seemed to be; and I noticed at once by the glare of our blazing campfire the moving and the bending of the tall grass in two places close together, not more than twenty yards from our wagon. Without say ing a word I jumped past the campfire to the wagon, grabbed a long range double barrel shotgun loaded with goose shot 00, and in the twinkle of an eye had that gun to my shoulder aiming to send the shot so as to hit the animal that most certainly crawled in the slough grass, when up jumped our good friends, the two Pawnees. One of them was holding a short shot gun in his uplifted left hand and the other one a bow and a lot of arrows. At this critical moment John Vieregg interfered, crying, "Don't shoot, don't shoot," and he came forward hindering me from mak ing those two devils real good Indians by dis patching them. We disarmed them and they had to take seats near the fire, while John and I laid down under our wagon, on and under buffalo robes, with all our guns on hand. I did not sleep that night but kept my eyes on our "friends" till morning when we let them go. But this was the last night we were out trapping that season. We made a good catch of beaver that night but went home the next day — and thus closed that year's fall hunt. GOETTSCHE-FRAUEN MASSACRE This little episode was followed by another nearly a year later on the same spot, wherein John Vieregg, Hans Klingenberg, and two young boys. Christian Goettsche and Christian Frauen, participated, and wherein the final outcome developed into a sad and bloody tragedy. Considering the fact that those two Indians had engaged with us to meet us again the next day and instead crawled up to our camp- fire in the dark of a dark night with ready arms in hand, I think we ought to have killed them then and there, and I regret yet that I did not kill them. It was in the beginning of January, 1868, when the four parties named, Vieregg, Kling enberg, and the boys, Goettsche, 15 years old, and Christian, Frauen, who had but recently arrived from Germany, 16 years old, went out for a hunt on the. Loup River. They were after elk and deer, but found game scarce. In fact they did not see any fresh signs of them. After a few days of fruitless hunting they had con cluded to return home (this was on January 6, 1868) after the men, Vieregg and Klingen berg, had secured two young oak trees for wagon tongues, which were to be had on Oak Creek. The Loup was frozen over solidly and in places snow covered the ice. A heavy gale was blowing from the northwest when 30 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA the two men left their camp with their rifles and an ax, leaving the two boys, each with a double barrel shotgun, in charge of team and camp. When the men had about reached the middle of the river Hans Klingenberg thought that a rifle ball strack the ice near him and he told Vieregg about it. But as they had heard no gun report the men paid no further at tention and went on their way. But Klingen berg presently noticed that, as it appeared to him, another rifle ball was whizzing by and he again spoke about it, but since there was no gunshot report heard, the men went on and got their young oaks, then returned to camp. When they reached camp a ghastly sight pre sented itself to them. Both boys lay dead in a pool of blood. Christian Frauen had a gunshot from the side through his head and Christian Goettsche, a pupil of our school, had a gunshot through the breast. The horses, buffalo robes, blankets, and both shotguns were missing and in the sand about the camp were the moccasin tracks of the red skins. Whether they had been Sioux or Pawnee is not known. GOVERNMENT MAKES SURVEY The government survey of public lands took place in Hall County in the months of July and August, 1866, and soon after I pre-empted the first 160 acres of land in Hall County, Jacob Wittig was No. 2, who pre-empted the next 160 acres of land adjoining mine on the southwest. I always lived, and live today on the identical pioneer claim, as near as our surveyor's survey agreed with the final gov ernment survey. The first school taught in Hall County was in 1862 about one mile south of the court house on the pioneer claim of Theo. Nagel, who was our first school teacher, and the number of pupils was six. Game was abundant during all the years previous to the building of the Union Pacific railroad. Buffalo, elk, and antelope were to be found in herds. Grey wolves, prairie wolves, red and grey foxes, wild cats and badgers were numerous, while deer, jack- rabbits (hare), and cottontails, as well as turkeys, prairie chickens, grouse, and quail were scarce. The deer was nearly extinguished by the deep snows and the severe winters of 1856 and '57, but became more numerous in later years again. The abundance of game was a great con venience and help to the early settlers, and regularly every fall, mostly in the months of October and November, we went out on buff alo hunts and trapping tours for beaver, otters, and minks were to be found along all streams. Wild geese, ducks, and other water fowl swarmed the country in spring and autumn. Large numbers of wolves were poisoned with strychnine and trapped with steel traps every winter and the skins sold at from 75 cents to $3.00 a piece. I killed 75 wolves about my house the first winter. The best of buffalo robes could be bought from the Indians from $2.50 to $3. Buffalo robes were our principal bedding for years. With the gradual decrease of wolves, foxes, jackrabbits, prairie chickens, grouse and quail increased very rapidly, but wild turkeys soon disappeared entirely around about Grand Island. The winter of 1863 and 1864 was extra ordinarily severe. Snow covered the ground from the middle of November, 1863, to March, 1864. A great deal of our corn crop was now covered all winter. Many cattle perished and several parties lost limbs; one man froze to death. CONTRACTORS TAKE TIMBER By this time we had two saw mills on Wood River. In 1863 the first windmill was built in our settlement, and several other windmills were built later on, but when in 1866 the Union Pacific railroad was built the timber land on the island in the Platte River was fraudulently withheld from market, a horde of irresponsible contractors were tumed loose at the timber land in the Platte Valley. These men were not respecters of law and order, but cut and slashed down all timber thick enough to make ties for the railroad. The squatter claims of timber land, which had HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 31 been held for years, were rathlessly invaded by them and all trees were cut down. After nearly all timber had been thus taken, of course we had no more use for saw mills. After the devastation of the natural timber numerous groves were planted by the settlers, and they are now dotting the once bleak prairie in every direction. I planted the first artificial grove of 6,000 trees in Hall County in the spring of 1860 on the west half of the northeast quarter of sec tion 29, town 11, north of range 9, consisting of cottonwood, black locust, ash, and black walnut. THE GRASSHOPPER SCOURGE Great suffering and destitution prevailed all over the grasshopper-stricken districts, grass hoppers visiting us from 1865 to 1873, worse at some times than others, and two aid socie ties were organized in the state of Nebraska, to care for the destitute sufferers. The one, and the most effective aid society was The State Grange Relief Committee, which had its office at Lincoln. The other was called the State Aid Society, and it had its headquarters in Omaha. I was for the time being chairman of The State Grange Relief Committee, being the overseer of the State Grange of the state of Nebraska, while General Ord,^ in command of the military department of the Platte, was the chairman of the State Aid Society. Thus it devolved upon me to confer with General Ord, to arrange with him so that the aid we could render would be distributed properly and systematically. Our committee had over $20,000.00 in bank at Lincoln, and daily more coming from all over the Union. Large quantities of relief goods were shipped to us from the eastern states, and the freight charges we had to pay to the railroad com panies for transportation were considerable. Therefore I requested of S. H. H. Clark, the general manager of the U. P. R. R- Co. at Omaha, to grant us free transportation on all relief goods sent us over this line. Mr. Clark refused, flatfooted, to do so, but said he: "I will make you a reduction of two-fifths of full rates." Thus the matter stood when I called at mili tary headquarters in Omaha to see General Ord, the chairman of the State Aid Society, I was received anything but cordially. The general told me to be brief — he was very much occupied. Well, I was brief, and very few words were sufficient to inform the general of what I was driving at, but what I told him was enough to interest him so that he told me that I was his man. After we had talked the matter over thoroughly, General Ord said: "I want you to get ready and go to Washington. We must have an appropriation from Congress, and you are the very man who is likely to get it, the way you present matters to me." He in sisted that I should go, and to.be short about it. Upon General Ord's request our relief committee agreed that I should try my hand at it. I at once prepared myself as best I could for my mission. First of all, I gathered statistics all over the stricken district in the state as to the amount of destitution prevail ing. This was comparatively easy for me to do through our excellent organization through out the state, having subordinate granges in all counties. ASK CONGRESS FOR HELP When I had reports from all quarters I carefully compiled them and when ready to start east from Omaha, I once more called on Mr. Clark, asking him for a letter of introduc tion to Jay Gould, at the time the owner of the Union Pacific. Mr. Clark only laughed at me, when I told him that I was going to Washing ton first, and next to New York to get what he refused to grant us. He told me, "You will not get anything ; neither in Washington from Congress, nor from Mr. Gould. Mr. Gould will simply tell you to see me about it, and that it is my business to decide in the matter of transportation." I answered Mr. Clark to the effect that all Mr. Gould could say was yes or no, but I would try it anyway. "That's all right," Mr. Clark said, "at all 1 'The town of Ord (sixty-three miles north of Grand Island) was named after General Ord. 32 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA events you will have a nice trip east out of the grasshopper money, won't you?" I got a very nice letter from Mr. Clark, introducing me to Mr. Gould, and was off for Washington. I must say that I was not very hopeful myself that I would accomplish much, but I was into it and I resolved to do my level best to come out all right. I carried letters of introduction to several senators. Lorenzo Crounse was our representative and Mr. Hitchcock, the father of the editor and pro prietor of the World-Herald of Omaha, was our senator, and besides he was an old friend of mine. APPEARS BEFORE GARPlELD I worked my way to Washington as best I knew how. I introduced myself to Carl Schurz, at that time senator from the state of Missouri, and I had the satisfaction in a few days to be requested to appear before Mr. Garfield, later presideUit, who was at that time chairman of the committee on ways and means. When I entered Mr. Garfield's committee room he told me to take a seat. I sat down. Mr. Garfield looked me up and down for quite a while and never said another word. I do not know how long he was just looking at me, but I do know that I got angry about it and that I resolved to pay him back with his own coin, and I commenced also to stare at him, keeping my eyes fixed at one of his eyes without changing for a moment. He could not stand that very long and flinched, looking for a moment somewhere else, and then he commenced to talk and he said: "I understand, Mr. Stolley, that you are from Nebraska, and ask for an appropriation from Congress for the grasshopper sufferers of your state." "Yes sir." "Well, and will you please tell me how much of an appropriation you need for the destitute in Nebraska?" asked Mr. Garfield. ' "Yes sir, about $500,000.00." "Just about a cool half million of dollars," sarcastically said Mr. Garfield. "Well, will you please tell me how you came to conclusions that it will take that much?" "Certainly, I prepared myself fully before I left home," handing him my paper. "Here is a tabulated statement of sta!tistics, which I gathered through the medium of our State Grange organization, which will explain every thing to you." For over half an hour Mr. Garfield did not look at me at all after I had handed him my statistics, but continued figuring. When at last he looked at me again, it was with dif ferent eyes and he said: "Mr. Stolley, you will not get $500,000.00, but I shall recommend that an appropriation of $150,000.00 be made for the grasshopper sufferers, and I hope this will be done very soon." Within eight days I sent telegrams to Omaha and Lincoln that $150,000.00 had been appropriated by Congress. Next I went to New York city to try my good luck with Mr. Gould. At that time I had a brother living in New York city and to him I went to stay while there. My brother was rather surprised when I told him of my mission in Washington and the success I had had, and when I told him that I would now try to get free transporta tion for all relief goods, from Mr. Gould, he thought it was about time to give me some good advice and the following is about what he said : "Well, brother William, let me tell you, when you speak to Jay Gould, you must not talk as loud as you are in the habit of doing. It does not take well at all. You must control your voice, and not talk too loud. And another thing I want to tell you, you are not dressed well enough, you should wear better clothes when you go to speak to such men as Mr. Gould.'' "Well," I said, "brother Frederick, is there anything else you have to tell me, then tell it, right now." "No," he said, "that is all." "Well then," I said, "if I am to watch the tone of my voice when I talk in matters of this kind, then surely I am a goner. I will let my heart talk and not pay any attention to whether I talk otherwise; as to my shabby clothes, you are probably correct, and you can let me have the very best overcoat you have and I will put it on and it will cover the short- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 33 comings of the rest of the garments I wear, but I will tell you this right now, that over coat I will keep, because I will be in need of it when I get to Chicago. Another thing, Fred, I want you to be with me when I see Mr. Gould and when I talk with him." CALLS ON MAGNATE So the same day toward evening I and brother Fred went to the office of Jay Gould on 5th Avenue and Broadway, in a basement. When we entered Mr. Gould was walking the floors and dictating to three telegraph op erators and he told us without asking us to take a seat that he would be at our service in a moment. He left us standing at the door. Presently he wheeled around in the middle of the room and said, "What do you wish?" Then I stepped forward toward him, trying to present my letter from Mr. Clark, but Mr. Gould said, never mind that letter, tell me first, what do you want of me. I said : "Mr. Gould, I am here from Nebraska. I have been in Washington and there secured an appro priation from Congress for the grasshopper sufferers in Nebraska. Now I am here to ask if you will grant us free transportation of all relief goods which are sent to us over your railroad. I do not expect that you will grant this out of benevolence or Christianity; no sir, but you will grant it because it is your interest to do so. You, Mr. Gould, have millions of acres of land in our state which you want to sell; you have sold quite a lot of that land already, and the parties to whom you sold your land and who have made but part payment to you, are the very parties who are destitute now, because the grasshoppers destroyed their crops, and unless we are en abled to provide for them and they can raise another crop, they will be compelled to leave the state of Nebraska, and they will go back east and herald it all over the east that Ne braska is the damnedest country under the sun." When I had stopped talking, Mr. Gould said : "You shall have all the free transporta tion you are asking for," and he picked up one of his cards and wrote on the back of it: "Mr. Sidney Dillon, N. 20 Nassau St. Mr. Stolley shall have all the free transportation he is asking for." Then Mr. Gould handed me the card, I thanked him in behalf of the destitute of Nebraska, and we left his office. When we were outside in the street I said, "Well, Fred, did I talk too loud?" Fred answered, "I won't say another word, but you keep that overcoat." Since that day I always wear a brown overcoat with a black velvet collar. I next sent telegrams to Mr. Clark that free transportation of all relief goods sent to us had been granted by Mr. Gould. I remained a week in New York City and next went to Chicago where I had easy work in obtaining free transportation from the Chicago & Northwestern, the Chicago, Burl ington & Quincy, and also the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific. Thus ended my mission, which had been successful beyond my expectations. It was the best I ever was able to do in all my life, as far as benefits for the destitute are con cerned. CHAPTER III INDIAN OCCUPATION AND LEGENDS Early Redmen Occupants — The Pawnees — Treaties op Amity — The Decay of the Pawnees — The Sioux — The Outbreak of 1864 — Major Frank North and the Paw nee Scouts — Local Indian History — Two Boys Pinned Together by Arrows — The Campbell Raid — Recollections by Fred Stolley — First Recollections — Took Our Dinner — The Sioux — Indian Boys' Sports — Puppy Dog Soup — White Man's Treat ment op the Redman — "Nezarrezarries" — An Indian Love Story — A True Red Friend — Fort O. K. — Fort Independence — GoETTSche-FrauEn Massacre — Indians Journeying to the "Hunt" — An Indian Dance — Buffalo Hunt — The Endurance op A Papoose — ¦ Mirages — Indian Horsethieves — Depending on the Gun for Food — The Antelope — Feathered Game — The Indian Pipe The land was ours, this glorious land. With all its wealth of wood and streams: Our warriors strong of heart and hand, Our daughters beautiful as dreams. When wearied at the thirsty noon We knelt us where the spring gushed up. We take our Father's blessed boon — Unlike the white-man's poisoned cup. WhittiEr r-TAe Indian Tale. EARLY REDMEN INHABITANTS Of course, the first actual settlers of Hall County were the Redmen. Father Jacques Marquette was the first of the white explorers to mention Nebraska Indians, and his account implied hair breadth escapes and dramatic scenes. Father MarquetteFs description of the Missouri River country is interesting to us, detailed as approaching the mouth of the great western tributary of the Father of Waters, which they were traversing: "We heard a great gushing and bubbling of waters, and soon beheld some islands of floating trees coming down from the mouth of the Peki- tanoni (the Missouri) with such rapidity that we could not tmst ourselves to go near it. The waters of this river are so muddy that we could not drink it. It so discolors the Mis sissippi as to make the navigation of it dan gerous. This river comes from the northwest and on its banks are situated a great number of Indian villages." In a most interesting chart of that expedi tion, now in the archives of Montreal, Mar quette located in what is now Kansas and Nebraska the following Indian villages: The Ouemessoureit (Missouri), the Kenza (Kan sas), the Ouchage (Osage), the Paneassa (Pawnee), and the Maha (Omaha). His information was so surprisingly correct that French explorers found these very tribes in relatively the same positions as indicated in that chart, nearly 200 years later. Previous to the advent of the white man in the country between the Missouri River and the Rocky Mountains there were close to forty or fifty tribes, with their division of territory, some friendly to each other and some hostile. The principal tribes making their homes in Nebraska were those referred to by the Lewis and Clark expedition of 1804. Lewis and Clark found Pawnees, Missouris, and Otoes in possession of the Platte, the Poncas near the mouth of the Niobrara and the Omahas in the northeastem part of the state, around what is now Sioux City. The Pawnees were then the dominant tribe of the westren prairie, the 34 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 35 others mentioned being treated as wards and dependents. It is with the Pawnees that the history of what is now Hall County, so far as its Indian occupation and legend, is mainly concerned. THE PAWNEES The Pawnees were probably the largest and most powerful Indian nation that lived in Nebraska previous to the advent of the white man. Lewis and Clark on visiting the Platte Valley, found them living on the south side of the Platte River, forty-five miles above its mouth. The original home of the Pawnees is re puted to have been somewhere in the lower Red River Valley in Louisiana, where they formed the chief tribe- of the important Caddoan stock. At an early date some of those tribes migrated northward, the Arikari moving by way of the Missouri and even pen etrating as far north as North Dakota. The Skidi (Wolves) somewhat later halted at the Platte, and were there overtaken by the Pawnees proper. The Pawnees called themselves Skinik- sihks or "men par excellence." The popular name for them and one in most vogue is Wold People. From an early day the Pawnees were di vided in four branches: First, the Shani, or Grand Pawnees, with their villages on the south bank of the Platte, opposite the present Grand Island; second, the Kitkehaki, or Re publican Pawnees, so named from their having lived on the Republican River (Republican branch of the Kansas River) in northern Kansas, from whence they emigrated to join the principal band on the Platte ; the third was the Skidi, or Loup (Wolf), Pawnees, some times called the Pawnee Loups, who resided on the Loup fork of the Platte River, nearly a hundred miles from the main branch of the tribe." The Pitahauerat, or Noisy, Pawnees also at one time lived on the Platte. The fourth band formerly lived far south of Nebraska, but in their wars with their enemies they had been so often defeated that they had been compelled to move northward to be at 'peace. The four tribes soon after the visit of Lewis and Clark in 1804 formed a confederation and became practically one tribe. When settled around the Platte, the Pawnees lived in well built log houses covered with turf and earth, preferring these to the movable tepee, which was only used when the bands were on an extended hunt. They de pended largely on agriculture, the raising of corn and pumpkins, even more than on the buffalo hunt, so they never outgrew the seden tary and agricultural habits peculiar to tribes from the south- Lieutenant Zebulon M. Pike's expedition, when on its way to the mountains in 1806, en countered the Republican Pawnees in northern Kansas. This was shortly before they moved northward to join their brothers in the Platte and Loup valleys. Lieutenant Pike and Lieutenant Wilkinson held a grand council with the chiefs of that nation on the 29th of September, described in the following interest ing language : The council was held at the Pawnee Re public village (near the present site of Scan- dia, in Republic County) and was attended by 400 warriors. When the parties had as sembled for their council. Lieutenant Pike found that the Pawnees had unfurled a Span ish flag at the door of the chief, one which had lately been presented by that government, through the hands of Lieutenant Malgoras. To the request of Lieutenant Pike that the flag should be delivered to him, and one of the United States hoisted in its place, they at first made no response : but, upon his re peating his demand, with the emphatic dec laration that they must choose between Amer icans and Spaniards, and that it was impossi ble for the nation to have two fathers, they decided to put themselves, for the time at least, under American protection. An old man ac cordingly rose, went to the door, took down the Spanish flag and laid it at the feet of Lieutenant Pike, and in its stead elevated the Stars and Stripes. TREATIES OP AMITY Treaties of amity were entered intO' by government agents with leading tribes along the established routes of travel. The Pawnees made such a treaty that was ratified as early Photos I, 2, by Melvin R. Gilmore, Bethany, Nebraska; 4, by U. G. Cornell, Lincoln, Nebraska; 5, A. B. Sheldon, Lincoln, Nebraska. 1. Pawnee earth lodge circular in form, supported by a circle of heavy upright pillars, the wall formed of upright, slightly inclined poles covered with earth; the roof, dome-shaped, with an opening at the apex for ventilation and light. At the left of the engraving is a summer or temporary lodge. In the foreground is seen the frame work of a sweat lodge. 2. West side of interior of Pawnee earth lodge. Fireplace in center, the smoke from which is directed by a skin or blanket, supported on the windward side of the rotff by three sticks. In the background is seen the family altar made of sod, near which stands the sacred drum; above the altar generally hung the sacred bundle. The beds are arranged, about the wall. 3. Omaha earth lodee. This particular lodge existed some years ago twelve miles north of Omaha. 4. Santee Sioux tepee. S "- ~* Winnebago bark lodge. Rear view of Illustrations ot Indian House Architecture among the Pi^ins Tribes HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 37 as January 5, 1812. In 1819, the war depart ment sent out the expedition of Major Long, to which reference has heretofore been made. This expedition crossed just below Council Bluff's on June 10th and struck out boldly across the "Indian country." Major Long had his instructions to see that the treaties were strictly lived up to by redskin and white man alike. In 1815 the Maha (Omahas) had formed such a treaty, and in 1817 the Otoes. As he advanced westward. Major Long made it a point to visit the Pawnee villages, and accounts that after he crossed the Elkhom he trailed along the north bank of the Platte till the confluence of the Loup was reached. At sunset, June 10th, the expedition went into camp at a small creek about eleven miles dis tant from the village of the Grand Pawnees. Major Long's account most interestingly de tails that: On the following morning, having arranged the party according to rank, and given the necessary instructions for the preservation of order, we proceeded forward, and in a short time came in sight of the first of the Pawnee villages. The trail on which we had travelled since leaving the Missouri had the appearance of being more and more frequented as we ap proached the Pawnee towns : and here, in stead of a single footway, it consisted of more than twenty parallel paths, of similar size and appearance:- at a few miles distant from the village, we met a party of eight or ten squaws, with hoes and other implements of agriculture, on their way to the com plantations. They were accompanied by one young Indian, but in what capacity — whether as assistant, pro tector or taskmaster, we were not informed. After a ride of about three hours we arrived before the village and dispatched a messenger to inform the chief of our approach. Answer was returned that he was engaged with his chiefs and warriors at a medicine feast, and could not, therefore, come out and meet us. We were soon surrounded by a crowd of women and children, who gazed at us with some expressions of astonishment: but as no one appeared to welcome us to the village, arrangements were made for sending on the horses and baggage to a suitable place for encampment while Major Long with sev eral gentlemen who wished to accompany him, entered the village. The party after groping about for sortie time and traversing a con siderable part of the village, arrived at the lodge of the principal chief. Here we were again informed that Tarrarecawaho, with all the principal men of the village, was engaged in a medicine feast. Notwithstanding his ab sence, some mats were spread for us upon the ground in the back part of the lodge. Upon them we sat down, and, after waiting some From a photograph in the Coffin collection, in the Museum of the Nebraska State Historical Society. PiT-A-LE-SHAR-u (Man Chief) Head chief of the Pawnees time, were presented with a large wooden dish of hominy or boiled com. In this was a single spoon or the horn of a buffalo, large enough to hold a pint, which, being used al ternately by each of the party, soon emptied the dish of its contents. After this strange reception and feast the expedition visited in turn the villages of the Republican and Loup (Wolf) Pawnees, lying a few miles apart, an hour's ride above the village of the Pawnee Grand. 38 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Major Long commented upon the thrift of these villages. For miles up and down the river large droves of horses were grazing, fields of maize and patches of tomatoes, pumpkins, and squashes were seen in many places and added much to the apparent wealth of the community. All this was before mis fortune overtook the nation. The Long ex pedition spent the night of June 12 on the banks of the river within a stone's throw of the Loup village. So far as established, this was the first organized party of white men to slumber on the banks of the beautiful Loup. THE DECAY OP THE PAWNEES A story of the decay and some of the tra ditions of the Pawnees have been collected by H. W. Foght and included in his book. The Trail of the Loup, in which he brings to a close the history of the Pawnees as follows: The Pawnee nation formerly numbered about 25,000 souls and in the day of its prime was the terror alike of trapper and trader and bands from other tribes which by chance ven tured too far into the hunting grounds of these fierce fighting foes. But calamity was at hand. In 1831, a terrible smallpox epidemic carried off several thousand of their number, leaving the nation in a pitiable condition. Their agent, John Dougherty, in making his report to the government, says: "Their misery defies all description. I am fully persuaded that one- half of the whole number will be carried off by this frightful distemper. They told me that not one under thirty years of age escaped, it having been that length of time since it visited them before. They were dying so fast, and taken down at once in such large numbers that they had ceased to bury their dead, whose bodies were to be seen in every direction — -lying in the river, lodged on the sandbanks, in the weeds around the villages and in their com caches. On the 9th of October, 1834, a treaty was made between the Pawnees and the United States government whereby the former agreed to vacate all their lands south of the Platte. All the plague stricken southern villages were abandoned and the miserable remnant of a once proud tribe reassembled on the Loup and westward along the Platte. _ But scarcely had the enfeebled nation had time to set up their tepees and break soil in their new home, when the Sioux, made bold by their heriditary foes' apparent weakness. swept down the North Loup and the Cedar and began a war of extermination. Villages and fields were abandoned to the revengeful foe and safety sought in flight. The Pawnee found every man's hand against him. Even the government was indifferent and did little to check the depredations of the Sioux. To make matters still worse, other enemies on the south, the Cheyennes and the Arapahoes, in fested the Pawnees' old Kansas hunting grounds, eager to strike the final blow. But this was not to come by the hand of red men. In 1849, gold seekers on their way to Cali fornia brought the cholera to the Pawnee camps. Again several thousand died and the handful of survivors, reduced to beggary, be sought the government for protection, which was granted. By the treaty of September 4, 1857, they ceded all their original territory ex cept a strip 30 miles long by 15 wide upon the lower Loup River. This was the old Nance County Reservation, whence they were finally removed to their present abode in Oklahoma. During the Indian troubles of 1862-65 the Pawnees furnished scouts to the government and proved a valuable aid against the crafty Sioux. The latter, however, reaped sweet re venge after the war closed. 'The Pawnees were never safe if they ventured away from the reservation. Red Cloud's bands might at any moment sweep down upon them to kill and plunder. As if the loss of their hunting grounds were not enough to fill the cup of troubles, the grasshoppers in 1872 devoured their corn crop. This meant starvation. Con gressional appropriation through land sales kept them alive till 1874, when, as stated above, the Pawnees set their faces southward, forever to leave the Loup and the Platte. The story of their rapid decay is read in the following figures : In 1835, according to the missionaries Dunbar and Allis, they num bered 10,000. In 1840 disease and war had reduced them to 7,500. In 1849 cholera had reduced them to 5,000. Later official reports give 4,686 in 1856; 3.416 in 1861; 2,376 in 1874; 1,400 in 1876; 824 in 1889; 629 in 1901. Thus passed the Pawnees, the Wolf People of the North, while their arch enemy, the Sioux, still roamed the plains. THE SIOUX The Sioux tribes were not essentially a part of the region out of which Hall County developed, but in their conflicts with Pawnees and in their excusions through this region in later years, became enough a part of the Indian history of this countiy that some short HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 39 historical treatment of this nation should not be omitted. The Sioux belonged to one of the most widely extended and important Indian fami lies of North America. In the very earliest days of the advent of white men they appear to have held sway on the Atlantic seaboard, around the Virginias and Carolinas. They later abandoned their sedentary and agricul tural tendencies and roamed to the banks of the Ohio. From their own traditions it is accounted that the Sioux parted company with fhe Winnebagoes at some point on the Ohio, probably near the mouth of the Wabash, and crossed northwesterly through Illinois, and took possession of the headwaters of the Mississippi. In the meantime other tribes of that great family reached the Mississippi until they caine to the Missouri, there dividing, some of them going southward to Arkansas. The portion called the "Omahas" ascended the Missouri and made their home in eastern Nebraska. The Poncas and lowas are also usually classed as belonging to this Sioux family, as well as the Otoes, Peorias, and Missouris, first mentioned by Father Mar quette in 1673. But the Sioux were the most important of the Siouan stock. The Sioux called themselves Dakotah, Nakotah, or La- kotah, according to their respective dialects, a name signifying "allies." But from the early French designation of "Nadaousioux" a short ening brought it down to the modern "Sioux." This warlike nation early relinquished seden tary habits and became roaming buffalo hunt ers. For many years the Niobrara river in Ne braska formed the line of demarkation be tween the Sioux and Pawnees. In 1837, the Sioux sold to the government all their claims to lands east of the Mississippi; in 1851, re linquished the greater part of Minnesota and Dakota. In 1857, they expressed dissatisfac tion with the handling of their treaty relations by the government by a massacre of white settlers at Spirit Lake, Iowa, and in 1862 their chieftain. Little Crow, led a warfare upon the outlying settlements in Minnesota, and ,took advantage of the government's embarass- ments consequent upon the Civil War. This bitter war lasted until 1869, when they were driven out of Minnesota by General Sibley. While Little Crow and his bands escaped to Canada, Red Cloud and his cohorts came to 'Nebraska where they started a long struggle. The valley of the Platte was then the thor oughfare to California. Plainsmen dared not cross in small companies and the pioneers were forced to arm to the teeth. The trail from the Missouri to the Rockies then became marked with bleaching bones, burnt wagons, and rotting harness. THE OUTBREAK OF 1864 The story of how the outbreak of 1864 af fected the little pioneer colonies of Hall County is narrated in minute detail later in this chapter by members of the original colo nies of Hall County and their early neighbors. The first outbreak of that war occurred at Plum Creek in Dawson County on the 17th day of August, 1864. At a point where steep bluffs and wood covered canyons afforded ex cellent concealment to the foe, the Indians planned their ambuscade. There they fell upon an unsuspecting wagon train and killed the entire party of eleven. The failure of the Indians to cut the telegraphic communica tion eastward enabled a general alarm to be given in time to prevent a general massacre, long planned. Settlers and ranchmen received a timely warning that enabled them to reach points of refuge and protect themselves during the weeks of panic and confusion that fol lowed. For almost five years the war inter mittently dragged on, numerous pitched battles between the government regulars and the Sioux ensuing. The last and decisive fight took place at Summit Springs, Sunday, July 11, 1869. This battle, though occurring outside of Hall County, brought a peace and safety to the settlers of Hall County that entitles us to digress long enough to give a short account of the struggle between the Sioux, under the command of their vile chief, Tall Bull, and the several companies of the troops of General Carr of Fort McPherson, and Major Frank North's band of 300 Pawnee scouts and fighters. William F. Cody, better known as 40 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA "Buffalo Bill," acted as the guide to the white protectors : July 5, Cody and six Pawnee scouts dis covered the Sioux in the sandhills south of the Platte, whither they had retreated in haste upon hearing of the pursuit. When the attack was made the Sioux broke up into small bands and escaped under cover of darkness. Three days later, however, 600 Sioux were discov ered in the act of fording the river and a few depredations were committed after this time, they were limited to the stealing and running off of stock in the border settlements. A treaty made that year remained in force unbroken until the invasion of the Black Hills by miners, which brought on an outburst which Nebraska escaped. The main event of that outbreak of 1876-77 was the Custer mas sacre in the Little Big Hom country. There was but httle Sioux history from then on that would affect the Platte Valley. From a photograph owned by Mr. A. Hi. Sheldon. Maepiya Luta (Red Cloud) Chief of the Ogallala Sioux, at the age of seventy years sharp fight ensued. The Indians suffered heavy loss, among others the famous chief. Tall Bull, falling a victim to Cody's unerring aim. On the following Sunday, General Carr, who had followed the main trail, overtook the reunited bands at Summit Springs. The Sioux held their ground and a day-break battle ensued. It was short but decisive. Many soldiers and Pawnee scouts were slain, and at least 700 of the Sioux, including many chiefs and sub chiefs. The handful who es caped the carnage sought safety in headlong flight. Considerable booty was made. Ilerds of ponies, the entire camp outfit and 300 squaws fell into the victor's hands. This battle practically ended the war. The Indians' power of resistence was broken and while a MAJOR FRANK NORTH AND THE PAWNEE SCOUTS The pioneers of Hall County in common with all of the pioneers of central Nebraska owed a great debt of gratitude to the Pawnee scouts and their gallant white leader, Major Frank North. In 1856 when Frank North came to Nebraska, a young boy, he mingled fearlessly with the Indians along the Missouri in the region of Omaha, and learned their mode of warfare, their language, which he came to speak as fluently as his mother tongue, and won their confidence. In 1861 he took a position as clerk and interpreter at the Pawnee reservation, and by 1863 he became a daring scout. When the work of building the Union Pacific progressed westward the fierce Arapahoes, Cheyennes, and Sioux were attacking the laborers, until it seemed deadly peril to venture outside the camps. The Story of Major North's work can be most accurately accepted as it was rarrated by his niece, Mrs. Sarah Clapp, in Nebraska Pioneer Reminiscences •} It was useless to call on the regular troops for help as the government needed them all to hold in check the armies of Lee and John ston. A clipping from the Washington Sun day Herald on this subject states that "a happy thought occured to Mr. Oakes Ames," the main spirit of the work [of building the Union Pacific]. He sent a trusty agent to hunt up Frank North, who was then twenty- four years old. "What can be done to protect our working parties, Mr. North?" said Mr. Ames. "I have an idea," Mr. North an swered. "If the authorities at Washington 1 Issued in 1916 by The Nebraska Society of The Daughters of the American Revolution. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 41 will allow me to organize a battalion of Pawnees and mount and equip them, I will undertake to picket your entire line arid keep off other Indians. The Pawnees are the nat ural enemies of all the tribes that are giving you so much trouble, and a little encourage ment and drill will make them the best irreg ular horse you could desire." The plan was new but looked feasible. Ac cordingly, Mr. Ames went to Washington, and, after some effort, succeeded in getting permission to organize a battalion of four hundred Pawnee warriors, who should be armed as were the U. S. cavalry and drilled in such simple tactics as the service required, and my uncle was commissioned as a major of volunteers and ordered to command them. The newspaper clipping also says : "It would be difficult to estimate the service of Major North in money value." General Crook once said, in speaking of him, "Millions of govern ment property and hundreds of lives were saved by him on the line of the Union Pacific railroad, and on the Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana frontiers. . . . During the many skirmishes and battles fought by the Pawnees under Major North, he never lost a man; moreover, on several oc casions he passed through such hair-breadth escapes that the Pawnees thought him in vulnerable. In one instance, while pursuing the retreating enemy, he discovered that his command had fallen back and he was sepa rated from them by over a mile. The enemy, discovering his plight, turned on him. He dismounted, being fully armed, and by using his horse as a breastwork, he managed to reach his troops again, though his faithful horse was killed. This and many like ex periences caused the Pawnees to believe that their revered leader led a charmed life. He never deceived them, and they loved to call him "Little Pawnee Le-Sharo" (Pawnee Chief), and so he was known as the White Chief of the Pawnees. LOCAL INDIAN HISTORY It was on Febmary 5, 1862, when the first Indian massacre of whites by Indians in Hall County was chronicled. The story of this Smith-Andresen massacre is told in two other places in this and the preceding chapter. TWO BOYS PINNED TOGETHER BY ARROW One day in August, 1864, two boys, Na thaniel and Robert Martin, were helping their father George Martin in the hayfield. Their ranch was in the broad valley of the Platte in Hall County, about eighteen miles southwest of Grand Island. This was during the great Indian raid of 1864 when the Sioux were creating so much disturbance through the Valley. The two boys were mounted on one fleet pony and were making good their escape toward the shelter of the log house and bams at the ranch when an arrow pinned them, to gether. A shower of arrows circled around them, and one of the arrows struck Nathaniel in the arm and buried itself in Robert's back, pinning the boys together. Both fell from the horse, but luckily they were near the ranch. They were about to be scalped when an Indian interfered, saying in English: "Let the boys alone." The Indian with his drawn knife de sisted and the boys were left for dead. The ranchmen defended the house, drove the sav ages to flight, killed or wounded one, took the boys in and had the arrow drawn from their bodies. Both of the boys lived to be grown men and the story of the two boys piflned to gether became one of the most familiar of Hall County pioneer days. THE CAMPBELL RAID The attack on the Campbell ranch was made July 24, 1867. Peter, the Scotchman, lived ten miles south of Grand Island, on the south side of the Platte. No men being at home, the house was captured, a woman named Mrs. Thurston Warren killed by a gun shot, and her son by an arrow. The two nieces of Camp bell, aged seventeen and nineteen, were carried away with twin boys four years old, and a German, named Henry Dose, was killed close by. The Indians robbed the house, killed some stock, and escaped unmolested. Months after ward the government bought the two girls and the boys from the Indians for $4,000, and, as an extra compensation, released a Sioux squaw, captured by Ed Arnold's Pawnee scouts, at Elm Creek, the same season. An account of this raid by one of the Camp bell family is herewith given: 42 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA THE OLD PIONEER DAYS IN WEST ERN NEBRASKA By J. R. Campbell In The Trappers' World, September, 1909. Our family was nothing different than many that left their native land at the close of the Civil War, to try their fortunes in America. The family consisted of father, mother, four sisters, and three brothers. In the fall of 1865 their journey was undertaken, and after re peated hardships and trials they landed safely in Nebraska, what to them was their desired haven. Winter was approaching and hurried pre parations were made to get established in a house of our own. Rude logs were cut and fitted together and a one-room house covered with sod and chinked with mud was built. A cold, hard, long winter was put in. The mother of our family, though frail, stood the journey bravely, but succumbed in January, 1866, and with tender, loving hands was laid to rest in a rude unpainted coffin in her lonely grave in'the Platte Valley. Our father struggled on. The summer of 1866 brought gladness again to cheer 'him on, and prospects seemed brighter that he would own his own home and he would become a land owner in this free country. So in the spring of 1867 he again journeyed to Nebraska City, where the government land office was then stationed, and here he took out naturali zation papers and registered for a homestead and started home with the needed groceries and household goods. Arriving once more beside his family, pre parations were made to farm and additions were made on the house. Barns were built and the land plowed and the crops planted. Corn, wheat, and oats were growing. These were busy, happy days with those early settlers, of which there were scarcely a dozen in ten miles up or down the valley. July came with its balmy days, ripening the grain and bringing the thoughts to mind of a golden harvest. On July 24th the harvest began on a farm six miles from our home, and all hands were needed to follow the one reaper. My father and T went over to the neighbors , and helped with the work. About three o'clock that afternoon a horse man was seen coming as though on the wind. The reaper was stilled and golden sheaves were left unbound and all hurried to leam the oft-dreaded dreadful news — the Indians had raided the valley. Every one was fearful for his own family, but none more so than my father. He jumped upon the first horse and pulling me beside him he headed for his home. Arriving within a quarter of a mile of home the house of our nearest neighbor was in spected. The mother of the family lay on the threshold of the door dead, clasping her infant son in her arms. A son, fourteen years old, lay near by, shot through the thigh. Reaching our own home we found that it had been robbed and partly demolished. The contents of the house were destroyed and scattered about, but, saddest of all, the family was gone. Search about the premises and fields revealed nothing. The youngest daughter at home, a child of mine had managed to get away from the In dians by hiding in a grain field and by crawling on her knees for a quarter of a mile to get out of sight and then running four miles to notify a neighbor, who in turn brought the news to the field where we were all at work. A hurried meeting of the neighborhood was called as soon as possible that afternoon to decide upon a plan of action. It was decided to make a search for a few miles around and that all of the neighborhood should assemble at one point for protection. Nothing came of the search. Nothing was found to show what disposition was made of the missing ones, the two daughters and the two younger sons. The body of the only victim found was quietly buried. After a hurried counsel it was de cided to abandon the valley, as protection from future raids was slight, there being only one company of soldiers kept at Fort Kearny, which was just barely enough to protect the fort, let alone the settlers. The following day hurried preparations were made to leave ; property was abandoned and crops were offered for sale to neighbors HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 43 who had not made up their minds to leave, and before another nightfall there was only left in the valley my father, myself and my father's brother and aged father. It was decided to stay and face the dangers alone in the hope that some tidings might be learned of the lost ones. In about a week six soldiers under the charge of Captain Wyman were sent from the fort to help us in the search for the stolen children. A search was made for twenty-five miles to the south, but nothing was found to give any evidence to relieve the terrible anxiety. And all this time it was necessary to keep constant guard, for it was reported that the savages were still about the neighborhood. At last, about October 20th, news was brought from the sparse settlement at Grand Island that the prisoners had been seen in the camp of an Ogallala band of Sioux, who were then in camp somewhere on the Solomon River ' in southeastern Colorado or south western Kansas. It was also reported that the government was about to treat with the Sioux and that the prisoners would probably be captured. A week or more dragged by before any faith was put into the story, and then my uncle was sent to North Platte to learn what he could about the band. When the train reached Elm Creek the passengers were aroused by the shrill cry of the engine whistle, down brakes being repeated several times. It was reported in every car that there were Indians at hand and guns and revolvers were made ready for action. But the trouble proved to be only another train on the track ahead. Antelope and buffalo were seen at a distance from the train, but they were too far to be reached by the bullets from rifles. At North Platte it was reported that the band of Indians under Spotted Tail would arrive some time that day. The peace com missioners arrived at 3 o'clock and the Indians two hours later. The prisoners proved to be children of our family, who after two mose days of travel reached our home. Here they told the story of their capture and imprison ment, of the hardships they had undergone. without food at times, without proper clothing at all times, and of abuses and ill treatment. Our family remained there during the winter, and in the spring of 1868 moved to Saunders County, leaving the homestead and the scene of the raid. Of the children captured three are living now (1909). They are Mrs. J. P. Dunlap of Dwight, Nebraska, Peter Campbell, living at Wahoo, Nebraska (in 1919 at Lincoln), and Daniel, who is located in the state of Mis souri (in 1919 in Ohio). These and many other incidents of Indian life and relations in Hall County are told first hand in the narratives of Frederick Hedde, William Stolley; and in the narrative of In dian reminiscences by Fred Stolley, which follows : RECOLLECTIONS By Fred StollEy I will first give some recollections of days from my childhood, as far back as 1859, of Hall County early days, when I came from Davenport, Iowa, to Grand Island, only two years old at that time, with father and mother and my oldest sister Annie, to the farm where my mother is still living, together with two of my younger sisters, Clara and Ottilie (the so-called Stolley Grove farm). FIRST RECOLLECTIONS The first very vivid recollection I have is an Indian story, yet I remember this one but faintly. I remember that my mother hurriedly lifted my sister off her lap and I myself clung close to her dress, hiding as best we could in our old log house which still stands on the farm resided on by my mother. Some 200 or 300 Sioux Indians on horseback made their appearance at our place, surrounded our house, dismounting from their horses and in vestigating — -holding their hands to both sides of their faces, and looking into our windows, with their large faces, broad flat noses, dark brown skins, somewhat greasy, and large, ¦ inquisitive black eyes, looking at mother and us children, also I think sizing up the situation for a raid on something good to 44 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Flint Spearhead found near Blair, Nebraska Flint Implements of Nebraska Hematite Bust found near Lincoln, Nebraska Flint Tomahawk pound near Wymore, Nebraska, BY James Crawford HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 45 eat. But they seemed to have been quite friendly at that time, because they molested nothing and spared all of our lives, and in 10 or 15 minutes time everybody was again on their sleek ponies and they went away as quickly and as suddenly as they came, to our great relief and satisfaction. The next exciting Indian incident was in the following fall. My uncle, William Hagge, father and I were in the hay field, when an Indian battle started on the south side of Wood River, about at the point where the St. Joseph & Grand Island railroad crosses over Wood River. A hard skirmish ensued and many shots were heard as the bodies of fight ers moved eastward down stream, close to the river bank, and gradually faded away about where Bill Thavenet's ice house now stands. My uncle and father never stopped hauling hay, but kept on unconcerned about the fight among the Indians. TOOK OUR DINNER About a year later, I think in August, at the noon hour, my mother had dinner ready on the table. I was playing outside in front of our house, and at the time I noticed pos sibly 75 or even 100 Indians coming on fleet footed black and white ponies, in irregular order, riding , quite thinly scattered over a large space. The Indians had no clothing on, all of them in their own natural bronzed skins, faces painted red, their hair shaved close to their scalps, except a strip in the middle on top of their head about two by four inches cut to about 2 inches short, standing straight up. The hair resembled the coarseness and appearance of a horse tail and as black as coal, but at the back end of this bunch or patch of bristles they always carried a long braid hang ing down, which was invariably scalped if they were captured by Indian enemies. So when I spied this band of Sioux Indians coming like a whirlwind, I ran back into the house and reported to my father, "Indians 1 Indians ! quick !" My father jumped instantly to his feet, reaching simultaneously for his 8-inch navy revolver, which always hung on his left hip on a heavy leather belt buckled to his body. I followed on the heels of my father, and by the time we were outside, there they came, quick and plenty of them, coming close up to our log house, all armed, a few with short Kentucky rifles, muzzle loading single shots, 125 round balls to the pound, and some of them had long pointed spears, even 8 or 10 feet long, fastened to their right foot, but most of them equipped with the strongest kind of bows and arrows. At this juncture I ran back into the house looking for mother and sister, when I noticed an Indian reaching through an open window with his long spear, trying to pierce a pudding on a plate, so he could take it off our dinner table and bring it to him within reach of his bare hands. When he secured it, he divided with his comrades, and with keen appetites and great enjoyments they devoured our dinner. By this time I hurried back to where father' was, with 8 or 10 Indians gathered in a half circle around him, and now one of them swung his spear back and forth toward father, as though he intended to throw the deadly weapon at us, and let me assure you, with not a very pleasaiiit eye behind it, and an expression you could see that was decidedly not friendly. But this all came to a very sudden standstill when father whipped out his ' old navy revolver, with hammer up and finger lightly on the trigger, aiming at the Indian's treacherous heart. Now his long spear sank down to a natural position, and fKDinting to father's revolver, he remarked in Indian language, "heap a no good" and the substance of "pu, pu, pu wanta" to convey idea — "shoots often and kills sure." There upon everything suddenly changed, a different spirit crept among them, and after a few mo ment's silence, and varying glances, we heard a very low voice, but very positive, sharp command given, from their chief to gather themselves up and go, and go they did. When I saw them coming they were about where the brick schoolhouse now stands northeast of the old home place, of District Number One. When they went, they left in the direction of Sand Krog, or Cay Ewoldt's old farm, and within a few moments they had well vanished into the endless prairie, and the whole affair 46 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA appeared to be a very lucky and happy matter. Yes, indeed, we can now comprehend the un speakable dangers surrounding us, and the likeUhood we constantly faced of being killed at any time. THE SIOUX But somehow the Sioux Indians did not take such an interest in this part of the coun try as our Pawnee friends, because, as the Pawnees claimed, an agreement existed be tween the Sioux Indians and the Pawnee tribes that the south bank of the Platte River was the boundary line on the south for the Southern Sioux tribe and the north side of the Loup River, "Eatzkarie" in Indian, should be the south boundary line for the north Sioux tribe, and the land in between these two streams was to be the hunting ground for the four Pawnee tribes, but how far west this agreement was established I never heard from any one. Furthermore, our Pawnee friends claimed the southern Sioux were very bad and hostile "heap a no good, we heap a fight for buffalo," because the south side of the Platte all the way to the Little Blue and the Repub lican River was the best by a hundred fold for buffalo hunting. This was used neverthe less by the Pawnees as why they were com pelled to trespass on Sioux territory to get their winter's supply in buffalo meats and buffalo robes to keep their bodies warm. This doubtless somewhat accounts for the hos tilities experienced from the Sioux towards the white people living on the south side. The south side had by far the largest herds of buffaloes, so the first settlers had to go there to get their winter's supply of meats. Hence, the trouble that usually came when they did so, and always from the southern Sioux. The Pawnees always claimed . that the northern Sioux were "heap a good no fight." And it should be mentioned that along the Loups only some "elk" or "bah" in Indian, and some "deer" or "buxkys" in Indian, but there were plenty of antelope or "alligators" in Indian, and only deer along the wild Platte River bottoms. These were hard to hunt for the Indians because their guns were of very poor quality, so it is clear that the buffalo always remained the Indians' main support for a living. Some Pawnees were very fine marks men with the bow and arrow. I have seen one old Indian coming along in a snowstorm passing through a patch of weeds, where a flock of snowbirds were busily picking, and the old Indian spying the birds, reach for his heavy ashwood bow and arrow with steel points (a regular buffalo hunting outfit), set down some 20 steps off and shot six times at six birds and get a bird on every arrow. For every day purposes they used a lighter out fit, but for large game they had a bow of tremendous strength and durability. I have only seen one white man who could shoot one of these to its fullest capacity. That was D^vid Schuller, our postmaster in early days, who could shoot fully eighty rods with one of those heavy outfits. INDIAN boys' sports The larger Indian boys had a national sport, playing on a smooth piece of level ground some 75 yards long and 20 yards wide. Two boys always played together, both of them having a five foot long spear and a little ring about four inches in diameter, wrapped with buffalo sinew, one of them throwing this ring very swiftly, both of them being barefooted and naked, running at a high speed with this ring rolling along. The great trick was for both boys to hit this ring so that their spears crossed each other through the ring at the same time. This play was practiced for train ing their hands and eyes for accuracy, and the exercise it gave for toughening their bodies and developing great lung capacity. An Indian could go on a dog trot all day and never puff one bit, and another stunt they had was to harden themselves against freezing. I have often seen Indian children of all ages sliding on smooth ice with their bare feet for hours at a time, never seeming to mind it at all. One day I found tracks in the snow of a barefooted Indian going across our farm towards their Indian camps on Wood River. One time an old Indian friend visited us. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 47 His name was "Lalulashar." He wanted to stay over night with us, and bed room was scarce. So this Indian had to go to bed with Peter Mohr and myself in our barn upstairs for that night. But to, our great discomfort, the Indian developed a body-heat that was something awful. It got so disagreeably hot for us, with him resting in the middle, that we had to quit our guest's presence. Peter and I did not know but that this Indian was dangerously sick, supposing he had a very high fever, thus accounting for his extremely hot skin. But to our astonishment, the next morning this Indian was hale and hearty, and hungry as a wolf, so there was nothing to worry about concerning him at all — it was just his extremely healthful vigor. "puppy dog soup" My father was a great lover of hunting and trapping and he also poisoned a great many coyotes and grey wolves. One time he had poisoned 15 coyotes and wanted to make a robe of their pelts, and he made an arrange ment with an Indian by the name of George, who with his three squaws and 17 year old daughter had moved onto our place. They pitched their tents and set to work tanning coyote and two deer skins, of which they made a fine job. One of the three little pups belonging to our pet dog was found dead one morning, and the 17 year old Indian girl com ing in spied it and wanted it. This particular pup being mine, I gave it to her, wondering what she wanted of it. Consequently in my curiosity I followed her into their living tent, where a big camp fire was burning in the middle of the room, under a large pot boiling a quantity of navy bean soup. I could hardly trust my eyesight, to behold this pretty Indian girl holding the little baby dog by its tail, dropping it hair and hide, kaplunk, into the bean soup. This stopped the boiling of the soup for a time because the little pup was frozen stiff, but pretty soon the boiling started again and little doggy was making somersaults in the boiling soup, now tail up and then, for a change, the head coming bobbing up, and so it rolled and rolled over and over, until the little doggy boiled to mush, ready for the great feast, when taken out on a tin pan. This delicious dish was passed around from one Indian appetite to another until their hunger was satisfied. At the same time, the "killi" Kaneck tobacco pipe was smoked with great satisfaction. Indian George was a very kind- hearted man, but notwithstanding his kindly disposition, aft^r they left our place and while going West, headed for Fort Kearny, George was shot in the temple by a U. S. soldier at that place, only for the fun of it. Such is only an instance of the cruel acts of the white man towards the children of the wilderness who lost their great hunting grounds with all of its fine game. WHITE man's treatment OF THE RED MAN We must not forget all of the waste of meat and timber perpetrated by the white man in those days. No less an authority than the late Buffalo Bill wrote that he alone had killed over 2,(XX) buffaloes for a railroad camp in Kansas. Maybe a good share of that meat was for a good use, but what about the rest? Everybody was shooting the Indian's meat supply, and most of it rotted away on the prairie for nothing. This grieved the Indians' heart beyond expression, and it created a hatred and revengefulness toward the "pale faces" or "Chickestalkers" (in Indian). What more did the white man d'o? He swindled, lied, corrupted where he had a chance toward the Indian, and some more villainous of our race even sold the red man small-pox infected blankets, causing- their death in great numbers. In the face of all this is it to be wondered that many Indians got mad at last and turned out to be most unmerciful brutes toward the white men? I cannot blarne them so much, and can only wonder that the white man was allowed to stay at all, or that he was con sidered by the Indian as the most grewsome creature they ever .met. But we hardly ever get the Indian's side of the matter. The white man writes the history about himself and also about the Indian, and usually the Indians suffer the most. But now that it all belongs to the past and the Indian is mostly 48 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA killed off and gone, and their ashes are strewn over the hills of the land, the wild flowers are growing on their mournful graves and weeping bitter tears for the unspeakable in justices so frequently done them at the hands of the white man, — may we not pause and consider the other side? Shame be on the white men who contended there was no room left for the Indians to live irv peace in this great country of ours. "nezarrezarries" We had one very wise and dear friend among the Pawnees, whose narne was "Nezarrezarries." He was a Kidkahah, by far the most intelligent Indian we ever knew. Through him father made a dictionary of the Indian language, so you see it was quite easy for us to converse with Indians in an intelligent way. Nezarrezarries had two squaws, was quite rich in horses and tents, and was the most popular Indian of the whole tribe (which meant four sub-tribes) — the Kidkahahs, Cavees, Pittihauvittys, and lost Scitties, which last term by the way is also the name for wolf or coyote, and the symbol for the greatest liar in the world, the Scittie Indian was marked for being the most skillful horsethief of the Pawnee tribes towards their most bitter enemies, the Southern Sioux. This popular Nezarrezarries was very freely spoken of as being selected as the first big chief in command, but he was handicapped by having only two squaws when three and no less were required by custom and law, and so many horses. AN INDIAN LOVE STORY Now we come to a love story. One early morning a very beautiful, graceful, sharp featured, fine looking Indian girl, with body finely formed, tall and quite slender, possibly 23 or 24 years of age, strayed into our place for a few moments, and then got up and started towards the Indian camps on Wood River. At the same time our esteemed friend came along from camp toward our place, I think for another visit, or he might have known of this girl's presence that early morn ing, or it might have been agreed upon that they should meet in the open field, for at least that was their meeting place. It was a very cold morning, the wind blew out of the north with biting cold, but when the two met, he grabbed her by the hand and it started a struggle, each pulling this way and that, as if she wanted to pull away from him, and at last she settled down peaceably and friendly toward him and eventually he succeeded in covering her and also himself over their heads, with his buffalo robe, and talked to her for more than an hour without moving an inch. I watched closely during all of this time. For I did not know whether to count them friend at that time, but it finally proved to be all right. They finally separated, he came to our place and she went home to the camp. What must I do after he arrived at our place but satisfy my curiosity by asking him what had happened over yonder with that beautiful Indian girl, and he answered quickly and straight from the shoulder, "that is now my third squaw, a heap good squaw," and that was all there was to it. He acted very un concerned about it, as if this was final and I never found out more about it, but I do know that from then on this girl acted as his squaw. A TRUE RED FRIEND I think it was in the coming year, in the late fall, that Nezarrezarries came riding along onto father's place one day and explained to him that he was in bad need of a rifle for hunting buffalo to get a buffalo robe, and my father without asking any questions whatso ever, handed the Indian his very fine Spencer repeating rifle of 7 shots, caliber 50, and one of our buffalo robes, not quite the best, and also 6 or 7 No. 4 double spring beaver traps. He thanked father for them and left. I think it must have been in the latter part of Novem ber, one fine day, when in came our friend, re turning rifle, traps, and instead of the old robe handing father a fine brand new one in its place. He never advanced to the leadership of his people. Once more this noble Indian paid us a visit but this time, sick and afflicted with a loathsome disease, "an inheritance of HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 49 the white man." The Indians had moved in the meantime to Indian Territory and he came all that long way to consult father in regard to his deplorable condition. Of course we could do nothing for him though he stayed a day or two with us, and one morning, after breakfast, with tears in his eyes he stretched, for the last time, his hand to his esteemed pale faced friends and bid us all good-bye and that is the last we ever saw of him. Another interest ing previous visit of that Indian friend I al most overlooked was when a blizzard was rag ing over the country. He was sitting with father philosophizing over important ques tions, great drops of sweat were rolling down his fine featured face, his eyes sparkled with deep hidden fire, as he started out to discuss the white man v. Indian national question. "The white man's greed drives the Indian mad; he envies even the ground we walk on, he would if he could, express us into the skies where there is nothing but useless space, or push us off into the ocean, until he knows he has destroyed us, and he would rejoice much over it, and after he has fulfilled his wishes, then I would wish the pale face God speed when they turn loose on themselves." PORT o. K. In the early 60's, I was still a very small boy when my father and Joachim Buenz, a brother of John Buenz of Grand Island, hauled the cotton wood logs from the heavy timber grow ing along Wood River at that time for build ing a fortification against possible attack of hostile Indians. 'There was no trouble pending at that time, but it came soon after that when the southern Sioux went on the warpath against the white men all along the line, and when trouble had started the so-called Fort "O. K." was erected for the protection of the white men, but for some reasons the Indians never made any raids on us. It might have been spy work on the part of the Indians that saved our hides, as they probably knew better because we were well fortified, at least they never came near us. One morning my father was out on an antelope hunt north of our place and he came back in a hurry. He had seen a large band of hostile Indians going over the same ground where Grand Island now stands. He reported ft as soon as possible to the captain in com mand of the U. S. soldiers stationed at Fort O. K. In short order the captain and a squad of 10 or 12 regulars were swinging themselves into the saddles of their fine horses, and in company with father went in pursuit of this band of Indians. They soon found their trail and followed them in a northwesterly direction up to the mouth of Oak Creek, at Dannebrog, but they caught up with them, and lost the Indians as they disappeared to the westward. PORT INDEPENDENCE One fort was erected on my father's place, named Fort Independence. This was built with the help of my Uncle William Hagge and Freil Moeller. The dimensions were 20 x 28 feet, about 7% feet high, with port holes to all sides and banked up heavily with tough prairie sod and dirt, making it fire-proof against burning arrows, which the Indians used to great advantage. An underground horse stable, with the capacity of 24 horses, was added, and the port holes in the fort proper overlooked the horse stable so it was well covered by our guns. One day after the Indian trouble had taken hold all over the country. General Curtis made our fort a pleasant visit and inspected it. After look ing it over thoroughly he advised us that we had done a fine job of providing protection and need fear nothing, as we were safe against the attacks of Indians, if we would be careful and not permit them to rush onto us unexpect edly. That was a very common practice of the Indians, as they would come on horse back like birds on wings and be onto you before you knew it, and might get advantage of you in this way. By always having the place guarded. day and night, we would be safe. He added that he would give us, and also the other fort, a cannon, a 5-pounder, to defend our selves against possible attacks by the Red skins. He left at once for Fort O. K. where he made his temporary headquarters. 50 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA GOETTSCH-PRAUEN MASSACRE Jumping along to 1867 or 1868, in the latter part of November, a foot of snow covered the bleak prairies. One afternoon my father sent me on horseback to the very small town of Grand Island to get his mail. At that time only a few houses had been built in the village. Mr Schuller, our postmaster, had moved to town, to the place where the Schuff (Ameri can) hotel and restuarant now stands, and the O. K. store had been moved to the present location of the Koehler Hotel, and when I stepped into the post office, Mr. Eggert Goettsch called to me and said : "Fred, come here with me to the outside of the street," and pointing his finger northeast toward the St. Paul road, where not a house stood in all that space, added, "do you see that wagon load of cart-wood coming along?" I answered "yes sir." "Well" he said, "on that load of wood lies your playmate Chris Geottsch dead. He got killed by Indians the other day, out on the Loup River, also Henry Frauen got killed at the same time, they are both frozen hard as a rock. Do you care to see them once more? If so you must wait here until they are here and it will not take very long." I answered, "No sir, I am scared stiff now. I don't care to see them. I want to go home as soon as possible." A boy of only 10 or 11 years old, I was really afraid. I looked once more with tears in my eyes toward my best playmate, shuddering at the idea that he had been massa cred by those awful Indians. I got onto my horse in a double quick hurry and hustled home to tell my parents the terrible news. Chris and Henry had been out on a hunt for large game, in company with rny uncle John Vieregg, an old hunter and trapper, and Hans Kling enberg, another old hunter. They had been having very poor luck on the trip, due to bad weather, and before starting home had made a hurried side trip over the ice to the other side of the Loup, on Oak Creek, to cut a few wagon reach poles, taking their rifles with them. Upon arriving on the other side of the river, Mr. Klingenberg had noticed ahead of them a cloud of dust and snow thrown up in the air and mentioned it to my uncle. My uncle had not observed it, but Mr. Kling enberg insisted that somebody had been shoot ing there, from seeing a bullet mark in the snow, but my uncle observed. "Who could shoot at us here, a heavy north wind blowing, and we can hear nothing." When another dust cloud and snow shot up in the air, Kling enberg again said, "Do you see it this time," and my uncle answered, "Yes, but who could shoot at us," and they still went on their way to get the poles. Upon returning to camp they found both boys had been killed, Chris with a load of buckshot in his breast, evi dently poured out from his own gun, and Henry with a rifle bullet through his temple, appearing also to have met death from his own rifle. Both horses had been stolen and all of the bed clothes and guns were missing. The Indians had mixed molasses and coffee together and evidently had taken a big meal before starting on their get-a-way. Left out there some 30 miles in the wilderness, with a foot of snow on the ground, nothing re mained for the men to do but to hoof it back to the fort. This gruesome murder happened near the present Dannebrog, on the south side of the Loup River, opposite from the west point of the big island in the river east of the bridge at the mouth of Oak Creek. INDIANS JOURNEYING TO THE "hUNT" Every fall great numbers of Pawnees, in bands of thousands, came up from their reser vation, swarmed over the country everywhere as they jouneyed through to the hunting grounds further up, west and south towards the Blue and Republican rivers. The Indians generally divided into two great camps going out on their fall hunts, one part going up on the Loup and the other part going up on the Platte bottoi-fts. On their journey they would signal to each other with gigantic prairie fires. The Indians following the Platte would set fire to the large islands, and the Indians fol lowing the Loup would set fire to the endless prairies, and in the evening you could see the red crimson light thrown on the clouds on the heavenly screens, reflecting back to earth in blood red, and sometimes it would look so HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 51 fiery in the heavens one would think the world would come to an end. This burning off country had two objects, one to signal the Other bands, and the other for driving the deer, in particular, closer together so as to make it easier to hunt them. Many deer were captured by the Indians on the islands in the Platte River bottoms, where the Indians formed a circle around the burning island, and the deer were driven by the fire toward them getting in such close range they could be brought down with bows and arrows. A favorite method of preparing deer ribs for a meal was to cut the ribs in four by four inch squares and then use a sharp stick to hold the deer rib over a live coal bed, and indeed that prepared a royal dish. After securing a supply of buffalo meat and robes for winter use, the Indians would find camping places along the Platte Islands, and particularly along Wood River, in the hardest winter months. AN INDIAN DANCE One time my father and I met a large band of Pawnees coming from the hunt, when we were at a point south of Benson's ranch, 12 miles up the Platte, on one of the big islands. We had already secured two deer on our hunt and these Indians told us about a "heap a big fight" they had encountered with the Sioux Indians and showed us a brand new bleeding scalp, taken only a few days ago. The scalp dangled from a long pole, hanging by the braid and the raw scalp hanging down ward. The Indians found a favorite camp ing place in south of the Bunk place in a thicket. My sisters, Annie and Lioneret, my ^ brothers Bill and Emil, Minnie Roeser and my self were a group of children much given to making frequent visits on a camp-fire evening to these camps. We delighted in watching their dances and pow wows in honor of some instant greatness, or a war dance or a dance for the great doctor, or in honor of great game. I shall try to describe this latter dance. The drums were beating continuously, but very irregularly in time. These drams were made out of empty nail kegs, stretched over with a raw buffalo or elk hide. A tent was occupied by the most noted and famous personalities. Seated in a half-circle in an almost open tent, but little shelter was offered from the side where the actors were seated, with a nice bright fire burning in the center of the tent. The common herd of Indians stood outside in bunches in half circles and placed the smaller folks on the inside, with grown people arranged on the outside, according to sizes. This offered all of them a good view of the performers. This dance was in honor of the large game. The patriarch was decorated with elk and deer skins, another one with a buffalo robe and tail of a buffalo hanging on behind, making as nearly as possible an imita tion of a buffalo. One was made up as a beaver, another had muskrat skins, one as a scittie (wolf) and one Indian carried a coyote, one a fox pelt on his arms. It seemed as if each of the four tribes had its own favorite game and fur bearing animals to whom it de lighted to give honor in these celebrations. Now the dance commences. The drums beat everlastingly and dipper curbises with seeds in them were shaken as hard as possible, also in regular time, all of the performers would sing in a hum drum manner, but regular In dian songs, which I cannot give here. The dancers were decorated with their favorite game hides and paint on their faces, sometimes red and sometimes black being used. With the hides hanging on them right and left, and in a very stooped posture, they begin tramping and stamping the ground up and down in a half circle in front of the fire. One of their main acts is to take a snapping bite at fur on their arms every so often and this is kept up for an hour or so. On the soft fine afternoons and evenings of February the dancing season came in great favour and lasted till spring time set in, and during all this time drum beats could be heard. Then they would break camp and go off to their reservation, and spend the summer doing a little gardening and farming, raising some navy beans and some com. BUFFALO HUNTS One afternoon we saw a buffalo grazing 52 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA southwest of the August Becker place, close to the present Midway and Sand Krog roads, in the southwest quarter of that section. My father went after him with his heavy muzzle loading rifle. He worked up the slough, came up to the buffalo at 150 yards and shot him, but he hit the animal too high, and this in furiated the buffalo. With tail up, and horns in the ground, pawing the dirt, the animal turned around lively in a circle, tramping and tearing the sod up in great shape. This obliged father to shoot seven times before his game fell dead. The buffalo was divided up among neighbors. In 1865 or 1866 my father went on an ante lope hunt, taking me with him. I had to stay with the wagon on Prairie Creek, about where the old Kinkel place is, but at that time still a howling wilderness. Along toward evening, as I was expecting father back at any moment and consequently watching the surrounding country very closely, I saw a large black liv ing object moving very fast over a small hill about a mile and a half away. Then came father in plain view, galloping toward me. He asked me if I had seen that buffalo and I said I did. He then explained that he had crippled him pretty badly and we would get him in the morning. Wc went home and were off at 4 o'clock the next morning on a genuine buffalo hunt. We soon found the tracks and followed the animal by tracking him through the sand hills, northwest of St. Libory into the Loup River high bluffs. In a high patch of slough grass the animal had laid down, and his stubby horns and some of his very long hairy head was all we could see. Father took a fine aim behind the shoulder, one-third from below up and a sharp crack of his old trusted rifle brought this old monarch of the western plains dead to the ground. One remarkable thing about the buffalo was his strong smell. This was the last buffalo steak we secured for our home. I remember one evening Hank Martin coming in with a heavy load of buffalo meat from the west, with the wind blowing gently, carrying the scents of the bloody meat across the country. This started a large pack of grey wolves to howling. Hank was coming along the military road on Wood River about a mile off, but to listen to music of this kind was qiute grewsome and made the hair stand straight on end. The buffalo was both a ferocious and large- animal. Father poisoned one that measured after he was skinned 9 feet from tip of nose to tip of tail, and so heavy it took a good strong man to lift it onto a horse, and he was almost white, evidently an old fellow. THE ENDURANCE OP A PAPOOSE Two squaws visited us one day, one of them carrying a papoose probably two months old. After eating a lunch with us, the squaw picked up the papoose, hanging the little tot over her shoulders, walked out into a storm of zero weather. The papoose started to bawl, some thing remarkable, but the mother paid very little attention to the youngster and when she got out into an open field, where the cold bit ing wind was blowing at a high gale, the little one still cried, and the mother got mad and talked sassy for awhile. She unpacked the baby and it developed that it had not a stitch of clothing on. The mother rearranged the lynx skin next to the craille board and placed the little one back to the far side, then placed a double blanket over the papoose, wrapt a girth around it, starting at the feet, and covered it until only the little face showed and it then seemed to be satisfied with its condition, and the mother proceeded on her journey at a dog trot. MIRAGES A word about the wonderful miroiches of early days that were with us every winter and springtime, of which we see nothing today. The reasons for tMs phenomenon? One of them is, we have not any longer the unbroken endless smooth prairie, but that is all now a memory and the landscape is broken with groves and farm houses. Those miroiches of early days appeared only when the air was full of vapors, charged highly with moisture at sunrise in the moming. With white frost on the ground, you could see towards Alda and Wood River station and south of it. From our place great pictures were thrown on the heav- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA enly screens, magnified to a wonderful size. For instance, a crow would look as large as a buffalo, the houses up west, as large as gigantic castles, the timber along Wood River seven or eight miles off hung up against the horizon in monstrous sizes and it was so clear to the eye that it was a pleasure to look at. One moming at sunrise father called us out to see the Loup River with its graceful bands, its heavy timber along its banks hanging upside down on the low horizon in a dark grayish picture, a magnificent sight for the lover of nature. Then again at noon and afternoon in particular, if you could be on an endless stretch of burned prairie you could see a mile or even two or three off, great lakes of water, the exact image of a great sheet of water. Thirsty people have followed these lakes of water, and never could find them. SOME INDIAN HORSETHIEVES I remember one afternoon, George Thav- anet, father and I were out on a deer hunt along Wood River. I was with the wagon in a thicket, when along came 20 Indians with war paint on them, walking on foot, dressed in light gray blankets, armed with navy re volvers, and yelling the most hideous, infam ous, horrifying war whoops that I ever heard. It lifted me almost off of my feet to say the least. I left the wagon for another thicket and large weeds, and from there I peeped out and watched very closely this suspicious band of Indians. Later, we heard they belonged to the Scitties and were on a horse-thieving ex pedition, headed for the southern Sioux coun try to steal horses. Mr. Thavanet and father killed a five foot deer that aftemoon. Some years later five very suspicious Indians strayed onto our place one afternoon carrying halters and lasso ropes made out of horse tail hair, and large revolvers on their bodies. They looked into our horse stable. Father opined that those fellows were nothing less than horsethieves. Father made me lock our bam as a warning to them and demanded of them in not very uncertain tones, "you, pocketshee," meaning "you get" and the pre diction of my father came trae to a dot. Sure enough, three or four days later the report came that Nick and Henry Bonson's herd of horses on one of the Platte islands had been visited by these red skinned scoundrels and five of the best horses had been stolen. Nick Bonson himself, took up the dashing Indian chase. On horseback, rifle in hand, he dashed for twelve miles up the Platte River, across the country, south down through the state of Kansas and on into Indian Territory, and finally recaptured his horses from the bandits and returned home safe with his stolen property. DEPENDING ON THE GUN FOR FOOD Father's old muzzle loading rifle, 16 balls to the pound, sharp pointed bullets, with a trajectory 6 inches for every 50 yards distance when shot, and kicking like a mule, but with a very fine target, was a great game getter. We depended altogether on this trusted old rifle for our meat supply for the year around. For the winter it meant buffalo meat and for the summer it meant antelope meat. It required six hind quarters and three saddles of buffalo for the winter use. For summer we needed from 10 to 15 antelope. The buffalo quarters hung on the north side of our log house, and in the morning for breakfast mother would use an axe to cut a round steak of frozen hams. I think of it yet today, how nice and sweet those juicy nourishing round steaks tasted to us, nothing now like it. • For* a va riety, we occasionally had deer, brought in through the winter season. We hunted them usually after a fresh snow, on Wood River and in the wild thickets of swamp willows along the Platte Islands. This meant the very hardest kind of hunting, yet very fas cinating. This brush hunting was mostly done with shotguns and buckshot. It meant quick, hard shots and very often only a glimpse was caught of the prey. I killed my quota, 30 deer and antelope and 24 coyotes to my credit, the latter generally shot with high power rifles. THE ANTELOPE The finest of all large game has been the antelope. Early in the spring time when grass 54 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA came the antelope drifted back to us onto the great level prairie countries along Prairie Creek. Great numbers of them could be seen. You couldn't help but admire their beautiful, graceful bodies, their brilliant, large, lustrous dark brown eyes, their horns sticking out of the head very prominently and their ability to see back of them. This accounted for their being so difficult to catch, and very hard to hurt. FEATHERED GAME The many lovers of feathered game of today may be interested in a word about the feathered game we hunted then. We killed prairie chickens in unlimited numbers. Often we bagged 60 or 70 chickens in a day, and have marked up 70 chickens, 7 jack rabbits, 7 mallard ducks and one fine antelope in a day's record. The numbers of all feathered game was so tremendously large that nobody had the slightest idea of living to see them so nearly extinct as they are today. A word con cerning the wild geese. In early days, I have come from Merrick County, starting west of Charley Schertzbergo's place on horseback along the Platte River and for a solid two miles and as close up to the banks on both sides you could see hardly any water at all. All this space of about two miles square was literally covered with gray geese as thick as they could set together, countless in number. Where have they gone? Most certainly, the same route as the buffalo. Before the decoy geese and ducks and fine guns of the hunter they have perished. Our extinct csquinan curlue might be of interest to the younger generations of this day. This bird belonged to the snipe family. It came on its migrations through the country in the spring-time going north about May 1st. This was one of the most admired game birds in the world, beautiful, brown plumage, as large as a quail. It was the finest eating. Its habit was to- congregate in very large flocks, sometimes five hundred or a thousand going together, swarming over the farmer's fields, and their favorite places to feed was on newly ploughed com land. Great numbers were easily taken on account of their offering splendid pot shots on the ground or on wing. One of their habits was to rise to their wings, from 2 to 4 p. m. and go so high into the blue skies, so high you could barely see them, circling round and round and at the same time whistle a whirring plaintive call, somewhat like a plover. Only the coyote has survived in increasing numbers. Why not hunt him? But he is superior in wits to all of the game, and the decoy does not tempt him. THE INDIAN PIPE The Indian pipe and kille lanick tobacco was gathered from our red dogwood growing along the streams, creeks and in groves. The part of that bush used for tobacco was the outer fine bg.rk. The peelings were dried in the sun and were there ready for use. The Indian pipe was made out of a soft red stone, sometimes their tomahawk being arranged for a pipe. The head was hollowed through the handle to draw the smoke.- In the act of smoking the Indian inhaled his smoke, deep down into his lungs and held it there by sucking it still deeper and deeper and then he closed his mouth and blew it out through his nose in great clouds with the greatest of en joyment. The dogwood tobacco had a wonderfully fine aroma that I always loved to smell. CHAPTER IV OTHER PIONEERS — AND FIRST SETTLEMENTS The Tread op Pioneers — Early Travel and Transportation — "Have You An Eye?"— The Oregon Trail — Its Effect on Hall County — The 'Overland Trail — The Fort Kearny and Nebraska City Road — The Decline of These Trails — The Stage Coaches — The Pony Express System — Land Highway and River Navigation — Then AND Now — The Mormons — The Gold Hunters — -Arrival opi Permanent Settlers ^- The Cowboy Regime — The Mitchell-Ketchum and Olive Tragedy — Life on the Plains Passes — The Early History of the Wood River Valley — Early Settle ment — The First Postoffice — Old Wood River Station — Present Wood River Starts — Wood River Valley Settled — The "Jim Boyd" Ranch " — Hear the tread of pioneers Of nations yet to be The first low wash of waves, lithere soon Shall rest a human sea." It should be not only the delight, but the duty of every age and every generation, to pay grateful tribute to a noble and valiant ancestry. The annals of mankind have but meagre interest when stripped of the per sonal element and confined to a bare narrative of events. Each generation looks upon the benefits and conveniences which it enjoys as absolute necessities, and absolutely fails to comprehend how any people could possibly live without them. We forget that our fathers and our grandfathers lived without automo- bileis, telephones, electric lights, hot water carried through pipes to the point of use, and heating systems to distribute the heat where we wish to use it. ' It was the first generation of those who settled each community that made it possible for us to have these con veniences where we now live. When vivified by the record of the lives of those whose heroic daring lifted them above the ordinary, common plane of living, we find history to be come a most pleasing and instractive subject. In a preceding chapter we have recorded the story of the arrival and straggles of the first colony of pioneers to reclaim Hall County from the wilderness. That glorious little band was soon followed by other bands. In fact, they had been preceded by bands of pioneers who passed through this territory. While those travellers did not stop in Hall County, yet the efforts they made to go farther west played a part in preparing this Platte Valley for the settlers who were to come that warrants us in treating of their presence here. Even after we have studied, the interesting story of the first colony, we can again afford to turn from the thoughts of our comfortable and even luxurious homes, cultivated fields, our splendid groves, orchards, meadows; our comfortable churches and schools, our thriv ing towns, to consider further the other com munities of pioneers who settled other parts of Hall County. In our present state of prosperity and happiness, we must not be prone to forget the aspect that nature wore in those primitive solitudes to the wondering view of these first inhabitants of our county, and even more so, we must not yield to any fleeting temptation to hold as of trifling consequences the constant risk of life itself, of the physical suffering, privation, and actual danger which they en dured in the exercise of the heroism and cour age that kept them straggling on until lines of 55 56 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA civilization advanced to this great plains re gion of the west. EARLY TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION It was not the search for a home, in this particular valley, that led those travellers to venture beyond the safety zone marked on the west by the Missouri River, or perhaps, even more accurately, the Mississippi River at that time. It was not until the little colony of 1857 arrived that those arriving on these shores of the Platte came with' the intention of making this locality their home. But for a decade or more before then scattering bands had roved through the Platte Valley with another aim; pushed on by the impetus of travel and transportation; with trade or gold at the further end of the rainbow they were pursuing. There is as yet but scant knowledge of Indian or prehistoric routes of travel through Nebraska. In the journals of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Pike's expedition, Fremont's expedition we find the accounts of the state of travel and condition of the territory then. Chroniclers of the frontier in the forties state there were then no well defined trails between the locations of the different tribes of Indians, but each tribe had its trails between the loca tions of the several bands of its own tribe. There were no doubt prehistorical, natural routes of travel, perhaps miles in width, even if they did not show trails, roads or paths as we: understand the use of these words today. HAVE YOU AN EYE Have you an eye for the trails, the trails. The old mark and the new? What scurried here, what loitered there. In the dust and in the dew? Have you an eye for the beaten track. The old hoof and the young? Come name me the drivers of yesterday, Sing me the songs they sung. 0, was it a schooner last went by, And where will it cross the stream? Where will it halt in the early dusk. And where will the camp-fire gleam? They used to take the shortest cut The cattle trails had made; Get down the hill by the easy slope To the ivater and the shade. But it's barbed wire fence, and section line, And kill-horse travel now; Scoot you down the canyon bank — The old road's under plough. Have you an eye for the laden wheel. The worn tire or the new? Or the sign of the prairie pony's hoof That was never trimmed for shoe? O little by-path and big highway, Alas, your lives are done. The freighter's track a weed-grown ditch, Points to the setting sun. The marks are faint and rain will fall The lore is hard to learn. O hear, what ghosts would follow the road If the old years might return. Whatever the story of the Indian trails may be, as they are related in the first volume, that depicting the history of the state of Ne braska, we know that a notable route sprang up across the country, that became the main artery of commerce to the northwest, pre ceding the arrival of the transcontinental rail road. This great continental highway was known to the traders, ranchmen, and overland stage drivers as the "Military Road," but more commonly and properly known as THE OREGON TRAIL The part of the Oregon Trail that concerns Hall County lay a fraction over a mile beyond the southwest comer of the county. There are five periods in the story of the Oregon Trail. The first extends from the return of the Astorians in 1813 to the Wyeth wagons in 1832. The second period was that of the early Oregon migration and extends from 1832 to the discovery of gold in Cali fornia in 1849. The third period was that of the rush for gold and extends from 1849 to 1860. During this period the Oregon Trail became the greatest traveled highway in the world, wider and more beaten than a city street, and hundreds of thousands passed over it. The fourth period is that of the decline of the Oregon Trail and extends from 1860 to 1869. The fifth period, from 1869 to the present day, is witnessing its gradual efface- ment. The best brief description of the Oregon Trail is that of Father De Smet, who knew it well and tells of its appearance when first seen HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 57 by him and his party of Indians from the Upper Missouri in 1851 : Our Indian companions, who had never seen but the narrow hunting paths by which they transport themselves and their lodges, were filled with admiration on seeing this noble highway, which is as smooth as a bam floor swept by the winds, and not a blade of grass can shoot up on it on account of the continual passing. They fancied that all had gone over that road and that immense void must exist in the land of the rising sun. They styled the route the "Great Medicine Road of the Whites." In another place Father De Smet tells of the great government wagon trains he met on the Oregon Trail in 1858: Each train consisted of twenty-six wagons, each wagon drawn by six yoke of oxen. The trains made a line fifty miles long. Each wagon is marked with a name as in the case of ships, and these names served to furnish amusement to the passers-by. Such names as The Constitution, The President, The Great Republic, The King of Bavaria, Louis Na poleon, Dan O'Connell, Old Kentucky, were daubed in great letters on each side of the carriage. On the plains the wagoner assumes the style of Captain, being placed in command of his wagon and twelve oxen. The master wagoner is admiral of this little land fleet of 26 captains and 312 oxen. At a distance the white awnings of the wagons have the effect of a .fleet of vessels with all canvas spread.^ EFFECT ON HALL COUNTY The fact that the Oregon Trail did not directly pass through Hall County did not deter its presence being a considerable factor in the county's early history. The known history of this trail begins with the establishment of the fortified trading post known as Astoria, on the Columbia River, fifteen miles above its mouth, in 1811, by the agents of John Jacob Astor, head of the American Fur Company. It failed, and in 1813 was abandoned, but this dim trail was followed for another decade by hunters, trap pers, and traders, and later by explorers, sur veyors, Mormons, and emigrants. In 1832, Captain Bonneville passed over this route from Independence to Califomia, and made what is claimed as the first wagon trail over the great trail. In 1842, John C. Fremont led a surveying expedition from Independence, by way of the Grand Island in the Platte, to the South Pass and the Rocky Mountains. This expedition was accompanied by the famous Kit Carson, as guide. By 1843, it became a well defined route for trade and traffic between St. Louis, the base point, and the Columbia River. In 1847, the Mormon emigration to Utah had set in, but in 1849 came the high tide of traffic, when the rash to the Califomia gold fields set in. A fairly accurate itenerary of the trail has been made from n6tes of Fremont and other travellers as follows : From the point at Independence, Missouri, where the trail starts northwest, for a distance of 41 miles it is identical with the Santa Fe trail; to the Kan sas River, 81 miles; to the Big Blue River, 242 miles ; to the Little Blue, 296 miles ; Platte River, 316 miles; lower ford of South Platte River, 433 miles ; upper ford of South Platte, 493 miles; Chimney Rock, 571 miles; Scotts , Bluff, 616 miles. Adding the distance from the northwest boundary of Nebraska to Fort Van couver, the terminus, yields a total of 2,020 miles. The trail crossed the present Nebraska southern boundary line at or very near the point of the intersection of the 97th meridian, about four miles west of the southeast corner of Jefferson County. It left the Little Blue at a bend beyond this point, but reached it again just beyond Hebron. It left the stream finally at a point near Leroy, and reached the Platte River about twenty miles below the western or upper end of Grand Island. Proceeding thence along the south bank of the Platte River, it crossed the south fork about sixty miles from the junction and touched the north fork at Ash Hollow, twenty miles beyond the south fork crossing. Howard Stansbury, a captain of United States topographical engineers, in April, 1849, lead an expedition to the Great Salt Lake for the purpose of exploring and surveying that valley. With the clearness and precision of a trained engineer, his descriptions shed further light upon the great trail. He seems ''¦The History and Stories of Nebraska, Sheldon. 58 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA to have left the Little Blue at the usual point," near the present Leroy, in Adams County, thence cut across to Thirty-two Mile Creek, seven and a half miles ; thence to the Platte River, twelve miles, and to Fort Kearny, seventeen miles. He says he struck the Platte in a broad valley and that "this road has since (June 18, 1849) been abandoned for one on the lef.t, more direct to Fort Kearny." Even if the Oregon Trail through Nebraska has been entirely obliterated and tumed into a patch of sunflowers, weeds at points and glor ious farms at others, it is an historical factor to Nebraska that cannot be ignored. "As a highway of travel the Oregon. Trail is the most remarkable known to- history. Considering the fact that it originated with the spontaneous use of travelers ; that no transit ever located a foot of it ; that no level established its grades ; that no engineer sought out the fords or built any bridges or surveyed the mountain passes ; that there was no grad ing to speak of nor any attempt at metalling the road-bed ; — and the general good quality of this two thousand miles of highway will seem most extraordinary. Father De Smet, who was born in Belgium, the 'home of good roads, pronounced the Oregon Trail one of the finest highways in the world. At the proper season of the year this was undoubtedly true. Before the prairies became too dry, the nat ural turf formed the best roadway for horses to travel on that has probably ever been known. It was amply hard to sustain traffic, yet soft enough to be easier to the feet than even the most perfect asphalt pavement. Over such roads, winding ribbon-like through the verdant prairies, amid the profusion of spring flowers, with grass so plentiful that the animals reveled in its abundance, and game everywhere greeted the hunter's rifle, and finally, with pure water in the streams, the traveler sped his way with a feeling of joy and exhilaration. But not so when the prairies be came dry and parched, the road filled with stifling dust, the stream-beds mere dry ravines, or carrying only alkaline water which could not be used, the game all gone to more hos pitable sections, and the summer sun pouring down its heat with torrid intensity. It was then that the Trail became a highway of desolation, strewn with abandoned property, the skeletons of horses, mules and oxen, and, alas, too often, human misery, tragedy, and death." The settlement and development of the west produced many changes in the old trail as known to Fremont the "Pathfinder" and other early western travellers and explorers. Its deep furrowed tracks, often parallelled for a width of a hundred feet, gradually faded away, until today only small patches may here and there be found along its route to trace its course. As railroads spread forth from St. Joseph to Atchison, Kansas, and from Council Bluffs across Nebraska, the trail declined in use, but until after the construction of the Union Pacific railroad, in 1866-69, the Oregon Trail, with its cutoffs and numerous branches leading into and away from it, was the sole connecting line of travel across the continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and though it may have missed the present boundaries of Hall County by a mile or two, and its junction with the Platte River may have been a few miles west of Hall County's western line, it afforded to Hall County another means of getting provisions in and produce out and relieved the settlers of some dread and fear of being too far removed from food, and even then Hall County was on the main line of the transportation system of the plains. THE OVERLAND TRAIL The second important trail across Nebraska, now commonly known as "The Overland Trail" but in early days called the Califomia or Mormon trail, was one that started from the banks of the Missiuri River near Bellevue and Florence, followed up the north side of the Platte and North Platte to Fort Laramie, where it joined the older Oregon Trail. This was the route across Nebraska of the return ing Astorians in 1813 and of some of the early fur traders. The Monnons made this a wagon road on their emigration of 1847, when their great company which wintered at Florence and Bellevue took this way to the valley of the Great Salt Lake. It was there- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 59 fore often called the Mormon Trail. As some of the immigrants to Oregon and Califomia went over this route it sometimes was called the Oregon Trail or Califomia Trail. There was less travel on this trail than on the one south of the Platte, because there was more sand here. This north side trail ran through the present counties of Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Colfax, Platte, Merrick, Hall, Buffalo, Dawson, Lincoln, Garden, Morill, and Scotts Bluff. THE FORT KEARNY AND NEBRASKA CITY ROAD The third celebrated trail across Nebraska was from the Missouri River to Denver and was called the Denver Trail. It had many branches between the Missouri River and Fort Kearny. Its first course led from Nebraska City, across the present counties of Otoe, Lancaster, Saunders, Butler, Polk, Hamilton, Hall (on south side of Platte) to Buffalo, where but a short distance west of the Hall County line it joined the famous Oregon Trail from the southeast. A cut-off road, more direct than the first course, was laid out and surveyed by Chas. W. Pierce, Justus L. Cozad, and Nathan P. Cook, surveyors, in July and August, 1859, and was in use by 1860. This new Fort Kearny and Ne braska City road led out from Nebraska City, west, through the present counties of Otoe, Lancaster, Seward, York; Hall, and Buffalo, and joined the first course of this third trail in southeastern Hall County and the Oregon Trail proper near the corners of Hall, Buffalo, and Kearney counties. This last mentioned trail became very pop ular with thousands of immigrants and freighters from 1862 to 1869. Over this Denver Trail -went the Pike's Peak immigrants and the supplies and machinery for opening the mines in Colorado. THE DECLINE OF THESE TRAILS These overland trails fell out of use very fast after the completion of the Union Pacific Railroad in 1869. Short stretches leading from one settlement or town to another were used as roads but no longer as part of great through highways of travel. At places through Westem Nebraska, and in Hall County, traces of the old wagon tracks remain here and there. Thus it will be seen that Hall County was either on the route of all of these great over land highways, or within a few miles and within the radius of their use. THE STAGE COACHES Before we return to a consideration of the eariy travelers through this part of Nebraska, it is well to linger sufficiently to take up the Overland stages, which formed the means of public transportation prior to the advent of the railroad. As a highway for the Overland stage from the Missouri River to the Pacific coast the great trail performed a most inter esting and a most important service to the American people. For this work the most commonly used vehicle was the light Concord coaches, so-called because they were built at Concord, New Hampshire. They accommo dated, usually, nine passengers inside and often one or two sat on the outside with the driver. Sometimes an extra seat was built on the outside behind the driver, so not in frequently as many as fifteen passengers rode in and on such a coach. With the "Overland Stage" developed the "Overland Mail." The first contract for carrying this mail was let in 1850 to Samuel H. Woodton, of Independence, Missouri. This service was monthly on a route between termi nals twelve hundred miles apart, St. Louis and Salt Lake City, and later the route was extended to Sacramento, California. This service led through Nebraska substantially on the Oregon Trail. In 1859, this mail contract was transferred to Russell, Majors & Waddell, who afterwards became the most extensive freighters in Nebraska from the Missouri River. It will be remembered that the stage route followed the overland trail on the south side of the Platte River, while the Union Pacific railroad, which superseded it, was built on the north side of the river through central Nebraska. Until 1863, the passenger fare by this stage 60 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA line was $75 from Atchison to Denver, $150 to Salt Lake, and $225 to Placerville. When the currency of the country became inflated the fare increased accordingly. The carrying of passengers and express packages formed important items of the receipts of this busi ness. As remarked before, at first the trips were made monthly. This was shortly re duced to semi-monthly, and finally — when the overland stage business fell into the hands of Ben Holliday, who in many respects was one of the most remarkable men of his day, perhaps he could be called the Hill or Harri- man of the stage-coach — a stage service was evolved in which the stages ran daily on fast and schedule time from Atchison, Kansas, to Placerville, Califomia, in the remarkably short period of seventeen days, carrying mail and passengers each day. THE PONY EXPRESS SYSTEM An important incident to the, old highway transportation was the pony express, a move ment which originated in 1860 with William H. Russell, of Leavenworth, Kansas. This system was the forerunner of the present great fast mail system of the United States. It was a system of mounted couriers, wholly Map op Haee County showing Rivers and Trails HISTORY OP HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 61 devoted to the private transmission of letter- mail, newspapers, telegraph messages, im portant govemment dispatches, bank drafts, and the like. In 1854, Senator W. M. Gwin, of California, rode to Washington on horse back, accompanied part of the way by B. F. Ficklin, superintendent of the firm of Russell, Majors & Waddell, and the idea of the Pony Express grew out of this trip. After Gwin made a legislative attempt to establish such a system and failed, Russell worked it out on a practical basis. The charges were originally five dollars for each letter of one-half ounce the Platte Valley. In 1857, one hundred and three miles of road had been laid out from Omaha, westward, including thirty-nine bridges. About that time Congress appro priated $50,000 for the construction of a road to New Fort Kearny. In 1859, the territorial legislature memorial ized Congress to grant to John A. Latta, of Plattsmouth, 20,000 acres of land in the valley of the Platte River on condition that before October 1, 1861, he "shall place on said river a good and substantial steamboat and ran the same between the mouth of said Platte River." One Type of the Famous Concord Stage-Coach or less; but afterwards this was reduced to two dollars and a half, this being in addition to the regular United States postage. Any great subsidy the promotors of this scheme figured on failed to realize, and such million dollar subsidy was reserved for slower mail contracts with the Overland Company, and by one maneuver after another the service lasted until it was discontinued when the telegraph line was completed late in 1861. LAND HIGHWAY AND RIVER NAVIGATION Before the completion of the Union Pacific, the council of the territorial legislatures not only chartered the Platte Valley & Pacific Railway Company but generally recognized that nine-tenths of the travel through Ne braska to the Pacific coast would pass along and Fort Kearny and do all necessary dredg ing, "knowing that there is a sufficient volume of water in said river which is a thousand miles in length." This vision of steamboats mooring on Grand Island never materialized beyond the minds of the ambitious planners. THEN AND NOW A person who now travels by rail or motors over country roads from southeastern Ne braska to the site of old Fort Kearny, over the general region traversed by the Oregon Trail or its branches, encounters evidence of a wonderful change toward wealth and re finement on every hand. This wonderful pic ture of contrast applies with as equal force to Hall County as to any other Nebraska county. !¦¦¦ 62 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Freighting Scenes from Photographs r^^.l lower view represents the freighting train known as "Bull of the Woods," owned by Alexander and tT^ Jf\/'TA photograph taken on Main Street, Nebraska City, look ng east from Si street and loaned by Mr. O. C. Morton, This train consisted of twenty-five wagons with six mules^o cacwaeon and was considered one of the finest outfits known to freighters. ^^'^ ^^^°'' HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 63 The same succession of thriving cities and villages, connected by rail, telegraph, and tele phone, and possessing happy, intelligent, and thriving populations, greets him on every hand. Then the road led across the naked prairie from the Missouri River — wide, hard, and bare. It followed no definite course, unless a general northwesterly direction could be so designated. It crossed bridgeless streams, tra versed localities of great natural beauty and vast prairie meadows where millions of buffalo, elk, deer, and antelope were found. A few stage stations and ranches marked the course and sat out distinctly on the boundless and almost uninhabited prairie. The great thoroughfare was then traveled by as hete rogeneous a mass of people as could be found anywhere in the world — merchants, capital ists, freighters, prospectors, hunters, trappers, traders, soldiers, Indians, emigrants. Mor mons, gamblers, adventurers, pleasure-seekers, tourists, and even representatives of foreign nations. Here and there an enterprising rancher supplied the freighters, soldiers, stage- drivers, emigrants, and travelers with food and drink — especially drink. Now the road leads along well-defined routes of travel, with the road well graded, and begining especially with 1918, many parts of it hard-surfaced, -with many miles each year to be so hard-surfaced under the ambitious, comprehensive road-building program pro vided for by the current legislature. Not only does the road of these times follow a definite course, but the telegraph and telephone poles along the side bear marked legends to guide the tourist or driver. Streams are bridged, sometimes yet with rickety wooden bridges where formerly no bridge stood, but even more often now with permanently constructed steel, iron, or cement bridges. Annually the last mentioned happy stage is drawing nearer all along the route. Where there was only endless prairie, there now open to the vista, magnifi cent farm-homes, practically palaces many of them, with commodious barns well-comparing with the houses ; innumerable sheds and smaller buildings; with many farms possess ing not only an automobile or two, but very frequently a tractor and a motor-track and even power engines. Where formerly travel was by foot, by horse-back, wagon, or coach now the fast high-powered automobiles shoot past, and the old stage-wagon for taking pro visions to the railroad which gave away to modem light wagons is the almost forgotten fore-runner of the swift truck. What the old national highway was to the great plains, what the welcome transcontinental Union Pacific became, even now the granddaughter of the old trail, the permanently constructed high way, bids fair to become — and very soon at that. "There are highways born, the old roads die — Can you read what once they said. From the way-worn ditch and the sunflower clump. And the needs of folk long dead." THE MORMONS In the first chapter we have treated of the travels of the explorers through the Platte Valley; in the preceding chapter we have nar rated the Indian occupation and have treated generally the general travel of all classes through this region on the Overland Trail. After the explorers and Indians, the first organized bands of people to traverse Hall County, the Mormons rolled in, recently ex pelled from Nauvoo. Commencing back in the '30's at Kirkland, Ohio, this people seemed to be the special subject of persecution wher ever they stopped. Going down to Jackson County, Missouri, their presence had led to turmoil, and from there they went back to Illinois and tried it again. But there they could not even hold their new temple, and they were compelled once more to leave. They journeyed to Iowa, and for a time had prac tically complete possession of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, of which Council Bluffs be came the county seat, finally crossing the Missouri River during the years 1845 and '46, locating about six miles north of Omaha, at what is now known as Florence, but which they then termed "Winter Quarters." Here 64 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA about 15,000 people were congregated. But when they arrived on this side of the Mis souri, the turmoil and devastation caused by the presence of 15,000 non-producers nat urally excited the anger of the Indians, to whom the land then belonged. They at once concluded the Mormons were cutting too much timber, and made this complaint effec tive enough to result in the invader moving on. So far as Hall County was concerned, the exodus of these first Morrnons was noth ing more than a transitory passage through its southern part, or even farther south along the other road. Salt Lake had been picked out as their destination and it was there they kept headed for. But in the spring of 1858, very shortly after the first permanent settlers reached the county, a band of Mormons came in, who stopped here, for a time at least. They opened up a number of farms on Wood River, and formed a settlement approximately where the present town of Shelton is located. Al though this last-named location is perhaps a half-mile west of the Hall County line, the farms that belonged to this settlement were scattered for several miles, toward Wood River, and spread out into western Hall County. The Mormons, during their presence here, established the first newspaper in this vicinity. The Huntsman's Echo. In the spring of 1863 the Mormons moved to Salt Lake. Their Saints, or bigamists, voluptuaries, or adulterers, or whatever one might call them, according to personal views, were at least no drones. Wherever they settled in the wilder ness, they caused a garden spot to spring forth. Wherever these people dwelt, there everything was under the control of the church. Idleness and dissipation were not tolerated. They needed no jail. Although polygamy was permitted, and, in fact, no doubt encouraged, it is not considered proba ble by students of the question that more than ten per cent of all the men had plural wives, and the strangest feature was that the women were the strongest defenders of the system. Work was the order of the day until the crops were raised, harvested, and gathered, the tithing was paid and the poor provided for, then the winter was devoted to dancing and> orderly amusements, encouraged by the clergy and conducted with utmost decorum, their balls usually being opened and closed with prayer. But the presence of these families for the temporary period of residence had no per manent effect on Hall County or the state of Nebraska. There are living within the state those who entertain the Mormon faith; with out the practice of polygamy, of course, and pursuing the orderly course of their belief, hardly different from other religious faiths. THE GOLD HUNTERS Next after the Mormons came the flood of emigrants to • California, in search of that most seductive, that most powerful metal known to man, gold. The fever of 1849 swept over the nation, and literally thousands upon thousands wended their anxious way through the valley of the Platte. This mov ing host also left no permanent impress upon Hall County or the Platte Valley. But not so with the eft'ect of the land upon some of them. The land so charmed the eye of many and created so abiding an impression on the mind of many beholders, that after going forth to the west and becoming wearied with the unequal contest of the camp, or downed by the overwhelming vicissitudes of prospecting, they abandoned the pick and spade for the surer implements of husbandry. Remembering the beautiful valleys, they straggled back and settled- along the Overland Trail or new trans continental highways to amass a competence for their declining years, on the slower but surer plan. ARRIVAL OF PERMANENT SETTLERS The detailed stories of the arrival of the first permanent settlers of the various locali ties is told in this and other chapters of this work. The first brave colony to arrive in 1857 near Grand Island has been treated here tofore, and the story told in their own words. The passage of the Mormons, their temporary HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 65 settlement at the west border of the county, has been recounted. The pioneer settlements in the southwestern quarter of the county will be narrated in the story of the Wood River Valley. Throughout the county, during the sixties, here and there small groups of pio neers picked ottt their farms and made settle ments which developed into communities and into townships. These will be reached as the stories of the various townships are covered in the following chapters. Here and there a little town started, but soon expired. The earliest instance of such was a settlement about seven miles west of the first town, called Mendotte. Four houses were erected there by David Crocker, William Roberts, M. Potts, and Billy Painter. The town was abandoned soon after, and the site was ocupiqd by David Crocker, who later sold his claim and moved to Santa Barbara, California. THE COWBOY REGIME The early pages of Hall County history are written to some extent in blood, but not so much as many of its neighboring counties. Along with the tales of massacres by prowl ing and vengeful Indians there were nume rous encounters with the lawless element in cident to life beyond the reach of the arm of the law and justice — the confidence man and gambler. But the establishment of the county govemment, with the forces of law, even if rudimentary in character and machinery, so early after the settlement of the community, placed an early and somewhat effective check upon wholesale lewlessness, when compared with other communities. Occasional "old time" cowboys with a determination to "shoot up" the town and lawbreakers of all kinds newly escaped from the east would naturally drift in and raise a variety of disturbances. The desperado and the gambler, the floater who would follow the railroad construction, all appeared, but they did not remain long. The character of the class of sturdy pioneers who settled the Platte Valley through Hall County was of too sterling and practical a make-up to long countenance deliberate out lawry with' all that it begets. So all scum of civilization passed on. For the cowboy proper, with all of his dis tinctive individuality and pronounced traits. Hall County never became very extensively his abode. In its swift evolution of the virgin prairie of the Platte and Wood River valleys to homestead, such harrowing incidents of long border feuds and bitter warfare between ranchers and homesteader, Hall County es caped with the minimum amount. The long bitter contention, continuous parleying, and too frequent bloodshed between cowboy occu pant and pioneer homesteader as fell to the lot of Custer and other counties west of us. Hall County was fortunate enough to evade. In the late fifties and early sixties, when the early pioneers of Hall County were arriving, the cattle industry in the Great Plains had taken on vast proportions. Great herds of cattle from Texas and the "Pan Handle'' were in full possession of "No Man's Land" of western Nebraska and western Kansas. Great tracts to the west and northwest of Hall County became literally swarmed with thousands of "rangers." The cattle kings seized upon good herding grounds and built home ranches on every available watercourse, to the exclusion of actual settlers desiring to make a small home-place. Once in their pos session, some of the cattle kings held to the country in defiance of all herd laws and home stead laws. The struggle still continues in a much modified and bloodless form in territory not far away from Plall County, but after fifty or sixty years have passed it is within the com mercial trade territory of Hall County's thriv ing metropolitan city. Grand Island. But like the North Loup country to the north of us. Hall County had the good for tune to become established as a realm of small farms and homes befo.re the rancher and cattle king reached her prairie in full force. The main brunt of the bloody struggles of that era. centered around Sidney, Ogallala, Plum Creek (now Lexington) and up into Custer County. Many of these characters visited Grand Island frequently, and oc casionally bloody episodes occurred here. But in the main, Hall County, compared to her neighboring cou-ntiasi to the west, can write her history of the cowboy regime in 66 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA ' about as many pages as Custer County must have chapters to cover the same phase of her existence and development. But there are a few incidents of those days, while they may have occurred outside of Hall County's boun daries, had their effect on the life of the day and maintain their interest in this phase of the history of central Nebraska. The years 1877 and 1878 witnessed a great influx of settlers to Custer County. The fine bottom lands along the water courses became settled and it really began to look as though the great herds of cattle would soon be en tirely excluded from their old watering places. This, to them seeming a gross injustice, an gered the cattlemen, especially as it was the general opinion that only the bottom lands were fit for agriculture; these occupied by farmers would render practically valueless for grazing the thousands of acres of unwatered hill country. Custer County, they argued, was a natural grazing country, and should be maintained as such. Another and the im mediate cause of many deeds of violence was the prevalence of "cattle rustling." It will be borne in mind that the cattlemen allowed their stock to roam at will over the range. This meant for months at a time per haps they would be beyond their owners' reach, who saw them usually but once a year at the annual "round up." The straying cattle would thus fall an easy prey to un scrupulous characters, who would coolly shoot them down, slaughter them, and haul them by wagon load to the nearest railroad station for shipment. This traffic took on vast propor tions before the catlemen could notice their losses. It must be remembered that this was before the Buriington railroad was built to the northwest out of Grand Island. In those days everyone, cattleman, homesteader, out law, or rustler, to communicate with the out side world and secure supplies or ship out freight, must needs come lo Grand Island, or go over to the Union Pacific at Kearney or Plum Creek. When finally the cattle people woke to a full realization of what was happening their rage knew no limits, and death by lynching would have been considered almost too good for a culprit caught in the act of rustling. The real thieves were and remained unknown. The cowboys, already prejudiced against the settlers, naturally enough charged these crimes to the latter. That the settlers did occasionally shoot and slaughter a beef or two there can be little doubt — nor was it more than fair recompense for their ruined crops — but that they were guilty of such wholesale slaughter and exportation no one believes for a moment. These crimes must be laid at the door of cattle thieves from the state at large. THE MITCHELL-KETCHUM AND OLIVE TRAGEDY Matters went from bad to worse till the cattlemen in their desperation resolved to drive the settlers to a man from the country. This initiated a state of lawlessness very seldom equalled in border feuds. Cold blooded murder, in its most cruel form, was repeatedly committed, and no man's life or property was deemed safe. The climax of all this misery was the murder and burning of Luther Mitchell and Ami Ketchum — one of the most dastardly crimes ever chronicled in the history of any nation. So gruesome are the details of this heartrending tragedy that we almost rebel against repeating them in this narrative. But it is deemed advisable to do so in order to better impress our readers with the true significance of Hall County's escape from the worst features of the cowboy regime. "One of the most wealthy of the cattle- owners of Nebraska was I. P. Olive, who owned many thousand head of stock that found pasturage in Custer County. He had, from time to time, lost a great many animals, some of them undoubtedly stolen by cattle thieves. For this reason he became the prime mover in the attempt to expel the settlers from Custer County. His headquarters were in this county, although he resided in Plum Creek, Dawson County. He had come to Ne braska from Texas on account of having been concerned in the killing of several men while there, and it is said that he had been guilty of HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 67 other murders. Fearing both legal and personal vengeance, he fled to Nebraska. He was accompanied by his brother, Robert Olive, who had, to prevent all knowledge of his whereabouts, assumed the name of Stevens.^ "Luther M. Mitchell land Ami Ketchum were homesteaders, living on Clear Creek, where they had made a settlement some time previous. Mitchell was an old man, sixty- three years of age, a farmer, who had re moved here from Merrick County. Ketchum had resided in the state for some years and had worked at his trade, that of a blacksmith, fession, seemed to implicate Ami Ketchum. "Stevens, or Bob Olive, was well known as a desperado, and it was also known that he and Ketchum were enemies. Yet Sheriff David Anderson, of Buffalo County, made him deputy for thq occasion, and, gave him a warrant for the arrest of Ketchum. This warrant was sworn out by some members of the Olive gang, and it has been a question whether this warrant was gotten out in good faith, believing Ketchum to be a cattle thief, or merely as a pretext to get him into the custody of the Olives. It is now generally Early Scene in Western Nebraska in several towns, but, having decided to go to farming, he entered a homestead here. "For sometime there had been trouble be tween the Olives and Ketchum. In the at tempt to frighten or drive the settlers from the county, they found Ketchum too courag eous to be frightened, and too quick and accu rate in the use of firearms to be driven success fully. Between Stevens, or Bob Olive, and Ketchum, there had been a great deal of diffi culty. Stevens, as he was then known, had on several occasions threatened to kill Ket chum and had also accused him of stealing cattle. "Some days previous to the trouble that re sulted in the death of Stevens, one Manley Capel had been arrested on the charge of steal ing cattle in Custer County, and in his con- thought that Ketchum was innocent of any crime, that he was merely a peaceable settler whom Stevens was anxious to kill on account of the old emnity, and because he could not be driven from the country by threats. It is also generally believed that had he fallen into Stevens's hands, he would have been killed on some pretext or other; that there are reasons to believe these opinions to be correct, the following sketch of the ensuing tragedy will show. "Stevens engaged three others to accom pany him, all rough and desperate men, among whom was Barney Armstrong, and proceeded 1 There are numerous accounts of this tragedy, but one of the shorter and most concise accounts is that appearing in The Trail of the Loup, by Has kell and Foght, and with permission the editors of this work have adopted that one. 68 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA to the home of Ketchum, arriving there on Wednesday morning, November 27, 1878. Mitchell and Ketchum were getting ready on that morning to go to a neighbor's to return a bull they had been keeping. Mrs. Mitchell was preparing to go with them to visit the family of this neighbor — one Mr. Dows — during the day. When they were nearly ready to start, a stranger rode up and asked Ket chum, who was a blacksmith, to shoe his horse. Ketchum told him that he could not on that day, and asked him to return the next mom ing, which he promised to do and rode off. It has since been supposed that he came there in the interests of the Olives, to see if the in tended victims were there. Mitchell ' and Ketchum had put their rifles in the wagon, hoping to see some game on their journey. Ketchum also took his pistol, which he always carried, from the fact of Stevens having threatened his life. "While the men were taking care of the animal, Mrs. Mitchell took her place on the seat to hold the team. While Mitchell and Ketchum were tying the bull to the axle of the wagon and gathering in the long lariat rope by which it was tied, Mrs. Mitchell observed a party of men riding toward them, but it at tracted no particular attention, as they were frequently visited by hunters and land seekers. As these men came up, they dashed along four abreast, and when they came near, began shooting. Stevens, or Bob Olive, was the first to fire, and as he did so, he called to Ketchum to throw up his hands. For reply, Ketchum drew his pistol, and, at his first shot, Stevens fell forward in his saddle, mortally wounded. Meanwhile the other men kept up the shooting, and Ketchum was wounded in the arm. The -children came running out of the house, when one of the men began firing at them but with out effect. Mitchell reached into the wagon, secured his rifle and began firing, but Stevens now tumed and rode off, and he was soon followed by the remaining cowboys. There were from twenty-five to thirty shots fired, but only with the effect stated. As soon as the cowboys had ridden away, Mitchell and Ket chum packed up a few of their household goods and started to go to Merrick County, where Mitchell had formerly lived. They did this as they feared violence from the now en raged cowboys. Arriving in Merrick County, they went directly to the residence of Dr. Barnes to attend to Ketchum's wounds. The next morning, acting upon the advice of their friends, the men, Mitchell and Ketchum, hav ing secured a place of safety for Mrs. Mitchell and the children, started for Custer County, to give themselves up and stand a trial for the killing of Stevens. On their way, when they reached Loup City, they visited Judge Wall for legal advice. 'Judge Wall advised them to go no farther, as the cowboys were waiting for them, prepared to lynch them. They re mained there two or three days, and then went to the house of John R. Baker, on Oak Creek, in Howard County, where they were arrested by Sheriff William Letcher, of Merrick County, and Sherriff F. W. Crew, of Howard County, giving themselves readily into cus tody. "I. P. Olive had offered a reward of $700 for the arrest of Mitchell and Ketchum, and several sheriffs, among whom were Crew of Howard, Gillan of Keith, Anderson of Buffalo, and Letcher of Merrick, were anxious to cap ture them that they might secure the reward. But after they were captured and in the hands of Crew and Letcher, these officers were un willing to incur the responsibility of taking them to Custer County and turning them over to the blood-thirsty cowboys; therefore, they were finally taken to the Buffalo County jail in Kearney, and placed in charge of Capt. David Anderson, the sheriff of that county, for safe keeping.. The prisoners were first held without any legal authority, as I. P. Olive had given the warrant for their arrest, issued in Custer County, into the hands of Harney Gillan, sheriff of Keith County, to serve. The prisoners had engaged T. Darnall, of St. Paul, Nebraska, and E. C. Calkins, of Kear ney, as their attorneys. The attorneys en deavored to keep the prisoners in the jail in Kearney, fearing that violence might be done them. The feeling in Kearney at that time was against Mitchell- and Ketchum, who were HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 69 represented as having killed Stevens while he Avas fulfilling his duty as an officer of the law. A question arose among the sheriffs as to the division of the money offered as a reward for Mitchell and Ketchum, which Olive declined to pay until they were delivered in Custer County. A proposition was finally made to Sheriff Anderson to take them to that place, and $50 was offered him for his services. This he declined to do, however, unless he was paid enough to enable him to employ a sufficient number of men to guard the prisoners. It was finally arranged that Gillan, since he held a warrant for their arrest, should take the prisoners to Custer County, and he promised to notify their attorneys. Calkins and Darnall, so that they could accompany them. As Gillan was a sheriff, and his desperate -character was not then known, even these attorneys did not anticipate any serious diffi culty. They, however, kept close \yatch less the prisoners be stolen away. "On the afternoon of the 10th day of De cember, Darnall, fearing that the prisoners were about to be taken away, was keeping -close watch until after the emigrant train came in. This train was late, but Darnall remained at the depot until he thought it was about time for it to leave, when he started away. In the meantime, Gillan had taken the prison ers from the jail, and at just the last moment hustled them on the cars. Darnall, thus fear ing trouble, telegraphed to Gillan, at Elm Creek, first station west of Kearney, asking him if he would hold the prisoners at Plum Creek until the arrival of the next train from the east. Gillan replied that he would do so. To still further secure their safety he also telegraphed to Capt. C. W. McNamar, an attorney at Plum Creek, asking him to keep close watch, to see what was done with the prisoners on their arrival at that town. Plum Creek was the home of I. P. Olive, and here •he was surrounded by many friends and em ployees. They, with wagons, met the party as they got off the train, and putting the prisoners into a wagon, started at once for Custer County. This was about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Captain McNamar being unable to prevail on them to remain, and believing that it was the intention to murder the prison ers, followed them for some distance, when the party separated, some going in one direc tion and some in another. He followed after the prisoners, however, until after dark, when he lost their trail. The Olive party kept on, all coming together on the Loup River, about five miles from Olive's ranch, where they went through the process of transferring the prisoners from Gillan to Olive. Among those who took the prisoners were Bion Brown, Pedro Dominicus, and Dennis Gartrell. Gillan and Dufran walked up the road for a short distance, while the remainder of the party started on for Devil's canyon, Olive riding ahead and Gartrell driving the wagon. Olive stopped under a large elm tree. Two r6pes were thrown over a branch and Gartrell tied one around Ketchum's neck and Pedro Dominicus tied the other around Mitchell's neck. The ropes were not prepared with slip nooses, however, but were simply tied that their agony might be prolonged. The prison ers were handcuffed together. Ketchum was first drawn up. Olive caught up a rifle and shot Mitchell. Olive and Gartrell then caught hold of the rope and drew Mitchell up. Fisher and Brown pulled on Ketchum's rope. A fire was then kindled under them. Accounts differ as to whether this was done purposely or not. The party had been indulging freely in whiskey and some of them claim that this fire was started accidentally. However this may be the bodies were frightfully burned. The next day, when the bodies were found about three o'clock in the aftemoon, Ketchum was still hanging, with his legs burned nearly to a crumbling condition. Mitchell's rope had either burned off or had broken, and he was lying on the ground, one arm drawn up to Ketchum by the handcuffs, while the other was burned off up to the shoulder. "As soon as the bodies were found, Captain McNamar returned to Plum Creek and re ported the fact. I. P. Olive lived there and also several of the men who participated in the murder. They were well known as dan gerous characters, and no one cared to attempt 70 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA to arrest them. Indeed returning at once to Plum Creek, Olive and his men had threatened to kill anyone who should attempt to molest them. "After a few days a conference was held at the office of E. C. Calkins, at Kearney, to see what could be done. Sheriff James, of Plum Creek, Dawson County, Sheriff Ander son, of Buffalo, Judge Gaslin, E. C. Calkins, and others were present. The judge expressed a willingness to issue a warrant, but the ques tion was who would serve it. Sheriff James refused to do so, fearing that the murderers could not be captured and even if they could, that he would soon be hunted down by their confederates. Sheriff Anderson objected to going into another county to make an arrest _ attended with so much danger, but said that if the murderers came into Buffalo County he would not hesitate to attempt their arrest. Two warrants were were then made out for the citizens of Kearney and the law abiding portion of the inhabitants of Plum Creek had resolved that the capture should be made. Attorney General C. J. Dilworth, who resided on his farm in Phelps County, near Plum Creek, had for some time, with the assistance of others, been working up a plan for th* capture of the gang. On Saturday, January 5, 1879, he telegraphed to Kearney Junction that arrangements had been made to take the murderers, 'and that the citizens of Plum Creek only waited assistance. At the former place a well amied and determined party had been organized under the leadership of Law rence Ketchum, a brother of one of the mur dered men. This party had been anxious to attempt the capture of Olive, but had hitherto been held back by the wiser cou^cils of Dil worth, who sought by the use of a little strategy to surprise the crimfnals and thus save the loss of life that would neccessarily re sult from an open attack. "On receipt of the message above referred to, the Kearney party took the first train bound west and arrived at Plum Creek after dark. Here they were met by some of the citizens, who took them to a place of conceal ment, and, upon reconnoitering, it was de cided to wait until the next morning, when there would be no suspicion, and they could be captured one at a time. On Sunday morn ing Baldwin was seized at break of day at his hotel while starting a fire, A number of the party were captured one at a time, as they came for their mail. Fisher and others were arrested singly on the street. There was no bloodshed, and but little show of resistance. The prisoners were then taken into Kearney on a special train. On their arrival, Olive, Green, and some of the others, fearing they would be lynched, turned pale and showed the most craven fear. They were all confined in the Kearney jail at first, but subsequently were distributed to jails in different parts of the state. On Monday morning, after the cap ture of Olive, the Mexican Pedro Dominicus, Barney Gillan, sheriff of Keith County, and Phil Dufran were captured and brought in to Kearney. "The time appointed for the trial was the next spring. The place selected by the presid ing judge, William Gaslin, was at Plastings. An indictment was found against I. P. Olive. John Baldwin, William H. Green, Fred Fisher, Barney Gillan, Pedro Dominicus, Bion Brown, Phil Dufran, Dennis Gartrell, Barney Ami- strong, Peter Bielee, and a man called 'Sic In- duffer, for the murder of ^Mitchell and Ket chum. "The trial of I. P. Olive and Fred Fisher began at once and lasted for some time. Brown and Dufran turned state's evidence, and the evidence showed the murder to have been committed in the manner above stated. But Olive and his relatives were wealthy, and no expense was spared in conducting the case in their behalf. During the trial, which attracted the attention of the entire state, hun dreds of indignant citizens of various parts of the state went to Hastings, hoping to see jus tice done. Judge Gaslin was scrupulously honorable, and the murderers had a fair trial. It was known, however, that money was spent freely in behalf of the prisoners, and at one time it became so apparent that the end of justice would be thwarted that the people talked of lynching the prisoners, but as a conv HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 71 pany of soldiers guarded them this was not at tempted. Although the evidence was strong against the prisoners, showing that they had deliberately planned and executed a most foul and cowardly murder, the jury went out and retured with a verdict of guilty of murder in the second degree.. Judge Gaslin then sen tenced L' P. Olive and Fred Fisher to im prisonment for life in the state penitentiary, to Avhich place they were taken. "Immediately after the sentence of Olive and Fisher, their friends began to try to de vise plans to secure their release, and the trial of their associates in crime was postponed. The following year these efforts were success ful, and the convicts were released from the penitentiary upon a decision of the supreme court of the state ordering them to be set free on account of technical irregularities in the proceedings of their trial. Let it here be stated that Custer County had recently been formed from the territory that had before the county organization been in two judicial dis tricts but now was understood to be attached to the western district. The supreme court held that the prisoners must be tried within the limits of Custer County, and at the same time held that this county was in no judicial district and hence that the murderers could be tried before no district judge in the state. This was the decision of two of the judges of the supreme court, but Judge Samuel Maxwell, all honor to him, dissented in one of the ablest legal documents ever prepared in that court. "The decision of the court of course prac tically released the convicts and put an end to the prosecution of their associates, nearly all of whom, however, had been allowed to escape from the county'' jails in which they were confined. "The closing scene in this terrible drama of blood was enacted in Colorado whither I. P. Olive had sought refuge with his son William. For four years, so that story goes, had the re leased murderer been shadowed by some vengeful enemy, who had gone so far as to bring his son up to share this hatred. The two, father and son, never let the Olives get a moment's respite, but pursued them with the bitterness of death. Finally in 1884 the stroke falls. The son of the unknown avenger shoots young Olive dead in a billiard room ; the next day, at a cattle round-up, the crime hardened father falls before the unerring shot of the avenger in person." LIFE ON THE PLAINS PASSES "Life on the plains," with the many mem ories it awakens in the hearts of a goodly num ber of our citizens who still dwell with us, soon began to dwindle. When the golden spike was driven in 1869, which bound together the iron links in the great national rail highway, the knell of the wild period in the history of any western community was struck and de cline in wilderness began. Many stories of the succeeding decade would still be thrilling reading, if we had the space to place them. But, nevertheless, the whistle of the first loco motive through central Nebraska, in July, 1866, had already pierced the deepest signifi cance of the words "life on the plains." Ever after that, the words "I crossed the plains" lost the significance they had possessed when spoken by a bronzed pioneer who had crawled along in an emigrant caravan, or jostled along on horseback, or jolted along on the stage. THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE WOOD RIVER VALLEY By O. M. Quackenbush Time works wondrous changes. What is to day one of the most beautiful, productive, and well settled valleys in this broad land of ours was little more than fifty years ago described and known as the "Great American Desert" Gray-haired men and women, now spending their declining years in comfort and content ment in the beuttful Wood River Valley, as boys and girls in far off eastern states used to pore o'er their atlases wherein it described the territory lying between the Missouri River and the Rocky Mountains as a trackless and a treeless waste, where the shaggy buffalo in countless thousands roamed at will and the dusky redskin pursued the chase and engaged in savage warfare. Little did these boys and 72 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA ei <2; Pi aoo HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 7Z girls think their declining years would be spent in the same "Great American Desert," surrounded by the comforts and luxuries of a cultured, prosperous, and happy people. Time has actually worked this wondrous change though it runs more like a fairy tale than a happy reality. Though the people of the United States knew little or nothing of what is now Nebraska and the Wood River Valley less than a century ago, it may not be familar to many that it is gathered from pretty reliable authority that many centuries before the people of Spain had a fairly good descrip tion of Nebraska. From old papers collected from Spanish archives it is learned that a Spanish cavalier by the name of Coronado explored the territory of Nebraska as early as 1541 and sent to Spain a fairly good descrip tion of the same. He writes : "It is not a country of mountains there being but hillocks and plains with streams of excellent water. I judge it must be quite fertile and well suited to the cultivation of all sorts of fruits." , Describing the buffalo, he says : "These oxen are of the bigness and color of our bulls, but their horns are not so great. They have a great bunch upon their fore-shoulders and more hair on their fore part than on their hinder part, and it is like wool. They have, as it were, a horse mane on their back -bone ; and much hair and very long from their knees downward. They have great tufts of hair hanging down from their fore heads, and it seemeth that they have beards because of the great store of hair hanging down at their chins and throats. The males have very long tails and a knob or flock at the end, so that in some respects they resemble the lion and in some others the camel. They push with their horns, they run, they overtake and kill a horse when they are in their rage and anger. Finally, it is a foul and fierce beast of countenance and form of body." But to the early settlement of Wood River. In the early fifties when the California gold fever was at its height the news had been carried back to the eastern states by 'the gold hunters that there were good streams and fertile spots in the "Great American Desert," and soon adventurous spirits began to cross the Missouri and settle in Nebraska. The first person to settle in the vicinity of Wood River was "Pap" Lamb, who located about six miles east of the present site of Wood River in the winter of 1858. In the spring of 1859 William Eldridge and Patrick and Richard Moore followed, the former taking claims about four miles east of Wood River and the latter three miles west of Wood River. The year following, in 1860, came James Jackson and Anthony Moore, who settled near Patrick and Richard Moore. Captain Smith, the Anderson family, a man by the name of Story, Ed O'Brien, James Cooke, John Maher, Joseph Ross, and Roger Hayes came shortly after. The settlers com menced operations by building log houses, hauling logs with ox teams from the Platte River, and breaking prairie. The fresh broken sod was planted to corn, and garden patches were started. The sod com and gardens did fairly well and the settlers were able to raise not only enough for their own use but had some to sell to the Pike's Peak gold hunters, who were streaming through the valley, and to the soldiers stationed at Fort Kearney. The first year the Moores sold several hundred dollars worth of corn and melons to the soldiers. Buffalo, elk, deer, and wild turkey were plentiful and everybody was handy with the gun, thus the settlers were well supplied with meat. From the outset these hardy pio neers did well. Any surplus they raised found a ready sale at Fort Kearney and to the travel ers passing up and down the valley. Buffalo were very plentiful at this time and the settlers made considerable money hunting them for their meat and hides. They also bought robes of the Indians and sold them again to good advantage. At first the Indians were friendly, but along in 1862 when most of the soldiers had been called to the Civil War they became ugly and on February 5, 1862, committed a horrible massacre. Cap tain Smith, his son-in-law Anderson, with his three sons, Alexander, Charles, and William, were hauling logs on the Platte River east of the present town of Wood River. Anderson 74 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA had hauled one load home and on his return for another he found that the captain and his three sons had been killed by the Indians. Mr. Smith had several arrows through his body. Charles had his neck broken and his skull smashed in. William's skull was smashed and his mouth was cut from ear to ear and Alexander was found some distance away with his skull broken and his body other wise mutilated. Mr. Eldridge headed a party which captured a number of Indians and turned them over to the soldiers at Fort Kearny. Through fear of an uprising the Indians were shortly turned loose. It was afterward discovered that the Indians cap tured did not do the killing. For two years afterward the Indians caused no trouble, but in August, 1864, wild reports came down the valley that the Sioux were massacreing the settlers, which reports so frightened the Wood River settlers that they took their fami- hes and stock and rushed down the Platte Valley, never stopping until they reached Fre mont, got over their scare, and the next day started back for their homes and on getting back found everything as they had left it, and no Indians in sight. The next spring while Mr. Story was hunting buffalo in the bluffs he was killed by the Indians and his team stolen. He was shot in the back with arrows, one of them passing entirely through his body. Nearly all the settlers who had fled to Fremont did not return to their homes until the following spring. Aside from the Smith- Anderson massacre and the killing of Story, the Indians committed no serious depreda tions, but for a number of years the settlers were fearful of them and on several occasions collected at one or the other of their houses and prepared to defend themselves against the threatened attacks, but the Indians never came and the settlers never fled from their homes but the once. The early history of the Wood River Valley would not be complete without mention of the grasshoppers. The grasshoppers visited the valley no less than eight times, commencing in 1862 and ending in 1876. In only two of their visits was any great amount of damage done. In 1869 millions of them came and ate up all the corn, but fortunately the small grain was out of harm's way. May 22, 1873, the country fairly swarmed with the hoppers but they did little damage. The worst damage was done in July, 1874, when they came in such multitudes that the sky was darkened and the valley was fairly alive with creeping, crawling hoppers. Everything that was green and eatable was devoured by them. For tunately quite a little of the small grain was ripe and this was untouched by the hoppers. The last visits of the grasshoppers were made in 1875-6 and considerable damage was done but they left some of the crop for the use of the settlers. As the land became broken up moisture increased, which proved fatal to the grasshoppers, and they along with the buffalo are matters of history to Nebraskans. THE FIRST POST OFFICE The first post-office was established near Shelton along the river in 1864, presided over- by James Cook, the office being a little log- house, and was called White Cloud. Along in 1865 James Jackson became postmaster. The office was moved to his store which was located at what is now known as "Old ^^'ood River," and on his suggestion the name was changed to Wood River. In the fall of 1864 Mr. Jackson started the first store in old Wood River, hauling his stock by wagon from Omaha. OLD "wood RIVER station" In 1866 the Union Pacific came through the valley and established a station at ^^'ood River with Mr. Chittenden as agent, followed by Mr. Adams, and he in turn by W. B. Hollister. Fred Hollister was born at the old station. Mr. Jackson had the only store at the old station, with the exception of Mr. Baker who ran a store for about a year and Pat Neville who ran a saloon there for a year or so. PRESENT wood RIVER STARTS In 1874 the present town of Wood River was platted by the U. P. railroad and the station moved to the new town. Mr. Jackson HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA /o immediately moved his store and residence to the new Wood River, his store and resi dence being the first in the town. wood river valley settled \\'ith the coming of the railroad, settlers began to pour into the valley. Among the first to arrive were Freem Dodge, Thomas Neville, James Williams, Riley Abbott, "Bill" Johnson, James and Richard Keefe, P. Brett, P. Duggan, John Maher, Tom Smout, Pat Neville, followed by David Barrick, Chas. Towne, N. T. Brittin, Joe Murphy, Frank Howe, J. Bulger, John O'Connor and quite a number of others. About this same time Prairie Creek was settled up, among the first settlers being Wm. Dudds, E. O. Palmer, Let Houghton, Seth Lee, Jim Cannon, the Filing brothers, N. P. Dickensen, Noel Henderson, and several other families. The valley from this time on settled up rapidly and farm houses sprang up in every direction until at the present time the Wood River Valley is one of the best settled sections of Nebraska. The log houses and sod shanties have given place to substantial modern dwellings and the ox team and bull cart have been replaced by sleek trotters and fine carriages, which must forsooth gradually, give way to speeding, auto mobiles. The old settler of today, surrounded by all the evidence of modern civilization, looks back to his pioneer days in the Wood River Valley and is led to the conviction that, truly, time works wondrous changes. THE JIM BO'i'D RANCH The place known as the Boyd Ranch was in section 14, township 9, range 14 west. This, it will be noted, is the second range west of Hall County's west line, placing it about eight miles west. But in early days eight miles was a short distance, and as this place was one of the first landmarks west of the Missouri River, on the California-Mormon-Ove;^land trail, it played such an important part in the history of the west end of Hall County, that some space may well be given to a short ac count of it. It was located on Wood River at a point where that river approached nearest to the Platte, less than three miles distant. It was about twelve miles north and east of Fort Kearny. An account is given by Riley Wes- coatt of finding the ranch there in 1853 when he was taking a herd of cattle to California. James E. Boyd, after whom the ranch was named, was govemor of Nebraska in 1891-2. He came to Buffalo County in 1858. He had been married in August, 1858, to Ann H. Henry, daughter of Dr. Henry, who figured prominently in the politics of this region in after years. They broke prairie on the ranch very soon and he could be seen plowing in 1860. From the first liquor was sold on the ranch. Governor Abbott details securing the first brewery equipment used in Hall County, formerly used at the Boyd ranch. This small brewery when stationed on the banks of Wood River brewed about ten kegs of beer at a time, which he sold at the fort and at Dobytown for from six to eight dollars a keg. They had also- an icehouse there. The hole in the ground where their cellar was located is still noticeable from the highway. Until about 1864, the buildings at the ranch were of logs and dirt roof. Mr. Boyd secured deed to the land comprising the ranch from the United States in 1867, and the land was paid for in script issued to a private in Cap- fain Henry's Georgia Militia in the war. The ranch was sold to a man by name of Eddy in 1874. The Boyd ranch became a station on the stage line established in 1860 by the Western Stage Company, as mentioned in another chapter by Norman Reese. CHAPTER V REMINISCENCES AND NARRATIVES OF PIONEERS Details of the Anderson-Smith Massacre, by Mr. and Mrs. John ThomssEn, Sr. — Her Quota Furnished, by A. Schernekau — Reminiscences of a Hall County Pio neer, BY Norman Reese — Early Life — Arriving at Grand Island — Other Early Settlers in Wood River Valley ¦ — Our First Farming — Stage Routes — Squire Lamb's Route — During the Civil War — • Indians had Visited — Pressed into Serv ice AS Scout — Uncle Sam's Surveyors — Many Middle Men — The. Right op Way- — During the Last Days of Indian Occupation, by W. E. Martin, Doniphan, Nebraska — Settlement Here — ^An Early Serviceable Well — Our Early Neighbors — Indian Visitors — Indians' Outfit and Customs — Let the Women do the Work — The In dians' Camp — Their Evening Meal and Menu — Preparing Clothing and Meats — A Broken Axle — Samuel Clay Bassett — A Few Glimpses of Early Life in Hall County — William (Jack) Anderson Settlement — Goes into Business — The Storji OF 1873 — The Cowboy Regime — Three Years at Sidney — A Freighting Expe rience — Grand Island in Early 'Eighties — Early Horse Race — Other Early Recollections — A Rattlesnake on Locust Street DETAILS OF THE ANDERSON-SMITH MASSACRE Scenes Presented Shortly After BY MR. AND MRS. JOHN THOMSSEN Mrs. John Thomssen, who was the one single young lady who came to the present Hall County with the first settlers, relating briefly her experiences states that on account of the threatened starvation of the colony, she left the settlement in September, two months after the location, for Omaha, and on March 5, 1858, went to Council Bluffs for two years. In 1860 she was there married to John Thom ssen. In the spring of 1860 they returned to the settlement and left for Fort Kearny shortly afterward, remained at Fort Kearny three months and then returned to Hall County, residing here ever since. Most of this traveling was done by ox-team, excepting the trip on the return from Fort Kearny which was done by stage, "Pap" Lamb being the stage driver. John Thomssen, Sr., had the following to say for an historical edition of The Independ ent in. 1907 : "Fort Keamey was at that time our market for com and produce. We had to cross the Platte River near Fort Kearny, which was no small job with a loaded wagon. One "day Charies Boehl, Henry Thomssen, and I started out for Fort Keamy with corn. We had ox teams and traveling was slow. We got as far as the site of the present Wood River where lived two families by the name of Smith and Andrews. There was some snow on the gi-ound and Smith and Andrews had been hauling wood on sleds from the creek. Just as we drew near Mr. Smith came up from the creek with his empty sled, at full gallop, gesticulating to the women folks as he drew near. We were soon at the scene. When we arrived everybody was crying. We at once learned what had happened. The Indians had' killed Andrews and his two sons and also- the Smith boy. Mr. Smith had escaped. We 76 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 77 made a hurried trip down to the creek, which was only a little distance from the house. The first thing that we saw was the sled loaded with wood. But the horses were gone. The harness was cut to pieces and scattered about. A little distance from the sled lay Mr. Andrews, dead. An arrow had struck him from the side under the arm and had nearly gone through him. He was lying under a bank where he had probably gone for shelter. We next found the axe. It was covered with blood. We found the Andrews boys nearby. They were both dead. One of the boys was lying with his face downward, with a club across his neck, but no arrow was to be seen. Evidently he had been knocked down with the club and then murdered with the Jixe. The other hoy was shot with an arrow through the wrist and then brained with the axe. Both of the boys' faces and clothes were covered with blood. We hunted for some time to find the Smith boy but hardly dared to go farther into the woods for fear of being attacked by the Indians ourselves. The boy was found by other parties next day. He had also been shot and clubbed to death. We hurriedly alarmed what neighbors we could, got together eighteen men, and started in pursuit of the Indians. They had gone west up Wood River. During the next night there came another snow storm which obliterated all tracks and we retumed home." HER QUOTA FURNISHED How Original Settlement Provided Volunteer That Bondsmen Might Be Freed. BY A. SCHERNEKAU Landing in New York on March 24, 1857, I came direct to 'that Mecca of all Schleswig- Holsteiners — -Davenport, Iowa. I found that my cousin, Fred Hedde, had procured work for me on the farm of Mr. Rusch, near Dav enport. He himself had left a few days pre viously with a party of Germans for the Platte River Valley in Nebraska. It was his desire for me to remain at work on the farm to ac climate myself before undertaking the trip into the western wilderness. Mr. Hedde returned in the fall to Daven port and in the spring of 1858 the trip over land, to Council Bluffs, was undertaken. We were a small train of perhaps seven wagons in all, drawn by oxen. Owing to an unusually late and wet season we had to undergo many hardships in crossing the numerous swollen streams, bridges being either swept away or standing in the wide bottoms, all approaches to them being covered with water and only to be reached by wading and swimming, hold- A. Schernekau ing to an ox-bow while driving, and guiding your team through the raging waters to the bridge. But, after long delays and much waiting for the waters to subside, we reached Omaha. From there we took the "military road" only lately surveyed up the valley of the Platte. Here we found a few substantially built bridges, erected by the government, over, the Papilion Creek and the Elkhorn River. Our traveling was better up the valley. Only the insignificant "Prairie Creek" caused us some trouble in crossing the same, as the bottoms were very soft. I will here suggest to the indulgent reader of these notes to imagine a lot of green immigrants from Europe, unac quainted with the country, with its customs. 78 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA; and even, to a large extent, with its language. It was really not an easy task that these men and women had before them. But, young and strong, and with great hopes of a brilliant future, we straggled on. In July — I have not the exact date on hand — we finally reached the settlement. COTTONWOOD AS BASIS We found four double log houses built and occupied by the colonists who had preceded us. The houses had been built with a view , of defense, in case of an Indian attack, being provided with loop-holes for musketry, the cattle to be corralled in the space left between them, the houses themselves forming part of tlie inclosure. The town of "Grand Island" had been sur veyed and also the "claims" of the settlers. Each one of the latter wishing to have some land close to the "city limits" it was decided that forty-acre tracts should be laid out all around the town, touching with one side of the city hmits. These tracts were then, by lot, distributed to the original colonists who had come in '57. The strip of timber on the islands. in the north channel of the Platte were surveyed, similarly in twenty arce lots, and "drawn for" or chosen by lot, among the im migrants, as for the forty-acre pieces. As no government survey had been made this survey started from a big dead cottonwood tree on an island in the river, near the northeast corner of the town. Ditches and sod walls in place of fences had been constructed by the industrious and hard-working people, 'but were afterwards abandoned, partly as being only imaginary lines and partly because they did not give satisfaction as permanent enclosures. The sod did not grow but, with the sandy soil and the burping by the hot rays of the summer sun, the disintegration was soon almost complete. The only houses in the town proper, as laid out, were two log structures with double roofs — one put up by Mr. Hagge and the other, I believe, for Mr. Hedde, who soon afterward moved to his claim, on the west side of town as then laid out. Land had been broken up on the different claims of the settlers and corn planted; but little was raised this season owing to the fact that the cattle got in and destroyed the crops. The season being so un usually wet there was a rank growth of grass all over the bottom, such as I do not remember ever having seen since. In doing our work we were always more or less wet, going through the sloughs filled with water, or through the long grass. The result was that most of us had attacks of fever or ague dur ing the summer. I was one of the last to be taken ill — we were mowing slough grass and binding the same into sheaves to thatch the house of Mr. Hedde, at the time. The roofs of some of the first cabins, made of cottonwood bark, did not answer the pur pose at all. Thatch was therefore substituted as roofing material. LEARNED WHAT FIRES WERE A rather pleasant winter from 1859 to 1860 brought a disastrous prairie fire — I think in January of the latter year. By this fire most of our provisions were burned, which again almost rendered the little community to the famine conditions that had prevailed in the first winter when provisions from Omaha failed to arrive in time. This year, however, the general government stepped in and pre vented extreme suffering by sending us a month's rations for thirty men. Plow little we knew the nature of and there fore how little we at first feared the prairie fire will be illustrated by the following: I was at the time living with Mr. Hedde, west of the "town" limits. The day was bright and pleasant. We saw, about noon, the long lines of the flames of a prairie fire below the settle ment — that is the four double log houses built by the first settlers. It was suggested after dinner that I hitch up — that was put ting the ox team to the farm wagon which had to do duty as a runabout — and drive Mrs. Hedde down to get a good view of the fire. We did not realize the danger and in what short time it would be upon us. Before we had gone far the fire had reached the houses and we had to hasten down there, to help, if possible. The next year I had my own land and was HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 79 building a small cabin, 12 x 16 feet. I broke land and planted corn and regarded myself as having reached my ideal — a real cabin and 160 acres of land which I could call my own. This land was located west of Mr. Hedde's and Mr. Stolley's, west of the original town of Grand Island, and a part of it is now occupied as a site for a beet sugar factory. While I was living on this land the war broke out. WERE ABOLITIONISTS In common with a very great majority of the Germans who had come to the country in the previous years, I was an ardent abolition ist and the desire to assist in the carrying out of these views as well as the sense of duty to my adopted country, led me to enlist. When the first regiment of infantry was raised in Nebraska my affairs at the farm were in such shape that it was impossible for me to join the same. In the fall of the year, however, when a second call was made to fill up the depleted ranks of the regiment and Hall County came in with two men for her share, I concluded that I would be one of them. In a meeting one Sunday, at Schuler's, I came forward as a recruit to represent Hall County as one of her quota and Jack — (I have forgotten his name) volunteered also but for some reason or other he did not go- to the front. In October, 1862, I enlisted at Ne braska City where the recruiting officers were stationed, and in a few weeks found myself at the front, joining the regiment when it was on the Black River, in Missouri. There followed three years of a soldier's life with such experiences and incidents as such a life brought to thousands during these years. I was wounded while on the White River in Arkansas, came back to Grand Island on sick leave, and finally joined my regiment again, which had again been re cruited up and reorganized and sent to fight the Indians on the plains. While at home on a furlough we had our miniature "Indian war" at Grand Island. The "O. K." store, the big log building, )vas fortified by building a big sod wall with bastions on the four corners around the iame large enough to hold wagons and cattle of the settlers flocking in from all sides for protection. General Curtis coming up from Omaha with an expedition to protect the Overland road left with us a six-pounder field piece, with ammunition. We had no occasion ever to use the cannon, neither was our "fort" at tacked. The settlement proper never was mo lested, the Indians probably being aware of our preparations. We were, however, in my opinion, very lucky not to be attacked by the red-skins at that time, , as our guns were very indifferent, consisting of all kinds of rifles, some shotguns, a few government muskets (condemned), and a great number of all makes of revolvers. The greatest trouble was the lack of proper ammunition for all of these arms. Though half an invaHd I was at that time able to ride a horse and with several others , of the young unmarried men of the settlement, had to patrol the country north west and east of us. We never got a glimpse of the hostiles but frequently found signs where they had been. PLEASURE MIDST HARDSHIPS After being discharged from the service, in 1865, I went back to my farm, selling my first claim west of town. This time I took up another piece of land, east of the old site where, with the help of my neighbors, I erected a double log house under one roof made of slough grass. Lumber and shingles were yet almost unknown in the little com munity. A few boards were required for doors, and door and window casings were whipsawed out of cottonwood logs and it was hard and particular work. Old Frederick Vatje is made to say, in our friend Sass's immortal "long song" (dat Lange Lied) : "So stuen he in de Sagkuhl And sae ; de Audern sind man ful." Yes, with all of our hardships and the hard work we performed, often under the greatest of disadvantages — ^ because being green, new emigrants, we could not be expected to under stand and did not understand the life and 80 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA' work on the frontier — we yet had a great deal of amusement among ourselves especially among those of us who kept "bachelor's hall." The names of Sass, Schaf, Nagel, Menck, and others only need to be mentioned to awaken in the old settlers the recollection of many jolly incidents. Much hard and useless work was per formed in the first years. I will only mention, for instance, the wall and ditch fences (a remnant of one of these preserved by trees planted on the same may today be seen on the section line road due south of Grand Island, just before one reaches the first channel of the Platte— Editor) and the clearing up of allotted wooded portions of the Island. At least Fred Vatje did work diligently to grub out underbrush, etc., so as to give the young growing trees a better chance to thrive. Others, like myself, planted trees and wild shrubs on their land, but with very little success. Not until Mr. Stolley came and went systematically at it were there many trees growing. Trouble with railroad contractors With the advent of the Overland railroad (Union Pacific) the settlers had another war on their hands. This time it was with the gangs of workmen sent out ahead, before the actual construction of the roadbed began. Contracts had been let to deliver ties and firewood along the line of road. The timber growing along the river, mostly on the islands in the same, was claimed by such of us as had land adjacent to the channel, we presum ing that the survey would not med^ider along the narrow north channel of the river. But as no government survey had been made this was in doubt. The railroad, interested in se curing all the timber in the region with which to constract as much of the track as possible, instructed its men to cut down all the timber. That which was unfit for ties was to be cut into cordwood. As our protests were not heeded we were advised by our counsel in Omaha to arrest the men engaged in cutting and hauling away the timber. The sheriff swore in a number of deputies, we arrested simultaneously a number of choppers and teamsters only to have them at once released on bonds given by the bosses, and. the trees were cut as before. The robbing us of the timber that should have been protected and would for years have been good for a supply of firewood was one of the causes which eventually led me to emigrate to a country where there was a natural supply of fuel, without shipment. END OF LOCAL EXPERIENCES Before I carried this out, however, I made a trip back to Germany, returning in June, 1868, to Grand Island. While in the Father land I was married and brought Mrs. Scher nekau with me. At that time the Union and Central Pacific were making great exertions to complete the overland route to Califomia. Everything was high and in great demand at the front, while the actual work of building was going on. Camps and little towns sprang Up at the temporary termini of the roads, and they needed, we were informed, among other things, a supply of milk. Our intention to emigrate west was again stimulated by these reports and in the spring of '70 just after the golden spike had been driven near Ogden, we set out on our long trip. We had, together, a herd of some twenty milch cows. Cheyenne was our objective point. And here end my experiences and recollections of the pioneer days of Grand Island. REMINISCENCES OF A HALL COUNTY PIONEER BY NORMAN REESE I was born in 1840 in Dane County, Wis consin. In 1858 my father leased me to the Great Venabury Consolidated Shows for two years, in my 18th year. I was with another boy of my own age. We played together as horizontal bar perfomiers as the Postering Brothers. Our parents received $75.00 per month during our traveling season of five months and $25.00 per month while in winter quarters. My father had been studying medi cine in the University College at Madison, and HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 81 received his diploma in 1858. In 1860 my father who did not own a home, decided to go into the far west. He purchased two wagons with heavy canvas coverings and a ' tent, a stove, break plow, and a few tools that we would need in a new country, with two yokes of oxen, one yoke of cows, hovisehold effects, provisions to last over the journey, and a supply of drugs and medicines to last for a period of two years, and we started out. The first week we made about six miles of progress a day. We never saw a mile, of rail road after leaving the capital of Wisconsin until the Union Pacific went through Nebraska in August 1866. When we came to the Loup River near Columbus we found but a few dwellings at Columbus. Incidentally when we arrived, the man who conducted the ferry was on a spree, and wanted $5.00 to take us across, and this was more than my father had. He was, therefore, obliged to go 15 miles up the Loup River to the Genoa crossing. There at the Pawnee Reservation we saw the Pawnee tribe, the first Indians with which we came in contact. The man here ferried us across for $2.00. There was a company of United States soldiers protecting the reservation against hostile Sioux, Cheyennes, and Coman- ches, which tribes were on the war path against the Pawnees. When we reached Eagle Island, the stage station, a band of Pawneees were on the other side of the Platte River after a herd of antelope, and a band of Sioux attacked them and stole them from them. The Pawnees came upon us just as we were camping, and impudently surrounded our little caravan and relieved us of all our provisions. A little later two Pike's Peak gold seekers joined our company, camped with- us, and gave us the first Buffalo meat we ever ate. ARRIVING AT GRAND ISLAND We proceeded to make our way to the city of Grand Island, for my father had an old acquaintance who had come out from Dane County, Wisconsin, in 1858, in old Squire Land, who kept a stage station 35 miles east of Fort Kearny. We really came out on the urging of Mr. Lamb, who had written my father that there would be a letter with money at the Grand Island post office. When, there fore, we arrived at Grand Island, we were unable to find the city, but saw a lone shack on the north channel of the Platte, south of where Grand Island is now located. When we asked how far it was to Grand Island the man said we were there, and informed my father that he was post master. His post office was a cracker box partitioned off. His name was John Schuler. He declared that there was one letter in the post office and that was for my father. It contained $2.00 "Shin Plasters." There were very few settlers in Wood River Valley at that time, and they were five to eight miles apart. We selected a site and with the aid of my father's neighbors, he was not long in putting up a log cabin 22 feet long and 18 feet wide with a thick roof of Nebraska shingles (sod). Fort Kearny, 35 miles or so west, was the nearest trading point, there be ing the settlers' store, controlled by the gov ernment, and the only trading place until Mr. Koenig and Mr. Wiebe erected a large, log store, at Grand Island (O. K. Store). To the west, the early settlers who came in 1860 and took up claims on Wood River, were Richard, Anthony, and Patrick Moore, and James Jack son, Judge Beal and his family, settled on Wood River, a man by the name of Townsley, foster father of Mrs. William Eldridge, with his family, settled on what is known as the Gallup farm. Mrs. Eldridge's parents had died when she was seven years of age, and an aunt took her to raise when she was twelve. This aunt joined a colony of Mormons and left England bound for St. Louis, but died on the way over. The Mormons brought the waif with them on a steam boat bound for Florence, Nebraska, just nortli of Omaha, where a church train of Brigham Young was waiting for them. A church train consisted of thirty wagons and a Mormon preacher to each train, holding services each evening on the journey. At Florence this orphan child was noticed by Mr. Townsley, a government interpreter, who received the consent of the Mormons to adopt her and took her to his home on the reserva- 82 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA tion. She lived there with the Townsley family among the Indians, learning their lan guage, customs, and tricks. The adopted child moved to Wood River with the Townsley family. There she met William Eldridge, who had settled in that locality in 1858. A ro mance formed and their marriage was one of the first in the county. OTHER EARLY SETTLERS IN THE WOOD RIVER VALLEY After the Moores came. Edmond O'Brien and John Maher. A few years later Mrs. Keefe, with her family of three children, lo cated on a claim just south of Richard Moore. Ted Oliver, his wife, brothers, and sisters, and mother, and a family by the ¦ name of Owens, who were enroute to the Great Utah Valley stopped here. They believed in the Mormon religion but had not joined the church and were making the trip independently. They located on Wood River, two miles east of Wood River Center, now known as Shelton, and located in Wood River in the spring of 1861. Jim Jackson at this time kept a gro cery store on his farm and he was appointed post master of the community, which was then known as White Cloud. The post office remained in this store until the railroad came through, when he built a new store on the new town site and a post office established there was called Wood River. A man by the name of Berry located on the claim now owned by Paddy Francis, who in 1861 sold or traded his claim to Mike and James Crane. OUR FIRST FARMING The first year we were here my father broke sod and planted corn with an old axle. That year we didn't raise anything because we had a drought, but there were thousands of buffaloes, deer, antelope, and elks roaming the plains and we made our living from their meat. Every cabin from the mouth of Wood River to Jim Boyd's ranch, which was the last house on the north side of the Platte, was. decorated with buffalo and antelope meat dry ing for future needs. We also had a barrel of corned buffalo meat. In 1861, the next year, father went at the farming operations again. He marked his ground off with a yoke of oxen. Father had done some blacksmith work so he made a cultivator out of two old spades which he got hold of up at Fort Kearny. I held the plow, my youngest sister drove the ox, one sister whipped him up. We put a mule collar on the ox, father had made a crude shovel plow out of old broken spades, and by giving the shovels just the right twist it could be used, and thus we got along in such a way as to get a crop in and get it cultivated. STAGE ROUTES We were located on the great western stage route, which ran from Omaha to Old Fort Kearny. It followed the old Oregon and Mormon and Califomia Trail. The stage line running from Plattsmouth to Fort Kear ny was called the Overland Stage Line. There was a stage line from Leavenworth, Kansas, which strack the Overland Trail at Sober Swiskey (Dobe Town) and Gamblers Roost twelve miles east of Old Fort Keamy, now known as Prosser. That was called the Snaky Hill Stage Line. The stage line running from Kansas City, called the Santa Fe Stage Line, intercepted the Overland west of old Phalon's Bluffs. From Fort Kearny on west to the Pacific coast this was called the Overland Stage and Pony Express route. These stage lines west, northwest and southwest, were controlled and operated by Ben Holladay. The stages were arranged for the comfort of the traveler, with cushion backs and seats, and could carry eight passengers very com fortably. A ninth would have to sit in front with the driver in his booth. The driver occu pied the largest part of that seat accompanied by mail sacks under the seat, his tool sack, water pail, buffalo robe and whip. There was also a rear booth on the stage for a trunk with a heavy leather curtain to buckle down, pro tecting them from storm. These stage coaches were built not on steel springs, but heavy leather springs, so in going over an ob struction the coach would not jolt, but simply rock back and forth. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 83 SQUIRE lamb's route West of Old Phalon's Bluffs, Spuire Lamb drove from the station at his place to Fort Keamy. He changed- his teams at Wood River Center where he usually put on four ¦big grey mules, which he drove through the Platte River. When the river was at full bank it made a dangerous crossing, but he never touched the reins or used a whip on the animals while they were passing through deep water. He guided the mules by the throwing of little stones that he carried in the front booth, and when he did whip the mules it was done with a trace chain. When he desired the animals to go up stream he would throw stones and rattle the trace chain and they would get into the collar in a hurry. The channel next to the last channel on the south, which is called ox channel, was very danger ous, and in high water it was very deep and the current very swift. More or less stock was drowned in this channel at different times, and passengers on the stage would get wet. The stage company at Omaha finally built a sand wagon with five inch tires on the tread, and between seven and eight feet high, its steps going up from the behind. This wagon was sent out by the company for this Platte River crossing. The drivers would leave the stage on the north side and the passengers' trunks would be put aboard the sand wagon. I was sent up with Squire Lamb on the sand wagon on the first trip through the river, and the passengers crossed in safety without getting wet. I sat in the front booth with the driver. Going into Ox channel the mules were obliged to swim for about 50 feet at one stretch, and all we could see of them was their ears, their entire bodies being submerged. I remarked to the driver that the mules would drown, and he replied that so long as their ears were two feet, six inches out of •w^ater they would not drown, and that they got their breath through their ears. I never knew before that mules breathed through their ears. All stage lines came into the stage barns at Kearney about the same time, hardly ever any one being more than an hour late. If they were late, it was usually on account of snow drifts or swollen streams. The stage barns were located across the road from the Fort where they kept extra horses, mules, stage coaches, and other accessories, and when there was an overplus of passengers for the west, they would put on an extra stage on the Overland route. West of Kearney, the Pony Express was put in. They paid $50.00 and board for working on these stages. A dolla:r in those days looked as big as a wagon wheel. The limit to weight of persons driving a stage was 135 pounds, ¦ and when measured and weighed at Kearney I filled the bill. My par ents thought $50.00' 'was too little and- the route too dangerous, but I kept at it and was considered a good and easy rider, and I never heard of a Pony Express rider being held up, although they carried the most valuable parcels. DURING THE CIVIL WAR While the Civil War could not take many away from such frontier settlements as we had out here, the Indians became very trouble some as early as 1862. They would make a break down the valley and run us in our cabins, and take all our buffalo meat. We would hard ly get our cabins lined up again before they would make another raid, which was very dis couraging to the settlers. So^ne of them would stop and converse with Mrs. Eldridge, as she could talk the Sioux and Cheyenne tongues, and once or twice she saved the settlers from serious trouble. The redskins knew that a serious conflict was going on between the North and South and diverting the attention of the federal government from them, so de- pradations of all descriptions were permitted on the plains. Some of these were planned by white outlaws, but not all. Important trains were attacked, horses and mules stampeded, and white villages attacked. As a rule the redskins could be mean enough without white men putting them up to anything worse. As Mrs. Eldridge often remarked, "they would sign a treaty with one hand and scalp you with the other." I understand the Smith massacre, Campbell raid, and other specific incidents and episodes of this period, as well as the stampede of 1864, are detailed in your 84 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA work by others. In 1864, 300 warriors, squaws, and papoose came up and surrounded the Eldridge home, and Bill thought his time had come, but they had come only to offer him his pick of ten ponies out of 500 for his wife. They wished to take her to Pine Ridge or Rose Bud, but Bill flatly refused. She had no fault to find with the Indians, as the happiest girlhood days had been spent in an Indian reservation, but she had married her paleface and wished to spend the remainder of her life among her own people. The In dians told her that if she did not go with them before twelve moons came around they would massacre the whole settlement. The Indians were then committing crimes west of Kearney on the Overland trail near Cottonwood Springs, where there was a small squad of soldiers stationed. The Indians in the stampede that followed these attacks of 1864 practically ran our whole community out of the Wood River Valley. Upon about fifteen minutes warn ing many of the families cleared out and never stopped until they got to Fremont or Colum bus. As I remember, the eighteen families that were then living in that valley were, Sol Reese, Jim Boyd, Storey, Nutter, Sol - Rich mond, Highler, Jim Jackson, Richard An thony, and Patrick Moore, Edmond O'Brien, Dugdale, Jack, Bob, and Ted Oliver, Bill Eldridge, Squire Lamb, and Fred Adams. The Martins located in south of the river, more towards Doniphan region, in 1862; John Thomssen Sr. who caine in 1857, was down in what is now Alda Township. The German Settlement, as it was called (down south, the present Grand Island), had fine homes started with good supplies of poultry, lands where they had plenty of corn, cabbage, and vegetables of all kinds and good grain. Just getting well fixed they were reluctant to leave their homes and thought out some means of protection. Koenig and Wiebe had a good stock of groceries and dry goods on the north channel of the Platte, which the people in Grand Island called Wood River, so they felt the same way. A large fortification was built around the premises of Koenig and Wiebe. This was a long stracture with walls made of sod about eight feet high and three feet wide with port holes. Some wanted to call it Fort Grand Island, others wished to call it Fort Wiebe, but Henry Timpke, who lived half a mile from the O. K. Store, said it should be named Fort Sauer Kraut, and it was known by this until the store was re moved. When our folks had to leave in July, 1865, Mr. Eldridge, Mr. Lamb, and my father had been putting up hay on the bottoms near our home. They had put up three stacks, one for each of the men, and were going to cut and draw the rest home, and they were going to put lip more, when the critical moment ar rived on August 1st. We learned the red-skins had cut the telegraph lines east and west of Fort Kearny, the stages stopped, and freighters were stopped. Jim Jackson rode down the trail and told us to load all our effects into our wagons. We left many things , behind. My sister had to leave a Chester White pig that was given to her in the spring and we left about half of our chickens to care for themselves. Never had our com and vegetables looked more promising, and all felt very reluctant to leave our homes, but all felt that we had to do it to save our lives. We bade goodbye to our cabin and traveled on until we reached Fort Sauer Kraut. There the Germans were expecting an attack at any moment, but w'e kept on, however, until our cattle became too weary to travel, and at 12 o'clock that night, put to camp for the first time. We kept on then until we reached Columbus. The other settlers would not slow up, but as fast as their stock would play out, they would sell it at any sacrifice. Two ladies died on the way back to Iowa, one the daughter of Jesse Shoemaker, who married Charlie Combs. She died just before reach ing Omaha. Another lady by the name of Mrs. Haisington, died east of Council Bluffs, from nervous overstrain. On reaching Fre mont we met a man who had a hundred tons of hay cut ready to be put in stack, and we hired out for wages, letting our cattle graze on the plains. While there a member of the town bdard appeared with a telegram from HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 85 President Johnson telling us to remain there. In less than ten days, he sent soldiers to es cort us back and to remain and protect our old settlement. At that time the Rock Island railroad had got as far west as Des Moines, so the soldiers and supply wagons were shipped to Des Moines, and in six or seven days they arrived. It turned out that they had been Confederate soldiers who had been taken prisoners by the Union army and rather than Fe thrown in prison, not knowing how long the war might last, they took an oath that they would not take up. arms against the United States, but would enlist in the United States service to protect the frontier settlers. This caused some bitter feeling among the settlers, who took their time in following these soldiers back to the settlement, for we couldn't begin to keep up with them. INIDANS HAD VISITED .When we got back to our cabin home our chickens had been killed and cooked in the old fire place and the bones were lying about. Our pig we never saw. It was also evident that the Indians had been at the Eldridge cabin, but we knew not why they had not burned the buildings. Most of the settlers on hearing of our protection returned to their claims that fall, and even more came in later in the year to take up claims. The more who came, the more sickness prevailed in the community and my father was kept quite busy. His charges were very moderate. His good nature, pleasant words, and good judgment, made him many friends, and his motto was, "Live and let live." If the doctors of today used the same good judgment that he used, there would be fewer operations and a great many less dope fiends. His practice grew steadily to the year 1869, when he passed to the Great Beyond. He left behind a good name and a good reputation that added to his memory for a long time. PRESSED INTO SERVICE AS A SCOUT After stampede — in 1865 — though I was only a lad of 19 years of age, I was pressed into the United States service as a scout. Jesse Eldridge, Bill's brother, and I were put on to do this duty, and we scouted from the Jim Boyd ranch (Wood River Center, now Shelton) up to the South Loup River. We had a load to carry with us on our horses, for we had to be provided with a carbine, Colts, field glass, compass, nose bag, harness, rations, canteen, tin cup, kettle, and a whole outfit that weighed about sixty pounds. Often we had to carry this on our back for fifty-five miles a day, rain or shine. My father took the stage to Kearney and interviewed the quartermaster about having me relieved from this duty, and was informed that in view of Indian dangers, some other man would have to be provided. My father went to Fremont and found a man who offered to go for $2900.00 but my father didn't have ninety cents, and offered him a yoke of oxen, but he would not take it. Another fellow an swered that he wasn't afraid of anything that wore hair, Indians or otherwise, and he would go for $600.00 but father couldn't do that either, so it was up to me to go. They were going to put Elridge on the west boun dary of our territory and put me on the east boundary, but he finally convinced them that it was only right for the two boys to be to gether. They told us if we saw any "hostiles"' that we should report. Anyway we were to report to Fort Kearny every Saturday night, and there to receive rations. At one time we ran across about 400 or 500 Indian tracks and immediately rode in and reported to the quartermaster. He would not believe us, but surmised it might be buffalo or elk tracks. But the Indians had evidently moved on. Three or four days after that we came up the stream towards the Bluffs on the South Loup and saw a place where the front gears of a wagon were buried in the mud and weeds, and on searching around we found the decomposed bodies of two men who had been shot. When we came down to the fort and reported this we were informed that we were not put- on as an expedition to hunt up old carcasses. It wasn't three days after that until we ran into 400 warriors and they pretty nearly got us. The north branch of Prairie Creek ran 86 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA through there and there was just one place that I knew we could possibly make the cross ing. The Indians came up on us near Prairie Creek, and that frightful yell of a war whoop they gave, it was worse than the yell of a beast in the jungle; our hair stood up on its end. We knew we had only one crossing we could make on Prairie Creek, and if we failed to make that, they would get us. The water was only two or three feet wide, but there was alkali mud and if the horses got down, good night ! It was the worst place to cross imagi nable, but with that pack back of us, we had to make it and God must have ruled over us or we never would have made it. When we came to that point we couldn't say anything, and I gave my horse a whack on the hip and he gave a lunge and got over to the other bank. We just barely got across and didn't have a couple minutes to spare. We thought our time had come, and had made up our minds not to be taken in captivity, for we thought that meant to be burned at the stake. Luck was with us and we got across all right. We had such a scare. I never had such a feeling come over me before or since. Eldridge said I didn't look like myself and I assured him later I certainly didn't feel like myself. We rode into Jim Jackson's and our horses were pretty well jaded after that long exciting ride. There was a corporal stationed two miles west of Jim Jackson's and he happened to be at Jackson's postoffice and store for his mail, so we told him our story; he gave us orders to ride straight through to Fort Kearny and report it at once. We notified the settlers to be on the lookout for we didn't know whether those Indians might come on down or not. We . told this corporal we didn't consider ourselves bound by his orders, even if we went to guard house. Jackson had some mules there and he said, "Boys, I will take care of your horses and you take the mules and ride on and report this matter." Eldridge wasn't very fond of riding a mule. I had noticed mules hitched before, so when I got the saddle on him, I tried to mount and went up in the air. I saw five-pointed stars in every direction. Well, we went on to Kearney and reported the matter to the quartermaster's lieutenant com mander, and he questioned and cross-ques tioned us. He wanted to know where we first saw those Indians and we told him a mile and half west of the big sand bluff (about where St. Michael is now) and he asked how many there were, and we told him about four hun dred; he said, "Weren't you men just scared and imagined that many?" and I told him I didn't think so ; he said, "that is a pretty big number," and asked if we counted them and I told him we didn't have time ; and he insisted, how did we know there were that many. Then he asked if we would swear to it under oath • that there were more than twenty-five of those Indians. We answered that if there had only been twenty-five, after we reached Prairie Creek bottom we would have held our ground and held Aem at bay as long as our ammuni tion held out, then we could have crossed Prairie Creek. He said this would be looked into and if found to be false we must take the consequences. So he detailed a sergeant and twenty of the U. S. cavalry, and they proceeded to the South Loup River; we were to meet the sargeant and his men at the big sand bluff and receive a report on what they discovered. We arrived at the big sand bluff about 1 1 :30. At first we saw no signs and I began to fear, and then the sergeant's horse hoved in sight pretty soon. He liad five sol diers with him, and the other sixteen had gone back. The sergeant said the one thing we hadn't been correct on was the number, there were 560 on paper, as they found it. So we returned, going around by Fred Evans's, that night, north of Wood River. Their horses were not used to this kind of a jaunt, for we covered about eighty miles that day, and the sergeant had never been in that country and he didn't think much of it as a country to be in. When we rode into Fort Kearny and a report was made, the quartermaster agreed there was an apology due us. We were relieved by Major Frank North, who then took charge of the territory with his Pawnee scouts. We were relieved from this work and discharged. We had no regular clothing, we couldn't get money on our vouchers. They had to be en- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 87 dorsed and taken down by the express mes senger to the First National Bank of Omaha, where they would cash it and take a 10% discount, and the express messenger charged 5% for his collection work and delivering it. If it had had to go through another pair or two of hands we would have soon owed some body something on it. To add to the ignomy of our whole treatment, our discharge papers never came. The records disappeared when Fort Kearny was abandoned. John Tolbert, an interpreter, tried to look the matter up for us, but he never could trace it down in. the records of the department. I might add that Tolbert was an interesting character, who lived at Dobetown, two miles southwest of Fort Kearny, and kept a feed store there. He gave me an introduction in 1864 to Buffalo Bill, and the first thing Buffalo Bill asked me was my age, and when I told him, he said we might be twins. I was twenty- six days older than he. He was born on the 28th and I was born on the 2nd of February. On one occasion we got attacked by In dians, and they got the rest of the family into the house and the door closed before I could reach home. I had to take refuge the first place I could find, and backed myself into a badger hole, and squeezed in so tight, I could not go either way, and didn't dare to make a move, or a tomahawk might come over my head. For fifteen minutes I could hear Indians to one side and that animal gnawing on the other. I laid there until the shades of night came on and then I heard my father's voice and he came down and pulled me out.UNCLE SAM'S surveyors In 1866 the govemment sent out land sur veyors through Nebraska and two or three of them stayed at our place for several days going over their figures. They gave us quite a little information concerning section corners and half mile stakes and told us what amount of labor would be necessary to provide for steam boats to go up the north channel to the Platte River. This channel was called the meandering stream of the Platte River. Their figures showed that the north channel put out ten miles east of Fort Kearny, which forrned Grand Island. This channel went to the Old Long Tree Stage section. Their figures showed that Grand Island was sixty miles in its length, and ranged from half a mile to two miles and half in width. This had been known as Grand Island since the early 'fifties. In 1867 a company of surveyors came through and made three surveys, saying they were surveying for the railroad. Their second line of survey was selected for the route of the railroad. MANY MIDDLE MEN Woodchoppers were set to work, tie chop pers, saw mills put in action, and timber cer tainly flew along the track. The contracts for grading were let to some of the most noted political men, who sub-contracted them to private parties, and they in turn sub-con tracted them. These contractors all made the money, - but the men who did the work came out at the little end of the horn, but how the dirt did fly. When the day for the month's pay rolled around, the gang bosses informed the men that they would be obliged to throw off $5.00 of their wages. Most of the men had families, and inquired what this was for and were informed it was for a reserve fund, which they were told was cus tomary where they paid cash. If they did not consent to this, they were obliged to wait ninety days, but most of them were compellel to get it on account of their dependent fami lies. Even at this early date the monied men, speculators, and corporations controlled all the business matters, no matter of what nature. The little farmer, and small property holders, and hard working class of people paid their bills. Dear reader, I do not take those facts from any one. I have been through the mill. I have worked for corporations and private individuals, and in every case, I have been obliged to pay them interest on what they owed me. In the fall of 1867 and the spring of '68, the working gang began to work at laying ties with a force that averaged about seven miles a day. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA THE RIGHT OF WAY Eariy pioneers about this time received small pamphlets, which they thought were records of bills which had passed Congress, but in fact, it was a contract between the rail road and the government. It stated that the government would give the railroad company $15,000 for each mile of road they built through Nebraska, also every altemate sec tion of land for 30 miles each side of this track, as also 100 feet from the center of the track on each side of the right of way. The pamphlets also stated that all parties having claims in these sections, taken before these grants were made, would be allowed to hold them, and the railroad company forced to take the same amount of land in other locali ties. Cook Lamb's and my father's claims were the only ones that were in section 13. Years later under the McKinley administra tion a controversy had arisen between the gov ernment and the railroad company in regard to the right of way, but through an act of Congress, the company was granted 400 feet of right of way instead of 200, which- caused a great deal of dissatisfaction to those who had land along the line of the road as well as those who had purchased railroad land, a controversy which has raged for a long time, and is hard to tell but what money and cor porations will again control more than their rights, and those who are looking forward to redeeming a part of the right of way, will be compelled to take their medicine in large doses. Now a man of 73 years of age, I have been spared to live through all of these tortures and tribulations of the early pioneer days, but I have nevertheless been blessed to see this country grow from the bleak prairies and realms of Indians, buffaloes, and emigrant trails to as fine a farming country and beauti ful region of homes as there is anywhere under the sun. Note: A few words should be added to the foregoing sketch concerning Mr. Reese's family. Mr. Reese lived for many years on section 13, where his parents had located. In recent years he bought a small place down on the bank of Wood River, where he and his wife are living. His sight has been impaired in recent years, and for thirteen months he was almost blinded, but treatment under Dr. Gifford's direction has given him some use of his eyes. He was married at Wood River to Catherine Matthews, and they have raised two sons and two daughters. One son, Edward Reese, resides at Elgin, Illinois, where he is engaged in the shoe manufacturing business; the other son, Joseph, resides seven miles east in Alda township; the daughters, Mrs. Delia Woodward, of Denver, Colorado, and Irene Reese, in New York City, caring for an in valid aunt. This couple take great pride in one grandson, seventeen years of age, Syl vester Reese, son of Joseph Reese, now work ing for William Dristy, two miles west of their home. DURING THE LAST YEARS OF IN DIAN OCCUPATION IN PLATTE VALLEY BY w. E. MARTIN, Doniphau, Nebraska Our father came to this county in 1862. He had arrived in the United States from England in 1850, and lived first in Henry County, Illinois, and then from there he set tled in Fremont County, Iowa, Sidney being the county seat. From there he came to Hall County and located. In the meantime he had crossed the plains a number of times and would go up this valley when travelling from the Missouri River on the cut-off road from Nebraska City. That road came in south of the Platte, entering Hall County where Clar ence Lowery lives now. That is how he got the idea of locating in this vicinity. In passing several times, when going back and forth with a load or empty wagon on trips from Ne braska City to Denver, he would go past the place at which he afterwards located. He came out here and he told my brother Na thaniel and a smaller boy, "Here is a good place to locate in the future" indicating right where he did locate. He would go right up this valley where there was a good stretch of country. In August, 1862, he went up that HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEl'.RASKA 89 valley and stopped right there. His location was in Township 13, in Martin township, where Fred Weaver lives now. When he reached that place, he jumped out of the wagon, with a spade in hand, and remarked, "I am going to dig a weh here." AN EARLY SERVICEABLE WELL ' To Robert and Nathaniel the larger boys, he spoke. "You boys unhitch the team here. I am going to dig a well right here by the side of the road." That was the public road to Denver. He threw the dirt out with a down. There was considerable travel went by on that road during those years in the decades of the 'sixties and the 'seventies. The emi grants, stage passengers, hunters or trappers would stop at that old well for years. Like an oasis in a desert, that well with its buckets of clear water was welcomed for nearly two decades. The water was secured by using the buckets until we got our first pump. Mr. McAllister, a hardware man at Grand Island, had a patent pump which he put in. He came down and going over closer to the house put in a drive pump. An Indt.\n Village short handled spade and worked until he got a well fifteen feet deep. Then he took a salt barrel out of the wagon, and knocked the heads out and sank the barrel down in the sand until he had it full of seeping water. The Platte River was lower than the end of his hole and he had only to make it fifteen feet deep until he struck water. He then took the sand out of the inside of the barrel and in only a few minutes had that barrel full of water so you could dip the water out, with a bucket tied to a rope. In years after that well became established as a place to draw water. Nathaniel cut cord wood to make a wall for the well, and we curbed it up, fifteen feet deep. Got the inside curbed up so it wouldn't cave in. That old well was used nearly twenty years. We had the buckets fixed on a rope, so one bucket would come up and the other would go OUR Early neighbors As I said, it was in 1862 that father located there. He first built a sod-house by the side of the public road. After we lived about three years in the sod house we got a better place. We broke prairie in 1863. In 1864 we planted some cottonwood trees on the place. I well remember that I planted one little tree which was then about seven or eight inches in height. It still stands there, a remarkably large tree, after its thirty years vigil on the prairie. The other boys planted a couple others, which are still there, prob ably thirty feet west of the larger one. They may be about a third of the thickness of this first tree I mentioned, but they were planted at the same time. This one had a better chance to spread out and make a good growth. When we built the second house we built 90 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA a log stracture, using cottonwoods off the island above us. During the eariy days my father was there neighbors were rather scarce articles. A man by name of Nabin, who figured in the buffalo- hunt story narrated by Mr. Binfield in his story of our family and beginnings of Martin township, lived about four miles from father's location. Bissell was a ranchkeeper on west there, near Dobetown in Buffalo County, about 22 miles on. There was nobody on west there in our locality and on that side of the river. There was no one living east, when father first came there, until you got down in the York vicinity. A Mr. Foucks lived down in there. The O. K. Store and the German settlements of 1857-1858 and so forth were to the north and northeast of us. There was an old man by name of George Brown had a claim down in there near us. Charles Jerome came about 1867 and bought out his rights. W. J. Burger came to the Doniphan vicinity in 1864, and homesteaded. Of course the country gradually settled up after that. INDIAN VISITORS Of course our experiences and observations of Indians were generally with those of the Pawnee tribes. The Indians generally came from the south. The Pawnees moved east ward and westward through this part of the state. Their reservation, when they got one, and their general camping grounds, were on north of the river and eastward from here. Their reservation was up in Nance County. When they went after buffalo they would go southwestward toward the Republican River, where the good buffalo territory lay. They would go through about twice a year on such an errand. About the 15th or 20th of May, these Pawnee Indians would go on their spring buffalo hunt to secure enough buffalo meat for their summer's supply. In the fall, about October, they would go back over the same ground, going through here southwest- ward, to get buffalo for the winter. When they went back they would cross the Platte River and go back to their reservation quar ters in what is now Nance County. They would travel through in bunches numbering as high as a thousand. THE INDIANS' OUTFIT AND CUSTOMS The main feature of their outfit was their mode of transporting the freight they needed, and riding facilities. For those purposes they used -innumerable ponies. The ponies had fastened to them long poles which hung by a belt around the girth. The poles were fastened to that belt. They would let the other end of the poles drag in the dirt, and these poles would generally be about 18 or 20 feet long. They pulled principally on the band around the waist, with sometimes a breast strap around the front to reinforce, which would hold the pole up in better shape. Then they would load their meat or other articles on these poles. Sometimes they would have a supply of extra ponies for riding purposes. But the freighting ponies were the mainstay of the outfit. LET THE WOMEN DO THE WORK The Indian let the women do all of the work. Any work that a woman could do would be beneath the Indian to do. He simply carried his bow and arrow, and quiver, and did nothing else. He was the provider of meat and foods and the warrior to afford protection or glories of conquest to the tribe. The squaw was designed to do all of the manual work, and she did it all. The Indian would put forty or fifty arrows in a leather bag. This bag reminded one of the golf stick bag used nowadays. They were a great deal like the carrier used now in playing golf, for holding the golf sticks. They would place them so the leather kept the points of the arrows from going through. While the squaw carried and prepared all of the meats and hides, and took care of all of the luggage, in addition to carrying the papoose around if there was one, the Indian would go out to shoot birds. As to carrying the papoose, while there on that subject. The papoose was carried on the back, strapped to a board. If the squaw stopped to do any work, the papoose might be left strapped to the board, which was set up against the tent. The squaw would then go on about HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 91 her work. There the baby was, strapped to that board, and there he might be left for hours, or most of the day. A most remarka ble Indian trait, even in infancy, was that you would never hear the baby cry. If you lived close enough to them to observe and became familiar with their habits, you would find-the Indian very harsh toward his women, his children, and even his dogs and ponies. The dogs they used were generally of a terrier class, small, alert, and faithful. When the dog was spoken to, he generally obeyed. But if the dog transgressed, he received harsh treatment at once. The Indian might tell the dog to go back and lay down. If there was not that instant compliance that the master required, he would take his tomahawk and aim at Mr. Dog. The Indian carried this tomahawk which had a blade like a hatchet, and a head for his pipe on the other end. If the dog did not render instant obedience, he would soon feel the tomahawk. When the Indian hit the dog, he did not care if it did kill him. The Indian wouldn't eat a dead dog if he had any other meat and the spur of ne cessity was not urging such a course. If they were dreadfully short of food it might be' dif ferent, but if not short enough of food, the dog would be promptly thrown away. The same way with the children. The little papoose was trained to stand a great deal, and might be left strapped to the board all day. But there would be no whimpering. In the even ing time it would be taken off the board and the mother would lay the board to one side and take care of it, and then put it back on the board the next morning. You hardly ever heard one of the children cry. There might be three or four children playing or working around the tent, but you would hardly ever hear one of them cry. The Indian was boss over all. Whatever he said would go, and go whenever he said so. There was none of the teasing or chafing so common among our children of this twentieth century generation. THE Indian's camp In establishing their camp, the Indians we had through h,ere generally took a lot of those poles the ponies had been pulling all day. They stuck these in the ground and brought the ends together, with the bottoms scattered enough, so they circled around at the bottom and came together at a common point at top. This made a cone-shaped frame-work for the tent. Then they would use for covering sufficient buffalo robes to form sides to -the cone-shaped tent. This buffalo robe they had made from the hides they tanned before then, These were sewed together inasmuch as necessary with sinews they had pulled out of the flesh of the buffaloes. They used these sinews for thread. They also used them for making bow strings and for whatever threads they needed for their usual purposes. Those sinews were a dried fiber out of the buffalo's back, right down the middle of the back, and were three or four feet long. They would open that part of the flesh and pull them out. They would put that in water and clean the blood off, and dry it in the sun and pull out into threads ; and they would twist that into plenty of good strong strings. It made a good strong thread. It was stouter than our linen threads and as strong and durable as any silk thread you could get. They made the buffalo hides with this thread, also used it for making blankets and mocassins. The squaws did all of this work. THEIR EVENING MEAL AND MENU When the tent was properly placed the even ing meal was prepared. The Indian's common items for his menu were buffalo meat, soups, and cracked corn. They liked to take cracked corn and make a corn soup with it. Some times when they could get the corn meal they would have a corn-bread very like our own, and even pancakes. They would take a hot flat rock, place it up at the fire and plaster their batter on it, or place their dough on it to bake. If they could get a skillet, the white man's invention, so much the better and more acceptable. Sometimes they would take a rock and, scoop out the center, in which they would prepare the soup. They used this rock or stone kettle very frequently. When they came to eat they had a spoon 92 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA made out of a buffalo's horn; they cut the horn at such a place as to make the spoon properly crooked. By cutting the horn in two pieces at the right place they would have a spoon very much like our largest table spoons, and would eat out of that. A person would be surprised at the number of little things they devised, so much like our kitchen utensils. PREPARING CLOTHING AND MEATS Their moccasins were made up as nicely as they posibly could be. The squaws would do all such work; the Indian would know nothing about it. The squaws would make all of the moccasins, and some of them were splendid articles. The squaws would also tan all of the beaver hides and skins. The Indian only had to hunt and be the warrior. It was for him to go out and shoot the buffalo, elk, deer, antelope, and to bring home the material from which the squaws made the clothes and prepared the meat. In this last operation they were rather skillful. They dried buffalo meat by cutting it into slices, cross-wise of the grain. These very thin slices were then salted and placed in a barrel of brine and left in that brine, maybe two nights. They used a wire, or sinew line, possibly thirty or forty feet in length, and hung the slices in the sun to dry, for about twenty-four hours, then had meat so it was ready for use. "A BROKEN AXLE" by SAMUEL C. BASSETT (Mr. Bassett is now President of the State His torical Society, and a few years ago was author of a splendid history of Buffalo County, our next-door neighbor to the west. The following story is a sort of border-line story, which belongs to either Buffalo or Hall county, as the Olivers became identified with the history of both counties.) In 1860, Edward Oliver, Sr., his wife and seven children, converts to the Mormon faith, left their home in England for Salt Lake City, Utah. At Florence, Nebraska, on the Mis souri River a few miles above the city of Omaha, they purchased a traveling outfit for emigrants, which consisted of two yoke of oxen, a prairie-schooner wagon, and two cows ; and with numerous other families hav ing the same destination they took the over land Mormon trail up the valley of the Platte on the north side of the river. When near a point known as Wood River Centre (the first name of Shelton), 174 miles west of the Missouri River, the front axle of their wagon gave way, compelling a halt for repairs, their immediate companions in the emigrant train' continuing the joumey, for nothing avoidable, not even the burial of a member of the train, was allowed to interfere with the prescribed schedule of travel. The Oliver family camped beside the trail and the broken wagon was taken to the ranch of Joseph E. Johnson, who combined in his per son and business that of postmaster, merchant, blacksmith, wagonmaker, editor, and publisher of a newspaper (The Huntsman's Echo). Johnson was a Mormon with two wives, a man passionately fond of flowers which he cultivated to a considerable extent in a fenced enclosure. While buffalo broke down his fence and destroyed his garden and flowers, he could not bring himself to kill them. He was a philosopher, and, it must be conceded, a most useful person at a point so far distant from other sources of supplies. The wagon shop of Mr. Johnson contained no seasoned wood suitable for an axle and so from the trees along Wood River was cut an ash from which was hewn and fitted an axle to the wagon and the family again took the trail, but ere ten miles had been traveled the green axle began to bend under the load, the wheels ceased to track, and the party could not proceed. In the family council that succeeded the father urged that they try to arrange with other emigrants to carry their movables (double teams) and thus continue on their journey. The mother suggested that they return to the vicinity of Wood River Centre and arrange to spend the winter. To the suggestion of the mother all the children added their entreaties. The mother urged that it was a beautiful country, with an abundance of wood and water, grass for pasture, and hay in plenty could be made for their cattle, and she was HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 93 sure crops could be raised. The wishes of the mother prevailed, the family retumed to a point about a mile west of Wood River Centre, and on the banks of the river con structed a log hut with a sod roof in which they spent the winter. When springtime came the father journeyed to Utah, where he made his home and married a younger woman who had accompanied them from Eng land, which doubtless was the determining factor in the mother refusing to go. The mother, Sarah Oliver, proved to be a woman of force and character. With her children she engaged in the raising of corn and vegetables, the surplus being sold to emi grants passing over the trail and at Fort Kearny, some twenty miles distant. In those days there were many without means who traveled the trail and Sarah Oli ver never turned a hungry emigrant from her door, and often divided with such the scanty store needed for her own family. When rumors came of Indians on the warpath the children took turns on the house top as lookout for the dreaded savages. In 1863 two settlers were killed by Indians a few miles east of her home. In the year 1864 occurred the memorable raid of the Cheyenne Indians in which horrible atrocities were committed and scores of settlers were massacred by these Indians only a few miles to the south. In 1865 William Storey, a near neighbor, was killed by the Indians. Sarah Oliver had no framed diploma from a medical college which would entitle her to the prefix "Dr." to her name, possibly she was not entitled to be called a trained nurse, but she is entitled to be long remembered as one who ministered to the sick, to early tra velers hungry and footsore along the trail, and to many families whose habitations were miles distant. Sarah Oliver and her family endured all the toil and privation common to early set tlers without means in a new country, far removed from access to what are deemed the barest necessities of life in more settled com munities. She endured all the terrors incident to settlement in a sparsely settled locality. and in which the coming of such savages was hourly expected and dreaded. She saw the building and completion of the Union Pacific railroad near her home in 1866 ; she saw Ne braska become a state in the year 1867. In 1870 when Buffalo County was organized her youngest son, John, was appointed sheriff, and was elected to that office at the first election thereafter. Her eldest son, James, was the first assessor in the county, and her son Ed ward was a member of the first board of county commissioners and later was elected and served with credit and fidelity as county treasurer. When, in the year 1871, Sarah Oliver died her son Robert inherited the claim whereon she first made a home for her family, and which, in the year 1915, is one of the most beautiful, fertile farm homes in the county and state. A DREAM LAND COMPLETE Dreaming, I pictured a wonderful valley, A home making valley few known could compare; When lo! from the bluffs to the north of Wood River I saw my dream picture — my valley lies there. Miles long, east and west, stretched this wonderful valley , Broad fields of alfalfa, of corn, and of wheat. 'Mid orchards and groves the homes of its people; The vale of Wood River, a dream-land complete. Nebraska, our mother, we love and adore thee; Within thy fair borders our lot has been cast. When done with life's labors and trials and pleas ures, Contented we'll rest in thy bosom at last. (The foregoing taken from pp. 27-29, Nebraska Pioneer Reminiscences.) A FEW GLIMPSES OF EARLY LIFE IN HALL COUNTY One of the interesting characters of Grand Island's early days is a man whom we all know as Jack Anderson, but whose real name is William Anderson, who has been living at the soldiers home for some years past. Anderson was a member of Company E, Second United States cavalry, during the Civil War. Mr. Anderson, in reply to a query, casual ly remarked that the Soldier's Home was the only home he had, and was about as good a 94 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA home as a man could ask for. Having ex pressed a feeling of gratitude for such a home, a word or two of comment over his services aroused the curiosity of the reporter, and it required only a few questions to reveal that he was a man with a rather remarkable re cord of service not only during the war, but with reference to the building up of the great west. And the following story was finally worked out of Anderson: In brief he was born at Bedford, Pennsyl vania, and enlisted in the company mentioned and served the full five years and was honor ably discharged two days after Lee sur rendered. His discharge notes he participated in thirty battles. At the expiration of the war, things became too dull for Jack, and he served three more years in the wilds of Ne braska and Wyoming. His discharge from this service in amplified by a note from A. E. Bates, first lieutenant, and adjutant of the Second Cavalry to the effect that Anderson was an excellent soldier, an honest, upright and reliable man. Mr. Anderson states that after he was hon orably discharged for the second time, there was a vacancy in the transportation depart ment, and says Mr Anderson, "I was told to go to Omaha, where the headquarters of the department of the Platte now were, when Adjutant Bates gave me a slip informing whom it may concern, that I was competent, and I got the job. Bill Cody was at the time a scout, and he and I worked together for a year and a half, I in the transportation de partment and he as a scout. Later the posts were abandoned and I lost my job, and that is the end of my services." Mr Anderson came from there to Grand Island in February 1870, having now been a resident of this city for 49 years. He says the first place he stopped was at the old Michel- son hotel, of which James Michelson, the father of Fred Michelson, and builder of the Michelson block, was owner. Mr. Anderson desired to engage in the retail liquor business and wanted someone to draw up his papers. He was introduced by Mr. Michelson to Governor Abbott, as "my lawyer" and from that day to this the governor and Anderson, both com rades in the days of the country's trial, have been constant, friends. Mr. Anderson was in the saloon business during the 'seventies in Grand Island, and his place of business, was the center of many exciting chapters of the early history, in the free, easy, and noisy days. He built a large house between where Fifth and Sixth streets and Cleburn and Elm streets now ran. This place became very notorious and as it was so far "out on the prairie" in the eariy 'seventies, it was called the "Prairie House." This site has recently been selected for the new High school, and the old building stand ing there, with all the others since erected on that block, will soon be removed. GOES INTO BUSINESS Mr Anderson went into the saloon business that year, in 1870, on the corner of Front and Pine streets, near what was known in the early days as the Pat Dunphy building. He was there about two years and then removed to the story and half frame building which the Mobleys had erected at Locust and Third, the present site of the 'Tucker and Farnsworth drug store, for the Independent. The print ing office occupied the upper portion of the building and Anderson's parlor for liquid and sometimes turbulent, refreshment, the lower portion of the building. At that time there' was only a couple of buildings on the north side of the town. When he first arrived, the only house was the property originally built by Mrs. Mobley for the printing establish ment. The old Union Pacific eating house was then on the north side of the present Front street, near Pine street. The Nebraska Plouse, com monly known as the Michelson Hotel, was located on the present southwest corner of Front and Pine streets, and was operated by James Michelson. After the old U. P. eating house was moved away, another eating house was built further east, down by ¦ the depot, which stood east of the present freight depot. In the early 'seventies upon Anderson's ven ture into the saloon business, he had four HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 95 competitors, a bar maintained in the Michelson Hotel, Kraft's place on the site of the present Commercial State Bank, Bassett's Sample rooms under the Clarendon Hotel, and Cor nelius Iver's billiard hall on Third street. A Dane by the name of Thomsen ran a hotel called the Herman House on Pine street. He was a jolly, good-natured fellow, with a fairly good education. One time he got up a card and threw it around the saloon rather freely. His place was next to John Fonner's livery barn, which went under the title of "American Feed, Livery and Sale Stable." Those were times when so many homesteaders were going through and it was difficult at times to get a team to take one out of town to look at a piece of land, and resource was generally had to bronchos that Michelson or Fonner might have available. The card which Thomsen distributed read something like this: "When you come to Grand Island you got to go someplace to stop — you just come to the Herman house. And here you get good board and cheap lodgings. When you see what you don't want, just ask for them. Then you want to ride in the country out — John Fonner, next door, he's got some troubles what'll take you out before you start away." Where the Koehler hotel now stands the old O. K. Store was located. When Anderson first came to town, he says, there was a slough that ran through between Pine and Front, and on Locust street it made a very low place. It is hard for one now seeing the brick buildings that center around Locust and Pine streets, be tween the railroad and Third streets, to realize that at one time there was a low place on this location. Mr. Anderson opines that a thousand wagon loads of manure, rubber bootS; tin cans, and various materials were doubtless filled in there, and when they came to dig cellars, these places were cleaned out and dirt put in around the holes excavated. Where the Glade Iilills now stands there was an especially low place. ¦On the alley, on the west side of Locust, be tween Front and Third streets, a bridge was fixed so when water stood there both sides of the street would not be blocked. The little frame building used by Piatt & Thummel has been taken away, and the brick building occu pied by the State Bank of Grand Island placed there, but a frame building hauled in during early days and called the Bon Ton Free Mason building still remains on Locust street back of the State Bank building. THE STORM OF 1873 When the great storm of 1873 came, Mr. Anderson was conducting the saloon at the corner of Pine and Locust. The entire build ing was drifted in, with snow to the top of it. When it lessened so the boys could get outdoors, they would climb up over the snow to the roof of the building, get onto their sleds and run over onto a story and half stracture at the corner where the present Hedde Block now stands. Mr. Anderson remarks incident ally that at one time he was offered that 66 X 132 feet of ground, with the building there on, for $1500, then owned by a Mr. Lord, an old engineer. Mr. Anderson then lived in a story and half house on Pine street, right south of Se cond street. For three days he was unable to traverse the distance of less than three blocks from his place of business to his home. They then had a couple of rooms and a little small kitchen in which there was a pump and a supply of coal and kindling. He says : "I knew my wife had enough to eat, but when I went down to the house, before I could get in, I had to call some police and get a lot of fellows together and we shoveled in to the door. She couldn't open the door. We shov eled that door open. Then she commenced to cry and I wanted to know what was the matter. She wouldn't stay in that house any longer — it was haunted. I said nonsense? She went over to the wall, said she could hear it there. I went over and listened and could hear an o o o ! o o o ! I thought perhaps it might be a man pinned in there and perhaps he might be dying. So we got busy and shoveled it out, and would you ever guess what we dug out the.re — we shoveled out a great big Texas steer, about fifteen hands high, immense horns, and his eyes were green. You had ought to have seen the fellows ran. There was a butcher 96 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 97 here by the name of Cornelius, and he rounded up that steer and kept him all summer. His . hair came off his back clear to his horns. He was some sight. He had come this way in the storm, kept coming northeast; snow had just drifted in on his hair and froze it so his hair all came out in time. In the fall he was a big fine looking fellow and then they butchered him." ¦ THE COWBOY REGIME During the early 'seventies Grand Island and Keamey were the principal trading sta tions on the railroad, from which trade radi ated to an immense territory. Cowboys v^^ould come from the Custer County and Upper Loup country and clear from the Niobrara region. Some pretty rough scenes took place, but compared to what he afterwards witn(;ssed out around Ogallala and Sidney, Mr. Ander son considers that Hall County did not exper ience the bloody initiation into settled life that towns further west did. THREE YEARS AT SIDNEY About 1875, Mr. Anderson and his partner, Johnnie Williams, left the saloon and pool room business in Grand Island and went to Sidney, where they remained for awhile. At that time the Black Hills excitement was on in full blast. They went into a saloon business there. Mr. Anderson was elected coroner, but that proved, as he expressed it, "too tough for me." He adds : "Every few mornings there would be a rap on the door and a call would come, 'Mr. Coroner, get up, we've got another stiff for you.' that being the way they put it. That got to be too much for me and I quit before my time was up. I wouldn't be annoyed with so much killing." Those were the days in Sidney when the Texan herds would be brought up to the north country. The Civil War was not so far removed but that the, northern fellows would run into the southern herders and something would start right away. In those times such characters as Ben and Bill Thompson, Texas gamblers, killers, and shooters as they called them, came along. Others who would show up were Wyeth, Bat Mathiesen, Jim Fien, Grasshopper Sam, Eat-em-up Jake, Rebel George, Le-yy, and others who could stand around and brag, "I killed my man," "I got my man," "I got an other one," as they called, "I've got six to my credit now," "I've got three," and other re marks showing the credit due to their skill in markmanship and dexterity. During this time Henry Clarke of Omaha built a toll bridge across the Platte River, at the point known later as Camp Clark, about three to five miles west of the present town of Bridgeport. This bridge opened a short route from Sidney to Deadwood and Dakota points. The danger from Indians was so great the government did not undertake to carry the mail, but permitted Mr. Clarke to do so, for a charge of 10 cents. An envelope used for this purpose showing the centennial stamp of 1876 is illustrated on another page. A FREIGHTING EXPERIENCE One day a man came along with a freighting outfit, one of those with a large front wagon and its trailer, with six sets of teams, eight pair of mules to the team, each team handling two wagons, the main wagon and its trailer. Anderson narrates : "He came into my place of business, took a few drinks and wanted to_ know if I would trade my saloon for his freighting outfit. I said, I never had anything yet I wouldn't trade, so we went down in the cellar and took a kind of an inventory. The building I had built myself. I believe it was n't two hours until I had traded the saloon for his outfit, and then I went freighting to the hills. We used to get big prices then. "Then one time the town of Deadwood burned down. Pretty nearly the whole town burned out that time. The news came and then every freighter was wondering what he would load with to make a trip there. Some got a load of whiskey, some flour, some a load of ham and bacon, and I finally said to myself, what are you going to load with ? I tried to think what might be most desired when I'd get there Anyhow I happened to think of window glass. I didn't have enough money to buy, wasn't able to buy enough window glass for loading my outfit. I went to a man there by the name 98 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA jC^ke's Oenteimial Express to the Black Hills, •In 'CdnsMeratlon of Uio 10 ceaia pa!J for this cntalope, aud of ¦tfhidh payuKSnt ite posaesaion bears evidonco, Ihe under sigaed aft reea to carry it frooi the Uoioa Pacific Kailroad at Sidooy, Neb., lo ... . »/ CustEi Cily, and Deadwood, Dakota, (aod aach otlicr places an liis "lis-^ rouic may .itlpply), or from alMve place? lo tho UnioD Pacific Rail- .,-f*?£r joad at Sidney, nlihoulftOdilional cliarijOj, H. T. CLARKK, ' , ' (OVKR ) , [(parei^f: H ,VI'._CL AR K E; Sidney, Neb.> ' ^''ij^i^^:Ei." ONLY 167^«/IILES"f6 CUSTER CIT? ^,y ,,: f TEOH f HE irilOttPAOinC EAILROAO., . _ _ - WoodswlWftterrntbunflancf, RndthaFtnmt Ttoadsfn the Wortd by tbis Route. '^ Alf MftiTsent itii-#^ care oTBv'T. OtARKE. Sidney, and Oamp Olarko. Platta River Bridge, will b6 ^o^^vtrd«t^Uh^ dirtsted. Sidney I3 dow a eosd out'liHlr>f; point. LaiRC supply of UnlQ, Grocettes, HatdwaH|>u^ 20(1 Produce iU«»«s on hann. Hotel accoinmodations eood. ^ i '' TOTAL DISTANCE FROM SIDNEY TO CUSTER CITY 167. MIfcES. Tbn ^IttancA it hf to* r^d now traveled botwaen tha two Agencies. Dear's SMaey and Black HitU buite Lin* leaves this route and Sunke Rtvcr,'Tunalnf( tbrootfb to Red Cloud Indian Agency in it boarii and} ¦«- toCttstardtvjo :td hours. The dlaUnce by this route Is Ifta Dilten. ¦ - j^ ^"1 Our, forwirtUne hoi^ses^ can lurntah tnioBpotutlon for 2&0 OOO PotmDS ^'A shlPweDb^ FK.utOliTCHAKGES,'SUla«v to Custer City, raoffo from 3 to fi ocots per nouittt, rrelKt^li sbJppvdcarcH.T. CUrke, Sidneri Neb., witlbesblpptd atlofccst ntea* F498BNOBa RATES - Onuba to Custer Cfttr. lit oUu $«0. 2d olaas $39. 3dclaai, fajj 7t9^f/or taf« at paionpjac^ Hailroad t^ttdpriw^ttliaiirmdy^kttp^ \ nEVIIKSK OF BNvLjl^ut^ii TJSEJJ JBY IVTR. CXjARKE iN-^riiii i>ONY EX PRESS COMPANY. .' . *• V HISTORY OF HAIvL COUNTY NEBRASKA 99 of Reddington and told him -what I'd thought of and asked what he thought about it, what sizes of window glass would be wanted. He said, 'Just you telegraph to Solomon,' who then ran a wholesale glass business in Omaha ; he says, 'If he will furnish the stuff I will back you,' so I said yes. Solomon said yes. I left it to Solomon and told him about what we were going to do. I left it to him as to the sizes for I didn't know anything about that, what sizes we would be likely to want. Didn't have to wait but a few days until Solomon sent a couple of carloads of glass. I loaded up that stuff and went to the Black Hills, though the snow was flying. Before I got there they had a hundred houses or so, temporary houses, put up, with places left for windows, but had just nailed up the space with boards. Nobody had thought of window glass. I drove into town one moming, and I had to go and get the mayor and police to protect my wagons while I sold out the glass. I have forgotten how much money we made out of that, but it was a goodly sum. Solomon had said to me, we would cut the profits in two. Of course I didn't rob them and might have gotten more for it." As Mr. Anderson put it, the life in Sidney, as it was then in Julesburg and Ogallala, was too rough to suit him. He continued the freighting for awhile, and then sold his out fit to the man, Reddington, who had stood be hind him in the window glass venture. Will iams went somewhere for awhile, but Ander son retumed to Grand Island. Williams came along later and they again started a saloon. GRAND ISLAND IN THE EARLY ''EIGHTIES Mr McAllister then built them a brick build ing near where the McAllister brick block at Pine and Third stands. Mr. Anderson nar rates the story of an EARLY HORSE RACE "A fellow used to bring horses here from Missouri and sell to the homesteaders. I bought a young three-year old mare from him. She proved to be a pretty good 'quarter-horse.' He brought up horses two or three times a year, and he heard that I thought this mare could beat most anything; so he brought up a little old scrub race horse from Missouri, intending to beat me out of some money. I went over and looked at his horse. He says, 'they tell me you think that mare you got from me is quite a race horse.' I said, 'yes I think she is.' I had won a couple of races with her. So he says, 'I've got an old plug here, I'll just bet you a hundred dollars she can beat yours a quarter mile.' Then I just bet him that $100. We went over on Second street to run the race. We started about where Wolbach's home is now, just go down to where the court house was, where Pioneer Park is now. We thought that was the nicest place, there was just a wagon road there then, so we measured off a quarter of a mile. We started at Wolbach's and run up by the court house. It happened that court was in session. The lawyers, the jurors, and everbody jumped up and ran to the windows to see what all the yelling was about. Judge Gaslin was here presiding. The ' judge said to the sheriff, 'Sheriff, what's it all about?' The sheriff said, 'A boss race.' The judge said, 'You go out and bring them in.' He brought them in. The sheriff did, he came out and hauled me and the other fellow in as the two principals and brought us up. The old judge fined us $10 apiece for running on a public highway. But I won the $100 and it cost the other fellow $110. OTHER EARLY RECOLLECTIONS "Once in a while there used to be something pretty rough pulled off. A policeman shot a fellow one day where the American restaurant now stands. "Gus Koehler ran a saloon on the site where the Schuff or American restaurant is now, until after the old O. K. store was moved away and until he got the brick Koehler hotel built on the present corner. Such characters as the principals in the Olive tragedy up west used to wander through occasionally. Doc. Middle- ton, the famous horse thief from up Custer way, who never stole just a horse or two, but generally a carload or two, used to come in. I remember that last time I saw him 100 HISTORY OF HALD COUNTY NEBRASKA was when he had his wife in the Sisters Hos pital." Mr. Anderson remarks that he was present when the Soldiers' Home building was dedicated, and the young community and county thought it was getting to be some place to have a wonderful building as that put up here. He adds that every old buggy and plug in the county and about every person within range was here that day. In those early days the Union Pacific round house stood where the city water works is now located on Pine and Fourth streets. In the early 'seventies, Mr. Anderson says, one morning he counted four teen antelope feeding between present Fifth street and the railroad tracks. "You could get up on a nice still morning, like this time especially, and hear the prairie chickens in a continual roar, and see roosters strutting around and it was no trouble at all to kill great numbers of prairie chickens. He says that while he was stationed out around Fort Kearny in the 'sixties, around Kearny and the present Lexington and over toward the B. and B. Divide you could ride on horseback and see buffalo just as far as the eye could see, looked just like an ocean, continual movements as far as the eye could see. a" RATTLE SNAKE ON LOCUST STREET Mr. Anderson narrates that one day, before the time the block that now contains the City Hall, Bartenbach Opera House, Wolbach store, and other buildings was built up, the boys -had a path zig-zagging across that block, to make a short cut to get to the U. P. eating house and depot, which were then east of the present freight house. One day Claus Eggers and a man he was working for went across here. There was then a blacksmith shop on the corner where the postoffice building is now. They started across this path, and while Claus and the old man were walking across there they came across a big rattle snake, and holy terrors ! they had nothing to kill him with. The old man told Claus to keep the snake out of a hole and he would go over and get something to kill it with, which he did. On his return they killed the snake. It was a big fellow with sixteen rattles. There are many more just as interesting reminicenses that Mr. Anderson could nar rate to us and hand down to posterity, if time and space in this work permitted of their in corporation, but nevertheless Mr. Anderson's career has been one of the moulding factors in the early history of the community. CHAPTER VI THE CITY OF GRAND ISLAND First Buildings — Organization oe the Town — Action taken by Commissioners - Town Officials 1872-1919 — Property Belonging to City — -Parks — Amusement Parks — -The Fire Department — Paving — Sewers — Lighting Plants — ¦ Municipal Light and Water Plan t — Sources oe Taxation and Reve nue — Grand Island's Tax Rate — The Public Library Grand Island takes its name from the older settlement, which has heretofore been treated at such length, and on the island called Grand Island of the Platte. Here in this city is the seat of justice of Hall County- and the center of commercial and manufacturing growth for the Platte Valley in Central Nebraska. Its location is one of the prairie ridges and aff'ords natural drain age; its elevation of 1,860 feet above the sea level renders it free from malarial influences and denies it the rigorous winters of higher altitudes. This chapter will only treat of the early settlement and civic development of Grand Island. Its city government will be detailed and the development and growth of its public utilities and parks. The part that Grand Island has played in the manufacturing, in dustrial, commercial, and financial achieve ments of Hall County will be merged in the separate chapters -on those subjects that are to follow this one. Likewise will the growth of her churches be included in the treatment of their respective denominations, her schools treated as a part of the school history of the county, the press, professions and social and fraternal institutions be taken up in' separate chapters relating to those respective activities. First buildings The first track of the Union Pacific railroad was laid here July 8, 1866, and the first con struction train run in. This train was drawn by the locomotive Osceola, in charge of George Loomis. The engine was captured in 1868 by the Indians six miles west of Plum Creek. The first building was erected by W. Steph ens on the intersection now of Locust and First tsreets. During the fall the railroad house was erected, which was used until the completion of the later railroad house in December, 1875, when part of the old building was purchased by Fred Hedde and removed to the southwest corner of Third and Locust streets, and another part was converted into a dwelling by P. Touhey, and occupied in 1876 by C. W. Thomas. The postoffice was established in 1866 with D. Schuler postmaster, and about this time the store of M. S. Hall, a railroad contractor, was opened, and the O. K. store was moved into the new town early in 1867 by Koenig and Wiebe. Henry Koenig also established the State Central Flouring Mills and the pio neer lumber yard. William R. McAllister and C. W. Thomas also opened their stores the same year. The original plat of Grand Island was filed for record September 29, 1866, and recorded in Book B, page 13, by Clerk Fred T. Evans. The document was found by Abstractor William Frank, at Omaha. Prior to this time Grand Island had nothing to show title to 101 102 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA streets and alleys, beyond twenty-one years possession of the same, the county records then showing title only in the Union Pacific Railroad Company. organization of the town In 1872 several meetings were held to dis cuss matters relative to town organization. A final meeting to consider the question was held on November 25, 1872, and a report was received from a committee previously appointed, in favor of presenting a petition to the commissioners. George H. Thummel, O. A. Abbott, A. Thorspecken, and Henry A. Koenig were the members. The persons appointed to circulate the petition were W. H. Piatt, A. Thorspecken, and W. C. Budems. On December 10, 1872, the petition for in corporation was granted, and John Wallichs, R. C. Jordon, A. Thorspecken, H. N. Chap man, and Christian Wasmer named as the first board of trustees. The petition to incorporate read and was signed as follows : "Petition of O. A. Abbott et al for incorpo ration of town of Grand Island. "To the Honorable, The Board of County Commissioners of Hal! County, Nebraska. "Your petitioners, taxable inhabitants of the town of Grand Island, respectfully request your honorable body to declare the town of 'Grand Island a body 'politic and corporate by the name of and style of the Town of Grand Island, and they do also request that R. C. Jordon, John Wallichs, A. Thorspecken, H. N. Chapman, and Christian Wasmer be ap pointed trastees of said town. And your pe titioners will ever pray. "Dated, Grand Island, Nov. 25th, 1872. O. A. Abbott Geo. H. Thummel John Wallichs A. Frechette S. Thompson E. A. Richardson Henry A. Koenig C. P. Henderson Wm. H. Piatt Nick Llarris W. C. Buderus W. H. Anderson J. W. Cochran R. S. Van Wie Dorr Heffleman J. Spangenberg W. R. McAllister H. Thomas J. R. Laine j. Michelson B. B. Kelley H. N. Chapman G. J. Greve S. P. Mobley Fred Stratmann H. Stratmann C. E. Lykke Jesse Turner Joseph Felt Christ Gaffner John Kraft Claus Thiessen J. G. Feller C. A. von Wasmer Chas. Wasmer D. G. Phimister Wm. W. Cummings Chas. A. Hoffman John Riss G. G. McKenzie Joseph Jenneman F. C. Churchill A. B. Veeder James Cleary O. Conklin W. H. Mitchell Jesse Shoemaker George Leger R. C. Jordon F. Drews J. J. Gisel A. Egge H. Baumann P. B. McCarthy H. C. Held C. E. Jerome H. P. Handy A. H. Moses John Milson G. P. Van Dyke D. W. Duncan James Hammond John Lyon Commissioner's Record No. 2, Page 60. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMISSIONERS Grand Island, Nebraska, December 10, 1872. The Board met pursuant to the roll call of the county clerk. Present Messrs. Hooper, Dennis Rooney Jay E. White Jens Olsen Robert Frohberg L. Engel H. P. Makely Peter Peterson J. C. Cornelius Joseph Kilian Fred A. Wiebe N. T. Kelley C. Probstle John Ellis George Boehm John Murry B. C. Howard C. Obermiller Geo. E. Wilson W. H. Pyne D. T. Jamieson T. H. Verpooth Dan'l L. Harrison Fred Nable I. Gluck H. Avery Chas. Heusinger W. M. Spiker W. H. Wasmer Edw. Hooper N. P. Nelson W. H. Piatt August Dodderstein C. W. Thomas Chas. Rollins K. W. Townsend J. E. Baldwin John Ratcliff R. B. Sawyer Lemuel Rollow H. R. Hirst Wm. Bradford Samuel Remy - 'r-" 'J^'^C^. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 103 Cornelius, and Jackson. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. A petition of the taxable inhabitants of Grand Island being presented to the board of county commissioners and it appearing that a majority of the taxable inhabitants of said town having signed said petition : It is therefore ordered by said board of county commissioners that the town of Grand Island be declared incorporated by the name and style of "Grand Island", with the follow ing limits : The northwest i/4 and the north west y^ of the southwest ^4 of section fifteen (15) and the northeast 14 and north % of southeast %^ and northeast ^ of southwest 1/4 of section sixteen (16) in township eleven (11) north of range (9) west, and the follow ing persons be appointed trustees of said town, towit : R. C. Jordon, John Wallichs, A. Thorspecken, H. N. Chapman and Christian Wasmer. The board then adjourned to meet on the 16th day of December, 1872. John Wallichs, County Clerk George Cornelius (Seal Hall County, Nebraska) Edw. Hooper." During the year 1872 John Wallichs served as clerk part of the time, and W. C. Buderus part of the time. Beginning with 1873, the officers who have been elected to the City of Grand Island, and those fiilling appointtive positions have been : 1873 ELECTED Mayor, John Wallichs; Council, H. N. Chapman, Louis Engle, H. P. Handy, J. C. Cornelius ; Clerk, Jay E. White; Judge, W. H. Piatt; Treasurer, Geo. E. Wilson. 1874 jMayor, Edward Hooper; Council, Nick Harris, R. S. Van Wie, H. P. Handy, J. C. Cornelius ; Clerk, Wm. Wasmer ; Judge, W. H. Piatt; Treasurer, James Cleary. 1875 Mayor, Edward Hooper; Council, Joseph KilUan, W. C. King (no record of the other two); Clerk, John Wallichs; Judge, W. H. Piatt; Treasurer, Wm. Hagge. 1876 Mayor, James Cleary; Council, Joseph Killian, W. R. McAllister, W. C. King, Patrick Dunphy; Clerk, John Wallichs; Judge, John D. Hayes; Treasurer, Wm. Hagge. : 1877 Mayor, W. H. Piatt; Council, Geo. E. Wil son, President, Christian Wasmer, Daniel Morgan, Patrick Dunphy; Clerk, John Wal lichs ; Judge, T. O. C. Harrison ; Treasurer, Wm. Hagge ; Marshal, Peter ' D. Thomssen ; Engineer, Chas. Reif ; Assessor, Wm. Was mer; Chief Fire Dept., Patrick Dunphy. 1878 Mayor, C. D. M. Washburn; Council, Geo. E. Wilson, G. H. Bush, Christian Wasmer, D. Morgan; Clerk, John Wallichs; Judge, T. O. C. Harrison; Treasurer, Wm. Hagge; Marshal, Peter D. Thomssen ; Engineer, Chas. Reif ; Assessor, Wm. Wasmer. 1879 Mayor, C. D. M. Washburn; Council, Geo. E. Wilson, Pres. (resigned), Chanucey Willse (appointed), Edward Hooper, Chris- Grand Island in 1874 tian Wasmer, . G. H. Bush ; Clerk, Christian Schlotfek; Judge, T. O. C. Harrison; Treas urer, C. W. Thomas ; Marshal, C. L. Howell ; Engineer, S. E. Reauch (resigned), Chas. Rief (appointed). 1880 Mayor, C. D. M. Washburn; Council, Chauncey Willse, Pres. (resigned), John L. Means (appointed), Patrick Dunphy, James Michelson, Edward Hooper; Clerk, Christian Schlotfelt; Judge, T. O. C. Harrison; Treas urer, Geo. Cornelius ; Engineer, Chas. Rief (resigned), C. E. Hart (appointed). 1881 Mayor, John L- Means ; Council, Edw. Hooper, Pres., James Michelson, Patrick Dunphy (resigned), C. W. Thomas (ap pointed), Chas. Millsen; Clerk, Jos. H. Mul- lin (resigned), J. H. Gorman (appointed); Judge, T. O. C. Harrison ; Treasurer, Charles F. Bentley ; Chief of Police, Geo. Loan, Sr. ; Engineer, C. E. Hart ; Street Commissioner, Patrick Higgins. 104 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 1882 Mayor, Michael Murphy; Council, O. U. Wescott, Chas. Milisen, James Cleary, Ed ward Hooper, H. P. Makely, W. R. Mc Allister; Clerk, David Ackerman; Judge, T. O. C. Harrison; Treasurer, C. F. Bentley; Attorney, Geo. H. Thummel; Engineer, Hugo Hald; Chief of Police, Geo. Loan, Sr. 1883 Mayor, Michael Murphy; Council, Chas. Milisen, O. U. Wescott, E. A. Barnes, James Cleary, C. L. Howell, W. R. McAllister; Clerk, David Ackerman; Judge, John W. West; Treasurer, Jay E. White; Attorney, W. H. Thompson; Engineer, Hugo Hald; Chief of Police, Geo. Loan, Sr. 1884 Mayor, Jay E. White ; Council, F. E. Brog- den, Chas. Milisen, Henry Vieregg, E- A. Barnes, J. B. Jorden, D. H. Vieth; Clerk, David Ackerman; Judge, John W. West; Treasurer, A. C. Lederman; Attorney, W. H. Piatt; Engineer, C. E. Hart; Chief of Police, Geo. Loan, Sr. 1885 Mayor, John L. Means; Council, N. T. Estes, F. E. Brogden, James Heesch, Henry Vieregg, D. H. Vieth, John Fonner, Chas. Milisen, M. Taylor; Clerk, H. E. Clifford; Judge, H. B. Wilson ; Treasurer, A. C. Leder man ; Attorney, W. H. Thompson ; Engineer, C. E. Hart; Marshal, John Van Wie. 1886 Mayor, John L. Means ; Council, Chas. Milisen, President, M. Taylor, John Fonner W. R. McAllister, James Heesch, Henn^ Vieregg, N. T. Estes, W. F. McLaughlin; Clerk, H. E. CHfford; Judge, H. B. Wilson; Treasurer, A. C. Lederman ; Attorney, W. H. Thompson; Weighmaster, D. Morgan; En gineer, E. McNish; Engineer Fire Dept., John A. Matthews ; Marshal, John Van Wie. 1887 Mayor, W. H. Piatt; Council, W. R Mc Allister, President, W. F. McLaughlin J. W. Liveringhouse, Chas. Wasmer, H J Palmer, Henry Vieregg, M. Taylor, J. Y Alexander; Clerk, C. W. Brininger; Judo-e Henry Garn ; Treasurer, J. W. West • At torney R. R. Horth; Water Commissioner, Geo Loan, Sr. ; Street Commissioner, Geo. Uark; Weighmaster, D. Morgan; Engineer Water Works, W. C. Van Pelt ; Engineer Fire P 0'N°il" ^' ^^"^^"^^^ '^''¦'^^ °^ P°'^^e, R. 1888 Mayor, W. H. Piatt; Council, W. R. Mc Allister, President, W. F. McLaughlin, W. M. Geddes, W. F. Banks, J. W. Livering house, Chas. Wasmer, H. J. Palmer, J. Y. Alexander; Clerk, C. W. Brininger; Judge, Henry Garn; Treasurer, J. W. West; At torney, R. R. Horth; Water Commissioner, Geo. Loan, Sr. ; Street Commissioner, Geo. Clark; Weighmaster, D. Morgan; Engineer Water Works, W. C. Van Pelt ; Enginner Fire Dept., John Matthews; Chief of Police, R. P. O'Neill; City Engineer, Wm. Ensign. 1889 Mayor, W. H. Piatt; Council, W. F. Mc Laughlin, President, James F. Rourke, W. M. Geddes, Geo. Bartenbach, Thos. A. Oaks, Chas. Rief, W. R. McAllister, Geo. A. Reaugh ; Clerk, C. W. Brininger ; Judge, J. H. Mullin; Treasurer, Jno. W. West; Attorney, R. R. Horth ; Water Commissioner, Geo. Loan, Sr. ; Street Commissioner, Geo. Clark ; Weighmaster, D. Morgan; Chief of Police, Jos. Killian; City Engineer, Wm. Ensign. 1890 (Made first class city) Mayor, W. H. Piatt; Council, W. M. Geddes, President, W. F. McLaughhn, Jas. F. Rourke, Henry Schlotfelt, Chas. Rief, Thos. A. Oaks, Geo. A. Reaugh, Geo. Barten bach; Clerk, C. W. Brininger; Judge, J. H. Mullin; Treasurer, John W. West; Attorney, R. R. Horth; Water Commissioner, Geo. Loan, Sr. ; Street Commissioner, Geo. Clark; Weighmaster, D. Morgan; Chief of Police, Geo. P- Dean. 1891 Mayor, Henry D. Boyden; Council, W. H. Geddes, President, Geo. Bartenbach, W. H. Harrison, Gus Koehler, fas. F. Rourke, Geo. H. Andrews, W. F. McLaughlin, Thos. A. Oakes; Clerk, C. W. Brininger; Judge, J. H. Mullin; Treasurer, J. W. West; Attorney, W. H. Thompson; Water Commissioner, A. H. Wilhelm; Street Commissioner, Benj. Berry; Weighmaster, D. Morgan; Chief of Police, Geo. P. Dean. 1892 Mayor, Henry D. Boyden ; Council. W. M. Geddes, President, W. F. McLaughlin, Geo. H. Andrews, Chas. Milisen, W. H. Harrison, Geo. Bartenbach, Gus Koehler, Jas. F. Rourke; Clerk; C. W. Brininger; Judge, J. H. Mullin; Treasurer, J. W. West; Attorney, W. H. Thompson; Water Commissioner, A. H. Wilhelm; Street Commissioner, Benj. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 105 Berry; Weighmaster, D. Morgan; Chief of Police, Geo. P. Dean; City Engineer, Wm. Ensign. 1893 Mayor, Wm. M. Geddes ; Council, Wm. F. AIcLaughlin, President, John Alexander, A. Cosh, Geo. Bartenbach, Jas. F. Rourke, Edw. Hockenberger, Geo. H. Andrews, Dr. H. C. Miller; Clerk, C. W. Brininger; Judge, Madi son T. Garlow; Treasurer, W. R. King; At torney, W. A. Prince; Water Commissioner, C. F. Rollins ; Street Commissioner and Chief of Fire Dept., E. C. McCashland; Weigh master, D. Morgan; Chief of Police, Martin Powers. 1894 Mayor, Wm. M. Geddes; Council, W. F. McLaughlin, President, H. C. Miller, Chas. Rief, A. D. Owens, John Alexander, Geo. Bartenbach, A. Cosh, Jas. F. Rourke; Clerk, C. W. Brininger; Judge, Madison T. Garlow; Treasurer, W. R. King; Attorney, W. A. Prince ; Water Commissioner, C. F. Rollins ; Street Commissioner, John Berry ; Chief of Pohce, Martin Powers ; City Engineer, A. Koenig; Weighmaster, D. Morgan. 1895 Mayor, W. H. Thompson; Council, H. C. Miller, President, John Alexander, Edw. C. Schourup, Henty Vieregg, J. A. Woolsten- holm, Chas. Rief, W. F. McLaughlin, A. D. Owens; Clerk, Carl H. Menck; Judge, Madi son T. Gariow; Treasurer, W. R. King; At torney, Fred W. Ashton; Water and Street Commissioner, Geo. Loan, Sr. ; Chief of Police, Roger Ryan; Weighmaster, D. Morgan; Chief of Fire Dept., R. T. Hite. 1896 Mayor, W. H. Thompson ; Council, John Alexander, President, H. C. Miller, R. H. Mc Allister, H. W. Potter, A. Cosh, J. A. Wool- stenholm, Edw. C. Schoump, Henry Vieregg; Clerk, Carl H. Menck; Judge, Joseph Fox; Treasurer, W. R. King; Attorney, Fred W. Ashton; Street and Water Commissioner, Geo. Loan, Sr; Weighmaster, D. Morgan; Chief of Police, Roger Ryan; Chief of Fire Dept., Wm. Scheffel; City Engineer, A. C. Koenig. 1897 Mayor, W. H. Thompson; Council, H. C. Miller, President, H. A. Bartling, H. H. Glover, Edw. C. Schourup, J. A. Woolsten- holm, A. Cosh, Henry Potter, R. H. Mc Allister ; Clerk, Cart H. Menck ; Judge, Wm. N. Gillett ; Treasurer, W. R. King ; Attorney, Elmer E. Thompson; Weighmaste|r, I. H. Waldron; Water and Street Commissioner, Geo. Loan, Sr. ; Chief of Police, Fred Meier; Chief of Fire Dept., Fred Lohman; City Engineer, A. C. Koenig. 1898 Mayor, W. H. Thompson; Council, J. A. Woolstenholm, President, A. Cosh, R. Goehr- ing, R. H. McAllister, H. W. Potter, H. H. Glover, H. A. Bartling, E. C. Schoump; Clerk, Edward Hooper; Judge, O. A. Abbott, Jr. ;Treasurer, W. R. King; Attorney, W. S. Pearne; Chief of Police, Fred Meier; Chief of Fire Dept., R. A. Kelso ; Weighmaster, I. H. Waldron; City Engineer, A. C. Koenig; Water Commissioner, Lafe Myers; Street Commissioner, W. F. Martinsen. 1899 Mayor, W. H. Piatt; Council, H. H. Glover, President, John Alexander, Henry Mayer, E. C. Schourup, H. W. Potter, R. Goehring, R. H. McAllister, A. Cosh; Clerk, Edw. Hooper ; Judge, O. A. Abbott, Jr. ; Treasurer, W. R. King; Attorney, Fred W. Ashton; Chief of Police, Z. B. Partridge; Chief of Fire Dept., R. A. Kelso; Water Commissioner, M. Murphy; Street Commis sioner, Wm. Martinsen; Weighmaster, D. Morgan. 1900 Mayor, W. H. Piatt; Council, H. H. Glover, President, W. F. McLaughlin, R. Goehring, R. H. McAllister, Henry Reese, E. C. Schourup, John Alexander, Henry Mayer; Clerk, Edward Hooper; Judge, O. A. Abbott, Jr. ; Treasurer, W. R. King ; Attorney, Fred W. Ashton; Chief of Police, Z. B. Partridge; Chief of Fire Department, R. A. Kelso ; Water Commissioner, M. Murphy; Street Commissioner, W. F. Martinsen; Weigh master, D. Morgan; City Engineer, A. C. Koenig. 1901 Mayor, James Cleary; Council, R. H. Mc Allister, President, Geo. W. Broadwell, H. E. Clifford, H. H. Glover, Joseph Sondermann, W. F. McLaughlin, Henry Reese, R. Goehr ing; Clerk, Edward Hooper; Judge, John L. Combs ; Attorney, Madison T. Garlow ; Treas urer, W. R. King; Chief of Police, E. C. McCashland ; Chief of Fire Department, Thos. M. Dillon; Weighmaster, J. G. Hen- drix ; Water Commissioner, M. Murphy ; Street Commissioner, Adolph Martinson. 1902 Mayor, James Cleary; Council, Geo. Broad- well, H. E. Clifford, R. Goehring, R. H. Mc- 106 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Allister, W. F. McLaughlin, Henry Reese, Joseph Sondermann, A. W. Sterne; Clerk, Edward Hooper; Treasurer, W. R. King; Attorney, Madison T. Garlow ; Judge, Henry Garn ; Water Commissioner, W. W. Watters ; Street Commissioner, Adolph Martinson; Weighmaster, J. G. Hendryx ; Chief of Police, E. C. McCashland; Chief of Fire Dept., Thos, M. Dillon. 1903 Mayor, James Cleary; Council, W. F. Mc Laughlin, President, H. E. Clifford, R. Goehr ing, A. W. Sterne, Edward Dearing, R. H. McAllister, J. A. Kelso, G. A. Leiser; Clerk, Edward Hooper; Treasurer, W. R. King; Attorney, Madison T. Garlow; Judge, Henry Garn ; Water Comm.issioner, W. V/. Waters ; Street Commissioner, E. C. McCashland; City Engineer, C. A. Baldwin; Chief of Police, Philip Loeplin; Chief of Fire Dept., Thos. M. Dillon; Weighmaster, J. G. Hen dryx. 1904 Mayor, James Cleary; Council, C. P. Birk, Albert Etting, Edward Dearing, Geo. A. Leiser,- H. E. Clifford, A. W. Steme, J. A. Kelso, R. H. McAllister; Clerk, Edward Hooper; Treasurer, W. R. King; Attorney, Madison T. Garlow ; Judge, Henry Garn ; Water Commissioner, W. W. Waters ; Street Commissioner, E. C. McCashland; Weigh master, J. G. Hendryx ; Chief of Police, Phil Koeplin; Chief of Fire Dept., Thos. M. Dillon. 1905 Mayor, Henry Schuff; Council, H. E. Clif ford, A. W. Sterne, A. W. Buchheit, Geo. A. Leiser, C. P. Birk, Albert Etting, Edward Dearing, Geo. W. Broadwell; Clerk, Edward Hooper; Treasurer, W. R. King; Attorney, W. A. Prince; Judge, Henry Garn; Water Commissioner, W. W. Waters ; City Engineer, C. A. Baldwin ; Chief of Police, Philip Koep lin; Chief of Fire Dept.. Thos. M. Dillon; Weighmaster, Benj. Van Buskirk; City Physi cian, Dr. M. L. Rich. On March 6th, 1906, a special election was held upon the proposition of a new municipal lighting plant, resulting in 926 votes in favor of the bonds and 361 against. City Attorney Prince was made clerk pro tem during the illness of City Clerk Plooper, and on March 28, Councilman H. E. Clifford was selected as City Clerk vice Edward Hooper who had died shortly before, and Francis M. Milliken appointed Councilman to succeed Mr. Clifford. 1906 Mayor, Henry Schuff; Council, C. P. Birk, Albert Etting, John Schwynn, Geo. A. Leiser, F. M. Milliken, A. W. Sterne, A. W. Buch heit, Geo. W. Broadwell; Clerk, H. E. Clif ford; Treasurer, W. R. King; Attomey, W. A. Prince; Judge, Henry Gam. Appointive officers same as 1905, except R. O. Watters, Water Commissioner. 1907 Mayor, Henry Schuff; Council, Elmer E. Clinger, Herman Hehnke, Jr., A. W. Buch heit, Geo. W. Broadwell, C. P. Birk, Albert Etting, John Schwynn, Geo. A. Leiser; Clerk, H. E. Clifford; Treasurer, Fred C. Hanna- ford; Judge, Bayard H. Paine; Attomey, W. A. Prince; City Engineer, C. A. Baldwin; Street Commissioner, J. "E. Hanna ; Water Commissioner, R. O. Waters; Weighmaster, John Wallichs ; City Physician, Dr. B. R. Mc- Grath; Chief of Police, Frank Hoagland; Chief of Fire Dept., Frank H. Smith. 1908 Mayor, Henry Schuff; Council, Lewis T. Geer, Jas. F. Rourke, Claus Eggers, Geo. A. Leiser, Elmer E. Clinger, Herman Hehnke, Jr., A. W. Buchheit, Geo. W. Broadwell; Clerk, H. E. Clifford ; Treasurer, F. C. Han- naford; Judge, Bayard H. Paine; Attomey, W. A. Prince; Water Commissioner, J. H. Miller; Street Commissioner, Daniel T. Dunkel ; City Physician, Dr. L. Phelan ; Chief of Fire Dept., Gus E. Nuemann ; Asst. Water Commissioner, Jas. Nicholson. 1909 Mayor, Henry Schuff; Council, C. P. Birk, Herman Hehnke, Jr., Albert v. d. Heyde, Geo. W. Broadwell, Lewis T. Geer, Jas. F. Rourke, Claud Eggers, Geo. A. Leiser; Clerk, H. E. Clifford; Treasurer, R. L. Harrison; Judge, Bayard H. Paine; Attomey, W. A. Prince; City Engineer, J. C. Lefler; Street Commis sioner, Daniel T. Dunkel; Water Commis sioner, J. T. Miller; Weighmaster, John Wal lichs ; City Physician, Dr. L. Phelan ; Chief of Police, Frank Hoagland. Medical members Board of Health, C. A. Roeder, A. H. Farnsworth and Thos. Vallier. 1910 Mayor, Henry Schuff; Council, James E. Hanna, James F. Rourke, Ed Miner, Otto F. Sothmann, C. P. Birk, Herman Hehnke, Jr., Albert v. d. Heyde, Geo. W. Broadwell ; HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 107 '-iZ-- o > Clerk, H. E. Clifford; Treasurer, R. L. Har rison; Judge, Bayard H. Paine; Attorney, W. A. Prince. (Appointees held over.) Walker W. Hainline appointed vice Soth- man, resigned, Febmar-y, 1911. 1911 Mayor, Chas. G. Ryan; Council, Rasmus P. Rasmussen, Emil H. Vieregg, Albert v. d. Heyde, Geo. W. Broadwell, Jas. E. Hanna, Jas. F. Rourke, Ed Miner, John Knickrehm; Clerk, H. E. Clifford; Treasurer, R. L. Har rison; Judge, E. G. Kroger; Chief of Police, Marion D. Abrogast; Chief of Fire Dept., Thos; M. Dillon; Water Commissioner, J. H. Miller; Street Commissioner, Dan'l T. Dunkel; Attomey, A. C. Mayer; Weigh master, John Wallichs ; City Engineer, H- W. Kibbey; Physician, Dr. L. Phelan; Drs. on Board of Health, W. B. Hoge, E. S. Dungan, Thos. Vallier. 1912 Mayor, Chas. G. Ryan; Council, Jas. E. Hanna, August Meyer, Rudolph W. Bock, John Knickrehm, Rasmus P. Rasmussen, Emil H. Vieregg, Albert v. d. Heyde, Geo. W. Broadwell ; Clerk, H. E. CHfford ; Treas urer, L. Roy Brininger; Street Commissioner, Jasper Eggers; Chief of Fire Dept., Thos. M. Dillon. (Other appointees held over.) 1913 Mayor, Chas. G. Ryan; Council, Rasmus P. Rasmussen, Herman Hehnke, Jr., Albert v. d. Heyde, Geo. W. Broadwell, Jas. E. Hanna, August Meyer, R. W. Bock, John Knickrehm ; Clerk, H E. Clifford ; Treasurer, L. R. Brin inger; Attomey, A. C. Mayer; Engineer, H. W. Kibbey; Street Commissioner, Jasper Eggers; Water Commissioner, J. H. Miller; Weighmaster, John Wallichs ; Physician, Dr. L. Phelan; Chief of Police, M. D. Albogast; Chief of Fire Dept., Thos. M. Dillon; Judge, E. G. Kroger. 1914 Mayor, Chas. G. Ryan; Council, Jas. E. Hanna, August Meyer, R. W. Bock, A. C. Menck, Rasmus P. Rasmussen, Herman Hehnke, Jr., Albert v. d. Heyde, Geo. W. Broadwell; Clerk, H. E. Clifford; Treasurer, L. R. Brininger; Judge E. G. Kroeger. (Ap pointees remained the same.) Councilman Rasmussen died in August, 1914, and Rudolph Reher was appointed to fill the vacancy. 1915 Mayor, Chas. G. Ryan; Council, Frederick N. Rask, Herman Hehnke, Jr., Edw. L. Ball- 108 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA HISTORY OF PIALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 109 enger, Geo. W. Broadwell, Jas. E. Hanna, August Meyer, R. W. Bock, A. C. Menck; Clerk, H. ^E. Clifford; Treasurer, Max J. Egge ; Attomey, A. C. Mayer ; Physician, Dr. L. Phelan ; Weighmaster, John Wallichs ; Board of Health, Drs. B. R. McGrath, E. S. Dungan and Thos. Vallier; Chief of Police, Jas. Snodgrass ; Water Commissioner, John C. McAuley; Street Commissioner, William Pepper; Judge, E. G. Kroger. 1916 Mayor, Chas. G. Ryan; Council, Jas. E. Hanna, August Meyer, R. W. Bock, A. C. Menck, Frederick N. Rask, Herman Hehnke, Jr., Edw. L. Ballenger, Geo. W. Broadwell; Clerk, H. E. Clifford; Treasurer, Max J. Egge; Physician, Dr. L. Phelan. (Appointees same as 1915.) Judge, E. G. Kroger. 1917 Mayor, J. L. Cleary ; Council, Joseph Alex ander, John A. Ferguson, Walter Peterson, David C. Sneller, Jas. E. Hanna, August Meyer, R. W. Bock, A. C. Menck ; Clerk, H. E. CHfford; Treasurer, Max J. Egge; At torney, A. L. Joseph; Judge, E. G. Kroeger; Water Commissioner, Jno. McAuley; Street Commissioner, Wm. Pepper; Chief of Police, Fred R. Manderville; Weighmaster, John Wallichs ; City Engineer, I. R. Moriarity ; Health Board, E. G. Johnson, R. C. Wood ruff, A. H. Farnsworth ; Chief of Fire Dept., Thos. M. Dillon. Councilman Sneller resigned and was suc ceeded by Wm. F. Krehmke. 1918 Mayor, J. L. Cleary; Council, Jas. E. Hanna, Julius Boeck, A. C. Menck, R. W. Bock, Wm. F. Krehmke, Joe Alexander, Walter Peterson; John A. Ferguson resigned in 1918 and was succeeded by Carl V. Willard. These eight are still serving through 1919. John Wallichs, weighmaster, resigned and was succeeded by H. C. Heath. Police Judge E. G. Kroger was succeeded January 9, 1919, by Hon. D. W. Hoyt, and he resigned in August, 1919, and was succeeded by W. J. Wilkinson. Since the City Hall was built the Janitors have been: Henry Schumacher and John Paulsen.PROPERTY BELONGING TO THE CITY IN 1901 Estimated Value City Hall— South one half of lot 8 in block 66, original town, erected in 1889. . : $ 20,000.00 Water Works — Lots 7 and 8 in block 42, original town, 14 miles of main, 7Z hydrants, con- stracted 1885 to 1888 76,500.00 Pest House — West half of the southeast quarter of the south east quarter, section 22, town ship 11, range 9 1,600.00 Cemetery — The southwest quarter of the southwest quarter, sec tion 20, the north half of the northwest quarter of the north west quarter, section 29, and the south half of lot 2 section 19, all in township 11, range 9, containing 60 acres, more or less, chased in 1897) 4,000.00 First Precint, First Ward, Engine real estate buildings, etc. (pur- House and voting place, lot 2 in block 22 Nagy's Addn. lot and building 500.00 Second Precint, Second Ward, Engine House and voting place, building only 400.00 Third Precint, Second Ward — fractional lot 17 in county sub division on WestKoenig street, lot and building 230.00 Fourth Precint, Third Ward. City Hali used for voting place. Fifth Piecint, Fourth Ward. En gine House and voting place, fractional lot in block 12 origin al town with fraction in H. G. Clark's addition, lot and build ing 600.00 PERSONAL PROPERTY FIRE DEPARTMENT Four hose carriages, 2 hook and ladder trucks, chemical engine, 2500 feet of hose and other property connected therewith . . 4,600.00 Other personal property of the city 500.00 Main Sewer system discharging into Wood River put in in 1889 at cost of IN 1919 $108,930.00 50,000.00 The city now has all the property listed above, or better property replacing it, and a great deal more. To the water works has been added a city light plant which will be taken up more in detail later; considerable new fire equipment has been added; the storm sewer crsir-- 110 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA has added to the sewarge value, and many miles of paving are now owned by the city. PARKS Grand Island has a fair beginning made in the matter of parks. When disposition was made of the old court house several attempts were made to sell the square, and eventually a Women's Park Association was formed and leased the square from the county for a period of ten years. Through the efforts of these ladies a beautiful small park has been fitted City Hall up, which was appropiately given the name of "Pioneer Park." Cement walks criss-cross through the park; a nice fountain occupies the center, drinking fountains are conveniently distributed, benches are profusely scattered through the park, and the artistic floral beds add a brilliant touch to the attractive resting place this makes near the heart of the city. This square was originally donated to the county by the Union Pacific railroad and the old court house placed thereon. When the new court house was built at First and Locust streets, on the old Koenig property, the first block was left idle, but has been tumed to as suitable a purpose as could have been chosen. AMUSEMENT PARKS Grand Island is unusually endowed with amusement parks under private management. Perhaps the most notable of these is Schim- mer's Lake. This lake was constructed by damming up a channel of the Platte River and a skillful course of preparation of the vicinity now covered by its waters. The lake lies to one side of a main road between Grand Island and the south part of the county; it has a driveway clear around its shores, and a large island in the center, which is reached by little bridges. A great many cottages have been built on both the island and the shores. Across the road from the lake is located the resort called Sand Krog, where picnic grounds, a large dancing pavilion with Pioneer Park, Grand Island refreshment parlor, and various conveniences required by such a resort are maintained. Mr. Schimmer and Mrs. Scheel conduct this re sort, which all through its history has attracted a great many people from distant points. There are numerous other private parks which are well equipped with pavilions for dancing, refreshment, and recreation. Some of these will recall very vivid memories in the minds of those who have spent many happy evenings with their confines. Midway Park to the south of the city ; Harmony Hall to the east end of the county, just beyond the eastern confines of the city; and Lion's Grove, south of the city, are among the most notable of these places which are still in operation. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT The first fifty-some years of the history of Grand Island has on the whole been singularly free from the records of very disastrous con- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 111 flagrations. Of course in the first few years of Hall County's history, before Grand Island really became a town of any importance, prairie fires swept across the new community and inflicted what was then very serious damage. But at no time has the city ever had a conflagration that took away any considerable portion of it. It has from a very early date been provided with volunteer fire departments that have extinguished each incipient blaze, and that have kept in touch with most modem devices and methods in the way of equipment and organization. When the time came to establish a paid fire department it was by no means on account of the lack of efficiency in the men who have voluntarily taken charge of this service of protection, but because of the rapid growth of the city, and the growing need for a team and driver to be constantly on hand in order that distances might be covered by the equipment in shorter time. Grand Island's fire department has seen the same evolution as that of other towns of similar size. First was the loosely formed mutual or ganization that would rush to the proper barn when the whistle blew, grab a wheel-cart and hotfoot it over to the scene of the fire, rein forced, if necessary, by the citizenry bucket brigade. Then came the firmer organization with equipment that could be hitched to the first -team that could arrive, with a supply of ladders as well as hose carts. Then the chemi cal wagon, pulled by a team of horses, with a large hook and ladder, and eventually the auto truck fire equipment which can make the dis tance in double-quick time. THE FIRST FIRE COMPANY So far as records are immediately available the first fire company was organized June 8, 1874, with C. P. Henderson, foreman ; N. P. Kelly and T. C. McCoy, assistants; E. Tom- Hnson, secretary; -and James Cleary, trea surer; S. N. Wolbach, James Cleary and J. B. Davis together with the officers were tmstees. Several months later in the same year the hook and ladder company, was organized with W. J. Cuddy, later member of the staff of the Portland Oregonian, as foreman ; P. Dunphy and H. Baumann, assistants ; W. F. Dering, treasurer; Joseph Jenneman, secretary. In 1876 there were twenty-five members of the department, with John Kraft as chief. The city at that time did not exercise any control, but later assumed such, which, however, until more recent years was largely nominal. In March, 1884 Ch. Neilson, W. Cornelius, Ch. Guenther, Th. Zimmerman, H. Henk and F. Kruse were elected officers of the Hook and Ladder Company. John Riss was captain, suc ceeding Milisen. The fire department was then presided over with Nabel as chief and C. L. Howard as assistant. At the Fireman's Tournament held here in 1885 the Fremonts took the prize away from the Fitzgeralds of Lincoln, winners at Omaha, by a close tussle. In 1886 the officers of the department were, John Matthews, chief; A. C. Lederman, assis tant; J. H. Mullin, secretary; and John P. Voitle, treasurer. Protection Hose Company No. 2 completed organization in June 1886 with E. C. McCash land, president; W. F. McLaughlin, foreman; C. Milisen, secretary; S. EHiott, treasurer; E. Dawson, George Hunter and G. H. Geddes, trustees. In March, 1887, H. C. Miller was chosen president of the fire department; John A. Matthews, chief; William McLaughlin, assistant ; John Voitle, second assistant ; J. W. Bartholomew, secretary; Charles Haux and David Zink, treasurer. In 1890, W. R. Mc Allister was president; D. C. Zink, secretary; J. A. Matthews, chief. Pacific Hose Co. No. 1 was presided over by George Furstenhof er ; Ott's Hose Co. No. 3 and Alexander Hose Co. No. 4 were organ ized later. Following the first "big fire" related in the chapter on pioneers of the first colony as hav ing swept the old settlement in the late 'fifties, the next big fire was that of Engel & Sieg- mund's pearl barley mill, destroyed in 1876. The mill had been erected only a year pre viously at a cost of $5,000. With the excep tion of the Union Pacific water tank stmcture, this was the first conflagration since the town was founded in 1866. An attempt to bum West's store and the Grange Hall was pre- 112 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA vented by James Cleary. In December, 1884, there was a fire in the Cleary and Grand Island Banking Company buildings that but for the thorough work of the department would have destroyed those blocks. Schaupp's mill was burned to the ground in 1886. This fire, one of the largest in the town's history, destroyed a three-story roller patent mihs and a five story elevator. Wilsey's barn and five blooded horses were destroyed in 1887. Rol- lin's feed mill was destroyed in 1888. The Burning of the Sass hotel (known as the Wyoming house) was another big fire. In more recent years the fire at the Martin store, with damages of $30,000, the destruction of the old State Central and later Grand Island Second Street, Grand Island Brewery and the total loss of the Pacific Hotel were the most extensive conflagrations. In 1910 the Nebraska Mercantile fire was a cause of enormous loss. PAVING Grand Island has acquired a goodly number of miles of paving in recent years. Probably more impressive and enlightening for future comparison than a mere statement of number of miles would be a brief outline of the pres ent paved districts of the city, in 1919. Practically all of the streets of the business district are paved. On the south side. Third street is paved from Kimball west about a mile from Locust; Second, with the seedling mile coming in from the east, is paved from the Buriington tracks subway on the east, westward about a mile or so from Locust street; First is paved from Sycamore to the west end of the residence district; Division, form Locust to the west end of the residence district; and Koenig is just being completed through the western residence district. This gives five streets through the west residence districts, with agitation under way on streets farther south. Locating the new junior high school on Charles street will no doubt hasten along the addition qf another east and west paved street. North and South, on the south side of town. Pine, Locust, and Wheeler are paved through the business district, and Wal nut some. Numerous cross streets in the west part of town are either paved or districts in process of formation. On the north side of town Pine and Walnut have paving up to Tenth, and Tenth is paved across from Plum to Eddy. Now paving is under way or dis tricts are being formed on Eddy and on Ninth and Sycamore is about to be formed into a district. Another few years will find material additions to the list sketched above. SEWERS The city's present storm sewer and entire sewerage system has proved sufficiently inade quate that the voters on July 2, 1919, voted $200,000 to begin a program of construction of several main sewers, with a labyrinth of laterals, which when completed will render sewerage available to practically every lot now within the city limits and to a number of pros pective additions that may be added to the city within the next few years. LIGHTING PLANTS The Gas and Electric Light Company was organized in July, 1884, with George H. 'Thum mel, president; H. A. Koenig, vice-president; Dr. M. J. Gahan, secretary; and Chris Was mer, treasurer. In 1889, Henry Miller was superintendent. The Grand Island Gas Company was incor porated March 21, 1887, with A. S. MaxweH, Samuel N. Wolbach and John L. Means as stockholders, and Mr. Maxwell, as managing director. H, G. Leavitt, of Ames, Nebraska, became main owner in this plant. The Grand Island Light And Power Com pany was established in 1895. It built a plant with a capacity of furnishing 900 incan- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 113 descent lights and thirty arc lights, and before the end of 1897 had to extend its facilities. The Grand Island Light and Fuel Co. was a manufacturer of gas. This plant was estab- Hshed prior to 1890, and was built at the 'foot of East Third street. GRAND ISLAND ELECTRIC COMPANY The Grand Island Electric Co. was organ ized in September, 1905, with B. E. Sunny, of Chicago, Illinois, as president ; T. H. Fritts, of Grand Island, as secretary-treasurer and general manager; and with directors as fol lows: B. E. Sunny, George P. Townsend, A. Burt, A. D. Fonger, A. L. Munroe, of Chicago, and T. H. Fritts and W. H. Thompson of Grand Island. In 1905 the plant had a capa city of 150 K. M. or 200 horse power. In 1915 the company had developed a plant with 625 KVA capacity, or 833 horse power. CENTRAL POWER COMPANY The Central Power Company was organized in July, 1915 with B. E. Sunny president; T. H. Fritts, vice-president and treasurer; W. H. Weston, secretary; directors Frank J. Baker, Edward J. Doyle, Louis A. Fergusen, William A. Fox, John F. Gilchrest, John H. Gulick, Martin J. Insull, Samuel Insull, Chas. A. Mun roe, L. E. Meyers, F. S. Peabody. Edward P. Russell, Marshall E. Sampsell, Frederick Sargent and H. L. 'Stewart, all of Chicago. During the year of 1916 the Boelus Hydro plant was developed. This is the leading water power plant of Nebraska and has harnessed the waters of the Loup River a few miles west and north of the northwest corner of Hall County and made it possible for the Central Power company with that plant and their re serve plant at Grand Island to become the distributing center of light, current, and power for a great many towns throughout central Nebraska. The capacity in steam and hydro generating plants is 5,133 KVA or 6,844 horse power, or eight times the capacity when the Central Power Company succeeded the Grand Island Electric Company. From a production of 2,178,485 kilowatt hours in 1915 the annual output has grown until in 1918 it was 7,446,320 K. W. H. and will approximate 8,935,000 K. W. H. for 1919. The company now has 200 miles of high ten sion transmission lines in operation. The fol lowing towns are now served from this com pany's plants : Clarks, Central City, Chapman, Grand Island, Doniphan, Alda, Wood Ri-rer, Shelton, Gibbon, Kearney, Odessa, Abbott, Cairo, Boelus, Danneborg, St. Paul, and also Central Power Company Plant wholesale to C. G. & E. Co., for 25 towns, and serving a population of over 50,000, in cluding Y. G. & E. Co. WATERWORKS AND MUNICIPAL LIGHT PLANT Practically forty years ago Grand Island voted bonds and took steps to secure a munici pal water plant. She was perhaps one of the first cities in the state to make this progressive move. At first fire protection was the impel ling motive; the necessity of flushing sewers followed, and later the system was tapped for domestic purposes and for the use of the Union Pacific shops. Eventually industrial and manufacturing plants multiplied and uses have piled up one after another, until the plant is an all essential institution. About ten years ago many citizens became dissatisfied with the existing situation relative 114 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA to secure electric lighting service, and $35,000 bonds were voted to extend the activities and equipment of the municipal water plant to in clude a municipal electric plant. The bonded indebtness, outstanding warrants, taxes, inter est, and surplus, the items making up the liabilities, for the electric plant on May 1, 1909, were $57,097.21 ; the assets balancing with the same total ; for the water plant, the liabilities and assets shown were $102,348.95. without much delay. A few have to be prodded by the treasurer or by the police before they will dig. Others may find their places of busi ness closed if they don't "come across." TlTe business occupation tax is one of many. It must be paid by non-resident corporations, such as the Western Union, the express com pany, the Standard Oil, etc., and also is paid by places of amusements, such as theaters. The amount of this tax varies from $10 to $50 per Municipal Water and Light Plant SOURCES OF REVENUE AND TAXATION Something of the magnitude of the city's business and the amount of property now be longing to the city, as well as the multiplicity of burdens resting upon a city administration and the numerous sources of revenue at the city's command may be gained from some comparisons and statements published in the Independent, July 19, 1919: Just at present time City Treasurer W. R. King is finding money on all sides. There are numerous taxes which must be paid by resi dents of Grand Island, in common with the residents of other cities. Most of those who owe taxes are paying without complaint or year. All of these taxes are now paid with the exception of the tax due from one theatre. Twelve amusement taxes have been received. The pool hall man pays a tax into the same business occupation fund, but under a differ ent ordinance. Bowling alley owners pay un der this second ordinance also. Fourteen of these have paid their taxes and only one man is delinquent. Unless the tax is paid the police will close up the place of business. The tax amounts to $10 a table or per bowling alley. One place has nine tables and three bowling aHeys, and thus pays a tax of $120, which is the highest amount to be paid by any one such business house. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 115 The dog tax is another one in which the city treasurer has an interest. More than 300 such taxes have been paid, which is about the same number as paid last year. According to this there are only 300 and some dogs in the city. Complaints received by the police at times from people who say they are kept awake or otherwise annoyed by canines, indi cate that these 300 dogs travel in a body and visit various neighborhoods which have no legal right to be in the community. Other licenses include that for peddlers, such as that paid by a stranger who disposed of large quantities of razors and combs on a down tbwn street comer the other day at a price around one dollar. The circus license is another one which goes into the city treasury. The Yankee Robinson circus which is to be here this month, has paid a tax of $75 to Mr King. The tax is based on the number of cars used by the circus. The size of this tax shows the circus has more than 20 railroad cars and less than 30 cars. The new state law fixes a tobacco tax of $15, which is payable to the city clerk, not the city treasurer immediately. Mr. King heard of a new tax on Friday when a man called and wanted to pay a milk tax of $1 a year. He told the treasurer this tax goes into effect soon. Mr. King de clined to accept the money much to the visitor's disappointment, as the treasurer said he had received no instruction to collect a milk tax and was not authorized to receive the' money or issue a receipt. In addition the city treasurer collects large sums in the way of special assessments for paving, sewers and so forth. From Daily Independent, August 7, 1919: A good sized jump in the city tax levy for the new fiscal year beginning the second Mon day in August was decided on when the coun cil last night passed the appropriation and tax levy ordinances. The total appropriation voted on is $195,858 as compared with $151,670 the past year, or an increase of $44,- 288. The total tax levy is 46 mills against 34 mills last year, or an increase of 12 mills. A few days ago an estimate as to the total tax levy on the city property was published. It was 103 mills. The estimate may be changed now with the following items : City levy, 46 mills ; school levy 45 mills ; state levy, 13 miHs ; county levy, 9 mills (estimated) ; total levy on city property, 113 mills. The following table shows the appropria tions as provided in the ordinances of last year and this year, in comparison : 1918 1919 Sinking fund and interest. .$ 9,570 $ 20,867 City salaries 4,700 5,200 Streets, alleys 12,000 13,000 Sewers 6,000 12,000 Street lighting 10,000 10,000 Incidentals 5,000 7,000 Parks 1,000 800 Police 11,000 12,716 Fire department 13,700 15,225 Street intersection 19,500 29,000 Library 3,000 2,900 Cemetery 3,700 4,650 Band 2,500 2,500 Water Works 50,000 50,000 Totals -.$151,670 $195,858 So far as the water works appropriation is concerned, it should be mentioned that the $50,000 put down is meant only to keep the city books straight. The sum appropriated to be raised by a tax is only $5,480, the same as last year. The rest of the amount comes from the receipts of the city plant. The city tax rate of Grand Island is the lowest among twenty cities and towns of Ne braska. The total tax paid by a resident of this city for all purposes is so low that only one of these twenty cities has a lesser rate. Only two of the twenty cities have a lower school levy. These pleasant facts have been learned by County Treasurer Neumann after making in quiries in other counties. Mr. Neumann thought he would like to fnake a comparison of rates so as to have facts at hand to meet some of the chronic kickers who growl about their taxes every time tax paying time ap proaches. The replies he received show that residents of this community may add one more item to the Hst of home-grown articles concerning 116 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA which they may boast when "out among 'em." for instance: "Hullo, pardner. Where you from?" "Grand Island." "Watcha got there?" "Well, just to sorta glance at things, we got one of the biggest beet sugar factories in the country, the Hvest Commercial Club a- going, the finest Elks temple in the state, the best auditorium for any city of its size, a people that has met every war quota, one of the most modern coHections of Union Pacific buildings on the system, a bunch of horse barns that would make your eyes stand out. City Library the Lincoln Highway, the S. Y. A. road, the Grainland route, and another highway in pro ject, two of the grandest little railroad systems in the United States; the most active demand for houses to be found anywhere, a Soldiers and Sailors Home colony, a Country Club with eighty acres of club land, some of the most sizeable ranches in Nebraska, the best little automobile and style show you ever saw, the lowest fire loss record you can imagine, ten miles of paving and more started, scores of beautiful homes, a neat assortment of mer cantile establishments and wholesale houses, a grand market center for farm products, the lowest tax rate in the state, and — ." "Halt! That's enough. What's the fare to Grand Island? I'm going that way." The total tax levy" imposed on a resident of Grand Island is 88 mills. Out of twenty cities only one has a rate as low or lower and that is Seward with 86 5 mills. The levy for city purposes is 34 mills which is the lowest of any of the twenty cities. The school levy is 37 mills and only Omaha and Seward have lower levies for that purpose. The state and county levy is 17 mills which is the same as that in Hastings, while four places, Seward, York, Wymore and Beatrice, have lower state and county levies. The f olowing table shows the tax levy com parison plainly: TOWN if I _^ I CQC CO O £h McCook 22 47 Z7 106 Holdrege 18 39 35' 92 Fremont 21 40 50 111 Beatrice 16.6 44 51 111.6 Wymore 16.6 51 60.5 128.1 Kearney *17.18 50 37.6 104.78 Lexington 22.68 51 44 117.68 York 15 56 46.5 117.5 Seward 16 35 35.5 86.5 Nebraska City . .26.4 55 48 129.4 Hastings 17 60 43 120 Lincoln 17.2 48 37 102.2 Alliance 25 50 62.5 137.5 North Platte ...22.68 47 41 110.68 Plattsmouth 22 55 63 140 Gering 27.68 70 71 168 68 Scottsbluff 27.68 69 71 167.68 Omaha 23.73 35 42 100.72 Norfolk 22.68 49.5 63.5 135.68 Grand Island ... 17 37 34 88 THE PUBLIC LIBRARY One of the institutions to which Grand Island can point with pride is her City Library. In the early 'eighties the library sprang up, a rather meagre affair, promoted by private interest. In 1884 a board ap pointed by the city took charge and the service and equipment were gradually improved from year to year. The old library was located on East Third for many years, at one time in the Scarff building. It was then located in the City Hall until its splendid home at Second and Walnut was completed in 1905. The presidents of the Library Board have been: From 1884 until 1898, Charies F. Bentley; his successor was Prof. R. J. Barr, and after him, Henry S. Ferrar served for about five years ; in 1905, Mrs. O. A. Abbott, Sr., became president, and she has devoted HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 117 her time and energies very liberally to that position for the past fourteen years. Mrs. Abbott had served as vice-president of the Board for several years before she took the chairmanship. Nathan Platte served as secretary of the Board for a good many years, until his death in 1897; John F. Matthews then took that work for a couple years, then Bayard H. Paine served for five years, during the strenu ous two or three years when the Board was accepting Mr. Carnegie's generous offer made ini 1902, securing a site and an architect, letting the contract and waiting for the con struction of their building; Prof. J. F. Mat thews, two years ; Prof. D. A. Trivelpiece, five years and Mrs. J. A. CosteHo for the last six years have been the succeeding secretaries. The longest term of service on this Board has been that of Mrs. O. A. Abbott, who has served continuously since the institiution of the Board in 1884, a service of thirty-five years. Other rather long terms of service for such a board have been those of Chas. F. Bentley, from 1884 to 1898, and after a lapse of one year, in which the Bentley family did not assist on the Board, Mrs. Charles F. Bent ley became a member and served for eleven years, until May 1, 1911, when death robbed the Board of this helpful and sincere member. Bayard H. Paine served from 1899 until 1904 and after an absence of one term returned to the Board in 1907 and served another twelve years, until 1919, making seventeen years serv ice on this Board, during a part of which time he was secretary. Nathan Piatt served from 1885 until his death in 1897, making twelve years, during practically all of which time he was secretary of the Board. Mrs. T. O .C. Harrison served from 1884 until 1899, fifteen years. Recently after the death of her husband. Judge T. O. C. Harrison, who left her with a large library she did not sacrifice many volumes to a sale that would net less than their worth, but donated a goodly number of them to the library. Geo. B. BeH served from 1887 to 1899, a twelve year period ; Dr. H. D. Boyden was a member from 1884 until 1897, thirteen years ; Mrs. Geo. Everett was a member from 1884 until 1888 and again from 1895 to 1898, seven years total service ; Mrs. R. C. Glanville served from 1891 to 1900, or nine years; others who served two or three terms in the earlier history of the Board were D. H. Van- tine, 1887 to 1895; Geo. H. Thummel, 1889 to 1897. Of the first board, Messrs. Bentley, and Dr. Boyden have been mentioned, also Mrs. Abbott, Mrs. Harrison, and Mrs. Everett,, the other members were H. O. Brown, who served one year, and H. E. CHfford finished his term; W. H. Michael and J. P. Kernohan, who each served three years, and Mr. Sharp who served one year. Chas. Rief and Mrs. E. B. Smith each served a short time on the Board during , the late 'eighties. In 1897 several new members came onto the Board. Rev. Jorden served a short time; Rev. T. C. Clark served from 1897 until 1905. J. F. Matthews served for nine years, until 1906. In 1899 three new members came on: Judge John R. Thompson, who served until 1905,. six years; Henry S. Ferrar, who served the same period of six years ; and Judge J. H. Mullin, who served also the same six years. Geo. H. Sands came on in 1904 and served one three year temi ; C. J. Pope likewise came on in 1903 and served one three year term. E. J. Hatch served from 1901 to 1904, during the latter part of which time he was secretary. C. H. Tully came on in 1904 and has been a member continuously since that time, a service of fifteen years ; Mr. Hehnke served one term ; I. T. Benjamin served from 1907 until 1914; Ralph R. Horth from 1906 to 1909, and S. D. KeHey served from 1906 to 1911, resigning upon May 1, 1911, after he had rendered valu able service as chairman of the building com mittee; J. W. Rose served from 1909 until he resigned on March 23, 1914, when he left the city. Prof. D. A. Trivelpiece served from 1906 to 1911, and Mr. Hanna has served one year, in 1905-6, the first year of the term in which Mr. Trivelpiece came onto the Board. This brings us down to the recent members. Mrs. Abbott, Judge Paine and Mr. Tully have been mentioned. Since 1915 these three have 118 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA had practically the same six associates. Mrs. S. D. Ross came on in 1914 and has served since then; Rev. T. A. Dungan came on in 1915 to remain until this time; Dr. George Sutherland came on in 1913 and stayed untH 1918 when Peter Nelson served one year; Rev. L. A. Arthur came on back in 1907 and has served twelve years. Mrs. F. W. Ashton came on to the Board in 1911 and has served for eight years now, and Mrs. J. L- Cleary came on in 1910 and has served nine years. In 1919 under the new law the Board was reappointed with five members, and these are first assistant was Miss Alma Etting, and Mrs. J. A. CosteHo was second assistant; in recent years Mrs. CosteHo has been first as sistant and secretary of the Board. The library contains many thousands of volumes and carries several hundred period icals, papers, and reference works. STREET RAILWAY SYSTEM Grand Island has never reached the pro portions where it could maintain an electric street car system, but thirty years ago had a good horse and mule-car street car system in View of Grand Island about 1890, showing Street Railway System Mrs. Abbott, Rev. Arthur, Mrs. Ashton, Rev. Dungan and C. H. Tully. LIBRARIANS A contract was made with C. D. Irvine about 1888 for quarters for the library and he acted as librarian for a short time. For seven years Mrs. Mary Irvine held this posi tion, and upon her resignation. Miss Edith Irvine was temporarily librarian until Miss Clara M. Body took the position. She served about four years, and then went to England upon a leave of absence. Miss Frances Wise man took the work in her absence. In 1905 Mary H. Ames was brought from Lincoln to take charge of the library. In 1909 she was succeeded by Frances Cunningham, and in 1910 the present efficient librarian. Miss Daisy Houck, was elected. For a time, her operation. The incorporators of this street railway, in 1887, were O. A. Abbott, I. R. Alter, Henry A. Koenig, William Hagge, A. H. Baker, O. B. Thompson, and C. W. Scarff This company built up a transportation system which served the people of the community for a decade or so. Especially during the vast assemblages occasioned by the annual reunions of the Grand Army of the Republic was this service of immeasurable value. Its equipment increased until the company at times operated twelve or fifteen cars. The route first started at the Soldiers' Home, turned at the corner where O. B. Thompson' s residence was located, circled over to Eddy street and came south across the Union Pa cific tracks to Third street, where it tumed east and went through the business section of town to Oak street and thence northeast until HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 119 it reached the Burlington passenger station. Another route turned south at Third and Cleburn, the location of the car barns (pres ent location of J. A. Woolstenholme resi dence) , ran to Second street, and on out west ward to the sugar factory, and eastward through the business section. Later a route came in on Koenig street from the west and north on Locust street, making two circles around which the cars were routed. Even tually an hourly service was establisehd on the northern route to the Soldiers' Home and southern route toward the sugar factory. alternated so that cars would pass the points in the business section where the routes doubled every half hour. During the depression of the 'nineties the business dropped down, and financial institu tions which financed and backed the street car company, and in which some of its officers had their large businesfs interests, went un^der, and these facts cumulated to accomplish the gradual disappearance of this company, and during the late 'nineties it stopped operation. The tracks were finally sold to parties who had use for the material in them. CHAPTER VII OTHER TOWNS OF HALL COUNTY Wood River — - First Wood River — Early History of Village of Wood River, by O. M. Quackenbush — Settlement of Town — Officers of Town — Early Builders of Wood River — James Jackson — Henry O. Giffokd — O. W. Eaton — N. T. Brittin — Rich ard Mankin — -W. L. G. Trapp — S. MacMurray — Patrick Hoye — Wm. and Freo Thorpe — W. L. Sprague — Ewing Family — James Ewing — O. M. Quackenbush — First General Stores — W. W. Mitchell — ^S. A. Sherrard — Hardware and Implement Stores — Drug Stores — -Early Commercial Interests, 1879 — Five Years Later, 1884 — Another Five Years, 1889 — Ten Years Later, 1899 — Ten Years Later, 1909 — Another Ten Years, 1919 — Doniphan — Town Started — EARL^ Events in Community — Doniphan's Big Fire, 1887 — Incorporation of Town — Suc ceeding Town Trustees — Commercial Changes — Cairo ¦ — ^ First Settlement — Town Government — Village Clerks, Treasurers, Marshals — ¦ Business Houses — Busi ness Directory, 1907 — Business Directory, 1919 — ^ North & Robinson Co. — Alda — Abbott — Schauppsville - — Underwood — Spencer — Orchard — Easton — Runnelsburg WOOD RIVER community The town of Wood River practically began its history with the advent of the Union Pa cific railroad in the 'sixties, but it was not until 1874 that it began to exist at its present location. It had hitherto been located two and a half miles west of its present location. As -early as 1861 a number of Irish families had begun to settle in that locality. FIRST WOOD RIVER The town of Wood River was first laid out in 1868 about two and half miles west of its present site, but it grew very slowly at first. A depot was located there and James Jackson had been keeping a store in that lo cality since 1864 and it became a factor at once. A. A. Baker, a Canadian, is said to have built the first store building there, in 1871. But James Jackson had been conduct ing his store a half-mile from there, and while this was the second building in town, when he moved it over, Mr. Jackson in some par ticulars might be regarded as the oldest resi dent of the old Wood River station com munity. A Catholic church was established at that location, which gained a large member ship. The town grew to thirty buildings in 1874 when the Union Pacific depot was moved to the present site. The town immediately followed it, and thus was established the pres ent Wood River. Its early story will be told in the words of one of its own residents: EARLY HISTORY OF THE VILLAGE OF WOOD RIVER. BY O. M. QUACKENBUSH Wood River, Hall County, Nebraska, is situated in the beautiful and extremely fertile Wood River Valley, on the main line of the Union Pacific railway, distant about sixteen miles from Grand Island, and has a popula tion of about 800 (now probably in excess of that). The Wood River mns to the north- 120 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 121 ward less than a mile, while the broad and shallow Platte River wends its way to the southward distant some five miles. The townsite was platted by the Union Pacific railroad in the fall of 1874. The sta tion at Old Wood River was moved to the new townsite, W. B. Hollister being the first agent. James Jackson, who was located at the old town, immediately moved his store and residence to Wood River, his buHdings being the first in the town. He was followed by Postmaster James White, who moved a little building on Main street and in addition kept a small stock of general merchandise. He soon sold out to A. G. Hollister, who also became postmaster. Shortly afterwards Pat Neville brought his liquid refreshment stand down from the old town of Wood River and commenced business in the new. He soon sold out to James Kennedy, who continued the business for a number of years. In 1877 Chas. Horn of Grand Island came to Wood River and started a shoe shop. Some time in 1878 John Roach followed and engaged in the general merchandise business, and soon after Mr. Trapp and F. Scwarfz did likewise. Dr. Carter and son established the first dmg store, W. Hollister the first hardware, and Dr. Carter was the first physician. James McKinney was the first butcher, John O'Con nor the first carpenter, and N. W. Lewton the first furniture dealer. James Shick was the first hotel keeper and Mr. Harman the first harness maker. N. T. Brittin bought out A. G. Hollister in 1880 and was appointed post master. John O'Connor was postmaster under Cleveland's first administration, N. T. Brittin under Harrison's administration, Patrick Finan under Cleveland's second ad ministration, and S. A. Sherrard under Mc Kinley. [Succeeding postmasters have been I. C. Spetts, Seth W. Wilson, and David D. O'Kane who has served for the past five years. — Ed.] The first school was taught by John Allen. The first sermon was preached by Rev. J. N. Allen at the school house. Fle was a Baptist. The first boy born was Charles Horn, in 1881, and the first giri baby was Maggie Horn. The first death was that of Hannah Jackson, mother of James Jackson, who had been satying with her son for a short time before her death, in 1876. The first marriage in the village was that of Fred Riesland and Miss Rosa Jessup, in August, 1876. The first church erected was the Meth odist Episcopal, in May, 1880. W. & F. Thorpe buHt their flouring mill in 1881 and Dick Dodd erected the first elevator, in 1884. The first newspaper was published by R. H. MHler, in September, 1881. The first bank in Wood River was called the Wood River Bank and was established in 1883 with C. H. Bell as cashier. For the first few years the growth of the town was slow but along about 1881 the business greatly increased and a number of new business men and residents were added to the thrifty little village. In the fall of 1882 the town had a sufficient num ber of inhabitants to incorporate and in Oc tober, 1882, articles of incorporation were filed and the incorporated village commenced business with the following named trustees : James Jackson, N. T. Brittin, J. B. Furman, W. L. G. Trapp, and James Ewing. officers of early wood river C. H. Bell was appointed clerk. Dr. Gibson treasurer and Ryan Kelley attomey. The viHage was so peaceable and law abiding that for a number of years it did without a mar shal. Isaiah Lewton was the first weigh master and James Williams was pound- master, his livery stable being designated as a pound. John M. Brett was granted a saloon license in November, 1882. The Board in 1883 was as f oHows : J. B. Furman, James Ewing, Wm. Hollister, Dick Dodd and Stoddard. Stoddard failed to qual ify and H. P. Chapman was appointed in his stead. In May, 1883, A. C. White was ap pointed street commissioner, and in July of the same year, H. Janss & Co. were granted a druggist permit. James Kennedy was granted a saloon license in August, 1883. On January 21, 1884, C. J. Low was appointed marshal and shortly after he resigned and 122 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA A. C. White was appointed in his stead. Wm. Thorpe, in the same year, was appointed clerk, which job he still holds. SUCCEEDING city officers OF WOOD RIVER To those men who have devoted their time and energy to the exacting and yet pleasant service of the governmental affairs of the town in which they reside, all credit is due. The trustees who served the village since the initial two years of its corporate existence have been : 1884-1885-1886- 1887-1888- 1889- 1890- 1891- 1892-1893-1894- 1895- 1896-1897-1898-1899-1900- 1901- 1902- 1903- 1904- 1905- - James Ewing, C. H. BeH, C. W. Stod dard, James Little and Geo. Groves. - Ewing, Dodd, BeH, Howard and Wells. - Cross, Ewing, Hockenberger, How ard and Williams. - Ewing, Jackson, Williams, Howard and Hollister. -Ewing, Jackson, Williams, Howard and Penney. - Penney, Mitchell, Parker, Boone and Johnson. - Mitchell, Penney, Taylor, Chamber lain. -Penney, S. Jones, Chamberlain, Taylor, Jackson. -Jackson, Dunn, Jones, Eaton, Penney. -Joe Rounds, Mitchell, MarshaH, Smout, Sherrerd. -Marshall, Mitchell, Smout, Sherrerd, J. Rounds. -Sherrerd, Mitchell, Burkerd, Spelts, Smout. -Spelts, White, MitcheH, Wingert, Mullen. - Spelts, Sherrerd, White, M. Diefend erfer, Rounds. -Ed Rounds, M. Diefenderfer, S. A. Sherrerd, Spehs, White. -Spelts, Jackson, A. C. White, Burk erd, Rounds. -Jas. Jackson, MacMurray, MitcheH, Mullen, Kinz. - Same as 1900. -Jackson, MacMurray, MitcheH, Mul len and WHson. -MacMurray, Mitchell, Brett, Mullen and S. W. Wilson. The latter two re signed in July and August, 1903 and were succeeded by John Harper and J. W. Cunningham. -Brett, MacMurray, Conrad, Jewett and Quackenbush. -Jas. T. Brett, E. S. Leavenworth, Geo. Conrad, Jno. R. Jewett, R. R. Root. 1906 — Brett, Leavenworth, Jewett, Root and Jno. Mullen. 1907 — Brett, Jewett, Root, H. S. Eaton and Jno. MuHen, who resigned in June, succeeded by Dan Lyons. 1908 - — Brett, Root, Eaton, Diefenderfer and Mitchell, latter succeeded in Novem ber by Dr. Redfield. 1909 — Brett, Redfield, Diefenderfer, Eaton and W. T. Spelts. 1910 — Brett, Diefenderfer, Spelts, Eaton and J. A. Rounds. 1911 — Brett, J. A. Rounds, H. S. Eaton, Spelts, and I. C. Williams. 1912 — Brett, Rounds, Eaton, Williams and J. J. Carter. 1913 — Jas. T. Brett, J. J. Carter, H. S. Eaton, J. A. Rounds and John Hopper. 1914 — -Brett, Carter, Hopper, Eaton and F. J. MHler. 1915 — Brett, Carter, Eaton, Miller and F. E. Fulton. 1916 — Jas. T. Brett, J. J. Carter, F. E. Fulton, H. S. Eaton and S. A. Sher rerd. 1917 — Jas. T. Brett, J. J. Carter, H. S. Eaton, A. Fairbanks and S. A. Sher rerd. 1918 — Brett, Carter, Eaton, Fairbanks and Sherrerd. 1919 — Jas. T. Brett, J. J. Carter, H. S. Eaton, A. Fairbanks and S. A. Sherrerd. The other town offices have been filled by fewer men in Wood River than in many towns of its size. Thomas Whalen served for a great many years as marshal and street com missioner. J. W. Cuningham, A. H. Wallace, Mark Ryan, P. H. Bridger, C. A. PenweH, A. D. Riddle, J. M. Wiggins, and W. T. Dunn have also served in one or both of those capacities. Since 1913 Mr. Dunn has been marshal except for the time he was away in the military service of his country. Wm. Thorp was town clerk for a long period. In 1903 Wm. O'Connor undertook the work for a short time, and in August, 1904, David D. O'Kane became town clerk and kept the records of the community until 1910. During 1910 and 1911 G. G. Card was clerk, in 1912 D. D. O'Kane, 1913 and 1914 A. H. Wingert, 1915 G. G. Card, 1916 G. G. Card and 1917 and 1918 D. D. O'Kane, and •'p'^ HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 123 the present clerk in 1919 is C. W. Mercer. W. L. Sprague served as treasurer for around fifteen years; then for two years, 1913 and 1914, H. P. Burmood, and he was followed by E. B. Pearson and C. W. Mercer, and at present A. H. Wingert is treasurer. On October 9, 1907, the community voted for $3,800 water works bonds by a vote of 158 for to 31 against. The election board at that election were W. W. Mitchell and C. W. Mercer clerks, and J. H. Shick, J. W. Cunningham, and A. C. White judges. Frank H. Wheeler was the contractor to erect a building 40x44 for the Wood River Electric Light and Water system, and a very sub stantial plant resulted from this effort. W. T. Dunn is the present electric light and water commissioner. EARLY BUILDINGS OF WOOD RIVER Even more than is usually the case, the very early history of Wood River radiated around one man, who placed the first building in the present community of Wood River, started the first store in the present town, and was a pioneer in almost every phase of the town's infant activities. The history of Wood River would not be complete without recurring to the Hfe and activities of James Jackson. JAMES JACKSON James Jackson was born at Chatsworth (near Manchester), England, AprH 21, 1837, being the day on which Queen Victoria was crowned. He came to the United States with his- parents when he was eight years of age. They first settled in Bureau County, Illinois, and after three years residence there removed to Alamakee County, Iowa, and later to Floyd County in that state in 1855. In 1860 Mr. Jackson moved to Hall County and settled three and a half miles west of the present site of Wood River, where he took a claim. His wordly possessions were limited to a yoke of oxen, a wagon, and a few dollars in money. He built himself a log house and untH 1864 confined himself to farming, putting up hay, hunting, etc. In the fall of 1864 he started a store, hauling his stock of goods by wagon from Omaha. This store was located at what is known as "Old Wood River." He continued in the stock business until 1874, when he sold approximately 450 head of cattle and closed out that business. When the new townsite was platted in 1874 Mr. Jackson immediately moved his business institution to the new town. His store and residence were brought into town and were the first buildings of the infant village. From the time of start ing his little store in 1864, Mr. Jackson re mained continuously in business up until the time of. his death, on December 22, 1910, at the age of 73 years, 8 months, and 1 day. James Jackson Mr. Jackson was married in Floyd County, Iowa, in 1858, to Miss Mary J. Clark, who died on Febmary 18, 1880. They had two chHdren, Henry J. Jackson, who now resides in Chicago, IHinois, and Anna (Mrs. Dr. Schuyler), now residing in Pittsburgh, Pen- sylvania. In 1882 he was married to Miss Susan M. Corfman, who survived him and is still a resident of Wood River. They had two chHdren, Richard W. Jackson, at present living in Wood River, and Mary Lydia (Mrs. M. I. Evinger), of Des Moines, Iowa. Mrs. Evinger's husband is an engineer of established ability, and during the recent Great World War he enlisted in the engineering service, and has been placed in charge of san itation matters at Camp Dodge, Iowa. Mr. Jackson served on the first board of 124 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA trustees of Wood River, and on eight of the succeeding boards. He served the entire pop ulation of Hall County as a county commis sioner. He took a lively interest in the up- buHding of the schools of Wood River and devoted time to the work of the school board. He was a member of the original board of directors and was president of the Citizens State Bank during the first three years of its existence. He served as the first postmaster of Old Wood River. He was first a member of the Grand Island Masonic lodge and -then a charter member of the Wood River Masonic lodge. He always took a keen interest in re ligious activities and was instrumental in the building a church home for the Episcopal Interior View oe James Jackson's Store church, about 1898. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. L. A. Arthur of Grand Island. Mr. Jackson came to the present territory of Jackson and Wood River townships when altogether less than a dozen settlers had picked out that particular section of the prairie wild erness for a home. He started out the busi ness activities and the community, and upon his suggestion the name of "Wood River" was adopted. In 1869 he killed a wild buffalo upon the ground where the town now stands, and he helped each phase of community life start out, and watched the community grow untH he was called beyond. Mr. Jackson was a great reader and lover of Shakespeare, and could repeat many of the passages of that writer's works. He was known to all, and bore a reputation for fair and honorable deal ings. His entire career was one that left its stamp upon the community which he helped to build, and became an indelible part of its history. OTHER EARLY COMMUNITY BUILDERS Henry O. Gifford and O. W. Eaton were two other eariy residents of Wood River who played a prominent part in the early growth of the town. Mr.' Gifford was born in New Haven, Vermont, October 23, 1824, where he resided untH 1873. Mr. Eaton was also born in New Haven, Vermont, on August 27, 1835. In 1873 Messrs. Gifford and Eaton came to Kansas and engaged in the sheep feeding busi ness. In the year 1888 they came to Wood River and founded the First National Bank. Mr. Gifford became president of that institu tion on January 9, 1890. His associate, Mr. Eaton, was his successor in that capacity, having then already served the bank as vice- president. For many years Messrs. Gifford and Eaton were heavy sheep-feeders in the Wood River community. Mr. Eaton's son, FI. S. Eaton, is the present cashier of that institution. Mr. Eaton, Sr., has also been president of the Merrick County Bank at Clarks, Nebraska. N. T. BRITTIN Mr. Brittin began business in Hall County in 1880, and served as postmaster of Wood River. He located on a homestead one-half mHe south of Wood River in 1871, where he followed farming and stock raising until he began trade in the viHage. He was born in Madison County, near London, Ohio, October 4, 1838. When he was eighteen years old he moved with his parents to Clinton, Illinois, where he lived until he came to Nebraska. He enlisted in August, 1862, in Co. B, 107th Regiment IHinois Volunteer Infantry ; par ticipated in the siege of Atlanta, Reseca, Georgia, Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee, and was mustered out at Washington, D. C, May 20, 1865. JOHN ROACH John Roach was an early dealer in general merchandise, who opened business in Septem ber, 1879. He first came to Nebraska in 1868, worked for the Union Pacific out of Omaha at HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 125 various times until 1879. He was born in Ireland in 1849 and came to America in 1865, settling in Baltimore, Maryland, for a year. He was married in Wood River, January, 1881, to Mary Dermody, a native of near Ottawa, Canada. RICHARD MANKIN Richard Mankin was bom in Hanover, Germany, on April 6, 1849, and came to America at the age of twelve, locating in New York City. In 1872 he came to Hall County and was section boss for the Union Pacific Railroad until 1890, living in the sec tion house about five miles east of Wood River. In 1891-2-3 he was employed by the Grand Island Beet Sugar plant, when he came to Wood River and engaged in the liquor business. In 1894 he built the fine two-story brick hotel building which still bears his name. Aside from the hotel business Mr. Mankin was a heavy real estate holder in Hall County and assisted in developing the farming com munity as well as the town. WILLIAM L. G. TRAPP was another early merchant who helped ma terially to build up the community. He was bom in Germany, May 2, 1846, came to Amer ica in 1865, lived in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and went to school in IHinois at Naperville. He travelled in Wisconsin for about four and a half years for American Bible Society of New York City. For a time he lived at Camden, New Jersey, then in 1876 he was engaged in the commission business in PhHadelphia, Pennsylvania. Then he opened a store in Camden, where he remained until he came west. He opened trade in Wood River in 1879. S. MAC MURRAY was born of Scotch-Irish parentage in Belfast, Ireland, January 25, 1850, and when but a babe with his parents came to this country, locating at Philadelphia. In 1892 he came to Wood River as the local agent for the Omaha Elevator company. Besides his activity in the grain business, he devoted several years to very satisfactory service as member and chairman of the board of trustees of the town. PATRICK HOYE is one of the older residents of Wood River who has played a very prominent part in up building the community. He was born in County Roscommon, Ireland, March 17, 1849, with a clear title to the name "Patrick." At the age of twenty he came to New York City, where he worked for two years as a laborer, and afterwards in Pennsylvania until 1879. Then he came to Nebraska, buying an 80-acre farm four mHes north of Wood River. His first house was a sod one and his capital was very limited. By good management he pushed along until he acquired ja goodly amount of land, and a fine home. He served the county as supervisor, and helped actively in local civic affairs. He served as a director in the Citizens State Bank, and since 1911 has been vice-president of that institution. His son, John Hoye, is a leading business man of Wood River, engaged in the dmg and wall paper and paint business. WILLIAM AND FRED THORPE were not only early settlers in Wood River but also gave the town an active industrial start. WHliam came to Wood River in the fall of 1881 and made arrangements for the erection of a miH. The main building was completed some time in the early part of 1882, the machinery was in place in June, and the mining of flour and feed at once com menced. In March, 1882, his brother Fred joined him, and the two brothers personally conducted the Atlantic RoHer Mills untH 1895, when Fred moved to Chicago. William then continued the business. W. L. SPRAGUE came to Hall County in 1882. A native of Crawford County, Pennsylvania, born March 29, 1861, he began to teach school in HaH County when twenty-one years of age. In 1886 he was elected principal of the school at Doniphan, and in 1888 he was elected to the principalship of the Wood River schools. He served in that capacity until 1894 when he accepted the cashiership of the Citizens State Bank, which position he continues to fill very 126 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA acceptably. He served for fifteen years as city treasurer, and has been very active in all phases of community life. THE EWING FAMILY Among the families that emigrated west ward early in the decade of the '70s and located in Hall County, one of those whose members played a most distinctive part in building up the Wood River community, was the Ewing family. They were native New Yorkers and hailed from Alleghany County. In 1866 they settled in Cedar County, Iowa, where they farmed until 1871 when they came to Nebraska and settled in HaH County in 1872. Robert Ewing, the father, died in 1871. Robert Jr., William, Charles, and Edwin Ewing became landholders in the community. JAMES EWING One of the Ewing famHy rose to a distinc tion in the early development of Hall County that entitled him to credit for being one of the leading spirits in its early history. Num erous duties, both public and private, imposed upon him became more than the physical man could endure, and death called him in the midst of his public duties and in the zenith of his career, on October 31, 1888. He was born in Alleghany County, New York, July 7, 1850, and assisted his father on the farm until at sixteen years of age the family removed to Cedar County, Iowa. He was about twenty- three years of age when he came to Hall County and secured employment as a teacher in the Moore district, and after a few terms took charge of the school at Shelton. His success in this work and his deep interest in education led to his election as superintendent of public instruction of Hall County in the fall of 1877. After two terms in that office he took charge of the Wood River Gazette, then a five-column folio struggling for ex istence, and with his editorial ability, good judgment, and sagacious management he built that sheet from a 200 to a 700 circulation. At that time he also served for three years as deputy county treasurer which necessitated his leaving Wood River early in the morning and returning late in the afternoon, and during that period his readers received the benefit of midnight productions of his pen. He had a short respite from such arduous duties after his retirement as deputy treasurer. In 1886 he was elected to serve HaU County in the state legislature, receiving every vote in Wood River township except ten. His public service in that capacity was so satisfactory that he was re-nominated by acclamation by the Re publican convention at Grand Island, but did not five to discharge his duties. On January 10, 1884, he was married to Miss Alma E. Thompson, of Hall County, and the result of this union was a son, Arthur (who died December 31, 1888). Mr. Ewing served the town of Wood Ri'ver as a trustee, for the first seven years, generally as chairman, and gave it valuable service as a justice of the peace. During his long service as chairman of the town board, justice of the peace, and town ship trustee his advice was always found to be sound and to the best interests of the town. Such a man as James Ewing could not as sociate with the younger men of the com munity without inspiring them to lead better lives, and without being a decided factor in moulding the community life. John Ewing, another brother, was also born in Alleghany County, New York, in 1857, and supplemented his common school education with a course at Gibbon Academy, Buffalo County, Nebraska, and taught school in HaH County at the age of 19. He continued in that occupation for seven years. He then became a successful farmer. His wife. Miss Laura Dubbs, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1864, and by her he had a family of four children, Gertrude, William, John A, and James A. Flis wife was the daughter of W. W. Dubbs, who was bom in Ohio and came to Hall County in the spring of 1872, where he has been one of Wood River town ship's most prominent farmers. The four brothers first mentioned, Robert, William, Charles, and Edwin, became most successful stockmen and agriculturalists. They lived as bachelors, and became quite talented musicians, one playing the first violin, another the second violin, the third the Bell clarionet. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 127 and the fourth the bass viol. Charles Ewing was elected a member of the board of super visors in Hall County in 1888 and re-elected. The father and mother, Robert Ewing and wife, were bom in Scotland in 1819 and 1824, and died in 1871 and 1883, respectively, but all of their nine children grew to maturity. O. M. QUACKENBUSH A great part of the early story of Wood River as it appears in this and other chapters of this work was prepared by O. M. Quacken bush. Mr. Quackenbush was born in La- Cross County, Wisconsin, August 13, 1864. In 1879 he came with his parents to Nebraska and located on a farm near Lincoln. From 1881 to 1883 he attended the State University. He then engaged in various employments at Lincoln, Plattsmouth, and Omaha till 1884, when he located in Saline County and taught school, studied for the law, and was admitted to practice in 1889. He followed his pro fession and conducted a newspaper in that county till 1894, when he came to Wood River and founded the Wood River Interests. For twenty-five years he continued publishing the Interests and in the practice of law. In July 1919, he sold his newspaper to W. W. Malt- man and removed to Grand Island to give his entire time to the practice of law. WOOD RIVER The community of Wood River, lying partly in Wood River and partly in Jackson town ship commands a very lage trade area. The greater portion of both these townships, and a larger portion of Harrison and Cameron on the west, are included in the natural trade territory of Wood River. Therefore the com mercial history of Wood River is an important factor in the commercial history of Hall County. FIRST GENERAL STORES The establishm.ent of the first general stores has been somewhat touched upon by Mr. Quackenbush in his early history of the village of Wood River, in a preceding chapter. At Old Wood River station, James Jackson and A. A. Baker were the first merchants. In the present Wood River, James Jackson brought over the first store. James White, A. G. Hol lister, John Roach, William L. G. Trapp, and F. Scwartz were early merchants. The Roach store and the Trapp store opened in 1879. N. T. Brittin purchased the Hollister store in 1880. In 1884 this business was purchased by T. J. Dunn. Stoddard Brothers were in business a short time during the 'eighties. Thos. Langan had a business also -during the 'eighties. F. M. Penney came to Wood River in 1886 and engaged in the general merchan dise business, and remained in that business until 1893. During the early 'nineties, James Jackson, F. M, Penney, T. J. Dunn, Fred Scwartz were still in business, and Riley Wescoatt and John Maughan had stores. The E. Brett store started in 1892 and is still a continuing business, under the manage ment of James T. Brett. After the death of E. Brett, in 1897, when Mrs. E. Brett became owner of the store, her son, James T. Brett became manager. This store has expanded into a department stcJre of considerable pro portions. This store occupies a building which faces on three streets. In 1899 the general merchandise stores in Wood River were those of James Jackson, E. Brett, T. J. Dunn, W. W. Mitchell, F. Scwartz, with groceries and other items handled by Gushing Brothers and Jos. Rounds. W. W. MITCHELL W. W. Mitchell engaged in the general merchandise business in Wood River in 1889, and continued for twenty years, when he sold out to A. E. Rogers who continued the busi ness for a short time when the stock was bought by Frank Fulton. He conducted the business for several years, closing out the stock and going out of business in 1913. Mr. Mitchell has been one of the leading builders of the Wood River community in many ways. He was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, May 2, 1846, and "in that state he made his home until 1860 when he went to Michigan and engaged in the lumber business until 1864. He joined the federal navy and served on a 128 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA gunboat in the squadron under Admiral Farragut. In 1871 he came to Hall County and took up a soldier's homestead near Alda. In 1873 he opened a store in Alda and bought grain and sold farming machinery. He was one of the pioneer builders of the town of Alda. In 1887 he came to Wood River, bought the elevator, and engaged in the grain busi ness, and he also continued his business at Alda. In- 1889 he engaged in the general merchandise business in Wood River. He built a brick store, with basement, fine plate glass front, 2,500 running feet of shelving, 600 feet of counters and ample show cases. Since 1894 he has been president of the Citizens State Bank, and though he now makes his home in Omaha he is much in Wood River, with the same consistent interests of Wood River at heart. S. A. SHERRERD S. A. Sherrerd came to Wood River Jan uary 13, 1877, remained about a year, then went to Wyoming for about eight years, and retured to Wood River in 1886. He entered the employ of Hollister & Howard, hardware dealers. In 1894 he concluded to engage in the jeweler's trade, which he had learned in Pennsylvania, and accordingly opened a jewelry store. He was appointed postmaster in 1898. About seventeen years ago he opened a general merchandise store. Mack's Cash Grocery, operated by Elsa V. McKee, and the Star Grocery, operated by J. A. Rounds, have become leading business institutions of the community. HARDWARE AND IMPLEMENTS The first general hardware stock in Wood River was opened by WHliam B. HoHister on June 1, 1882. Fie then carried a stock of $4,000 of hardware and all kinds of imple ments. Pie started out with agencies for Randolph, Hedder & Nichols' Shepard Thresher. Mr. Hollister had been a long time resident of Wood River then. He had gone to North Platte on May 1, 1868, and taken charge of the Union Pacific telegraph office, and then came to Wood River as station agent and remained in the railroad employ at Wood River until May 1, 1882. The firm of Hol lister & Howard continued this hardware bus iness. The A. C. Murphy hardware business was established some time after the Hollister store and continued for a long time. About 1891 John Diefenderfer established a hardware .store, which he ran with the assistance of his sons Martin and Ernest. Milton C. Wingert & Sons opened trade in the hardware line some ten years ago. DRUG STORES The first drug store in the community was that of Dr. Carter and Son. Jerry Bowen Interior Citizens State Bank, Wood River came to Wood River from his farm one and a half miles northeast of town where he had resided for the preceding five years, and after a short employment in the lumber yard of Little & Foster took employment in Dr. Gib son's drug store. In 1886 he engaged in the drug business himself, and in 1892 formed a partnership wfih M. I. McCarty, which partnership continued for some years. Mr. McCarty came to Wood River from Ohio in 1884. For the first three years he -was in the employ of Freeman Dodge and Frank Howe, and in 1887 went to town as clerk in the F. M. Jenney mercantile establishment, and re mained there until 1890, when he became a clerk in the Jerry Bowen drug store. In 1892 he became a partner of Mr. Bowen, and re ceived his diploma as a registered pharmacist on June 5, 1894. W. P. Connor is now con ducting the Rexall Drug Store, the ultimate HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 129 successor of the old Bowen-McCarty stock. Jerry Bowen served, in addition to his career as a merchant, as vice-president of the Citizens State Bank from 1894 to 1900. Mr. Bowen recently died. During the last years of his life he had been conducting a drug store in the new county-seat town of Arthur, Ne braska. About 1890, H. Janss opened the second drug store stock in Wood River. This was subsequently owned by Chas. E. Towne, Dr. Thomas, Fred Hollister, and W. L. McKee. In January, 1898, D. E. Wilcox and S. A. Sherrerd associated together in the drug busi ness, under the firm name of Wilcox & Sher rerd. The A. L. Wagoner pharmacy stock has also gone out of business. The other leading drug store in the community at pres ent is the Hoye Pharmacy (Nyal Store), which has been successfully - conducted by John Hoye. EARLY COMMERCIAL INTERESTS — 1879 In 1879 Wood River comprised the follow ing business men: Bush & Paiiie, grain deal ers; A. M. Hanscom and E. J. McDermott, blacksmiths; A. G^ Hollister, postmaster and grocer; W. B. Hollister, railroad agent; C. M. Horn, shoemaker; J. Kennedy, saloon and hotel; and James Jackson, general merchant. FIVE YEARS LATER — 1884 By November, 1884, Wood River was popularly credited with 700 people. Another glance at the business and commercial roster at that time shows remarkable growth in five years. J. H. Shick was running the Wood River House, the first hotel, and C. W. Stod dard was the new proprietor of the Com mercial House; James Jackson, Stoddard Brothers, Thomas J. Dunn (succeeding N. T. Brittin and the Hollister stock), Thomas Langan, and Henry Janss were engaged in the mercantile trade, R. H. Dodd in the grain trade, and C. C. Bense in the lumber business. Miss Simpson carried on a mHlinery business ; Claud Fransenburg, was butcher ; E. C. White, drayman, James wiHiams, livery stable owner, and J. B. Furman, shoe dealer. W. W. Mitchell owned the elevator and the Omaha Elevator Company had a grain house. ANOTHER FIVE YEARS — 1889 In five years more Wood River had grown still more in population, and the commercial interests had grown to a still longer list. James Jackson and F. M. Penney were among the leading merchants. Riley Wescoatt en joyed a large business. Other general mer chants were Fred Schwartz, T. J. Dunn and John Maugham; O'Neal & Nolan and J. F. Langan were liquor dealers ; H. Janss and Jerry Bowen were then the druggists ; Hollis ter & Howard and A. C. Murphy had the hard ware stores; Watts & WHliams, WHliams & White and James Shick furnished ample liv ery stable service ; the Wood River House was still conducted by James Shick, and the Commercial Hotel then by Fred Thorpe. O. B. Desoe and W. Paris were implement deal ers; Austin Ryan conducted a grocery store; Burkerd & Hooten and James Williams were meat dealers ; M. J. Parke, coal and grain dealer; W. W. MitcheH, grain and elevator; Wood River Gazette, published by C. W. Mercer; Maddock & Taylor, harness; Miss Annie Simpson still had the miHinery shop; Miss Sherry and Miss McGuyre, dress-mak ing; A. M. Hascom, John Wilkinson and J. D. Sanburn, blacksmiths ; J. N. Harrison and C. W. Gorman, physicians ; Howell Lumber Company; A. Harper and Juckett & Jenks, barbers ; John O'Connor, C. A. Baldwin and J. R. Jewett, carpenters and buHders ; Ed Dribelow and W. F. Curtis, painters ; G. W. Miller, Brett & Johnson, and N. J. CosteHo, real estate; Charley Horn and A. C. White, shoemakers ; N. T. Brittin, postmaster ; John Quinn, stock-dealer ; Tom Langan, restaurant ; Thorpe mills; E. Baldwin, jewelry; C. A. Tracy, furniture. TEN YEARS LATER — 1899 A resume of the commercial interest ten years later shows that considerable growth and many changes had taken place in the last decade of the nineteenth century in the com munity of Wood River. The business men of the town about the end of the year 1899 130 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA were :J. Bowen & Co., druggists ; E. Brett, general merchandise, as said before this store was established in 1892 and Mr. Brett died in 1897, but James T. Brett was manager of the store ; Brett & TyreH, stock buyers ; H. Brown, drayman; N. T. Brittin, justice of the peace; Wm. Chidester, carpenter; Citi zens State Bank, W. L. Sprague, cashier; Geo. S. Clayton, elevator; Robt. Clark, car penter; Wm. Colwell. carpenter; Gushing Bros, groceries, boots and shoes ; Wm. Curtis, painter and paper hanger ; Wm. Cunningham, carpenter; J. H. Diefenderfer, hardware and implements ; Dierks Lumber & Coal Co., T. W. Faught, manager; Ed. Dreblow, painter and paper hanger; T. J. Dunn, general mer chandise, still in business; First National! Bank, F. M. Penney, cashier; N. Fisher, bakery and confectionery; Wm. Fitchhorn butcher; Foster & Smith Lumber Co., W. T. Spelts, manhger ; Frank Ford, livery ; A. Hanscomb, blacksmith ; Geo. Honold, carpen ter; Chas. Hoppel, pumps and windmills; John Hoppel, carpenter; James Jackson, gen eral merchandise; W. B. Kern, physician; John Langan, saloon; J. H. Ladley, imple ments and carpet weaving; R. Mankin, hotel and saloon; John Mathews, plasterer and brick mason; W. W. Mitchell, general mer chandise; Geo. W. Miller, real estate, loans and insurance; Miller Bros., blacksmiths; A. . C. Murphy, hardware ; John Norbeck, tailor; John O'Connor, carpenter; Omaha Elevator Co., S. Mac Murray, manager; John Quinn, coal, live stock; O. M. Quack enbush, lawyer, publisher and editor of Interests; N. Ramsdell, painter and paper hanger; J. P. Riddle, physician; Riesland & English, pumps and windmills; Rounds & ColweH, undertaking; Jos. Rounds, grocery and meat market; E. T. Rounds, furniture; Austin Ryan, painter and paper hanger; F. Schwartz, general merchandise, still running; S. A. Sherrerd, jeweler; James Shick, meat market ; T. C. Taylor, bakery and confection ery; B. Z. Taylor, implements; W. & F. Thorpe, millers ; John TyreH, saloon ; W. N. Wade, harness shop; W. S. Warren, livery; A. C. White, shoe shop ; White & Son, livery '; Thomas Whalen, Commercial Hotel; Irv. WiHiams, dray; M. C. Wingert, barber; O. K. Winn, barber; John Wilkinson, blacksmith; Wilcox & Sherrerd, druggists ; Wood River Creamery Association. TEN YEARS LATER - 1909 The Wood River Business Directory of 1909-1910, after another decade had elapsed, shows still further changes. Many familiar names are beginning to be missing and new faces appear in the commercial activities of the community : Agricultural implements : Martin Diefend erfer, A. C. Murphy, B. Z. Taylor; bakery: Harper's Bakery & Resaurant, L. Hawks ; banks : Citizens and First National, W. L. Sprague and H. S. Eaton, cashiers ; barbers : Model Shop, Wm. Stinchcomb, ,0. K. Winn, John C. Wilk'enson ; blacksmiths : John C. Wilkinson, Miller Trell ; lumber : Hampton Lumber & Coal Co., S. A. Foster Lumber Co. ; carpenters : J. W. Cunningham, J. W. A. Flopper, Earl Hoppel, John R. Jewett Jr., John R. Jewett, A. M. LaPoint, Cari L. Mc- Glasson, F. J. Morgon ; jewelry : S. A. Sher rerd, F. L. F. Leff; confectionery: Harpers, Chas. A. Warren ; creameries : Beatrice Creamery Co., H. M. Jones agt. ; dentists: M. E. House, C. P. Bulger, F. H. Burton; dray lines: J. C. Hutchings, D. V. McKee, Chas Plummer, Clinton D. Smith; dress makers : Mrs. P. E. Burt, Mrs. G. E. Bridger; druggists : H. Bowen,Hoye's Phannacy (John and D. J. Hoye); fiour mills — now Wood River Mills, Carter Brothers, props. ; general merchandise: Brett Merc. Co. (Jas. T. Brett, manager), James Jackson (then in business 45 years, and his death occured late in 1910), Mitchell Mercantile Co., S. A. Sherrerd, J. E. Rounds ; grain dealers and elevators : Conrad Grain & Elevator Co., T. B. Hord Grain Co., Omaha Elevator Co., groceries : Brett, Mitchell, Sherrerd, Rounds, and Thomas J. Dunn : harware : Martin Diefenderfer, A. C. Murphy, B. Z. Taylor; harness: John R. Sesna ; insurance : T. W. Faught, D. D. O'Kane; justice of peace:: A. C. White; lawyers : O. M. Quackenbush ; live stock deal- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 131 Scenes in Wood River 132 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA ers : O. W. Eaton & Son, E. S. Leavenworth, Lyons Bros. ; livery stables : C. B. Wilson, W. S. Warren, E. C. White & Son ; miHinery : Mrs. S. C. Jackson; music teachers: Clara E. Smout and Mrs. F. H. Burton ; newspapers : Wood River Inter sts, O. M. Quackenbush, editor and proprietor. Wood River Sunbeam, W. W. Maltman, proprietor; nursery com pany : Wood River Nursery Co., W . T. Spelts, manager ; Standard Oil Co. ; painters : W. H. Brunner and Edward Deblow; phy sicians : Dr. A. T. Hubbel, F. J. Reisland and H. E. Irwin ; pumps : G. G. Card, Agt. U. P. R. R. ; Wamburg & Isenberger, bakery and restaurant, Thos. Ryan, restaurant; John Norbeck, tailor; D. D. O'Kane, manager, Ne braska Telephone Co.; H. E. Irwin, tinner; E. D. Johnson, undertaker. ANOTHER TEN YEARS — 1919 Another decade, down to date, shows many startling changes. > A notable feature about the roster of the present commercial inter ests down to the present time, shows lines of business that formerly were strongly rep resented, and the presence of new lines, such as garages, picture shows, etc., which have developed in the last decare. The business interests of Wood River, in 1919, are : Agricultural implements, C. A. Fairbanks; theatres. Gem Theatre (formerly Lyric Theatre), for moving pictures, and Moore's Opera House (still in service) ; O. M. Quackenbush, attorney; auto livery and garages : E. Diefenderfer, J. E. Rounds, T. E. J. Paukl, Ed Dreblow; the same banks. Citizens and First National ; barbers : T. E. Ryan and O. K. Winn ; blacksmiths : Geo. C. Miller, John C. Wilkinson, TreH Miller, and Mell Lynch ; confectioners : C. B. WHson ; cream station: Wise King; dentists: Dr. A. Carlson (Dr. Bulger deceased a short time ago) ; doctors : A. T. HubbeH and H. L. Starkey; drug stores: Hoye's Pharmacy (Nyal Store) and W. P. Connor (RexaH Store) ; elevators : Central Nebraska Elevator Co., T. B. Hord Grain Co., and Hampton Grain Co. (Omaha Elevator Co., formerly) ; furniture: E. T. Rounds (having purchased stock of Anderson Furniture Co.), and a new store. Turner & Co., about to open ; hardware : P. H. West (also handling implements), and Milton C. Wingert & Sons ; general merchan dise stores: Brett Mercantile Co. (Mayor James T. Brett, manager), J. E. Harper (successor to E. E. Brittin's store). Mack's Cash Grocery (Elsa V. McKee), J. A. Rounds, Samuel S. Sherrerd ; hamess : H. N. Wade ; hotels: Mankin House, A. M. Sheets; live stock dealers: Jos. H. Cunningham, E. S. Leavenworth, Fred J. Miller, Newt Senseney (Peter Holling in business short time ago, now out) ; livery stables: Scott Warren (suc cessor to Warren & Wilson) , E. C. White & Co. (successor to Williams & White; lumber yards: S. A. Foster Lumber Co. and Hamp ton Lumber & Fuel Company ; meat markets : Sheets Market; miHinery: Brett Mercantile Co. ; music teachers : Mrs. Geo. Stone and Mrs. O. H. Lilley ; newspapers : The Interests, O. M. Quackenbush, editor; pool and bil liards : Tom Miller, Lewis Wilson ; real estate: David D. O'Kane (postmaster and manager Nebraska Telephone Co.), and Seth W. Wilson ; restaurants : Jas. Juckett ; vet erinary surgeon: Robt. Green; jeweler: E. S. Sherrerd ; mHls : Wood River Roller Mills, J. J. Carter proprietor. DONIPHAN The trade center for that part of Hall County lying south of the Platte River is Doniphan. This thriving little town is situ ated on the fertile prairie about twelve miles south of Grand Island, and about the same distance south of Hastings, and on the lines of the St. Joseph & Grand Island railroad. Lying between the two cities it nevertheless enjoys a splendid business and is a town of splendid homes. The early history of the town radiates around its first and oldest settler, W. J. Bur ger. Mr. Burger is a native of Cedar County, Missouri, and was raised at Glenwood, Iowa. He was in Colorado for about three years, and in 1864 brought his young bride, also from Glenwood, Iowa, to Hall County and sfttled in what is now the Doniphan vicinity. Mr. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 133 Burger carried on farming until 1881 when he started a store. Mr. Burger was post master at his home, during the 'seventies, and their httle station was called- Orchard. TOWN OF DONIPHAN STARTED After the St. Joseph and Grand Island railroad was in operation it was inevitable that a town should grow up between Grand Island and Hastings. So in 1879 Mr. Burger, who owned the land where the town of Doni phan was built, platted a town site, laid out the first lots, sold a number of lots and started the town, which was named Doniphan, in honor of Colonel Doniphan, who was attorney for the St. Joseph & Grand Island railway. Samuel Biedelman lived a half-mile west of the town and later moved down after the town was started. H. C. Denman had a farm that joined the new townsite, and while he did not live in the town he became a leading citizen of the new community. Charles Dufford, a farmer in that vicinity, moved down a short time after the new town got started. S. H. Lakins moved in after the town had been go ing for something like three years. Upson Brothers came right in, during the first few months, and started a store in August, 1879.- W. H. Gideon lived at the edge of the town and helped lay out the new town. Samuel Gibson came in rather early and worked for Mr. Burger in the blacksmith job. Dr. Cas well T. Poe came the year after the establish ment of the to-wn. He had located in South Platte precint and farmed there for five .years, and also practiced medicine. He had then gone to Grand Island, but after the new town started he relocated in the southern part of the county and began practicing from the new village. These who have just been named were among the first settlers of the new town, whose early arrival contributed materially to establishing the town that was to be in that part of the county, Doniphan. As remarked before, the first store was that of Upson Brothers, started in August, 1879. W. J. Burger operated a livery stable which he sold in 1880 to Scudder Brothers. In the spring of 1880 Mr. Burger built a new build ing for a store and a hall was put in upstairs, which was known thereafter as the Burger & McCuHoch HaH. The growth of the town commercially is detailed in a section of a sep arate chapter treating of that special phase of the life of each community. EARLY EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY The first girl born on the new townsite was Jennie M. Stout, on February 9, 1880, but she lived only a short time. The first boy born in the new town was Mr. Burger's son, Albert Doniphan Burger, in 1879. The first marriage in the town took place October 30, 1881, and the contracting parties were L. M. Brewer and Miss Anna M. Wharry, per formed at the hotel. The religious side of life was early cared for by the residents of the new community and occasional sermons were enjoyed from the very beginning. The first sermon of which present record is given was that preached by a Rev.' Mr. Rockaway, presiding elder of the Methodist Episcopal church at Burger & McCuHoch's HaH, on Monday eve ning, July 18, 1881. On the following Sun day sermons were preached by Rev. E. A. McCullom, of the Presbyterian church, a Rev. Mr. Sweeney of the Christian, and a Rev. Mr. Thurber of the Methodist Episcopal. Church societies were at once organized by the Metho dist, Presbyterian and Christian people, though it was quite a number of years before any of the denominations completed the erection of a building for its special needs. The first school in the town was taught in the fall of 1879 by Miss Emma Smith. There ' had been a school house buHt in 1874 at the corner cross-roads near town. That building was later converted into a residence. The flouring mill which Mr. Burger started in 1881 was practically the beginning of the industrial development of the young community. The town was just seven years old when a bank was started, the Bank of Doniphan, with W. J. Burger president, John Schwyn cashier, and S. N. Wolbach, C. F. Bentley, Messrs. Burger and Schwyn stockholders. The community had a newspaper as early as April, 1881, when 134 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Charles Kelsey came in and started The Index. The Doniphan Leader was established in 1884. Doniphan's big fire The town had secured a good start by the year 1887. On November 26, 1887, a fire broke out that swept one side of the main street, destroyed the town records then com piled, and became a most notable event in the history of the community. Though like those fires in the early history of a town that leave a severe loss and dreadful inconvenience for the time being, new and better buildings spring up to replace the older ones and the general appearance of the town is eventually im proved. This fire destroyed the only brick building the town then had, the one occupied by the postoffice, William Gideon then post master, the bank, Carmichael's grocery, a mH linery store, a general store, and a butcher shop. The fire resulted from the attempt of burglars to blow open the door of the bank safe. THE incorporation OF THE TOWN The little village had assumed enough of the pretensions of a town by the time it was five years old so that on January 9, 1884, on the petition of thirty- three resident tax-payers the south half of section 5 and all of section 8, town 9, range 9, and southeast quarter of section 1 and east half of section 12, town 9, range 10 was incorporated as the viHage of Doniphan. A. M. Sweeney, James Scudder, J. W. Burg, D. O. Grice and Samuel Beidel- man were appointed to constitute the first board of trustees. succeeding town trustees Due to the destruction of the village records in the fire of November, 1887, the records of membership of the board of trustees during the two years that intervened between the expiration of the term of the first board and the board that took office in the spring of 1887 is missing. A new village record was started on February 6, 1888, and this shows that at that time the town trustees were: J. W. Carmichael, John Schwyn, T. M. Scheaff, Jas. H. Scudder, vice J. N. Joice, who resigned that month, W. E. Moore. W. J. Burger was town clerk but he was succeeded. in February by Markwood Holmes when he became a member of the board to succeed Mr. Carmichael who resigned then. The succeeding boards were : 1888 — W. E. Moore, John Schwyn, T. M. Scheaff, J. C. Francis, Hess. (Stout part of year). 1889 _ Moore, Schwyn, Scheaff, H. E. Funk, Dr. J. M. Fitch. 1890 — W. E Moore, J. C. Francis, J. H. Scudder, L. M. Brewer, W. H. Mc CuHoch. 1891 — Orville EHsworth, W. A. Camp, D. C. Gideon, Richard McMuHin and S. S. Shultz. 1892 — W. H. McCuHoch, J. E. Nelson, Dr. J. M. Fitch, Frank Scudder, and W. E. Moore, the last three resigning dur ing the year and John Walker and W. J. Burger coming on in place of latter two trustees. 1893 — D. C. Gideon, W. H. McCuHoch, Jno. W. Walker, John Schwyn and H. T. Ingalls, who resigned in January 1894 and Dr. Fitch returned to the board. 1894 — H. D. WHliams, J. H. Scudder, Wilbur W. Welch, John Schwyn and D. C. Gideon, who was succeeded by L. M. Brewer during the year. ' 1895 — A. Blunk, P. Johnron, J. E. Hitt, L. M. Brewer and Aug. Richter. The last two named being succeeded by Ben Orcutt and C. F. Raymer. and C. F. Raymer. 1896— T C. Francis, J. E. Hitt, Ben Orcutt, G. C. Mayer and H. T. IngaHs, the latter succeeded in July by C. L. Gideon. 1897 — J. C. Francis, R. .\. Blackburn, L. M. Brewer, W H. Welch and B. F. Scudder. 1898 — Richard McMullin, Tas. Newman, I. T. Ward, J. F. Button. 1899 — Richard McMuHin, C. F. Raymer, Valentine Clarno, M. E. Bowlin and Amos Beagle. 1900 — J. F. Button, C. F. Raymer, Valentine Clarno, M. E. Bowlin and Amos Beagle. In 1901 a period began during which the mem bers were elected for a two year term. The members of the board of 1901 — were J. E. Hitt, W. FI. Marsh, W. FI. Gideon, J. F. Button and Amos Beagle. 1902 — Hitt, Marsh and Gideon held over and HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 135 A. B. Smith and John Carmichael came on the Board. 1903 — Hitt, Marsh and Gideon were re elected and Smith and Carmichael held over. 1904 — Smith and Carmichael re-elected and Hitt, Harsh and Gideon held over. 1905 — Smith and Carmichael held over, but three new associates were elected, Sidney White, .A. C. Adams, and Elmer Orr. 1906 — White, Adams arid Orr held over with J. B. MeserauH and Charles Lakins as the new members, but the latter was succeeded October 1st by G. A. Webb. 1907 — J. B. MeserauH held over. Dr. C. A. Stone elected for the one year term, and H. E. Funk, H. T. IngaHs and R. L. McMullin came on for a full term. 1908 — With Funk, IngaHs and McMuHin holding over, D. B. Skiles and A. D. Burger came on the Board. 1909 — SkHes and Burger holding over; H. T. IngaHs re-elected and I. T. Ward and Geo. W. Webb as new members. Chas. Humphrey succeeded Ingalls in December. 1910 — Skiles and Burger were re-elected; Ward, Humphrey and Webb con tinued. 1911 — ^Ward and Humphrey held over; Burger re-elected, J. B. MeserauH and F. E. SulHvan came onto the Board, but H. S. Crawford took MeserauH's place. 1912 — Four new men came onto the Board, now operating under annual member ships : W. A. Moses, E. C. Burger, L. G. Scudder, Elmer Orr, with A. D. Burger still a member. 1913 — Moses, E. C. Burger, Scudder and A. D. Burger continued in office, and D. B. Skiles returned to the Board. 1914— L.G. Scudder and D. B. Skiles re mained, F. E. Sullivan returned and I. J. Doan and C. H. Kindig were new men on the Board. 1915 — -Kindig and Sullivan remained, with W. R. Augustin, H. S. Crawford and S. B. Marsh as new members. 1916 — Marsh, Crawford and Augustin held over, L. G. Scudder and F. M. Hitch elected to serve. 1917 — Augustin, Scudder and' Hitch re mained, with Chas. T. Young and Charles Redman as the new members. 1918 — Young, Redman and Augustin re mained, Scudder and Hitch were re elected. 1919 — The present town board consists of Chas. T. Young, L. G. Scudder, F. M. Hitch, R. D. Wood and R. M. Britt. VILLAGE CLERKS An important office in the history and de velopment of the affairs of a town is that of village or town clerk. In 1888 W. J. Burger was serving as town clerk. His successor for about three years was Markwood Holmes. H. N. Lord served a few months, then O. B. Hawk, and .short terms of service were filled out in the next three or four years by O. B. Hawk,. Dr. J. D. Jackson, W. H. Gideon, H. T. Ingalls, B. F. Scudder, J. Schwyn, J. E. Hitt, and in 1895 the clerkship settled down in the hands of John Schwyn, who served in that capacity until August, 1899. I. T. Ward served a few months. The next spring Schwyn again took over the books. In 1901 J. H. Scudder served and was succeeded in 1902 by S. W. Burch. After three yearg of that work, he was followed for two years by C' A. Dominy. In 1907 Harry Wilson was clerk; in 1908, R. McMullin, and after him D. B. Skills. I. T. Ward served in 1909, 1910, and 1911 and L. G. Scudder in 1912 and 1913. W. S. Pickens took over the office in 1914 and continued until February, 1918, when A. W. Bauman became clerk, whose successor was Percy Button. In October, 1918, the present clerk, H. E. Clarno, took charge of the books. TOWN TREASURERS This is an office that has not changed hands so often as the other village offices. Some of the town treasurers have teen, John M. McCuHoch, John Schwyn for about ten years during the decade of the 'nineties, A. D. Burger from 1901 until A. L. Scudder became custodian of city funds in 1904. He was succeeded by H. E. Funk in 1907 and A. D. Burger retumed to that responsibility in 1911. L. G. Scudder served in 1917 and R. D. Wood is the last treasurer. MARSHAL Various custodians of the peace and welfare of the village have been A. Bomgardner, Shelt Howerton, Jas. Newman, C. N. Moore, W. E. 136 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Sweney, OrvHle EHsworth, C. N. Munroe and others back in the 'nineties. Al Bamgarten, J. E. Nelson, Monroe, A. B. Smith, C. C. Underwood served in the next decade. R. Decker, M. J. MeserauH and Martin Brewer were later marshals. In the last few years Wes Pickens and Elmer Orr have combined that duty with many others they had. The task of looking after the streets was entrusted in 1889 to I. L. MeserauH. Through the 'nineties among the various custodians of the streets were Aaron Duffield, John Ward, arrgange for a waterworks system for the town were C. J. Humphrey, B. F. Scudder, LT. E. Funk, H. G. Rainz, S. Crawford, O. Ellsworth, A. Cleal, R. L. Msmullin, and D. B. Skiles. The water bonds were carried on September 17, 1912, and bonds for $16,- 000 for water purposes- and $2,000 for a light plant authorized The electric light plant built for the town by the Doniphan Light and Power Co. was sold in 1916 to the Central Power Co. and hitched onto the Grand Island plant for electric serv- Bank oe Doniphan, J. L. MeserauH, John Walker, B. Scudder, Geo. W. Orr, L. Howerton, C. B. Smith. From 1900 to 1910, Mart Demster, J. E. Nelson, A. B. Smith, Chas. Munroe, Jas. Gideon, Chas. Balmer, V. Clarno, Orville EHsworth and R. Decker took on this task at various times. In 1914, Wes Pickens assumed the multiple burden of water, street and Hght commis sioner, town marshal and clerk of the vHlage board. His successor was Elmer Orr, who is stHl carrying most of those responsibUities. Doniphan has kept in pace with other towns of her class in the matter of public improve ments and securing modern conveniences of life for her people. She faced the problems of water tanks, hitching posts, a chemical engine aH before 1910. The Committee appointed in May, 1911, to ice. A raise of one cent per kilowatt, author ized in April, 1917, and continued during the war, was taken off by the council recently. COMMERCIAL CHANGES Despite the close proximity of Hastings and Grand Island to the farmers living on the south side of the Platte in HaH County, Doniphan has maintained her position of supremacy as the trading point for this South Platte community. Her commercial import ance is easily evidenced by an examination of the history of the business houses that have flourished in Doniphan. The first store, established in August, 1879, by Upson Brothers has undergone a series of changes in management. It was later sold to Francis, who passed it on to MeserauH, HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 137 from him to Moses, and a few years ago to Henry Olthoff. Late in 1880 the Camp and Alexander store was sold to Burger & McCullough. This opened the career of W. J. Burger in the gen eral merchandise line and the management of this store remained continuously in the hands of Mr. Burger, his partner and his family for thirty-nine years, when it was recently sold to D. A. Jones of Hastings. For about fifteen years the business was conducted under the firm name of Burger & McCullough. Mr. Burger then purchased the partner's inter est in the store. About twenty-three years ago, after his son had finished his education he came into a share of the management of the business, and later the son, A. D. Burger, became a partner, and the business in recent years has been known as W. J. Burger & Son. In thirty-nine years of service of the wants of the public, this business has grown from a small country trading station to one of the largest and best equipped mercantile estab lishments in the county. Samuel Fry estabHshed a store in 1880 that flourished for a long time as Fry & Beidelman, was later sold out, and finally the stock was disposed of and the establishment went out of business. Another early store was that handled by a Mr. Joice, and at another period by Mr. Morrow, and of which A. L. Scudder was manager for McNal & Wisner. W. A. Camp sustained a fire about 1895 or 1896. Mr. Scudder then conducted this business in his own right for fourteen years, and Hess & Son had it for a year. Then Garrett & Moss came in, and a Mr. ChHd of Oklahoma acquired the stock, after which it was moved away. A. L. Scudder conducted another store in Doniphan for a time, which he sold to O. H. Strawn and recently bought it back. Another store in Doniphan was conducted by L. M. Brown, who- later sold the building occupied to O. H. Strawn. John Burg opened a drug store in Doniphan at an early date. W. J. Burger at one time owned this stock. S. W. Birch conducted the store for some time, and later Dr. C. A. Stone had charge of it, but in recent years it has been conducted by T. T. McCleery, the present owner. Mr. Burger established a blacksmith shop in early days, which was conducted by Si. Gibson. Gregg Bros, of St. Joseph had the first grain elevator. The second elevator be longed to Mr. Burger and to C. W. Thomas, later to MeserauH and a Hastings man, and eventually became the Hall County Grain Company, under management of R. L. Mc Mullin. Ben Orcutt built another elevator which was sold to Scudder & Ingalls. Doni phan now has two farmers' elevators one of which the farmers built new and the other being the successor of L. G. Scudder's ele vator business. These are the Farmers Grain Co. and the Farmers Mill & Elevator Co. Doniphan had a livery stable in 1879, owned by W. J. Burger, who sold it in 1880 to Scud der Brothers. The livery stable is now con ducted by Cash Richmond. R. L. McMullin started a garage for Doni phan early in the days of the automobile busi ness. This is now conducted as the Doniphan Auto Co. and has the Ford agency. W. R. Augustin and Son have the Augustin Auto. Co. and have a splendidly equipped garage. Doniphan has been well supplied with halls for places of public meetings. Burger & Mc CuHoch's hall was built in 1880 and long re-, mained the place where public gatherings could be held. The Odd Fellows have had a hall, and the Masonic Hall was instaHed over the old Bank of Doniphan building. Doni phan also has an opera house, of which J. C. Boroff is manager. The first hotel in town was that conducted by Biedelman. C. F. Raymer, as agent for Paine & Co. of Grand Island, conducted the first lumber yard, in 1880. During recent years the Aspegren- Stroud Lumber Co. of Lincoln has been in charge of the lumber yard, which is now con ducted as the Doniphan Lumber Co. H. E. Clarno is the present manager. John Weaver and Ed Bond supplied meats for the local trade as early as 1880. Scudder & Fry had the market at the time of the big 138 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA fire in 1887. They later reestablished across the street. S. S. Shultz afterwards conducted the market, and in recent years O. L. Pearson. Charles Braman is the present proprietor. The newspapers, treated in the chapter on "The Press" have been the Index, founded in 1881 by Charies Kesley, the Leader, founded in 1889, the Eagle, founded by I. M. Augus tine, and after a gap during which the town had no newspaper for a few years, its present journal, the Enterprise. Doniphan has had telephone facilities since 1904 when the Hamilton County Telephone Co. was given right to set up poles. The town is not behind others in the matter of an up-to-date moving picture theatre, the Jewell. The present interests in Doniphan are: The Bank of Doniphan, Commercial Ex change Bank, Doniphan Sand '& Gravel Co., Doniphan Brick Yards, Skiles Barber shop, Frank M. Hitch, blacksmith shop, C. L. Boyd, Fred Fent, Saml. B. Marsh and Orr Bros., carpenters and builders, Ellsworth, Taggard, and Shehin's restaurants, McCleery drug store, D. O. Jones, general store (successor to W. J. Burger & Son), A. L. Scudder, general store, Henry Olthoff, general store, Walter Augustine and S: H. Crawford, Inmplements and farm machinery. Farmers Grain Co., Don iphan Grain Co., Farmers Mill & Elevator Co., Augustine and S. H. Crawford, implements Wood, hardware, Joseph Wortman, harness shop, Richmond livery stable, Doniphan Lumber Co., Braman meat market, the Enter prise, J. C. Bierbower editor. Dr. Geo. L. Wagner and Dr. C. A. Stone, physicians, Doniphan Produce Co., with H. S. Altensee, manager, the Jewell Theatre, and telephone offices. CAIRO The founding of the town of Cairo long postdates the early history of Mayfield and South Loup Townships. When the raHroad was surveyed the town of Cairo sprang up in the spring of 1886. EstabHshed on the line of the Grand Island & Wyoming Railroad, now the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, this beautiful little town lies eighteen mHes north west of Grand Island. The National Lumber Company hauled in lumber and established small yards in anticipation of the town, doing this late in 1885 or early in 1886. It was not long before the town had several business houses. Geo. Elfus had a grocery store, Thomas Shurtz a drug store, and George Willing a furniture store. George W. Win gert became postmaster. Mr. Wingert has been an active business spirit in the commun ity since that time. THE TOWN GOVERNMENT The village of Cairo was incorporated on November 18, 1892. The first board named to carry on the village govemment were : I. M. Cole, C. M. North, Geo. A. Dove, Geo. W. Wingert, Geo. F. Shindel. Later in the year, on account of resignations, Geo. Brewer, L. Watkins and W. C. Ofield took seats on the board. The subsequent boards who have carried the responsibilities of the govemment and de velopment of the community have been : 1893 — Jas. A. Veeder, I. M. Cole, John A. Kalus, Fred Spencer and Geo. Brewer. Succeeding the last two in December, Dell Thompson and W. C. Wingert went onto the Board. 1894 — J. A. Veeder, Lafe Watkins, W. C. Wingert, I. M. Cole and DeH Thomp son, the latter succeeded by Grant Afflerbaugh. 1895 — A. L. Barnaby, Lafe Watkins, W. C. Wingert, I. M. Cole, .Wm. Moore, upon whose removal C. M. North came onto the board. C. M. North, S. M. Cole, F. S. Nich olson (now mayor of St. Paul, Neb.), G. W. Wingert and Lafe Watkins. North, Nicholson, Wingert and Wat kins remained on the board and W. C. Ofield returned to that service. Ofield, Wingert and Watkins stayed on, I. M. Cole retumed and Ed Maxon was elected, but removed from town and was succeeded bv H G. StiH. Early in this term I. M. Cole resigned and G. W. Wingert did not qualify, so Chas. Shindel and A. H. Shull came on and served with L. Watkins, C. M North and H. G. StiH. The personnel remained the same North, Shindel, StiH, Shull and Wat- 189618971898 1899 — : 1900- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 139 kins. It was during the administra tion of this board that the epidemic of smallpox became so contagious and dangerous throughout the country that action was taken similar to that taken generally during the influenza epidemic of 1918 — no assembly was allowed for 30 days from December 20, 1900, in church, hall, or other pub lic place. This order was revoked early in January, 1901, when the sit uation had improved. 1901 — North, StiH, ShuH and Watkins re mained with W. S. Cole as the fifth member. 1902 — The new board consisted of A. O. Powers, A. H. Shull, C. M. North, N. C. Nelson and L. Watkins. A district cdurt decree changing bounda ries of Cairo unseated Mr. Watkins and his successor was I. M. Cole. 1903 — ShuH, Nelson, Cole and Powers held over, S. W. Snyder came on ; Cole re signed and W. S. Bellows was ap pointed, and Powers moved out of town and H. G. Still came back to the board. 1904 — The board started out as W. C. Ofield, S. W. Snyder, C. M. North, A. H. Shull, and N. C. Nielson. Snyder moved out of town in June and C. A. Tiedeman came on. 1905- J. E. Cox, C. A. Tiedeman, Fred Ericson, CM. North, N. C. Nielson. 1906 — - The above five served, until in Jan uary, 1907, Emery Peters succeeded C. M. North. 1907 — The board remained the same, until in October, when A. H. ShuH came on in place of Ericson. 1908 — - Cox, 'Tiedeman, Peters and Nielson stayed over, A. B. Congrove came onto the board. 1909 — For this year the board was, Fred Erickson, C. A. Tiedeman, J. E. Cox, A. B. Congrove and Nielson. 1910 — -The board remained as Erickson, Tiedeman, Cox, Congrove and Niel son. 1911 — Cox, Congrove, and Nielson re mained, with Tiedeman reelected and E. Whitehead, the new member. 1912 — Cox, Congrove and Nielson were re elected. Whitehead and Tiedeman holding over. 1913 — This year saw some changes ; Cox and Whitehead remaining, G. C. Raven, Wm. Schlund and Geo. Wabel becom ing members. 1914 — Membership remained the same as in 1913. 1915 — G. C. Raven, L. W. Thompson, J. E. Cox, Wabel and Whitehead. 1916 — Membership remained the same as in 1915. 1917 — Cox, Wabel and Whitehead remained, H. T. Ingalls and F. W. Goodrich were elected. 1918 — Ingalls and Goodrich held over; Cox was reelected and Harry Prohl and Geo. Whitefoot came onto the board. In October, 1918, Prohl resigned and G. H. Vant was appointed; in March, 1919, Cox resigned and the' place was left open until the spring election selected new members. 1919 — -The present board members are G. C. Raven, F. W. Goodrich, S. R. Benton, G. H. Vant and R. R. Thompson. VILLAGE CLERKS The important office of village clerk was first filled in 1892 by John A. Kalus. In the succeeding years, the books were taken care of by Wm. Moore, 1893; F. W. Spencer, 1894-5; Geo. W. Flood for a few months; Chas. Shindel from 1896 to 1899; Geo. C. Adwers for about nine months ; A. L. Barneby from February 1900 untH May, 1901 ; R. W. Wirt for a few months ; A. L. Omer, 1901 to 1903 ; W. C. Wingert and J. H. Harrison in 1904; C. Blease, 1905; A. L. Barneby, Oc tober, 1905 until May, 1908 ; C. Hugo Hehnke became clerk in 1908 and held this position untH June, 1914. The next clerk was H. P. Bellows who served until the spring of 1919, when E. H. Whitehad, the present clerk, took charge. VILLAGE TREASURERS L. W. Lyon first assumed the task of cus todian of the village funds, serving from 1892 until June, 1898. W. C. Wingert assumed the office until in 1901. George W. Wingert then took up the responsibilities of village treasurer which he held from 1901 until Oc tober, 1905. J. H. Harrison then served until 1908, when Geo. W. Wingert again assumed the office and has held it continuously during the past eleven years. COMMISSIONER AN'd MARSHAL John Murphy took up the role of marshal in 1892 and continued in that service until 140 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA June 3, 1901. During that time the duties of street commissioner were performed by Geo. F. Shundel and Jos. Hancock untH 1900. D. C. Roush and John Stogger were the next commissioners. Murphy returned to the duties of marshal in a short time and served until he again resigned on August 6, 1904. Geo. Wabel and J. W. Hancock served as marshal for short periods and Murphy served again in 1905. In 1902 and 1903 L. W. Mc- Cormack ^nd H. D. McWiHiams served as street commissioners. In 1904 Murphy was serving as both marshal and street commis sioner, which he later did in 1905 and 1906. During 1906 C. E. Clark took over this joint burden and remained until 1910. Gust Erick son succeeded him, and in the latter part of 1910 added the duties of water commissioner to those he already had under way. Henry Thompson served in 1911 as marshal and Robert Day .as water commissioner. But in 1912 Alfred Boyd had taken up the duties of street commissioner and marshal and Gust Erickson was water commissioner. Boyd con tinued his service until 1917, when A. B. Cdn- grove succeeded him, and then E. Blauvelt came into office, but Alfred Boyd retumed to the positions of marshal and street commis sioner and now holds the same. Erickson was succeeded as water commisisoner by Karl Rasmussen. At an election held on May 18, 1909, Cairo voted bonds for the construction of a water plant by a vote of 82 for to 27 against. On the basis of an $8,000 issue, a contract was let to the National company of South Bend, Indiana, for $6,735. In 1910 a jaH was ordered built, to be 10 X 14 feet, with two cells. BUSINESS HOUSES Cairo has always been a good trading town and has at all times maintained a goodly num ber of prosperous business houses. The store established by Geo. Elfers in 1886 came into the hands of I. M. Cole about 1891 or 1892. Hehnke-Lohman afterwards turned this business into the Cairo Mercantile Co., which is still managed by C. Hugo Flehnke. The store established by Dell Thompson was at one time conducted by a Mr. Bristol. F. W. Goodrich once burned out with this stock. Dell Thompson rebuilt on the old site and handled hardware and later dry goods and groceries. Later Thompson Brothers con ducted the business. The old established store of H. P. Bellows & Co. is now being closed out. Another stock in Cairo was formerly handled as Bellows & Goodrich, but is now the store of F. W. Goodrich. A stock handled by Chas. Wood burned out about 1892. The pioneer hardware store of Geo. Willing, established in 1886, was later handled re spectively by Dell Thompson, Will Parker, W. S. Bellows, and while in the hands of E. W. McAllister burned out in January, 1908. McAllister Brothers put in a stock of grocer ies, dry goods, furniture, and hardware which burned out in January, 1915. Lloyd Mc Allister rebuilt and restored a stock, which later became the store of Dove & Son. The first hotel in Cairo was built by Jim Irwin on the bank corner. Later this was handled by Hancock's, by Grandma Stoeger, by Mrs. Carlson, but for the past ten or twelve years, A. R. Boyd has been "Ye Host." Scudder Brothers, of Doniphan, opened a livery stable early in the history of the town, but the North-Robinson barns afterwards ac quired that site and another livery stable has since sprung up. The Isaac Dunlap stable has recently been converted into a garage. Frank Hilderbrand had the first meat market. Wingert Brothers conducted a market for some time, and Geo. Weibel and Emil Leucht were later market proprietors, and the present meat market owner, Adolph Runge, has built a new building for that purpose. The Gazette was an early newspaper in the community. J. H. Harrison established the Record about 1902 and conducted it for about six years. His successors with the editorial pen have been Elliott Harrison, A. C. Ofield, W. H. Daly, and A. C. Ofield again returned to the editorial desk and now J. W. Mahaffey publishes the Record. Cairo has had telephone facilities since 1912. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 141 For the past three or four years, the Gem theatre has furnished moving pictures to the community. BUSINESS DIRECTORY — 1907 The business interests in Cairo in 1907 were: S. R. Benton, E. J. Peters, agricultural implements ; J. H- Harrison, cashier Cairo State Bank; O. E. Littler, barber; Fred Erickson, blacksmith; A. L. Barneby, books and stationery ; W. H. Harrison, buHding ma terial; Wm. D. BiHis, Henry J. Cole, Jos. W. Hancock, Frank W. Keeley, J. Shaugnessy, contractors and carpenters ; Dell Thompson, manager telephone office ; L. L. Fowler, agent C. B. & Q. Railway. BUSINESS DIRECTORY - 1919 Automobiles: E. H. Whitehead (Boodry Motor Car Co. now out), Schlund and Tully, Earl Veeder ; agricultural implements : Karl A. Rasmussen ; banks : Cairo State, Geo. W. Wingert, cashier; Farmers' State, G. C. Raven, cashier; Dye & Swan and J. Sorren- son, barbers ; The W. H. Harrison Co. and Nelson Lumber & Supply Co., lumber; coal and grain: H. T. Ingalls & Son (for about six years) and S. M. Beadle & Co. untH Street Scene in Cairo cement blocks ; Hans Runge, cream station ; John H. Pedley, dray line; Wm. Brand, The New Dmg Store; Dr. Jas. M. Tische, dmgs; Cairo MercantHe Co., Fred W. Goodrich, Wingert Bros., general merchan dise; John E. Cox and Oscar WeHs & Co., grain dealers and elevators ; A. H. Simmons, groceries; E. W. McAllister and Cairo Mer cantile Co., hardware; Henry Rathman, harness maker; Cairo Hotel, John Omer, proprietor; Commercial Hotel, Mrs. Emma Carlson; North & Robinson, horse importers and dealers; J. H. Harrison, law; Chas. D. Bowker, livery stable; W. FI. Harrison, lumber; Cairo Opera House, Dell Thompson, manager; Lee Shouse, painter; Drs. M. R. Piersol and Jas. M. Tiesche, physicians; Philip K. Hile, plasterer ; A. L. Barneby, post master ; Cairo Record, newspaper and printing office; Henry Arff, saloon; A. B. Congrove, recently, but now Highland Grain Co. ; cream ery interests : formerly Beatrice Creamery , Co. and Farmers Co-operative Co., but now Lincoln Pure Butter Co., F. E. Blauvelt, manager, and Harding Cream Co., Hans Runge ; dray lines : A. Boyd and F. M. Alder man ; drug stores : The Cairo Pharmacy, op erated for the past ten years by J. M. Ruth. Between Thos. Schurtz who established the first drug business in Cairo in 1886 and Mr. Ruth this line was handled at various times by John Boeck, Chauncey North, Dr. Milliken, Harry Wright, and Dr. Tish. The other drug store, the City Drug Store, formerly con ducted by Opal M. Piersol, is now operated by M. E. Tennant. The stores handling dry goods and clothing are Cairo Mercatnile Co., Thompson Brothers, F. W. Goodrich, and the H. P. Bellows Co., stock being closed out during 1919. Those handling groceries, in 142 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA addition to the stores just named, are A. L. Barneby, and Dove & Son. The flour mill industry is handled at the Ingalls miH. John Orndoff and J. R. Herrick are the recent live stock dealers; Adolph Runge, meat market; Mrs. Nettie Boyd, millinery; B. F. Clark and W. S. Veeder, painters ; printing at the Record office; Dr. M. R. Piersol and Dr. Dodd, phy sicians ; Dr. Earl Metheny went into military service and has not returned to Cairo ; Frank R. Skupa, tailor. NORTH & ROBINSON CO. The history of Cairo would not be com plete without a resume of the growth and operations of the business institution that did a great deal toward spreading the name and fame of Cairo broadcast throughout Ne braska and neighboring states. The firm of importers and breeders was started by C. M. North in 1900. Mr. North was born on a farm in DeWitt County, IHinois, in 1860. Associated with horses from his childhood and naturally a lover of live stock, he commenced his active business life at the home farm. He met with many dis couragements in his career but always man aged to have something at the end of the halter. In 1889 he moved to the young town of Cairo, Nebraska, bringing with him seven brood mares and a stallion. His work among blooded horses was practically a pioneer ven ture in Nebraska in that line. He was inter ested in various enterprises in Cairo, in which he was more or less successful. Later he joined partnership with W. C. Robinson, also of Cairo. Mr. Robinson is a Nebraska product. He was born just north of Grand Island at St. Paul, in 1875, but at the age of twelve years moved to Cairo where he lived on a farm. He always showed a decided interest in horseflesh. The business was carried on at Cairo under the name of North & Robinson for several years. Eventually the demand for good horses such as this firm was handling grew so great that they came to Grand Island and chose headquarters. A large barn was erected op posite the Bradstreet & Clemens Company's sales stables. In 1910, desiring to have broader quarters, they united with H. T. Dean at Bridgeport, Nebraska, and incorporated under the firm nafne of North-Robinson-Dean Co., with capital of $200,000. After buHding up a vast ranch near Bridgeport upon which to handle their hundreds of brood mares, Mr. Dean disposed of his interests to North and Robinson. This firm operated through the heavy war period, but a couple years ago dropped their activities in this line of business, after a singularly successful career. The op erations of this firm, originating in Cairo, served to advertise their home town through out the country in a very creditable manner. ALDA The prosperous little town of Alda is located eight miles southwest of Grand Island on the main line of the Union Pacific raHroad. The first settler in the vicinity of Alda was W. G. Eldridge who settled on the northeast quarter of section 14, township 10, range 11, in May, 1859. In the fall of that year he erected the first dweHing house in this part of the country. Charles and Arthur Lamber- son located in Jackson township in the fall of 1866, having settled in the county the year before. Wood River was being settled up in the meantime, to the west of Alda. W. W. MitcheH came to Hall County in 1871 and two years later he opened a store in Alda, also bought grain and sold farm machinery there. Mr. Mitchell continued this pioneer mercantile venture of Alda coinmunity for a number of years. In 1889 he moved to Wood River and engaged in the general mer chandise business there. Mr. Mitchell has been one of the active constructive spirits to whotn considerable credit is due for the up building of both Alda and Wood River. The original name of the community formed here was Pawnee and this name was carried for quite a number of years, when it became necessary to abandon it, upon postal difficult ies, and the name Alda was chosen. W. H. WHson opened a general store here in February, 1881. W. C. Johnson later op erated a store. James Marsh conducted a HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 143 store in the 'eighties. The Mitchell stock was passed on to Dan O'Kane, then to W. W. Gallup, and finally closed out. At present the town has four important stores. The J. W. Modesitt store is operated in a building which Mr. Modesitt built for it in 1911. The John McLeHan store, recently sold to J. D. Shriner, has a long and varied history. It passed from the hands of Mr. Steubel to Wilson and Andrews, and to Frank Powell, who closed out. Then Frank Hastings started the stock in and passed it to J. W. Modesitt, who not only ran the store, but bought grain, and in 1886 assumed the duties of postmaster. He remained in charge of this store for twenty years and sold it to Mr. Knox, about 1906, who passed it on to John McLellan. After ten years operation of this business, Mr. Mc Lellan sold the business to Messrs. Osborn and Graham of Gibbon, who did not move to Alda and can hardly be counted as having operated the business, but who sold it to J. D. Shriner, the present owner. In addition to those already named t'nere are the Robert Ellis stock and the Alda Specialty Store, operated by P. J. Balmat. Alda had a good lumber yard. About 1910 a local company was formed to handle a lumber business. John McLellan became president, P C. Kelley, vice-president, and Mr. Gallup, secretary-treasurer. This yard has been con ducted until very recently with John McLellan as president and W. W. Gallup, secretary- treasurer. It was sold during 1919. In 1886 John Fleishers inaugurated hotel service in Alda with The Traveler's Home. The present hotel is conducted by J. Travis. Alda has two banks, the Alda State Bank, and the Farmers' State Bank. It had a black smith shop as early as 1886, Inman's. It now has three shops, those of D. W. Forrest, Alva Phillips, and Dan George. The church activities are carried on through the Friends' and Methodist's organ izations. The first services of the Methodist people were held in an old school house. There had been one Specht, a Christian minister, holding meetings. Jeremiah Parker, John Fleisher, Gilbert Slater, and J. W Modesitt joined forces, bought the old school house, and gave a note for $450 for the same. Mr. Modesitt relates that Zachmont Joy came to him and wanted to convert the enterprise into a Unitarian church. Slater, Parker, and Fleisher turned in their stock. They said they would support it, so go ahead. Zachmont Joy had the note taken up, and carried it on awhHe. Herbert Mott, a cowboy preacher for the Friends, came in next. Mott got to talking against baptism. McReynolds and Campbell were later pastors. Powers came out from Grand Island. An irritation had been aroused by Mott's talks against baptism, and the Methodists took over the buHding. The creamery operations in the commun ity are carried on by the Omaha Cold Storage Co., which has maintained a station here for some years. The Trans-Mississippi Elevator, with A. J. Fulsinger manager, and Omaha Elevator Co., with Geo. Calnon, manager are now out of business. The Farmer's Elevator Co., formerly managed by W. W. GaHup and now by G. E. Calnon, remain. The newest enterprise is that of the Farmers Cooperative and Educational Union. Alda's first garage was built about 1912 by F. H. Denman. The town now has two garages, that of Knox & Gallup, and Barr & Fitchhorn. F. H. Denman continues to handle aricultural implements. The community has had telephone facilities since 1912, when the Nebraska Telephone Co. came in. J. W. Modesitt was postmaster from 1886 until 1906, when he was succeeded by John McLellan. Miss Pearl Balmat succeeded him in 1916, and still conducts the office. ABBOTT The community of Abbott is a trading center on the Burlington line between Grand Island and Cairo. Sidings have been placed at Taylor's Spur (the Robert Taylor ranch, more fully described in biographical sketch of Robert Taylor in another part of this work), and local passengers stop there. At that place Mr. Taylor maintains a small store and loading facilities for his shipments. But the town of Abbott sprang up shortly west of his ranch. 144 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA For more than twenty years there has been a well stocked general merchandise store at Abbott. The proprietor has at most times also been postmaster, and agent for the grain ele vator. About 1900 this store was handled by Reed & Vandling; T. J. Vandling conducted the hotel; Reed & Vandling were agents for Wilson Grain Co. ; NeHie Vandling, teacher, and J. A. Reed, postmaster. By 1904 Bert E. Watson was conducting the store, the tele phone office, and the elevator for McCloud Grain Co., and Hera Kroger, the feed and livery stable. A Union Sunday school had been conducted in Reed's Hall and the Royal Neighbors Lodge was flourishing. In 1910 Peter Todsen had the store, hotel, elevator, livery barn, express office, and postoffice. His successor was Frank Hitchler, who has been conducting this group of businesses for some years. SCHAUPPSVILLE A town was planned some thirty-five or forty years ago, to have been the first station out of Grand Island, westward, on the Union Pacific. To this day the name Schauppsville can be seen, under the paint, on the large barn that stands on that site. Its founder, Schaupp, built a large mill with elevator fa cilities there and conducted it through the late 'seventies and early 'eighties. He then moved to Grand Island when the hope of a town there was abandoned, and built a five story elevator and three story up-to-date roller patent mills. When this plant burned down in 1886, that fire was about the largest and most disastrous in the city's history. OTHER TOWNS IN HALL COUNTY While Grand Island, Wood River, Doni phan, Cairo, Alda, and Abbott are the only towns, at present, in active existence in Hall County, there have been numerous trading communities that have flourished in the past history of the county. UNDERWOOD Underwood was the name given to a post- office, established on section 28, town 9, range 10, January 16, 1885. Mrs Cleantha A. Un derwood was appointed postmistress, and she established the office in the farm-house of B. G. Underwood, six and one-half miles distant from Hansen depot, on the St. Joseph & Grand Island Railroad. But this did not thrive and grow into an established community and the post office succumbed to the advance and development of the free rural delivery system. SPENCER-ORCHARD-EASTON In July, 1878, a postoffice was established at Spencer, with George J. Spencer as master. Orchard post office, upon W. J. Burger's place, was established about the same time, but it dwindled away after Doniphan started Eas- on was another post office that was discontin- iUed as it failed to develop into a community. RUNNELSBURG This town, established twelve mHes from Grand Island, came nearer making a settle ment than some of the others just mentioned. In 1879 it boasted a flouring-mill, operated by E. Bussell. At one time it had in the way of business enterprises, Robert Johnson's hard ware store, V. S. Runel's general store and post-office, J. W. Stone's saloon, Mrs. E. M. Runel's miHinery store, J. G. Phelp's harness shop, and H. P. Hulett's law office CHAPTER VIII THE TOWNSHIPS OF HALL COUNTY The Early History of South Side of Platte River, by W. J. Burger — Arrival-^ First Visits of Indians — The Buffalo — Early Settlement around Doniphan — Storms, Grasshoppers, and Troubles — Early Community Activities — To the Second Generation — Martin Township, by Stephen B. Binfield — Early Landholders South of Platte River — Doniphan Township — Washington Township — South Platte Township — Martin Township — Jackson- Wood River Townships — Patrick Moore — John Maher — Other First Settlers — • Early Landholders in Jackson Town ship — • Wood River Township — Cameron Township, by Edwin S. Lee — Early Land holders — Harrison Township — Mayfield Township, by R. C. Perkins — Landhold ers OF Mayfield and South Loup Townships — Prairie CrEEk Township — Mat Rauert, BY Eli a. Barnes — Center Township — Early Landholders — Alda Township — Claud Stoltenberg — Z. H. Denman — Early Landholders — Washington Township — Early Landholders — Lake Township, by Wm. Guenther — Early Landhold ers — Township Government — First Division — Formation of Various Townships — Present Township Officers THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE PLATE RIVER. . By W. j. Burger W. J. Burger, the writer of this sketch was married to Martha A. Creason on November 24, 1864, at Glenwood, Iowa. They came west in December, 1864, locating on a ranch on the freight road near the junction of the two roads, one coming up the Platte River from Plattsmouth, the other from Nebraska City. At that time there were no settlers except a ranchman once in awhile along the Platte river, on the old freight road. There were hundreds of teams of oxen, mules, and horses continually passing on the roads in those days. A large number of these were hauling provisions to the mining country in the west, with Denver as the central point. Then came the overland stage and mail route, with large stage coaches carrying passengers and mail from Nebraska City to Denver. The Indians were so bad that the govemlne'nt furnished an escort of soldiers for the stage line from Fort Keamy on westward. There were no settlers on the south side at that time, except on the freight road. The government kept about a thousand soldiers at Fort Kear ny for the protection of the public. A STAGE STATION At this time the writer kept a stage station, where they kept a change of teams. A change of drivers was also stationed there, as they ran the stage line day and night. THE VISITS OF THE INDIANS The occasion of the attack on the Martin boys, when two of them were pinned together with one arrow, somewhat disquieted the sit uation through our vicinity. The Pawnee and Omaha Indians passed through from their respective reservations about three times each year, going to and from their hunts for buffalo. They were a great nuisance to the settlers as they begged and stole everything they could 145 146 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA get hold of, and when they got a good oppo- tunity they would even kill people, if they could do so and not be caught, although they were supposed to be friendly tribes. On the 25th day of July, 1867, the Indians made a raid on the settlers and killed a woman by the name of \\'arren, and carried away four children, two little boys named CampbeH and two young women. The prisoners were with the Indians about two months but were eventually recovered by the white people. There were frequent raids by hostHe Indians from 1867 to 1870. A good many ranchmen abandoned their ranches here and went on further east for safety. THE BUFFALO In the fall of 1867 the buffalo came in by the thousands. The whole country was so full of buffaloes that the ranchmen could get all the fresh meat they wanted, and there were a great many people from farther east came in to hunt buffalo and get a winter supply of meat. On account of the hostility of the Indians at that time the writer of this sketch took his little family and went to Cass County, Ne braska, in the spring of 1868. We returned in AprH, 1871, and settled on land four miles west of our old ranch. A few settlers came in during 1871 and more in 1872. EARLY SETTLEMENT AROUND DONIPHAN The first settlers I can recall who settled in what is now known as Doniphan township were H. C. Denman, C. M. Lowery, S. H. Lakins, Charles Dufford, Samuel Shultz, A. R. Thorn, T. B. Robb, Sam Beidelman, W. H. Gideon, Jacob Gideon, George A. Burger, Barton L. Easley, and John Creason, Sr. In what is now known as South Platte township, among the first settlers were John Creason, Sr., James Creason, George C. Humphrey, E. M. Burger, John Eastman, Nat Martin, W. E. Martin, Joseph Button, and John Britt. The writer of this sketch marked out the first road to the new town of Flastings in 1872, going south on section lines to corners. We went to Hastings with wagon, as at that time there was no traveled road to that point. STORMS, GRASSHOPPERS AND TROUBLES In 1873, on the 13th day of April (Easter Sunday), the early settlers experienced the worst snow storm of our history. It lasted three days. Many of the settlers lost their teams and their milch cows and other stock in the storm. The grasshoppers were another serious drawback to the early settlers. There was not much corn raised anyway during those eariy days, on account of the stringency of money through the country. Owing to the money shark's high rate of interest, many a settler had to abandon his claim because he could not get sufficient to live through the panic period of 1873, 1874, and 1875. EARLY COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES The Methodist church was organized in 1873. A sod church and school-house were built on W. J. Burger's farm. The charter members of the church were George Dempster, E. M. Burger and wife,- John Creason and wife, Mrs. Dufford, W. J. Burger and wife. Our first elder was T. B. Lemon. We had a preacher from Grand Island who held service for our first organization ; then we had Rev. Woolman. Later we held our meetings in the new school house on the corner west of the present site of Doniphan. In 1884 the first Methodist church was built in the town of Doniphan, and about the same time the Con- gregationalists' built. The St. Joseph and Grand Island railroad had been built through in 1879 and the town of Doniphan laid out. I want to say a word about the village of Doniphan. Forty years have come and gone since the birth of this community and there are not many of the old settlers left to tell the story. I think I can modestly say that we can point with pride to the achievements that have been made in that time. I think we will all agree that Doniphan is one of the best towns in the county, outside of Grand Island. It has a population of over 600 people, and the country surrounding Doni phan is as fine a country as there is in the state, and it is populated and cultivated by as fine a class of people as you will find anywhere. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 147 Those of tis who have lived here during these forty years have seen the land surrounding Doniphan that was worth in those early trying days $3 to $4 an acre develop to a value of $150 to $200 an acre. TO THE SECOND GENERATION In fact now a new generation is in the saddle, in the place of the pioneer settlers of 45 or 50 years ago. Well may this new genera tion of people be proud of the splendid legacy that has been handed down to them by their fathers and predecessors. Instead of the sod house of a half-century ago, we now have splendid farm mansions and fine, magnifi cent homes. Instead of the ox-team of the 'sixties or 'seventies, we have automobHes and airplanes. Our educational system is second to none, and in the late world confiict our nation has proven that our boys are ready, willing, and able to defend our free institu tions, and that democracy must and will prevail in this great country of ours. MARTIN TOWNSHIP The story of the settlement of Martin town ship can best be told by the incorporation in this chapter of an historical narrative prepared about twelve years ago by Stephen B. Binfield : Along south of the Platte through Hall County there had existed a well worn trail of traffic and travel. Not only the government mail service and transportation to the western forts and stations, but the overland traffic to the western mining camps and the Mormon emigration from Illinois and continued acces sion of foreign emigrants had made this ah established route of travel. But notwithstand ing all this travel no settlement along this south side appears to have been made until August 2, 1862, when Mr. George Martin, an Englishman by birth, and in England a pro fessional racing jockey, but who had been living in Illinois and Iowa, crossed the Des Moines River with a party led by W. Stolley and came on to section 12, town 9 range 11, and made there the first homestead with his family, having selected his location some two years previously. Inquiring how it was that he passed over all the eastern portion of this state, so large a portion of it being vacant at that time, and came so far west, I was told that it was Mrs. Martin's influence and power that determined that matter. So disgusted had she become with saloons and otherwise vicious influences of frontier life as found in Iowa — ¦ Des Moines was then a mere frontier village — and having quite a family to bring up she determined she would get far enough away from all such associations, and at the same time, having a sharp eye to business, secure what she regarded as an inexhaustable supply of free open land for a cattle ranch. But "the best laid plans of mice and men gang oft awry. For she soon learned that they had located right in the track of the main travel for the west, and their house was soon made the stop ping place and hostelry for the daily stream of traffic going through to the mines and terri tories, and so crowded at times that it could not be kept free from a large share 'of those objectionable features which Mrs. Martin had hoped to get away from. She certainly was no ordinary woman. A God-fearing woman, with an intense force of character, immense courage and very great business capacity she must have been; for her descendants, representing two families on the paternal side, are all and each strongly marked with her distinctive features and character. To illustrate her capacity, it was her constant practice summer and winter about every three or four weeks to make the journey to Nebraska City, the nearest trading place, with two teams and wago'ns for supplies of all kinds with only her youngest son Wil liam, then a mere boy, to drive the rear wagon. In other respects the Martin house and family will remain the one distinctive histor ical feature of the south and west portion of this county. Mrs. Martin's eldest son, George Weaver, was I think the first preacher to proclaim the gospel as he understood it in this part of the county. The first house in Adams County was begun in May, 1871, and in the autumn of that year he was holding religious services and organizing in a newly built house, and missionary enterprise seems to 148 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA have been the principal pursuit of his life from that day to this. On this side of the river they appear to be the only family that got involved in actual fights with Indians. On the first occasion, two years after settlement, Wm. Martin and his two sons, Nat and Robert, were returning home with two loads of hay. Mr Martin was driving ahead when a party of Sioux and Cheyennes without any provocation attacked them, apparently with no other purpose that securing their horses. Mr. Martin was shot with arrows in the neck but not severely enough to disable him from getting home with his wagon. The two boys were frightened and left their hay and jumped onto a horse they were leading behind and tried to get away but were both shot, the arrow just tearing the side of Nat under the arm but entering the back of his brother Bob. Falling off the horses, the Indians took the horses and left the boys for dead. Nat was not so severely wounded as his brother who appears to have suffered from his wound the remainder of his life, dying in Kansas from spinal meningitis some years ago. Mr. Martin's daughters figured in the second attack. Visiting one day at Mr. Jerome's, but a little way from their own place, they had just started home when they were set upon. But Mr. Jerome was but a little way with his gun and in defending the two girls he brought down one of the Indians which put an end to that affair, the Indians turning to look after their comrade and carry him away. The youngeir son William who was a herd boy, on two separate occasions lost his pony, which appears to have been the extent of his personal sacrifices in that line. Game in the shape of deer and occasionally buffalo were abundant in those days, buffalo appearing in sufficient numbers to damage the pasture and then disappearing and not show ing up again for many months or a year. But few of the early settlers have had the chance to kill buffalo without going very long journeys after them, at too great a sacrifice. Passing over the ground between Lincoln and Adams counties three times in the month of May, 1871, not a glimpse of one could be seen. They are shy and quick to forsake the neigh borhood of human habitations. Before 1870 quite a few people had taken claims south of the river, many of whom as usual proved to be more or less transient. Some, however remained as permanent fix tures, stamping the impress of their superior qualities, activities, and character upon the history of both their township and county. Chief among such may be named W. J. Bur ger, Oscar Foote, Seth Wilson, and other very worthy men too numerous to mention. Elm Island offered to many of these an extra choice lot of the finest farming land which they were not slow to see and acquire, for on the few occasions when the uplands have suffered more or less from a dry season the river settlers have never failed to reap their reward. The first work of a public nature under taken west of south Platte township was the organization of school district No. 45 and the building of the school house by the custo mary bonding of the district. It is hoped that few districts have found this proceeding so heavy a burden as they have proved in this case. The school house was built in '72. The bonds have been subject to litigation, the di strict suffering for the means to maintain school, the bonds not being finally cancelled for upwards of thirty years. Bridging the South Platte in 1874 must have been a much more satisfactory and profit able bit of public business and a credit to aH concerned in its promotion. Favorable indeed were the conditions attend ing the first settlements along this river. Fort Kearny and the continuous stream of emi grants to the western mines and territories furnished them a market for all the produce of any kind that they could raise, and at almost any reasonable price. Some others besides Mr. Martin learned how to make hay while the sun shone. But some are not built that way and are often ready to sell out or strike for other fields that always look more green because they are further off. But as in nature the sun does not always shine, so in humaq effort misfortune and HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 149 disappointment will sometimes overwhelm the best endeavor. Shoemaker Island, a large island just east of Elm Island, so named after one of the first settlers in Grand Island, furnishes an example. It was thickly studded with valuable timber, the best of which the U. P. R. R. Co. cut and appropriated for construction purposes furnishing an abundant supply of good timber for. building and fuel to the early homestead ers, and Mr. Shoemaker discovered on it a most excellent cattle range for summer pas ture and took a claim on it, for several years with good results until 1873. On November 14, 1871, a fearful blizzard of snow and wind came up suddenly which lasted three days without cessation, but his cattle had been taken off and safely housed or the disaster which occurred later might then have hap pened. But in April, 1873, the weather had been exceptionally warm and the grass early and the cattle were placed on the island when on the 15th another blizzard as severe as that of '71, but continuing for only two days, drove the cattle into the river. Of the exact number that perished I am not sure. Nothing in any way approaching the character of these two storms has since occurred, and the range has continued in use with success and profit. History is made chiefly from ideas and events that tend to mould and shape the future, for which reason I ought perhaps to notice somewhat the Farmers' Grain Company of Prosser, an institution capable of indefinite extension and pointing the way of future development, promising to solve some of the perplexing problems of the age. The chief promotor of the organization and its sucess- ful manager until a year ago, (about 1906 that would be), was Charles Mertz, one of the most capable business men ever resident in Martin township. But it is an inter- or bi- county institution and does not belong to the early days. It is located in Adams County, and Mr. Mertz is no longer a resident of this county. Since the early days here noticed only in one year has the -harvest in any degree failed to follow seedtime, and in that year only on the dry uplands. Early in 1863 George Martin became the owner of a celebrated Buffalo hunting horse properly trained and well used to that business. and was anxiously looking for an opportunity to use the horse for that purpose. June had come when they were informed that there was a large herd of Buffalo some forty miles or more to the southwest. So on June 10 Mr. Martin, taking his two boys, H. N. and WiH G. Martin, and a stout and strong man by the name of Nabin, started out on the hunt with two wagons and teams, leading the buffalo horse along. Travelling all day they came in sight of the herd just before night — hundreds — grazing on the side of a hill in the neighborhood of where the town of Min- den is now located on the line of the B. & M. to Denver, here they camped for the night. In the morning they were all there, not more than eighty rods away. "Now," said Nabin "take your prize horse and go shoot that one there," pointing to one somewhat apart from the rest. So Mr. M., jumping on his trained horse bareback and taking his double barrel gtin, also a pepper box loaded pistol in his pocket, went after the buffalo which started to run from him a short distance when it suddenly turned about and showed fight, starting rapidly toward him. Mr. M., being a totally green hand at the business, was trying to pull the horse around in a way contrary to the habits and customs of the horse in such cases but the horse would not consent to be thus managed, and in the contest Mr. M. lost his gun and fell to the ground, the animal running over him, treading on and badly bruising one of his legs. Taking his pistol from his pocket he used it with some result. Shooting the buffalo in the head he knocked out one eye, thus causing the animal to turn around a number of times, giving Martin an opportunity to get up and get to the horse which had not attempted to go- away. Grasping the horse around its neck the horse fought off the buffalo, whose attentions were concentrated on attacking the man rather than the horse, which continued to tum around foHowing the movements of the buffalo, strik ing at it and kicking it in the head with its hind hoofs. This contest ended by the horse start ing for the camp, Mr. Martin hanging from its 150 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA neck and the buffalo foHowing, but only for a short distance, when it swung around and started back toward the herd. Nabin began instantly to jeer and ridicule Martin, calling him a d — d fool for falling off and not shoot ing the animal as he ought to, saying that he could do better than that by going on his own mule. Getting upon his mule with his musket he rides off after the buffalo and shoots, either missing it entirely or having no effect for the buffalo swinging around took after him and the mule. The buffalo proved faster on foot than the mule, and hooked the. anule behind with his horns, the mule braying at each poke. Nabin's bragadocia was clean gone, when, dropping his gun, he took off his hat to whip and urge on his mule, he was so scared. But getting within a few yards of the wagon the buffalo stopped and began paw ing the ground when the oldest boy Henry un dertook to challenge the buffalo on foot and with his single barrel shot gun killed the animal on the spot. William G. Martin says this was as dear a buffalo meal as they ever ate but very sw^eet, though they shot hundreds after that quite as good. , EARLY LANDHOLDERS SOUTH OF THE RIVER Ably as the story of the settlement of the territory south of the Platte River in Hall County has been told by Mr. Burger and Mr. Binfield, there remains the task of giving credit to many of the individuals who came to this scope of territory during the first thirty years of its settlement. Many of these men and women, to whose heroism was possible the splendid develop ment of that part of our county, have long since passed away. With the few remaining pioneers are the posterity and near relatives of their departed associates. For the purpose of preserving some record of the various families who carried on this early develop ment, a roster of some of the landowners prior to 1890 will be given : DONIPHAN TOWNSHIP — H. C. Denman, W. J. Burger, Chas. Dufford, S. H. Lakins,' Al Thome, Geo. Burger, S. S. Shultz, S. Beidelman, Tom Robb, John Creason, Sr., Olthoff Brothers, Clearnce Lowery, Anthony Goetsch, D. J. Boring,, Solomon White, Wm. H. Marsh, G. W. Sneariey, Kate A. Cook, Sarah E. Somers, J. H. Scudder, B. F. Scud der, Geo. H. Lamonte, Chas. J. Humphrey, M. V. Marsh, Frank Virgil, Wm. Harrod, George Lowell, Alfred Elwick, R. L. Caldwell, Wm. Harrod, Chas. Harrod, Wm. S. Shultz, E. L. Harrell, D. C. Gideon, C. L. Gideon, James Leach, J. H. Quigle, Emery Quigle, Dix Ryan, F. J. Ryan, Henry N. Martin, Wm. Rapp, J. C. Gregg, R. T. Varrah, Wm. ' Neal, A. H. Orcutt, Jacon Bernhard, Geo. B. Loucks, A. A. Stone, G. Grantham, R. BeHis, G. E. Magee, C. M. Richmond, John Galla-- cher, Edward Hooper, L. Lasher, Wm. Whyte, G. W. Lowell, B. A. Marsh, J. R. Mcintosh, W. B. Guild, B. M. Orcutt, P. L. Prime, H. J. Ring, Eliza Westfall, G. M. Taggart, J. M. Fisher, Jas. F. McCumber, M. B. Holly, Wm. L. Sheaf, Benj. Page, John Coleman, C. D. Houck, E. B. Canada, Jas. A. Cochran, D. A. Beale, G. A. Lowe, M. V. Hossler, H. W. Hossler, W. H. Welch, A. R. Hemenover. DONIPHAN TOWNSHIP, North end — Fred Roby, W. H. Denman, A. C. Denman, H. W. Beers, Wm. Moorefield, T. Heitz,' F. Cole, Peter Heriien, Jacob Wintemute, Alex. Graham, PL C. Metcalf, Morris Madison, A. Hebel, H. Bruner, E. D. Stout, C. M. Lowery, L. A. Harvey, J. V. Hilton, F. Haines, L. Wulf, T. Heitz, Matt Ley, Geo. Valerius, Chas. Happold, W. Parks, A. Deisel, A. Vol- ner, Wm. H. Hendrich, L. R. Ennis, H. Littler, R. M. Bennett, Wm. Graf, Alonzo Koch, H. D. Koch, John Sullivan, A. F. Bloomer, Solan Strawn, G. A. Lyon, Robert Brown, Wm. P. Taggart, :M. Brown, E. E. Whittecar, W. M. Jones, August Woulffe. WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, South of Platte river — H. Rief, Martin Schimmer, G. Ober miller, F. Mathiesen, J. Rief, H. Lipke, H. C. Denman, J. W. Denman, John Seier, F. C. Hanaford, Peter Weis, Claus Obemiiller, Julius Peters, C. A. Shultz, C. Stoltenberg, Henry Pieper, H. Stuhr, J. Neubert, J. Clausen, Claus Clausen. SOUTH PLATTE TOWNSHIP — Robert Brown HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 151 Wm. H. Foote, N. O. Durkee, O. B. Shafer, John Vaughn, Wm. H. Price, A. MiHer, Cari Schumann, A. J. Kindig, W. D. Devereaux, W. B. Cox, P. H. Rhodes, G. T. Bates, Claus Rowerts, Carl Poeth, M. E. Gardes, Harvey D. Williams, Geo. C. Humphrey, A. C. Parrot, Joe Parrott, C. Parrott, Ann Quigley, E. E. Deming, A. Richter, C. T. PhiHips, H. N. Martin, W. E. Martin, Michael Burke, Henry Craig, J. J. Kindig, John Schwynn, T. B. Coulter, Sam Fox, M. F. Jamieson, Jas. Thompson, Michael Donlon, D. Mc Afee, Edw. Lennen, A. L. Harshfield, T. J. Craw ford, Patrick Mohan, Charles L. Stone, Thomas McArdle, R. Stephenson, R. S. Bmce, Martin Compton, Joel N. Moore, Jac Barbee, Wm. A. Coon, Henry Siekman, Lucas Henry, Christian Beekman, Chas. How, M. H. Sage, John M. Uhden, Wm. O. Tyler, John Walkers, John R. Britt, J. F. Button, Mary Strange, J. Olthoff, John Eastman, C. R. Thatcher, G. L. Brown, John Campbell, W. J. Burger. MARTIN TOWNSHIP — • Gco. Martin," Chas. Jerome, Maben, Chas. Montz, John T. Mott, Fred Donner, John Wettstein, Chris Petersen, John Whitehouse, George Weavers, Stephen B. Binfield, Stephen Findley, Oscar Foote, F. Wescott, F. C. Dodge, Geo. Bur- mood, P. E. Burmood, S. L. Tracy, H. Bin- field, F. Buckmyer, Jos. English, M. Abbott, R. A. Binfield, Seth Wilson, Geo. Kindig, A. H. Stuart, Wm. D. Floyd, L. A. Stecher, Benj. Speith, Geo. Weavers, Wm. J. BHslend, J. WHliams, I. N. Mead, Z. Avery, John C. McConnell, Peter McMakin, W. B. Ingraham, Wm. M. Lowman, B. F. Taylor, H. J. Mad- sen, Geo. H. Madsen, James Madsen, Henry Bonson, W. E. Lorenzen, C. Reintanz, Dav. Schauck, P. M. Putt, Rudolph Wenger, John Eggman, A. L. Richards, Henrietta Mintz, Jos. C. Philbrick, J. Bohnett, Sam W. Smith, J. P. McKinney, M. Ellington, Geo. H. Light. JACKSON - WOOD RIVER TOWNSHIPS The story of the first settlement of the territory now comprised in Jackson and Wood River townships has already been told in the story of "The Early History of the Wood River Valley." Most of the men and women who made possible the settlement of the south western comer of the county, as is true of all other parts for that matter, have long since passed away. Something further than the mention of their names should be accorded to a few of these first arrivals whose activities led to the settlement of the community. Two of the first settlers of the present town. Pap Lamb and William Eldridge, belong east of the present town, over in the Alda township territory. But the first arrivals in Wood River and Jackson territory were Patrick and Richard Moore in 1859, and James Jackson and Anthony Moore in 1860. PATRICK MOORE came to Omaha, Nebraska, in the spring of 1858. He clerked in a hotel for a year, and in the spring of 1859 came to Hall County and settled in what is now Jackson precinct, about two and a half miles west of the present Wood River, on section 23, town 10, range 12, a homestead of 160 acres of land, and after wards acquired other land in that vicinity. When he located there were no settlers in that vicinity, the nearest being about ten miles away. Buffalo, antelope and deer roamed over the boundless prairies with no one to molest them except roving redskins. Mr. Moore spent his first decade in that vicinity under circumstances that required every farmer to keep armed with necessary firearms to pro tect himself at an instant's notice. Mr. Moore was bom in County Cork, Ireland, March 21, 1835, and raised on a farm. He came to> America in 1847, lived in New York until 1851, then to Joliet, IHinois, where he taught school, clerked in stores, etc., until he came to Nebraska. His brother Richard came also in 1859, but his brother Anthony Moore did not come until January, 1860. Anthpny located on section 27-10-12 and farmed there untH 1872, then located over on section 22. Anthony was bom in Cotmty Cork, also, on March 4, 1826. He came to America also in 1847 ; was married at Joliet, Illinois, in 1854 to Miss Mary CoHins, 152 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA a native of the same county. They had eight chHdren, John, WHliam, Dennis, Anthony A., Peter, Mark H., James, and Annie. JOHN MAHER came to Jackson Precinct, Hall County, June 28, 1862, and settled on section 23. He was born in Ireland, March 2, 1822; came to America in 1847; he was married in 1852 to Elizabeth CoHins, who was born in Ireland January 26, 1826. They had six chHdren, Honora E., Patrick, William, Dennis A., John L, and James M. OTHER FIRST SETTLERS Other first settlers of this locality were Captain Smith, the Anderson family, a man by the name of Story, Ed O'Brien, James Cooke, Joseph Ross, and Roger Hayes. O. D. Montgomery settled in Hall County in 1865. James Jackson, who settled in Jackson pre cinct and whose name the precinct or town ship bears, settled there in 1860. Freeman C. Dodge came in 1867. Robert Kerr came to Wood River community in 1869. Pat Brett came to the community in 1867. In 1871 James Ewing came, and John S. Donaldson . in 1872. EARLY LANDHOLDERS IN JACKSON Among others who came to Jackson town ship during the first quarter century of its settlement or acquired land within its bounds were the following individuals or families : Wm. A. Maher, Patrick O'Brien, Jas. O'Keefe Peter Nelson, John Moore, Martin Lane ,John W. Fines John Gray, J. J. Mosser, Henry Spohn, Dan Hannan, I. K. Watson, Nickolas Kelley, Williem O'Connor, William Brennan, Ed. O'Brien, M. McN^mara, Philip J. Mur phy, J. F. Ashton, Robert GHlispie, J. T. Ross, Martin Brett, Pat McDermott, John Pounder, Pat Kilkenney, L. Kilkenney, Noel Henderson, Owen Curry, John Callahan, L. J. Schooley, John Meyers, John Fines, Thomas Francis, John Devine, James M. Weldon, Patrick Duggan, John Mullen, Pat Leonard, Thomas Mulllen, Christopher Ber- muth, P. Dodge, G. W. Burmood,. Geo Meisner, Jasper F. Walker, L. C. Batterson, S. J. MHler. EARLY LANDHOLDERS OF WOOD RIVER TOWNSHIP Among others than those named as the first arrivals who either settled at an early time in Wood River township or became landholders during the first quarter century of its develop ment were: Patrick Hoye, H. S. Winn, James Cannon, Charles Baugh, E. A. Wedgewood, T. A. Wedgwood, J. H. Trout, E. E. KHe, C. J. S. Trout, John D. Scherer, Henry Starr, Ed Quissenberry, James StHlens, R. F. Moundjoy, Joshua Greenwood, Michael Judy, Frank Strasser, Thomas Campion, Joseph Roach, Norm Reese, Charles Fuller, H. A. Glade, H. P. Chapman, R. Mankin, Frank Corkin, Fred Whitehead, WiHiam Whitehead, J. M. Duncan, Tim Roche, Chauncey H. Abbott, John Carey, M. J. Cunningham, Sarah S. Schooley, S. B. Bowen, Frank E. Howe, John H. Diefenderfer, Wm. B. Rounds, E. C. Dodge, J. Cornwall, F. N. Taylor, C. E. Craw ford, Charles E. Bly, Lucinda Bly, J. S. Chap man, J. R. Blanke, John Allan, Fountain Hargis, Gilbert Slater, H. S. Kelsey, E. Chris- tensen, P. Schroeder, Christian Opp, Max Opp, John Opp, E. Opp, C. Opp, Julius Krull, H. P. Christensen, Guss Persson, Paul Hansen, Jules Haumont, John G. Drake, Joe Severyns, WHliam Taylor, Theodore Purchert, Charles T. Taylor, John Sprague, Savilla 1,. Taylor, J. H. Murphy, M. J. CosteHo, Benja min L. Colwell, Charies E. Towne, B. F. Tay lor, David Barrick, A. G. Hollister, Jesse C. Burkerd, John C. Boone, Theodore Purchert, Hans Weise, Freeman C. Dodge, Carl Schultz, Opp, Fritz Wiese, J. F. Dibbern, John Bixen- man, WiHiam Weise, Henry F. Luebs, J. Dib bern, Henry Drews, Paul Hansen, W. E. Lorenzen, N. Johnson, H. J. Madsen, Peter Holling, Nick Burkerd, Owen Mullen, John Bulger, Stephen Jones. CAMERON TOWNSHIP The foHowing short article by Edwin S. Lee, one of the veiy early settlers of this town- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 153 ship, will give a graphic picture of the begin nings of Cameron: Before the advent of the railroads the west was settled, first along the rivers and later on the line of overland trails, the pioneers invari ably remai.ning as closely to one or the other of these means of communication as possible. This was true of the settlement along the Platte Valley, and altho several colonies were established between Fort Kearny and Grand Island prior to 1871 no one ventured to locate permanently in what is Cameron township until that year. A man named WiHiam Shelton located in Cameron township in 1871, coming from Missouri, but evidently thought it too remote from the railroad, timber, water, and neigh bors to ever become valuable and he failed to make any filing or purchase. He, however, was not so considerate of prospective settlers of whom he spoke as "tender feet," but spent most all of his time in locating them upon the land in his vicinity, finding corners and per forming the services of the modern real estate agent. His location fee was five dollars in each instance and he doubtless thought while placing settlers upon govemment land v/hich is now worth from sixty to seventy-five dol lars per acre (in 1919 that would be con siderably advanced) that he was getting much the best of the bargain when his fee of five doHar? was paid. The first bona fide settlers in this township were John B. Stevens and Samuel Rode, both taking soldiers' home steads in 1871. In the spring of 1872 Wil liam Dubbs, Seth Lee, Edwin S. Lee, O. E. Palmer, Lester Houghton, John Peebles, Henry Streator, James Cannon (afterwards sheriff of the county), a Mr. Carlson, S.. Reider, and others whose names are not pre served, located on government lands in Cam eron. Of this number only the Messrs, Edwin S. Lee and Samuel Reider are now living in that township (this was written in 1907). Many of the settlers of '71 and '72 afterwards became discouraged on account of the failure of crops, drought, grasshoppers, and the failure of the new settlers to under stand the methods successfully to till the new soH,' and they abandoned their claims and left the country, some moving on west but many returning to their eastern homes. In the fall of 1872 the new settlers met at the house of William Dubbs and organized school district number 13, of Hall County, which was nine miles square. Seth Lee built the school house and after it was completed an itinerant minister named Allan preached the first sermon in Cameron township. A year later Rev. Mr. Marsh, a Methodist cir cuit rider, established a class and held reg ular services in the school house. The Pawnee Indians wandered across the country from the Loup to the Platte River, frequently camping for considerable time on Prairie Creek. They were not particularly troublesome except that they were great beg gars and had very little regard for the rights of property, and in particular from begging and stealing com for their ponies and pro visions for themselves, caused more or less annoyance. After the grasshopper period, closing about 1874 or 1875, the settlement of Cameron was very rapid and such of the older settlers who remained and attempted to develop what is, now one of the richest and most productive townships in the county lived to reap the re wards of their early struggles and privations. In the early day there was considerable game, deer and antelope, but no buffaloes, after the settlement of Cameron township." The coyotes, however, stuck closer than a brother and even yet a few scavengers of the plains remain to remind the settler of his early combat to save his poultry and young pigs from these wolves. A roster of some of the early landholders in Cameron township, prior to 1890 wHl fur nish a more complete list of those who helped to develop this township after it was settled : Seth Lee, Edwin S. Lee, Haydn Strong, A. W. Benton, J. C. Leach, Louis Ravens, Ervin Whitehead, J. E- Goodrich, Chas. Descoe, Harry C. Chase, A. L. Meith, C. H. Russell, Thos. Hulme, Alex W. Steven, J. B. N. Bryan, O. B. Waddington, Levi Hankson, Charles S. Benton, Jos. Guy, E. S. CrandaH, 154 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA L. W. Goss, H. C. Streator, G. E. Crawfbrd, C. P. MiHer, D. C. Worts, Fred Miller, Amos Taylor, Jas. Staugh, J. H. Hetherington, Jac. F. Miller, Samuel Waddington, H. A. Bartling, Riley Z. Bates, H. D. Newton, John W. Dean, John M. Johnson, WiHiam W. Dubbs, John GiHigan, Miles Lyons, P. J. Grass, J. S. Dyer, .Michael Carey, N. W. Afflerbaugh, Charles Schultz. John R. Thompson of Grand Island was landowner in this township. HARRISON TOWNSHIP The first settlers in- Harrison precinct were the Tagge and Thode families. Among the landowners of this township were : John L. Johnson, John Tagge, Claus Tagge, Frederick Bernhardt, John Buenz, Jasper Eggers, Frederick Voss, Fred Kmger, J. Hillebrandt, Mary A. Dunlap, Fred Schultz, Henry H. Boring, Chas. Mouts, Danl. J. Ryan, Thos. Cavency, Mike Cavency, Jno. M. Clark, Marcus Griffin, J. C. Bruhn, Christian Bmhn, M. J. Harders, J. H. Harders, Francis McDermott, F. Longman, Hans Stuhr, Pat rick Dunphy, Frederick Luth, Solomon Oswoldt, Jacob D. Thode, Henry Friesman, Peter Guelstorf, H. G. Backus, Jno. W. Har rison, Richard L. Harrison, T. O. C. Harri son, J. J. O'Connor, Henry D. Harfst, C. Hagen, Jesse R. Purnell, Lewis Rickard, John H. Leonard, A. Becker, Jas. A. Wear, Martin Kenny, John Southwick, Timothy Roche, J. H. Wysong, S. F. Thompson, P. N. Wick- ersham, Wm. J. Stone, Chas. Rickard, Jas. M. Guy, Jas. Senseney, W. L. Haldeman, M. Diehl. W. W. Wheeler, Jno. S. Hayse, Jas. Cornelius, Michael Brennan, Patrick Finan, Thos. Mahoney, D. Buschman, Maria C. Taylor, Theo. Moll, J. M. McKee, Timothy Dwyer, E. R. Cadman, Jas. Senseney, Jas. M. Guy, N. F. Tomlinson. EARLY HISTORICAL REMINISCEN CES OF MAYFIELD TOWNSHIP BY R. C. PERKINS On the tenth day of September, 1872, a party of five men, including myself, left Boone County, Kentucky, to look over the Great American Desert with a view to making homes in its bosom if our investigations proved satisfactory. Two days later we ar rived in Omaha, on the western limits of civilization. After consulting with Colonel Noteweir, who was then immigration agent for the state, and obtaining from that excel lent gentleman much valuable advice, we started the next morning for the heart of the desert. After brief stops at Columbus, Osceola, Lone Tree, and Chapman, we finally reached Grand Island, having explored much intervening territory but found no place that exactly filled the requirements. On the morn ing of September 19, after having been ad vised by the late E. W. Arnold to go to Prairie Creek, we secured a team and finally reached our destination. As we entered the limits of township 12, range 11, the first settlement that we discovered was that of Plans Kruger, on the southeast quarter of section 34. Proceed ing a mile farther we pulled up at the resi dence of the late Carl Schaub. We also found Judge Garn there. They were delighted with the prospect of our stopping with them and did all in their power to show us the sur rounding neighborhood. We soon decided to look no farther and at once returned to Grand Island and filed declaratory statements on the north half of section 32 and all of 28. The following day we started on our return to the east where we were to spend the winter. Arriving in Omaha we found one member of the party whom we had lost a day or two before. He had gone back to Osceola and taken up a very desirable quarter section which laid a short distance outside the village. Our six months of furlough having elapsed on March 10, in the foHowing year we started again for the west, this time intending to remain. The number was slightly increased over that which had gone before, and con sisted of John E. Lewis, L. and WiHiam C. Calvert and wife, John Sandford and four year old son Jack, Jacob P Phipps, Thomas A. Blythe, and myself. Phipps and myself had left our families among friends and they were to follow as soon as arrangements could be made for their residence. We arrived safely at Grand Island and procuring a small HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 155 supply of lumber from G. H. Bush, and a few provisions from Cornelius & Peterson, we hit the road for what has since developed into Mayfield precinct. We found the place and within two hours after arrival had built a shanty and were eating supper. Investigation proved that during our absence Peter Clausen had settled near us, also that W. W. Mann, Edward Bussell, E. D. Kent, and possibly others had taken up land and begun improve ments. There was also a little settlement started below us by George Dean, Z. B. Part ridge, and others. The summer of 1873 was very seasonable and we broke and planted considerable patches of sod corn which yielded well. During the summer Alex Thompson and C. Lozier settled very near us^ I think there were also a few families on and near the bluffs. We did well the first year and the next season a number of people joined us, among them were J. H. Hulett and C. L. Alford. Soon after our arrival we were visited by the school director in the per son of H. C. Streator. He informed us that we were a part and parcel of the present Cameron district. I think the unmber is 14. During the latter part of the summer of 1873 we had built some sod houses and in the last days of September the families of Phipps and myself joined us. We felt then that we were at home. As the time for elec tion of county officers approached we decided that we would exercise our right of suffrage. So we drove to the site of old Wood River ' station and saved the nation. I do not re member the names of the candidates. The next year the grasshoppers devoured the corn crop. At this we realized that every thing was not coming our way, but necessity is a stern master and we had but to wait for the opening of another spring and begin hop ing few better crops. This was another year of but moderate success but we raised enough grain to subsist on. Notwithstanding the failures people kept coming in, and we soon had quite a settlement and most of them provded to be excellent people. For a few years times were somewhat better, but little progress was made in financial conditions. Most of those who came remained, a few be coming discouraged and seeking greener fields. About '76 or '77 efforts were made to have some kind of religious services and for a time Rev. Trefran exponded the Word in the old sod school house in district 36. Later Charles Ridell served for a time but when Mrs. E. C. Avery bought a half of section 29 and settled on it she went to work to have regular serv ices and soon had a Methodist class organized and Rev. Jeptha Marsh was, I think, the first pastor who was regularly appointed. In the fall of '79 it was decided that a church build ing was needed and in July, 1880, the old Berwick church was dedicated. It was situ ated on the southwest corner of J. L. Hulett's farm and was used till Cairo was "built and the present edifice erected there. The necessity for school privileges was soon recognized, and during the winter of '72) dis trict 36 was organized. I think, however, the school in the Partridge district was provided for first. At any rate in the spring and summer of '74 we had two schools in our immediate vicinity. The voting places were soon made much more convenient. For sev eral years Harrison and Mayfield voted as one precinct and the polls were held at Run nelsburg. There ware many hard tussels in the caucuses and elections of those days. Mayfield particularly was about equally di vided between the Democrats and the Repub licans and battles of national importance were often fought out here. Among the early landholders of Mayfield precinct vi^ere : Geo. McNair, Walter P. Kellogg, Philip Kranz, C. L. Alvord, Ebert Corbin. J. C. Bishop, Levi O. Watson, Levi Cox, Chas. A. Moore, Wm. Haynes, PI. Tighmeyer, L. O. Watson, F. M. HiHenbrandt, Jas. Hulett, Jesse Boring, H. C. Kroeger, Robert Taylor, Harry Rosswick, Ira T. Paine. Among the eariy landholders of So.uth Loup precinct were : Michael Kyne, W. B. Waite, John Glore, W. B. White, Jas. M. Borglunn, Geo. Hodson. Wm. H. West, H. D. Aiken, C. M. WiHiam- 156 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA son, John Stoeger, Lyman Cole, Wm. Ofield, Chas. J. Webb, Peter Janns, J. T. Mehaffie, Erwin, Herrick, Joseph Green, Seymour Veeder, Peter Veeder, Louis Meyer, Eliz Stoeger, Barnie Putscher, T. E. Longstreet, Enos Brundage, C. G. Powers, G. W. Bmn- dage, R. S. Brundage, F. M. Stanley, August Wieth, C. A. Goodrich, Jas. Paul, Josiah HaH, Thos. Green, A. T. Guthrie, John Dowling, Frank M. Stanley. PRAIRIE CREEK TOWNSHIP Mat Rauert has contributed the following in relation to the early settlement of Prairie Creek township : The first settlers of Prairie Creek township were Peter Mohr, who later moved to Grand Island, Peter HoHing, who later removed to the vicinity of Wood River, George Spencer, deceased, and Danance Dickinson. They came in the spring of 1871 and later in the same year Eli Barnes, Hans Moeller, Nichols, James and Mat Rauert, Nic Depue, Henry Kruse, and Peter Thompson came to swell the settlement. In 1872 George Nollen, Robert Kinkle, Peter Wingert, and Mr. Lan- field cast their lots with the new settlers. It was many years before the northern part of this township was settled, but along the banks of Prairie Creek a thrifty settlement soon sprang up which organized school dis tricts, built bridges, and connected their settle ments with the railroad at Grand Island and Alda. Game was quite plentiful during the ' early days especially in the sand hills north and during the drought and grasshopper periods the settlers divided their time between hunting deer and antelope and snaking cedar post out of the canyons along the Loup River, for sale in Grand Island, and this was almost the only means by which "cash money" could be secured. At that time the Indians coming through on their annual hunts from the Loup rivers to the Platte and Republican so.uth were frequaitly visitors of the early settlers, but never hostile and only by their thieving and begging did they give much con cern to the early settlers. FURTHER NOTES ON THE SETTLE MENT OF PRAIRIE CREEK TOWNSHIP ' BY ELI A. BARNES The first settlers of Prairie Creek township wefe: Peter Mohr, Peter Holling, who later re moved to the vicinity of Wood River, George J. Spencer, Dennis Dixon. They came in the spring of 1871. Later came Eli A. Barnes, Samuel M. Schisler, Hans Moeller, Nicholas, James and Mat Rauert, Nicholas M. Depue, Joseph F. Proctor, Henry Kruse, Claus H. Wiese, Peter Thompson, I. P. Beagle, Capt. W. W. Thompson, James Baldwin and A. Baldwin, Isaac L. Messeraul, George Nowlan, Robert Kinkle, Peter Wingert, Anna M. Weeks, John Lanphere, Mr. Barlow, William ? C. Dean, John Trimble, Mr. Burton and William E. Preston. Mr. Trefren, George and Luther, settled on December 20. With these settlers closes the year 1872. Then came Wesley Milhollen, Thomas Hosier, John Lee and Adam Hessel. School district num ber 18 composed Prairie Creek township, Oth- man A. Abbott county superintendent of schools. The first school officers were Eli A. Barnes, moderator, Joseph F. Proctor, treasurer, and John Lanphere, director. The school house was built on the homestead of Eli A. Barnes by James Tout, later of Grand Island. Then the district was divided and the school house moved on northeast corner of George Nowland's homestead, where it now stands. Other early settlers in the Prairie Creek vicinity were Joe Kilian, John Mader, Jim Baldwin, Henry Schisler. The town of Abbott was formed out of section 30 of this township. In recent years the Robert Taylor ranch has grown to such proportions that the portion of it which lies within Prairie Creek township constitutes over a third of the area of the township. A roster of some of the landholders in Prairie Creek township prior to 1890 will show other early settlers than those already named : HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 157 Wm. H. Sumner, Mary A. Bullock, James Fonner, Thomas Hossler, Josiah Brown, Jacob Lessig, William Dudley, George Rauert, Joachim Rauert, Louis Upperman, A. C. Downs, M. V. Atkinson, H. C. Roehling, Henry Mohr, Sr., Alvin Eager, John E. Mader, James Lewis, C. B. Lewis, Hannah Kent, Benj. Swank, J. C. H. Read, Giles A. Smith, D. R. Castiday, Peter Thompson, Geo. Nouland, John Peterson, James Nichelson C. A. VonWasmer, W. U. Mader, Silas Y. Bryson. Robert Taylor and Kenneth Mc Donald's ranch holdings now take up a large portion of the township. CENTER TOWNSHIP With the settlement of Cay Henry Ewoldt, one of the original colony of 1857, within the present confines of Center township, in 1862, this township can point almost as far back for the beginnings of its history as its neigh boring townships. Mr. Ewoldt increased his original purchase until he acquired a fine farm of around 500 acres of magnificent land. Martin Schimmer acquired holdings in Center township at an early day. Jacob Shoemaker came in about 1866 or 1867. Other early settlers in this township were Henry Grabach, John Green field, C. P. Rathbun, Wm. C. Mullen, WiHiam Fishburn, F. W. Hessel and Adam Hessel, G. J. Squires, and William McLellan. A roster of those who owned land in the township prior to 1890 shows, among others : A. B. Perkins, Chas. Wasmer, C. A. Von Wasmer, E. S. Lamon, Ira T. Paine, H. H. Vocke, E. B. Engleman, Jas. H. Ring, A. Simon, Lara O. Thompson, Fritz Langman, H. Kruse, Jas. McGuire. J. R. Alter, D. M. Alter, J. L. Johnson, Jas. A. Clemen, Edgar Varney, H. Gosda, John Felske, Martin Witzki, E. Rumsthel, Solomon Hopper, George E. Conley, Wm. S. Mittelbacher, Alex. Stewart, Si W. Taylor, L. C. Hixon, Jas. A. Brown, R. H. McAllister, Harvey Peterson, Chris Hann, Fred Roby, N. McCombs, F. J. Fischer, Peter Hames, Henry Davidson, M. A. Davidson, John Nielson, P. and H. Shultz, David Liedtke, Chas. Stroup, Leander Clark, George L. Rouse, Ernest Graffe, Ed Dinan, Seth Dunbar, E. E. Glenn, Wm. O. Baylor, Ed Searson, Sarah Houser, Melissa Fallis, Emanuel StringfeHow, Jas. H. Watts, Fritz Becker, Henry Shoel, Charles Ewoldt, E. F. H. Shultz, William H. Houser, G. M. Fil- singer, B. C. McMaster, Patrick Dunphy, Richard S. Badgett, A. Hofmeister, George Richard, Charles Nichols, Ira Nichols, John W. Pence, S. H. Ferguson. ALDA TOWNSHIP The settlement of the present Alda town ship begins back almost next to Washington township. W. G. Eldridge located in Hall County on May 20, 1859, on the northeast quarter of section 14, town 10, lange 11. The country was then decidedly sparsely settled. The near est neighbors on the west were eight miles away. Buffalo, deer, antelope, wolves, and Indians roamed over the vast treeless plains with wild freedom, undaunted by the ap proach of any white neighbors. A few hun dred Indians camping near Mr. Eldridge's humble habitation was not an unusual oc currence. He erected the first dweHing in the fall of 1859. Mr. Eldridge, the father of the Alda community, was a native of Lafayette, Indiana, born on December 23, 1882. He moved to Middleport, Illinois, at the age of twenty-one and carried on a harness shop until 1856. He went to Kansas then and without any permanent place of settlement traded ponies and horse with Indians and whites alike. Returning to Indiana in the winter of 1858, he stayed only long enough to get started for Nebraska in March, 1859. He was married in Hall County, in the fall of 1860 to Miss S. S. Shinton, a native of England. They had five children, Annie E. who became the wife of Warren Winslow, Jessie N., Mary I., Jasper J., and Fannie A. Squire Lamb came to this part of the coun try in 1858. The Reese family came in 1860. In the meantime John Thomssen, one of the thirty-five members of the colony which set tled near Grand Island in 1857, was married in 1860 to the one single lady who had ac- 158 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA companied the original colony to Hall County. During the year 1860 this bridal couple set- teled down and became pioneers of the pres ent Alda township. Mr. and Mrs. N. V. Hansen settled on a place adjoining the Thomssen's. Other very early settlers were John Ring and two sons, John House and family, the Hann family, Henry Garn, and Charles and Arthur Lamberson. Francis Corkins came from Illinois to this part of HaH County in the fall of 1867. He worked through that neighborhood until 1875, then was married to Miss Harriet E. Smith and took a soldier's homestead. W. H. Norton came to this part of the county in 1867. He worked on the Union Pacific railroad during the summers of 1867 and 1868, then settled down on section 14, town 10, range 11. W. W. MitcheH came to Alda vicinity in 1871 and two years later embarked in business in Pawnee, now Alda. Other settlers in this vicinity prior to the early seventies were : Wm. Thomssen, Henry Stelk, 1859, Squire Lamb, Henry Lamb, Carl Baasch, 1866, Cath- arina Buettner, 1863, Fritz Wiese-, 1869, Henry Wiese, 1871, Otto Wiese, 1871, J. Knuth, 1870, J. S. Denman, 1871, WiHiam Powell, 1869, George L. Rouse, 1873, Claus Stoltenberg, in the county in 1859. Claus Stoltenberg came to Hall County in April, 1859. He was a native of Holstein, Germany, born September 2, 1832, and grew to manhood in his native land. He emigrated to America in 1856, and after spending some time in New York and in Wisconsin, he came to Nebraska and spent a year and a half in Omaha. He entered 160 acres of land, but afterwards acquired more land around him. He was married here December 6, 1862, to Miss Esther Paustean, a native of Holstein, Germany. They had six thildren, Alwine (wife of Claus Tagge, of Grand Island), Edward, Ferdinand, CecHe (wife of Bern- hard Wise, of Rock County, Nebraska), Wil- helmine and Cari. Z. I-I. DENMAN One of the very active men in the develop ment of the Alda community was Hon. Z. H. Denman, Sr. He came to Hall County in August, 1871. He was born in Licking County, Ohio, March 26, 1834, and there he attended the district schools during the -winter months and assisted his father on the farm in summer months until he was nineteen years of age, when he left to attend Martinsburg College, from which institution he graduated. In his twenty- fourth year he was married to Miss Harriett Robinson of Newark, Ohio. He then settled down to farming in his native. county, and while there held the office of county surveyor. In 1864 he moved to Mc Lean County, Illinois, and engaged intHHng the soil there until his removal to Hall County. He located thirteen miles southwest of Grand Island and at once set energetically to farm ing and raising stock. He gradually increased his acreage, until he became the owner of several hundred acres and a large amount of stock. He devoted his time to the affairs of the community as well as to his own farming operations. For many years he held the posi tion of county supervisor from Alda precinct. In 1882 he was chosen by the people of the county to represent them in the state legislat ure, which position he filled with honor to himself and his constituents. He was presi dent of the Hall County Agricultural Society in 1889. His death occurred . very suddenly at the age of fifty-five years. Mr. Denman was but one member of a family that has left its impress upon the history of Hall County. W. H. Denman, J. A. Denman, Z. H. Denman, Jr., James S. Denman, H. C. Denman, J. Denman, W. C. Denman, C. W. Denman, were among his brothers, so>ns and nephews who have all made a remarkable record in the development of Alda township and Hall County generally. Am_ong the early settlers of Alda township who were landowners before 1890, were: William Wrage, Plenry Knuth, Z. H. Den man, Sr., W. H. Denman, J. A. Denman, Z. H. Denman, Jr., J. Denman, A. C. Denman, W. C. Denman, Jas. S. Denman, C. W. Den man, H. C. Denman, Claus Stoltenberg, John Thomssen, Sr., Henry Lamb, N. V. Hansen, O O > oo a:^ ^^ !^ w w > First Settlers of Hall County, 1857— Present at the Quarter Centennial 1882 William Hegge, Joachin Doll, Catharine Doll, Marx Stelk, Fred Hedde, Margaretha Joehnck, Hemrich Joetnck, Peter Stuhr Christian Menck Herman Vasold, Anna Thomsson,_DetIev Sass, Heinrich Schoel, Cay Ewoldt. 160 HISTORY OF KAhh COUNTY NEBRASKA Heinrich Mann, H. Schoel, Cari Hann, H. A. Rose, R. Gilchrist, Oriando Myers, B. R. MarshaH, John Brown, C. A. Judy, A. B. Fraker, Eliz. Quissenberry, W. B. Cummings, P. Marquisse, Jos. Kelso, H. A. Gallup, Wm. PoweH, Theodore Martens, Martin Schimmer, Chas. Krueger, Cari Baasch, Cari Schimmer, Henry Wiese, W. Engel, John Seier, Henry Brockman, M. Knuth, John Pehrs, D. Apple- dorn, John Bergfleth, Hans Behrens, John Chas. Kroeger, F. LHienthal, B. Knox, Fritz Wiese, J. Lindemann, I. C. Parker, J. J. Londerman, Louis Lorenzen, John Bebernes, Louis Bueltner, Henry Kay, Peter Pehrs, Chas. Kroeger, F. LHienthah B. Knox, Fritz Thesenvitz, A. Hapfel, M. Cornelius, Geo. W. Garrison, Fritz Schroeder, Wm. Kuenke, Isaac Wheeler, Chas. Thesenvitz, A. De Witte, John Quissenberry, M. K. Lewis, Gehrt Dickman, K. W. Lewis, Sylvester Ren frew, J. W. Modesitt, Chas. FyHer, M. C. Fuller, Perry Hack A. B. Hankey, W. Powell, Darius Richardson, John Roach, Henry Roach, H. A. Rose, Geo. Elfus. WASHINGTON PRECINCT The history of the first settlement of Wash ington township is covered in detail in the narratives of the first colony, by William Stolley, Fred Hedde, and Christian Menck. The first colony settled in Washington town ship and the story of the first ten years of the history of HaH County, as told by those venerable pioneers, mainly is the history of .Washington township. Out of this township grew and developed the great city of Grand Island, but neverthe less there remains many interesting stories of development in Washington township outside of Grand Island. The roll of early settlers in the south part of the township has been in cluded in the roster of those south of the Platte River. A roster of those who owned land in Washington township north of the river on or before 1890 presents many names that are more than familiar in the develop ment of the city of Grand Island also : Peter Wilson, Adam Windolph, Peter Stuhr, Henry Vieregg, W. B. Larrabee, John Wallichs, S. Schaff, D. Sass, S. M. Roush. D. Roush, Casper Dunnerman, Hans Voss, Robert Waugh, N. P. Stahl, Adolph Baasch, H. Steinmeier, Henry Joehnck, H. Rohweder, Marx Stelk, Henry Eickhoff, Fred Evans, Christian Menck, Johannes Windolph, Gus tave Koehler, W. R. Watkins, John W. Lam bert, Geo. Loan, Russell Wheeler, Gottfried Klinge, John Reimers, Henry Timpke, W. F. Stolley, William A. Hagge, Fred MoeHer, John Fonner, J. D. Schuller, Geo. Thavenet, ' H. Gulzow. Fred Mathiesen, Henry Ernst- meier, Hans Schiel, Geo. H. Andrew, Nich Reuting, Carl Scherzberg, Charles Gosda, Fred Gosda, Peter Schumann, Joachim Buenz, Henry Schimmer, Christ. Nieberger, Fred Schleichardt, Fritz Niedfelt, WHliam Niedfelt, Carl Knefelkamp, Peter, Heesch John Reher, G. Reher, Heinrich Beoersen, Ha^is Vollert, Henry Wierhake, Peter Wiese, Jacob Suhr, Herman Boersen, Harry Albers, Henry Gulzow, Theo. Sievers, John Lassen, Ties Hansen, Claus Rohweder, John Neu bert, Hans Stuhr, James Michelson, Mary Lambert, Ernest Blunk, Henry Giese. LAKE TOWNSHIP William Guenther has contributed the fol lowing short account of the early settlement of Lake township: When we first located in Lake township, in 1872, there was nothing to obstruct the view over the rolling prairies. Not a tree was visible. Here and there was a settler, but they were few and the small buildings erected by them were very scarce. On April 13, 1873, there was a snow storm which I shall never forget. Snow fell con tinuously for three days. One could not see three feet ahead. The settlers had big losses through this storm. This visitation was soon followed by the grasshopper sieges — several years in succession. The pest devoured aH of the corn, oats, and wheat that was planted and in course of maturing. The atmosphere was so filled with them that the sun was no more visible. Prairie fires were another source of great danger to the early settlers in this township. HIStORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 161 They sometimes came with such rapidity that it was difficult to get out of their way or start back fires and save what little property we had. I remember one particular incident well. I was taking a load of hay from my farm to Grand Island. The fire came from the south west and in an angle with the St. Paul road. Chas. Stolley came and called to me, asking me to take him along and out of danger. We were compelled to urge the horses into their utmost speed to get out of range of the ad vancing fire, and finally made it. A roster of early land holders in Lake, prior to 1890, shows: Albert Quendt, John Quendt, David Mar tin, WHhelm Guenther, Frederick Otto, Charies Stolle, John Nehls, Peter Mohr, Peter Mohr Jr., John Mohr, H. Niemoth, John Nie- moth, Fritz Suehlsen, Fred Winter, Louis Vogel, Fred Wiegert, L. Buckfinch, C. Buck- finch, A. C. F. Wendt, Henry C. Ahrens, Hans Stoldt, Jac. Lorentzen, J. J. Lorentzen, F. Suehlsen, Herman C. MoeHer, Cecil Sei- bert, John A. Roff, H. C. Moeller, Charies Mettenbrink, Kasper Hongsermeier, J . J. Baumgardner, Adam Windolph, H. E. Kent, E. C. Walker, Charies Niemoth, Fred Spat- hold, Isak Olson, Alex Thompson, Ernest P. Rogers, C. F. Beyer, Fred Loescher, R. L. Sparks, Carl Diechman, E. J. Ludwig, G. M. Watson. TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT Township offices are not usually very keenly sought, nor sometimes considered such high honors. But, nevertheless, it is unques tionably the few men in any given township who will year after year discharge the duties of township clerk, treasurer, assessor, justice of the peace, or road overseer who constitute the foundation stone of an individual struc ture for that township. The American town ship is a unit small enough to cement the neighborhood within its borders into a com munity with distinctive individuality. This was perhaps never more strikingly and con cretely illustrated than in the late war when the plan was universally resorted to of divid ing the county's quota in each campaign and drive into township quotas. The townships then entered into a friendly, but nevertheless, sincerely keen rivalry to gain early place in answering their quota and an honorable record in exceeding it. First division Prior to 1872 the county was not divided into townships, but into three precincts. Elec tion officials, road workers, and various public servants were selected from these respective precints. As a fairly accurate indication of the personnel of the residents of this division, the following two lists are incorporated to show who were the registered voters in April, 1871, of the first and second precincts. This, no doubt, was not a complete list of voters in eother precint for the precinct registrar sat on later dates to recieve further registration. Precinct 1, O. A. Abbott, Registrar Abbott A., Asterp L. B., BeaH Enos, Bunx James Boehm P., Berherns H., Brumstette B., Becker F., Bunz John, Chapman H. N., Camp bell William., Cleary James, Dall J. F., Dietz PhiHip, Engel L., Egge H, Felt Joseph, Forney John, Felsov H., Graham John W., Grammlar J., Grotzsky C, Hooper E., Hald Hugo, Hagge William, Hensley J. P., Hann John, Hunter J. D., Hurley WiHiam, Hansen C, Hey James, Jordon R. C, Jenzen John, Johnson W. C, Johnson Ben, Koenig H. A., Kraft John, Arnold E. W., Adams C. W., Borsen PL, Baumer H., Bergfelt P., Baldwin J, Baylor P H., Buderus W. C, Hishoff John, Cronan Edw., Clark Joe H., Cochran J. W., Detlef- scheel C, Engel A., Englike C, Fredericksen M., Froberg R., Giesse H., Groner C. F., Greve J., Hutchinson F., HoHingshed, Hanchitt L. J., Handy H. P., Hepner A., Heesch P., Flare S., Hamilton H. G., Jones John W., Jenemer J., Johnson A. C, Johnkee John, Keuscher A. H., Kilian Joseph, Kelley P., Klinger G., Kruse H., KeHey S., Lloyd W., LHlienthat C. J., Larsen Chris, LHienthal H., Mitchell R., Mil- sen C, Moll T., Moeller F., McAHister W. R., Meves Claus, Marquette D., Miller Jacob, Mobley S. P., Mohr P. Sr, Mohr J., Meth J. E., McArthy P. B., Norris J. F., ObermiHer- Hans, Oldsen John, Peterson Peter, Peterson H. A., Pamell M., Rief Henry, Rief S., RideH 162 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA C. W., Rauert N., Rollins S. A., Rief C, Ridell C, Ruge Hans, Kuehl P., Kauser Fred, Kelly B. B., Kosborie C. K., Loan Geo., Lar sen Jno., LHHenth All C. Lorenzen P. Michel son Jas. Melson L., Morclter G., Makely H. P., Menck C. H., Matthewson F., Moore J. D., Marler D. E., Morrow J., Meunch E., Mohr P., McKenzie George, McKay H., Murray John, Nelson N. P., Na- gey H. G., ObermiHer Claus, Ottman John, Obermiller John , Piatt W. H., Prahm E., Peterson P. C, Riss John, Reif L., Renicken C , Roeder W., Rogers J., Rueter D., Rief Hans, Ruff John A., Sass D.. Spiker Wm., Stuhr P., Schaurup E. A., Scherzberg C, Stark Fritz, Scherzberg H. C. Schuey W, Spafford W. H., Shoemaker J., Sharpless O. B., Stelk M., SchuHer J. D., Schaaff H., Stolley A., Suhr John, Seier John, Saxe G. L., Schuey F., Thurwell Geo. H., Thompson W. L., Thurwolt Geo., Tout J., Thiessen C, Thomas C. W., Thorspecken A., Timike H., Tribsch T., Thompson P: D., Unger C, Voitl P., Van Vleet H., Voss ¦]., Wallichs John, Windolph John, Wilson G. E., Wiebe F. A., Wendt A., Wolcott E., Waugh R., Pohnks H. Second precinct, Fred Roby Registrar. Arp Hans, Bonson Nic, Bonson Asmus, Boehl Chas., Boehl John, Boehl Joachim, Bock- man H., Buchmann Aug, Berhens Hans, Brok- man Claus, Bergfelt Peter, Boach Adolph, Doty Wallace W., Ewoldt Cai, Ewoldt Hans, Engle William, Gardner George G., Garn Henry, Hann Christian,' Hann Carl, Han sen N. v., Hans Frank, Hause John, Lorenzen Geo,. Lorenzen Louis, Loren zen John, Lamb W. H,. Ludemann John, Murdock Phineas, Moeller Carl, Mahn Cari, Majors John, Moodly George, Ohlsen John C, Peper Heinrich, Pehrs John, Pehrs Peter, PoweH Luther, Powell Wm., Pein Peter, Roby Fred, Rooney Pat, Rauert Nie, Stuhr Claus PL, Sihvel Henry, Stoltenberg C, Schimmer Martin, Shoemaker Jesse, Shoe maker EHsha, Thompson John, Thompson Claus, Tiedge Peter H., Wiese Fritz, Wrage Hans, Wainright D. J., Wiesman John. After 1872 the county began to be divided into various precincts, and the different com munities began to take on individual form along the lines that the township eventually emerged. In the fall of 1872 the caH for the general election embraced four precincts, with the fourth located around Martinsville. In the fall of 1874 the election notice caHed for elections at an increased number of pre cincts. Several names appeared for these pre cincts that afterwards attached to various townships, namely: Grand Island, Prairie Creek, Alda, South Loup, Wood River, South Platte, and Martinsville. Among officers elected at that time for various precincts were : Assessors, H. C. Denman, South Platte, A. V. Potter, Prairie Creek, W. H. Harrison, Alda, Anthony Moore, Wood River, Isaac Madlick (appointed) for Martinsville. L. J. Abbott for Wood River and Lester Houghton for South Platte as road overseers. Showing the rela tive importance of the various precincts, it might be noted that the 1874 elections showed 302 votes cast in Grand Island precint, 140 in Alda, 67 in South Loup, 48 in South Platte, 56 in Prairie Creek, and 133 in Wood River. The election of 1876 was held along the same precint divisions, and on the question of township organization showed a vote of 628 for and 157 against. Assessors who served in the spring of 1877 along the old line of organization were: A. A. Lyon, South Platte, N. M. Depue, Prairie Creek, Anthony Moore, Wood River, R. C. Perkins, South Loup, Henry Giese, Grand Island, and A. Bordon, Martinsville. No organization along different townships was effected during 1877 and when the call was issued that fall for a general election it designated the same seven precints. On a vote on township organization at the election of November 6, 1877, a major ity of 478 was shown in favor. The following township organization was then named : 1st, Washington, comprising all of township 11 range 9, and township 10 range 9, north of river; practically the present Washington township. 2nd, Lake, all of township 12, range 9 ; pres ent Lake township. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 163 3rd, Prairie Creek, township 12, range 10, present Prairie Creek. 4th Mayfield, 12, range 11, (present May- field). 5th, South Loup, 12, range 12 (present South Loup). 6th, Lee, 11, range 12 (present Cameron township). 7th, Zurich, 11, range 11 (present Harrison township) . 8th, Sheridan, 11, range 10 (present Center township). 9th, Alda, 10, range 10 (present Alda town ship). 10th, Wood River, along lines of present Wood River township. 11th, Union, range 12, township 10, along lines of present Jackson township. 12th, Martinsville, along lines of present Martin township. 13th, Grant, along lines of present South Platte township. 14th, South Platte, along lines of south end of present Doniphan township in southeast comer of county. 15th, Douglas, along lines of present South Platte township. Before the county board appointed under this arrangement could qualify the supreme court handed down an act declaring the legis lative act under which the said organization was created unconstitutional. In the mean time the board had appointed for each town ship a set of officers. This list might be mainly valuable to show who were the lead ing and active spirits in local governmental affairs of the county, at that time : Union: Supervisor, Patrick NevHls; clerk, Patrick Moore ; Treasurer, Issah Lewton ; road oversear, Edward O'Brien; justices of the peace, E. F. Jonte, Geo. H. Peck ; constables, . J. Ross, J. Dunn. Wood River: Supervisor, N. T. Britton; clerk Chas. E. Towne; assessor, Stephen Jones; Treasurer, David Barrick; road over seer, James Tracy ; justices of the peace, John G. Schaupp, J. B. Firman; constables Wm. G. Eldridge, H. Jones. Zurich: Supervisor, W. H. Harrison; clerk, Jas. A. Veeder; assessor, Henry W. High ; treasurer, J. H. Leonard ; road overseer, John L. Johnson; justices of the peace, Louis Richard and Lafayette Martindale; constables, Jesse Boring and O. H. Taylor, Mayfield : Supervisor, William Partridge ; clerk, W. C. Calvert ; assessor, R. C. Perkins ; treasurer, J. C. Bishop; road overseer, C. C. Alford; justices of the peace, J. H. Hulitt, Geo. P. Dean; constables, Eugene J. Mix and Wm. E. Preston. Sheridan: Supervisor, Ira M. Ware; clerk, Wm. A. Gillett ; treasurer, George Cornelius ; assessor, Edgar Varney ; justices of the peace, John Leckenby and Jacob Shoemaker; con stables, James Walsh and Martin Powers. Alda : Supervisor, WiHiam Powell ; clerk, Henry Lamb; treasurer. Squire S. Lamb; assessor, Z. H. Denman, Sr. ; justices of the peace, Andrew Hofmeister, George Moody; constables, Peter Pehrs and Dan Baker. South Loup : Supervisor, J. E. Locke ; clerk, J. T. Mahaffie; treasurer Edmond Locke;. assessor, Geo. Bellany; justices of the peace, T. P. Rundlett and Calvin Goodrich; con- stables.Edward S. Rundlett and James Paul. Cameron: Supervisor, S. E. Benton; clerk, J. B. Stephens; assessor, E. O. Palmer; treasurer, Lester Houghton ; road overseer, S. K. Guy; justices of the peace, J. P. Good rich and H. C. Streator; constables, W. Stuart and S. H. Rader. Martinsville : Supervisor, Seth W. WHson ; clerk, Wm. H. Austin ; treasurer, Walter MHler ; assessor, O. F. Foote ; road overseer, Austin Wilson; justices of the peace, R. Wes cott and D. J. J. Hombeck ; constables, Jas. H. Sweeting and James Gowd. Grant : Supervisor, J. M. Powers ; clerk, George Humphrey ; treasurer, Irving Cole ; assessor, Wm. Olthoff ; road overseer, John R. Britt; justices of the peace, Lucas Henry and John Walker; constobles, J. L. Brookover and John Creason. South Platte : Supervisor. J. W. Smith ; clerk, Geo. H. LaMonte; treasurer, Wm. Reese ; assessor, S. L. Loucks ; road overseer, Jacob Mushrush; justices of the peace, L. S. Orcutt and S. S. Shultz ; constables, Thomas Caldwell and Geo. W. Burger. Douglas : Supervisor, Henry C. Denman ; 164 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA clerk, S. Smith; treasurer, W. J. Burger; assessor, Martin Ennis; road overseer, D. Whittecar; justices of the peace, Walter Smith and Moorefield ; constables, Joseph HHton and C. Lowery. Washington: Supervisor, Wm. Larrabee; clerk, D. M. Amsberry ; treasurer, Fred Roby; assessor, Henry Geise; road overseer. Christ ian Menck Grand Island City : Supervisors, 1st ward, H. P. Makely, 2nd ward, C. E. Jerome, 3rd ward, James Cleary, and 4th ward, C. E. Lykke. Lake: Supervisor, E. C. Walker; clerk, A. D. TiHey; assessor, Frederick Suehlsen; treasurer, Frederick Loescher; road overseer, Peter Mohr; pustices of the peace, Emerson Rogers and H. E. Kent ; constables, Chas. Peterson and Dunning Giccu. It became necessary to appoint a new set of officers along the old precinct lines, and among these many named above were listed. The faH election of 1878 brought into office, among others, the foHo-w^ing: Justice of Peace : J. H. Hulitt, South Loup, Lucas Henry, South Platte, J. H. Bliss, Wood River, Russell L. Bruce, Martinsville, Edwin S. Lee, South Loup, Austin L. Smith, South Platte, C. S. Ellison, South Platte, John Leck enby, Alda. Constables : David Barrick, Wood River, Jos. T. Ross, Wood River, John B. Stevens, South Loup, M. H. Gideon, South Platte, Henry A. GaHup, Alda, Edward Rund lett, South Loup. Road Supervisors : Geo. C. Humphrey (county assessor in 1919), South Platte, John Leckenby, Alda, Edw. O'Brien, Wood River, S. K. Guy, South Loup. Assessors : E. M. Burger, South Platte, John A. Demaree, Martinsville, Z. H. Denman, Alda, Fred Roby, Grand Island, Haydn strong. South Loup, Anthony Moore, Wood River. During 1879 and 1880 several new precincts were formed, and the call for an election in the fall of 1880 designated the following voting precincts : Grand Island, Piairie Creek, Lake, Alda, Cameron, South Loup, Wood River, Martinsyille and South Platte, By 1882 more townships had joined the list and among the officers elected were : Assessors, M. Murphy, A. H. Wilhelm, and F. M. Clafiin for East, West and North Grand Island, W. C. MuHen, Alda, John O'Connor, Wood River, J. Demary, South Platte, S. Veeder, South Loup, T. W. Dodd, Cameron, Z. Avery, MartinsvHle, N. M. DePue, Prairie Creek, Frederick Suehlsen, Lake, W. H. Harrison, Harrison, C. L. Alford, Mayfield, Patrick Nevills, Jackson, and M. V. Marsh, Doniphan, By 1889 the list had de veloped until it included all of the present townships. Inasmuch as aH of the present existing township units of the county are thus more than thirty years old it would be imprac ticable to continue the list of local officers, however dersirable such a roH of honor would be. In closing this phase of township history it will not be amiss to record a list of citizens of the various townships who are carrying the responsibilities of local govemment at this time, in 1919. Lake: Clerk, Henry Stolle; treasurer, Al bert Quandt; justice, Chas Mettenbrink; road overseer, Fred Moeller. Prairie Creek Clerk, Chas. Rauert; treas urer, Aug. Helmbrec'nt; justice Geo. Geisen- hagen; road overseer, Geo. Schroeder. Mayfield : Clerk, Max J. Voss ; treasurer, T. F. Shoopman; road overseers, Ernest Meyer, Peter Shultz. South Loup: Clerk, J. R. Herrick; treasurer, Ray Green ; Justice, F. A .]\Ieith Sr. ; road overseer, M. A. Benton. Cameron: Clerk,W J. Porter; treasurer, C. O. Jameyson ; justice, E. S. Lee ; road overseer H. A. Powers. Cameron : Clerk, R. L. Harrison ; treasur er, John Martin; justice, Edw. Sprague; road overseer, Thos. Caveny. Center: Clerk, Jos. Black; treasurer,, W. W. Rouse; justice, Wm. Friesman; road over seer C .E. Ross. Washington: Clerk, Aug. Schimmer; treas urer, John SchuHer; justice, W. A. Hagge Jr. ; road overseer, Ernest Reher. Alda: Clerk, lienry Duettner; treasurer, John Thompson; justice, Rudolph Sass. Wood River: Clerk, W. H. Packer; HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 165 treasurer, M. L. Wiseman; road overseer, John J. Carey. Jackson: Clerk, L. A. Watson; treasurer, W. E. Moore ; road overseers, W. J. Riesland, Luther Wiseman. jNIartin: Clerk, E. E. Young, treasurer. Sam W. Wells ; justice, M. L. Moors ; road overseer, L. E. Saddler. South Platte: Clerk, W. M. Gideon. Doniphan: Clerk, T. S. Hackler; treas urer, C .M. Carlson; road overseer, W. D. Perkev. CHAPTER IX ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT OF THE COUNTY Establishment of the County — -Book "A", Commissioners Records — Early Proceed ings OF the Board — Platte River Bridge — Building a Court House — ; Proceedings FROM 1873 — Township Organization — Subsequent County Boards — - New Court House — County Clerks — Clerks of District Court — Sheriffs — County Judges — Superintendent of Schools — ¦ Supervisors — - Coroners — County Attorneys — - Volume of Work in County Offices Now — Report of County Attorney's Office — Tax Levy for 1919 — Fiftieth Semi-Centennial Celebration 1907 establishment of the county As established by the act of November 4, 1858, HaH. County extended "From the northeast corner of township 16 north, range 9 west, south to the southern bank of the Platte River, west along the river to the west line of range 12 west, north with that line to the northwest corner of township 16, range 2, and east with the line of the fourth par allel to the place of beginning." That act did not consider the county seat or its loca tion. The above description included that part of HaH County as it now exists lying north of the southern bank of the Platte River and virtually all of the present Howard County. On February 24, 1864, the boundaries were re-defined, but the act was repealed on February 15 following. On March 1, 1871, a third act received approval, which estab lished the territory comprised in townships 9, 10, 11, and 12 north, in ranges 9, 10, 11 and 12 west, as a county under the title of HaH. At this time the territory south of the river, now a part of HaH, was thereby added to it, and the territory which now comprises Howard County was taken away from HaH. Parts of Buffalo and Dawson counties which before definite organization had been thrown in with HaH had been taken away before then and definitely organized into separate counties. The following letter, dated Executive De partment, Omaha City, Nebraska, December 9, 1858, conveyed the information of the organization of the county's working ma chinery to "Hon. Richard Barnard, •'Dear Sir "I have this day appointed the foHowing officers in and for the County of Hall in this Territory : "For County judge, Richard C. Barnard; Sheriff, Herman Vasold; Recorder. Theodore: F. Nagel ; Justice of the Peace. WiHiam A. Hagge; Treasurer, Isaac Thomas; County Commissioners, Frederick Hedde, Daniel B. Crocker, Hans Vieregg; Constables, George Shultz, Christian Menck. "Your commissions will be forwarded to you by John McCorcihe, Esq., private sec retary, by same mail herewith. "In relation to your taking the oath of office, giving bonds, etc., you are referred for your guide to the statutes of 55, 56 and 57 which I believe were forwarded to you some time since by Hon. J. A. Parker, Jr., register of the land office at this place. "Very Respectfully "Your Obt. Servt. "J. Sterling Morton, "Secretary and Acting Governor of Nebraska Territory." William , Stolley, in his centennial article, 166 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 167 stated that upon the organization of the county, in 1859, the first officers elected were : Probate judge, Fred Hedde; county clerk, Theo. Nagel; county commissioners, Hans Wrage, James Vieregg, Henry Egge; justices of the peace, WiHiam Stolley, R. C. Barnard ; sheriff', Herman Vasold; treasurer. Christian Andresen; assessor, Frederick Doll; con stables. Christian Menck, Matthias Gries. FIRST records The first pages of Book "A" of Commis sioners' Records are occupied by Frederick Hedde's docket. The first entry made appears : "November 8th, 1862. Today appeared Johannes Wal lichs, who at the late election, held October 14th, 1862 in Hall Co. was elected justice of the peace and wished to be sworn in." On November 28, 1862, Joachim Selkin took the oath as constable and on -December 1, 1862, Theodore Nagel was sworn in as commis sioner. The first case in his court is entitled Philip Feldman vs. John Windolph, the former demanding $75 from Windolph for opening a letter belonging to. plaintiff and fail ing to forward it. In September Jacob Weidig charged Charles Peterson with threatening to kill, but witnesses failing to prove such charge the defendant was set at liberty. On October 14, 1863, Charles Boehl sued John Verges for $48.25, consideration for mowing and raking hay as eiuployee of Verges. The hearing of this case occupied the attention of the court for three days, and resulted in a judgment for plaintiff in the sum of $39.20 and costs. Justice Hedde was a "squire" in all respects, for on November 12, 1863, he recorded : "Today were married by me : James Harrison and Lucinda Shoemaker, in the presence of Henry Leach and Amanda Hurley — License given in absence of probate judge, by Co. Clerk, F. Evans." On March 1, 1869, Justice Hedde married Henry Schoel and Mary Becker, and the next entry records a complaint filed against Charles Peterson for threatening to kill John Win dolph. Charles Peterson signed an abject apology which Windolph declared he was sat isfied with, and the proceedings were dropped. On March 20, 1864, John H. Staats and Sophia Wilson were joined in the bonds of matrimony. William Wasmer and Fred Bhonsan complained that their fences were destroyed and posts carried away by certain unknown parties. On May 15, 1864, the^ justice journeyed to the house of Mr. Knapp at Wood River and joined in matrimony Cornelius Hurley to Mrs. Elizabeth Owens. In June a jury in justice court gave John Moser a $15 judgment against J. Michelson. William Behrens took his oath of office as justice of the peace, on November 4, Justice Hedde performed the ceremony of marriage for Johannes A. Wallichs and Gretje Sahn, and on December 23, 1864, signed his name for the last entry as justice of the peace. On April 2, 1865, Justice Behrens made his first entry, recorditig the marriage of Hascall Skinner and Mary J. Mitchell, and on May 26, brought like happiness to Marx Stelk and Antje Ruger. The first record of the commissioners .is dated at Grand Island, January 7, 1867, when the county was divided into three precincts. William Hagge was appointed assessor for precinct No. 1, John Wallichs for No. 2, and William Eldridge for No. 3 ; Dr. Joseph Reese was appointed county attorney at $100 per annum ; a license fee of $25 for every dealer in liquors was ordered to be collected and the proceeds applied to the schools funds. On April 8, 1867, licenses were issued to seven persons, and an eighth person, Charles Hyler, ordered to take out one. The original seven were Fred Hedde, Koenig & Wiebe, J. D. Schuler, H. Stevens, M. S. HaH, John Seiers, J. Killian. The commissioners at that time were Hans Wrage, Dr. A. Thorspecken, and Chris Wasmer, with Fred Evans clerk and W. H. Piatt deputy clerk. In July the total valuation of the county was $144,793 on which a county tax of six mills was ordered to be levied and an equal tax on the value of Buffalo County, then only $21,250. It is of interest to divert at this point long enough to show the develop ment of the county in the next ten years. 168 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA From the valuation returned in 1867 of $144,793, it had grown in 1871 to $695,071; 1872, $949,473; 1873, $1,276,955; 1874, $1,554,955; in 1875 there was a decrease shown, falling to $1,528,155, and in 1876, StiH lower, to $1,379,909, a mark, no doubt, of the grasshopper devastation; in 1877 the total again went up to $1,608,230; in 1878 it was $1,712,733. Thereafter it gained so that in 1879 it was $1,815,280, and in 1880, $1,919,069; in 1892 it was $3,109,260, a de crease of $200,602 from the assessment of 1891 ;' in 1893 it was $3,082,400, but in 1894 it dropped to $2,599,520, a decrease of $482,880. EARLY PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD On July 1, 1867, the board ordered the county clerk to procure at the county's ex pense one book for records, one for roads, one county map, one county order book, and one blank book for county orders. Augustus Schernkau was appointed commissioner to locate one county road running east and west through the county and one from Grand Island station to Grand Island. Joseph Reece was dismissed as county attorney. Bills for services were allowed to Wm. H. Mitchell, acting justice of peace, to Probate Judge Mitchell, to Hugo Hald as county surveyor, A. Thorspecken as coroner, and Clerk Evans, also to O. A. Abbott and Fred Evans for serv ices as registers of voters in the first and second precincts. Commissioner Wasmer re signed, and in January, 1868, Commissioners James Jackson and Hans Wrage met and transacted considerable business. Enos BeaH was appointed school examiner, and Fred A. Wiebe was elected commissioner vice Was mer. John Wallichs succeeded Evans as clerk. On -August 4, 1868, the board met and con sidered an offer made by the Union Pacific railroad through S. C. Plouse, "To take in ex change for that portion of school section 16, town 1 north, range 9 west, which is now occupied and laid out as the town of Grand Island station, the nearest railroad land to the said town of Grand Island station, that is, so many acres as said company has laid out at the above town site." On August 25th, action for the purpose of attaching unorganized counties west of HaH to the state for election. purposes was postponed, but Buffalo County was set off as Buffalo precinct and Dawson County as Dawson precinct of Hall County. In September the board took action on the county seat matter and caHed an election for October 13, 1868, to vote upon the county seat question and a two miH levy for a county jaH. Enos BeaH, Robert MitcheH, and Mr. Voitle were appointed judges and O. A. Abbott and Wm. H. Piatt, clerks for the first pre cinct; Cai Ewolt, N. Hansen and C. Stolten berg were appointed judges and Wm. Sey mour and F. Roby as clerks for the second precinct. A. Moon, S. T. Reese and A. F. Beaman were named judges and S. E. Cook and T. Moore clerks for the third precinct. The board made a request in October to Judge Crounze to hold a term of district court in Hall County as soon as convenient and the clerk was ordered to procure records for the district court. On October 31, the board fouiTd that the county seat was located at Grand Island station, and the clerk was ordered to give notice of that fact. O. A. Abbott was employed as attorney with a salary of $100 per year. On November 16, 1869, the following named officers qualified: Probate judge, Enos BeaH ; sheriff, Hugo Hald ; county clerk, John Wallichs; treasurer, Henry A. Koenig; justice of peace, Robert Mitchell; road super visor, Claus Stoltenberg. E. Hooper took Commissioner Wiebe's place. In January, 1870, Wm. H. Platte was appointed justice of the peace to fill vacancy. In that month, Allen Cousins presented 53 wolf scalps, George Williamson eight, and George Stierle eight. For some years prior to this time the . county clerk acknowledged receipt of wolf scalps but the names of the hunters were not given. PLATTE RIVER BRIDGE In 1870 the question came up of issuing $15,000 bonds bearing 10% interest to be ex pended in bridging the Platte. A special elec- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 169 tion was called for May 21, 1870, which re sulted in a majority of 27 votes for the bonds. H. P. Handy was commissioned to make a survey and examination of the Platte River, and on July 5, 1870, he was authorized ' to contract for the building of a bridge 1,900 feet in length on the line between ranges 9 and 10. The contract was awarded to WeHs, French & Co., of Chicago, who agreed to have the work completed on or before Feb ruary 15, 1871, the considerations being $10,000 worth of bonds on arrival of material, and $5,000 on completion of the work In November, 1870, a petition was received to lay out a new road from Grand Island station to Prairie Creek and A. Thorspecken was ap pointed as commissioner to act upon the same. Henry A. Koenig resigned as county treasurer in December, 1870, and Fred A. Wiebe was appointed to fill the vacancy. A contract for the Wood River bridge was sold to H. P. Handy at the time for $420 consideration, and the temporary building for jail purposes re ported complete. In March, 1871, the newly acquired portion of Hall County south of the Platte River was districted, the territory in range 9 being at tached to the first precinc^t, in range 10 to the second, and in ranges 11 and 12 to the third precinct. The sum of $200 was appropriated to combat the Omaha & Northwestern rail road in their proceedings for injunction against the Platte River bridge biH'and H. P. ¦Handy. BUILDING A COURT HOUSE On November 23, 1871, a petition was pre sented by L. W. Rollins and two hundred other inhabitants of Hall County praying the board to call an election at an early date for the purpose of building a court house at Grand Island station, and to vote upon the issuance of $25,000 bonds at 10%. The commissioners called a special election for January 9, 1872, but on January 2 the question came up in another form, and an election was ordered for Febmary 15, to vote $15,000 for building a court house. On Febmary 22nd, the board found that the court house bonds had carried .by a majority of 150 votes. Messrs. Abbott and Thummel were appointed commissioners in behalf of Hall County to adjust all matters connected with the collection of taxes and ad justing the same in Adams County, which had been attached to Hall County in the winter of 1871, and also in Hamilton County. George Cornelius had become a member of the boai^d. On March 21st, Messrs. Hooper and Cor nelius, with Jackson absent, met and on March Old Hall County Court House 22nd authorized the clerk to ask for bids for the erection of a brick building on stone foun dation. In May the board acted upon a petition of Henry A. Koenig and 250 other citizens, and called an election on the proposition of issu ing bonds for $90,000 to aid the Grand Island and Northwestern Railroad Company. The proposition was carried by a majority of 180. The contract for building a court house was sold to John W. Graham, July 3, 1872, for $15,750, but for some reason a new contract was awarded on July 17 to Christian Ander son, D. Plunster and James Tout for $16,500, and Edward Hooper was appointed superin tendent of construction. The court house was finished and accepted on June 28, 1873. On November 5, 1872, at an election the voters 170 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA carried an issue of $5,000 10% bonds to be applied to the completion of the court house by a majority of thirteen votes. William Hagge was appointed treasurer to fill a vacancy occasioned by the absconding of the former treasurer, Charles Ruelberg, for whose arrest and return to the sheriff of Hall County a reward of $500 was offered. On December 10, 1872, a petition was presented for the in corporation of the town of Grand Island, and the same was granted. PROCEEDINGS from 1873 On April 1, 1873, Dr. Thorspecken was reengaged as county physician at a salary of $18 per month. A special election was called on May 1, 1873, to pass upon the ques tion of issuing 10 per cent bonds in the sum of $10,000 to aid in the construction of a mill on Wood River, within twO' miles of the Union Pacific railroad bridge, but nothing seems to have resulted from this move, though the bonds received a majority vote. O. A. Abbott resigned the office of county superintendent and John D. Hayes was ap pointed on the same day. On May 26th the clerk was ordered to draw a warrant for $1,000 in favor of James M. Woolworth to assist Lincoln County in a suit then pending before the United States supreme court wherein the Union Pacific rail road company was plaintiff, in the event that Lincoln County should win the said suit. In July, 1873, the work of erecting three bridges over Wood River was undertaken and nume rous new. roads advertised. In August the board endorsed resolutions passed in Co lumbus in the matter of the injunction pro ceedings by the Union Pacific railroad against county treasurers along their line, and Hall County agreed to pay its pro rata costs of defending the counties against the railroad company. On December 4, 1873, an election was held on the issuance of $90,000 of 10 per cent bonds to aid in the building of the St. Joseph & Grand Island railroad, when a majority of 214 votes was recorded in favor of such an issue. On January 6, 1874, Commissioner Peter Harrison took Jackson's place on the board. During this session there were seven votnng precincts established, namely: Grand Island, Prairie Creek, Alda, South Loup, Wood River, Martinsville, and South Platte. In 1875 Jackson returned to the board, vice Cornelius, commissioner, and in 1876, Cor nelius returned vice Hooper. The question of issuing $15,000 in 8 per cent bonds (to be known as the Hall County Canal Bonds, and the proceeds to be expended on the construc tion of a canal between the Platte and Wood rivers) was submitted to the voters on May 20, 1876, and rejected by a vote of 330 contra, 140 pro. B. Z. Partridge, James Jackson, and George Cornelius formed the board in Decem ber, 1876. In May, 1877, the commissioners took steps to tax lands on which title was not proved, although the time had passed when title should issue, with the object of forcing such escapers from tax paying to show their hands. There were then fifty-six school districts listed, all but nine being taxed directly. The people of Grand Island precinct authorized the issue of $8,000 in 8 per cent bonds to be expended on building a bridge over the Platte in conjuction with Hamilton County. The vote was 197 for and 93 contra. In August, 1877, C. D. M. Washbum took the place of George Cornelius on the board and in Novem ber J. W. West was elected commissioner with P Nevills. In November the vote on "Township Organization" gave a majority in favor of the change of 478, and on the 24th of that month the county was divided into fifteen municipal townships, namely: Wash ington, Lake, Prairie Creek, Mayfield, South Loup, Lee. Zurich, Sheridan, Alda, Wood River, Union, Martinsville, Grant, South Platte, and Douglass. The law was declared unconstitutional, so the subject slept for some years, and the old board of commissioners stayed on. In December, 1877, Caswell T. Poe was appointed county physician, and in January, 1878, Messrs. Partridge, West, and Nevills were commissioners. In May 1878 Surveyor L. E. Reaugh re signed and Charies Rief was appointed. The HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 171 board also appropriated $8,000 toward build ing a bridge over the Platte at the east line of Hall County. This was completed in January, 1879. A sum of $200 was appro priated to the agricultural society to be ex pended in improving the fair grounds. In .Vlay, 1879, a proposition to issue $75,000 bonds to the Hastings & Grand Island raiload, received 1,108 votes for and 470 against. In 1879 there were sixty school districts of which fifty-three paid a direct tax. In Octo ber a proposition to issue $50,000 in 6 per cent bonds to aid in the building of the Omaha and Republican Valley railroad was submitted to the people of Grand Island and when voted upon on November 8th, received 509 votes for and 122 against. On October 9th the Grand Island railroad was reported com plete and $75,000 bonds transferred to its proper officers. Work on the railroad shops of the Union Pacific at Grand Island was hegun in September, 1880. Charles Rief suc ceeded John Wallichs as county clerk. In October, 1880, the question of expending $1,000 on a building for the poor was ordered to be voted on. Z. B. Partridge and W. H. West, old members of the Board, continued their membership in 1881 with Joel P Good rich replacing Commissioner Nevills. In March a cemetery was established on the poor farm. On July 28, 1881, the county was subdivided into the following voting precincts : Lake, Prairie Creek, Mayfield, South Loup, Camer on, Harrison, Alda, North Grand Island, East Grand Island, West Grand Island, Wood River, Jackson, MartinsviHe, South Pla"tte, Doniphan. Each precint was established as a road district and the numerical order of townships one to fifteen being retained as the numbers of such districts outside of Grand Island City. In October, 1881, Com missioner Partridge tried to resign, but the resignation was not accepted. In November, Dr. H. B. Lashlee was employed as county physician at an annual compensation of $85. In January, 1882, Z. B. Partridge and J. P. Goodrich remained commissioners with S. S. Shultz, new commissioner, vice West. The estimate of county expenditures for 1882 was placed at $43,000, and of the Grand Island sinking fund at $3,000. Sixty-six school districts were reported existing, the direct tax ranging from 3 to 25 mills. The contract for county printing was awarded to James Ewing in September for $100, Dr. Lashlee resigned as county physician and his suc cessor. Dr. Janss, was appointed at $139.95 per annum. On October 10, 1882, the following resolu tion was adopted: Whereas, It has come to our knowledge through the agency of the Hon. J. Sterling ¦ Morton, that the organization of Hall County has never been recorded in the records of said county ; and Whereas, Mr. Morton, who as acting- . govemor of the territory of Nebraska at the time of the organization of said county, has furnished a copy of the record of said organ ization, it is therefore resolved that the clerk of Hall County is ordered to spread the pro- seedings of said organization upon the re cords of the county. This document is attached to Book "A" of Commissioners Records and is written upon a letterhead of the Democratic State Central Committee, showing J. Sterling Morton, Ne braska City, chairman, N. W. Smails, Fre mont, secretary, and J. N. Wise, Plattsmouth, treasurer, and five members from each of the six judicial districts as state committeemen. On October 14, 1882 a petition was pre sented asking that all of the territory in sec tion 19, town 10, range 11, be incorporated as the town of Wood River, and the same was granted. James Jackson, W. L. G. Trapp, N. T. Britton, J. B. Furman, and James Ewing were named as trustees. In January, 1883, Commissioner W. W. Mitchell took the place of Commissioner Par tridge ; C. T. Poe was county physician and on November 20, 1883, the board approved sev eral official bonds, and the work of the board of county commissioners was completed. TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION The first meeting of the new board of supervisors was held November 21, 1883, with 172 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Z. Avery, temporary president, and Frank Sears, Clerk. The townships were represented by E. C. Walker, Lake ; Peter Mohr Sr., Prairie Creek ; Henry Rosswick, Mayfield ; Frank M. Stanley, South Loup ; Haydn Strong, Cameron ; Jasper Eggers, Harrison ; George Elfus, Alda ; Stephen Jones, Wood River; Z. Avery, MartinsviHe; J. H. Powers, South Platte; Samuel S. Shultz, Doniphan; John Fonner, East Grand Island ; James Cleary, West Grand Island; G. H. Bush, North Grand Island; (succeeded in December by W. B. Larrabee) ; Patrick Nevills, Jackson. Hadyn Strong was elected permanent president. A committee of Messrs. Powers, Shultz, Jones, Fonner, and Elfus reported on the formation of townships and the adoption of that report formed the following townships : Lake, town 12, range 9 ; Prairie Creek, town 12, range 10; Mayfield, town 12, range 11; South Loup, town 12, rangel2; Cameron, town 11, range 12; Har rison, town 11, range 11; Center, town 11, range 10; Alda, town 10, range 10,north of main channel of Platte ; Wood River, all of town 10, range 11, and town 9, rangell, north of main channel of Platte ; Jackson, town 10, range 12, and part of town 9, range 12, north of said channel; Martin, all of ranges 11 and 12 south of north bank of main channel of that river; South Platte, all of town 9, range 10, and town 10, range 10, south of north bank of main channel; Doniphan, town 9, range 9, and part of town 10, range 9 and south of channel ; Washington, town 10, range 9, north of channel and all of towns 11 and 9 except Grand Island City and town of Grand Island. This Board acted on a petition to the gov- ernnor asking commutation of death sentence of Geo. W. Hart to imprisonment for life but the same met with opposition. Dr. Poe was re-appointed county physician and Wood River Gazette, printers. In January, 1884, $1,000 was granted the agricultural society; a proposition to issue $8,000 bonds for constrac- tion of two bridges over Platte River near Wood River was submitted to the voters and received 1,746 votes pro and 670 contra, so was organized. SECOND BOARD The second board, organized on January 13, 1885, with J. H. Powers, president, can- sisted of Z. Avery, T. M.Crittenden, R. H. Dodd, M. S. Drennan, G. Elfus, L. J. Han- chett, W. H. Harrison, C. B. Lewis, W. B. Larabee, E. S. Lee, John Mullen. J. H. Mehaffie, J. H. Powers, j". H. Scudder, C. Stoltenberg J. G. Shaupp, O. U. Wescott, and C. W. Thomas (who did not qualify and Jas. Cleary appointed). During the lifetime of this board an investi gation was held on charges made against the sheriff through columns of Grand Island Times, which resulted in a finding that the sheriff had received $646, more or less, for guarding jaH, and that said service had not been truly rendered or performed. This re sulted in the resignation of Sheriff Cannon and the appointment of E. A. Wedgewood. THIRD BOARD On January 12, 1886, the third board or ganized with Charles Reif, president. Mem bers were : J. Cleary, Grand Island ; W. J. Burger, Doniphan ; T. M. Crittenden, Martin ; Z. H. Denman, Alda; W. H. Harrison, Har rison; Stephen Jones, Wood River; Frank Jacobs, Grand Island; E. S. Lee, Cameron; J. T. Mehaffie, South Loup; John Moore, Jack son ; H. C. MoeHer, Lake ; J. H. Powers, South Platte; Charles Reif, Grand Island; G. L. Rouse, Center ; Fred Robey, Washington ; C. W. Scarff, Grand Island ; John Shuman, May- field; S. M. Schisler, Prairie Creek; Monroe Taylor, Grand Island. Thompson Brothers were appointed county attorneys. In July the question of guaranteed strength of the steel jail cells furnished by Mosler, Bahman & Co. was considered, when their representative Dewey charged the officials with criminal carelessness in allowing a piece of broken hinge to remain in a cell, placing in the hands of the prisoners a much desired weapon with which to break the doors and accomplish escape. Powers's motion declaring the case useless and ordering the removal by the manufacturers brought on a suit in court, and in 1889 the Mosler people secured judg- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 173 ment for amount of the original bHl, cost, etc., aggregating about $4,000. FOURTH BOARD, 1887 The fourth board organized January 11, 1887, with Z. H. Denman, president. Mem bers were: David T. Jamieson, Gustav Koehler, George Loan, John T. ConneH, Mon roe Taylor, Grand Island ; Marcus R. Abbott, Wood River; W. J. Burger, Doniphan; Thos. B. Couker. South Platte ; Z. H. Denman, Alda ; Alvin E. Eager, Prairie Creek, Oscar F. Foote, Martin; L. J. Hanchett, Lake; J. H. Leonard, Harrison; John Moore, Jackson; Fred Roby, Washington; Geo. L. Rouse, Center; Seymour Veeder, South Loup; P. S. Wingert, Mayfield; Erwin Whitehead, Cameron. FIFTH BOARD, 1888 The fifth board organized January 10, 1888, with Geo. L. Rouse, president. The members were: G. D. Boyce, Thos. B. Coulter, A. C. Denman, A. DeWitte, A. Z. Eager, O. F. Foote, J. W. Freeman, Richard Goehring, L. H. Hanchell, J. R. Jewett,M. D. Nickles; Patrick NevHls, G. L. Rouse, Fred Roby, F. M. Stanley, Charies A. Wiebe, P. S. Wingert, Ervin Whitehead, and W. F. McLaughlin. The county attomey reported to this_ board that the United States district court decided the 400 feet roadway controversy for the Union Pacific railroad and would not recom mend an appeal to the supreme court. In April, 1888, Julius C. Bishop was appointed representative of Mayfield township to fill a vacancy (by county clerk, judge and treasur er), and H. C. MoeHer was appointed to rep- re' ent Lake township. In June John W. Firrison was appointed for Harrison town ship. SIXTH BOARD, 1889 The sixth board of supervisors organized January 8, 1889, with Geo. L. Rouse, presi dent. The members were : Z. Avery, J. C, Bishop, John Creason, A. DeWitte, Charles Ewing, C. S. Haines, Wm. Haldeman, J. R. Jewett, W. F. McLaughlin, John F. Mader, H. C. Moeller, Chas. Moritz, M. V. Powers, G. L. Rouse, T. Robinson, Theodore Sievers, E. Whitehead, P. S. Wingert, Geo. P. Dean (vice Edward Hooper), J. W. Harrison appointed in March for Harrison township. SEVENTH BOARD, 1890 Members entitled to seats on the board were found to be: G. H. Geddes, Thos. Robinson, Geo. P. Dean, I. R. Alter, Chas. Wasmer, M. V. Powers, Geo. H. Andrew, M. Murphy, Myron Dings, H. C. MoeHer, M. H. Culbert- son, J. C. Bishop, Josiah Hall, W. W. Dubbs, J. W. Harrison, G. L. Rouse, Wm. Stolley, David Barrick, Chas. Ewing, O. F. Foote, Wm. Lammers, and S. S. Shultz. Sheriff CosteHo was aHowed a deputy at ¦*7no annual salary, and Hugh McVay was appointed. EIGHTH BOARD, 1891 The members of the board taking office on January 13, 1891, were : H. C. Moeller, W. H. Culbertson, J. C. Bishop, J. R. Birge, W. W. Dubbs, R. L. Harrison, G. L. Rouse, Wm. Stolley, F. D. Hastings, David Barrick, Chas. Ewing, O. F. Foote, Wm. Lammers, O. B. Foster, Thos. Robinson, Geo. P. Dean, J. F. Rourke, Samuel Huston, F. H. Eisner, Frank Corkins, H. W. Potter, and Jas. Cleary. The president of the board was Jas. Cleary. In 1892 the members who came onto the board by virtue of election in November pre- ceeding were: J. E. Hanna, J. C. Bishop, E. S. Lee, J. L. Johnson, B. Knox, P. W. Francis, Wm. Lammers, Jas. Cleary and Geo. P. Dean. Holdover members were : Harrison, Barrick, Foster, Foote, Lammers, Bishop, Stolley, Cul bertson, Birge. On January 10, 1893, the board organized with E. S. Lee as chairman. The new mem bers were: Wm. Stolley, Washington; O. F. Foote, Martin ; Patrick Hoye, Harrison ; Geo. A. Burger, Doniphan; David Barrick, Wood River; H. J. Palmer and Geo.P Dean, Grand Island; W. B. Waite, South Loup; Jacob Lessig, Prairie Creek and D. M. Alter, Cen ter. Holdover members were Hanna, Foote, Bishop, Lammers, Knox, Lee, Francis. In November, 1893, complaint was signed against Ex-Treasurer Hockenberger for re- 174 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA puted shortage, which resulted in a trial in district court early in 1896 when he was con victed and sentenced to the penitentiary. The board organized January 9, 1894, with E. S. Lee as chairman and the following mem bers : Grand Island, W. H. Piatt, E. C. Mc Cashland; Lake, F. Suehlsen; Prairie Creek, Jacob Lessig; Mayfield, J. C. Bishop; South Loup, W. B. Waite; Cameron, E. S. Lee; Harrison, Patrick Hoye; Center, E. B. Engle man; Washington, Wm. Stolley; Alda, B. Knox; Wood River, David Barrick; Jackson, P. W. Francis; Martin, Seth WHson; South Platte, Geo. C. Humphrey ; Doniphan, Geo. A. Burger. On January 8, 1895, the new board organ ized with Geo. C. Humphrey as chairman and the following new members : Jacob Lessig, W. B. Waite, Henry Rief, David Barrick, Seth W. Wilson, Geo. A. Burger, Richard L. Harrison, ^p. C. McCashland, and Patrick Hoye. Holdover members were Bishop, Engleman, Francis, Knox, Suehlsen, Lee, . Humphrey, and Piatt. NEW COUNTY BOARD In 1896 the county board was organized on the basis of members from seven districts, which system stHl prevails in Hall County in 1919. The new supervisors were : First district, Z. H. Denman ; Second J. C. Bishop ; Third, P. W. Francis; Fourth, Geo. A. Burger; Fifth, Henry Giese; Sixth, C. D. Woodward; Seventh, E. C. McCashland. Mr. McCash land was elected chairman. On July 6, Henry Rief was appointed to take the place of Henry Giese. On January 12, 1897, the new board organ ized with C. D. Woodward as chairman and the following members : District 1, D. M. Alter 2, J. C. Bishop, 3, Chas. Ewing, 4, Geo. A. Burger, 5, Plenry Rief, 6, C. D. Woodward, 7, E. C. McCashland. On January 12, 1897, the foHowing communication was placed on file: "To the Hon. County Board of Hall Co. Nebr. "Gentlemen : Whereas, times seem to have become worse instead of better as many of us hoped, during the past year, and the price of corn and other productions of the farm are lower than a year ago, I desire to call the attention of the present county board to the fixing of the salary for the current year. "Instead of placing the salary at $1,400 as last year, I hereby request you to fix the amount at the lowest the statutes will allow which in counties of this population cannot be less than $1,200. "Thanking you most sincerely for the courtesies extended to me in the past three years, I remain "Yours Sincerely "Maynard Spink, "Co. Supt. HaH Co. Nebr." The application of the same rule on part of office holders in 1918 might have brought sub stantial increases, but probably none of the court house occupants were aware of Mr. Spink's doctrine. The board which was organized in January, 1898, were 1,D. M. Alter, 2, Patrick Hoye, 3, Chas. S. Ewing, 4, S. W. Wilson, 5, Henry Rief, 6, C. D. Woodward, and 7, E. C. Mc Cashland, with Ewing as chairman. In March John Mullen was appointed to fill a vacancy from the third district, vice, Mr. Ewing, deceased. Upon Mr. McCashland re tiring in December a gold headed cane was presented to him by his fellow members. On January 10, 1899, the new board organ ized with supervisors, district 1, D. M. Alter, 2, P. Hoye, 3, John Mullen, 4, S. W. Wilson, 5, Henry Rief, 6, C. D. Woodward, and 7, F. P. Cowee, with Alter as chairman. Super visor Woodward resigned on June 19th and Henry Schlotfeldt was appointed by Judge Garlow, Clerk Menck and Treasurer Thoms sen. In January, 1900, a new board took office, composed of Supervisors D. M. AUer, F. P. Cowee, Patrick Hoye, John Mullen, Henry Rief, R. P. McCutcheon, and E. E. Dominy, with Ploye as chairman. The board in 1901 were Henry Rief, chair man, R. P. McCutcheon, Geo. P Dean,P. Hoye, John Ewing, J. J. Lorentzen and, E. E. Dominy. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 175 In June of this year a special election was caHed for August 8, 1901, to vote upon the issuance of $100,000 of bonds for the purpose of erecting, constructing and completing a court house and jail building in the city of Grand Island. The canvass of this election made on August 13, showed a total of 2,069 votes cast with 1,051 pro and 944 contra, as reported by County Clerk Menck, Will R. King and S. D. Ross, canvassers. At the same time a vote taken upon the site resulted in 834 votes for the site on Block 84 where the old court house stood and 947 for the site at First and Locust streets where the new court house was eventually erected. Architects who sought the contract for the new court house were Jas. Tyler, Lincoln, Jas. Craddock, Lincoln, Geo. Berlinghof, Beatrice, Jas. McDonnell, South Omaha, Mf. Prescott, Marshalltown, Iowa and Thomas R. Kimball, of Omaha, who secured the work. The new board in 1902 were John Ewing, John Gallacher, J. J. Lorentzen, R. P. Mc Cutcheon, Henry Rief, Oscar Roeser and G. W. Wingert, with Ewing as chairman. On January 13, 1903, the board organized with Mr. Ewing re-elected for chairman, and members were Gallacher, Wingert, McCutch eon, Ewing, Lorentzen , Roeser and Louis Schmidt suceeding Reif. By August 1903, the board was getting im patient because seventeen months after the time fixed in the contract, the new county buildings were not completed, and began to stir up Superintendent Kimball in the matter. In January, 1904, the board organized with the new members Chas. S. Benton, John Gal lacher, and E. Moncrief joining the holdover members, John Ewing, J. J. Lorentzen, Oscar Roeser, and Louis Schmidt, and Roeser chosen as chairman. In March the board called an election for May 3, 1904, to submit the matter of the sale of block 84, the old court house site, which resulted in 632 votes for and 338 against. Under this administration the new court house was occupied and many matters relating to final acceptance and settlements came up for attention. At the end of the year County Attorney Horth reported the cost to the county of the trials of Wm. T. Turley for murder, the first trial resulting in a disagreement costing $985.03 and the sec ond, bringing a conviction of murder in sec ond degree, costing $844.80. In January, "1905, the board organized with Mr. Roeser as chairman, Messrs. Z. H. Den man, J. M. Weldon, Louis Schmidt and Oscar Roeser as newly elected members, Messrs. Benton, Gallacher and Moncrief holding over. A report was made showing the new court house facHities to have cost $131,142.51 and itemized as follows : For court house building $84,703.45 JaH building 11,418,90 Heating system 12,597.99 Morton & Son Co., hardware 1,428.45 Marble *. 500.00 Vault doors 648.00 Electric wiring 2,518.50 Jail doors 475.00 Architect Kimball, services 5,620.67 Light fixtures 2,250.00 A. H. Andrews Co., furniture 7,635.00 Jail fixtures 71.00 Concrete Stone Co., for sidewalks. 1,075.55 for grading 200.00 In August, 1905, the supervisors began to have trouble with faulty roof on the court house, a trouble which all succeeding boards to date have inherited. On August 9, J. W. Eby was elected sheriff to succeed S. N. Taylor, who had resigned. The sale of the old court house location was again submitted to the voters at the election of November 7, 1905. On January 9, 1906, Supervisor Gallacher retired and Fred Phillips came onto the board, with Messrs. Benton and Moncrief reelected and Messrs. Denman, Weldon, Schmidt and Roeser holding over. J. E. Moncrief was elected chairman. In January, 1907, the board was composed of Conrad Lassen, Louis Schmidt, Edward Williams and J. M. Weldon, new members, and Messrs. PhHlips, Benton and Moncrief holdover, and Chairman Moncrief was re-. elected. 176 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA The use of the old court house grounds was granted for the semi-centennial celebra tion in 1907. Supervisor Schmidt resigned on January 8th and Geo. N. Reuting was chosen as his successor. On July 30th Rich ard Goehring was chosen to succeed Chair man Moncrief, whos? death had recently oc curred. Supervisor Benton was elected chairman for the rest of the term. The board in 1908 consisted of Henry Henne, Fred J. MiHer, Fred PhHlips, Con- New Hall County Court House rad Lassen, Richard Goehring, J. M. Weldon, Edward WiHiams, with Weldon as chairman. On November 10, 1908, beginning with Supervisor's Record 8, the proceedings of the board were written on loose sheets and bound into a permanent book, and the work then and thereafter done by typewriter. In 1909 the newly elected members were Edward WiHiams, Conrad Lassen, Fred PhHlips and J. R. Jewett, and the hold-overs Goehring, MiHer and Plenne. WHliams was chosen as chairman. In 1910 the hold-over members, Williams, Lassen, Phillips and Jewett, were joined by three new members, Gus Sievers, Wm. Stoeger and W. H. McDowell. Lassen was elected chairman. In 1911 the newly elected members of the board were John Jewett, Arthur Schuster, S. Y. Bryson and Henry Henne. Gustav Sievers was chosen chairman, and these five with Stoeger and McDowell constituted the board. Excess fees turned in by county officers for year 1911 were: Clerk of District Court Langman, $1,011.20; County Judge MuHin, $413.50; Register Buenz, $281.84; County Treasurer Nuemann, $596.28; Sheriff Dunkel, fees for 1911, $874.55. On January 3, 1912, Sievers retired from the board, and at the same time resolutions were sent to Supervisor Henne upon the death of his wife. The membership remained the same for 1912 except Sievers was succeeded by M. L. Dolan. Stoeger was chosen chairman. The board in 1913 consisted of Arthur A. Schuster, S. Y. Bryson, Fred J. MiHer and Theo. P. Boehm as newly elected members, with Messrs. McDoweH, Stoeger and Dolan as hold-overs. Supervisor Dolan was elected as chairman. In 1914 Messrs . McDoweH, Stoeger and Dolan were seated for another term and the board remained the same in membership, with Mr. Bryson for chairman. On January 12, 1915, the board organized with S. Y. Bryson, Wm. Stoeger, Fred J. MHler, M. L. Dolan, W. H. McDoweH, L. T. Geer and 'John Sass as members, and Miller as chairman. Chairman Miller was reelected in 1916 and the membership of the board re mained the same. On January 9, 1917, Wm. Stoeger and W. H. McDowell were seated for new terms and H. J. Voss succeeded Mr. Dolan. Miller, Bryson, Geer and Sass remained on the board and Sass was selected chairman. There was no change in the membership in 1918 but Bryson became chairman. During the year 1918 considerable improve ment was made in the road building ma chinery of the county and at the beginning of 1919 the county has two new sets of power road building machinery. The "infiuenza" epidemic late in 1918 called upon the board to exercise powers as a board of health for the county; and at the November election the board submitted the proposal for the HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 177 county to buy the property of the Central Nebraska Agricultural Society and conduct a county fair under the state county fair law. This received a very close favorable majority, and after some negotiations back and forth, early in 1919 the board submitted the matter to a special election called for March 18, 1919, at which time the proposal was over whelmingly defeated. The only change in the board in January, 1919, ,was that ,Conrad Lassen retumed after several years absence, Mr. Bryson re tiring, Messrs. Conrad Lassen, Fred J. Miller, L. T. Geer and John Sass being the members retumed and Wm. Stoeger, W. H. McDowell and H. J. Voss the hold over members. Early in 1918 the county board acted upon a petition of the Hall County Farm Bureau and employed a county agricultural agent, J. R. White, but in 1919 the board demurred to the granting of an appropriation to continue the work for another year after May 1, 1919, and left the matter unsettled, and this controversy i sstill pending in the courts in October, 1919. COUNTY CLERKS The first clerk bore the title of recorder and was Theo. F. Nagel, appointed in 1858. He was elected in 1859. The next clerk shown on records was Fred Evans who was holding the office in 1867. His successor was John Wallichs, who was serving as county clerk, recorder and also as clerk of district court in 1868 when the first district court proceedings were held, and he served until his successor Charles Rief was elected in 1879. In 1881 Frank Sears was elected county clerk and clerk of the district court, and two years later the office of clerk of the district court became a separate office and Sears served only as county clerk and re corder. In 1885 David Ackerman became clerk, and he served five terms. In 1895 he was succeeded by his deputy, Z. B. Part ridge, who held the office for two terms. C. H. Menck served four years and was succeeded by J. L. Schaupp who was elected in 1901. Geo. H. Poehl took office as county clerk in January, 1906, and served two terms with A. H. Held as his first deputy and Art Williamson as deputy in his later term. Poehl was elected to a third term, but on May 4, 1910, he resigned and was succeeded by Rich ard Buenz, who held office until January, 1911, when he took over the newly created office of register of deeds, which he still holds in 1919. Gus E. Neumann was elected clerk in November, 1910, and held office for three terms, with J. E. Lyle as his deputy. In January, 1917, J. E. Lyle became clerk and he was reelected in November, 1918, for the first four year term from 1919 to 1923, under the new law. His deputy has been R. A. Odum, who has been reappointed for the new term. CLERK OF DISTRICT COURT When the separation of this office from that of county clerk was made, John Allan became clerk of the district court and held the office sixteen years, when in 1899 his deputy and brother, Henry Allan, was elected clerk, and held the office for eight y^ars. R. L. Garrett was deputy clerk during the last years of Mr. Allan's administration. Fred C. Langman was elected in 1907 and served nine years, when he was succeeded by his last deputy clerk, Walter H. Rauert, who is the present clerk of the district court. Herman Buckow was deputy under Clerk Rauert the first term, and Miss Bessie Barbee is the present deputy. COUNTY TREASURERS 1858, Isaac Thomas; 1859, Christ Andree- son; 1869, Henry A. Koenig; 1871, Chas. Ruelberg, who absconded and Wm. A. Hagge was appointed ; Wm. A. Hagge then elected for five terms; -1881, Geo. Cornelius; 1883, Ed Hooper; 1887, E. C. Hockenberger; 1894, Wm. Cornelius was treasurer, with Arthur C. Mayer, deputy; 1895-6, H. J. Palmer as treasurer, with Mr. Mayer still deputy; 1896- 1900, Wm. Thomssen, and in 1900 his brother John Thomssen was elected. In 1902, Frank E. Slusser became treasurer, and was suc ceeded in 1906 by his deputy, WiH R. King. In 1908 Theo. P. Boehm became treasurer; 178 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 1912, R. L. Harrison, with W. G. Partridge as deputy; and in 1917 the present treasurer, Gus E. Neumann, with H. H. Meves as deputy. In 1918 Mr. Neumann was elected for the four year term, from 1919-1923. SHERIFFS Herman Vasold was the first sheriff, in 1858. Hugo Hald was sheriff in 1869; 1871, W. M. Spiker; 1873, W. A. Deuel; 1878, Jos. Kilian, and in 1881, H. C. Denman was elected. His successor, Jas. Cannon, was suc ceeded during his term by E. A. Wedgwood, who was elected in 1885 and 1887. Jas. A. CosteHo became sheriff in 1889, and his deputy, Jas. Gorman, is bailiff of the court in 1919 and has served a short time as deputy sheriff since 1918. CosteHo was suc ceeded after three terms by Geo. P Dean wha was shefiff in 1894-5-6 and 7. S. N. Taylor was sheriff from 1898 until his res ignation in August, 1905, when his last term was completed by J. W. Eby. J. M. Dunkel took office in 1906 and held it until his un timely demise in January, 1912. Dunkel had as deputies Geo. Sass in 1910, Wm. Cords, and at the time of his death had two deputies, Gus. Sievers and Wm. Cords. Sievers was appointed as his successor, and elected in 1913, 1915 and 1917, when after his service on the county military service board he tired of the office and did not file for reelection. After a merry scramble at both primaries and election, John McCutcheon emerged victor ious in November, 1918, and took office in January, 1919. SURVEYORS 1871, Hugo Hald; 1885, Wm. Ensign; 1887, H. A. Gallup; 1889, C. A. Baldwin, foHowed by Arnold C. Koenig, who was followed by C. A. Baldwin. In 1915, H. W. Kibbey was elected surveyor, and in 1918 I. R. Morearty became county surveyor. COUNTY JUDGES Richard C. Barnard was appointed in 1858, and in 1859 Fred Hedde seems to have been elected. Wm. H. Mitchell was county judge later, but as his bondsmen withdrew as se curity, he was dismissed and W. H. Piatt appointed. Enos BeaH qualified in 1869. W. H. Piatt won the election of 1873. Judge Geo. H. Caldwell after years of service was succeeded by H. E. Clifford, who was judge six years, and was succeeded by Madison T. Garlow who held until 1900. Judge J. H. Mul|in then took office and has completed nine two-year terms and in January 1919 began his nineteenth year of service. SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS Those holding this office are listed in the chapter on schools, but the list is short and may be also given here. Hedde, Wallichs, Abbott, resigned in 1873 on April 1st, and John D. Hayes was appointed. 1875, H. Nunn ; D, H. Vantine, 1886 ; H. A. Edwards, 1886-1890; E. E. Thompson, 1890-1894; Maynard Spirk, 1894-1900; Daniel PI. Fish- burn, 1900-1906; Margeret E. Brown, 1906- 1910; Dorothea Kolls, 1910-1918; Elizabeth Cunningham appointed in 1918 and elected for the term from 1919-1923. CORONERS Early coroners were Dr. B. B. Kelley, David Ackerman, 1881, H; J. Ring, 1885, Z. B. Partridge, 1887, J. D. Jackson, 1889, Dr. Geo. Roeder in 1893 and again in 1900; A. J. Sanders in 1895 ; M. J. Gahan in 1896, J. B. Hawk in 1898, J. Lue Sutheriand in 1904 for a long term of service. Thos. O'Gorman served untH his death in October, 1913, and the term was served out by H. P. Bellows; the last two coroners were G. J. Baumann and John R. Geddes, and in 1917 the county attorney became coroner ex officio. ATTORNEYS Numerous attorneys served as county at tomey for the county board prior to 1886, mention of most being made in the historical survey of the county board's proceedings. W. H. Thompson served in 1887 and 1888. Walter R. Bacon was his successor. Chas. G. Ryan assumed office in 1891 and served for two tenus; W. A. Prince, 1895-1897. Fred W. Ashton, 1897; W. S. Pearne, 1899; R. R. Horth, 1901-1905; Arthur C. Mayer! 1905-1909; John L. Cleary, 1909-1913; Ben jamin J. Cunningham, 1913-1917; Wm. Suhr, HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 179 elected in 1917 and reelected for term from 1919-1923, The volume of business attained by the various county offices can be readily grasped by an examination of the amount of work falHng upon the county attorney's office and the volume of taxes to be collected by the county treasurer's office. More criminal cases are handled by the prosecuting attomey of Hall County, WiHiam Suhr, than through the prosecutor's office in any other county of the state except Douglas where Omaha is situated, and Lancaster where Lincoln is. More money is collected in fines by the Hall County prosecutor than by the county attomey of any other county in Nebraska outside Lancaster and Douglas counties. These facts are gleaned from Mr. Suhr's report for the first two years he has been in office. Mr. Suhr's report is compared with reports obtained from the offices of the county at torneys in all other counties that equal or approach Hall County in population. The report declares that the salary of the office in this county is lower than in any county where the business is anywhere near the dimensions of that locality. The report of Mr. Suhr gives the popula tion of Hall County as 24,000. The salary of the office in Hall County is $1,400. A com parison of the business done in this county, with that in a number of other counties is given below. During the two years Suhr has been in office he has prosecuted forty-five felonies in district court, obtaining thirty-two convictions. One case was dismissed, the defendant being committed to a state hospital for the insane. Eight cases are pending, two defendants have been paroled, two cases have been dismissed because the defendants were in the military service or entered military service and one defendant was discharged before trial after having served 110 days. The fines collected totalled $1,050. Misdemeanors prosecuted in district court numbered seventeen and eight convictions were obtained. Eight cases are pending. One defendant was paroled. Fines collected totalled $700. Fourteen cases of a miscellaneous nature were handled in dis trict court. In police court 175 misdemeanors were handled resulting in 145 convictions. Fines and costs collected amounted to $7,900. Twenty jail sentences were issued. Two ap peals are pending. Three defendants were acquitted. Thirty-five search warrants were issued. In county court 40 misdemeanors were taken up with 27 convictions resulting. Twelve cases were dismissed and settled. One defendant was acquitted. Fines collected amounted to $925. Three jail sentences were meted out. Twenty-two juvenile cases were prosecuted. Two habeas corpus matters came up. Miscellaneous items include 46 prelimi naries in police and county court. The total fines collected under Suhr were $10,575 exclusive of court costs. In Dodge County of which Fremont is the county seat, with a population of 28,000 or 4,000 more than Hall County, the salary paid is the same as here, $1,400. Yet the number of felonies collected on felony charges amounted to $451. Misdemeanors handled were 232. The total fines, costs and penalties coHected was $4,620 or less than half the fines alone collected in Hall County. In Custer County, with a population of 30,000 or 6,000 more than this county, only 18 felonies were taken up. One fine was collected, that being for $100. Fifty-four misdemeanors were prosecuted and 22 de fendants fined. On the face of these facts the business done in Custer County was by far less than in Hall County yet the salary is greater, being $1,800. Adams County, with a population of 25,000 had only 11 felonies and eight misdemeanors in district court. In Dawson County only $775 in fines were collected in two years. THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY It is impossible to chronicle in a narrative of the space that can be accorded to a de tailed history of the entire county, an account of the numerous celebrations held year by year in the various communities. , But when Hall County celebrated the fiftieth annivers- 180 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA ary of the first settlement made within her borders by a white colony, on July 4, 1907, it was an occasion worthy of some permanent perpetuation. That the people of the county could celebrate the birthday of their com munity on the same day of the year the entire nation celebrates the birthday of this leading democracy of the world is indeed a fortunate coincidence. The celebration opened at 9 o'clock with bands playing; at 10 the parade formed. In the afternoon speaking and music was carried out. Hon. Geo. L. MiHer, of Omaha, a Ne braska pioneer in journalistic, political, and legislative activities of the state was the speaker of the day, with District Judge J. N. Paul, one of the pioneer settlers of St. Paul, Howard County, Hon. Charles Wooster of Merrick County, O. A. Abbott, Wm. StoHey, E. S. Lee and W. J. Burger of Hall County ad speakers with music interspersed. In the evening fireworks, music, and a general neigh borly mingling closed the day. The officers and committees who handled the work of putting across this celebration should be named: Mayor Henry Schuff of Grand Island was chairman ; Leo Cleary, act ing secretary in the temporary absence of Bayard H. Paine, C. H. Menck, treasurer. Max Egge, marshal of the day. committees: On Parade : Max J. Egge, Dr. Reder, Emil Wolbach, Geo. Broadwell, Chas. Wescott, Ed Glover, Dr. Bernard, R. R. Horth, Thos. Bradstreet, O. R. Bieman, C. E. Norris, F. W. Ashton and M. L. Dolan. Decorations : R. W. Bock, David Kauffman, Robert Gerke, C. A. Weinberg, C. H. Menck. Advertising: A. F. Buechler, Chas. E. Fra- lick, O, M. Quackenbush, R. I. Evans, I. M. Augustine. History: C. G. Ryan, A. F. Buechler, Jas. Jackson, W. J. Burger, B. H. Paine. Speakers and Music: Chas. G. Ryan, C. F. Bentley, W. H. Thompson, W. H. Harrison, S. N. Wolbach. Reception: A. M. Hargis, chairman, to se lect town committee. Grounds and Stands: O. Roeser, H. H. Glover, A. C. Menck, C. H. Tully, Ed Wil liams. Fireworks : Frank Windolph, John Sink, Geo. Guenther, Don Boehm, Frank Cleary. The scope and importance of the parade can be evidenced by a recitation of the line up planned. FIRST DIVISION Platoon of police. Herald — Theo. Boehm, trumpeter. Max J. Egge, marshal of day. Assistant marshals, Chas. Wescott, H. J. Palmer, M. L. Dolan. Harrison's Band. Ox Team and Emigrant Wagon, Indian boys on Shetland ponies, led by "Big Chief" O. R. Nieman. Band of cowboys, led by J. C. Clemens. Soldier Windolph's scouts. Fort Independent Artillery. The Original Old Settlers in AutomobHes. Columbian float. SECOND DIVISION Marshals — Ed Glover, Emil Wolbach, Charles Norris and EH Barnes. Drum Corps — G.A.-R. — W.R.C. Mayor and CouncH in Carriages. Chief of fire department, Frank Smith. Pacific Hose Company. Alexander Hose Company. Otts Hose Company. Owen Hose Company. Hook and Ladder Company. Union Pacific Railway Fire Department. THIRD DIVISION Marshals — Ed Ewel, Lee Ruff and O. H. Tracy. Band. A.O.U.W. and M.W.A. DriH teams. Krueger Verein and aH other lodges, and societies. County officers in carriages. Township floats. FOURTH DIVISION Marshals — F. W. Ashton, Ed Wolbach and R. V. Pistorious. Band. Trade displays of 25 floats. Four divisions of general line. CHAPTER X HALL COUNTY'S PART IN STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT Hall County's Part in Early State Government — Sixth Legislature — Judge Augustus Hall — First Statehood Election — Representation in State Senate — Members in State House of Representatives — Constitutional Conventions — Constti- tutional Conventions of '71-'75, by O. A. Abbott, Sr. — Governor John M. Thayer — Lieutenant Governor O. A. Abbott, Sr. — State Treasurer Henry A. Koenig — State Auditors John Wallichs and Silas R. Barton — Secretaries of State — Supreme Court Justice Harrison — Commissioner Glanville — The State Soldiers' and Sailors' Home — Part in the Federal Government — Postmasters — Grand Island Land Office — Other Federal Officers Hall County has played no small part in the matter of furnishing men and support for the govemment of the commonwealth of Nebraska, and able servants for the func tions assigned by the federal government to this part of the state. In the territorial govemment Hall County played no very important part. During Governor Burt's administration, Hal-1 County was not yet settled by white pioneers. It was during the administration of the territory's second govemor that the original colony of 1857 arrived at Grand Island. The third governor, William A. Richardson, resigned December 5, 1858, and but a few days later Secretary J. Sterling Morton, acting as gov ernor, signed the papers giving legal form to the organization of Hall County. Hall County had no representation, of course, in the first five territorial legislatures, convened in the years 1855, 1857, and extra session (fifth session) in 1858. The fourth territorial auditor of Nebraska was Robert C. Jordon, whose term of office began August 2, 1858, and that of his suc cessor, William E. Harvey, began October 8, 1861. Hall County lays no claim to having furnished Nebraska her fourth territorial auditor. In fact it was not until July, 1870, 181 that the arrival of Robert C. Jordon brought him into the history of Hall County as a part of its development. But Hall County can lay some claim to the man who was the Master of the first Masonic lodge in Hall County, first Senior Warden of the Episcopal church, manager of the famous O. K. store for some years and in every activity a factor such that his name is sprinkled through the various chapters of this history. Hall County had not been organized very long before it began to take some part in the political affairs of the state. The first ter ritorial Democratic ticket put forth to the voters of Nebraska was nominated by a con vention held at Plattsmouth August 18, 1859. Hall and Monroe counties were represented in this convention by Dr. Charles A. Henry. The chief interest in the convention cen tered in the nomination of a candidate for delegate for Congress. Dr. George L. Miller of Douglas, of fame .in Nebraska as a builder of the Omaha World-Herald, and chief orator of the day upon the occasion when HaH County celebrated her fiftieth anniversary in 1907, started out on the first formal baHot with 22 ballots. But he lost this lead on the fifth ballot and on the tenth ballot General Experience Estabrook won. Dr. Henry was 182 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA placed on the territorial central committee formed by this convention to represent Mon roe and Hall counties. This convention re nominated Robert C. Jordon for state auditor. The first Republican territorial convention met in the school house at Bellvue on August 24, 1859. This convention on its tenth ballot nominated Samuel G. Daily for delegate to Congress. But one of its candidates is also interesting to Hall County, in the retrospec tive. John M. Thayer, afterwards elected governor of the state as a resident of Hall County, started out in second place, on the fourth ballot was within one vote of Daily and wound up in second place. The territorial board of canvassers of the election consisted of Governor Black, Chief Justice Hall and U. S. Attorney Leavitt L. Brown. Before this election was settled a controversy arose in which Hall County be came, a very important factor. Estabrook appeared to have the first advantage of the court. Daily later demanded a certificate of election on the ground that the 292 votes of Buffalo County, all returned for Estabrook, were invalid because that county had never been organized. The committee in Congress which acted upon the controversy eventually found that Buffalo County had not been or ganized and that the election was therefore invalid; that 238 of the 292 votes returned were cast, if at all, at Kearney City, situated on the south side of the Platte River, which stream was the southern boundary of the county as defined by the act of the legislature authorizing its organization, and that "the proof is that there are not over eight houses and not exceeding fifteen residents at Keam- ney City." Votes from various other counties also figured in the matter and finally Daily won the seat in Congress as the fifth repre sentative from the territory of Nebraska. The writer of that part of the state history in which this Daily-Estabrook contest is dis cussed has remarked: "The committee on elections were no doubt technically right in finding that the attempt of Governor Black to organize Buffalo County by appointing the county officers himself was invalid, but since it appears by their finding that there had been an informal election of the officers, it may be inferred that the wish of the committee stood in close relationship to their thought. A legally formal election on the Nebraska frontier in the 50's was about as rare and impracticable as a social function with Parisian manners in the same region. The act (approved Novem ber 4, 1858) creating Hall County specifically authorized the govemor to appoint the first county officers, and Black, without authority, seems to have imitated the like action of Act ing Governor Morton a few months before." The Omaha Nebraskan, quoted in Nebraska City News, January 1, 1859, discussed the organization of Hall County: The legislature at the last session passed an act to organize the county of Hall, and Hon. J. Sterling Morton, acting governor, has judiciously appointed and commissioned the foHowing officers for said county: Probate judge, Richard C. Barnard; sheriff, Hermann Vasold ; recorder, Theodore F. Nagel ; treas urer, Joshua Smith; justices of the peace, WHliam A. Hagge, Isaac Thomas; constables. Christian Menck; county commissioners, Frederick Pledde, Daniel B. Crocker, Hans Vieregg. .The name of "Hall" was given to this county as a compliment to Chief Justice Hall. It might be interesting to divert from the general theme of this chapter to continue the quotations from the above named joumal and see what the press in the east end of the state had to say about Grand Island and Hall County early in 1859: Grand Island is the county seat of Hall County and is situated forty miles west of Columbus.^ It is the extreme western set tlement of Nebraska and is surrounded by a thrifty, intelligent farming population. 'Teh country about it is upland bottom, very fettHe, and timbered and watered. Grand Island itself is seventy-five miles in length, and averages four miles in width, being heavily timbered with oak, hickory, cottonwood, and red cedar. IN THE SIXTH LEGISLATURE In the sixth territorial legislature, which 1 As the distance from Columbus to Grand Island is 62 miles this is once the press ran a reverse lever on exaggeration so often attributed to it. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 183 convened December 5, 1859, Monroe and HaH counties were represented by Richard C. Bamard of Hall County. Mr. Barnard was surveyor for and one of the leading members of the original colony that settled in Hall County in 1857. He was the first probate judge appointed for the county, succeeded in 1859 by Frederick Hedde. He was county surveyor after he served in this session of the legislature and first postmaster commissioned for the new postoffice at Grand Island, when it was established in 1859. Mr. Barnard's seat was unsuccessfully contested by Leander Gerrard, of Columbus, who afterwards be came well known in the state through his long incumbency as president of the Columbus State Bank. Mr. Gerrard was a lawyer and at one time a member of the firm of Whitte- more, Gerrard & Post, at Columbus. He had assisted in organizing the Republican party in Nebraska and been its candidate for the legislature in 1859 in this new district. To show the development of the state as it was extending past Hall County, it might be re marked that this first legislature in which HaH County had a representative authorized the organization of Dawson, Keamey, Morton, Nuckolls, Shorter (which embraced all that territory now in Phelps, Harlan, Gosper, Frontier, Red WHlow and part of Lincoln south of Platte river, and afterwards named Lincoln county). West and Wilson counties. Morton, West, and WHson counties never materialized into "going concerns." JUDGE AUGUSTUS HALL Without a;ttempting to settle, in this work, which is the correct theory, whether Hall County was named in honor of Augustus Hall, chief justice of the territory at the time of the organization of the county, or in honor of a local citizen, a partner in business of W. M. Spiker, one of the early sheriffs of the county, it would not be inappropriate to give our readers a short sketch of the career of Judge HaH. Augustus HaH was a native of Batavia, New York, born in 1814. His father, Samuel Hall, was a whig in politics, a Presbyterian in religion, and in comfortable financial cir cumstances. Augustus Hall graduated from the academy at Middleburg, New York, in the early 30's, studied law with Phineas L. Tracy at Batavia for two years and com pleted his studies at Mt. Pleasant, Ohio, where he was admitted and began the practice of his profession and was subsequently county attorney. From Ohio he went to Van Buren County, Iowa, where he practiced until 1854 when he served two terms in Congress. In January, 1858, he was appointed by President Buchanan chief justice of the territory of Nebraska, and removed immediately to Belle vue, where he resided and performed the duties of his office until his death in 1861. His only son, Richard Smith Hall, became a very distinguished member of the Nebraska bar, and at one time the law partner of U. S. Senator John M. Thurston. Augustus Hall was a charter member of the first lodge of Free Masons instituted in Nebraska, known as Nebraska Lodge No. 1 at Bellevue, later removed (1888) to Omaha. Whichever surmisal may be the fact, the honor of Hall County's name is great enough for both Halls. FIRST STATEHOpD ELECTION In the election on the question of statehood held on March 5, 1860, 2,372 votes were cast against and 2,094 for state government. In this election Hall County cast 12 votes for and 13 against the proposition. As delegates to the constitutional convention, which there fore never materia.lized, Platte, Monroe, and Hall counties chose John Reck and Charles H. Whaley, Republicans. It may be remarked at this point that Monroe County, which had theretofore been Hall County's partner in various representations, was merged with Platte County by legislative act of January 12, 1860. The representative from Monroe and Hall counties for the seventh legislative session was Frederick Hedde, of Hall County. In the eighth legislature, which convened in December, 1861, and extended but ten days into the next year, Enos BeaH represented Hall, and its mate, Monroe, counties. During 184 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA this session the counties of Buffalo, Hall, Keamey, and Lincoln were constituted a new representative district. In the succeeding (ninth) legislature, Frederick Hedde, of Hall County, became the first representative from that new district. This legislature met from January 7 to Febmary 15, 1864. An act was passed, by Congress on April 19, 1864, in response to a memorial of the territorial Nebraska legislature, authorizing the gover nor to call an election for members of a con stitutional convention on June 6 This con vention met in Omaha, the territorial capital, on July 4th. Hall, Platte, and adjoining counties were represented by Isaac Albertson. Mr. Albertson is credited with having started and named the town of Buchanan, afterwards absorbed, "name and all," by Schuyler. Douglas County preferred the territorial status to risking capital removal that state hood might entail, and as all of the South Platte counties except Richardson joined in the proposition lost. In the election of 1864 for delegates to Congress, Hall County cast .59 votes for Phineas W. Hitchcock, Union Republican candidate (father of Senator G. M. Hitchcock, now representing Nebraska in the United States Senate), and 17 votes for Dr. Geo. L. Miller, Democratic candidate. By the time the tenth territoral legislattire convened in January, 1865, Hall County had attained representation in the council of the upper house of the territorial assembly. Her first representative, with the other counties of the fifth district, Platte, Monroe, Buffalo, Kearney, and Lincoln, was Isaac Albertson, who also continued in the eleventh legislature to represent this district. In the tenth legis lature. Hall, Platte, Buffalo, and Merrick counties were represented in the lower house by Frederick Evans. In the eleventh terri torial legislature, which convened January 4, 1866, and in the twelfth (last) legislature, which convened January 10, 1867, John Wal lichs of Flail represented Hall, Buffalo, Platte, and Merrick counties. The represen tative of the fifth district, including Hall, in the upper house or council of the last legis lature was F. K. Freeman. In the election held in 1865 upon state auditor and treasurer. Hall was one of five counties that did not cast a single Democratic vote — these counties being Cuming, HaH, Merrick, Pawnee,' and Seward. Hall County's vote for each Republican candidate was 67. The Eleventh legislature, of which John Wallichs was a member, met the important question of statehood again. A constitution was prepared which afterwards proved very unsatisfactory and somewhat of a burden. But the work of this legislature at least paved the way for ultimate statehood. The political conventions of 1866 were rather important, owing to the heated condition of campaign matters then. Charles H. Whaley represented the float district of Platte, Hall, Buffalo, and Merrick counties at the Republicart or Union territorial convention. The counties of Platte, Buffalo, Hall, Monroe, Merrick, and Kearney and Lincoln counties were represented at the Democratic territorial convention at Ne-^ braska City by our neighbor from Buffalo County, J. E. Boyd, afterwards elected gov ernor of the state. At the election held June 2, 1866, Hall County's vote was cast as fol lows : For constitution 2, against, 29 ; for Butler, for governor (successful candidate) 10, Morton, 27. Though Hall County stood for Morton for governor in June, at the fall election when he ran against Marquette for delegate in Congress, she cast 46 votes for Marquette and none for Morton, but con sistently gave Taffe for Congressman the same 46 against -his opponent Paddock. REPRESENTATION IN THE SENATE During the early sessions of the state leg islature. Hall County was part of a senatorial district comprising Platte, Merrick, HaH, Buffalo, Kearney, and Lincoln counties. Not until the sixth session did Hall County gain a state senator. From then on she held her own to the extent of furnishing the success ful candidate ten times in sixteen terms, but in the last six terms has only had the senator twice. The roster of men who have represented Flail County in the state senate are: 1867— F. K. Freeman, Kearney County. 1869— Guy C. Barnum, Buffalo County. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 185 1871 — Leander Gerrard, Columbus. 1873 — Guy C. Barton, North Platte. 1875 — Guy C. Barton, North Platte. 1877 — George H. Thummel, Grand Island. 1879 — E. W. Arnold, Grand Island. 1881 — W. R. Morse, Clarks (Merrick Co.) 1883 — T. O. C. Harrison, Grand Island. 1885 — J. N. Paul, St. Paul (Howard Co.) 1887— Samuel N. Wolbach, Grand Island. 1889— Samuel N. Wolbach, Grand Island. 1891 — T. B. Coulter, Underwood (HaH Co.) 1893 — T. F. McCarty, St. Paul. 1895 — George H. Caldwell, Grand Island. 1897 — Dr. O. Grothan, St. Paul. 1899— Rasmus R. Hannibal, St. Paul. 1901— J. A. Woolstenholm, Grand Island. 1903 — W. H. Harrison, Grand Island. 1905 — A. E. Cady, St. Paul. 1907 — Fred W. Ashton, GrancJ Island. 1909 — J. H. Buhrman, St. libory (Howard Co.) 1911 — J. H. Buhrman, St. Libory (Howard Co.) 1913 — Raymond H. West, Wood River (Hall Co.) 1915 — J. H. Buhrman, St. Libory (Howard Co.) 1917 — J. H. Buhrman, St. Libory (Howard Co.) 1919 — Thos. E. Bradstreet, Grand Island. During the very first sessions Hall County had to share her representation in the lower house of the legislature with other counties, and during the first nine sessions had only one representative. Since 1883 she has had two members in each session and been entitled to elect both of them from her own borders. Those who have- served as representatives for Hall County in the lower house of the state legislature have been : 1867 — J. Wallichs of Columbus (Platte Co.) 1869-70 — WeHs Brewer, HaH County. 1871— .Enos BeaH, HaH County. 1873 — E. Parker, Lone Tree. 1875 — Lorin Clark, Albion. 1877 — George A. HaH, Grand Island. 1879 — G. H. Bush, Grand Island. 1881-2 — F. A. Sears, Grand Island. 1883 — 1. M. Cole, Doniphan (HaH Co.) Z. H. Denman, Sr., Alda. 1885 — Geo. Cornelius, Grand Island. S. N. Wolbach, Grand Island. 1887 — James Ewing, Wood River. Chas. Rief, Grand Island. 1889 — H. C. Denman, Doniphan. Edward Hooper, Grand Island. 1891 — Ed J. Hall, Grand Island. Henry Schotfeldt, Grand Island. 1893 — J. L. Johnson, Abbott. Henry Schotfeldt, Grand Island. 1895 — Geo. L. Rouse, Alda. W. H. Harrison, Grand Island. 1897 — Geo. L. Rouse, Alda. C. E. Wiebe, Grand Island. 1899 — Geo. L. Rouse, Alda. W. A. Prince, Grand Island. 1901 — Wm. Thomssen, Grand Island. G. C. Humphrey, Doniphan. 1903 — Geo. L. Rouse, Alda. H. S. Ferrar, Grand Island. 1905 — Geo. L. Rouse, Alda. H. S. Ferrar, Grand Island. 1907 — A. L. Scudder, Doniphan. E. O. White, Cairo. 1909 — John W. Sink, Grand Island. Frank S. West, Wood River. 1911 — John W. Sink, Grand Island. W. A. Prince, Grand Island. 1913 — P. C. Kelley, Grand Island. (Speaker of House.) M. H. O'Malley, Alda. 1915 — A. L. Scudder, Doniphan. John E. Cox, Cairo. 1917 — A. L. Scudder, Doniphan. Leo B. Stuhr, Grand Island. 1919 — H. J. McLaughlin, Doniphan. John McLellan, Grand Island. In various sessions W. H. Harrison was president of the senate, Geo. L. Rouse was speaker of the house, and H. A. Edwards was clerk of the senate. CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS In the constitutional convention of 1871 Hall County was ably represented by O. A. Abbott, Sr., and Geo. H. Thummel. With perhaps one exception, Mr. Abbott and Mr. Thummel are the only survivors of the mem bership of that convention. Mr. Abbott is the only surviving member of the group of 186 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA eight who served in both the constitiutional conventions of 1871 and 1875. On the vote of the constitution submitted by the conven tion of 1871, Hall County voted 90 for and 91 contra. As an enlightening discussion of the conditions that surrounded the making of constitutions in those days, the following article written in 1907 by Goveronr Abbott is not out of place at this point: CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS OF '71 -'75 elements that led to the DEFEAT OF FIRST CONVENTION By Hon. O. A. Abbott Without pretending to exact historical knowledge it is at least ^probable that no other state ever voted on two different con stitutions within so short a period as five years, but affairs in the state under the con stitution of 1867 had grown intolerable. The Union Pacific was building, but no other rail had been laid. When the first constitution was adopted the population of the state was almost wholly confined to the river counties. In '71 the Burlington had been completed to Kearney. The old Midland Pacific had also reached Lincoln and the Omaha Southwestern was extended to the Platte River. Settlers were pouring into the state. The sod house was the prevailing type of residential archi tecture. The judges of the district court — three only — also sat together as judges of the supreme court and received only $1,000 each per annum for their services, and other state officers, from the governor down, the same. Out of this condition of things grew the pass system. The railroad was as anxious for good government as any citizen; and, like all citizens of new communities, was will ing to help where it could, and it gave all public officers passes. Had the practice stopped there, it is doubtful if it would have provoked the storm of protests that later swept the state and made a pass so obnox ious that the legislature undertook to prevent it from carrying its own employees and their families free. The state institutions were managed by boards, each institution under a separate board. There was no control and corruption was charged and generally believed. The constitutional convention of '71 was convened with these surroundings and was composed of able men, many of whom after- O. A. Abbott wards rose to high places in the state and national history — Manderson, Strickland, Weaver, Boyd, Laird, Munger, Maxwell, Ma son, Van Wyck, Wakeley, Robinson, Ester- brook, and other names are well remembered ones. The people of the state had suffered at the hands of irresponsible banks and corpora tions, not because they were monopolistic or oppressive but because they were irresponsible — unable to fulfill their obligations. Stringent provisions were made in regard to corporate obligations, practically making all corporations and stockholders liable for HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 187 the debts of the corporations. This alone might not have been sufficient to compass its defeat but it furnished the sinews of war to defeat it on the open ground of church and taxation. The Methodist conference sent a committee before the convention to advocate the taxation of all church property in excess of $5,000. The corporation used this clause as a pretext and at least one of the members of the committee that urged the adoption of the taxation clause worked vigorously to de feat the constitution. Large posters were put up opposing the adoption, one of which bore the heading : "To your tents, O Israel ! The enemy is upon you." In the second convention of '75 the same spirit of rigid economy prevailed. The ne cessity which an increase of business forced onto the officers led to some remarkable de cisions from the courts — among them that a stenographer was not a clerk — and called for the general comment from the bar that "necessity knows no law." Church taxation was excluded by the constitutional limitations on corporations, while leaving out the clause that called down defeat upon the constitution of 1871, was perhaps the most conservative of the right of state control of any in the whole union, and has resulted in sending many of the larger corporations to New Jersey for corporate charters. It may be this constitution would have been defeated but for the separate article fixing the seat of government at Lincoln until removed by a vote of the people. The southeast portion of the state cast their votes solidly for the whole instrument in order to save that special provision. Among the hardest struggles was the pro vision safe-guarding the school funds of the state. The wisdom of that struggle is now apparent and in a few years Nebraska will be able to educate its children out of the income from the lands donated to it for such purpose from the general government. It was clearly unwise to take from future legislatures the power to adjust the salaries of public officers. It was the spirit of econ omy that prompted that. All that was nec essary for any one to say was "The majority of our people are living in sod houses ; they will again defeat the constitution regardless of the state's future necessities." So today this magnificent state pays its governor and treasurer less than one-half of what the banks in the state pay their cashiers, and pays its judges less than one-half the salary paid by the monied corporations to their leading at- George H. Thumnell torneys. And, at present, the legislature is powerless to protect the state by placing its officers in a situation that ensures them against actual loss while devoting their talents to its service. Many of the provisions of the constitution are most desirable, especially the article on corporations and the provisions against special legislation. Under the old constitu tion every town and village in the state was incorporated under special charters. Special acts laying out roads, locating county seats, and granting authority to private corporations 188 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA by special acts crowded the pages of the session laws and these wholesome provisions wHl doubtless be retained in any new con stitution that may be submitted to the people ; and that a new one will have to be provided in the near future becomes every day more apparent. STATE OFFICERS Hall County has been unusually fortunate in the matter of having numerous citizens from her fold chosen for state offices in the commonwealth of Nebraska. GOVERNOR JOHN M. THAYER A great many counties in the state have never had the honor of furnishing the state a governor. John Milton Thayer served both as United States senator and governor, and had also led the First Nebraska Regiment into the service of its country in the War of the Rebellion. Governor Thayer was ,born ill Bellingham, Massachusetts, January 24, 1820, the son of Captain EHas and Ruth (Staples) Thayer. He was raised on the farm, taught school when a young man, attended Brown University, graduating in 1841. He studied law under Isaac Davis at Worcester, Mas sachusetts. In 1854 he moved to Omaha where he was admitted to the bar, but did not practice. He engaged in farming. The first territorial legislature commissioned him brigadier general in command of forces raised to conduct a defense against the Indians, who were then very troublesome. The next legis lature made him major-general of the two divisions formed for this service. For six years he carried on this service of protecting the pioneer residents of the state. Twice he had to conduct campaigns against the Paw nees, the last time on the Elkhorn in 1859, when he rounded the Indians up and settled the questions of further Pawnee scares. At the beginning of the Civil War General Thayer applied to the secretary of war and asked for a regiment to be assigned to Ne braska. Upon the granting of that request, he raised a regiment of 1,000 men in a new territory which had only shown a population of 28,841 in 1860. Commissioned as Colonel of the 1st Nebraska Regiment, he immediately reported to General Fremont, in St. Louis. He was made brigadier-general for services in the battles of Donaldson and Shiloh, and later was made major-general by brevet. He had various other commands through the war, and at the close of the war retumed to Ne braska. He was a member of the first con stitutional convention. He was one of the first United States senators from Nebraska, chosen in 1867 and serving for four years. In 1875, General Grant, then President, with whom General Thayer had formed a very cordial friendship, appointed him govemor of the territory of Wyoming, which position he occupied for three years and nine months. WhHe he was residing in Hall County, in 1886, General Thayer was elected govemor of Nebraska. He served two full terms. After the election of 1890 the discovery was made that James E. Boyd, who had been elected govemor on the Democratic ticket, was of foreign birth and had come with his father to Nebraska as a minor, and it_ was contended that as neither his father nor he had taken out naturalization papers, he was not eligible to occupy the office. Govemor Thayer, acting upon legal advice, declined to turn the office over to Boyd, and claimed to be governor de facto and de jure untH a successor was elected and duly qualified. On trial upon a writ of ouster the supreme court of the state upheld Governor Thayer's con tention. Upon appeal of the case to the federal supreme court that body reversed the state court's decision, and in accordance there with Governor Thayer tumed over the office to Governor Boyd. This controversy was of peculiar interest to Hall County inasmuch as Govemor Thayer had been elected from this county, and Governor Boyd had been a resident of Buffalo County, just across the west line from HaH, and the "Jim Boyd" ranch is almost as much a part of the early history of Hall as of Buffalo County. General Thayer in 1843 had married Mary Torrey Allen, daughter of Rev. John Allen. They had six children. Mrs. Thayer died HISTORY OF PIALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 189 in September, 1892, at which time General Thayer retired to private life and devoted himself to literary pursuits. In 1879 he was elected department commander of the G. A. R. of Nebraska. He died March 19, 1906. LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR O. A. ABBOTT, SR. Hall County possesses the distinction of having furnished to the state its first lieu tenant-governor, -O. A. Abbott. Mr. Abbott had already served in both the constitutional conventions of 1871 and 1875 and was fairly well grounded in the fundamental law of the state. He was one of the small body of men who took the final burden of framing the 1875 constitution in the form it emerged from the convention. As Governor Garber was absent from the state quite a good deal, Lieutenant-Govemor Abbott was acting gov ernor of the state during his term even more than the lieutenant-governor usually is called upon to act. In that way the title of Gov ernor fastened upon him, and now forty years after his term of service he is always spoken of as "Governor Abbott." Arriving here in 1867, Governor Abbott was the only resident member of the HaH County bar when the first district court was held for Hall County in 1868, and after fifty-tvK> years of practice of law in this county he is still hale, hearty, and active in his practice. A more extensive biography of Governor Abbott ap pears elsewhere in this volume. STATE TREASURER HENRY A. KOENIG Hall County furnished the state her third state treasurer (1871-1875). Henry Arnold Koenig was born in Gutersloh, Westphalen, Prussia, May 3, 1836. His father's people , were mercantile and manufacturinjg people and his mother's family (the Zimwinkels) were identified with the pork packing interests of Westphalen. He grew to manhood in his native land, graduated from the educational institution at sixteen years of age, spent four years as clerk in Arrtsberg, then three years as bookkeeper in an uncle's pork-packing es tablishment, and one year in the regular army. In 1859 he joined an elder brother, who had been living at Omaha, Nebraska, but who was home on a visit. He came to Omaha and was clerking there when he enlisted in Com pany B, First Nebraska Volunteer Infantry. He was on duty untH the fall of Fort Donel- son, when he was discharged for disability and returned to Omaha. In 1863 he became associated with Fred A. Wiebe in the general mercantile business in Denver, Colorado. He sold out there and returned to Omaha, but almost immediately came to Grand Island and opened up a mercantile establishment, the well-known "O. K. Store." During the con struction of the Union Pacific railroad he was general contractor in railroad ties, furnished supplies, kept a state station and telegraph office for the Western Union Telegraph com pany. Mr. Koenig and his partner built the first saw-mill in Grand Island, and in 1867 attached a grist mill. They opened up a lumber yard, which can trace its succession down to the present day. They started a gen eral banking business early in their business ventures, but in 1871 it had grown extensive enough so that they opened the State Central bank, later known as the Citizens' State bank, of which Mr. Koenig became president. In 1887 the United States Investment Company was founded, and when the street railway was started, Mr. Koenig became its president. Mr. Koenig was an active spirit in promoting the first steps of the beet sugar industry in Hall County. He served the county as county treasurer several terms. STATE AUDITORS JOHN WALLICHS, SILAS R. BARTON Hall County has somewhat specialized along the line of state auditors and has furnished the state with two. John Wallichs served as state auditor from November 12, 1880, until January 8, 1885. Mr. Wallichs had served Hall County in the last territorial legislatures, and was the first clerk of the district court of Hall County, when that office came into existence, by virtue of being county clerk at that time. SHas R. Barton served four years as state auditor from 1909-1913. Mr. Barton had 190 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA been Grand Recorder of the A. O. U. W. for a number of years prior to his election to the state office. Mr. Barton was later elected to Congress in 1913. He served efficiently one term, and was the nominee of his party at the election in 1916, but was suddenly stricken and died on election day. SECRETARIES OF STATE Hall County has never furnished the state with a secretary of state. But nevertheless we have a peculiar interest in two of the men who have been elected to this office. Silas R. Barton Hon. Addison Wait, who was elected from Syracuse in 1911 and served two terms in that office, is now a resident of Hall County. He was appointed in 1918 to the position of adjutant at the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home at Burkett, and is now in active charge of the home as commandant of the institution in which he took a special interest during his four years membership on various state boards. Hon. Darius M. Amsberry, the present secretary of state, was elected in 1918 from Custer County, where he has resided for a great many years. But forty years ago Mr. Amsberry was residing in Washington town ship, and about that time was teaching in the second school house in District Number One of Hall County. Mr. Amsberry therefore feels a keen interest in HaH County and HaU County feels it has some claim on him. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE One member of the HaH County bar after serving as county judge for HaH County and district judge for the judicial district to which this county was then attached, was elevated to the position of justice of the supreme court, and served also as chief justice of the supreme court. Judge T. O. C. Harrison was the jurist who thus carried the honor of Hall into the highest court of the state, and rendered a very creditable record for both himself and the county of which he was a part for so many years. Another member of the Hall County bar, Hon. Richard C. GlanvHle, was a member of the supreme court commission in 1902-3. THE STATE soldiers' AND SAILORS' HOME In 1884 the biH providing for the establish ment of a soldiers home was passed. The first meeting to secure the location of the home for Grand Island was held in September, 1884, George Cornelius presiding, with S. P. Mobley as secretary. J. O. West and Rev. P. C. JohHson, with Col. Leib and Rev. Wil liams as alternates, were a local committee appointed to wait upon the commissioners at Dayton, Ohio, and Gen. John M. Thayer was invited to accompany them. They were authoriezd to offer 320 acres for a site. In April, 1887, the home was located three miles north of Grand Island on lands purchased by the citizens. The sum of $22,000 of the $25,600 paid for the land involved was con tributed within thirty-six hours by citizens. The state appropriated $30,000. Charies Rief was one of the representatives and the other was Samuel N. Wolbach, state senator from this district, and both were untiring workers to secure this state institution for Grand Island. The corner-stone was placed October 20, 1887, by Governor Thayer, and a gala day was enjoyed by the community and the entire country for miles around. The building was dedicated June 26, 1888. The first visiting HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 191 and examining board of the Soldiers' Home was appointed in April, 1887: Samuel B. Jones, Omaha; Ezra S. Howard, Edgar; W. S. Webster, Central City; Mrs. B. P. Cook, Lincoln, and Mrs. L. A. Bates, Aurora. John Hammond of Columbus became the first commandant. An interesting coincidence has developed in ths history of this institution. Samuel B. Jones, who came to the Home in 1919 as tenance or assistance. The canvass showed there were twenty-one in such circumstances, and this led to a campaign for the installa tion of such an institution in this state. General Thayer, as department commander of the G. A. R., became interested and lent very material assistance in carrying this enter prise to a successful close. Coincidentally, General Thayer was governor at the time the Home was completed and dedicated. Soldiers and Sailors Home, Grand Island the commandant, during the early 'eighties was assistant general passenger agent of the Union Pacific railroad. He was in the east and visited an old soldiers' home in Massachusetts and was impressed with the splendid idea behind the institution and the useful purpose it accomplished. Upon his return he consuhed with the authorities in charge of the work of the G. A. R. in the state and a series of circular letters were addressed to the county clerks throughout the state and inquiry made as to how many vet erans of the late Civil War might be de pendent upon the various counties for main- But the present commandant, S. B. Jones, remarks now that he had no thought what ever, thirty-five years ago when he was work ing on this proposition, that he should ever become the executive and managing officer of the institution he was then promoting. The commandants of the Home, through its thirty-five years have been : John Hammond, W. C. Henry, John W. WHson, General Cole, D. W. Hoyt, MHes Zentmeyer, D. C, Sco- vHle, W. S. Askwith, Eli A. Bames, Ferdi nand Zimmerer, J. F. Walsh, Samuel B. Jones, and Ex-Secretary of State Addison E. Wait. The adjutants have been : W. H. Wesley, 192 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Old Postoffice, Grand Island U. S. Postoffice, Grand Island ¦ HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 193 M. K. Walker, Dan Athen, John H. Powers, J. W. Bowen, G. G. Vreeland, Joe McGraw, C. C. Ellis, Craig, Lane, Maxwell, and from July, 1918, until recently Ex-Secretary of State Addison Wait. Rev. Wait at present is adjutant. There have been 19 physicians : Doctors Duncan, Swegart, W. T. Putt, Lawson, Gordon, Griffith, Claude P. Fordyce, Graff, Waggoner, Phelan, Gamber, Warner, Leahy, Hinchman, F. E. Taft, A. J. Chapman, Hayes, Steele, and the present physician and surgeon is W. T. Dever. The principal building of the institution is 160 feet long and 90 feet wide, and with the stone basement is four stories high. A high stairway, of stone, 10 feet wide, leads to the main entrance. Broad hallways run through the center from one end to the other on each floor. The lower or basement story con tains a storeroom, a large dining hall, a smok ing room, an extensive kitchen supplied with modern steam cooking utensHs, a pantry, cold storage room, bath and baggage rooms. On the second floor are the headquarters, com mandant's private consultation room, large library, two elegant parlors, large dining hall, and a smaller one for the officers. The third and fourth stories are used for sleeping rooms, a veteran's wit having christened the fourth floor the hurricane deck. An addi tion has been built to the main building. The sleeping rooms are furnished with iron cots, mattresses, and sufficient covering. The build ing is heated by steam and lighted by elec tricity. The hospital of the Home, located a little north-west of the main building, is a much newer and fairly substantial building. Several smaller building are used for sleep ing quarters. A number of cottages have been built around the grounds and are as signed to the married couples mainly. The power house and laundry, stables, and num erous other buildings are scattered about the ground. Farming operations are carried on upon the 640-acre tract which are of no small pro portions. Very good crops are raised and the produce forms a valuable addition to the larder and assets of the Home. The Home has been an asset to Grand Island, in no manner insignificant from a financial view point. A considerable portion of the gov ernment and state appropriations for the in stitution and of the pension money received by the inmates is spent in Grand Island. In recent years there has been somewhat too much inclination to make the Home the football of politics. Since the establishment of the MHford Soldiers' Home certain very active members of the state G. A. R. have lobbied.and worked during legislative sessions. to build up that Home, and various boards and officials have all too much neglected the Grand Island Home. The fact that men and women of the age of those residing at this Home must climb to the third and fourth stories without aid of elevator transportation is one of the things that go to bear out the statement just made. IN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT Grand Island has always been, since her first start, the seat of considerable govem- mental activities upon the part of the federal government for this part of the state. A postoffice was established at the old Grand Island location in 1859 with Richard C. Bam ard in charge. This was the first postoffice in the county, or in this part of the state. In 1866 the Grand Island postoffice was located at the new town, with D. SchuHer in charge as postmaster. W. R. McAHister was appointed in 1868 at $1 per month. When he resigned the office in 1878 it was paying him $1,400 per annum. C. P. R. WiHiams succeeded Mr. McAllister, July 1, 1879, foHowed by C. L. Howell, April 1, 1883, and he in turn was succeeded by Lafayette Myers. Mr. Myers brought the office to a high state of efficiency. On October 1, 1887, the free delivery system was installed. By 1889 four carriers were employed, making three deliveries a day. In January, 1890, M. Murphy became postmaster. Upon the ex piration of Mr. Murphy's service, J. A. CosteHo served a term; and his successor was W. H. Harrison. Dr. H. C. MiHer be- 194 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA came postmaster in 1902 and served for nine years, having one year of service in the new postoffice building. A. F. Buechler served from 1911 to 1915, and since then D. A. GeH has been postmaster, and in 1919 was re appointed for another four year term. For some years past now A. J. Baumann has served as assistant postmaster. THE LAND OFFICE The land office at Grand Island was es tablished by an executive order dated April 20, 1869, under an act of Congress approved July 27, 1868. The office was formally opened about December of that year, 1869. The office was, under an executive order dated September 11, 1893, closed December 31, 1893, and consolidated with the Lincoln, Ne braska, land office, January 1, 1894. The records of the General Land Office at Wash ington, under the department of the interior, show that the following registers and re ceivers carried on the work of this land office : Date of Appointment Edward W. Arnold, register, AprH 28, 1869. Jacob C. Denise, receiver, April 28, 1869. Jesse Turner, receiver, April 5, 1872. (Died December 18, 1872.) Joseph Fox, receiver, March 26, 1873. Edward W. Arnold, register, Febmary 12, 1874. William Anyan, temporary receiver, April 23, 1877. William Anyan, receiver November 10, 1877. William Anyan, reappointed receiver, July 11, 1882. Melville B. Hoxie, temporary register, July 1, 1878. Melville B. Hoxie, register, January 6, 1879. C. Hostetter, register, March 7, 1882. John G. Higgins, temporary register, August 15, 1885. John G. Higgins, register, March 27, 1886. Alexander H. Baker, receiver, July 20, 1886. Franklin Sweet, register; March 19, 1890. Darwin C. Hall, reveiver, June 17, 1890. J. W. Ferguson, temporary register, June 9e 1 SQ^ J. W. Ferguson, register, September 11, 1893. The records of the general land office show that Frederick Schultz made the first home stead entry December 6, 1869, for the Sy2 Nei4 Sec. 8 T. 19, N., R. 6, E. for 80 acres. Henry C. Shaw made the first cash entry December 6, 1869, for the Ey2 Sei4 Sec. 22, T. 16 N. R 3 W., and paid for it with warrant location No. 107182, 160 acres, act of 1855. This was patented April 15, 1874. OTHER FEDERAL OFFICERS Grand Island is the location for a number of other federal local officers. There has been a referee in bankruptcy in charge of that work for fourteen counties, a district comprising Hall, Howard, Greeley, VaHey, Wheeler, Garfield, Loup, Blaine, Grant, Thomas, Hooker, Sherman, Custer and Buffalo counties for some years. Bayard H. Paine, now district judge, was referee in bankruptcy for nine years. His prede cessor, Arthur C. Mayer, then took up the duties of that office again and is the present referee. Grand Island has had a branch office of the clerk of United States Court for Ne braska for a number of years. George H. Thummel of Grand Island was clerk of the United States District Court at Omaha for a number of years and also was United States marshal. The present deputy to Hon. R. C. Hoyt, the present clerk of the court for Ne braska is George Cowton. His only prede cessor in this office at Grand Island was Henry Allen, later clerk of district court for Hall County. Mayor J. L. Cleary is the present United States Commissioner. A. B. Harriott is a deputy collector of internal revenue, under the collector at Omaha. T. P. Matthews and Geo. C. Humphrey of Grand Island have held this office in the past. SHas R. Barton served as Congressman from the Fifth Nebraska District — the only Hall County man elected to that office although several Hall County men have been f-ni-i^i'/lGfp>c at ¦\rarinllG tii-riAC CHAPTER XI THE FLORA, FAUNA, AND, NATURAL HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY Elevations — The Fauna of Hall County — The Grasshoppers — TheFlora of Hall County, by J. M. Bates — Climate of Hall County — Bad Storms — Easter Storm OF 1873, by Judge Charles B. Letton — Another Decade-and-half of Storms — Blizzard of 1888, by Minnie Freeman Penney— - Storm of March, 1913 — Cyclone of August 12, 1919 HaH County is about a third of a mile above sea level. To be more exact, the meas ured elevations above sea level, as given in Goodspeed's History of Hall County, 1890, for this part of Nebraska are : Grand Island, 1,860 feet; Kearney, 2,146; North Platte, 2,796; Columbus, 1,442; Central City, 1,697; St. Paul, 1,796; Scotia Junction, 1,905; Ord, 2,047; Hastings, 1,934; Clay Center, 1,687; Fairfield, 1,782; Wood River, 1,963; Alda, 1,913; Shelton, 2,060; Paddock, 1,760; Chap man, 1,763; Doniphan, 1,948; Hansen, 1,949; GlenviHe, 1,842;. Alma Junction, 1,794; Edgar, 1,728; Sutton, 1,680; Spring Ranch, 1,717; Holstein, 2,011. A more complete treatment of the topog raphy of the county will be found in the abstract of the government soil survey which has been incorporated in the next chapter. It is very common to include in the history of a subdivision of a state, or the history of a state, a very detailed account of the geo logical formation of the territory of that sub- divison. For this has been substituted what the compilers consider the more practical phases of the very detailed soil survey, of which the farmers and soil students of the cpunty might make some practical usage. THE Fauna of hall county The animal life of this part of Nebraska has been somewhat pertinently touched upon many times throughout the sketches of early life contributed by the pioneers. The first settlers mention many phases of the animal life which they encountered; in the narratives of Fred Stolley, Norman Reese, and WiHiam E. Martin, and others, found in the earlier chapters of this work, mention is made of the various animals, their habits, and the methods of the humans in hunting them to secure meat for their sustenance in those trying days. It might be said in one general summariz ing statement, that when the pioneers took possession of Hall County and for a decade or more thereafter nearly every form of wild life common to this latitude whether of earth, air, or water, inhabited Hall County. In vast herds, aggregating countless num bers, roamed the shaggy buffalo, while the shy and lordly elk in great bands fed upon the natural meadows. Many species of Amer ican deer were here, and the baribou, the moose, and mountain sheep no doubt claimed this great region at times. The wHd fox was present, and the shrill coyote even yet roams not far from the Hall County border at times. Gray wolf, lynx, and panther were no doubt here formerly. The rodents of the forest all lived here: the mole, the wood mouse, the badger, the ground gopher or ground squirrel, the pocket gopher, the unwelcome skunk or pole-cat ; and no one ever attempted a census of the prairie dogs in Hall County. Strictly fur- 195 196 HISTORY OF HA'LL COUNTY NEBRASKA bearing animals, such as the mink, the musk- rat, the raccoon, and for that purpose, the skunk, were sought. Frogs, toads, and other batricians could find plenty of channels of the Platte for thriving colonies, and va rieties of snakes galore had plenty of prairies at their command, the prairie rattler, the common bull snake, the water moccasin, the puffing adder, and other forms of reptilian life abounded about the woods, the barren prairies, and the streams. There was no shortage of bird life in the early days. Wild turkey, goose, brant, crane, duck, and turkey buzzard were all available, innumerable hawks, owls, and crows, and all of the scores of kinds of smaller birds, among which might most commonly be found the swallows, wrens, robins, yellow hammers, chickadees, pewees, blue jays, meadow larks, thrash, bluebirds, blackbirds, snowbirds, and let us not forget the sparrows. For game birds, the ducks, geese, and turkeys have been mentioned, not to overlook the quail, grouse, and prairie chickens by the thousands. The channels of the Platte and other streams afforded no small variety of fishing. Insect life has always abounded all too num erously in all portions of Nebraska. Flies, gnats, mosquitoes, wasps, hornets, vari-col- ored butterflies, bees, moths, grasshoppers, cycads, beetles, miriapods, crickets, locusts, caterpillars, ants, and every other creeping and crawling thing native to this region has left its claim for residence in Hall County, even the more undesirable destractive species, the chinch bug, army worm, cut-worms, Hessian fly, potato-bugs and — weH, we will repeat it, for one insect has earned a place in Hall County history, as undesirable as its record may be — that is, the Rocky Mountain locust, or grasshopper. grasshoppers "The Lord only knows which harmed the poor settlers the more, the prowling red-skins who were wont to sally forth from the hills and uplands, or the green imps of satan, the grasshoppers, which pounced upon us in be wildering hordes — -both literally took the bread out of our mouths." — An Old Pio neer. The early history of Hall County shows destratcive devastation from grasshoppers very early. A paragraph from Goodspeed's History of Hall County details some of the early visitations : . In August, 1862, the first swarms of grass hoppers were noticed here. On July 15, 1864, they destroyed all the buckwheat in the county to the exclusion of other crops, reappearing on August 1, 1864. Again, in July, 1866, though numerous, they did not do much injury. In 1868 they once more appeared, and in 1869 destroyed nearly all the cornfields. On May 22, 1873, they came with a southwest wind, but did not effect much damage. On July 20, 21, and 22 and on August 5 and 6, 1874, they came in swarms, which sometimes shut off the sunlight, and ate nearly all the crops. A state aid society was at once organ ized, and also a state grange relief society. Subsistence and clothing were sent to the sufferers. Congress appropriated $150,000, and the state $50,000, for relief purposes. On June 24 and August 8 and 10, 1875, the hoppers did considerable damage, but some parties drove them from their fields by keep ing up fires around their fields and using pul verized sulphur. It was discovered that this year a worm took possession of the hoppers, killing them. It is thought that the first actual visitation of these pests in Nebraska was in 1857, for they are then described in the BrownvHle Advertiser, as "mowing the prairies." Six invasions into Hall County are mentioned above, before the memorable disaster of 1874. Up until past the middle of July, 1874, crops of every description had never held better promise. Then came the devastating south west hot wind, blasting the corn crop, and then the terrific grasshopper invasion, which did not hit Hall County or central Nebraska alone, but spread over Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Nevada, Colorado, Texas, and what there was then in the territories of Wyoming, Dakotas, and Idaho. A rather more scientific description of this HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 197 pest, is to be found in Prof. Foght's The Trail Hall County, every word, as true as the Loup of the Loup : VaHey to the immediate north : The particular species formerly such a pest in our part of the country is the Rocky Mountain locust {Melanoplus spretus), lying between latitude 43 degrees and 53 degrees north. Its permanent habitat, according to the United States Entomological Commission of 1877, covered an area of about 300,000 square miles. The most favorite breeding places in this area were the river bottoms and the uplands or the grassy regions among the mountains. Whenever the weather conditions were favorable they hatched here in astonish ingly large numbers. And the favorite con ditions were exceptional dryness and warmth. In the early days two such dry seasons were sure to bring on a locust migration. During the last twenty years, however, the character of these early breeding grounds has been greatly changed. Settlement and agriculture have so restricted the permanent haunts in ?iIontana, Idaho", and Colorado, that the danger from future incursions is very slight. Indeed the locust has practically been driven beyond the borders of the United States, and now breeds freely only in portions of British Columbia. After the insects hatch out in the spring it takes about seven weeks before they reach a mature state. They go through five moult- ings and after the last, acquire wings. Their appetite becomes voracious, and as they are most numerous in hot and dry seasons when vegetation is scant, it takes but a short time for this to become exhausted. It is now that they manifest their peculiar instincts. With a common impulse they take to wing, swarm ing in a southeasterly direction. They usually rise between 8 and 10 o'clock in the morning and continue their flight till the middle of the afternoon, when they come down to feed. A fall in temperature or a head wind sud denly precipitates them to the ground in great numbers. They move not so much in sheets as in great columns from one to five thousand feet thick, resembling great fleecy clouds propeHed onward by some strong but hidden agency. Moving, as we have stated, in a southeasterly direction, those that leave their breeding grounds in southern Montana and Canada do not appear tiH August or September. One more excerpt might be borrowed from Prof. Foght's work, because his description of that terrible week and the succeeding efforts to prevent a recurrence- of blasted hopes fits The month of July (1874) was about half spent when the locusts reached the North Loup Valley (Hall County about the 24th). Com was "laid by" and in tassel ; the small grain was heading and full of promise. Then dawned the fatal day. By noon a strange haziness overspread the clear, blue sky, and the bright sunlight took on a sickly, yellowish tint; Had anyone taken the trouble to look at the sun through the proper medium he would have discovered the cause of this grad ual trans fom.iation in the day. Myriads of insects were Hitting by the disk of the sun. But people were not looking for trouble and so allowed the phenomenon to go unnoticed. In a short time, however, everyone had cause to become wide enough awake. The clouds of locusts suddenly began to settle over the earth. With a strange whistling sound of wings and myriad bodies they came on, pelting the appalled earth ; hustling and tumbling they came, clinging to whatever they happened to strike, devouring every planted thing from Indian corn to garden truck. At first some of the settlers made vain attempts to scare the pests from their fields, but this was usually rewarded by having the clothes literally eaten from off their limbs. As time advanced the number of insects grew. In places branches of trees are said to have been bent almost to the ground under their living burden. The corn fields were speedily stripped of their leaves, and soon all but the toughest portions of the stalk were devoured. We hear of thrifty housewives attempting to save flowerbeds by spreading over them bedquilts and carpets for protection, who to their chagrin found the locusts as eager to devour the spreads as they were the flowers. Ah, those were sad days in the settlement! Gone were the hopes and day dreams of many a sturdy pathfinder! The last dollar had with many been spent in the hope of speedy returns from good crops. What would now be the future? How to span over the coming winter and eke out an existence till another crop could be gotten became serious questions. Had it not been for the abundance of game in the adjacent hills and the logging industries, many would perforce have left their farms and returned to older settlements. We have handled the grasshopper entomo- logically, scientifically, historically, etc., so we may close by letting the poet have a chance at him. 198 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA THE GRASSHOPPERS Edwin Ford Piper Down by the orchard plot a man and boy, The boy's hat just above the whitened floor Of oats half hiding the young trees and swaying Under a strong breeze in the blazing noon. The man looks upward, blinks with dazzled eyes, The shading face zvith hand peers painfully; Little luinged creatures drive athwart the sun. High up, in ceaseless, countless flight to the north. His mood runs hot envisioning the past. It was three years ago this very day. Three years ago that clinging, hopping horde Made the earth crawl. With slobbery mouths, All leafage, woody twig, and grain, and grass. They utterly consumed, leaving the land Abominable. The zvind-borne plague rained down On the full-leaved tree where laugliter rippled light To answer odorous zvhispers of the flowers. Soon, naked to the blistering sun, it stared At the bones of its piteous cqmrades. Afterwards, A jest to strangers — charity — cattle hungering — Women and children starving! But the power of creatures! The daughters of tlie locust, numberless, numberless! Jaws bite, throats suck, the beauty of lovely fields Is in their guts, the world is but a mummy! Man and boy turn from the oats and the vigorous orchard; But as they go the lad is looking, looking To see, high up, like gnats, tlic winged millions Moving across the sun. May God rebuke them. Now the impending march of civHization had driven onward the wHd animals of the prairie and the forest; the beaver, otter, and their comrades of the streams have disap peared; even the fishing has deteriorated until to the pioneer it would be considered neg ligible ; only an occasional coyote reminds one of the band of wild animals, and the domestic animals have taken their places. But the guesses of Major Long and others who sur mised that this part of the Great American Desert would never be anything but the home of the red-skin and the shrieking coyote and his brethren would find a most pleasant sur prise in the fields, gardens, and orchards now thriving in Hall County. THE FLORA OF HALL COUNTY By J. M. Bates, Red Cloud, Nebraska The flora of any region is modified greatly by latitude, altitude, moisture, sunshine, shade, and the varying character of soils, clayey, sandy, gravelly, and rocky. The state of Nebraska, having an altitude of less than 1,000 feet at the Missouri River and stretch ing westward to the foothHls of the Rockies over 5,500 feet altitude presents an opportun ity for an extremely varied flora. Our wooded steppes, moist river bottoms, innumerable creeks, ponds, and lakes with accompanying marshes, affords a shelter for almost every kind of plant that can flourish in one altitude. The catalog of 1889 contained the names of 990 plants above the lungi, lichens, and mosses. Numerous additions have been made since then to the number of several hundred. For example, the sedges '¦ of the state were then enumerated as 36. In my paper on "The Sedges of Nebraska," published six years ago by the State University, I gave the localities of 106 species and good varieties. The studies in other lines of plant life have re sulted in similar additions. I have no doubt that the species at present known will pass twelve hundred. I have coHected in Hall County, at Wood River, many times, especially four miles south of Grand Island and east along the railroad and in adjacent meadows, south to A. D. Searls' farm, also around Schimmer's Lake many times. I have also coHectel around Doniphan on the south, and up toward St. Libory on the north. Thus I have obtained a fair conception of what Hall Couiity has to offer to the botanist. I find the flora quite limited by the lack of bluffs and other elevations, the whole land scape being classed as level prairie and Platte River bottoms, broken by Wood River, which is very well named. It furnishes shelter, especially at Schimmer's Lake, and some charmingly rare species are there located that could not be found without the damp woods which there prevail. I have gone carefully over the Nebraska list with this p^paration of study and ob servation to guid\ me and shall claim about five hundred and sbcty-five species of plants for Hall County. 1 Sedee, defined in Sh/idard Dirtionarv as "In a loose poplar sense, any'^coarse, rush-Hk-e or flag like herb growing in wet ^kces — any part of sedge family (Cypcracass). HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 199 It is quite useless to enumerate these by either their Latin or their English names in a volume of this character. The English names are so variable according to locality that they would not be recognized by many. It takes more time and leisure than any one individual among Nebraska people has yet had in the struggle for existence to fasten a name to these new westem plants that shall gain the final approval and "stick to" the one kind or species. We shall then speak of a few matters of general interest and importance. Nebraska is a grass state; that is, a grain growing state, for all of our cereals except buckwheat are grasses. The state is covered from one end to the other in its wHd condition with about 155 species of, nourishing grasses, and as I said above, 106 species of grass-like plants called sedges, and every species pas tured and cut for hay without any discrimina tion. The growing and fattening qualities of these fodder plants are notorious in the stock centers of the nation. HaH County has her full share of these nutritious plants. I estimate the grasses as ninety species and the sedges as thirty-five. Many of them have been studied by chemical analysis es pecially in the agricultural school of South Dakota, and have been shown to possess the supreme qualities of nutrition that character ize the timothy, red-top, orchard grass, brome, and other highly prized grasses of the eastern states and Europe. We might enumerate three species of grama, buffalo grass, wheat grass several species, rye grass several species, but those who are getting their living from the soil and the intelligent land agent, banker, grain buyer, and many others are quite well aware of these facts without any further use of ink and paper. The trees of Hall County are but few in variety. Cottonwood, box-elder, prairie ash, white elm, peach leaved willow are the only ones that attain much size. The diamond willow, sand-bar wiHow, wHd plum, and wild cherry, commonly called choke _cherry, but not the "choke" of the east, sometimes attain tree-like proportions, and together with dog wood (cornus asperiolia) make most of the "bmsh." The red cedar is native over most of the states, but I doubt if it can be found wild in HaH County today, if it ever was. It grows mostly on higher ground, such as bluffy river banks or in dry ravines and canyons. No other conifer is to be expected. The red (slippery) elm is not unlikely to be found, and possibly the burr oak, but I have not seen it. r.-^rE plants I wish to call attention to quite a few rare plants. Botriechium Virginianitm, grape fern, at Schimmer's Lake, in the moist woods on the Wood River, is known in very few local ities. Smilax hispida, greenbriar, seems to have its western limit at Red Cloud and Schimmer's Lake. Allium Cavandulare, the lavender-flowered wild onion, is a beautiful new species worthy of cultivation. It grows south and southeast of Grand Island, and at Havelock, Lincoln, and Weeping Water. I wrote it up as a new species a few years ago, finding it first at Grand Island. Spieranthes Romanzoffiana (strictum, of some authors), laides' tresses, is the only orchid likely to be found. The next most likely is sypripedium candidum, which grows at Callaway, Scotia, and I think at St. Paul. I found very fine specimens east of Grand Island, at the foot of the raHroad embank ment. Desmodium panieulatum, the round leafed beggars' lice, a stick-tight, grows at Schimmer's Lake, with the smilax and grape fern. Lippia lanceolata, on the north bank of the lake gave me the first collection of this rare plant. I have since found it at St. Paul and at two or three other stations. It belongs to the verbena family, and is a near relative of the lemon verbena, raised as a house plant. These Tare plants *:are quite distinctive enough for one level prairie county in Central Nebraska. CLIMATE HaH County has a climate transitional be tween that of the north-central Mississippi Valley and the semi-arid climate of the high plains. The rainfall is moderate, and fre- 200 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA quently low. The humidity is relatively low and the rate of evaporation relatively high. There is a wide range between summer and winter temperatures. The mean annual precipitation is 29.45 inches. The greater part of the rainfall oc curs during the months from May to August, inclusive, generally in the form of hard thunder showers. The annual precipitation when normally distributed is sufficient for successful farming, without irrigation or rigid adherence to dry-farming methods. In some years, however, crops have been almost com plete failures on account of droughts, and they suffer some injury on certain soils nearly every year. There is rarely an excess of rainfall. The precipitation in the wettest year on record (1905) amounted to 45 85 inches, of which 24.98 inches feH during the months of May, June, and July. The mean summer temperature is 73.6° F. The maximum recorded temperature is 110°, in September, but July and August are usually the hottest months. The mean winter tem perature is 26.1° F. The temperature fre quently fall^ below zero, and a minimum of — -34° has been recorded in February. The region is occasionally swept by cold northwest winds in winter. The average date of the last kiHing frost in the spring is April 26, and that of the first in the fall October 7, giving an average growing season of 164 days, which is ample for the maturing of corn and all the other crops commonly grown. Killing frost has been recorded as late in the spring as May 19 and as early in the fall as September 12. There is a high percentage of clear and sunshiny days. The rate of evaporation is probably a little higher than that of most of the central Mississippi VaHey region, being prob ably a little above 40 inches. No record of the snowfalls exists, but it is probably a little less than that of Omaha, 150 miles to the east, viz, about 25 inches. Climatic data from the records of the Weather Bureau station at Grand Island are given in the following table: Normal monthly, seasonal, and annual temperature and precipitation at Grand Island Month Temperature Precipitation ^ ¦> a" > 3.0 rc 0 3 o o 3 w W, c c <-t- y ^ P n at ¦^ ° 3 g3' ^1 3 3 '--O ,-.^ p c 00 "^ - S"' 3 3 — 're December . . . 28.7 80 —17 0.87 T. 0.00 January .... 24.7 72 —29 .bl .55 1.64 February .... 25.0 78 —34 .84 .20 1.55 Winter . . . 26.1 80 —34 2.22 .75 3.19 March 36.6 91 —12 1.30 .23 .73 April 51,1 98 13 2.77 1.12 4.01 May Spring . . . 60.0 102 22 4.38 1.32 9.53 49.2 102 —12 8.45 2.67 14.27 June 71.1 113 36 4.78 2.94 8.97 July 75.6 108 48 4.10 .55 6.48 August 74.1 108 40 3.94 2.72 3.66 Summer 73.6 108 36 12.82 6.21 19.11 September . . 65.3 110 25 2.72 1.27 5.67 October 52.7 98 8 2.46 .65 1.21 November . . . ,^8.4 88 — 4 .78 1.05 2.40 Fall 52.1 110 — 4 5.96 2.97 9.28 Year .. .. 50.4 110 —34 29.45 12.60 45.85 BAD STORMS During the sixty-two years that have inter vened since the arrival of the first colony of pioneers in Hall County there have been many bad storms and severe weather disturbances, but only a few stand out distinctly, noted for their severe effects and the loss of Hfe and property entailed thereby. On November 6, 1857, Lorenz Barnard and Henry Joehnk, of Grand Island, and WiHiam Roberts and Billy Painter, of Mendotte, went over to Prairie Creek antelope and deer hunt ing. When near the pond, due north of Grand Island, Lorenz Bamard and Roberts went up the creek, while the others hunted down the stream. In shooting ducks they crossed the creek several times, and when it began to rain that evening all started for the settlement. Soon not a vestige of dry clothes remained on them, the wind changed to the north, and a heavy stonn set in ; i1 grew colder and colder. Barnard and Robertj found their way home but Joehnk and Paintei became lost in the storm, and after darl stacked their guns for the purpose of buHding up a shelter with the high slough grass. Th( HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 201 wind swept away each bunch of grass, and to keep from freezing they had to walk around and around all night. Painter, becoming hungry, ate half a duck uncooked, but Joehnk would not touch the unsavory meal. At day light the snow proved to be eighteen inches in depth and still falling heavily. So they set out for the settlement where some men had set forth in search of them, but were driven back by the storm. Early that moming Joehnk arrived, but so worn was he that he could only signify by signs where Painter was. The men went forth in search, found the hunter, brought him in, but the hardships of the night proved too much, and November 7, 1857, occurred the first death in Hall County among the white settlers. Air. Hedde narrates that after this storm the weather was exceedingly mild for the rest of that first winter season. EASTER STORM OF 1873 Spring opened early in the year of 1873. The farmers had plowed and harrowed the ground and even sowed their oats and spring wheat in Febmary and March. By the first part of April the grass was nicely green and by the middle of April the small-grain fields were bright green with new crops. The set tlers were almost careless about such a spring; the prairies were, of course, bare of hedges, fences, or trees to break the winds and catch drifting snow. The whole scene was one of total unpreparedness for a severe snow storm at that time of the year. Easter Sunday came on the thirteenth day of April, foHowing many days of delightful mHdness. On the afternoon of that Easter a rain started up, with a heavy thunderstorm by 4 o'clock. This changed to a terrific snow-storm, which raged for three days without abating. In writing in Nebraska Pioneer Reminis cences of this storm. Judge Charles B. Letton of the Nebraska supreme court, who was then living near Fairbury, in Jefferson County, described it in part: The fury of the tempest was indescribable. The air appeared to be a mass of moving snow, and the wind howled like a pack of furies. I managed to get to the granary for some oats, but on looking into the ravine no stable was to be seen, only an immense snow drift which almost filled it. At the point where the door to the stable should have been there appeared a hole in the drift where the snow was eddying. On crawling into this I found that during the night the snow had drifted in around the horses and cattle, which were tied to the manger. The animals had tramped it under their feet to such an extent that it had raised them so that in places their backs lifted the flimsy roof, and the wind carrying much of the covering away, had fiHed the stable with snow until some of them were almost and others wholly buried, except where the remains of the roof protected them. Throughout Hall County in the groves the snow drifted to from fifteen to twenty feet in height, orchards and groves were damaged, many trees destroyed, and farmers lost nearly aH of their stock, some losing from ten to fifteen head, another seventy-five, and a third 100 head of cattle. Deer were found lying dead after the storm, and dead birds were seen everywhere. The following description and conclusions by Judge Letton though written concerning our neighboring county of Jefferson fitted the conditions of Hall County as closely as if written by a Hall County survivor of the storm : Many settlers took their cattle and horses into their houses or dugouts in order to save them. Every ravine and hollow that ran in an easterly or westerly direction was filled with snow from rim to rim. In other locali ties cattle were driven many miles by this storm. Houses, or rather shacks, were un roofed and people in them frozen to death. Travelers caught in the blizzard, who at tempted to take refuge in ravines, perished and their stiffened bodies were found when the drifts melted weeks afterward. Stories were told of people who had undertaken to go from their houses to their outbuildings and who, being blinded by the snow, became lost and either perished or nearly lost their lives, and of others where the settler in order to, reach his well or his outbuildings in safety fastened a rope to the door and went into the storm holding to the rope in order to insure his safe return. Deer, antelope, and other wild animals perished in the more sparsely settled districts. The storm lasted for three days, not always of the same in- 202 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA tensity, and freezing weather followed for a day or two thereafter. In a few days the sun shone, the snow melted, and spring re appeared; the melting drifts, that lay for weeks in some places, being the only reminder of the severity of the storm. To old settlers in Nebraska and northern Kansas this has ever since been known as "The Easter Storm." In the forty-six years that I have lived in Nebraska there has only been one other winter storm that measurably approached it in intensity. This was the blizzard of 1888 when several people lost their lives. At that time however, people were living in comfort, trees, hedges, groves, stub ble, and cornfields held the snow so that the drifts were insignificant in comparison. The cold was more severe but the duration of the storm was less and no such widespread suffer ing took place. another DECADE AND A HALF OF STORMS The winter of 1875-76 was mild and free from snow, and plowing was done in Decem ber and January. In May, 1878, three houses near Wood River were damaged by lightning. Rupert Schwaiger and EHas E. Boodry were killed by lightning while enroute to town. On July 8, 1878, a hail storm originated in Sherman County and came over into Hall County, causing such loss that forty-two Hall County farmers who were insured reported $20,000 loss, while the uninsured lost around $30,000. The frame of the Lutheran church, just raised in the southeast part of Grand Island, and the old building on Front street (P. Dunphy's) were levelled; several small buildings were blown down and the gardens generally wrecked. Though the hail-stones were not large, owing to their velocity their destructive power was terrible, and the quan tity of water which fell in a few minutes was beyond the experiences of every one ; and the, torrent which swept the main street of the town was two feet in depth. A hail storm in July, 1884, destroyed num erous buildings and severely damaged crops through Hall County. The eastern wall of the Union Pacific car shop was blown in, destroying property valued at $10,000; a new building near the Burlington depot was moved three feet, and from a point north of Grand Island to southeast of Doniphan, and even beyond that village, growing crops, trees, and small buildings were pounded into the ground, broken, or removed. A storm in June, 1885, destroyed $1,500 worth of window panes — the window glass in the court-house, Koenig's block, and Schaupp's mills being almost all broken. The new agricultural hall was twisted so as to require rebuilding, the front of Hake's harness shop was blown in, and a strip about two miles in width, from the northwest to the southwest comer of the county, devastated. There was a severe blizzard in January 7, 1886, but the worst storm between 1873 and the big storm of 1888 was in November, 1886. Men returning to their homes against that wind became dazed and almost breathless. David Alexander became lost and was nearly frozen before he found shelter. Judge Wilson also lost his way ; a herd of cattle drifted be fore the storm, the telegraph wires were torn from the poles, and several unfinished build ings were damaged by the terrific icy wind. THE BLIZZARD OF 1888 No other winter storm in the histor\- of the plains, it may be safely said, was ever more destructive than this one. The states of Ne braska and South Dakota were visited by the blizzard in all its ferocity, but for that matter the storm may be said to have been general throughout the whole country, and its chHling blast was felt from the Rockies to New Eng land. Yet the wind swept plains of Dakota and Nebraska undoubtedly fared worse than sections east. Loss to human life and prop erty on the plains, in places, was simply appall ing, and the surviving residents of tho^e sec tions cannot speak of it even now without an involuntary shudder. The stonn burst with great suddeness and fury, and many there were who did not live to tell the story of their suffering. Stories with out number could be told of narrow escapes throughout the plains. The morning of January 2 dawned damp and gloomy. A mist had been falling during the night, and the wind, which blew gently HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 203 from the south, was just cold enough to turn the moisture covering all nature, into a light hoarfrost. Before noon the frost had dis appeared and every indication pointed to an early clearing of the sky. Around the hour of noon a. terrific storm blast came bearing down upon the open prairies and dotted val leys. In a moment, heavy leaden clouds were blotted out. A bewildering, blinding sheet of dustlike snow was whirled through the air, and before evening the thermometer had sunk to 25 degrees below zero. The wayfarer, caught far from home, soon found his path way obstructed by the drifts of snow and every familiar guidemark obliterated. His bearings once gone would mean certain death unless he should chance in his blind gropings to stumble upon some human habitation or friendly stack of hay or straw in his path. As the early part of the day had been so mild, many people had ventured from home. Scores of farmers were caught in the towns, where they had to remain for several days, chafing under the restraint, but absolutely snow bound. Others less fortunate, caught on the road, in the valleys or out in the hills, soon found themselves in a terrible predicament. Everybody suffered immense hardships or inconvenience in this terrible storm, but none suffered more keenly than did the occupants of the prairie schoolhouses. Innumerable stories stand out in Nebraska history from this event, but none more lasting nor worthy of our digression to mention here than those of three Nebraska country school teachers — Loie Royce of Plainfield, Etta Shattuck of Hok county, and Minnie Freeman of Mira Valley, who were the subjects of much newspaper writing. Minnie Freeman Penney, in Nebraska Pio neer Reminiscenes has told these three stories in such compact form that we can well afford to record them here, in her words : Miss Royce had nine pupHs. Six went home for luncheon and remained on account of the storm. The three remaining pupils with the teacher stayed in the schoolhouse •until three o'clock. 'Their fuel gave out, and as her boarding house was but fifteen rods away, the teacher decided to take the children home with her. In the fury of the storm they wandered and were lost. Darkness came, and with it death. One little boy sank into eternal silence. The brave little teacher stretched herself out on the cold ground and cuddled the two re maining ones closer. Then the other little boy died and at daylight the spirit of the little girl, aged seven, fluttered away, leaving the young teacher frozen and numb with agony. Loie Royce "hath done what she could ; angels can do no better." Miss Royce lost both feet by amputation. Etta Shattuck, after sending her chHdren home (all living near) tried to go to her home. Losing her way, she took refuge in a haystack, where she remained, helpless and hungry Fri day, Saturday, and Sunday, suffering intensely and not able to move. She lived but a short time after her terrible experience. Those who knew Minnie Freeman say she was not seeking any newspaper notoriety, yet it is not amiss to quote from the Lincoln Daily Star of June 17, 1905, which remarked "That as Iowa has her Kate Shelley so Nebraska has her Minnie Freeman," we may add Minnie Freeman Penney's own account of this storm without it seeming to be any inclination on her part to claim undue glory : Minnie Freeman was teaching in Mira Valley, Valley County. She had in charge seventeen pupils. Finding it impossible to re main in the schoolhouse, she took the children with her to her boarding place almost a mile frorn the schoolhouse. Words are useless in the effort to portray that journey to the safe shelter of the farm house, with the touching obedience to every word of direction — rather felt than heard, in that fierce winding sheet of ice and snow. How it cut and almost blinded them ! It was terrible on their eyes. They beat their way onward, groping blindly in the darkness, with the visions of life and death ever before the young teacher responsible for the destiny of seventeen souls. All reached the farmhouse and were given a nice warm supper prepared by the hostess and the teacher, and comfortable beds pro vided. Minnie Freeman was unconscious of any thing heroic or unusual. Doing it in the simple line of duty to those placed in her care, she StiH maintains that it was the trust placed in 204 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA the Great Spirit who guides and cares for His own which led the little band Through the desert and illimitable air. Lone wandering, but not lost. LATER STORMS The winter of 1909-10 was unique in that sleet visited Nebraska in the later part of November, covered the roadways and walks, and in many places remained on the ground until early spring.- A simHar condition had existed in the winter of 1903-1904. In March, 1913, one of the worst storms in many years occurred. The snow piled up so that many engines were stalled in the Grana Island yards, though the situation was wOrse at North Platte and Sidney than here. A bad wreck occured during this storm a few miles west of Sidney, on the Union Pacific. AH the railroads -were tied up for several days, and for almost three days, no mail or freight was received. In February, 1919, a bad storm blocked the Burlington railroad at the cut near Phillips, a short distance southeast of Hall County line. This line was out of commission for about four days, though the Union Pacific was kept open at all times. CYCLONE august 12, 1919 A cyclone that demolished farm buHdings, ' killed stock and cut a pathway through big groves, telephone lines and fences, swept north of the city about 7 o'clock Tuesday evening, August 12, 1919. Though a number of people were in the path of the tornado no report was received of anyone being hurt. The cyclone developed during a heavy wind, rain and hail storm that lasted about half an hour. The cyclone cloud was visible from Grand Island and was seen by many people. First reports reaching here were of much damage. Grand Island apparently was on the outskirts of the storm. A strong wind raised much dust here, but no rain fell. St. Libory on the north also was at the edge of the storm, which traveled between the two towns. Rain and hail accompanied the cyclone, but the path of destruction was small. The dis tance between the point where the cyclone first hit the earth and the point where it lifted evidently was about four mHes. The width of the path of the cyclone was from 200 to 300 feet most of the way. The tornado traveled from northwest to ward the southeast. It first touched the ground in the pasture on the Henry Brabander farm a half mile west of the Martin Grotz place, which is twelve miles northwest of the city, according to Mrs. Grotz. It swept through the William Franssen farm, the Charles Rob ert place and the Henry Mohr place-, doing much damage at each place, but wrecking its greatest fury on the Mohr place. About a half mile east of the group of buildings on the Mohr place the cyclone lifted, doing practical ly no damage to a large grove of trees planted there, but passing above them. August Hamann, who lives several miles north of the city on the road that mns on the east side of the Soldiers' home, saw the cy clone from a distance. He gave a vivid de scription of its appearance. He said the funnel shaped cloud seemed to form northwest of his place, and he presumed it began somewhere in the vicinity of Cairo. It moved southeast and when it reached the vicinity of the St. Paul road it was sucked up. His estimate proved wholly correct so far as the finish of the cyclone, as it left the ground a quarter of a mile west of the St. Paul road. The path of the cyclone was approximately along the county line, Mohr's place being near the line. Mr. Hamann was in the field during the storm and was watching it. "First I noticed a large amount of dust being raised," he said. Then I stopped work to watch it. It was the closest I ever saw such a cloud. The bottom of the funnel-shaped cloud seemed to rest in a cloud of dust on the ground. I judged the thickness of the funnel at the ground to be about 300 feet. Clouds and dust whirling around in a circle gave the funnel-shaped ap pearance. The funnel widened gradually from the ground up, the difference in width not being great. At first the top of the funnel seemed only about 200 feet from the ground. It graduaHy lengthened until it extended to HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 205 the storm clouds. From the mass of storm clouds above, another cloud which also had a funnel shape, hung down a ways and seemed to remain just above the other funnel, and finally it seemed as if the cyclone was sucked up into this cloud. People in the city who had good vantage points from which to watch the cyclone cloud say they noticed clouds of dust near the ground. Just after the cyclone formed it struck the WHHam Franssen place. The big windmill was torn down. The large barn was moved from its foundation and the chicken house and sum mer kitchen were upset, according to the farm ers who visited the Franssen home. East of the Franssen place the cyclone hit the farm property of Charles Roberts. Three head of cattle were reported killed in the pas ture and several head crippled, As many trees were blown down in that vicinity it is pre sumed the flying limbs caused the fatality among the cattle. A thick grove of trees that stood just west of the house about fifty feet was entirely down. Trees two feet thick were broken off and uprooted. The whole fomied a mass of tangled trunks, limbs and leaves that lay with the ends touching the house. The summer kitchen, just outside of the house to the west, but built separate from the main building, was moved four feet from its foundation and twistfed around. The house itself appeared not to have been moved. The barn, 54 x 48 feet, about 100 feet east of the house, was entirely gone. Just before the storm ten cows and three calves had been put in the barn and preparations were being made to milk. A steer, which had been suffer ing from a kick, also was in the barn. When the family emerged from the house they found all the cattle standing on the ground inside the barn foundation just where they were before the storm. The barn was gone, however. Part of the barn was found in a pasture forty rods away. The main part had been moved twenty-five feet north of the foun dation and lay on the ground, a twisted heap of ruins. Almost outside the front door of the house a pet dog lay dead, killed by a blow from flying derbis. A corn crib and machine shed south of the house was blown away, part of it being found in a meadow 160 rods distant. The roof was lying near the foundation. The granary east of the house a short distance was moved a rod and a half from its foundation; Before the storm the granary faced the south and after the storm it faced the west. The chicken coop was not touched. The cattle shed and the hog pens were torn down and lost somewhere. John Mohr said he had not found any trace of them. A steer that was in the yard had a leg broken. It was estimated that scores of chickens were killed under the trees. The windmill was down. John Mohr stated that two acres of trees, standing not more than ten feet apart, were destroyed, being stripped of foliage and limbs and in many cases being uprooted or broken off near the ground. These trees were just west of the house. CHAPTER XII THE TOPOGRAPHY AND SOIL SURVEY OF HALL COUNTY Description of the Area — Natural Transportation Advantages — Soils — Hall Silt Loam — Hall Very Fine Sandy Loam — Hall Fine Sandy Loam — Hall Sandy — Loam — ¦ Hall Clay Loam — Cass Series of Soils — Grundy Soils — Marshall Loams — Colby Series — Valentine Sand — O'Neill Sands — O'Neill Loam — Lamoure Loams — Gannett Soils — Summary of Classes of Soils — Rapid Rise in Values in 1919 description of the area ^ Hall County is situated in the south-central part of Nebraska. Grand Island, the county seat, is 154 mHes west of Omaha. The county is bounded on the north by Howard County, on the east by Hamilton and Merrick counties, on the south by Adams County, and on the west by Buffalo County. It is nearly square, being approximately 24 miles long from north to south and 23 miles wide east and west. Its total area is 528 square miles, or 337,920 acres. Hall County lies near the eastern margin of the Great Plains. In general the surface is smooth, and there is no conspicuous topo graphic relief. The Platte River crosses the county in a northeasterly direction, flowing through a shallow valley 12 to 15 miles wide. About 6 square miles of territory in the ex treme northwestern corner is included in the South Loup River Valley. The upland consists of two small triangular areas, one in the north western part of the county and one in the southeastern part. These upland areas repre sent remnants of an originally continuous east ward-sloping plain. The Platte River flows near the southern side of its valley, in a number of widely separated channels which inclose a great num ber of low-lying, elongated islands. The bot tom land in general lies only 5 to 10 feet above the water, and there are many poorly drained depressions representing' the sites of old channels. To the north of the first bot toms is a very extensive nearly level alluvial terrace, lying 15 to 40 feet above the flood plains. The city of Grand Island is situated near the southern border of this terrace, which for convenience in reference may be called the Grand Island terrace. The dividing line between the first bottoms and this terrace is a low bluff extending southwesterly from Grand Island and lying 1 to 2 miles south of the Union Pacific Railroad. The terrace reaches a width of 6 to 13 miles, and is the largest topographic division in the county. Its sur face has scarcely been modified. In a few places the wind has heaped up low hummocks of sand, but there has been little stream ero sion. There are a few small eastward-flow ing streams on the terrace, but they follow sluggish, winding courses and occupy relative ly deep, canallike channels, without tribu taries. There are also a few winding slough like depressions, which seem to represent the abandoned channels of present streams. The upland areas lie 50 to 150 feet above 1 Much of the text matter and the bulk of the statistics set forth in this chapter were prepared by J. O. Veatch, of the U. S. department of agriculture, and V. H, Seabury, of the Nebraska soil survey (based upon inspection made by Thomas D. Rice) and first published in advance sheets of Field Opera tions of U. S. department of agriculture, Bureau of Soils, and ofifered for information of HaU County people generally. 206 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 207 the Platte Valley floor. The surface in general ranges from slightly rolling to nearly level and flat, but in places near drainage ways there are narrow zones of broken and eroded land. About 30 square miles of upland in the north ern part of the county is roHing and uneven, owing to the heaping up of loose sand into irregular, low, .rounded hills and dunes by the wind. This area forms a narrow divide be tween the Loup and Platte valleys and is known as the "sand hills." A similar but much less extensive line of low hills occurs along the margin of the southern upland area facing the Platte Valley. The elevation of the first bottoms and ter races of the Platte River ranges from 1,800 to 2,000 feet above sea level. There is a gradual slope eastward of about 9 feet per mile. The elevation of the Loup River Val ley in the northwestern corner of the county is about 1,900 feet above sea level. The up land in the northwestern part ranges from about 1,940 to 2,100 feet. The elevation of the southern upland area ranges from about 2,060 feet above sea level on the west to about 1,900 feet along the eastern boundary of the county. The Platte River drains the entire county except a small area in the northwestern part which is drained by the South Loup River. The Platte is heavily loaded with sediment, and is engaged in aggradation and in lateral cutting rather than in deei)ening its channel. AH the longer streams have low gradients. Most of the streams are intermittent. Even the Platte River frequently becomes dry for short periods during the summer. There are many nearly level areas which have no well- defined drainage ways and in which there has been little modification of the original con structional plains surface. The rainfaH, how ever, is comparatively light, and many of the soil types have porous subsoils and are well underdrained, so that areas with only a very moderate slope may be naturally drained suf ficiently for farming. The only areas that are markedly deficient in drainage are small depressions in the upland and the lower lying bottoms along the Platte River, aggregating not more than 6 per cent of the total area of the county. - The first settlement in this territory was made about 1857, by a colony of Germans, and the county was organized in 1858. Its popu lation in 1880 was 8,572, and in 1910, 20,361. Approximately 86 per cent of the population consists of native white persons and 13.6 per cent of foreign-born white persons, principally Germans. All the population outside Grand Island, or 49.3 per cent of the total, is classed as rural, and averages 19 persons to the square mile. AH parts of the county are settled, but the density of settlement is slightly greater in the central-valley part along the Union Pacific Railroad. Grand Island, with a population in 1910 of 10,326, is the principal city and county seat. It has a number of manufacturing industries, and is one of the largest horse and mule mar kets in the west. Doniphan, with a population of 399, in the southeastern part of the county ; Wood River, with a population of 796, in the southwestern part; and Cairo, with a popu lation of 364, in the northwestern part, are important local trading points and grain markets. NATURAL TRANSPORTATION ADVANTAGS Lines of the Union Pacific and Chicago, Burlington & Quincy raHroads and the St. Joseph & Grand Island railway traverse the county and afford ,,excellent transportation facilities. No farm is more than ten miles from a railway station. The public highways are all earth roads, but they are generally maintained in good condition by frequent grad ing and dragging. Roads have been laid out on practically every section line except in a few square miles of rough sand-hill uplands and also in some parts of the Platte River bottoms, which are difficult of access on ac^ count of the numerous channels. Rural mail delivery routes reach all parts of the county, and practically all the farmers have telephone connection with Grand Island and oth^r near by towns. Hall County lies on the national transconti nental route, the Lincoln Highway. This route 208 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA from New York to San Francisco passes through the country almost parallel with the transcontinental raHroad, the Union Pacific. A mHe of road east of Grand Island was prepared a few years ago with hard ce ment surface. Plans are laid in 1919 to pre pare at least another mile of macadamized or hard surfaced road. The program for 5,000 mHes of state-aid permant highways for Ne braska, enacted by the 1919 legislature, gives Hall County a net-work of state highways to every corner. From east to west runs the Lincoln Highway. From the southeast corner of the county to Grand Island the Seward- York-Aurora Highway, which is included in the route of the proposed Pershing Memorial National Highway from New York to San Francisco, via Indianapolis, La Clede, and St. Joseph, Missouri, to Lincoln, Nebraska, and to Grand Island, the proposed junction of the Lincoln and Pershing transcontinental high ways ; from Grand Island, through Cairo and on past the northwest corner of the county, the Potash Highway, leading to the Black HiHs ; from Grand Island north to St. Libory and on to St. Paul and Loup City, the north route starts to the Loup VaHey, and the Hall County part of this state road may soon be come part of the ' Grainland Highway from Sioux City to Kansas ; as also may the state- road leading from Grand Island through Doni phan to Hastings and south. Thus does Hall County naturally become the hub of the cen tral part of the state, on its two great means of transportation, railroads and permanent highways. Recently the federal government has assigned forty large motor trucks for road and highway work in this vicinity and loca tions have been selected near Grand Island for gravel and sand pits to furnish material for road construction. SOILS Hall County is situated in the east-central part of the Great Plains region. The soils have been influenced by a climate intermediate be tween that of the north-central Mississippi Valley and that of the semi-arid High Plains. However, they partake more of the nature of soils of humid than of semi-arid regions. The greater part of the soils has been derived from old and recent alluvium laid down in the valley of the Platte River. The soils of the upland, which constitute a little less than one- third of the county, are derived mainly from the un derlying formations, which consist of silt, sand, and sandy clay. These are mainly of Pleistocene age, but some of the material is possibly late Tertiary. The principal deposit on the upland is a pale-yellow or grayish, loosely consolidated material consisting mainly of silt and very fine sand. In structure and chemical char acteristics it is similar to the loess along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. It is part of an extensive formation, probably Pleistocene in age, which underlies a large part of central and eastern Nebraska and is known geologic ally as "Plains Loess." The silt formation in this county is overlain by a thin deposit of yellow fine and very fine sand. This super ficial sand deposit is not uniformly distrib uted over the whole upland and in places it has been largely removed by erosion, but it has had an important influence on the char acter of the soils. The sand generally is not more than 10 feet in thickness, but in places it has been heaped by wind action into hills 25 to 30 feet high. In the following pages of this report the various soils mapped in Hall County are des cribed in detail and discussed in their rela tion to agriculture. HALL SILT LOAM AND FRIABLE SOIL . (69,253 acres, 20.2%) The soil of the Hall silt loam is uniformly a very dark brown, friable silt loam, high in organic matter, to a depth of 8 to 12 inches, underlain by a somewhat lighter brown, more compact silt loam which continues to depths ranging from 15 to 24 inches. The surface soil contains only a very small percentage of particles coarser than very fine sand. There is generally a fairly abrupt change to the subsoil, which consists of 6 to 8 inches of dark-yellow clay, tough and plastic when wet and very hard and impenetrable when dry, HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 209 underlain by less plastic silty clay to a depth of 36 to 40 inches. The lower subsoil usually contains sufficient lime to effervesce freely with acid. The lime content apparently is not high in the surface material, although there is no evidence of a deficiency. The sub stratum is a pale-yeHow or grayish, friable silt loam and very fine sandy loam, extending to depths of 10 to 20 feet. The Hall list loam occurs principally in one large area west and north of Alda and Wood River, in'the central- western part of the county. This area includes practically aH of Plarrison township; and with the fria ble subsoil phase, all but a part of the north west quarter of Cameron township, and ex tends into southeast four sections of South Loup, two south tiers of sections in May- field and a few sections in west end of Center township. There are two very small, isolated areas, one in Lake Township north of Grand Is land and one a short distance northeast of Doniphan. The typical soil covers 16.7 per cent of the county. The principal area, on the Grand Island terrace, lies 20 to 40 feet above the first bottoms of the Platte, and about 1,900 feet above sea level. There is an imperceptible eastward slope. The surface varies from flat to fairly undulating. The area is traversed by a few winding, sluggish creeks, with deep channels, and there are a few narrow, winding ditchlike depressions, which represent remnants of old stream chan nels. The soil is nowhere subject to stream erosion. Except in a few shallow depressions the natural drainage is adequate for -farming in normal years. Because of its large extent and high average productiveness the Hall silt loam is the most important soil in the county. About 90 per cent of it is under cultivation. Some of the more poorly drained areas are used for pas ture. Corn, wheat, alfalfa, and oats are the principal crops grown. Barley, millet, sorg hum, and kafir are grown in occasional small fields. On account of the very small acreage of pasture on the average farm, little live stock is kept. A small number of farmers are engaged in stock feeding, using the sur plus grain and hay produced in the neighbor hood. A very small percentage of the farm ers keep dairy herds, and sell both milk and cream. The average yield of corn is about 28 bushels per acre, of wheat 23 bushels, of oats about 40 bushels, and of alfalfa, as a total of several cuttings, between 3^^ and 4 tons. Alfalfa probably gives better results than on any other soil in the county. Under favorable moisture conditions this soil is easily worked and maintained in good tilth. It is somewhat heavier than most of the terrace soils, and if worked when wet it tends to compact and clod, so that rolling is often necessary to work up a good seed bed for wheat. Four-horse teams are commonly used with gang plows turning two furrows to a depth of 6 or 7 inches. Owing to the level character of the surface, tractors can be easily used in fall plowing. The greater part of the Hall silt loam had a selling price of $100 to $125 an acre up until 1919. Hall silt loam, friable-subsoil phase. — ^The Hall silt loam, friable-subsoil phase, differs from the typical Hall silt loam mainly in the higher texture and more friable structure of the subsoil. The principal area of Hall silt loam, friable- subsoil phase, is a strip one-fourth to 1 mHe wide skirting the southern and eastern bound ary of the large area of typical Hall silt loam lying north of Wood River. A second area of considerable size occurs at the town of Wood River, and a smaH area is encountered south of the Platte River, in South Platte township. This phase does not differ materially from the typical HaH silt loam in topography and drainage, and there is apparently very little difference in agricultural value. Alfalfa may not give quite as good results, but corn with stands drought as well as on the typical soil, or better, and gives equally good yields. HALL VERY FINE SANDY LOAM (28,928 acres, 8.6%) The surface soil of the Hall very fine sandy 210 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA loam is a very dark brown, uniformly fine material consisting predominantly of very fine sand and silt, with but a small percentage of clay and scarcely any material coarser than fine sand. It becomes slightly lighter in color at a depth of 12 to 15 inches, and at 18 to 20 inches grades into a moderately compact, hght- brownish or yellowish fine sandy clay. The substratum, beginning at depths of 36 to 40 inches, is generally lighter in texture than the subsoil, consisting of very fine sandy loam or sand. The surface soil has a high content of organic matter and appears black when wet. In the flatter, poorly drained areas the lower subsoil is frequently a grayish or yellowish-drab, compact, puttylike clay, con taining sufficient lime to effervesce with acid. In some places the division line between the Hall very fine sandy loam and silt loam is rather arbitrary, and it is probable that con siderable silt loam is included with the very fine sandy loam. The Hall very fine sandy loam is confined to the Grand Island terrace. It occupies a large area in Lake Township directly north of Grand Island, and a belt ranging from one- fourth mHe to 3 miles wide extends south- westward from Alda past the town of Wood River to the county line. These areas are irregular in outline (and contain numerous inclusions of other types. Smaller develop ments are mapped near Cairo and Abbott. This is a productive soil, and because of its comparatively large extent it is one of the more important farming types of the county. Eighty-five per cent or more of its area is under cultivation. Wheat, corn, alfalfa, and oats are the principal crops, named in order of acreage. The average yield of wheat is probably 20 bushels per acre, of corn 30 bushels, and of oats 40 bushels. Alfalfa yields 3^/2 tons per acre per season. The areas of lighter subsoil apparently differ in agricultural value from the typical soil. The surface soil of the Hall very fine sandy loam is loose and loamy, and in years of normal rainfall it is easily maintained in good tilth. The soil is slightly more coherent than the associated fine sandy loam and sand types, and it forms a somewhat better seed bed for wheat and oats, but it can not be worked quite as soon after heavy rains. Land of the Hall very fine sandy loam has had a selling price of about $100 to $125 an acre, de!pending upon the location and improvements. HALL FINE SANDY LOAM (21,952 acres, 6.5%) The surface material of the Hall fine sandy loam is a very dark brown, loose fine sandy loam. In general it becomes somewhat lighter in color at 10 or 12 inches, but it continues as a brown fine sandy loam, containing con siderable organic matter, to a depth of 18 or 20 inches, where it grades into a yellowish friable fine sandy clay. This in turn passes into a yellowish or grayish, friable clay and sticky sandy loam or sand at 3 or 4 feet. The soil is uniformly fine in texture, contain ing high percentages of very fine sand and silt and only a very smaH percentage of part icles coarser than fine sand. Much of the soil included with this type is a fine loam in texture. This latter soil does not differ from the fine sandy loam in color or topog raphy, and it is not possible to make an ac curate separation. Part of the type as mapped along the southern margin of the sand hills from Cairo eastward varies from typical in having a lower subsoil of yellow silt or very fine sandy loam. The Hall fine sandy loam occurs principally to the north and northwest of Grand Island, in Mayfield, Prairie Creek, and Lake town ships, and in a belt one-fourth to one-half mile wide, extending southwestward along the southern border of the Grand Island terrace from a point near Alda to the county line. The areas are very irregular in outline, and in no place cover an entire square mile. The surface is nearly level or only slightly undu lating, but the type on the whole is slightly higher lying and better drained than the closely associated Hall very fine sandy loam. In places it occupies hills or dirges lying 5 to 15 feet above the surrounding level, and only a very small total area is flat and poorly drained. Practically aH the type is in farms, and HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 211 it is regarded as one of the more valuable soils of the county. Corn, wheat, alfalfa, and oats are the principal crops, named in the order of acreage. The. greater part of the grain and hay produced is sold from the farms. Crop yields show wide variety from year to year. The average yield of com is about 30 bushels per acre, of wheat 20 bushels, of oats 35 bushels, and of alfalfa, per season, 3 to 3^ tons. The soH has a loose, loamy structure and is easily worked and maintained in good tilth. The greater part of the type has had a seHing price of $100 to" $125 an acre, depend ing upon the location and improvements. HALL SANDY LOAM (6,656 acres, 2%) The typical Hall sandy loam consists of a dark grayish brown or black, friable sandy loam which becomes lighter in color at a depth of 10 to 12 inches and at 18 to 24 inches grades into a light-brownish or yellowish, heavier subsoil. This varies in different places from a compact sandy loam to a silty clay. The type is not very uniform. As mapped it includes some areas of brown loamy sand which does not differ materially from the O'Neill sand except in its heavier subsoil. In some of the more poorly drained depres sions the lower subsoil is a drab, plastic, cal careous clay. The soil everywhere contains a relatively large proportion of fine and very fine sand, and it is not in all places closely differentiated from the Hall fine sandy loam. The greater part of the Hall sandy loam occurs in Center township, directly west of Grand Island. It is developed mainly in the flatter and more poorly drained areas as sociated with the O'Neill sand, and much of the type receives run-off and seepage water from hills occupied by the latter soil. It is less extensive than the Hall very fine sandy loam and fine sandy loam, and of lower ave rage productiveness. About 90 per cent of it is under cultivation — corn, wheat, and oats being the principal crops. Com is sometimes "drowned out" in the more poorly drained depressions. HALL CLAY LOAM (4,928 acres, 1.5%) The Hall clay loam consists of 8 to 10 inches of very dark gray or black, slightly plastic and sticky clay loam, grading into dark-drab or yellowish-drab, stiff fine sandy clay. The surface for 2 to 4 inches commonly consists of a dark -grayish or black, loose, fine sandy loam or very sandy loam. This rests upon a subsurface layer of plastic clay. Grayish, sticky sand, underlain by coarse sand, usually saturated with water, is encountered at depth of 3 to 4 feet. The Hall clay loam occurs in a number of small, widely separated developments. The largest areas are found in Lake township, directly north of Grand Island, and in May- field and Harrison townships, a short distance southwest of Abbott. Numerous oval or circular patches, many of them too small to be shown separately on the soil map, are distributed throughout the larger area of Hall fine sandy loam, very fine sandy loam, and silt loam. The clay loam occupies shallow, poorly drained depressions on the Grand Island terrace. The greater part of the type in the larger areas is too wet for successful farming, and is valued as pasture land and for wild hay. Most of the smaller areas are farmed in con nection with more arable land. The soil is sticky and difficult to work when wet, and tends to bake and clod when very dry. In favorable years good yields of the staple crops are obtained. Where the type can be drained it can be made as productive as the naturally better drained soils. Thorough drainage and the use of barnyard manure are probably the best methods of treatment for the alkali spots. The class of soil aggregating the next great est acreage is the Cass series. The Cass series is characterized by dark- brown or black surface soHs and a lighter colored subsoil, commonly pale yellow or grayish. A distinguishing characteristic is the lighter texture in the subsoil than in the sur face layer. In Hall County the surface ma terial in most places is sufficiently calcareous 212 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA to effervesce with acid. The Cass is the most extensive series in the bottom lands of the Platte River. The Lamoure series is similar to the Cass in color, but differs in that the subsoH is as heavy as the surface soil, or heavier. The material is often calcareous throughout the 3-foot section and always effervesces in lower subsoil. Drainage is sufficiently thorough for successful farming. CASS SANDY LOAM (5,056 acres, 1.5%) To a depth of 6 to 10 inches the Cass sandy loam consists of a very dark brown, loose, friable sandy loam, fairly well supplied with organic matter. The soil becomes lighter in color and coarser in texture with depth, and changes at 15 to 20 inches into a grayish or pale-yeHowish coarse sand. The surface ma terial generally contains enough calcium carb onate to cause effervescence with acid. The subsoil in general is loose and porous, but in a few places a dark-colored, coherent sandy loam extends to a depth of 20 to 30 inches, the soil closely resembling Lamoure sandy loam in stracture and other characteristics. The Cass sandy loam occupies low north east-southwest ridges in the higher parts of the first bottoms of the Platte River. The largest areas occur in Washington and Alda townships. This soil is well drained, and practically all of it is under cultivation. Corn is the principal crop, followed by wheat, oats, and alfalfa. CASS FINE SAND (16,128 acres, 4.8%) The Cass fine sand consists predominately of 6 to 8 inches of loamy fine sand which gradually becomes lighter in color and coarser in texture with depth, and grades into a lower subsoil of yellowish or grayish, incoherent medium sand. The top soil is dark brown or black, depending upon the local drainage con ditions. Generally there is only a very small percentage of organic matter below a depth of 3 or 4 inches. A very small area has been formed along the channels of the South Loup River, in the extreme northwestern part of the county. The organic content and the soH color vary with the age of the deposit. The surface is un even and hummocky, being characterized by depressions inclosed by ridges 5 to 10 feet high or by low, wind-formed knolls. Drain age is generally good. The uneven surface favors ready run-off, and the open, porous subsoil and substratum permit free under- drainage. This type is less extensive than the Cass fine sandy loam, and is of much less agricul tural importance. The greater part of it is used for pasture. Most of the land was cleared at an early date and now supports a fair growth of native grasses, together with such introduced forage plants as redtop, blue- grass, and sweet clover. Most of the smaH islands in the stream channels are covered with cottonwood, elm, ash, willow, and a brushy growth of locust and buffalo berry. Only a very small percentage of the Cass fine sand is under cultivation. Com, the prin cipal crop, gives fair yields on the darker colored and deeper areas of fine sand, since this soil withstands drought as well as the heavier types. The areas of medium sand, however, have not proved durable. Occasion ally fair stands of alfalfa are obtained on the typical fine sand areas. The soil seems to be unsuited to the production of wheat and oats. It is easily plowed and tHled under all moist ure conditions. On account of its loose, in coherent structure it drifts to some extent during high winds. Land of the Cass fine sand has been selling at $50 to $60 an acre. CASS Fine sandy loam (23,808 acres, 7.0%) The Cass fine sandy loam typically con sists of a very dark gray or black fine sandy loam which changes to gray at 6 to 10 inches and gradually becomes lighter in texture with depth, passing at 12 to 20 inches into gray or gray and yellowish mottled, loamy fine sand, loose in structure. The lower subsoil HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 213 consists of a gray, porous medium sand which changes at 3 to 4 feet to coarse sand and fine gravel. The topsoil is generally well supplied with organic matter, and it contains sufficient calcium carbonate to effervesce slightly with acid. The principal variations in texture are toward a silt loam and a very fine sandy loam. In places there is only a very thin layer of soil high in organic matter, underlain by yellowish-gray, incoherent fine sand, the type here closely resembling the more loamy areas of the Cass fine sand. In some of the lower situations the black fine sandy loam is underlain at a depth of 12 to 15 inches by gray, medium and coarse sand. A silty variation of this type is encountered in three areas, aggregating about 750 acres, in Alda and Washington townships, and in a small area in the extreme northwest part of the county in the South Loup River bottoms. This soil is of small extent, but all of it is under cultivation. It consists of a dark-brown ish, mellow sHt loam, 6 to 8 inches thick, grad ing into dark-grayish, compact very fine sandy loam which is underlain by grayish, loamy fine sand at 20 to 30 inches. There is usually a substratum of coarse sand at about 40 inphes. The surface soil is well supplied with organic matter and appears black when wet. The soil is moderately cal careous to a depth of 20 to 30 inches. The typical Cass fine sandy loam is largely confined to the first bottoms of the Platte River, where it occurs in strips 100 yards to one-half mile in width paraHel to present and old channels of the river. A very small area occurs in the extreme northwestern part of the county, in the South" Loup River VaHey. The Cass fine sandy loam is the most ex tensive bottom-land soil in the county. About 60 per cent of it is under cultivation, this proportion representing the better drained area. Corn is the principal crop, followed by wheat and oats. There is a small acreage of alfalfa. The uncultivated land is valued as pasture and for wild-hay production. Cattle and hogs are fed on most farms, and the com and hay crops are largely consumed on the farm. Sweet corn makes a rank growth, and on a few farms this crop is grown in small fields for seed. Corn yields vary greatly, depending upon the season. The average yield for a period of years is probably about 25 bushels per acre. Small grain does not give as good results as on the heavier soils of the bottom lands and upland. The yields of wild hay average about 1^ tons per acre. The surface soil of this type has a loose, loamy structure, and is easily plowed and tilled. Level cultivation is generally practiced in growing corn. Farms composed largely of the Cass fine sandy soam, with average improvements, have had a selling price of about $75 an acre. CASS CLAY loam (10,944 acres, 3.2%) The surface soil of the Cass clay loam is a dark-drab or black, slightly plastic clay loam, underlain at shallow depths by coarse sand and fine gravel. Over most of the type the surface soil consists of 2 or 3 inches of black fine sandy loam or silty loam, underlain by dark-drab, stiff clay to a depth of 6 to 15 inches. There is generally a sharp change to the porous, coarse subsoil, only 1 or 2 inches of sticky fine sandy loam or medium sand intervening in places. The surface soil of the Cass clay loam is generally well supplied with organic matter and in a few places there is a superficial layer of 3 to 4 inches of sticky loam. This type occurs widely distributed in the first bottoms of the Platte River, where it occupies narrow, elongated depressions rep resenting old river channels which have been partly filled with silt. The subsoil material is identical with that on the floors of the present channels. The type is poorly drained and is more subject to overflow than other types of the bottoms. In wet periods the ground water frequently rises to the base of the clay, or within 12 or 15 inches of the surface. The type lies only 4 or 5 feet above the stream channels. On account of its poor drainage very little of this type has been placed under cultivation and it is valued chiefly as hay and pasture 214 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA land. In most places it supports a heavier growth of grasses than the lighter texture types. In the few fields under cuhivation fair yields of corn and oats are obtained in dry years. The soil is somewhat sticky when wet and tends to become hard and cloddy. Artificial drainage is necessary to improve this soil and make it suitable for profitable farming, but throughout most of the type this is impracticable on account of its slight eleva tion above the stream channels. MARSHALL LOAM (3,712 acres, 1.1%) Marshall loam is a very dark brown, mellow loam. It becomes lighter colored and higher in clay content at about 15 inches, and grades at 18 to 20 inches into a dark yeHowish brown, friable, fine-grained clay, which changes to a yellow, friable silty clay at about 30 to 36 inches. The type as mapped varies in texture, much of it being a fine loam or a fine sandy loam, and it everywhere contains a relatively large proportion of very fine sand and silt. It is intermediate in color and structure be tween the associated Colby and Grundy soils. The Marshall loam occurs in Doniphan and South Platte townships, in five areas .varying from 300 to 1,500 acres in extent. Its surface is slightly undulating, not quite as level as that of the Grundy silt loam but not quite as uneven as that of the Colby soils. The drain age is good. AH the type is under cultivation to the staple crops of wheat, corn, oats, and alfalfa. Its productiveness is about the same as that of the Marshall and Grundy silt loams. It is somewhat easier to work than those types, and probably withstands severe droughts a little better than the Grundy soil. MARSHALL silt LOAM (4,672 acres, 1.4%) The surface soil of the MarshaH silt loam is typicaHy a very dark brown, mellow sHt loam, 12 to 15 inches deep. The subsurface material is a lighter brown, friable silt loam, which grades into yeHowish-brown, friable silty clay loam at 20 to 24 inches. The Marshall silt loam occurs in several small areas in the northwestern part of the county and in two small areas in the extreme southeastern part. Its surface varies from nearly level to undulating or gently sloping. In the northwestern part of the county the type occupies drainage divides, the steeper slopes comprising areas of Colby silt loam. The two small areas in the southeastern part of the county occur on comparatively gentle slopes along small drainage ways. The land is sufficiently sloping to be well drained with out being subject to destructive erosion. This soil is productive, and practically all of it is under cultivation. Wheat, corn, and alfalfa are the principal crops. Oats are grown to some extent. GRUNDY SILT LOAM The surface soil of the Grundy silt loam consists of a very dark brown, mellow sHt loam, 10 to 12 inches deep, grading into a lighter brown, slightly more compact silt loam. This changes rather abruptly, usually at a depth of 18 to 24 inches, to a yellowish-brown, tough, impervious clay, which resembles a clay hardpan. This clay is stiff and plastic when wet and becomes extremely hard and crumbly when dry. The subsoil varies in color from yellowish brown to yeHowish drab, but is usually lighter in the lower part. A substratam of yellowish or pale-yellowish, friable silt is encountered at depths of 3j/4 to 5 feet. The lower subsoil and the sub stratum are calcarous, but the surface ma terial nowhere contains sufficient lime to effervesce with acid. This soil is confined principally to one large uniform area in Doniphan and South Platte townships, in the southeastern part of the county. It occupies a nearly level or slightly undulating plain, little modified by stream erosion. Practically all the type is under cultivation, and it is regarded as one of the more valuable general-fanning soHs of the county. Wheat, corn, alfalfa, and oats are the principal crops, named in order of acreage. Kafir, sorghum, and millet are grown in small fields. Orchard HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 215 fraits probably bear somewhat better than on the terrace and first-bottom soils. Only a few farmers feed stock extensively and most of the grain and hay produced is sold. COLBY FINE SANDY LOAM (9,728 acres, 2.9%) The surface soil of the Colby fine sandy loam consists of a light-brown or yeHowish loose fine sandy loam, grading at 6 to 12 inches into a yollow, heavy fine sandy loam or fine sandy clay loam. The subsoil, begin ning at 15 to 20 inches, is a light-yellow, friable, mealy, fine or very fine sandy loam. In general the soil is very similar to the Colby sHt loam in composition and origin, but it has a slightly looser surface soil and a more porous, friable subsoil. An area of Colby fine sandy loam about 6 square miles in extent is mapped in Martin and South Platte townships, with a few smaHer bodies in close association with the Colby sHt loam. The type also occurs in a narrow east-west strip along the southern border of the sandhills, in South Loup and Mayfield townships, extending from the Buffalo County line to a point about 5 miles east of Cairo. The surface in general is un even or sUghtly undulating. Low, rounded hummocks or knolls and intervening shallow depressions give rise to a choppy surface resembling that formed by wind in areas of loose sand. The type is well drained, but is not subject to serious erosion. Practically all this soil is under cultivation. Corn, wheat, oats, and alfalfa are the prin cipal crops. The methods of farming and the disposition of the crops are much the same as on the Colby silt loam. Corn gives practically the same yields as on the silt loam, namely, about 25 bushels per acre, but the fine sandy loam does not seem to be as well adapted to wheat and alfalfa. The type in most places is easily maintained in good tilth, where manure or rotted straw is applied, and it can be worked under a wider range of moisture conditions than the silt loam. The hummocky character of the sur face does not seriously interfere with plowing and harvesting, but it detracts to some ex tent from the agricultural value of the land. COLBY SILT LOAM (21,120 acres, 6.2%) The surface soil of the Colby silt loam is a dark brownish gray, mellow silt loam, rang ing from 6 to 10 inches in depth. It usually contains a relatively high percentage of very fine sand and is ordinarily loose in structure, but becomes moderately compact if worked when wet. The surface soil is underlain by a yellow silty clay loam layer, 4 or 5 inches in thickness. The subsoH, beginning at 12 to 18 inches, is a pale-yeHow, friable silt loam or very fine sandy loam, usuaHy calcareous at about 3 feet. The surface soil is variable in thickness and color, being very thin and light gray or yellowish on the more eroded slopes, and dark in color and fairly well supplied with organic matter in the more nearly level areas. The type differs from the Grundy and Marshall sHt loams mainly in its lighter color and more friable subsoil. The Colby silt loam is somewhat more widely distributed in the southeastern upland area than in the northwestern upland. In the northwestern part of the county it largely occupies gentle or moderate slopes, but to some extent occurs on very steep slopes along drainage ways, where the land is too steep for successful farming and has been gullied in places. In the southern part of the county the areas along the border of the upland fac ing the Platte River bottoms are characterized by moderate to steep slopes, and are rather deeply eroded in places. "Back from the margin of the upland the larger areas have a slightly uneven surface, with low, rounded hillocks or knolls and intervening level de pressions. The steep slopes and uneven sur face make plowing and harvesting of crops more difficult and detract to some extent from the agricultural value of the land. All the type, except the steeper slopes in the more eroded areas, is under cultivation. The soil withstands drought fairly well, and in some respects is more desirable than the more level types of the bottom land and 216 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA terrace. Wheat is the principal crop, followed by corn, alfalfa, and oats. Many farmers grow wheat continuously on the same fields for periods of 4 to 9 years. SmaH patches of kafir, sorghum, and miHet are occasionally grown. Orchard fmits seem to bear a little better than on the bottom-land and terrace solis. The yields of all crops very widely with the season, the state of improvement of the soH, and the care used in cuhivation. The average yield of wheat is probably about 18 bushels per acre, of corn 25 bushels, of oats 35 bushels, and of alfalfa about 3 tons. COLBY SANDY LOAM (7,360 acres, 2.2%) The surface soH of the Colby sandy loam consists of a brown, loose sandy loam, 10 to 15 inches deep. It is dark in color and mode rately high in organic matter to a depth of 6 to 8 inches, below which it is light brown or yeHowish brown. The subsoH is a yellow, friable sandy loam. The surface material is generally finer in texture than the subsoil. It varies from a loamy sand to a dark-colored soil closely approaching a loam or fine sandy loam. In places there has been a slight con centration of clay in the upper subsoil, form ing a layer, 6 or 8 inches in thinkness, of friable sandy clay or clay loam. Layers of incoherent, medium, and coarse sand are oc casionally encountered in the subsoil. The Colby sandy loam occurs in the higher uplands in the southeastern part of the county. It is encountered mainly in one large area extending from the Hamilton County line to a point about 4 miles southwest of Doniphan. Two very small strips representing an eroded phase occur on the slopes of the bluffs facing the Platte VaHey in South Platte township. In general the surface of the type is nearly level, but in places it is made slightly undulat ing by hummocks or knolls a few feet high. Drainage is everywhere thorough, but there are no slopes steep enough to be seriously eroded, except in the two small areas on the bluff slopes in South Platte township. This soil is productive, and practically aH of it is under cultivation. Wheat, corn, oats. and alfalfa are the principal crops. The soil is looser and more easily worked and main tained in good tilth than the upland silt loams. It is probably not quite as well suited to wheat as are the silt loams, but it withstands drought moderately well and produces on the average about the same yields of corn. It has practically the same agricultural value as the Colby fine sandy loam. VALENTINE SAND (28,800 acres, 8.5%) The Valentine sand consists of a light- brownish or yeHowish, loose sand which shows very little difference in texture or color to a depth of 3 feet. To a depth of about 7 inches the soil is light brown in color and contains a small amount of organic matter. The type consists almost entirely of about equal parts of medium and fine sand, with no coarser particles and barely sufficient silt and clay to render the mass slightly coher ent when wet. The sand deposits from which the soil is derived have a thickness of 5 to 25 feet. The Valentine sand is locally known as "sand hills." This type occupies a total area of 45 square miles. It occurs principally in the northern part of the county, directly north of Cairo and Abbott, in South Loup, Mayfield, and Prairie Creek townships. An area of about 4 square miles is mapped south of the Platte River in Martin township. The billowy, undulating surface has been formed by the shifting and heaping up of sand by the v/ind, and is char acterized by high, rounded hills or ridges. The type represents quiescent dunes, with a maze of lower wind-formed knolls. There are no weH-defined drainage lines, most of the rainfall being absorbed by the porous, deep sand. The hills range from 75 to 150 feet above the first bottoms of the Platte and Loup rivers. This land is used mainly for pasture. Prob ably not more than ten per cent of it is under cultivation. It supports an excellent growth of native grasses and has a carrying capacity of 30 to 40 cattle to the quarter section. The pasture season ordinarily extends from April HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 217 to October. The land is used as summer pas ture for stock which is fed on farms during the winter. Some of the more fa-(forable situ ated land is farmed. Corn and wheat are fair ly successful with careful cultivation and yearly change of crops. Alfalfa seems to do weH, but considerable difficulty is encountered in getting a good stand. The soil seems to withstand drought as well as the heavier types, but it is less durable and productive. The surface soil in many places is drifted by the wind. Coarse manure and straw spread over the land have generally been found beneficial in preventing excessive drifting. Corn usually is deeply listed. Land of this type most suitable for farming has had a selling price of $35 to $40 an acre. Pasture land has been selling for about $20 an acre. o'nEILL SAND (7,808 acres, 2.3%) The O'Neill sand consists of a light brown, loose, loamy medium sand which shows little change in texture to a depth of 3 feet. The soil to a depth of 10 to 12 inches is somewhat darker than below, as a result of the incorpor ation of organic matter, and the subsurface sand is brownish yellow or grayish. In a few places on the terrace south of the Platte River the type in some narrow strips contains coarse sand and fine gravel in the subsoil. The principal areas of O'NeiH sand are mapped on the terrace directly west and south west of Grand Island. Important develop ments occur a few miles southwest of Wood River, and on the terrace south of the Platte. The total area of the type is 12.2 square miles. Its surface is undulating, characterized by knoHs or hummocks 5 to 15 feet high. These appear to be in part accumulations by wind action. Drainage is good, most of the rain fall being rapidly absorbed by the porous sand. The greater part of this type is in farms. The yields of corn, ordinarily 18 to 20 bushels per acre, probably average less than on the heavier terrace soils, and the type does not seem to be quite so well suited to wheat and oats. Alfalfa makes a strong growth, but the stand is rarely as thick as on the Hall silt loam and very fine sandy loam and similar types. This soil is not as durable and productive as the heavier soils of the terrace, but it is easily plowed and tilled, has adequate drainage even in wet years, and withstands drought quite as well as the heavier types. It is, however, subject to shifting by the wind, and injury to young plants frequently results. Coarse ma nure and straw are applied, where available, to check the tendency to drift, and corn usually deeply listed. The selling value of this land is considerably lower than that of the associated soils, such as the fine sandy loam, very fine sandy loam, and Hall silt loam. o'nEILL FINE SAND (4,352 acres, 1.3%) The O'Neill fine sand differs from the O'Neill sand mainly in its finer texture. The surface soil has a fair content of organic matter to a depth of 6 to 10 inches, and is loamy in structure. In many places the sub soil sand seems to be slightly coarser than the surface material. This type occurs in a large number of small, irregular areas, mainly north and northwest of Grand Island, and in the Loup River Valley in the northwest corner of the county. It has a total area of 6.8 square miles. Practically all the type is under cultivation. Fair yields of corn, wheat, and alfalfa are obtained. The type on the whole is probably a little more productive than the O'Neill sand. o'nEILL LOAM (9,856 acres, 2.9%) The O'Neill loam consists of a dark-brown ish, fine-textured loam, 12 to 15 inches deep grading into a light-brown sandy loam which changes to a yellowish or grayish, loose coarse sand, containing some fine gravel, at any depth from 20 to 36 inches. The substratam to a depth of 10 to 20 feet consists of grayish or yellowish sand and gravel. In some places the surface soil closely approaches the Hall sandy loam in texture. 218 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA The O'NeHl loam is confined mainly to the border of the Grand Island terrace. It ex tends in disconnected areas across the county. The principal area is in the vicinity of Grand Island. The surface of this soil varies from nearly level to slightly uneven and hummocky. There is sufficient slope for adequate surface drainage and the porous, sandy subsiol and substratum rapidly absorb moisture. The greater part of the type, with the exception of the area occupied by the city of Grand Island, is under cultivation to the staple crops of corn, wheat, oats, and alfalfa. Its average productiveness is somewhat lower than that of the types having heavier and more retentive subsoils. Corn frequently "fires" and gives greatly decreased yields in dry years. Sweet corn is grown in small fields, and some truck ing is carried on near Grand Island. Millet, sorghum, and kafir are grown in small patches for forage. Yields of corn vary form 10 to 30 bushels per acre, depending upon the rain fall Wheat yields 15 to 18 bushels per acre and oats 20 to 30 bushels. The surface soil is loose and mellow, and can be worked under a wide range of moisture conditions. The selling price of farm land of this type is generally lower than that of the associated heavier soils to the north, such as the Hall fine sandy loam, very fine sandy loam, and silt loam. LAMOURE FINE SANDY LOAM (10,368 acres, 3.1%) The Lamoure fine -sandy loam consists of a very fine dark brown or black, loose fine sandy loam, with the average thickness of about 12 inches, overlying a subsoil or dark grayish, moderately compact fine sandy clay which becomes somewhat coarser and more triable with depth, changing at 3 or 4 feet to a loose, porous, medium and coarse sand. The essential difference between this type and the Cass fine sandy loam is the heavier character of the subsoil to a depth of 3 or 4 feet The surface soil generally has a fairly high content of organic matter and both soil and subsoil effervesce with acid, indicating a rather high content of lime. The depth to which the dark-colored fine sandy loam extends ranges from 10 to 20 inches. There are also minor variations in texture, some of the included soH consisting of very fine sandy loam and fine loam. The Lamoure fine sandy loam occurs in nar row strips conforming in direction to the general northeast course of the present and old channels of the Platte River. It is rather widely distributed throughout the whole ex tent of the first bottoms. It has a nearly level surface, but on the whole lies at a slightly higher elevation than the associated Cass fine sandy loam and clay loam, and has somewhat better drainage. The ground-water level in years of normal rainfall is about 5 feet below the surface. The Lamoure fine sandy loam is considered one of the more valuable bottom-land soils for general farming. About 90 per cent of it is under (cultivation. Com, wheat, oats, and alfalfa are the principal crops, with corn far in the lead. Most of the com and hay pro duced is used to feed cattle, hogs and sheep. This type, like the other bottom-land soHs, seems to be less well adapted to wheat than the terrace and upland soils, and the grain is 8 to 10 days later in maturing. Where a fairly good stand of alfalfa is obtained the seasonal yield is about 3 tons per acre. The soil is easily plowed and maintained in good tilth. It is usually plowed to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Checking and level cultiva tion are practiced to a much greater extent than listing in the growing of corn. Over the greater part of the type land has values of an average of about $100 an acre. LAMOURE SILT LOAM (5,312 acres, 1.6%) The surface soil of the Lamoure silt loam is typicaHy a very dark brown or slaty-black, mellow silt loam, 8 to 12 inches deep. The upper subsoil is a moderately compact, brown ish silty clay loam or clay, and is underlain at 29 to 30 inches by a yellowish or grayish, more friable, very fine sandy loam. Porous, medium or coarse sand is encountered at depths of 31/2 to 5 feet. The soH is high in HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 219 organic matter and appears black when wet. The type is generally calcareous to a depth of 3 feet. The Lamoure silt loam is confined to the first bottoms of the Platte River, where it occurs north of the Middle Channel in Alda, Wood River, and Jackson townships. Like the other soils of the first bottoms, it occurs in compara tively narrow strips. The land is nearly level, but water rarely stands on the surface for any considerable time, and most of the areas are sufficiently well drained for successful farm ing. Practically all the type is under cultivation. It is regarded as one of the more durable and productive soils for general farming. The average yield of corn for a period of 8 or 10 years is about 30 bushels per acre, of wheat 20 bushels, and of alfalfa, for all cuttings, about 3 or 3^?^ tons. The soil under ordinary moisture conditions is loose and mellow, and easily plowed and cultivated. It is slightly sticky when wet and tends to clod, but the clods subsequently break down readily. The land has been valued at about $100 an acre. LAMOURE CLAY LOAM (4,544 acres, 1.3%) The Lamoure clay loam consists of a black, slightly plastic, heavy clay loam, grading at 6 to 10 inches into a dark-drab or slaty-black, heavy, compact clay which becomes lighter colored with depth and changes to sticky sandy clay or sandy loam at about 3 feet. A substratum of coarse, porous sand is encount ered at depths ranging from 3 to 4i/2feet. The Lamoure clay loam occupes low-lying, level situations and narrow depressions in the first bottoms along the Platte River. It occurs in several small, widely separated areas, prin cipally in Washington township east and south of Grand Island. Much of the land is poorly drained, and the growth of crops is frequently retarded by excessive moisture. The soH, however, is durable and productive, and the greater part of the type is under cultivation. Corn is most successful, yielding 25 to 30 bushels per acre except in wet years. On account of its slightly plastic and sticky nature, the soil when wet is difficult to plow, and tends to clod. GANNETT LOAMY SAND (4,992 acres, 1.5%) The surface soil of Gannett loamy sand is a dark-gray or black sand, having a small content of silt and containing sufficient organic matter to produce a loamy structure. At depths ranging from 6 to 12 inches there is a subsurface layer of light-gray or pale yel lowish, loose sand. This is underlain by a darker colored, generally bluish-gray, more compact sand, which shows splotches of brownish iorn oxide. The lower subsoil is in places slightly calcerous. It becomes moderately hard when dry, although it con tains evry little silt or clay. Over much of the type as mapped the soil is a loamy fine sand. This is included with the predominant loamy sand type owing to the fact that the finer textural distinctions are of little impor tance in mapping of soH of this character. The Gannett loamy sand occurs in several small irregular areas in the northern part of the county, in Lake, Prairie Creek, and South Loup townships. It has a total extent of 7.8 square miles. The type has been formed in cirrcular, valleylike depressions, inclosed by or adjacent to hiHs of Valentine sand. The surface is nearly fiat or slightly uneven. The type receives the seepage from the sand hills and is for the most part without adequate natural drainage. This soil supports a heavy growth of coarse native grasses and is valued cheifly for the production of wild hay and pasturage. A small proportion of it has been placed under cultivation to the staple crops. Yields are comparatively low even in favorable years. Alfalfa is not successful on account of the poor drainage and the shallow depth to ground water. The land has about the same selling price as areas of the associated Valentine sand. GANNETT SANDY LOAM The Gannett sandy loam cansists of a dark- grayish, loamy medium sand, 6 to 10 inches deep, underlain by a pale yeHow, less coherent 220 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA medium sand which extends to a depth of 15 to 20 inches and gives way to a lower subsoil of dark-drab, stiff, plastic, rather im pervious clay. This in several places was ob served to be calcareous. There is a rather abrapt change in texture from the sand of the surface soil to the clay of the subsoil. The substratum at depths of 3 to 5 feet is a friable yellow silt. In the wetter situations the sur face soil contains a higher percentage of or ganic matter and is black in color. As mapped, the type includes developments of loamy sand and fine sand soils. The Gannett sandy loam occurs in nearly level, poorly-drained areas and small depres sions in the uplands in the northern uart of the county, principally in Prairie Creek town ship. Drainage for the most part is poor. In topography and relation to the hills of Valentine sand the type is similar to the Ganneett loamy sand. It differs chiefly in hav ing a clay subsoH at depths of 3 feet or less. This type is of minor agricultural impor tance Its chief disadvantage is poor drainage. It supports a heavy growth of native grasses, and affords good pasturage and fair yields of hay. Probably a Httle more than one-half of the type is farmed, corn, oats, and wheat be ing the principal crops. Occasionally good yields are obtained, but the average produc tiveness is much lower than that of terrace soils to the south and east, such as the fine sandy loam and very fine sandy loam of the Hall series. SUMMARY HaH County is situated in the south-central part of Nebraska. It lies on the eastern slope of the Great Plains region. The surface is nearly level or slightly uneven and greatly un dulating, without any marked relief. The elevation of the county ranges from about 1,820 feet to 2,100 feet above sea level. The county covers an area of 528 square miles, or 337,920 acres. The mean annual rainfall is 29.45 inches. The precipitation is highest from May to August. Summer droughts are frequent, and crops are occasionally injured. There is a normal growing season of 163 days. Agriculture in Hall County consists mainly of grain growing with the raising and feeding of live stock as an important coordinate indus try. Wheat occupies the greatest acreage and is the principal income crop. Corn occupies an acreage only slightly smaller than that of wheat, and is the principal subsistence crop. Alfalfa and oats rank next in acreage. Cattle, hogs, and sheep are fed for market. In 1910, about 95 per cent of the area of the county was in farms, and 87.3 per -cent of the farm land was improved. There were 1,627 farms in the county, with an average size of 196.5 acreas. Over 56 per cent of the farms were operated by owners. The average value of all property per farm in that year was $17,682. The average seHing value of farm land has been about $100 an acre untH recently. Uplands comprise 31.6 per cent of the total area of Hall County. The upland soHs are derived principally from a Pleistocene forma tion consisting of yellow silt, known as Plains Loess. First-bottom, . alluvial soils bordering the Platte River cover 22.5 per cent of the total area of the county, and terrace or second- bottom soils practically all the remainder. There is a small aggregate area of terrace and first-bottom land along the South Loup River, in the extreme northwestern part of the county. Silt loam soils predominate throughout the county. The predominating upland soils, derived from the yeHow silt and sand of the "loess," are classed in the Grundy, MarshaH, and Colby series. A considerable area of soil is derived from the wind-blown deposits, and is classed in the Valentine series. The Scott series is mapped in poorly drained depressions in the Grundy and Marshall soHs, and the Gannett series in similar situations in the Valentine soils. The Grundy, Marshall, and Colby soils are highly productive and well adapted to general farming, and practically their entire area is under cultivation to the staple crops. The Scott soil is of little of no agricultural impor tance. The Valentine soil supports a good growth of native grasses, and is used mainly .HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 221 for grazing. The Gannett soils are naturally poorly drained. They are used mainly as pasture land and for wHd-hay production, but part of the area is cultivated. The terrace soils are classed in the Judson, O'NeHl, and HaH series. These soils on the whole are very desirable general- farming .types, and they are largely under cultivation. They have in general a mellow, loam.y stmc ture, are well drained without being subject to erosion, and have a smooth surface weH suited to the use of labor-saving machinery. Some of the areas of looser soil are subject to driftiiig in places, and in some of the lower lying situations the drainage at times is defi cient. The first-bottom soils are classed in the Cass and Lamoure series. The Cass fine sand is somewhat droughty and is not an im portant agricultural soil but the Cass sandy loam is largely under cultivation. About 60 per cent of the Cass fine sandy loam is culti vated, the remainder being poorly drained. The Cass clay loam is in general poorly drained and it is used mainly for pasture. The Lamoure soils are desirable and productive types, largely under cultivation. RAPID RISE IN VALUES IN 1919 It will be noted that price valuations throughout the present chapter have been kept in the past tense. This is due to the rapid rise in land values which occured within a few months in 1919. Land values in Iowa have risen until farms there are selling in the summer of 1919 up to $500 an acre; in eastern Nebraska, sales from $200 to $400 are becom ing quite frequent, and the following tabula tion is given here to show the effect this rise has had in HaH County land values. Land heretofore valued around $100 an acre is sell ing in August, 1919, at $175 to $200 an acre. Land formerly classed from $50 to $65 an acre is selling for $100 an acre, and so the proportion holds all the way along the' line except the cheaper lands under $50, have not sustained a proportionately high rise. A number of farm sales in which weH known farmers of Hall County have disposed of their holdings have taken place recently. The prices paid for the farms aggregate more than $200,000. John Rushen has sold his farm near Cairo after living there more than 25 years. The farm has an acreage of 120 acres and sold at $200 an acre or a total of $24,000. It was bought by Elmer H. Vanhoosen of Halsey, Nebraska, who will get possession March 1, 1920. He wiH make his home on this farm, it is reported from Cairo. Mr Rushen has moved to Cairo and has purchased the George Brundage and the old Grandma Stoeger property, the two being ad joining. The price paid for the two was about $3,000 in all. The J. E. Cox farm near Cairo has been sold to W. A. Crabtree who gets possession March 1. It has 160 acres and the price was $175 an acre or $28,000. The place is farmed now by Link Omar. Mr Cox recently dis posed of his holdings at Cairo and moved to Lincoln. It is understood he has retained farming interests in the western part of the state. Mr. Crabtree has sold his farm northwest of Grand Island. It comprises an entire sec tion which is known as a "short" section and contains 618 acres. He received $60 an acre for it or $37,000. It was bought by James McMillan who has been engaged in the mer cantile business in the westem part of the state but who, it is said, has been conducting this business from his home in Grand Island. Mr. McMiHan is to get this farm March 1. It has been owned by Crabtree for ten years. Dr. E. A. Watson of Grand Island has pur chased two farms. One is the old McKee place five miles from Wood River and the other is the Westphal place ten miles west of Grand Island. He is to get possession of both places March 1. Both are 160 acre farms and the price paid by the doctor is understood to have been around $160 an acre, a total of about $51,000. Herman Tagge who has been farming near Abbott for 28 years has sold his 400 acres to C. B. Freeman, real estate man of Grand Island. 99? HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA The price was $155 an acre and Mr. Freeman is to get possession March 1. Mr. Tagge has been raising some blooded stock of high rat ing in the county, Angus and Jerseys, and wHl have a sale of these in the fall. He plans to retain some of the Jerseys. The total sum received for his place was $62,000. Mr. Tagge does not plan to retire from farming entirely. He has purchased 80 acres one mile north of his present farm from Mrs. Lachenmaker for $140 an arce or $11,200. He is to get possession March 1 The present owner lives on the place. Mr. Tagge plans to leave in several months for a visit to the coast where he wHl spend perhaps five months. He will be accompanied by his family and by Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Boldt. On his return he will settle on the 80. CHAPTER XIII AGRICULTURAL AND LIVE STOCK INDUSTRIES When the County was Twenty-one Years. Ol& — Growth in Acreage Cultivated — Introduction of Alfalfa into Nebraska — Surplus Crops Shipped Out, 1917 — Early Agricultural Organizations — The Grange Movement — Live Stock and Dairying — Organization — Expedition of 1876 — Hall County Agricultural Society — Statp Fair Proposition — Association Reorganized — The Beet Sugar Industry — Hall County Farm Bureau — Farmers' Unions — Elevator Enterprises The early farming in Hall County con sisted mainly of the growing of com and wheat. Cattle raising was carried on, but ranching was not as important as in more westem areas of the state. The reminiscences and narratives of the earliest settlers re counted in foregoing chapters offer scattered but unauthentic details of the earliest farming enterprises in the county. From the first, corn has always been a more staple crop than wheat here, but wheat has been grown mainly as a cash crop and has fluctuated widely in acreage, varying with market conditions. when twenty-one years old Dating from the farming operations of the first colony of settlers in 1857, a review of conditions as reported in 1877-78, twenty or twenty-one years after agriculture began in Hall County on a systematic, tangible basis, will show what has been accomplished by the poineers of the county. Reports then showed 34,759 acres in cultivation (of a total area of 337,920 acres). The 1877 production was 226,088 bushels of wheat ; 407,209 bushels of corn, 2,114 horses, 256 mules, 7,980 cattle, 461 sheep, 5,460 swine. Wild land was priced at $4 to $10 an acre and improved from $7 grain and hay production, with wheat, corn, to $26 an acre. oats, and alfalfa as the principal crops. Most The federal land grants to railroads in of the farmers keep some live stock and a Nebraska aggregated over 4,000,000 acres, of small number are engaged in the feeding of which 2,049,000 acres were contiguous to the stock on an extensive scale. 223 Union Pacific system, and of this 120,000 acres were in Hall County. In 1878 prices of Union Pacific land for Hall, Buffalo, and Howard counties ranged from $3 to $6 an acre, and usual terms were 10% down and balance carried yearly at 6% interest, with a 10% discount to parties paying all cash down. GROWTH IN ACREAGE CULTIVATED The census of 1880 reported 41,609 acres in wheat and 19,408 acres in corn. By 1889 there was a decrease in the wheat area to 3,988 acres, while corn had increased to 85,354 acres. In 1899 the area in wheat was 20,346 acres, and in corn 95,225 acres. By 1909 corn dropped to 77,981 acres, while wheat steadily increased and occupied a total area of 74 per cent as large. Oats were grown on 24,162 acres in 1909. Alfalfa has greatly increased in acreage during the last 15 years, and has become one of the staple crops. The growing of sugar beets became an important industry following the estab lishment of a beet-sugar factory at Grand Island in 1890. A history of that industry will be treated separately hereafter. The present agriculture consists mainly of 224 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Wheat is the principal income crop. Its total area in 1909 was about 15,000 acres less than that of com, but there has been such an increase in the wheat area during the last few years, on account of the prevailing high prices and good yields, that it is now probably grown more extensively than any other crop. Wheat is grown on practically all the differ ent soH types. It is a little more certain in yield than corn, since it matures sufficiently early to avoid the severe droughts and hot winds which may occur later in the summer. On soils of average productiveness the yield is commonly about 20 bushels per acre. Hard winter wheat is grown almost exclusively, Turkey Red being the principal variety. The census of 1910 reports 77,981 acres in corn, with a production of 1,783,784 bushels. The average yield on the soils best adapted to corn is about 30 bushels per acre, but yields on all types are subject to wide variations from year to year, largely on account of late summer droughts and hot winds. Strains of Reid's Yellow Dent and Silver Mine are the principal varieties grown. Thorough cultiva tion is practised, but little attention is given to seed selection. Most of the corn is fed to cattle and hogs, but a large number of farm ers, especially tenants, sell the greater part of their crop. The area in oats in 1910 was 24,162 acres, and the production 537,452 bushels. Oats, although grown on practically all farms and on all soil types, are not generally regarded as very profitable. They are grown principally because they fit conveniently in rotations, fol lowing corn when it is desired to change the land to wheat. The crop is seldom grown for more than one year on the same field. The grain is fed principally to work stock, but is used to some extent in feeding sheep. Alfalfa is one of the staple crops, occupying 17,669 acres in 1909. The acreage has stead ily increased since that year, principally at the expense of corn and oats. It is grown on practically all the soils except those that are continuously wet and poorly drained. Yields range from 2 to 4 tons per acre per season. Four cuttings a year are ordinarily obtained on the soils best adapted to the crop. Alfalfa is grown mainly for winter feed and forage, but it is used extensively as a soiling crop and for hog pasture. On soils which give the heavier yields it is ordinarily a profitable income crop. Chas. Hofman states that he was one of the first, if not the first, man in HaH county to advocate the raising and use of alfalfa. He knew something of its qualities and re turns from prior experience before he came to this country. In those days it was called, "lucerne" or "Swiss Clover," but is the same product. At Ernest Blunk's miH in 1884 a warm discussion pro and con was held as to the advisability of trying such a crop; but the first crop was planted in 1885, in the Midway Grove, as it is known now, and harvested a short time later. From then on its progress has been steady, until now the farmer here no longer puts all his eggs in one basket, and does not rely alone on either com or wheat, but distributes his chance for a good crop season and his risk from lack of rain or hail or hot winds between wheat, com, and small grain, and alfalfa. INTRODUCTION OF ALFALFA INTO NEBRASKA Dr. C. E. Bessey, in writing concerning this plant, in 1890, remarked: "It is said the Greeks and Romans grew it, and that to these countries it was brought from Persia, and possibly from regions still farther east. Its cultivation certainly dates back two thousand or twenty-five hundred years." It is claimed that S. P. Parker, of Curtis, Frontier County, grew alfalfa in 1876; in 1878, it was tried in Harlan County by J. C. MitcheH, J. P. Nead of Riverton grew it in 1882 ; a field was. tried at Guide Rock, Ne braska, in 1877. Martin Slattery of Shelton, Buffalo County, tried it in 1887, and H. D. Watson on his ranch found 20 acres growing there when he took charge in 1889, so while not the first. Hall County was among the pioneer counties in introducing alfalfa into Nebraska. There is still a comparatively large acreage of wild-hay land, mainly on the bottom land HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 225 but also in the more poorly drained depres sions in the uplands and terraces. The yield of wild hay is commonly about 1% tons per acre. The census of 1910 reports wild hay cut from 25,374 acres. The yield of wHd hay keeps a lead in Hall County over alfalfa, no doubt because of the large acreage adapted to it, owing to the man ner in which the Platte river with its various channels cuts through this county. Minor crops of the county include sorghum, kaffir, millet, barley, sweet clover, and Irish potatoes. Most farmers grow vegetables in a small way, mainly for home use. Water melons, cantaloupes, and other truck crops are grown to a small extent near Grand Island for a local canning factory. There are small or chards, principally of apples, on most farms, but tree fruits are not an important source of income and the trees are seldom given much care. As a more recent indication of the relative proportion of the various products of Hall County, mainly agriculture and some manu factured and industrial, the table given by the Sixteenth Annual Report of the Nebraska Department of Labor for 1917-1918 showing surplus products shipped out of Hall County, is hereto appended. The fact that the number of agricultural products outnumbers the com mercial and industrial products, such as ce ment blocks, sand, and gravel, brick, and stone Hlustrates the remarkable proportion of the county's resources, the agricultural interests bear a responsibility for success or failure : Products Head Cattle 13,049 Hogs 29,038 Horses and Mules 37,372 Sheep 26,714 Products Bushels Apples 71 Bariey 2,275 Com ¦.. 351,868 Oats 133,681 Potatoes 1,765 Rye 7,500 Wheat 248,480 Fresh fruit 62,500 Products Tons Alfalfa 650 Cement Blocks 650 Hay 6,702 Ice 5,795 Sand and gravel 99,192 Stone 35 Straw 500 Sugar beets 242 Products Number Brick 7,015,000 Products Gallons Cream 42,250 Milk 500 Sorghum and syrup 30,270 Vinegar 3,000 Products Cases Canned goods 2,980 Products Pounds Alfalfa seed 38,920 Butter 3,400,687 Cane Seed 12,000 Clover seed 6,500 Dressed meat 600 Dressed poultry 362,881 Fertilizer 900,000 Flour 17,981,589 Furs 40 Garden seeds 440 Hides and pelts 1,218,123 Live poultry 614,200 Mill feed 685,740 Sugar 1,647,895 Tallow 1,760 Vegetables 68,000 Wool 96,250 Products Baskets Peaches 462 Products Dozens Eggs 786,492 EARLY AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS Prior to 1870 there was practically nothing done toward organization of the agricultural interests of HaH County, for each settler was too busy providing for the daily wants of his family to let his thoughts wander away from home, and any thoughts of banding with his neighbors in any society, unless to repel mutual attacks of Indians upon their homes or of timber scalpers upon their premises, were too intangible to gather force. The HaH County Immigration Board was formed March 22, 1871, with Henry A. Koe nig, president ; S. P. Mobley, secretary, W. H. Piatt, H. P. Handy, John Wallichs, Fred A. 22b HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Weibe, Peter Peterson, W. M. Spiker, H. Wrage and E. W. Arnold members. Later during the month N. J. Paul stopped in HaH County enroute to the Middle Loup Valley with thirty-one colonists. -In the pre- ceeding December, Nicholas Paul, one of the well known Paul brothers — the surveyors and colonists — with a Mr. MoeHer, vice consul from Denmark to Milwaukee, had camped around the South Loup, and upon their re port a locating committee, N. J. Paul, Major Frank North, A. J. Hoge, Ira Mullen, Joseph Tiffany, Luther H. North, J. E. North, Enos Johnson, S. W. Smith, Gus Cox, and Charles Morse ascended the Loup from the Pawnee reservation in Nance County and explored the section of country now in Howard County. This led to the founding of the settlement of "Athens," later changed to St. Paul, in honor of its founders, since there was already an other "Athens" in the state. This event, while only an incident in Hall County history, marks the beginning of the spread of Hall County's trade territory, an accomplishment that has been a determining factor in giving Hall County the third city in the state. This immigration board backed the Orchard and Vineyard issued at the county seat and used the Independent as an advertising me dium for the county. THE GRANGE MOVEMENT Hall County was well represented in the growth and accomplishments of that first or ganized achievement of Nebraska agricultur alists. The Patrons of Husbandry, commonly called "The Grange." Grand Island Grange No. 6 was organized in April, 1872, with S. P. Mobley, master, and Robert Mitchell, secretary. The State Grange was organized August 2, 1872 with W. B. Porter, master, and Willim McCaig, secretary. Central Star Grange No. 518 was estab lished in April, 1874, with S. P. Mobley, master, and N. A. Lord, secretary. In 1875 it was in fact consolidated with Grange No. 6. The Co-Operative Association of Patrons of Husbandry was organized in April, 1874, with D. C. Smith, president, S. P. Mobley, secretary and agent. In 1876 there were nine granges in Hall County, comprising 500 mem bers. Peter Harrison was president of the association, E. S. Searson, secretary and William Stolley, agent. OTHER GRANGES IN THE COUNTY Wood River Grange was organized March 31, 1873, with Rufus Mitchell, J. F. Walker, C. E. Towne, James White, J. Osbon, Isaac King, B. F. Odell, F. P. Welch, Mrs. Ella Warner, Miss A. Odell, Mrs. E. MitcheH, and Mrs. L. Osbon, members. Alda Grange was formed July 18, 1873, with F. B. Stoddard, E. W. Brown, John Leckenby, William Powell, L. PoweH, Mrs. Stoddard, Mrs. Sweet, Mrs. L. Brown, and Mrs. L. Powell, officials. Platte Valley Grange was organized in April, 1873, at the house of Charies Dufford, south of the river, with M. Stump, Henry Denman, W. J. Burger, D. O. Grice, A. J. Price, A. R. Thorn, S. S. Shukz, D. Beidel man, Charles Dufford, Mrs. Thorn, Mrs, Robb and Miss Creason, officials. Advance Grange was organized in school district No. 23, west of Alda, Febmary 7, 1873, with the foHowing members: P. Harri son, D. C. Smith, Sarah Smith, A. V. Smith, Mrs. R, E. Smith, W. H. Norton, M. E. Nor ton, C. E. Harrison, Kate Harrison, J. S. Donaldson, Delia Donaldson, H. M. Jones, Mrs. B. M. Jones, J. H. Andrews, J. L. Gray, Stephen Jones, Maggie Jones, G. F. Dodge, Annie Trout, J. M. Cummings, J. A Connor, J. M. Howe, Clara Trout, Charies Streeter, Alice Streeter, M. B. Heitman, T. E. Harri son, T. H. Trout, Amelia Trout and Mary Jones. Highland Grange was organized at Union Chapel, March 7, 1874, with the foHowing members: Wesley, Lucinda, George,, and Phoebe Dempster, John and James Creason, James A. and Lizzie Williams, S. Lineback, Miles Martha and Laura Humphrey, Naomi French, Mary J. Linsacum, Mrs. S. B. Poe, C. J. Rhodes and S. Brooks. Elm Island Grange was organized at Union HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 227 School, March 6, 1874, with the following members : W. H. Austin, E. J. Morse, S. Uhrig, William E. Tyler, R. G. Hackett, G. H. and Orilla E. Wilcox, O. D. and MaHnda Foote, Ira and Mary A. Wilson, S. W. and Hattie Wilson, George H. and Mary E. Wil cox, J. A. and Mary A. Mattick, WiHiam Lehrich, E. N. and Mary A. Adams, Ira Wil son, Walter and Sarah Miller, James H. and H. M. Sweeting. Prairie Creek Grange was organized about this same time. North Loup Grange was organized March 12, 1874. Its members were: S. A., G. A. and Ella and Mrs. G. A. Pease, S. and A. H. Holman, J. P. and E. A. Gordon, W. W. George, Mrs. H. and Mrs. G. Kendall, P. Hirst, B. F. Manuel, C. M. and Elizabeth Robinson, Walter and Mrs. W. "A. HHl, J. Fleming, John and Mrs. K. Marigold, C. O. and Mrs. Woodruff and Lawrence MitcheH. True Blue Grange was organized at Prairie Creek school house, March 16, 1874, with the following members : Lester and A. A. Hough ton, W. W. Dubbs-, S. D. and A. Deyoe, A. S. Donaldson, O. A. Hoyt, F. M. and Sarah Adams, N. P. and Harriet Dickenson, George Smith, James E. Peebles, James Ewing, I. W. White, M. Burkerd, Ed. S. Towne, J. H. Newton, J. W. Hanold, Cyrus Miner, and G. E. Crawford. True Blue Grange of South Loup Precinct was organized a year or so later, April 1875, with J. E. Peebles, master. Mount Moriah Grange south of Platte, was organized in July 1874, with Martin Ennis, master and William Whitecar, secretary. There were twenty-two members enrolled.. The County Council, P. of H., was organ ized in April 1874, with A. V. Potter, master, S. P. Mobley, secretary; William StoHey, treasurer; Mrs. Mobley, lady assistant stew ard, Mrs. Leavitt, Flora and Mrs. Gilbert, pomona. The State Grange met here in convention in December, 1887. LIVE STOCK AND DAIRYING The feeding of live stock is an important industry, commonly carried on in combination with grain farming. Most farmers keep a smaH number of hogs and cattle and there are a few farmers in each neighborhood who feed stock on an extensive scale, purchasing the surplus grain and hay of other farmers. Ten ants as a rule keep less live stock than farm owners. Corn and alfalfa are the principal stock feeds. Most of the beef cattle sold are raised in the county, but the more extensive feeders generally buy a considerable part or aH of their stock. Most of the sheep are . shipped into the county from western ranches. According to the census, the total number of cattle in the county in 1910 was 27,928, of hogs 35,091, of sheep 14,133, and of horses 11,085. The raising of horses, principally of the draft type, is an industry of some importance. Most of the farm owners raise their own work stock and generally have a few animals for sale. Dairying is carried on to some extent. On most farms it is incidental to grain growing. Most farmers keep a few cows to supply milk and butter for home use, and a large number sell small quantities of milk or cream to local dairies and creameries. There are, however, only a few large dairy herds in the county. The staple farm crops are grown on all the different soil types, and on about the same proportional acreage. Most of the farmers, however, recognized that the silt loams of the Grand Island terrace and the upland, with campact and calcareous subsoils, are best adapted to alfalfa. The bottom-land soils are preferred for corn, although the average yields are but slightly above those obtained on the more productive upland soils. The silt loams of the terraces and upland are generally be lieved to give best results with wheat aind oats. Farm methods are nearly uniform through out the county, as there is little variation in climatic conditions, topography, and market ing facHities. Plowing for wheat begins as soon as possible' after the removal of the oat crop, generally about the middle of July or early in August. Most of the soHs require 228 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA only harrowing, and the wheat is drHled in in September or October. Many farmers seed wheat between the comrows before the corn is harvested, using a one-horse driH. Both binders and headers are used in cutting the grain. The greater part of the crop is thrashed from the shock, and most of the grain is sold directly from the thrashing machine. The straw is not valued highly, and many farmers burn it. Corn is generally given level cultivation, but on some of the more poorly drained land the ridge method is preferred. Listing is common on the sandy soHs. On the heavier soHs the plowing is usually done in the fall. Most farmers snap the corn and later pasture the stalk land. Only a very small percentage of the corn crop is used for silage. Oats are com monly sown broadcast in April or early May, on disked land previously occupied by com. Less frequentily the grain is' drilled in. Alfal fa hay is generally stacked in the field. The hay sold is generally disposed of locally with out baling. Commercial f ertHizers have never been used in growing the staple crops. Most farmers use the manure produced on the farm, and rotted wheat and oat straw is often applied to the fields. Practically all the farms are equipped with modern, labor-saving machinery. Tractors are beginning to be used extensively in fall plow ing for wheat. The work stock consists mainly of horses, 6 to 8 head being kept on the average farm. The farmhouses are for the most part well buHt, and the bams are large and substantial. The value of all farm property in the county in 1910 is reported as $28,768,614, averaging $17,682 per farm. Wheat, corn, and oats are commonly grown in succssion, but no definite or uniform system of rotation is adhered to. Land is usually kept in wheat for 2 to 5 years. In some cases this crop is grown for 8 or 9 years in succes sion by both the renters and owners. Wheat land is generally changed to corn, and this crop may also be grown several years on the same field. Oats, which follow corn, are not often grown for more than one year. Alfalfa may be seeded after wheat or oats. The land is left to this crop as long as the yields are profitable, generally 5 to 7 years, and then put in wheat and corn. Most of the farm labor is performed by the operator and his family, except during har vest. Laborers hired by the year receive $25 to $30 a month, with board. During wheat harvest $3 to $3.50 a day is paid for temporary help. In 1919 wages have gone beyond $40 and $50 per month and in harvest to $5 and $6 per day. The average size of farms, according to the census of 1910, is 196.5 acres. There are very few farms as small as 40 acres and only a comparatively small number larger than 320 acres. The prevailing size of the grain farms is 160 acres. There are several individual holdings of more than 1,000 acres, but usually in these cases much of the land is valuable only for pasture or for wild-hay production. The census of 1910 reports 94.6 per cent of the area of the county in farms, and 87.3 per cent of the farm land as improved. The total number of farms is reported as 1,627. About 42 per cent of the farms are operated by tenants. Under the most common system of share rental the landowner receives two- fifths of the crops, the tenant furnishing the stock, labor, and implements. Very few farms are rented for cash. The selling price of land has varied hereto fore from $20 or $40 an acre for land suitable only for pasture or for wild-hay production to $150 an acre of the most productive land. The average price of farm land has until recently been about $100 an acre. colonization The settlement of the county and the com munity of Grand Island began with the colony of 1857, which has been described in minute detail in the narratives of Frederick Hedde, Christian Menck, and William StoHey. But within fifteen years after this smaH colony had laid the foundations of the county, and braved the perils and hardships until Hall HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 229 County became an esta,blished fact. Grand Island became such a colonizer as to reach out to further realms. So early as 1872-73 citizens of the village conceived the idea of settling in the Middle Loup Valley and acted at once on this con ception. The great istorm of April, 1873, caused some suffering and much inconveni ence, and it is related that sixty men were crowded into a little store building of Frank Ingram for three days. At that time there were only four women in the Loup Valley — Mrs. Al. Brown, Misses Clara and Alice Ben- schoter and Lizzie Hayes, aH of Grand Island. EXPEDITION OF 1876 In February, 1876, expedition parties for the Black HiHs were organized at Grand Is land, Wood River, and other places. The Wood River party comprised Patrick Nevills, J. Nolan, C. J. S. Trout, P Dugan, J. Dunn, A. A. Baker, J. O'Connor, George WiHiamson, John Lyons, MHes Lyons, Mark Lyons, J. Haverly and P. Brady. Major Foote, of the Grand Island party, returned in March and reported a route between Grand Island and the hills open and guideboards erected. His report published in the Grand Island papers on March 10, 1876, indicated that his expedi tion had been successful in laying out and establishing an excellent route to Custer City which it would be possible to traverse in twelve to fifteen days from Grand Island, with light loads, and the trip could be made without much difficulty under some circum stances in eight to ten days. He indicated the presence of plenty of good water, and suffi cient wood along the route. He reported that no Indians were seen along the route on the entire trip, but that the route was well guarded with military posts. There were then in Custer City 468 houses complete or in process of erection. Corn was selling then for 9c a pound, flour at $10 to $12 a sack, bacon at 30c a pound. THE HALL COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY This organization was formed in the sum mer of 1874 at a call of Peter Harrison, and with Mr. Harrison as president when the organization was completed. Hon. William Piatt was the author of the constitution and by-laws. The first two fairs were held in the court-room. The proposition to hold a fair in 1875 was scarcely noticed, as the grasshoppers destroyed the crops, and thus left nothing to exhibit in the agricultural depart ment. In 1876 a committee of three was appointed, Seth P. Mobley, W. B. Larrabee and Eli A. Barnes, to locate fair grounds. The north west quarter of Section 16 at $16 per acre was purchased from Daniel Morgan, admin istrator of the Chapman estate. Ten acres of this tract were fenced in and otherwise im proved, and in the fall a successful fair re warded the energy of the officers of the society. Prior to the fall of 1889 Hall County sent seven exhibits to the State Fair, the first two exhibits being taken from the county fair by Peter Harrison and Seth P. Mobley. For the three succeeding years the county took first prize at Omaha, and won the champion medal, thereafter held by the Hall County society. The only exhibit made at the State Fair in the five years ending September, 1889, was that at Lincoln in 1887, when the first prem ium feH once more to Hall County. In 1884 Hall County had a leading exhibit at the State Fair. Then John S. Donaldson took a first prize for corn on the stalk; E. A. Park, for wheat in the straw; Jacob Shoe maker, for rye; Z. H. Denman, for an eight- year honey locust, seven inches through, nine feet from base; WiHiam Powell, of Alda, for a cottonwood, planted twenty-one years be fore, measuring twenty-one inches nine feet from base, and William Stolley presented fruit trees and the latter thirty-one varieties of grapes. In 1889 the society sold forty acres of their purchase of 1887 to Marsh & Lannigan, for $22,750.34, and then purchased 160 acres adjoining the city, on the west, from Patrick Touhy, paying him $16,000 therefor. The office of president was held by Peter Harrison, 1874-78; Fred Roby, 1879-80; Eli 230 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA A. Barnes, 1881-85; Martin Ennis, 1886; H. J. Palmer, 1887, and G. H. Denman, 1888-9; at the latter's death, he was suc ceeded by D. F. Jamieson. The secretaries of the society were Seth P. Mobley, EH A. Barnes, Frank Sears, D. H. Vantine, H. A. Edwards, and Ed Searson. The treasurers were WiHiam StoHey, James Baldwin, George Cornelius, Ed Searson, Ed. Hooper, Z. H. Denman, and S. J. Bateman. THE -STATE FAIR PROPOSITION Early in September, 1889, the fact that the State Board of Agriculture had advertised, at large, for the selection of a location for the State Fair during the ensuing five years brought forth the appointment by Mayor Piatt, of Grand Island, of a committee of fifty-four to take measures to secure to Grand Island such fair. A deputation from the com mittee attended the meeting of the state board at Lincoln, January 21, 1890. At that time, Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island, Kearney, Columbus, Long Pine, and Hastings bid for the fair for the ensuing five years. Grand Island offered to construct the art and me morial halls of stone and brick, while Co lumbus offered to provide buildings which would accommodate 50,000 persons. On the first ballot Lincoln lead, and on the second received a majority of the votes. Both Hast ings and Grand Island made a strong and nervy fight, but the prestige and diplomacy of the capital won the prize. William H. Harrison continued as president of the Agricultural Association during the eariy 'nineties, and EH A. Barnes was sec retary for several years. ASSOCIATION REORGANIZED After a lapse of a number of years, the Association was rejunevated in 1914, with L. G. Lawson as president, and A. M. Con- ners, secretary. A very successful fair was held in 1914 and again in 1915 and each suc ceeding year. In 1918 an effort was made to have the county purchase the grounds at a reasonable price named by the Association. It carried by such a close margin at the No vember election, that a compromise was reached with the county board by the ad herents of the proposition, and at a special election in March, 1919, the proposition was emphatically voted down. Thereupon the association decided to hold a fair in 1919, along the usual procedure. THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY With Grand Island possessing the first beet- sugar factory constructed and operated in the United States, the origin and development of the sugar beet industry has become of un usual local interest in Hall County's history. This story is set out in an interesting way in a volume of biographical and historical me moirs of Nebraska, published in 1890,^ in which Hall County early history is treated, and wherein Prof. Lassen treated the sugar beet industry as follows : Margraff demonstrated 140 years ago that there was sugar in the beets ; and the total product of France and Germany in the last helf century alone demonstrated its value. The reflecting reader who sees nothing in Napol eon save that of the great military leader, has failed to note the early, substantial en couragement that he gave the beet sugar in dustry in France, which in tum gave it greater impetus and success in Germany, albeit there were three factories in Germany as early as 1805, but the warlike situation was not favora ble for such an enterprise. Very soon, how ever. Napoleon issued his famous decrees shutting out all English goods and material, which, if the effect was to raise the price of sugar, ruined the French wine trade and com pelled the French to look for ways and means to dispose profitably of their grape crops and obtain a supply of sugar. In 1810 he gave two experimenters $28,000 for discovering grape sugar; the amount to be expended in the erection of factories. Soon after this Napoleon gave $40,000 to twelve grape sugar factories by way of bounty or special en couragement. In 1811 he decreed that 79,000 acres should be planted to beets, and he es tablished six experimental stations to give in struction in the beet sugar industry, ordering that all farmers who desired attend lectures given there might do so free of charge, and the sum of $200,000 was set apart to pay the expense. In 1812 he established four 1 Goodspeed's History (Hall County). HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 231 special beet-root sugar schools, directing that 100 students be attached thereto. In addition and by way of special enrouragement, he ordered to be granted 500 licenses for beet sugar production, to run to proprietors of factories and to manufacturers of sugar from beets ; and those who made a ton of raw sugar were to be exempt from tax on their product for four years. In 1812 he directed the erection of four imperial beet sugar fac tories to produce 2,100 tons. During this time Germany was not idle. The king of Prussia gave Archard, a pupil of Margraff, a good sum of money to establish a school or factory for instruction in beet sugar pro duction, and from this school Russia drew her practical knowledge of the work, and the Czar gave $39,000 and exempted all land of those who built beet sugar factories from tax. At least one great discoverer and ex perimenter in this field, in Germany and France, was offered $100,000 if he would de clare that his supposed discovery was a fail ure, but it did not attract him. The Napol eonic wars destroyed this great industry in Russia, Germany, and finally in France — after Napoleon had appropriated millions of dollars to give it a substantial footing. It did not rise again in France until 1825-26, nor in Germany untH 1835. From that time forward both France and Germany, as well as Russia, Austria and Belgium, have put forth great efforts to extend the production of beet sugar, both by bounties and by draw backs on exported sugar from beets, as well as a tariff on imported sugar. The stimulants offered resulted in such, a measure of suc cess in France, that in 1839, a special tax of 15 francs on every 220 pounds of raw sugar was imposed. This operated harshly, and the product fell off over one-half. New laws more liberal were passed from time to time, a tax going hand in hand generally with bounties and drawbacks, until, in 1878, France collected as tax, on sugar made in that coun try, upward of $22,000,000. This, in brief, is only a part of the early history of beet sugar production in France; and Germany as a matter of economic policy, followed in swift pursuit. Such was the development of the industry that in 1883-84 there were 2,000,000 acres devoted to the production of the sugar beet in France, Germany, Austria- Hungary, Russia, Poland, Belgium, and Hol land ; and the aggregate beet sugar product, leaving out Russia and Holland, was 1,485,000 tons with 1,242 factories. At that time Ger many had outstripped her great rival, France, because of her liberality and superior knowl edge of the subject. So great was the quan tity of beet sugar produced in 1883, that there was a temporary glut of it in the Eng- hsh market, inducing some farmers to ask a change in the laws, while others resorted to less acreage to reduce the surplus; mean time our people are paying from 6 to 9 cents for their sugar, entailing an expense to our population annually of over $75,000,000, the great part of the raw material of which goes abroad for refineries from Cuba ; 240,000,000 of pounds imported by us in 1887 coming from England, Germany, France, Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands. Consul-Gen- eral Walker says on the point, "It is to be noted that the sugar production of Germany has been stimulated by heavy protective duties and by bounties on export sugar, and the French tariff act of 1884 was a step to-ward adopting the policy of which her great rival, France, had found so effective. To show the effect of these laws, it seems only necessary to say that while the acreage in beets in Germany, in 1870, was 282,500, in 1883 it was 352,100, and tons of sugar pro duced in 1879 were 2,850,000, while in 1883 it was 4,205,000 tons. Even in the 'seventies numerous citizens of Hall County who knew first hand of the development and growth of the beet sugar industry as outlined in the foregoing historical review of that industry, agitated the establish ment of such a factory in this country. In February, 1873, there was published in the Independent a description of the beet sugar industry in Europe, and some reference to the growth of beets in Nebraska was made, but not until 1887 was there any practical ac tion taken in the matter. In 1887 the citizens of Hall County who were contending the practicability and feasi bility of instituting the beet sugar industry in Nebraska, then went about it in a thorough and satisfactory manner to test out their theory. They had the soil of various sections of this and adjoining counties analyzed, and the analysis demonstrated its adaptability to the culture of sugar beets; but they did not stop there, but imported seed from France and Germany, and many planted beets in various sections of the county in the season of 1888, and had these beets carefully analyzed at Lincoln, at Washington, and at other points. 232 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA which tests were very satisfactory. Think ing that the season of 1888 might have been an exceptionally favorable season, seed was again imported and planted upon a stHl more extensive scale in 1889, and an expert chemist, familiar with the culture and manufacture as well as with analysis of the sugar beet, was brought here from Germany, to oversee the planting, culture, and growth of the beet, as well as to examine the character of the soil and attend to the analysis of the beets, etc. These tests showed still more satis factory results, the percentage of saccharine matter reaching eighteen per cent. LOCATING THE FACTORY The subject of location of a beet-sugar factory at Grand Island was considered prac tically in November, 1889, when the leading citizens decided to raise $100,000, and did raise about $60,000 before the question was formally submitted to the people. The sub scriptions were voluntary, and ranged from $100 to $1,000 each, and in the aggregate amounted to $100,000, whHe the capital stock of the beet sugar company was fixed at $1,000,000. Difficult as was the task of enlisting gentle men with the necessary capital to take hold of the enterprise and build the factory and promote the raising of enough beets to main tain the factory's operations, the energy and stick-to-itiveness of the Grand Island boosters won out. On Friday, December 6, 1889, the contracts were signed, sealed, and delivered which located in this city the mammoth sugar- beet factory, starting out with a capital of $1,000,000, and 5,000 acres of land to be devoted exclusively to the culture of sugar beets. On Saturday, December 7, 1889, the site for the buildings was selected, and on Monday, December 9, ground was broken and work commenced. The dimensions of the principal factory building are ; length 292 feet, width eighty-five feet ; height, four stories, fifty feet. The structure is buHt of stone, iron, and brick, in such a substantial manner that it can stand indefinitely. Apart from that building are the boiler house, engine house, and a lime house, beet sheds, and an entire system of smaHer buildings. The site selected for these buildings com prised fifty acres, and was taken off the east ends of two tracts of land, one belonging then to the United States Investment Com pany, and one to Messrs. Thummel & Piatt, situated along the west side of the St. Joseph & Grand' Island railroad, and extending north to the old Union Pacific stock yards, thus touching both the Union Pacific and St. Joseph and Grand Island tracks. Various res idence additions have built out to the line of the factory premises and thus the faetory, while almost two miles from the post-office, is right at the edge of the city. During the week of January 20, 1890, the street car line was extended to the factory grounds, but that has long since been aband oned. But now paving and good roads reach out to the factory and it is an accessible part of the city. HALL COUNTY FARM BUREAU In 1918 there was a great revival of interest in organized farm work. One of the first manifestations of the spirit of organized co operative effort on the part of the farmers was the formation of the Hall County Farm Bureau on May 3, 1918. This organization was composed of several hundred farmers who signed a call and a pledge to work to gether in an organized manner. The officers chosen were : Leo. B. Stuhr, president ; Henry Rouse, secretary; W. L. Yates, of Martin township, treasurer ; other members of the ex ecutive committee, MHes Rainforth, South Platte; D. O. Dodge, Harrison; Clarence H. Wiese, Alda, and J. J. Lorentzen, Lake. These with the following named constituted the gen eral board of directors : Wm. Foster, Doni phan township ; Clarence Cox, Martin ; A. E. Hauke, Jackson; Everett Meith, Cameron; Verne Rouse, Wood River; Earl Mechan, Center; Hans H. Gulzow, Washington; Ivan K. Veeder, South Loup; E. M. Alford, May- field ; Wm. Fagan, Prairie Creek. After this organization was perfected a county agent was selected. The first county HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 233 agent for Hall County was James R. White. Mr. White was reared in Michigan and grad uated from the agricultural college in that state, and after experience in Arizona and Iowa came to Hall County. The county agent's office has proved to be a clearing house for a great many miscellaneous matters, a great deal on the same plan as the office of a live secretary of the Commercial Club does for the commercial and industrial interests of the town. Employment of transient and floating labor during the harvest season has been handled through this bureau, and if fees at the regular rates of employment bureaus had been paid by either the laborers or em ployers that sum alone would almost have equalled the expense of the office. The matter of securing serum for hog cholera prevention purposes at a margin above its actual cost price simply wide enough to pay for handling it has been an item of saving a great deal of money to farms ; farm crop surveys ; reciept and dissemination from the State Extension department and federal Department of Agri culture and passing it to the farmers upon special and definite inquiries, in other words acting as a clearing house between the in dividual farmers and those agencies of the state and federal government has been a big factor in the work of this office. This office has secured the services of dem onstrators from the state department along agricultural, horticultural, and poultry lines at a consistent frequency. These are only a few of the many lines of work handled in this office. At the 1919 session of the legislature a new law relating to maintenance of county farm bureaus and appropriations to that end by county boards was passed, and for purpose of complying with all conditions of that law, a second Hall County Farm Bureau was organized and succeeded the first. The news paper account of the organization of the sec ond bureau in August, 1919, reads: Men interested in retaining County Agent J. R. White in Hall County and maintaining a farm bureau organization to carry on county agent work, met in the office of Mr. White in the court house Saturday afternoon. Charles Taylor presided as temporary chair man and E. E. Hauke as temporary secretary. All were men who had petitioned the county supervisors to make an appropriation to carry on/ county agent activities. The Hall County Farm Bureau was organ ized, succeeding the old bureau which went by the same name. The membership was listed as 501, the total number of petitioners. Officers elected were Hans Gulzow, president ; D. O. Dodge, vice-president; William Yates, treasurer; Henry House, secretary. Other directors chosen are J. J. Lorentzen, E. T. N. Alford and Charles Taylor. A constitution and by-laws was adopted. The petitions addressed to the county super visors were filed Monday with the clerk. These petitions have been circulated since July 19 and all organization work has been completed since. the new state law went into effect. W. H. Brpkaw of Lincoln, director of ex tension work, was present and examined the records of the new bureau. He then gave the bureau a certificate of recognition as the official farm bureau of this county. A meeting of the executive board was held after the organization session and J. R. White was employed as county agent. A budget was made out to be filed with the petitions Mon day. The total sum asked is $1,478.06 for the period from July 28 to January 15, 1920. The new law says the amount appropriated shall not exceed a one mill levy and shall not be more in money than $5,000. The amount asked here is about one-third of a mill. The District Court (Judge B. H. Paine) in Sep tember, 1919, upheld the constitutionality of this law and by order of mandamus directed the County Board to comply therewith but they see fit to carry the matter to the Supreme Court for review. farmers' unions Within the past few years a very strong line of organization of the farmers of the state has been the work accomplished by the Farmers' Educational and Cooperative State Union of Nebraska, generally spoken of as "The Farmers' Union." This oranization has grown to a membership of a great many thou sands throughout the state and a great many cooperative stores, elevators, and lumber and coal yards are being operated by the local unions. 234 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA The officers of the state union are C. H. Gustafson, president ; J. M. Burdick, Norfolk, vice-president; L. M. Koch, secretary-treas urer; directors: John Havekost, Hooper; H. D. Lute, Humboldt; Ben L. Peters, Albion; H. G. Keeney, Cowles; A. K. Frost, Plain- view; A. L. Ulstrom, Memphis. Prior to the summer of 1919, eight locals had been organized in Hall County, with the following officers and membership : Local No. Name 887 Harmony 920 Lake 1020 Sand Krog 1040 Fairview 1041 Prairie Creek 1071 Center 1092 Island 1320 Abbott Secretary Aug. Schimmer Fred Moeller J. M. Hanssen Will H. Foster G. C. Geisenhagen D. L. Engleman Wm. Bueltner A. Jepson Address Grand Island Grand Island Grand Island DoniphanGrand Island Grand Island Grand Island Abbott 887 920 1020 1040 1041 1071 Mar. 1092 Apr. Date of Organization April 8, 1916 ¦ 27, 1916 IS, 1916 31, 1917 6, 1917 8, 1917 4, 1917 7, 1919 No. of Members No. of When Members Organized No-w April Dec.Jan.Feb. 16 58 15 39 19 52 18 15 19 IS 14 15 29 17 27 1320 Jan. ELEVATOR ENTERPRISES The following newspaper account of the meeting for organizing a cooperative elevator, and perhaps coal and lumber yard, at Grand Island describes the manner and zeal with which this enterprise is approached by the farmers. The account of a meeting held May 9, 1919, f oHows : Organization of one of the largest farmers' cooperative elevator associations in Nebraska was completed Friday night when 100 farm ers met in the court house, ratified the con stitution and by-laws of the organization and paid in about $17,000 to the treasurer. The new association is known as the Farmers' Educational & Cooperative Union of Ne braska. Some idea of the strength of this associa tion may be gained from the knowledge that it comprises seven farmers' union locals lying around this city. These locals are the Lake local, Prairie Creek local. Sand Krog local. Pleasant Ridge local. Center local, Flarmony local and the Island local. John Schimmer has been chosen president of the cooperative union and Robert Niemoth is secretary. W. A. Hagge was elected one of the directors and also was made treasurer. Directors were named by choosing one man from each local union as foHows: Lake, August Stoldt; Prairie Creek, Emil Wegner; Sand Krog, John Schimmer; Pleasant Ridge, Robert Niemoth ; Center, J. M. Black ; Harm ony, August Schimmer; Island no director. The Island local did not wish to put a director on the board. The committee which has been working on the cooperative union for two years co operated with County Agent White in getting Mr. FiHey here from the state farm to assist in organizing. The object of the new association is to buy, seH, store, ship and handle grain, grain pro- . ducts and farm necessities. The capital stock is $60,000 with $20,000 paid in. Each share has a par value of $100. Only persons be longing to one of the seven farmers' unions can join the association and no one may hold more than five shares of stock. The first meeting was held Tuesday night with 120 present, at the court house. The board of directors is now arranging for a proper site on which to build a ware house and elevator, and is seeking a manager for the elevator. Mr. FHley stated that this association is the second largest he has helped organize in the state. Each local will still exist in its own locality. Two years ago the locals interested in this association appointed a committee to get ac tion on reorganization, but the war prevented completion of their plans. This is the second cooperative elevator as sociation formed in Hall County this season. Wood River organized one about three weeks ago. Doniphan has three cooperative ele vators, the newest one being formed last year. "This association may help prices for the farmers' products and for his purchases at the place where they belong," remarked one of the men interested in the organization. It is understood the association hopes in the future to do much cooperative buying and selling along general lines. It is expected the strength of the association will give it a chance to make big wholesale purchases of coal, lumber, groceries, farm implements, and other necessities. Another cooperative association is in pros pect at Abbott. The local union there has applied to the county agent to get state help HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 235 in forming an association on Tuesday night. If any other towns in the county wish co operation with the county agent in the same work, it wiH be fumished, Mr. White stated. The stockholders who signed the articles of incorporation of The Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union of Grand Island were John Schimmer, J. M. Black, Robert Niemoth, August Stoldt, August Schimmer, Emil Wagner, J. M. Hanssen, Otto Guenther, Arthur Roby, Hans H. Gulzow, Fred J. Hagge, Henry Frauen, Walter Scherzberg, Fred Moeller, C. R. Culbertson, Henry C. J. Stolle, A. J. Niemoth, Albert Gosda, Ernest Ostermeier, EmH Hann, D. L. Engleman, Henry Knuth, B. C. Newtson, Fred A. Buch- finck, Henry Buettner, H. W. Bockbrader, Gustav Roby, WHliam Heesch, Henry Krohn, Fred H. Gosda, J. W. Rathban, Ernest Mat thiesen, Richard Gosda, Nicholas Kaufman, H. C. Busboom, C. Hongsemeier, E. F. Nie moth, Chris Niemoth, Wm. F. Langenneder, August Langenneder, Fred Stoltenberg, Wil liam Blaise, Fred Schoel, Henry Ewaldt, Reinhard Kunze, Wm. Vogel, Wm. N. Gul zow, Elmer Gosda, P. Sanders, August Rener, John Falldorf, Wm. Niedfeldt, Wm. J. Rief, Dick Niedfelt, John Schuller, Wm. H. Bu- ttner, John Baasch, Charles Muller, G. C. Heine, T. W. Heine, Jacob Shipman, Ed Stuhr, Julius Mathiesen and Wm. Wrage. A site has been secured for elevator on West Front street. WOOD RIVER CO-OPERATIVE GRAIN CO. - A movement was perfected at Wood River in the organization of the Wood River Co operative Grain Co. for purpose of handling and shipping grain, farm produce, coal, live stock, and farm supplies. The incorporators who signed the articles on May 8, 1919 were WiHiam A. Bouton, Thos. P. Hoye, Jas. G. Kunz, Henry W. Wiese, Wm. B. Parks, Wm. A. Francis, M. J. McDermott. FARMERS UNION CO-OPERATIVE EXCHANGE This organization was incorporated May 22, 1919, with the following members signing the articles: Herman Tagge, R. T. Boldt, W. A. Crabtree, J. O. Hutton, John Fagan, August WHhelmie, Henry Frenzen, A. Jepson, Philip J. Rose, Jas. Donigan, Chas. H. Boldt, J. L. Johnson, Henry Dulitz, Geo. Rauert, Henry Arp, Henry Rohweder, Arthur H. Boldt, John Spiehs, Henry Pauly, August Rauert, John C. Rauert, August Schweiger, Hans Rath- mann, Ernest Myers, Jacob Brandt, Carl Hitchler, Fred Schuett, Theodore Moll, H. W. Poore, J. P. Smith, E. J. Liedtke, Wm. Fries man, Walter F. Johnson. CAIRO Fanners Mercantile co. at Cairo was organ ized for a general mercantile and shipping business. The incorporators on June 13, 1919, were Max J. Voss, Glenn C. Roberts, John M. Veeder, M. A. Benton and Frank J. Veeder. CHAPTER XIV INDUSTRIAL HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY First Industries Steam Power — Milling Industry — Grand Island Canning Fac tory — Grand Island Brewery — Beet Sugar Factory — Grand Island Creameries — Granite Works — Building Materials — Grand Island Iron Foundry and Fence Fac tory — Broom Factory — Bottling Works — Furniture Factory — Planing Mills — Hurst Sash & Door Co. — Cigar Factories — Steam Laundries — Culvert and Metal Works — Hide Industry — Serum Co. — Floral Industry — Printing and Calendars — Nebraska Telephone Co. — The Stock Yards — Loup Valley Packing Co. — Grand Island Horse, Mule and Cattle Market — Growth of Market — Firms and Dealers on Market — Wholesale Houses — Minton-Woodward Co. — Donald Co. — Dolan Fruit Co. — Brown Fruit Co. — Nebraska Mercatile Co. — Etting Candy Co. — Moving Picture Industry — Local Picture Theatres — The Automobile Industry — Growth of Automobiles, Trucks and Tractors in Import ance BY V. E. Evans — Bicycle Industry — Grand Island Aero Industry Industrially, of course, the greatest wealth and growth of Hall County has depended upon the pursuit of agricultural acti'v'ities. The development of agriculture and the live stock industries has been treated in a separate chapter. The development of the sugar-beet industry has in part been treated in that chapter, but the history of the factory will be included in this chapter. A second great factor in the industrial and commercial importance of Grand Island and Hall County has been the transportation facil ities it possesses. Being a division point on the great Union Pacific railroad has been perhaps the next greatest revenue producing source of income to the people of Grand Is land and Hall County, after the grain- grow ing and live animal industries have been con sidered. This activity and industry has been judged to be of sufficient importance, in its relation to Flail County, to be considered in a separate chapter. Throughout the chapter on the commercial history appears mention of smaller industrial plants and enterprises, other than those strictly engaged in purely wholesale and retail activities, for it is hard to draw any distinct line between commercial and industrial enter prises. On the other hand, the wholesale interests have been partially included in this chapter, because the wide field outside of Hall County they are now covering makes them industrially important to the county. First industries While the "old town" or first settlement existed, down on the river, and before the railroad came through, the community had not reached the stage of industrial expansion. Yet, as has been remarked before, the old first blacksmith shop of James Michels' i did suf ficient carriage and wagon work lo make it industrially important, likewise, the shop of Ed Hooper established in 1861. The first sawmills built down there were producing institutions, in a way. But aside from stores and shops, practically the first strictly industrial enterprise in Hall 236 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 237 County was the State Central flouring mills established by Henry A. Koenig in 1867. Adam Blunk erected his Platte Valley grist mHl ten years later, in 1877. The next industrial enterprise established was probably the Hurley & Jones brick yards in 1870 near Prairie Creek — five miles north of the city. Here were made and sold what would probably now be called a poor quality of brick, at $15 per thousand. Evidently this enterprise did not flourish for very long, and probably was not in existence at the time the first courthouse was built, as the brick for that buHding was hauled in from Omaha. The earliest excursion into the brewery bus iness was made by Dodge & Abbott, on the south side about where the old Abbott res idence was afterwards built. The plant was one that had been originally placed in use on the "Jim Boyd" ranch (James E. B6yd, afterwards governor of the state), up near Shelton, and the machinery and appliances were purchased and moved down here, housed and placed in operation. This plant was after wards torn down and was in no way connected with the brewery next to be considered. In 1873, the State Central Brewery was in operation, first established by George Boehm. Strattman Brothers' wagon shop came in about this point. The fourth important enterprise to start in here was a foundry established during 1878 in connection with the blacksmith and wagon shop of Hooper & Ferguson, and pur chased in 1881 by Ed Hooper. The next real important industrial develop ment was the location of the Union Pacific machine shops — erection of which started in 1880, and by 1881 they were partially in op eration; These will be discussed in greater detail in the chapter on railroads. The year 1884 saw the establishment of a creamery, and the organization of a gas and electric company. STEAM POWER Steam power received an early usage in Hall County. By 1885 the manufactories and enterprises in Grand Island employing steam- power were : Schaupp's Planet Roller mills. Glade's mill, Peterson's mill, Gardner's feed- mill, Merrill's feed mill. Union Pacific rail- mill, Union Pacific shops. Union Pacific car shops, sash factory. Hooper's foundry, and the State Central Brewery. In Wasmer's and Wiseman's elevators steam power was also used as well as in the electric light works, bottling works. Independent office, Weeks's job office, and city laundry. Blunk's flour and feed-meal mHls, south of the city, were operated by water power. In, the line of manufacturing industries. Grand Island has been credited with the fol lowing named industries in 1887: Cost of No. of Men Industries Plants Employed Union Pacific car shops $350,000 500 Union Pacific steel rail miH 80,000 36 Canning factory 30,000 as high as 250 Two' roller flouring mills 60,000 40 Creamery 25,000 16 Brewery 50,000 22 Blank book making, printing, ect 60,000 21 Furniture factory 5,000 11 Steam dye works 2,000 6 Bottling works 10,000 10 Soap factory and rendering 2,500 5 Two brickyards 30,000 100 In addition to the above, the community then had numerous smaller industries in the line of broom factories, planing-mills, gas and electric plant, cigar factories, street railway system, nursery and green house, stock yards, patent medicine factory, and marble works. milling industry The pioneer milling industries west of Fort Calhoun (except the occasional water-mill) was the State Central Flouring MiH, estab lished in 1867, by Henry A. Koenig. In 1883 this property became the property of Henry Glade, and has been continuously op- 238 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA erated by the Glade family, and by Glade & Etting, and as the Grand Island RoHer Mills and the Glade MHls. The business is now conducted by The Henry Glade Milling Co., the corporate name used since 1912. The present officers are F. M. Glade, president; Lee E. Etting, vice-president; A. A. Glade, treasurer, and F. A. Glade, secretary. Twenty years ago the plant had a capacity Peterson & Co. ran a mHl at Greenwich and Front, and some milling was done as the Grand Island MiHing & Elevator Co. In 1891 John Berry conducted the City Feed MiH. Later the mills of A. Krombach, August. Meiss, Stancliff miH (the old RoHins miH) figured and H. A. Guy had a corn meal mfll in the old gas plant on Fourth street. But the Glade MiHs h?5 at all times been the Early Factories and Railroad Facilities op Grand Island of two hundred barrels a day and was turn ing out four brands of flour, also rye and graham flour, corn meal, etc. Six men were then constantly employed. In 1883 the ca pacity was 100 barrels per day, amounting to around $100,000 per year. Now the capacity is about 450 barrels per day, amounting to over $9,000,000 annually. The bulk of the wheat harvested around Grand Island is taken by this mill and something like 120,000 barrels of flour are shipped out of Grand Island each year to markets, many of which are a long distance away. This company also main tains offices in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. There have been numerous other mills in Grand Island. Mention has already been made of Blunk's mill on Wood River, Mer rill's feed mill and Gardner's feed miH. C. A. establishment with a far reaching industrial effect so far as Grand Island is concerned. the grand island canning Factory Not far from the Union Pacific railroad shops, a little more to the north, is the canning factory, with the main building and numerous adjacent portions of the plant surrounding it. The main part of this three-story building, brick and stone in constraction, is 50 x 100, with a wing 40 x 90 feet. There are also husking sheds 180 x 30 feet wide. The factory has a capacity of 150,000 cases of corn and 50,000 cases of peas per season and can use the products of about 4,000 acres of corn and 1,000 acres of peas yearly. Through the many years of its operation, this industry has given a great impulse to HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 239 garden farming, for which the soil of the surrounding country is especially adapted. The Grand Island Canning Company filed articles of incorporation on March 14, 1887. The subscribers were O. B. Thompson, C. W. Scarff, WHliam A. Hagge, C. A. VonWasmer, T. J. Hurford, Charles Wasmer and J. D. Moore. This company operated very successfully for a number of years. At times, during the height of the season, it could employ as many as 400 hands, including the large force of buskers required in the corn season, and to this annual force of workers about $20,000 'yf^.^-^m Grand Island Canning Factor-^ was paid in wages and about $30,000 more revenue accrued to the farmers for the corn raised. This company had rented the building at a figure that could be met in successful and normal years. But during the early 'nineties when, agriculturally speaking, things went to smash this item was too high to be met under those conditions. So in the de pression that followed the hard and dry years this industry went under and stopped. A capital of $38,000 was originally invested in the buildings and machinery and at every season more machinery had been added, so that when the factory closed, about 1893, it was worth $50,000. Of course the conditions that prevailed for a number of years did not discourage the reopening of this enterprise. It was re-opened in 1903 by James F. Rourke, who has restored it to its full glory of fonner years, and it is now running under his management, on practically the same basis as in its best days under the former regime. During the 1919 season a substantial amount of acreage has been contracted, and the new Craft-Edgerton farm, operated near the city under the new Kelly well irrigating system and with all mechanical appliances available, has a large acreage about ready for the 1919 canning season. THE grand island BREWERY Mention has been made of the first brewery enterprise in the county, by Dodge & Abbott, and of the very early establishment by 1873, of the State Central Brewery, by George Boehm. After Mr. Boehm's death this insti- tition was handled by Andrew Ott. Ott's Brewery was operated during the late 'eighties and in the early 'nineties at 1013 West Charles street. Later in the 'nineties the plant was operated by Lange Brothers. On November 1, 1897, it was acquired by the Grand Island Brewing Company, an incorporated company consisting of Martin Schimmer, John Schim mer, Fred Lohmann and Herman Hehnke, Sr., directors. Martin Schimmer was presi dent and John Schimmer, secretary. This property was later destroyed by' fire. After a few years a new enterprise was organized that erected a fine six-story brick building at 1111 west North Front street, which at the time of its completion was the skyscraper and one of the show places of the city. Since the arrival of prohibition this enterprise has been changed to the title of Grand Island Manufacturing Company, and is operating on successful basis in the manufacture and sale of a beverage called "near beer," and is meet ing with a sale that indicates the customers like it regardless of the "far" or "near" distance. THE BEET SUGAR FACTORY In the agricultural chapter of this work an account has been given of the growth and development of the beet sugar industry. In 1887 the citizens of this locality had tests made of the soH, imported seed from France and Germany, and in the season of 1888 many 240 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 1. Gathering Sugar Beets. 2. Exterior oe Factory. 4. Interior View of Factory. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 241 beets were planted in this locality. Thinking that 1888 might have been an exceptionally fortunate season seed was again imported and planted on a still more extensive scale in 1889. The subject of the location of a beet-sugar factory came before the citizens of Grand Island in November, 1889, and they decided to raise $100,000. They did raise $60,000 by voluntary subscriptions ranging from $100 to $1,000 each to promote the enterprise. In the meantime negotiations were carried on to interest men with the proper amount of cap ital to build and operate a factory here. Finally the gentlemen in Grand Island in charge of the matter won out over the various difficulties in their way, and on December 7, 1889, the site for a sugar factory was selected, and on Monday, December 9, ground was broken and work commenced. The dimensions of the principal factory building are as follows : Length, 292 feet, width, 85 feet, height, four stories, fifty feet. The structure is built of stone, iron, and brick and in such a substantial manner it will stand for a good many years. In addition there are the boiler house and engine house, lime house, beet sheds, and a system of smaller builings built around the principal buildings. The site chosen was one af the extreme western end of the city, and two tracts of land acquired, one belonging to the United States Improvement Company and the other to Messrs. Thummel & Piatt, situated along the side of the St. Joseph & Grand Island Railroad and extending north to the Union Pacific stock vards, thus touching both the Union Pacific and St. Joseph & Grand Island tracks, and the sugar factory belt line to re ceive Burlington shipments. The northeast ¦corner of the site comes practically to the new fair grounds, and the east line touches Glad stone Place and the south line of the Packer & Barr, Shoemaker and Wasmer additions, so that many homes heve been built in that section to be in close proximity to the factory. The street car line was built out to the factory in January, 1890. Since the demise ¦of that system of transportation adequate motor transportation has been provided in recent years to get workers conveyed back and forth. The machinery and appliances for the factory and sugar refinery were ordered and shipped from Germany, France, and Australia, and it was due to the knowledge, persistence, and energy of the little group of citizens in Hall County who knew, from experience and observation in Europe what this industry could be, that Grand Island secured the first beet-sugar factory installed and placed in op eration in the United States. In the years that have intervened other factories have been established in Nebraska that have gone out ,of existence, and in very recent years a group of wonderfully large institutions has been placed in the western end of the state by the Great Western Sugar Co., but the old "pio neer" factory is stHl very successfully operat ing at Grand Island. Henry T. Oxnard was president of the Oxnard Company, which took charge of the operation of this institution at Grand Island. J. G. Oxnard was vice-president, C. Kennedy Hamilton was secretary, E. C. Howe was manager, in 1893. The old Oxnard syndicate's management was succeeded by the American Beet Sugar Company, which is now operating the factory. A. J. Denman has been super intendent of the plant for the past few years. GRAND island's CREAMERIES In 1884 a number of Hall County's enter prising citizens formed an association for the purpose of establishing a creamery. They formed a stock company, organizing in March, 1884, with J. W. Liveringhouse, president, J. P. Kernohan, vice-president, J. E. Jewett, secretary, and J. H. Wethers, treasurer. They engaged Mr. Jewett, and later Mr. Livering house as manager. Liveringhouse conducted the institution both as lessee and manager for a time. In 1890 Messrs. Roeser & Co., who from the beginning had been members of the com pany, leased the plant and operated it for a long time for the company — The Grand Island Creamery Co. In the meantime they bought up practically all of the shares, and i'*m 242 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA became, in reality, the owners. In the early part of 1897 Robert Freitag sold his interest to his partner, Oscar Roeser, who became the sole proprietor of the creamery. The creamery business thrived during the administration of Messrs. Roeser and Freitag, except for an unavoidable and inevitable inter ception in the drought years of 1894-95, when the results were naturally rather poor. In 1891 the creamery made 129,104 pounds of butter; in 1892, 159,200; in 1893, 174,355; world, employs several hundred people and is of vast importance to Grand Island. GRANITE WORKS PAINE-FISHBURN GRANITE CO. As early as 1887 H. J. Mayer was conduct ing a granite and marble works. Ira T. Paine purchased Mayer's plant in 1888. This es tablishment was first near the present loca tion, and later for many years was on Second street, near the City HaH. In 1905 the con- ~' ^iMliiriMr'^' Fairmont Creamery Company Plant, Grand Island 1894, 164,484; 1895, 134,195; 1896, 248,128; 1897, 266,000. In 1904 this creamery was still owned by Mr. Roeser and managed by W. N. Culbertson, and was doing a business of about 38,000 pounds a month. It then had twelve cream routes and was employing a large force throughout the year. In 1901 the St. Paul Creamery Company established a plant in Grand Island, on east Fourth street, at the city electric light works. They began the manufacture or fine separator butter. George McBride succeeded to this plant, about 1905, and sold it about 1907 to the Fairmont Creamery Co. The immense plant of the Fairmont Creamery Company was completed in 1909. This company, the second largest of its line of business in the cern was incorporated as the Paine Marble & Granite Works, by Ira T. Paine, Charles Beal and Bayard H. Paine, and in 1910 was reincorporated as the Paine-Fishburn Granite Co. The officers of the company are at the present, and through most of its business career have been, as follows : Ira T. Paine, president; D. H. Fishburn, vice-president; Bayard H. Paine, secretary, and A. A. Tooher, treasurer. The company built the present fine two-story brick structure on Walunt street, between Third and Front, in 1909. It is now operaed as the Paine-Fishburn Granite Co. This company sells its goods aH through westem Nebraska, and into Wyoming and the other neighboring states to the west, and keeps a half dozen representatives on the road, employing an average of twenty people. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 243 The Paine-Fishburn plant is the largest in its line in the state outside of Omaha, being fully equipped with pneumatic and electric machines and traveling cranes. For a time an^other granite and marble works was conducted as the Grand Island Marble Works, with W. D. Glenn, president, E. E. Glenn, vice-president, and Rose E. Hanson, secretary, but this plant went out of business within the last two years. SCHEFFEL & SON MONUMENT WORKS Grand Island has another plant engaged in this same industry. WHHam Scheffel, for many years a leading stone cutter and stone mason of Grand Island, who had installed many street crossings, curbings and sidewalks and produced excellent jobs in finished and dressed stone building work, branched out into the monumental works. On October 17, 1917, articles of incorporation were filed for The Scheffel & Son Monument Works, in which enterprise Mr. Scheffel is assisted by his son, Carl. A new building has been erected on Cleburn and Front streets, and they are handling a stock of monuments, marble and stone for various purposes. BUILDING MATERIALS In 1870 the Hurley & Jones brick yards, already spoken of, inaugurated the very early entrance of Hall County into the industry of furnishing building materials. In the late 'eighties, Fred Lehman had brick yards in South Grand Island ; Henderson Brothers had another, and Kerr & King operated in west Grand Island. J. F. Zedicker had a yard in 1889. The Grand Island Brick Company started about 1890, and Schmidt & Kirschke were operating then in north Grand Island, a mile north of the city. Louis Schmidt later became sole manager of this concern. The Doniphan brick yards, under the man agement of H. E. Kunk, acquired a wide spread operation. This yard was operated by C. Klose & Co., who also had yards at Aurora and Lincoln. Walker's Gravel and Sand Works, operated in recent years, shows another phase of Hall County's resources along the building ma terial line. The new highway constmction law giving the state and counties power to construfct gravel pits, stone quarries, brick yards, and other establishments necessary to manufacture road buHding materials at rea sonable and usable costs may result in a re vival of this industry in Hall County in the near future. The Traill Sand and Gravel Co. was incorporated February 20, 1919, by James W. TraiH, David J. TraHl and Richard M. Kuester, and is operating sand and gravel pits, and producing raw building materials of various kinds for the building material market. THE GRAND ISLAND IRON FOUNDRY AND WOVEN WIRE FENCE FACTORY During the 'nineties a fine brick building was erected at Front and Elm streets, on the north side of the track, for an iron foundry and the business started out under favorable auspices. Like many other enterprises, it succumbed under the pressure of the des tructive business period of the middle 'nineties. But in May, 1897, C. H. Tully opened the factory again, adding to the original business that of manufacturing woven wire fences. For some years Grand Island has possessed a bridge builder, John L. Means, and for some time Mr. Tully had been associated with him, the firm name being Means & Tully. Mr. Tully rapidly built up a good foundry business and a line of repair work. His woven wire fence business steadily improved so that he has had to enlarge. the plant frequently, and at certain times of the year he employs a force both night and day. He manufactures about ninety cars of wire per year. Sales and production of this concern have increased over 200%. The plant now uses eight fence looms, automatic. Grand Island fence is produced in several types, a special corral fence, with two barbed wires woven into the center of the fence as weU as barbed wires at top and bottom, a 48-inch fence barbed at top and bottom, a 39-inch open hearth steel for garden, lawn, or orchard fence, a 32-inch. 244 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA fence to enclose sheep, hogs, etc., a 26-inch fence supplemented by barbed borders, and a 20-inch fence for hogs, with barbed wire additions. AH Grand Island fence has a special double wrap at each knot. This plant is also jobbers for a line of gates and orna mental fences. The business is now conducted by C. H. Tully Fence Co., with C. H. Tully as proprietor and advisor and C. F. Tully, general manager. A large mail order business is done, so that not very many men are kept on the road, but at least eight people are em ployed at all times. THE BROOM FACTORY About 1888 J. Kelso began an unassuming little factory for manufacturing brooms. It commenced on a very small scale and in creased its output until it sold goods to a territory reaching into Montana. The com for its brooms had been for the greater part shipped in from more southern climes, where the weather is more favorable to the growth of fine broom corn. At times the product of about forty acres of corn raised in this county has been used by this factory. In 1907 the Kelso Broom Company was organ ized out of the old Kelso broom factory. Larger buildings were obtained and between twenty-five and thirty men are employed. Geo. W. Kelso had been last proprietor before the reorganization. Then R. R. Horth became president and Geo. W. Kelso, secretary-treas urer and manager. The business was then located at 523 W. Front. This business dis continued about 1912. BOTTLING WORKS During the 'eighties Henry Vieregg con ducted his bottling works at 216 W. First. This business was later conducted by Henry Vieregg & Son, but it was sold a few- years ago to Saas & Haack, and is now conducted as the Third City Bottling works. A. Ott conducted a bottling works in the late 'eighties at 1911 West Louise. The American Bottling Works at 618 East Fifth has been ranning for about seven or eight years now. Through these two plants Grand Island is a liberal producer and shipper of the products of this line, and the quality of the Grand Island factories is accounted above the average by the trade. FURNITURE FACTORY It has been noted before that Grand Island had a furniture factory as early as 1887. This institution was at 214-216 North Pine and was conducted by Thomas Lee. In late years Wm. Elfers has conducted a cabinet and furniture shop at East Third. PLANING MILLS Geo. E. Winn had a planing mill here as early as 1887. There have been numerous planing mills and wood shops. L. T. Geer has had a long career here as a contractor, and with J. D. Harrison began that line of work as early as 1893. The Geer-Harrison Co. erected a buHding in which they carried on a planing mill about 1900, and enlarged it in 1906. The W. H. Harrison Co. also has a planing mill in connection with their lumber business. HURST SASH & DOOR CO. In recent years another business along the line of finishing business materials and fur nishing the finished goods for the contractor and builder has been started here. The Hurst Sash & Door Co. was established under the sole ownership of E. W. Hurst in December, 1915, and continued as such until January, 1919, at which time owing to the rapidly in creasing business and the desire to expand, it was organized into a stock company, with the following officers : E. W. Hurst, president and general manager, A. E. Cady, Jr., vice-pres ident, M. E. Hurst, secretary and treasurer. This plant does a general jobbing millwork business for all classes of building and carries the usual accessories or side lines handled by the retail lumber dealer. It furthermore carries in stock one of the most complete assortments, both in variety and quahty, of windows, doors, and hardwood interior finish handled in the west, and by means of several traveling men is covering not only Nebraska, HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 245 but Colorado, Wyoming, and eastern Mon tana. The Herman Nelson Lumber and Supply Co. conduct both a general lumber business and a plant for furnishing finished millwork for the builder. Kruse Brothers, contractors and buHders, have been equipped for furnish ing the public with millwork. The Sothman Company is well equipped to undertake building jobs and furnish var ious products for the work. Albert Stehr has reached that stage in the contracting bus iness where he can also handle the entire job. CIGAR FACTORIES By 1887 Grand Island has three cigar fac tories in operation, that of N. H. Cohen which was conducted for many years, the Chas. Lohmand factory which was discontinued about 1897, and the Henry Schlotfeld factory which ran until after 1900. Other factories which ran for a few years were : Abrahamson Bros., J. H. Delicompson and Grand Island Cigar Co. at 108 West Third, August Nitsch, Brand & Denebrink, Wiereck Cigar Co., J. J. Windnagel, Western Cigar Co., Nitchke and Klintworth, C. C. Lightner, R. G. Desch, 110 E. Third, Peter Gimple, Conrad Maurer, Cornelius Co., 108 N. Locust. Richard Buenz conducted a factory about twelve years ago at 114 N. Locust. Chas. Steinmeier conducted a factory at 222 N. Pine, and Nielsen & Niess were at 31 IJ^ S. Wheeler a few years ago. One of the most famous factories of Grand Island was the Puritan which became known by that name in 1902. Fred H. Michelson was running a business about 1900 and the name Puritan became quite well-known by the time this factory had been built up to a point where it often employed as many as fifty or sixty girls. It occupied the locations where the Brunswick Billiard hall and Davies Cafeteria are now running. Hal Rowl after wards conducted the Puritan for five years as a pool hall when it had moved to Locust street, where Max Greenberger's clothing and tailor shop is now situated, and in recent years it has gone over to Pine street, but it has been out of the list of cigar factories for some years. Plann & Boehl started their factory at the 214 West Second location ten or eleven years ago. That factory is now conducted by the Hann Cigar Co., while for the last few years Arthur C. Boehl has been around the comer at 108 S. Wheeler and 117 S. Wheeler with his factory and store. Henry J. Voss has been running a cigar factory since about 1893, over twenty-six years now. He first was located at 306 West Third, but the H. J. Voss & Son cigar factory has been at 214^ West Third for the last seven or eight years. A. Brandt started the Brandt Cigar Co. at 109>^ S. Pine. F. C. Brandt had been at 113 East Front a few years be fore. The Brandt Cigar Co. is now owned by Emil F. Rickert, at 215 East Third, where it manufactures eight or ten well-known brands of cigars, including the Lincoln High way. A very well-known establishment of this class has been the John W. Sink Cigar Co. which has operated at 105^^ East Third and recently at 107 East Third. The man who established this business, John W. Sink, served in the legislature for two terms and became a political worker of state-wide rep utation. In 1918 he sold the business, but it still operates, and its traveling selesmen sell its goods clear to the western border of the state and beyond. The Phelps Cigar Co. operated for about five years at 113 S. Locust street, but recently the Dan C. Brown Cigar Co. acquired that business. The Harkert Cigar Co. was at 113 N. Locust until recently. No attempt has been made to give a detailed history of the pool and bHliard halls of the city, though occasionally some of them have been mentioned. The Saratoga, running recently at 116 West Third, formerly was at 120 N. Pine. STEAM LAUNDERIES Grand Island has had numerous laundries which did not stay in business very long, such as Omaha, and Troy, about 1887, and the Martha Washington, about that time. Thomas M. HainHne was handHng laundry work at 620 East Fifth by 1889, and at the end of 246 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA the 'nineties the T. M. Hainline & Son Twentieth Century Laundry was operating on West Front street. The Hainline laundry in recent years has been at 107 East Front street. Sam Lee conducted the well known Chinese laundry at 118 North Pine for some thing like twenty years through the 'nineties and up beyond 1910. The Model Laundry ran for awhile at 412 West Third. Sam Lee had- Chinese competition at times, notably Kee Lung, at 116 N. Pine, about 1889 and 1890, and Hong Sing on East Third about 1910. The main competitor to the Hainline laundry and Sam Lee has been the Steam Laundry. The Steam Laundry was estab Hshed in 1889. The firm of J. C. Alexander and J. W. Marsh then occupied an old buHd ing at 512 East Third, and having found the field sufficiently good for a lanudry built a- building of their own. After the retirement of Alexander & Marsh, Jno. Cunningham and later a Mr. Hall were owners, and P. A. Dennon operated it for about four years. The laundry was at 118 East Second, but is now at 222 East Third. Leo. Loeb had it later. Dennon and Degan incorporated the business. Ralph Sabin and E. E. Vollmer had been running the Grand Island Model Laundry until a corporation was effected about 1915, under the name of Grand Island Model Laun dry and the Stean Laundry was absorbed in name. The Model Laundry is now operated under the supervision of T. M. Sharp. GRAND ISLAND CULVERT & METAL WORKS — KELLY WELL CO. Among the industries of the Third City of Nebraska, there are two that are worthy of special mention. The Grand Island Culvert & Metal Works is located on North Oak street, adjoining the Union Pacific tracks. This plant is the exclusive manufactory of the "Genuine Open Hearth Iron" culverts in nor thern Nebraska. They make a specialty of screw joint well casing, heavy riveted pipe for irrigation well, and are equipped to turn out anything in the metal tank line from the smallest house tank and garbage can to the, largest storage and supply tank. They are designers and manufacturers of the only cor rugated grain bin in this section of the country. This concern is also jobbers for furnaces and kindred accessories. The man ager of this plant is Charles McElroy. A few years ago a process for buHding a concrete well that not only will not wear out but that can be used in installing power and irrigation systems was patented and perfected by a Grand Island man, Wm. Kelly. The Kelly Well Co., the corporation formed to manufacture and market this concrete well screen, is a concern that threatens to acquire a national fame for its product and should this concern reach the success it bids fair to at tract it wiH add to the reputation and name of Grand Island as plows did to Moline and threshing engines did to Racine, Wisconsin. THE HIDE INDUSTRY The D. H. McDonald Co. of Chicago opened a branch hide house in this city about 1896, whh J . A. MitcheH as manager. Mr. MitcheH has been connected with the hide and fur business of Grand Island for a great many years. In recent years he has been manager of the Chicago Hide and Fur Co., of which M. M. Blake has been president and Ralph R. Horth secretary as named in new amendment to thdr articles of incorporation filed in Feb ruary, 1917. Jas. S. Smith & Co. of Chicago established a branch house here about 1904, which was conducted for a number of years. The Grand Island Hide & Fur Co. came into this field on September 7, 1918, with Wm. F. Krehmke, Wm. Spangenberg, Frank I. Olsen, Harry C. Lyons and Mat Jarvis as incorpor ators. Floral industry J. H. Roman was running the Grand Island Green House in 1887 and Wm. Dudley was the nurseryman. This was followed by W. H. Jones. For twenty years Grand Island has had two very excellent green houses, that of Edward Williams and that of John Ellsworth Company, at 1300 West Third. These two firms ship cut floral designs all over the west ern part of the state. HISTORY OF PIALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 247 MITCHELL SERUM CO. A new industry incorporated for the pur pose of manufacturing and selling serums for the treatment of hogs and other animals, the buying and selling of stock hogs, and slaugh tering of hogs and the sale of hog products is the Mitchell Semm Co. Articles were filed in April, 1919, by James A. MitcheH, Claude PoHard, R. R. Horth and Chas. Hanson. PRINTING AND CALENDERS A few years ago the Augustine Company was a job printing office. This concern de cided to branch out into the field of producing calenders. It gradually expanded in this field until a few years ago it was able to move out of its old quarters at 117 East Third into its splendid ornamental two-story brick building at 120 East Second. The firm has now reached the stage where it can keep several traveling men out on the road successfully competing with Thos. D. Murphy Co. over in their own nest, in southwestern Iowa, where they can go up against Brown & Bigelow in Minnesota, and they placed orders by mail all over the country. In the handling not only of calendars, but of any class of specially elaborate printing jobs they compete with any plant in the state. It might be remarked that while the Augustine is the only plant in town reaching out over the country for business, yet Grand Island, has four other plants which can and do receive jobs from all over this part of the state and turn out pretty classy work. The Independent plant in former years catered to book binding work, but in recent years Grand Island has not offered a book bindery. But' with the elaborate presses now owned by the Independent job printing department, they do not hesitate at any class of printing on the market. The Prompt Printery under the excellent management of Thos. V. Mc- Gowan has added to their printing line an up-to-date line of rubber stamps which they manufacture daily. This plant is being merged into The Thos. V. McGowan Co., which is a new corporation entering the wholesale office supply field as well as printing field. Fred Hold confines his work as formerly to com mercial printing, of which he turns out large quantities. NEBRASKA TELEPHONE CO. This company had a plant in Grand Island for a good many years before the consolida tion with the Grand Island Telephone Co. gave it the local exchange exclusively. But very few people may realize the im portance of this industry to Grand Island at Nebraska Telephone Company Building the present time. The Nebraska Telephone Co. has its territory throughout Nebraska di vided into districts. Grand Island is the head quarters point for the Grand Island district, the largest in the state in area. This district comprises Merrick County and the eastern line of its territory runs along Hamilton, Merrick, Greeley, and Garfield counties, along the norlh borders of Blaine, Thomas, Hooker, and Grant counties, taking in Sheridan, Dawes, and Sioux counties, in the northwest comer of the state. Running south along the Wyoming state line is its western boundary. It covers all the 248 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA state south of the Platte River west of Adams County. This comprises a territory something like half of the state in area. This is the vast territory to be managed out of Grand Island. In this Grand Island district owned by the Nebraska Co., are 49 exchanges and 98 asso ciated with the Nebraska Company and for which the business is conducted through this Grand Island office. Stations owned by the Nebraska Company, operated in this territory, number 22,091 and something between 30,000 and 32,000 owned by connecting companies Island who would reside elsewhere were this district office for this territory not located at Grand Island. GRAND ISLAND TELEPHONE CO. This company was incorporated in 1903 under the name of the Home Telephone Co. The first officers were Chas. G. Ryan, presi dent, H. J. Palmer, vice-president, Fred W. Ashton, secretary, and Geo. B. Bell, treasurer. In March, 1904, the capital stock was in creased to $75,000, of which $50,000 was pre- Glover Building, Grand Island District offices Nebraska Telephone Co., third floor and operated out of this office. Grand Island is the toH center for this vast territory and the majority of messages sent from and to towns in the west half of the state pass through or are relayed through the Grand Island station. Around one hundred people are employed in the office maintained here. The district commercial manager is E. K. Halde man, district plant chief, R. R. Hartford, dis trict traffic chief, C. Y. Barnes. Here also are located the district acclountant, district in spector, district foreman, district plant office, material yards, and various other offices neces sary to the district work. The Grand Island local exchange employs from forty-eight to sixty operators. It is safe to say that over 100 additional families are stationed at Grand ferred stock, and in February, 1910, it was increased to $100,000, The name was also changed from the Home Telephone Co. to the Grand Island Telephone Company. The plant was installed by J. F. Butterfield of Chicago. This company was not organized from money-making motives alone but to better the service and extend its scope to a greater num ber of patrons, the motto being "No party lines." After successfully managing the business for five years H. J. Palmer sold his interests to Frank PI. Woods of Lincoln, and W. E. BeH and associates of the York Telephone Com pany. Bayard H. Paine bought out the in terests of a large number of local stockholders. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 249 This move strengthened the position of the company owing to the fact that Mr. Woods was president of the National Independent Telephone Association. After running for several years under this management the en tire plant was sold to the Nebraska Telephone Co. The officers of this company, prior to its sale at a figure that enabled every stock holder to take out every dollar invested with interest to the date of his returns upon the sale, were Bayard H. Paine president, Frank H Woods, vice-president, C. J. Palmer, sec retary and manager, and W. E. Bell, treasurer. REVIEW OF MISCELLANEOUS INDUSTRIES There have been numerous industries which have been established and which flourished in Grand Island and added to the lustre of Hall County that have not been mentioned and should not be overlooked. The light plants and street railways system have been treated in the chapter on the city of Grand Island (its utilities). About 1888 Grand Island had a little factory in connection with the Lehman brick yard ; about 1890 J. O. Heffelfinger con ducted a soap factory at 821 North Plum; McAllister & James conducted a cornice works about 1890 at 118 West Third; John T. Gra ham's foundry manufactured various kinds of castings ; a cigar box factory was conducted here about 1914 by E- H. Vieregg; a patent medicine factory was in operation at Fourth and Pine streets about 1888 ; and the Oriental Remedy Co. was running about 1904. No doubt numerous small industrial enter prises have been established in the city which have been overlooked, but an effort has been made to give recognition to all of the lines of industrial initiative which has sprung forth in the years past in the community. PRESENT MISCELLANEOUS INDUSTRIES Among other industries in operation in the city at this time are : L. M. Carlson mattress and auto top factory. East Second street; Great Western Chemical Co., Front and Elm streets, which manufactures an animal remedy very generally sold ;over the country; the Grand Island Hide and Fur Co. at Front and Wheeler ; Grand Island Iron & Metal Co., local dealers and shippers of iron and miscellaneous products ; Grand Island Light & Fixture Co., Ill South, Wheeler, jobbers and distributors for the well-known Cushman light form gas- engine; Grand Island Radiator Co. at 1105 W. Louise; Grand Island Roofing Co., 207 E. 13; Orloff Junk Iron & Metal Co. ; Nebraska Oxo- Gas Heating Co. THE STOCK YARDS The old Grand Island stock yards operat ing prior to 1890, were situated in the west part of the city, under the control of the Union Pacific. Alter and Glover were mana gers in 1887. For the last twelve years the Union Stock Yards have been conducted in East Grand Island. In 1907 J. D. Whitmore was secretary and managing officer. At the present time the yards are under the manage ment of the following officers : H. O. Wood ward, president, F. G. Cockrell, general mana ger, J. L. Johnson, secretary-treasurer. This plant is weH equiped for handling a large amount of business and caring for those who accompany the stock. The scope of its busi ness may be gathered from the volume hand led in 1918, this being approximately 3,100 cars of cattle, 3,000 cars of sheep, 200 cars of hogs, and 300 cars of horses. LOUP VALLEY PACKING COMPANY Another industry, the success of which wHl bring considerable added importance to Grand Island as an industrial center, is the new Loup Valley Packing Company. This concern was first organized by a group of Ord and Bur- well men, but many Hall County citizens and farmers from all around Central Nebraska have purchased stock interests in the company and it is opening up with many stockholder- customers as a favorable nucleus for its clien tele. M. B. Goodenow is president of the com pany, W. D. Hart, vice-president, R. J. Mc Lean, secretary, and C. E. Rassett, treasurer. The capitalization has already been increased from $100,000 to $200,000. WHliam Hammann, general supervising engineer of equipment of 250 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Proposed Addition to Loup Valley Packing Co. Plant, Grand Island the Brecht Co. of St. Louis for past five years and for sixteen years prior thereto general superintendent with largest packers in Chicago and Indiana, is to be general manager, with a manager of twenty-five years experience in every department of the business from the killing end to the finished product. A contract for the plant to cost over $200,000 has been awarded to the Brecht Co. and the building of the same is progressing at this time, 1919. With the growing proportions of the system of hauling stock to market in trucks for a dis tance as far as a hundred miles or more, it will be nothing startling to see a vast amount of cattle brought to Grand Island in trucks every week, in the very near future. This saves at least two haulings and a shrinkage. and a farmer can get a line on the market the same day he loads and sells. Four years ago there were four unloading chutes at South Omaha to unload hogs from tmcks, now there are more than eighty for unloading stock brought in by motor transport. THE GRAND ISLAND HORSE, MULE AND CATTLE MARKET The industry that has probably done more than any other one industry ever represented in Grand Island to spread the name of this city over the entire world and given it fame has been the horse and mule market. At var ious tim.es this market has reached the high point in sales that it could bring to the city the reputation of having the second largest horse Grand Island Horse Market HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 251 and mule market in the world. This industry has for the last fifteen years brought a steady stream of visitors to this city to transact busi ness from hundreds of mHes to the north and west, and has made this city a sort of western gateway to the eastern markets for the wide cattle and sheep country in northwestern Ne braska, Wyoming, and Montana. Grand Island's horse market has grown from a very small beginning in 1903, when 4,000 were sold through the rings, until it has reached its proud position of second greatest market in the world. Situated on two of the great continental lines of railway, and in fact at their junction, such shipping facilities have made possible quick shipments in and out of Grand Island- The sales barns are situated near the heart of the city, covering some six acres of ground, with loading chutes and the very handiest trackage on both the Union Pacific and Burlington railroads. BRADSTREET & CLEMENS CO. Thomas E. Bradstreet started in the com mission business in Grand Island in 1903. His auction sales were the first of a wholesale na ture held in Grand Island, and numerous cau tious friends warned him that such a busi ness venture could not succeed and that he would be flirting with bankruptcy. But he kept on for about three years, when Jesse Clemens became associated with him. A couple of years later the Bradstreet & Clem ens Co. was incorporated by Thos. E. Brad street, Jesse Clemens, and P. L. FuHer. In 1914 A. H. Langman, W. R. King, and P. L. Fuller were associated with this concern. In 1915 Thos. E. Bradstreet acquired the total interest of the Bradstreet & Clemens Co., which he now owns with his two" sons, Archie L. and Deo Bradstreet. Some idea of the growth of the Grand Is land market may be given by the figures show ing the number of head sold each year: 1903, head sold about 4,000 1904, " " 7,184 1905, " " 8,112 1906, " " : 7,984 1907, " " 8,604 1908, " " 11,608 1909, " " 11,602 1910, " " 12,413 1911, " " 14,135 1912, " " 15,890 1913, " " .- 23,922 1914, " " 26,053 1915, " " 37,804 1916, " " 60,274 1917, " " 51,064 1918, " " 38,156 In 1917 some of the firms at this market commenced to handle cattle, and 520 were sold that year. On Febmary 2, 1918, the Blain Horse & Mule Co. changed its corporate name to Blain Horse, Mule & Cattle Co. The Grand Island Horse & Mule Co. did not change its corporate title, but on December 29, 1917, filed amendments to its articles increasing its cap ital stock from $25,000 to $100,000 and has participated in the changing conditions and purposes of this market. In 1918, the number of cattle was 9,175, and in 1919 cattle auctions are being held regularly as well as horse auc tion sales. The total of the two lines brings the 1918 total up to 47,331 head of stock alto gether, and makes as good a record as any year except 1916 and 1917 when the greatly increased demands of the foreign governments were so pressing that the French and British governments erected temporary yards at Grand Island to handle the horses purchased on this market and shipped from here. With the re adjustment of conditions in the horse market and increase of the cattle sales here the Grand Island market will undoubtedly continue its records for steady substantial growth. Firms and dealers on the grand island . MARKET The history of this market would not be complete without a record of the firms and dealers who have handled the ever increasing business shown by the record printed above. The Bradstreet-Clemens Co. built the Cen tral Horse and Mule barns around which the horse market radiated and spread. In 1910, they had two barns, one 70 x 280 ft. and one 68 X 280 ft., one accommodating twenty-five carloads and the other fifty carloads of horses. 252 HISTORY OF PIALL COUNTY NEBRASKA with outside pens opposite the barns to accom modate another fifty carloads. Two more barns were built shortly thereafter, and by 1919 they had five barns on the market. For a number of years the Bradstreet- Clemens Co. and the North-Robinson Co. were the princi pal dealers on the market. A rather detailed history of the North-Robinson Co. has been included in the chapter on the history of Cairo, where that company started in business. GRAND island HORSE AND MULE CO. On November 4, 1912, articles of incorpora tion were filed for the Grand Island Horse and Mule Co. by John Torpey, Wm. S. Fletcher, and Arthur H. Langman, with a capital stock Grand Island Horse and Mule Co. Plant Second largest in the world of $25,000. Their first sale was a hummer and from then on they went right ahead. This company is still operating at the market, with A. H. Langman as president, A. C. Scott as vice-president, and John Torpey as secretary- treasurer. I. C. GALLUP HORSE AND MULE CO. Notice of formation of a special partnership to be called the I. C. Gallup Horse & Mule Co. was filed on March 18, 1912, with the county clerk. This partnership consisted of I. C. Gallup, Wm. Leddy, Hughes & Robins, Arthur Langman, Wm. Fletcher, and pro visions were made to take over the I. C. Gallup stock and interest in salesbarns at the Union Stock Yards in Grand Island at inven tory price. THE HORSE MARKET IN 1914 During 1914 a little paper was published. called Grand Island Horse and Mule Market. Vol. 1, No. 1, appeared on February 19, 1914, and considerable of the information given in this chapter up to this point has been taken from this little paper. From this little paper the following directory can be offered of firms and individuals dealing upon the Grand Island market at that time: Bradstreet & Clemens Co. (Thos. E. Bradstreet, president, P. L. Fuller, vice-president, W. R. King, secretary- treasurer), auction sales every Monday untH May first, after May first every other Mon day; Grand Island Horse and Mule Co. (H. H. Hoops, president, A. C. Scott, -vice-presi dent, John Torpey, secretary-treasurer), auc tion sales every Tuesday, giving John Torpey also as general manager, and W. I Blain as auctioneer for this company; North & Robin son Co., importers and breeders of Percheron, Belgian, and Shire stallions and mares, an nual auction sale at the Bradstreet & Clemens Co. sales pavillion March 19 and 20, 1914, the date upon which the Nebraska Horse Breeders Association met at Grand Island; J. T. Hale barns one block west of the Brad street & Clemens Co. bams; M. T. Bemard, three blocks west of the Bradstreet & Clemens Co. barn ; Alexander McMillan, barn at 804 E. Seventh street ; Wm. McMillan, barns at 804 east Fourth street; John Torpey, with Grand Island Horse & Mule Co. and operating in dividually; Arthur H. Langman, with Brad street & Clemens Co. and operating individu ally; J. V. Murphy, buying on orders; Ed. Borders, individual dealer. At that time it was stated that mules were shipped from here to eight states at one recent sale. BLAIN HORSE AND MULE CO. Articles of incorporation were filed for this concern upon November 3, 1915, by WiHiam I. Blain, Thos. E. Bradstreet and WiH R. King, with a capital stock of $25,000. In November, 1918, the name of the company was changed in notice filed by N. H. Troel- strup, president and W. W. Wimberly, secre tary to Blain Horse, Mule & Cattle Co. This company is still successfully operating upon the Grand Island horse market. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 253 THE HORSE MARKET IN 1919 As has been heretofore remarked, the horse market is beginning to revive from a slump that followed when the remarkably hea-vy "war-sale" period of 1916 and 1917 had passed. This loss of business through the depression that followed is being off-set by the establishment of a growing cattle auction market that will continue to run along with the horse and mule market. At the present time the Bradstreet & Clemens Co., Blain Horse, Mule & Cattle co.. Grand Island Horse & Mule Co., Dr. Bernard, and Ed Borders are the principal dealers on the market. The Borders bam burned down in 1918 and is be ing rapidly rebuilt. WHOLESALE HOUSES Grand Island is attaining an enviable posi tion as a wholesale and jobbing center among the cities of the state. As early as 1887 the city had several wholesale houses : Beckoven & Co. operated a wholesale fruit business, as did Hill & Hunter ; Heath & Wallichs were whole salers of paper and J. W. Liveringhouse for creamery supplies. Mention has been made in numerous places in this chapter and the com mercial chapter of the "wholesaling" activities of various enterprises in the city. The Piatt Manufacturing Co. operated about 1890 as manufacturers and wholesalers for candies. N. D. Piatt was president, J. Z. Piatt, secre tary-treasurer, and Hugh Piatt business mana ger of this company. MINTON-WOODWARD CO. Early in the 'nineties a wholesale grocery was started in Grand Island by the Minton- Woodward Co., in the ConneH block. C. C. Minton was president, O. D. Wright, vice- president, and C. D. Woodward, secretary. M. L. Bimey was associated with them. About 1899 the Donald-Porter bought out the estab Hshed successful business of the Minton- Woodward Co. J. Donald, for twenty years a traveling representative of a Chicago house, his brother L. H. Donald, Geo. W. Porter, J. W. Rose were officers of that Company. The Minton-Woodward Company and its suc cessor The Donald Co. have built up a whole sale grocery business that very succeessfully competes with the Omaha, Lincoln, Sioux City, and Chicago jobbing houses throughout Nebraska, and beyond her wetsern border. The Uery-Tolbert Co , a new whole'sale The Donald Company BuimiNG grocery house, a corporation composed largely of former Donald Co. employees, is opening up in the Goehring building on west Third now being vacated by the Central Storage Co. to make way for this newest member of Grand Island's wholesale family. DOLAN FRUIT CO. Following closely upon the heels of the Min ton-Woodward Co. the Dolan Emit Company went into the wholesale field. M. L. Dolan was president and C. C. Carr, secretary. Frank J. Coates later became secretary of this com pany. NEBRASKA MERCANTILE CO. This company was organized in 1892 at St. Paul, Nebraska by M. Anderson, A. E. Cady, Jens Wilhelmsen, and Geo. E. Lane, and oper ated as jobbing grocers under the caption of M. Anderson & Company for three years. In January, 1895, Mr Anderson retired from the firm, and the remaing members incorporated the Nebraska Mercantile Company of St. Paul. At this time A. E. Cady was elected president. Some time after this a branch was opened at Grand Island and operated as such until April 14, 1905, when a seperate corporation was formed known as the Nebraska Mercantile company of Grand Island. 254 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA C. C. Hansen then bought out the Lane interests, and was elected secretary and treas urer of the company, A. E. Gary, Sr., being continued as president. The first home of the Nebraska Mercantile Company of Grand Is land was in what is now known as the A. O. U. W. building. In July, 1900, they moved into the Goehring building west of the Koehler Hotel which had been built especially for their occupancy. In 1906 their growth re- quired more room and another story was added to the two stories and basement as it was originally built. In 1910 the company suffered from a disastrous fire that occasioned practic ally a total loss of the stock and building. The Nebraska Mercantile Company Building, Grand Island building was restored and still another story added, and was occupied until November 1, 1917, when the company went into their own new home. The Goehring building is now becoming the home of the new Uery-Tolbert company. From 1905 to 1911 the business was under the direct management of J. B. Waldo. In 1911 Glenn Jones acquired an interest in the company and became manager, and still con tinues in that capacity. G. M. Southmayd, with whom Mr. Jones had embarked in the jobbing grocery business at Omaha in 1899 un der the name of Jones-Southmayd Co., fol lowed him to this company and became sales manager of the Nebraska MercantHe Co. in 1917. In November, 1917, the company moved into the most modern jobbing grocery house in the state. On January 26, 1917, A. E. Cady, after twenty-five years of active cer- vice in guiding the affairs of this company re tired as president, and C. C. Hansen succeeded him. On May 25, 1917, the house at St. Paul was consolidated with the Grand Island cor poration. A number of Grand Island men own stock in the company now. BROWN FRUIT COMPANY This wholesale fruit concern was organized on April 14, 1914, with H. H. Glover as presi dent, E. L. Brown, vice-president and manag er, F. C. Hanaford, secretary and treasurer. It began busines in the 400 block in a one-story cement building 40 x 100 ft. Its business in creased untH it was necessary in August, 1917, to move to Front and Pine, where it had built a new brick building, two stories and basement, 50 X 140, equipped with modem banana and refrigerator rooms and every modern conven ience. The business has shown a steady increase in volume since the date of opening, and now the company keeps not less than twelve men on the road, selling throughout the westem half of the state, through central Ne braska and into northwest Kansas, and forty people are employed with the company. The present officers are E. L. Brown, president and manager, Chas. P. Wasmer, vice-presi dent, and J. D. Webster, secretary and treas urer. ETTING CANDY CO. This concern conducted a very successful candy factory and wholesale candy and fruit business for a number of years. In its early career, about 1908, Julius Boeck was presi dent, Wm. A. Prince, secretary, Michael Klinge, treasurer, Samuel N. Taylor, manager. Lee Etting later became secretary ; in 1914 Lee Etting was president and secretary and Julius Boeck, manager. This factory ran until 1918, when it closed for a time, and was purchased by The Donald Co., who did not thereafter operate it as a candy factory. Not long after that time The Raymore Candy Co. came to Grand Island and opened a jobbing candy house at Fourth and Walnut, in 1919. Albert W. Raymore, Murry C. Alexander and Chas. H. Justice are the in corporators of the Raymore Candy Co. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 255 MOVING PICTURE INDUSTRY Only a few years ago, moving pictures were in the one-reel experimental stage. But now when this industry has grown to a point where it is the fifth greatest industry in the United States, Grand Island has kept pace with her record, and is becoming the distributing point for this part of the state in this line. Most of the great producing companies in the busi ness maintain a film exchange in either Omaha or Kansas City, from which the films are shipped to the theatres in this part of the state. But the following article, published in The Independent in May, 1919, shows the progress Grand Island has made in this rap idly growing industry, and within the near future Grand Island may possess film ex changes from which the pictures can be dis tributed throughout Central Nebraska: From being merely a large and lively divi sion point on the Union Pacific and a stop over for cross-country motorists or show troupes. Grand Island has gradually been growing into a metropolis for a huge section of central Nebraska during the past few years. This has been shown, for example, in the automobile and accessory business in which lines local dealers are the distributors for a great stretch of territory. In some instances the dealers here are distributors for several states. In groceries Grand Island supplies an immense area and this is true as well in fruit. Horses sold on the local market go to the southern states from which buyers travel here weekly. In paper goods the local houses sup ply communities many dozens of miles distant. Most recently among such industries has been organized a packing company which promises to give the city a substantial boost. WhHe on the topic of Grand Island's prom inent position in Nebraska it might seem trivial and irrelevant to mention that the film, "Bolshevism on Trial," was screened at a private sitting in the Lyda theatre Thursday. The spectators included a group of local bus iness men and also exhibitors from a number of towns in nearby counties. But this private screening is not just an incident. It is both a development and a proof of the city's increasing importance. It wasn't the first film to be privately screened here, although perhaps it was the first which others than exhibitors and their friends witnessed. The "outsiders" were invited to appear merely because the film pretends to show what Bol shevism would mean to this country. During the past two or three months films have been screened privately here by the ex changes in order that exhibitors from this and towns in a radius of 50 miles or so might decide if they wanted these pictures, and for how long a run they wanted to sign up. These private exhibitons have been held at different theatres. This system of seHing pictures is, because of Grand Island's standing in the state, gradually supplanting the former method of salesmanship through illustrated advertisement or through the oratory of traveling agents. LOCAL PICTURE INDUSTRY About eleven years ago, the Jewel theatre, with a seating capacity of about 300, opened at 106 East Third. The Lyric, the first picture theatre, was running at 116 S. Locust, with a seating capacity of 250, L. A. Loeb, manager. The Michelson theatre was built about eleven years ago, at 116-118 North Pine, with Fred H. Michelson as proprietor, and John O. Becker as manager. In 1910 G. C. Dewey owned the Jewel theatre and Cloud Smith was managing the Michelson theatre. The Lyric was still run ning at 116 S. Locust. In 1911 and 1912 the Lyric, Jewel and Michelson were still operating; the Lyda had been opened on West Third by S. A. Hayman, and the Empress theatre had been opened on North Locust. Soon thereafter the Jewel left the stage, and in 1914-15 the Empress, Lyric, Lyda and Michelson were continuing and the Majestic, a new theatre built on west Second across the street from the postoffice, appeared. J. A. Woostenholm, in 1918, remodeled and en larged this playhouse until it is one of the most beautiful huoses in the state. The mov ing picture, vaudeville and stock company theatres for the past four years have been, the Empress, managed by W. D. Fisher, the Michelson, managed by F. M. Mitchell, the Majestic and the Lyda continuing under their same managements. THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY An industry that bids fair to become of 256 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA paramount importance not only throughout the country, but especially to Grand Island and Hall County is the automobile industry, with its kindred branches, trucks, tractors, motorcycles, tires, batteries, and various ac cessory lines. When it is reflected that Nebraska has now over 250,000 automobiles in use, with scores being added to the list practically every day, and that the state possesses the greatest per capita ownership of cars of any state in the Union, one for less than every seven persons, this, the second or third greatest industry in the country, ranking up next to agriculture and vying with the transportation (railroad, steamships and electric lines), its importance becomes emphasized. With the growth of this industry, the im portance of Grand Island as the hub of a large area of Nebraska also becomes emphasized. During March, 1919, a few enterprising auto dealers in Grand Island conceived the idea of arranging an auto show, and the same was arranged and prepared upon very short notice. Just prior to this first show, which will no doubt become an annual affair increas ing yearly in size and importance, the Inde pendent prepared an article upon the history of the automobile business which so fully covered that subject that it is worthy of being incorporated in this work to cover that phase of the industrial history of Hall County: Only a few weeks ago The Independent's news columns related that the Grand Island dealers in automobiles, in tractors and all other motor-driven machinery or vehicles had met and decided to put on an automobile show at the auditorium. In an incredibly short time these dealers have arranged for a complete and splendid exhibit. It wHl begin on Wed nesday and continue throughout the week. The story of the development and growth of the automobile business in Grand Island is really a most interesting one. The first dealer The Independent recalls was also a manufacturer. 'This dealer was Mr. Albert Lykke, a mechanic who is still a resident of the city. His was not the first car, if we recall correctly. Dr. Kirby, more recently of Kear ney, had the first horseless carriage or "benzine buggy" as it was also caHed, and many there were who ridiculed the idea of a doctor depending on a contraption like that, steered by a sort of handle, to get to his patients. God pity the poor sufferers in many cases ! Why, a machine like that couldn't run through mud when the roads were wet, or sand if they were dry! And what would he do if the gasoline would run out or catch fire ! Incidentally this car, a two-seated affair, much of the size and appearance of the present Ford runabout, but, if the recollection is correct, without a top, was later destroyed by fire, but not until it had been in use several years. Mr. Lykke made his own machine, gasolene engine and all. It was a decidedly creditable and ingenious piece of work. Mr. Lykke was, and, indeed, is yet to be, complimented for it. But the muffler cut out was not then perfected and the vehicle nat urally did some quite audible "chug-chug- gin." In those days ever more than today — and it is bad enough even now — there was a disposition to regard a newspaper as com mon property especially for voicing complaints and grievances by individuals against other individuals, using the newspaper editor or reporter as a shield or screen. Moreover the average equine, a long line of ancestry having been accustomed to seeing carriages move only when drawn by their kind, showed a fervid determination to dash through the first handy plate glass window upon seeing a buggy move along without power. It was something mys tifying to Old Dobbins and terrifying to young Dobbins. It was super-equine! It was un canny! And to the horse-perception the entire apparition, upon coming nearer, and upon evidencing explosion after explosion, it was — it was — well, it was good night for his horseship! He didn't — and Mrs. Horse was not a whit more composed — care where he was going if only he was on the way. Owners and drivers of horses, as a matter of course, protested. Many complaints were thus made to the newspapers. It was a news paper's duty, the complainants alleged, to propergander against such devilish inventions. Regulations councilmanic were proposed, and some found their way into enactment. But gradually an additional car, and another, and another, appeared. With them came the muffler, the pneumatic tire, and — well, take a long jump and you'll be at the opening of the show next Wednesday. But before getting away from the first days of the automobile in Grand Island the narrator recalls an incident that will be interesting in view of the practice of the medical profession today. When Dr. Kirby initiated the revolu-, tion already chronicled, the lamented Dr. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 257 Henry D. Boyden had just developed a large and lucrative practice. At his home place, the present Chas. G. Ryan residence, he always kept two fine, fast coach horses. Dr. Boyden was a man of much energy and concentration of purpose. He lost no time in answering calls. His purchases of locomotive power — equines — were always with that point in view. He spared no investment in horse flesh. Big, strong, long-limbed fellows were his choice. The reporter interviewed Dr. Boyden on the subject of the preferable mode of covering territory — the buzz wagon or the well bred horse. For a long time Dr. Boyden, perhaps partly because of an acquired love of a good equine outfit, adhered faithfully to the latter. Today — but today no physician is without one or more of the horseless carriages. Perhaps as many as several hundred cars were sold in Grand Island by "local agents" without "stock cars" or a regular place now called a garage. Among such agents were Lee Huff, connected with the telephone com pany, now state agent for the Buicks at Omaha. One of the first firms going ex tensively into the business was W. H. Harri son & Sons. This was not earlier than 1910. It was a side business, the firm retaining as the main business that of lumber and coal. The Harrison Battery Station is the successor, established in 1915. It is the WiHard service station, and distributor for nine counties. It also distributes car loads from the factory to points in Wyoming and Colorado. E. H. Brandes, with E. A. Brandes as man ager, established the first large special build ing and garage in 1913. He came to this city from Hastings, although originally from Min neapolis, and after looking over the city and its railroad facilities, decided that it was a good point for an automobile distribution bus iness. He believed people would quickly learn to buy their cars at home from an established house rather than from individual agents or directly at Omaha. A large build ing was erected for him at Second and Pine streets. The business rapidly grew until now he is occupying three separate buildings, covering combined floor space of 19,460 feet and has thirty employees. Out of the sales department over 600 Willys-Knight and Over land cars were sold during 1918, 250 of which were driven out of Grand Island to the var ious dealers over the territory. The firm also handles the Franklin and Packard cars and the Commerce tmcks. It has complete repair shop and a battery repair shop. All kinds of accessories are handled as also the Indian, Excelsior, and Henderson motorcycles and a complete line of bicycles. The Cummings Motor Car company was established in 1912. It has 15,000 feet of ground floor. It is agent for the Raulang electric and the Chandler Six car. The Glass-Evans Auto company organized with V. E. Evans as president, J. B. Glass as secretary-treasurer, Bert E. Watson as superintendent, and E. C. Burger as vice-pres ident in 1911. They are agents for the Ford car and the Fordson tractor. They also con duct a wholesale accessory business. A year ago they completed a fine building and occupy 28,000 square feet of floor space. The build ing has a capacity of 200 cars and was erected at a cost of $75,000. The Grand Island Rubber Works, with H. M. Watson proprietor, began business in 1910 repairing tires. Since then it has taken on the agency for the Exide storage battery and auto accessories. It is the Diamond Tire service station. William Goettsche, agent for the Harley- Davidson motorcycle and bicycles, together with accessories for the same, established him self in business in 1913 and is rapidly expand ing his line. Mr. Goettsche will display a picture showing the first American soldier who crossed the border into Germany after the armistice was signed. This soldier went across on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Mr. Goettsche has been the agent for this motor for Merrick, Adams and Howard counties as well as for Hall. The Everhart Rubber Works, with V. R. Everhart proprietor, established a service station in 1915 for the Goodyear and Miller tires. It also carries a line of accessories. F. F. Kanert also has a large garage in the A. O. U. W. building, beginning business in 1914. He bought out the Harrison & Reid agency and handles the Auburn, Grant, and Maxwell cars besides doing a general repair business. Long prior to 1914 Mr. Kanert was recognized as one of the best auto mechanics in the country and drove the first MaxweH ever brought to the city. The first OldsmobHe truck to come to Grand Island will be in the show and the Messrs. Dunn and Butler, of the local firm, expect to ship them to Grand Island in corload lots soon. 'The OldsmobHe Motor company, with J. M. Dunn as manager, began business in 1917. It is agent for the OldsmobHe and Federal trucks. Mr. Dunn came to this city from Lincoln. Teeter & Homan came to this city from Holbrook in 1916 and estabHshed an agency 258 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA for the Dodge cars and Republic trucks. They cover ten counties. This firm recently pur chased the Boyden residence property at Sec ond and Sycamore for $15,000 and expect to erect a garage and sales building in 1920 equal if not superior to any in this part of the state. H. P. Hansen established an agency for the Reo cars and trucks in 1914. Mr. Hansen was formerly in the retail business but finds the automobHe decidedly more fascinating. The Gibbs Automobile company is one of the largest concerns of the city, comprising George Gibbs and Ed Guthman. It began business in 1916. It is the agent for the Studebaker car and covers sixteen counties. Mr. Guthman came to this city from Salt Lake City. Mr. Gibbs is an old Grand Island man, and has been very successful in the new business. The Richey-Freeman Auto company has just begun business with W. O. Ritchey, recently of York, and C. B. Freeman, George Fleming, and L. W. Van Horn, of westem Nebraska, interested. They are the agents for the Buick and the Dort cars. Arrangements are being .made for the erection of one of the finest garage buildings in the city next year, at Third and Kimball avenues on the old Pierce livery barn location. The Grand Island Motor company, consist ing of WHliam Cords and John Sass, began business in 1918 and handle the Chevrolet cars and Allis-Chalmers tractors. The Nielson Auto company, with Niels E. Nielson proprietor, began business in 1916 and handles the Nash and Allen cars and trucks. It also does a general garage and repair business. The Grand Island Tire & Rubber company, with Roy E. Geise proprietor, began business in 1918, Mr. Geise coming to this city from Council Bluffs. He handles all kinds of auto accessories and U. S. and Fisk tires. The Gates Half Sole service station, with C. A. Lee proprietor, began business in 1919, coming to this city from Omaha. Mr. Lee is confident that the automobile and accessorv business of the Third City will grow with more rapid strides than any other industry. Recently Fred Gilbert has taken the district agency for a large number of counties for the Maxwell line and established a distributing house at 415 West Third. F. F. Kaner is removing to California. Farm Power Co. is handHng Fordson tractors next door west of Glass-Evans Co. Worth Alexander has a garage at 222 Fourth street. The Roy Brown garage at 524 E. Fourth street is another north side garage. (Other north side garages are the Highline garage at 417 West Fourth and Zlomke garage on North Pine street.) The importance of the taxi business to a city the size of Grand Island which is without a street car system may be realized by the fact that at times as high as sixty-two taxi licenses have been in effect in the city. The Koehler Taxi Line (C. B. Havens Trans fer Co.), Grand Island Taxi company, Mc intosh Taxi Lines, are companies that operate several cars apiece, and there are two or three dozen individuals operating one or more cars for this purpose. Nielsen & Petersen have had constructed a large moving track that can carry up to two or three tons of household goods or other loads, if they desire to load it so heavily. Central Storage Co., Jim Hughes, Roy Brown, have good sized moving and transfer trucks now. Moving across country is becoming more common as the roads im prove. In 1918 several parties moved their household goods between Grand Island and Lincoln by truck and van. This method saves from two to three handlings of the goods and eliminates a great deal of packing. The Man hattan, and B. & I. Oil companies have had branch distributing stations here for some time. The Standard Oil company built a splendid filling station at the southeast corner of Second and Pine. The Manhattan Oil company is just completing a splendid, orna mental station at the corner of Second and Wheeler. The Sinclair OH company is search ing for a suitable location, and a station is soon to be built on the familiar triangle be tween Locust, Wheeler, and Division, where the Linderman residence stands by the B. & L. Oil company. The importance of these estab lishments is effectually emphasized by their acquisition and ability to profitably use some of the most valuable business corner locations in the city. Other automobile businesses in this city, handled in the past and not heretofore men tioned, have been, W. E. Rownd, 221 East Third, automobile accessories, repairs and livery, as early as 1902 ; C. J. Donner & Son, HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 259 114 S. Pine street; Hart Gun Co., 103 East Third, as early as 1908 and 1909 ; Branaman Bros, operated under that name at the pres ent Brandes location in 1911 and 1912; Upper- man & Leiser and Henry Stratman were then handling automobiles as well as agricultural implements. There were three garages in the city in 1911, the Cummings, Harrison & Reid, and Rownd. E. R. Farmer operated in 1914 at 116 W. Fourth, but has sold this garage since then. The Independent Garage Co., 224 East Fourth, Jarvis Auto Co., 120 East Sec ond, and Westem Auto Exchange, 114 South Pine, were also operating in 1914. In 1919 there were the Dahlstrom garage, now the Gibbs Auto Co. garage, Graham Auto Co., 109 East Second, which handled the Buick for this territory. Upon Mr. Graham's death in 1918 the Buick agency was taken over by Ritchey-Freeman Co. and the Brandes garage was the successful bidder for this location, in which they placed their repair shop and ac cessory salesroom. C. H. Sems was at 121 North Cedar, Walters & Marsh at 112 South Pine, the Tire Hospital at 115 North Second, and Third City Auto Co., at 118 South Wheeler. In addition to the wonderful growth and multiplicity of makes of automobiles from which the purchaser of this day has to choose, there are already something like two hundred makes of tracks and a similar number of tractors on the market, with more being offered each month. A short discussion of the general growth of the automobile and kindred industries, written by V. E. Evans, of the Glass-Evans company, in April, 1919, is herewith offered : Ten years ago the automobile business was in its infancy and a few of us that were so engaged were classed with the village black smith, absolutely no credit, and for places of business we generally had to occupy some old abandoned shack, generally the worst appear ing buHding in the town, and when you called upon one of these places of business you expected to see as its manager a greasy man with his overalls and jumpers sufficiently saturated that they would almost stand alone. Now we think this a fair interpretation of the pioneer garage man. The contrast of them today is so great that it would almost seem like an impossibHity for so great a transforma tion to take place, in face of the fact that the business was so inadequately equipped in the beginning, and today we stand foremost in the cities and villages throughout our country as a representative business. The possibilities of the business and its permanency was conceived by a progressive class of business men who took upon their shoulders to establish the business that was heretofore considered very treacherous to the country's finances. The bankers who have^ always been admitted to be the country's fore most financial advisors, were against and dis couraged their customers in buying auto mobiles, mainly refusing to loan money for Ford Building, Grand Island their purchase. Conscientious no doubt, in their convictions, but very mistaken in their ideas, which has been proved by the thousands of cars that have been delivered, and yet the financial conditions are better today than they have ever been in our history. Throughout the state of Nebraska the car dealers have the best buildings, and most up- to-date places of business of any state in the union, and my experience has been that as a rule they have better systems and service installed than the average merchant of today. When a country becomes so commercially industrious as ours it is a continuous race against time, and every time-saving device that can be instaHed finds a ready market and I can cheerfully say that the automobile saves more time than any other invention today. The automobiles of today carry more people to and from their industries and work in the cities than the street cars. In the city of Chicago today, it would be impossible for the street cars and elevated lines to carry the traffic were it not for the automobHes. This would necessitate the building of a subway which would cost millions, and in New York where they have the subway, surface and 260 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA elevated lines, the automobile carries more passengers than either. Taking the raral districts into consideration. Throughout the summer months, when the farmer's time means money to him, think of the inconveniences of not being equipped with an automobile when it is necessary for him to make as high as eight or ten trips a week to the city to purchase repairs and materials to successfully carry on his business. If he had to resort to a slow team of horses, it would require a half day to make the same trip which now requires only one hour with an auto, and especially during the acute short age of farm labor which we experienced last summer. There ought not be any question in your mind as to the importance of the auto mobile and its duties. Our great country has in its bounds 5,000,000 automobiles today, owned and op erated by our most progressive business men with a carrying capacity of one-fourth of our entire population. In other words, we have sufficient auto conveyance to transport 25,- 000,000 passengers over one hundred miles in any one day, and under the very hoods of these cars is a representative power of ap proximately 150,000,000 horse power, which is three times greater than all the other motive powers combined. This enormous growth has taken place in the last ten years and ought to be convincing evidence of the automobile industry and its permanency. Motor trucks less than two years ago made their first appearance in our community. Today they are shown by all of the leading firms of our city, as well as others through out the state and many of them enjoyed the sales of 40 or 50 tracks during the season;. they also have proved themselves beyond a possible doubt, as essential as the automobile. Every farmer, as well as merchant, can no doubt realize a great saving in their use when he has an occasion to haul a load. Within a radius of 50 mHes of Omaha there is more live stock delivered to Omaha stock market with motor trucks than by railroad. With our national system of highways com pleted, which is the crying need of our land, the tonnage transportation of trucks will ex ceed that of railways. General Coleman Dupont, in a recent ad dress to the farmers on the high cost of living and its relations to the distribution of farm products on good roads, made the statement that can hardly be disputed, when he said that more than 5,000,000,000 tons of freight pass over the highways of this country with an average haul of little under 10 miles on macadamized roads at not to exceed 8 cents per ton. In the year 1917 there was manufactured and delivered approximately 190,000 trucks, as compared with 250,000 during 1917 and with an estimated production of 290,000 dur ing 1919, is a very satisfactory growth enjoyed by the truck manufacturers. The above figures alone ought to eliminate any question in your mind as to your transportation problem. The evolution of farm power from ox teams of the early settlers to the tractor of the modem farmer has taken place also within the last few years, and since the introduction of the first tractor there has been such a growing demand that the industry itself has been unable to cope with the situation. The final manifestation of this is the powerful, economical and efficient power-farming ma^; chinery, therefore, again we have demon strated the further need of motive power. The farmer that can fill up his tractor with a few gallons of kerosene and proceed with the proper seeding of two or three hundred acres of land, and in this manner increase his acreage 4 or 5 hundred per cent over horse power, ought not to be blamed for investing his money in a farm tractor, and throughout the very intense heat of the summer season, when it is most necessary to harvest crops in order to save them, is able to do the same amount of work that he could do in cooler parts of the year but would be impossible for him to perform with horse-power. I have endeavored in the above three articles in treating on automobiles, tracks and farm tractors, to prove to you that the auto mobile business is permanent, and our lines answer the needs of as many wants and es sentials as any mercantile business in exist ence, but which was heretofore scoffed at and was considered a luxury and detrimental to the public welfare. BICYCLE INDUSTRY The importance of Grand Island, with its network of railroads centering here, as a dis tributing point for the state has again been recognized. This time the city has been chosen as the central distributing point for the entire state, outside of Omaha and Douglas counties, for distributing bicycles and motorcycles. As a result the first car load shipments of bicycles and motorcycles HISTORY OF PIALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 261 ever received in any Nebraska city except Omaha, will be sent here soon. E. A. Brandes has signed a contract with the Miama Bicycle Co. of Middletown, Ohio, for the 1920 season that gives the Grand Island office the entire state outside of Douglas county, or 92 counties in all. The first shipment is to be received September 1st and is to be a carload or 350 bicycles. This is double the territory had by the Brandes people the past year. This is the first time a carload of bicycles ever was shipped here. It will be the first time a carload ever was shipped to any city in the state outside of Omaha. J. B. Shelton, local manager for Brandes, states the company also will have the same territory for distribution of Indian and Ex celsior motorcycles. The past year the local office handled the territory west of Lincoln. The motorcycles are to be received here in carload lots, the first carloads of motorcycles to come to any city except Omaha. The growing importance of the bicycle is shown by the fact that 500 pairs of bicycle tires, or 1,000 tires, were sold here by Brandes last year and 3,000 this year. During 1920 fully 5,000 bicycle tires will be handled here. The sales of bicycles are increasing, Mr. Shelton stating the sales last year were double those of the previous year, and this year were twice the number sold last year. A few years ago bicycle sales were scarce comparatively but the war started an increase in the use of the bicycle as a matter of economy in trans portation. Many men in this city who own cars bought bicycles to use in place of their cars for going back and forth between office and home. The use of the "wheel" by the women came back into style last year as well. Five times as many women's bicycles were sold this past year as had been sold in the previous five years altogether, Shelton says. William Goettsche who conducts Goet- tsche's motorcycle and bicycle shop, also states that business in that line is growing with great rapidity. He has the distribution of Harley- Davidson bicycles and motorcycles for a num ber of counties and at this time has shipments due which will be larger than any shipments in the past. He also does a big accessory 262 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA business, distributing accessories for all sur rounding towns. "It is only to be expected that this city should become a large distributing point," he remarked. "No city in the state is better equipped, so far as raHroad lines are con cerned, to send goods to other places in the state." In anticipation of increasing business and to handle better the present large volume, he has rented the rooms formerly occupied by WHliam Veit's grocery, as a repair shop. AH of his repair work will be handled there and his old shop wHl be devoted to use as a display room only. The repair shop has occupied the rear part of his shop. Goettsche has sold more bicycles this year than ever before in one year. Not only has his sales been large but the factory office has notified him that his sales have been larger than in any other city of similar size in the LTnited States, and larger than in any city in the United States from the point of sales per population. GRAND ISLAND AERO COMPANY A new transportation industry which has perhaps been expedited a generation or so through the necessary advances made during the great war just closed, is the aeroplane industry. Through the initative of Lieut. Lloyd G. Thompson, who served during the war as an aviator in France and an aviation instractor in Italy, Grand Island has furnished the first aeroplane company to be incorporated in the state of Nebraska. The Grand Island Aero Company was incorporated in June, 1919, for $25,000 with E. L. Brown president! Lester Schuff, vice-president, A. E. Cady, Jr., treasurer, E. C. Burger, secretary, and Lloyd G. Thompson, general manager. Lieutenant .Thompson and his fellow aviators direct and make the flights. This company immediately ordered a Curtiss aeroplane which arrived July 7th, and since then exhibition, passenger, and business flights are being made regularly. Scheduled flights have successfully been made over the various towns in .central Nebraska. This company secured the agency for a ter ritory comprising almost half of the state, and before it had been in operation a month Man ager Thompson organized the Ord Aero Club, which has already ordered a Curtiss machine, and since then about ten machines have been sold. The effect of this concern is likely to be very important for Grand Island in the future, as it will tend to secure for the city the same advantage as a supply, storage, and general utility station on the various transcontinental aerial routes already being planned that the city has secured in matter of railroads and highways for motor transportation. Lieu tenant Thompson is the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Thompson. He was bom, raised, and educated in Grand Island, attended schools in this country and in Italy, graduated from the Creighton College of Law, was admitted and entered the practice of law with his father when the great war was well under way. Without waiting for the United States to enter, he secured admission to an aerial in struction camp in England and was in the aviation service when the American dough boys and aviators arrived in France. Upon his return he re-entered the practice and also ,took this step that furnished to Grand Island a good "head-start" in aviation industry, that will undoubtedly develop rapidly in the next few years. While Lieutenant Thompson was ^in the service, his wife, Aimee Schwynn |Thompson, studied shorthand and assisted in the law office of Thompson and Thompson. CHAPTER XV COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF GRAND ISLAND Commercial Beginnings of Grand Island — Stores in 1873 — Business Leaders of First Decade — Businessmen of 1876 — During the Next Ten Years (1876-1886) — During THE Last Thirty-two Years — The Hotels — Restaurants — Confectioneries — Sa loons — Barber Shops — - Livery, Feed and Sale Stables — Blacksmith Shops — Agri cultural Implements — Elevators — ¦Flour and Feed — Lumber and Coal — Coal — Grocery Stores — Meat Markets — Bakeries — Ice Dealers — Dry Goods and Shoes — Wolbach Stores — Shoe Stores — Clothing Business — Millinery Stocks - — Drug Stores — -Book Stores^ — -Jewelry Stores— Furniture and Undertaking — Wall Paper Stocks — Hardware Stores — Other Stores — Commercial Organi zations — Hall County Immigration Society — The Merchants Club — The Board of Trade — The Business Men's Club — The Commercial Club COMMERCIAL beginnings OF -GRAND ISLAND As hereinbefore noted, the town of Grand Island, as it now stands, moved over to its present location from the first settlement to the site located by the Union Pacific raHroad Company in the spring of 1866. The first track of the Union Pacific railroad was laid by that company on the 8th day of July, of the same year, and the first house built in the present confines of Grand Island was a section house, buHt by the same company. On the same day (July 8, 1866) the first con struction train was run into the city. Theretofore there had grown up during the nine years intervening since the arrival of the first colony, on July 4, 1857, what might rather loosely be termed the "old town." There was really no platted town, but a com munity of people with close neighborly inter ests and a constant exchange of business dealings. The commercial interests of the community had been served by the old "O. K. Store" of Henry A. Koenig and Fred Wiebe, which had been running since 1862, on one farm. Some thing like five miles farther west Fred Hedde had buHt up a business and catered to his neighbor's needs, and on farther west was Jim Jackson's Wood River store. But with the location of Grand Island station on the railroad the stores had to leave the old emi grant roads, and Koenig and Wiebe promptly came up to Grand Island station, as did Fred Hedde. Likewise, Jim Jackson moved into the first site of Wood River, that sprang up with the arrival of the road, and he later had to move again to the present site to keep up with his community. Grand Island did not promptly settle down on the streets which are now the principal business streets. But like the great majority of towns, missed its guess about one block off in each direction. The first community huddled around Front street, east and west, and principally around Pine street, north and south. In his centennial sketch, prepared in 1876, Dr. J. P. Patterson states: The first dwelling in the town was erected by W. Stephens at Locust and Front streets. During the autumn the Railroad House was 263 264 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA built and the eating house established for the accomodation of passengers. The first buHding being of insufficient size, an addition was put to it, and the whole was used as an eating house until the completion and oc cupation of the later commodious and hand some structure, which took place in December, 1875. Part of the old buHding was purchased by Fred Hedde, and removed to the south west conrer of Locust and Third streets, where, after having some very essential re pairs, it was occupied by Mr. Hedde as a store and dwelling. The balance was con verted into a neat dwelling by P. Touhey, and later occupied by C. W. Thomas as a res idence. The post office was established in November, 1866, and D. Schuller was ap pointed postmaster, and about the same time several stores were opened, among the first of which were those of M. S. Hall, a railroad contractor, Koenig & Wiebe, who had re moved their old O. K. store into the town proper, in 1867. Wm. R. McAllister and C. W. Thomas commenced business in thg same year. An examination of the advertising columns of the newspapers in the fall of 1873 showing the business houses of that time will recall many familiar names to the old settlers of the county, and those of the present generation who grew from childhood in the community. The general stores were: O. K. Store, a store that had been brought over from the old town and that was located on the site of the present Koehler hotel. It was then managed by Robert C. Jordon, and the stock eventually closed out. C. Wasmer & Bro. store was lo cated on West Third, where the Woolworth Five and Ten Cent store is now located. This was afterwards closed out. C. W. Thomas's stock, known as The Excelsior store, was lo cated across the street and in the next block west from the Wasmer store. Third street had not been opened until 1871 when James Michelson and W. R. McAllister buHt build ings on the northwest and southwest corners of Pine and Third streets. The store of Jacobs & Michelson was opened in 1871 on the site of the present Michelson block, and that of W. R. McAHister on the southeast corner of Third and Pine, a lot or two in from the street intersection. James Cleary, dealer in stoves, tinware and house furnishing goods, was located in North Locust street, between Third and Front streets, and T. J. Hurford, who offered another stock of hardware to the trade was at the corner of Third and Wheeler, where the present O. C. Thompson Co. is lo- lated. Other business houses and industries represented in the advertising columns of the papers in 1873 were: F. Drews, fashionable barber; A. F. Wilgocki, surveyor and real estate agent, for the two seemed to go to gether in those days, they closed the deal when they located the party on the land ; State Cen tral bank of Nebraska, with F. A. Weibe as president and Dorr Heffleman as cashier; Newsdepot at City Drag store, with N. P. Kelley, dealer; State Central Brewery, Geo. Boehm, proprietor, on Locust street; Capital Billiard hall at the comer of Locust and Third streets ; Fritz Suehlsen, "icecream, lunch at all hours and general confectionery" on Front street; Cornelius Ivers' billiard hall, Third street ; A. H. Wilhelm of Alda, Nebraska, ad vertising "for best prices and quickest returns on buying grain ;" Geo. T. Hoagland and Son, lumber; Tout & Morton, carpenters and builders; M. J. McKelligan & Co., "wines, liquors, etc." ; Fred Nabel's city bakery ; D. G. Phimister, contractor and builder; L. Engel, merchant taHor; Jenneman & Dunphy, boot and shoe manufactury. on Locust street; Probstle & Barks, hamess, saddles, etc., on Locust street; Koenig & Wiebe Steam Flour ing MHl, and "dealers in Grain, Flour, Ground Feed and Coal" ; C. E. Lykke, blacksmithing on Third street; W. A. Piatt auctioneer; J. G. Feller, Harnes maker ; Bassett's Sample Rooms, under the Clarendon hotel; John Grimes, bootmaker, on corner of Third and Pine streets ; American Feed, Livery and Sale Stable ; John Fonner ; wells hair dressing and shaving saloon, joining the Nebraska house. The only resident survivors of the .foregoing list are Fred Nabel, C. E. Lykke, and Jas. Cleary. The following notice published on October 10, 1873, will sound like one still seen occas ionally in the papers of the present day: HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 265 To THE PUBLIC In consequence of the present unsettled condition of business, and the stringency in monetary matters throughout the country, the undersigned business firms of Grand Island resolved that on and after the 15th day of the present month (October, 1873) they will seH goods for CASH ONLY. They do this with the firm conviction that such a course will prove ultimately beneficial to buyer and seller, and will enable them ultimately to furnish their patrons with mer chandise at proportionately lower rates than heretofore. W. R. McAHister. Makenzie & Greve. Cornelius & Petersen. John Grimes. J. E. Meth. Richardson & Ellis. C. Wasmer & Bro. A. B. Veeder & Co. W. A. Piatt & Co. B. B. Kelley. HaH & Thomas. James Cleary. Jacobs & Michelson. Fred Nabel. Probstel & Barks. E. R. Wiseman. Louis Engel. C. W. Thomas. H. N. Chapman. R. C. Jordon, Agent O. K. Store. Geo. 'T. Hoagland & Son. T. J. Hurford. Ira Lewis. William Wasmer. Jenneman & Dunphy. The first firm to register in the Record of Firms and Corporations doing business in Hall County, Nebraska, as kept in the office of the county clerk, was Bowers, Thormahlen & Co. (John J. Bowers, John Thormahlen and Lizzie C. Handy), dealers in grain, vegetables and groceries. On September 20, 1875, the second registration was that of C. Wasmer & Bro., retail dealers in general merchandise, grain and produce, (Christian and Charles Wasmer). Another entry filed on September 29, 1875, was that of Peter Thums and Cornelius Pett- inger, as Thums & Pettinger, for wholesale and retail dealing in liquors and cigars and manufacturing of vinegar, and a similiar regis tration for liquors and cigars was made by Henry Baumann and Hugo Oelrich. Two additions to the business interests of the town in 1874 had been the store started by John W. and W. H. West, as West & Brother, a, partnership registration for which was made on October 2, 1875. The year 1874 also marks the establishment of the Wolbach store which has been conducted in Grand Island now for forty-five years. The regis tration of an association, doing business under the firm name of Wolbach Brothers for general mercantile business, was filed by Samuel N. Wolbach and Jacob S. Wolbach on March 8, 1881. Indicative that business interests were ad vancing in other parts of the county was the filing on October 6, 1875, by County Clerk Wallichs, of a notice that the following per sons had associated themselves together as the Cooperative Association of Patrons of Hus bandry of HaH County: D. C. Smith, Alda; Edwin Searson, secretary. Grand Island; Martin Ennis and W. J. Burger, Orchard City; Geo. L. Warner, Wood River; J. H. Andrews, Alda; Charles E. Towne, Wood River; John Irwin and Wm. StoHey, Wood River. BUSINESS LEADERS OF THE FIRST DECADE A short review of the men who started and developed the first business in Grand Island during the first ten years of the history of the town develops a list of remarkable pioneer business men. Henry A. Koenig, who had located in the county in 1862, became the founder of many of the city's business and industrial enter prises. He had started the O. K. store in 1862, and with Fred Wiebe brought it over when the town finally located on the railroad line. His father, Fred A. Wiebe, is credited with having started the first lumber yard. Mr. Koenig started the miH, and in 1871 had started the State Central Bank of Nebraska, the only banking institution of the town dur ing its first decade. Fred Hedde conducted a store early in the 266 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA history of the county. In 1873 he was con ducting a general store, and in 1874 he added a lumber yard, but in 1880 switched his atten tion solely to agricultural implements, until he changed his activity to the editorship of the Independent. W. R. McAHister opened his first store in .a very small room on Front street in 1867. During practically all of the first ten years of the town's history he was its postmaster. In 1858 he had located two miles west of Fort Keamy, where he was freighting for a time, and then had worked on the Union Pacific Railroad for a time. In 1871, as heretofore noted, Mr. McAHister erected a building near Third and Pine streets, a site which now is occupied by the substantial brick block which bears his name. He afterwards served as mayor of the city and took part in many ac tivities during his long business career. James Michelson came in 1860. He was passing through the old settlement and they persuaded him to stop off and settle among them. He was a blacksmith by ti^de and at that time the scattered community with a store on one farm and some other enterprise on another desired the services of a blacksmith. When the new settler had selected a site the neighbors gathered in and donated their ser vices, and in about three days built him a house. At that time a great many overland trains were going through, and it was neces sary for these trains and groups of emigrants to stop off for several days and have their oxen shod. At times the little country shop had four or five blacksmiths working. A charge of $16 was made for shoeing a yoke of oxen. Numerous members of the early blacksmithing fraternity of the county origin ally came to this vicinity to accept employ ment in the river shops. Mr. Michelson kept a ranch with open house for travelers, as well as the wagon shop. In 1866 he moved into the new town and elaborated on the idea of furnishing accommodations for the transient guests of the community by building the Ne- brska House, at Pine and Front streets, the first hotel in the town (excepting, of course, the railroad eating house). In 1871 he built a building on the site of the present commo dious brick Michelson block, and by 1872 was a member of the mercantile fraternity. The store of Jacobs & Michelson was later sold to Joseph Kilian, who conducted it for a number of years and closed out the stock. C. W. Thomas established his grocery and boot and shoe house in January, 1, 1868, but sold that stock to W. R. McAHister on Sep tember 1, 1869. On October 19, of that year, Mr. Thomas purchased the Koenig & Wiebe grocery stock and erected a store building in 1871. He then purchased a stock of dry goods from R. C. Jordon, agent, and some from Peterson & Ruelberg, but sold this department to H. H. Glover in 1879. In 1879 hejoined with Gregg Bros, and Fred A. Sears in the erection of a grain elevator, but in 1880 sold his interest in that to Mr. Sears. Mr. Thomas is now residing in Detroit, Michigan, engaged in brass and metal manufacturing. James Cleary established his hardware house in 1870. He came from Ireland in 1859, and later settled in Hall County. He continued his hardware business for about twenty years, later conducted a grocery business, served the town as mayor, and in 1919, practically fifty years after his entrance into the commercial lists in Grand Island, is still actively engaged in business, having a real estate office in the new office building he erected a few years ago on West Third street. W. H. Piatt came early in 1866, opened a drug store and law office, and continued the store until 1870, when he was admitted to the bar and switched his attention to the practice of law. He is reputed to have assisted in building the first business house on the town site in July, 1866. This drug store was on Third street, where the RexaH store (Pease Drag Co.) is now located. Fred A. Sears and Fred Ackerman conducted a drug store in this location after Mr. Piatt left that line of business. For most of the time since then that location has accommodated a drag store. John G. Raine opened a jewelry store in 1876. He was located next to the Piatt drug store. Mr. Raine continued in this business for approximately twenty years. H. C. Held HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 267 established a jewelry store in September, 1872, on a site that is now part of the Wolbach store block. He also remained in the jewelry business for approximately a quarter of a century. H. O. Brown was another watch maker and jeweler of the 'seventies. Edward Hooper opened a blacksmith shop on the banks of the Platte in 1861, and moved to the new town in 1866, and engaged in sell ing implements until 1879, when he aided in establishing a foundry that was a high-water mark in the early industrial and mechanical history of the community. H. Thomas came to Hall County in 1871 and a few years later established the meat market of Thomas & Hall. Later he opened a .grocery store at Alda and in 1880 joined his brother in the produce trade. In order that some of the other business interests may not be overlooked in this resume, the list of business men of Grand Island, given by Dr. Patterson in 1876 in his centennial sketch is here given : E. W. Arnold, register of U. S. land office ; Joseph Fox, receiver, U. S. land office; W. R. McAllister, groceries and post office ; Wasmer Brothers, grain dealers and general merchants ; West Brothers, dry goods and groceries; Jos. Kilian, dry goods and groceries ; Fred Hedde, groceries, lumber and agriclutural implements ; Daniel Morgan, groceries and provisions (lo cated on Third street on the present site of the Shuster cafe) ; John G. Raine, H. C. Held and H. O. Brown, jewelers; L. M. Bryan, books and stationery, and news depot; Wol bach Brothers, dry goods, clothing, etc. ; E- R. Wiseman, dry goods, lumber and grain ; C. W. Thomas, dry goods, clothing,, etc. ; H. S. Elkins, groceries and provisions; R. C. Jordon, blacksmith and agricultural implements ; Thams & Pettinger, P. Dunphy, liquor deal ers; Louis Engel, R. Frohberg, merchant tailors; L. M. Beebe, C. E. Jerome, Hugo Hald, D. Sass, E. B. Chandler, were conduct ing the hotels of the town; Fred Nabel and Henry Mayer, bakeries and confectioneries; C. E. Lykke, blacksmith shop; J. E. Meth, furniture; John Fonner, John Windolph and C. E. Jerome, livery stables; P. Voitle, con fectionery and grocery ; D. L. Harrison, photographer; James Cleary, T. J. Hurford, hardware, stoves, etc. ; Charies Probstle and Frank P. Barks, Harness shop; Sears & Ackerman, and C. F. Goodman, drug stores ; James Hall, Schwaiger & Co., John Eggers, butcher shops; Mr. and Mrs. S. P. Mobley. C. P. R. Williams, newspaper publishers and job printers; WiHiam Abbott, books and sta tionery; Mrs. L. PL Van Antwerp, miHinery store; Wilford Goodchild, Theo. Bernstein, barber shops ; Rannells & King, dealers in real estate ; Wm. Connow, gunsmith ; Wm. Spiker, auctioneer; F. M. Bacon, proprietor. Crescent House; C. D. M. Washburn, Charles Howell, Peter D. Thomsen, express and dray lines ; A. W. Cornelius, groceries ; S. D. Rannells, agri cultural implements; Ira Lewis, coal dealer - and Gay & Baldwin, John Kraft, M. M. Foote, Oehlrich Bros., John Riss, Fred Greve, and J. E. Reed, biHiard hall. Of the foregoing only the Wolbach store is still continuing but those who have retired from the lines of business named and are living here are Fred Nabel, C. E. Lykke, James Cleary, Wasmer Bros. J. W. West, Henry Mayer, John Windolph. DURING THE NEXT TEN YEARS In the period that elapsed between 1876 and 1886, a great many business changes took place. By 1886 some of the most prominent stores of the first ten year period had either been closed out, merged into other business, moved away, or lost their identity and became historical memories. The O. K. store, the Wasmer store, the West store, the Kilian store, the Hedde stock, the Thomas store, and the Wiseman store were among that list. The^ Wolbach store remained in existence as it has ever since then. The Held and Raine jewelry stores kept on, and a number of the other business houses wHl appear later in the recital of the various lines of business. But during that decade there were many new arrivals among the business houses of the city. Adam Blunk erected the Platte Valley grist miH in 1877. Hehry D. Boyden established a drug and 268 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA paint store in 1881, in the Michelson build ing, where the Brunswick bHliard hall is now located. He came to Nebraska in 1879 and entered the employ of the Sears and Acker man drug store. He conducted this store ot that location until he built a structure in which to house his store on the northeast corner of Third and Pine streets. He after wards built the brick Boyden block on that same site, and conducted the drag store until he went away to study medicine. He later conducted the drug store again for a short period after he had been admitted to practice. H. L. Burkett established a furniture store in 1878, which he sold in 1882 to A. W. Wil helm, and he then established a stock ranch in Howard County. F. D. Collins established a clothing house in September, 1881. Henry Eisner came to Grand Island in December, 1881, and opened the grocery, tobacco and crockery store of Conely & Eisner. H. H. Glover opened a dry goods house in 1879. He later was in business with Wiebe, as Glover & Wiebe, and at another time as Glover & Pike. Mr. Glover has remained in business at various periods ever since. The Glover block still remains in his active charge, though he has in recent years sold his various stocks of merchandise. Christopher Ispen started the drag store in March, 1882, with which he was connected for practically twenty years, in the location where the Kaufman store is now located. Charles Ivers came to Grand Island in 1871, and opened a grocery store in June, 1881, and completed his store building in May, 1882. G. T. Jordon opened a hardware store in March, 1880, in partnership with Justice, and conducted this store on Third street near the new First National Bank building. The Led erman hardware store first opened in May, 1879, and A. C. Lederman and his brothers were in business for about thirty years. James Martin opened a meat market here in 1880, coming from Crete where he had settled in 1877. M. Murphy settled here in 1877 and opened a photograph gallery on east Third street between Pine and Sycamore, on the south side of the street. James B. Murray & Co. established their grocery house in March, 1882. James C. Pederson opened a grocery store August 1, 1879. Mathews Reif- ers added the State Central brick yard to the industries of the town in May, 1878. George F. Ryan moved from Merrick County to Grand Island in 1877. In 1881-1882 he was a- member of the produce firm of Thomas &Co. A. A. Sawyer started a grocery house De cember 1, 1878. Fred A. Sears owned the grain elevator on the Union Pacific tracks. Boyden Drug Store Corner Third and Pine, Grand Island, in the '80s at Grand Island in the 'eighties, but the L. A. Von Wasmer Co. built another elevator on the B. & M. tracks after that raHroad arrived. O. U. Wescoatt opened a livery stable in De cember, 1878. It is practically impossible, or at least im practical, in the space alloted to this phase of life of the community, to attempt a complete list of all the business houses that have been established and conducted in the city, but after the completion of this second decade a brief resume of those establishments that have been conducted for any considerable length of time in a number of the different lines of business will be given under that system of classifica tion. DURING THE LAST THIRTY-TWO YEARS Grand Island has always been a clearing house and transfer for the vast amount of traffic, trade and travel through the state of Nebraska. A person residing in the commun- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 269 ity may lose sight of the importance of the hotels, restaurants, livery stables, garages, barber shops, and those business institutions of the town that devote probably the major portion of their efforts to the service and com fort of people who may be simply stopping off for a few hours or days on their way through the town and across the state, pr who may be temporarily making their homes in the town. Just as Grand Island in early days was come into Grand Island every day, transfer from one railroad to another, stay over night, or take a meal here, and perhaps do some trading . here. This has always been propor tionately true in the past. So in summariz ing the commercial interests of the city, in the past and at present, we wHl first treat that class of institutions which cater to both travel ling, visiting, and outside interests as well as to local and home interests. Fred Herde's Grand Island Store Being first hotel in Hall county the stopping station for emigrants, traders, and homeseekers, and the trading point for ranchers, cowboys, and homesteaders, alike, for a great many miles, it is now after sixty years of settlement, the clearing house for trade and transfer point for a good share of the traffic over the west and northwest por tions of the state. It is "no small item of im portance that something like three hundred travelling salesmen and district representatives of the business houses and industrial institu tions of the country headquarter and travel out of Grand Island. A great many more will move to this city when the present re stricted building situation relaxes and homes can be built for them. Hundreds of people THE HOTELS The hotels of the town were very modest in 1866. Near the first depot was a boarding house for the raHroad men. The Nebraska House was built by James Michelson that same year, and provided a place for the gen eral public. The railroad eating house built that fall, with some additions, continued in use until 1875, when it was moved away in two sections by Fred Hedde and P. Touhey, and the Union Pacific Hotel erected. This hotel was the first very large structure built in Hall County. In 1869 or 1870 the Tremont was opened. Another famous early hotel was the Wyoming House, built by Detleff Sass and destroyed by fire during the 'eighties. A little 270 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA later, the Traveler's Home, with Hugo Hald as proprietor, was established. The Herman House has been mentioned in another chapter. By 1885, the hotels of Grand Island were: The Pacific, 40 rooms ; the Jordon, 35 rooms (located on Pine street, between Third and Front, where the Altoona now stands) ; the Commercial, 30 rooms; the Estes,- at Kimball and Front, 30 rooms (opened in 1880) ; the National, between Oak and Kimball, 22 rooms ; the Clarendon, on Pine street between Third Grand Island's New Ten-story Hotel Under Con struction — Federal Building to Right and Front, 20 rooms ; the Colorado, 15 rooms ; the Omaha, 14 rooms; the City, on Third between Pine and Sycamore, 12 rooms; and Powers' on Front between Pine and Locust. The New England was re-opened in Novem ber by Jordon. The old Grand Union Hotel was refitted in February, 1885, and opened by Mr. Baker, under the name of the Com mercial, Hotel. The Wisconsin Hotel was opened on Front between Kimball and Oak about that time. By 1887, some other hotels in operation in addition to those named above were: The Jamieson Hotel, opened about 1886, at Front and Sycamore. This hotel is still in operation, though for the last five or six years, it has been called the Savoy. The Scarff house was operating in 1887. In 1887 the Palmer Hou,se was built, through the energies of C. W. Scarff. This four-story building at Second and Sycamore, in its day a most magnificent structure costing about $80,000, was as important a step ahead in the career of the community as the new ten-story North American Hotel is to this generation, and after its thirty-two years of continuous - operation, until the completion of the North American or some other modem stracture of that class, remains the second best hotel buHd ing in the city. In recent years this hostelry has been under the management of Henry Schuff and son — with Lester Schuff giving it his personal attention. Some of the smaH hotels in the town in 1887 were the farmers Home, on Spruce Street, Girard House on Sycamore; Grand Island House, at Front and Oak ; Millard Hotel between Pine and Locust, on Front ; and during the next couple of years the Cottage House was opened at 408 North Plum, in the vicinity of the Burlington defKDt and Grand Island Sanitarium at 121 East Front. As the Union Pacific depot in those days was farther east than its present loca tion, it will be noticed that the hotel and restaurant trade was centered around Front, in the neighborhood of Sycamore, Kimball and Oak, and Pine was virtually westward for such trade. The hotel erected by Mr. Dunphy was known as the Dunphy Hotel. This strac ture was on Pine street, near the present Altoona. "" In 1891 and 1892 Richard Bros. were running the Jamieson, and C. E. .and E. A. Brown, the Palmer; the Union Pacific RaHroad Co. owned the Pacific Hotel; M. R. Meek, the City Hotel ; Dunphy had the Dun phy Hotel; G. I. Estes conducted the Estes Hotel ; Mrs. K. A. Shephard, the Commercial House; the Nickel State Plotel was at 122 North Pine; N. P. Nelson, the Grand Island Plotel at 319 East Front; the Hall House was at 412 N. Plum ; T. HHlebrand received guests at 109 E. Front; and J. Windnagel at 317 E. Front. Another Nebraska House sprang up in the early 'nineties, at 408 N. Plum, under the management of J. A. Richardson, and the Park Hotel at 107 W. Front, owned by N. H, HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 271 Hurford. A well-known and successful hostess of those days was Mrs. ThraHs, who first came here from Michigan in 1880, and conducted the ThraHs restaurant for some years. She went to Tacoma for a period and on her return managed various houses in the city, notably the City Hotel, situated about where Lechsinky's photograph studio is now located, the Thralls restaurant, and in 1896 was managing the Jamieson, and at one time for a short period, the Occidental (now St. James). H. N. Lord succeeded the Browns in'the management of the Palmer. The Hall House became the White House, about 1896. By 1900 the hotels in operation were the Jamieson, Palmer, and the new Koehler which had been erected in 1892, the Crawford, at Fourth and Kimball, the Occidental Hotel, at 109 West Fourth, the White House, and the Union and Vienna restaurants.. The Koehler, erected by Gus. Koehler at an expense of about $100,000 Was the first hotel stracture in the city to ecHpse the Palmer House, and still remains the finest hotel in town, pending a new modern stracture such as the North American. Built almost thirty years ago, it is still an imposing structure and built on such solid and substantial proportions that it can still outlast this generation of people and many more. The building has approximately 100 guest rooms, large lobby and reading rooms, several sample rooms, with dining room and cafe quarters adjoining it on the south. The Koehler in 1897 was under the management of H. H. Hake and has passed through several changes of manage ment. F. J. Coates was proprietor and man ager for some years. In recent years the property has belonged to the Koehler Hotel Co. of which Charles G. Ryan and George B. Bell are the principal stockholders. R. L. Word and Mr. Berend were recent lessees or managers, and U. P. Koenig is the present lessee and manager. Between 1900 and 1910 not so very many new hostelries were started in Grand Island, notably the Makely House, a revival of the Jordon or Dunphy location, which afterwards became the Altoona " about 1910, and is stHl operated as the Altoona, and the Central at Fourth and Kimball. The Gold Cure Sani tarium at Front and Kimball thrived as an institution with a great mission - for some years, but has now closed out as a sanitarium and is occupied by a boarding and rooming house. About l9lO the Boquette was buHt at 317 East Third street. This is a very narrow structure but five stories high, and is now in operation as the Hammond Hotel. The Brewster, at 703 West Third, is a large brick structure, built with the idea of making a family hotel in the residence district, but is now unoccupied. The B. & M. Hotel at Old Wyoming House 514 Plum street flourished for a number of years, but is now out of existence and when the new Burlington depot was built, a few rods west of the old depot, it was necessary to move several buildings. The present hotels of the city are the Koehler ; the Palmer, which has been owned in recent years by Henry Schuff and Son, and of which Lester Schuff is now manager; the St. James (old Occi dental), W. S. Hayman, proprietor untH recently J.. A. Smith took over its management ; the Altoona, the .Savoy (old Jamieson) ; the American, formerly the Vienna, Schuff & Son, proprietors; the Hammond; Cottage Home, 411 E. Fourth; the Bachelors, east of the Bartenbach (Opera House) block, which has been very successfully conducted for a number of years ; and the Y. M. C. A. dormitory, fur nishing accommodations for about eighty-eight people. The magnificent ten-story North American 272 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Hotel was started and the exterior of the structure erected by the end of 1917, and has stopped progress for over a year, on account of the company building it getting into financial difficulties through manipulations back and forth between the hotel holding com pany and the stock-selling and promoting company, both of which had practically the same officers. But steps are now being taken to hasten the completion of this structure in the very near future, as it is in great demand. RESTAURANTS Restaurants and lunch counters come and go too fast to permit of a detailed listing of aH of these establishments which Grand Is land has maintained. The restaurant location with the longest practically continued line of existence has been the Opera House location. J. P. Hensley conducted this late in the 'nineties. By 1900 Boeck and Fossgreen were in charge, and a few years later the firm was changed to Klinge and Fossgreen, and so re mained untH Fred L. Regan took charge. ^rs. ThraH's restaurant on Front street and her later place of business on Third street were famous in their day. Mrs. J. Jenneman was another hostess of the early 'nineties on North Pine. Other restaurant keepers of the 'nineties were Mrs. J. D. Purdy on Wheeler avenue, John F. Hall on North Plum, M. R. Meek on Sixth street, O. H. Tracy on Front street, the Union restaurant, and the Vienna cafe, conducted by Schuff and Callahan. The Vienna restaurant and hotel has been enlarged and now occupies a fine two-story brick buHd ing on N. Locust street. Prior to its removal to its present location in 1910 this restaurant ran from 1894 to 1910 continuously — 24 hours a day without a key being used to turn the lock to the place day or night. In 1918 the name of the hotel and restaurant was changed to the American. Between 1900 and 1910 the main restaurants were : the Vienna, the Union, the City, conducted by W. F. Maddox, Boeck & Fossgreen, Opera House Cafe, Modern Lunch Room at 202 West Third, Bon Ton, F. H. Bonnell, 222 West Third, College Restaurant, at 307 West Third, Robert Geddes, at 113 West Third, which took the name of Candy Box, about 1904, Mrs. M. C. Kerr, 112 West Third, the St. James, Mrs. M. Hanrahan, 102 W. Front, Windnagel, Hill and Cornfield eating places. The Palace Cafe, opened by S. Shindo about twelve years ago, has grown until it feeds as many people as any other eating place in the city. Shuster & Jungbluth opened a cafe and confectionery in the Masonic Building about ten years ago, which has in recent years been conducted at 111 West Third by Arthur A. Schuster. For a number of years Brown's Cafe, previously operated as a home cooking restaurant, was a factor in the restaurant business, but this place closed out in 1918. The present eating houses of the city are Koehler Cafe, conducted by Karl Kalex, the American, formerly the Vienna, conducted by Henry Schuff and Son, the Palace, conducted by S. Shindo, the Island, another Japanese cafe, the Mandarin, a Chinese cafe, the Grand Cafe, Opera House confectionery, F. L- Regan, Schuster's cafe, the Davies Cafeteria, in Michelson block, new Miller Cafeteria, Paris Cafe, Union Pacific Depot Dining Room, Aksaraba, Farmers' & Merchants, Royal Chocolate Shop, and a num ber of lunch rooms around the Burlington depot. CONFECTIONERIES Late in the 'nineties. Dill & Huston con ducted a confectionery and eating place at 109 West Third; W. H. QuiHen opened up about that time, about where the Lechinsky studio is now located, and later moved a couple doors east, and is still operating a confectionery and frait store. Other con fectioneries operated in recent years for any length of time have been: The Opera House Confectionery, operated by Walt Appledom, from 1889 for- about eight years, after J. P. Hensley closed out in the room south of it. Henry Bartenbach was in charge of this busi ness for a couple years, until Boeck and Foss green took it over, and since then Klinge & Fossgreen and Fred L. Regan have operated it. The Grand Island Candy Kitchen opened about 1907, and is still in operation, now owned by Gust Valonis. Wm. Ivers has been HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 273 conducting a confectionery and bakery for a number of years, and is now located at 104 East Third. W. C. Campbell first opened at 105 S. Locust, but for about ten years was at 101 East Third, a location now opcupied by the Becker Music Co. Schuster & Jung bluth opened in the Masonic building, but A. A. Schuster now conducts this place at HI West Third. J. C. Gerspacher's place at 215 West Third, Guriey place at 115 N. Locust, later .occupied by Ed McAllister, Lucy Alstot place on West Third, and Burley and Rogers' confectioneries have been, closed out. The Royal Chocolate Shop (Campbell & Dority) opened about five years ago and is still in flourishing operation. Wm. Stein- meyer has operated at 324 West Fourth for a number of years past. There are a number of fruit stores, cigar stores, and soft drink parlors that operate partially as confection eries. SALOONS With the arrival of state and national pro hibition, the saloon and liquor dispensaries are all a matter of memory and history, ex cept that numerous locations long used for that purpose have held over as dispensaries of soft drinks, with the old familiar bar, foot rail and equipment to remind the patrons of days gone by, when the cup was full and some imbibed even too copiously and too long. Regardless of the unfavorable opinion that many of our readers may hold of the saloons, and the possibly changed ideas of some of the former patrons as they now view them in the perspective, these institutions were a factor in entertaining many ^ests, as well as residents, of the community. In the days when they flourished public sentiment looked at them differently than now. A man by name of Schuler opened one of the first saloons in the new community, called the Headquarters Saloon; about 1870 there were five saloons and bars in the town; Anderson's place, on the present site of the Tucker & Farnsworth drug store, at Third and Locust; a bar maintained in the Michel son Hotel (Nebraska House) ; Kraft's place, on the site of the present Commercial State Bank ; Bassett's sample room, under the Clar endon Hotel; and Comelius Iver's BiHiard hall on Third street. P. Dunphy soon there after advertised a wholesale and retail liquor business. Gustave Koehler at an early day opened on the present American (Vienna) hotel and restaurant location, later moving to a site which is now part of the Koehler hotel site, on west Front street, and finally in the Koehler hotel building. After his death, this location was retained and a saloon operated by the various proprietors and Koehler Hotel Co. Another memorable loca tion, maintained for something like thirty years, was the Foley location. Jas. Foley opened some time in the 'eighties and remained at 212 West Third untH about 1913. Without attempting to name all of these institutions, a few of the more memorable establishments were: 118 South Locust, conducted at various periods by John C. Cornelius, Albert Heyde, Sanders & Schlichtling, Wm. Schlichtling, W. E. Parker, manager, and Axt & Paulsen; 105 N. Locust, by Fred Roth and Frank Kunze; 113 S. Wheeler, by Claus Eggers, Eggers & Schumacher, and later by Henry Schumacher at 115 S. Wheeler; John Hann at 507 S. Locust, Hann's Park, as usually called, and later by Henry Hann; 123 S. Locust, at south end of Opera House block', by Jas. Hengen, in the 'nineties by Stout & Hengen and Jas. Stout, Henry Sievers, and for a time by Gustav Sievers, when Henry Sievers moved across the street to 124 S. Locust, which location was last occupied by Cornelius & Roby and John C. Cornelius ; Julius Guendel's location at 118 East Third, which H. A. Buenger had the last years of its career. The Kuehlson location at 118 East Front was maintained under one manage ment for something like thirty years. Chris Ronnefeldt maintained a saloon at 107 East Third, in late years called the "Onyx," but during the last biennium of the business he had the "Schlitz" saloon at 123 E. Third, in the old Scarff building. The Ark was at 122 East Third, the Turf Exchange at 309 West Third, and J. J. Khnge's locations at 114 N. Locust and 214 West Third, Theo. 274 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Schaumann's location at 224 West Third, 310 West Third with Henry Sanders and F. Duhrsen, 207 West Third, by Fred Roth and Henry Sanders, 308 West Third, by Charies Nielsen, about 1889, 215 West Third, with Cari Moeller, Straus & Grotz, Grotx & Schers- berg — these were some of the notable es tablishments of this line. The 308 West Third locatiori was 'Carried on after Nielson, by Heyde, and at last by Nich Weinrich. The Schlitz location, 124 E. Third, was carried on about 1889 by Murphy & Lanigan. The Palmer House Bar was another memorable institution, as the saloon at Front and Pine, and one at 112 N. Pine, and the Mint at 118 East Third. There are no doubt numerous establishments omitted from this list, but most of those that ran for any length of time have been included. Soft drink establishments have remained in the locations at 124 S. Locust, 204 West Third (Bernstein & White location), Geo. Baumann, proprietor; and next door west; at the Sorenson location on North Locust, on the alley on west side of street; at Koehler hotel location, now fruit and confectionery store ; in the Roth building on Wheeler street ; Nick Weinrich location, 308 W. Third; at the Mint location, 116 E. Third; Schlitz loca tion, 123 E. Third; and several locations on Front street. On the other hand, after the saloons closed, some of the most desirable locations were turned over to other lines of business and, notably the locations now oc cupied by Pizer's Smart shop and Schu macher's Meat shop, given beautiful new fronts. Kauman location at 107 E. Third is now occupied by a tractor and road machinery concern, as also the Buenger location; the Golden Gate location at 124 E. Third was first occupied by Brown's cafe and now by a frait store; the Opera House location is now used by Willman's clothing store, and the Vienna building corner by a new clothing store recently started there. Though twenty- eight saloons stopped two years ago. Grand Island's growth has taken up practically every vacant store-room left in the city. BARBER SHOPS This is another line of business that changes hands too often to allow mention of every shop. But yet a short resume will show some startling proprietorships in Grand Island, as to the length of time certain shops have been under one management. A business that keeps up with the growth of the community and is essential enough to stay on top of the rising tide of prices is a permanent factor in the community life. A shop such as Theo. Bern stein's, operated at 312 West Third, before 1890 and there under the same management until 1914, and later known as Martin's shop, has been operated from the time of five and ten cent shaves, through the fifteen cent per iod, and if it was still continuing under that management would be operating on the twenty-five cent basis recently established. Another location long maintained is 116 N. Locust, by Sowles & Nelson, Nelson & Franz, W. W. Nelson, and A. N. Foxhaven. The Palmer House barber shop was maintained for many years, at times by Phillips & Sowles, C. W. Nelson, Wm. F. Krause, R. V. WHey. O. H. Tracy ran a shop on Locust street in the 'nineties; the Palace shop at 121. East Third preceded the 'nineties; N. I. Augustine established a shop in the 115 East Third loca tion about 1900 and conducted it there until about 1913 or 1914, when E. S. Fairbanks ran it for several years and recently sold it. Seward W. Johnson, colored, ran a shop for ten or twelve years at 108 N. Pine and later on Walnut street. The Puritan shop at 110 N. Pine is a well-known one. Paul H. Hay- man's earlier shop at 220 S. Pine was later superceded by his shop at 120 North Pine which has been going for a number of years. C. W. Marsh opened a shop about 1912 at 114 West Third. There has been a shop for some time in th« basement of the Hedde building. Frank Donner had the 115 North Locust location for some years, succeeding the Hainline shop some ten or twelve years ago. W. H. Smith succeeded to the 110 N. Pine location about ten years ago. The pres ent shops are those in the Hedde building. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 275 under Sterne's clothing store; under the State Bank of Grand Island at Third and Locust; the Koehler hotel shop; one in the Ryan building; the 117 E. Third location; 204 West Third; 114 N. Pine; Grace's pool haH; Hangas' pool haH, 212 E. Third; Wheeler street shop; 110 N. Pine; 106 E. Fourth, and possibly several others. LIVERY, FEED AND SALE STABLES In the first fifty years of the history of Grand Island, the livery, feed and sale barn was a distinctively serviceable institution to the tourist, the traveller, the farmer who came to town to trade, and residents in general. But the sale business is now handled at the Horse Bams, the feed is sold, from feed stores, and the livery business has all but given way to the automobile industry. Since the days of the Michelson barn, sit uated on the alley between Third and Front on the west side of Pine, and its mate, the Fonner barn across the street, numerous bams have come and gone in Grand Island. Proba bly the barn location that held forth in that line the longest was that of Frank Corkins at 306 East Third. This barn was running in the late 'eighties and was still there in l910. The American Feed, Livery and Sale Stable of John Fonner continued until about 1890. John Windolph's barn was conducted in the 'seventies, and the C. E. Jerome livery barn was running as early as 1876 and as late of 1892. About 1891 it moved from 313 East Fourth to 307 East Front. Other barns running in the late 'eighties were: Geo. P. Hansen, 113 N. Elm; Banks Brothers, 213 E. Front; J. C. Pederson & Co., 202 East Fourth ; C. D. M. Washburn, 205 East Front ; Adam Windolph, 113 West Front; and early in the 'nineties, O. U. Wescott's barn took the 202 East Front location. C. D. M. Washburn conducted a dray line for years, and his last location was a barn on the present site of the Y. M. C. A. building at First and Locust. The Corkins business was conducted under various names, F. Corkins & Co., Corkins & Countney, and Frank Corkins. J. G. Knowles' bam at 124 North Sycamore was running in the later 'nineties. By 1900 the list of barns had settled down to about the following: Jas. Detlef son at 313 W. Second, near the present pubhc library site, a site that has recently been cleared off entirely and a new store build ing constructed thereon; E. G. Howell barn at 110 South Elm; J. Windnagel's barn on West Third; Corkins & Co.; J. E. Hanna's barn at Wheeler and First, a location since replaced with the Nielsen Garage; W. H. Bordner's barn, successor to the J. C. Peder son barn; Grand Island Feed Barn at 424 West Third ; Wescott bam and Robert Halde- man's barn at Front and Sycamore. Ed Miner started a barn at 308 East Third something like twelve years ago, and today his is one of the two livery businesses left in Grand Island. In fact a great many towns and cities, some of them considerably larger than Grand Island, are now without a single livery business left. The prevalence of the auto livery when roads are passable has made the livery business less paying, and when roads are such that automobiles cannot get through a livery business cannot be operated with any great degree of profit. Bams operating after 1907, not heretofore mentioned, have been, one near the Bradstreet & Clemens' site; Zink & Fletcher's on East Front; Palace stables, 112 S. Kimball avenue; W. C. Rhodes, 112 N. Oak, and same barn later by J. H. Davis; the Bordner barn at 22 East Third, continued by Kaumans & Maroney, Frank Gross, and Stewart & Black ; Niels T. Wheeler at the 222 South Wheeler, up to a short time ago when he went over to the automobile business. BLACKSMITH SHOPS While the blacksmith shop originally de pended upon horses, wagons, and kindred farm equipment for business, it has not dis appeared as fast as the livery bam. The blacksmith shop and the carriage shop have been able to switch over to repair work and various mechanical services in relation to auto mobiles, trucks, and tractors, so that numerous shops are still operating, though undoubtedly not relying entirely on blacksmith work for their maintenance. Ed Hooper's old shop. 276 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA maintained during the 'sixties and up until about 1890, was first located on the west side of Locust street about the present site of the Equitable BuHding & Loan buHding ; and in 1887 was listed at 201 South Locust, the present North American Hotel site. C. E. Lykke's shop on west Third was operating in 1876 and remained in operation untH about 1904 or 1905. Chas. Hofman worked in shops here as early as 1883, but started a shop in 1887, on South Spmce street. Gottlieb Heid- kamp came here in 1886 and A. Krall came in 1886 or 1887. Hofman's Spruce street location was taken by Krall & Heidkamp about 1896, and a little later Hofman started on Wheeler street, where he remained until his recent retirement from the business. Krall & Heidkamp moved over to 216 S. Locust a few years ago and are still operating a black smith and machine shop there, right in the heart of the business part of the city. Other shops ranning by 1890 were H. Stratman's shop on Sprace between Second and Third which ran until a few years ago; Charles Murray's shop on Sycamore, between Third and Front; the Peter Nelson shop at 117 South Sprace, and E. Sorenson shop at 201 North Pine, the present location of the Brown Fruit Co. The two latter shops ran until about 1896 or 1897. The Spethman shop was located on Locust, between Third and Front in the 'nineties, and later M. C. Speth- man's shop on North Sycamore and finally at 214 East Third, a location stiH operated as the Spethman blacksmith shop and a car riage shop with it. Another shop still operat ing is the location at 412 West Third, the successor of C. E. Lykke's business, operated after Lykke's retirement by Johnson & Trent and now by Johnson & James. The old D. Spethman shop on 111 N. Sycamore was also operated by W. W. Farmer, Harry H. Buick and H. W. Smith. The Chris Dalgas shop has been operated since about 1907 at 124 East Fourth. Other shops have been operated by M. L. Boquette at 214 N. Elm about 1900; A. T. Chrisman on Wheeler avenue about the same time; C. E. Huihn, near Bradstreet's barns a few years ago, and Hamilton's on East Front about 1890. Charles Hofman relates that he was the last man to shoe any oxen in this county, also the last man to shoe an Indian pony in Grand Island. Both of these incidents were in 1885, and mark - the time of the passing of two important landmarks of pioneer life. Many ponies and oxen were, brought down from Loup Valley or stopped off on the way through in the early days. AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS This is another business that has withstood the inroads of the automobile industry, be cause such an establishment can add power farm machinery to its stock, take on tractors and tracks and sell them along with wagons and plows. No matter which line of imple ments a dealer may be handling, his manu facturer can supply him tractors, tracks and engines as well as the hand and riding imple ments and wagons and buggies. The history of the dealers along this line up until 1886 has already been traced. The year 1887 found the Henry Stratman stock on South Sprace running, and this business continued untH recently when upon the death of the younger Stratman it was closed out, and a tire concern has taken over the last location at 120 S. Wheeler. In 1889 and 1890 implements were being handled by Stratman, Hann & Boehl, L. M. Bryan, AlHson & Medberry, Peter Heintz, T. J. Hurford, Liniger & Metcalf store, C. E. Lykke and J. J. and J. B. Rogers. Stocks of agricultural implements were later handled by Grand Island Transfer, Storage & Commercial Co. at Front and Kimball; H. J. Palmer, at the rear of Wol bach's on Pine street; Herman Bros, at 217 South Locust (the site of the present Com- mings garage) ; Piano Mfg. Co., Grand Island Banking building; Guy Self Feeder Co., Jones Bros, at 224 East Third ; Matthiesen & Eggers and D. Matthiesen. The Lininger location at 217 South Locust was continued untH about 1911 or 1912, most of the time as the Grand Island Implement Co. J. J. and B. J. Rogers HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 277 operated for some time at Second and Locust, until about 1910 or 1911. With the Stratman stock retired, the three existing stocks of agricultural implements and kindred lines are of somewhat recent origin. J. H. Squires opened about 1893 or 1894 and a couple years later Upperman & Leiser took over his loca tion and stock at 114 South Pine. This is the oldest of the present establishments in this line, and during 1919 has been reorgan ized as G. A. Leiser & Co. D. Gilbert & Son started about twelve years ago, and recently D. Gilbert has taken over the argicultural implements at 415 W. Third, and his son has taken over the district agency for Maxwell automobiles at the same location. The recent addition to this line of business is the big plant of W. T. Detweiler Co. at Fifth and Pine streets. Mr. Detweiler came to Grand Island sometime ago, but has been running stores in a number of towns in this part of the state. Harry N. Oldson is local manager and this concern has constructed a large frame buHding for its stock. ELEVATORS Unlike some industries and commercial interests, the elevators at Grand Island handle more of a local territory, because they have competition at every town in the county. The old Sears elevator has already been spoken of ; also the L. A. VanWasmer elevator built on the B. & M. tracks. About 1890 the town had three or four elevators, the Grand Island Grain Co. at Walnut and Front; the Grand Island MHling & Elevator Co. plant on Green street and U. P. tracks; and Von Wasmer elevator on Burlington tracks. C. A. Peterson & Co. afterwards operated at Greenwich and U. P. tracks. S. N. Wolbach owned the elevator along the Union Pacific tracks dur ing the last half of the 'nineties. The Louis A. Von Wasmer elevator was taken about 1896 by the Wilson Grain Co. with Oscar Wells as manager, and later by the McCloud Grain Co. and eventually by Oscar Wells & Co. Mr. WeHs was manager of this institu tion for a great many years, retiring early in 1918, when he sold the plant to the High land Grain Co. who is now operating it. About ten years ago the T. B. Hord Grain Co. took over the Walnut street elevator. The Farmer's Co-Operative and Educational Union is now constructing an elevator on the Union Pacific track west of the Hord elevator. FLOUR AND FEED This line of retail business^has been largely handled by separate stores. Blunk Bros, sold flour and feed in the late 'eighties. Glade & Etting and Glade Milling Co. handled it to some extent in earlier days. A. D. Sears has been engaged in this business for over twenty-five years, on South Sprace street. B. F. Merrill, 302 East Third, Peterson & Co., and C. F. Rollins were dealing prior to 1890. In 1891 various dealers in this line were Grand Island Coal & Fuel Co., at Elm and Front; Adam Krombeck, Wheeler avenue; Marcus Sherman, 201 East Fourth; Grand Island RoHer MHls and C. A. Peterson & Co. mills, and the elevators. Later dealers were W. H. Houser, A. R. Craig, Roberts & Son, L. K. Richard, Emmett Bros., E. Diehl, J. Olson & Son, S. P. Peterson, W. E. Palmer, and J. W. West who has been operating a store at 324 West Third for practically twenty years now. LUMBER AND COAL The lumber yards in the late 'eighties were Bogue & Sherwood, 214 N. Pine; Grand Island Lumber Co. (successor of Hedde yard) which changed its name about that time to George A. Hoagland; Hall County Lumber Co. at Front and Sycamore, which yard was succeeded about 1896 by the Chicago Lumber Co. ; North Platte Lumber Co. on Front street between Pine and Locust, and Chicago Lumber Co. then operating near Cedar and Front streets. The Hoagland yard has con tinued in operation under that name untH a few weeks ago local men organized and took complete control of the yard, under the new corporate name of Goehring-Sothman Com pany. The Chicago Lumber Co. is still in opera tion here. The W. H. Harrison yard started about 1896, on Elm street, and the business 278 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA is StHl operated by the W. H. Harrison Co. with Guy L. Harrison as president and Fred L. Harrison as secretary-treasurer. This com pany operates a planing mill, an important industry, as weH as their lumber and coal business. The C. E. Woodruff coal yard at 611 East Fourth, also handling lumber, was started about 1899 or 1900, and was taken over about 1910 by the Tidball Lumber Co. and a couple years later by the J. H. Yost Lumber Co. who have since moved and are now operating near Front and Sycamore streets. The Herman Nelson Lumber & Supply Co. has been operating at 216 North Walnut for the past seven or eight years. This concern recently purchased and absorbed its competitor in the coal business, W. S. Bordner & Sons, at 202 N. Walnut. The Geer-Harrison Co. began ,in 1893 as con tractors, with L. T. Geer and J. D. Harrison as officers. It operated along that line until 1900 when the planing mill was built, and in 1906 the business was expanded along other lines. This company handles coal, planing work, and a general contracting business, with contracts in excess of $100,000 of new work at a time. At present R. L. Geer is president and treasurer and R. M. Geer secretary and the concern employs as many as thirty people and many of them the year around. COAL Coal has been handled practically all of the time by the various lumber yards, but there has been some separate coal businesses maintained in the city. The grain stores and elevators have also handled coal to some ex tent. A. D. Sears has handled coal for a number of years; as do the T. B. Hord Grain Co. and Jno. W. West. Adolph Egge was operating a coal business in the late 'eighties and continued until about 1900. Kerr & King has the B. & M. coal yards at 611 East Fourth, afterwards handled by E. R. Kerr, and then C. E. Woodraff, until taken over by Tidball Lumber Co. and J. PL Yost Lumber Co. Other dealers have been Sweetwater Coal Mfg. Co. with offices at 108 North Elm street; Wm. Wasmer, Grand Island Grain Co., Grand Is land Coal & Fuel Co. ; D. H. McCoy, McCoy & Marsh, J. H. Jones, and E. R. Fanner. GROCERY STORES There have been so many grocery stocks handled in Grand Island in the past thirty years that no pretense can be made her-^ ot listing every one of them, but those which have been conducted for any length of time will be mentioned. Veit & Roeser established a grocery business in the 'eighties, and operated together for a few years. Oscar Roeser then remained in the location at 115 West Third street, and for over thirty years this store has been con ducted under the names of Oscar Roeser, Roeser & Co., and The Bee Hive Grocery. Mr. Roeser's two sons, Emil and Oscar Jr., are now associated with him. The store also handles a very extensive line of chinaware and crockery. Louis Veit at the time of the dissolution of firm of Veit & Roeser removed to 120 East Third, where he conducted a grocery store until his death in 1908, after which time his widow, and since then his son, Oscar Veit, have managed the Louis Veit Co. A short time ago this company moved to 217 West Third street, where they are now operating. M. L. Dolan was operating a store at 208 West Third street before 1887, and about 1896 this was taken over by L. Neumeyer, who conducted it at that location until about seven years ago, when he moved to his present location, 311 West Third street. Williams & Kerr were operating a grocery store at 302 West Third street prior to 1888. - Later H. B. Kerr operated this stock for a time. By 1896 H. H. Glover was conducting a grocery stock at this location. , For the past three or four years, Mattke & Gorman have operated a store in the rear of the Grand Island National Bank, on Wheeler street, with a Third street entrance through the Lorentzen dry goods store. While this location does not have the continuity of the others mentioned, it has been a grocery store location almost aU of the time for the past thirty years. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 279 There has been a grocery store conducted at 117 S. Locust street, in the Opera House block, practically all of the time for the last thirty-two years. Eisner & Hess were at this location in 1887. They were succeeded by J. W. Cook, Daniel M. Wilt, and C. F. Haack, who later operated at 220 West Third. John McKenzie was in this location for several years, until Bock Brothers took over the loca tion. About 1912 Alvinus J. Bock started in at 213 West Second and Rudolph W. Bock conducted by George Reese and Mrs. Emma Reese; J. PI. Yund stock at 217 West Third, in operation prior to 1890 continued until after 1897; C. L. Haux stock at 101 East Third and succeeded by H. L. Pritchard, and afterwards in the Independent building con tinued until after 1897. Stocks operated in 1887 which did not last very long thereafter were those of H. Bohn, on Fourth between Sycamore and KimbaH ; H. S. Elkins, later operated by J. L. Dinkle, at 213 S. Pine; Third Street, Grand Island, showing Independent Building retained the Opera House block location. He is now operating The Pure Food Grocery at the same old stand. In addition to these five established and long-continued locations there are a number of other locations showing rather long-continued proprietorships. Other grocery businesses in operation prior to 1890 that continued for some years after wards were: Hay den Brothers store on East Third; P. F. Fedder, at 214 West Second, which continued untH after 1904; Hennings Brothers, at 212 West Fourth, which was taken over by Henry Reese and afterwards, about 1907 or 1908, the stock was moved over to 224 North Walnut, where it has since been continued by the Reese family, in recent years J. W. West, and later by Hill & Reider in Masonic block; Frank Judson at 218 West Third ; J. W. Liveringhouse, 124 East Third ; Hathaway store at 402 West Third; John Riss at 420 West Fourth; S. W. Smith at 112 West Third; E. A. Stevens, Sixth and Walnut; H. Thomas at 215 East Third. Among the grocery stores established during the 'nineties, which were later discontinued, were: Grand Island Grocery at 305 West Third, afterwards called the Cash Grocery House (this being the Cleary location), carried on until after 1904 ; The Meyer & Co-. store at Third and Spruce; John Herman store at 406 West Third; J. T. ConneH, 102 East Sixth; John W. Cook, 404 N. Plum, 280 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA a location ten years later used for a grocery stock by T. C. Keefe. Among the grocery stores which were started since 1900 and afterwards discon tinued, merged, or otherwise disappeared, were: J. C. Gerspacher store at 219 West Third; W. C. Campbell at 103 East Third which was conducted for something like twelve years; L. M. Gaver at 112 East Third, but Mr. Gaver's store at 223 North Wheeler was sold recently and is stiH in operation; B. & M. store at Fifth and Plum, later ope rated by Herman King, though there is stiH a small store at that corner; Scott store at 414 N. Plum; Rasmussen store at 524 E. Fourth ; Hub Grocery, Sixth and Pine streets ; J. H. Wilson Co., 422 N. Fourth; Golden Rule on West Ninth; R. A. Odum, 813 N. Oak; and numerous stores in recent years that may have been overlooked. Among the businesses now operating that have been continued for some time, are the foHowing: Bee Hive, Bock's, Neumeyers, Mattke & Gorman's, and L. Veit Co. have already been named. About 1907 Ferdinand Seebohlm opened at Second and Wheeler a stock which WHliam Veit for the past ten or eleven years has operated as the Second Street Cash Grocery, but in 1919 it is being closed out, as Mr. Veit is entering the real estate and insurance business with Theo. P. Boehm. Corl Brothers on Third street opened in recent years a cash basket grocery ; A. J. Burkey started the store at 320 W. Koenig, which location Fred Nable had used for his bakery for a number of years ; for the past five years Mrs. Minnie Graham has operated this Koenig street grocery; another enterpris ing grocery in that neighborhood is that of Lafe Campbell, at 422 South Locust ; and another neighborhood grocery further west is the Uneeda Grocery, 519 S. Greenwich. The Sanitary grocery at 323 W. Third, operated by Howard Garrett has been running for about three or four years ; the Star grocery at 401 West Third, formerly operated by H. N. Oldson, and now by Geo. Nelson, and before that this location was occupied by Alden Bros, was operated by S. IT. Ferguson in the 'nineties. The Kelso grocery now at 413 N. Walnut was formerly operated by J. A. Kelso, up until his death, at 324 West Sixth. John Knickrehm has been in the grocery business at 102 West Fourth for practically twenty years, opening about 1900. The F. N. Rask store has operated at 220 East Fourth for practically ten years. The B. W. Monk store at 523 East Fourth is, more recent but a store was operated for over twenty years at 524 East Fourth by Wm. Becker, S. E. Connor, Dennon & Son, and later by R. L. Davis. H. P. Hansen has been in business at 220 East Fourth and at 202 East Fourth for twelve or fourteen years. Something like twenty-three years ,ago Jens Olsen was conducting a store at 205 East Fourth, which is now operated at 201-205 East Fourth by Frank I. Olsen. The U. P. Cash grocery on East Third was recently established. T. F. Costello's store at 102 East Sixth in recent years has become the Ideal Grocery store; Frank K. Buell is operating at 619 North Eddy, and was formerly listed at 723 West Eighth. he L. P. Christensen store is at 114 East Fourth. W. T. Zook rans the College Addition store near the Old Soldiers' Home; there has in recent years been a store operated by Geo. Weiderspohn at 505 East Koenig; Wilke's Cash grocery is located at 912 N. KimbaH; in recent years stores have been operated at 602 West Fourth and 924 West Eighth. T. M. Sharp until recently operated a store at 817 South Locust. Another neighborhood resi dential district store has been at 1402 W. Third; Jordon residential grocery, 504 E. Sixth. Other stores now operating through the various portions of the city are, Alexander Bros, at 207 West Eleventh ; Baker's grocery ,_ 412 N. Washington ; Boldt's grocery, 520 N.' Walnut; R. A. Carson grocery, 1302 W. Fourth ; the Comer grocery at 1 103 W. Eighth; the store at 524 West Eighth, form erly conducted by Edward Jones, by Isaac Highland, and recently by W. D. Highland, and known as the North Side Basket Store; Peter R. Jensen, groceries, 822 W. Fifth; KaHos & Kallos, 105 N. Locust; Thos. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 281 Maloney Grocery at 610 N. Locust; A. Mc DoweH confectionery at 402 W. Fourth with some groceries; Model Grocery, 604 E. Fourth; Gordon L. Neligh, 505 E. Sixth; Otto Pfatsch meat market and grocery, 316 N. Sycamore; Chas. Rose & Son's Grocery at 712 N. Clebum; Alex Scheibel grocery, 515 N. Beal; and Hitchcock-HiH Co. on South Walnut, wholesalers-to-consumer, and a Con sumers and Producers Mercantile Association is expecting to establish a cooperative store. This leaves a few recent stores, which the owners have sold or discontinued, not mentioned; among these being. Awe & Hen- drickson at 815 N. Oak; B. H. Tivis at 824 W. Eighth and G. A. Thomas at 602 W. Fourth; C. G. Wetzel at 215 E. Fourth; Chas. Wicker, 607 W. Fourth; G. W. Brady, 1302 W. Fourth; Chas. H. StaH, E. Fifth; Leslie C. Poore, N. Wheeler; W. H. Mader, 207 W. Eleventh. This list enumerating thirty- four groceries outside of the downtown busi ness district, in addition to eleven downtown stores will indicate somewhat the extent of the growth of Grand Island and how the town has spread out. MEAT MARKETS Many of the groceries have handled meats, but, nevertheless, there have been numerous separate markets throughout the past thirty years. There has been a market in the Opera House block on South Locust street a good share of the time for the past thirty years. Alter & Glover were operating there in 1887 ; H. Linderman foHowed at 113 South Locust; P. F. Fischer was in the Opera House blocl< during the late 'nineties ; in 1907, Lee & Cord ing operated there, and F. W. Fuller followed about 1907. Henry Maass had a market in that block about 1910 at 113 S. Locust; dur ing the war the Equine Packing Company established a market for their products in the Masoinc building, which closed out, and recently Shultz & Fillmore have opened the Locust street market there, selling it to Bockhahn Bros. James Fonner had a market at 112 East Third in 1887, which lasted about four or five years longer; other markets running at that time which disappeared within a few years were: C. L. Howell, 119 W. Third; J. W. MiHer, 213 W. Fourth; J. G. Rocka- feHow, 116 N. Locust; Fred Stehr, 213 W. Second, which market was afterwards con ducted by Mitchell & Blake and Otto L. Guenther; Henry Stehr was at 215 East Fourth; he was foHowed by Shrist Meyer. For the Fonner market at 112 East Third, some claim of continuity could be laid, as Kuestner & Schwaiger took this location over about 1896 and continued there until they moved to 213 West Third, later this business was taken over by Kuestner & Ehlers, and now R. M. Kuestner runs it at 215 West Third as the Central Market. Richard Guen- del operated at 220 West Fourth, and W. D. Hanchett succeeded him in that location, and Guendel opened at Fourth and Pine. There has been a market at Pine and Fourth prac tically continuously. It was operated about 1910 as the North Pine market, and later by Otto Prautsch, and for the past five or six years by Wm. F. Fremhke, the present pro prietor. Short time occupancies were those of C. H. Watts at 213 W. Second, Pridemore and Long at 406 N. Plum, Geo. Cornelius at 116 N. Locust, HiH & Rockafellow, 111 W. Third, all dating about 1890. Meier & Schim mer, at 223 W. Third, Wm. Meier, and Meier & Weise at 113 W. Third, was a business that continued for some time ; John Meier operated at the 223 W. Third stand and later at 307 W. Third, and Bonson's market succeeded him. Jas. Hall at Pine and Sixth in the early 'nineties; C. G. Hansen at the same location, Jos. Drury, and Chas. Stall, East Fifth, were other short time occupancies. Numerous markets not. mentioned here have been conducted in connection with grocery stocks. The markets now operating in the city are Kueser's Central market ; Shultz Bros , suc cessor of the market at 222 West Second, operated heretofore by Krehmke & Fillmore ; Krehmke & Gaver, Kremke & Cords, and William Meier ; Shultz & Fillmore's new 282 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Locust street market; H. Schumacher & Son's market at 113 S. Wheeler, established about three years ako ; the Wm. F. Krehmke market at Fourth and Pine; the Star market at 402 West Third; the Sanitary market at 319 W. Third, successor to the business es tablished by Kloppenberg & Kraft some three or four years ago ; Peoples Meat Market, 204 E. Fourth, Bockhahn Bros., N. Locust street, and numerous markets connected with grocery stores throughout the city. ments. Paul O. Weinhold was in the bakery business through the 'nineties, at 218 West Second, 423 W. Second, 415 and 423 W. Third, and finally in recent years at 1217 West Division, untH he closed out in 1918. WiHiam Ivers has been in the bakery business for some years, recently at his present location, 104 East Third. Other bakeries that ran for a short period were A. G. Lastey, 914 W. Third; Titus Wholesale Baking Co. at the 218 W. Second location; M. V. Powers, 111 East Third Street, Grand Island, Middle Nineties BAKERIES The list of bakeries somewhat confiicts with the confectionery roster. The pioneer baker of the last thirty years was Fred Nabel, who was running a bakery back in the 'seventies, and continued until about twelve years ago. His location in the 'eighties was on the present site of the Woolworth ten cent store, but in the late years of his business career was at 320 W. Koenig street. Henry Thiessen con tinued that business a short time, and then a grocery store went in there and the store building-house combined is still used for a grocery. The A. Beer bakery at 309 W. Third was continued into the 'nineties as the Palace Bakery and later by John W. West. J. P. Voitle operated in the 'nineties at 223 East Front. For years the Union restaurant and Vienna restaurant conducted bakery depart- Front in 1887; Wm. Robinson at 509 E. Fourth, fomi 1893 to about 1896 or 7; Elite Bakery, 111 West Third; Model Bakery, 414 West Third; G. I. Bakery. 213 East Fourth and Cottage Bakery, 217 East Fourth. The bakeries now operating in the city are: The Monogram Bakery, conducted by Robert Teviotdale, one of the largest bakeries in the state; Ernst's Bakery at 419 West Third; Regan's Bakery in Opera house block; Ivers' Bakery at 104 East Third; Star Bakery at 321 West Third; Sanitary Bakery at West Third ; Parkin's Bakery, which recently gave up its room for Geddes Furniture Co'^ expan sion ; Christ Kost Bakery on East Third. ICE DEALERS In 1887 there were three ice dealers in the city : Gustave Koehler, with office at 123 East HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 283 Front. Mr. Koehler furnished ice for the next twenty years, and during the following two or three years John Koehler handled ice. The other dealers in 1887 were Lafayette Meyers, 120 N. Walnut and Andrew Ott, 1113 West Charles. They each discontinued a few years later and Koehler had the field alone until about 1900 when the Grand Island Electric Light, Ice and Cold Storage Co. opened an ice business at Pine and Fourth, making artificial ice. About 1907 Martin Schimmer furnished ice from his lake. About 1910 the Fairmont Creamery Co. offered artificial ice. Comelius Rauert served from Wasmer lake for a short time in the 'nineties ; C. Elwood Kent was in the business for a short time from 1910, and so was J. H. Jones, serving from Ott's Pond at that same time : Gus Thavanet started about 1912 and the Wood River Ice Co. until the winter of 1918- 1919 left so little natural ice to cut that in the spring of 1919 he decided to turn his equipment to the sand hauling busi ness and while working on it sustained an injury that resulted in his death. C. J. Palmer, with an artificial ice plant, is the only retail dealer" in the summer of 1919. The Loup Valley Packing Co. offers ice in ton lots or more, and a new organization has been formed to cut natural ice this coming winter. DRY GOODS AND SHOES In 1887, of course, Wolbachs had been run ning all through the 'eighties. L. A. Pease & Co. at 220 W. Third ; E. A. Stevens at Sixth and Walnut; C. A. Wiebe, 201 W. Third (Sterne's present locatien) , who had been run ning for several years then; Boston Store, 119 S. Locust and J. D. Cowie, 110 W. Third, constituted the other stores. The Cowie store was continued by Ed W. Thomas and E. Walker & Sons until about ten years later. Hayden Brothers store changed its location a couple of times, finally being at 212 West Third, about where the new First National Bank buHding is, and remained in business here for about twenty years longer, though in the meantime they commenced a very suc cessful department store business in Omaha, to which they eventually exclusively devoted their attention. P. D. Martin & Co. opened the One Price Cash Store, at 123 West Third (Alexander's presnet location) and later moved to East Third street and finally to the present location of the P. Martin & Bro. store at 208-212 West Third. H. H. Glover Co. opened with dry goods and shoes at Third and Locust about 1896, but shortly after that were at 302 W. Third, and this store was continued by Mr. Glover until about 1914 when H. J. Lorentzen Third, East of Locust Street, Grand Island, 1919 took it over, and he is still located at that place. A. C. Menck started at 104 West Fourth, around 1904, but that location was afterwards taken by Geo. Loan, then by Perley .A.. Dennon, and lastly by Geo. AHerheHigen. In' the meantime Mr. Menck re-opened at 122 West Fourth, where he stHl remains in busi ness. J. S. Johnson was in business a short time at 220 West Third. The Grand Dry Goods Co. (A. W. Taylor) opened at 307 West Third, later ran as A. W. Taylor Co. at "221 West Third, and this stock was taken over about five years ago by the O. C. Thompson Co. who are conducting it at the latter location. The Golden Rule, or J. C. Penney Co. store was instaHed in Grand Island some four or five years ago and is operating at 309 west Third. L. M. Drew operated a small general store across from the post-office in 1900. The more recent additions to the dry goods busi ness are two exclusive ladies' furnishings and ready-to-wear shops installed within the last three years, A. E. Nagelstock and (J. B.) Pizer's Smart Shop, both on West Third 284 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA street. The Woolworth 5 and 10 cent Store, 218-220 West Third, handles many features of a dry goods line, and David Kaufman's 5 to 25 cent store at 214-216 West Third, handles some dry goods. THE WOLBACH STORE The site for this store, at the southwest corner of Third and Pine streets, was selected and Michael S. Wolbach moved to Beatrice, Nebraska, and S. N. and J. S. Wolbach con tinued the business. In 1880 they erected the first brick store building in Grand Island or HaH County, and despite the fears of many of their friends that this was entirely too ad venturous an undertaking for this new com munity, their faith has been justified many times over. In 1884, Jacob S. Wolbach sold ¦Wolbach Store, Grand Island, 1874 in December, 1873. A frame building was started which was completed in March, 1874, Michael Wolbach came to Grand Island at about the former time. In 1874 Jacob S. Wol bach, who had been in the retail dry goods business in New York city, and Jacob S. Wol bach opened the business here. Samuel N. Wolbach did not come until the fall of 1874. The frame building was soon outgrown and other frame buildings were added in the latter 'seventies. In 1880 the first firm was dissolved. his interest to S. N. Wolbach, who continued the business until 1901 when his sons, E. J. and Emil Wolbach, assisted in the business, and later on were admitted to membership in the firm of S. N. Wolbach & Sons. Further ad ditions to the store were made in 1884 and 1890, and later with the purchase of the Alexander building and the installation of thoroughly modern store front to the entire frontage of 110 feet by 132 feet, occupying HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 285 three floors of the building on these five business lots. SHOE STORES Shoes had been handled by most of the dry goods and many of the clothing stores. But there have been a few exclusive shoe stores in the city. Knapp Bros., 106 W. Third and R. L. Null at that location were in business around 1890. The long-continued exclusive shoe stock in the city has been that of De- LocusT, North of Third Street, Grand Island, 1919 cauter & Beegle which has been running since about 1893, for a full quarter of a century now. It has been located at 112 West Third, the present location of the First National Bank next door east, present location of Nagelstock's ; and at 119 West Third, its present location. The Cincinnati Shoe Store at 206 West Third was in operation about 1900; C. B. Kugler handled shoes about 1908, and the Shoe Market, the second exclusive shoe store, at 113 West Third, started in about fpur years ago. This business is now managed locally by E. A. Nicholson. The Pulver and other repair shops have handled shoes at vari ous times. At the present time some of the repair shops in the city are : Charies D. Pulver, 109 N. Wal nut; Geo. J. Schreefer, Frohberg building, E. Third; G. I. Elec. Shop, 102 E. Fourth; at 107 S. Locust; 111 S. Walnut and Mickelson block on Pine street. CLOTHING BUSINESS Stores that handled clothing during the 'eighties were : Dexter & Shonstrom, 1 1 1 W. Third, ran by G. A. Dexter in 1887 ; Marcus & Co., 119 E. Third; C. A. Wiebe; Wolbachs; The Rival, 206 West Third. The Dexter store discontinued about 1888. The Marcus store was carried on for ten years or so longer, as Marcus & Lebovitz, M. Marcus & Co., and W. Lebovitz respectively. Max Kalman. later opened up in this location twelve or fourteen years ago and is still running there. Wool stenholm & Sterne opened a little over thirty years ago at 103 E. Third (McAHister block, about where Gaston Music Co. is now located) and continued there a few years, moving about 1893 to the Independent building, at the south west cortier of Third and Locust where the store still continues in operation, now under the management of A. W. Sterne. Geo. W. Price & Co. opened at 103 E. Third after Woolstenholm & Sterne moved; and the next store to go in there was that of Sam Hexter, who left Wolbach's store about 1900 and started his own store. Gus M. Friend had been running at Third and Locust, the Alexander location now. About 1904 Sam Hexter moved to this location and continued in business there until about 1911 or 1912, when he sold the stock out to Wolbach's, and the building belonging to Mr. Thummel was also acquired by Wolbach's. In Locust, South of Third Street, Grand Island, 1919 the meantime Alexander & Willman had opened at 109 West Third, which is now the west room of Wolbach's store. A short time later a trade or deal was made whereby Wol bach's acquired the Alexander & WiHman room for the further expansion of their store and John Alexander acquired the building at 123 West Third, and moved a stock to that location, where he is now running. C. H. Will- man then went to 123 South Locust street. P. 286 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Martin & Bro. have handled clothing for some years. Aug. C. Menck had handled clothing in connection with his dry goods business. Some clothing stores that have not continued for any great length of time were: E. H. Guriey, 115 N. Locust, about 1891 ; J. G. Mc- Intire, 201 West Third, who was succeeded by Glover & Pike, and later by H. H. Glover & Co. The Glover stock was sold to H. J. Lor entzen who is StHl conducting the store. Other short time stores were WHey Bros, at 108 W. ago at 206 West Third; and two new stores which have opened in the summer of 1919, Sherman Bros, from Sioux City, 105 East Third; and Bloom Clothing store, from Hastings, at Front and Locust, in the Schuff building. MILLINERY STOCKS There have been numerous millinery stores maintained in Grand Island, and quite a lot of home mHliners have conducted this fine of business. In 1889 there were three stores. g J^ m ¦PIIIIUJIJI 'WT-.ip.-i .IHJ|Jpilil)lWtl».l'-|;"E5!^ >«!»'«¦ 1^1 .s;-;sfi:'<':. : w^ ¦- ' '^¦¦-. .!•¦¦-;¦¦ ¦ i..-.J^V- ¦'¦ ^. ''Kf .^Jj.-:'i-''-y Wtf. Third Street about 1893 Third, about 1890; Pierpont Bros. & Co., Ryan huHding, about 1904; P. H. Cornfield, Globe Clothing Co., 113 West Third about 1904; and Shambergs Co. on East Third; Wiseman's store in Ryan building closed out in 1918. The present clothing stores in Grand Island are: A. W. Sterne, John Alexander, C. H. Willman, Gitchell-Douglas Co. at Third and Wheeler, who have been running for nine or ten years, but are now closing out, and a new company, Eggers-Baumann Co., have leased the room; Wolbach's and Martin's clothing departments; Glasgow Tailors, at 114 West Third for about five years now, L. N. Dorsey, manager; H. J. Lorentzen; A. C. Menck, a clothing department; F. N. Rask store at 220 East Fourth, clothing section ; J. A. Pickus, at 214 W. Third, started out about five years Miss Effie L. Adams, 307 West Third, Misses McCann, 219 West Third and Miss E. B. Thornton, 105 N. Locust. By 1893 Miss Hattie B. Augustine was conducting the Adams location and Mrs. Josephine Dolan was at 211 West Third, which location Miss Dora Kolbeck afterwards conducted. Mrs. C. F. Gibbs 214 W. Third and Mrs. Anna Truesdale, 219 W. Third were the other two milliners in 1893 and 1894. Mrs. J. J. Rogers' stock was at 212 W. Third, and about 1900 the Rogers stock was at 119 E. Third. Miss Mabel Rearing was at 414*E. First and other milliners then were Miss Jessie Parson 1015 W. Fourth, Miss Mary Geer, and the store of Miss B. Kaas & Co. 307 W. Third which had been running for about four years or so ; and the McKeon Sisters had a store at 213 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 287 W. Third about 1900. Miss Otterman was at 122 W. Third, about 1907 and Kelso & Waters stock was at 108 W. Third about 1908. At that time the Donner & Smith store had opened at 122 W. Third and this store ran for about eight years at that location, with Emma L. Donner in charge at the last. Miss Donner now resides in the Windolph block on First street. Mrs. C. F. Rogers and Mrs. A. B. Worthall were the other milliners in 1908. Craighead & Thomas store opened in Glover's store by 1910 and other milliners then were Bemrce Burke, Dell Kelso, Ethel M. Ellis. Warner & Co. later handled millinery at 101 East Third. The Style Shop at 322 West Third is mow the only exclusive millinery stock in town, although Wolbach's, Martin's, Thompson's, Pizer's, Nagelstock's, Kauf man's, and Penney's all handle millinery, and some other stores have a small stock. DRUG .STORES In 1887 there were eight drug stores running in Grand Island; H. B. Boyden store at Pine and Third ; Albert Geyler, Opera House block ; F. S. Hazard, 213 West Third; P. Janss at 122 East Third ; Tucker & Brown, Third and Locust; H. M. Wilman, 307 West Third; Henderson and Bro. 102 W. Fourth; Chris Ipsen, 218 west Third. In 1919, there are seven drug stores in the city, and four or five of them are at locations used for that purpose in 1887, and two more are next door to other locations used in 1887 and the seventh is at the location of the old Piatt Drug store of the 'seventies. Thejanss store, the Wilman store, and the Henderson store disappeared soon after 1887. E. R. Farmer handled drags about 1910 at 114 W. Fourth and G. I. Drag Co. at 116 W Fourth about 1912. The other stores have had a fairly continuous history down to the present date. The establishment of Dr. Boyden's store has already been remarked. He continued until about 1895 or 1896 when he turned the store to J. A. Wilcox and went away to study medicine. After. his return he ran the store again for a short time with a new stock, and about 1904 Herman and Oscar Baumann took the store arid it remained Baumann & Bau mann, until about 1914 when Oscar Baumann took the store on West Third in the Cleary building. Herman Baumann recently sold the old Boyden store at Third and Pine to Mc- Cracken Dmg Co. Albert Geyler was running at 104 West Third about 1900. After that there had been a break of a number of years, during which there was no drug store in the Opera House block, Theo. Jessen put in a new stock at 119 S. Locust, where he is still operating. The Hazard or Bijou pharmacy continued at 213 W. Third for some years. W. B. Dingman ran it four or five years, and about 1912, W. E. Clayton took this location over and Clay ton's Pharmacy is running there now. A. W. Buchheit opened at 124 W. Third and later went next door to 117 West Third; in 1912, Ed McComas took this store over and later the store was known as the Purity Pharmacy and now as the Rexall store, conducted by Pease Drag Co. The Tucker & Brown store became H. P. Tucker & Co. and for the last nineteen or twenty years has been Tucker & Farnsworth. The Chris Ipsen stock continued until it became Ipsen & Harrison, and was later moved to 305 West Third and there taken over by T. E. West, who left, and a new stock was placed in that location by Oscar Baumann who sold in 1918 to Francis J. Dunn of North Platte, and now Dunn's Pharmacy has that location. A noticeable feature about Grand Island drug stores is the absence of soda fountains, that feature being mainly left to the confectioneries and res taurants. Jewelry is also virtually omitted from their stocks and left to the jewelry stores. BOOK STORES There have been numerous special book stores in the city. J. H. Mullin opened during the 'eighties on Locust street, where the Em press theatre is now located, and later removed to 204 West Third, where he was located in 1887 and he ran for about ten years longer. Charles Spethman was ranning in the Michel son block in 1887. L. M. Bryan had conducted 288 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA a store in this block during the eariier 'eighties and Spethman worked for him then. J. P. Windolph was at 303 W. Second and McCad- don store at 118 W. Third. Other stores that have since discontinued were Geo. Barten- back's book stock at 115 S. Locust; the Big Four in Opera House block, also in the early 'nineties; Gem Book store at 112 W. Third; Piatt's Book store at 121 West Third; J. H. McManus in Opera House block. Clyde John son on Fourth and Walnut succeeded by J. S. Curtis who ran up until three years or so ago, and G. N. Smith at the old U. P. depot. C. W. Windolph started at 112 N. Locust about 1907; this location afterwards was caHed the Diamond News Stand and now goes by the name of the P. Ralph Nuemeyer stand, though Mr. Nuemeyer sold it a few weeks ago. The Matthews Book store commenced at 104 W. Third, about 1904, and was afterwards the Grand Island Book & Music Co., and Alleman & Starr, but is now out of business. The stores handling books, news, and stationery lines now are Tucker Brothers, who first opened at 111 S. Locust and are now at 118 S. Locust; the Neumeyer stand ; Koehler hotel fruit and book stand ; Chas. Spethman, though his line is now largely office supplies ; Barkalow Brothers stand at new Union Pacific depot ; Pease Drug Co., and Wolbach's and Martin's departments. JEWELRY STORES In 1887 four jewelry stores were running in Grand Island : H. C. Held and John G. Raine, whose long careers have already been noted earlier in this chapter ; Fred H. Michel son, who worked in earlier days for both Held and Raine, opened at 102 West Third in 1885 ; later in that same year or early the next year, Aug. Meyer opened at 204 W. Third ; McEl- vain Bros, ran at 113 and 121 W.Third, dur ing the 'nineties; Schneider store at 113 N. Locust; W. B. Bartling at 218 W. Third; A. P. Kremchuck store at 217 W. Third; W. E. Smith store at 318 W. Third discon tinued. Aug. Meyer moved to 113 West Third early in the 'nineties and later to the present location of Aug. Meyer & Son's jewelry store at 121 West Third, now also "The Hallmark Store." Max J. Egge took the Michelson location over about 1907, and he sold it to Carey & Neitfeld, who had been working for him, about 1916, and they are ranning the store "under the clock tower." Windolph & Cords opened at 120 west Third about twelve years ago, but recent ly this store is operated by Chas. J. Cords, "The Busy Jeweler." B. E. Jolls opened on the northwest corner of Third and Wheeler in the Roth building and is running there at - this time. J. A. Pickus handles some jewelry, and a new store in the Michelson block on Pine street has recently been opened by Michelson & Dennon, one of the proprietors being the son of Fred H. Michelson. Some of the clothing stores on East Third handle some jewelry, as do the ten cent stores and depart ment stores. FURNITURE AND UNDERTAKING In 1887 the furniture stores were those of Bohne & Ryan, who operated at 116 West Third, where the Saratoga billiard hall is now; Sonderman & Co. took this location later and then went to 122 East Third where they remained for years, until they went to 211 West Second, and since a re-organization to the Buchheit-O'Laughlin Co. have moved to 318 West Third street, the present loca tion. After practically a quarter of a century of connection with the furniture and under taking business the firm is practically retired, but Ludwig Sondermann is actively associated with Buchheit-O'Laughlin Co. The other stores in 1887 were L. C. Brown, whose stock was closed out about ten years later; Heath & Wallichs, 114 E. Third, succeeded by John Wallichs ; and W. R. Stevens, 323 West Third. Mr. Stevens continued in the undertaking business until about 1900. Furniture stores which came and went were J. W. Robinson, 309 West Third, John A. Gary, 117 N. Pine, H. A. Fritz, 106 West Third, Gross & Son, 118 and 215 East Fourth, Sampson & Hendrix, 210 East Third, J. A. CosteHo at 212 West Third, A. Atkins, 418 W. Fourth, R. L. Davis, Miller-O'Gorman Co. operated at 315 West Third, and later Fralick-Geddes Co. took this HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA -289 location, about 1912, Geddes & Co. succeeding to the business, and they are now operating at . that location and at present making extensive expansion. The present furniture stocks in the city are those of Geddes & Co. and Bucheit-O'Laugh- lin Co. both with undertaking departments; W. E. Rounds at 215 North Walnut; Art & Furniture store at 403 W. Third ; Theo. Wal- lich's second-hand store at 210 E. Third; M. Jarvis & Co. store at 218 E. Third, new and second-hand furniture; Fred Meier, mainly second-hand furniture at 310 West Third and one or two other second-hand stores in town. Practically all of the straight furniture stores have had undertaking departments, and in addition H. L. Burkett ran an undertaking establishment prior to 1890, and J. C. Troyer & Son opened about 1889 and continued for about fifteen years. At the present, Geddes, Buchheit-O'Iaughlin and Baumann-Evans Co., successors to Baumann-O'Malley, on East Third handle this line of work. WALL PAPER STOCKS The pioneer wall paper, paint and glass stock in the city, for continuity of existence, is that of George Bartenbach, in the Opera House block, in years conducted by Henry J. Bartenbach. J. H. MuHin, Chas. Spethman, Fred Meman, R. S. Rice, O. R. Perry, Lester Rice, C. Norris, D. BaHHe, and Walker & Beetham ha-ve handled this line. At the pres ent time, Bartenbach store, Chas F. Auhl at Third and Walnut and Tucker & Fams- worth carry this line of stock. HARDWARE STORES There were nine hardware stocks in the city in 1887 : Cleary & Lange at 305 W. Third ; R. H. McAHister, 111 N. Locust; A. C. Leder man, 110 W. Third; G. D. Hetzel, 211 W. Third; T. J. Hurford, 221 W. Third; Heath & Wallichs, and L. C. Brown were handling hardware as well as furniture, John Fonner at 116 E. Third. Numerous stores of short existence have been Dingman & Mosher, suc cessor to the Fonner location ; Mc Combs Bros. at 117 E. Third ; S. B. Fleek, at 109 N. Locust ; C. M. WHliamson & Son, 220 E Fourth, all around 1890. W. R. Dean at 114 N. KimbaH, Roeser Bros, handled hardware at 109 S. Lo cust about 1900 and Rudolph Pistorius started at 117 S. Wheeler, about 1910. James Cleary went out of the hardware business late in the 'eighties; the long service of A. C. Lederman and T. J. Hurford has already been noted. R. H. McAHister store moved around the corner to 118 West Third and at that point the store is now conducted by R. H. McAllister's Sons. This business has continued now for more than thirty-two years. Haux Hardware Co. opened at 117 S. Wheel er, and later moved to their present location in the south end of the Independent building on Locust street. Their former location was taken by Rudolph Pistorius. Huper & Lange, following Cleary & Lange, was succeeded by Huper & Hehnke, and about 1897 this stock became Hehnke & Co. and remained at the 303 West Third location until about 1912 when it was moved to 212 W. Second, the present location of Hehnke-Lohmann Co. Frank Kunze opened in the 303 West Third location and still conducts the store there. The Ed W. Johnson store at 211 W. Third and Fred Rettanmayer stock in connection with Fourth street tin shop are discontinued. J. E. Hanna & Son have handled hardware at 112 West Fourth for the last nine or ten years. In the harness business, the Reese shop has remained longest, but C. P. Birk was in this business for some years, as was John Riss and Grand Island Saddlery. OTHER STORES The foregoing are by no means all of the stores and commercial establishments or inter ests that have operated in Grand Island, but it is not possible to take space to continue a recital in such detail of the remaining lines of business. abstracts: John AHan has been in the abstract business for more than thirty years. Wm. Frank, O. B. Thompson, W. A. Heim- berger, D. C. Zink, Ed A. Hathaway, David Ackerman and Hall County Abstract Co. have been competitors to the Allan business, and 290 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA recently the Commercial Abstract Co., incorpo rated by W. J. Wilkinson, attorney, and Herman Buckow, has begun business. architects : H. J. Fuehrmann and Ritten- house and Brage were early architects, recently S. D. Kelley, Chas. Good, Ralph Whitehead and W. E. Donner. Oscar R. Kirschke and F. R. Crocker have operated an office for some years, and C. J. BoweH came in during 1918. auctioneers: Henry Harry, J. H. Gor man. BILLIARD halls: The Brunswick, 108 W. Third; Saratoga, 116 W. Third; WHHam Grace, 114 E. Third; Dan Brown, S. Locust; Central Cigar Co., W. Third; Christ Kost place, 212 E. Third; 113 N. Locust, untH recently; Hal C. Roll, The Puritan, N. Pine. BILL POSTING : Henry J. Bartenbach. costuming: Margaret Nieman Costuming Co., 1521 W. Charles, does a business that reaches far beyond Hall County. DYE WORKS AND CLEANING: HaiuHne's ; G. I. Dye Works; Dudey's Place. INSURANCE : John Allan & Son, fire ; C. W. Brininger Co., fire, etc.; Thoe Boehm & Co., fire, etc. ; Eli A. Barnes ; Buck & Brown Co. ; Dill & Huston; H. E. Clifford; Jas. Cleary; H. A. Edwards; Flower & Porterfield; Geo. Hetzel; Steward & Quackenbush, successors to Harrison & Steward; S. E. Sinke. District agencies here for : New York Life, H. P. Zeig; Mutual Life, Equitable, Geo. Cowton; Metropolitan Life, E. E. Bird; Pru dential Life, Peoria Life, J. L. Humphrey; Franklin Life, Fidelity-Reserve, W. H. Mc- Hugh, Minnesota Mutual, C. E. Fralick. • MANICURING AND BEAUTY PARLORS: Mrs. Cosh, and The Colonial, Hedde building. MUSIC houses: j. Leschinsky Studio, 109 E. Third, which has been conducted for years ; Locke Studio, Windolph building, and North Pine street Studio. plumbing: Grand Island Plumbing Co., 221 W. Second; Kelley & Co., 113 S. Pine; CantreH Plumbing Co., 116 S. Wheeler. poultry houses: Robert Watson, 114 E. Second ; T. F. Younkin, N. Walnut by U. P. tracks. printing OFiCES : Augustine Printing Co. .120 E. Second; Independent Printing Co. 213 S. Locust; Herald Printing Co. 109 S Walnut; Fred Hald, 108y2 N. Pine; The Thos V. McGowan Co., Glover building. REAL ESTATE: DiH & Huston; Flower & Porterfield ; Buck & Brown Co. ; Bradley- Miner Co.; C. B. Freeman; Geo. D. Hetzel Boehm- Veit Co. ; John AHan & Son ; Com mercial Abstract Co. ; C. W. Brininger Co. ; Geo. W. Carr, 421 W. Ninth; Jas. Cleary; Steward-Quackenbush office; T. P. Mathews; S. D. Ross ; Frank Slusser ; Gibbon Land Co., Cloud Smith, manager. SEWING machines: Mrs. P. J. BulHs, 112 S. Walnut; Singer Sewing Machine Co., 322 W. Third. sign shop: Losey's Shop, over Decauter & Beegle's store. sporting goods: Wm. - Goettsche, 111 S. Wheeler; Geo. Guenther, 115 S. Wheeler. storage houses: Grand Island Storage & Forwarding Co., 305 W. Fourth; Central Storage Co., West Front street. , MERCHANT tailors: L. P. Christensen, 118 E. Fourth; Max Greenberger Co., N. Lo cust; Glasgow Tailors, 114 W. Third; Hedde building shop. VETERINARY surgeons: Drs. A. A. and J. S. Anderson, 518 W. Third; M. T. Bernard. automobiles The automobile garages, sales agencies and shops will be treated in the industrial chapter. This business has a scope far more than local, in a manner that livery business and agricul tural implement business could not reach. Grand Island has become an industrial sales, distributing, and supply center in the auto mobile industry of no mean proportion. first commercial organizations The first commercial organization, formed for the purpose of extending the commercial, industrial and business activities and sphere of Grand Island, was the Hall County Immi gration Board, already spoken of in connec tion with the agricultural activities of the county. That body was formed on March 22, HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 291 1871, with Henry A. Koenig, president; S. P. Mobley, secretary. Aided and supported by the national govemment it sought immigra tion particularly from Germany. During the 'seventies this immigration so ciety and the local granges carried out many of the objects of the board of trade and did much to point out the resources of the county and the opportunities of the town. The news papers of that decade were wide awake to the opportunities for advancing the claims of their community. THE MERCHANTS CLUBS The Merchants Club was organized in Feb ruary, 1876, with Fred Hedde as president; R. C. Jordon, vice-president; H. A. Koenig, treasurer, and T. J. Hurford, secretary. Some form of a mercantile association has existed in Grand Island practically ever since that time. • THE board of trade In January, 1885, the mercantile and com mercial activities were embraced in an organi zation which took the name of the Board of Trade. It elected as its officers, C. W. Thomas, president; Fred Hedde, J. P.Kemo- han and J. W. West, vice presidents; Chris Schlotfeldt, correspondent; Frank Sears, re corder; James Cleary, treasurer; H. A. Koe nig, C. F. Bentley, John G. Schaupp, and S. N. Wolbach chosen directors. Edward Hoo per was appointed to the vacancy in the vice- presidency caused by the death of E. R. Wise man. For the year 1887-1888, the officers of the Board of Trade were J. W. West, president ; H. A. Koenig, Charles Wasmer, Edward Hooper and J. D. Moore, vice-presidents; C. W. Scarff, secretary; Charles A. Wiebe, treasurer; M. Murphy, S. N. Wolbach, J. A. Pease, and C. P. R. WHHams, directors. During the administration of President West, Secretary Scarff and their co-officers just named, there was issued a nicely bound and splendidly illustrated fifty-four page booklet entitled "Grand Island Illustrated." This little volume was published by D. C. Dunbar & Co., Omaha, Nebraska, and the en gravings and cuts were furnished by Gibson, Miller & Richardson, lithographers, Omaha. The book was as its title page indicated, "a comprehensive sketch of the city's growth, attractions and resources." The right-hand pages carried also photographs of O. A. Abbott, W. H. Piatt, A. H. Baker, O. B. Thompson, C. W. Scarff, Dr. C. T. Poe, Charles Wasmer, Dr. J. C. Denise. The two concluding paragraphs of this work read : There is no section of all the splendid state of Nebraska which equals in agricultural ex cellence that portion known as the Platte val ley, lying contiguous to the cheif river of the state and traversing it from the western to the eastern boundary line. And in the very heart of the rich valley is situated Hall County, of which Grand Island is the county seat and the chief city in the valley — the base of supplies for as fine a section of rapidly developing country as there is on the face of the globe. NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH PUT FORTH This publication has not been issued for boom purposes. It has not been issued to sell anybody's fictitiously-valued real estate. _ Its purpose is much better than advertising litera ture. It is designed to bring to the attention of people seeking a place for location or in vestment the merits of Grand Island, nothing more. Its citizens are conservative and would not give countenance to any publication which indulged misrepresentation. Come and see for yourself, if Grand Island has not aH that is claimed for it herein. THE BUSINESS men's CLUB During the 'nineties more than a hundred of the business men established the Business Men's Club. Before it had hardly been es tablished long enough to do much practical work, other than conduct interesting debates on important questions and appoint commit tees to investigate certain matters and make preparations for practical results, it came face to face with the problem of deciding whether Hall County would make an exhibit at the Trans-Mississippi Exposition. In 1897 the managing board of the club's directors consisted of Dr. H. C. MHler, presi dent, Wm. R. McAHister, vice-president, C. 292 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA W. Brininger, corresponding secretary, office in the Grand Island Banking Co.'s building, A. F. Buechler, recording secretary, and James Cleary, treasurer. The club had a large room in the Independent buHding for its meetings. THE COMMERCIAL CLUB The Commercial Club was organized in Grand Island in 1904, for the purpose, as stated irii its constitution, of favoring "aH commercial, industrial, agricultural and so cial interests of Grand Island and Hall County and to do all in its power to increase the growth and promote the general welfare of our community." Its members, then about fifty in number, elected Charles G. Ryan, president, R. Goehring, vice-president, S. N. Wolbach, treasurer, A. F. Buechler, secretary, and H. H. Glover, Henry Schuff and James A. Rourke, members of the executive committee, and the officers as members ex-officio. These officers were twice re-elected and served three terms. The club maintained four standing commit tees of three to five members each, on RetaH Affairs, on Wholesale Affairs, on Good Roads, and on Municipal Affairs. During the year 1906-7 the club arranged a trade excursion to Ord, and was instru mental in bringing to Grand Island the state convention of cement users, and aided in bringing the state fireman's convention, and secured the state convention of the Nebraska League of Commercial Clubs. The work of the club was continued for the next few years with the same officers. About this time President Ryan was elected mayor and resigned the position and L. M. Talmage was president for a time. A. F. Buechler was appointed postmaster shortly thereafter and could not continue the work of the secretary, also resigning. In 1912-13 the officers were: M. L. Dolan, president; F. W. Ashton, vice-president; S. N. Wolbach, treasurer; A. D. Boehm, secretary. During this year, 1912, the need of larger undertakings and more detailed attention to traffic matters led to the adoption of a larger budget and the employment of a paid secre tary. A. M. Conners, who had been traffic manager for the Masey MHling Co., of Omaha, was elected and was supported by an enlarged executive committee consisting of M. L. Dolan, chairman; Henry Schuff, C. C. Hansen, L. M. Talmadge, A. F. Buechler, Richard Goehring, J. D. Whitmore, E. Wil liams, A. C. Menck, C. H. Tully, S. Hexter, C. E. Fralick, T. H. Fritts, J. Donald. At this time there was an active RetaH Merchants Association running, of which Sam Hexter was president; A. L. Beegle, vice- president; John Alexander, secretary; Oscar Veit, treasurer; executive committee, A. W. Buchheit, A. L. Beegle, H. H. Glover, August Meyer, Oscar Roeser, Robert McAHister. In 1914 R. Goehring was president; J. D. Whitmore, vice-president; Emil Wolbach, treasurer; A. M. Conners, secretary. The executive committee then was R. Goehring, J. D. Whitmore, Emil Wolbach, A. F. Buech ler, Fred W. Ashton, L. M. Talmage, J. Donald, C. H. Tully, Elmer Williams, C. C. Hansen, C. E. Fuhrer, Oscar Veit, J. L. Cleary, M. L. Dolan, A. J. Denman, C. W. Brininger, E. W. Augustine. The report of the officers at annual meeting of January 9, 1915, showed the county fair had been put on its feet. The committee which had handled that proposition for the club were A. F. Buechler, D. H. Vantine, L. C. Lawson, J. D. Whitmore and President R. Goehring and Secretary A. M. Conners. State conventions secured for Grand Island in 1914, were the Odd Fellows, G. A. R., poultry show. Pure Breed Horse Dealer's Association, State Commercial Clubs, Lincoln Highway Association, Bakers' convention. Moving Picture men, retaH liquor dealers, state druggists and variety merchants meet, and sheriffs of the state. In 1915 the officers were C. W. Brininger, president, J. L. Cleary, vice-president - and chairman of executive committee, A. M. Con ners, treasurer, Emil Wolbach. In 1916 J. L. Cleary was president and A. M. Conners secretary. After Mr. Conners left, Wallace L. Mason served as secretary. HISTORY OP HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 293 David Kaufman became president in 1917, and Attomey A. L. Joseph succeeded Mr. Mason as secretary and served for about two years. In 1919 A. E. Nagelstock wes elected pres ident and August Meyer vice-president. Sec retary Joseph resigned and after the new budget was subscribed the club again decided to employ a full-time, trained secretary and secured G. S. Otis, who had been secretary at MHes City, Montana, and Sheridan, Wyom ing, and came to the club well recommended. For sometime the retail merchants' association worked with the same secretary, A. L. Joseph. John R. Geddes as president was succeeded by August Meyer. The executive committee of the Commercial Club in 1919 are E. W. Augustine, Thos. E. Bradstreet, J. L. Cleary, L. Donald, E. WiHiams, Ed L. Brown, August Meyer, John R. Geddes, E. W. Hurst, A. E. Nagelstock, D. Kaufman, C. W. Brininger, Emil Wolbach, R. Goehring, A. C. Menck, F. W. Ashton, W. E. Clayton. The present membership of the club is shown in the follow ing report made to the club by the 1919 mem bership committee: At the meeting of the executive committee of the Commercial Club last night, the special drive committee reported the result of the work, including alphabetized list of the pres ent members. The report was received and President Naglestock complimented the com mittee on its success, and the very agreeable manner in which Grand Island's citizenship responded. On motion of Mr. Brininger and seconded by Mr. August Meyer, the report w-as adopted, and a vote of thanks tendered to the committee for its services. The report is as follows : Grand Island, Neb. April 14, 1919. To the President and Members of the Ex ecutive Committee of the Commercial Club, Grand Island, Nebraska. Gentlemen: The special "publicity com mittee" appointed by you to devise plans and to conduct a drive for a budget of $10,000, at least fifty per cent of which, by your decree, is to be expended for some specific good roads purpose, begs leave to report as follows : The total amount secured in a drive, for which we adopted the slogan, "Ten Thousand Dollars in 'fen Days," is $10,752.50. We did not begin actual drive until the moming after the Commercial Club dinner at the Liederkranz on Thursday evening, March 27th, counting Friday as the first day. The $10,000 mark was passed on the Saturday noon of the week following, or at the ex piration of eight and a half days. In addi tion to the list at that time published, the sum of $400 was later added. The drive, thus, also added over one hundred new mem bers to the roster of the club. The members are as f ollews : American Beet Sugar Co. Anderson, Dr. A. A. Allan & Son, John. Augustine Co. Art Furniture Co. Alexander Bros. Alexander & Son, John. Arthur, Rev. Louis. Acme Shining Parlor. Brandes Garage. BueH, Frank. Brunswick Cigar Co. Boeck, Julius. Boyd's Cleanery. Bock, R. W. Buck & Brown. Bowen Pharmacy. Barr, R. J., Supt. Brown Fruit Co. BoweH, C. J., Architect. Boyden, Dr. Henry B. Brown, Dan C. Brininger, C. W. Baker, B. H. Bartenbach & Son. Baumann, H. A., Druggist. Baumann, George T. Baumann & Evans. Boehm, Theo. Bradstreet, Thos. BroadweH, G. W. Bixemann & Duffy. Bordner & Son, W. S. Becker Music Co. Brown, L. C. M. Borders, Ed. Buchheit-O'Lauglin Co. Blain Horse & Mule Co. Butler, Dr. Belknap, A. -T. 294 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Branaman, D. B. Chicago Hide & Fur Co. Carey & Nietfeld. Cowton, George. Central Power Co. Cleary, J. L. Clayton Pharmacy. ChoHette, Dr., Dentist. Central Storage Co. Clifford, H. E. City Delivery. Corl Bros. Captal Window Cleaners. Chicago Lumber Co. CantreH Plumbing Co. Christensen, L. P. Cords, C. J. Cunningham, Ben. Cleary, James. Cummings Motor Car Co. Connor, Thos. Campbell, Lafe F. Carlson Mattress Co. Commercial State Bank. DiU & Huston. Dunn, F. J., Druggist. Doran, Claud. Davies Cafeteria. Duffy, Bishop. Decatur & Beegle. Dolan Frait Co. Donald Fruit Co. Dunn, A. L. Ellsworth, Florist. Egge, Max J. Erdburger & Son, R. Ernst Bakery. Empress Theater. Everhart Rubber Works. Flower & Porterfield. First National Bank. Farnsworth, A. H. Finch, D. A. Farnsworth, Dr. E. E. Flippin, Dr. C. Fairmont Creamery Co. Geddes & Co. GeH. D. A. Gates Half Sole Tire Service. Goettsche, Wm. G. I. Model Laundry. G. I. Tire & Rubber Co. Glade MiHing Co. G. I. Manufacturing Co. Great Western Chemical Co. Gibbs Auto Co. Gallon Iron Works & Mfg. Co. Gaston Music Co. G. I. Motor Co. Glass-Evans Auto Co. G. I. Horse & Mule Co. G. I. Loan & Trust Co. G. I. National Bank. Geer Co., The G. I. Hide & Fur Co. G. I. Storage & Forwarding Co. G. I. Gas Co. Gitchell-Douglas Co. G. I. Plumbing Co. G. I. Culvert & Metal Works. G. I. Dye Works. Greenberger Co., Max. Good, Chas. H. G. I. College. Highland Grain Co. Houser, C. W. Hatfield, Dr. H. R. Humphrey, J. L. Haux Hardware Co. Hoagland Lumber Yard. Herald Pub. Co. Hald, Fred. Hanna, J. R., Judge. Hansen, H. P. Hehnke-Lohmann Co. Harrison Co., W. H. Hoeft, Dr. J. F. Hurst Sash & Door Co. Hanna & Son, J. E. Higgins & Carson, Drs. Harrison, Ray L. Hord Grain Co., T. B. Heflin, Dr. W. J. Havens Transfer Co. Horth, R. R. Hainline, Walker. Harrison, T. O. C. Hopkins, J. E. Harry, Henry. Independent Pub. Co. Isdell, Robt. G. Joseph, A. L. Jessen Pharmacy. Johnson Seed Co. Jolls Jewelry Store. Kaufmann's 10c Store. Koehler Hotel. K. & W. Sales Co. Kelly & Co., Wm. Kelso, J. A., Store. Kirschke, Oscar. King, W. R. Krall & Heidkamp. Kuhr, Dr. H. C. Krehmke Meat Shop. Kunze, Frank. Kalix, Kari, Koehler Ho; el. Kruse, Aug. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 295 Knickrehm & Sons, John. Krehmke, Chris W. Koch, H. Kuester & Son, R. M. Kelley, P. C. Kallas, James. Kloppenberg & Kraft. Leiser, Geo. A. & Co. Losey Sign Shop. Lyda Theater. Lorentzen, H. J. Leschinsky, J. Loucks, W. H. Loup Valley Packing Co. Locke, Henry. MHler Cafeteria. Manhattan Oil Co. Meyer & Son, Aug. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. Matthews, Thos. Monogram Bakery. McCutchan, John. Menck, A. C. McAHister Co., R. H. McAuley, John. McGrath, Dr. Mullin, Judge J. H. Moore, Dr. Dentist. Miner Livery. Morearty, City Engineer. Maloney Grocery. Martin & Bros., P., Dry Goods. Meyers, Dr. J. H., Dentist. Monk's Store. Mandarin Cafe. Mayer, Artur C. Miner & Bradley. Mattke & Gorman. McLaughlin, T. O. Manderille, F. R. Naglestock, A. E. Neumayer L. Neumann, Gus. Nielsen & Petersen. Nebraska State Bank. Nebraska Mercantile Co. Nelson Lumber Co. Nielsen, Niels E. Neligh, .Gordon L. OldsmobHe Motor Co. Olsen, Frank. Orieff, L. Palmer, C. J. Paine-Fishburn Granite Co. Paine, Judge Bayard H. Pizer Smart Chop. Penney & Co., J. C. Parks, Dr. L- R. Prompt Printery. Pulver, C. D. Pf luckhahn, F. Pease Drag Co. Palace Cafe. Prince & Prince. Quillin, W. H. Raymore Candy Co. Roeser, Oscar. Ritchey-Freeman Auto Co. Regan, F. L. Ray, W. W. Reese, Julius. Reimers, Oscar. Rourke, James F. Row, A. O. Raynor, Dr. John V. Ray, R. B. Royal Chocolate Shop. RoH, H. C. Ross, S. D. Rickert, Emil. Rief, F. L. Ryan, C. G. Smith, Alvin A. Schweiger Soft Drink Parlor. Schuff & Sons Co. Slusser, Frank. Stough, Dale P. Spethman, Charles. Scott Barber Shop. State Bank of G. I. Sonderup, S. M. Scheffel & Sons Monument Co. Standard OH Co. Sanitary Grocery Co. Schumacher & Son. Star Meat Market. Star Grocery. Steme, A. W. Singer Sewing Machine Co. Sears, A. D. Sprague, Roy. Schultz, Albert J. Savoy Hotel. Suhr, Wm. Sneller, Dr. Schacht, Conrad. Sorensen, Pete. Schuster, Arthur. Sink Cigar Co., John W. TuHy Fence Co., C. H. Treat, Lawrence. Thompson Co., O. C. Teeter & Homan. Third City Bottling Co. Thompson & Thompson. Tucker Bros. Tucker & Farnsworth. Uneeda Grocery. 296 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Union Stock Yards Co. Upperman, Louis E. Veit, Co., Louis. Veit, Wm. VaHier, Dr. Thos. Valonis, Gus. VondoHen, L. Voss, Henry. West End Grocery. Woelz, Chas. WHlman's Clothes Shop. Woodin, Dr. J. G. Woodruff, Dr. R. C. Wolbach & Sons, S. N. Wengert, Dr. H. C. West Feed Store, J. W. Watson, Dr. E. A. Weir, Chas., Trainmaster. Wells, Oscar. Wabel, Geo. Woolworth Co., F. W. Woolstenholm, J. A. Wooley, J. H. _ Williams, Florist. Yost Lumber Co., J. H. York, Ray E. Younkin, E. F. Zieg, H. P. Since Mr. Otis took charge a credit bureau and a rate and traffic bureau have been es tablished and the activities of the club organ ized and extended. The club now occupies five rooms in the Connor buHding as its quarters and holds frequent banquets at the Auditorium (Liederkranz Hall). CHAPTER XVI BANKING AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS OF HALL COUNTY State Central — Citizens State Bank — Grand Island Banking Company — Charles F. Bentley — George B. Bell — The First National Bank (Grand Island) — The Bank of Commerce — The Security National Bank — ¦ The Commercial State Bank — State Bank of Grand Island — Nebraska State Bank — People's State Bank — Bank OF Doniphan — Commercial Exchange Bankof Doniphan — Alda State Bank — Far-S mers State Bank, Alda — Cairo State Bank — Farmers State Bank (Cairo) — Build ing AND Loan Associations — Equitable — People's — Wood River — Other Fi nancial Institutions — Trust Companies — Grand Island — Nebraska STATE CENTRAL — CITIZENS' STATE BANK The pioneer financial institution of Hall County was the old State Central Bank, organ ized by Henry A. Koenig in 1871. H. A. Koenig was president and Dorr Heffleman, cashier, and the capital stock was placed at $45,000. In 1873 the State Central Bank of Nebraska advertised in the Daily Evening Times, "Capital $45,000. Authorized Capital, $200,000. Pays interest on time deposits. Special attention given to Collections. Pays taxes for non-residents. Sole agents in this region for all the principal steamer . lines. ^ Deals in foreign and domestic exchange." F. A. Wiebe was president and Dorr Heffle man, cashier. Henry A. Koenig, the founder and first president of this bank, was then serving as state treasurer of Nebraska. In 1876 when banks through Nebraska were few and far between Dr. J. P. Patterson, in his centennial sketch of Grand Island, commented on Grand Island having a bank in this manner : "Let people say what they will, banks are a great convenience to the public, and this is no exception, and perhaps if every individual would figure as closely as bankers, they would not need their aid so often." This bank weathered the perils of the string ent financial times following the panic of 1873 and various visitations of the grasshoppers through the 'seventies. In 1865 there were only seven banks doing business in Nebraska. At the time of the great panic in 1873 there were only twenty-five banks in Nebraska, eight national and seventeen private banks. The other seven national banks in the state then were: First National of BrownvHle; Otoe County National at Nebraska City; First National (Kountze Bros.) and Omaha Na tional (J. H. MHlard, president) at Omaha; First National (Tootle & Hanna), Platts mouth; First National (Cobb & Sudduth, 1868) and State National, 1872, (Jas. Sweet & Brock, 1868) Lincoln. State and private banks were in existence at Beatrice, Blair, Columbus, Crete, Fremont, Madison, Norfolk, Pawnee City, Tecumseh, West Point, Neligh. So it will be seen that the State Central Bank of Nebraska at Grand Island was a pioneer among the banks of the state. Mr. Koenig continued as the head of the State Central Bank and its successor, the Citizens National Bank, during practically its entire career, except for the time he was state treasurer, when he had to relinquish that office for that period. In 1887 the Citizens National was operat ing on a $60,000 capital, and its officers were Henry A. Koenig, president, William Hagge, vice-president, D. H. Veiths, cashier, George 297 298 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA A. Mohrenstecher assistant cashier. This THE grand island banking company bank was located in the Koenig building, at The State Central Bank remained without the corner of Third and Locust, where the competition until 1879, when the Grand Island State Bank of Grand Island is now located. Banking Company was organized, and ih- In 1892 the cashier was Geo. A. Mohren- corporated in 1880 with S. A. Peterson, G. A. stecher, and the directors were John L. Means, Packer, C. P. Packer, J. P. Kernohan, J. G. Henry A. Koenig, O. A. Abbott, Gust Koehler, Glazier and J. E. Hopper stockholders. C. P. William A. Hagge, A. H. Baker and Geo. Packer was succeeded as president of the M. Mohrenstecher. The directorate remained company by S. A. Peterson, and J. P. Kerno- the same through 1893 and into 1894. The han, the first cashier, by George B. Bell. In statement of this bank issued October 3, 1893, 1399 there were twenty-seven stockholders a short time before the bank went under and the capital was then $110,000. It began through its failure to withstand the pressure business with a capital of $40,000. In 1887 of the panic of that time, showed: S. A. Peterson was stiH president, O. A. Ab bott was vice-president, Geo. B. Bell, cashier, resources ^„(1 ^_ B Carey, assistant cashiqr. The Loans and discounts $274,419.91 directors during the early 'nineties were S. A. Real estate, furniture and fixtures. 11,847.19 Peterson, Geo. B. Bell, J. W. Thompson, Chas. Due from various sources, money G. Ryan and Blake C. Howard. W. A. Heim- on hand, etc 25,691.04 berger was assistant cashier in 1894. In 1897 the officers were, S. A. Peterson, president. Total resources $349,078.30 j y^ Thompson, vice-president, G. B. BeH, cashier, and W. A. Heimberger, assistant liabilities cashier, and the directors were S. A. Peter- Capital stock $ 60,00000 son^ j -y^ Thompson, B. C. Howard, Chas. Surplus fund 34,200.00 q Ry^n, Geo. T. Berry, and G. B. BeH. Deposits 346,530.09 Albert Etting became a director between then and 1902. In 1904, the head officers of the Total liabilities $349,078,30 ^^^^^ ^^^^ g^-jjl g j^ Peterson, president. After the failure, when Comptroller Eckles J. W. Thompson, vice-president, and G. B. assessed the stockholders $1,000 upon each BeH, cashier. I. R. Alter had become assistant share, those held responsible under that as- cashier prior to 1907. About ten years ago sessment, and the number of shares of stock the first very radical change in the manage- they then held were: Henry A. Koenig, 23; ment of this bank occurred. The name was Wm. A. Hagge, 12 ; G. A. Mohrenstecher, changed to The Grand Island National Bank, 4y2 ; O. A. Mohrenstecher, 1 ; Mary Mohren- and C. C. Hansen, who had been a successful stecher, 2 ; A. H. Baker, 3 J^ ; John L. Means, banker in Howard County and through 5; Henry Mayer, 1; Gust Koehler, 1; T. Central Nebraska purchased stock in the insti- Morseman, 1 ; B. Lombard, 3 ; A. W. Ocka- tution, and was elected president. Mr. BeH bock, 2. Hall County in settlement of its also left the bank and T. J. Hansen was made deposit, secured the property at First and cashier. J. W. Thompson remained for a few Locust upon which the present court house is years longer as vice-president ; E. M. Brass- situated and which had been the Koenig home, also became a vice-president, F. J. Cleary a Thus even with its unfortunate ending, this short time later became assistant cashier, institution served to carry the community Charies G. Ryan remained as attorney, and through the early years of the troublesome Fred W. Ashton, M. L. Dolan, A. M. Hargis, 'seventies without any other bank in the county local men, went onto the directorate. A. J. to assist or compete with it. Guendel later became an assistant cashier also. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 299 In 1916 the officers remained the same as they had been in 1914, C. C. Hansen, president, E. M. Brass, and J. W. Thompson, vice- presidents, T. J. Hansen, cashier, A. J. Guendel, assistant cashier, except that L. R. Brininger had succeeded Frank J. Cleary as cashier. W. H. Luers secured stock in the bank and became assistant cashier after A. J. Guendel left this institution. Another sweeping set of changes occured in the history of this institution, late in 1917, when through the sale of stock from the Hansen interests to Messrs. Thomas, Griess and Luers, a general shifting was made in the officers. C. C. Hansen became chairman of the board, Theo. Griess, president, George H. Thomas, vice-president, T. J. Hansen, vice- president, W. H. Luers, cashier. These gentle men are the present officers of the bank, with Harry C. Hee, Chas. F. Bryer and J. W. Thompson, Jr., as assistant cashiers, and F. W. Ashton, Richard Goehring and Otto L. Mattke as directors. Mr. Mattke was elected at the beginning of 1919, succeeding E. M. Brass. Messrs. Thomas and Griess came to Grand Island from Harvard, Nebraska. This bank for many years occupied the buHding at the southwest corner of Third and Wheeler, now the Strasser block. Five years ago it moved into the present quarters in the remodeled Glover building, 302 W. Third. This bank was one of the two out of the five of the city that, under the Bell manage ment, weathered the financial storm of the 'nineties. Indicative of the ebb and flow of that financial tide, a few quotations from the statements of a ten year period, from 1892 to 1902, show the career of this bank in those troublesome times: Year Sept. 15, 1893.. April 28, 1894.. April 27, 1895.. March 30, 1896. June 30, 1896.. Dec. 31, 1896.. May 26, 1897. . . Sept. 8, 1897... Loans and discounts Deposits .$185,501.83 $1,23,527.62 . 194,788.50 105,490.50 . 176,203.00 106,119.09 . 165,192.68 91,545.68 . 141,974.54 69,6/7.35 . 146,391.65 69,269.68 . 135,617.04 98,185.18 Total resources $229,107.48 241,370.49237,675.00227,672.72224,307.74 201,766.95200,695.84231,507.50 July 14, 1898... 130,796.55 265,144.80 Dec. 2, 1899.... 146,356.61 280,398.76 July 17, 1901.... 162,229.85 278,717.41 Nov. 25, 1902.... 208,905.08 337,403.90 In vivid contrast to the conditions of the 'nineties, stand the staten;ents of this bank for the last five years: Deposits Total resources September 12, 1914 $ 740,588 $1,058,085 September 2, 1915 935,862 1,255,944 November 17, 1916 1,000,264 1,530,550 September 11, 1917 1,420,586 1,776,405 November 1, 1918 1,247,813 1,758,554 May 12, 1919 1,369,510 1,911,470 A very important transaction in the history of the institution took place in July, 1919, whereby the controlling interest of the Grand Island National Bank held by George T. Thomas and Theodore Griess was sold to the following gentlemen: C. J. Miles of Hastings, Nebraska, W. H. Luers, J. W. Thompson, Jr., F. W. Ashton, Otto Mattke, Richard Goehr ing, Sr., Juergen Knuth, Gustav Sievers, Albert Quandt, T. A. Brandes, Richard Neurnberger, E. L. Brown, Rudolph Siebert, Fred WHlman, C. F. Dryer, Percy N. Gorman, H. C. Hee, Wm. Scheffel, Emil Wegner, Gus E. Neuman. At that time the Independent stated : The many interests in common which Messrs. Thomas and Griess are identified with in Harvard, Nebraska, made it practically impossible for them to devote all of their time in Grand Island, and appreciating the importance that as such officers of the bank it was incumbent upon them to have their homes in Grand Island, and finding that this could not very well be arranged, they con cluded to accept the offer that was made to them by Mr. MHes and his associates to purchase from them the control. Under this arrangement, Mr. Miles will move to this city very shortly, and commencing on Septem ber 1st will assume the presidency of the bank, and will from that time be actively en gaged at the bank in that capacity. The career of Mr. Miles is one continued series of successes. Coming from Hastings in 1895 as general sales manager of the Cambria Coal Company, he became the owner of a line of grain elevators in 1898, and still con tinues to hold his interests in that business. He became mayor of Hastings in 1902 and held that official position untH 1913, during 300 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA which time he was active in all that pertained to the advancement of Hastings and its inter ests. He has been a director in the First National Bank of Hastings since 1895, was supreme councillor of the United Commercial Travelers from 1905 to 1906, and has passed through all the chairs of that order, state and national. He is president of the Grand River Coal Company, president of the Missouri Electric, Gas & Water Company, president of the Eustis Electric Light & Power Company, and also president of the Grand Island Gas Company. He is a thorough and conservative business man and banker. Mr. Miles has been instrumental to a great extent in the progressive upbuilding of Hastings, and is a man thoroughly active and aggressive for the furtherance of each and every enterprize that he learns is coming to his locality or that is already there. Associated with Mr. Miles in the active management of the bank will be Mr. W. H. Luers and Mr. Jay Thompson, son of J. W. Thompson, formerly vice-president of the bank, both of whom are well and favorably known that a further introduction would be unnecessary. CHARLES F. BENTLEY The next entrance into the banking circles of Hall County was that made by the establish ment of a private bank by Charles F. Bentley. In 1880 Mr. Bentley, then of Freeport, IHinois, came to Omaha, Nebraska and there Senator Joseph H. Millard, of the Omaha National Bank, recommended to him that Grand Island would be a fine opening for a bank, so he came here and opened a private bank. Before we take up the history of the First National, one of the two banks that survived the financial storms of the 'nineties and which he served for twenty-six years as cashier and director, it is fitting to pause to sketch the life career of this man. Not only in banking circles but through out a great many other activities related in this volume his record of service is touched upon. Charies Frederick Bentley, was born in Lon don, England, July 4, 1843. His grandfather, Peter Bentley, was of an old Yorkshire family. During the greater part of his life he was an excise officer of the crown, and when age pre vented further attention to the duties of his office he was retired on a pension. He died at the age of seventy-seven, having been for very many years a worthy member and an ardent supporter of the Methodist church. One of his sons was Peter Johnson Bentley, who, when a youth, left Yorkshire for London to enter the employ of an uncle. Accompanied part of the way by his father, he left home on foot and walked to York, completing his journey from that place to London by stage coach. Some years later he became a member of the whole sale dry-goods firm of Robert Bentley & Co. in C. F. Benti,ey Cheapside, London. This firm for many years held a prominent place among the wholesale dry goods firms of that city. In 1851, owing to failing health, he emigrated to America, going first to Lafayette county, Wisconsin, where two of his brothers lived. A little later in the same year he moved to Freeport, Illinois, where he purchased a home, invested the means he had brought with him, and lived quietly and free from business cares during the remainder of his life. The home that he bought in 1851 he occupied with his family un til his death in 1898. In 1901 his children sold the old homestead to the city of Freeport to be used as a site for the public library buHd- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 301 ing, toward which Andrew Carnegie donated $35,000. Plis wife, Ann Sarah Harvey, to whom he was married when she was twenty- five years of age, was the daughter of the cap tain of an English merchantman and had been left fatherless in her youth. She became the mother of four children, and died in Freeport in 1856. Her oldest chHd was Charles F. Bentley. When a boy he attended the public schools of Freeport, and then for several years was a country school teacher, working on a farm occasionally, when not employed in teaching. In March, 1863, he entered the employ of De- Forest & Co., bankers, at Freeport, and a year later their bank was made .the First National Bank of that city. Starting in as a young man of all work, he was advanced step by step until he became assistant cashier, a position that he retained until 1880. He then came to Omaha, and upon the recommendation received there, direct to Grand Island, where he established a private bank. In 1882, in company with several substantial citizens he organized the First National Bank of this city. Mr. Bentley at once became cashier of that institution, as well as a director, and these positions he held for the next twenty-five and a fraction years, until his death, which occurred on July 15, 1908. He also took part in the establishment of other banks in Hall County, and his name will appear many times yet in connection with them. He was one of the organizers of the Doniphan Bank in 1886, and later became president of that institution. He was the first president of the Cairo State Bank, organized in 1902. In 1864, when the caH had been made for 100 day men, Mr. Bentley enlisted in the 142d Illinois Volunteers in which regiment he served as a commissary sergeant. He always gave his support to the republican party, but served as a private in political ranks and never sought office. He took an early and continued interest in buHding and loan associations. He served as an officer in both the old People's Association and for thirteen years the Grand Island (Equitable) Association. He wrote the first building and loan law in the state of Nebraska, and directed his activity chiefly to efforts to secure such legislation and to promote such forms of organization as seemed calculated to insure safe and conservative management of the associations and fair and equitable rela tions between them and their members. For several years he was president of the Nebraska League of local loan and building associations, later vice-president for this state, and in 1907, president of the National League for the United States. He is one of the men to whose activity and energy the fact is due that Ne braska has building and loan laws superior to many of the states about her. He was married, November 26, 1868, to Miss Angeline Alice, daughter of Peter Dreisbach and Lavina (Klopp) Fisher, a native of Rock Grove, Stephenson County, IHinois. To them three children were born: Arthur Fisher Bentley, formerly an editorial writer on the Record-Herald of Chicago, author of numer ous valuable economic and governmental studies, during the war state director of Ameri can Red Cross for Indiana, and now returned to his private pursuits as an orchardist at Paoli, Indiana; Doctor Frederick James Bent ley, a leading oculist at Seattle, Washington; and Grace Bentley Paine, wife of district Judge Bayard H. Paine of Grand Island. GEORGE B. BELL was born at Colrain, Massachuesetts, on April 10, 1861. His father, Joseph Shepardson Bell, graduated as a civil engineer, but followed farming and married Sarah Packer. George Boardman BeH was educated in the Colrain district school, at Power Institute, Bernardston, Massachusetts, and left before graduation to take a position with the Grand Island Banking Company (now Grand Island National Bank) on December 15, 1880. Mr. Bell became the second cashier of the Grand Island National Bank and served untH October 1, 1910, when he left this institution after twenty-nine years of service, during six of which, 1895-1901, Mr. Bell and Mr. Bent ley, as cashiers of the two banks of Grand Is land, bore the brunt of the responsibility of 302 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA the banking work of the community. In the ten years that he has been living in Chicago, since he severed his connection with the Grand Island National Bank, Mr. BeH has made a steady climb in the financial world. He was director, secretary-treasurer and manager of H. O. Stone & Co., real estate brokers of Chicago, 1913 to March 17, 1919. Since he sold out his interest in that concern he has de voted most of his attention to his duties as president and director of the Delta & Pine Land Co. of Mississippi. This concern owns the largest cotton plantation in the world, con taining 52,000 acres of the richest delta land in Mississippi. Mr. Bell is a heavy stockholder in the Koehler Hotel Co. of Grand Island. He also owns several Chicago apartment and store buHdings, and has other corporate interests in Chicago and elsewhere. He has been a Re publican in his political views and an active worker in Masonic circles and the Elks order. He was married on August 6, 1885, to Emma Howard, daughter of Blake C. Howard. To this union were born, Clarence Howard BeH, who died when a year and half old ; Margaret, who married Charles S. Hart, living in New York City; George Boardman Bell, Jr., married Jane Fowler, living in St. Louis ; and Dorothy at school at the National Park Seminary, For est Glen, Maryland, near Washington, D. C. THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK The establishment of the First National Bank of Grand Island has already been touched upon. Articles of association were ex ecuted July 14, and United States Charter (2779) issued August 22, 1882, making it the oldest National Bank in Grand Island. The original stockholders of this institution were: Martin Horn, Alex Stewart, Geo. H. Andrew, Charies MHisen, J. H. Murphy, W. J. Burger of Doniphan, James HaH, A. D. Sears, Henry Mayer, H. J. Palmer, John L. Means, C. W. Thomas, Fred Hedde, Dr. A. L. Stevenson, Thompson Brothers (W. H. and J. R.), H. C. Held, Samuel N. Wolbach, Patrick Dunphy, C. F. Bentley, Angeline Bentley, Hattie B. Cummings, P. J. Bentley, Ella M. Paine, Maria F. Fisher, and John W. Lambert. The stock then subscribed was 500 shares, or $50,000. This line-up of stockholders continued untH January 2, 1885, when an increase in the capi tal was made to $100,000, more stock was allot ted to the old stockholders and three more added, John Reimers, Arthur Mayer, and May Lamb. After thirty-seven years of existence for the institution the stockholders in 1919 are : Sam uel N. Wolbach, Ralph R. Horth, John Reim ers, Mr. and Mrs. Bayard H. Paine, I. R. Alter, H. J. Palmer, Paul Frauen, Arthur C. Mayer, John Donald, Chas. G. Ryan, Chas. W. Brininger, L. T. Geer, J. A. MitcheH, S. Y. Bryson, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Wietzer, Ira T. Paine, May D. Lamb, A. D. Sears Augusta Veit, Anna J. MHeson, Dr. F. J. Bentley, Arthur F. Bentley, Emil Wolbach, E. J. Wolbach, Terry Reimers, Theo. Reimers, and Oscar Reimers. Samuel N. Wolbach was elected the first president of the bank and has remained at the head of the institution throughout the entire thirty-seven years. This bank has weathered all the storms in these thirty-seven years, but the most trying time in its history was in 1895 and 1896, when three of the banks of the city went under, and the two remaining struck the lowest point in their history. The First National showed in its report of March 9, 1897, deposits of only $191,063, while the Grand Island Banking Co., the other survivor, on Dec. 31 1896, showed deposits of $69,677.35. This was the ebb of Grand Island's financial institutions, and since that date both of the surviving banks, and all of their new competitors have shown steady, substantial gains, year by year. C. F. Bentley remained as cashier until his death, July 15, 1908. Through the 'eighties, there had been seven directors who served for a number of years: S. N. Wolbach, C. F. Bentley, C. W. Thomas, H. J. Palmer, John Reimers, Patrick Dunphy and W. J. Burger, the latter residing at Doniphan. Later the board was reduced to five, and Messrs. Wol bach, Bentley, Thomas, Palmer, and Reimers served together for many years. C. W. Thomas disposed of his stock late in 1908, HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 303 and L. M. Talmage, who had purchased part of the stock of the Bentley estate, was elected a director, and became the second cashier of the bank. He remained as cashier until he disposed of his stock interest on December 1, 1914, after which time I. R. Alter, Jr. was elected cashier, and he is still serving in that capacity. After the death of his father, Ar thur F. Bentley seiwed for a short time as director, after which Bayard H. Paine was elected a director and has served on the board since then. In the following- January (1909) the; board was restored to seven mem bers, and Ralph R. Horth and Paul Frauen were elected. Since the elevation of Mr. Alter to the cashiership and his election as a direct or, the board has been composed of Messrs. Wolbach, Reimers, Palmer, Paine, Alter, Horth, and Frauen. Through part of the time the bank has not carried the title of assistant cashier, but F. C. Hanaford and S. E. Sinke served this bank faithfully in practically this capacity during a period of service lasting between twenty- nine and thirty years each. S. D. Ross was elected assistant cashier on June 30, 1902, and resigned October 26, 1908. Then Messrs. Hanaford and Sinke each held the title of assistant cashier for a number of years, and- then I. R. Alter, Jr. became assistant cashier. After Mr. Alter became cashier, Frank J. Cleary came to the First National as assist ant cashier, and after he left the bank in 1918, P. C. Birk was elevated to this office. Before Mr. Bentley's death the bank built and occu pied a very ornamental and splendidly ar ranged one-story, stone front building at 112 West Third street. Mention has already been made of the low ebb this bank reached in 1896 when it weath ered the financial storms of those trying times. A little further indulgence in figures for the ten year period from 1892 to 1903 will show how this bank fared in those times of storm and returning sunshine. Loans and Year Deposits Resources Discounts Sept. 30, 1892. . . .$141,568.08 $585,399.23 July 12, 1893.... 355,791.93 527,025.86 $376,839.21 July 18, 1894.... 345,761.55 506,041.38 May 7, 1895..... 250,449.15 410,817.63 The rapid decline in such a short space is worthy of notice. It will also be noted that loans and discounts at that particular period were larger than deposits. Loans and Year Deposits Resources Discounts July 14, 1896.... $224,969.22 $370,595.71 $196,081.06 Evidently there had been a restriction on loans and discounts. The next two statements given are the lowest this bank reached in that period. Loans and Year Deposits Resources Discounts Oct. 6, 1896 $198,360.05 $343,989.27 $206,017.90 March 9, 1897... 191,063.35 338,306.83 191,813.87 May 14, 1897.... 227,276.86 375,398.34 From this time on the First National began to forge ahead with a steady gait. The folio vv- ings statements of deposits for a five year period will indicate the return of the com munity to a normal basis, and gradually to a progressive standard once more: Deposit.! December 15, 1897 $333,919.33 December 1, 1898 380,607.77 December 2, 1899 424,884.91 December 13, 1900 459,366.79 December 10, 1901 504,440.4 !¦ April 30, 1902 585,877.69 On July 16, 1902 the deposits had reached $787,601.34 and resources were $1,019,221.60, the million doHar milestone passed. A glance at the deposits and total resource items shown by the statements of this institution for the last five years wHl show by way of contrast the present commercial and financial status of Grand Island as compared to the close times of twenty to twenty-five years ago. Date Deposits Total Resources Sept. 12, 1914 $1,161,109. $1,470,823. Sept. 2, 1915 1,370,722. 1,699,856. Nov. 17, 1916 1,691,347. 2,046,285. Sept. 11, 1917 2,343,213. 2,713,493. Nov. 1, 1918 2,178,723. 2,546,315. May 12, 1919 2,481,929. 2,856,257. THE BANK OF COMMERCE The bank of Doniphan was established May 3, 1886, but it will be taken up after the Grand Island banks have been treated together, as .l1_ _ ir.-_, _..j-_!j_ 1 t_ :._ TT_il r^ j-_. 304 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA The next banking institution in Grand Is land, was the Bank of Commerce, incorpor ated April 1, 1887, with a capital stock of $50,000. T. P. Lanigan was elected president, J. D. Moore, vice-president, J. M. Marsh, cashier. Directors other than the officers just named who took an interest in this bank were F. B. Johnson, cashier of the Bank of Com merce of Omaha, who perhaps had a hand in passing on that name to this new institution, and E. L. Dodder, Sr. Mr. Lanigan, the first president of the bank, later moved to Greeley, Nebraska, where he has been a leading at torney for almost thirty years. J. D. Moore, who had formerly been agent for the Union Pacific Railroad company at Grand Island, was chosen president to succeed Mr. Lanigan, and he in turn was succeeded as president by E. L. Dodder, Sr. Oscar J. Smith became vice-president and J. D. Moore took the cashiership, when Mr. Dodder became presi dent, and E. L. Dodder, Jr. served as assis tant cashier. Judge F. B. Tiffany was one of the directors of the bank for a time. The board of directors in 1893-1894 were E. L. Dodder, Sr., J. D. Moore, D. K. Hull, H. W. Merriam, O. J. Smith, W. A. Prince, and D. C. Zink. The Scarff building, at 224 East Third, was the banking home of this institu tion during most of its career. At one time, about 1890, there were fifty-two stockholders in this bank comprising many of the city's best citizens. Its capitalization reached as high a mark as $150,000. The closing years of its financial career are detaHed by the following figures from its last few statements. Date Deposits Total Resources Mar. 6, 1893 $157,361. $259,390.47 Dec. 19, 1893 144,359. 267,924.68 Aug. 31, 1894 219,136. 325,746.16 Dec. 29, 1894 164,998. 271,062.91 Aug. 1, 1895 122,721. 213,831.31 Dec. 31, 1895 99,225. 225,432.60 Loans and discounts were then, $154,129. When the report of Receiver Wm. Anyan ¦was made as to the affairs of the Bank of Commerce, after its failure, it showed the total HabHities to be $158,057.61, and $177,527.45 of the $257,454.26 estimated assets as worthless, making a shortage of $78,130.80. THE SECURITY NATIONAL BANK This bank was formed during 1889 as the Security State bank, and its first officers were : H. A. Pike, of Boston, Massachuesttts, presi dent, F. W. Barber, vice-president and locally in charge of the president's duties, O. B. Thompson, cashier. They, with T. R. White, Jr., of New York, W. R. Bacon, Dr. P. Janss, and J. P. Zediker, were directors. Between that time and 1891 a complete change was made in the ownership and management of this bank, and before 1892 its name changed to Security National Bank. The latter set of officers and directors were: H. J. Palmer, president, E. C. Hockenberger, vice-president, A. S. Vest, son of Senator Vest of Missouri, cashier, and W. S. Dickason, assistant cashier. The directors were H. J. Palmer, A. S. Vest, E. C. Hockenberger, George Bartenbach and A. C. Murphy. During the winter of 1889-1890 this bank ing company completed the five-story, stone front building on South Locust street, in re cent years occupied by the Grand Island Busi ness & Normal College and other business in stitutions, at a cost of approximately $50,000. This building in later years was purchased by A. M. Hargis at about 30% of its original cost. Some of the last statements of this bank showed its deposits and total resources as : Deposits Resources Sept. 30, 1892 $88,253. $253,901. July 12, 1893 92,044. 271,546. May 4, 1894 79,857. 242,957. Ost. 2, 1894 63,042. 227,342. In February, 1890, J. M. Marsh retumed from a trip to Chicago, Omaha and Kansas City, where he had been making arrangements for selling bank stock for a proposed "Ameri can National Bank" which was to have been erected at Third and Locust, upon the location occupied by the Tucker & Brown drug store, but this institution did not materialize. THE COMMERCIAL STATE BANK It will be noted that for about six years. HISTORY OP HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 305 between 1895 and 1910, Grand Island had only two banking institutions, the First National and Grand Island Banking Co.'s banks. The Commercial State Bank of Grand Is land was incorporated July 2, 1901, and began business July 15, 1901, with a capital stock of $30,000. The original incorporators were Ben jamin F. Clayton, Harry B. Stewart, and EHs worth D. Hamilton, who were, respectively, president, vice-president, and cashier, and also directors. On May 8, 1906, the capital of the bank was increased to $100,000, $80,000 paid up, and on April 10, 1911, the capital was paid up to the full $100,000. On January 8, 1909, the interests of Clay ton, Stewart and Hamilton were sold to Elmer WHliams, M. Dowling, and H. P. Dowling, Elmer Williams coming from Fremont, Ne braska, and Harry P. Dowling, from O'Neill, Nebraska. On April 3, 1911, the Dowling in terests were acquired by local people and the Dowlings purchased a majority of the stock of the Shelby County State Bank, of Harlan, Iowa. On September 1, 1917, the capital of the bank was increased to $150,000. The different presidents of the Commercial State Bank since its organization were Ben jamin F. Clayton and Elmer Williams. The different cashiers of the bank were Ellsworth D. Hamilton and Carl H. Menck. The first published statement of the bank was made on July 17, 1901, two days after opening for busi ness as follows: Capital, $30,000, deposits, $3,250.93, total resources, $33,252.22. On Sep tember 30, 1901, its statements showed de posits, $10,891.95, resources, $41,314.67, and on March 15, 1902 its deposits were $85,723 and its resources had reached $117,046. The published statement of July 31, 1919, showed : RESOURCES Loans and Discounts $ 955,243.15 Overdrafts 1,329.15 Bonds, securities, judgments, claims, etc., including all go-vrernment bonds 114,094.26 Banking house, furniture and fixtures 32,584.35 Due from National and State banks $ 49,023.31 Checks and items of ex change 24,820.46 Currency 21,730.00 Gold coin 4,347.50 Silver, nickels and cents.... 8,285.63 108,206.90 Total $1,211,457.81 LrABILITlES Capital stock paid in $ 150,000.00 ' Surplus fund 30,000.00 Undivided profits 2,829.81 Dividends unpaid 175.00 Individual deposits subject to check $419,910.49 Time certificates of deposit 586.761.38 Certified checks 1,861.64 Cashier's checks outstandng 8,246.30 Due to National and State banks 1,546.70 1,018,326.51 Depositor's guaranty fund 10,126.49 Total $1,211,457.81 THE HOME SAVINGS BANK On December 11, 1909, the Home Savings Bank of Grand Island was organized with a capital of $15,000, with Elmer Williams as president, H. P. Dowling, treasurer, and C. H. Menck, secretary. The success of the Savings Bank was very marked and it continued in a prosperous condition. The business of the Savings Bank was conducted in the rooms of the Commercial State Bank and its growth was phenomenal and very successful; yet in order to facilitate the handling of the business and to lessen the cost of operation the assets of the Home Savings Bank were purchased by the Commercial State Savings Bank on September 1, 1917, and the business of the Home Savings Bank is being conducted as a savings department of the Commercial State Bank. The present marble front building of the Commercial State Bank was erected and occu pied by the Bank on December 18, 1910. The stock of the bank is nearly all owned by Grand Island and Hall County interests ; the number of stockholders is forty- four and its stock holders represent farmers, business men, pro fessional men, and capitalists. STATE BANK OF GRAND ISLAND For thirteen years after the organization of the Commercial State Bank, Grand Island had three banks, but in 1914 a sufficient number of local men, with outside capitalists named hereafter, thought there was room for a fourth bank in this city, and the State Bank of Grand 306 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Island was organized. The original incor porators were Wm. H. Thompson, Theo. P. Boehm, D. W. Geiselman and Frank W. Sloan of Geneva, Nebraska, L. J. Dunn of the City National Bank at Lincoln, A. C. Denman, Kenneth McDonald, S. M. Sonderap, V. E. Evans, Pat Fagan, and M. M. Klinge. The original board of directors chosen were, W. H.. Thompson, president, Theo. Boehm, vice- president, and D. W. Geiselman, cashier, with L. T. Geer, S. M. Sonderup, V. E. Evans and Dana C. Geiselman, the latter then county at torney at Geneva, Nebraska. In January, 1918, L. J. Dunn, Frank J. Cleary and J. L. Cleary bought out the Geisel man interests in the bank and those three be came directors, with V. E. Evans, S. M. Sonderup, W. H. Thompson and M. M. KHnge. The board in 1919 remains the same except that Aug. Buchfinch succeeded M. M. Klinge. L. J. Dunn, vice-president of the City National Bank of Lincoln and director in the First National Bank at Hastings, be came the second president of the State Bank of Grand Island, V. E. Evans, president of Glass & Evans Co. of this city became vice- president, Frank J. Cleary became the second cashier, with A. A. Roeser as assistant cashier. The paid in capital stock of the bank is $50,000. The value of the banking house, furniture and fixtures has increased from $3,204.91 in 1915 to $7,500 in November, 1918. An examination of the principal items of three statements of the bank will show its growth : Loans and Total Date Discounts Deposits Resources Feb. 9, 1915 $22,622.68 $20,064.18 $75,360.77 Nov. 18, 1918... 332,010.89 500,227.49 560,890.00 May 3, 1919 555,466.00 626,408.00 This bank is located on the northwest corner of Third and Locust streets. NEBRASKA STATE BANK In 1917 a fifth bank was organized for Grand Island when the Nebraska State Bank was incorporated by A. E. Cady, Sr., A. J. Guendel, Judge J. R. Hanna, A. E. Cady, Jr., and Benj. Cunningham. The officers were A. E. Cady, Sr., president, A. J. Guendel, vice-president and cashier, A. E. Cady^ Jr., vice-president, O. A. Vieregg, assistant cashier, Judge J. R. Hanna, director, and Benj. J. Cunningham, attorney and director. Mr. Cady, Sr., served as president untH his death, after which Judge J. R. Hanna was elected president. The main facts shown in the first statement of this bank, issued May 7, 1917, were: Loans $66,866.67 Cash 59,537.03 Capital 50,000.00 Deposits 95,310.23 This contrasted with the statement of May 3, 1919, two years later shows the remarkable growth of this bank. The deposits on May 3, 1919, two years later, were $687, 853, and on July 31, $762,768. The following figures show the rate of the growth of this bank: Total resources. May 7, 1917, $153,471.81 ; Nov. 20, 1917, $317,669.20; Feb. 25, 1918, $409,708.85; Aug. 1, 1918, $534,074.61; Nov. 1, 1918, $575,669.94; Jan. 28, 1919, $659,722.- 20; May 3, 1919, $781,102.00; July 31, 1919, $883,879.50. PEOPLES STATE BANK If the plans for the organization of the proposed American State Bank in 1890 had materialized. Grand Island would have had six banks years ago. But as it was, this goal was never reached until June, 1919. The opening of a bank on the north side had been discussed for two or three years, a number of men prominent in north side affairs being urgently in favor of it. The war interfered with any such plans until recently. At the second meeting held for the discussion of this proposition, forty-three men were present, some of them having business houses on the noi'th side and some doing business on the south side but living on the north side, and others being farmers living around the north ern fringe of the city. As a starter the capital was fixed at $65,000 and A., J. Bau mann, assistant postmaster and Attorney A. J. Joseph took an active part in getting the stock subscribed. The location selectedwas a room HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 307 in the Central Power Co. building at Fourth and Pine streets, which has been remodeled to make a very attractive and convenient) banking room. The stock has been divided among a considerable number of stockholders, and the manner in which the bank has made its initial start gives satisfactory evidence to the hope that Grand Island has outgrown north-and-south division feeling or business rivalries of more than a friendly nature. The board of directors chosen are John Knick rehm, J. D. Harrison, John Knickrehm, J^, John E. Mader, August C. Menck, Albert J. Niemoth, and Franklin Tully, selected from the following list of incorporators : J. H. Harrison, J. D. Harrison, A. C. Menck, Homer Bowen, John Knickrehm, Sr., John Knick rehm, Jr., Wm. P. Krehmke, Louis E. Upper- man, Franklin Tully, A. L. Joseph, J. E. Mader and Albert J. Niemoth. The first officers chosen were John Knickrehm, Sr., president, J. D. Harrison, vice-president, J. H. Harrison, cashier, Leo G. Shehein, assistant cashier, and A. L. Joseph, attorney. J. H. Harrison had recently resigned as cashier of the State Bank of Ravenna, and accepted the cashiership of this new bank and helped it start out, but in June, 1919, after a few weeks service, resigned to form a connection as cashier with a third bank being established at Ravenna, and Assistant Cashier Shehein was promoted to the cashiership, and Carl Knick rehm selected as assistant cashier, and a short time thereafter Judge E. G. Kroger was elected Vice-President and became active in the bank management. On August 27, 1919, the bank carried loans and discounts of $120,- 755.17; deposits, $99,527.63; total resources, $159,677.48, on a capital of $50,000. THE BANK OF DONIPHAN The Bank of Doniphan was established May 3, 1886, with W. J. Burger president and John Schwynn cashier. S. N. Wolbach, C. F. Bentley, W. J. Burger and John Schwynn were the stockholders. Mr. Burger continued as president until he sold his stock, where upon C. F. Bentley became president of the institution and served until his death in 1908. Thereupon S. N. Wolbach became pres ident for a period. During all of this time John Schwynn had been cashier of the bank. For a time before his death John Schwynn was cashier of the bank, S. N. Wolbach vice- president, in which office he had been serving since the establishment of the institution ex cept for a period he was president. After Mr. Schwynn's death, Mr. Wolbach again be came president, and is still serving in that capacity. Judge Bayard H. Paine who suc ceeded Mr. Wolbach as vice-president of the bank, is now in that office. H. E. Funk upon the disposal of Mr. Burg er's stock purchased an interest in the bank, was elected a director and assistant cashier, and later on succeeded Mr. Schwynn as cash ier. Mr. Funk a few years ago disposed of his stock whereupon C. M. Carlson of Dannebrog, Nebraska, was elected cashier and George E. Funk, assistant cashier. During 1918, George E. Funk was called into service, and resigned as assistant cashier, and Miss Alma Gideon is now acting in that capacity. The present directors of the bank are S. N. Wolbach, president. Bayard H. Paine, vice- president, C. M. Carlson, cashier, and Emil Wolbach. Among the other stockholders are Wm. E. Martin and Karl Hoppold. Several years ago this bank outgrew its quarters in the brick building erected in 1888, and moved into a fine, commodious banking home built for its use. The growth of the bank is evidenced by a comparison of its deposits, resources, etc. : 1902 1909 1919 Capital stock. . . .$ 12,500 $ 12,500 $ 20,000 Deposits 102,739 188,097 233,629 Total resources.. 121,761 209,180 264,858 COMMERCIAL EXCHANGE BANK, OF DONIPHAN Doniphan remained with one bank for twenty-five years, when in November, 1911, the Commercial Exchange Bank started in busniess. This bank opened with H. A. Red man, president, L. J. Berg, vice-president, and C. M. Redman, cashier. J. J. Mohlman suc ceeded Mr. Berg as vice-president, and in 1917 he sold his stock to Merle Eggert, who 308 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA became vice-president. The president and cashier have remained the same throughout the career of this institution. The first direc tors were H. A. Redman, L. J. Berg, J. J. Mohlman, C. M. Redman and Mrs. Berta Siebert. Albert Redman became a director in 1919. This bank occupies a very substantial and convenient banking home which it erected for that purpose. Its growth is refiected by a comparison of two statements as to the principal items. Sept. 4, Jan. 28, Statements of— 1912 1919 Loan and discounts. .$44,532.72 $190,258.05 Banking house, fix tures, furniture 5,000.00 5,000.00 Capital stock paid... 15,000.00 15,000.00 Deposits 47,463.42 235,809.84 Total resources 65,856.86 258,596.63 CITIZENS STATE BANK, WOOD RIVER The Citizens State Bank of Wood River, Nebraska, was incorporated August 20, 1891, by W. L. May, George R. Voss, James Jack son, W. W. Mitchell, T. J. Smout,- Jerry Bowen, G. W. Miller, W. L. Sprague, S. E. Smith and M. J. CosteHo, with an authorized capital stock of $25,000 and a paid up capital of $14,500. The first board of directors were W. L. May, George R. Voss, James Jackson, W. W. Mitchell, T. J. Smout, Jerry Bowen and W. L. Sprague. This board elected James Jackson, presi dent, W. L. May, vice-president, and appointed S. E. Smith, cashier. Additional directors elected to fill vacancies since are B. Z. Taylor, Robert Ewing, S. C. Tackson, W. B. Kern, H. I. Mc'Carty, Fred J. Miller, F. M. Hollister and Patrick Hoye. In 1915 the board of directors was reduced from seven to five and W. W. Mitchell, Patrick Hoye, Fred J. MiHer, F. M. HoHister, and W. L. Sprague were elected and also consti tute the present board. In 1894 W. W. Mitchell succeeded James Jackson as president and still holds that po sition. Jerry Bowen was elected vice-president in 1894 and was succeeded by James Jackson in 1900. M. I. Mc'Carty was elected vice-president in 1911 in place of James Jackson, deceased. In 1911 Patrick Hoye was elected vice- president vice M. I. McCarty, and is the pres ent holder of this office. R. R. Root was appointed cashier in Novem ber, 1891, and was succeeded on March 1, 1894, by W. L. Sprague who is the present incumbent. W. W. MitcheH, president, Patrick Hoye, vice-president, W. L. Sprague, cashier, and E. B. Persson and E. H. Benson, assistant cashiers, comprise the executive officers. First Annual Statement, January, 1893 : RESOURCES Loans and Discounts $34,945.22 Due from Banks 1,706.38 Cash in Bank 2,208.05 Overdrafts 413.62 Expenses paid 2,423.79 Furniture and Fixtures 1,928.21 Banking House 4,379.44 $48,004.71 LIABILITIES Capital Stock $23,000.00 Undivided Profits 3,509.40 Deposits 19,495.31 Bills Payable 2,000.00 $48,004.71 Statement of January, 1919: RESOURCES Loans and Discounts $330,438.46 Due from Banks 77,056.46 Cash in Bank 15,753.13 Liberty Bonds 14,530.00 Banking House 2,500.00 Furniture and Fixtures 2,500.00 $442,778.14 LIABILITIES Capital Stock $ 25,000.00 Surplus and Profits 22,579.58 Deposits 391,603.98 Guaranty Fund 3,117.58 Dividends unpaid 477.00 $442,778.14 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 309 In April, 1892, interested persons bought a controlling interest in the stock from W. L. May and George R. Voss and sought to close the bank. The minority stockholders check mated this move by subscribing for more stock, increasing the paid up capital stock to $23,000, of which they held $15,500 against $5,500 under adverse control. In 1894, the capital stock was reduced to $21,000; in 1897 to $18,000 and in 1899 to $10,000. In 1909 the stock was increased to $15,000 through a stock dividend and in 1910 to $25,000. The building now occupied as a banking house was built in 1892. THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF WOOD RIVER Incorporated October 12, 1888. Charter No. 3939. First board of directors: Patrick Moore, Henry O. Gifford, James Ewing, F. M. Pen ney, Walter Chamberlain, Henry Chamberlain, Hans Wiese, W .W. Mitchell, H. P. Chapman. First officers: Henry Chamberlain, presi dent, Patrick Moore, vice-president, Walter Chamberlain, cashier. Presidents (in order of sem^ice) : Henry Chamberlain, H. O. Gifford, O. W. Eaton, F. E. Slusser. Cashiers (in order of service) : Walter Chamberlain, Henry Chamberlain, E. S. Leav enworth, F. M. Penney, H. S. Eaton. Vice-presidents (in order of service) : Patrick Moore, Peter Holling, O. W. Eaton, F. E. Slusser, Hans Wiese. Present board of directors : Hans Wiese, H. S. Eaton, F. E. Slusser, E. S. Leavenworth, J. E. Ayers, W. H. Packer, S. W. Wilson. Present officers: F. E. Slusser, president, Hans Wiese, vice-president, H. S. Eaton, cash ier, H. P. Burmood, assistant cashier, J. E. Ayers, assistant cashier. In addition to the members of the first board of directors and the present board, the fol lowing have served on the board of directors at different periods : D. Barrick, Peter Holling, Wm. Dubbs, James Gifford, H. D. Trout. The original number of stockholders was sixteen. The present number is fourteen. Of the original stockholders but one name appears on the present list, that of Mr. Wiese, although the Eaton and Gifford stock is represented by their heirs as present holders. Since the bank was organized, more than thirty years ago, Mr. Wiese has served most efficiently and conscientiously as one of its directors, a rather remarkable record of faithful service which has been of inestimable value to the bank and which is held in highest appreciation by the officers and stockholders of the institu tion. Mr. Slusser entered the service of the bank as bookkeeper in November, 1889, since which time his connection, as employee, stockholder or officer has been continuous. First published statement, February 9, 1889 : RESOURCES Omaha National Bank $10,620.00 Chemical National Bank 1,915.75 Loans 50,665.01 Expenses and Taxes 1,204.10 Overdrafts 292.07 U. S. Bonds 12,500.00 Premium Bonds 3,421.88 Cash ,... 4,499.07 Redemption Fund 562.00 Real Estate 3,750.00 Furniture and Fixtures 2,000.00 Total .$91,429.88 LIABILITIES Capital paid in $48,250.00 Circulation 11,240.00 Undivided Profits 2,663.84 Deposits, check 24,487.45 Deposits, certificate 4,788.59 Total .$91,429.88 Published statement of March 4, 1919 : RESOURCES Loans and Discounts $353,308.05 Overdrafts 1,057.35 U. S. Certificates of Indebtedness 20,000.00 Bonds 40,000.00 Federal Reserve Sock. , 1,800.00 Real Estate 19,000.00 Cash and Due from Banks and U. S. Treasurer 93,188.47 Total $528,353.87 310 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA LIABILITIES Capital Stock $40,000.00 Surplus 20,000.00 Undivided Profits, net 18,915.50 Circulation 40,000.00 Deposits 409,438.37 Total $528,353.87 CAIRO BANKS Cairo has two successful and enterprising banks. The older of these is the Cairo State Bank. This bank was organized August 26, 1902, with a capital of $5,000 with the follow ing as officers and directors: C. F. Bentley, president, J. H. Harrison, cashier, S. N. Wol bach, S. D. Ross,' directors. The bank opened for business September 22, 1902, with the above named officers and directors. On December 30, 1905, the capital was increased from $5,000 to $10,000. On October 10, 1907, J. H. Harrison, cash ier, tendered his resignation, he seHing fifteen shares of his stock to Geo. W. Wingert and fifteen shares to EHiott Harrison. Geo. W. Wingert was elected cashier to fill vacancy, and Elliott Harrison was elected assistant cashier. On November 6, 1908, S. N. Wolbach was elected president to fill the vacancy caused by the death of C. F. Bentley, S. D. Ross re signed as member of the board of directors, having sold his shares to Bayard H. Paine. EHiott Harrison and Bayard H. Paine were elected directors. On May 7, 1909, by authority from the state banking board, the capital was increased to $25,000, with $15,000 paid up. J. E. Cox hav ing acquired stock was elected director. On January 12, 1910, J. E. Cox was elected vice-president and Wm. Stoeger having ac quired stock was elected director, the stock of the late Charles F. Bentley was transferred under the estate to Grace B. Paine, Ira T. Paine and Fred J. Bentley. On September 19, 1910, at a special meeting a contract was let for the erection of a new bank building. This building was completed and moved into in May, 1911. On January 11, 1911, the capital stock was increased to $16,000, the additional shares being sold to Dell Thompson who was then elected a director. In April, 1915, a vacancy occurred in the office of assistant cashier and director caused by the death of EHiott Harrison. At the annual meeting of stockholders, January 20, 1919, the following officers were elected : S. N. Wolbach, president, J. E. Cox, vice-president, Geo. W. Wingert, cashier, G. H. Vant, assistant cashier, M. F. Thompson, assistant cashier. Directors re-elected, S. N. Wolbach, J. E. Cox, Geo. W. Wingert, Bayard H. Paine, Wm. Stoeger, DeH Thompson and G. H. Vant having acquired stock was also elected director. As criterion of the growth of the Cairo State Bank, a comparison of the statements of this bank, made on November 25, 1902, and January 28, 1919, shows that the capital stock paid in has increased from $5,000 to $16,000; furniture and fixtures (banking house in latter), from $595 to $5,300; loans and discounts from $7,271.22 to $167,587.65; deposits from $14,715.47 to $257,298.36, and total resources from $20,025.33 to $279,536.41. This bank occupies a very substantial and well arranged banking home. FARMERS STATE BANK OF CAIRO The second bank for Cairo was organized in 1910, starting business as the Farmers State Bank of Cairo, on September 24, with C. C. Hansen, president, W. C. Robinson, vice- pres ident and G. C. Raven, cashier. There has been very little change in the personnel of the directors or officers during its existence. The president and cashier are the same as when first organized. Mr. Robinson, now de ceased, was succeeded by Fred Voss as vice- president. The present board of directors is composed of C. C. Hansen, T. J. Hansen, Fred W. Ashton, Philip Stoeger, W. L. Heupel, Fred Voss and G. C. Raven. While the control of the stock has rested with Mr. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 311 Hansen at Grand Island, the bank has been managed by Cairo folks, Cairo having alv^ays had five of the seven members of the board untH this last meeting. WhHe T. H. Soren son, assistant cashier was absent with the armed forces abroad and pushing Germans back into Germany his place was filled by Mrs. Raven, until he returned. The first depositor of the bank was, as we knew him then, "little" Johnny Pedley, now a member of the marine corps and from his last picture seen here no longer little Johnny but John. The bank has made a substantial growth and been successful from a dividend- paying standpoint and from its record of service to the community. Its growth can be judged from a comparison of its standing in 1910 and 1919, during which time its loans and discounts grew from none to $153,175; deposits increased from none to $195,206 ; and total resources grew from none to $230,911.75. ALDA STATE BANK The Alda State Bank was organized August 30, 1909, by its present officers and directors : Dr. P. C. Kelley, president. Bayard H. Paine, vice-president, John Thomssen, cashier, Fred Thomssen, assistant cashier, who constitute the board of directors, with O. A. Abbott, Jr., as the fifth niember. The bank has a neat little banking home situated at the intersection of the two main streets of Alda, and has progressed along steadily with a fairly uneventful career, ex cept for its steady growth. It has $12,000 capital, and carries its banking house, fixtures, . etc., at $3,333.00. Between November 16, 1909, and November 1, 1918, its loans and discounts have grown from $5,171.15 to $134,856.92; its deposits from $7,231.76 to $161,914.49; and its statement of total re sources had increased from $17,288.04 to $187,187.92. The rate of progress of this bank can be somewhat gauged by its deposits in November of each year: 1909, $7,231.76; 1910, $22,123.07; 1911, $44,750.56; 1912, $59,520.03; 1913, $47,903.- 70; 1914, $77,571.20; 1915, $84,008.20; 1916, $127,83"6.72 ; 1917, $153,787.07; 1918, $161,- 914.49; July 31, 1919, $214,469.41. FARMERS STATE BANK Alda's second bank was organized Decem ber 24, 1917, and opened January 25, 1918, with C. A. Ellis, president, J. S. Denman, Frank Denman, Benj. J. Cunningham, at torney, W. L. Kelley, cashier, and Geo. D_aw- son, vice-president, as the officers and direc tors. This bank sustained a fire September 6, 1918, which necessitated its removing to temporary and cramped quarters in the corner of a garage, until the completion of its own splendidly appointed buHding. On July 31, 1919, this bank was carrying $15,000 capital; $43,755 in loans and discounts; $47,367.99 deposits ; and total resources of $65,448.80. BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION Steps were taken rather early in the history of the community to provide means for the building of homes in the city, upon the liberal plan provided for by the building and loan laws of Nebraska. The first meeting of the Grand Island Building and Loan Association was held at the office of Jay S. White, August 29, 1891. At this meeting a committee was appointed to draft a constitution for the asso ciation, which was adopted. The ilr-it I'egular meeting was held January 9, 1882, when the following officers and board of directors were elected: J. D. Moore, president; B. C. How ard, vice-president ; J. E. White, secretary ; M. Murphy, treasurer; M. J. Gahan, L. M. Bryan, C. L. Howell, D. Ackerman, WiHiam Anyan, H. L. McMeans and Frank Guenther, direct ors. The original members were L. M. Bryan, S. W. Smith, M. J. Gahan, B. C. Howard, Frank Sears, Clara A. Sears, A. A. Sawyer, A. D. Sears, C. L. HoweH, M. Murphy, A. H. WHhelm, A. Humphrey, C. B. Handy, D. Ackerman, John Riss, C. E. Schanlan, P. D. Thompson, Francis Lang, Frank Guenther, Jay E. White, H. L. McMeans, J. D. Moore, WiHiam Anyan, B. Berry. O. A. Abbott, H. O. Brown, H. D. Boyden, E. W. McAHister, John Henderson, Emiline Henderson, Peter Janss. 312 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA G. H. Thummel, F. C. Collins, E. F. Kerr, G. H. CaldweH, C. E. Lykke, J. H. Wilsey, Mon roe Taylor, Jacob Giese, E. A. Richardson, S. B. Reynard, H. L. Burket, F. M. Bacon and C. P. R. Williams. The profits reported in the first annual state ment, January 6, 1883, amounted to $7,123.25 ; in the second, $7,538.50; in the third, $7,- 620.20; in the fourth, $7,043.80; in the fifth, $8,090.05; in the sixth, $11,044.30, and in the eighth, published January 1, 1890, $13,602.15. The total receipts of 1889 amounted to $33,- 723.20, B. C. Howard was president in 1886, and W. E. Robinson, secretary. In 1888 S. D. Ross was secretary. In 1889 Frank Sears succeeded M. Murphy as treasurer, and on January 13, 1890, Henry A. Koenig succeeded. Mr. Sears. The directorate in 1890 were D. Ackerman, C. W. Brininger, W. B. Carey, C. B. Handy, G. H. Geddes, James Cleary and A. C. Lederman. THE EQUITABLE BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION In 1890 the officers of the "Grand Island" Association feeling that their experience of the first eight years had taught them a better plan than the one then in use, changed the name of the association to "The Equitable" and adopted a new plan whereby shares were issued semi-annually in series but the money went into one common fund for loaning pur poses and the net profits were distributed semi-annually to the various series. On January 1, 1912, another new plan in accord ance with the most modern methods of opera tion for large associations was worked into the methods of the Equitable. In 1893 the officers of the association were: Blake C. Howard, president, James Cleary, vice-president, Henry A, Koenig, treasurer, C. W. Brininger, secre tary. Mr. Brininger succeeded S. D. Ross as secretary in 1890, and has been secretary of the Equitable during the entire twenty-nine years of its existence under that name. The directors in 1892 and 1893 were A. C. Leder man, D. Ackerman, C. B. Handy, G. H. Geddes, H. L. McMeans, H. C. MiHer and Jas. F. Rourke. In 1894 the directorate was Leder man, Ackerman, McMeans, Miller and Henry Mayer, S. E. Sinke, R. J. Barr, and L. T. Geer. In 1895 D. Ackerman succeeded Jas. Cleary as vice-president, and Chas. G. Ryan took his place on the board of directors. C. F. Bentley became treasurer of the Association in 1894 and remained in that capacity untH his death, July 15, 1908. In 1896, the board of directors was listed as foHows : A. C. Lederman, H. C. Miller, H. L. McMeans, Chas G. Ryan, L. T. Geer, B. C. Howard, D. Ackerman, S. E. Sinke, C. F. Bentley, Robert J. Barr and C. W. Brininger. In 1897, A. C. Lederman suc ceeded D. Ackerman as vice-president and Richard Goehring took his place upon the board. On March 14, 1900, Blake C. Howard died. Mr. Howard had served, with the ex ception of one term continuously since 1883 as president of the Association, under both its titles. He saw the company grow from a small incorporation with four hundred shares in 1883 to the third largest in the state at the time of his death. Louis Veit succeeded Mr. Howard as president. R. R. Horth came onto the board at this time. R. C. Glanville was title-examiner during this period. The next changes were in 1903, when Charles G. Ryan became vice-president. The board at this time was, Louis Veit, president, C. G. Ryan, vice-president, C. W. Brininger, secretary, C. F. Bentley, treasurer, S. E. Sinke, H. C. MHler, R. R. Horth, Richard Goehring, L. T. Geer, C. B. Norris, R. J. Barr, and J. H. Woolley, title examiner. In the report of the Equitable made in 1907 the secretary pointed out the accomplishments of the association during its first twenty-five years, from 1882 to 1907 : Total receipts: Grand Island, $502,873.88, Equitable 1,755,233.76, $2,258,107.64. Total operating expenses : Grand Island, $9,304.35, Equitable 32,834.92, $42,139.27. Total net profits : Grand Island, $167,789.36, Equitable 230,360.61, $398,239.37. Total amount paid borrowers : Grand "Island, $468,901.10, Equitable 1,007,764.25, $1,476,- 665.35. HISTORY OP HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 313 Total amount withdrawals. Equitable, $374,- 694.58; total amount paid on matured shares. Equitable, $309,002.96. Total number shares issued: Grand Island, 2,930, Equitable, 18,663, 21,593. Total number shares withdrawn, Grand Is land, 313, Equitable 10,590, 10,903.' Total number shares matured. Grand Island, 2,618, Equitable, 2,782, 5,399. Total number of loans. Grand Island, 719, Equitable, 1,424, 2,143. The officers of the association remained the same until in 1908 came two very sad breaks. Charles F. Bentley died July 15, 1908. In addition to the interest he had displayed in the local association as treasurer and director, Mr. Bentley had served in 1907 as president of the National Association of Building and Loan Companies and he had been one of the very earliest of Nebraska financiers to see the neces sity of protecting the small borrower and in vestor from the greed and unsafe methods of many so-called national concerns that had sprang up around the country. He had frataed many of the building and loan laws of the state, and the Nebraska State League of BuHding and Loan Associations has commem orated this service by the beautiful memorial tablet and rest bench they have placed in the lobby of the elegant new building which the Equitable Association added a few years ago to the show places of Grand Island. In the same year death also claimed Louis Veit, who had served as president of the organization since the death of President Howard in 1900. During that same year, however, the local secretary, Mr. Brininger, had been honored with the presidency of the Nebraska State League of Building and Loan Associations. In 1909 Charles C. Ryan was elected president, Richard Goehring, vice-president, S. N. Wol bach, treasurer, and August Kruse came onto the board of directors. In 1914 the death of Dr. H. C. MiHer, after twenty-two years of service upon the board, left a vacancy which was filled by the election of Guy L. Harrison. In 1918 Aug. J. Baumann succeeded C. B. - Norris, whose death occured on June 25, 1917, after fifteen years of service on the Board. The present officers, in the 37th year of the Association's history are: Charles G. Ryan, president, Richard Goehring, vice-president, S. N. Wolbach, treasurer, C. W. Brininger, secretary, John A. Fergusen, assistant secre tary and the term of service of the older directors, except Guy L. Harrison and Aug. Baumann, the recent members, are Brininger, thirty years, Geer, twenty-six years, R. J. Barr, twenty-five years, S. E. Sinke, twenty-five years, C. G. Ryan, twenty-four years, R. Goehring, twenty-two years, R. R. Horth, nineteen years, S. N. Wolbach, eleven years, and Aug. Kruse, ten years. For a board which meets each week with but nominal pay this is an unusual record of service for even a mutual business organization. The association has grown from a showing of assets in 1882, $15,- 485.20; 1892, $89,743.92; 1897, $155,871.31; 1902, $255,626.46; 1907, $406,446.84; 1912, $762,217.42; 1919, $1,016,481.09. THE people's BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION Grand Island had a second very active .Building and Loan Association for a number of years. The People's Building and Loan As- ciation was organized in June, 1885, with W. R. McAllister, J. G. Raine, J. H. Mullin, J. H. Withers, W. H. Thompson, E. W. McAl lister, W. T. Chapin, J. C. Pederson and Geo. E. Winn, as directors. In 1887 John G. Raine was president, C. F. Bentley, treasurer and J. R. Thompson, secretary. The institution was running at 119 West Third. In 1892 the officers were J. H. Mullin, president. Dr. H. C. Miller, vice-president, John R. Thompson, secretary, and C. F. Bentley, treasurer. It con tinued in operation until the middle 'nineties. . THE UNITED STATES INVESTMENT COMPANY . This concern was incorporated April 18, 1887, with H. A. Koenig, A. H. Baker, C. A. VonWasmer, O. B. Thompson, William Hagge, O. A. Abbott, and Gustave Koehler, stockholders. The stock was placed at $250,- 000. This concern dealt mostly in real estate and public utilities and wound up its affairs during the business depression of 1894 and 1895. 314 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA AMERICAN INVESTMENT COMPANY This was a very ambitious corporation. The American Investment Company of New Hampshire. Its home offices were at Emmettsburg, Iowa, and it had district offices at Manchester, England, 150 Nassau street. New York city, Huron, South Dakota, Kansas City, Missouri, WaHa Walla, Washington Territory, and Grand Island, Nebraska. In 1887 E. S. Ormsby was president, W. L. Tel ford, secretary and W. P. Coolbaugh local manager. In 1890 R. C. GlanviHe was the local manager for this company. WOOD RIVER BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION The Wood River Building and Loan Asso ciation, temporarily organized in June, 1889, wes permanently organized January 1, 1890, with F. M. Penny, president, W. W. MitcheH, vice-president, W. L. Sprague, secretary, and Edward Baldwin, treasurer. The directors were F. M. Penny, W. W. MitcheH, R. Wes coatt, George H. Howard, John R. Jewett, Henry Kuntz, William Thorp, J. Smoot and A. L. Johnson. M. J. CosteHo was early attorney for the association. The last statement to the state banking board shows a capital stock of $62,106.88, and loans amounting to $66,700.00. The present officers are S. M. Nelson, presi dent, J. E. Hoye, vice-president, W. L. Sprague, secretary, M. C. Wingert, treasurer, and directors, S- M. Nelson, J. E. Hoye, L. P. Mullen, D. V. Mc'Kee, W. S. Warren, C. T. towne, J. E. Ayer and J. W. Cunningham. This association has always met the buHding demands of its community and has paid regu lar dividends to its stockholders. OTHER EARLY FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS There were numerous financial institutions, other than those heretofore mentioned, which were flourishing locally or represented by en ergetic and enterprising agents here. Most of these disappeared or moved away during the stringent period of the middle 'nineties. Some of these institutions or concerns were : The Grand Island Savings & Loan Co., with offices in the Citizens Bank Building, of which O. A. Abbott was president, Wm. A. Hagge treasurer, and O. B. Johnson secretary. The Home Building and Savings Associa tion located here in 1893 with John W. West; president, B. S. Moore, vice-president, E. C. Hockenberger, treasurer and L. M. Bryan, secretary. Morrill Land Co., H. H. Dorsey, president and Geo. H. Thummel, secretary-treasurer. Oxnard Land Co., T. O. C. Harrison, presi dent, G. H. Thummel, secretary-treasurer, and Platte Valley Land Co., H. G. Leavitt, presi dent, and O. A. Abbott, vice-president were concerns whose titles are almost self-explana tory of their purposes and aims. 'The Union Investment Company, The Na tional Building, Loan and Protective Union, Anglo-American Loan and Trast Co. (D. C. Zink agent in 1890), aH did a large business here in the late 'eighties. About 1890 H. E. Clifford, DiH & Huston, Thummel & Piatt, Dings & Reaugh, Charles Rief, Thompson Brothers, T. A. Hathaway, Frank & Williams, W. S. Hayman, L. J. Traynor, W. A. Whit ney, C. H. Bailey, and others were then en gaged in the money-loaning business or agen cies. GRAND ISLAND LOAN & TRUST COMPANY In the past quarter-century a very potent factor in the financial world has developed in the modern trust company. In Nebraska the wonderful growth of the Peters Trust Co. and Lincoln Safe Deposit & Trast Co. of Lincoln have pointed the way to what can be accom plished by such an institution in this state. So on Nevember 15, 1917, the officers and some stock-holders of the Grand Island National Bank, and some business associates who agreed with their plans, organized the Grand Island Loan & Trast Co. The first officers of this concern were C. C. Hansen, president, George H. Thomas, vice-president, T. J. Han sen, secretary, W. PI. Luers, treasurer, C. E. Grundy, assistant secretary, and Wm. Suhr, attorney. Recently C. J. Miles has become . president and C. E. Grundy secretary. This company is exercising the functions HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 315 and powers of a trust company as executor, co-executor, guardian, trustee in estate and other property matters. It specializes in mak ing and selling farm loans, and has recently extended its department for brokerage of mortgage bonds, to the marketing of certain reliable issues of stocks. One of the first of such stocks this firm has undertaken to offer to thel local, and central Nebraska market is an issue of the Fairmont Creamery Co., the second largest creamery concern in the world. This concern will undoubtedly grow and open a field which it will develop along with future concerns that feel the field here is large and important enough to develop further. NEBRASKA LOAN & TRUST CO. A new financial institution organized in July, 1919, is the Nebraska Loan & Trust com pany formed with the foHowing incorporators : James R. Planna, Addison E. Cady, A. J. Guendel. B. J. Cunningham, and E. R. Guen del. The principal place of business is Grand Island. The company will do a general loan and trust business. The capitalization is $100,000, with $50,000 paid up. The term of incorporation is fifty years. The president is J. R. Hanna, while A. E. Cady is vice presi dent and secretary, A. J. Guendel is treasurer, and B. J. Cunningham is attorney. The directors are Hanna, Cady, E. R. Guendel, A. J. Guendel, R. D. Kingsbury, Herman W. A. Hehnke and B. J. Cunningham. The offices are in the Nebraska State bank and business already has begun. Mr. Cady states the rea son for organization is the heavy demand for real estate loans and other business which was in excess of the ability to handle. CHAPTER XVII THE RAILROADS OF HALL COUNTY Importance of the Railroads — "How We Built the Union Pacific,"by General Gren- viLLE M. Dodge — "What the Engines Said," by Bret Harte — Early Service and Tar iffs — ¦ Local Management of Union Pacific — Superintendents — Trainmasters — Mechanical Departments — Master Mechanics — District Foremen — Train and En- GiNEMEN IN Service Over Twenty Years — • Station Agents — St. Joseph and Grand Island Railroad — Union Pacific Branches — The Bur lington Railroad That the history of the railroads of a county is not only an important part of any county's history can readily be established by a casual glance at the map of any state. Along the lines of the established raHroad systems wHl be found innumerable towns, between the lines on the maps that mark railroads will be found fewer towns. A comparison of the size of those having railroad facilities and those with out such advantage will drive the fact home even more quickly. Another observation at the map, picking out those points which indi cate a junction between a main line and a branch line, or even between two branch lines will emphasize that much advantage to any town. Add to this a division point on a through main-line system. Give a town two railroads and even a greater position of pres tige falls to its lot. Give it a third railroad and you have already a town with the oppor tunity of becoming one of the important cen ters of its state. All of these advantages have fallen to the lot of the capital and seat of jus tice of HaH County. The first railroad to reach Grand Island and traverse the entire width of Hall County was the Union Pacific, which came about nine years after the original colony of 1857 selected Hall County as their home. Selecting Grand Island as its division point in central Nebraska, and later establish ing to the north a branch or rather a series of branches radiating from Grand Island to Ord and Loup City and connecting with branches built by the Burlington, this railroad has meant more to Hall County than it is pos sible to set forth in this chapter. The story of the building of this pioneer railway of the West is not only an incident in the history of Hall County but one of the most charming though turbulent chapters of American in dustrial history. It wiH be more than appro priate to connect this story with Hall County by giving it in the language of a man whom Hall County has honored by bestowing his name upon the first important schoolhouse of her main town, the Dodge School of Grand Island. Major-General GrenviHe M. Dodge, chief engineer of the Union Pacific Rail-way from 1866 to 1870, the period of its most active con struction, has narrated the story of "How we built the Union Pacific Railway" in such form that it consumes forty printed pages, so that the portion of it quoted hereafter wiH form but a small part of his narrative: In 1836 the first public meeting to consider the project of a Pacific railway was caHed by John Plumbe, a civil engineer of Dubuque, Iowa. Interest in a Pacific railway increased from this time. The explorations of Fremont in 1842 and 1846 brought the attention of Con gress, and A. C. Whitney was zealous and efficient in the cause from 1840 to 1850. The 316 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 317 first practical measure was Senator Salmon P. Chase's bill, making an appropriation for the explorations of different routes for a Pacific railway in 1853. Numerous bills were intro duced in Congress between 1852 and 1860, granting subsidies and lands, and some of them appropriating as large a sum as $96,000,- 000 for the construction of the road. One of -these biHs passed one of the houses of Con gress. The results of the explorations or dered by Congress were printed in eleven large volumes, covering the country between the parallels of latitude thirty-second on the south and forty-ninth on the north, and demonstrat ing the feasibHity of buHding a Pacific rail way, but at a cost on any one of the lines much larger than the Union Pacific and Central Pa cific were built for. It is a singular fact that in all of these explorations the most feasible fine in an engineering and commercial point of view, the line with the least obstacles to over come, of lowest grades and least curvature, was never explored and reported on. Private enterprises explored and developed that line along the forty-second parallel of latitude. This route wasmade by the buffalo, next used by the Indians, then by the fur traders, next by the Mormons, and then by the over land immigration to California and Oregon. It was known as the Great Platte Valley Route. On this trail, or close to it, was built the Union and Central Pacific railroads to California, and the Oregon Short Line branch of the Union Pacific to Oregon. In 1852 Henry Farnum and Thomas C. Durant were building the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad, a line westward across the state of Iowa as an extension of the Chicago and Rock Island, then terminating at Rock Island, Illinois. They desired to end that line at the Missouri River where the Pacific Rail road, following the continent forty-second parallel of latitude would commence. Under the direction of Peter A. Dey, who had been a division engineer of the Rock Island and was chief engineer of the M. & M. in Iowa, I made the first survey across the state of lo-wa, and the first reconnoissances and surveys on the Union Pacific for the purpose of determin ing where the one would end and the other commence, on the Missouri River. I crossed the Missouri River in the faH of 1853 and made our explorations west of the Platte Valley and up it far enough to determine that it would be the route of the Pacific road. General Dodge speaks of the Platte Valley "then the chief thoroughfare for aH the Mor mon, California, and Oregon overland immi gration." DetaiHng an interesting incident of the last above referred trip, he states : My party crossed the Missouri in the fall of 1853 on flatboats. The Omaha Indians occu pied the country where we landed, and after obtaining a line rising from the bluffs west of where the city of Omaha now stands, I gave directions to the party to continue the survey while I went on ahead to examine the country to the Platte Valley some 25 miles farther west. I reached the Platte Valley about noon the next day, and being tired, I lariated my horse and laid down with my saddle as a pil low and with my rifle under it, and went sound asleep. I was awakened by the neighing of the horse, and when I looked up I saw an Indian leading the horse toward the Elkhorn River, pulling with all his might and the horse holding back, evidently frightened. I was greatly frightened myself, hardly knowing what to do, but I suppose from in stinct I grabbed my rifle and started after the Indian, hollering at the top of my voice. The Indian saw me coming, let the horse go, and made his way across the Elkhom river. This Indian afterwards was an enlisted man in the battalion of Pawnees that served under me in the Indian campaigns of 1865, and he told Major North, the commander of that battal ion, that he let loose of the horse because I hollered so loud that it frightened him. On obtaining my horse, I saddled up and made my way back to the party that was camped on the Big Papillion on the emigrant road lead ing from Florence to the Elkhorn. The camp was full of Omaha Indians and they had every man in the camp cooking for them. I saw that we would soon lose all our provisions, and as the party was armed, I called them to gether and told them to get their arms. I only knew one Indian word, "Puckechee" which meant get out. That I told them, and while the Indians were surly they saw we were determined and they left us. I don't believe there was anyone in the party that had ever seen an Indian before or had any experience with them. We were all tender- feet. It taught me a lesson, never to allow an Indian in my camp or around it without per mission, and this was my instmctions to all our engineering parties. Those who obeyed it generally got through without losing their stock or lives. Those who were careless and disobeyed generally lost their stock and some of their men. As soon as we had determined the line from the Missouri River to the Platte we returned to Iowa City, which was the headquarters of the M. & M. Railway. 318 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA General Dodge's relation of the events oc- curing in the next few years had an impor tance upon the future of HaH County that it is almost impossible to estimate, even as one looks back upon it from the viewpoint of fifty to fifty-five years later. For had he faHed to locate the Union Pacific railroad where it eventually did run, much of the history of Hall County would have been essentially different and the bulk of Hall County's history probably would have been much less. The times were such that the work on the M. & M. Railway was suspended for some years. Meanwhile I located at Council Bluffs, continuing the explorations under the direc tions of Messrs. Farnum and Durant and ob taining from voyagers, immigrants, and others all the information I could in regard to the country farther west. There was keen compe tition at that time for the control of the vast immigration crossing the plains, and Kansas City, Fort Leavenworth (then the govemment post), St. Joseph and Council Bluffs were points of concentration on the Missouri. The trails from all points converged in the Platte Valley at or near old Fort Kearny, follow ing its waters to the South Pass. A portion of the Kansas City immigration followed the valley of the Arkansas west, and thence through New Mexico. The great bulk of the immigration was finally concentrated at Coun cil Bluffs as the best crossing of the Missouri River. From my explorations and the infor mation I had obtained with the aid of the Mormons and others, I mapped and made an itinerary of a line from Council Bluffs through to Utah, California and Oregon, giving the camping places for each night, and showing where wood, water and fords of the streams could be found. Distributed broadcast by the local interests of this route the map and itin erary had no smaH influence in turning the mass of overland immigration to Council Bluffs, where it crossed the Missouri and took the great Platte VaHey route. This route was up that valley to its forks, and then up either the north or south fork to Salt Lake and Cali fornia by way of the Plumboldt, and to Ore gon by the way of the Snake and Columbia rivers. This is today the route of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific to California and the Union Pacific to Oregon. After collecting all the information we could as to the best route for a railroad to the Pa cific, I reported to Messrs. Famum and Du rant, who paid out of their private funds for all of my work. In 1854, when Nebraska was organized, we moved to its frontier, continuing the explor ations under the patronage of Messrs. Far num and Durant, and obtaining all valuable information, which was used to concentrate the influence of the different railways east and west of Chicago to the support of the forty-second parellel line. General Dodge narrates a visit to New York in 1857 or 1858 when he was caHed to the office of the Rock Island Railroad to explain and present to the directors of the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad, the report he made. Before the secretary had it read through, he narrates that every one left the room except himself, Messrs. Durant and Farnum who StiH had faith that it was feasible and a stimu lation of interest in the Pacific raHroad along that line would enable them to raise funds and finish their line across the State of Iowa. General Dodge continues : In 1861 we discontinued the railroad work because of the civil war. The passage of the bill of 1862, which made the building of a transcontinental railroad possible, was due primarily to the persistent efforts of Hon. Samuel R. Curtis, a representative in Congress from Iowa, who reported the bill before enter ing the Union service in 1861. It was then taken up by Hon. James Harlan, of Iowa, who succeeded in obtaining its passage in March, 1862. In commenting upon how this road obtained its name. General Dodge narrates that various lines proposed had received the names of the "North Route," "Buffalo TraH," "South Route," but that in 1858 a bHl was fostered that gave out the name "Union Pacific." One of the arguments advanced for the bill that eventually passed was that the route proposed would tend to hold the people of the Pacific coast in the Union. He adds : Lincoln advocated its passage and building, not only as a military necessity, but as a means of holding the Pacific Coast to the Union. This bill became a law in 1862, and there is no doubt but what the sentiment that the- building of the railroad would hold the Union together gave it the name of the Union Pacific. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 319 As to the organization of the road, and its commencement : In 1862 the Union Pacific Railway was organized at Chicago, and soon after Mr. Peter A. Dey continued the explorations, and in 1863 he placed parties over the Black Hills and in Salt Lake and over the Wasatch in Utah. In 1863 I was on duty at Corinth when I was caHed to Washington by Mr. Lincoln, who had met me in 1859 at Council Bluffs and had questioned me very systematically as to the knowledge I had of the western country and the explorations I had made there. Re membering this he called me to Washington to consult with me as to where the eastern terminus of the Union Pacific Railway should be. I explained to him what my surveys had determined, and he fixed the initial point of the Union Pacific, (at CouncH Bluffs). At this interview with Mr. Lincoln he was very anxious to have the road constructed. It was my opinion then that it could not be con structed unless it was built by the Government, and so I informed Mr. Lincoln. He said that the United States had at that time all it could handle, but it was ready to make any conces sion and obtain any legislation that private parties who would undertake the work would require. I then went to New York- City and met Mr. Durant and others connected with the Union Pacific and informed them of what Mr. Lin coln had said. It gave them new hope and they immediately formulated the amendments to the law of 1862, which was passed in 1864 and enabled them to push the work. The ground was broken in Omaha in De cember of 1863, and in 1864 about $500,000 was spent in surveying and construction, and in 1865, 40 miles was completed to Fremont. Mr. Dey, who had charge of the work as chief engineeir, resigned, and stated in his letter that he was giving up the best position in his profession this country had ever offered to any man. In May^ 1866, I resigned from the army, came to Omaha and took charge of the work as chief engineer, and covered the line with engineering parties from Omaha to California, and pushed our location up the Platte Valley. In 1866 we built 260 mHes. This takes the Union Pacific on beyond Hall County. The construction of the road continued until the meeting and joining of the two "ends of track" at Promontory Point, Utah, on the 10th day of May, 1869. Governor Leland Stanford, of California, president of the Cen tral Pacific, arrived -with his party from the west. Vice-President Durant and Directors Duff and DHlon, of the Union Pacific, with other prominent men and a delegation of Mormon saints from Salt Lake City came in on a train from the east. The ties wer-e laid, about one hundred feet space left open for rails, and while the coolies from the west laid the rails from one end, the paddies from the east laid them at the other, until they met and joined. The "last spike" remained to be driven. Telegraphic wires were so connected that each blow of the descending sledge would flash the report to cities from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Spikes of gold, silver, and iron were presented by the officials of Arizona, Nevada, and Cali fornia, and when the last spike of gold was driven with the sledges of silver by President Stanford and Vice-President Durant, the word "DONE" flashed over the wires. The Central Pacific train backed up, and the Union Pacific locomotive, with its train, passed slowly over the point of junction and back again. What this meant to Nebraska, to the nation, to Hall County, is told by Berte Harte: WHAT THE ENGINES SAID What was it the Engines said. Pilots touching — head to head. Facing on the single track. Half the world behind each back? This is what the Engines said. Unreported and unread. With a prefatory screech. In a florid western speech. Said the Engine from the West, "I am from Sierra's crest. And, if altitude's a test. Why, I reckon, it's confessed. That I've done my level best." Said the Engine from the East, "They that work most talk the least, S'pose you whistle down your brakes ; What you've done is no great shakes. Pretty fair — but let our meeting Be a different kind of greeting. Let these folks with champagne stuffing. Not their Engines, do the puffing. 320 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA "Listen ! Where Atlantic beats Shores of snow and summer heats. Where the Indian autumn skies Paint the woods with wampum dyes, I have chased the flying sun. Seeing all he looked upon. Blessing all that he had blest. Nursing in my iron breast All his vivifying heat, AH his clouds above my crest; And before my flying feet Every shadow must retreat." Said the Westem Engine "Phew!" And a long, low whistle blew, "Come now, really that's the oddest Talk for one so very modest. You talk of your East ! • You do ? Why, I bring the East to you ! All the Orient, all Cathay, Find through me the shortest way; And the sun you foHow here Rises in my hemisphere. Really. — if one must be rude, — Length, my friend, ain't longitude." Said the Union, "Don't reflect, or I'll run over some Director." Said the Central, "I'm Pacific, But, when riled, I'm quite terrific. Yet to-day we shall not quarrel. Just to show these folks their moral. How two Engines — in their vision - Once have met without collision." That is what the Engines said. Unreported and unread; Spoken slightly through the nose. With a whistle at the close. EARLY SERVICE AND TARIFFS Some indication of the development of ser vice upon this great line can be gained by the contrast between the Omaha to Kearney ser vice of this road in 1866 and today. Here are the time tables and passenger tariffs in effect in 1866: FIRST THROUGH PASSENGER TIME TABLE Thursday, August '23, 1866, 1 o'clock p. m. GOING WEST M STATIONS a " GOING EAST Train Train Train Train No. 1 No. 8 Si« No. 2 No. 4 1:00 P.M. 7:00 P.M. . . Omaha . . 190 3:00 i.M. 10:00 A.M. «tlO " 8:15 " ]«'/, . Papillion . 177H 2:10 " 9:05 " 3:45 " 10:00 " tHVt ..Elkhorn.. 116% 1:00 " 7:50 " 6:15 " 11:45" wy- . Fremont . 14.3y2 11:4SPM. 6:30 " 6:30 " 1:00 A.M MV, North Bend 188M 10:S5 " 5:25 " 7:45 " 2:00 " 75'/, Shell Creek 114H 10:00 " 4:25 9:00 " 3:15 " n^v, .Columbus. 98^4 9:00 3:18 •' 10:40 " 4:45 " 109 SilverCre'k 81 7:45 " 2:00 " 12:20 AM 6:20 " 131'/, .Lone Tree. 58i4 6:10 " 12:20 " 2:10 " 8:10 " 153H Grand IsPd 36^ 4:35 " 10:50 P.M. 8:*0 " 9:40 " 17154 WoodRiver 18>^ 3:20 " 9:30 " 5:10 " 11:10 " 190 ..Kearney . 2:00 " 8:00 " The fall-faced figures denote meeting places. Sam'l B. Reed, General Superintendent. — (Joseph Nichols' History Union Pacific Railway.) passenger tariff OF UNION PACIFIC R R. July 16, 1866. DISTiSCl FROM OHlIA OMAIA n% $1 25 PAPEUOS IWa 2 86 % 1 65 BLKIOM 46K 4 65 3 40 t 1 75 MSMONT 61 X 6 15 4 90 3 25 $ 1 50 NORM Bffll) 75^ 91 X 7 55 9 15 6 85 4 65 2 90 %l 45 SIEU CRE'K 7 90 6 26 4 60 3 00 %\ 66 OOLDMBDS $1 80 109 10 90 9 70 & 00 6 25 4 80 3 36 SIITER CR'I 131 M 13 10 11 96 10 25 8 50 7 00 5 60 4 00 $2 26 lONE TREE 153 J^ 15 35 14 15 12 45 10 70 9 20 7 80 6 20 4 45 S2 20 GRAKI ISL'D yi\'A ^0011 MrR 190 lEARNBT Omaha, July 16, 1866. — (Joseph Nichols' History Union Pacific Railway.) By September, 1867, the great highway had become progressive enough to announce that "on and ofter next Sunday" all trains, pas senger and frieght, would run on Sundays the same as week days. On the 20th of May, Sam'l B. Reed, General Superintendent. 1868, it was announced through the Herald that passenger fare had been reduced from 10 cents to 7^ cents a mile. By this change the fare to Cheyenne, which had been $51.50, became $38.50. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 321 Among the earliest local officials of the Union Pacific R. R. after its formal inaugu ration were: Webster Snyder, general super intendent, soon followed by Samuel B. Reed, and later by C. G. Hammond; H. M. Hoxie, assistant superintendent; J. H. Congdon, gen eral manager; S. H. H. Clark, general freight agent: Thomas L. Kimball, general passenger and ticket agent; T. E. Sickles, chief engi neer; and William Huff, master mechanic. The latter was succeeded by Robert McCon nell, April 1, 1867. EOCAE MANAGEMENT OE UNION PACIFIC Since the first train came into Grand Island on July 8, 1866, and service was established on a regular basis, the number of employees living and working here has steadily increased, until the "railroad" population of Grand Is land, and the proportionate number of busi ness people required to supply its needs, would make a good sized little town if entirely seg regated from Grand Island's other elernents of population. It has been thought that a review of those in charge of the various phases of the rail road's management of affairs at Grand Is land and on this part of the Omaha division of the Nebraska district would bring to the mind of those who have lived here for many years many familiar names. The liberal sprinkling of some of these names through the various chapters in this work treating up on the churches, lodges, schools, city govem ment, and commercial progress of the com munity will indicate that many of these "Union Pacific" officials and employes have been broadminded, public spirited men, who when their duties to the railroad and their families were discharged, still acknowledged some duty to their community. SUPERINTENDENTS The system of dividing the responsibilities of the administration of affairs in the operat ing department of the railroad generally falls in two classes: The Burlington (C. B. & Q.) uses the "District and Division" system. By that is meant, at the head of the operating department of the railroad stands a vice- president in charge of operation and the gen eral manager, whose control extends, of course, over more than the operating depart ment. In each district, generally comprising about the amount of railroad that system has in a particular state, is the general superin tendent. The territory in his .district is di vided into two to five divisions, over which a division superintendent exercises authority. The Union Pacific used the "Division and District" system, whereby the next authority under the general manager, who exercises authority over the entire system, stands the superintendent of the "division." He has un der him at various points "trainmasters" who exercise control over a given divisional ter ritory. The trainmaster, on most railroads, exer cises authority over only the operation and government of train crews ; upon the Union Pacific he exercises that duty, but is practically an assistant superintendent when the occasion demands. Each superintendent of the dis trict has under him at each division point a master mechanic in charge of engine crews and shops, a district foreman in direct charge of shops and mechanical departments. The headquarters of the superintendent of the Nebraska Division are at Omaha. Those men who have served in the capacity of super intendent of the Nebraska division, and there by had control of railroad operations in and out of Grand Island, have been E. Dickinson, W. A. Duell, R. W. Baxter, J. M. Barr, R. Blickensderfer, P. J. Nichols, R. W. Baxter, Charles Ware, W. R. Cahill, W. M. Jeffers, G. O. Brophy, J. P. Carey. Mr. Ware afterwards served as general manager of the system; Mr. Jeffers is the present general manager, and under the rail road administration of the federal govern ment is federal director for the Union Pacific system over the control and op>eration of the road. Mr. Brophy is now superintendent at Kansas City, Missouri. Mr. Carey, the pres ent superintendent, visits Grand Island fre quently, and through the kindness of his office, the roster of the various officials, employees 322 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA and ex-employees, appearing in this part of this chapter was mainly compiled and fur nished. The trainmasters who have had charge at Grand Island have been W. H. Ferris, C. C. Cornell, Austin Taylor, F. D. Schermerhom, J. H. Stephens, G. F. Harless, N. A. Wil- hams, J. V.Anderson, and C. A. Weir the present trainmaster. MECHANICAL DEPARTMENT The Union Pacific built the largest and best shops, outside of the main shops at Omaha, which operates on its line. The shops and yards used here cover probably between fifty and a hundred acres. Union Pacific Shops The main shop buildings, three in number, are magnificient structures of stone, built in 1880 and 1881 at a cost of something like $350,000. The construction of locomotives is carried on in the shops at Omaha, but every sort of repair and replacement work needed is done at the Grand Island shops. Many years ago the company built a round house here that could accommodate about forty-five engines. In recent years a much larger round house has been constructed. Besides the shops, numerous other buildings are re quired for mechanical purposes; a big store house for storage and distribution of all sup plies for offices, cars and engines ; oil houses ; car shops, housed in separate building from the engine repair shops. The whole mechan ical department embraces a very substantial group of buildings at the east end of the city. The master mechanics in charge of the Ne braska division since the completion of Grand Island shops have been J. P. Hovey, J. H. Manning, M. K. Barnum, George Thompson, J. A. Turtle G. H. Likert, W. T. Beery, Wm. Irvine. The district foremen in direct and local charge at Grand Island, have been: B. C. Howard, M. H. Wilkins, W. E. White, H. J. Osborne, F. L. Regan, R. M. Cole, F. W. Shultz, R. McCabe, P. J. Norton, the present district foreman. Blake C. Howard was very active in many affairs of the community. M. H. Wilkins and F. L. Regan have both retired from ac tive railroad service and identified themselves with the business interests of the town. The car foremen in charge at Grand Is- Union Pacific Shops land have been : J. Reneff, H. R. Makely, and D. E. Ryder. The blacksmith foremen have been: John H. Houck and Wm. Newlands. The boilermaker foremen have been : Gavin H. Geddes, now in business, connected with Geddes & Co. ; John Davenport, J. W. Thom as, William Finder, and William Fleisher. TRAIN AND ENGINEMEN People who have never been connected with railroad work perhaps do not stop to think of the responsibility resting upon those men who work, either at 'day or at night, hour after hour, handling the engine that pulls the train they are riding upon, in whose hands the lives of all the passengers upon the train depend in a great measure, or recognize the fact that the conductor who goes up and down the aisle of their car has more to do than to simply punch tickets. To those men who HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 323 have performed these classes of service for the people of Grand Island, and for the pas sengers who come in or leave this town con stantly, it has been felt to be giving them their just dues to make mention of those who have served in such capacity for a period of twenty years. Space forbids attempting anything like a complete roster of the men who have served in these various capacities with the Union Pacific and resided at Grand Island, but lists are given herewith, first, conductors, who have had twenty years or more service, and are still in the service in 1919: A. Bailey, Wil liam Leahy, B. A. Johnson, I. Mallory, E. E. Forsythe, M. J. Roche, W. R. Harding, E. A. Hamilton, J. H. Smith, W. R. Sleeper, N. J. Buzza, R. L. Massey, J. H. Breedlove, R. G. C. Jenkins, Fred Peterson J. E. Murphy, H. W. Jones, P. E. Fent, Wm. Burke, C. E. Shaffer, Thos. Cahill, P. E. Dunbar, W. F. Fox, A. Taylor, J. B. Forester, T. J. Horan, G. W. Goodrich, S. A. Clapper, G. D. Sage, Wm. Wagner, F. W. Mappes, Sr., Geo. Can- dish, R. G. McCaslin, J. F. Linnaberry, G. J. Hull, L. C. Hansen, J. B. Murray, G. J. Hall, J. W. Amick, M. C. Mitchell, W. E. Cissna, J. T. Mulick, H. Compton, C. E. Mcintosh, E. B. Crocker, J. H. Davis, E. T. Mulick, J. W. Amick, Grant Hadlock, W. H. Brooks, C. F. Hull, Robert Dolen, J. Loretz, E. Inman, E. D. Warren, J. A. Quinn, M. J. Shoemaker, G. J. Hall, B. F. Masters, I. C. VanHousen. Conductors who served on the road twenty years or more and have left the service on account of being pensioned, deceased, re signed, etc. : W. W. Keen, R. T. Powers, H. Hopkins, W. H. Madden, T. H. Campbell, J. B. Kirsch, C. B. Spiece, H. E. Musselman, John Ford, T. A. Taylor, F. L. Pblasterer, H. H. Blackburn, J. E. CosteHo, N. F. Akey- son, W. S. Wilcox, C. J. Hetzler, M. C. Wal lace, G. O. Brophy, J. W. Buswell, H. P. Graham, A. J. Smith, R. P. Lumpkins, G. C. Miller, Thos. Ryan, J. P. Kiger, Wm. R. Robertson, F. F. Foster, John Ratcliff. It has already been indicated that Mr. Bro phy is now superintendent of the Kansas divi sion at Kansas City, and J. W. Buswell is still in service,| as gateman, at Union Statlion, Omaha. Engineers now in service and who have had twenty years or more of service : Geo. Losh- baugh, Thos. Newman, H. A. Riley, Wm. H. Bay, Al Branson, Elmer E. Fair, J. D. Taylor, A. A. Campbell, John Glynn, J. A. Campbell, Geo. McQuade, Ira N. Wright, W. P. Shep ard, E. P. Rogers, E. S. Pardo, J. H. Lannin, Frank Smith, E. P. Baker, M. L. Kiley, J. W. Coolidge, Cris S. Durr, C. M. Andrews, Wen- cil Franta, G. H. Miller, John Farley, C. B. Hodgson, Frank Truman, J. I. Smith, J. H. Fonda, A O'Bryan, Claude V. Callier, Joseph Sorenson, John Minogue, Adam Johnson J. Morris, F. O. Falk, George RoUins, A. R. Meiklejohn, J. M. Bryant, F. G. Hollenbeck, Chas. M. Highsmith, Johannes Nilsson, Chas. W. Milesen, Frank Prawl, Thos. Griffin, James May, Barclay Jones, Chas, G, Forster, A. P. Wideman, M. H. Gentleman, Michael J. Norris, James Kelley, Corwin F. Jones, W. S. Beach, J. E. Thomas, S. P. Cassell, Geo. A. Austin, M. H. Douglas, W. S. Dolson, C. W. Haskins, W. W. White, T. Burney, S. Schweiger, Frank Bentzer, R. M. Dean, F. H. Barnell, Geo. E. Stearns, H. Clay Hulper, Claude R. Fitch, P. A. Norton, M. Hayes, J. F. Roddy, J. D. Cox, T. G. Thompson, H. N. Getty, L. J. Dean. Engineers who served the road twenty years or more, and left the service account being pensioned, deceased, resigned, etc. : Wm. Hollenbeck, Wm. Clawson, J. P O'Brien, L. W. Rollins, W. E. Johnson, Con Kirk, E. R. Mathis, Jas. McQuade, Matt Parr, Z. T; Sprigg, M. H. Bumham, John P. Dolan, C. J. Fulmer, N. Weeks, S. Ayer, John Dolan, John Unpherson, M. L. VanArsdale, G. G. Boskins, H. C. Blinckensderfer, C. E. Ell, R. Gentle man, C. S. Hambright, Joseph Hay, S. Hindman, L. O. Farrington, S Hartman, G. E. Lewis, W. C. Reynolds, A. M. Scharman, Wm. Whitlock, J. Weinberger, P. Cunning ham, P. Getzcham, H. G. Andrews, A. L. Johnson S. W. Johnson, Theo. Livingston, G. W. Meyer, Con Morris, C. F. Rollins, C. E. Speed, Wm. Anyan, John Byers, M. 324 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Union Pacific Depot, Grand Island HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 325 Decker, Joseph Fulmer, W. A. Van Noy, A. F. Wilkins, F. Weinbaugh, Wm. Dolan, John Bonner, H. W. Bird, F. J Doran, F. Goodsell, C. S. Hambright, G. W. Meyer, D. H. Hines, W. S. Fikes, F. Frederickson, O. S. Hostetter, D. O'Brien, J. J. Sullivan, Gearge Vroman, F." D. Winn, P. Nelson. STATION AGENTS One of the most unusual features of rail road history in Hall County has been the remarkably long terms of service of the few station agents who have been in charge of last year or so, all freight business of the three railroads here has been consolidated in one office and Mr. Loucks has become agent for the railroad administration in that capa city. D. J. Traill has been ticket and passenger depot agent for the Union Pacific. W. B. Thompson was agent for the Bur lington road the first four or five years of its operation through Grand. Island, and his suc cessor, Thomas Connor, served in that capac ity for practically twenty years, and during the last year or so of the federal administration of the railroads has confined his duties to ^ ^lii-^lwi ill .=^»kI? bbh ¦tan^^aamn^ ^^''-'i^^^* ^ffim-r^^^^yyy-. ¦ ¦:¦''¦' •¦ "¦ ' ''?"-;?*Si-k ,;. '¦ \:A'- '-"^^fm New C. B. & Q. Depot railroad affairs at Grand Island. John D. .Moore, agent in the late 'eighties for the Union Pacific afterwards figured in the bank ing, financial and business circles of the city materially. His successor, H. L. McMeans, served for practically ten years. The two sons of Mr. McMeans have been very suc cessful in business matters, A. L. McMeans, the only graduate of Graciu Island high school to amass a fortune of several millions of dollars, is one of the three or four stock holders of the Dodge Brothers Motors Com pany, the only one outside .bf the Dodge family circle. Emmor McMeans is connected with Twin Valley Motor Co. of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. W. H. Loucks has served as agent for the past twenty years. During the federal administration of railroads, within the those of ticket and depot agent for the Bur lington. Grand Island not having had to undergo the very frequent changes of station agent which most towns experience, has had the benefit of unusually close and congenial rela tions with her local railroad managements. The splendid new passenger station of the Union Pacific was opened at Grand Island, in May, 1918. This depot is the last word in every respect, along depot conveniences. ST. JOSEPH AND GRAND ISEAND RAIEROAD The St. Joseph & Grand Island Railroad Company was incorporated October 25, 1873, with F. A. Wiebe, E. W. Arnold, W. A. Piatt, R. C. Jordon, H. N. Chapman, James Michelson, W. R. McAllister, and William 326 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Hagge, members. On December 4, 1873, the question of issuing bonds to aid this company was carried by a majority of 212 in Grand Island. Work was begun by Contractor An drew Sheridan, May 9, 1874. On May 2, 1874, ground was broken, the ceremony being wit nessed by a large concourse of people. H. N. Chapman was marshal with W. A. Deuel and W. H. Piatt, assistant marshals. A grand ball was given at Liederkranz Hall. H. P. Handy was credited with being the prime mover in obtaining this road. After it was built through to St. Joseph, this road served a great purpose to Grand Island in giving it another outlet and in furnishing a second line of road for a decade until the arrival of the Burlington road. In recent years the management of the St. Joseph and Grand Island has been practically the same as the Union Pacific. UNION PACIEIC BRANCHES The great factor in giving Grand Island di rect connection aud natural advantages in gaining the trade of the Loup Valley to the north has been the network of Union Pacific branches radiating out of Grand Island and St. Paul twenty-two miles north. The branch from Grand Island to St. Paul, 22.23 miles, was completed and, placed in operation in 1880; two years later the line was extended from St. Paul to North Loup, 26.63 miles, and also in 1882 the Scotia to Scotia Junction spur, 1.37 miles was added. In 1886 the line was extended to Ord, 11.91 miles north of North Loup, where the terminus still remains in 1919. But the Burlington branch through Ord to Burwell opens a territory further north which can conveniently reach Grand Island. The branch from St. Paul to Loup City was built in 1885 and 1886; and from Boelus Nantasket in 1887 and on to Pleasaton in 1890. The BURLINGTON The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail road Company was chartered by a special act of the Illinois legislature, dated February 12, 1849, under the name of the Aurora Branch Railroad Company. The incorporators were citizens of Aurora, Illinois, and vicinity. This company built from Aurora to a connection with the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad (now Chicago & Northwestern) at Turner Junction, about twelve miles. The track was laid with wooden rails faced with strap iron and was opened for business September 2, 1850. In 1852 the name was changed to the Chicago & Aurora Railroad Company. About this time capital from Michigan was interested in furthering and saving the enterprise. Feb ruary 14, 1855, the name of the Chicago & Aurora Railroad Company was changed to Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Com pany. The road was extended through Illinois in the next few years. The bridge over the Mississippi at Burlington, Iowa, was opened for traffic on August 13, 1863. On January 1, 1873, the C. B. & Q. took possession of the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad and branches, which on that date operated the fol lowing mileage: Burlington, Iowa, to the east •bank of the Missouri River, opposite Platts mouth, Nebraska, opened January 1,. 1870, 280 miles, and numerous branches in Iowa. The Burlington & Missouri River Company was incorporated in Iowa, January 15, 1852, at first by citizens of Burlington and vicinity. The Burlington & Missouri River Railroad Company in Nebraska, which is the line that interests Grand Island and HaH County, was incorporated May 12, 1860, and the construc tion of the line from Plattsmouth to Keamey was begun in July of that year; it was com pleted to Kearney Junction, Nebraska, Sep tember 18, 1872. This company was consoli dated with the C. B. & Q. R. R. Co. on July 26, 1880, with 836 miles of railroad at that time. Some of its various lines concerning this part of Nebraska were opened, York to Aurora, Nevember 3, 1879, 22 miles; Aurora to Central City, April 4, 1880, 20 miles. In 1884 extension was carried on the Bur lington lines which opened the Aurora to Grand Island sector of the line, 18 miles, into Grand Island on June 8. This meant con siderable to Grand Island because it gave it a third railroad. Since the St. Joseph and HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 327 Grand Island has become a subsidiary to the Union Pacific, the presence of the Burling ton system serves to give Grand Island the service of a second continental system. In 1886 among other branches and extensions completed was the extension of the line from Grand Island to Anselmo, Nebraska, opened September 13, 101 miles, and Aurora to Hast ings, opened September 13, 28 mHes. In 1887 the lines were extended from Anselmo to Whitman, Nebraska, opened May 30, 99 miles. This gave Grand Island a rail outlet to two hundred miles northwestward, and paved the way for the development of that territory as Grand Island trade territory. That same year the Central City to Greeley branch, 44 miles, and Greeley to Burwell, 41 mHes, were opened. In 1888 the west line extended to Alliance, Nebraska, 69 miles farther, and the Ericson- Greeley branch, 19 miles, was opened. In 1889 the west line went from Alliance to Cambria, Wyoming and by 1894 reached Billings, Mon tana, where it made a connection to the coast with the Northen Pacific and Great Northern lines. While the Burlington has never been such a factor in the life of this community as the Union Pacific, its presence in giving a through line from Seattle-Billings, to Lincoln, Kansas City^ St. Louis and Chicago, has been a won derful competitive factor and has assisted ma terially in the upbuHding of Grand Island as a commercial and industrial center. Notwith standing the Burlington being the main road at Hastings the receipts of its Grand Island station have in recent years regularly equalled or rivalled the Hastings station. The Burlington has in recent years built a splendid brick depot, and converted its old passenger station into a freight house. Ex cept for the station force, not very many Burlington employes are resident at Grand Island. The new Burlington passenger bridge be tween Phillips and Grand Island, finished in 1918, is a wonderful improvement to this line.' Its presence in Hall County gives it added local interest. Construction forces worked on this bridge for about eighteen months, beginn ing in March, 1917, and finishing the work in October, 1918, after which it took the con tractors another three months to complete the approaches, and the bridge was opened for service in January, 1919. The new bridge is 1,000 feet long, 120 feet shorter than the old one, which can still be seen much lower and on the left hand side of the train. The new bridge is practically fire proof, the piers being made of 45- feet long Bignell piling sunk under the river on which concrete caps rest. Three sixty-feet long steel girders are placed at each end, mak ing a total opening under the steel girders of 360 feet. The remainder of the bridge is made of twenty-feet long concrete slabs rest ing on the piers. The new bridge is twelve feet above the old one and eliminates both grades and curves at this place. It is also be lieved to be an ice proof structure. By its use all "doubling" of freight trains will be avoided at what was once known as the Phillips hill, but which is now an easy grade. An additional feature of interest in this bridge is that it is the first large job in which the new Bignell piling was successfully dem onstrated. This process was patented by Ed. BigneH, iwho has -been the genial division superintendent in charge of the line prac tically all of the time since it opened. His sucessor is F. R. Mullen, formerly train dis patcher in Lincoln. CHAPTER XVIII THE CHURCHES OF HALL COUNTY The Catholic Church — Wood River — Grand Island — Other Parishes — Grand Island Diocese — Protestant Episcopal Church — St. Stephen's Parish, Grand Island — Historical Letters by R. C. Jordon and Dr. H. D. Boyden — Methodist Churches — First, Grand Island — Trinity, Grand Island — Doniphan — Others — Lutheran Churches — Evangelical Lutheran Trinity — German St. Paul's Evangelical Luth eran, Grand Island — St. Paul's English, Grand Island — Fifth Street Evangeli cal — Evangelical Lutheran, Zion's (Worms Church) — Free Evangelical Luth eran — Pilgrim Congregational, Grand Island — Baptist Churches — First, Grand Island — Immanuel, Grand Island — Others — Presbyterian, Grand Island Wood River — Congregational Church, Grand Island — United Breth ren Society — Christian Church — Other Churches in Hall County Hall County has been creditably endowed with religious institutions. Grand Island has been represented by every prominent and widespread denomination. Throughout the other towns and the county in general suffic ient churches have been organized and have flourished to enable the population of the county to carry on their religious worship with reasonable convenience. It is felt that to treat each denomination by itself will insure fairer and more compre hensive treatment than to divide this im portant phase of human and spiritual work by geographical divisions. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH The church history of Hall County prac tically begins with the establishment of pub lic worship in 1861 by Catholics, near Wood River. Patrick Moore and his brother Richard, who located two mHes west of the present city of Wood River, were the first Catholic settlers in the county. They came to HaH County from Iowa City in 1859. The first Catholic priest to visit the county was Father Furman, a Frenchman, who came in the fall of 1861. He held his first mass here in a log house, the residence of Anthony Moore, about three miles west of the present Wood River. The regular station for the priest at that time was Columbus, Platte County, Nebraska. Services were held about once in three months by priests located at that point un til 1877. The priests to follow Father Fur man, until 1877, were Fathers Smith, Kelly, Erlach, and Ryan. Shortly after the Moores, the Windolph families, also Catholics, located in the Grand Island community, and these like the Cath olics at Wood River were given an occasional opportunity to attend their religious duties by visiting priests from Omaha or Columbus. But the Grand Island community grew faster, and the first organization effected was that at Grand Island in 1864, with mass said by Father Ryan of Columbus once a month. In 1868 the members of this parish raised money to erect a building for their worship. But before the dedication of this structure it was entirely demolished by a windstorm, and pot until 1877 was this congiregation able to put up another church. In 1876 the congregation numbered thirty persons and 328 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 329 Father Ryan was still its pastor. On Decem ber 23, 1876, a meeting was held to consider the question of building a new Catholic church in Grand Island. Joseph Jeneman presided, with James Cleary, secretary, and P. Dunphy, treasurer. Those three parishoners with Messrs. Kraft, Windolph, McCarty and Dober- stein, were appointed a building committe. The cornerstone of this building, a frame stmcture with a good brick foundation, on the site of the public library, was laid on May 7, 1877, and on July 7, of that year the building was completed and dedicated by Vicar-General R. Shaffel, representing the Bishop. F. S. O'Callaghan preached the sermon. The cere monies were participated in by Revs. Wolf, Davos of Spalding, Daxacher of Omaha, Walsh of Lexington, Lynch of Wood River, Mueller of St. Libory, Stuer of Cognice, and Horek of Keamey. In 1876, the work of building a Catholic church in Howard County near the line of Hall County, on the St. Paul road, was be gun. GRAND island PARISH The first resident priest for the new St. Mary's parish was Father Erlach, who came in 1877. In 1879 a parochial residence was built. Rev. Richard Phelan, on July 4, 1880, took charge of St. Mary's Parish at Grand Island. He found at that time fifty-two families belonging to the congregation, while at St. Mary's near Wood River were seventy- two families. Fiather Phelan served until his death from a stroke of paralysis, on March 10, 1884. Father P. Lynch then took charge of the work here, which had been handled in the interim by Father Smith of O'Connor. Father Lynch remained with the Grand Island parish until October 6, 1886, when he was trans f ered to the Wood River congregation, which had until then been a mission attached to Grand Island. It was then understood that the church was too small for the congregation and Rev. Father W. Wolf was sent by Bishop O'Con nor with orders to make arrangements for building a new church. Bishop O'Connor laid the corner stone of this church, a brick building with a stone foundation and a basement, on August 15, 1888, and it was dedicated on July 7, 1889. For practically thirty .years Father Wolf led this parish, and its history is wrapped up with his service, until in 1914 he retired from his active pastorate, and Father A. W. Heimes took charge of St. Mary's parish. EathER w. wolE The community was never more deeply touched than upon July 5, 1918, when Father Wolf passed away. The tribute to Father Wolf, with the record of his service to his people and this county, published in the Grand Island Independent, July 5, 1918, most appro priately touches upon his life and service: "God's finger touched him and he slept" In few cases is the touching sentence more applicable than it was at an early hour this moming, when the Very Rev. Father W. Wolf passed away. There was called to his reward a beloved man who had given his life in the services of others. There was taken from his circle of friends and co-laborers one who had been particularly unselfish, kindly, and ministering in both a spiritual and ma terial way throughout a life time. Many a one, even outside the circle of his own church, will experience keen regret when hearing of the passing away of this well known divine. Connected with St. Mary's Church of this city since October, 1886, over thirty years ago, his was a record of duty well and faithfully done. May he rest in peace. Very Rev. W. Wolf was bom in West phalia, Germany, February 22, 1854. He re ceived his education in the college of Pader- born, which institution he attended for nine years. In 1876 he emigrated to the United States and landed in New York on November 1 of that year. He at once entered St. Fran cis' Theological Seminary of Milwaukee, where he completed his full course of theo logical studies and was ordained on June 27, 1880, for the vicariate of Nebraska. He was appointed assistant to Father Smith of O'Con nor, Greeley County, Nebraska, for a year; and then spent five years as pastor of the Missions of Crete and Friend, now in the diocese of Lincoln. On October 9, 1886, he entered upon his duties as pastor of St. Mary's, Grand Island, where he discharged his ministerial labors since that time with dis tinguished ability. He was appointed dean of 330 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA St. Mary's Catholic Church and School First Methodist St. Stephen's Protestant Episcopal Interior St. Stephen's Protestant Episcopal HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 331 Grand Island deanery on March 1, 1887; it being the largest deanery in respect to terri tory in the world. When Father Wolf was appointed to St. Mary's parisli he found there a smaH wooden church much too small for the congregation. He at once began arrangements to build a new church. Success crowned his efforts and on August 15, 1888, Right Rev. Bishop O'Con nor laid the cornerstone of the present struc ture. On July 7, 1889, the completed new building was dedicated by Vicar General Shaffel, the Bishop's representative. Father Wolf saw that his next greatest need was a parochial school. In 1893 the day morning at St. Mary's Catholic church, when requiem high mass will be celebrated. The present pastor of this church is Father A. W. Heimes, who came to Grand Island from the pastorate at St. Libory. The work of this parish has increased to such propor tions- that Father Heimes has been given an assistant a number of times. His firct assistant was Father Giblin. WOOD river parish The earliest Catholic services in the log Catholic Church and Parsonage, Wood River property on which St. Mary's school now stands was purchased and the new school was opened to the pupils of the parish in Septem ber of that year. After having secured a beautiful church and a good parochial school. Father Wolf finally built the present parochial residence in 1907. Thus the people of St. Mary's parish have as fine a piece of church property as can be found in Nebraska, all due to the untiring zeal of Father Wolf. ' Owing to failing health. Father Wolf re signed as pastor of St. Mary's church and be came chaplain of St. Francis' hospital. Hfe has made the hospital his home ever since, ceasing all active duties in June, 1917. How ever, he has been a welcome caller on the sick during this year, making his way about the hospital in his invalid chair. Father Wolf's demise occurred at 1 :30 o' clock this morning at the St. Francis hos pital. The funeral will take place on Tues- house of Anthony Moore have already been noted. The travelling missionaries, Fathers Smith, Furman, Kelley and Erlach, have been mentioned. The first Catholic church was built in 1868, of logs, near the present site of the Catholic cemetery. Father Ryan, followed by Father Phelan, and he in turn by Father Hayes, were pastors in charge. The old log church remained for many years in evidence in the farm yard of Squire Nelson. Father Smith conducted services in the old church some five or six months, until in June, 1885, Father P. Lynch, then of Grand Island, took charge of the church, and on November 10, 1886, established his residence in Wood River and for thirty-three years has continued his pastorate at Wood River. Immediately after 332 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA his removal to Wood River to reside he com menced the erection and pushed to comple tion the present beautiful Catholic church of Wood River, which was dejdicated as St. Mary's Catholic church by Bishop O'Connor in November, 1886. The church property con sists of a block of land, and the entire tract has been set out to beautiful trees and shmbs. It is needless to say that Father Lynch takes great pride in the trees, set out and nurtured by his own hands and care. The church prop erty, free from emcumberance, is valued at more than $10,000. The first trustees of St. Mary's church were Patrick Moore, Michael • McNamara, John O'Connor, Patrick NeviHe and Patrick Brett. other catholic parishes While it is located in Howard County, the parish at St. Libory has formed the place of worship and center of religious activities for a large portion of the Catholic population of northwestern Hall County. The churches at Doniphan and Keamey be longed to St. Mary's parish for a good many years. GRAND island DIOCESE In 1887 the name of Grand Island was se lected to give to the most western deanery of the diocese comprising the counties of Hall, Buffalo, Lincoln, Keith, Cheyenne, Sherman, Howard, VaHey, and Custer, and in 1897 St. Mary's church was with five other churches in the Omaha diocese raised by Bishop Scannell to the distinction of permanent pastorship. On April 17, 1917, the see for Western Ne braska was changed from Kearney to Grand Island, but the actual transfer was made in July, 1917, when Bishop James A. Duffy came to Grand Island. Since his installation here he has carried on the management and direc tion of this important diocese from Grand Is land. With the headquarters of the diocese governing so much territory located here. Grand Island becomes an important center in Catholic affairs in Nebraska. When Father Wolf's funeral was held a great many priests from different parts of 'Nebraska came to Grand Island to show their respect to their departed brother-worker. A roster of these visiting priests shows many names familiar as being leading priests of this diocese, and are given herewith : M. M. Merkel, Assumption, A. F. Albel, Seneca, F. F. Suesser, Ord, Thomas CuHen, York, L. L. ManderviHe, Hastings, M. A. Feeney, Greeley, Michael A. Shine, Platts mouth, James F. Gilroy, HeartweH, Jaul Weise, Choynice, T. P. Moloney, Lexington, W. J. Borer, Omaha, P. Grobbel, St. Charles, Jos. Wolf, St. Benedict, Iowa; B. H. Teves, Petersburg, V. End, Fordyce, Chas. Kauf- mann, St. Libory, B. Sinne, Omaha, W. Kearns, Wayne, P J. Colleran, David City, J. F. Hayes, O'Connor, Joseph Bosheck, Crofton, L. A. Dunphy, Sutton, Jos. Kolaska, Elyria; John A. Hayes, York, John J. Sulli- van,Fremont, John S. Palubicki, Fullerton, W. O'Connor, Central City, J. J. Crowley, Albion, Paul S. Moser, Crawford, Joseph Augustyn, Elba, Thos. F. Minogue, Anselmo, C. Strat mann, St. Helena, A. Birnbach, Bow Valley, Very Rev, Mecourek, Ravenna, W. Win dolph, Creighton, H. Loeckej", Atkinson, Bernard Sproll, Seward, T. D. Sullivan, Elm Creek, T. Walsh, Battle Creek, B. H. Lorde- mann, Randolph, H. Muenstermann, Keamey, Adolph M. Mosler, Crete, Chas. Becker, Lawrence, Very Rev. Jas. Ahrene, Omaha, M. F. Cassidy, O'NeiH, Ferd. Schuttgen, Hart- ington, F. J. Keller, ChappeH, Anton Link, Sidney, I. Jarka, Loup City, P. E. Lynch, Wood River, P. Moynihan, EddyviHe, Peter McLaughlin, Sargent, F. J. Serbeeger, Grand Island, Ferd'. S. Mock, Bellwood, E. BoH, Ex eter, Gerard Boll, David City, B. F. Galvin, Spalding, P. J. Healy, Grafton, J. Gleeson, Grand Island. Episcopal church The work of the Protestant Episcopal church in Hall County has been carried on for the last forty-eight years by the parish of St. Stephen's church. This parish was organized in 1871, and the first church building was dedicated on Sep tember 3, 1871, by. Bishop Clarkson. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 333 R. C. Jordon was the senior warden; Geo. T. Jamieson was junior warden ; C. W. Thomas, George E. Wilson and Frank In gram, vestrymen. By July, 1876, the member ship had grown to sixty-five, from ten in 1871. In 1888 the project of erecting a new church was favorably considered. Work was entered upon and the buHding was com pleted in July, 1889. The material is red colored sandstone with gray Kansas stone in foundation. The rectorage is located north of the church, at Second and Cedar streets. The rectors who suqeeded Feather John Lyon were Rev. A. J. Graham, in charge as deacon. Rev. John Greenwood, Revs. Ful- forth, Schwab, Henry, WeHs, Warren, J. Nel son Jones, and Franklin Adams. A. G. Pink- ham served from the summer of 1892 until the summer of 1897; Austin F. Morgan came in October, 1897, and remained until April, 1899. His successor was Rev. A. A. Gilman, from the summer of 1899 for a short time. Rev. Gilman has since served as president of Boone University, WuChang, China, and Rev. L. A. Arthur, present pastor, arrived about Easter, 19(X). Rev. Arthur had served as rector of St. Joseph's parish in Detroit and had come to Nebraska to assist Bishop Graves and was sent to Grand Island. The early history of St. Stephens, as well as some other early incidents in the history of the community, werel recounted in two interesting letters furnished to Rev. A. G. Pinkham, upon the occasion of |the silver anniversary of the parish, in September, 1896 : ,^ Grand Island, Sept. 1st, 1896. Rev. A.'G. Pinkham, Rectoi-, St. Stephens, Grand Island, Neb. Rev. and Dear Sir: Complying with your re quest for some reminiscences of St. Stephens Episcopal Church, Grand Island, Nebraska. for the Silver anniversary to be celebrated Sunday, September 6th, 1896. The recollec tions that we have are during the last seven teen years and familiar to many of the pres ent active members of the parish. The spring of 1879 we came West and located at Grand Island, a city then claiming 1,600 to 1,800 population. We were very much pleased to find within its borders such a well organized parish with such able and efficient men at its head as R. C. Jordon, C. W. Thomas, T. J. Hurford and others. Rev. A. J. Graham was in charge as Deacon, he was a general favorite, a good organizer and much loved by the people. He took great pride in the appearance of the church yard and fre quently painted and varnished the church seats to keep them bright and clean. He re tained his place in the hearts of the people so that in 1892 when the church was con secrated he was the one chosen to preach the consecration sermon. Rev. Graham was suc ceeded by Rev. John Greenwood a model clergyman in every respect. The suceeding rectors were Revs. Fulforth, Schwab, Henry, Wells, Warren, Jones and Adams. Each were men of abHity and left an impress of their individuality upon the parish. Time had begun to show its effect upon the wooden structure so that the chiHing blasts of winter found ready access through many cracks and crevices, and what was once the pride of a young parish on the western prairies was now becoming very uncomfortable to wor ship in. It was then decided to either repair the old church buHding or build a new one. For many years the writer was honored by the position of vestryman and a part of the time as its secertary, so that his experience has been largely with its finances and during one of the most critical periods in the history of the parish. When Rev. Jones was in charge as rector, one bright morning we found the church ele vated on jack screws and soon moved to the side of the lot where the new rectory noW' stands. A new brick foundation was put un der it and as usual the Ladies Guild paid the expense. The old church continued to be oc cupied until the new one was completed when it was torn down, the lumber sold to a resi dent and he transformed it into a dweHing in the south-eastern part of the city where it now stands. The first service in the new church building was held by Rt. Rev. Geo. Worth- ington. When Rev. Franklin Adams took charge (the spring of 1890) there was an indebted ness on the parish of $9,378.86. That year we had to raise $2,139.65 to pay current expense and interest on borrowed money. Rev. Adams accomplished good work in spite of the adverse circumstances. The people all loved him and it was with regret that they were compelled to accept his resignation Sept. 1891 on ac- 334 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA count of his iH health. December 1st, 1891 found the parish in debt to the amount of $9,985.91. On account of a deficit in the pay ment of interest past due The Central Loan & Trust Co. of Des Moines, Iowa, commenced foreclosure proceedings. The members of the vestry at this critical time were: Richard J. Sharp, Senior Warden; Henry S. Ferrar, Junior Warden; Geo. H. Thummel, H. H. Glover, W. B. Dingman, Wm. M. Geddes, H. C. MiHer, John AHan and Henry D. Boyden. The vestry were ably assisted by Rt. Rev. Anson R. Graves, Bishop of the Platte; C. W. Thomas of Detroit, Michigan; The Ladies Gmld; St. Agnes GuHd, and each in dividual member of the parish. A mighty effort was made and the entire debt was paid in fuH Tuesday evening May 24th, 1892. St. Stephens Episcopal Church was consecrated by Rt. Rev. Anson R. Graves, our Bishop. It was a glorious day in the history of St. Stephens • — one ever to be remembered. Four years ago Rev. A. G. Pinkham was called and took charge as rector. This last four years marks one of the most prosperous periods in the history of the church in all its departments. The influence of the church has been ex tended and many new communicants received into the church confirmation. The vested choir of thirty-five voices has added greatly to the church services. In the way of church improvements, the basement has been finished, improvements made in the church, a new rec tory buHt and the grounds beautified. While we rejoice at what has been accom plished may we hope the good work may con tinue and may we live to celebrate the half century. Yours very truly, Henry D. Boyden Omaha Nebr., August 24, 1896 Rev. A. G. Pinkham, Rev. and Dear Sir: I am glad of the opportunity of com plying with your request to furnish such items as I may remember them in regard to the early history of St. Stephens Church. On the sixth day of July 1876 I arrived in Grand Island, accompanied by my wife and two daughters. The town at that date con tained less than 400 people, arid the few persons living here at the present day will well remember how Sunday was observed. The stores and business places were open and in full blast, and religious services were held irregularly in a small Roman Catholic Church situated on the south side of the street and on the block southeast of the present resi dence of Hon. Geo. H. Thummel. This church was destroyed the next day after I arrived by a wind storm, rather cyclonic in its appear ance. The Baptists built a church in the Au tumn of 1870. These were the only church buildings in the town at that time. There was a small log school house used occasionally by the Methodist people situated on the block south of Bartenbach's opera house. Tradition states that in this school house was held the only Episcopal church service ever held in town prior to our arrival and that the Reverend Samuel Goodale of Columbus held the service. The year was, I should think, 1869. As we had been somewhat actively en gaged in church work in our former home, Sunday and the surroundings as we found them proved to be a somewhat lonesome day. After enduring it for four or five Sundays my wife could endure it no longer and de termined to open a Sunday school in our house. During the week word was passed around that the next Sunday a Sunday school would be opened in our house, and it re sulted in bringing together about thirty chil dren. This was the beginning of a Sunday school that continued without interruption to the present day. During the winter and spring of 1871 the building of a church was decided upon, much encouragment having been given by the citi zens to the enterprise in the way of liberal subscriptions. In organizing the church it was the intention to name it Calvary Church, but Bishop Clarkson of dearest memory, who was at the time Bishop of the Diocese made known the fact that a lady at Providence, Rhode Is land, and a member of St. Stephen's parish of that place had placed in his hands $500 to be given to the building of a new church, but with the stipulation that the church must be called St. Stephen's after the church in Provi dence. The change was made and that is the way it came by its name of St. Stephen's church, Grand Island. The name of the donor was Miss Shaw, and she died about twenty years ago. The church was built during the summer of 1871 and was ready for service by the first of September of that year. Sunday morning, September 3, 1871, finally dawned and proved to be a bright and beauti ful day for the opening of the new church. A new organ had been purchased at a cost of $700.00, the same one in use today, and a choir of sing-ers of experience formed, which rend ered the mus.ic of the church, Jackson's Te HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 335 Deum being one of the pieces. The sermon was by the Bishop and the services were to the congregation, a truly red letter day. In the evening the rite of confirmation was administered for the first time in Grand Is land, the candidates being Claude W. Thomas, Carrie C. Jordon, now Mrs. Sears, and Frank Ingram. The Sunday following the opening Bishop Morris from Oregon, who was on his way to the general convention, at the request of Bishop Clarkson spent the day with us, which were all the services held in the church until the coming of Rev John Lyon in December. The church bell was donated by the All Saints Church of Portsmouth, Ohio, in 1873, that being the home of Mrs. Jordon. The trees around the church were first set out by Mr. Piatt, father of Judge Piatt, Hon O. A. Abbott and Alexander F. Jamieson. To the late Col. Eddy, of Omaha, who was at the time at the head of the town site department of the Union Pacific, are we indebted for tjie lots on which the church is located. Application was made to him for two lots for the purpose of buHding an Episcopal Church upon, and the request Was cheerfully granted. The plans of the church were fumished by a Mr. Holmes, of Omaha, an Architect of ability, and with out cost, as he and the writer had been active co-workers in St. Barnabas Church of Omaha. For the first two years the music for church service was fumished largely by my own family, my daughter Maria, now Mrs. Shel ton, being the first organist. The first baptismal ceremony held in the parish- was that of some chHdren of Wm. Powell; also the first celebration of the holy communion was held in Masonic hall at that time, situated on Front street, and before the church Was built. The first marriage ceremony held in the church was that of the late Ernest Blunk and wife, the latter I am informed is now a teacher in your public schools. The first burial service performed in the church was over the body of a Presbyterian clergyman, whose name I have forgotten, but no doubt a reference to the files of the news paper of that time will give you the name. He was sent to Grand Island by the authorities of that church to establish a Mission, but was taken sick and died within two weeks after he arrived and was buried from our church as the Presbyterians had no congregation at that time. After the arrival of Rev. Mr. Lyoii, and for a long time after, we had the only regular church service in the town and nearly every person attended, and among the early sup porters of the Church who were not communi cants I recall Hon. O. A. Abbott, Hon. George H. Thummel, H. P. Makely, Jay E. White, and others. The licensed Lay Readers were — during the period in which I was an active worker in the parish : Robert C. Jordon, David T. Jame son and Thomas J. Hurford. I wish to mention one name only, as de serving special praise — and if the person knew it I know he would forbid it — claim ing that he was only doing his duty, that name is, Claude W. Thomas. All will bear witness to his noble and generous nature. There were times when the parish got into what busi ness men call a tight place. On such oc casions it was only necessary to call on Mr. Thomas and the aid was forth-coming. May God bless and prosper him is the earnest prayer of the writer, and I have no doubt is the prayer of all the parish. I cannot close this letter without a word of praise for the good Sisters of the Guild. There has been from the beginning of the parish a band of noble women, willing workers, pre- sistent in accomplishing what they undertook. To them in a large measure is due the success of St. Stephen's parish. May God bless every one of them who remain in the church mili tant. Theirs has been a work of unselfish de votion to duty for the good of others. May you have a happy celebration of the 25th An niversary is the wish of Robert C. Jordoij. METHODIST CHURCHES EIRST CHURCH AT GRAND ISLAND Of the numerous churches in the county, established by the members of the Methodist Episcopal church, the oldest is the First church at Grand Island. The following very concise and comprehensive history of this church has been prepared by Ira T. Paine, Sr., who has resided in Grand Island since January, 1873 : During the year 1866 Rev. Thomas B. Lemon acting as a missionary or frontier preacher travelled along the old government or emigrant road which ran from Omaha to Denver. It was about two miles south of Grand Island just along the north channel of the Platte River. It crossed Wood River about two rriiles south and one mile east of Alda. There lived Judge Beal and his family. Rev. Lemon held meetings at Judge Real's and preached to the settlers and tourists 336 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Congregational GRAND ISLAND CHURCHES PkESBYTERIAN Christian Baptist HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 337 that happened to be there and in the year 1866 organized the First Methodist church and called it the Wood River Methodist church. This was the first church organized in vvhat is now Hall County, except a Catholic church at Wood River. In the fall of 1866 3. railroad was built to Grand Island. Judge Beal moved to Grand Island in 1867, being county judge, and the church was reorganized here and called the Grand Island Methodist church. The two full lots, one on which the City HaH is located and the lot west of it were given lo the church by the Union Pacific Railroad company. The City later bought the corner lot, 44 x 66 feet, and thereupon the City Hall has been built, the lot west being sold to pay debts of the church. The trustees were Wm. H. Piatt, Wm. Mitchell, Dr. J. Thorspecken, D. S. Wainwright, Jacob Rice, and A. L. Lathrop. The first regular minister was Rev. Smith, appointed in 1868. He remained here two years, and was followed by Rev. David Marquette, in 1870, who remained two years. His wife taught in our public schools during their residence here. The fall conference of 1872 appointed Rev. J. S. Donaldson. He lived on a homestead twenty miles north of Grand Island, in Loup Valley. He came here about every other Sunday and held services, and was reappointed in 1872. During the summer of 1874 we built the first M. E. church that was built in Hall County, and I am very sure there was no Methodist church west of here until we reached the foot hills of the Rocky Mountains. This church was on the lot just north of our City Hall. It was dedicated in September, 1874, by Bishop Bowman and Rev. A. G. White of Omaha, district superintendent. In the fall of 1874 Rev. Crowell was ap pointed to the charge. He lived in Kearney, came here every other Sunday for about nine months and then went west, and Rev. Peter Harrison, father of our late townsman. Judge T. O. C. Harrison, and who was then living on a homestead northwest of Alda, icarae in on horseback and preached to us every other Sunday for the balance of the year. At the fall conference of 1875 Rev. Hancock was appointed and remained two years. The conference of 1877 sent Rev. Burlison and his wife here from Toledo, Ohio, this being his first regular appointment. The reverend and his wife worked for the interest of our church for about eight months, when they joined the Presbyterian church. Rev. Har man, a local preacher who had lately come and was working as a harness maker for Frank Barks, founder of Barks' Addition, and who later moved to Wood River and then to Shelton, filled the pulpit for the balance of the year and was regularly appointed at the conference of 1878 and served another year. The conference of 1879 appointed Rev. Geo. C. Senser, and he was reappointed in 1880 and 1881, serving here for three years. In 1882 Rev. Z. S. Rhone was appointed and stayed two years. In 1884 Rev. P. C. John son came from North Platte, and was here one year. In 1885 Rev. Wilson came for one year and was followed in 1886 by Rev. Crane, who was reappointed in 1887. In 1888 Rev. C. W. Savage was appointed and i"emained here one year. Rev. Savage's long service in a rather independent pastoral work in Omaha in recent years has made his name familiar throughout Nebraska, and particu larly as "the marrying parson." In 1889 Rev. W. H. H. Pillsbury came here from Iowa and was reappointed in 1890 and again in 1891, serving here for three years. In 1892 Rev. N. A. Martin was appointed and served this church most faithfully for five years. In 1897 Rev. T. C. Webster came and stayed here two years. In 1899 Rev. Barton was appointed, and reappointed in 1900 and re mained here about seven months of that year's work when he was changed with Rev. Carr of Vermont. Rev. W. W. Carr was reap pointed in 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, and during the summer of 1905 he exchanged with Rev. Gregory of Idaho. Rev. Gregory was ap pointed in 1906 and again in 1907, and during the summer of 1908 he exchanged with Rev. Varner, who remained about four months until conference, then he went to Colorado. The conference of 1908 appointed to this church Rev. S. D. Bartle, a very active worker in the church and in the community, who was reappointed in 1909, 1910 and 1911. The 1912 conference appointed J. R. Gettys, who remained here one year. His successor, appointed by the 1913 conference, was E. N. Tompkins. Mr. Gettys has since been promi nent in church work in University Place, Mr. Tompkins is serving the people of Trinity church in Lincoln ; the next minister sent by the conference in 1915, after Mr. Tompkins' two years of service, was R. H. Thompson, who remained two years. He is now at Geneva, Nebraska. E. E. Hosman was ap pointed in 1917, and a year later went to Ord, and in 1918, Rev. V. R. Beebe came here from Tecumseh and in 1919 the present pastor J. H. Stett was appointed upon his return from overseas Y. M. C. A. service. The district superintendents have been A. G. 338 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Trinity Methodist St. Paul's English Evangelical Evangelical Trinity HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 339 White, Rev. Thomas B. Lemon, Rev. P. C. Johnson, Rev. J. W. Shank, Rev. R. S. Moore, Rev. D. K. Tindall, Rev. H. H. Millard, Rev. G. H. Main, Rev. J. M. Bothwell, and now Rev. John Grant Shick. It has been my good pleasure to know all of these ministers. Though Revs. Smith and Marquette were here before I came to Grand Island, forty-six years agQ, each of them was here at later times and assisted in church work. TRINITY METHODIST CHURCH GRAND ISLAND A second Methodist church was organized in Grand Island in 1887. The church building erected at Sixth and Sycamore stands today as a substantial memorial of the earnestness of the original organizers of this second parish. The organization was formed on August 7, 1887, with 132 members and 19 probationers, and with Rev. H. L. Powers chosen as first pastor. C. H. Bailey Was presi dent of the Epworth League, Lenora Bimey, secretary, J. W. B. Brown and A. A. Linn, committeemen and active workers in that society. Succeeding pastors of this church have been. Rev. H. L. Powers, Geo. H. Mac- Adam, Dr. J. W. Games, D. Sanderson, Alfred Hodgetts, Amos Allan Luce, T. J. Wright, Rev. Wilbur McKee, W. H. Wright, G. W. Abbott, John Grant Shick, and John Ray Martin. METHODIST CHURCH, WOOD RIVER The Methodist Episcopal church of Wood River was organized in January, 1872, with the f ollowingi members : N. T. Brittin, R. Mitchell, B. Light, Isaac King and A. B. Ross, with their wives. Up to 1890 services were held in the school house, which partook largely of union services, all denominations attend ing and contributing to the support of the meetings. Among the first pastors were Revs. Fairchild, Marsh, Clarkson, Hancock, Burlen- son and Summers. In May, 1880, during the pastorate of Rev. Summers, the present M. E. church was erected and the following trustees were elected: J. M. Harman, David Barrick, N. T. Brittin, James Ewing and James Jack son. These five gentlemen acted as the build ing committee that labored toward the erec tion of the new church buHding. The first Sunday school superintendent in the new church was J. M. Harman. The pastors following Rev. Summers in their order were Revs. Marsh, Dressier, Dudleigh, Davis, Worts, Leedam, Harper, Worts, LaVake, Donnelly, McReynolds, Campbell, W. R. Peters and R. H. Gammon. In 1900 the Board of Trustees were Truman Taylor, Chas. Trout, F. E. Slusser, Wm. Thorp and Geo. W. Miller. The Sunday school superintendent then was Truman Taylor and the Epworth League president. Miss Lillian Rounds. Fol lowing the three year pastorate of Rev. Gammon, came Revs. Dressier, Wingert, Paxton, Smith, V. C. Wright who served this church for four years, H. W. Wagner; the present pastor, since 1917, has been Rev. A. G. Forman. The present officers of the church are: Trustees, J. C. Burcherd, F. E. Michael, F. J. Riesland, Sylvester Strausbaugh; Sun day school superintendent, F. E. Michael; stewards, A. Hampton, Mary Wyson (who is recording steward), Mrs. T. C. Taylor, Mary Simpson, Mrs. Anna Sprague, Sarah Burden, Ina Pierce and Etta Smith. ALDA CHURCH The story of how Alda came to have its first regular church is told in the chapter de tailing the story of the town. DONIPHAN METHODIST CHURCH The recent history of the Methodist church at Doniphan shows that Rev. Wm. Kilburn set sail from England the 19th of March, 1910. He was pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church at Doniphan in AprH, 1910, and was here until September, 1915. Dur ing this time the present new church was built, at a cost of $12,000. It was dedicated July 4, 1915, free of debt, by Rev. W. D. Parr of Kokomo, Indiana. The trustees at that time and at the present are: W. E. Martin, president; Chas. J. Beers, secretary ; J. E. Hitt, Chas. T. Young, W. H. Marsh, Sr., W. H. Marsh, Jr., W. G. Smith, Chas. Kesel, W. D. Beers, Geo. E. Funk, treasurer. 340 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Since 1915 Rev. Hagerman has served two years. Rev. J. H. Bounds one year. Rev. Frank T. Hoon at the present time is the pastor. The membership is 135, with a good Sunday school, Mrs. Emma Snearley super intendent. LUTHERAN CHURCHES Grand Island has been the center of activity for various branches of the Lutheran donomi- nation, and, therefore, has had several Luth eran churches established in" its midst. EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN TRINITY CONGREGATION By Rev. H. Wilkins, Pastor The history of the Evangelical Lutheran Trinity church, of Grand Island, Nebraska, dates back as far as the early 'seventies of the last century. A number of Lutheran famiHes had settled in HaH, Howard and Mer rick counties. They were first taken care of by itinerant missionaries of the Missouri synod. Services were held here and there in the homes of the people. In January, 1878, the Trinity congregation was organized, and in the same year a church was erected in Grand Island, then a mere village. The be ginning of the congregation was very small. Its members were few and poor, and the ob stacles to overcome were many and great. But the Word of God proved again that it is a power unto salvation. Under the faithful care of its pastors the small band gradually grew. One member after the other was added to it. In the year 1893 the old church was found to be unable to hold the large number of worshippers. The congregation resolved to erect a new and substantial building, the present church, standing at the corner of Vine and Second streets. In the fall of 1896 it was dedicated to the service of the Triune God. It has a seating capacity of about five hundred, contains a beautiful pipe organ, the first ever installed in the city of Grand Island, and three beHs in its tower. From the very beginning the members of Trinity church felt it their duty to not only care for their own souls, but as weH for the spiritual welfare of their children. They realized that a Sunday school, or in other words, that one hour a week of religious in struction, would not suffice. In order to give their children a thorough religious education they erected a parochial school, and were ever ready to bring great sacrifices to maintain it. The school became a strong factor in the development of the congregation. The property of the congregation at the present time has an approximate value of over $15,000, and is absolutely free from aH incumbrance. In the course of years (until 1918) 1320 children received the Sacrament of Holy Baptism; 433 were confirmed; 224 couples were joined in holy wedlock, and 187 were laid to rest, to await the call of their Lord and Redeemer at the last great day of resur rection. The congregation in 1918 has 72 voting members, 285 communicants and 468 souls. The following ministers have served this congregation in the course of years : A. Laeuthaeuser, H. Jahn, A. Baumhoefener, F. Ratherd, P. Matuschka, and H. Wilkens, the present pastor since 1903. In the school have served the professors: Weiszbrodt, F. Von der Lage, F. Deyke, and since 1909, Otto Berker. The voting members are: the families of J. Shinkel, H. Emstmeyer, R. Siebert, J. Willers, Fr. Ernstmeyer, L. Stallman, E. Krai, W. Scheffel, Fr. Kutschat, C. DiH, G. Schroeder, J. Dahike, C. Dahms, Fr. Meyer, H. Witzke, H. Pauly, E. Lamm, Th. Buenger, H. Schoeneberg, W. Krause, O. Wetzel, W. Sosenkoetter, H. Schroeder, O. Schmidt, H. Wemer, C. Koehn, G. Roesch, T. Schwynn, P. Hermann, W. Vortman, H. Lagenheder, A. Quandt, C. Rosenkoetter, C. Meyer, H. Meyer, G. Mildenstein, H. Trampe, C. Wetzel, Fr. Bartels, W. Hilmer, J. Seims, C. Kmse, W. Werner, W. Pollock, W. Leppin, L. Zuehlke, Fr. Mettinbrink, R. Reher, A. Schuessler, C. Scherer, H. Keohn, W. Lang- enheder, H. Sommer, E. Schinkel, H. Nobb- man, F. Scherer, H. Kmsenmark, E. Schues sler, H. Rosenkoetter, C. Bartelt, H. Ruff, HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 341 H. MoeHer, E. Liedtke, J. Langenheder, W. Schmidt, C. Schoeftel, G. Kaier, H. Win dolph, W. Kuers, E. Nitschke, Rev. H. WHkens, Prof. P. Becker. J. Schinkel is the last charter member with the congregation, the others have either moved away, or as we fervently hope and believe, have come to their reward as faithful servants of their Lord. The other members are the following and famHies : K. Meyer, H. Floerke, E. Kroeeger, L. ScheH, E. Meyer, A. Scheibel, H. Scheibel, G. Duenermann, H. VonOhlen, B. Fischer, Fr. Nowack, Mrs. F. Schlottfeldt, Mrs. R. Rickert, Mrs. F. Thomas, Mrs. F. Gole, Mrs. J. Windolph, Fr. Schoeneberg, C. Seims, H. Sotinbeck, W. Meissner, F. Heider, A. Krieger, R. Lucas, W. Riege, A. Schoreder, Mrs. Bredemeyer, Mrs. Stobbe, Mrs. J. Peters, Mrs. G. Wenrer, Mrs. L. Bowers, Mrs. C. Cantreel, Mrs. L. Otto, Mrs. Travis, Mrs. G. Madeke, Mrs. W. MHz, Mrs. J. Geisinger, Mrs. H. Guelzow, Mrs. J. Rauert, Mrs. J. Niemoth, Mrs. D. Liedtke, Mrs. E. Masten, Mrs. Einfeldt, Mrs. H. Koch, Mrs C. Ericksen, Mrs. W. Crutin, Mrs. Pauly, Mrs. R. Vetter, C. Tuenge and W. Ernst. FIFTH STREET GERMAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH This church was flourishing some thirty years ago, and in 1890 its pastor was Rev. O. Radiniski but for the last decade its leader has been Rev. C. W. Boelter. THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN ZION'S CHURCH This church is located at Worms, in Merrick County, but has a large membership from eastern Hall County. It was organized in 1874. The Rev. Leuthaeuser was the first pastor of this congregation, and his successors have been, H. Jahn, F. Duever J. D. Shroeder, and Rev. W. Ludwig, the last pastor. In 1918 the congregation numbered souls, 450, communicants, 200, voting members, 61. A parochial school is maintained, with P. E. Frese as teacher. All instruction in all branches, except religion, are given in the language of our country. Since September, 1918, religion also is taught in the English language. ST. Paul's English EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN church This church was completed and dedicated on March 14, 1886. The buHding committee of that church formed in August, 1886, com prised George H. Thummel, W. A. Heim- Ev. Lutheran St. Paul's Church, Grand Island berger, C. E. Lykke, George Hunter, Benja min O. Anderson and J. N. Lenker. The comer stone Was i placed October 3, 1885. This neat church home, at Second and Cedar streets, is stiH serving as the house of worship for this congregation. Rev. A. B. Schrader served this congrega tion for several years. Pastors who succeeded him have been: Revs. D. Z. Foulk, L. J. Motschman, S. J. Leamer, Wilton T. Hakse, and the present efficient pastor of this church. Rev. L. L. Lipe, who has been with this con gregation for the past eleven or twelve years. During August, 1919, Rev Lipe tendered his resignation which the church board regretfully 342 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA accepted. He felt he was entitled to the rest he had desired for some time. EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN The German St. Paul's Lutheran congre gation was started on August 5, 1883, under the leadership of Rev. H. Siekmann of Hast ings, Nebraska, and with the assistance of Rev. J. N. Lenker, then pastor of the English Lutheran church. The seventeen charter members were: C. H. Duennermann, Carl Duennermann, Wm. Hoelling, Wm. Depper- mann, Wm. Klapmeier, Frederick Buchholz, Carl Rosenkoetter, Gottlieb Duennermann, Heinrich Steinmeier, Frederick Cramer, Hein rich Ostermeier, Carl Schmale, Wm. Duen- nerman, Carl Knefelkamp, Wm. Floerke, Frederick Rahe, Frederick Busse. The first services were held in Hann's Park and in the court house, and after a short time the con gregation bought the church jhome of the United Brethern people. The lot upon which this building stood was purchased later by the B. & M. Railroad, and the building re moved to the corner of Seventh and Locust streets, where the congregation had acquired two lots. The first church board consisted of C. H. Duennermann, Fred Buchholz, C. Rosenketter, Fred Cramer, Heinrich Steinmeier. The first building was that mentioned here tofore, 24 X 40 feet in size. The new church was built in 1908, and the new parsonage in 1912. In May, 1884, Rev. William Rosentengel was called to Grand Island as the first pastor of this church, from the Lutheran church of Nebraska City. He remained from July, 1884, untH November, 1887. Rev. Rosentengel afterwards became president of the German Lutheran Wartburg Synod, with headquarters at Carthage, Illinois. The next pastor was Rev. F. Gafert of Loup City, Nebraska, from March, 1898, untH Octo ber, 1898. He organized two branch congre gations, one near Phillips, Hamilton County, St. Paul's and one about nine miles northeast of Grand Island in Merrick County, St. John's. Though this congregation originally be longed to the English Nebraska Synod, since 1897 it has been under the German Nebraska Synod, another branch of the General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran church. When Rev. Gafert resigned in 1898 his place was taken in November, 1898, by Rev. H. Schumann of Ridgeley, Nebraska, who took charge and served until April, 1906. He was succeeded by Rev. G. H. Michel- mann in September, 1906, who has served his people for over twelve years in an effici ent and faithful manner. Under his pastorate a Sunday School was organized that has now enroHed seventy-five members. The Young People's Society (Luther League) has thirty- five members, the Ladies' Aid, thirty members. The communicant membership of the church at the opening of the year 1919 stands 230. During the thirty-five years of existence 1,400 children were baptized and 446 young people renewed their vows by confirmation, 334 mar riages were celebrated. There were 333 burials. The money given for benevolence amounts to $6,800. This sum does not in clude what the individuals have given for Red Cross work, etc., during the last four years. The church councHmen for 1919 are G. H. jMichelmann, pastor, Albert Niemoth, Casper Hongsemeier. Wm. Loescher, secretary, Hy. Finke, R. Nuernbuger, treasurer. The Frei Evangelical Lutheran Pilgrim Con gregational church of Grand Island was organ ized October 14, 1906, with a membership of twenty-six. The first pastor was Rev. P. J. Theil, from Hastings, in 1907. Rev. C. W. Wuerschmidt accepted the call, served two weeks, became ill and died a few days after and was buried here. In August the same year Rev. Woth accepted the call and served the church until 1909. Rev. F. Cafert started to serve in November, 1909, and served until May 14, 1914, since which time the Rev. Braun has served the church. The first board was : Nick Schnell, Hy. Stroh, Con. Ross, David Sitzmann, George Walker. The building was erected on the 3rd of April, 1907. The land on which the church HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 343 was erected is 66 by 135 feet. The house of worship is 46 feet in length, 37 feet in width and 50 feet in height, will seat 250 persons, is built of wood. At its organization the membership was twenty-six, now 114; average Sunday school attendance was 20, now 85 ; the young people's societies were 18, now 30, and the ladies aid were 10, now 35. The present pastor is John Braun, the officers are John Pheif, Henry Dietrich. Henry Feierstein, Peter Bohl, Jacob Lieb-* sack, John Kammerzell, David Kuehn, Henry Rupp. baptist CHURCHES The First Baptist church of Grand Island was organized in 1870 by Rev. J. N. Webb, state missionary for Nebraska, under the American Baptist Home Missionary Society, with five members. The fold was increased to forty in 1876. The first pastor was Rev. J. J. J. Place. The church was reorganized by the second pastor. Rev. A. D. Trumbull, in 1875. The congregation for many years used the church building (now on East Eighth street, and which is now used by the Seventh Day Adventists), but on October 12, 1888, the handsome and commodious structure at the northeast corner of Seventh and' Sycamore was dedicated. This edifice was built in the form of a Greek cross, showing four gables, a tower of 103 feet in height and a minaret 71 feet. The main audience room, an amphi theatre 54x43 feet may be connected with the Sunday school rooms. The buHding is 54 X 72 feet and claims a seating capacity of 750. The building was erected during the pastorate of Rev. L. W. Terry and cost $12,- 000. To Dr. Jorden, of whose work more is said in this section, is due the credit of Hfting a large portion of the indebtedness against the building during the pastorate of Rev. C. J. Pope. In 1907 an eight room par sonage was purchased at a cost of $3,000. This was done during the pastorate of Rev. O. B. Sarber, whose efficiency also secured the building of West End chapel. Rev. W. I. Fowle was pastor from 1911 to 1915, do ing excellent work. Rev. E. H. Jackson, the present pastor, came on January 1, 1916. Rev. E. F. Jorden served the church longer than any other minister, his term extending from 1892 to 1902. This was a time of solid growth and prosperity. This church has been favored with pastors of high character and able preachers. Being located in the city which is the seat of the college of the denomination, this church holds a position among the Baptist churches of the state of special importance and responsibility. IMMANUEL BAPTIST In 1888 a second Baptist congregation was formed in Grand Island, and the Immanuel Baptist church effected its organizations. Dur ing its brief history this church accomplished considerable good and had a live strong mem bership. It built a splendid structure on the south side, but after • a few years struggle was forced to sell its fine church home to the Christian church, which absorbed part of the membership, and the Immanuel society was disbanded in 1895. During that time its work was carried on under the direction of Revs. J. H. Storms, F. E. Britten and J. D. Pullis. CAIRO The work of this denomination has been carried on for years by the church at Cairo. FIRST PRESBYTERIAN, GRAND ISLAND In AprH, 1869, the Presbytery of the Mis souri River, in session at Sioux City, Iowa, appointed one of its godly and self-sacrific ing missionaries. Rev. Sheldon Jackson, as superintendent of missions for Western Iowa, Nebraska, Montana, Dakota, Wyoming and Utah. Soon thereafter J. N. Hutchinson, a licentiate of the church, began preaching in Grand Island once a month. On August 12, 1869, Dr. Jackson visited the young community and organized the First Presbyterian church of Grand Island, with five charter members. Robert Mitchell and Samuel Hindman were elected ruling elders. For several years the congregation worshiped in a school-house, its 344 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBKAbiVA Wood River Churches HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 345 growth being slow. In Febmary, 1875, Mr. Griffes gave a revival and added five members to the society, Robert Mitchell, R. G. Rice and S. D. Rannels were elected ruling elders. Rev. George Hutchinson came in August, 1875, and remained as stated supply pastor for nine months. In 1877 a new pastor came. Rev. J. H. Reynard, a brother of Mrs. J. H. Woolley. From then on the church became really ag gressive. During -the second year of Rev. Rey nard's pastorate a building temporarily used for school purposes was purchased, and after being remodeled was formally dedicated. In 1881 the manse was erected, and the same year became marked in the history of the church for the large number of accessions. Rev. Reynard is since deceased. His sister Mrs. J. H. Woolley, has been an active worker in the various channels of church work for many years. Rev. George Williams became pastor in 1883. Rev. Samuel Wycoff served the church as stated supply during the year 1889 and until sometime in 1890. The longest pastorate this church has en joyed was that of Rev. Thomas C. Clark, who came to this congregation in June, 1890, and gave faithful service and inspirational lead ership for sixteen years, until May 1, 1906. While he was pastor the present beautiful and modern church building was erected at West Second and Wheeler avenue. This church was dedicated in 1904. The succeeding pas tors have been Rev. John G. Graham 1906, for about five years. Rev. A. F. Ernst, for about four years, Rev. Wm. I. Alexander, and the present pastor. Rev. A. A. Smith. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT WOOD RIVER The First Presbyterian organization at Wood River was effected sometime about 1870. John and James White and a Mr. Warner were among the moving spirits. Revs. Robbins and Reynard expounded the gospel at that time. For several years meetings were held in the school house. After a time interest waned and the organization disbanded. It was not until 1882 that the Presbyterians effected permanent organization. Those taking an ac tive part were John Bence, C. E. Towne, T. C. Taylor, B. L. Colwell and wife, James Allen and sister Jessie and W. A. Colwell. Rev. Fulsom was in charge at this time. In the spring of 1885 in the pastorate of J. G. Tate the new church was erected, and the fol lowing trustees elected : John Bence, Chas. Towne and T. C. Taylor. After Rev. Tate, the following pastors in their order filled the pulpit: Revs. Hullhurst, Wolf, Hatch, Shields, Dunlap, Belville, Brittin and J. C. Ir win. The board of trustees in 1900 w^ere Chas. Towne, E. Kunz, WHl Colwell, Geo. Sprague, N. T. Brittin, J. H. Diefenderfer, Mrs. E. A. Murphy, Mrs. S. A. Sherrerd and Mrs. O. W. Eaton. The church built a manse costing about $2,000. Mr. Irwin served this, congregation for a long period, and following his pastorate were Revs. Lorimer, Clair, and C. E. Kirscher, the present pastor, CONGREGATIONAL The First Congregational church of Grand Island is located in its fine edifice at the cor ner of Sixth street and Kimball avenue. This church grew out of a Congregational Sunday school which was organized in a store building on Fourth street April 3, 1887. It soon had a membership of sixty, under the leadership of Supt. B. F. Merrill. The First Congregational church was organized on the 16th day of June, 1887, with H. E. CHfford clerk and treasurer, B. F. Merrill and Frederick RandaH deacons, Mrs. L. A. Har vey, B. Fi Merrill and Frederick Randall trustees. Rev. D. W. Comstock was called on September 11, 1887, to be the first pastor of this young flock. Lots were purchased on the corner where the present church build ing stands, and the corner stone of the pres ent building was laid October 18. In one hundred and thirty days after the work was begun the building was dedicated, on January 24, 1888. Withstanding the usualj experience of a church in a western town, and especially a town which is considerable of a railroad cen ter, with the people coming and going con stantly, it has steadily and ceaselessly carried 346 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA on its work and there many an earnest chris tian worker has been trained for efficient ser vice. The membership of this church has grown to 232. Twelve years ago the cangregation built a parsonage at a cost of $2,000. The present pastor of the church. Rev. Thomas Arthur Dungan, has been its leader since April 15, 1914, during which period the present house of worship was erected. Pastors of the church, with date of their caH to the pastorate are as foHows: Rev. D. W. Comstock (1887), Rev. W. L. Demorest (1888), Rev. John Doane (1890) Rev. J. H. Henderson (1893), 'Rev. T. W. Cole (1895), Rev. Mr. Batty (1897), Rev. Edward V. Gardner (1899), Rev. Abraham A. Cressman (1901), Rev. Lucian J. Marsh (1903), Rev. J. WaHace Larkin (1906), Rev. Seth H. BueH (1908), Rev. T. Arthur Dungan (1914). Present officers of the church : L- F. Fra- zell, clerk ; J. E. Lyle, Treasurer ; Deacons : C. H. Tully, George C. Humphrey, F. E. Brand, L. B. Jones, J. P. Walker; Trustees; C. F. Tully, J. R. Fulton, F. S. White, Al Rasmussen, H. E. Clifford, J. E. Buck. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, DONIPHAN This church was organized January 2, 1884, at a meeting at the home of Rev. J. C. Hughes. Those present were Rev. Mr. Hughes, Lizzie Hughes, Geo. C. Humphrey, Maggie J. Hum phrey and Lucy A. Avery. The early pastors were Rev. J. C. Hughes, 1884, Rev. E. C. Cressman, 1891-1896; Rev. R. M. Traverse, 1896-1899; Rev. C. H. Hustis, 1899-1902; Rev. W. A. Alcorn, 1902-1904; Rev. R. Jones, 1904-1906; Rev. S. A. Martin, 1906-. The new church building of this congrega tion was dedicated in January, 1912, during the pastorate of Rev. Martin. The building committee who labored on this task were E. B. Treat, H. G. Ranz, Albert Cleal, and W. H. Gideon. A handsome, permanent struc ture of brick, with seating capacity for three or four hundred persons, with all modern con veniences resulted from their labor. The United Brethern Society dated back to about 1872, when Rev. Joseph Wesley visited Grand Island and organized a class there, one at Alda, and one near Cairo. Among the early members at Grand Island were Mr. Wesley, his wife and son, A. B. Vider and wife. The organization was completed in 1876, and a house of worship dedicated that year, on July 2nd, by Bishop Glossbrenner and Rev. Joseph Wesley, its pastor. The society at Cairo erected their church hpuse in 1886. The pastors who served the Grand Island society were Joseph Wesley, Rev. Trefren, W. S. Spooner, Joseph Wesley, Charles Ridd, J. J. Lohr, C. C. KeHogg, J. T. Squires, J. M. Wit ters, D. W. Smith, Rev. Jones, Rev. Dean, Jacob Bresmer. This denomination has also carried its work on through a church at Cairo. CHRISTIAN CHURCH A splendid congregation has carried on the services of this denomination since the forma tion of the First Christian church of Grand Island, in the middle 'nineties. In 1895 this congregation took over the splendid church edifice and part of the membership of the Immanuel Baptist church. Rev. Z. O. Doward served about 1900, for a number of years, and his successor was Rev. J. R. Mclntire, who stayed until about 1912. Rev. B. W. Salmon and W. T. Groom then served untH the pres ent pastor came to this church. Rev. M. L. Rose. This denomination has had a splendid country church in Cameron township that has carried on its work for many years. OTHER CHURCHES IN HALL COUNTY The reader will no doubt notice that con siderably more space has been devoted to the history of certain churches than others in this county. In such instances some one in the past or during the present year, has taken the task of preparing these facts and preserving the records of the particular church in which that person has labored. Other churches are only given such a record as the compiler has been able to prepare from a current research. It will be necessary to confine stHl other HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 347 churches, past or present, to a recitation of their existence in the community. But it may be stated in faimess to all, that an opportunity was given to someone connected with- every church organization in the county, which could be located by the compiler, to furnish the same facts in relation to each church. A period of several months has been allowed, and in such instances as a response was not received, such facts as could be ascertained in the time remaining at hand have been set forth in this chapter. SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS This denomination had a good working organization in 1893, with G. W. Broughton as leader. Elder F. M. Corbaly afterwards served this congregation. They have a church at 413 East Eighth, with services at occa sional 'periods. THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY The Nirvana Branch of the Theosophical Society was a flourishing organization during the 'nineties. Charles Rief was the first presi dent, with Nathan Piatt, as secretary. Later officers were Dr. M. J. Gahan president, Al fred Pigon, vice-president, Sam Conrad, secre tary, Henry Schlotfeld, treasurer, Mrs. W. Haldeman, corresponding secretary. SALVATION ARMY The work of this organization has been in termittently carried on in this community for many years. By the close of 1888 this organ ization had headquarters in the old Baptist building. Though no resident captain and his co-workers are stationed here, their familiar services are not strange to the people of this county, and never fail to meet a hearty re sponse. CHRISTIAN SCIENCE The work of this society has been carried on in Grand Island for almost thirty years. Geo. W. Bentley was an early leader and practitioner, at 403 East Fifth. Mrs. A. Cosh served for a good many years as a reader. Headquarters were maintained for a long period at 113^ South Pine, but the present place of worship of this congrega tion is in the 1000 block in West Third street. Other churches, of which no detailed facts have been secured, but which should be men tioned and their work preserved for the re membrance of future generations iu Hall County, are: The North Sweden First Scan- danavian Evangelical Lutheran church of Howard County, seven miles northwest of Grand Island, which has been the church home of some Hall County people; the Salem Ger man Lutheran church ; the Nazarene church, of which Rev. Beekman was the pastor for some years ; Rev. Schumann's Lutheran church, north of Grand Island; and the Ber wick church. Alda has had three churches that have car ried on the religious work of that community, the Methodist, United Brethern, and Friends. In Cairo, the Methodists, United Brethem, and Baptists have been the denomination to carry on the church work of the community. Wood River's churches have been treated at length already, and Doniphan's to some ex tent. CHAPTER XIX THE SCHOOLS OF HALL COUNTY The First School, by Fred Stolley — County Superintendents — District Number' One — District Number Four (J. M. Hanssen) — District Number Two, Grand Island — Extended Facilities in the 'Eighties — School Census of 1872 — Gradual Growth — School Board, Grand Island — District No. 26, Doniphan — District No. 8, Wood River — Schools of Wood River — District No. 12, Alda — District No. 72, Cairo — District No. 80 — District No. 101 — Directory of Present School Officers of County — Grand Island Business and Normal College — Grand Island College — Parochial Schools — Increasing Cost of Public School Education The pioneers lost but little time in getting educational facilities for their children, in fact as soon as the children first brought to Hall County by the original colony were of sufficient age to receive some public instruc tions, a means was provided. From log house quarters to splendid brick buildings has been a long road of fifty or fifty-five years, but a story in consistent keeping with the other phases of the county's progress. In some districts of Hall County the official records reach back to 1871 or 1872. Beyond that, it is necessary to resort to statements furnished by the earliest settlers, evfen though some minor disagreements might arise on such facts. As early as 1864 a private school was held in the neighborhood adjacent to Grand Island where the pioneers first settled. This terri tory was afterward organized into district number one (which is treated separately at some length) and also originally included a large part of what became district number two A first hand account of the earliest school has been furnished to us by Frederick Stolley, one of the pupils: The first school in Hall County was located on the Theodore Nagel farm, south of Grand Island, where George Baker now lii^es. The first scholars who attended Mr. Nagel's school (for this was a private school, with Mr. Nagel as teacher) were, Henry Henne, William Stelk, Fred LHienthal and myself, and later Charley Hann and John Hann were added to our list. The school house was Mr. Nagel's dwelling of logs, with an earthern roof. I remember one day that father and Mr. Menck visited our school, when it had rained very hard the night before and a drop of rain was still dripping here and there from the earthern roof, with some dirt and hay coming down, and soon there came tumbling down seven or eight young mice onto our studying table. The two older gentlemen asked in astonishment, "what is that?" Mr. Nagel answered, "Oh, that is nothing uncommon with us," and he reached out with his coat sleeve and brushed the family of young mice from the dining table, improvised for school work, onto the floor, and orders, "Fred, you take a broom and sweep that bunch of dirty creatures out doors." At other times the boys attending his school had to help Mr. Nagel keep his com field clean of weeds, which we were to pull up root and all. Our teacher never indulged in this kind of labor, but would wander over to the O. K. Store and buy a large sack fuH of sweet crackers for us. After we had devoured them he would order us back to school where we studied multiplication tables, and the "A.- B. C.'s." I think that is about as far as we ever got, except for some great ear pulling 348 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 349 stunts, and some terrific stick blows over our backs once in a while. Christian Goettsch and LiHie Scheel were also students at that school. 'Three years later the public school was put in its place, and gave our young people an opportunity to make acquaintance with the English language. The first (private) school handled by Mr. Nagel was a German school exclusively, because he was unable to even speak the English language, let alone teach it. But, otherwise, he was a very learned man and deserves due credit for his efforts in establish ing school work in this vicinity. This school was the only possible chance for us in those frontier days. The children derived a direct advantage through this school. COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS John Wallichs and Fred Hedde bore the burden of superintending the first schools of the county, during the first five years of the county's existence. There was not much of a tax roll to work with prior to 1872, and of course only a few school districts, so the posi tion was hardly a "fuH time job" at that. O. A. Abbott, Sr., was the next superintendent, and he resigned on AprH 1, 1873. His suc cessor, John D. Hayes, served about three years. Another lawyer, Henry Dunn, became superintendent in 1876, and James Ewing in 1878. D. H. Vantine was superintendent from 1882 to 1886. The next two superintendents were lawyers also, H. A. Edwards in 1886 and E. E. Thompson in 1890. Maynard Spink be came superintendent in 1894, served for six years, and afterwards moved to Beatrice. D. H. Fishburn served from 1900 to 1906. He is now interested in Paine-Fishburn Granite Works. Miss Margaret Brown, the first woman teacher to be advanced to the leader ship of the county schools, served around three years, and resigned to become state secretary of The Nebraska Sunday School Association. Her successor was Miss Dorothea KoHs, who gave her entire life to educational work in the county, first as a teacher, then as principal of the Wasmer school, and later as county super intendent, in which office she served efficiently for nine years until her death early in 1918. The majority of times that she ran for elec tion she was the official nominee of all political parties, thereby showing the unqualified en dorsement she received from the people as a whole. March 1, 1918, Miss Elizabeth Cunningham, who was then principal of the Jefferson ward school in Grand Island, was appointed county superintendent, elected for a four year term beginning January 9, 1919, and following her recent marriage to Arthur C. Mayer she re signed and in November, 1919, Prof. W. A. Julian of Wood River was elected to fill the vacancy. DISTRICT NO. ONE The boundaries of this district, commonly known as the "Stolley District," as given in the official school records in 1873, were: Commencing at the Northwest corner of Section One Township 11 North of Range 9 West, thence west two, and one half miles thence west one half mile, thence south three- quarters of a mile, thence west one half mHe, thence south one-fourth of a mile, thence west one and a quarter mile, thence south to Wood River, thence northeast along the north line of Wood River to the county line, thence north to the line of beginning. This boundary discription, of course, was placed in the records after the formation of District Two and at a time when the county had twenty-seven districts, so does not include the original boundaries of District One. The reports for the years 1871 and 1872 made to the county superintendent by C. L. Meves, director, discloses some facts concern ing the status of the district at that early date. The attendance in 1871 was seventeen, with forty-one children in the district between the ages of five and twenty-one, and 215 days of .school taught by qualified teachers. For 1872 the report showed twenty-one attending be tween ages of five and twenty-one out of forty- one children and one child under five admitted, and 308 days of school taught by Charles Rief, the teacher for both of these terms. The financial problem presented then is dis played in the figures showing assessment, $550 for teacher, school house valued at $345.22 and $20 aHowed for other purposes, given for 1871. The actual expenditures showed, teacher, $530, fuel $15, buHding school house, $326.22, other purposes, $10. 350 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA The families then living in the district who had children of school age, in 1871 were : Heinrich Schaaf (Ida, WHly, Emma, Minna, Heinrich), Joachim Doll, Sr. (Minna, Sophia, Ferdinand, Emma), Widow Hamann (Hans, Catharine, Miene, Heinrich, Alweine Paur- tian), John Graham (John, George, Vrathy), Hans Ruge (Hans, Christian, Antzie), Ed ward Math (Luiriane, Sophie), Hardwig Voss (Catharina, Caroliene), Christian Menck (Gustav, EmHie), Mary Stetch (WHhelm), Heinrich Joehncke (Willy, Frederick, Hein- ,rich, Carl, the latter reported in 1872), Adam Windolph (Eliere, Catharina, Tommy reported in 1872), WHHam Hagge (Caroline Scheel, Andrear Catharine), J. Timpke, (Claus Eg gers), Wm. Stolley (Fred, Anny, Minna, Willy, and in 1872, EmH), Jacob Gremmiter (Conrad). In 1872 C. A. Meves reported Dan. Grahams and Ruge were not reported in 1872 and a family named King with son Willy, age seven, came in, the total being forty-one for each year. DISTRICT NO. FOUR Before taking up a detaHed history of Dis trict Number Two (Grand Island) which necessarily wHl be of some length, we wiH digress and treat of District Number Four, slightly out of its numerical order. John M. Hanssen has furnished the follow ing very interesting story, which not only sheds light on the establishment of this particular district," but added to Mr. Stolley's story of the first school, gives a more comprehensive -idea of the difficulties under which Hall County's school system started out : The first record made public concerning dis trict No. 4, of those days, was the definition of Its boundaries by Fred Hedde, then acting as county superintendent on December 5 1867. In short, district No. 4 comprised in addition to present district four all of the present dis trict 28 and district 23. The first meeting of qualified voters of the new school district was held on November 16, 1867, and the first board elected were H Wrage moderator, John Wallichs, director, and John Lassen, treasurer. The first funds for the erection of a school house were col lected from the residents in that vicinity late in 1867, by donations . and at the beginning of 1868 they had $148 which thirty men had contributed. A meeting was held at the home of John Seier on January 16, 1869, and it was there decided to lease a site and build a frame school house, 20 x 17 feet and the site then leased is the same site where the present school house of district four now stands (1919). Further action was taken at this meeting to levy on all taxable property at one-half of one per cent and also $1. on each 40 acres to de fray expenses. John Lassen, John Seier and Claus Stoltenberg were chosen as the building committee. The first meeting held in the new school house was on October 1, 1868, and it was then decided to fix the school term at eight months ; a tax of one and one-half per cent was levied on all taxable property, plus the $1. on each 40 acres then taken up for paying the debt on the school house and hiring a teacher. From the early records of this district it is not plain who was the first teacher nor just when school really opened, but since the records of the treasurer of No. 4 show that Louis Lorenzen drew Order No. 1 on May 1, 1869, for $135, it must be surmised that he was the first teacher, for the school house was not finished untH October 1, 1868 and the funds were not raised until later, and if he had a predeci ssor, there is no record of any pay be ing made to such predecessor. At a meeting held June 1, 1871, it was de cided to build a log school house in the east ern end of the district, on the site where the school house of district No. 28 now stands ( 1919) . The logs and labor were fumished by the residents of that vicinity and a committee consisting of John Lassen, Theodore Scherz berg and Fritz Mathews, Sr. selected as build ing committee. It was further resolved to have a term of twelve months of school in the two schools of the district,nine months in the western or first schoolhouse, and three months in the eastern or second school house; that both schools be conducted and financed by District Four. Henry Rief was the first teacher who acted for both schools, at a salary of $45 a month. ¦ At a special meeting of June 12, 1873, it was resolved to buy the school site of the western school, one acre each of John Seier and lians Wrake, for $15 an acre, this being the same location occupied now (July, 1919). In perusing the records of District No. 4 through its fifty-two years of existence one cannot fail to be impressed with the foHow ing distinctive facts : 1st. The remarkable good salaries paid at HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 351 all times, considering the adversities met by the farmers of that vicinity in early times There is no record of less than $40 a month being paid, the rule being $50 and upwards. 2nd. That it was emphasized' at every meeting, as late as 1917 When the switch was made to the American language exclusively, that two languages should be taught, with pref erence given to the American language at all times. 3rd. At the majority of meetings a prefer ence for male teachers was brought forth, and this has been the prevailing rule in this dis trict. 4th. An uncommonly long school term has been maintained, always eight months at least. 5th. Good library facilities have been pro vided, with special attention also to the heat ing system. DISTRICT NO. TWO (GRAND ISLAND) A school was conducted in the new Grand Island community by private subscription for some time prior to the formal organization in 1868. At that time the district was formally organized, the first board chosen was com posed of Fred Wiebe, Henry A. Koenig and W. H. Piatt. The first public school was held in a one- story frame buHding on Second street opposite the City HaH block. Gov. O. A. Abbott, Sr., bears the honor of having taught the first pub lic school in that building. The children of Wiebes, Koenigs, Michelsons, and the Thor- speckens were the patrons of this early school. The parents and residents in general turned out and built this little 16 x 20 school house. Governor Abbott tells of having worked with a hatchet and saw to prepare the quarters in which he was to teach. A new one-story frame building was built on block 81, the Dodge school site, and formally opened on September 19, 1870, by a dedication that took the form of a dance with a supper, at the Railroad hotel. George Mc Kenzie became principal of this school at a salary of $784 a year! The building cost $2,- 895, and the district incurred a total indebted ness of $3,000. To cover this debt Governor Abbott prepared written school bonds, which were sold to Seth Lee of Cameron township. In 1874 it became necessary to provide for the increasing demand for school privileges and an addition was buHt to this building. In 1878 this addition Was moved to Block 20, where the Howard buHding now stands, and in the summer of 1884 it was moved to Lot 10, blk. 7, Evans addition, and named the Evans school. In 1912-1913 the addition to the Lincoln being completed, it was abandoned and later moved to the Piatt grounds as an annex. The main part of the old buHding on the Dodge site was sold to the Presbyterian people and by them moved to Front street where their church now stands. It was occu pied by that society for many years and finally sold to Fred Sears and by him moved to Front street, between Walnut and Spruce, where it is used for business purposes. It appears that the law then in force did not give to a school district of the class of Grand Island authority to vote bonds. There fore, the erection of a first brick buHding was considerably delayed, until the necessary authority could be secured from the state legis lature. Accordingly the passage of an act of the legislature was secured, empowering the district to vote $15,000 in 20 year 10% bonds. The proposition to issue bonds for building a school house received 141 votes. O. A. Ab bott, C. E. Lykke and John Wallichs were elected trustees in April, 1878, and William Anyan, T. J. Hurford and B. C. Howard were appointed to act with the trustees as a school building committee. Thereafter these bonds were sold at 90 cents on the dollar, refunding at 6%. Immediately after the sale of the bonds the district contracted for the erection of a two-story and basement brick, eight room building on Block 81, which was completed in 1879. This building cost the district $20,000 and at that time appeared to be large enough to provide for the needs of the district for many years to come. The new school-building and the old courthouse, built in 1872, were then the only brick buildings in town. They were referred to as evidences that the people were here to stay and of the sub stantial faith they had in the future of the country. The Union Pacific RaHroad Company hav- 352 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Top — Dodge School (Old High School), Grand Island Bottom — Grand Island High School HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA ing donated this Block 81 to the district, this buHding was given the name of "Dodge." In the chapter on railroads a more detailed ex planation is given of the important part that General Grenyille M. Dodge played in saving this foute and permanently establishing the Union Pacific Railroad, and it was only fitting to honor in this way the man who as much as any one individual carried a big burden in the development of this western country. EXTENDED FACILITIES NECESSARY As early as 1880 the capacity of this building was overtaxed and rooms in the basement and outside roomes were fitted up and occupied temporarily for school purposes. During the years 1883 and 1884 a four room addition was built to the Dodge building, costing $7,600, and a new eight-room, two-story and basement building known as-.the Howard school was built on Block 20, on Fifth street, between Syca more and Kimball, costing $20,000. It was likewise appropriate that the name of this sec ond substantial school building should be se lected in honor of a man, Blake C. Howard, who devoted his spare energies and time from his raHroad duties as master mechanic of the Union Pacific shops and mechanical depart ments, to the upbuHding of Grand Island's school districts. In 1886 the Wasmer school was built, on West Division between Monroe and Jackson streets, at a cost of $5,125. This school was a one-story and basement brick, two-room buHding, and was named after the man who laid out the addition in which it was located. The Piatt building was given that name in honor of Nathan Piatt, member of the board at that time, and for some years its secretary. The main part of the Piatt building, located on a site owned by the district at the comer of Cleburn and Seventh streets, was built in 1888. Six years later a two-room addition was added, making a four-room 'and basement buHding. In 1890 additions were buHt to the Dodge and Howard buildings, costing respec tively $11,900 and $9,874. The Handy school was located on the Piatt site and moved to its present location on North Madison between Fifth and Sixth streets. The Lincoln school is a four-room and basement building on the corner of Eighth and Beal streets. The Jefferson is now the largest ward school in the city, an eight-room and basement building on West Jefferson and West Seventh street, and is soon to be enlarged by a new addition. The Evans school, as hereto fore stated, was that part of the Dodge buHd ing which was moved to the Howard site and later in 1884 to Lot 10, Block 7, Evans Addition. In 1919 an issue of $350,000 of school bonds was authorized at a special election. This is to be the foundation of an extensive program for bringing Grand Island's school facilities up to an adequate basis. The program includes the building of a two-room school in West Lawn, now under construction at the corner commonly known as "Five Points." An addition to the Jefferson school' is to foHow; and new buildings are to be erected, at Charles and Cleburn for a South Side junior high school between Fifth and Sixth, and between Elm and Cleburn streets of a new high school building, and the con version of the present high school building into a North Side junior high school building. To the greater majority who have attended the Grand Island schools, and especially those who graduated and became alumni, the thought of "high school" wHl bring memories of the old "Dodge" building, which housed the high school for a quarter of a century. The Dodge building eventually became so crowded that even after primary grades had been crowded into unsanitary and unfit base ment rooms, it became necessary to erect a special high school building. For several years the board had such a building in contemplation, but felt that the bonded indebtedness should be reduced before beginning so large an under taking. Consequently it was not until March, 1904, that the initiatory step was taken towards the erection of a high school building. It was decided by the board, after an examina tion of other high schools of the state, to ask the taxpayers for an issue of $60,0(X) high school bonds. In November, 1905, the ques- 354 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Howard Wasmer GRAND ISLAND SCHOOLS Lincoln Platt Jefferson HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 355 tion of the isuance of $60,000, 10-20 41^ per cent bonds was submitted and authorized by the voters. The bonds were issued and sold for a premium of $314 and accured interest de liverable in instaHments of $10,000 at the op tion of the district. F. A. Henninger pre pared the plans for the building, and J. H. Wagenkneckt of Wathena, Kansas, secured the contract for $47,127. The firm of Wirth & Winterbottom of Falls City, Nebraska, se cured the contract for a plumbing and heat ing plant at $9,500. The excavating was be gun on October 9, 1906, the building was com pleted and occupied January 20, 1908. Fare well exercises to the old high school rooms of the Dodge building were held in the old rooms in the aftemoon of Friday January 17. The building has a frontage on North Wal nut street of 140 feet and a depth of 85. It has two stories and a basement with an eleva tion of ten feet above the grade line. It is steam heated and electric lighted, and well ventilated. There are fourteen well lighted, commodious recitation rooms, chemical and physical laboratories and lecture rooms, an auditorium with a seating capacity of 240, a gymnasium 40 x 60 feet and offices and emerg encies rooms in the building. The school census, sworn to on March 17, 1872, by Fred A. Wiebe, showed the follow ing families with children of school age then residing in District Two : H. P. Handy (Wil lie, Nellie, LHlie, Handy and Barbara Wolf), John S. Vorley (Emery, Lonesa, Hellen, Louisa and John), Samuel Schreckengast (WiHiam, John), Henry Stratman (Dietrich, Mary, WiHiam, Annie), John G. Stark (Wil liam, Lena), C. Comelius (Gustav, Annie), Claus Obermueller (Mary Obermueller, Anna Eggert), Joseph Jeneman (Lizzie), Wm. Spafford (Adalbert, O. D. Day, LyHe Clark), John Hann (John, Henry, Lina), Wm. GoeH- ner (William, Paul, Lena, Christina Smith), Henry Koebig (Richard, Lena Stoltenberg, Charlotte Wasmer), Hans ObermueHer (Win nie), R. S. Buchanan (Harry, Eldridge, Ed gar), John Peterson (Auris, John), Phillip Voitl (Joseph, John), C. F. RoHins (George) Nelinda Higgins (Lizzie), Joseph Hay (Grazie, Lena), W. H. Platt (Maggie), F. A. Weibe (Charles), Edward Hooper (Annie, MiHie, AHie), A. Thorspecken (Julia, Au gustus, Hattie), John Wallichs (Augusta, Frederick), B. B. Kelley (Rena), Th. Warren (WiHiam), Joseph), Thomas Warren (Nancy), James Michelson (Lena, Anna, Minnie, Fred), Ch. Heusinger (Lenora, Sylvena, Clara), Austin A. Richardson (Hattie, Nettie, Annie), Chas. Jerome (Frank), L. W. RoHins (George, Bessie, Mary Lane), J. Baldwin (A. Foote), Jacob Keep (Mary, Hattie), R. W. Town- send (Mary), Jos. Kilian (Mary), Martin Hurley (Charles), Louis Engel (August), W. H. Pyne (Fanny), (Mary Kelly, Lizzie KeHey, Jennie Woltz, Mary Menge), R. C. Jordon (Marie, Carrie, Racheal Shadwick, Arnold), Edmond Cronon (Mary, Sarah, Helerghan), Sylvester Hair (Raney,Nancy, Willie), Joseph Wortley (Emma, John E., WHHam George, Joseph, Maryetta, Albert), J. W. Norris (James and Rueben Jenkins, Jos. Norris) , Geo. G. Hoff (Annie), B. C. Howard (Geo.,Loretta, Emma, Clarence, Maggie), Samuel Heyman (Reed), Fred Spangenberg (Dora, Linda, Lenora), Gottfried Klinge (Joseph, Lizzie), C. R. Krantz (Robert), H. C. ChurchiH (F. W.Churchill). In 1872 the expenditures showed for male teachers, $1,052.50 and female teachers, $280; for fuel, $105.77; for buHding school houses $1,458.39; and repairing school houses $100.19, and for all other purposes $107.40. Text books used at that time in the Grand Island schools included Wooster spelling books, HHliard readers, Spencerian writing books, French's arithmetics, Bryant-Stratton bookkeeping, Robinson and Davies' algebras, Gundt geographies, Harvey's grammars, and Quackenbos' histories. John D. Hayes and Geo. G. McKenzie were two of the teachers for that year. The schools in 1876 were presided over by B. F. Bellows of Painsville, Ohio, assisted by Miss Meth. Students enrolled in the high school then were H. P. Clark, H. C. Howard, C. G. Hurford, S. C. Huston and F. W. Cramer, and the female students, J. L. Bacon, 356 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA J. Heffleman, A. E. Hooper, E. E. Howard, A. M. Hurford, M. C. Hurford, H. Shoe maker, H. K. Van Pelt, E. L- Watson, and A. Wiseman. The teachers employed in August, 1877, were Henry Garn, Nellie Butterfield, BeHe Ferguson and Mrs. Camille Ballou Laine. The enumeration of school membership in Grand Island in 1879 was 525 ; in 1880, 667 ; in 1881, 835, in 1882, 939, in 1882-1883, 974 and in 1883-1884, 1,046. In 1884-1885 there were 1,160 chHdren enrolled, and this enrollment has continued until it has grown to such pro portions that in 1914-1915 there were 2,587 enrolled, in 1915-1916, 2,667, in 1916-1917, 2,819, and in 1917-1918, 3,039. When Mr. Barr came to the schools in the fall of 1882, there was no outlined course of study, with a definite aim, for the schools. There was no high school as such, only an aggregation of pupils pursuing different branches of study, much as was done in the country schools, and one of the first tasks of the new superintendent was to write a course of study for the schools and organize the high school. The high school course has since been developed into six different lines of work or courses including a strong commercial course and work in domestic arts and science and manual training. In June, 1883 the first commencement of the Grand Island high school was held and the class of graduates were Miss May D. Lamb, Effie M. Taylor, P. S. Heffleman, Mary C. Hurford and Mrs. George Bell, formerly Emma Howard. In 1884 a class of five were graduated ; in 1885 and in 1886 there were seven graduates. In June of 1888 the class comprised Kate A. Hurley, Clara L. Pierce, Mary E. Brennan, Hattie M. Clendenin, Carrie L. Fraser, Nellie M. White, Nellie M. Serviss, Ada C. Laine, Jennie Oppenheimer, and John F. Mathews, the last named graduate having now served as principal of the Grand Island High Schools for twenty-two years. In 1878 the school trustees for Grand Island district were R. C. Jordon, H. A. Koenig, John Wallichs, O. A. Abbott and W. H. Platt. Their successors in this office were as foHows : Elected April, 1878, R. C. Jordon, mode rator, W. H. Platt, director, H. A. Koenig, treasurer. April, 1879, trustees were R. C. Jordon, O. A. Abbott, H. A. Koenig, C. E. Lykke, T. J. Hurford, W. H. Platt, elected, O. A. Abbott, moderator, director, W. H. Platt, treasurer, H. A. Koenig. On June 17, 1897, the board hired Prof. Olmstead to teach at $1,000 a year; Miss Sears, Miss Butterfield, Miss Ferguson were employed as teachers. In July the board em ployed Mrs. Harrison, Miss Watts, Miss Mc Nish and Miss Kate McCarthy for the ensu ing year, and in September added Miss Peter son to the force. April, 1880, the board organized with O. A. Abbott as moderator, W. H. Platt, director, and H. A. Koenig, treasurer. Teachers elected in 1880 were: John Janss, Sylvia McNish, Mellie Butterfield, Clara Petersen, Vina Watts, Kate McCarthy, Emma Sears, Prof. Olmstead as principal. In October, 1880, another teacher was found necessary and Mrs. Kelly was selected at $25 per month. The board at the beginning of 1881 consisted of Abbott, Hurford, Jordon and Koenig. Miss McNish resigned in December, 1880, and Miss Butterfield resigned in March, 1881. Mrs. Boehne was hired. In 1881 the board organized under a new school law and the following members were elected at the city election: C. P. Handy, T. J. Hurford, Blake C. Howard. J. P. Ker nohan, O. A. Abbott, and S. N. Wolbach, with Howard as chairman and Kernohan as sec retary. Teachers elected in 1881 were John Janss, Belle Ferguson, C. A. Peterson, Vina Watts, Emma Sears, Kate McCarthy, Mrs. M. D. Boehne, Anna Milgate, Mrs. Ahce Kelly. Later in the term Alice Tomlinson, Ida E. Mack, Jennie Alvord, Katie Kirk- patrick, L. E. Hamilton, G. E. Barber, Mrs. M. J. Sprague were added to the teaching force. In 1882 Howard was president and Ker nohan, secretary of the board. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 357 On August 14, 1882, the following entry appears on the minutes of the Grand Island school board: "Special meeting adjourned from Aug. 7, 1882 (at which time the resignation of Prin cipal Grove E. Barber had been received). "Voted, that we now ballot for Prin. Schools for the coming year. First Ballot. Robt. J. Barr 4 votes Sapp 2 votes "Robert J. Barr was declared elected and secretary authorized to communicate with him." And Mr. Barr has been serving Grand Island's public schools ever since, for thirty- seven years. Where is a community that can match that record? The board in 1883 were W. H. Platt, C. P. Handy, B. C. Howard, Fetherstenaugh, H. C. Held, C. F. Bentley, and organized with Platt as president and Bentley as secretary. In 1884 the new board was Thomas, Held, Bentley, Platt, Bush and Murphy, organized with Howard, president, and M. Murphy as secretary. In 1885 Messrs. Held, Bush, Platt and Murphy held over and two new members elected were Ball and Martin. In 1886 the board members were Howard, BaH, Platt, Murphy, Sanders and Handy. At a board meeting on April 4, 1887, the following resolution was adopted : "Resolved, That we now name our school buildings and give them names by which they will be known hereafter, dropping those names of a sectional character. "Resolved, That the school buildings at the east and west ends of the city be, as already, known by their names, respectively, of the rEvans' and 'Wasmer' schools, as that wiH only be an evidence of our appreciation of the generosity of the donors. "Resolved, That we call the high school building on the south side the Dodge School, the name commemorating the president of the board, who donated the land upon which it is located. [Referring to Gen. GrenviHe M. Dodge of Union Pacific railroad.] And that the north side building be known as the Howard School in honor of B. C. Howard, long a member and president of the board." In June, 1887, a committee of the Lieder kranz Society was appointed to prepare and obtain signatures for a petition to the school board, asking for the teaching of German in aH of the city schools. L. Veith, H. C. Held, Ad. Egge, Frederick Hedde, George Cor nelius and Henry Vieregg formed this com mittee. The board in 1887 consisted' of Messrs. Howard, BaH, Platt, Handy, Sanders and Murphy, all holdovers or re-elected, with Mr. N. Platt as president and Murphy as secre tary. Teachers elected were R. J. Barr, superintendent, Mrs. M. E. McLaughlin, Miss Anna L. Nichols, Mrs. C. T. CaldweH, Grace M. Edwards, Ida Heffleman, Christie Terpen- ning, Lucy Sanders, May D. Lamb, Kate M. Thorn, Mrs. R. C. Glanville, May C. Hur ford, Anna West, Amelia F. Hodgkins, Emma Mohrenstecher, J. H. Thompson, Miss Ser viss, Florence Horton, Eva, Murphy, Hattie Van Kuren, Mrs. Emma Brewster. Other teachers for that term were E. E. Cole, D. H. Van Tine, Anna L. Nuckolls, Max Eisen- beiss. In 1888 Geo. Mohrenstecher succeeded Mr. Ball on the board, and he was elected secre tary. The board in 1889 consisted of Platt, G. H. Geddes, Chas. Rief, E. Sorenson, Hockenber ger, and Mohrenstecher. The board of 1890 consisted of Rief, Geddes, Hockenberger, Sorenson, Mohrenstecher and Platt. In 1890 teachers elected were : Prof. R. J. Barr, E. E. Cole, H. H. Thompson, M. Eisenbeiss, Hallie M. Squires, Hattie L. Van Keuren, Mrs. C. F. Caldwell, Eva Murphy, May D. Lamb, E. M. Mohrenstecher, Ida L. Francis, Ida Heffleman, Mrs. M. E. McLaugh lin, Mrs. G. W. Edwards, Mrs. Jennie Glan vHle, Mayme B. Crownover, Jessie Haggett, Lillian Cole, Kate M. Thorne, D. H. Van tine, Nellie^ Murphy, Mary Brennan, John F. Mathews (stiH principal of high school in 1919), Delia B. Edwards, Minnie Guthrie, Carrie Fraser, Rose Wickwire, Carrie Knipley, 358 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Mrs. C. Peterson, Edith Irvine, Edith Whit ney, Kate Hurley, Hattie Norris, Anna Rief. The total cost of running Grand Island's schools for the school year 1889-1890 was $30,935.70, while for the year from July 1, 1917, to July 1, 1918, it had grown to $89,- 672. 58. In 1898 the schools employed forty-one teachers and in 1918 there were eighty-six on the force. In 1891 Al MHler and Chas. Milisen came onto the school board. In 1892 the board consisted of G. H. Geddes, B. C. Howard, A. C. Miller, Chas. Milisen, Louis Veit, Nathan Platt and Geo. Mohrenstecher, with E. C. Hockenberger as secretary and E. Sorenson. Chas. Milisen died in February 1893, and his place was taken by C. B. Handy. The new board organized in July, 1893, were Geo. A. Mohrenstecher, president, B. C. Howard, vice-president, E. C. Hockenberger, secretary, and Messrs. O. A. Abbott, H. C. Miller, E. Searson, E. Sorenson, G. H. Geddes, and Louis Veit. The board organized in July, 1894, were G. H. Geddes, president, L. Veit, vice-president, Wm. Frank, secrteary, Messrs, Abbott, D. A. Finch, Ed. Sorenson, R. L. Harrison, and Henry Mayer. Mr. Frank resigned as secre tary and Mr. Mayer was elected. The board organized in July, 1895, with L- Veit as president, O. A. Abbott as vice-presi dent, and E. Searson as secretary, and Messrs. Howard, D. A. Finch, L. F. Farnsworth, G. H, Geddes, R. L. Harrison and Wm. Frank. On July 29, 1895, A. H. Waterhouse was elected principal of the high school. He was principal here for two years. He then re signed to become principal of Lincoln, Ne braska, high school, which position he later re signed to take the principalship of Omaha high school and after some years he was elected superintendent of schools at Fremont, Nebraska, which position he now occupies. In 1896 members elected to the board were ¦Thos. C. Shaw, H. S. Ferrar and G. H. Geddes. Holdover members were Howard, Farnsworth, Harrison, Frank, Veit and Finch. Geddes was elected president and Dr. D. A. Finch secretary. A. H. Waterhouse was reelected principal of the high school and Bayard H. Paine (now district judge) and John F. Matthews (now principal of the high school) reelected and E. A. McGlasson elected principal of Howard school. The board in 1897 organized with L. Veit as president, G. H. Geddes, vice-president, R. L. Harrison, secretary, and members, D. A. Finch, W. R. McAllister, H. S. Ferrar, B. C. Howard and L. F. Farnsworth. Before the close of the school year 1897-8 Assistant Principal Bayard H. Paine became court reporter for District .Judge Jno. R. Thompson and left the school work. The board as reorganized on July 5, 1898, comprised Louis Veit, president, R. L. Har rison, secretary, and members were Mc Allister, G. H. Geddes, H. S. Ferrar, L. F. Farnsworth, D. A. Finch, B. C. Howard and a new member, Henry Rosswick. High school teachers elected in 1898 were John F. Mat thews, principal. Miss Edith Abbott, Grace Bentley, and Mrs. C. Petersen, Mrs. S. A. Clarke for music, M. M. Burnham for draw ing and Ella Blunk for German in the grades. In July, 1899, Miss Edith Abbott resigned as assistant principal of high school and Miss Grace Abbott became her successor as teacher of history. H. O. Sutton, now of the Kear ney Normal staff, became assistant principal of high school. The board for 1899-1900 were Messrs. Veit, Harrison, Finch, Mc Allister, Farnsworth, Howard, Ferrar, Ross wick, and Geddes, being the same members as served the year before. In July, 1900, the board reorganized. M. H. Wilkins was elected to fill a vacancy, vice B. C. Howard, deceased. H. A. Edwards came on as new member for three years, and G. H. Geddes and R. L. Harrison were re elected. L. Veit, president, and R. L. Harri son, secretary, were reelected and L. F. Farns worth chosen as vice-president. During the ensuing year the board was composed of Messrs, Veit, Wilkins, Mc Allister, H. S. Farrar, L. F. Farnsworth, G, HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 359 H. Geddes, H. Rosswick, and R. L. Harrison, Mr. Harrison died in Febmary, 1901, and A, Cosh was appointed in his place. In 1901 Lewis S, Moore was elected for a term of three years and Bayard H. Paine for a term of two years, and Messrs, Veit and Cosh reelected. From that time on the new members and old members reelected to serve on the board, each year were: 1902 — C. B. Norris, new member, vice L. F. Farnsworth, otherwise the board re mained the same. 1903 — B. H. Paine, H. A. Edwards and Henry Rosswick were reelected. 1904 — A. Cosh, L. S. Moore and Louis Veit were reelected for a term of three years. 1905 — H. S. Farrar and W. R. McAHister were reelected and Mr. John Dohrn came onto the board. 1906 — Messrs. H. A. Edwards, and Henry Rosswick were reelected and Chas. B. Norris came back to the board. 1907 — Louis Veit was reelected and Chas. Frahck and Dr. B. R. McGrath succeeded Dr. Moore and Mr. Cosh. 1908 — John Dohrn was reelected and Wm. T. Alden and John R. Geddes succeeded Messrs. Ferrar and McAHister. 1909 — H. A. Edwards and Chas. B. Norris were reelected for three year terms and A. J. Baumann came onto the board for a full term and Wm. Scheffel was elected for a two year term vice Alden, and Henry Vieregg for a one year term, to succeed Louis Veit, who died after serving as a member of the board for seventeen years. 1910 — Vieregg and Dr. McGrath were re elected for three years and A. B. Harriott succeeded Mr. Fralick. 1911 — Scheffel and Dohrn were reelected and Simon E. Sinke succeeded Geddes. 1912 — A. J. Baumann was reelected and Jos. R. Fulton and Jens Rasmussen succeeded Norris and Edwards. 1913 — Dr. B. R. McGrath was reelected, with Mrs. Grace Bentley Paine and Mrs. Jennie S. Shuman as the new members. These two women served the full term of three years and were not candidates for reelection and were the only women who have served as members up to the date of the publication of this history. During this period domestic science and manual training were added to the course of study. 1914 — Simon E. Sinke was reelected and O. A. Abbott, Jr., and J. E. Lyle came onto the board. 1915 — A. J. Baumann and Jens Rasmussen were reelected and Julius Boeck succeeded Mr. Fulton. 1916 — Three new members were elected, Theo, P, Boehm, Cari H, Menck aiid Fred erick H, Colwell. 1917 _0. A. Abbott, Jr., J. E. Lyle and Simon E. Sinke were reelected. 1918 — E. H. Baker, W. A. Dmliner and Herman Nelson were elected. Mr. Drulinger resigned to become janitor of high school and P. Ralph Neumeyer was appointed to fill the vacancy. Menck, Neumeyer and Dr. ChoHette were elected in 1919. DISTRICT 26 (DONIPHAN ) In 1875 District 26 reported twenty-two children of school age residing therein, sixteen in attendance, and 160 days of school for that year. William H. Sampson received $75 for teaching the term, and $9 was reported for fuel and other purposes. McGuffey's and Sanders speHers, McGuffey's and HiHiard readers, Spencerian writing books, Ray's arith metic and Carnell's geographies were used to instruct the pioneer youth of the Doniphan community. The report was made by Director Eli M. Burger, and showed the following families then residing in the district, and their children of school age : Eli M. Burger (Wm. E. Minnie M. John E.), Wm. J. Burger (Flora), Samuel Kill- patrick (Franklin, Wm. T., Rhoda L. E„ M. A. E.), H. C. Denman (Jeanie), Wm. Barber (Cora, Ennis), C. T. Poe (Sarah B. Furger- son, Frederick, Margeret Foe), J. T. Steams (Alonza, Minie, Stephen, Tabitha, Hattie), 360 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Elic Grayham (George, Thomas Warren), An thony Altoff (Joan), Mary M. Smith (Marsh all, Marry, Mariah and Alice). DISTRICT NO. 8 (WOOD RIVER) In 1873 the annual report of School Dis trict No. 8 showed ten boys and eleven girls- residing in the disttrict of school age, and six boys and twelve girls of school age attend ing the school and two under five years of age. Sixty days of school were held during the term, as reported by David Barrick, director, on AprH 5, 1873, and the teacher was Re becca Hilerman, whe served for $30 per Wood River School month. Expenditures for the term were teacher $59, with $31 due, fuel $15. The families living in the district, in 1873 who had children of school age were Lewis Abbott (Warren W.), David Barrick (Mary C, Ina R.), Nicholas Burkerd (Ida, Julius), John Conners (Fannie), Otto Homan (Wil liam, Mary, Andrew), Franklin Howe (John), Samientha Hunt (Fannie), Josephus H. Mur phy (Alice, Nellie, Newton), Nathaniel Ramsdel (Harry, Ruben), Charles E Towne (Edwin S.), Frederick T. Welch (Etta, Al- -ford, Angeline), Benjamin Wagner (Mary). The report for 1872 showed some other famHies; Samuel Guy (Mary, Belle and Franklin), M. Hilerman (Servina, Anna, Wil lis, Adda), and WiHiam Wells (Wallace). ' SCHOOLS OF WOOD RIVER As early as 1864 there was instituded a school at Old Wood River with an attend ance of from five to ten pupils. This school was continued until some years later it was organized into District No. 5. It was not until 1872 that the settlement was advanced sufficiently around the present site of Wood River to organize a school. In that year Dis trict Ko. 8 was organized with Hi Jones, David Barrick and Joseph Dunphy as a board of trustees and Miss Rebekah HHeman (later Mrs Hi Jones) was instaHed a teacher in a little school house just outside the present corporate limits of Wood River, and eleven pupils were enrolled. Following Miss HHe man, John Allan, so well known to Hall County people for his long faithful service as clerk of the district court and abstractor in years since then, "taught the young idea how to shoot." In 1882 Charles Thompson was elected principal and Mrs. Anna Buden- burg assistant, with two additional teachers. It was in this year that the large frame school building was commenced, it having at that time four rooms. Prof. Thompson was succeeded by Prof. F. L- Morris who had charge of the schools from the fall of 1883 to the fall of 1885, when Prof. Thomp son was again elected principal and served in that capacity until 1888 when he was suc- seeded by Prof. W. L. Sprague, who con tinued at the head of the school until 1894 when he accepted a position as cashier of the Citizens' State Bank. Following Prof. Sprague came Prof. A. H. Seymour, and in 1895 he was succeeded by Prof. J. H. Ellison, who taught for one year, and his successor was Prof. J. A. Beard who stayed four years. Prof. Baker, 1902-1907; Stephenson, 1907- 1909; HuH, 1909-1912; Vance, 1912-1913; Colbert, 1913-1914, and in 1914, Prof. Julian, who is still in charge of Wood River's schools came. In recent years Wood River has erected a splendid school buHding, modern in every respect. DISTRICT NO. 12 (alda) The report for the year 1872, made by Thos. Mitchell, director, showed nine boys and six teen girls of school age, with eleven boys and twelve girls actually attending school in that HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 361 district. One hundred and twenty days of school were taught by John Harrison and Mrs. Jenny Sweet, each teaching one-half term. The school house cost $1,790 to buHd, repairs $4 and rent $15 were. shown also for that year. Fuel was $24.90, and $210 was paid to the teachers. The famHies then residing in the district, with children of school age were : Wallace Spirk (Cora, Mary, Florence), W. Farr (Earnest), C. L. Goodrich (Eva Goodrich), Mrs, McCarty (Catherine), D, Barnholster (George, Mary, Elizabeth), Jenny Sweet (Minie), Mr. Straub (James, WiHiam, George, Lydie, Amelia, Mary and Gorden), A. J. Lockeby (Hiram), John Watsen (Claten, Martha), J. H. Andrews (WiHiam), WiHiam MitcheH (Merty), E. Brown, guardian (Ad- die Delap), and Thomas MitcheH (H. F., John and Caudis). Text books used were Worcester's spell ing, HHlard's readers, John H. French's arith metic, Gyatt's geographies, Harvey's grammar and Goodrich's histories. DISTRICT NO. 72 ( Cairo) A petition was presented on August 30, 1886, signed by the proper number of quali fied resident tax-payers asking that certain sections be detached from School District 58 and joined with certain sections in District 64, and a new district formed. The petition was sworn to and presented by O. L. Brainard. After being favorably acted upon, this new dis trict became No. 72. A partial report was made for the school year beginning in the fall of 1886 by District 72 and part of the work re ported by District 58, by G. W. Tingley, director, filed on the 8th of April, 1887, a new school census, which showed the follow ing families then residing in that new district, who had children of school age : G. W. Ting- ley (Belle, Edwin, Walter G.), Wm Thomp son (MaybeH), Geo Elfers (Birtha), Mr. Chase (Edward, John, Arthur, Chase), (Al bert Wingert), Wm. Ofield (Frank, William, Mary, Lottie, Reta, Lucy, Emma, Ida), D. T. CHne (Bessie, Lucien Cline, Carrie Hammer), Sherman Dunlap (Nellie Gillette), Joseph Hancock (Pearly, Minnie, Thomas), W. H. Jump (Myrtle and Ethel), and M. Mann (George). During the tern ending in 1887, the teacher was Lura Maxon, and the report showed eleven boys and sixteen girls between five and twenty-one years and two below five in at tendance. Sixty days of school were held for the term, and the teacher received $30 per month. DISTRICT NO. 80 Upon October 12, 1901, Fred Stolley filled a petition with the county superintendent, ask ing that all land situated between the south channel and the north bank of the the middle channel of the Platte River, now in District Number 28 be set out and formed in a district known as District No. 80. That "if said peti tion should be granted that it be done upon the condition that if at any time there is no need for a school in said newly formed district, the land shall fall back . to district twenty- eight." This new district was the last regularly formed district in Hall County, and at the opening of the year 1919 was running under the direction of its original board, Fred Stol ley, Grand Island, Mrs, A, Schimmer, Grand Island, and Julius Peters, Grand Island. DISTRICT NO. 101 Hall County's youngest school district is her share of a new consolidated district formed in the extreme southeastern corner, out of territory in Clay, Adams, Ha'milton and Hall Counties. The Hall County students attending this consolidated school for school year were: Imogene, Genevieve and Lucile, children of Wm. Hazle, Trumbull, Nebraska, Lucile, daughter of W. E, Christopher, Raymond and Elgin, chHdren of Homer Loucks, Marjorie and Delbert, chHdren of Truman Barrows, Thomas and Marie, children of L. Stevenson, Harold, son of John Hazle, and Elwood, son of F, E. Castle. The number of chHdren of school age in Hall County has been increasing steadily dur ing the past decade. The same condition ap- 362 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA plies to school children in the city of Grand Island. But the school population in the rural districts, or outside Grand Island, has been growing less during the past ten years. This astonishing fact was shown when the school census taken in each mral school dis trict was compiled in the office of county superintendent in 1919. A comparison of the census facts of this year with 1918 dis covers that there were 147 children fewer in the rural districts this year than in 1918. In fact there are fewer school children now than ten years ago in the rural districts. Reasons for this state of affairs are diffi cult to find. Some explanations have been offered, but naturally they are only guesses. One is that many farmers have been moving to Grand Island in order to take advantage of better school facilities permitted there. An other suggestion is that the birth rate has been lower, large . families not being so customary as in former years. The total number of children of school age — that is, between five and twenty-one — in the county outside of Grand Island, as shown by the 1919 census is 3,058. In 1918 there were 3,205 children of school age in the rural districts. Ten years ago, or in 1909, there were 3,188 children in the same school districts. .The following table shows changes in school population. The first column shows the year, the second column shows the total school population, the third column shows the city school population, and the last column the school children in the rural districts. Year County City Rural 1919 3,058 1918 6,725 3,520 3,205 1917 6,421 3,375 2,986 1916 6,297 3,311 2,986 1915 6,347 3,250 3,097 1914 6,194 3,149 3,045 1913 6,156 3,040 3,116 1912 6,094 2,870 3,224 1911 5,783 2,676 3,107 1910 5,707 2,553 3,154 1909 5,840 2,652 3,188 A comparison also was made by The In dependent of the changes in school population in other towns in the county than Grand Is land, The result showed Wood River had more school children than ten years ago, Alda had fewer school children this year ^:han in 1909. The same is true with Doniphan. Cairo has more this year than in 1909, though fewer than in any of the five years previous to 1919. During the entire eleven years, 1909 to 1919 inclusive, the banner year according to school population was 1912 for Wood River, 1909 for Alda, 1916 for Doniphan, and 1916 for Cairo. The following table shows the changes in school population in these towns since 1909: Wood Doni Year River Alda phan Cairo 1919 325 93 165 152 1918 ....- 301 93 174 177 1917 304 93 174 194 1916 322 ¦ 89 195 207 1915 332 82 182 195 1914 315 78 168 161 1913 311 93 159 140 1912 334 100 157 154 1911 318 81 161 139 1910 308 97 165 135 1909 319 101 174 123 GRAND ISLAND BUSINESS AND NORMAL COLLEGE Another excellent educational institution which though a private institution has been an iportant factor in the educational activities of Hall County, is the Grand Island Business and Normal College. This institution was started in 1885 by Prof. Hargis, Prof Rucker and Prof Evans. The beginning was very small with an insignificant number of pupHs, and some of the citizens came to the assist ance by buying certificates of scholarship, though they had no immediate use for them. During the slow progress of the first years of the school. Profs. Evans and Rucker re tired, and Prof Hargis and his wife, the sister of Prof. Evans and then the teacher of short hand in the school, took sole charge. The number of scholars grew rapidly, the faculty HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 363 Grand Island Business and Normal College 364 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA enlarged and more rooms added to the quar ters of the school. By 1897 the institution used the whole upper floor of a building at Third and Spmce. A business course, a nor mal course, and a shorthand course have been the main courses offered by the school. The school has in recent years been quartered in the five-story building at South Locust street, between Second and Third streets. Prof. Hargis is now residing in Los Angeles, and Prof. A. L. Dunn, who has acquired in inter est in the school, is the resident manager of the institution. This school has grown to such proportons that it has a very numerous faculty and at times in the year has an enroll ment exceeding 300 students. Its importance as a contributing factor to the commercial institutions of the town through the large number of students it brings from several states, for their board, room-rent and cloth ing expenses are no small factor in the com mercial business of the city, and its contribu tion to the postal receipts of the town, eri- title it to be considered with the commercial as well as the educational institutions of the city and county. grand island college By Rev. R. R. Coon As early as 1867 the Baptists of Nebraska, in the first meeting of the state convention, passed resolutions favoring a school of higher learning. But more than a score of years passed before a coHege was started in Grand Island. This city donated for these purposes property including two brick buildings and twelve to fifteen acres of land, valued at about $60,000. The school opened in October, 1892, as an academy with Prof, A, M, Wilson act ing as president. The enrollment of pupHs was fifty during that year. The year closed in doubt and discouragement. In 1893 Dr, George Sutheriand, then of Ottawa University, Kansas, was elected presi dent and at once took charge of the work. As president, almost founder, he has rendered a service beyond estimate during eighteen years presidency. The academy was changed to a College, indebtedness was met, a faculty was secured, and the College opened with forty students, with a score or more entering dur ing the year. This was an encouraging and heroic beginning. But 1894 brought another year of trial, the year of the great ' drouth. By patience and persistence the president with the assistance of the Baptist pastor, Dr, E, F, Jorden, brought the institution through the financial crisis and gave it permanency; Dr, Jorden's efficient work was entirely gratui tous. The first class to graduate was in 1895 and consisted of but one person, Mrs, Grace Bentley Paine, The administration was fortunate, about this time, in securing Dr, A, S, Merrifield as financial secretary, who during eleven years of service, raised over $100,000 for the school, securing large donations from eastern capital ists. The city of Grand Island has been most willing with generous donations, and its finan cial help has gone far in making the work successful. The college at present has five buHdings: the administration building, a three-story brick building with twenty-seven rooms ; Hibbs Hall, the girls dormitory, with rooms for 100 girls, the gift of John A. Hibbs of Omaha; Grand Island Hall, boys' dormitory; these buildings have hot and cold water, electric lights, and modern conveniences; the power house; and the gymnasium, built largely by the enterprise of the students and Alumni. The college has an excellent library of 10,- 000 volumes, now located in the rooms of the administration building, but greatly in need of a separate buHding. The faculty has usually numbered from twelve to fourteen during the past twenty years. More than twenty-five hun dred students have enroHed in its history. In the hall of the main building is hanging a service flag showing seventy-nine stars, four of which are in gold; a mute but eloquent witness to the part that the students have had in the world war. In scholarship the institution has taken a high rank. The first year the Rhodes scholar ships were offered this was the only college or HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 365 Buildings Grand Island College 366 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA university in the state that successfully passed aH its candidates for the examination. Many of its students have won master's and doctor's degrees in the University of Chicago. Its ora tors have five times taken first place in state oratorical contests. The Alumni and former students, found in almost all professions and occupations, are the greatest argument to prove the value of the institution. Scattered in aH parts of the state and in many other states they forcibly testify to the contribution the coHege has made to public welfare. After a year, in which the college closed for the purposes of reorganizing its affairs gener ally, the plans have been laid for reopening in 1919 on a larger scale than ever. The pros pects for the future can best be outlined by presenting here a review of the situation, pub lished recently in the Independent : Mr. York, the state secretary, reported that $165,000 has already been raised in the finan cial campaign which is just closing and that the total wiH probably go to $175,000. In view of the success of this effort the trustees voted to proceed at once with the selection of a standard faculty and with other plans which had been worked out for the standard izing of the school. Dean Arthur T. Bel knap of Franklin college has been chosen president of the institution. President Belknap was born in Framing- ham, Mass., February 8, 1872. He grad uated from the Framingham High School and in 1893 from Brown University, Provi dence, Rhode Island, with the degree of A. D. Three years later he received his Master De gree from the same institution. He is also a graduate of Newton Theological Institution, Newton Centre, Mass., and holds the degree of S. T. B. and he has been a graduate stu dent of history in Harvard University. Mr. Belknap is a minister of the Baptist denomination, having been ordained at San- ford, Maine, February 26, 1897, and served on the active pastorate for a period of nine years. First at Stanford, Maine, then at An- dover, Massachusetts, and last at the Jeffer son Street Baptist Church, Providence Rhode Island. This experience gave him an intimate knowledge of denominational organization and work and makes it possible for him to articulate readily the work of the college with the denominational needs. In 1907 he was called to the professorship of English and expression in Franklin Col lege at Franklin, Indiana. He has served continuously in this position until the 'present time. His popularity with the students was such that when the daily papers announced that he was considering the presidency of Grand Is land College a petition was presented to the Board of Trustees of Franklin CoHege re questing that they do every thing in their power to retain the services of -Dean Bel knap at Franklin. When he took the train at Franklin for Grand Island students and faculty escorted him in a body to the station thus expressing their deep affection for him. His standing with the business (men of Franklin was equally high. After the selection of the president the Board considered applications for various other positions on the college faculty. Un der the new plan the academy wiH consist of the eleventh and twelfth grades of high school work and will be operated separately from the College proper with a separate corps of instructors. The college faculty will consist of nine mem bers in addition to the President. The Conservatory will be as thoroughly re organized as the College has been. Commod ious headquarters will be provided for the Conservatory at the college building. The present quarters in the Glover building wiH be retained as an annex for the convenience of the local constituency. The. new conserva tory faculty will consist of four department al heads viz., voice, piano, violin, and expres sion, and several assistants. After very lengthy and careful considera tion of all the factors involved the Board of trustees came unanimously to the conclusion that it is financially impracticable and educa tionally unwise to operate a commercial pe- partment of business college and better deter mined that it shall not hereafter be a part of the college work or function. On the other hand the work of the normal department will be greatly strengthened. Courses similar to and of equal rank with the State Normal schools will be thoroughly given under the best teachers. PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS In addition to the splendid public school system maintained by Hall County and the colleges already detailed, there has been main- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 367 tained a remarkable system of parochial schools in Hall County. The Catholic parochial school, of St. Mary's is intended for the education of the chHdren of the Catholic families, is conducted by the Sisters of Charity and gives instructions in all of the common branches, in the United States history and required subjects to pre pare the children for entrance into the high school, or for college if they pursue its entire course of study. The high standing of this school was at tested by the fact that all its teachers hold certificates complying with the new law re quiring a teacher in parochial schools to have equal qualifications with those of a public school, and they all did so before that law was passed last spring. The parochial schools conducted by the parish of the Evangelical Lutheran Trinity church, and the one conducted by the Evan gelical Lutheran St, Paul church • have been treated in the church chapter. CHAPTER XX FRATERNAL AND SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS OF HALL COUNTY Lodges of the County — Masonic Lodges — Ashlar Lodge No. 33, Grand Island — Deuel Chapter No. 11, R. A. M. — Mt. Lebanon Commandery, No. 6, K. T. — Masonic Building Association — Cement Lodge No. 211, Wood River — I. O. O. F. — Grand Is land Lodge No. 22 — Wood River I/V ,i9feilfA;.Lt r;y;:BV' firio[ .vL 0. :Q, R: Building i * Oled Masonic Temple" 372 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA plans are being laid for a splendid modem home to be built upon the present site just as soon as building conditions become settled enough to warrant such a move. . CEMENT LODGE NO. 211, WOOD RIVER A Masonic lodge was formed at Wood River on September 21, 1891, dispensation granted on November 27, and the lodge chartered on December 21, 1891, as Cement Lodge No. 211. The masters of this lodge have been : Rosecreans R. Root, U. D. 1891, 1892-1893, 1904-06, 1911-12; Geo. B. McGleason, 1893- 94, 1906-1911; Marcus R. Abbott, 1894-1896; WHliam B, Kern, 1896-1898; Sam'l Mac- Murray, 1898-99; Joseph P, Riddle, 1899- 1900; Frank E. Slusser, 1900-1902; Sam'l A, Sherrerd, 1902-1903; E. S. Leavenworth, 1903-1904; A. S, Wiseman, 1912-1914, 1915- 1916; R, R, Ellis, 1914-1915; Arthur E. Hauke, 1916-1919. The secretaries have been Mr. Jones, one year; C. E. Towne, twelve years; W. W. MitcheH, T. W. Faught, C. E. Towne, and Ed McKee. The present Worshipful Master is Arthur E. Hauke, secretary, Chas, E. Towne, S. W., M, Luther Wiseman, I, 0, o, F, The inauguration of Odd Fellowship in Hall County followed very closely upon the heels of the Masonic organization. GRAND ISLAND LODGE NO. 22, I. O. O. F. dates back to its institution on December 17, 1870. Chas. F. Rollins was then Noble Grand ; L. Engle, V. G., Jos. KHlian, A. S., Robert Froberg, H. M. Burcker and Peter Peterson, trustees. Those members who have worked through the various chairs of the order, filled the post of Noble Grand, and won the honorable title of Past Grand have been: Chas. Rollins, Robert Froberg, Jas. Tout, Jos. Killian, Peter Peterson, Lewis Engle, W. R. McAHister, Wm. Spiker, J. P. Hensley, C. E. Lykke, John R. Dolan, Fred A. Wiebe, J. F. Jacobs, Michael Cody, John Wallichs, Henry A. Koenig, James F. Norris, Geo. McKenzie, James McAllister, Charles F. Whitney, D. C. Bond, Jacob Hunt, W. F. Murphy, John R. Britt, Geo, A, Boehm, N, H, Hurford, C, P, R. Williams, R, H. McAllister, Henry Vieregg, Geo. Moeller, Chas. Rief, Jas. Kennedy, C. B. Handy, Christ Schlotfeldt, Ferdinand Wolf, Hiram West, E. M. Mc AHister, Edwin Kent, John AHan, S, J, Bate man, Henry Reuting, John H, Waters, Peter Sveningson, Jens Rasmussen, Chris Michel son, John Alexander, James BaHey, C. L. Hawks, Geo. Loan, Jr., J. N. Moeller, A. C. Murphy, John Nicholson, C. H. Murphy, H. E. Clifford, A. W. Buchheit, Frank L. Adams, O. J. Winn, Ed Gregory, W. G, Hurschburg, Chr, Kiess, Dr. L. S. Moore, A, L. Beagle, Simon LaChapele, W, F, Parker, Geo, W. Stansel, G. F, Randolph, Andrew Burg, J. F, WiHiams, John A, Carey, N, M, Depue, Henry Reese, Otto Spangenberg, Rasmus Larsen, J. E. Graber, Chas, Anderson, W, W, Watters, A, Tharp, John R. Thomp son, E. C. McCashland, E, R, Goff, Alva Moore, Robert McAHister, O, M. Williamson, Aug. Bartz, H. M. Ballinger, P. K. Keegan, M. H. Deffenbaugh, W, R. Walters, Frank Johns, who also served as Grand Master for the State of Nebraska, Lewis M, Nogensen, Fred C. Langman, George C. Humphrey, Lafe Campbell, Arthur L. Joseph, H. W. Kibbey, Fred L. Parker, John H. Biery, Wm. A. Bailey, and Laverne Moore, present Noble Grand. The present officers are: Laveme Moore, N. G,, J, J. Gline, V, G., Wm, Schwartz, sec retary, L. S. Moore, treasurer, Andrew Burg, Isaac Lachapelle, Alva Moore trastees, WOOD RIVER LODGE NO, 158, I, 0, 0, F, (Information furnished by W, L. Sprague) This lodge was chartered at Wood River upon Febmary 1, 1888, with its first meeting place over Jackson's store. The charter members were: J. B. Leedom, A. L. Maddock, F. M. Ballinger, Lewis Brock- lehurst, E. Baldwin, J. J. Workman, O. B. Deso, J. H. Wysong, Ben Compton. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 373 The original set of officers were: Noble Grand, J. B. Leadom; Vice Grand, A. L. Maddock; Secretary, Lewis Brockhurst. The members who have served as Noble Grand are: J. B. Leedom, A. L. Maddock, Ben Compton, F. M. BaHinger, S. N. Taylor, Geo, W, MiHer, J, W, Honnold, John Whittler, Ben Spieth, C. W, Mercer, S. M. Nelson, A. E. Hauke, C. D. Smith, S. H. Littleton, W. S. Warren, F. E. Slusser, S. W. WHson, T. T. Rounds, J. C. Burkerd, M. L. Wiseman, N. J. Parker, C. M. Warren, M. C. Wingert, W. T. Spelts, A. C. White, E. Kunz, S. Mc- Murry, W. S. Jones, C. C. Johns, E. W. Rowe, W. J. Reisland, F. J. Reisland, Wm. MiHer, R. J. Clark, G. R. Wiseman, C. E. Taylor, C. A. PenweH, W. L. Sprague, M. J. Mc Carty, J. M. Weldon, W. W. Mitchell, Harry MiHer, W. A. Breakenridge, W. Branner, and others. The members who have served as secretary are: S. N. Taylor, W. L, Sprague, Geo. M. Leonard, Geo. W. Miller, S. M. Nelson. The present officers are: Noble Grand, C. L. Nelson; Vice Grand, R. C. PhiHips; Secretary, S. M. Nelson; Treasurer, W. S. Jones. This lodge has grown until it has reached a membership of 103 members. CHAMBERLAIN ENCAMPMENT NO. 34 The Encampment work was carried on in this county very early. The charter was issued January 20, 1880, to the following members: G. L, Maddock, C. C. Harper, J. C. Boone, C. A. Baldwin, Samuel Matthews, M. J. Garrett, S. N. Taylor, J. M. Weldon, Wm. Stone, R. Wescott, John C. Boone, M. J. McCarty, C. A. Tracy, J. W. Ballenger, F. M. Ballenger, John Sweat, Henry Chamberlin, H. P. Chapman, W. W. Mitchell, W. L, Sprague, David Barrick, C, F, Garrett, Geo, W- Miller, This Encampment was afterwards transferred from Wood River control to Grand Island. In 1886 the officers serving were: Henry Reuting, C. P., C. Rief, S, W„ John Murray, J, W„ R. H. McAHister, H. P„ C, L, Haux, scribe, H, D, Boyden, treasurer, W, R. McAllister, N. H, Hurford and C, W. Best, trustees. The Grand Lodge of the I. O. O. F. met at Grand Island in October, 1889. Of the 159 lodges in the state, or 7,030 members, 134 lodges were represented. THE HISTORY OF REBEKAH ODDFELLOWSHIP IN GRAND ISLAND BY LUELLA B. NELSON The Rebekah records of the state show that Woodbine Rebekah Lodge No. 47 was insti tuted at Grand Island, August 26, 1889, with fourteen charter members, by Sadie Wright, secretary of Nebraska Rebekah convention. On October 16, 1889, the sixth annual con vention of the Daughters of Rebekah was entertained by Grand Island, and Woodbine No. 47 had the following members present: W. R. McAllister, Emma McAllister, J. M. Appledorn, Dora Appledorn, J. B. Royce, Mrs. Lucy Royce, Miss Mina Royce, John Allan, Mrs. John Allan, Henry Allan, Mrs. Henry Allan, Fannie Allan, Mr. and Mrs. John Alex ander, S. J. Bateman, John Nicholson, R. H. McAllister, Mrs. Mary McAllister, and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Reuting. Sister Rebecca Livesy of Ruth No. 1, of Omaha, was presi dent, and Sadie Wright, secretary of the con vention. George M. Beals, of Norfolk, was Grand Master, and D. A. Cline, secretary of the Grand Lodge of I. O. O. F. This session was memorable from the fact that so far as Rebekah circles were affected, the first step was taken at that time toward the establish ment of our Nebraska I. O. O. F. Home, by a resolution directed toward the appointment of a committee of three to act upon that prop osition. This committee reported for favora ble action toward that worthy object. The last account we have of Woodbine No. 47 showed that on October 20, 1891, this lodge had a membership of thirteen brothers and thirteen sisters, but paid no per capita tax, and sent no delegate to the convention. TRUTH REBEKAH LODGE NO. 132 (Grand Island) After an apparent relapse of Rebekah ac- 374 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA tivities in the community for a number of years, a committee from Grand Island lodge No. 22, I. O, O, F., extended an invitation through the press to all who were interested in the organization of a Rebekah lodge to meet at the home of Henry Reese on May 16, 1899, At that meeting G, W, Hirchberg was chosen chairman, Grace Tidball, secretary, and Luella B. Nelson, treasurer, to arrange for the organization of the lodge. On June 14, 1899, at the G. A. R. hall, the lodge was instituted by Grand Master J. E. Arnold of Schuyler (now deceased), assisted by the Rebekah degree staff of Central City, The charter list contained the names of twenty-nine brothers and twenty-four sisters. For the name of the lodge many suggestions were offered, but as a lodge cannot be named after any living person, nor any two Rebekah lodges alike, it was not easy to decide. Finally the suggestion of Sister Nelson that the name "Truth" be chosen was adopted. The oroginal set of officers were : Mary Adams, Noble Grand, Rose Weinhold, vice- grand, Grace Tidball, recording secretary, LueUa B. Nelson, financial secretary. Myrtle Adams, treasurer, Julia Bowen, warden. May Buchheit, conductor, Evelyn Lyman, inside guardian. Otto Spangenburg, outside guardian, O. J. Winn, R. S. to N. G,, EHen Anderson, R, S. to V, G., Mrs, G. W, Hirshburg, L. L. to V. G., trustees, Louise Spangenberg, J. La- chappelle, J. Schnickher. The Noble Grands of the lodge have been : Rosa Weinhold, Louise Spangenberg, Luella B. Nelson, Myrtle Adams, Mary McAllister, Susan Morledge, Anna Cornelius, Lizzie Sayers, Rose Deitz, Elma Kent, Phinia Sharp, Elsie Walters, EHa Mahan, Rosa Kalman, Emilia Luenningson, Ella Webster, Laura Malone, Zella Kleebe, Bertha QuiHan, Julia Bowen, Jennie Everhart, Luella Moore, Maud Olsen, Leota Calkins, Carrie Glines, Lucy Switzer, Inez Edwards, Mary Bailey, Amy Fishburn, LiHie Upperman and Edna Switzer. This lodge organized degree teams at vari ous times, but not until 1901 under the cap taincy of Louise Spangenberg was a really suc cessful team financed and organized. This lodge had the honor of organizing Rebekah lodges at Doniphan, Cairo and St. Paul and assisting in the organization of Wood River. Grand Island entertained the district meeting April 12, 1901 ; in 1903 Luella B. Nelson was selected as district president and held a suc cessful meeting at Kearney, where Grand Is land lodge won the banner for industry. In 1904 Grand Island was changed to another district and Sister Nelson commissioned to reorganize a district which became No. 38 and included Grand Island No. 132,' Cairo 134, Doniphan 151, St. Paul 215, Wood River 287, Gibbon 89, Shelton 306, Hansen 120, Hastings 52 and 212. Grand Island entertained the assembly October 20, 1914, just twenty-five years after the first assembly, or convention, had met in Grand Island. Rebekah Lodge No. 1 presented the assembly with an embossed and framed copy of the resolution adopted in Grand Island in 1889 in regard to the erec tion of an I. O. O.F. home. The executive committe of the Rebekahs at this session were Luella B. Nelson, Anna Cornelius and Elsie Walters, and Frank John, Grand Master, all members of 132. As to state officers. Sister Luella B. Nelson of 132 has served three terms in appointed offices; this lodge has al ways been active in raising funds for the Home, and at times has fumished a room and assisted in that task at other times. Leana Cartwright is the present Noble Grand; Min nie Hoagland, V. G., Luella B. Nelson, re cording secretary, LiHie Upperman, financial secretary, Lucy Switzer, treasurer, Emest Hoagland, W. E. Bailey and P. Nelson, trustees. The lodge has maintained a Rebekah circle since 1905, meeting at the home of members. The present officers of that branch of the work are president, Minnie Hoagland, secre tary, Ella Mahan. A past officers association is also maintained. During the war the lodge maintained a service flag and kept its members in service in good standing. Ella Mahan was chosen to represent the lodge at the centen nial celebration at Omaha, on April 26, 1919. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 375 The decoraticm for chivalry was conferred on several members of this lodge for meri torious I. O. O. F, work at annual sessions of the Grand Lodge as follows: Anna C, Cornelius, October 20, 1909 at Lincoln; Phina. Lozier, October 19, 1910, at Lincoln; Elsie .Walters and Luella B, Nelson,October 21, 1914, at Grand Island, WOOD RIVER REBEKAH LODGE NO, 287 This lodge was organized and chartered January 19, 1919, Its present meeting place is the I, O, O. F. haH. The charter members were: Honor M. Miller, George W. MiHer, Nellie Littleton, S. H. Littleton, S. M. Nelson, Amanda J. Nelson, Sarah J. Schooley, Erma G. HubbeH, Jennie E, Tingley, H, L, Tingley, Lavina C, Clark, Etta C. Warren, Effa War ren, Clara E. Smout, Josephine Smout, Dorcas S. Starkey, Etta Smith, Angeline A. White, Mary B. Likes, A. C. White, C. D. Smith, R. J. Clark. ' The original set of officers were.: Noble Grand, Dorcas S- Starkey, Vice Grand, Erma G. HubbeH, Secretary, Jennie E. Tingley, Treasurer, George W. Miller. List of members who have served as Noble Grand : Dorcas Starky, Erma Hubbel, Amanda Nelson, Mary B. Likes, Eva Garrison, Ethel Landis Augusta Wiseman, Bertha Janssen, Lillian HHeman, Etta Warren Bahr, Nellie Schaffer, Effa Warren, Myrtle Anderson, Fern Schooley. List of members who have served as re cording secretary: Jennie E. Tingley, Erma G, HubbeH, Maud Phillips, Bertha Janssen, Lillian HHeman, Myrtle Anderson, Fern Schooley, Emma Ballinger, The present officers are: Noble Grand, Nettie Rounds, Vive Grand, Emma Ballinger, .Secretary, Myrtle Anderson, Treasurer, Amanda Nelson. At present the lodge has 105 members. NYSIAN LODGE NO. 46, KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS Grand Island The Knights of Pythias organized in Grand Island November 17, 1885, with H. B. Will- son, C. C, V. Taylor, V. C„ Dr, E. String- fellow, prelate, W. N. Peterson, secretary, A. C. Ledennan, treasurer, E. W. Justice, M. F., James Ferguson, M. A., Elmer Gaylord, O. G,, and H. C. MiHer, I, G. A division of the Uniformed Rank of K. of P, was chartered in December, 1899, and the following officers named ; A, C, Lederman, captain and herald, H, C, MiHer, lieutenant, J. D. Cowie, treasurer, W, S, Dickerson, record er, A, W. Sterne, guard and D, E, Ryder, sentinel. The members of Nysian lodge who served as Chancellor Commander have been : H, B, WiH- son, R, R. Horth, 1886, Wm, H, Hooper, 1887, Emanuel StringfeHow, 1888, A, C. Lederman, 1889-1890, D, A, Finch, 1891, W. H, Hooper, 1892, Fred Bacon, 1893, J, C. Peterson, 1894, J, L. Sutheriand, 1895, P. L- Moore, ,1896, ^Alfred Pigon, 1897, N. M, Thompson, 1898, O. H. Tracy, 1899, H, Buenz, 1900, Chas Wescott, 1901, J. A. Cos-, tello, 1902, C. M. Wiese, 1903, W. B. Hoge, 1904, D. A, Finch, 1908, After a long recess, a reorganization took place and in 1917 Ray L- Harrison became chancellor commander. His successors have been, E. A. Graf, 1918 and D. E. Jolls, 1919. The member who have served as Keeper of Records and Seal have been : W. N. Peterson, 1885-1886, T. W.Benton, 1887, John H. WH- sey, 1888, C. T. Watson, 1889, R. A. Powell, 1891, A. B. Harriott, 1892, R. A. PoweH, 1893, A.B. Harriott, 1894-1895, C. H. Menck, 1896, C. D. Searson, 1897, Chas. E. Fralick, 1891-1899, O, H, Tracy, 1900, Dan Fishburn, 1901-1902,1903-1904, R. L. Harrison, Jr., 1905, A, B. Harriott, 1908. On the last reorganized period, the Keepers of Records and Seal have been: R. D. Showalter, 1917. Ray L, Har rison, 1918-1919. Grand Island entertained the Nebraska Grand Lodge in October, 1895. The present officers of the Lodge are : C, C, D, E. Jolls, vice chanceHor, H. P. Zeig, pre late, C. E, CantreH, master at arms, R, D, Showalter, master of exchequer, C, H, Menck, keep'er of R, and S., Ray L. Harrison, inner 376 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA guard, V. R. Everhart, O. G., F. M. Mitchell, trustees. J. H. Biery, T. W. O'Laughlin and Dr. H. C. Wingert. ANCIENT order of UNITED WORKMEN Grand Island has had many lodges, but none within its borders ever accomplished more in the way of spreading the reputation and heralding the name of the community so widespread throughout the state and beyond its borders as the Ancient Order of United Workmen. The Nebraska jurisdiction of this venerable order was organized in this city in June, 1886. Not only is Grand Island the birthplace of the Grand Lodge of this order, but its permanent home as weH. In 1901 the organization purchased the splendid brick block at Second street and Wheeler avenue and established its headquarters in this city. Close to a million dollars a year is gath ered in by this Grand Lodge headquarters . from the several hundred lodges through the state, and handled here, to be distributed back to the beneficiaries. Many hundreds of citizens of Grand Island and Hall County have belonged to this order throughout the last thirty-four years. The grand Lodge A. O. U. W. of the state of Nebraska was organized June 8, 1886 at Grand Island. It was chartered under the Supreme Lodge A. O. U, W. but became an independent jurisdiction in 1909, The original set of officers was : Past Grand Master, S. R. Patton of Fremont, Ne braska ,' Grand Master Workman, J. G. Tate, Shelton, Nebraska; Grand Overseer, H, W. Cole, McCook, Nebraska; Grand Treasurer, W. R, McAllister, Grand Island ; Grand Fore man, F, E. White, Plattsmouth, Nebraska; Grand Recorder, H. M. Waring, Lincoln Ne braska; Trustees, J. L. MiHer, Red Cloud, Nebraska; J, S. Johnson, Superior, Nebraska, J. W. Carr, Omaha Nebraska. List of officers who have served as Grand Master Workman : J. G. Tate, M. E. Shultz, O. J, Van Dyke, Jacob Jaskalek, A. M, Wall ing, Frank Anderson, John Stevens. List of officers who have served as Grand Recorder: H. M, Waring, W. R. McAllister, L. A, Payne, Geo, H, Barber, S. R, Barton, F, C. Whittlesey, H. B. Rousey. Present officers : Grand Master Workman, John Stevens ; Grand Recorder, H. B. Rousey; Grand Treasurer, Leo P. MuHen, Joseph Oberf elder; Trustees, Nicholas Rees, Robt. M. Gillan. It now has 7,586 members. This order since its organization has paid in Nebraska alone, 7,000 death claims amount ing to $13,129,259.35 to January 1, 1919. In addition to the above, the organization has paid out approximately another million dol lars as relief and seventy year settlements. GRAND ISLAND A. O. U. W, LODGES Harmony Lodge No, 37 (German) was an early lodge in Nebraska, as its low number indicates. It was organized in 1886 with the following charter members : Hy, Garn, Fritz Kruse, Robert F. Freitag, Hermann Hehnke, Geo. Bartenbach, Anton Bischeldt, Chas H. Boehl, Hy. Cook, Fred Lohmann, Carl Grunz, Juergen J. Rickert, G. F. Brage, Joseph Zoth, Herman Juergens, Albert Geyler, John C. Hann, John H. Paulsen, Herman Krueger, Carl Elstermeier, Conrad Huper. The re corders have been Chas. Boehl, Richard Goeh ring, Chas, Hofman. The present officers are John F. Meves, master workman, -Wm. Veit, financier, and Richard Goehring, recorder and treasurer. In the last couple years this lodge has lost about 180 members through the period of disturbance brought by the rise in rates occas- sioned by the readjustment of the lodge's scale to meet the requirements of the state insur ance board. Charity Lodge No, 91 was organized a short time after Harmony Lodge, Among its vari ous master workmen up -until 1897 were H, J. Ring, M. J. Durkin, J. W. Freeman, J. H. Hallowell, M. Powers, E. O. Green, R. S. Ryan, H. J. Voss, James Cleary and Seth P. Mobley. This lodge in recent years has been consolidated with Harmony Lodge. Grand Island Legion No. 9, Select Knights, HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 377 A, O. U. W, was made up from the member ship of the various lodges. Its officers at the close of 1889 were G, P, Dean, J, W, Liver inghouse, G, Roys, O, H, Tracy, J. F, Holi- weH, J, Waters, H, Wheeler, S. Kent and Robert Geddes. This organization has long since passed out of existence here. The A. O. U. W. Building Association was organized in June, 1889.- Its first officers were J. D. West, president, John Wallichs, vice-president, D. C. Zink, treasurer, Geo. B. BeH, Secretary, A. H. Baker, G. H. Cald weH, D. C. Zink, G. P. Dean, Geo. Barten bach, H, D. Hennings, as officers and directors, OTHER A. O, U, W, LODGES Being a Hall County institution, this order perhaps better than any other fraternal order in the county has established and held lodges in the various towns of the county. The A, O, U. W, lodge was organized at Doniphan May, 1887, and chartered as Lodge No, 76. Its first meeting place was over Burger & McCuHoch's store. Its charter members were: J. W. Carmichael, J. H. Scudder, W. J. Burger, Dr. J. M, Fitch, B, F, Scudder, Wm. Camp, G. A. Burger, J. W. Kern and T. B. Robb. J. H. Scudder was the first master workman and J. W. Carmichael, recorder. This lodge disbanded and surrend ered its charter in May or June, 1918. When this Doniphan lodge organized it was under the Missouri jurisdiction, but later became a part of the Nebraska jurisdiction. A. O. U. W, lodges have, been maintained for many years at Cairo and Alda. FIDELITY DEGREE OF HONOR NO. 56. GRAND ISLAND (Information furnished by Mrs. Alice Taylor) This lodge was chartered April 5, 1893, and met in the A. O. U. W. haH. It has enjoyed a steady growth to a present membership of 170. The charter members and first officers were : S. F. Kent, Annie Powers, M. V. Powers, Ed. Searson, Jennie Searson, P. C. of H,, John W, Pence, Mary Pence, A. Cosh, M, Cosh, Geo, H, Andrews, Eliza Andrews, E, A. Dean, Geo. P, Dean, I. J, Metcalf, Susan Metcalf, Alex Barr, Eliza J, Barr, S. H, Ferguson, S. M, Ferguson, A, D, Owens, Annie S. B. Owens, L. of H., S. P, Petersen C. L. Petersen, J. F. HoHoweH, Cynthia Hollo- well, C. of H., Maria J. Raphael, Record. Those members who have held the honorable post of C. of Honor: Minnie Searson, Annie Owens, Etta Hirschburg, Mary McAllister, Lizzie Guhl, Polly Sproul, Emma Brewster, Housine Birk, Melissa McDermott, Rose Roush, Alice Taylor, Mollie Turner, Marry Dunlap, Mary HeHing, Cora Hanchett, Mary Feeney, Minnie Lahann. The recorders of the lodge have been: Marie Raphael, Ed. Searson, S. F. Kent, Mrs. M. V. Powers, Annie Owens, Emma Brew- sten, LueHa Nichols, Lizzie Sayre, Myrtle Adams, Alice Taylor. The present officers are : Past C. of Honor, Mary Feeney, C. of H. Minnie Lahann, L of H Rose Roush, C. of Cerm, Elizabeth Salyer, Fine, Cora Hanchett, Treasurer, MHlie Rou sey, Recorder, Alice Taylor, Ushers, Myrtle Salyer and Margaret Salyer, I. W., Elizabeth Stegeman, O. W., Lucy Haney, 1st to C. of H., Alice Hunt, 2 st to C. of H., Polly Sproul, 1 st M. of H., Edna Miller, 1 st M. of H., Mae Emmons, Musician, Grace Corl, Tmstees, EHa Broawell, H. B, Rousey, Hausine Birk, Drill Team Captain, Hausine Birk. KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS The Knights of Columbus lodge in Grand Island was organized in recent years — but its predecessor, appealing to a simHar mem bership, Concordia Branch 512, C, K, of A. (Catholic Knights of America) flourished in the late 'eighties. During 1889 the officers of that order were James Cleary, president, W. R. Stevens,V. P., J. J. Klinge, R, S., T, P, Lanigan, F, S., Adam Windolph, treasurer, John Riss, S, at A., George Eberl, sentinel. Rev. W, Wolf, spiritual director. WhHe there is no connection between the orders, the earlier one is mentioned to show the fraternal activity of the Catholic men of the community. 378 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA St, Mary's CouncH No, 1159, Knights of Columbus, was organized November 11, 1906, with sixty-two charter members. It original officers were: John F, Matthews, G, K., F. J. Cleary, recording secretary, David Byrne, financial secretary, Aug. J. Baumann, Warden, Fr. W. Wolf, chaplain, J. H. MuHin, chan cellor. Those members who have served as pre siding officers have been John F. Mathews, J H. O'Hare, J. H. MuHin, Pat Fagan, F.-J, Cleary, Geo. J. Baumann and Dr. L. Phelan The secretaries of the lodge have been : David Byrne, W. H. Laughlin and Geo. J. Bauman The state meeting was entertained in May 1918. The present officers are: Dr. L. Phelan G. K., W. F. Roney, deputy G. K., E. G Biglin, chancellor. Rev, Aug, Heimes, chaplain E. P. Ryan, recording secretary, and Geo. J Baumann, financial secretary. B. p. OP ELKS Grand Island Lodge No. 604, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks was chartered on July 12, 1900, meeting at G. A. R. hall, with the charter granted upon the application of Brothers R. R, Horth, A, W, Buchheit, Chas, W, Brininger, R, J, Barr, Henry J, Bartenbach, John Alexander, A. H. Roeser, W, S. Pearne, J. H. J. Cunningham, Gus M. Friend, Thomas Connor, C. A. Carr, O. A. Abbott, Jr., Sumner Davis, M. G. Colpetzer, H. C. Graham, W. B. Hoge, Charles P. Was mer, B. R. Gregg, A. M. Hargis, J. L. Mc- Donough, J. T. Harley, and Geo. Roeder, H. H. Glover and F. J. Coates, as trustees. Those members who have served as ex alted rulers have been: Ralph R. Horth, A. W. Buchheit, Chas. W. Brininger, Geo. B. Bell, Cari V. Willard, W. H. Harrison, S. D. Ross, E. L. Brown, W. H, Thompson, J, L. Cleary, John Woelz, Guy L. Harrison, C. H, Menck, Walker Hainline, Frank J, Cleary, Fred L. Harrison, Robert A, Meyer, A, J, Guendel, Wm. Nietfeldt and the present ex alted ruler is Ray L. Harrison. The secretaries have been, R. J. Barr, W. E. Schourup, I, R. Alter, Leo G, Allen, G. M, Smith, The present secretary is Chas E. Davis. In June, 1918, the Grand Lodge entertained the state meetings of the Nebraska lodges. This lodge has furnished one state president who has achieved a widespread reputation for work in Elkdom, Fred L. Harrison, 1915-1916. The lodge has had two district deputies to the grand exalted ruler, Ralph R. Horth and Fred L. Harrison. A Building Association was incorporated in 1916, which handled the financial affairs and other responsibilities for the building of the Elks Building, Grand Island magnificent temple at First and Locust. This is considered practically the finest lodge buHd ing in the state, with no rival except the new Masonic Temple in Omaha. It is one of the finest arranged lodge buildings in the country. This splendid home was dedicated on January 1, 1918, C, H, Menck has been president, and Geo, Cowton and Fred L. Harrison, secre taries of this association. The present officers are: Exalted mler, Ray L. Harrison, leading knight, H. P. Zeig, lecturing knight, Thos. V. McGowan, loyal knight, Wm. H. Meacham, esquire, Walter H. Rauert, tiler, L. T. Cox, chaplain, Wm, Suhr, treasurer, Oscar H, Mayer, secretary, C, E. Davis, tmstees, Walker Hainline, Fred L. Harrison and Robert Meyer. This lodge now has a membership well in excess of 500. A large body of Elks attended the state con vention in 1919 at York, and they sent Fred L. Harrison on to Atlantic City, N. J., with a big Nebraska delegation which accomplished its purpose of securing the election of Frank HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 379 L. Rain, of Fairbury, Nebraska, as grand exalted ruler of the Elks of the United States. This is probably the only order in which an absolute requirement of membership is American citizenship. Its patriotic and charit able purposes stand in briHiant position in recent years, its social activities are not less ened, and one of its notable features is the respect shown to the memory of absent brothers. During the war the lodge carried as high as eighty-five service stars on its flag at one time, and only one of these became a gold star — Walter B. Eckles. Between 20% and 25 fo of the membership was in service at one time. Fraternal order of eagles Aerie No. 378, Grand Island (Information furnished by Richard Buenz) This aerie was organized May 14, 1903, and chartered on July 1, 1903, with its first meet ing place in G. A. R. hall. The charter members were : O. A. Abbott, Jr., Harry Bernstein, Richard Buenz, John C. Cornelius, Christ Christoffenson, M. J. Egge, A. H. Farnsworth, Albert Heyde, Fred Hald, J. J. Klinge, H. H. Meves, S. S. Niel sen, Gus Paulsen, George Pearson, P. B. Peters, Julius Reese, Chris Ronnfeldt, Joseph Sondermann, Gustav Sievers, Ed Stender, H, J, Voss, Emil Wolbach, The members who have served as president of the Aerie have been: J. J. Klinge, H. A. Sievers, George Pearson, John Koehler, Carl Hehnke, Gus E. Neumann, Geo. T, Baumann, Christ Nielson, Harry J. Voss and John Alexander, Te secretaries have been Max J, Egge, Carl Hehnke and Richard Buenz, This aerie enter tained the state convention in 1912, The pres ent officers are Walter Petersen, President, Richard Buenz, scretary, Gus E. Neumann, treasurer, A. J, Denman, J, J, Klinge and H, J, Voss, trustees. This lodge owns its own home, with splendid grounds, on South Lo cust street. This home which was purchased for $12,000 is entirely paid for, and not only is the lodge without encumbrance or outstand ing indebtedness, but has total assets of over $20,000, a rather unusual record for a fra ternal local organization, LOYAL ORDER OF MOOSE Grand Island Lodge No. 356. (Information furnished by Jas. Nicholson, Jr.) This lodge was organized on October 4, 1910, and chartered on October 21, 1910, and first met in the A, O. U, W, haH, Its charter members were A, B, Harriott, Thos V, Bird, Ernest G, Kroger, Samuel D, Bartle, Chas. McElroy, T. J. Hansen, WiH G. Partridge, Harry M. Bowers, Gus P. Gaver, Aug, Meyer, R, L, Word, N, I, Augustine, M, H, Deffen baugh, Geo, C, Cervye, Wm, M, Pierce, Chauncey M. North, Walter Neilson, O, M, Williamson, L, K, Rickard, Ira L. FiHmore, Chas. J. Giese, Lewin N. Gaver, Harley M. Watson, D. H. Fent, Ralph J. Reid, Robt. F. Phiefer, W. J. Helfln, H. G. SHvernaH, E. H. Silvemail, John Ellsworth, Jesse Clemens, George Cowton, Edw. C. Burkhalter, Wm. Grace, Chas. C. Havens, Jacob T, Kaumans, C. W. D, Alkire, Bert M. Roberts, J, J, Fey, J. D, Whitmore, A, Owens, Rich, L, Harrison, Frank Donner, E, H, Baker, Geo. W. Geise, Ray L. Harrison, Jos. B. Lange, Chas. R. Wescott, Terry F. Pace, and probably some others who are omitted. This lodge has maintained very comfortable club rooms on East Third, at Third and Wheeler, and more recently over Tucker Bros. book store on South Locust. The lodge has contributed its share toward the support of the Home at Mooseheart, maintained by this order for the vocational education of children. Original officers : A. B. Harriott, past dic tator, J. V. Bird, dictator, E. G. Kroeger, vice- dictator, S. D. Bartle, prelate, C, T, McElroy, secretary, F. J, Hanson, treasurer, Wm, Part ridge, sergenat at arms, H, M, Bowers, I, G,, Geo. Gaver, O. G., Aug, Meyer, R, L. Wood, N. J. Augershire, trustees. Members who have served as dictator are; A. B. Harriott, H. Ballenger, C. W. Coates, G. B. Labbe. 380 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Members who have served as secretary are : A. B. Harriott, Chas. McElroy, A. Stransky, G. B. Labbe, Jas. Nicholson, Jr. The present officers are: G. B. Labbe, past dictator, T. V. McGowan, dictator, Fred T. Scott, vice-dictator, Walter Spracklin, prelate, Jas. Nichalsarp, secretary, A. J. Guendel, treas urer, John R. Geddes, F. H. Bulger, M. E. Miller, trustees. The present members number 145. THE ROYAL HIGHLANDERS, DUNNOTTAR CASTLE NO. 27 Grand Island (Information furnished by Jas. Nicholson, Jr.) This lodge was organized February 5, 1897. Its first meeting place was G. A. R. hall. Charter members were John Alexander, WiHiam MacLennon, Robert Brown, J. Lue Sutherland, A- B. Harriott, Andrew Cosh, D. W. Thompson, C. H. Menck, John Allan, W. A. Heimberger, J. A. Woolstenholm, A. C. Koenig, D. A. Finch, Jos. Sonderman, Henry Allan, John Nicholson, John Gallacher, Wm. Spangenberg, Chas. T. Fralick, Ed L, Bal lenger, M. T. Gariow, W. C. CampbeH, P, L, Moore, R. W, Bock, A. R. Craig, H. B. Peters, Geo, J, Bauman, R. J. Barr, C, W. Brininger, A. C, Lederman. Original officers were N. W, Thompson, IH. P., A. Cosh, C. C, J. Lue Sutherland, W. E., C, H. Menck, secretary, A. C. Leder man, treasurer, P. H. CampbeH, W., A. B. Harriott, S., W. A. Heimberger, M. J. Garlow, and J. Alexander, P. C. The list of members who have served as illustrious protector is N. W. Thompson, A. Cosh, Wm. Spangenberg, E. L, Ballenger, Jas. Nicholson, Jr., Mrs. E. L, Ballenger, C, H. Menck. List of secretarial officers : C. H. Menck, C, E. Fralich, Mrs. E. L. Ballenger, Jas. Nich olson, Jr. Present officers : E. L. Ballenger, I. P., P- L. Christensen, C. C, Mrs. McFerrin, W. E., Jas. Nicholson, Jr., Secretary, Mrs. Coffey, W. M., Finerly, sentry, C. H. Menck, A.B. Harriott, and Wm. Spangenberg, trustees. The present membership numbers 139 mem bers. MODERN BROTHERHOOD OP AMERICA Grand Island Lodge No. 218 of this fra ternity was organized in 1898, at G. A, R, hall. E. B. Engleman was the first president, and one of its members, S. S. Hayman, has served as state manager. The home of this order is at Mason City, Iowa, and in the past twenty years the M. B. A. has enjoyed a splendid growth throughout Nebraska. The present officers of this lodge are C. Bromley, president, Mrs. Haney, vice-president, Mrs. Bromwell, chaplain, Minnie Roush, secretary and treasurer, Ella Tharp, conductor, and Ben son, watchman. MACCABEES Two Hives of-L. O. T. M. have flourished in Grand Island in the past. Island Treasure Hive, and Ann E. WestaH Hive No. 3, were the former organizations. These have been consolidated for the last eight years, and now Grand Island Review No. 3 is their successor. The Ann E. WestaH hive was organized in October, 1893. The presiding officers have been Eda Neumann, Wilhelmine Bochhahn, Margaret Paulesen, Edna Miller, Minnie Cun ningham, Anna Hansen ; the secretaries, Cora Harris and Katie Colwell. This organization now has about 175 members. WOODMEN OF THE WORLD An early Woodmen of the World lodge was organized in Grand Island, Grand Island Camp No. 284. The interest in this work dieH down and it was necessary to re-charter the lodge on July 8, 1909. The officers at that time were Wallace B. Parker, C. C, Albert W. Stehr, A. L., Louis L. Moore, banker, Wm, Chandler, clerk. Pearl D. WHlis, escort, Plenry J, Sea man, Jess E, Weineiger, John M, Gahringer, Geo. W. Geise, Edw. D. Shirley and Ezera J. Wickwire occupied the other offices. Council Commanders since then have been : L. O. Barr, two years, Geo. Labbe, Fred Rose, Guy M. Britt and the present incumbent. Council Com- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 381 mander Wertz, Clerks have been Ray Carson, Holmes, and J. E. Lyle for the past four or five years. MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA Grand Island Camp No. 408, M. W. A., was established late in the 'eighties. In 1890 D. A. Finch was V. C, A, B, Harriott, W. A,, J, A. Brent, E. B,, and D, C, Zink, clerk. Unable to secure a compilation of the past commanders and clerks of this lodge, a partial Hst of the same shows, Geo. H. Caldwell, D, A, Finch, Z, B. Partridge, Henry Allan. Clerks have been E. E. Cole, D. C. Zink, T. A. Hathaway, A, B, Harriott, A second camp thrived for some time in Grand Island, known as Beet Sugar Camp No. 533, of which H, E. Clifford was V, C, am! I, G, Cawley, clerk, LODGES IN THE SEVENTIES There are many other lodges, in addition to those of which a somewhat detailed history has been recited, which should be remembered, even though very detailed facts cannot be given at this point. In 1876 when the community of Grand Is land was ten years old the following lodges were thriving within its borders : Ashlar Lodge No. 33, A. F. & A. M.; Deuel Chap. No. 11, R. A. Masons ; Odd Fellows ; Patrons of Hus bandry, which are treated in the chapter on Agriculture; Sons of Temperance, an organ ization started on October 2, 1873, with fifteen members, and the following officers : Horatio Thomas, W. P., Ahce OdeH, W. A„ J, J, Cash, B, S., B, F, OdeH, A, R, S., Byron Beal, F. S"., Jas, H, Jenkins, C, Flora Thomas, A, C, Ella Wamer, I, S., John Shoemaker, O. S., Liederkranz Society, organized by John Wal lichs, in 1870, and given the name meaning "Song Society." The U. P. Railroad Com pany gave this society two lots upon which a frame home was erected in 1871. Kilwin ning Lodge No. 1, A. & A. S. R. (Scottish Rite) organized in 1871, with G, W. Thummel as T. P. G. M., and B. B. Kelley, grand secre tary, and which flourished until the 'nineties. Lyon Post No. 11, G. A. R., department of Ne braska, organized August 29, 1877, is treated more fully in another section of this work. The Temple of Honor was organized May 4, 1878, by A. H. Bowen, with Jas. H. Burlison, Robert S. Buchanan, George F. Ryan, William T. Hamilton, I. L. Meseraul, GHes H, Bush, Harry Buchanan, W. P. Foutz, Amaziah D. Owens, D. M. Buchanan and Aaron B. Veeder, officers. The Eintacht (Concordia) was formed September 26, 1875, with Prof. Cari C. Zeus, director. The Plattsdeutche Verein, still an existing organization, flourished as a very early date. The Old Turnerverein was organized in October, 1874, and incorporated January 15, 1878, but it had ceased from active work before 1881. BAND ORGANIZATIONS The Union Cornet band completed organiza tion in June, 1874, with S. S. Naylor, director, S. P. Mobley, Joseph Fox and Geo, E. WHson, trustees, and N, P, Kelley, secretary. This organization resulted from a refusal of its predecessor, the old Grand Island band, to play on July 4. D. G. Phimister was its early director in 1874. It lived about a year and then went the way of many comet bands. The Cornet band organized in June, 1876, with J. W. West, president, J. W. Rogers, treasurer. Jay E. White, secretary, and rend ered effective services for many years. The Germania band came in during the 'eighties, and the MaCadden Comet band was organized in 1887. No attempt has been made to list the inter vening bands during the last thirty years. But at the present time Grand Island has a splendid band led by Guy L. Harrison. There are also several efficient orchestras furnishing music for various social occasions, Seebohm's, Schlictings, Brase's, Ole's Syncopators. ATHLETIC ORGANIZATIONS In July, 1870, The Platte Valley and the Dirty Stockings teams belonged to organized baseball clubs in Grand Island. At intervals during the many years since then Grand Island has had organized teams. Twice she has had a league team. About 1910 Grand Island be- 382 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA longed to the ill-fated Nebaska State League. In recent years amateur teams have played together, sometimes in a loosely formed City League. ORGANIZATIONS IN THE 'EIGHTIES Other lodges and societies which started to fiourish during the decade of the 'eighties were Grand Island Camp No. 408, M. W. A., and the Knights of Honor, Fidelity Lodge 935, of which M. C. Beecher was dictator in 1887 and after him Z. Partridge for ten years or so, with Jas. A. Wear, Jno. Nicholson, J. R MoeHer and C. L, Haux, secretaries. Perseverance Lodge No, 14, I, O, G, T., was organized March 5, 1889, with the fol lowing members : Margaret Ryne, D, M, Sweeden, D. N, Conrad, E. C. McCashland, R, S. Ryne, T. Hart, W, Smith, A, Sage, Mrs T, R. Throles and Josie E, Throles, The old predecessor No. 60 had vanished years before and with it memories of old Temperance hall. The Grand Island Social Club was organ ized April 15, 1887, with J. D. Moore, presi' dent, W. H. Michael and A, B. Perkins, vice- presidents, W. H. Geddes, recorder, E. W. Justice, corresponding secretary, and W, B. Carey, treasurer. This organization continued for a number of years, meeting every second and fourth Sundays at Hann's Park, In 1896 Emil Barth was president. The Grand Island Dramatic Company was organized May 10, 1889, with E. O, Green, president, Mrs. Wm. Murr, vice-president. Dr. H, C. Miller, secretary, J. H. Gorman, manager, and Ralph Platt, agent and master of properties. Directors Mullin, Cowie and Lanigan were elected. This organization had considerable amateur and some professional talent and for a number of years gave the com.- munity some first-class theatrical and musical entertainment. IN THE LAST QUARTER-CENTURY There has been a long procession of lodges and social organizations coming and going in the past quarter-century. Many of these should at least be noted. Among the various orders which have grown to some substantial proportions, some of which have abandoned their tasks and others are still in existence, are: The Tribe of Ben Hur, Lamont Court No, 120 ; Brother hood of American Yeomen, No, 2082, which is still carrying on its work in Grand Island; Royal Arcanum; Patriotic Protective Order of Stags of the World, No. 138, which form erly met at G, A. R. hall ; Order of Redmen ; Home Forum; National Union. The Western Bees, organized here with Grand Island Lodge No. 1, with R. O. Waters, president, secretary, Geo. Waters, and treas urer, B. H. Paine. The Supreme Lodge of the Western Bees, was established at 109 W. Third, with C. H, Boehl, supreme chancellor, J, P, Leschinsky, Thomas O'Gorman, and J, A. Gilbert of Waco as trustees. This order did not enjoy a successful career; the A. O. U. W., likewise started here, encountered troubles and after a few years it merged vvith another fraternal order. The Westem Bees of American Nobles, Grand Island Lodge 439, was another manifestation of the same idea, but it also merged with the American Order of Protection. The American Order of Pro tection located Union Pacific Harbor No. 17 in Grand Island, and was carrying on its work in 1904 with R. I. Evans, secretary, R. T. Hite, commander. It eventually merged into the Fraternal Aid Union, which is an existing institution. The Knights and Ladies of Security is an organization that has enjoyed a successful growth in Nebraska. Its Ak-Sar-Ben Council No. 940 organized in Grand Island and carried on a successful career for some years. Sons and Daughters of Protection, Sugar City Lodge No. 5, flourishing here in 1904, has now been abandoned. WHEEL CLUBS In sharp contrast to the automobHe associa tions, golf and country clubs and aeroplane companies being organized in 1919 stands the wheel clubs of twenty years ago, when the bicycle was the up-to-date and somewhat aris tocratic method of transportation for pleasure, and later almost a business necessity. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 383 The Grand Island Wheel Club in 1891 had as officers: W. R. King, president, R. A. Powell, vice-president, C. H. Menck, secretary, Arthur C. Mayer and Otto Killian, road cap tains, with 35 wheels ; in 1893, W. R. King was StiH president, R. A. PoweH, captain, with Max Egge and Harry Andrews, lieutenants, and A. C. Mayer, secretary. In 1896 and 1897 the Oriental Cycle Club has D. A. Finch as pres ident, H. B. Peters, secretary, and W. R. King, treasurer ; .and the Puckwana Cycle Club had Harry Culbertson, secretary, John Geddes, president, and W. R. King, treasurer. THE PLATTSDEUTCH VEREIN This organization was founded on the 30th day of AprH, 1884. in Grand Island. The first members were Dr. Christiansen, president, A. Blunk, vice-president, Claus Tagge, N. Kroeger, Claus Eggers, Geo. Cornelius, treas urer, Wm. Cornelius, Chr. Cornelius, Chas. Ivers, Chas. Nielsen, G. W. Hein, secretary, C. D. Meyers, James Heesch, Chas. Guenther and John Kuehlsen. Today this society has grown to a membership of 547. It had seventy-nine boys in the service of our coun try during the World War. The present officers are : Herman Hehnke, president, Wm. .Stratman, vice-president, Theo. Jessen, sec retary, James Heesch, treasurer, Paul Lorenz, honorary director, directors, Peter Mohr, Peter Heeschl, Jasper Eggers, and Peter Schacht. This society's first meeting place was the Liederkranz hall, then Hann's Park, then A. O. U. W. building, and in recent years in the Plattsdeutsche Heim, which they purchased in June, 1910. They now have one of the prettiest places in the state of Nebraska. Their aim is to promote social relations, help one another in sickness and assist the family after the death of its supporter. COUNTRY CLUBS For many years Grand Island has been without any regular country club. Men inter ested in the formation of a country club failed to get their plans crystallized before the war came on. The proposition was revived during 1918, but the presence of so many needed war activities held it back, but after the armistice was signed it rapidly materialized into the formation of a country club. A holding con cern known as the Grand Island Country Club was formed to buy ground south of the city, and this organization selected eighty acres off the Hagge property, on the banks of the Wood River, and had a golf course laid out there. The committee of heavy stockholders designated to incorporate this enterprise, were J. A, Donald, to whom a great deal of credit is due for its successful promotion, Henry Schuff, Joseph D, Martin, J. E. Dill and J. L. Cleary. During the summer of 1919 it was decided to change the name of the social organization to "The Riverside Golf Club." Trustees elected were, O. A. Abbott, Jr., J. E, Dill, J, E, Hanna, C, G, Ryan, Lawrence Donald, Ed Wolbach, Jack Donald, J, L, Cleary and I, R, Alter, An architect has been employed to draft plans for a club house to cost $10,(X)0 to $12,000. Construction is to start during the summer of 1919. The initial stock subscrip tion to the club was necessarily heavy as it in volved each stockholder's proportionate share of the cost of buying ground and building such a club house as they will desire. The requisites and cost of membership in the social club have not yet been publicly an nounced. Another group of men, also inclined toward golf and cooperative recreation but feeling they did not want to invest so heavily, in June, 1919, organized the Woodlawn Golf Associa tion. This organization is not, at this time, at least, essaying to purchase grounds or build a club-house, but has been content to charge only such a moderate stock-subscription price or entrance fee as necessary to rent a tract of ground and lay out a golf course adjoining the Riverside grounds on Wood River, three mHes south of Grand Island. The incorpo rators of the Woodlawn Golf Association were Joseph Power, Irvin R. Morearty, Henry P. 384 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Plattsdeutche Heim, Grand Island Liederkranz, Grand Island HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 385 Zeig, Clark W. Johnson, Ray L. Harrison, Wilmer D. McGrath, Lewis T. Cox, Thos. V. McGowan, and Wm. Suhr. WOOD- river's lodges The history of Cement Lodge No. 211, A. F. & A. M., and Wood River Odd Fellows lodge has already been detailed in this chapter. Vulcan Lodge No. '34, A. O. U. W., was organized April 3, 1884. It had grown to a membership of 191 in 1900. Its early masters were j. W. Honnold, Stephen Jones, H. M. Jones, C. A. Baldwin, J. C. Boone, David Barrick, S. N. Taylor and George Miller. The charter members were C. D. Gibson, W. F. Wells, James WiHiams, John Ewing, F. W. Cooley, C. W. Stoddard, N. T. Brittin, H. P. Chapman, J. W. Honnold, R. H. Dodd, J. B. Furman, H. D. HoHister, David Barrick, J. R. Jewett, C. J. Lowe, C. E. Taylor and Stephen Jones. Wood River Lodge No. 704, M. W. A., was organized September 17, 1888, G, L. Maddock, the first counsel presided for some years. The charter members were! G. D. Maddock, Geo. Plummer, Wm. Thorp, J. A. Shortess, Wilbur Mercer, Thos, Whalen,, ¦ Oliver Mead, J, N, Harrison, John C. Boone and H. M, Jones. B. B. White Camp 29, Sons of Veterans, was organized June 2, 1885, and a charter granted on the same date to H, C. White, cap tain, J, W, Hart, sergeant, R. J. Clark, corporal. A, B, Templeton, high private, Wm, Searl, lieut., Wm. Kunz, color bearer. Women's Relief Corps No. 61 was organized April 19, 1889. The charter members were N. J. Wescoatt, Jennie Trout, H. J, Tracy, Augusta Stephens, Mary Kunz, Mary Plum mer, L, Ramsdell, A. White, E. Taylor, F. Mathews and Emma Bly. The first president was Mrs. Kate Ross and her successor, Mrs. N. J. Wescoatt. Bradley Post No. 134, G. A. R., was organ ized March 17, 1873. Stephen Jones served as commander for two terms, followed by J, H, BHss for a like period, John B, Stephens the fifth term, R, Wescoatt the next two terms. and T, Kunz, one term, A. C, White was the next commander. The G, A, R. and the A, O. U, W, dedicated a hall in April, 1886. The Masons have a nice hall there now. In addition to those named the ladies have maintained an Eastern Star, Rebekahs, Degree of Honor, and Royal Neighbors lodges. Doniphan's lodges Doniphan has maintained an I, O, O, F. lodge, A. J, Smith Post No. 65, organized dur ing the 'eighties; Heli Conclave No. 1, Hepta- sophs, organized in October, 1887, and being the only lodge of that order maintained in the state in 1890; A. O. U. W, lodges, the history of which has already been detailed; a Modern Woodman lodge organized in June, 1889, and the W. O, W, lodge. This W. O, W. lodge was organized in October, 1902. Its first officers were : M. J. Snyder, consul commander, M. J. MeserauH, advisory lieut., S. L. Fletcher, clerk, T. A. Derby, banker. The present officers are : E. E. Marsh, consul commander, Geo. Devereau, advisory lieutenant, A. M. Bomgardner, clerk, Joseph Heitz, banker. CAIRO and alda Alda maintains A. O. U. W. and M. W. A. lodges. Cairo has the A. O. U. W., M. W. A., and I. O. O. F. There has been a successful M. W. A. lodge in Cameron township. This lodge was chartered February 1, 1896, the charter members being: A. W. Benton, Jessie Boering, Orin Bryan, John EHis, M. Graham, John Hopper, Walter Smith, August Wieth, Charles Morton, Ed Omdorf . The present officers are : C. J. Carter, consul, W. J. Porter, clerk, Wm. Cartensen, banker. THE ST. CECILIA society (Information prepared by Mrs. C. G. Ryan) The St. Cecilia Society was organized in June, 1885, and except for a period of a few years of inactivity has been one of the fore most organizations of Grand Island. The first meeting place was the residence of Mrs. Maria 386 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Fisher and the charter members were: Mes- dames R. J. Barr, W. E. Robinson, HiHiker, Fisher, Renard, Misses Emma and Margaret Howard and Ida Heffleman. To this original Hst were added the names of Mrs. W. H. Geddes, Mrs, H, H, Glover, Miss Lucy Hay wood, Mesdames S, D, Ross, J, H, Storms, O. B. Thompson, D, H, Vantine, Chas. Wiebe, J. H. Wooley, Misses Murphy, Ada and May Castiday, May Hurford, and others. From its early beginnings to the present time the membership, which has grown to an active list of thirty and an unlimited associate membership, has included the women most interested in promoting the musical culture of the community. The presidents since 1901 have been: Mrs. H. H. Glover, Mrs. L. A. Arthur, Mrs. C. G. Ryan, Mrs. R. J. Barr, Mrs. S. D. Ross, Miss Jane L. Pinder, Mrs. Victor Anderson, Miss Harriett L. Norris, Mrs. Edward Ewel, Mrs. W. A. Prince, Mrs. H. R. Hatfield, Mrs. E. S. Dungan, Mrs. R. R. Riese, Mrs. Thos. Connor. For the period of the past two years — 1917-18 to 1918- 19 — the club has been inactive, owing to the fact that the members have been busy in war work, until its recent affiliation with the Woman's Club. The St. Cecilia Society is a member of the National Federation of Musical Clubs and has followed out many interesting courses of study. The principal work for the past few years has been the bringing of distinguished musical artists to Grand Island and the man agement of a yearly festival of music which quite matches those of cities much larger. At these festivals and at other concerts given during the year the following artists and organizations have been brought to Grand Island: Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Emil Oberhoffer, conductor, New York Sym phony Orchestra, Walter Damrosch, conduc tor, Josef Hofmann, Efrem Zimbalist, Arthur Middleton, James Goddard, Pavley-Oukrain- sky Ballet, Oscar Seagle and others. The financial affairs of the club have always been successfully handled. The society owns $1,000 worth of Liberty Bonds and has $500 loaned out at interest and a small treasury fund. AH of this money has been made at the annual festivals. The St. Cecilia Society has always stood for the highest musical ideals and has steadily advanced in the character and standards of all of its undertakings, so that the purpose for which it was organized has never been lost sight of. THE T. p. A., POST E Organized April 4, 1903. Its first meeting place was the Palmer hotel. The charter members were J. Donald, J. F. Rourke, P. B. Trueblood, H. A. Goudm, A. Lowry, B. V. Mathers, J. B. Waldo, J. M. Bower, Geo. MiHer, Geo. Spraggins, C. V. Millard, Geo. Porter, C. J. Cunningham, M. L. Dolary, H. L. Bering, E. Ewal, B, S. Thomas, E. H. Tulley, B. L. Curry, R. P. Ranen, T. H. Michelson. The original officers were: J. F. Rourke, president, G. W. Spraggins, vice-president, E. Ewal, secretary-treasurer. Members who have served as president are : J. F. Rourke, J. W. Smith, W. R, Gilchrist, Glenn Bell, Clyde Kelso, M, C, Alexander, R. B. Plummer. Members who have served as secretary are : E. Ewal, L. Lynn, W. R. GHchrist, A. M. Conner, R. B. Plummer. The Grand or head lodge of this society met in Grand Island in 1911 and 1917. The present officers are M. C. Alexander, president, R. B. Plummer, secretary-treasurer. There are 162 members. ISLAND CITY NO. 255 (Information by Thirza M. Doyle) Island City No. 255, Ladies' Auxiliary to the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen was organ ized at Grand Island by Mrs. Janette Turner, a past president, she being the first vice-grand president of the Grand Lodge which was organized at Fort Gratiot, Michigan. Mrs. Myra A. Ballinger was the first president of Island City Lodge. Chartered December 8, 1902. Charter members were : Crete B. Black burn, Emma R. Brooks, Effie M. BaHenger, Jennie M. Carey, Daisy B. Fent, Amelia Murphy, Lucy B. Pflasterer, Grace WHson, %«iA HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 387 Clara E. Hadlock, Mae Hansen, Myra A. Ballenger, Jennie Lyman, Sylvia G. Fent, Mildred McAHister, Louise Wilson, Hannah B. Van Houser. John McAHister was the . first counsel to Island City lodge. Original officers were : Past President, Mae Hansen ; President, Myra A. Ballenger ; Vice- President, Daisy Fent; Secretary, Jennie ¦ Carey; Treasurer, Clara Hadlock; Con ductress, Grace Fent; Warden, Hannah Van Hansen; Chaplain, Crete Blackbum; Inner Guard, Lucy Pflaster, Outer Guard, Emma Brooks. Present officers are: Past President, Edna Miller; President, Rena Spangenberg; vice- President, Cora Streator; Secretary, Thirza M. Doyle; Treasurer, Luella Nelson; Chap lain, Ada Cover; Conductress, Ethel Kelly; Warden, Ora Laurin ; Outer Guard, Eva Ras mussen; Inner Guard, Mable Moeder; Musician, Margaret Le Masters; Counselor, Mr. William E. Doyle. The present treasurer and secretary have succeeded themselves in office the most number of years of any of the officers. This being our convention year the following sisters represented our lodge at convention, which met May 14, 1919, at Columbus, Ohio: Rena Spangenberg as dele gate and Thirza M. Doyle as ahernate. Our lodge has been visited by Grand Officers several times. For the last several years the auxHiary ladies have entertained the railroad men and their families at annual entertain ments for the purpose of becoming better ac quainted with each other. In May, 1919, at the convention it was decided by the delegates and grand officers, to have a ways and means committee, to raise funds to establish a home for the aged and disabled sisters. At this time all auxiliary lodges are interested and working for*, that fund, not forgetting the railroad men's home at Highland Park, Illinois. We now have sixty-two members. THE YOUNG men's CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION A Young Men's Christian Association was organized in Grand Island on February 28, 1885, with C. W. Scarff, president, J. W. Bartholomew, secretary. In 1891 G, W. Weeter was president, L. S. Moore, recording secretary, J. B, Carruthers, general secretary. In 1893 G. W. Weeter was president of the city division, and J. P. Kernohan president of the railroad division, J. T. MiHer, record ing secretary, and J. S. MiHer, general secre tary. The association's headquarters were on Sycamore street between Front and Third. The directors then were: Geo. W. Weeter, W. H. Jones, A. M. WHson, Thos. Robinson, Ira T. Paine, D. C. Hall and W. A. Heim berger. In 1896 Mr. Heimberger was pres ident, A. M. Hargis, treasurer, and M. O. Lewis, general secretary. In 1900 L- E. Smith was general secretary. The headquarters were removed to 105 East Front street. In 1904 M. A. Wolfe was general secretary. Chas. H. Tully served as president of the association for seventeen years. In 1908 the officers were: President, C. H. Tully, vice-president, Frank Perdue, recording secretary, D. H. Fishburn, treasurer, Allan Craig, general secretary, W. L. Stockinger. The same officers were in charge of its aflairs in 1910. In 1912 J. W. Rose was president and Bayard H. Paine, secretary. The directors then serving were: A. F. Buechler, C. H. Tully, L. M. Talmage, J. V. Anderson, E. Williams, J. W. Rose, E. W. Augustine, B. H. Paine, A. M. Hargis, T. J. Hansen, A. U. Hannan, D. E. Ryder, O, C. Bundy, E. F. Starr, E. R. Farmer. The Y. M. C. A. BuHding Associa tion was incorporated with the same fifteen , directors. The officers for that year were J. W. Rose, president, A. F. Buechler, vice-president, Elmer WiHiams, treasurer, and Bayard H. Paine, secretary. H. L. Rowe was general secretary. It was during this administration that the determination was reached to build a new home for the City and Railroad Y. M. C. A. Association of Grand Island. October 21, 1912, a building committee of 107 members was formed to assist in the building campaign . 288 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA The campaign began in November, 1912, and $75,000 was subscribed in three days', campaign, whereas ten days had been alloted to the task. From the stockholders of the new Y. M. C. A. Building Association the following ¦directors were chosen on December 2, 1912: John Reimers, L. M. Talmage, J. D. Whit more, Jack Donald, J. V. Anderson, S. D. Ross, Frank E. Slusser, C. H. Tully, Chas. G. Ryan, T. J. Hansen, A. M. Hargis, Elmer WiHiams, E. W. Augustine, J. W. Rose and Bayard H. Paine. The erection of a four story building, across the street north from the court house, at First and Locust streets was commenced shortly thereafter. CITY AND RAILROAD YOUNG MEn's CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION A meeting was held April 7, 1913, to per fect proper articles of incorporation of "The City and Railroad Young Men's Christian Association." For the first board of directors under this organization, the following were elected to hold until the annual meeting in 1915, E. W. Augustine, L. M. Talmage, J. W. Rose, E. R. Farmer, Bayard H. Paine ; to hold until 1914, A. M. Hargis, E. F, Starr, Elmer WiHiams, D, E. Ryder, T, J. Hansen ; to hold until annual meeting in 1913, J. V. Ander son, A. U. Hannan, A. F. Buechler, C. H. Tully and O. C. Bundy. The officers elected were J. W. Rose, president, E. R. Farmer, vice-president. Bayard H. Paine, secretary, Elmer Williams, treasurer. H. L, Rowe was elected general secretary. In March, 1914, A. F. Buechler and E. F. Starr resigned, and Mr. Rose was compellel to resign as both president and director owing to his removal from the city and A. M. Hargis also removed from the city. F. E. Slusser was elected pres ident, F, J, Coats, Dr, Geo. Sutherland, J. T. Dill and W. E. Clayton were chosen to succeed Rose, Starr, Hargis and Buechler as directors. In April, 1914, Bayard H. Paine became pres ident of the City and Railroad Association, E. R. Farmer continued as vice-presidenit, F. E. Slusser became secretary, E. Williams remained as treasurer, and the same board continued to serve. The officers and directors of the Building Association during 1914 were E. Williams, president, J, Donald, vice-pres ident, B. H, Paine, secretary, and L. M, Talmage, treasurer, with directors as Hargis, T, J, Hansen, Tully, Whitmore, Riemers, Ross, Slusser, Rose, Ryan, Augustine, and Anderson, The dedication of the new Y, M, C. A, building was celebrated with a banquet. In 1915 a very active membership campaign was carried on. The executive membership committee was Geo. W. Wigington, chairman, J. R. Fulton, Theo. Boehm, Raymond Thurs ton, Wm. Suhr. The membership committee Y. M. C. A., Grand Island was F. J. Coates, T. H. McHaley, W. E. Clay ton, H. J. Palmer, Glenn Jones, Max Egge, C. T. Clayton, S. M. Clayton, T. J. EHsberry, A. K. Mader, T. J. Cunningham, D. A. Trivelpiece, Thos. McGowan, E. S. Fair banks, E. F. Younkin, E. G. Johnson, Emest Meyer, J. Frank Scott, Clarence Engleman and Estel Jones. The same officers continued, with H. L. Rowe, general secretary, J. A. Noble, physi cal director and E. C. Anderson boy's sec retary. Secretary Rowe left Grand Island in April, 1916, and his successor was J. T. MaxweH, who came to the Grand Island Association from Omaha, and is in 1919 at Detroit, Michigan. The directors in 1916 were Wm. Suhr, Chas. H. Tully, J. E. DiH, Glenn Jones, B. H. Paine, T. J. Hansen, E. WiHiams, E. W. Augustine, F. E. Slusser, W. E, Clayton, Dr, Geo, Sutherland. Directors elected in October, 1916, were W. E, Clayton, HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 389 J. B. Lesher, F, E. Slusser, C. H. Tully, Guy Smith and J. B. EHseffer. When Mr. Maxwell resigned in September, 1916, his successor was C, O, Michael, Roland W. Seibert worked as boy's secretary untH July, 1917, having been then called to war work, when Mr. Fred Olsen was appointed, W. E. Daniels was soon thereafter chosen athletic director. Judge Paine insisted upon retiring from the presidency in October, 1917, after having served during the strenuous years of buliding and equipping the association's new home, and Glenn Jones was elected president, E. W. Augustine was elected vice-president, J. B. Elseffer, secretary, and T, J, Hansen treasurer. Directors serving thereafter were Messrs. Jones, Slusser, Tully, A. L. Dunn, Suhr, Michael, Augustine, Bayard H. Paine, Hansen, Dill, J. R. Hanna, Elseffer, J. B. Lesher, and in 1918 Augustine, Bury, Slusser, Jones, Elseffer, Hansen and Tully were elected ¦directors. The directors serving in 1919 are Glenn Jones, J. B. Lesher, E. W. Augustine, C. H. Tully, Judge J. R. Hanna, F. E. Slusser, J. T. DiH, Judge B. H. Paine, J. B. Elseffer, W. E. Clayton, O'Laughlin, Geo. Candish, T. V. McGowan, D. J, TraHl, Mr, C. O, Michael resigned in the summer of 1919 and left for Davenport, Iowa, to enter Palmer Chiropractic College, and after a short time the board secured E. F. Bear, who came to this associa tion from Dubuque, Iowa. Mr. Bear has served as a secretary in Y. M. C. A, war service, W, J, Rother, of Des Moines, Iowa, was chosen physical director, and Mr. Schoupp boys' secretary. YOUNG women's christian ASSOCIATION The Hall County Young Women's Associa tion organized January, 1913, but there had previously been a Ladies auxiliary to Y. W. C. A. Its first meeting place in I. O. O. F. Hall, but thereafter its head quarters were moved to the Windolph build ing. It was chartered on April 2, 1919, with the following charter members of its board -of directors : Mrs. W. A. Prince, Mrs. Fanny Dahlstrom, Mrs. Agnes Sorenson, Mrs John Schwynn, Mrs. B. H. Paine, Mrs. C. B. Hel ling, Mre W. R. McAllister, Miss Emma MHi sen, Mrs Hettie Boyden, Mrs. R. H. McAHis ter, Mrs. Louise Hedde, Mrs. Grace Hender son, Mrs. H. C. Miller, Miss Dorothea Kills, Miss Elula Gilbert, Mrs. Sarah C, Kelley, Mrs. H. D. Starkey, Wood River, Mrs. Ida Eaton, Alda, Dr. Nelle Deffenbaugh, Miss Emma E. Sheeley, ex-officio. The first officers were, Mrs. W. A. Prince, president, Mrs. C. B. Helling, vice-president. Miss Sarah Kelley, secretary, Mrs. John Schwynn treas urer, and Miss Emma E- Sheeley general secretary. During the six years this organization has been growing and carrying on its increased' burdens, Mrs. Prince has faithfully discharged the duties of president, and Miss Sheeley remained at the post of general secretary until her resignation in the summer of 1919, to take up similar work at Huron, South Dakota. Her successor has not been selected at the time this review is written. The association has carried its own finances since its organization. It was the first county association of the Y. W. C. A. work organ ized in Nebraska. The membership has grown to approximately 600 in 1919. With its cen-' tral location, at Second and Pine streets, it has been the haven of rest and cheer for the working girls of the city at their noon rest hour, and a welcome home corner at any other hours in the day it has its doors open. Christ mas cheer work has been carried on each year, and between fifty-five and eighty-five families have been provided with food, clothing, fuel and toys for the children. Thus the Christmas spirit has been made felt where there might have been many heart aches. There has been a rest room maintained each year at the county fair. In 1916 when Co. M. was sta tioned for three weeks at the city hall, and the boys devoutly desired some "home cooking" the Y. W. C. A. responded with three meals a day for five weeks. General Secretary Sheeley served on the executive committee of the Red Cross County Chapter. Mrs. Prince, the president of the association during the many months that her only son, with millions 390 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA of other mothers' sons was in the service, and across the waters, but found time to serve as district chairman of the Y. W. C. A. with the L"^. A\ . \\". campaign. Miss Sheeley repre sented the Y. W. C. A. on the county execu tive committee in that campaign. The Business Giris' Club pledged $1,500 war saving stamps, and assisted in the victory girls' campaign. During the war period three night classes a week were maintained for Red Cross work. The present officers are : ^Mrs. W. A. Prince, president, ]\Irs. W. H. Sharp, vice-president, Airs. R. S. Odum, first vice-president, Airs. L. A. Arthur, second vice-president, Mrs. Franklin C. Tully, secretary, Airs. Hettie Boyden, treasurer, and the present Board of directors are : Aliss Emma Alilisen, Airs. Het tie Boyden, Airs. C. B. Helling, Airs. W. A. Prince, Airs. W. H. Sharp, Airs. R. S. Odum, Airs. A. F. Buechler, Airs. L. A. Arthur, Airs. Joseph Woostenholm, Airs. Franklin Tully, Airs. A. Rasmussen, Mrs, Rufus Geer, Mrs, Lucy Switzer, Airs. Ernest Frank, Airs. R. B. Ray, Airs. C. E. Alasten, Airs. Oscar Holmes, Mrs. Theodore Aloehm, Aliss Jane Pinder and Airs. Belle Stehlin. the mothers' teachers' federated club One of the biggest and best organized Woman's Clubs in Grand Island is the one known as "The Alothers' Teachers' Federated Club of Grand Island." In the faH of 1914 the teachers and mothers in the Jefferson school district organized the first club in the city. It started with a great deal of enthusiasm and has continued strong and active. The school board observing the benefits the new club brought the Jefferson community, issued a request to the principals of the ward schools that they call the mothers of their districts together and organize similar clubs. \^'hen the five new clubs had been thus formed a mass meeting was called of the members of the six city clubs at which Airs. Bayard H. Paine (then a member of the school board) acted as temporary chairman. The neces sity of federating the clubs that the}- might work in closer harmony was thoroughly dis cussed at this first meeting and later was per fected. Airs. Paine becoming first president by unanimous vote. The work of the federation was two fold. It outlined the year's programs for the dis trict clubs and lent its strength to securing the reforms which the individual clubs pro posed. The federated club worked on secur ing a proper isolation hospital. In this they were sucessful, getting it located in a good district and in a good buHding. They worked very hard on securing school nurse and medical inspection for our schools. They brought Dr. Johann of Lincoln, school inspector there, to describe the system as worked out in Lincoln. They have secured the promises of all surgeons, dentists, and physicians of the city for free clinics as soon as the school nurse is secured. Under the leadership of Airs. R. B. Ray they registered for Uncle Sam one thousand nine babies and in connection with this held two welfare weeks, with free lectures, exhibit and physical examinations. In one clinic a ,baby of fourteeen months was discovered to be totally blind and the mother did not know it. Another baby over a year old had never sat alone and weighed less than twelve pounds. Both of these children were given free atten tion by Drs. Carson and Higgins and Dr. Reilley and Dr. Woodruff. Another case of a girl of school age whose eyes were defective were cared for by Dr. \\'ingert. These are a few of the startling cases where the parents were in impoverished circum stances. A great many minor defects were discovered where the parents were able and glad to get them corrected. The federation work since it has been taken into the state federation of women's clubs (two years ago) has taken part in the move ments in which the women of the state are working. But as a local organization they do a great deal of charity work for mothers and children. The individual clubs work toward meetino- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 391 the needs of their own districts, the play ground equipment, sanitary conditions of the schools, etc. Each child has worked in the Red Cross war work. At the Jefferson club the knitting department under Mrs. Colwell and Mrs. D. A. GeH made 498 sweaters, 122 pair socks, 6 helmets, 11 pair half hands, 40 pair wristlets. They were Mrs. Clark's best bunch of knitters. The sewing department under Mrs. Chamber lain also turned in a great deal of work. The Dodge and Wasmer clubs under Mrs. Buck and Mrs. Wright combined their efforts, working together in both sewing and knitting. They took the scraps from the cutting room, sewed carpet rags and sold rugs. The Platt school, with Mrs. W. W. Ray as knitting instructor, turned in a creditable amount of work. The Jefferson has always held the lead among the clubs but the Howard this year with Airs. Engleman as president ran them a close second. The Jefferson during the time Mrs. Mc Grath was president instituted the "penny lunch" where the under-nourished could get a glass of milk or a cup of cocoa and a sand wich for a penny, or if the penny were lack ing a kind teacher slipped a ticket for the lunch to the needy child. They and the Lin coln mothers have served for the needy and they have also furnished Christmas baskets to those who would appreciate them most. Some of the clubs have helped in buying victrolas and records for the schools and at decorating school floats at fair time. Each school has bought an emergency kit for its own school and each has yearly entertained the "21 Club" boys. The greatest benefit to the club members themselves has been in getting together on things of common interest and the develop ment of a community spirit. The federation officers for the present year are: Mrs. D. E. Chamberlain, president, Mrs. J. E, Buck, vice- pesident, Mrs, B, R. McGrath, second vice- president, Mrs, Fred MHler, secretary-treas urer, THE woman's club There has at various times in the past been a Woman's club flourishing in Grand Island, devoted to the civic purposes best suited to a woman's organization. But recently a re vival of interest in this civic obligation of the women has brought about a new organiza tion, which while not exactly an auxiliary of the commercial club, is intended to carry on similar objects which the women can best undertake for the community. The new Woman's club of Grand Island was organized in the summer of 1919. Two preliminary meetings were held by a few inter ested women and then on the 18th of June at the city library a mass meeting was held with nearly fifty present. A constitution was adopted which was signed by those present. The officers elected for the first year were : Mrs. C. G. Ryan, president, Mrs, W. A. Prince, first vice-president, Airs. A. J. Bau mann, second vice-president, Mrs. Ward Hurst, secretary, Aliss Ruth Boyden, corre sponding secretary, Mrs. R. D. Kingsbun,-, treasurer. The object of this club can best be given in the words used in its constitution: "to pro mote fellowship among the women of this community, to unite their influence and enter prise for the betterment of educational, social and moral conditions." A most interesting plan for the first year's work has been mapped out and there will be several departments to begin with and others wiH no doubt be added before the year is very far along. The St. CecHia Society, a prominent musical organization of Grand Is land, has become the music department of the new Woman's Club. CHAPTER XXI ORGANIZED LABOR IN HALL COUNTY Knights of Labor in the Eighties — Railroad Organizations — Central Labor Un ion IN Hall County — Official Union Roster — American Federation of La bor — Growth in Membership It has not heretofore been so very custo mary in a work of this kind to form a separ ate chapter for organized labor. But when it is considered that something like 15% of 20% of the population of Grand Island, whose population is practically one-half of that of Hall County, belong to the Central Labor Union, it is readily apparent that labor is very much entitled to a full separate historical treatment of its organized activities as many other lines of community endeavor which are always selected for a rather comprehensive historical treatment. Professor Commons, one of the authors of a work recently published entitled "A history of labor," states in its introduction that "the history of labor is a story of how, in the course of three centuries, the wage-earner, as a distinct class, has been gradually, even violently, separating himself from the farmer, the merchant, and the employer, and coming to feel that his standing and progress in so ciety depend directly on wages and not direct ly on prices, rents, profits, or interest." Organizations of laborers to accomplish certain specified aims and objects began to appear in this country more than a hundred years ago. Probably the first well organized move ment to effect Hall County along this line was the local organization of the Knights of Labor, in the 'eighties. This secret order had been formed in 1869 by Uriah Smith Stephens, a native American, educated for the Baptist ministry, but who had learned the tailoring trade for a liveHhood. The secret ritual of the order as written by Stephens pro claimed that "open and public association hav ing failed after a struggle of centuries to pro tect or advance the interest of labor, we have lawfully constituted this assembly," and "in using this power of organized effort and co operation we but imitate the example of capital heretofore set in numberless instances." The great activity of the Knights of Labor as a national organization began about 1880, and it grew untH in 1886 it numbered 5,892 assemblies of a total membership of 702,924. In the Hall County assembly among the lead ers were masters Alton Avery, Wni. F. Laugh lin, F. Hall and secretaries M. C. Beecher, T. A. Oakes, and J. Lorentzen. But in a few years the Knights of Labor declined and the American Federation of La bor increased and gradually supplanted the former movement. The Industrial \A'orkers of the World has thrived among certain more transient and irresponsible elements of labor, and at times threatened to assume the propor tions of a rival to the American Federation of Labor, but the latter has persistently pro claimed a separate path and avowed no con nection with the now somewhat discredited "I. W. \y." movement. The aroused sympa thetic interest of the public in the labor ques tion has in recent years produced some re sults along lines for which organized labor is contending and striving: workmen's com pensation laws, factory inspection laws, hours fixing maximum daily or weekly hours of 392 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 393 Avork, provisions for one day's rest in seven, prohibition of night work, chHd labor laws, minimum wage laws for women, and estab lishment of a separate department in the na tional cabinet for labor, and in our own state a separate department in the new administra tive system of state govemment for labor are manifestations of results accomplished in an orderly way by this movement. Though the path of labor is frequently dis turbed by strikes, with which many of the public violently disagree in principle and re sist the disturbance and inconvenience, to that third party which is often ignored in a violent controversy between workers and employers, the public, yet this phase of our community life is rapidly growing in strength. A manifestation of its importance locally may be gathered by the recent action of organ ized labor in Hall County in putting forth a candidate for the delegateship to the consti tutional convention from this county — a member of the coppersmiths of boilermaker's union, George Grady. There have been a few organizations com posed of men of a certain trade or calling for a good many years throughout the country and a good many of these have been recog nized in Hall County and locals have flourished here. RAILROAD organizations Practically since the beginning of Grand Island's history an important industry in the city has been the railroad. The John D. Moore lodge No. 134, Brother hood of Railroad Trainmen, was organized in September, 1885. Details as to who have been the presiding officers of this lodge cannot be given, as the present secretary refused this information to the compiler. But it may be said this local organization has had a long and useful career. The national head of this order, W, G, Lee, is one of the big men of organized labor of this day, and a man who recently in the discussion and agitation over the high cost of living and profiteering throughout the country delivered one of the clearest and most pertinent statements of any national figure in the country today. Early in the 'nineties several railroad organ izations were formed here. The Switchman's Mutual Association, Grand Island Lodge No. 151 was one of these. W. R. Brown was master in 1890-1891 and F. B. Manley after him. Thos. Hanly, M. J. Cleary and R. C. Dunham were secretaries about that time. An other local organization was the Railway Em-, ployees Club, Monroe Taylor, of the freight office, president, and H. Warner, railroad clerk, secretary. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen do not have local lodges at Grand Island, but the enginemen running in and out of here mostly belong to the locals at Omaha or North Platte. The Order of Railway Conductors, Grand Island Division No. 514, was organized March 22, 1908, with the following charter members : J. W. Amick, T. F. CosteHo, Wm. Burke, H. W. Jones, J. B. Kirsh, T. T. Pace, Gid J. HaH, I. V. Woods, Geo. J. HuH, W. H. Brooks, G. B. Brady, Grant Hadlock, H, G, Quiggle, F, W. Mappes, Jr,, Leo A. Westover, J. H. Scholder, Roy E. Woodworth, Geo, H. Kanouff, Chas. F. Hull and Edward D. Wright. Geo. C. Wilson is secretary of this lodge. The roster of present labor unions and lodges in the city will disclose other organiza tions now existing, which are composed of railroad employees, IN THE PAST There have been numerous organizations formed from callings outside of railroad work in the past years, A union or lodge of Blacksmiths, Horse- shoers and Wheelwrights Association of America thrived in Grand Island for a good many years. D. Spethman served as secre tary. The Cigarmakers' International Union of America was weH organized here ten to fif teen years ago, with C, H. Steinmeier, secre tary. The officers in 1919 are Chris. Neilsen 394 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA and Lawrence Hann, and there are still six teen members, though the local organization was formerly stronger than that, CENTRAL labor UNION A recent step toward giving organized la bor considerably more strength in Grand Is land has been the growth of the Grand Island Central Labor Union, This organization has now some twenty-six or twenty-eight active unions federated together, with a membership in excess of two thousand. Under the secretaryship of Harry H, Long this Central Labor Union made material prog ress and enlarged its quarters from a small labor temple on South Locust to large spacious quarters in the Glover buHding. Mr. Long has now left this position and taken up work for The American Federation of Labor. Geo. Grady and Gus Hein are the secretaries in charge of the work of the Central Labor Union at this time. Some of the very active local unions now flourishing in Grand Island are: United Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees and Railway Shop Laborers ; organized in 1918, with a membership of 238 at this time; W. A. Davidson, E. I. Madison and R. F. Walker are the officers. Stationary Firemen and Oilers, organized October 1, 1918, membership 79, Wm, Stolten berg, H. Brown and Bert Rowland officers. Brotherhood of Railroad Clerks organized, October, 1918, 7Z members, Vernon Arbogast and W. L.Burnett Officers. International Association of Machinists, Grand Island Lodge, No. 565, organized July 9, 1918, Jos. O. Donnell and C. B. Neimann are officers. Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, organ ized August 3, 1911, has 147 members now, and officers are Chris Birk, Otto Gruse, A. M. Bensen, Chris Michelson, and R. Shadd. Bricklayers and Masons International Union of America, No. 8 was chartered July 11, 1911. Its first officers were Geo. Weber, W, S. Dewey, H. P. Lassen, Pete Larson was later president and Roy Calkins and W, S, Dewey secretaries, and the present officers are H. P. Lassen, Chris Erickson and Fritz Alpers, The local now has 21 members. Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Local 1386, organized Jan 12, 1903 with 47 members, and G. H, Meves, S. H. McAdams and Walter Whitacker are officers. An official roster of some twenty of the pres- .ent active organizations of the Central Labor Union, including some of those named above, follows: Barbers, No. 662, A. J. Maduna, Sec'y, Boilermakers, No. 475, Chas. Day, Sec'y, Bricklayers, No. 8 Chris Eriksen, Sec'y, Sheet Metal Workers, No, 556, L. Detlefsen, Sec'y, Plasterers, No. 611, C. O, Davis, Sec'y, Carpenters, No, 1386, S. H. McAdams, Sec'y, Machinists, No. 1061, C. B. Niemann, Sec'y, Painters, No. 434, F. C. Stevens, Sec'y, B. R. C. of A., No. 979, Otto Cmse, Sec'y, I. B. M. of W. E., No. 492, R. E. Walker, Sec'y, Wood River, Nebraska; State Fire men, No. 371, Howard Brown, Sec'y, Bro. of R. R, C, No. 4, W, L, Burnett, Sec'y, U, B.- M, of W. E. R. S. L., No. 492, W. L. Camp bell, G. I., Movie Operators, No. 495, W. P. Bemis, Sec'y, Cigarmakers, No. 196, Chris Neilsen, Sec'y, Plumbers, Mr Bensen, Sec'y, Mail Clerks, J. L. Humphrey, Sec'y, Mail Carriers, George Meyers, Sec'y, Blacksmiths, Dick Spethman, Sec'y, RetaH Clerks, No. 328, Ella Heidkamp, Sec'y. AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR The Grand Island Central Labor Union which has just been discussed is an integral part of the national body, the American Federation of Labor. Probably in no manner can the fact be so forcibly be brought out that organized labor has grown by leaps and bounds in the past thirty years beyond the con ception of the average individual, than to take the space to detail a few points of the growth of the American Federation of Labor. From a membership of approximately 50,- 000 in 1881 to 2, 371, 434 in 1917, the figure's for 1918 and 1919 would be materially in excess of that were they immediately avail able to the compilers of these pages. CHAPTER XXII THE PRESS OF HALL COUNTY First Paper, The Banner — Platte Valley Independent — The Daily Independent — Grand Island Weekly Times — The Democrat — Grand Island Anzeiger and Her ald — Central Nebraska Republican — The Free Press — Up to Date Ideas — The Volante — Miscellaneous Publications — -Wood River, Doniphan and Cairo Papers "The pen is mightier than the sword — we're told. But what is either to a sharpened Faber? Paste-pot and scissors have a mighty hold And save a sight of heavy mental labor — But if you want a power — sturdy, bold — Archimedes' hand-spike, or Damocles' sabre — Give us a Washington, a Taylor or a Hoe And spondulicks enough to make the critter go." To the Mormons is accorded the honor of establishing the first newspaper in Hall County. The beginning of the press f showed much closer upon the first settlement than the be ginnings of even the organized churches and schools. In the spring of 1858 the Mormons had a number of farms operating on Wood River and in that little community the first newspaper in Hall or adjoining counties was established by them. It was named the Banner, was owned by one Peck and edited by Joe E, Johnson, It was published under several different names, during its Nebraska residence, among them being the Huntsman's Echo. In the spring of 1863 it was moved away with the Mormons and when taken to Salt Lake, was rechristened The Mountain Bugle. The Banner was the evangelist of this Mormon tribe, sending out their teachings and doctrines, so it was of little use to the ~ colonies of German Christians, or even the Catholic community coming into that section of the country. For the larger fraction of a decade these German colonists were compelled to get their news from papers published at Chicago, or the faraway Fatherland, In 1869 an enterprise was established at North Platte which eventually became the first permanent paper of Hall County, The Independent. This paper was established as the Platte Valley Independent, and issued on January 1, 1869 by Mrs. M. T. G, Eberhart and Seth P, Mobley, In their salutations they claimed for the new journal just what its name indicated. As it was the only paper of the whole west ern and north and south central sections of the state, west of Fremont, its pages were filled with advertisement and the news columns quite replete. On June 11, of that year, a bitter attack on J, P, Marston was made. This brought forth an action for libel, and threatened a sale of the Independent to Barton & Park on June 25, but the withdrawal of suit and the dismissal of Marston as foreman of the Union Pacific shops averted that course, Mr. Mobley remained at North Platte as editor for some time, and issued the paper as the Advertiser. In the meantime headquarters were removed to Grand Island, with Mrs, Eberhart as resident editor. On July 2, 1870, Mrs. Eberhart as editress issued the first num ber of the Platte Valley Independent at Grand Islc^nd. She was a virile writer and became generally known over the state. The tone of the new paper was decidedly Republican when political affairs were under discussion, and the 395 396 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA news columns were well filled. This journal was the advertising medium for all of this section of the state, and gained a foothold which it has since maintained. Later Mr. Mobley became associated in the business and publication of the paper in Grand Island and the association ripened into closer relations, Mrs. Eberhart and Mr. Mobley being married on December 9, 1871. Mr. Mobley had been editor of the Fort Kearny Herald in 1865, before he had under taken the enterprise that developed into the ledependent. Mrs. Mobley was born in Limerick City, Ireland, and came to the United States with her parents in 1849, attended St, Independent Building, Grand Island Mary's convent at South Bend, Indiana, in 1852, after her father's death, taught school at Peoria, in 1864, removed to Omaha in 1867 and went to North Platte in 1869 where she taught school until she became connected with the new Independent. Both Mr, and Mrs. Mobley were very prominent- in the Grange movement. Her Fourth of July addresses and lectures on statesmen and agriculture re ceived some attention. The Platte Valley Daily Independent, ap peared on October 2, \8?i. In its salutatory paragraph, it announced : It will appear at sun-up each morning, and in order that there may be no fears in regard to the permanency of its financial basis, we make both subscriptions and advertising rates payable weekly. This daily issue ceased at the end of the political campaign during which it had made its appearance. The Daily Fair Bulletin was issued from the Independent office September 18, 1S7S. After the Mobleys had conducted the Inde pendent during the dozen years preceding, in 1883 they made a sale to J, A, McMurphy of Plattsmouth, who had a week or so later sold . to Fred Hedde, J. W. Liveringhouse was another proprietor who owned- the paper during the time the Mobleys sold it, and Fred Hedde eventually took charge. Early in 1883 a company of liberal men, who were dissatisfied with the political con trol of the railroad monopoly and who desired a medium by which they might express more independent views, formed an enterprise that undertook the publication of what they termed The Anti-Monopolist These gentlemen were William Anyan, Fred Hedde, W. H, Thompson, and J, R, Thompson, afterwards district judge, Ed Hooper, Geo. Cornelius. This company did not exist verj' long and Fred Hedde in the course of 1883 acquired the whole establishment. When he purchased the Independent, and on July 18, 1884, became editor and owner, he united these two weeklies, retaining the name of The Independent and adopting the tendency of the anti-monopolist, a tendency peculiarly his own. In the beginning of the year 1884 he estab lished The Grand Island Daily Independ ent, the first issue of which appeared in Jan uary, 1884, and which has lived through all these years of struggle, varying adversity and prosperity, until it greets the year 1919, thirty- five years later with daily telegraphic seiwice for over 7,000 subscribers and purchasers. The first editor of the Anti-Monopolist had been P. Jngalls, and he was followed by Air. Liveringhouse, heretofore mentioned as also editor of the Independent for a short time. Mr. Hedde continued in charge of the Inde pendent as the responsible editor continuously from July, 1884 with the exception of fifteen months from December 1, 1895, to- the last of Februai-y, 1897, during which time the paper was leased to Alessrs. W. Al. Geddes fonner mayor of the city and A. F. Buechler until March 1, 1897, HISTORY OF PIALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 401 IlAlLY TfMl:s Capital Bilirarcj r aEO.T.Hi FIBdX CVA-^ HOtrSE, CcnLsr locut ud TMrd SlnoU. fie OZo^AKT SlUVBvS, TIKWARE «se ¦fiTiMifiif'ijBSife, H A B b '#:^'k :d *JtflI I&tt -•ifie • rmz stjEHisEt. flervedir (ho Bnwt bvjIs LUNOH UT AtL HOURS. Bot CuffMuidTHBiooonnMUdQ nlthBrf Gluck'x St-iri. Front Stvei-t, ORAlfls ISlAyB. NXUj ', CORNEUUS IVERS' Billiarl Sail. CHOICE - '! LIQUORS and C^4R3, THllil) STItEBT, --.l>»ir OEAIin GRAIKfT' \.^y-y:V£iSy5J£B''Qettt f rioua and Quickest He turr« I ^ nesH-iquors B'1/3 ''- 1 5^"''-*cco-*' A>ro , DEY GOODS,-; Boots and Shoes, HATS, CAPS &lJ0n01TS. Cjkes Cf nlP ti luoft h Uflu, Nut-, Civ"^ Tobiit-tt 4.1 Oysters and Ipe Cream Is thdr esAfon ^oe iit^fpiXm PartIt«unr(iM(iaDbl«.i«ri OPPOSTTB TUBBSPOT, BOOT and SH®B Jlmiv' lieivvj cofllOTft iiittdo Kip Zftd liio and iiU l-"-u UnvTi B(.i]ti,JUdl ft and MiAvtj, Q iiKin UdtU ntd 9UiiiH.r3, f Alwu7» va bind 0 lualow irtlot ^ Il u!1 Tartutf nr dock All UbiIm or LATHER FINDINGS "s* flKST^LASa VABIETY Oi' FlIItNiSHISO GOODS. Tl»« Wgojrt stock ttt low^t ;.rl.v« i< l»e feaud In Cftllrftl \»!bnw!(ii. MM-WST WiSiSsK-S-. SI G. PHimiSTER, Cbntractor ' I -,-AND- ¦ t/ri J \ /> thj Line. 1 a Mtli'Ib'-iur? n ana r ft] tt roipuct- i ttnr pdi/i oKgt Locust Street, GRA^jy /N f.A.vn, A'KBIl.lSKA HARNESS, SADDI:^ FiiH- Drul.il' i.-h! s.nglo Buggy and Carriage Harn^as »w|fa...>rt..,^.;i,Hj.,v,v. l««*^v.. -.-(yM-l ''¦'¦"! «»«-4»»il l-Uwl, Si^i*^ »#ft: I * /« I - ¦ t s ti \ ¦!¦'& :•!.«>¦ fidii.i., (ii^ Jut- WutV .'1 r-wjii? -¦-'1''- ¦'»! «i.viti. I 402 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA and Charles Boehl, Henry Garn had been a settler at Grand Island in 1866 and taught school in the village until 1879. In 1883 Mr. Boehl sold his interest to Garn. The Herald (American) was established August 2, 1885, and issued from Henry Gam's office, then publisher of Der Herold. In May, 1888, Ed J. Hall took charge of The Grand Island Herald (American) for Henry Garn, who had charge of the two Heralds, In January, 1889, Mr. Gam sold the Grand Island Herald to Mr. Hall, and in July, 1889, he sold the German Herold to Mr. G. M. Hein. The office of the American Herald was then moved to the Bartenbach Opera house and its pubHcation continued there. Its circulation in 1890 was about 800. Mr. Hall, its editor, had then been in Nebraska newspaper field for about eighteen years, fifteen of which he had spent with the Saunders County Times. Mr. Hein continued the German Herold with a circulation of about 1,200. - Weltblat, a German weekly newspaper, was controlled by Mr. Hein. It was established by him January 1, 1889, and was one of the few Plattdeutsch (commonly known as Low- German) magazines published in the world then, and had a circulation of about 1,100 copies. During the time that Mr. Hein had the German Herold, he merged it with the An zeiger, a joumal which he had established a number of years previous, and thus formed the Anzeiger-Herold. Later, the combined Anzeiger-Herold came under the control of J. P. "Windolph. During the year 1918, upon the. demand of the County Council of Defense, though no charge of disloyalty was made against it, this journal changed its name to Herald, and' be came an English publication. the; central Nebraska rEpubucan After Mr. Mobley terminated his services as superintendent of the Nebraska building at the "World's Fair, he returned to Hall County and later went to "Wood River and bought a weekly paper, the Wood River Gazette, but sold it again after a short time. He then returned to Grand Island and started a paper that attempted to be a second republican paper in Grand Island, known as the Central Ne braska Republican. For about three years paper continued as a weekly paper only, and then was extended as a daily paper under the same name. This continued to exist until it was purchased, about 1898, by N. Fodrea and son, who, approximately a year later, sold it to I. M. Augustine, then publisher of the Grand Island Free Press (weekly) who continued the publication until 1902, when its subscrip tion list was sold to the old, but newly reorgan ized competitor; The Independent. The Grand Island Free Press was a profita ble venture as long as it remained purely a weekly, with progressive democratic or pop ulist leanings. But the venture into the daily field, as the successor of the Central Nebraska Republican, about ten years previously, had not been profitable, disinterested newspaper men generally ascribing it to the fact that the field had once b^en occupied by one daily newspaper and was too small for two. After disposing of the daily business Mr. Augustine, by this time joined in business by his elder son, E. "W., continued the weekly publication and, in the course of a few years, purchased the plant of the Anzeiger-Herold, continuing both publications. In 1913 a number of Grand Island citizens, including "W. H. Thompson, F. "W. Ashton, B. H. Paine, and other leading democratic spirits, placed financial support behind the effort of D. A. Geil, then of St. Paul, to es tablish a democratic daily. The Free Press and Anzeiger-Herold combined plant, incor porated at the time for $10,000, was purchased. Additional capital was added to estabHsh a daily and new machinery was obtained and an elaborate news service for a morning daily was secured. Even the established journal, in a greeting to its competitor, expressed the belief that it might find the field sufficiently resourceful for a second daily newspaper ven ture. But despite the fact that there was nothing in the nature of any newspaper "war," HISTORY OP HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 403 the effort was unsuccessful from the financial standpoint, and the paper had a short lease of life. Men interested iti the fonner German weekly, the Anzeiger-Herold, formed a sepa rate organization, purchased that part of the business before the venture was abandoned, and, by means of a stock company established it in a business place of its own. It was prospering and had begun to pay dividends when the war and its vicissitudes for all papers in that language came on, and at a meeting of the stockholders it was decided to change the paper to the English. Thus was born the Grand Island Herald which is doing a suc cessful weekly publishing business. THE FREE PRESS The Free Press was established about 1893, when Augustine Brothers moved the Doniphan Eagle plant to this city and changed the name. I. M. Augustine later purchased the interest of his brother George and published an inde pendent weekly with democratic leanings. UP-TO-DATE ideas Under that title The Up-to-Date Publishing Company issued a journal under the editorship of Penn P. Fodrea. This was a journal de voted to the interests of advertisers and con tained many good things for business men who spent money in advertising whether on a large or small scale. Mr. Fodrea after leaving Grand Island located in Omaha, and became one of the leading advertising men there. THE VOI.ANTE This publication is a monthly that has been issued by the students of the Grand Island Baptist College. It is a sixteen page paper, the usual periodical size, very ably edited in every department and printed on fine quality of book paper. MISCEEIvANEOUS PUBLICATIONS Numerous other publications have been started at Grand Island and flourished for a period of time and then passed out of ex- 1 istence. The Nebraska Courier was published along about 1897-98 by Henry Garn, as a German paper. It was an eight page, six column weekly advocating republican principles. Later it was published by Brandt and Neumann, succeeded by the latter individually, and was merged with and discontinued by the Inde pendent in 1900, The Orchard and Vineyard was issued in 1871 from the Independent office, but B, L, Easley, a, nurseryman, was interested with Mr, Mobley in the promotion of that agricultural journal. It continued publication for about one year. The Mirror was a temperance journal, also called The Rechabite, founded at Grand Island in August, 1874, by J, I. "Wylie and Miss M, V. Huston, In October of that year. Miss May Van Pelt took the place of Miss Huston. This Mr. Wylie who was a painter by trade had not long continued in the newspaper work when he was cowhided by Mrs. Mobley for an editorial assault upon her as a newspaper woman. This chastisement was inflicted upon "Wylie in the Grange hall. The Grand Island Workman was issued August 10, 1899, by F. G. Lockwood. In Jan uary, 1890, the editor proclaimed his principles thus: The Workman believes our tariff system, our land system, our financial system and our ballot system to be wrong, some in part and some in whole. The Workman will labor for commercial freedom, the single tax on land values, the Australian ballot system, and honest money. The Workmmi believes that the late confederation of the Farmers' Alliance and Knights of Labor to be a grand step in the cause of human happiness, and shall sus tain, to the best of our ability, this union of action, which will be for good government. WOOD RIVER The Wood River Interests has been pub lished by O, M, Quackenbush since 1894, Continuously and successfully under the man agement of Mr, Quackenbush until very recently. The Wood River Gazette was issued Sep tember 9, 1881, by R, H, Miller who sold his office to James Ewing, March 2, 1882. The Wood River Sunbeam, was published 404 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA there by C. C. Johns, succeeded by Mr. Malt man, until removed to Kenesaw about the year 1905. Mr. Quackenbush, in 1919 sold his Interest plant back to Mr. Maltman, who, under the name of The Sunbeam is publishing a fine enterprising weekly. DONIPHAN The Doniphan Eagle was established by I. M. Augustine during the decade of 1890. The Doniphan Index was established April 1, 1888, by Charles Kelsey, who in 1879 came to Hastings, and worked at the case there until his removal to Doniphan. The Doniphan Enterprise, under the owner ship of J. "W. Beirbomer, is at present pub lished as a live local weekly and is apparently enjoying a good patronage. CAIRO The Cairo Record was established by J. H. Harrison, AEDA A few years ago an effort was made to establish a small weekly but support was lack ing and the effort was very short-lived. CHAPTER XXIII THE MEDICAL AND DENTAL PROFESSIONS IN HALL COUNTY The Doctor — Doctors Here in the 'Seventies — Early Physicians Registered — Dur ing THE 'Nineties — Since Then — Osteopathic Doctors — Hospitals — St. Francis Hospital — Grand Island General Hospital — Dentists oe Hall County — Dr, Howard C, Miller — D, A, Finch — Between 1885 and 1896 — 1896 TO Date A quarter century ago the doctor, with his little grip-sack of bottles and boxes of pills, capsules, and bitter liquids, his little old buggy and faithful Dobbin now replaced by the automobile, no one considered whether he needed to know a great deal — ¦ he was just the doctor. Call the doctor, first thing done when you are sick. He gets you well and perhaps his bill is the last one paid. But never more forcefully was the necessity of the medical profession as an absolutely essential spoke in the wheel- of community life evidenced than during the terrible influenza epidemic of 1918- 1919. "With a number of Hall County's doctors away in army service, the remainder worked until sheer exhaustion endangered their own health and constitutions, but they never failed the constant calls that came to them. From an apprenticeship, assisting as a "buggy chauffeur" and office assistant to an older doctor, the requirements of this pro fession have steadily advanced until five to seven years study in properly conducted insti tutions are required, and many doctors add a short interneship in a good hospital to that course. doctors here in ^seventies The doctors in Hall County during the 'seventies were, B. B. Kelley, A. Thorspecken, Henry Bruhns, J. R. Laine, J. P. Patterson, author of the centennial historical sketch of Grand Island in 1876, M, J, Gahan, and F, C. Churchill, homeopathic physician. Dr, Gahan graduated from the Galveston Medical college, entered the army as surgeon until about 1871, reentered as a hospital steward in the regular army until 1875, after which he came to Grand Island and began practice with a good fund of experience at hand. He was the first known surgeon in central Nebraska to practice ovariotomy successfully. He became surgeon for the G, A. R, and chairman of the State Medical Society, assistant surgeon for the Un ion Pacific and surgeon for the St, Joe and Grand Island railroad. During the 'seventies the offices of coroner, county physician and city physician were bantered back and forth among these half dozen pioUeer doctors, and some times the doctors' indulged in that side-line hobby many physicians like to take a turn in, a good political scrap, and the files of the papers in the 'seventies indicate that the coroner was about as hotly contested as any office on the ticket. Dr. Horace B. Lashlee had located in Palmyra, Nebraska, in 1877 and practiced there for four years and then came to Grand Island. Dr. Hogan J. Ring was an eclectic physician who located in Hastings in 1879, and removed to Grand Island in 1881. Dr, A, L. Stevenson located in Grand Island in the spring of 1877. 405 406 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA early physicians registered The register of physicians dates back to 1881, and many of the physicians who reg istered at the opening of that record in the f)ffice of the county clerk had been practicing , in the county before that time, and should really be rated in the hst of the 'seventies. The following cornpilation on the early phy sicians shows the name, date of graduation, with name of alma mater when shown in the register, place in the county where they located; the word "practice" indicating train ing in office, or by practice and admitted upon .examination — without a medical college degree. ' Registered in 1881 : "Wihiam A. Carter, practice, 1837, Wood River; Caswell T. Poe, Oincinnatti, practice, Doniphan and Grand Island; Dr. Poe had located in Hall County in 1872, been county physician for some years, and his name will be found in many parts of this work showing his unusual activity in all of the affairs of the community in which he lived; Peter Janss, Keokuk, 1878, Grand Island; The Nebraska State Medical and Surgical Institute, at 304 West Third con ducted by Dr. Janss about 1890 evidenced the fact that he was a physician of ability that reached beyond his usual practice and ambition to extend his professional efforts toward building up an institution that would reflect credit upon the community, but it started shortly before the hard times hit the country, and eventually disappeared from the business lists; A. L. Stevenson, Keokuk, 1875, Grand Island, as has already been noted; John T. White, Chicago, 1875, Grand Island; Henry A. Krick, Austria, 1874; A. J. Sanders, Brooklyn, 1863, Grand Island; Dr. Sanders continued in the practice for many years here, and about 1891 was conducting a medical and surgical institute; J. B. Fitch, practice, 1863; practiced at Doniphan, lived in Martinsville precinct for many years ; M. J, Gahan, Dublin, 1867, Grand Island, already noted; Henry J, Brickett, N, Hampshire, 1875, Wood River; Louise Buns, Germany, 1869, Grand Island; Margaretha Kennedy, Missouri, 1867, Wood River; Horace B, Lashlee, St. Louis, 1876, already noted ; Nicholas Child, practice, 1836, Grand Island ; Geo, W. Whipple, Kansas City, 1836, lived at Exeter, Nebraska; M. H. Street, was here in 1881, registered in 1883 ; Sarah E. Whipple, practice, 1877, Exeter, Nebraska; G, M, Dixon, New York, 1871; Benj, M, Shockey, practice, 1886, Juniata, Nebraska, From this point on, if not otherwise noted, the physicians who located at Grand Island, so far as the records show, were: 1882, Dr. Hogan J, Ring, practicing here before then; C, G. Hurford, Keokuk, 1882; William T, Royce, Columbus, Ohio, 1882, located at Doniphan ; Welcome Smith ; John H, Galligan, located at Wood River, Alfred F, Naulteus, James McLean, Mary J, Breckenridge, 1883 ; A. S. Fishblatt, Omaha; Francis M, Osborn, Hansen, Nebraska; Emanuel StringfeHow, J, C. Brubaker, located at Alda; Ira N, Barker; E. Christiansen, located next to Koenig's Bank in Grand Island ; 1884, Martin L. Carter, practiced for years at Wood River ; John Janss ; Henry J, Smith ; James N, Harri son, located for years at Wood River ; Thomas J, Eaton, 1885: Wm. Tanner; Frank J. Wright, at Doniphan; G. J. Puhek; John S. Curtis from Republican City, Nebraska; Francis M, Smyley, 1886: Rosa Day, graduate of School of Midwifery ; Edward D, Barrett ; P, J, Scallon, located at Wood River; Milo Leonard Kin- sington, located at Lincoln; J, E. Anderson; S. E. Delhorne, J. A. Coffman, the first Uni versity of Nebraska medical graduate to locate in Hall County, and Anna D. Jackson, at Wood River. 1887: H. S. Aley, who with Dr. Free es tablished the Grand Island sanitarium at 121 East Front a few years later; W, B, Kern, who located at Cairo, where he practiced a number of years and afterwards achieved an enviable reputation through the state; Edwin L, Smith; Arthur D, Smith; Joseph Weyer- horst, J, G. Cave, of the Cave Smith Dental offices in Grand Island; S. D. Smith, C. D. Severe, located at Cairo ; Louis Turner, Albert Eisenbeiss, located at Doniphan; George B. M. Free, later of firm of Aley & Free; M. A. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 4o; Otterbourg, and Dr. J. Lue Sutherland, who has been in the practice in Grand Island since then, and after thirty-two years of service stands as the Dean of the Medical Profession of Hall County. In recent years. Dr. Suther land has specialized on eye, ear, nose and throat afflictions and is an especial expert on insanity and nervous matters, 1888 : Frederick J, Bricker ; G. M. Freeman, Almond B. Sage; Chas. H. Waldschmidt; A. W. Fleming, located at Wood River; Louis H. Englikin. 1889 : William McGregor ; W. J. Bonesteel, probably first Creighton University medical graduate to register in the county ; Jennie Ellen Tarbox, and Bell English. 1890: A. J. Sanders filed registration but had practiced before then under a prior reg istration; John D. Jackson, Albert Puringer; Minnie Schretter, obstetrical only; Frederick W, Fochtman ; Dr. J, B. Hawk, who came here before then; Jas. S. Thomas, located at Wood River ; G. W. Gorman, located at Wood River ; J. Janes ; Wm. H. Caulk, at Cairo ; Dr. Joseph P. Riddle; Frederick E. Dal- rymple, at Doniphan ; L. W. Hammer, at Cairo. 1891: B. F. Trueblood, and Wilmer B. Hoge, who became a very prominent physician at Grand Island. during the nineties In 1891 a new physician's record was started in Hall County. During the remainder of that year three physicians registered in Hall County who became very prominent in the profes sion here. Dr. C. M. Robinson at Cairo, Dr. George Weeter, and Dr. Sumner Davis at Grand Island. The year 1892 brought two more. Dr. P. L. Moore, who left Grand Island some years ago but retumed here in 1918 in the interests of a manufacturing concern he is now con nected with, at Denver; and Dr. George Roeder. 1893: Dr. Thos. H. Line, of Doniphan; John W. Tiffany; DeForest E. Tiffany; Howell B. Givin, from Omaha ; L. F. Saxen- berger, from Gage County, who practiced here as early as 1890, and Luther Michael, at Wood River. 1894: F. L. King, from Lancaster Co., Carson W. Pittman ; Chas. E. Brown, from Hamilton Co. ; G. A. Weirick, from Webster Co. ; Henry D. Boyden, iwho practiced at Grand Island for a great many years, until his death, registered in July, 1895. Chas. Lucas also registered that year. J. P. Dullard, practicing at Wood River registered March 9, 1896, and 1897 brought four new names on the roster. Dr. M. L. Rich, who is still practic ing in Grand Island, Dr. J. M. Hardy of Cairo, and W. M. Follett, from Saunders Co. and Geo. D. Sitzer, from Gage Co. 1898: the new arrivals on the roster were, F. V. Johnson, from Wahoo ; E. J. Porter, who practiced here for some years; I. S. Stevens, from Merrick Co. 1899: Dr. Wm. Milliken of Cairo; W. D. Rea and Aimer L. Sabin, evidently transcient doctors never located here; likewise F. L. Murphy and Anna M. L. Potts. The year 1900 brought four doctors to the list, of whom three are still practicing in this county, Etta C. Hewitt, not here, but Dr. Clement A. Stone is successfully engaged in the practice at Doniphan and Grand Island, and Dr. P. C. Kelley practiced for some years at Alda, then moved to Grand Island where he is now located, and Dr. A. H, Farnsworth has become one of the leading physicians and surgeons of the county. The year 1901 brought Dr. Marcus P. Piersol to Cairo where he practiced for over fifteen years. In 1902 came Chas. B. Dyde to Wood River, C. J. Horton to Grand Isand, and Oscar J. Vallicolt to Wood River. In 1903 Ora M. Caldwell registered from Omaha but never opened an office here. Dr. Wilhs J. Redfield located at Wood River and in later years moved to Grand Island, but has recently been in the military service, and Dr. Charles V. Crooks located at Wood River. 1904 Dr. E. O. Weber of Wahoo, who has also attained some political fame, registered in this county, but never located an office here; Wellington A. Thomas, of Alda; Andrew J, Baker, who practiced for a number 408 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA of years at Grand Island, and Benjamin R. McGrath, still practicing here, having recently returned from military service; A. Galloway from Merrick Co., and Joseph Flickinger. In 1905 those who registered were: John W. Earel, from Furnas Co.; Benj. A. Root, of Shelton, Buffalo Co. ; Henry Janss, Johan- nesWeiss, A. A. Potterf of Douglas Co., and Dr. Edward W. Rowe who practiced at Wood River and Grand Island, and in recent years at Lincoln, and has been in military service in past couple years. The year 1906 brought two new names. Dr. Frank Grabel of Wood River, and Chas. D. Eby, and 1907, three, J. M. Tische, of Cairo, Chas. C. Stivers, and Ben W. Kinsey. The year 1908 brought in a goodly list, a number of whom have been "stayers." Dr. Edward S. Dungan was at Grand Island for about ten years; Martin H. Deffenbaugh, recently in military service; Nellie G. Carr Deffenbaugh, afterwards superintendent of the new Tuberculosis State Hospital at Kearney; Joseph Soper, from Shelton, Nebraska; Clyde A, Roeder, who has been very successful and in recent years has removed to Omaha; Leopold Phelan, who is still practicing here, and for a number of years past has been city physician of Grand Island ; Joseph B. Grinnell, of Wood River; John G. Gehringer, Frank E. Gordon and D. L. Trowbridge. Registered in 1909, J. R. McKirahan, from Minden ; Stacy B. Hall, William T. Putt, who came over from Hastings as surgeon at the Soldiers' Home and has since remained in practice in Grand Island; Edna Smith Pells, who has been successful in the practice here ; Frank E. Stoaks ; Wm. B. Kern, re-registered ; Harvey L. Starkey; Wm. T. Engleman, who has remained in practice here; Joseph E. Higgins, who specializes in ear, eye, nose and throat work, with Dr. Carson ; Eugene M. Stansberry; William F. Dugan; William J. Heflin, who is still one of the successful practitioners in Hall County, located at Grand Island, and two others, Edward C. Hayman and Godfrey C. Fritschel registered in 1910. Frank H. Bent, at Wood River was the list for 1911. Registered in 1912 were Zellmond E. Mathey, from Washington County, Frank H, Wray, and two others who are very successful members of the profession at the present time, Dr, David H, Carson, eye, ear, nose and throat specialist, of the firm of Higgins & Carson, Dr. Earle E. Farnsworth, and also Sollis C. Pitts, at Alda. During 1910 Dr. C. A. Flippin came here from Stromsburg and has practiced since then. Dr. H. C. Pederson and Dr. Edith Saunders Spence were practicing here in 1912. The year 1913 brought Henry B. Boyden, nephew of Dr. H. D. Boyden, who has suc ceeded to his uncle's offices, and recently re turned from a military service, Frederick H. Kuegle, from Madison Co., Johanna E. Laogon, C. B. Edmunds, Edgar S. B. Gres- maii, Julius Lingenfelder, D. G. Griffiths at Burkett; Claude P. Fordyce at Burkett; Gilbert D. Loffler, Frederick W. Buck; John G. Stadden and Eli A. Watson, who is still located in the practice here. Registrations in 1914 showed Wm. F. Race of Buffalo County; W. C, Buel; Earie G, Johnson, still a successful practitioner at Grand Island; Geo, L. Wagner. In 1915 the arrivals were Charles H. Barnes, from Saline County; Earl Matheny of Lan caster County ; in 1916, Dare Woodruff, Albert J. Griot, J. M. S. Chesshir, and three of Hall .County's present medical roster, Rolland C. Woodruff, who is now practicing with Dr. McGrath ; John G. Woodin, who is now prac ticing in Grand Island, and John H. Regan, who closed his office at Grand Island, when he left for military service, and made an enviable record with Mayo Brothers' Hospiial at Rochester, Minnesota, and may return to Grand Island for practice. In 1917 the registrations were Joseph V. Huichmann, John V. Reilley, who is suc cessfully practicing here, and Henry J. Holke. ' The year 1918 brought Almo J. Chapman, Willis J. Raynor, who is practicing here, and also H. O. Conoway who came to Grand Island then, and Edward Dodd, at Cairo. In 1919 Dr. W. H. Hombach came to Grand Island from Council Bluffs, and Dr. Frank D. Ryder came to Grand Island, and Dr. HISTORY OF -HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 409 Wilmer D. McGrath who is associated with his uncle. Dr. B. R. McGrath. osteopathic doctors The growth and development of osteopathy has brought a number of practitioners of that line of treatment to Hall County. The first one was Carrie B. Miller, in 1906. Florence Taylor Rusk registered in 1914; Ernest H, Brown, the same year; Victor V. Renicha, 1915; Josephine C, Armstrong, 1912; Dr, Rusk is still practicing here, with Orren S. Eckerman, James F. Blanchard and Thos. H. Vallier, Several chiropractic practitioners have located here; Leroy Parks, the first to come in 1915, is still practicing here; W. P. H. Parks registered the same month, October 1915; Lyle D, Smith came in October, 1915; Anna H, M, Aye, in 1917; Herman C. Kuhr who came in 1917 is still located here. There are a good many doctors listed in the foregoing pages who merely registered in Hall County for the purpose of temporary or transcient purposes, or to comply with certain provisions of the medical laws, and who never opened an office in any Hall County town, but the registration list has been taken as it appears in the office of the county clerk, HOSPITALS Mention has heretofore been made of sev eral institutions which started in Grand Island about 1890, among these heing the Nebraska State Medical and Surgical Institute, con ducted by Dr, P, Janss; Grand Island Sani tarium, by Alee & Free ; and Medical and Surgical Institute of Dr, A, J. Sanders. ST, FRANCIS HOSPITAL The St. Francis Hospital of the Sisters of Mercy is situated in the western part of the city, between Division and Koenig streets, thirteen hlocks west of the court house grounds at Locust street. The Sisters of St. Francis purchased two acres from Charles Wasmer in May, 1885, and located their hospital, the work of building being at once entered upon, and on August 22, Messrs. Hedde and Cleary reported $422 received for the hospital fund which was paid over to Sister Mary Magda- lena. They erected originally a fine two-story brick building, with a high basement under it, and about ten years or so later added to it a great two-story wing, and later another wing. In more recent years an entirely new buliding somewhat of the proportions of the first has been built adjoining the first, and doubling the capacity of the institution. Early in 1887 a present of drugs and medicines were made by Parke, Davis & Co. to help I the institution get started, and Dr. Gahan and Dr. Poe attended patients without charge for a short time, and C. W. New superintended the construction of a laboratory. St. Francis Hospital, Grand Island When the institution had been running one year, in 1888, a report was made that showed in the first year of its existence that 216 patients had been cared for, with nineteen deaths. These nineteen deaths were classified as to causes, as follows: typhoid fever, 11, old age, 4, consumption, 3, malarial fever, 2, lung fever, 1, heart disease, 1, and tumor 1. As to religious connections the patients were divided as follows : Roman Catholic, 106, Methodist, 12, Presbyterian, 6, Lutheran, 17, other protestant denominations, 47, no pro fession of religion, 28. The sisters expressed a public desire to thank Drs. Poe, Gahan, Sanders, Stevenson and Fitch. The annual report for the year 1916, almost twenty years later, showed 'the institution to have handled 350 patients during the year of whom 135 were charity patients. There were sixty-one surgical operations, and twenty- three deaths that year. Of the patients during the year 176 were Americans, Austrians 4, Bohemians 7, Danish 410 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 6, English 8, French 2, German 42, Greek 13, Hungarian 1, Irish 50, Italian 7, Japanese 15, Mexican 3, Negroes 7, Norwegian 2, Polish 4, Syrian 1, Swedish 2. A classification according to religion is as follows: Baptist, 11, Catholic, 115, Christian, 7, Congregational, 4, Episcopalean, 4, Evan gelical, 2, Greek Catholic, 10, Lutheran, 30, Methodist, 19, no religion, 138, Presbyterian, Grand Island General Hospital 19. There were 205 medical and 145 surgical cases. The number of patients handled in this hospital in 1918 was 1,572; of these 1,230 were surgical cases and 342 medical cases. This explains the necessity for the improve- rnenst and extensions being planned for this institution. Plans have been made to increase materially the capacity of the St. Francis hospital. This is to be accomplished by adding two floors to the old hospital building between the new hospital and the chapel. The remarkable growth and development of this institution is explained by men more or less familiar with hospital service generally as resulting from both the superior service given and the increasing ratio of operations in the elimination of human ailment. It is stated that even Omaha's hospital service does not excel that given by the St. Francis insti tution. In August, 1919, Sister Bianca, Mother Superior, left for another field and the Mother Superior at St. Elizabeth's, Lincoln, was sent to succeed her. GRAND ISLAND GENERAL HOSPITAL The Grand Island General Hospital, an ex cellent addition to the city and a splendidly arranged and equipped institution, was founded and built largely as a result of the tireless energy and enterprise of Dr. P. C. Kelley, then of Alda. Dr. Kelley felt that Grand Island needed a second hospital and he didn't stop until it was an accomplished fact. He served as the first president of the institu tion. Upon a reorganization and shifting of the stock, D. M. Douthett of Lincoln, became president. Dr. Kelley, the first president, served as speaker of the Nebraska house of representatives in 1913. Mr. Douthett, the present president of this institution while living at Overton, Dawson County, served his district as state senator. Frank E. Slusser is secretary of the company which owns the building, and the institution is now leased to Miss Bertha Bryant, who is superintendent of the hospital. The directors of the company are Messrs. Douthett, Slusser, C. H. Tully, ,S. D. Ross, and Mrs. Dr. Starkey of Wood River. In 1918 this institution handled 740 cases, of which 332 were surgical cases. DENTISTS OE HALL COUNTY A quarter-century ago dentistry was not looked upon with the high regard it has at tained today. It was considered a matter of painful necessity that each person should lose about so many teeth, at stated intervals of life. The idea that extraction of teeth could be performed, practically painlessly, and that fillings of various ingredients could be so skill- fully placed in teeth as to both save the tooth itself and be practically beyond detection had never occurred to most people. The further advanced theory that a study of medicine HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 411 and anatomy by a dentist might enable him to diagnose many of the disorders of the system and suggest a course of dieting, con duct, or care which would correct many of these ills and preserve the teeth, and prevent' more serious complications of the digestive system and other functions of the human system was even further away from the gen eral human mind. But all of these things have transpired. The rise of dentistry has been steadily becoming a fact, until today it is a necessary profession to every community of any size. For a period of years, one early leader in the profession of dentistry stood preeminently at its representative in Hall County, DR. HOWARD C, MILLER, who was born in Lewis County, New York, January 15, 1859, a son of Isaac S. and Sarah A, (Stone) Miller. He attended school at Rome, New York, and in 1879 began the study of dentistry at Camden, New York, in the office of Dr. A. T. Van, and continued to pursue this study in the office of Dr. G. W. Wertz, of Omaha, coming to Grand Island in October, 188L Until his death in 1914 he continued the practice of dentistry in Hall County, and was then dean of the profession in this county. As early as 1888 he was recog nized by the dentists of the state as, one of the leaders of the profession in Nebraska and was elected president of the Nebraska State Dental Society, of which he was one of the "fatherly" promotors. He served his national society of dentists, and was recognized nationally in clinical work and in the theories and practices of his profession and upon his death the dental journals of the country expressed a sincere regret for the profession's loss. He took a very active part in the establishment of lodges and societies in the community, and during the latter part of his life served as postmaster of Grand Island. D. A. FINCH Succeeding Dr. Miller, Dr. D. A. Finch be came the dean of the dental profession in Hall County. He had studied dentistry in the office of Doten & Martin, of Camden, N. Y., and upon his preparation for practice he followed Dr. Miller to Grand Island and be gan practice in Hall County in 1885, and after thirty-four years of service to the people of this county still maintains a, practice of such proportions it puzzles him to secure suf ficient leisure for the pleasures of life. It will be noted in this chapter that many of the dentists who are now practicing in Grand Is land have at one time or another been asso ciated with either Dr. Miller of Dr. Finch. A more complete biographical sketch of Dr. Finch appears in a later chapter in this work. BETWEEN 1885 AND 1896 In 1887 Drs. Finch, Miller and F. O. Welker and the offices of Cave Smith & Co. were the dental offices of Grand Island. By 1894 Dr. L. S. Moore had located here. Dr. Moore is still practicing in the Michelson block, and with his son Dr. J. Ross Moore who is now associated with him they have fitted up one of the most modern and splendidly equipped offices in the state. 1896 TO DATE The Dental Register of Hall County opened January 27, 1896. The first name shown is that of Merton E. House, from Dawson County registered August 26, 1897; the next is Wm. H. Romine, from Colfax County, July 21, 1897. The Romine Dental Co. had offices at 119yz W. Third At that time the Board of Dental Secretaries of the state were Drs. Geo. S. Nason, president, Howard C. Miller of Grand Island, vice-president and treasurer and Orion T. Lambertson, secretary. The next dentists to register were Charles Sitzer, December 13, 1897; R. H. McCrosson, from Box Butte County, May 4, 1898; Clar- ,ence E. Brown, Grand Island, July 25, 1899; and A. T. Withers, Douglas County, August 3, 1899. June 18. 1900, Oscar H. Mayer registered as a dentist. Dr. Mayer is one of the practic ing dentists in Grand Island in 1919. Other registrations during that decade were: 1902, Ancel M. Bradley, from York, J. M, McEvoy ; 412 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 1903, L. G. Holmes, Vincent M. Robinson to practice at Wood River; 1904, Butler M. Honeywell, 1905, Sidney A. Seal, who still conducts offices at Grand Island, Claude W. Percival, whe remained at Wood River ,a short time and later moved away, W. H. Pat terson, who moved from Grand Island to California, where he resides on a fruit farm, Wm Lee Withers, who later practised in Douglas County, never opened an office in Grand Island, but only operated here occasion ally. In 1907 the dentists here were Miller & Mayer, L. S. Moore, D. A. Finch, W. H. Patterson and S. A. Seal. In 1910 Miller, Mayer, Moore and Seal conducted offices alone and Finch & Hatfield were the firm. Two of the leading dentists of Broken Bow at the present time, Drs. W. V. Beck and T. W. Bass, both worked under Dr. Finch at Grand Island before entering practice at Broken Bow, Dr. Farnsworth was another dentist associated with Dr, Finch prior to this time, 1910, Resuming the list of registrations with 1907 we find: 1907, Frederick H. Burton, Wood River, who died in 1918, Geo. E. Lyons, Grand island; 1908, John H. Meyers, who is still practicing at Grand Island, Oscar A. Vier egg; 1910, Emil A. Graf, who left in 1918 to enter army service, and is now in Omaha, Charles L- Heyne, who never entered actual practice here; 1911, Lawrence A. Gates, who left here to go to Holdrege, Nebraska, and is now in northwestern Nebraska; Finch & ChoHette were practising together in 1914, but now Dr. F. J. ChoHette is alone in the practise as is Dr. Finch ; 1914, John Ross Moore, who entered the service in 1918, but upon his return re-entered practice with his father, L. S. Moore; Louis N. Wente, who was only here about one year, Geo. Glaze, from Lancaster County, only here a short time; Alva L. Rousey, who is now at Walt Hill, Nebraska; 1915, Chas C. Fall, never in actual practice here, now in Lincoln, P. C. Holson ; 1916, Samuel R. Butler, still practic ing here. 1917, Geo. Lester Weir, only reg istered. 1918, Dr. M. W. Jenkins came to Grand Island and opened in the Hedde buHd ing, and in 1919, Dr. E. C. Emigh opened in the McAllister building, and also Dr. Lech insky. Dr. H. D. Boyden CHAP TER XXIV THE BENCH AND BAR OF HALL COUNTY The First District Court in Hall County — Second Term of District Court — Third Term 1871 — Term of April, 1872 — Court in 1873 — Court Work, 1874 — Court in 1875 — In the Fourth Judicial District — Court in 1877 — Court After 1877 — From 1893 ON — In the Matter of the Change From the Old Court House to the New — Re tirement of Judge John R. Thompson — Court Officials of Last Fifteen Years — . . The Lawyers of Hall County — At the Beginning of Hall County Court Work, 1868 — Those Who Came During the 'Seventies — Arrivals During THE 'Eighties — During the 'Nineties — Arrivals Since 1890 It is reputed that the first court business done for Hall County was transacted at Co lumbus in 1868. At that time. Lieutenant Governor O. A. Abbott was the only resident practicing attomey of Hall County. The first record of the district court of Hall County is opened under date of Novem ber 30, 1868, at Page 1 of Volume 1 of the Dis trict Court Journal. Judge Lorenzo Crounse, who called this court for the date given on application of the commissioners, was not pres ent, so the clerk, John Wallichs, adjourned court until December 1st, when the continued absence of the judge occasioned another ad journment. On December 2, the puzzled clerk, inpatient jurors and lawyers and provoked litigants were greeted with the presence of his honor, who opened the morning sessions, with John Wallichs, clerk, E. F, Gray, dis trict attorney (who resided at Fremont), and Henry Rose, sheriff. The grand jurors sum moned for that term of court were Peter Boch, George Canfield, H, Giese, Edward Hooper (foreman), J. Riss, H, Bockman, Edward Keuscher, Hans Knuth, Elijah Lane, Henry Schoel, A, P. Beaman, J, Crean, P. Moore, J, T, Reese, Edward Gumar and S. Lamb, the last two being excused by the court and Pat rick Dunphy and Henry Tempke were sum- ^moned. The first matter brought for action jWas the admission of John S. Martin of the Ohio bar to practice in Nebraska, his admis sion being made upon motion of District At torney Gray, Mr, Martin resided in Merrick County, and never opened office in Grand Is land. Henry Schoel, Hans Knuth and Henry Tempke, all grand jurors, were admitted to citizenship. Joachim Doll, John David Schul ler, Henry Joehnk, John Hann, John Seier, Nicholas O. Hansen, Peter Stuhr,' Carl Boehl, George Lounzen and August Thorspecken were also admitted to citizenship. Other mat ters disposed of at the first day's session were, a continuance in the case of A. C. Mc- Lain vs. Joseph Smith; a judgment against Daniel Freeman for $163.72 in favor of Richard Smith; the overruling of a motion to dismiss the case of assault and battery against Wesley Folsom; a judgment rendered by a jury (of which C. C. Ridell was fore man) against C. A, Hartzell, in favor of Con rad Grein, and the dismissal of the suit by Koenig & Wiebe against John Siere. On December 3, the grand jury returned an in dictment for forgery and one for larceny. The charge of assault was submitted to 3 jury, of which Robert Mitchell was foreman, with the result of acquitting Wesley Folsom, 413 414 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Michael Crean, Carl Becker, Teith Becker, Detlef Sass, Gottfried Merker, James Crean and Henry Lilianthal were admitted to citizen ship on that day and the trial of John Jennings for forgery, and Elijah A. and John E. Meyers for larceny, were begun. Defendant Jennings was found guilty on the 4th, by a jury of which Robert MitcheH was foreman. C. P. Hall who had been assigned to his defense was unable to save him from a two-years' term in the penitentiary. The Meyers' were acquited by a jury of whom S. Canfield was foreman. Patrick and Richard Moore of the Wood River settlement and Henry A. Koenig were admitted to citizenship. Mr. Koenig, as treas- urere of Hall County, receipted for $40, be ing the amount of commencement fee for suits brought to this term. The November, 1868, term of district court was adjourned sine die on December 5, 1868. This term was presided over by Judge Lorenzo Crounse. At that time there were three judges of the Ne braska Supreme Court. The work of the dis trict courts of the state was divided into three districts and one of the members of the su preme court took charge of the particular district in which a county was embraced and handled the trial work for that district. This system continued many years. The first term of Hall County's district court was presided over by a judge who for six years was a supreme judge and chief justice of that court. Judge Crounse, who afterwards served the state as governor. holding the first court When Judge Crounse came to Grand Island to hold the first session of court, he had sent word ahead to Sheriff Henry Rose to secure the largest hall available in town. Sheriff Rose used often to relate that he made search about town among the very few available places, and the only one he could secure was the dining room of the Michelson (Nebraska house) hotel. Court was set for nine o'clock, and the sheriff secured the room upon the understanding that court could run along un interruptedly until eleven o'clock, then court must "vamoose" and let the corps of dining room girls prepare tables for dinner. Accordingly court convened, and ran along until the neighborhood of eleven o'clock, and the judge being unaware of the true situa tion, court went right along, until a clatter of dishes and silverware became too strong, whereupon the judge demanded that those of fenders be removed. Upon being advised by the sheriff of the superior claim of the dining room girls, he remarked that was a great way to treat a court and a great place to hold court, — but nevertheless court adjourned for dinner. second term of district court There is no record of court being held in 1869. The May, 1870, term was opened an May 24, 1870, with Judge Crounse presiding. John WaHichs, clerk, E. F. Gray, district attorney, and H. Hald, sheriff present. The grand jury comprised John Meagher, William Hollingshead, C. C. Jerome, J. Kraft, F. A. Wiebe, C. D. Mevis, John Riss, WiHiam Spiker, C. W. Thomas, Adam Windolph, John Haup, Perry Hack, N. V, Hansen, Fritz Roby. William Eldridge and David Miller. Civil suits of McLean & Russell vs. Charles Davis and Koenig & Wiebe vs. John Seier were re ported settled. A judgment for $464.40 in favor of Fred Hedde and against Freeman C. Dodge is recorded. Albert Swartzland, an attorney of Omaha, moved the admission of WHliam H, Platt to the bar, which motion prevailed. With the entrance of Mr. Platt to the Hall County bar, a second figure was brought in to join with Mr. Abbott, both of whose names re peatedly appear in every form of creditable activity throughout the pages of this story of Hall County's growth and progress. A jury was called to pass upon, and granted the, ap plication of Fritz Stark to build a mill-dam across Wood River. The first divorce case was begun and ended at this session. Anna Magereth Elsabea Pap had her maiden name of Tiedge restored, and her marriage relations with Johann D. Pap were dissolved upon proof that he had been absent for over two years. Martin Schimmer and Hugo Hald be- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 415 came citizens. The commencement fees at this term amounted to $35, third term, 1871 The third term was begun May 3, 1871, al though called for the first Monday in April, an adjournment that had been occasioned by the inability of the judge to be present. The court officers were the same as in 1870, Among grand jurors, not heretofore listed, were Peter Peterson, James Tout, R, C, Jordon, E. O'- Brein, William Johnson, Daniel Wainright, Daniel Baker, J, G. Nagy, Patrick NeviHs, L. Melson, Henry Egge, WiHiam PoweH, J. W. Jones, George Cornelius, W. Rollins, George WHliamson, Harry Norton, H. N. Chapman, H. Makely, George Loan, James Baldwin and Joseph Jenneman. George H. Thummel and Attorney Sparks of Central City were admitted to the bar, and O. A. Abbott reported that he had examined J. A. Platt and found him qualified for ad mission to the bar, and moved his admission. A judgment for $971.20 and costs ware as sessed by the jury against Joseph Smith, and in favor of McLean & Russell. Patrick Nevills, H. ObermiHer, H. Garn, P. Peterson, C. D. Mevis, Alev A. Baker, Christian Hann, Carl Hann, Claus Hansen, Theodore Noll, Martin Hom, J. Boehl, John Hays, John Foulks, Jonothan Francis, John Quaine, John Davis, John Bishoff, Louis Engel, August Engle, Fritz Kruse, H. Bauman were admitted to citizenship at this session. The court ap pointed O. A. Abbott, Geo. H. Thummel and Chas. H. Brown as a committee to examine all applicants for admission to the bar. Mr. Brown was an Omaha lawyer who practiced extensively in Hall County courts at that early date. Upon motion of Attorney W. H. Platt, W. C. Buderos was admitted to practice. Mr. Buderos practiced at Grand Island for a few years, and figured in many activities before he left the county. Thomas O'Neil pleaded "guilty" to an in dictment for manslaughter and Judge Crounse sentenced him to ten hours a day hard labor in the state penitentiary until April 1, 1881. A jury, with W. H. Lamb as foreman, re turned a verdict against Hugo Hald and other defendants and in favor of Fritz Stark for $47.86. A case that Wm. Stolley brought against S. S. Canfield was continued. Treas urer F. A. Wiebe receipted for $45 commence ment fees for this term. In January, 1872, D. E. Marler, jailer, was locked in the cell by a prisoner named G. E. Mason, who escaped. Mason had escaped once before, but returned to his warm cell owing to the severity of the weather. TERM OF APRIL, 1872 The term was fixed for AprH 8th, was post poned by the judge's late arrival until the 9th. Judge Crounse presided, with Clerk Wallichs and District Attorney Gray present and Wil liam Spiker as sheriff. Serving on that grand jury were Michael McNamara, Henry Temke, James Baldwin, W. H. Denman, L. W. RoHins, James Michelson, W. H. MitcheH, J. D. Schul ler, E. B. Veeder, Samuel Huston, WHliam Deuel, Joe Wesley, E. W. Brown, John Win dolph, Charles Hoffman and John Calahan- Henry Giese and Jesse Shoemaker were ap pointed bailiffs for the term of court. John D. Hayes, an attorney who also served Hall County as county superintendent of schools and probate judge, moved the admission of J. H. Darnell, of the Iowa bar. Christian Menck, John Pehrs and Paul Petterson were admitted to citizenship. Charles Ross, George Ander son and George E. Mason were made defena- ants under separate indictments for larceny. George Williamson and John Buenz were ad mitted to citizenship on April 10th. Heinrich Scheel, Theodore Scherzberg, Thomas Nevills, Charles Scherzberg, Christian Wasmer were admitted on Aprill 11 and 18. The second divorce decree granted in the county released Elizabeth Bishoff from marital bonds with John Bishoff. George H. Thummel was ap pointed assistant district attorney to prosecute the case of People vs. Peter T. Manning, which was tried to a jury with Enos BeaH as foreman, and a verdict of not guilty returned. court IN 1873 The 1873 term was called for April 14th, but after three adjournments due to the in- 416 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA ability of Judge Crounse to come to Hall County, the term was adjourned sine die by John Wallichs, clerk. Thereupon the commissioners on AprH 23, 1873, made an application for a term of dis trict court. Judge Samuel Maxwell answered on May 12 and set June 30th as the first day of the June term. Judge Maxwell, who was the second judge to come to Hall County, served for twenty-one years as supreme and district judge in Nebraska. His was the long est term of service of any supreme judge who has served Nebraska. With Judge Maxwell, were present a new district attorney, M. B. Hoxie, Clerk WaHichs, and Sheriff Spiker. Henry P. Handy was foreman of the jury. He was also defendent in the first case taken up, wherein a judgment was rendered against him and in favor of WeHington Odell for $1,658.95. At this term, a mortgage foreclosure showed up, wherein Fred Hedde was plaintiff and H. Hald and Christine Hald were defendants. The bar commission reported in favor of the admission of T. O. C. Harrison and Henry Nunn as attorneys. Mr. Nunn practiced at Grand Is land for a time and removed to St. Paul, Howard County, but Judge Harrison was a familiar figure to all students of affairs in Hall County, and served in many public offices including chief justice of supreme court of the state, and up to his death in 1919 was an active attorney at the Hall County bar. At this term new citizens added to the roster of Hall County were Adolph P. D. Egge, Henry Pieper, Henry Gulzow, J. M. Oltman, H. Krase, Hans Ruge, Sievert Rief, Clause Stoh enberg, Peter Bergfeeth, A, C, F, Wendt, F, Wilde, C, Engelke, Peter Jehrs, Jacob Suhr, H, Beersen, F, Hues, WiHiam Engel, Peter Meesch, James Buenz, Paul Frauen, Clause Frauen, Peter Wiesse, Charles Rief, Lawrence Kilkenny, Patrick Kilkenny, Martin Nolan and John Graham, and later Henry Wiese, George Thavanet, Hans Behrens, George Lorenzen and Louis Lorenzen, On October 27, 1873, for the first time a faH term of court was opened, with the same court officials as at the June term, August Thorspecken and James Stough were ap pointed baHiffs for the term, David W, Beach was found guilty by a jury and sentenced to one year in the penitentiary. The case that attracted the main attention. State vs, Chas, Ruelberg, et al, was continued over the term, after a jury had been empanelled on October 28th by plaintiff withdrawing a juror. In dictments were retumed against Anna Cross and W, H, Anderson, questionable house keepers, and John Doe, known as "Sandy," and Spence, common gamblers were indicted. Court adjourned sine die on October 28th, and then HaH County, plaintiff, by O, A, Abbott, its attorney, filed a dismissal of the embezzlement charge against Charles Ruel berg, 1874 COURT WORK The AprH term opened with Judge MaxweH presiding, and District Attorney Hoxie, Clerk Wallichs and Wm. A. Deuel as sheriff'. The cases taken up were becoming too numerous by this time to allow any very individual treat ment or mention except of the most unusual cases, for lack of space in this work. W. P. Nicholsen, Nathan P. KeHey and WiHiam Goellner were appointed bailiffs. Applications for citizenship being granted admitted William Johnson, Nicholas Bonsen, Eh'trickt Prahm, Peter Mohr, John Laidemann, Henry C. Ahrens, Peter iMeinert, Charles M. Hom, _ Daniel Baker, Hans P. Ericksen, John Hauss, Robert Froberg an(^ George Boehm. The first probate petition heard was that of George W. Hulst, administrator of Jesse Turner estate, for leave to sell real estate handled in vacation after the April term. In October of that year a term was held with the same court officers. John J. Schaupp was granted leave to build a mill-dam across Wood River. Cornelius P. Henderson was divorced from Harriett L. Henderson, the first divorce granted in the county which named the man as plaintiff. Upon motion of W. H. Platt, Warren Thummel of the Iowa bar was admitted to practice. Amelia Wire was granted a divorce. Henry Schimmer, Henry Kesbari, D. M. Reuter, Claus Panstian, George Gran- tahm, Jurgen Heesch, George Leger, Herman HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 417 Oelrich, Charles Christiansen and George Greve were admitted to citizenship. Treasurer Hagge received $60 for commencement fees, and the term was adjourned sine die on Oc tober 27, 1874. COURT IN 1875 Judge Maxwell opened the April term on the 13th. W, J, Burger was foreman of the grand jury. EmHie K. Balling was given a divorce from Frank Balling. The grand jury in Buflalo County in March had retumed an indictment for murder in the second degree against Emma Grabach, and this cause was tried to a jury comprised of William Stolley, Peter Petersen, John Ruff, James Vamey, John C. Atkinson, P. S. Wingert, James Hall, Jens Olsen, John Duhlsen, George Comelius, Henry Baumann, and N. M. Depue. The jury, with Wm. Stolley as foreman, retumed a verdict finding her guHty of manslaughter, but recommending the defendant to the mercy of the court, George J, Spencer was admitted to the bar, and Frederick Muntzert, Niels Han sen, John Bolders, William McCracken, Niels Anderson, L. Rasmussen, Claus Eggers and Ferdinand Loehle were admitted to citizen ship, and the court adjourned until May 8, 1875, On .May 8, 1875, at a session of court Charles R. Smith of the state of Virginia was admitted to practice upon motion of John D, Hayes, M, R, Abbott, James Holden and John Holden were admitted to citizenship, Emma Grabach was sentenced to the peniten tiary for one year from April IS, 1875, On July 27, 1875, Judge Maxwell heard the case of Oconto Company vs, Wm, H. Platt. An October term got started on October 28th. E. V. Clark was foreman of the grand jury. A lengthy civil docket was presented the court at this term. Upon motion of Wm. A. Platt, C. D. Culver of the IHinois bar was admitted to practice. John Genz, John Hendricks, John Johnson and Daniel Ertel were admitted to citizenship. IN THE FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT In 1876 a new system came into operation in Nebraska, and the judges of the supreme court no longer were compelled to travel over the state and try the cases in district court. Judge Geo. W, Post of York, on January 12, 1876, fixed the time of holding regular terms of court in the counties then forming the fourth judicial district — Hall, Merrick, Platte, Colfax, Dodge, Saunders, Howard, Seward, York, Butler, Polk and Hamilton, The fourth Tuesday in February and the first Tuesday in September were fixed for Hall County, Court was opened on February 23rd, with the same court officers as were present the year preceeding. Martin Ott, Hans Rief, Frederick Schleichardt, John Mahony, Thomas Mahony, Hans Wiese, Henry Weise, C, Clau sen, Kasper Hein, Johann Hinrich Rief, Werner Foellmer, Fritz Tomsen, Claus Grotzke, Carl F, Petersen, Peter Laubach, Ludwig Schultz, and Fritz Wiese were ad mitted to citizenship. The grand jury re turned a bill of indictment against Leander Wolfe and Paul Heitz for grand larceny, and upon trial the jury found them guilty and they were sentenced to one year in the penitentiary. Christopher T. Hall was admitted to practice upon presentation of proper certificate from the territory of Wyoming. The fall term be gan on September 5th. Henry Streeve, Nich olas MHdenstein, Peter D. Thomsen, Peter Schumann, J. E. Meth, F. A, Schieck and Othman A, Abbott were admitted to citizen ship, Arthur E, Pinkney, Loring Gaffey and and a large number of civil cases were dis posed of. COURT IN 1877 In February, 1877, Judge Post of Colum bus presided, but brought a new district attorney with him, Hon. M. B. Reese of Saunders County. Judge Reese in after years served twice on the supreme bench and was twice chief justice of that court. Clerk Wal lichs and Sheriff Deuel were still on the job. Njew citizens admitted to that privilege were Martin Brett, Gustav Schaurup, Hans A. Klingenberg, John C. Stark, M. Hokinson, H. Buensen, Bryan Harcy, W. Guenther, Pat rick Higgins, John Lammert, Heinrich Graack, Christian T. Lykke, C. Schaurup, Nicholas 418 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Rauert, Claus Klindtj, Christian Nieberber, Hugo Oelrich, Hans J. Moehler, A. Blunk and Arnold Oelrich. Howard T. Marshall was tried for forgery and found guilty by the jury. At the adjourned April term, Erns Marquardt, Carl Daberkow, Peter Thomsen, Michael Kroger, Joachim F. Dibbern, Bertha Wiese, A. M. Stevenson were admitted to practice Charles Stolle, Peter Mohr, Juergen Giese, John Lemberg and Carsten Lemberg were ad mitted to citizenship; in the September term the same service was rendered to John Allen, in years afterwards clerk of the district court, Michael Kroger, August Dobberstein, John L. Johnson, John Anderson, Detrick M. Sweeden, Caroline Petterson, Pereke E. Pet terson, Jocob Geise, Christian Ipsen and Henry Reese. George H. Caldwell,- a West Virginia lawyer, was admitted at this time. COURT AFTER 1877 In 1877 when the February term convened, a new sheriff appeared upon the scene, Joseph Killian. Alex. Campbell was admitted to the bar. George Thompson was indicted of burg lary and found guilty by the jury, and sen tenced to one year in the penitentiary. At the September term, 1878, Edward Wilson pleaded guilty to the indictment for burglary and was sentenced to two years in the peni tentiary. At the term in February, 1879, upon motion of T. O. C. Harrison the court admitted to the bar, from Iowa, John R. Thompson, who was afterwards judge of the Hall County dis trict court for twelve years. George H. Thummel and Dr. M. J. Gahan were appointed commissioners of insanity. Charles Davis was sentenced to one year in the penitentiary for burglary. Richard Goehring was admitted to citizenship on May 16. It would take more space than this chapter can be allowed in this work to continue a full list of the admission of applicants to citizenship that were passed upon favorably by each term of the court in the thirty years that have elapsed since this point in our narrative of the history of the bench and bar of Hall County. As all of the matters heretofore recorded in this chapter transpired during the time that Volume 1 of the Court Journal was being made up, it wiH be seen that it is furthermore impossible to carry with such detail an account of proceedings had in the twenty valumes of the Court Journal that have been formulated since 1879. I When court met on March 2, 1880, Judge Post had a new set of court officers in part. District Attorney Reese and Sheriff Killian were still on deck, but Hall County's second clerk of the district court was on duty, Charles Rief, and B. C. Wakeley was shown to be present as court reporter. Mr. Wakeley was later succeeded by E. M. Battis. M. B. Hoxie, P. S. Battle and M. B. Reese, a committee serving to examine candidates for admission to the bar, reported favorably -on the peti tions of George B. Darr, D. H. Burroughs and George W. Treiren. The trial of Frank Larence occupied much of the attention of this term. Messrs. Reese, Thummel and Platt represented the State and Messrs. Abbott, CaldweH and W. H. Bell the defendant. The jury, of which James Ewing was foreman, brought in a verdict of "not guilty." In October 1880, Austin H. Moukon was ad mitted, and in September, 1881, Herschel A. Edwards was admitted to the bar. Mr. Edwards is still actively practicing in HaH County. The trial of George Hart, a policeman, for murder of Michael Kress commenced in September, 1881, but was continued to the next term. March 1, 1882, a jury, of whom N. ChHd was foreman, found the prisoner guilty, and Judge Post sentenced him to be .hanged June 15, 1882. Messrs. M. B. Reese, Thummel and Platt represented the state, and Messrs. Abbott, Michael and Caldwell the de fendant. This case was carried to the supreme court, but without success, when executive clemency was asked. But before the scaffold which had been erected at the rear of the court house could claim its victim, the death sentence was commuted and a penalty of im prisonment for life was imposed. In Febmary, 1882, Henry C. Denman as sheriff and Frank Sears as clerk succeeded Messrs. KiHian and Rief. Henry E, Clifford, HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 419 now city clerk of Grand Island, was admitted to practice on February 9, 1883. The April term of that year opened up on April 10, 1883, with a new judge, T. L. Norval of Seward, who also afterwards served a long time upon the supreme bench of this state. Thomas Darnall was present as district at- .torney, and E. M. Battis as court reporter. /The new district attomey presented several "whiskey indictments" to the grand jury and that body found the parties defendant had sold and delivered "a certain spirituous liquor, com monly called whiskey." At the September term in| 1883 Thomas Darnall, district at tomey, brought a charge of second degree murder against Stephen Binfield, Henry Bon sen and Nicholas Bonsen and J, F, Whittier for the shooting of one Tillman, Thummel & Platt and T. O. C. Harrison appeared as attorneys for these defendants, and Thompson Bros, assisted Darnall in the prosecution. The jury, with Wm; Stolley as foreman, returned a verdict on September 8th, finding the three defendants, "not guHty," except Binfield who was found guHty of manslaughter, whereupon he was sentenced by the court to ten years in the penitentiary. In 1884 the terms of court for the sixth judicial district fixed the terms for Hall County upon February 12 and September 23. Judge Norval and District Attorney Darnall remained on their respective duties, but John Allan was clerk, H. M. Waring, reporter, and James Cannon, sheriff. Winfield S, Hayman was admitted as a member of the bar. On October 2, 1884, the court overruled plaintiff's motion to dismiss in the case of Sir Isaac Newton vs, Peter Birkenbeuel. At the September term of 1885 the officers remained the same as in 1884 except Frank Tipton was court reporter, Ralph R, Horth presented his application for admission to the practice and the same was acted upon fav orably, Wm, H. Thompson appeared in cases with his brother John R, Thompson, under the firm name of Thompson Brothers, A jury awarded William and John Stoeger damages of $70 against James Fowler, In 1886 E. A. Wedgewood was sheriff, George A, Ruther ford was admitted to practice on September 14, 1886, upon motion of O, A, Abbott, The term of March, 1887, found no district attorney present, the prosecutions being con ducted then and ever since by the county's own county attomey or prosecuting attorney, W, H. Thompson presented many charges to the court at this term in his capacity as prose cuting attorney. On April 2, 1887, the vale dictory proceedings were held. Judge Norval caHed upon the sheriff to adjourn court, but before that officer could comply with the order, Geo, H. Thummel arose and in the presence of the bar, officers of the court, and spectators presented Judge Norval with a handsome gold-headed cane and silver ink stand from the members of the Hall County bar and court officers. Soon thereafter Judge T, O, C. Harrison, the first Hall County lawyer to assume the bench in this judicial district, took charge of the Hall County docket. The other judge in the new ninth district, which from that time, with its successor, the eleventh, until the present has had two judges, was Hon, F, B. Tiffany of Albion, Boone County, At the October term of 1887 Judge Tiffany presided, with E. B. Henderson reporter, the other officers remaining the same. An inter esting case was tried wherein Charles W, Stidger was prosecuted for an alleged libellous publication which the Daily Times had made against Fred Hedde, editor of the Independent. Upon October 12th, the jury, with Geo, Loan- as foreman, found Chas. Stidger not guilty, and the trial of John S. Stidger upon the same charge was continued over the term. Judge Harrison held the term in November, 1887, with Charles W. Pearsall, as reporter. County Attorney W. H. Thompson filed an information at this term charging David Moffit with stealing from the Union Pacific Railway Co. certain articles of merchandise, among which were listed two cheese of the value of $7.95, two pails of candy at the value of $2.40 each, two- boxes of cigars at the value of $2.00, and six pairs of felt boots of the value of $6.00. Mr. Thompson was not setting 1919 prices on the goods then. On December 13, this information was quashed. 420 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA but a new information was later filed. In 1888 Chas. G. Ryan filed credentials sufficient to warrant his admission to practice. The Daily Independent of January 8, 1888, con tained the following item: "A new firm of Horth & Ryan have commenced business this week in their office over the Grand Island Banking Co. Mr. Horth is well-known to our citizens as our efficient city attorney and from having been associated with O. A. Abbott for the last three years. Mr. C. G. Ryan is from Verdin, Illinois, and from a short acquaintance with him we consider him an intelligent and straightforward young man. The new firm wHl be one of our rising young law firms and has the strength of honesty and abHity." On May 12, 1888, David Moffitt pleaded guilty to the charge of larceny and was sent enced to one year in the penitentiary. In 1889 Judges Harrison and Tiffany held court with the same court officers, except that W. R. Bacon had assumed the office of county at torney. In May, 1889, William Rutherford was convicted and sentenced to penitentiary ,for twelve years for arson. An important civil case tried by Judges Harrison and Tiffany jointly was that of Gustave Koehler vs. Free man C. Dodge and Edmund B. A'bbott, part ners, involving a judgment of $10,502. In 1890 Judge Harrison received a plea of guilty by John Tulles for highway robbery and gave him a three year sentence to the penitentiary. and A. T. Gaffney took the same course and received a one year sentence. In 1890 the same court officials appeared except that the sheriff then serving was J. A. CosteHo, and the same court officers served through that year. In January, 1891, court was presided over by Judge Harrison, with Reporter Pear- saH, Sheriff CosteHo and Clerk Allan, and Chas. G. R'yan as county attorney. At the first sitting of court in his term the new county attorney filed an incest charge against one H. Bedford. Orders were made in the probate matter of the estate of Zenas H. Den man, deceased. On May 19, 1891, a motion to dismiss was sustained in the case of Trixie Adams vs. McGinty Troubles Co., which had been tried before Justice of the Peace Wel come Smith. On May 27, 1891, a jury, of which Geo. A. Burger was foreman found George Bedford guilty of corrupting a witness, and the de fendant was fined $50 and sentenced to seven days in the county jail, but defendant served notice he intended to appeal to the supreme court. On the 16th of November, the day appointed by Judges Harrison and E. M. Coffin of Ord, Nebraska, thery a judge of the nineteenth judicial district, the fall term convened. Sev eral informations for grand larceny were brought forth. On March 15, 1892, the trial of Cuyler Shults for murder began before Judge Har rison. County Attorney Ryan was assisted by W. H. Platt and W. H. Thompson and W. A. Prince appeared for the defendant. The jurors finally accepted were Joseph J. Klinge, John O'Connor, Fred SoH, G. M. Graham, George Pearson, W. H. Sylvester, B. S. Wise, H. P. F. Duehrsen, T. C. Rondrez, Sylvester Pollock, John Wilson and T. A. Taylor. On March 19th the jury returned a verdict finding de fendant guilty. In 1893 Judge John R. Thompson became the associate of Judge Harrison, and Hender son was serving as his court reporter. In 1894, Geo. P. Dean became sheriff of HaU County. That same year Hon. A. A. Kendall of St. Paul succeeded Judge Harrison as one of the judges of the eleventh judicial district. In 1895 Willard A. Prince succeeded County Attorney Ryan. The court officers remained the same until January, 1897, when Fred W. Ashton began his services as county attorney, ^nd in March of that year Terkild Hermansen is shown as court reporter for Judge Kendall. The year 1898 brought some changes in HaH County district court officials. S. N. Taylor succeeded Sheriff Dean. John W. Brewster reported for Judge Thompson, vice Mr. Henderson. John AHan still remained as clerk of the court. Mr. Brewster is at the present time a general reporter, residing at Lincoln, Nebraska. When the August, 1898, term opened up, Bayard H. Paine appeared a.'? Judge Thompson's court reporter and served in that capacity for six years. Twelve years after his term of service as reporter ended HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 421 Mr. Paine was elected district judge of the eleventh judicial district and now presides as judge in the same court where he was reporter a few years ago. In 1899 W. S, Pearne be came county attorney. In 1900 Judge Ken dall was succeeded on the district bench by Hon, Charles A. Munn of Ord, who died after serving a short time. That same year the district clerk, John Allan, after sixteen years of service in that capacity was succeeded by his brother, Henry Allan, At the December. 1900, term Judge Harrison appeared as acting county attorney, and a month later Ralph R, Horth became county attorney. In 1902, Judge Munn's successor upon the bench took office. Judge Jas, N, Paul, a member of the Howard County bar opened his first court in Hall County, the February term of 1902, and served as judge of the eleventh district until 1917, when he was succeeded by Judge Bayard H, Paine, On January 4, 1904, district court convened with both Judges John R, Thompson and James N, Paul present, with Ralph R, Horth county attomey. Bayard H, Paine and E, H, Kendall court reporters, S. N. Taylor sheriff and Henry Allan clerk. A committee of the bar consisting of O. A. Abbott, T. O. C. Har rison and Chas. G. Ryan made a report to the court, which read in part as follows : In the matter of the change from the old Court House to the New. Your committee finds that the Old Court House was first occupied as a Court House at the June term of 1873,; the Honorable Samuel Maxwell, Judge, since deceased, pre siding. Honorable John Wallichs, Clerk. Prior to this time Lorenzo Crounse was Judge of the District and Court had been held in private rooms rented for the purpose. His successors were George W. Post, T. L. Norval, F. B. Tiffany, T. O. C. Harrison, E, M, Coffin, John R. Thompson, A, A, Kendall, Charles A. Munn and James N, Paul, there having been two Judges in this district as now constituted since 1887. Hall County was then a part of the Third Judicial District, there being biit three Districts in the state, those three Judges sitting together as Judges of the Supreme Court at the State Capital, and the Supreme Court as then con- stiuted consisting of Lake, Gantt and Maxwell. The Old Court House was fully up to the standard in those days. But two other brick Court Houses were then in existence in the State, at Omaha and Nebraska City, and we submit, the County is now, as it was then, well up to the front in the character of its Court House. The second volume of the Nebraska reports had not then been issued, the sixty third volume is now on our shelves ; the Union Pacific Railroad had been completed across the State, the B. & M. in Nebraska from Plattsmouth to Lincoln and the Midland Pa cific from Nebraska City to Lincoln constituted the railway development of the State. Look ing backwards to those times one is not sur prised to know that the men who predicted that a million of people would someday find home with the State,; was looked upon as visionaries. ^ The Old Court House has lived to see a branch line from the Union Pacific built across the County's Northern boundary to Ord, the B. & M. extended from Lincoln across the County to a connection with the Northern Pacific and the Co&st and the St. Joseph and Grand Island from St. Joseph to this city; in fact has witnessed the growth of this State from a sparsely settled frontier State to an enviable station among her sister States and the home of about one and a half millions of people; has seen the City grow from an un organized hamlet on the plains to the Third city in the State with nearly 10,000 people; has seen the City exchange its old frame school buildings for four substantial brick stractures ; has seen its wooden shops and stores ex changed for substantial stone and brick build ings ; has seen the City exchange its old lights for the new, the kerosene lights and candles for gas and electric light; has seen political and economic changes pass over the land and while we accept the change with pleasure, abandon the old way for the new, the old lights for the new and recognize that old precedents have been laid aside, we deem it eminently fit and proper that on this day we pause for the moment to take note of the pass ing time and to place on perpetual record the fact that we have done so. We trust that when in the influx of time, our successors shall exchange this building for a newer and better one, they, like us, may recall the past with pleasure and look forward, as we do, to the future with renewed hope and confidence. This report was accepted by Judges Thomp son and Paul and ordered spread upon the records. 422 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA At the same time Attorneys Fred W. Ashton, M. T. Garlow and W. A. Prince presented a resolution upon the matter of the retirement of Judge John R. Thompson, one of the district judges of the eleventh judicial district, in which it was resolved: Be it resolved. That upon the retirement of Judge Thompson from the bench the bar loses a fearless, upright and conscientious judge. Be it further resolved. That the members of this bar hereby express their best wishes to the judge upon his retirement from the bench and extend to him a welcome hand as he again enters the profession. Resolutions were also adopted at the same time respecting the honest, efficient and faith ful performance of their contract in the erec tion and completion o'f the HaH county court house by Messrs. Falldorf and Kirschke; and upon the death of George J. Spencer, a mem ber of the Hall County Bar. At the September term, 1904, Judge James R. Hanna, of Greeley, who succeeded Judge Thompson, opened court at Grand Island. After fifteen years of continuous service in this district. Judge Hanna is stHl serving as one of the judges presiding over the courts ^of Hall and ten other counties. When Judge Hanna came upon the bench he appointed as court reporter Othman A. Abbott, Jr., who is StHl serving in that capacity. In 1907 Judge .Paul appointed as his court reporter, H. J. Paul, who remained as court reporter until his father's retirement from the bench in 1917, and who has served with Judge Bayard H. Paine in 1917 until he was elevated to the position of colonel of the Fifth Nebraska N. G. Regiment and went to Camp Deming, New Mexico, upon his country's call in the Great War. While Colonel Paul was stHl abroad in France with his regiment and before he could be discharged from the army, he was tendered and accepted from Governor S. R. McKelvie, in 1919, the position of adjutant general of Nebraska, and upon his return from foreign service upon his shoulders will fall the task of rebuilding in Nebraska the Na tional Guard, or state constabulary, or what ever form of home defense legislative bodies shall determine upon, and of recording the part of Nebraska in the recent Great War. Following Col. Paul's departure. Judge Paine had two reporters of terms of short service. Miss Jeanette M. Ragan of Grand Island, who resigned to enter the State University, and F. D. WiHiams of Lincoln, who resigned as secretary to Supreme Judge W. B. Rose to come to Grand Island, and later returned to Lincoln for an attractive opening in the prac tice, and in December, 1917, he was suc ceeded by Dale P. Stough, then secretary to Chief Justice Andrew M. Morrissey of the supreme court, who is stiH the reporter at this time. District Clerk Henry Allan serving in 1904 was succeeded in 1908 by Fred C. Langman, who served for nine years, and in 1917 was succeeded by his deputy clerk, Walter H. Rauert. Clerk Rauert during his first years of service appointed as his deputy Herman Buckow, who resigned late in 1918, and for his second term, commencing in 1919, ap pointed Miss Bessie Barbee, who had been serving in the office of Sheriff Sievers for four years. In 1900 a salutary change was made in the preparation of court journal and other records in the office of the clerk of the district court. The old permanently fastened books in which the records were written with pen and ink were replaced by loose leaf sheets and binders upon which the records could be typewritten. County Attorney Horth was succeeded in 1905 by Arthur C. Mayer, who served for two terms. In 1909 John L. Cleary took the office and held it for your years, and was followed by Benjamin J. Cunningham in 1913, In 1917 W'illiam Suhr became county attorney. , The office of sheriff, held in 1904 by S. N. Taylor, was taken over later in the term by J. W. Eby. In 1906 J. M. Dunkel entered office as sheriff and served most efficiently in that capacity until his death. On January 11, 1912, with Judge James I'N. Paul presiding, O. A. Abbott, Jr., acting as court reporter, J. L. Cleary, county attorney, Thomas O'Gorman, coroner, and Fred C. Langman, clerk, the foHowing proceedings were spread upon the records : HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 423 It having come to the knowledge of the Court that James M, Dunkel, sheriff of Hall County, Nebraska, and one of the officers of this Court, lost his life by being hit by a rail road train near Chapman, Nebraska, on the evening of the 10th inst. it is therefore ordered that this Court adjourn, out of memory of said James ^I. Dunkel, to Thursday, January 18, 1912, at 10 o'clock A. M. It is further considered that the foHowing Committee on Resolutions be, and are hereby appointed to-wit : O. A. Abbott Sr., W. M. Thompson, T. O. C Harrison, Chas. G. Ryan, John L. Cleary, Ralph R. Horth, Fred W. Ashton, Ernest G. Kroeger, James H. Wooley, Bayard H. Paine, Arthur L. Joseph, Arthur C. Mayer, Benj. J. Cunningham, John R. Thompson and Arthur G. Abbott. During the foHowing week, Gustav Seivers was appointed sheriff, and later was twice elected to that office. In January, 1919, the present sheriff, John E. McCutchan, took over the office. THE LAWYERS OF HALL COUNTY No county in the state of Nebraska could have had a higher class bar in abihty and general personaHty than Hall County has main tained in the fifty-one years since the first term of district court was held here in 1868. The bar as a branch of the American system of jurisprudence was given standing by the first general assembly of the territory of Ne braska in an act approved March 9, ,1855, entitled "An act regulating the admission of attorneys." It is brief enough to include here : The first section provides that "any person twenty-one years of age who can produce satisfactory evidence of a good moral char acter and pass an examination before either the judges of the district court or before the justices of the supreme court of this territory, shall be licensed to practice as an attorney at law and solicitor in chancery in all the courts in this territory." And, as a sort of afterthought', the second section of the act provides that "every citizen of this territory may attend to his own cases in all said courts." The third session of the legislative assembly, January 15, 1857, at Omaha, adopted a code of civil procedure formulating the law on this subject very much as it remains today. .Requirements have since been added providing 'for examination before a state board, only, and doing away with the somewhat informal examination held in the district courts in early days and providing for admission without examination to graduates of Nebraska State University and Creighton College of Law. In recent years the colleges have been increas ing the educational requirements for admis sion to their courses of study, and thus tighten ing up further on the pathway of admission to the bar. The mention of examination before and admission by the district courts will explain the presence in this list of Hall County lawyers of numerous members of the bar who came ' to Grand Island to be admitted, but never opened a law office in this county. Upon reflection the reader will remember that in the late 'sixties and early 'seventies there were not terms of district court being held in very many counties within a hundred or two hun dred miles of Grand Island. AT THE BEGINNING OF HALL COUNTY COURT WORK When the first session of district court to transact business for Hall County was held in 1868 at Columbus, Nebraska, or for that matter a few months later when resident ses sions of court were first held at Grand Island, the resident bar of Hall County consisted of one member. It is a most unusual fact that this one member, O. A. Abbott, Sr., should still be practicing very actively at this bar, fifty-one years later. Other attorneys noted in the court records as having been present at these early sessions in 1868 were Chas. H. Brown, from Omaha, never a member of the Hall County bar, E. F. Gray of Fremont, who was then district attorney, there being no county attomey to represent thej state for some years later. John L. Martin, of Ohio, was admitted to practice in November, 1868, He lived in Merrick County and never lived or opened an office in Grand Island. Albert Swartzland, an atorney from Omaha, also ap pears to be mentioned. 424 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA The next member of the Hall County bar to arrive who afterwards attained a long .record of noteworthy service, was WiHiam H. Platt. We was born in Rochester, N, Y,, October 16, 1835, the son of William A. and Mary E, (Pierce) Platt, who came to Grand Island in 1872. The father died in 1875, WHliam H, Platt had served in the civH war, and October 16, 1892, while on a visit to his parents at Brighton, Mich., was married to Miss Fannie E. Bidwell, He had moved to Grand Island in the fall of 1866 and conducted a drug store, with which he remained identified until 1872, But in the meatime he prepared himself and entered upon the practice of law, being admitted on May 24, 1870, He served as county judge from 1872 to 1876, and in 1877 formed a law partnership with George H, Thummel, He served the community in many capacities, as mayor of the city, and for many years as a member of the school board. In recent years he has resided at Santa Rosa, California, His long-time partner, George H, Thummel, was the next lawyer to come, his admission being on May 3, 1871. Mr. Thummel served the community in so many capacities that his name appears in a great many places throughout this work. After he served the federal govemment first as U. S. marshal and then as clerk of the United States circuit court for Nebraska until that office was abolished, he stayed in Omaha, and in recent years has made his home there, but still retains property interests in Grand Island. THOSE WHO CAME DURING THE SEVENTIES The next admission in 1871 was that of Mr. Sparks of the IHinois bar who came out to Central City, but came over here to be ad mitted. W. C. Buderos came to Grand Island and practised a number of years. He was a very genial, active lawyer who left behind a trail of memories for his old-time associates. Geo. H. CaldweH had completed his studies in a law office at Parkersburg, W. Va., after the close of his service in the war with the 140th Ohio National Guards, and removed to Hall County and was admitted to the bar here, in 1877. He soon formed a law partner ship with Hon. O. A. Abbott, which contin ued untH the fall of 1881, when Mr. CaldweH was elected county judge. He left Grand Is land in later years and returned to his former home state. West Viginia, where he spent the remainder of his life. George W. Trefren was admitted here but stayed only a short time. By way of review, up to this point : In 1871 the resident attorneys were O. A. Abbott, W. H. Platt and G. H. Thummel; by 1873, to the three just named, should be added W. C. Buderos, W. H. Mitch ell, John D. Hayes, who had been admitted to the bar before he came here, who was elected county superintendent during the early 'seven ties, and also served as probate judge, later leaving here and going to Clay County, and Henry Nunn, who came here about that time, from Illinois, and later practiced at St. Paul, Nebraska. J. H. Darnell from the Iowa bar was ad mitted to practice here upon motion of John D. Hayes; C. D. Culver was admitted in Octo ber, 1875, and is shown on the records as being from Illinois. Neither he nor Chris topher T. Hall, of Wyoming, shown as ad mitted on January 12, 1876, practiced here. Loring Gaffey came here, studied law in the office of Thummel and Platt and was admitted in September, 1876. He later moved to the Black HiHs and was elected judge in his new home. He married a' sister of Mrs. Geo. Thummel. Arthur Pinkney was shown ad mitted in 1876, and at the same time, Septem ber, 1876, A. M. Stevenson was admitted. He studied under O. A. Abbott, later moved to Denver and there has had a very succesful career. George H. Caldwell's admission here, which occurred in February, 1877, has already been noted. Thus in) 1876 the (lawyers .practising in Grand Island were: O. A. Abbott, W. H. Platt, G. H. Thummel, Henry Nunn, John D. Hayes, W. C. Buderos, Loring Gaffey and A. M. Stevenson. In February, 1879, John R. Thompson was admitted to practice in Nebraska. Mr. Thomp- HISTORY OP HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 425 son had been schooled at Upper Iowa Univer sity at Fayette, Iowa, and at the law depart ment of Iowa State University. After his graduation he opened a law office with his brother W. H. Thompson, at Arlington (then Brush Creek) Iowa, and moved to Grand Island, and the well-known office of Thomp son Brothers continued until 1892, when John R. Thompson went on the district bench and remained there for twelve years of very effi cient service to the people of the eleventh judicial district. W. H. Thompson has been one of the best known members of the Hall County bar throughout the state. He served one term as county attorney, was candidate for Congress in the "big third" then compris ing about half the state, in 1890, delegate to the national convention which nominated Grover Cleveland in 1892, and likewise a dele gate to the convention which nominated Bryan in 1896, 1900, and Parker in 1904. He has been the candidate of the democratic party for United States senator and govemor. His interest in the democratic party has never waned because he has borne its standards in most all of its hopeless campaigns. His ability and record as a jury trial lawyer has been as well-known and more successful than his po litical endeavors. In recent years he was as sociated in the practice with his son, Lloyd G. Thompson, and the firm is now Thompson & Thompson. Geo. H. Barr was admitted March, 1889. He had studied under Governor Abbott but did not practice here to amount to anything. He went into the banking business in Daw-son County and more recently to Omaha. D. H. Burrough was admitted in September, 1881, never lived here, but belonged in Sherman County. James H. Woolley, who comes next to Governor Abbott in length of practice at Grand Island, came here in September, 1878, and opened a law office. He was appointed deputy district attomey in July, 1881. He lived in his native state of Illinois until he was seventeen, then near Poughkeepsie, N. Y. and attended an academy near there; he then came to Lincoln, Nebraska, where he attended the State University for a time, and for two years he studied law in the office of Gen. John R. Webster, meantime he had taught school for four years and studied law at the same time. With this splendid preparation he was admitted to the bar June 3, 1878, and chose Grand Island as his permanent location. After forty-one years of service to his clientele, Mr. Woolley is still very actively engaged in the practice of his profession. In recent years he has moved his office to the Equitable Building and Loan Association for which institution he is attorney. ARRIVALS DURING THE EIGHTIES Herschel A. Edwards was admitted here in September, 1881, and is still engaged in the practice, with offices in the McAllister build ing, for which he is business manager. Henry E. Clifford was admitted January 9, 1883, and has had a long active career since that time. In the past few years he has effi ciently served the city of Grand Island as its city clerk and handled his own business affairs in addition. Richard C. Ganville came in April, 1883. He praticed here for a number of years, was appointed to serve on the supreme court com mission, and later removed to Dawson County, and then to Oregon, and now is located at Hood River, Oregon. W. R. Bacon came about this time; he had studied law in the office of Thummel & Platt before his admission ; he practiced a short time, holding the office of county attomey for a term, and later went to Los Angeles, Cah- fornia, and is now located at San Francisco. The arrival of Ralph R. Horth and Charles G. Ryan and their subsequent formation of a partnership has been noted in another place in this chapter. A detailed sketch of Mr. Horth appears elsewhere in this work. Mr, Ryan has served the city as Mayor and both of these men have become leaders of the HaH County bar, and among the best known lawyers in central Nebraska. In recent years they have associated together, and have offices in the fine brick block built on North Locust street by Mr. Ryan. 426 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Winfield S. Hayman was admitted to the bar in October, 1884, never maintained an office for general practice, but has been very active in the business affairs of the community during these thirty-five years. Seth P. Mobley was admitted to the bar, but his main efforts in Grand Island were directed toward the advancement of Hall County press rather than the profession of law. A list of the lawyers practicing here in 1887 shows a number not already mentioned seperately : O. A. Abbott, W. R. Bacon. J. H. Bowron, who had left before 1890, J. W. Bartholomew, who left here and went to East St. Louis, J. A. Busselle, who had left before 1890, Geo. H. Caldwell, Henry E. Clifford, H. A. Edwards, R. C. Glanville, T, O, C, Har rison, who had come in during the eighties — a more detailed sketch of Judge Harrison ap pears in this work elsewhere — W, S. Hayman, R. R, Horth, A, W, McNeel, whe became a very well known figure during his location here, he later returned to Iowa, S. P, Mobley, Chas. Rief, who was admitted, but confined his main energies to business interests rather than law work, Thompson Bros., Thummel & Platt, L. M. Whitney, now deceased, but who left here a good many years ago, H. B. Will- son, who went from here to the state of Washington, and J. H. Wooley. During the last three years of the decade of the 'eighties other lawyers to locate here were: Madison T. Garlow, who was later county judge of Hall County, who came about 1890. In recent years he dropped his law prac tice here and went to Mead, Kansas, where he has large interests in the silica mining industry. WiHard A. Prince first opened in the Michel son block, about this time. In his thirty years of practice here he has become one of the best known trial lawyers in central Nebraska and has built up a practice which extends through many surrounding counties. In recent years his son, Harold A. Prince has 'become associated with him, and the firm name is now Prince & Prince. There were other lawyers who were admit ted through the eariy years, but the dates can not be given here. Virgil K. Stone practiced here awhile and went to Lander, Wyoming. Henry Garn was ' a well known figure at this bar for a time, but now is deceased. J. F. Walker and Frank J. Byrd are lawyers who were located at Shelton, but figured on Hall County court records to some extent. J. E. Moncrief prac ticed here for a time, and became chairman of Hall County Board of Commissioners. T. P. Lanigan, in recent years a prominent attorney at Greeley, was in the banking business here about 1890. Other names appearing on the court records here are M. Randall, who practiced at Grand Island and Ord, and later went south, Attorney Marston of Kearney, T. J. Doyle, a prominent attorney of Greeley, and now in Lincoln. George J. Spencer came in at a rather early time. He had been admitted first at Bing- hamton, N. Y., then came to Illinois and on out here, practiced awhile and moved away. ARRIVALS SINCE 1890 Shortly after 1890 and before 1895 the fol lowing members were added to HaH County bar: C. W. Wieckong, E. J. Hatch, who later went to Omaha, in 1892 was a member of the firm of Hatch & Shangle, Higgins & Garlow Bros, was a firm in 1892, though C, J. Garlow always practiced at Columbus and never lived at Grand Island, R, J, Millard, who later lo cated at Hartington, Nebraska, where he is now practicing, Ralph Platt, who followed his father's footsteps into the law profession, L. E- Moyer, another Randall, given as Frank, but the older lawyers here think this was J, H, Randall, J, W. Edgerton, who removed to Idaho and became a judge, Herbert Harrison, who was admitted to practice, but has devoted his energies very successfully in recent years to the banking business, being cashier of State Bank of Ravenna for a good many years, recently cashier of the new People's State Bank in this city, but resigned to become cashier of the new Security State Bank at Ravenna. Fred W. Ashton was admitted here in 1895. Mr. Ashton has built up a very pleasant law practice and devoted his attention to matters in the general interest of the community very HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 42; much. He was at one time candidate for Congress, and during the recent War left his practice to serve as a judge advocate general in provost marshal's office at Washington, and near the close of the war was assigned to the Clemency Board, and later assigned the task of assisting in the preparation of the revised articles of war, so strongly advocated by General Ansell. This was- a very creditable honor for the Hall County bar to have attached to one of its members. E, E, Thompson, since deceased, was admit ted about 1895. He practiced here for a num- her of years. W. S. Pearne, a former court reporter, was admitted about 1897, for a time was associated with Mr. Thummel (Thummel & Pearne), and later went to Minneapolis. O. ^I. Quackenbush was admitted about "1897 and located at Wood River. For almost twenty years he edited and published the "V\'ood River Interests, and took care of some law practice. Following the recent death of Judge Harrison, Mr. Quackenbush moved to Grand Island and took over his office and library and started to practice at Grand Island. Arthur C. Mayer was admitted about 1897, after recieving a degree of Master of Laws from Yale University. For a few years he was member of firm of Ashton & Mayer. In recent years he served as county attorney, and has officed since he left that position in the First National bank building. Mr. Mayer is serving for the second period as referee in bankruptcy. O. A. Abbott, Jr., was admitted to practice in 1897. Mr. Abbott had heretofore served as a clerk in the U. S, Land office here; he afterwards served as police judge, and for fifteen years last past has been court reporter with Judge J. R, Hanna, but for a time prac ticed with his father, O, A, Abbott, Sr, A few years later a second son of Governor Abbott was admitted to practice here, Arthur G, Abbott, He practiced for a number of years with his father, then went to Chicago for a period, but in 1918 returned to take up prac tice in Grand Island, and offices with his father now. John Leo Cleary is not the son of a lawyer hut he is another of the second generation of Grand Island families to enter into the law practice and make a successful record in that honorable profession. He is now serving as mayor, and has been identified with some im portant litigation. Mr. Cleary offices in the same suite of rooms with Mr. Ashton and during Mr. Ashton's absence on war service, Mr. Cleary took care of his practice. Findley Howard, son of Ex-Lieut.-Gov. Edgar Howard of Columbus, came to Grand Island in 1909, and for a time was associated with M. T. Garlow. He went to government service in Panama Zone and in recent years has successfully ventured into practice in New Mexico. Bayard H, Paine opened a law office upon the I close of his service as district court re porter for Judge John R, Thompson, . He served as police judge for four years, and for ten years as referee in bankruptcy in this dis trict, but for the last three years has been judge of district court in the 11th judicial district, Benjamin J, Cunningham graduated at Creighton Law College in 1910, returned to his home at Wood River where he practiced for a year, and in 1911 opened offices in the Ryan building, and from that date to this has forged ahead steadily in his profession. He served two years as county attorney, Ernest G, Kroeger and Arthur L. Joseph, upon their graduation from Nebraska Univer sity, located in Grand Island about ten years ago. Mr. Kroger served for eight years as police judge, and Mr. Joseph is the present city attorney of Grand Island. In 1910 T. B. Bird came to Grand Island but did not remain long. Samuel P. Brigham was listed here about that time, for a short period. Dale P. Stough came to Grand Island, in 1911, upon his graduation from Creighton College of Law, but after a few weeks located at Ravenna, Nebraska, and later went to Broken Bow where he was associated with Judge J. R. Dean, now of the supreme court of Nebraska. In 1917 Mr. Stough returned to Grand Island and became court reporter with District Judge Bayard H. Paine, which work he is still performing. During 1915 and 1916 there were several 428 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA accessions to the Hall County bar. C. J. South ard came here from Omaha, and remained for several years, but in 1918 retumed to Omaha. Mr. Southard's former residence in Howard County assisted him in building up a good practice while he was here. WHliam Suhr and Vernon Bascom came here upon their admission to the bar of this state. Mr. Bascom only stayed a short time, as did Homer L. Kyle, another graduate of that time. Mr. Bas com has gone to the Pacific coast, and Mr. Kyle to Lincoln. Mr. Suhr remained and is now serving as county attorney and buHding up a good practice. John S. Stidger practiced here a few years and went to Denver in 1917. Clifford N. Hale was here a short time, but went south in 1918. F. D. Williams, who was court reporter a short time with Judge Paine, is a member of the bar, and now associated with F. M. Hall in Lincoln. The latest accession to this bar is W. J, WHkin- son, from Marengo, Iowa, who opened here upon his return from mHitary service. Hall County has furnished one of the twenty-four Nebraska lawyers who have been members of the state supreme court. Judge T, O, C. Harrison, and one of the supreme court commissioners, R, C, Glanville. Halt County court circles have had considerable interest in numerous other members of the court and commission. Of the present court. Judge Dean, from Broken Bow, has been associated in many important cases with several of Grand Island's leading lawyers, and was a classmate in Ann Arbor law school (Michigan) in the 'eighties with Mr. Horth and Mr, Ryan, Judge Hamer, who died in 1918, was for many years district judge and a leading trial lawyer at Keamey and appeared in many forensic battles in Grand Island. Judge Aldrich, former gover nor, is a distant relative of Mr, Prince of this' city. Judge Letton's son, W, A. Letton, now lives in Grand Island and is employed with the First National bank of this city ; and Judge Crounse held the first court in Hall County. ...... 1. .^,- A Country School House, Jackson Townsht CHAPTER XXV CHRONOLOGICAL SURVEY OF HALL COUNTY'S PROGRESS 1857 — May 28 — Party of five loaded teams left Davenport. July 4 — Party of set tlers located south of present town of Grand Island ; first settlement of white people in HaH County. July 27 — Houses occupied. Men dotte located, four houses built there. Sep tember 21 — ¦ Four teams started for Omaha for supplies. November 7 — First death in Hall County — • Mr. Painter perished in a storm. , 1858 — ¦ January 25 — Supplies arrived. Mormons settled in Wood River country. W. G. Eldridge came to Alda region. March 3 — First child bom in county, Nellie Steier, daughter of Wm. Stier. 1500 Pawnees passed through county. November 4 — Act estab lishing Hall County passed. December 9 — County organized. 1859 — First officers take office. January ,10 — Prairie fire, settlement lost 8 houses. Moores settle near present Wood River. Post office established for Grand Island. Contract to sell 2,000 bushels of com at Fort Kearny at $2, bushel 1860 — First artificial grove in county set out on Wm. Stolley place. Population of county given at 116. Sept. — Pawnees and Sioux have battle on the Grand Island. Stage line established, Omaha-Ft. Kearny — first through transportation line for Hall County. 1861 — Catholics start church services near Wood River — first church in county. 1862 — February 5, first massacre of whites in county — Smith-Anderson near Wood River. August — -O. K. Store built by Koe nig & Wiebe — beginning of commercial his tory of county. August — First swarm of grasshoppers visits county since settlement. Geo. Martin settles south of Platte river. First fruit trees set out — -produced first cherries, 1867, peaches, 1871 and apples and pears, 1872. 1863 — Mormons moved on to Salt Lake. Platte river dry, for 50 or 100 miles below and above Grand Island. Second saw mHl on Wood River — -first windmill erected. August 29 — Frost killed corn. November — Snow came and covered ground until next March, very severe winter. 1864 — James Jackson built store and opened stock of goods near old Wood River post office then called White Cloud. Name Wood River then only connected with Wood River Center (now Shelton). Fort Independ ence built on StoHey farm; O. K. Store forti fied and Indian attacks averted in Grand Is land settlement. General Indian attacks in Wood River valley and above there, westward. Martin boys south of Platte river attacked by Indians. August 22 — Gen. Curtis with First Cavalry, arrived, July 15 — Grasshop pers attacked buckwheat crops — other crops escaped then, but pests reappeared August 1. 1865 — • Settlers along Wood River Valley who fled eastward, mostly return. 1866 — July 8 — First train puHs into Grand Island on new Union Pacific Railway. July — Grasshoppers re-visit county. July-August. Government survey of land commenced. No vember — ¦ Postoffice established at Grand Is land — new location on railroad. D Schuller appointed postmaster. 1867 — M. S. Hall, railroad contractor, puts in store. Grand Island. O. K. Store moves up to new townsite. Koenig starts State Cen tral Flouring miH (now Glade MiHs) and lum ber yard, of which Goehring -Sothman yard is successor. July 24 — Indian raid on Camp bell family, west end county. 429 430 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 1868 — Wood River laid out — site about two mHes and half west of present town, Jack son moves his store in to this site, November 30 — First district court held in Hall County — Judge Crounse presiding, 1869 — Union Pacific raHroad finished — joined Central Pacific. James Jackson killed a buffalo on present site of Wood River. June 16 — Frost damaged crops. Grasshoppers de stroyed corn fields. December 6 — U. S. Land office opened at Grand Island. 1870 — May 21 — Bonds voted by county to build a bridge over Platte river — issue $15,000. July 5 — H. P. Handy authorized to contract for bridge 1900 ft. across Platte, to be built between Ranges 9 and 10. Platte Valley Independent founded — predecessor of Grand Island Daily Independent. First Ma sonic lodge organized — first lodge in the county. BuHding used by Catholics in Grand Island blown down. 1871 — State Central Bank founded by Henry A. Koenig, president. Dorr Heffleman, cashier — first bank in the county. March 22 — Hall County Immigration Board formed — first agricultural organization in county. Settlement made in Cameron township. May 21 — Bridge across Platte River completed. Fall — Episcopal church buHt, Grand Island. Henry A. Koenig becomes state treasurer — State Grange met in Grand Island. December 10 — - Town of Grand Island incorporated. 1872 — Feb. 15, bonds voted for building Hall County court house, erection started soon thereafter. Settlements in Mayfield and Prairie Creek townships. Apr. — Grange six organized, S. P. Mobley, master. 1873 — April 13 (Easter) worst storm in history of central Nebraska. June 28 — Court House completed. February 3 — Name of "Wood River Center" changed to Shelton — Hall County has clear title to name Wood River, except for the stream, running over into Buffalo County. W. W. Mitchell starts store at Pawnee — town starts in there — name later changed to Alda. October 25 — St. Joseph & Grand Island RaHroad incorporated. December 4— Bonds for St. J. & G. I. R. R. carried. 1874 — Townsite laid out, present site of Wood River. James Jackson moves store over to new location — builds house there also. A. T. McAllister, postmaster of new postoffice established. May 2 — Work began on St. Joseph & Grand Island Railroad. June 27 — First teachers institute organized in county. Hall County Agricultural society organized. M. E, Church erected, Grand Island, 1875 — ' Grasshoppers destroyed- crops, noth ing left to exhibit at a county fair. County represented in Constitutional convention by O. A, Abbott, One brick dwelling in Grand Island, then home of R, C. Jordon at Second and Locust, 1876 -— February — Expedition organized Grand Island and Wood River to colonize in Black Hills, Maj, Foote returned in March, Fall — - Fair ground located on a ten acre tract, O. A. Abbott of HaH County elected first lieut. -gov, of state, 1877 — County divided into townships in November — this later failed because law found unconstitutional — but the division then made formed basis of ultimate township divi sion of the county. 1878 — May — 3 houses near Wood River (damaged by lightning, Rupert Schweiger- Ellis Broody killed by lightning on way to town, July 8 — Hail storm originating in Sher- win County — frame of Lutheran church and old Dunphy building in Grand Island leveled, insurance loss about $20,000, uninsured, about $30,000. South side school "Dodge building" built. Town estabHshed at "Spencer" in this county and one at "Runelsburg." 1879— St. Joseph and Grand Island R. R completed in Hall County. Survey made and town started at Doniphan. 1880 — Population of county given at 8,572; Grand Island 2,963. Doniphan at 85. Grand Island Banking Co. incorporated- — ^ Banking house of C. F. Bentley established, among three banks in Grand Island. Bentley banking house predecessor of First National Bank. Union Pacific machine shops built at Grand Island. Branch of Union Pacific, Grand Is land, St. Paul in operation. John Wallichs of Hall County became State Auditor. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 431 1881 — ¦ Township organization included. Lake, Prairie Creek, Mayfield, South Loup, Cameron, Harrison, Alda, Wood River, Jack son, Martinsville, South Platte, Doniphan, East, West, and North Grand Island. 1882 — January — Grand Island Building & Loan Assn. organized (predecessor of present Equitable Bldg. & Loan Assn.) Fall — Prof. R. J. Barr became Supt. of Grand Island City Schools, still serving 37 years later. Bart enbach Opera House erected. Union Pacific branch extended St. Paul to North Loup. September — First National Bank chartered — oldest national bank in county. October 14 — Town of Wood River incorporated. 1883 — June -^First annual Commencement of Grand Island High School. 1884— Big haH storm, east waH of U. P. car shops blown in. June 9 — Town of Doni phan incorporated. September — First meet ing held to secure Soldiers Home here. Bur lington Railroad came into Grand Island. 1885 — First alfalfa planted in HaH County, near present Midway. May — State Medical Ass'n met in Grand Island, Dr. M. J. Gahan presiding. Charles Hofman shoed what was probably last team of oxen and last Indian pony shoed in HaH County. January — Village of Underwood estabHshed. June — ¦$1,500 damage to window panes in storm — mainly to windows in Schaupp's mill and new agricul tural hall, county fair grounds. August — St. Francis Hospital started. 1886 — - June 3 — Schaupp's three story mill and five story elevator burned down. Town of Cairo started in. Burlington that far then. September — Union Pacific passenger train wrecked at Grand Island. November — Most severe blizzard since storm of 1873. General John M. Thayer of Hall County elected gov ernor. A. O. U. W. Grand Lodge (Ne braska) organized Grand Island. 1887 — January 15 — Election for street railway franchise. 428 for it out of 497 votes cast. June 29 — St. Francis Hospital dedi cated. Sugar beet growing commenced in this county. October 20 — Cornerstone laid for Soldiers Home, Gov. Thayer present. Novem ber 26 — Fire destroyed number of buHdings at Doniphan, 1888 — June 26 — Soldiers Home dedicated. October 12 — Baptist church dedicated. 1889 — Erection started on City Hall and A. O. U. W Bldg. Bartenbach theatre re fitted and refurnished. July 7 — St. Mary's- Catholic church dedicated. St. Stephens Epis copal church completed. Security State Bank , started. Fifth bank in Grand Island. 1890 — January — State Farmers' Alliance meeting here; 800 delegates present from all parts of state. New Security Bank building (present Business College building) and new City Hall of Grand Island, completed. Popu lation of county given at 16,513; Grand Is- ,land, 7,536; Doniphan, 437 and Wood River, 481. Sugar Beet factory completed. First sugar beet factory in United States — the one located at Grand Island. 1891 — Last good crop season for some years. Story best told in foHowing figures showing annual rainfall for several years : 1891, 31.71 inches; 1892, 19.47; 1893, 12.47; 1894, 13.16; 1895, 21.81; 1896, 28.08; 1897, 25,45 ; 1898, 20.69, against an average rain fall for this part of Nebraska of approximately 28 inches. 1892 — Koehler Hotel erected. November 18 — Village of Cairo incorporated. 1893 — Panic of 1893 upset business gener ally. Despite panic, fund raised to secure Grand Island College. December — Citizens State Bank (successor of old State Central Bank) closed its doors. 1894 — Hot, winds — no crops. Burling ton railroad reached Billings, giving another connection to Pacific coast. Judge T. O. C. Harrison of HaH County became member of Nebraska Supreme Court. 1895 — Business and agricultural depression increased. Bank of Commerce closed. ! 1896 — Evangelical Lutheran Church, Sec ond and Vine, Grand Island, built and dedi cated. Security State Bank quit. 1897 — Low point reached in March. With three banks closed. Grand Island National reached low point of $69,000 and First Nation al, $191,000 deposits. After that, steady in- , crease showed returning prosperity. 1898-99 — Spanish American War, Grand Island and Hall county sent forth Co. M. 432 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 2nd Nebraska Vol. Infantry. Street railway had stopped and tracks sold, and taken up. 1900 — Population of county shown as 17,- 206; Grand Island, 7,554; Cairo, 224; Doni phan 473 ; Wood River, 589. 1901 — Commercial State Bank organized. Grand Island, three banks again. School dis trict No. 80 organized; last district in county except district 101 recently organized from consolidated territory of four counties. 1902 — - Contract for new Court house let to Falldorf & Kirshcke fo $94,872 including new jail building. March — Fire destroyed Barber's frame restaurant building formerly used by Herman Restaurant, originally built by David Schuller and in which first post office was located. 1903 — Horse market started at Grand Is land. 4,000 head sold that year. 1904 — New Presbyterian church at Grand Island dedicated. New Hall County Court house completed and occupied. 1905 — New City (Camegie) Library buiU at Grand Island. 1906 — New High School buHding started — Grand Island. 1907 — July 4th — Fiftieth anniversary, of settlement of Hall County celebrated. Eight of thirty-five original colony still residing in county then. October 7 — Wood River voted bonds to start waterworks plant. 1908 — July 15 — Charles F. Bentley died. 1909 — Fairmont Creamery plant completed. May 15 — Ex. Gov. Crounse, first Dist. Judge for Hall County, died. August — -Nebraska Telephone Co. make Grand Island headquart ers for district comprising l|arge share of western half of state. 1910 — Automobile) business getting good start. Y. M. C. A. start movement for new home. June — Fire destroys home of Ne braska Mercantile Co. Post office at Second and Locust completed. Population of county shown as 20,361 ; Grand Island, 10,326 ; Doni phan, 399; Wood River, 796; Cairo, 364. 1911— Wm. Stolley died. May — Paul Trueblood, Grand Island, elected head of Com mercial Travellers of state. June — State Sun day School Association met here, September 5 — Aviator Dixon here — EmH Wolbach took a ride with him. 1912 — Liederkranz buHding fine new home. January 10— Sheriff J, M. Dunkel of HaH County killed. March 4 — Dr. H. D. Boyden died. 1913 — January — State Poultry Associa tion met here. April — W. O. W. of state met here. May — Claus Stoltenberg died, was first settler on Grand Island, between Wood River and Platte river. August — Old Cork ins livery barn burned, Tony Fleisher, Grand Island fireman lost life in fire. October — Coroner Thos. O'Gorman died from faH from automobile. 1914 — -New buildings in Grand Island — 6 story brewery building ; 5 story Y. M. C. A, building and Glover building, 3 stories (later remodeled), 1915 — January 25 — First transcontinental conversation over long-distance telephone. Seedling mile of paved highway constructed east of Grand Island on Lincoln Highway, February — Fire at Cairo destroys McAllister Bros, store. Fall — State conventions of W, C, T, U, and Blacksmiths & Wheelwrights, 1916 — Grand Island horse market has heavy year's business, approximately 60,000 head sold here. February — Farmers Union state convention here, 400 delegates. — Feb ruary — Burlington purchases ground for side trackage near Fairmont Creamery and other industrial houses. 1917 — ^CathoHc diocese located here — see moved from Kearney. AprH — U. S. enters the great World War, and practically aU activities in community divert their attention to war work. Nebraska Mercantile five story wholesale building completed. 1918 — Elks dedicate new home, one of finest lodge buildings in the central west. New Union Pacific passenger station opened. Elks and Knights of Columbus entertain state conventions. Hall County Farm Bureau estabHshed, September to April 1919 — Terrible influenza epidemic spreads through country — toll of life in HaH county approxi mately 70. Nevember 11th — Armistice Day Happiest day Hall County ever saw, 1919 — First Annual Automobile show held. Grand Island Aeroplane Co, first incorporated in Nebraska, CHAPTER XXVI HALL COUNTY'S PARTICIPATION IN MILITARY AFFAIRS PRIOR TO APRIL. 1917 Hall County's Quota in Civil War- — -Indian Troubles — Fort Kearny- — ^Lyon Post No. 11, G. A. R. — G. A. R. Building Association — Encampments at Grand Island — Spanish-American War — Co. M of 2nd Nebraska Infantry — Chas. E. Norris Post No. 6 — Spanish-War Veterans — Co. M., Fifth Nebraska National Guard, to Mexican Border, 1916 — History of Fifth Nebraska Infantry (134th U. S. Infantry) Mustered Into Federal Service in World War As has been explained by Augustus Scher nekau in an article appearing in an earlier chapter, when the Civil War came on in 1861 Hall County was only a small frontier settle ment, four years in existence, and hardly able to protect itself. It was therefore out of the question for such a settlement to muster a company of men and send forth any large number, Mr. Schernekau was the one mem ber of the settlement here to leave and go into military servi(.e at that time. He enlisted October 18, 1863, and served in Co. G of the First Nebraska Infantry, from October 19, 1863, until the expiration of his service, Octo ber 22, 1865. The records of the adjutant general's office show one other man enlisted as from Hall County, Benjamin F. Hurley nineteen years of age, who gave his address as Wood River. He served first in Co. K., 2nd Nebr. regiment from January 5, 1863, untH December 1, 1863; reenlisted in Co. H, First Nebr., on December 29, 1863, mustered into service on January 7, 1864, and is credited on the records with having deserted or left ranks summarily at Gilman's Ranch, Nebraska, September 5, 1865. It is not certain though that his army enrollment changes the claim that Mr. Schernekau was the only bona fide Hall County settler sent forth to serve at the front. But there is no room for dispute but what the men who stayed in Hall County during the Civil War period had plenty of danger, excite ment, fighting and anxiety to keep them busy, rnentally and physically. The stories of the pioneer settlers as told in the earlier chapters demonstrates that those who stayed behind at that time were really serving their country and were quite realistically "at the front" out here when the Indians decided that the federal government had all, it could take care of back east and down south and started to clean the white settlers out of the. western prairies, INDIAN troubles The establishment of the Fort at O, K. Store and the other fortification protection attempted in Hall County, and of the escape of the settlers during the Indian stampede of 1864, have been outlined- Various other stories of the pioneers detail the Indian Warfare- in cidents of Hall County people. But the mili tary life of Hall County in the early days centered around Fort Kearny. FORT KEARNY This notable landmark antedated even the settlement of Hall County. It was situated a few miles west of the Hall County line, in what is now our neighboring county of Buf falo. But inasmuch as for a few years the present Buffalo County was attached to Hall 433 434 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA County, and made Buffalo precinct, and since the protection of the early residents of HaH County and their safety depended largely upon the efficiency of Fort Kearny, it plays such an important part in Hall County's history, that a brief sketch of its career is not out of place in this work. To those who may desire to become familiar with the very interesting story of the establish ment and development of this fort, it may be noted that volume No. 16 of the published collections of the Nebraska State Historical Society, for the year 1911, there appears a very complete history of Fort Kearny, com piled from public documents, and written by Albert Watkins, now historian for that so ciety. ' The establishment of Fort Keamy is gen erally credited with having taken place in May, 1848, and garrisoned with United States troops until its abandonment in the year 1871. LYON POST NO. 11, G. A. R. While Hall County did not produce many veterans of the Civil War, from the very be ginning of the infux of settlers after the war she began to have a large list of resident veterans. A great percentage of the men whose names appear in connection with every activity in the first fifty years of the county's history, were proud of their war records. As early as August 29, 1877, there were enough active veterans here to establish a post, and on that date, Lyon Post No. 11, Grand Army of the Republic, was founded. The charter members were: S. P. Mobley, 7 la. Inf ; W. M. Ogle; S. W. Smith, 73 N. Y. Inf. ; G. H. Bush ; W. P. Foutz, 5 la. Calv. ; S. D. Runnels; O. J. Riley; T. C. McCoy; Garrett Segar, 17th Mich.; N. H. Hurford, 62d O. Inf.; W. H. Harrison; C. B. Lewis. 85 N. Y. Inf. and 5 N. Y. Cav. ; Jas. Lewis, and O. A. Abbott, Sr., Co. L, 9th Ills. Cavalry. Gov. Abbott is stHl surviving. The list of adjutants have been : O. A. Abbott, 1877, 1878; Geo. F. Ryan, 1879, 1880; C. B. Lewis, 1881 ; O. A. Abbott, 1881 ; C. L. Howell, 1883,; N. H. Flurford, 1884; J. W. Liveringhouse, 1885; W. D. Pemberton, 1886; Geo. F. Ryan, 1887, 1888; J. W. Freeman, 1889 ; Geo. F. Ryan, 1890 ; Ed Searson. From 1895 to the present time, 1919, Geo. F. Ryan has served as adjutant. Very few posts in the country could probably show such a continuous record of service from one presid ing officer. Practically thirty years out of the forty-two years of its existence has Mr. Ryan been the adjutant of Lyon Post. Mr. Ryan was a second lieutenant in the war, a member of Co. C, 60th inft. N. Y, This post has furnished the G, A, R, of the state of Nebraska with three department com manders. General John M, Thayer, who had commanded the First Nebraska Regiment, in the war, was elected department commander for 1886-1887. Eli A. Bames (Co. G, 9th Cav. Iowa) served 1908-1909 and George C. Hum phrey (Co. B, 75 Inf. Ohio Co. L, 133 Inf. Ohio) served in 1915-1916. Mr. Barnes is justice of the peace and the government weath er observer at Grand Island at this time, and Mr. Humphrey is county assessor. Lyon Post now has forty-three mernbers, and the present officers are ; Henry K. Bevier, (Co. D, 72 Inf. N. Y.) post commander; A. W. Ryan, (Co. M, 18th Cav. N. Y.) Sr. V, Comdr, George W, Carr, (Co, D, 7th Cav, Ind,) J, V, Comdr, EH A, Bames, Quarter master, Geo, F, Ryan, Adjutant, J, C, Troyer, (112 111, Inf,) Chaplain, C. A, Flippin, (14th U, S, Colored), Surgeon, Ed, JosHn, 1st U, S. Sharpshooters), Officer of the Guard, A. T. Conkling, Officer of the Day, W. M. Reed, Quartermaster Sergt., Geo. C. Humphrey, Post Patriotic Instructor, D, W, Hoyt (Co, K, 119 IH, Inf,) served as commandant at the Soldier's Home at Burkett a few years ago, and recently served as police judge of the city of Grand Island, There are now 340 or 350 veterans of the Civil War residing in FlaH County, accord ing to the report made in 1919 by the county assessor to the secretary of state. About seventy-five of these are residents of Hall County, exclusive of those who are living at the Soldier's Home at Burkett, HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 435 G. A. R. BUILDING ASSOCIATION The G, A, R, BuHding Association was in corporated April 1, 1886, by O, A, Abbott, O, C Hall, C, L. Howell, D. Ackerman, James O, West, John M. Thayer, George F. Ryan, J, W. Liveringhouse, Seth P. Mobley, I. R. Alter and Charles Milisen, all members of Lyon Post No. 11, G. A. R. April 10, 1886, the following stockholders were elected as a board of directors, and officers : O. A. Abbott, president, J. O. West, vice-president, J. W. Liveringhouse, secretary, George F. Ryan, treasurer, and Charles MiHsen and N. H, Hurford, The corner stone of the building was laid June 26, 1886, and the G, A, R, Hall dedicated, December 29, 1886, This splendid hall, lo cated on East Third street, just a few doors east of the Palmer Hotel building, has not only provided a comfortable home for Lyon Post but has been the attractive meeting place for many other lodges and clubs, and thirty- three years after its dedication is in use almost every night of the week by some lodge. The present officers of the Building Asso ciation (1919) are Geo. F. Ryan, president, Geo. C. Humphrey, vice-president, Elia A. Barnes, treasurer, and Mrs. J. C. Troyer, sec retary. Lyon Post Cemetery Association was formed December 13, 1884, and duly incorporated. Five acres of land were purchased for this association, and lots therein sold to members of Lyon Post. The Women's Relief Corps has remained active through many years of existence. ENCAMPMENTS During the 'nineties. Grand Island was the popular spot among the old soldiers for their annual reunions and for years this was the event of the year for the soldiers, their families and friends, and an attendance was gathered from all parts of the state. SPANISH AMERICAN WAR When the Spanish-American War came in 1898, Grand Island and Hall County had a company which answered the call and went forward. Co. M, Second Nebraska Volunteer Infantry, was organized at Grand Island. It was mustered into United States service at Lincoln, Nebraska, May 12, 1898. The officers were: Captain, George Roeder; 1st Lieut., Orville R. Perry; 2nd Lieut., Chauncey V. .,Nusz; sargeants, Jackson C. Hitchman, 1st, Craig L. Spencer (Q. M.), Oscar H. Mayer, Leo Cleary, J. Alfred Guion, Henry A. Fritz ; musicians were: Theodore P. Boehm and Albert V. Vieregg; corporals were Charles T. McElroy, George Hirst, Earl D. Murphy, Ar thur S. Pearse, Burton W. Christie, Edwin T. Chapin, Fred Hirst, Fraud E. Wiggins, Hans D. Scheel, Richard L. Harrison, Jr., and Harry J. Peck; artificer, Arthur Cornell; Wagoner, Frank H. Alfreds ; privates : George C. Adwers, John Anderson, John A. August, Roy L. Austin, Earl E. Babcock, Fred E. Barber, Orial A. Barber, Laverne Bates, Died- rich O. Beekman, Albert E. Bishop, Edward L. Bogert, Robt. A. Brashear, Peral Brown, Frank S. Burr, Wellington Butler, Robt. G. Slader, Milt Casseday, Clay Chaney, George Christensen, Arthur C. Cleave land, Lewis E. Cottle, Herbert Grossman, John W. Davis, Jr., Frank Eads, Ernest Ericksen, Percival C. Fall, Hugh Fay, Clude H. Fergusen, Odis D. Flick, George W. Forbes, William H. Gilman, Archie C. Goodrich, Frank M. Good win, Roy R. Hamilton, Hans Hansen, James V. Hawkins, Sherman F. Hinrichs, Marion O. James, James Kiliafi, Oscar R. Kirschke, Henry Klimhauf, Herman Kroger, James M. Lambert, William H. Lane, Henry W. Linlodge, Edward Mc Combs, Elton F. McDonald, Charies Mader, Joseph H. Marshall, Everett Means, Fred E. Moore, Frank Munson, Eli Nelson, Robt. T. Neptune, Charles E. Norris (died at Grand Island), John A. Noble, Robert Nunnelly, Vincent H. O'Shea, Wesley R. Payne, James PospesH, Neils Rasmussen, Rasmus Rasmus sen, Fred J. Schlotfeldt, William Schwart, Harry Serviss, Julius Sholkofski, Charles Shultz, Frank W. Smith, Wm. A. Sparhawk, Richard Sprague (died at Chickamauga), 436 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Duncan C Steele, Thos. A. Taylor, Jr., Harry G. Tharp, Fred Town, John Venters, Daniel S. Whitney, John A. Wichman, Geo. R. Wil- burn, Cari E. Wilson, Frank J. Windolph, Fred Wolf, Griffin E. Yeatman. SPANISH WAR VETERANS POST During the early part of 1919, a post of Spanish- War Veterans was organized, with about twenty-four members, and the post named after one of the HaH County boys, now deceased, Charles E. Norris. Names of officers of Charles E. Norris Camp No. 6 : Cleary J. L., Commander, Co, M 2d Inf., Grand Island, Nebraska; Conner A. T., Senior Vice Commander, Co. C, 1st Cav, 111., Grand Island, Nebraska; Biery J. H., Junior Vice Commander, Co. G, 2d Inf., Grand Island, Nebraska; Bowen Frank, Officer of the Day, Co. H, 1st Inf. Wyo., Grand Island, Nebraska; Schwartz Wm., Officer of the Co. B, 3d Inf., Grand Island Nebraska; Mc Elroy Charies, Trustee, Co. M, 2d Inf., Grand Island, Nebraska; Beekman Diedrich, Adju tant, Co. M. 2d Inf., Grand Island Nebraska; Axelson G. A., Quartermaster, Co. K. 4th Inf., Mo., Grand Island, Nebraska ; Anderson John, Chaplain, Co. M, 2d Inf., Grand Island, Ne braska; Raynor Dr. Willis J., Surgeon, Colo., Grand Island, Nebraska; Nelson Chris., Sarg eant Major,Co. F, 3d Inf., Grand Island, Ne- braka; Wyss Gottfried, Quartermaster Sarg eant, Grand Island, Nebraska; Fent O. V,, Color Sargeant, Co, K, 1st Inf, Grand Island, Nebraska ; Petersen James N,, Color Sargeant Danneborg, Nebraska; EHsworth Allen, Chief Musician, Grand Island, Nebraska- Additional names of members of Charles E. Norris Camp No, 6 : Boehm Theo, P,, Co., M, 2d Inf., Grand Island, Nebraska ; Ericksen Ernest, Co. M, 2d Inf., Grand Island, Ne braska; Gjelesteen B. E-, Co. H, 37th Inf. Dak., Grand Island, Nebraska; Long E. J., Co. M, 2d Inf., Alda, Nebraska ; Mayer Oscar H., Co. M, 2d Inf., Grand Island Nebraska ; MHler Thomas, Co. H, 1st Inf., Grand Island Nebraska; Murphy Charles F., Grand Island, Nebraska; MHler Gerhard W., Gibbon, Ne. braska. HISTORY OF CO. M, 5th NEBR. INFANTRY By Col. H. J. Paul (Col. H. J. Paul is a native of St. Paul, Howard County, Nebraska, but after reaching manhood, for fifteen years he served as dis trict court reporter for eleventh judicial dis trict, of which Hall County was a part. He served as a court officer of Hall County, with his father. District Judge J. N. Paul, and for a short period before he went into service in the World War with District Judge Bayard H. Paine. During all those years he took a very active interest in Nebraska National Guard affairs and at the time the Fifth Ne braska National Guard regiment was called into service on the Mexican border in 1916, he was colonel of the regiment. After serving as colonel of that regiment and the 134th U, S, Infantry (its successor) throughout the war he became adjutant general of state of Nebraska, which position he is now filling with credit,) The Fifth Nebraska Infantry was called into service by the president June 18, 1916, and was brought to the mobilization camp at Lincoln, Nebraska, where the men were more fully equipped with cotton blankets and shoes that were anything but regulation and departed for -the Mexican border where they arrived July 14, 1916, and went into camp at Llano Grand which is about three miles out from Mercedes and is a wild part of Texas on the Rio Grande river. Our camp was pitched in the jungles amongst the mesquite, briar bush and cactus, all of which had to be cleared away before the tents could be pitched. The greater part of the first ten days or two weeks was devoted to clearing ground for drill purposes after which an intensive course of training was fol lowed until the men were in splendid condi tion. Our stay on the border was uneventful and the "watchful waiting" policy became very irksome. In November what was probably the largest maneuver ever held in the United States and participated in by the most troops ever assembled for such purpose, was partici pated in by all troops in the BrownsvHle dis trict and lasted for a period of twelve days. After this maneuver was over, we settled down to the daily grind of drills and parades until the fifth day of February when we returned to HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 437 Nebraska. Arrived at Fort Crook on the jnoming of February 8th and were mustered out of Federal service February 21, 1917, not withstanding the fact that it was well known at that time that the troops would immediately have been called back into Federal service and the organizations were broken up and the men scattered all over the country, July 15, 1917, the 5th Nebraska Infantry was once more called into Federal service and each company required to recruit and drill at its home station until the 14th day of Septem ber when they departed for Camp Cody, New Mexico, where their designation was changed to that of the 134th United States Infantry, French and British instructors taught us the latest methods of warfare as conducted in the World War and another period of intensive training was entered into with zest and zeal by aH concerned. By March 1st the 34th Division, to which the 134th Infantry belonged, was well trained, seasoned and disciplined and were well fitted and prepared to go immediate ly to the front lines and participate in the World War, had it not been for the lack of a division commander and a competent and effi cient staff which positions were filled by gen eral staff of the regular army. In June the division was demoralized by the general staff taking away approximately all the enlisted men below the grade of corp oral whose places were later filled by draft men from Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado. These men were then put througgh the same course of intensive training until the latter part of August when the division was ordered to Camp Dix and started to "leave when struck by the influenza epidemic which raged over the country with such disastrous results at that time and the division wg.s held in quarantine untH the 10th day of October when same was lifted and the division once more prepared to go to France. The convoy leaving New York on the 13th day of October arrived in Liverpool, England, on the 24th day of October and was im mediately entrained for a rest camp at Camp Codford where we remained three days and then entrained for Southhampton where we took boats to France landing at Cherbourg and LaHavre and were then taken to southern France, in the Bordeaux region, where we remained for a period of ten days. We were then sent to LeMans, France, being on the train the day the armistice was signed, and was there met by an officer representing Head quarters with orders for the men to be taken by one officer for each company in one direc tion and the officers went in another and this is the last we saw of our men in France. All were used as replacements and were scattered all over. I was sent to the 77th Division, be ing a National Guard Division from New York, and was placed in command of the 306th Infantry where I remained untH I was relieved from my duty at my request to return to the United States and assume the duties of the Adjutant General's Office of Nebraska. The fate of this division was like that of many other National Guard divisions and when one stops to think of the thousands and thou sands of well trained, seasoned and disci plined men belonging to the national guard divisions who were held in the United States the same as was the 34th division while nation al army divisions whose men were unseasoned, untrained and undisciplined were taken across within a very few weeks of the time they entered the service and were thrust almost immediately into the front line trenches while the men did not know how to load their guns or fire them, who did not know how to put on a gas mask or adjust it, not giving them anywhere near an equal chance, it certainly looks as if there was gross mismanagement on the part of our General Staff which is almost if not criminal in its nature. How ever investigations are being made at the pres ent time and later changes will undoubtedly be made in our military system and policy which, when perfected, will make impossible in any future war the rank injustices and in dignities that were heaped upon the heads of the National Guardsmen during the World War. In order to give something of the work done by tha National Guard in the World War, I will state that eleven national guard divisions 438 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA participated as against seven of the regular army and twelve of the national army and the following, taken from the national guards man under date of February 8, 1919, is given as the total of kiHed, died, missing and pris oners in the respective organizations : KiHed 8,281 regular army Died Missing Prisoners 3,668 4,934 17,688 national guard 11,555 4,566 5,44Si 23,023 NATIONAL ARMY 7,926 3,207 3,890 15,800 thus showing that the National Guard made greater sacrifices than either the regular army or national army owing to the fact that with very few exceptions neither officers or men had had previous experience, ROSTER OF COMPANY "m" 5TH NEBRASKA IN FANTRY AT TIME OF MUSTER-IN TO FEDERAL SERVICE FOR SERVICE ON THE MEXICAN BORDER IN 1916 Capt, Robt, N. McAHister, 1st Lieut, Leo G, Allen, 2d Lieut, Ernest J, Meyer, 1st Sgt, Charies Fent, Q, M, Sgt, Robert H, Wood, Sgt, John H, Brown, Corp. William Haight, Corp. Clair C. James, Corp. Walter O. Koss, Corp. Cliff E. Morgan, Corp. Frederick O. Ritterbush, Corp. Harold F. Wright, Artificer, Claud T. MeserauH, Cook, WiHiam West, Musician, Clarence A. Smith. Privates, Aaron, Arthur A., Anderson Chas. H., Atwell, Claude, Bendowsky, Edward C, Bertrand, Ferdinand, Blair, Roy A., Bremser, Benjamin H., Cabeen, Herbert S., Cain, For rest W., Clark, John, Cole, Walter H., Cox, Ozies Clifford, Datus, James F., Devoss, WiHiam D., DHlon, Pete L., Draper, Frank, Edwards, Todd M., Elben, Charies, EHiot, John R., Gilbert, Floyd L., Haney, Gus W., Harrod, Jay H., HoHey, John, Holsinger, Rus- sel A., lams, John, Johnson, Charles B., John son, James W., KidwHer, Leo F., Kleman, Archie E., Klintworth, Gus, Knighton, Ray mond O., Lambros, John, Lueth, Ernest J., Marquis, Perry D,, Millner, WHliam D,, Murphy, John F., Nabb, Charies B,, Nibbe, Arthur J., Norgren, Joseph A,, Parker, Jack B., Paro, AHan J., PeHs, WiHiam R., Pfau, Hugo, Rose, John B., Sagesser, Edward H., Smith, Emmett H., Thompson, Otis B., Thornes, George, Tucker, WHliam M., Uehel, WiHiam O., Weitzel, John J., Yates, Homer M.ROSTER OF COMPANY "m", 5TH NEBRASKA IN FANTRY ON AUGUST 31, 1917 Capt. Leo. G. AHan, 1st Lieut. William R: Gilchrist, 2nd Lieut. Fred H. Schuff, 1st Sgt. Gus Klintworth, Supply Sgt. Ferdinand Bert rand, Mess Sgt. Roscoe Conkling, Sgt. Chas. Fent, Sgt. Claude T. MeserauH, Sgt. Russel A. Holsinger, Sgt. Jay H. Harrod, Sgt. Wil liam R. PeHs, Sgt- Raymond A. Knighton, Sgt. Ernest L. Harrig. Corporals, HoHey, John, Cox, Ozies Clifford, Gilbert, Floyd L., Evans, Ivan D., Morgan, Cliff E-, Sagesser, Edward H., Pritchard, Joe C, Peterson, John C, Petersen, Sam P., Cooks, Scarborough, Ira M., Andersen, Martin. Mechanics, Anderson, Charles H., Kirk- baum, Clude R. Privates 1st CI., Betz, Adolph, Comell, Edwin L-, DiHon, Pete L., Dixon, Fred E-, Jensen, Fred C, LaWhite, James L-, Lueth, Ernest, Jr., Mattingly, Clarence, Mattingly, John S., Mattingly, Thomas H., Mulonix, Al- via G., Murphy, John F., Paro, AHan J., Pearman, Robert E., Shafer, Harry R., Smith, Clarence A., WiHis, Dwight L. Privates, Bendowsky, Frank, Bennett, Ralph C, Blair Ralph V., Bohan, Thomas E., Brem ser, Benjamin H., Buddecke, Conrad L., Davis, Alfred J., Davis, Lee H., Davis, Ora, DeVoss, WHliam D., Dixon, Charles D. Doyle, John F., England, GranvHle B., Forbes, Roy A., Gaydon, Edmund T., Gestring, John F., Good Victor R., Griffin, Lee, R., Hancock, Harold L., Harshbarger, Ira, Harris, George W., Hart, Donald B., Heckman, Guy H., Jen sen, Harry E., Jensen, Oscar G. M., Jones, Harry J., Kirkpatrick, Robert, Kuehner, Gott- lob C, Lehinger, John E., Lofholm, Lelon, Love, Fraud, MHlner, WiHiam D., May, Aaron D., Maynard, Evert M., McKinney, Harold A., HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 439 Parker, Jack B., Pfau, Hugo, Plath, Fred, Polzel, Charies A., Polzel, Howard L., Powell, WiHiam M., Pulec, Otto T., Richards, Cecil, Riggs, CHfford W., Sawicki, Aloyisus J., Smith, Henry, Taylor, Clarence, Ward Beacher H., Wilkinson, WHliam L., Ziemba, Stanley. Privates Recmits, Beason, Omar A., Bryan, Jesse R., Fulton, Harry M., Hiett, James R., Hofbauer, Frank, Katschke, Harry C, Lacque- mont, Abel, Scarborough, Fred, Sharpe, Emery P. Losses Discharged, Corp, Gus W. Haney, Cook, Hemian Schneider, Pvt. 1st CL, Roy A. Blair, Pvt. 1st CI,, Arthur H, Eyler, Privates Christofferson, George Fessman, Harry M,, Painter, Sewell, Rowe, Ervin, Weitzel, John J,, WiHiams, Clarence D. THE 89th DIVISION A great number of Hall County boys served in the 355th Infantry and were a part of the .famous 89th Division, While an account of the participation of this division in the war is slightly out of order in this chapter it will be placed here. The record of this division has been best narrated by Major General Frank L. Winn, The letter was sent in response to the greet ings that were delivered to Major General Winn for the division on his arrival in New York by the Union Pacific Bureau correspond ent. Headquarters 89th Division Camp Upton, New York, June 4, 1919. Gentlemen : I beg to acknowledge receipt of the greet ings and congratulations to officers and men in the 89th Division received through you on arrival at New York from the Mayors of Omiaha ; Kansas City, Kansas ; Kansas City, Missouri ; Topeka, Kansas ; Lincoln, Nebraska ; North Platte, Nebraska; Lawrence, Kansas; Cheyene, Wyoming; Denver, Colorado; Grand Island, Nebraska; Leavenworth, Kansas; Colorado Springs, Colorado. The same mes sage was given to me by your representative at the boat on the arrival of the S- S- Rotter dam, May 1, 1919. The message is deeply appreciated. At his suggestion I gave an interview substantially as follows : The 89th Division arrived in Europe at an opportune moment, and has had remarkably good fortune at all times. France and England in June, 1918, looked to the U. S. soldiers to end the war. There had been an early period of long waiting when some feared that the direct help from the U. S. might come too late, but in June the American soldier had given such a splendid account of himself at Cantigny that the Allies, and the Boche as well, must have realized it was only a question of time when their numbers would turn the tide in favor of our cause. The Division took a part second to none in the Great Offensive of St. Mihiel and the Argonne-Meuse, led the crossing of the Meuse at Stenay and Pouilly on the day of the Armistice, and went to Germany as a part of the army of occupa tion, where it remained until May 6th, re turning directly home when Germany was given the final peace terms. After four weeks of final preparation in the Reynel training area, near the American G. H. Q., the Division went into the front line Northwest of Toul and took over a consider able frontage, where, by vigorous patrolling, it at once established its reputation of being an aggressive fighting unit, which almost nightly brought in prisoners. The Division received the highest praise from the French Corps Commander and was soon stamped by the Huns in an official report as a first rate combat unit. The sector occupied became the seat of active preparations for the first offien- sive of the American Army. On September 12th, the Division went over the top alongside the 1st, 2nd and 42nd Divi sions, and held its own with the best of them in that great operation. The Division had a wider front to begin with than any division, and the very strongly defended position of the Bois de Mort Mare was in its immediate front, but it penetrated as far as any division, tak ing among others the towns of Boullionville, Xammes and Beney, and sharing with the 2nd Division the occupation of the important city of ThiauGourt. Thereafter the Division consolidated its own front and took over the front occupied by the 42nd and 2nd Divisions, remaining in this position until October 8th, when it was moved to the Argonne-Meuse front. On October 19th and 20th the Division again went into the front line, clearing the enemy out of the BantheviHe forest, consoli dating its position and making preparations for the next great offensive. On November 1st it went over the top, again in the company of the best American divisions, gaining all its objectives on the first day. The Division took 440 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA the important Barricourt Heights, of which operation it is said Marshal Foch on hearing of it, declared "the war is over." The Divi sion continued in the front line, advancing day by day until the Armistice of November 11th, on which day it successfully accom plished the very difficult operation of cross ing the Meuse river in the face of determined enemy opposition. The names of Barricourt Heights, Remonville, Tailly, Nouart, Barri court, Bois des Dames, Beauclair, Beaufort, Pouilly, Auterville and Stenay are glorious names, marking the achievements of the Divi sion in the final and decisive offensive of the World's War. The Division was commanded by Major General W. M. Wright from September 8th to November 11th, and by Major General Frank L. Winn, who has been with it since its organization, during the rest of the time it was in Europe. The Division was one of those selected, on account of its record, to go into Germany, where it remained as a part of the Army of Occupation until its return home. The Divi sion was in active operations against the enemy for 90 days. During that time it captured 5,061 prisoners ; 127 large guns ; 455 machine guns; and advanced a total of 48 kHometers (18 during St. Mihiel offensive and 30 during the Argonne-Meuse offensive). Thousands of rifles, signal equipment, large amounts of railroad material, including en gines and trains, quartermaster subsistence and sanitary stores in enormous amounts were captured. The grand total of casualties of all kinds amounted to 7,002. Of these, the severly wounded numbered 2,002; the killed 1,185. One officer and four men were cap tured by the enemy. There have been awarded to members of the Division decorations as follows : Congressional Medal of Honor 8 Distinguished Service Cross 119 Distinguished Service Medal 2 Croix de Guerre ¦ 55 In addition the Division Commander re ceived the decorations of the Distinguished Service Medal and of Commander of Legion of Honor. On April 23rd the Division was inspected and reviewed at Treves, Germany by General Pershing, Commander-in-chief, in the pres ence of the Secretary of War and the House Military Committee. The remarkable spirit and splendid efficiency of the Division were reflected in its appearance on that occasion with which every detail of the review was carried out. The Commander-in-chief highly complimented the command, saying among other things : "It will be a proud thing for you to return (home) and say in future years that you belonged to this splendid division whose record, for the time it was in the line, is unexcelled in the American Expeditionary Forces." Credit for the brilliant record of the 89th Division belongs to the officers and men. The men were taken in the first instance from the Middle- West: Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Colorado, South Dakota, Arizona and New Mexico. Subsequently replacements came from many other states, but the Diyision remained to the last the Middle- West Division. The men were the finest type of American man hood. In character and in intelligence they were equal to the best. They early established a reputation for a high state of discipline, fine morale and the determination to do their best. They have made a remarkably fine record in respect of courts-martial, disease, manly con duct and clean living. There never was over 3% of Hliteracy in the Division, compared with an average of 10%, I believe in the draft, and of the 3% all who have been with the Division throughout its service will be re turned to civil life able to read, write and calculate in arithmetic. It is truly believed that all return benefited in every way by their experience. Officers and men have done superbly their part in winning the great war and deserve the thanks of the country. The Middle-West may justly be proud of the men of the 89th Division, Frank L. Winn, Major General, U, S. A, CHAPTER XXVII HALL COUNTY'S PARTICIPATION IN THE WORLD WAR 1917^918 Nebraska in the War — Nebraska's War Drive Records — Nebraska's Record on War Savings Stamps — Hall County's Service "Back Here" — First Meeting, April 5, 1917 — Red Cross Organized, April, 1917 — Enlistments for Service — To First Training Camp — Ft, Snelling — Drives Fast and Furious — Registration Day, June 5, 1917 — The Early Summer of 1917 — The First Drawing — Late Summer and Early Fall, 1917 — Late Fall and Early Winter Activities — The Questionaires — The Legal Ad visory, Board — During the Early Part of 1918 — During the Spring of 1918 — 1918 Registrations — The Last Lap — September 12, 1918, Registration — The Third Draw ing — The Happiest Day Hall County Ever Knew — The Hall County, Nebraska Chapter, American Red Cross — Organization — Women's Committee — Membership and Financial Campaigns — Executive Committee's Work — New Board and Officers, 1918 — Women's Bureau — Financial Report and Status of Chapter — The Hall Coun ty Council of Defense — Hall County Selective Service Board, Government Appeal Agent — Ladies Auxiliary Council to Council of Defense — "War Activities Commit tee — Other Liberty Loan Campaigns — • The Home Guards — The Food Adminis tration — Federal Fuel Administration — Four Minute Men — War Savings Stamps Campaign Committee — United War Work Campaign — Other War Organizations — List of 1237 Men Who Entered Service From Hall County NEBRASKA in THE WAR the army; 4,944, or 9,96%, enhsted in the Nebraska, as a state, made a brilliant rec- navy, and 447, or ,90% in the marine corps. ord throughout the Great War, and in this The percent of increment in the national anny record Hall County played a consistent and for Nebraska Was 60.08% against the average most creditable part. Prompt in all activities, for the entire Nation of 66.10%, and the per- Grand Island was the first city in Nebraska centage of enlistments for all other branches to go over the top in the Victory Bond Cam- of army, naval and marine service for Ne- paign and Hall County did not require the braska was 39.92 compared with 33.90 for the full alloted time to place every bond of the entire nation. quota in the hands of its people. Not only in numbers furnished did Ne- Nebraska claims to have had more soldiers braska hold above the national average, but and sailors in the service of the country, in in practically every other feature of securing proportion to population, than any other state, the men for military service. In the cost per Out of the total increment of armed forces of man of inductions into the selective service, 4,034,743 for the entire United States, Ne- Nebraska accomplished this work at a cost braska produced an increment of 49,614. Of of $4,90 per man, against the national aver- these 29,807, or 60,08%, represented indue- age of $7,90 per man. In the matter of tions under the registrations into the national physical rejections, Nebraska ranked around army; 14,416, or 29,06%, were enlistments in 6% against the national average of 8,1%, only 441 442 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA nine states showing a lower average, Nebraska claims the record of having sub scribed more money per capita for Liberty Bonds and War Savings Stamps, and given more money to the Red Cross, Y. M. C. A. and K. of C. than any other state. The follow ing* table shows thel resuHs of Nebraska's War drives. Over Sub- Quto Subscribed scribed First Liberty Loan. ..$ 18,000,000 $18,206,750 1% Second Liberty Loan.. 29,640,000 33,317,200 8% Third Liberty Loan... 31,942,800 50,684,850 58% Fourth Liberty Loan.. 68,350,000 71,000,000 4% War Savings Stamps.. 25,940,120 32,000,000 23% United War Work.... 2,000,000 2,600,000 30% Y M C. A 250,000 560,302 124% First Red Cross Fund 700,000 1,020,812 45% Second Red Cross Fund 800,000 2,300,000 188% Knights of Columbus 40,000 225,000 462% Armenian Relief 250,000 265,000 6% Smileage Book Cam... 10,000 16,470 65% Y. W. C. A no quota 58,505 Miscellaneous 165,000 240,000 45% Total $178,087,920 $212,494.00 19% Red Cross members in 1917 were 501,939; War Savings Societies, quota 4,300, formed 10,000. Nebraska was almost 100% on Food Ad ministration pledges, with 238,071 cards signed. The national average was only 50%. Nebraska was second in number of four- minute men speakers. Nebraska was the first state in the Union to go over the top on the War Savings campaign. The War Savings Stamp scheme had been figured out and placed in charge of one of the leading financiers of the nation, Frank A. Vanderlip, of the National City bank of New York city. But it remained for a little county out in Nebraska to hit upon the most feasible plan of selling the smaH thrift stamps and war savings certificates. A group of men in Se ward County, Nebraska, meeting around the holiday season in 1917, shortly after the ap pointment of county chairmen and local com mittees to devise ways and means to meet the quota in Seward County, accepted the sugges tion of W- H. Brokaw, now director of the extension bureau service in the state of Ne braska under the agricultural department and State University. They drew a plan from this idea to conduct a preliminary campaign of education and follow it with a set date, upon .w'hich there would be caHed meetings simul taneously, for the same day and hour, in every ' school district of the county, and each district would endeavor to subscribe its quota then and there. This plan worked so successfully in Seward County in January 1918, that Seward County's early response to her quota attracted the attention of Ward M. Burgess (of M. E. Smith & Co., Omaha) who had been made state director. Upon inquiry and presenta tion of this plan to Mr. Burgess, he decided to give it a try-out in the state of Nebraska. A state-wide campaign of education was con ducted for six weeks, and on March 22, 1918, practically every county in the state except Se ward held these meetings and subscribed its quota, and the state of Nsbraska was the first state to go over the top on the War Savings - Stamps. The success of the Nebraska plan so attracted the attention of those in. charge of the national campaign, that Mr. Burgess was called east to assume charge of its application to the nation and a second date set for the stamps campaign in every state in the Union except Nebraska. In this campaign, as in the others Hall County followed the policy of hav ing a large percentage of her quota subscribed ahead of the date and went over easily on March 22. HALL county's SERVICE "bACK HERE" Hall County received the news that the United States had declared a state of war upon the German Empire just the same as her sister counties. The great mass of her citizens im mediately dropped all prior opinions or re- ,luctance and rallied to thel one idea, our country first. The president's message to Con gress was published in full in the Grand Island Independent on AprH 3, 1917. Upon the fol lowing night patriotic citizens inserted the fol lowing call. This appeared in an insert with the headline, "Let all who are for America first join in this demonstration," with a cut of a fiag appearing neneath these words, and the following call: "All patriotic American citi zens who desire to show their patriotism and love for this country are requested to meet in HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 443 front of the postoffice at 7:15 P. M. sharp Thursday, Auril 5, 1917. Tom Bradstreet, Marshal." Instead of a small street meeting, this event turned out to be an assembly that filled to capacity the large evangelical tabernacle. In vocation was asked by Rev. L. A. Arthur, musiq' was fumished and stirring*, patriotic addi-esses were made by Mayor Chas. G. Ryan, Frederick Weitzer, Evangelist J. Q. A. Henry, and R. R. Horth and patriotic resolutions adopted pledging Hall County's people and re sources to the service of America. RED CROSS organized The following week the organization of the Red Cross work followed. The details of these activities will be set forth in the separate por tion of this chapter devoted to the Hall County Red Cross. ENLISTMENT FOR SERVICE WhHe Hall County already had Company M in the Fifth Nebraska National Guard, the .boys whom she had been proud to send to the Mexican border and who held themselves in readiness to be mustered back into service, as they soon were, the volunteer enlistments into the regular army, navy, marine corps, and all branches of service began immediately upon the declaration of war. On April 18, four boys joined the Company M and four joined the regular army service. From that date on The Daily Independent carried a roster of en listments in all branches of the service. From the time the Grand Island recruiting station opened until June 15, 306 men enlisted at Grand Island, 24 of them being residents of the city of Grand Island. In a period of ten days in June the enHst- ments in this district were Omaha 138, Des Moines 101, Lincoln 51, Grand Island 35, Sioux City 32, Fort Dodge 25, MarshaHtown, la., 21, Norfolk 9, Hastings 2, and Beatrice 2. With a population of one-fifteenth that of Omaha and a much more sparsely settled country to draw from. Grand Island station enrolled one-fourth of Omaha's total. . On June 13, Colonel H. J. Paul, commander of the Fifth Nebraska, inspected Company M. It is a matter of indisputable record that the Fifth Nebraska regiment maintained an enviable record on the Mexican Border for good discipline, and it was inspected to go back into service under the same regimental command, with Lieut, Leo G. Allen selected captain, and Ernest Meyer and Fred Schuff as lieutenants. First training camp On April 27, 1917, Hon. Fred W. Ashton was appointed chairman of the Military Camps Training Association for this district, to re ceive applications for admission to the First Officers Training Camp at Fort SneHing, to begin on May 8th. Hall County had eleven of the first 277 selected from Nebraska. These men accepted for this first camp were : Clin ton John, Lloyd Judkins, Carl Lesher, Harold Prince, Dorsey Williams, — Lindberg, (stu dent here from Stromsburg), E. E- Engleman, W. R. Gilchrist, E. Gabrielson, L. W. John son, N, G. Wilson, Six men from Hall County won commis sions at the termination of this camp in Au gust: Capt. L- W- Johnson, Frank B. Patter son, first lieutenants; Clinton John, Harold A, Prince, and E. E. Engleman and Dorsey Williams as second lieutenants, DRIVES FAST AND FURIOUS Early in May, Capt. J. L. Howland was appointed special chairman of a whilwind cam paign to increase the Red Cross membership. On May 11th, the city was visited by the Union Pacific preparedness special. Prof. J. H. Frandsen and Lieut. -Gov. Edgar Howard delivered war talks to the assembled throng. This special made 153 stops before coming to Grand Island. The First Liberty Loan drive went by quietly; the quota being sub scribed by the banks and a few business con cerns in Grand Island. The County Council of Defense was organ ized. The Red Cross extended its activities ito include a nursing class. The Y. M. C. A. fund, with its quota of $4,000 for Hall County out of $60,000 for the state, was pushed 444 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA ^ across, and the Red Cross drive for 2,000 members moved along steadily during May. REGISTRATION DAY, JUNE 5, 1917 In common with every other county in the state or community in the country, June 5, 1917, wHl stand out as a red-letter day in the history of HaH County. Since the founda tion of the Republic, the American people had inherited a deep-seated prejudice against anything akin to universal compulsory miH- tary service. To ask almost ten millions of men, between the ages of 21 and 31, reared and educated to the idea of absolute freedom from any form of military service except such as they might voluntarily assume, seemed to many almost a dangerous risk for the federal government to ask. But it proved decisively that this tradition was more than offset by a popular will to win the war and so imbued were the American people with the determina tion to perpetuate their democratic ideals, and so deeply impressed were they with the know ledge that it was not only necessary to raise an army, but to do it quickly, that the whole nation registered 9,586,508 men on that notable June. 5. On June 5, a special demonstration was held at Grand Island in honor of the men who were registering for military service, if caHed. Hon. W. H. Thompson presided as chairman, and addresses were made by Mayor J. L. Cleary, Gov, O, A. Abbott and Hon, W, A. Prince, At Wood River a splendid program of songs and recitations was carried out by the young people, Marie Sindt, Lois Wiseman, Thelma O'Kane, Kathrine Bmner, being among those participating, and an address was delivered by Judge Bayard H. Paine, At Doniphan a program was carried out, with a boy scout's drill, and likewise at Cairo, homage was paid to those answering the call to register. On that date HaH County registered 2,210 of her sons, the distribution by precincts, being as foHows : Grand Island : First precint, 289 ; Second, 175; Third, 174; Fourth, 324; Fifth, 209 ; Sixth, 172 ; Alda, 42 ; Cameron, 70 ; Doni phan, 106; Center, 51; Harrison, 71 ; Jackson, 63; Martin, 32; Mayfield Township, 64; Prairie Creek, 35; South Platte, 43; South Loup, 71 ; Washington 1, 53 ; Washington 2, 18; Wood River, 106. THE EARLY SUMMER OF 1917 The month of June witnessed a steady climb upward in the Red Cross membership drive,^ ,it having passed 2,000 by June 8, and a 3,000 goal having been substituted. The Liberty Bond sale was passed and the Y. M. C. A. quota progressed. Flag Day was observed with unusual solemnity and the Fourth of July took on an added impressiveness. Early in July a ripple occurred when a leading citi zen spied a meeting at night and reported that an aggregation of disloyalists were plotting here in Hall County. Investigation proved that the meeting so suspicioned was a regular and proper meeting of a farmer's organiza tion and the incident passed off with a written, signed statement of apology by the citizen who made the mistake. This was perhaps the first public manifestation of a spirit of suspicion and innuendo charges that prevailed rather generally throughout the country, and while this rather severe attitude of precaution re sulted in many injustices, yet it also brought about some good results. Throughout the na tion there existed a cautious watchfulness for evidences of bad faith or reluctance to re spond to proper calls for service that to a great extent aided the various governmental and civilian bodies having the various lines of war work. On July 21, Sargent Joseph Leo of Com pany M, whose home was at Mema, died of a hemorrhage and several other members of the company being sick at the same time, re sulted in a temporary scare concerning the welfare of the boys, but, the scare being based on merely idle mmor, it soon passed over. THE FIRST DRAWING After 2,217 of Hall County's sons registered on June 5, the next step in the selection of those who should be called into actual miH- tarl service was undertaken by assigning to each registrant a number, proceeding serially HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 445 from one upwards, the series being separate and independent for each local board area in the country. Thus each registrant in Hall County could be identified by citing his Hall County Local Board name and his Hall County serial number. The local board, by which name the Selective Service Board for the county has been commonly designated, proceeded to number the cards with red ink numbers, consequently, without regard to alphabetical arrangement. Five lists were then prepared, one retained for the records of the local board, one copy posted in a conspicuous place in the court house, one copy given out for publication by the press, and the two re-, maining copies furnished to the state author- hies and the office of the provost marshal general at Washington. In order then to designate with the utmost impartiality the sequence in which the regis trants qualified for military service should be called as needed, a single national drawing was held on July 20, 1917, for those who had registered on June 5. While it was held in Washington, D. C, this national drawing was a notable event in the history of the lives of so many Hall County citizens, that it becomes an incident in the history of Hall County, Room No, 226, the public hearing room of the United States Senate Office Building, was the scene of the first drawing, ten thousand five hundred numbers were drawn, the first capsule being taken from the glass bowl at 9:30 a, m., Friday, July 20, and the last at 2:16 a. m,, Saturday, July 21, 1917; elapsed time, 16 hours, 46 minutes, and during which time the numbers were telegraphed and bulletined all over the country. The first few numbers drawn were : 1, Newton D, Baker, The Secretary of War, 258, 2, Geo. E. Chamberlain, Senator from Oregon, chairman. Committee on Military Af fairs, 2,522. 3. S. Hubert Dent, Jr., Representative from Alabama, Chairman House Committe on MHitary affairs, 9,613. 4. Francis E, Warren, Senator from Wyo ming, 4,532. 5. Julius Kahn, Representative from Cali fornia, 10,218. 6. Tasker H. Bliss, Major General, Chief of Staff, U. S. Army, 458. 7. Enoch H. Crowder, Provost Marshal General, U. S. Army, 3,403. 8. Henry P. McCain, Adjutant General, U- S. Army, 10,015. The first two numbers that affected Hall County men were, No. 258 draw by Secre tary Baker, held by Roy Soderstrom, and No. 458 drawn by General Bliss, assigned to Julius Gutschow. The eight men next following, drawn from the Hall County roster were: No. 1,436, Lewis Rasmussen; 854, Blaine Bird; 1,859, Emest CecH Harbert; 1,878, Ernest Abram Galbraith, 1,095, Floyd Rich Sopher; 2,022, Albert Roy WalHck; 1,455, Norman A. Samway and 783, Myrhon Kraider. LATE SUMMER AND EARLY FALL OF 1917 , During August, 1917, the Woman's Com mittee to the County .Council of Defense was organized and got under way with its work. On August 30, a farewell reception was held to 161 drafted men who were leaving for cantonments. Labor Day was celebrated with more than usual force, and Company M participated in the parade of the day. On September 13, a big meeting was held for the purpose of promoting recuiting for a second national guard company for Grand Island, to be a part of the proposed Seventh Nebraska Regiment. On September 19, a demonstra tion was made for sixty-three men who left and the Ord boys were welcomed as they reached this county. On September 25, the supply company for the new Seventh Regiment were mustered in, with Captain Irwin commanding and Emil Wolbach as lieutenant. In October the Second Liberty Loan drive came on and was pushed through in a short time. The food pledge campaign followed on the he^ls of the second loan. HaH County 446 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA came out second in the state in the number of food pledges. Dodge County leading, HaH County securing 8,384 and Lancaster 6,206. Mrs. Chas G. Ryan, the chairman of this cam paign conducted the work in a manner that so won the attention of the state food adminis tration, that when the county chairmen were appointed for the food administration, Mrs, Ryan Was the first, and for a long time the only woman chairman appointed in the state, LATE FALL AND EARLY WINTER WAR ACTIVITIES During November, the Y. M. C. A. cam paign came on and was pushed to a success ful close. This was at once foHowed by the Knights of Columbus drive that resulted in raising ov'er $4,600 in Grand Island and Wood River raised $1,300. During December, the tobacco kit subscription was carried on. Later in Decem'ber the Red Cross seal contest came on and the various schools competed for the honor of seHing the most, December 10 was the date for the regis trants of June 5, 1917, to begin turning in their questionaires. On December 11, Con gressman Dan Stephens of Fremont, who had recently retumed from a trip through the war zone in France gave a large Grand Island audience a first-hand account of conditions "over there." On December 13 the food administration's committee perfected a Work ing organization, and during the last part of the month the second general Red Cross drive got under way. At the same time the annual Red Cross seal drive took place and the result may fairly be accepted as a barometer of the additional interest in all Red Cross affairs, generated be cause of the war. About December 7 the state organization appointed A. F. Buechler as county chairman for the Christmas seal drive, from the proceeds of which special at tention was to be given to soldiers and po tential soldiers affected with tuberculosis. Whereas the total sale of the previous year had been slightly less than $100, the war-year drive after a two weeks' campaign scored a total of approximately $550. This review marks the main points of the war service activities at home during the re mainder of 1917 after our country entered the war. THE QUESTIONAIRES Following the drawing on July 20, the local selective board had proceeded during the summer and fall months to caH in groups of registrants as their numbers were reached, give them a physical examination, and receive and determine upon their claims for exemp tion upon the various grounds designated. That method of caHing all men as their num bers were reached and discharging or accept ing rested upon the general assumption that a specific number of men were known to be needed for military service at a given time, and, therefore, enough registrants should be called by the county board in the sequence of their order numbers and selected according to the laws and reglations, until a number of qualified men has been obtained equal to the (board's current quota, and the remainder dis charged or exempted. That plan was necessarily adopted for the early stage of the war, and proved eft'ective for the purpose, whether in all instances ab solutely fair to all concerned or not. But experience was showing that it was wasteful, and would grow more ineffective as the quotas grew larger and speed became more necessary in meeting the quotas. So late in the year of 1917 a new method was worked out by the authorities of the war department-. This be came effective on December 15, 1917, at which time the first call for 687,000 men had been more than filled by local boards and a luH in the work presented the opportunity for chang- .ing the plan. The essential change was this : that the physical examination followed, instead of pre ceding, the determination of the claim for dis charge or exemption. Second, the registrant was required to fill out a document that will always occupy a historical place in American life hereafter, the questionaire. The questionaire was a document of some twenty pages which included lists of questions that all registrants must fill out ; others that needed only be answered to constitute the proof for filling a claim for discharge or ex- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 447 emption; and the whole document covered every angle of the classification system, for which it was the basis of information and proof. This work occupied over three weeks and called for the assistance of not only the regular legal advisory board, appointed by the governor for Hall County, but a large num ber of associate members of the legal advisory board. THE LEGAL ADVISORY BOARD The legal advisory board appointed by Governor Neville for Hall County was com posed of J. L. Cleary, Benjamin J. Cunning ham and Judge Joseph H. MuHin. Assisting this board during the questionaire season were associate members F. W. Ashton, C. J. South ard, G. N. Hale, A. C. Mayer, Wm. Suhr, Chas. G. Ryan, W, H, Thompson, Judge J, R. Hanna, W, A, Prince, T, O.' C, Harrison, R, R, Horth, H, A, Edwards, H. E. Clifford, E. G. Kroger, J. H. Wooley, O. A. Abbott. Jr., A. L. Joseph, Judge Bayard H. Paine, and Dale P. Stough, members of the Hall County bar, and to carry on the work in the other towns of the county when the questionaires were taken there, W. L. Sprague, H. S. Eaton, D. D. O'Kane, O. M, Quackenbush, Wood River-; John Thomssen, W, L, Kelly, Alda ; C, M, Carison, C, M, Redman, Doniphan; G, C. Raven, G, W, Wingert, Cairo. These same members and associate members acted throughout the balance of the war, with a few exceptions. At the tinie Mr, Cunning ham was called for service in the fall of 1917, he resigned and Wm. Suhr was made a member of the legal advisory board, just before the signing of the armistice, DURING THE EARLY PART OF 1918 The questionaire work- and its resulting heavy burden of classification reached over into 1918 and took up part of January. On January 3, the railroad administration of the government Which was now opdrating ithe Union Pacific, the St. Joe & G. L, and the Buriington issued an order combining all of the switching work at Grand Island, under the charge of the Union Pacific division. The inspection of govemment purchased horses i was resumed at that time. On January 18, Sergeant Joe Martin one of Hall County's own boys, came up from Camp Funston, delegated to raise a fund of $2,000 for a gymnasium at the camp, • He was as signed Grand Island, Hastings and Kearney, and presented the matter to a public meeting of Grand Island citizens, with the view of rais ing $1,000 of this fund in Hall County, This meeting organized for that campaign, of which president Chester Pederson of the Grand Is land Home Guards took charge, and also or ganized the War Activities committee, of which more will be said in a separate part of the chapter assigned to that work. During the month previous, in December, 1917, S. N. Wolbach had been appoiinted chairman of the War Savings Stamp Cam paign for Hall County. In January he appointed his various assistants and began the educational feature and preliminary drive of the campaign. During January, 1918, the food administra tor began the daily publication of a weekly schedule of fair prices on approximately thirty "staple articles of food, affected by govern ment regulations. In February an investiga tion was made by the food administration of violation of the flour allowance regulations ^and action taken. On February 12 an investi gation was made by the Council of Defense of rather severe and serious rumors which a cer tain party was circulating against the fuel and food administrators, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. G. Ryan, and which proved to be absolutely without foundation. It is not within the province of this histor ical presentation of the war activities of Hall County |to go into detail as to the many groundless and false rumors that sprang up: on the one hand about almost every person who was active in war activities and concern ing many of whom it was thought they might be more active in various war projects and, on the other hand, about almost every person whose name indicated that he was of German birth or ancestry, regardless of the fealty to 448 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA the country's cause shown by the object of such calumies, further than to say it took up a great deal of time and energy of the council of defense and other civHian organizations to investigate these and ascertain the merit in them. In some instances, the very investi gation acted as an incentive to other results that did materially aid the various campaigns. In other instances such investigations acted as a check against division and discord re sulting from false accusation. The War Savings campaign progressed throughout Febmary and until March 22, when the quota was subscribed. On Febmary 28 the citizens of Hall County received another oportunity to listen to first-hand accounts of conditions across the water, when President Ray Lyman Wilbur of Leland Stanford Uni versity, Senator Everett Colby of New Jersey and Mrs. Max Meyer of Iowa visited Grand Island, representing Herbert C. Hoover and the food administration. DURING THE SPRING OF 1918 It was during the Third Liberty Bond drive, in March, that the dark, dismal days came over the whole world as the Germans were advancing toward Paris at a startling speed. This German drive began on March 21, and continued for weeks until the tide turned in May, at Chauteau Thierry. Dur ing the first week of April a very successful fair was held on behalf of the Red Cross, at the new Glass-Evans building. On April 12 Hall County received a genuine treat on the occasion of a visit from the 355th Regi mental Band of Camp Funston, of which Reed L- Harrison, a Hall County boy, was assistant band leader. Early in April, 1918, pubHcation was made of the fact that out of 2,208 men who regis tered on June 5, 1917, only seventy-nine had been delinquent in retuming their question aires, or appearing for examination upon call. In a few days this number was reduced to sixty-eight, a rather small percentage, con sidering the number of transients and tem porary residents who would register in a city of the industrial and commercial proportions of Grand Island. On April 19, 1918, the community of Grand Island was saddened by the burial of Private Benjamin Deuel, of the 127th Field Artillery, Camp Deming, New Mexico. On April 27 the county council of defense held a very strenuous session at which an investigation was made of charges against a certain citizen. The result was that this party was induced to purchase $500 in Liberty Bonds and market 300 bushels of wheat he had been withholding in defiance of the re quest of the government through the food ad ministration. Another hearing was set for the following Saturday. Mention is made of one or two of these instances merely to direct attention to one of the disagreeable features of the war activities that some civHian organi zation had to undertake, not only in Hall County, but in all communities throughout the country, as a matter of precaution, and in HaU County the burden of this task fell upon the county council of defense. That this work could be handled so quietly and expeditiously, as in a general way, it was handled, speaks weH for the general patriotic response that the citizens of the county as a whole tendered during the war period. , On May 3 twenty-seven men departed for camp, with Oscar F. Roeser in charge. Many groups and detachments left for camps and cantonments during the nineteen months of active participation in the war, but it probably feH to the lot of this first group of men who left each county in the early part of May to be switched into camp, and hardly given time to become accustomed, to camp or cantonment life, before they were moved to embarkation ports, hurried to France and used to fill in depleted or short regiments and hurried into action, all within a period of time varying from a month to six weeks of the time they left home. Instances may be found of many men enlisted and got into action as quickly, but the contingents that went early in May, from Nebraska, became a part of the 89th Division. That division eventually attained HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 449 a record for participation in battles, in num ber and ferocity, eclipsed by not more than a half a dozen divisions of the American army in France. During May the home guards were meet ing with good success on their presentation fund and managed to meet the trains that took away boys who were leaving and present them with some useful token of the departure. May 13 the high school of Grand Island dedicated a service flag with 112 stars, and listened to addresses by Mayor Cleary, Hon. part offset for Hall County by liberal increases in the pay of railroad employees, who form a noticeable percentage of the population of Grand Island. THE LAST LAP On September 28 the Fourth Liberty Loan drive was opened. On October 7 the Fourth Liberty Loan Special visited Grand Island and a vast concourse of people listened to ad dresses by Ex-Senator Norris Brown, and direct appeals by an American sergeant who DONIPHAN C. G. Ryan and Judge Bayard H. Paine. On June 2d, as a result of prior steps volun tarily taken, the Liederkranz Society of Grand Island met, changed its constitution, dropped the German as its official language and adopted the American tongue for all phases of its activities. On June 2, the second action was taken that reminded the people of Central Nebraska that the railroads were under government operation. Four trains each way, daily, were taken off on the Union Pacific main line and the motor service on the Ord branch discon tinued. Increases of 50% and an 8% war tax upon passenger fares; increase amount ing to 83% upon handling baggage, and a flat increase of 25% upon all freight rates went into effect about this time, and were in had sustained the loss of a Hmb in the St. Mihiel sector, and a British lieutenant who had been through campaigns for four years. THE FOURTH REGISTRATION The fourth registration was held on Sep tember 12, 1918. At that time 2,760 citizens of Hall County between the ages of 18 and 21, and 31 and 45 stepped up and filled out their registration cards. Divided as to precincts the registration was as follows : Lake, 61 ; Prairie Creek, 34 ; Mayfield, 85 ; South Loup, 45 ; Cameron, 64 ; Harrison, 72; Center, 68; Washington No. 1, 90; Washington No. 2, 17; Alda, 83; Wood River, 156; Jackson, 100; Martin, 51; South Platte, 63; Doniphan, 128; Grand Island No. 1, 340; No. 2, 177; No. 3, 211; No. 4, 361; 450 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA No, 5, 226 and No. 6, 216. In addition 112 traveling men, railroad men and others regis tered with County Clerk Lyle, Two thousand three hundred eighty-one of the 2,760 were native bom residents of the United States, or more than 86 per-cent, a fact which somewhat disputes the tendency of some to label Hall County a foreign-populated county. There were in addition 108 registrants who had been naturalized, 56 because their father was naturalized before they became of age; 106 were aliens ' who had taken) out their first papers and 109 were aliens who had made no declaration. This made a showing that more than 92 per cent of the registrants were citi zens, and less than four per-cent, non-declar ant aliens. Divided as to color and race, 2,724 registrants were white, 27 negroes, eight were orientals, and one an Italian citi- VARIOUS REGISTRATIONS On June 5, 1918, occurred the second regis tration for military service. On this first anniversary of ,the original registration all young men who had reached the age of 21 since June 5, 1917, registered. The second drawing was held on June 27. The number of registrants in Hall County on June 5, 1918. was 154, while a later registration on August 24 of those whe became twenty-one during the intervening six or seven weeks, brought forth 24 registrants. On June 17 a general registration of women for war purposes was held. On June 15 under the auspices of the council of defense and county agricultural agent all men were asked to register and fill out a short questionaire, so a list might be available of all potential farm-labor if assistance was needed for emerg ency work. This registration brought a very complete response, but it was necessary to call upon the business and professional men of Grand Island and other towns in the county to respond. Grand Island College was saddened by its first gold star, upon the death of Lieut. Gros- venor P. Gather, who had been commissioned at the Officers Training Camp at Fort Snelling, and gone to Europe shortly thereafter. On July 22, 69 men left in one contingent for Camp Dodge, under direction of Walter H. Sinke, with Geo. E. Funk of Doniphan, Donald Hanna, and Frank Scoville, as assistants. On August 18 another echo of the railroads being upon the war basis came with an order to consolidate the handling of all freight in and out of Grand Island through the Union Pacific offices and depots. The Red Cross canteen service, which had been organized earlier in the summer, was now working full force, and the Red Cross work-rooms were going at fuH steam, THE THIRD DRAWING WhHe the armistice arrived at a timely mo ment that rendered it unnecessary to call upon the men of 31 to 45, and in Hall County saved those of 18 to 21 from call, the drawing that determined the order of these 2,760 registrants ranked next in interest to the first drawing in July, 1917, This third drawing was held in the caucus room of the senate office building. There were 17,000 numbers drawn, the first capsule being taken from the same glass bowl that had been used in the first . drawing at noon, Monday, September 30, and the last at 8 a. m., Tuesday, October 1, 1918, elapsed time, twenty hours. The first fifteen capsules were drawn by the government officials, and the numbered drawn when low enough to affect Hall County were held by the following Hall County Registrants : 1, President Woodrow \\'ilson. No, 322, Paul Roy Ofield; (1), 2, Vice President Thomas R. MarshaH, No. 7277, 3, President pro-tempore of Senate, Sena tor William Saulsbury, of Delaware, No, 6708, 4. Speaker Champ Clark, House of Representatives, No, 1027, by Thomas Joseph Bulger. (2) 5. Secretary of Navy, Josephus Daniels, No. 16,169. 6. Acting Secretary of War, Benjamin Crowell, 8,366. 7, Senator Geo, E, Chamberlain of Ore gon, 5,366, HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 451 8, Senator Senator Francis E, Warren of Wyoming, 1,697, Rimer Hargins, (3) 9, Representative Dent of Alabama, 7,123. 10. Representative Julius Kahn, California, 2,781, Thos. Kolb. (4) 11. General Peyton C. March, Chief of Staff, U. S. Army, 9,283. 12. Admiral Wm. S. Benson, chief of operations, U. S. Navy, 6,147. 13. Lieut. Gen. Samuel B. M. Young of U. S. Army, retired, 10,086. 14. Provost Marshal General Enoch' H. Crowder, 438, EmH A. Graf. , 15. Col. Chas. B. Warren, Judge Advocate Army, 904, Harry A. Hirman. THE HAPPIEST DAY HALL COUNTY EVER KNEW During October, preparations were made to send an unusually heavy contingent of men, but the Spanish influenza epidemic which was then raging in the various cantonments and spreading rapidly to the civilian population, necessitated another postponement of the caH. On November 4 the United War Work fund drive was inaugurated and Chairman Thomas E. Bradstreet and Vice-Chairman Slusser were making good daily progress. On Novem ber 7 came a false report that the armistice had been signed. With repeated announce ments from The Independent that no official confirmation Tiad been secured from the gov ernment circles by the Associated Press, a celebration was withheld. Although one other false alarm leaked out, and it became known that other cities were celebrating, no pande monium started in Grand Island, such as many neighboring towns indulged in on that day. But at 2:30 on the morning of November 11, 1918, the official word was received that the armistice had been signed, and Hall County gut up out of bed en masse and started in on the wildest, happiest day known in its sixty- one years of settlement, and there was ample occasion for the joy that raged unrestrained all that day and the following night. It was not a celebration with a program of speeches, but the whistles were tied down and blew for hours in Grand Island, everything stopped and everbody showed up in town and there was one continuous parade all day in each town of the county. THE HALL COUNTY CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS One of the brightest chapters in the history of every American county during the period of the Great World War will be the noble response made to every call of the American Red Cross. And nowhere will this be more true than in Hall County, Nebraska. Tank at Grand Island The first meeting held with a purpose of forming a local chapter of the Red Cross was on AprH 10, 1917, in the Guild room of the St. Stephen's Episcopal church, in Grand Is land. Temporary officers chosen there were president, Mrs. L- A. Arthur; first vice-presi dent, Mrs. W. R. Stearns ; second vice-presi dent, Mrs. C. G. Ryan ; third vice-president, Mrs. C. H. Tully; fourth vice-president, Mrs, Aug. Meyer; secretary, Mrs. Arthur Glade; treasurer, Mrs. W. R. King. Steps were taken to ask for a charter for a local chapter. This meeting was held about four days after the official declaration of war had been made, so the work started about as early as it would have been possible. 452 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA The discovery was made within the next few days that an organization of the men would be necessary in the formation of a local chapter, so on April 14 a meeting was held at the Koehler Hotel in Grand Island, attended by the following gentlemen: Fred W. Ashton, Bayard H. Paine, L. H. Donald, Ralph R. Horth, Elmer Williams, J. R. Geddes, C. H. Tully, J. L. Cleary, C. C. Han sen, C. W. Brininger, W. H. "Thompson, E. L. Brown and A. E. Cady, Jr. A temporary organization was effected by the election of Elmer Williams as chairman and C. W. Brin inger as secretary. This meeting was addressed by Arthur F. Bentley, of Chicago, a field secretary for the American Red Cross. It was quite appropriate that the man who should explain the purposes and methods of the Red Cross organization at these early meetings should be a man who had been reared in Grand Island and educated in Grand Island's public schools. Mr. Bentley is a son of the late Charies F. Bentley of this city. During the war Mr. Bentley dropped private affairs and devoted his time to the work of the Red Cross as chairman for -the state of Indiana and was a close assistant to J. R. Garfield, chairman of the Great Lakes dis trict. THE GRAND ISLAND CHAPTER A formal request was made for a charter as a result of this meeting. The officers chosen for the new chapter, were: Charles G- Ryan, chairman, Mrs. Louis A Arthur, vice-chairman, C. C. Hansen, treasurer, c' W. Brininger, secretary. The following were elected as an execu tive committee, of nine members: Chas G. Ryan, C. W. Brininger, Fred W. Ashton, S. N. Wolbach, C. H. Tully, L- H. Donald, A. F. Beuchler, Richerd Goehring, Sr,, and Emma Sheeley, On motion, a committee consisting of F, W, Ashton, W, H, Thompson and C, W, Brin inger were appointed to select a representative board of directors throughout the county, ORGANIZATION OF COUNTY ROARD OF DIRECTORS Another meeting was held at the Court House in Grand Island on April 16, 1917, at which time addresses were made by Hon, Chas. G. Ryan, Hon. F. W. Ashton, Mayor J. L. Cleary and District Judge Bayard H. Paine, explaining the aims of the Red Cross. The board of directors chosen for the county were : A. D. Burger, Doniphan, D. D. O'Kane, Wood River, John Thomssen, Alda, C. Hugo Hehnke, Cairo, Robert Taylor, Ab bot, Mrs. W. H. Laughlin, Mrs. Hettide D. Boehm, Bayard H. Paine, Ralph R. Horth, Wilmer WiHiams, Dr. Geo. Roeder, J. L. Cleary, J. R. Geddes, C. C. Hansen, W. H. Thompson, E. L. Brown, A. E. Cady, Jr., Thos E. Bradstreet, Henry Schuff, J. L How- land, J. D. Whitmore, J. E. Hanna, Fred W. Shultz, women's executive committee On the same day a second meeting was held by the women to form an executive com mittee of women to carry on their phases of this Red Cross and other war work. Those selected from the various organizations of the city to assume this task were: Trinity M, E, church, Mrs C, B, Helling; Lieder kranz Society, Mrs H, Stratman ; Y. W. C. A., (its General Secretary) Miss Emma Sheeley; Howard School Mother's Club, Mrs B. F. Davis ; Christian church, Mrs E. E. Mack ; St. Mary's (Catholic) AUer GuHd, Mrs. Wm. Laughlin; Cangregational church, Mrs. Al. Rasmussen; Missionary Society, First Metho dist, Dr. Edith S. Spence; Aid Society of First Methodist, Mrs. D. H. Carson; Park Association, Mrs. A. F. Buechler; Lutheran Aid Society, Mrs Guy Harrison; Book Club, Mrs. E- L. Brown; St. Cecelia's Society (Musical), Miss Edith Boyden; Civic League, Mrs. L. Donald; Ladies GuHd (St. Stephen's Episcopal), Mrs. F. W. Ashton; U. C. C, Mrs. A. L. Snider; Eastern Star, Mrs. J. L. Edwards; Presbyterian Society, Mrs. August Meyer. It is not out of place to divert at this point long enough to emphasize that for the next nineteen months these variaus organizations devoted practically their entire efforts to Red Cross and various other war work activities. Lodges merely kept their formal organizations HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 453 working, many of the societies cancelled their meetings altogether, and guilds and societies transferred their meetings at the hours they had usually held them to the Red Cross work rooms and worked there, and abandoned their discussions of church, musical, other civic or general work they had been carrying on, and subordinated these matters inasfar as practical and possible to the tasks assigned to the Red Cross chapter. Social features were prac tically abandoned in these societies, and gen erally through the community were greatly curtaHed. GETTING STARTED ON THE WORK . The men's committee, the regular directors of the Red Cross, met on May 2, May 11 and 22, June 1, June 11, June 12, and June 29. The women's executive committee met on April 16, May 2, May 5, May 31, June 11, so it will be seen that the local organization at once went to work. Steps were taken in May toward organizing a first aid committee, and a committee on instructions to the women was assigned by the directors to consult with the ladies' organization, with full power to act. The matter of purchasing supplies was left to the ladies' committee with the request that they co-operate with L. H. Donald, a wholesale drygoods merchant of Gra,nd Is land, who undertook the responsibility of pur chasing agent for the chapter. The matter of organizing for a membership campaign was next taken up, and J. L. How land selected as chairman of the membership campaign committee with full pow'er to divide the county into districts and appoint sub committees. Action was taken to lend the ladies' committee financial assistance in se curing the services of a lady sent by the Denver organization or office to assist them in forming their working organization. Later in May, steps were taken toward the organization of a council of defense for Hall County. Messrs. Ryan, Ashton, Cleary, Kauf man and Howland were appointed as the com mittee which formed the organization of the HaH County council of defense. On June 1, 1917, Edgar A. Burton of Den ver was present and explained the methods and requirements in raising the special fund of $100,000,000. membership ANB FINANCIAL CAMPAIGNS The campaign week was fixed by the nation al chapter at June 18 to 25, 1917. An execu tive committee of seven members Were chosen to handle this membership campaign in this county: Ralph R. Horth, J. D. Whitmore, J. L. Howland, C. H. Tully, F. W. Ashton, Richard Goehring and Bishop J. A. Duffy. The publicity committee chosen were : A. F, Buechler, Grand Island Independent, O. M, Quackenbush, Wood River Interests, J. W, Mehaffie, Cairo Record, W. H, Daily, Charles Wasmer, Grand Island Herald. The campaing was carried over with won derful success, Mr, Ashton acted as chair man, Mr. Howland vice-chairman, Mr. Horth as secretary, and Mr. Whitmore vice-chairman outside of Grand Island. Ten soliciting ,teams were selected and eighty patriotic citi zens volunteered their time for team work. The finanical results of the campaign were as follows : Grand Island City $19,030.00 Wood River Twp 2,037.50 Jackson Twp 1,453.50 Doniphan Twp 1,390.00 Mayfield Twp 1,206.50 South Loup Twp 1,087.00 Harrison Twp 1,039.00 Center Twp 789.50 Prairie Creek Twp 649.00 South Platte Twp 600.00 Cameron Twp 415.00 Washington No. 1 335.00 Lake Tvi^p 311.00 Alda Twp .- 251.50 Washington No. 2 205.00 Martin Twp 76.00 Total $31,080.79 In discharging the clerical work required in -such a campaign, Mrs. J. L. Edwards 454 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA volunteered to assist the committee, and Mr. J. F. Matthews, principal of high school acted as cashier, enabling compliance with the re quirements of daily reports and deposit of receipts in the name of the American Red Cross each day. RECORD OF HALL COUNTY MEN IN MILITARY SERVICE In June, 1917, a committee of four, with O. A. Abbott, Jr.. as chairman was desig nated to keep record of the names of all boys enlisted, and later inducted, into any branch of the war service from this county. It might be remarked that the work of this com mittee, later voluntarily taken over by the Daily Independent, when the work began to involve more detail than was expected, and because of its better facilities for handling it, resulted in such a thorough task that HaH County has a roster of over 1,200 men who went into service. further STEPS TAKEN Steps were taken by the chapter to have $5,000 of the thirty-one thousand dollars raised in the recent campaign appropriated to the Grand Island chapter. Work was being instituted each week that required funds; the materials and supplies, including surgical dressings, yarn, hospital garments and other supplies for the ladies' auxiliary in its work in the rooms on the second floor of the U. S. Post Office building, where scores assembled each day and worked for hours. Civilian re lief came for families of soldiers in service and canteen purposes came on a little later. Several additions should be made to the list of the Women's Executive Committee. Mrs. W. R. King, Mrs. W. R. Stevens, Mrs C, G, Ryan and Mrs, C. H, Tully, officers of first meeting. Miss Chairrie Paine of W, C, T, U,, Mrs. J. C. Froyer, Women's Relief Corps, and Mrs. L. S. Moore, of Baptist Church, should be included. PROGRESS OF work OF CHAPTER On October 22, 1917, the first change in the official roster of the working organiza tion of the chapter was made, when the resig nation of L. H. Donald as purchasing agent was accepted. The resignation of Mrs. L. A. Arthur, as vice-chairman was later made nec essary by the condition of her mother's health. Mrs. Arthur and Mr. Brininger were selected as delegates to represent the chapter at a con ference of Nebraska chapters at Omaha on October 31st. The report of the secretary on October 10 showed receipts from membership of 7 Hfe members, 2 sustaining members, 9 contribut ing members, 216 subscribing and 2,523 annual members, or a total of 2,757 memberships, amounting to $3,195 and donations of $1,- 490.47, or a balance of $4,685.47. Expendi tures Were : amount turned over to National American Red Cross to cover memberships, $1,800.50, merchandise for women's work room, $1,289.01, instruction expense for women's committee, $32.35 ; red cross pins, $23.60, miscellaneous items, $9.00, leaving a balance then on-hand $1,531.01. HALL county chapter In compliance with a communication from State Director Frank W. Judson, the name was changed to Hall County, Nebraska, Chap ter. Thereafter the local organizations in the other towns were auxiliaries to the county chapter. Another digression might be par doned to mention the fact that the state direc- ,tor, Mr. Judson, now a very prominent, suc cessful man in Nebraska business circles and in 1918 elected a member of the board of regents of Nebraska State University by the people of this state, during the late 'eighties conducted a grocery store in Grand Island, and has always held a sincere personal interest in our city through the quarter-century or so that has passed since he left here in January, 1918, the following civilian relief committee was appointed: L- T. Greer, chairman, a member of the county board of supervisors ; other county supervisors, Wm. Stoeger, Cairo, Fred J. MHler Wood River, and W. H. McDowell, Doniphan, and Mrs. J. E. Hanna, Miss Emma Sheeley and Mrs. E. C. Burger. Further steps were taken to- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 455 ward the organization of auxiliaries in the various towns of the county. Auxiliaries were formed at Cairo (Liberty Auxiliary) No. 1, Mrs. Susie Robinson, chairman, Mrs. EHa Alford, treasurer, Mrs. Mabel Baird, secre tary, Mesdames Dove, E. Brown, C. Hugo Hehnke, J. E. Cox, C. Congrave, Wm. Schlund, Susie Spousler, W. B. Waite, organ ized June 29, 1918. No. 2, Doniphan auxil iary, organized June 13, with Mrs. J. P. Button, chairman, Kate Timmons, secretary and treasurer, Mesdames P. L. Wolfe, Daisy Frank, G. W. Wagner, Annabelle Wilte, H. J. McLaughlin, Belle Quiglle, Kate Clarno, A. A. Beagle, A. D. Burger and H. E. John ston. No. 3, Lutheran Trinity society. Grand Island, Anna Gloe, chairman, EHa Bosen- koelter, treasurer, Matilda Scheffel, secretary. BASE HOSPITAL WORK Late in 1917, the chapter took steps to appro priate $500 toward the expense of the organs ization and equipment of a base hospital, and the secretary was authorized to forward a check for that amount to C. A. Hull, 1200 First National Bank buHding, Omjaha. Later a similar amount was appropriated to this same purpose by the Hall County chapter. EXTENSION OF CHAPTER WORK Beyond the formation of the three regularly oraginzed auxiliaries noted above, the work was carried on through local organizations or groups of workers, who assisted the county chapter very materially, at Wood River, where Mrs. Carrie Abbott, and Mrs. H. W. Slawson, were leading w'orkers; Alda, where Miss Pearl Balmat and Miss Agnes McLellan were among the leading workers, and the Cameron workers, under leadership of Mrs. C. O. Jameyspn. Miss Kate Fanning later served as secretary- treasurer of Doniphan auxiliary. EXECUTIVE committee's work The executive committee of the Hall County Chapter held one or two meetings each month during the entire year, 1918. In February the resignation of Mrs. Arthur as vice-chair man was accepted. In March, the heads of the departments and instructors of classes in the women's work rooms, to whom the selec tion of her successor had been delegated, re ported that they had selected Mrs. J. H. Mer riam, but Mrs. Merriam could not accept the position permanently. The work was then placed in the charge of Mrs. D. H. Carson, with Mrs. J. L. Edwards assisting in the cleri cal duties of the office, until May 10, when Mrs. Carson was elected vice-chairman, and Mrs. Edwards continued as her assistant in the office clerical duties. In March J. L. How land resigned on account of removal from the city. A vote of thanks was tendered by the executive committee to Mr. Howland for his efficient service as chairman of the member ship committee. In AprH, R. R, Horth, chair man of the war activities committee was re quested to take charge of the management of the war fund campaign for $100,000,000 to be put on from May 20 to May 27, 1919, THE MAY DRIVE The war activities committee took charge of this membership drive and put it over success- fuliy. Its success is indicated in the increase shown in the report of membership made by Secretary Brininger, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1919, when he reported; two sustain ing members ($10 each), 10 contributing mem bers at $5, 90 magazine members at $2, and 7,398 annual members at $1, or a total of 7,506 members, and membership receipts of $7,660, Other items of receipts, donations, $764,60, misceHaneous, $18,650,31, sale of merchandise, $503,55 and sale of Liberty bonds, $1,500, with balance on hand from July 1, 1917, report of $1,531,01 brought the balance carried in the treasurer's account to $30,622.47; with disbursements of $25,429.60 and a balance of $5,192. 87 ; It is only just to the local officers to mention that the letter written in acknowledging receipt of this local report said "Your report is the first one to reach my office and it appears so complete and clear that I expect to use it as a model." DURING THE. SUMMER AND FALL OF 1918 The more important matters brought before 456 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA the executive committee in the summer of 1918 were: An appropriation of $300 ex tended to the home guards for their fund in purchasing remembrances for Hall County soldiers leaving to enter the service ; the organ ization of canteen service of which more will be said later on in this chapter; and in the fall, adoption of new by-laws suggested by the National Red Cross association, and arrange ments to hold an election October 23. The committee appointed to act as an election board on October 23, 1918, were Messrs. Jas. F-. Rourke, Rev. J. R. Martin and Rev. T. A. Dungan. The committee appointed to take charge of the Christmas packages for 1918 season were: Jas, F. Rourke, chairman, Mrs. C. W. Brininger, vice-chairman, D. A. Geil (Postmaster), Mrs. Guy L. Harrison, Mrs. A. C. Scott, Mrs, F. A, Glade, Mrs. A. T. Conner, Mrs. Wm. Neitmeldt, Mrs. Louise Frank, Mrs. John Geddes and Mrs. Hanger. THE NEW BOARD AND OFFICERS At the fall election of 1918, the following were the directors for the ensuing year: S. N. Wolbach, C. W. Brininger, Mrs. D. H. Car son, R. R, Horth, Robert Taylor, Abbott; Judge Bayard H, Paine, Mrs. H. M. Bishop, Lake; John Thomssen, Alda; J, L, Cleary, David Kaufman, Charies G. Ryan, C. H. Tully, Ed L. Brown, John R. Geddes, Elmer WiHiams, Mrs. Louis Veit, Mrs. Carrie Abbott, Wood River; Mrs. C. O. Jameyson, Mrs. C. Hugo Hehnke, Cairo; and D. D. O'Kane, Wood River. The officers elected for the current year were : Charies G. Ryan, chair man, Mrs. D. H. Carson, vice-chairman, C. W. Brininger, secretary. Judge Bayard H. Paine, treasurer, with David Kaufman, S. N. Wol bach and C. H. Tully as the three additional members of the executive committee. HOME SERVICE COMMITTEE The personnel of the home service com mittee selected in November, 1918, and which committee is still serving is : Mrs. J. E. Hanna, chairman, Mrs. E. C. Burger, secretary, Mrs! E. S. Fairbanks, asst. secretary, Mrs. Susie Robinson, Cairo; Mrs. Carrie Abbott, Wood River; Mrs. H. W! Slawson, Wood River; Mrs. J. P. Button, Doniphan; Mrs. C. O. Jameyson, Miss Pearl Balmat, Alda. women's BUREAU The history of the Hall County chapter of the American Red Cross would not be com plete without a similarly detailed history of the work accomplished by the faithful women who handled the numerous branches of work entrusted to the women's bureau. The general chairmanship of this work rested upon the vice-chairman of the executive committee of the chapter, who as has been shown was first Mrs. Arthur, then Mrs. Car son. The work in the women's bureau was originally divided in March, 1918, when that department was generally reorganized into three divisions. In addition to these three divisions, co-operating with the vice-chairman was an executive committee of three members to handle the general matters of policy and administration of the women's work, which committee were: Mrs. J. H. Woolley, chair man, Mrs. C. H. Tully and Mrs. A. F. Buech ler, secretaries. The committee on surgical dressings, in May, 1918 consoHdated the two fines of work in that department theretofore handled separ ately, which had been gauze dressings, in charge of Mrs. Carson, and muslin dressings, in charge of Mrs. Ed. L- Brown. The chairman (yi the surgical dressings department through the remainder of the work was Mrs. D; H. Carson, with Mrs. Geer as her assistant The cutting department of that division was in charge of Mrs, John Ferguson, with Mrs, Linn, as assistant. The chairman of general supplies and com forts was carried mainly by Mrs, Carson, but this work branched into different activities for which separate responsibilities were placed. One of several of the departments of work which consumed a vast amount of time given by many women, yet did not show so pub- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 457 liely as some other phases of the work, was the knitting department handled by Mrs. Fred Clark. The third original division of the \york fell tol the chairman of garments and hospital linen. This work at various times was under the supervision of Mrs. J. D. Whitmore, Mrs. E. L. Brown, Mrs. Arthur Glade, Mrs. WiHis J. Redfield, Mrs. Scott, Mrs, Sharp and its last administration was that of Mrs. Earl Tuttle. The progress of the work brought on many new problems which were m;et by divisions organized as the need for them arose, and not included in the charted schedule given forth by the state and national associations or depart ments. The cutting room of the hospital and gar ments division was at various times under supervision of Mrs. Hanaford, Mrs. Ed Brown, Mrs. Plummer and Mrs. Gilmore. The general inspection of work done in the work rooms was first in charge of Mrs. Meyer and later supervised by Mrs. Augusta Veit; the packing was supervised by Mrs. Guy Harrison. The division for furnishing comfort kits was in charge of Mrs. Barton most of the time. The campaigns for collecting clothing for the Belgians, was in the spring in charge of Mrs. A. C. Scott, and in the fall of 1918, in charge of Mrs. E. A. Brandes. Mrs. Brandes was also supervisor of the salvage department, which was conducted for a num ber of weeks prior to the signing of the armis tice. The first division was first in charge of Mrs. E. L. Thelan, The home service work was in charge of Mrs, J. E. Hanna, Mrs. E. C. Burger and Mrs. E. S. Fairbanks. The canteen work was first placed in charge of Henry Schuff. Later the old passenger depot of the Union Pacific was secured and equipped in splendid shape for this depart ment, and Mrs. August Meyer later became the superintendent of this work, taking the post of Commandant over ten companies. Later one of these consolidated with other companies, and its captain, Mrs. A. W. Steme,- became First Assistant Commandant; Mrs. M. E. Hurst served as Second Assistant Com mandant ; the captains who took charge of the remaining nine companies were : Mrs. E. Bar ton, Mrs. H. Carey, Mrs. E. Frank, Miss E. Geer, Mrs. W. R. King, Miss Jane L. Pinder, Mrs. W. R. Richards, Mrs. A. C. Scott, Miss Irma Woolstenholm. The Junior Red Cross work was a division of somie importance. This started during the short time Mrs. Merriam assisted as vice- chairman, who in co-operation with about twelve instructors in the city schools and Mrs. Wright, president of the mothers' club got this work started. The chairman for the dif ferent schools were, Howard, Miss Norris ; Dodge, Miss Gilbert; Platt, Miss Lederman; Lincoln, Miss Engleman; Wasmer, Miss Richardson; Jefferson, Miss Wicker. Mrs^ Fairbanks later took charge of this branch; succeeded by Prof. R. J. Barr, who in turn was succeeded by county superintendent of schools, Elizabeth Cunningham. WhHe all other branches of the work were running full blast,. the influenza brought on a flood of problems. Mrs. Dr. Carson, the vice- chairman, took on a little more responsibility and superintended this work. The problem of securing nursing assistance for so many people became a serious one, here, as every other place. When it became necessary to establish a temporary influenza hospital, this depart ment joined hands with the city council, who bore the expense, and assisted in securing equipment. While the Red Cross did not take direct charge of this hospital, it may be appropriate to digress and state that for a number of weeks. The Sisters of St. Francis Hospital devoted their time and energy to this work, and when they had to give it up, the city secured Mrs. Dale P. Stough, a trained nurse who responded to the call, to take charge until it was closed. In the meantime, the hos pital could care for only those patients with out homes in the city, and the strict quarantine regulations demanded some assistance be rend ered in getting supplies and food to the quar antined homes of the city. This led to the 458 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA quick organization of two more divisions of this department ; the "soup kitchen" in charge of Mrs. Jas. E. Brown, and in which the canteen division assisted materially, and the "motor corps" under charge of Mrs. Emest Frank. This division had about forty drivers enroHed and kept as many as ten cars working on many days. For about thirty or forty days, this volunteer service carried supplies] and food to the homes of Grand Island. After the crises passed. Miss Dora Kolbeck under took the task of placing nursing assistance and somewhat reHeved the influenza bureau of that burden. No doubt some divisions of the work have even now been omitted or overlooked. Mrs. Redfield assisted in the drive in June, 1918 to secure girls to enlist for nurse training; the Y. W. C. A. devoted a large portion of its time during the war period to first-aid classes meeting at its room a couple times a week. Booths were maintained at county fairs of 1917 and 1918, a fair was held at the new Glass-Evans building, and the canteen service ladies have served the pubhc on various occa sions, when some organized service was re quired for a public function on short notice. DURING 1919 Now after the war is over, the work of Hall County chapter is still continuing. Various good uses are being constantly found for the splendid organization built up during the try ing war days. The Home Service section finds plenty of tasks at its command; the Canteen service has for months been meet ing trains with returning soldiers aboard, and serving them just as faithfully as when they were leaving home going toward the camps. At the recent homecoming picnic, the Canteen served every soldier with drinks, ice cream, sandwiches and other delicacies free of all charge, and the expense was defrayed by the committee and the other public, who gladly paid reasonable prices asked to bear the soldier's share. The work rooms at the Post Office building have not been entirely dis mantled. The last report of secretary Brininger, as published in The Independent of August 8, 1919, shows the present status of the chapter. This report also shows the results of the last drive for membership conducted December 18, to December 26, 1918, David Kaufman was chairman of that drive, and was splendidly assisted by the various local chairmen. Secretary Brininger of the Hall County chapter, American Red Cross recently sub mitted his report covering the past year and the excellent showing made therein vrtH cer tainly be interesting to the public generally. Naturally it covers in the financial way the last annual Red Cross membership drive, showing 13,128 members in Hall County, about fifty per cent of the entire population. It is a record, it is believed surpassed by few if any counties. Of these 9,025 are adult members and 4.041 junior. The receipts from mem bership amounted to $10,222.25. There were donations from various sources and movements amounting to $1,764.57, these being exclusive, of course, of the United War Work drive (Red Cross portion) and the largest single item of which was the contribu tion from a Cairo firm as a penalty. This was $300. The sale of merchandise brought in $1,- 000.80, this being of Red Cross goods, among other articles being sewing machines, some canteen uniforms, etc. Miscellaneous sources of receipts brought in $10,050.08. The larg est single item of this was the local chapter's percentage of the United War Work drive, $5,617.97. The sale of buttons last fall, netted the big sum of $1,956.62, returned by Mrs. Hurst chairman of the committee and being the result of a drive by a large number of local women workers. The salvage depart ment, despite the fact that it was seriously interfered with on account of the flu, brought in a neat sunt of $979.47, ; Mrs, ,E. A. Brandes and Mrs. Thomas Connor, in charge of this work were most unfortunate in being compelled to close down shortly after having become fairly started, owing to the contagion, and the danger of continuing the work of clothing exchanges, renovations, etc. In addi- ,tion to this sum this department was drawn HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 459 upon for Belgian relief quotas and aided materially in other respects. The total receipts for the year were $23,- 044.70. At the beginning of the year there was a total on hand of $6,192.87. THE EXPENDITURES The report shows all expenditures set forth in detail. These amounted to $14,744. 60, for the different activities of the chapter. The largest single disbursement was of $4,654, to the Central Division, the share of the member ships going into the national work. The next largest item was the canteen service — $37- 429.97. It may be remembered that the ad vocates of the canteen service had to overcome some quite firm, though no doubt conscienti ous, opposition, it being urged that the ex pense, at this station, where there was an un- usuual number of trains and train stops, would make it almost impossible. A most excellent service has been maintained — a service ex celled by none in the state, and yet the expense, compared to the good done, is thus seen to be insignificant. Another large item, $2,586.40, was for goods for the work rooms to be worked into garments, etc. For home relief, also a most important de partment of the Red Cross work the chapter, throughits committee, Mrs. Hanna and Mrs. Burger distributed aid to the extent of $1,- 181.66. Other items of disbursement are given in the more detailed statement following. SMALL OPERATING COST A most noteworthy feature, it is believed, of this part of the report is the showing it makes on "operating cost." The business man calls it the cost of doing business and over head charges. Herein is embodied the dis bursement of $14,744, with all of the work of the canteen service, investigation by the home relief committee, the time and attention of the board of directors and the work of Secretary Brininger, all for the total of $371.90. The largest item of this was for post age, stationery and printing, $178.55 and the second for telegraph and telephone, $72.33. Not a dollar was expended for any of the officers and committees. The service of the secretary, now extended for over two years, has certainly been most valuable to the chapter, and a contribution to the county's war work especially worthy of commendation and appre ciation. The report, in more detail than is here given though presented to the executive committee with even greater minuteness is as follows : REPORT IN DETAIL One life membership at $50. One sustaining membership at $10. One contributing membership at $5. 59 magazine memberships at $2 (2 for 2 years), $122.00. ¦ 9,025 annual memberships at $1, $9,025.00. 4,041 junior memberships at 25c $1,010.25. Total membership, 13,128; total in cash, $10,222.25. 7 annual membes additional for magazine at $1, $7.00. Donations from various sources $1,764.57. Sale of merchandise, $1,000.80, Miscellaneous, $10,050.08, Total receipts, $23,044.70. Balance on hand at last report, $6,192.87. Grand Total $29,237.57. Postage, stationery and printing $178.55 Telephone and telegraph 72.33 Express and freight 49.47 War fund express 19.15 Miscellaneous 52.40 Total Chapter Expenses $371.90 Purchase of sewing machines $ 349.15 Purchase of merchandise for work rooms 2,586,40 Purchase of merchandise. Home Guards 170.00 Purchase of Canteen hats and suits 263.20 Home Service and Soldiers relief. . 1,181,66 Canteen Service 3,429.37 Nursing service (influenza) 309.10 Treas. War Fund a c 2 U. P checks 214.10 Frank W. Judson, acct. Nebraska Hospital ; ,' 250,00 Central Division A, R. C, for mem berships and magazines 4,654.00 460 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Central Division A, R, C, for Junior magazines for schools 1 18,00 Central Division A, R, C. 60 percent Junior membership Fees 535,35 Central Division A, R, C, 2 Auxil iary balances 683,67 Total $14,744,60 Including Chapter Expenses ,$15,116,50 Balance with Treasurer, June 30, 1919 $14,121.07 (Blance includes $1,000 Liberty Bond). THE HALL COUNTY COUNCIL OF DEFENSE The body of men who devoted considerable time and skill to their work and were required to act fearlessly and in disregard of public criticism in many cases, in each county, were the county council of defense. A brief re view of the many tasks thrown upon this patriotic body will demonstrate that they were a sort of clearing house for all govern mental war problems that came up and for which there was no other organized destina tion. The council organized on M^y 17, 1917, and took their oaths of office. J. D. Whitmore was the first chairman and F. J. Cleary the initial secretary. The committee named by the Red Cross to bring about the formation of the foundation of this council were C. G. Ryan, F. W. Ashton, J. L. Cleary, D. Kaur- man and J. L. Howland. On May 26 the personnel of the council was formed; J. D. Whitmore, chairman, appointed by the gover nor, F. J. Cleary, secretary, R. Kingsbury, vice-chairman, Elmer WHliams, treasurer, R. A. Odum, Grand Island No. 1 ; J. L. How land, Grand Island No. 3; Gus E. Neumann, Grand Island No. 5; Fred Hagge, Washing ton ; M. J. Hannon, Jackson ; E. W. Niemoth, Lake; Wm. Fagan, Prairie Creek; Russell Haldeman, Harrison; H. S. Eaton, Wood River; Edw. Cox, Mayfield; G. C. Raven, South Loup ; Chas. E. Taylor, Cameron ; Jas. McLellan, Center; Wm. Thomssen, Alda; A. E. Hauke, Jackson; WHl Geddes, Martin; Robt. McLaughlin, South Platte ; Don Burger, Doniphan. Of those named, R. A. Odum .later became secretary when J. D. Whitmore left the city, O. A. Abbott, Jr. of Grand Is land No. 2 became chairman, R. D. Kings bury served as vice-chairman throughout the work, J. L Howland removed from the city, , Wm. Fagan later resigned, John Knickrehm was appointed from Grand Island No. 5 and F. A. Glade, Emil Wolback, Grand Island No. 4 and Henry Schuff from Grand Island served. Thos. Hostler succeeded Wm. Fagan from Prairie Creek Township. ^ Various subjects which came before this board for their action or assistance were, assisting in the June 5, 1917 registration; mak ing June 14, flag day, an enlistment day; assisting Chairman Williams of First Liberty bond drive in perfecting his plans; assisting in methods to care for the demand for labor ers for farm work; co-operating toward se curing further enlistments for Co. M, 5th Nebr. Regiment; Secretary Mason of Com mercial Club appointed head of labor bureau under auspices of the council; study of needs for seed wheat and its equitable distribution; and later in the progress of the war, hearings were held by the Council whenever complaints were made or rumors were circulated with any persistency relating to any utterances, or con duct of any citizen which was suspected to be in hindrance or detriment to the conduct of any agency or phase of war work. Consider able assistance was lent to the liberty bond and other campaigns by the information com piled by the council and investigations made by this body. Anyone investigating the mat ter would be astonished at the number of com munications received by the officers of this organization from innumerable boards, com missions and departments of the government upon an enormous variety of subjects, requir ing investigations and statistical reports to be made. HALL COUNTY SELECTIVE SERVICE BOARD AND COUNTY APPEAL AGENT The registration system has already been explained. When the enormous task of class ifying and selecting the required number of HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 461 men came upon the authorities, a very elab orate system was worked out. In each state, a Provost-Marshal was appointed. In Ne braska, Capt. Walter L- Anderson served in this capacity. District boards in Nebraska being two in number, took general charge of appeals from classifications of local boards. For the northern district of Nebraska, Hall County fumished one of the members, Fred W, Ashton of Grand Island. The local selec tive service board for Hall County were Sheriff Gustav Sievers, County Clerk J. E. Lyle and Dr. J. G. Woodin. The scope and volume of the work performed by this board, with the excellence of Hall County's record in these respects can be ascertained in the simplest manner by an examination of the principal statistical data on local boards' work, issued by the office of the Provost-Marshal of the United States, Gen Enoch Crowder. The registration from Hall County for June 5, 1917, was 2,217, June and August, 1918, 178, September 12, 1918, 2,811, total 5,206. For each registrant it was necessary for the board to receive the registration cards prepared at the precinct registration booth, copy them, index and file the new card. Then later questionaires were mlailed out to all registrants of the first three registrations, and those under 36 in the September 12, regis tration, making approximately 4,000 for Hall County. Cover sheets for future indexing, filing and enclosure of the returned question aire were provided and prepared at the time of mailing out the questionaire and an entry made in the classification book for each man; then upon the return of the ques tionaire, the date of its return was entered. This vast amount of clerical work fell mainly upon Miss Bessie Barbee, clerk for the local board. If the questionaire showed a claim for exemption upon agricultural, industrial or other vocational grounds, or certain other grounds, it was immediately mailed to the state district board which passed upon it, either granting or overruling the claim; if for de pendency grounds, the claim for exemption had to be decided and passed upon by the members of the local board. The county appeal agent received instructions to appeal all dependency exemptions allowed, such as fell within certain classes as, for instance, where the claimant had married after June 5, 1917, and certain other conditions designated, or where the circumstance known to local officers threw a doubt upon the sincerity or efficacy of the claim. When the decisions as to classification was arrived at, whether by local or state board, that fact had to be entered upon the records and a card mailed to the registrant showing the classification given to him. In addition innumerable reports, daily, monthly, or weekly were called for by the provost- marshal's offices and state board offices. The number of inductions shown for HaH County was 561 and the splendid record made in the physical examinations conducted by the local examiner, when they ran the guant- let of examinations at camp is shown by the following figures : accepted in general ser vice, 498, remediables, 7, placed in limited service, 71, and disqualified, 35, The defer ments granted, a line of data which shows the proportion of classification work which fell upon the local board and the proportion which was handled by the state boards, shows as : dependency, 975, agricultural, 172, industrial, 40. O. A. Abbott, Jr., served as government appeal agent for Hall County. women's auxiliary COUNCIL TO COUNCIL OF DEFENSE In August, 1917, a women's committee was formed to assist the county council of de fense in an auxiliary manner. A great many tasks were assigned to this body and credit ably performed, Mrs, Chas, G, Ryan served as chairman. The members were : Grand Is land, Mesdames G, E. Neumann, E. F, Youn kin, J. Shuman, O. D. Wright, J. C. Troyer, F. L. Evans, J, L, Cleary, O. A, Abbott, Jr,, the Misses Ada Garmire, Daisy Houck; Doniphan, Mrs, A, D, Burger, Mrs, D, B, SkHes and Mrs. J. W. Mahaffey ; Cairo, Mrs. A. H, Shattuck, and Mrs, Dell Thompson; South Loup township, Mrs, Robert Thompson and Mrs, C, Hugo Hehnke; Mayfield town- 462 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA ship Mrs W. C. Robinson and Mrs G. C. Cleary, F. E. Glade, Chas T. McElroy, P. Raven- Wood River, Mrs. W. R. Abbott; Ralph Neumeyer and Wm. F. Krehmke. Cameron, Mrs. Chas. E. Taylor; Alda, Miss Lake township, J. J. Lorentzen; Praine Peari Balmat; Center, Mrs Henry House and Creek, Wm, Fagan; Mayfield, G, C. Raven; Mrs. Ira Gibson; Harrison, Mrs. C. Halde- South Loup, J. E. Cox; Cameron, Chas. E. ^^^ Taylor; Wood River, W. L- Sprague; Doni- WAR ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE phan, Don Burger; South Platte, Doniphan 50,000 Harrison 32,500 Jackson 34,000 Center 23,500 Alda 30,000 Wood River 61,000 ]\5ayfield-S. Loup 50,000 Washington 50,000 Martin. 16,000 Lake 25,000 51,600 11,750 35,550 29,500 24,800 61,950 51,65055,650 16,450 26,400 $810,350 $878,100 In view of the fact that the majority of counties in the state did not meet their quota in the Fifth or Victory Liberty loan, .Hall County's showing in meeting every quota as signed to it during the war period was par- ticulary creditable, and a record very few counties in the state can show. THE HOME -GUARDS During 1918, a Home Guards company was organized at Grand Island which did very efficient and valuable service during the re maining months of the War. This company was officered by men who had served in the Spanish-American war, and many of the mem bers had also had national guard experience, so they knew the intricacies of military drill to start with. Details of officers and members of the giiard, principally -Captain Long and Lieut. McElroy, gave drills, almost nightly, to squads of men not members, who were about to leave for camps, and this was kept up for many weeks. The result was that a good percentage of the men who took this pre liminary drill under the home guards within a very short time after their arrival at camp became corporals and a number of them soon rose to the rank of sergeant. Such men about to leave the city or county to enter service were at times allowed to drill with the com pany and thus became broken into the com pany formations and became used to drilling with a body of men. The home guards also served as escort for funerals of men who died in service ; they guarded the city on the night of the armistice celebration and responded to many calls at public functions. The officers of the company were: E. J. Long, captain, Chas. T. McElroy, first lieu tenant, O. A. Abbott, Jr., second lieutenant (and secretary of the company). The active membership was : O. A. Abbott, Jr., (2nd Lieut.), A, A, Anderson, E- W. Augustine, Charles Banks, H, J. Barten bach, Q. W. Bartenbach, R. W. Bock, Thos. E. Bradstreet, Herman, F. Buckow, Harry A. Carey, David H. Carson, (Corporal), L. J. Cleary, George Cowton, F. J. Cleary, L. T. Cox, Charles T. Coates, (Sargeant), W. E. Clayton, C. E. CantreH, F. W. Clark, B. J, Cunningham, J. E- Dill, L, H. McDonald, (Supply Sargeant), J. A, Donald, (honorary member), A. L. . Dunn, (corporal), E. E. Davison*, A, H. Farnsworth, (honorary mem ber), T. H, Fritts, Rufus M. Geer, F. A. Glade, (corporal), A. W, Glade, L. T. Geer, (honorary member), Mark Glenn*, C. P. Giouo, A. J. Guendel, Judge J. R. Hanna, Fred L- Harrison, (member and in band), Guy Harrison, (member in band). Reed Har rison*, H. R. Hatfield, Fred Herxler, A. H. Huesner, R. R. Horth, E. W. Hurst, S. C. Huston, J. T. Howland, (honorary-removed from city during work of company), R. G. Hainline, Chas. Hansen, Percy James, Glenn Jones, (honorary member), Ed Jones, David Kaufman, Wm. T, Kelly, Fred L- King, E. G. Kroger, Wm. T, Krause, R. D, Kingsbury, A. H. Lanjahr, Alfred Lederman*, H, W. Locke, W, H. Luers, Emil Liedtke, Chas, J. McAllister (musician)*, John C. McCauley, J- A. MitcheH, Charies T. .-McElroy, (1st Lieut.), E. J. Long, (Captain), Thos. V, McGowan, G. D. Mawhinney, Ed Mettin brink*, A. F. Miller*, A. E. Nagelstock, Herman Nelson, P. Ralph Nuemeyer, T. W. O'Laughlin, Judge Bayard H. Paine, Gordon Payne, C. P. Pederson, (moved away, then carried as honorary), Ira E- Paine, Roe Pow'ell, Waher Powell, Walter H. Rauert, Dr. John V. ReiHey, L- W. Roberts, Chas. G. Ryan, Dr. John H. Regan*, H. Richards, Fred L. Reif, T. M. Sharp, F,' E- Slusser, C. J. Southard, (moved out of city), H, M. Steidley, (corporal), William Suhr, Victor Smith, Rishard E- ScheH, O. C. Thompson, 464 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Eari Tuttle, C. H. Tully, A. W. Turtan, W. H. Thompson, (honorary member), Oscar Veit, Ernest Veit*, E. J. Wolbach, C. V. Willard and J. D. Whitmore, (honorary mem bers), Ed WiHiams, (1st sergeant), P. D. WHlis*, V. E. Warren and Clive Williams*. Harrison's Grand Island band joined forces with the company, appeared at drills and fur nished music for the company's work, and thus were carried on the roster as members of the company in return for their very essential service, and at the same time the band mem bers received valuable drilling and" instruc tions of the company work. The members of the band thus carried as members of the company were : John Albrecht*, Orville Auhl, Oliver Arbett, (called for service), Geo. Barres, Chas Bossert, L- Burger, Fritz Brase, Frank Brase*, E- A. Graf*, Fred L. Harrison, Guy Harrison, (Leader of the band), Ray Harrison, T. Hayman, D. Linder- kamp, P. Mangelson, F. W. McCutchan, E. C. Mussler*, G, L- Neligh, O. Otteson, F, Pippen, A. Posten, Wm. RuetUnger, John Reed, Julius Reese, A. A. Roeser, Emil Sand ers, Rudolph Schultz, Claude Smith, Herman SchlichHng*, Carl Vick. * Signifies those members who left to enter military service of our country, THE FOOD ADMINISTRATION The county central committee was organ ized in Hall County for the purpose of con ducting the food pledge campaign which oc curred during the week of October 28, 1917, and which was the first United States food administration activity in the community. The efforts of this committee were so effectual that Hall County led the state in the number of pledges secured. Gordon W. Wattles, federal food administrator for Nebraska, recognized the good work of this committee by honoring its chairman with the appoint ment of county food administrator. At the time these appointments were made, Mrs. Ryan was the only woman appointed a county chairman. The original committee, with some additions and necessary substitutions, contin ued as the county food committee. The work of the cortimittee was divided in to departments, additions being made as new problems arose. These divisions Were : price fixing, township, educational, publicity, speak ers, home economics, hotels and public eating places, grain threshing, gardens and products, district and block leaders of women. The fair price committee published its fltst fair price list on December 17, 1917, giving prices on five staples. In the succeeding twelve months this division held forty-seven meet ings ; the list grew to include eighteen com modities and was published without inter mission until the week of January 5, 1919. The educational, publicity and speakers divisions promoted and assisted in eighty-six patriotic meetings in the county besides a large number of less formal gatherings in schools, theatres and societies where speakers carried on the educational crusade of the food admini stration. The teachers of the schools assisted mater ially in the work of the educational division. An organization of women known as district and block leaders gavel invaluable help in distribution of literature, and as many as 85% of the homes in one precint, pledged to "Use no Wheat until the next Harvest." Hotels and restaurants heroically adopted the wheatless program. During the sugar ration ing period the county at no time used its full quota. The merchants showed uncomplain ing and faithful compliance with every re quest for weekly reports and occasional in- I formation. Seven rejections cases were handled, and seventeen formal hearings held of which twelve complaints were sustained and penal ties assessed. The members of the organization which carried on this work were: Mrs. Charles G. (Evelyn A.) Ryan, County Food Administra tor; Mr. J. Donald, Wholsale Grocer, Vice- Chairman; Mr. F. A. Glade, MHler, Secre tary ; Mr. Oscar Veit, Retail Merchants', Mr. William Krehmke, Meat Dealers', Robert Teviotdale, Bakers' Advisory Representa tives; Mr. O. A. Abbott, Jr., Assisting as Chairman County CouncH of Defense; Mr. ?"'¦ HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 465 David Kaufman, Assisting as President Com mercial Club; Mrs, R, B, Ray, Assisting as Representative Women's Club; Mrs, A, D. Burger, Doniphan, Deputy Adminjistrator, Precint Chairman ; Mrs, Hugo Hehnke, Cairo, Mr. A. D. Sherrerd and later J. T, Brett, Wood River, Miss Peari Balmat, Alda, Mr, Chas. E. Taylor, Wood River (Cameron Township), Mr. Frank Hitchler, Abbott, Deputy Administrators, Precinct Chairmen; other deputy administrators and precinct chair men, Mr. C. J. Cox, Prosser; Mrs. A. H. Bishop, Grand Island RED 2; Mrs. Henry Rouse, Alda;) Mrs. A. J. Bauman, Chair man Educational Department; Miss Elizabeth Cunningham, her vice chairman; Mrs, O, A, Abbott, Jr., (deceased), Chairman Home Economics, Mrs. A. Benninghoven, acting as her successor; Mr. A. F. Buechler, publicity; Mr. Wm Suhr, Speakers Department; Mr, R, D, Kingsbury, Threshing Division, Mr, H, Schuff, Hotels and Public Eating Houses. FEDERAL FUEL ADMINISTRATION This activity was called into operation in time to regulate prices and distribute the coal supply equitably and hold the matter of price and supply within reasonable bounds for the population at home and keep war industries and foreign countries relieved during the win ter of 1917-18 and winter of 1918-19. Chas. G. Ryan was chairman for Hall County, and his assistants in this work were Oscar R. Kirschke, city chairman for Grand Island, Ray D. Kingsbury, W. L. Sprague, chairman for Wod River, H. L. Mcintosh at Alda, J. E. Cox at Cairo, and Mr. Gideon at Doniphan. The federal fuel administration fixed the prices, or rather marginal profits permitted, on the sale of coal, but to the local county administration fell the tasks of fixing and regulating the prices charged for delivery, and to determine in what quantities coal should be delivered, and to place orders with the federal administration when a shortage of coal threatened. In tWd instances coal in tran sit was seized and diverted. FOUR MINUTE MEN An organization which did a very distinc tive service throughout the country, was the four-minute men. This plan of having four- minute talks miade in the theatres, churches, and wherever regular public gatherings were held, not only aroused enthusiasm in the vari ous campaigns, but was used for the spreading of information generally by the government. During each Liberty loan, Y. M. C. A. drive. Red Cross membership campaign, U. W. W. drive, and on special days such as Flag Day, nurse enrollment drive, bastile day, July 4, and all such special days, after this organization was formed, sjjeakers presented the particular ly pertinent war-gospel to the people. In order to make an effective four-minute talk, the speaker had to outline in his mind the begin ning of his speech, leave it out and deliver the closing part with the "punch," so this plan developed a particularly forceful style of public speaking, which is not being entirely discarded since the abandonment of the four- minute program for govemmental activities. Considerable credit is due to Managers Woostenholm of the Majestic, Hayman of the Lyda, Fisher of the Empress and Mitchell of the Michelson, for the use of their theatres so many times during those last months of the war. F. M. Mitchell of the Michelson was the only theatre man who was a four-minute speaker also. The first chairman of the four- minute men organization of Hall County was Frank E. Slusser, and he was succeeded in 1918 by J. H. WooHey. Those who carried on the work of the four-minute men organiza tion of Hall County were : Bishop J. A. Duffy, Mayor J. L. Cleary, Miss Jane L. Pinder, Mrs. R. B. Ray, Judge Bayard H. Paine, Hon. Chas G. Ryan, Hon. W. H. Thompson, Hon. W. A. Prince, F. M. Mitch ell, William Suhr, Dale P. Stough, Rev. M. L. Rose, Rev, V, R, Beebe, Rev, L. A. Arthur, At the close of this work, both cer tificates of efficiency and a copper button, said to have been made from copper taken from first German submarine brought to this country and dismantled, were awarded. WAR SAVINGS CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE The work of the War Savings Campaign Committees has already been outlined earlier 466 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA in this chapter, but the personnel of those National CathoHc War Council, and David who led the campaign in this county should be Kaufman for the Jewish Welfare Association. mentioned. S. N. Wolbach was county chair- The local council in charge of the campaign man Arthur C. Mayer was city chairman, in Hall County were, chairman, Thomas E. and Chas E. Fralick had charge of the forma- Bradstreet, representing the Y. M. C. A. tion of War Savings clubs throughout the with Frank E. Slusser, as his assistant chair- county. Mr. Wolbach was chosen in Decem- man during the drive ; Miss Sheeley, secre- ber, 1917, and he shortly afterwards chose tary of local Y. W. C. A. represented that his assistants. "HaH County's quota was organization; Mr. Roney represented the $453,000- On April 5, the figures showed that ^National Catholic War Council (Knights of Grand Island subscribed for $333,800 worth Columbus), A. E. Nagelstock represented of stamps and the outside districts in the Jewish Welfare Board and was secretary of county had taken $330,411 or $115,611 more local executive committee, Lawrence Donald than their quota. represented War Camp Community Service, The- distribution of the outside districts, as the Salvation Army was represented by a to their quotas and their responses, were: captain of its order from Hastings who was Quota Response working in Central Nebraska then, and the Lake $10,000 $17,070 American Library Association, by Mrs. J. L. Prairie Creek 9,600 16,103 Cleary, a member of local library board. The Mayfield 15,000 18,805 quota was fixed at $51,000, or 50% more than South Loup 13,000 23,535 each citizen had donated to the last preced- Cameron 13,600 15,218 ing Red Cross drive. On the evening of No- Harrison 12,000 17,946 vember 10 the subscriptions amounted to Center 13,000 25,565 $6,630, but the enthusiasm of Armistice Day Washington 20,500 26,399 boosted them to $10,632. 60 ; and like all other Alda 13,500 16,908 drives Hall County went over the top, though Poniphan 24,600 30,822 the ending of hostilities rather slackened South Platte 10,000 23,912 the speed of the drive. Martin 8,000 15,070 Jackson 19,000 35,401 "'^^^'^ '^^'^ organizations Wood River 33,000 47,660 There were so many organizations formed to handle tasks which came up in connection UNITED WAR WORK CAMPAIGN with war work that there is a danger of During the latter part- of October, a local omitting some of them.. A drive was insti- organization was formed to take care of the tuted to secure HaH County's quota of girls campaign for the seven war societies joint to enter nursing training and the Red Cross fund, caHed the United War Work Campaign, assisted in this work by placing Mrs. W. J. The state organization was headed by Judge Redfield in charge. Five Hall County girls Geo- F. Corcoran, of York, with a state com- signed in response to this call; Miss Theresa mittee consisting of representatives for each Curry and Ethel Allen of Wood River, Bertha of the sevn societies. District committees ToW, Irene .Plunding and Miss Boiling of were formed, and in the district in which Grand Island. Grand Island was situated three Hall County The task of handling the enrollment of the people represented their various organizations, boys from 16 to 18 for selective service in and thus bore a responsibility in this campaign farm labor for the summer of 1919 was organ- that reached beyond our county. Mrs. W. ized and ready for the enrollment on Novem- A. Prince served as district representative for ber 14. C. O. Michael was chairman. County the Y. W. C. A., Mayor J. L- Cleary for the Agent J. R. White, assistant chairman, and HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 467 different men were selected, but though the registration was held the need for this branch of work did not materialize. "welcome home," JULY 24, 1919 The homecoming celebration at Schimmer's lake drew an attendance Thursday afternoon and evening estimated all the way from 5,000 to 20,000. Officers of the committee placed the size of the crowd from 6,000 to 8,000, the latter being one-third of the county's entire population. The general interest shown was a surprise even to the most sanquine. Early in the afternoon some of the committeemen on the ground said they thought there would be at least 5,000 people on hand. The barbecue put out 12,000 sandwiches according to figures obtained by Secretary Otis of the Commercial Club. He said there was no doubt that 3,000 or 4,000 people did not patronize the booth where the barbecued meat was distributed. More thon 700 loaves of bread, four steers, 50 pounds of salt, and a great quantity of pickles and mustard were used in making the sandwiches which were given out. Sheriff McCutchan had a group of deputies to staighten out traffic. They were kept busy watching the crisscrossing of cars in front of the entrance to Sand KrogI and tthe lake. South of the lake where machines were main ly parked, hundreds of cars filled the road sides and fields for a distance of a half mHe from Sand Krog. Late in the evening when people were retuming home the headlights of the automobiles illuminated the roadway for the entire distance from the lake to the city for a long period. Machines were not more than 200 feet apart and most of the", way the procession was almost solid. Thel special train put on by the Union Pacific made hourly trips between noon and midnight, the last train coming in at 12:30 a. m. By actual count 1,897 people bought round trip tickets and there were some who paid fare only one way. The last train car ried five coaches and each coach was packed, all seats and all standing room being taken. The fireworks in the evening proved a most entertaining feature. People were requested to gather around the lake in order that a better view of the fireworks could be obtained. The crowd was so large that this request was difficult to meet. Set pieces of Pershing, the national flag ^nd the Red Cross were all good, that of the flag being particularly fine. Shrapnel fireworks supplied plenty of noise. Other fireworks made up the program. Music was furnished by the Wood River band in the aftemoon, by the Grand Island band in the evening and by Liederkranz Male quartet during the formal program. A bur lesque wrestling match on the band platform by two Omaha men entertained the crowd in the late afternoon. Those present included people from the western part of the state, from Kearney and from Hastings. The amount of money taken in at the booths and received from the concessions by the committee was estimated at $2,100. In the aftemoon a program of speaking was held in the pavHion at Sand Krog. Mayor J. L. Cleary presided as chairman. Colonel McCrea of Omaha was one of the speakers. He is a physician who organized an ambu lance at Council Bluffs and later perfected the organization .while in Europe. His subject dealt with preparedness, on which he repeat edly touched. Mr. Risden of Lincoln, member of the Ro tary club, who served in camp as an enter tainer for the soldiers and delighted many with story and declamation, gave a pleasing talk. Compositions of his own were among those he delivered. His daughter. Miss Ris den, accompanied him to the city and helped in one of the booths. A patriotic address was given by Judge B. H. Paine. The Liederkranz Male quartet, composed of Harold Menck, Harry Paulsen, George Heyde and Gus Roeser, was on the prorgam, an(| their singing was much en joyed and was given most hearty applause Sheriff McCutchan's force of deputies at the grounds included E. J. Wickwire, C. J. Palmer, Emil Schroeder, Gus Fonner and Mr. Thomssen. 468 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Alda, Neb., April 23.— (Special Dispatch). — A community reception was held last even ing at the Methodist church in honor of the returned soldier boys of this community, of which there were ten, five of whom had been overseas. The overseas honor guests were: George Filsinger, John Quisenberry, Jr., Robert Swift, of Watertown, Nebraska, Julius Gutschow and Edward Ewoldt. Ow ing to a paralytic stroke which occurred Mon day night, Ned King, also an overseas soldier, was unable to be present. The boys who had done their bit in the camps in this country were: Lloyd Minor, Ronald Brown, Edward Swift, Frank Dahlstrom, and Mr. Ewoldt, Jay Lawrence. John Thomssen acted in the capacity of chairman of the meeting. Following a short prayer by Rev. Warren the audience sang "Keep the Home Fires Burning," after which the address of welcome was given by Mr. Ira Gibson. Short talks were also given by H. S. Mcintosh, Henry Rouse, E. J. Long, and Ex- Representative M. H. O'Malley. George Filsinger gave a very touching re sponse with references to the hearty welcome they had received and how much it meant ta the boys to be again among their friends, but asked that the honors be not given to the boys who had retumed but rather that all honor be given to the ones who would never come back and were sleeping in foreign fields. Robert Swift, of Watertown, gave a most interesting talk along the lines of going over the top and how one feels when he is going over, having no fear what-ever. Mr. Swift was wounded by a German shell in the battle of St. Mihiel and was in the hospital for six months. Following the talks an interesting program of piano selections and vocal solos were given which were greatly enjoyed. At the close of the program all went to the church basement where refreshments were served. Camations were presented to each soldier boy present. Between 250 and 300 persons were present, and it is believed that even a larger number would have attended but for the threatening storm. The affair was de clared by all to have been a most enjoyable one and will long be remembered. LIST OF HALL county's SONS IN THE WAR Shortly after the beginning of the active hostilities between the governments of the United States and Germany, O. A Abbott, Jr., was appointed by the executive committee of the Red Cross to record- the names of aH Hall County's sons who had been called into their country's service, in what ever branch of the nation's military forces, and whether by voluntary enlistment or under the selective service act. For some time Mr. Abbott was able to compile and keep the record. His duties as chairman of the Council of Defense, as court reporter and as secretary of the Home Guards, however, made it necessary for him to abandon the work. And for some weeks the work of compilation had been dropped. When The Independent ascertained this fact, it volunteered to pick up the task where it had been abondoned, as well as ^he paper was able to do so, and it kept up the work until the last contingent had been sent to the camps, in the meantime also keeping as close check on enlistments as possible. Particular efforts were made to secure the then post office addresses, the branch of ser vice, the forces to which attached, of every member, but the responses to these requests were only partial and it is impractical to give the regiment, company, etc., to which these men were assigned. And it is now compeUed as part of its own welcoming home of all of Hall County's defenders of the flag to pub lish the list as hereto added. (It would not be a complete summary if, in closing. The Independent failed to give attest to the splendid and uniform manner in which the sons of Hall County answered to their country's call. The paper would be le- miss if it did not pay a tribute, likewise, to the fathers and mothers and to the public of Hall County generally, for the uniform loyal ty evidenced during the past feW years — by the sons who, if need be, offered the su preme sacrifice; by the fathers and mothers who unhesitatingly and patriotically bade their HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 469 sons farewell, and godspeed to them and to our own, our native land; and to aH — in cluding those who were not, by force of cir cumstances, called upon to make such sacri fices — for the splendid support given in the second line of defense — in meeting, promptly and fully, every quota. Indeed Hall County is known far and wide, over the state, as hav ing been foremost in these duties, and in the united spirit in which they were met. It is with a sense of deepest gratitude to the men thus called and serving ; as a meed of the high respect and honor due them; and -with a feel ing of pride in our home county that The Independent submits, today, this roster of its fighting sons. — Editor). May 24, 1919 — A— Augustine, Howard M. Applegit, Gilbert J. Anthoney, Carmon W. Anthony, Alfred E. Allan, Leo Allan, Rex AtwiH, Claude C. Ayers, Byrle Albrecht, John W. Ackerman, Charles Anderson, Martin Alderman, Floyd M. Ashton, Fred W. Axselband, Harry Afflerbaugh, N. W. Afflerbaugh, Earl Ashton, Walter F. Ainsworth, Will T. Allen, C. E. Adams, Warren Augustine, Irving Anderson, Clarence Anderson, Roy Malcom Ashton, Oliver Adams, Jesse Armitis, Joseph *Ayers Earl -B— Britt, Theodore R. Baylor, Paul Bergholz, Frank Boissean, Ben F. Bradstreet, Deo Burch, Walter C, Beberniss, Walter Bremer, Howard Beerup, Clyde W. Bradshaw, Victor A. Buchfink, Ernest L. S. Brazelton, Roscoe Bernstein, Fritz Bradley, Wayne E. Butt, Henry Charles Brunner, WiHiam L. Brooks, Paul B. Burford, Ralph Button, George Brown, Alvin Bomgardner, Cluad Biery, J. H. Bartlett, Stanley W. Brown, Allen Brown, Roy Buford, Ralph Bertrand, Ferdinand Betz, Adolph Blair, Roy A. Boyer, L. W. Bailey, Hairy J. Bacon, John Bridge, Emest Brown Ronald R. Blunk, Adolph Blunk, Walter Buechler, Theodore Buechler, Walter Black, John Beeble, Albert Bergholz, Richard Brininger, L. Roy Baker, Sidney Paul Bailey Pete Brown Frank E. Bowen, Ralph Brown, Lloyd Boyden, Dr. H. B. Baker, Dr, H. J, Barlow, Vem *Bendowsky, Frank 470 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Baumann, Henry C. E. Bailey, William Barnes Edward H, Brown, Jesse Bolt, John F. Baker, Seth Baird, Joseph P: Brown, B. D. Brand, Leo T. Bergholz, William Brown, James T., Jr. Bouquette, Ishmael W. Baker, Ray R. Busey, Raymond L. Bender, Carl G. Buzzard, Leo Bowen, John Baumann, Bernard Button, Eugene Barrett, George H. *Betts, Fred Leroy Bulliss, Glenn E. Bulger, Frank H. Boone, Robert E. Barbander, Joseph Beck, Fred Brase, Frank H. Birk, Wilmer Barlow, Verne K. Becker, Welter Blauvelt, E. M. BuHington, Edward E, Bowie, William L. Bowman, Harry E. Ballinger, Charles Boone, Richard Blass, Addie Burmood, George E. *Benson, Charles A. Bishop, Harold Benson, Arthur M. Benson, Einar Bischeld, Edward F. Brundage, William Ii. Buchanan, Harry D. Beers, Zenas H. Brown Lewis Henry Baumann, Walter Brown, Carrol Beegle, Austin Beegle, Harry Bain, Othoe Bossert, Charles Bartenbach, George W. Brase, Edward J. Barnes, Charles Broyles, Wayne W. Benesh, William Leslie, Black, Ray James Boettcher, Lewis A. Baumann, Roy Jennings BaHard Clarence Black, Louis Buettner, Gustav A. Bryson, James M. Button, Percy Roy *Bensen, Allan — C— Gates, Harold Kenneth CantreH, Russell Carl, John B. Christ, Harry A. Craig, Frank Curtis, Roy H. Charleton, Arthur Campbell, John Campbell, Harry Catterson, Emmett B. Campbell WiHiam P. Connor, Charles V. Campbell, Clyde C. Claussen, Henry Carter, Walter A. Cornelius, Max J. Clampitt, Jack Cornelius, George R. Coleman, Ralph Cisco, Lester S. Cunningham Snsyl W. Cramer, Fay E, Cornell, Edwin L, *Cady, Fayette Care, John B, Cline, George H, Cox, Ozies Clifford Clark, Otto H. Croy, Leo HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 471 Cosh, Andrew CosteHo, Emmett Cave, George A. Coates, George F, Christensen, Raymond Case, Ralph A, Cole, Clarence W, Contos, John Cunningham, Oren Carson, Burdette Calbellero, Rex Campbell, Clarence Corbett, Oliver J, Clark, Claude C, Cunningham, William Clark, Paul D. Coates Mercer, Cox, Peter CosteHo, Harry Clark, Robert *Cates, Edwin L. Clark, Earl Christie, Joseph F. Culbertson, Guizia H. Colond, Louis J. Cole, William Coates, Charles T. CosteHo, Niel Caib, Forrest W. CosteHo, T. E- Carson, Guy Caloud, Louis J. *Connor, Leo T. CosteHo, PhiHip N. Colwell, Louis Gates, lawrence — D— Donald, Lawrence Gray Donald, Bruce Donald, Robert Duffy, Edward T. Duffy Lawrence Donovan, Claude P. Diskin, John Dahlstrom, Frank R. Daugherty, Lesley Drumhiller, Fred A. Davis, George A. Darling, Orville C. Diechman, Carl A., Jr. Dixon, Ralph Davis, Carl E. Dennon, Sumner Pearly Dryer, Earl Dempsey, Bernard Davis, Roy O. Dutton, Sidney Defifenbaugh, Capt. M. H. Dannell, Henry Davis, Reed Davidson, Earl Elmer Decius, Charles A. Draper, Delmar O. Dunn, Thomas R. Davies, Wesley Dies, Theodore Drake, Earl Deffenbaugh, John J. Dunn, WiHiam T. Dietrich, Jack Deffenbaugh, George Deffenbaugh, Wayne Deffenbaugh, Dr. Ethan Dixon, George Daily, C. Dryer, Emil Daniel, John *Deuel, Benjamin — E— Etting, Norval Englehart, Edward G. Ewoldt, Albert Engleman, Edwin E. Eggers, Otto Etting Lee E- Engleman, Herbert Eddingfield, Robert Ewoldt, Eddie Enck, Howard Enck, Russell Edgmond, Nelson Elliott, Lee V. England, Granvill B. Eggers, Henry Eaton, George Eaton, Max 472 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA EHiott, William R. Edwards, Glynn EHiott, William C. Elshire Fred R. Eaton, Raymond J. Evans, Roy E. Ewing, Henry Epkes, J. J. Edwards, J. L. Ewing Theodore English, Robert Englehart, Leo Eaton, Thomas C. Eaton, Raymond J. Edmunds, WHliam Ellis, Grover Cleveland — F— Fuerstenau, WHliam Fisher, William A. Federle, Ignatius Foster, Beryl B. Farris, Lisle Fisher, George W. Fay, Clifford Fass, George A. Farrel, Henry G. Frame, Jamles Fagan, William F. Frank, Ernest Frank, Owen Foster, Walter Fulton, Harry M. Fuller, George D. Freeman, Alfred V. Faler, Howard Fennel Francis J. French, George Fossgreen, Andrew Freitag, Walter Freitag, Albert Flack, Clayton Fuehrer, Lester Finley, Reuel C. Funk, George E. Fisher, Fisk B. Francis, WHliam E. Fuss, Henry, Jr. Fellows, Clyde H. Francis, Leroy Forbes, Ray A. Frederick, Owen Francis, Vincent Francis, Roger V. Flanders WiHiam B. Fonner, James W. Fountain, Stephen Faust, Herbert Guy Flood, M. J. — G— Garlow, Lawrence Thorne Greenwood, Lyle Vern Gosda, Richard Graves, William Green, Charles Graham, Alexander Garrett, Guy Grisham, Roscoe W. Graf, Eddie William Garrison, Gerald Gay Geil, Warren B. Gilbert, Robert E. Gossett, Frank E. Goehring, Clemetus H. Garneceli, Amolfo Gutschow, Julius Geddes, Harold Goehring Carl Groff, John Gold, Isaac Gabriel, Clarence V. Gilpatrick, Cecil F. Goecke, Herman H. Gararis, Constantine Garfield, James A. Gontz, Emery F Garn, Walter C. Grasborg, Bert Gilmore, Earl D. Garver, Harry G. Garver, Pau/ Glines, Frank Green, Leon O. Gilchrist, Capt. W. R. Gaydon, Edmund T Good, Victor R. Griffin, Lee, R. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 473 Grundy, Charles E. Grady, Charles Geddes, Glen H. Gosda, Adolph Gray, James W. Greufe, Herman Goff, Dick Gossett, Charles H. Gross, Roy E. Grossart, James Gabriel, Clarence V. Gorman, Lawrence G. Godberson, John L. Glines, Everett O. Green, Dr. R. L, Good Leo B, Gladson, Clyde Gouf, Eli T. Grim, Claude E. Graf, Lieut. E. A. Gossart, Pete Grimm, Clark, Grant, Guy Reid Grant William H., Gilbert, Eari David Gregg, Lester Morgan Graham, Robert French Grideon, Paul Marth — H— Humphrey, Maynard Hines, Harvey K. Hurley, Charles D. Hamann, Fred Harders, Emil Highland, George W. Huck, Fred L. Herman, August Hendryx, Claude Harbert, Ernest C. Hurst, Noble G. Hosek, Joseph F. Hammlond, Ray F. Harrison, Reed L. *Harris, Richard L. Hitch, Arthur Hayes, Lemuel Howard, Calvin Hansen, Carl Hoskins, Roy Horn, Otto James Harms, WiHiam J. Harvey, John H. Hoffman, Claude Lester Harie, William D. *Huyck, Floyd Gregg . Huyck, Oriand T. Henry, Oschar A. Hutton, WHliam R. Husman, WiHiam Heusinger, Lewis Heyde, George Heyde, Louis Hintz, Harry Hall, Alfred H. Hansen, Samuel Howard, Andrew E. Hutton, George W. Holsinger, Russell A. HoHey, John Harris, George W. Hauke, La Vern Hubbard Emmett L. Huck, Thomas L. Hanson, Louis HaH, Burt B. Hyde, Robert L. Hintz, John L. Hoover, Albert M, Heeley, Charles R, Hageman, Ernest Hann, Lawrence C. Hall, William B, Hultgreen, Arthur Hansen, Paul Haack, William Harris, Leland H, Heinlein, Roy George Huss, Claude Hansen, Charles N. Howard, Albert Hoshaw, Walter HaH, WHHam Z, Hofher, Ben Hageman, Louis A. Hanna, Donald C. Hess, Harold J. Holmes, Ralph J. 474 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Hager, Reinhardt Hawks, Clyde C, Huebner, John C, Hawks, Frank Holmes, Homer R, Henry, Lawrence Hopkins, Clarence^ E. Harshbarger, Ira Heller, Elmer A. Hofbauer, Frank Hoppel, Edgar B. Harding Charles W. Hardkopf, Frederick D. Heimes, John F. Hee, Cari Holstein, Richard Hoge, Wilmer Hoppold, Carl Hinz, William Hull, Edgar, C. Harrison, Gerald J. Hintz, Daniel Hoskins, Frank Havey, WiHiam Joseph Hancock, Ernest Humes, Lewis O. Hubman, Harry M. Hughes, Leslie R. Hamlon, William Hart, Warren F. Hitchcock, Nye S. Henderson, John S. Hageman, Herman Huffman, Charles F. Hanes, Lambrose — I— lams, Bryan J. Irwin, Laudette H. Isdell, Edward J. lams, Thomas lams, John Iving, Louis -J- John, Clinton Johns, George Jones, Clarence Jones, Estel Jessen, Claus Theodore Jensen, Iver C. Judeman, Herman F. Johnson, Olaf Johnson, J. Lloyd Johnson, Thomas Archie John, John R. Johnson, Daniel Johnson, Iver C. Johnson, Walter F. Johnson, Glen B. Jarvis, Hal Jordon, Leslie Austin Jensen, Harry E. Jensen, Oscar Jones, Harry Judkins, Walter Jones, Albert V. Joseph, Charles A. Jensen, Jens C. Jones, George Judkins, Roy Jungelaus, WiHiam Jungbluth, Edward Johnson, Glen Jankovitz, Mat J. Janousek, Louis J. John, Frank Jewett, Ralph Johnson, Christ Jones, Glen L. Johnson, Lars Johnson, Eugene Johnson, Lieut. E. G. John, Lee Kaley Johnson, Joseph F. Johnson, Roswell Johnson, Harley Jackson, Jesse Jackson, Charles H. Jackson, Ray Jones, James Jefferies, Wilbur Jefferies, Edward Jenson, Leo D. Jenson, Ernest M. — K— Kufer, Henry G. Klarr, Otto H. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 475 Knoch, Glen KaHos, Gust Knee, Roger Krall, Edward Krall, Herman Kalha, Henry Kirschke, Leo Kreider, Myrhon Kaumans, Frank Joseph Kaiser, Gustav L- Koehler, Bernhardt Kittel, Andrew Kuester, Rudolph KidwHer, Leo F. Katzberg, Fred *Kruse, Fred Kirkman, Leo Frank Kirkman, Howard Krusemark, Harry F. KeHy, Arthur Edward Kickbush, Emil Koehler, John F. King, Ora Ned Kelso, Alfred Kelso MHford Kelso, Earl Krebs, Roy Kaufman, Leo Joseph Klintworth, Henry Klintworth, Gus Knighten, Raymond A. Kuehner, Gottlieb C. Kuypers, Ralph Krieger, John Kelley, Andrew Koss, Walter O. Kehm, Jacob Kauman, Watthew T. Krehmke, J. C. Kelley, John A. Krueger, WHHam F. Katschke, Henry C. Krull, John A. Kenney, William A. Keith, Robert E. Killion, Harvey *Kindig, Lester Harrison Kirsch, Paul Kanes, Forrest Kring, Oriand. R. Keemler, Conrad Keeper, Henry Lyman, WiHis Lowe, Thomas C. Lundry, Lawrence H. Lockenvitz, Paul Ludington, Arthur, Irwin Lockett, Carl Lorence, Louis Price Langston, Boyd Weld Lykke, Roy *Leschinsky, Armond Lyle, Albert E. Lane, Commodore Lueth, Ernest, Jr. Lehinge, John E. Love, Frank Lesher, Carl. R. LaWhite, James L- Larrison, Seward V- Lane, Edward E- Lysinger, Laurence A. Leslie, Charles E. Labbe, George B. Lee, Albert P. Lindburg, Lloyd Linton, Harry Langenheder, WiHiam F. Luebs, Henry E. Leonard, Eugene M. Lilly, Eugene H. Lechner, WiHiam M. J. Laymon, Charles H. Lewis, Albert A. Lederman, Alfred C. Lowrey, Clarence A. Losey, Cecil Lewton, Frank E. Likes, Ralph Lyons, Milo W. Lorenzen, Bryan Lane, Frank Likes, OrvHle Linden, Floyd Longstreth, James H. Lysinger, Richard 476 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Lanfear, Fred D. Lane, Charles H. Likes, Erin V. Lawrence, Andrew J. Linn, Floyd A. Lockes, Raymond H. Lard, Charles J. LuckenviHe, Harry S. — M— Menck, Harold Menck, Ray Marsh, Geoge MoH, John Mohr, Archie Morgan, Louis Wesley Meier, Walter W. McKenzie, WiHiam B. Martin, Mark Seeley Martin, Joseph Menmeier, Walter C. Massey, Charles Maughan, Henry Joseph Murray, Thomas McCluggage, Clarence Megert, Fred Ernest Martin, Asa Walker Markham, Clarence Sam Morris, Walter Martinsen, Alfred T. McLellan, William Moheng, Everett H. Mader, Frederick Marsh, Derrell S. Munroe, William McKibben, Lawrence A. McNamara, WiHiam L. McGrath, Leo McKee, Claude, Minor, Lloyd May, Verne R. Murie, Frank McCormick, William T. Mahon, Chauncey E. Meisner, Frank Modesitt, Byron Maddox, Eari A. McGrath, Dr. B. R. Miller, Peter J. McShane, Leo Moody, Robert MeideH, D. E. MeserauH, Claude T. Morgan Cliff E. Mattingly, Clarence F. Mattingly, John S. Mattingly, Thomas H. Murphy, John F. Maynard, Evert M. Meyer, Ernest L. Mahoney, John Mclntire, WHliam C, Moore, Ray Morearty, Lewis S. Mansalis, Gus Menck, Art Mellberg, Thomas A. McDermott, Fred Mathiesen, Ed Mathiesen, Detlef Meyers, Leo Moore, Dr. J. Ross Marquis, Perry D. McNutt, Charles L- McNally, Joseph Chester Martin, Morris G. McCo!rmick,( Chauncey E. Muir, Robert W. Mettenbrink, Edward Meininger, Ernest Miller, Asa A. Mattsen Paul Marth, WHliam, Jr. Mahan, John A. Mathiesen, William Martin, Clarence E. McCormick, Ray A. Mack, Harry S. Mentzer, Lorenz G. Matheny, Raymond MsShane, James McShane, William Mawhiney, Robert J. McMullen, Alex Mankin, Edward Mader, Amold L. McNally, John F. Moslander, William J. HISTORY OP HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 477 Mullen, Will McGuire, Allen Mickish, Arthur Moeller, John C. MHler, Stanley C. Marth, Fritz Moore, Elmer R. McGuire, George A. Moody, Frank McClure, Harvey Mattingly, George Metheny, Dr. Morgan, Frank McClure, Harry Michelman, Oswald McAulley, Joe Meth, Waher Edward Mace, Floyd McCoy, Joe E. McCurkin, James T. Mclntire, Frank S. Melmer, John Joseph Mullen, George W. McAllister, Charles R. Muzzy, Ray E. Michejson, Harold Matheney, Earl Mitchell, Lenney Morrow, John C. Madison, Henry Mohan, John Albert Marry, Clinton S. Muhl, Harry Mills, Avery Perry MHlner, WiHiam D. Manning, James Matkins, Arthur McDonald, William H. McCann, Ray, Norris McCaslin, James L. Mellar, John C. McGlumphy, Chas. R. — N— Nicholson, George Naylor, Earl Nichaus, Stanley Nelson, Oscar NuH, Charles Noble, J. H. Norris, Walter Nelson, Clyde Nietfield, Otto Neth, Waher E. Nielson, Harry J, Nagel, Fred Nairhos, Gus Nolan, Joe Nolan, Art Nolan, Paul Neumann, Emest Nicholson, Edwin A, Nielsen, Clyde NeviHe, Eddie Nihans, Harry E. Newhouse, William Niess, Theodore S. Nichols, Wilbur R, — O— Oddo, Tony Osborn, Harry O'Field, Albert Orndorf, Bryan J. Oxford, William Osborn, Charles Porter Oswald, Edward C. O'Field, Alfred Ohl, Watts W. Olson, Elmer D. O'Kane, Thomas F. Oxford, Samuel O'Hara, Donald Ossowski, Henry J. Osborn, Fred Osborn, Ray V. Ondrak, John Owens, Roscoe C. — P— Petersen, Andrew L. Persson, Edward B. * Palmer, George S. PenweH, Harrison Paulsen, Albert C. Peters, Arthur C. Peters, Carl Peters, Rudolph Henry 478 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Peters, Hugo Pearsall, George E. Pearson, Bert Phelan, Harold Pfautch, Edmund PeHs, WHliam Paro, Allan J. Petersen, John C. Petersen, Sam P. Plath, Fred Polzel, Howard L- Polzel, Charies A. Prince, Harold A. Prigga, Elmer L- Parsons, George W- Pierpont, Julius R. Payne, Edward M. Powell, Perry A. Pahl, Noel L- Powell, Guy W. Palmer, Herbert C. Pierpont, Herman Pierce, Morris Phelan, Gordon Potts, Flynan Pruner, William D. Pruner, Swede Patterson, Harry Phillips, Willam F. Portlock, France E. Powers, Joseph Peterson, C. F. Pizer, Joe Pepper, William Powell, Joseph Powell, Albert Polk, William R. Pierce, Roy L. Pitzer, Thomas A, Pitts, Owen C. Pry, Edgar T, Pry, Alford Pigg, Woodward -Q- Quillin, Lawrence J. Quisenberry, John H. *Quisenberry, WiHiam M. Quigley, Patrick Quillin, Walter Quinn, E. H., Quackenbush, Bert D. — R— Rasmussen, Louis Rice, William Edward Reynolds, James S. Roney, Don W. Rumsey, George Roche, Joseph Francis Reed, Byron Rooker, Noel Ruff, Joe Roper, Joseph Rasmussen, Peter Runge, Charies Runge, August Roarick, Howard R. Roney, Joseph Roney, John P. Ranch, Henry Richards, Doan H. Raymore, Albert W. Ryder, Frank Russell, Samuel Rosenkotter, Henry H. Rogers, Kenneth Ross, Kenneth Rogers, Francis Roeser, Oscar, Jr. Reimers, Robert Redfield, Dr. WiHis P. Regan, Dr. John H. Richards, Cecil R. Rief, Herbert B. Rasmussen, George R. Ruse, William RHey, Russell Ries, Nicholas F. Roush, Floyd Roush, Charles Reed, Floyd K. Reed, Wendall Reed, William M. Rydberg, Verne E. Ryan, Raymond Ryan, James S. Richmond, Earl HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 479 Roach, John G. RHey, Edward Ross, Lee A. Ross, Brady Robinson, John Rolland, Robert W. Ray, George W, Rankin, Archibald R, Ruple, Paul M, Roy, William L. Rasmussen, George E. Ray, Robert B. Richeson, Jack Runge, Fred Runge, Pete Roberts, Jack Rhoades, Clyde Roush, Henry Reed, Willis Rourke, Garrett Reese, William Rief, C. H. Ross, Alton Wilson Ryan, Clark L- Rathbum, George Rauert, Richard L. Rogers, Doc. Rousey, Dr. A. L. Ramsey, Charles Robbins, Harry F. Root, Daniel L. — S— Sothman, Paul H. Stelk, Walter Scott, Joel T. Scott, Edward E- Strasburg, Leonard Switzer, Dillman Sopher, Lee Smith, William H. Spapatos, Pete Spethman, Francisco L. Sillery, Leonard S. SchneH, Nick Searson, Harry Sander, John H. Switzer, Clarence Scott, Frank Smith, Talmage Smith, Guy Shultz, Waher Sorensen, Thorwald M. *Sutherland, John Soland, Wesley Smoot, Edward E. Schlichting, Herman J. Stelk, Emil Sullivan, George Simon, George Peter Springsteen, Clarence A. Smith, Edward C. Scoville, Max Scheer, William Kurt Schluer, Carl G. Samway, Norman Sutton, Oren Spry, Horton H. Shehein, Leo G. Sanders, G. B. Stevens, Paul Scott, Ralph A. Schuff, Fred H. Sagasser, Edward H. Smith, Clarence A. Shafer, Harry R. Sawicki, Aloyisus J. Schuhz, Robert Stauss, George J. Schaumann, Walter E. Street, Clarence P. Smith, George B. Schmidt, Edmond F. Sellars, Paul Schultz, WHlie Staab, Martin Saunders, John Scheel, WHliam Stuart, Virgil Smith, 'Walter W. Sink, John, Jr. Sutter, Theodore Smeaton, Howard Shepardson, Vemon Sherrer, Cecil Scott, George J. Seymour, John C. Snearly, John A. 480 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Scott, Michael R. Smith, Joseph Sherrerd, Earl S. Seely, William H. Sinke, Walter H. Stelk, Otto Stark, Rex D. Skeels, Maurice Street, Wallace Swain, Edward L. . Sparks, Alden C. Spinas, Julius Spinas, James Sheets, Clyde Starkey, Dr. H. L. Stoltenburg, Carl Scheel, Barnhardt Stutzman, Menno Swearingen, Earl E. Sautters, Calvin N. Smoot, Bert R. Smith, Fred Sondermann, Ludwig Smith, Henry T. Sparks, Benjamin F. Stompfig, Arthur T. Scott, Sylvester T. Schaumann, Harry Sullivan, WHliam Switzer, Leonard Scoins, Harold Schoenstein, John Summers, George L- Siefert, Frank A. Stiers, Leo E. S.Iade, Clyde Sanders, WiHiam R. Soderstrum, Ernest R. Svath, Charies F. Swift, Edward W. Scott, Elmer L. W. Simpson, Merle M. Seal, Sherrel J. Scoville, Frank Sherley, John A. Stransky, Anton Sprague, Ernest R. Southard, Emest R. *Shoopman, Marvin Schmaljohn, Nelson, Steel, Chauncey Swinairski, Paul Shamel, Edwin Sheehan, William J. — T— Thesenvitz, Fred Todsen, John Thompson, J. W., Jr. Therodorpulos, Demoshgne Treat, Lawrrence Henry Tagge, Edward Henry TerreH, Harry G.' Thompson, Millard Thompson, Lloyd G. Thompson, Leonard Thompson, Nathan Tally, Chauncey Tuhey, John Tagge, Otto M. Turner, Raymond S. Turner, Roy Turner, -Walter J. Taylor, Glen R. *Taylor, Bruce Teviotdale, William Towne, Cuyler Chas. Thompson, Lorimer Thomas, Clayton Tibbs, Ray Tephy, John F. Turner John W. Todson, Fred Tagge, Albert H. Thompson, Alexander M. Tharp, Floyd Tillman, John Tilley, Lawrence Thode, Harry Touleuse, George P. Toneman, Charles A. Thode, Henry R. *Tannehill, William — V— Veeder, Paul Vaught, Lon Voss, Barney HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 481 Vath, Vern Vogel, Emest L. Veriey, Ralph V. Vailladesen, Soren Von Ohlen, Richard Vieregg, Henry F. Veit, Emest Vath, Ralph Vath, Adam Vath, Edgar Vath, Louis Vath, Roy Vick, Cari — W— Wiese, Bernhardt Wiese, Carl Williams, Dorsey Wescott, George A. WHson, James M. Williams, John Willev WUUams, Henry Orla Wolfe, Harrison O. White, Frank Weeks, Frank Wilson, Harry G. Wetzel, Arthur Williams, James H. Wrage, Max J. Willman, Henry Woodworth, George A. Wilson, Emest WHson, George WHliams, Louis Wade, Walter Wade, George Wilkinson, Bryan Welsh, George Whittaker, George Wion, Harold E. Wiley, Benjamin Weiland, Frank N. Waite, Joseph J. Whittacker, John A. Walker, David L. Watson, Harold Walker, William Wilder, Ray WHliams, Steve Wilkerson, John E. Ward, Beacher H. Wilkinson, William L. Windolph, Walter Wilks, Ralph L. Watts, Howard Webb, Stanley F. Winans, Boyd T. WiHiams, Thomas S. Wilson, Fred WHcox, Leo Welsh, Robert Watson, Roy Wheeler, Harry Wiley, Douglas E. WHson, Bert E. Waffle, Clarence Walbrecht, John Wehr, Henry W. Waffle, Charies Wagner, Phillip G. Westphal, Harry Walker, Lawrence G. Wheeler, Lloyd L. WiHiams, Dr. Ben Wescoatt, Merle WiHiams, Gilbert WHliams, Arioff L. WHson, Arthur L. Windolph, Otto Wilkens, John W. Woodward, Lee Walker, Jesse Woodward, Alonzo L. Wolf, Forest E- Wilkinson, John L. Walker, Fred Wade, John W. WiHiams, Herbert C. Wolbach, Emil WHHams, Maurice Waddington, Jay Wingert, William L. Whitnah, Charies S. Winin, Frank N. Wooley, Durin Wier, Albert C. Wade, Jesse Whitehouse, Joseph W. 482 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Wilman, George Yost, John WHson, Neill Wilkins, Emil — ^Z- Weir, George L. Zeig, William C. ^_ Zeig, Jacob C. „. , T- Zlomke, Arthur -Kiarhos, jim „ . ,, ^ Zeimer, Vernon G. — Y— Zeig, H. P. J *Yund, Henry Ridlon Zigler, Clyde Young, Joseph A. Total 1,237 names. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 483 < o w o K o 484 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 485 430 WILLIAM B. FLANDERS, private, b. Grand Island, Oct. 14, 1894; enlisted in Grand Island, Aug, IS, 1918; Lincoln Uni. and Rariton, N. J.; ordinance, 6th Supply Co.; discharged at Funston, Mar. 13, 1919; now with U. P. R. R. Co., Grand Island; son of William B. and Laura (Lewis) Flanders. 155 ROSCOE W. GRISHAM, corporal, b. Crane, Mo. Aug. 5, 1891 ; enlisted at Grand Island, April 29, 1918 Funston, Mills, infantry, Div. 89, Reg, 355, Co. K participated in St, Mihiel, Enverzin sector, Meuse- Argonne; wounded Nov. 4, 1918, three slight shrap nel wounds; discharged at Funston, June 2, 1918; construction foreman with telephone company, Grand Island, Neb. ; son of Robert E. (dead) and Ermine R, (Barton) (Grisham) Holmes, Houston, Texas. 164 WALTER HOSHAW, private, b. Sherman Co., Jan. 20, 1889; enlisted at Grand Island, July 25., 1918; Dodge and Forrest, engineers, Reg,. 20, Co., 5; discharged at Forrest, Ga., Dec. 18, 1918; teamster at Grand Island; son of Samuel and Martha Hoshaw, 570 EARL R. CLARK, 1st class private, b. Wood River, Neb.; enlisted in Idaho, April 28, 1918; Fun ston; machine gun co., 355 Inf., 89 Div. ; in St. Mihiel and Argonne-Meuse; discharged at Russel, Wyo . , June 8 ; now farming at Wood River, Neb. ; son of Paul and Alice (Forrest) Clark, Wood River, 251 VIRGIL M, LANE, sergt., b, Rawlins, Wyo., Sept, 10, 1890; enlisted at Salmon, Idaho, Oct, 3, 1917; Lewis and Merritt, infantry, Co. M 361st inf., 91st Div, ; saw service at St. Mihiel, Meuse, Argonne, twice and Lys Schedt; wounded, third finger left hand; discharged May 3, 1919; now at Grand Island, Neb. ; son of Thos. and Hattie Lane, Grand Island ; promoted to corporal Feb. 1, 1918, to sergt. April 19, 1919, was in hospital at Omaha div, 40 days. 454 ARNOLD T. SCHROEDER, sergt., b. Grand Is- • land, Nov- 1, 1893; enlisted at Grand Island, July 22, 1918 ; Dodge and Alexander, Va. ; quartermaster corps,Co. B, 342d Service Bn. ; discharged at Dodge July 16, l9l9; novf farming near Grand Island; son of August and Anna (Pohlman) Schroeder, Grand Island. 447 VERN K. BARLOW, sergt., b. Beathamy, Mo., Dec. 9, 1896; enlisted at Grand Island, May 30, 1918; Humphreys, Va. ; engineers, Co. H ; discharged at Funston April 12, 1919; now railway clerk; son of Howard and Daisy E. (Ricketts) Barlow, Monu ment, Kan. 429 CLARENCE F. WAFFLE, 1st class private, b. Belt, Mont, May 6, 1900; enlisted at Grand Island, July 7, 1918;. Ft. Logan, Hill, Johnston and Mills; quartermaster corps, 327 Supply Co. ; still in service ; son of Clark I. and Lena M. (Cleveland) Waffle, Grand Island, Neb. 242 CARL L. SCHEFFEL, inspector, b. Grand Island, Nov. 15, 1892; enlisted at Grand Island, Mar. 27, 1918; engineering dept.; his work consisted in draft ing and map making, also inspecting the drafting and map making, also inspecting the laying of the water mains; this work was done at the government ex plosion plant No. C at Nitro, West Va. ; discharged at Nitro, West Va., Dec. 28, 1918 ; civil engineer, son of William and Mary (Schroeder) Scheffel, 617 W, 4th St., Grand Island. 458 HENRY WILLMANS, JR., b. Russia, Feb. 23, 1891; enhsted at Grand Island, Oct. 3, 1917; Fun ston; infantry, Co. F Reg. 355, Div. 89; St. Mihiel, Argonne Forrest; discharged at Funston, June 2; now carpenter; son of Henry and Mary (Straw) Willmans, Grand Island, Neb. 154 CLARENCE A. SMITH, private, b. Grand Island, Neb., Sept. 18, 1898; enlisted at Grand Island, June 22, 1916 ; Cody, infantry, Co. M 5th Neb. Inf.Reg. N. G. ; Cody, Camp Donipham, Okla., trained at La- Marques, DeLong and Genicart No. 1 ; discharged at Dodge, la., Jan. 21, 1919; farmer at Burkett, Neb; son of Clarence B. (dead) Alfaretta B. (Hol- lington) (Smith) Krile, Burkett, Nebraska. 253 ROY E. EVANS, 2nd class seaman, b. Menola, la., Sept. 2, 1893; enlisted at Grand Island. May 6, 1918 ; Great Lakes, navy ; was sent to Pittsburg, Pa., to Halifax, with a detail, was sent to England to help man the destroyers, was assigned to U. S. S. Shaw, a torpedo destroyer on June 26, 1918; was on patrol duty until the sinking of the Shaw on Oct. IS, 1918, when it was cut in two by a British trans port; most of the crew was saved; he was picked up and .landed at Queenstown, Ireland; was in the hospital, for he was burned in fighting the fire on the Shaw; son of Charles D. and Cora M. (Irish) Evans, Wood River, Neb. 252 GEORGE A. FASS, mechanic, b. Sterling, Kan., Sept. 12, 1887; enlisted in Hall county, April 1, 1917; Funston, field artillery, battery D, 29 F. A. attached to 10th Div. ; discharged Feb. 1, 1919 ; now at Grand Island, Neb.; son of Matt and Catherine Fass, 2003 W. John St., Gra-nd Island. 474 JOHN W. WILLIAMS, prvt., b. Burt Co., Neb., Feb. 17, 1892; enhsted at Grand Island, Apr. 30, 1918; Funston; machine gun, Co. D 341st Machine Gun Bn.; Argonne, St. Mihiel; gassed Oct. 28, 1918, in Hospital two months; discharged at Dodge, Jan. 25, 1919; now a teamster at Grand Island; son of W. W. and Fannie (Harrow) Wilhams, Grand Island, Neb. 483 OWEN FREDERICK, 1st class private, b. Grand Island, May 14, 1891; enlisted at Grand Island, June 14, 1918; Lincoln Mechanical School; motor transport corps, Co. 78 ; discharged at Funston, Mar. 19, 1919 now an auto mechanic at Wood River, Neb. ; son of George and Katherine (Keough) Frederick, Wood River, Neb. 249 EDWARD B. JUNGBLUTH, private, b. Olds, Alberta, Canada, Mar. 31, 1900; joined at Grand Is land, July 2, 1918; Humphreys, Eng., Pontoon Park, Eng.; discharged Mar. 21, 1919; 211 S. Oak St., Grand Island; son of Louis and Bessie McManus, Des Moines, la. ADOLPH G. GOSDA, private, b. Grand Island, July 7, 1888; enlisted at Grand Island, July 22, 1918; Dodge; infantry 355th, Reg. 163, Depot Brigade; discharged at Dodge, la., Dec, 9, 1918 ; now a farmer near Grand Island; son of Carl and Augustine (Schuetz) Gosda, Grand Island, 486 HISTORY. OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 487 459 PETER SEIR. sergt., 1st class, b. Long Pine, Neb., Mar. 4, 1894; enlisted at Elka, Nev., May 4, 1917; Xelly Field, Lea Side, Toronto, Canada and Hicks- field ; air service, 27th aero squadron ; trained at English school of special flying Ft. Rowner, near •Gosport, England; discharged at Presido, Cai., June 30, 1919; now machinist helper U. P. shops; son of August and Anna (Wise) Seir, Duff, Neb. 323 ALTON W. ROSE, second seaman, b. Grand Island, Jan. 11, 1890; enlisted at Grand Island, May 10, 1918; Great Lakes and Paul Jones, navy car penter, Co. C Reg. 13 ; still in service ; son of Albert M. and Caroline (Gregg) Rose, Grand Island. 441 LEE SOPHER, private, b. Phillips, Neb., Aug. 27, 1896; enlisted at Grand Island, May 31, 1918; A. A. Humphreys; engineers, Co. D. 6th Eng., Div. 3rd; discharged at Dodge, Aug. 24, 1919; now Ijrake- tnan at Grand Island; son of Arthur M. and Orma M. (Crandall) Sopher, Grand Island, Neb. 579 FRED BRABANDER, 1st class private, b. Grand Island, Neb.. July 22; enlisted at Hillsboro, N. Dak., Aug. 26 1918; Lewis and Washington; artil lery. Bat. A, Reg. 38, 13 Div.; discharged at Lewis, Feb. 4, 1919; now a carpenter at Grand Island, Neb.; son of Garet J, and Louise (Manky) Brabander, Grand Island. 446 JOHN TODSEN, private, b. Dannebrog, Neb., Mar. 21. 1895; enhsted at Grand Island, Sept. 19, 1917; Funston and Cody, N. M. ; art., Battery D Reg- 127, Div. 34; Chateau Thierry, Soissons, Ar gonne; discharged at Dodge, May 17, 1919; now farm laborer at Grand Island; son of Peter and Emma (Doll) Todsen, Graiid Island, Neb. CALVIN A. HOWARD, private, b. Arkansas City, Kan., Apr. 22, 1889; enlisted at Grand Island, May 5, 1917; Logan, Douglas, artillery,. Div 1st, Reg. 6th, Battery C; son of Charles W. and Susie P. (Lane) Howard, 220 N., Broadwell ave.. Grand Island, Neb., WILLIAM T. DUNN, 1st class private, b. Wood River, Neb., May 8, 1888; enlisted at Grand Island, Aug. 14, 1918; Logan, Utah and Presido, Cai., Utah Agri. Training Detch, 51st Co. Coast Art; discharged Jan. 23, 1919; now an electrician; son of Thomas J. and Lisette F. (Keating) Dunn, Wood River, Neb. 324 EMIL HERMAN KICKBUSCH, b. Grand Is land, Oct. II; 1887; enhsted at Grand Island, Oct 4, 1917; Funston, infantry, Co. F Reg, 355, Div. 89; transferred Nov. 1, 1917 to Quartermaster Co. E; discharged at Funston, Feb. 6, 1919; gas fitter, sheet metal worker; son of Herman and Augusta Kickbusch, Grand Island. Neb. 273 EDWIN E. ENGLEMAN, captain, b. Grand Island, Neb., Apirl 9, 1890; enlisted at Gothenburg, Neb., Nov. 1915; served on Mexican border in Co. L, 5th Reg,, N, N, S. ; attended officers training school at Snelling, promoted to second lieut. ; to capt. Dodge; promoted to 1st heut., and in July to captain in depot brigade ; discharged Mar. 5, 1919, at Dodge, la. ; now a farmer at Haswell, Colo ; son of Ephri- ham and Sally T. (Stadden) Engleman, Grand Island, Neb. 173 ROY J. HOSKINS, private, b. Missouri, Mar. 10, 1896; enlisted at Grand Island, Camp Funston, Machine Gun Bat Co. D; Argonne Wood, Mari- chabe, Oct. 3d to Nov. Uth; discharged April 2, 1919 ; bricklayer at Doniphan ; son of Frank Hoskins, Doniphan, Neb. CLARENCE LOWRY, private, b. Gering, Neb., Dec. 9, 1894; enlisted at Omaha, Feb. 2, 1918; Great Lakes, radio; Eastleigh, England, Naval Avia tion; discharged Feb. 13, 1919; now farming; son of Allen Lowry, Cairo. Neb. CARL WILLIAM HEE, b. Carbon, Wyo., Oct 19, 1898; enlisted at Denver, Colo., Oct 30, 1918; Mare Island, Vallejo, Cai. ; discharged at Mare Island, Vallejo, Cai., Mar. 22; teller at First Nat. Bank, Grand Island; son of Carl W. Rosa Hee, Grand Island. EDWARD E. LANE, b. Hall Co., Neb., Feb. 16, 1894; enlisted at Grand Island, April 29, 1918; Fun ston, Co B 341 M. G. B., 89th Div.; St Mihiel and Argonne; wounded Oct. 20, by shrapnel; dis charged at Dodge, la.. Mar. 1919; son of Martin and Mary (Ryan) Lane. NILE S. WELLER, private, b. Hamilton Co., July 30, 1896; enlisted at Hastings, Neb., April 16, 1917; Cody; infantry Co. G, Reg. Sth Neb., Div. 34th; sliehtly wounded ; discharged at Dodge, May 28, 1919; now a shopman, U. P. at Grand Island, son of Frederick and Florence (Simonds) Weller, Grand Island, Neb. 181 WALTER W. PARTRIDGE, cook, b. Marysville, Mo., Mar. 4, 1891; enhsted at Hastings, Neb., Sept. 19, 1917; Funston, machine gun, Co. 341, M. G. Bn.; St. Mihiel, Argonne-Meuse, St. Mihiel, Army of Occupation; discharged at Funston, Kan., June 2, 1919; machinist foreman, pump factory, Hastings, Neb. 174 ¦ EDWARDS TAGGE, prvt., b. Hall Co., Nov. 24, 1893; enlisted at Grand Island, Oct. 4, 191/ ; Funston, infantry, Co. H, Div. 35 ; Chateau Thierry, Argonne Wood battles; discharged May 1919; now at Grand Island, (Route 1) ; son of Peter Tagge, Grand Island. 468 ' HOWARD BREMEN, prvt, b. North Platte Neb., enlisted at Grand Island, April 30, 1918; Funston, Kans.; infantry, Co. K Reg. 355, Div. 89; Sector Toul in St. Mihiel, Argonne; discharged at Fun ston, June 2; now mechanic at Grand Island, Neb., son of Fred and Minnie (Lieramenn) Bremen, North Platte, Neb. 488 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 489 473 JOHN F. MURPHY, b. Ravenna, Neb., July 7, 1894 ; enlistted at Lincoln, June 28, 1916 ; Llano Grande, Cody and Dix; infantry, Co. M, Reg. 5, Div. 8; dis charged at Funston, Feb. 13, 1919; P. F. E. In spector; son of John and Agnes (Goodwin) Murphy, Grand Island, Neb. FRANK A. MERSNER, private, b. Shelton, Oct 27, 1895 ; enlisted at Grand Island, May 3, 1917 ; Ft. Miley, Cal., coast art, 20 Co., C. O. C. ; still in ser vice in Phillipines; son of J. C. Bariff, route 2, Doniphan, Neb. 142 EDDIE W. GRAF, private, b. Hall Co., Mar. 6, 1886; enhsted at Grand Island, Oct. 4, 1917; Fun ston, infantry, 35th Div. Co. A, 137 Inf.; was m battles of Argonne and Verdun; in Hospital at Ft. Riley, wounded by shrapnel ; son of Louis Graf, Doniphan, Neb. 418 GEORGE A. JONES, private, b. Webber, Kan., Aug. 21, 1894; enlisted at Ft. Logan, Dec. 12, 1917; Ft. Logan, Kelly Field, Richfield and Mitchell Field, air service, 838 aviation squad ; discharged at Mitchell Field, Feb. 21, 1919; now a mechanic at Grand Island, Neb. ; son of John B. and Elizabeth A. (Dav enport) Jones, Grand Island. 192 PAUL C. SCHARNOW, b. Germany, Dec. 24, 1888; enlisted at Alliance, July 1, 1918; Logan, Hum phreys and Forrest, engineers, Co. F. Reg. 211th; discharged at Forrest, Dec. 18, 1918. 83 CLYDE M. WILLIAMSON, seaman, b. St. Paul, Neb., Aug. 30, 1901; enlisted at Grand Island, Feb. 24, 1919; Decatur, !I11., Lawrence); navy, Co- S Reg 8; seaman, guard, company., M. stat. Great Lake, 111. ; son of Oscar O. and Leona A. (Anthony) Williamson, 511 N. Cedar, Grand Island. 416 WILLIAM CHARLES BOONE, b. Sept 4, 1900 ; enlisted at Grand Junction, Colo., Oct. 23, 1917; Ft Logan, Vancouver, Greene and Merritt, engineers, Co. A 4th Eng., 4th Div.; Vasle River, St. Mihiel. Argonne ; still in service ; son of John and Winnifrcd (Sprague) Boone, Arcadia, Neb. ROBERT EARL BOONE, b. Wood River, Neb. Aug 2, 1890 ; enlisted at Grand Island, July 21, 1918 . Dodge, recuiting office, Co. 35, 9th Bn., 163 D. B. discharged at Dodge, la., Dec, 1918; now an elec trician; son of John and Winnifred (Sprague) Boone, Arcadia, Neb. 129 PAUL J. CARTER, seaman, b. Adams Co. Neb., Jan. 14, 1897; enhsted at Billings Mont., June 14, 1917; San Francisco, navy; still in service; son of Mrs. Carter, Doniphan, Neb. CLARENCE CAMPBELL COOK, b. Grand Is land, Neb.; enhsted at Grand Island, July 22, 1918; Dodge, la., Jacksonville, Fla., Merritt, infantry, Co. 29, 8th Bn, 163 depot brigade; son of Lyman M. and Lottie (Hahn) Campbell, both dead. 247 WILLIAM M. REED, sergeant, b. McDonald county. 111., Mar. 7, 1896 ; enlisted at Ft. Logan, Colo., Mar. 11, 1914; Bliss, machine gun company, Co. K, 20th inf, ; trans, to 43rd inf. at Douglas, promoted to sergt. ; discharged at Camp Logan, Tex., Feb. 24, 1919; farmer. Wood River, Neb.; son of George W. and Maria (Stocking) Reed, Puercell, Colo. HUGO C. PETERS, 1st sergt, b. Grand Island. May 31, 1887; enlisted at Chicago; Logan and Huston; engineer, Co. D Reg. 108, Div 33; Argonne, Chateau Thierry, St. Mihiel, was cited for excep tional bravery; discharged at Grant, June, 1919; now an architect at Chicago, III. ; son of Peter B. and Anna (Holtrof) Peters, Grand Island, Neb. DANIEL D. JOHNSON, private, b. Webber, Kan., June 7, 1896; enlisted at Grand Island, Dec. 9, 1917; Ft. Logan, Colo., Vancouver, and Merritt; engineers, Co. C Reg. 318, 6th Div.; Muese, Argonne, Cob- lenz; one month in hospital with rheumatism; dis charged at Dodge, la., June 21, 1919; now a me chanic and upholsterer for auto; son of Daniel S. and Alberta D. (Sheeley) Johnson, Grand Island. JOHN R. JOHNSON, private, b. Guide Rock, Neb., Jan. 1, 1894; enlisted at GTand Island, Dec 9, 1917; Ft Logan, Vancouver and Merritt; engi neers Co. C, 318th, 6th Div.; Sector Geoandmer, Muese, Argonne, at Coblenz; still in service at Nevers, France; son of Daniel S. and Albertta D. (Sheeley) Johnson, Grand Island, Neb. 50IA WILLIAM V. CARROLL, b. McCook, Neb., Oct 8, 1894; enlisted at Cheyenne, Wyo., July 17, 1917; Mare Island and Pensacola ; naval air service,' Naval Training Camp; Toul, Italy, France, Belgium; dis charged at Great Lakes, April 1, 1919; now a machinist at Denver, Colo.; son of Richard and Jennie (Oats) (Carroll) Boyle, Grand Island, Neb. 556 FRANK R. DAHLSTROM, second' lieut., b. Stromsberg, Neb., Sept 11, 1891; enlisted at Omaha, Neb. ; Cambridge, Mass, school of military aero nautics, air service, aeronautics school ; discharged at Brooksfield, Texas, Jan. 21, 1919; now ranching near Alda, Neb.; son of Charles A. and Fanny (Spong) Dahlstrom, Alda. 501 B SAMUEL J- CARROLL, private, b. McCook, Neb Nov. 6, 1899; enlisted at North Platte, Feb., 1918' Ft. Logan, Kelly Field and Wilbur Wright; air ser-^ vice, 3d provisional Squadron; discharged at Dodge, June 1, 1919; now a machinist at North Platte, Neb.; son of Mrs. Jennie (Oats) Boyle, Grand Island, Neb. 490 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA t HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 491 GEO. B. LABBE, sergeant; joined at Ft. Riley, Kan., June 24, 1918; medical dept., personnel head quarters gas det. M. O. T. C, Ft. Riley; discharged at Ft. Riley, Feb. 5, 1919; now with Donald Co., ¦Grand Island, Neb.; son of John Sr., and Cecilia Labbe, Onaga, Kan. Appointed corp. Sept 4, 1918, sgt. Oct. 4, 1918. 472 STEPHEN G. WILLIAMS, b, Burt Co., Neb., Mar, 25, 1889; enlisted at Grand Island, June 25, 1918; Funston, infantry. Supply Co. 69th; discharged at Funston, Jan. 19, 1919; now a teamster at Grand Island; son of W. W. and Fannie (Harrow) Wil liams, Grand Island, Neb, 163 RAY OSBORN, private, b. Tobias, Neb., Sept. 12, 1895; enlisted at Grand Island, Neb., July 29, 1918; Forrest, engineers, 122d Engineers; still at La Mons, France; son of Volney and Katie (Knapple) Osborn, 911 E- Sth, Grand Island, Neb. 508 HOWARD SMEATON, private, b. Wood River, Neb., July 22, 1892; enlisted at Oshkosh, Neb., June 27, 1918; Riley; medical corps, still in service; son of David Smeaton, Wood River, Neb. ARLEY E- ALLEN, cook, b. Cleveland Co., Okla., Feb. 10, 1894; enlisted at Central City, Neb., Apr. 29, 1918; Funston and Merritt; engineers, cooks and bakers school at Merritt; discharged at Dodge, la,, April 15, 1919; now a cook at Grand Island, Neb., son of Samuel L- and Dora (Reynolds) Allen, Grand Island, 512 ACA F. MILLER, sergt., b. Pittsburg, Mo., June 6, 1894; enlisted at Dodge, la.; July 22, 1918; Dodge, la., infantry, 36- 163d Depot Brigade; trans. Camp Dev. Co. A; discharged at Dodge, la.. Mar. 13, 1919; now a railroad collector at Grand Island; son of W. L. and Martha M. Miller, Livingston, Mont. 320* WILL J. HAVEY, private, b. Green River, Wyo., Dec 13, 1896; enlisted at Grand Island, Sept. 18, 1918; Manhattan, Kan., radio school, S. A. T. C, Co. B. Reg. No. 2; discharged Dec. 7, 1918; now a druggist in Grand Island, Neb. ; son of Owens and Ellen (Devine) Havey, Wood River, Neb. 520 OTTO H. E. KLARR, private, b. Copenhagen, Denmark, Aug. S, 1885; enlisted at Grand Island, June 18, 1918; Ft. Logan and Snelling; medical ¦corps, U. S. General Hospital No. 29 at Snelling; discharged at Ft Snelling, Minn., April 18, 1919; now city fireman at Grand Island, Neb., son of F. W. H. and Emilie Klarr, Copenhagen Denmark. 517 NATHAN J. THOMPSON, corp., b. Wood River, Neb., June 20, 1895; enlisted at Grand Island, Nov. 28, 1917; Riley, Funston, Joseph E. Johnston and Hill; Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse- Argonne; dis charged at Dodge, la., July 12, 1919; now a farmer at Wood River, Neb. LEWIS W. MORGAN, private, b. Ansley, Neb., Sept. 21, 1886; enlisted at Grand Island, Oct. 3, 1917; Funston; Co. I 3S5th Inf., 89th. Div.; trans. to Co. F Q. M. C, Property Division ; discharged at Funston, Mar. 8, 1919; now a tractor salesman; son of William H. and Florence A. (Bence) Morgan, Grand Island, Neb. GEORGE HOBSON LARKIN, b. Escondido. Cal., May 11, 1898; enhsted at Omaha, Oct. 30, 1917; Great Lakes ; navy, submarine service ; discharged at submarine base. New London, Conn., Dec. 18, 1918; now at North Platte, Neb.; son of May (Ban croft) Larkin, Grand Island, Neb. 563 WILLIAM J. LECHER, 1st class private, b. Grand Island, Neb., May 16, 1893; enlisted at Grand Island, July 22, 1918; Dodge, infantry, Co. 36, Depot Brigade; discharged at Dodge, la., Dec. 9, 1918; vulcanizer and tire repairer at Grand Is land, Neb. ; son of Frank and Margaret (Klingle) Lecher, West Grand Island. HARRY JOHN BOONE, b. Wood River, Neb., Aug 6, 1893 ; enlisted at Casper, Wyo., July 1, 1918 ; McArthur; machine gun, 26th Infantry, Div.' 1st; Argonne, Meuse, in line near Vavincourt; still in service with army of occupation; son of John and Winnifred (Sprague) Boone, Arcadia, Neb. 576 OTTO TOGGE, private, b. Grand Island, March 9, 1897; enlisted at Grand Island, Oct. 3, 1917; Fun ston and Stewart; infantry, Co. F, 355th, Div. 89th; Chateau Thierry, St. Mihiel, Argonne Forest; wounded Oct. 4, 1919; discharged at Dodge, April 11, 1919; now a farmer at Grand Island, Neb.; son of John M. and Emma (Ruff) Togge, Grand Island. HENRY FURS, b. Sutton, Neb., April 6, 1895; enhsted at Grand Island, July 22, 1918; Dodge and Leavenworth ; signal corps, 1st Co. Replacement, Ft. Leavenworth ; discharged at Dodge, March 7, 1919 ; now" mechanic at Grand Island; son of Henry and Catherine (Burnhead) Furs, Grand Island, Neb. BENJAMIN R. McGRATH b. Davies Co., 111., May 17. 1873; enhsted at Grand Island, Aug .27, 1917, Riley, Officers Training Camp; medical; discharged at Dix, Feb. 3, 1919 ; now a surgeon at Grand Island ; son or Robert and Esther (Weir) McGrath, Grand Island, Nebraska. HARRY J. JONES, private, b. Lincoln Co., Neb., Nov. 4, 1896; enlisted at Grand Island; Cody, N. M.; infantry, Co. L, Reg, 59th, 4th Div. ; Chateau Thierry, St ¦ Mihiel, Argonne Forest ; wounded Oct. 4; discharged at Jefferson Barracks, Jan. 24, 1919; now a farm hand at Buda, Neb. ; son of Nathaniel S. and Lizzie (Carson) Jones, Grand Island, Neb, 492 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 493 71 CHAS. A. POZEL, b. Lincoln, Neb., Sept, 23, 1894; enlisted in Grand Island, Apr. 18, 1917; in fantry, Co. M Sth Neb.; at Thierry in front lines Aug. 2, 1918; discharged at Dodge, Iowa; SIO E. 10th St., Grand Island; son of Mrs. Leopold Pozel, Grand Island. 80 HARRY P. SCHAUMANN, private, b. Merrick Co., Oct. 3, 1893; enlisted in Hall Co., Oct. 15, 1918; Uni. of Neb., motorcycle corps, mech. dept., S. A. T. C; discharged Dec 10, 1918; printer. Grand Island; son of Theodore and Amelia Schau- CLAUDE E. BUMGARDNER, corp., b. Wayne Co. la., Dec. 21, 1882; enlisted at Grand Island, April 24, 1918; Casey, Wash., 48th coast art. Bat. C; discharged Apr. 8, 1919; now living at Doniphan, Neb., painter ; son of Albert Bumgardner, Doniphan. ERNEST L. VOGEL, private, b. Hall do.. Neb., Jan. 2, 1895; enlisted in Hall Co., June 24, 1918; Funston, Dodge, New York, Co. D 339 M. G. Bn., 88th Div.; in battle near Metz; now at Brencourt, France; was in hospital two weeks with flu; son of Mrs. Henry Blume, Route No. 3, Grand Island, Neb. 186 ERCEL M. BLAUVELT, enlisted Mar. 26, 1917; field artillery. Battery E 127th 34 Div. ; son of Frank E. and Mary A. Blauvelt. 204 BRYAN J. ORNDOFF, b. Cameron twp., Nov. 6, 1897; enlisted at Grand Island, May 18, 1917; Logan, sent to Vancouver, British Columbia, to 4th engrs., served as bugler, drill master, quartermaster sergeant ; discharged at Dodge, la., Dec. 28, 1918 ; farmer in Hall Co. ; son of James and Mary C. (Carr) Orndoff; while in service he was married to Miss Vashti Leverich of Linn County, Oregon. LEO J. McSHANE, clerk, b. Long Pine, Neb., April 28, 1897; enlisted at Denver, Colo., May 28, 1918; infantry, headquarters recruit depot at Ft. Logan, Colo.; discharged at Ft. Logan, Colo., Jan. 6, 1919 ; now assist-mgr. for J. C. Penney Co. ; son of James and Margaret E. (McCrossin) McShane, Grand Island. Was kept here for the entire period of' his service, much against his will, doing clerical work. 152 HENRY KONSBRUCK, enlisted at Ft. Logan; Humphries, Va., Forest, Ga., Engineers pontoon train, 167 Eng.; discharged at Dodge, Apr. 7, 1919; farmer; son of Nicholas and Caroline Konsbruck, Grand Island. ROY F. FAW, private, b. Woodford Co., 111., Oct. 27, 1886; enlisted at North Platte, Neb., Sept 3, 1918; Riley, med. corps, casual; discharged Dec. 27, 1918; mechanic at Grand Island; son of Marvin and Belle Faw, Washburn, 111. 519 BEULAH B. MARSH, nurse, b. Grand Island, June 17, 1894; enhsted at Grand Island, July 5, 1918; Base Hospital at Camp Pike, reserve nurse and Army Nurse Corps; discharged at Pike, Ark., Jan. 4, 1919; now nurse at Grand Island; daughter of Augustus and Margaret (Oswald) Marsh, Grand Island. 187 HERBERT J. ENGLEMAN, prvt., b. Grand Is land, Neb., Aug. 30, 1899; enlisted at Grand Island, May 27, 1918; Humphreys, engineers, Co. A,- 72 Engineers; sailed on George Washington, Brest, France, located at Camp Morton, France, St. Na- zaire; son of Ephram B. and Sally (Stadden) Engle man, Grand Island, Neb. 52 ARCHIE MOORE, private, b. Wood River, Neb., May 19, 1892; enlisted at Grand Island, Oct 4, 1917; infantry, 335 Inf. Co. B, 137, 35 div.; was at St. Mihiel, Argonne; infantry, wounded 28 Sept., 1918 in knee and face: discharged May 9, 1918; now in Grand Island; son of J. C. and Jeminia Moore, Grand Island. LEWIS H. BROWN, stable sergeant, b. McCarthy, Ohio, Dec. 23, 1884; enlisted at Grand Island, Neb,, June 22, 1916; Lyno Grandee, Tex., Deming N, M., infantry, supply company, 134 Inf.; discharged Feb. 12, at Funston, Kan, ; now fireman at Soldiers' Home, Hall County; son of Sanford B, and Eliza beth (Taylor) Brown, Burkett, Hall county. Neb. HARVARD W. POWELL, 1st class mechanic, b. Gibbon, Neb., Jan. 24, 1890; enlisted at Douglas, Wyo., June 8, 1918 ; Mechanical Bn. of Motor Trans port Service, Co. M ; discharged at Camp Logan, Utah, Dec. 21, 1918; son of Frank W. and Sarah J. (Hanaford) Powell, Grand Island, Nebraska. 145 CARL RICHMOND, private, b. Doniphan," Neb, Feb. 23, 1893; enlisted at Grand Island, July 22, 1918; Dodge and Joseph, M. T. C, Co. C; dis charged April 4, 1919 ; clerk at Doniphan • son of Cash Richmond, Doniphan, Neb. 569 ERNEST J. MEYER, 1st lieut, b. Grand Island, Oct. 5, 1891; comtnissioned at Grand Island, July 31, 1914; Cody; as aid to General Harries, then over seas as Billeting Officer; still in service; son of August and Elizabeth B. (Egg) Meyer, Grand Is land, Neb. WILLIAM L. McNAMARA, corp., b. Hall Co., Aug. 14, 1896; enlisted at Grand Island, May 7, 1918; Ft. Logan, Kelly, Aviation, 353 aero observation; now over seas, Bordeaux, France; son of John L. and Jennie McNamara, Doniphan, Neb. First Hall Co. boy to land in France. 494 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 495 221 CALVIN M. SAUTTER, corporal, b. Greeley, Neb., Mar. 29, 1894; enlisted at Grand Island, Sept S, 1918; Grant, Hancock, Cody; machine gun Co., 97th Div.; discharged at Cody, Dec. 6, 1918; boiler- maker at 414 N. Oak St., Grand Island; son of Martin A. and Sophia (Nagle) Sautter. 89 EDGAR C. HULL, ship fitter, second class, b. Hall Co., Mar. 30, 1893; enlisted at Omaha, Neb., May 27, 1918 ; Great Lakes, Phil. Navy Yard ;on U. S. S. Promethus; discharged Feb. 7, 1919; 120 E. 3d, nrop. battery service station; son of Geo. J. and Mary A. Hull, 111 S. 42d Omaha, Neb. 199 WM. MARTH, Jr., private, b. Apr. 8, 1891; enlisted in Hall Co., Aug. 27, 1918; Funston, ma chine gun battalion, 10th Div., Co. C, 30th M. G. B. ; discharged Jan. 16, 1919; carpenter at Grand Island; son of Elsie Marth, Grand Island. 518 MAT J. JANKOVITS, private, b. Herndon, Kan., June 10, 1890; enlisted at Grand Island, July 22, 1918; Dodge and Lee; medical corps, 18th Veterinary Hospital; discharged at Dodge, July 19, 1919; now butcher and fireman at Grand Island, Neb. ; son of Andrew and Anna Jankovits. ERNEST W. WILSON, corporal, b. Shelton, Neb., Nov. 18, 1894;enlisted at Grand Island, Apr. 27, 1917; Ft. Logan, El Paso, infantry, Co. E, 16th Inf., 1st Div. ; was in all engagaments participated in by 16th inf. reg., second battle of the Marne; discharged April 24, 1919; steam and gas engineer at Wood River, Neb. ; son of Sylvanious K. and Laura B. (Wiggins) Wilson, Wood River, Neb. 293 GUST KALLOS, private, b. Magoula, Greece, 1894; enlisted at Ft. Logan, June 16, 1917; Ft. Logan, Honolulu, Arizona, then to Texas, Troop A 4th Cavalry;' still in service; son of Christ and Katerene (George) Kallos. ELMER D. OLSON, private, b. Grand Island, June 21, 1892; enlisted at Omaha, Neb., Nov. 21, 1917; Ft Logan, Colorado., Kelly Field, Texas., Selfridge Field, Mich., Long Island aviation aero field, 828 areo squadron; discharged at Funston, Kan., Dec 20, 1918; auto mechanic, Central City; son of Oliver B. and Augusta F. (Wahlstrand) Olson, 322 W. 11th St., Grand Island. Neb. 510 HENRY T. SMITH, private, b. Shelton, Neb., Oct. 19, 1896; enlisted at Grand Island, Aug. 17, 1918; Ft Leavenworth and Univesity of Kansas City; signal corps, 421 Telegraph Battalion; dis charged at Dodge, Feb. 12, 1919; now a mechanic at Shelton, Neb.; son of Mrs. Alma Morrison, Shel ton, Neb. JOHN M. LONG, private, b. Fairbury, N^b., Dec. 27, 1889; enhsted at Aurora, Neb., July, 1917; infantry, Co. H Sth Neb. ; discharged on account of disability; son of Frank and Alice (Waring) Long, Geneva, Neb. 225 EARL L. DRAKE, ensign, b. Shelton, Neb., July 8, 1891; enhsted at Omaha, Aug. 28, 1917; Goat Island, hospital corps; son| of Leroy and June (Parks)' Drake, Ponca City, Okla. 209 ALBERT C. OFIELD, sergt., b. Cairo, Neb., Dec 16, 1892; enhsted at Grand Lsland, May 16, 1917; Logan, Riley, Huston, Anniston, machine gun Ar tillery, Co. F, transferred to field artillery ; dis charged at Anniston, Nov. 19, 1918; printer at Huston, Tex.; son of W. C. and Lola (Worrell) Ofield, Ft Morgan, Colo. OREN F. SUTTON, seaman, b. Grand Island, Neb., Feb. 24, 1899; enlisted at Grand Island, Apr. 10, 1919 ; Guard company, Farragut, 111., navy guard ; still in service ; son of 'Willis E. Sutton and Clara (McPheters) Sutton, Alda, Neb. LORIMER L. THOMPSON, 1st class sergt, b. Wood River, Sept. 9, 1891 ; enlisted at Grand Island; Nov. 28, 1917; Ft. Logan and Kelly Field; aviation, 230 Aero Suppply Squadron; trans, to 656 Aero Squadron; discharged at Mills, N. Y., May 26, 1919; how a farmer at Wood River, Neb. ; son of 'William F. and Letita (Brittin) Thompson, Wood River, Neb. 514 EUGENE MARLIN LEONARD, b. Wood River, Neb., Oct 13, 1896; enlisted at Grand Island, Aug. 26, 1918; Polk and Greene; heavy tanks, Co. C 306th Battalion; was a driver for heavy tanks; discharged at Dodge, Dec. 31, 18; son of Mr. and Mrs.. Patrick Leonard. EDWARDS T. PRY, private, b. Pleasanton, Neb., Sept 3, 1887 enhsted at Grand Island, April 1, 1918; Funston, infantry, Co. B, 355 Inf., 89th Div.; St. Mihiel, Meuse- Argonne ; discharged at Funston, June 3, 1919 ; now farming at Cairo, Neb. ; son of David and Martha Alice (Surggart) Pry. 562 FRED W. KATZBERG, private, b. Adam Co, Neb., Sept. 6, 1895; enlisted at Grand Island, Neb., April 29, 1918; Funston and Mills; infantry, Co. K, 355, 89th Div.; in battle of St. Mihiel; wounded by sharpnel Sept. 23, 1918; discharged at Dodge, la., April 15, 1919 ; now at Grand Island, Neb. ; son of William M. and Marie M. (Grafelman) Katz berg, Hastings, Neb. 135 CLANANCE S. MARKHAM, private, b. Lee Co., Va., Mar. 17, 1894; enlisted at Grand Island, Oct. 5, 1917; Funston, infantry, 89th Div. Co. F.; in Chateau Thierry battle; wounded July 2, 1918; dis charged April, 1919; son of W. J. Markham, Doni phan, Neb. 496 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY l^EBRASKA 497 248 JAMES SPINAS, private, b. Hamilton county. Neb., Apr. 9, 1900; joined at Grand Island, July 23, 1918; Ft. Logan, Humphrey, Va., engineers, Co. A, 2nd reg.; discharged at Camp Humphrey, 'Va., Jan. 2, 1919; cook in soldiers' home. Grand Island; son of Thomas and Anna (DeHart) Spinas, Burkett, Neb. 298 GEORGE VOCKE, private, b. Hall Co., 1891; enhsted at Omaha, Neb., July 25, 1918; Ft. Omaha; balloon Co. 61; discharged Jan. 1919. 240 GLEN T. KNOCH, sergeant, b. Sulphur Springs, Ark., Mar. 26, 1897; enlisted at Grand Island, Feb. 27, 1917; Ft Logan, Colo., Uma, Arizona, infantry, Co. D, 44th inf., to Co. D, 76th inf. ; trans, to Lewis, Wash., Vancouver, Wash., is still in .service at Camp Lewis, Wash; son of John M. and Florence M. (Schnorn) Knoch, 1620 W. Front St., Grand Island, HERBERT B. RIEF, private, b. Hall Co., Neb., Sept. 7, 1890; enlisted in Hall Co., June 24, 1918; Riley and Dodge, medical corps; now in demobiliza tion. Camp Dodge ; son of Henry Rief, Grand Island, Neb. 244 OTTO ZULICKE, private, b. Fackesfield, Cal, May 31, 1891; joined at Grand Island, May 26, 1918; Dodge, la., infantry, Co. SO, 88th div.; discharged April 7, 1919; Brunswick pool hall. Grand Island. 295 HAROLD L. REISEN, electrician, b. Sabetha, Kan., Oct 8, 1901; enhsted at Grand Island, Feb. 21, 1919; Great Lakes 111.; navy, Co. 27, Reg. 17; now an electrician; son of David L. and Rose E. (Smith) Reisen, Grand Island, Neb. 256 ISCAR A. HENRY, 1st class private, b. Hansen, Oct. 23, 1886; enlisted at Doniphan, Mar. 5, 1918; Funston and Allentown, Penn., base hospital, Co. C, 114; sailed July 18, 1918, trained at Brest, was two months in hospital in France; discharged at Merritt, N. J., May 23, 1919 ; has brickyard at Don iphan, Neb. ; son of Abraham Lincoln Snd Maggie (James) Henry, Doniphan. JAMES T. BROWN, JR., private, b. Kane, III., Nov. 2, 189S; enlisted at Grand Island, June 24, 1918; Ft. Riley and Meade; medical corps, 241 am bulance, 11 Sanitary Train, 11th Div.; discharged at Meade, Jan. 25, 1919; now farming and stock rais ing. Grand Island; son of James T. Sr. and Nellie A. (Bartlett) Brown, Page, N. Dak. 279 THOMAS F. O'KANE, 1st It, b. Alda, Neb., Jan. 18, 1891; enlisted at Amarilla, Tex., May, 1917; Amarilla, infantry, Co. A, 7th Texas N. G. ; sent to Bowie, made a sergt. and on Jan. 1st was sent to officers' school, commissioned and sent to camp Stewart, assigned to Co. F, 143, arrived in France Aug., 1918; .son of Daniel and Anna (Mitchell) O'Kane, Wood River, Neb. ; his reg. was sent to the front and was in action in which the 143d inf. took part, was cited for bravery. 47 ALFRED L. KELSO, corp.; b. Grand Island, Neb., Aug. 11, 1894; enlisted at Denver, Colo., June 26, 1917; Mare Island, Marines, 108th Co., Reg.; now at Quantico, Va., Feb 8, 1919; son of Joseph and Mary (Miller) Kelso, Grand Island. Transferred to 127th Co., 7th reg. trained Quan tico, Virginia. 296 EARL SHERRERD, musician, b. Wood River, Neb., Oct. 2, 1889; enlisted at Grand Island, Aug. 26; Funston, Kan., depot brigade, 13th Co. 4th Bat, 164th; discharged Dec 9, 1918; son of Samuel A. and Cora S. (Shick) Sherrerd. 21 BERT SMOOT, Corp., b. Indiana, Sept. 5, 1895; joined at Grand Island, Neb., Sept 5, 1918; Grant, medical corps; now living at Doniphan; son of R. A. Smoot, Doniphan. 206 JOHN L. HINTZ, private, b. Wilsonville, Oregon, Feb. 4, 1896; enlisted in Hall Co., June 24, 1918; Riley and Dodge, med. dept., 275 field hospital, 19th Div.; discharged Jan. 23, 1919; carpenter at Grand Island; son of Augusta Hintz, Grand Island, Neb. 299 FRED T. WILSON, private, b. Augusta, 111., Aug. 26, 1887; enlisted at Laramie, Wyo,, Sept 1918; Lewis, American Lake, Wash,, Fremont, Cal., Mills, N. Y., Lee, Va., ammunition train, Co. C. ; dis charged Mar. 6, 1919; naw railroad engineer at North Platte, Neb. ; son of Sylvanina K. and Laura B. (Wiggins) Wilson, Wood River, Neb. OSWALD C. MICHELMANN, 1st class private, b. Peppertown, Ind., Sept. 7, 1900; enlisted at Ann Arbor, Mich., Oct. 1, 1918; infantry, 16 Uni. of Mich. S. A. T. C; discharged at Ann Arbor, Mich., Dec. 14, 1918; son of Rev. Gustav H. and Elizabeth C. (Kleme) Michelmann, 120 W. 7th, Grand Island, Neb. 527 LEROY C. WAFFLE, corp., b. Omaha, Neb., March 19, 1896; enlisted at Columbus, Neb., Oct. 5, 1917; Funston; artillery, Co. G 314 Ammunition Train, 89th; Meuse- Argonne, Coblenz, Luxemburg; discharged at Dodge, la., June 4, 1919; now farming at Columbus, Neb.; son of Clark I. and Lena M. (Cleveland) Waffle, Grand Island, Neb. 200 MERLE WESCOATT, 1st class mechanic, b. Oct 18, 1896; enlisted at Omaha, Neb., July 2, 1918; Charleston, naval air service; discharged at Pensa cola, Fla., April 12, 1919; son of Frank and Ada Wescoatt. 498 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA "V ?.'/-•»»' be the home of himself and wife until she passed away at the age of ninety years. He 602 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA survived her, passing away at the aga of ninety-seven years. Sheriff and Mrs. Sievers have three children, namely: Alma, who re sides with her parents, the widow of Martin Erickson, but now the wife of John Irvine of Howard County; Clara, the wife of John Frauen, of Merrick County, Nebraska; and Joe, who has served as deputy under his father, lives in Grand Island. Although home affairs and political duties have pretty well absorbed Mr. Sievers's time and attention for some years, the claims of fraternal life have interested him to some degree. He was one of the charter members in the organization of the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Grand Is land and belongs also to the Elks. FREDERICK MATHIESEN, who is in the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad, in the car repairing department, is a native of Hall County. The Mathiesen family came to this section of Nebraska at a very early day, and its representatives from then until the present, have been people of industry, thrift and ster ling character. Frederick Mathiesen was born in Hall County, Nebraska, November 14, 1896, a son of Frederick and Sophia (Luth) Mathiesen. The father was born on the homestead in Hall County which his father secured, July 13, 1867, spent his life on the place as a farmer, passing away August 17, 1906. On September 15, 1894 he married Sophia Luth, who was born in Iowa. Her parents were Frederick and Minnie (Ronfelt) Luth, natives of Germany, who came to the United 'states in 1868, The seven surviving members of the eight children of the Ronfelt family, all live within or near Hall County, Nebraska. The parents of Mr. Mathiesen had five children, four of whom are living, namely: Frederick, Harry, Arnold and Otto. Two years after Mr. Mathiesen's death, his widow was married to Edward Stuhr, of Grand Island, and they have two children, namely: Viola, who was born July 4, 1910; and Eddie, who was born November 21, 1912. Frederick Mathiesen lived on the old family homestead, until the age of twenty, when he found employment on farms in the neighbor hood. He was busy as a farmer from the close of his schooldays until 1918 when he went to work in his present position. Like his father in many ways, he has the same political opin ions and gives support to the Democratic party As a young man of fine character, he has many fnends in Washington township. He marned Miss Blanche Mclntyre, of Omaha WILLIAM SUHR, an active citizen of Grand Island, as county attorney, has an offi cial record behind him that emphasizes the fact that he is a very able and conscienti ous member of the bar of Hall County. Mr. Suhr is yet a young man and his professional advance has been rapid, considering the competition he has faced at Grand Island, where the bar has many recognized legal lights. William Suhr was born in Crawford County, Iowa, January 31, 1886. He attended the public schools in Crawford County, Iowa, and in 1901 was graduated from Westside high school. Already he had made choice of a profession, but as circumstances did not at that time open the way for contin ued study of the law, the young man accepted employment in a hardware and furniture s-.ore. He afterward traveled for two and half years for the Simmons Hardware Company. Sub sequently he studied law in the Nebraska Uni versity and also pursued special courses in the University of Michigan. He was admitted to the bar in 1914 and entered into practice at Grand Island, which city has continued to be his home ever since. Intelligently interested from early manhood in public questions, Mr. Suhr identified himself with the Democratic party and as a candidate of this organization, was elected county attomey in the fall of 1916. He has applied himself very closely to his pro fessional duties and has won the approbation and entire confidence of his fellow citizens. He has numerous social and fraternal connec tions. He is a member in Lodge No. 33, A. F. & A. M. and Lodge No. 604, P. P! O. E., both in Grand Island. FRED A. BUCHFINCK, who is a pro gressive and enterprising young farmer of Hall County, has lived on the old homestead in Lake township all his life. He was born in Hall County, Nebraska, May 25, 1898, a son of August and Anna (Niemoth) Buchfinck, who now live retired at Grand Island. August Buchfinck, father of Fred A., was born in Russia and was fourteen years old when he came to the United States. In 1873 he came to Grand Island and found work with a farmer and the $83 he earned the first year was his start in business. During the seQpnd year he was paid $12 a month and thereby he was able to buy a team of mules, using these within another year he "had a paying job work ing for the railroads. He helped build the Buriington road from Hastings west to Utah and also was employed on the Oregon Short Line. He then took a homestead in Grant HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 603 County of which he is still owner, together with his homestead and sixteen sections, hav ing in Hall County 320 acres, in Merrick County 480 acres, and 320 in Howard County. His industry during his active years was un ceasing, and his business judgment remarkable. Pie is one of the directors of the Grand Island State Bank and has other interests. He mar ried Anna Niemoth, who was born at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and of their ten children, the fol lowing survive: Clara, who is the wife of Albert Beyersdorf, of Lake township; Freda, who is the wife of Paul Beyersdorf, of Leaf, Nebraska ; John L., who lives in Grant County, married Grace Wright; Fred A., who farms in Lake township; and Amelia, Arthur and Myrtle, all of whom reside at home. Fred A. Buchfinck had superior educational advantages. After completing the public school course in Hall County, he entered Mid land College, at Atchison, Kansas, and later spent a year in a military academy at Kearney, since which time he has been devoting his energies to agricultural pursuits in Lake town ship. On Febmary 16, 1918, Mr. Buchfinck was united in marriage to Miss Rose L. Torney, who is a daughter of John and Katie (Stadler) Torney, of Kearney County. They are mem bers of the Lutheran church. He belongs to the Farmer's Union. Mr. Buchfinck is very well thought of, and he and wife have a pleas ant social circle. JOHN F. MATTHEWS, principal of the Grand Island High school is a well known educator of Hall County and an upright citi zen in every relation of life. With some indi viduals, school teaching is looked upon as a kind of helping hand to be engaged in for a more or less limited period while awaiting opportunities along other lines, but fortunate it is for the youth of the country that there are men in the profession whose every energy is engaged and whose greatest ambition is to competently point the way to solid educational attainment. An educator of this type guides the destinies of the high school in Grand Island. John F. Matthews was born -at Kennard, in Washington County, Nebraska, November 27, 1870. His parents were John A. and Agnes (Connolly) Matthews, the former of whom, now a resident of Grand Island, was born in Brooklyn, New York, and the latter, now deceased, was a native of Ireland. They were the parents of four children: Thomas P.,-in the real estate business at Grand Island ; John F. ; Catherine and Agnes, the former a bookkeeper and the latter a stenographer. In 1869 the father of Professor Matthews located at Kennard, Nebraska, and for many years afterward was a railroad man. He is an honored veteran of the Civil War, having enlisted in 1861 in Company E, Seventy- seventh New York, in the unit known as the Excelsior brigade. He was wounded during the advance on Petersburg and subsequently was captured by the enemy and for six months was incarcerated in Libby prison. It is possible that Mr. Matthews can not remember a time when he was not interested in school work, for he became a student early and in 1888 was graduated from the Grand Island High school. His choice of a profession was quickly made and from that time to the pres ent. Grand Island has benefited through his earnesll efforts as a school teacher. Since 1897 he has been principal of the high school, which, as an educational institution, reflects great credit on the city, its many graduates finding themselves well prepared for the vari ous careers to which their tastes and talents direct them, all of which, in modern days, de mand a sound educational foundation. In no sense of the word is Mr. Matthews a politician, but he is a wide awake, progres sive citizen and as such takes an interest in civic affairs, casting his -vote with the Demo cratic party. Fraternally he is identified with the Modem Woodmen and with the Knights of Columbus, in the latter order he has served both as grand knight and district deputy. In many representative leducational bodies his intelligent co-operation has been invited, par ticularly in county institute work. He has been one of the instructors at Kearney, and for the past six years he has been treasurer of the Nebraska State Teachers' Association. The family as a whole belong to the Roman Catho lic church. BENJAMIN J. CUNNINGHAM, a lead ing representative of the legal profession in Grand Island, has been located in the county seat for almost a decade and is thoroughly identified with public interests. He has built up a fine practice that has secured him honor able consideration from bench and bar as well as the cofidence of the community in his in tegrity as well as his ability. Mr. Cunningham was born in Wood River, Hall County, Nebraska, November 22, 1888. His parents are Michael J. and Catherine (Meade) Cunningham, retired residents of Wood River. The father was born in Nova 604 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Scotia, August 23, 1849, and the mother m Ireland, February 2, 1850. Their marriage took place in Lowell, Massachusetts. In 1878 they came to Hall County, and the father bought a farm near Wood River and that continued to be the family home until 1913, when re moval was made to the village. The family consists of five children, namely: Joseph H., a farmer and stockman near Wood River; John C, in the stock commission business at Omaha ; Mary, who resides with her parents ; Edward L., in the commission busines at Omaha ; and B. J. B. J. Cunningham had public school ad vantages and was graduated from the Wood River High school in 1906. His training in the law was secured in the Creighton Law School, Omaha, from which he was graduated in 1910. He entered into practice in Grand Island, where he shortly afterward found pro fessional encouragement and as time went on became well and favorably known not only in the law but likewise in the political field. In 1912 he was elected county attorney on the Democratic ticket and was re-elected in 1914, and on three occasions he has been elected chairman of the Democratic executive com mittee of Hall County. His parents have al ways been faithful members of the Roman Catholic church and he belongs also to this re ligious body. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Columbus, the B. P. O. E. and the F. O. E. FRANK E. SLUSSER was born in Jasper County, Iowa, July 11, 1868. His parents were Rev. F. M. and Nancy (Yocum) Slusser. His father, who was a Methodist minister, was an early settler in Jasper County, being a native of the state of Pennsylvania, who came west at an early day to locate west of the Mississippi River. Both parents died in Iowa. F. E. Slusser obtained his early school train ing in Jasper County and spent his boyhood on a farm. In 1887 he came to Nebraska and two years later secured a position as clerk in the First National Bank at Wood River, in that same institution he worked his way stead ily upward, serving as assistant cashier, vice- president and then president. The First National is one of the soundest institutions in the county, with a capital of $40,000, and sur plus $40,000, and average deposits of $350,- 000. Additionally, Mr. Slusser has banking interests at other points, being a member of the board of directors of the State Bank at Clarks, in Merrick County, and also of the Citizens State Bank at Archer, in the same county. In politics Mr. Slusser is a sound Repub lican. In the fall of 1902 he was elected county treasurer and was re-elected in 1904. Pie owns considerable property, mainly farm lands, and at present devotes his time largely to handling real estate. Mr. Slusser married in 1914 Miss Gussie Towne, who was born at Grand Island, Ne braska, and they have one daughter, Elizabeth Ann. Mrs. Slusser belongs to numerous so cial bodies and is a member of the Episcopal church. Mr. Slusser was reared in the Metho dist Episcopal church and has always contin ued in this connection. He is a member of Masonic bodies. Blue lodge. Royal Arch and Knights Templar and is a Shriner, and while residing in Wood River was master of the Blue lodge. He belongs also to the Elks and Odd Fellows and takes an interest in business and political organizations of the city and county. HON. JAMES R. HANNA, was elected judge of the District Court of the 11th Judicial district of Nebraska in 1904. During eighteen years previous to that he had been engaged in the practice of law at Greeley. In a judicial capacity for fifteen years it has been his busi ness to discern the actions and purposes of men, and it is generally recognized by prac titioners and litigants that the Judge is well informed on procedure and inspires confi dence in the prompt and impartial administra tion of justice. He is also widely known in financial cirlces. He is president of the Greeley State Bank, of the Brayton State Bank, and of the Nebraska State Bank of Grand Island. Judge Hanna was born at Vinton, Iowa, February 21, 1861, a son of Alex and Rose (Watson) Hanna, natives of Wooster, Ohio, both of whom are deceased. The parents re moved to Iowa in 1857, took up land in that state, and there passed the remainder of their lives in agricultural pursuits. The father was a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Hanna be longed to the Presbyterian church, in the faith of which they reared their six children, of whom five are living : Belle, a teacher in the Presbyterian College at Abingdon, Virginia; J. W., a retired farmer of Vinton, Iowa, and president of the Farmers . Savings Bank of Garrison, that state; W. H., vice-president of the Peoples Savings Bank of Vinton; Judge James R. ; and Dr.' H. PL, a physician and surgeon of Waterloo, Iowa. James R. Hanna received his early educa tion in the public schools of his native com- history of hall county NEBRASKA 605 ^>'^i James R. Hanna 606 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA munity, following which he attended Cornell (Iowa) College, graduating in 1884. For several years he was a student of law at Vin ton, being admitted to practice in Des Moines, in 1886. Beginning his professional career in Vinton, in 1887 he removed to Greeley, Ne braska, where he entered upon a successful career in the law. Like all young lawyers, and especially those who have no large financial backing, he was forced to go through a pro bationary period, but his, because of his fine abilities, was shorter than many others, and so rapidly did he come to the forefront that when he was only twenty-six years old he*; was elected a member of the State Legislature from Greeley County. During the next eight een years he continued in practice, gaining prestige,, prominence and reputation in his profession. In 1904 he was elected judge of the District Court of the Uth Judicial district of Nebraska, a position which he has contin ued to hold. His record on the bench is one of the best. With all his years of experience with the delinquent element of human society, while it has sharpened his insight into the faults and guile of mankind. Judge Hanna has preserved and constantly manifests a kindli ness and sympathy in his dealings with liti gants that make him one of the most esteemed judges in the state. His unfailing common sense saves him from the pedantry of law, and having been a close and thorough student under the impetus of his own determination, he has become fully and practically equipped to meet any emergency within the scope of his judicial duties. Judge Hanna married in 1888 Lora Chaffin, who was born at Richmond, Indiana, daughter of J. W. Chaffin, a native of Ohio, a soldier during the Civil War, and later a newspaper man. To this union there were born two chil dren: Helen, who attended Doane College at Crete, Nebraska, and State University at Lin coln, who resides at home with her parents, and Donald C, who graduated from the Kearney Military Academy, and took two years of work in Grand Island College, and who before the signing of the peace armistice was at the officers' training school in Camp Dodge, entering in July, 1918. The family be longs to the Presbyterian church. Judge Hanna is a member of the Knights of Pythias and has served as chancellor com mander in that body. He has always been a Republican. His standing in financial circles is one that compares favorably with his judic ial record, and in addition to being president of the institutions enumerated at the opening of this review, is a director in the State Bank of Omaha. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Grand Island College, and of the Board of Directors for the local Y. M. C. A. ARTHUR L. JOSEPH. — In the compar atively short but uniforiixly progressive carreer of Arthur L. Joseph, of Grand Island, several personal traits are quite noticeable. Among these may be mentioned versatility of talents combined with thoroughness of prep aration and depth of legal knowledge. A practitioner of this community since 1909, he has steadily advanced in his calling and in public prominence. At the present time he is capably discharging the duties connected with the office of city attorney. Arthur L. Joseph was born at Polk, Ne braska, September 26, 1885. He is a son of Fred J. and Minnie (Schoeder) Joseph, both natives of Germany. His parents, who came to the United States as children, were married in Iowa, and in 1879 came to Nebraska. His father purchased land in Polk County, where for a number of years he was engaged in suc cessful agricultural operations. The parents are now retired from active labors and make their home in Grand Island, where they are highly respected residents and devout members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Joseph is a sup porter of the Democratic party. Of the five childi-en of this worthy couple, four are liv ing: H. J., who is engaged in farming on the homestead in Polk County; Arthur L: Meta M., the wife of Henry Fraderking, a farmer of Merrick County, Nebraska; and Sophia, who makes her home with her parents. After attending the public schools of Polk County, Arthur L. Joseph was sent to Con cordia College, at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This was followed by a law course of three years in the University of Nebraska. He successfully passed his examination before the local board and) was admitted to the bar in 1909, at which time he commenced practice in Grand Island, which has since been his place of resi dence and the scene of his advancement to a position of prominence among the younger lawyers of Hall County. In his capacity of city attorney of Grand Island he has evinced a broad knowledge of law and equity, a con scientious regard for the rights of all classes of litigants and fine executive capacity in the dispatch of business. Like other live and progressive men, he has some business con nections, but his chief interests lie in his office and his practice and no other matters are allowed to distract his attention from them. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 607 He has also been actively interested in politics and is accounted one of the younger leaders of the Democratic party in his adopted city. Fra ternally he is affiliated with the Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in the latter has passed through all the chairs and is a member of the Grand Lodge. Mr. Joseph married September 26, 1912, in Grand Island, Miss Matilda G, Shilling, of Scotia, Nebraska, Mrs, Joseph is well known in social circles of Grand Island, and is an active member of Trinity Methodist Episco pal church. SAMUEL C, HUSTON, has been engaged in the real estate, loan and general insurance business in Grand Island for over thirty years. He has been a resident of Hall County since boyhood and has had much to do with the substantial development of this section of Ne braska, being identified with many leading in terests in Grand Island. Mr. tluston was born in Lake County, Ohio, October 11, 1861. He is one of a family of five and the only sur viving child of his parents, Cyrus and Rhoda (Taylor) Huston. Both were natives of Ohio, where their parents had been pioneer settlers. The paternal grandfather of Mr. Huston was Samuel Huston, a native of England, and the maternal grandfather was Samuel Taylor, who was born in Ireland. Mr. Huston was eleven years old when he accompanied his mother, after the death of his father in Ohio, to Nebraska. This was in 1872 and in 1874 she settled in the com fortable house in Grand Island that Mr.Hus- ton still occupies as his residence. His father had been a farmer and a man of some importance in Lake County, a member of the Masonic fraternity, a supporter and member of the Methodist Episcop^ church and a Democrat in politics. Before coming to Grand Island Mr. Huston had attended school at Leroy, Ohio, and after completing the public school course in Grand Island, he spent two years in an Episcopal college at Nebraska City, Nebraska. His earlier working years were spent on a farm but he had the commercial in stinct that led him into trading in grain and afterward, for five years was a clerk in a store. About that time he became associated with his present partner, J. E. Dill and together they conducted a store for three and a half years. In 1887 the firm of Dill & Huston was formed to deal in real estate, loans and insurance. The business of this firm has steadily grown and is now the leading one of the kind in Hall County. Both members of the firm are known to be sound, reliable business men who count as an asset their just reputation for business integrity. . In 1887 Mr. Huston married Miss Anna A. West, who was bom in Maryland. She is the daughter of John W. West, who came to Grand Island in 1874 and is still active in the grain business here. Mr. and Mrs. Huston have four children, three sons and one daughter, as follows : Samuel E., an engineer, who is in the employ of the United States govemment at Portland, Oregon; Forrest L-, engaged in farming three miles southwest of Grand Island; Ella, the wife of Theodore Rembolt, of Pendleton, Oregon, an employe of J. C. Penny, who conducts a chain of stores ; and Paul, a student in the Grand Island High school. Mr. Huston and his family are mem bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. In his political views he is a Republican. GEORGE D. HETZEL. — By reason of his long connection with the real estate business and because of the extent and importance of the transactions with which he has been iden tified, George D. Hetzel is justly accounted one of the leading realty men of Hall County. Nearly forty years have passed since he came to Grand Island, and during this long period he has held a prominent and respected place in business circles, while he has been no less esteemed as a citizen, and as a man who has won his own way to success from modest be ginnings. Mr. Hetzel was bom at Wheeling, West Virginia, October 7, 1844, a son of Charles F. and Regina (Bayha) Hetzel, the former a native of Baden, and the latter of Wurttem- burg, Germany. The parents were married in New York City and for a short time resided in Wheeling, where the father was a success ful business man and from there made his way with his family to the vicinity of Daven port, Iowa, where he purchased a farm upon which he resided until his death. Both he and his wife passed away on their old farm. They were respected members of their community. Mrs. Hetzel was a member of the Lutheran church. In politics the father was a Demo crat. Of their eleven children, seven still sur vive, George D. being the only resident of Nebraska. George D. Hetzel was educated in the dis trict schools and at Davenport, Iowa, and his career in business was started there as clerk in a dry goods store, about the close of the Civil War. He was only twenty-five years of age when he began to notice the field opening 608 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA for success in the real estate business, and be gan operations in realty in Davenport. In August, 1879, he came to Grand Island, Ne braska, where he estabhshed himself in the hardware business, but in the meantime con tinued to deal in real estate. After sixteen years he disposed of his hardware interests in order to give his entire time and attention to real estate and insurance matters. He has long been handling Canadian lands as a spec ialty, and is the owner of much valuable prop erty in Canada. His business standing is of the best, and this, like his fortune, has been built up through absolute integrity and straightforward dealing. Mr. Hetzel married February .6, 1873, Miss Louise Keating, who was bom at Cincinnati, Ohio. They are the parents of three children : Lulu, the wife of W. H. Baird, connected with the Larowe Construction Company, builders of sugar refineries and pulp driers, and has two children, — William Britton and George H. ; Frank A., formerly with the Cudahy Packing Company, but now connected with the firm of Ferd-Haak Company, large manu facturers of cigars, as a partner, married Theckla Haak; and George D., Jr., farming and sheep raising on a large scale in Manitoba, Canada, married Florence Harrison of Grand Island. Mrs. Baird is a graduate of the Grand Island High School and of Oberlin College, and Frank A, and George D. Hetzel Jr., are graduates of the Grand Island High School and of the Nebrska State University. Mrs. Hetzel and her three children are mem bers of the Episcopal church. Mr. Hetzel is a Democrat in his political views. His fra ternal affiliation includes life membership in the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Knights Tem plar of the Masonic order. He is also a mem ber of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. REV. JAMES A. DUFFY, bishop of the Grand Island Diocese of the Roman Catholic church, ably and effectively fills a position of great responsibility. Bishop Duffy has reached this high office through thorough preparation, wide experience and natural qualifications. Aside from his executive achievements, his ministrations have not only benefitted, di rected and comforted the large congregations in his charge, but have always been a recog nized influence for law, order and humanity over the entire diocese outside the church. James A. Duffy was born in the United States, in the beautiful city of St. Paul Min nesota, September 13, 1873. His parents were James and Nora (Shiely) Duffy. The father was a native of Ireland and the mother was born in New York, and both died at St. Paul. Of their family of eight children there are five survivors. The father was a stonemason by trade and became a contractor in stone construction. First in the parochial schools and later at St. Thomas Seminary in St. Paul, which is now the College of St. Thomas, the future bishop pursued his studies along the lines laid out for Catholic clergy. After his graduation in 1899 and ordination to the Priesthood, Rever end Mr. Duffy was appointed assistant at the Immaculate Conception church in Minneapohs, and continued as such for three years, then for two years had charge of a church in Le Sueur, Minnesota. During the next eight and a half years he was assistant under his friend Bishop Keane, in the Cathedral in Cheyenne, Wyom ing. In 1913 he was appointed the first bishop of the diocese of Kearney, with resi dence in Kearney, from which city he came to Grand Island in 1916, when the diocesan see was changed on account of a difference in railroad facilities. Bishop Duffy has forty-two parishes under his charge, his diocese extending over thirty- four counties. He has always been greatly in terested in the work of the Knights of Colum bus and feels proud of their wonderful human itarian achievements during the World War. THEODORE P. BOEHM, a prominent citizen of Hall County, Nebraska, was born in Grand Island, March 17, 1875. While united public effort is doubtless the greatest force in the development of a community, a most essen tial factor is the solid, well informed, depend able business man who labors not only in his own interest but with the wider vision of a good, reliable citizen. Grand Island has such men and some of these are native sons. A representative example is found in Theodore P. Boehm, who for a number of years was an efficient and trustworthy public official of the county. The parents of Mr. Boehm, George and Catherine Boehm, were natives of Germany who came to the United States in childhood. They were married in the city of St, Louis, Missouri, and they became the parents of six children; one died in infancy; Mrs, Buechler, of Grand Island ; Mrs, C, LI. Menck, deceased; Theodore P, ; Fred J,, cashier of a bank at Columbus, Nebraska; and Adolph T, The father learned the brewing business and after leaving St, Louis went to Omaha, where he was foreman and manager for Fred Krag's tST: HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 609 brewery. The father came to Grand Island in 1870 and operated his own brewery here dur ing the remainder of his life. He died here at the early age of thirty-six years. He was a Democrat in politics and belonged to the Luth eran church. His widow, the mother of Theo dore P, Boehm, subsequently was married to Andrew Ott and three children were born to that union, two of whom survive: Otto O,, head salesman at the Wolbach & Sons Cloth ing department ; and Walter, who is employed in the Union Pacific shops at Grand Island, Theodore P. Boehm had excellent educa tional training, attending the public schools, ¦Grand Island College and Lincoln Normal University. His first business experience was as a clerk in a grocery store in Grand Island. He was ambitious and this led to his taking a civil service examination which enabled him to take a position in the Grand Island post office, and for the next four years he was a clerk in the general delivery division. At that time he was appointed a clerk in the office of the county clerk of Hall County. He served in this capacity for four years, during this time winning the confidence of his associates and officials generally and making many warm per sonal friends. He was then elected county treasurer and served two terms, having been elected the second time without opposition. Public approval was still further evidenced by his election later to the office of county com missioner where he served two years on that board. In the meanwhile, when he retired from the office of county treasurer, he em barked in the real estate and insurance busi ness. In these lines he has become one of the leading men of the county. During the past year he has done also a large land busi ness in northeastern Colorado. He still takes a hearty interest in politics, believing this to be the duty of citizenship. He was manager for Hon. Silas R. Barton, Republican, in his cam paign for Congress. Mr. Boehm has done his part in forwarding war work and is well qualified to do so as he was a soldier himself in the Spanish-American war. At present he is serving as a member of the Grand Island school board. Mr. Boehm married, June 20, 1901, Miss Evelyn Scott, who was bom at Hardy, Ne braska, a daughter of Edward Scott, an old settler and farmer of Nuckols County. They have three children : Kenneth S., Kieth S. and Theodore P. The famly belongs to the Metho dist Episcopal church and Mr. Boehm is a member of the Modem Woodmen, of the Elks and of other local, organizations. REV. AUGUST W. HEIMES, pastor of St. Mary's Cathedral in Grand Island, has been a resident of this city for only four years but in that time he has made a deep impres sion on his church and on the community which ought not to be overlooked. Father Heimes was born in Westphalia, Germany, September 3, 1877. His parents were Frank' and Theresa (Deutenberg) Heimes. They- came with their children from Germany to the United States in 1880, settled in the city of St. Paul, Minnesota, where the father was en gaged in the grocery business until his death. He was an educated man and for twenty-four years had taught school in his native land. Of his seven children four are living. Father Heimes was the youngest of his parents' family being but three years old when he was brought to America, He early evinced a desire for religious life and with this in view his educational training began in boy hood to prepare him for the priesthood. His preparation for the office was completed in Josephinum Seminary, Columbus, Ohio, fol lowing which he was ordained June 10, 1904. His first assignment was as assistant priest in the Catholic church at O'Neill, in Holt County, Nebraska. Six months later he took charge of the church at Ewing, Nebraska. Father Heimes made a fine record there and re mained two and one half years, going then to the church at Saint Libory, Nebraska. From there he was called to St. Mary's cathedral. Grand Island. Father Heimes has always shown religious zeal together with a large measure of executive ability. His labors in Grand Island are warmly appreciated. In ad dition to looking after the affairs of his large parish. Father Heimes directs the church school and each one of- the one hundred and sixty-five students strives for his approval, realizing that he has a worthy example in the faithful priest. He takes deep interest in the activities of the Knights of Columbus. CHARLES B. FREEMAN, whose widely extended operations in real estate have made him a somewhat conspicuous figure in this field, has been a resident of Grand Island since 1911 and of the state of Nebraska since he was seven years old. He has not always been in his present line of business although he has made it remarkably successful, farming, hand ling grain and dealing in agricultural imple ments having engaged his attention for many years. Mr. Freeman was born in Potter County, 610 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Pennsylivania, September 29, 1865. His Eng lish ancestors came to America more than 200 years ago and the name is yet well repre sented through New England and its border states. His .great-great-grandfather served in the Revolutionary war and three of his uncles served in the Union army in the Civil War. His parents were J. W. and Eliza (Rodgers) Freeman, both of whom were born in the state of New York and from there removed to Potter County, Pennsylvania, where the father carried on farming for many years. In 1872 he came with his family to Nebraska settling in Howard County and was a farmer there un til his hfe closed. He was a man of sturdy character, honest in his convictions and up right in his life. He was a Republican in his political views and both he and Mr. Freeman's mother were members of the United Brethren church. They had three children : Henry B., who resides on his fruit farm near Los An geles, California; Sarah, deceased, was the wife of T. N. Bennett ; and Charles B. He attended the country schools in Howard County and later the city schools in St. Paul, Nebraska. Thus Mr. Freeman had good educational opportunities. He assisted his father on the home farm and remembers when he would haul a load of wheat from Howard County to Grand Island, unload and accept a place to sleep in the livery bam where his horses were stabled and return next day. This was quite an undertaking and a responsible business transaction for a boy to carry through satisfactory. For about twenty years Mr. Freeman followed farming, always being interested in grain, and afterward went into the agricultural implement business in Howard County. When he came to Grand Island in 1911 he embarked in the real estate business and now has a branch office at Brule. He operates mainly with personal capital and does business on a large scale. During the past two years he has made a specialty of dealing in western lands, but is also profitably interested in fanning in western Nebraska. Mr. Freeman married, in 1891, Miss Eva Matheney, who was born in western Pennsyl vania. Pier father came to Howard County, Nebraska, in the 'eighties. Mr. and Mrs. Free man have three children: Plarry B., who re sides in Adams County, Nebraska ; Myrtle B the wife of L. A. Miller, who is a farmer near bruner, Nebraska ; and Cora May, who resides with her parents. Mr. Freeman and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. While he IS an earnest Republican in his polit ical views, first of all Mr.Freeman is a good citizen, and every movement looking toward the preservation of law and order in his city, county, state, finds in him a hearty supporter. ADDISON E. CADY, banker and a repre sentative business man of Grand Island, bears an old and honored name in Nebraska, one that has been identified with important and far-reaching business enterprises for many years and with political affairs for more than a quarter of a century. Addison E. Cady was born in Nebraska, a son of Addison E, and Nellie E. (Hessler) Cady, natives of Wisconsin. The father was born at Watertown, December 7, 1853, and died at St. Paul, Nebraska, October 14, 1918. In 1880 he came to Colfax County, Nebraska and for the next five years conducted a news paper at Schuyler. In 1885 he removed to St. Paul, Nebraska, where he organized the First National Bank of St. Paul, becoming the first president of the institution. He was an able man, well informed in the banking field. Both Elba and Dannebrog, Nebraska, are indebted to him for the institutions that supplied much needed financial assistance in the early struggle for development. As long as he deemed it advisable he retained his interest in these in stitutions but had sold them before he died. He was a man of wide vision and versatile tal ents, a power in politics in the state for many years and was put forward by the Republican party as its candidate for Congress and even for govemor after long and statesmanlike ser vice in both houses of the Nebraska state legislature. While a resident of St. Paul he organized a wholesale grocery company and later organized a branch at Grand Island, the entire concern being operated as the Nebraska Mercantile Company of which he was the first president. Later he assisted in the founding of the Nebraska State Bank at Grand Island and was serving as first president of the in stitution at the time of his death. His two children survive : Adnelle, who is the wife of George Pyne, a merchant at St. Paul, Ne braska, and Addison E., who is vice president of the Nebraska State Bank at Grand Island, Addison E. Cady received his early educa tional training in the public schools and then entered the Shattuck Military Academy, at Faribault, Minnesota, from which institution he was graduated in 1901, when he returned to St, Paul and entered high school, from which he was graduated in 1903. He then inter ested himself in the wholesale grocery busi ness at St. Paul and continued until 1910, when he came to Grand Island in the same business and remained with the Nebraska Mercantile HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 611 Company until 1915. In 1916 he became vice- president of the Nebraska State Bank and since that time has devoted himself closely to its interests. July 15, 1919, the Nebraska Loan and Trust, Company was organized with J. R. Hanna, president, A. E. Cady, vice- president and secretary, A. J. Guendel, vice- president, E. R. Guendel, treasurer, and B. T. Cunningham, attomey, with a capital of $50,- 000. Mr. A. E. Cady has the active manage ment of this new concern. In 1908 M,r. Cady was married to Miss Lucile Kotick, who was born at St. Paul, Ne braska, a daughter of Joseph Kotick, a general merchant and a pioneer of Howard County. Mr. and Mrs. Cady have one son, Addison E. (Ill), a bright school boy of seven years. Mr. Cady was more or less active in the Republican party but has never accepted any political honors beyond service on the state central committee. He belongs to lodge No. 80, B. P. O. E. CLAUS THEO. JESSEN, proprietor of the leading dmg store in Grand Island, is one of the city's representative business men. More than that, he is probably the best lin guist in the state for he has a thorough knowl edge of eight languages and converses in each with great facility. His educational training along other lines has been effective and the choice he made of pharmacy as a profession was because of a natural leaning toward the field of chemistry. Mr. Jessen was born in Denmark, April 25, 1860. His parents were Claus T. and Anna (Petersen) Jensen. The former was bom in Schleswig and was educated in the university of Copenhagen and until 1863 remained in that city as a teacher in the royal household. In the war of 1863-4 he served as an officer in the Danish army and then went to Kiel, Germany, and took a course in theology, enter ing the ministry of the Lutheran church, in which communion he continued until his death. Of his six children five survive, but Claus T. Jessen is the only member in the United States. On account of his father being so erudite a man, Mr. Jessen had encouragement and stimulation in his effort to equal his father's scholarship. He proved an apt pupil along many lines and became especially proficient in languages and dialects and has found this knowledge of great advantage to him. He was graduated from the School of Languages at Hardersleben in 1881, and from the uni versity of Magdeburg, Saxony, Germany, in 1882. The military law then came into play and he served in the German army for one year. In 1884 he came to the United States. He was at that time practically without capital and even, worked as a day laborer after reach ing Grand Island, but he had heard very often in his distant native land that America was the land of opportunity and he has lived to pirove it. In the course of time he became a clerk in a drug store in Grand Island and the learning of the business was not much of a task to one whose faculties had been so well trained, and in 1908 Mr. Jessen bought the store and has conducted it ever since. His business success is well deserved for it has been built up by his own efforts. Although interested in all that concerns Grand Island, Mr. Jessen is not connected 'w'ith any other business enterprise than his own. Mr. Jessen married, in 1889, Petra Schorrup, who was born at Sheffield, Illinois. They have had the following children: Phosia, the wife of John Gaber, a traveling salesman for Armour & Co., living in Sheri dan, Wyoming; Norma, the wife of William Hehnke, of the Hehnke-Lohmann Company of Grand Island ; Charles T., who, during the World War served in a medical unit in the American Expeditionary Force in France, in herits his father's talent in the acquisition of languages, being conversant with four; Vera, Emily, William and Tetra, all of whom are at home. One other child died in infancy. Mrs. Jessen died January 5, 1916. She was a faithful member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Jessen is a( Democrat in politics and fraternally is identified with the Danish Brotherhood. FREDRICH R. MANDEVILLE was bom in Laporte County, Indiana, October 21, 1864.. His parents were Dr. Daniel B. and Elmira (Talmage) Mandeville, both of whom were born in the state of New York. A short time after their marriage they removed to Laporte, Indiana, where Dr. Mandeville, for twenty years was in the practice of medicine. In 1879 Dr. Mandeville removed to Seward and retired from professional life. He was an ardent Republican in politics and was a brave soldier in the Union army during the Civil War. The patriotic character of the family is indicated by the fact that his father and three brothers, Jacob, Jerry and Rineer served in the army. Dr. and Mrs. Mandeville had three children of whom Fredrich R. and Carrie are living. Carrie is the wife of Frank Pickrell who is a 612 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA section foreman at Seward for the C. B. & Q. Railway. The subject of this sketch was raised on a farm in Laporte County, Indiana, and obtained his education in the district schools. After coming to Nebraska he con tinued to work on the farm until 1886. He determined to see more of his native land. He went to California and afterward re- crossed the continent to New York, He seems not to have been satisfied in the far east nor with the far west. He returned to Nebraska and went into the saloon business in Grand Island. He was in this business seventeen years in Seward, four years in Red Cloud and three years in Grand Island. He was appointed chief of police of Grand Island in May, 1917. As chief of police he stands for law and order and for the enforcement of law at all times and under all circumstances. In 1900 Mr. Mandeville married Miss Emma Hill of Seward. Mrs. Mandeville's father, Mr. James Hill, is a pioneer and farmer, a liveryman and hotel manager, a man of wide acquaintance and substantial business connections. They have two sons, Harry and Fredrich. Mrs. Mandeville is a member of the Congregational church and is much inter ested in local charities. From early manhood Mr. Mandeville has been identified with the Republican party and has been a loyal de fender of its principles and candidates. He is a member of lodge No. 604 B. P. O. E. at Grand Island. WILLIAM F. TILLEY is successfully en gaged in farming and conducting a nursery in Lake township. He was bom in Otsego County, New York, June 28, 1873, being but an infant when brought to Hall County, Nebraska, by his parents, Adin D. and Maria A. (Perkins) Tilley, a record of whom ap pears elsewhere in this volume. His boyhood days were spent on the farm and his early education was acquired in the public schools, this being supplenmented by a two years' course in Grand Island College. In early man hood he took up farming and for five years was in partnership with his brother George A. Later he associated himself with his father in the nursery business, having continued in this to the present day, conducting a nursery enter- pnse on a part of the old homestead. He is also part owner of a quarter section of land m i.ake Township which he devotes to farm ing purposes. In Hall County, March 1, 1900, was solem nized the marnage of William F. Tilley and Miss Floy Wilcox, a native of Kansas. Her parents were Milton and Harriett (Foote) Wilcox who came to Hall County many years ago, their home being established at Grand Island, where the father became a salesman for the Rock Springs Coal Co. He was a man of fine education and while living in Kansas served as superintendent of schools at Beloit, Kansas. The mother of Mrs. Tilley is still living, a resident of Grand Island. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Tilley has been. blessed with four children, namely: Ralph, Vera, Mildred and George, all of whom are still under the parental roof. The family are members of the Baptist church and Mr. Tilley is a Republican in pol itics. Though not an aspirant for public honors he has the best interests of the com munity at heart and capably filled the position. of township clerk for two terms. The name has been an honored one in the county since pioneer days and the family are held in the highest esteem wherever known. GUY L. HARRISON. — One of the most important interests of the city of Grand Island is the business conducted under the name of the W. H. Harrison Company. This business, founded by the late Hon. William H. Harri son, has since his death been conducted by his sons Guy L. and Fred L. Harrison, the former of whom is president and general manager. Like his late father, Guy L. Harri son is a man of marked business talent, of prominence in public life, and of great popu larity in his community. Through his own abilities he has won a substantial place for himself in- commercial and industrial circles, and, while he came into a business already established, he doubtless would have made a success had he been called upon to build up a business of his own. Mr. Harrison was born in Table Rock, Ne braska, June 19, 1882, a son of William H^nry Harrison, a review of whose career will be found elsewhere in this work. His educa tion was secured in the public schools of Grand Island, and after his graduation in 1901, he en tered his father's employ, continuing in close association with his father, in whose latter years he assumed many of the burdens of' management. At the time of the elder man's death he became the leading official in the con cern, which was incorporated for $25,000, in 1914, A general lumber business is done throughout the county, the concem also deals in coal, and in addition owns a well-equipped plaing mill, where all manner of woodwork is done, Mr. Harison is president and general CJL-C-C;, HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 613 manager of the company, while Fred L. Har rison is secretary and treasurer and manages the coal department. Mr. Harrison is a mem ber of the Elks Lodge No. 604, of which he is past exalted mler, and belongs to Ashlar Lodge No. 33, A. F. & A. M. He supports the Republican party in elections. On September 3, 1909, Mr. Harrison mar ried at Grand Island Miss Anna M. Hershey, daughter of James B. Hershey, who came to Hall County a number of years ago and passed the rest of his active years in farming. Mrs. Harrison is a member of the English Lutheran church. Mr. Harrison is the leader of the Third City Municipal Band, of which organi zation his father was the founder. HON WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON. — In the measure that a man proves the broad ness and sincerity of his character, and his sense of the hea'vy responsibility devolving up on him, both relative to his private interests and those of the public, does he deserve and achieve lasting success. Preparedness and ef ficiency for whatever life brings, are valuable assets in the formulation of character and the accumulation of the evidences of material prosperity. Without a sane, sound outlook on life, no man can hope to produce upon others that impression so desirable in order firmly to establish permanent prosperity, a fact that some individuals never leam. Others recog nize it from the first, and their careers are full of big accomplishments, and public-spirited actions, that lend themselves to produce the light in which the community regards such citizens. Such a man was the late Hon. Will iam Henry Harrison, whose many achieve ments in both business and public life estab lished his name for all time as one of the most distinguished, as he was one of the most beloved, residents of Grand Island. Mr. Harrison was born in Morris, Grundy County, Illinois, May 19, 1860, and was one of eleven children born to his parents, the others being : Joel D., of Grand Island ; Frank A., of Lincoln; Charles E., of Mason City; Thomas J., of Julesburg, Colorado; J. H., of Ravenna; Elliott, of Cairo; Mrs. Martha Smith, of Mason City; Mrs. Edith Heywood, of Cairo ; Mrs. Carrie Trover, of Friend ; and Miss Eugenia, of Cairo. He was six years of age when his parents removed to Nebraska, the family home being on a farm in Pawnee County, where the lad attended the district schools. This training was later supplemented by a course in a business college at Saint Joseph, Missouri. His first work was on the home farm, but at the age of sixteen years he entered commercial affairs by securing a posi tion as clerk in a dmg store in Table Rock. One year later he entered the industry in which he was to make such a great success when he began work in a lumber yard in Table Rock, and a short time thereafter was promoted to the position of manager. He established a home and family of his. own. September 14, 1881, when he married in Table Rock Miss Emma E. Jones, daughter of David and Margaret (Williams) Jones, who were born and married in Wales. He- resided for a time in Pennsylvania upom first coming to the United States, and in 1860 removed to Nebraska, from Wisconsin, locat ing at Table Rock. Mr. Harrison's father- in-law, who was originally a shoemaker, in; later years tumed his attention to farming. In 1884 Mr. Harrison removed with his family to Grand Island, where he was placed in charge of the S. R. Howell Lumber Com pany headquarters, a capacity in which he supervised the operation and management of forty-five retail lumber yards throughout the state. A few years later, when the Howell Company withdrew from Nebraska territory, Mr. Harrison purchased three of the yards, including the one in Grand Island, and was actively engaged in the lumber business until within a short period before his death. In the organization of the lumber dealers of Ne braska, Mr. Harrison's executive ability placed him at the front. Whether a question of policy or a plan of entertainment was being considered, his opinion almost always met with the unanimous approval of his associates. Lum ber men who were in close touch with him, personally, and in his official capacity as presi dent of the Nebraska Lumber Dealer's Asso ciation, paid the highest tribute to his ability, judgment and personal magnetism, which made him a favorite wherever known. Mr. Harrison always took an active and prominent part in public life and politics. In 1881 and 1882 he was a member of the city council of Grand Island, in which body he made his influence distinctly felt. In 1895 he was elected a member of the State Legisla ture from his district, and was the Republican floor leader. In 1903 he was elected to the State Senate, representing Hall and Howard counties, and was elected president of the Senate, being head of that body in reality as well as by virtue of his position, nominally. He was an excellent organizer, played a great part in giving to the people of the state an improved revenue law and later was one of the progressive leaders of Nebraska. It is 614 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 615 said that if all of the bills for whose passage he w&s responsible had borne his name, the public could see, as those whose business it was to watch the inside ¦w'orkings of the legisla ture saw, that W. H. Harrison was the master mind in both sessions. The clearness with which he analyzed political conditions made him an invaluable advisor for public officials, campaign committees and newspaper writers. He knew what the people were thinking about, and it was his political philosophy that it was wise to give them as near what they wanted as it was safe to do. In 1898 Mr. Harrison was appointed postmaster of Grand Island, and served in that office until 1902. During the time he was postmaster he took his political life in his hands and went to the state capital to assist in preventing the Legislature from carrying out a corrupt bargain in the nam ing of senators. He lost the postmastership as a result of this courageous fight, but suc ceeded in bringing in a new era in the politics of the state and made the sacrifice with the greatest willingness and good nature. Mr. Harrison was fraternally affiliated with the Masons, Odd Fellows, Elks, and M. W. A., in all of which he was prominent and popular and held a number of important offices. He took an active interest in music, was the foun der of the Grand Island Band, and he and his sons, all performers, formed a complete orches tra. He was likewise a most enthusiastic ad mirer of the game of baseball, participated largely in the management of the Grand Island team during the season of 1912, and every player who came in contact with him became his friend. He had a discriminating literary taste and was a lover of good books. His large library was a favorite gathering place for young people, -w'ith whom he maintained the warmest friendship, and his advice and help were accepted gratefully by this circle of young friends as well as by his large number of intimate friends, throughout the state. For some time prior to his death, Mr. Harrison had not been in the best of health, but his re covery seemed certain because of his rugged constitution. Having gone to Omaha for a medical examination, he was seized November 15, 1913, w'ith a stroke of apoplexy, and his death occurred the following day. In comment ing upon his death one of the daily papers said: "His best epitaph is the love which they who knew him feel for him. This love is written more deeply and more permanently than if 'twere cut in stone." The five children of Mr. and Mrs. Harrison are as follows: Guy, in charge of the W. H. Harrison Company; Fred, who is connected with that concern; Ray who has the Willard Battery Station in Grand Island; Florence, the wife of George D, Hetzel, now living in Canada; and Reed, who entered the United States service October 4, 1917, and is assis tant director of the 355th Infantry Band, Headquarters Company, France. ELI A. BARNES, one of Grand Island's best known and most highly respected citizens, has spent almost a half century in Hall County and has been identified with much of its substantial development, being greatly interested in agricultural progress as well as in business affairs in this city. Mr. Bames is an honored survivor of the Civil War, _ in which his gallantry won official recognition and ever since the organization of the Grand Army of the Republic, he has been a member and has been commander and senior vice commander of the organization of Nebraska. Mr. Bames was born in Chemung County, New York, September 14, 1837, of old Empire state and Holland ancestry and of Revolu tionary stock. His parents were Jesse and Rachel (Swart wood) Barnes, and his paternal grandfather, Abraham Barnes, who was born and died in New York. Jesse Bames was born in Sullivan county. New York and died in Chemung County in 1857. His vocation was farming but he became prominent in local politics and distinguished himself as a first lieutenant of artillery in the war of 1812. In Chemung County he served in the office of town clerk and at the time of his death was superintendent of the county almshouse. He married Rachel Swartwood, who was bom in Chemung County, New York. She was the daughter of Peter Swartwout, to give the name its orthography in Dutch, who came very early from Holland to the colonies serv- ling as a quartermaster-general in the Revolu tionary war. The mother of Mr. Barnes re mained in New York after she became a widow until 1862, when she removed to lUinois and from there to Cedar Falls, Iowa. She was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Of her large family of thirteen chil dren many grew to vigorous maturity but at the time of writing Eli A. Bames has but one surviving brother, George W., who has been in the agricultural 'implement business at Waterloo, Iowa, since before the Civil War; and one sister, Mary E., who has been twice married and is now a widow, first to Theodore L. French, and second to Hiram F. Lane. Eli A. Bames obtained his education in the district schools and Ithaca Academy, now 616 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Cornell University. He then engaged in farm ing until August 25, 1863, when he enhsted for service in the Cm\ War and was orderly sergeant of Company G, Ninth Iowa Cavalry, and rose to higher rank before the close of the war. He removed to Illinois, in which state his mother was living, and there married February 22, 1865, Miss Nancy E. Crego, who was born in New York state. Mr. and Mrs, Barnes have been blessed in many ways and both enjoyed entertaining their friends on the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding, February 22, 1915, Mrs, Barnes is a member of the Ei^iscopal church and is interested in the many charitable movements of the times, Mr, Barnes came to Hall County, Nebraska, March 8, 1872, securing a homestead and re sided on the same for thirteen years and then came to Grand Island to embark in a bond, insurance and pension business, which he continues with the exception of the bond feature, which he gave up in 1909, He is a notary public. He has been a prominent official of the State Board of Agriculture and served as its president from 1895 to 1896 and has been a member of the board for twenty- two years. In Grand Army affairs he has been commander of Lyons post, of which he is the present quartermaster, and has, as noted above, been senior vice commander and com mander in the state. For years he has been conspicuous in Masonry in Nebraska, He is a member of Ashlar lodge No, 33, A F & A M,; Deuel Chapter R, A, M,; and Mt, Le banon Commandery No, 6, Knights Templar, and IS past high priest and past eminent com-^ mander. He has taken fourteen degrees in the Scottish Rite, is a life member of all the bodies and IS the oldest Shriner in Hall County FRED L. HARRISON, — Among the ener getic and progressive young business men of Grand Island, who has proved his abihty judgment and thorough knowledge of affairs ''% fu'^ h ^f ^"son, secretary and treasurer of the W, H, Harrison Lumber Company, Mr, Harnson has passed his entire business career in connection with this enterprise and has built up a large and influential acquain tance m coal and lumber circles of the state m addition to which he is widely and promi nently known as a frternalist Mr. Plarrison was born at Table Rock, Ne- ^l^Ah?"'"^^' Ii ^^^^' He is a son of the Hfe ZuT}^- ^'T^°"' ^ ^^^^^^ «f ^hose hfe will_ be found elsewhere in this volume. He received his education in the graded and high schools of Grand Island, whence he was brought as an infant by his parents. When he was able to start on his business career he joined his father and brother Guy L. in the W. H. Harrison Company, which had been founded in 1901. When his father's health failed, he and his brother assumed many of the responsibilities of management, which they took over in full when the founder died in 1913. The business was incorporated in 1914 for $25,000, and at that time Guy L. Harrison became president and manager, and Fred L. Harrison secretary and treasurer and manager of the coal department. He has since con tinued in these offices. The company does a general lumber business throughout the county of Hall and the territory surrounding Grand Island, deals extensively in coal, and owns an up-to-date planing mill, where all kinds of wood work is done. The concern is also own er of a large plant at Cairo, this state. Like" his father and brothers, Mr. Harrison is a musician. He is one of the most prominent Elks in the state, being past exalted ruler, past state president and past district deputy of the Elks for Nebraska. In politics he is a staunch Republican. Mr. Harrison married Sep-tember 16, 1912, at Kaukauna, Wisconsin, Miss Josephine M. Kline, of Kaukauna, Wisconsin, a daughter of Jacob J. Kline, who was formerly a manu facturer of paper at Kaukauna, but is now re tired. They are the parents of one son: William H., Jr. RAY L, HARRISON. — Many of the suc cessful business men of Hall County, and this applies _ practically to those of the younger generation, have found their opportunity for success in the automobile business and in its various allied interests. The phenomenal growth of this industry has called forth the services of young, alert, enterprising men, cap able of a quick grasp of innovations and new ideas. For the labors of this class there have been presented desirable rewards. Among the men of Grand Island who have profited by their ability to recognize opportunities and their ability to foresee developments, is Ray L. Harrison, manager of the Willard Bat tery Station, and distributor of the Willard batteries for seven counties. Mr. Plarrison was born in Grand Island, Nebraska, December 12, 1886, a son of the late Hon. William H. Harrison, a review of whose career will be found on another page of this work. His eariy education was gained in the graded and high schools of Grand Is- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 617 land, from the latter of which he was grad uated in 1905, and following this he took a course at the State University, where he was graduated in civil engineering in 1909. Re- turing to Grand Island, for six months he was employed in an architect's office, but this did not prove congenial, and he tumed his atten tion to the garage business, conducting an establishment of this nature for five years. During this time he had seen the possibilities in the battery business, and eventually estab lished himself as proprietor in a small room eight by twelve feet. In order to embark in • business, he was compelled to borrow $275. He was soon clear of indebtedness and began to enlarge his establishment, building an addi tion of sixty-five feet, which included his bat tery station and his repair shop. In 1917, so large had his business grown, he purchased a lot forty-four by sixty-six feet, on which he erected a modern building, fashioned accord ing to his needs. Since that time the business has continued to grow and it will soon be necessary for him to secure larger quarters. Mr. Harrison conducts this business, which has been built up entirely by himself, as a Willard Storage Battery Station, in addition to which he is distributor for seven counties in Nebraska of this high class article. His business is accounted one of the most prosper ous in Grand Island. Much of its success is due to the fact that Mr. Harrison is always improving himself and his knowledge, his most recent graduate work being of a practical na ture — a course in the Willard Storage Bat tery factory, Mr. Harrison married March 2, 1917, Miss Elizabeth Pepper, a daughter of William Pep per, an old-time resident of Hall County, who for rnany years was engaged in agricultural pursuits. He is now city street commissioner of Grand Island. They have one son, Ray L., Jr. Mrs. Harrison is a member of the English Lutheran church. He is exalted mler of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and past chancellor commander of the Knights of Pythias. In politics he is a Republican, but he has found little time for political matters or public affairs, his entire attention having been engrossed by his business. HENRY SCHUFF. — As Grand Island has become, year by year, a more and more im portant commercial and railroad center, its business has naturally increased and its tran sient population has become of a magnitude which has been a constantly growing tax upon the capacity of its hotels. This tax has in large measure been relieved, if not entirely eliminated, by the improvements and enlarge ment of the Palmer House, the proprietor of which has shown his confidence in the city's development. To the traveling public which has had occasion to visit Grand Island, any introduction to the name of Henry Schuff would be entirely superfluous. As proprietor of the Palmer House he has proved himself a genial boniface, in business circles he is known as a man of good ability and of the strictest integrity. In public positions of promi nence he has shown himself a citizen who en tertains high ideals of public service and who has discharged the duties of citizenship accord ingly. Mr. Schuff was born in Burlington, Iowa, August 7, 1861. He is a son of Anton and Barbara (Scholtz) Schuff, natives of Germany- They came to the United States in 1853, set tling in Burlington, where Mr. Schuff followed the trade of cabinet maker, and there the parents passed the rest of their lives, dying in the faith of the Lutheran church. They were the parents of six children, of whom all were school teachers at one time in their lives, and five are living. Henry was the only one to come to Hall County. Ellen was for years a lecturer in the Lutheran church, and for eighteen years has been a missionary of that denomination in India ; Mrs. Pauline Calla han is the wife of a Nevada lawyer; Mrs. Caroline Hardy is a widow and resides in California ; Mrs. Bertha. Sidel is the Wife of a retired farriier of Fort Scott, Kansas ; and Anna is deceased, Henry Schuff received his education in the public schools of Burlington, Iowa, and after his graduation from the high school entered the woodworking department of the Chicago, Burlington and Qunincy Railroad. In 1882 he came to Nebraska and entered the train service of the Union Pacific, and during the six years that he was thus employed accumu lated a small capital which, in 1888, he in vested in the cafe business at North Platte. In 1894 he disposed of his interests there and came to Grand Island. In 1907 he pur chased the Palmer House, which he has since conducted with much success. He built his present cafe in 1910. His house has become very popular among those of the traveling public who appreciate real comfort, and ex cellent cuisine and attentive service, and who know that their every requirement will be attended to gladly and intelligently. Mr. Schuff is a Republican in politics. In 1905 he was elected mayor of Grand Island, in which capacity he served until 1911, During 618 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA his terms the greater part of the city's im provement was inaugurated. The street pav ing was started during his administration, under which also there was started the electric light plant. Many other improvements are directly traceable to his work and influence. Mr. Schuff is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is promi nent in Masonry, having reached the Scot tish Rite, and being a Knight Templar, in addition to which he belongs to the Shrine. He has been particularly active in York Rite Masonry, and has passed through all the chairs in the Chapter and Knights Templar. Mr. Schuff married July 15, 1884, Miss Hannah Barbara Weil, who was bom at Franklin, Iowa. To this union there have been bom three children: Lester F., who is his father's manager in conducting the Palmer House ; Fred H., who attended the preparatory school in Mercerville, Pennsylvania, and en tered the United States service at Camp Cody, New Mexico, in April, 1917. He was ordered before the board thirty days later, and secured his second lieutenantcy, was soon made first Keutenant and so commissioned in September, 1917, joining the 134th Infantry. His division arrived at_ Liverpool, England, October 24, 1918. It is now in Germany with Army of Occupation. Henry F., the other son, is a student in the Grand Island high school. GLENN JONES, vice-president and general manager of the Nebraska Mercantile Com pany in Grand Island, is a thoroughly experi enced man in this fine of business. He has been identified with the enterprise for thirty- six years. From schoolboy days he has been connected with grocery interests and few men have a wider knowledge or more just concep tion of the many factors belonging to this im portant field of trade. Mr. Jones was born in Galesburg, Illinois His parents were Aaron L. and Rebecca (Glenn) Jones, both of whom were natives ot Ohio. His father was a soldier in an Ohio regiment in the Civil War and after his honorable discharge, removed to Illinois, where he engaged m farming until 1871 He came with his family to Nebraska in 1882 He homesteaded in York County and remained tSiv 191^ Xi ^'^ ^f* "^^''^ "^^^'•'¦^d in July, 1916. The mother of Mr Jones died able people m every relation of life and were hurch ^T?r' °i the Methodist Episcopal church. Of their five children the following are living: L. B., office manager of the nI braska Mercantile Company in Grand Island; Glenn ; and Myrtle, the wife of L. D. Scott, of Casper, Wyoming, a sheep raiser, owner of Hound Hurst Ranch, fifty-six miles north of Casper. Glenn Jones attended the common schools and began his business career as a clerk in a grocery store in 1882, applying himself so faithfully to detail work that he gained rapid promotion and some years later became mana ger of a large grocery department in one of the business houses of Lincoln. In 1899, in asso ciation with G. M. Southmayd, he embarked in the grocery business in Omaha, Nebraska, under the firm nam of the Jones-Southmayd Company, which enterprise prospered and was incorporated. About nine years later^, these partners sold their interests in the jobbing grocery company and Mr. Jones became man ager of one of the largest Sioux City jobbing grocery houses, where he continued until Feb ruary 1911. He then acquired Mr. Waldo's holdings in the Nebraska Mercantile Company in Grand Island and became vice-president and general manager. His sound knowledge of business conditions and business participation for so many years make him not only a safe guide in his own particular line, but a depend able counsellor in other fields. Mr. Jones married in February, 1895, Miss Mary Houston, who was born in Iowa and is a grand-niece of Gen. Sam Houston, a noted statesman of another generation. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have on^ daughter, Genevieve, who is a graduate of the National Kindergar ten College, Chicago, Illinois, and a kinder garten teacher in Grand Island. Mr. Jones and family belong to the Presbyterian church, of which Mr. Jones is president of the board of trustees ; he is also president of the local Young Men's Christian Association and a member of the board of directors of the state association. In his political views he is a Republican and fratemally is identified with the Elks. THOMAS P. MATTHEWS. — That the important business enterprises of Grand Islatid are in the hands of competent men is very generally conceded, and perhaps it is no secret that along some lines and in some cases, un usual ability is shown. Without depreciating any other prominent business man here, atten tion may be called to Thomas P. Matthews, now a large dealer in city real estate, whose mercantile success through many years has given proof of the business acumen he pos sesses. More than that he is a self-made man. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 619 GtENN Jones 620 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA from boyhood having that pride of personal independence that made him self reliant. Thomas P. Matthews was born at Brooklyn, New York, August 1, 1868, a son of John A. Matthews, a biography of whom is found in this work. His educational advantages were those afforded by the common schools until he was thirteen years of age when he became a wage-earner. His first employer was S. N. Wolbach. He soon learned business details and applied himself closely and faithfully to the interests of those for whom he worked, thereby gaining their confidence and good will. These are assets not to be overlooked when a young man of twenty-one embarks in business for himself. Mr. Matthews at that age be came a general merchant and in the interval of twenty-one years from then until he retired from that line in 1910, he had owned and con ducted sixty-eight stores. At the time he sold his interests he had a store in Falls City, one in Harvard, one in Giltner, Nebraska, and for five years he was in the book and stationery business in Grand Island. Mr. Mathews then turned his attention to dealing in real estate, first in association with others, but since 1913 he has been alone. He has been exceedingly successful, giving attention mainly to local lands and business property. Mr. Matthews married in 1896, at Oska- loosa, Iowa,- Miss Eva Mason, who is a daughter of Isaac Mason, an eariy settler there and later a coal dealer. Mr and Mrs. Mat thews have three daughters, Mary, Eva and Rose, all of whom are attending school. The family belongs to the Roman Catholic church. Mrs. Matthews died December 2, 1918. In the political field Mr. Matthews has been more or less active as circumstances seemed to war rant, for a number of years, zealously support ing the candidates of the Democratic party. He has not often accepted political honors for himself although for one year he served as deputy revenue collector of the Fifth District. He is a man of generous habit and of broad sympathy and these qualities were recently illustrated when, during the influenza epidemic, he turned over his property, the Brewster Hotel, at Grand Island, for the city to use free as a hospital for the unfortunate victims of what has proven in private homes in many cases an almost uncontrollable malady. Air. Matthews does not pose as a philanthropist but his fellow citizens honor him for this hu manitarian action. RUFUS M. GEER, secretary of the Geer Company, dealers in lumber and operators of a planing mill in Grand Island, has been identi fied with this business ever since his school days ended. He is thoroughly informed in the lumber and affiliated industries. Mr. Geer was born in Grand Island, Nebraska, Febmary 13, 1884. His parents are Lewis T. and Anna (Merton) Geer, mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Rufus M. Geer obtained his education in the public schools of Grand Island and ever since has been associated with his father in the lumber business. He married, February 22, 1908, Miss Marian Anyan, a daughter of William and Mary Anyan, well known resi dents of Grand Island. Mr. and Mrs. Geer have three children, Nathaniel, Thaddeus, and Donald, aged respectively, six, four and two years. Mr. and Mrs. Geer are members of the Congregational church and take a sympa thetic interest in its activities. In politics he is a Republican but is liberal-minded as a citizen when public movements for the bene fit of the entire country call for loyal effort. For many years he has been identified with Masonry and is a member of Askelon Lodge No. 133 A. F. & A. M., Grand Island. FRED H. JASPER, whose attention for some years has been devoted to manufactur ing, came to Nebraska in early manhood and has been so well satisfied with this state that the most of his business ventures have been within its borders. His handsome residence in Grand Island is one of the most com fortable and attractive in the city. Mr. Jasper has thus proved his belief that for both busi ness and home Nebraska is thoroughly satis factory. Fred H. Jasper was born in Germany, Oc tober 11, 1879. He is the son of Fred and Louise (Biene) Jasper, natives of Germany where their parents died. They came to the United States in 1885 and settled at Avoca, a barber by trade, is also in the insurance of burning brick. They are members of the Lutheran church. There were five children in the family: Fred H. ; Margaret, the wife of John Reimer, of Walnut, Iowa, a painter and decorator by trade and at present the operator of a motion picture theatre; Henry, a barber by trade, is also in the insurance business in Minden, Iowa; Anna, the wife of Roy Powers, a printer by trade, lives at Oak land, Iowa ; and Otto, who is a traveling sales man, lives in Grand Island. Mr. Jasper received his educational training in the schools of Avoca, Iowa; and after leaving the high school he worked at the bar- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 621 ber's trade, then was a clerk in a local store for some time. He was ambitious for a wider field of business, however, and found an open ing with the Kregg-Elliott wholesale shoe house of Omaha, serving four years as a travehng salesman for that concern. He then became salesman for the next three years for the John Gund Brewing Company. Follow ing this Mr. Jasper accepted an offer from the P, J. Bowlin Company, wholesale liquors, of St. Paul, Minnesota, two years later going with the Krugg Brewing Company and continuing until Nebraska became dry territory. In 1913 he came to Grand Island for this company as manager and agent. Since then he has be^ engaged in the manufacturing of beverages for the wholesale trade, sales being made through- oyt the country. Mr. Jasper married, in June, 1907, Miss Emma Shilling of Avoca, Iowa. They have two children, Pauline and Frederick, aged re spectively, ten and three years. Mr. Jasper has never entertained any political aspirations, business engaging his time and attention, but he is identified with the Republican party and is always ready to co-operate in general pubhc- spirited movements. He is a member of a number of fraternal and social organizations, these including the B. P. O. E., the F. O. E. and the L. O. M. ALBERT J. DENMAN, who occupies the very responsible position of manager for the American Beet Sugar Company, at Grand Is land, is a representative of one of the old pio neer families of Hall County. The Denman name was established in this county as early as 1869, when his gradfather, William Harri son Denman, a native of Ohio, secured a home stead claim, on which he lived until the time of his death, and this old homestead is still in the family. Albert J. Denman was born January 11, 1881, on a farm in Hall County, five miles south of Grand Island, and is a son of John W. and Ida M. (Huhn) Denman, whose record appears elsewhere in this volume. Albert J. Denman remained in school until he was graduated from the Grand Island Busi ness College at the age of twenty years. His first business position was with the Granger Fruit Company through one season, when he went to Norfolk, Nebraska, where he was em ployed in a beet sugar factory one year and was then transferred to the Grand Island fac tory of the American Beet Sugar Company at Grand Island, first as timekeeper, then as book keeper and on January 1, 1913, he became manager of the plant and since then has de voted the greater part of his time and attention to affairs pretaining thereto'. He has a large force under his supervision in the various lines, while outside business has, in the past few years, more than doubled in volume. On April 4, 1904, Mr. Denman was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Giese, a daughter of Henry Giese, a pioneer of this state, now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Denman have two daughters : Gertrude M. and Florence, both of whom are attending school. Mr. Denman and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In fraternal circles he is active in the order of Elks and also in the Eagles, being trustee of the latter lodge at Grand Island, and an esteemed lecturing and esteemed loyal knight in the former organiza tion. In politics he is identified with the Re publican party. A. C. MENCK. — One of the well known business men of Grand Island is A. C. Menck, general merchant, who has been identified with this city all his hfe. His every effort, under all circumstances, has been to add to the pres tige of Grand Island. This he has done by encouraging progress along business, social and educational lines. Mr. Menck was born in Grand Island, Ne braska, April 19, 1866, and is a son of Chris tian Menck, a sketch of whom appears in this work. He obtained his education in the schools of Hall County and began his business career in the capacity of clerk in a Grand Island dry goods store. He had thorough and practical training and in 1902 embarked in the mercan tile business here on his own account. Mr. Menck has demonstrated his business ability in the upbuilding of an extensive trade. His customers come from different parts of the county. Experience has proved that here their wants in carefully selected dry goods, notions, boots and shoes, may be supplied very satis factorily. Mr. Menck has made merchandis ing his life work and his judgment may be depended upon as to quality of his goods, while his business integrity is above question. He is the owner of his commodious store and has other property. Mr. Menck married in 1890 Miss Linnie Elliott, a daughter of Martin Elliott, a sub stantial farmer of York County, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Menck have three sons, namely : Roy, in business with his father; Ray in the radio department on a transport, in European waters; and Arthur, an electrician now de tailed on the U. S. battleship Lousiana. In 622 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA pohtics Mr. Menck has always been identified with the Democratic party. At present he is a member of the city council of Grand Island, in which body his excellent business judgment and public spirit make him exceedingly valu able. He belongs to the A, O. U. W. and the Liederkranz, a German society. LEWIS T. GEER.— Those who lead in business circles in Grand Island are not as a rule men who have gained their positions of independent fortune and public confidence in any other way than by steady, persevering in dustry and in recognition of citizenship re sponsibility. An example easily cited is Lewis T. Geer, founder of the Geer Company, wide ly known in the lumber industry, who came to Grand Island in 1880, with his fortune yet to make. The important enterprise that he has built up testifies to the stuidy qualities he possesses. Mr. Geer is an all round useful citizen, able in business and active and earnest in public affairs. Lewis T. Geer was born in Washington County, New York, February 12, 1856. His parents were 'Nathaniel and Eliza (Clark) Geer, of Connecticut, his father a grandson of Welcome Geer, also born in Connecticut, who in 1826 was a captain of artillery in the state militia. The Geer family came very early to the New England colonies and owned lands from the crown. The parents of Mr. Geer moved from New York to Ottawa, Illi nois, where Nathaniel Geer was engaged in farming pursuits. Of his ten children there are six yet living. He was a Democrat in politics. He and his wife . belonged to the Episcopal church. Mr. Geer received his educational training in the Illinois schools and then went to Prairie City, Iowa, where he learned the carpenter trade under his uncle, David Geer, and he con tinued to work as a carpenter in Iowa from 1873 until 1876, when he returned to Illinois. In the meanwhile, however, he had accom panied his uncle to Boulder, Colorado, passing through Grand Island, and after retuming to work at his trade in Illinois he pleasantly re called the people and surroundings of the Ne braska village and this resulted in his decid ing to come to Grand Island and establish his permanent home. He reached here March 3, 1880 and began at the bottom of the indus trial ladder that he has so successfully climbed. He continued work at his trade during a num ber of years and then, in March, 1894, estab lished a contracting business which he oper ated until 1908 under the firm name of Geer & Harrison. In that year the business was incorporated as the Geer-Harrison Company. On August 17, 1913, the firm suffered an almost complete loss by fire. In the spring of 1914 business was resumed, under incorpor ation as the Geer Company, Lewis T. Geer being president. The business has grown to wide proportions. The company handles lum ber, owns and operates a planing mill and sells coal, lime and builders' hardware and other commodities of the trade. Lewis T. Geer married November 23, 1881, Miss Anna Merton, who was born at Merton's Landing, Wisconsin. She is a daughter of Andrew Merton, who came to the United States in 1847 settling in Wisconsin, taking up land and giving his name to Merton's Land ing. At the time of his death at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, he was register of deeds of Winne bago County. Mr. and Mrs. Geer have had four children, three surviving: Effie E., Rufus M. and Russell L. Mrs. Geer and the chil dren are members of the Congregational church. In politics Mr. Geer is a sturdy Re publican. At present he is serving as super visor on the county board and in Grand Is land he has served on the school board and also in the city council from the First Ward. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity. For twenty-five years he has been an active worker in the building and loan association. Mr. Geer has a document showing a trans fer of a piece of land in Connecticut to one of his ancestors, Nathaniel Geer, dated Janu ary 2, 1776. Miss Effie is a member of the Colonial Dames and the D. A. R. A man named Howland, a passenger on the May flower is among the ancestors of the Geer family. , EDWARD L. BALLENGER, who is one of the best known men in the Union Pacific yards at Grand Island, was born near Mattoon, Coles County, Illinois, July 7, 1862. His par ents were James and Mary (Thompson) Bal lenger. Plis father was a native of Illinois and the mother was bora in Indiana. In 1871 the parents of Mr. Ballenger came to Seward County, Nebraska, where the father took a homestead, living on the claim ten years. They now live at College Place, near Walla Walla, Washington. They were the parents of five children, namely : Edward L. ; Lillie, who is the wife of R. C. Dunham, of Portland, Oregon; Charles, who died at the age of twenty-two; Flora, who is the wife of Austin Salesberry, of Portland, Oregon; and Plarry, a railroad man of Grand Island. /C^^- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 625 Edward L. Ballenger accompanied his par ents to Nebraska and was reared on a farm until the age of eighteen. In 1889 he entered the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad as a switchman and for thirty years has continued to fill this responsible position. Mr. Ballenger is accounted one of the substantial men of Grand Island, and capably served two years as a member of the city council. Mr. Ballenger was united in marriage to Miss j\Iyra Wilkinson, who was bom at Athens, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of Henry and Clara (Toles) Wilkinson. The father was a native of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and the mother was born in Green County, that state. Mr. and Mrs. Ballenger have a son. Earl, who is also in the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad. He married Miss Sina Hansen and they have a son, David Earl, a bright little lad of seven siunmers. In politics Mr. Ballenger is a Republican. He is a Royal Arch Mason and belongs to the Royal Highlanders and the Order of Railway Trainmen. Airs. Ballenger is a member of and an active worker in the Episcopal church. HARVEY B. ROUSEY. — However ad mirable the objects of fraternal organizations, in the sense of the voluntary association of men promoting their common interest, busi ness or pleasure, and however ample their finances, those that make a most promising beginning could not long exist without able business management. This is a practical age and the most worthy benevolences have to be as carefully adjusted as have the accounts of the honest banker. Therefore, a position that involves responsibility as does that of grand recorder of such a nation-wide fraternal order as the A. O. U. W., is no sinecure although one of great distinction. This office in Ne braska is filled by Harvey B. Rousey, one of Grand Island's most highly respected citizens. Harvey B. Rousey was born in Morgan County, Illinois, March 9, 1863. His parents were William and Jane (Gunn) Rousey, both born in Morgan County, to which section their parents had come in 1832. On the maternal side. Rev. Alexander S. Gunn was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal faith being the father of one preacher and the grandfather of three. William Rousey removed to Clay County, Nebraska, in 1879 and purchased and near Edgar for $10 per acre. It is now held at $200 per acre. For many years he -was engaged in fanning but at the time of his ert knowledge gained through thorough training, and has the confidence of the community because of honorable and up right business methods. August Meyer was born in Switzerland, June 13, 1858, his parents being John and Verena (Gut) Meyer, who spent their entire lives in Switzerland. They had fourteen chil- dreri but only three sons came to the United States: Robert, deceased; Gotlieb, with his hrother in the jewelry store in Grand Island, and August. The father was a watchmaker by trade, a vocation followed by four of his sons. He and his wife belonged to the State church of Switzerland. August Meyer gained his schooling in his native land, following which he learned his trade before coming to the United States in 1881. His brother was in the jewelry and watch business at Plattsburg, New York, where August was employed four years before coming to Grand Island. He was practically without capital and "may be said to have worke(^ his way up to his present affluence from a bench, his industry receiving a just re ward as time passed on. Mr. Meyer still gives his main attention to his store although public affairs, to some extent claim a part of his time, his fellows citizens having elected him a mem ber of the city council, where he served six years. In his political views he is a staunch Republican. In 1881 Mr. Meyer married Miss Elizabeth Egg, also a native of Switzerland, and they have three sons : Robert, with his father in the store; August H., who studied electrical engi neering in the state university at Lincoln, is general manager of the Bryan-Marsh Electric Company, Chicago, and Ernest J., who is first lieutenant of his company which has been with the American Expeditionary Force in France since January, 1918. As a member of the Na tional Guards he also saw service on the Mexi can border. Mr. Meyer and his family are members of the Presbyterian church. EDWIN W. HURST, proprietor of the Hurst Sash & Door Company, has been identi fied with the business interests of Grand Island since 1903. Through well developed methods and strict recognition of commercial integrity, he has achieved a large degree of business success. Edwin Wardell Hurst was bom at Cadillac, Wexford County, Michigan, in August, 1880. His parents were T. B. and Jennie (Lyman) Hurst, both of whom are deceased. They were natives of Pennsylvania removing from that state to Michigan in 1875 where the father was engaged in the lumber industry. They had six children of whom the following survive ; Flor ence, the -widow of L, C. Reber, lives in Cali fomia, Elizabeth, the widow of H. L. Harri son, a resident of Portland, Oregon, and E. W,. who belongs to Grand Island. The par ents of this family -were members of the Pres byterian church. The father was a Republican. Mr. Hurst's educational opportunities in cluded high school advantages at Madison, Wisconsin, and one year in the university of that state. Following the close of his school days, Mr. Hurst engaged in the manufacture of sash and doors, for a time in Chicago and later in Kansas City. For eight years he was a commercial traveler over Nebraska, but in 1903 he settled permanently in Grand Island. 644 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 645 In 1915 he estabHshed his manufacturing plant • here and devotes the greater part of his time to the management of affairs connected with it. The Hurst Sash & Door Company does an exclusive jobbing business, the products be ing distributed throughout Nebraska, Wyom ing, Colorado and Montana. In 1906 Mr. Hurst married Miss Minedith Calvin of Chicago. They have no children. Mr. Hurst is a Republican in his political views, and fraternally he belongs to Lodge No. 604, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. FRED VOSS. — An illustration of the re wards obtainable through a life of integrity and persistent endeavor is found in the career of Fred Voss, now one of the substantial citizens of Mayfield township. When he first came to the United States, forty-seven years ago, Mr. Voss had practically nothing with which to begin life in a new country. Through the exercise of his native industry and the application of good management to his work, he has made a success of life and is now owner of a valuable farm of 280 acres, situated in section 23, Fred Voss was born May 1, 1846, in Hol stein, Germany, and made his home in his na tive land until reaching the age of twenty-six years. He had the advantages of a public school education. The family finances were very modest and, there seeming to be little -chance for him to acquire independence in the land of his birth, he decided to try his for tunes in the United States. Arriving in Hall County in 1872, he found himself under neces sity of seeking whatever honorable employ ment he could find, being engaged at various occupations, principally farming, for others, until he had acquired sufficient funds to pur chase a small property. This furnished the nucleus for his present splendid farm of 280 acres, which is located in section 23, Mayfield township. It is under a high state of cultiva tion, its productiveness having been developed through scientific treatment of the soil, while the use of power farm machinery and modern methods have contributed to Mr. Voss's suc cess. Today he is accounted one of the sub stantial general farmers of his community and a man of intelligence and enlightened views on a number of subjects. In his political views, he takes an independent stand. Fraternal connections have held out no attractions for him. With his family, he belongs to the Luth eran church. The first wife of Mr. Voss, with whom he was united in Germany, died in 1877, -and left one child : Lena, who is now the wife of Otto Dickman. In 1880 Mr. Voss was united in marriage with Wibke Krone. Four chil dren were born to this union: John, who is deceased; Max, is married and a farmer of Mayfield township ; Chris, in the United States mail service, at Omaha; and Harry Herman, who is engaged in general farming in associa tion with his father. RAYMOND D. KINGSBURY. — There are few lines of business more essential to the comfort and health of a community than that carried on under the name of plumbing, and Grand Island is fortunate in this direction. Few cities of its size have better plumbing or heating service than is supplied by the Grand Island Plumbing Company, of which Raymond D. Kingsbury is president. He was born in Fillmore County, Nebraska, November 24, 1876. His father, Castello Kingsbury, was a native of Illinois, living there until after the close of the Civil War; when he removed with his family to Nebraska to settle in Fillmore County. He now lives retired in Portland, Oregon. He served three years in the Union army as a member of the Sixty-fourth Illinois volunteer infantry, being wounded at the battle of Shiloh, this injury making hospital treat ment necessary. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, is a Republican in his political views, and is a member of the American Order of United Workmen. He married in IHinois, Mary Mott who was born in that state and died in Nebraska in 1910. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. They had four children, three of whom are living, namely; Raymond D., presi dent of the Grand Island Plumbing Company; Mildred, the wife of Coy Burnett, an attomey in practice at Portland, Oregon, and Maud, who resides in Portland where she is a profes sional nurse. R. D. Kingsbury completed his educational training in the state university at Lincoln, from which he was graduated in 1901, after which he was connected for several years with the Burlington Railroad in the capacity of civil engineer. In 1904 he came to Grand Island with the intention of embarking in business and shortly afterward bought his uncle's plumbing establishment. The business was in corporated with a capital of $11,000, under the name of the Grand Island Plumbing Com pany, with Mr. Kingsbury as president, and D. O. Beckmann secretary and treasurer. Since incorporation the scope of the business 646 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA has been yet further extended, so that today the concem is one of Grand Island's important enterprises. Although Mr. Kingsbury owns a ranch situated in Wyoming, he devotes the most of his personal attention to his Grand Island interests. Mr. Kingsbury married, in 1904, Miss Ruby D'Ment, who was born in Iowa. They have two children : Carol and Carita, both of whom are attending school. In political sentiment Mr. Kingsbury has always been a Republican. He is a Knight Templar Mason and belongs to the Mystic Shrine. Mr. Kingsbuiy is a liberal contributor to benevolent objects and with his family belongs to the Methodist Epis copal church. Geer and Harrison where he remained one and a half years, then worked one year for Kruse Brothers, following this employment he began a contracting business of his own. In 1913 he organized the Nelson Lumber & Supply Com pany, which deals in lumber, coal and planing mill products. Their trade territory covers the state of Nebraska. Mr. Nelson married in Denmark Miss Eliza Anderson, also a native of that country. They have three children, Lars, Sarah, and Norman. Mr. Nelson and his family belong to the Luth eran church. He votes with the Democratic party and is a member of the school board. Fraternally his associations are with the Dan ish Brotherhood and the M. B. A. HERMAN NELSON, the head of the Nel son Lumber & Supply Company of Grand Is land, is recognized as one of Grand Island's most enterprising business men. He came here practically without capital and has built up a fine business entirely through his own industry, and the success which has attended his efforts is well merited. Herman Nelson was born in Denmark, January 23, 1880, the fifth in a family of six children born to his parents, Lars and Cas- para Nelson. His father died on a little farm in Denmark, on which his mother yet lives. They had the following children : Jens P., who has resided in Nebraska for thirty-three years, lives on a farm north of York ; Lars and Marie, twins, the former of whom was accidentally drowned fourteen years ago, and the latter who is the wife of T. Norgard of Denmark; Edward, who resides with his mother in the old country ; Herman, who came to Grand Island in 1906; and Casper, who is engaged in the grocery business, also remains in Denmark. The father of this family was a man of importance in his district, having held the political office of inspector of one and one-quarter miles of coast along the North Sea, for a quarter of a century. As a boy Herman Nelson assisted in work ing the home farm and also was an aid to his father in watching and guarding the coast. He had common school advantages and then attended the high schol from 1897 until 1898, at the same time working as a carpenter's ap prentice, thereby learning a trade that he has found exceedingly useful. In 1902 Mr. Nelson came to the United States, soon finding work on the Great Northern Railroad, being em ployed prior to coming to Grand Island, in bridge building at Clancy, Montana. After reaching this city in 1906 he went to work for JOHN H. TRENT, vice president of the Nelson Lumber & Supply Company of Grand Island, has been a resident of Nebraska since he was eighteen years old, his parents being among the pioneer^ of 1882 in Hall County. The Trent name has been an honorable and respected one in this section ever since, al though its founders here have passed away. John H. Trent was born in Menard County, Illinois, February 24, 1864. His parents were WHliamson and Lydia A. (Jones) Trent, both of whom were bom in Menard County, where the father was a substantial farmer for many years. Mr. Trent and his father were both born in the town of Old Salem, the home of Abraham Lincoln, the father was a personal friend and associate of Mr. Lincoln in early days. The west called Williamson Trent, how ever, and in 1882 he came to Hall Coufity, Nebraska, and here the rest of his life was spent. In addition to fanning he worked at bricklaying. He was a Democrat in politics. Both he and wife belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. A family of six children were born to Williamson and Lydia Trent. Of this family four are living: Alice, the wife of O. PI. Ereyly, a retired farmer living at Hershey, Nebraska; John H., a representative business man of Grand Island ; Clarence, who carries on a confectionery business at Plershey, Nebraska; and Ned, who conducts the New York Shining Parlor at Wichita Falls, Texas. John PL Trent attended the public schools in IHinois and after coming to Nebraska spent one year in the high school at Doniphan. His earlier years were passed on a farm. After this he leamed the blacksmith trade following which he came to Grand Island in 1895. He continued to work at this occupation until 1913' a period of twenty years. In that year he be came interested in the organization of the Nel- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 647 son Lumber and Supply Company, becoming vice president of the concem, which has proved a very successful business enterprise. It has grown to large proportions under able manage ment, having formerly had lumber interests at Phillips and at present owns a concern at Cairo. Mr. Trent began life on his own ac count with but little capital, but has made steady progress and now owns, in addition to the interests above indicated, five quarter- sections of land in western Nebraska, valuable tracts in Colorado, and lands in Hall County. Mr. Trent married, in 1887, Miss Laura Fairbank, who was bom in Pennsylvania. They have no children. Politically he has al ways been affiliated with the Democratic party. WILLIAM JOHNSON, well known and highly respected in Hall County, has lived within its confines since 1887. He is an expert blacksmith having worked continuously at his trade in Grand Island. By his industry he has not only set a commendable example, but also he has accumulated a comfortable fortune, William Johnson was born in Denmark, Jan uary 23, 1860, His parents were Hans and Kittle Johnson, who passed their lives in Den mark, They were members of the Lutheran church. Of their five children, William was the only one to come to the United States, He attended school in his native land but as his father earned only the wages of a general laborer he had few advantages and from early boyhood cherished the hope of sometime com ing to America. His opportunity came in 1881, When he reached the United States, he settled at Lansing, Michigan, where he found work in a blacksmith shop. Following this occu pation he enlisted in the United States army following the vocation of a soldier for the next fi.ve years during the Indian troubles in Mon tana, California and old Mexico, When released from the army, in 1887, Mr. Johnson came to Grand Island, to work as a blacksmith for C. E. Lykke, with whom he remained for eighteen years and then became associated with John H. Trent. Later he pur chased a half interest in the business that he had assisted to establish. Mr. Johnson married in 1886, Miss Katie Benson, who was born in Tennessee and died at Grand Island, June 5, 1915. Five children were bom to them as follows : Robert, em ployed in a printing office at Kansas City; Lloyd, with the American army in France, having served as a blacksmith in an engineer corps for the past eighteen months; Archer, a machinist ; Marie, the wife of James Byard, an aviator connected with the Great Lakes training station, and Hazel, who resides with her father. Mr. Johnson and his family are members of the Roman Catholic church. There are many reasons why Mr. Johnson should take a deep interest in public affairs, and dur ing the years of strife now happily ended, he was active in helpful ways wherever he found opportunity. In politics he is a Democrat. LUDWIG ALBERT ZUEHLKE, the effi cient and enterprising manager of the Hord Grain and Coal Company of Grand Island, has had a considerable amount of experience in other business lines, where he demonstrated his capacity to handle large interests. He was born in Germany, September 26, 1874. The parents of Mr. Zuehlke were Ludwig and Augusta (Henkle) Zuehlke, natives of Gemany who emigrated to the United States, reaching Hall County, May 10, 1883. The father bought land from the railroad com pany on which the family resided for a number of years before the father retired from active life and moved to Grand Island. Here both father and mother died. Of their twelve chil dren eleven are living, two of whom are in South Dakota, the other nine being distributed in Hall, Merrick and Holt counties, Nebraska. The parents were members of the Lutheran church. Ludwig Albert Zuehlke was reared on his father's farm and attended school in a little white building situated seven miles north of Grand Island. For eight years after finish ing his education he followed farming in Howard County, then homesteaded in the Rosebud reservation, in Boyd County, being one of the first white settlers to venture into that section at a time when Indians were to be seen every day. Three years later after selling his homestead he camie to Grand Is land, locating here in 1906, after which for some years he was engaged in a grocery busi ness. He then took charge of the Hord Grain & Coal Company, of which he has since been manager. Mr. Zuehlke married, October 1, 1892, Miss Johanna Barth, who was born in Merrick County, Nebraska. Her parents came to Ne braska in 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Zuehlke have four children: Martha, Minnie, Harry and Arthur, all of whom live at home. The entire family belongs to the Trinity Lutheran church, situated on East Second street. Grand Island. Mr. Zuehlke is considered a valuable citizen, one who is strong in his support of law and order and liberal in benevolent movements. 648 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA He has never been ambitious] for political honors but is loyal in his support of his Re publican friends. HENRY HARRY, well and familiarly known as Colonel Harry, is a virile and pro gressive young man who has proved himself strong and resourceful in facing the responsi bilities and problems that he has encountered in the developing of a well-established reputa tion as one of the reliable and popular business men of HaH County. He has been in the most significant sense the artificer of his own success. His advancement has been won through earnest and well ordered endeavors, the while he has at aH times commanded in violable place in popular confidence and good wiH. Colonel Harry is one of the versatile, successful and popular exponents of the voca tion of auctioneer, and in this field his able services are much in demand throughout this section of the state. His residence and busi ness headquarters are maintained in Grand Island. Henry Harry was born in the fine old pro vince of Westphalia, Germany ; the date of his nativity was August 18, 1880. He is a son of Henry and Caroline (Kurhng) Harry, who Were bom and reared in that same prov ince but emigrated to the United States in 1884. The death of Mrs. Harry occurred within that year. She was born in 1856. Henry Harry, Sr,, who now resides near Chapman, Merrick County, has been actively engaged in farm enterprises since 1900, He is one of the substantial and valued citizens of that locality. His political allegiance is given to the Democratic party and his religious faith is that of the Lutheran church, of which his wife likewise was a devout communicant. Of their two children Henry, Jr., of this review, is the elder, and the younger, Fred, in engaged in farming, at Chapman. Henry Harry, Jr., was about four years old when his parents came from Germany to America and established their home in Howard County, Nebraska. The father later removed to Merrick County, where he now resides. In the public school of St, Libory, Howard County, Henry Harry, Jr., acquired his early educational discipline, being reared ^o' the sturdy service involved in farm life. Thus it naturally came about that his initial activities of independent order were those of a farm worker, in which connection he found em ployment by the month, after having run away from home for the purpose of thus proving his self-reliance and independent spirit. Finally he was enabled to engage in a farm enterprise for himself. Energy and good judgment brought him success during the period of years that he was farming an entire section of land, in Hamilton County. Reverting to the circumstances of the child hood of Colonel Harry, it is to be noted that his parents were in such limited financial con dition that when they set forth for the United States they had not sufficient money to justify them in bringing their two little sons, who were cared for by a friend of the family untH the father could make provision for their coming two or three years later. When about eighteen years of age Colonel Harry found employment on the farm of a German in Hamilton County. His employer was more given to indulgence in ardent spirits than to fair and reasonable treatment of his employes, and thus it came about that after working three days, at a wage of fifty cents a day, young Harry was discharged. With his little sum of three dollars, earned by hard work, he set forth to find another job. At Aurora he rented a room for twenty-five cents and paid an equal amount for his breakfast. To con serve his little sum of money, he went without dinner and supper that day. He went in tum to every farmer who hitched his team in the village and asked for work. Finally one man informed the youth that he had a brother who needed a man, and though Harry was only a boy he found employment with this brother, with whom he remained as long as the latter required a man for such farm service. For a year thereafter he was employed by a farmer named Schuster, and from his wages for that year he spent only seven and one-half dollars — the greater part for shoes and overalls and the remainder in the remarkable profligacy implied in his paying fifty cents for admittance to the Ringling Brothers circus, with five cents for the redoubtable circus lemonade and five cents for sausage, — which constituted his dinner on that momentous occasion. With his savings Mr. Harry purchased a corn sheller, but in its operation he met with negative finan cial success. Finally he went to Giltner, Plamilton County, where he engaged in the livery business, besides opening a dance hall in his livery barn. Through this dual enterprise he made several hundred dollars, and with this capital he rented 640 acres of land. In his vigorous activities as an agriculturist and stock-grower on this land he was succesful, and while he was thus engaged he conducted his first sale in thci capacity of auctioneer. So successful was he in this sale that there came insistent demand for his services as an auction- VllA^ VUl/tAj HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 653 eer, and eventually he found it expedient to adopt auctioneering as his vocation. He has become one of the best known and most suc cessful auctioneers in this part of the state and his genial personality, coupled with his fair and honorable methods, have not only gained to him a wide circle of friends but have in ured also to his splendid success in his chosen field of service. Of the scope and importance of his "professional" business an idea is con veyed when it is stated that in the winter of 1917-1918 Colonel Harry conducted two hun dred and thirty-eight auction sales, from which he recieved in individual fees as high as two hundred and thirty dollars. His reputation as an auctioneer has far transcended mere local limitations, which is shown by the fact that he has been called upon to conduct sales not only in diverse sections of Nebraska, but also in Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, and at St. Joseph, Missouri. Within the period of independent career Colonel Harry has owned a number of good farm properties in Nebraska. In Hall County he now owns a well improved and valuable landed estate of three hundred and sixty acres, for which he paid $14,000. He began life without money or influential friends, but by his own energy, initiative and well ordered endeavors he has achieved large and worthy success, together with unqualified popular esteem. That a man who has thus marked the passing years with sucessful personal activities should also have full appreciation of civic duties and responsibilities, is a foregone conclusion. Thus Colonel Harry is always ready to lend his co operation in the futherance of measures pro jected for the general good of the community, and he has also been especially loyal and liberal in the support of the various patriotic ' war agencies that have marked the nation's par ticipation in the great world war. He has had no desire for political activity or public office, but gives staunch allegiance to the Democratic party. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Travelers' Protective Association. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran church. As an auctioneer Colonel Harry is retained continuously as salesman for the Grand Island Horse & Mule Company, at an annual salary of $5,000. From his general ser vices as an auctioneer he also recieves substan tial returns. The Colonel Js a worker, a thinker and a successful business man, and his many friends fully realize that he is accounting well for himself and to the worid in all of the re lations of life. The 17th of October, 1906, recorded the marriage of Colonel Harry to Miss Bertha Stratmann, who was bom and reared at Grand Island, her father, Frederick Stratmann, hav ing been for a number of years engaged in farm enterprise in Hall County and having thereafter established himself in the agricul tural-implement business in Grand Island. Colonel and Mrs. Harry have two winsome daughters, Dorothy and Virginia, both of whom are now attending the public schools of Grand Island, WILLIAM F. KREHMKE, a representa tive citizen of Hall County, and a substantial business man of Grand Island, has been in the meat business here for almost twenty years. He is held in high regard in business, and en joys equal confidence in political circles. William F. Krehmke was born at Grand Island, Nebraska, September 28, 1881. His parents were William and Caroline (Krehm ke) Krehmke, both of whom are deceased. They came to the United States from Holstein, Germany, in 1869, being pioneer settlers at Grand Island, where the father engaged in a manufacturing business. He became a citizen and identfied himself with the Republican party. There were five children in the Krehmke family all of whom were sent to school and reared in the faith of the Lutheran church. Of these WiHiam was the fourth in order of birth, the others were: Christ, a railroad man at Grand Island ; Freda, the wife of Herny Horstman, a painter at Grand Is land ; August, living in Sparta, Nevada, has a large transfer business ; and Minnie, the wife of John Rathman, a farmer in KimbaH County, Nebraska. William F. Krehmke attended the Grand Island public schools and afterward worked on a farm in Hall County for seven years, and for two years rode range in Kansas. He then returned to Grand Island to embark in his present business, his first shop being located on Second Street. In 1906 he sold that shop and in 1912 he moved to the commodious quarters he now occupies on North Pine street where he carries a heavy stock; making a specialty of fine meats. Mr. Krehmke married, October 4, 1911, in Grand Island, Miss Emma Conow, who was born in this city. They have two chHdren; a six year old daughter, Evelyn, and a son, Will iam Lyle, who is about one year old, Mr. and Mrs. Krehmke are members of the Enghsh Lutheran church. He is identified with both Masonic and Odd Fellow fraternities 654 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA having held the office of vice-grand in the latter. He has long been very active in Re publican political circles; serving for some years as a member of the city council, first by appointment and later by election. Per sonally he is very popular, a fact Hall County demonstrated when he was the Republican candidate for the state senate, in 1916, by giv ing him a remarkable vote. The district is normally Democratic but he carried his county by over one thousand votes being defeated by only three hundred votes. Pie is of genial temperament, is social in his instincts, and is one of the hearty supporters of the old German athletic societies of the city. WILLIAM McLELLAN, who has spent many busy years in Hall County, now lives re tired in Grand Island, where he is highly es teemed. He owns a large amount of property in the county. It is his privilege to direct the development and improvement of 1,560 acres of fine land, Mr, McLellan is a member of the board of directors of the Commercial State Bank, William McLellan was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, January 4, 1860, a son of James and Helen (KeHy) M,cLellan, who were born, reared and married in Scotland, In 1866 James AIcLellan came to the United States locating in Illinois but early in the following year returned to Scotland to live there until 1869, when he came back to Illinois where he was occupied as a farmer and miner. In 1870 he was joined by his wife and six children. The mother died in Logan County, Illinois, while the father passed away in Krebs, Oklahoma, They had nine children of whom the following survive: Agnes, the wife of Wilfred Fulk, a retired farmer living in Lincoln, Illinois ; Wil liam, who lives retired in Grand Island, Ne braska ; Peter, living on a farm in Illinois ; John, a resident of Hall County ; and James, a farmer in Illinois. The parents of the family were members of the Presbyterian church. William McLellan attended school in Scot land and later in Logan County, Illinois. Prior to coming to Nebraska he worked by the month on a farm but after reaching Hall County in September, 1883, entered the employ of William Gilchrist, being employed on his farm through that fall and the following win ter, when he rented a tract of land from Mr. GHchrist which he operated for five years, when he bought an eighty acre farm of his own After that, Mr. McLellan devoted himself in dustriously to farming and stock raising, and as his methods met with success he gradually acquired additional land until in the course of years he has become a large landed proprietor. This has not come about without persistent industry and the exercise of business acumen of a high order. Others might not do so well in the space of thirty-six years, but Mr. Mc Lellan has proved that it can be done, having honestly advanced from the status of a poor farm laborer, to that of an affluent citizen whose name is an asset to any financial institu tion with which he may be associated. Mr. McLellan married in Febmary, 1885, Miss Alice Juhnke, a native of Tennessee, a daughter of Carl Juhnke, who was born in Germany. He settled in Hall County in 1873 and died here. Eight children have been bom to Mr. and Mrs. McLellan, of whom the fol lowing are living: James, resides on a farm two miles west of Grand Island ; Rebecca, the wife of Henry Thomas, a farmer west of Grand Island ; Albert, who resides c n the home farm, married Mary Kelly; Ada, the wife of Walter Layman, a farmer near Alliance, Ne braska'; William, with the American Expedi tionary Force in France ; and Jennette, a stu dent in the Grand Island high school. Mrs. Mc Lellan died March 9, 1904. In politics Mr. McLellan is a Republican. He belonges to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and has taken the advanced degrees in Masonry and is a Shriner. THOMAS H. FRITTS. — Long before the world had any conception of the mighty uses to which electricity might sometime be applied, there were scientific investigators who gave close study to everything pertaining to this force as then known, and thereby made the discoveries that have been so revolutionary in almost every line of activity. It was about a quarter of a century ago that Thomas H. Fritts, well known in Grand Island, became interested in the electrical business, which in terest has continued to the present day. He is vice-president of the Central Power Com pany of Grand Island. Thomas H. Fritts was born in Lyons, Burt County, Nebraska, No vember 3, 1872, a son of Gideon and Martha A. (Cockrell) Fritts. They were bom and married in Ohio, moving from there to Burt County, Nebraska, in the early sixties. The father acquired land on which he lived untH his death in 1912, which occurred at the age of eighty-four years. The mother still lives on the old home place. Of their seven chHdren the following survive: William J,, who lives on the old homestead in Burt County ; Mary, the wife of F. O. Eckleen, a retired citizen of HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 655 Lyons; Sylvia, the wife of E. B. Senter of Omaha ; Thomas H., who has lived in Grand Island for the past thirteen years ; and Arcelia, who lives with her mother in Burt County Gideon Fritts was one of the founders of the Presbyterian church in Burt County and the first organized meeting was held in his house. He gave liberally for church purposes and was one of the largest donors to the church which yet stands on East Main street, Lyons. In his political convictions he was a Democrat. Before coming to Nebraska as a permanent resident, he had been a soldier in the Civil War and as long as he lived was a rigid sup porter of temperance, law and order. Mr. Fritts had common school advantages and then went to work as an apprentice in the electrical business in South Omaha continuing in that line for several years, afterward be coming manager of the South Omaha Electric Light and Power Company. Following this an interval of two years passed when he was otherwise engaged but he returned to the elec trical business and for five years had charge of a plant at Wayne, Nebraska. In June, 1906, he came to Grand Island and became manager and vice-president of the Central Power Company, in which he is financially interested. His time is largely taken up with the duties of this position as he has charge of all the company property in seventeen towns in Nebraska, which are supplied ¦plectrical power by this concern. Mr. Fritts married in March, 1891, Miss Josephine Higley, who was born at Decatur, Nebraska, a daughter of Lewis D. Higley, who settled in the early eighties, in Burt County. Mr. and Mrs. Fritts have two children : Vic tor, connected with the Western Electric Com pany, Chicago, and Bernadine, the wife of Robert F. Pfeiffer, who is manager of the Central Power Company's plant at Kearney, Nebraska. Mr. Fritts is an earnest and pubHc- spirited citizen but is not unduly active in poli tics. He is an independent voter. He is identified with Lodge No. 604 Elks in Grand Island. JOHN KNICKREHM, a substantial and respected citizen of Grand Island, came here with his family about thirty-two years ago. Through industry he rapidly advanced his for tunes, and for the last twenty-one years he has been at the head of a business of his own. John Knickrehm was born in Holstein, Germany, one of a family of six chHdren born to his parents, John and Anna Knickrehm, who passed their lives in the old country. The boy was reared on a farm but desiring greater opportunities came to the United States, the only member of his family to emigrate from the native land, soon after reaching America located at Grand Island, in 1887. At first he accepted any work that he could secure to ob tain money, shoveling many a load of coal. Later he worked in a lumber yard and then found employment in a grocery store, in which he was engaged continuously until 1898. In that year he embarked in the grocery business for himself, starting in the building he has occupied to the present time, on the north side of the city, where he has built up a substan tial patronage. Mr. Knickrehm married, in Germany, in 1884, Miss Christiana Dohrn. They have two. sons, John and Carl, both of whom are with their father in the store. Mr. Knickrehm and family belong to the Lutheran church. He has always taken a good citizen's interest in the welfare of Grand Island and twice has served as a member of the city council, dur ing both terms earnestly supporting useful civic measures. He is independent in his political views. CHARLES T. McELROY, a representa tive business man of Grand Island, and a prominent, useful and loyal citizen, was born at Middlesex, Vermont, AprH 30, 1873, but became a resident of Nebraska when only two years of age, being the only child of Frederick A, and Jenette (Thornton) Mc Elroy, both of whom are deceased. They were natives of Vermont and from there re moved to Omaha, in 1875, and from there to Richland, living in the latter place during the grasshopper visitatiton. In 1876 the famHy came to Grand Island, While living in Richland, the father of Mr, McElroy was a railroad section foreman. After coming to this city he was made a car inspector, being in the employ of the Union Pacific Company for thirty-two years. The paternal grand father of Mr. McElroy was WHliam McElroy, whose ancestors came from Scotland. The maternal grandfather, Charles Thornton, who was born at Moretown, Washington County, Vermont, was a direct descendant of Matthew Thornton, one of the signers of the immortal Declaration of Independence. To the excellent public schools of Grand Island, Charles T, McElroy is indebted for his sound educational training. After his school days were over he accepted a position as clerk in a dry goods house and thus became self supporting. Later he became associated 656 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA with the Yellow Front shoe store, where he served as a clerk for twenty-one years, then acquired an interest in the business. This interest he sold in 1911 to enter a different line, becoming a inember of the firm of Win gert & McElroy, in the culvert and sheet metal business. When this concern was organized as a stock company, in 1914, the present name of the Grand Island Culvert & Metal Works was adopted. This has become one of Grand Island's important business enterprises, being amiply financed and ably managed. Mr. McElroy married, in July, 1901, Miss Bertha T. Guiou, a daughter of William Alfred Guiou, who came to Grand Island in 1891 and engaged in the lumber business. Mr. and Mrs. McElroy have four children : Tom, Frances, Robert and Elizabeth, all of whom live at home. The family belongs to the Episcopal church and both Mr. and Mrs. McElroy have been very active, particularly in all that pertains to the church music, Mr, MJcElroy being a member of the first vested choir. Mr. McElroy is a member of the Spanish- American War, and has heartily and con scientiously entered into the various patriotic movements that the World War brought to the watchful attention of loyal Americans. He has military rank as a first lieutenant in the Home Guards, has served on the Liberty Loan committees, and is a member of the State Council of Defense. His political views make him a zealous Republican and for a number of years he has been actively inter ested in local political questions and has been committeeman of his ward. He is a member of the fraternal order of Elks, while in Ma sonry he has been advanced to high position, being a Knight Templar and a Shriner, past high priest and past eminent commander. HENRY W. LOCKE, one of the younger business men of Grand Island, devotes himself closely to his rapidly growing photographic business, which he has maintained since 1915, He has shown himself enterprising, industrious and reliable, and has many personal as well as business friends in this city. Henry W. Locke was born in Prussia, August 1, 1890, a son of William and Anna (Pfautsch) Locke, natives of Prussia, the latter of whom died in 1902. Mr. Locke has a younger brother. Otto Locke, who served in the German army during the World War, The father of Mr. Locke carries on an extensive plumbing business in Prussia, giving employ ment to twenty-five men. He is a member of the Lutheran church. After his period of school attendance was over in the elementary and high schools, Henry W, Locke entered the college from which he subsequently was graduated, after which he served four years in the navy and was then in the merchant marine service. This led to his attending a school of navigation and the securing of his license as an officer in the mer chant marine. In 1911 he came to the United States landing at New York, in which city he remained for a time before coming to Ne braska. In 1915 he opened his photographic studio in Grand Island, and the artistic excel lence of his work has made a favorable impres sion, bringing merited prosperity. In 1915 Mr. Locke married Miss Marie Loh mann, who was born at Grand Island, Ne braska, a daughter of Fred Lohmann, who is associated with Herman Hehnke in the hard ware business in this city. Mr. and Mrs. Locke have two chHdren : Frederick and Her bert, The family attends the Lutheran church. Mr. Locke is a Knight Templar, a member of the Elks, a Thirty-second degree Mason, and a Shriner. He gives his political support to the Democratic party. MATTHEUS RAUERT.— An unusually interesting story might be made, if details were known, of the life of Mattheus Rauert, who is one of the wealthy retired citizens of Grand Island, for it would tell of the steps by which a poor boy, early left fatherless in a strange land, made his way from the hum blest circumstances to real affluence. ^Ir. Rauert is known and respected all over HaH County, where he has spent the greater part of his life. Mattheus Rauert, like his parents, was bom in Holstein, then a part of Denmark, Novem ber 2, 1853. Their names were Jack and Anna (Madiensen) Rauert, and four others of their children are living: Nicholas, who fives at Grand Island; James, who also lives retired at Grand Island; Jack, a citizen of Idaho ; and George, who resides in Praire Creek township, HaH County. In Denmark the father followed the business of fitting straw roofs on houses, but when he came to the United States with his family, in 1866, and immediately to Hall County, it was with the intention of becoming a farmer. He was taken ill, however, and died that year, leaving his family without any resources except what mother and children could provide for them selves. It was a hard situation to face, but .'-¦^"3 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 657 the mother was a woman of resourcefulness and great strength of character, and she had trained her children to be thrifty as well as industrious, Mattheus Rauert had limited educational advantages in his native land and later some schooling in Hall County but settlers were few in the early years and opportunities for and kind of social life were meager. The boy played with Indian children and grew to understand their language and ways, Mattheus was engaged in the retail meat bus iness at Grand Island for four years but realized the opportunities offered by agri cultural pursuits and bought a farm. He has always been a good business man and from the first was successful in his agricultural opera tions, which was ably demonstrated by the fact that before he retired he had become the owner of 720 acres of finely improved land, together with his handsome residence in Grand Island, in which he now lives. December 3, 1878, Mattheus Rauert was united in marriage to Miss Elsie Sieck, who was bom in Germany, October 6, 1853, whose parents were natives of Germany. 'To Mr. and Mrs. Rauert four children have been born : Charles, who, with his brothers, August and Richard L., carry on farming on the old home place, and Minnie, who is the wife of Fred Moller. Mr. Rauert has wit nessed the great changes that have come in farm life, machinery taking the place of the horse and ox teams of the early days. CHARLES J. PALMER, who is an enter prising and prosperous business man of Grand Island, and an active and reputable citizen, was born in this city, July 10, 1882. He is the son of Hiram J. Palmer, a sketch of whom will be found in this work. Charles J. Palmer attended the public schools of Grand Island and later had further educational advantages in the Baptist College. He has always been industrious, starting into business in boyhood and pursuing different lines as opportunity offered in his home sur roundings. He then went to Oklahoma, where he remained for a number of years. During that period he was interested in rais ing thoroughbred Poland China hogs. In 1905 he returned to Grand Island to become manager of an independent telephone com pany. He established the Palmer Delivery Company and since Febmary, 1916, he has done a heavy ice business, probably having the largest trade in this necessary commodity in Grand Island. Mr. Palmer married, July 15, 1904, Miss Olga F. Stolley, who is a daughter of Wil liam Stolley, a very early settler in Hall County. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer have three children: Lillian, Grace, and Richard Pliram, both daughters being in school. Mr. Palmer has always subscribed to the principles of the Republican party. He is a member of sev eral fraternal organizations, belonging to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, No. 604, Grand Island, and the Loyal Order of Moose. CHARLES I. McAllister, active in business circles at Grand Island, belongs to an old and prominent pioneer family. He was born in Grand Island, July 23, 1882, a son of Robert Henry and Mary (Frasier) McAl- hster, and a grandson of WHHam McAllister, who was one of the earliest settlers in Merrick County. It is a part of local history that WiHiam McAllister was instrumental in es tablishing old Fort Sour Kraut, which was a haven to which the pioneers hurried when there was danger from the Indians. Late in life he removed to Grand Island and died there. Robert Henry McAllister, father of Charles I., was bom in Iowa, being a young child when his parents brought him to Nebraska. He was reared on his father's pioneer farm in Merrick County, from which he came to Hall County and /settled in Gr'and Isli,and where he engaged in building and contracting, erecting many of the first structures in this city. Later he was in the well digging and pump business. In 1883 he established the hardware business which has been carried on by the family up to the present time. He was not only an enterprising business man but was also active in civic affairs, and was a member of the city council for nine years. In politics he was a Republican; in religion an Episcopalian, and fraternally he belonged to the Masons, the Odd Fellows and the A. O. U. W. His death occurred in Grand Island in July, 1917. He married in this city Mary Frasier, who was born in Indiana. They had four children : Robert, in the hard ware business in Grand Island; Charles I., in the hardware business here; Wray, the wife of J. F. Egan, a traveling salesman for Swift & Company, and Mable, 'the wife of Walter Knicely, who is in the real estate business at Hastings, Nebraska. Charles I. McAllister obtained his educa tional training in the Grand Island schools. Afterward he entered his father's hardware 658 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA store, being trained there along commercial lines, continuing until he enlisted for service in the World War, to receive his military training at Camp Pike, Arkansas. He was honorably discharged December 14, 1918, With his mother and brother Robert, he owns the hardware business established by his father. In politics he is a Republican, and fraternally belongs to the local lodge of Elks. ROBERT N. McAllister, part pro prietor of the leading hardware store at Grand Island, and president of the Hardware As sociation of the State of Nebraska, is one of Grand Island's active and influential bus iness men. He has been identified with this line of endeavor since early boyhood and his election to the office of head of the representa tive body in the state, indicates the esteem in which he is held by his associates. Robert N. McAllister was born in Grand Island, Nebraska, July 9, 1881, a son of Robert H. and Mary (Frasier) McAllister. His father was born in Iowa and his mother in Indiana. Robert H. McAllister was brought to Nebraska in childhood by his father, William McAllister, who was among the first pioneers in Merrick County, secur ing a homestead there when many Indians yet_ remained in that section. Robert H. Mc Allister became a man of prominence and capital in Grand Island, where he resided for many years, passing away in July, 1917. Of his four children, Robert N. was the first born. Mr McAllister obtained his education in the public schools and began to assist his father in the hardware store in boyhood, his father encouraging him in thrifty habits by paying a slight wage. Robert invested his savings in a building and loan association. In 1904 he became his father's partner and since the latter's death, the business has become the joint property of Robert N. and Charies I. McAllister and their mother. It is one of the largest hardware houses in Hall County On May 17, 1916, Mr. McAllister married Miss Rhoda D. Campbell, who was born in Pennsylvania. Mrs. McAHister belongs to the noble sisterhood of trained nurses and recently, during the influenza epidemic, ren dered invaluable professional service in Grand Island. As a captain of Company M, Fifth Nebraska National Guards, Mr, McAllister sensed on the Mexican border from July 14 1916, to February, 1917. He is a Royal Arch Mason an Odd Fellow and has represented his lodge at the Grand Lodge, and an Elk He is a Republican in politics and has always taken an active interest in home affairs, at one time accepting the position of chief of the fire department. He has represented the hard ware state body in conventions in four states, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa and Colorado, HARRY A, CAREY, a progressive and substantial business man of Grand Island and an expert in watch and jewelry repairing, came to this city in 1903 and since that time has been identified with this trade, having become the senior partner in the well known firm of Carey & Nietfield. They have a large, weH stocked jewelry store, an efficient repair department and their judgment is relied on when jewelry values are under consideration. Harry A. Carey was born at Walnut, Pot tawattamie County, Iowa, in 1882. His par ents are W. A. and Rose (Woods) Carey, who reside at Walnut, his father being a retired farmer. Of their three chHdren, Harrj- A. is the oldest, the others being: Pearl, the wife of Victor Kreitz, of Des Moines, Iowa; and Gladys, the wife of Otto Hennings, a farmer in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. Mr. Carey had public school advantages, being graduated from the Walnut High School in 1899. He was permitted to choose his own vocation and as he had a natural leaning toward mechanics, he decided to leam watch making and for that purpose entered a watch factory at Peoria, IHinois. From there he came to Grand Island in 1903 and for the nine succeeding years worked for the well known jeweler. Max Egge. In 1912 Mr Carey formed a business partnership with W. D. Nietfield, an association which has been continued along expanding lines ever since, under the fimi style of Carey & Nietfield. Mr. Carey married in 1903, Miss Edith Broughton, who was born at Walnut. Iowa. They have two daughters, Martha Janette and Mary Jane. In politics Mr. Carey is a Republican and is always prepared to defend his convictions but has never been active in public matters. He belongs to the IMasonic ' fraternity and also is a member of the Elks. JOHN SASS, who worthily bears an old Hall County name, has spent almost his entire life here, although he was born in W'voming, May 10, 1871. He was the second child in a family of nine, his parents being Detlef and Eliza (Kuhl) Sass, natives of Gemiany. The mother of Mr. Sass stiH survives, re siding today on the old family homestead HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 659 in Hall County, The father, a sturdy pio neer, came to Nebraska in early manhood, being one of the first nine men to settle in HaH County, He was married here and then removed to Wyoming, where the following five years were spent. On his return to Hall County he took up a homestead two miles southwest of Grand Island, He remained on that place for a number of years, devoting himself to its improvement. His death oc curred in Oregon. During life he voted with the Democratic party, and with his wife be longed to the Lutheran church. John , Sass attended the Grand Island schools, and having an inclination toward com mercial life, attended a business college for two terms. For a number of years, however, he devoted himself to agricultural pursuits, living on the farm. In the meanwhile he was wide awake to business opportunity and later accepted the management of the Third City Bottling Works which he has conducted with marked success to the present time. He has also had much to do with the rapid growth of the automobile industry in Hall County, and for some time has been very successful in handling, as agent, the Chevrolet cars. This encouraging prosperity has led to a recent business undertaking by which he has become district agent for twenty counties for the incomparable Allis-Chalmers Tractor, with the expectation of vigorously carrying on his activities in the near future. Mr. Sass married in June, 1916, Miss Minnie Schirkofsky, who was born in Ger many, a daughter of William Schirkofsky, who now lives in Grand Island. Mr. and Mrs. Sass have no children. He is prominent in the councils of the Democratic party in Hall County and in 1915 was elected super- "visor and was re-elected in 1917, an office he still efficiently fiHs. He belongs to the Sons of Herman, to the Liederkranz and the Low Dutch Society. KRANK O. KUNZE. — In Frank Kunze, proprietor of a fine harware business in Grand Island, is found a self-made man, one who has built up his fortunes through his own un- assited efforts, which, as many men wiH tes tify, is not an easy thing to accomplish. It requires courage, industry and often the closest economy to get even an appreciable start in life, and those who do succeed should be given much credit when compared with those who have advanced under easier cir cumstances. Mr. Kunze has always been a busy man and has been connected with several lines but since 1914 has devoted himself ex clusively to the hardwarP trade. Frank Kunze was born in Saxony, Ger many, May 29th, 1874. His parents were Julius and Caroline (Esche) Kunze, also natives of Germany, who spent their lives in their native land. They reared seven children of whom Frank and Reinhardt were the only ones to come to the United States. The latter is a substantial farmer in Hall County. The brothers were ambitious, attended school and worked on their father's farm in Germany. In 1894 Frank Kunze came alone to the United States immediately locating in Grand Island. For the first two years following he worked at such odd jobs as he could find and afterward was employed for three years on a farm. Subsequently he was engaged by Fred Roth as a barkeeper remaining with him four years before he embarked in the saloon business for himself, remaining in the retail liquor business in this city for the next nine years. In 1911 Mr. Kunze purchased the hardware store of Rudolph Pistorius and im mediately began to add to his stock, open up new lines of trade, a. policy he has con tinued and now has the satisfaction of know ing that in five years he has increased the volume of his business fully 200 per cent. Mr. Kunze married, in 1904, Miss Louisa Engel, who was born in South Dakota, a daughter of August Engel, who came to Hall County in the early days, driving an ox team. He worked at the carpenter trade in Grand Island for some years and then went to South Dakota prospecting for gold and whHe there Mrs. Kunze was born. Later he returned to Grand Island and now lives with Mr. and Mrs. Kunze, who have two children : Clayton, who is eight years old, and Hazel, aged six years. Mr. Kunze is a sound Requblican but has never been willing to accept a pubhc office other than in a fratenral organization, serv ing eight years as secretary of the Sons of Herman, and at different times has held the office of president of the Liederkranz Society. He is a member and hberal supporter of the Lutheran church. LOUIS E. UPPERMAN, an enterprising business man and dependable citizen of Grand Island, has been a resident of Hall County for many years, ably assisting in the develop ment of prominent enterprises here, one of these being the implement business in which he was associated with George A, Leiser, Louis E. Upperman was born in Miami 660 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA County, Ohio, August 26, 1856, the son of Conrad and Caroli« (Baumgarden) Upper- man, both of whom were born in Germany, The mother was brought to the United States by her parents in childhood, while the father came later in young manhood. After reaching America he conducted hotels at Piqua and St. Mary's, Ohio. Mr. Upperman's mother died when he was eighteen months old, in consequence he was reared by his maternal grandfather, Frederick Baumgarden. His one sister, Emma, is the -wife of John Mader, a farmer in Hall County. The parents were members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Upperman attended the district schcvjls when he was a boy but had no unusual jd- ucational advantages. He grew up on his grandfather's farm bul^ was ambitious and started out for himself working by the month on farms until 1880, when he came to Hall County, purchasing school land. During the seven years he lived on this farm he endured the usual hardships of that early day and perhaps it was the realization of the necessity of good water for stock that turned his at tention to the well and pump business. At the end of seven years in the country Mr, Upperman removed to Grand Island, engaged in the pump business which prospered and gradually began the handling of farm imple ments, subsequently entering into partnership with George A. Leiser. The firm name was Upperman & Leiser; the business had ex panded until they had one of the largest houses in their line in the country. They erected a commodious and convenient building, with dimensions of sixty-six by one hundred and ten feet, two stories high with full basement using the entire structure. Having acquired a comfortable competency by industry and a successful business career, Mr. Upperman retired from active participation in business in 1919. In 1881 occured the marriage of Louis Upperman to Miss Amy Haynes, who was born in Ohio. They have one daughter, LHlie, who resides with her parents. Mr. Upperman and family belong to the Congregational church. In politics he is a Republican, and fraternally is an Odd Fellow. J. B. PIZER, one of the leading merchants of Grand Island, has, through resistless energy and remarkably good management, within a space of eight years built up one of the largest mercantile concerns in Hall County. Before coming to this section he had been identified with the same business interests in other sections, having been a reputable and successful merchant for fifteen years in Hast ings. J. B. Pizer was born in Russian Poland, in 1866. His parents were Samuel and Rachel (Winlekman) Pizer, both of whom were born in the same province as their son and there the mother died. In those days the father was a man of means, having a large farm, keeping a store and lending money. Of the twelve children in the family six came to the United States, of whom four survive: Julius, who may be the wealthiest man in Lincoln County, a merchant, banker, ranch owner and stock man, living at North Platte ; Simon, a mer chant at Sargent, Nebraska ; Peter, a business man of Detroit, Michigan; and J. B., who resides in Grand Island, Sol and Philip Pizer, older) brothers, came to the United States prior to 1898, the former having served in the Russian army thiroughout the Russoi-Japan war. He emigrated to the United States but three years later returned to Russia. At the outbreak of the World War he again entered the Russian army and the last time his American relatives heard from him, he wa^ held a prisoner of war in Germany. They have little hope that he is stHl living after life in a German prison camp. When Philip Pizer came to the United States he soon located in Waxcohe, Texas, where he engaged in merchandising until his death. J. B. Pizer was but eighteen years of age when he left Poland alone to carve a career for himself in the United States. He knew nothing of the English language but had been carefully instructed in the Hebrew schools as his people belonged to the old order of the Jewish synagogue. With the quick intel ligence that marks his race. Air, Pizer rapidly assimilated knowledge, learning to accom modate himself to American customs. He settled first at North Platte, Nebraska, where he engaged in merchandising, going from there to Arcadia, -where he conducted a store for three years, moving then to Sargent, where he was in the same business for the next three years. Mr. Pizer then embarked in the mer cantile business in Plastings, purchasing the Davis store already established. He made a specialty of dealing in clothing, conducting a large and satisfactory business during the next fifteen years. Later he added ladies' wear to his other lines. This store is now con ducted by Mr. Pizer's son. After looking over the business field for a short time at Portland, Oregon, Mr. Pizer came back to Nebraska, buying in 1910 the M. Aven & Co. "Ready-to-Wear" store, since which time he HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 661 has enlarged his quarters and expanded his stock until he now carries an extensive line of desirable goods conforming in every way to modern accepted styles. ]Mr. Pizer married, in 1890, Miss Fannie Stock, of Detroit, Michigan, who died in 1895, leaving two children : Philip, who has charge of the Hastings store, and Mildred, who lives at home. Mr. Pizer married a second time, in 1898, Miss Hattie Strieker, of Denver, Colorado. One son, Joseph, was born to this union, who is associated with his father in business,. having just returned from a military school at Ann Arbor, Michigan. Mr. Pizer and his family reside in their handsome res idence on Walnut street. Grand Island. They belong to the Jewish congregation. In politics he is a Requblican, and fraternally is identified with the Elks, and the Modern Woodmen. GEORGE J. BAUMANN, one of the oldest residents of Grand Island, was born and reared in this city, having been concerned in business enterprises here for many years. He has, also, served most acceptably in public office. Few men are better known in this section and none have a higher reputation for trustworthiness. Air. Baumann is proprietor of the leading undertaking establishment at Grand Island. George J. Baumann was born in Grand Island, Nebraska, March 24, 1873, a son of Henry and Martha (Preiss) Baumann, who came from Germany to Grand Island in 1866, being married here and reared a family of nine children ; August, assistant post master of Grand Island for a number of years ; George J., who lives in Grand Island; Oscar and Herman, twins, both of whom are in the drug business, the former at Lincoln and the latter in Grand Island ; Nora, residing with her mother in California, is engaged in the millinery business ; Anna, assistant auditor for a creamery company, lives in California ; Henrietta, associated with her sister in bus iness; also lives in California ; and two children who died. The father of this family was a tailor in Grand Island who died here when his children were yet young. He was a mem ber of the Catholic church. The early death of his father placed heavy responsibilities on George J. Baumann in boy hood, and in order to meet these he worked industriously at various occupations, among them selling newspapers. Later he entered a photographic studio to learn the business, in which he continued for twenty-five years ; subsequently he conducted a store for two and a half years before accepting a position as commercial traveler for two years, Upon leaving the road he invested in an installment furniture house, buying the outstanding con tracts, a business he conducted with marked success for three years. In 1913, in partner ship with F. M. O'Malley, he engaged in the undertaking business, subsequently purchas ing Mr. O'Malley's interest, and in September, 1917, formed his present partnership with F. G. Evans. They conduct an excellent undertaking business. Mr. Baumann is a registered embalmer, having attended the Des Moines School of Undertaking. In November, 1904, occurred the marriage of Mr. Baumann and Miss Jaunita Metcalf, who was born at Laramie, Wyoming. Her father, A. J. Metcalf, is now a resident of Grand Island but formerly was engaged in the cattle industry in Wyoming, Mr. and Mrs. Baumann have four children ; Alfonso, John, Mary Juanita and Henry Brace. The two older children are attending school. Mr. Baumann and his family are members of the Catholic church. In politics he is a Democrat. He has always felt the responsibility of citi zenship, responding cheerfully to public de mands upon his time, having served in local offices and has been both coroner and deputy coroner of Hall County. He belongs to the Yeomen, the Royal Highlanders, the Elks and the Knights of Columbus, being financial sec retary of the last named organization. ALFRED AN.DERSON, veterinarian, has been engaged in the practice of his profession at Grand Island for a decade having built up a substantial reputation in this branch of med ical science. His patronage comes from' all over Hall County and on many occasions he has been of the greatest service to stock and cattle raisers. Alfred Anderson was born June 17, 1874, in Seward County, Nebraska, a son of George W. and Anna R. (Kesselring) Anderson. They were natives of Pennslvania, bom, reared and married there, but desiring a wider field in a new country came to Nebraska, reaching Seward County in 1874, where the father took up a homestead, living on original grant until his death, having been for many years in very comfortable circumstances. He was a Republican in his political views and served in such public offices as road overseer, belonged to the order of Odd Fellows and was a faithful member of the United Brethren church. The mother of Dr. Anderson now lives in Seward. They had fifteen chHdren, 662 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA seven sons and eight daughters. Dr. Anderson being the tenth child. Dr. Anderson attended the public school named after his father, situated in the country two and a half mHes west of Seward. He spent his earlier years on the farm and then took charge of the Seward Cereal mill, operat ing the same for seven years. In 1907 he entered the Kansas City Veterinary College as a student, being graduated from that insti tution in 1909, immediately coming to Grand Island to establish himself in his chosen pro fession. In 1900 Dr. Anderson was married to Miss Mary Sanders, who was born at Bee, Ne braska. In politics Dr. Anderson is a Re publican, and fraternally he belongs to the Elks and the Modern Woodmen. EDWARD FRANCIS YOUNKIN. — The wholesale produce business is an essential part of a modern commercial life. To conduct it profitably, aside from the heavy initial invest ment, a dealer must possess a large amount of business wisdom, including a knowledge of the fluctuating markets of the world. An ex- tensives enterprise of this kind is carried on in Grand Island by Edward F. Younkin, who is a heavy buyer of general produce which he ships both east and west. Like many another successful business man of today, Mr. Younkin has been the unassisted builder of his own fortune. Edward F. Younkin was born in Davis County, Iowa, December 20, 1868. His parents were Moses and Fannie (Turner) Younkin, natives of the Keystone state, who in their youth came to Iowa where they met and were married. They had twelve children ; three of the six survivors live in Grand Island ; Edward F., WiHiam S. and Albert T. The parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The father belonged to the Masonic fraternity and was a Republican in pohtics. He died on his farm in Iowa. The country schools of Davis County, Iowa,, provided Mr. Younkin with a fair working education, and he remained on the home farm until he was twenty-one years of age, when he went to Kansas and there be came interested as buyer and shipper of poul try, working in this industry for different firms for five or six years. Realizing the profits to be made in this line, about 1901 Mr. Younkin embarked in the business for himself but prior to 1903 was a transcient buyer of car load lots throughout Nebraska and Kansas. When Mr. Younkin came here in 1903, he determined to make this city his headquarters because of the excellent shipping facHities afforded. In 1904 he embarked in a general produce business as a wholesale operator. Since then he has built up an im mense concern, regularly shipping car load lots to New York City and to San Francisco. As his interests expanded Mr. Younkin needed assistance and now has his two broth ers associated with him in the wholesale house. They both live in Grand Island. Mr. Younkin married in 1903, Miss Gertrude Crawford of Grand Island, .a daugh ter of G. S. Crawford, one of the older res idents of this city, who conducted a meat business here for a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. Younkin have two children: Edyth and Thoel, both of whom attend the public schools. Mr. Younkin is a Republican in politics but has always found his business too engrossing to permit acceptance of any public responsibility beyond that carried by every loyal and public spirited citizen. He belongs to the order of Elks and to the Lieder kranz, in Grand Island. ALBERT McLELLAN.— While in point of years Albert McLellan has experienced only a short career in comparison with many others whose biographies appear in this work, his life thus far has been a successful one and the quality of his accomplishments would seem to indicate that he is in a fair way to become one of the substantial citizens of his com munity. At this time he is engaged in general farming on a tract of 320 acres of valuable land in Center township, and in addition has met with well-merited success as a breeder of thoroughbred Holstein cattle, Mr, McLellan is one of the native sons of Hall County who have made good in their home community, having been bom on the farm of his father, WHliam McLellan, March 29, 1890. A review of the life of the elder man appears on another page of this work. There were six children in the family : James, who is a Hall County farmer; WiHiam, Jr., who has just returned from service in the army in France, and who is also engaged in farming in Hall County; Albert; Rebecca,. Mrs, Thomas of Hall County; Ada, Mrs, Layman, of Amherst, and Jeanette, who re sides with her parents. The public schools of Hall County fur nished Albert McLellan with his educational training, while that for his life work came under the guidance of his father and through experience in performing the duties of the HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 663 home farm. When he took over the -manage ment of his present 320-acre property, it was with knowledge that thoroughly fitted him for the important and difficult task that lay before him, and he has since been able to compete with other agriculturists in a manner that makes a favorable comparison justified. His farm is highly productive as to the general farming division of his activities, and has good improvements and substantial buildings. As a breeder of thoroughbred Holstein cattle he keeps an exceptionally good grade of stock, and also raises sheep. Mr. McLellan is a Republican voter and a member of the Ma sonic order. On December 31, 1913, Mr. McLelland was united in marriage with May Kelley, daughter of Louis and Fanny Kelley, natives of West Virginia and early settlers and farming people of Hall County. HARRY C. LYONS, identified with the Grand Island Hide & Fur Comany of Grand Island, of which he is general manager, has been a resident of this city for over a decade and has been active in its business affairs. Mr. Lyons is an experienced man in the hide and fur trade, an industry in which he has been interested since the close of his school days. Harry C. Lyons was born in Johnson County, Kansas, October 16, 1881, the son of John J. and Jennie (Shrieves) Lyons, both of whom were bom in IHinois. They came to Kansas when young, being married in the Sunflower State. They had the following children: Leslie J., an attorney in Kansas City, Missouri ; Albert H., a general merchant of Brewster, Oklahoma; Mamie, the wife of Jacob Beautlespacher, a tailor of Muskogee, Oklahoma; Jessie, the wife of Porter Spald ing, county assessor of Muskogee County; Chester, in the transfer business at Oakland, Califomia; Harry C, who resides at Grand Island; and Ruth, the wife of James Forgen- son, vice-president of the Railroad Trainmen's Union in Califomia. The parents are mem bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. The father, who is now a resident of Oklahoma in the Indian service for the govemment, was formerly a farmer and newspaper man, serv ing for two terms as county clerk of Johnson County, Kansas, being elected on the Re publican ticket. Mr. Lyons attended the public schools in Johnson County and in boyhood made himself useful as a clerk and delivery boy, but secured his first settled position when he entered a hide house at Topeka, Kansas, January 6, 1901, where he remained one year before going to Saint Joseph, Missouri, where he engaged in the hide business for five years. On September 30th, 1908, he came to Grand Island to assume the management of the James C. Smith Hide Company, becoming a member of the firm. In September, 1918, he purchased the controlling interest in the com pany which is now incorporated and operated under the style of the Grand Island Hide & Fur Company. Mr. Lyons married January 1, 1906, Miss Myra Barthold, of St. Joseph, Missouri. They have three children: Bernice Jennie, Manette Calista, and Virginia Ruth. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Lyons is a Mason and a Re publican. OTTO LEO MATTKE.— The mercantile interests, particularly in the grocery line, are well taken care of in Grand Island. One of the thoroughly experienced men in this trade is Otto L. Mattke, who has devoted many years to grocery interests, Mr, Mattke is senior member of the firm of Mattke & Gor man, general grocers. Otto Leo Mattke was born in Germany, August 5, 1875. His parents were Herman and Lena Mattke, who came to Hall County, Nebraska, in 1883. The father was a brick- mason by trade and assisted in the construc tion of many of the valuable buildings here, while in dull times he worked as a section hand on the railroad. He was honest and industrious and acquired a competency. His death occured in Grand Island in 1915, at the age of sixty-eight years. He had five children : George, a machinist with the Union Pacific in Grand Island; Herman, round house foreman for the Union Pacific in Grand Island ; Otto, who lives in Grand Island ; Anna, the wife of Charles Stiller, a machinist of this city, and one child who died in infancy. Otto L. Mattke left school when but twelve years of age to earn a living; for three years being employed on farms near Archer, Ne braska. He then helped his father for two years in the latter's work on the railroad, following which he went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked in a machine shop during the administration of President McKinley. His parents were in Grand Island, however, and Mr. Mattke returned to Nebraska, being employed for five years as a clerk in the grocery store of Henry Reese. Subsequently he worked for C. F. Heck for the same length 664 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA ao ho o CO bo rtr5 o c o d c o Pi's HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 665 of time but severed this connection to become associated with H. N. Glover and subsequently bought Mr. Glover's interest and has continued at the same place o-f business with a partner, the present name being Mattke & Gorman. They carry a large and well assorted stock of staple and fancy groceries while their prices are always satisfactory to their many cus tomers. Mr. Mattke married Miss Stacia Weinrich, who was born in Gennany. Her people came to this country at an early day. Her father was a carpenter. Mr. and Mrs. Mattke have had four children : Margaret, employed in the Grand Island National Bank, is a very capable business woman; Harry, who died at the age of six months ; Arthur, who is four teen years old, attends school, and Edward, who is in his sixth year. Mir. Mattke and his family are members of the Catholic church. Like his father before him, Mr. Mattke votes the Republican ticket. He belongs to several well known fraternal organizations and these include the Maccabees, the Liederkranz and the Plattsdeutchen ; he is also a member of the Commercial Club and Retail Merchants' Association. RUBEN P. McCutcheon — CivH al truism and national patriotism were effective ly exemplified in the career of the gallant soldier of the Civil War whose name heads this sketch. Ruben P. McCutcheon was bom in the state of In-diana in 1838. He grew up inured to the hardships incident to a new country such as Indiana was at that day. A young man of twenty-three years at the out break of the War of the Rebellion, Mr. Mc Cutcheon, with other youths of his -acquaint ance responded to Abraham Lincoln's call for volunteers to preserve the integrity of the Union. Following is the personal account of the young soldier's life and experiences in the army: "As an explanation of the annexed photo graph, will go back to Evansville, Indiana, August 10, 1861, when George Kirkpatrick and myself with many others, enlisted in Com pany A, 42d Indiana Infantry, for three years, or during the war We were with the Regiment in aH its battles, skirmishes, etc. Our command belonged to the Army of the Cumberland. On the 19th day of September, 1863, we met the enemy under General Bragg at Chickamauga. At that time we were in the 14th Corps, with General George H. Thomas, Commander. We supported our bat tery all day Saturday. Seven horses were kiHed within fifty yards of us, and how many men, I can not say, but they were lying around in all shapes. We rested all night on our arms, and at daylight marched to the extreme right, where we met Longstreet's men. We sent out skirmishers across the Lafayette road. They were soon driven in. The fight was on in earnest. After firing into the enemy many shots, our army fell back. I saw them coming about two hundred yards away, and I thought I would give them one more shot. Just at that mornent a musket ball hit me in the left hip, crashed through the bone, and there it stopped, and it is there to this day. I fell down and George Kirkpatrick ran to me to get me out of that terrible hail of bullets. He got down to cut the cartridge box off of me, when a bullet passed through both his arms, and cut the front of his shirt off. "I then told him to run and save his life, that he would be killed if he remained, and that I was done for anyway. He left me and served to the end of the war, and was wounded five times. In fifteen minutes the enemy were passing over me. They were very kind to me, the officers giving me water from their can teens. In the afternoon the enemy lifted me into their ambulance and took me to their field hospital, where there were six hundred and thirty wounded. They very tenderly laid me on the ground. I was the only Yankee there, and I was a show for the country people. They came for miles to see a live Yankee. I lay there about two months, then was put on the cars and taken to Atlanta, Georgia, and put into a military prison with four or five hun dred wounded Federals, and remained there three months, all the time on my back. "I was exchanged February 20, 1864, at Rossville, Georgia. There were thirty of us all badly crippled. We were hungry and nearly naked. When we saw the United States flag for the first time in five of six months, there Was a shout went up of joy that we had at last got to God's country again. Some of them prayed, some swore and others cried. We were now safe. I was sent home on cratches and have been a cripple ever since. Fifty years after the battle I got a letter from the comrade (I thought he was dead all this time) telling me to meet hirri at Chickamauga on September 20th. We met, went to the battle field, found the place where we were both wounded fifty years ago. We placed ourselves on the ground in the same position and place we were in on that terrible morning of September 20, 1863. "The foregoing is an account of our experi- 666 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA ence in battle and duties of a private soldier, but the half can never be told. We simply did our duty as Ajnerican citizens." The picture of Mr. McCutcheon and com rade, shown here, was taken on the battlefield fifty years to a day after he was wounded there. While StiH residing in his native state Mr. McCutcheon married Amanda Inglehart and to this union eight chHdren were born, seven now living : Clara, the wife of John Kramer, lives in Oakland, California ; BeHe, the wife of C. W. William, resides in Hamilton County; John E. and George, both live in Grand Island, the former now holding office as sheriff of HaH County ; Walter W., a farmer near Nel son, Nebraska;- Oliver E., an implement dealer in Deer Park, Washington, and Frank W., a clerk in a clothing store in Grand Island. Mr. and Mrs. McCutcheon were ambitious for their children and determined to seek wider fields and broader opportunities in the west. They heard of the great fertility of Ne braska, emigrating to this state in 1874. Here the young members of the family recieved the advantages afforded by the public schools dur ing their youth while they lived at home on the homestead taken up by the father soon after his arrival in Hamilton County. Mr. McCutcheon was a man of high ideals, in domitable energy and having given loyal ser vice as a soldier of the Union was soon en roHed as one of the pioneer exponents of farm enterprise in this section. He was a man of good judgment, keen foresight and a lead ing member of the Republican party in his county for many years which is demonstrated by his service on the board of county super visors. After gaining a comfortable com petency he retired from active fiarticipation in farm work enjoying his sunset years, how ever, on the old homestead where he passed from life in 1917, honored and respected by his associates and friends. Mr. MpCutcheon's wife still resides in Hamilton County. C. H. GOTTLIEB HEIDKAMP, one of the hi'ghly respected and substantial residents of Grand Island, has been a resident of this city since 1883. Through his industrious efforts, good judgment, frugality and common sense, he has become the owner of valuable real estate. C. H. Gottlieb Heidkamp was born in West phalia, Germany, January IS, 1865. His par ents were William and Louise (Franke) Heidkamp, natives of Germany, where the mother died in 1912. In eariier years the father lived on his little farm and may yet reside there with five of his seven childr'en. C. H. G. and William, who is dead, were am bitious boys, desired a broader future than was offered in the old country and emigrated to the United States to seek their fortunes. Mr. Heidkamp attended school in his native land before coming to the United States. He reached Grand Island July 27, 1883, and at first worked on farms in Hall County by the month. He had already worked at the black smith trade in Germany and in 1884 worked at the same for a short time in Minnesota but returned to farm work awhile ; later resuming blacksmithing. In 1892 he started his shop in Grand Island, in partnership with Edward Krall, an association which has continued to the present time. They carried on blacksmith ing and wagon repair work, having a reputa tion for prompt service and excellent work manship. Considering the fact that Mr. Heid kamp started with nothing, it reflects credit on him that in competition with others he should have done so weH. He owns con siderable property, a part of which is a new modern apartment house. Mr. Heidkamp married, November 15, 1889, Miss Lena SenkbeH, a native of Prussia, who died in Grand Island, October.lst, 1901. They hay four chHdren: George F., who worked at the carpenter trade in Omaha for five years prior to entering the army training camp in Michigan ; Alma, who lives at home ; Ella, who is employed in a Grand Island store, and Martha, a student in the high school. The family belongs to the Lutheran church. Mr. Heidkamp casts his vote with the Republican party. HARLEY M. WATSON, an enterprising young business man of Grand Island, has entered the modern field of industry which in cludes everthing pertaining to automobiles, making a specialty of tires and batteries. He was born in HaH County, Nebraska, July 31, 1888, the son of Levi O. and Elzora (Rickard) Watson. Mr Watson's father was bom in New York while his mother was a native of Illinois, where they were married. Coming to Nebraska in 1872, they passed the remainder of their days in this state. Mr. Watson died in 1904 and Mrs. Watson on March 4, 1918. Of their six children the following are living: Fred and Harley, twins, the former of whom lives on a farm and the latter in Grand Island ; Hugh, a resident of Seattle, Washington ; and Bertha, who is the wife of Floyd Sprague, a farmer in Merrick County, Nebraska. Levi HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 667 Watson and his wife were members of the Baptist church. When he first settled in Illi nois Mr. Watson engaged in teaming in Chicago, but upon coming west to Hall County he took up a claim, remaining on his farm of eighty acres until his death. He was a Repub lican in his politictal views, and he belonged to, the Odd Fellows and the order of United Workmen. Harley M. Watson attended the country schools of Hall County while working on his father's farm until he was sixteen years of age. Coming to Grand Island while still a youth he began to work for the Union Pacific Railway Company as coach cleaner, an occupa tion he followed three years. Following this he accepted a position with T. B. Jeffery Automobile Company being employed by that concem a year. Upon his return to Grand Island he started a business of his own, be ginning in a small way in a barn, where he set up a plank for a work bench. Starting as a machinist and automoble repairer he has by thorough, honest business transactions and business judgment built up a fine business and now handles batteries and tires inj a well equipped and convenient place at 114 East Second street, and in addition has another automibile tire and battery store at York, Ne braska. In 1915 Mr. Watson married Miss Annie Katzberg, who was born at Prosser, Nebraska. They have one son, James Watson. Mrs. Watson is a member of the Lutheran church. He has never been very active in politics but is a wide awake citizen and a Republican voter. JOHN E. McCutcheon, sheriff of Hall County, Nebraska, not only commands the confidence of his fellow citizens as is indi cated by his election to this important public office, but he also enjoys their esteem. They have seen him pass from industrious boy hood to useful manhood and during all these years he has been dependable in every rela tion of life. John E. McCutcheon was born in Vander- burg County, Indiana, May 3, 1867. His parents were Ruben P. and Amanda (Igle- hart) McCutcheon, both of whom were bom in Indiana. They came to Nebraska in 1874, spending some time in Hamilton County, but in 1875 took up a homestead in Hall County, where the father of Sheriff McCutcheon died in 1917, at the age of seventy-nine years. He was a man of steriing character, of good judg ment and public spirit. During his life he was a leading Republican in the county, serving a number of years on the county board of supervisors. He was a veteran of the Civil War, having served three years in the Forty- second Indiana volunteer infantry and was wounded in the battle of Chickamauga. The mother of Sheriff McCutcheon resides in Hamilton County. They had eight children seven of whom survive : Clara, the wife of John Kramer, lives at Oakland, Califomia; BeHe, the wife, of C. W. Willman, resides in Hamilton County; John E. and George, both of whom live in Grand Island; Walter W., a farmer near Nelson, Nebraska; Oliver E., a hardware and implement dealer in Deer Park, Washington, and Frank W., a clerk in a cloth ing store in Grand Island. As soon as his school days were over, Mr. McCutcheon went to work for Robert Taylor, on the largest ranch in Hall County, remaining there for twenty-two years, having entire charge of the livestock. Ranching has been his chief occupation all through life. He has been an active factor in Republican politics; was elected sheriff of Hall County on Novem ber 5, 1918, on the Republican ticket. Sheriff McCutcheon married in 1890 Miss Nevada Sprinkle, who was born in Effingham County, Illinois, a member of one of the old pioneer families of that section. They have five children: Irma, who resides with her parents; Neva, employed in the offices of the Western Union Telegraph Company; Edna, the wife of Ray W. Sutton, lives at home while her husband is serving with the Ameri can Expeditionary Force in France ; Elva, who is employed in a local business house, and Margaret, who is pursuing her studies in the Grand Island High school. Sheriff Mc Cutcheon was reared in the faith of the Metho dist Episcopal church, of which the entire family are members. LUTHER F. FARNSWORTH, who may claim the distinction of being the pioneer, in point of time engaged in the drug business in Nebraska, is a member of the oldest drug firm in Grand Island. Mr. Farnsworth leamed his business in the old, thorough, practical New England way, and had many years of experi ence in drugs back of him when he came to Grand Island. From the first he has been one of the city's most esteemed citizens. Mr. Farnsworth was born at Norfolk, in St. Lawrence County, New York, March 27, 1852. His parents were Edwin and Mary (Stone) Farnsworth, the former of whom was born in New York and the latter at Middle- bury, Vermont, where they were married. Of 668 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA their six children, Luther F. was the third born. The other survivors are : Allen, a resi dent of Chicago, IHinois ; Albert H., a retired farmer, resides at Kent, in the state of Wash ington, and George Edwin, in the service of the government, lives at Farley, Massachusetts. The father of Mr. Famsworth was engaged in agricultural pursuits all his active life. For a time he and his wife lived in Grand Island but later they went to Washington, both pass ing away in that state. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Luther F. Farnsworth attended school in Vermont until he was graduated from the Middlebury high school, after which he taught school for two years. Pie was only thirteen years old when he had his first clerical experi ence, but it was some years later that he entered a dmg store as a clerk with the deter mination of learning the business. He re mained with the one firm for the next eighteen years, leaving it then to come west and soon after reaching Grand Island bought the drug store with which he has since been connected, being in partnership with H. P. Tucker for twenty-seven years. The firm of Tucker and Farnsworth is a synonym for honesty in busi ness and reliability in drugs. In 1874 Mr. Farsworth married Miss Delia Pearson, who was born at Lewis, New York. They have three sons : Albert H., a physician in Grand Island; T. L., a dental surgeon in practice in Broken Bow, and Earl E., a prac ticing physician and surgeon at Grand Island. Luther F. Farnsworth has always given en couragement to civic enterprises regulated by law and order, and has been particularly con cerned in educational advancement. For six years he has served as a member of the school board. He is a Republican in his political opinions. For many years he has been a Mason and from his youth has belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. for many years with Henry Glade in which concern his widow still retains an interest. He further showed business enterprise by erect ing a candy factory which proved a profitable investment in Grand Island. Mr. Etting con ducted the business successfully untH his death and Mrs. Etting retained her interest in the property until the plant was destroyed by fire. Mr. Etting married in August, 1881, Miss Rose Felderman, who was born in Dubuque County, Iowa, a daughter of John and Rebecca (Glade) Felderman, both of whom were born in Germany. Mr. Felderman was a successful farmer in Iowa, where he lived untH his death in 1909, the death of his widow occurred September 14, 1912. They had seven children and of the five survivors two reside in Ne braska, Mrs. Etting and a sister, Mrs. Eliza beth Kraker, whose home is in Clatonia, Gage County, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Etting be came the parents of six children : Amanda, the wife of Clayton Flower, who is in the insur ance business in Grand Island ; Alma, the wife of Lester Schuff, who conducts the Palmer House in Grand Island; Lee E., who entered the National army for service in the World War, June 15, 1918; Norval E., with the American Expeditionary Force in France, in the supply division, left the United States, January 10, 1918; Florence, who resides at home, and Irma, who is a student in Kemper HaH, 'Kenosha, Wisconsin. Mrs. Etting is a member of the Lutheran church as was Mr. Etting. Mr. Etting found his chief recrea tion in hunting. He was a good shot with a gun and for years maintained a camp on an island which he owned in the Platte River, spending several weeks there even- spring for many years. He was a Republican in politics and was prominent in civic affairs, serving two years as a member of the city council, in which body he always labored for the best interests of Grand Island. ALBERT ETTING, for many years a progressive and useful citizen of Grand Island, came to Nebraska in 1887, and from then until his death on March 29, 1908, dem onstrated his ability as a business man, winning the confidence and esteem of all who knew him. Albert Etting was born in Jackson County, Iowa, October 9, IHS7. His father was a farmer and after his short school period was over, he engaged in agricultural pursuits in Jackson County where he remained until 1887, when he came to Hall County, Nebraska. Here he was associated in the milling business EARL E. FARNSWORTH. M. D., a rep resentative physician and surgeon of Grand Island, is held in high regard in his profes sional capacity and in universal esteem person ally. He belongs to that rapidly increasing body of close-thmkmg medical men who are strong advocates of physical training and regu lated athletics for the preservation of health, Dr Farnsworth may be said to have exempli fied m his own person the value of his theory He^has^been m active practice in this^UyZ Dr. Farnsworth was born at Mi.ui k Veraiont, May 24, 1881, a son of SJ.'^'I' HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 671 and Delia (Pearson) Farnsworth, whose biography will be found elsewhere in this volume. Earl E. Farnsworth had educational train ing in a private school before his parents re moved to Grand Island, where he was grad uated from the high school in 1899, when he entered the Nebraska State University in Lincoln where he continued a student until 1902. The following year he attended Cornell University, receiving the degree of A. B. in 1903. He then went to Denver where he was interested for a time in newspaper work. Al ways fond of out-door life he enjoyed "rough ing it" in the mountains for about twelve months, in the meanwhile working in a supply store in a high altitude region. Upon his re turn to more civilized life he was associated with the International Mercantile Company, an auditing company ; in the interest of this concem he was located in New York City for eight months. Returning then to Nebraska he studied pharmacy at Creighton College, Omaha, Highland Park, and Des Moines, Iowa, where upon completing his course in pharmacy he was graduated with first honors in a class of seventy-nine in an examination before the state pharmacy board of Nebraska. Later he took up the study of medicine at Har vard College, from which institution he re ceived his medical degree in 1912, having for four years passed all his vacation time in hospital work. During his last collegiate year he lived at the Massachusetts General Hos pital. On his return to Grand Island the doctor became associated with his brother Dr. Albert H. Farnsworth, a partnership which still con tinues. They control a very heavy practice, Dr. Earl Farnsworth speciahzing in diagnosis and diseases of women and children. Dr, Farnsworth married in 1912 Miss Jessie Kistle, who was born at Le Mars, Plymouth County, Iowa. They have one son, William Kistle, who was born July 6, 1914. Mrs. Farnsworth excels as a musician and from 1909 until 1911 attended the New England Conservatory of Music at Boston, They are members of the Presbyterian church. In his views Dr, Farnsworth is a Democrat. He is a Knight Templar Mason and belongs to the Shrine, and is also identified with Lodge 604, Elks, in Grand Island. He yet maintains his valued membership in his old Greek letter fraternities of Nebraska and Cornell Univer sities, the Phi Delta Theta and Phi Rho Sigma, in 1911 being a delegate to the National Fra ternal convention held at Omaha. While Dr. Farnsworth has always been, as mentioned above, a lover of athletics, and wholesome sports, it was on the tennis courts that he made a national reputation. For several years he held the state championship in Nebraska, and has been champion in nine different states and owns many trophies testifying to his skill. LEO PHELAN, M. D. — Perhaps the care fully protected citizens of Grand Island some times ask each other, if not well infonned, to what benign influence during the past ten years have they been indebted for improved sanitation, rigid methods of inspection, thor ough isolation of contagious cases and use of preventive and protective measures in times of epidemic, without remembering that they have, in Dr. Leo Phelan, an able, experienced, scien tific physician as city health officer. Dr, Phelan has been publicly, privately and profession ally, a useful citizen since he came here, Dr, Phelan was born at Ottawa, Canada, October 7, 1863, the twelfth child in a family of thirteen children born to John and Margaret (McCarthy) Phelan. The mother of Dr. Phelan was bom at Richmond, Canada, in 1823, and died in 1899, The father was born in Queens County, Ireland, in 1814, and died in Canada in 1879, Besides Dr. Phelan, three of their surviving children live in Nebraska : Mary, the wife of John Goodall, a retired farmer of Omaha; Edward, a wealthy con tractor and real estate dealer in Omaha, and Alice, the wife of Michael Shirley, a con tractor and real estate dealer in Omaha. The parents were members of the Roman Catholic church. Leoi Phelan attended the public schools and Ottawa University, from which he was grad uated in 1886 as honor man of the class in philosophy.. Subsequently he entered Queens University at Kingston, Ontario, and again was honor man of his class in anatomy. From this institution he received his medical degree in 1890. For a few months after. graduation he was associated with his brother. Dr. Daniel Phelan, at Kingston, then became a member of the faculty of the Sioux City Medical Col lege, Sioux City, Iowa, where he lectured for seven years, conducting a private practice at the same time. He then went to Ackley, Iowa, which meant a country practice. During the six years he remained there he frequently visited Chicago for graduate work in the Chi cago Post Graduate School. A new field of usefulness opening up led him to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for graduate work in preparation to assume charge of a hospital which interested parties proposed to build for him. Re verses came to them before this project was 672 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA carried out, and Dr. Phelan remained in Ann Arbor for two and a half years. On Janu ary 8, 1907, he came to Grand Island where he has a lucrative practice, standing high in his profession, as specialist of surgery. Dr. Phelan was united in marriage in 1898 to Miss Theresa Kidd, who was bom at Tor onto, Canada. Mrs. Phelan is a daughter of the late Joseph Kidd, who was in the salt and lumber business. He removed to Sioux City, Iowa, in 1898 and died there. Dr. and Mrs. Phelan have four sons : Gerald, a member of a medical corps in the United States na-vy ; Redmond, employed in Grand Island ; Edward J., who is in school, and John F., a school boy. Dr. Phelan and his family are members of the Roman Catholic church. He has long been active in the Knights of Columbus, in which he is a grand knight. Politically he is a Democrat. In addition to being the watch ful health officer of the city, for a number of years he has been school physician. As far as he deems wise Dr. Phelan advocates all moderate forms of out-door sports. During his university days he was a leader in both base ball and foot ball and. of ten carried off the honors. He is an active member of both state and county medical societies. yiRDEN E. EVANS. — The automobHe business has received its fuH share of recog nition from the progressive people of Hall County, an astonishing number of the latest models being owned and enjoyed. Perhaps the favorite make for all purposes is the Ford automobile, which has been ably exploited here for several years by Virden E. Evans, who is president and general manager of the Glass- Evans Auto Company of Grand Island. Virden E. Evans was born near Red Oak, Iowa, April 21, 1883, and is the only child of his parents, John W. and Maggie (McMullen) Evans, the former of whom was born in Ohio and the latter in Illinois. They are members of the Presbyterian church. The family re sided in Iowa, where the father was a farmer for a number of years. In 1914 they came to Grand Island and since then Mr. Evans has been employed in the plant of the Glass-Evans Auto Company. In politics he is a Democrat and fraternally is identified with the Modern Woodmen. After attending the grade schools in Howard County, Nebraska, Virden E. Evans spent four years in the Normal college at St. Paul, Nebraska, and then accepted the re^ sponsible position of cashier of a bank at Gushing, Nebraska. In large measure he had his own way to make in the world and his success has come about because of his high character and sense of responsibility. Young as he was, he satisfactorily filled the office of bank cashier for five years. Possibly his pur chase of a comfortable Ford car in 1908 served to turn his attention to the great possibilities for an enterprising young man in the auto mobile industry and he began his venture in 1909, continuing as cashier of the bank, how ever, for one year longer. He was then in duced to accept the favorable proposition of the Ford people to take charge of an agency in Grand Island. Since that time he has been one of its prosperous business men. The Glass-Evans Auto Company was organized in 1915 being incorporatedi for $100,000, Mr. Evans as indicated above, is president and general manager. In April, 1918, the com pany erected what is undoubtedly the finest garage in this part of the state — a three-story building with every modern equipment and appliance known in the industry. The company has prospered from the first and at present is doing business estimated at $500,000 annually. Mr. Evans married in 1905 Miss Lida Paul sen, who was born at Dannebrog, Howard County, Nebraska. They have two sons: Gordon and Clayton, both of whom are attend ing school. The family belongs to the Presby terian church. Mr. Evans is a Democrat in politics and a loyal party man but cherishes no political ambitions. A progressive, enter prising, reliable business man, he has found a hearty welcome in Grand Island and has proved his worth. JOHN B. GLASS, secretary and treasurer of the Glass-Evans Auto Company, is identi fied with one of the most prosperous of Grand Island's modern business enterprises. He is a native of Nebraska, born in Howard County, August 14, 1883, the son of John and Lizzie (Lutz) Glass, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. The name of Glass is an honored one in Howard County, where John Glass settled and homesteaded after his honorable discharge from the Union Army, where he served through the Civil War. During the greater part of his life he engaged in agricultural pur suits but in 1888 he took charge of a hotel at Gushing, Nebraska, which he conducted un til his death in 1890. His wife died in the same year. They had eight children, John B. being the fourth in order of birth. He has three surviving brothers and one sister : Louis, who conducts a hardware business at Wol- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 673 bach, Nebraska; Joseph, who foHows the car penter trade at Grand Island; W. J., who is in the autombblie business at Grand Island, and Catherine, the wife of A. J. Shrack, who is in an electrical business at Aberdeen, Idaho. The parents of this family were faithful mem bers of the Roman Catholic church. John B. Glass obtained his educational train ing in the public schools of Howard County. He assisted his father on the home farm for a time and afterward was employed for three years in the Bank of Gushing, Nebraska, from there coming to Grand Island in 1911. In the same year he became interested in a general automobile business here in partner ship with V. E. Evans, under the firm name of the Glass-Evans Auto Company, which has developed into a large enterprise with a prom ising future. In 1914 Mr. Glass was Imited in marriage with Miss Carrie Anderson, who was born in Howard County, Nebraska, a daughter of Mads Anderson, who homesteaded there. Mr. and Mrs. Glass have two sons, Edsel and Donald, aged respectively four and two years. Mrs. Glass is a member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Glass was reared in the Cathohc faith. He has never been very active in poli tics but votes with the Republican party on every public question. EDWIN C. BURGER,- one of Grand Is land's progressive young business men, belongs to one of the oldest pioneer families of Hall County, his family having founded the thriv ing town of Doniphan where Edwin was born, April 26, 1885. His father, George A. Burger, was bom in Pennsylvania, in August, 1850, and died at Doniphan, Nebraska, in 1914. The mother of Mr. Burger, Mrs. Rosa A. (Peabody) Burger, was a native of the state of New York; she was married at Doniphan and still lives there. Of their three children two survive; Edwin C. and Mable, the latter being the wife of A. C. Pentico, a ranchman near New Castle, Wyoming. The late George A. Burger was well and favorably known in Hall County, having been a resident for fifty years, coming here in 1864, at which time he operated a pack- train. He secured a valu able homestead near the town of Doniphan, to which place he removed in 1872. He was a Democrat in politics and served on the county board of supervisors for nine years. After his graduation from; the Doniphan High school in 1902, Edwin C. Burger spent one year as a clerk in the store of his uncle, Wm. J. Burger. He next took a commercial course at Creighton College, and a course in pharmacy at Creighton College, where he was graduated in 19()4. He had other business experiences before coming to Grand Island, having been employed one year by the Ne braska Clothing Company in Omaha, and had live stock and automobile interests for a time at Doniphan. In 1914 he Ideated in Grand Island as sales manager for the Class-Evans Auto Company. This company was incor porated in 1915, at which time he became sales manager and vice-president. At the present it is one of the growing concerns of Grand Island and Mr. Burger devotes all his time to its affairs. On August 1, 1907, Mr. Burger married Miss Mamie Phillips, who was born in Ne braska, a daughter of Fred and Cornelia (Adams) Phillips, the latter of whom died in 1909. The father of M,rs. Burger was one of the earliest druggists at Hastings, Ne braska, but in 1887 he retired from active busi ness, locating on a farm situated west of Doni phan. He now resides with Mr. and Mrs. Burger. They have two children : Helen and Bernice. Mr. Berger belongs to the Elks, the U. T. C. and the T. P. A. .ELIZABETH M. CUNNINGHAM, fhe able superintendent of schools of Hall County, Nebraska, is particularly well known at Grand Island where for some years her earnest work as an educator has been acceptable. Miss .Cunningham is a native of Nebraska, born near the capital city, the youngest daughter of William Cullen and Anna Hulda (McQueen) Cunningham. The parents of Miss Cunningham were bom in Pennsylvania and were reared and married there. After removal to Lincoln, Nebraska, the father engaged in business as a commission merchant. In 1907 he came to Grand Island and his death occurred here in 1909. He was a man of sterling character, honorable in busi ness relations and just and conscientious in social and family life. He was a Republican in his political views, was long identified with the Masonic fraternity, and was a presiding elder in the Scotch Presbyterian church. The mother of Miss Cunningham lives at Grand Island. They had six chHdren, as follows: Mary Radcliffe, the wife of Judge Howard Kennedy, of Omaha ; Thomas J., a commercial traveler for Granger Bros., of Grand Island; Francis Jane, the wife of J. L. Cleary ; Nancy Rohrer, the wife of R. E. Davis; Elizabeth McQueen, who is county superintendent; and one child is deceased. 674 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA WeH trained in the pubhc schools and a graduate of the high school. Miss Cunning ham pursued her studies along more advanced lines in the state university at Lincoln. In memory of those pleasant days she still main tains her interest and membership in the Greek letter sorority, the Kappa Kappa Gamma, In 1907 she came to Grand Island as a teacher in the public schools and has engaged continu ously since then in this educational field, for four years being principal of the Jefferson school'. In March, 1918, she was appointed superintendent and in jslovember, 1918, was elected county superintendent of schools for four years. ALBERT H, FARNSWORTH, M. D., whose name for seventeen years has repre sented professional skill, business integrity and civic usefulness in Grand Island, was bom at Middlebury, Vermont, May 14, 1875. He belongs to a well known family in Hall County, being a son of Luther F Farnsworth, of whom specific mention is made on other pages of this volume. In his native city Albert H, Farnsworth took a thorough course in the public schools. After the family came to Nebraska he entered the state university in Lincoln where he pur sued his studies through his sophomore year. A period spent as a clerk and student in his father's drug store was exceedingly helpful as preparatory to entering Hahnemann College, Chicago, from which he was graduated in, 1900; the same year he entered the Cook County Hospital as an interne remaining there until 1902, on February 9th of. that year com ing to Grand Island to establish an office. Dr. Farnsworth is a general practitioner of medicine and surgery. He has taken work at the Mayo clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and in clinics at Boston, Alassachusetts, and Chi cago, Illinois, to perfect himself in all the new technique and latest discoveries of medical science. Although still mantaining his quarters in his original office, his equipments, however, are entirely modern. In addition to a heavy city practice, he has patients in all adjoining towns. In August, 1903, Dr, Farnsworth was united in marriage with Miss Callie E, Thompson, who was born at Grand Island, a daughter of Judge J. R. and Elizabeth (Pryse) Thompson a record of whom will be found elsewhere in this volume, Dr, and Mrs, Farnsworth have three chil dren, a daughter and two sons: Elizabeth, Frederick Thompson and Albert Henry, the youngest being an infant of fourteen months. Dr. and Mrs. Farnsworth are members of the First Methodist Episcopal church. He be longs to the Odd Fellows and the Elks and professionaly is identified with the County, State and American Medical societies, and has served one term as vice president and one term as president of the HaH County Medical So ciety. For the last five years he has been sur geon for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad at this point. In politics the doctor is a sound Republican, but he has never ac cepted any public office except that of health officer. DANIEL C. BROWN, a popular man en gaged in the cigar and tobacco business in Grand Island and owner of a billiard hall, who enjoys the best of the city's patronage, has resided here for sixteen years. He came to Grand Island from a wider field, in which he had been a busy worker for many years. Like man}- another youth, he began early to be self supporting, and his steady habits, industry and fidelity to interests intrusted to him, led him to very important and responsible positions. Daniel Brown was born in the city of Phila delphia, January 18, 1859, the son of David F, and Hannah E. (Anderson) Brown, natives of Pennsylvania. Of their four children, Daniel C. alone survives. During the Civil War the father of Air. Brown was commis sioned to buy horses for the United States government, at Baltimore, In January, 1869, he removed to Galesburg, Illinois and during the five years spent there, he worked in the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad shops. In 1874 he removed to Omaha, where he engaged in sign painting and in lettering the Union Pacific coaches in the Union Pacific yards, having considerable talent in his sign work. Both he and his wifewere members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They died at Omaha. Daniel C. Brown attended school in Gales burg, and two years afterward had further advantages in Omaha. His first independent and responsible office was that of deputy post master at Missouri Valley, Iowa, where he re mained five years. On August 16, 1879 he became connected with the Pacific Express Company, and on January 12, 1883, he began. service as a United States Mail carrier in Omaha. Pie continued to hold this position under the government for ten years. Mr. Brown carried the first special delivery letter ever transmitted through the mails in Om^ha, and as interesting in the light of present mail HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 675 Dr. a. H. Farnsworth 676 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA facility extension, he shows that first envelope on occasions. He was made the first president of the Letter Carrier's Association at Omaha. Mr. Brown returned then to the express ser vice, in which he spent eighteen years and four months as messenger on express trains. He retired from the railroad and on July 9, 1903, he came to Grand Island, not with any idea of retiring, but of engaging in a quiet busi ness that would not isolate him from friendly companionship, for he had led too active and busy a life to feel that he could be contented in idleness. At first he was associated with a partner in the management of a billiard room but established his own bHliard, cigar and to bacco business on January 14, 1910. Mr. Brown was united in marriage in 1902, with Miss Lucy Irvin, who was bom at Sidney, Iowa. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In his political views he is a zealous Republican. He belongs to the order of Elks, and for many years has been active in Masonic Blue Lodges. Mr. Brown has been more of a traveler than many of his fellow citizens, having visited thirty-eight of the states of the Union. HENRY J. LORENTZEN, who has been connected with business interests of Grand Is land for many years, was born in the city of New York, September 30, 1869, the son of Jacob J. and Elizabeth (Mundt) Lorentzen. The parents of Mr. Lorentzen were bom in Holstein, Germany, but emigrated to the United States when young and were married in New York, where Jacob J. Lorentzen -worked first as a carpenter and later engaged in contracting. Subsequently he came to Hall County, Nebraska, and bought a tract of school land which was situated six miles north of G-rand Island. His death occurred in 1898 but his widow survives and still lives on the old homestead. They had five children, Plenry J. being the second bom. The other survivors are: Jacob J., who operates the old home stead farm ; Christina, a widow who lives with her mother, and Amanda, who resides at Los Angeles, CaHfornia. Henry J. Lorentzen attended school in Hall County and remained at home assisting on the home farm until he was sixteen years of age, when he became a clerk for the firm of Withers & Cole, of Grand Island, two years later becoming a clerk for a shoe firm, where he continued for three and a half years. He then entered the employ of H. H, Glover, with whom he was associated sixteen years. At the end of this period he bought the shoe de partment and has engaged in a mercantile business of his own ever since. In 1894 Mr. Lorentzen was united in mar riage with Miss Louise Vieregg ,who is a mem ber of a prominent family of Grand Island. They have one daughter. Alma. In politics he is an independent voter. He belongs to the Sons of Herman and the Leiderkranz. ARNY E. NAGELSTOCK, one of the dependable business men and successful mer- cants of Grand Island, has been identified with the mercantile trade ever since his school days ended. This training proved invaluable to him when he started out for himself, and his later success has still further been brought about by his courteous manner and reliability of his goods. Mr, Nagelstock was born at Black Creek, Wisconsin, April 17, 1880, one of a family of four children bom to his parents, Charles and Sophia (Fisher) Nagelstock, who were natives of Austria but emigrated to the United States when young, the mother being brought by her parents. They now live in comfortable retire ment in Fremont, Nebraska. The father is a Democrat in politics, and both are members of the Jewish congregation. Aside from Amy E,, they have two other living children : Edwin, a dealer at Fremont, in ready-to-wear cloth ing, and Gertrade, the wife of Joseph Heller, who is in the meat business at Oconto, The youngest of the family, Sidney, was killed in an automoble accident, at Fremont, Ne braska, in August, 1914, The father was a dry goods merchant in Wisconsin and also at Ironwood, Michigan, before he retired from business. Amy E. Nagelstock was given excellent educational opportunities and in 1898 was graduated from the Bessemer (Michigan) high school. He then served as a clerk for his father until he engaged in business for him self in Fremont, in August, 1910, Al though still owning his business in Fremont Mr, Nagelstock desired a wider scope for his energies and in January, 1913 he came to C^and Island to open a first class store in ready to wear garments, which because of their reasonable price, fine quality and good style, has developed into a most satisfactory business, Mr. Nagelstock is unmarried. He is a Scot tish Rite Mason and belongs to the Shrine. He is identified with the Elks and Knights of Pythias. In politics he supports the Demo cratic policies. He has shown a public- spirited interest in local affairs and has been HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 677 elected president of the Commercial Club, of holds an enviable position as a physician. In which organization in Fremont he was former- matters of citizenship he measures up to the ly treasurer full standard. DAVID H. CARSON, M. D., a dis tinguished physician of Grand Island, specializes in the treatment of the eye, ear, nose and throat, has won an enviable reputa tion with the public as with his profes sional colleagues. For the past ten years he has successfully practiced his profession in this city. Dr. Carson was born at High Forest, Min nesota, December 21, 1876, a son of J. A. and Nettie (Hart) Carson, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Minnesota. They are residents of Wolsey, South Dakota, where they settled in 1883, and untH he retired the father was engaged in mercantHe pursuits. Dr. Carson spent his boyhood days in Min nesota and South Dakota, acquiring his early education in the public schools of Wolsey, South Dakota. He then entered the State University of South Dakota, at Vermillion, where he pursued a scientific course receiving the B. S. degree in 1900. Deciding upon a medical career he marticulated at the John A. Creighton Medical College at Omaha, Ne braska, graduating with the degree of M. D. in 1905. For one year he served as interne in Saint Joseph's Hospital, Omaha, and from there located for the practice of medicine at Dietz, Wyoming, where he remained two and a half years. Subsequently he opened an office at Council Bluffs, engaging in practice for two and a half years but on the 10th of April, 1912, came to Grand Island, where he has continued to the present time, having formed a partnership with Dr. J. E. Higgins, under the firm name of Higgins and Carson. Both physicians are specialists in eye, ear, nose and throat diseases and are most successful in the diagnosis and treatment of that nature. Dr. Carson united in marriage with Miss Gertrade Smith, a native of Nebraska, a daughter of George M. and Mary (Reynolds) Smith who are now residents of Hershey, Nebraska. Dr. Carson and his wife are members of the Methodist church. In politics the doctor is a Republican and at the present time is a mem ber, of the city board of health. His pro fessional associations are with the State and County Medical Associations and he has served as president of the latter. For two years he was secretary of the Council Bluffs Medical Society. He is a member of the medical staff of St. Francis Hospital of Grand Island and ARTPIUR A. SCHUSTER, whose well kept cafe and confectionery store attracts heavy aptronage at all times because of the su perior quality of the goods offered, came to Grand Island eighteen years ago and through industry and enterprise has built up a large and profitable business. Coming to Nebraska with the pioneers of 1885 he has never seen any good reason since to seek a home elsewhere and today is one of HaH County's solid and representative men. Arthur A. Schuster was born in Middleton, Dane County, Wisconsin, March 31, 1865, the son of Henry and Ida (Rahl) Schuster, both of whom were born in Germany. The mother of Mr. Schuster resides in her comfortable home at Milwaukee, ' Wisconsin, having reached her seventy-eighth year. The father died on the old home place in Dane County in 1909 at the age of seventy-six years. Of their five surviving children, Arthur A. is the second in order of birth. ' The others are: Augusta, the widow of Charles Niebuhr, of Madison, Wisconsin ; Laura, the wife of Charles Milbrock of Madison, Wisconsin ; E. E., a dental practitioner in Milwaukee, and Henry, who is in the employ of the gov ernment as a meat inspector. In 1859 the parents of Mr. Schuster came to Wisconsin and the father bought a farm in Dane County. He was a man of education and at first taught school but later devoted much of his time to the nursery business, with which he was well acquainted. He produced such fine fruit that he frequently carried off prizes, hiving been awarded the first prize on grapes at the St. Louis exposition. He helped to install the first lodge of Odd Fellows in Middleton and was secretary of the same lodge for fifty years. He served in many political offices, was a sound Democrat and prominent in all movements that concerned the welfare of Dane County, Arthur A, Schuster attended the public schools and was graduated from the high school in Middleton. Following this he worked on the home farm for four years, then tried railroading for two years and in 1885 reached Schuyler, Colfax County, Ne braska. The next year he spent on a farm but left to accept the offer of a clerkship in a cafe and bakery with opportunity to learn the confectionery business. He remained with C. H. Chase for twelve years. Later was 678 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA manager of the grocery store of Henry Fulton for three years and stiH later, for two years was with the Wells Grocery Company. In 1901 Mr. Schuster came to Grand Island to establish his own confectionery store, which he has expanded as business has demanded, having continued in the same line to the present time. In 1903 Mr. Schuster married Miss Matilda Jungbluth, who was born on a farm near Schuyler, Nebraska. They have one daughter, Mildred, the wife of Elmer Scott, who has a satisfactory position in a sugar factory at Fort Collins, Colorado, Mr, and Mrs, Schuster are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a Democrat and has served on the board of supervisors of Hall County for four years. For thirty- one years he has been a member of the Odd Fellows. He also belongs to the Elks, the order of Ben Hur, the A. O. U. W. and the Knights of Pythias. JOHN ELLSWORTH, proprietor of an extensive greenhouse in Grand Island, does business all over Nebraska in cut flowers and flower and vegetable plants, and is one of the most experienced men in the business in the state. Aside from its financial aspect Mr. Ellsworth is devoted to his vocation, finding in it the pleasure and compensation that ac companies congenial work. John Ellsworth was born in Bloomington, Illinois, November 22, 1866, the eldest of five children born to his parents, Allen and Bar bara Ellen Ellsworth, the latter of whom was born in Pennsylvania and now resides in Law- ton, Oklahoma. Allen Ellsworth was born in Vermont, came to Grand Island in 1899 and died here in 1908, at the age of sixty-seven years. He was married at Downs, Illinois, and from that state enlisted for service at the beginning of the Civil War and during its long duration suffered both wounds and im prisonment. He was wounded at the second battle of Bull Run and at the siege of Vicks- burg was captured by the enemy and was in carcerated in the Confederate prisons of Belle Isle and Libbey. He survived these distress ing military experiences and upon returning home went into the nursery business, which he conducted on a still larger scale after mov ing to Hutchinson, Kansas, in 1873. In 1899 he came to Grand Island and here started a greenhouse in partnership with his son John. It was greatly enlarged in 1900 and in this he continued to be interested until the end of his life. He was a Republican in politics and belonged to the Masonic fraternity. Aside from John, the other children of the family are: Emma, the wife of B. M. Parmenter, an attorney living at Lawton, Oklahoma; Elmer, who conducts a shoe business at Hutchinson, Kansas; Allen, an employe of the Union Pacific Railway, and Julia, who is the wife of Guy C. Robertson, cashier of the First National Bank of Lawton. John Ellsworth started out in life on an excellent educational foundation, having high school advantages and a course in a business college. After that he became associated with his father in the greenhouse business, at first working at home during the summers and as a clerk in a store in the winters. In April, 1900, the business was greatly enlarged in Grand Island and Mr. Ellsworth has devoted his entire attention to it ever since. He has 60,000 square feet of glass in his greenhouses, which are fitted in a thoroughly modern way for the satisfactory production of flowers and handling of cut flowers, and for the growing of vegetable plants. He sells as many as 500,- 000 cabbage plants alone annually. He is prepared to take care of every branch of the florist's business. In 1887 Mr. EHsworth was united in mar riage with Miss Dovie Breazeale, who was born at Centerville, Iowa, and died in Grand Island in 1900. She left one daughter, Katheline, the wife of W. C. Crosley, of New Castle , Wyomieg. Mr. EHsworth's second marriage took place in November, 1908, to Miss Freda Senner, who was bom at Sabetha, Kansas, a daughter of Louis and Maria (Scoby) Senner. Her father was bom in Germany and died on his farm in Kansas. Her mother lives with Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth in Grand Island, she having been bom in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. EHsworth have three children : Pauline, Jack and Leo, all of whom attend school. In politics Mr. Ellsworth is a Republican. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and to several beneficiary societies. WILLIAM T. ENGLEMAN, M. D., who occupies a place high in the confidence and es teem of his fellow citizens, both lay and pro fessional, has been established in the practice of medicine and surgery at Grand Island for over a decade. Dr. Engleman was born at Des Moines, Iowa, December 25, 1879, the eldest of a family of twelve children born to his parents, Ephraim B. and Sallie (Stadden) Engleman. The early Englemans in America came HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 679 from HoHand and settled in colonial days in New England, There the grandfather of Dr. Engleman, Tobias Engleman, was born De cember 17, 1817, and died in Michigan, Sep tember 13, 1883. Ephraim Engleman, father of Dr. Engleman, was born in Pennsylvania, November 15, 1847. and is a highly esteemed resident of Grand Island, having lived retired for some years in his comfortable residence at No. 1403 West Second Street. He was married on Febmary 27, 1879, in Pennsyl vania, to Sallie Stadden, who was born in that state September 21, 1854, and died at Grand Island, October 7, 1913. Her father, William Stadden, was born September 12, 1820, and died November 18, 1895. Dr. Engleman has the following brothers and sisters : Mable Stadden, who is a teacher in the public schools of Grand Island ; Emma Jane, who is the wife of Stephen McGavran, a fruit farmer in Cal ifomia; Ella Mary, who lives with her sister Mable; David Leroy, who operates the old homestead farm situated five miles northwest of Grand Island; John Ireland, assistant sci ence teacher in the State Normal school at Kearney; Sarah LiHian, who lives with her brother on the old homestead ; Edwin Earl, a captain in the National army, has been sta tioned at Camp Dodge, Des Moines ; Oliver Milton, a rancher living on his claim near Crook, Colorado ; Grace Irene, a teacher at Grand Island; Clarence Alvin, who lives at Abbott, Colorado, and Herbert James, who, as a member of the American Expeditionary Force, arrived in France, October 13, 1918. He entered his country's service in June, 1918, soon after his garduation from the high school, having been president of his class. The parents of Dr. Engleman came to Ne braska in April, 1884. The father first bought 160 acres in Hall County and subsequently added land and continued to live there until 1907 when he came to Grand Island and has filled the office of deputy city assessor for the past three years. Foremrly he was assessor of his township for a number of years and for twenty years was a school director in District No. 30. For fifteen years he served as secretary of the M. B. A. local lodge. He is a leading member of the First Methodist church. After completing his high school course, William T. Engleman spent some time in the hardware business, in Hastings, Nebraska, Des Moines, Iowa, and Lincoln, Nebraska, and then took a course in the Baptist College at Grand Island. On September 3, 1902, he entered upon educational work and taught school for two years in Hall County, follow ing which he entered Creighton Medical Col lege, from which he was graduated May 1, 1909. He immediately entered into practice in Grand Isalnd, making a specialty of internal mledicine and obstetrics. He is a member of the leading medical organizations of the country, including the American Medical As sociation, and for four years served as sec retary of the HaH County Medical Society. On June 30, 1909, Dr. Engleman married Miss Elizabeth Minerva Travis, who was born while her parents yet lived in their primitive sod house on their homestead in Hamilton County, Nebraska. Her parents were Frank and Emily (Buzza) Travis. Dr. and Mrs. Engleman have three children : Earl and Elmer, twin sons who were born July 28, 1910; and Evaleen, who was bom Febmary 12, 1915. The doctor and his wife are mem bers of Trinity Methodist Episcopal church and active in its various benevolent move ments. In politics, like his father. Dr. Engle man is a Republican. He belongs to the A. O. U. W., of which he is Grand Medical Examliner and is local examiner also for the order of Ben Hur and the Mutual Life In surance Company of New York. WILLIAM D. NIETFELD, one of the enterprising young business men of Grand Island, is one of the proprietors of the lead ing jewelry store in the city, which is situated at No. 102 West Third street. A heavy and carefully selected stock, which includes prec ious stones, is carried, repairing is done, and orders for special pieces of elaborate or of simple design are carefully and satisfactorily attended to. WiHiam D. Nietfeld was born at St. Paul, Nebraska, August 5, 1891, the second in a famHy of five children born to his parents, Henry and Louise (Kruger) Nietfeld, who were natives of Germany. When they came from the old country in 1883 they settled at St. Paul, Nebraska, where for thirty years the father was in the retaH liquor business. In 1906 he removed to Grand Island to engage in the wholesale trade here until Nebraska passed the no license law, when he turned his attention to real estate. In politics he is a Democrat and fraternally is a member of the Elks and the Eagles. He is a member and has always been a liberal supporter of the Lutheran church. Besides WHHam D., his children are: Laura, the wife of W. A. Godfrey, a soldier in the American Expedi tionary Force now in Europe ; Otto, a second lieutenant in the training camp at Keamey, 680 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA California, plans to adopt a military life; Elsie resides at home, and LHlian is a student in the high school. After completing the high school course in 1909, Mr. Nietfeld entered the jewelry store of Max Egge, as clerk and apprentice in Gjrand Island. In 1910 he completed a course in the Bradley Horological school, Peoria, IHinois, after which he went to Elgin, IHinois, where he took a practical watchmaking course. Upon his return to Grand Island, in partner ship with Harry A. Carey, he bought the old established jewelry store of Max Egge. The business prospects of the firm are very bright. Mr. Nietfeld is at present exalted ruler of the local order of Elks and belongs also to the Eagles, the Knights of Pythias, and the Masonic order. On January 31, 1917, Mr Nietfeld was united in marriage with Miss Thelma Larri- son, who was born at Lincoln, Illinois. They have a daughter, Harriet Orcutt, bom Jan uary 27th, 1919. They are members of the Episcopal church. HERMAN L. STRATMAN, who con ducted a wagon-making shop and dealt in agricultural implements at South Wheeler Avenue, Grand Island, was one of the city's well known, reliable business men. Stead fast and practical, Mr. Stratman was a type of the useful everyday citizen and in the quiet pursuit of his business set an example of industry that many of the youngei- generation might profitably foHow. Herman Leopold Stratman was born at Grand Island, October 18, 1878. His parents were Henry and Charlotte (Spethman) Strat man, the former of whom was born in Ger many in 1850. The latter was born at Winter- set, Iowa, and they were married in Grand Island and she still lives here. There is but one surviving member of their family of six children ; Malvina, who lives with her mother. Henry Stratman came ¦ to Grand Island in 1871, a first class mechanic and a welcomie addition to the town's industrial class. Like many other young men before and since, he was entirely dependent on his mechanical skill for maintenance. He set right to work and opened a wagon and blacksmith shop. He could do and do well just the kind of work most needed in the growing town at that time and he prospered and in the course of years went also into the implement business. He bacame a man of ample means and entirely through his own efforts. In later life he gave his political support to the independent wing of the Democratic party. He had been con firmed in the Lutheran church and always re membered his obligations. In his death, in 1912, Grand Island lost an honest and useful citizen. Herman L. Stratman obtained his education in the Grand Island public schools, after which he learned the wagon-making trade under his father and in the course of time succeeded his father in business. He never entertained any political ambitions but always was loyal to the Democratic party. He held the best interests of Grand Island of much importance and was ever found ready to join with others in furthering local movements that would in his opinion, be beneficial. He was a member of the order of Elks and also of the Eagles and was an ex-vice president of the latter organ ization. He died March 10th, 1919, having passed an honorable upright life, well deserv ing the confidence and trast of his business associates. CHARLES C. PERRY.— In its display of fine musical taste, in combination with other cultural elements. Grand Island takes a lead ing place among the large centers of Nebraska. For years this has been the home of unexceUed musicians, as the oldest music house in Hall County is located at Grand Island. The trade in musical instruments is large and varied, Grand Island handling the most of this bus iness west of Lincoln and Omaha. A very necessary adjunct of music establishments is the piano tuner. It requires exceptional mus ical gifts, native ability and technical train ing that enables a man to discover and remedy in an instrument thei inharmonious chords that need to be attuned. Probably the best qualified piano tuner in Grand Island is Charles C. Perry,, who has been identified with the Becker Music Company since 1904. Charles C. Perry was born in McDonough County, Illinois, November 4, 1877, the eldest of three children born to his parents, F. M. and Sue Perry. Their other children are: Nellie, a trained nurse, and Cora, a draughts man in a mechanical engineer's office. The parents are residents of Peoria, Illinois, in which state they were born. The father is in the insurance business. He is a Republican in politics. Both parents are members of the Universalist church. In boyhood Mr, Perry attended the public schools and in 1898 was graduated from the Avon High school. His natural inclination even then was toward music and while work ing as a clerk in a clothing store for a year, HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 681 H. H. Stratman H. L. Stratman 682 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA he took lessons in piano tuning from a pri vate teacher. Later he had the best of train ing in the Boston Conservatory of Music. In 1904 Mr. Perry came to Grand Island and has foHowed his profession here ever since, his headquarters being with the Becker Music Company. He has never been particularly active in politics but has always cast a Re publican vote. For many years he has been a Mason and belongs, also, to the Elks; HENRY OLLIVER CONAWAY, M. D., perhaps the Nestor of the medical profession in Grand Island, has been engaged in medical practice for more than forty years. During a part of this time he has been a memjber of the faculty of Drake University. In this long period of professional usefulness, he has seen much progress in medical science, although its basic principles must remain the same. It has always been his fervent desire to benefit humanity to the extent of his ability through knowledge and skill. Dr. Conaway was born in Harrison County, Ohio, January 27, 1848. He is a member of an old Ohio family that had its roots in Ire land. His grandfather was Michael Conaway, who was a soldier in the War of 1812. The parents of Dr. Conaway were Aaron and Dorcas (Busby) Conaway, who spent their lives in Ohio. The former was born in Harri son County in 1807 and died March 11, 1896. They were the parents of fourteen children, Dr. Conaway of Grand Island being the eleventh in order of birth. He and his brother. Dr. J. B. Conaway, a retired physician, are the only members of the family residing in Nebraska. Aaron Conaway was a lawyer in early Hfe but later acquired land and led an agricultural life. He was prominent politic ally in Harrison County, Ohio, and for forty- five years served in the office of justice of the peace without ever having one of his deci sions reversed by a higher court. Four of his sons served in the CivH War: John B., Moses, Michael and Henry Olliver. Moses was a mlember of the One Hundred Twenty-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, being killed at Fisher's Hill, Virginia, September 22, 1863. Rev. Charles Conaway a cousin of Aaron Conaway, was one of the earliest circuit-riders sent out to preach by a Methodist conference in the state of Ohio. Alpheus B. Conaway is a physician at Alarshalltown, Iowa, was at one time a candidate for governor of his state, also serving in the state senate from Mahaska County two terms. Henry O. Conaway spent his boyhood years in school at Oakdale, Ohio, but obtained his medical education in the Cincinnati Eclectic CoHege, Cincinnati, Ohio, from which institu tion he was graduated in 1875. After a prac tice of eighteen months at Alexandria, Ohio, he went to Deep River, Iowa, and five years later removed to Des Moines, which practically was his home and field of work for twenty years. During eight years of this period Dr. Conaway was professor of anatomy in Drake University. Afterward he came to Nebraska and in 1909 he bought a drug store at Rey nolds, which he conducted for a time; then sold it and removed to Phillips in Hamilton County. Five years later he came from there to Grand Island. Dr. Conaway carries on a general practice but makes something of a. specialty of diseases of the eye and nose. On May 16, 1873, Dr. Conaway married Miss Fannie Hoover, who was bom at Park ersburg, Virginia, and died in 1908. Three of their four children survive: Clement Aaron, a commercial traveler, lives at Des Moines, Iowa; Josie, the wife of Jesse Rogers, manager of a tea store in Des Moines, and George, a mechanical engineer, is employed on United States govemment work in Califomia. Mrs. Conaway was a graduate of the medical department of Drake University. On May 16, 1910, Dr. Conaway was married a second time to Miss Nellie Willoughby, who was born in Iroquois County, Illinois, a daughter of Win field S. and Catherine (Crow) Willoughby. The father of Mrs. Conaway was a soldier in the Civil War: The doctor and Mrs. Conaway have one son, Clifton Laclede, who was bora May 27, 1911. Mrs. Conaway is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which faith the doctor was reared. He is a Scottish Rite Mason and belongs to the Consistory at Des Moines. He is also a Shriner. In his political sentiments he is in accord with the Republican party. He belongs to the Iowa State Medical Association, of which he once was president, and to the National Medical Association. JAMES B. LESHER. — Few men are better known in HaH County than Jamies-B. Lesher, who conducts a real estate business at Grand Island. He was one of the pioneers who reached Nebraska in the spring of 1887 and since that time has been connected with the development of this section of the state. He owns large bodies of land here and in other parts of the country, having been a very wise investor. James B. Lesher comes of old Pennsylvania stock. He was born in Northumberland HISTORY OF HALL -COUNTY NEBRASKA 683 County, Pennsylvania, March 9, 1853, the son of Daniel and Sarah J. (Van Kirk) Lesher; his grandfathers werel Georg'e Leishert and Joseph A'an Kirk, all of whom were bom and spent there lives in Pennsylvania. The father of Mr. Lesher was bom in Northumberland County in 1832, married and died there August 1, 1897. Of his thirteen children James B was the fifth in order of birth, six of the family survive. The father was a Jacksonian Democrat, as honest in his political opinions as he was steadfast in the Baptist faith. During boyhood James B. Lesher attended the country schools. He grew up on his father's farm and foHowed a farmer's life in Northumberland County until he decided to venture his fortunes in the west and came to Nebraska. He was not without capital but did not immediately invest in land, his good judgment cautioning him to await develop ments for a time. He reached HaH County, March 1, 1887, and for two years afterward engaged in farming on rented land before he began purchasing for himself. Mr. Lesher now owns about 500 acres in Hall County and while accumulating it was for years a heavy feeder and shipper of cattle and hogs. He retired from his farm activities in 1906 and since then has devoted himself to handling real estate. Additionally he has a valuable property of 2,000 acres of timber land in Washington and is numbered among the capi talists of Hall County. In 1879 James B. Lesher married Miss Hattie Irene Reed, who was born in Penn sylvania, the daughter of Farnsworth and Rosanna (Miller) Reed, the former of whom was a farmer. They both died in Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Lesher have three children: Gertrude, a trained nurse, resides at home ; Rosa, the wife of Elias F. Star, a teacher in the University at Lincoln ; and Carl A., at home after completing almost two years of military service. He was one of the first in Hall County to volunteer for over sea service as an aviator, and during a part of the time he was stationed in Paris, France. Mr, Lesher is a Democrat in his political opinions but is inclined to be independent to some extent. He has frequently served in township offices. For some years he has been a trustee of the Baptist College at Grand Is land, and has been chairman of the executive board. His only fraternal connection is with lodge No. 604 Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a director of the Y. M. C. A. in Grand Island, a stockholder and at one time a director of the Commercial State Bank in this city. HARRY H. LONG, who is prominent in labor circles and officially connected with many important industrial organizations, has been a resident of Grand Island for twelve years. He was born AprH 19, 1876, in Madison County, Iowa. His parents were John H. and Elizabeth (Freestone) Long, the former of whom was bom in Ohio in 1814 and died at Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1913. He was a Re publican in politics and for many years was a justice of the peace. During his active years he was a farmer in Iowa but had been retired for a long period prior to 1906, when he moved to Lincoln, Nebraska. The mother of Harry H.Long was born in Indiana in 1846, was married at Perry, Iowa, and died in Ne baska in 1908. Of the family of five children, the following are living: Harry H., who resides at Grand Island : David A., who is a farmer near St. Joseph, Missouri and Mrs. Rose Meyers, a widow, who lives at Council Bluffs, Iowa. The parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Harry H. Long attended the high school at Aurora, Nebraska, and the Peru Normal school. He learned the trade of decorator, following this vocation at Colorado Springs, for seven years. Subsequently for eleven months he was employed at Kansas City in a government shipping office, following which he came to Grand Island. Here Mr. Long re sumed work at his trade, which is a trying one on the eyes, and on account of a devlop- ing weakness, he was forced to abandon it in 1917. Since then he has devoted all of his time to the interests of labor organizations, which very generally concede his unusual busi ness ability. He is affiliated with the American Federation of Labor and is an organizer for the same ; is the secretary of the Central Labor Union, and is business agent for all labor unions in Hall County. He belongs also to the L. O. O. M, In 1902 Mr. Long was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Wickless, who was born in Iowa. They had one daughter, Marie, who died when aged eight years. Mrs. Long is a mem ber of the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Long maintains his office in the Glover build ing at the comer of Third and Wheeler streets. LUTHER MARTIN CARLSON, pro prietor of the Carlson Mattress Works, in Grand Island, has demonstrated in building up this fine business, the value of industry and carefully directed effort. Mr. Carlson began life for himself with but little assistance, but the extent of his present enterprise, built up 684 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA within the space of seven years, indicates that that fact was no handicap. Luther Alartin Carlson was born in Knox County, Illinois, in 1871, the eldest of four children bora to Charles A. and Hannah (An derson) Carlson. Both were born in Sweden, emigrating from the old country, they came when young to Illinois and were married there. In 1886 they removed to Kansas where Charles A. Carlson homesteaded, taking up a tree claim which he owned until the time of his death which occured in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1898, the same year in which his wife passed away. In early years he was a Republican but later became identified with the Farmer's Al liance party. Both he and wife belonged to the Lutheran church. Their surviving children aee: Luther M., who lives at Grand Island; Alice, the wife of Theodore Jansen, of Salina, Kansas, and Walter at the head of the me chanical engineering school of the State Agri cultural College in Manhattan, Kansas. Luther M. Carlson obtained only a district school education, following which he worked on a farm and taught school until 1903 when he became connected with a mattress manufactur ing firm, first as an office man and later as rep resentative on the road. In 1912 he came to Grand Island and established himself in the mattress manufacturing business and now has an extensive plant at No. 1024 West North Front street. He manufactures and remakes all grades of mattresses, makes pillows, feather beds, renovates feathers, makes auto mobile tops and does automobHe top repairing. While his trade territory is mainly in Nebraska, he also ships to Colorado and the Dakotas. His reputation for promptness in the matter of con tracts, and the excellence of his products is wide spread. In 1910 Mr. Carlson married Miss Lorraine Gurney, who was born and educated in Iowa. They have one daughter, Mary Louise, a little maid of two years. Mr. and Mrs. Carlson attend the Methodist church and Mrs. Carlson is actively interested in its many benevolent movements. In politics Mr. Carlson is a Democrat and an advocate of prohibition. He is not only a wide awake business man but a responsible and public-spirited citizen, and he is so recognized by his feHow citizens. He be longs to the United Commercial Travelers Association and also the Knights and Ladies of Security. "Taylor Ranch" is the largest concern of its kind in this part of the county. Robert Taylor was born near Pilmuir, Ber wickshire, Scotland, December 9, 1847, a son of David and Eliza (Littster) Taylor, who spent their entire lives in the land of hills and heather. The subject of this record was reared in his native land and was a lad of but eighteen when he came to the United States. He spent a short time at the home of his maternal grandparents in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, but it was his desire to see more of the country. There were no transconti nental railroads at that time, so by way of the famous Nicarauguan Route across the Isth mus he went to California, arriving at San Franciso in April 1867. His worldly capital consisted of what he carried in a belt. He found employment shearing sheep and the money acquired in this way was the first be earned in the United States. In the early sev enties he purchased six hundred ewes and en gaged in the sheep business wholly on bor rowed capital, paying eighteen per cent interest but was so successful that he was out of debt in three years. Ten years later he took the trail and with his herd went to Wyoming where he was extensively engaged in sheep raising for many years. It was about 1890 that .e be came interested in HaH County land and is today the owner of more that nine thousand acres devoted to the sheep and cattle industry. He has the finest herd of Angus cattle in the state of Nebraska. The ranch is equipped with several hundred thousand dollars spent in improvements. In 1896 Mr. Tayor was united in n -rriage to Miss Agnes Elizabeth Littlefair, who was born in England, she became the mother of four children : Mary Elizabeth, Robert Brace, Dorothy Agnes and Grace. Mrs. Taylor pass ed away in Hall County and for a second wife Mr. Taylor chose Miss Annie Dover Little- fair, a native of England and a sister of the former wife. Mr. Taylor is a member of the Episcopal chiirch and in politics is a Republican. While residing in ^^'yoming he served two terms in the state senate. The extensive scale on which Mr. Taylor has conducted his affairs and the success that has crowned his efforts at once display his sound business judgment and abihty, qualities which when industriously ap plied are bound to bring gratifving results. ROBERT TAYLOR is the owner of the ROBERT BRUCE TAYLOR was one of largest tract of land in HaH County held by Hall County's sons who enlisted in the service any individual, and his property known as of his country in its fight for democrac 'n the d^O^/i V'/'estern Fub A fi^ny Co £nj bij£ C IVimo/^,5 t,Br.. I'Tr ^^e-u. '7^/Uc^Q^ /<^^<^'^7\ HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 689 World War and was one of those who were destined to make the supreme sacrifice in that cause. Robert Bmce Taylor was born in Hall County, January 7, 1899, a son of Robert and Agnes (Littlefair) Taylor. His early educa tion was acquired in school district number eighteen, this being supplemented by a course at the Keamey MHitary Academy. He was a student in the Baptist College at Grand Island when he enlisted for service in 1917. His company first located at Camp Logan, Colo rado, later they were sent to Camp Greene, in North Carolina, going from' there overseas. He died September 11, 1918, from wounds re ceived in the battle of St. Mihiel. His memory will ever be cherished by his family and a host of friends for the noble cause for which his life was given and for the sterling traits of young manhood which he posessed. (Insert Port.) WILLIAM H, ANYAN, for many years a faithful and trusted employe of the Union Pacific Railroad Company, was well known and highly respected in Grand Island. He was born at Racine, Wisconsin, February 25, 1857, and died as the result of an accident, in the line of duty, November 6, 1918. His parents were William and Marion (Sharp) Anyan. The name of Anyan became well known in Hall County over forty years ago, when the father of the late William H. Anyan, came here as manager of the government land office, in which he served for nine years, first under appointment of President Rutherford B. Hayes, and second under President Chester A. Arthur, in 1882. William A.nyan was born at Hull, England, and in that industrial city learned the building trade. In 1852, being then twenty-six years old, he came to the United States and settled in Wisconsin and from that state enhsted for service in the Union army at the outbreak of the Civil War. He was a member of Company B, First Wis consin heavy artiHery, serving four years he was honorably discharged from military ser vice in 1865. Following his release from the army he worked as a carpenter and builder at East Troy, Wisconsin, and Chicago, Illinois. In 1873 he removed to Gage County, Nebraska, to take up a homestead near Beatrice, coming from there to Hall County under presidential appointment in 1878. Mrs Anyan has her husband's commissions signed by the presi dents named above, entitling him to receive public money and conduct the business of the land office. He was a man of high character and was a member of the Episcopal church. He had but two children, WHliam H. and George, both of whom are deceased. William PI. Anyan had common school ad vantages and in his eariier years worked on the home farm and at the carpenter trade. He entered the service of the Union Pacific Railroad Company, July 5, 1880, being em ployed at first as fireman and working his way up until he became engineer of a switch engine. In 1912 he received the injury that put an end to his life on the railroad and eventually caused his death. He was a kind, generous man and had a wide circle of friends. On June 21, 1882, William H. Anyan mar ried Miss Mary Cook, who was born in Han over, Germany. Her parents were Henry and Catherine (Sandbury) Cook. Her father met with an accidental death when Mrs. Anyan was two years old, following which her mother brought her to the United States and Mrs. Anyan was reared in the family of an uncle, at Havana, Illinois. She had but little school training but became skilled in domestic in dustries and has reared her four daughters in such a way that they reflect great credit on their home training. They are: Marion, the wife of Rufus Geer ; Grace the wife of Clar ence R. Helber, agent at Pine Bluffs, Wyo ming, for the Union Pacific RaHroad; Mar garet, an assistant in the office of Dr. Farns worth, Grand Island, and Irma, who lives at home. The family attends the . Congregational church, to which Mr. Anyan was a liberal con tributor. He was a Republican in his political views. He belonged to the fraternal order of United Workmen. Mrs. Anyan occupies a comfortable residence at No. 304 Fourth street, Grand Island. EDWIN A. JONES, manager of the Gas ton Music Company of Grand Island, is weH known and highly respected, being a careful, attentive and reliable business man. Mr. Jones came to Grand Island in 1903 and. has been connected with reliable business enter prises since that time. Edwin A. Jones was bom at Diamond Springs, Morris County, Kansas, December 26, 1873. He attended the public schools of Chase County, Kansas, and the Salina Normal University, at Salina, Kansas. After leaving school he taught for four years. He then be came acquainted and connected with the Singer Sewing Machine Company and in 1903 moved to Grand Island to take charge of the com pany's business at that place, remaining with the company for five years, following this he 689a HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA John Ellsworth HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 689b Charges F. Bentley 690 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA was westem traveler for Tryber Piano Com pany five years. In 1913 he accepted the management of the Gaston Music Company and is at the present time connected with this well known establishment. Mr. Jones has kept well abreast of the times in music develop ment and recognizes the special demands brought about in the public taste by the changed and changing social conditions. He has made it his business to see that the com pany has issued and handled the very best productions. In 1903 Mr. Jones married Miss Georgia L. Collins, who was born at Hot Springs, Arkansas. They have five children : Edwin A. a representative of the Gaston Music Com pany; Mabelle Gertrude, a highly educated young lady, whe teaches in the Grand Island High school; Estel O., who entered military service February 9, 1918, was released and re turned home the following December after special taining at Princeton University; and Bertram W., who is in school. One child died in infancy. Mr. Jones is a member of the Odd FeHow and Modern Woodmen lodges. ALBERT V. D. HEYDE, for years one of Grand Island's active business men, has been prominent also in civic affairs. Six years he served as a member of the city councH, repre senting the third ward, and for one year was president of this important body. Although now living retired, he has not lost his interest in what concerns Grand Island, and stiH retains ownership of valuable real estate in this city. Mr. Heyde was born at Pyrmont, Germany, November 13, 1862, one of a family of six chil dren born to George and Mannie (Snitker) Heyde, both natives of the Fatherland. The father of Mr. Heyde was a cigar manufac turer, and both he and his wife belonged to the Lutheran church. He died in Germany in 1886, at the age of fifty-six years. The vener able mother still lives in her old home in Germany. It may be mentioned here that her son Albert, accompanied by his wife, paid her a visit in 1913. She was then eighty-six years old. Of her four living children there are two in the United States : Albert V. D. who lives at Grand Island; and Lena, whose home is in New York. _ Albert V. D. Heyde obtained his education in his native land before coming to the United States in 1883 and the year following worked as a carpenter at St. Paul, Minnesota. In 1884 he came to Grand Island, spending the winter cutting ice on the Platte river at $1.20 a day After a short time he entered the employ of the Burlington Railroad as a builder when the bridge was constructed across the Platte river. For a number of years subsequently he fol lowed a contracting business in Grand Island. During 1893-1895 he conducted a retail liquor business at Chapman, and also was in the meat business there. During 1896 he engaged in the liquor business in Grand Island, conduct ing a popular saloon here for many years, and then took the agency for the Dick Brothers Brewing Company, but sold out prior to his visit to Germany in 1913.' In earlier days he wes secretary of the Hood and Lader Com pany and in 1912, assisted in the organization of the Grand Island Brewing Company, of which he was president for three years and is yet a director of the company, which is a large corporation with numerous interests. In 1887 Mr. Heyde was united in marriage with Miss Amelia Lucas, who was born in Germany, a daughter of August Lucas. Mrs. Heyde's father settled in Brooklyn, New York, when he first came to the United States, but later he took up a homestead in Merrick County, Nebraska, on which the family lived for many years. The following chil dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Heyde: Anna, the wife of Jesse Calkins, who is in the employ of the government, building docks at Norfolk, Virginia; George, in the United States service as a sailor at Great Lakes; Minnie, the wife of Bliss Springer, a teacher in the commercial department in the high school at Grand Island ; EHa, bookkeeper for a Grand Island busi ness firm; Albert, who entered mHitary ser vice in June, 1918. arrived in France, Septem ber 2, 1918, being attached to the Sixfy- seventh coast artillery, and Alice and Her bert, both of whom are yet in school. All the chHdren have been confirmed in the Lutheran church. In his political views- Mr. Heyde is a strong Democrat. He has long been identi fied with the old Gemian societies of a social nature that have been established at Grand Island for many years. He is a member of the Sons of Herman, of which he was president four years and grand president of the State of Nebraska. He also is a member of the Liederkranz society, of which he has been a trustee. HENRY H. FALLDORF for many years was active in business in Grand Island as a contractor, now lives somewhat retired, re siding in a handsome residence on South HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 691 Locusi street, which he completed in 1907. He owns valuable farm property adjacent to Grand Island and is regarded as one of the capitalists of Hall County. Air. Falldorf was born in Hanover, Germany, September 7, 1864, the second born in a family of three chHdren. His father, Henry Falldorf, also a native of Germany, came to Hall County, Nebraska, in 1873, be ing engeged in farming until he retired to Grand Island in 1903, where he stiH resides, having reached his eighty-sixth year. The mother of Mr. FaHdorf, Mrs. Mary (Mor- man) Falldorf, was born in Germany and died there in 1872. Their three children were named Fred. Henry H., and Annie. Fred Falldorf died in 1918, at the age of sixty- three years. Annie is the wife of M. Riefers, of Boulder, Colorado. Henry H. Falldorf attended school in Germany and afterward in HaH County. He learned the stairbuilder's trade, a vocation he foHowed for twenty years, when he became a general contractor, and now points with pardonable pride to many handsome substan tial buildings in Grand Island, for the con struction of which he was responsible, among which may be named the following: the Grand Island Library building, the new Hall County Courthouse, and extensive business blocks and private residences. In addition to the local structures he also was the contractor for the exceptionally fine high school build ing at Norfolk, Nebraska. Recently he re tired from active business, taking with him a reputation for business integrity and per sonal honesty. In 1887 Mr. Falldorf united in marriage with Miss Mary Timpke, who was born at Grand Island, a daughter of Henry Timpke, a pioneer farmer of Hall County. They have had two children : Amelia, the wife of Albert Hein, a farmer in Merrick County, Nebraska, and Fred, who died at the age of thirteen. Mr. and Mrs. FaHdorf were reared in the Lutheran church and attended there. In poli tics he is a Republican, as is his fatner. He belongs to the Low German social organiza tions in the city, and is identified also with the Masons and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. RICHARD GOEPIRING, JR., an enter prising and popular young business man of Grand Island, bears the name of his honored father, a sketch of whom is found in this work. Richard Goehring was born in Grand Island, August 18, 1887. He was educated in the public schools of his native city, subsequently taking a business course in the Baptist Col lege in Grand Island. His industrial training was thorough and practical and when but twenty-three years old he became associated with such carpenters and contractors as WiH iam C. Southmann and E. J. Voss. In 1910 they built the Hedding building and other large stractures in Grand Island. After dis posing of his interests here Mr. Goehring went to Columbus, Nebraska, where for three years he was the manager of the lumber yards of G. H. Hoagland Company, but in 1914 he re turned to Grand Island as manager of the George A. Hoagland lumber interests here. A large wholesale lumber business is carried on and great credit is due Mr. Goehring for the excellently organized system that prevails. The greater part of his time is devoted to this business although he is additionally inter ested in some other directions, being secre tary and treasurer of the Central Storage Company. In March, 1911, Mr. Goehring married Miss Ina Kaiser, who was born in Hastings, Adams County, N,ebraska. Her father George Kaiser, was formerly an electrician for the Burlington Railroad Company and now occupies the same position with the Oregon Short Line and resides in the state of Washington. Mr. and Mrs. Goehring have one daughter, Helen, who was born August 13, 1913. Mrs. Goeh ring is a member of the Episcopal church. He is very popular in musical circles in Grand Island. It was mainly through his efforts that a local orchestra was organized which for many years supplied fine music for. dances and other entertainments, Mrs. Goehring also be ing an accomplished musician. Mr. Goehring belongs to a number of fraternal organizations including the Elks, the Eagles and the Lieder kranz. He is a foremost member of the Y. M. C. A. and has been earnest in his efforts to further the work of this great and helpful organization in the year just closing. AUGUST BECKER is one of the younger generation who is making a success of agri cultural pursuits in operating the old home place in Washington township. He is a native of Hall County, his natal day being April 4, 1876, a son of Fritz Becker, a record of whom will be found elsewhere in this volume. February 27, 1901 August Becker was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Ewoldt, like her husband a native of Hall County, a daughter of Cay and Elizabeth Ewoldt, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this vol- 691a HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA T. M. Hainline HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 691b Mrs. T. M. Hainline 692 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA ume. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Becker has been blessed with five children, whose names are: Alfred, Matilda, Bertha, Bernard and Walter, all of whom are at home. Mr. Becker is engaged in general farming and the raising of Poland China hogs and Short Horn cattle, both branches of his busi ness bringing him good annual returns. His place is well equipped having been improved by his father, the barn being one of the land marks of the neighborhood, its erection hav ing been made more than forty years ago. The rehgious faith of the family is that of the Lutheran church, and Mr. Becker is serv ing his school district as treasurer, holding this responsible position for the last seven years. The family are held in the highest esteem, and their friends to-day are they who have known them since childhood. JAMES MICHELSON was one of the pioneers of Hall County and for many years was an active force in the business affairs of Grand Island. He was a native of Den mark where he grew to manhood and mar ried. He and his wife were members of wealthy families and were both well educated. About the time of the Civil War he decided to try his fortune in America. Not as many emigrants who had only the money to pay their passage across the waters, James Michel son was well provided with capital and to add to the comforts of the family two maid serv ants were brought along. Arriving at Omaha he purchased an outfit consisting of a spring wagon, a team and provisions and taking his family with him located in Montana where he engaged in the sheep business. He hired as interpreter a scout and from this man learned to speak the Indian, French and Eng lish languages. After spending two or three years, in Montana he retumed to Omaha where he built up a blacksmithing enterprise and found it very profitable shoeing horses for the soldiers. On his way west he had passed through Hall County and was very favorably impressed with the country so he returned to establish himself in the blacksmith business at a time when both horses and oxen were brought in to be shod. When the Union Pacific RaHroad was being built Mr. Michelson found It profitable to supply ties for the constmction of the road. He had purchased land with trees on it and the entire supply of timber was converted into ties for the railroad com pany. The second hotel in Grand Island was erected by Mr. Michelson; "The Nebraska House will be remembered by many of the older settlers. He also followed mercantile pursuits for many years, being prosperous in all of his undertakings. At one time he was the heaviest tax payer in Hall County. He was a Republican in politics and a liberal contributer to churches and all worthy enter prises. In his native land he had served nine years in the Danish army and fought for his country in the war with Germany. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity and ex emplified the benevolent spirit of that craft in his daily life. In this family were six children : Laurena, married Joseph Killian and is now a widow residing in San Bernardino, California ; Carrie Maria, residing in CaHfornia, is the wdow of James Lambert, who was one of the first engineers on the Union Pacific RaHroad; Anker, who passed away in 1894, was for many years a conductor on the Union Pacific Railroad; McLena, now Mrs. Wilkins, resides in Grand Island ; Fred, who was born in Grand Island, in 1864, is now engaged in the real estate business in that city; and Rose Minnie, born in Idaho, is deceased. The above record has been furnished by the daughter of this pioneer settler who ac companied the family to Grand Island. She was united in marriage to Edward B. Hirst who died in August, 1880. Of this marriage there were four children: Anker Hirst, a res ident of Tulsa, Oklahoma, a machinist em ployed by an oil company; Fred, one of the organizers and member of the Sapho Chemical Company, died in St. Louis in 1913 ; Edward W., a mlining promoter, also a inember of the chemical company, residing at Mansfield, Missouri, and George, who had just entered college when he passed away in 1899. January 25th, 1886, Mrs. Hirst was mar ried to Mr. M. H. Wilkins, a native of Bristol, England. He was brought to the United States by his parents when one year old, the home being established in Utica, New York, later in St. Joseph, Missouri. Mr. Wilkins learned the machinist's trade which he fol lowed until he retired in 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins are the parents of two children ; Vina Meta, married Charles Conklin, a salesman for the Nebraska Mercantile Company, and Isaac James, a partner with his father in the man agement of the billiard parlors. PIERMAN C. GOEHRING, who is one of the substantial men of Prairie Creek town ship. Hall County, owns a large body of weH improved land where he carries on general farming and stockraising. He was born in HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 693 James Michelson 694 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Germany, in 1865, the son of Ernest W. and Katherine (Easser) Goehring, who emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1874, The father died in 1892, when aged sixty-nine years, and the mother in 1911, at the hale old age of eighty-four years. Of their five chH dren Herman C, was the second in order of birth, the others being : Richard ; Ernest, who lives retired at Ravenna, Nebraska; Lena, a resident of Buffalo County, Nebraska, and Paul, who lives at Sheridan, Wypming, Herman C. Goehring was -nine years old when he accompanied his parents to Nebraska where his father took up a homestead in Buffalo County, which he improved so that his farm was one of the finest in this locality. He was a well educated man and believed in the principles of the Socialist party as they were understood in his day. He was a faith ful member of the Lutheran church. Herman C. Goehring had attended school in Germany and had further educational advantages after coming to Nebraska. He remained in Buffalo County until 1913 when he sold his interests there and removed to Hall County, purchas ing a well improved farm of 160 acres, to which. he has added from time to time until he now owns 320 acres. He has always been careful in his farming and stockraising as a result of which he has been signally success ful in this chosen vocation.. In 1893 Mr, Goehring was united in mar riage to Miss Hulda Wutcler, who was born in Germany and came to the United States with her parents. Mr. and Mrs, Goehring have had ten children born to them, those whom survive being: Emma, the wife of Richard Schroeder, of Hall County; Clemens, who is at home ; WHliam, who is operating one of his father's farms; Lida, who resides at home; Rose, the wife of Louis Biering, a farmer in Hall County, and Elsie, Fred, Frieda and Richard, all of whom are at home. Two otheres died in infancy, Mr. Goehring and his family belong to the Lutheran church. In politics he is a Republican and while living in Buffalo County served as school treasurer. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen lodge in Grand Island. MAX GREENBERGER, a man of enter prising and progressive personality who illus trates what energy and application to business can accomplish is representative of Grand Is land's prospering business men, conducting a first class tailoring establishment and haber dashery, with attractive quarters on one of the leading business streets of this city. He has beeen a resident of the United States since 1883. Mr. Greenberger was born in Hungary, the son of Samuel and Frediel (Berkowitz) Greenberger, who still live in their native land, where the father is a merchant. In 1883 he visited the United States and remained one year looking over business prospects but de cided to return to Europe. Of his family of twelve children eight are living and four of these are in the United States : Samuel, vice- president of the Grand Island Culvert works; Max, in business in Grand Island ; Anna, the wife of J. Berkwitz, associated with Mr. Greenberger in business, and Rose, who is a nurse and now detailed to hospital work in New Jersey. The family is of the Jewish faith. Max Greenberger attended school in his native land, until he was twelve years old when he began to learn the tailor's trade. As he grew older he sought better business oppor tunities and to find them came to the United States in 1883, landing in the city of New York. He found countrymen there, and re mained one year in the metropolis to become accustomed to new world methods before mak ing his way to Omaha, Nebraska, in which city he remained until 1907, when he came to Grand Island. For one year he worked at his trade for John Alexander, then embarked in the tailoring business for himself, and, as he saw a favorable opening, added a haber dasher's stock. Being a keen business man as well as a skillful tailor, Mr. Greenberger has built up a very profitable trade connection,. whHe his circle of friends is constantly en larging because of his honest methods and courteous manner. In 1905 Mr. Greenberger married Miss- Flora Graetz, who was born in the state of New York. They haVe two children: Louise and Miriam, The family attends the Jewish synagogue and keeps up the observances of their religious faith. Mr. Greenberger be longs to the Masonic fraternity but practically takes no part in politics. WILLIAM SHEFFEL, one of Grand Is land's most respected residents and influential business men, has claimed this city as his home for the past thirty-four years. His life has been one of great industry, by which he- has gained well earned prosperity. William Sheffel was born at Baden, Ger many, March 19, 1863, His parents were Jacob and Sophia (Kranmer) Sheffel, the former of whom was born in Germany in 1830,. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 695 and died there in 1903 ; the latter, born in 1835, died in 1905. The father's trade was that of a stonecutter. They had six children, two of whom live in the United States, these being Jacob and William. The parents reared their children in the Lutheran church. In his native land, William Sheft'el attended school and then worked under his father until he was eighteen years old, learning the trade of stone mason. Realizing broader opportunities were open for young men in the new world he left his native country for that "land of prom ise," America, coming to the United States. For three years he worked for an aunt, who resided at Alexandria, Virginia, but decided to carve his own course and in 1885 he came to Grand Island, Nebraska, and for thirty two years engaged in stone contracting. Since 1917 he has been in the monument business. His yards are situated on the corner of Clearburn and West Point streets. Mr. Sheffel has been concerned for over a quarter of a century in almost all of the important stone and brick constraction work in Grand Island. This has been accorded to him be cause of his expert knowledge of stone and stone work. He has cut and placed many monuments. At the same time he has con tinued his work along other important lines. In 1889 William Sheffel married Miss Mary Scroeder, who was born in Canada. Their family consists of four children: Katie, the wife of Erich Aleyer of Grand Island; Carl, in business with his father, a civil " engineer who has recently returaed from Nitre, West Virginia where he built a power plant ; Flora, who lives at home; THlie, who also lives at home; and William, who is a student in the high school. Mr. Sheffel's first wife died in 1906 and a year later he married Miss Katie Rickman who was born in Illinois, a daughter of Christofer Rickman, a pioneer in Buffalo County. ]Mr. and Mrs. Sheffel have two chil dren : Rudolph and Louis. They are attend ing school and both are doing weH. Mr. Sheffel was, for five years a member of the board of education. Also, he served as chief of a volunteer fire department for four years, and of which he has been a member for twenty-nine years. JULIUS REESE. — One of the few trades in which factory work has not yet been able to equal skilled hand work, is harnessmaking, and in the shop of Julius Reese, No. 215 West Second street. Grand Island, may be found some fine specimens that have been turned out by the owner. He is an expert workman and conducts the only exclusive shop of this kind in the city, having established a general harness business here in 1902. Mr. Reese was born September 26, 1880, at Kiel, Germany. His parents are Christian and Margaret (Krase) Reese the former of whom was born in Germany, May 7, 1852, and the latter in October, 1852. They cam,e to America and to Hall County, Nebraska, in 1884. The father works in Grand Island as a tailor for A. W. Sterne. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and is a Socialist in his political views. Of his five children, the following are living: Julius, residing in Grand Island; Anna, who is the wife of Louis Poff, a steamfitter in the employ of the Union Pacific RaHroad in Grand Island; Elizabeth, the wife of H. B. Alexander, a machinist in Grand Island; and William who is a mail clerk in Grand Island. Julius Reese was but a child when his par ents left their native land for America, soon after which they located in Grand Island. He .obtained his education in this city and after ward learned the harnessmaking trade. There is a great demand for such work as he turns out and he has prospered in his chosen busi ness to a most satisfactory extent. Like many other Germans, he has a talent for music, be longing to bands and orchestras, and takes an active part in the Liederkranz and Platts deutchen social organizations. He is also a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. In 1906, Julius Reese married Miss Marie Mollie Rickert, who was born at Grand Island, her father, Jacob Rickert, was an early settler here and shoemaker by trade. Mr. and Mrs. Reese have four children : Florence, Frederick, Dorothy and Lorraine. The members of the family are identified with the Lutheran church. ALBERT THARP. — A busy, eventful, useful life has been that enjoyed by one of Grand Island's most esteemed citizens, Albert Tharp, who came to Thomas County, Ne braska in 1887, and in 1884 established him self in business in Grand Island. Business success has attended him, and many calls to public office have indicated the confidence re posed in him by his fellow citizens. He is an honored veteran of the Civil War, and has served as commander of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic, of which he is a member. Albert Tharp was bom in Marion, Marion County, Ohio, April, 22 1843. His parents were John and Margery (McKeever) Tharp, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively. 696 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA reached the Thirty-second degree in this order. RICHARD A. ODUM, deputy county clerk of Hall County, Nebraska, has been a resident of Grand Island for over two decades. Al though not entirely, yet in large measure, Mr. Odum has been identified with raHroads throughout his business career, and he is weH and favorably known in the offices of the different systems that operate through Ne braska. Richard A.. Odum was born at Benton, Franklin County, Illinois, February 13, 1876, the only survivor of two children bom to Adel bert R. and Hannah (Moore) Odum, the former of whom died when the boy was only two years old. His business was farming and stockraising, for the most part in IHinois, where he owned fine land on which coal was subsequently discovered. After his death, which occurred in' March, 1878, the mother left HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 741 the farm and moved to Benton where she and her son resided until January, 1891, when re moval was made to Colfax County, Nebraska. At that time Mrs. Odum was united in mar riage with John A. Brown. Since June, 1918, Mr. and Mrs. Brown have lived retired in Grand Island. Richard A. Odum attended the common schools in Benton and the high school in Schuyler, Nebraska. He began his business career as a clerk in the offices of the Chicago Burlington and Quincy RaHroad, at Schuyler, and after transfers to a number of other cities, came to Grand Island in 1898 remaining with the above system until 1905. From 1906 until 1910, he was associated with the Union Paci fic Railroad, when he retired from railroad work, and for the following five years con ducted a meat and grocery business in Grand Island. This business he sold in 1915 and for a few months afterward was again in rail road work,* which he gave up when he was appointed deputy county clerk, in January, 1917. He is serving in his second term and is a very popular official. On June 14, 1899, Mr. Odum married Miss Jennie Brown, of Schuyler, Nebraska. Her parents were James T. and Ellen (Miller) Brown, both of whom are deceased, having been old and highly respected residents of Col fax County. Mr. and Mrs. Odum have one son, Windsor A., who was born June 7, 1900, a well educated young man who still makes his home with his parents. Mrs. Odum is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which she is very active. She has been one of the leaders in the Y. W. C. A. in Grand Island and is on the board of directors of this organization. During the entire period of the World War she was indefatigable in her labors for the Red Cross. Mr. Odum also has been a leader in patriotic work and was secretary of the county council of defense. In politics he is a sturdy Republican, in church connec tion he is a Baptist, and fraternally is identi fied with the Elks. FRANCIS CORKINS, one of the best known residents of Grand Island, came to Hall County when this present modern com mercial city had but one store and three saloons to represent its business enterprises. He was a young man of twenty-five but had already seen much adventure, having just served three years in the Union Army during the Civil War. His settlement here was for permanency, not speculation, and throughout many succeeding years he was actively and honorably engaged in business, a helpful citi zen in every way. Today his friends are as numerous as his acquaintances. The birth of Francis Corkins took place in County Cavin, Ireland, October 26, 1842. His parents were Patrick and Nancy (Carlin) Corkins, who came to the United States in 1847. 'They reached Illinois on their travels westward, spending one year in Chicago. The father had been a small farmer in Ireland and it was on a farm in McHenry County, Illinois, that they settled permanently, and there the father died in 1863. The mother survived until 1904. Of their seven children four are living, but Francis Corkins is the only one of the family in Nebraska and the only one of the name, the other children of the family being girls. Francis Corkins attended the country school in his boyhood, that was situated two and a half miles from his father's farm in McHenry County, and as soon as old enough assisted on the farm. On August 4, 1862, he en listed for service in the Union Army for service during the Civil War, and as proof of being a worthy soldier, was promoted to be corporal of his company. He was hon orably discharged August 18, 1865, having escaped all serious injuries and even capture by the enemy, although close to it in the en gagement at Guntown, Mississippi. Mr. Cork ins then returned to his father's farm but was not satisfied to remain there, having by that time ambitions to own land for himself, hence, in the fall of 1867 he came to Nebraska. He worked for farmers in Hall County and then homesteaded near Wqod River, remaining on his farm eleven years, then sold and moved into Grand Island, where he purchased a livery stable. For twenty-four years he operated that establishment, through his business capac ity making it a profitable enterprise and the leading one here for many years. On March 1, 1913, Mr. Corkins retired. On November 5, 1876, Mr. Corkins married Miss Harriet E. Smith, a daughter of George P. and Harriet N. (McGregor) Smith, her mother being a first cousin of Ralph W. Emerson. Mrs. Corkins' parents were early settlers of Hall County. Her father's death was the result of one of those unfortunate accidents that pioneer history so often records. Although seventy years old he was both physi cally and mentally active and enjoyed taking part in some of the farm industries. In May, 1875, he attempted alone to bum off a field of prairie grass, and when the wind suddenly veered to the opposite direction, he was caiaght in the flames and his death followed six 742 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA weeks later. Not having any children of their own, Mr, and Mrs, Corkins adopted a nine year old girl named Anna Bliss, who was care fully reared and subsequently married Douglas Woodman, of Denver, who is now a soldier in the Unites States army in France. 'They have one son, Wilbur Woodman, who resides with Mr, and Mrs. Corkins. The latter is a member of the Christian Science church. In politics Mr. Corkins is a Democrat. His fellow citizens have often desired him to accept public office and he served as county super visor for two years, but otherwise he has always decHned. The legislation that has abolished alcohol from the country as a bev erage may have disturbed some of Mr. Cork ins' fellow citizens but not himself, for never, in his entire life, has he tasted liquor, and what is StiH further somewhat unusual, he has never used tobacco. CARRIE L. FRASER. — There are many well satisfied residents of Grand Island who. consider the development of the public schools during the past twenty-nine years, one of the city's most notable evidences of progress. In this connection not a few will accord much credit to Miss Carrie Fraser, whose devotion to the cause of education has been the leading motive of her life since early girlhood. In 1894 Miss Fraser was made principal of the Platt school. Grand Island. Carrie L. Fraser was born at Chatham, in the province of Ontario, Dominion of Canada, the only child born to William and Sarah E. (Huson) Fraser. Miss Eraser's father was born in Canada in 1846, and died at Chatham, where he had been in business for five years, September 8, 1872. He was identified with the order of Odd Fellows, The mother of Miss Fraser was born at Buffalo, New York. In 1877 her second marriage took place, she being united to Daniel Ferguson, a merchant in Chatham. In September, 1878, Mr. Fergu son, with his brother, came to Grand Island to take charge of the Hooper foundry, which he managed for several years, and this city has been the family home ever since. Mr. Fergu son died here in August, 1907, his widow and two daughters surviving; Grace L., who is a teacher in the pubhc schools of Grand Island, and Flora E., who is the wife of Glenn G. Reeder, of Council Bluffs, Iowa. _ In recalling educational conditions at the time of her own graduation from the high school in Grand Island, Miss, Fraser pays tribute to the scholarship of Superintendent Henry Garm and his assisants, one of whom was Mrs. T. O. C. Harrison. At that time four frame store buildings (there were no brick ones then) were used as schoolrooms, the high school being held in the German Luth eran church, but the Dodge school building was in course of erection. Miss Fraser soon took up school work and has been identified with this profession continuously for twenty- nine years, at the present time having in her classes chHdren of her earhest pupHs. When she took charge as principal of the Platt school in 1894, she had but two teachers, while now seven are employed. Miss Fraser is much beloved in Grand Island where she has always been an uplifting influence, very active as a member of the First Methodist Episcopal church, and^ prominent in the high school alumnas. SAMUEL HEXTER. — One of the men who came in the early days to Gl"and Island, and through good citizenship greatly assisted in the remarkable development of the city, is found in Samuel Hexter, a highly esteemed retired citizen, whose comfortable home is at No. 708 West First street. For many years Mr. Hexter was active in business circles and became well and favorably known over the county. Samuel Hexter was born in Germany, February 4, 1845. His parents were Judah and Miriam (Strauss) Hexter, natives of Germany, his mother being a sister of Johann Strauss, the great musical composer. The father of Mr. Hexter was in the grain bus iness, a man of high character and prominent in the Orthodox Jewish church. There were seven children in the family, four of whom at one time lived in Hall Coumy. Mrs. Sophia Rothschild and Mrs. Rosa Boehm are de ceased, but Samuel and David Hexter stiH reside here. In June, 1860, well educated in the schools and trained for business, Samuel Hexter came to the United States. For a short time he lived in New York City, then went to North Carolina and from, there proceeded to Petersburg, Virginia, where he was practically a prisoner because the siege of the city by the Federal troops followed and he was forced to remain there until the close of the CivH War. Mr. Hexter then joined his brother-in- law, J. Rothschild, in Baltimore, Maryland, subsequently becoming his manager of stores at Aurora, Illinois, and Columbus, Kansas. From the latter place, in 1883, he came to Hall County and entered the employ of the Wolbach Bros. Company, a firm that did much HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 743 to develop Grand Island, remaining in the employ of that concern for seventeen years. Mr. Hexter then embarked in business for himself, in 1899, continuing in the commercial field for twelve years, during which time he added to the excellent reputation he already had made for honesty and good citizenship. Because of the sale of the building for other purposes, Mr. Hexter found himself obliged to close out his store in 1911, and as he had been in business for so many years he decided to retire rather than build up a new connection. On March 5, 1884, Mr. Hexter married Miss Bertha Yost, who was bom in the city of New York, a daughter of Abraham and Clara (Freund) Yost. Her father was bom in Baden and her mother in Bavaria, Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Hexter have four chHdren: Miriam, the wife of Oscar Veit, of Grand Island; Florence, the wife of Solomon Hirsch, of St. Joseph, Missouri; Maud, a teacher in the public schools, and one who is deceased. Mr. Hexter and family are prominent in the membership of the Orthodox Jewish church. In his early political life in the United States, Mr. Hexter was a Democrat, but the issues that came up during the first administration of President McKinley, caused him to change his opinions and he has been identified with the Republican party since theii. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and has had the honor of twice being master of his lodge. Mr. and Mrs. Hexter remember when Grand Island was nothing but a country village, with no permanent sidewalks, no lights, no water or sewer system. Mr. Hexter has been one of the enterprising and progressive men who have helped to bring about present modem conditions. JENS ERICKSEN, a weH known and highly respected resident of Hall County, came to Grand Island thirty-two years ago and has lived here ever since. Master of several trades he has been a hard worker as well as a useful citizen. No one has had a higher reputation for business integrity. Jens Ericksen was born at Veborg, Den mark, January 5, 1844, the son of Jens and Anna (Brundom) Ericksen, who spent their lives in Denmark, where the father was a farmer and stockman. They were faithful members of the Danish Lutheran church. Their family consisted of three children, two' daughters who died in Copenhagen, and one son, who came to America, landing in the United States in 1887. Jens Ericksen attended school and helped his father on the farm until he was eighteen years old, when he entered the army and for his reward in serv ing during the war with Germany in 1864, he receives a pension from the Danish govern ment of one hundred kronen annually. He learned the cvabinet-making trade in the old country and after coming to the United States, the carpenter trade, but prior to leaving Den mark he owned and conducted a general store for sixteeii years. In the meanwhHe Mr. Ericksen had learned much concerning the business opportunities that the great country across the Atlantic offered to men of industry, especially in its western states, and as many of his countrymen were prospering in Grand Island, it was to this place he came with his family. A ready welcome awaited men of his class, honest, sturdy, dependable, hard working, and it is not remarkable that Mr. Ericksen prospered. In 1904 he began con tracting, and as a private venture he built ten houses in the city, on which he performed practically all the work himself. These houses he owned and since then has sold all . but three. In Denmark, on May 28, 1865, Mr. Ericksen married Miss Anna M. Carstensen. They have the following children : Jens, who lives in Denver, Colorado; Mrs, Maggie Ras mussen, deceased; Walter, a business man of Grand Island ; Mrs. Gertrude Alexander, who resides in Omaha; Mrs. Emma Dalgus, of Grand Island; Charles, in business at Grand Island ; Martin, deceased ; Emest, who lives in Grand Island; Albert, in business in Seattle, Washington; Anna, the wife of C. Petersen, and Christ, who makes his home in Grand Island. All the children were bom in Den mark except the youngest, a native son of Grand Island. , The family belongs to the English Lutheran church. In his political opinions Mr. Ericksen is a Democrat. REV. GUSTAV H. MICHELMANN.— Perhaps the Lutheran clergy in Nebraska has, no more scholarly representative than Rev. Gustav Herman Michelmann, pastor of the. German-English St. Paul's Evangelical Luth eran congregation, on Seventh and Locust streets. Grand Island, who for the past five years has been president of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Nebraska. Rev. Michelmann was bom at Prosigk, dukedom Anhalt, Germany, July 17th, 1871. His parents were born in Anhalt, the father at Muehno and his mother at Coethen. From 1878 to 1881 Rev. Michelmann at tended the grammar school at Coethen-Anhalt. 744 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA In the latter year he became a pupil of the gymnasium of the same city. At that insti tution he paid especial attention to the lan guages, Latin, Greek, French and English. On March 10, 1891, he passed the examina tion, the so-called abiturium which qualifies for admission to the university. In April, 1891, he became a student of the university of Tuebingen (Wurtemberg) and registered as a student of philosophy and evangelical theology. At the close of the first semester he passed the examination in the Hebrew language. In April, 1892, he went to the university of Halle (Saxony) to continue and to complete his studies in the same branches. In the fall of 1894 he was graduated and ac cepted a call as private instractor from, a Lutheran minister in a village of Mecklenburg. He remained there one year engaged in pre paring five boys for the higher classes of a gymnasium. Due to the fact that there were so many can didates for the ministry at that time in Ger many, Rev. Michelmann resolved to emigrate to ,the United States of America, landing at New York City December 20, 1895, and went from there to Chicago, where he accepted a call as assistant professor in a Lutheran Theo logical seminary. In June, 1896, he received a call from a Lutheran congregation of Chi cago, and was ordained a minister of the Gospel in September, 1897. Since that time he has served churches in the following places : Chicago, Brookville, Indiana, Oak Park, Illinois, and Grand Island, Nebraska, coming to the last named city in August 1906. In August, 1915, Rev. Michelmann accepted a call from the Grand Island College to teach German and French, at that institution, from which he received the degree of Ph.B., in 1916. In November, 1905, Rev. Michelmann became a citizen of the United States. In Brookville, Indiana, in 1899, Rev. Mr. Michelmann married Miss Elizabeth Klemnie. Five children have been born to them : Oswald C, Hans F., Margaret, Clara W. and Use Pearl. The oldest son is a student of phi lology in Ann Arbor, Michigan. REV. HERMAN SCHUMANN. — There are few old-time German residents of a num ber of counties in Nebraska who have not heard or come under the ministrations of Rev. Herman Schumann, who now, having retired from active ministerial work, resides in Grand Island, his pleasant home being situated at No. 304 West Sixth street. As one of the pioneer preachers of the Lutheran faith. Rev. Schumann for years traveled back and forth visiting scattered settlements and lonely farmhouses, sharing the hardships of his parishioners while helping them both ma terially and spiritually. In passing from one field of labor to another, he never failed to leave behind tangible evidence of his interest, and the religious bodies he then organized, in many cases were plants that have developed into the large congregations of the present. Herman Schumann was bom in Gennany, Febmary 13, 1857, one of a family of eleven children born to Julius and Anna (Dunskus) Schumann, who passed their entire lives in Germany, the father dying in 1869 and the mother in 1914. Two of their six surviving children live in Grand Island, Rev. Schumann and Mrs. Anna Freeland. From the high school in his native land, Herman Schumann entered the university at Basel, Switzerland, and was ordained to the Lutheran ministry before comuig to the United States in 1885. He located first in Platte County, Nebraska, his first charge being near Columbus. In those early days he visited the three churches to which he was usually asssigned, at regular intervals, driving alone over miles of prairie from one to the other, often carrying with him the consolations of religion to the sick and afflicted while at other times his advent was awaited anxiously for the celebration of a wedding or a baptism. From Platte County he removed to Fillmore coimty and five years later from there to Dodge County, where he resided until in 1898, when he accepted a call to Grand Island. Here he continued active in church work until his retirement in the fall of 1918. He was a faithful laborer and was instrumental in building four churches beside organizing five congregations. At Shell Creek, in Platte County, Nebraska, Rev. Schumann married, November 18, 1886, Miss Amelia Radtke. They have the foHow ing children: Lydia, the wife of Rev. Fred Motckus, of Hastings, Nebraska; Albert, a resident of Cameron township. Hall County, married Freda Buckow ; Reinhold, a farmer in Cameron township, married Opal Stewart; Emma, the wife of Leves Seddell, of Omaha; Martha, a talented musician, resides at home; Freda, a teacher in the public schools, resides at home; Ferdinand, a student in the high school in Grand Island; Hulda, also a high school student, and Rosalie, who resides with her parents. When Mr. Schumann retired from the min istry as a profession it was from no lack of Christian zeal nor with the expectation of living entirely at ease. He has some im- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 745 portant interests to claim his time, included in these being the management of his three farms, and looking after the affairs of the Grand Island Manufacturing Company, of which he is prfesident. Many years ago he became a citizen of the United States. He is a Republican in his political identification. GEORGE W. BROADWELL, who does an extensive business in Grand Island as a general contractor, is prominent in public as well as business affairs. Although not a native of Nebraska almost all of his life has been spent here and he takes much pride in the present status of this state in comparison to her sister states. Mr. Broadwell was born in Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois, June 13th, 1868, a son of Cyrus F. and EHa A. (Goff) Broad well. Cyrus F. Broadwell was bom in Spring field and in boyhood attended school with the sons of Abraham Lincoln. He was a general farmer and raiser of stock. He removed from Illinois to Colorado, where he lived for three years and then came to Nebraska, May 8, 1871, homesteading near Lincoln. He lived in Web ster County until the spring of 1887, moving , then to Hall County, where his death occurred in 1894, at the age of forty-eight years. He was a member of the American Order United Workmen, and in politics was a Republican. His wife was born in St. Louis, Missouri. They had six children, George W. being the only one of the four survivors to live in Hall County. His mother makes her home with him. She remembers many interesting events of early times in Hall County. On one oc casion, when she was yet a young woman, she drove a yoke of oxen all the way from Omaha to Denver, and when the family removed to Nebraska, young George W. was entrusted with the duty of driving the ox-team, which was not always an undertaking devoid of danger. After his school days were over, George W. Broadwell worked as a farmer until he was twenty years old, when he came to Grand Island and learned the brickmason trade, which he pursued until 1897, when he became a general contractor, in which he has been very successful. On December 25, 1889, Mr. Broadwell married Miss Minnie Balcom, a daughter of James and Elzina (Bowen) Balcom, who came to Grand Island thirty years ago' and still reside here. Mr. and Mrs. BroadweH have no children. Mr. Broadwell has taken an active part in public matters and is a prominent factor in Republican political circles. He has been chairman of his ward organiz'ation at different times and for thirteen years prior to 1917, was a member of the city board of aldermen. His efforts at all times are directed to advance the general welfare. In early days he assisted in the organization of Alexander Fire Company No. 4, and many old settlers 'will recall the station at Elm and Seventh streets. He belongs to the fraternal orders of the Elks, and the Eagles. JOHN PETER WINDOLPH, for many years well known in the newspaper business in Nebraska, yet connected with the printing business, was born in Uder Kreis Heiligen- stadt, Germany, January 24, 1865. His parents were John and Katherina (Kellner) Windolph, both natives of Germany. In 1872 the father of Mr. Windolph came to the United States, the mother and children following in April, 1873. They settled in Hall County, the father buying a farm of eighty acres south of Grand Island, on which they lived ten years, then sold and bought 160 acres east of Grand Island. The father died in the same year, on September 23, 1882. The mother continued on the farm for a num ber of years and therj removed to Grand Island, where she still resides. She is a mem ber of the Catholic church. She remembers when the cyclone blew the first Catholic church away and afterward for some time there was no church building in this section of that denomination. She also remembers the hard ships of the farmer's life in those early days including the losses of crops from hail, drought and grasshoppers. Nine children were born to John and Catherine Windolph, as follows : John P., who resides one mile east of Grand Island; Mary, who is the wife of Chris Mangelsen, of near Palmer, Nebraska; Kath erine, who is the widow of Henry Eberhard, resides with her mother in Grand; Island; Dora, who is deceased, was the wife of John Goettsche of Grand Island ; Hedwig, who lives with her brother William in Creighton, Ne braska; WHliam, a Catholic priest, resides at Creighton; John, who is a clerk in the post office in Grand Island, married Freda Cords ; Charles, who lives on the old farm of his mother and operates it, is a twin brother of John, usually called Peter, who married Antonia Cords, and Oscar, a druggist at Humphrey, Nebraska, married Miss Burk- hardt. Fortified with a common school education, secured at Grand Island, John P. Windolph 746 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA began, April 1, 1881, his apprenticeship to the printing 'trade, in the office of the Herald, in Grand Island, where he remained several years. For some time afterward he operated a store, then was in the railway mail service, from which latter he resigned in- 1888, shortly afterward starting a job printing office, which was the nucleus of a newspaper, which he founded and named the Grand Island Anzeiger, of which he was editor.. The ven ture succeeded and within two years Mr. Windolph had enlarged to an eight page six column sheet, continuing • to operate as such until April, 1894, when he purchased the Herald plant and good will, consolidating the two papers. In 1900 he bought the Staats Anzeiger, of Lincoln, Nebraska, which he con solidated with his other journals and continued publication until 1906, before he disposed of all his newspaper interests. In 1907 Mr. Windolph treated himself to a vacation, spending several months in his native land. This pleasant experience he re peated in 1913 when he went to Germany ac companied by his wife. On September 9, 1887, he married Miss Amanda Rieck, a daughter of Henry and Margaret (Reimers) Rieck. The father of Mrs. Windolph died in Germany and the mother afterward married Christian Bade, both of whom are deceased. The following children were born to Mr, and Mrs, Windolph : WHliam, who lives in Grand Island, married Ehzabeth Koch; Hugo, a res ident of Grand Island, married Anna Wetzel ; Peter, whose home is at Cortland, New York, was a soldier in the United States army, having just returned home from France; Clara, the wife of Albert Schultz, a meat merchant in Grand Island ; Walter, who is a soldier in the United States army of occupation in Germany; Otto, at home was recently released from miltitary training at Camp Dodge; Albert, who lives at Grand Island, and Elsie, a photographist, lives at home. In 1896 Mr, Windolph and family moved out of the city of Grand Island to their country place of ten acres, one mile east, this being part of the old homestead. In 1908 he started a job printing office here and has operated it ever since. In politics he is a Democrat. He has never had any ambition to hold office and the only public position he ever accepted was that of moderator of schools for four terms. He belongs fraternally to the Eagles, the Sons of Herman, the Liederkranz and the Plattsdeutschen society. JOHN F. WALSH. — A man of many honorable achievements both in public and business life for many years well known in Nebraska, is John F. Walsh, the retiring com mandant of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, at Burkett, Nebraska. Mr. Walsh was born in Dublin, Ireland, March 31, 1846. His parents were Patrick K. and Susan (Woods) Walsh, natives of Ireland who came to the United States in 1848. Patrick K. Walsh was a shoemaker by trade but a leader of men by nature. He was a man of education and brilliant mind, a writer of books and a welcome contributor to such well known literary journals as the Celtic Index and the Irish National Magazine. He was one of a very active group of agitators in the rebellion of 1884 in Ireland and it became ex pedient that he leave his country, hence his emigration to the United States when that uprising in Erin was unsuccessful. He never ceased his active interest in Irish affairs and was recognized in Ohio as a devoted worker for Ireland's freedom. His death occurred July 28, 1886, and in St. Joseph cemetery, Cleveland, Ohio, stands a monument erected to his memory by his followers. In 1862 he showed his willingness to fight for what he believed to be right, by enlisting as a private for service in the Civil War, being placed in command of a telegraph construction division and later was promoted to the rank of captain. Although he was not the type of man to shun danger and his work took him into many haz ardous situations, he was never either wounded or taken prisoner. His wife died in 1891. Of their six chHdren three are liv ing. John F. being the only one in Hall County. John F. Walsh was instructed in his early years by his father but later attended the public schools in Cincinnati. In 1862, when his father entered the Union army, he also endeavored to be accepted as a soldier, and twice afterward made further ineffectual efforts, but succeeded in 1864 and served untH the war closed, during this time having been a prisoner of war on one occasion for two hours. He retumed then to his father's house in Cleveland and completed his appreticeship to the shoemaking trade while, for two years, he attended night schools to further his edu cation. Air. Walsh then went as far west as St. Louis, Missouri, where he joined a company of fur traders whose life of adventure led them to the source of the Missouri river. In those wild regions they were attacked by a band of Indians who kiHed two of their party and stole their pelts. Being unable under the circumstances to resent this injustice, the fur men went down the river in skiffs as far as Sioux, City and from there to BrownsviHe, HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 747 Mr. and Mrs. J. P. 'Windolph 748 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Nebraska. His first marriage took place at Brownsville, and from there he went to what was then the hamlet of Humboldt, in Richard son County, Nebraska. The village at that time had but fifty inhabitants and Mr. Walsh was the first shoe merchant in the town, own ing and operating his store until 1888, when he embarked in general merchandising. He was a resident of Humboldt for forty-four years and was one of the leading factors in its de velopment. He was a member of the first city council, was on the school board for eighteen years, was post master during the four years of President Cleveland's first administration, was mayor of Humboldt, and during the early 'nineties was treasurer of Richardson County. Mr. Walsh then engaged in the banking bus inss, in which he continued up to the time he gave way to the solicitation of Governor Moorhead to accept the position at the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home at Burkett, hav ing been cashier of the bank for twenty-three consecutive years. The Soldiers' and Sailors' Home of Hall County was organized October 20, 1887. It is situated on 640 acres of land and until 1913 the home was under the control of a board of Public Land and BuHdings. Since then it has been under the management of a constitutional body known as the Board of Commissioners of State Institutions, ap pointments under this board being considered based on efficiency only. At the present time there are two hundred and forty women and three hundred and sixty men residing at the institution. The United States government allows $100 per year for each inmate, the state providing the balance of expense. The average age of the inmates is over seventy years, and there is always a waiting list. In March, 1915, Mr Walsh upon appointment took charge of the home as commandant, a po sition he has resigned as indicated by the following letter made public addressed to the board of control. After courteous prelimi naries Mr. Walsh said as follows in this com munication :_ "To the State Board of Control : "I herewith tender you my resignation as commandant of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home at Burkett, to take effect March 15, 1919, or not later than April I, following, for the following reasons : When I was solicited to take the position four years ago, I was given to understand that it was a non-partisan civil service proposition, and not a political foot ball, but from reading the newspapers I learn of the petty and pernicious political activity of some members of the legislature, and the public and emphatic pronouncement of Gov ernor McKelvie that this administration was to be one of the ultra partisan type, I do not care to undergo the nagging and annoyance of such conditions. I must say for you, gentlemen, that I have never discovered any partisan discrimination on your part. The good of the institution seemed to be your sole object, and I consider the board of control one of the best executive departments in our state govemment. I wHl say nothing of my personal record as you have that in black and white. I heartily thank you one and all for your uniform kindness and support during my service under your jurisdiction. Respect fully submitted. J. F. Walsh." Mr. Walsh married Miss Cora V. Layton, a daughter of Judge Layton, of Pottawattomie County, Iowa. Her death occurred July 25th, 1886; their children are all deceased. His second marriage took place November 29, 1888, to Miss Kate B. Murphy, who is a daughter of Barney and Margaret (Mc- Sweeney) Murphy. To this union the follow ing chHdren were born: Patrick R., who lives in Omaha ; Morgan A., of Los Angeles ; Paul E., whose home is Omaha; Ernest, who has been farm boss at the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, and Vinetta M., who is a skHled stenographer in the Union Pacific offices at Grand Island. During his lifetime Mr. Walsh has been associated with men of large affairs and has been on terms of intimacy and friendship with such national characters as J. Sterling Morton, Governor Butler, Govemor Moor head, Governor Furness and Governor Poynter. GEORGE ALBERT ENGLE, depot agent for the American Express Company in Grand Island, has been identified with this important business organization for a number of years, and was advanced to his present position because of merit. Mr. Engle has spent his life in Grand Island, and while his business associations have made him widely known, his personal demeanor has made him equaHy respected. Mr, Engle was bom in Grand Island, Ne braska, Febmary 14, 1889, son of Charies and LHlie (Ruby) Engle, natives of Iowa. The father of Mr. Engle is interested in farm ing in South Dakota, but the mother is re siding in Grand Island. Mr. Engle had one sister who is deceased. He has the foHow ing half brothers and sisters : Dora, the wife of Frank Deeds, of Mendon, Nebraska; Roy Kent, a resident of Grand Island, and Ethel, HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 749 Ruby and Oscar, all of whom reside at home. George Albert Engle attended the public schools in his native city, immediately after ward looking about for a useful line of indus try and subsequently learning the trade of plasterer and mason, in which he was more or less continuously engaged for twelve years. He then entered the employ of the American Ex press Company, serving first as platform man, then as teamster, next as agent, in June, 1913, becoming station agent. Mr. Engle is known to be careful, reliable and courteous and he has many friends among the home people as well as the general traveling public. Mr. Engle married, July 4, 1910, Miss Augusta Ottomiller, a daughter of the late John Ottomiller, who died on his farm near Grand Island, in January, 1914. The mother of Mrs. Engle stHl lives on the farm. Mrs. Engle has three brothers and two sisters : John, a farmer in HaH County; Anna, the wife of Rudolph Reher, of Grand Island; Fred, a farmer ; Henry, a soldier in the United States army; and Katie, who lives with her mother. Mr. and Mrs. Engle have had the following children: George, Ruby, Harold, Robert and Eugene, all of whom survive except Harold. Mr. Engle is a good citizen but is not active in politics. REV. CONRAD WOELZ, who was con nected with the active ministry of the Evan gelical church both in Germany and in the United States for many years, is a resident of Grand Island who is held in the highest esteem. Although the weight of more than four score years rests upon him, he still re sponds to ministerial calls in local churches and still takes a deep interest in everything of moral import that is brought to his attention. Rev. Woelz was born at Lantern, Wurttem- berg, Germany, February 17, 1838. His par ents were Jacob and Margaretha (Grimm) Woelz, who never left Germany, where the father lived to the age of eighty -three years and the mother, seventy-six years. They had six children, three of whom live, Conrad being the only one to come to the United States. The father was a weaver in a cotton factory. After attending the local schools, Conrad Woelz was accepted as a theological student in the seminary at Reutlingen, Germany, where he completed his studies and became a minister of the Evangelical association. In 1876 he began his active labors in the Evan gelical ministry, attended conferences in Switzerland and organized several churches in southern Germany. In 1883 he came to the United States with his family, locating in MHford, Seward County, as a minister, from which place he came as a minister to Grand Island, in 1884, where he continued active in church affairs until 1890. In Germany, May 21, 1866, Rev. Woelz married Anna M. Zeuner, who was bom at Herbrechtingen, Germany, and eight children were bom to them: Charles, who resides in Grand Island, married Elvina Janss ; Chris tian, who now lives at Fort Collins, Colorado; Gottleib, at present a resident of Longmont, Colorado ; John who is at home ; Lydia, also at home ; Herman, who lives at Longmont, Colo rado; Theodore, who died February 7, 1919; and an infant that died unnamed. There is only one grandchild in the family. The sons of Rev. Woelz developed into young men of un usual stability and business capacity, all of them being connected for years with the well known mercantile house of Wolbach & Sons. The late Theodore Woelz was engaged with this important firm for twenty years of his life, while Charles has been there sixteen years, John, twenty-two years, and Christian, Gott leib and Herman, six, fourteen and ten years respectively. It may not be out of place to comment, in this connection, on the very evi dent value of Christian home training and Rev. and Mrs. Woelz may well be proud of a family so creditable in every way. The family, home is at No. 1323 West First street. Grand Island. FRANK SALLINGER, one of Hall County's well known and highly respected citi zens, now lives in comfortable retirement in Grand Island, after almost forty years of ac tive life here as a farmer. He came to Hall County in 1879 and has never felt inclined to leave, finding here land, business opportunity, good neighbors and many friends. Frank Sallinger was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, June 15, 1848, a son of Alda and Mary (Cokenaur) SaHinger, both of whom were born in Westmoreland County. They died in Pennsylvania aged re spectively eighty and eighty-seven years. The father was a farmer all his active life. He was a quiet, industrious man, honest and fair in all dealings, a consistent member of the Meth odist Episcopal church, and Republican in poli tics. In the country schools near his father's farm in Westmoreland County, Frank Sallinger obtained the usual education of the farmer boy of_ that peiod, laying a good foundation on which he built the higher, wider experi- 75C HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA ences of life. He began to be useful on the home farm by the time hq was twelve years old and farm pursuits have interested him ever since. In 1879 he left his native state and came to Hall County, Nebraska, as above men tioned, where he continued to be a farmer until 1913, when he retired and removed to Grand Island, locating in his comfortable home at No. 1836 Lafayette Avenue, On December 31, 1871, Mr. Sallinger mar ried Miss Margaret Kerns, who was bom in Northumberland County, England, being brought to the United States when a small child, by her parents and reared in Pennsyl vania. Mrs. Sallinger died in Nebraska, March 14, 1916. Her parents were natives of England from which country they emi grated. The father died on the voyage to America and was buried at sea. The mother subsequently married August Nettle. She died in HaH County. Mr, and Mrs. SaHinger be came the parents of seven chHdren, five of whom are living, namely: Charles, lives in Hall County, married Mary MHes ; Edward, residing in Grand Island, married Emma Ring, who was born on. her parents' homestead in Hall County; Frank, also lives at Grand Is land; Jennie, the wife of William Thomas, of Hall County; and WHliam, who lives in Perkins County, Nebraska, has been twice married, first to Maggie Benson and after her death married Katherine Nagel. Mr. Sallinger is a member of the Trinity Methodist Episco pal church, Grand Island. He has never de sired to hold public office but has been inter ested in the developement of this section as a good citizen. He votes with the Republican party. WILLIAM A. HAGGE. — The history of a community is best told in the life record of its citizens. In gathering the records for the early history of Hall County, we find that the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch is one of the three survivors of the original colony that settled on the present site of Grand Island, and at a meeting held to decide upon a name for the new town, the name finally adopted was the one suggested by William A. Hagge. It is nearly sixty-two years since that little band of sturdy German people came here and during all these years the subject of this record has been a resident of this com munity. William A. Hagge was born in the village of Pratsdorf, province of Holstein, Germany, April 3, 1834, a son of Johann and Ida (Klindt) Hagge, natives of the same province. The father, who was a school teacher, died in Germany and the mother with her family, in company with a party of neighbors started for America. The were opposed to the militarism in vogue in that country, and to escape the possibility of its young men having to serve in the army, they sought refuge on this side of the Atlantic. They sailed from the harbor of Hamburg on April 9, 1849, on a vessel flying the Russian flag, and from the start were pursued by Danish warships. The ship also encountered severe storms and after a voyage of eight weeks they landed at New Orleans. Cholera was raging at the time and the disease attacked the little band. Before they reached St. Louis several of their number had succumbed to the dread dis ease, among the number being the mother, an older brother and a sister of our subject. The party continued up the Missis sippi River to Davenport, Iowa, and here William A. Hagge grew to manhood and be came a merchant. His store enjoyed the best German trade in Davenport and he continued to prosper until the panic of 1857, and though there was much money owing him he was forced to give up the business. It was that year that a party of congressmen and bankers of Washington, D. C, planned to form a colony in the valley of the Platte somewhere in Nebraska, and Mr. Hagge became a mem ber of the second Nebraska colony and was with them when they settled on the present site of Grand Island. Here Mr. Hagge took a homestead and a pre-emption claim and be came a successful farmer. He erected the first house to be built in the neighborhood which was destoyed by a prairie fire the next year. He was the first justice of peace of this district and the first trial on record was held before him. He' has always been a Republican in politics and took an active part in all things that had to do with the developement of the county. He was called to public office and served two terms as treasurer of Hall County. Later he engaged in the banking business, but for many years has lived retired, his sons under the name of Hagge Brothers carrying on the work of the farm. October 26, 1865, occurred the marriage of William A. Hagge and Miss Caroline S. Mol ler, who was born in the village of Darry, Holstein, Germany, February 10, 1846. Her parents, Frederick and Katrina (LHlienthal) Moller, emigrated to America in 1857 and settled first in Davenport, Iowa, and in 1859 became residents of Hall County. They drove overland from Iowa with horse and ox teams •£ --T '*¦ . ^=^ -c 9/ '-^- .j/.y/;u t C'Pc/r HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 753 and cast their lot with the early settlers of Washington township. They were farming people and spent the remainder of their lives here, the father passing away at the age of eighty-five and the mother was seventy-two when called to her final rest. Mr. and Mrs. Hagge became the parents of eight chHdren, seven of whom are living: Ida Adelia, the wife of Harman C. Petersen, of Davenport, Iowa; Emma, married F. W. Behms and resides at home ; William A., Jr., and Frederick J. are operating the old farm; August W., is a member of the firm of Hagge Brothers, and for twenty years has been on the agricultural staff of the American Beet Sugar Company ; Helen M., the wife of John G. Rioby, residing in HaH County; Clara, unmarried and resides at home; and Minnie, who died at the age of nineteen. Though for several years Mr. Hagge has been bereft of his hearing and his eyesight is impaired, he still delights in recounting the reminiscenses of the early days. He is one of the few remaining pioneers to whom we are in debted for the information that makes possible an authentic history of Hall County. He en dured the hardships, overcame obstacles and helped to make the community a better place in which to live. Indians, grasshoppers, prairie fires and drouth were some of the trials they had to meet. On one occasion Mr. Hagge had gone to the woods for a log when he was sur rounded by Indians. When they searched him a postage stamp was all they found. His re sourcefulness was brought into play and when he told them that this stamp was his protection, and that if he was harmed Uncle Sam would deal harshly with them at once, they seemed satisfied and went on the way leaving him unharmed. A full account of the trials and experi ences of these early settlers will be found in the general history and the people of the county should appreciate the opportunity to have this done before it is too late. In giving space to those who are deserving especial men tion, we tmst the life record here preserved win prove not only an inspiration to his own family but to all future generations of Hall County. JOHN H. WINDOLPH, one of Grand • Island's well known business men and re putable citizens, bears a name that has been held in great respect in Hall County for over a half century. Mr. Windolph was born in Hall County, Nebraska, January 6, 1871, the eldest of th^ four children of John L, and Mary (Magdalene) Windolph, the latter of whom is deceased. His father was born in Ger many. He came to the United States in early manhood, and to Hall County, Nebraska, in 1861. An octogenarian but stiH vigorous in mind and body, he now lives in comfortable retirement on a part of his original homestead adjoining the city limits of Grand Island. John H. Windolph was educated in the public schools of Hall County and the Grand Island Business College. He has been em ployed by his father more or less throughout his entire business life and it is recognized that he possesses decided commercial ability. He is now operating the finely improved farm of eighty acres, all that the reaching out and expansion of Grand Island has left of the original homestead which grew to a farm of 240 acres. Business streets and fine residences now occupy the rest of the land other than the home farm, it having been sold gradually after being divided in city lots. Mr. Windolph has spent his entire life in Hall County with the exception of two and a half years during which he was looking -after his father's prop erty in Oklahoma. He gives his father assist ance in looking after the latter's many Grand Island interests. January 20, 1909, Mr. Windolph married Miss Helen Krause, a daughter of W. T. and Pauline (Gebauer) Krause, who came to Hall County in 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Windolph have two children : Chester Charles and Marie Magdalena. They are members of the Roman Catholic church. In politics Mr. Windolph is a Republican. He has never accepted political office, but for five years was member of the Grand Island Fire Department, and secretary of the same as well as secretary of the Pacific Hose Volunteer Company No. 1. SIMON NYCUM LYSINGER, a substan tial citizen of Grand Island, has been identified with the city's best interests for the past twenty years, but he is still interested in agri cultural pursuits, owning large bodies of valu able land in different sections, aggregating over 1,700 acres. Simon N. Lysinger was born in Bureau County, Illinois, March 18, 1854, one of a family of seven children born to Isaac and Rachel (Sparks) Lysinger, who were natives of Pennsylvania. The father was bom in 1820 and died in 1897, at which time he owned 260 acres of land in Illinois. He setttled in that state in 1852 and remained there, gradually acquiring land through his industry. He was a Republican in politics. The mother of Simon 754 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA N. Lysinger was a member of the English Lutheran church. Of their three surviving children, Simon N. is the only one living in Hall County. He came to this state on March 4, 1874, settling in Hamilton County, where he took an 80 acre timber claim to which he subsequently added land by purchase until now be owns over 400 acres in Hamilton County alone. His only property in Hall County is his comfortable, commodious residence beautifully located in Grand Island, but he has 320 acres of farm land in Oklahoma, and has 1,000 acres in Oregon. Mr. Lysinger had com mon school advantages in Illinois, and at the age of twenty years began business as a farmer on his own account. He resided on his farm in Hamilton County managing his industries himself until 1899, when he came to Grand Island. Since then he has had his sons asso ciated with him, two of whom have been called from the peaceful home circles to take part in the World War. In Aurora, Nebraska, November 1, 1874, Mr. Lysinger married Miss Julia E. Lehen. The following children have been born to them: Anastasia, who lives at Grand Island, is the widow of William Harrison; Isaac L., who resides at Comstock, Nebraska, married Emma Peachon ; Mary E., the wife of Albert Sprague, of York, Nebraska; Harriet H., the wife of Horton Tully, of Spaulding, Ne braska; Joseph, a. resident of Kansas City; Lenora, the wife of Emmet O'ConneH, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Gertrade C, the wife ¦of Omer Schills, of Grand Island ; Bessie, the wife of Louis Rigle, of Savannah, Georgia; Evelyn, the wife of Donald Martin, of Helena, Montana; and Simon Richard and Lawrence L., both of whom are members of the Ameri can Expeditionary Force in France. Mr. Ly singer has given his children educational and other advantages and without exception, they are respected members of society. Mrs. Lysing er is a member of the Roman Catholic church. An active citizen in aH that concerns the wel fare of country and community, Mr. Lysinger feels better satisfied in political matters, to cast his vote according to his own intelligent judg ment than to submit to the domination of any particular party. JOHN SCHIMMER, a member of an old :and important family of Hall County, has spent his entire life here and is interested in Hall County enterprises. He was born in Hall County, Nebraska, October 11, 1873, and is a son of Martin Schimmer, who is widely known as a capitalist, farmer and stockman. An ex tended history of the Schimmer family wHl be found in this work. John Schimmer grew up on his father's farm and was educated in the public schools of Hall County and the Grand Island Business Col lege. He is operating a farm for his father and together they are interested extensively in buying and feeding stock, annually handling about 700 beef cattle, and also turning out a car load of hogs. Their business standing in every market is the best. Mr. Schimmer is concerned also with the operation of the well known and popular summer resort. Sand Krog, which is under the able management of his sister, Mrs. Lena Scheel. Sand Krog was founded by his father in 1874 and was the first road house in Hall County. On May 5, 1896, John Schimmer married Miss Anna Thavenet, a daughter of George and Maggie (Scheel ) Thavenet, now deceased, who were pioneer settlers in Hall County. Mr. and Mrs. Schimmer have two sons : Martin and Waher, both of whom reside at home. Mr. Schimmer is not identified with any political party but is a careful, watchful citizen and casts his vote according to his own excellent judgment. He belongs to the fratemal order of Eagles, attending the lodge at Grand Is land. He maintains his home at Sand Krog. ROBERT PAGE SHIPTON. — Undoubt edly the teacher is right who declared that the greatest task in the world is the turning the soil each year for the growing of crops. The. importance of farming in all its branches is thoroughly recognized in Hall County, where many of the most intelligent young men tum each year to this industry, and thus contribute to their own prosperity and the nation's wealth. One of the wide-awake, enterprising farmers of Washington township is Robert P. Shipton, who is operating a large tract of land situated on section five and meeting with deserved success. Robert Page Shipton was born in Hall County, Nebraska, April 10, 1881, the son of Samuel F. and Lovina S. (Davison) Shipton, the latter of whom was born in IHinois, April 10, 1862. The father of Mr Shipton was born in Kentucky, but early in life went to Illinois, and from there came to Hall County in 1879. He still owns the farm purchased when he first came here but now lives retired in Alda, Hall County. He has been more or less active in Democratic politics and both he and wife are faithful members of the Metho dist Episcopal church. For some years he has been identified with the M. W. A. and the HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 755 A. O. U. W. fraternal organizations. His three children are as follows: Robert P., who grew up on the home farm ; Ella, the wife of Wesley Knox, of Alda, Nebraska; and Cassie, the wife of Mark Hessel, of Alda. Mr. Shipton completed the public school course in Hall County and then spent some time in the Normal school at Fremont, follow ing which he engaged in farming, in which business he has been interested ever since. At the present time he is operating a well im proved farm that belongs to his father-in-law, Martin Schimmer, and through his careful methods is making it one of the most profit able estates in Washington township. On March 21, 1907, Mr Shipton married Miss Dora Schimmer, bom July 19, 1878, the daughter of Martin Schimmer, who is a prominent farmer and stockman of Hall County. Mr. and Mrs. Shipton have three children: Lorraine, born March 4, 1908; Hazel, born August 21, 1909; and Samuel, born July 1, 1915. Like his father, Mr. Ship- ton is a Democrat, and belongs to the same fraternal orders, in addition he belongs to the F. O. E. JOHN L. WINDOLPH. — There were not many householders in Grand Island, not more than seven or eight all told, when John L- Windolph came here over a half century ago. Fine, sturdy people they were and Mr. Win dolph knew them all. For many years of an industrious life he worked for and with them in developing what has been made one of the finest cities in the state of Nebraska. This venerable and highly esteemed resident of Hall County, despite the weigth of eighty- three years, can so clearly recall people and events of the long ago, that it is a privilege as well as pleasure to Hsten to his reminiscences. Mr. Windolph has lived in Hall County for fifty-eight years. John L. Windolph was born in the viHage of Buchwilde, Ger many, July 27, 1836. He was one of two children born to Nicholas and Elizabeth (Bingel) Windolph, and the only member of his family to come to the United States, His father followed the trade of wool carder. After a certain period spent in the public school, John L. Windolph was apprenticed to a cab inetmaker with whom he worked faithfully and laboriously. According to the rules of the trade, he was not considered entirely compet ent until he had traveled as a journeyman worker for three years. He started out on a small capital but was confident of earning more very easily, for he had become exceedingly expert as a cabinetmaker. He was about einghteen years old when he and his friend Lucas Flom, decided that they could probably do journeyman work just as profitably in America as in Europe, hence they took pass age for the United States. The first city in which he worked at his trade in this country, was Sandusky, Ohio. After being employed there a few months he went to Logansport, Indiana, and a few months later to St. Louis, Missouri, and found himself on the way west. In the meanwhile, Mr. Windolph had formed. the acquaintance of Christopher Cornelius, Hans Maas and Philip Feldtman, and together they decided to look the country over with the idea of securing homesteads in the westem country. They started for St. Louis and landed in Hall County, Nebraska, May 20,. 1861, but went on to St. Louis and continued . their inspection trip in that territory several months. Then Comelius and Maas went to- Davenport, Iowa, Feldtman went first to Fort Kearny and then to Toledo, Ohio. Mr. Win dolph found no place that pleased him as well as HaH County, so he settled in Grand Island. Although at that time there was no demand for the fine finished workmanship of the cabi netmaker, the country was being settled and there was need of a carpenter and Mr. Win dolph with his expert knowledge of tools, had no difficulty in turning his skill in that direc tion. His services were required very often to- put up doors and fit window sash in the new log houses, and he was the carpenter that built the old O, K. store well remembered by the pio neers. The first slab turned out by the local sawmill was secured by Mr, Windolph and from it he fashioned a stool that he yet owns. He proved an astute business man as well as good workman, for he pre-empted 160 acres- of land adjoining the village of Grand Island, of which land he stHl owns a smaH tract, the larger part of the original body having been divided into city lots and sold most advantage ously. He owns several valuable building lots in Grand Island that he keeps as an invest ment, and also lots one and two in block sev enty-nine which he has improved with store buildings. Mr. Windolph married Miss Mary Jenne man, whose parents hved and died in Germany. There were four children born to them: John H,. who resides on the old home place in Grand Island ; Anna, married and lives at Washington, D. C. ; Frank, who lives in Den ver, Colorado; and Christopher, who is de ceased. Mrs. Windolph passed away Decem ber 6, 1906. Mr. Windolph has always beern ^56 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA a faithful member, as was his wife, of the Roman Catholic church. He has ne-ver been very active in politics, not because of indiffer ence to neighborhood progress, but because he has been a very busy man and inclined to look closely after his own business rather than that of others. He always casts his vote ac cording to his own judgment and it is always on the side of law and order. MRS. LENA SCHEEL. — There are many residents of Hall County who have been royally entertained at the fine summer resort. Sand Krog, on Schimmer's Lake, near Grand Island, and aH of these acknowledge the busi ness capacity and executive ability of Mrs. Lena Scheel, who with her brother John is general manager. Mrs. Scheel was born in Hall County, Ne braska, August 3, 1882. She is a daughter of Martin Schimmer, a sketch of whom will be found in this work. Mrs. Scheel was edu cated in the public schools and remained at home with her parents until her marriage, in 1903 to Hans D. Scheel. Pie was born Sep tember 28, 1879, and died Stepember 26, 1912. His parents were Henry and Anna (Reuting) Scheel, the former being a native of Germany and now deceased, and the latter of Pennsyl vania but now lives in Grand Island. F(jr one year after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Scheel resided in Grand Island, but in 1904 they went to ¦ Sand Krog, where Mrs. Scheel still re sides and operates the summer resort. Sand Krog was founded in 1874 by Mrs. Scheel's father, Martin Schimmer, being the first road house in the county. It has always been a properly conducted resort and is beauti fully located on a body of water that gives opportunity for fishing and water sports. The hotel is very popular and every summer is crowded with pleasure seekers. Mrs. Scheel is an admirable hostess and watches carefully the welfare of her guests. She has four chil dren: Louis D., Elmer E., Henry F. and Evelyn E. Scheel. Sand Krog is situated one quarter mile west of the large stock farm of Martin Schimmer, who is one of Hall County's extensive dealers. JUERGEN CLAUSEN, a leading citizen of Hall County and in every way a representative of its best interests, accompanied his parents to the United States, almost a half centurv ago. He was born September 28, 1853, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, the son of Claus and Christina (Wresener) Clausen, natives of the same province, where the father was a mason contractor. In 1870 Claus Clausen decided to foHow his eldest son, Peter Clausen, who had come to the United States in 1869. Emigrating from the old country the family reached America safely and traveled as far west as the Mississippi River, spending their first year at Clintan, Iowa. land and establish a settled home. To this end he took advantage of the opportunity in Ne braska and in 1871 took up a claim in HaH County. On this land he continued to live throuhgout his life, his death occurring May 3, 1903. His widow survived him only a few months, her death foHowing on October 4, of the same year. They had four children : Peter, now deceased ; Anna, the wife of John Schuett, of Boelus, Nebraska; Claus, who lives in Grand Island, a farmer, married Kate Lassen, now deceased; and Juergen, who lives on the" old homestead in Washington township. Claus Clausen was a highly respected man, was a very successful agriculturist and stock raiser. Both he and his wife belonged to the Lutheran church. He was vety enterprising and is cred ited with the aid of his sons, with making the first brick ever mixed and burned in Hall County. He found the clay on his own land and quickly turned it to good account. Conse quently the family did not have to live in log houses or dugouts quite as long as did many of their neighbors, all having substantial brick residences built by themsel-ves. Mr. Clausen also constructed his own windmiill, possessing much ingenuity and mechanical skill. Juergen Clausen was seventeen years old when he accompanied his parents to the United States, having attended school previously in Germany. He worked for his father until he was twenty-five years old, in the meanwhHe, about 1875, taking up a homestead at Boelus, in Howard County, Nebraska. He Hved on his place for a short time and then sold his claim and returned to the homestead as his father needed him. His brothers Peter and Claus determined to explore the region west of Dannebrog and if possible, homestead there. At that time the Sioux Indians were giving the settlers much trouble and United States sol diers were preventing the savages from com ing south. The Clausens, however, broke through the military line, believing they could take care of themselves, but they found out their mistake when the Sioux drove them back. Mr. Clausen remembers many interesting events of those early days and in his own life and circumstances. There are sharp contrasts between then and now. He recaHs the heavy losses the settlers encountered when the grass- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 757 hoppers destroyed entire crops of com, oats, and potatoes, and the subsequent loss from the drouth of 1894, when cattle and stock suc cumbed in great numbers. In this connection he mentions the Pawnee Indians, who were yet quite numerous in the neighborhood but had never been considered dangerous. They proved beneficial at this time as they were not fastid ious about their food and willingly removed all the dead animals from the farmers' fields. The lack of bridges sometimes occasioned loss to the settlers and Mr. Clausen recalls an experience of his own that was dangerous and thrilling. His father's cattle had strayed in search of herbage, to the farther side of the Platte River, ordinarily fordable on horseback, but the river had risen rapidly and was at flood stage -when he crossed and succeeded in get ting the cattle home. He remembers when they lived in a log house, carried on their first farm ing with oxen, and started their great herds with two cows. On many occasions he has gone to a neighbor for coals to start their morning fire, there being no matches. His first work away from home was done for John Oldman and his wages were $18 a month. At that time corn brought eights cents a bush el, oats ten cents a bushel and hogs two cents a pound. Since returning from Howard county, Mr. Clausen has remained on his father's home stead. He owns five hundred and seventy acres of land in different farms, all fenced and highly improved. His residence has every modern comfort, the commodious brick house beng lighted by electricity, with motor installed that also operates a washing machine, tool grinder, churn and meat cutter, while a gaso line engine is utilized for other machinery. Mr. Clausen and his family also enjoy a handsome automobile. His farms are well stocked and he raises Duroc-Jersey hogs and Hereford cattle, making a specialty of the latter. On October 4, 1880, Mr. Clausen married Miss Anna Wiesner, a daughter of Juergen and Catherine (Fram) Wiesner, natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs, Clausen have four chHdren: Christina, the wife of Rudolph Sass, of Alda township; Christopher, who lives in Alda township, married Ida Giese ; Claus, a farmer in Washington township, and Henry, recently welcomed home from France, to which country he went as a soldier with the American Expeditionary Forces. He is a sergeant in rank and served eighteen months in the Eighty-seventh division of the Three Hundred Thirty-fifth field artillery. In politics Mr. Clausen is a Democrat. For twelve years he served as treasurer of School District No. 4. He has been helpfully inter ested in many local enterprises and at present is a director in the Holsatia Fire Insurance association, which is a local body confined to Hall County farmers. He has belonged to the Lutheran church since boyhood. HENRY RIEF. — In well desen^ed enjoy ment of material comforts which advancing years make particularly acceptable, Henry Rief, one of HaH County's early settlers, lives on his old homestead in Washington town ship, which he secured over a half century ago. Mr. Rief is one of Hall County's best known and most respected citizens. He was born in Schleswig-Holstein, October 8, 1846, away back when that province was a part of Denmark. His parents were Hans and Margaretta (Brammer) Rief, natives of Germany. The father was a weaver by trade and was able to take care of his family thereby untH political disturbances with Prussia, prac tically ruined the weaving business. Like many others of that time and condition, he turned his eyes toward that land of freedom, the United States, and in 1869 reached this country with wife and children, the son, Henry, having come to America five years previously. The Rief family settled permanent ly in Hall County, Nebraska, where the father- homesteaded and also bought land that has never been out of the family. He was a farmer and raised stock and lived quietly and industri ously on his homestead until his death in 1892. Both he and the mother were members of the Lutheran church. She died in 1909. They had eight chHdren, four of whom are living: Henry, who resides in Washington township ; Mary, who lives at Boelus, Nebraska, is the widow of Peter Clausen; Juergen, who mar ried Anna Bucholtz, lives in Washington town ship, and Emma, who lives at Council Bluffs, Iowa, is the widow of Sivert Rief. The four children now deceased, were : Margaretta, the wife of Fred Langman, was accidentally drowned in the Platte River during a flood, leaving three children, the youngest but three months old; Anna, the wife of Henry Book man, died leaving eight children ; Charles, who married Anna Sick, died in California in 1915, and William, who died in 1909, married Catherine Bilfeld and was a farmer in Wash ington township. The late Charles Rief was a man of prominence in Hall County and else where. He had been an extensive traveler as a sea captain prior to coming to the United States in 1871, having been a student of navi gation in Flensburg, Denmark, and London, -58 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA England. He served a number of years as county clerk in Hall County, was a member of the school board and the examining board for teachers, then was elected to the state legis lature and during his service in the general assembly worked for and secured the location of the Soldiers' Home in Hall County. He was also an author and one of his books en titled "Land and Light" has had wide circu lation. A well educated youth of observing mind, Henry Rief left Denmark at the age of eighteen years, reaching the United States in 1864, when this country was yet in the throes of civil war. He first made a home at Val paraiso, Indiana, and within three months had taken out his first papers looking to Amer ican citizenship. He enlisted for any service needed by the Federal government and cheer fully performed every duty required of him until he was honorably dischaiged and mustered out April 5, 1865, having been mainly stationed at Chattanooga, Tennessee. He then started westward and on reaching Chicago, found emplpyement as a clerk and made good use of his time by studying the English language in a night school. In the fall of 1865 he went to St. Louis, then to Hannibal and to St. Joseph on the Platte on his way to Omaha. On his trip up the Mis sissippi he was a passenger on the same steamer that carried the fourth engine for the Union Pacific Railroad. On the present site of the great commercial and railroad center, Kansas City, nothing was to be seen but swamp and prairie. Mr. Rief found work with the railroad construction gangs, helping to build the first two bridges for the Union Pacific RaHroad over Papilion and Elk Horn rivers. He was one of a party of twenty-four that made plans to celebrate the completion of the first telegraph line be tween Omaha and Fremont, on December 26, 1865. They started for Omaha on hand cars,' in the face of a blizzard, spending the night on the way, and when they reached the city found great trouble in getting accommodations in a boarding house. Mr. Rief remembers the discomforts of that trip very vividly. During the rest of the winter he worked for the Union Pacific cutting wood and getting out railroad ties. The islands in the Platte River were heavily timbered and from these wood for burning and ties was secured. In those days there was little supervision of such work and large logs were left in the forests. There was a man by the name of Riddell, who took ad vantage of this condition and no doubt profited greatly. He owned a portable sawmiH and sawed the logs into lumber, on shares with whoever cared to bring the logs to him. In the spring of 1866 Mr. Rief engaged in another enterprise with Peter Stuem to bring goods from Omaha. This was a considerable undertaking as the merchandise had to be transported over the military road and as there were no bridges, every river and creek had to be forded. It required about eight days to make the trip from Omaha to Hall County. In the same year he worked for a Mr. Monroe who, when he left, owed him the sum of $180, which he obtained only through the good offices of friends, and upon receiving it loaned it to a Mr. Wiebe, who also seems to have miscalculated his ability to pay it back, but later turned over a team of oxen to Mr. Rief, who humorously says that he had to take up a homestead in order to use the oxen. He filed on a claim in 1867 and has since lived on this place, for many years carrying on gen eral farming and stockraising. During the early days he oftentimes furnished hay and cord wood to Fort Kearney. His land lies near what was the famous California trail, a path about forty rods wide. The Pawnee Indians were numerous here when he home steaded but he always maintained friendly re lations with them and when they started for their govemment reservation they came by the hundred to bid him goodbye. In November, 1869, Mr. Rief married Miss Lizzie Prahm, the ceremony taking place in Grand Island, her parents being early set tlers in Hall County. Mr. and Mrs. Rief had five children : Henry, who lives at Seattle, Washington; Edwin, who lives in Adams County, Nebraska, married Amelia Siegert ; Matilda, the wife of William Sievers of Grand Island ; Centennial, the wife of Joseph \\'ehr, of Doniphan, and LHlie, the wife of W'ash- ington Sampson, of Seattle. The mother of these children died March 17, 1877. The second marriage of Mr. Rief took place June 15, 1879, to Miss Emma Fischer, a daughter of August and Louise (Hahn) Fischer, who spent their lives in Germany. Of the four children born to this marriage the following survive : Arthur, who lives on the home farm, married Gertrude Westerburg; Nellie, the wife of Charles Ericksen, of Grand Island; and Herbert, who was in, the military training camp at Camp Dodge when this biography was written. In early days in Hall County, school district No. 4 comprised territory in which there are now five schools. Mr. Rief has always been greatly interested in this district, for he taught school there and in District No. 28 for nine HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 759 years, and for ten years was a director in the former district. In his political views he is a Republican and has taken part in many a committee meeting. For eight years he served on the county board of supervisors from Washington township and for one year was chairman of the board. ARTHUR ROBY, a substantial farmer and highly respected citizen of Hall County, has always lived on the old homestead in Wash ington township, where his birth took place June 5, 1878. His parents, Frederick and Johanna (Lillenthal) Roby, were born in Germany, from which country they came to the United States as young people, in 1848. They were married in Iowa and in AprH, 1864, came to Nebraska. For about eight years Mr. and Mrs. Roby lived in Center township, where they kept a road house and saloon where a stage delivered mail every other day until the Sioux Indians frightened the settlers away and held up the stage service for two months at a time. Soldiers were sent from the nearest fort for the protection of the pioneers, when the frightened settlers retumed to their home steads. The people grew accustomed to the Pawnee Indians and tolerated them as they were never savage, but the mother of Mr. Roby can remember when neither life nor property was safe in this section of the county. In 1872 Mr. Roby homesteaded in section 8, township 10, range 9, and here Mrs. Roby has continued to live, one of the best known and highly esteemed residents of Washington township. In her interesting reminiscences of early days here she tells of the difficulty exper ienced in securing even the commonest of household furniture and utensils. The nearest trading point was Omaha and it required four weeks to make the round trip and necessarily transportation charges were high. She la mented when she could not get wash tubs, but showed her resourcefulness when no bedstead could be secured, by helping to construct one out of poles easily obtained in the surround ing timber. She mentions also the lack of deep wells and the necessity of using surface water. Nevertheless, in spite of all these hardships, Mr. and Mrs. Roby prospered, and when he passed away, on June 3, 1903, he was not only one of the substantial men of the county but was one of influence and im portance. He was prominent in Democratic politics, was one of the county commissioners for some years and also was on the township school board, and additionally, for many years was a director of the Lincoln Mutual Fire Insurance Company. Mr. and Mrs. Roby had children as follows : Gustave, who lives in Center township; Ida, the wife of Conrad Lassen, died July IS, 1913 ; Dora, the wife of Henry Stoltenberg of Merrick County ; Nancy, bom July 8, 1872, died Febmary 6, 1873; Arthur, who lives in Washington township, and John, who married Helen Hagge. Arthur Roby attended the country schools in boyhood and has made his home on the farm which he now owns. He has 240 acres of some of the best improved land in this sectioii, his commodious and substantial build ings comparing favorably with any farm structures in the county. He is a man of pro gressive ideas, hence his stock is of standard grade, his farm machinery the best obtainable and his various farm activities are carried on according to methods approved by experts who have scientifically studied Nebraska climate and soil. Intelligent farming and stockraising like this is certain to be profitable. On April 20, 1900, Mr. Roby married Miss Margaretha Thavenet, whose parents were George and Margaretha (Scheel) Thavenet, who, when living, owned a fine homestead located just south of Grand Island, where they reared their eight children. All but two of the children live in Hall County. Mr. and Mrs. Roby have six children : Clara, who was born October 15, 1901 ; Nancy, who was bom September 22, 1903 ; Olga, who was bom March 3, 1905 ; Edna, who was born De cember 23, 1910; Evelyn, who was bom February 19, 1915; and Roy Arthur, who was born February 19, 1918. For the past six years Mr. Roby has been a member of the township school board. In national f)olitical campaigns he supports the Democratic candi dates, but in local affairs he exercises his own good judgment. In every way he is a man of high standing in his county, a good farmer, a friendly neighbor, an honest public official and a solid citizen. GEORGE M. BAKER.— Perhaps there are few residents of Hall County who have not heard of Woodland Park, which is situated in Washington township and which, in its whole history and its present state of modem de velopment, is one of the most interesting homesteads of the county. It comprises one hundred and sixty acres of valuable land which its owner, George M. Baker, devotes largely to the breeding of Shorthorn cattle, Poland-China hogs and Rhode Island Red chickens. On this farm will be the "Wood- 760 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA land Park Association," with golf grounds, another evidence of the vast changes that have taken place since the days of the early settlers. This is but one of his valuable holdings. Among his properties are included two hand some residences in Grand Island. George M. Baker was born in La Salle County, Illinois, February 6, 1864, while his father was foreman in large coal mines there. His parents were Samuel and Elizabeth (Keegan) Baker, the former of whom was born in Germany and the latter in Ireland. Samuel Baker spent almost all of his life in the United States as he was only thirteen years old when he accompanied his parents here. Unusual responsibilities fell upon him almost imrhediately as his father died soon after landing, and the considerable amount of money and jewels he had brought with him were stolen by unknown robbers while his sorrowing relatives were attending his funeral. Samuel thus became the family breadwinner while yet a boy. He found work on boats plying on the Illinois and Mississippi rivers and finally became second officer on a large steamboat. His home was then es tabHshed in the coal regions of .La Salle County, Illinois, where he was soon given a position of authority by one of the big operat ing companies. In politics he was a Dem ocrat. His wife died in 1880 but he survived until June, 1915. Both were faithful mem bers of the Roman Catholic church. Of their seven children six are living, but only two reside in Hall County, George M. and Hubert, the latter making his home in Grand Lsland. After securing a good common school ed ucation in La SaHe County, George M. Baker started in life as a traveling salesman for a farm implement house, with which he re mained three years, and then, in the same capacity, went out for the well known Omaha grocery firms of McCord & Brady and Allen Brothers, traveling continuously for these firms for twenty-five years and two days, re tiring from a quarter century of service in this fine with the record of never having lost a day. In the meanwhile he had been prudent in his expenditures and when he was ready to turn his attention into other channels of bus iness, he found himself with abundant capital. He found a satisfactory investment in the First Bank of Cestos, Oklahoma, of which he -was vice president for five years. He sold his interest and bought lands and livestock in Nebraska, Oklahoma and Idaho, much of which he still controls. He has two farms of one hundred and sixty acres each, in Oklahoma, which have been brought to the highest possible state of cultivation. His present farm in Hall County is the old Win dolph property, which he purchased from his father-in-law at the time of his marriage. It has pleased him to give it the beautiful name of Woodland Park^ and here he and Mrs. Baker spend the greater part of the year, not withstanding two comfortable residences await their occupancy in Grand Island. Mr. Baker intends to transform the farm into a dairy farm to be known as "Woodland Park Dairy." For some time he has not given personal at tention to any of his land except a few acres, the cultivation of which gives him pleasant ex ercise, but all its industries are carefuHy over looked, for Mr. Baker has been a keen and discerning business man for many years. On April 15, 1891, Mr. Baker married Miss Catherina Windolph, one of a family of eight children born to Adam and Margaretta (Stender) Windolph, both of whom were natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Baker have three children: ' Lillian, the wife of Charles Thirifay, of Omaha; Margaretta Walburga, the wife of Joseph Power, of Grand Island ; and Marie C., employed in the First National Bank, Grand Island. In 1864 the parents of Mrs. Baker came to the United States, and after living in New York for one year, camei west as far as Kankakee, IHinois, a few months later moving to Belle Plaine in Benton County, Iowa. Six months later Adam Windolph bought a wagon and team of horses and started with his family on the long journey to Hall County, ^^'hen they reached Columbus they discovered that there was no bridge and hence had to cross on the ice, also being delayed in many other ways they finally landed here, on April 1, 1866, having spent four weeks on the road. Mr. Windolph homesteaded in Washington township and Mrs. Baker still has the patent from the United States government for this farm. Adam Windolph was a practical, far- seeing man and when he built his log house he built for the future and so substantially that the present attractive residence still includes a portion of the old log house plastered with clay. Seemingly no one could have a better right or reason to take pleasure in the beau tiful surrounding grounds with luxuriant shade trees than Mrs. Baker, for it was with her own hands that many of these trees were set out and she and her sisters kept them alive with the water they had to carry a full half mile. She has one sister in the county, Mrs. Hubert Baker, of Grand Island. Mrs. Baker's reminiscences of early days here are exceedingly interesting, as in vivid HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 761 language she tells of the old California trail and of Indians, of social customs and of the lack of entertainment in her childhood days. To the latter she ascribes her sometimes fol lowing the emigrant wagons as they passed by on the trail a few feet before her father's fence, on down to the fort, a few rods further, where they often stopped for provisions, and then about a mile stHl further to Mr. Michel- son's blacksmith shop, where she could not fail being interested in seeing Mrs. Michelson, a very small woman, help with the shoeing of the horses and oxen, leather pads being attached to the latter's feet. No doubt she often looked wonderingly after the gold- seeker's wagons as they passed into the mys terious West, where hung the rainbow of hope, and probably saw many of the travelers go by again, no richer than before. Educa tional advantages were very limited at this early day. Mrs. Baker recalls how they finally secured a teacher, and she was able to attend school a half day a week. In a rather lonely childhood, the semi-annual coming of the Indians with their furs and moccasins to exchange for eatables, was a great event and many times she joined the dark children in their play and helped them gather the leaves and bark of the kinnikinick (a kind of dog wood) bushes, which the Indians dried and smoked. Mr. and Mrs. Baker are members of the Cattholic church. He is a Republican in politics but has never accepted any public office. CHRIS CLAUSEN.— A visitor of a decade ago, if he were to make a second jounrey through Hall County, would discover many -wonderful changes throughout the agricultural sections. The farmers in the meanwhile have not been asleep and many of them have been particularly wide awake, heeding the call of progress. In Washington township he might some timeJ find himself a guest of Chris Clausen on the beautiful farm of two hundred and fifty-five acres that he and his brothers are so successfully operating. He could not long be in doubt of the value of the use of improved farm machinery and the adoption of scientific methods of agriculture. This model farm gives ample proof. Chris Clausen belongs to one of the pioneer families of Hall County. He was born here August 27, 1883. His parents are Juergen and Anna (Wiesner) Clausen, who are highly esteemed residents of this section. The father of Mr. Clausen was bom in Germany, Sep tember 28, 1853. The subject of this sketch was seventeen years old when he accompanied his parents, Claus and Christina (Wresener) Clausen, to the United States. They lived one year in Clinton, Iowa, and then came to Hall County. In addition to his homestead, the father of Chris Clausen asquired a number of farms, becoming a man of substance and also of neighborhood prominence. Chris Clausen has been engaged in farming and stockraising since boyhood. He obtained his education in the schools of Washington town ship and when he started out for himself, rented the farm of two hundred and fifty-five acres of exceptionally well improved land belonging to his father which is situated on section 17, Washington township. Mr. Clausen gives much attention to raising high grade Durham cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs. He is not only a clear-headed, progressive agri culturist, but he is also a representative of the county's best citizenship. On January 12, 1905, Mr. Clausen married Miss Ida Giese, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Obermiller) Giese, early settlers in Hall County. Mr, and Mrs, Clausen have two chHdren: Anna M,, who was bom June 24, 1906, and Mildred R., who was born October 20, 1912. In politics Mr. Clausen prefers to vote an independent ticket. He has been treasurer of his school district for the last twelve years and in many other ways has proved useful and trustworthy. PETER HERMAN, who owns a well im proved farm of eighty acres, situated south of Grand Island, has spent the greater part of his life in Hall County. He is known as an excellent farmer, good neighbor and worthy citizen, born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, March 2, 1868, the son of Peter and Margaret (Mahlsted) Herman, both natives of Germany. The father was a small farmer there but as he saw no opportunity to better his condition, decided to come to the United States with his family and endeavor to secure some of the government land that awaited settlers in the western country. In 1869 the family reached America, soon reach ing Davenport, Iowa. In that vicinity the father engaged in farming until the fall of 1871, when he came to Hall County and lived on what was known as the Hooper place for two years, then homesteaded near Wood River. He remained on that place until 1890, when he removed to a location near Saint Libory, in Howard County, purchasing land which he cultivated four years. He returned to Grand Island, where his death occurred in 762 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 1906. He had survived the mother of Mr. Herman since 1899. , Of their family of six children, the following are living: John and Fred, in Grand Island; Henry, in 'Wyoming; Peter, in Hall County, and 'WHliam, in Hall County. The father was an American citizen and gave his pohtical support to the Demo cratic party. Both parents belonged to the Lutheran church. Peter Herman was a babe in his mother's arms when his parents came to the United States. He obtained his schooling in Hall County and afterward assisted his father on the home farm as long as he was needed, when he began farming on his own account. His farm has been well stocked and all his in dustries here are carried on with the care and good judgment that assures success. The farmer of today is justly accounted one of the country's most important men and in the record of production that Nebraska is making, a great deal of credit may be given the sensi ble, hard-working farmers and stockmen of Ewoldt; and Anna, the wife of Frederick Schoel. For ten years after coming to the United States, Frederick Matthiesen con ducted an express business in Davenport. From there he came to Hall County in 1866 and homesteaded in section 34, Washington township, south of Grand Island, where he resided until his death, which occurred June 14, 1914. His widow survives, being now in her eighty-seventh year. He was a member of the Lutheran church and in politics was a Democrat. Julius Matthiesen was three years old when his people settled in Hall County in the spring of 1866. His school adavntages were rather meager for several reasons, one being the lack of easy school facilities, and the other that he was needed by his father on the farm. Among his recollections of early days the Indians play a prominent part for there were many of them in Hall County at that time. When the hunting season came on he has watched them pass by the hundred on their Hall County, Mr. Herman being one of these, way to the Platte River. He sometimes played tj- 1„_ J .._j u; li! _i-__i„. .L_ i.:_ i_ ._• .^j^i^ ^l^g Indian children, who were much like other children except they were always hungry and if food was not given in answer to their begging, they would boldly steal it. These Indians were mostly the peaceable Pawnees, but he remembers one occasion when the savage Sioux came down in a raid from the North, killed several white people and carried two giris off with them, but the girls were rescued by the soldiers from Fort Kearny. • He remained with his father until he was almost twenty-five years old before engaging in agricultural pursuits on the farm he now owns, which comprises one hundred and eigthy-eight acres. It is well stocked and finely improved. He has been very successful in his farming operations and is ranked with the substantial men of his township. TTTT TTTC T^^An^n^LJTT^ar^^T . ^" Febmary 1, 1889, Mr Matthiesen mar- JULIUS MA'TTHIESEN, a prosperous ned Miss Christina Gulzow, a daughter of farmer of Washington township, belongs to Hemy and Metha (Truelson) Gulzow, who one of the oldest pioneer families of Hall . ^^ .. ^ v ^¦' County. He was born at Davenport, Iowa, March 29, 1863, a son of Frederick and Anna (Hansen) Matthiesen. The first wife of Fred erick Matthiesen died during the voyage from Germany to the United States. They had He has devoted himself closely to his business He has never been very active in politics, cast ing his ballot as an independent voter. On February 11, 1891, Mr. Herman mar ried Miss DeHa Dibbern, a daughter of Jochem and Margaret (Weise) Dibbern, early settlers in the county who are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Herman have the following chHdren, who have had every advantage their parents could give them: Edith, the wife of Bernie Schimmer; Albert, who assists his father; Linda, the wife of Henry Meyer; Edna, the wife of Arthur Knuth, and Martha, Josephine, Olga, Harry, Ernest and Mildred, all of whom live at home; and one who is deceased. Mr. Herman and his family are members of the Lutheran church. came to Hall County in 1865. The father home steaded in section 34, Washington township, where he died and the mother owns the one hundred and sixty acres. Of the eleven children in the Gulzow family, Mrs. Matthiesen is the t„ ,.,1 , , . ,. , , -.- eldest of the survivors, the others being : Hans, two children, one of whom is living, Margaret, who operates the homestead for his mother. the widow of Frederick Lillenthal, In 1857 Frederick Matthiesen married Anna Hansen and they had seven children. The fol lowing are living: Julius, who has lived in HaH County since 1866; Laura, the wife of Bernhard Ewoldt, near Sand Krog; Ernest, a farmer south of Grand Island, married Dora married Metha Wegner; Minnie, the wife of Diedrick Husman, of Merrick County; Emma, the wife of William Brooks, of Grand Island ; Mary, the wife of William Thesenvitz, living near Alda, Nebraska; Rosa, the wife of Nich olas "Werner, living near Doniphan; William, whoj lives at Grand Island, married Dora HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 763 Hann ; and Anna, the wife of Frank Strauss, of Pine Bluff, Wyoming. To Mr. and Mrs. Matthiesen seven children were born : Lena, now deceased, was the wife of Claud Starling; William, who assists his father on the farm; Augusta, the wife of Herman Knuth, of Pitnam, Oklahoma; Henry, who lives at Overton, Nebraska, mar ried Emma Boltz ; Julius, who married Emma Wiese ; and Rosa and Lillie, both of whom live with their parents. The whole family stands well in the township where they have lived so long and where all the children have attended school. For one year Mr. Matthiesen was treasurer of Washington township, but he has never been very active in politics. He votes an independent ticket. In speaking of early days, Mr. Matthiesen tells of the coming of a young and earnest physician. Dr. Tosping, who soon found that the neighborhood was so healthy that either he would have to take his own tonics to keep alive or get to work with his hands. He chose wood chopping. JOHN FALLDORF, carrying on farming operations on the homestead in Washington township, which is the land his father pre empted in 1873, is well known in Hall County where the family has been held in great esteem for almost a half century. John Falldorf was born in Hall County, Ne braska, October 8, 1884, the third in a family of five children born to Frederick and Dora (Parkman) Falldorf. The father was born in Germany in 1852 and the mother in the same county, in 1859. They were married in the fall of 1879, and all their children are liv ing: Anna, the wife of John Heesch, of Ham ilton County, Nebraska; Henry, also in Hamilton County, married Dora Schuler; John lives in Washington township; Emma, the wife of John Schuler, a farmer east of Grand Island; and Otto, who lives in Ham ilton County, married Clara Neubert. When the father of this family first came to Ne braska, his business of freighting was a very important and a dangerous one. There were many hostile Indians ever ready to attack the long train of frieght wagons that had to carry everything that was transported, not over the fine automobile highways of the present day, but over trails through the forests and un- bridged streams. Mr. Falldorf also drove a stage for a time from the western part of the state to Sidney. In 1873 he came to Wash ington township. Hall County, and pre-empted land on section 2, on which he continued to live until 1910, when he retired. For a num ber of years he served as school moderator and director in his township and his sound judgment in school matters was generally ac cepted. In pohtics he is a Republican. He is one of the olderst members of the Platts deutch society at Grand Island. John Falldorf has always lived in Hall County. He obtained his education in the public schools and learned the principles of farming in a practical way. For some years he has had charge of his father's old farm, and being experienced and thoroughgoing, he has been very successful. He married Freda, a daughter of John C. and Catherine Hann, and they have the following children: LHlie, Riaymond, Louis and Maxine. In politics he is a Republican. He belongs to the Sons of Herman and the Plattsdeutch society. HENRY KNUTH, whose well improved farm situated in Washington township, Hall- County, shows evidences of thrift and good management, belongs to an old family of this section. Extended mention can be found on another page of this work. Mr. Knuth was born in Hall County, Nebraska, December 24, 1872, a son of Henry Knuth. The boy was reared on his father's pioneer farm and remembers many interesting events of early days in the county, when hardships were many and comforts few. He recalls some creditable things of the Indians, also, and mentions one occasion when his brother broke his leg and an old Indian doctor was called in, who set the leg properly and treated it with his herbs so carefully that recovery was rapid. He attended one of the early schools but the most of his life until his twenty-sixth year, was spent in the cultivation of the home land. His present farm of one hundred and eighty acres has been improved with substantial buildings, and is exceedingly well stocked. Mr, Knuth breeds Shorthorn cattle and at the head of his herd has a ped igreed bull, while all his other stock is up to the same high standard. On May 16, 1899, Henry Knuth married Miss Martha Baasch, who is a daughter of Charles and Minnie (Hansen) Baasch, well known early settlers of the county. They now live retired in Grand Island. Mr. and Mrs. Knuth have the following chHdren : Rudolph, born January 25, 1900 ; Marie, born May 19, 1901 ; Emma, born October 3, 1903 ; Ella, bom AprH 25, 1905 ; and EmH, born September 19, 1907. These children have had excellent ed ucational advantages and are creditable rep resentatives of Hall County's younger genera- 764 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA tion. In politics Mr. Knuth has always been a Democrat, but he has never been willing to accept a public office, although well qualified through sound judgment and practical knowl edge, to serve in many capacities. He belongs to the order of the Sons of Herman and also to the Plattsdeutch society. HENRY A. KNUTH, one of the pros perous younger farmers of Washington town ship, Hall County, is a native of the county, born here January 10, 1889, and' is a son of Juergen Knuth, an extended sketch of whom will be found on another page of this work. The family is an old and highly respscted one of this section. Henry A. Knuth attended the public schools near his father's farm through boyhood, and afterward remained with his parents, assist ing his father until he was twenty-three years old. March 15, 1912, he was united in mar riage to Miss Dora Pieper, a daughter of Henry and Anna (Paustain) Pieper, early settlers in Washington township who now live retired. Mrs. Knuth is one of a famHy of seven children and the second oldest of the four survivors. She has two sisters and one brother: Erna, the wife of Otto Schimmer; Hugo, married Freda Heesch ; and Adele, lives with her parents. Mr and Mrs. Knuth have three sturdy little sons, namely : Raymond, Roy, and George. Mr. Knuth is operating one of his father's farms, which lies in section 33, Washington township, where he is meeting with deserved success, devoting special attention to his fine herd of Hereford cattle. He has never taken any very active part in politics, but keeps well informed on current events. He belongs to the order of Sons of Herman and also the Plattsdeutch society. JOHN C. NEUBERT, a native son, a man of ample means, a heavy breeder of Hereford cattle and a factor in the sugar beet industry, has been the builder of his own fortune, begin ning his business career on borrowed capital, and through thrift and industry, honesty and good judgment he has attained his present state of prosperity. Mr. Neubert was born m Hall Coutny, Nebraska, October 22, 1874. The parents of Mr. Neubert were John and Wiebke (Alpen) Neubert, Germans, who came to the United States in April, 1872, made their way to Nebraska and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 32, Washington township. Hall County. In the old country the father had worked as a wine- maker and also was on a sailing vessel that plied between Burg and Hamburg. After coming to America he devoted himself to agricultural pursuits, living on his land in Hall County until his death, which occurred in June, 1906. His political affiliation was with the Democratic party, and he belonged to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Both parents of Mr. Neubert were members of the German Lutheran church. They had nine children and of the six survivors John C. Neubert is the second in order of birth, the others being: Annie, the wife of- Her man Hehnke, of Grand Island; Minnie, the wife of Edward Boltz, of Alda township, Hal,l County; Celia, the wife of Richard Boltz, of Alda township; Henry, who lives at Wheatland, Wyoming, married Dora Scheel, now deceased, and Marie, the wife of Otto Weise, of Alda township. The Neuberts, like other early settlers, had to face many hard ships and an early experience was the great snowstorm of April 13, 1873. Fortunately the log house had been finished by that time, but so violent was the storm that the inmates soon found themselves unable to use the door and Mr. Neubert had to crawl out of the window in order to get to his tethered mules to dig them out of the snow. It was a blizzard ex perience never to be forgotten by those who endured it. John C. Neubert worked for his father until he was twenty-one years old, in the meanwhile having some schooling during the winter seasons. He then borrowed a dollar and with this capital started out to shape his own career. He worked on a farm near Omaha, then went to Aberdeen, in South Dakota, where he remained a few months, going from there to Iowa, where he remained one year and then came back to HaH County to engage in the business of raising sugar beets, which occupied him for one year before he accepted a position from Martin Schimmer, at Sand Krog. In the meanwhile his industry was being rewarded and his success continued. At the present time Mr. Neubert owns two hundred and sixty-four acres of the best im proved land in the county, seven acres of which he devotes annually to sugar beets. He is a breeder of Hereford cattle, and mules, a ready market always awaiting his livestock. _ On December 20, 1898, Mr. Neubert mar ried Miss Lena Hann, a daughter of John C. and Catherine (Pahl) Hann, natives of Germany. The Hanns came to Plall County with the second German colonization party in the state of Nebraska. Mrs. Neubert is. Top— -H. A., Arthur, Hellmuth, Herman, Fred, sons op Jurgen Knuth Mr. and Mrs, Jurgen Knuth Raymond, Roy, George, chil- Elmer, Lorraine, children ' "^en of H, A, Knuth OP Herman Knuth Mr. and Mrs, Henry Knuth 766 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA the eldest of the seven survivors of her par ents' family of eleven chHdren, the others being: Adeha, the wife of Adolph Gehrt of Custer City, Oklahoma; Christian, who lives at Custer City also, married Augusta Beberness ; Celia, the wife of EmH Boltz, of Alda township; Dora, the wife of William Gulzow, of Washington township ; Emil, who lives on the old home place, married Amanda Beberness; and Freda, the wife of John Fall dorf, of Washington township. Mr. and Mrs. Neubert have eight children : Clata, MaHnda, Kathryn, Frieda and Marie, twins, Glenn, Hazel and Reuben, all of whom live at home except Clara, the wife of Otto Falldorf, of Washington township. Mr. Neubert and family are people who stand well in their community. He is a member of the non-par tisan league in politics but has never accepted any public office except that of school director in which he is now serving. He belongs to the Plattsdeutchen society of Grand Island. PETER SHULTZ, who is prospering as a general farmer and is recognized as one of the reliable and enterprising citizens of Center township, Hall County, belongs to a pioneer family of this section that has been well and favorably known here for many years. Peter Shultz was born in Alda township. Hall County, Nebraska, December 4, 1885, and is a son of John and Emma (Thomssen) Shultz, an extended sketch of the family being found in this work. His father was born in Germany but has resided in the United States since he was eighteen years old and now lives in comfortable retirement near Alda. Peter Shultz attended the public schools in the county and grew to manhood on his father's homestead. Some ten years ago he rented his farm in Center township from his father, and since then has been successfully carrying on important farm industries. He has his farm weH stocked and makes use of modern farm machinery, which is his own property, and keeps well posted concerning agricultural matters generally. In 1913 Mr. Shultz was united in marriage to Miss Theckla Stange, who was born in Germany and came to the United States in 1909 with her parents, wlio live at Grand Island. Mr. and Mrs. Shultz have three children: John, Evelyn and Albert, aged respectively six, four and one year Mr. Shultz is not identified with any political party but that does not indicate that he is indifferent concerning public matters, especially in Center township, where he wants good schools by the time his bright little children are old enough to attend them, and the best of roads over which he must transport his produce and stock to market. He is a practical, sensible young man who casts an independent vote be cause he desires to choose public officials by the measuring rule of his own good judgment. AUGUST REHER, a representative of one of Hall County's fine old pioneer families, owns one hundred and sixty acres of valuable land situated in Washington township, on which he carries on general farming and stock- raising. Mr. Reher was born in Hall County, Nebraska, March 15, 1882. The parents of Mr. Reher were Christian and Christina (Kroeger) Reher, natives of Germany, where the father followed the carpenter trade. They came to the United States in the spring of 1873 and reached Washington township. Hall County, on April 17, just two days after the memorable snow storm of that year. The father homesteaded on section 26, where he lived for a few years before removing to section 36, where he started a summer resort at a point known as Platte Krog. After a few years there he re moved to section 10, Washington township, where he bought 160 acres and resided on the place until the close of his life, which oc curred April 16, 1903. Two of his four chil dren, William and August, survive. Their mother lives altemately with them, in Grand Island and on the old home farm. Mr. Reher was known as a hardworking, upright man, becoming well acquainted over a wide neigh borhood during the twenty-five years he hauled cream for Oscar Roeser of Grand Island. He was a Democrat in politics and served several years as a school director. August Reher attended the public schools. He lived at home and worked for his parents until he was twenty-one years old, when he started farming on his own account on the old home place. He has made many improve ments here but has never removed the old log cabin in which his parents lived. He cul tivates his land intelligently, raising the grains that do well in this soil and climate, devoting some attention to raising stock of good grade. On September 15, 1905, Mr. Reher married Miss Lucy Aye, who was born in Hall County after her parents, Peter and Lena (Bifeldt) Aye, came here in 1882. The father of Mrs. Reher died January 13, 1916. She has two brothers and one sister : Theodore, who lives m Grand Island, married Annie Wilhelmy; Martha, the wife of August Thavenet, living HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 767 near Grand Island; and Herman, who lives with his family, in Palmer, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Reher have two daughters, Helen and Sadie. Mr. Reher has never taken a very active part in politics, but votes with the Democratic party. As a good citizen, he is interested in everything that promises to be of substantial benefit to his township and county. WILLIAM HEESCH, a progressive farmer and business man of Washington township, is a member of one of the old and prominent families of Plall County, which has had much to do with the substantial develop ment of this section since the early seventies. He was born in Hall County, March 17, 1878. The parents of Mr. Heesch,; Peter and Annie (Goetsche) Heesch, were born in Ger many. They came from that country to the United States, reaching Nebraska in 1870. The father homesteaded in section 24, Wash ington township. Hall County, where the family lived until 1884, when he sold and bought land in section 36, subsequently adding to his holdings until he owned two hundred and forty acres. This land he held until 1902, when he sold, retired from active farm life and removed to Grand Island. During his many years in Washington township he had been active politically, had served on the town ship board and for many years was road overseer. In association with William" Stolley, he organized the German Mutual Fire & Tor nado Insurance Company, which has always been a growing concern and at the present time has not less than $4,000,000 insurance risks on its books, operating in Hall and ad joining counties. For some time in early days he operated the place started by Christian Reher, known as Platte Krog, which was largely frequented by Indians as it was located very near the Platte river. Mr. Heesch still resides in Grand Island. His wife died on the farm on October 22, 1890. They had eight children: Amelia, the wife of Ferdinand Stollenberg, of Alda township ; John, a farmer in Hamilton County, married Annie Falldorf ; William, who has always lived jn Hall County; Adeha, the wife of August Kroger, of Grand Island; Olga, the wife of August Peters, of Taloga, Oklahoma; Dora, the wife of George T. Bauman, of Grand Island ; Annie, the wife of Henry Lucks of Grand Island; and Clara, the wife of John Baasch, of Alda township. Hall County. William Heesch attended the public schools in Washington township, and grew to man hood on his father's farm. On February 16, 1903, he married Miss Anna Beekman, the fourth in a family of seven children born to August and Amelia (Vieregg) Beekman, the former of whom was born in Germany and now lives retired in Grand Island. The mother of Mrs. Heesch was born in Iowa and died on the Beekman homestead in Mer rick County, near the Hall County line, in December, 1889. Mrs. Heesch now has the following brothers and sisters : Diedrich, who lives in Grand Island, married Emma Bruhn ; Ehzabeth, the wife of Herman Sass, lives in Washington township ; John E., who lives in Hall County, married Alma Grosch; Olga H., the wife of Henry Menecke, lives in Howard County; and Augusta, lives with her father in Grand Island. Mr. and Mrs. Heesch have two children: Hildegard E., who was born November 9, 1908 ; and Evelyn A., who was born November 27, 1910. They have a beautiful home on the two hundred and forty acre farm that Mr. Heesch owns and successfully operates. He bought the first traction plow used in this neighborhood and in many other ways has shown enterprise in carrying on his agri cultural undertakings. He sells his products at prices that make a fair profit. He is justly proud of his high grade Orpington chickens and no less so of a flock of wild geese and ducks which he has thoroughly domesticated. Mr. Heesch conducts the supply store on his farm, in tUe interest of the Farmers' Union, which is doing an extensive business among the members of the union, as only these can avail themselves of this privilege. Mr. Heesch has been storekeeper for the past two years. He is a member of the fraternal order of Eagles, and of the Plattsdeutch society in Grand Island. MARTIN SCHIMMER, whose life record illustrates what may be accomplished by in dustry and perseverance, has been a resident of Hall County for more than a half century, and from a humble position has become one of the largest land owners of the county. Mr, Schimmer was born in Schleswig-Hol stein, Germany, June 24, 1841. His parents were Peter and Marie (Hoffman) Schimmer, natives of the same country in which they spent their entire lives, where the father was a farmer. They were members of the Lutheran church, and reared a family of seven children, of whom only two are now living, Martin and a brother James who lives in Germany. The 768 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA others were, Fred, Peter, John, Hans, and Henry, all of whom are deceased. Martin was reared in his native land acquir ing his education in the schools of that country and when old enough found employment on the farm. At the age of twenty-two, having saved sufficient money to pay his passage, he decided to come to the United States. He spent the first year and a half in Scott County, Iowa, and then started west. It was his in tention to go to Oregon, but experiencing some difficulty in learning where to take the stage, as there were no railroads in Nebraska at that time, he arrived in Hall County in March, 1866, and soon found employment on a farm. He often saw the stage coaches and freighting outfits crossing the plains to the west, but his money was gone and it was necessary for him to remain where he was. That he made no mistake, and that it proved rather fortunate that he was a poor man and obHged to stop in Hall County, is evidenced by the success that has come to him with the passing years. Mr. Schimmer took a homestead in what is now Alda township, and in true pioneer style began the task of subduing the soil and pre paring to establish a home. He resided on this place until 1875, when he removed to Wash ington township, his first purchase here being one acre, the only improvement being a shanty. The pursuit of agriculture and other interests have been carried on successfully, and today Mr. Schimmer is the owner of three thousand acres in this county, a section of land in Buffalo County and a quarter section near North Platte. The public spirit and enterprise of Mr. Schimmer has been manifested in many ways which have had to do with the develop ment of the country. The people of Grand Island and vicinity are especially indebted to Mr. Schimmer for Schimmer's Lake and the beautiful resort known as "Sand Krog." The lake covers an area of twenty-five acres and was made by Mr. Schimmer who after exca vating the sand built a dam to retain the water. The shore of the lake is dotted with cottages which are owned by Grand Island people who find great pleasure in coining here to enjoy the cool breezes of the lake and get away from the heat and dust of the city. Mr. Schimmer is the principal stock holder in the Grand Island Manufacturing Company. In 1870 Mr. Schimmer was united in mar riage with Miss Louisa Wolf, a daughter of Henry Wolf, who came to Hall County in an early day. Of this marriage there were four children: Emma, the wife of Phillip Sanders, a resident of Merrick County; John, married Anna Thavenet, and resides at Sand Krog; Dora, the wife of Robert Shipton, of Washing ton township; and Lena, the widow of Hans Scheel, living at Sand Krog. The mother of these children passed away in 1884, and Feb ruary 15, 1885, Mr. Schimmer married Miss Emma Wiese, who has become the mother of one child. Bertha, the wife of John Schaup- dach, of Washington township. The family "are members of the Lutheran church, and in politics Mr. Schimmer exercises the right of franchise in support of men and measures of the Republican party, in national affairs, while in local elections he casts an in dependent ballot. Mr. Schimmer is one of the few remaining real pioneers of Hall County, and has wit nessed some vast changes. He used oxen when he first came here, and that first winter made ties for the Union Pacific RaHroad which was being constructed and later hauled cord wood which was used for fuel in the engines in those. days. He bore his share of the hardships, in cluding the grasshopper scourge, drouths and crop faHures and has lived to see HaH County become one of the leading communities of this great state. Indians were numerous though peaceable, buffalo and antelope roamed over the prairies and the beautiful city of Grand Island was only a hamlet. And in the work of progress Mr. Schimmer has contributed his full share and enjoys the honor that comes to those who helped make Hall County a better place in which to live. CARL ROSENKOTTER, a prominent farmer in Washington township, and one of Hall County's well known residents, came here many years ago when conditions were very different, and has done his part in bringing about the many improvements. He was born at Minden, Germany, January 20, 1849. His parents were Carl and Katie (Bode) Rosen kotter, both of whom were born in Germany in 1814, and died there, the father in 1861, and the mother in 1880. The father was a farmer all his life. Both parents were kind, good, worthy people and were members of the Lutheran church. Of their family of six children two came to the United States, these being Carl and Mary, the latter of whom is Mrs. Casper Meyer, who lives in- Grand Island. Carl Rosenkotter had excellent educational advantages in his native country, where he was mainly engaged in farming until 1883, when he came to the United States. Shortly after reaching Hall County he bought eighty acres of land and still lives on that property n/&y^7i^X^M^yrny^}7V^^ HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 771 although he has a residence and two improved lots in Grand Island, and until recently owned in addition two hundred and forty acres of valuable land which he has disposed of. Mr. Rosenkotter has been very successful in his business undertakings and has been a liberal supporter of the German parochial school and served on the school board for six years. An honest, upright man in business and a good neighbor, he has always enjoyed the respect of all who have known him. On December 13, 1883, Carl Rosenkotter married Miss Johanna Bulk, a daughter of Frederick and Wilhelmina (Sass) Bulk, and they have had the following children : Wil liam, Alinnie, Henry, Martha, Anna, Mary, Carl, Emma, Fritz and EHa. HANS SCHEEL, who has spent the greater part of a busy, useful life in the United States, came to this country and to Hall County, with his parents, in the spring of 1867. Here he has lived ever since, with the exception of a few years prior to 1881. He has long been considered one of the best farmers of Washington township. He was born in Holstein, Germany, March 19, 1854, the son of Detlef and Lucy D. (LHen- thal) Scheel, natives of Germany, who were in humble circumstances there when the father realized that across the Atlantic ocean he could secure land of his own and would no longer be compelled to labor for others, hence, with great effort and much self denial he brought his family to America. At that time many of his countrymen were securing farms in Nebraska, and here the Scheels decided to locate. He bought one hundred and sixty acres of railroad land in Hall County and hopefully looked forward to independence in old age. His hopes for himself were not realized, however, for his death occurred in August, 1871, before he could move his family on the land he had purchased for a home. The mother did not survive him many years, her death occurring in April, 1877. Of their four children, Hans is the only one living. Hans Scheel was thirteen years old when the family came to the United States and had already attended school. He grew up on the farm and remained in Hall County as a farmer until about 1878, when the discovery of gold in the Black HHls of South Dakota and Wyoming attracted thousands to that section, and among those who went from Hall County were Hans Scheel and Claus Frauen. Mr. Frauen covered the whole distance with a team of eight oxen, and although this was a slow mode of travel, it had advantages over those who went by foot, though thousands did so. While Mr. Frauen was in the gold region he hauled supplies to the miners and before he returned to Nebraska, had disposed of his oxen for beef. In 1881 Mr. Scheel re turned to Hall County, homesteaded and bought railroad land, living in section 22, Doniphan township for ten years. He then moved to his father's old property, in section 27, Washington township, where he has since resided. He now owns two farms, aggregat ing four hundred and sixty acres, both of which are highly improved. His farming operations have always been carried on intel ligently and systematically, for he has taken deep interest in his vocation, and, while never sparing himself when necessary, he has made use of the best obtainable farm machinery. On April 3, 1883, Mr. Scheel married Miss Emma Dorothy Reher, a daughter of John and Sophia (Vogt) Reher, who came from Germany to Hall County in April, 1883. They bought the farm in section 36, Washington township, on which their son Ernest Reher now lives. Mr. and Mrs. Scheel have had children as foHows : Anna, the wife of Henry Schimmer, of PhHlips, Nebraska; Otto, who liyes at Doniphan, married Freda Schimmer; Lena, the wife of Otto Martens, lives in Alda township; Dora, deceased, was the wife of Henry Neubert and she left four little chHdren motherless; EmH, unmarried, lives at home; Herman, who lives in Doniphan township, married Minnie Schimmer; Minnie, the wife of Albert Rohweder, lives in Washington township; and Bemard, Harry, Max and Viola, all of whom live at home. Mr. Scheel is one of the county's dependable men and for fifteen years he served as a member of the township school board. In politics he is a member of the Non-Partisan League, and for many years he has belonged to Platts deutchen, the old German organization of a^ social nature in Grand Island. PAUL FRAUEN, claimed by both Hall and Merrick counties, resides in Merrick County but is financially interested and a director of the First National Bank of Grand. Island. Mr. Frauen has been widely known in both counties for many years, owning large bodies of land in both sections, and at the present time has two sons living on his land in Merrick and one in HaH County. His recol lections of early days in Nebraska are exceed ingly interesting. Paul Frauen was born in Holstein, Germany, 772 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA September 22, 1846. He was one of a family of six children born to his parents, Paul and Cecelia (Janss) Frauen, both of whom died in Germany, on their dairy farm, in 1898. Four of their children are living but only Paul and his brother came to the United States. Mr. Frauen had school training in his native land. In May, 1864, he came to America, and after three years in Scott County, Iowa, located in Hall County and in 1867 worked on a farm which is now the site of the Grand Island stockyards. In that year came the grasshopper invasion and the country was so stripped by tne insects that crop harvesting was a farce. In the faH of 1867 he went to Merrick County and homesteaded eighty acres. The law restricted homesteaders to eighty acres within twenty miles of the railroad, while outside that limit, one hundred and sixty acres were allowed. This eighty acres is the homestead on which Mr. Frauen now lives. He recalls that when he went to Lone Tree, south of Central City, to secure his first homestead papers before Judge Brewer, he made the journey with oxen, in fourteen hours. Within the last year he covered the same ground in less than one hour, in his automobile. After securing his claim, Mr. Frauen put up a log house and the next winter built what was then the largest barn in Merrick County, at , no cost to him except time and labor. 'The round trip with oxen from Dannebrog, where logs were obtained, consumed twenty- four hours, and he and his brother worked on barn buHding aH winter. It served its purpose for twenty-five years, and in later years when the magnificent improvements of the present were made on the homestead, the old log house was used for a granary. In 1876 the brothers were in partnership and raised their first corn crop. They fattened eight steers, butchered them and when they offered the meat for sale, could get no price over three cents per pound. That 'seemed too low even then. So the following AprH Mr. Frauen's brother started with a load of meat to the Black HHls and there was able to sell it for six cents a pound live weight. The brothers had planned to invest their meat money in mines, but before doing so Mr. Frauen investigated and found that the com pany in which he had thought to invest had rnade no money that far and the whole propo sition failed to interest him. Therefore when the brother returned to Merrick County, he yet had their joint capital in his pocket. With this money the brothers bought cattle, fed, fattened and sold in the following spring and still had fifty head left. They invested their money m land that the government had put on the market near Fullerton, Nebraska, at one dollar an acre down and the balance at six per cent interest, and in that and the fol lowing year bought two sections of land in Nance County. With these responsibilities they became land poor, and early in the eighties sold the land with the improvements they had put oni it, to John Riemers. Later Mr. Frauen bought more land in Merrick County, and still later in Hall County, at one time owning about 2,000 acres in Merrick County. He has sold all this land to his chil dren, retaining for his lifetime the old home stead. His Hall County land had absolutely nothing on it when he bought and all the im provements he made himself. In the fall of 1877 Mr. Frauen married Miss Catherine Paustian, who died in 1898. They had children as follows: Otto, who lives in Merrick County; Ceceha, deceased, was the wife of Max Cornelius; Henry, a farmer in Lake township. Hall County ; Annie, the wife of Christian Sass, of Merrick County; and John J., who operates the home farm of 520 acres, raising Hereford cattle and Duroc- Jersey hogs. Mr. Frauen formerly favored Shorthorn cattle, thoroughbred, but sold his herd in 1904. Another contrast is presented when memory goes back to the wearying work on the farm that had to be done with ox strength, when Mr. Frauen was a young farmer, while now the most modern of farm tractors solves every problem. Since he became an American citizen, Mr. Frauen has valued his political privileges and has conscientiously supported the candidates and upheld the principles of the Republican party. He has been active in the affairs of Merrick County and frequently has served in public office. Early in the eighties he was a member of the county board, for many years was assessor, and for fully twenty years was a school director. He has lent his influence in support of more than one worthy enterprise in the county, has always worked for sobriety, law and religion. JAMES GARFIELD ERION, whose agri cultural activities include the operation of a large farm in Lake township, HaH County, a dairy in connection, and the raising of Hol stein cows for the same, came to this county in 1883, when three years old. With the ex ception of seven years this has since been his home. James Garfield Erion was borrt in Linn County, Iowa, October 13, 1880, the son of Joseph and Clara L. (Stewart) Erion, the HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 773 former of whom was born in Ohio, April 6, 1851, and died in 1890. The mother of Mr Erion was born in Linn Couhty, Iowa, Octo ber 12, 1860, and resides in Hall County. Of their six children, James Garfield was the second in order of birth, the others being: Leota, the wife of Robert Plummer, of Elk- ton, Maryland ; Edward E., who lives north of Grand Island, married Elva Rice; NeHie, the wife of R. R. Hanna, of Grand Island; Har riet, who lives in Hastings, Nebraska; and Addie L., the wife of George Stevenson, of Simla, Colorado. The father of this family, came to Iowa from Ohio when fourteen years old, and to Hall County, in 1883, purchasing eighty acres situated two miles north of Grand Island. He was a man of sterling character, a member of the Presbyterian church and a Republican in politics. James G. Erion obtained his education in the schools of Lake township, and grew up on the homestead on which he now lives. -He en gaged in farming here and continued until 1909, when he learned the carpenter trade and afterward worked at the same in Grand Island for seven years. Mr. Erion then re turned to the farm. This was in September, 1916, and he proposes to continue in agricul tural life. He is interested in Holstein cattle and has built up a fine dairy business in addi tion to conducting farm operations on his one hundred and forty acres, and is regarded as one of the very busy men of his neighborhood. On November 28, 1911, Mr. Erion married Miss Cora Ophelia Rice, a daughter of John D. and Carrie (Martin) Rice, pioneers in Merrick County but now residents of Grand Island. Mr. and Mrs. Erion have two chHdren Robert R., born May 10, 1916 and Jane E., bom March 29, 1918. In politics Mr Erion is a Republican, but like his late father, has no desire for political office. JOHN QUANDT. — One of the solid, sub stantial citizens of Lake township, where he carries on general farming, is John Quandt, who belongs to a pioneer family of this section that is weH and favorably known all over HaH County. He was bom in Waupaca County, Wisconsin, May 19, 1876, the son of August and Henrietta (Klemp) Quandt, natives of Germany. ^ August Quandt was nineteen years old when he came to the United States in 1855. After his marriage he bought land in Waupaca County, Wisconsin, on which he and his family resided for twenty-five years, then sold and came to Nebraska, reaching Hall County on March 24, 1880. Here he bought the farm in Lake township on which his son John now lives, and here both he and wife spent the rest of their lives. His death occurred in 1900. They had children as follows : Louise, the wife of Charles Niemoth; Augusta, the wife of August Witzke, of Hall County; Frederick, who lives in Lake township; Gus tave, who died at the age of twenty-one years, was a graduate of the Nebraska City Blind school, having become blind when two years old; WiHiam, who lives in Oklahoma; Ida, the wife of Emil Dankert, a farmer near Palmer, Nebraska; Albert, who lives in Hall County ; and John, who lives on the old home place. In politics the father of the above family was a Republican. He was regarded with confidence and esteem by all who knew him and for years held school and church offices. He belonged to the Missouri synod of the Lutheran church. Crop conditions were so discouraging the first year after the Quandt family came to Hall County, that they serious ly considered the advisability of retuming to Wisconsin. In the second year, however, the father cleared $1,300 on his farm and the family has prospered ever since. John Quandt obtained his education in the Hall County schools. He has been a farmer all his life and now operates 160 acres of land with first class farm machinery, in great con trast to the way his father worked in early days, with one team of horses and a yoke of oxen. The Quandt homestead is one of the most vanuabie farms in Lake township. On October 31, 1902, Mr. Quandt was united in marriage to Miss Clara Ruff, a daughter of John A. and Wilhelmina (Beyer) Ruff, and a granddaughter of John H. and Anna (Miche) Ruff. The Ruffs have been prominent people in this section for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Quandt have six chil dren, namely: Agnes, Radbalt, John, MHton, Carl and Edwin. Mr. Quandt has always been active in township affairs and served three years on the school board. He is a mem ber of the Farmers' Union, and the entire family belongs to the Lutheran church. JOHN C. C. HANN enjoys the distinction of being one of the first two white children brought to Hall County ; his sister Mary, now deceased, being the other. Today Mr. Hami is one of the best known residents of this section of Nebraska. There are few men so well informed as to the county's early life and history, and it may be added, there are not many who can recall past events in so 774 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA fe< a o a HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 775 interesting a way. Mr. Hann's home has been in Hall County for sixty-one years, and since 1899 he has been owner and conductor of the ¦ popular amusement park in Grand Island, known as Lion's Grove. John C. C. Hann was born in 1856, in Mecklenburg Schwerin, Germany, the son of John and Katherina (Boehl) Hann, the former of whom was bom in Germany April 5, 1823, and died in HaH County, Nebraska, December 22, 1888. The mother was born in Germany November 15, 1825, and died- in HaH County October 12, 1908. They had five children, three of whom are living : John C. C, whose interests are important in Hall County ; Henry, resides in Grand Island, mar ried Hedwig Keuster; and Lena, the wife of Benjamin Brandow, of Leavenworth, Kansas. John Hann and his family came to the United States in 1857 and made their way to Daven port, Iowa, where many of their countrymen had settled, and five months laterj as members of the second German colonizing party in Nebraska, came to Hall County, reaching here July 6, 1858. Mr. Hann homesteaded six miles southwest of Grand Island where the family lived nine years, spending the entire first year in the wagon in which they had been transported by oxen, from Chicago to' Daven port. Then a log cabin was built which still may be seen on the farm of William Stolley. While they endured many pioneer hardships the first winter was the most trying period. There were no mHls to grind the corn and when it was necessary to prepare this staple, a hand operated coffee mill had to be utilized, the resulting mush serving as food only be cause there was nothing else. When actual necessity arose the father of Mr. Hann hitched up his oxen and started for Omaha, some times being able, if the condition of the roads was favorable, to make the jounrey back and forth in three weeks. Meat was a luxury and Mr. Hann remembers his mother trapping snow birds to add to the lean bill of fare. At times it was possible to secure buffalo meat from the Indians, who paid in this way, and in blankets, for his mother's services as a midwife. She was a capable, big-hearted woman who, when called upon, hastened to the relief of suffering for many miles around, and Mr. Hann is certain that through her min istrations at least eight hundred children were added to the population of Hall County, ten of these being born to Indian and four to colored parents. There were some things, however, that this resourceful, untiring mother cound not do, an instance being inability to restore her son's hearing after a boyhood attack of scarlet fever. To its partial restora tion Mr. Hann gives credit to an old Indian doctor, who was faithful in his efforts, although, of course, he lacked all scientific knowledge of the real cause of the deafness. In the course of years the parents of Mr. Hann became prosperous. In the later sixties the father bought twenty acres of land near Grand Island, which he improved by setting out trees and it was long managed by him as Hann's Park in connection with a licensed saloon. He remained in the business until his death. He was a Republican in politics and in many ways was an influential man. Both parents were members of the Lutheran church. John C. C. Hann was too young to be able to recall at the present day the long voyage across the Atlantic ocean, consuming thirteen weeks and three days, in an old sailing vessel, by which he reached America, nor the further journey by railroad across the country to the end of the line, Chicago, nor later the ox-team journey to the wild prairie land in Hall Couhty, but he remembers his first subscrip tion school teacher was named Mr. Nogle, and that for three months instruction, his father had to pay the sum of $40. There were but three other pupils in the school, which Mr. Nogle conducted in his own log cabin. The young man helped his father on the farm until 1868 when he accompanied his parents to Grand Island, in which city his first work was selling milk and vegetables. Later he assisted his father in the saloon at Hann's Park, continuing there until 1899, when he bought the five acres near Grand Island which is widely known as Lion's Grove. This he has converted into a first class amusement park. Mr. Hann has been in business here ever since and is interested also in the Grand Island Brewing Company. He still owns the old muzzle-loading rifle with which he has killed many elk, deer and buffalo. As an in cident of the unusually severe winter of 1870 he tells of the freezing of all the fish in the river when the ice measured a depth of four feet and the freezing of the water in the pipes of the city water works, when relief was obtained through the use of an old threshing machine engine, using oxen for motive power. The contrast between city fa cilities at that time and the present is marked indeed. Mr. Hann was ever active in civil affairs, having been instrumental in caHing the meeting which organized the old volunteer fire company, the first one in Grand Island. In October, 1882, Mr. Hann married Miss Lena Boehl, who died at Spokane, Washing- 776 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA ton, leaving one son. Otto, who lives in that city. Mr Hann's second marriage took place October 30, 1891, to Mrs. Minnie Augusta (Pankratz) Stepel, who was the widow of Herman Stepel and a daughter of Frederick W. and Edith (Hapke) Pankratz. They have one daughter, Pauline Augusta, the wife of John F. Koehler. Mr. and Mrs. Hann are members of the Lutheran church. He belongs to the fratemal order of Eagles and the sons of Herman, and Mrs, Hann is a member of the Royal Highlanders, , JACOB J. LORENTZEN, who came to Hall County, Nebraska, with his parents, when seven years old, has lived here since with the exception of three years in Denver and Grand Island, Few men are better known and none more favorably, in Lake township, where he carries on extensive agricultural operations. He was born in the city of New York, May 13, 1868, The parents of Mr. Lorentzen were Jacob and Elizabeth (Mindt) Lorentzen, both of whem were born in Germany. After coming to the United States, the father worked as a carpenter and shipbuilder in New York city, finding much opportunity there for his trade skill, but he desired a farm on which to rear his children, and with this ambition he came to Nebraska and on May 2, 1875, secured school land situated in section sixteen. Lake township. Hall County, on which he hved until his death in 1896. He was a Democrat in politics, but never was willing to accept a pubhc office, and both he and his wife were faithful members of the Lutheran church. She survives and resides with Jacob J., on the homestead. They had the foHowing children : Jacob J., the first born ; Henry, who lives in Grand Island; Charles, died at the age of nineteen years ; Christina, the widow of August Ritterbusch, resides on the homestead ; and Amanda, who lives in California. Jacob J. Lorentzen attended the public schools in Lake township and assisted his father on the farm, assuming entire charge when the latter died. He has one hundred and eighty-seven acres of well improved land, which he devotes to general farming and stock raisirtg. He has additional business intertests and is a stockholder in the Loup VaHey Packing Plant. Formerly he was a leading factor in Democratic circles and yet is active politically but more independently. He has served in numerous township offices, for five years being township assessor, while for four years he was a county supervisor. He has been chairman of the Liberty Bond drive in Lake township, and his personal popu larity has had its weight in making the record of Lake township such a creditable one. He is a valued member of the several German social organizations that have been in exist ence in Grand Island for many years. HENRY C. J. STOLLE, worthy repre sentative of an old Hall County family, is one of the most efficient farmers and stock- raisers in Lake township, which has been his home all his life. He was born here July 1, 1889, was educated in the public schools, and is now serving in the office of township clerk. The parents of Mr. Stolle, Charles and Mary (Rickert) Stolle, were natives of Ger many, the former of whom was born in Han over and the latter in Holstein. Of their family of ten children Henry C. J. was the seventh in order of birth, the others being as follows: Alvina, the wife of Otto Kruse, of Grand Island; Herman, who lives in Grand Island; Minnie, deceased, was the wife of Otto Frauen ; William, who lives in Lake township, married Mary Brabander; Anna and John, both of whom are unmarried ; Otto, a farmer in Howard County, married Theresa Sassen; and Emil and Louis, both of whom live in Hall County. The mother of this family died in the spring of 1909, from the effects of fright when automobiles caused the team of horses behind which she was riding, to ran away. She was an estimable woman and was much esteemed in her neighborhood. In 1869 the father, Charles Stolle, came from Ger many to the United States, and after spending two years at' St. Louis, Missouri, came to Hall County, Nebraska. At that time he was without capital and the fact that when he died, in the fall of 1914, he owned four hundred and ninety-three acres of well developed land, indicates that his industry and thrift were sup plemented by good business judgment. In 1871 he homesteaded the eighty acres on which his son Henry now lives, to which he kept on add ing until he was one of the county's large land owners. He was a man of sterling character and was respected by everyone. Although he would never accept any public office, he was strong in his support of the Republican party's principles and candidates. Both he and wife were faithful members of the Lutheran church. To build his first house and barn, he hauled logs by ox team from Loup and Oak creeks, the last of these log structures being taken down in order to make way for substantial modem improvements, about 1909. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 777 Henry C. J. Stolle was born on the home stead and has lived there with the exception of two years, when he resided on one of his father's other farms. He obtained a good com mon school education and ever since has de voted himself to general farming and stock- raising with much success. On December 18, 1912, Mr. Stolle married Miss Anna Schloemer, who is a daughter of Sophus and Mary Schloemer, residents of Grand Island. Mr. Stolle, like his late father, is a sound Republican and on that party ticket was elected township clerk, an office of considerable importance in Lake township. He is a member of the Farmers' Union, the Non-Partisan League, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Plattsdeutchen society, and carries insurance in Globe Life Insur ance Company. GEORGE A. TILLEY, one of Lake town ship's representative citizens, has passed al most his entire life here and is well and favor ably known all over Hall County. He was born in Otsego County, New York, September 26, 1871. He was three years old when his parents came from New York to Hall County. They were Adin D. and Maria A. (Perkins) Tilley, a record of whom will be found on another page of this book. George A. Tilley was educated by his father and his older sister, who also was a well known teacher in Hall County prior to her marriage. He worked on the farm and assisted his father in setting out the many beautiful treesi in Grand Island and in the vicinity, which will be a perpetual memorial of the Tilley name. Mr. TiHey has heard his mother tell of the sad lack of trees that so unfavorably impressed his father and herself when they came to this sec tion. The only two standing on the homestead were landmarks from the fact that "they were the only trees within a radius of miles. Mr. Tilley has practically been engaged in farm ing all his life and on his own account since his twenty-seventh year. He is operating his own eighty acres and an additional eighty acres which he rents, carrying on general farming and moderate stockraising. On February 14, 1899, Mr. Tilley married Miss Lida Nickle, who is a daughter of Will iam and Mary (Black) Nickle. 'They have one son, Lawrence. Mr. Tilley and his family belong to the Baptist church. In politics he is a Republican and takes hearty interest in public- affairs. Like his father before hini, he values his , privilege of real Amercan citi zenship, and is proud of his ancestral names that connect him with the founding of the United States of America. RUDOLPH SASS is a representative of one of the earliest families of Hall County, as he was born on the old homestead near Grand Island, December 23, 1874, and is a son of Detlef Sass, a record of whom will be found elsewhere in this history. Rudolph was reared on the farm and re mained at home till he was twenty-five years of age, when he became a farmer on his own account, and is operating one hundred twenty acres of land in Alda township. January 23, 1900, was solemnized the mar riage of Iludolph Sass and Christina Clausen. Mrs. Sass is also a native of Hall County, and is a daughter of Juergen Clausen, of whom further mention is made on other pages of this volume. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Sass has been blessed with four children, namely: Helen, Tony, Detlef and George, all of whom are still under the parental roof. The family are held in the highest esteem by all who know them, and their friends are those who have known them since childhood days. Mr. Sass has been elected justice of the peace in his township and his neighbors have given him the title of "Judge." CHARLES WYLEY SMITH is one of the successful farmers of Hamilton County, has since boyhood resided in this section of Ne braska. He was born in Union County, Ohio, April 18, 1870, and was but three years old when his parents established their pioneer home in Hall County. His father, James Wyley Smith, came to Nebraska in 1873 and secured a homestead in Hall County where for many years he carried on farming opera tions. A record of this pioneer family will be found on other pages of this volume, in a biography furnished by Mrs. Nancy Smith, the mother of our subject who is living in a comfortable home in the village of Doniphan. Charles Wyley Smith was reared on his father's farm, attended the public schools of the neighborhood, and under the instructions of his father learned the best methods of till ing the soH and caring for crops, as a result of which upon attaining landlord's estate he was well qualified to enter upon the task of farm ing on his own account. That he chose wisely and has made a success of the business is prov en by the fact that today he is the owner of two hundred and forty acres of land under 778 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA a high state of cultivation equipped with the necessary buildings and machinery for an up- to-date farm. The success and prosperity that has come to Mr. SmHh is the result of his own efforts and the logical outcome of perse- verence and industry. Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Amy Harris, a native of Hall County, a daughter of Thomas and Emily (Starky) Harris, who were among the pioneers of this section, taking up their abode here in 1872 on a homestead. Thomas Harris is now deceased but the mother of Mrs. Smith resides in Doni phan. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Smith has been blessed with three chHdren: Emily May, Nancy Anna and Geneva, all of whom are StiH under the parental roof. The family are held in high esteem by all who know them and their circle of friends is co-extensive with their circle of acquaintance. ALBERTUS E. EDWARDS, who carries on an extensive greenhouse business, devotes his entire fifty-four acres of richly cultivated land, situated in section four, Washington township, to gardening purposes. Although not a native of Hall County, he has spent the greater part of his life here, and it is his opinion that there are no finer people any where. Albertus E. Edwards was born in Wood County, Ohio, September' 18, 1861. His par ents were Edson and Jane' (Cleveland) Edwards, the former of whom was born in the state of New York, and the latter in Cleveland, Ohio. The late Hon. Grover Cleve land, twice prsident of the United States, was her cousin. Edson and Jane Edwards had three chHdren, two of whom survive: Al bertus E. and Eva N., the wife of R. I. Evans, residing in South Dakota. In early manhood Edson Edwards learned the shoemaking trade but afterward became a farmer. He came to Hall County, Nebraska, in 1871, homesteading thirteen miles west of Grand Island, where he secured one hundred and sixty acres, on which the family lived until 1877 and then moved to Grand Island. For one year he conducted the Crescent Hotel, and for three years a shoe store, moving then to Custer County, where he resided three years. He finally located per manently at York, where he was engaged in the insurance business untH his death, in April, 1886. His widow survived until December 22, 1897. _ Albertus E. Edwards obtained his educa tion in the public schools. He was ten years old when he accompanied his parents to Hall County, and sixteen when the family moved into Grand Island. At that time he says that when the hunting trips of the Indians were over, they came in from the Republican River in such numbers that the streets were crowded and he has seen valuable skins and pelts piled four feet high. That would be a strange sight today on the busy, modern thoroughfares of Grand Island. He lived with his parents untH he was twenty-three years old, in the mean while working for three years in the drug store of Barker & Halt, in Grand Island. He had a strong predilection, however, in favor of the business in which he is now engaged, and when he started his gardening enterprise, on ten acres of land, it was with a debt of $150 hanging over him. His natural gifts in this direction, however, soon made his venture a splendid success, and his business has con tinued to expand until now he dominates the trade in this section and furnishes both retail and wholesale to dealers in Grand Island and elsewhere. He has a greenhouse one hundred and twenty-five by sixty feet in dimensions, making specialties of choice early lettuce and French asparagus, also supplying cut flowers and bedding plants. On March 30, 1886, Mr. Edwards married Miss Mollie A. Roush, whose people came to Hall County in 1883. She is a daughter of David and Marie (Lowery) Roush, who were born near Letart Falls, in Meigs County, Ohio. The father of Mrs. Edwards died December 19, 1900, and the mother, November 10, 1916. They were the parents of eight children. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards have no children of their own, but they reared one as a daughter and she is now maraied and lives at Omaha, Nebraska. Mr. Edwards has never been active in politics but is a good citizen who is ever mindful of the welfare and good name of Washington township. WILLIAM F. STOLLE, whose fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, situated in sec tion three. Lake township. Hall County, gives evidence of careful cultivation and intelli gent management, is a member of a fine old family of this section, that has been identified with Lake township affairs for almost a half century. Mr. Stolle was born in Hall County, May 3, 1883. The parents of Mr. Stolle were Charles and Mary (Rickert) Stolle, the former of whom was born in Hanover and the latter in Hol stein, Germany. Of their family of ten chil dren, William F. was the fourth born, the HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 779 A. E. Edwards and 'Wife 780 HISTORY OP HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA other members being: Alvina, the wife of Otto Krase, of Grand Island; Herman, a resident of Grand Island; Minnie, deceased, was the wife of Otto Frauen ; Anna, who lives in Hall County ; John, a farmer in Lake town ship ; Otto, a farmer in Howard County, Ne braska, married Theresa Sassen; and EmH and Louis, both of whom live in Hall County. The mother of the above family died in the spring of 1909, from the rupture of a blood vessel, when an accident occurred, while the father passed away in the fall of 1914. He had been of considerable importance in Lake township and was one of its largest land owners. He came to the United States in 1869, lived at St. Louis, Missouri, until 1871, removed to Hall County, Nebraska, taking up a homestead of eighty acres in Lake town ship. Through industry and business ability he increased his possessions and when he died left an estate of four hundred and ninety-three acres of well improved land. He was a Re publican in politics and was loyal to his friends but accepted no offices for himself. For many years the log structures he built in early days remained on the farm, but the last one was torn down in 1909 when modern buildings were erected. William F. Stolle attended the public schools in Lake township, and ever since has devoted himself to farm pursuits. His land is well adapted to the industries he carries on and his annual crop and stock products are very satis factory from their owner's point of view. On October 26, 1910, Mr. StoHe married Miss Mary Brabander, a daughter of Garrett and Louise (Manke) Brabander, and they have three children: Alfred, Carl and Blanche, They belong to the English Lutheran church. Politically Mr Stolle is a Republican. He is a member of the Farmers Union, the Non- Partisan League, and a German society. AUGUST STOLDT, who represents large agricultural interests in Lake township, is representative of a family that has been known and respected in Hall County for many years. He was born in the city of New York, June 12, 1873, the son of Hans and Magdalene (Suehlsen) Stoldt, the former of whom was born in Germany, August 13, 1839, and the latter September 19, 1840. Their marriage took place in Germany, September 30, 1865. They becam^ the parents of five children, three of whom died in infancy. The two sur vivors are August and Johanna. The latter IS the wife of Asbjorn Heiberg, who lives at Big Sandy, Montana. A few days after mar riage, Hans Stoldt and his wife left Germany for the United States and safely reached the harbor of New York. He was a cabinet maker skilled in his trade and had no difficulty in finding employment in the big piano manu facturing houses of Steinway and Kroenig & Bach, of New York City. In 1878 he came with his wife and family to Hall County. He purchased a part of what is now the farm of his son. Both he and his wife were very in dustrious, letting no opportunity go by to add to their income. While not engaged on his farm, Mr. Stoldt worked as a carpenter and helped in the erection of the present substan tial Wolbach store building at Grand Island. In those early days, when there were no pub lic means of transportation, it was a heavy task to procure fuel. The custom was for the householder to start with his team at three o'clock in the morning for the Loup River, trirty-two miles away, making the round trip, loading logs which cost nothing at that time, and usually reaching home in the night. This was but one of the many hardships of early settlement in Lake township. Nevertheless* when Mr. Stoldt retired in 1903, he owned two hudred acres of well improved land in Hall County, the direct result of his industry and thrift. Both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church. He belongs to old Ger man social societies in Grand Island. August Stoldt attended the common schools near his father's farm and later a business col lege in Grand Island, after which he accepted a position in a grocery house in Brooklyn, New York, having an ambition to become a city business man. During the six months that he worked for the Brooklyn firm, his hours were from five in the morning until eight at night, and half of Sunday, for which he re ceived the meager salary of $10 a month. He remembers how tiresome this service was on account of the city customers purchasing in small quantities for their daily needs, and the repetition, day after day, finally became too much to stand and he decided to retum to a real man's work on the home farm, where he has continued to reside. He now owns and operates three hundred and eighty acres of fine land, all well improved, and has a profitable, growing business in the breeding of Hereford cattle. Mr. Stoldt carries on his operations with first class machinery. He says the first binder in this neighborhood was owned by Henry Ahrens, and further, in contrasting old days with the present, recalls that the first top buggy, a great luxury and extravagance at that time, was owned by Fritz Buckow. On June 16, 1903, Mr. Stoldt married Miss HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 781 Anna Mohr, a daughter of John and Margaret (Lemburg) Mohr, very early settlers in Hall County. They are now living retired at Grand Island. Mr and Mrs. Stoldt have had three children, two of whom died in infancy, the one surviving being his father's name sake, August, Jn, who was born Febraary 11, 1911. In poh tics Mr. Stoldt is a Democrat. He has served Lake township in the office of assessor several terms and for a number of years has been treasurer of his school district. He is presi dent of the Farmers Union and one of the board of directors, and also is president of the Anti-Horse Thief Association, which has a hundred members. He is a member of one of the old German social societies in Grand Island. ALBERT J. NIEMOTH, whose fann ac tivities are large and important in Hall County, and who stands among the foremost farmers and cattle breeders of Lake township, has been a resident of Nebraska nearly all his life. He was born in Winnebago County, Wiscon sin, September 28, 1872, a son of John and Wilhelmina (Lindstedt) Niemoth. Both parents of Mr. Niemoth were born in Germany. John Niemoth came to the United States when fourteen years old and for seven years worked in a Norwegian settlement in Wisconsin, where he leamed the Norwegian language. He was twenty-two years old when he married. In May, 1873, he came to Hall County, Nebraska, buying one hundred and sixty acres of land at first, afterward owning two whole sections. His wife having passed away on the farm June 25, 1912, in 1916 he retired to Grand Island. 'They had ten chil dren: Anna, the wife of August Buchfink, of Grand Jsland; Frank, who lives in Merrick County ; Clara, the wife of Emest Wagner, of Greeley County, Nebraska; Emily, who lives in California; Albert J., a farmer and stock man of Lake township ; Frederick, who lives at Gordon, Nebraska ; Robert and Richard, twins, the former of whom lives in Lake township, and the latter is deceased; Augusta, the wife of Rhinehart Kunze, of Lake township; and Ernest, who lives in Lake township. Albert J. Niemoth obtained his education in the Hall County schools and remained with his father until grown, then went to Grant County, where he" took up a homestead on which he lived for nine years. In 1904 he sold his interests there and returned to Hall County, since which time he has been operating five hundred acres in Lake township, all well im proved. Mn Niemoth is justly proud of his Red Polled cattle, this breed, in his opinion, being the most profitable in Hall County as well as in Grant, where he began in the cattle business. On September 16, 1897, Mr. Niemoth mar ried Miss Bertha Loescher, a daughter of Frederick and Louise (Raatz) Loescher, who live in Grand Island. Mr. and Mrs. Niemoth have the following children : Frederick, Laura, Minnie, Ella, August, Bertha, Elizabeth and Pearl. The eldest son is attending college in Grand Island. Mr. Niemoth and his family are members ofthe German Lutheran church. For many years he has been a Republican in his political connection and on that ticket was elected to the office of treasurer of Lake town ship, in which he has served for two years. He is vice-president of the Lake township local of the Farmers Union and belongs also to the Non-Partisan League. JOHN A. RUFF, one ofthe highly esteemed older residents of Lake township, came to Hall County almost a half century ago, having chosen to make this locality his home to the present day. He has had varied experiences in the passage of a long life, and his reminis cences are both interesting and enlightening. His birth took place in Germany, September 24, 1847, the son of John H. and Anna M. (Miebe) Ruff, the former of whom was bom in Germany, March 26, 1801, and the latter, January 26, 1806. They came to the United States in 1856, settling near Peoria, IHinois, with a son, who was pastor of a church there. He afterward built a house in Bloomington, IHinois, in which the family resided a num ber of years, the son, in the meanwhile fill ing pastorates in Wisconsin, then in Michigan, in which state he died, having spent some years in the family home. All the rest of their children have also passed away except John A. and Elizabeth, the latter being Mrs. Hoff man, a resident of JacksonvHle, Illinois. In Germany Mr. Ruff's father had been an emi nent physician and surgeon, also carying on a mercantile business, but he had retired from general practice before coming to this country. Both parents died at the home of their son, John A., the mother on May 3, 1888, and the father on January 18, 1890. Their burial was in the Grand Island cemetery. John A. Ruff had school training at Peoria and Bloomington, Illinois, and in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin. When sixteen years old he went to Chicago, where he learned the mattress making trade, subsequently making a specialty of this line, and also worked at 782 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA upholstering. In the meanwhile the Civil War was in progress and at NashvHle, Tennessee, he enlisted for six months service in the army. Within two months, however, his health failed, and later he became so ill that he was dis charged on account of disability. At Jeffer- sonville, Indiana, he met an acquaintance and together they went to Indianapolis, Mr. Ruff being on his way home to Bloomington, but in that city he met with misfortune, being robbed of his army pay, and was left with only fifty cents which had been concealed in an inside pocket. Although he did not recover from his army iHness for two years, a year later he left Bloomington for Chicago, where he worked irregularly at his trade, also in Dwight and Bloomington, Illinois, untH he came to Hall County, Nebraska, in 1870. Here he homesteaded eighty acres situated three miles north of Grand Island, where he lived for seven years, later he bought land on section 17-12-9, and on this farm he yet lives. Mr. Ruff owns more than four hundred acres of land, the greater part of it being well im proved. In the fall of 1871, when meat and pro visions were scarce in the region around Grand Island, he did as other men of the neighbor hood who had famHies to provide for, bought a trusty rifle for $5 from an Indian chief, and thus fitted out he started after game. When some sixty miles from home he killed three elk and other game including a black- tail deer. The latter he traded to a party to ferry him across the river with his load, as there were no bridges in this section at that time, and the meat he brought home from this trip kept their larder supplied all winter. On another occasion, when stalking an elk, he had to walk through weeds and sunflowers fully eight feet high, and came suddenly ito a cliff in the canyon. Hearing a noise above his head he discovered a herd of at least thirty elk look ing at him. The sudden view and unusual sight almost unnerved him, but he managed to get two of the elk before they dashed away, a tribute to his good marksmanship. In Grand Island, November 26, 1870, Mr. Ruff married Miss Welhelmina Beyer, of Bloomington, IHinois. They became the par ents of fifteen children, all but two of whom survive: John, a minister, lives at Secord, Gladwin County, Michigan ; Charles, a teacher, lives in the great city of Chicago ; WiHiam, a preacher, lives at Chase, Kansas; Henry, a resident of Grand Island ; Mary, the wife of WHliam Sielaff, lives at Grand Island ; Clara, the wife of John Quandt, of Lake township; Paul, who lives in Howard County, Nebraska ; Waher, who lives at Vergas, Minnesota; Al bert, who lives on the home place; Rosa, the wife of Reverend Nau, of Holstein, Nebraska ; and Fred, who is in the United States army. Mr. Ruff owned and operated the first furni ture store in Grand Island, which he opened in 1870. He made his own mattresses and sup plied stores at other places. He and James Cleary rented a store room from a Mr. Arnold, who was the United States register in Grand Island at that time. Mr. Cleary occupied one side of the building, conducting his tin shop and selling stoves, while Mr. Ruff occupied the other. He did very weH in this business venture, a natural sincere and courteous man ner that yet distinguishes him, making both business and personal friends very easily. His political convictions have come from close ob servation and wide reading. The only public office he ever consented to hold was that of school director. He was reared in the Lutheran faith and his religious duties have always been a part of his daily life. ADIN DORRINGTON TILLEY. — One of the prominent early settlers in HaH County who had much to do with its substantial de- velpoment and educational progress, was the late Adin D. TiHey, whose long and useful Hfe of seventy-eight years closed on June 8, 1914. He lived to see Grand Island emerge from a little sun-dried hamlet, with a grass-grown wagon track as its main thoroughfare, into one of the busy, modern cities of the state. In later years he walked along beautiful tree- lined streets and avenues that owed their shade to the work of himself and sons, who brought this condition about. Adin Dorrington Tilley was bom at New Lisbon, Osage County, New York, August 29, 1835, and was liberally educated in his native state. In March, 1873, he came to Hall County, Nebraska, and secured the homestead of eighty acres, on which his widow yet lives. He divided his time between farming and teaching school, his services being in demand both in HaH and Merrick counties, teaching fourteen terms in one district in Merrick and thirteen in one district in Hall County. To the younger generation this profession is one that possesses no danger and offers little ex citement, but had they been with Mr. Tilley and fourteen of his pupils in the little un sheltered schoolhouse on the prairie, when the sudden blizzard of 1888 so rapidly enveloped them with blinding snow that they could only leave at the peril of their lives, they might have changed their minds and like the others HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 783 Li 1 t;'--..v:"-r.- ^; '^^m^^Mi Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Tilley Fiftieth wedding anniversary 784 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA remained during the entire night. Another severe storm that the Tilleys lived through after reaching Hall County, was the memor able one of April, 1873, In their little cabin three families were domiciled at the time. With great good fortune Mr, TiHey reached home before the storm fell, with a load of corn, that was intended for fuel, because nothing else could be secured, hence they were' much better off than the majority of their neighbors. When Mr. Tilley retired from the educational field, he went into the nursery business, and he and his sons subsequently set out almost all the trees in Grand Island and its vicinity. The two trees standing on his homestead when he came here, were the only ones for many miles. He was a lover of trees and they responded to his care. On April 10, 1860, Mr. Tilley married Miss Maria A. Perkins. Her parents were Ransom and Ehzabeth (Tenbroeck) Perkins, of Ed- meston, Ostego County, New York, both families being old and prominent in New York to the present day. Mrs. Tilley's father came later to Hall County, living here fourteen years. Of the eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. THley, the following survive : Lydia, the wife of John Reaugh, of Savannah, Missouri ; George, a substantial farmer in Lake town ship. Hall County; WiHiam, who is a farmer in Lake township, married Floy Wilcox ; Sadie, the wife of Arthur Hanna, of Lake township; and John, who lives in Arthur, Nebraska, married Anna Brabander. In poli tics, Mr. Tilley was a Republican. He was a man of firm convictions and ever courageous in carrying them out. He was a faithful mem ber of the Baptist church, as is his widow. She still resides on the old homestead and is well known and affectionately regarded all through this neighborhood. ARTHUR DAY HANNA. — Never before in the history of the world have farm products been in such demand as today. Among the capable farmers of Hall County who are con tributing to the supply of life sustaining foods for the populations both at home and abroad, the gentleman whose name introduces this record is found in the front rank. Arthur D. Hanna was born in LaSalle County, Illinois, August 12, 1877, a son of James E. and Etta M. (Day) Hanna, a record of whom will occupy other pages of this vol ume. On December 15, 1903, Arthur D. Hanna married Miss Sadie Tilley, a native of Hall County, a daughter of Adin D. and Maria A. (Perkins) TiHey, of whom extended mention is made elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Hanna have one child, a daughter, Etta M. Mr. Hanna is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred sixty acres, in section twenty- one. Lake township, where he successfully carries on general farming and stockraising. His farm is provided with a substantial set of buildings and he is accounted one of the pro gressive men of his community. The family are members of the Baptist church, of which Mr. Hanna is a deacon. He exercises the right of franchise in support of men and measures of the Democratic party, and in every relation of life measures up to the fuH standard of citizenship . CASPER HONGSERMEIER, a highly re spected retired farmer of Lake township, has been a resident of Hall County since 1885. He was born in Westphalia, Germany, Febra ary 28, 1854, one of a family of ten children born to Heinrich and Marie (Unferther) Hongsermeier. Both parents died in Germany^- where the father had been a general 'farmer. Only two sons came to the United States, Casper and Henry. The latter settled in Kansas and recently died there. During boyhood Mr. Hongsermeier attended the common school near his home and after ward engaged in farming in the old country. In 1885 he came to the United States and set tled in Hall County, where he bought land at $2 an acre, which is now worth over $150 an acre because of the excellent improvements he has made. He has always carried on farming, being most successful. Although now retired he still lives on his farm of one hundred and sixty acres, where he has every comfort of life and can oversee farming operations as he feels inclined. On April 25, 1879, Mr. Hongsermeier mar ried Miss Marie Mettenbrink, a daughter of Frederick and Anna M. (Schwendeniek) Mettenbrink, who spent their lives in Germany. Her father was a prosperous farmer there at one time. Mr. and Mrs. Hongsermeier have the following chHdren: Henry and Charles, both of whom live in Buffalo County, Ne braska; Mary who lives with her parents; Frederick who is a farmer in Hall County, married Louise Hamann ; Anna, who lives at home; Augusta, the wife of Ernest Hoerst, of Hamilton County, Nebraska; Lena, the wife of Fletcher Thurley, of Custer County; and Emma, William and Albert, all of whom reside at home. This is one of the fine HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 785 families of the township, parents and chHdren alike being highly respected and welcome in every circle. They all belong to the Lutheran church. Mr. Hongsermeier casts an independ ent political vote. He is a member of the Farmers Union and the Non-Partisan League. HENRY C. AHRENS, who owns one of the well improved farms of Lake township, where he carries on general agriculture and makes a specialty of raising Rhode Island Ked chickens for the market, was born in this county July 8, 1885, and the same year his father was accidentally killed by a runaway team of horses owned by a neighbor. The parents of Mr. Ahrens, Henry C. and Magdalena (Dierks) Ahrens, were born in Germany. On their way to America they were married in the city of Liverpool, England, November 19, 1868, before sailing for the United States. Theii' children were: Alida, the wife of Frank Niemoth of Merrick County, Nebraska; Alexander, a substantial farmer in Lake township, married Sophronia Lorenzen; and Henry C., who has spent his life in Hall County. Under the care of an admirable mother, Henry C. Ahrens grew to manhood, attended school and worked on the home farm. When twenty-three years old he removed to his -mother's second farm and operated it for her until 1917, when he bought it and today, is the owner of one hundred and eighty acres of highly improved land where he engages in general agriculture. In March, 1914, Mr. Ahrens married Miss Alaria W. Hintz, who -was born in Germany and came to Hall County May 5, 1911. She is the only one of her family to come to the United States. Her parents are Claus and Amelia (Anderson) Hintz, highly respected residents of their neighborhood in Gemiany. Mr. and Mrs. Ahrens have no children. They are members of the Lutheran church. In poli tics he has been a Republican for a number of years and now belongs to the Non-Partisan League. DETLEF SASS. — The life record of the first settlers of Grand Island all have their values from the standpoint of being historical, and none are more interesting than that of the man whose name heads this biography. Detlef Sass was a native of Holsetin, Ger many,, the same country that furnished nearly all of those pioneers who laid the foundation of the present Hall County. The date of his birth was June 16, 1831, the youngest of a large family. His father conducted a bakery establishment. It was intended that the son should take up this trade, but the life of a baker did not appeal to him, so he learned the trade of a weaver. He served an apprentice ship, and as was the custom in that country, traveled three years as a journeyman weaver. When the province of Holstein arose against Danish misrule, young Sass enlisted in the ser vice of his country, serving a term in the Ger man army. Soon after his period of service ended he joined a party of his countrymen who were to leave for America. Their first home in the new country was at Davenport, Iowa. In 1857 Detlef Sass became a member of the little band who came to Nebraska and founded the city of Grand Island. The story of this settlement will be found on other pages of this history, and suffice to say that through the trials and hardships that met these early settlers, Mr. Sass always contributed his fuH share. In speaking of the pioneer days, Mr. Sass often told this story. "Joachim Doll was one of the first settlers, and once he was obliged to make a trip to Omaha. When the time came for him to go he came to me and told me that his wife was sick and asked me to go -in his place. I told him if I had soles on my shoes I could go all right. He was a shoe- inaker and put wooden soles on my shoes and I made the journey to Omaha for him." It was the promise of a home and land that induced these men to come to the then barren wilds of what was called the Great American Desert. Mr. Sass, like many others, took a home stead and his first home was a primitive log house. He carried on farming until the grass hopper scourge came upon the country but he was one of those who thought that a better opportunity awaited them further west, and with a neighbor went to Fort Steele, Wyoming. Having taken a few cows with them the men went into the business of supplying milk to the soldiers of the fort. It was while residing here that he was joined in marriage to Miss Eliza Kuhl, whom he had met at Grand Is land. Life in Wyoining became very lonesome for the young wife with her husband gone all day, and as the Indians were becoming trouble some, they decided to return to Grand Island. He found employment conducting the saloon at Sand Krog for a short time when he moved into the city and erected the Wyoming House. This he and his wife conducted for a time and prospered, but misfortune came to them when the hotel took fire and burned to the ground. This left them with nothing but the 786 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Detlep Sass HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 787 Mrs. Detlep Sass 788 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA clothes on their backs. With a large family of boys he decided that the city was no place to raise them so he moved to a farm, fie later bought one hundred sixty acres, to which he added another tract of the same size. But he seemed to be possessed of a desire for a change and went to Oregon. Here he made invest ments but was not long permitted to enjoy the new country for his death occurred there Sep tember 4, 1894. Mrs. Sass was also a native of Germany, her birth occurring July 20, 1844. By her marriage she became the mother of , nine chH dren: Dan, resides in Michigan; John, is a business man of Grand Island ; Minnie, is the wife of WHliam Keuscher, of Hall County; George, who owns and operates the old farm; Rudolph, a farmer of Alda township; Her man, a farmer of Hall County ; Antonia, is the wife of Ernest Sankbeyer, of Merrick County ; Chris, who resides in Merrick County; and Freda, who passed away when a young lady of twenty-one Mrs. Sass has capably managed the affairs since her husband's death, and though she has disposed of the property, makes her home on the old farm. Coming to a new country when a young woman, and having lived in so many different places in this country hers is an inter esting story of pioneer days, as she is one of those who have witnessed the vast changes that have taken place during a half century. She and her husband were reared in the faith of the Lutheran chUrch and their family were brought up to have the same religious belief. Mr. Sass belonged to the old German societies of Grand Island, and in politics was a Repub lican, though he took no part in the affairs of government. He will long be remembered as one of the first stttlers and a man who in all the years he lived in Hall County, could always be counted upon to do his full share toward buHding up and developing the com munity. HENRY C. FRAUEN, numbered with the representative citizens and good farmers of Hall County, was born in Merrick County, Nebraska, December 13, 1879, and has lived on his present well improved farm in Lake township since Febmary, 1907. He is one of a family of five chHdren born to Paul and Catherine (Paustian) Frauen, whose record will be found elsewhere in this volume, the latter of whom died in 1898. Henry C. Frauen attended school in Mer rick County, He has always been a farmer and on his wedding day settled on his place in Lake township. Hall County, He carries on general farming and raises fine stock, de voting close attention to all his industries, fol lowing modern methods and making use of the best farm machinery on the market, all his hauling and heavy work being done by a modern farm tractor. On February 20, 1907, Mr. Frauen married Miss Lydia Spatholt, a .daughter of Frederick and Charlotte (Scheel) Spatholt, residents of HaH County. Mrs. Frauen was bom on the farm on which she yet lives. Of the three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Frauen only two are living: Paul, who bears the honored name of his grandfather, was born Febraary II, 1908, and Irene, who was born September 20, 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Frauen are members of the Lutheran church. In politics Mr. Frauen is a Republican, as is his father. He belongs to the Farmers Union and the Non- Partisan League. MRS. MAGDALENE AHRENS, a very highly esteemed resident of Grand Island, liv ing in her comfortable home at No. 108 West Tenth street, is the widow of Henry Ahrens, who homesteaded in Hall County in 1872. Left a widow with a family of small children, Mrs. Ahrens for many years had heavy re sponsibilities to bear. She is a woman of great strength of character and safely guided her little family to mature years so husbanding the resources of the land Mr. Ahrens had left that she found ease and ample fortune await ing them all. Mrs. Ahrens was bom in Holstein, Ger many, November 1, 1847. Henry Ahrens was born in Hanover, Germany, December 5, 1839. Both started for America and they were united in marriage on November 19, 1868, in Liverpool, England, before sailing for the United States. Their first home was near Yorkville, Illinois, where they lived for three years, then started westward, travelling with horses, taking three weeks to reach Shelby County, Missouri, where they remained through the following winter. In the spring they came on to Hall County, Nebraska, Mr. Ahrens taking up a homestead in Lake town ship, in February, 1872. Mrs. Ahrens re members weH the hardships of those early days. A good housekeeper, she had to do without many conveniences to which she had always been accustomed and at first longed for one of the big clean ceHars that she had had in Germany. As soon as possible Mr. Ahrens set out trees to please her, which have now grown into a beautiful grove. Before HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 789 coming to America he had been a valet for wealthy employers, but after settling in Ne braska he accepted changed conditions and worked as hard and efficiently as if he had always been a farmer. During the winter time he earned a dollar a day digging cellars, work ing the entire week in Grand Island, while Mrs. Ahrens directed affairs on the homestead. She remembers how fearful she was of prairie fires, as they had few neighbors to help them out in time of need and were seven miles away from Grand Island. During the grasshopper invasion her garden was completely eaten up, the insects crawling under a blanket she had spread over her young onion bed also devour ing the tubers in the ground. Mr. and Mrs. Ahrens continued to add to their first farm by hard work and frugality, until they had one hundred and eighty-five acres. They were well on their way to a much more comfortable manner of living, when the accident occured which cost Mr. Ahrens's life, on June 9, J.885. It was caused by a runaway team belonging to a neighbor. The children who survived him were as follows : Alida, the wife of Frank Niemoth, of Merrick County; Hellene, who died when 17 months of age ; Alexander, who resides on the old home stead in Lake township, married Sofine Loren zen; and Henry C, who bought his mother's second farm of one hundred and eighty-five acres and resides on it. Mr. Ahrens was a Republican in politics and a member of the Lutheran church. After her husband's death, Mrs. Ahrens manged affairs until her health gave out. With her sons she later bought additional land and now each one has a fine farm. In 1907 she visited her old home in Germany and after her retum she removed to Grand Island, where she has a valued church connection. She has made warm friends because of her kind and helpful nieghborliness. CHRISTOPHER BAUER. — In order to properly realize the phenomenal development within the space of a few decades not only in Hall but in other neighboring counties of Nebraska, one has but to turn back the pages of history a little way, and consider what the fathers and mothers faced in the way of liv ing conditions when they came to Nebraska. Christopher Bauer, one of Hall County's rep resentative men, can teH of pioneer days in York County, and of experiences that might - just as well be applied to Hall County. Mr. Bauer was bom at Theresa, Dodge County, Wisconsin, January 19, 1856. The parents of Mr. Bauer, Christian and Dorothy Bauer, were natives of Germany. He was born near Stuttgart and she near Hiedel- berg. They came to the United States in 1855, locating on the land the father bought in Dodge County, Wisconsin, where the family made their home until February, 1880, when removal was made to York County, Nebraska, There were three chHdren in the family: Freda, Christopher and Mary. Freda is the widow of William Kastner, and lives at James town, North Dakota. Mary is the wife of Frederick Spoerl, they live at Marion, North. Dakota. When the Bauers located in Wis consin, the country was heavily wooded and the great trees had to be cut down in order to make clearing on which the primitive log cabin could be built of green logs. The roof of the cabin was of rough timbers covered with hand made shingles, while the earth was the only flooring. After locating in Nebraska the cows the family brought with them from Wisconsin, had, at first to be used as beasts of burden, for oxen were high priced and scarce. Wild animals were by no means ex tinct, bears sometimes being seen, while a watch had to be kept in order that deer did not invade the newly cleared fields and trample the growing grain. There were many Indians, but they were never menacing to the Bauer family, who divided their food with the travel ers as they came to their cabin door, even when .they had but little themselves. In spite, of hard work, toil with their hand and many pri vations, Mr, Bauer's parents lived into com parative old age, the mother dying in 1887 and the father in 1889, At that time he owned ' eighty acres of improved land, Christopher Bauer attended school in Wis consin and remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years old. In 1877 he came to York County with a team and covered wagon, spending over three weeks on the way. He invested in land and worked for other settlers up to 1880, when he married. The ceremony uniting Miss Lydia Wissmann with him took place February 21, 1880, at Long Hope, York County, Her parents were George and Catherine (Gesberg) Wissman, natives of Germany who at an early day came to Iowa and later to York where the father died in 1883, The mother died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Bauer, in July, 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Bauer became the parents of six children: Frank, who lives in Western Ne braska ; Laura, the wife of Frederick Ehlers, of Prairie Creek township. Hall County ; Rena, the wife of William Hardekopf, near Palmer, Nebraska; Edna, the wife of Reverend Goef- 790 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA fert, of Culbertson, Nebraska; and Paul and Myrtle, both of whom are at home. Mr. Bauer and his family belong to the Metho dist Episcopal church, as did his parents. Mr. Bauer continued to live in York County untH 1890, when he came to HaH County and bought one hundred and sixty acres in section two. Lake township. Here he has carried on general farming and stockraising ever since. While living in York County he was quite active iri public affairs, serving frequently as school director, road overseer and treasurer, but he has confined his energies entirely to business since coming to Lake township. In his political convictions he is a Republican. On many occasions he has demonstrated his good citizenship and neighborly feeling, and with his family is held in much esteem in Lake township. As he looks over his well culti vated fields and notes his fine stock, his im proved machinery and commodious buildings, his thoughts often turn to the little log cabin in the woods, and the courageous, resourceful people who made it an endearing home, so many years ago. (EDITH SAUNDERS SPENCE, M. D., ac tive and successful in her practice, is one of the leading members of the medical profes sion in Grand Island and Hall County. She ¦ has a large private practice, and has, also, capably filled positions of great public responsi bility, commanding the confidence and enjoy ing the esteem of all who know her either pro fessionally or personally. As a woman of en lightened mind and intellectual vigor, she has always been interested in cultural activities, and her ideas frequently find expression in her poems and short stories. Dr. Spence was born at Bellaire, Ohio, a daughter of Dr. Alcinon Jackson and Mary Caroline (Hayman) Saunders. Dr. Alcinon Saunders was born at WiHiams- burg, Pennsylvania, September 16, 1837, and died September 12, 1900. He provided by his own efforts for his college education at Richmond, Ohio. He studied chemistry and during the years 1861, 1862 and 1863, was pharmacist in the Central Ohio Insane Asylum. From there he entered Starling Medical Col lege, at Columbus, and was graduated in medi cine and surgery from that institution. Sub sequently he was graduated from the Long Island College hospital, and for five years re mained there taking graduate work. He entered into practice in Ohio and became very successful. In 1880 he came to Grand Island, where his professional skiH won immediate recognition and his personal character shed distinction on everything with which he was identified. For many years he was a member of the school board; a member of the United States Pension Bureau; physician at the Sol diers and Sailors Home, and surgeon at St. Francis Hospital. In 1889 he went to Europe to attend lectures and clinics at Vienna, Austria, and on his return became a specialist in chronic troubles of the ear, nose and throat. In 1896 he opened an office at Leavenworth, Kansas. He was there stricken with paralysis, from which he never recovered. He was a Knight Templar Mason. A leader in his pro fession, he was called as a consultant all over the state. On November 13, 1866, Dr. Saunders was united in marriage to Mary Caroline Hay man, who was born at Letart Falls, Ohio, and died in August, 1900. Of their surviving chil dren Dr. Spence is the youngest, the others being: Lucy, the wife of J. P. Brachert, of Portland, Oregon ; Bertha, the wife of Robert Fontaine, of Grand Island ; Florence, who re sides in Grand Island; Austin, a resident of Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Alanous, who lives at Chicago, Illinois. After completeing the high school course in Grand Island Dr. Spence entered the medical department of Creighton University in Omaha, completing her medical course in the Nebraska State University in Lincoln. In 1901 she entered into medical practice in Grand Island. Afterward she was appointed physician for the State Industrial home at MHford, by Governor Savage, which exacting office she filled for some years, then resigned to return to Grand Island. Here she continued in active practice until 1917, since which time she has practically retired from the medical field. For a number of years she was grand medical examiner for the Degree of Honor lodge. She was a mem ber of the Hall County Medical Association and at all times with professional equality took part in its proceedings. For a number of years she was the only lady member of the medical fraternity of her college. On November 13, 1906, Dr. Spence was united in marriage to Daniel E. Spence. Jr., in Grand Island. He is a son of Daniel E. and Sarah (McLaughlin) Spence, former residents of Fairbury, Nebraska. The mother of Mr. Spence is deceased, but his father survives and lives at Portland, Oregon. Mr. Spence came to Grand Island from Kansas, and for twenty-five years has been passenger engineer on the St. Joseph & Grand Island RaHroad. By a former marriage he has twin sons, Harry and Howard, who are in school. In politics Mr. Spence is a Republican, is a Knight Templar Mason and a HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 791 Shriner, and belongs to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. Since retiring from pi-ofessional work. Dr. Spence has more time to devote to her literary labors. At one time she was interested in preparing a county his tory, but found the work involved too much time and effort in connection with other un dertakings she had in hand. Both she and husband are members of the Methodist Epis copal church. JOHN M. HANSSEN, one of Washington township's best known and most resptected citizens, continues to fi-ve on a part of the old family homestead in Hall County, to which he was brought by his parents forty-seven years ago. The Hanssen family has been one of the solid, substantial and progressive families of this section ever since it was established here. John M. Hanssen was born in Holstein, Germany, December 30, 1864. His parents were Ties and Louise (Neubert) Hanssen, natives of Germany, where his father was a day laborer and bee keeper. In April, 1870, the family landed in the United States. They resided in Chicago until June, 1872, when they came to HaH County, where the father bought eighty acres in Washington township, south of Grand Island. At the time of his death, in February, l9ll, he was considered a man of financial independence. He was quiet, hardworking and honest, never identify ing himself with any political organization but being faithful as a member of the Lutheran church. A warm neighborly feeling existed between him and William Stolley, another prominent early settler. The mother of Mr. Hanssen died at his home on June 10, 1918. There were but two children in the family : John M. and Henry G. The latter is an engineer on the Texas Pacific Railroad and lives at Marshall, Texas. He married Ella P. Gilbert, of Paducah, Kentucky. John M. Hanssen, familiarly known to his many friends as "Hannes" was educated in the public schools and the Grand Island Bus iness coHege, -In addition to his agricultural activities, he is secretary of the Grand Island Mutual Assessment Association, fire and storm insurance. This company was originated by William Stolley and Peter Heesch in 1892, and now has about $5,000,000 insurance on the books. The company has had only five assessments for losses and expenses, in twenty-seven years, and seven losses in that time, a very remarkable showing, Mr, Hanssen has been secretary since October, 1896, For nine years he has been school direc tor in his district. On July 6, 1903, Mr, Hanssen married Miss Catherine Hein, a daughter of Casper and Magdalene (Voss) Hein, natives of Germany, who came to the United States and to Chicago, in 1868, and to Hall County in 1871, Mr, and Mrs. Hanssen have one son, Arnold H., who resides with his parents. Mr. Hanssen owns a large park which he devotes to the growing of cedar trees. A lover of birds, these trees have given him an opportunity to study scientifically a species that winters in the trees, coming here from northern Canada. He has discovered many facts from his study of his little wild pets. It seems that the seeds of these trees so greedily devoured by the birds, are thereby rendered ripe for planting, the digestive organs of the birds softening the hard outer shell that would resist the elements for several years. In all matters pertaining to the welfare of the town ship, Mr. Hanssen keeps well posted. In his political convictions he is a Sociahst and he has served several terms on the township board. He belongs to the Farmers Union and the Nonpartisan League, and to the old social organizations in Grand Island that were founded there by the early German settlers. FREDERICK E. LOESCHER, showing a large amount of enterprise in the management of his farm industries in Lake township, be longs to a pioneer family of Hall County that has prospered, and been respected here for forty-five years. Mr. Loescher was born in Hall County, April 13, 1893, the son of Frederick F. and Dora (Raatz) Loescher, natives of Germany. The father was born October 11, 1845 and was brought to the United States in 1850. He was reared in Wisconsin and enhsted from that state as a soldier in the Civil War, After leaving the army he was a farmer in Winnebago County, near Oshkosh until 1874, when he came to Hall County, where he now owns two hundred and forty acres of fine land. He retired from his farm in 1910 and lived in Grand Island for two years but resumed farming once more and continued actively engaged until March, 1918, when he retired to Grand Island a second time. Of his thirteen chHdren, Frederick E, is the youngest of the survivors, the others being: William, who lives in Lake township, married EHa Spotholt; Agnes, the wife of Ernest Wagner; Minnie, the wife of Fred Hengen, of Omaha ; Herman, who lives at Belgrave, Nebraska, married Rose Peters, and Charles 792 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 793 and Laura, both of whom five in Grand Island ; Bertha is the wife of Albert Niemoth, of Lake township; Emma, who died in April, 1918, was the wife of Edward Niemoth, and Frank, the ninth in order of birth, died July 29, 1915. Frederick E. Loescher was educated in the public schools of Washington township, and the Grand Island Business College. He enter tains very progressive ideas about farming and is willing to work hard to carry them out. Modern methods and modern machinery are made use of and Mr. Loescher is proving the value of both. He is carrying on general farming and stockraising. On February 10, 1918, he married Miss Olga Lohmann, a daughter of William and Mary (Dickman) Lohmann, who are residents of Merrick County. They have one child. Myrtle, who was born November 30, 1918. They are mem bers of the Lutheran church. In politics he is independent but is identified with the Farm ers Union and is interested in everything that, promises permanent benefit to the farmers of Hall County. CHARLES H. METTENBRINK, prob ably one of Lake township's most progressive farmers, is also one of the largest landowners in this part of Hall County. It may be said further, that these fine farms and herds of registered cattle did not come to him by in heritance, but as the result of the hard work of a persevering farmer who possesses more than the usual amount of sober business judg ment. Charles H. Mettenbrink was born in West phalia, Germany, April 9, 1854. His parents were Frederick W. and Anna M. (Schwen deniek) Mettenbrink, natives of Germany who spent their entire lives there. The father was- a farmer and raised cattle, and for the times, was considered well to do. Of their eight children three live in Germany, the other five having homes in Nebraska, Charles H. being the eldest of these. He has two sisters and one brother in Hall County: Anna M., the wife of Casper Hongsermeier, of Lake town ship; Katherine, the wife of Henry Ansmer; WiHiam, who is dead; and Frederick, who lives near Grand Island. The parents were faithful members of the Lutheran church and reared their children in this religious body. When his school days were over, Charles H. Mettenbrink worked as a farmer in Germany untH 1881, when he came to the United States, , ireaching Hall County in the fall of that year. The following four years he was employed on farms and prudently saved his earnings, then, in partnership with his brother-in-law bought three hundred and twenty acres of land. For a time they operated the entire tract together but later evenly divided it. He now owns eight hundred, acres, all valuable property, devoting a large amount of attention to the cattle business, raising on an average, two car loads, and from one to two car loads of calves a year. When he settled on his home place it was bare of improvements, but through industry and thrift he soon made notable changes through setting out trees and erect ing substantial buildings. As already men tioned, he is doing an immense business in cattle and his opinions are worth listening to when he announces a preference for White Face registered cattle, of which he has a valu able herd. In AprH, 1885, Mr. Mettenbrink returned to Germany and was there united in marriage with Miss Mary Ostermeier, who died August 20, 1894. She was a daughter of Henry and Elsie (Esem) Ostermeier, who spen t their lives in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Mettenbrink had five children born to them: Mary, the wife of Casper Meier, of Merrick County, Nebraska; Charles who assists his father; Emma, the wife of Herman Huepner ; and Elsie and Henry, both of whom live at home. For his second wife Mr. Mettenbrink mar ried Miss Louisa Obermeier, of Germany, who is deceased. Mr. Mettenbrink and family are members of the Lutheran church. He is a Republican in politics and has political influ ence in township affairs but has never been willing to accept any public office. Mr. Metten brink has made three visits to Germany since he first came to the United States. ALEXANDER AHRENS, one of the pro gressive farmers and good business men of Lake township, is a native, having spent his en tire life in HaH County, where his birth took place July 2, 1876. His parents were Henry and Magdalene Ahrens, the former of whom was born in Germany, December 5, 1839, and the latter, November I, 1847. They came to the United States in 1868 and to Nebraska in 1871, where the father homesteaded. Assisted by the mother of Mr. Ahrens, the father pros pered in spite of many early hardships, and at the time of his accidental death, in 1885, he owned a large estate, Alexander Ahrens was but a lad when he was left fatherless. His mother, a woman of great energy and executive ability proved equal to the responsibilities suddenly placed 794 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA upon her, and not only reared her young chil dren carefully and judiciously, but ably man aged the farm, and, as the sons grew into man hood, guided and joined them in adding to the already ample estate, Mr, Ahrens oper ates his farm of one hundred and eighty acres, which is well stocked and highly improved. His second farm, the old August C. F. Wendt estate, containing one hundred and forty acres, he rents out. His brother, Henry C. Ahrens, is also a large farmer in Lake township. The mother, after an enjoyable visit to Germany, in 1907, took up her residence in Grand Is land, where she has a comfortable and attrac tive home and is within a pleasant social circle. On March 6, 1914, Mr Ahrens married Miss Sofine Lorenzen, a daughter of Falquardt and Marhne (Bonson) Lorenzen, residents of Germany. They have two most engaging little children, Walter and Anita. Mr. and Mrs. Ahrens are active members of the Lutheran church. He has always been affiliated with ¦the Republican party but has never been will ing to accept any political office. He belongs to the Farmers Union and the Non-Partisan League, and is identified also with a German social organization in Grand Island. CARL DEICHMANN, who came to the United States in 1866, and to Hall County Nebraska, in 1878, is one of Lake township's best known residents. He belongs to the group of old settlers, who, through their in dustry and sound judgment made conditions easier for later pioneers, who now intelligently irelate many facts of eariy days that might well be given a place on the page of history. Carl Deichmann was born in the province of Hanover, Gennany, October 12, 1848, a son of Cari H. and Mary (Stottenberg) Deich mann, who lived and died in Germany. His father was an official in government operated copper mines of that country. Of their seven children Cari and a brother came to the United States, the latter being now deceased. In his boyhood a certain amount of schooling was given every youth in Germany, and following this, when about seventeen years old Cari came to the United States. For about k year after reaching this country he lived in New York and then was variously employed in other eastern states until 1878, when he came to Hall County. He rented land for several years and then bought the farm of one hun dred and sixty acres on which he yet lives Here he has followed farming and has been an extensive stockraiser. In a general way he suffered with others in the climatic changes that made the life of a farmer in the early 'nineties a more or less unprofitable vocation, taken in conjunction with the severe winters, during which, on one occasion, Mr. Deich mann found the snow fifteen feet in depth. Mrl, Deichmann first married Miss Kate Westermann, who died in 1888, the mother of three children, the two survivors being : Freda, the wife of Fred Harris, who lives in Cali fornia, and Emma, the wife of George Cooper, of Omaha. His second marriage was to Miss Mary Marsham, and they have had six chil dren: Ella, the wife of Fritz Bergholtz, of Grand Island ; Carl, who went to France as a soldier with the American Expeditionary Force ; Anna, the wife of Jesse Schroeder, of Grand Island, and Albert, Bruno and Freie, all of whom are at home. Mr. Deichmann is not a member of any political party preferring to cast an independent vote. He is a member of the Plattsdeutch society in Grand Island. FREDERICK MOELLER, one of the public spirited residents and most prosperous farmers of Lake township has been road overseer for the past seven years and has efficiently filled other public offices. Mr. Moeller, born in the city of New York, i\fay 16, 1875, was five years old when he was brought to Hall County, which has since been the home of his choice. The parents of Mr. Moeller were H. C. and WHhelmina (Koester) ]\Ioeller, the former of whom was born in Germany Tune 22, 1850, and the latter August 8, 1849. When fourteen years old the father became a sailor foHowing the sea life for five years, and was but nineteen years old when he came to the United States in 1869. At first he found work in an iron foundry in the city of New • York. Afterward he learned to be a meat cutter On March 11, 1881, he came to HaH County, bought land in Lake township, de veloped and improved it and continued its active operation until 1912, when he retired. He was an important factor in county pol itics as a Republican, was assessor many years and for six years was supervisor, during the time that a supervisor from each township made up the board. He married during the time he lived in New York, Miss Wilhelmine Koester, who came to the United States in 1866_. Ten children were bom to them, the survivors being : Frederick, who lives in Lake township ; Anna, the wife of George Mader, of Prairie Creek township; Lena, the wife of Max Schultz, of Washington town ship; Minnie, the wife of Otto Geisenhagen, HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 795 of Grand Island, and LHlie, the wife of August Luebbe, of Howard County. Frederick Moeller started to attend school when six years old, although he had to walk a distance of three and a half miles to the nearest school house. Ordinarily this was not considered too much of a task for sturdy httle country boys, but Mr. Moeller tells of one occasion when it almost meant loss of life. On May 22, 1882, he started to school in company with Jacob Lorentzen, both boys being barefooted. During the day clouds gathered, the sky became a steely gray and snow began to fall, and when the little bare footed lads were on their way home they had to wade through five inches of snow, Jacob carrying his younger companion a part of the way. Mr. Moeller has been engaged in agri cultural pursuits since boyhood. He now owns two hundred and forty acres of fine land, gained through his own efforts. This farm is well improved, has substantial build ings including a fine residence, which has every modern convenience, except a heating plant. On November 8, 1900, Mr MoeHer married Aliss Alinnie Rauert. She is the daughter of Matthew and Elsie (Sieck) Rauert, pioneers in Hall County, who now live retired in Grand Island. Mrs, Moeller is the eldest child and only daughter of her parents, while Mr, Moeller is the oldest child and only son of his parents. Another interesting coincidence in the family came to light some years ago, when the mother of Mr. Moeller and the father of Mrs. MoeHer chanced to be talking of their coming to the United States. They discovered that] thirty years ago they had crossed the Atlantic ocean in the same sailing vessel, which required forty-nine days to make the voyage. Mr. and Mrs. Moeller have two chHdren : George A. and Elsie. In all public affairs Mr. Moeller takes the interest of a good and intelligent citizen and is ever ready to co-operate for the general welfare. In national politics he is a Republican, but in local campaigns votes independently. He is a member of the Nonpartisan League and the Farmers Union, being secretary of the latter JOHN G. ROBY, proprietor of the well known place of entertainment. Harmony Hall Amusement -Park, in HaH County, and also engaged in large farming operations in Deuel County, Nebraska, was born in HaH County, August 17, 1881, a son of Frederick Roby, an extended sketch of the Roby family being found in this work. John G. Roby obtained his education in his native county. On July 20, 1904, he married Miss Helen M. Hagge, a daughter of WHHam A. and Caroline (Moeller) H'agge, who were among the earliest pioneers of Hall County. Mrs. Roby was graduated from the Grand Island High School in the class of 1895. She is a woman of fine education and holds a teacher's permanent certificate because of her acquirements. Prior to her marriage she taught school for six years, two years in Grand Island. Mr. and Mrs. Roby have four chil dren: Leota C, born August 2, 1905; J. Frederick, born January 4, 1908; Nelda J., born October 8, 1909, and William H. born January 7, 1913. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Roby settled on the Roby farm, which he operated until 1913, when they moved into Grand Island, where he conducted a retail liquor business for eighteen months. He then engaged in the automobile business, selling the Chevrolet cars for a year, at the end of which time he bought Harmony Hall and continues in the amuse ment business, not exclusively, however, for he has recently purchased a section of land in Deuel county, which he is operating with a farm tractor. Mr. Roby is a man of great enterprise. He belongs to the Sons of Her man, the Plattsduetch society, the Farmers Union and the Nonpartisan League. OSCAR A. SMITH.— To the settlement of Hall and many other well developed coun ties of Nebraska, the great state of Pennsyl vania contributed in no small degree. It was from that state the late Oscar A. Smith, who was well known and highly esteemed in Grand Island, came to HaH forty-five years ago. H'e was born in Columbus, Warren County, Penn sylvania, January 9, 1849, the son of William and Roxy (Bardwell) Smith, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania, where he died in 1861, and the latter in New York, the spring of 1892. They had two sons : Walter and Oscar A., the former of whom lives in Pennsylvania. Oscar A. Smith had school advantages in youth and remained in his native neighbor hood for some years after his father's death. He possessed a pioneering and courageous spirit, however, and in early manhood de termined to seek his fortune much farther afield. With this idea, in association with a comrade of similar ambitions, he procured a boat and started from the headwaters of the Clarendon river for Central America. The youths floated as far as the Allegheny river. 796 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA when they were dissauded by friends from pursuing their journey to such a distant point, it being represented to them that adventure and business opportunity could be found much nearer home. Thus it came about that they landed in Hall County, Nebraska, in May, 1874. Mr. Smith engaged in freighting to Fort Niobrara, and in the same year home steaded in Custer County, living in Grand Island while proving up on his claim. He retained his Custer County land untH 1916. Frequently he related stories of early days, some tragic and some amusing. There were many Indians in Hall County when he first came here and many were savage as well as treacherous. The settlers leamed to be sus picious. He told that on one occasion, a group of freighters were gathered in their cabin when the furious barking of their dog on the outside caused a not unnatural fear that an Indian with his ready tomahawk, was lurk ing near. As was their custom, the men drew lots as to which one should investigate the trouble, the choice falling on Mr, Smith. As soon as he warily ventured into the open, he knew that the supposed Indian was nothing more dangerous than the very prevalent little musteline mammal — a skunk. On January 17, 1892, ' Mr. Smith married Miss Margaret Elizabeth Baird, at New Helena, Nebraska. Her parents, now de ceased, were John F., and Mary E. (Conn) Baird, natives of Kentucky. For over twenty years Mrs. Smith's father was postmaster of New Helena and for four years his wife was postmistress at the same place. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith: Walter, who resides with his mother, was bom December 30, 1892; Oscar Talmadge, who was born October 17, 1894, went to Europe as a soldier with the American Expeditionary Force, returned home in July, 1919; Victor B., who was born June 9, 1897, is connected with the Nebraska Mercantile Company in Grand. Island, and Laura C, who resides with her mother. On December 12, 1911, Mr. Smith and family came to Grand Island, es tablishing their home at West Lawn. Here Mr. Smith died March 11, 1918. WhHe re siding in Custer County he was active in many ways, being a prominent figure in Broken Bow, where he was a charter member of the Masonic lodge. He was a Democrat in his political affiliation and always loyal to party and friends but would never accept any public office for himself except membership on the school board, on which he served some years from a sense of duty. Mrs. Smith is a mem ber of the Christian church. AUGUST SCHIMMER. — The Schimmer family has been one of importance in HaH County for many years, noted not only for success in farming and stockraising, but also business energy and political efficiency. One' of its best known members is August Schim mer, who owns valuable farm land in Wash ington township, -who is serving in his third term as township clerk. He was born in Hall County, July 30, 1874. The parents of Mr. Schimmer were Henry and Christina (Heesch) Schimmer, natives of Germany who came to the United States and to Hall County, Nebraska, when young. Henry Schimmer secured a homestead and tree claim, and the rest of his life was spent on this land, his death occuring in January, 1908, at the age of sixty-two years. He worked hard in improving his property and on two' occasions suffered great loss from fire. The beautiful trees that form a grove around the residence, were set out by Henry Schimmer, and now give protection from the winter winds and provide grateful shade in summer. The, grove provides an abundance of firewood, and Mr. Schimmer has used over 25,000 feet of lumber from the faHen timber. Henry Schimmer possessed the confidence and respect of his neighbors at all times, and for a number of years served as school director and as township clerk. Of his ten chHdren, August is the eldest of the six survivors, the others being; Henry, who lives in Hamilton County ; John, who lives at Custer City, Okla homa; Otto, who lives in Nebraska; Berny, in Hall County, and Minnie, who is the wife of Christian Hartwig. August Schimmer obtained his education in the schools of Washington township, and has always lived on the old homestead. He owns 157 acres of highly improved land, on which he carries on general farming and stockraising, prospering exceedingly as he de serves to do. On March 1, 1899, Mr. Schimmer was united in marriage to Miss Clara Ewoldt. They have the following children: Eddie, Helene, Augusta and Henry. Although an independent voter, Mr Schimmer was elected to the office of township clerk on the Repub lican ticket, his personal popularity being a factor, which continues, as evidenced by his being twice re-elected. He has always been a great friend of the public schools and for six years served as school director, and it may be here noted that his school district has no trouble in carrying off scholarship honors. After suffering from several fires, the father of Mr. Schimmer began to think of a farmer's HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 797 Mr. and Mrs. Henry Schimmer 798 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA fire insurance company, which resuHed in the organization of the Holsatia Fire Insurance Company, a mutual affair, which carries nsks in HaH and adjoining counties and has been a boon to many of its members. It was orga nized by Henry and Martin Schimmer, the former being treasurer during the rest of his hfe, his son August succeeding him in office. Martin Schimmer is president o^ the company, and Frederick Thommsen, of Alda township, is secretary. It was through this company that the farmers of this section for three suc cessive years were saved from losing their entire crops, the "years 1884, 1885 and 1886. Mr. Schimmer belongs to the Non-Partisan League and the Farmers Union, is also a member of the Plattsdeutch Verein, a German social organization, at Grand Island. FREDERICK T. LOESCHER, one of the oldest cHizens of Hall County, and held m high regard, was bom in the province of Reus, Germany, October 15, 1844. His parents were John G. and Christina (Sermann) Loescher. The father was a carpenter in Germany. He came to the UnHed States with his family in Mlay, 1850, and lived four years in Calumet County, Wisconsin, then removed to Winne bago County. In 1875 he came to HaH County, purchasing the farm on which his son Frederick now lives. He died in Sep tember, 1877, and the mother died November 24, 1887. Of their seven children all died in infancy except Frederick T. When Frederick T. Loescher accompanied his parents to Hall County, he was" thirty-one years old, having had farm experience in Wis consin. He has lived since on the farm his father bought in 1875, but retired in March, 1918, having lived on this farm continuously with the exception of two years. He can recaH not only early days in fiall County, but many interesting incidents of pioneer exper ience in Wisconsin. During the early days here he relates how each family was entitled to five bushels of wheat and as that cereal was so scarce, his mother ground seeds of weeds into a flour that made a palatable bread but was uninviting on account of its black color. The family, however, seemed to thrive on potato pancakes. The home was twenty- five miles from a town and they traveled with oxen. The first few years in Plall County were discouraging on account of the grass hopper invasions. Pie relates that once, on visiting the Loup River, he found the water thick with the insects. All such experiences and hardshrips have long since passed away. and Mr. Loescher has lived to feel happy and contented that Hall County is his home. On November 24, 1870, Mr. Loescher mar ried Miss Louise D. Raatz, a daughter of Christian and Wilhelmina (Schroeder) Raatz. Thirteen chHdren were born to them : _WHliam who lives in Lake township, married Ella Spotholt ; Agnes, the wife of Ernest Wagner ; Bertha, the wife of Albert Niemoth; Minni'e, the wife of Fred Hengen; Emma, deceased, was the wife of Edward Niemoth; Herman, who lives at Belgrade, Nebraska, married Rose Peters ; Chrales and Laura, who live in Grand Island; Frank, who died July 29, 1915; Fred erick E., who lives on his father's farm, and three who died in infancy. A. P, DRAKE. — In the passage of almost a half century, change comes about in a com munity as well as in an individual, and marked indeed is the change that has come over HaH County within that period. With the coming here of young men of vigor and enterprise, the wild prairie became cultivated farms, the homes of an industrious, contented people, who have become representative of Ne braska's best citizenship. One who has taken an active part in the agricultural develop-^ ment of Hall County is A. P. Drake, whose valuable farm is situated in Wood River town ship, A, P, Drake was born in Lake County Illinois, October 10, 1849, His parents were John C, and Mary E. (Garwood) Drake, the former of whom was. born in Maine and the latter in Pennsylvania, They had two chil dren: A, P, and Alice J. The latter resides in South Dakota, the widow of WHHam Thompson, one of the early engineers on the Union Pacific Railroad, For many years the father was a prosperous farmer in Illinois, In his native neighborhood, Mr, Drake had school advantages in boyhood and remained at home with his father until 1871, when he came to Hall County, taking up a homestead the same year. He contended with early hard ships here as did his neighbors, but never lost courage, and now owns one hundred and sixty acres of some of the finest land in Wood River township. He has all of his land under profitable cultivation and his improvements have kept pace with the development of the soH. While proving up on his land, Mr, Drake drove a stage between Sidney and Deadwood for five years, and in that business saw much adventure and faced many dangers. His rec- ¦ ollections and stories of those early days are exceedingly interesting. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 799 On December 29, 1876, Mr. Drake married Miss Susan C. King, who was born in Illinois. They have three children : Julia May, the wife of Louis Stoup, of Montana; John C, the home farmer, and Alice Gertrude, the wife of WHliam Brauer, of Wood River town ship. In politics Mr. Drake has always been a staunch Republican. He is known all over the county and is held in high regard. MARTIN L. WISEMAN, Jr., a thor oughly experienced farmer, is successfully operating one hundred and sixty acres of weH improved land which makes him one of the substantial men of Wood River township. He was born in Frederick County, Maryland, the son of Martin Luther and Martha A. (Ray) Wiseman. His mother died in 1882 but his father survives and is yet active in agricultural life, being an extensive farmer in Hall County. Martin Luther Wiseman, Jr., came with his father to Hall County in 1886 and obtained his schooling here. From boyhood he has followed farm pursuits and all through the experiences that have later come to him in the management of his own property, he has been glad that he had early and thorough training along agricultural lines. To operate profitably a farm in modem days a man does not have to be a college graduate, but he must have much knowledge that very often has never appeared on any college curriculum, hence practical training and years of exper ience are valuable possessions. Mr. Wiseman is not specializing to any extent, general farm ing covering his activities. On Febraary 26, 1902, Mr. Wiseman mar ried Miss Bessie Cross, whose people came to Hall County in 1894. They have three inter esting, intelligent children: Edith, Mildred and Ruth. Mr. Wiseman and his family are members of the Presbyterian church. In pol itics he votes independently. He is a Mason in good standing and belongs also to the Woodmen of the World. JAMES HENRY ELIJAH, a highly re spected citizen and substantial farmer of 'Wood River township, has been a resident of Hall County for nineteen years. He came here in 1903, bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Wood River township and has made of this a highly productive farm. James Henry Elijah was born in Cedar County, Iowa, May 14, 1866. His parents were Allen and Anna (NicoH) Elijah, the former was born in Delaware County, New York and the latter in Scotland, in 1836. The mother of Mr. Elijah is deceased, but her father survives and resides in the home of his son a part of the time at Clarence, Iowa,. being now a man of venerable age. In his active years he worked at the carpenter trade, and in Iowa, at one time, was an extensive raiser of stock in Cedar County. Mr. Elijah was reared on a farm in Iowa and for thirty years was in the cattle business in Montana, and StHl retains his interests in the stock bus iness there. The family have lived in Hall County and in Montana since the year they bought the farm. On June 26, 1901, James H. Elijah married Miss Nellie Sylvester, who was born in Cedar County, Iowa, August 12, 1871. Her parents. were Peter Bent and Catherine (McKibben) Sylvester, natives of New York. The father of Mrs. Elijah died in 1918. The mother still resides there. Mr. and Mrs. Elijah have six children : Harold, Leonard, James, Ralph, David and Catherine, all living with their par ents on the well improved home farm. Mrs. Elijah had educational advantages in Iowa, and is a member of the Presbyterian church.. HANS WIESE, one of the older German settlers of Wood River township, has carried on general farming here for many years. He owns five hundred and forty acres of well improved land. He has not only set a good example in industry and frugality, but has never been lacking in those qualities that have made him a good citizen and a friendly neigh bor. Hans Wiese was born in Germany, October 8, 1843. His parents were Paul and Bertha (Spiet) Wiese. He was the youngest born ¦oi their six chHdren, the others being: Celia, who is deceased, the wife of Henry Wiese, also deceased; James, who is deceased; Peter, who lives in Hall County; Anna, deceased, who was the wife of Henry Wiese, also de ceased, and Margaret, who is the widow of James Dibbins. In his native land, Hans Wiese worked as a laborer until 1864 when he came to the United States. He settled first in Scott County, Iowa, and from there came to Hall County, Nebraska, in 1871, pur chasing railroad land in Wood River town ship. He has placed excellent improvements on his land, and could easily sell his entire five hundred and forty acres for many times the amount he paid for it. In 1869 Mr. "Wiese married Miss Catherine Hirt, and they have had five children : Emma, 800 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA the wife of Julius C. Strasser, of Hall County ; WiHiam, who lives on the home place; Charles, deceased ; MatHda, the wife of Frank Strasser, and August, who lives in Lexington in Dawson County. Mr. Wiese is an inde pendent voter. He has been a member of the Lutheran church since his youth. He has seen wonderful changes in this section since he first came here, having passed through the hardships and privations of the early days to now enjoy during his sunset years a well de served competency. Many of the contempo rary pioneers of his day have passed away but he lives to enjoy the innovations of the present day. ALBERT E. LUEBS. — In some sections of Nebraska where intelligent and ambitious young men live, the fostering of agriculture is well under way. This is to be seen in the number of well cultivated farms and fine large herds of blooded cattle. Where some exceptionally well developed properties arouse unusual interest, the owner or operator is, in all probability, a progressive young man, who has had training in an agricultural school, and his activities are directed according to scientific methods. The visitor in Hall County may meet just such an enthusiastic and trained farmer as this in Albert E. Luebs, who is carrying on general farming in Wood River township. Albert E. Luebs is a Nebraskan, born in Hall County, January 27, 1891. His father, Henry Luebs, who lives retired in Grand Island, was a prominent farmer and stock- raiser in Hall County for many years. Albert E. is a son of his second marriage. The Luebs are all men of sterling character and through marriage are connected with many other leading old famHies of the county. After Albert E. Luebs completed his public school education, he entered the agricultural depa];tment of the State University at Lin coln, where he spent three useful years. Upon his return home he rented three hundred acres of well improved land from his father, who owns many acres of farm land in the county. Here the young farmer is putting his acquired knowledge into practice with most gratifying results, having been very successful in all he has undertaken. On February 20, '1918, Mr. Luebs married Miss Olive Smeaton, who was bom in Hall County, to which) her parents came many years ago in pioneer days. Mr. and Mrs. Luebs are members of the Lutheran church. He IS an active member of the Grange and is interested in all matters and movements that promise to be of benefit to agricultural progress. He is also a member of the order of Royal Highlanders. DANIEL ELROY HARVEY WISE MAN. — It was from Maryland that the Wiseman family came to HaH County where it is now quite numerous. For generations the Wisemans have been noted for their suc cess in agricultmal pursuits. A well known member of this highly respected family is Daniel Elroy Harvey Wiseman, who owns one hundred and twenty acres of well im proved land situated in section 28, Wood River township. Mr. Wiseman was bom in Frederick County, Maryland, June 10, 1882, a son of Martin Luther and Martha A. (Ray) Wiseman, who came to Hall County in 1886. Daniel E. H. Wiseman obtained his educa tion in Hall County, and from boyhood he has been connected with farming, first with his father and afterward on his own account. He is wide awake and progressive and is carrying on his agricultural operations with entire success. In 1903 he married Miss Maude E. Burmood. They have two sons: Harvey E. and Glenn Lee, both of whom are attending school. Mr. Wiseman and family attend the Presbyterian church. He devotes comparatively little time to politics, taking more interest in his farm and stock than polit ical campaigns. He is a good, quiet, peaceable citizen who can always be depended upon in times of real necessity. He owns a herd of registered Jersey cows and is specializing in Poland-China hogs. ADOLPH KRUSE, whose valuable fann of one hundred and sixty acres is situated in Center township, is the representative of an old pioneer family of Hall County that has been highly respected here and has been use fully concerned in agricultural efforts for many years. The Krase family has never desired political prominence, but it has taken some pride in its reputation as steady and honest, and as strong in its support of the Lutheran church. Adolph Krase is a native of this section, born in Hall County, Nebraska, September 12, 1877, a son of Henry Krase. After at tending school in boyhood, he assisted his father on the farm and in the course of time became a farmer on his own account. He not only carries on general farming but raises many fine horses and operates his own land HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 801 and" an additional eighty acres which he rents. He is one of the well informed farmers in his township, making practical and successful ap plication of his knowledge to insure the prof itable carrying out of his farm enterprises. On AprH 5, 1905, Mr. Krase married Miss Katie Kearns. They are members of the Lutheran church. GEORGE NICHOLAS RAUERT, who devotes his time and attention to raising cattle and hogs, together with general farming, is well known in HaH County, where his life has been passed. He is a representative of one of the early pioneer families of the county, his grandparents coming here with their chil dren, in 1866. Since then the family has been identified with land development here, and its reputation for successful agricultural effort is second to none in the county. George Rauert was bom in Hall County, June 27, 1882, and is a son of James and Anna (Tagge) Rauert, the latter of whom died September 11, 1895. The father of Mr! Rauert was born in Germany in 1851, ac companied his parents to the United States when fifteen years old, assisted his mother after the early death of his father, and now lives retired in Grand Island, in which city he owns a comfortable home. From boyhood George Rauert has followed farm pursuits. He has recently purchased one hundred and sixty acres of well improved land, situated in Mayfield township, and while he gives careful attention to general farming, the raising of fine cattle and hogs is made a leading feature. In 1908 Mr. Rauert married Miss Minnie Behring. They have four children: Ida, Louis, Albert and LHlie, all residing at home and with their parents regularly attending religious services in the Lutheran church. Mr. Rauert is a fine, upstanding citizen of Mayfield township, being always ready to pro mote her best interests, but has. never been ac tively concemed in political matters. He belongs to several German social organizations that were established many years ago in Grand Island. MARTIN L. WISEMAN, one of Hall County's highly respected citizens, has been a resident for many years of Wood River township, where he owns well improved prop erty. Mr. Wiseman was born in Frederick County, Maryland, March 16, 1850, the son of Daniel and Catherine (Palmer) Wiseman, who spent their lives in Maryland. Of their eight children four are living; Martin Luther is the second bom. The others are: Mary, who lives with her brother, Martin Luther; John P., who lives at Knoxville, Maryland, and Samuel, who lives in Loup County, Ne braska. The parents were members of the Lutheran church. Martin Luther Wiseman went to work on a farm as soon as his school days were over. Farm wages were very low in Maryland at that time, and Mr. Wiseman worked on a neighbor's farm for three dollars a month. In the course of time he became interested in the opportunities offered in western lands and this led him to Hall County, in 1886. He was not quite satisfied at first and in 1887 went to Colorado, but in 1889 returned to Hall County. He broke up the prairie sod on what is called the Burkhert farm, moved onto the same and rented that land for seven teen years. Mr. Wiseman's farm of one hun dred and sixty acres in Wood River township is well adapted to general farming and dairy ing. He has always been thorough in his farm methods and now enjoys Well merited pros- l)erity. In Maryland, in 1872, Mr. Wiseman mar ried Miss Martha A. Ray, who died in 1882. They had the following children : Marcia Ellen, the wife of A. Kinney, of Salt Lake; R. S., who lives in Wood River township ; Caroline ; Catherine, the wife of Aden Able, of Sioux County; A, S., a farmer in Wood River town ship; Gilmore, who lives in Wood River; Martin Luther, Jr., who is a farmer in Wood River township, and Daniel, also a farmer in Wood River township. The mother of this family was a member of the Reformed church. Mr. Wiseman is an elder in the Presbyterian church. He belongs to the order of Odd Fellows, and is a Scottish Rite Mason and a Shriner. RUDOLPH H. LUEBS, one of Hall County's best qualified and most progressive agriculturists, is a member of a prominent Hall County family. His birth took place here October 6, 1886. His father, Henry Luebs, a highly respected retired citizen of Grand Island, was born in Germany, in 1845, and came to the United States in young man hood. For many years he was successfully engaged in farming in Hall County. Rudolph H. Luebs attended the public schools in his native county, after which he entered the agricultural school at Lincoln, from which he was graduated with credit in 1909. Thus well prepared for the many 802 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA problems every farmer has to face, Rudolph Henry Luebs took upon himself the responsi- bHity of operating one of the largest farms in this part of the county, consisting of three hundred and twenty acres of highly improved land, which he rents from his father. He has been trained to work systematically and with thoroughness and the success that is attend ing him demonstrates his agricuhural wisdom as weH as his business capacity. He is making a specialty of thoroughbred Shorthorn cattle and the only kind of hogs he deems worth raising are the Poland China variety, which he has found very profitable. On November 16, 1916, Mr. Luebs married Miss Hattie Persson, who also belongs to an old Hall County family. They are active members of the Lutheran church at Wood River. Mr. Luebs is independent in his po litical views, but is very much interested in all worthy enterprises in the county that are in any way related to agricultural Hfe and industry. He is a valued member of the Grange and is foremost in county fair promo tion. He has served four years as a director of the County Fair association. He belongs to the order of Royal Highlanders. AUGUST RAUERT, a member of one of the oldest pioneer families of Hall County, was born here February 27, 1889. He is a son of Matthew and Elsie (Siek) Rauert., the former of whom came to the United States and to Hall County with his parents in 1866. For many years Matthew Rauert was a lead ing farmer in the county but now lives retired in Grand Island, where he is held in much esteem. August Rauert attended the public schools through boyhood, in the meanwhile assisting his father and getting practical training that has made him a capable farmer and able to carry on profitably his large agricultural opera tions. He owns eighty acres of excellent land, all well improved, and from his father rents two hundred and twenty-two acres. He makes a feature of raising Shorthorn cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs. Mr. Rauert has the repu tation of being one of the most successful farmers and stockraisers in this section. On March 6, 1912, August Rauert married Miss Martha Boldt, whose people came to Hall County in the early days. Mr. Rauert and his wife have two children : Frederick and Viola, both of whom attend school. The family be longs to the Lutheran church. Mr. Rauert has never found time to enter into politics very actively and has no desire for public office. He belongs to the order of Eagles and to several German social organizations of old establish ment in Grand Island. HENRY DAVISON, who has been a resident of HaH County, Nebraska, since early manhood, came here from a state that has contributed largely to the county's best citi zenship and he is justly proud of being a na tive of Illinois. He was born in TazeweH County, May 2, 1857, the son of Minor A. and Mary (Cornelius) Davison, who came to Hall County in 1879, where the father bought a tract of railroad land, and at the time of his death was the owner of eighty acres that had been greatly advanced in value because of the- improvements he had made. The mother died January 21, 1890, aged forty-eighty years, being survived by her husband who passed away August 14, 1896, aged sixty-one years. Henry Davison was reared on a farm in Tazewell County, Illinois, and obtained his education in the public schools in that locality. When the family removed to Nebraska he accompanied them, purchasing first a tract of eighty acres of school land, to which, with buisness acumen, he subsequently added until he now owns four hundred and forty acres in Hall County, all of which is highly im proved. Mr. Davison carried on general farm ing, growing crops and raising stock, until 1914, when he moved into Grand Island and took possession of his handsome residence here. In 1881 Mr. Davison married Miss Rachel Malissa McCabe, who was also bom in Illinois, and of their ten children the followirig sur vive : Etta Belle, the wife of William Dangler; Edith, the wife of Orville Hutton, a farmer in Center township, Hall County ; Roy, a farm er in Center township; Earl E., who lives in Center township ; Gladys and Wayne W., both of whom reside at home. Mr. Davison arid his family are members pf the Methodist . Episcopal church. In politics he has always been affiliated with the Republican party and in earlier days was active in many party move ments although he never consented to hold political office, Mr. Davison is well known in Hall County and as man and citizen is held in high regard. WILLIAM FAGAN, one of HaH County's well known residents and owner of a fine farm in Center township, is a native of Canada where he was born September 15, 1865, .the eldest of a family of nine children HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 803 bom to John and Sarah (McGriskin) Fagan. Both parents were born in Ireland, from which land they came to Canada in 1860. , About 1867 the parents of Mr. Fagan re moved to the United States and the father engaged in farming in IHinois. In 1892 he came to Hall County, Nebraska, where he took up a homestead and also secured a quar ter section of land in Prairie Creek township, on which he resided until his death in Febru ary, 1902, at which time he owned four hun dred acres of fine land. Both parents were members of the Roman Catholic church. Of their children besides WiHiam, the following are living: Patrick, manager of Taylor's ranch in Hall County; Katherine, the wife of Jefferson Norris, of IHinois; Mary, who lives at Hot Springs, South Dakota; Annie, who has been a teachei^ in ' Lake township for twenty years, where she is much beloved; Jennie, the wife of George Buckingham of Chicago; and Margaret, the wife of Edward Landrigan, af Ravenna, Nebraska. William Fagan was young when the family removed to Illinois. He attended school there and worked for his father and other farmers until 1892, when he came to Nebraska, locat ing in Hall County. At first he helped his father on the home farm, at times he also worked on the neighboring farms and in the course of time bought his present well de veloped and finely improved property consist ing of one hundred and sixty acres, situated in section 6, Center township. For seventeen years he was manager of the Taylor ranch in Hall County, prior to coming to the McDonald ranch, of which he has been manager for the past three years, these being the largest ranches in the county. On September 16, 1890, Mr. Fagan mar ried Miss Ellen Walsh, who was born in Illi nois and they have four children, namely: Annie, the wife of Lloyd W. O'HaHeron, of Howard County, Nebraska ; John, who oper ates his father's farm ; WHliam, in the United States navy; and EHa, who makes her home in Grand Island. Mr. Fagan and family are members of the Roman Catholic church. He belongs to the Knights of Columbus, the Elks and the Modern "Woodmen. HERMAN LUEBS, a prominent farmer and extensive raiser of cattle and hogs, owns two hundred and ninety acres of fine land which he devotes to these purposes. He is well known all over Hall County. He was born on his father's farm in Hall County, September 24, 1875. The parents of Mr. Luebs were Henry and Sophia (Plauth) Luebs, the latter of whom died in January, 1883. They had eight chil dren, and those besides Herman who are liv ing are the following: Emma, the wife of Henry Kamps, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Nicholas, who lives in Oklahoma, and John, who lived in Wood River township. Hall County. The father of Mr. Luebs was born in Germany in 1845, who emigrated to America many years ago and for many years was a very successful farmer and stockman in Hall County. He owns a fine residence in Grand Island, in which he has lived since he retired some years ago. Herman Luebs had school privileges in his boyhood but was little more than a boy when he began to be of great assistance to his father on the homestead. Mr Luebs has never desired to embark in any other business than the one in which he has done so well, although it has often been one of hard work and worry. He has his land well improved and modern methods and expensive farm machinery are made use of in carrying on his farm industries. On March 25, 1915, he married Miss Rose Holling, a daughter of Peter Holling, who came to Hall County as an early settler. Mr. and Mrs. Luebs are members of the Lutheran church. He is independent in his political opinions, but is an interested and valued mem ber of the Grange at Wood River. CHARLES RAUERT, whose farming operations carried on in Prairie Creek town ship for some years have been satisfactory from every point of view, is an enterprising young man with progressive ideas. He has been a farmer aH his life and has knowledge and experience to back him in his undertak ings. It is probable that in a very few years Mr. Rauert may have one of the finest herds of thoroughbred Shorthorn cattle in this sec tion of the state. Charles Rauert was born in Hall County, Nebraska, August 31, 1883, the eldest of a family of four children born to Matthew and Elsie (Siek) Rauert, the former of whom came to the United States with his parents in 1866 and immediately located in Hall County. The grandfather died in the same year. The father of Mr Rauert now lives retired in G rand Island, but retains the ownership of his valuable farms in the county, one of which Charles Rauert rents from his father. He has one hundred and sixty acres and devotes the land to general farming and stockraising, giv ing particular attention to Duroc-Jersey hogs. 804 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA and as above mentioned, to thoroughbred Shorthorn cattle. In 1908 Mr. Rauert married Miss Elsie Seim, and they have four children: Erma, Arthur, Elvira and Edna, the older children already making a fine record at school. Mr. and Mrs. Rauert are members of the Lutheran church. They have a wide acquaintance and many friends. Mr. Rauert is not identified with any political party but is active and inter ested in township matters that concern the general walfare, casting his vote at local elec tions, according to his own well matured judg ment. FRANZ WIECK. — Many of the fine pro ductive farms of HaH County would never have reached their present value without the patient industry and unusual efficiency of the owners, who made their improvement the main business of life. Such a man was the late Franz Wieck, who came here in 1893 and took up a homestead. During his subsequent life no one could have been more industrious and the success he experienced was well de served. Franz Wieck was born in Germany, Novem ber 29, 1865, a son of Franz and Catherine Wieck, who spent their lives in Germany. After schooldays were passed and military service was over, the young man came to the United States in order to take advantage of the government offer of homesteads in the western part of the country. Immediately after reaching Hall County, he secured a homestead, settling happily on it where he re mained a continuous resident until the time of his death, which occurred April 20, 1915, leav ing an estate of one hundred and sixty acres of finely improved land. In 1895 Mr Wieck married Miss Anna Hargens, and they became the parents of the following children: Margaret, Martha, John, Alma, Alfred, Ernest, Clara, Ahce and Rosa, all of whom reside on the farm with their mother. In religious faith he was a Lutheran, He took no particular interest in politics, but he belonged to one of the old German social organizations in Grand Island, in which he was very highly esteemed. ABRAHAM W. LEISER, who has been a resident of Hall County for thirty five years, is a representative citizen of Center township and an exceedingly prosperous farmer. When Mr. Leiser came to the county he had very little in the way of earthly goods, but he had courage, health and energy, and with the de termination to make use of them to the best advantage, pushed forward and now is one of the most substantial farmers of the county. Mr. Leiser set a good example as a young man and, as is usually the case, has never had cause to regret his early industrious efforts and much self denial. Abraham W. Leiser was born in Pennsyl vania, March 12, 1863, the son of David and Rebecca (Trump) Leiser, natives of the same state. They had the following children: George, who lives in Grand Island ; Anne, who lives in Grand Island ; Abraham W., who lives in Center township; Sadie, who died in in fancy; and Melvin, who is deceased. In his youthful days, Abraham W. Leiser attended school in Michigan and also in Missouri. In 1884 he came to Hall County with the inten tion of making this his permanent home. His first purchase of land was a tract of eighty acres, to which he has added from time to time until now he owns two hundred and forty acres of well improved land, his home farm being situated in section three. Center town ship, within easy market distance of Grand Island. He has always carried on general farming, having no particular specialties but an abundance of staple crops. On January 17, 1888, Mr. Leiser married Miss Melvina Eag^, whose people were very early settlers in Hall County. They have had four children, two sons and two daughters, namely: Alvin, a farmer in Center township; Rebecca, the wife of William Vocke; and . Floyd and Helen, both of whom live at home. In politics Mr. Leiser is a Democrat, having served as deputy sheriff four years under Jim Dunkle, and is always ready to support his political friends but has never desired public office for himself. JACOB SHOEMAKER.— When the early settlers of Hall County, who have passed away are called to mind, there is great reason to remember Jacob Shoemaker. He came here almost a half century ago when all this beau tiful country was practically a prairie. Al though at that time already a man of middle life, such was his industry that he succeeded in accumulating a large property and he be came also one of the county's most useful and respected citizens. His honest name is per petuated by a large family of children, almost all of whom belong and add to the fine citi zenship of Nebraska. Jacob Shoemaker was born in Preble County, Ohio, May 20, 1818, and died in Hall HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 805 County, Nebraska, December 11, 1895. His parents were Daniel and Margaret (Witt) Shoemaker, both of whom were born in Penn sylvania. Jacob Shoemaker obtained his edu cation in the subscription schools, and being strong and' sturdy in his youth, his father urged him to learn the carpenter trade, which at that time included much heavy work that is now done by the allied trades. He con tinued carpenter work until he came as far west as Iowa, after which, until the close of his active life, he was interested in farming. In 1871 he came as a homesteader to Hall County, and years of uninterrupted industry followed during which he acquired five hun dred and twenty acres of land. He neglected no opportunity to improve his home property and when he built his house it was reputed to be the most commodious in the county and for years was a landmark, showing for miles across the treeless prairie. Without any of the scientific knowledge that has so greatly assisted the modern farmer, he perseveringly carried on his operations with the practical good sense and agricultural knowledge that experience had brought him, and was con sidered one of the most successful farmers in Center township. October 28, 1849 Jacob Shoemaker and Sarah Ann Brant were united in marriage. She was born December 6, 1832, a native of Rush, Madison County, Indiana. To them were born chHdren as follows : William B., who lives at Chapman, Nebraska; Clara, the wife of Cyrus KeHogg, of Chapman; Albert E., who lives at Burwell, Nebraska; Belle, who resides on the old homestead ; Jesse, who lives at Oconto, Nebraska; Samuel M., who resides on the homestead; George, a farmer near BurweH; Eva, the wife of F. M. Cav- ender, of Ainsworth, Nebraska; Anna, the wife of Henry Rathmann, of Holdrege, Ne braska; and Edna, the wife of Harry Lenon, and they live in Arizona. Mr. Shoemaker was a Republican in his political views. He was reared in a Quaker community and at tended their meetings in his youth, but in later life became a member of the Christian church ,and the family assisted in its support in Hall County. JAMES RAUERT, who now lives retired in Grand Island, surrounded with comforts suitable to his age and position in life, has been a resident of HaH County for many years, brought here by his parents in early pioneer days when Nebraska was still con sidered ^ part of the Great American Desert. Mr. Rauert has seen wonderful changes take place during his life in the county, where he and his brothers have been very successful along agricultural lines. James Rauert was born in Germany, May 1, 1851, a son of Jacob Mat and Ax^a. (Madiensen) Rauert, who came to the United States and Hall County, Nebraska, in 1866. In that same year the father died and the five children had to assume much responsibility when young in order to assist their mother in keeping the family together. From early boy hood James Rauert foHowed farming until he retired from active life, moving then to Grand Island, in which city he is greatly respected. He owns one hundred and twenty acres of well improved land, together with his attrac tive city residence, and is counted one of the county's men of ample fortune. In 1877 James Rauert married Miss Anna Tagge, whose parents were early settlers in HaH County, and they have three sons, Will iam, George and John, the eldest of whom lives in Idaho, the youngest has charge of the home farm and George operates his own farm. They are all fine young men who reflect credit on their parents and the community. The beloved wife and mother passed away Sep tember 11, 1895. Mr. Rauert is a member of the Lutheran church. HENRY F. LUEBS. — Grand Island is the home of many retired farmers and has no better citizenship than these men of means, resources and wholesome life. They are, too, usually men of sound judgment and their advice is not to be despised when matters of city importance are up for consideration, es pecially the expenditure of public funds. In order to make their farming operations profit able, they had to be frugal and foresighted, and their methods might solve many civic problems. A dependable citizen of this class is found in Henry Luebs, who resides in his fine residence in Grand Island, after many years as a farmer in Hall County, where he owns over eight hundred acres of well im proved land in Wood River and Alda town ships. fienry Luebs was born in Germany, Sep tember 6, 1845, the fifth in a family of six children born to John and Dorothy (Schoel) Luebs, the others being as foHows: MaHe, Anna, Lena, Frederick and Amelia, all of whom live in Germany except the oldest, who went to Australia many years ago, and Fred erick, who like his next younger brother, came to Nebraska. After Henry Luebs 806 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA landed in the United States in 1874 he first located in Iowa and from there, on the eleventh of November of the same year, came fo HaH County. The beginning of his pres ent large property was when he acquired eighty acres of railroad land, and to the de velopment and cultivation of his land as it increased through subsequent purchases, he devoted many years. He became one of the best general farmers in his section, growing heavy crops and raising much fine stock. Mr. Luebs was twenty-four years old at the time of his first marriage, which united him to Miss Sophia Plauth, who died in January, 1883. Of their eight children, the foHowing are living: Emma, the wife of Henry Kamps, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin ; Nicholas, who lives in Oklahoma ; Herman, a farmer in Wood River township, and John, who also lives in Wood River township. On December 19, 1884, Mr. Luebs contracted his second mar riage, with Annie Plauth, a sister of the first Mrs. Luebs, and of the ten children born to them eight are living: Rosa, who lives at Grand Island ; Rudolph, a farmer in Wood River township on the old farm ; August, who lives at Lincoln; Elbert, a farmer; Henry, who lives in Milwaukee, and Alma, Alfred and Marie, all of whom reside at home. The family belongs to the Lutheran church. HENRY SCHROEDER. — There are few general farmers and stockraisers in- Wood River township. Hall County, who have done better in a business way within the same space of time, than has Henry Schroeder. He started with nothing and now owns one of the large, well developed farms here and is a shipper of cattle and hogs. Henry Schroeder was born September 10, 1873, at Syracuse, New York. His parents were Frederick and Sophia Schroeder, who were born, reared and married in Germany, In 1872 they emigated from the old country for the greater opportunities afforded in America, settling first near Syracuse, New York, soon after arriving in the United States, where the father worked as a farmer. The family came to Hall County, Nebraska, in 1881. In speaking of the early days here in reference to himself, Henry Schroeder says he was educated mainly in the school of hard knocks, which may be interpreted as having little other schooling and few advantages of any kind. Therefore it is creditable that through his own efforts and thrift he has be come a man of independent means and owns a farm of four hundred and twenty acres. He has it substantially improved, also the result of his own industry and progressive ideas. He has worked very hard and still devotes him self closely to his farm industries which he finds more and more profitable. He raises and disposes of about twenty-five head of good grade cattle and forty head of hogs an nually. Mr. Schroeder married Miss Bettie Miller, who was born and reared in Hall County. They have a fine family of four sons and one daughter, namely : William, who lives on the home farm; Frederick, married Etta Schwieger, who is also a farmer; and Elsie, Harry and Louis, all of whom live at home. Mr. Schroeder and his older sons are Repub licans. The entire family is highly esteemed throughout Wood River township. AMOS W. JOBE, one of the progressive young farmers of Hall County, who is intelli gently interested in agriculture generally, and most particularly in the section where he is very successfully operating a farm of eighty acres, has spent his entire life in Hall County. He was born in Center township, November 19, 1897, and is a son of the late Simeon C. and Mahala P. (Mackey) Jobe. Simeon C. Jobe was born at Griggsville, in Pike County, Illinois, where he grew up on a farm, and farming was his business all his life. He served as a soldier during the Civil War, a member of Company I, Thirty-third Illinois Infantry, and at the time of his death was a member of the Grand Army of the Re public. Mr. Jobe was married first to Susan B. Pollack, of GriggsvHle, Illinois and by that union there were six children: PrisciHa, now Mrs. Nichols, and they have two children, Gladys and Harold, both college graduates, Harold is now receiving military training in Texas; Hattie Jane, a graduate of the high school in 1873, lives in Colorado; Charles §., who lives in Dalton, Nebraska, has four chil dren, Ada and Estyl, and two are dead, Roscoe and Alice ; Nettie F., the wife of Lute Tobias, in Eugene, Oregon, is the mother of two boys, Kenneth and Merle, and two children who died when quite small, WiHiam and Eva. The mother died in 1883. In Illinois Mr. Jobe married for his second wife Miss Mahala P. Mackey, who was born in Randolph County, Illinois. He parents were WiHiam and Mary E. (Stanley) Mackey, who lived and died in IHinois. Her father was a Baptist in re ligious faith, while her mother belonged to the Methodist church. When Mr. and Mrs Jobe came to Hall County in the i'.'-^ ' HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 807 eighties, Mr. Jobe brought with him considerable capital, at least $1,000, and did not feel compelled to hasten permanent settle ment, but in 1900 he invested and his family have been benefitted by the good judgment he used when he purchased the Deal property, a valuable farm. He was one of the first resi dents in this section of Nebraska to raise fine hogs and winter wheat, both proving satisfac tory enterprises. At the time of his death, at the age of sixty-three years, he was looked upon as a successful business man as well as a most worthy citizen. His widow, and three chHdren survive : Walter E., in business at Duncan; Ruth, a popular and efficient teacher in the public schools in District No. 29; and Amos "W., who is making use of his excellent education in carrying on his extensive opera tions on the farm. He realizes the responsi- billity that, in these days, rests upon the young farmers of the nation and is doing his best. The son and two daughters both graduated from the high school of Grand Island, the former in 1917 and the latter in 1913, the youngest of a class of fifty-two and the only members of the class who have been to all the alumni meetings. AUGUSTINE C. DENMAN is one of Hall County's most respected residents. He has spent forty-five years in this part of Ne braska, and has been active and useful in all things concerning the welfare of Alda town ship, where he bought land in 1872. Augustine C. Denman was born in 1840, in Ohio. In 1872 he came to Hall County, and in the following year married Mary H. Phil lips. She was born in England and brought to the United States when one year old. To this marriage the following children were bom; Frank, who is in the farm implement business at Alda, Nebraska; Mrs Maude Olsen, who lives in Hall County; Edward E., who is operating his father's farm; Nettie, who re sides at home; Arthur, who lives at Alda; Mrs. Ahce Dolstrom, and Mrs. Jane Stimpfig, both of whom live at Grand Island; and two who are deceased. When Mr. Denman came to Hall County he was practically without capital, but, taking advantage of the opportunities presented here for acquiring financial independence, he grad ually advanced his fortune through industry and good judgment, and today is one of the substantial men of the county. He is a stock holder in the Farmers State Bank of Alda, also in the State Bank of Grand Island, owns stock in the leading hotel property at Grand Island, and has one of the best developed farms in Alda township. This farm has been taken over by his son Edward E. Denman, who is having marked success in the business of feeding cattle and hogs. Mrs'. Denman is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Alda, Ne braska. JOHN C. RAUERT, one of the younger generation of the prominent family of his name in Hall County, is maintaining the repu tation that this family has enjoyed for years as successful agriculturists. He is a young man of much enterprise and in conducting his farm operations shows love for his vocation as well as a scientific knowledge concerning it. John C, Rauert was born in Hall County, Nebraska, November 14, 1891, a son of James and Anna (Tagge) Rauert, the latter of whom died September 11, 1895, Mr, Rauert has two brothers, William and George, the former of whom lives in Idaho, and the latter in Hall County, -The father, who was born in Ger many, May I, 1851, now lives retired in Grand Island, where he owns improved property. After his school days were over, John C. Rauert settled down to farming, sensibly choosing the most important vocation in the world, and to this he has devoted his best efforts. The one hundred and twenty acres he is so profitably operating, he has under rental from his father. He has no par ticular specialties, general crop and a mod erate amount of stockraising engaging his attention. He is an intelligent, well informed farmer and keeps thoroughly posted on agri cultural as well as other questions of the day, through reading and exchanging views with others. On January 20, 1916, Mr. Rauert married Miss Anna Stoltenberg, and they have three children : Caroline, Beulah and Lola. Mr. and Mrs. Rauert are members of the Lutheran church. He belongs to several German social organizations at Grand Island. OTTO F. WIESE, who successfully carries on large farming operations in Alda township. Hall County, belongs to a prominent family here, whose settlement dates from 1869. Mr. Wiese was born in Hall County, April 12, 1882. His father, Fritz Wiese, was born in Holstein, Germany, January 21, 1844. Several members of the family came with him to the United States in 1869. In the same year Fritz Wiese came to Hall 808 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 809 County and homesteaded a claim containing eighty acres. When he reached here he had $2.50. Now he owns six hundred and fifty- two acres of land, two hundred and ninety two being in his home farm in Alda township, two hundred in Wood River township, and one hundred and sixty in Mayfield township. He remembers when the Indians were often seen traveling through this section. For many years he was an active farmer but is now re tired. For twelve years he was treasurer of the school board. It sounds strange to hear a capitalist like Mr. Wiese tell of the time he did not have money enough to buy coffee for himself and wife, but this was the case for several years after their marriage in 1872. Two sons, William H. and John F. are of his first marriage and two sons and two daughters were born to his second marriage : Mrs. Dora Lillenthal, who lives in Nebraska ; Mrs. Augusta Arp, who lives near Abbott, Ne braska; Emil, who lives near Wood River; and Otto F., who resides on the home place with his father. Otto F. Wiese obtained his education in the Hall County schools and has followed farming as a chosen vocation. He is operating his father's farm in Alda to-wnship and gives much attention to good stock, raising two car loads of hogs yearly. He has the reputation of being one of the best all around farmers in this part of the county. Otto F. Wiese married Miss Mary Neubert, born near Sand Krog, Hall County, the daughter of John and Widke Neubert, both of whom are deceased. They have three children : Augusta, Mamie and Mildred, aged fourteen, eleven and nine years respectively. Mr. Wiese has never accepted any public office except that of school moderator, in which office he served nine years. He is an independent voter. HENRY PETERS, a very successful gen eral farmer and highly respected citizen of Center township, has been a resident of Hall County since 1882 and in the interim has built up a comfortable fortune. He was born in Germany, January 24, 1866, and is a son of Claus and Katherine (Kroger) Peters. The parents of Mr. Peters spent their lives in Germany where the father was a small farmer. They had four children, Henry being the youngest and the only one in Hall County. The others are : Anna, who lives in Germany ; Katherine, who is the wife of John Kruse; and John, who is in Gemiany. Henry Peters was only sixteen years old when he came to the United States, spend ing his first few months in the new country where he hoped to make his home, in Peoria, Illinois. He wanted to be a farmer but the price of land in the neighborhood surrounding Peoria was rather discouraging and therefore he came west and late in the year reached Hall County. Here he found the land also be yond his means but even then the price was reasonable, and with determination he went to work to accumulate enough money to en able him to invest. He worked and saved, sometimes even going barefooted, and through rigid economy and without any outside help, earned the money with which he bought his one hundred and sixty acres of land. Its im provement was only a matter of time and now Mr. Peters is one of the township's substantial men, owning a valuable property, and looked up to as a solid, wise and dependable man. During this time Mr. Peters went to Iowa where he was married and they farmed there for six years. In 1895, Mr. Peters married Miss Amelia Dengler, who was born in Iowa, both her par ents were bom in Germany but came to America when young and were married in Iowa. There are four children in the Peters family : Claus A., who lives in Center town ship; Henry WiHiam a resident of Merrick County; and August John and Laura Ameha, both of whom live at home. Mr. Peters and his family are members of the Lutheran church. Claus A. was notified to get ready for military training at Camp Funston but on account of the "flu" did not, when ready for Camp Kearney, the signing of peace kept him at home. HENRY BUETTNER, the fortunate own er of a well improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres which is situated in Alda township, was born at Grand Island, Nebraska September 15, 1867, and has lived in Hall County all his Hfe. His parents were Louis and Catherine (Wiese) Buettner. Louis Buettner, father of Henry, was born in Germany but from the age of seventeen, lived in the United States. Just following the great Chicago fire he visited that stricken city on his way westward. After reaching Ne braska, he bought railroad land which, through his industry, was made valuable, and to his first purchase he had added until at the time of his death he owned two hundred and twenty acres, all of which he had improved. He belonged to several fraternal organizations and was a Lutheran in religious faith. Of his 810 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA nine chHdren, Henry is the eldest, the other survivors being: Augusta, the wife of Charles Beberness; William, who lives in Alda town ship; Gustave, on duty on the coast of South Carolina, as a member of the United States Marine corps; Theresa, the wife of Arthur Reher, of Pine Bluff, Laramie County Wyoming; and Louis, who resides with his brother William in Alda township. The father died in 1900, but the mother survives and resides on the old homestead in Alda town ship. Henry Buettner obtained his education in the public schools and is a well informed man. He has never taken any strong stand in politics and because of his business cares, has never been willing to accept a public office. He has always been interested in church and school progress and in road improvement. Few farms in the township give evidence of more careful cultivation, and all his home surround ings are comfortable. On October 8, 1903, Air. Buettner married Miss Lena Beberniss, a daughter of John Beberniss, an old settler in Hall County. They have three chHdren, namely: Helen, Alfred and Ethel, all of whom live at home. Mr. Buettner and his family belong to the Lutheran church. He is a member of the order of Modern Woodmen at Alda. IRA GIBSON, one of the representative citizens of Center township, has been un usually successful as a farmer and stockraiser in Hall County, although he began his busi ness life in an entirely different direction. For years he has been known as a successful rail road contractor from Alontana to Texas. Ira Gibson was born in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, July 7, 1857, the eldest of a family of thirteen children born to James J. and ]\Iary (McKinley) Gibson, the other sur vivors being: William, who lives in Cali fornia; Mrs. EHa Grey, who lives in Kansas City; James, a resident of Le Mars, Iowa; Frank, whose home is in Ohio; Mrs. Anna May Doughty, of Minnesota; Mrs. Margaret Hensen, who lives in Ohio; and Susan and Minnie, both of whom live, in Minnesota. The mother of this family died in the fall of 1860, but the father survived into old age and was vigorous in mind and body when his death occured in 1915, following his nine tieth birthday. In many ways he was a re markable man. He made a success of his busi ness of farming, was a leader in beneficial movements in his community, an earnest Pres byterian, a Mason in good standing and a most zealous Republican. Ira Gibson had excellent educational advantages, his father being a man of liberal mind, and after creditably com pleting the high school course he entered the Pennsylvania School of Mines, from which technical institution he was grad uated. He then went into the contracting business and in visiting westem territory, came to Hall County in 1888. Having lost on some of his contracts, at this time he was practically without capital, a condition that he soon overcame however through industry and then resumed contracting and completed the Billings branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. After that he was with other western roads as stated above. In 1899 he bought a farm in Hall County, and five years later established his permanent home on it, and now owns a half section of valuable land. He has handled stock extensively and the measure of his profits may be estimated by the fact that in the past years he has tumed off $57,000 worth. His handsome residence is modern in every particular and all sur roundings are in keeping, it being an ideal rural home. In 1880 Mr. Gibson married Miss Martha Ellis, who was born in Canada, and they have bad two children: Grace, who is deceased; and Maude, the wife of T. A. 5\IcCullough, a representative of an old pioneer family of Hall County. Mrs. Gibson is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Gibson IS a Master Mason, belongs to the United Workmen and Maccabees. Politicallv he is a Republican of no uncertain type, revering the traditions of his party in the past, and firm in his confidence in its principles in the present. JOHN F. WIESE, a properou^ general farmer of Hall County, owning land in Alda township that in pioneer days could have been bought for $6 an acre, that is now valued at over $200 an acre, has spent almost all his life in the United States, being only two years old when his parents, Fritz and Leiza "Wiese brought him from Germany, January 23, 1869. He grew up and attended school in Davenport, Iowa, and from there came to Hall County in 1885, with the intention of settling perma nently, but, like many others, had but little capital and it was a hard struggle before he acquired his farm of eighty acres situated on section twenty-one, Alda township, on Rural Free Delivery Route No. 1, Alda. Mr. Wiese HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 811 has always been a steady, hardworking man and the success that has come to him is well deserved. His business has been general farming and it is one he thoroughly under stands In 1894 Mr. Wiese married Miss Mary Knuth. A sketch of her family wiH be found on another page of this work. This estimable lady died March 2, 1918, having bravely and cheerfully faced many hardships with her hus band in early days. She was the beloved mother of seven children, six of whom are living: Carl, who lives in Alda township; Dora, em ployed away from home ; Emma, the wife of Julius Mathiesen, a farmer in Washington township ; and Anna, George and Fritz, all of whom live at home.' As a business man and neigbor, Mr. Wiese stands well in his town ship, he being one of the men of whom it may be said that his word is as good as his bond. ROBERT BERG.— It is gratifying to those who take an interest in Hall County, that the old pioneer names may still be found in con nection with the lands secured through much hardship by the original owners. An example is found in Robert Berg, one of the successful farmers here, who has always lived on the homestead and has continued the industries his father followed for many years. Robert Berg was bom in Boone County, Nebraska, in 1884 and accompanied his par ents to HaH County in his childhood. They were Olaf and Louise Berg. The father was a native of Sweden and the mother of Nor way, who came to the United States in the fifties and were early settlers in Hall County. They had two children, Robert and Lawrence. Olaf Berg was a man of industry and good business judgment. His first purchase of land in Hall County was fifty-six acres, which strained his resources at that time, but before he died he owned two hundred and sixteen acres, all secured through his own efforts. Robert Berg obtained his education in the HaH County schools. He and his brother are partners in .operating the old home, farm. He belongs to the order of Modern Woodmen. ROGER H. BARNARD, a successful young farmer of Hall County and a man of sterling character, represents one of the old famiHes of the county. He was born in Hall County, May 17, 1892, and is one of the two children of Alfred and Mida (Rumbarger) Bamard. His father was born in Ohio. His mother was a native of Hall County. Both died here, the father in November, 1900, and the mother in 1909. Mr. Barnard has one sister, Sophia, the wife of Melvin Stellins. Roger H. Barnard has always lived on the old homestead. His father came to Hall County when a young man and acquired one hundred and sixty acres of land which he im proved and cultivated until his death. The mother of Mr. Bamard was an excellent busi ness woman and following her husband's death, purchased forty acres of valuable land, Roger H. now owning the entire two hundred acres. He is a well educated young man and is carry ing on his farm industries in an inteHigent, sensible way that speaks well for the future. On August 2, 1916, Mr. Barnard married Miss Ruby Franz, whose parents were early and substantial settlers in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Bamard have two children, a daughter and son : Mina and Alfred, who are certain to have both social and educational advantages as soon as they are old enough to receive them. Mr. and Mrs. Barnard are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in that connection and elsewhere are held in high esteem. Mr. Barnard is inter ested in all matters pertaining to Center town ship's progress, but takes no active part in political campaigns. WILLARD A. PRINCE is one of the lead ing members of the Hall County bar who has won an enviable place among the members of his profession. Mr. Prince was born at Pierpont, Ohio, September 4, 1864, and was a son of A. W. Prince, now deceased. He attended the pub lic schools of his native city and in 1882 entered HHlsdale CoHege where he received the degree of A. B. in 1886. He then took up the study of law in the office of Harwood, Ames and Kelly, of Lincoln, Nebraska, and was admitted to the bar in 1888. He located in Grand Island the same year where he has enjoyed a continually growing practice. December 26, 1888, at Ulysses, Nebraska, Mr. Prince was united in marriage to Miss Carrie B. Roberts. Her father Thomas R. Roberts was a native of Wales and became one of the first settlers of Des Moines, Iowa. He is a cousin of General Lord Roberts of the English army. Mr. and Mrs. Prince have four children: Harold A., who is in partnership with his father; Mrs. Hazel M. BoHon, of Schuyler, Ne braska; C. Roberta, a graduate of the Grand 812 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Island high school, class of 1919, is a student in the State University; and Elizabeth. The family are members of the Presby terian church. BAYARD H, PAINE. — Judge Bayard H. Paine, was elected Judge of the Eleventh Judicial District in 1916 and has enjoyed his work very much in this widely extended dis trict of eleven counties. Bayard H. Paine was born on a farm near Painesville, Ohio, AprH 27, 1872, and is a son of Ira T. and EHa M. Paine, mentioned else where in this volume. Judge Paine attended the Grand Island schools and graduated from the high school with the class of 1889. He then entered Northwestern -University, at Evanston, Illi nois, where he received his B.Sc, degree in 1894, For one year he was superintedent of schools at North Loup, From 1895 to 1898 he was assistant principal of the Grand Island schools. From 1898 to 1904 he was court re porter for Judge John R. Thompson and in the latter year he entered upon the practice of la-w, continuing this until elected to the bench in 1916. He served the city of Grand Island as police judge from 1907 to 1911. From 1906 to 1917 he was referee in bank ruptcy for fourteen counties in Nebraska. Aside from strictly professional lines his name is found on the directorate of several financial institutions, including the following: The First National Bank of Grand Island, Cairo State Bank, Alda State Bank and the Bank of Doniphan. He is secretary of the Paine and Fishburn Granite Company. At Grand Island January 15, 1902, occurred the marriage of Bayard H. Paine and Miss Grace Bentley, a daughter of Charles F. Bent ley. Mrs. Paine was the first graduate of the Grand Island Baptist College in 1895, and also attended Mt. Vernon Seminary, Washington, D. C. Prior to her marriage she taught four years in the Grand Island high school. Mr. and Mrs Paine are the parents of three chil dren: Grace, Charies B .and Bayard H., Jr. The family are members of the First Methodist church, and the Judge has twice been a delegate to its general conference, first to Los Angeles in 1904 and to Baltimore in 1908. For several years he was a trustee of Nebraska Wesleyan University. In politics Judge Paine is a Democrat and in 1914 was the unsuccessful candidate of his party for congress. Fraternally Judge Paine is a Mason belong ing to Ashlar Lodge A. F. & A. M. and has crossed the sands of the desert and is a member of the Tangier Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He belongs to the B. P. O. Elks and several other fraternal orders. In all things pertaining to the moral, intel lectual and educational well-being of the com munity he gives generously of his time and means. For five years he capably served as a member of the school board and the Public Library Board, For many years he was secretary and later vice-president and director of the Y. M, C, A, and served as president of that organization four years during which time the new building was erected. ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL.— The modern hospital is not only the highest de velopment of science for the alleviation and cure of the ailments of mankind, a wonderful organization into which the best thought and experience of experts at work the world over have entered, but it is also a great philanthrop ic enterprise. Particularly is this true in regard to an institution such as St. Francis Hospital at Grand Island. The building and grounds of St. Francis Hospital cover four city blocks. It was founded in 1886, under the direction of Sister Magdelene, representing the Francisan Sisters of the Roman Catholic faith, long established at Lafayette, Indiana. The original buHding is StiH standing but in 1911 was greatly en larged. At first it accommodated but twenty- five patients and eight nurses, but now com fortable quarters are provided for one hun dred patients and twenty-one nurses. All the rooms above the basement have been equipped and are suplied by private individuals, and plans are on foot for still further extension of the hospital's public usefulness. In addition to a first class operating room, equal to any in equipment in the city, the hospital owns an X-ray machine that is not excelled in the state. St. Francis Hospital is under the direct supervision of Mother Superior Bianca, who came first to Grand Island in 1891 and has occupied her present office since 1905. Father Long is chaplain of the hospital. This institu tion is doing a great work in giving scientific care to the sick, ill in mind or body. WhHe it is generously supported, it would be unjust to fail to mention its charitable work, its free maternity ward, its loving care of little chil dren and its benevolence to those of whom one of the highest dignitaries of the church HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 813 Bayard H. Paine 814 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA has said: "To comfort the poor, the sick and the unfortunate ; to bring the blessed light of joy and peace and hope into the' dark places of the earth, is the highest and noblest work that can be done by man." JOHN LEO CLEARY. — A large amount of personal ability and popularity is made manifest in determining the status of John Leo Cleary, who is serving his second term as mayor of the city of Grand Island, and as chief executive stands as an exponent of those vital and progressive policies that inevitably conserve the best interests of the community. John Leo Cleary is a native son of Hall County, born in Grand Island, October 17, 1878. He is a son of James and Johanna (Danahy) Cleary, who are mentioned else where in this volume. The son was educated in the public schools of Grand Island and later became a student at Notre Dame University in Indiana. He then enter,ed the law department of the State University of Nebraska at Lincoln from which he graduated with the class of 1902. He at once entered upon the practice of law in Grand Island, where he has staged his activities as a lawyer and public official in such a way as to inure greatly and conspicuously to the futherance of the civic and material development of the city and county. June 9, 1910, was solemnized the marriage of John Leo Cleary and Miss Frances Jane Cunningham. Mrs. Cleary is a native of Ohio and accompanied her parents to Grand Island in 1903 and prior to her marriage served as public librarian. Mr. and Mrs. Cleary have one child, Frances Jane. Mr. Cleary's political beliefs make him a Democrat and his religious faith is that of the Catholic church. GEORGE L. ROUSE, JR., who has been very successrul in his farming operations in Center township. Hall County, in which he has been engaged since his school period ended, was born in this county, March 24, 1875, and is a son of George L. and Susana (Rexroad) Rouse, the former of whom was born in Ohio and the latter in IHinois. When a young man the father of Mr. Rouse went to Illinois and as he was well educated, was engaged there in teaching school until 1872 when he came to HaH County, Nebraska. Here he invested in railroad land, which he se cured at $4 an acre, in its purchase displaying considerable business foresight. He returned then to Illinois and taught school there for another year, at the end of which time he came back to Hall County and still resides here. He owns an entire section of land which has a high market value. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and to the A. O. U. W. George L. Rouse, Jr., obtained his education in the public schools. He has carried on gen eral farming under the best conditions, for many years, and is convinced that intelligent methods of farming will make this the great est farm products section in the state. Mr. Rouse married Miss Alice Davison, whose parents came also from IHinois to Ne braska. They have five children : Warren, MHdred, Margaret, Mary and Wilma. Mr, Rouse belongs to two fraternal orders that have many active members in Hall County among representative people, the A, O, U, W, and the Yoemen, He is not a poli tician. HAROLD A, PRINCE is one of HaH County's native sons who distinguished him self in the World War, Mr, Prince was born in Grand Island, Ne braska, AprH 6, 1891, and is a son of WiHard A. Prince of whom mention is made on other pages of this volume. Reared in his native city, Harold A, attended the public schools and graduated from the Grand Island high school with the class of 1909. He then entered the Nebraska State University where he re ceived the degree of A. B. in 1913, and the degree of LL.B. in 1915, then entered upon the practice of the law in partnership with his father. May 11, 1917 he enlisted in the anny and went into the first officer's training camp at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, and received the commission of second lieutenant. In August, 1917 he sailed for France, landing there Sep tember 7th. He was assigned to the Sixteenth Infantry of the Second Division, and later with the One Hundred and Sixty-sixth, One Hundred and Sixty-seventh and finally with the One Plundred and Sixty-eight Infantry, all of them a part of the famous Rainbow Division. He was promoted to first lieuten ant in the Argonne. He was in action from February 21, 1918 untH November 11, 1918, when the Armistice was signed, and never received a scratch. His command became a part of the Anny of Occupation and he re mained with them until he was mustered out of the service. May 30, 1919. Here may be HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 815 mentioned the sectors where he saw service and where the severest fighting of the war took place: Lorraine, Febraary 21st to June 21st; Campagne-Marne defensive, July 4th to July 18th; Mame-Aisne offensive, July 26th to August 2d; St. Mihiel offensive, Septem ber 12th to September 30th ; Argonne-Meuse ¦offensive, October 5th to November llth. When the fighting was over he remained with the Army of Occupation until mustered out when he retumed home with a most splendid military record and deserving the honor due those who helped in the fight for democracy. He has again taken up the practice of law where further honors are sure to follow. S. N. WOLBACH has been a resident for forty-five years and during this time no man has been more prominently connected with the city's business and financial interests than he. S. N. Wolbach is a native of New York 'City, bom in 1851. His early education was acquired in the public and private schools of that city, this being supplemented by a course in Bryant and Stratton's Commercial College. He then found employment in a mercantile establishment and held one position five years. He then went to -Chicago and found employ ment, and was there during the great fire, his ffrm being one of the few who saved their books during that therrible disaster. In 1874 he came to Grand Island and estab lished the business now known as Wolbach and Sons, the largest concem of its kind in this part of the state. Mr. Wolbach was married in Chicago to Miss Rose Stein and they have become the parents of four sons: Murray W., is a ¦capitalist and resides in Chicago ; E. J., of Crand Island; Dr. S. B., professor of bac teriology and pathology in Harvard College; and Emil, of Grand Island. Mr. Wolbach has always been a Democrat and was a member of the lower house of the legislature in 1885, and a member of the state senate in 1887 and 1889. He was an un successful candidate for lieutenant govemor •of Nebraska in 1892, on the ticket with J. Sterling Morton. Mr. Wolbach was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Grand Island and has been president of this institution for many years. He is also connected with several other financial institutions of this part of the state, among them being The Bank of Doniphan, Cairo State Bank and the Ravenna State Bank. He is the owner of four sections of land in Greeley County and the town of Wolbach was named in his honor. For forty-five years he has been an import ant factor in the business activities of this section of the state and he is held in the high est esteem wherever known. JAMES CLEARY has been a resident of Grand Island for nearly fifty years and during this time has been one of its foremost business men and on several occasions has been called to public office. James Cleary was born in Tipperary, Ire land, in 1847. He was the son of John and Anna (Russell) Cleary. The mother died in Ireland and in 1850 John Cleary brought his family to the United States establishing his home at Stanton, Virginia, where he became superintendent of an insane asylum. In 1863 he moved to Lewisburg, Virginia, and here his death occured soon after. James Cleary was reared in Virginia and at the age of sixteen enlisted in the Southern army and served twp years during the Civil War, a member of the Fourteenth Virginia Cavalry under General McCausland. Soon after the close of the war he went to Lewis burg, Virginia, and from there to Missouri where he spent one year before going to Colo rado, It was in 1870 that he came to Grand Island to establish himself in the hardware business, becoming one of the early merchants of the city, and continued in this line until 1888, He then entered the real estate business which he has continued to the present time and is one of the few survivors of the pioneer merchants of Grand Island, In 1874 he was united in marriage to Miss Johanna Danahy, a native of Ireland, and they became the parents of four children, as fol lows : Mary Josephine, at home; James T., an attorney, who met death by drowning in 1909, at the age of twenty-eight; Frank J,, cashier of the State Bank of Grand Island; and J, L., mayor of Grand Island. Mr. Cleary is a Democrat in politics and his fellow-citizens, reahzing his ability have called upon him several times to serve in pub- lic.positions. He was city treasurer in an early day, mayor of the city three terms, member of the county board of supervisors two terms and a member of the city council two terms. He proved a capable official, always loyal to the trust reposed in him. Mr. Cleary is a member of the Catholic church and is held in the highest esteem by all who know him. 816 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA A. F, BUECHLER. — The press is the recorded voice of the community, and a leading representative of the press of HaH County is A. F, Buechler, editor of the Grand Island Daily Independent and one of the editors in chief of this history of Hall County, The subject of this sketch was born in Stan ton, Illinois, January, 1869, son of Rev, C, and Mrs, Hannah Buechler, The father had emigrated to America from Germany in 1865, The mother's parents came to America from Northern Germany when she was still a babe and the grandfather on the maternal side died in 1871 as a result of injuries and exposure received while fighting for the Union in 1864. About 1870 the father was called to serve three German congregations in Northern Ohio and here A. F. Buechler attended the public schools until the age of thirteen, at which time his family moved to Thayer County, Nebraska. After a year of school at Carleton, Nebraska, he began work, at the age of fourteen, as a copyist in the office of the county clerk at Hebron, Nebraska, and four months later took a clerkship in the postoffice in the village of Carlton, work which in later years stood him well in hand. He also carried on general clerks duties in the general merchandise store of S: A. Truesdale, the postmaster. In 1885, he began his advanced education, which con sisted of one year in the preparatory depart ment and later four years in the college at Capital University, Columbus, Ohio, from which he graduated in 1890, with the degree of A. B. His parents, in the meantime, had moved to Grand Island, and early in the fall of 1890 he found employment on the Daily Times as solicitor and reporter In 1891, S. P. Mobley, then business manager of The Independent, obtained a commission with the state's exhibit at the Chicago World's Fair, and Fred Hedde, the founder, and then edHor and owner of the Independent gave Mr Buechler employment as a general office assist ant dunng the absence of Mr. Mobley So on August 3, 1891, Mr. Buechler began ser vice with The Independent which has con tinued until this time. In December 1895 W. M. Geddes and A. F. Buechler, under the partnership of Geddes & Buechler, leased the Independent plant. In February, 1897, Mr. Hedde again resumed charge of the paper, re taining Mr. Buechler as silent partner. Fail ing health compelled Mr. Hedde's disposal of the plant m 1900 and Mr. Buechler organized the present Independent publishing Com pany on a capital of $7,000, merging therewith the Standard Printing Company. He has thus been employed and connected with the Independent for twenty-nine years, for the last nineteen years as president, which office has thus far always assumed the editor ship. In addition to the close association with public affairs of the community which the editorship of a daily paper naturally entaHs, Mr. Buechler has devoted his time and energy to numerous specific public duties. He has assisted in organizing three commercial clubs,. during these twenty-nine years, and for five years served as the first secretary and for four years thereafter as a inember of the executive committee of the present organization For two years he also served as secretary of the state association of Commercial Clubs. In. 1911, he was appointed postmaster and served one term. - Besides the many tasks which The Inde pendent cheerfully met during the war period, Mr. Buechler was appointed as one of the first directors of the Red Cross and served throughout the war. He was elected at a mass meeting as one of a War Activities- Committee of five, to take over, at request, all war drives, and was upon the organization of the committee elected as its secretan,-, serv ing in that capacity up to and including the Victory Loan drive. He also served as pub licity committeeman in every war drive throughout the war with the exception of the first Y, M. C. A. which was taken up by the association independently. He was united in marriage in 1891 to Mrs. Lydia L. Boehm. They have a familv of four children ; the eldest, Theo. E. Buechler, grad uated with honors from the local high school, attended Grand Island College one year, whereupon he obtained an appointment as cadet for West Point Military Academy, at tended Columbia Preparatory school at Wash ington, six months, passed the mental and physical examination for entrance at West loint, and upon completion of the course ranked twenty-first in a total entering class of two hundred and fifty-one. He became a captain of artillery, with an assignment of instmctorm gunnery in central officers train ing schoo , Camp Taylor, Kentucky, and is at present zone major, with the American army at Coblenz, Germany. n<=Sl'" f^ ^; ^°^^^'' '^ *^ ^ife of the former j2^T 'f '"'"¦ ^^ *^ State Bank of Grand Island, and now local agent for Peoria Life HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 819 Insurance Company. She is a graduate of the local high school and Grand Island Con servatory of music. Walter E. Buechler, became a corporal in Company B One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Engineers, American Expeditionary Force, France. He volunteered at the age of nine teen with the Seventh Nebraska Regiment, and when that regiment was abandoned by the War Department, carried out his determina tion to enter the service by enlisting with the Engineer Corps at Jefferson Barracks. Since his return he has resumed his duties with the Independent Publishing Company. The youngest daughter, Catherine, aged twelve, is attending the public schools of Grand Island. Mr. Buechler's interest in preserving the early history of the county, of which his efforts in 1907 in securing the personal remin iscences of some of surviving members of the original colony of 1857, and other Hall County pioneers, was an invaluable aid in the com pilation of the present volume. The steady substantial growth and recognition being ac corded in newspaper circles of the state to the Grand Island Daily Independent attests the success of the services of Mr. Buechler and his associates to the Independent Publish ing Company, the community in general and Hall County particularly. DANIEL A. FINCH, D.D.S. — While the principles of dentistry have not changed since the early days of the science, the world has grown wiser concerning its benefits, and the. scientific discoveries of recent years that have made consideration of the hygiene of the mouth most important in medical diagnosis, has gone far to place this profession in the foremost place where it belongs. It is to dental surgery that thousands of the unhappy victims of the late war will look for facial regeneration, and its achievements already in plastic surgery recall the day of miracles. There are many among the older practitioners who have labored with faith and professional skill for this wider field of human usefulness, and great credit must be accorded them for preparing the way, often with inadequate fa cilities and hampering environment. One of Grand Island's leading dental surgeons. Dr. Daniel A. Finch, has been continuously en gaged here in the practice of his profession for thirty-four years. Dr. Finch was born at Florence, New York, Nevember 19, 1863, one of a family of five chHdren born to Daniel and Maria (Livesey) Finch. Both parents were born in "^iTorkshire, England. The mother of Dr. Finch was ac companied to the United States in 1843, by her mother, who was an evangelist preacher in the Methodist Episcopal church from the time of landing until her death many years afterward. The father of Dr. Finch came to the United States in 1841, when the old sailing vessels that plied between England and Amer ica, sometimes consumed six months in makr ing the passage. He settled in Oneida County, New York, engaged in farming and raising stock, became res.pected in his community, where he held local offices, and finally died on his farm when aged forty-two years. Of his four living children, there are two residing in Nebraska, Daniel A. and John S. in Lincoln, Nebraska. The latter has been connected with the Nebraska State Journal, at Lincoln, for the past twenty-five years. From the public schools of Oneida County, where his educational training had been thor ough, Daniel A. Finch went to New York City and pursued a course in dentistry, since then making it his sole vocation. He came to Nebraska in his early days of practice and has been a resident of Grand Island since June 10, 1885. He has kept fully abreast with the times and maintains well appointed offices in the Hedde building. Grand Island. On February 17, 1887, Dr. Finch was united in marriage to Miss Addie M. Hall. Her parents were H. L. and Lydia Hall, who came to Hamilton County, Nebraska, as early as 1872 and died there. Mrs. Finch passed away at Grand Island, in January, 1917. Their one daughter, Grace M., resides with her father, and being talented in music is very popular in music circles and is a teacher of merit. Dr, and Miss Finch attend the Methodist church. While a Republican in national politics. Dr. Finch maintains an independent course in local affairs. He has never accepted any public office except membership on the school board, during six years of service displaying good judgment and civic pride. For many years he has been identified with the Masons and the Knights of Pythias, serving officially in both orders, and has held all the offices in the latter organization pertaining to the local lodge. HENRY J. BECKER is proprietor of the Becker Music Company, the oldest established concern of its kind in Grand Island which had its beginning more than twenty-one years ago. Endowed by nature with ability in his chosen 820 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA calling, his education and experience have well fitted him for making this line of endeavor his life work. When a boy of seven years he was playing the violin for dances and public enter tainments in his native land, and later received instruction under such able tutors as William Thiele, who for years was a member of the famous Thomas Orchestra of Chicago, Mr. Becker was born in Westphalia, Ger many, July 12, 1872, At the age of fourteen he was brought to America by his parents, C. F. and Matilda (Eickhoff) Becker, who established their home in Grand Island. Here Henry J. and his brother C. F. continued the study of music, later becoming instructors and for several years conducted an orchestra. It is now twenty-one years since the Becker Brothers opened a store and the partnership continued until 1912, when Henry J. pur chased the interest of his brother and became sole proprietor. The Becker Music Company have a well equipped store at the southwest corner of Third and Pine streets, where everything in music can be found. A genial disposition, a pleasing personality, together with his knowledge of music, have in spired the confidence and good will of the pub lic, while honest dealings and fair prices have assured him success. Mr Becker was married in Grand Island to Miss Emma Boettcher, and they have two children: Robert H. and Wilma M. WILHELM R. JENSEN, who is a mem ber of the merchant police force at Grand Is land, came first to this city in the spring of 1874. He is a native of Denmark, born, Jan- nary 28, 1846, near Aalborg, a son of Jens P. and Margaret Cline (Wilhelmsen) Rasmus sen Jensen. The father of Mr. Jensen was born in Denmark, February 14, 1818, and died there in 1894. His mother was born in Den mark June 21, 1819, and died there in 1862. They were the parents of six children and of the five yet living, Wilhelm R. is the only one in the United States. 'The laws of Denmark provide for the edu cation of the children of the country, and Mr. Jensen had the opportunHy to lay a good foun dation in the schools and afterward learned the trade of bricklayer under his father. In 1869 he came to the United States and for four years worked on farms in Iowa, after ward spending one year in Colorado, working in brickyards and on a sheep ranch. In March, 1874, he came to Grand Island, which has been his home during the greater part of the time ever since. He became a mem ber of the first volunteer, fire department, and is one of the four survivors of the "Always Ready Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1" which made a notable name for itself in pro tecting property in the early years when the city was largely constructed of inflammable material, Mr. Jensen owns an interesting photograph of the above company, which he prizes very highly. In 1878 he was appointed deputy sheriff and served under Sheriff Kil lian from 1878 untH 1882. During this time he had in charge a convicted murder, named Hart, but Mr. Jensen's term expired before the time of execution. The criminal escaped the penalty through pardon on the day before his sentence was to be carried out, the scaffold having been erected in the jail yard. In 1882 Mr. Jensen returned to Denmark on a visit and in 1883, while there, was united in marriage to a widow, Mrs. Meta K. Ander sen. She had four children but only one is living, namely : Martina, who is the wife of Thomas A. Brown of Iowa City, Iowa. To Mr. and Airs. Jensen three children were bom : Margaret, who is a saleslady for the O. C. Thompson Company, Grand Island; ]\Iary, who is a stenographer and bookkeeper in the offices of the Union Pacific Railroad Com pany at Grand Island; and Niels, who is in the contracting business. AH of the children reside at home, and with their parents belong to the English Lutheran church. When Mr. Jensen returned to Grand Island from his visit to Denmark, he gave his atten tion for some time to his personal property interests. In the spring of 1889 he accepted a place on the city police force and served as a patrolman until 1901. After that, for two years, he worked for Jens Rasmussen at brick work, and then returned to official life, since then having been employed on the mer chant police force. Mr. Jensen's record for personal courage is well known at Grand Is land. In politics he is a strong Republican. CARL BAASCH is among the number who came to Hall County in an early day, and in his farming operations met with the success that enables him to spend the evening of Hfe in honorable retirement. Mr. Baasch was born in the vHlage of Kiel, Holstein, Germany, May 27, 1841, and was a son of George and Anna (Krambeck) Baasch, both natives of the same province in which their son was born. The father was a wagon HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 821 maker by trade and died in that country about 1858. The mother came to the United States in 1860 and lived to be nearly one hundred years of age and passed away at Davenport, Iowa. Carl was reared in his native land and was a young man of twenty-three when he came to the United States in 1864, He spent two years at Davenport, Iowa, and in 1866 came to Hall County, Nebraska. In recalling that trip brings to mind that there were no rail roads in Nebraska then and the journey was made by stage. Martin Schimmer, another pioneer of this county, was a passenger on that trip, and often twelve men rode in the stage at one time. On reaching Hall County Mr. Baasch found employment at whatever would provide him a living and worked four teen months for the pioneer firm of Koenig and Wiebe. For eight months he was em ployed in railroad construction work and helped build the line to the Black HHls. It was soon after he came here that Hall County was visited by the memorable grass hopper plague. Mr. Baasch like many others was not very favorably impressed with the prospects of making this a permanent home. But times grew better and Mr. Baasch took up the occupation of- farming, bought land and conducted his affairs in such a manner that suc cess attended his efforts, and he is considered one of the well-to-do men of his community. AprH 11, 1875, Mr. Baasch was married to Miss Wiebke Minnie Hansen, a native of Ger many, a daughter of one of the early settlers of the county, her parents settling here in 1874. The father of Mrs. Baasch died in 1916, but the mother is still living and has reached the age of nearly eighty-nine. To Mr. and Mrs. Baasch have been born six chHdren, all of whom are married and re side in this county. Ernest, married Emma Thode, who is deceased and the present wife is Katie Bockmann. Henry married Bertha Luth, who is now deceased. Gustave married Hermina Wragge. John married Clara Heesch. Anna married Emil Wagner. Martha is the wife of Henry Knuth. REV. LEWIS A. ARTHUR, who is one of the able men of the Protestant Episcopal clergy in Nebraska, is the rector of the Epis copal church at Grand Island. Zealous in the cause of religion and giving unsparingly of the best that is in him. Dr. Arthur wields wide influence. Carried away as the world is at the present time sometimes seems to be by materialism, a strong guiding force is needed in every community to combat vicious doc trines, and to supplant them with the whole someness, beauty, love and sympathy ex pressed in the tenets of the church. Such is Dr. Arthur's mission. Lewis A. Arthur is of New England birth and ancestry, but the Arthur name is not un known in other sections as it is honorably re corded in the nation's annals. Mr. Arthur was born in a manufacturing city of Bur lington, Vermont, and is a son of John A. and Harriet F. Arthur. Without mention of early school advantages and favorable home en vironment, he was graduated from the Univer sity of Vermont with the degrees of A. B. and A. M., and subsequently from the General Theological Seminary, New York City, with degree of S. T. B. Dr. Arthur has been twice married. On June 29, 1887, he was united in marriage to Miss Eunice Tripler, who died September 25, 1911. She was a daughter of General Charles S. Tripler, Medical Corps, United States army. On June 16, 1915, Dr. Arthur married Miss Alice May McAllister, who is a daughter of William R. McAllister. Dr. Arthur has one daughter, Eunice, who was married April 16, 1916, to William Ritchie, Jr., an attorney at law at Omaha, Nebraska. RALPH R. HORTH has been a member of the Hall County bar for thirty-five years and throughout that entire period has made Con tinued progress and has written his name high on the keystone of Nebraska's legal arch. WhHe at all times careful to conform his prac tice to the highest professional ethics he has at the same time so guided his course in every relation that his name is honored and respected wherever known and most where he is best known. Mr. Horth is a native of the Empire State, born at New Albion, New York, April 16, 1863. His parents were Charles and Angeline (Smith) Horth, who became residents of Hall County in 1872, settling on a farm in Jackson township. Both parents died in this county, the father in 1914 and the mother in 1904. Charles R. Horth served three years during the Civil War as a member of Company H. Seventy-second New York Volunteer Infantry. Ralph R. Horth attended the public schools of Gibbon anci*' alsol the Baptist Seminary located there, ' He then entered the State Uni versity of Michigan where he received his de gree of LL.B. in 1885. Following this he 822 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA entered upon the practice of law at Grand Island where he has continued to the present time. Since 1911 he has been a member of the firm of Horth and Ryan with offices in the Ryan building. He served as county attor ney and city attorney and was chairman of the War Activities Committee during the World War. In connection with this prominence at the bar he has become well known in financial circles and has been a director in the First National Bank of Grand Island, Bank of PhHlips, State Bank of Ravenna, Perkins County Bank and the Bank of Meeker at Meeker, Colorado. He is a director of Davis Brothers Drug Com pany of Denver, Colorado, vice-president of J. W. Hugus and Company who operates a chain of eleven stores in Wyoming and Colo rado, secretary of the Chicago Hide and Fur Company of Grand Island and secretary of the .Ef ell Company, a corporation in Wyoming engaged in the sheep and cattle industry, August 8, 1888 Mr, Horth was married to Miss May Castiday, a daughter of D, R. and Mahalah Castiday. Mrs. Horth's father was a prominent stockman of Wyoming and is now deceased, while the mother is still living. Mr. Horth is a member of the Episcopal church and has been a member of the vestry board for twenty-five years. For eighteen years he was chancellor of the diocese. In politics Mr. Horth is a Republican and has served as chairman of the County Central Committee several times. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Masonic and B. P O, Elks lodges. IRA T, PAINE, who is one of the sub stantial business men of Grand Island and is at the head of one of the city's important enter prises, has been a resident of this city forty- six years and has taken a keen interest and im portant part in much of its development. Mr. Paine is a native of Ohio but is of New England ancestry and of Revolutionary stock, his paternal great-grandfather,, Eleazer Paine, having been a soldier in the patriot army in his native state, Connecticut. Mr. Paine's maternal great-grandfather, Ira Tuttle, also a native of Connecticut, was a justice of the peace for many years in Ohio. Among the young lawyers practicing in his court, were Frank and Benjamin F, Wade, whe became distinguished in public life in the Buckeye state, Ira T, Paine was born at Painesville, Ohio, January 31, 1847, the son of Henry and Har riet (Tuttle) Paine, both of whom were born in northeastern Ohio, and spent nearly all their lives on a farm, passing away there in old age, Henry Paine was a son of Hendricks Paine, a native of Connecticut who moved to Ohio in 1802, Henry Paine was a man of prominence in Lake County, a justice of the peace, and for nine years was a county commissioner. He and wife were piHars in the Methodist Episcopal church and worthy people in every relation of life. Of their family of eight surviving children out of the original ten,but two reside in Gfand Island, Ira T., and Miss Carrie M. Paine, who lives with her brother. In the country schools and at PainesvHle, Ira T. Paine obtained his education, in the meanwhile working on the home farm untH 1873, when he came to Grand Island, Ne braska. He arrived with but a small amount of capital but as he was frugal, a hard worker and had early acquired industrious habits, he soon found employment and for six years worked in a lumber yard after which he went into the railway mail service where he remained seven years. In the spring of 1888 he embarked independently in the monument business, a con cern which has developed into a stock company of large importance, under the firm name of the Paine-Fishburn Granite Company, oper ating with a capitall stock of $64,000. Mr. Paine is president of the company and much of its success is due to his careful, conserva tive guidance of its affairs. He is a Republican in politics and at all times is an earnest citi zen, but he has never had any ambition for political honors, in the proper regulation of his own business affairs finding a satisfying Hfe. Mr. Paine was married June 9, 1870, to Miss Ella M. Huston, who died October 21, 1911, survived by one child who is Judge Bayard H. Paine of Grand Island. Mr. Ira T. Paine has been for more than twenty-five years the chairman of the board of trastees of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Grand Island. "WILLIAM J. HEFLIN. — With the am bition to accomplish something valuable and to make their lives traly useful, many intelligent young men early turn to a career in medicine, and in more or less debree they attain their ob ject. Grand Island has attracted many thor oughly qualified medical men and a represen tative member of the profession is Dr. Will iam J. Heflin, who is in the enjoyment of a HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 823 Ira T. Paine 824 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA large and lucrative practice as the result of marked ability. William J. Heflin was born in Dane County, Wisconsin, November, 26, I860. His parents were Ezekiel and Eleanor E. (Moore) Heflin. The father of Mr. Heflin was a minister in the Christian church for many years. He was born in South Carolina and died in 1905 in r\Iinnesota. Dr. Heflin's mother was born in New York and died in Grand Island in 1916. Both had accompanied their parents to Wis consin in childhood and their marriage took place in that state. Eight children were born to them and Dr. Heflin of Grand Island is the eldest of the three survivors, the others being : H. H., who is a physician and surgeon at Ke wanee, IHinois, and Edna E., who is a prac tising physician at Grand Island. After his school period was over Dr. Heflin was faced with the necessity of earning the means to take him through medical college, having early determined to become a physician, consequently he looked kbout' for employ ment with the result that for some time he was a traveling representative of the manu facturing firm of Hay & Todd, of Chicago. Subsequently he entered the medical depart ment of the University of Minnesota, from which he was graduated in 1895. After three years of practice in the city of Minneapolis he went to Nora Springs, in Floyd County, Iowa, and from there, in 1909, came to Grand Island.- Competent in every branch of his pro fession, Dr, Heflin has no specialty. In 1896 Dr. Heflin was united in marriage with Miss Clara A. Adams, who was bom in Iowa, and they have one son and two daugh ters : William Duane, who is a student in the Nebraska State University at Lincoln ; and Alice Fay and Clara Lenore, both of whom attend school at Grand Island, Mrs, Heflin is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is interested in numerous charities, Dr, Heflin has long been identified with Masonry and has attained the thirty-second degree and formerly served both as senior and junior warden of Nicolett Lodge A, F. & A. M., St. Peter, Minnesota. He entertains as does every inteHigent man and enlightened physi cian, very decided views on public questions and votes according to his own judgment. G. H. THOAIAS. — For many years promi nent in Nebraska along lines of useful effort, G. H. Thomas, president of the Grand Island National Bank, commands attention as a rep resentative citizen of Hall County. Mr. Thomas was bom at Berlin, in Green Lake County, Wisconsin, March 4, 1876, the elder of two sons born to Griffith J. and Anna E. (Griffith) Thomas, who are highly respected retired residents of Harvard, Nebraska. Griffith J. Thomas was bom in Wales, Jan uary 20, 1847, and brought to America and to Wisconsin in childhood. He was reared there and from there entered the service of his country during the CivH War, serving as a private for three years under two enlist ments, thereby almost wrecking his health. He was a journalist by profession and continued to be interested in newspapers until he retired. He has always been an ardent Republican and for nine years served as postmaster at Berlin. In 1886 he came with his family to Clay County, Nebraska, where he was postmaster for eighteen years. He is one of the older members of the Masonic bodies in Clay County and one of the state leaders in the Grand Army of the Republic. To this noble organization Mr. Thomas has been particularly devoted and has labored zealously for its in terests. He belongs to one of the oldest posts in existence, John H. Williams Post No. 4, Berlin, Wisconsin, which he has served three terms as deputy commander. He was married Nevember 1, 1874, to Miss Anna E, Griffith, who was born at Utica, New York, December 7, 1846, but was reared at Berlin. They have two sons G, H, and Harrie G., the latter of whom was associated with his brother in the banking business at Harvard and also in news paper work with his father, G. H. Thomas completed the high School course at Harvard, Nebraska, and then entered the State University from which he was grad uated in 1897 and stHl maintains his member ship in the Greek letter fraternities. Delta Tau Delta and Ph» Beta Kappa. Mr. Thomas then turned his attention and acquirements to the educational field and for eleven years taught school in Nebraska, for eight years being superintendent of schools at McCook, in RedwiHow County. He then entered the banking business and from 1908 until 1917 was cashier of the Union State Bank of Harvard, Nebraska, which is one of the sound financial institutions of Clay County, operating with a capital of $25,000,surplus and profits $17,000 and average deposits $500,000. He still main tains an interest in that institution although now a resident of Grand Island. When he came here to associate with Theodore Griess of this city, he bought the majority of stock in the Grand Island National Bank, of which he has smce been president. This bank is HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 825 conducted carefully and conservatively with a capital of $100,000, surplus and undivided pro fits $135,000. Mr. Thomas was married in 1900 to Miss Blanch E, McCarl, who was born in Iowa, a daughter of John McCarl, who removed from Iowa to Hastings in Adams County, Nebraska, and later to McCook, Mr, Thomas is a staunch Republican but has taken no very decided part since coming to Grand Island but previously served for five years as mayor of Harvard. He is prominent in Masonry, a Knight Temp lar and also a Shriner, THEODORE GRIESS, president of the Grand Island National Bank, is well known bith in financial and political circles. He has not been a resident of Grand Island very long, but his welcome to this city has been hearty and his name wHl be a valuable asset in the furtherance of business, Theodore Griess is a native of Russia, born at Worms, or^e of a famHy of ten children born to his parents, Peter and Sophia (Grosshaus) Griess. The family originated in Germany and from there went to Russia in earlier times. In 1873, the father of Mr. Griess came to the United States and settled in Clay County, Ne braska, being accompanied by his family. The mother of Mr. Greiss died on November 25, 1903. Their children were as foHows : Theo dore, who is a resident of Grand Island ; Henry P., who is a merchant at Sutton, Ne braska ; John G,, who is cashier of the Sutton National Bank ; William, also a merchant at Sutton ; Edward, a merchant at Eldorado, Ne braska ; Ferdinand, a dental surgeon at Sut ton ; Gustave, who was graduated in dentistry at Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1912; Rudolph, in college ; Lydia, the wife of J. A. Dennis, a merchant at Eldorado; and three who are de ceased. For many years the father of the above family has been engaged in the grain and coal business at Sutton, He has been ac tive in Democratic politics and in 1887 was his party's candidate for county treasurer. Theodore Griess obtained his education in the country schools, the Sutton graded schools and Doane College, at Crete, Nebraska. His business career began when he went into busi ness with his father. In 1904 he removed from Clay County and became cashier of the Union State Bank, and in 1908, in association with George Thomas, bought the controlling interest and became president. Subsequently Mr. Griess purchased the majority of stock in the Grand Island National Bank and moved to Grand Island. Early in his career he be came interested in public affairs and has held many public offices of responsibility. From 1896 until 1897 he was deputy county treas urer of Clay County. In 1897 he was elected county treasurer and was re-elected in 1899 and after the expiration of his second term he was deputy again for two years, spending in all ten years in the treasurer's office. In 1900 he was chosen as the candidate of the Democratic party for state auditor. Mr. Griess married Miss Johanna Fand- mann, the ceremony taking place March 28, 1900. She was born at Scotland, South Da kota. They have three children : Helene, Ray mond Paul and Gertrade Louise. Mr, and Mrs. Griess are people of education, culture and religion. WILLIAM SCHROEDER is a represen tative citizen of Hall County and a substantial farmer in Alda township. He belongs to a well known family of this section', who homesteaded here forty-eight years ago. His has always been an agricultural family and it has been a prosperous one from the beginning, industry, thrift and good management being family characteristics. William Schroeder was born January 6, 1865. His parents were Fritz and Sophia (Lamp) Schroeder, both of whom were born and reared in Germany. They came to the United States in 1864, and in 1871 the father homesteaded in Hall County, Nebraska, He came to the county a poor .man but at the time of his death he was a wealthy man, being the owner of a whole section of well improved land. He was not only honest and industrious, but also a man of high principles, a faithful member of the Lutheran church, and for many years a member of the order of United Work men. He was the father of five children: William, the eldest born ; Charles, who lives at Grand Island ; Henry, a farmer in Alda town ship ; Otto, a farmer in Alda township ; and Elizabeth, deceased, the wife of Ernest Scholtz, of Hall County. William Schroeder obtained his education in the Hall County schools and early began farm training. He now owns and cultivates one hun dred and sixty acres of land in a favorable location, which he has admirably improved. He is one of the substantial farmers and de pendable citizens of the county. He married Miss Maggie Clauson. They have children as follows : Sophia, the wife of John Mohn, of Montana; and Alfred, Alma, EHa, John, 826 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA George and Rudolph, all of whom live at home. Mr. Schroeder and his family are mem bers of the Lutheran church and attend ser vices in Grand Island. CHARLES LUTH, a prosperous general farmer in Alda township, Hall County, be longs to an old family of this section, one that is noted for its agricultural success. Father and sons have been farmers all their lives, and with the experience of many years, have made their land unusuaHy productive. Nowhere in the county wiH be found better tHled acres, more modern farm machinery, evidences of more thorough methods in crop rotation and fertili zation, or more substantial improvements than on the Luth farms. Charies Luth was born in Marshall County, Iowa, the second son of Fred and Minnie Luth, both natives of Germany, His father was born in 1844, a son of Henry and Sophia (Yohn) Luth, and the only one of their eight children to come to the United States, For some years prior to coming to HaH County, he engaged in farming in Iowa, The most of his ample fortune has been made after com ing to Nebraska, Charles Luth had some edu cational opportunities in Hall County, Mr. Luth is in partnership with his brother WHl iam in the operation of two hundred and thirty acres of land belonging to their father and much success is attending their undertaking. Mr. Luth is an independent voter, never hav ing identified himself with any political party and never being desirous of holding a political office. GEORGE F RICKARD,. a well known general farmer of Hall County, operating what was his grandfather's old homestead near Alda, has spent his life in this county and all his interests are centered here. Both father and grandfather were pioneers in this section and no people are better or more favorably known than the Rickards. George F. Rickard was born in HaH County, Nebraska, February 16, 1873, the second in a family of six children born to Charles Louis and Margaret (Burd) Rickard, and a grand son of George H. and Polly Anne (Forrest) Rickard. The grandparents were born in New York, lived for some years in Illinois, came to HaH County in 1880 and homesteaded, their property still remaining in the family. The parents of Mr, Rickard resided on their own homestead in Hall County, the father having come here in 1877, and there the mother died in 1916, George Rickard remained at home assisting his father untH he was twenty-one years old. In the meanwhile he attended the public schools. As mentioned above, he lives on his grandfather's old place and rents a half section of land fromhis father, which he devotes to general farming. On Christmas Day, 1910, Mr. Rickard mar ried Miss Carrie Barr, whose parents were very eariy settlers in Hall County. Mr. and Mrs. Rickard have had three chHdren: Charies, Eari, and an infant that is deceased. Mr. Rickard has always devoted himself closely to his own business and has taken little part in pohtical matters. He is, however, an intelligent, wide-awake citizen, and whHe he votes according to his own judgment, may be depended upon to support candidates who have the best interests of Hall County at heart. CHARLES L. RICKARD. — For more than forty years Charles Louis Rickard, one of HaH County's substantial farmers, has been a resident of this section. He came here in the early days of county settlement, has worked hard and has prospered. He has done his part in advancing agricultural, edu cational and social interests. He was bom in McHenry County, IHinois, January 30, 1852. His parents, George H. and Polly Anne (Forrest) Rickard, were natives of New York, where they were reared and married. The father was a farmer all his life, first in Illinois, and after 1880 in HaH County, Ne braska, where he owned a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land. They had two children, Charles Louis and Emma, the latter of whom died at the age of four years. Charles L. Rickard attended the district schools near his father's farm in Illinois and remained at home untH 1877 when he came to Hall County. He was much better off than many of the older settlers, for he brought with him three horses, two yoke of oxen and $75 in cash. Later he homesteaded and continued on his land through the years of hardship that overwhelmed many of the pioneers. Grad ually, through hard work and the exercise of good judgment, he acquired other tracts of land, until now he owns seven hundred and twenty acres. His property has all been well improved and for many years he has been considered one of the most capable and pros perous general farmers of the county. In 1873 Mr. Rickard married Miss Margaret Burd, whose people were of old New England HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 827 George Rickard and 'Wife Charles L. Rickard and "Wife 828 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA stock. She died December 24, 1916, mourned by a devoted family and a wide circle of friends. Mr. and Mrs. Rickard had the fol lowing children: Effie, the wife of Marley Compton ; George, a successful farmer in Hall County ; Nellie, the wife of Roy Orendoff, of Hall County; Walter D., who lives at Ord, Nebraska; Elsie, the wife of Otto Giersdorf, of Columbus, Nebraska, and Amer C. who is a railroad man. HENRY LUTH, a very successful farmer in HaH County belongs to a well known family of this section, the most of its members being- substantial farmers. Mr. Luth was bom in Hall County, on Christmas Eve, 1869, a son of Fred and Minnie (Runfeldt) Luth, both of whom were born in Germany. The father of Mr Luth was twenty-two years old when he came to the United States. He engaged in farming in Marshall County, Iowa, until 1886, when he came to. HaH County, where he is now one of the heavy landowners. Henry Luth attended the public schools in Hall County as opportunity afforded. His services on the farm began when he was but a boy, a pursuit in which he has been continu ously engaged to the present time. He is now operating land which his father formeriy owned, and if all farmers in the county were as careful about the condition of the soil and quality of seed, and as well informed other wise as Mr. Luth, this would soon be the ban ner section of the state for big crops. He has put ftne improvements on his farm and has everything comfortable around him In 1895 Mr. Luth married Miss Mary bchoel, a daughter of Henry Schoel. The fol lowing children have been born to them • a babe that died in infancy; Ella, the wife of .S^T? 1°^^'.^- ^^^"^^^ '" Center township; and Ralph, Minme, Irvin and Henry, all of whom live at home. Mr. Luth has been a good citizen of his township. He has never been active m politics and in elections of all kinds casts an independent vote. OTTO SCHROEDER, whose extensive tarming operations place him among the lead ing agriculturists of HaH County, is a repre- sentatj^e of one of the sturdy pioneer families of this section. His father homesteaded in Hall County almost a half century ago and the name has been well and favorabl? known in the county ever since. Otto Schroeder was bom in Plall County, October 7, 1883. His parents were Fritz and Sophia (Lamp) Schroeder, who came from Germany to the United States in 1864. The former took up a homestead in Hall County in 1871, and from then until his death in 1912, followed an agricultural life. In early days he passed through many hardships but indus try and perseverance enabled him to make headway where others might have failed, and when he passed away he left an estate that included an entire section of land. He was never active in politics. He belonged to the order of United Workmen, and was a faithful member of the Lutheran church. Of his five children. Otto was the fourth in order of birth, the others being : William, a substantial farmer in Hall County ; Charles, who lives in Grand Island ; Henry, who is a farmer in Alda town ship ; and Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife of Ernest Scholtz, a farmer in Hall County. Otto Schroeder had educational advantages in Hall County and when he left school chose farming as his vocation. A well trained, prac tical man, with intelligent ideas in agricultural matters, he has steadily gone forward and has become prominent in agricultural circles because of his success in the manage ment of his fine farm of two hundred acres. His land is well improved and every part of it shows the effect of careful tillage. In 1906 Mr. Schroeder married Miss Bertha Rickert, whose parents were early settlers in this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Schroeder the following children have been born : Edna, Mer- vin, Louis, Albert, Raymond and Hazel. The older children have made excellent records in school, Mr, Schroeder and his family are members of the Christian Science church. HENRY BOEKMAN, the founder of a well known and highly respected family of Hall County, was bom in Germany, April 5, 1843, and remained in his own country until 1868, when he came to the United States and the same year located in Hkll County, Ne braska. Like many settlers from foreign lands, he had but little capital left by the time he had paid transportation charges. He was twenty-five years old on reaching the shores of America and was not easily dis couraged, although he arrived in Nebraska in the midst of the Indian troubles that prevented permanent settlement for a time. Before long he homesteaded a timber claim and secured a pre-emption, then settled down to develop his land and in the course of years became a man of wealth and local importance. At the time HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 829 of his death he owned five hundred and forty- five acres of well improved property. In 1887 Mr. Boekman married Miss Sophia Hanson, born in Germany and the only mem ber* of her famHy to come to the United States. To this marriage the following chil dren were born : Otto, Claus, James, Theo, George, Katie, Dora and Sadie, all of whom live at home except the two married daughters, Katie and Dora, Katie is the wife of Emest Bosh, of Alda township, and Dora is the wife of Arthur Wiese, The family belongs to the Roman Catholic church at Doniphan, JUERGEN KNUTH, a representative of one of the early pioneer families of HaH County, was born in Germany and accom panied his parents to the United States, They were Henry and Anna (Juergen) Knuth, who had four other chHdren: Thomas and Hans, both of whom are deceased ; Henry, who is a farmer in Washington township, and Mary, who is deceased, was the wife of John Wiese, The family emigrated to America from the old country, locating in HaH County in 1870, where the mother died in 1900, and the father in August, 1909, Juergen Knuth obtained his education in Germany, In many ways conditions were hard during early days in this section. There were many Indians and in speaking of them, Mr. Knuth says that once, in 1872, he was thrown from a load of wood which resulted in a broken leg. Indians picked him up and kindly carried him to his father's cabin and though badly shattered and he had only an Indian doctor who set and attended it yet he was so skilled that the bones knit perfectly and the leg has never given him any trouble. The elder Knuth, at the time of his death, owned two hundred acres of land, all of which had been accumulated through his own industry. His sons assisted him and learned to be good farmers. Juergen Knuth first purchased one hundred and sixty, acres, still residing on that tract. He now owns four hundred acres in Hall County and five hundred and sixty acres in Oklahoma, all fine land suitably improved, so that today he is numbered with the sub stantial men of the county. Mr. Knuth married Miss Emma Wegner, who was born in Germany and accompanied her people here in 1881. She has one sister, Mata, the wife of Hans Gulzow. Mr. and Mrs. Knuth have had eight children : Mata, who is deceased; Henry, who lives in Wash ington township ; Herman, who lives in Dewey County, Oklahoma ; Arthur, also a resident of Oklahoma ; Anna, the wife of August Wiese, in Wyoming, and Fred, Hedwig and Helmuth, all of whom live at home. Mr. Knuth and his family attend the Lutheran church. He is independent in his political views. He belongs to several Low German social organizations at Grand Island, and his wife belongs to the Maccabees. WILLIAM WIESE, one of the substantial citizens of Alda township. Hall County, has been a resident for many years. He has always taken part in township affairs and at all times promoted to the best of his ability, the interests of Hall County. The parents of Mr. Wiese were Henry and Anna (Wiese) Wiese, who were born in Ger many and came to the United States in 1860. Of their six children William was the third born, the others being: Lena, the widow of Carl Krueger, of Alda township ; Katrina, the widow of Louis Buttner, of Alda, Hall County ; Henry, a farmer in Alda township ; Gustave, in the coal business in Chicago, and Otto, who operates the old homestead in Alda township. For a time after coming to the United States, the family lived in Iowa, where William was bora in Scott County. After moving to Hall County, the father bought one hundred and seventy-four acres of land, later added a hundred acres, and improved it aH, putting up substantial buildings in place of the old log cabin and barn he found there. The Wiese family with five other German families, came together, driving across the country in covered wagons, bringing with them from Iowa twenty head of cattle, and settled in HaH County in 1871. No members of the little colony pros pered more than the Wieses, for they have always been industrious and thrifty, have been thorough in their farming methods, and have set a good example in raising stock standards in this section. William Wiese attended school in boyhood but was yet young when he commenced to be of use to his father on the farm. In 1884 he began farming on his own account, going to Key a Paha County and homesteading. He remained there two years and then returned to Hall County, where he purchased a farm of one hundred acres, to which he has added until now he owns three hundred and ninety acres of valuable land, aH of which he has improved. He carries on general farming and raises stock for his own use. y"M 830 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA In the fall of 1885, Mr. Wiese married Miss Alma Appledorn. 'They have the foHowing children : Clarence, who lives at Alda ; Anna, the wife of Allen SeH, of Alda township, and Dorothy, Lawrence and Irene, all of whom are at home. Mr. Wiese and his farriily are of the Lutheran faith. He belongs to the order of Maccabees. CARL KRUEGER, a homesteader of the late sixties in Hall County, was a man of large estaite and through good neighborly kindness and upright living, gained the friendship and respect of all who knew him in Alda township. Carl Krueger was born in Germany, July 27, 1840, and died on his farm in HaH County, November 24, 1905. His father was Christian Krueger. He left the Fatherland for the United States in 1860 and soon after landing in this country became engaged in farm work and carpentering, a vocation he followed for many years, his industry keeping pace with his opportunities. He was the buHder of many farm stractures in Hall County. He kept adding to his original homestead until, at the time of his death, he owned four hundred acres of well improved land, all of which he had secured through honest labor. On March 24, 1874, Carl Kraeger married Miss Lena Wiese, a daughter of Henry and Anna (Celia) Wiese, natives of Germany, who came to the United States in the sixties. To Mr. and Mrs. Krueger the following children were born: Otto, a farmer in Center town ship ; Charles, who lives in Alda township ; Henry, who lives on the homestead with his mother, in Alda township; Matilda, the wife of Herman Ewoldt; Caroline, the wife of Hugo Schuchman; William, who lives in Lanner County, Wyoming, and Herman, who lives with his mother. The family is a prom inent one in Alda township. WILLIAM LUTH, classed with the suc cessful farmers of Hall County, belongs to a highly respected old family of this section. He was born in Marshall County, Iowa, February 16, 1878. He is the son of Fred and Minnie Luth, and a grandson of Henry and Sophia (Yohn) Luth. Fred Luth was born in 1844 in Germany and was twenty-two years old when he came to the United States. Pie followed farming in Marshall County, Iowa, until 1886, when he came to Hall County, where, in the course of time, he became the owner of four hundred acres of land, all of which has been well im proved. In 1869 he married Minnie Runfeldt, also a native of Germany, and they have had the following children : Augusta, the wife of WHHam Stuhr ; Henry, a prominent farmer in Hall County; Sophia, the wife of Edward Stuhr; Charles and William, both of whom are prosperous farmers in Alda township ; Emma, the wife of August Schoel; a babe who died in infancy; and Alvena, the wife of Rudolph Kay. "WiHiam Luth was about eight years old when he accompanied his parents to Hall County, where he had winter schooling for several years. While still a boy in years he began hard work on his father's land and has always followed agricultural pursuits in this county. At present he is in partnership with his brother, Charles Luth, and together they carry on extensive operations on two hundred and thirty acres of land which they rent from their father. They are', quiet, industrious, practical men who are well thought of every where. Mr. Luth belongs to no political party. Mr. Luth was united in marriage with ^liss Dora Nissen, July 19, 1911; they have five children : Lawrence, Helen, Elsie, Minnie and Clarence, are all attending school near home. HERMAN LILIENTHAL successfully carries on farming operations in Alda town ship. Hall County, where he rents land from his mother, one of the largest owners of real estate in this locality. Mr. LHienthal belongs to a fine old family of this section which set tled here almost sixty years ago. Herman LHienthal was bom in HaH Countv, January 25, 1878, the son of Frederick and Dora (GHthaw) LHienthal, both of whom were born in Germany. Of their chHdren, Herman is the eldest, the others being : Mrs. Lena Boltz, who lives in Alda township ; John, who lives in Wyoming, and Toney, the wife of Charles Kay. The father came to this county in 1861 and homesteaded, and at the time of his death, in May, 1894, owned a val uable farm of one hundred and twenty acres. Industry was the rule in his household and Plerman was not very old when he stopped going to school in order to help on the farm. He thus had excellent instraction and dis cipline and is considered a farmer of ripe judgment, understanding how to make his industries very profitable. ¦ 9"..-^*?'''^ ^^' 1^0^' Mr. LHienthal mar ried Miss Anna Clausen. They have two very bright, mtelligent sons : Alfred Fred, eleven HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 831 years old, and Ervin Herman, six years of age. Herman is said to be as much interested in his school duties as is his older brother. Mr. and i\Irs. LHienthal are members of the Lutheran church. FREDERICK LILIENTHAL. — One of the early settlers and thrifty, enterprising farmers of Hall County, was the late Frederick LHienthal, who was born in Germany, March 25, 1852, the son of Claus and Christina LHien thal, who had three sons, Henry, Frederick and Charles, all of whom are deceased. Frederick LHienthal came to the United States in- early manhood and was among the first settlers of Plall County. Here he bought railroad land, which he worked hard to im prove, and at the time of his death, in May, 1894, owned eighty acres of finely improved land. In those early days he had much to contend with, one disadvantage being his long distance from market, for he had to haul his grain to Fort Kearny. He is remembered as a hard working, honest man and a kind and helpful neighbor. He was twice married, his first union being with Dora GHsthaw, and they had the foHowing children: Herman, a farmer in Alda township ; a babe that died un named ; Lena, the wife of August Boltz ; John, lives in Wyoming, and Toney, the wife of Charles Kay. The mother of these children died and his' s.econd marriage was to Mrs. Margaret (Mathiesen) Struve. Her parents were Fred and Anna (Hanson) Mathiesen, who were born in Germany, but were married in 1857 at Davenport, Iowa, as they came sep arately to America. .Mr. Mathiesen had prac tically no capital when he came to Hall County but through thrift and industry, he accum ulated a large body of land. His death oc curred June 14, 1914. To Mr. and Mrs. LHienthal five children were born : Julius, Fred, Ernest, Laura and Anna, all living except Fred. Laura is the wife of Benjamin Ewoldt, and Anna is the wife of Frederick Schoel. Mrs. LHienthal resides in her comfortable home on West Charles street. Grand Island, one of the highly esteemed and estimable women of the city. HERMAN EWOLDT, one of the progres sive agriculturists of Hall County, owning a fine, well developed farm near Grand Island, belongs to a very old county family that has always been noted for its industry and sound, practical qualities. Mr. Ewoldt is not only a good farmer but is an intelligent, far-seeing one, realizing that for many years to come the American farmer, with his mighty yields of life-giving grain, and his herds and other stock, must practically feed the world. Herman Ewoldt was bom in Hall County, Nebraska, August I, 1882. His parents were Cay and EHsa (Stuben) Ewoldt, both of whom were born in Germany. The father came to the United States in 1854 and located first in Davenport, Iowa, from which place he removed to Plall County, in 1857. He early secured a pre-emption claim of one hundred and sixty acres, and to this original farm he kept on adding throughout his life. When his death occurred in 1914, at the age of eighty-two years, he left an estate of four hundred and sixty acres of well improved land. For many years he had been considered one of the township's substantial and representa tive men. The mother of Mr. Ewoldt died in August, 1915. The parents are survived by seven of their eleven children. Herman Ewoldt obtained his education in the public schools of Hall County. During his youth and the lifetime of his father, he worked on the homestead, but now he owns a farm of one hundred and fifteen acres, to which he devotes his entire attention. He carries on a general farming line and has raised some fine Hereford cattle. Ii he suc ceeds in carrying out his present admirable plans, he will make a feature of raising cattle. Mr. Ewoldt is a hard worker and is thoroughly interested in all his farm activities, keeps abreast of the times in agricultural progress and makes intelligent use of the knowledge he acquires. In 1905 Mr. Ewoldt married Miss Matilda Krueger, whose parents also were early set tlers in fiall County, They have six children : Edwin, Helen, Carl, Rudolph, Lillian and Daniel, four of whom go to school, the three older never having missed a day since they started. They all are unusually intelligent and fond of their books. WILLIAM SCHOEL, a prosperous gen eral farmer in Center township, owns and carefully cultivates a large farm in Center township. He was born in Hall County, Octo ber 9, 1974, on his father's homestead, his people having been early settlers here. Ex tended mention of this prominent family will be found in another part of this work. WiHiam Schoel believes he was no more than seven years old when he went to work on 832 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA the farm. AH the family worked and he re members seeing his mother binding grain by hand on many an occasion. In those days the grain was cut with the old-fashioned scythe or a mowing machine, and all the corn was planted by hand. Much of the modern machin ery that Mr. Schoel now makes constant use of on his farm, had not yet been invented in his boyhood and it was many years before the ordinary Nebraska farmer could afford to buy it. The family had settled far from a center where provisions could be purchased, and Mr. Schoel remembers one occasion when his father and a neighbor had driven to Omaha for flour, and on the return trip in fording the Loup river because there was no bridge at that time, became swamped. Mr. Schoel walked thirty miles to Wood River before he secured help and it was with difficulty that the wagons and teams were dragged out of the water. At that time there were many Indians passing up and down the river but the Schoels were kind and friendly and never had any trouble with the savages. WiHiam Schoel married Anna Schweiger, whose parents, August and Carohne Schweiger live in Grand Island. They have two children, Helen and Olga, aged nineteen and fifteen years respectively. Mr. Schoel has one hun dred and sixty acres of land and every acre, under his efficient management, gives a profit able account of itself. He feeds cattle and hogs and averages a car load a year. The farm surroundings indicate thrift and the improve ments are suitable and substantial. Mr. Schoel has the reputation of being a hard worker and sensible business man. He is an independent voter but his ballot is sure to be cast in sup port of law and order and good citizenship. FRED LUTH. — Thirty-three years have slipped away since Fred Luth came to Hall County. They have not been idle years for hard work has marked the passing of many of them and thrift and efficiency were observed in each and every one. Mr. Luth is not only a widely known and highly respected resident of the county but is also one of the most sub stantial, being the owner of many acres of highly developed land, as the result of his own industry coupled with good judgment, Fred Luth was born December 15, 1844, in Germany, and is a son of Henry and Sophia ("5i^ohn) Luth, and the only one of their eight children to come to America. He remained in_ Germany throughout his schooldays and military service period, being a youth twenty- two years old when he reached the United States, He located in Iowa and worked on farms there until 1886, when he came to HaH County, where he has since lived and has en gaged in the -business of farming. The first land he bought was a tract of two hundred and- twenty acres and at the present time he owns four hundred acres, Mr. Luth has not been satisfied with merely owning this large body of land and enjoying the ordinary yield of the same, but has subsequently improved it all. and with| thorough going methods has in creased the fertility until he has some of the most productive farm land in the county. In 1869 Mr. Luth married Miss Minnie Runfeldt, who was born in Germany, they have had the following children : Augusta, the wife of William Stuhr ; Henry, who lives in Hall County ; Sophia, the wife of Edward Stuhr; Charles, a resident of Alda, Ne braska; WHliam, a farmer in Alda township; Emma, the wife of August Schoel; a babe who died in infancy; and Alvina, who is the wife of Rudolph Kay. Mr. Luth has never interested himself greatly in politics and has never been willing to accept a pubhc office. JULIUS EWOLDT, one of Hall County's well known men and successful general farm ers, belongs to one of the. first families who located here at a- time when Nebraska was con sidered a part of the wild west, having to break the prairie sod for first crops in the country. For sixty years the Ewoldts have owned and operated land here and all of the sons of the old pioneer of that name, are sub stantial faraiers and respected citizens. Julius Ewoldt was born in HaH County, Nebraska, July 23, 1874. His parents were Cay and Elizabeth (Stuben) Ewoldt, natives of Germany, where the father was born in 1831 and the mother in 1841, Her people came to HaH County with the early settlers and she grew up and was n-iarried here. The father left Germany when twenty-three years old, reaching the United States in 1854, It was his intention to acquire land but he lacked capital at first and for three years worked as a laborer in Davenport, Iowa. In 1857 he came to Hall County to settle permanently, later taking up a pre-emption claim and im mediately beginning to make improvements. He was a careful, industrious, honest man, took pride in his farm and surroundings which show his love for agricultural life. GraduaHy he added to the original tract, continuing to improve the land as soon as it came into his HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 833 possession, thereby adding to its value. When his death occurred in 1914, after a long life of honest industry, he left an estate of four hundred and sixty acres, all well improved. The mother of Julius Ewoldt died in August, 1907. She was the devoted mother of eleven children, three of whom died in infancy, Julius Ewoldt obtained his education in the country schools and grew up on his father's farm. Agricultural pursuits have engaged his entire attention from boyhood and through careful methods he has made this business very profitable, fie carries on diversified farming which includes the raising of stock for his own use and a little dairying and fruit growing. Every inch of his valuable farm of one hundred and fifteen acres is utilized in some way. He has substantial farm buildings and in 1911 erected a fine modem residence. In 1901 Air. Ewoldt married Miss Minnie Schweiger, who was born in Germany and came to the United States with her parents when young. They have four children : Harry, Max, Lydia and Elizabeth, all of whom attend school. Air. Ewoldt is a member of the Low German society. FERDINAND STOLTENBERY, a pros perous farmer of Hall County and a well known and respected citizen, has spent his life in this part of Nebraska. He is a repre sentative of an old famHy of the county that came here sixty years ago, and did its part in overcoming the wild conditions that then pre vailed. The older members have passed away but the family is still well known here and its characteristics of sturdy honesty and persever ing industry are yet in evidence. Ferdinand Stoltenbery was born in Hall County, September 25, 1863, the son of Claus and Etta (Paustun) Stoltenbery, both of whom were born in Germany and came to the United States before their marriage. Claus Stoltenbery came across the Atlantic ocean in 1859 and immediately came on to Hall County, where a German colony had settled in 1857. He had enough capital with him to enable him to buy some land and he also took up a pre emption claim. Here his long and industrious life was spent and when he passed away he left an estate of three hundred and seventy acrs of highly improved land. His marriage had taken place in 1860, in Hall County, and six children were bom to him and his wife : Alvina, who is deceased; Etta, the wife of Emanuel Heimke; Ferdinand, who lives in Hall County; Cecelia, the wife of Bernhard Wersia ; Wilhelmina, the wife of Chris Raher ; and Carl, who lives in Washington township. Hall County, Ferdinad Stoltenbery had a rudimentary schooling, but nothing to compare with the ad vantages his children are having. He began farm work when a boy and has kept at it ever since, beginning on his own account about twen ty-five years ago. He has worked hard but feels somewhat repaid when he looks over his fine farm of four hundred acres, which he has excellently improved. He carries on general farming and is rated with the substantial men of his township. He married Amelia Hirsch, who belongs to an old county family, and they have the following children : Richard, Esther, Rudolph, Barney, Anna, Dora and Angela, all living at home except Esther, the wife of WiHiam Mitfoldt. FRED SCHOEL, a well known citizen and substantial farmer of Hall County, has spent his entire life here, belonging to one of the oldest pioneer families of this section. Today on every side productive farms and comfort able homesteads may be seen, but it was very different sixty-two years ago when the parents of Mr. Schoel came here with other German colonists. They faced many dangers and bore uncomplainingly for the most part privations and great hardships, but they were resource ful and persevering and founded homes and families that are now inseparable from the his tory of Hall County. Fred Schoel was born here, Febraary 3, 1867, a son of Henry and Mary (Becker) Schoel, the father of Mr. Schoel was born in Germany, April 1, 1828. He heard of the many opportunities for a young man in Amer ica so emigrated from his native land in 1855. He came west two years after reaching the United States, taking up land in Hall County. At that time he was entirely without capital and the fact that thirty-nine years later he died owning two hundred acres of the best improved land in the county, proves that his industry in Nebraska was well rewarded. There were many Indians here when he came ; herds of buffalo were frequently seen, and buffalo meat was frequently found in the larder of the settlers. It was a number of years before the family could live in comfort but both parents were hard working people and did not ask for the luxuries of life. They were good neighbors and honest in their deal ings with every one. The mother passed away in 1887, and the father died on January 10, 834 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 1894. They had the following children: Charles, the first white male child born in HaH County; Henry, who is deceased; Fred, who resides in Hall County in the vicinity of Grand Island; Emma, the wife of Albert Felske, of Hall County; Mary, who is the wife of Henry Luth, of Alda, Nebraska; and August and William both of whom live north of Alda. Fred Schoel grew to manhood on the home farm and obtained his education in the public schools. He has made farming the business of his life, always taking a deep interest in his work, and has found his methods very satis factory. He owns a large body of land, four hundred and twenty acres in all, which is well improved, his residence being one of the best in the township. He makes no feature of either stockraising or dairying, but carries these industries on as a part of his general farming line. He owns many modern farm implements which greatly facilitate farming as carried on today. On June 16, 1896, Mr. Schoel married Miss Anna Matthiesen, and two daughters and one son have been bom to them : Hulda, the wife of Albert Marth; Elsie, the wife of WiHiam Marth; and Harry, a student in the high school at Grand Island. Mr. Schoel has never taken much interest in general politics but is always ready to do his duty as a good citizen in neighborhood affairs. The family is one that is held in friendly regard all through this section. BERNHARD EWOLDT, one of the HaH County's reliable, substantial citizens, is a mem ber of an old pioneer family that has had much to do with the material development of the county. From the beginning the family has been an agricultural one and some of the finest farms in this section of the county are held in this old and respected name. Bemhard Ewoldt was born in Hall County, Nebraska, April 25, 1863. His parents were Cay and Elizabeth (Stuben) Ewoldt, the former of whom was born in Germany in 1831 and the latter in 1841. The father em igrated to the United States in 1854 and came as far west from the Atlantic seaboard as Davenport, Iowa, where he found employ ment and remained until July 4, 1857, before coming to Hall County. Within a short time he took up a pre-emption claim of one hundred and sixty acres, which was but the beginning of his large fortune in land, for through hard work and wise management he kept adding one tract of land to another as he recognized a good investment, and when he passed away on November 1, 1913, he left an estate of four hundred and sixty acres highly improved. He was a sober, industrious, honest man and. was highly thought of in his neighborhood. The mother of Mr. Ewoldt came to Hall County with her parents at an early day also and she survived until August 30, 1915. Qf the eleven children bom to his parents, Bern- hard was the oldest, the others being : Cecelia, deceased, was the wife of Henry Wiese; Henry, who lives at Alda, Nebraska; Minnie,' the wife of Carl Stoltenberg, Cairo, Nebraska; Julius a general farmer in HaH County; Amelia, the wife of August Becker, of Wash ington township.. Hall County ; Clara, the wife of August Schimmer; Herman, a farmer in Hall County; and three who died in infancy. Bernhard Ewoldt attended the country schools when a boy and began to assist his father very early. Farming has been his busi ness all his life and the appearance of his well improved farm of one hundred and fif teen acres gives testimony that he is careful and competent in his work. He carries on a general farming line and raises stock for his own use. On March 9, 1889, Mr. Ewoldt married Miss Laura Matthiesen, and they have five children: Arthur, Linda, Albert, EmH and Eddie. All the sons are now at home although two of them were in military service during the Worid War, Albert being with the Ameri can Expeditionary Force in France, and Eddie in training at Camp Funston. They are aU fine young men who are a credit to the family and county. WILLIAM WRAGE. — Hall County has an unusually large proportion of well de veloped, finely improved farms, indicating that the business of farming is carried on here by men who have made a study of agriculture and take a deep interest in their vocation. One of the successful farmers of this county is WiHiam Wrage, who bears a fine old pioneer name that has been held in respect here for over sixty years. William Wrage was bom in HaH County; September 18, 1863. His parents were Hans and Abiriine (Stoltenberg) Wrage, both na tives of Germany and were young people when the came to the United States, the father in 1857 and the mother about 1861. They were married after coming to Hall County, and be came the parents of the following chHdren: HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 835 WiHiam, who has spent his Hfe in Hall County; Frederick and Hammond, both of whom died in infancy; Anna, the wife of Claus Tagge, of Prairie Creek, Nebraska ; and Emily, who lives with her brother William. Hans Wrage came to Hall County in 1857 with the large German colony that settled here at that time, and like the majority of them, was pessessed of little money. He was equipped with a good trade, however, and after he had secured a pre-emption claim and a tract of railroad land, he worked for his neighbors as a carpenter, not only putting Up houses for them but cutting logs with which to build. All the first houses were built of logs, frame houses were not erected until a sawmill was put in operation some time later. He was honest and industrious all his life and acquired two hundred acres of land which he greatly im proved. He became well known in the county and was highly respected. Mrs. Wrage died when forty-seven years old, the father sur vived until the age of sixty-two years. William Wrage was reared on the home farm and began farm work while yet a young boy, taking responsibility when his father was engaged in carpenter work. He obtained his education in the country schools and was twenty-five years old before he started out to farm for himself and has never desired to change his vocation. He now owns two hun dred acres of fine land on which the improve ments are modem and substantial, and carries on a general farming line according to methods which he has proved to be most profitable. On June 12, 1889, Mr. Wrage married Miss Annie Arp, who was bom in Germany, and the folio-wing children have been born to them : Hermiene, the wife of Gustave Baasch, of Alda township. Hall County ; Alvin, who lives at home; Arnold, who assists his father; Max, who was a soldier in the Amer ican Expeditionary Force in Europe, now at home; and Ebiline, Linda, Hulda and Alvia, all of whom reside with their parents. Mr. Wrage is a good citizen, always interested in township niatters, such as schools and good roads, but he has never been willing to accept public office and has kept out of politics. CONRAD LASSEN, a leading farmer, highly respected citizen and tmstworthy public official of his township, is a representative of a family that was established at an early day in Hall County, and ever since its members have been prosperous and self respecting citizeris of their various communities, sound, reliable people. Conrad Lassen was born in Davenport, Iowa, December 20, 1863. He is one of a family of fourteen chHdren born to John and Catherine (Heuricks) Lassen. The father was born in Germany in 1823 and the mother in 1833. They came to the United States in 1855, landing at the port of New Orleans. They then came up the Mississippi river as far as Davenport, Iowa, where the father worked at the brickmason trade until 1864, when he de cided to locate in Nebraska and secure land on which his large family of children would have a chance to develop. He came into Hall County driving a team of oxen. Here he homesteaded and later bought some good land and in the course of years acquired one hun dred and sixty acres. With the help of his sons he improved his land and was permitted to live long enough to enjoy the comforts won by his industry. Of his children, Conrad was the sixth born, the others being as f oHo-ws : Margaret, the wife oi Hans ObermiHer, of Farwell, Nebraska; Anna, the wife of Aleck Shoemaker, a native of Canada; Mary, de ceased, was the wife of Dirk Schweiger, of Grand Island; John, who lives in Canada; Katie, deceased, was the wife of Claus Clau sen, of Grand Island; Hannah, the wife of Dedloff Mathiesen, Hall County; Sherman, who lives in Washington township. Hall Coun ty ; Agatha, the wife of Hans Pahl ; Dora, who died at J;he age of ten years; Lydia, married Jake Wright; Harry who lives in Canada ; Eveline, who is the wife of John Bushman, of Grand Island;. and a child that died in infancy. Conrad Lassen began to make himself use ful on the farm in boyhood. As opportunity offered he attended the country schools, but his time was mainly taken up in assisting his father. In 1885 he established himself on a farm and through hard work and business pru dence, finally became the owner of three hun dred and sixty acres, which he placed under cultivation and has substantially improved. Mr. Lassen carries on a general line of farm pro duction and is classed with the best agricul turists of the county. He is a self made man, having accumulated his comfortable fortune through his own efforts. In 1885 Mr. Lassen married Miss Ida Roby, sister of Gustav Roby, who belongs to a promi nent old Hall Cotmty family, and they have two children, Dora and Nancy. Dora was married first to Rudolph Werner and after his death she became the wife of Paul Schweiger. Nancy is the wife of Hanney Lindaman, of Grand Island. Mr. Lassen and his family be- 836 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 837 long to the Lutheran church. Although .inde pendent^ in politics, his personal popularity has been shown by his election to important offices. In 1906 he was elected to member ship on the county board and served two terms, at times being chaimian of the board, and recently has been again elected and is serving on the board with his accustomed efficiency. He has served as president of the Platts deutchen society at Grand Island. GUSTAV ROBY. — The farming interests of Hall County are in safe hands as long as sound, practical men like Gustav Roby devote their time and energies .to their development. From ancient times 'agriculture has been the most important of all industries, and as the world grows older and more populous its in creasing importance becomes evident. The Roby family has been an agricultural one in the main, ever since its founder came to Hall County in pioneer days. A leading represen tative, well known all over the country, is found in Gustav Roby, whose two hundred acres of land He not far from Grand Island. Gustav Roby was bom in Hall County, April 14, 1865. His parents were Frederick and Johanna (LHlienthal) Roby, both of whom were bom in Germany. They came to the United States in 1861, finding this country then in the throes of civil war. They were humble, peaceful people in search of better living conditions than their own land had afforded them, and as quickly as their resources permitted, made their way as far west as Davenport, Iowa. They were not satisfied there, however, as farm land was the desire of their hearts, and two years later found them in Hall County, ready to claim a homestead. It is told in the family of the father that when they came here, the expendi ture of ninety-five cents for the purchase of a mesquito net was a serious drain on his capital, but before he died his signature at any bank would have been gladly honored, for he owned a thousand acres of land. To his origi nal homestead he added tract after tract of land and went into the stock business, proving to be a fine man of business when he had sufficient opportunity. Of the eight children born to Frederick Roby and his wife, the fol lowirig are living: Gustav, who lives in Hall County ; Dora, who is the wife of HenryStolt- enberg, formerly of Hall County, now of Mer rick County; Arthur, who lives on the old home place in section eight, Washington town ship; and John, proprietor of fiarmony Hall, at Harmony, in Hall County, Nebraska. Gustav Roby grew to manhood on the old homestead in Washington township and at tended the country schools. It has been thirty years since he started out as a farmer on his own account and all these years have been busy ones. Thirty years ago the farmer knew less about soils than he does now and fewer types of farm machinery were on the market, yet Mr. Roby found profit in his farm under takings, although, perhaps, he had to labor harder than now. He is a man of progressive ideas and has his land well improved and well stocked. The buildings which give a substan tial appearance to his place were all erected by him, and all the other improvements are the work of his hands. His two hundred acres are carefuHy cultivated and his annual yield is very satisfactory. On March 13, 1889, Mr. Roby married Miss Catherine Schroeder,, born in Germany, who came to the United States when nineteen years old, whose people came to Hall County in 1881. To this marriage the following children have been bom : John, who lives with his own family in Center township. Hall County; Anna, the wife of Alfred Werner, lives at Doniphan; Bernhardt, who lives with his family in Washington township; Linda, at home ; Johanna, the wife of Emil Lucht, of Cairo, Nebraska ; and Ida, Daniel and Irma, all of whom live at home. Mr. Roby is a good citizen and is interested in everything that promises to benefit Hall County, but he is not active in politics and belongs to no political party. He decides pubhc questions for him self and votes according to his own judgment. FRANK EWOLDT, a well known resident and highly respected farmer of Center town ship, is operating the old homestead that his father secured in 1870, where he was born, November 23, 1876, the son of Claus and Dora (Schroeder) Ewoldt. The father of Frank Ewoldt was bom in Germany, eight miles from Kiel, March 5, 1837, a son of Paul Ewoldt. He came to the United States in 1864 and lived in Davenport, Iowa, until 1870, when he came to Hall County soon buying one hundred and twenty acres of land, subsequently he added to this until at the time of his death he owned one hundred and sixty acres, all of it having been improved through his own industry, fie retired in 1909 and bought four lots and a spacious resi- 838 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA dence in Grand Island where he passed his last years in great comfort. His death occurred July 31, 1917. He frequently told his chHdren of his first coming to HaH County and of driv ing back to Iowa with his span of mules, and when he retumed to take up his permanent residence, a raHroad had been buHt. In early time he hauled his grain to market at Fort Kearny. In 1868 he married Dora Schroeder, a native of Germany and a daughter of Fred erick and Margaret (Stroben) Schroeder, and the foHowing chHdren were bom to them: Augusta, who is deceased ; Ehzabeth, the wife of Paul Mohr, of Montana ; Frederick, who is deceased ; Dora the wife of Ernest Matthiesen, of Washington township; Frank, who is a farmer in HaH County; Mate, the wife of Frank Schwieger; Paul, who is deceased; Mary, the wife of William Otis, died in Texas leaving four children, three boys and a girl, also three others who died in infancy.; WiH iam, who is deceased ; and Frieda, the wife of Fred Dreibus, of Grand Island. The mdther resides with Mr. and Mrs. Dreibus. "Since boyhood Frank Ewoldt has been inter ested in farm pursuits. In 1901 he rented one hundred and sixty acres of land and operated that until he took charge of the old homestead, which he rents and conducts very successfully. In 1901 he married Miss Daisy Graham, and they have had four children, the only survivor being Frank, a manly youth of fourteen years who is attending school. The Ewoldts are all prominent and substantial people, making no particular display but possessing solid qualities. AUGUST SCHOEL, a member of a very prominent family in Hall County, which lo cated here in an early day and has always been respected and esteemed, is a successful farmer and stockraiser in Center township. His par ents were Henry and Mary (Becker) Schoel, natives of Germany, who after coming to the United States lived for a short time in Iowa. In 1857 they came farther west to HaH County where Henry Schoel homesteaded near Grand Island. They had four sons, all of whom are farmers in fiall County: Charles, northeast of Grand Island ; Fred, on the old homestead ; WiHiam, near Alda; and August, on section thirty-two Center township. August Schoel began to assist his father on the farm when he was a schoolboy, for in those days, when there was little labor saving ma chinery to be procured, the industry of all hands was needed. Mr. Schoel, like other members of his family, is in independent cir cumstances, owning a finely improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres. On March 12, 1899, Mr. Schoel married Miss Emma Luth, a daughter of Fred and Minnie Luth, who reside in Hall County, southwest of Alda. Mr. and Mrs. Schoel have an adopted son, Charles Schoel, now aged nine years, who has found a good home and kind foster parents. JOHN TfiOMSSEN, a representative citi zen of fiall County, having large business interests and at times having served in offices of trast and responsibility, belongs to one of the real pioneer families, of this section. His father settled here in 1855 or 1856, when the entire county was practically a wilderness. John Thomssen was born in Hall County, May 6, 1870, the( son of John and Anna (Stehr) Thomssen, natives of Holstein, Ger many. Both came young to the United States, the father in 1860 and the mother in 1857. Of their five children, John was the youngest, the others being: Henry, who died when about forty-seven years old ; William, a farmer in Hall County; Fred, who lives in Hall County ; and Emma, the wife of John Scholtz. The parents were people of industry and thrift and uncomplainingly endured the many hard ships that pertained to pioneer life. The father took up a homestead and kept adding to his original farm until, at the time of his death, he owned eight hundred and forty acres of finely improved land. While he was well known as a shrewd and careful business man, he was also known as a man whose word was as good as his bond. His mother is still living in Alda at the age of eighty-four, one of the four surviving women of the original thirteen in the colony that settled here in 1857. John Thomssen attended the country schools and grew up on the old homestead where he afterward engaged in farming. In 1895 he was called from the farm to public office, hav ing been appointed deputy county treasurer, in which position he served four years, when he was elected county treasurer and continued to engage in public business for two years longer. When he retired from the treasurer's office he returned to the fann and interested himself for the following seven years in agri cultural pursuits. In the meanwhile, however, he made plans to enter business in Alda, and in 1909, when he had perfected them he founded the Alda State Bank, since which time he has given his attention to financial affairs entirely. The working capital of the HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 839 bank is ample, capital stock being $12,000 with surplus $8,000. The establishing of this bank filled a definite need and its affairs are well managed by Mr. Thomssen and his asso ciates, who command public confidence. Mr. Thomssen married Miss Christina Olt- mann, who was born in HaH County, a daugh ter of John Oltmann, an old settler in this sec tion. ]\Ir. and Mrs. Thomssen have three sons : EH, Emil and Arthur, aged respectively eleven, nine and five years. The family attends the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Thomssen has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for many years and belongs also to the order of fiighlanders. EDWIN F. NEWTON. — Each passing year marks the thinning of the ranks of the pioneers of Hall County, who journeyed here in covered wagons to live in sod houses while the first hard years of preparation and culti vation were being passed. Real interest at taches to the careers of these venerable men, for they were the forerunners of the civiliza tion that has since been brought about; theirs was the first work of development, which had to be done before Hall could take its place among the fertile, productive agricultural counties of the West. "While he was not among the earliest settlers, Edwin F. Newton shared in the hardships, and passed through the same discouragements that beset those who first located. His arrival in Hall County was in 1887, but his early years here were attended by all the experiences that made life for the pioneers at the same time strenuous and inter esting. Mr. Newton was born November 26, 1849, in Painesville, Ohio, a son of Nathan B. and Margaret Ne-wton, the former born in Ohio, August 29, 1819, and the latter in the same state, December 29, 1822, Following their marriage, the parents removed to IHinois, and subsequently to Seward County, Nebraska, where the wife and mother passed away in 1887, Mr, and Airs. Ne-wton drove from Illi nois to Nebraska in a covered wagon. They lived in Seward County during the grasshop per scourge. In that year Nathan B. Newton came to Hall County, but after a short resi dence removed to lo-wa, where his death oc curred in 1894, when he had reached the ripe age of seventy-five years. In his younger years he had followed the life of a sailor but after leaving the sea leamed the trade of a brick mason, but in later life took up farming a vocation in which he won a measure of suc cess by reason of his industry, while at the same time he attained and held the friendship and esteem of those with whom he came into contact. Edwin F. Newton was educated in the pub lic schools and grew to manhood as a farmer's son. He married in Wisconsin, in 1872, Miss Melissa Robbins who was born in Jo Daviess County, IHinois, June 27, 1855, a daughter of Welcome and Mahala (WiHits) Robbins. Mr. Robbins, who was a miner in Illinois, died at the age of eighty-one years in that state, while Mrs. Robbins passed away at the age of sixty- four years. Following their union, Mr. and Mrs. Newton resided in Seward County, Ne braska, and were engaged in farming until 1887, at which time they took up their resi dence in a sod house, or "soddy." For several years they resided thus, while Mr. Newton was engaged in doing preliminary work on his eighty acre tract, but eventually the little struc ture that they had known as home was re placed by a more pretentious residence, and this later also gave way to a comfortable dwel ling, with which were made other improve ments, both as to structures and machinery. The farm is now a model one and during his active years Mr. Newton cultivated the soil in a manner that made it highly productive. He died December 23, 1918, and the farm is- now operated by his son. Mr. Newton is a Democratic voter and a member of the Modem Brotherhod of America. Mr. and Mrs. Newton have been the par ents of seven children : Alice, now Mrs. Beer up of Garden County, Nebraska; Minnie, now Mrs. Rickard of fiall County; Leon, now Mrs. Siebers of Chappel, Nebraska; Mabel, now Mrs. Searson, of fiall County; Charles, who resides at home and operates the farm; Jessie, who is deceased; and Macyl, Mrs. Hammond, of Davenport, Iowa. JASPER EGGERS. — Some men are des tined never to leave the ordinary paths of life, but in pursuing simple and homely duties along them to accomplish as much perhaps as those whose responsibilities carry them into larger fields. One of the men who for years worked faithfully and well as a farmer and did much to raise agricultural standards in Hall County, is Jasper Eggers, who is now living in comfortable retirement in his home in Grand Island. Mr. Eggers was bom in Holstein, Germany, July 24, 1848, a son of Jasper Eggers, a gen eral fanner who never left that country. Mr. 840 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA w HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 841 Eggers's mother, who died when he was two years old, was, prior to her union with his father, a Miss Behrens. Educated in the public schools of his native land, Mr. Eggers had just passed his majority when he set sail for the United States. His first location was in Davenport, Iowa, where he worked on a farm for three years, but in 1872 came to HaH County and homesteaded eighty acres in Harrison township. To this he later added by purchase one hundred and sixty acres, and still owns this tract of two hundred and forty acres, all under a splen did state of cultivation and with permanent and modern improvements installed by him. He now has his farm rented and is living re tired in his home at 721 West Louisa street. Grand Island. Mr. Eggers was a most in dustrious and painstaking agriculturist, won his success solely through individual effort, and at the same time obtained and held the esteem and confidence of those with whom he came in contact. Mr. Eggers was united in marriage with Miss Lena Vitt, a native of Germany, where her parents were also born. Mr. and Mrs. Eggers have had no children. Mrs. Eggers died and in 1912 Mr. Eggers married Christine Oltmann, a native of Schleswig-Holstein who came to America when twenty-five years of age. They are faithful members of the Lutheran church. In past years Mr. Eggers has been a Democrat, but is inclining toward the socialist ticket. EARL A. MECHAM. — Many of the sub stantial and rapidly progressing agriculturists of HaH County are those who either own or are carrying on operations on the homesteads taken up and formerly operated by their fath ers, and in this class is found Earl A. Mecham, of Center township, fie has been a resident of fiaH County since the spring of 1907, and during the period that has intervened has made rapid strides toward the attainment of ' success and high standing. Eari A. Mecham was born at Kenesaw, Adams County, Nebraska, June 30, 1884, a son of Clinton P. Mecham, a sketch of whose career will be found on another page of this work. He was given the educational training securable in the public schools of Adams County, then attended the agricultural school of the University of Nebraska at Lincoln from which he graduated. Pie was brought up as a farmer's son, his boyhood and youth being passed in assisting his father in the work of the home place. Mr. Mecham came to Hall County in the spring of 1907, and since that time has been engaged in general farming, at present being engaged in tilling one hundred and twenty acres of land belonging to his father, in section 7, Center township. Like other progressive men of his calling, Mr. Mecham uses modern methods. The funda mental industry of farming is becoming gen erally recognized as being so important as to loom up large among other vocations of the world, and not only are all the leading colleges and universities including agricultural depart ments in their courses of study, but there are numerous educational institutions practically devoted to agriculture alone. The government of each state, following the policy) of the national government, is giving attention to the encouragement of farmers, and the men who till the soil are feeling the effect of this uni versal impetus and working accordingly. With such examples, Mr. Mecham feels secure in the advisability and wisdom of using the most moderri methods and machinery, and the re sults that he is obtaining from such a course substantiate his faith. Mr. Mecham takes an independent stand in regard to political ques tions, but is a supporter of good movements which benefit his community. The family be longs to the Methodist church at Alda. Mr. Mecham married in Hastings, Ne braska, November 27, 1907, Nettie Ball, who was born in Adams County, September 26', 1886, a daughter of Daniel and Laura BaH, who are now residents of Hastings. i\Ir. Ball was born in 1854, at Richmond, Wayne County, Indiana, and up to the time of his retirement was an educator, teaching in schools at various places in the country, but prin cipally at Kenesaw and Hastings, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Mecham are the parents of four chHdren : Marion, who was bom in 1911; Florence, who was born in 1914; La- vonne, who was born in 1915, and LucHe, who was born in 1917. JOHN W. DANGLER has been a resident of Hall County since 1906. Mr, Dangler belongs to the progressive class of men who are -always eager to improve their properties according to the latest improved standards. In answer to his efforts the soH of this sec tion makes quick response. He has not only been successful and progressive in his personal affairs, but as a citizen has been quick to sup port movements which are calculated to benefit his locality. John W. Dangler was born in Logan County, Illinois, August 26, 1867, a son of 842 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Daniel and Martha (Quisenberry) Dangler, The father was bom in Ohio, November 30, 1843, As a young man he went to Logan County, Illinois, where he married a native of that county and settled down to a career in farming. After many years passed there, in 1882 he came to HamiHon County and pur chased a quarter-section of land. On this he followed farming until his retirement, since which event he has been making his home with his son. Mr. and Mrs. Dangler were the par ents of three children : John W. ; Anna, who resides at FaH City, Nebraska, and Belle, who is married and a resident of Newton, Iowa. John W. Dangler was educated in the public schools of Logan County, Illinois, where he grew to manhood and engaged in farming. He was stiH a young man when he removed to Hamilton County, Nebraska, and settled down to a career as a general farmer. For the business of farming he was singularly fitted by nature, training and incHnation. After several years in HamiHon County he bought land in Hall County, but did not move here untH 1906, in which year he settled in section 10, Wood River township, where he has since made his home. At this time he is the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of valuable, productive and highly cultivated land, where he raises the standard crops and also engages in stockraising to some extent. He has a commodious and comfortable home, attractive and substantial barns and outbuild ings and other modern improvements. The general air of prosperity which surrounds his farm testifies to his good management. Mr. Dangler married in Hamilton County, Nebraska, December 26, 1900, Miss Etta Davison, born in Hall County, September 11, 1881. 'They are the parents of several chH dren : Blanche E., Ethel M., Percy A., Leonard A. and Thelma O. For a sketch of the par ents of Mrs. Davison, the reader is referred to the review of Henry Davison, to be found on another page of this work. Mr. Dangler is a Republican in his political affiliation. A man who has never spared himself in working ahead, keen to embrace every opportunity, and able to plan good business combinations, he is one of the capable men of the Wood River Valley. He holds and merits the confidence of his associates. Pie and Mrs. Dangler are consistent membei-s of the Methodist church. EBER PAULK.— Hall County land has proved an excellent investment of both time and money, and those foresighted enough to secure farms before prices increased to their present quotations have been able to acquire a competence commensurate with their labors. One or those in the past whose good judg ment in securing a location made it possible for him to pass his decUning years in the midst of advantages and comfortable surroundings and left his family in excellent financial cir cumstances was the late Eber Paulk. His death occurred at his home in Wood River township April 20, 1919. Eber Paulk was born June 20, 1849, in Athens County, Ohio, the son of Venus and Elizabeth (Balcom) Paulk, natives of Ohio who followed general farming all their hves in the Buckeye state. Eber Paulk received a public school education in Ohio and was reared on the home farm, where he assisted his father until the time of his marriage, when he located on another farm and estabHshed a home of his own. On October 30, 1879, he married Miss Lusy Ann Diff, who was born in Woods County, West Virginia, May 11, 1862. She was the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Ray) Diff, the father a land dealer of West Virginia. Following his marriage, Mr. Paulk continued to make his home in Virginia until 1885, in which year he came to Hall County, Nebraska, and bought one hun dred and sixty acres of land seven miles north of Wood River, where he lived tiH seventeen years ago when he bought land in Wood River township, where the rest of his life was passed in the peaceful pursuits of tiHing the soil and reaping the harvests. He was an industrious and persevering man, and through good man agement and the use of intelligence in his work secured a good farm and gained himself a position of security in the confidence of the people among whom his days were passed. He was independent in his political views, and a member of the Masonic lodge. Mrs. Paulk, who survives her husband, is the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of the home place. She is the mother of seven children: Clifton, who is married and lives • at Pleasanton ; Elizabeth and Jerome, who are married and live in Hall County; Genevieve, who is married and lives in Grand Island; Robert, who is deceased ; Mamie, who lives at home, and Edna, who is married and lives in Hall County. LLOYD M. PIOWE, — That prosperity has attended the efforts of many of Hall County's agriculturists is not due to any happy fortune or chance circumstances, but to a fortunate selection of location and persistent and intel ligent working of the land. One of the sub- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 843 stantial farmers of this locality, whose pros perity is in the Wood River Valley, where he is widely known for his progressiveness and industry, is Lloyd M. Howe. Mr. Howe has passed his entire life in this county, being born December 10, 1875, a son of Frank E. Howe, a sketch of whose career appears on another page of this book. Mr. Howe was reared on the home farm in Hall County, where he was given the advan tages of attendance at the district schools. Later he pursued a high school course at \\^ood River, and then entered the Nebraska State University, but after one year gave up his college work and became a railroad mail clerk, a position which he held for eight years. He purchased his first land with his earnings in 1904, when he bought a tract of eighty acres, which he has since increased to two - hundred and eighty acres. In addition to this he is farming his father's land, a homestead. fie devotes himself principally to general farming. He made a success of his operations as a breeder of pure-bred stock. The greater part of the improvements now on the land were installed by Air. Howe, who not only believes in modern methods of procedure but also in improved appearances and whose pro gressive ideas have served as a good example to others in his community. He has thereby contributed to the general welfare of the com munity. His property is situated in section 17, Wood River township, a community in which Mr. Howe has become favorably known for his public spirit and good citizenship as well as for the honorable manner in which he con ducts his transactions. He is a Repubhcan in his political creed, and has served as a mem ber of the school board of district No. 8 for three years. Mr. Howe married Mary E. Behr, daughter of the late Henry and Marie (Bohn) Behr, natives of Germany, the latter of whom makes her home at Wood River. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Howe : Mary and Anna. MRS. CATfiERINE CURRY, who is well known in HaH County and is one of the most highly esteemed residents of Wood River, is the widow of the late Owen Curry, who, at the time of his death, January 12, 1914, was one of the most substantial men of Hall County. He left behind him a fine family for whom he had amply provided, a large circle of friends who valued him highly, and a record of faithful membership in the Roman Catholic church. Mrs Curry was born at fiaverty, April 26, 1849, in Ireland. Her parents were John and Ellen Plaverty, of county Kilkenny, Ireland, where her father was a small farmer. Mrs. Curry was the fifth born in their family of eight children, the others being: James, John, Thomas, Mrs. Mary A. Quinn, Patrick, Airs. Elizabeth Spohn, and Michael. In 1866 Mrs. Curry's two brothers, James and John, came to the United States and settled in Hall County. She had always lived in her home until that time but in 1867 her brothers in America sent for her and she came directly to their home in fiall County, afterward until her marriage, making her home with her brother James, The first money she ever earned was for work done in the family of F. C, Dodge, in HaH County. On August 20, 1871, at Wood River, she was united in marriage to Owen Curry, who had procured the license in Buft'alo County, his being one of the first two licenses issued, the other was secured by County Judge Welsh. The marriage ceremony was performed by Rev. Father Ryan, who lived at Columbus, Nebraska, but had a small congregation at Wood River that he visited about once a month. Mr. Curry was also of Irish extrac tion and was one of a family of five children : Hugh, James, Peter, Owen and Mrs. Mary A. Goodin. Mr- and Mrs. Curry had eight chil dren born to them, as follows : James P., who is deceased ; Mary E., who is the wife of Frank O'Brien, of Portland, Oregon ; Theresa. who was graduated as a trained nurse from a convent school at Council Bluffs, Iowa, re sides with her mother when not professionally engaged; John, who owns a farm in HaH County, married Grace Supten, and they have one daughter; Fannie, the wife of Millard Wickersham, owns a farm near Wood River and they have a son and a daughter; Delia, married Arthur Mattoone, a merchant in Port land, Oregon, and they have two sons ; Anna is deceased, and NeHie, who is the wife of Joseph Knight, a farmer near Shelton, and they have two sons. Mr. Curry was a kind and generous father and it pleased him to be able to make his children comfortable and he provided them all with beautiful homes during his lifetime. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Curry moved to WHIow Island and Mr. Curry went to work for the Union Pacific Railroad as section foreman, but two years later returned to the neighborhood of Wood River. He bought two hundred and eigthy acres of rail road land and in addition took up a homestead of eighty acres adjoining it, situated five mHes 844 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA west of Wood River, and it was there the family lived for many years. They did not have to bear many of the hardships that their neighbors had to endure because Mr. Curry had brought considerable capital with him when he came here, nevertheless he could not have accumulated nine hundred and sixty acres of rich Wood River bottom land, now worth $150 an acre, without industry and frugality in the huosehold. While he worked hard raising corn and stock and putting his surplus money into more land Mrs. Curry as a true helpmate, worked hard and the marketing of her butter, chickens and eggs provided necessities and many luxuries beside. Mrs. Curry owns a beautiful modern residence at Wood River and a large body of land, in addition having a gen erous income, a part of which she expends in charity. She is a devoted member of the Roman Catholic church as are all her chHdren. WILLIAAI J. BURGER.— Few of the old er residents of Doniphan are better known or more highly valued as good and upright citi zens, than WiHiam J. Burger, who came very early to fiall County and for years has been prominent in its business affairs. While Mr. Burger has been mainly interested in the stock business, he has been successfully connected with other lines, since 1880, when he assisted in laying out the town of Doniphan, he has resided here and has been identified with Hs remarkable development. Mr. Burger was born in Cedar County, Missouri, February 12, 1844. His parents were James L. and Nancy (Goodwin) Burger, the former of whom was born in Tennessee, in 1812, and the latter in North Carolina, in 1811. Of their eight children, WHliam J, was fifth in order of birth, the others being as follows : Tolbert, who died in Cedar County, Missouri ; Halbert H,, who died at Glenwood, Iowa; Caroline, deceased, was the wife of Robert Craig; Mitchell, who died at Red Oak, Iowa; Margaret, the wife of Thomas Young, lives in Hastings, Iowa ; George E., who died at Doniphan, Nebraska; and Diantha, the wife of Martin White, died near Glenwood, Iowa, James L. Burger moved from 'Tennessee to Missouri, and from there to Alills County, Iowa, where he secured one hundred and sixty acres of government land under the pre-emption law, to which he sub sequently added until he owned over three hundred acres. Pie improved his land and be came a substantial citizen of Mills County, serving acceptably in township offices on many occasions. In 1862 he went to Colorado, where he spent one year, going then to Nebraska and buying a farm in Cass County, near Platts mouth, where his death occurred in 1868,- He was a Democrat in his political views,, and both he and wife belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church, William J. Burger attended the district schools in boyhood and grew up on his father's farm. In 1862 he accompanied his father to Colorado where they were associated in the cattle buisness for two years. In the fall of 1864 he came to fiall County and took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres and had a ranch on the freight road — the govem ment trail — that ran form Nebraska City to Plattsmouth and thence to Denver, this ranch lying at an important junction. The Burgers suffered from Indian depredations as did other neighbors, who, at that time, were few and far between. On July 24, 1864, the Indians made a raid through this section, and condi tions were so bad during the next few years that in the spring of 186S Mr. Burger moved with his family to Plattsmouth, remaining there until 1870. Once more the family set tled on the farm in Hall County and lived there until 1879, when, as noted above, re moval was made to Doniphan. Mr. Burger immediately started a sale and livery stable, and in 1880 embarked in the mercantile busi ness, this enterprise was continued under the - firm name of W. J. Burger & Son until re cently when they sold out. For a number of years Mr. Burger was active also in the grain business but stock has been his main interest and reliance, and his name still is a leading one in the industry. He is a large employer of labor, keeps only good, standard stock, feeds for market and aims to annually ship two cars of cattle and three cars of hogs. He owns five hundred and fifty acres of fine land, hav ing the greater port of it under cultivation. November 24, Thanksgiving Day, 1864, Mr, Burger was united in marriage to Miss Martha Creason, who was bom September 25, 1845, near Burlington, Iowa, a daughter of John and Abagail (Hillman) Creason, natives of Ohio. They were farming people and moved to Mills County, Iowa, later to Nemaha County, Ne braska ; removing then to Hall County where their death occurred. The following chHdren have been born to Mr, and Mrs, Burger: Charles A, and Rose B., both of whom are deceased ; Flora A., who is the wife of Benja min F, Scudder, of Doniphan; William, Frank J,, and Emma, all of whom are deceased; Martha Jennette, the wife of Arnold HerreH, HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 845 Mr. and Mrs. 'W. J. Burger 846 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA of University Place, Lancaster County, Ne braska; Albert D., associated with his father in the mercantile business at Doniphan ; James F., deaceased; and Mary M., the wife of H. S, Knapp, of Lincoln, Nebraska, At present Mr. Burger is independent in his political sentiments, but he was interested in the early days of the Populist party in that organization. For years he has served as a justice of the peace and for two terms was on the board of county commissioners. Both he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episco pal church. During the World War he was a willing and liberal contributor to the various movements and a hearty supporter of the govemment after war was declared. JULIUS CAESAR STRASSER. — From a clerkship in a small general store in Alda to the ownership of four hundred and sixty acres of some of the best farming land in Hall County is the distance in position traveled by Julius Caesar Strasser since his arrival in Hall County thirty-three years ago. His exper ience in the field of merchandising covered only three years or less, for in the spring of 1889 he added his name to the list of agricul turists whose activities center in Hall County, and in that field of endeavor worked out a gratifying success. Mr. Strasser was born on the banks of the Mississippi river, at Bellevue, Jackson County, Iowa, August 22, 1864, a son of Adam and Catherine Strasser. Adam Strasser was a lumber merchant at Bellevue, with large inter ests in the industry being plied on the Mis sissippi and never left that community for the "West. J. C. Strasser was reared in his home community, where he attended the public schools, remaining at home until after attain ing his majority, when he left the parental roof, feeling that a better future awaited him farther to the West. He arrived at Alda, in HaH County, May 1, 1886, and there secured employment as clerk in the store of William Mitchel. He had been fitted for the position by a high school course and a commercial course in Elliott's Business College at Burling ton, Iowa. He remained with Mr. Mitchel until July 5th of the same year, when he trans ferred his services to Hayden Brothers, a con cern with which he was connected until the faH of 1888. In the meantime he had con served his savings carefully, and, combining them with the small capital which he had brought with him from Iowa, he was able in the spring of 1889 to make the inHial pay ment on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, located in section 10, Wood River town ship. 'That formed the nucleus for his present holdings of four . hundred and sixty acres, while Mrs. Strasser is the owner of an ad ditional two hundred and forty arce tract. For years Mr. Strasser was engaged in general farming and stockraising, but at this time is retired, and rents his land. During the years of his activity he was accounted one of the progressive and substantial agriculturists of the Wood River Valley, and, with their modern improvements, his farms were con sidered by many as models. About the time he settled on his farm, Mr. Strasser married, March 30, 1889, Miss Emma C. 'Wiese, daughter of Hans Wiese, of Wood River township. Three children have, been bom to this union: Matilda, a history and English student, class of 1919, at the Uni versity of Nebraska, who will teach in Wood River school the coming year; Ethel A., wife of Doctor fi. Burgess, of Lincoln, and Flor ence, attending the Wood River high school. Mr. Strasser is independent in his political views, fie has always been ready to assist with his abilities, his time and his means in any worthy movements having for its object the advancement of his locality, fie is a par ticular friend of education, having served as a member of the local school board for a period of twelve years. MARTIN HARDERS. — The career of Martin -Harders in its demonstration of the value of industry and persistent endeavor as a means of attaining success, furnishes a valuable lesson for the youth of today who are entering upon their careers feeling that they are handicapped by the lack of the aids represented by money and influence. Mr. Harders, at the time of his entering upon an independent career, had only his native ability and determination to assist him; today he is one of the substantial citizens of Harrison township, where he lives in comfortable re tirement on his six hundred acre farm. Martin Hardens was born in Holstein, Ger many, October 21, 1868, a son of Johann and Anna Harders, natives of that country who emigrated to the United States in 1880 and passed the rest of their lives as farming people in Plall County. The son, Martin, had at tended the public schools in Germany and re ceived some small instruction after arriving in Plall County, but his youth in this new country was largely filled with hard work, and the greater part of his education came from the school of experience. The family was not HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 847 affluent as to financial circumstances, and ac cordingly when the young man started his in dependent life he was forced to rely upon his own resources. These were sufficient to enable him to buy a quarter-section of school land located in section 16, Harrison township, and to this he has since added, from time to time, through purchase and investment, until he now has six hundred acres. While for some years he followed farming almost ex clusively, more recently he tumed his attention to the cattle business, a field in which he achieved such success that he eventually re tired, and is now living in his comfortable home, surrounded by everything desirable,' a condition of affairs far removed from those existing when he first began to make his own way. He is independent in his political belief and action, and is highly regarded in his com munity, as a dependable, useful and construc tive citizen. Mr. Harders was united in marriage in 1889 with Marguerite Kunk, a native of Germany, and to this union there have been born eleven children: Ella, now Mrs. Thompson, wife of a Cameron township farmer ; John, carry ing on farming in section 17, Harrison town ship ; Julius, operating on land situated just north of the home place in Harrison township ; Emil, who enlisted in Com.pany H, One Hun dred Thirty-fourth Infantry, was sent to Camp Cody, New Mexico, for training, as signed to the Thirty-second Division, with which he was sent to France, served in the ranks until the signing of the armistice and was subsequently sent back to the United States, arriving at New York City, May 20, 1919;. Frieda, now Mrs. Hargins, of Abbott; Miss Edith, who resides with her parents ; Helga and Charley, who are attending school, and HHda, Otto and Anna, who live at home. EDMOND ADNARM KEARNEY.— A progressive representative of the farming and stockraising interests of fiall County, Edmond Adnarm Kearney has been the architect of his own fortunes and has advanced himself to substantial position through the exercise of his own native attainments, fie is now the owner of a well-cultivated farm of one hun dred and sixty acres, located in section 3, fiarrison township, and is accounted one of the men who have done much in a constructive way for the betterment and advancement of their adopted community. Mr. Keamey was bom on a farm in Clay County, IHinois, March 19, 1874, a son of William Kearney, fiis father as a young man enlisted for service in the Union army during the Civil War, and at the close of that straggle went to IHinois, where he followed farming until 1885. In that year he migrated to Hall County, where he resided four years, and then removed to Keya Paha County, this state, set tling on a homestead, where he resided three years. Returning to HaH County, he resumed farming, and at the time of his retirement went to the Old Soldiers' Home at Grand Island, where he now resides. Edmond A. Kearney was eleven years of age when he accompanied his parents to Hall County, and his education, which had been started in the public schools of Clay County, Illinois, was completed here and in Keya Paha County. He returned to Hall County with his father and began working out on various farms fintil he was able to accumulate enough to purchase a farm of his own. His present property, a tract of one hundred and sixty acres in Harrison township, was bought in 1904, the year of the Portland (Oregon) Exposition. When he came to this farm it was lacking in all save the crudest improve ments, and the modern ones which at present add value to the farm are of Mr. Kearney's installation. He carries on general farming and raises some stock, and his success has been achieved through strictly honorable methods, so that his reputation is an excellent one. Politically, Mr. Kearney is independent. Mr. Kearney married Miss Nielson, daugh ter of \ John and Josephine Nielson, of Salt Lake City, Utah, and they have one child : Ruth A., born in 1918. Mrs. Kearney is a member of the Mormon church. WILLIAM L. HALDEMAN, who owns a valuable farm in Harrison township. Hall County, that has been developed and highly improved through his own efforts, came to this county thirty-five years ago and has always been considered one of the solid, de pendable men of this section. William L. Haldeman was born at MH- waukee, Wisconsin, April 9, 1854. His par ents were James F. and Anna (Short) Haider- man, who were born in Ohio. In 1875 they moved from Muscatine, Iowa, to Hall County, settling near Alda, where both parents died, the father when aged seventy-four years, and the mother, seventy-one years. The latter was a member of the Episcopal church. William L. fialderman grew to manhood in Iowa, where he had common school advantages and practical training in business. In 1884 he joined his father in Hall County immediately 848 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA <; a< HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 849 investing in railroad lands situated in Harri son township, and from then until the present has been closely engaged in agricultural ac tivities. For many years he has been ex ceedingly successful as a general farmer and has grown some stock and cattle. At present he IS giving attention to a beautiful herd of Aberdeen Polled Angus cattle, that give evi dence of being very profitable. On Thanksgiving day. 1877, Mr. Halderman married Miss Isabel Harris, a daughter of Abraham and Isabel Harris, formerly of Avoca, Iowa, but now i deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Halderman have three children, namely : RusseH, E. K. and Anna, all of whom live in Grand Island. Mr. Halderman has never been active politically, but he takes much interest in his connection with the Masonic and Elk lodges, in Grand Island, FRANCIS MERVIN WILES is one of the substantial and up-to-date farmers of Hall County, owning and operating a well improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres in sec tions eleven and twelve. Wood River township. Air. Wiles is a native of the neighboring state of Kansas, having been born at Alton, Osborne County, November 9, 1879. His father, Alverdo Wiles, is a native of New York state and now a resident of Doyle, Cal ifornia. The mother of our subject was Emily Vernon, a native of Iowa, who died in Kansas when Francis was eleven years old. Young Wiles was early thrown upon his own resources and was reared on farms. He was seventeen years old when he came to Hall County where he found employment at farm labor. He carefully saved his earnings and was able to purchase eighty acres of land to which he later added a tract of similar size, this being improved and here he has made his home for the last seventeen years, being en gaged in diversified farming with good success. He uses modern machinery in his farm opera tions and was the first to make use of the small tractor in the cultivation of his land. December 19, 1900, occurred the marriage of Francis M. Wiles and Miss Mabel Clair Rickard. She was bom in fiall County, a daughter of Lewis and Marie Antoinette (Fellows) Richard, the former of whom was born in New York and the latter was born at Flowerfield, Michigan. They were among the early settlers of fiall County where the father took a homestead and became one of the well-to-do men of the county. Both are now deceased. Air. and Mrs. WHes are the parents of six living children: Peari Gertrade, Eari Fran cis, Clyde Edwin, Milton Seth, Ralph Willard and Delmar Glenn. They lost two children: Arthur L. and Floyd Clarence. The family are members of the Friends church at Alda, in which Mr. WHes holds an official position. In politics he is a Republican and is an efficient member of the school board and a director in the Farmers State Bank of Alda. JOfiN SYLVESTER HAYSE, whose res idence in Hall County dates from 1880, found few settlers earlier than himself in Harrison township, where he is one of the leading ag riculturists. He came here in early manhood from Ohio, where, even then, neighborhoods were becoming crowded and the tocsin was being sounded of "Go west, young man, go west." He has never felt that he made any mistake in coming to Hall County, with its invigorating climate that gives urge to in dustry, and with soil that readily responds to proper cultivation. John S. Hayse was bom in Hancock County, Ohio, December 24, 1855. He was the only child born to the marriage of John Conrad and Sarah (Crouse) Hayse. His mother was a native of Pennsylvania who died in Ohio when aged thirty-nine years. His father was born in Germany and lived to be seventy years old. By a second marriage he had children and two daughters survive and reside in Ohio. After his school period was over, John S. Hayse assisted on the home farm in Hancock County and remained in Ohio as a farmer for four years after his marriage. When he reached fiall County in 1880 his capital con sisted of $50, with which he bought railroad land. For some years he found farming a rather hard proposition, as the methods to which he had been accustomed in Ohio were not altogether applicable to Nebraska soil, but he was earnest, steady and industrious and adjusted himself to changed conditions in the course of time, and at present owns one of the most productive eighty acre farms in Har rison township. He has kept abreast of the times in agricultural matters, makes use of modern machinery, tests his seed carefully and is particular concerning the quality of his stock. His farm buildings are substantial and the surroundings attractive and inviting. In Ohio, on October 19, 1876, Mr. Hayse was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Orwick, and they have had four children: Mrs. Nancy B. Foster, who lives near Don iphan; Otto E., a farmer near Wood River; 850 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA John E., at home, and Bertha May, who died when aged five years. For six years Mr. Hayse has been a school director and performs his duties conscientiously. HENRY WESTPHAL, a prosperous gen eral farmer in Hall County and the owner of a quarter section of land in Harrison town ship, was born in Holstein, Germany, May 31, 1858. His parents were Diedrick and Katrine Westphal, natives of Germany. Henry Westphal was twenty-six years old when he came to the United States and im- mlediately located in Grand Island, fiall County, Nebraska. Like many other early settlers in the county, he was practically with out capital, but he found work and was in dustrious and frugal and that is the explana tion of his present ample fortune. Mr. West phal has come to a time of life when it is no longer necessary for him to labor as in old days, but he still continues active and capably manages his farm as he has done for so many years. He has made substantial improvements on his property, carries on varied farming and raises some fine grade stock. In 1880, Mr. Westphal married Miss Katrine Christian, whose parents were res idents of Hall County. They have had chil dren as follows : August, Richard, Oscar, Mrs. Minnie Enspinger, Harry and Charles. Harry Westjphal, the fourth son, wenti to Europe as a soldier with the American Ex peditionary Forces, and is with the Army of Occupation in Germany. Mr. Westphal and his wife are members of the Lutheran church. The entire family is held in general esteem in Grand Island as well as in Harrison town ship. JOHN MATHIAS TAGGE, who for fifty years has been a resident of Hall County, came here in youth, was quiet, industrious and efficient whether working for others or for himself, and now owns one of the best im proved farms in Harrison township. John Mathias Tagge was born in Holstein, Germany, May 23, 1850. His parents were Claus J. and Matilda Tagge, who were highly respected people in the section of Germany in which they Hved. John M. Tagge was the first of the family to come to America and largely upon his report depended the emigration of his parents. He reached the United States in 1868, made his way from the eastern sea board to IHinois and spent one year there working in the farming regions. After com ing to Hall County in 1869, the young man realized the great opportunities offered here, and it is sure that a message speedily went across the Atlantic that brought his parents to the United States in 1870. After passing a short time in Iowa they came to fiall County and spent the rest of their lives in Harrison township. At first John M. Tagge hired out to other settlers, but by 1872 he was able to buy land for himself. It was entirely unim proved and years of hard work had to be put behind him before Mr. Tagge felt able to increase his holdings, to the improvement of which he also devoted himself. He now owns two hundred and forty acres of valuable land, situated in section 1, fiarrison township, three miles from Abbott which affords him fine market facilities, and here he carries on gen eral farming very profitably. The results of thrift and good management may be seen on every side. Mr. Tagge married Miss Emma Ruff, whose parents were Henry M. and Christina Ruff natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Tagge have nine children : Hemian, a farmer operat ing two mHes north of the homestead; John, who assists on the home farm ; William, who is a farmer in Cameron township ; Otto, who has returned home after eleven months service in France, with the American Expeditionary Forces, a soldier of whom his township is proud, and Freda, Amanda, Rudolph, Alfred and Arvenus, all of whom are at home. Mr. and Mrs. Tagge are members of the Lutheran church. The family is everywhere held in high regard. JOPIN RUSHEN, one of fiall County's well known and substantial farmers and stock men, came first to Nebraska in 1878. Since then he has led a busy life, in which there have been ups and downs, and now resides on his well improved farm situated in South Loup township. Born in Germany January 10, 1855, John Rushen was the eldest child of his parents, Jeorgen and Katherine (Stange) Rushen, the others being as follows: Mrs. Mary Kuehl, a widow, who lives at Valparaiso, Indiana; Mrs. Molly Foster, who died at Chicago, IHinois, in 1906; Lena, who died during the voyage to America from Germany and was buried at sea, and Henry, who died in infancy. . The parents were natives of Gemiany. The mother of the above named children died at the age of thirty-six years and to a second marriage of the father the foHowing children were bom: Lena, Charles, James, Bertha HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 851 and Emma, all of whom are living. The father was a wagonmaker by trade, an occupa tion in which he was engaged while living at first in Chicago. From there he removed to Porter County, Indiana, where he bought forty acres of land in what was known as the White Settlement, on which the family lived for two years when he sold it and bought another farm of forty acres situated three miles north of Valparaiso. Still later he bought additional land and put up a fine house and in 1878 died there. John Rushen attended the public schools and helped his father on the Indiana farm. In 1878 he came to Lincoln, Nebraska, and at first herded cattle for $15 a month, and then became connected with Hass, Mitchell & Com pany, an association which continued for almost seven years. After leaving this con cern he went into partnership with George W. Dunham as game hunters and they made their headquarters at Denton in Lancaster County, a station between Crete and Lincoln, supplying game to the Lincoln markets. The next business venture of Mr. Rushen was the renting of a ranch in Buffalo County and stocking it with cattle but he never lived on the ranch but settled at Venango, in Perkins County and carried on an implement business there for six years. Unfortunate investments caused his failure in business and he de termined then to return to Hall County. With a team of mules he conveyed his household goods from Venango to Denver and there loaded a car for Cairo, fiis finances at that time were at so low an ebb that he had to borrow one dollar to finish paying for the transportation, else the raHroad would not have permitted him to unload. As soon as settied at Cairo Mr. Rushen went into the well and pump business, found it profitable and afterward, when he had succeeded in honestly paying every cent of indebtedness that misfortune had brought upon him, he moved on a part of what was once the estate of his father-in-law, and has since followed an agricultural life here, fiis land is situated in section 35, South Loup township, where he has found the soil par ticularly weH adapted for fruit growing and the raising of potatoes. During the past season Mr. Rushen's potato crop was con sidered the best that came to the Grand Island market, fie set out trees of aH kinds and at one time was credited with having the best orchard in the county. He devotes his one hundred and twenty acres to mixed farming and pays considerable attention to his grade of livestock. Mr. Rushen married Miss Emma Mieth, October 16, 1883, who was born at Chicago, IHniois, March 26, 1864, a daughter of August and Mary (Pingle) Mieth, natives of Ger many. Both Mr. and Mrs. Rushen were reared in the Lutheran church. He is an independent voter but not an indifferent one because he is a good citizen. For many years he has belonged to the order of Odd Fellows. ELMER E. VEEDER.— In the untimely death of Elmer E. Veeder the county lost one of its substantial citizens and his family a lov ing helpmate. His death, which occurred at his home on the sixth of March, 1916, was caused from the accidental discharge of a gun while out hunting. Mr. Veeder had been a resident of the county for nearly forty years and he had improved and developed a splendid farm prop erty in South Loup township. He was a native of GloversvHle, New York, born June 19, 1861, a son of Seymour and Cordelia (Slawson) Veeder, natives of New York. 'They came to Nebraska, settling in Hall County in 1878, where both passed their lives. They bought raw prairie land, which the father improved until he had a fine farm. Mr. Veeder was married in this township November 6, 1890, to Miss Bertha Mietii, a daughter of August Mieth, Sr., a record of whom will be found elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Veeder became the parents of three chHdren, as foHows: Francis A., who married Carrie Miks, now operates the home farm; Eari M., and Esther E. Mr. Veeder was one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of his commun ity, and was held in the highest respect by all who knew him. He was a member of the A. O. U. W. and his remains were laid to rest in the Cairo cemetery. RUDOLPH CLOCK was one of the highly respected citizens of HaH County and his death which occurred on his farm in South Loup township, February 24, 1917, was mourned by a host of friends as well as by his immediate family. Rudolph Clock was bom at Highland, Illinois, September 9, 1862, a son of Adolph and Anna (Iberg) Clock, the former a native of Basil, Switzerland, while the mother was born in Highland, Illinois, where they passed their lives. In 1888 Mr. Clock came to Ne braska, bought a farm and engaged in agri cultural pursuits. November 23, 1891, he married Miss Ida 852 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Mieth, a daughter of August Mieth, Sr., whose record as a pioneer will be found else where in this history. They became the pa.r- ents of two chHdren : August and Anna Marie, who reside with their mother on the farm and assist in its operation. Mr. Clock had been an invalid for many years but was successfully engaged in farming. He owned a Well improved farm of eighty acres in South Loup township, where his widow and family still reside. She also owns eighty acres of her father's estate. He was a good man, a kind and loving father and held in the highest respect by all who knew him. He was reared in the Lutheran faith. AUGUST MIETH, SR. — The man whose name introduces this record will long be re membered as one of the pioneers of Hall County, and one of its noble citizens who has long since passed to his reward. August Mieth, Sr., was a native of Prussia, Germany, born April 5, 1829. His parents were Christ and Anna Mieth who spent their entire lives in their native land. The son attended the schools of that country and when a young man served an apprenticeship of four years and learned the blacksmith trade. He married Miss Theodora Wyka, a native of the same province and soon after this event they emigrated to America and first lived at Falls Villa, Connecticut, moving from there to Buffalo, New York. In 1855 he became a res ident of Chicago. While residing there he helped build the first hearse in use in the city, remaining there until 1870 when he settled at Burlington, Illinois. He worked at his trade all these years and in 1880 came to Hall County, and purchased land in South Loup township, on which he made his home until his death which occurred May 21, 1890. He was a successful farmer and at the time of his death was the owner of six hundred acres of land. His first wife, who had one child, Mary, who lived but a short time, died while they were living in Chicago, and in that city he married, in 1860, Miss Mary Pingel, a native of Germany, who died in Burlington, Illinois. She was the mother of five children, as foHows : August L., who became one of Hall County's prominent farmers and passed away February 10, 1914; Emma, the wife of John Rushen, residents of fiall County; Frederick E., who owns and occupies the old place; Bertha, the widow of E, E. Veeder, and lives in Hall County, and Ida, the widow of Rudolph Clock, resides in Hall County, August Mieth was a man possessed of those sterling traits of character which in every clime win the admiration of all and he left his family not only large possessions of this world's goods but also the priceless heritage of an untarnished name. As a monument to the memory of a loving parent, the family have arranged for a beautiful portrait to ap pear in this volume. CLINTON P. MECHAM, one of Hall County's representative men and substantial farmers, has large and valuable property inter ests here. His coming to the state dates back forty-one years when he was a youth of nine teen years, and the fact that before he reached his twentieth birthday, he had invested in eighty acres of land in Adams County is in dicative of his intention to make this favored section his permanent home, living there for twenty-eight years, when in 1907 he sold and came to fiall County, locating in Center town ship where he bought three hundred and sixty acres whei-e he has resided for twelve years. He has been a very prominent citizen and several times has been elected to offices of trust. and responsibility in Adams County. Clinton P. Mecham was born in Grandy County, Illinois, November 9, 1859. His par ents were Alvin T. and Lucy (Booth) Mecham. Alvin T. Mecham was born in Pennsylvania and from there removed to IHinois. In 1850 he married Lucy Booth, who died at the age of sixty-five years. They had but two children : Mrs. Chloe Armitage, who lives in Grand Island, and Clinton P., who lives on his farm in Center township. In 1878 Mr. Mecham and his family came to Nebraska, settling first in Adams and after ward in fiall County. His death occurred at the age of eighty-one years. Clinton P. Alecham owns three hundred and sixty acres of fine land which he devotes to farming and livestock growing, taking particular interest in his thoroughbred Holstein herd, in which he has six head of pure bred cows. On September 2, 1883, Mr. Mecham mar- r;ied Miss Martha Milligan, a daughter of Joseph and Martha (Parson) Milligan, the former of whom ^as born in Scotland and the latter in Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Mecham have had six children born to them : Earl A., a farmer near his father in Hall County; Floyd J., also a farmer in Hall County ; Flor ence, deceased; Mrs. Harry Genu, who lives near Wood River; Glenn rents part of the home farm and Blanche, who lives at home. Mr. Mecham and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. His political ¦•.:^. /^^Lt^iMc^ <^ytc^^^^^ ^ HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 855 affiliation is not defined because Mr Mecham IS a thoughtful, well informed man and pre fers to vote according to his own judgment. 1" or twelve years he served on the school board He belongs to the order of Highlanders. PETER HENNINGS, an enterprising and successful fanner ,in Center townshipj belongs to one of the early famHies of Hall County. He was bom near Alda, in Hall County, Jan uary 28, 1885, a son of Claus and Katrina Hennings, both of whom were born in Ger many. The latter still survives. Although his practical father set him farm tasks when he was not more than nine years old, Peter Hennings went to school and made as fair progress as other country boys in his neighborhood. He has always taken an inter est iri his farm work and because of long ex perience understands every detail. He is operating his mother's farm, on which his father put substantial improvements, and gives considerable attention to raising Poland- China hogs. Mr. Hennings keeps well posted concerning agricultural matters and believes that a large measure of his success comes from his intelligent- study of new methods as regards improved tillage, crop rotation and fertilization. On January 27, 1915, Mr. Hennings mar ried Miss Frieda Muhs, who was born and reared in Hall County where her parents still reside. Mr. and Mrs. Hennings have three interesting little children: Wilma, Edna and Harrold, aged respectively three, two and one' year. Mr. Hennings has never identified him self with any political party but he is a good citizen and is particularly vigilant concerning educational matters in his township and at present is serving in the office of moderator of school district No. 66. He and Mrs. fien- nings maintain a very hospitable home and have a wide circle of friends. ALBERT FELSKE, a reliable citizen and prosperous general farmer in fiall County, Nebraska, may almost be numbered with the county's native sons for he was only three years old when he was brought here by his parents, who were John and Henrietta (Ronke) Felske. They were natives oi Ger many who came to the United States in 1872, settiing in Illinois and in that state their son Albert -was bom on October 29, 1877. John Felske came to Nebraska with enough capital to buy one hundred and twenty acres of land at $5 an acre. It was located near Abbott, and on that place Mr. Felske resided untH his death in 1891. He was counted with the most careful and successful farmers in his section of the county. He and wife were highly respected by all who knew them. Albert Felske attended school in boyhood and ever since has been engaged in farm pur suits, beginning to operate for himself in 1902. He owns eighty acres of well developed im proved land on which he engages in general farming including the raising of some good stock. His surroundings indicate excellent management, much thrift and plenty, and the comforts that make a well regulated farm a very desirable place on which to live. Mr. Felske married Miss Emma Schoel, a daugh ter of Henry Schoel, a sketch of whom will be found in this work, the ceremony taking place March 6, 1902. They have one child, Edgar, who lives with his parents. Mr, and Mrs, Felske are members of the Lutheran church. In politics he maintains independent views and votes according to his own judgment. WILLARD N, HILDEBRAND, one of the intelligent, progressive young farmers and stockraisers of fiall County, is doing quite a great deal along the line of agricultural im provement. He has adopted modern methods in all his farm work, and by example, is doing his best to raise stock standards here. He has charge of the homestead farm situated on section-29, town of Doniphan, Mr. Hildebrand was born September 9, 1900, in Woodford County, Illinois, and is a son of Jacob M,. and Mary Frances Hilde brand. The father was born at Afton, Vir ginia, was reared a farmer and lived there for twenty-two years, moved then to Wood ford County, Illinois, and after living twenty- two years in that county, came to fiall County, Nebraska, in 1907. fie purchased the pres ent home farm which contains one hundred and sixty acres and resided on it until his death when aged sixty-two years. His burial was at Doniphan. The mother of Mr. Plilde- brand lives -on the homestead. There were four children in the family, namely : ArviHa M., who died in Illinois when twenty years old ; Myrtle M., who lived to the age of sixteen years also died in Illinois ; Carroll D., who was born at Benson, Illinois, is a theological student in the Wesleyan University at Lincoln, and Willard W., who resides with his mother on the farm. Since taking charge of the home farm, Mr. Hildebrand has done "a large amount of im proving. He takes much interest in his extra 856 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA ffne livestock and aims to market ten head of Red Duroc-Jersey hogs, ten head of cattle, seven head of horses and five head of mules. He is not active in local pohtics, but is always ready to give assistance in movements for the general welfare. Both he and mother are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. WILLIAM C. MULLEN, a prominent cHizen of Hall County, to which he came in 1871, foHowing honorable service in the CivH War, owns a quarter section of valuable land situated in Center township, where he has been one of the foremost men for many years. Mr. jMullen was born in Sullivan County, New York, June 26, 1843. The Mullen family was established early in the state of New York,, its first members probably coming from Ireland. The grand father of William C. MuHen, Philip MuHen, fought in the Revolutionary "War. The father of Mr. IMullen, Philip Mullen, was born in New York state, but his mother, Rachel (Canty) Mullen, was born in Wales and brought to this country when two years old. Five sons were born to them : Jordan, Darius, O. P., John S. and Willam Canty, the last named being the only survivor. William C. Alullen was only eighteen years old at the outbreak of the Civil War, in which he served until its close as a member of Com pany L, Fourteenth Illinois cavalry. He en listed September 22, 1862, saw service under General Shennan, participating in the battles of Nashville, Cumberland Mountain and second battle of Clarksville. Being in the cavalry he took active part in many skirmishes l>efore receiving his discharge, July 30, 1865. After the war ended he learned the stone mason and bricklaying trade. In 1871 he de termined to take advantage of the govern ment's offer of land in Nebraska, came to Hall County and took up a hundred and sixty acre homestead to which section his father came also in 1873, securing a homestead of eighty acres. Like many other settlers at that time, ^Ir. Mullen came with no accumulated capi tal, all he owned being a team of horses. Through use of his team he managed to keep the wolf from the door during the first hard winter, and he remembers starting out with a load of logs on one occasion, with but ten cents in his pocket, driving a distance of one hundred and fifty miles up the Loup River and being fortunate enough to sell his load to railroad builders. At one time he was captured by Indians and held captive for several hours but managed to escape and today some of these early experiences are told for the entertainment of friends. He experienced many hardships before he could get his land in a productive condition, but kept up his cour age, did the best he could and set an example that was not altogether lost on his neighbors. In the course of time Mr. Mullen overcame early difficulties and at present is in the enjoy ment of an ample fortune and has a beautiful home on his large estate in Center township. Mr. Mullen married M.iss Mary Bussell, whose people came to Hall County from Eng land when she was young. They have chil dren as follows : Albert D., who lives at home; Arthur, who lives in Kansas; Philip, who resides in Sherman County, Nebraska; Charles, who lives at Cairo, Nebraska; George, the home farmer; Mrs. May Dumont, of Detroit, Michigan; Mrs. Lora Johansen, who lives in Grand Island; Mrs. Bertha Hightshoe, who lives at Eagle Bend, Min nesota; Mrs. Lula Culverson, who lives in Grand Island, and Maude, who lives -with her parents. Mr. Mullen and his family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church and attend services at Alda. For many years Mr. MuHen was active in the councils of the Republican party in Center township and is still staunchly identified with that political organization. For four years he served as school director of school district No. 39, and for five j^ears was school treasurer, and he also has served in the office of constable. He has lived through a period of wonderful development in Hall County, and in every way within his power has done his part as a worthy and upright man and loyal citizen. ELMER ROBERT FRANZ, an extensive farmer in Hall County, has spent almost his entire life here and is a native of Nebraska. He was born in Hamilton County, March 21, 1877, and is a son of Robert B. and Amanda (Cox) Franz, natives of Sheboygan, Wis consin, who were married in 1876. In 1865 the father of Mr. Franz came to the territory of Nebraska. He homesteaded in Hamilton County and the family resided there until 1885 then came to Alda township. Hall County. Elmer Robert Franz was but eight years old when the family settled near Alda in HaH County, He is the only surviving inember now, both parents and three brothers, Roy, Otto and an infant, having passed away. He received the education offered by the public schools of this section and at an early day began to run a farm which vocation he has foHowed all his life and at present is operat- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 857 W. C. Mullen and 'Wife 858 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA ing his own farm of eighty acres which ad joins Grand Island on the west, and three hundred and eleven acres which he rents in Alda township. He owns a large amount of first class farm machinery and his farm under takings are conducted with great thorough ness. It is to enterprising farmers like Mr. Franz that the world is looking for the nec essary increased production of food stuffs. Febraary 11, 1899, Mr. Franz married Miss one of the best improved farms in Alda town ship and whose parents live in Grand Island. They have one child, Mayme, who remains with her parents. Mr. Franz is not identified with any political party. AUGUST L. MIETH. — In the death of August L. Mieth, Hall County lost one of its worthy citizens and his family a loving hus band and father. Mr. Mieth was born in the city of Chicago, February 3, 1862, a son of August Mieth, Sr., of whom a record will be found on other pages of this volume. The son accompanied the family to Hall County in 1880 when the home was estabHshed in South Loup township on the farm where another son, Frederick, now, resides. Upon reaching man's estate he wisely chose the occupation to which he had been reared and from the virgin prairie improved and de veloped one of the best farms in this section. A tract of four hundred and forty acres, with a fine country home, good' barns and outbuild ings, acres of orchard and shade trees, is the result of many years of persistent energy and good judgment on the part of its owner, and now left to be enjoyed by the family which mourns his loss. Mr. Mieth was married in Cameron town ship September 13, 1880, to Miss Emma Stewart, a native of Lee County, Iowa. Her parents, Wm. J. and Maggie (Markwell) Stewart, were natives of Lee County, Iowa. They came to HaH County in 1872 and took a homestead in Cameron township. Both are dead. Mr. and Mrs. Mieth became the par ents of seven children, six of whom are still living: Fred, Frank, Mary, Nathalie, Otto, Everett. Fred married Edna Waddington, and assists in the operation of the home farm. The other children are all at home. jNIr. Mieth early realized the value of pure bred stock and became a pioneer in the breed ing and raising of pure bred hogs and cattle, and specimens from his farm found their way to many other states. He was one of the famHiar figures at fairs, stock and poultry shows and public sales of pure bred stock and held many sales of pure bred Poland China hogs and Shorthorn cattle at his farm. _ When the Farmers State Bank was organized in Cairo, ,in 1911, he was one of the first to put his shoulder to the wheel, and was one of the first to become a stockholder in the institu tion, displaying the same public spirit that characterized the man in all movements that he thought would help make better the living . conditions in his community. He was a mem ber of the German Lutheran church. Though the condition of his health was known to the immediate family," yet his pass ing was a surprise and a severe loss to the county, and left a place that can never be filled. A comfortable estate acquired by pioneer ruggedness, endurance and determina tion and a good name, are left to a worthy helpmeet and family, and the world is better off for his having lived in it. HENRY BECKER. weH known in HaH County where his life has been spent, owns one of the best improved farms in Alda town ship, where he conducts agricultural opera tions with much success. He is a representa tive of one of the county's earliest families, having been born on the old Becker home stead near Grand Island, August 26, 1867. The parents of Henry Becker were Fritz and Elizabeth (Danker) Becker, both of whom were born in Gemiany but became ac quainted and were married after they reached Grand Island. Of their family of five chil dren three sons are living: Charles, who fol lows the carpenter trade in Hershey, Lincoln County, Nebraska; Henry, a representative citizen of Alda township. Hall County, and August, who resides on the old homestead near Grand Island. Fritz Becker came to the United States in 1860 and homesteaded in- fiall County among the early Gemian settlers of that locality. He was an industrious, thrifty farmer, cultivating his land with thoroughness, and by the time that Nebraska became a state, was recognized as one of the stable and substantial men of Hall County. Henry Becker grew up on his father's pio neer farm. He had fewer educational ad vantages than those reared in better organized settlements, but time has fairly remedied that and Mr. Becker is one of the best informed citizens of his township. He has followed farming all his life and owns one hundred and sixty-nine acres of valuable land, devoting it to general farm purposes. In 1900 Henry Becker married Miss Lena Luth, who was bom in Gennany, where her filSTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 859 father died. She was eleven years old when she accompanied her mother to the United States, where the latter subsequently married ¦George Lorenzen. Mr. and Mrs. Becker have two sons, Carl and William, aged respectively seventeen and sixteen years. They are intel ligent, well educated young men, and both are .giving their father assistance on the home farm. Mr. Becker has never desired public office and takes no very active interest in gen eral politics. WILLIAM ORANGE TYLER. — One of the early settlers in Hall County, was the late W. O. Tyler, who owned and operated a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, situated in section eight. South Platte township. This farm is well improved and still remains in the possession of the Tyler family. W. O. Tyler was bom in Orion, Michigan, August 3, 1845, and came to Hall County, in 1870. His parents were William E. and -Char lotte (Nichols) Tyler, who removed from Michigan to Iowa shortly after the birth of their son. WiHiam E. Tyler served in an Iowa regiment through the last year of the Civil War, retuming then to his farm in Iowa where the family retained residence until 1871 when removal was made to Hall County. Here Mr. Tyler homesteaded and continued on his land until 1884. W. O. Tyler took up a homestead in Hall County, which he de veloped, and as long as his state of health per mitted, was active in its improvement. In 1881, however, his health broke down com pletely and he was forced to retire from the farm and finally, as stated above, went to Califomia, where he spent three years. Mr. Tyler died in Califomia, June 17, 1886. After a short stay in Nebraska, Mr. Tyler retumed to Iowa and soon afterward married Miss Mary F. White. Her parents were John and Mary C. (Thrift) White, who were na tives of North Carolina. They moved to In diana in 1863, where they remained until 1867, when they came to Iowa, where Mr. White bought one hundred and sixty acres of land that he developed into a valuable property. Following their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Tyler settled in Hall County and this has been her home ever since. She is well known in this section and is very highly esteemed. Two children were bom to Mr. and Mrs. Tyler: Retson, who was born in 1875, is unmarried; and EsteHa, the wife of Milo Karr. Mr and Mrs. Karr have the foHowing children : Helen, Lavern, Ada, Glenn and Lloyd, aH of whom are attending school except the youngest. WALTER RHOADES, a prosperous farmer and stockraiser of fiall County, owns eighty acres of fine land situated in section thirty-three, town of Doniphan. Mr. Rhoades was bom at Phillips, Hamilton County, Ne braska, July 4, 1888. His parents were Will iam H. and Jennie Rhoades, both of whom were bom and reared in IHinois. They came from there to Hamilton County about thirty- five years ago, when pioneer conditions pre vailed here, and they shared in the hardships that tested and proved the courage and steadi ness of the early settlers. Their lives were not unduly extended, the father dying when aged fifty-four years and the mother passing away at the age of fifty years, their burial being at Phillips. Walter Rhoades grew up in HamHton Coun ty and attended the public schools. For seven years he was in the employ of the Bell Tele phone Company as a lineman, and his record shows that he was exceedingly efficient in the performance of his duties and maintained friendly relations with his employers as well as the patrons of the company. In 1913 he became a farmer and since then has devoted himself closely to his farm interests. At Hastings, Nebraska, October 8, 1913, Mr. Rhoades married Miss Lulu May Will- ian^s, a daughter of C. W. and Viola Will iams, residents of Hansen, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Rhoades have three children: Law rence and Florence, twins, and Bettie Irene. They are members of the Presbyterian church. In politics Mr. Rhoades takes no very active part but, as a good, reliable citizen, he casts a vote according to his own judgment after carefully considering public questions for him self. For some years he has been associated in membership with the Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World. LEONARD EARL HUFFMAN, one of the alert young business men and enterprising farmers and stockraisers of Hall County, belongs to an old and substantial family here, and has spent his entire life in this county. He is weH known and his reputation as a competent agriculturist and dependable, trust worthy young man is thoroughly established. Mr. fiuffman was bom January 3, 1894, at Doniphan, Hall County, Nebraska, a son of Elmer Albert and Amanda Ellen (Kar- michael) Huffman, the former was bom in Clarke County, Iowa, in 1862. His parents were John and Margaret (Parkins) Huffman. fie worked on his father's farm and attended the country schools in Iowa. When he came 860 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA first to Nebraska he was glad to obtain work for $15 a month, while now he is a man of large means, owner of a fine residence in Hastings, and one hundred and sixty acres of well improved land, fiis first wife was Amanda Ellen Karmichael, and two sons were bom to them : Roy and Leonard Earl, both of whom are farmers in Hall County. Mr. Huffman married second Myrtle Wilson, He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church in Hastings, Leonard Earl Huffman attended the public schools at Doniphan and was graduated from the high school. He assisted his father on the home farm untH the latter retired and moved to Hastings, where he resides at No. 600 West Sixth street. He has been a res ident of Nebraska since 1882. In 1916 Leon ard E. Huft'man went into business for him self and now rents two hundred acres of fine land from W. M. Rapp, of Hastings, on which he carries on general farming according to the latest improved methods, fie owns a large amount of 'expensive farm machinery, for Mr. Huffman is a farmer of modem type, and he has invested in first class stock, at the date of writing having eight head of Duroc-Jersey hogs, eight head of horses and five head of cattle, a fine showing for thre'e years of operation. Mr. Huffman married a woman born, reared and educated in Hall County, like himself. The ceremony that united him to Miss Myrtle LaweH was performed September 20, 1915. She is the youngest of a family of seven chil dren born to George and Julia Lawell. Mr and Mrs. Huffman have one son. Jack Wilson. They belong to the Methodist Episcopal church at Doniphan. HENRY N. AIARTIN. — An eariy settler in Hall County is found in Henry Nathaniel Martin, who now lives retired in Hastings, Nebraska, after many years of successful effort as a general farmer and raiser of fine cattie. Mr. Martin was bom in England in 1848, and was brought to the United States in 1851 by his parents, George and Ann (Owers) Martin. For one year the family lived in Ohio and then removed to McHenry County, Illinois, which remained the family home for nine years. Henry N. Martin was thirteen years old when his people came as far west as Iowa where they remained one year and then pro-^ ceeded to Hall County, where his father took up a homestead in section thirteen, township eleven, residing on his homestead until his death. Within a few years Mr. Martin ac quired a pre-emption claim for himself and subsequently bought other land when he be lieved the investment would be profitable, keeping on acquiring farms until he found himself one of the large landowners of the county, fie now has eight hundred acres and all his property has been improved in a sub stantial manner, his farms are well stocked and as a rale they are cultivated according to scientific methods. Mr. Martin continued to manage and operate his land himself until 1911, when he retired and moved into fiast ings, where he built a comfortable modem residence on North Kansas avenue. In 1873 Mr Martin married Miss Letitia Donald, a native of Morgan County, IHinois, and she became the mother of two children: Arthur A., who resides on one of his father's farms, married Pauline Hanson; and Viola, the wife of A. M. Johnson, a native of Ohio, lives on one of Mr. Martin's farms. In 1879, Mr. Martin was married a second time to his present wife, who was Miss Sarah M. Donald, a sister of the first wife. Mr Martin and his family are members of the Nazarene church. During his many years in Hall County, Mr. Martin has been a witness of wonderful changes, and he has borne a part in much of the development that has made this section of state rich in its agricultural industries and law abiding in its citizenship. He is very widely and commonly known as "Nat" Martin. JAMES R. VARAH, a well known grain farmer of Hall County, belongs to a family that came to Nebraska full forty years ago and ever since has been represented here. He was born on the hometsead on which he yet lives, situated in section 23, town of Doniphan, No vember 14, 1886. His parents are Thomas and Erissa (Wisner) Varah. the latter of whom was born in La Salle County, Illinois. The father of Mr. Varah was born in 1857, at Syracuse, New York, was married in Illi nois, and in 1879 came to Nebraska. He homesteaded in Hall Countv and for many years hved on this farm, then went into the real estate business and now lives retired in Hastings, Nebraska, James R Varah had common school advan- ^^^^ ^nL^^^ followed fanning for himself smce 1907, renting one hundred and sixty acres from his father. He devotes himself mainly to growing grain and seHs his product as he makes no special feature of stockrais- ZtuZ^'f u^'i "'^ ^"^ convenience he averages four head of cattie annually but no HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 861 H. N. Martin and Grandchildren 862 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA hogs, and a few horses and mules, all of first class grade. Mr. Varah's farm shows the effect of careful husbandry, his farm machin ery is of the best and his improvements are adequate and substantial. He owns stock in the mill and elevator at Doniphan. At Hastings, Nebraska, April 29, 1908, Mr. Varah married Miss Mary Rothwell, one of a family of three children born to James and Mary Rothwell, both deceased. The father of Mrs. Varah was formerly a druggist at Trum buH, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Varah have five chHdren: Lloyd, Curtis, Howard, Wayne and Norma, their ages ranging from nine to two years. Mrs. Varah is a memeber of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is an independent voter He belongs to a family noted for its longevity, and his grand father, who died in 1916, was eighty-three years old and had been a retired farmer at Central Square, Oswego County, New York, for many years. The grandmother still sur vives, being now in her eighty-sixth year. FRED J. BUDDECKE, a prosperous gen eral farmer in HaU County, is a native of Ne braska, born a,t Hayes Center, in Hayes County, September 6, 1891. His parents were Carl and Louise Buddecke, both of whom were born in Germany. They came to the United States in 1884, landing in the harbor of New York. From there they went to Toledo, Ohio, where three years were spent. From Toledo they came to Nebraska and the father secured a homestead near Hayes Center, proved up then moved near Trambull, in Clay County', dying in Hastings, January 9, 1917, at the age of sixty-four years. The mother is still Hving, Fred J. Buddecke obtained his education in the public schools. He was reared on a farm and has been interested in farm pursuits all his hfe. In 1913 he started out on his own responsibihty, renting a tract of land which he operated successfully. Later he rented the farm he is now operating, situated in section twenty-four, town of Doniphan, belonging to the Buddecke estate. Here he has made many substantial improvements, has invested in first class farm machinery, follows modern methods and IS making a great success of his venture. He handles standard stock only and at the time of writing has forty head of Duroc-Jer sey hogs, four mules and twenty head of cattle all ready for market. ' In Hastings, Nebraska, December 17, 1914, Mr Buddecke married Miss Minnie Brum-^ mond, a daughter of Herman and Hattie Brummond, who have been residents of Hamilton County, Nebraska, for seven years, where Mr. Brummond is a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Buddecke have one son, Norman, who is two years old. They attend tiie Lutheran church. Mr. Buddecke has been treasurer of school district No. 39 for four years and in many other ways has proved his good stand ing as a citizen. In politics he casts an inde pendent vote. OTIS TAGGART. — If an early beginning has anything to do with it, Otis Taggart, one of Hall County's prosperous farmers, should be very competent in his chosen vocation, for his efforts began when he was five years old. There are many small tasks on a well regu lated farm that can easily be performed by the sturdy growing boys of the family, and Otis, as the second eldest son, was found very use ful by his practical, sensible father, who has been a resident of Nebraska for the past thirty-six years. Otis Taggart was born in Moultrie County, IHinois, May 4, 1-878, fiis parents were David and Margaret Ellen Taggart, both deceased, fiis mother was born in Kentucky and his father in the cHy of New York. He served during the Civil War as a member of Com pany H, One Hundred and Twenty-third Illi nois Infantry. After the war he returned to Illinois, was married and became a farmer in Moultrie County and in 1883 removed from there to Hall County, Nebraska, where his death occurred at the age of fifty^-three years. The mother survived until sixty-six year's old, passing away near Doniphan. They were estimable people in every relation of life. Their four children survive: Otis, Edward, Tames and Nellie. As above indicated, Mr. Taggart was reared on a farm. He attended the public schools and afterward worked as a fanner for others until 1900 when he rented land and since then has carried on agricultural industries on his own account. He is operating two hundred and forty acres, carrying on a general farming line, Mr. Taggart makes no special feature of stock raising but he always maintains a sub stantial supply on the farm, all of good grade, and at present has two fine milch cows, nine brood sows, some good horses and an exten sive poultry yard containing about a thousand chickens with a large proportion of Plymouth Rocks. In addition to his farni property, Mr. S'Fm- ,' r "*''"*'^ ^" *^ Doniphan Elevator and Mill Company. At Doniphan, Nebraska, March 18, 1908, HISTORY OF fiALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 863 Mr. Taggart married Miss Edith Maud Cava naugh, the youngest in a family of eight chil dren born to Sitnon and Julia (Stansberry) Cavanaugh., The father of Mrs. Taggart was born in County Wicklow, Ireland, and the mother in Tennessee. Both are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Taggart have three chHdren : Bonnie Maxine, Floyd AHen, and an infant. Mrs. Taggart is a member of the Methodist Epis copal church. Mr. Taggart carries insurance in the Bankers Life Company. He belongs to the order of Woodmen of the World. Mr. Taggart is an intelligent, progressive farmer, and is a good citizen of his county. He is known to be ever ready to co-operate with his neighbors for mutual benefit and for good government. Politically he casts an independ ent vote. HENRY MOELLER. — There are many men now living in Nebraska who have built up comfortable fortunes since coming here. One of these is Henry Moeller, who owns a large body of valuable land situated in section twenty-five, Alda township, Hall County. Mr. Moeller is also one of ;the leading stockmen of this section. Henry Moeller was born in. Holstein, Ger many, July 26, 1861. His grandfather, Claus Moeller, was a highly educated man in Ger many, a scientist and an astronomer. He never came to America as he was eighty-two years of age when his descendants set out for the United States in 1883. The parents of Henry Moeller were Henry and Margaret Aloeller, who landed in the harbor of New York in 1883 and from there came to Davenport, Iowa. Later they removed to Harlan County, Ne braska, where both died on the home farm. Before coming to the United States Henry JNIoeller had attended a public school. He assisted his father on the homestead in Harlan County and afterward operated his own farm there where he continued to live for many years. He now owns eight hundred and thirty- three acres of rich bottom land along the river, and his farm improvements are of a substantial character. He is a large cattle feeder and has two car loads of cattle ready for shipment, also about two car loads of hogs ior market every year. Mr. Moeller's farm methods are thorough and practical and his undertakings result profitably. ' On ]\Iarch 29, 1895, in Hall County, Mr, Moeller married Miss Emma Boltz, They have seven children : John C, a soldier in the United States army, at Fort Douglas, Utah, connected with a hospital ambulance corps. and Albert G,, Elsie M,, Clara, Hannah, Rosie and Nora, all of whom reside at home, Mr. Moeller and family belong to the Lutheran church. He is an independent voter. While living in Harlan County he served in the office of school treasurer for twenty-one years. EDWARD BOLTZ. — In meeting the rep resentative and substantial men of fiall County who came here as early settlers, much that is interesting and historically instructive is learned from the recital of their experiences. Very few of them came here with any con siderable amount of capital, and their present state of comfortable independence is a result of theirl own industry, prudence and good judgment. Edward Boltz, one of the county's big feeders of cattle may be cited as an ex ample. Edward Boltz was born in Holstein, Ger many, June 22, 1870, the son of Claus and Johanna Boltz, both of whom were natives of the same country. They came to the United States with two chHdren, in May, 1873, having incurred a debt of $200 in order to make the voyage. The father located in Hall County, Nebraska, on Schimmer's Lake, near Grand Island, where he engaged in farming until his accidental death, which was occasioned by a runaway team of horses. He was then forty- five years of age and the father of nine chil dren, the eldest being seventeen years old and the youngest aged but eighteen months. This calamity fell heavily on the mother and during the following years when pioneer hardships added to her troubles, all her resources of strength, cheerfulness and frugality were heav ily taxed. Edward Boltz in recalling those times makes mention of the great snowstorm in the winter of 1888. He was eighteen years old at the time and when the storm assumed vio lence, started some distance away to get his brothers and sisters who were in the school- house. Fortunately on the return he found a fence and only by following that, hand over hand, was he able to bring the little ones home safely. The mother survived to the age of sixty-four years. Edward Boltz has always been a farmer and more or less interested in stock. He now owns three hundred and sixty acres of fine meadow land, for some of which he paid $38 and acre, which he now refuses to sell for $125 an acre. He has placed fine farm improvements here. For many years he has been an extensive feeder and now averages three cars of cattle annually and fifty head of hogs. All the horses he raises find a ready 864 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA market. Mr. BoHz has experienced some hard times and would be sorry indeed to see a re currence of the furious storms that once swept over this section of the country within his memory, or the return of such a devastat ing plague as the grasshoppers. In 1897 Mr. Boltz married Miss Minnie Nubert. fier parents were residents of Hall County where her father died at the age of sixty-four years and her mother when seventy years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Boltz have seven children : Mrs. Freda Gulzow, who lives on a farm in KimbaH County, Nebraska ; Mrs. Emma Mattisen, who resides on a farm near Overton, Nebraska ; and Bertha, Am,elia, Walter, Freddie and Gladys, all of whom are at 'nome. The children have had school advan tages and some of them have special talents. Mr. Boltz belongs to the South German so cieties and to the American Order of United Workmen. He is not particularly active in politics but occasionally has served in public office, for a nmnber of years being especially efficient as supervisor of roads. HamiHon County. Both are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. McDowell have four chHdren: Myrtle, the wife of John Gerdes; Lilly, the wife of John Sullivan; Goldie, the wife of Fred Bentz ; and Flora, who resides with her parents. In addition to his farm interests, Mr. Mc Dowell is a stockholder and one of the board of directors in the Grain and Supply Company of Doniphan, a prospering enterprise. In poli tics he is a Democrat, and for years he has been a factor in educational affairs in his township, serving continuously for twenty years in the office of school moderator. For two years he was a member of the board of county highway commissioners and at the present time is serving in his fourth term as county supervisor, having charge of the high ways of the county. In serving in these vari ous important offices, Mr. McDowell has dis played the practical qualities that have made him successful in the management of his pri vate affairs. He belongs to the order of Modern Woodmen and also to the Odd Fellows. WILLIAM HENRY McDOWELL, whose fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres is situated in section eighteen. South Platte town ship, leads many farmers and stock raisers of Hall County because of his progressive ideas and enterprising methods. Not only is he successful in business affairs but he is of con siderable prominence in public matters in the county, serving with marked efficiency in num erous important offices. W. H. McDowell was born in Iowa, Decem ber 3, 1865. His father, Joseph IvIcDowell, who was born in Indiana, died on his own farm in Iowa. His miother, Mrs. Mary (Jones) McDowell, is a resident of Grand Island. She also was born in Indiana. Mr. McDowell at tended the public schools, first in Iowa and later in Nebraska. He has followed agricultural pursuits all his life. His farm is well im proved. He raised Poland-China hogs, pure strain Percheron horses and Shorthorn cattle, conducting all his farm affairs carefully and scientifically. In January, 1919, Mr. Mc Dowell, having gained a comfortable fortune decided to retire from the active management of his land and moved to Doniphan, where he now devotes his time to his comniercial enter prises. In Hamilton County, Nebraska, in 1883, Mr McDoweH married Miss Nancy Daniels, a daughter of Marion and Anna Daniels. The parents of Mrs. McDowell were natives of Ohio who came to Nebraska and settied in HENRY GEORGE YOUNG, a resident of Hall County for many years, is a general farmer and extensive raiser of horses and mules, carrying on his various industries in section nine, town of Doniphan. He was born in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 16, 1873, the son of fienry and Jane (White) Young. Mr. Young has one brother, Robert, who lives on the home place in HamH ton County Nebraska. The father of Henry George Young was born in Scotland and came to the United States in 1871. He settled in Pennsylvania where he was accidentally drowned when thirty-five years old. Mr. Young's mother was born in England and was twenty-five years old when she came to the United States. After the death of Mr. Young she married Isaac Chubb, in Illinois, and lived there one year when he died, fier third marriage was to Thomas McKee, who died in 1917. She resides at Lincoln, Nebraska. Her father Solomon White bought railroad land in HamHton County, and Mrs. McKee owned two quarter sections bordering on HaH County. Mr. Young has heard his mother tell many stones of eariy days here, when the country was full of wild birds never seen now, and of many things that would be considered hard ships at the present time but were not thought of as such m those days. When her mother wanted a sack of flour, she set off on foot tor Doniphan, four and a half miles away, and HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 865 "W. H. McDowell 866 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA carried it home in her arms. When Mrs. Mc Kee wished to pay a social call, the necessity for walking several miles to do so, did not matter at all. Mr. McKee hauled his grain a distance of twenty miles, to Aurora. The family lived here at the time the railroad was constructed from Hastings to Aurora. Henry G. Young rents a large amount of land from Mrs. George Bronell, comprising a half section and also a quarter section situ ated two miles from Doniphan. Here he carries on general farming, making use of his own improved farm machinery, and devotes much attention to raising Shorthorn cattle, Duroc hogs, horses and mules, making a feature, of the latter. At fiastings, Nebraska, December 21, 1898, Mr. Young was united in marriage with Miss Alice Littell, who was born in Indiana, and died at the early age of thirty-five years, very generally mourned. Her parents were Joseph C. and Sarah Littell, both of whom are de ceased. Mr. Littell was a prosperous farmer in Hamilton County. Mr. and Mrs. Young had five children born to them: George J., Orville E., Arthur J,, Harold W., and Mable M., aged respectively, nineteen, seventeen, fif teen, thirteen and nine years. The little daughter attends school at Doniphan. Mr. Young is a member of the Congregational church, while Mrs. Young belonged to the Christian church. JOHN HENRY BITTER, classed with the successful farmers of Hall County, has lived on his present place for twenty-three years, hence is widely known in his neighborhood, where apparently he can claim friendship with every one. That is a pretty fair test of char acter. John H. Bitter was born in Germany, Feb ruary 17, 1866. His parents were Deidrick and Margaret Bitter, both of whom were born in Germany, where the mother died at the age of forty-five years. After that the father and his children came to the United States and later settled in Whiteside County, Illinois, where he Hved to be seventy-two years old. John Henry Bitter was sixteen years old when he accompanied his father to the United States and he had already had school training. He remained in Whiteside County, Illinois, until 1889, when he came to Nebraska, and in 1896 settled on the farm he has operated since. He has one hundred and twenty acres here which he rents, and carries on general farming and raises a good grade of cattle, hogs and chick ens. He is careful and systematic, makes use of first class farm machinery, keeps up im provements and is unusually prosperous. In Hall County, on September 18, 1895, Mr. Bitter married Miss Mina Olthoff, who was born in Hall County, and they have had three children : an infant that died ; Bertha, a popu lar teacher in the public schools ; and Mary, attending the high school at Doniphan. Mr. Bitter and his family are members of the Lutheran church. For a number of years he has been a school director. In fraternal mat ters he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, and Mrs. Bitter is a member of the Royal Neighbors. JAMES A. HARDING is living in honor able retirement in a comfortable home in Hast ings, Nebraska, surrounded by all the neces sities and many of the luxuries of hfe, a con dition made possible by the success attained in former years of activities as an agricul turist; He was a resident of Hall County for thirty-three years and contributed ^is full share towards the agricultural development of the community in which he lived. James A. Harding is a native of Maine and was born in the Pine Tree State, Janu ary 6, 1844. His parents, Thomas and Lydia Harding, were natives of Maine and in 1853 became residents of Crawford County, Wis consin, taking up their abode there in pioneer days and there the father passed away at the age of eighty-four years, while the death of the mother occurred in Califomia at the age of eighty years. James A. was a lad of nine summers when the family home was established in Wisconsin and here he spent the days of his boyhood and youth, going into the lumber camps of the northern pine woods, at sixteen he did a full man's work while yet a boy in years, and be coming ambitious, in 1880 went to Kansas and secured a homestead in Lincoln County, prov ing up on the same and residing there five years. He then moved to Saline County, Ne braska, living at Pleasant Hill for five years, when his next move took him to HaH County. In Doniphan township he purchased eighty acres of land and devoted himself industri ously to farming pursuits, making a success of his undertakings which is attested by the fact that today he is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres, improved with three sets of buildings, the land now being operated by his sons. He also owns an eighty acre tract ^Z ^^T' ^'^^f.""- The success that has. come to Mr. Harding has been justly earned through industry and good management and HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 867 he richly deserves the opportunity to spend the evening of life in ease and comfort. Mr. Harding married Miss Bettie Dykeman, who bore him one child, a son, George Hard ing, who is engaged in operating one of his father's farms in Hall County. For his second wife Mr. Harding married Miss Orra Thomp- sori, whose death occurred when fifty years of age, being killed in a cyclone at Leeton, Mis souri. She was the mother of two children : Jay A., who resides on one of his father's farms in HaH County; and Anna May, a young lady of fifteen who lives with her father. Mr. fiarding has the honor of being one of the surviving soldiers of the Civil War, having served in the Eighth Wisconsin Light Artillery. He was a member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Repubhc as long as there were members enough in this locality to keep it up. He can truly be called a self made man for the success that has come to him is the result of his own efforts, and before he took up the occupation of farming he followed the trade of carpenter, and though he has reached the age of seventy-five appears a man much younger. The years that mark the span of his life have been years of wonderful develop- irient and he has been not only an eye-wit ness of this wonderful transformation but has been a pioneer in three states, and assisted in bringing about present day conditions. Mr. Harding is a Republican in politics and while living on the farm in Kansas served several years as a member of the school board of his district, the cause of education finding in him a starlwart champion. JOHN GALLACHER. — The recollec tions of some of the old settlers of Hall County extend far back, taking in interesting details of events that are a part of the county's history. Not many there are whose remem brances are equally authentic with those of John Gallacher who, as a public official during important years, had a part in the political as well as material development here. Mr. Gallacher is now living comfortably retired at Doniphan. The birth of Mr. Gallacher took place in the historic city of Glasgow, Scotland, May 29, 1852, the third son in a family of nine children born to Christopher and Anna (Wilson) Gallacher, both of whom were bora in Scotland and reared there, the former at Johnstone and the latter at Mauchline. Beside John, two other children of the family survive, these T)eing: James, superintendent of the Southern Pacific coal mines at Paris, Ala bama, and Mrs. Anna Thornton, whose hus band is a retired miner of El Paso, Texas. Christopher Gallacher was a bridge contractor and stone dresser and his accidental death was caused in 1883 by a railroad train while he was engaged in bridge building. There are few Scotch youths who do not have a chance to get the foundation of an education and John Gallacher had his opportunity in Glas gow. He was 'twenty years old when he left his native land for Canada, landing at Quebec, May 14, 1872, and shortly afterward came to the United States, which country has since been his home, fie first went to Braidwood, Illinois, where he worked as a miner until 1875, then came to HaH County. He was a witness of the Great Diamond mine disaster in Illinois. In 1875 Mr. GaHacher married Miss Alice Spellman, whose brother, Allen Spellman, resides at Coal City, Illinois. The parents of Mrs. Gallacher, John and Sally Spellman, were pioneer settlers in Adams County, Indiana, where both died, the father at the age of sixty-four and the mother at the age of fifty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Gallacher have six children : Mrs. Sarah Kissinger, whose husband operates a garage at Hastings, Nebraska; Mrs. Anna Marsh, whose husband is superintendent of the public schools of Hooper, Nebraska; Charles, who died at the age of twenty-eight years ; Mrs. Alice Gideon, who lives at Doniphan, and John and Mrs. Mary Kindig, twins, both of whom live at Doniphan. Mr. Kindig, Mary's husband, en listed in the service of the United States as a marine, June 17, 1917, at Omaha, Nebraska, a member of the Fifth Regiment which won undying honor for its unparalleled bravery on the battle-fields of France. This gallant young hero was killed in action on November 1, 1918. When Mr. and Mrs. Gallacher first came to fiall County they settled on a tract of wild prairie not far from Doniphan. He was so ignorant of farm surroundings and equip ments that he had to have his wife, who had been reared on a farm, teach him how to hamess a team. There were many difficult things he could do but he had never been trained to farm pursuits. At first he broke up the prairie in order to quickly get in a crop with a team made up of a horse and cow. Actual money was scarce in those days and Mr. Gallacher gladly took opportunity of the chance to work for John Agers for seventy-five cents a day even when it meant making the long trip back and forth each day 868 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA o K ( aoj uoi;B;nd3j e He would not consider less than $250 an acre for any of his land, which is quite an advance over the price his father paid in 1869 when he settled one and one-half miles east of Shelton. On June 7, 1893, Mr Hannon married Miss Bridget O'Brien, a daughter of Patrick and Mary (McCue) O'Brien, and they have had a family of nine sturdy sons born to them: Daniel, a farmer and in the stock business near Shelton, was educated at Wood River and in the Grand Island Business college, is an Elk and a Knight of Columbus ; Edward F., about completing his law course in Creigh ton College, belongs to the Knights of Colum bus ; Earl, preparing to enter the agricultural school of the State University; fioward, a high school student in Wood River, and Mich ael P., William M., Charies R., Walter J. and Gordon, all of whom are at home. Mr. and Mrs. Hannon may weH be proud of this fine family, all of whom have been carefully reared 916 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA in the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Hannon has always taken an active part in township affairs and has been particularly useful in the matter of the public schools. Largely owing to his earnest efforts Jackson township has its first class school with two competent teach ers that carry the pupHs as far as the tenth grade, fie has been assessor of Jackson town ship continuously since 1898, with the excep tion of four years. In all war work he has proved untiringly patriotic, and is chairman of the Council of Defense. T. H. FRITTS. — Long before the world had any conception of the mighty uses to which electricity might sometime be appHed, there were scientific investigators ,.who gave close study to everything pertaining to this force as then known, and thereby made the discoveries that have been so revolutionary in almost every line of activity. It was about a quarter of a century ago that T. H. Fritts, who is so well known in Grand Island became inter ested in the electrical business, which interest has continued to the present day. He is vice- president of the Central Power Company of Grand Island. T. H. Fritts was born in Lyons, Burt County, Nebraska, November 3, 1872, a son of Gideon and Martha A. (Cockrell) Fritts. 'They were born and married in Ohio and moved from there to Burt County in the early sixties. The father acquired land on which he lived until his death in 1914, at the age of seventy- nine years. Mr. Fritts' mother still lives on the old home place. Of their seven chHdren the followirig survive: W. J., who Hves on the old homestead in Burt County; a daughter, now Mrs. Eckleen, lives in Lyons ; the subject of this review who has lived at Grand Island for the past thirteen years, and Arcelia, who lives with her mother 'in Burt County. Gideon Fritts was one of the founders of the Presbyterian church in Burt County and the first organized meeting of the congrega tion was in his house. He gave liberally to church purposes and was the largest donator to the church which yet stands on the main street in Lyons. In his political convictions he was a Democrat. Before coming to Nebraska as a permanent resident he had been a soldier in the army during the CivH War and as long as he lived was a rigid supporter of temper ance, law and order. Mr. Fritts had the educational advantages afforded by the elementary and high schools of his community and then became employed as an apprentice in the electrical business in South Omaha, being engaged in various branches of this industry for seven years. For two years he was otherwise occupied, before' returning to the business in which . he was trained, taking charge of an electrical plant at Wayne, Nebraska, for five years. In June, 1906, he came to Grand Island to become manager and vice-president of the Central Power Company, in which he is financially interested. His time is largely taken up with the duties of this position as he has charge of all the company property in seventeen towns in Nebraska, to which electric power is supplied. Mr. Fritts was married in March, 1892, to Miss Josephine Higley, who was born in Decatur, Nebraska, a daughter of Lewis D. fiigley, who settled in the early eighties in Burt County. Mr. and Mrs. Fritts have two children : "Victor, who is connected with the Western Electric Company of Chicago, and Bernadine, the wife of Robert E. Pfeiffer, who is manager of the Central Power Com pany's plant at Keamey. Mr. Fritts is an earnest and public spirited citizen but is not unduly active in politics, being an independent voter. Fraternally he is identified with Lodge No. 604 Elks, Grand Island. JESSE C. BURKERD, a highly esteemed retired citizen of Wood River, has been identi fied with the development of Hall County for almost fifty years. He is the owner of a large amount of valuable property in the county and of choice real estate in Wood River. He was born in the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. August 7, 1849. His parents were John and Hannah (Siverly) Burkerd. Of their fourteen children but three are living: Mrs. Theresa Wise, Jesse C. and Julius W. The parents were natives of Germany. They settled in MHwaukee after reaching the United States, where the father was a carpenter and ship builder, and in 1852 removed to Appleton, Wisconsin, where he engaged in farming until his death in 1862. Jesse C. Burkerd was three years old when the family settied near Appleton and he re mained at home until his father's death when he joined his brother Nicholas, at Clinton, Illinois.^ While attending school near his brothers .farm, he worked for board and clothes for two and a half years, and worked for other farmers in De Witt County for seven years, until he came to Hall County and took an eighty acre homestead inside the railroad limits. This was in 1871. Later he HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 917 bought two hundred and twenty acres of ad joining railroad land, paying $5 an acre. This land Mr. Burkerd saill owns and it is at least worth $125 an acre today. He continued on the farm during many years but in 1888 secured a satisfactory tenant and moved into Wood River, where he owns the handsome residence in which he has lived since. On March 18, 1873, Mr Burkerd married 'Miss Achsah J. Guy, who was born at Me- chanicsburg, Ohio, a daughter of Samuel K. .and Calista (Plummer) Guy, who had the following children : Wesley, Milton, Achsah, Aden and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Burkerd have had three children : Nellie and Nettie, twins, and Frederick. Nellie, deceased, was the wife of C. W. Hooton. She is survived by three chHdren: Erma A., the wife of Elmer Wiggin, of Wood River; and Alice and Law rence fiooton, both of whom live with their grandparents in Wood River. Nettie is the wife of Edwin Rounds, in the furniture and undertaking business at Wood River. They have two daughters. Frederick Burkerd is ' a graduate of the Wood River high school, and is also a graduate pharmacist. He is con ducting a drug store in Scotia, Nebraska. He married Emma Shimmerman. They are mem-< bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. and Mrs. Burkerd are active workers in the Methodist Episcopal church in Wood River and are interested in many worthy char ities and public welfare movements. They have a wide social circle both in town and ¦country. Mr.. Burkerd has been a very suc cessful man in his business undertakings, and in his time has handled money in large amounts, but he has never forgotten the first twelve cents he ever earned, by directing a stranger through a belt of pine timber. To this first capital he kept gradually adding until it amounted to twenty-two cents and then he became the proud owner of what every boy longs for, a pocket knife. He relates a story of his early boyhood that has probably been retained in memory because of the impression a day of real enjoyment left to a little boy whose pleasures were neither varied nor numerous.. It was on a memorable Fourth of July that his father gave Jesse and his brother Lewis five cents each, with which to celebrate the day in proper manner. The mere matter of walking four miles to the scene of patriotic goings on and with the certainty of "having to walk the distance back, did not in the least interfere with their anticipations of pleasure. They sturdily trudged off and reached Bachelor's Hill warm and thirsty. Jesse immediately expended his fortune in a glass of cooling liquid which the brothers divided, while Lewis saved his for fire crack ers that had to be exploded before dark be cause the lads remembered that the chores awaited their home coming, and they did not dare delay. At last two tired and happy boys reached the home farm and probably their day's adventures served them for conversation many months afterward. Mr. Burkerd laughs heartily as he tells this story and its pathos will be echoed in the heart of many another who reads it, remembering a boyhood that had more serious tasks than opportunity for healthy "fun." EDGAR SAMUEL LEAVENWOR-TH. — Some one has said, "Expect great things, attempt great things and great things will result." This may not be trae in every case. but in the life of the subject of this record it most undoubtedly is. Edgar Samuel Leavenworth is a native of the Green Mountain State, and was bom at Hinesburg, Chittenden County, not far from Lake Champlain, March 6, 1859. His parents were Abel E. and Mary G. Leavenworth, both of whom are now deceased. Abel E. Leaven worth was an honored veteran of the Civil War, serving as Captain of Company K, Ver mont Volunteers. He was a finely educated man and for twenty years was principal of the Vermont State Normal School. Edgar S. had exceptional educational ad vantages and graduated from Beaman Academy, at New fiaven, Vermont. His first business venture was when a young man of nineteen he engaged in a mercantile enterprise, on borrowed capital, with an experience of only three years as a clerk in a store in New Haven. He successfully conducted this business until 1880, when he disposed of the business and went to Dakota Territory, establishing himself in the same line of business at what is now Melville, North Daktota, becoming a pioneer in the community. When Foster County was organized he was elected its first treasurer and held the office two tenns. Subsequently he became a resident of Hall County, locating at Wood River, where he now owns six hundred and seventy acres of land and is accounted one of the substantial men of the county. For twenty-two years Mr. Leavenworth has made a specialty of feeding sheep and his operations in this line have reached extensive proportions, feeding as high as forty-eight thousand head in one year. Other enterprises have been benefitted by the sound judgment and keen business abHity of 918 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Mr. Leavenworth and his name is on the direc torate of the First National Bank of Wood River. October 30, 1884, was solemnized the mar riage of Edgar S. Leavenworth and Miss Emma E. Gifford, a daughter of Henry O. Gifford. They are members of the Pres byterian church, and in politics Mr. Leaven worth is a Republican. He is also a thirty- second degree Mason, and is a member of the Shrine and Knight Templar orders. He is public spirited to a high degree and is presi dent of the commercial club, and belongs to the order of the Loyal Legion. MRS. ELIZABETH HORN, one of Wood River's most highly esteemed residents, has passed the greater part of her life in Plall County. She was bom in Germany, Septem ber 30, I860. Her parents were Carl and Mary (Sweiger) Schultz, both of whom were born in Germany. They had seven children, four daughters and three sons. The father was a carpenter by trade, a good workman and a man of steady habits, but as he saw only a poor fu ture ahead of him in his native province, with a family growing up around him, he decided to emigrate to America and endeavor to secure land in the hope of succeeding as a farmer. fie came to the United States reaching Grand Island, Nebraska, in 1871, and in the following year homesteaded five and a half miles south east of Wood River, in Hall County. His family joined him there in 1873, and on that old homestead Mrs. Horn lived until her marriage. Her people, like other pioneers in this section, had to work hard in order to make a living, but they were naturally industrious and frugal and they succeeded much better than many others. On September 22, 1875, Elizabeth Schultz was married to MHdred fiorn, in Grand Is land, Nebraska. He also was a native of Germany, born in Bavaria, and was only nine teen years old when he came to the United States, and was a young man yet when he en listed for service in the Civil War. He served three years as a member of the Sixty-eighth New "York Infantry, participating in several great battles, and was twice wounded. By trade he was a shoemaker and after the war was over he came to Sidney, Nebraska, where he conducted,'' a shop until 1873, when he came to Grand Island. Soon after their mar riage, Mr. and Mrs. Plorn went to Fort Hart- soff, where he conducted a shoemaking shop for two years, working mainly for the soldiers at the fort. In 1877 he built a shoe shop at Wood River, which he operated for twenty? nine years. Ill health fell upon him, however, and he had to give up work, and for a number of years prior to his death, which occurred June 1, 1913, he had been an invalid, tenderly taken care of by his faithful wife. Mr. and Mrs. Horn's two oldest children were the first born in Wood River. There are five of the family living today, namely: Mary M., Charles P., Henry W., Anna B.' and Otto J. Mary M. is the wife of Otto Abraham, a machinist at Gering, Nebraska. They have five children and are members of the Presbyterian church. Charles P. is in the em ploy of the Foster Lumber Company, at Pick rell, Gage County, Nebraska. He married Lena Lawson and they have three children. They belong to the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is a Mason. Henry W. is foreman of a lumber yard at Basin, Wyom ing. He married Nina Teesinger and they have one son. They attend the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is a Mason. Anna B. and Otto J. both reside with their mother in the comfortable residence she owns in Wood River, to which she has but recently welcomed home this youngest son, who de serves extended mention for he is a hero of the great World War now mercifully ended. No hist«ry of any section of the United States, will be complete if it eliminates the story of the heroic actions of the gallant men who marched into what were for many the very jaws of death, in a foreign land, with almost unbelievable courage, and the. wounds that many must bear during the rest of their lives, should by every one be esteemed noble badges of honor. In giving the interesting mHitary record of Otto J. Horn, it may properjy be recaHed that his father was a brave soldier of the United States in other days, and that courage and loyalty are but natural inherit ances. Otto J. fioni enlisted March 4, 1918; was sent to a medical school at Fort Riley, Kansas, where he was trained four weeks, and then was sent to Camp Crane, Allentown, Pennsyl vania. After two weeks .of training there, he was attached to a medical unit tluit left an American port April 14, 1918, on the United States vessel Von Steuben, formerly a Ger man raider, the Crown Prince Wilhelm. This ship was a part of the great northern convoy, and was attacked by a Gemian submarine when about three days off the coast of Ireland, but reached Brest France, on April 20, 1918. Two days later Mr. Horn left Brest for a casual replacement company at Blois, France, where he was assigned to Ambulance Company filSTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 919 No. 2 of the First Division. This company was sent to the front on May 27th, to the sector known as Death Valley. While Mr. Horn -was busy performing his dangerous duty of helping carry off the wounded to the rear, his protective mask was shot off his face by shrapnel, but he immediately put on another mask and continued his merciful work, when the second mask was shot from his face. By this time he was so nearly overcome by the enemy's gas that he hardly had strength to stagger to the form of a soldier already dead, wrench off the mask from one who would never need it again. He adjusted it to his own face but then lost consciousness. For eighteen hours he lay undiscovered, then was rushed to a hospital where he was a patient for five weeks. -He was then transferred from the am bulance company to Company D, Sixteenth Infantry, First Division, which was sent on July 18, into the memorable fight of Chateau Thierry. Again he was wounded by shrapnel and being injured in three places, was carried from the field and for seven weeks lay in a hospital recovering from his injuries, when he was again sent back to his old organization. On September 17, while making preparations with his company for the big drive on St. Mihiel, he fell on the field from shell shock and lay there for three days before he was discovered. Again he was in the hospital and remained there until November 21, when he found himself sailing for home on the ship Nansemond, which arrived at Hoboken on December 7, after a stormy voyage, fie was sent to Ellis Island fiospital and on January 21, 1919, was discharged on the surgeon's certificate of disability, at Plattsburg, New York, reaching his home and his rejoicing mother four days later. Mr. Horn is very modest concerning his bravery but his friends and fellow citizens are proud of him." MARCUS R. ABBOTT, one of fiall County's representative men for many years, an early settler near Wood River and a de pendable man in every relation of life, was born at fiatiey. Province of Quebec, Canada, February 15, 1844, and died in fiaH County, Nebraska, May 4, 1912. fie was the third in a family of seven children born to Abiel B. and Sabra (Young) Abbott, the others be ing: Edward K., Othman A., Mrs. Luella Stokes, Ai fi., Mrs. Martha North, and Edgar P. The parents of Marcus Riley Abbott moved from Canada to IHinois in his boyhood and he completed his education at Belvidere, in Boone County, where he was graduated from the high school. He served through three years of the Civil War, and was a corporal in Company Q, Ninety-fifth IHinois volunteer infantry, that participated in the battles of ShHoh and Vicksburg, and was distinguished with his comrades for many exhibitions of personal bravery. In 1867 he accompanied his brother, Othman A. Abbot, to Hall County, th^ latter locating in Grand Island, Marcus R., however continuing farther west and for a time worked on a ranch in Califomia. In 1872 he returned to Hall County and took up a homestead situated four miles south of Wood River, which property, many times en hanced in value, belongs to his surviving family. In those early years of occupancy, Mr. Abbott added to his income by working as a clerk at times in the general store of James Jackson, in Wood River, and also taught school in District No. 5, where old Wood River was started in 1867. For thirty- five years Mr. Abbott remained on his farm, having developed and improved, it until it is one of the most attractive and valuable prop erties in the county. He continued to ad4 to his acreage until he owned four hundred and eighty acres of fine land, a tribute to his industry and business judgment. He was wide ly known and was always identified with the worthy enterprises that proved beneficial to this section. He was a charter member of the Masonic Lodge in Wood River. In her father's home, four and a half mHes southwest of Wood River, on November 26, 1876, Mr. Abbott married Miss Carriel E. ' Weldon, .who was born in Oswego County, New York, July 5, 1859, third of four chil dren born to James M. and Jane (Irving) Weldon, who had two other daughters and one son: Fidelia and Adelia, twins, and James M. The father of Mrs. Abbott served in a heavy artilley regiment from New York dur ing the entire period of the Civil War, and escaping all its dangers, continued a soldier in the "United States army two years longer. Mrs. Abbott was liberally educated. Prior to com ing to Hall County in 1873, she was a stu dent in the high school of Sand Creek, New York, afterward attending school in Grand Island during the fall of 1873 and the spring of 1874. During the faH of 1875 and spring of 1876, she taught school in district 27, four miles southwest of Wood River, further teach ing experience being interrupted by her mar riage in November of the latter year to Marcus R. Abbott. For thirty-five years Mr. and Mrs. Abbott resided on their homestead, as men tioned above, but since Mr. Abbott's death she 920 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA has occupied her attractive, comfortable resi dence in Wood River. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Abbott, a daughter and a son, Sabra J. and Roscoe C. The former, principal of the Wood River high school, is a graduate of this school and also the Baptist College, Grand Island. She resides with her mother and both are prominent in the city's church and social life. The latter, a graduate of the Wood River high school and of the Nebraska State University, has been instruc tor in chemistry in the university for the last four years. He married Miss Hazel Gooden, a daughter of Albert L. and Emma (Fee) Gooden, and they have one daughter, Barbara. Mrs. Abbott is a member of the Eastem Star and during two terms was worthy ma tron. During the past two years she has been a faithful, indefatigable worker in the Red Cross movement, being chairman of the organ ization at Wood River, which may well be proud of what it has accomplished in the great and merciful work in which is has so patriotic ally engaged, there being to its credit 2,000 hos pital garments, 1,800 knitted articles and 8,000 surgical dressings. Both she and daughter are active members of the Presbyterian church and their benefactions to many charities will never be wholly known. SAMUEL A. SHERRERD. — One of the representative men of Hall County well and favorably known over its entire extent, is Sam uel A. Sherrerd, a prominent merchant in Wood River. He came first to Hall County in 1877 but did not establish a permanent resi dence until about a decade later. Mr. Sherrerd is a notable example of a self-made man, and the story of his progress from orphaned child hood to his place among men of worth and re sponsibility, teems with human interest. It illus trates the positive value of industrial persist ency and personal integrity. Samuel A. Sherrerd was born at Scranton, Pennsylvania, January 14, 1860. His parents were John and Rachel (Furman) Sherrerd, natives of Pennsylvania, both of whom died when Samuel A., their fifth child was but two years old. Their other children were : Frank, WHHam, Mary, and Mrs. Lydia Bennett. By a former marriage Mrs. Sherrerd had one daughter, now Mrs. Emma Gilmore. The father was an educated man and for some years was a bookkeeper for the Scranton Coal and Iron Company. When orphanage fell upon him, Samuel A. Sherrerd was not left a public charge for he had a warm hearted aunt, Mrs. Samantha Shipman, who took him to her home and cared for him until he was six years old, when it was thought best by his relatives that he should go to his uncle, Peter Barber, who conducted a drag store. It is probable that Mr. Barber aimed to make a druggist of his nephew and while attending school Samuel assisted, as a dependable boy can, in various ways about the house and in the store and picked up a not inconsiderable knowledge of business. It seems, however, that his natural inclinations were not along the line of his uncle's business and therefore the trade he started to learn was that of a jeweler. When he was fifteen years old he left the shelter of his uncle's home and went to Philadelphia where he secured a position with the firm of Lippincott and Company, manufacturers of soda water and equipments, who had a con cession at the Centennial Exposition. Two years later, in 1877, he came to Hall County and in considering the business field offered by the pleasant little village of Wood River, he noted the following business houses: a general store conducted by A. G. HoHister and James Jackson ; Edward McDermott's black smith shop; Charles Horn's shoe store; Dr. Gibson's drag store ; James Kennedy's saloon ; James A. Shick's hotel; a livery stable con ducted by James Williams and Carl "White; an old stone burr fiour mill operated by the Thorp Brothers ; and a one-mule dray line ran by Fred Swartz. None of these business enterprises apjjeal- in to Mr. Sherrerd, so he went to the farm of his uncle Joseph Furman, who lived one mile north of Wood River and hired out to him as a general helper. He remained on the farm long enough to learn the harnessing of a team and the use of a plough, but soon de cided that still another line of work would be more congenial if he could find it. He was young enough to welcome adventure and this he found on many occasions after he reached Walcott, Wyoming. For three years he was a cowboy in that state. He then made his way to Fort Collins, Colorado, and it may be said that there, for the first time, he went into the line of work for which nature evidently intended him, becoming an employe in a dry goods store and continued there until he re turned to Wood River, Nebraska, having main tained, during these years of absence, friendly communication with a number of its residents. When Mr. Sherrerd settled here permanently, he went into the jewelry business, but through subsequent expansion he has become proprie tor of one of the largest general mercantile establishments in this section of the county. HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 921 In 1907 he erected his handsome cement and stone business building, with dimensions thirty eight by ninety-five feet situated on the cor ner of Ninth and Main streets. Wood River. In ¦ addition he owns a beautiful modern residence. He has always been a careful, conservative man in business and when serving in public office, as he frequently has done, has main tained the same attitude. Mr. Sherrerd was postmaster of Wood River during the entire administration of President McKinley, and subsequqently, at different times, has served as a member of the town board. At Wood River, November 15, 1888, Mr. Sherrerd married Miss Cora Shick, who was born in Ohio, a daughter of James and Chris tina (r^Iorrison) Shick, who had other chil dren, as follows: Mrs. Addie E. McElvain, Mrs. Bessie Root, Welcome, Frank and Elizabeth ^Mercer. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Sherrerd: Earl, who was a soldier in training at Camp Funston for ser vice in the World War when the peace armis tice was signed; Ruth, the wife of Tracy F. Tyler, a teacher in the Fremont high school; Rachel M., a student in Drake University, at Des Moines, Iowa; Helen, who has assumed duties in her father's business, is a graduate of the high school in Wood River and also of the Conservatory of Music, in Grand Island; and .James, a student in the Wood River high school. Air. and Mrs. Sherrerd have one granddaughter, Ruth Geraldine, the child of Mr and Mrs. Tyler, Mr, Sherrerd and his entire family are members of the Presbyterian church, in which he has served as deacon. For many years he has been a member of the different Alasonic bodies. As an echo of' early days in fiall County, the following incident coming under _ Mr. Sherrerd's observation, may be of much inter- . est to readers of this history that is being made as complete as possible. It was in 1879, while Mr. Sherrerd was working for his uncle Mr. Furman. One fine morning a rough ap pearing young man rode up to Mr. Furman's door and introduced himself as Albert Spear, an acquaintance Mr. Furman had made some time before at Medicine Bow, Wyoming, and with true western hospitality he was invited to make the farm his home, fie accepted with out demur and remained a not too welcome guest for three weeks, or until he was cap tured by detectives who were on his trail. As the story was afterward revealed, he had been a carpenter with a bridge gang at Medi cine Bow and from there had gone to the Black HiHs, ostensibly to dig for gold, but evi- ostoffice at Wood River; Mrs. Elizabeth Sanders, who lives at Norfolk, Nebraska ; Mrs. Josie Kelley, who resides in Omaha, and Mrs. Anna Worth ing, who lives at Lost Angeles, California. In 1874 the parents of Mr. O'Kane moved to Dawson County, Nebraska, locating two and a half miles northwest of Willow Island. His father was a ranchman and had work for all his boys to do and it was not long before little David claimed recompense for herding his father's cattle. When the family reached their new home in Dawson County, they found no provision for comfortable family life like that they had enjoyed in Illinois. They had shipped lumber to this point from Clinton, but transportation was slow and delayed and they were forced to live in the school house as it was the sole building in the neighborhood until their own house could be put up. It was in this same building that Mr. O'Kane later attended school. He was about twelve years old when he was able to qualify as a sportsman. Game was plentiful and he kept the larder well supplied with deer meat, ducks and wild geese. He relates that droves of wild horses would gallop across the country and that it was great sport to chase them but it was difficult to catch any of the old ones and when the young colts were captured it was almost impossible to raise or break them for use on the farm. When Mr. O'Kane was fifteen yars old he left the home ranch and went to Alda, Ne braska, where he learned the art of telegraphy, and in the faH of 1883 he came to Wood River as night operator. This pleasant little city has since been his settled home, although for some time he worked up and down the railroad line as telegrapher for short periods. A man of energy and enterprise, Mr. O'Kane was one of the early promoters of the now necessary tel ephone service. In 1902 he organized the Ne braska Telephone Company, with country lines working out of Wood River and has been its able manager ever since. He has given encouragement to many other laudable enter prises in the county and his fellow citizens know that they may safely invest if he gives support, fie owns valuable real estate at Wood River which includes his comfortable residence and the brick building' in which the post office is located. On November 27, 1905, Mr. O'Kane mar ried Miss Agnes Whalen, who was born in Illino'is, a daughter of 'Thomas and Anna Whalen, -who were the parents of four sons and three daughters: John, William, Frank, James, Mrs. Ehzabeth L. fioye, Mrs, Anna Dunn, and Mrs. Agnes O'Kane. Mr. and Mrs. O'Kane have the following children: Mary, a student in the Wood River high school; Leo David, a. pupil in the fifth grade at school ; Robert fiarold, also doing well at school ; Gretchen, has reached her fifth year, and Charlotte, at the charming age of two years. In politics Mr. O'Kane is a Democrat and in addition to serving for the past four years as postmaster, he has served several terms as village clerk. He has conducted an insurance business in connection with real estate handling for some time, for the past fifteen years having been active along many lines. He and family belong to the Roman Catholic church and he is a leading member of the Knights of Columbus. He was one of the founders and is a prom'inent factor in the Wood River Commercial Club. CHARLES HEUBNER. — Among the general fanners of Hall County who have been successful in their operations during recent years, one who has passed his entire life in this community is Charles Heubner, of Alda township. It has been his fortune to have been connected with agricultural matters all of his life and his privilege to have found in his employment both profit and content- meat. Mr. Heubner was born in Hall County in 1874, a son of Fritz and Nancy (Kay) Heubner, natives of Germany who came to the filSTORY OF fiALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 931 United States as young people and were early settlers of Hall County, where they rounded out useful and honorable lives. After secur ing a public school education, Charles Heub ner adopted farming as his life work, and with the passage of the years through good man agement and the use of modern methods he has made a successful showing and accumu lated a tract of two hundred and forty acres. This is under a high state of cultivation and has been improved with the erection of good buHdings and the installation of up-to-date improvements. As a general farmer, Mr. Heubner is alive to the possibilities of his vo cation, and makes his land pay him well for the labor which he exepnds in its cultivation. In 1898 Mr. Heubner married Miss Nancy Kay, To this union there have been born seven children : Fred, who is employed on a! Hall County farm; Harry and Henry, twins, who are engaged in assisting their father in the work of the home place; Eddie, Donal and Lilly, who all live with their parents, and Ella, who is deceased. Mr. fieubner maintains an independent stand upon political questions, prf erring to use his own judgtnent in the choice of candidates instead of being confined by strict party lines, fie has been content with the work of his farm and the pleasures of his home, and has formed no lodge con nections. EMIL BOLTZ is one of the native sons of Hall County who is making a success of his farming operations, fie was born on the place whkh is now his home, June 3, 1881. fiis parents, Claus and Johannah (Kay) Boltz, were born, reared and married in fiolstein, Germany. They had two children when they came to Arnerica and soon after landing in this country established their home in Alda township, fiall County, Nebraska. The father bought forty acres of land which he later traded for the place where Emil now lives. This was also a forty acre tract to which he added eighty acres and here he passed away more than thirty years ago. The mother sur vived until about five years ago when she too was called to her final rest. Of the children in the family Edward, Gus tave, Herman, EmH, Minnie and fienry are living. Charies and Emma are deceased. Emil was reared in the neighborhood and received an excellent education in the public schools of his district, making the most of his opportunities. Upon completing his stud ies he determined upon an agricultural career, having been reared in the country he decided farm life appealed to him. For some years he remained at home assisting in the operation of the land which gave him an opportunity to demonstrate his abilities. Some time before his mother died the estate was divided and EmiH purchased the home place. Here his mother lived until her death. He is the owner of two hundred and twenty-two acres and does general farming. Emil Boltz married Miss fiahn, who was algo born in Hall County, and she has become the mother of four children: Arthur, Dora, Daniel and Hazel. Mr. Boltz is one of the honest and upright citizens of fiall County and hightly respected wherever known. PETER F. McCULLOUGfi. — A resident of Hall County for thirty-seven years, Mr. McCullough passed the first quarter of a century of his residence here in agricultural work, but during more recent years has been the representative of the Omaha-Moline Plow Company, although he is still the owner of a valuable farm in Center township. His career has been an iHustration of typical self-made success, and today he stands as one of the substantial men of his community. Mr. McCullough was born in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 15, 1859. fie acquired his education in the public schools of the City of Brotherly Love and grew to manhood there, but his opportunities for success were restricted and, seeking a broader field in a new country, in 1882 he made his way to Nebraska and purchased eighty acres of land in Center township, which has since been his home. From practically its virgin state he developed his property into a productive and valuable farm, upon which he devoted himself to general operations with a generous measure of success, and continued to follow the pursuits of the soil with unremit ting energy until 1909, when he accepted an attractive offer from the Omaha-Moline Plow Company, the traveling representative of which concern he has since been. During his extensive travels during the past decade, he has become widely and favorably known among the farmers of fiall County, and wherever his acquaintance has extended he has the confidence and esteem of the people. Mr. McCullough married Miss Ellen Sear son, and to them there have been bom seven children: Thomas, married and resides at Alda, he being the manager and operator of his father's farm; Albert, married and resides in Idaho ; Mary, married and resides at Grand 932 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Island; John and Bryan, the former married and the latter single, who reside in Florida; Charlie, who lives at home and assists in the work of the farm, and Floyd, attending the high school at Grand Island. In his political views, Mr. McCullough is a Democrat. His religious faith is that of the Friends Church, which he attends at Alda. He holds membership in the United Com mercial Travelers. EARL E, DAVISON is among the younger generation of successful men of Hall County. He was born in Center township. May 22, 1896, the son of Henry Davison who is living retired in Grand Island, a record of whom will be found elsewhere in this volume. Earl E. was reared on the farm and at tended the public schools and when not busy with his text books assisted in the operation of the home farm. On reaching man's estate he chose the occupation to which he had been reared and is now successfully operating one hundred twenty acres belonging to his father. May 3, 1919, occured the marriage of Earl E. Davison and Miss Grace Howell, also a native of Hall County, a daughter of E. J. and Betty (Kelly) fiowell, who reside in Grand Island. Mr. and Mrs. Davison are members of the Methodist Church in Alda, and are held in the highest esteem by all who know them. FLOYD J. MECHAM. — Among the younger element of agriculturists carrying on operations in Hall County, one who has al ready made a success of his chosen vocation and is working one hundred and twenty acres of land is Floyd J. Mecham of Center town ship. Mr. Mecham is a man who brings to his work a knowledge of general principles of agriculture and modern, scientific methods, and through their application in his daily round of duties has found the medium through which he has attained prosperity. Mr. Mecham was born in Adams County, Nebraska, November 13, 1885, and belongs to a family which has resided in Hall County for a number of years, founded here by his father, Clinton P. Mecham, a sketch of whose career will be found on another page of the work. His education was acquired in the public schools, following which he settled down to a life as a tiller of the soH, and, as before noted, his success has been of a definite and gratifying character. The one hundred and twenty acre property, well cuHivated and very productive, has been made increasingly val uable by the erection of good buildings and the making of various other improvements, and through intelligent study of the problems con cerning his vocation and industrious work in the matter of cultivation of the soil, Mr. Mecham has become known as one of those to whom Hall County looks for its continued development and progress in an agricultural way in the years to come. Mr. Mechani married Lena Forburger, of Lincoln, a daughter of a retired contractor of that city, and to this union there have been born two children: Dale and Floyd J., Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Mecham belong to the Meth odist church. He is a Democrat in his political allegiance, although his only activity in poli tics is the casting of his vote for good men and beneficial measures. He has no lodge connections. HARVEY L. STARKEY, M. D. — The medical profession in Hall County has no more able or experienced physician and sur geon than Dr. fiarvey L, Starkey, who has been established at Wood River for the past decade. In addition to his professional en dowment, Dr, Starkey has other claims de serving recognition by his fellow citizens be cause of his loyal attitude: a.nd patriotic and unselfish services during the World War, from which he was honorably released De cember 16, 1918, Harvey L. Starkey was born March 16, 1865, in Ritchie County, West Virginia, one of a family of nine sons and four daughters born to Enoch A. and Jane (Cunningham) Starkey, The father of Dr, Starkey was born in June, 1828, at Clarksburg, Harrison County, West "Virginia, and the mother was born in 1830, All of their thirteen children survived to maturity wjth the exception of one son, who died at the age of nine months, Enoch A, Starkey was a carpenter by trade. He lived at Clarksburg during his earlier life, moved then to Burning Springs, where he lived for ten years, in 1852 was married, ten years later served as a soldier in the Union army during the Civil War, afterward locating in Roane County, where his death occurred at the age of eighty-six years. In the public schools of Roane County, Dr, Starkey received the educational training that made him an acceptable teacher and for twelve years he remained in the schoolroom, in the meanwhile doing preparatory medical reading in preparation for a course in Barnes Medical College, St. Louis, Missouri, from which insti- HISTORY OF. HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 933 1 ' .««^^- ¦ ¦ .:-¦ -¦¦¦-X-. .;^;ft-H;;^,.^'"v::v , "¦::'' :ft;«S rM^ il 1 •1 h^^l 1 ¦ ^.1 ^« *(^^^;o't'"'^^M ^ShI ^¦:^.-.f;-,^'-^-'*''^-';:-:<;--^;-'":';-v'*-**--^rf-.- '- ¦ ¦^^m i^Mn HHl Dr. Harvey L. Starkey 934 filSTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA tution he was graduated with his coveted dergree in 1899. He immediately entered into medical practice at Junction City and Harris burg, Illinois, until May, 1909, when he came to Hall County, purchasing the practice of Dr. W. J. Redfield of Wood River fie speedily won the confidence and personal esteem of the Wood River people and in no case has this early estimate been changed. Always deeply interested in public affairs as an enlightened and earnest citizen, and with the memory of a patriotic father. Dr. Starkey, when his country became involved in war, began to make preparations to do his part. When the government called on his profession for help, he made a personal matter of it and immediately offered his services. Unexpected business complications, however, prevented his taking the first examination, but he was ready for the second, on June 19, 1918, and on July 9th following he received a commission as captain, being assigned to the officers' trainig came at Fort Riley, Kansas. After completing training there, on September 25th he was ap pointed to the base hospital at Fort Riley, but telegraphic instructions from Washington, D. C, changed the assignment and he was ordered to Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas, where he became a member of the brigade on duty in the infirmaries. When the influenza epidemic broke out he was made assistant sanitary insjjector of the camp. After strenuous work in this office for one month, he was assigned to section F of the hospital annex, where he became ward surgeon, with responsibility over four wards and two hun dred and eighty beds, few of which were vacant at any time. Dr. Starkey is very modest concerning the work he did in getting the sick soldiers on their feet again and speed ing them back to their companies, but in many sections of the country his name is gratefully remembered by brave youths who came under his medical ministrations and cheering influ ence at that time. Dr. Starkey was again transferred and given command of infirmary No. 3, and was discharging his duties there at the time of the signing of the armistice, his honorable discharge following as mentioned above, fie immediately returned to Wood River and resumed practice, with broadened outlook taking up again the problems of health and sanitation that civil as well as mHitary life present to the conscientious physician. On June 19, 1892, Dr. Starkey married Miss Dorcas Stewart, the youngest in a family of two sons and five daughters born to WiHiam P. and Anna (Straley) Stewart, of Reedy, West Virginia. The father of Mrs. Starkey had large timber interests and was in the hotel business. For twelve years before her mar riage, Mrs. Starkey taught shcool. She is a woman of education and social charm, and an admirable mother of four adopted children, she and Dr Starkey having opened their home and hearts and have given through adoption, their honorable name to Florence, Evelyn, WHliam and John, their ages ranging from two to eleven years. Mrs. Starkey is a mem ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. She has been one of the most enthusiastic workers in the Red Cross ranks in Wood River, gives attention to many social obliga tions, and enjoys membership in the order of the Eastern Star, the order of Rebekah, and the Royal Highlanders. Dr. Starkey is a Thirty-Second degree Mason and an Odd Fellow and is identified with other organiza tions both fraternal and professional. ISAAC K. WATSON, well and favorably known in Hall County for many years, was one of the substantial farmers and worthy citizens of Jackson township. His memory is not only preserved because of his high per sonal character and useful citizenship, but also by his descendants who reflect credit on his honorable name. Isaac K. Watson was bom at West Liberty, Iowa, August 30, I860. His parents were Albert and Speedy Watson, who had six chil dren: Lewis, Albert, Isaac K., Anna, Maria and Cora. His father was in easy enough cir cumstances to permit his attending coHege after completing the high school course at West Liberty, and he remained in Iowa City until he was graduated from the University of Iowa. Although prepared in this way for a profession, he chose the vocation of farming, and prior to 1885, when he removed to Ne braska, he followed agricuhural pursuits in Iowa. In 1885 he came to Hall County and purchased two hundred and forty acres, situ ated in section 21, Jackson township. To the cultivation and improvement of this land, in conjunction with such citizenship duties as he thought best to assume for the general wel fare, he devoted the rest of his life. His death resulted from an attack of pneumonia, Jan uary 8, 1889. Mr Watson's first marriage took place Feb ruary 22, 1882, to Miss Mary A. Gundlach, of Fayette County, Iowa, daughter of John and Mary Gundlach. They had four children: Clark A., John K,, and Harry H, The last named died in infancy. The others reside in Iowa, The mother of these children died dur- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 935 ing an epidemic of measles, on July 12, 1890. On June 9, 1891, Mr Watson married Mrs. Almeda L. (Gardner) Burbank, of Loup City, Nebraska, for his second wife. She was the widow of Don C. Burbank, and a daughter of Louis D. and Mary A. (Warren) Gardner Mrs. Watson's father was born in Medina County, Ohio, and her mother in Rock Island, Illinois. She had seven sisters and one brother: Clara, Minnie, Hattie, Abbie E., Etta, Mary and Marta, twins, and Harry, the three eldest dying in infancy. Mrs. Watson was married first, December 29, 1885, at Verdon, Nebraska, to Don C. Bur bank, who came to Nebraska from Benton Harbor, Michigan, and settled near Loup City, in 1882. He died of typhoid fever, on No vember 12, 1886, leaving one daughter, Donnie C, the wife of Ray Dubbs, a farmer in Cam eron township, Hall County. Mr. and Mrs. Dubbs have three children : Raymond, Lewis and Inez. After Mr. Burbank's death, his widow returned to the home of her parents, where she resided until her marriage to Mr. Watson in the summer of 1891. They then took up their residence on the beautiful farm of Mr. Watson in Jackson township. After his death she remained on the farm looking after the healthful rearing of her children, untH the spring of*1918, when she turned over the management of the place to her son Arthur Lloyd, and retired to "Wood River, where she has a wide circle of friends. To Mr. and Mrs. "Watson four sons and one daughter were born : Lewis E., Arthur Lloyd, Roy, Orval and Elsa A. Lewis E. Watson was bom June 5, 1892. He is a farmer near Arcadia, Nebraska. On October 6, 1915, he married Alice A. Cox, of Wood River, and they have three children. Arthur L. Watson was born October 25, 1893, and on March 6, 1918, was united in marriage to Nora C. Moore, of Shelton, Nebraska. They reside on the old Watson place in Jackson township. Roy Watson was born March 16, 1896, and after being graduated from the "Wood River high school, went to work on the home farm. On December 3, 1917, he enlisted in the United States navy, at Omaha. After four months of seamanship training at Great Lakes, IHinois, he was sent to Philadelphia and assigned to the transport Corolla, sailing April 23, 1918, for Brest, France, where he yet re mains on duty as a member of the naval mHi tary police. Orval Watson, who was bom July 28, 1897, died October 17, 1897. Elsa A Watson, the only daughter, was born De cember 2, 1898. She was educated in the public schools of Wood River and completed the high school course. On July 9, 1918, she was united in marriage to Owen Frederick, of Wood River, whose mHitary record is well worth repeating. Mr. Frederick enlisted for service in the Worid War, on June 14, 1918, at Grand Island, Nebraska. Being assigned to the de partment of automobile mechanics, he was sent to Lincoln, Nebraska, where he completed his course of training and on August 13, 1918, was transferred to Valparaiso, Indiana, where he had additional training for three weeks, being sent from there to Camp Purdue, and remained there two months attached to the Motor Transport Corps, holding the position of master truck driver. Six weeks in Camp Sheridan, Illinois, foHowed, where he was fitted out with his over-sea equipment. The sudden signing of the armistice interrupted further government transport plans, but on December 17, 1918, Mr. Frederick was trans ferred to Fort Wingate, New Mexico. There he assisted in storing explosives shipped from eastern arsenals and continued this work until March 14, 1919, when he was transfecred to Camp Funston, Kansas, where, five days later, he was honorably discharged. Although he has had much in military training, Mr. Fred erick is well prepared for civil life. He is en gaged in Wood River as an expert automobHe mechanic. HILMER BENSON. — While men in any confidential relation with big business houses may attract attention through certain gifts or talents, it is the quiet, faithful, matter-of-fact, ever dependable man with the best interests of his firm at heart, who gives the greatest satis faction during his useful life, and is most missed when death calls him away. For twenty-two years the late Hilmer Benson was a familiar figure at Wood River. Ever assid uous in the performance of his duties, trusted by everyone because of his honesty and up rightness, he had many personal as well as business friends. Hilmer Benson was born in Odsmal, Sweden, April 18, 1860. His parents were Benjamin and Inger Johanna (Hermanson) Benson, who had four sons: Bernard, Elam, Hilmer and Anders. Hilmer Benson attended the public shcools in his native land until he was fiftteen years of age, when he entered his uncle's general store as a clerk, where he had thorough business training. In October, 1887, when twenty-seven years old, he came to the United States and after landing came west, stopping first at St. Paul, Nebraska. A 936 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA few months later he removed to Palmer, Ne braska. He found employment as a clerk in Palmer and remained tfiere until June, 1889, when he came to Wood River. In this pleas ant little city he spent the remainder of his life. As a clerk he entered the employ of F. M. Penny and continued with him until Mr. Penny sold out to Mr. Brett, and re mained with the new merchant until the close of his life, having a record of eighteen years of continuous service in the same business establishment. He was known to almost everyone and anxiety was felt when it was learned he was prostrated with an attack of pneumonia, which was the cause of his death on Febraury 7, 1911. At Kearaey, Nebraska, November 3, 1889, Mr. Benson married Miss Hildur M. Peter son, who was born in Jonkoping, Sweden, Jan uary 4, 1864. Her parents were Carl J. and Christiana M. (Lund) Peterson. Mrs. Ben son was the second born of three children, the others being: Sixtus and Bertha C. As young people, Mr. and Mrs. Benson had been warmly attached to each other in Sweden, and rather than have him leave his business and make the long journey to Sweden for their marriage, she decided to come alone to the United States and reached Wood River, Ne braska, September 28, 1889. Their marriage foHowed as already stated. Three sons were born to them: Charles Allan, Finer Hilmer and Curt Oscar. The eldest, Charles Allan Benson, was born at Wood River, November 5, 1890. He obtained his education in the Wood River public schools and then became a farmer. The subsequent history of his brave young life will be found, with his photograph, in the soldier section of this work. His death occurred while in the service of his country, October 7, 1918. Finer Hilmer Benson, the second son, was bom in Wood River, Novem ber 12, 1891, and was graduated from the high school in this city in the class of 1911. In the following year he finished a course in BaHs Business College, and is assistant cashier of the Citizens State Bank of Wood River. The third son. Curt Oscar Benson, was born in Wood River September 13, 1897. He was graduated from the Wood River high school in the class of 1915, and from the Creighton College of Pharmacy in the class of 1918. He is engaged with the fioyes Pharmacy in Wood River Mrs. Benson and sons are mem bers of the Presbyterian church. She is an active worker in the Red Cross movement and her sons have been equally interested in for warding every patriotic measure. No family in Wood River stands higher in public esteem. WILLIAM V. RYAN, a farmer in fiall County for many years, has lived retired in Wood River since 1913, where he has a wide acquaintance and many friends. He was born in Jersey County, Illinois, June 25, 1856, the son of WiHiam and Catherine (Blaney) Ryan, both of sound old Irish stock, although his mother was born after her parents came to the United States and had settied in Pennsyl vania. His father, William Ryan, was bom in County Limerick, Ireland, being twenty years old when he came from his native land to America in 1848. In 1852 he married Catherine Blaney, at Jerseyville, IHionis, and of their family of six sons and two daughters, WiHiam V. Ryan was the firstborn. William grew up on his father's farm in Jersey County, Illinois, and in boyhood at tended the country schools. In answer to a question as to farm wages in his youth, he was led to recall an experience of his own, when he was paid $3 a day for binding wheat, following a dropper, and when the job con tinued for six days, he felt he had made a for tune. On Febraary 4, 1880, Mr. Ryan mar ried Miss Catherine Caveny, of Carlinville, Illinois. She was born in Pennsylvania in 1856, a daughter of Michael and Ann (Coan) Caveny, who came to the United States from Ireland but were married ifi New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Ryan became the parents of the following children : Anna Laura, the wife of William Kearney, a farmer and stockraiser in Jackson township. Hall County, and they have eight children ; Mary Agnes, the wife of John Moore, who operates his own three-chair barber shop at Shelton, Nebraska ; Thomas E., an expert barber, operates his own three-chair shop at Wood River; Ellen, the wife of Wil liam Moore, a farmer and stockman in Jack son township, is the mother of one son; John W., a prosperous and popular young farmer ^ in Jackson township, owning a fine automo bile; James S., who is employed as a barber in a fifteen chair shop at Omaha, has been honorably discharged from military service and his photograph and record may be found in the soldier section of this work, and Joseph Francis, employed as a barber by his brother in Wood River. Mr. Ryan and his family belong to St. Mary's Catholic church. He has always been a Democrat politically. CECIL S. SHERER, who belongs to one of the well known early famiHes of south central Nebraska, may, any day, be found interested and busy with peaceful activities on his father's farm near Wood River, in HISTORY OF "HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 937 Hall County. Modest, quiet, unassuming, it is only by close questioning that this young hero can be induced to tell of his thriHing experi ences in the service of his country, a recital of which gives but a poor idea of their magni tude and importance. Mr. Sherer belongs to Nebraska. He was bom at Aurora, in Hamilton County, October 25, 1882. His parents are Jacob and Rhoda (Evans) Sherer, the former of whom is a na tive of Ohio, and the latter of Iowa, where she was bom in January, 1861. Their marriage took place in Aurora, Nebraska, in January, 1881, and they have had six chHdren as fol lows: Cecil S., Leo, Verna, Myrtle, Glenn, Elmer Ray and NeHie May, twins, Sampson and Dewey, twins, and Jacob. All the chil dren are living with the exception of Elmer Ray, who met a soldier's death in the ever to be remembered batle of Argonne Forest, in France, on September 27, 1918. He entered military service on June 22, 1918, at Camp Lewis, Oregon, and was with a contingent of American soldiers landed in France on Sep tember 5, 1918. Cecil S. Sherer attended the public schools of Wood River, Hall County, and after his high school course enlisted in the United States navy, on September 15, 1903, and was assigned to the United States steamer Alba tross, a fish commission ship doing deep sea work on the Pacific coast, fie was honorably discharged on September 14, 1907 and re turned to his home with the expectation of en gaging in agricultural pursuits during the rest of his life. For ten years he was so occupied on his own account, in Wood River township, but with the entrance of his country into war, not only was his patriotism aroused but memory of his life as a sailor came back and he soon determined the branch of his country's service he would enter. On December 26, 1917, he enlisted in the Unitd States navy once more for war service. (See photograph and service record in the soldier section of this work). During his service of fifteen months he made seven trips across the Atlantic ocean, five of these on the United States Destroyer Talbot. On August 28, 1918, he saw his first submarine. It was in the English channel and at the same time two of the submarines attacked the convoy of destroyers, one of the monsters coming to the surface for its cruel work right in the midst of the convoy. As soon as sighted the five destroyers swept in, dropped depth bombs on the submarine with such effect that within five minutes the boat sank, leaving seventeen of the enemy crew in the water, who, with American humanitarianism, were rescued by the United States steamer Rathburn. The second subma rine was sighted about 1,000 yards to the port quarter and shots were fired from the destroy ers resulting in the disapperance of the U. boat. One of the troop ships, however, had been in jured by the undersea vessel and as it was listing heavily, the destroyers stood by to help, but its ship carpenters managed to repair the damage in part and the American troops were finally safely landed at Plymouth, England. The convoy of destroyers then scattered, and with great speed went to different ports, hav ing sixteen troop ships in charge, and all were safely landed either at Plymouth, England, or Brest, France. On one occasion, Mr. Shelter assisted in convoying the Leviathan in safety as far as the Azore Islands, and on the home voyage encountered another submarine. The Talbot was one of the receiving ships on No vember 21, 1918, when seventy German ves sels were turned over to the Allies in the Firth of Fourth, a memorable occasion to which future histories will devote many pages. After the last trip as escort to troop ships, Mr. Sherer and his brave comrades we(re em ployed for a time in target practice on the south coast of Cuba, for the purpose of testing torpedoes. On March 1, 1919, a radio mes sage was received calhng for four destroyers to proceed at once to New York, the Talbot be ing one of the chosen vessels. On reaching that city Mr. Sherer learned that those de stroyers were to be used for convoy of the George Washington, on which President Wil son was to sail for France. Before the vessels started, however, Mr. Sherer secured his re lease from the service, and contentedly re turned to the safety and quiet of home, being ready, however, to return if his country has further need of him. , FRITZ WIESE, one of HaH County's high ly respected citizens, resides on his valuable farm situated in Wood River township, on which he has lived for forty-eight years. He was bom in Lichtenberg, Germany, Novem ber 17, 1848, the second in a family of three sons and two daughters born to Dedlef and Margaret (Hein) Wiese. Fritz went to school in his native land with his brothers and sisters, Louisa, Carl, WHliam and Lizzie, and grew up under conditions that prevailed- in his neighborhood at that time, fie was an ambitious youth however and believ ing he could better himself in America, left Germany when twenty years old and came to the United States in April, 1869, and immedi- 938 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA ately made his way to Hall County. He was not yet old enough under the law to take ad vantage of the homestead bill, but lost not a day in seeking work. This he found as a laborer and was paid $1.55 a day for assisting in the building of a dam in the Platte River. After that he hired out to near-by settlers by the month. In the spring of 1871 he home steaded in section twenty-six, securing eighty acres and also bought forty acres of school land all in Wood River Township. Mr. Wiese managed his own housekeeping during the time required to prove up, having many ex periences both tragic and interesting. At this time there were many peaceable Indians in the neighborhood and he became acquainted with them and even has visited them in their camp on the island, at no time having cause to either f.ear or dislike them. He was lonely in a strange land, and kindness from anybody was appreciated. Money was hard to get in those days, trading being carried on between parties who often exchanged commodities in place of real money, but by close economy he finaly secured sufficient to enable him to buy a team of horses, a wagon, a mower and a breaking plow, and with that outfit he started to be a Nebraska farmer. There were many misfortunes during the earlier years for eHher the grasshoppers or the unexpected frost took his. corn and oats, but he was no worse off than his neighbors and had fewer responsi bilities than the most of them, so he tried to be phHosophical and went steadily on. He now has two hundred and eighty acres of land worth $125 an acre, all weH improved and well stocked, and a home fitted with every^ comfort he could wish. On October 11, 1876, Mr. Wiese married Miss Catherine Dibbern, who was born in fiall County. Her parents were Jacob and Margaret (Wiese) Dibbern, natives of Ger many who came to the United States and set tled in Iowa in 1870, removing from there to Hall County in 1871. They had sixteen chil dren four of whom died in infancy. The fol lowing are living: Catherine, Bertha, Minnie, Peter and Hans, twins, Delia, Anna, Ernest, Otto, Emma and August. Five sons and four daughters were bom to Mr. and Mrs. Wiese : Emma, Arthur, Henry, Frank, Dora, Bern hardt, Eda, Herman and Maggie. Emma, -w^ho died December 15, 1906, was the wife of Henry Schlieker, who now lives in Garden County, near Lisco, Nebraska, with their five children, Tena, PauHne, Fred, Eda and Mable. Arthur carries on farming on the home place in Wood River township. He married Dora Bockman, and they have four children ; Helen, Henry, Elmer and Raymond. Henry, the second son, is deceased. Frank is a farmer in Alda township. He married Minnie Marth and they have the following children : Alfred, Ralph, Harvey, Catherine, Leroy and Berna dine. Dora is the wife of George Rathman, a farmer in Alda township, and they have the following children: Henry, Louie, Walter, Goldie, "Viola and Marie. Bernhardt, who has but recently returned from mHitary service with the American Expeditionary Force in France, saw hard service as a member of a machine gun company. His photograph and service record will be found in the soldier's section of this work. From what his young eyes have seen, war is so abhorrent that he does not want to talk of it even concerning the courageous feats he performed himself, of which his comrades speak glowingly. He pro poses to assist in taking care of the home farm. Eda, the next in order of birth is deceased. Herman is a farmer in Wood River township. Maggie looks after her father's comfort in the home. The beloved mother passed away on June 11, 1907. Mr. Wiese has never been unmindful of the best interests of his township and when he has felt able to do so, has al ways co-operated in public spirited movements, has been helpful and friendly as a neighbor and strictly honest in every business trans action. EMIL G. PEARSON, one of Wood River's representative men, has been known in this sec tion of fiall County for over a quarter of a centur}'-. _ For many years back he has been considered one of the township's best farmers and most successful stockmen. In Mr. Pear son is found a man of enterprise and progres siveness, of intelligence and sound judgment. fiis influence, weH directed, has been beneficial to the entire farming community. A firm be liever in the value of co-operation, he belongs to the farmer's organizations that started the elevators at Shelton and Wood River and is a stockholder in both of these successful enterr prises. EmH G. Pearson was bom at Helsingborg, Sweden, Febraary 21, 1872. His parents were Per and Troen (Pearson) Pearson, who had the foHowing children: Per, Kerston, Sven, Emil G. and Oscar. In April, 1890, Emil G. Pearson came to Hall County, Nebraska, set tled in Wood River, and went to work for F. C. Dodge. Afterward for several years he worked on farms and then bought eighty acres of land with the expectation of building up a large agricultural business of his own. HISTORY OE HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 939 In the early nineties climatic conditions in this section caused much loss and discouragement, and after Mr, Pearson had seen his crops for several seasons dried up and blasted for lack of moisture, he let the land go and became a 1 enter instead of an owner. That was a period very different in the county's agricultural his tory than the present. Low prices for farm products discouraged industry and seemingly argriculture here was at a low ebb. In the meanwhile Mr. Pearson had married and in Febmary, 1901, they went to Greeley, Colo rado. There they looked over the country for a time with the result that they decided it by no means equalled Hall County from the point of view of a prospective farmer. After returning to Hall County from Colo rado, in the fall of 1901, Mr. Pearson rented farming land and found better conditions exist ing, then bought one hundred and twenty acres on Grand Island southwest of Wood River. Under his management this has become some of the most productive land in the county. Mr. Pearson not only cultivates his own farm, but an additional five hundred and twenty acres, with the help of modern machinery and with a Ford automobile truck for hauling. In addi tion to extensile farm production, the raising and feeding of cattle, hogs and sheep has be come an important feature. The season of 1919 finds him with three hundred head of hogs and one hundred head of cattle. On November 9, 1899, Mr. Pearson mar ried Miss Lula A. McFarland, a daughter of James and Anna (Kimple) McFarland, who came from Ohio to Iowa and from there in the early seventies to Nebraska and secured a homestead in Kearney County. Mrs. Pear son had sister and brothers as foHows: George, Lizzie, Etta, Fred, Jessie and Howard, all of whom are married and all survive except two brothers, who died of influenza during the epidemic in November, 1918. Mr. and Mrs. Pearson have eight chHdren : ITiea, a popular teacher in school district No. 69 ; Vio let, attending the high school in Wood River ; Clair and Malcolm, assisting their father ; and Elmer N., Loretta B., Leona M. and Cecil R., the baby, all of whom are attending the country school. The Pearson home is a beau tiful one. The modern residence, which has every city convenience except artificial heat ing, is even equipped with electric light. It is charmingly located with a fine grove on the west and a blue grass lawn and ornamental trees on the other approaches. The dynamo that supplies light to the residence and bams, pumps water to all parts of the corrals and feed yards. Everthing about the place is of substantial and modern construction. Mr. Pearson considers his land worth $100 an acre without any improvements. His residence cost him over $4,000. He has not discussed the cost of his automobile, in which he and his family spend many happy hours, but as it is in keeping with everything else on this model farm, its original price must have been con siderable. Mr. Pearson does nat take all the credit for the success that has crowned his efforts, but attributes a just share to his estim able wife. The family acquaintance is wide and their friends are many. Mr. Pearson is serving as a director of school district No. 27. fie is one of the most active factors in the local Grange. TIMOTfiY ROCfiE, whose fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres is situated in Grand Island township, three miles south and two miles east of Wood River, is well known in Hall County, to which he came first in the spring of 1881, where he has since made his home, with the exception of five years spent in Wyoming. Mr. Roche was born in County Cork, Ireland, May 26, 1857. His parents were Timothy and Catherine (Rear don) Roche, whose nine children bore the following names: Margaret, Patrick, John, Edmund, James, Timothy, Dan, Mary and Catherine. The father died when Timothy was ten years old. Eight years later while still a youth, Tim othy Roche came to the United States, as he believed a young man had greater opportun ities in the new world. His first six years in America were spent as a farm worker in fien- derson County, IHinois. After coming to Hall County, Nebraska, in the spring of 1881, . he bought railroad land in Harrison township, six miles north of Wood River. In 1890 Mr. Roche and his family moved to Green River, Wyoming, where he worked in the railroad shops until the spring of 1895. Upon return ing to Wood River, Mr. Roche resumed farm ing in this neighborhood, in the meanwhile having acquired his present well stocked farm in Grand Island, and in 1910 he settied on the place which has since continued the family home. . .,¦,.,. On May 31, 1882, Air. Roche married Miss Johanna C. Carey, who was bom near Auburn, Illinois, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Davis) Carey. The father of Mrs. Roche was born in County Clare, Ireland, June 24, 1834, came to America in 1852 and went to Phila delphia, Pennsylvania. There, on April 12, 1859, he married Elizabeth Davis, who was 940 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Jacob Miller Mrs. Jacob Miller HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 941 Mr. and Mrs. August George Miller 942 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA born in Dublin, Ireland, in May, 1838. She accompanied her parents, when sixteen years of age, to the United States. After their mar riage, Mr. and Mrs. Carey moved to Chatham, IHinois, and from there to Auburn, IHinois, and in 1879 came to Wood River, Hall County. Mr. Carey bought a quarter section of railroad land situated "two miles north and a half mile eaht of Wood River. During the early days here the Carey family endured riiany hard ships as did their neighbors, but they finally prospered and Mr. Carey became a citizen of local importance.. For years he was a mem ber of the school board, and throughout life was a faithful Catholic. His death occurred October 14, 1912, from pneumonia. His chil dren were as follows : Rosanna Jane, Jo hanna C, John J., Matthey C, Mary A., Michael J., Elizabeth F., Catherine and Mar garet. • To Mr. and Mrs. Roche were born seven sons and six daughters : Katherine P., whose record as a Red Cross nurse will be found with her photograph, in the soldier section of this work ; John J., who died in infancy ; Eliza beth C, a teacher in the North Platte schools; Leo T., a farmer near Ogalla, Nebraska, mar ried Irene Wolfe, of Fullerton, Nebraska, and they have three children, Margaret E., John J. and Patricia K. ; Mary A., yet in France performing her noble duties as a Red Cross nurse, has potograph and record in the sol dier section of this work ; Vincent E., a farmer living near Grand Island ; Joseph F., who went to Europe as a member of the American Ex peditionary Force, is with the Army of Occu pation in Germany, and his photograph and mHitary record may be found in the soldier sec tion in this work ; Patrick A., associated with his brother Leo T., in farming; Daniel, and M. James, both of whom are assisting their father on the home farm ; Rosa L , a student at Hast ings, Nebraska ; Constance, a high school stu dent in Wood River ; and Lenore, who died in infancy. Mr. Roche and family are devoted rriembers of the Roman Catholic church. There are few families in this section so notably patriotic and Mr. Roche is justly proud of his daughters and son who have served the country so well. fie has a creditable military record of his own. While living at Green River, Wyoming, he was a member of Company E, First Infantry, Wyoming National Guard. This company was named the Warren Rifles, in honor of the first governor of Wyoming, who is now further dis tinguished by being a senator of the United States and the father-in-law of our own General Pershing. Mr. Roche and his family are everywhere held in high esteem. WILLIAM J. BALLINGER, one of Wood River's highly respected citizens, has been a resident of fiall County since the fall of 1881, when he accompanied his parents to this sec tion. For a number of years he foHowed' farming, but a serious accident in 1898, al most entirely disabled him for a time, and since the fall of 1911 he has taken life a little easier in his comfortable home in Wood River. WHliam J. Ballinger was bom in Coles County, Illinois, March 24, 1863. fiis parents were George "W. and Sarah (Graves) Bal linger, the former of whom was born in Mor gan County, Indiana, December 24, 1832, and died in Nebraska, January 25, 1919, and the latter, born in Hendricks County, Indiana, March 14, 1837, died July 17, 1916. They were united in marriage in 1857 and three sons and one daughter were born to them: John L., Francis M., WiHiam J. and Matilda J., all of whom are living. The Ballinger family came to Hall County in the fall of 1881 and settled about four and a half miles southwest of Wood River. WiHiam J. worked for his father for several years and then started out for himself as a farmer. After leaving the farm and coming to Wood River, he engaged in teaming until two years ago, although a sad sufferer from rheumatism. On March 23, 1890, Mr. Ballinger mar ried Miss Emma Lewton, of Wood River. Her parents were Newton and Sarah E. (Nes- bit) Lewton, the former of whom was bom in Pike County, IHinois, May 15, 1841, and the latter near Louisville, Kentucky, August 27, 1832. They were married at Carthage, in Han cock County, Illinois, and had two daughters and one son : Emma, Charles and Salena. Charles Lewton resides at Huntsville, IHinois. Mrs. Salena (Lewton) Riley, lives in Topeka, Kansas. Mrs. Ballinger accompanied her parents when they came to Hall County in the fall of 1871, when her father located on a homestead four and a half miles northwest of Wood River, a practically unsettled section at that time. Mrs. Ballinger well remembers some of the notable events of those early days, par ticularly the freezing of the crops, grasshop per invasion and more than all the memorable three days storm of 1872, when snow fell to a depth that covered the tops of the barns. Her father was away from home at the time and that made the situation more alarming. filSTORY OF fiALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 943 There were many Pawnee Indians in the neighborhood, none of whom were savage, but all were certain to be hungry when they visited i a settler's cabin. In 1881 Mrs. Ballinger's - father removed to Wood River and went into the furniture and undertaking business. Later he became interested in a drug store and still later a livery business. In 1892 he embarked in a confectionery business and continued in this line up to the time of his death. May 24, 1894. The mother of Mrs. Ballinger died May 19, 1915. To Mr. and Mrs. Ballinger one son was born, Charies W., on October 13, 1897. With out giving this young man undeserved praise, there is much to say in the way of comment on ' - ' - "his honorable career. A diligent student, he was graduated from the Wood River high school on May 21, 1914, receiving the coveted distinction of fionorable Graduation Diploma. While yet in school he applied himself to ac quiring the art of telegraphy, studying with Grant and Mrs. Card, in the Union Pacific depot, and after he was considered competent, he entered the services of the Union Pacific Company as night operator and helper. Later he was used as relief man up and down the line for two years, and after this experience, was placed in the office of the train dispatcher in Grand Island, fie was efficiently perform ing his duties there when he enlisted. May 15, 1917, for service as a soldier because he felt his country had need of aH her loyal sons. His photograph and service record may be found in that interesting part of this work, the soldier section. Since his safe retum to life he has gone back to his old position in Grand Island. The accident above referred to that so seri ously injured Mr. Ballinger some twenty years ago, was a fall over an unprotected plow shear, and his good right arm was almost severed thereby. Nevertheless he has borne that handi cap and his later rheumatic affliction with re markable patience and courage. He is a mem ber of the Wood River Lodge, No. 158, Odd Fellows, to which he has belonged for thirty- one years. Mrs. Ballinger is a member of the Rebekah Lodge, No. 287. She is also a mem ber of the Presbyterian church. JOHN FRANKLIN SHEfiEIN, who was one of fiall County's weH known and highly respected citizens for many years, in vested in land when he came here, improved it and added to the original tract, and at the time of death, April 10, 1907, was accounted .Jj. farmer who had prospered greatly, as well as deservedly, for he was always careful and industrious, fie had a beautiful home farm that he had enjoyed improving, it being said that his improvements cost more than was the original cost of the land. John Franklin Shehein was born in Ken tucky, January 21, 1858. His parents were David R. and Alice Shehein, who left' Ken tucky during the Civil War and moved to Hamilton County, Iowa. There John F. went to school and when old enough began to help his father on the farm. In June 1886, just before what is always referred to as the "big storm," he came to fiall County. At that time he was a poor man, but he had the industry and energy that served finally to make him a rich man. He bought railroad land in Doni phan township for which he paid $25 an acre, and as above stated, so admirably improved it that after his death his widow sold the entire form of one hundred and fifty-five acres at $125 an acre. March 20, 1880, Mr. Shehein married Miss Mary Wiggins, who was born in Illinois, a daughter of Charles and Olive (Van Cassel) Wiggins, also natives of that state. To this marriage children were born as follows : John Franklin, who lives at Doniphan, Nebraska; Georgiana, the wife of G. S. Denman, of Doniphan; Hattie May, the wife of Barney Jacobs, of Denver, Colorado ; David Earl, who lives in Kimball County; Leo G., employed in the People's State Bank in Grand Island; Hazel Gladys, who lives with her mother; Verna, attending the high school ; and Howard and Matilda, both of whom are deceased. The family belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Shehein was a Republican in politics and he belonged to the fraternal order of United Workmen. He was an honorable, worthy man in every way and in his death Hall County lost one of her best citizens. CHARLES D. EVANS, a weH known, patriotic and popular resident of fiall County, came to the vicinity of Wood River with his parents when ten years old. This neighbor hood has been his home ever since with the exception of six years spent as. cowboy and farmer on the Bar A ranch, in Colorado, fie was born at WaynesviHe, Illinois, September 24, 1869. The parents of Mr. Evans were Thomas A. and Sarah E. (Goodrich) Evans, both of whom were reared in IHinois. ITiey had a family of three sons and two daughters, name ly: Carles D., Carmi G., George D., Mrs. Nora M. Warren, and Mrs. Jennie Harmeson. 944 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA The father came to Nebraska with his family in Jurie, 1879 and settled four mHes south of Wood River on the Platte. He was a bridge carpenter by trade and also was a farmer. He had served as a soldier in the Civil War and was very active in G. A. R. circles in Hall County. Being a man of sound character, he wa^ frequently elected to public office, and served several terms as road overseer and county assessor. Charles D. Evans had some school training after coming to Hall County. He has always led an active life and from the age of four teen years has practically taken care of him self. In boyhood days he earned a small wage as a cattle herder. He developed skill in managing horses, and while with the Bar A ranch in Colorado had a reputation for his feats of horsemanship. After coming back to Hall County he engaged in farming. On July 24, 1892, Mr. Evans married Miss Cora M. Irish, of Menlo, Iowa, the daughter of Jesse P. and Mary A. (Craig) Irish, the former, born in the state of New York, was eight years old when he was taken to Illinois and later to eastern Iowa. Mrs. Evans's mother was born at Blue Grass, Scott County, Iowa. After marriage the parents of Mrs. Evans removed to Adair County,Iowa, where they spent the rest of their lives. They had two sons and three daughters : Orlando E., Mrs. Annette J. Sill, Roscoe E., Cora M. and Arthur O. Be fore becoming acquainted with Mr. Evans, Mrs. Evans had come to Boone County, Ne braska, to pay a visit to relatives. Mr. and Mrs. Evans have three sons and one daughter, as follows : Roy E., in the United States navy, enlisted in the service of his country just before completing his course in the York Business College, photograph and his service record will be found in the soldier section of this work; Mary E., who taught school for one year after graduating from the Shelton high school, was married in 1916 to Arthur A. Harris, a farmer in Buffalo County, and they have one daughter ; Carl E, whose army service record may be found in the soldier section of this work, enlisted April 2, 1917, and upon release returned to the em ploy of the B. & M. raHroad, with which he has been connected as a telegrapher since the age of sixteen years. He married May 17, 1918, Miss Hattie Mathew, of Wood River; and Everett B., who is a schoolboy of seven years. Mr. Evans himself has an honorable military record, having served three years as a member of Company C, Second Nebraska National Guard. This shows that for three generations the Evans family has been found in the ranks of this country's defenders. Mr. and Mrs. Evans ai-e members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They both be long to the Fraternal Aid Union. In politics he is a sturdy Repubhcan. Of genial tempera ment and gifted with true wit, Mr. Evans is a welcome addition to, any circle. His many friends find much enjoyment and cheer in listening to his humorous way of looking at life. DANIEL O'KANE, one of Wood River's well known, respected, patriotic citizens, for many years was in the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad as telegrapher and agent, fie was born in Ogle County, Illinois, October 24, 1855, and is one of a family of eight chil dren bom to Joseph and .Mary (Davey) O'Kane. ¦ Daniel came to Nebraska with his parents in the spring of 1874 and located in WHlow Is land, Dawson County, securing a section of land three miles northeiasl^ of Gothenburg. Subsequently the father served one term as county commissioner in Dawson County. Dan iel had attended school in Illinois, and was about twenty years old when he began to work for the government at North Platte, Ne braska, putting up hay for the cayalr}'^ regi ments at Forts McPherson and RusseH. In 1876 he worked on railroad construction and at the same time studied telegraphy, making such rapid progress that in 1877 he secured a position as operator and extra agent. On July 12, 1878 he was transferred to Fort AlcPher- soii in the capacity of night operator, and transferred from there, December 23, 1879, to Alda, Nebraska, as agent and operator for the Union Pacific. He remained at Alda the following ten years, when he was sent to Overton, where he remained untH 1903 and in the next year retired from railroad service. For about three yeas he conducted a store in Kearney and then came to Wood River. Having so long been in "the tide of events" as it were, Mr. O'Kane feels that he is not ready entirely to retire, and in order to keep somewhat in touch with active affairs and passing events, he keeps himself busily en gaged as a clerk in the Wood River post office. On January 17, 1882, Mr O'Kane married Miss Anna Mitchell, at Alda, Nebraska, who was born at MHford, Indiana, August 9, 1862. fier parents were Thomas and Frances H. . (Self) MitcheH, the latter of whom died De cember 15, 1869, leaving two sons and three HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 945 H. P. Hanan, Father, mother, and grandchildren 946 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA daughters, Mrs. O'Kane being the only sur viving daughter. She was eight years old when she accompanied her father to Nebraska, where in 1871 he homesteaded near; the pres ent site of Alda, starting a little store at this location which was also the post office. Two years later he endeavored to cultivate his land but for two seasons the grasshoppers devoured all the result of his hard work, and he gave up the attempt. Accompanied then by his daughter and son, Frank, Mr. Mitchell went to Iowa with the intention of working there for sufficient capital to continue effort on his Nebraska land in the future. He had suffered a great shock in the year previously in the accidental death of his son Elmer. "When the great exodus came to the Black Hills, Mr. Mitchell was one of the first to go to the gold fields from this section and he remained there several years doing very well. In this connection, Mrs. O'Kane relates an interesting narrative concerning a trip she made to Deadwood, South Dakota, in 1880, to visit her father. She was about sixteen years old at the time and was accompanied by a young woman a few years older, also going to visit her father. These brave maidens faced many perils on the journey, but safely reach ed their destination after traveling two days and three nights in a stage coach drawn by six horses. Youth and good spirits carried them through, with the seven other passengers, three of whom were young English prospec tors. The stage driver gave the party credit for being the joHiest and best natured load he had ever brought tip the dangerous Black Hills trail. Mrs. O'Kane remained with her father for a year and then retui'ned to Alda, where she was married to Mr. O'Kane in 1882. Mr. and Mrs. O'Kane have had three daugh ters and one son : Mary Mabel, who lived but seven months; Josephine F., who was united in marriage, October 31, 1903, with John G. Doherty, of Loomis, Nebraska, cashier of the Exchange Bank of Ogalalla, They have five chHdren, Irma, Helen, Dorothy, Daniel and Kathleen; Thomas Frank, who volunteered in the service of his country (see soldier sec tion in this work) was graduated from a busi ness coHege at Amarillo, Texas, then entered the service of the Santa Fe RaHroad as rate clerk in the office of the general passenger agent and was filling the position as assistant chief clerk in the passenger department when he vol unteered and is still in service ; and Thelma B., a graduate in the class of 1919 from the Wood River high school, and is a graduate also of the Conservatory of Music at Grand Island. In his political views Mr O'Kane is a Demo crat and is as loyal to the party as he has always been to friends and employers. He is a member of the order of Modern Wood men of America, while Mrs. O'Kane belongs to the Royal Neighbors and to the M. B. W. She has been one of the hardest workers in the Red Cross movement of the Wood River chap ter and has received a beautiful badge and certificate of merit from the head office of the American Red Cross. This was in acknowl edgement of having put in eight hundred hours for the cause, although the actual time was much more than that, but it was not only an example of patriotism but a labor of love as well. PATRICK FAGAN, one of HaH County's well known and highly respected citi zens, has been identfied for many years with the management of several of the largest agri cultural enterprises of the county, at the same time successfully conducting a large estate of his own. He was bom in the Dominion of Canada, November 13, 1866. The parents of Mr. Fagan were John and Sarah (McGriskin) Fagan, both of whom were born in Ireland. They came to Canada about 1860, where the father of Mr. Fagan worked as a farmer until 1867, when removal was made to Morgan County, Illinois and the rest of the father's life was spent in the United States. In 1893 he came to Hall County, Ne braska, where he secured a homestead of a quarter section of land, situated in Prairie Creek township, and to the development and improvement of his land he devoted his re maining years. His death occurred in Febraary, 1902. Both he and his wife were faithful mem bers of the Roman Catholic church. They had the following chHdren: William, a prominent farmer in Prairie Creek township; Patrick, who owns a valuable farm in Center town ship ; Katherine, the wife of Jefferson Norris, of Christian County, Illinois ; Mary, who lives at Hot Springs, South Dakota ; Anne, who has taught school in Hall County for twenty years; Jennie, the wife of George Bucking ham, of Chicago; Margaret, the wife of Ed ward Landrigan, of Ravenna, Buffalo County, Nebraska, and two who died in infancy. Patrick Fagan had instraction in the country schools near his father's farm in Illinois. When he started out in Hfe for himself he worked on farms for $15 a month, which was considered a fair wage at that time. He came first to HaH County in 1889 and in a short time returned to Illinois but three years later returned to spend a year before HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 947 going to Wyoming, where he had many cattle and range experiences. In 1899 he settled in Hall County and has since made his home here. Mr. Fagan owns a farm of two hun dred acres of land in Center township, which is well stocked and yields a satisfactory in come. He is best ^known, however, for his successful management of two extensive ranches, having been for sixteen years the manager of the McDonald ranch, and at pres ent manager of the great Taylor ranch, which is the largest ranch in the county, an account of which will be found elsewhere in this volume. On May 12, 1901, Patrick Fagan married Miss Mary Donigan, who was born in Morgan County, Illinois, but her parents were natives of Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Fagan have had four children born to them, three of whom are living: Clara, John and Margaret. Mr. Fagan and his family are members of the Roman Catholic church: He belongs to the Knights of Columbus and the Elks. In poli tics Mr. Fagan votes according to his own ex cellent judgment. He is an independent Re-^ publican. GEORGE FREDERICK has long been a resident of Hall County and for many years was actively engaged in farming pursuits, but for the past seven years has been living re tired. Mr. Frederick was born in Hesse-Darm stadt, Germany, April 5, 1844. His father, Christopher Frederick, was a native of the same province and when sixteen years of age came to America and worked at the trade of miHer in New York and Boston." fie remained here till he became twenty-one years of age, and often spoke of having voted for Andrew Jackson for president, fie returned to Ger many and married Margaret Keller. When the revolution of 1848 came on he again came to America, bringing his family and establish ing his home in New York City. A few years later he moved to Franklin County, Indiana, and here he and his wife both passed away. George Frederick was five years old when brought to America and grew to manhood in Franklin County, Indiana. In 1864, at the last call for volunteers, he enlisted in Com pany F, One fiundred Forty-sixth Indiana Regiment of Infantry and served till the end of the war, being mustered out in September, 1865, After the war he returned to Indiana and became a farmer, residing there until 1889, when he came to fiall County, Nebraska, and settled in Cameron township. He was sucessful in his chosen vocation and became the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land which he cultivated until 1912, when he sold his farm and retired to Wood River, where he occupies a comfortable home, sur rounded with all the necessities and many of the luxuries of life. Mr. Frederick -w'as married in Franklin County, Indiana, to Miss Catherine Keough, who was born in Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Frederick have two chil dren: Otto, is cashier of a bank at Hanna, Wyoming; and Owen, an expert mechanic, resides in Wood River. NEWTON WESLEY HENDERSON, a well known and competent farmer of Hall County for a number of years, is well remem bered in Jackson township for his many traits of sterling character. He was born in Fulton County, Illinois, December 5, 1886, and died on his farm in HaH County, October 19,. 1909. fie was the fifth in a family of nine children born to Elijah J. and Sarah E. (Watson) fienderson. His father was born in Fayette County, Ohio, April 22, 1835, and his mother in Indiana, September 18, 1832. Newton Wesley Henderson was nineteen years old when he accompanied his parents to Nebraska in 1885, and had been well edu cated in the schools of his native state. The family settled in South Jackson township. Hall County, and he remained at home assist ing his father as long as he was needed, then worked on neighboring farms until 1894, when he became a farmer on his own respon- sibHity, and so continued until the close of his life. He carried on his farm operations with much success, was a kind husband and father and was neighborly and just in the community. On December 8, 1897, Mr. Henderson mar ried Miss Emma A. Alberts, of Jackson town ship. Hall County, a daughter of Gottlieb H. and Lena C. (Majweskey) Alberts, the former of whom was born January 1, 1822, at Baden, Germany, and the latter, Febraary 7, 1838, in Mecklenburg, Germany. Mrs. Henderson's father was left an orphan in his youth. Before coming to the United States, he had served in the German army according to law, and after he reached this country, found it embroiled in civil war and re-entered military service, as a member of the Thirty-third New York In fantry, fie served two and a half years, par ticipating in many battles and at Fredericks burg received an injury to his knee that troubled him all the rest of his life. When 948 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA he crossed the ocean to America, it was in a sailing vessel that was unskill fully managed, for the captain lost his bearings and whHe drifting far out of its course, provisions al most gave out. Mr. Alberts remained on a farm in the vicin ity of Syracuse, New York, after his mili tary service was over, until 1871. In the mean while he had married a young lady who had crossed the ocean alone and had gone to the home of a brother near Syracuse, and to this marriage three sons and one daughter were born, Mrs. Henderson being the daughter, all natives of Hall County except the eldest son. As noted above, the Alberts family came here in 1871 and in the faH of the year Mr. Al berts homesteaded in Jackson township. Like other settlers of that time, this family passed through many hardships, trough loss of crops on account of unseasonable weather and the pest grasshoppers, and through the drowning of their cattle and horses in the Platte river, in the memorable blizzard that occurred Easter Sunday, in the early seventies. The family never suffered from lack of food, however, for wild game was plentiful, and they even had enough at all .times, to generously divide with the vagrant Indians who were never ashamed to beg. On the other hand, as Mrs. Hender son relates, they demanded the best their hosts could supply, always refusing corn bread if they saw white bread. Mr. Alberts erected a house for his family but when it was paid for he had only $5 left as his capital with which to face the future. In the estimation of everyone, he was a fine man. For about four years after marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Henderson lived on a farm north of Wood River and then removed to the Alberts homestead in Jackson township. They became the parents of three sons : Ralph W., Earl A. and Elijah R. Ralph W. Henderson was born October 19, 1898, was in military service and accompanied the American Expeditionary Force to France. His record appears in the soldier section of this publication. He returned home safely with duty well performed, and is assisting his mother on the homestead. Earl A., who was born April 11, 1900, and Elijah R., who was born March 18, 1904, are also engaged in farm pursuits on the home farm, and all three are reliable, steady, highly respescted young men. During the World War, Mrs. Henderson was continuously active in Red Cross work, going into Wood River for supplies and taking them home to make into the articles most needed, her kind heart at all times overflowing with good will and sympathy for the sick and wounded. She is very highly esteemed in Jackson township. DAVID L. MINOR. — HaH County, Ne braska is indebted to the state of Iowa for some of its most worthy citizens. From that state came the Minor family, a leading repre sentative of which in this . section is David L. Minor, a progressive man, large land owner and prosperous farmer. David L. Minor was bom in Marion County, Iowa, January 25, 1866. His parents were William and Rebecca (Lyons) Minor, natives of Kentucky, he being the -fifth born in their family of ten children, the other survivors be ing : Alice, the wife of R. A. Koepke ; Richard, located in Colorado; Mary, a resident of Iowa; William, a citizen of Grand Island ; and Daisy, the wife of a Mr. Forsher. The father was a carpenter by trade, an occupation he fol lowed before locating in Hall County in 1892 and for years afterward followed the same vocation. His death occured in 1909. In the excellent schools of his native state, David L. Minor obtained his education and prior to establishing himself in Hall County with his parents, followed farming in Iowa. His first land in the county was a tract of eighty acres which he purchased soon after becoming a resident and to which he added until he now owns four hundred acres. Mr. Minor is a farmer with modem progressive ideas and his varied farm activities are car ried on scientifically. His beautiful home situated on section eleven. Center township, is one of the finest rural residences in this part of the country. Mr. Minor and his family enjoy all fhe advantages which make modern farm life agreeable, being near enough to Grand Island to participate in city affairs when they so desire. November 2, 1892 Mr. Minor married Miss Carrie Anderson who was also bom in Marion County, Iowa. They have three children: Lloyd William, Leatha and Laurel, all resid ing at home. Mrs. Minor belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics Mr. Minor has always given his support to the Democratic party. MARTIN MATTISON. — There are few families in South Jackson township, HaH County, more respected or better established than the Mattisons, father and two sons all owning valuable land, aH enterprising and pro gressive, and all types of thorough American citizens. Martin Mattison was bom in Den- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 949 Henry 'W. Locke 950 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA mark, September 19, 1859. fiis parents were John and Katy (Anderson) Mattison. • Martin was eleven years old when he accom panied his parents, five brothers and one sister, to the United States in 1868 and after locating at Nebraska City, Nebraska, Mr. Mattison remembers the building of the first railroad there and recollects the day he started to school but never reached the building because of the necessity he felt of observing the ferrying across the Missouri river of the first engine for the new road. The family continued to live in Nebraska City until 1872, when the father took a homestead in Lancaster County, south of Lincoln. That section, like others in the state, suffered in early days from the grasshoppers and the climatic changes that ruined many a fine crop, but the parents of Mr, Mattison were sturdy, resourceful people, and they never lost courage as did many of the neighboring settlers, Martin remained with his father and assisted in operating the homestead until his marriage in 1886, For three years after that event he rented and operated land in Lancaster County, In 1889 he went to Colorado, where he remained eight years, in the meanwhile home steading one hundred and sixty acres in Arap ahoe County and engaged in farming and stock raising. Then he returned to Nebraska, resided on a rented farm in Adams County until 1906, when he came to fiall County and bought a farm of eighty acres situated in South Jackson township, two miles southeast of Shelton and eight miles southwest of Wood River, an ad mirable location. Here he carries on general farming and raises enough stock for his own use. In July, 1886, Mr. Mattison married Miss Elizabeth Albers. She was bom at Garnavillo, Clayton County, Iowa, and accompanied her parents to Nebraska in 1867. She is the young est in a family of four children born to Henry and Margaret (Hubby) Albers. fier father was a blacksmith by trade and after coming to Nebraska, homesteaded in Lancaster County. Mr. and Mrs. Mattison have two sons and one daughter: George, Rosa and Henry. George was born in Lancaster County, is a graduate of the Ayer public school in Adams County, and is assisting his father on the home farm. Rosa was born in Lancaster County and also is a graduate of the Ayer pub lic school. Henry, who was born in Arapahoe County, Colorado, also completed his school course in Adams County. For a short time he was in military service and his record ap pears in the soldier section of this work, fie is at present assisting his father but is also interested as an automobile mechanic. Both sons of Mr. Mattison are property owners, and their one hundred acres of land one mile south of the homestead and in the river bot tom, will prove a profitable investment. The family belongs to the Lutheran church. In politics Mr. Mattison is a strong Republican but has never been willing to accept any public office except membership on the school board. During the period of the World War he proved the quality of his Americanism by purchasing bonds and giving liberally to the Red Cross and other organizations. MICHAEL L. CRONIN, one of Cameron township's farmers and stockmen, has been a resident of Hall County since he came here in 1888, and he has prospered here through his industry and good management. Mr. Cronin was born January 6, 1856, at Charles ton, Coles County, Illinois. His parents were Jeremiah and Mary Cronin, both of whom were born in Ireland and were married there, coming to the United States on their honey moon. They settled first in Indiana and then removed to Coles County, Illinois, and from there into Greene County in the same state. Of their twelve children there are but two survivors: Michael L. and his sister, Mrs. Kate Thompson, whose husband is a railroad engineer. In boyhood Michael L. Cronin attended school as opportunity offered, and he grew to manhood industriously incHned with a desire to become a farmer and stockraiser. In 1888 he' came to Hall County, Nebraska, and brought with him sufficient capital to buy land that was already improved, farming for five years near Wood River. In 1892 he pur chased his present farm where he raises horsds, cattle and hogs, his annual average being twenty head of cattle and eighty head of hogs. Mr Cronin is now numbered with Cameron township's substantial farmers but he can easily recall times pasit when he offered to sell corn at eighty cents a bushel only to have it refused, when eggs sold for five cents a dozen, and when the highest price for cattie and hogs was $1.25 per hundred weight. As for potatoes, which so recently all over the country were in the list of luxuries, he could not give them away. In 1881 before coming to Nebraska, Mr. Cronin married Johanna Welsh, who was bora August 29, 1857, in Missouri. Her parents were Thomas and Margaret (Hartnett). Welsh, the former of whom was bom in County Limerick and the latter in County Cork, Ireland. From Missouri they removed HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 951 to .Montgomery County, Illinois, where the mother of Mrs. Cronin died, but her father died in Missouri at the age of fifty-eight years. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cronin, the two youngest being deceased: Michael, who passed away at the age of fifteen years, and Katherine, who was aged one year and nine months. All the others have been given every advantage their father has been able to afford them and the family is a very united one, all but two children still remaining with their parents. The list is as follows : John, a farmer and also conducts a garage at Saint Libory, in Howard County; Marie N., Joanna and Statia, all of whom live at honie ; Patrick, who entered the National army July 28, 1918; Thomas Francis, who assists his father, and Daniel William, a graduate of the Spalding school and may study a profession. iMr. Cronin and. his family are members of the Roman Catholic church. In politics he has always been a Democrat. NOLAN PATRICK LACEY.— No people are better known or more highly respected in South Jackson township, Hall County, than the Laceys, who came here by ox-team in 1878, and now o-wn some of the most valuable land in this section. The early history of the family is exceedingly interesting, with its pioneering features and military exploits, while its later records are no less so because of its sturdy character and solid American citizenship both in peace and war. Nolan Patrick Lacey was born at St. Louis, Missouri, October 28, 1844, the son of Pat rick and Mary (Nolan) Lecey.natives of Ire land. They had four sons and two daughters, Kolan Patrick being the eldest of the family. He lived with his parents until he was eighteen years of age. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in 1862 in the Union army and ,' was placed in the ordnance department. After- "ward he served untH the war's close with a gunboat crew, and was honorably discharged. On account of trouble with the Indians on the frontier, effort was made to increase the United States regular army, and Mr. Lacey, as a seasoned soldier responded. When the regulars marched across the plains under the command of General Morrow, Mr. Lacey was made first sergeant of Company G, Thirty- sixth Infantry. They were stationed at Camp Baker, Montana, and placed under the com mand of General Gibbons. Much trouble en sued with the Indians, although the most sen- ous encounters with the Sioux on the Yellow stone river occurred after Mr. -Lacey had re turned to private life. Warfare with the teacherous Indians was however full of dan ger. He served out his term' of enlistment, which ended in 1869, in the meanwhile hav ing been married, and for seven years after ward resided at Salt Lake City, Mr. Lacey during this time, working in'the silver mines. On September 25, 1869, at Fort Douglas, Utah, Mr^ Lacey married Miss Nancy Her shey, whom he first met in the fall of 1868. She was born January 7, 1848, in Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin, a daughter of Henry and Caroline (Good) Hershey. Her father was bom in Canada and her mother in Pennsyl vania. She takes pride in the fact that for two hundred years her ancestors have been Amer icans, coming originally to this continent from Switzerland, fienry fiershey, father of Mrs. Lacey had true pioneering spirit. He was twelve years old when he came to the United States, following the death of his father, and went to live with a brother in Allentown, Le high County, Pennsylvania, where he learned the millwright trade. He was twenty-one years old when he married Caroline Good, to which union three sons and five daughters were born, Mrs. Lacey being the fourth oldest child. Mr. and Mrs. Hershey Hved in Canada for a short time after their marriage. Later, prior to the birth of Mrs. Lacey, they moved to Wisconsin. Then Mr. Hershey became interested in the little town of Warsaw, Minnesota, which, through the efforts of himself aad brother, was colonized by Norwegians. In 1856 he built a grist mill and also a sawmill on the Canyon river, but pushed on into Nebraska six years later, arriving in a little settlement named Florence, the present site of the city of Omaha, in the winter of 1861. It must be remembered that the Hersheys traveled very differently from the way people do in these days. There were no speedy auto mobiles at that time, in fact there were no raHroads and but few horses to be had. Mrs. Lacey tells in a most interesting way of the winter journey in a prairie schooner drawn by oxen, in constant fear of savage Indians and very often during that winter the family fled to the blockhouse for protection. In the following July they left Omaha with a wagon train of sixty-three wagons, from two to three yoke of oxen being attached to each wagon, traveling slowly and in constant dan ger, finally reaching Salt Lake City by the way of the old Mormon trail. As noted above, Mr. and Mrs. Lacey livel at Salt Lake City until 1878, when they came to Nebraska, Mrs. Lacey making her second ox-team trip over the same trail on the way back. They located 952 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA < o < pq Ui4 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 953 in Hall County where Mr. Lacey took a pre emption and- timber claim in South Jackson township, and this has been the family home ever since. To Mr. and Mrs. Lacey the fol lowing children were bom: Frank J., Mary M., ]S[olan H., Caroline E., Walter D., Will iam "W., Emma D., Edward L. and Leonard C. Frank J., who is foreman in a large pack ing plant at Ontario, Southern California, mar- jried Emma Kesterson, and they have five sons and two daughters. Mary M. is the wife of Ward Allen, who is a market gardener and poultry fancier at Tulsa, Oklahoma. They have one son and one daughter. Nolan H. is the successful home farmer, operates the one hundred and sixty acres of fine land according to modern methods. On May 10, 1915, he mar ried in Grand Island, Miss Ora E. Lippin cott, who was bom at Keamey, Nebraska. Her parents afterward moved to Elm Island, on the Platte River, southeast of Shelton, and she was educated there. Caroline E. is the wife of Francis L. Johnson, working with a Grand Island construction company. They have four sons and two daughters. Walter D. is a , farmer in South Jackson township, near the Platte River, married SarabelleVaith. WHl iam W. is farming with his brother Walter D., married Etta C. Comer, and they have one - daughter. Emma D. is with her brother in Califomia. Edward L., who has returned from military service in the World War, is now working as a machinist at Sterling, Colo rado, and his record appears in the soldier section of this work. Leonard C, whose honor able record as a soldier also appears in the soldier section of this work, is engaged in '. farming near New Castle, Wyoming. Mrs. Lacey and her family are justly proud of what she accomplished in Red Cross work, during the World War, for .she not only provided comforts for her own sons, but knit eight additional sweaters and was one of the lead ing members of the Red Cross chapter at Shel ton. She is a member of the Re-organized church of the Latter Day Saints, which has its headquarters at Independence, Missouri. LEWIS C. BATTERSON. — An interest ing story appears in the relation of the early hfe in HaH County of one of its most highly esteemed pioneers, Lewis C. Batterson, who is, also, one of the county's most substantial citi zens. Like many other of the representative men of the county, he came from Ohio, and ~ was born in Williams County, May 24, 1848. His parents were natives of Connecticut and of their family of six children, he is the only survivor. Lewis C. Batterson came to fiall County, in November, 1872, homesteaded and has re mained here ever since. He is located in sec tion thirty, town nine, range twelve, and is the owner of four hundred and six acres all in one body, in Grarid Island, and no finer land can be found in the county. After com ing here he built himself a dugout, did his own housekeeping, and had one yoke of oxen and fifteen head of cattle that he had brought with him. On April 13, 1873, when a storm started, Mr. Batterson thought it best to drive his cattle out of the corrall down to the river until is should abate. He found so much to worry over in regard to his unprotected cattle during the next three days of furious storm, that he almost forgot that his little home was buried under snow and that he had neither fire nor anything to eat. When the storm finally exhausted itself, he managed to dig a path so that he could look for his cattle. He found that down by the river where the snow had drifted to the tops of trees that were thirty feet high, it had a crust so hard he could walk on the top of it. It was a sorrowful sight when at length he discovered his stock, for . all were dead except one ox and one little calf that had found protection under the body of the ox. Thinking he would go back and bring the ox some corn, Mr. Batterson started, but almost human-like, the poor animals straggled aftei: him, on the top of the snow, over the tree tops, finally reaching the half buried dug out. At that time an ox team was worth $175 and it was indeed discouraging to see his stock, his entire capital, thus wrenched from him. The comforts of his old home in Ohio came back to him as he sorrowfully considered his condition and he finally decided to leave Ne braska and retum to his native state. Hence he > offered his one ox for sale at $30, which would buy his railroad ticket to the old Buckeye state. Fortunately no one in his neighborhood had the above amount, and just at that time Mr. Batterson was sensible enough to listen to the practical suggestions of another settler, who reminded him that if he remained and proved up his land, he could sell at an advance, and in the meawhile things might take a tum for the better. He paid a man $1.50 a day to help him skin his dead cattle, hired an ox-team to haul the hides nine miles to Gibbon, sold them there only to be told that he could not be paid under a week. The bill amounted to $30 and Mr. Batterson afterward made two trips on foot to 954 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA collect his money, on neither occasion find ing his debtor at home. In fact he never re ceived one farthing of it, the man leaving the country. In the meantime, however, Mr.Bat- terson had made friends and a neighbor was wHling to be security for him when he bought other oxen, for which he paid $60. With this team he broke sod and planted corn, also found work at fifty cents a day. He had one more discouraging experience before becoming well established. He hired out to a logging com pany at Laramie, Wyoming, for $3 a day and worked untH he had earned $150, when the company decHned to pay on the excuse that bankers had an attachment on the .timber and the company could do nothing. In the faH of 1874, Mr. Batterson returned to Ohio and on Febraary 23, 1875, married Miss Minerva Cooper, of WiHiams County, a daughter of Griffith and Nancy (Amsbaugh) Cooper, the father a native of Virginia and the mother of Pennsylvania. After marriage Mr. Batterson returaed with his young wife and they started housekeeping, in the little frame shanty he had erected, twelve by four teen. In the next spring he built a sod addition for a kitchen. It was a happy home although there is a great contrast between that and the present commodious farm house with its mod ern comforts. To. Mr. and Mrs. Batterson three daughters were born all three no-W in homes of their own within easy reach of their parents. The eldest, DeHa, is the wife of C. H. Bly, and they live on a farm about four miles southwest of Wood River. They ha-ve three sons. Carrie, the second daughter, is the wife of S. P. Burmood and they live one- half mile east of the home place, and have two sons and one daughter. Blanche, the third daughter, is the wife of G. L. Burmood, a farmer located four; miles south of Wood River, and they have two daughters. Mr. Batterson is one of the honored veter ans of the Civil War. When sixteen years old, in February, 1865, he enlisted in Com pany D, One Hundred Ninety-fifth Ohio In fantry, and took part, as a man, in the closing campaigns of the war, serying in the Shenan doah Valley. When the war closed he was sent to Baltimore, then to Washington, D. C, then to Alexandria and finally to Camp Chase, Ohio, where he was mustered out and received his honorable discharge in December, 1865. Pie then went to Iowa for awhHe, in 1871 to Kansas, and from there traveling in a covered wagon, with his precious bunch of cattle, reached Hall County in 1872. Although there is no necessity, Mr. Batterson still looks after his own affairs to a large extent himself. Both he and wife are members of the Evangelical church. They are widely known and are not only respected but much beloved in their neigh borhood. CLARENCE M. LOWRY, who has lived on his original homestead in Hall County, Nebraska, ever since he secured it forty-four years ago, is widely known in this section for he has been an active, useful, public-spirited citizen. He had many trying experiences in the settlement and developing his land. He was one of the earliest to agitate and give assist ance in the adjustment of such public matters as the organization of. schools and the im provement of roads. He now owns two hun dred and sixty-six acres of cultivated land. Mr. Lowry was bom near La Fayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana, February 4, 1854. His parents were William Harrison and Sarah Lowry, the latter of whom lived to be ninety years old. Mr. Lowry's father was born in Ohio, later became a fanner in In diana, still later came to Nebraska and died in Nemaha County when fifty years old. The record of his children reads as follows : Alex ander, who is deceased ; Mrs. Rebecca Cromp- ton, who is deceased; Mrs. Sarah J. HaH, a widow, lives in Idaho; Samuel, who lives on his ranch in Texas ; Harrison, deceased ; John, who is deceased; Mrs. Margaret Denman, who is deceased; and Clarence M,, who lives in Hall County. Harrison, John and James were soldiers during the Civil War, enlisting from Nebraska but as there was no recrait- ing station here they had to go to Iowa to en ter the service. When Clarence Malcom Lowry was four years old his parents brought him to Nemaha County, Nebraska. He attended the country schools when opportunity came but his boy hood and early youth held many responsi bilities. He gave his father assistance on the home farm until 1872, when he came to fiall County and has lived here ever since. Coming here so early, he encountered many pioneer hardships that later settlers escaped. The great blizzard of 1873 that finds a record in state history, was probably the most calamit ous of all the severe storms through which Mr Lowi-y passed, although subsequent ones, the later years of drouth, and the pest of grass--; hoppers were all serious matters enough to discourage men of less resolution than Mr. Lowry. In 1873 he took up a homestead^ where he has since resided, being the only "* settler in this section who has done so. His property has been well improved and his sur- HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 955 "W. S. Mattern 956 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA roundings indicate thrift and good manage ment, fie carries on general farming and is a moderate feeder of cattle and hogs to some extent. In Hall County, Febraary 4, 1877, Mr. Lowry married Miss Maggie Dufford, whose parents were born arid reared in Pennsylvania. 'Mr. and Mrs. Lowry have seven children: Mrs. Delia MeserauH, who lives in Doniphan ; Archibald, who lives near Anselmo in Custer County; Mrs. Nettie Herr resides on a farm in Hamilton County ; Robert a farmer in Hall County; Mrs. Gertrude Crawford, who lives in HaH County; and Fay and Rolland, both of whom are at home. As soon as Mr. Lowry became a land owner in the county and felt assured that the Indians yet in evidence were only thieving and not hostile he began to agi tate for the organization of schools, believing this to be one of the first helps to good and intelligent citizenship. Afterward he served as a school^ director for twenty years. In the early times the transportation question was a very serious one and Mr. Lowry did his full ptart in bringing about fhe building of roads and later served four years in the office of road overseer. As a man of long experi ence and practical ideas, his suggestions on many subjects relating to the public welfare carry weight with his fellow citizens. He has been a Mason for many years being identified with the lodge at Doniphati. JOHN C. McGOWAN, one of Hall County's representative farmers and stock raisers, a heavy land owner and honorable, up right citizen, was born April 4, 1880, at Wilton Center, Will County, IHinois. fie is the eldest of a family of two sons and three daughters born to Michael and Mary A. (Shields) McGowan. His father was born in Ireland and his mother in Illinois. John C. McGowan was brought to Nebraska by his parents in 1883. After his father came to the United States, he remained in the state of New York for eight years, then went to IHinois and was married there in AprH, 1879. After coming to Nebraska, he bought one hun dred and sixty acres of land at $12.50 an acre, situated near Rising City in Butler County, and still lives there. In the schools of Butler County, John C. McGowan received his educa tion, and afterward became a farmer and in association with his father and brother, ac quired a six hundred acre tract in Butler County. In the spring of 1916 he came to Hall Courity and began improving the land the family had purchased ten years before in sec tions two and three, town nine, range twelve. He now has charge of seven hundred and twenty acres all under cvultivation except seventy-five acres in alfalfa and one hundred and sixty in pasture, of which he owns four hundred and forty. The property is improved with a large two-story frame house, substan- . tial barns, cattle corrals and hog sheds. He is doing remarkably well in cattle and hogs, taking his 1919 record, which shows that so far he has sold fifty head of hogs averaging two hundred and forty pounds, and has an other car of hogs ready, also fifty head of fat cattle, mostly "White Face, that will average 1,100 pounds. He has ten head of work horses and mules, and attends to affairs over . his large estate by driving a Chandler automobHe. fie keeps in touch with agricultural progress in this and other sections through membership in the Farmers' Grange of district twenty- seven, and is financially interested in the Farmers Elevator association of Wood River. On September 12, 1916, Mr. McGowan married Miss Margaret C. Branigan, of Shel by, Nebraska. She is the ninth in a family of twelve children born to Maurice and Nora (Burke) Branigan, natives of Ireland, who were married at Columbus, Nebraska. The father of Mrs. McGowan was a section fore man in the construction of the raHroad from Columbus west to Egbert, Wyoming. After leaving the railroad in 1889 he moved on his homestead near Clear Creek, Polk County, Nebraska, where he followed farming until the close of his life, in 1905. The mother of Mrs. McGowan stiH lives on the farm and owns two hundred and forty acres. Mrs. Mc-- Gowan has been very active in Red Cross work and has taken special interest in the noble work done by the Knights of Columbus along the same line. Mr. McGowan is a mem ber of this organization. Both belong to St. Mary's Catholic church at Wood River. CfiARLES A. DAHLSTROM.— In re calling the fine men of Hall County now passed away mention must be made of Charles August Dahlstrom, who, for many years was known and respected here. He came to HaH County with but littie to show for the hard labor of a long period before, but when he died, December 14, 1911, he left a rich man's ' estate, owning one thousand and forty acres of well improved land. ' Charles August Dahlstrom was born in Sweden, April 20, 1856, a son of August 1 Hockhanson Dahlstrom. After completing-J his elementary education he attended an agri- *? HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 957 cultural college at Wennersborg, Sweden, for two years. In 1879 he came to the United States and found his first work in a factory at Boston, Massachusetts. From there he went to Omaha. After working on a farm near that city for a time, he removed to Polk County, where he engaged in farming for about fifteen years. He then came to Hall County and remained until the end of his life, an honest, steady, hard-working famier. He was unusually successful after coming here, soon acquiring a fine farm and when he died left not only a fine inheritance in a material way, but a good name, and a family that re flects still further credit on it. He was a large cattle owner and feeder, often marketing five hundred head of cattle and six hundred head of hogs a year. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church in Grand Island, and belonged to the Modern Woodmen at the same place. In Polk County Mr. Dahlstrom was united in marriage to Miss Fanny Spong, the cere mony taking place November 11, 1883. Five children were bom to them : George a farmer in Holt County ; Nora, the wife of E. J, Long, a member of one of the old pioneer families of fiall County; Frank Richards, who served one year in the National army in the aviation ¦.'¦. department, attended the Massachusetts- School of Technology, then was stationed at Brookfield, Texas, where, as a lieutenant he had charge of the operation of 62 aeroplanes for the government ; Fannie May, in the em ploy of the govemment at Washington, D, C, and Neva, who resides with her mother at Alda, after seven months in a government posi tion at Washington, Mr, Dahlstrom was a Democrat in his political views but he could never be induced to accept a political office, WILLIAM R. CUNNINGfiAM, in the employ of the Fairmont Creamery Company, of Grand Island, is a native of the neighbor ing state of Iowa, and was born in MiHs : County, December 24, 1871. His parents, Alexander and Carrie S.. (Slat er) Cunningham, were natives of Pennsyl- '>;'vania, the father was born in Fulton County and the mother in Washington County. They were married July 4, 1865, and for many years resided in Iowa where the father foHowed the occupation of farming. In 1898 they became residents of Nebraska. Alexander Cunningham was a soldier in the Civil War, having seiwed ^ the full three years and was one of those for tunate enough to serve a full term and return home without having been wounded. He was prominent in the I. O. O. F. lodge and assisted in organizing a number of lodges. "William R. was the fourth child in a family of six, and was reared on a farm. His edu cation was acquired in the public schools of Iowa, and he also attended the Western Nor mal College at Shenandoah. His parents then removed to Missouri, and there he assisted his father in the operation of a farm. August 21, 1895, occurred the marriage of William R, Cunningham and Miss Balsa L, Peery, who was born in Nodaway County, August 31, 1877, Her parents are GranviHe and Amanda E. (Harlan) Peery. They were both natives of Missouri, the father born in Grundy County and the mother in Gentry County. Granville Peery was left an orphan at the age of seven years and became one of the early settlers of Nodaway County where he engaged in farming until he retired. He and his wife now live at Elmo, Missouri. Mrs. Cunningham was fifth in a family of twelve children and by her marriage has become the mother of seven children, as foHows : Oren E., a young man of twenty-two, is a member of the American Expeditionary Force, and is now in France in the service of his country (see his record and photograph in the soldiers sec tion). Urah J., is a graduate of the Grand Is land high school and is in her junior year at the Kearney State Normal School, and will teach the coming year; Eldon P., is a junior in the Grand Island high school, and is, during his vacation employed by the Fremont Cream ery Company; Verle E., aged fifteen, and Royle R., are attending school; one chHd, WHHam E., died in infancy; and Harlan E.', aged four, completes the family. The family are members of the Christian church in the work of which they are very active. Mrs. Cunningham is treasurer of the Dorcas Society. During the war she was a liberal supporter and great worker in the do ings of the Red Cross. Mr. Cunningham and his family came to Grand Island seven years ago and for a time he was employed by the American Express Company. He then was an employe of the Fairmont Creamery Company. On the 13th of August, 1919, he went back to the express com pany. Since coming to this city they have made themselves valuable members of the best co- ciety and are held in the highest esteem by all who know them. ROBERT BRUCE RAY. — Though not a native of Nebraska, the subject of this record has been a resident of the state since the age 958 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA of three years. He was born in Knox County, IHinois, July 26, 1885. fiis parents were Archi bald M. and Rachel (McCormick) Ray, of whom mention is made on another page of this volume, in a sketch prepared for William Wal lace Ray. Robert Bruce Ray was reared on a farm and attended the country schools, later entering the high school in Tecumseh, after which he be came a student in the State Normal at Peru, Nebraska, from which he was graduated with the class of 1906. For three years he suc cessfully engaged in teaching school, and then for a time he solicited as a canvasser of books. Since 1910 he has been a salesman for the Walrath and Sherwood Lumber Company, and maintains his home in Grand Island, fie took a soldier's part in the great World War, as will be seen from his record in the military chapter of this history. On January 2, 1907, Mr. Ray married Miss Mary Phoebe Sheppard, who was bom near Shelby, Polk County, Nebraska, fier parents are WHliam H. and Harriet W. (Ware) Shep pard, who were among the early settlers in Polk County and it is said that they erected the first frame dwelling in that neighborhood. Mr. and Mrs. Ray are the parents of three children: Harriet Rachel, born November 5, 1907; WiHa Gertrude, born August 11, 1909; and Robert Bruce, Jr., born January 2, 1915. He is a member of the Masonic, B. P. O. E. and U. C. T. lodges. The family occupy a comfortable home which they own, at 324 Wes: Tenth street. WILLIAM WALLACE RAY.— Because centrally located, together with the fact that it offers unusually good accommodations in the way of railway travel. Grand Island is a very desirable place to live in the capacity of travel ling salesman. The subject of this record is one of those who have found it convenient to avail himself of the opportunities thus af forded and has made his home in Grand Is land for the past seventeeen years. William "Wallace Ray was born in Yates City, Knox County, Illinois, October 2, 1876. His parents were Archibald M. and Rachel (McCormick) Ray, both of whom were na tives of Ireland, the former born at Belfast, May 27, 1846, and the latter in the County of Antrim, August 13, 1850. They were brought to America by their represeritative parents when twelve years of age. They were mar ried in Douglas County, Illinois, in August, 1874, and the father became a farmer residing in Knox County until 1888. When he came to Nebraska he settled near Bladen, and con tinued to be an agriculturist until his death which occurred August 17, 1897. The mother still resides on the old home place. William Wallace acquired his education in the public schools of Illinois and Nebraska, his early training being supplemented by a course in the Nebraska State Normal School, at Peru, from which he was graduated with the class of 1902. His early years in business were devoted to farming, stockraising and teaching. For the past eleven years he has been in the wholesale lumber business, and is vice-president of the Ottawa Lumber Com pany, which has extensive lumber interests in northern Michigan. Mr. Ray looks after the business of the firm over a wide territory, his field covering a large part of Nebraska, East ern Colorado and Eastern Wyoming. He is also a stockholder and director in the Bladen Lumber Company of Bladen, Nebraska. At Bladen, Nebraska, December 29, 1902, was solemnized the marriage of William Wal lace Ray and Miss Blanche Gather. Mrs. Ray is a native of Nebraska. She was born near Bladen, October 21 1878. After completing the prescribed course of study taught in the public schools, she became a student in Grand Island College, from which she was graduated ^with the class of 1901, with the A. B. degree. The parents of Mrs. Ray were George P. and Frances Gather, the former born in Virginia, whHe the latter was a native of Boston, Massa- . chuesetts and was a graduate of the Mount fiolyoke Seminary. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Ray has been blessed with the birth of three healthy chil dren : George Cather, born November 9, 1907 ; Margaret Blanche, born October 2, 1911; and Frances Eleanor, born October 27, 1913. A brother of Mrs. Ray was Lieutenant G. P. Cather, Jr., who fell at Cantigny, France, May 28, 1918, being the first Nebraska officer to lose his life in the World War. Lieutenant Cather was a member of the First Division, Twenty-sixth Infantry, being under command of Major Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. Mr. Ray, is a niember of several fratemal organiz;ations, being a Mason and has taken both the Knight Templar and Shriner degrees of that organization. His name is also found on the membership of B. P. O. E. and U. C. T. lodges of Grand Island, fie exercises the right of franchise in support of men he deems best fitted for the office regardless of party affiHa- tions. fie is an ardent admirer o'f President , Woodrow Wilson, who has just pHoted the United States through one of the most trying , times in its history. GENERAL INDEX Abbot, a trading center, 143 Abbott, O. A., writes of first constitutional convention, 186 ; lieutenant governor, 189; first attorney in county, 423 Aero Campany, 262 Agriculture, growth of, in the county, 223 Agricultural organizations, 225 Agricultural Society, organiza tion of, 229 Alda, town of, 142; banks in, 311; its schools, 360; its lodges, 385 Alda State Bank, 311 Alda township, 157 Alfalfa, introduction of, into Nebraska, 224 American Investment Com pany, 314 . Amsberry, Darius M., secretary of state, 190 Ancient Order of United Workmen in Grand Island, 376; in county, 377 Anderson, Jack, gives glimpses of early life in Hall County, 93 Anderson-Smith Massacre, 76 Anzeiger and Herald, 400 Ashlar lodge, A. F. & A. M., first Masonic in county, 368 Ashton, Fred W., an attorney, 426 Astorian Expedition, 5 Athletic organizations, 381 Augustine Company, printers, 247 Automobile industry, 255 Bacon, "W". R., an early attor ney, 425 Bands in county, 381 Banks, 297 Bank of Commerce, 303 Bank of Doniphan, 307 Baptist church : First in Grand . Island, 343 ; Immanuel, 343 Barnard, Richard C, represen tative in the legislature, 183 Barnes, Eli A,, writes of the settlement of Prairie Creek township, 156 Barton, Silas R., state auditor, 189; member of congress, 194 Barr, George H,, an early attor ney, 425 Barr, Robt. J., elected princi pal of Grand Island schools, 357 Bassett, Samuel C, writes of "A Broken Axle," 92 Bates, J. M., describes the flora of Hall County, 198 Beet Sugar industry, 230; fac tory, 239 Bell, George B., banker, 301 Bentley, Charles F., banker, 300 Bessey, Dr. C. E., writes of alfalfa, 224 Bicycle industry, 260 Black Hills, expedition to, 229 Blain Horse and Miule Com pany, 252 ' Blizzard of 1888, 202 Board of Supervisors, record of first meeting of, 171 ; mem bers and proceedings of sub sequent boards, 172 ff Board of Trade, 291 Boyd, James E., 75 Bradstreet & Clemens Co., 251 Brittin, N. F., 124 Brown Fruit Co., 254 Building and Loan Associa- ' tions, 311 Burger, W. J., writes of the early history of the south side of the Platte River, 145 Business Men's Club, 291 Cairo, town of, 138 ; its govern ment, 138; business houses, 140; its banks, 310; its schools, 361 ; its lodges, 385 Cameron township, 152 Campbell ranch, Indian raid, 41 Campbell, J. R., writes of pio neer days in "Western Ne braska, 42 Canal bonds, issuance of de feated, 170 Catholic church ; history of, 328 Grand Island Parish, 329 'Wood River parish, 331 Grand Island diocese, 332 Center township, 157 Central Labor Union, 394 Central Nebraska Republican, 402 Central Power Company of Grand Island, 113 Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, 326 Christian church. Grand Is land, 346 Christian Science, 347 Cigar factories, 245 Citizens' State Bank of 'Wood River, 308 Citizens' State Bank, 297 Civil "War, one man entered from Hall County, 433 Clapp, Mrs. Sarah, tells of work of Major North, 40 Cleary, James, early business leader, 266 Clerks of District Court, list of, 177 Clifford, Henry E., 425 Columbus, mentioned, 11 Commercial Club, 292; mem bers of, 293 Commercial Exchange Bank of Doniphan, 307 Commercial State Bank, 304 Congregational church : First in Grand Island, 345; in Doniphan, 346 Constitutional Conventions, names of men who repre sented Hall County in, 185 ; O. A. Abbott writes of ones held in 1871-1875, 186 Coon, Rev. R. R., writes of Grand Island College, 364 Coroners of Hall County, 178 Country Club, 383 County attorneys, 178 County clerks, list of, 177 County commissioners, early proceedings of, 167 ff. County Council of Defense, 443, 460; "Women's auxiliary of, 461 County treasurers, list of, 177 Court House, bonds voted for, 169, 175; farewell to the old, 421 Courts of the county, 413 ff Cowboy regime, 97 Cowboys, the, 65 Creameries. 241 Cyclone of 1919, 204 Daily-Estabrook Contest, 182 Dairying, 227 Darnell, J. H., an early attor ney, 424 Davenport Company, failure of, 13, 22 Degree of Hjonor in Grand Island, 377 Democrat, The, 400 Democratic convention, first territorial, 181 Denman, Z. H., 158 Dentists of Hall County, 410 Deuel Chapter, R, A. M., 369 Dey, Peter A., railroad engi neer, 319 District Court, first in Hall 959 960 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA County, 413; beginning of court work in county, 423 Dodge, GrenviHe M., railroad builder, 316 Dodge School, mentioned, 353 Dolan Fruit Co., 253 Doniphan : town of, 132 ; officers in, 134; commercial interests, 136; early settlement near, 146; Methodist church in, 339 ; Congregational church in, 346; its schools, 359; lodges, 385 ; its newspapers, 404 Doniphan, Bank of, 307; Com mercial Exchange Bank of, 307 Donald Company, The, 253 Doyle, Thirza M., gives histori cal information, 386 EaglBs Fraternal Order oe, 379 Edward, Herschel A., 425 Eldridge, W. G., an early set tler in Alda township, 157 Elevator enterprises, 234 Elks in Grand Island, 378 Episcopal church, 332 Equitable Building and Loan Association, 312 Etting Candy Company, 254 Ewing, James, 126 Fairmont Creamery Company 242 Farm Bureau, 232 Farmers Mercantile Company of Cairo, 235 Farmers State Bank of Cairo, 310 Farmers' unions, 233 ; Co-oper ative Exchange of, 235 Federal Fuel Administration, 465 Fifth Nebraska Infantry, his tory of, 436; roster of mem bers ot Company M., 438 Finch, Dr. D. A., 411 Financial institutions, 297 First National Bank, 302 Foght, H. "W., writes of the Pawnees, 38 Food Administration, 464 Fort Independence, 27, 49 Fort Kearny, 433 Fort Kearny and Nebraska City road, 59 Fort O. K, 49 Four minute men, 465 Fremont, town of, mentioned, 11 Fremont, John C, describes Grand Island, 7 Free Press, 402 Gallup, I. C, Horse and Mule Company, 252 Ganville, Richard C, an early attorney, 425 Gerrard, Leander, unsuccess ful candidate for the legis lature, 183 Goettsche-Frauen Massacre, 29, 50 Gould, Jay, aids in grasshopper plague, 33 G, A, R. Building Association, 435 Grand Army of the Republic, 434 Grand Island : Fremont's des cription of, 7; settlement, 12, 15; personnel of first colony, 19 ; second colony, 21 ; set tlement protected, 27 ; organi zation of, 101 ; list of officers of, 103; parks, 110; fire de partment, 111; municipal. im provements, 112; revenue and taxation, 115; street railway system, 118; industrial enter prises in, 236 ff; commercial history, 263; hotels, 269; banking in, 297; churches, 328; schools in, 351; bonds voted on, 353; early census of, 355'; early graduates from high school, 356; fraternal organizations, 392 ; press in, 395; physicians, 405 Grand Island Banking Com pany, 298 Grand Island Brewery, 239 Grand Isla,nd Building and Loan Association, 311 Grand Island' Business and Normal College, 362 Grand Island Canning Factory, 238 Grand Island College, 363 Grand Island Culvert & Metal "Works, 246 Grand Island Electric Company, 113 Grand Island General Hospital, 410 Grand Island Horse and Mule Company, 252 Grand Island Loan and Trust Company, 314 Grand Island National Bank, 298 Grand Island and Northwest ern Railroad Company, bonds voted for, 169 Grand Island Stock yards, 249 Grand Island Telephone Com pany, 248 Grange movement, 226 Grasshopper plague, 14, 31; congress asked for aid, 31; 196 ; poem on, 198 Guenther, "William, gives ac count of settlement of Lake township, 160 Hainline & Son Laundry, 246 Hall, Judge Augustus, bio graphical sketch of, 183 Hall County, discoveries affect ing, 2; settlement of, 10 ff; first things in 23; public lands surveyed in, 30; early Indians in, 34 ff; effect of Oregon trail on, 57 ; map of, 60; arrival of permanent set tlers in; 64; cowboy regime in, 65; earlv days in, 77 ff; last years of Indian occupa tion in, 88; townships of, 145 ; township government in, 161 ; list of early voters in,^ 161; organization of, 166; first records of, 167; early proceedings of official board of, 168; townships formed, 171; fiftieth anniversary of, 179 ; part of, in state and federal governments, 181 ; list of senators represent ing, 184; members of lower house of legislature from, 184; representatives from, in early constitutional conven tions, 185 ; state officers from, 188; fauna, flora, and natural history of, 195; topography and soil s-arvey of, ^0/ j agriculture, live stock and dairying in, 223, 227; beet sugar industry in, 230 ; indus trial history of, 236; bank ing in, 297; railroads, 316; churches, 328; schools of, 348; fraternal and social organizations, 368; organized labor in, 392; press of, 395; medical and dental profession, 405; bench and bar, 413; chronological survey of coun ty's progress, 429; in mili tary affairs, 433; in the "World "War, 441; list of sons in war, 468 Hall County Immigration Board, 225 Hamann, August, describes cyclone of 1919, 204 Hanssen, John M., writes of early schools, 350 Harrison township, 154 Harrison, T, O. C, Supreme Court justice, 190 Harte, Bret, poem by, 319 Hayman, "Winfield S., an attor ney, 426 Hedde, Fred, an early business leader, 265 Hedde, Frederick, narrative of, 11, Herman Nelson Lumber and Supply Co., 245 Home Guards, 463 Home Savings Bank, 305 Horse, Mule and Cattle Mar ket, Grand Island, 250 Horth, Ralph R., an attorney, 425 Hospitals, 409 Hotels in Grand Island, 269 Hoye, Patrick, 125 Hurst Sash and Door Co., 244 Indians: cause scare in 1864, 14; visit colony in 1858, 21; first massacre by, 25 ; Paw-, nees treacherous, 28; early inhabitants of Hall County, 34; the Sioux, 39; outbreak ' HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 961 of 1864, 39; raid the Camp bell ranch, 41 ; journeying to the hunt, 50; dance of, 51; horsethieves, 53; last years of occupancy of Platte 'Val ley, 88 ff. Immigra'tion Board, 290 Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 372 Independent, The, 396 Jackson James, 123 Jackson-'Wood River town ship, 150; early landholders in, 152 Jim Boyd Ranch, 75 Kelly "Well Co., 246 Kelso, J., broom manufacturer, 244 Knights of Columbus, 377 Knights of Pythias in Grand Island, 375 Knights Templar, Mt. Lebanon Commandery, 370 Koenig, Henry A,, state treas urer, 189; an early business leader, 265 Labor Organizations, 392 Ladies' Auxiliary, B. or R. T., 386 Lake township, 160 Land, rapid rise in value, of 221 Laundries, 245 Lawyers of Hall County, 423 Lewis and Clark Expedition, 4 Letton, Judge Charles B., des cribes storm of 1873, 201 Liberty Loan Campaign, 462 Long's Expedition, 7, 37 Loup Valley Packing Company, 249 Lutheran Church: Evangelical Lutheran Trinity, Grand Is land, 340 ; St. Paul's English, 341 ; Evangelical Lutheran, 342 McAllister, "W. R., early busi ness man, 266 McDonald Co., D. H., 246 MacMurray, S., 125 Maccabees, 380 Maher, John, 152 Martin, George, 149 Mankin, Richard, 125 Martin township, 147 Martin, W. E., writes of the Platte Valley, 88 Masonic lodges in Hall Coun ty, ,568 Masonic Building Association, 370 Mayfield township, early remin iscences of, by R. C. Perkins, 154 "Menck, Christian, writes of "An Early Hall County Bridal Couple," 16 Merchants Clubs, 291 ¦Methodist church: First, in Grand Island, 335 ; Trinity, 339; in "Wood River, 339; in Alda, 339; in Doniphan, 339 Michelson, James, early busi ness leader, 266 Miller, Dr. Howard C, 411 Milling industry, 237 Minton-"Woodward Company, 253 Mitchell-Ketchum-OIive trag edy, 66 Mitchell Serum Co., 247 Mitchell, "W. "W., 127 Modern Brotherhood of Amer ica, 380 Modern "Woodmen of America, 381 Moore, Anthony, 151 Moore, Patrick, 151 Moose, Loyal Order of, 379 Mjormons, 63 Mothers' Teachers' Federated Club, 390 Moving picture industry, 255 Nagel, Theodore, first school teacher in county, 348 Nebraska : beginning of his tory of, 2; changes in terri tory of, 7 ; initial steps in for mation of, 8; territorial gov ernment of prior to 1858, 9; population in 1857, 11; Paw nees in, 35 ; trails across, 56 ff. ; first statehood election, 183; in the "World "War, 441 Nebraska Loan & Trust Com pany, 315 Nebraska Mercantile Co., 253 Nebraska State Bank, 306 Nebraska Telephone Company, 247 Nelson, Luella B., gives history of Rebekahs, 373 "Nezarrezarries," 48 Nichelson, James, Jr., gives in formation on Loyal Order of Moose, 379; Royal Highland ers, 380 North, Major Frank, and his Pawnee scouts, 40 North & Robinson Company, 142 "O, K. Store," 263 Olive, I. P., 66 ff. Oliver, Edward, Sr., Oregon Trail, 57 Overland Trail, 58 93 Pacieic Fur Corporation, 5, note Paine-Fishburn Granite Com pany, 242 Paine, Ira T., Sr., writes his tory of First Methodist church of Grand Island, 335 Parochial schools in county, 366 Patterson, Dr. J. P,, quoted, 263 Paul, Col. H. J., writes history of Fifth Nebraska Infantry, 436 Pawnees, largest tribe that lived in Nebraska, 35; decay of, 38; Major Frank North and Pawnee bcouts, 40 Penney, Minnie Freeman, a heroine, 203 People's Building and Loan Association, 313 Peoples State Bank, 306 Perkins, R. C. gives his remi niscences of early days in Mayfield township, 154 Physicians, list of, 405 ff. Pike's Peakers, 13 "Pioneer Days in 'Western Ne braska," by J. R. Campbell, 42 Piper, Edwin Ford, poem of, on the grasshoppers, 198 Platt, "W. H., early business leader, 266 Platt, "William H.^ an early attorney in county, 424 Platte River bridge, bonds vot ed for, 168 Plattsdeutch Verein, 383 Pony Express, 60 Postmaster of Grand Island, 193 Prairie Creek township, 156; notes on its settlement, by Eli A. Barnes, 155 Prairie fire in winter of 1859- 1860, 78 Prince, 'Willard A., an attor ney, 426 Presbyter-'an church : First in Grand Island, 343; at "Wood River, 345 Press of county, 395 Public Library of Grand Island, 116 Quackenbush, O. M. writes of the early history of Wood River "Valley, 71; gives early history of 'Wood River, 120; brief biography of, 127 RainE, John G., early business leader, 266 Rebekah Odd Fellowship, his tory of, in Grand Island, 373 ; in "Wood River, 375 "Recollections," by Fred Stol ley, 43 Red Cross organized, 443 ; Hall County Chapter of, 451 ; Grand Island Chapter, 452; Women's Executive Committee, 452; membership and financial campaigns, 453 Reese, Norman, reminiscences of, 80 Registers of land office, 194 Republican convention, first ter ritorial, 182 Roach, John, 124 Royal Highlanders, 380 Runnelsburg, a past trading center, 144 962 filSTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Ryan, Mrs. C. G., gives infor mation on St. Cecilia Society, 385 St. Cecilia Society, 385 St. Francis' Hospital, 409 St. Joseph and Grand Island Railroad, bonds voted for, 170 St. Joseph and Grand Island Railroad, 325 Salvation Army, 347 Scheffel & Son, monuments, 243 Schauppsville, an extinct town, 144 Schernekau, A., writes of early days in Hall County, 77 ff. ; enters Civil War from coun ty, 433 School Board, members of, 357 ff. Schools in Hall County, 348; county superintendents, 349; in Grand Island, 359; in Wood River, 360; in Alda, 360 ; in Cairo, 361 ; school population, 362 ; parochial school, 366 Security National Bank, 304 Seventh Day Adventists, 347 Sheriffs of Hall County, 178 Sherrerd, S. A., 128 Shoemaker Island, 149 Sioux Indians, 38, 46 Soil survey of county, 207 Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, 190; commandants of, 191 Spanish American War, 436 Spanish War Veterans Post, 436 Sprague, W. L., 125 Stage coaches, 59 Stage routes through Hall County, 82 State Bank of Grand Island, 305 State Central Bank, a pioneer institution, 297 Stolley, Fred, gives his recollec tions of early days, 43 ; gives account of first school in county, 348 Stolley, William, . gives early remisnis'cences, 18; asks con gress for aid in grasshopper devastation, 32 Stolley school district, 349 Stoltenberg, Claus, 158 Stone, Virgil K., an attorney, 426 Storm of 1873, described by Judge Charles B. Letton, 201 Superintendents of schools, 178, 349 Surveyors of Hall County, 178 Thayer, John M., governor of state, 188 Theosophical Society, 347 .Thomas, C. W., early business man, 266 Thompson, Judge John R., testimonial to, 422 Thompson, John R., an early attorney in county, 424 Thomssen, John, gives details of Anderson-Smith massacre, 76 Thorpe, William and Fred, 125 Thummell, George H., member first constitutionl convention, 187 Times, of Grand Island, 400 Topography and soil survey of county, 207 ff. Trapp, William L. G., 125 Travelers Protective Associa tion, 386 Trefen, George W., an early attorney, 424 Tully, C. H., manufacturer of woven wire fencing, 243 Underwood, an extinct trading center, 144 Union Pacific Railway, early history of, 319; local manage ment, 321 ; superintendents, 321 ; mechanical department, 322; list of train and engine- men, 322 ; station agents, 325 ; branches, 326 United States Investment Com pany, 313 United war work, 466 Vieregg, Henry, early bottler, 244 Wait, Addison, secretary of state, 190 Wallichs, John, state auditor, 189 War Activities Committee, 462 War Savings Committee, 465 'Washington township, 160 Wheel clubs, 382 White Cloud, an early post- office, 74 White, J. R., county agent, 233 Wilkins, Rev. H., gives history of Evangelical Lutheran church. Grand Island, 340 ' Winn, Major-General Frank L., writes of World War experi ences, 439 Wolbach Bros., pioneer mer chants, 284 Wolf, Father W., 329 Woolley, John H., an early attornev, 425 Woman's Club, 391 Woodmen of the World, 380 Wood River, first settlers, 14; post office, 74; early history of, 120 ; officers of, 121 ; early community buildings in, 124; early commercial interests 129; Citizens State Bank of, 308; Methodist church in, 339 ; Presbyterian church, 345 ; schools of, 360 ; Mason ry in, 372; Rebekah Oddfel- lowship in, 375; lodges of. 385 ; newspapers or, 403 Wood River Building & Loan Association, 314 Wood River Co-operative Grain Company, 235 Wood River Valley, early his tory of, 71 World "War, activities in Hall County, 441 ff. Woven wire fence factory, 243 Young Men's Christian Association, 387 Young Women's Christian Association, 389 INDEX TO BIOGRAPHIES Abbott, Marcus R., 919 Abbott, Othman A„ 565 Ahrens, Alexander, 793 Ahrens, Henry C, 785 Ahrens, Mrs, Magdalene, 788 Allan, John, 577 Anderson, Alfred, 661 Anyan, William H,, 689 Arthur, Rev, Lewis A,, 821 Augustin, Walter F., 888 .Augustin, William R., 890 ijAugustine, Ernest W,, 569 Baasch, Carl, 820 Baker, Edward H., 730 Baker, George M,, 759 Ballenger, Edward L., 622 Ballinger, William J., 942 Barnard, Roger H., 811 Barnes, Eli A,, 615 Barr, Robert J., 562 Batterson, Lewis C, 953 Bauer, Christopher, 789 Baumann, George J., 661 Becker August, 691 Becker, Henry, 858 Beers, Wallace D„ 890 Benson, Hilmer, 935 Benton, Almond W., 872 Berg, Robert, 811 Bierbower, Charles W., 889 Bitter, John Henry, 866 Bain, William I„ 636 Blauvelt, Frank E., 727 Bock, Rudolph W,, 630 Boeck, Julius, 574 Boekman, Henry, 828 Boehm, Theodore P., 608 Boltz, Edward, 863 Bjltz Emil, 931 Boodry, Leslie, Jr,, 874 Boyden, Dr. Henry B., 598 ^Bradstreet, Thomas E., 573 Broadwell, George W., 745 Brown, Daniel C, 674 Brown, Elmer E., 597 Bryan, Orion, 876 'Buchfinck, Fred A., 602 Buchfinck, Joseph, 592 Buddecke, Fred J., 862 Buechler, A. F., 816 Buenz, Richard, 600 Buettner, Henry, 809 Bullock, James C, 873 Burge, William J., 844 Burger, Edwin C, 673 Burkerd, Jes^e C, 916 Cady, Addison E., 610 Carey, Harry A.. 658 Carlson, Luther M., 683 Carr, George W., 627 Carson, Dr. David H., 677 Carter, John J., 924 Cleary, James, 815 Cleary, John Leo, 814 Clausen, Chris, 761 Clausen, Juergen, 756 ' Clayton, William E., 597 Conaway, Dr. H. O., 682 Connor, Thomas H., 912 Coon, Rev. Reune R., 712 Coons, John T., 877 Corkins, Francis, 741 Cox, John T., 712 Crawford, George E., 928 Cronin, Martin L., 950 Cunningham, Benjamin J., 603 Cunningham, Elizabeth M., 673 Cunningham, William R., 957 Curry, Mrs. Catherine, 843 Dahlstrom, Charles A., 956 Dangler, John W., 841 Davison, Earl E., 932 Davison, Henry, 802 Davison, Roy H., 600 Dean, Guy M., 884 Deichmann, Carl, 794 Denman, Albert J., 621 Denman, Augustine C, 807 Denman, John W., 738 Dennon, Purly A., 642 DeSoe, Charles H„ 897 Detweiler, William T., 708 Dibbern, Hans A., 877 Dickinson, Nathaniel P., 908 Diefenderfer, Ernest, 923 Dill, James E„ 631 Dive, George A., 726 Dodd, Dr. Edward, 728 Dolsen, Nelson B., 580 Drake, A, P., 798 Duffy, Rev, James A., 6US Durtschi, Rudolf, 921 Eaton, Harrison S,, 923 Edwards, Albertus E., 778 Egge, Max J., 575 Eggers, Claus, 739 Eggers, Jasper, 839 Eickert, Carl F„ 910 Eldridge, Norman J., 906 Elijah, James H., 799 Elliott, Peter, 902 Ellsworth, John, 678 Engle, George A„ 748 Engleman, Dr. Wm, T., 678 Ericksen, Jens, 743 Erion, James G., //^ Etting, Albert, 668 963 Evans, Charles D,, 943 Evans, Virden E., 672 Everhart, Virgil R., 731 Ewing, John A., 911 Ewoldt, Bernhard, 834 Ewoldt, Frank, 837 Ewoldt, Herman, 831 Ewoldt, Julius, 832 Fagan, Patrick, 946 Fagan, William, 802 Falldorf, Henry H„ 690 Falldorf, John, 763 Farnsworth, Dr. A. H., 674 Farnsworth, Dr. Earl E., 668 Farnsworth, Luther E., 667 Felske, Albert, 855 Finch, Dr. Daniel A., 819 Franz, Elmer Robert, 856 Fraser, Carrie L., 742 Frauen, Paul, 771 Frauen, Henry C, 788 Frazell, George B., 908 Frederick, George, 947 Freeman, Charles B., 609 Fritts, Thomas H., 654 Fritts, T. H., 916 Fulmer, Wilson H., 915 Gallagher, John, 867 Geer, Lewis T., 622 Geer, Rufus M., 620 Geer, Russell L., 577 Gibson, Ira, 810 Gideon, David C, 891 Glade, Arthur W.,582 Glade, August A., 582 Glade, Filbert A., 582 Glade, Fred M., 582 Glade, Henry, 581 Glass, Iohn B., 672 Clock, Rudolph, 851 Goehring, Herman C, 692 Goehring, Richard, 700 Goehring, Richard. Jr., 691 Goss, Leroy W., 900 Graham, Alexander, 869 Graham, David M., 735 Graham, George, 884 Green, Ray Albert, 894 Greenberger, Max, 694 Griess, Theodore, 825 Guendel, Arthur T., 571 Guendel, Julius, 571 Guhl, Rudolph, 727 Hagge, William A., 750 Hainline, Walker, 641 Haldeman, William L., 847 Hann, John C. C, 773 964 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA Hanna, Arthur D., 784 Hanna, James E., 633 Hanna, James R., 604 Hannon, Michael P., 915 Hansen, Hans P., 633 Hanssen, John M., 791 Harders, John, 625 Harders, Martin, 846 Harding, James A., 866 Harrell, Frederick O., 888 Harrison, Fred L., 616 Harrison, Guy L., 612 Harrison, Ray L., 616 Harrison, Thomas O. C, 576 Harrison, William Henry, 613 Harry, Henry, 648 Hayman, Stephen S., 739 Hayse, John S., 849 Hedde, Fred, 562 Hedde, William, 767 Heflin, William J., 822 Hehnke, Herman, 572 Heidkamp, C. H. Gottlieb, 666 Heimes, Rev. August W., 609 Heitz, Charles J., 885 Henderson, Newton W., 947 Hennings, Peter, 855 Herman, Peter, 761 Hetzel, George D., 607 Heubner, Charles, 930 Hexter, Samuel, 742 Heyde, Albert V. D., 690 Hildebrand, Willard N., 855 Hodges, Melvin L., 903 Hoffmann. Charles A., 738 Homan, Ira T., 734 Hongsermeier, Casper, 784 Horn, Mrs. Elizabeth, 918 Horth, Ralph R., 821 Howe, Lloyd M., 842 Hoye, Patrick, 926 Huffman, Leonard E., 859 Hulett, James H., 898 Humphrey, George E., 567 •Hurst, Edwin W., 643 Huston, Samuel C, 607 Hutton, Arthur C, 893 Ingalls, Henry T., 713 Jasper, FrEd H., 620 Jensen, Peter R., 572 Jensen, Wilhelm R., 820 Jessen, Claus Theo., 611 Jobe, Amos W., 806 Jones, Edwin A., 689 Jones, Glenn, 618 Johnson, William, 647 Joseph, Arthur L., 606 Kaufmann, David, 641 Kearney, Edmond A., 847 Kelley, Dr. P. C, 704 Kingsbury, Raymond D., 645 Klinge, Joseph. J., 628 Knickrehm, John, 655 Knuth, Henry, 763 Knuth, Henry A., 764 Knuth, Juergren, 829 Krehmke, William F., 6^3 Kroger, Ernest G., 576 Krueger, Carl, 830 Kruse, Adolph, 800 Kruse, K. Henry, 882 Kunze, Frank O., 659 Lacey, Nolan P., 951 Langman, Arthur H., 585 Lassen, Conrad, 835 Leavenworth, Edgar S., 917 Leiser, Abraham W., 804 Lesher, James B., 682 Leschinsky, Julius P, F., 634 Lillenthal, Frederick, 831 Lillenthal, Herman, 830 Lindsay, William, 876 Locke, Henry, W,, 656 Loescher, Frederick E., 791 Loescher, Frederick T., 798 Long, Harry H., 683 Longstreth, James W., 873 Lorentzen, Henry J., 676 Lorentzen, Jacob J., 776 Lowry, Clarence M., 954 Luebs, Albert" E., 800 Luebs, Henry F., 805 Luebs, Herman, 803 Luebs, Rudolph H., 801 Luth, Charles, 826 Luth, Fred, 832 Luth, Henry, 828 Luth, William, 830 Lyhane, Daniel, 906 . Lyle, James E., 600 Lyons, Harry C, 663 Lysinger, Simon N., 753 McAllister, Charles I., 657 McAllister, Robert N., 658 McCollough, Peter F., 931 McCutcheon, John E., 667 McCutcheon, Ruben P., 665 McDowell, William H., 864 McElroy, Charles T., 655 McGowan, John C, 956 McGrath, Dr. B. R., 699 McLellan, Albert, 662 McLellan, John, 640 McLellan, William, 654 McMullin, Richard L., 885 McNamara, John L., 887 Mahaeeey, John W., 894 Mandeville, Frederich R., 611 Martin, Henry N., 860 Martin, William E., 878 Mathiesen, Frederick. 602 Matthiesen, Julius, 762 Matthews, John F.. 603 Matthews, Thomas P., 618 Mattison, Martin, 948 Mattke, Otto L.. 663 Mecham, Clinton P., 852 Mecham, Earl A., 841 Mecham, Floyd T., 932 Menck, A. C. 621 Menck, Carl H., 582 Mettenbrink, Charles H., 793 Meyer, August, 643 Michelman, Rev, Gustav H., 743 Michelson, James, 692 Mieth, August, Sr., 852 Mieth, August L., 858 U\pth, FreHpi-irk F... R03 Miller, Frederick J., 927 Miller, Ralph B., 870 Minor, David L., 948 Mitchell, .Tames A.. ,594 Moeller, Frederick, 794 Moeller, Henn-, P63 -Moore, Dr. Lewis S., 734 Moore, Richard, 909 Mullen, William C, 856 Nagelstock, Arny E., 676 Nelson, Herman, 646 Neubert, John C, 764 Neuhalfen, Jacob C, 884 Neumann, Gus E., 569 Newton, Edwin F., 839 Nielsen, Nels C, 903 Niemoth, Albert J., 781 Niemoth, Frank T., 589 Nietfeld, William D., 679 Odum, Richard A., 740 O'Kane, Daniel, 944 O'Kane, David D., 930 Oldfield, Mary A., 718 Olsen, Frank I., 632 Olthoff, Henry, 888 Omey, Quintes D., 872 Orndoff, James E., 869 Orvis, Henry C, 90S Paine, Bayard H., 812 Paine, Ira T., 822 Palmer, Charles J., 657 Palmer, Hiram J., 586 Paulk, Eber, 842 Paulsen, John H., 638 Pearson, Emil G., 938 Perry, Charles C, 680 Peters, Henry, 809 Phelan, Dr. Leo, 671 Pizer, J. B., 660 Potter, Henry W., 592 Preston, Willam E., 717 Prince, Harold A., 814 Prince, Willard A., 811 Quandt, John, 773 Rasmussen, Jens, 735 Rasmussen, Karl A., 901 Rathbun, John W„ 887 Rauert, August, 802 Rauert, Charles, 803 Rauert, George N., 801 Rauert, James, 805 Rauert, John C, 807 Rauert, Mattheus, 656 Raven, Grover C, 897 Ravens, George L., 896 Ray, Robert Bruce, 957 Ray, 'W^illiam Wallace. 958 Reed, William M., 907 Reese, Henry, 587 Reese, Julius, 695 Reher, August, 766 Reilly, Dr. John V., 698 Rhoades, Walter, 859 Richard, Charles L., 826 Rickard, Geor.ee F., 826 Rief, Henry, 757 Roby, Arthur, 759 Roby, Gustav, 837 Roby, John G., 795 Roche, Timothy, 939 Roeser, Oscar^ 634 Rosenkotter, Carl, 768 Roth, Fred, 588 Rounds, John E., 929 HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA 965 feouse, George L., Jr., 814 Rousey, Harvey B., 625 Ruff, John A., 781 |nnge, Hans J., 900 Kusken, John, 850 Ruth, Jesse M., 901 Ryan, William V., 936 ft. FRANas Hospital, 812 allinger, Frank, 749 Sampson, William H., 702 Sass, John, 658 Sass, Detlef, 785 Scheel, Hans, 771 •Scheel, Mrs. Lena, 756 Schimmer, August, 796 Schimmer, John, 754 Schimmer, Martin, 767 Schoel, August, 838 Schoel, Fred, 833 Schoel, William, 831 ^hattuck, Amos H., 902 Schroeder, Henry, 806 Schroeder, Otto, 828 Schroeder, William, 825 Schuff, Henry, 617 jSchumacker, Henry, 710 Schumann, Rev. Herman, 744 Schuster, Arthur A.. 677 Sheffel, William, 694 Shehein, John Franklin, 943 Sherer, Cecil S., 936 Sherrerd, Samuel A.. 920 Shipton, Robert P., 754 Shoemaker, Jacob, 804 Shultz, Peter, 766 Siek, Hans, 880 Sievers, Gustave, 601 Slusser, Frank E., 604 Smith, Charles W., 777 •Smith, James Wyley, 870 ; Smith, Oscar A., 795 Soper, Dr. Joseph M., 707 .Spangenberger, William, 574 Spence, Dr. Edith S., 790 Starkey, Dr. Harvey L., 932 Sterne, Adolph W., 642 Stoeger, Carl, 880 Stoeger, Henry, 874 Stoeger, William, 730 Stoldt, August, 780 Stolle, Henry C. J., 776 Stolle, William F., 778 Stolley, Claus, 703 Stolley, Emil, 703 Stolley, Frederick, 714 Stolley, William, 722 Stoltenberg, Ferdinand, 833 Stough, Dale P., 912 Strasser, Julius C., 846 Stratman, Herman L., 680 Sutherland, Dr. J. Lue, 592 Tagge, John M., 850 Taggart, Otis, 862 Taylor, Robert, 684 Taylor, Robert Bruce, 684 Teviotdale, Robert, 700 Tharp, Albert, 695 Thomas, G, H., 824 Thompson, John R., 638 Thompson, Lloyd G., 593 Thompson, William A., 718 Thompson, William H., 628 Thomssen, John, 838 Tilley, Adin D., 782 Tilley, George A., 177 Tilley, William F., 612 Torpey, John, 580 Trent, John H., 646 Trumbull, Albert D., 721 Tully, Charles H., 578 Tuttle, Earl S., 590 Tyler, William O., 859 Upperman, Louis E., 659 Valonis, Gus., 698 Varah, James R., 860 Veeder, Elmer E., 851 Veit, Louis, 590 Vieregg, Emil H„, 588 Vieregg, Henry, 587 Voss, Fred, 645 Voss, Henry J., 637 Voss, Max Jacob, 637 Waite, William B., 720 Walsh, John F., 746 Watson, Dr. E. Arthur, 593 Watson, Harley M., 666 Watson, Isaac K., 934 Wells, Oscar, 707 Wengert, Dr. Henry C, 596 Westphal, Henry, 850 Whitehead, Ervin, 716 Wieck, Franz, 804 Wiese, Fritz, 937 Wiese, Hans, 799 Wiese, Herman, 882 Wiese, John F., 810 Wiese, Otto F., 807 Wiese, William, 829 Wiles, Francis M., 849 Wilkens, Herman, 703 Willard, Carl V., 709 Williams, Edward, 697 Windolph, John H., 753 Windolph, John L., 755 Windolph, John P., 745 Wingert, George W., 709 Wingert, Jeremiah A., 736 Wingert, Milton C, 922 Wiseman, Daniel E. H., 800 'Wiseman, Martin L., 801 Wiseman, Martin L., Jr., 799 Woelz, Rev. Conrad, 749 Wolbach, S. N., 815 Woodruff, Dr. R. C, 596 Wrage, William, 834 Younkin, Edward F., 662 Young, Henry G., 864 Yund, James H., 732 Zuehlke, Ludwig A., 647 YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 3 9002 01439 8458