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History of
Dodge and Washington
Counties, Nebraska
And Their People
Editors
REV. WILLIAM H. BUSS, Fremont
THOMAS T. OSTERMAN, Blair
Advisory Editorial Board
L. D. RICHARDS, Fremont T. L. MATHEWS. Fremont
C. D. MARR, Fremont M. T. ZELLERS, M. D., Hooper
JAMES M. BEAVER, Scribner ROY CUSACK, North Bend
W. J. CRANE, Arlington CHAS. E. MAJERS, Scribner
EDMOND C. JACKSON, Blair J. C. ELLER, Blair
WM. E. SWIHART, Kennard C. M. WEED, Kennard
VOLUME I
THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
CHICAGO
1921
I
DEDICATION
THIS WORK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO
THE PIONEERS
MOST OF WHOM HAVE LONG SINCE DEPARTED. MAY THE MEMORY OF
THOSE WHO LAID DOWN THEIR BURDENS BY THE WAYSIDE EVER
BE FRAGRANT AS THE BREATH OF SUMMER FLOWERS FOR
THEIR TOILS AND SACRIFICES HAVE MADE THESE
COUNTIES A GARDEN OF SUNSHINE
AND DELIGHTS
PREFACE
All life and achievement is evolution; present wisdom comes from
past experience, and present commercial prosperity has come only from
past exertion and suffering. The deeds and motives of the men that
have gone before have been instrumental in shaping the destinies of later
communities and states. The development of a new country was at once
a task and a privilege. It required great sacrifice and privation. Com-
pare the present condition of the people of Dodge and Washington
counties, Nebraska, with what they were threescore years ago. From
a trackless prairie it has come to be a center of prosperity and civilized
life, with millions of wealth, systems of railroads, telegraphs, telephones,
with tens of thousands of automobiles for the convenience of a happy
and contented people. It has come to be a subdivision of a great com-
monwealth with its thousands of God-fearing people worshiping in
scores of beautiful church edifices ; with its thousands of intelligent chil-
dren attending high-class standards of public free schools, with excellent
instructors to impart useful and practical knowledge to them. Can any
thinking person be insensible to the fascination of the study which dis-
closes the incentives, hopes and aspirations as well as the efforts of the
early pioneers who so strongly laid the solid foundations upon which has
been builded the magnificent prosperity of later days? To perpetuate the
story of these people and to trace and faithfully record the social, politi-
cal and industrial progress of the community within the boundaries of
Dodge and Washington counties, from their first inception is the function
of the local historian. A sincere purpose to preserve facts and personal
memoirs that are deserving of perpetuation, and which unite the present
to the past, is the motive for the present publication.
A specially valuable and highly interesting department is the one
devoted to the sketches of representative men and women of the two
counties under consideration. These biographies have for the most part
been prepared under the direction of the subjects themselves, or by
their near relatives and finally submitted to them for correction and
approval before being printed, hence are considered accurate.
On account of ill health, when the work of compiling the Dodge
County section of this work was commenced. Rev. William H. Buss, of
Fremont, who had been selected as its editor, was unable to engage in
the duties of an active compiler, hence the publishers were obliged to
engage other competent compilers to do the work of gathering material
and writing most of the chapters, aided, however, by a number of local
writers whose contributions have embellished and made doubly valuable
the work now within your hands. After the compilation had been
written in full, the important chapters were then all carefully read and
approved by Mr. Buss, who acted simply as supervising editor, and had
nothing whatever to do with the biographical or financial part of the
publication, yet to him the reader is indebted for many timely sugges-
tions and changes, as the work was being prepared for Dodge County
and the same may also be said concerning the supervising editor of the
Washington County section, Mr. Thomas T. Osterman, of Blair
We especially wish in this connection to acknowledge the great aid
iv PREFACE
rendered us in the compilation of this work by Hon. L. D. Richards of
Fremont and Judges Jackson and Eller, of Blair.
It has been the aim of the writers of this work to seek out the most
useful information regarding these two counties from their earliest set-
tlement to the present day, believing this to be of first and prime con-
sideration for all local history, rather than to produce a work of high
literary excellence. We have aimed to be fair and faithful to the interests
of all whose names appear herein — whether dead or living. Therefore
throw the mantle of charity over the work and believe it to be, as nearly
as possible, a true, unbiased record of the comings and goings of the
men and women who have lived and labored in the goodly counties of
Dodge and Washington.
Our work is done — it is yours to read, to criticise and then leave as a
legacy to your sons and daughters.
Believe us, faithfully,
The American Historical Society.
1921.
CONTENTS
DODGE COUNTY
CHAPTER I
GEOLOGY, TOPOGRAPHY AND NATURAL FEATURES
Geological Eras — Coal Measures — Glacial Period — Agricultural
Value of the Soil — Scenery of the Loess Deposit — Character
of Deposit Along the Rivers — Formation of the Platte Val-
ley— Bottom Lands — Last Buffalo Hunt — Sand Cherries —
Soap Weed — Alkali Lands — Modern Changes — Timber — Topog-
raphy AND Natural Features — Extreme Temperatures — Mean
Temperatures — Nebraska Winds — Moisture and Rainfall —
Rank Among the States in the Union — Forests — Wild
Fruits — State Institutions — Legal Holidays — "Blue Book"
Paragraphs — State Seal — State Flower — State Capitol Build-
ings— Vegetation — Grasses of Nebraska — ^Wild Flowers — Gov-
ernors— Abstract of Counties — County Population — Altitude
and Area 3
CHAPTER H
DISCOVERY AND OCCUPANCY BY WHITE MEN
The Louisiana Purchase — Other Views of the "Purchase" — ^The
Missouri Compromise Affair — The Name "Nebraska" — Terri-
torial Organization — Admitted as a State — The Constitutions
— Early Exploitations — Fur Traders — Great Exploring Expe-
ditions— Mormon Advent — Gold Hunters' Panic, 1849 36
CHAPTER III
INDIAN OCCUPANCY AND FINAL DEPARTURE
Concerning the Indians — Pawnees — Pike the Exploror Among
the Indians — The Poncas — The Algonquin Family — Sac and
Fox Purchase — Other Indian Tribes — The Kiowan Family —
Half-breed Tract, Etc. — Still Other Tribes — Character and
Relation with the Whites — Implements and Weapons — Hostil-
ity Toward the Whites — Indian War of 1890-91 43
CHAPTER IV
EARLY SETTLEMENT
Fontanelle Settlement — Thrown Into Washington County —
First Houses — First Land Broken — Early Crops — Milling
Markets — Townsite Projects — North Bend — Fremont — First
vi CONTENTS
Births— Death— Hard Winter 1856-57— Pawnee Indians— 1857
Panic — 1857 Settlement — Pioneer Himebaugh's Experiences —
Sixty Per Cent Interest — Pike's Peak — Immigration Days —
Union Pacific 52
CHAPTER V
ORGANIZATION OF DODGE COUNTY
Original and Present Boundaries — County Seat Contest — Meet-
ing OF First County Commissioners — Platting of Fremont —
Agitating Erection of County Buildings 56
CHAPTER VI
DODGE COUNTY GOVERNMENT
County Organization Perfected — Prosecuting Attorney and
County Attorney Systems — Acts of County Commissioners —
Making of First Precincts — First Road Districts — Names of
Commissioners — Creation of "Township Organization" — First
County Supervisors — The Burning of Courthouse in 1887 —
Building a New Courthouse — Second Courthouse Fire, 1915 —
Present Structure — The New Jail — Highways — Bridges —
Ladies' Rest Rooms — Property Valuations — County Finances
— Boards' Estimate, 1891 — County Treasurer's Report, 1892 —
County Seat and County Buildings — Courthouses and Jails —
Bids for Present Courthouse — Dedication — County Poor Farm
— County Officials, 1920 — County Officers' Salaries — Taxes —
Assessed Valuations — Board of Supervisors for 1920 — State and
County Levies — Average Value Farm Lands, 1920 60
CHAPTER VII
THE RAILROADS OF DODGE COUNTY
Value of Railroads — The Union Pacific Railway and Its Construc-
tion— List of Nebraska Land Grants — Speeches Made in
Starting the Construction — Work of General Dodge — Inter-
esting Incidents — Cost to Dodge County — Old Sioux City and
Pacific — Old Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley — Diverg-
ing Branches — The Building of the Latest Railroad, the
"Burlington" from Lincoln to Sioux City, Iowa. Mileage
75
CHAPTER VIII
AGRICULTURE AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES
Nebraska Compared with Other States — Products of the Rich
Soil — Farm Statistics — A Large Number of Totals — County
Agricultural Societies — Dodge County Farm Names — Officers
CONTENTS vii
OF Dodge County Farm Bureau — Directors — Farm Bureau's
Agent — Chief Co-operators of Farm Bureau — The Race Track
85,
CHAPTER IX
History of the Dodge County Bar 91
CHAPTER X
MEDICAL MEN OF THE COUNTY
First and Subsequent Doctors of Dodge County — List of Physi-
cians— Short Personals of Some of the County's Medical Men
— List of Present Physicians — The Dodge County Medical
Society — Hospitals, Etc 99
CHAPTER XI
BANKING IN DODGE COUNTY
Utility of Banking — The First Bank of the County — Subsequent
Institutions — Present Banks of Dodge County — Summary
of Banks in 1920 — Building & Loan Associations — Trust
Companies 107
CHAPTER XII
DODGE COUNTY NEWSPAPERS
The First Newspaper in Dodge and Adjoining Counties — The
Fremont Weekly and Daily Tribune — The Old Tri-Weekly —
Growth of the Pioneer Paper Plant — The Fremont Weekly
Herald — The North Bend Eagle — The Hooper Sentinel — The
Uehling Post — The Scribner Rustler 123
CHAPTER XIII
Soil and Drainage of Dodge County 128
CHAPTER XIV
Dodge County and Modern Roads 133
CHAPTER XV
POLITICAL
General Comment — Vote on Governors — State Senators — House
OF Representatives — Party Vote of County by Decades Since
1868 — County JtroGES — County Attorney — County Treasurers
i CONTENTS
— County Clerks — Clerk of the Court — Sheriffs — Surveyors —
Superintendent of Public Instruction — Registrar of Deeds —
County Commissioners — Board of Supervisors 137
CHAPTER XVI
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL
INTERESTS
President McKinley's Estimate of Free Schools — Schools of
Fremont — The Present City Schools — North Bend Schools —
Scribner Schools — Hooper Schools — Other First Schools —
Dodge — Snyder — Crowell — Nickerson- — County School Superin-
tendent's Annual Report — Buildings — Pupils — Expenses —
Other School Statistics — Graded Schools in County — Private
AND Parochial Schools — Teachers' Wages Now — Valuation and
Tax Levy of School Districts in 1920 — Fremont Normal School
AND Business Institute — Fremont Business College — Midland
College 152
CHAPTER XVII
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
Dodge County Postoffices — Market Prices — Past and Present —
Population of County — Original Village Plats — Early Mar-
riages— Grasshopper Plague — Elkhorn Flood of 1873 — Old
Settlers' Association — Days of Mourning — President Garfield's
Death — President Grant's Death — President McKinley's
Death — Hymn to Nebraska by Rev. W. H. Buss 168
CHAPTER XVIII
VARIOUS CHURCHES IN DODGE COUNTY
First Churches in Dodge County — The Congregational Denomi-
nation— Methodist Churches of the County — Free Methodist
Churches — United Presbyterian — Presbyterian Churches —
Baptist Churches — Lutheran Churches — Various Branches —
Catholic Churches — Christian Church — Adventist Church
178
CHAPTER XIX
THE CIVIC SOCIETIES OF THE COUNTY
Free Masonry — Odd Fellowship — Knights of Pythias — The Wood-
men— Workmen — Knights of Columbus — Eastern Star
Chapters — Rebekah Degree Lodges — Ben Hur — Workmen and
Various Other Secret and Semi-Secret Lodges 188
CONTENTS ix
CHAPTER XX
MILITARY HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY
Civil War — Loyalty of Settlers — Assassination of President
Lincoln — The Indian Troubles — The Spanish-American War
—The Great World War— 1917-18 200
CHAPTER XXI
Crimes Committed 212
CHAPTER XXII
THE CITY OF FREMONT
The Name — Origin of City — Entering Land for Plat — Money
Scarce — First Houses — Lots Donated — First Events — City's
Developments — Manufacturing in 1886 — Postoffice — Civic
Societies — Municipal History — Indebtedness — City Hall —
Water Works — City Building — Orphan's Home — Classified
Business in 1892 — Business Directory, 1920 — Reminiscences —
Industrial Interests — Commercial Club — Population — The
City Library 218
CHAPTER XXIII
Fremont Township 246
CHAPTER XXIV
NICKERSON TOWNSHIP
Description — Boundary — Early History — Population — Settlement
— First Things — Educational and Religious — Village of Nick-
ERSON — Present Development — The Two Railro.\ds 250
CHAPTER XXV
CUMING TOWNSHIP
Description — Boundaries — Population — Nationality of People —
Railways — Homesteaders — First Settlement — First and Early
Events — Pioneer Schools and Churches — Village of Scribner
— Business Interests — 1920 Commercial Directory — Municipal
History — Water Works — Postoffice History — Price, of Farm
Lands Today — Public Library 254
CHAPTER XXVI
COTTERELL TOWNSHIP
Its Boundary — Population — Pioneer Settlement — Once Inclxtoed
Village of North Bend — General Natural Features and Pres-
ent Condition of Township 260
X CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXVII
PEBBLE TOWNSHIP
Location — Description — Boundary — Railroad — Population — Vil-
lages OF Crowell and Snyder — "Pebble" Now Defunct — Schools
AND Churches — Milling Industry — The First Settlement of
THE Township 263
CHAPTER XXVIII
WEBSTER TOWNSHIP
Location — Boundary — Railroads — Organic — Early Settlement-
Village of Dodge — Postoffice — Incorporation — Schools and
Churches — Business Development — Roller Mills — Commercial
Interests in 1920 — Population 268
CHAPTER XXIX
Elkhorn Township 272
CHAPTER XXX
HOOPER TOWNSHIP
Its Boundary — Description — Population — Organization — Rail-
roads— First Settlement — Later Settlers — Village of Hooper
— Business Beginnings — Original Flour Mill — Commercial In-
terests, 1920 — Municipal History — Waterworks 274
CHAPTER XXXI
EVERETT TOWNSHIP
Boundaries — Organic — Population — Settlement — First Events —
Schools and Churches — Postoffice — Gener.a,l Condition Today
— Land Values, Etc 280
CHAPTER XXXII
RIDGELEY TOWNSHIP
Location — Boundaries — Population — Organization — Schools and
Churches — Ridgeley Postoffice, Etc. — Webster Postoffice —
Miscellaneous Items — Mutual Insurance Company — Early
Settlement of Township 283
CHAPTER XXXIII
UNION TOWNSHIP
Location — Boundary — Organization — First Death — First Birth —
First Land Plowed — First Religious Services — Settlement —
Schools, Churches, Etc. — Population 286
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXXIV
PLEASANT VALLEY TOWNSHIP
Description — Population — Organization — Schools and Churches
— PosTOFFiCES — General Condition Today — List of Early
Settlers 289
CHAPTER XXXV
LOGAN TOWNSHIP
Its Extent — Boundaries — Population — Railroad Facilities —
Swedish Colony — Later Settlement — Village of Uehling —
General Conditions Today — Organization of Township or
Precinct as Then Known — First Township Election — Swa-
BURGH Postoffice 292
CHAPTER XXXVI
MAPLE TOWNSHIP
Description — Boundary — Old Precinct of Maple — Census Returns
— Schools and Churches — Postoffices — Settlement 295
CHAPTER XXXVII
NORTH BEND TOWNSHIP
Formerly North Bend Precinct — Its Interesting History — First
Colony — First Election — City of North Bend — Pioneer His-
tory— Early Events — Commercial Interests of North Bend —
Business Interests in 1920 — Postoffice History — Municipal
History — Miscellaneous Improvements — Parks, Etc 298
CHAPTER XXXVIII
PLATTE TOWNSHIP
Boundary — Organization — Settlement — Early Events — First
Birth — First Death — First Marriage — First School — Village
OF Ames — Standard Cattle Company, Etc. — Population —
Indians 306
WASHINGTON COUNTY
CHAPTER I
TOPOGRAPHY, GEOGRAPHY, NATURAL PRODUCTIONS
AND ORGANIZATION
Location — Boundary — Topography — Natural Resources — County
Organization — First Census — Present Resources Within the
County — Present Civil Townships Named 312
CHAPTER II
INDIAN TREATY AND EARLY SETTLEMENT
Lewis and Clark Explorers Hold Council with Indians in 1804 —
Burial of Big Elk, Last Chief to Die in Washington County
— Buried Near Fort Calhoun in 1854 — Early Settlement by
White Men — Forts Atkinson and Calhoun — Settlement in
Various Parts of the County — An Interesting Reminiscence
ON Early Days — Where the Pioneers Emigrated From — The
Mormon's Sojourn — The Quincy Colony — Claim-Jumping and
Early Murder 316
CHAPTER III
COUNTY GOVERNMENT
County Buildings — First Courthouse — Present Building — Various
County Jails — List of County Officers — Valuations of County
— Financial Statement for 1920, Etc 323
CHAPTER IV
RAILROADS OF THE COUNTY
The Old Sioux City & Pacific — The Old Omaha & Northwestern
— The Present Chicago & Northwestern System Through the
County 332
CHAPTER V
AGRICULTURE AND STOCK RAISING
General Facts — Comparative Agricultural Statistics — The
Grange Movement — Annual Premium List — Registered Farm
Names 334
CONTENTS xiii
CHAPTER VI
The Attorneys of the County 338
CHAPTER Vn
PHYSICIANS OF THE COUNTY
Concerning the Science of Medicine — Its Advancement — Sur-
gery— Old-Time Physicians — Saddle-Bags — Long Drives — The
Medicine Chests — List of Physicians — The County Medical
Society — Present Physicians — The Hospital 342
CHAPTER VIII
BANKING IN WASHINGTON COUNTY
Early Banks in Nebraska — First Banking in Washington County
— Plateau State Bank — The Herman State Bank — Washing-
ton State Bank — Farmers & Merchants Bank, Kennard —
Home State Bank — Arlington State Bank — First National
Bank — Washington County Bank — Citizens State Bank —
Fort Calhoun State Bank — State Bank, Blair — Farmers State
Bank, Blair — Bank Summary 345
CHAPTER IX
WASHINGTON COUNTY NEWSPAPERS
Newspapers of Blair — The Register — Washington Democrat
(Defunct) — The Pilot — The Enterprise — The Tribune — The
Times — The Courier — Kennard Weekly News — Herman Record
— The Calhoun Chronicle — The County's Earliest Newspapers
— The De Soto Bugle — De Soto Pilot — The Sun — Enquirer —
Register — Nebraska Pioneer — Cuming Star 350
ii
CHAPTER X
POLITICAL AFFAIRS OF COUNTY
Presidential Elections — Special Elections — Lists of Senators —
Representatives in State Government, Etc 354
CHAPTER XI
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS
First Public Schools in Washington County — Later Develop-
ments IN Matters of Education — The Fort Calhoun Schools
— The De Soto Schools — Fontanelle Schools — Cuming City
Schools — Blair City Schools — Other Schools in the County
— Condition of Public Schools in 1920 — Superintendent's
Report — School Buildings — .Teachers — Pupils — Wages — Paro-
chial Schools — The College 356
xiv CONTENTS
CHAPTER XII
SECRET SOCIETIES OF COUNTY
Free Masonry — Odd Fellowship — Knights of Pythias — Woodmen
OF THE World — Modern Woodmen of America — Danish Broth-
erhood— Ancient Order of United Workmen — Eastern Star —
Rebekah Degree Lodges — Etc 362
CHAPTER XIII
CHURCHES OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
The Congregational Churches — The Methodist Episcopal
Churches — The Baptist Churches — The Catholic Churches —
The Lutheran Churches — Danish Lutheran Churches —
Episcopal Church 370
CHAPTER XIV
MILITARY HISTORY OF THE COUNTY
Its Part in the Civil War — Indian Troubles — Spanish-American
War and the Late World War— 1914-18— Fort Calhoun— Its
Ruins 375
CHAPTER XV
MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS
Population of Washington County — Hard Winter of 1856-57 —
Original Village Plats — Markets at Various Times — Days of
Mourning — Garfield, Grant and McKinley 389
CHAPTER XVI
Indian Troubles 394
CHAPTER XVII
BLAIR TOWNSHIP AND CITY
Boundary — Streams — Railroad Lines — Population — General Fea-
tures— Drainage Ditch — City of Blair — Platting — Commercial
Interests — Railroads — Postoffice and Municipal History —
Factories, Etc 399
CHAPTER XVIII
CUMING CITY TOWNSHIP
Boundary— Streams— Railroad— Big Drainage Ditch— Population
— Tyson Station — Cuming City (Defunct) — Highland 412
CONTENTS XV
CHAPTER XIX
DE SOTO TOWNSHIP
Boundary — Streams — Railway Line — Population — Early History
OF THE Township and De Soto Village — First Events — Once
Settled by Fleeing Mormons — Mills — Newspapers — Incorpora-
tion— Pike's Peak Boom — First Church Services — List of Early
Pioneers 414
CHAPTER XX
ARLINGTON TOWNSHIP
Boundary — Population — Towns and Village — A Farming Section^
Market Facilities — Surrounded by a Beautiful Country and
A Large City to Trade at — City of Arlington — Bowen Hamlet —
The Marshall Nurseries — Railroad Lines 417
CHAPTER XXI
HERMAN TOWNSHIP
Boundaries — Streams — Lakes — Railway Line — Big Drainage Ditch
— Population — Hudson — the "Paper Town" — Village of Her-
man— Hamlet of Fletcher 422
CHAPTER XXII
FONTANELLE TOWNSHIP
Historic Location — Correct Spelling of Name — Boundary — Popu-
lation— Streams, Soil — Improvements — Village of Fontanelle
— Talbasta — Reminiscences by Eda Mead — Extracts from Bell's
History of Washington County in 1876 — Death and Burial of
Logan Fontenelle 426
CHAPTER XXIII
FORT CALHOUN TOWNSHIP
Boundaries — Old Fort Calhoun — Village History — Lakes and
Streams — Schools — Municipal Affairs of Village — Railroad —
Population — Business of Village Today — Centennial Celebra-
tion— Postoffice History — .Reminiscences — Account of Place
By W. H. Allen, Mrs. E. H. Clark and W. H. Woods 435
xvi CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXIV
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP
An Old Settlement — How It Obtained Its Name — First to Set
Stakes — Beauty and Actual Value of Township Agricul-
turally— Population — Boundary — Organization — First a Pre-
cinct Then a Township — Villages of Kennard and Washing-
ton 448
CHAPTER XXV
GRANT, SHERIDAN AND LINCOLN PRECINCTS
Grant Township — Its Character — Its Name — Its Organization —
Its Population at Decade Periods — First Settlers — General
Features — Sheridan Township — Boundaries — Population — Set-
tlement— PosTOFFicE — Later Settlers — Killed in Indian Scare
— Lincoln Precinct — Organization — Boundary — Pioneer Set-
tlers— Population — Settlers of 1856-57 and 1858 — Experience
WITH Indians — Going After Provisions 452
INDEX
Abbott, Charles E., II, 540
Abbott, L. J., I, 101, 106
Abels, Bernhard, II, 890
Abstract of counties, I, 30
Adams, Frank C, II, 906
Adams, W. R., II, 549
Admah, I, 390, 454
Adventist Church, Fremont, I, 186
Agricultural Societies, Dodge County,
I, 86; Washington County, I, 334
Agricultural Statistics, Dodge County,
I, 85; Washington County, I, 335
Agriculture: Dodge County, I, 85;
Washington County, I, 334
Albers, A. J., II, 722
Algonquian tribes, I, 43, 48
Alkali lands, Nebraska, I, 12
Allen, Roland G., II, 659
American Fur Company, I, 41
American Red Cross, Dodge County,
I, 211; Washington County, I, 386
Ames, banks, I, 117; location, I, 171;
platted, I, 171; history, I, 309
Ames Methodist Episcopal Church,
I, 182
Ancient Order of United Workmen,
I, 195, 368
Andersen, A. M., II, 819
Anderson, James B., II, 870
Anderson, Ove T., II, 689
Anderson, P., II, 670
Anderson, William O., II, 509
Antill, George M., II, 912
Area of Nebraska, I, 19
Arlington (village), platted, 390; loca-
tion, I, 417; municipal history, I,
418; business and professional in-
terests, 1920, I, 419
Arlington High School (illustration),
1,418
Arlington Nurseries (illustration), I,
420
Arlington State Bank, I, 347
Arlington Township, history, I, 417;
boundary, I, 417; population, I, 417
Arndt, F. W., II, 812
Arnot, Charles, II, 493
Assessed valuations of Dodge County,
I, 64; Washington County, I, 330
Attorneys: Dodge County, I, 92;
Washington County, I, 328, 338
Aughey, Samuel, I, 3, 12
B Line, Fremont to Blair, I, 135
Bader, Frederick, II, 787
Bader, Jacob R., II, 736
Bader, John H., II. 754
Badger, James C, II, 847
Baird, Guy B., II, 518
Balding, James, II, 538
BalduflF, Charles H., II, 469
Ballard, Grace, II, 630
Banghart, Vangilder, II, 510
Bank, summary of Dodge County
(1919-20), I, 119; Washington
County, I, 349
"Banking House of A. Castetter," I,
345
Banks, Dodge County, I, 107; Fre-
mont, I, 108; Nickerson, I, 113;
Snyder, I, 114; Dodge City, I, 115;
Winslow, I, 115; Uehling, I, 116;
Ames, I, 117; Hooper, I, 117; North
Bend, I. 118; Washington County,
I, 345; Blair, I, 345, 348; Herman,
I, 346; Washington (village), I, 346;
Kennard, I, 346; Arlington, I, 347;
Ft. Calhoun, I, 347
Baptist Churches, Dodge County, I,
184; Washington County, I, 372
Barnard, E. H., I, 219, 246
Barry, Mary, II, 918
Barz, William E., II, 565
Basler, George F., II, 502
Beales, Austin W., II, 899
Beales, Hannah H., II, 899
Beaty, E. S., II, 850
Beebe, Henry L., II, 757
Beet sugar industry, I, 228
Belknap, William H.. II, 595
Bell. N. H., I, 91, 95
Benevolent and Protective Order of
Elks, Fremont, I, 198
Ben Hur. I, 196
Benner, Henry, II, 752
Bergmann, Christof, II, 911
Bergquist, H. O., II, 516
Berry, Leslie T., II, 897
Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church,
I, 182
Beyersdorfer, C. A., II, 690
Black Hills Trail, I, 135
Blaco, Harry C, II, 885
Blaco, John, II. 880
Blaco, Mattie, II, 881
Blair: Newspapers of, I, 350; Schools,
I, 3S8; Masonic Lodge at, I, 362;
platted, I. 390. 399; county seat of
Washington County, I, 399; rail-
roads, I, 401; first events, 1, 401;
municipal history, I, 402; water
works, I. 403; fire department, I,
403; present city officers, I, 405;
commercial interests, I, 405; 1920
business interests, I, 405
Blair City Hall (illustration), I, 403
Blair Congregational Church, I, 370
Blair Courier, I, 351
Blair Enterprise, I, 351
Blair Pilot, I, 350
XVIU
INDEX
Blair Postoffice. I, 407
Blair Public Library, I, 408
Blair street scene (illustration), I, 401
Blair township: boundary, I, 399; pop-
ulation, I, 399
Bleyhl, Arthur, II, 496
Bliss, Wlalter C, II, 593
Block, Samuel, I, II, 809
Bloomer, Arthur, I, 52
Bloomer, John, I, 52
"Blue Book" Paragraphs, I, 23
Boggess, N. M., II, 622
Bohling, Caroline, II, 845
Bohling, Henry, II, 845
Botanical specimens, I, 27
Bottom lands, agricultural value of, I,
10; Nebraska, I, 13; Dodge County,
I, 128
Boundaries of Dodge County, I, 56;
Washington County, I, 312
Bowen, I, 390
Bowen (John S.) Lodge No. 232,
A. F. & A. M., Kennard, I, 363
Boyd, H. H., II, 482
Bradbury, James, II, 829
Bradbury, Mary A., II, 830
Bradbury, William H., II, 796
Braucht, Frederick E., II, 784
Briggs, A. H., I, 97
Briggs, Clarence D., II, 688
Brown, David, II, 814
Brown, George S., II, 583
Brown, Gratia C, II, 591
Brown, Nathan H.. II, 590
Brown, Owen D., II, 815
Brownell, Rainsford C, II, 823
Brunner, Charles H., II, 476
Buchanan. Albert E., II, 758
Buffalo (illustration), I, 34
"Buffalo Bill," I. 31, 32, 34
Burdic, Eugene W., II, 851
"Burlington," I, 83
Bushnell, G. A., II, 679
Business Directory, Fremont, I, 230
Buss, William H., I, 133, 180, 239;
II, 903
Butler, David, I, 24
Button, Frederic W., I, 97; II, 637
Byers, Robert C, II, 497
Caddoan tribes, I, 43
Gaboon, Ira E., II, 507
Cain, Ulysses S., II, 577
Cain, William M., II, 725
Calhoun Chronicle. I. 353
California trail, I, 23
Calkins. Frederick E., II, 830
Cameron, A. J., II. 896
Campen, George C, II, 733
Capitol buildings, I. 25
Carpenter, Ernest H., II, 506
Carpenter, Harlow J., II, 505
Carrigan, E. B., II, 828
Carter, John B., II, 624
Carter, Thomas N.. I, 436
Gary, Peter F., II, 709
Cassell, James, II, 791
Castetter, Abram, II, 749
Castetter (A.) banking house, I, 345
Castetter, Francis M., II, 610
Catholic Churches, Dodge County, I,
186; Washington County, I, 373
Cederlind. Martin T., II, 882
Centennial celebration of Ft. Calhoun
settlement, I, 440
Centennial Lodge of Odd Fellows No.
59, I, 192
Central High School, Fremont (illus-
tration), I, 153
Central School buildings, I, 136
Chappel, R. H., II, 800
Cherny. John C. II, 579
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy R. R.,
I, 83
Chicago & Northwestern Railroad,
I, 332
Christensen, Arthur G., II, 491
Christensen, Christ H., II, 789
Christensen, Christian, II, 662
Christensen, Christian J., II, 656
Christensen, F. W., II, 903
Christensen. Louis, II. 863
Christian Churches (Disciple), Dodge
County, I, 186
Christian Science Churches, Dodge
County, I, 186
Churches: Dodge County, I, 178;
Fremont, I, 178; Nickerson town-
ship. I, 252; Pebble township, I, 264;
Snyder. I, 266; Dodge Village, 1,271;
Everett township, I, 281; Ridgeley
township, I, 283; Union township,
I, 288; Pleasant Valley township, I,
290; Maple township. I, 295; Wash-
ington County, I, 370; Kennard, I,
450
Citizens State Bank, Blair, I, 348
City Building, Fremont, I. 224
City Hall, Blair (illustration), I, 403
City Hall, Fremont, I, 224
City Hall, Hooper (illustration), I, 276
City Hospital, Blair, I, 344
City Schools, Fremont, I, 155
Civic Societies, Dodge County, I, 188;
Washington County, I. 362
Civil War Monument, I, 386
Claim-jumping, Washington County,
I, 319
Claridge. Frederick H., II, 750
Clark, Mrs. E. H.. I, 438
Clark. William, I, 37
Classified business interests, Fremont,
I, 226
Cleland, J. C, I, 223
Clemmons, William H.. II. 799
Clerk of the Court, Dodge County,
I, 142
Clerks of the District: Washington
County, I, 328
Coal, I. 4
Cobb, William A. G., II, 581
Cody, William F., I, 31, 32
Coffman, I, 389
Colson, Sireno B., II, 681
Comanches. I, 48
Commercial National Bank, Fremont,
L 111
Condit, William C, II, 471
INDEX
Congregational Churches: Dodge
County, I, 178; Washington County,
I, 370
Consolidation of country schools, I,
135
Constitution of 1875, I, 40
Contal, Captain, I, 314
Cook, Cortez U., II, 879
Cook, Joe S., II, 557
Cook, Joseph C. I, 141; II, 724
Cornhusker Highway, I, 135
Coronado, I, 40
Coroners, Dodge County, I, 145;
Washington County, I, 328
Cotterell Township, Dodge County,
Officers of, I, 149; boundary of, I,
260; population of, I, 260
Country schools: Consolidation of, I,
135
County Agricultural Societies, Dodge
County, I, 86; Washington County,
I, 334
County Attorney: Dodge County, I,
140
County buildings, Dodge County, I,
69
County Clerks, Dodge County, I, 140;
Washington County, I, 326
County Commissioners, Dodge Coun-
ty, I, 60, 145; Washington County,
I, 328
County fairs. Dodge County, I, 86;
Washington County, I, 334
County jails, Dodge County, I, 71;
Washington County, I, 325
County judges, Washington County,
I, 327
County land surveyors. Dodge
County, I, 143
County school superintendents. Dodge
County, I, 144; Washington County,
I, 327
County Seat, Dodge County, I, 68;
Washington County, I, 315
County supervisors, Dodge County,
I, 146
County surveyors, Washington Coun-
ty, I, 327
County treasurer's semi-annual state-
ment for 1920, of Dodge County, I,
67
County Treasurers, Dodge County, I,
142; Washington County, I, 327
Court houses, Dodge County, I, 69
Courthouse, Blair (illustration), I, 324
Crabbs, J. H., I, 101
Crane, William J., II, 548
Creeks, I, 55
Criminal cases. Dodge County, I, 214
Crowell, location, I, 171, 266; platted,
I, 171; business interests, I, 267
Crowell, Christopher C, II, 857
Crowell Memorial Home for the
Aged, Blair (illustration), I, 410
Cuming City, I, 390, 412
Cuming City Township, boundary, I,
412; population, I, 412
Cuming Township, Dodge (Tounty,
officers of, I, ISO; boundaries of,
I, 254; description of, I, 254; first
settlement of, I, 254; first events,
I, 255; population of, I, 254; pioneer
settlement, I, 260
Cuming, Thomas B., I, 313
Cunningham, Charles C, II, 883
Cusack, Christopher, II, 561
Cusack, John, II, 611
Cusack, Roy J., II, 562
Cushman, Edward F., II, 884
Cuykendall, C. E., II, 771
Dahl, Henry C, II, 715
Dale, I, 390
Dame, Arthur K., II, 634
Dana College and Trinity Seminary,
Blair, I, 360
Danish Brotherhood, I, 195, 368
Danish Lutheran Publishing House,
I, 352
Danish Sisterhood, Fremont, I, 197
Dau, Ernest, II, 785
Dau, William G. J., II, 609
Davies, Wilham J., II, 533
Debel, Mary C, II, 618
De La Matyr, Fred, II, 726
Delaney, J. W., II, 700
Denver trail. I, 23
Deposits along the rivers, I, 7
De Soto township. I. 414; boundary,
I, 414; population. I, 414
De Soto (village) first settlement, I,
316; platted. I. 389; I, 414; popula-
tion, I, 414; newspapers, I, 415;
incorporated, I, 415: early pioneers,
I, 416
Devries, Joshua S.. II. 647
Diels, Adolph F., II. 748
Dierks, Elise, II, 685
Dierks, John H., II. 684
Diers, E. C, II. 842
Diffey. Edwin, II, 751
Dixon. Asa Jr., II, 917
Dodge, General, I, 78
Dodge City banks, I, 115
Dodge City Postoffice, I. 269
Dodge Congregational Church, I, 180
Dodge County, deposits along the
rivers, I, 7; first settlement. I, 52;
pioneer experiences, I, 52; Pawnee
Indians in, I, 53; first death, I, S3;
topography, I, 54; settlement of 1857,
I, 54; rivers, I, 55; boundaries. I, 56;
organization, I, 56: first commis-
sioners, I, 58; government, I, 60;
precincts of, created. I, 60; new era
in government of, I, 63; assessed
valuations. I, 64; taxes, I, 64; farm
lands in, I, 65; finances, I, 66;
property valuations, I, 66; county
treasurer's semi-annual statement
for 1920, I, 67; first county seat of,
I, 68; county seat, I, 68; county
buildings, I, 69; court houses, I, 69;
county jails, I, 71; officials, 1920,
I, 72; poor farm, I. 72; supervisors,
1920, I, 73; railroads of, I, 75; rail-
way mileage in (1920), I, 84; farm
statistics, I, 85; agricultural socie-
INDEX
ties, I, 86; fair grounds, I, 86; farm
names, I, 87; lawyers of, I, 91; bar,
leading members of, I, 92; judges of
the District Court of, I, 97; physi-
cians of, I, 99; past and present
physicians of, I, 100; hospitals, I,
IDS; banks, I, 107; bank summary
(1919-20) of, I, 119; newspapers, I,
123; first newspaper, I, 123; soil and
drainage, I, 128; bottom lands, I,
128; terrace lands, I, 128; drainage,
I, 129; tile drainage, I, 129; modern
roads, I, 133; state representatives,
I, 138; state senators, I, 138; judges,
I, 139; county attorney, I, 140; coun-
ty clerks, I, 140; clerk of the court,
I, 142; county treasurers, I, 142;
county land surveyors, I, 143;
sheriffs, I, 143; registrar of deeds,
I, 144; superintendent of public in-
struction, I, 144; coroners, I, 145;
county commissioners, I, 145; county
supervisors, I, 146; party vote by
decades, I, 148; public men, I, 149;
township officers (1919-20), I, 149;
schools of, I, 152; school superin-
tendent's annual report (1919), I,
157; private and parochial schools
of, I, 159; graded schools of, I, 159;
valuation and tax levy of school
districts, I, 160; miscellaneous items,
I, 168; postoffices in, I, 168; market
prices, I, 168; population of, I, 169;
original village plat, I, 170; early
marriages in, I, 171; Old Settlers
Associations, I, 173; first Fourth of
July celebration, I, 173; first church
in, I, 178; civic societies of, I, 188;
Odd Fellows Lodges, I, 192; mili-
tary history of, I, 200; roster of sol-
diers, Spanish American War, I,
200; roster of soldiers, World war,
I, 202; Liberty Loans, I, 210; Red
Cross work, I, 211; crimes in, I, 212;
famous criminal cases, I, 214; remi-
niscences, L 239, 270
Dodge County Agricultural Society,
I, 86
Dodge County Bank, Hooper, I, 118
Dodge County Corn Field (illustra-
tion), I, 131
Dodge County Farm Bureau, Officers
of (1920), I, 89
Dodge County Introduction, I, 1
Dodge County Medical Society, I, 105
Dodge (village), platted, I, 171; loca-
tion, 1, 171, 269; incorporated, I,
269; conditions in 1920, I, 270; early
business interests, I, 270; churches
of, I, 271
Ddering, Henry, II, 729
Dolezal, Frank, I, 91; II, 635
Douglas, Stephen A., I, 38
Drainage, Dodge County, I, 129
Dudley, Charles L., II, 553
Dudley, Ina B., II, 554
Dundy, Elmer S., I, 31
Durkee, W. E., II, 729
Dustine, I, 41
Dykeman, John G., II, 473
Early days in Fremont, I, 233, 235
Early days in Fremont Township,
Dodge County, I, 246
Early events, Platte Township, I, 307
Early marriages in Dodge County, I,
171
Early milling plant. Pebble Township,
I, 264
Early missionaries, I, 41
Early Nebraska explorations, I, 40
Early settlement, Webster Township,
I, 268; Everett Township, I, 280
Eaton, John P., II, 465
Edelmaier, Henry, II, 501
Edelmaier, John, II, 806
Elkhorn River, I, 954; flood, 1873, I,
172
Elkhorn Township, Dodge County,
officers, I, 151; location, I, 272; orig-
inal settlement of, I, 272; popula-
tion, I, 272; railroads, I, 272
Elkhorn Valley, I, 55, 128
Eller, Israel C, I, 338; II, 888
Emerson, John A., II, 515
Episcopal Church, Fremont (illustra-
tion), I, 153; Dodge County, I, 186;
Washington County, I, 373
Equitable Building and Loan Asso-
ciation, I, 119
Erickson, Eric G., II 626
Everett Township, Dodge County,
officers, I, 150; boundaries, I, 280;
early settlement, I, 280; population,
I, 280; postoffice, I, 281; churches,
I, 281; schools, I, 281.
Ewald, P. J., II, 519
Explanation to Old Fort Atkinson
Map, I, 447
Fair Grounds Dodge County, I, 86
"Faithful" Rebekah Lodge No. 332,
Kennard, I, 367
Farm lands, average value of, in 1920,
I. 65
Farm names, Dodge County, I, 87
Farm statistics. Dodge County, I, 85;
Washington County, I, 335
Farmers' Alliance, I, 24
Farmers & Merchants Bank, Ken-
nard, I, 346
Farmers and Merchants Bank, Snyder,
I, 115
Farmers and Merchants National
Bank, Fremont, I, 109
Farmers State Bank, Ames, I, 117
Farmers State Bank, Blair, I, 349
Farmers State Bank, Dodge, I, 115
Farmers State Bank, Nickerson, I, 113
Farmers State Bank, Scribner, I, 113
Farmers State Bank, Uehling, I, 116
Farmers State Bank, Winslow, 1, 114
Fauquet, Mannasses, II, 862
Fauquet, Mary, II, 862
Fidelity Trust Company, Fremont, I.
120
INDEX
Finances of Dodge County, I, 66;
Washington County, I, 330
Finegan, John, II, 864
Fire department, Blair, I, 403
Fire department, North Bend, I, 305
First apple orchard in Nebraska, I,
314
First Bank of Nickerson, I, 113
First Bank in Washington County, I,
345
First church parsonage, Nebraska, I,
314
First church in Dodge County, I, 178
First Congregational Church, Fre-
mont, I, 178
First constitiution of Nebraska, I, 40
First courthouse, Blair (illustration),
I, 324
First courthouse, Washington County,
I, 357
First events, Fremont, I, 219; Nicker-
son Township, I, 251; Cuming
Township, I, 255; Union Township, I,
286
First Fourth of July celebration,
Dodge County, I, 173
First house in which United States
Court and District Court was held
(illustration), I, 322
First Legislature, Washington County,
I, 313
First National Bank, Arlington, I, 347
First National Bank, Dodge, I, 116
First National Bank, Fremont (illus-
tration), I, 108
First National Bank, Hooper, I, 117
First National Bank, North Bend, I,
118
First National Bank, Scribner, I, 112
First newspapers: Dodge County, I,
123; Washington County, I, 352
First parsonage in Nebraska (illus-
tration), I, 179
First public school: Dodge County,
I, 153; Washington County, I, 356
First school building, Washington
County, I, 357
First settlement. Dodge County, I, 52;
Maple Township, I, 295; Hooper
Township, I, 274; Union Township,
I, 286
First State Bank, North Bend, I, 118
First territorial capital, I, 25
First territorial legislature of Ne-
braska, I, 57
First white settlement, Washington
county, I, 316
Fletcher. I, 390, 423
Flynn, Eliza Lee, I, 241
Fontanelle, I, 52, 56, 168; platted, 390;
pioneer settlers, I, 428; important
events, I, 429; of today, I, 429;
another history of, I, 430; trouble
with Indians, I, 432
Fontanelle High School (illustration),
I, 428
Fontanelle Township: location, I, 426;
correct spelling of name, I, 426;
population, I, 426; first settlement,
I, 426; pioneer settlers, I, 428; im-
portant events, I, 429
Fontenelle, Chief Logan, sketch of,
I, 429
Fort Atkinson (see Fort Calhoun),
anecdotes, I, 314; first settlement, I,
316; description, I, 387; established,
I, 398.
Fort Atkinson map, I, 446
Fort Calhoun (see Fort Atkinson),
first settlement, I, 316; Masonry at,
I, 363; description, I, 387; estab-
lished, I, 398
Fort Calhoun map, I, 446
Fort Calhoun Village, I, 435; remi-
niscences, I, 435; Thomas N. Car-
ter's story of, I, 436; in the later
fifties, I, 438; retrospective view of,
by W. H. Woods, I, 439; centennial
celebration of settlement, I, 440
Fort Calhoun Village, I, 442; mu-
nicipal history, I, 443; present offi-
cers, I, 443; schools, I, 444; post-
ofiice history, I, 444
Fort Calhoun High School (illustra-
tion), I, 444
Fort Calhoun school grounds, I, 358
Fort Calhoun State Bank, I, 348
Fort Calhoun Township, I, 435;
boundaries, I, 435; population, I,
435; settlement, I, 435
Fort Kearney, I, 24
Foster, George, II, 524
Fowler, Frank, I, 97
Frahm, Robert, II, 589
Franke, George, II, 508
Fraternal Order of Eagles, I, 197
Free Masonry, Dodge County, I, 188;
Washington County, I, 362
Free Methodist Church of North
America, I, 183
Fremont, site of, I, 52; permanent
county seat of Dodge County, I,
59; physicians (1920), I, 104; banks,
I, 108; newspapers, I, 123; schools,
I, 152; present city schools, I, 155;
location, I, 170; platted, I, 170;
churches, I, 178; origin of, I, 218; first
platting, I, 218; first events in, I,
219; postoffice history of, I, 220;
postmasters at, I, 221 ; secret socie-
ties at, I, 222; municipal govern-
ment, I, 222; city officers, I, 223;
indebtedness of. I, 224; city hall, I,
224; water works, etc., I, 224; city
building, I, 225; orphans home, I,
225; public library, I, 225; classified
business interests, I, 226; manufac-
turing industries, I, 227; business
directory, I. 230; population, I, 232;
early days in, I, 233, 235
Fremont-Albion Highway, I, 135
Fremont Baptist Church, I, 184
Fremont Business College, I, 161
Fremont College, I. 164
Fremont Commercial Club, I, 134, 232
Fremont. Elkhorn & Missouri Valley
Railroad, I, 81
INDEX
Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley
Company, I, 332
Fremont Foundry, I, 227
Fremont Herald, I, 125
Fremont High School, I, 154
Fremont Hospital (illustration), I, 106
Fremont, John C, I, 1, 24, 218, 220
Fremont Joint-Stock Land Bank, I,
122
Fremont Lodge No. 23, A. O. U. W.,
I, 195
Fremont National Bank, I, 110
Fremont Normal College and Busi-
ness Institute, I, 161, 164
Fremont Precinct, I, 246
Fremont Presbyterian Church, I, 184
Fremont State Bank, I, 112
Fremont Stock Yards, L 229
Fremont Town Company, I, 218
Fremont Township, Dodge County,
Officers, 1, 151; early days in, I, 246
Fremont Tribune, I, 123
Frick, J. E., 1, 91, 96
Fried, William, U, 540
Friendship Chapter No. 122 O. E. S.,
Hooper, I, 192
Fritz, Christian G., II, 574
Frontier conditions, I, 24
Frost, Andrew, II, 670
Fuhlrodt, Frank W., II, 781
Fur Traders, I, 41
Gaines, Henry L., II, 705
Garfield, James A., death of, I, 175,
392, 393
Geological eras, I, 3
Gericke, Albert F., II, 919
Gibson, John H., II, 612
Gilmore, Mae, II, 522
Glover, Jennie, 11, 539
Glover, Samuel G., II, 539
Goff, John W., II, 833
Gold hunters' panic, I, 42
Goll, William R., II, 905
"Good Roads Wolz," I, 133
Gottsch. Emil, II. 896
Governors of Nebraska, I, 29, 137, 355
Grace Lutheran Church, Hooper, I,
185
Grange movement, I, 337
Grant Township, organization, I, 453;
population, I, 453
Grant, U. S., death of, I, 176, 393
Grasses, Nebraska, I, 28
Grasshopper plague, I, 171, 291
Great American Desert, I, 42. 311
Great exploring expeditions, I, 41
Grey, E. F., I, 91, 94
Gross, William D., II, 824
Grimm, John H., II, 869
Guidinger, W. A., II, 740
Gumb, John, II, 526
Gumpert, H. Gus, II, 700
Gurney, Edmund R., II, 867
Hagenbaumer, Adolph, II, 537
Hahn, Ernest, II, 691
Halfbreed tract, I, 49
Hall, Dervie, II, 894
Hamilton, Cynthia, I, 233
Hammond, Frank, I, 120; II, 663
Hammond, Ross L., I, 124, 134; II,
460
Hansen, C. Edward, II, 571
Hansen, Hans, II, 879
Hansen, H. Charles, II, 839
Hansen, John J., II, 521
Hansen Ole, II, 571
Hanson, E. P., II, 854
Hanson, James F., II, 764
Hard winter (1857-58), Washington
County, I, 391
Hartung, Gottlieb, II, 508
Harvey, Andrew, II, 775
Haslam, George J., I, 101, 106; II, 654
Haun, Frank M., II, 551
Haun, Henry A., II, 629
Haun, John, II, 70S
Haun, John W., II, 706
Hauser, Byron B., II, 632
Havekost, John, II, 747
Haverfield, Rutherford H., II, 638
Healy, Byron N., II, 720
Heath, E. V., II, 876
Heaton, Isaac E., I, 220
Hedelund, George T., II, 892
Heine, J. Howard, II, 628
Heine, W. Howard, II, 522
Hemphill, W. F., II, 669
Hendricksen, John, II, 621
Henneman, William, II, 703
Herfurth, Fred A., II, 667
Herman (village), platted, I, 390; mu-
nicipal history, I, 423; business in-
terests, I, 424
Herman Chapter, Order of Eastern
Star, No. 216, I, 365
Herman High School (illustration), I,
424
Herman Record, I, 352
Herman State Bank, I, 346
Herman Township, boundaries, I, 422;
population, I, 422
Heuermann, Fred, II, 878
Highland, I, 412
Highlanders, Scribner, I, 199
Higley, Harry, II, 820
Hilliker, William E., II, 550
Himebaugh, O. A., I, 52
Hinchman, Joseph V., II, 603
Hindmarsh, George G., II, 510
Hindmarsh, Ray, II, 468
Hines, G. G., II, 584
Hinman, Beach, II, 487
Hinman, Guy M., II, 487
Hinman, Miner H., II, 4«6
Hiram Lodge No. 52, A. F. & A. M..
Arlington, I, 363
Historic items: Dodge County, I, 239;
Washington County, I, 317
Hoebener, John H., U, 738
Hoegemeyer, Casper, II, 618
Hoegermeyer, Otto, II, 596
Holbrook, William D., II, 575
Hollenbeck, Conrad, I, 91, 96; II, 601
Holloway. Louis F., II, 707
Holsten, Herman, II, 580
Hooker, Edward W., H, 535
INDEX
xxm
Home Savings Bank, Fremont, I, 111
Home State Bank, Kennard, I, 347
Hooper, Charles H., II, 605
Hooper, Banks, I, 117; schools, I,
156; location, I, 170; platted, I, 170;
village of, I, 275; business begin-
nings, I, 276; commercial interests
(1920), I, 277; municipal history, I,
278; waterworks, I, 279
Hooper Building and Loan Associa-
tion, I, 121
Hooper Lodge No. 72, A. F. & A. M.,
I, 190
Hooper Lodge No. 226, A. O. U. W.,
I, 195
Hooper Methodist Episcopal Church,
I, 181
Hooper Roller Mills, I, 276
Hooper Sentinel, I, 126
Hooper Township, Dodge County,
Officers, I, 150; description of, I,
274; location, I, 274; population, I,
274; first settlement, I, 274; organ-
ization of. I, 274
Horstman, Morris, II, 680
Hospitals of Dodge County, I, 105
Hovendick, F. J., II, 857
Hrabak, Charles, II, 672
Hudson, I, 390, 422
Hustead, Edwin L., II, 622
Illustrations: (map) Normal Annual
Precipitation, I, 17; Typical Scene
Along the North Platte, I, 20; Mov-
ing Indians, I, 45; Log House of
Hon. E. H. Rogers, Fremont, Erect-
ed in 1857, I, 58; Old Courthouse,
Fremont, Destroyed by Fire, De-
cember 5, 1915, I, 70; Railroad
Yards at Fremont, I, 76; View on
"Burlington" near Fremont, I, 82;
Tractor Plow, I, 88; New Court-
house, Fremont, I, 93; Fremont
Hospital, I, 106; First Building of
First National Bank, Fremont, and
Present Building, I, 108; Typical
Dodge County Corn Field, I, 131;
Old Stage Coach, I, 134; Joseph C.
Cook, I, 141; Central or Old High
School (1870), First Methodist
Episcopal Church, Fremont, 1899. I,
153; High School Fremont, I, 154;
First Parsonage in Nebraska, I, 179;
Postoffice, Fremont, I, 221; J. C.
Cleland, Many Years Mayor of Fre-
mont and Father of the Fire De-
partment, I, 223; Carnegie Public
Library, I, 225; Factory District,
Fremont: Fremont Gas and Electric
Co., I. 229; Log Cabin in which Hon.
Ray Nye was born, I, 236; Resi-
dence of Hon. Ray Nye, Fremont,
I, 236; Business Street, Scribner, I,
256; City Hall, Hooper, I, 276; High
School, North Bend, I, 299; Thor-
oughbred Cattle, I, 308; First House
in which U. S. Court and District
Court Was Held, I, 322; First Court-
house in Blair, I, 322; Courthouse,
Blair, I, 324; Cattle, I, 335; Thresh-
ing Scene I, 336; Log Schoolhouse,
I, 357; Mt. Hope Fruit Farm, I, 400;
Street Scene, Blair, I, 401; Blair City
Hall, I, 403; Ware Farm, I, 404;
Postoffice, Blair, I 407; Crowell
Memorial Home for the Aged Blair,
I, 410; High School, Arlington, I,
418; Arlington Nurseries, I, 420;
High School, Herman, I, 424; High
School, Fontanelle, I, 428; Henry
Rohwer Farm, I, 434; Lewis-Clark
Monument, Fort Calhoun, I, 441;
High School, Fort Calhoun, I, 444;
Kennard School, I, 450; R. Peterson
Farm, I. 452
Independent Order of Odd Fellows,
I, 366
Indians, Removal of, I, 24; customs
of, I, 45; location of the various
tribes, I, 46; character of, I, 49;
relations with settlers, I, 49; im-
plements of, I, 50; hostility towards
the whites, I, 50; scare, Platte
Township, I, 3()6; troubles in Wash-
ington County, I, 394; trouble with
at Fontanelle, I, 432
Indian Council, Fort Calhoun, I, 398
Indian War of 1890-91, I, 51
Introduction, Dodge County, I, 1;
Washington County, I, 311
Jackson, I, 23
Jackson, Edward C. II, 586
Jahnel, Frank, II, 822
Jahnel, William, II, 872
Jamestown Methodist Episcopal
Church, I, 183
Janssen, John B, II, 779
Janssen, Katherine, II, 779
Japp, J. F., II, 907
Japp, W. L., II, 852
Jensen, Andrew, II, 782
Johnson Allen 11, 594
Johnson, Charles C, II, 534
Johnson, Frank W., II, 723
Johnson, Magnus, II, 902
Johnson, Nels M., II, 710
Johnson, P. G., II, 786
Jones, William P., I, 161, 164
Judges, Dodge County, I, 139; Wash-
ington County, 327
Judges of the District Court, Dodge
County, I, 97
Jungbluth, Fred E., II, 898
Jungbluth, Herman, II, 886
Kahnk, August, II, 874
Kavich, Jacob, II, 762
Keene, C. A., II, 485
Keller Paul L., II, 528
Kelser, Jacob J., II, 607
Kendall, Harvey C, II, 853
Kendrick, Henry G., II, 696
Kendrick, Verne, II, 696
Kennard (platted), I, 390; churches, I,
450; schools, I, 450; business inter-
ests in 1920, I, 450
Kennard School (illustration), I, 450
XXIV
INDEX
Kennard Weekly News, I, 351
Kidder, Henry M., II, 675
Kinkaid act, I, 11
Kiowan tribes, I, 48
Knapp, Frank B., II, 847
Knights of Pythias, Dodge County, I,
193; Washington County, I, 367
Knoell, Henry, II, 843
Knoell, Fred, II, 479
Knowles, John H., II, 774
Koehne, C. Julian, II, 480
Koehne, Fred F., 11, 585
Koltermaii, Carl F., II, 570
Kountz, John A., I, 219
Koyen, Victor E., II, 841
Koyen, WilHam, II, 678
Krajicek, Benjamin E., II, 665
Kroeger, Carl, II, 783
Kroeger, Harry, II, 727
Kronberg, Gustave E., II, 898
Kuss, Henry, II, 745
Laird, Fred C, II, 744
Landmark Lodge No. 222, A. F. & A.
M., Herman, I, 364
Langhorst, Edward F., II, 552
Langhorst, Otto A., II, 518
Langhorst, Otto, Sr., II, 511
Largest beet-sugar plant in world, I,
18
Largest broom factory in world, I, 18
Largest cattle feeding station in
world, I, 18
Largest creamery in world, I, 18
Larson, Luther C, II, 489
Larson, P. Harry, II, 807
Last romantic buffalo hunt, I, 31
Lawyers, Dodge County, I, 91; Wash-
ington county. I, 338
Leake, Endell N., II, 730
Lee, Henry J., II, 606
Lee, William B., I, 241
Legal Holidays, Nebraska, I, 23
Lewis, Captain, I, 37
Lewis and Clark Expedition, I, 41
Lewis-Clark Monument, Fort Calhoun
(illustration), I, 441
Liberty Loans in Dodge County, I,
210; Washington County, I, 386
Lincoln, I, 25
Lincoln, Abraham, death of, I, 175
Lincoln Highway, I, 133
Lincoln Highway East, I, 135
Lincoln Highway, West, I, 135
Lincoln Township, I, 454; population,
I, 454; settlement, I, 454
Lippincott, M. R., II, 768
Livingston, Duncan, II, 484
Livingston, J. Stewart, II, 484
Location of Nebraska, I, 19
Loess: deposits, I, 5; character of,
I, 5; agricultural value of, I, 6
Logan Township, Dodge County, Of-
ficers, I, 151; boundaries of, I, 292;
early settlements of, I, 292; organ-
ization of, I, 292; population of, I,
292
Logan Valley, I, 128
Logan Valley Bank, Uehling, I, 116
Loomis, George L., I, 91, 95; II, 459
Loomis, Howard W., II, 460
Looschen, Henry H , II, 721
Louisiana Purchase, I, 36
Luehrs, Robert A., II, 709
Lueninghoener, Henry H., II, 694
Lund, N. T., II, 750
Luse, Dora, II, 904
Lutheran Churches, Dodge County, I,
185; Washington County, I, 371
Lutz, J. E, II, 685
Maccabees, I, 197
Maher, William J., II, 777
Mahlin, Eugene L., II, 788
Majers, Charles E., II, 545
Mallet, I, 41
Manufacturing Industries of Fremont,
I, 227
Maple Creek, I, 295
Maple Township, Dodge County, Of-
ficers, I, 150; description, I, 295;
first settlement, I, 295; population,
I, 295; postoffices, I, 295; churches,
I, 295; schools, I, 295
Market prices, Dodge County, I, 168
Marquette, Father, I, 41
Marr, Charles D.. II, 714
Marr, Charles J., II, 696
Marshall, Chester C, II, 463
Marshall, George A„ II, 463
Marshall, Harvey W., II, 463
Marshall, William, I, 91, 95
Marshall Family, II, 463
Marshall's Nurseries, I, 421
Martin, Edwin W.. II, 832
Martin, Grant G.,. I, 97
Masonic Home for Children, I, 189
Masonic Temple, Fremont, I, 189
Masonry, Dodge County, I, 188;
Washington County, I, 362
Masters, Commodore Perry, II, 542
Mathews, Trevanyon L., I, 107; II,
711
Mattson, John, II, 755
Maxwell, Elizabeth A., II, 568
Maxwell, Samuel, I, 91, 92
McCann, J. F., II, 893
McCann W. J., II, 874
McFarland, Elmer M., II, 779
McFarland, James J., II, 778
McGiverin, Rose, II, 914
McKay, John, II, 650
McKennan, Charles, II, 673
McKinley, William, I, 152; death of,
I, 176, 393
McKinley Chapter, Order of Eastern
Star, Blair, I, 365
McQuarrie, John, II, 755
McVicker, William J., U, 512
Mead, C. R., II, 564
Mead, Eda, I, 430
Meherns, Maurice, II, 827 .
Melick, John H., II, 798
Mencke, Henry, II, 865
Menking, George, 11, 894
Mercer, George L., II, 642
Mercer, William G., II. 642
Merselis, Warren, II, 476
INDEX
Methodist Episcopal Churches in
Dodge County, I, 180; Washington
County, I, 371
Meyer, Herman, II, 693
Meyer, Herman F., II, 569
Meyer, Herman G., II, 543
Meyer, J. H. C, II, 626
Meyer, William H. J., II, 604
Middaugh, Raymond J., II, 717
Middaugh, William, II, 699
Midland College, Fremont, I, 162, 166
Military history of Dodge County, I,
200; Washington County, I, 375
Miller, A. J., II, 769
Miller, Charles M., II, 598
Miller, Elmer M., II, 900
Milligan, John O., Jr„ II, 561
Milligan, John O., Sr., II, 560
Mitterling, P. T., II, 829
Miscellaneous items, Dodge County,
I, 168; Washington County, I, 389
Missouri compromise, I, 38
Missouri River, I, 7, 19, 312
Modern Roads, Dodge County, I, 133;
Modern Woodmen of America, Dodge
County, I, 194; Washington County,
I, 369
Moe, Mrs. L. S., I, 108
Moe. Rex R., II, 744
Moeller, John H. C, II, 617
Mohler, G. H., I, 164
Moller, Frederick, Sr., II, 837
Monke, Henry S., II, 661
Monke. John H., II, 660
Monnich, Bernard, II, 472
Monnich, Gerhard, II, 682
Monnich, Herman, II, 792
Monnich, John N., II, 547
Moore, Sadie I., I, 233
Morehouse, Carlos, II, 594
Morehouse, May (Smith), II, 593
Mormons, I, 41
Morris, John, I, 25
Morrow. Hamilton M., II, 801
Morse, Edward N., II, 815
Meyer, George W., II, 808
Mount Hope Fruit Farm (illustration),
I, 400
Mueller, M. H., II, 891
Mummert, D. Z., II, IIZ
Munger, W. H., I, 91, 94
Municipal government, Fremont, I,
222
Murdoch, R. J., II, 572
Murley, William, II, 877
Murphy, Aaron W., II, 558
Murrell, James A., II, 613
Name 'Nebraska," I, 24
Naomi Chapter No. 121, Order of
Eastern Star, Fort Calhoun, I, 364
Natural Features, Nebraska, I, 13
Nebraska: state history, I, 2; geolog-
ical eras, I, 3; coal beds, I, 4; wild
fruits, I, 6, 22; river bottoms, I, 9
alkali lands, I, 12; bottom lands, I
13; natural features, I, 13; temper-
ature, I, 13; topography, I, 13
winds, I, 15; moisture, I, 16; rain
fall, I, 16; largest beet-sugar plant it
world, I, 18; largest broom factory
in world, I, 18; largest cattle feed-
ing station in world, I, 18; largest
creamery in world, I, 18; rank
among other states, I, 18; area,
I, 19; location, I, 19; rivers, I,
19, 27; timber, I, 21; species of
trees in, I, 21, 27; state insti-
tutions, I, 22; legal holidays, I, 23;
historic paragraphs, I, 23; name
source of, I, 24, 38; from 1830 to
1854; I, 24; from 1867 to 1875, I, 24;
territory organized, I, 24; state seal,
I, 25; state capitol buildings, I, 25;
state flower, I, 26; vegetation, I, 26;
grasses, I, 28; wild flowers, I, 29;
governors, I, 29, 137, 355; counties,
I, 30; admitted as a state, I, 39;
early explorations, I, 40; first con-
stitution, I, 40; constitution of 1875,
I, 40; Indians of, I, 43; first terri-
torial legislature, I, 57; grasshopper
plague, I, 171
Nebraska Colonization Company, I,
52, 316
Nebraska Country, I, 38
Nebraska-Kansas Bill, I, 24
Nebraska Prize Hymn, I, 173
Nebraska Sheep (illustration), I, 29
Nebraska State Building and Loan
Association, I, 120
Nebraska Territorial Organization, I,
38
Nehrbas, Albert A., II, 766
Nelson, Andrew P., II, 483
Nelson, J. C, II, 803
Nelson, Martin, II, 676
Newell, John W., II, 651
Newsom, Joseph C, II, 616
Newsom, Joseph E., II, 649
Newspapers, Dodge County, I, 123;
Fremont, I, 23; Washington County,
I. 350; Blair, I, 350; De Soto, I, 415
Nichol, Sarah, II, 615
Nichol, William, II, 615
Nickerson, Banks, I, 113; location, I,
171; platted, I, 171
Nickerson Lodge No. 390, I. O. O. F.,
I, 192
Nickerson Methodist Episcopal
Church, I, 182
Nickerson Township, Dodge County,
officers, I, 150; description, I, 250;
pioneer settlement, I, 250; popula-
tion of, I, 250; first events in, I, 251;
schools of, I, 252; churches of, I,
252
Niebaum, Edward, II, 511
Nielsen, Morris, II, 677
Niobrara River, I, 8, 13
North Bend, banks, I, 118; schools, I,
155; location. I, 170; platted, I, 170;
city of, location, I, 298; commercial
interests of, I, 301; business inter-
ests (1920), I, 302; municipal his-
tory of, I, 303; postoffice history, I,
303; miscellaneous improvements, I,
305; fire department, I, 305; great
fires, I, 305
North Bend Eagle, I, 125
INDEX
North Bend High School (illustra-
tion), I, 299
North Bend Lodge No. 119, A. F. &
A. M., I, 190
North Bend Lodge No. 161, L O. O.
R, I, 192
North Bend Lodge, Modern Wood-
men of America, I, 194
North Bend Methodist Episcopal
Church, L 182
North Bend Milling Company, H, 515
North Bend Township, Dodge County,
officers, I, 151; description, I, 298;
location, I, 298; pioneer history, I,
298; early events, 1, 301
Nusz, T. A. F., II, 625
Nye, Mrs. Theron, I, 235
Nye, Ray, II, 554
Nye, Schneider, Fowler Company,
Fremont, I, 227
O'Connor, John, II, 640
Odd Fellows Lodges, Dodge County,
I, 192; Washington County, I, 366
Officials of Dodge County, 1920, I, 72
Officers of Dodge County Farm Bu-
reau (1920), I, 89
O'Hanlon, Clark, II, 573
Old Settlers Association, Dodge Coun-
ty, I, 173
Ollermann, H. O. L., II, 576
Olsen, Otto F., II, 876
Olson, Andrew E., II, 688
Olson, Eric, II, 844
Omahas, I, 47
Onate, I. 44
Order of Eastern Star, Dodge County,
I, 191; Washington County, I, 364
Oregon Trail, I, 1
Original village plats, Dodge County,
I, 170; Washington County, I, 389
Orphans Home, Fremont, I, 225
Orum, I, 390
Osterloh, Fred, II, 840
Osterloh, John G., II, 768
Osterman. William, 11, 916
Osterman, Thomas T., II, 856
Overland Stage Line, I, 220
Overland Trail, I, 1
Overland Trails, I, 23
Panning, Frederick G., II, 468
Panning, Gustave C, II, 759
Panning, Henry. II, 467
"Paper Town," famous, I, 422
Parkert. George N., II, 502
Parkert, Peter, Jr., II, 739
Party votes by decades, Dodge Coun-
ty, I, 148; Washington County, I,
354
"Pathfinder," I, 1
Patrons of Husbandry, I, 337
Paulsen, Chris, II, 875
Pawnees. I, 44
Pease, Charles H., II, 523
Pebble, location, I, 170; platted, I,
170. 264
Pebble Township, Dodge County, of-
ficers, I, 150; location. I, 263; de-
scription, I, 263; population, I, 263;
first settlement, I, 263; early milling
plant, I, 264; schools, I, 264;
churches, I, 264; villages, I, 264.
Petersen, C. Henry, II, 852
Petersen, Herman, II, 664
Petersen, Nickels, II, 872
Peterson, Lars, II, 846
Peterson, Laurence M., II, 848
Peterson, O. A., II, 796
Peterson (R.) Farm (illustration), I,
452 .
Petrow, John, II, 797
PfeifJer, G. I., II, 543
Phillips, Ezra, II, 772
Phillips, Lloyd W., I, 229: II, 687
Physicians, Dodge County, I, 99;
Washington County, I, 342
Pierce, Fred G., II, 600
Pike explorer, I, 46
Pike's Peak Immigration, I, 54
Pilcher, Edward, II, 860
Pilcher, Mary. II, 861
Pilgrim Hill, I, 7
Pine Ridge and Rosebud Agencies, I,
49
Pioneer experiences of Dodge County,
I. 52
Pioneers, Dodge County, I, 52; Wash-
ington County, I, 317
Plambeck, Anthony F., II, 531
Plateau State Bank, Herman, I, 346
Platte River, I, 8, 19
Platte Township, Dodge County, offi-
cers, I, 150; boundary, I, 306; set-
tlements, I, 306; population, I, 306;
Indian scare, I, 306; early events,
I, 307
Platte Valley, I, 9, 38, 54
Pleasant Valley Township, Dodge
county, officers, I, 149; description,
I, 289; population, I, 289; organl
zation, I, 289; pioneer settlement, I
289; churches, I, 290; schools, I
290; postoffices in. I, 291
Political afifairs, Dodge County, I, 137
Washington County, I, 354
Pollard, Charies C, II, 737
Pollock, Irving J., II, 841
Poncas. I, 47
Poor Farm, Dodge County. I, 72;
Washington County, I, 326
Population, Arlington Township, I,
417: Blair Township, I, 399: Cotter-
ell Township, I, 260; Cuming Town-
ship, I, 254; De Soto Township, I,
414; Dodge County, I, 169; Elkhorn
Township. I, 272; Everett Town-
ship, I, 280; Fontanelle Township, I,
426; Fort Calhoun Township, I, 435;
Fremont, I, 232; Grant Township. I,
453; Herman Township, I, 422;
Hooper Township, I. 274; Logan
Township, I, 292; Maple Town-
ship. I. 295; Nebraska sandhill
region, I. 11; Nickerson Township.
I, 250; Pebble Township, I. 263;
Platte Township, I, 306; Pleasant
Valley Township, I, 289; Ridgeley
INDEX
xxvn
Township, I, 283; Uehling (Village),
I, 293; Union Township, I, 286;
Washington County, I, 389; Web-
ster Township, I, 268
Postoffice, Blair (illustration), I, 407
Postoffice, Fremont (illustration), I,
221
Postoffices, Dodge County, I, 168
Poulson, Christ L., II, 639
Pratt, Fred E., II, 697
Presbyterian Churches: Dodge Coun-
ty, I, 183; Washington County, I,
374
Preston, Sylvester A., II, 488
Property valuations of Dodge County,
I, 66; Washington County, I, 330
Publii; Library, Fremont, I, 225; Blair,
I, 408
Puis, Carl P., II, 911
Railroad yards, Fremont (illustra-
tion), I, 76
Railroads, Dodge County, I, 75;
Washington County, I, 332
Railway Mileage in Dodge County, I,
84
Ralph, Carl N., II, 807
Rathbun, Grove H., II, 809
Realph, William, II. 466
Rebbe, August L., II, 623
Rebbe, Henry, II. 559
Rebbe, Henry C, II, 560
Rebbe. Louis J., II, 636
Rebekah Degree Lodges of I. O. O.
F,. Dodge County, I, 193; Washing-
ton County, I. 367
Reckmeyer, Walter R., II, 731
Red Cross Work, Dodge County, I,
211; Washington County, I, 386
Reeder, Grant S., II, 740
Registered farm names. Dodge County,
I, 87; Washington County, I, 336
Reinhold, Arnold, II, 557
Removal of Indians, I, 24
Republican River, I, 9, 20
Republican Valley, I, 9
Reynolds, Benjamin W.. II, 527
Reynolds, Wilson B., II, 498
Reznicek. Joseph F.. II, 493
Richards, Lucius D., I, 75; II, 643
Richardson. Ira F., II, 530
Richland Township, location, I, 448;
settlement, I, 448
Ridgeley Township, Dodge County,
officers, I, 150; location, I, 283; pop-
ulation. I, 2883; organization, I, 283
churches, I, 283; schools, I, 283;
postoffices, I, 283; first settlers, I,
284
Ridgeley, Village, I, 283
Riker, George B., II. 887
Rine, Philip S., II, 718
Ring, Herbert T., II, 474
Rivers of Nebraska, I, 19, 27; Dodge
County, I, 55; Washington County,
I. 312
Roberts, Joseph, 11, 753
Roberts, Oliver C, II, 873
Robertson, James C, II, 668
Robinson, Charles J., II, 810
Rockport, I, 442
Rogers, EHphus H., I, 58, 92, 108, 246;
II, 741
Rogers, Henry W., II, 631
Rogers, L. H., II, 734
Rogers, Mr. and Mrs. L. H., I, 108
Rohwer Farm (illustration), I, 434
Rosenbaum, Buck, II, 881
Rosenbaum, Hiram J., II, 855
Rosenbaum, John, II, 859
Rosenbaum, Sarah G., II, 855
Ross, Charles, II, 686
Roster soldiers, Spanish-American
War, Dodge County, I, 200; Wash-
ington County, I, 375; World War,
Dodge County, I, 202; Washington
County, I, 383
Ruth Chapter No. 119, O. E. S., North
Bend, I, 191
Sac and Fox Purchase, I, 48
Saeger, William, II, 592
Salt Lake City, I, 42
Sampson, John, II. 674
Sampter, Carrie, II, 588
Sampter, Nathan, II, 588
Sanders, Jacob, II, 698
Sanders, John, II, 575
Sanders. William M., II, 532
Sass, Christian, II, 480
Sasse, Herman G., II, 776
Schafersman, William. II, 849
Schmidt, C. A., II, 760
Schmidt, Ernest, II. 703
Schmietenknop, Henry, II, 684
Schneider. Rudolph B., II. 614
Schoeneck, Arthur G., II, 491
Schoeneck, William A., II, 492
Schoettger, Henry W., II, 761
Schools, Dodge County, I, 152; Fre-
mont, I, 152; North Bend, I, 155;
Scribner, I, 155; Hooper, I, 156;
graded, of Dodge County, I, 159;
private and parochial. Dodge Coun-
ty, I, 159; Nickerson Township, I,
252; Pebble Township, I, 264; Ev-
erett Township, I, 281; Ridgeley
Township, I, 283; Union Township,
I, 288; Pleasant Valley Township,
I, 290; Maple Township, I, 295;
Washington County, I, 356; paro-
chial, in Washington County, I, 360;
Fort Calhoun, I, 444; Kennard, I,
450
School Superintendents, Dodge Coun-
ty. I, 157; Washington County, I,
360
Schow, C. J.. II. 517
Schuett, William. II. 713
Schumacher. Chris, II, 871
Schurman. Otto H.. II, 565
Schwab, J. Frank. II, 470
Schwatka, Frederick, I, 31
Scott, Fred F.. II, 735
Scribner. Banks. I. 112; schools, I,
155; location, I, 170; platted, I. 170;
incorporated. I, 256; business inter-
ests of 1892, I, 257; present (1920)
commercial affairs, I, 257; municipal
history, I, 258; postoffice, I, 259
xxvni
INDEX
Scribner Business Street (illustra-
tion), I, 256
Scribner Congregational Church, I,
180
Scribner Lodge, A. F. & A. M., No.
132, I, 190
Scribner Rustler, I, 126
Scribner State Bank, I, 112
Second territorial capitol, I, 25
Secret Societies of Dodge County, I,
88; Washington County, I, 362
Security Savings Bank, Fremont, I,
111
Selden, Perry, II, 818
Shaffer, Harvey W., II, 802
Shaffer, James M., II, 597
Shaffer, Norman E., II, 545
Shaffer, William A., II, 838
Shephard, George W., II, 805
Shephard, Grace, II, 805
Sheridan Township, population, I, 453;
settlement, I, 454
Sheriffs, Dodge County, I, 143; Wash-
ington County, I, 327
Shipley, Marion E., II, 692
Sidner, Seymour S., II, 619
Siekkotter, Mary M., II, 821
Sievers, Henry, II, 496
Sink, Joseph C, II, 745
Siouan tribes, I, 43
Sioux City and Pacific Railroad, I, 79
Smails, Nathaniel W., II, 780
Smith, James R., II, 563
Smith, Joseph T, II, 910
Smith, J. Towner, II, 909
Smith, Leander B., II, 513
Snyder, Joseph II, 503
Snyder, Louis, II, 504
Snyder, Myron G., II, 582
Snyder, Banks, I, 114; location, I,
171, 264; platted, I, 171; commer-
cial interests (1920), I, 265; munic-
ipal history, I, 266; churches, I, 266
Snyder Lodge No. 470, M. W. of A.,
I, 194
Snyder State Bank, I, 114
Soil and Drainage of Dodge County,
I, 128; Washington County, I, 334
Sonin, John, II, 834
Spangler, Grover C, II, 525
Spanish-American War, Dodge Coun-
ty, I, 200; Washington County, I,
375
Spanish-American War, Roster of Sol-
diers, Dodge County, I, 200; Wash-
ington County, I, 375
Sprick, Albert W., II, 568
Sprick, Henry, II, 567
Springs, I, 20
St. James Protestant Episcopal
Church, Fremont, I, 186
Staats, George F., II, 667
Standard Cattle Company, Fremont,
I, 228, 309
Stage Coach (illustration), I, 134
State Bank, Blair, I, 348
State capitol buildings, I, 25
State Flower, I, 26
State Good Roads Association, I, 133
State Highway Advisory Board, I, 135
State Institutions, Nebraska, I, 22
State Representatives, Dodge County,
I, 138; Washington County, I, 355
State Seal of Nebraska, I, 25
State Senators, Dodge County, I, 138;
Washington County, I, 355
Steam Wagon Road, I, 23
Steamboat Years, I, 24
Stecher, Joe, II, 653
Stephens, Dan V., I, 128, 134; II, 701
Stevenson, John W., II, 504
Stewart, Edward R., II, 555
Stewart, Gabriel R, II, 866
Stiles, Frances E., II, 804
Stiles, Seth F., II, 803
Stinson, Robert J., I, 96
Stiver, Gustavus S., II, 704
Stone, William H., 11, 481
Street Scene, Blair (illustration), I,
401
Strong, D. M., I, 91, 96
Sublette, I, 23
Supervisors, Dodge County, I, 63, 73
Surface Drainage, Dodge County, I,
129
Surface of Platte Valley, I, 54
Sutton, James H., II, 732
Swan, Harry L., II, 864
Swanson, Dan, II, 816
Sweet, G. A., II, 672
Swihart, William E., II, 900
Talbasta, I, 390
Tank, Claus G., II, 758
Tank, Henry, II, 767
Taxes of Dodge County, I, 64
Teeter, Guy H., II, 515
Teigeler, Henry, II, 728
Temperature, Nebraska, I, 13; ex-
tremes of, I, 14; yearly mean, I, 14
Terrace Lands, Dodge County, I, 128
Thom, Alexander, II, 588
Tile Drainage, Dodge County, I, 129,
132
Tillman, A. M., II, 475
Timber, I. 12, 21
Topography, Nebraska, I, 13; Dodge
County, I, 54
Township Officers, Dodge County,
1919-20, I, 149
Township Organization, Dodge Coun-
ty, I, 60, 146
Tractor plow (illustration), I, 88
Trees, species of, in Nebraska, I, 27,
28
Tribal lands, I, 49
Triumph Lodge No. 32, K. of P., Fre-
mont, I, 193
Turner, George, II, 835
Turner, Nancy S., II, 835
Turner, R. P., II, 653
Turner, William H., II, 620
Tyson, I, 390
Uehling, Edward, II, 478
Uehling, Frank T., II, 552
Uehling, Henry, II, 706
Uehling, Ludwig, II, 666
INDEX
Uehling, Martin A., II, 479
Uehling, Theodore, II, 477
Uehling, banks, I, 116; location, I, 171,
293; platted, I, 171; population, I,
293; waterworks, I, 293; commercial
interests (1920), I, 294; postoffice, I,
294; hospital, I, 294
Uehling Post, I, 126
Union Fair Ground Association, I, 86
Union Pacific Railroad, first railroad,
Dodge County, I, 54, 75
Union Township, Dodge County, offi-
cers, I, 149; location, I, 286; organ-
ization, I, 286; first settlers, I, 286;
first events, I, 286; population, I,
286; churches, I, 288; schools, I,
288
United Presbyterian Church, North
Bend, I, 181
Vacoma, I, 390
Valuation and tax levy of school dis-
tricts. Dodge County, I, 160
Van Anda, Elvina, II, 920
Van Anda, John A., II, 919
Van Anda, Mary, II, 916
Van Deusen, Don C, II, 599
Van Metre, Richard T., II. 716
Van Patten, John B., II, 671
Vaughan, Fred W., II, 793
Vegetation in Nebraska, I, 26
Vloch, William E., II, 666
Volpp, Fred, II, 490
Voss, William, II, 914
Wallingford, Charles L., II, 836
Ward, Lewis E., II, 882
Ware Farm (illustration), I, 404
Warner, John H., II, 813
Warner, Louis M., II, 790
Washington, I, 389
Washington (Zounty: Reminiscences,
I, 239; introduction, I, 311; descrip-
tion, I, 311; location, I, 312; rivers,
I, 312; timber, I, 312; topography,
I, 312; abstract, I, 313; first legis-
lature, I, 313; organization, I, 313;
county seat, I, 315; settlements, I,
316; first white settlement, I, 316;
pioneers, I, 317; historic items, I, 317;
claim-jumping, I, 319; county build-
ings, I, 323; government, I, 323;
county treasurers, I, 327; county
surveyors, I, 327; present court-
house, I, 323; county jail, I, 325;
county clerks, I, 326; probate
judges, I, 327; county judges, I,
327; county school superintendents,
I, 327; sheriflfs of, I, 327; attorneys,
I, 328, 338; clerks of the district, I,
328; county commissioners, I, 328;
coroners, I, 328; financial statement,
I, 330; valuations of farm and city
property, I, 330; railroads, I, 332;
railroad mileage, I, 333; agriculture,
I, 334; stock raising, I, 334; county
fairs, I, 334; comparative agricul-
tural statistics, 1,335; registered farm
names, I, 336; physicians, I, 342;
banking, I, 345; summary of banks.
I, 349; newspapers, I, 350; political
affairs, I, 354; state representatives,
I, 355; state senators, I, 355;
schools, I, 356; first public school, I,
356; first courthouse, I, 357; school
superintendent's report (1920), I,
359; parochial schools, I, 360; super-
intendents of schools, I, 360; secret
societies, I, 362; churches, I, 370;
military history, I, 375; in Spanish-
American war, I, 375; in World
war, yil; original village plats, I,
389; population, I, 389; markets at
various times, I, 390; hard winter
of 1856-57, I, 391; present market
prices (1920), I, 391; county seat, I,
399; Indian troubles, I, 394
Washington, village, I, 451; business
interests, 1920, I, 451
Washington County Agricultural So-
city, I, 335
Washington County Bank, Fort Cal-
houn, I, 347
Washington County Courthouse, I,
315
Washington County Medical Society,
I, 343
Washington Democrat, I, 351
Washington Lodge No. 41, Independ-
ent Order of Odd Fellows, Arling-
ton, I, 366
Washington State Bank, I, 346
Waterhouse. Archibald H., II, 655
Waterman. Herman H. F., II, 520
Waterman, Herman, II, 537
Weber. Gus H.. II, 763
Webster Township, Dodge County;
officers, I, 149; early settlement, I,
268; location, I, 268; population, I,
268
Webster, village, I, 283
Wegner, O. B., II, 627
Weigle. John, II, 698
Weitkamp. H. P., II, 500
Wells, I, 20
"Western Engineer," I, 24
Western Theological Seminary, Fre-
mont. I. 162
Westlin, August, II, 683
Westphalen, Henry, II, 912
Widhelm, Joseph G., II, 462
Widman, Oscar. II, 795
Wiese, R. G., II, 869
Wild flowers, Nebraska, I, 29
Wild fruits of Nebraska, I, 622
Wiley, William C, II, 770
Wilkins. Norman, II, 861
Wilkinson, James. I, Til
Wilkinson, Lucy, II, 913
Wilkinson, Thomas T., II, 913
Wilkinson, W. W., II, 826
Williams. Ira M., II, 660
Williams, Mrs. L. A., II, 818
Winkelman, Florence A., II, 845
Winnebagos, I, 47
Winslow banks. I, 114; location, I,
171; platted, I, 171, 279; village of,
I, 279; commercial interests (1920),
I, 279
INDEX
Winslow State Bank, I, 114
Wintersteen, Waldo, I, 97; II, 657
Witt, Anna, II, 557
Witt, Henry. II, 633
Witt, John H., II, 557
Wolcott, Harland L., II, 702 '
Wolf, Fred, II, 695
Wolsleger, William J., II,- 499
Wolz, George R, I, 133; II, 494
Women's Christian Temperance Un-
ion, Fremont, I, 127
Woodmen of the World, Dodge
County, I, 194
Woods, W. H., I, 439
World war, Dodge County, I, 202;
roster of Dodge County soldiers, I,
202; Washington County, I, Zll;
roster of Washington County sol-
diers, I, 3«3
Wrich, Chris, II, 908
Wrich, Hans, II, 908
Wright, Homer A., II, 895
Wright, Thomas H., II, 747
Wyeth, Nathaniel I., I, 23
"Yellowstone," I, 24
Yeoman Lodge, Fremont, I, 198
Young, James T., II, 774
Young Men's Christian Association,
Fremont, I, 127
Zapp, Samuel A., II, 529
Zellers, Moses T., II, 804
Zellers, William M., II, 649
Zion's Lutheran Church, Hooper, I,
185
History of Dodge County
INTRODUCTION
This is a concise history of that portion of the State of Nebraska
known as Dodge County. It is beHeved to be a true account of the early
settlement and subsequent development of one of the original subdivi-
sions of this commonwealth, of which the enterprising City of Fremont
is the seat of justice. In this city, today, stands (near the Union Pacific
depot) a beautiful, plain Scotch granite marker, placed by the Daugh-
ters of the American Revolution, for the purpose of marking the spot
where the center of the great Oregon Trail (or the Overland Trail as
called by some), used to run on its westward course, through Nebraska,
Colorado and Utah, thence on to the far-away Pacific coast. Its alti-
tude above sea-level is 1,192 feet. It was this trail that Gen. John C.
Fremont, the "Pathfinder," took when he made his famous exploring
expedition for the United States Government to the great and then
unknown West. It was over this route that the most of the hardy "49"
gold seekers wended their way with ox and mule teams ; also the Pike's
Peak gold seekers of a few years later date. Just before the Civil war
came on — beginning with 1855 and 1856 — emigration set in to this part of
Nebraska, from New England, New York, and some of the Southern
and Middle States. These brave sons and daughters left the home-fires of
their native states to become pioneers in a wilderness of which they knew
aught save by hearsay and reading. They exchanged, in fact, the dense
fogs of the Atlantic coast, the miasma of an Indiana or Illinois swamp,
for an altitude and longitude and latitude productive of vigor and robust
health. They came as home-builders, not speculators, and they "builded
better than they knew."
These early settlers were in advance of railroads by more than ten
years. They had great hardships to endure, but with brave hearts and
strong bodies they forged through till prosperity finally crowned a
majority of those who first invaded the fair prairies and fertile valleys
of present Dodge County. The first settlers were ahead of the Govern-
ment surveys; later comers to the county pre-empted land at $1.25 per
acre, while hundreds of returned Civil war soldiers took homesteads and
thus secured what soon came to be valua'ble farm-homes.
The history of this' county may be divided into two divisions — before
railroad days and after the building of the railroads.
The annals of this county contain many interesting features and the
record has been compiled from the best authority extant, and approved
by men whose memory reaches back to almost the original settlement
period. Each subject is properly classified and will be easily found by
reference to the index. The personal sketches contained herein have
all been submitted for approval to those interested, hence may be relied
upon as correct.
1
2 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
State History Section
The work before you contains several chapters concerning the general
State History of Nebraska, which leads the reader in an intelligent and
interesting manner, to the county's history, locally. The reader of any
given subdivision of a state's history should first be posted about the
geology, topography, discovery and early settlement of the state as a
whole, hence the state section of this work is an invaluable addition to
that promised in the prospectus, giving the reader even much more than
was promised the patrons when they ordered the work, entitled "History
of Dodge and Washington Counties."
CHAPTER I
GEOLOGY, TOPOGRAPHY AND NATURAL FEATURES
Geological Eras — Coal Measures — Glacial Period — Agricultural
Value of the Soil — Scenery of the Loess Deposit — Character
of Deposit Along the Rivers — Formation of the Platte Val-
ley— Bottom Lands — Last Buffalo Hunt — Sand Cherries —
Soap Weed — Alkali Lands — Modern Changes — Timber — Topog-
raphy and Natural Features — Extreme Temperatures — Mean
Temperatures — Nebraska Winds — Moisture and Rainfall —
Rank Among the States in the Union — ■ Forests — Wild
Fruits — State Institutions — Legal Holidays — "Blue Book"
Paragraphs — State Seal — State Flower — State Capitol Build-
ings— Vegetation — Grasses of Nebraska — Wild Flowers — Gov-
ernors— Abstract of Counties — County Population — Altitude
AND Area.
It has been said by one writer that geology is the poetry and romance
of science. But it is far more than that. It reveals the causes that make
the material prosperity of a region possible. No one can fundamentally
understand his section or state unless he knows its geology. To the
ordinary reader of local history it must be admitted that this subject is
not of the most interesting character, yet no county or state history can
in any sense be called complete without some article on the natural features
of the country, be such article never so brief. Only such points as seem
to the writer of importance to the readers of a history treating on Dodge
and Washington Counties and the Platte Valley, in general, will be here
treated.
Geological Eras
Unfortunately the state geologists or the United States department
of geology has never made a geological survey of these counties.
Prof. Samuel Aughey, professor of natural sciences at the University of
Nebraska more than forty years ago wrote extensively on the geological
formation and on the topography of this state, and from this authority
we are permitted to quote freely. He states in the outset of his work
that:
As now understood from its rock memorials, there have been five
great eras in geological history : The Archaean, Paleozoic, Mesozoic and
Psychozoic. During the early part of the first era our globe was com-
panion star to the sun, and glowed by a heat and shone by a light of its
own. The basaltic rocks are believed best to represent the physical char-
acters of the earth's crust at the beginning of recorded geological his-
tory. From such materials when our globe came to be sufficiently cooled
3
4 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
down were formed by the asserting pov^er of water the sediments that
were subsequently metamorphosed into the gneissic, granitic and other
rock masses that constitute the Laurentian and Huronian strata of the
earth's crust. As the rocks of these epochs still left in Canada are forty
thousand feet thick and at least as extensive in the Rocky Mountains
and the Sierras and still greater in Bohemia and Bavaria after being
subjected to the numberless ages of erosion the time represented by their
deposition was greater probably than the whole geological history since
their close. So far as we now know during all this immensely long era
there was no dry land in Nebraska. Then followed what geologists call
the Paleozoic era, because of the antique or old life form of all animals
and plants that appeared. The earlier portions are known as the Silurian
ages during which invertebrate life was dominant and especially moluscan
life and the continent was growing and extending southward from its
Archaean nucleus. The next age, often called the age of fishes, and also
known as the Devonian, followed, but neither in this nor the preceding
age was there any dry land in Nebraska. Neither are there any known
deposits of the next or sub-carboniferous period in this state. Even the
millstone grit so common in the east under the coal, has not yet been
found. We come now to the Carboniferous age proper.
Carboniferous Age
During the progress of this age in Nebraska the first dry land
appeared. It was one of the most wonderful ages in the history of the
globe, for during its progress the thickest, most extensive and most valu-
able of all the coal beds were formed.
The carboniferous deposits occupy the southeastern portion of
Nebraska. Approximately, the western boundary line commences at a
point a little above Fort Calhoun, eighteen miles north of Omaha and
extends southwest, crossing the Platte near the mouth of Salt Creek;
thence running southwest a little east of Lincoln and thence in the same
■direction crossing the state line near the middle of the Otoe Indian Res-
ervation. All east of this line is mainly Upper Carboniferous period. The
Dakota group cretaceous sandstone once covered this entire region but
was removed by erosion and small patches of it are still found in isolated
basins over this carboniferous area.
Coal Measures
Thus far only one marketable bed of coal has been developed in our
carboniferous measures. The one referred to is in the western part of
Richardson County, town 1, north of the 6th principal meridian. From
the bank on section 33 during the years of 1880 and 1881 over 100,000
bushels of coal were taken. A great deal was also mined from the same
bed three-fourths of a mile southwest of the last. The coal is of a fine
quality giving but little ash. The bed ranges from eighteen to thirty
inches in thickness. The coal was in demand for local demand. In 1882
when this article was compiled developments had not yet proven how far
the coal bed extended by any actual shaft-borings. At a few other points
in this area coal has been discovered but not in paying quantities.
Glacial Period
The plains were desiccated before the Pliocene had entirely passed
away. Following this condition of excessive dryness came one great
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES ' 5
period of humidity and a much lower temperature than the present or
previous age. The snows of winter eventually accumulated too rapidly
to be removed by the summer's warmth. This finally resulted in the
glaciation of the plains of Nebraska. A thick mantle of ice extended
south of the southern line of the state, .->nd, according to Agassiz, at one
time to the thirty-sixth parallel. Thus was inaugurated the Glacial
epoch of the Quaternary period. The following is the order of the
epochs of the Quaternary period in Nebraska : A Glacial, Forest Bed,
Drift, Loess and Terrace epoch.
The Loess Epoch
The. loess deposits first received this name in America from Lyell,
who observed them along the Mississippi in various places. The name
was used previously in Europe to designate such materials in the valley
of the Rhine and Danube. Hayden called them the Blufif Deposits because
of the peculiar configuration they give to the uplands that bordered the
flood plains of the rivers. This deposit though not particularly rich in
organic remains, is in some respects one of the most remarkable in the
world. Its value for agricultural purposes is not exceeded anywhere.
It prevails over at least three-fourths of the surface of Nebraska. It
ranges in thickness from 5 to 150 feet. Some sections in Dakota and
other counties measure over 200 feet. Even at North Platte west of
the Missouri, on the south side of the river, the thickness varies from
125 to 150 feet. From Crete, on the Burlington & Missouri Railroad,
west to Kearney, on the Union Pacific Railroad, its thickness for ninety
miles ranges from forty to ninety feet. Along the Republican the for-
mation of various thickness extends almost to the west line of the state.
It is generally almost homogeneous throughout and of almost uniform
color, however thick the deposit or far apart the specimens have been
taken. I have compared (says the geologist) many specimens taken
300 miles apart and from the top and bottom of the deposits and no
difiference could be detected by the eye or by chemical analysis.
Ch.^racter of the Loess
Over eighty per cent of this deposit is very finely comminuted silica.
When washed in water left standing and the water poured off and the
coarser materials have settled the residuum after evaporation to dryness
is almost entirely composed of fine siliceous powder. So fine indeed are
the particles of silica that its true character can only be detected by
analysis or under the microscope. About ten per cent is composed of the
carbonates and phosphates of lime. These materials are so abundant in
these deposits that they spontaneously crystallize or form concretions
from the size of a shot to that of a walnut ; and these are often hollow
or contain some organic matter or a fossil around which the crystalliza-
tion took place. Almost anywhere when the soil is turned over by the
plow or in excavations these concretions may be found. And often
after the rain has washed newly thrown-up soil the ground seems to be
literally covered with them. Old gopher hills and weather-beaten hill-
sides furnish these concretions in unlimited quantities for the geologist
and curiosity hunter. When first exposed most of these concretions are
soft enough to be rubbed fine between the fingers but they gradually
harden by the atmosphere. This deposit also contains small amounts of
alkaline matter, iron and alumina. For the purpose of showing the
6 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
homogeneous character and the chemical properties of the Loess deposits
the geologist has made many analyses of these peculiar deposits, five of
which are here given as sample: No. 1 from Douglas County, near
Omaha; No. 2 from the bluffs near Kearney; No. 3 from the Lower
Loup; No. 4 from Sutton, and No. 5 from the Republican Valley, near
Orleans, in Harlan County.
Agricultural Value of the Loess
As would be expected from the elements which chemical analysis
shows to be present in these deposits it forms one of the best soils in
the world. In fact, it can never be exhausted until every hill and valley
of which it is composed is entirely worn away. Its drainage, which is the
best possible, is owing to the remarkable finely comminuted silica of
which a bulk of the deposit consists. Where the grout is cultivated the
most copious rains percolate through the soil which in its lowest depths
retains it like a huge sponge. Even the unbroken prairie absorbs much
of the heavy rains that fall. When droughts come the moisture comes
up from below by capillary attraction. And when it is considered that
the depth to the solid rock ranges generally from 5 to 200 feet it is seen
how readily the needs of vegetation are supplied in the driest seasons.
This is the main reason why over all the region where these deposits pre-
vail, the natural vegetation and the well cultivated crops are rarely dried
or drowned out. A few showers fall in April and little more rain
until June 'when there is usually a rainy season of from three to eight
weeks in duration. After these June rains little more falls until autumn;
and yet if there was a deep and thorough cultivation the crops of corn,
cereals and grass would be most abundant. This condition represents
the dry seasons. On the other hand, the extremely wet seasons only
damage the crops on the low bottoms subject to overflow. Owing to
the siliceous nature of the soil they never bake when plowed in a wet
condition and a day after heavy rain the plow can again be safely and
successfully used. In the interior away from the Missouri, the surface
of the lowest deposits is in places gently undulating and in places rolling.
Not unfrequently a region will be reached where for a few miles the
country is hilly and then gradually becomes with all kinds of intermediate
forms almost entirely level. The bluflfs that border the flood plains of
the Missouri, the lower Platte and some other streams are sometimes
exceedingly precipitous, sometimes gently rounded off and sometimes in
gentle slopes. They often assume fantastic forms as if carved by some
curious generations of the past. At present they retain their form so
unchanged by year to year affected by neither rain nor frost that they
must have been molded into their present outlines under circumstances
of climate and level very different from those that now prevail.
Fruit of the Loess Deposits
In these loess deposits, says the geological writer above mentioned, is
• found the explanation of the ease with which nature produces the wild
fruits of Nebraska. So dense are the thickets of grapes and wild plums
along some of the bottoms and bluffs of the larger streams that it is dif-
ficult to penetrate them. Over twenty-two varieties of wild plums have
been discovered. Two species of wild grapes have been distinguished but
these have interminable varieties. The same remark applies to the wild
strawberries. Raspberries and blackberries abound in many parts of
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 7
Nebraska. The buffalo berry is common on the river bottoms of the
state. Many other wild fruits abound and grow with amazing luxuriance.
Of course this only applies where the prairie fires have been kept from
them. It is also a paradise for many cultivated fruits. They luxuriate
in a soil like this composed of such materials and with such perfectly
natural drainage. No other regions except loess regions elsewhere can
compare in these respects with Nebraska. The loess of the Rhine sup-
plies Europe with some of its finest grapes and wines The success that
has already (1882) attended the cultivation of grapes in southeastern
Nebraska at least proves that this state may likewise become remarkable
in this respect. For the cultivation of the apple its superiority has been
long since demonstrated. Though so young in years, Nebraska has taken
the chief premiums in the pomological fairs at Richmond and Boston.
There are obstacles here as well as elsewhere. What is claimed is that the
soil, as analysis and experience prove, is eminently adapted to the cultiva-
tion of the grape and the apple. The chief drawback, especially in the
interior, is climatic. In mid-summer an occasional hot wind blows from
the southwest and the young apple trees need to have their trunks pro-
tected by a shingle until the top shades them. Any of the older orchard-
ists can give the various methods by which this may be done.
Scenery of the Loess Deposits
One writer says of this scenery : It has been remarked that no sharp
lines of demarkation separate the kinds of scenery that produce the emo-
tions of the grand and beautiful. This is eminently true of some of the
scenery produced by the loess formations. Occasionally an elevation is
encountered from whose summit there are such magnificent views of
river bottom, forest and winding bluffs as to produce all the emotions of
the sublime. One such elevation is Pilgrim Hill. Dakota County, on what
was the farm of Hon. J. Warner. From this hill the Missouri bottom
with its marvelous weird-like river can be seen for twenty miles. Dakota
City and Sioux City, the latter distanced sixteen miles, are plainly visible.
If it happens to be Indian summer the tints of the woods vie with the
general hazy splendor of the sky to give to the far outstretched land-
scape more than an Oriental splendor. I had looked at some of the won-
derful canyons of the Rocky Mountains but nothing there more com-
pletely filled me and satisfied the craving for the grand in nature than did
this view from Pilgrim Hill. There are many landscapes everywhere of
wonderful beauty along all the principal rivers. The bluffs are sometimes
precipitous but generally they round off and melt into gently rolling plains.
They constantly vary and in following them you come into a beautiful
cove, now to a curious headland, then to terraces and however far you
travel you can look in vain for a picture like the one you have just passed.
Character of Deposits Along the Rivers
If we go up the Missouri to its source and carefully examine the
character of the deposits through which it passes, we cannot but be sur-
prised at its character. These deposits being of Tertiary Cretaceous ages
are exceedingly friable and easy of disintegration. The Tertiary and espe-
cially the Pliocene Tertiary is largely siliceous and the cretaceous is both
siliceous and calcereous. In fact, in many places the Missouri and its
tributaries flow directly over and through the chalk beds of the cretaceous
deposits. From these beds the loess deposits no doubt receive their per
8 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
cent of the phosphates and carbonates of Hme. Flowing through such
deposits for more than a thousand miles, the Missouri and its branches
have been gathering for vast ages that peculiar mud which filled up their
ancient lakes and which distinguishes them even yet from most other
streams. Being anciently as now very rapid streams as soon as they
emptied themselves into these great lakes and their waters became quiet,
the sediment held suspended was dropped to the bottom. While this
process was going on in the early portion of this age, the last of the
glaciers had not retreated further than a little beyond the northern boun-
dary of the Loess Lake and then gradually to the headwaters of Platte,
the Missouri and the Yellowstone. Aided by the erosive action of the ice
these mighty rivers must have been vastly more rapid and energetic at
that time than in their recent history. The following analysis of the
Missouri River sediment, taken at high stage, will show by comparison
with the analysis of loess deposits what a remarkable resemblance there
is even yet between the two substances. In 100 parts of Missouri River
sediment there are of —
Insoluble (siliceous) matter 82.01
Ferric oxide 3.10
Alumina 1.70
Lime, carbonate 6.50
Lime, phosphate 3.00
Magnesia, carbonate 1.10
Potassa 50
Soda 22
Organic matter 1.21
Loss in analysis 67
Total 100.00
This comparative identity of chemical combinations points to the
remarkable sameness of geological conditions that have long periods
existed in the Upper Missouri and Yellowstone regions.
After these great lakes were filled up with sediment (Missouri mud)
they existed for a longer or shorter time as already remarked, as marshes
and bogs. Isolated portions would first become dry land. As soon as
they appeared above water they became covered with vegetation,, which,
decaying from year to year, and uniting under water, or at the water's
edge, with the deposits at the bottom, formed the black soil so character-
istic of Nebraska prairies. For it is well known that when vegetable
matter decays in water or a wet location, its carbon is retained. In dry
situations it passes into the atmosphere as carbonate acid gas. After the
first low islands appeared they gradually increased in size and numbers,
until dry land conditions prevailed. The ponds and sloughs, some of
which were left almost lakes, still in existence, are doubtless the last
remains of these great lakes. The rising of the land continuing the rivers
began to cut new channels through the middle of the old lake beds. This
drained the marshes and formed the bottom lands as the river of that
period covered the whole of the present flood plains from bluff to bluff.
- It was then when the bluffs were new and more plastic that they were
first sculptured by rains, frost and floods into their present unique forms.
The Missouri during the closing centuries of the loess epoch must have
been from five to thirtv miles in breadth, forming a stream which for
size and majesty rivaled the Amazon.
The Platte, Niobrara and Republican covered their respective flood
plains in the same way. In the smaller streams of the state those that
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 9
originated within or near the loess deposits, such as the Elkhorn, Loup,
Bow, Blue and the Nemahas we seen the same general form of flood-
plain as on the larger rivers, and no doubt their bottoms were covered
with water during this period. Hayden in his first reports has expressed
the same opinion as to the original size of these rivers. Only a few
students of geology will dissent from this view. The gradually melting
glaciers which had been accumulating for so many ages, at the sources of
these great rivers, the vast floods of waters covered by the necessarily
moist climate and heavy rains, the present forms and materials and
river bottoms are some of the causes which would operate to produce
such vast volumes of water. The changes of level were not all upward
during this period. The terraces along the Missouri, Platte and Repub-
lican rivers indicate that there were long periods when this portion of the
continent was stationary. Several times the movement was downward.
Along the bluffs in the Republican Valley, at a depth of from ten to thirty
feet from the top, there is a line or streak of the loess mingled with
organic matter. It is in fact an old bed, where vegetation must have
flourished for a long period. It can be traced from Orleans upward in
places for seventy-five miles. It indicates that after this bed had. as dry
land, sustained a growth of vegetation, an oscillation of level depressed
it sufficiently to receive a great accumulation of loess materials on top
of it. Other oscillations of this character occurred previously to and sub-
sequently to this main halt. These have already been mentioned.
Formation of the Platte Valley
(
As typical of the river bottoms let us look at the formation of the
Platte Valley. The general direction of this great highway from the
mountains to the Missouri is from west to east. This valley is from
three to twenty miles wide in Nebraska and over five hundred miles long.
All the materials that once filled up this trough from the tops of the
highest hills on each side have been since the present rivers were out-
lined toward the close of the loess age transported by the agency of the
water to the Missouri and the gulf. (See Hayden's Report for 1870.)
Here then are several thousand miles in area of surface and entirely
removed by denudation. Now the Platte comprises a fraction of the river
bottoms of Nebraska. The Republican alone for 200 miles has a bottom
ranging from three to eight miles in breadth. The combined length of
the main bottoms of the Blues, Elkhorns and the the Loups would be over
a thousand miles and their breadth ranges from one to ten miles. The
Nemahas and the Bows, and portions of the Niobrara, also add a great
deal to the area of the bottom lands. All the rivers have numerous tribu-
taries which have valleys in size proportionate to the main rivers and
these more than double the area of the bottom lands. These Missouri
bottoms in Nebraska are exceptionally high, so that a few of them have
been overflowed since known to white men. The one element of uncer-
tainty about them is, when located near the river, the danger of being
washed away by the undermining action of the water. Sometimes during
a flood time, when the current sweeps the bank, it is so insidiously
undermined that for several rods in length and many feet in breadth it
tumbles into the river. This cutting of the banks is greatest when the
river commences to fall.
When we bring into our estimate all of the river bottoms of Nebraska,
and the tributaries of these streams, and reflect that all of these valleys
were formed in the same way, within comparatively modern geological
10 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
times, the forces which waterway agencies brought into play almost appall
the mind by their very immensity.
Agricultural Value of the Bottom Lands
So well are the bottom lands of this state distributed that the emi-
grants can, and in most of the counties of the state, choose between them
and the uplands for their future homes. ( This was written in 1882.)
In some of the counties like Fillmore, where the bottom lands are far
apart, there are many small, modern, dried-up lake beds, whose soil is
closely allied to the valleys. Portions of each are sometimes chosen, on
the supposition that the bottom lands are best adapted to the growth of
large crops of grasses.
But of all the years of experience in cultivating uplands and bottoms
in Nebraska leave the question of superiority of the one over the other
undecided. Both have their advocates. The season as well as the loca-
tion have much to do with the question. Some bottom lands are high and
dry while others are lower and contain so much alumina that in wet sea-
sons they are difficult to work. On such lands, too, a wet spring inter-
feres somewhat with early planting and sowing. All the uplands, too,
which have a loess origin seem to produce cultivated grass as luxuriantly
as the richest bottoms, especially where there is a deep cultivation on old
breaking. Again most of the bottom lands are so mingled with loess
materials and their drainage is so good that the cereal grains and fruits
are as productive on them as on the highlands. The bottom lands, how-
ever, are the richest in organic matter. The following analyses of these
soils will give a better idea of their critical agricultural character. The
samples were taken from what are believed to be average soils. The
first is from the Elkhorn, the second from the Platte, the third from the
Republican and the fourth from the Blue River. Number 2 analysis in
the tables made by the state geologist, refers more especially to the Platte
River valley and, of course, to Dodge and Washington counties.
Insoluble (siliceous) matter 63.70
Ferric oxide 2.25
Alumina 7.76
I.ime, carbonate 7.99
Lime, phosphate 85
Magnesia, carbonate 1.45
Potash 54
Soda .52
Sulphuric acid 70
Organic matter 13.45
Loss in analyses 79
Total ....100.00
Soils when taken a few feet apart vary much in their chemical prop-
erties, and therefore analysis frequently fail to give a correct idea of
their true character. This table shows that chemically alluvium diflfers
from the loess principally in having more organic matter than alumina
and less silica. The depth of the alluvium varies greatly. Sometimes
sand and drift material predominate in the river bottoms, especially in
the subsoils. Often the alluvium is of an unknown depth and again in
a few feet the drift pebbles and sand are struck. This is especially true
in the western valleys. There was a period of longer or shorter dura-
tion when the bottoms were in the condition of swamps and bogs; and
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES H
during this period the greater part of that organic matter which is a dis-
tinguishing feature of these lands accumulated in the surface soil. It
would be easy to select isolated spots where the soil had from 30 to 40
per cent of organic matter; where in fact it is semi-peat. When we
reflect that this black soil is often twenty feet thick it is apparent that
the period of its formation must have been very long. There are still
some few localities where that formative condition has been perpetuated
to the present time — as for example the bogs that yet exist at the head
waters of the Elkhorn and Logan along Elk Creek on the Dakota bottom
and on some of the tributaries of the Republican. All the intermediate
stages from perfectly dry bottoms to a bog can yet be found. So much
has the volume of water been lessened in the rivers of Nebraska through
the influence of geological causes that there are few places where now
even in flood-time they overflow their banks. The occurrence of great
masses of timber on our bottoms at various depth in a semi-decayed con-
dition, illustrates through what changes of level they have passed. The
deepening of the river channels now going on still further lessens the
dangers of overflow.
Sand Cherries
The sand cherries common to this region grow on spreading shrubs,
varying in size according to their relatively advantageous situation. The
cherry is somewhat smaller than the orchard cherry. It resembles the
choke cherry in color though somewhat darker, also in its astringent
taste, and its "puckering" the mouth. When fully ripe it is pleasant to
the taste, notwithstanding the dictum of long distance authority that it
is scarcely edible and is used locally for making jams and marmalade.
This sandhill shrub was named "prunus besseyi" for Charles E. Bessey
the distinguished botanist, though he himself doubted that it should be
regarded as a difi^erent species from the "prunus pumila" of the sand
district in the region of the Great Lakes.
Soap Weed
Soap weed, more properl^ "yucca," is so-called because it yields a
substance sometimes used as a substitute for soap. The root of the
Nebraska species, "Yucca Glauca," was used by the Ogalala and probably
other trans-Missouri Indians as a shampoo. They believed that it stimu-
lated the growth of the hair. A decoction of the roots were used in
tanning hides also and the leaves for fuel.
While the sandhill region is' sparsely settled, the population of its
typical counties ranging from about 1,500 to about 2,500, its production
of cattle and dairying are very important industries. There was a heavy
loss of population from 1900 to 1902 ; a heavy gain from 1902 to 1904,
doubtless due mainly to the so-called Kinkaid act, passed April 28, 1904,
which conferred the right to homestead 640 acres in the territory it cov-
ered instead of the ordinary quarter section ; a considerable loss again
from 1904 to 1906; then an important increase from 1906 to 1908; a small
loss from 1908 to 1910; a general increase from 1910 to 1912; and a
small general increase from 1912 to 1914. The territory to be affected
by the Kinkaid act was evidently determined with reference to the sand-
hill region and the degree of aridity. Thus on the northeast this favored
land extends to the eastern boundary of the counties of Boyd, Holt and
Wheeler, while in the southwest the eastern boundaries of the counties
of Hayes and Hitchcock in its eastern limit.
12 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Alkali Lands
Every one in Nebraska will sooner or later hear of the so-called alkali
lands. They are not confined to anyone geological formation, but are
found sometimes on the drift, alluvium or the loess. They increase in
number from the eastern to the western portions of the state. Yet one-
half of the counties of the state do not have any such lands and often
there are only a few in a township or county. When they have been
closely examined, they are found to vary a great deal in chemical con-
stituents. Generally, however, the alkali is largely composed of soda
compounds, with an occasional excess of lime and magnesia or potash.
The following analyses of these soils show how variable they are. That
showing the Platte bottom land, south of North Platte, is as follows :
Insoluble (siliceous) matter 74.00
Ferric oxide 3.80
Alumina 2.08
Lime, carbonate 6.01
Lime, phosphate 1.70
Magnesia, carbonate 1.89
Potash 1.68
Soda carbonate and bicarbonates 5.17
Sodium sulphate 70
Moisture 99
Organic matter 1.20
Loss in analyses 78
Total 100.00
The specimens for analyses were not taken from soil crusted
over with alkaline matter but from spots where the ground was covered
with a sparse vegetation.
Much of the alkali originated by the accumulation of water in low
places. The escape of the water by evaporation left the saline matter
behind and in the case of salt (sodium chloride) which all waters con-
tain in at least minute quantities, the chlorfce by chemical reactions sepa-
rated from the sodium ; the latter uniting with oxygen, and carbonic acid
formed the soda compounds. The alkali that exists far down in the soil
is also brought up during dry weather by the escaping moisture and is
left on the surface when the water is evaporated.
In cultivating these alkali spots it is found that wheat rapidly con-
sumes it and a few crops with deep plowing prepares the soil for other
crops. In this way these lands have often been made the most valuable
part of the farm.
Modern Physical Changes — Timber
When the loess epoch was drawing to a close and portions of the area
..covered by these deposits' were yet in the condition of a bog, the climate
was much more favorable than the present for the growth of timber.
Rainfall was then much more abundant. In 1868, says Professor Aughey,
I found logs, some of which were 60 feet in length, buried in the peat
bogs at the head of the Logan where no timber was then growing within
twenty miles. They evidently grew on the shores or banks and after
falling into the bog they were protected from decay by the antiseptic
qualities of peaty waters. Many other facts exist showing the greater
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 13
prevalence of forests within geologically recent times. It is known
that at a comparatively recent period pine forests existed eastward to
the mouth of the Niobrara along the northern line of the state. What
caused the disappearance of these forests cannot perhaps be determined
for a certainty. Some geologists hold that the increasing dryness of the
climate caused the disappearance of the old forests. Might not the con-
verse of this be true here as elsewhere — namely that the destruction of
forests inaugurated the dry climate that prevailed when this territory was
first explored ( ?) it is at least conceivable that the primitive forests
received their death blow in a dry summer by fire through the vandal
acts of Indians in pursuit of game or by acts connected with a war
period. An old tradition that I once heard from the Omaha Indians
points to this conclusion.
It is wonderful how nature here responds to the efforts of men for
reclothing this territory with timber. Man thus becomes an efficient
agent for the production of geological changes. As prairie fires are
repressed and trees are planted by the million the climate must be further
ameliorated. When once there are groves of timber on every section or
quarter section of land in the state an approach will be made to some of
the best physical conditions of tertiary times. The people of this com-
paratively new state have a wonderful inheritance of wealth, beauty and
power in their fine climate and their rich lands and as they become con-
scious of this they will more and more lend a helping hand to the proc-
esses of nature for the development and utilization of the material
wealth of Nebraska.
Topography and Natural Features
Nebraska occupies a position near the center of the re]3ublic and is
varied in its topography. There are no elevations approaching anywhere
near to mountains, but in the north and western portions there are very
lofty hills, though generally they are gentle of ascent. The hills and roll-
ing lands of Nebraska are mostly caused by erosion. In fact all of this
state emerged so recently geologically from the waters of the Loess age
that it still exhibits, as a whole, many of the phenomena of a recently
drained lake bed.
No one can gain any correct idea of the number of bottom lands in
Nebraska by looking at a map — not even the United States Government
maps. In fact, counting in the small tributaries with their narrow bot-
toms, not less than 25 per cent of the surface of the state is made up of
bottom lands.
Temperature — Much of error has from time to time been written
concerning the temperature of Central and Western Nebraska, but from
the latest reports compiled from records of weather as found at the
signal stations at Omaha and North Platte, with even earlier auxiliary
records taken by United States army officers before the weather stations
were established at these points, show that the mean temperature of the
months of June, July and August is not far from 73 degrees. At the
North Platte station it averages a little higher than this. There are, how-
ever, some advantages in high summer temperature, for in such locations
only do the finest grapes mature. The fine soils and natural drainage of
this state would be without avail were it not that these conditions are
complemented by a higher mean summer temperature.
14 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
During the winter months, embracing December, January and Febru-
ary, the mean temperature is 20 degrees above zero. The autumns are
indeed wonderfully beautiful, and are long and dry. The average tem-
perature as shown between 1872 and 1882, for these three months of
autumn weather was a fraction less than 50 degrees above zero. The
long Indian summers are here, more than elsewhere, characterized by a
curious haze which mellows the light of the sun. It has the curious
effect on high strung natures of rousing their poetic sensibilities and giv-
ing the weird and shadowy experiences of dreamland. At such a season
existence to a healthy body is a pleasure and real toil a delight.
Yearly Mean Temper.\ture
Notwithstanding the extreme cold of a few days in winter, the mean
temperature is very high. The mean yearly isotherm of 55 degrees
passes through Washington, District of Columbia, Cincinnati and South-
ern Iowa, strikes the Missouri River near Nebraska City and then mov-
ing northwest crosses the Platte near Columbus and then in a north-
westerly direction across the state. This mean annual isotherm there-
fore embraces over one-half of the state. The mean yearly temperature
of 52^/2 degrees which passes through Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, crosses
the center of Iowa, diagonally, strikes Sioux City on the Missouri, thence
following the Missouri some distance, takes in the whole of Nebraska
not including the yearly isotherm of 55 degrees. The yearly isotherm of
573X degrees passes south of Nebraska. A portion of Southern and
Southwestern Nebraska is therefore included between the yearly isotherms
of 57y2 degrees and 55 degrees and the balance between 55 degrees and
52^ degrees.
Extremes of Temperature
In Doctor Child's record of nineteen years, prior to the '80s, the mer-
cury rose to 100 degrees and upward twenty-nine times, or an average
to a little more than a day and a half a year. The hottest year was that
of 1874 when the thermometer in July and August rose to 100 degrees
and upward on twelve different days. On July 13th it rose to 113
degrees, it being the hottest day, according to Doctor Child's record, in
nineteen years.
Occasionally the thermometer falls quite low. In North Nebraska
the thermometer has been known on a few occasions to descend to at
least 35 degrees below zero. South of the Platte River, Doctor Child's
lowest record for nineteen years was for December 11, 1869, when the
mercury fell to 30 degrees below zero. Almost every winter the mer-
cury goes below zero for a few days. The extremes of temperature are
therefore great while the mean is high. And yet no acute sufferings or
other ill consequences flow from it. The heat of summer is modified by
the breezes that fan the land. The severe cold of the extremes of win-
ter is made indurable by the dryness of the atmosphere period. The dry-
ness is so great that the cold is not felt here more when the thermometer
marks 20 degrees below zero than it is in Pennsylvania when it stands
only at zero. It is moisture that intensifies the sensation of chilliness.
It is the moisture of the atmosphere of the East that makes the sensation
of cold so much severer there than here. For the same reason the fruit
buds survive a cold here which would be fatal to them in the East.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 15
Winds of Nebraska
One who has made the course of the prevailing winds in this section
of Nebraska a study, has this to say relative to this subject, the same
being from observations very early in history of the weather service in
the State of Nebraska :
"The atmosphere is rarely quiescent in Nebraska. While hurricanes
are very rare, storms are more frequent in winter and gentle zephyrs and
winds are almost constant. These greatly modify the heat of the summer
and the cold of winter. When the thermometer is up among the nineties
even a south or southwest wind makes the weather endurable. At this
high temperature the atmosphere is almost certain to be in perceptible
motion from some direction. The prevailing winds in winter are from
the north and northwest.
"With the coming of spring there is a great change in this respect.
The winds veer around and a strong current sets in from the south,
blowing from the Gulf of Mexico, but entering the interior is deflected by
the earth's motion and becomes a southwest wind. This remains the pre-
vailing wind -during the entire summer and often until late in autumn."
The Storms of Winter
A very mistaken idea used to obtain concerning the severe weather of
Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas, but in more enlightened and recent times it
has come to be known that Nebraska is not worse in winter than scores
of states in the Union and not nearly so severe as many. During one-
half the years, none are experienced of severity, and when they
do come the laws that govern their occurrence are so well understood
by the older residents of the commonwealth that little damage is suf-
fered from them. One of the laws of their occurrence is their periodicity.
When the first one of the season comes, whether it is in November,
December or January, a similar one is almost sure to occur within a few
days or a month from the first. Those whose necessities or bus'iness
calls them out during the winter season need only the date of the first
to know when to guard against the next. It is rare, however, that more
than one of these periodical storms is of great severity.
When these commence they are rarely heralded by anything except
areas of low barometer, even this warning is sometimes absent. The
wind generally blows gently from the north, northeast or northwest. It
is often preceded and accompanied by a fall of fine snow. Sometimes
the storm or wind does not commence till the snowfall has ceased. The
wind gradually intensifies itself, accompanied by a falling barometer.
Its violence increases until the snow is blown into huge drifts and some-
times all that fell during several days seems mingled with the atmosphere
so that it is impossible to recognize roads or even the points of the com-
pass. Progression becomes impossible except in the same direction with
the wind. This is an extreme case but a truthful one and fortunately
of rare occurrence. Such storms last from one to three days and a few
instances are on record where they have lasted five days. When the wind
ceases to blow the thermometer reaches its lowest point and the intensest
cold that occurs in these latitudes is experienced. In a few days the
thermometer rises, the weather becomes moderate and pleasant and all
about the storm is apt to be forgotten. So mild does the weather often
become in December and January between these storms that men work
in the open air in their shirt sleeves. This is what often deceives the
16 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
unwary and especially newcomers. I have known men starting off in
new settlements for loads of wood going in their shirt sleeves with a
single coat in reserve in the wagon, to be caught in such storms, and, losing
their way, to perish. Proper observation and care as we have seen would
avoid such suffering and disaster. Notwithstanding, however, these
storms of winter there are many more days here during winter when men
can work more comfortably in the open air than in the East.
Moisture and Rainf.^ll
Eastern Nebraska has an abundance of moisture. This may appear
to be an exaggeration to those who are educated to believe that Nebraska
was an arid region. And yet there is nothing in the natural history of
the state better established than that there is here an abundance of
rainfall.
As has been said by an old and well-posted citizen : When the snows
of winter disappear the ground is in good condition to be worked. Suf-
ficient showers come during early spring to excite the crops of cereal
grains, grasses and corn to an active growth. Sometimes it is compara-
tively dry between the spring showers and the June rains. These come
sometimes earlier than June, in the last of May, and sometimes not till
the last of June, and constitute the rainy season of the state. It begins
whenever the "big rise" of the Missouri and Platte occur. This rainy
season lasts from four to eight weeks. In seventeen years I have not
known it to fail. During its continuance it does not indeed rain every
day, except occasionally for a short period. Generally during this period
it rains from two to three times a week. It is more apt to rain every
night than every day. In fact, during the whole of this season three-
fourths of the rain falls at night. It is not an unusual occurrence for
rain to fall everv night for weeks, followed by cloudless days. This
rainy season of June occurs at a period when crops most need rain and
owing to the regularity of its occurrence droughts sufficiently severe to
destroy the crops in eastern Nebraska where there is a proper cultivation
have not yet been known. Even in 1874 when the droughts in some parts
of the state was damaging there were some fields of corn that produced
good crops where the majority were failures. The successful fields were
the ones that were well and deeply cultivated. After the wet season of
June, which extends sometimes into July, is over, there are rains and
showers at longer intervals until and during autumn During winter it
rarely rains. Snow falls in winter, but seldom to a great depth. The
snow ranges in depth from 1 to 10 inches and in a few extreme cases it is
15 inches. During the majority of winters no snow falls over 8 inches.
West of the one hundredth meridian the amount of rainfall decreases
from the yearly average of thirty inches at or near Kearney Junction, to
twenty inches at North Platte.
If exceptional years were taken into account the rainfall should be
estimated at thirty inches almost to the west line of the state. The
average for a period of ten years would by no means place it near so
high. North of the Platte, in the Loup valleys, abundant rainfall has
existed very much farther to the west.
Even the relative amount of the moisture in the atmosphere is high.
This is evident from the Omaha signal service reports, and North Platte.
It reports as much vapor on an average in the atmosphere at Omaha as
exists in the states in the Mississippi Valley. At North Platte, which
represents western Nebraska, the atmosphere contains comparatively a
18 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
large amount of vapor. The following table taken from the report of
the signal office for the year ending Jwns. 1878 — forty-two years ago —
gives the vapor in the atmosphere for each month.
Per Cent Per Cent
North Platte Omaha
July, 1877 47.02 62.04
August, 1877 57.05 67.04
September, 1877 52.09 69.00
October, 1877 64.08 73.06
November, 1877 64.03 73.07
December, 1877 68.04 77.08
January, 1878 68.04 78.06
February, 1878 66.03 73.01
March, 1878 61.04 64.08
April, 1878 54.05 59.08
May, 1878 64.04 63.07
June, 1878 69,07 71.01
Annual means 61.06 69.06
The amount of rainfall during the year ended November 30, 1877,
at Plattsmouth, Nebraska, was forty and sixty-two hundredths inches.
The rainfall in British Islands is 32 inches ; in western France. 25
inches; in eastern France, 22 inches; in Sweden, 21 inches; central Ger-
many, 20 inches; in Hungary, 17 inches; in eastern Russia, 14 inches; in
Portugal, 11 inches; in Madrid, 10 inches. Paris has only 20 inches of
rainfall.
At North Platte the average amount of rainfall is twenty-two inches,
or was thirty years ago, but has materially increased since that date.
It should be ever remembered that the rainfall is increasing with the
absorptive power of the soil, wrought by cultivation, largely, and in a
smaller degree by the increase in timber of artificial planting. A square
foot of virgin prairie soil will only absorb one-tenth as much water as
will a square foot of cultivated soil. Thus the latter finally sends back
^o the clouds ten times the moisture that the tough sod does.
Nebraska's Rank Among Other States
The statistics of the Bureau of Labor for this state in 1904 gave out
the following statistics :
Nebraska has the largest creamery in the world.
Nebraska has the largest broom factory in the world.
Nebraska has the largest cattle-feeding station in the world.
Nebraska has the largest beet-sugar syrup and refining plant in the
world.
Nebraska has the second largest smelting works in the world.
Nebraska has the third largest meat packing plant in the world.
Nebraska is the third state in corn production.
Nebraska stands fourth in the production of wheat.
Nebraska stands fourth in the production of oats.
Nebraska stands fifth in the production of beet sugar.
Nebraska stands first in the production of rye.
Nebraska stands fourth in the production of cattle.
Nebraska stands fourth in the production of hogs.
Nebraska stands seventh in the production of horses.
Nebraska stands tenth in the production of milch cows.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 19
Nebraska stands first in the production of vine seeds and sugar corn
for seed purposes, growing more than all other parts of the United States.
Nebraska has the greatest number of distinct varieties of native pas-
ture and hay grasses of any state in the Union.
Location and Area
Nebraska is situated between 40 and 43 degrees of latitude north, and
between 95 degrees and 25 minutes and 104 degrees of west longitude.
Its width from north to south is 208 miles, length from east to west 412
miles and an area of about 77.000 square miles. Nebraska is larger than
all of the New England States combined, and has eight counties that are
each larger than the State of Rhode Island ; it is seven times as large as
Belgium, has 18,000 more square miles than England and Wales and is
14,000 square miles larger than Scotland and Ireland combined.
The prairies are dotted with towns, having every modern convenience
in the way of churches, schools, libraries, public halls, moving picture
houses, parks, water and light plants, railway, postal, telegraph and tele-
phone facilities ; and with cheerful homesteads surrounded by groves
and orchards, looking out on a beautiful expanse of cereal fields as
meadows. In no other commonwealth are the urban and rural popula-
tion more in touch with each other, and both fully share the best things
in life together.
The Mighty Platte River
The rivers of Nebraska are distinguished for their breadth, number,
and some of them for their rapidity and depth. The Missouri is the
chief stream not alone for Nebraska but for the whole country, because
it gives character to all the others that unite with the great Gulf of
Mexico. Forming the eastern border of our state, and a small portion
of the northern boundary, with about 500 miles of the stream washing
the eastern and northern portions of the state. It is deep and rapid and
its channel conveys water from the snow-capped mountains of the north-
west, via the wonderful Yellowstone River on down to the far-away
Gulf, dividing several places on its onward rush to the southland and
eventually mingles with the waters of the ocean.
The next river of importance in Nebraska is the Platte, the length of
which is approximately 1,200 miles. Its headwaters head in the moun-
tains and some of them in lakelets fed by the everlasting snows. By
the time this river reaches Nebraska it is. broad, shallow, sandy, but still
flows with a rapid current. It flows through the whole length of the
state, from west to east, dividing the state, but leaving the largest part to
the north. At places, in low water stages, it can be forded, though fre-
quently teams become mired in the quicksand. This stream is not navi-
gable. It has long since been finely bridged by structures at Fremont,
Schuyler, Grand Island, Kearney, North Platte and other points. The
South Fork of this stream enters from Colorado at the southwest corner
of the state, while North Platte enters the state from Wyoming near
latitude 42. The average volume of water at North Platte is greater
than at its mouth, though it receives in the meantime some large tribu-
taries, the most important of which are the Elkhorn, Papillion, Shell
Creek, Loup and Wood rivers. The best authorities aver that the
explanation for the decrease in the waters of the Platte below their forks
is from the fact that the character of the bottom and its continuation
20 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
with the "drift" underlying the uplands south of the Platte. The bottom
of the Platte is extremely sandy, and is continuous with a sandy, grav-
elly and pebbly deposit of the drift under the loess as far as to the
Republican River. The general level of the Republican is 352 feet below
that of the Platte. There is, therefore, a descent from the Platte to the
Republican, and along such a formation that there is easy drainage from
the one to the other. That there is such a waste or drainage into the
Republican River there can be no doubt. The prospectors and geological
surveyors mention the fact that while wading in the channel of the
Republican in the month of August, for many miles, they noticed on the
north side of the stream water oozing out of the drift continuously every
few feet in places and rarely less than every few rods. Nothing of this
Typical Scene Along the North Pl.\tte
kind was observed on the southern side of the river. ^Vhen tributaries
of the Republican from the northwest cut deep enough to strike the
drift, they share in the reception of this water from the Platte.
Flood time for the Platte is generally about the same time as that of
the Missouri — sometimes a few days or weeks earlier, but the continu-
ance of both is so long that they meet, though they rarely culminate
together. The Platte drains principally from the northwest. Its water-
shed on the south is only a few miles from its valley, while on the north
it extends in places to within thirty-six miles of the northern line of the
state.
Ch.\r.\cter of the Water
Carbonate of lime is the commonest ingredient of the waters of
springs and wells. Then follow in minute and varying quantities in dif-
ferent springs carbonate of potash and soda, sulphate of potash, soda
and lime, chloride of sodium and potash and free carbonic acid. Many
springs are free from most of these salts. Carbonate of lime, the com-
monest impurity, is seldom present in injurious quantities. Perhaps
three-fourths of the springs of Nebraska contain it in amount varying
from a trace to distinctly hard water. There are many springs and wells
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 21
whose waters are remarkably soft. Those of the Bow River are mainly
of this character. Generally, where springs emerge from the gravel beds
and pebbles or strata of sand in the drift the waters are soft and other-
wise remarkably pure. Wells sunk in these deposits are of the same
character. On the other hand water obtained from the loess whether by
springs or well has a perceptible quantity of carbonate of lime and a
small quantity of lime in solution. There are also strata in the drift
containing a large amount of lime and this is often the source of the
hardness of the water that proceeds from these deposits. In general the
waters of springs and wells is remarkably clear and cool and free from
injurious ingredients. There is, of course, no such thing as absolutely
pure water, except by distillation. It is the salts that natural water
contains that make it palatable.
Some of the wells sunk in the rocks of the Dakota group have a
strong taste of iron. While this is disagreeable it is not specially
injurious.
The character of the river and creek waters of Nebraska is peculiar
from the large quantities of sediments which they contain. The Missouri
leads in this respect. At high water it contains 403 grains per gallon ; at
low water 51 9/10 grains per gallon. Carbonate of lime is present in
considerable quantities : also small quantities of carbonate of soda, iron
in various forms and carbonic acid. Minute quantities of sulphuric acid,
magnesia and organic matters were also present.
Though the water of the Missouri is muddy yet when it is allowed to
settle and become clear it is singularly sweet and in summer when cooled
with ice it is easily delicious. Barrels of Missouri water have been seen
in July and August and whether in the shade or in the sun no infusoria
or other minute animal forms could be detected with the microscope
even after a week's exposure. No such experience can be related of any
other water from rivers. Probably one reason of this is that the sedi-
ment held in suspension by the water carries to the bottom as it settles
all organic matter. Eventually, infusoria appear in it from ten to twelve
days, while with ordinary water under the same circumstances they can
be found within a week.
The waters of the Platte River do not materially differ from those of
the Missouri. It holds about as much sediment in suspension during
flood time, but materially less in time of low water.
Timber
Geologists have shown in recent years that Nebraska was at no very
remote day heavily timbered with a varied forest vegetation. When the
causes commenced to operate that finally reduced its area to present
limits some of the species retired gradually to such protected localities
as favored their perpetuation. One of these causes was probably forest
and prairie fires inaugurated by primitive races for the chase and for
war. Some species are now confined to spots where fires cannot reach
them. Another probable cause was the encroachment on the timber by
the prairie caused by the ground being so compacted with the tread of
countless number of buffaloes that tramped outgrowing shoots and unfit-
ting ,the soil for the burial of seeds. Since the buffalo has retired and
prairie fires have been repressed, and rainfall is increasing, the area of
timber lands is spontaneously extending again in many directions.
Up to 1880 seventy-one species of trees have been discovered growing
wild in Nebraska. Among these are linnvvood, maple, locust, wild cherry,
22 DQDGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
ash of four species, four species of elm, walnut, hickory, twelve kinds
of oak, many species of willows, four species of cottonwood, pine and
cedar.
Wild Fruits
Wild fruits are a prominent feature of Nebraska. They luxuriate
in its rich soil and almost semi-tropical summers. Among the wild
fruits of this state the plum family is a remarkable example of how
nature herself sometimes ameliorates and improves her original produc-
tions. There are three type-species of plums in the state — viz.: (Prunus
Americana), Chicasa and Pumila. Of these there is almost an endless
number of varieties. In a plum thicket in Dakota County, covering only
a few acres, there has been counted nineteen varieties of Prunus Amer-
icana and Chicasa varying in size from a fourth to an inch and one-
quarter in diameter and in color from almost white and salmon to many
shades of yellow, tinged with green and red and from a light, dark and
scarlet red to purple tinged with different shades of yellow. Such
instances are frequent over most portions of the state, the plum being
common in almost every county, especially along the water courses and
bordering the belts of native timber. These plum groves in springtime
present a vast sea of flowers whose fragrance is wafted for miles and
whose beauty attracts every eye.
The color of the plum is of all shades, various hues of yellow, red
and crimson. Some varieties are large, thin-skinned and very delicious.
They ripen from July to the last of September. Delicious as some of
these plums are, they are much improved by cultivation..
Wild cherries abound in various parts of the state. Two species of
strawberry of fine flavor are in places amazingly abundant. Raspberries,
blackberries, hawthorns, June berries, wild currants and especially
gooseberries find here a most congenial home. Of the latter there are
many varieties.
Two species of grape and an endless number of varieties grow most
luxuriantly within our borders. It is not an unusual experience to find
timber almost impenetrable in places from the excessive growth of wild
grapevines.
There is as much difference in flavor and quality as there is in form.
Mulberries, buffalo berries and elderberries are abundant in places
and all can be produced with great ease by cultivation. In south
Nebraska the pawpaw is also found. Walnuts, hickory and hazel nuts
are common.
State Institutions
Institute for Feeble Minded, Home for Friendless. Lincoln.
Beatrice. St. Agnes Academy, Alliance.
State Normal School, Chadron. Bellevue College, Bellevue.
Boys' Industrial School, Kearney. Christian University, Bethany.
Girls' Industrial School, Geneva. Dana College, Blair.
Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, Grand Trinity Seminary, Blair.
Island. Central College, Central City.
Insane Asylum, Ingleside. Union College (Adventist), College
Tubercular Hospital, Kearney. View.
State Normal School, Kearney. St. Francis Academy, Columbus.
Capitol, Lincoln. State Agricultural School, Curtis.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 23
Doane College (Congregational), School for the Deaf, Omaha.
Crete. • State Normal School, Peru.
Sacret Heart Academy, Falls City. Fish Hatchery, Valentine.
Franklin Academy, Franklin. State Normal School, Wayne.
Fremont College, Fremont. Military Academy ( Episcopal ),
Indian Industrial School, Genoa. Kearney.
Grand Island College, Grand Island. Medical College, Lincoln.
Hastings College, Hastings. Martin Luther Seminary, Lincoln.
Immaculate Conception Academy, Whitten-Carlisle School, Lincoln.
Hastings. Nelson College, Nelson.
Hebron Academy, Hebron.
Brownell Hall, Omaha.
St. Catherme Academy, Jackson. Creighton University, Omaha.
York College, \ ork ^-^ g^^^^j ^^ Commerce, Omaha.
Ursuhne Convent, York. Universitv of Omaha, Omaha.
Nebraska Hospital for Insane, 5^ ^^^^^;^ Academy, O'Neill.
mcon. ., y. , Santee Indian Training School,
Orthopedic Hospital, Lincoln. j, ^ & >
State Fair, Lincoln. t ..1 c ■ c j
State Penitentiary, Lincoln. Lutheran Seminary Seward.
University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Jf^'^'^f '^°""^f' Spalding.
Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, Mil- Martm Luther Academy Sterling.
£gj.j Wesleyan University (Methodist
Industrial Home, Milford. Episcopal), Lincoln.
School for the Blind, Nebraska Luther College, Wahoo.
City. St. Augustine School for Indian
Insane Asylum, Norfolk. Girls, Winnebago.
Legal Holidays
In the State of Nebraska there are now the following legal holidays :
January 1, New Year's Day.
Februarv 22, Washington's Birthday.
April 22, Arbor Day.
May 30, Memorial Day.
July 4, Independence Day.
September (first Monday"), Labor Day.
October 12, Columbus Day.
November (by proclamation), Thanksgiving Day.
December 25, Christmas Day.
"Blue Book" Paragraphs
The official Blue Book for Nebraska in 1915 has the following
historic paragraphs which should here find permanent place in the annals
of Dodge and Washington counties.
The Overland Trails— On April 10, 1830, Sublette and Jackson with
ten wagons and one milch cow started from St. Louis for the Wind River
Mountains in Wyoming and returned in the fall. In 1832 Nathaniel I.
Wyeth went over the same road to Oregon. Their route was up the
valley of the Little Blue and Platte rivers and made the beginning of
the Oregon trail which for the next forty years was the greatest wagon
road the world has seen. Other trails across Nebraska were the Cali-
fornia trail, starting from Bellevue or Omaha and traveling up the north
bank of Platte; the Denver trail from the Missouri River to Denver
and the "Steam Wagon Road" or Nebraska City cut-off from Nebraska
24 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
City up the \\'est Blue to the Platte and on to Denver. These trails
were traveled by thousands of wagons every year until the construction of
the Pacific Railroad.
The Steamboat Years — The Western Engineer which brought Major
Long's party on its exploring expedition in September, 1819, was the
first steam vessel to navigate Nebraska waters. Other steamboats took
part in the Aricara Expedition in 1823. In 1832 the steamboat Yellow-
stone began the first regular annual fur-trading voyages up the Missouri
River, stopping at points on the Nebraska coast. From 1850 to 1860
steamboat navigation along the Nebraska shores was at its height, forty
or fifty diiTerent steamboats being in the Missouri River trade. With
the construction of railroads the steamboat business rapidly fell off until
now only a few ferry-boats and one or two steamboats a year navigate
the Missouri along the Nebraska shores.
Nebraska from 1830 to 1854 — Frontier conditions of the most rugged
nature ruled in Nebraska between these years. A few steamboats plied
the Missouri River between St. Louis and the head of navigation. The
overland trails from the Missouri River to the mountains and Pacific
coast were traveled by caravans of emigrants and freighting wagons
each summer. A little group of Christian missionaries and teachers
were laboring among the Nebraska Indians. A few white fur traders
and bufi^alo hunters followed the streams and crossed the prairies. Fort
Kearney on the Platte River opposite the present City of Kearney and
Bellevue on the Missouri River were the only two white settlements of
any size within the present state. The dominant figures in the Nebraska
landscape were the bufifalo, the coyote, the prairie dog and the Indian.
Nebraska Name and Organization — The name "Nebraska" first
appears in literature about the }ear 1842. Lieut. John C. Fremont
explored the plains and mountains in that year. His reports speak of
the "Nebraska River," the Otoe Indian name for the Platte from the
Otoe word "Ne-brathka," meaning "Flat \\\aters." Secretary 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 (proposed) territory." The first bill to organize
the new Nebraska territory was introduced in Congress December 17,
1844. by Hon. 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 Nebraska bill now
called the "Nebraska-Kansas bill" was passed after a long and bitter
struggle and signed by Franklin Pierce on May 30, 1854. This pro-
longed struggle between the slave states and the free states for domi-
nance in the Nebraska region led to the organization of the new repub-
lican party and the border conflicts which hastened the Civil war.
Nebraska from 1867 to '1875 — This is the formative period of the new
state. Among its principal events were the relocation of the capital at
Lincoln July 29, 1867, the impeachment cf Gov. David Butler in 1871,
the first period of railway construction, including the completion of the
Pacific Railroad to the ocean and the entrance of Burlington and North-
western railroads into the region, the hard times and grasshopper period
beginning in 1874. the establishment of the State L-niversity and Agri-
cultural College, February 15, 1869, and the first great wave of home-
steading immigrants who settled most of the desirable land in the eastern
half of the state and sent adventurous pioneers into the remotest parts.
Farmers' Alliance Origin, etc. — This period ( 1875 to 1890) is
marked by the complete settlement of all parts of this state except a few
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 25
million acres of sand hills ; by a rising demand for railroad regulation
and political conflicts with the railroad companies: by the removal of the
Sioux, Pawnee, Ponca and Otoe Indians from their old Nebraska homes
to new locations in Oklahoma and South Dakota ; by continuing conflicts
between the Grangers and the cattlemen for possession of the land, in
western Nebraska ; by the beginnings of the world-wide struggle
between organized capital and organized wage-earners exemplified by
strikes in the City of Omaha in 1882, and the great Burlington strike of
1888, and finally by the organization of the Farmers' Alliance, its entrance
into the political field, first victory in the election of 1890 and the social
revolution which has followed.
Nebraska's Capitol Buildings — Nebraska has had four capitol build-
ings, two of which were constructed during the territorial period and
two during the state period. The first territorial capitol building was
constructed in Omaha by Iowa men and by Iowa money. This building
was a two-story brick structure and was "thirty-three by seventy-five
feet and cost about $3,000." This building was a temporary makeshift
to be soon superseded by a more elegant and commodious structure, also
located in Omaha, and erected in part by an appropriation of $50,000
from the Federal Government and in part by municipal grant of $60,000
from the City of Omaha. The dimensions of this second territorial
capitol building were as follows: "Extreme length 137 feet; extreme
width 93 feet: height sixty-two and one-half feet." .
The State Capitol Buildings
On page 6, of the Nebraska Blue Book for 1915 is found the following
concerning the capitol buildings :
Throughout the territorial period there was constant agitation for
the removal of the seat of government from Omaha to some other point
in the territory. This purpose was finally effected in the passage of the
removal act approved June 14, 1867. The new capital city was to be
named Lincoln. July 29, 1867, the new site was chosen. October 10,
1867, plans for the new capitol building were submitted and those of
John Morris of Chicago were adopted. The building to be immediately
erected was 120 feet in length by 50 in width : height to top of cupola,
120 feet. The cost of this building was $75,817.59, which amount was
derived from the sale of lots in Lincoln. This building was so poorly
constructed that it began to show signs of decay as early as in 1871. A
severe storm in May, 1873, so damaged the capitol that it was necessary
to expend $5,897 in repairs. Gov. Silas Garber in his retiring address
to the legislature in 1879. said: "For sometime past the outer walls of
the capitol have been considered unsafe. * * * the time is not far
distant, however, when steps should be taken for the erection of a new
State House of adequate proportions." The legislature of 1879 appro-
priated $75,000 to begin the construction of the west wing of a new
capitol building. The architect was William H. Wilcox and the con-
tractor W. H. B. Stout. The total cost for building and furnishing the
west wing was $83,178.81. This work was begun in 1879 and finished
at the close of 1881. The 1881 legislature appropriated $100,000 for
the construction of the east wing of the capitol and retained the same
architect. Contractor Stout also built this wing. The total cost of
building and furnishing the east wing was $108,247.92. It was legally
accepted December 1, 1882.
26 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
For the construction of the central portion of the new capitol the
legislature of 1883 and that of 1885 authorized a levy of one-half a mill
on the grand assessment roll for the years 1883. 1884, 1885 and 1886.
W. H. B. Stout obtained the contract for the erection of the central por-
tion of the building at the price of $439,187.25. The 1887 legislature
authorized a levy of three-fourths of a mill for the years 1887 and 1888
to complete the capitol building. The same session of the legislature
made provision for the sale of all unsold lots and lands in the City oi
Lincoln belonging to the state for the use of the capitol building fund.
This amounted to about $78,870. The total cost of the present capitol
building was $691,429.
State Se.\l
A bill introduced by Isaac Wiles of Cass County, on May 31, and
approved June 15, 1867, appropriated $25 to be used by the Secretary of
State for the securing of a State Seal which was thus described in the
act: "The eastern part of the circle to be represented by a steamboat
ascending the Missouri River ; the mechanics arts to be represented by a
smith with a hammer and anvil ; in the foreground agriculture to be
represented by a settlers cabin, sheaves of wheat and stalks of growing
corn ; in the back-ground a train of cars headed towards the Rocky
Mountains and on the extreme west the Rocky Mountains to be plainly
in view ; around the top of this circle to be in capital letters the motto
'Equality before the law' and the circle to be surrounded by the words
'Great Seal of the State of Nebraska, March 1, 1867.' "
Nebraska State Flower
A joint resolution introduced by Representative L. P. Judd of Boone
County and approved April 4, 1895, designates the Golden Rod (Solidago
serotiana) as the floral emblem of the state.
The following poem on this almost universal wild weed or flower is
indeed apropos in this connection :
Oh, Erin has her shamrock green, and England has her rose.
In Bonnie Scotland's misty glen, the purple thistle grows.
The Jung Frau wears the Edelweiss upon her snowy breast.
And France for centuries has borne the lily in her crest.
The Cornflower on the castled Rhine, in azure beauty blooms.
The heavy-headed lotus nods among Egyptian tombs,
But in the land of liberty a yellow blossom springs
And with its beauty dims the gold upon the head of kings.
It brightens every dusty road and every barren field.
It needs no care to sow its seed or make its blossom yield.
The "Nation's Flower" — it only grows in Freedom's sacred sod —
Aye proudly waves in Freedom's cap the— Feathery Golden Rod.
Vegetation
Concerning the vegetation growing within Nebraska, possibly no
more concise statement has been made than that from the pen of
Professor Bessey, who had charge of the botany of the University of
Nebraska many years. In his writings are found these paragraphs :
The natural vegetation of Nebraska shows it to be emphatically that
of the Great Plains, and thus differs much from that of the forests to
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 27
the eastward and the mountains lying westward. To say that the eastern
botanist notes the absence of many a familiar plant signifies nothing,
since this must always be the case in comparing the flora of one region
with that of another. The flora of the plains difi^ers in many respects
from that of New York and New England, but the eastern botanist must
not unduly magnify the importance to be attached to the fact that he
does not find here many of the plants he knew in childhood days. The
plains have their own plants which will eventually be as dear to the men
and women who gathered them in childhood as are the old favorites to
the New Englander transplanted to the West.
A study of the vegetation of Nebraska shows it to possess some
remarkably interesting features. The wild plants of the state are very
largely immigrants from surrounding regions. By far the greater num-
ber have come from the prairies and forests lying adjacent on the east
and southeast by creeping up the rivers and streams, or in case of
herbaceous plants blowing overland without regard for the water courses.
Thus of the 141 trees and shrubs which grow naturally within the state
all but about twenty-five have migrated from the east in nearly all cases
following the streams. Of these twenty-five four or five may be con-
sidered strictly endemic the remainder having come down from the
mountains.
A careful study of the plants of the eastern part of the state shows
that many species are confined to limited areas in Richardson and the
adjoining counties and that the number of species with marked regu-
larity as we ascend the Missouri River. The same general law is seen
as we ascend the three great rivers — the Republican, Platte and Nio-
brara— which cross the state from west to east. On the other hand as
we ascend the streams we meet here and there a mountain plant which
is wandering eastward down the slope from an elevation of a mile above
sea-level in the western counties to less than a thousand feet along the
Missouri River. Thus the buffalo berry, the golden currant, low sumach,
the dwarf wild cherry and yellow pine have traveled half way or two-
thirds across the plains : while the creeping barberry, black cottonwood,
Rydberg's cottonwood, mountain maple, mountain mahogany and sage
brush barley enter the western counties not extending eastward of the
Wyoming line more than a few miles. A few species of wild roses, the
sand cherry and perhaps the sand plum seem to belong strictly to the
plains.
Wherever we go we find upon the plains a similar commingling of
eastern and western species. Every mile one advances westward brings
to view plants not hitherto seen while at the same time there is left
behind some familiar species.
Nebraska affords one of the finest illustrations of the commingling
of contiguous floras to be found anywhere in America. Not a few of
the species in the southern half of the state have come up from the plains
of the southwest, some even coming from Texas and New Mexico.
Others again appear to have migrated from the great northern plains of
the Dakotas while here again there are endemic species as the buffalo
grasses, Redfield's grass, false buffalo grass and many more.
Through the untiring efforts of the members of the botanical seminar
of the University of Nebraska, there are now known fully 3,300 species
representing every branch and nearly every tlass of the vegetable
kingdom.
There are sixty-four species of native trees in the state. There is,
however, no place in the state where all of these species grow together!
28 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
No county contains sixty-four kinds of native trees. Thus there are
nineteen species of trees in the northwestern quarter of the state, twenty-
seven in the northeastern, fifteen in the southwestern and fifty in the
southeastern. .
A close study of the distribution of the trees shows that nearly all
have probably migrated to the plains from the east. They have in some
cases done more than get a little foothold in the extreme southeastern
counties to which they have come from the heavy forests of Missouri.
A few have doubtless crossed the Missouri River from western Iowa,
although this number is evidently small. Nearly all have come up from
the Missouri bottoms and spread from the southeastern corner of the
state west and northwest. Possibly a few may have come up the Blue
River from Kansas, but these must eventually be traced to the Missouri
River bottoms at the mouth of the Kansas River.
The trees and shrubs which are found only in the western part of the
state unquestionably came from the Rocky Mountains and have spread
eastward to their present limits. Only one of these, the bufifalo berry,
has spread itself over the entire state. There is a probability that a fur-
ther examination of the bluffs of the Niobrara, Platte, and Republican
rivers will show several more of the Rocky Mountain plants, which have
come down with the river currents. It is singular that so few of the
western trees and shrubs have come down the streams, especially as pre-
vailing winds are also from the westerly parts toward the east. It would
naturally be supposed that it would be easier for western trees to come
down stream with the wind, than for the elms, ashes, plums, etc., to
have gone up the streams against the prevailing winds.
Trees of Nebraska
Among the more important trees found growing in Nebraska soil are
the following:
Yellow or Bull Pine, Red Cedar, Black Cottonwood, Rydberg's Cot-
tonwood, Cottonwood, Basswood, White Elm, Red Elm, Hackberry,
Plane Tree, Mountain Maple, Silver Maple, Box Elder or Ash Leaved
Maple, Butternut, Blackwalnut, Shellbark Hickory, Big Hickory Nut,
Bitter Hickory, White Oak, Burr Oak, Red Oak, Ironwood, Canoe Birch,
Choke Cherry, Wild Black Cherry, Wild Plum. Kentucky Cofifee Tree,
Honey Locust, White Ash. Red Ash. Green Ash.
Grasses Found in Nebraska
Many plants are commonly called grasses which are not grasses at all.
Many people speak of clover and alfalfa as grasses because they are
made into hay for stock just as many of the real grasses are. So, too,
many of our weeds are called grasses, as rib-grass, knot-grass, etc., when
they are not at all related to the proper grasses. On the other hand many
true grasses are commonly kept separate from them under the impres-
sion they are a very diliferent plant. Thus many people do not think of
common field corn as a grass and yet it is in every way a true grass,
although a very large one. So, too, wheat, oats, rye, barley, are really
grasses, although we rarely hear them spoken of as such.
A grass is a plant with narrow elongated leaves which are in two
ranks upon the jointed, usually hollow, stem. The leaves end below in
open sheathes which wrap around the stem for a greater or less dis-
tance. The flowers are chafify and are never colored or conspicuous;
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
29
they are often in loose heads (panicles as in blue grass and oats) or in
spikes (as in timothy and wheat). Some live for but a single season
(annuals), while others live for many years (perennials).
In the whole world there are about 3,500 species of grass and of
this vast number 154 have been recorded as growing wild or under com-
mon cultivation in Nebraska. Probably there is no place in the state in
which there are not from fifty to seventy-five kinds of grasses and in
some places doubtless there are more than 100.
It is unnecessary to take up all the grasses of Nebraska, but the fol-
lowing wild and cultivated species should be known :
Maize or Indian corn, of which there are these — the Dent type, the
Flint type, the Pop-Corn type, the Soft Corn type, the Sweet Corn type.
'^0mifiim>-m^^
The Big Blue Stem, the Switch grass. Barnyard grass, Clreen Fox
Tail. Millet or Hungarian grass. Yellow Fox Tail, Indian Rice. Wild
Ribbon, Muhlenberg's grass, Timothy, Red Top, Oats, corn grass, Blue
Grama, Black Grama, Tall Grama, Buffalo grass. Reed grass. Salt grass,
Orchard grass, Kentucky Blue grass. Wheat grass, Rve, Wheat, Barley,
Wild Rue.
Other forage plants are Red Clover, \\'hite Clover, Alfalfa and the
native Sedges.
Wir.D Flowers of Nebraska
More than 300 beautiful wild flowers are found growing in Nebraska
soil, but not all in any one locality. The more important of these wild
flowers which were indeed beautiful to behold by the eye of the first
pioneers of the state are as follows :
The Lilies, Orchids, Buttercups, Water Lilies, Poppies, Capers, Vio-
lets, Mallows, Cactuses, Mentzelias, Evening Primroses, the Roses,
Lupines, Prairie Clovers, Morning Glories, Gilias, Pentstemons, Ver-
benas, Sunflowers, Asters, Golden Rods.
Governors of Nebraska
From the date of organization of Nebraska as a state until the present
time the governors have been as follows :
30
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
David Butler, 1867 to
James (secretary of state)
he from 1873-75.
Silas Garber, 1875-79.
Albinus Nance, 1879-83.
James W. Dawes, 1883-87.
John M. Thayer, 1887-91.
James E. Boyd, 1891-93.
Lorenzo Crounse, 1893-95.
Silas A. Holcomb, 1895-99.
William A. Poynter, 1889-
Charles H. Dietrich, 1901.
1870 — impeached and succeeded by W. H.
until the inauguration of Governor Furnas,
Ezra P. Savage, 1901-03.
John H. Mickey, 1903-07.
George L. Sheldon, 1907-09.
Ashton C. Shallenberger, 1909-11.
Chester H. Aldrich, 1911-13.
John H. Morehead. 1913-17.
Keith Neville, 1917-19.
1901. Samuel R. McKelvie, 1919-21.
Abstract of Counties
The following is a list
name of county seat and a
County
Name Seat Area
Adams, Hastings .... 567
Antelope, Neligh.... 872
Arthur, Arthur 810
Banner, Harrisburg. . 752
Blaine, Brewster. ... 811
Boone, Albion 692
Box Butte, Alliance.. 1,076
Boyd, Butte 535
Brown, Ainsworth. . 1,235
Buffalo, Kearney ... . 954
Burt, Tekamah 475
Butler, David City. . 583
Cass, Plattsmouth . . . 538
Cedar, Harrington. . . 735
Chase, Imperial 899
Cherry, Valentine. . .5,979
Cheyenne, Sidney. .. 1,194
Clay, Clay Center... 579
Colfax, Schuyler. . . . 405
Cuming, West Point. 577
Custer, Broken Bow. 2,588
Dakota, Dakota City. 253
Dawes, Chadron 1,402
Deuel, Chappell 439
Dawson, Lexington. . 985
Dixon, Ponca 472
Dodge, Fremont 531
Douglas, Omaha.. . -. . 331
. Dundy, Benkleman. . . 927
Fillmore, Geneva .... 576
Franklin, Bloomington 578
Frontier, Stockville. . 975
Furnas, Beaver City. 721
Gage, Beatrice 862
Garden, Oshkosh. ... 1,652
Garfield. Burwell.... 575
of counties, together with their population,
rea:
Popula- County Popula-
tion Name Seat Area tion
29,000 Gosper, Elwood 464 4,938
14,003 Grant, Hyannis 726 1,097
1,200 Greelev, Greeley 571 8,047
14,044 Hall, Grand Island.. 528 20,361
1,672 Hamilton, Aurora... 538 13,459
13,145 Harlan. Alma 574 9,578
6,131 Haves, Haves Center 732 3,011
8,826 Hitchcock, Trenton . . 724 5,415
6.083 Holt, O'Neill 2,393 15,545
21,906 Hooker, Mullen 722 981
12,726 Howard, St. Paul... 561 10,783
15,403 Tefferson, Fairburv.. 578 16,852
19,786 Tohnson, Tecumseh.. 374 10,187
15,191 Kearney, :\Iinden.... 516 9.106
3,631 Keith, Ogallala 1,068 3.692
10,414 KeyaPaha.Springview 775 3.452
4.551 Kimball, Kimball.... 958 1.942
15,729 Knox, Center 1,114 18,358
11,610 Lancaster, Lincoln.. . 853 73,793
13,782 Lincoln, North Platte.2,536 15,684
25,668 Logan, Gandy 573 1,521
6,564 Loup, Taylor 576 2,188
8,254 Madison, Madison. .. 576 19,101
1,786 AlcPherson, Tryon.. 864 1,270
15,961 Alerrick, Central City 462 10,379
11,477 Morrill, Bridgeport. .1.417 4,584
22,145 Nance, Fullerton 446 8,926
168.546 Nemaha, Auburn. ... 389 13,095
4,098 Nuckolls, Nelson 579 13.019
14,674 Otoe, Nebraska City. 606 19,323
10,303 Pawnee, Pawnee City 431 10,582
8,572 Perkins, Grant '. 886 2,570
12,083 Phelps, Holdridge... 538 10,451
30,325 Pierce, Pierce 577 10,122
2,538 Platte, Columbus. ... 673 19,006
3 417 Polk, Osceola 430 10,521
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 31
County Popula- County Popula-
Name Seat Area tion Name Seat Area tion
Red Willow, McCook 720 11,056 Stanton, Stanton. .. . 431 7,542
Richardson, Falls City 545 17,444 Thayer, Hebron 516 14,775
Rock, Bassett 1,004 3,627 Thomas, Thedford.. . 716 1,191
Saline, Wilber 573 17,866 Thurston. Pender.. . . 387 8,704
Sarpy, Papillion 239 9,274 Vallev, Ord 570 9,480
Saunders, Wahoo. .. . 756 21.179 Washington, Blair. . . 380 12,738
Scotts Blufif, Gering. 723 8,355 Wavne, Wayne 450 10,397
Seward, Seward 574 15,895 Webster, Red Cloud. 578 12,008
Sheridan, Rushville.. 2,469 7,328 Wheeler, Bartlett.. . . 578 2,292
Sherman, Loup City. 573 8,278 York, York 575 18,721
Sioux, Harrison 2,055 5,599
Last Romantic Buffalo Hunt
In a collection of reminiscences published on Nebraska history by the
Nebraska Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1916
the author of this volume takes the liberty to quote the story of the
"Last Romantic Buffalo Hunt on the Plains of Nebraska," by John L.
Webster, of Omaha :
In the autumn of 1872 a group of men, some of whom were then
prominent in Nebraska history. Judge Elmer S. Dundy and a Col. Wat-
son B. Smith, and one who afterward achieved national fame as an
American explorer, Lieut.. Frederick Schwatka, and another who has since
become known throughout Europe and America as a picturesque char-
acter and showman. Col. William F. Cody, participated in what proved
to be the last romantic buffalo hunt upon the western plains of the State
of Nebraska.
Elmer S. Dundy was a pioneer who had come to Nebraska in 1857.
He had been a member of the Territorial Legislature for two successive
terms ; he was appointed a Territorial judge in 1863 and became the first
United States district judge after the admission of the state into the
Union. Col. Watson B. Smith at that time held the office of clerk of the
United States District and Circuit courts for the District of Nebraska.
Some years afterward he met a tragic death by being shot (accidentally
or by assassination) in the corridors of the Federal Building in the City
of Omaha. Colonel Smith was a loveable man of the highest unim-
peachable integrity and a most efficient public officer. There was also
among the number James Neville, who at that time held the office of
United States attorney and who afterward became a judge of the Dis-
trict Court of Douglas County. He added zest, vim and spirit by reason
of some personal peculiarities to be mentioned later on.
These men with the writer of this sketch were anxious to have the
experience and the enjoyment of the stimulating excitement of partici-
pating in a bulTalo hunt before those native wild animals of the plains
should become entirely extinct. To them it was to be a romantic inci-
dent in their lives and long to be remembered as an event of pioneer
days. They enjoyed the luxury of a Pullman car from Omaha to North
Platte, which at that time was little more than a railway station and a
division point upon the Union Pacific and where was also located a mili-
tary post occupied by a battalion of United States cavalry.
Lieut. Frederick Schwatka, a regular army officer and an American
explorer, at one time commanded an Arctic expedition in search of Doctor
Franklin, and who had command of an extended exploring expedition of
32 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
the Yukon River. At another time he commanded an expedition into the
northernmost regions of Alaska in the interest of the New York Times.
He also became a writer and the author of three quite well-known books :
"Along Alaska's Great River," "Nimrod in the North" and "Children
of the Cold."
At the time of which we are speaking Lieutenant Schwatka was sta-
tioned at the military post at North Platte. He furnished us with the
necessary army horses and equipment for the hunting expedition and he
himself went along in command of a squad of cavalry which acted as
an escort to protect us if need be when we should get into the frontier
regions where the Indians were at times still engaged in the quest of
game and sometimes in unfriendly raids.
William F. Cody, familiarly known as "Bufifalo Bill" who already
achieved a reputation as a guide and hunter and who has since won a
world reputation as a showman, went along with us as courier and chief
hunter. He went on similar expeditions into the wilder regions of
Wyoming with Gen. Phil Sheridan, the Grand Duke Alexis and others
quite equally celebrated.
This Omaha group of amateur buffalo hunters led by Buffalo Bill and
escorted by Lieutenant Schwatka and his squad of cavalry rode on the
afternoon of the first dav from North Platte to Fort McPherson and
there camped for the night with the bare earth and a blanket for a bed
and a small army tent for shelter and cover.
On the next morning after a rude army breakfast, eaten while we sat
about on the ground and without the luxury of a bath or change of wear-
ing apparel, this cavalcade renewed its journey in a southwesterly
direction, expecting ultimately to reach the valley of the Republican.
We consumed the entire day in traveling over what seemed almost a bar-
ren waste of undulating prairie except where here and there it was
broken bv higher upland and now and then crossed by a ravine and occa-
sionallv by a small stream of running water along the banks of which
might be found a small growth of timber. The visible area of the land-
scape was so great that it seemed boundless — an immense wilderness of
space and the altitude added to the invigorating and stimulating effect
of the atmosphere.
We amateurs were constantly in anticipation of seeing either wild ani-
mals or Indians that might add to the spirit and zest of the expedition.
There were no habitations, no fields, no farms. There was the vast
expanse of plain in front of us ascending gradually westward toward the
mountains with the blue sky and sunshine overhead. I do not recollect
of seeing more than one little cabin or one little pioneer ranch during
that whole day's ride. I do know as the afternoon wore on those of us
who were amateur horsemen were pleased to take our turns as oppor-
tunity afforded of riding in the army wagon which carried our supplies
and leading our horses.
When the shades of night of the second day had come we had seen
many antelope and now and then heard the cry of coyote and the prairie
wolf but we had not seen any sign of buffalo, but we did receive infor-
mation from some cattlemen or plain wanderers that there was a band
of roving Indians in that vicinity which created within us a feeling of
some anxiety — not so much for our personal safety as that our horses
might be stolen and we left in these remote regions without the necessary
facilities for traveling homeward.
Our camp was made for the night upon a spot of low ground near the
bank of a small creek which was bordered by hills on either side and
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 33
sheltered by a small grove of timber near at hand. The surrounding
hills would cut off the sight of the evening camp-fires and the timber
would obscure the ascending columns of smoke as they spread into
space through the branches of the trees.
The horses were picketed near the camp around the commissary
wagon and Lieutenant Schwatka placed the cavalrymen on sentinel duty.
The night was spent with some restlessness and sleep was somewhat
disturbed in anticipation of a possible danger and I believe that all of us
rather anxiously awaited the coming of the morning with the eastern
sunlight that wc might be restored to that feeling of security that would
come with freedom of action and the opportunity for "preparedness."
When morning did come we had the pleasure of greeting each other with
pleasant smiles and a feeling of happy contentment. We had not been
molested by the Indians and our military sentinels had not seen them.
On the afternoon of the third day of our march into the wilderness
we reached the farther margin of a high upland of the rim of a plain
where we had an opportunity of looking down over a large area of bot-
tom land covered by vegetation and where there appeared to be signs of
water. From this point of vantage we discovered a small herd of
browsing buiTalo but so far away from us as to be beyond rifle range.
These animals were apparently so far away from civilization or human
habitation of any kind that their animal instinct gave them a feeling of
safety and security. We well knew that these animals could scent the
approach of men and horses even when beyond the line of vision. We
must study the currents of the air and plan our maneuvers with the
utmost caution if we expected to be able to approach within any reason-
able distance without being first discovered by them.
We entrusted ourselves to the guidance of Buffalo Bill, whose experi-
ence added to his good judgment, and so skillfully did he conduct our
maneuvers around the hills and up and down ravines that within an hour
we were within a reasonable distance of the wild animals before they
discovered us and then the chase began. It was a part of the plan that
we should surround them, but we were prudently cautioned by Mr. Cody
that a buffalo could run faster for a short distance than our horses.
Therefore we must keep far enough away so that if the buffalo should
come toward any of us we could immediately turn and flee in the oppo-
site direction as fast as our horses could carry us.
I must stop for a moment to relate a romantic incident which made
this buffalo chase especially picturesque and amusing. Judge Neville
had been in the habit of wearing in Omaha a high silk hat and a full-
dress coat (in common parlance a spiketail). He started out on this
expedition wearing this suit of clothes and without any change of gar-
ments to wear on the hunt. So it came about that when this group of
amateur buffalo huntsmen went riding pell-mell over the prairies after
the buffalo and likewise when pursued by them in turn. Judge Neville
set astride his running warhorse wearing his high silk hat and the long
flaps of his spike-tailed coat floating out behind him on the breeze as if
waving a farewell adieu to all his companions. He presented a picture
against the horizon that does not have its parallel in all pioneer history.
It was entirely impossible for us inexperienced buffialo hunters while
riding galloping horses across the plains to fire our rifles with any degree
of accuracy. Suffice it to say we did not succeed in shooting any buffalo
and I don't now even know that we tried to do so. We were too much
taken up with the excitement of the chase and of being chased in turn.
At one time we were the pursuers and at another time we were being
34
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
pursued, but the excitement was so intense that there was no limit to
our enjoyment and enthusiasm.
Buffalo Bill furnished us the unusual and soul-stirring amusement
of that afternoon. He took it upon himself individually to lasso the
largest bull buffalo of the herd while the rest of us did but little more
than to direct the course of the flight of these wild animals or perhaps
more correctly expressed — to keep out of their way. It did not take
Buffalo Bill very long to lasso the large bull buffalo, as his fleet blooded
horse circled around the startled wild animal. When evening came we
left the lassoed buffalo out on the plains solitary and alone, lariated to a
stake driven into the ground so firmly that we felt quite sure that he
could not escape. It is my impression that we captured a young buffalo
out of the small herd which we placed in a corral found in that vicinity.
On the following morning we went out upon the plains to get the
lassoed buffalo and found that in his efforts to break away he had broken
one of his legs. We were confronted with a question whether we should
let the animal loose upon the prairies in his crippled condition or whether
it would l»e a more merciful thing to shoot him and put him out of his
pain and suffering. Buffalo Bill solved the vexatious problem by con-
cluding to lead the crippled animal over to the ranchman's house and
there he obtained such instruments as he could, including a butcher
knife, a hand-saw and a bar of iron. He amputated the limb of the
buffalo above the point of the break in the bone and seared it over with
a hot iron to close the artery and prevent the animal from bleeding to
death. The surgical operation thus rudely performed upon this big,
robust wild animal of the prairies, seemed to be quite well and success-
fully performed. The buffalo was then left in the ranchman's corral
with the understanding that the animal should be well cared for, watered
and fed.
We were now quite away from civilization and near the Colorado
border line and notwithstanding our subsequent riding over the hills
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 35
and uplands during the following day we did not discover another buf-
falo and those which had gotten away from us on the preceding day
could not be found. During that day we turned northward and I can
remember that about noon we came to a cattleman's ranch, where for the
first time since our start on the journey, we sat down to a wooden table
in a log cabin for our noonday meal. During the afternoon we traveled
northward as rapidly as our horses could carry us, but night came on
when we were twenty miles or more southwest of Fort McPherson, and
we found it again necessary to go into camp for the night, sleeping in
the little army tents which we carried along with us in the commis.sary
wagon.
Colonel Cody had on this journey been riding his own private horse —
a beautiful animal capable of great speed. I can remember quite well
that Mr. Cody said that he never .slept out at night when within twenty
miles of his own home. He declined to go into camp with us but turned
his horse to the northward and gave him the full rein and started off
at a rapid gallop over the plains, expecting to reach his home before the
hour of midnight. It seemed to us that it would be a dreary, lonesome
and perilous ride over the solitude of that waste of country without
roads, without lights, without signboard or guides, but Buffalo Bill said
he knew the direction from the stars and that he would trust his good
horse to safely carry him over depressions and ravines notwithstanding
the darkness of the night. So on he sped northward toward his home.
On the next day we amateur buffalo hunters rode on to Fort McPher-
son and thence to North Platte, where we returned our army horses to
the military post with a debt of gratitude to Lieutenant Schwatka, who
at all times had been generous, courteous and polite to us as^ )v.e)l^ ^^ ^ajv
interesting social companion. j[_r'^-w.^v> • v3
So ended the last romantic and rather unsuccessful buffalo hunt over
the western plains of the State of Nebraska — a region then desolate,
arid, barren and almost totally uninhabited, but today a wealthy and
productive part of our state.
The story of the buffalo hunt in and of itself is not an incident of
much importance but it furnishes the material for a most remarkable
contrast of development within the period of a generation. The wild
buffalo has gone. The aboriginal red man of the plains has disappeared,
the white man with the new civilization has stepped into their places. It
all seems to have been a part of Nature's great plan. Out of the desola-
tion of the past there has come the new life with the new civilization
just as new worlds and their satellites have been created out of the dust
of dead worlds.
There was a glory of the wilderness but it has gone. There was a
mystery that haunted all those barren plains but that too has gone.
Now there are fields and houses and schools and groves of forest trees
and villages and towns all prosperous under the same warm sunshine
as of a generation ago when the buffalo grazed on the meadow lands
and the aboriginal Indians hunted over the plains.
CHAPTER II
DISCOVERY AND OCCUPANCY BY WHITE MEN
The Louisiana Purchase — Other Views of the "Purchase" — The
Missouri Compromise Affair — The Name "Nebraska" — Terri-
torial Organization — Admitted as a State — The Constitutions
— Early Exploitations — Fur Traders — Great Exploring Expe-
ditions— Mormon Advent — Gold Hunters' Panic, 1849.
The purchase of the vast region from the French under Napoleon
for $15,000,000 was admired, not so much for its agricultural and min-
eral wealth as for its value in obtaining the right to establish our own
western frontier clear through to the sea on the west.
Between 1785 and 1789, Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, at the
court of France, negotiated the "Louisiana Purchase" from Napoleon
Bonaparte, the same being completed in 1803 at a cost of 2 3/5 cents
per acre. The aggregate amount paid for this ne\\' empire was $15,000.-
000. Of this purchase price France received in United States bonds
$11,250,000 and by the agreement the remaining $3,700,000 was paid to
American citizens in Hquidation of claims against the French govern-
ment. When the United States took possession of these lands on Decem-
ber 20, 1803, the Union consisted of but seventeen states — Connecticut,
Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland. Massachusetts, New Hamp-
shire. New Jersey, New York. North and South Carolina, Ohio, Penn-
sylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee. Virginia and Vermont. The total
acreage of these states amounted to 444,000 square miles. This amounted
to 384,411,520 acres, but Mr. Jefl'erson's purchase of contiguous terri-
tory covered 890,921 square miles, including both land and water sur-
face amounting to 878,641 square miles, and it lacked but little of being
twice as large and certainly contained twice the value of the seventeen
states enumerated. This territory comprised about one-fourth of the
area of the republic of the United States of America.
From this vast purchase of territory adjacent to the previous hold-
ings of the republic have been created twelve great states, namely :
Louisiana in 1812; Missouri in 1821; Arkansas in 1836; Iowa in 1846;
Minnesota in 1858; Kansas in 1861; Nebraska in 1867; Colorado in
1876; Montana in 1889; South Dakota in 1889; North Dakota in 1889;
AVyoming in 1890. The estimated population of the land ceded by
Napoleon in 1803 was 50.000 whites and 40.000 slaves and 2,000 free
blacks. More than four-fifths of the whites and all of the blacks, except
about 1,300, were in and adjacent to New Orleans. The rest were scat-
tered throughout the country now included in Arkansas and Missouri.
The population of the "Louisiana Purchase" is now over 15,000,000. or
was in 1890, and if as densely settled as Belgium, which has 536 human
lieings to the square mile, it would contain and maintain about 474,000.000
people. Historian Rhoades remarks : "The possession of the mouth
of the Mississippi River was a commercial necessity, and Thomas Jef-
ferson showed wisdom in promptly seizing the opportvmity presented by
a fortunate combination of circumstances to receive the magnificent
purchase of this rich domain."
36
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 2>7
The statesmen of the South opposed the "Purchase," as did parts of
New England. A Massachusetts poHtician said: "I consider Louisiana
the grave of this Union." Even so great a poHtical figure as Governor
Morris contracted his usually clear vision to this : "Among other objec-
tions they (the Western States) would not be able to furnish men
equally intelligent to share in the administration of our common interests.
The busy haunts of men, nor the remote wilderness, is the proper school
of political talents. If the western people got the power in their hands
they will run the Atlantic's interests."'
Another View of the Purchase
An early writer on Nebraska history has said : "A vast unexplored
almost illimitable empire was ours ; perpetual immunity from dangerous
neighbors ; sole possessor of this river of rivers, with all of its tribu-
taries ; a sure dominating influence in the affairs of the North American
continent ; national opportunities for the future almost depressing in
their sublimity."
The first governor of Louisiana Purchase was Gen. James Wilkinson.
He was untrue to his covmtry and like Aaron Burr was tried for treason,
though acquitted. Captain Lewis, of the Lewis and Clark expedition, was
appointed governor to succeed Governor Wilkinson, in 1807. He it was
who concluded a treaty with the Osage Indians for the cession of 48,000,-
000 acres of land extending from Fort Clark, thirty-five miles below the
mouth of the Kansas River, due south to the Arkansas and along that
stream to the Mississippi. The Sacs and Foxes sold 3,000.000 acres in
1804. In 1803 this tribe and the lowas claimed all the State of Missouri,
as well as the northwest quarter of Illinois and a part of southern Wis-
consin. In 1810 Howard succeeded Governor Lewis. In 1810 the popu-
lation of the territory was 20,000 and had pushed its way along a strip
from fifteen to twenty miles wide from Arkansas River to a point not
far above the mouth of the Missouri River and had necessitated treaties
with the Indians. "Louisiana," by act of Congress June 4, 1812, became
the Territory of Missouri, and its government was advanced to the sec-
ond grade, same as other portions of the Great Northwest Territory.
This act provided for a government headed with a governor appointed
by the President, a House of Representatives elected by the people and a
legislative council of nine members appointed by the President. Gover-
nor Howard divided its settled portion into five counties by proclama-
tion, and for several months Frederick Bates served as its governor
until William Clark (of Lewis and Clark expedition fame) was appointed
in 1813. He held the office until Missouri became a state in 1821, and
afterwards was' superintendent of Indian affairs until his death.
In 1819 Arkansas Territory was carved from Missouri Territory.
Up to 1834 that part of the original Louisiana Territory had no gov-
ernment, but by congressional act, June 30, 1834, one provision was:
"All that portion of the United States west of the Mississippi River, not
within the State of Missouri and Louisiana or the Territory of Arkan-
sas, and also that part of the United States east of the Mississippi River
in and not within any state to which the Indian title has not been extin-
guished for the purpose of this act, shall be taken and deemed to be
'Indian Country.' " This act also provided for a superintendent of Indian
affairs, who resided at St. Louis, Missouri, and had a salary of $1,500.
He was provided with two agents.
38 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
By the congressional act of June 28, 1834, that part of the territory
east of the Missouri River and White Earth River and north of the
state line of Missouri, was "for purpose of temporary government
attached to and made a part of Michigan." That part west of the Mis-
souri River, which included present Nebraska, was left without govern-
ment or political organization until the passage of the famous Kansas-
Nebraska Bill of 1854.
The Missouri Compromise Affair
The first direct controversy over slavery took place when John Tay-
lor of New York, February, 1819, moved to amend the bill for the
territorial organization of Arkansas by the same anti-slavery provision
which Tallmadge sought to incorporate in the enabling act for the admis-
sion of Missouri as a state. It provided that no more slaves should be
introduced into the territory and that all children born after admission
should be free, though they might be held to service until twenty-five
years of age. This started a fierce fight over the question of American
slavery, which in the minds of far-seeing men could but end in disrup
tion of the Union and Civil war, and which was only postponed by tht
three great Compromises — the last of which was the Nebraska Bill
Stephen A. Douglas was the pioneer projector of a territory organization
for Nebraska. As early as 1844 he introduced a bill in the House of
Representatives "to establish the Territory of Nebraska." The bill was
twice read and offered to the committee on territories, from which it was
not reported. In March, 1848, he introduced a bill of the same purport,
which was recommitted on his own motion the following December, and,
like its predecessors in the house, was pigeonholed by the committee.
The boundaries of the bill of 1848 were as follows : "Commencing at a
point in the Missouri River, where the 40th parallel of north latitude
crosses the river ; thence following up the main channel of said stream
to the 43d parallel of north latitude ; thence west on said parallel to the
summit of the Rocky Mountains : thence due south to the 40th parallel
of north latitude ; thence east on said parallel to the place of beginning."
The Name Nebraska
From the time the region of the Platte Valley was known to white
men till it was politically divided by the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the name
of the principal river was applied, roughly speaking, to the country
between the watershed of the Platte and Arkansas rivers on the south
and the forty-third parallel on the north, the Missouri River on the east
and the Rocky Mountains on the west. It was known as the
"Nebraska Country."
Territorial Organization
February 2, 1853, William A. Richardson, member of the House
from Illinois, introduced House Bill No. 353 to "organize the Territory
of Nebraska." This bill, which made no reference to slavery, passed
the House February 10, 1853, by a vote of ninety-eight to forty-three.
The northern boundary of the territory described in this bill was the
forty-third parallel line, the present boundary of Nebraska on that side,
its eastern limit was the west line of Missouri and Iowa, its southern
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 39
boundary the Territory of New Mexico and the parallel of 36 degrees
and 30 minutes, and its western the summit of the Rocky Mountains.
It may be said that Louisiana Territory was conceived by the exigen-
cies and on the threshold of a mighty international struggle which
resulted in the annihilation of the greatest and most powerful poten-
tates ; and Nebraska, the child of Louisiana, was conceived by the exigen-
cies and in the beginning of a great national struggle, in which the no
less imperious power of human slavery was also to meet its doom.
When organized, "the summit of the Rocky Mountains" became the
western boundary line of the vast territory. Just where the lawmakers
believed the "summit" to be no one can but conjecture at this late day.
But it is supposed to be where the waters of the great watershed fall
toward the Pacific Ocean and others toward the eastern slope and to
the waters of the Yellowstone and Missouri and their tributaries. The
northeast boundary of the territory followed the Missouri River and
the White Earth River to the British line. In February, 1861. Colorado
Territory was created, taking a small piece from the southwestern cor-
ner of Nebraska. Two months later Dakota Territory was formed,
which removed all the stretch of country north of the forty-third paral-
lel. At the same time two tracts were added to Nebraska from Utah and
Washington territories. The effect was to change the western boundary
from the indefinite "summit" to the thirty-third meridian west from
W^ashington. Nebraska Territory was four times' as long as it was
wide, stretching, in fact, about fifteen degrees of longitude. It so
remained for about two years. In March, 1863, all west of the twenty-
seventh meridian was taken away. Only one change in boundary has
since been made. The original boundary of 1861 followed the Niobrara
River and the Keya Paha to the forty-third parallel, which was the north
boundary line. In 1882 Congress changed the boundary, so that it fol-
lowed the Missouri River to the forty-third parallel, thus throwing the
Niobrara River and ancient Ponca Indian lands entirely within Nebraska.
(See Lewis and Clark's Government Reports, page 56.)
Admitted as a State
Before the Territory of Nebraska was five years old, the matter of
its being made into a state commenced to be discussed in political party
circles. Governor Black's message to the Territorial Legislature in 1859
was largely along this line. That session of the Legislature provided
for the election in March, 1860. to decide on statehood, but at that elec-
tion the people favored the continuance of the territorial form of gov-
ernment. In February, 1864, Congress was asked by the Legislature to
admit it as a state, and two months later went forth the petition for an
"enabling act." Nothing came of this save the meeting of delegates to
a convention at which nothing was accomplished. The Civil war was
on and the Territorial Legislature did not further discuss this matter
until in the session of 1866. This time it was not left to a constitutional
convention to act, but the Legislature took action themselves, and through
their committee one was drafted and submitted to 'the people for
approval or rejection June 2 that year. The contest was close and at
times very exciting. There were nearly 7,800 votes cast, and the measure
carried for statehood by a mere 100 majority. It was made a party
measure — the democratic party opposing the territory being made into a
state and the republican party espousing the side of statehood, and won
out by the rule of a "miss is as good as a mile."
40 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
From election time in June until early in 1867, Nebraska had both
a territorial and state government. The authorities of the territory con-
tinued in office, and the Legislature, on January 10, 1867, met for its
twelfth and last session. Meanwhile the new State Legislature had its
first meeting July 4, 1866, and was called together again February 20,
1867, two days after the adjournment of the Territorial Legislature, to
make good certain Federal requirements.
First Constitution Not Satisfactory
The Constitution of 1866 not proving satisfactory to a mass of the
state's citizens, another convention was ordered by the eighth session of
the Nebraska Legislature, and it was voted upon by the people Septem-
ber 19, 1871. This was also counted worthless and voted down. Among
its provisions were these — taxation of church property; compulsory edu-
cation, and one clause opposing and forbidding the aid to any railroad
line within the state.
The Constitution of 1875
October 12, 1875, the people finally adopted a constitution by a vote
of 30,202 for and 5,474 against. This state constitution went into effect
November 1, 1875. Since that date the people have sailed along with
the remainder of the sisters of the Union, making a fair showing in all
things that are for good government and progress.
Early Explorations
Before completing the story of discovery and occupancy by the
white race it will be well for the reader to peruse the following concern-
ing some of the recorded accounts of early explorations, the entry of
fur traders, etc.
There is a legend, partly backed by history proper, that the Spanish
cavalier, Coronado, came up from Mexico with several hundred men
looking for a supposed gold region, as early as 1541, and on his trip
came as far northeast as the southern part of Nebraska. Whether that
be simply romance of which the Spanish were so fond, or whether it
was actually correct matters little to this generation, so long as they left
no positive record of such an early expedition. The best historians of
the western country agree that probably this Spaniard did come as far
north as the Kansas-Nebraska line, and that it was several years before
1600. This was the same year that De Soto was wandering through
Florida and on to the slopes of the Mississippi River. Henry HI was
then still on the English throne ; Francis I held the throne of France, and
Paul III was Pope at Rome. All Europe was in the midst of the Martin
Luther Reformation. It was also then that the red man occupied this
vast prairieland, and was entirely ignorant of his pale-faced brother,
who was destined to finally occupy his extensive hunting grounds and
cause him to be kept within a small "Reservation" for the betterment of
"Christian Civilization."
In 1601 there was, as shown by actual record, an expedition by the
Spaniards, taking about the same route claimed for that of Coronado.
Then there is another account of an expedition in 1662, but the latter is
not clear enough delineated to make it safe to go into history as correct.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 41
However, it is certain that Father Marquette in 1673 floated down
the Mississippi River and learned from the natives about the Missouri
River; also about the Platte. He made a record in map form of this
section of the west and it is believed that his was the first map of this
portion of the western world.
In 1719 Dustine came across the country from the northeast and met
tribes of Indians in the eastern part of what is now known as Kansas.
This is significant of the coming of the French into the plains of the west.
Twenty years later (1739) two brothers by the name of Mallet came into
the North Platte region, exploring the river as far up as its forks.
The Fur Traders
The first great commercial industry in the Northwest was that of the
fur traders, by the French. As early as 1634 in Wisconsin this trade
commenced. After England obtained possession of Canada, this fur-
trading interest was followed by the British. This period was from
1763 to 1816, when Congress passed a law prohibiting foreigners from
trading within the limits of the United States. The Americans com-
menced very early to compete with Great Britain, but the formation of
the large companies of the United States commenced when John Jacob
Astor chartered the American Fur Company. Two expeditions were
sent out in 1810, one of which was by the way of the Missouri River. It
was during that year that a trading post was set up at Bellevue, Nebraska.
And even long before that barter in pelts and furs had been going on on
the banks of the Missouri. Such trading was with the Indian tribes
then living along the streams of what is now Nebraska. American
explorers found traders on Nebraska soil soon after 1800, and the annual
business in furs was very large. It is said that for forty years up to
1847 the annual value to St. Louis was from $200,000 to $300,000.
The Great Exploring Expeditions
The Lewis and Clark expedition of 1804 marked an era of progress
for the new American Republic. Following this came the undertakings
of Major Long in 1819 and that of the illustrious Pathfinder — Gen. John
C. Fremont in 1842 and 1843. Among the travelers to Nebraska may
be given these: Lewis and Clark, July 13 to September 5. 1804; August
31 to September 11, 1806. Thomas Nutall and John Bradbury, 1808
(botanical trip). Major Long, 1819-20; W. H. Ashley. 1822; Rev. Sam-
uel Parker, 1835; I. N. Nicollet, 1838-39; Capt. John C. Fremont, 1842;
Lieut. G. K. Warren, 1855-57.
The news spread throughout the east about this "beautiful, fertile
country" and the chances to become wealthy by easy methods. Traders
still got many furs and buffalo robes, missionaries came to bring the
glad tidings of the Gospel to the Indians. One of the earliest mission-
aries within the borders of this state was Moses Merrill, who resided
and preached among the Otoes from 1833 to 1840.
The Mormon Advent
Among the interesting incidents of the early days in this state was
the advent of the Mormons from Illinois in 1844. They had been driven
from Missouri to Illinois and again established themselves and built an
immense temple, but after a few years were driven out of the state.
42 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
crossed the State of Iowa and stopped on the west bank" of the Missouri,
a few miles above present Omaha, at Florence, then called "Winter-
Quarters," for it was at that point the Mormons remained two years and
then marched toward their "Promised Land" in Utah, and became the
founders of Salt Lake City. The Mormons who halted at Winter-
Quarters numbered about 15,000 souls, men, women and children. About
one-half of this number in the spring of 1846 decided to separate them-
selves from the Brigham Young faction that believed in and practiced
polygamy, and settled the southwestern counties in Iowa, being the
pioneers of those counties. The other half of the Mormon body, with
their famous hand-cart expedition, crossed the great plains of Nebraska.
Such things as the country afforded for both food and shelter these
strange religionists helped themselves to. For a city to spring up on
the frontier in a month and have 15,000 population was indeed an
unheard-of event in any part of the world. The land then belonged
to the red men and the Government was compelled to stand by his
rights. The Mormons had to move. Not a few of these Mormons, or, as
they style themselves, "Latter Day Saints," located in different parts of
Nebraska and Iowa, aside from the general settlement already named
in southwestern Iowa counties. As late as 1857 they made a settle-
ment at Genoa, now in the eastern part of Nance County. A hundred
families received shares of the 1,000 acres which they enclosed and in a
few years their colony was very prosperous. The Pawnee Indians, how-
ever, came to occupy the reservation assigned them by the Government.
Wars came on between the Pawnee and Sioux tribes, so that six years
after Genoa had been founded, they had to again disperse and hunt
other homes, and today one finds no trace of Mormondom there,
save a few sections of earthworks.
The Gold Hunters' Panic— 1849
Next to the Mormon incident came the exciting gold-hunting years,
when thousands of men came on from the remote East, even from New
England, and crossed the Great American Desert, including Nebraska,
headed for the gold fields of northern California, that being the year in
which much pure gold was discovered in that far-away Pacific state.
The valley of the Platte was the natural avenue by which to approach
the mountains, especially from the Northern States. At points on the
Missouri River where teams could find a crossing, thousands took advan-
tage and crossed over and making up long trains of horses, mule and
ox teams, started on their tedious route. Many were illy prepared and
perished by the wayside. Some gave up trying to get to the gold fields
and settled down to make homes for themselves, and these persons were
among the pioneer band that made permanent settlement in Nebraska.
However, their number was not very large. As Barrett says in his
"Nebraska and the Nation," one must have a strong imagination to
realize even dimly the long lines of toilers across the continent, the
hardships and heartaches, and the terrible' suffering, which left the
whole way strewn by castaway garments, by beasts of burden that had
perished, and by graves of weary pilgrims. This sad picture points to a
moral about fortune-hunting.
CHAPTER III
INDIAN OCCUPANCY AND FINAL DEPARTURE
Concerning the Indians — Pawnees— Pike the Explorer Among
THE Indians — The Poncas — The Algonquian Family — Sac and
Fox Purchase — Other Indian Tribes — The Kiowan Family —
Half-breed Tract, Etc. — Still Other Tribes — Character and
Relation with the Whites — Implements and Weapons — Hostil-
ity Toward the Whites — Indian War of 1890-91.
There was a stronger influence than the contour of the land which
drew the tide of emigration, although this had its effect, douhtless, to
such an extent that the route of travel had a west-by-northwest course.
The food supply became the main factor in determining the real direction
of migration. The buffalo, which are indigenous to the whole central
region of North America, were partial to the open country and enticed the
Indians to the Nebraska plains which they possessed in vast herds. This
noble animal was the source of supply for almost every want ; food from
the flesh, raiment and shelter from the hide, implements from his bones,
vessels for holding liquids from his intestines and fuel from his clung.
The bufifalo made it possible for great numbers of Indians to subsist in
comparative ease on the treeless prairies of Nebraska
By far the greater number of Indian tribes, which have from time
to time inhabited this territory now known as the commonwealth of
Nebraska, followed the general rule of migration from east to west.
These tribes belonged to two linguistic families — the Algonquian and the
Siouan. Both these great families sprang from the region east of the
Appalachian Mountains and in turn occupied nearly the entire Mississippi
Valley.
The first occupants of Nebraska did not follow this rule. The Cad-
doan linguistic family had its home in the South near the banks of the
Red River, and migrated northwest, occupying the valley of the Kansas
River and reaching northwest to the valley of the Platte River, finally
going west to the foothills of the mountains. Two other linguistic fam-
ilies, the Shoshonean and Kiowan, encroached on our territory from the
west. They hunted along the headwaters of the Republican and Platte
rivers and claimed a part of the territory of this state, but few, if any,
ruins of their permanent homes are found within the present limits. Only
these five linguistic families were found in Nebraska and but two of
them — the Caddoan and Siouan — are of importance in this connection.
Tribes of these two families had their permanent home within the state
and fought with one another and among themselves for supremacy on
our eastern borders and up and down the Platte Valley.
The original homes of the Caddoan family was on the Red River of
the South. Prior to 1400, A. D., one band, known as the Skidi, branched
oflf from the main stock and drifted to the Platte Valley. The next line
of immigration is hard to decide upon, but tradition says this tribe lived
as allies of the Omahas near the mouth of the Ohio River. It is not
impossible that they may have followed the Mississippi River in coming
to the Platte Valley, where, according to historian Dunbar, they were
43
44 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
located in 1400, A. D. Prior to 1500, A. D., another branch branched off
from the parent stock and drifted northward to a point near the Kan-
sas-Nebraska line. Here the Wichitas turned back and went south, while
the Pawnees moved northward and occupied the Platte Valley and inter-
vening country. In 1541 A. D., Coronado found the Wichitas near the
Kansas River and sent a summon to the "Lord of Harahey" (Pawnee)
to visit him, which he did with 200 naked warriors : This is the earliest
authentic record of Indians occupying Nebraska territory. This is the
first time civilized man ever saw an Indian from what is now Nebraska.
All history before that date is simply legendary, and legendary history is
so conflicting that we may only say that it is possible for it to be true.
How far Onate penetrated in 1599 in his trip northeastward from
New Mexico is hard to establish. He says he visited the City of Quivera
which was on the north bank of a wide, shallow river (likely the Platte).
He says he fought with the "Escanzaques" and killed a thousand. Pos-
sibly this battle was in Nebraska. Penalosa also claims to have had a
conflict when three brief glimpses into Spanish history are substantiated.
We may be able sometime to establish more definitely the exact date of
Indian occupancy in Nebraska.
The Pawnees
The Pawnee (proper), consisting of three main tribes — the Choui
(or Grand), the Pita-how-e-rat (or Tapage) and the Kit-ke-hak-i (or
Republican), emigrated to the Platte Valley prior to 1.500 A. D. They
held the country fifty miles wide west of the Missouri River and were
eventually conquered by the Skidi band, who had come in 100 years
before, and adopted it into their own tribe. Before the Pawnees came,
however, a band called Arikara had drifted away from the Skidi band
and established itself on the Missouri River, but out of the bounds of
Nebraska. The Arikaras came into Nebraska and lived with the Skidi
tribe for three years, from 1832 to 1835, when they returned home.
In 1861, just at the openmg of the Civil war period, the editor of
the Huntsman's Echo described the Pawnees on their Genoa reservation
as follows : "The Pawnees numbered at first about four thousand souls
and possibly a fraction more, and when at home live in a cluster of huts
built with crotches and poles, covered with willows, then with grass and
dirt, giving the appearance, at a little distance, of an immense collection
of 'potato hills', all of a circular shape and oval. The entrance is
through a passage walled with earth, the hole in the center at top serv-
ing both for a window and a chimney, the fire being built in the center.
Along the sides little apartments are divided off from the main room by
partitions of willow, rush and flag, some of them being neat and tidily
constructed, and altogether the lodges are quite roomy and comfortable,
and each is frequently the abode of two or more families. In their
villages are no regular streets or alleys, but each builds in a rather pro-
miscuous manner, having no other care than to be comfortable without
much regard to taste or order. This tribe is divided into five bands,
"each being under a special chief or leader and the whole confederation
being under one principal chief. Each band has its separate habitation
and is distinct from the other. Three bands live in villages adjoining
and all camp in one village, the other two some little distance removed.
There is considerable rivalry between the tribes or bands in fighting,
hunting and other sports, and not infrequently one band commits theft
upon the effects of another band."
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
45
At the beginning of the Civil war the Pawnees had several thousand
horses, but owing to the severe cold, and long winters that followed
hundreds of the poor animals perished from sore tongues and other dis-
order. The animals lived out all winter upon dry grass; but if the snow
was too deep for them to reach it, cottonwood trees were cut down and
the horses would subsist upon the bark. These horses were above the
average in their "high-toned-ness" for it is said that they would not eat
corn raised in civilized life, even when placed before them.. They were
valued at from $30 to $60 each.
The Pawnees at this time generally took two hunts each year, and at
such times all went — old and young, both sexes — and for the time their
villages were abandoned, while the tribe visited the buffalo ranges. From
these visits the summer months were put in in securing jerked meat and
Moving Indians
lodge skins and in the autumn hunt they secured buffalo robes, furs and
tanned skins : also dried buffalo meat. These hunts were usually in the
beautiful "Indian Summer" months of October and November. These
Indians had a field of considerable extent, near each village, where they
cultivated com in considerable quantities ; also raised many beans. With
these and a little flour and sugar they managed to eke out their existence,
miserable though it was. Some seasons of the year they feasted and
others almost starved.
One writer who traveled extensively among the Indians wrote of this
tribe : "The females are the working bees of the iiive : they dig up the
soil, raise and gather the crops, cut timber, build lodges, pack wood and
water, cook, nurse the babies, carry all the burdens, tan the skins and
make the robes, as well as all moccasins. The lord of the other sex
reclines by the fire or sits in the shade, kills the game, and their enemies,
does all the stealing and most of the eating, wears the best ornaments
and plays the dandy in their way to a scratch. They are a tall, graceful
and athletic figure, as straight as an arrow and as proud as a lord, while
the squaws are short, thick, stooping, poorly clad, filthy and squalid.
Parentless children and the very aged are left behind or at the wayside
where they perish and die, as useless creatures."
46 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Explorer Pike Among These Indians
Pike in his exploring expedition tells of his visit to the Pawnees in
1806 and says they dwelt near the south line of the present state until
about 1812, when they journeyed to the rest of the band north of the
Platte River. Dunbar gives the location of the various tribes in 1834:
The Choui band resided on the south bank of the Platte River, twenty
miles above the mouth of the Loup ; the Kit-ke-hak-i lived eighteen miles
northwest, on the north side of the Loup; the Pita-haw-e-rat. eleven
miles farther up the Loup and the Skidi five miles above those last
named. He says they changed their villages every eight to ten years.
In 1833 the Pawnee ceded the territory of Platte to the United States.
In 1857 they ceded the territory north of the Platte (except their reser-
vation in Nance County). The territory ceded is said to have been
embraced in the central one-third of present Nebraska State. The reser-
vation just named was ceded in 1876 and the Pawnees were then taken
to the Indian Territory, where they still enjoy their reservation.
Other Tribes
The various branches of the Siouan linguistic stock have come to
this state at five different times. The first were the Mandans, whose
coming is not certain as to date, but very far remote at any rate. Catlin,
the greatest Indian portrait painter ^and traveler among the North
American Indians, is said to have traced their earthworks and habitat
down the Ohio River and up the Missouri. Another authority states
the Siouan family began to cross the Appalachian range of mountains a
thousand years ago. The Mandans were the first to break off from the
parent stock and the only excuse we have for including them in this
history is the probability that they crossed our borders on their way up
the Missouri River some time prior to the coming of the Skidi band
in 1400 A. D.
In 1500 A. D. the Omaha tribe was located near the mouth of the
Ohio River, so its advent in central Nebraska was certainly after 1500.
Their trail is traced quite accurately up the Missouri and Des Moines
rivers to its present home in the northeastern part of Nebraska. The
Osage tribe branched ofif and remained at the Osage River. The Kansas
tribe came on to the Kansas River and there established its present
habitat.
The Omahas and Poncas remained together until 1650, when the
latter moved northward and occupied the country from the mouth of the
Niobrara west to the Black Hills. By the treaty of March 16. 1854, the
Omahas ceded the northeast third of Nebraska to the United States,
excepting that part north of a line drawn due west from the mouth of
the Aoway River. That tongue of land which was added to Nebraska
in 1890, by authority of congressional act dated March 28, 1882, and
which lies between the Niobrara, Keya Paha and Missouri rivers, was
ceded by the Poncas in 1858, except a small reservation. In 1877 the
Poncas were moved to the Indian Territory.
The third detachment of the Siouan family to occupy Nebraska
consisted of three tribes — the Otoes, Missouris and the lowas. The
Otoes and lowas have always been closely related. They were first
seen at the mouth of the Des Moines River by Marquette in 1673. They
are said by tradition to have sprung from the Winnebagoes. It is stated
that in 1699 they went to live with the Omahas. The Missouris have
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 47
had a very checkered career. They were first seen in 1670 at the mouth
of the Missouri River. Soon after 1700 they were overcome by the
Sacs and Foxes and other tribes. Most of their number joined another
tribe, but a few went with the Osage and others united with the Kansas
tribe. They have never ceded land to the United States, except in com-
pany with the Otoes, but they have been a party to every transaction of
the Otoes. For all practical purposes the Otoes and Missouris have been
one tribe during their occupancy of Nebraska domain. The Otoes and
Missouris ceded the southeast portion of this state in 1833 to the United
States ; this cession embraced the land south and west of Nemaha. The
remaining portion of the land which they claimed lay between the
Nemaha, Missouri and the Platte rivers, reaching as far west as Seward
County. The last tract was ceded in 1854, when they returned to their
reservation south from Beatrice. In 1881 they relinquished this domain
and now abide in Indian Territory. Most of the lowas remained east
of Nebraska soil until 1836, when they were given a tract of land along
the south bank of the Nemaha. This land they retained in part in indi-
vidual allotments, but remained under the Great Nemaha Agency. This
tribe of Indians was always closely associated with the Otoes, but was
never under the same tribal relations as an organized body of Indians,
as was the Missouri tribe. All three tribes belonged to the same branch
of the Siouan family as the Winnebago.
The council gave the United States title to the east two-thirds of
the domain in Nebraska. The earliest treaty by which they acquired
title to land in Nebraska was made with the Kansas tribe in 1825 ; by
this treaty the Kansas tribe ceded a semi-circular tract along the south
line, reaching from Fall City to Red Willow County and almost as far
as Lincoln. So it appears that the Kansas tribe at least laid claim to
part of the territory now called Nebraska.
The next detachment of the great Siouan family to invade Nebraska
was from the northern branch of this tribe which dwelt along the Great
Lakes. The Assiniboins had separated from this branch as early as
1650, and according to McGee, were near the Lake of the Woods in
1766, so they had not long wandered over Nebraska when the white
man's history began here.
The Poncas and Omahas
The Poncas and Omahas joined in repressing the advance of the
northern tribes and held them back from the great waterways for many
years, but they hunted on the headwaters of the Platte and Republican
rivers and even went as far to the south as the headwaters of the Smoky
Hill and Solomon rivers. The Crows were doubtless the first to encroach
on the Platte Valley: they drifted to the Black Hill country in a very
early day and hunted on the Platte from the northwest. The Blackfeet,
a branch of the Saskatchewan tribe, came later. The Yankton, Santee,
Brule, Sisseton, Teton, Minnistaree and parts of the tribes from the
headwaters of the Platte frequently hunted and fought in the valley
of this stream. They united in ceding the northwest part of the State of
Nebraska to the United States in 1868, reserving for themselves a com-
mon hunting ground right, which, however, in 'l875, they relinquished.
They next were numbered in the various reservations of Dakotah and
Indian Territory.
The Winnebagos were the last tribe of the great Siouan family to
come hither. They were moved from Minnesota to a part of the Omaha
48 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
reservation in 1862, and there still reside. Schoolcraft says in his Indian
history that this tribe once lived on a branch of the Crow Wing River,
Minnesota. Some of the Santee Sioux were moved to Nebraska at the
same time, but many of both tribes came across the country before.
The Algonquian F.^mily
To this family belongs the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Astina, who wan-
dered over the western part of Nebraska, as did the Sac and Fox tribe,
which had a reservation in the extreme southeastern part of this state
from 1836 to 1885. The Algonquian family once occupied the greater
portion of the Mississippi Valley. At a very early date the Cheyenne
drifted westward through Dakota and gave their name to one of the
important streams. Later, they drifted southward. Explorers Lewis
and Clark mention this tribe as occupying a portion of the Cheyenne
Valley in 1804, while Long in his 1819 expedition found small bands
which had seceded from the main stock on the Cheyenne River and had
roamed with the Arapaho along the Platte River. Gen. J. C. Fremont
made a record which states that this tribe was found on the Platte above
Grand Island in 1843. They ceded the southwest portion of Nebraska
in 1861.
S.\c AND Fox Purchase
The United States purchased all of Missouri north of the river, most
of the State of Iowa, and a portion of Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota
from the Sac and Fox tribe. They seem to have been the original own-
ers of the Mississippi and Missouri fronts and the Siouan tribes as they
departed went westward doubtless had these Indians to contend with.
The Sac and Fox gave up their holdings and settled on a southern reser-
vation, excepting a band who took up a reservation on the Great Nemaha
River, party in Nebraska and a part of which is in Kansas.
Other Indian Tribes
It is certain the Comanches roamed at will over Nebraska soil at one
time, and probably the "Padoucas" once had their home and hunting
ground here ; at least North Fork of the Platte River was known in early
days as the Padouca fork. Historian Mooney, in one of his early
reports, says: "In 1719 the Comanche were mentioned under their
Siouan name of Padoucas living in what is now known as the western
part of the State of Kansas. It must not be overlooked that five to
eight hundred miles was an ordinary range for plains tribes and
the Comanche were equally at home on the North Platte or on the
Chihuahua (Mexico)."
The Comanche and the Kansas Indian tribes were closely connected
for over 150 years, at least. There is no record that the Comanche
ever ceded any part of this state to the United States Government.
The Kiowan Family
This tribe of Indians migrated from the northwest and took up a resi-
dence near the Black Hills. From that point they were driven by the
bloodthirsty Sioux tribes and Lewis and Clark mention them as residing
on the north fork of the Platte in 1805, in all they had seventy-five tepees.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 49
They slowly drifted southward until they occupied the south side of
the Arkansas River country. As this particular tribe seldom lived long
away from the mountain countries, it is most likely that they had not
been long occupiers of Nebraska domain.
The Halfbreed Tract, Etc.
There was a halfbreed tract situated between Neosha and Missouri
rivers. It was set apart in 1830, intended for the home of civilized
Indians belonging to the Omaha, Iowa, Otoe, Yankton and Santee Sioux
halfbreeds.
The Pine Ridge and Rosebud agencies are located just to the north
of the Nebraska line in South Dakota and the Indian title to a narrow
strip adjoining this state was until recent years not yet extinguished.
The only Indian agencies in Nebraska at this date (1920) are the Santee,
near Niobrara; the Ponca, the Omahas and the Winnebagos in Thurston
County.
In 1890 United States census returns give the number of Indians in
this state as being 3,322. There are three Indian schools in the state
conducted by the Federal Government — one on the Santee reservation;
one on the Omaha-Winnebago reservation, while a boarding school is
run at Genoa, Nance County.
Tribal Lands, Etc.
All tribal lands, except a small part of the Omaha reservation, have
been allotted and all Indians are taxed as citizens of the state. The
Omahas in 1904 numbered 1,200 and the Winnebagos 1,100 souls. The
Omahas are of a much higher type of Indian citizens than the Winne-
bagos, and are by far the more industrious, taking great pride in becom-
ing good agriculturists. They also pay strict attention to their marriage
vows, whereas the Winnebagos pay little attention to such matters.
Indian Character and Relations with Settlers
W. J. McGee, in his report of the Bureau of Ethnology, remarks :
"They were ceremonious among themselves and crafty towards enemies,
tactful diplomatists as well as brave soldiers, shrewd strategists as well
as fierce fighters ; ever they were skillful readers of human nature.
Among some of the tribes every movement and gesture and expression
the male adults seems to have been afi^ected or controlled with the view
of impressing spectators and auditors, and through constant schooling
the warriors became most consummate actors.
"The best developed industries were hunting and warfare, though
all of the tribes subsisted in part on fruits, nuts, berries, tubers, grains
and other vegetable products, largely wild, though sometimes planted
and even cultivated in rude fashion. The southwestern tribes, and to
some extent the eastern remnant, grew maize, beans, pumpkins, melons,
squashes, sunflowers and tobacco, though their agriculture seems always
to have been subordinate to the chase."
In manners and customs the Indian was very different from the
whites. For this reason the two did not come to understand one
another as they did years latef. An interesting thing in which this is
true was the idea that the greatest man always gave away most things.
On this account, nearly always the chiefs were very poor in this world's
goods.
50 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Implements and Weapons
Stone, wood, horn, bone and antler were usually used for imple-
ments and weapons. The domestic utensils were made from wood, crude
pottery, basketry, bags and bottles of skin. Their apparel consisted of
lareech clout, moccasins, leggins and robe, usually of dressed skins. The
prairie tribes had for places of abode earth lodges for winter, buffalo
skin tepees for summer. Their horses were of Spanish origin. The new
enterprise of catching wild horses made a great difference with their
mode of living. They had for their amusements — races, wrestling
matches, games of chance : sports for boys, making bows and arrows,
playing hunt, etc. ; of girls, dolls, play-house, etc. The organization of
tribes was very complicated. Their property regulations were strictly
observed ; common land ; much individual possessions in other things,
but a great deal of entertainment of friends in the family lodge. Tepees
belonged to the women. Food was not owned in common.
Hostility Towards the Whites
The associations between the two races — the red man and the white
man — made up one continual warfare, at least this was true from about
the commencement of the Civil war period, when it has been suspected
by northern radical thinkers, that they were greatly influenced by the
men at the head of the Southern Confederacy, in order to weaken the
strength of the Northern army. This was proven in a number of
instances, among which was the uprising at New Ulm, Minnesota, in
1862, when a thousand settlers were ruthlessly massacred by the blood-
thirsty Sioux. But be that as it may, the histories of the counties that
have been compiled of the part of the country in which Lincoln County
and Nebraska in general were situated are replete with accounts of bitter
feelings, hostilities, cattle and horse stealing, and some loss of life, too.
On the other hand it must be admitted that the Indians were ill treated
by them. Not by the sturdy actual settler, but by the roving band of
traders and rougher element that is ever found on the frontier of any
country. The Indians resented any personal injury and took vengeance
upon all whites alike.
When cattle were stolen by the Indians large companies of white
settlers would band themselves together and overtake the offenders.
Punishment was meted out without trial and without delay. A marked
change was noted with the commencement of the Civil war. Then it was
that Indian hostilities increased rapidly. Not only did they attack and
murder small parties and raid settlements here and there, but the spirit
of enmity caused many bands of savages all through the great Northwest
to combine in attacking settlements.
August 7. 1864, occurred one of the worst Indian raids the true
pioneers of Nebraska ever suffered. At about the same hour of the
same day and month all the homes except two along a route of 200 miles
were surrounded and burned. The inmates who could not escape were
killed, and their provisions and goods were carried off. This state of
affairs continued to some extent after the close of our Civil war which
ended in April, 1865.
One writer of Nebraska history relates that in the neighborhood of
Lincoln County the attacks of Indians continued for five years. As late
as the time the Union Pacific Railroad was constructed through this
countv the company's property and men had to be guarded and pro-
'.I ' i*m
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 51
tected by United States soldiers, who as late as 1869-70 also stood guard
for the Government surveyors who were then quarter-sectioning this
county.
Indian War of 1890-91
The last trouble between the Indians and whites in Nebraska
occurred in 1890-91, in which case, as usually before, the United States
(shame to such deeds) failed to keep good her word with the Indians.
If the Government authorities were innocent ( which is doubted ) at
lea.st they winked at the unlawful acts committed by Indian agents, who
did not have at heart the good of all concerned, but wished only to make
what they could out of trading with the ignorant Indians. Many of the
Indians at the commencement of that noted outbreak were literally
starving to death, due to the shiftless policy of the Government.
CHAPTER IV
EARLY SETTLEMENT
FONTANELLE SETTLEMENT THROWN InTO WASHINGTON CoUNTY —
First Houses — First Land Broken — Early Crops — Milling —
Markets — Townsite Projects — North Bend — Fremont — First
Births — Death — Hard Winter 1856-57 — Pawnee Indians — 1857
Panic — 1857 Settlement — Pioneer Himebaugh's Experiences —
Sixty Per Cent Interest — Pike's Peak — Immigration Days —
Union Pacific.
The reader will bear in mind that Fontanelle was at first within Dodge
County, but two years after the settlement of this part of the state it
was thrown into Washington County. Then in Fontanelle was the first
settlement — made by the "Nebraska Colonization Company" from
Quincy, Illinois. But the first regular settlement in what is now Dodge
County was effected by John and Arthur Bloomer, near the mouth of
Maple Creek, early in April, 1856. During the first part of the next
month, they broke out twenty-five acres of prairie which was the small
beginning of agricultural pursuits in Dodge County now so famous as
a farming section. Mr. Bloomer spent his last years at the Soldier's
Home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
May 25, 1856, Mrs. Wealthy Beebe, with her children and Abram
McNeal, her son-in-law, with his family, located two miles west of Fre-
mont— then unknown as a settlement. The following month, George
Emerson took a claim five miles west of the present site of North Bend,
built him a shanty and broke out eight or ten acres of prairie land. July
4th the North Bend Colony, attracted by the promises of the townsite
company, arrived and settled permanently. (See details in North Bend
History.)
August. 1856, the first settlers having claimed the site of Fremont, a
town was formed under the name of Pinney, Barnard & Company, whose
doings with the Piatt Valley Claim Club, were among the first promoters
in this part of the county. September 3, 1856, the new town was named
Fremont after the great western pathfinder — Gen. John C. Fremont,
who was the republican candidate that fall for President of the United
States. At the same campaign the democrats named a townsite twenty-
five miles to the west "Buchanan."
In June, 1856, O. A. Himebaugh entered a half section of land on
Maple Creek, three miles south of the present Village of Hooper. He
and his brother lived in a cottonwood hut together. There was then a
sawmill at Fontanelle, lumber selling in Omaha at $100 a thousand feet.
John Batie had previously marked a tree in section 5, township 18 and
entered his claim in the books of the club at Fontanelle. Of him
Mr. Himebaugh purchased fifty acres of hardwood timber for $200 in
gold. His experience in that region during that never-to-be-forgotten
winter of 1856-57, was but the common lot of all who then undertook to
spend the winter months here. Cold weather and deep snows obtained
from December till almost May 1, 1857. Food was scarce. Once in a
great while some hardy persons would face the storm to Omaha from
52
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 53
Fontanelle and thus get in touch with the river points and the east. One
of these terrible trips to Omaha was made by Mr. Himebaugh. He
started out Monday morning and arrived home late Saturday of that
week. He affirmed that on a level, the snow was fully three feet deep,
and drifted entirely over many of the cabins, stables and haystacks.
Cattle perished in the blinding storm, or were smothered in the rude
shelters. Strychnine was applied to their carcasses to prevent a pesti-
lence when spring thaws came, and many hungry wolves perished like-
wise, but crawled away and died without such thoughtful preservation.
The first death of a human being (white) that ever occurred in
Dodge County was Steadmah Hager, who perished while driving from
North Bend to his home west from Fremont. His remains were found
the following spring when the snows melted away under the welcome
sunshine. His was the first funeral and Reverend Cooley, a Disciple
minister, preached the sermon.
The twin daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Abram McNeal were born
April 8, 1856. McNeal was a son-in-law of pioneer Mrs. Wealthy Beebe,
first to settle in the Platte Valley proper.
Seth Young, son of George Young and wife, was born at North
Bend November 30, 1856. December 20 the mother died and was buried
where cold winds and driving storms could reach her no more. It being
impossible at such a time to secure a coffin, cottonwood boards were
torn from the house flooring and a casket made from it in which the
deceased pioneer was buried. About 100 persons braved the terrible
winter of 1856-57.
The Pawnee Indians were then stationed just south of the Platte
River and their chief village was nearly opposite Fremont. An early
writer speaks of them thus : "They had looked on with angry faces at
the inroads which the new settlers were making upon their timber land.
In the fall of 1856 the people of Fremont derived an advantage over the
Pawnees bv sending for military aid to Omaha, the 'force' being piloted
by James G. Smith. When this terrible winter came upon this country,
the Pawnees were firmly of the belief that the 'white man brought the
big snows' and were 'Bad Medicine' for them. They threatened dire
calamity and 'looked blood.' sending at one time twenty of their strong-
est chiefs across the river for the purpose of commanding the settlers
to depart. After parleying a time, the brave men of the tribe decided
to take 'much good supper' instead of many scalps, and their thirst for
blood was thus appeased. They were hungry — that's what ailed them —
and fully satisfied themselves, they left and never returned to molest or
threaten. They became unpleasant neighbors, however, and hardly a
day passed during 1857 that they did not come to Fremont in large
numbers either to trade with Smith Brothers, or steal back some of the
goods they had sold the firm. By the treaty of September 4, 1857, they
were removed to their reservation in the valley of the Loup Fork River.
In 1859 when the Pawnees passed through Fremont, going north, bound
on the warpath up the Elkhorn Valley, they committed no depredations
upon that village, avoiding hostilities of any nature until they reached
the settlements on Maple Creek. A full account of the Pawnee war
will be found elsewhere in this work, hence only mentioned here.
"The financial panic of 1857 had its efifect on Dodge County's settle-
ment. The summer had been spent mostly in breaking prairie for crops,
only a little sod corn and a few potatoes. The settlers were therefore
illy prepared for the oncoming severe fall and winter. Money became a
thing almost entirely unknown to this band of settlers. Even postage
stamps were a curiosity."
54 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Spring of 1857 Settlement
In the spring of this year quite a number of settlers came into this
county, including H. P. Wolcott in May, who in August was joined by
G. W. Wolcott. Their claims were northwest of Fremont, near the Elm
Grove Claim, later the property of John Batie, who moved over from
Fontanelle. H. G. Wolcott, a brother of H. P., received frequent letters
from him, full of glowing accounts of the country. Later in the autumn
such letters ceased to come to his brother, and later it was explained that
"they had no money with which to pay the postage on letters."
The land pre-empted by Mr. Himebaugh came into the market in
1858, and he was obliged to hire $150 of a banker in Omaha, at 60 per
cent interest. The note was compounded the second year at 25 per
cent. The third year the same banker's terms were given him. It was
virtually impossible to secure money. Finding it one failure upon another
Mr. Himebaugh abandoned his farm operations and started out to dis-
pose of his crop. From his farm on Maple Creek, he was compelled to
haul his wheat to Omaha and have it ground into flour. With two ox
teams he started on a journey of 600 miles to Denver. He took with
him 6,000 pounds of flour and was two months on the road. His sea-
son's work netted him $360. The payment which he was finally obliged
to make on the original note for his land amounted to $415. He could
not meet it and nearly lost his land, with improvements. Many people
in this county were making preparations to leave. Pioneer Himebaugh,
however, was "given another chance" and he improved it well.
Pike's Peak Immigration
The season of 1858 was extremely wet, little was grown save some
soft sod corn and soggy potatoes. This diet allowed settlers to exist.
The winter of 1858-59 was fortunately quite free from cold and storms.
In the spring of 1859 the Pike's Peak immigration brought into the
country considerable money which revived trade somewhat. Soon after,
on the return of these gold-seekers, they brought back with them much
money (in some instances only) and also valuable provisions, which they
sold cheaply to the settlers in both village and country.
The construction of the Union Pacific Railroad in 1866 was the mark-
ing of another special era in the history and settlement of the domain
of Dodge County.
An account of many settlers will be found in the township and vil-
lage chapters of this work, hence need not here be enlarged on.
The County's Topography
The Relative State History section of this work gives much on the
general geology and topography of Nebraska, including that of Dodge
and Washington counties, but in this connection this much should spe-
cifically be said concerning the topography, streams, etc., of this part of
the state.
The surface of the wonderful valley now under consideration (Platte)
constitutes a vast domain with undulating prairie lands of great extent,
diversified by a few low hills and ridges.
From the west and north the land slopes gradually toward the Mis-
souri River, which bounds the state on the east and northeast. The
Elkhorn River is the greatest natural drainage for this whole section
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 55
assisted by the Niobrara and Union rivers. The Elkhorn Valley which
stretches itself across the northern part of the state is one of extreme
fertihty and its many tributaries and several lakes render the country
well watered. The western part of this section is well suited for graz-
ing purposes. Generally speaking, the wonderful fertility of the soil and
the absence of sloughs have attracted its thousands of actual settlers who
at once commenced planting out groves of timber which now have come
to be miniature forests and lend both beauty and utility to the otherwise
monotonous prairie landscape.
In the lower counties embraced in this valley grains of all kinds
(including winter wheat) do well. Corn, the staple crop, is unsurpassed
by any section of the West, while the flat lands produce a luxuriant
growth of both wild and tame grasses. Hence stock-raising is a predomi-
nating feature of the inhabitants.
Good water is obtainable at almost any point in this valley at depths
ranging from 20 to 100 feet. Much concerning the streams and general
formation of this valley is treated in other sections of the work.
The chief streams of the county are the Elkhorn, Rawhide Creek,'
Pebble Creek, Logan Creek, Clark Creek and Maple Creek.
The Elkhorn River, a stream of the third class and the largest in
Dodge County,, flows from the northwest to the southeast. Its length
is, in this county, about thirty miles. It was named in 1804 by the
explorers Clark and Lewis. Its meanderings as well as the soil through
which its cuts its changeable channel is very similar to that of the
Missouri.
Rawhide Creek took its name from the fact (or tradition) that during
the 1849 emigration to California it was said that a white man was
bound by the Pawnee Indians on the banks of this stream and there
literally burned to death, his skin being left in great rolls resembling
rawhide. It rises near North Bend and flows eastward to the Elkhorn
River.
Pebble Creek derives its name from the many white pebbles found at
a ford at which the soldiers crossed in 1849 during the "Pawnee war."
This stream has its source in the northwestern part of the county and
forms junction with the Elkhorn River in Everett Township.
Logan Creek derives its name from Logan Fontenelle, a friendly
chief of the Omaha Indian tribe. It was given this name by Col. William
Kline in 1854. It finds its source in Burt County and unites with Clark
Creek in Hooper Township.
Clark Creek was so named by Col. William Kline in honor of Dr. M.
H. Clark, the first , territorial representative from Dodge County. It
rises in Logan Township and enters Logan Creek in Hooper Township.
Maple Creek takes its source in Union Township and flows eastward
across the entire county, emptying into the Elkhorn River near Nick-
erson in Maple Township.
CHAPTER V
ORGANIZATION OF DODGE COUNTY
Original and Present Boundaries — County Seat Contest — Meet-
ing OF First County Commissioners — Platting of Fremont —
Agitating Erection of County Buildings
Counties, like states and nations, have their own pecuHar forms of
government — here in Nebraska the tviro systems obtain. County Commis-
sioners' Court for Precincts and the present "Township Organization"
plan under which Dodge County has been governed since 1886.
Dodge County is bounded on the north by Cuming and Burt counties;
on the east by Washington and Burt counties ; on the south by Saunders
and Douglas counties ; on the west by Colfax County. As now constituted
it comprises about fourteen congressional townships. Its seat of justice
is the City of Fremont. This county was organized by an act of the
Territorial Legislature of Nebraska in the winter of 1854-55. The act
which fixed and approved its first boundaries was dated March 15, 1855,
and read as follows :
"Commencing at a point on the Platte river at the southwest corner
of Douglas county, running westerly along said Platte river to the mouth
of Shell Creek — thence north twenty-five miles ; thence east to the west-
ern bounds of Washington county ; thence south to place of beginning.
The Town of Fontenelle shall be tlie place of justice in and for said
county."
The act approved November 2. 1858, read as follows: "An act to
establish boundary between Washington and Dodge counties : — Begin-
ning at the Fourth Standard parallel two miles east of the southwest
corner of township 17, range 10, east of the Sixth p. m. ; thence north
twelve miles to the line between ranges 9 and 10: thence north to the
south line of Burt county."
The act of 1869 established the line between the counties of Dodge
and Burt as follows : "Commencing at the northwest corner of town-
ship 20, north of range 8, east : thence east along the Fifth Standard
parallel to the northeast corner of section 6, township 20, north of range
9 east ; thence south on the section line one mile east of, and parallel
with the Guide Meridian four miles to the north line of Washington
county as defined by the act of the Legislature of the Territory of
Nebraska approved February 9, 1857."
Dodge County is the second west of the Missouri River and is sit-
uated in the point not very far distant from the confluence of the Elkhorn
and Platte rivers.
By the above acts it will be discovered that at first that part of present
Washington County in which the Village of Fontanelle is located was a
part of Dodge County originally. Fontanelle was then the county seat,
and so continued until in 1860 when the county's boundary was changed,
by act of the Territorial Legislature, and in February, 1860, by a vote
of the people the seat of justice was changed to Fremont.
It should b'e stated in connection with the organization of Dodge
County that it was one of the original subdivisions in the Territory of
56
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 57
Nebraska. Acting Gov. T. B. Cuming (who acted after the death of
Gov. Francis Burt) divided the territory into eight counties — Burt,
Washington, Dodge. Douglas, Cass, Pierce, Forney and Richardson.
Dodge County was bounded as follows : Commencing at a point on the
Platte River twenty miles west of Bellevue thence westerly along the said
Platte River to the mouth of Shell Creek, thence north twenty-five miles,
thence east to the dividing ridge between the Elkhorn and the Missouri
rivers, thence south to place of beginning. The voting precinct was
established at the house of Dr. M. H. Clark of Fontenelle. William
Kline, Christopher S. Leiber and William E. Estley were appointed judges
of election and William Taylor and E. G. McNeely clerks. The county
was named in honor of Augustus C. Dodge, a United States Senator
from Iowa and an active supporter of the Kansas-Nebraska bill. In
accord with the proclamation of Acting Governor Cuming made October
21, 1854, an enumeration of the inhabitants of the territory was made.
The apportionment of Dodge County was one councilman and two
representatives.
Eight votes were cast at Fontanelle on December 12, 1854, by which
Dr. M. H. Clark was chosen to the Territorial Council and Judge J. W.
Richardson and Col. E. R. Doyle to the lower house, constituted the first
election ever held in Dodge County. In regard to their "constituents"
left at home Doctor Abbott had the following in his history :
"The first Territorial Legislature convened at Omaha on January 16,
1855, and while Messrs. Clark, Robinson and Doyle were attending the
legislature, the Town of Fontenelle and the county of Dodge were
deserted by their inhabitants until Col. William Kline, then and later a
respected citizen of Fontenelle, and a half breed Indian named Jo, were
the only constituents left to the honorable members of Dodge. Colonel
Kline can truly be said to have had at one time in his life the largest
representation according to population of any gentleman in Nebraska if
not in the United States." In November, 1855, Thomson Gibson was
elected a member of the House of Representatives from Dodge County.
At the third election for members Silas E. Seely secured fortv-four votes
and Thomas Gibson forty-one votes. Gibson contested Seely's seat on
the ground that Seely had not resided long enough in the legislative dis-
trict. The Legislature vacated the seat held by Seely on his certificate,
but did not declare for Gibson, thus leaving Dodge unrepresented in the
lower house in the winter of 1857.
Prior to the coming of the first settlers at North Bend, in the south-
western part of Dodge County, a town company had been formed by
speculators in Omaha and land disposed of without even being seen at
high prices. In November, 1856, after a colony had been induced to
locate by the paper company, George J. Turton built a double log house.
It was here that the first election in November within the present limits
of Dodge County was held, Mr. Turton being selected as commissioner,
Silas E. Seely. representative, and Robert Kittle and George Young,
justices of the peace.
By legislative act of March 2, 1858. the eastern boundary of Dodge
County was re-defined and in January, 1860, it was so changed (the
Elkhorn River being its limits) that Fontenelle, the county seat, was cut
ofif. By an election held the next month the honor was transferred to
Fremont. The southern boundary had already been changed to its present
limits ; the northern and western boundaries were left in peace. In
February. 1867, a portion of the territory cut ofT by the act of 1860
known as the Logan precinct, was re-annexed to the county. In March
58 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
1873, slight changes were made in the boundaries and in February,
1875, the Legislature prescribed the present limits.
The first commissioners of the county met January 6, 1857, the
session being held in Fontanelle at John Batie's house. William E. Eee
and Thomas Fitzsimmons were on hand while L. C. Baldwin of Golden
Gate precinct was absent. An order of business was adopted, after
which the county was divided into three precincts. All the territory east
of the Elkhorn River was fixed as No. 1. all between the Platte River and
a line running west, starting from the Elkhorn River on the township
line between townships 17 and 18 to the western boundary of the county,
No. 2 ; all north of said line and west of the Elkhorn River to be known
as No. 3. The county was also divided into road districts.
Log House of Hon. E. H. Rogers, Fremont, Erected in 1857
On April 6, 1857, the commissioners met, but on account of the
drowning of Seth P. Marvin at the ferry, "without adjournment" repaired
to the river. The next day Robert Kittle resigned his office as justice of
the peace. On May 30, Fremont precinct was organized so as to include
all south of township line between townships 17 and 18 and east of
range line between 7 and 8.
Soon after Fremont was platted by the town company in 1856, it
became evident that Fontanelle was to be vigorously pushed for the
county seat by its somewhat younger competitor. The excitement reached
its climax during the winter of 1859-60 when Fremont was growing
rapidly and pressing her claims more strongly than ever for the county
seat.
E. H. Rogers of Fremont was the representative from this countv in
the lower house ; James Stewart of Washington County and John Rick
of Platte. Rogers was sent to the Legislature in 1859 and was pledged
to work against any attempt to change the boundary between Dodge
and Washington counties. There were eight delegates present at the
nominating convention, Mr. Roger's opponent was Thomas Gibson, then
a resident of Fontanelle and therefore interested in removing the western
boundary of Washington County so far west as to bring the village some-
where uaar the center and throw Fremont in a corner, aiid therefore out
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 59
of all chances for becoming the county seat. The delegates from the
Fontanelle region numbered four, and the delegates from Fremont way
numbered four when they entered the nominating convention. They voted
by ballot, and what was the consternation of Fontanelle when the result
was announced — five for Rogers and three for Gibson ! In haste and
trepidation the Fontanelleites returned homeward, and there each and
every man formally swore that he voted for Gibson. It has ever been
believed that a delegate named Saint forgot himself and his candidate.
By January, 1860, Fremont had outgrown Fontanelle so that the
county seat could be removed to the former place by the crowding of
the latter out of the county. The first election after the selection had
been made was held on the first Monday of February, 1860, resulting as
follows: E. H. Barnard, probate judge; William S. Wilson, sheriff;
H. C. Campbell, treasurer: J. F. Reynolds, county clerk; George Turner,
George Turton and Thomas Fitzsimmons, commissioners.
It was settled that Fremont was to be the permanent county seat, but
it was six years later — April, 1866 — before any move was made toward
providing the county with suitable buildings in which to keep its various
offices. In June, 1866, the specifications for a courthouse by John Ray
were accepted. Lots 1 and 2, block 155, having been selected for the
site of the buildings. A good two-story brick courthouse was erected
thereon, the same being forty by sixty feet, and it was completed in the
winter of 1867-68, being accepted in January the last-named year. Its
cost was $11,800. A jail was built in 1875, costing $15,000. (See
County Government chapter.)
CHAPTER VI
DODGE COUNTY GOVERNMENT
County Organization Perfected — Prosecuting Attorney and
County Attorney Systems — Acts of County Commissioners —
Making of First Precincts — First Road Districts — Names of
Commissioners — Creation of "Township Organization" — First
County Supervisors — The Burning of Courthouse in 1887 —
Building a New Courthouse — Second Courthouse Fire, 1915—
Present Structure — The New Jail — Highways — Bridges —
Ladies' Rest Rooms — Property Valuations — County Finances
— Boards' Estimate, 1891 — County Treasurer's Report, 1892 —
County Seat and County Buildings — Courthouses and Jails —
Bids for Present Courthouse — Dedication — County Poor Farm
— County Officials, 1920 — County Officers' Salaries — Taxes —
Assessed Valuations — Board of Supervisors for 1920 — State and
County Levies — Average Value Farm Lands, 1920.
After the organization of this county had been perfected and the
machinery set in motion usually speaking Dodge County has been a well
governed subdivision of Nebraska. True, in early days, under the old
and somewhat crude form of territorial government, matters were not
cared for as they have been since statehood was obtained. The pioneer
forms used under the original county commissioner court system here were
patterned from those brought from eastern and middle states, from
which many of the Dodge County pioneers came, with a number from
Ohio. The affairs of the county were administered by the commissioners'
court until "Township Organization" came into operation in 1886 by
the popular vote of the people of this county. By this plan each civil
township or precinct is entitled to at least one representative on a board
of supervisors. The officers of clerk of the court and county clerk were
one office up to 1869 (except in 1860-61).
The original office of district attorney was changed to that of county
attorney in 1888.
The county commissioners were the guardians of the people for a
third of a century. They were three in number, representing three
various districts of the county. Their assembling at the county seat was
termed "County Commissioners Court." The following constituted some
of their more important acts :
Acts of the County Commissioners
The first board of county commissioners consisted of William E. Lee,
Thomas Fitzsimmons and L. C. Baldwin. They first met (the last named
not present) "at the house of Batie and Blinn's at Fontanelle, Dodge
County, Nebraska Territory," January 6, 1857. This was while Fonta-
nelle was yet included in Dodge County — the change of boundaries taking
place in 1860. The order of their first business was :
First — Dividing the county into districts.
Second — Dividing the county into precincts.
60
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 61
Third — Dividing the county into road districts.
Fourth — Appointing of officers.
Fifth — Approving of official bonds.
Sixth — Locating public highways.
Upon motion of Commissioner William E. Lee, the county was
divided into three precincts bounded as follows: No. 1. All that portion
of the county east of the Elkhorn River. No. 2. All that portion of the
county between the Platte River and the line running west from the
Elkhorn on the township line between township 17 and 18 to the west
line of the county. No. 3. All territory lying north and west of said line.
The road districts — five in number — were under the care of the fol-
lowing supervisors: No. 1, E. H. Barnard; No. 2, "Mr." Miller, of
North Bend; No. 3, David Bloomer; No. 4, Hiram H. Ladd ; No. 5,
I. Warner.
April 6, 1857, the commissioners met and created the precinct of
"Logan" and designated the place for the first election to be at C. H.
Liser's. The judges were to be Hiram H. Ladd, Willis Carr and Martin
Sherer.
At the same session thev also created "Fremont" precinct and fixed
the place of election at the house of Barnard and Kuntz at Fremont Vil-
lage. The judges were E. H. Rogers, Jackson Davis and A. McNeal.
The commissioners in 1858 were Thomas Fitzsimmons, W. E. Lee
and C. A. Whiteford. In June of that year they assisted in the organi-
zation of Platte County; also of Monroe County; their chief business,
however, being looking after county roads and routine work of no great
historic interest. At the August meeting they authorized the sheriflf of
the county to proceed to assess the taxable property within Dodge
County.
The commissioners for 185Q were Thomas Fitzsimmons, C. A. White-
ford and J. M. Hancock. At the January session they created "Maple
Creek" precinct and ordered a bridge built over the Elkhorn River to
cost $1,500; ordered the making of a county seal to be paid for in county
warrants at not less than 75 cents on the dollar. In July they fixed the
assessment at 6 mills per dollar. In August they created "Bell Creek"
precinct.
From October, 1859 to 1860. the board consisted of Thomas Fitzsim-
mons, G. A. Turton and Jared Blasett. John Evans appeared before
them and gave bonds as county registrar of deeds. The treasurer's report
made to the board was as follows :
Territorial fund $300.00
County fund 624.00
School fund 201.20
Poll and road fund 397.18
Total $1,522.38
The commissioners were George Turner, Thomas Fitzsimmons and
George Turton. The Minute Book shows an exhibit of Dodge County
taxes for that year as follows :
Territorial taxes $167.00
County taxes 972.00
School taxes 214.00
Poll and road tax 831 .00
In 1862: During this year the board was George Turner, Thomas
Wilson and W. H. Ely, who met at the "Valley House," Fremont.
62 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
In 1863 the board met at the clerk's office and in 1864 at the Congre-
gational Church building. During the Civil war but little business of
interest was transacted.
January 1, 1866, the board was George Turner, J. E. Dorsey and
George Young. During that year the building of a courthouse, or county
house, was agitated. J. J. Hawthorne offered the county block No. 96,
at Fremont, for such building site and a building was finally advertised
for. It was to be 30 by 60 feet, built of frame and boards. In July they
contracted for 125.000 brick suitable for a foundation, paying $12 per
thousand for the same.
These plans were discarded and at the October session that year the
board decided to build a brick courthouse, which they did. ( See court-
house history elsewhere.)
In 1867 commissioners were Christopher Knoell, George Young and
George Turner.
In 1868 the commissioners were Robert Graham, A. C. Briggs and
George Turner. A room in the southwest part of the courthouse was
fixed up suitable for jail purposes. They also submitted the Sioux City
& Pacific Railroad bond question to the voters of the county. It resulted
in a majority for, of 185 votes out of 413 votes polled. The same year
the board rented a room of the county building for the use of a printing
office, to A. S. McAlister. They also required the following official
bonds to be filed: County treasurer. $25,000: county clerk, $8,000;
sheriff. $5,000; probate judge, $5,000.
In 1869 the commissioners were Robert Graham, George Blanchard
and A. C. Briggs. One hundred and twenty-five thousands dollars in
railroad bonds were approved by this board for the aid in securing the
Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad. The popular vote was —
for 432 and 120 against the proposition. These bonds drew 8 per cent
interest and run twenty years.
In 1870 the precinct of "Webster" was created at the June meeting.
At the November meeting when John P. Eaton, George Blanchard and
A. C. Briggs were on the board. Fremont Township voted bonds in the
sum of $50,000 for a bridge over the Platte River, which caused the
board much work.
In 1871 the board was composed of John Eaton, J. J. Hawthorne and
A. C. Briggs. During that year the old courthouse was remodeled,
plastered, etc. In 1872 "Everett" precinct was formed by the board.
In 1874 the board was as follows: John C. Seeley, F. M. Tillman and
B. Nicodemus. They advertised for bids for the erection of a jail in
August of that year. Finally McShane, Ouimby and Clagg, of Omaha,
received the contract at $9,8.32 for the building of a brick jail.
In 1875 when Theron Nye, F. M. Tillman and John C. Seeley were
on the board "Elkhorn" precinct was formed. Also "Platte" precinct.
In 1878 the commissioners looked after the interest of the North
Bend precinct which had voted bonds to the amount of $7,000 for the
building of roads.
In 1881 the board was as follows : E. C. Burns, H. J. Lee and Milton
May. During that year $10,000 bonds were issued for building a portion
of the Platte River bridge. These bonds were for twenty years at 7 per
cent interest.
In 1882 Commissioners J. H. Caldwell, Milton May and H. J. Lee
looked after the North Bend bridge bonds voted to the amount of $10,000,
running twenty years at 7 per cent interest.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 63
In 1884, when the board was composed of J. H. Caldwell, M. Welch
and Milton May, a contract wns let to A. Zimmerman for the erection
of a county poor house to cost $3,645. July 3d, that year, a severe storm
damaged the courthouse to the extent that the county clerk send word
to the board to meet at once. Upon meeting they decided to repair tem-
porarily and then arrange for building a new courthouse. The matter
came up to the people at the following election.
Board of Supervisors
Eighteen eighty-six ushered in a new era in the government of Dodge
County, for it was during that year that the people voted in favor of
"Township Organization," after which time they were to be represented
by a Board of County Supervisors instead of County Commissioners.
By the new plan a supervisor was to be elected from each township in
the county. All but the months of November and December of 1886
was under the old commissioner system, the first Board of Supervisors
meeting in November. The last commissioners were J. H. Caldwell,
George C. Laird and M. Weich, while the first Board of Supervisors
was composed of M. Weich, John P. Dierks, William E. Lee, A. E. Jen-
sen, F. M. Tillman, H. E. Wolcott, H. H. Robinson, J. B. Foote, John
Emanuel, J. A. Sill, B. F. Laird, H. Christy, James S. Jennings and Nels
Johnson.
The first important act of the newly constituted board was to reorgan-
ize the precincts into "Township Organizations." By that act the civil
subdivisions were set apart and bounded by the lines of the Congressional
townships, except along the Platte and Elkhorn rivers, where they
remained fractional as before. A few slight changes were subsequently
made, but for the most part they were bounded as they appear on the
county's plat books today.
In 1887 a report was made by the overseer of the poor to the county
board in which it stated the number of paupers then to be eighteen. In
that year the board created the office of county physician and ordered two
steel cages for uncontrollable insane people at the noorhouse.
The last day of the year 1887 was an unfortunate dav for the county,
as it was then that it sustained a loss of more than $3,000 in the partial
burning of the courthouse. Many valuable books were lost and much
expense incurred in making transcripts by experts for court records.
The supervisors rewarded the firemen for the faithful work at the
courthouse fire by presenting them with $60 in cash. Three hundred
dollars were spent in trying to locate and arrest the person who set the
fire, but all to no purpose — it still remains a mystery.
In March, 1888, the chairman of the board was H. G. Wolcott.
The material left from the fire of December, 1887, was offered for
sale by the board. That year George W. Davy was paid $1,200 for repro-
ducing new court record books and papers to take the place of those lost
in the fire. It was during this year (1888) that the board had its mind
occupied with planning for a new courthouse. (See Courthouse History.)
It was in this year that the board was called to act in the case of trying
to enforce the state law compelling the Union Pacific trains within Dodge
County to stop at all railroad crossings, as two persons met with accidents
and one was killed at such crossings within ten days' time. The board
entered suit against the company.
In 1890 the chairman of the board was W. D. Thomas. The com-
mittee on county buildings was M. Weich, A. P. Shephard and H. Christy.
64 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
It appears from statements made in board meetings in 1890-91 that
the manner of keeping the county's records has materially improved after
1887-88.
In 1892 A. J. Sill was chairman of the board and J. H. Fletcher was
appointed overseer of the poor at a salary of $50 a month.
Up to 1893 the Minute Books of the Commissioners and Board of
County Supervisors had reached five in number and were devoted to all
manner of resokitions and business transactions connected with the hun-
dreds of wagon roads and no less of bridges, public ditches, county build-
ings, with other improvements needful to the safety and comfort of the
people of the county. But with the expenditure of much money in way
of taxes, the people were benefited and the increased value in lands and
town property proved this assertion. And what was true thirty years ago
is doubly true of the advancement made since that date.
With the passing years the supervisors have been kept busy looking
after the establishment and maintenance of public roads, drainage ditch
systems and the general routine of county improvements, including the
erection and repair of public buildings and the hundreds of highway
crossings and bridges.
The supervisors have always tried to spend the money paid into their
treasury to the best advantage of the taxpayers — giving value received.
And even the general comfort of the people has been looked after in the
providing of ladies' rest rooms in the basement (first floor) of the new
courthouse. At first this room or set of rooms was furnished and cared
for by the Retail Business Men's Association of Fremont, which society
paid the expenses for a year or more until these rooms had been proven
a success, after which the county board took them over and really cares
for most of the expenses of keeping them up. They are duly appre-
ciated by ladies of this county, as well as "strangers within the gates."
Concerning Taxes
All taxes become due November 1st each year.
Taxes become a first lien on real property October 1st.
Taxes become a first lien on personal property November 1st.
Personal taxes become delinquent December 1st, after due.
Real estate taxes become delinquent May 1st, after due.
Real estate advertised for sale for taxes October 1st, after due.
Real estate is sold for taxes the first Monday in November.
Taxes draw 10 per cent interest after delinquency.
Tax sales certificates draw 15 per cent interest.
Personal assessments are made in April and May of each year.
Real estate is valued every four years and equalized every two years.
Assessed Valuations — 1919
(Townships)
Assessed Value Mills Levy
Union $679,881 10
Pleasant Valley 443,781 14
Webster (including Dodge and Snyder) . . 703,837 12
Ridgeley 602,521 14
Cotterell 677,353 12
Platte 860,115 12
Maple 455,798 10
Everett 497,356 6
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 65
Assessed Value Mills Levy
Cuming (including Scribner) $645,971 14
Logan (including Uehling) 587,396 14
Hooper (including Hooper and Winslow) 790,969 14
Nickerson (including Nickerson) 558,919 8
Elkhorn 425,822 12
Cities and Towns with Railway Terminals
Assessed Value Mills Levy
Fremont $2,179,132 55
North Bend 288,245 35
Dodge 114,855 35
Snyder 104,146 25
Scribner 234,100 50
Uehling 75,422 25
Hooper 206,880 45
Nickerson 48,880 13
Winslow 48,543 20
Total of county (1919-20) $10,669,623
Total railway terminals 301,657
State and County Levies — 1920
(State Levy) Mills
General fund 4.80
University 1.00
State aid bridge 20
Special university fund 75
Normal school 1.00
Capitol building fund 1.50
State aid road 3.00
University act fund 75
Total 13.00 mills
(County Levy)
General fund 7.07
Bridge 4.00
Emergency bridge 1.00
Road 2.07
Drainage 80
Soldier's relief 06
Courthouse bonds 1.00
Total 16.00 mills
Average Value of Farm Lands — 1920
The county clerk recently published the following concerning the
farm lands in Dodge County — the same being for assessment purposes:
Per Acre
In Union Township %76
In Pleasant Valley Township 79
66 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Per Acre
In Pebble Township $76
In Ridgeley Township 85
In Cotterell Township 78
In Cuming Township 77
In Maple Township 84
In Everett Township 82
In Platte Township 91
In Hooper Township 80
In Logan Township 85
In Nickerson Township 85
In Elkhorn Township 71
In Webster Township 89
Total estimate for school purposes (not including bond levy), $260,-
176.73.
The school bond levy is $17,555.11.
Property Valuations
At various periods the property valuations in Dodge County have
been as follows (figures from official reports made to the state auditor) :
In the year 1870 the assessed valuation was $1,910,000
In the year 1878 the assessed valuation was 2,319,(XX)
In the year 1885 the assessed valuation was. 3,160,000
In the year 1891 the assessed valuation was 3,162,000
Twenty-nine years ago (1891) when property was being assessed at
about one-third of its actual value, the record shows the following valu-
ation of all realty and personal property by townships and precincts :
Cotterell $145,706 Pebble $104,113
Cuming 131,606 Pleasant Valley 95,944
Elkhorn 77,015 Platte 151,308
Everett 98,494 Ridgelev 95,629
Hooper 71,871 Union '. 116,625
Logan 105,904 Webster 105,613
Maple 107,030 Fremont (city) 824,844
Nickerson 110,830 North Bend (city) 112,600
Coming down to the present time the records show the following
property valuations in the county ; also the value in various townships
and cities and villages, as a whole :
The total assessed valuation in the various townships in this county
in 1919 was $7,930,019.
The assessed valuations in cities and towns with the railway terminals
was $2,378,980.
The County's Finances
It is now about sixty years since the county was really organized and
the following statements as to its finances show its condition at the end
of the first thirty years (1890), and that of 1920, thirty years later.
In 1860 the county treasurer's report for Dodge County read as
follows :
Territorial fund $308.80
Countv fund 612.12
School fund 201.20
Poll and road fund 397.94
Total $1,512.06
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 67
Board's Estimate in 1891
Bonded indebtedness, liberally towards railroad enterprises, bridges,
drainage and county buildings, had brought the following demands by
the close of the year 1890:
County general fund $35,000
County bridge fund 18,000
County sinking fund ,^,500
County insane fund 2,000
County road fund 2,000
Courthouse fund 4,000
Interest on railroad bonds 12,000
Interest on bridge bonds 7,500
Soldier's relief fund 1,050
Total $85,050
County Treasurer's Report
The county treasurer's report for the last half of the year 1891 shows
the following balances :
Balance general fund (state) $ 4,232
Balance county road fund 873
Balance insane fund 441
Balance soldier's relief fund 762
Balance general school district fund 10,960
Balance general road district fund 1,850
To balance on hand 49,750
Total disbursements 108,397
County Trea.surer's Semi-Annual Statement — 1920
The subjoined is a statement issued to the public by the county treas-
urer of Dodge County for the first six months of the year 1920:
July, 1920
Disbursements Balance
State general fund paid $38,317.52 $5,202.30
State capitol fund 11,904.18 1,618.50
State university fund 8,004.87 1,085.21
Special university fund 5,952.08 809.25
State land fund interest paid 12.60
State aid bridge fund 1,600.17 216.96
Special university building fund 57.50 Overdraft
. State normal school fund 7,993.45 1,083.75
State university activities fund 5.993.37 812.33
State institution improvement fund 77.70 Overdraft
State aid road fund 23,844.11 3,239.67
State highway fund 40,948.86 1,225.50
State hail insurance fund 434.24
Countv genera! fund 62,732.74 10,953,90
County bridge fund 14,076.42 22,725.44
County road fund 19,494.65 17,143.01
Countv sinking fund .11
County drainage fund 4,909.54 6,204.29
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Disbursements
Special emergency bridge warrants $ 667.13
Soldier's relief committee fund 1,157.70
School district— general 200,005.27
School district— bonds 15,835.09
Township — general 67,060.87
Road district — general 5,695.74
Fremont Corporation 80,109.71
North Bend Corporation 6,737.81
Hooper Corporation 7,005.10
Scribner Corporation 8,025.03
Dodge Corporation 4,196.96
Snyder Corporation 2,252.29
Winslow Corporation 618.02
Uehling Corporation 1,139.17
Nickerson Corporation 614.97
Fremont old precinct bridge bond , .01
Special assessment 4.45
Advertising
Redemption fund 1,204.40
Protest fund
Poor farm fund 3,397.49
Fine and license fund 1,500.00
Fee fund 12,349.06
F. F. & R. R. Drainage Dist 1,388.42
GENERAL PURPOSES
F. F. & R. R. Drainage Dist 321.39
BONDS AND INTEREST
Inheritance tax fund 1,608.89
Auto license fund 13,862,03
Elkhorn drainage district 97.67
Courthouse bonds 18,705.00
Bloomendalh ditch 121.65
Scott ditch 4.77
Lincoln Highway Fund No. 1
Disbursements to June 30, 1920 $702,041.09
Balance on hand July 1, 1920 289,304.49
Less overdrafts $ 8,836.18
July, 1920
Balance
$ 18,753.12
2,213.48
59,364.75
11,760.02
44,055.09
8,075.56
6,214.83
745.65
1,490.59
3,556.79
798,59
267.29
467.85
829.14
76.82
.11
335.29
33.60
205.71
30.931.06
1.231.65
140.50
278.68
22.53
9,522.94
351.71
4,671.74
6,637.96
Overdraft
219.23
3,731.99
$289,304.49
County Seat and County Building
Fontanelle was the first county seat (when that place was within
Dodge County), but in the winter of 1859-60 the Territorial Legislature
changed the bounds of this county and in February, 1860, the Dodge
County voters fixed Fremont as the seat of justice. Upon that occasion
the vote stood: Fremont, sixty-two; Robinsonville, two; Blacksmith's
Point, one.
A private house at Fontanelle served as a business office for the
county. Much bitterness was engendered between Fontanelle and Fre-
mont over the county seat fight. When the books came to be removed.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 69
much trouble was experienced by the county officers, but as time heals
all troubles like county seat contests, this was almost forgotten by the
second generation.
Fremont has held the county seat, although a few attempts have
been made to change its location, one of which was in 1884, when it was
sought at various points, and the matter was finally submitted to a vote
of the people in charge of the County Commissioners' Court, and
this was the last important act this body had to attend to, before going
out of office and the ushering in of the Township Organization system.
The vote on relocating the county seat stood as follows :
For Fremont For Centerville
Fremont (city) 1,206 8
Platte (precinct) 87 14
Elkhorn " 92
Maple " 83 36
Hooper " 24 181
Pebble " 80 185
Logan " 8 74
Cuming " 12 Th
North Bend" 202 81
Everett " 224
Webster " 3 162
Union " 1 180
Totals 1,798 1,218
County Buildings — Courthouses, Jails, Etc.
For the first ten years after Dodge County was organized it had no
public buildings, worthy the name. Log cabins, and sod houses must
needs be used before the pioneer is able and justified in building better
buildings, either public or private. Most counties settled in the "fifties"
and "sixties" did the same as Dodge County, but in due season excellent
buildings were erected. Here, the county offices were kept quietly in
some private house or later in leased apartments.
The question of building a suitable courthouse came up at the
January session of the Commissioners' Court in 1866, when the com-
missioners were — George Turner, J. E. Dorsey and George Young.
Block No. 96 of the City of Fremont was ofi^ered the county by pioneer
J. J. Hawthorne, as a building site, and finally it was accepted and bids
solicited for the erection of a courthouse, to be 30 by 60 feet. This was
to be built of lumber, but later the matter was entirely discarded, and
in October that year, 1866, the commissioners decided to build a brick
courthouse on the present public square. Such a building was erected,
the contract being awarded to John Ray at $4,950, by the commissioners,
Messrs. Christopher Knoell, George Young and George Turner. It
was finished and accepted September 3, 1867. This structure served
until 1871 without repairs. At that date it was remodeled and was in
good form until a windstorm in 1884 damaged it, and December 31, 1887,
a portion of it was burned, together with the records in the clerk of
the court's offices. Repairs were temporarily made and in 1888 the
question of building a new courthouse was submitted to the people,
and the result was that the people declared for bonding the county in
the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for the purpose of erecting
a good courthouse. In addition to this, the city of Fremont voted the
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DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 71
sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) with the understanding that the
city should have the use of three rooms in the proposed structure for
city purposes for a term not exceeding five years.
Sixteen bids were received, and the commissioners accepted that of
Seeley Sons & Co. of Fremont. The contract for the naked building
was $50,533.50. It was an elegant pressed brick building, finished in
hard wood, heated by furnaces, and had cheerful rooms for every county
official.
At the corner-stone laying Dr. L. J. Abbott was chosen to deliver the
oration which was a masterly effort and too lengthy for reproduction here.
The completed structure was dedicated October 4, 1890, when Hon. E. F.
Gray delivered an eloquent address, the closing paragraph of which runs
thus : "This building is worthy of the wise generosity of the whole
people who have contributed the funds for its erection. May their
records be kept correctly and herein preserved."
From almost any reasonable human standpoint, it would have
appeared at that time that the building of which Mr. Gray was then
speaking, would stand intact and do service in Dod^e County for a
century, but alas, not so, for it must be recorded that on December 5, 1915,
this beautiful temple of justice was so nearly destroyed by fire, originat-
ing in the basement, that its entire walls had to be taken down and an
entirely new structure from the ground up erected. Even the old founda-
tion stones were found to be in bad condition so a new wall was run up
on which rests the present magnificent building. Quite an amount of
public records were also entirely destroyed, but the principal books were
all saved. The loss in this respect was not nearly so great as in the fire
that consumed the other courthouse.
Immediately after the burning of the courthouse in December, 1915,
the supervisors made arrangements with the owners of the First National
Bank Building on the corner of Main and Fifth streets by which the
county removed its cliief offices to this massive building, for which they
paid a rental of $295 per annum for the period the new building was
being constructed.
The bids for the present courthouse were advertised for January 22,
1917, and the lowest suitable bidders were Olson and Johnson Company,
of Missoula, Montana. The contract price made with this firm was
$119,675. The architects employed by the county were members of the
firm of A. H. Dyer Company. The building is faced with Bedford lime-
stone from the celebrated quarries in Lawrence County, Indiana. The
detailed contract is found in Minute Book No. 12, page 30, of the County
Supervisor's records.
One of the provisions was that the building should be entirely com-
pleted by February 1, 1918, which provision was substantially carried out.
This building is scarcely equalled in all Nebraska. Its exterior as well
as interior are indeed models of beauty and strength. The solid Bedford
stone surfacing the exterior and the pure marble and granite of the
interior of the building render the whole absolutely "fire proof." A fur-
ther description in a county history is hardly necessary as this structure
will doubtless stand intact long after this volume has perished with
usage and time's touch. This building stands as its own best memorial.
County Jails
Before Dodge County had a courthouse, prisoners were kept in some
dwelling house improvised for jail purposes. When the first court-
72 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
house was built, two rooms were set apart for jail use. In 1874, Com-
missioners Nicodemus, Tillman and Seeley awarded a contract to an
Omaha firm for the sum of $9,832, to construct a county jail which was
used until 1918. This jail was a two story brick building and it stood on
the south side of the courthouse square. A portion of it was used as a
residence for the sheriff of the county, or his deputy.
When the new (present) courthouse was constructed, its specifi-
cations included a jail situated on the upper floor, as it remains at this
time. It is a fine, sanitary jail where prisoners may be safely kept and
with less expense than in a separate building.
County Poor Farm
No better index can be had of the true character of a people than
to note its respect for its departed dead, and its care for its unfortunate
poor. As the county settled up with a mixed population the poor classes
came in as well as those in better circumstances, and by 1884 it was
decided to not try to care for the paupers of Dodge County by township
appropriations, etc., but the commissioners purchased a Poor Farm in
section 26, township 18, range 8 (Nickerson civil township). The
place mentioned had been leased by the county several years before that
date and partly sustained the pauper element in the county. In 1887 the
total number of paupers of this county was eighteen. The county farm
just named is about four miles to the north and a little east of Fremont.
The inmates who are able to labor are supposed to work a part of their
time, but no task-master is placed over these unfortunate men and women,
but all are treated well and given good homes so long as they remain
citizens of the county. The present condition of the farm and the pauper
element of Dodge County is in keeping with the times in which we live.
Each supervisor district is looked after by its supervisor, so far as
caring for the unfortunate poor is concerned. The last (1919) report of
the Poor Farm shows there are only eight men and two women inmates in
the Dodge County Poor House. J. W. Sexson was steward of the Poor
Farm many years and was succeeded in January, 1919, by the present
steward, J- H- Randall, who is proving the right man in the right place,
as well as his wife, who is present stewardess.
A report made April 15, 1920, shows the following concerning the
Poor Farm and its belongings:
The invoice shows 44 head of cattle, valued at $2,405 ; 16 hogs,
valued at $595; 10 horses, valued at $1,125; 4 harness, valued at $120;
9 tons of hay, valued at $32; oats and corn, valued at $774; hogs
slaughtered, valued at $315; merchandise on hand, valued at $25; mis-
cellaneous, valued at $123; machinery, valued at $1,017.
The disbursements for the Poor Farm for the last vear were : Dry
goods, etc., $214; coal and oil, $664; hardware. $111 ;' groceries, $929;
lumber, $109; labor and hauling, $380; veterinary, $241; repairs, $248;
live stock, $256; corn and hay, etc., $2,390; meats. $56; ice used. $12;
windmill, $212; drugs. $35; harness, $43; salary Steward, $1,400. The
total disbursements over the receipts of the farm were $3,547.23.
Dodge County Officials — 1920
Treasurer — Joseph Roberts
Deputy Treasurer — M. H. Woslager
Bookkeeper — Charlotte Lake
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 71
Stenographer — Hanna Ohlson
Clerk— W. E. Barz
Deputy Clerk — H. J. Arundel
Stenographer — Allie P. Wegner
Judge — Waldo Wintersteen
Clerk of County Court — Marie Carstens
Registrar of Deeds — Ernest Hahn
Deputy Registrar of Deeds — Effie H. Hahn
Clerk 'District Court— Peter T. Mitterling
Deputy District Clerk — Kittie Armstead
County Assessor — John O'Connor
Record Clerk — Georgia O'Connor
County Attorney — J. C. Cook
Stenographer — Pauline Kendrick
Superintendent — J. E. Marsh
Clerk of Superintendent — Esther Knapp
Sheriff— W. C. Condit
Deputy Sheriff — W. A. Johnson
Stenographer — Marguerite Haven
Surveyor — W. M. Sanders
Physician— F. E. Calkins, M. D.
Highway Commissioner — W. M. Sanders
Superintendent Courthouse — L. G. Windsor
Steward Poor Farm — J. H. Randall
Purchasing Agent — A. W. Murphy
Distributing Agent — H. J. Arundel
County Officers' Salaries Per Annum
County Treasurer $3,000 Precinct Assessors, per day. .$ 5
Deputy Treasurer 1,500 County Attorney 1,800
Two clerks 2,000 Stenographer . ." 900
Clerk of District Court 3,000 Countv Superintendent 2,400
Deputy Clerk 900 Stenographer 900
Proofreader 60 County Surveyor, per day
County Clerk 2,800 and mileage 8
Deputy Clerk 1,500 County Highway Commis-
Stenographer 1,200 sioner ' 1,800
County Judge 2,500 County Sheriff 2,000
Clerk of County Court 1,200 Deputy Sheriff 1,200
Proofreader 200 Stenographer 600
Registrar of Deeds 2,000 Steward Poor Farm 1,200
Deputy Registrar 900 Stewardess Poor Farm 300
County Assessor 700 Custodian Courthouse 1,380
Chief Clerk, per day (four) . 4 Countv Supervisors, per day
Clerk, per day (three) 3 and' mileage added 5
Board of Supervisors for 1920
In after years it may be of no little interest to know who has charge
of the affairs of county government in this county, hence this list of
supervisors is inserted in this connection, the same constituting the mem-
bers in 1920:
M. A. Uehling, Hooper: District No. 1 — Logan, Hooper and
Nickerson.
74 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
P. J. Flanagan, Snyder : District No. 2 — Everett, Cuming and Pebble.
F. "j. Stecher, Dodge : District No. 3 — Webster, Pleasant Valley and
Union.
Fred Scott, North Bend : District No. 4 — North Bend, Cotterell and
Ridgeley.
Maurice Nelson, Fremont: District No. 5 — Maple, Platte and
Elkhorn.
A. W. Murphy, Fremont : District No. 6 — Second and Third Wards,
Fremont.
Oscar Widman, Fremont: District No. 7 — First and Fourth Wards.
Chairman — A. W. Murphy; Clerk, W. E. Barz.
Each Supervisor has direct charge of all matters within his respective
district.
CHAPTER VII
THE RAILROADS OF DODGE COUNTY
(By L. D. Richards)
Value of Railroads — The Union Pacific Railway and Its Construc-
tion— List of Nebraska Land Grants — Speeches Made in
Starting the Construction — Work of General Dodge — Inter-
esting Incidents — Cost to Dodge County — Old Sioux City and
Pacific — Old Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley — Diverg-
ing Branches — The Building of the Latest Railroad, the
"Burlington" from Lincoln to Sioux City, Iowa. Mileage.
While it is true that many of the first settlements in the West were
effected before the railroad was built through that section of the coimtry,
it is also true that no great growth attended such settlements until
the shrill whistle of the locomotive echoed and reverberated over forest
and plains. The pioneers of Dodge County were not "blind spinners"
stopping wherever they found it most convenient, but they very wisely
surveyed the landscape, the geography and topography of the county and
concluded that in the near future the West was to have railway trans-
portation, and with a prophetic eye looked ahead to a time when the
Mississippi and Missouri valleys were to be connetrted with iron highways
through the West to the far away .Pacific Ocean. When that time came
they felt that the Platte Valley was the only natural course for a railway
from Omaha to the Great Salt Lake Valley to take, hence with no small
degree of certainty they cast their stakes within what has come to be
Dodge County, its county seat now having come to be quite a large rail-
road center.
The settlement was made in 1856-57 and for another decade or more
the county was without railway connections east or west, north or south.
This had been unexpectedly put off on account of the coming on of the
Civil war between 1861 and 1866. During 1866 the activities along the
Union Pacific road were indeed almost magic in their accomplishments.
It marked a new historic era in this county and Nebraska in general.
Hundreds of familes wended their way hither and home-building was
seen on every hand.
The Union Pacific Railroad
The first railroad to cross the domain of Dodge County, Nebraska,
was the Union Pacific. The subjoined gives a short general and local
history of its construction :
The greatest stride ever accomplished in railroad building (consider-
ing the times in which it was accomplished) was when the Union Pacific
was constructed from Council Bluffs. Iowa, west to Ogden, Utah, where
it connected with the Central Pacific line from San Francisco, California.
This road had been contemplated back in the fifties and President
Lincoln stood on the bluffs on the east side of the Missouri River at
75
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 77
Council Bluffs, in 1859 and really selected the point at which this road
should cross the river, the same being where now stands that wonderful
iron and steel structure over which daily run so many freight and pas-
senger trains.
By an act of Congress in the fifties, millions of acres of land were
given to various corporations to construct steam railroads across this
continent. These roads as later known, included the Union Pacific,
the Kansas Pacific and other trunk lines from east to west. The aggre-
gate of lands in Nebraska granted to the Union Pacific Company was
5,926,400 acres. All were contiguous to this line of railway and in
Lincoln County the acreage was greater than in any other covmty in this
state— 690,000 acres.
The Union Pacific lands were placed at prices and on terms that
brought them within the reach of any man who was disposed to work and
had energy and industry and desired to secure a good farm home. The
range of prices for these railroad lands was indeed wide in the extreme.
They were fixed according to location, soil and general surroundings.
They could be purchased at from $2.00 to $10.00 per acre. They were
sold on ten years' time, with one-tenth down, the remainder in equal
annual payments at six per cent interest, and when parties wished to pay
cash down, a discount of ten per cent was made. By 1880 a large share
of the best of these lands had been put under cultivation. Land explor-
ing tickets were sold at low rates, while the actual buyer was transported
free of charge. Also liberal discounts were made for shipping emigrant
goods. Immigrant houses, as they were called, were provided at a mod-
erate cost, to such as were not able to immediately settle on their purchase.
It is needless to go into further detail concerning the construction of
the Union Pacific Railway, so far as its original Congressional Bill is
concerned, suffice to remark that after running the gauntlet of postpone-
ments and amendments it was finally adopted, and became law, July,
1862. December 2, 1863, Peter A. Dey, chief engineer, received a tele-
gram from New York, announcing that President Lincoln had author-
ized him to formally break ground, and that it had been decided to make
Omaha the initial point of the proposed road across the continent from
the Missouri River to the Pacific Coast.
Business men and citizens of the towns of Council Bluflfs and Omaha
(for they were neither but small places) were hurriedly called together
and planned for properly celebrating the event of commencing to build
the much talked of and long delayed Union Pacific Railroad. The hour
was fixed for two o'clock p.m. The day was pleasant and the sun shone
brightly. Fully one thousand people were present at the spot named for
digging the first shovelful of earth. Flags fluttered, people cheered,
cannon boomed both on the eastern and western sides of the "Big Muddy"
and "Old Glory" never floated more proudly than then to the pioneers
of the "Missouri Slope." Rev. T. B. Lemon opened the exercises by prayer
to Almighty God for His blessings on the undertakings of finite man.
Then the chief engineer, assisted by Augustus Koontz, of Omaha, George
Francis Train, of New York City, Dr. Atchison, of the Western Stage
Company, and William E. Harvey, territorial auditor, Nebraska, with
picks in hand, commenced to clear the ground preparatory to removing
the shovelful of ground, which was done midst the loud and long cheers
of the assembled throng, which was only drowned by the echo of the
artillery on either side of the Missouri River. Following came the appro-
priate addresses of Governor Saunders, Mayor Kennedy, A. J. Popple-
ton, George Francis Train and others.
78 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Preliminary work was begun and a call for one million ties for
immediate use, and three million more within two years was received with
ridicule, and no one believed that such a quantity could be obtained
within so short a time, but the company declared they "must be furnished
by specified time." Good prices were offered and soon the railway ties
began pouring in.
Some grading was executed in the autumn of 1864, but not until July
10, 1865, that the first rail of the system was laid along the bottoms
between Cut-off Lake and the grade leading through the hills of Omaha.
It was during that month that locomotive No. 1, named "General
Sherman," arrived, having been freighted through up the Missouri River
by steamboat. The second engine was named "General McPherson."
The Work of Gener.\l Dodge
To the late General Dodge of Civil war fame belongs the credit of
forwarding the work, for he was the chief engineer in the construction
of this great national thoroughfare. He once stated to the eastern capi-
talists that : "During the entire construction of the road, a relentless,
determined war had been waged all along the line by tribes of the plains
and no peace found until we had passed the hostile country and got
beyond their reach.
"Every mile had to be made within range of muskets and there was
not a moment of security. In making surveys numbers of men some of
them the most able and promising were killed ; and during our construc-
tion were run off by the hundreds ; I may say by the thousands. As one
difficulty after another was overcome in the engineering, running and
construction departments a new era in railroading was inaugurated.
Each day taught us a lesson by which we profited the next. Our advances
and improvements on the art of railway con.struction were marked by
the progress of the work."
It will be remembered that none of the Iowa roads had yet reached
the Missouri River or Council Bluffs, hence all machinery and material,
provisions and fuel, as well as men, had to be transferred at St. Louis
to boats which were then run to Council Bluffs and Omaha. Railroad
ties (on account of treeless Nebraska) had to be brought a long route
and cost the company as high as $2.50 each. Thus it will be, seen that
the construction of this iron highway was very great and was built under
adverse circumstances. All through from Omaha to the Rocky Moun-
tains track-laying averaged about four miles per day. No such record
in the world's history had ever equalled this. Old Civil war soldiers, for
the main, were the laborers who performed this magic feat.
An Interesting Incident
The pages of the Omaha Herald, November 2, 1866, gave the fol-
lowing: The Platte River is bridged at Cottonwood Springs, Nebraska.
This bridge would be valuable for taking over ties and telegraph poles
and not less important would draw travel from Nebraska City. It passes
over four channels, three of which are shallow and filled in and securely
"spiled." The fourth was 400 feet wide with a swift current fifteen feet
deep. This was crossed by twenty pontoon boats.
The Omaha Republican of May 10, 1866, congratulates the traveling
public because the track is laid to the Missouri River on the east side
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 79
and passengers can now get directly on the ferry-boat, missing the dis-
agreeable staging from Council Bluffs.
A regular train service was established early in 1866 and trains were
running to Bridger's Pass by October, 1868. The first conductor on the
Union Pacific was Grove Watson, deceased, and the second Augustus A.
Egbert. The first station at Omaha was built near the present smelting
works and B. T. C. Morgan was appointed agent January 1, 1866. By
September, 1867, the great highway had become progressive enough to
announce that "On and after next Sunday" all trains, passenger and
freight, would run on Sundays as on week days. On May 20, 1868, it
was announced through the Herald that passenger fare had been reduced
from 10 cents to IVi cents a mile. By this change the fare to Cheyenne,
which had been $51.50, became $38.50.
Among the earliest local officials of the Union Pacific Railroad after
its formal inauguration were : Webster Snyder, general superintendent ;
soon he was followed by Samuel B. Reed and later by C. G. Hammond.
H. M. Hoxie, assistant superintendent; J. H. Congdon, general manager;
S. H. H. Clark, general freight agent ; Thomas L. Kimball, general pas-
senger and ticket agent ; T. E. Sickles, chief engineer, and William Huff,
master mechanic.
The Union Pacific Railroad, constructed by the United States Gov-
ernment, cost Dodge County nothing, except the right-of-way, depot
grounds, etc. Its main line from Omaha enters the county in Elkhorn
Township, passes through Fremont and North Bend and so on up the
great Platte Valley. The total main line mileage in Dodge County is
twenty-five miles.
The Fremont Tribune files show that the first train service over the
Union Pacific Railroad was had at Fremont in January, 1866, and the
old Sioux City & Pacific line (now a part of the Northwestern system)
made junction with the Union Pacific at Fremont February 12, 1868.
In passing it may be added that the Western Union Telegraph line
reached Fremont in 1860 and the shoe shop of Thomas Colson & Son
was the first office, the younger Colson (Sireno B.) being operator and
later the first agent of the Union Pacific, and reported the defeat and
victories in Civil war days in Fremont.
The Sioux City & Pacific Railroad
The present officials of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Com-
pany have upon request of the publishers kindly furnished the following
narrative concerning the construction of the Sioux City & Pacific Rail-
road, which is now a part of the Northwestern system :
Under the provisions of the act of 1862 providing for the construction
of the Union Pacific Railroad, that company was authorized and required
to construct a railroad and telegraph line from Sioux City to a connec-
tion with the Iowa branch of the Union Pacific Railroad whenever there
should have been a line of railroad completed through Minnesota or
Iowa to Sioux City. By the act of July 2, 1864, amending the original
Union Pacific act the Union Pacific Railroad was released from the con-
struction of said branch and any company organized or to be organized
under the laws of Iowa, Minnesota, Dakota or Nebraska as should by
the President of the United States be designated or approved for that
purpose, was authorized to construct said branch and to receive lands
and subsidy bonds to the same extent that the Union Pacific Railroad
would have acquired for the construction thereof under the act of 1862.
80 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
It was further provided that if a railroad should not. be completed to
Sioux City across Iowa or Minnesota within eighteen months, then the
company which should have been so designated might commence, con-
tinue and complete the construction of said Sioux City branch.
The Sioux City & Pacific Railroad Company was organized at
Dubuque, Iowa, August 1, 1864, for the purpose of constructing the
said branch and was by the President of the United States designated
for that purpose. The corporators and first board of directors were
Piatt Smith, L. B. Crocker, M. K. Jesup, James F. Wilson, A. W. Hub-
bard, Charles A. Lambard, Frederick Schuchardt, William B. Allison
and John I. Blair. John I. Blair was the first president of this company
and W. W. Hamilton, secretary. The Sioux City & Pacific Company
passed under control of Messrs. Blair, Ames, Lambard, Crocker, Ber-
tram, Glidden and Williams and other stockholders in the Cedar Rapids
& Missouri River Railroad and the money for the construction of the
road was subscribed by them and their associates.
Construction was begun in the spring of 1867. The 6K' miles
built by the Cedar Rapids & Missouri River Railroad Company, con-
necting Missouri Valley Junction with California Junction, was finished
in August of that year. Track laying began at California Junction in
September, 1867. Thirty-six miles were completed by the first day of
December of that year and 49>1 miles before the first of January, 1868.
The track was completed into Sioux City in February, 1868. From
California Junction to Fremont the line was finished in February, 1869.
The cars were ferried across the Missouri River during the summer
months and crossed on a temporary bridge during the winter months up
to the fall of 1883, when the bridge was opened that had been built over
the river. L. Burnett was the engineer in charge of construction and
the superintendent of the road to January 1, 1878.
The Sioux City & Pacific Company received from the United States
under its congressional grant, 42,500 acres of land and from the State of
Nebraska through a consolidation with the Nebraska Air Line Railroad,
46,000 acres. It received from the United States Government a loan of
6 per cent bonds to the extent of $16,000 per mile of road constructed
from Sioux City to Fremont. It issued its own first mortgage bonds to
the amount of $1,628,000. The earnings of the road not being sufficient
to pay the interest on these first mortgage bonds, the avails of the two
land grants and the sale of town lots along the line were used to make
up the deficiency. After these assets were exhausted the Cedar Rapids
& Missouri River and Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska companies, through
loans and other methods of assistance, made up the deficit until the sale
of these last-named railroads in 1884. In 1880 the Chicago, Iowa &
Nebraska and the Cedar Rapids & Missouri River companies acquired
by purchase, from the individual stockholders, over 90 per cent of the
stock of the Sioux City company. This stock was in the treasury of
the Iowa roads at the time of their purchase by the Chicago & North-
western in 1884, and thus became the property of the Chicago & North-
western Railway Company.
In addition to the foregoing article on this railway, it may be inter-
esting to know something of a local company that figured in the matter
at an early date:
To secure the line from Sioux City to Fremont via California Junc-
tion, bonds were issued to the amount of $50,000, running twenty years.
This line was the immediate cause of the reduction of freights from
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 81
Dodge County to the Missouri River and all points to the east of this.
Prior to its construction the Union Pacific company charged 12 cents to
carry a bushel of grain from Fremont to the river, a distance of only
forty-five miles. The origin of. this road came about in this manner :
In 1867, a local company was formed and received a charter from the
state in June of that year. This company did not propose to build the
road but desired to shape its matters so that the lands belonging to Dodge
County as well as Washington County, could be turned over to some man
or competent corporation, who was finally John I. Blair. The incorpora-
tors of the company which was named the "Air Line Railway" were
chiefly state officers and members of the Legislature. The bill providing
for this road was drawn up by Judge Dundy, of Falls City, Nebraska ;
Thomas Kennard, then secretary of state; J. H. Bowen, clerk of the
House ; Thomas Majors, of Peru, Nebraska ; William Daily, representa-
tive from Peru : Henry P. Beebe, of Dodge County, and Jesse Davis,
president; Henry P. Beebe, vice president; J. H. Bowen, secretary, and
Thomas Kennard. treasurer, being the officers. Fifty sections of land
were grated for the purpose of building the road from the Missouri
River to Fremont.
Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad
This company was organized at Fremont, Nebraska, in January, 1869,
to construct a line up the Elkhorn Valley, which was accomplished, and
later it became a part of the Chicago & Northwestern system, as it is
today. It was another one of the railroads promoted by John I. Blair,
in 1869-70. To give a more comprehensive understanding of the causes
that led to the building of this railroad, it should be stated that when
Nebraska was admitted to the Union in 1867, there was a provision by
which this commonwealth was to have 500,000 acres of the public domain
and this was to be distributed by the Legislature of the state for internal
improvements. A greater portion, of course, went toward the construc-
tion of railway lines. Among such lines was the Fremont, Elkhorn &
Missouri road.
At first, a local or home company was incorporated, the articles of
incorporation of which were prepared by Robert Kittle of Fremont, who
was backed by almost the entire community, all being desirous of secur-
ing another railroad line. In September, 1869, public meetings were held
and much interest was manifested.
From old paper files it is learned that November 5, 1869, the bells
of Fremont were ringing loudly ; all its flags and banners were given to
the breeze, and a large procession, composed of all her leading citizens,
both male and female, wended its way down "E" Street to Second,
thence to the spot where the first ground was to be broken for the Elk-
horn branch of the Sioux City & Pacific Railroad. The chairman for the
occasion was E. H. Barnard, who mounted a wagon and spoke at length
to the assembly.
Finally, bonds were voted by Dodge County in the sum of $120,000
running for twenty years. With this for backing, a member of the local
company went to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and there met John I. Blair, who
had already utilized the franchise of the Sioux City & Pacific road from
Sioux City to Fremont. To Mr. Blair were given the above-named bonds
and Dodge County's interest in the state lands set apart for this purpose
and he in consideration of this went ahead and constructed that portion
of the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley road which runs from Fre-
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 83
mont to Wisner, a distance of fifty miles. In 1880 the main line of this
road was extended on west, the track reached Deadwood in 1890. The
narrow gauge extension from Deadwood to Bald Mountain and Ruby
Basin was opened up in 1891 and the Hot Springs branch in the same
year.
The first ten miles of track north from Fremont were laid on this line
late in the season of 1869 and an excursion was run over the track from
Fremont January 1. 1870, during which year it reached West Point and
was leased to the Sioux City & Pacific Company, which continued to
operate it until August, 1884, when it passed into the hands of the
Northwestern system.
Of the Wyoming extension of this road it should be stated that it was
commenced in the summer of 1885. Track-laying was begun at Dakota
Junction in April, 1886, and completed to Douglas that year. It reached
Casper in June, 1888, and Lander, present terminus, early in the '90s.
In 1885 the Chicago & Northwestern also decided to enter the South
Platte country. The line from Fremont to Lincoln was located in the
winter of 1885-86 and graded in the early spring of 1886, the track being
completed to Lincoln that year.
In 1887 the Hastings line was built from Platte River Junction to
Hastings and the Superior line from Linwood to Geneva.
In 1888 this road was completed to Superior. The Scribner branch
was built from Scribner to Lindsay in 1886 and on to Oakdale in 1887.
In 1887 the Elkhorn line was connected with Omaha and South
Omaha's stockyards by a line built from Arlington Station, in Washing-
ton County, east of Fremont, on the old Sioux Citv & Pacific line. The
Creighton branch was extended to Verdigre in 1888.
The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railway
What is usually dubbed the "Burlington" or sometimes the "Q"' line
of railroad, in Nebraska, has a branch or division running from Ashland,
near Lincoln, Nebraska, to Sioux Citv, Iowa, with principal stations in
Dodge County, at Fremont, Nickerson, Winslow and Uehling. This runs
about north and south through this county. It was built in 1905-06. Its
passenger and freight depots at Fremont are thoroughly modern buildings
and are appreciated by the citizens generally. While not as large, it is in
many ways far superior to the new Union Pacific station in Fremont. In
the passage of this road through Dodge County it crosses Platte, Nicker^
son. Hooper and Lyon townships.
This railway connects at Sioux City with the Great Northern system,
sometimes styled the "Jim Hill System", which extends from St. Paul to
the Pacific Coast.
Early History
The subjoined communication from a railway official in St. Paul to
one of the officials at Lincoln, written in September, 1908, is self-ex-
planatory :
"Replying to your letter of September 29, 1908, in reference to the
dates of track-laying on the line from Sioux City to Ashland.
"Our track-laying on this line commenced at Dakota City September
19, 1905, reached Walthill November 1, 1905 ; track-laying gang was then
moved to Ashland. The northern portion of this line was put into oper-
ation by the Great Northern Railway from Sioux City to Walthill Janu-
84 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
ary 2, 1906. Track-laying began at Ashland November 8, 1905, with
C, B. & Q. train service, reached Oakland February 25, 1906; commer-
cial business handled by construction trains until April 8, 1906, at which
time the C. B. & Q. regular trains were placed on the south end of the
line. The north and south ends of this line were connected through a
big cut between Walthill and Rosalie June 13, 1906. C, B. & O. trains
were operating at this time and I presume this is all the information you
need." Truly,
(Signed) A. H. Hogeland,
Chief Engineer.
Railway Mileage in Dodge County — 1920
The present railway mileage in Dodge County is : By the Chicago &
Northwestern system, 55 21/100; by the "Burlington" system, 26 72/100,
and by the Union Pacific system, 25 21/100 miles.
CHAPTER VIII
AGRICULTURE AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES
Nebraska Compared with Other States — Products of the Rich
Soil — Farm Statistics — A Large Number of Totals — County
Agricultural Societies — Dodge County Farm Names — Officers
OF Dodge County Farm Bureau — Directors — Farm Bureau's
Agent — Chief Co-operators of Farm Bureau — The Race Track.
A writer concerning this state in 1888, wrote as follows, and as it
refers to many products grown in Dodge and adjoining counties, it is
here used as a preface to this chapter:
"This beautiful valley is a part of the great State of Nebraska which
is 'first in corn, first in wheat, and first in the hearts of her citizens.'
Between four and five hundred miles wide every morning in the corn
growing season the farmers go out into a corn field larger than New
Jersey. Every noon the harvest hands come in from a wheat field con-
taining 150,000 acres more than the State of Delaware and every night
Mary calls the cattle home from a pasture larger than the State of Penn-
sylvania. Once called the 'Great Western Desert' is now the garden of
the world. The mustang is succeeded by the Norman. The buffalo has
turned the fertile grass over to the Durham. Corn tassels where the
Sioux danced his war-dance. The wheat crop grows over the old prai-
rie dog villages. The same warm sun that crept over the sage brush
and the Indian wigwams, smiles on the orchard and meadow."
The altitude in Eastern Nebraska is highly adapted to the maturing
of crops of wheat, corn, vegetables and grasses. Corn and stock have
for many years been important factors of farm life in Dodge County.
In 1888'the agricultural reports show that about 6,000,000 bushels of
corn were produced in the county, and more than one-half of this vast
amount was fed to Dodge County cattle and hogs, before they were
marketed.
The drainage of the flat, wet lands of the county have been largely
drained and tiled out until now but small tracts of land only remain
without such profitable improvements. (See other mention of the
county's drainage.)
Farm Statistics
In 1918 the state agricultural reports gave figures on Dodge County
as follows:
Number of farms occupied by owners, 837; farms occupied by
tenants, 778.
Number of acres in farms in county, 238,410 ; acres under cultivation,
231,627; acres uncultivated. 106,783.
Farm mortgages filed, 206; amount mortgaged, $1,560,000.
Number of horses in county, 10,667; mules, 1,193.
Number dairv cattle, 6,071 ; number of all cattle, 25,796.
Number of hogs, 29,820.
Number sheep and goats, 1,512.
85
86 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Number dozens poultry. 12,665; incubators, 251; stands of bees, 71.
Number of dogs, 1,918.
Number automobiles on farms. 1.374; gas tractors, 133; gas engines,
922; silos, 150; cream separators, 1,079; butter-making machines, 91.
Number of acres of corn, 98,239 ; average yield, 33 bushels ; total num-
ber bushels, 3,241,887; valued (at $1.25 per 'bushel), $4,052,000.
Number acres winter wheat. 31,961; average per acre, 14 bushels;
valued at $2.00, equaled $895,000.
Number acres spring wheat, 20.277 ; average yield per acre, 8 bushels.
Total value of all wheat crop, $1,211,229.
Number acres of oats, 48,000; average per acre. 37 bushels;
valued at 63 cents.
Number acres of rye, 905; averaged 15 bushels to the acre, brought
$1.20 per bushel.
Hogs
Number acres of barley. 1.298; average per acre, 30 bushels.
Number acres of millet, 369; average per acre, 2 4/10 tons; value
per ton, $15.40.
Number acres in sorghum, 625 ; average tonnage per acre, 4. Value
$10.00.
Number acres of navy beans, 2. Of onions. 11 acres.
Number acres potatoes. 942 ; average yield, 48 bushels.
Number acres of alfalfa, 8.053 ; average per acre. 3 2/5 tons. Valued
at $20.00 per ton ; total value. $515,000.
Number acres wild hay. 28.886; yield 1 6/10 tons; value, $16.00.
Number acres of clover, 3,129; acres timothy, 561; timothy-clover
mixed, 10,815 ; other tame hay, 6.437.
Number bearing apple trees, 9.791 ; cherry trees, 2,467.
County Agricultur.\l Societies
There appears to be no record of an agricultural society in Dodge
County prior to 1870, when there was formed what was styled the "Union
Fair Grounds Association." It was organized at Fremont, but as was
once said concerning it, "It takes in the whole world.'*
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 87
In 1872 a joint stock company was organized and known as the
Dodge County Agricultural Society. This was formed at Centerville,
section 32, township 19, range 7. The first officers of this organization
were as follows: J. P. Eaton, president; J. B. Robinson, treasurer; W. C.
Aikin, secretary. The first annual exhibit, was made at Centerville in
1872. This continued until 1879, when after considerable pulling and
hauling between various parts of the county, the location was changed
to Fremont by a vote of the stockholders as follows : Fremont, 95 ; Cen-
terville, 72, and Hooper, 3. At the same date this society was consoli-
dated with the Union Association at Fremont, which made a new strong
society. After these changes had been made the first officers elected
were : James G. Cayton, president ; H. P. Nicodemus and J. Y. Smith,
vice presidents ; F. I. EUick, secretary.
Originally, the fair grounds here comprised eighty acres, but that
was cut down to forty acres prior to 1890. The grounds are about one
mile northwest of the central part of the city. From time to time good
buildings were placed on these beautiful fair grounds, but in July, 1890,
a severe windstorm destroyed many of these valuable improvements, but
by the next year nearly all had been replaced.
In looking over old minute books of the society it is found that in
1892 the officers were: J. B. Robinson, president; William E. Lee, vice
president: M. H. Hinman, treasurer, and J. W. Hyatt, secretary. At
that date the society only owed about $1,000. But year by year misfor-
tune and change of public opinion lessened the general interest, one
element being a diiTerence of opinion as to conducting races in conjunc-
tion with agricultural fairs. Finally about 1900 the society went down,
like many another in various states. Now there are numerous district
and town stock exhibits, such as the successful ones of Hooper and
Scribner, where the interest is usually well centered. A Trotting Park
Association was formed at Fremont instead of a county fair and that
holds its annual races to the entire satisfaction of the horsemen of this
and adjoining counties.
Dodge County Farm Names
Since 1910-11 there has been a provision in the Nebraska laws that
each county clerk in the state shall be provided with a record book in
which shall be recorded the name selected by the owner for his farm,
and with it shall be a description as to location, section, township and
range. No two persons can claim the same farm name. The fee in
Dodge County for recording "farm names" is $1.00. While not many
have so far taken advantage of this law, yet since 1910 there have been
recorded the names of thirty-nine farms. The recorded description of
these is as follows :
No. 1 of these "farm names" was recorded July, 1911, by William J.
Coad, for his farm in section 7, township 17, range 9, the same being
called "Maple Grove Farm."
"Sunny Slope" farm was recorded by M. A. Uehling, September 30,
1911, the location being a quarter of sections 8 and 17, in township 19,
range 8.
"Island View Home," May 12, 1913, by George W. Ainsworth, in
Westside Addition.
"Jhe Elms," May 29, 1913, by Ray Nye in Nye & Hawthorne's
Addition to Fremont.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 89
"Pine Hurst," in part of the south half of the southeast quarter of
section 13, township 17, range 8, by ]\Irs. J. W. Van Anda. The date
was June 14, 1913.
"Maple View," July 3, 1913, by Philip S. Rine, in the southwest
quarter of section 2, township 18, range 8.
"Logan Lodge," September 13, 1913, by May Lyman, in Hooper
Township, section 10, township 19, range 8. ,
"Utopia," November 5, 1913, by J. J. Hawthorne, in Platte Town-
ship, in sections 21 and 22, township 17, range 8.
"Elmhurst," by Jesse W. Hibben. Platte Township, section 24, town-
ship 17, range 8, on November 17, 1913.
"Spruce Hedge Farm," by Christ Muller, in section 35, township
18, range 8, on November 20, 1913.
"Clover Leaf Farm," by John Petrow, in section 8, township 17,
range 8, November 25, 1913.
Fred De La Matye, in section 20, township 17, range 8, the "High-
lands."
"Westfield Acres," by Frank Fowler, in section 15, township 17,
range 8, November 25, 1913.
"Thoroughbred Holstein and Poultry Farm," by J. Watts Kaven, in
section 36, township 19, range 9, on December 1, 1913.
"Idlewild Farm" is in section 20, township 18, range 9. and was
recorded December 9, 1913.
"Morning Side," bv Wallace M. Smith, in section 24, township 7,
range 8, December 13,'l913.
"Edgewood Farm," in section 28, township 19, range 6, in Ridgeley
Township, by George Nolan, December 22, 1913.
"Valley Grove Farm," in section 11, township 17, range 6, bv Fred
D. Howe, December 29, 1913.
"Lake View Farm," in section 2, township 19, range 7, by Herman
Monnich, July 5, 1914.
"Oak Hill Farm," by Herman Monnich, in section 2, township 19,
range 7, July 5, 1914.
"The Londonderry Farm," in section 13, township 19, range 5, by
John J. Fey.
"River View Farm," by Charles W. Mulloy, in section 14, township
17, range 7, on February 28, 1914.
"Evergreen Home," by David Brown, in section 9, township 18,
range 7, on April 9, 1914.
"Pfaffe Valley Farm," by Frank J. Kromas, in section 2, township
17, range 5, September 18, 1914.
"Square Deal Farm," by Monnich & Sons, in section 19, township
7, November 3, 1914.
"Lone Cedar," by Alfred C. Rexin, in section 17, township 18, range
6, on March 11, 1915.
"Wildwood," in section 28, township 17, range 8, by George F. Wolz
and Frank Pfeiffer, April 11, 1916.
"Creek View," by Swan Anderson, in section 3, township 17, range 8,
on July 15, 1916.
"Grand View Park," by George F. Wolz, in section 28, township 17,
range 8, August 21, 1916.
"Plain View Farm," by Joe Baechler, in section 24, township 19,
range 6, recorded November 25, 1916.
"Wildwood Farms," by Fred Eason, Cotterell Township, in section 9,
township 17, range 6, recorded September 5, 1917.
90 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
"Wittdale," by Anna Witt, Ridgeley Township, in section 2, town-
ship 19, range 6, recorded November 21, 1917.
"The Grove Stock Farm," by H. M. Kern, in section 26, township 18,
range 5, recorded March 20, 1917.
"South View Stock Farm," by Henry S. Spath, in Ridgeley Town-
ship, sections 9 and 16, in township 19, range 6, recorded May 31, 1919.
"Logan View Farm," by Emil H. Suhr, Logan Township, in section
9, township*20, range 8.
"Hillside Farm," by Willie Olson, in Pleasant Valley Township, in
section 16, township 19, range 5, recorded October 11, 1919.
"Poland China Farm," by Harry C. Dahl of Maple Township, in sec-
tion 19, township 18, range 7, recorded March 29, 1920.
"Valley View Farm," by H. C. McGath, section 20, township 18, range
7, recorded June 17, 1920.
"Lakeside Farm," by Ray A. Hindmarsh, in section 19, township 19,
range 10, recorded June 23, 1920.
Officers of Dodge County Farm Bureau, 1920
Frank E. Liston, president, Hooper ; William Havekost, vice presi-
dent, Hooper; William M. Milliken, secretary, Nickerson.
Directors of Farm Bureau
C. F. Luecking, Scribner ; Louis Musbach, Scribner ; Emeal Sievers,
Scribner; Albert Gerecke, Fremont; Chris Schow, Fremont.
County Farm Bureau's Agent
R. N. Houser, Fremont, office in courthouse.
Chief Co-operators of the Farm Bureau
H. J. Wolf, Ames ; John Ehninger, Hooper; J. G. Hunteman, Hooper;
Henry Tank, Fremont ; William Rittig, Scribner ; W. O. Haseman, Fre-
mont; R. H. C. O'Brien, Ames; Robert Seymour, North Bend; Frank
Diers, Nickerson ; F. M. Sumner, North Bend ; John Wallace, North
Bend; E. R. Hughes, North Bend; Ernest Schmidt Fremont; Emeal
Sievers, Scribner ; Hans Paasch, Scribner ; J. N. Emanuel, North Bend ;
George Hilbers, Hooper; W. H. Farrell, North Bend; H. F. Muller,
Scribner ; C. J. Lenneman, Scribner ; Charles Auten, North Bend ; George
Jorgensen, Ames; August Klemke, Scribner; O. O. Larson, Hooper;
Elkhard Janecek, Dodge ; E. F. Novak, Dodge.
CHAPTER IX
HISTORY OF THE DODGE COUNTY BAR
(By Frank Dolezai.)
This narrative of the lawyers of Dodge County is wholly from per-
sonal acquaintance with the men. From the start the bar of Dodge
County occupied a high place in the profession, and during the active
period of its leading members, practiced in nearly all of the counties of
the state north of the Platte River and in the tier of counties south of
the Platte River lying along the river. The judicial district in which
Dodge County is situated in the early days included a great many coun-
ties, and Saunders, Butler and York remained in the district for quite
a period of time. So these leading lawyers had a wide field for their
operations in the formative period of the state, and by their abilities and
characters exerted a strong influence on the law history of the state.
Another such period of forty years cannot come, neither can men of
the peculiar character of these leaders of the bar come. They were men
whose sentiments and convictions were formed by the ideas and ideals
which prevailed among the intelligent classes of American citizens before
the Civil war. Thev were earnest men, and attained their education by
sacrifices and they held to those ideals through the great period of com-
mercialism's struggle for control of law which started with the Civil war
and exerted a fatal influence on the American bar. The spirit of com-
mercialism which has changed all business and industry and subverted
the real and legitimate influence of legal profession began at about the
time that they started in the practice of the profession. These lawyers
had the professional ideals that professional skill with integrity and
honor should be the measure of professional success, and they viewed
with natural misgivings the organization of wealth into corporations and
the vast powers conferred upon these organizations. They stood for the
criterion of merit and service as against measuring things by the com-
mercial outconie of money profit. As a result of this struggle and of
the influence exercised bv the leading members of the bar of Dodge
Countv during their time, no lawyer here became rich from law practice
or even what was then considered well off. They were genuine Ameri-
can individualists.
The Lawyers of 1881
When I came to Dodge County, January 1, 1881, the Dodge County
bar then consisted of the following practicing lawyers engaged in the
active work of the profession : E. F. Grey, W. H. Munger,' N. H. Bell,
W. A. Marlowe, W. C. Ghost, James A. Sterrett, WilHam Marshall,
George L. Loomis, C. Hollenbeck, and J. E. Frick, all located at Fre-
mont, and D. M. Strong located at North Bend. The late Samuel
Maxwell was then one of the judges of the Supreme Court. In the latter
part of 1881 Mr. Sterrett died, and Air. Marlowe and Mr. Ghost, along
in 1882, moved to Denver, Colorado. At about the same time Z. Shed,
a former member of the bar, also moved to Denver, Colorado. Sterrett
91
92 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
and Marshall had come to the county from Illinois some years before
1881. Mr. Loomis had then been in Fremont a few years, and Mr. Hol-
lenbeck had been in Fremont two years, while Mr. Frick came to
Fremont in 1880. For a great many years the bar consisted of Grey,
Munger, Bell, Marshall, Loomis, Hollenbeck, Frick and myself at
Fremont, and D. M. Strong at North Bend. From 1881 on, Grey,
Munger and Bell were the leaders in the bar, and their practice extended
over many counties of the state. In the first fifteen years following my
coming, changes had taken place, so that Loomis, Hollenbeck and Frick
gained leading positions in the bar. A short biography of these men
will illustrate the character of the bar.
A few words explaining the history of the bar may not be amiss.
Members of the Bar Before 1881
Robert Kittle, one of the pioneers concerned in laying out the Town
of Fremont, was a lawyer by profession although he did not take any
position in the practice of his profession in Dodge County. He owned
much of the town property and was more concerned in that than in
the practice of law.
Z. Shed was the outstanding lawyer of the early period. He had
built up a good practice and was a versatile man, who might be described
as a graduate of the vmiversity of the world. He left the practice
of law to engage in commercial enterprise. He built the Opera House
and conducted a large mercantile establishment until he sold out in
Fremont about 1883 and moved to Denver. He made a success of law
practice and his reasons for leaving it go back to the struggle which
I have mentioned in the introductory part. He told me that he noticed
the trend of affairs and for that reason determined to quite the law.
E. H. Rogers and George W. E. Dorsey were members of the Dodge
County bar in the early days, but devoted their energies to real estate,
loans and politics. Mr. Rogers was appointed Consul at Vera Cruz and
died there. Mr. Dorsey became a member of Congress and was a
public spirited man, and died later at Salt Lake City. Neither of these
men practiced law since my coming.
J. W. Perkins, who was a member of the bar in the first years, moved
into Knox County, and as I understand it, Mr. Loomis took his place in
the practice.
The Leading Members of the Bar
Samuel Maxwell had a long career as Judge of the Supreme Court
and after leaving the bench, did not actively engage in law practice.
He was afterwards elected to Congress. He was a great worker and
quite a prolific writer on law matters. He wrote works on legal pro-
cedure, both civil and criminal, aside from the writing of opinions of the
Supreme Court of which he wrote a great many. Whatever may be
said in a critical way of his opinions from the professional stand-
point, he always had before his eyes that the object and aim of law
is to do justice between the parties, and it will be admitted that he
held to that ideal. He was a broad man and man of wide views.
His defeat for renomination to the bench was one of the incidents of
the struggle, and his nomination and election to Congress was an inci-
dent of the same struggle. The struggle against the encroachments of
commercialism. He died shortly after finishing his service in Congress
and at an advanced age.
New Courthouse, Fremont
94 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
E. F. Grey, while not born in Nebraska, was really a native Nebras-
kan, and came from the southern part of the state to Dodge County.
He had previously been at Lewiston, Idaho, and had written the
criminal code of that territory. When Judge Crounse became Judge
of the district, the position of District Attorney came to Mr. Grey,
and he came back from Idaho and moved up to Fremont, where he
remained in the active practice of law until his death. There never was
a lawyer who worked harder and more faithfully for a client than
Mr. Grey. His was the spirit of the true warrior. He was a man of
patience and perseverance and method. He was a man of the highest
professional honor, whose word was as good as a bond. He did not
only stick to an oral agreement he had made even though that agreement
turned out unfavorably, but in addition he would not try any of the side
stepping, and fairly took the agreement as made and intended. He was
an uncomplaining man and aside from his professional work, was a kindly
man, and an interesting companion. He was a man of bravery, moral
as well as of physical development. And 1 shall never forget the last
interview with him. I had heard of his intending to give up practice
and I went to his office to tender him a banquet of the bar as he was
the oldest practitioner. On asking him whether it was true that he
was going to quit practice he said to me. "Yes, I am going to leave
today. I am going to my daughter's to die," and pointing out certain
books in his library, he said to me, "I have given these to my son-in-law
at Plattsmouth, and these," pointing to others, "go to my son-in-law at
Sioux Falls." His declaration was in even tones. It was not the
bragging or defying of a man, but the statement of a fact as a fact.
He did not seem cast down, he told me that he had finished his law
work. I then made the statement to him that when he got up to his
daughter's and rested up from work that we would then expect him
to come down for a visit, and in the same even tones he told me that
when he came back it would be his dead body, ^^'ithin a month of the
time he laid down his professional work he was buried in the cemetery
at Fremont. Mr. Grey occupied no ofificial position after his office of
District Attorney in the early days until towards the close of his pro-
fessional career when he acted as City Attorney for one term.
W. H. Munger came to the county in the early days, being guided to
Fremont by that nestor of early days, C. A. Baldwin, of Omaha. I heard
. Mr. Munger say that he studied law in Cleveland, Ohio. When I
came to Dodge County he had a very extensive and select practice which
he held until his appointment as judge. He was then in his prime. The
old timers are nearly all gone, but those left here and those who knew
Mr. Munger will admit that it never occurred to any man to question
Mr. Munger's fairness or honesty, or any statement that he made. He
was professionally and personally the cleanest of men, and the last
of men to be influenced in any way by consideration of profit. He was
quiet in his tastes and genial and when engaged in investigating a legal
question or proposition his mind worked with great rapidity. His intel-
lectual cast was that of analysis, and he had a sensible grasp of men and
things. I do not think that ambition to get on in a worldly way ever
disturbed him. He was appointed Federal Judge for the District of
Nebraska in the nineties, when those two great lawyers of the State of
Nebraska, Honorable W. V. Allen and Honorable John M. Thurston
represented the State of Nebraska in the United States Senate. I know
that IMr. i\Iunger worked much harder as a judge than as a practitioner.
I know that his appointment and confirmation were welcome to all,
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 95
irrespective of party. He was the one man that the great powers of a
federal bench did not turn arbitrary or tyranical. His record is that of
an ideal judge.
N. H. Bell was the most interesting member of the Dodge County
bar and the most picturesque personality in it. He labored under diffi-
culties that the public was not aware of. Mr. Bell was a genius. He
was the master of plausibility in argument. His reasoning was nearly
all by analogy, and he had that greatest of wit that never wounded
the feelings of others. Many incidents could be recorded of his wit.
He was my opponent in the last jury trial that he tried, the question
being as to whether a certain mechanical device worked or not. My
client was on the stand and this mechanical device, being the first of
the kind in the county, of course restricted our side simply to the tech-
nical mechanical proof. Mr. Bell knew the weakness of it, and touched
up my client with the exclamation "You never saw it work" following
it up with "How do you know it will work?" About the third time that
he touched it up, my client got warmed up and stated that he knew it
would work because it was made to work. Judge Bell in an instant
jumped up, threw out his arms and in his inimitable way said. "So was
I, but I don't." The result was a roar over the court room that the
presiding judge good-naturedly joined in. To this day among the'
lawyers are reported many instances of his wit, and his power of
mimicry. He was an imaginative man, a great reader and given to
amusing conceits. Mr. Bell in the early days served a term as the
County Judge of Dodge County, which is the only official position that
I know of his having held. In his life he had the usual inaptitude of
the professional man to accomplish anything except professional labor.
He died about eighteen years ago and is buried at Newton, Iowa.
William Marshall was the only one of the bar who was a Civil
war veteran. He had held the position of Lieutenant-Colonel in the
war and had acted for many years as state's attorney. He acted as
state's attorney in the old district here until he got the position of
district judge which he held until his death along in 1900. Judge
Marshall was a painstaking, plodding worker, working slowly, had
great respect for precedents and the wisdom of the past. He was an'
earnest, honest man, whose integrity I never heard questioned. He
gave to the office of judge that attention that no man could have done
better. It was nothing unusual for him to be up past the midnight
hour working upon instructions or hunting through the books on
questions of law. His mind had a mathematical cast to it, and I often
thought that he was too prone and insistent in establishing a proposi-
tion to demonstrate it as one would a problem in mathematics. As a
lawyer he was probably the best posted in criminal law that was ever
known in the Dodge County bar. Judge Marshall never married and
he followed his profession with a singleness of purpose and attention.
He felt and knew that he was made for the law, and the other things
of life did not allure him, except his hunting and fishing diversions.
He had the most elaborate hunting and fishirig equipment of any
member of the bar.
George L. Loomis is the present collector of internal revenue, and
virtually retired from the active practice. In his time Mr. Loomis
held the position of county attorney and representative before his
present position. Mr. Loomis devoted his time more to the commercial
branch of the law than any of the other lawyers of the bar, and he
gave his business that careful attention that could not fail of success.
96 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
He is methodical in his work and painstaking and worked more in
detail than any of the other members of the bar. Mr. Loomis also
gave much attention to the Odd Fellows Lodge and has held the highest
positions in it. I would not mention him because he is living yet and
still a member of the bar, only for the fact that he is the last here
of the bar who were here when I came in 1881.
C. Hollenbeck came to Nebraska in 1878 from Pennsylvania, and
I have to revise my statement as to Judge Marshall being the only
veteran of the Civil war, for Judge Hollenbeck enlisted at the age of
sixteen and passed through the Civil war. He was admitted to the bar
in Pennsylvania, and represented his county in the Legislature of that
state before coming here. He held the office of county attorney for
two terms and then judge of the District Court until he was elected six
years ago Chief Justice of Nebraska, and died in that office shortly
after taking his place on that bench. Judge Hollenbeck was an interest-
ing personality and during his practice was my closest chum at the bar.
He was a man who was well educated and possessed great mental
powers. He was not a ready speaker but his mental cast was that of
judgment, and he excelled in his judgment of men as well as things.
He was not a great or extensive reader in the law, but he worked hard
in analyzing the proposition and getting it distinct and clear. He was a
broad man and had studied the Constitution of the United States and
of the State and had decided views as to the purposes of contitutional
law. His individual peculiarities as a man and lawyer are well known
and remembered. His standing and ability as a district judge are
exceptional. He possessed the faculty of locating the ruling point in
a law suit.
J. E. Frick, since 1881 until leaving Nebraska in 1897, was my
partner in practice. He had taken up the law after being in business
and after having learned and practiced a trade. He was a man of broad
and very general information and a great reader. Mr. Frick had
natural oratorical abilities in voice and appearance to a marked degree,
and was the orator of the bar during his residence here. In Utah he
gained the Supreme bench and is now a member of the Supreme Court
and a candidate for re-election. Mr. Frick took naturally to the law and
the comments among the lawyers reading his opinions as Supreme
Judge leave no room to doubt that the people of Utah in his case have
made no mistake.
D. M. Strong was an old resident of this county, and served as
sheriff, from which office he graduated into the law. He was established
at North Bend when I came and remained there until his death. He
was the second member of the bar who never married, He was killed
by an accident on a train at the station of Valley. His work was mostly
that of counsel, but he had a legal mind and his analysis of a case for
a self-taught man as he was, was remarkably good. '
About 1883, Robert J. Stinson came to North Bend. He was a young
man then, who had gained his education by great sacrifice, and he started
in partnership with a man named Harry Clair, which was unfortunate
for him owing to the fact that Clair had imposed on him and on the
people here and was in fact a criminal and extradited from the state
afterwards. Mr. Stinson, about the year 1885, removed to Fremont,
and entered the partnership of Judge Frick and myself and afterwards
was in partnership with Grant G. Martin. Following this he was elected
County Judge of Dodge County, and held that position until his death
some eight years ago. Mr. Stinson came originally from New York, and
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 97
for years preceding his death was suffering from the disease which
finally terminated fatally.
Grant G. Martin came to the county from one of the Dakotas about
twenty years ago and remained a member of the bar until he took the
position of deputy attorney general since which time he has lived in
Lincoln. Mr. Martin held the position of county attorney for two
terms, and following his position of deputy attorney general, became
attorney general of the state, and has served as commissioner of the
Supreme Court and is at present a candidate for Chief Justice.
During my time, Frank Fowler of Nye-Schneider-Fowler Company,
and B. H. Dunham, now of Omaha, and Master in Chancery of the
Federal Court, became members of the Dodge County bar, both study-
ing in the office of Mr. Munger. Mr. Fowler was in the office of
Mr. Munger during the partnership between Mr. Marlowe and Mr. Mun-
ger in the early days, and after his admission to the bar took up a
commercial career. Mr. Dunham moved to Omaha and served long
years in the law offices of the Northwestern Road.
Waldo Wintersteen, the present County Judge, also became a member
of the bar by studying law in a law office. He had been County Judge
some years iDefore his present term of service.
A. H. Briggs, an old resident of Dodge County, was a member of
the Dodge County bar for many years. His family settled in the
county in a very early day, and Mr. Briggs gained his education and at
times had engaged in farming and in mercantile pursuits. He opened
an office in Scribner, and finally moved to Fremont. He was elected
County Judge of Dodge County and served in that office for two terms,
and afterwards retired from law practice to a farm in the neighborhood
of Cedar Rapids, Nebraska, where he now lives.
Henry Maxwell, son of Judge Samuel Maxwell, studied law and
was for considerable time with Fred W. Vaughn, a member of the bar
now, and afterwards removed to the City of Omaha, where he is Still
in practice.
A. Clark Records was admitted to the bar from study in the law
office of Judge Hollenbeck but did not stay with the practice of the law.
Frederic W. Button, the present judge of the District Court, entered
the practice of law in Dodge County with Judge Hollenbeck shortly
before Judge Hollenbeck was elected to the district bench.
The foregoing, with members of the bar that are here now, con-
stitute all the men which occur to my mind as having been connected
with the practice of law in Dodge County since my coming here.
Judges of the District Court
It may not be amiss to refer to the men who have served as judges
of the District Court. When I came in 1881, the late George W. Post,
of York, Nebraska, was the judge. He was succeeded when a change
was made in the district, by his brother, A. M. Post, of Columbus,
who has the interesting record that after having quit the District bench
thirty years he has again returned to it, and is now one of the judges
of the District Court. William Marshall was made judge when the
district was given two judges. J. J. Sullivan, formerly of Columbus,
until his elevation to the Supreme Bench, served as District Judge.
I. L. Albert, now of Columbus, Nebraska, served for a short time by
appointment when Judge Hollenbeck was elected to the bench. After-
wards for one term J. A. Grimson, of Schuyler, was one of the judges,
98 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
and he was followed by George H. Thomas, formerly of Schuyler,
Nebraska, and now of Columbus, Nebraska.
I have not mentioned any of the present members of the bar of
Dodge County, who are engaged in active practice, as it would not be
deemed by me proper, nor do I take it, would it be acceptable to make
comments upon the active members, for they have not yet passed into
history and what might be said would be subject to misunderstanding
and misconstruction.
The writer takes pardonable pride in having spent his professional
life as a member of the Dodge County bar because of the membership
of the bar and the kindly associations, and he takes great pride in the
fact that the judges who have served upon the District Court of Dodge
County and as county judges during his time have performed the
functions of those high offices in a manner highly commendable in
the administration of justice.
CHAPTER X
MEDICAL MEN OF THE COUNTY
First and Subsequent Doctors of Dodge County — List of Physi-
cians— Short Personals of Some of the County's Medical Men
— List of Present* Physicians — The Dodge County Medical
Society — Hospitals, Etc.
Ever since the dawn of civilization the "art of healing" as the work
of a physician has long been called, has been foremost in the minds of
intelligent men and women — especially is this true when the body is
prostrate with some one of the numerous fevers — when the world looks
dark and gloomy, and pain is constantly reminding the patient of a seri-
ous illness. It is then, if not at other times, that men and women
desire the care of a well-read and fully competent physician. They may,
in full health, about the affairs of life, have spoken lightly of the family
doctor and his medicine chest, of the theory of his particular school of
medicine, but when languishing upon a bed of sickness, they take a
different view of the physician and ask that he be sent for at once.
It should be remembered that the leading professions of the world
have always been the doctor, the minister, the lawyer. These professions
are of the higher and more dignified type of callings which men every-
where respect and at some time during the short span of years have need
for. True, not every doctor since Galen, has been competent and even
honorable and trustworthy, but the exceptions are few. for our physi-
cians in modern times must needs be intelligent, trained, thinking men
and women, who realize they hold the lives of the community in their
hands. Great advancement has been made in the science of medicine
in the last half century. In surgery and dentistry the improvement in
twenty-five years has been a marvel to all who stop and think of old
treatments. Dodge County is old enough to have lived under "old
fashioned" and newer doctors, and both classes have averaged with
others in their times.
Dodge County Physicians
As near as can now be ascertained the following comprises about all
of the Dodge County physicians who have practiced for any considerable
period of time, since the earliest settlement, in the fifties:
Abbott. Luther J. Borglum, M. D.
Agee, James C. Buchanan, Albert E.
Anderson, Louis N. Burbank, F. L.
Atkinson, Ira E. J. Braucht, F. E.
Brown, Nathan H.
Brown, Frank W.
Barnes. Charles E. Brunner. Henry
Bates. H. Y. Byers, George A.
Bear, Alexander Byers, Samuel J. N,
Bell, Mrs. Nelly Byers, R. C.
99
100
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Calkins, F. E.
Capek, Ernest
Colburn, C. L.
Crabbs, J. H.
Croll, Nercer B.
Crook, Charles V.
Davies, William J.
Davies, Rupert A.
De Myers, Henry
Devries, J. S.
Earhart, Dr.
Eby, C. D.
Eigler, Charles O.
Fees, Arthur W.
Geragosian, Vahn James
Golding, D. G.
Guidinger, W. A.
Hardy, J. M.
Harvey, Andrew
Haslam, George J.
Hunter, Major H.
Inches, Charles
Kinyoun, F. H.
Kirby, Lupper
Knallenburg, W. H.
Leake, E. N.
Martin, E. W.
McDonald, Robert C.
McKnight, H. P.
Metzinger, J. J.
More, Z. N.
Morrow, H. N.
Mullens, A. B.
Nayel, Dr.
Nieman, Gustav
Overgaard, Andrew P.
Oxford, Edwin J.
Oxford, Charles
Parchen, H. W.
Pederson, H. C.
Porter, Dr.
Preston, S. A.
Rathbun, G. H.
Reeder, Grant S.
Richardson, Ira F.
Robinson, Charles O.
Schemel, Karl
Schoettler, Dr.
Seiver. Mrs. Charlotte
Sexton, T. C.
Sexton, Thomas C.
Smith, Leander, B.
Stratton, M. D.
Townsend, Louis J.
Turay, Charles E.
Unlan, M. D.
Van Buren, E.
Van Metre. Richard T.
Zellers. M. T.
Past and Present Physicians of Dodge County
It is always a difficult task to write the history of the medical pro-
fession in any given locality, for the simple reason that the physician
is usually too busy about the cares of his office and outside practice,
to take sufficient time to record data that might in years to come be
of invaluable service to the local historian, in treating on such a topic.
Outside of short sketches, of now and then a prominent medical doctor,
found in "Who's Who?" or similar publications, there is but little com-
piled concerning physicians until death and then their obituary notices
are seldom long preserved, save by their own families. In this connection
let it be stated that the writers and compilers of the History of Dodge
and Washington Counties, have used every known effort, called upon
well posted members of the profession, etc., for data relative to the
men who have lived and practiced medicine in these counties, yet have
been unable to secure much to make an interesting medical chapter.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 101
However, that the names of such physicians as are recalled, with such
notes as have been furnished the writer, the following incomplete list
of the physicians and surgeons who have practiced here from an early
day to 1920 — some for a short time and others for a longer period —
will be here given :
Doubtless the first physicians who treated the ill who lived in Dodge
County, as now bounded, was a physician living at the Quincy Colony
in Fontanelle, which is in Washington County now but then within Dodge
The files of the Fremont "Tribune" give in their issue of July 24, 1868,
the names of Drs. L. J. Abbott, J. H. Crabbs and Dr. Bear, practic-
ing in Fremont then. It is believed there were but few ahead of them
in this county. In a fist furnished the writer by Dr. George J. Haslani,
of Fremont, he gives it as his belief that the first physician in the city of
Fremont was Doctor Stratton. Dr. Alexander Bear was about the same
time, and later located at Norfolk, Nebraska. Other very early doctors
in the county were : Doctors Schoettler. Earhart, Borglum. who moved to
Omaha, Henry Brunner, who graduated at Wurzburg, Germany, prac-
ticed there and at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and in Iowa, after which
he located in the practice at Fremont in the '50s. Dr. E. \^an Buren
moved to Hooper, practiced till death in July. 1881. Doctor Navel,
Doctor Porter, Doctor Unlan, Doctor Inches, a graduate of New York
University Medical College, and is now practicing in Scribner.
Dr. J. H. Crabbs was among the first in Fremont and has been dead
many years, as has also Dr. L. J. Abbott, above named ; he was appointed
as superintendent of the State Insane Asylum at Lincohi and made an
excellent man at the head of that great institution. Doctor .Abbott was
a rugged, strong, many-sided character and Iield numerous pubHc posi-
tions ; he was a member of the last Territorial Legislature and had to do
with the formation of the State of Nebraska. He was the son of a
doctor and was born in Blue Hills, Maine, September 15, 1831. He
graduated from Ohio Medical College, spent two years in Jefferson
Medical College, Philadelphia, from which school he received his diploma
March 12, 1854. He commenced his medical practice with his father, at
Troy, Ohio, continuing six years. In the autumn of 1860 he came to
Douglas County, Nebraska, bought a claim in what is now Irvington.
He developed his claim and practiced medicine at the same time. His
chief business, however, was raising sheep, he being among the first in
the Territory of Nebraska to engage in such an enterprise. He continued
until 1866 when he sold and moved to Fontenelle, where he practiced
two years, then located in Fremont. He was a pioneer doctor and had
many professional drives more than fifty miles in length, up and down
the Platte and Elkhorn valleys. He helped organize the first State
Medical Society in 1868, and was its president in 1877. He was United
States examining surgeon for pensions from 1871 to 1881 ; was inter-
ested in educational affairs, member Fremont School Board : deHvered
able addresses at the corner-stone laying of the second courthouse of
this county ; wrote an authentic "Centennial History" in 1876 of Dodge
County, and was author of many able articles for the press.
Dr. George J. Haslam, still a leading practitioner in the City of Fre-
mont, graduated from the University of Ireland, Dublin ; member of the
Royal College of Surgeons, England ; B. S. Victoria University, Eng-
land ; F. R. C. S. and a member of the American College of Surgeons ;
has practiced in Fremont since 1891 ; with Dr. L. J. Abbott founded
the first hospital of Fremont. (See biographical sketch.) Doctor Has-
lam is a member of the American Medical Association ; surgeon to the
102 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Chicago & Northwestern Railway, the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
Railway and the Union Pacific Railway at Fremont ; is Medical director
of the North American Life Insurance Company, Omaha; Lieutenant
U. S. Army Medical Reserve ; is a thirty-second degree Mason.
Doctor Inches is a graduate of New York University College, and is
now practicing at Scribner.
Dr. Leander B. Smith is a graduate of the College of Physicians
and Surgeons, at Keokuk, Iowa ; came to Fremont to practice in 1879 ;
retired in 1913 ; is now the oldest continuous medical doctor in Dodge
County ; never lost three weeks time for vacations.
Dr. William J. Davies ; graduate of Rush Medical College, 1887;
conducted a drug store in Fremont twenty-five years ; commenced the
practice of medicine in 1887.
Dr. J. S. Devries, a graduate of the University of Nebraska ; came
to Fremont in 1888; in 1897 moved to Fontenelle and in 1903 back to
Fremont ; took post-graduate course at Jefiferson Medical College, Phila-
delphia; in 1918 took a post-graduate course in New York.
Dr. M. T. Zellers, of Hooper, is among the pioneer physicians of this
county, having settled in Hooper about 1890, and is still in practice there.
He is a graduate of Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
Cleveland, Ohio. (See biography.)
Dr. Ira E. J. Atkinson practiced in this county for a time, moved
first to Dodge Village and later to Lincoln.
Dr. E. W. Martin graduated at Cincinnati Medical College, 1881;
first practiced five years in Kentucky; came to Fremont in 1886; belongs
to the various medical societies and associations ; still in practice in
Fremont.
Dr. C. L. Colburn practiced here in the nineties, later moved to
California and is now deceased.
Dr. N. H. Brown, deceased.
Dr. T. C. Sexton, graduate Washington University School of Medi-
cine, Baltimore, Maryland.
Dr. H. W. Parchen, graduate of Northwestern Medical College,
St. Joseph ; practiced here at one time and is now practicing at Hoskins,
Nebraska.
Dr. Nercer B. Croll left this county for Omaha, practiced there, but
is now deceased.
Dr. E. N. Leake, graduate of New York Homeopathic Medical Col-
lege ; also of Flower Hospital. New York. (See biography in this work.)
Dr. Nellie Bell, graduate of Kansas City Homeopathic Medical
College in 1895.
Dr. Charles Oxford moved from this county to Omaha, where he
died.
Dr. Charles O. Eigler moved from this county to Denver. Colorado.
Dr. J. J. Metzinger, graduate of University of Iowa ; Iowa College of
Homeopathy, Iowa City, 1899 ; came to Fremont in 1900 ; member of
the various medical societies ; has been president of the county society.
Dr. Andrew P. Overgaard, University of Nebraska ; College of Medi-
cine, Omaha ; practiced for a time here and later removed to Omaha.
Dr. Frank W. Brown after a short practice here moved to Omaha.
Dr. F. E. Calkins, graduate of State University of Iowa ; College of
Homeopathy, Iowa City, 1899 ; practiced at Hill City, South Dakota, to
1902, then came to Fremont.
Dr. Ira F. Richardson, graduate of Southwest School of Medicine
and Hospital, Kansas City.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 103
Dr. Arthur W. Fees removed from this county to Blair and later
entered practice at Omaha.
Dr. Lupper Kirby moved from this county to Fort Kearney.
Dr. Ernest Capek, formerly of Dodge County, is now practicing in
Schuyler.
Dr. D. G. Golding, graduate Jeflferson Medical College, Philadelphia,
now resides in California.
Dr. S. A. Preston, University of Nebraska ; College of Medicine,
Omaha ; came to Fremont in 1908 ; belongs to various medical societies ;
was railway surgeon at Howells, Nebraska, six years ; also contract sur-
geon for the United States Steel Company, in Michigan.
Dr. L. J. Townsend, a graduate of Rush Medical College, Chicago,
practiced here for a time but is now at Sioux City, Iowa.
Dr. Richard T. Van Metre, graduate of State University, Iowa ;
practiced at Dow City, Iowa, till 1911, then moved to Fremont; entered
U. S. service July, 1918, served until January, 1919; belongs to the
various medical societies.
Dr. Grove H. Rathbun, born December 31, 1881. at Bedford, Iowa,
died at Fremont, Nebraska, September 5, 1919. He was a graduate of
Omaha Medical College ; practiced in South Dakota at various places ;
had charge of hospitals at Leed and other points : located at Belle Fouche,
South Dakota, seven years, came to Fremont in 1912; was a skilled sur-
geon, widely known as such. Bought a large residence on Nye Avenue,
fitted up the same and there operated extensively, also operated much at
the city hospital. He was married and had three children. He died in
the prime of his manhood. (See biography.)
Dr. Albert E. Buchanan, Fremont, was born in Smyth County,
Virginia, August 21, 1872 : entered Emory and Henry College of Virginia,
an institution of historic note. He there received the degree of B. A.
He then matriculated in the Virginia Medical College at Richmond,
Virginia: graduated in 1900; practiced three years at locations in his home
state, and in May, 1903, came to Nebraska, resided and practiced medi-
cine at Cedar Bluffs, Saunders County, Nebraska, until 1910, then located
in Fremont. (See biography.)
Dr. Charles E. Barnes, University of Illinois; College of Medicine,
Chicago, practiced for a time here and now practices in Omaha.
Dr. Charlotte Seiver, graduate of John A. Creighton College, Omaha,
1915; located in Fremont, July, 1915; secretary of the Dodge County
Medical Society, still in practice in Fremont.
Dr. Andrew Harvey. University of Nebraska, College of Medicine,
Omaha, 1913; came to Fremont in 1915; served on the draft board in
Dodge County, during the late World war; belongs to all the ordinary
medical societies and associations.
Dr. James C. Agee, University of Nebraska, College of Medicine,
Omaha, 1903 ; practiced at Valley thirteen years ; served in the Spanish-
American war one year; came to Fremont in 1915; enlisted in World
war, but was rejected ; has been city physician for two years last past.
Dr. H. N. Morrow, Fremont, graduate of Rush Medical College,
Chicago ; located in Fremont in 1905 ; is a member of the County and
State Medical societies ; is a Free Mason and Odd Fellow and has been
city physician one year.
Dr. H. C. Pederson, University of Nebraska, 1905 ; practiced in Don-
nebury, Nebraska, fourteen years ; enlisted April, 1917, in World war
service; discharged January 1, 1919, when he came to Fremont and
104 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
entered practice. He was abroad twenty-two months and served in
various camps in this country.
Dr. Grant S. Reader, Fremont, was born March 25, 1885, at Tipton,
Cedar County, Iowa ; graduate Tipton High School, 1903 ; Cornell Col-
lege, 1907; Rush Medical College, 1911; was an interne at St. Joseph's
Hospital, Chicago; practiced medicine at Kirkland, Ilhnois, 1911 to 1915;
post-graduate work New York, fall of 1915, special work in diseases of
children. He came to Fremont, February, 1916. Entered Army July
15, 1918. called to active duty August' 15, 1918, to U. S. General
Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut, where he received special course in
diagnosis of heart and lung diseases. Was assigned to duty at Camp
Funston, Kansas, September 14, 1918, as special chest examiner oh duty
from September 14, 1918, to June 30, 1919, then sent to Camp Jackson^
South Carolina, as special chest examiner — discharged July 9, 1919;
returned to Fremont, Nebraska, August 1, 1919, and has been engaged in
medical practice ever since.
Practicing Physicians in 1920
The following is supposed to be a correct list of the physicians and
surgeons in active practice in Dodge County, in the summer of 1920:
City of Fremont
George J. Haslam, James Agee, A. E. Buchanan, F. E. Braucht, F. E.
Calkins, W. J. Davies, J. S. Devries, E. N. Leake, Andrew Harvey,
E. W. Martin, H. N. Morrow, J. J. Metzinger, S. A. Preston, Grant S.
Reeder, Ira F. Richardson, Charlotte Seivers, L. B. Smith, R. S. Van
Metre, Charles A. Bone, Myrtle A. Bone, Donald A. Atkinson, J. T.
Young. (Fred H. Berhenke, Mason & Mason, chiropractors.)
North Bend Physicians
R. E. Huff, Paul R. Hamond, W. E. Doane, S. W. Yates, Dewia
Hegwer.
Uehling Physician
Dr. H. P. McKnight.
Scribner Physicians
Drs. G. Bartlett, E. L. Hustead.
Dodge Physicians
Drs. Guidinger, F. B. Patterson.
Snyder Physicians
Dr. George Byers and Dr. Kinyoun.
WiNSLOw Physicians
None located as yet.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 105
Hooper Physicians
Drs. M. T. Zellers, J. Howard Heine, Clinton D. Heine, B. B. Hauser.
NiCKERSON Physician
Dr. R. C. Byers.
Dodge County Medical Society
The first meeting of the Dodge County Medical Society was held in
Fremont, Nebraska, October 31, 1901, when the following officers were
elected: President, L. B. Smith; first vice president, R. C. McDonald;
second vice president, Doctor Doane ; secretary. Doctor Overgaard ; treas-
urer, W. J. Davies.
At this meeting a constitution was adopted as well as by-laws.
This society was organized for the purpose of building the medical
profession together as a unit; to meet at least once each year and to
discuss matters pertaining to the welfare of the medical profession and
more especially to seek by educational methods to acquaint the public in
general with those methods of sanitation which would make for a healthier
community and assist in the one aim of the medical profession — the
alleviation of suffering and the prolongation of human existence.
The society was organized by the medical profession for the people.
Its meetings are ever open to the public and any questions which may arise
having to do with the betterment of health or sanitation are freely con-
sidered and executed, so far as is within the power of the society.
The present (1920) officers of the society are: President, H. B.
Hauser, Hooper; vice president, James Agee, Fremont; secretary and
treasurer. Grant S. Reeder, Fremont.
The 1920 membership of thirty-five is as follows :
Andrew Harvey, Fremont.
E. W. Martin, Fremont.
H. N. Morrow, Fremont.
J. J. Metzinger, Fremont.
H. De Myers, Howells.
W. A. Guidinger, Dodge.
D. G. Golding, Fresno, Calif.
S. A. Preston, Fremont.
Grant S. Reeder, Fremont.
Ira F. Richardson, Fremont.
Charlotte Seivers, Fremont.
L. B. Smith. Fremont.
R. S. Van Metre, Fremont.
M. T. Zellers, Hooper.
H. C. Pederson, Fremont.
H. P. McKnight, Uehling.
C. N. Moore, Schuyler.
Too much praise cannot be given the founders of the various hospitals
Fremont has had since its existence. In 1891, in a small frame building
1.
James Agee, Fremont.
19.
2.
G. A. Byers, Snyder.
20.
3.
A. E. Buchanan, Fremont.
21.
4.
F. E. Braucht, Fremont.
22.
5.
R. C. Byers, Nickerson.
23.
6.
F. E. Calkins, Fremont.
24.
7.
R. A. Davies, Arlington.
25.
8.
W. J. Davies, Fremont.
26.
9.
J. S. Devries, Fremont.
27.
10.
C.D.Eby, Leigh (Colfax Co.)
28.
11.
R. E. Huff', North Bend.
29.
12.
Paul R. Hamond, North Bend.
30.
13.
George J. Haslam, Fremont.
31.
14.
W. Howard Heine, Hooper.
32.
15.
B. B. Hauser, Hooper.
33.
16.
Charles Inches, Scribner.
34.
17.
F. H. Kinyoun, Snyder.
35.
18.
E. N. Leake, Fremont.
Hospitals
106 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
on the site of the present three story brick building, the late Dr. L. J.
Abbott opened an institution for the better care of the ill and for prop-
erly performing surgical operations. At first Dr. George Haslam, M. D.,
still a leading physician and surgeon of the city of Fremont, was a
partner with Doctor Abbott in his hospital work, at the corner of Fourth
and Broad streets. This hospital was able to care for fifteen patients.
Trained and professional nurses were employed, both Drs. Abbott and
Haslam bestowing their best efforts in their work of conducting the first
real hospital in Fremont. Doctor Abbott withdrew from the concern
in 1892.
In 1897 the present hospital was built, and in this permanent build-
ing are rooms neatly furnished by the Fremont Furniture Company and
by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The citizens have ever taken
Fremont Hospital
much pride in this institution. Any physician of the city may take
his patients there and treat them. Formerly the capacity was twenty-
eight rooms, but when the building was rebuilt it provided for more
patients. This hospital was made possible by the combined efforts of
numerous business men of Fremont who have always shouldered such
responsibilities. About a dozen persons are constantly employed in this
hospital. Nurses are also trained here for practical work. Home capital
was wisely invested in this institution which has come to be appreciated
over a wide scope of country. Of the management of this institution it
may be said that at first it was managed by Doctor Haslam ; next for a
period of one year its superintendent was Miss Fox ; the next two years
was in charge of Miss Eoline Clark ; the fourth superintendent was
Mrs. Honora Kelly, who had charge for nine years, and she was suc-
ceeded by the present owner of the property — Mrs. Marie L. White, who
took possession in 1918.
CHAPTER XI
BANKING IN DODGE COUNTY
(By T. L. Mathews)
Utility of Banking — The First Bank of the County — Subsequent
Institutions — Present Banks of Dodge County — Summary
OF Banks in 1920 — Building & Loan Associations — Trust
Companies.
A bank is as indispensable in every business community as any other
branch of business.
Banks are useful as places of security to deposit money. They are
necessary and important to persons who wish to borrow — to the farmer
who buys a farm, or to tide him over from time to time ; to the business
man who needs additional funds in his operations.
The bank acts in this double capacity. It gathers the surplus money
of a community ; offers its capital as a guarantee of its safe return ; loans
a part of this money to the active members of the community, stimulat-
ing activity in all lines of commerce. To the extent that the bank holds
in its custody the funds of the community, to that extent it is of value
and a benefit in that community.
A bank account is a safe way to keep your money.
Payment by check is convenient, saves time, guards against errors,
furnishes a good record of your transactions, is useful when a payment
is disputed.
A bank account of an individual is a valuable record of his income
and expenditure.
A bank account is an educator of the depositor, acquaints him with
the value of keeping a record, gives him a better idea of business affairs.
A bank account is a great help in saving money. It becomes the one
ambition of the man who has a sum of money, large or small, to his
credit in the bank, to strive to increase that sum.
The richest men in the country never carry money in their pockets,
but put it in the bank. The bank accords careful consideration to the
small as well as the large depositor.
There are National Banks, State Banks, Savings Banks and Private
Banks in this country, but all are under control of the government —
National or State.
Banks in Dodge County
The history of banking in Dodge County reaches back to the pioneer
days and has been highly honorable and is unblemished by a single bank
failure.
In the history of Dodge County's banking, the record does not show
that any bank official was a defaulter or the subject of criminal proceed-
ings. Considering the active part the banks have taken- in the develop-
ment of a new country and in backing infant industries, the record
made is one that challenges attention and is worthy of commendation.
107
108
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Because of their high standing and financial strength and the con-
venient reach, the Fremont banks have from an early day carried large
balances for the country banks in Dodge and adjoining counties, and this
has made Fremont an important center for money.
The Pioneer Bank
The present First National Bank is the successor to the first attempt
at banking in Dodge County, and the story is best told by the subjoined
extract from the "Life of E. H. Rogers," written by his daughter,
Mrs. L. S. Moe, and assisted by Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Rogers, copied from
the original manuscript which reads thus :
In the summer of 1866, the prophetic expectations which led to the
founding of the little Platte Valley town ten years before, were fulfilled
by the building of the Union Pacific Railroad through the county.
First Building Present Building
First National Bank, Fremont First National Bank, Fremont
The impetus given to its growth and prosperity bv the magic touch
of the great continental electric belt, seemed to justify a new business
venture more metropolitan than any to which the prairie hamlet had yet
aspired. In connection with a real estate office which they had established
a short time before, E. H. and L. H. Rogers opened a private bank
which has developed into the present First National Bank of Fremont.
Very humble quarters housed the infant institution. George F. Blan-
chard, a young man whom my father held in high esteem, used as a
hardware store a long, low, dingy building standing upon the corner
now occupied by the bank and in its back room the financial experiment
was first essayed. Later when it gave some promise of success, a small
one-story building with the ubiquitous square front western towns had,
somewhat modified, was erected for its accommodation on the opposite
side of Broad Street. Here it flourished, being for some years the only
institution of the kind in the town or county.
A third partner was admitted to the real estate business and that
branch entrusted altogether to his care, becoming a few years subse-
quently his individual property. This gentleman was G. W. E. Dorsey,
since member of Congress, then a young West Virginian, recently dis-
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 109
charged upon the closing of the Civil war from the United States service
and seeking his fortune in the West. In 1872, the bank was re-organized,
becoming the First National Bank with my father as cashier, and shortly
recrossed the street to its present quarters upon the original site.
Then it may be stated that this the county's first banking house pre-
ceded the present First National Bank which was organized March 16,
1872, the former banking house was established as a private bank by
E. H. and L. H. Rogers who organized in 1867, doing business under the
name of "The Banking House of E. H. and L. H. Rogers" until the
organization of the national bank.
The first capital was $50,000. The first officers were : President,
Theron Nye ; vice president, H. J. Lee ; cashier, E. H. Rogers ; assistant
cashier, L. H. Rogers. The stockholders were: Messrs. J. G. Smith,
J. T. Smith, S. B. Colson, E. H. Barnard, Pat Hanlon, J. |. Hawthorne,
Wilson Reynolds, James Balding, Samuel O'Brien.
The present capital (July 1, 1920) is $150,000; present surplus,
$25,000; recent deposits, $1,245,479.65. The resources and liabilities,
$1,752,248.64.
In 1914 the present steel and concrete bank building was constructed
and its present value is $300,000.
The present (1920) officers are as follows: S. S. Sidner, president;
Henry Teigler, vice president ; A. G. Christensen, vice president ; H. Beck-
man ; J. H. Williams, cashier ; Leah Williams, assistant cashier.
The directors are: H. J. Lee, E. R. Gurney, A. G. Christensen,
H. Beck-man, F. B. Knapp, Fred Bader, Frank Koss, Charles G. Marshall,
S. S. Sidner, P. A. Nelson, Dan V. Stephens, Henry Teigler, E. N. Morsei
A. G. Taylor and J. H. Hoebner.
Farmers and Merchants National Bank
This bank is another banking concern of the City of Fremont.
It was first incorporated as the Merchants Bank, September 30, 1882,
by George W. E. Dorsey, Ernest Schurman, Fred Maver, Morris Sloman!
John Hauser, Wilson Reynolds, C. H. Toncray, Otto Huette, William
E. Smails and George A. Dodge.
The first officers were: George W. E. Dorsey, president; Ernest
Schurman, vice president ; C. H. Toncray, cashier ; W. E. Smails,
accountant ; C. F. Dodge, assistant bookkeeper.
On May 8, 1884, a meeting was held and it was decided to re-organize
the bank into a national bank and the name chosen was the Farmers
and Merchants National Bank. The first board of directors were:
George W. E. Dorsey, E. Schurman, S. A. Sloman, George A. Dodge!
Wilson Reynolds, J. W. Love, Otto Huette, J. O. Milligan, J. Hauseri
H. Sorensen.
The first officers after the re-organization were: George W. E. Dorsey,
president; Ernest Schurman, vice president; C. H. Toncray, cashier;
W. E. Smails, assistant cashier ; Charles F. Dodge, and August J. Albersi
bookkeepers.
January 1, 1889, C. H. Toncray was elected vice president; W. E.
Smails, cashier; C. F. Dodge, assistant cashier, and Victor Seitz
bookkeeper.
May 13, 1890, Mr. Seitz was elected assistant cashier. March 8, 1892,
on account of ill health, Mr. Dodge resigned as assistant cashier!
Mr. Dorsey resigned as president May 5, 1893, and Otto Huette was
elected to succeed him and Francis I. Ellick was elected vice presi-
110 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
dent. Robert Bridge was elected vice president January 12, 1898, and
on January 10, 1899, was elected president and Arthur Gibson was elected
vice president. In January, 1903, P. S. Rine was elected vice president
and January 10, 1911, he was elected president and continues in that
capacity to this time.
C. F. Dodge was elected vice president and continued as such until
January 14, 1914, when Mr. Smails was elected vice president and cashier,
continuing until his death March 4, 1918. January, 1918, J. Howard
Heine was elected cashier and in April was elected vice president and
cashier.
In June, 1920, Thomas H. Fowler, for many years cashier of the
First National Bank of North Bend, Nebraska, was elected cashier of
the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Fremont.
The present directors are : P. S. Rine, C. H. Brugh, George F. Welz,
R. W. McGinnis, J. Howard Heine, H. J. Hauser and Victor Seitz.
January 1, 1920, this bank paid dividend No. 70 and since organ-
ization the bank has paid its stockholders $278,831.92 in dividends. In
June, 1920, this bank had a capital of $100,000; surplus, $60,000; deposits,
$571,483.85. Total resources, $885,548.97.
The Fremont National Bank
This banking concern is located in the City of Fremont at 152 East
Sixth Street. It was organized in 1883 and was the successor to the
private bank of Hopkins & Millard. Its first capital was $75,000.00; the
first officers were: A. P. Hopkins, president; I.. M. Keene, vice presi-
dent; Junius Rogers, cashier. Its present (1920) capital is $150,000.00;
surplus. $150,000.00; deposits, $650,000.00; resources and liabilities,
$1,752,000.00. In 1871 a bank building was erected of brick at a cost
of $20,000.00.
The bank's present officers are : Charles F. Dodge, president ; Joseph
T. May, vice president ; Henry Wehner, vice president ; Irving McKennan,
cashier ; A. F. Christensen, assistant cashier. Directors : C. E. Abbott,
C. H. Brunner, C. H. Christensen, Frank Hanlon, Charles F. Dodge,
L. P. Larson, L. M. Keene, H. Wehner, J. Rex Henry and J. T. May.
The stockholders of the Fremont National Bank own the stock of the
Security Savings Bank, capital, $18,000.00; surplus, $20,000.00; deposits,
$185,000.00. The capital and surplus of the Fremont National Bank is
$300,000.00, being the largest capital and surplus of any bank in the
county.
History: The history of the beginning of the Fremont National
Bank seems to be about as follows : "I think the bank was first started
as a private bank, Wilson & Hopkins, in 1869-70, at about the location
where the millinery store now is, just west of Johnson's Auto Company
on Sixth Street, possibly a little west of that. Mr. Hopkins was then
unmarried and lived in the rear part of the building with his mother.
"I think the building now occupied by the Fremont National Bank
was built by Wilson & Hopkins in 1871 (possibly 1870), John Ray,
architect. Hopkins married about that time and lived on the second floor.
The Wilson was W. R. Wilson and the Hopkins was the silent partner
of the grain firm of W. R. Wilson & Co.
"About 1879-80, Wilson & Hopkins dissolved and the bank was run
by A. P. Hopkins for a year or so and then Hopkins & Millard (Alfred
Millard, son of Ezra Millard, who was then president of the bank).
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 111
"In 1883, A. P. Hopkins, assisted by Junius Rogers, organized the
Fremont National Bank and A. P. Hopkins was president, L. M. Keene,
vice president, Junius Rogers, cashier, John Grunkranz, assistant cashier."
Security Savings Bank
This bank is connected with the Fremont National Bank, in the
City of Fremont. It was organized in 1890 with a capital of $12,000.00.
Its first officers were: I.. I). Richards, president: J. W. Goft', vice
president: W. H. Fowler, secretary and treasurer. Its present capital
is $18,000.00; surpkis. $20,000.00: deposits, $185,000.00. Its resources
and habihties are $220,000.00. The bank is conducted in the Fremont
National Bank Building.
The present officers are as follows : Charles F. Dodge, president ;
J. T. May, vice president ; Pearl E. Albertson, cashier and secretary.
The directors are : C. H. Christensen, J. Rex Henry, Charles F. Dodge,
C. E. Abbott, L. M. Keene, L. P. Larson and J. T. May.
The combined deposits of this bank and the Fremont National Bank
are $803,316.07.
The Commercial National Bank — Fremont
This institution was established in January, 1891, and is located on
the corner of Fourth and Main streets, in the city of Fremont. It was
the successor to the German-.^merican Bank established in 1889 by
E. Schurman and Manley Rogers. The first capital was $100,000.
The original officers were : E. Schurman. president ; C. Christensen,
vice president; F. McGiverin, cashier; S. J. Dunn, assistant cashier;
others connected with the founding of this bank were : J. H. Koehu-
back. George L. Loomis, William Ruwe, Henry Archer, Charles H. May.
The present-day officers and directors include these : Otto H. Schur-
man, president ; George C. Gage, cashier ; J. A. Van Anda, assistant
cashier; C. Christensen, vice president; O. F. Turner, vice president;
Otto H. Schurman, O. F. Turner, C. Christensen, G. R. Loomis, John
Miller, D. J. Springer, G. C. Gage, W. R. Adams, William Sager.
The present capital is $100,000; surplus $100,000; recent deposits
$1,153,387.83. Resources and liabilities, $1,845,542.76.
In 1890 a beautiful red sandstone bank building was erected at a
cost of $25,000. This institution has long been looked upon as one of
the safe, sound and progressive banking houses of this section of
Nebraska.
It is a member of the Federal Reserve Banking system. Its "State-
ment" June 30, 1920, showed: Resources and liabilities, $1,695,484.20;
loans and discounts, $1,324,931.43; United States bonds, $107,000; Lib-
erty bonds, $104,400 ; interest earned but not collected, $20,000. Capital
stock, $100,000; surplus and undivided profits, $148,276.37. The amount
in deposits was then $1,153,387.83.
Home Savings Bank — Fremont
This institution connected with the Commercial National Bank at
Fremont was organized May 12, 1892. Its original capital was $12,000,
but now is $18,000, with a surplus of $18,000. Its recent deposits were
$282,695.82; resources and liabilities, $323,301.98.
112 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Its first officers were : Ernest Schurman, president ; Charles H. May,
vice president ; F. McGiverin, cashier. Directors, C. Christensen,
George L. Loomis, D. J. Springer and WilHam Ruwe.
The present ( 1920) officers are as follows : Otto H. Schurman, pres-
ident ; George L. Loomis, vice president ; O. F. Turner, vice president ;
George C. Gage, cashier. Directors : Otto H. Schurman, George L.
Loomis, O. F. Turner, D. J. Springer, John Miller, C. Christensen.
Statement November 15, 1919: Capital stock, $18,000; surplus,
$18,000: deposits, $262,897.47; total assets, $308,430.29.
Fremont State Bank
The Fremont State Bank, located in the City of Fremont, Nebraska,
was organized in June, 1904, and was successor to the Fremont Trust
and Savings Bank. Its first capital was $15,000; present capital, $50,000;
present surplus, $11,000; present (recent) deposits, $440,000; resources
and liabilities, $508,000.
This institution's first officers were: R. B. Schneider, president;
E. R. Gurney, vice president; Paul Colson, cashier; D. D. Rowe, assistant
cashier. This bank is located at the corner of Sixth Street and Park
Avenue.
The present (1920) officers are: T. L. Mathews, president; L. E.
May, vice president; D. D. Rowe, cashier; J. M. Sorensen, assistant
cashier. The present board of directors is as follows : H. J. Lee, J. H.
Hoebner, L. E. May, Dan V. Stephens, J. A. Yager, A. J. Eddy, J. A.
Murrell, W. J. Courtright, D. D. Rowe, T. L. Mathews, E. J. Lee.
This bank is under state supervision and its deposits protected by
the Depositors Guarantee Fund of the State of Nebraska.
In June, 1920, T. L. Mathews resigned as president of this bank and
Dan V. Stephens was elected his successor.
The Scribner State Bank
The Scribner State Bank was organized December 24, 1883, on a
$10,000 capital. Its first officers and founders were as follows: J. L.
Baker, president ; John Barker, cashier. Stockholders, J. B. Robinson,
J. M. Diels. Gus A. Diels, H. Fuhrman, A. P. Hopkins.
The 1920 capital is $40,000, with a surplus of $30,000. Its recent
deposits amounted to $800,000. Resources and liabilities, $900,000.
In 1894 a handsome brick bank building was erected at an expense
of $6,000.
The present (1920) officers and directors of this banking house are
as follows : Fred Volpp, president ; Henry Sievers, vice president ; P. L.
Keller, cashier; Peter L. Bauer and W. E. Fahnestock, assistant cash-
iers ; Kate Gordon bookkeeper. Directors, Fred Volpp, E. R. Gurney,
P. L. Keller, Henry Sievers, George Foster, C. W. Marquardt and
Peter Preiss.
During all the years of this bank's history it has stood for good busi-
ness principles and has been able to satisfy the demands of the excellent
agricultural community surrounding the Village of Scribner.
The First National Bank — Scribner
This bank was organized July 3. 1903, on a $25,000 capital. The
first officers and founders were : F. McGiverin, president ; Claus Ehlers,
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 113
vice president : J. L. Reinard, cashier. The directors are, Louis Groetke,
John Haun, Henry Spath, Henry Schnack, C. T. Horton.
The present capital is $25,000; surplus, $30,000; resources and lia-
bilities, $596,000; recent deposits, $442,000.
A brick building was erected for this banking house in 1903 at a
cost of $4,500.
The 1920 officers are as follows : Glaus Ehlers, president ; A. E. Rom-
berg, vice president; Charles Arnot, cashier; Gesina Schurman, assistant
cashier ; W. J. Ehlers, assistant cashier ; Fred H. Meyer, teller ; the direc-
tors are, Claus Ehlers, A. E. Romberg, H. N. Spath, Louis Groetke,
John Haun, Adolph Grose, Charles Arnot.
This bank is a member of the Federal Reserve System. Its manage-
ment has always been of the modern and most excellent business char-
acter, and the community in which it is located has been highly favored
by its presence.
The Farmers State Bank
This institution is one of the enterprising banks of the Town of
Scribner, Dodge County. It was organized July 17, 1917, on a capital
of $35,000. Its present capital is the same, but a surplus is now carried
to the amount of $35,000. Its recent deposits were $305,000; resources
and liabilities, $390,000.
The founders of this bank were : Arthur H. Shultz, president ; Henry
Edelmaier, vice president; Herman F. Meyer, cashier.
The officers of the present day (1920) are as follows: Arthur N.
Shultz, president ; Henry Edelmaier, vice president ; Herman F. Meyer,
cashier; Edwin Schwein, assistant cashier. Directors, William Mohr,
Christ Stuahmer, B. Havekost, Herman Stalling, Julius Kruse.
This bank has a building constructed of brick and Bedford stone and
it is owned by the corporation.
With competent men in charge and an excellent farming community
to draw from this bank, with others at Scribner, are highly successful
in their operations as bankers.
Farmers State Bank of Nickerson
This bank was established at the little Village of Nickerson in April,
1919, on a capital of $15,000, same as it has today. Its present surplus
is $1,000; recent deposits, $100,000; resources and liabilities, $125,000.
The bank is kept in a rented building.
The original officers connected with this bank were as follows: Otto
Schurman. president ; Ed Clough, vice president. Directors, Otto Schur-
man. Ed Clough. F. J. Diers, H. W. Moeller and Ed F. Langhorst.
The officers, etc., today are as follows : Otto Schurman, president ;
Ed Clough, vice president; V. M. Huffman, cashier; Frank J. Diers,
H. W. Moeller and Ed F. Langhorst.
The First Bank of Nickerson
This bank was established in 1902 with a capital of $5,000, by W. J.
Courtwright. as president of the corporation, and H. J. Sidner, cashier,
the 1920 capital is $25,000. with a $6,000 surplus, its recent deposits
amounted to $250,000; its resources and liabilities are $295,000. In 1916
114 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
a good brick bank building was constructed for this institution ; the same
is valued at $8,000 and its fixtures and furniture at $4,000.
The 1920 officers are as follows: E. R. Gurney, president; A. W.
Sprick, vice president; C. E. Negus, cashier; W. A. Anderson, assistant
cashier ; Frank Bullock, bookkeeper. The directors are : A. W. Sprick,
E. R. Gurney, W. A. Anderson, C. E. Negus, Anna C. Brown, John
Sidner and John Niebaum.
The banking interests of the small Village of Nickerson and its imme-
diate surroundings are well cared for by this bank.
The Winslow State Bank
This bank was established at Winslow, Dodge County, in December,
1905, and its incorporators were: G. W. Wolcott, Fred Wolf, John F.
Haye, F. Hagerbaumer, Julius Beckman.
Officers elected August 11, 1906: H. P. Weitkamp, president; G. W.
Wolcott, vice president ; William Kaufman, cashier, elected in Septem-
ber, 1906. The bank received its charter January 4, 1907. It was char-
tered for a capital of $50,000. but only $10,000 was paid up at first. Its
present capital is $20,000; surplus, $10,000; deposits, $213,000. The
bank's total resources is $247,000.
In 1906 a concrete bank building was constructed at a cost of $3,800.
In December, 1916, this bank sufifered a hold-up by bandits, an account
of which will appear elsewhere in this work.
The present officers are : L. Bartling, president ; F. H. Hagerbaumer,
vice president; George Voll, cashier; John F. Haye. August Luther,
M. C. Luther, Fred Wolf, and other directors.
The Farmers State Bank — Winslow
This bank was organized June 30, 1919, in the Village of Winslow,
Dodge County, Nebraska, with a capital of $20,000. Its first officers and
founders were: H. P. Weitkamp, president; Louis Bartling, first vice
president; Fred C. Panning, second vice president; Roy W. Brown,
cashier.
The present ( 1920) officers are : H. P. Weitkamp, president ; Louis
Bartling, first vice president ; Fred C. Panning, second vice president ;
Roy W. Brown, cashier. Directors, H. P. Weitkamp, Louis Bartling,
Fred G. Panning, Roy W. Brown, H. H. Lueninghoener and Edward M.
Warner.
The present capital is $20,000; recent deposits, $20,494.34. The
resources and liabilities are $39,540.28. Loans and discounts in Novem-
ber, 1919, amounted to $25,196.87. Undivided profits at that date were
$2,075.82.
Snyder State Bank
This bank was organized in 1892 by Conrad Schneider, John Bolte,
Ernest Schurman, Herman Holsten, Joseph Winkamp, Conrad Nolte,
Ferd Billerbeck, Karl Schwichler, John Hardes, Fred Molle, George
Dietz, W. A. A. Hamann and Ferdinand Kounowsky. The amount of
capital was $30,000. The first directors were as follows : E. Schurman,
Herman Holsten, Conrad Schneider, John Bolte, Herman Wolsleger,
Joseph Winkamp and John Looschen.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 115
Conrad Schneider was elected president; Herman Holsten, vice
president ; John Looschen, cashier.
August 15, 1893, Conrad Schneider, John Bolte, W. A. A. Hamann,
E. Schurman, Herman Wolsleger, Jo Winkamp and John Looschen
were elected directors. The officers then elected were Conrad Schneider,
president ; W. A. A. Hamann, vice president ; John Looschen, cashier.
They held office until August 6, 1904, when H. G. Meyer was appointed
as assistant cashier, all other officers remaining the same.
At first only $9,000 of the capital stock was paid in, but on August 10,
1906, it was increased to $12,000 at the same time H. G. Meyer was
elected cashier. All others remained as before except John Looschen,
who resigned.
October 3, 1910, the capital stock was increased from $12,000 to
$25,000; a new bank building was erected in 1910. In December, 1911,
H. G. Meyer resigned as cashier and Robert Frahm was elected to the
position. In March, 1919, Robert Frahm and Elliott Frahm purchased
stock of Conrad Schneider, W. A. A. Hamann, John Bolte, Henry
Schooner and others, making a controlling interest in the bank. Robert
Frahm was elected president; Elliott Frahm was made cashier; Arthur
Bleyhl, vice president. The 1920 board of directors is as follows : Rob-
ert Frahm, Elliott Frahm, Peter T. Lennemann, Arthur Bleyhl and Otto
Schurman. The present capital is $25,000; surplus $10,000; loans and
discounts. $385,000: deposits, $400,000.
Farmers and Merchants Bank — Snyder
This bank was established at the Village of Snyder in 1907. Its first
capital was $12,500. Its present (1920) capital is $20,000; surplus,
$5,500: recent deposits, $170,000; resources and liabilities, $214,303.83.
The first officers of this institution were as follows : E. R. Gumey,
H. Burger, J. J. Dickey, Herman Englebrecht and M. M. Wolslager.
The. officers today are : J. J. Dickey, president ; Claudi Wendorp,
vice president; J. C. Dickey, cashier; Florence Dickey, assistant cashier;
additional director is Herman Englebrecht.
A new modern building has just been completed to accommodate the
increasing business.
Through the good management of the officers and stockholders the
people have the utmost confidence in this banking house, for they believe
the conservative manner practiced here makes it a safe, desirable place
in which to deposit money and transact all banking business.
A recent statement shows as follows: Capital stock, $20,000; sur-
plus, $5,500; undivided profits, $22,400; loans, $129,000.
The Farmers State Bank — Dodge
This bank was established in the Village of Dodge, in the north
western corner of Dodge County, in March, 1889.
This institution in February, 1890, purchased the building and stock
of the old Dodge State Bank. The first capital of the present institution
was $10,000; two vears later it was increased to $15,000 and February
8, 1894, to $30,000.
The present capital is $30,000; surplus $30,000; recent deposits
$850,000.
116 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
The first officers and founders of this bank were : C. George Bowlus,
T. O. MilHgan, E. Schurmann, Herman Holsten, C. W. Marquardt,
"D. Holsten, H. J. Smith, Charles Woodruff, Anton Bartosh.
The present officers are: Herman Holsten, president; James H.
Hook, vice president ; Will R. Harbak, vice president ; Richard H. Hol-
sten, cashier ; Josephine Dostal, bookkeeper.
The first building occupied by this bank was a frame structure and
it was destroyed in the great fire of 1895 when the Town of Dodge was
wiped out, only two buildings being left in the business section. The
same year the present stone-brick bank building was constructed.
This bank has the facilities and willingness to meet the requirements
of the territory in which it operates.
First National Bank — Dodge
This bank was organized as the Dodge State Bank in 1900 and in
March, 1903, was succeeded by the First National Bank. Its capital
was at first $10,000. The first officers were: Ira E. Atkinson and A. J.
Hasson. The present capital is $50,000; surplus, $25,000; recent depos-
its, $650,000.
A bank building was erected from brick in 1903 and its cost was
$5,000.
The 1920 officers and directors are as follows: A. J. Miller, presi-
dent; G. J. Borgmeyer, vice president; I. E. Atkinson, vice president;
J. H. Miller, cashier; J. H. Longacre, William Rettig, J. H. Montgomery,
directors ; Clara Woerdeman, bookkeeper.
The December, 1919, statement shows resources and liabilities $710,-
102.19. The present condition of the bank's finances is excellent. Loans
and discounts, $569,989.02; cash due and on hand. $98,463. Compara-
tive statements— Deposits, September, 1900, $10,098; in 1919, $621,160.
Farmers State Bank — Uehling
This bank was established in the Village of Uehling, July 26, 1905,
with a capital of $15,000. The founders and first officers were as fol-
lows : Herman Meyer, president ; Theodore Uehling. vice president ;
Edward Uehling, cashier. Directors, T. Uehling, H. Meyer, H. Bus-
selman, A. Linn, M. Stenvers, G. J. Bergquist and Edward Uehling.
The present (1920) capital is $15,000; surplus, $6,000; recent depos-
its, $240.795 ; resources and liabilities, $280,962.
The corporation built their bank building of brick in 1907 and its
value is $5,000.
The officers and others associated in this financial institution are:
Herman Meyer, president ; Maurits Stenvers, vice president ; Edward
Uehling, cashier, with P. A. Anderson, Henry Busselman, G. J. Berg-
quist and E. A. Larson, directors.
The Logan Valley Bank — Uehling
One of the two banks at the Village of Uehling is the Logan Valley
Bank, organized on a $10,000 capital February 26, 1906, by founders
and first officers as follows: Charles Arnot, president: A. M. Tillman,
vice president; J. D. G. Kuhlman, cashier; Charles Romberg, assistant
cashier.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 117
This bank has a capital of $10,000; surplus of $10,000; recent depos-
its, $250,000; resources and liabilities, $300,000. This bank occupies a
frame building erected in the spring of 1906.
The present officers and directors are : Otto H. Schurman, presi-
dent; A. M. Tillman, vice president; J. D. G. Kuhlman, cashier; other
directors are: Carl Heyne, Arnold Romberg, John G. Osterloh, John
Henry Witte.
The success of this institution has been largely due to the fact that all
patrons have been treated fairly and politely by the management of the
bank.
Farmers State Bank of Ames
This bank is situated at the Village of Ames. Dodge County, and
was organized August 20, 1914, with a capital of $15,000. Its first offi-
cers were as follows : A. D. Graham, president ; E. A. Gurney, vice
president ; Jerome Wostrel, cashier. Others among the founders of this
bank were : N. T- Johnson, F. B. Knapp, Henry Tank, F. A. Davis and
O. H. Sink.
This bank's present capital is $15,000 with a surplus of $2,000; its
recent deposits were $85,360; resources and liabilities are $103,640.
Liabilities not including capital and surplus, $86,277.
The 1920 officers and directors are : E. R. Gurney, Ihno Harms,
O. H. Sink, Robert C. C. O'Brien, Henry Tank, Louis Rebbe, S. S. Van
Horn. The president is Ihno Harms ; vice president, E. R. Gurney ;
cashier, Jerome Wostrel.
A few years since the bank went through a fire in which damage was
done. This bank has never been robbed or held up by bandits as has
been the case in some small towns. While this is a small bank it serves
well the demand of the community about Ames.
In 1914 a good brick banking house was erected at an expense of
$4,500.
First National Bank — Hooper
This financial institution was established in the Village of Hooper in
1885 as "Heimrich & Co." which in a few years was changed to the State
Bank of Hooper and about 1900 was changed into the First National
Bank. Its original capital was $15,000; its present capital is $25,000;
surplus, $45,000; present deposits amount to $425,000; resources and
liabilities, $577,000.
A gray pressed brick bank building was erected in 1914 and it is
valued at $15,000.
It is indeed highly complementary to the management of this bank to
note that it has earned a surplus of $45,000.
As to the first and present officers it may be stated that originally the
men at the head were : John F. Heimrich, president ; Henry H. Looschen,
vice president ; E. J. F. Burgh, cashier ; E. H. Airis and John Dern.
The present officers are as follows: A. M. Tillman, president; Peter
Parkert, vice president ; Norman E. Shafifer, cashier ; C. H. Dahl, assist-
ant cashier. Directors, A. M. Tillman, Peter Parkert, John G. Osterloh,
Will Rodgers. Edward Luther, John Havekost, Norman E. Shaffer.
December 31, 1919. their "statement" gave among other items: Lia-
bilities and resources, $576,929.89; loans and discounts, $406,090; stock
118 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
in Federal Reserve Bank, $1,950: cash in vault, $37,000; certificates of
deposit (thirty day), $32,000; individual deposits subject to check,
$164,455,49.
Dodge County Bank
The Dodge County Bank located at the Village of Hooper was
organized in 1882 on a capital of $15,000, but it was increased to $20,000
January 1, 1889, and to $25,000 April 30, 1900.
The first officers and founders of this bank were: T. W. Lyman,
L. D. Richards and E. H. Airis. The present capital is $25,000; surplus,
$40,000; recent amount in deposits, $640,000; resources and liabilities,
$750,000.
The bank building is owned by the bank and valued at $25,000.
The 1920 officers are: J. H. Windhausen, president; William Meyer,
vice president ; R. L. Schwab, cashier ; Charlotte Monnich and Walter
Otteman, bookkeepers. The assistant cashier is George Looschen. Direc-
tors, J. H. Windhausen, William Meyer, Casper Moeller, Casper Hoege-
meyer. William Frock, W. G. J. Dau, George F. Otteman.
In its almost two score years of banking, this concern at Hooper has
been very successful and stood high in the banking circles of Nebraska.
The First St.^te Bank — North Bend
This bank was organized April 19, 1882, and is located in the City of
North Bend, Dodge County. Its first capital was $25,000, same as today,
but it now has a surplus of $17,500, Its recent deposits were $518,692;
resources and liabilities, $620,602.63. The founders of this bank were
John T. Ritter, L. H. Rogers and C. L. Morse.
The 1920 officers are : Alex Thorn, president ; T. J. Kastle, vice pres-
ident; W. F. Ruzicka, cashier; W. C. Stayskal, assistant cashier, and
John Kelly, assistant cashier.
The bank building is owned by the bank, newly rebuilt and refur-
nished. It is a stone and brick structure and cost $27,000.
A good guarantee fund is carried for the protection of depositors.
This bank is a member of the Federal Reserve.
The First National Bank of North Bend
This bank was organized at North Bend September 8, 1883, with a
$50,000 capital, same as carried today, but is now possessed of a surplus
of $20,000. Its recent deposits amounted to $380,000; resources and
liabilities, $680,000.
The first bank building was destroyed by fire in 1892. The present
fine structure erected at a cost of $20,000 was constructed in 1917-18, of
terra cotta and brick material, inside finish is mahogany and marble.
The original officers were Messrs. James Sloss, president ; H. W. Nei-
man, vice president ; George Hichok, cashier. Directors, James Sloss,
C. Cusack, H. W. Neiman, M. E. Fuller, J. Y. Smith, Chauncy Abbott.
The present (1920) officers and directors are as follows: Roy J.
Cusack, president ; George Fisher, vice president ; C. C. Sidner, cashier ;
H. C. Cusack, assistant cashier. Directors, Roy J. Cusack, George
Fisher, C. M. Black, F. B. Datel, Thomas H. Fowler.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 119
With the development of this county the two banks at North Bend,
incktding this bank, have been of signal importance and advantage to
the farmers and business factors of North Bend.
Dodge County Bank Summary — 1919-20
The following is a summary of the various banks in Dodge County,
as shown by their statements, all of which were issued between Decem-
ber, 1919, and July, 1920:
Recent
Name of Bank Estab. Capital Surplus Deposits
First National Bank, Fremont. . . . 1872 $150,000 $ 25,000 $1,245,478
Farmers and Merchants Nat'l.... 1882 100,000 60,000 571,483
Fremont Nat'l Bank, Fremont... 1883 150,000 150,000 650,000
Security Savings Bank, Fremont. . 1890 18,000 20,000 185,000
Commercial Nat'l Bank, Fremont. 1891 100,000 100,000 1,153,387
Home Savings Bank, Fremont... 1892 18,000 18,000 262,897
Fremont State Bank, Fremont... 1904 50,000 11,000 440,000
Scribner State Bank 1883 40,000 30,000 800,000
First Nat'l Bank, Scribner 1903 25,000 30,000 442,000
Farmers State Bank, Scribner... 1917 35,000 35,000 305,000
Farmers State Bank, Nickerson.. 1919 15,000 1,000 100,000
First State Bank, Nickerson 1902 25,000 6,000 . 250,000
Winslow State Bank, Winslow... 1905 20,000 10,000 213,072
Farmers State Bank, Winslow. . . 1919 20,000 20,494
Snvder State Bank, Snyder 1892 25,000 10,000 400,000
Farmers and Merchants, Snyder.. 1907 20,000 5,500 170,000
Farmers State Bank, Dodge 1889 30,000 30,000 850,000
First Nat'l Bank, Dodge 1900 50,000 25,000 650,000
Farmers State Bank, Uehling.... 1905 15,000 6,000 240,795
Logan Valley Bank, UehHng 1906 10,000 10,000 250,000
Farmers State Bank, Ames 1914 15,000 2,000 85,360
First Nat'l Bank, Hooper 1885 25,000 45,000 425,000
Dodge County Bank, Hooper.... 1882 25,000 40,000 640,000
First State Bank, North Bend... 1882 25,000 17,500 518,692
First Nat'l Bank, North Bend. ... 1883 50,000 20,000 380,000
Totals $1,056,000 $707,000 $1 1,248,568
Other Financial Institutions of Dodge County
Besides the numerous banks of Dodge County, the commercial and
financial interests have been cared for by the subjoined companies and
associations :
The Equitable Building and Loan Association
This institution was organized April 6, 1886, with officers as follows :
President, Arthur Truesdell ; vice-president, C. H. May ; treasurer, C. B.
Veazie; secretary. Earl A. Pettibone.
The present officers and directors are as follows : President, Frank
Hammond; vice president, Frank Fowler; secretary, J. A. Donahue;
assistant secretary, W. R. Rowe ; treasurer, C. B. Veazie ; counsel, George
L. Loomis. Directors, Frank Hammond, Frank Fowler, J. A. Donahue,
120 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
C. B. Veazie. George L. Looniis. Arthur Truesdell. Fred Bader. Fred
H. Richards, Frank Hanlon.
Loans to members, $339,300.
Capital authorized, $1,000,000, of which $780,800 has been sub-
scribed.
Dues, accrued earnings and reserve fund, $278,793.61.
Number of loans made, 942.
Fr.\nk Hammond, Fremont
Many a home-owner in the City of Fremont has been benefited by
being a member of this institution.
Fidelity Trust Company
This financial institution was established August 15, 1911, in the
First National Bank Building, corner Fifth and Main streets, Fremont.
Its first capital was $100,000, same as is carried today. The present sur-
plus is $15,000: resources and liabilities, $556,401.07.
The original officers and founders of this institution were : R. B.
Schneider, president ; F. B. Knapp, vice president ; James A. Donahue,
secretary and treasurer; E. R. Gurney, chairman of executive committee.
At the present time this concern is in a flourishing condition. Its
officers and directors are as follows :
President, F. B. Knapp : vice president. Frank Koss ; secretary and
treasurer, James A. Donahue ; chairman finance committee, E. R. Gur-
ney. Directors, E. R. Gurney, T. L. Mathews, Henry Tiegeler, Frank
koss, H. J. Lee, F. E. Gibson, F. B. Knapp, S. S. Sidner, A. G. Christen-
sen. Fred Bader, Joseph Roberts.
Nebraska State Building and Loan Association
Among the most successful and flourishing institutions of its kind
in the entire commonwealth is the association above headed. It was
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 121
established in January, 1892. It had for its original officers and directors
the following persons : E. H. Barnard, president ; H. C. Mahanna, vice
president; T- T. May, treasurer; T. L. Mathews, secretary. The directors
were : E. H. Barnard, H. C. Mahanna, L. D. Richards, J. T. May, R. B.
Schneider, T. L. Mathews, E. N. Morse, C. M. Williams.
As to the various changes in officers of this association let it be stated
that:
In 1901 T. L. Mathews was elected president and C. M. Williams
secretary.
In 1902 Paul Colson was elected secretary and acted as such until
1911.
In 1911 D. D. Rowe was elected assistant secretary and acted as such
until 1912, when he was elected secretary.
In 1920 Mr. Rowe was elected vice president and at the same time
G. A. Olmstead was elected secretary.
This institution is a state association. It has had a very successful
career and is now doing business in more than 150 Nebraska towns and
cities and stands very high as a financial institution, one that has done
much towards the promotion and high development of the state and has
helped many thousands of people to own their own homes, and by its
system of saving has helped many other thousands to acquire a com-
petency or a tidy sum for a "rainy day." The published statement of
this association shows the condition of its affairs December 30, 1919, to
have resources at something over $2,700,000.
Loans to members $ 2,627,933.09
Capital and surplus— authorized 10,000,000.00
Capital and surplus paid 2,800,000.00
Dues, accrued earnings and reserve fund
Par value of stocks subscribed for 6,000,000.00
Number of loans made 5,800
Present officers : President, T. L. Mathews ; vice president, D. D.
Rowe ; secretary, G. A. Olmstead ; treasurer, J. T. May.
Present directors, T. L. Mathews, J. T. May, D. D. Rowe, W. J.
Courtright, Dan V. Stevens, Paul Colson, C. H. Hawley, E. R. Gurney.
The association owns the double front building where the home office
is located and have under way improvements to cost $75,000.
In the twenty-eight years that this association has been doing busi-
ness it has paid each year a substantial semi-annual dividend.
Mr. T. L. Mathews, president, and J. T. May, treasurer, have been
actively connected with the association in an official capacity since its
organization until this date.
Hooper Building and Loan Association
This association was organized at the Village of Hooper in August,
1889, by officers as follows : David Reber, president ; J. F. Briggs, vice
president ; George W. Heine, secretary ; Ed Uehling, treasurer.
Its statement recently shows amount of loans to members, $22,500.
Capital and surplus, $23,000. Number of loans made, 142.
The 1920 officers and directors are as follows : A. M. Tillman, pres-
ident ; George W. Heine, secretary ; Jacob Sanders, treasurer. Direc-
tors, W. E. Sanders, Jacob Kirsch, Joseph Stipsky, William F. Basler,
B. Monnich, Ed Edelmann.
This is another of the examples of a well managed association in
which a whole community is benefited by such associations.
122 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Fremont Joint-Stock Land Bank
This institution was organized June 1, 1919, by Dan V. Stephens,
under the banking act of July, 1916. Its object is to loan money on first
farm mortgages and bond the mortages under government supervision,
the bonds being sold to the public.
This bank is in the Fremont State Bank Building, corner Sixth Street
and Park Avenue, Fremont.
The original and present officers are: Dan V. Stephens, president;
D. W. Killen, vice president, Schuyler, Nebraska; T. F. Kastle, treas-
urer. North Bend, Nebraska; William Meyer, secretary, Hooper,
Nebraska.
The first capital was $250,000—2,500 shares at $100 each.
The present capital is $275,000—2,750 shares at $100 each.
Present surplus, $15,000.
On June 1, 1920, the resources and liabilities were $2,461,127.93.
CHAPTER XII
DODGE COUNTY NEWSPAPERS
The First Newspaper in Dodge and Adjoining Counties — The
Fremont Weekly and Daily Tribune — The Old Tri-Weekly —
Growth of the Pioneer Paper Plant — The Fremont Weekly
- Herald — The North Bend Eagle — The Hooper Sentinel — The
Uehling Post — The Scribner Rustler.
The local newspaper was early in this field and aided the pioneer
settler in developing the country. The first settlers were composed of
men and women who had come in from old settled sections of other
States, where the "home paper" was 'a household treasure, hence upon
immigrating here they naturally took great interest in supporting the first
newspapers published in this and adjoining counties. The Fremont
Herald and Tribune were the forerunners of the various newspapers
which have since been published in this county, and they still continue as
the leading newspapers.
The County's First Newspaper
Outside of Omaha the Fremont Tribune was the first newspaper
established in the Platte Valley. In the summer of 1868, J. N. Hays came
to Fremont from Plattsmouth with a modern printing outfit, including
good presses, type, etc., and founded the Fremont Weekly Tribune.
The first issue pulled from the press was dated July 24, 1868, and the
office was in a small, tucked-up attic over Usher & Sawtell's furniture
store. The paper was a seven-column folio, well filled with advertising
from the start and has been a great business medium ever since. The
first office of publication was at the corner of Sixth and "F" streets. It
may be of interest to read a part of the salutatory, as it shows the original
policy of the paper:
"With this issue we commence the publication of the Fremont Tribune.
The paper was started to supply a want existing in this place for some
means of making known the advantages of this section of the country
and offering a convenient organ for discussion of matters of local inter-
est. It will not be indifferent to the great political contest now going on
in this country and cheerfully enlists as a supporter of the great principles
advocated by the National Republican party and the election of Grant
and Colfax."
Mr. Hays conducted the paper until January, 1872, when Frank G.
Parcell purchased an interest and became business manager, the firm
name changing to J. N. Hays & Co. This continued until death overtook
Mr. Hays m 1873:
Soon after his death a company purchased the plant and operated it
as the "Tribune Printing Company" with Fred Nye as editor. In 1877
W. H. Michael purchased a half interest and thereafter it was con-
ducted by Michael 8z Nye. In May, 1879. Browne & Hammond came
into possession of the plant and the following autumn Mr. Browne sold
his half interest to George Hammond & Son — Frank Hammond being
123
124
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
editor. In 1882, Ross L. Hammond secured a half interest and the
firm was known as Hammond Brothers, with Frank as business mana-
ger and Ross L. as editor. In March, 1891, Harry W. Hammond, a
younger brother, came into the firm and later sold his interest to his
brothers.
In May, 1883, the Tribune blossomed out into a daily edition. Later
on the weekly edition was changed into a tri-weekly, which was discon-
tinued in 1917 because of the inroads made on the tri-weekly subscrip-
tion list by the establishment of rural routes, when the farmers were
given a daily mail service.
In January of 1920, Ross L. Hammond, who held a half interest, sold
most of his holdings to other stockholders and retired to a comfortable
home in Southern California, after forty years' continuous service as
Hon. Ross L. Hammond, Editor for Forty Years of Fremont
Daily Tribune
editor. Mr. Hammond's retirement made an official change in the man-
agement which is as follows: Frank Hammond, president and editor:
Ray W. Hammond, vice-president and manager ; Lucius R. Hammond,
secretary and assistant manager: Walter B. Reynolds, treasurer and
circulation manager. _ Harvey C. Kendall, who is advertising manager,
with the foregoing officers constitute the board of directors.
In 1881 a two-story brick block was erected by the Tribune owners
and partially occupied at that time. As the business grew, tenants moved
out and the plant spread into the building until it now occupies the orig-
inal building, with a 50 per cent addition erected in 1902. In that year
the plant was visited by a destructive fire but not a single issue of the
Daily Tribune was missed through the kindness of competitors granting
use of their presses. The newspaper department is well equipped with
linotype machines and a rapid press of the rotary type, that will print
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 125
30,000 sixteen-page papers per hour. The news of the world comes
direct to the editorial rooms over a leased wire. Twenty carrier boys
deliver the papers in the city. Some of the best business men of the city
have been carrier boys for the Daily Tribune.
A large job printing and manufacturing plant is operated in conjunc-
tion with the newspaper and equipped with all the latest machinery for
rapid and efficient work. Traveling men cover several states soliciting
for this department. A combined force of seventy people, besides the
carrier boys, are required to take care of the volume of business that has
been developed. The annual payroll is in excess of $100,000.
The burden of the present management rests in the hands of young
men who are competent to maintain the growth and prosperity that has
marked a history of the institution since its founding in 1868 and the
Tribune will continue to be one of the leading factors in the development
of the town and state.
The Fremont Weekly Herald
The Fremont Herald is a weekly paper published in the City of Fre-
mont, each week on Friday. It was established in 1870 by W. T. Shaffer.
Later it was owned and conducted by R. D. Kelly, who in 1873 estab-
lished the Daily Herald, which was continued for some years.
In 1876 Nat W. Smails came into possession of this plant, when the
weekly was issued each Thursday, and the daily each day except Mon-
day. The Herald is among the oldest newspapers in Nebraska, the daily
being the oldest of any paper in the state outside Omaha and Lincoln.
In the nineties its editor was a Mr. Smith of Coldwater, Michigan.
Today, the Weekly Herald is an independent Democratic paper. It is
a six-column paper with from eight to fourteen pages, all home print.
Its subscription rate is $2.00 per year in advance. Its circulation is
largely in Fremont and Dodge County, with a fair list in adjoining
counties.
In 1905 this newspaper was taken possession of by an incorporated
company, of which Marc G. Perkins was made president ; Frank S. Per-
kins, secretary, and Marion M. Perkins, vice president. It is published
at present at' 229-233 East Fifth Street.
The printing plant is fully equipped with the latest improved machin-
ery for both newspaper and commercial printing. The Herald is a clean,
well-edited, handsomely printed newspaper and it always seeks to give
the people the latest news in the best style, hence is appreciated by a
large patronage.
The North Bend Eagle
This newspaper was established at North Bend November 1, 1897,
by Charles S. Fowler and Joseph C. Newsom. It was owned and con-
ducted by Messrs. Fowler & Newsom from November, 1897, to Septem-
ber 27, 1900, when Mr. Fowler's interest in the paper was purchased by
Mr. Newsom. who has retained the ownership and management ever
since, except for one year during 1918-19 spent in France, when the
paper was leased for that time to E. O. Holub.
Politically this is an independent paper. In size and form it is an
eight-page, six-column paper and has a good circulation in North Bend
and tributary country. It is published on Thursday each week. Sub-
scription rate is $1.50 per year in advance.
126 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
The paper is published in a building owned by the proprietor of the
paper and is valued at $2,500. As to its mechanical equipment it may be
stated that it has a Prouty power press, two Gordon jobbers, Model "L".
Standard linotype, paper cutter, stapling machine, etc.
The following abstract of the Eagle runs about as follows :
The Eagle succeeded the North Bend Argus, founded April, 1890,
by W. K. Fowler and C. S. Fowler, and the North Bend Republican,
founded in November, 1892, by Anna L. Dowden, were merged or con-
solidated by C. S. Fowler and J. C. Newsom, Fowler having previously
purchased his brother's interest in the Argus, and J. C. Newsom having
purchased the Republican of Mrs. Dowden.
The first newspaper published in North Bend was the Independent,
established by Doctor Etwood in 1879.
The Hooper Sentinel
This newspaper was established at Hooper. April 22, 1885, by W. A.
Crandall. The owners of this propertv have included these : W. A. Cran-
dall, E. W. Renkin, C. E. Bennett, j. I. Brorby, Shipley & Thompson,
W. G. Thompson, Glen Howard, Sedgwick & Ring, H. T. Ring, the last
named owning it since 1914.
Politically the Sentinel is independent. It circulates mostly in Hooper
and surrounding country. It is a six-column eight-page paper, printed
each week on Thursday, morning. It is $1.50 per year subscription rate
in advance and has six pages "home print."
The office equipment includes these items : A 10 by 15 jobber, a paper
press that prints four pages at one time ; and all necessary material for
a country newspaper plant. Locally the Sentinel is a most excellent
paper.
The Uehling Post
This newspaper is published at the new Village of Uehling in the
northeastern part of Dodge County. It was established in 1919 by Gus
H. Weber, who still owns and conducts it as a weekly local newspaper.
It is a six-column folio paper, printed each Friday. It circulates through-
out Logan Valley Township and its subscription rate is $1.50 per year.
The proprietor is his own printer and is a hustler in all that this term
has come to mean.
The first paper started in Uehling was the "Press" by R. S. Honey.
R. D. Kelly started the Times which ran about five years and went
down. Politically it was republican.
The Scribner Rustler
This local newspaper was established at Scribner in January, 1895.
Just who the founder was is not known, but it is known that it was owned
• by Henry Kidder ten years ; by Otto Metschke six years : R. R. Roberts
one year and Charles E. Majers has owned and conducted it since
December 1, 1918. Politicallv the Rustler is an independent paper, cir-
culating in various parts of Dodge County; is a six-column, eight-page
paper all home print. It is published each Thursday at a subscription
price of $2.00 per year.
The Rustler and Scribner News, the other paper of the town, con-
solidated about 1912.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 127
Five years ago (1915) a wood-cement block building was erected
especially for newspaper business. The office equipment includes a six-
column quarto press — a folder, job press and a Cranston pony cylinder
press for job and book work. In all the plant has in operation four
presses and a linotype machine, stapler, perforator and all usual type
found in such an office.
The present owner edits a clean local paper and has a large job
printing patronage in first-class work. "If you see it in the Rustler
it is true" would make a good motto for the Rustler.
Young Men's Christian Association
Fremont had the honor of being one of the first points in Nebraska
where a Young Men's Christian Association was established. It was
formed here even before the state was admitted into the Union. This
did not flourish many years, but in May, 1881, it was reorganized with
charter members as follows : A. C. Hopkins, M. G. McCoon, Rev. A. B.
Byram, C. C. Birdsall, A. R. Wightman, R. E. Doran, Mark C. Sander-
son, Robert Hewett, F. M. Smith, Rev. A. T. Swing, F. M. Griswold,
G. King, E. T. Smith, W. A. Marlow and L. C. Sweet.
The first officers were : Robert Hewett, president ; W. A. Marlow,
vice president; D. A. Lumbard, secretary; L. C. Sweet, treasurer. The
first active president was Prof. A. R. Wightman. Meetings were held
in the churches, a lecture course was provided for, prayer meetings were
instituted and continued until the fall of 1884 when the society disbanded.
Again in 1888 the work was resumed and the ensuing November the
association had a membership of fifty-three men and by 1892 it had
increased to 175. They were legally incorporated in September, 1891,
and purchased forty-four feet on the southwest corner of Broad and
Fifth streets, and from that time on the "Y. M. C. A." became a perma- ■
nent fixture among the religious societies in Fremont.
The present magnificent three-story modern brick block on the loca-
tion last named was erected in 1907 at a cost of $80,000 and it has none
of the best modern appointments lacking.
Women's Christian Temperance Union
This society has been for more than a generation a power for good
in Fremont. It was formed by devoted Christian women who loved
temperance and virtue more than money or even life itself. They organ-
ized in 1874 with only a half dozen members, including Mesdames
Hitchcock, Bullock, Griswold and Rogers. The first president was Lucy
Rogers. Up to 1888 they met at private houses, but that year erected the
Women's Christian Temperance Union Temple at the corner of Broad
and Military avenue, in which they had a library and reading room, as
well as a fine audience chamber. All along down the years the devoted
women of the city have battled against the rum traffic until their prayers
have been answered and liquor is no longer master in the fair state and
nation.
CHAPTER XIII
SOIL AND DRAINAGE OF DODGE COUNTY
(By Dan V. Stephens)
Dodge County, Nebraska, is one of the very best agricultural districts
to be found in the United States, due to its uniformly rich soils and
excellent natural drainage.
The soils of this county may be roughly divided into three groups,
upland, terrace and bottom soils. The upland group includes the Mar-
shall and Knox series ; the terrace soils are classed in the Waukesha and
Scott series, and those of the bottoms in the Wabash, Lomaure, Cass and
Sarpy series. The bottom soils represent alluvium, derived from border-
ing uplands.
Of these three groups, the Marshall soils represent about one-third
of the area of the county and is a remnant of the original loess plains.
It is also the highest in elevation. It is cut into four areas, the largest
covering the northwest portion of the county, west of the Elkhorn and
north of Maple Creek valleys. The second covers the north central
section between the Elkhorn and Logan valleys. The third covers the
northeast part of the county lying east of Logan Valley and north of the
Elkhorn Valley. The fourth section covers the central part of the upland
lying south of Maple Creek extending from the Knoell Ravine on the
east to School No. 30 on the west, a distance of about ten miles. The
remaining portions of these uplands lying to the east and west belong
to the terrace classifications and are of a more recent formation.
The Marshall soil is characterized by its uniform soil particles and its
tendency to split into vertical planes producing perpendicular bluffs along
water courses and roads subject to erosion. The Marshall soil is the
result of the loess formation supposed to have had its origin in the ice
age. It is uniform in character and contains in proper proportions all
the natural elements for crop productions throughout its entire depth.
These Marshall hills have given rise to the terrace soils much of the
same character.
The terrace lands, constituting in the main the upland between the
Platte and Maple Creek valleys, is a valley filling deposit laid down in
prehistoric times from the wash from the original loess plains. One can
imagine the great slowly moving ice sheet shaving^ off the tops of the
loess hills and filling up the then existing valleys to be later recut by our
present water courses without regard to the ancient channels. This
theory at least explains why the upland south of Maple Creek is com-
posed of both the old Marshall formation and the more recent terrace
deposit, both soils being similar in character and productiveness, one
.being the wash of the other.
The bottom lands in the main consist of alluvium, a product of ero-
sion from all the various soil formations in the adjoining uplands. ' It
naturally follows that rich upland soils produce rich bottom lands. With
the exception of the Platte River Valley, the other bottom lands of the
county form a colluvial soil resulting from the erosion of the near-by
uplands. The Platte Valley soils, however, have been modified some-
what by the erosions from the mountains where the river finds its source.
128
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 129
The Marshall and Waukesha soils comprising the uplands of the
county are remarkable crop soils, exceedingly friable and productive.
These soils resist drouth longer than any other soil known and will pro-
duce a wider range of crops. Corn, wheat, oats and alfalfa are the
staple crops, but these wonderful soils will produce any cereal crop that
will grow in this latitude.
A little to the south and west of the center of the county on the high-
est point of the upland between the Platte and Maple Creek valleys just
east of School No. 30, a magnificent view is afforded of a very large sec-
tion of the county. Standing on this eminence of the Marshall formation
looking south, one can get, on a clear day, a magnificent view of the great
Platte River Valley. For 25 or 30 miles east and west, the mighty
checkerboard of farms can be seen with its alternating fields of com
and wheat. Turning to the north, the beautiful Maple Creek Valley
winds from the west to the east, visible for a dozen miles in its course and
far beyond it over the upland table to the northeast, the Elkhorn bluffs
twenty miles away are clearly outlined against the sky line. It is a
marvelous sight not only from a scenic point of view but from an agri-
cultural one as well, for practically every acre of this land is highly
productive and tillable. Few spots like it can be found in the whole wide
world and none excel it.
Surface Drainage
Dodge County is drained by the Platte and Elkhorn rivers together
with their numerous tributaries, Logan, Maple, Pebble and Rawhide
creeks. The uplands are adequately drained with a few exceptions of
swales here and there without surface outlets. The valleys, however,
being flat with the water table close to the surface, were not naturally
sufficiently drained. The Platte and Elkhorn valleys, constituting about
one-fourth of the area of the county, represented a great loss to agricul-
ture because of the lack of adequate drainage. The lands were given up
to the production of wild hay, which contained a minimum amount of
food values. Finally about 1890, a few drainage ditches were con-
structed in the Platte River Valley, and from this small and inefficient
beginning, a few years later a complete system of surface drainage was
laid out through the organization of districts. The result has been the
reclamation of many thousand acres of land, practically the whole of the
Platte River Valley within the county. Drainage ditches have been con-
structed in the Elkhorn Valley, also, until the swamp lands have prac-
tically disappeared.
Tile Drainage
Some sections of these valleys require still further drainage by tiling,
owing to the character of the soils, and some larger farms have been
drained with tile. Among them. Maple Grove farm, owned by the
author of this article, and Idlewild, owned by Mrs. R. B. Schneider, and
a large farm owned by Mr. L. M. Keene, east of Fremont, and scores of
smaller farms.
The first effort at reclamation of wet land by tile drainage was made
by Phillip Rine on Maple Creek. It was a very successful experiment
though on a small scale. This led the author to undertake the first
project of any considerable size in the county, namely, 440 acres of his
farm at the foot of the Platte River bluffs on the north side of the
130 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
valley six miles northwest of Ames. The history of this operation and
theory of the value of tile drainage may be of value in this connection:
By placing under this land a complete system of tile drainage it was
possible to keep the water table at a depth of three feet, and as there was
a constant supply of water at this level, a remarkable result was obtained —
namely, that regardless of rainfall practically speaking, this land could
neither "drown out" nor "dry out." During an exceedingly dry season
grain roots would go down to the water that was available always just
below the level of the tile lines ; when the rainfall was excessive, the sur-
plus water rushed away through the vast system of tiles, leaving growing
crops free from the effects of too much water.
More than seventy carloads of tile were used on this job which cost
the owner approximately $20,000, or nearly $50 an acre. There are six
ten and twelve inch mains each from one-half to three-quarters of a mile
long, with scores of miles of four, five and six inch laterals extending out
from these mains covering the entire 440 acres, so that there is not a
foot of ground more than fifty feet from a line of tile.
IxcRE.\SE IN Crop Production
This system was carefully laid out by two competent farm drainage
engineers and in the years it has been in use it has abundantly justified
the expense in the increase in crop productions. The second crop of corn
on the first 120 acres brought under cultivation averaged for the whole
tract seventy bushels to the acre. One wheat crop for the whole farm
averaged forty-one bushels with one field reaching a yield of fifty-eight
bushels to the acre. The largest oat crop averaged eighty-seven bushels
to the acre. There were also poor yields now and then but these maxi-
mum yields show the possibilities of the land when properly handled
under favorable conditions.
Theory of Dr.mnage
Drainage by tiling makes land dryer in wet weather and wetter in dry
weather. Any hot, dry day in August one can dig down a foot from the
surface over a tile line and find the soil so moist it can be molded into a
ball. Half way between the lines the earth will be dry and dusty. The
reason for this seeming paradox is found in physics. The subsoil is
much colder than the surface. As the warm moisture-laden air at
summer heat passes through the colder subsoil in its circulation through
the tiling it deposits its surplus moisture in the soil just as beads of water
form on the pitcher of ice water in hot weather ; whereas midway between
the lines this physical phenomenon would scarcely be noticed at all where
the drawing power of the tile is at its lowest point.
On the other hand, it drains quickly from the soil all surplus water.
The capillary water is that water which is naturally absorbed by the soil.
Every microscopic particle of soil is covered by a film of water. The soil
will naturally absorb enough water to envelop its microscopic particles.
This film of water cannot be drained out of the soil. Therefore it is
impossible to overdrain land. As proof of this law, suspend a dry towel
over a pan of water permitting the end to touch the water. Watch the
water creep rapidly up the towel. Every particle of fabric hungrily
envelops itself in water — just enough and not one drop of surplus is
absorbed. That is capillary water and in the soil is lost only in two
ways ; through absorption by plants and through evaporation.
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132 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
How THE Plants Feed
The tiling brings the warm air into the cold soil that has formerly
been waterlogged. This warm air warms the soil and makes a favorable
breeding ground for plant bacteria. These little forms multiply by the
billions breaking down vegetable matter and making available the raw
materials and translating them into assimilable food for plants. Their
little microscopic bodies are quickly dissolved into this film of water
enveloping the soil particles and the water becomes rich in food values.
Tiny rootlets drink this solution and the plant shows the effect of the
food by its rich dark green color and luxuriant growth. Contrast these
well-fed plants with those in land that has not tile drainage where the
soil is cold or waterlogged. Whenever the water in the soil increases to
the point of complete saturation the envelop of water which contains the
rich plant food breaks up and the soil particles float in a sea of water.
The solution becomes so diluted the plants cannot secure adequate food.
They become yellow and sickly and their growth greatly checked if not
completely stopped.
Effects of Tiling
An example of the marvelous effect on crop productions was clearly
shown by the first experiment in drainage on this farm. The first eighty
tiled was plowed and planted to corn. The lines were 200 feet apart
running across the eighty the short way. The corn was planted the short
way also. In the month of August visitors who were driven along the
turn row the full length of the eighty could look down the corn rows.
As they approached and crossed a tile line the corn gradually rose in
height around twelve and fourteen feet, and then gradually it dwindled
in size to not over a foot in height midway between the lines. Along
the tile lines the corn was a dark green color and luxuriant in growth,
gradually fading out to a sickly yellow as the effect of the tiling dimin-
ished. Over the tile lines, and for a considerable distance on either side,
the surplus of water was drained away and the plant food was made
available in abundance. The absence of water and presence of warm
air made the soil a splendid home for plant bacteria. The soil midway
between the lines was waterlogged and cold. Bacteria could not live in
such soil, therefore, the abundance of plant food in the soil was not avail-
able for the corn. It was too thin to furnish proper nourishment because
of the surplus of water in which it was in solution. It was a remarkable
sight — the alternating ridges of dark green corn twelve to fourteen
feet high, at intervals of every 200 feet over tile lines, with corresponding
depressions midway between the lines of yellow corn a foot high, both
extending across the full width of the eighty, with exact regularity. This
example was so convincing to the owner of the value of tile, he imme-
diately laid lines of tile between the existing lines, doubling the original
system. The year following the completion of this doubling of the lines,
he harvested from this eighty and adjoining forty which had been tiled
at the same time over 8,000 bushels of corn, or about seventy bushels
to the acre.
CHAPTER XIV
DODGE COUNTY AND MODERN ROADS
(By William H. Buss)
The substance of this chapter was derived from a very instructive
interview, obtained by one of our editors, from the Hon. George F.
Wolz, popularly known as "Good Roads Wolz," who, to use an historical
term, might well be called "The Great Waywarden" of eastern Nebraska.
This very busy and useful citizen wears with characteristic modesty sev-
eral other distinctions. He is commissioner of the Fremont Commercial
Club; president of the State Good Roads Association, and state consul
for the Lincoln Highway. Seen by our editor, he very cordially granted
an interview, recognizing at once that the new History of Dodge and
Washington Counties would be comparable with Hamlet, with Hamlet
left out, if it should fail to include a chapter on modern good roads.
He agreed that the presentation should begin far back in human annals,
and in the acknowledgment that among all the ancients the mighty peo-
ple of Rome were the most efficient road-builders, and that all subsequent
nations had learned much from them. Portions of Roman roads, after
more than 2,000 years, are still in use and are among the most notable
memorials of antiquity. However, with the decline of the Roman
empire, interest in good highways fell away, and not until the middle of
the Eighteenth Century was that interest revived. France was the leader
of the new movement, to be speedily followed by England, and the
main roads of Europe have, for 150 years, been of high and excellent
quality, admired by all tourists. The highways of our own country, on
the contrary, up to a half-century ago, were left to themselves, very
largely, and were a discredit to our civilization.
Such care as they received was rendered by local authorities, who
with no adequate system, or Government encouragement, slighted them,
and suffered them to come to such degeneration as they might. The
United States Government took charge of the roads in national parks, but
left all others to the people who use them. It is an interesting historic
fact that it was the invention and introduction of the bicycle, which first
awakened practical attention to the need of better roads. In our own
county before that time the pathways of travel were often impassable
from mud and water : whole stretches were a mass of gopher mounds,
rendering the road perilous ; and the grades, where the bluffs by the
rivers were approached, were not infrequently of 15 per cent. Attempts
at improvement include the casting up, in this section, of the Broad
Street grade in 1880 and that on Military Avenue in 1885. The roads
west of the county seat were through a sand region and needed less help.
The use of the bicycle, first of the high-wheel variety and then of the
safety, became very general and popular, and the imperative need of
better roads was more and more generally felt. This grew out of the
fact that relay races were attempted from coast to coast, and century
runs were widely practiced. Then came the advent of the automobile
and vastly augmented the popular cry for better roads. At first the
autocar could be used only in summer and fall and never in winter or
133
134
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
rainy weather. The mud and snow and their effects made it impossible.
These discoveries were made by such pioneers in gas-motor vehicles as
Ross L. Hammond and Dan V. Stephens and soon the press took up the
agitation for good roads at public expense. As in all times of progress
opposition soon developed and it was asserted that the demand was for
the taxation of property holders in the interest of joy-riders, the aristo-
crats of motor travel. But automobile owners multiplied ; the Ford was
invented and the friends of good roads rapidly increased. Pioneer enter-
prise in this direction began to develop. The Fremont Commercial Club
agitated for a co-operative movement in making the Arlington Road fit
for gas-car travel, and finally in co-operation with Elkhorn Township
raised and expended $1,500 for that pioneering project. This led soon
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after to the expenditure of $21,000 in Elkhorn Township for good roads
of a similar order. Incidental advantages of great worth soon were
experienced. The ditches excavated in road-building naturally consti-
tuted drainage districts which so benefited adjacent farms that from
being swamplands they became among the most productive in the county.
All this led to Government action which has since developed into a
most elaborate system of good-roads manufacture and preservation. In
the Department of Agriculture at Washington there was established a
road division, whose function was the study of the whole subject; its
supervision and the distribution of Federal aid. The first appropriation
was for $65,000,000 to be met by an equal amount from the several states.
The second appropriation was 'for $100,000,000, and a third for $200,-
000,000, and then were established district departments for the admin-
istration of these funds. The first Nebraska legislation in the interest of
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 135
good roads in connection with motor-travel was the imposition of a tax
of $3.00 on each machine, to be used to this purpose. This was in 1911.
In 1915 a State Highway Advisory Board was created to supervise the
general work and to recommend Government action. Legislation was
adopted providing also signs and markings for the identification of routes
of travel. In 1917 the first attempt was made by our state to provide
its part in response to the $65,000,000 Government appropriation and in
1919 liberal legislation was secured in co-operation with this and also
with the later and larger appropriations. There was made a 3 mill levy
for two years ; and an automobile tax was voted to bring in $3,000,000
for road maintenance. This legislation secured $10,500,000 for the
whole state, of which Dodge County received $127,000. Then the
auto tax of 1920, amounting to $60,000, was available, to which was
added a city and county levy of 4 mills each. The outcome is that by
act of the State Legislature we now have a splendid state highway sys-
tem, of which Dodge County has eighty miles, maintained by a state
patrol system which is increasingly efficient. Still another law allows
townships and counties to vote bonds not to exceed 10 per cent of
assessed valuation, for road construction.
Following are the names of the five Dodge County highways which
have come into being through this legislation :
(1) Lincoln Highway East. Lincoln Highway West.
(2) B Line, running from Fremont to Blair.
(3) Cornhusker Highway: Manville, Kansas, to Sioux City.
(4) Black Hills Trail, Omaha to Deadwood.
(5) Fremont-Albion Highway.
These are considered as the beginning of a great system of highways,
perfecting our county system of modern roads.
The matter of good roads mileage is of great interest. Nine hundred
out of a total of 1,054 miles in the county, are graded, and the strong
tendency is toward a general grading, drainage and surfacing. The pub-
lic interest is nearly universal, and the present co-operation is most
encouraging; and much to the credit of our splendid commonwealth.
Much might be said of the value of good roads to the county, which
most citizens now recognize. Of course they result in augmented
credit, in the east, where capital seeks investment. The question which
is asked when application is made for a loan on farm lands is apt to be
this : "What highway is your property upon ?"
Then as a result of paved roads passing farms, land values have
increased in some known cases fully $50 per acre.
What advantage good roads render in the matter of transportation,
either in the speed or comfort of travel, or in the marketing of farm
products simply cannot be estimated. That is the reason trucking has
become so vast and growing a business, and of such profit to agricul-
turists and consumers. Instead of this constituting harmful competition
with railroads, it is a benefit to the companies, who do not care for the
short hauls so much, preferring to care for their long hauling without
expensive interruptions.
But other values resulting from good modern highways are of a still
higher quality. They are educational and social; also constructively
moral and of the first civic worth.
The consolidation of country schools, now recognized as so great
and positive an advance in the promotion of rural educational interests,
is very largely the issue of the good-roads enterprise. Throughout the
county it will soon be a common sight to behold special school-trucks
136 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
equipped for the safe and quick transportation of Young America to the
central school buildings, and in all weathers, with comfort and
punctuality.
These same buildings made so easily accessible by good roads, will
become more and more used centers of community interests, in which the
social, civic and ethical life of the people will be conserved and pro-
moted. The rural problem, long seeming so increasingly difficult and
despairful, is likely to find its happy solution through the modem facili-
ties for travel and transportation; higher standards of home and civil
life will take precedence, and the country once more become, through the
new exodus from the abnormal life of the city, the fountain of the best
ideals of our American life. There is no truer patriotic duty than to
encourage this movement back to the farm and toward the contributory
perfecting of the highway system of our steadily progressive Dodge
County.
CHAPTER XV .
POLITICAL
General Comment — Vote on Governors — State Senators — House
OF Representatives — Party Vote of County by Decades Since
1868 — County Judges — County Attorney — County Treasurers
— County Clerks — Clerk of the Court — Sheriffs — Surveyors —
Superintendent of Public Instruction — Registrar of Deeds —
County Commissioners — Board of Supervisors.
Every true citizen has a political ambition, and although he may never
reach the highest pinnacle there is a possibility that his children may.
There is an excitement about a political campaign which all enjoy and
although personalities are frequently indulged in, as a general rule all
yield gracefully to the verdict of the people, a majority vote, and submit
themselves unto the "powers that be."
The various tables of party vote, etc., here annexed will give the reader
of this volume a fair idea of the political faith of the people of Dodge
County from 1854 down to the present time. Much careful research
in the county election records upon the part of the compiler of this work
has brought out the following roster of both state and county officials :
Vote on Governors
Vote Majority
1870— D. Butler 434 65
J. H. Croxton 369
1872— Robert W. Furnas 241
H. C. Lett 327 86
1874— Silas Garber 726 168
Albert Tuxbury 558
1876 — (No returns given)
1878— A. Nance 942 66
W. H. Webster 876
1880— A. Nance 1,439 357
T. W. Tipton 1,082
1882— J. W. Dawes 1,129
T. S. Morton 1,463 334
1884— j. W. Dawes 1.589
J. S. Morton 1,724 135
1886— John M. Thayer 1,324
James E. North 1,511 40
H. W. Hardy 147
1888— John M. Thayer 1,780
S. A. McShane 2.320 379
Geo. E. Bigelow 169
1890— L. D. Richards 1,623
T. E. Boyd 2,127 504
T. H. Powers 549
1892— Lorenzo Crounse 1,348
T. Sterling Morton 1.676 326
C. E. Bentley 89
Chas. H. Van Wyck 680
137
138 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
(The names of the governors elected from this point to present time
are here given, but not the abstract of votes.)
1895-99— Silas Holcomb.
1901— William A. Poynter.
1901— Charles Dietrich.
1901-03— E. P. Savage.
1903-07— John H. Mickey.
1907-09— George L. Sheldon.
1909-11— A. C. Shellenberger.
1911.13_Chester H. Aldrich.
1913-17— Tohn H. Moorehead.
1917-19— Keith Neville.
1919-21— Samuel R. McKelvie.
State Senators
The following shows the years served by the various state senators
representing Dodge County :
1866— David Leach.
1867— William A. Preston.
1869— (No record.)
1871— A. W. Tenant.
1873— S. W. Hayes.
1875— H. D. Perky.
1877— G. F. Blanchard.
1879— William Marshall.
1881— Isaac Power, Jr.
1883— Charles Sang.
1885— John E. Shervin.
1887— John E. Shervin.
1889— John Dern.
1891— J. M. Brown.
1893 — John Thomsen.
1895— S. W. Hayes.
1897-09— W. D. Haller.
1909-13— Fred Volpp.
1913-15_Geo. F. Wolz.
1915.17_Wallace H. Wilson.
State Representatives
(Territorial.)
1855— M. H. Clark.
1857— Silas E." Seeley.
1859— Henry W. De Puy.
1860— Samuel H. Elbert.
1862— Samuel H. Elbert.
1864— C. Blanchard.
1866— Geo. J. Turton.
1867— J. E. "Dorsey.
(Under Statehood.)
1867— Henry P. Beebe.
1869— E. H. Barnard.
1871— A. C. Briggs, Frank Kupp.
1873— Milton May.
1875— J. W. Barnes.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 139
1877— N. S. Belden.
1879— G. C. Bruce.
1881— Wm. Fried.
1883— J. C. Homer.
1885— F. E. White, John Heinrich.
1887— James G. Gamble, C. F. Eisley.
1889— L. P. Larson.
1891— N. P. Nelson.
1893— N. P. Nelson.
1894— W. J. McVicker.
1895— Joseph Roberts.
1897— S. S. Van Horn, W. D. Holbrook.
1899— M. T. Zallers.
1901 — Daniel Swanson, George L. Loomis.
1902 — William J. Harman, George L. Loomis.
1903 — George L. Loomis, William J. Harman.
1905 — Joseph Roberts, William J. Harman.
1907— F. A. Howe, J. H. Knowles.
1909— F. P. Lawrence, William J. McVicker.
1911— William J. McVicker, F. P. Lawrence.
1912 — George W. Losey.
1913 — M. E. Shiplev, George W. Losev.
1914— William G. J. Dau.
1915— C. E. Sievers, William G. J. Dau.
1916— Norman E. Shaffer, William G. J. Dau.
1917— William G. J. Dau, N. E. Shaffer.
1918— Andrew Frost.
County Judges
The first probate or county judge in Dodge County was S. I. Francis,
who held the office by appointment, from early in 1856 to January 1, 1857,
after which came the following soon after their election:
1856 — James G. Smith (rep.).
1857 — Samuel Strickland (rep.).
1859— Samuel Strickland (rep.).
1860— E. H. Barnard (rep.).
1861— L. H. Rogers (rep.).
1863— H. P. Beebe (rep.).
1865— T. H. Crabbs (rep.).
1867— E. C. Usher (rep.).
1869— E. C. Usher (rep.).
1871— N. H. Bell (rep.).
1873— W. C. Ghost (dem.).
1875— W. C. Ghost (dem.).
1877— W. H. Ely (dem.).
1879— W. H. Ely (dem.).
1881 — James Murray (dem.).
1883 — Tames Murray (dem.).
1885— T. T. Barge (dem.).
1887— j. j. Barge (dem.).
1889— William H. Hunter (dem.).
1891— William H. Hunter (dem.).
1893— Glaus H. Plambeck.
1895— Glaus H. Plambeck.
140 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
1897 — Waldo Wintersteen.
1899— Waldo Wintersteen.
1903— A. H. Briggs.
1905— Robert J. Stinson.
1909— Robert J. Stinson.
1911— Robert J. Stinson.
1914 — Waldo Wintersteen.
1918— Waldo Wintersteen.
County Attorney
This office was created to go into effect in 1888. Prior to that
such business was looked after by attorneys employed by the commis-
sioners, as also by the prosecuting attorney who served for the whole
judicial district. In 1888 George R. Loomis (dem.) was elected and in
1890 C. Hollenback (dem.) was elected and re-elected in the fall of 1892.
1894— J. W. C. Abbott.
1895— Grant G. Martin.
1906— John W. Graham.
1914— Fred W. Button.
1916— T. C. Cook.
191&— J. C. Cook.
County Clerks
1856 — Samuel D. Prescott (appointed).
1856 — Julius Brainard (election), rep.
1859— John Ray (rep.).
1861— J. F. Reynolds (rep.).
1863— E. H. Rogers (rep.).
1865— E. H. Rogers (rep.).
1867— A. G. Brugh (rep.).
1869— A. G. Brugh (rep.).
1871— L. M. Keene (rep.).
1873— L. M. Keene (rep.).
1875 — Charles Sang (dem.).
1877 — Charles Sang (dem.).
1879— G. C. Kerkow (dem.).
1881— J. C. Kerkow (dem.).
1883— G. H. Forney (rep.).
1885— G. H. Forney (rep.).
1887— O. H. P. Shively (rep.).
1889— Thomas Killeen (dem.).
1891— Thomas Killeen (dem.).
1893— Wenzel Legro.
1895— Charles A. Manville.
1897— Charles A. Manville.
1899— George A. Murrell.
1903— C. O. Boe.
1905— C. O. Boe.
1907 — James A. Donahue.
1909— Tames A. Donahue.
1911— John O'Connor.
1914 — John O'Connor?
1916— W. E. Barz, present clerk.
Joseph C. Cook
142 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
County Treasurers
1856— H. P. Beebe.
1858— Silas J. Francis (rep.).
1859— Silas J. Francis (rep.).
I860— H. C. Campbell (rep.).
1861— H. C. Campbell (rep.).
1863 — George W. Wolcott (not qualifying, Theron Nye (rep.)
was appointed).
1865— Theron Nye (rep.).
1867— E. H. Barnard (rep.).
1869— S. B. Colson (rep.).
1871— S. B. Colson (rep.).
1873— A. C. Briggs (rep.).
1875— John E. Shervin (dem.).
1877— John E. Shervin (dem.).
1879 — John Grunkranz (dem.).
1881 — John Grunkranz (dem.).
1883— E. N. Morse (dem.).
1885— E. N. Morse (dem.).
1887— B. F. Stouffer (rep.).
1889— John Dem (dem.).
1891— John Dern (dem.).
1893— "N. P. Nelson.
1895— N. P. Nelson.
1897— William F. Easier.
1899— William F. Basler.
1903— George J. Coddington.
1905— John H. Knoell.
1907— John H. Knoell.
1909 — Morris Horstmann.
1914— Ernest Hahn.
1916— Ernest Hahn.
1918— Joe Roberts.
Clerk of the Court
Until about 1874 this was an appointive office within the gift of the
presiding judge. Julius Barnard was the first to act in such capacity.
He was followed by Mr. Hazen. Next came J. J. Hawthorne, who
held the position until 1875. when the office was combined with the
county clerk's office (ex-officio). The first to hold the two offices was
L. M. Keene who served four years when the office again became an
office by itself and was also made elective. In 1879 G. H. Forney
was elected and in 1881 re-elected; then came the following:
1883 — Louis Spear (dem.).
1885 — Louis Spear (dem.).
1887— George W. Davy (dem.).
1891— J. M. Shively (rep.).
1895— Tames Shively.
1899 — James M. Cruickshank.
1903 — James M. Cruickshank.
1906— Luke Mundy.
1911— Luke Mundy.
1916— Peter F. Mitterling.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Sheriffs
1856— J. M. Hancock.
1859 — Henry C. Lemmon.
1860— John B. Watterman.
1861— William Wilson.
1863— J. H. Teats.
1865— T. H. Teats.
1867— Ed Fuller.
1869— D. M. Strong (rep.).
1871 — Thomas Turner (dem.).
1873 — Thomas Turner (dem.).
1875 — August Kopplekom (dem.).
1877 — August Kopplekom (dem.).
1879 — Robert Gregg (dem.).
1881— Robert Gregg (dem.).
1883 — Thomas Curran (dem.).
1885 — Thomas Curran (dem.).
1887— Tames P. Mallon (dem.).
1889— James P. Mallon (dem.).
1891— Tames Milliken (dem.).
1893— Tames Milliken.
1895— James M. Kreader.
1897 — James M. Kreader.
1899— Tames M. Kreader.
1903— A. Bauman, Tr.
1905— A. Bauman, Tr.
1906— A. Bauman, Jr.
1909— A. Bauman, Tr.
191 1_W. C. Gondii.
1914— W. C. Condit.
1916— W. C. Condit.
1918— W. C. Condit.
County Land Surveyors
Prior to 1861 no regular county surveyor was elected.
1861 — Isaac E. Heaton (rep.).
1863 — Isaac E. Heaton (rep.).
1865 — Isaac E. Heaton (rep.).
1867 — Isaac E. Heaton (rep.).
1869 — F. W. Wirminghaus (rep.).
1871 — F. W. Wirminghaus (rep.j.
1873 — F. W. Wirminghaus (rep.).
1875— John W. Dougherty (rep.).
(L. D. Richards filled out term.)
1877— L. D. Richards (rep.).
1879— C. W. Hvatt (rep.).
1881— G. W. D. Reynolds (dem.).
1883— Herman Radicke (dem.).
1885— Herman Radicke (dem.).
1887— Chris Baysel (dem.).
1889— T. W. Andrews (dem.).
1891— T. W. Andrews (dem.).
1893— G. W. D. Reynolds.
144 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
1895— John W. Andrews.
1897— W. J. McVickers.
1899— W. J. McVickers.
1903— William M. Sanders.
1905— William M. Sanders.
1907— William M. Sanders.
1909— W. M. Sanders.
191 1_W. M. Sanders.
1914— W. M. Sanders.
1916— W. M. Sanders.
1918— W. M. Sanders.
Superintendent of Public Instruction
The functions of this office from 1856 to 1869 were not what they
were in later years and indeed were not well defined by the statutes.
A. G. Brugh, Mr. Campbell and Rev. Isaac E. Heaton, served as a
sort of school superintendent in their respective order. Mr. Heaton
selected a portion of the school lands and examined some of the earlier
teachers. In 1860 the present system became a state law, or soon after
Nebraska was admitted into the Union.
1869— W. H. Ely (dem.). He resigned and
Reverend Wilson was appointed.
1871— Tohn Cayton (rep.).
1873— John Cavton (rep.).
1875— H. G. Wolcott (rep.).
1877 — George W. Simpson (dem.).
1879— George A. Stanley (dem.).
1881 — George A. Stanley (dem.).
1883— E. M. Springer.
1885— Frank C. Tym (dem.).
1887— A. E. Clarendon (rep.).
1889— D. V. Stephens (dem.).
1891— D. V. Stephens (dem.).
1893— J. A. Collins.
1895— J. A. Collins.
1897— Conrad O. Boe.
1899— Conrad O. Boe.
1903— Charles Arnot.
1905— John N. Matzen.
1907— John N. Matzen.
1909— John N. Matzen.
1911— John N. Matzen.
1914 — John N. Matzen.
1916— John N. Matzen.
1918— John N. Matzen.
Registrar of Deeds
With two exceptions, the office of registrar and that of county clerk
have been a combined office. In 1859 John Evans was elected as
registrar, and in 1860, H. W. DePuy was elected. After his time
expired the county clerk again resumed the duties which had devolved
upon the office known as registrar. In 1892 the law was again changed
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 145
in this county since which date there has been a separate office, known
as "Registrar of Deeds." The following have filled this important posi-
tion until the present:
1893— George F. Looschen.
1897 — George F. Looschen.
1905— John O'Connor.
1909— Fred Klaes.
1914_Fred Klaes.
1918— Ernest Hahn.
Coroners
There is no complete record of the office of coronor in this county
in the early times, hence we give such data as appears of record today :
1893, E. W. Martin; 1895, E. W. Martin; 1897, M. B. CroU; 1899,
Robert P. Jensen ; 1903, Dr. Frank Brown ; 1905, Dr. A. P. Overgaard ;
1907, Dr. A. P. Overgaard; 1909, Dr. A. P. Overgaard; 1911, Dr. A. P.
Overgaard; 1914, Dr. A. P. Overgaard.
County Commissioners
Under the old precinct system in Dodge County the county commis-
sioners who had charge of all county governmental affairs were these:
1856 — William E. Lee (dem.), Thomas Fitzsimmons (dem.), L. C.
Baldwin.
1857— Thomas Fitzsimmons (dem.), W. E. Lee (dem.), C. A.
Whiteford.
1858— C. A. Whiteford, Thomas Fitzsimmons (dem.), G. J. Turton
(rep.).
1859 — G. J. Turton (rep.), Thomas Fitzsimmons (dem.), Jared
Blanchard (rep.).
1860 — George Turner (dem.), Thomas Fitzsimmons (dem.), G. J.
Turton (dem.).
1861— W. H. Ely (dem.), G. J. Turton (rep.), Thomas Wilson
(dem.).
1862— George Turner (dem.), W. H. Ely (dem.), Thomas Wilson
(dem.).
1863— W. H. Ely (dem.), George Turner (dem.), V. C. Valentine.
1864 — George Young (rep.), J. E. Dorsey (rep.), George Turner
(dem.).
1865 — George Turner (dem.), George Young (rep.), J. E. Dorsey
(rep.).
1866— George Turner (dem.), George Young (rep.), J. E. Dorsey
(rep.).
1867 — George Young (rep.), Christopher Knoell (rep.), George
Turner (dem.).
1868 — Robert Graham (rep.), A. C. Briggs (rep.), George Turner
(dem.).
1869— George F. Blanchard (rep.), A. C. Briggs (rep.), Robert
Graham (rep.).
1870— John P. Eaton (rep.), George F. Blanchard (rep.), A. C.
Briggs (rep.).
1871— John P. Eaton (rep.), J. J. Hawthorne (rep.), A. C. Briggs
(rep.).
1872— John C. Seeley (rep.), John P. Eaton (rep.), J. J. Haw-
thorne (rep.).
146 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
1873— John P. Seeley (rep.), John P. Eaton (rep.), J. J. Haw-
thorne (rep.).
1874 — John C. Seeley (rep.), F. M. Tillman (dem.), Baxter Nico-
demus (rep.).
1875— John C. Seeley (rep.), F. M. Tillman (dem.), Theron Nye
(ind.).
1876— E. C. Burns (rep.), F. M. Tillman (dem.), Theron Nye
(ind.).
1877— E. C. Burns (rep.), F. M. Tillman (dem.), Theron Nye
(ind.).
1878— E. C. Burns (rep.), F. M. Tillman (dem.\ Theron Nye
(ind.).
1879— E. C. Burns (rep.), M. H. Hinman (dem.), F. M. Tillman
(dem.).
1880— Milton May (rep.), M. H. Hinman (dem.), E. C. Burns
(rep.).
1881— E. C. Burns (rep.), H. T. Lee (rep.), Milton May (rep.).
1882— Milton May (rep.), H. "T. Lee (rep.), J. H. Caldwell (dem.).
1883— Milton May (rep.), J. H. Caldwell (dem.), H. J. Lee (rep.).
1884— J. H. Caldwell (dem.), M. Welch (dem.).
1885— M. Welch (dem.), Milton May (rep.), J. H. Caldwell (dem.).
1886— J. H. Caldwell (dem.), George C. Laird (dem.), M. Weich
(dem.).
County Supervisors
During 1886, by popular vote, the "Township Organization" was
adopted in Dodge County, the same taking effect soon after the annual
election; those who comprised the board until January 1, 1887, and
the first and succeeding county supervisors have been as follows :
1886— M. Weich (dem.), 'John F. Dierks (dem.), William E. Lee
(ind.), A. C. Jensen (rep.),"F. M. Tillman (dem.), H. G. Wolcott
(rep.), James S. Jennings (dem.), H. H. Robinson (dem.), J. B. Foote
(rep.), John Emanuel (dem.), J. A. Sill (rep.), B. F. Laird (dem.),
H. Christy (dem.), Nels Johnson (rep.).
1887— B. F. Laird (dem.), J. H. Graham (rep.), John F. Dierks,
chairman (dem.), F. M. Tillman (dem.). A. C. Jensen (rep.), William
E. Lee (ind.), H. Christy (dem.), M. Weich (dem.), Peter Themes
(dem.), James S. Jennings (dem.), John Emanuel (dem.), H. A. Milli-
ken (rep.), J. B. Foote (rep.), J. A. Sill, Charles High (ind.), H. H.
Robinson (dem.), H. G. Wolcott (rep.), Evan Thomas, A. R. Hasson
(rep.).
1888— H. G. Wolcott, chairman (rep.), H. Christy (dem.), W. H.
Mead (rep.), Emil Eichblatt (dem.), W. D. Thomas (dem.), J. B.
Foote (rep.), H. A. Milliken (rep.), W. I. Wady (rep.), John Emanuel
(dem.), R. B. Schneider (rep.), M. Weich (dem."), Evan Thomas, T- B.
Imsicke (dem.), F. M. Tillman (rep.), S. M. Nelson, J. G. McV'icker
(ind.), Ed Watkins (rep.), Herman Wolsleger (dem.), A. P. Nelson.
1889 — R. B. Schneider, chairman (rep.), Emil Eichblatt (dem.),
E. G. Brugh (rep.), John Emanuel (dem.), J. B. Foote (rep.), W. H.
Mead (rep.), Herman Monnich (dem.), J. G. McVicker (ind.), Sven
M. Nelson, Herman Suhr (dem.), William D. Thomas (dem.), L. A.
Warner (ind.), Ed Watkins (rep.). D. C. Westfall (ind.), B. W.
Reynolds (rep.), A. P. Shephard (rep.), F. M. Tillman (dem.). M. Weicb
(dem.). Herman Wolsleger (dem.).
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 147
1890— W. D. Thomas, chairman (dem.), H. P. Beebe, (rep.), E. G.
Brugh (rep.), Kluth (dem.), W. H. Mead (rep.), J. G. McVicker
(ind.), A. P. Shephard (rep.), F. M. Tillman (dem.), M. Welch (dem.),
Herman Wolsleger (dem.), H. Christy (dem.), Ernst Eichblatt (dem.),
Hugh Foy (dem.), Charles High (ind.), Herman Monnich (dem.), A.
Crawford (dem.), R. B. Schneider (rep.), Theodore Uehling (dem.),
L. A. Warner (ind.).
1891— W. D. Thomas, chairman ( dem.), H. P. Beebe (rep.). W. H.
Mead (rep.), Herman Monnich (dem.), J. A. Sill (rep.), Theodore
Uehling (dem.), Anton Bartosh (dem.), Charles Balduff (dem.), C. M.
Black (ind.), D. Rastede (dem.), Herman Rexin (ind.), H. Wolslager
(dem.), M. Welch (dem.), W. T. Crook (rep.), C. E. Christ (ind.),
F. I. Ellick (dem.), Hugh Foy (dem.), Charles High (ind.), J. M.
Kreader (rep.), M. C. Mitchell (rep.).
1892— J. A. Sill, chairman (rep.), C. M. Black (ind.), Oscar A.
Bergquist (ind.), Anton Bartosh (dem.), J. A. Elliott (rep.), Eugene
C. Christ (ind.). Peter Emanuel (dem.), Henry K. Goff (rep.), John
M. Kreader (rep.), Jegen Larson, W. H. Mead (rep.), M. C.
Mitchell (rep.), D. Rastede (dem.). John Tym (ind.). Herman Rexin
(ind.), Herman Wolslager (dem.), S. S. Van Horn (dem.).
1893 — Messrs. Sill. Bartosh. Bergquist. Black, Gayton, Elliott, Eman-
uel, Goff, Kreader. Larson, Mitchell, Rastede, Rexin, Tym, Van Horn
and Wolslager.
1894 — Messrs, Briggs, Bergquist, Chapman, C. W. Dodge, S. Gay-
ton, Goff, Hastings, E. W. Hooker, Howe, J. Larson, W. H. Mead,
D. Rastede, Charles Sievers, Mr. Themes, Townsend, Van Horn and
J. A. Elliott.
1895 — Messrs. Balduff, Basler, Bergquist, Dodge, Hastings, Hind-
marsh. Hooker, Howe. Larson, Rexin, Reynolds, Shultz, Siever, Town-
send. Van Horn. Williams.
1896— T. R. Acom, W. F. Basler, A. J. Hastings, E. W. Hooker.
W. H. Mead, Charles Sievers, B. W. Reynolds.
1897— T. R. Acom, W. F. Basler, E. W. Hooker, W. H. Mead,
Wormwood. Sievers and Reynolds.
1898— E. W. Hooker, W. H. Mead. C. M. Wormwood, S. W. Boyd,
G. W. Wolcott. John Romberg and lohn Tym.
1899— W. H. Mead, C. W. Wormwood. Andrew Linn, Joseph
Roberts. lohn Tvm. lohn Romberg. S. W. Bovd.
1900-^Peter Parkert. John Tym, S. W. Boyd, W. H. Mead, Joseph
Roberts. C. M. Wormwood, Andrew Linn.
1901— S. W. Boyd. John Tym, Peter Parkert, W. H. Mead, Nels
Martensen, Joseph Roberts.
1902— Peter Parkert. William A. Graham. S. W. Boyd, J. Roberts,
C. W. Hepburn. Nels Martensen.
1903— Nels Martensen, C. W. Hepburn, C. B. Noyes, W. H. Mead,
W. A. Graham.
1904— Nels Martensen. S. W. Boyd, C. W. Hepburn, P. J. Flanigan,
W. H. Mead. C. B. Noyes and W. A. Graham.
1905— S. W. Boyd, A. P. Shephard. C. B. Noyes. J. Larson. P. J.
Flanigan, Luke Mundv. W. A. Graham.
1906— Al E. Evan's. P. J. Flanigan, Ralph Main, M. J. O'Hara,
J. Larson.
1907— A. E. Evans, R. Main, M. J. O'Hara. P. J- Flanigan, J. Larson,
Ole E. Olsen, A. J. Forman.
1908— J. Larson. P. J. Flanigan, M. J. O'Hara, Z. T. Rector, Ole
Olsen, A. W. Murphy, A. J. Forman.
148 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
1909— P. J. Flanigan, A. J. Forman, J. Larson, A. W. Murphy,
M. J. O'Hara, O. E. Olsen, Z. T. Rector.
i910 — Messrs. Forman, Larson, Murphy, O'Hara, Rector, Olsen.
1911 — Messrs. Forman, Flanigan, Olsen, Rector, O'Hara, Murphy,
W. H. Mead and J. Larson.
1912— W. H. Mead, Joseph Roberts, J. Larson, P. J. Flanigan, M. J.
O'Hara. Z. T. Rector.
1913— Messrs. Murphy, Roberts, Peter Parkert, Z. T. Rector, J.
Larson and O'Hara.
1914 — Messrs. Roberts, D. Livingston, P. J. Flanigan, Parker, Rector
and J. H. Forney.
1915 — Flanigan, J. H. Forney, Murphy, Roberts, Parkert, D. Liv-
ingston and Z. T. Rector.
1916 — Murphy, Maurice Nelson, Parkert, Oscar Widman, Forman,
Flanigan and Z. T. Rector.
1917 — Flanigan, Scott, A. W. Murphy, Maurice Nelson, Parkert,
Forney and Widman.
1918— A. W. Murphy, Flanigan, Widman, Parkert, M. Nelson,
Forney, Scott.
1919 — Messrs. Widman, Nelson, A. W. Murphy, Flanigan, Forney,
Scott, M. A. Uehling.
1920 — A. W. Murphy, chairman. M. A. Uehling, P. J. Flanigan, Oscar
Widman, Maurice Nelson, F. J. Stecher.
Party Vote by Decades
The following shows the party vote by ten year periods, beginning
with 1868:
Precinct Republican Democrat
1868— Fremont 202 93
Maple 46 12
North Bend 53 14
Logan Creek 42 48
1878 — Total vote of Dodge County: republican, 726; democrat, 558;
independent, 24; prohibitionist, 3.
Precinct Republican Democrat Prohibition
1888— Pebble 35 145 3
Elkhorn 46 45 4
Ridgeley 39 121 4
Union 67 79 10
Everett 55 108 2
Platte Ill 59 7
Cotterell 118 79 2
Pleasant Valley 61 84 2
Webster 58 193 3
Logan 77 67 8
Maple 79 91 13
Nickerson 92 62 13
Hooper 118 156 25
North Bend 99 76 33
Cuming 75 225 7
Fremont 717 641 42
Total 1.853 2,231 178
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 149
In 1898 the fusionists carried this county in the state election.
In 1900 William McKinley, presidential candidate, carried Dodge
County by a handsome majority.
In 1904 Theodore Roosevelt carried the county (republican).
In 1908 William J. Bryan carried the county (democratic).
In 1912 Woodrow Wilson carried the county (democratic).
Public Men of County
Among the men of business ability who have been connected with
politics in Nebraska and the Union may be named the following which
is doubtless only a partial list of strong political characters from Fre-
mont and Dodge County; United States Congressmen, Samuel Max-
well, Dan V. Stephens, G. W. E. Dorsey, who was also nominee for
governor in Nebraska: United States District Judge Munger; R. B.
Schneider, member of the executive committee of the Republican
National Committee ; L. D. Richards, nominee for governor of Nebraska ;
Ross L. Hammond, nominee for congressman ; District Judge C. C.
Holenbeck; E. M. Eaton, state commissioner of lands and buildings;
state senators and representatives, B. W. Reynolds, Dan Swanson, G. L.
Loomis, Joe Roberts, John E. Shervin.
Township Officers for 1919-1920
The following were the township officials within the various town-
ships in Dodge County in 1919-1920:
Union Township
Clerk— Solomon Ruflf, North Bend, R. F. D. No. 3.
Treasurer— C. B. Stark, North Bend, R. F. D. No. 2.
Assessor —
Justice of the Peace— John Quigley, North Bend, R. F. D., No. 2.
Pleasant Valley Township
Clerk — Joe Sturbaum, Scribner, R. F. D. No. 1.
Assessor— Peter Emanuel, Sr., North Bend, R. F. D. No. 3.
Treasurer — Joseph Minarick, Scribner, R. F. D. No. 1.
Justice of the Peace — William Rittig, Scribner, R. F. D. No. 5.
Webster Township
Clerk — Henry Parr, Dodge.
Treasurer — Tom Vogeltanc, Dodge.
Assessor — C. W. Hepburn, Dodge.
Justice of the Peace — J. J. Hrabak, Dodge.
Constable — Joseph Roubinek, Dodge.
Cotterell Township
Clerk — George Jorgensen, Ames, R. F. D. No. 1.
Treasurer— William Hull, North Bend, R. F. D. No. 1.
Assessor — Fred Howe, North Bend, R. F. D. No. 1.
Justice of the Peace— P. H. Westphalen, North Bend, R. F. D. No. 1.
ISO DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES ■
RiDGELEY Township
Clerk— B. G. Hey wood, Scribner, R. F. D. No. 1.
Treasurer — A. C. Rexin, Scribner, R. F. D. No. 1.
Assessor — Jacob Ries, Scribner, R. F. D. No. 3.
Justice of the Peace — Chris Stuehmer, Scribner, R. F. D. No. 3.
Pebble Township
Clerk — William J. Wolsleger, Snyder.
Treasurer — Claudi Wendorf: Snyder.
Assessor — Carl Hollander, Scribner, R. F. D. No. 2.
Justice of the Peace — Henry Oberman, Snyder.
Constable — Herman Seidel, Snyder.
Platte Township
Clerk — Emil Diederichs, Fremont, R. F. D. No. 1.
Treasurer — Arthur Johnson, Ames.
Assessor — A. O. Swartwood, Fremont.
Justice of the Peace — Henry L. Beebe, Fremont.
M.^PLE Township
Clerk— Robert H. C. O'Brien, Ames, R. F. D. No. 1.
Assessor — Ira Parsons, Fremont, R. F. D. No. I.
Treasurer — Walter H. Olson, Ames.
Justice of the Peace — W. D. Holbrook, Ames.
Everett Township
Clerk— J. H. Windhausen, Hooper, R. F. D. No. 2.
Treasurer — Peter Parkert, Jr., Hooper, R. F. D. No. 2.
Assessor— John W. Dahl, Scribner, R. F. D. No. 3.
Justice of the Peace — Gerhard Hilgen, Scribner, R. F. D. No. 3.
Cuming Township
Clerk — Fred Osterloh, Scribner.
Treasurer — Henry Edelmaier, Scribner.
Assessor — Otto W. Grose, Scribner.
Justice of the Peace — Henry Hiebenthal, Scribner.
' Nickerson Township
Clerk — Edward Langhorst, Nickerson.
Treasurer, Anton Nelson, Fremont, R. F. D. No. 1.
Assessor —
Justice of the Peace — David Herman, Nickerson.
Hooper Township
Clerk — Harry J. Schwab, Hooper.
Treasurer — William Frock, Hooper.
Assessor — William F. Easier, Hooper.
Justice of the Peace — Chris Royer, Jr., Hooper.
Constable — Fred Schroeder, Hooper.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 151
Logan Township
Clerk— H. J. Nelson, Hooper, R. F. D. No. 3.
Treasurer — Frank T. Uehling.
Assessor — Oliver O. Larson, Uehling.
Justice of the Peace — Emil Christensen, Hooper, R. F. D. No. 4.
Elkiiorn Township
Clerk — James Sutton, Fremont.
Treasurer —
Assessor — J. C. Jensen, Fremont.
Justice of the Peace —
North Bend Township
Assessor — ^James M. Easom, North Bend.
Justice of the Peace — J. T. Moolick, North Bend.
Constable — Russell Anderson, North Bend.
Fremont Township
Justice of the Peace — W. M. Stone, Fremont.
Justice of the Peace- — Henry M. Kidder, Fremont.
Constable — George F. Easier, Fremont.
Police Judge— A. K. Dame, Fremont.
CHAPTER XVI
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL
INTERESTS
President McKinley's Estimate of Free Schools — Schools of
Fremont — The Present City Schools — North Bend Schools —
Scribner Schools — Hooper Schools — Other First Schools —
Dodge — Snyder — Crowell — Nickerson — County School Superin-
tendent's Annual Report — Buildings — Pupils — Expenses —
Other School Statistics — Graded Schools in County — Private
and Parochial Schools — Teachers' Wages Now — Valuation and
Tax Levy of School Districts in 1920 — Fremont Normal School
AND Business Institute — Fremont Business College — Midland
College.
The late William McKinley, many years ago, said this concerning
the free school system of the United States :
"An open schoolhouse, free to all, evidences the highest type of
advanced civilization. It is the gateway to progress, prosperity, and
honor, and the best security for the liberties and independence of the
people. It is the strongest rock of the foundation, the most enduring
stone of the temple of liberty, our surest stay in every storm, our pres-
ent safety, our future hope, aye, the very citadel of our influence and
power. It is better than garrisons and guns, than forts and fleets. An
educated people, governed by true moral principle, can never take a
backward step, nor be dispossessed of their citizenship and liberties.
"Permanently engrafted upon the policy and legislation of the state,
it is free to all ; to it all are invited to come and are welcome, without
money and without price. It is supported by the boundless generosity
of the people of the state, open to the children of the humblest citizen
or exile sojourner within our gates, as freely and ungrudgingly as to
the native born of the children of the most opulent. Within its juris-
diction all ('istinctions, social, political, and religious, are banished; all
differences hushed, all barriers removed. It recognizes neither party
nor church, creed, condition, nor station, but free as the air we breathe,
its bounties and benefits fall in equal measure upon all."
Schools of Fremont
An intelligent, thinking people always aim to give their children
the best possible educational advantages, hence one looks and finds the
standard of public schools in the City of Fremont very high. From
the earliest days when Miss Charity Colson opened and maintained her
.private school on through the first public school periods, up to the end
of more than three score years, Fremont's educational ideal, its theory
and practice, have ever demanded and secured the best.
Father Isaac E. Heaton came in 1856, expecting to be a teacher
here; he was a highly cultured scholar, ever leading to better educa-
tional ground.
It is certain that the first school was taught by Miss Charity Colson
in 1858. It was a private school kept in a frame building that had been
152
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 153
erected by two young men, and in which "bachelor hall" was kept for
some time. It stood on Eighth Street near "D." The first public school
was taught in this building, in the summer of 1859, by Miss Helen
McNeill, of Elkhom City.
Without any attempt to give even a partial list of teachers, in pass-
ing it may be said that among early and later teachers are recalled the
names of the Misses McNeill, Rogers, Van Anda, McCarn, Gofif, Miss
Mary Heaton (afterwards so prominent as Mrs. J. J. Hawthorne),
the Misses Emma Ely, Evalyn Clark, the Misses Griswold, Emma Gillette,
Ollie Carmon, Lizzie and Marie Haas, Mrs. Blakesley, and Miss Spicard.
Also superintendents — Clarendon, Hornberger, Miller, Laird and
Gardner.
First Methodist Episcopal Church, Fremont, 1899
Central or Old High School, 1870
The first regularly built public schoolhouse in Fremont was oppo-
site where the Episcopal Church now stands, on Fifth Street. It was
a long, two room, one story building. This served the town, with no
additional buildings until 1870, when the "Central School Building"
was provided. This stood on the west side of the park, next north
from the Methodist Episcopal Church of today, and was condemned
and torn down a number of years ago, and the present magnificent
high school structure was erected.
In 1877 a $1,500 two story frame building was erected south of the
railroad, and in 1892 it was removed to Englewood Addition.
In 1879 a two story four-room brick building was erected on Clark-
son Avenue, between Third and Fourth streets. This cost $7,000. In
1888 an addition was made. This building has recently been remodeled
and repainted so that it does not show its age and is in first-class
condition.
In 1882 a four room brick schoolhouse was erected an "K" Street
between Fifth and Sixth streets. This was known as the West Ward
School. In 1887 two rooms were added to this building.
The "North School" was erected in 1883. It was a two story, four-
room structure, on Union Street, between Tenth and Eleventh. In
154
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
1888 a one story frame schoolhouse was erected at a cost of $900.
This was north of the tracks and was used for small scholars.
Concerning the old high school building — the one used until the
present one was finished — a writer on the schools in 1892 remarked:
"The High School building — the pride of the city and the finest in the
State — was erected in 1889, at a cost of $23,000. It is a magnificent
two story brick structure, located on a half block of land, between
Main and "D" streets on Eighth. It is modern in all of its designs. The
building is divided into nine rooms, exclusive of ample cloak and closet
rooms. The building is heated by furnaces, well arranged in every
particular."
In 1889 the city also built a two story, six-room building on the
south side of the tracks, on Jensen Street.
High School, Fremont
In the spring of 1892 the city voted bonds to the amount of $18,000,
for the purpose of building two nine thousand dollar buildings — one
for the northeast part of the place and one for the Nye-Hawthorne
Addition.
Very early in the history of schools in Fremont, the women were
allowed to hold office on the school board and through this many improv-
ments were made in school affairs. Mrs. M. E. Reynolds' records as
secretary in 1892, disclose these facts: At that date there were in
Fremont six brick and two frame buildings used for school purposes;
the total value of these was $88,000. Total enrollment, 1,700 scholars.
Thirty-four teachers — all ladies but two. The district then had a debt
of $50,000.
The average cost per pupil for the school year was $17.35. The
superintendent received a salary of $1,500 and female teachers received
$49 per month.
Free text books were first used here in 1891. The Board of Educa-
tion serving in 1892, when the above figures were compiled, was as
follows: J. W. Harris, president; Thomas Carroll, vice president;
Mrs. M. E. Reynolds, secretary; Mrs. C. M. Nye, Fred L. Nesbit,
G. L. Loomis.
The board at present — 1920 — is as follows: S. S. Sidner, president;
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 155
D. D. Rowe, vice president ; J. A. Donahue, secretary ; C. H. Christen-
sen, Elizabeth Forster and Mrs. Catherine Marshall.
The Present City Schools
The present city schools in Fremont are as follows : High School,
Central School, East School, Inglewood School, North School, Nye-
Hawthorne School, Observation School, Sheldon School, West School,
West Side School.
Other Fremont educational institutions are : Midland College,
St. Patrick's School (Catholic), Trinity Parochial School (Lutheran).
Present High School Building
Fremont's present high school building was completed, ready for
use, in 1915, and its total cost was approximately $175,000. The orig-
inal contractor after having gone part way with his building operations,
decided that on account of increase in wages and material that he better
quit without completing his job and did so after which others completed
the building. It stands out prominently as one of Nebraska's best, most
thoroughly modern and expensive structures for high school purposes
in the commonwealth.
North Bend Schools
The first public school in North Bend was taught in the spring of
1860. It was taught on the west side of the Robert Miller farm, in a
frame building 12 by 18 feet. It was opened with only nine pupils, and
Miss Mary Heaton was the first teacher. Her salary was one dollar
and a quarter per week and her board "thrown in." She was a very
competent teacher, and today she would have been paid at least twenty
times as much. Later, this teacher became the wife of J. J. Hawthorne.
A log building was built a mile or so west of the above mentioned
building and this served from 1863 to 1866, when a frame house was
provided on the village plat. This served until the "West School" was
erected in 1881. It was a two storv, four-room department frame house,
costing $4,000.
In 1885 a two story brick schoolhouse was erected at a cost of $9,000.
In 1892 the total value of all schoolhouses in North Bend was
$13,000. The enrollment was then 310. For present condition of
schools see last annual report of' the county superintendent in this
chapter.
Scribner Schools
County Superintendent Henry Wolcott organized the Scribner schools
March 9, 1876. A building site was bought in October for which $150
was paid. Prior to that the few children had to attend school at Pebble,
more than a mile to the southwest. The earliest schoolhouse at Scribner
was a frame house 26 by 40 feet, to which an addition was made in
1880. In 1885 it was necessary to make more room and a fine brick
building was provided at a cost of $7,330. This was the two story, four-
room building. The present two story school building cost $30,000.
On account of the terrible scourge of diphtheria in the autumn of
1887, the Scribner schools were closed more than a month and also
156 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
several months during the winter of 1887-88. Fourteen pupils died
during that scourge. With the passing years these schools have kept
apace with the standards of Dodge County and the state at large. Today
one finds modern buildings and able instructors — see County Super-
intendent's latest report in this chapter.
Among the early teachers in Scribner were these: Mrs. E. B.
Barrett, Nettie V. Clark, Sadie Neflf, N. F. Livingston, Charles Wine,
Mrs. A. C. Mulloy, John S. Reynolds, Katie Rochford, Emma Hicks,
Hattie Hazen, A. B. Smith, G. W. Whitehom, A. Berry, Bell Parker,
Carrie Rexine, T. B. Kepplinger, W. K. Fowler, Jr., C. G. Ellwanger,
L. Finnamore, Sadie Showers, F. A. Hye, Mrs. Nellie Royce, Ella
Cooper, Effie M. Christie, Sadie Ryan, and Emma Wainewright.
Hooper Schools
The first scholars living in the Village of Hooper had to walk to a.
schoolhouse west of town until that building was moved to the village
plat. In 1881 a brick building was erected, costing $5,000 ; it was 30 by 35
feet. Four years later it was necessary to make an addition to it, cost-
ing $4,000. It made a fine looking building and overlooked the beautiful
valley and village.
In 1892 a second addition to the high school building was made,
costing $2,975. For present school facilities see County Superintend-
ent's 1920 report.
Other First Schools
At the village of Nickerson the children were sent to a district school
one mile to the west of the place until 1883, but that year a school-
house was built on the plat. This building cost $1,100. The first to
teach in this village building was Miss Emily Davis, of Fremont.
At Crowell, a school building was moved into town from the country
in 1886. It was erected originally in 1873 in section 2. The place now
has good schools and buildings.
In Pleasant Valley Township the first schoolhouse was a sod shanty
made in the spring of 1870. It was covered with slough grass and stood
in section 33. In it was taught the pioneer term of public school by Miss
L. A. Miller. In 1871 a frame house was built in section 25 where
Miss Anna Abbott, daughter of Dr. L. J. Abbott, of Fremont, was the
teacher.
See County Superintendent's annual report of schools for 1920 in
this chapter.
In Ridgeley Township the first school district was formed in 1871
and it covered the entire township's territory. Only twelve pupils could
be found living within the township — but all was legal in those early
times. A school was taught in 1870 at Fred Fuller's house, with Mary
Weber as teacher. A frame building was erected that year (1871) in
section 26, costing $600. Later it was removed to section 21. It is
always known as the "Little Red Schoolhouse," although later it was
painted another color. Mrs. E. A. McConnell was the first to teach in
this building.
In Union Township the first school was taught in 1860, on the east
line of the township, an account of which has been given in the North Bend
schools. With the growth of the township and county the schools here
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
157
have kept pace with others and are today fully abreast of the others in
Dodge County — see last report of county superintendent.
In Webster Township the first school was taught in a sod hovel
belonging to Andrew Derick, in section 26. In 1872 the first schoolhouse
was built and the first to teach therein was D. C. Westfall. There are now
nine schools in the township.
In the Village of Dodge, at first the people sent their children into
the rural district to attend school a half fnile ofif of the plat, but the
following season a building was erected in the village and ever since
the place has had good schools, well taught and well attended. As early
as 1891 there were 200 pupils enrolled there.
In Cuming Township the pioneer school was taught by Mrs. Mary
E. Parks, in her own house, in 1871. The first school building was
erected in 1873 in section 28, where Mrs. Augusta Boor taught first.
Mary Weber taught the first school in Everett Township in 1868, in
section 34.
In Maple Township the first school was taught by L. M. Keene, in
section 10, in a "dug-out," in 1869. A schoolhouse was built in 1871 in
the center of .section 14 at a cost of $345.
School Superintendent's Annual Report — 1919
The following report made July 1, 1919, for the schools in Dodge
County contained among numerous items these : District number, num-
ber and kind of schoolhouses, enrollment in districts and total in county,
number of male and female teachers in county by districts and other
general information given in totals for the entire County of Dodge.
Dist. Kind of Enroll- Teachers
No. Buildings ment Male Female
1 Seven brick 2,255 5 63
One frame 54 . . 2
One frame 32 . . 1
One frame 58 . . 3
One frame
One frame
One frame
One brick .
One frame
One frame
One frame
22
13
21
318
22
36
25
One frame 41
One frame
One frame
One frame
One frame
One frame
One frame 22
One brick .
One frame
One frame
One frame
One frame
One frame
One frame
One brick .
77
16
21
62
28
19
15
274
158
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Dist. Kind of Enroll-
No. Buildings ment
27 One frame 31
28 One frame 25
29 One frame 28
30 One frame 30
31 One frame 9
32 One frame 11
33 One frame 36
34 One frame 32
35 One frame 37
36 One frame 26
37 One frame 17
38 One frame 36
39 One brick 103
40 34
41 One frame 11
42 One frame 25
43 One frame 9
44 One frame 24
45 One frame 27
46 One brick 138
47 One frame 26
48 One frame 25
49 One frame 115
50 One frame 14
51 One frame 34
52 One frame 23
53 One frame 31
54 One frame 23
55 One frame 20
56 One frame 26
57 One frame 18
58 One frame 12
59 One frame 29
60 One frame 34
61 One frame 28
62 One brick 222
63 One frame 22
64 One frame 29
65 One frame 25
66 One frame 19
67 One frame 23
68 One frame 23
69 One frame 17
70 One frame 27
72 One frame 23
73 One frame 19
74 One frame 9
75 One frame 8
76 One frame 12
77 One frame 11
78 One frame 17
79 One frame 34
80 One frame 17
Teachers
Male Female
1
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 159
Dist.
No.
81
82
Kind of
Buildings
One frame
Enroll-
ment
18
15
Teachers
Male Female
83
84
8S
One frame
One frame
33
28
24
Totals
7.350
13 194
The total number of males enrolled in county is 3,675 ; number females,
3,635. The total number of schoolhouses in coimty is ninety-three. Aver-
age wages paid males is $132.89; paid females, $69.85. Total amount
expended for all school purposes for last year was $267,882. Paid for
books and charts, etc., $14,944; for furniture, $1,148. Value of all
schoolhouses in county, $653,970; for all text-books, $24,520. Value of
all charts, maps, etc., $16,862. Total indebtedness of county for school
purposes, $177,679; outstanding bonds, $176,700.
The Graded Schools of Dodge County
District No. 1 — Fremont has twelve grades, sixty-seven teachers,
total enrollment, 1,128; graduates last year (1919), fifteen boys and for-
ty-five girls.
District No. 2 — Ames, ten grades, two teachers, twenty-nine
enrolled ; graduated, three boys and five girls.
District No. A — Eight grades, two teachers.
District No. 8 — North Bend, twelve grades, thirteen teachers,
enrolled, 223 ; five boys and eleven girls graduated.
District No. 19 — Nickerson, ten grades, three teachers; four boys
and five girls graduated.
District No. 22 — Ten grades, two teachers ; three boys and three girls
graduated.
District No. 23 — Ten grades, two teachers.
District No. 26 — Hooper, twelve grades, four teachers, 193 in grades.
Number of graduates, five boys and twelve girls.
District No. 39 — Snyder, twelve grades, nine teachers, 104 in grades;
graduates, three boys and five girls.
District No. 46— Dodge, twelve grades, five teachers ; three boys and
five girls graduated.
District No. 49 — Uehling, twelve grades, five teachers, 101 in grades;
two boys and three girls graduated.
District No. 62 — Scribner, twelve grades, nine teachers. 164 in grades;
six boys and eleven girls graduated.
Private and Parochial Schools
Besides the common public schools in the county there are the fol-
lowing schools :
The Midland College, Fremont (Lutheran).
The St. Patrick's parochial (Catholic). Fremont.
The German Lutheran (parochial), Fremont.
The St. Venceslaus (Catholic), Dodge.
The St. Leo's. Snyder.
The Lutheran parochial. Hooper.
The Lutheran at Winslow.
160 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
The Lutheran at Scribner.
The second one at Scribner of the Lutheran faith.
The Lutheran at Snyder.
1920 Wages for Teachers
Word was given out in the month of August, 1920, that teachers*
wages in Dodge County had been raised as follows : The average for
the coming school year is fixed at a little more than $110 per month.
One man teacher is to receive $135 per month, and one woman will
receive $130 per month. The lowest wages will be paid to two women,
who are to receive $80 per month.
Valuation and Tax Levy of School Districts
The 1919 assessed valuation and tax levy in the various school
districts in Dodge County was as follows:
Dist. Assessed Levy Dist. Assessed Levy
No. Value Mills No. Value Mills
1 $2,309,026 43 n $ 67,830 14
2 118,967 27 38 95,952 13
3 65,071 20 39 210,497 30
4 205,683 15 40 89,438 8
5 68,452 18 41 110,112 8
6 79,321 8 42 101,251 10
7 75,383 13 43 85,243 10
8 378,817 42 44 58,284 21
9 170,948 4 45 98,104 10
10 86,889 20 46 276,789 35
11 180,704 6 47 107,775 8
12 99,281 28 48 68,883 14
13 49,963 20 49 146,748 35
14 104,634 6 50 45,227 16
15 132,952 6 51 58,453 14
16 120,775 30 52 74,865 18
17 82,029 13 53 142,805 15
18 100,009 10 54 74,079 13
19 141,623 34 55 58,114 15
20 87,330 10 56 75,647 16
21 61,968 14 57 68,619 14
22 110,162 20 58 55,816 18
23 96,163 16 59 107.335 6
24 ■ 66,606 26 ^0 91,832 13
25 122,842 10 61 55,993 12
26 262,983 55 ^2 307,966 35
27 130,333 16 63 140,749 6
28 77.695 14 64 87,930 18
29 75,872 14 65 121,717 10
30 87,733 12 66 98,366 14
31 53,989 14 67 72,463 16
32 70,979 12 68 68,900 14
33 50,614 20 69 . 89,719 16
34 73,370 14 70 49,190 31
35 106,043 12 71 (and 27)
36 45,880 35 72 81,454 13
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 161
Dist. Assessed Levy Dist. Assessed Levy
No. Value Mills No. Value Mills
72, $ 112,636 12 82 $ 79,013 14
74 53,819 16 83 59,671 13
75 73,549 10 84 111,009 8
76 59,690 16 85 82,216 20
77 51,871 17 Fract. 1 16,221 23
78 67,664 16 Fract. 2 11,340 28
79 45,440 27 Burt 49 3,875 16
80 53,646 22 Colfax 29 .... 2,230 10
81 65,332 14 Washington 24. 275 54
The Fremont Business College
At the corner of Sixth and Main streets, Fremont, June 3, 1889,
there was established by Prof. T. R. Hamlin a business college wfhich
grew to be one of much note. The first year the enrollment reached 225
pupils. The second year it reached 500. One special feature of this
institution was that pupils were given Greek, Latin and French and the
common branches for the price of one scholarship. Many a young man
and woman were here taught commercial law, shorthand, telegraphy, elo-
cution, penmanship, bookkeeping and a general practical business
education.
After a number of years, with changes in the affairs of educational
matters, and the establishment of other schools throughout the state, this
institution gave way and ceased to exist as one of the institutions of
Fremont, many preferring the course given at Professor Clemmons' Nor-
mal School, noted in this chapter.
Fremont Normal School and Business Institute
This high educational institution in Fremont, which occupied the
buildings and present site of the Midland College, was established in
1884 by Prof. W. P. Jones, who founded the school and superin-
tended the construction of the original buildings. He conducted the
school about three years, when he was overtaken by death, after which
his widow ran the school another year and in 1888 Prof. William H.
Clemmons, that most excellent and gifted educator, succeeded to the
management and full control of the institution. He greatly enlarged the
buildings, which became a three-story brick structure (as today) 80 by
132 feet, containing nine recitation rooms, with library and chapel. As
far back as 1892 twelve Instructors were employed. All the branches
were taught, but especially the teachers' preparatory course became won-
derfully popular. In the normal course the study was in preparatory
course, teachers' course, scientific course, classic course, commercial
course, music, typewriting, stenography and law.
The campus, situated in the northeast part of the city, is indeed an
ideal spot and as the years have come and gone has been greatly
improved and beautified by trees now well grown, and with ample room
the land owned by the Midland College today is among the finest places
in all Nebraska for such an institution as was the "Fremont Normal,"
and which has been transformed into the Midland College, since the
death of Professor Clemmons in 1918.
It should be recorded as an historical fact that the Fremont Normal
was conducted under a local corporation composed of the best business
162 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
factors in and around Fremont. The directors were in 1891-2 and for
years later: E. H. Barnard, president; C. Christensen, vice-president;
Manly Rogers, treasurer ; F. Hammond, secretary ; John Hauser, L. M.
Keene, J. C. Lee, E. F. Gray, John Knetchel, L. D. Richards, A. Trues-
dell, George R. Loomis.
During the year 1890, 800 students attended this school. The found-
ing and fostering this institution in Fremont by her own citizens was
but the part of true foresight and great wisdom.
The Midland College
The buildings and grounds of the old Normal School and Business
College at Fremont, mentioned above, were sold to the Midland College
of Atchison, Kansas, a Lutheran institution, founded in 1887, the date
of purchasing the Fremont College being September 10, 1919. For many
years there had been a feeling that the Kansas institution should have
been located nearer the center of the Luthran population — somewhere
in the State of Nebraska in place of in Kansas. After the death of Pres-
ident William H. Clemmons of the Fremont College there was a chance
to secure a fine college property, which the authorities of the Lutheran
Synod of the United Lutheran Church in America investigated thor-
oughly and finally decided to purchase and change the seat of their col-
lege from Atchison, Kansas, to Fremont, Nebraska.
This college is under the control of a board of trustees composed of
twenty-nine men : part are chosen from the city where the institution is
located, and the remainder from the district synods of Kansas, Nebraska,
Colorado, Iowa and the Alumni Association. The president of the col-
lege is ex-officio advisory member. While this college is under the
direction of a church denomination, it is in no particular narrow or sec-
tarian. She has among her students those of various denominations
from all parts of the United States.
The Western Theological Seminary was established in 1895. At
first it was a separate institution, but now a part of the college, under
the direction of the president of the college and board of trustees, and a
separate faculty.
The following paragraph is a statement made by the board in its
first year-book or bulletin after removing from Atchison to Fremont :
"The buildings and grounds of Midland College are valued at
$225,000. A campaign for $500,000 for endowment and new buildings
is now being carried on and (at this writing) more than half of the
amount has already been secured. The new building program contem-
plates an administration building, girls' dormitory, boys' dormitory,
gymnasium, Carnegie library, and a Theological Seminary building. The
institution is maintained by a liberal annual subsidy from the Board of
Education of the United Lutheran Church of America, interests from
endowment, student's fees, and direct gifts from friends of Christian
education."
The story of the change from Atchison to Fremont is best told in
an article in the Fremont Tribune in September, 1919, when the college
was first opened in Fremont. This is an extract from President E. E.
Staufifer's article:
"About a year ago the attention of a number of churchmen was called
to Fremont, Nebraska, where the Fremont Normal college, a school
which had been successfully conducted for over thirty years and in
which thousands of young men and women had been educated and pre-
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 163
pared for life service, could be obtained at a very reasonable price. This
school was situated in the very heart of the best part of Nebraska, sur-
rounded by a constituency which would support the college not only by
sending their young people, but also by generous financial aid. After
much negotiation on the part of the Commercial club of Fremont and
the two Lutheran synods of Nebraska, the board of trustees of Midland
college was induced to pass a resolution to move Midland from Atchison
to Fremont, and to purchase the Fremont Normal college, this however
upon the agreement that Fremont should give $75,000 and that the two
Nebraska synods should raise at least $300,000 in addition. It was
readily proven that this amount could be raised and by July 15, 1919, in
just a little less than four weeks, a sum amounting to $250,000 had been
subscribed and the campaign was inaugurated to secure $500,000 in
addition to the liberal contribution of Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Luckey of
Lincoln, Nebraska, for the endowment of Midland college. On the
29th day of July, 1919, the board of trustees, in a special meeting held
in Atchison, Kansas, took the final action which led to the removal of
Midland college from Atchison to Fremont."
The Future
Continuing his article Doctor StaufTer says: "The program which
has been inaugurated for the further development of this institution
is a big one and not at all impossible. Already forty acres of land has
been purchased in addition to the nine and one-half acres already pos-
sessed upon which to build the larger Midland. The entire program
which is now under way, is given in another article which appears in
this issue. Everyone who knows the situation is fully agreed that a new
day has dawned for Midland College and that the future is bound to
see this institution one of the largest and the strongest of the schools in
Nebraska and the Central West. The Church which established this
institution in Fremont is to be congratulated on its far-seeing vision and
the wonderful possibilities which will come through the wise adminis-
tration of its educational afifairs. While Midland college is under the
auspices of the United Lutheran Church of America, which is composed
of forty-five district synods all using the English language, with the
exception of two and these two synods using one other language only
in part, this is in no wise narrow or sectarian, for young people of all
faiths are received and the greatest courtesy and fairness is manifested
in every way. Those in charge are possessed with the conviction that the
building of character is fundamental and that all good character must be
founded upon the truths through the teachings of Jesus and that no
education can be finally of use to the world that is not based upon
Christian principles."
Officers of the Board of Trustees
The 1919-20 officers of the board of trustees are; Louis T. Bang,
president, Emporia, Kansas ; C. B. Harman, D.D., vice-president, Omaha,
Nebraska: Rev. Paul Menenoeh, secretary. Eureka, Kansas; Henry C.
Dahl, treasurer, Fremont, Nebraska.
Executive Committee
Louis T. Bang, chairman, Emporia, Kansas: E. E. Stauflfer, D.D.,
secretary, Fremont, Nebraska : Henry Diegel, Atchison, Kansas ; B. D.
Zimmerman, Atchison, Kansas ; Henry Monke, Fontenelle, Nebraska.
164 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Of the present faculty it may be said that Ezra Eugene Stauffer,
D.D., is the president, and Wilber E. Tilberg, A. M., dean.
During the first year after this institution was removed to Fremont,
in all departments, there were 697 students enrolled.
While it is not the province of the historian to speculate on the
future, but simply record the past and present, it may not be saying too
much for this college and its new home, to place it in high rank among
the great educational institutions of the growing west, within another
score of years, if not in less time.
History of Fremont College — By Prof. G. H. Mohler
The extraordinary development of the north central portion of our
country during the last third of a century has called into existence
almost innumerable public schools. To instruct in these schools an army
of teachers is necessary. To meet this condition, training schools have
been established by public and private enterprise. It is the avowed
purpose of these schools to be teachers of teachers, that is, to prepare
persons, both in theory and practice, for the profession of teaching in
the common and graded schools.
Such were the conditions which called into existence the Fremont
Normal College and Business Institute, a short history of which follows :
In August, 1883. Prof. William P. Jones, of Chicago, having
learned from the report of the state superintendent of public instruction
of Nebraska that there was an unusual call for teachers in the common
and graded schools of the state and that this call could not be met with
properly trained and competent teachers, determined to found a school
somewhere within the state, whose aim should be to train young people
for the responsible position of teaching.
After much thought and inquiry regarding conditions and the con-
sideration of the merits of various sections and cities, he decided to
establish such a school in Fremont, provided sufficient encouragement
should be shown by the citizens. Accordingly a mass meeting was
called, the proposition thoroughly canvassed and a hearty co-operation
of the citizens was assured. Subscription lists met with such liberal
response that soon enough funds were available to meet the expense for
the erection of a suitable building.
The first earth was excavated on May 18, 1884, and the cornerstone
was laid on July 4, 1884, according to the ritual of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows. The structure rapidly progressed to completion
and the school met in its first session and for organization on the morn-
ing of October 21, 1884. The enrollment for the first day was thirty-six
students, principally from the city. The attendance gradually increased
until by the middle of the first year nearly 150 students were enrolled.
There were at that time but four recitation rooms and the business
practice room, other rooms in the building being utilized as living rooms
and for dormitory purposes. The school moved along in steady progress
until the death of Professor Jones on August 3, 1886. Upon the death
of Professor Jones the management of the school devolved upon the
widow, Mrs. Mary E. Jones, who conducted it with varying success until
May 12, 1888, when the school entire was purchased by Prof. W. H.
Clemmons. During its entire history, with the exception of a time imme-
diately preceding the purchase by Professor Clemmons, the college has
had a steady and healthy growth.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 165
From an enrollment of thirty-six students, the yearly attendance
reached from 800 to 1,200, depending upon the time of the year, being
greatest during the summer and winter seasons.
At first there were but four regular recitation rooms, and the faculty
consisted of only four members, but as the attendance increased other
recitation rooms were provided and the faculty increased by the addition
of new members as necessity dictated.
At first the name of the school was the Fremont Normal School and
Business College. About the year 1900 the courses of study were
increased, regular schedules were provided and degrees conferred upon
graduates from the higher courses of study. At this time the name of
the school was changed to Fremont College and Business Institute. The
college, however, still maintained the preparatory departments, but laid
particular stress upon the regular higher graduating courses.
The school continued to prosper in attendance and enthusiasm until
about the period of the European war. when, in common with other
educational institutions of the country, the student body was materially
reduced. This together with the establishment of a number of other
schools in the state had a very marked effect upon the attendance,
although the college continued to maintain the regular courses of study
and schedules of classes.
Since its founding, the college has suffered several severe misfor-
tunes from fire. On October 14, 1907, practically the entire main build-
ing was destroyed by fire. The fire started at the highest point upon the
roof at the noon hour, and as the roof was of shingles, spread rapidly
over the entire building. The city fire department was hampered by
defective apparatus and the building continued to burn until night, when
there was nothing remaining but the bare hot walls and portions of the
lower floor. Such a catastrophe would have completely discouraged most
men, but President Clemmons and the faculty kept the student body
together and the regular classes were called the next morning in impro-
vised quarters. A large tent upon the campus was utilized for classes as
was a portion of the dining hall. Some of the classes were held upon the
lower floor of the burned building, with only the blue sky overhead.
Beside the loss on the main building, much of the furnishings was
destroyed. As the fire started immediately above the main exit, very
little of the furniture and laboratory equipment was saved, which was
a very serious obstacle to the work of the school for some time.
The insurance, while entirely inadequate to reconstruct the building,
provided a nucleus toward a building fund, and the reconstruction was
at once begun. Before Christmas most of the class rooms were ready
for use and school was progressing in spite of the noise of the carpen-
ters' hammers. The reconstructed building is much better in arrange-
ment and construction than formerly, having new furnishings and new
floors, with a tile roof on the entire building.
On the night of February 7, 1916. practically the entire west dor-
mitory, half a block in length and two stories in height, was destroyed
by fire. This fire started at the middle of the building at about midnight.
As the weather was very cold the efforts of the fire department were
handicapped by snow and ice. The building continued to burn for the
remainder of the night, and nothing was left of the long main hall and
the south wing, of almost equal size, but the bare walls. Beside the loss
on the building, the students occupying the rooms lost the greater portion
of their belongings. Again was the heavy hand of financial loss laid
upon the institution, and again the insurance carried was not sufficient
166 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
to reconstruct the building. However, with his usual energy President
Clemmons began the work of clearing away the debris and during the
remainder of his ownership of the school partially rebuilt the destroyed
portion of the structure.
In 1916 President Clemmons was elected state superintendent of
public instruction of Nebraska and upon his removal to Lincoln, the
management of the college was largely delegated to his wife.
Mrs. Clemmons took up the work with much energy and skill and
managed the affairs, both financially and scholastically, with marked
success, carrying the institution through a very critical period of its
history.
While yet state superintendent, President Clemmons suffered a
severe decline in health, making it impossible for him to give proper
attention to his office, and to the affairs of the college. As the entire
charge of the institution was too great a burden for Mrs. Clemmons, it
was though best to turn the management of the college over to some
competent and practical head that the work so well begun might be
continued and that even a greater work might be accomplished in the
future than had been done in the past.
It became known that Midland College, of Atchison, Kansas, the
principal educational institution of the United Lutheran Church in
America, was considering removing to some locality which would be
more central to its constituency and therefore more able to serve its
membership both in furnishing a college for the education of young
men and women along scholastic and religious lines, but also to educate
and train young men for the ministry.
Acting upon this information, some of the leading citizens of Fremont
began a correspondence with the authorities of Midland. Having met
with some encouragement in the matter, a committee visited Atchison
for a personal consultation with the authorities of Midland. After due
consideration by both parties and the exchange of visits of committees to
Atchison and Fremont, it was finally decided by the board of directors
of Midland College to accept the very generous offer made by Fremont
to remove Midland College from Atchison and take over Fremont
College, merging both institutions under the name of Midland College
and Western Theological Seminary.
The final arrangements were completed on July 29, 1919, and the new
management assumed control on August 15, 1919.
The formal opening of the new Midland College took place on
September 10, 1919, under highly gratifying circumstances. This was
a memorable day in the history of the two schools. A great gathering
of former students and friends of both the old schools were present,
together with many men and women notable in education and church
affairs. The principal speakers upon this occasion were President Stauf-
fer, Dr. O. D. Baltzly of Omaha, Hon. S. R. McKelvie, governor of
Nebraska, several leading citizens of Fremont and others high in educa-
tional and church circles. Many students of the former Fremont College,
together with several members of the faculty, merged into the new col-
lege with the happy belief that a great educational institution had been
opened at Fremont, capable of doing a work both in popular education
and in religious training, which will make it one of the notable educa-
tional institutions of the country.
Under the wise supervision and guidance of its worthy president,
Dr. Ezra E. Stauffer, the wisdom of the board of directors and the hearty
co-operation of the citizens of Fremont and all friends of Christian
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 167
education, the upbuilding and permanent success of Midland College is
assured.
The school is steadily growing in reputation and popularity. It
maintains a faculty of thirty-one members, all departments are strong
and well equipped for meeting all calls for service within the scope of
its curriculum.
CHAPTER XVII
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
Dodge County Postoffices — Market Prices — Past and Present —
Population of County — Original Village Plats — Early Mar-
riages — Grasshopper Plague — Elkhorn Flood of 1873 — Old
Settlers' Association — Days of Mourning — President Garfield's
Death — President Grant's Death — President McKinlev^s
Death — Hymn to Nebraska by Rev. W. H. Buss.
Postoffices in County
Dodge County postoffices in 1893 were listed as follows: Fremont,
North Bend, Scribner (Cuming Township) ; Hooper, Nickerson, Snyder,
Dodge, Swaburgh (Logan Township); Jamestown (Platte Township);
Mapleville (Cotterell Township) ; Ridgeley, Webster (Ridgeley Town-
ship) ; Pleasant Valley, Bang (Maple Township) ; Maple Creek (Cot-
terell Township) ; Everett, Ames (Platte Township) ; Purple Cane,
(Union Township) ; Glencoe (Webster Township) ; Crowell (Pebble
Township).
The adopting of the rural mail delivery by free carriers has mate-
rially changed the postal affairs of this as well as other counties.
The present (1920) postoffices in Dodge County are as follows:
Ames, Crowell, Dodge, Fremont, Hooper, Nickerson, North Bend,
Scribner, Snyder, Uehling, Winslow.
Market Prices — Past and Present
The local history of no county or state would be considered complete
without it contained the ruling market quotations at various periods in
the history of such a locality. The following paragraphs will show the
prices that obtained at Fremont in 1869 and in 1892, as published from
time to time in the Fremont Tribune, and were furnished that paper by
local dealers: will also show the present (1920) prevailing prices which
should be considered as "just after the great World war" :
1869 1892 1920
Best white sugar, per lb $ 0.20 $0.04@$0.05 $0.25@$0.30
Best green tea, per lb 1.50 .70 1.00
Common coffee, per lb .40 .20 .50
Kerosene oil, per gal .40 .15 .22
Nails (cut), per lb 10 (cut) .03 (wire) .07
Stovepipe, per joint .30 .15 .30
Domestics, per yard (common) 18 .08 .45
Prints, per yard (best) 11 .06 .32
Seamless grain sacks, each .50 .23 .90
Wheat, per bu 70 .50 2.89
Corn, per bu 50 .30 1.67
Salt meats, per lb 23 .10 .42
Farm wagons, each 100.00 60.00 125.00
Harvesters, each 225.00 160.00 300.00
Sewing machines, each 85.00 45.00 80.00
168
/
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 169
Live stock, produce, shoes and clothing — from cotton or wool — have
gone very high since 1917 when America united with the allies in the war
against the German states. At present summer of 1920, two years after
the end of the war, these prices obtain, generally in the Middle West:
Hogs, $16; cattle, $13.25; draft horses, $250 each; gasoline, 28c; eggs,
per dozen, fresh, 35c ; creamery butter, 72c per pound ; men's suits, $30
to $75; men's shoes, $5 to $15; ladies' shoes, about the same. It is not
now believed that present prevailing prices on many of these articles will
soon, if indeed ever, go much lower. Especially produce here named.
From a history of the Elkhorn Valley published in 1892 the subject
of prices was then handled after this fashion, and may well be applied to
the present generation :
"The pioneer who with failing eyesight and who may chance to read
this item will recall other days, early scenes. He will let memory assert
itself and go back to from 1856 to 1866. He will remember how glad his
family were to get wheat bread, New Orleans molasses, the old-time wet
brown sugar, the tallow candle, in place of kerosene oil — that was undis-
covered until 1861. Then again as he reflects there comes to his mind
those dark and trying days of the Civil war when 'substitutes' were used
at home as well as sent to the field. There was barley, carrot, pea and
parched bran all of which the family used as substitute for coffee while
various leaves including those from the red-root were used as the substi-
tute for tea. Indeed the present generation ought to rejoice and be glad
that they live in a land of peace and plenty and are not subject to such
great hardships as were experienced by those who first came here to make
for themselves a home."
Population of Dodge County
At various periods the population of Dodge County has been as
follows :
In 1844 it had 106 In 1854 it had 139
In 1856 it had 313 In 1860 it had 309
In 1870 it had 4,212 In 1880 it had 11.191
In 1890 it had .19.260
According to the census reports in 1870 the population was divided
as to nationality thus : American-born, 2,556, and foreign-born, 1,656.
Thirty years ago, or in 1890, the United States census reports gave the
following concerning the population of the cities, villages and townships
of Dodge County :
Fremont (city) 6,741 North Bend (town) 897
Dodge (village) 338 Scribner (village) 664
Hooper (village) 670
Townships
Cotterell 701 Pebble 871
Cuming 715 Pleasant Valley 815
Elkhorn 412 Platte 741
Everett 680 Ridgeley 807
Hooper 569 Union 660
Logan 673 Webster 889
Maple 778
Nickerson 633 Total of county 19,254
170 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Population 1900-1910
As given in the official census reports of the United States for the
census periods of 1900 and 1910 the figures are these :
1900 1910
Cotterell Township 1,194 831
Cuming Township, including Scribner (village) 1,514 1,488
Scribner (village) 891 827
Elkhorn Township 513 442
Everett Township 612 546
Fremont City 7,241 8,781
Hooper Township, Including Hooper and Winslow
(villages) 1,439 1,496
Hooper (village) 840 741
Winslow (village) 99
Logan Township, including Uehling (village) 621 857
Uehling (village) 228
Maple Township 1,409 606
Nickerson Township 717 637
North Bend (city) 1,010 1,105
Pebble Township, including Snyder 973 990 ■
Snyder (village) 229 314
Platte Township 1,358 1,134
Pleasant Valley Township 734 646
Ridgeley Township 847 675
Union Township 723 632
Webster Township, including Village of Dodge 1,393 1,342
Dodge (village) 554 661
The 1920 census is not yet reported.
Original Village Plats
The original village plattings in Dodge County, according to the plat-
book records at the courthouse, are as follows :
Fremont was originally platted in the summer of 1856 and filed for
record January 6, 1857, by the Fremont Town Lot Company, James G.
Smith acting for such company. The Government had not as yet sur-
veyed the land in this vicinity at that date, hence in platting the surveyor
described the location as being so many rods and chains, from the
guide-line, or to a point to the south which had been surveyed. The
Military Road which runs east and west through the city was not sur-
veyed true, and the original platting of Fremont conformed to that,
consequently the streets and alleys of the present city are not square
with the compass by a few degrees. As now surveyed and described, the
city stands on sections 22 and 23, township 17, range 8, east of the sixth
principal meridian.
Hooper was platted by John I. Blair, February 15, 1871. It is located
on the east half of section 17, and the northeast quarter of section 20,
township 19, range 8.
North Bend was platted October 12, 1867, by S. S. Caldwell, M. S.
Cotterell and the Union Pacific Railroad Company in sections 6 and 7,
of township 17, range 6.
Scribner was platted December 6, 1870, by John I. Blair, on the
north half of section 31, township 20, range 7.
Pebble was platted September 19, 1870, by J. B. and H. J. Robinson
and their wives. It is located in section 36, township 20, range 6.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 171
Dodge was platted August 10, 1886, by the Western Town Lot Com-
pany, in the west half of section 8, township 20, range 5.
Snyder was platted August 5, 1886, by the Western Town Lot Com-
pany in the southwest quarter of section 18, township 20, range 6.
NiCKERSON was platted by John I. Blair, January 13, 1871, on the
northeast quarter of section 13, township 18, range 8.
Crowell was platted or filed for record, December 22, 1883, by the
Elkhorn Land and Town Lot Company. It was surveyed and located in
the southwest quarter of section 2, and the north half of section 11,
township 20. range 6.
Uehling was platted December 6, 1895, by Theodore Uehling and
Frank B. Hutchens, in section 3, township 20, range 9, east.
WiNSLOW was platted by the Sioux City and Ashland Development
Company, in section 22, township 19, range 8, east, December 1, 1895.
Ames was platted (second time) December 18, 1913, by N. J. John-
son and Albert D. Graham and wife. Location, section 9, township 23.
Early Marriages
The earliest marriages in Dodge County included the following list:
William N. Whittier and Miss Enmia Strickland, both of Fontanelle,
were granted licenses to be married by Judge S. I. Frances, Octo-
ber 6, 1856.
J. W. Pattison and Miss Henrietta Rednour, October 30, 1856, both
of Fontanelle.
F. W. Fox and Harriet Whittier. November 30, 1856.
William Mosepage and Minna Dittmar, November 13, 1856.
Harlow J. Carpenter and Ellen G. Griffin, March 9, 1857, were
united in marriage by Rev. Elder M. M. Hann.
Seth A. Holton and Miss Elizabeth Roe, both of Fontanelle, obtained
license of Probate Judge Samuel Strickland, and were married by Reuben
Gaylord, a minister of the Gospel.
Henrv Brinkman and Hannah Stork were married November 7,
1857, by' Rev. Thomas Waller.
Theodore F. Keep, of Fontanelle, and Miss Caroline Davis, January
4, 1858.
Abram I. Warner and Miss Lucinda Whitford, before Judge Strick-
land, October 23, 1858.
Luther Wilson and Eliza W. Turner, by Rev. Isaac E. Heaton,
August 23, 1858.
Timothy L. Felton and Miss Mary Bogan, before Samuel Strick-
land, probate judge, September 20, 1858.
Jerome Spillman and Estabella C. Hancock, May 14, 1859.
George Hindey and Miss Rachel Denslow, united by Rev. J. M.
Taggart, May 17, 1859.
William E. Larkin and Rebecca Ann Keeler, by Rev. Isaac E.
Heaton, July 16, 1859.
John W. Waterman and Elizabeth R. Graham, July 27, 1859.
George Young and Miss Elizabeth Stoss, July 23, 1859, by Rev.
Isaac E. Heaton.
The Grasshopper Plague
The years between 1873 and 1878 were dark, hard years for the
settlers in Nebraska and Western Iowa, on account of the grasshoppers,
which came down in vast armies, even like the stars of heaven or sands
172 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
on the sea-shore, innumerable. They destroyed all kinds of vegetation.
This occurred not alone one season, but for four or more in succession.
No one but he who has gone through a like experience can begin to know
the feelings of the husbandmen whose crops bid fair to yield a bounti-
ful harvest, and then within three days have all in ruins. There were
debts to meet, the good wife and children to care for and clothe during
a long, cold winter and no bank account to draw on. Indeed those
were days that tried men's souls.
A citizen writing to an eastern friend said: "This summer (1874)
is the hottest I ever experienced. For three weeks the thermometer
registered from 90 to 106 degrees. A strong south wind has been con-
stantly blowing. It has hurt our wheat badly — part of my own is
burned up — Saturday, August 11, grasshoppers began to drop down.
They are now in seven counties and more to hear from. When they
first came, man or beast could not travel. The air was filled with
them and it gave the appearance of a great snow storm with a heavy
wind; they covered everything on the ground, buildings, fences and
all. Such a sight I never wish to behold again. Turkeys and chickens
had no use for them and retired in seeming disgust. Think of them
commencing at ten in the morning and constantly coming until night-
fall. Just above me is a side track on the railway line and in the after-
noon they wanted to switch some cars but were foiled in the attempt
as the grasshoppers covered the ties and rails in such masses that
they caused the wheels to slip instead of roll on the rails. This is
no fancy picture but can be vouched for and proven.
"You can't kill the infernal cusses. I took two and held them under
water ten minutes and when I released them they were spry as ever.
These I send in my letter I pinched the heads off of as you can see.
You can't kill them by stepping on them. I hope these will have
a good time on their -way to New York and may they die on the journey
for I assure you they are not dead yet ! One I pinched Sabbath last
and I see he still kicks defiantly! I also send you the tail of a rattle
snake and if you like them I will send you a whole one in my next
letter."
In 1875 the farmers had been so badly eaten out by the grass-
hoppers that they could not procure seed grain. They had paid, a
number of years, as high as sixty per cent interest on money to pur-
chase seed with. That extortion was bad as the "hoppergrass" was
himself and yet of selfish human origin. Hon. George W. E. Dorsey,
later Congressman, came to the front and advertised to lend needy
farmers money in all amounting to five thousand dollars, at 10 per cent
which at that date in Nebraska was but half value of general interest.
Elkhorn River Flood of 1873
There had been no record of higher water in the Elkhorn River
than was seen in the flood of 1873. It was in the month of June, when
the water spread from bluff to bluff. Large quantities of stock and
"buildings were floated off down stream many miles from where they
had been erected or kept. Growing crops were materially injured
and many of the settlers had to seek refuge in second stories of houses.
No damages were sustained by bridges in Dodge County but in Cuming
the loss was great.
Sunday, June 8, 1873, a Union Pacific express train from Omaha
while crossing the Elkhorn bridge met with an accident. The tender,
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 173
engine and a car load of living fish in transit west, fell through the
approach to the bridge caused by the washout. The engineer and
firemen escaped but road master Carey was drowned.
Old Settlers' Associations
To a true and intelligent pioneer there are few if any gatherings
of more real interest than that of old settlers' reunions. Every county
has at one date or another organized such societies, but alas how few
keep them up from year to year, continuously.
In 1889 such a society or association was organized in Dodge
County and its first meeting was held at North Bend, July 4, that year.
Fully five thousand persons were in attendance. The acting presi-
dent was George Young, a pioneer of pioneers. He stated that the
first Fourth of July celebration in this county was celebrated in 1856
by the little colony who had arrived from the East on that very morning
in their "prairie schooners" and celebrated the day by the side of their
wagons, without flag or fire-crackers.
The regular set speech of the first old settlers' reunion above
mentioned in 1889 was made by a Methodist preacher named Brooks.
H. P. Beebe also gave a graphic description of his experiences during
the winter of 1856-57.
A most excellent glee club was composed of the following : Mrs. Lee,
Mrs. Doubrave, Mr. and Mrs. Dowling, Mr. Flater, Elmer Davis,
Doctor Brown, Miss Gertie Rice, with Mrs. C. O. Armstead as organist
rendering "Oh, Hail ye Free."
J. H. Graham and Robert Kittle as well as M. S. Cotterell gave
addresses causing merry shouts and others brought many a tear to
the cheek.
The first officers of this Old Settlers' Association were these: W. H.
Ely, president; George Young, first vice president; J. H. Peters, second
vice president; J. B. Robinson, third vice president; Eli Hager, fourth
vice president; Robert Kittle, secretary; L. J. Abbott, recorder; Henry
P. Beebe, treasurer; Chaplain, Rev. Isaac E. Heaton.
The following was one of the important articles in their constitu-
tion (No. 3). "Residence prior to February 1, 1867, or for twenty-
five consecutive years in Dodge County, the payment of fifty cents
to the association and subscribing to this Constitution shall constitute
any person, their wives, husbands and descendants, members of this
association."
Among other meetings of this association may be recalled the ones
held at the park in Fremont in June, 1890; also one held in 1891 at
the Village of Hooper. Since these annual re-unions the association
has not prospered, in fact has entirely gone down and it is to be
regretted.
The Nebraska Prize Hymn
Composed by a Dodge County author for the semi-centennial of
the State, in competition with volunteer writers throughout the State.
Now sing NEBRASKA through the years;
Extol her stalwart pioneers;
The days, when staunch and unafraid.
The State's foundations well they laid,
To long endure:
174 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Yea, sing the proud Tree-planter State,
Nebraska, free, enlightened, great!
Her royal place she has in Song;
To her the noblest strains belong,
Her fame is sure!
The land where Coronado trod.
And brave Marquette surveyed the sod;
Where red men long in council sat.
Where spreads the valley of the Platte
Surpassed by none ;
The land, beside whose borders sweep
The big Missouri's water deep —
Whose course erratic, through its sands,
From Northland on, through many lands
Does sea-ward run.
The foothills of the Rockies lie
Afar athwart her western sky;
And rolling prairies, like the sea.
Held long in virgin sanctity
Her fertile loam.
Her wild-life roamed o'er treeless plains
Till came the toiling wagon-trains,
And settlers bold, far westward bound,
In broad Nebraska's valleys found
Their chosen home.
Her heaving blufifs uplift their heads
Along her winding river-beds.
And, pleasing far the traveler's view.
Well guard her Elkhorn, and her Blue,
Encrowned with wood.
And there, by landmark, ne'er to fail,
Upon her ancient westward trail ;
Or graven stone, securely placed.
By eyes observant may be traced
Where wigwams stood.
Her honored cities grow in wealth,
In thriving commerce, public health ;
Her first : "The Gateway of the West :"
Her Omaha that will not rest.
Or take defeat.
Her Capital of worthy fame
That bears the mighty Lincoln's name,
And summons to her Fount of Truth
Her thousands of Nebraska youth
At Learning's Seat.
Far o'er her realm, and 'neath her sky
Her golden harvests richly lie.
Her corn more vast than Egypt yields;
Her grain unmatched in other fields;
Her flocks and herds;
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 175
Her fields alfalfan; winding streams;
Her sunsets thrilling poets' dreams —
These all we sing, and know that Time
Has never sung a fairer clime,
In mortal words.
O proud Nebraska, brave and free — ■
Thus sing thy populace to thee ;
Thy virile strength: thy love of light;
Thy civic glory joined with right;
Our hearts elate.
Thy manly wisdom, firm to rule,
Thy womanhood in church and school ;
Thy learning, culture, art, and peace.
To make thee strong, and ne'er shall cease
To keep thee great!
Days of Mourning in the County
Upon the sad occasion of the death of Presidents Lincoln, Garfield,
Grant and McKinley, at various places in Dodge County, appropriate
memorial services were held. To show the spirit of sorrow that was
manifested throughout the county it is well to note some of the partic-
ulars concerning such memorial services held in the county seat —
Fremont :
Death of President Lincoln
In April, 1865, upon the news of President Lincoln's assassination
the citizens of Fremont (then a mere hamlet) gathered in a memorial
service at the old Congregational Church. Reverend Heaton was then
pastor and probably delivered the address. There is perhaps only one
person living in Fremont at this time who was present on that mourn-
ful day. From such an one it is learned that some returned soldiers were
present in uniforms and "stacked" their guns inside the church during
services. A gloom settled over the little county seat town over this
event.
Death of President Garfield
Sixteen years after Lincoln's assassination, the people of the City
of Fremont were assembled in memorial services over the lamented
President James A. Garfield, who fell at the hands of an assassin
July 2, 1881, and died, September 19, the same year. These sad services
were held in the old Crosby Opera House on Fifth near Main Street.
It was filled to overflowing. The designs and general decorations were
of the most befitting character. Capt. James Murray (then county
judge) and county school superintendent H. G. Wolcott were chief
speakers. One represented the democratic party while the other repre-
sented the republican party. They were both old Civil war veterans.
The usual music was provided for the mournful occasion and the
Grand Army appeared in a body.
In each of these memorial services the citizens of F"remont and sur-
rounding country manifested much grief and hoped that they would
never be called upon to go through another like sorrow, but alas, not
so! McKinley was slain just twenty years later. But chronologically
the passing of General Grant should first be mentioned.
176 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Death of President U. S. Grant
While the people of the larger cities all over the country were in
deep mourning over the death of the great soldier-statesman, Fremont
people were more than willing to join in appropriate union services.
These services were held in the city park (the time being the month
of August, 1885) at 2 o'clock P. M. Before that hour arrived the fire
and church bells of the city began tolling and with other evidences of
mourning on all sides, it was plain that the hearts of the people ot
Fremont were heavy with grief.
McPherson Post Grand Army of the Republic and Company "E"
Fremont National Guards, the latter headed by the cornet band,
marched to the park in uniform. More than one thousand people
were assembled on, and near the speakers' stand and others stood beneath
the cooling shade of the trees. Indeed it was an impressive sight. The
stand with its somber drapings and the flag waving in graceful folds
above, with wreathes, and crosses and harps of beautiful flowers, all
bespoke of the love the citizens of the community bore for the dead
hero of many Civil war battles. Peering through the trees, a dark
cloud mantle was seen across the sky, while the cool breeze stirred the
leaves as they breathed a sad requiem for the great soldier whose
body was at that very hour being lowered to the silent tomb by the
far distant sea.
The program of this memorial was replete with interest. Rev. John
Hewitt was master of ceremonies. The Fremont Cornet Band opened
with a solemn dirge, followed by the invocation by Rev. John G. Lange,
of the Congregational Church. Then came a hymn "His Last Battle,"
sung by twelve male voices. Prayer was oflfered by Reverend Blose
of the Presbyterian Church; a hymn "Weep for the Brave." The
address of the day was delivered by Reverend Lawrence, who spoke
tenderly in making his impressive tribute to the life and character of
Gen. U. S. Grant.
The decorations were truly beautiful in design. The sides of the
platform and the adjacent trees were festooned with black and white
cambric, bouquets of bright flowers ornamenting the loops. In front
were pictures of Grant, Lincoln and Garfield, all heavily draped with
black. There were here and there crowns, harps, hearts and crosses
made of lovely flowers. The speaker's stand was in jet black, sur-
mounted with a bank of flowers, bordered with fragrant leaves and a
line of scarlet geraniums at the top and bottom, amid a solid center
of feverfew and the word "GRANT" brought out in blue ageratum.
Above and back of all was the national flag drooping in graceful folds.
Death of President McKinley
Lincoln. Garfield, Grant — then the nation mourned the death of
President William McKinley, in the autumn days of 1901. For many
days the whole people of the Republic were inquiring after the condi-
tion of their beloved executive, after he had been shot while attending
the Exposition at Buffalo, New York. His name was in everyone's
mind, for he was a beloved man, stricken down by an assassin in days
of supreme peace and prosperity. Finally the end came and "The
President is dead" flashed from ocean to ocean and from lake to gulf.
A few days after his death, and as his funeral was being held in
Canton, Ohio, every place of note in the Union held its memorial
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 177
services. In Fremont, as is shown by the newspaper files of that
date, services were held at the various churches on Sunday. Special
memorials were held at the First Methodist Episcopal, the First Congre-
gational and the Episcopal Church, where eloquent sermons were deliv-
ered by the pastors. At the other churches fervent prayers were
ofifered up to the Most High, asking for guidance of the new ruler of
the nation's affairs.
At the Congregational Church beautiful decorations together with
a large portrait of President McKinley were very impressive. His
last words were handsomely inscribed in white lettering upon a black
card just above the likeness. The audience was made up of all classes,
and professions and business callings. Members of the choir sang:
"Lead Kindly Light," "One Sweetly Solemn Thought," and "Nearer
M}' God to Thee."
Rev. William H. Buss, pastor, took for his text the words of Second
Samuel 1:19 — "The beauty of Israel is slain upon Thy high places:
how are the mighty fallen !" Among the many touching tributes paid
the departed President by Reverend Buss were the following paragraphs :
"Immortal is the scene of McKinley's death-bed — no fear there.
No fretting at God's will. No cry for vengeance. But the quiet of
the spirit self-committed to the hands of the Almighty. A smile of
deathless love for the weeping wife. A pressure of the dying hand.
A faint singing, as of the very soul anticipating its reward and saying:
'Nearer My God to Thee, Nearer to Thee.' A lapsing into uncon-
sciousness, and then after another waking the last farewell, that might
well break and yet comfort the hearts of eighty million people he so
loved ; 'Good-by all, good-by ! It is God's way ; Thy will be done !'
"Ah, friends, here is the end of the Christian, and that end is peace."
At the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Fremont, Rev. F. H.
Sanderson spoke eloquently from Second Samuel, 3 :38. He delineated
the career of McKinley from his noble youth to the time he was slain
by the hand of an assasin. He spoke of him as a boy, as a soldier,
as a statesman. Continuing in his discourse, the speaker said he "earned
his fame not alone by things written and said but by the arduous great-
ness of things done. His personality was more eloquent than tongue,
more commanding than pen. Measure his character in what we may,
it stands in pre-eminent greatness."
At St. James' Episcopal Church in Fremont, on that memorable
Sabbath, the Rev. H. B. Jefferson, rector, delivered an impressive
address. He spoke from St. Mark, 4:24 — "Take heed what ye hear."
This was a discourse filled with appropriate remarks and especially
that part touching on parents. He warned the parents present to care
well for their children and not allow them to degenerate from liberty
to license, but to keep them at home and give them careful training.
The services held in Fremont and other parts of the county on the
occasion of the death of the lamented and universally beloved William
McKinley will long be remembered by all who heard the above men-
tioned addresses.
CHAPTER XVIII
VARIOUS CHURCHES IN DODGE COUNTY
First Churches in Dodge County — The Congregational Denomi-
nation— Methodist Churches of the County — Free Methodist
Churches — United Presbyterian — Presbyterian Churches —
Baptist Churches — Lutheran Churches — Various Branches —
Catholic Churches — Christian Church — Adventist Church.
It can be truly said that the religious element has always predom-
inated in Dodge County. This is not to be understood that all pioneers
and those who settled here at a later date, were Christians or church
members, for many were not, but a majority of them were of some one
of the many religious denominations, owing to nationality and location
from which they emigrated. The Catholics were early in the field,
and the Protestant churches were well represented by those who came
in from some one of the New England states, or possibly from the
Middle and Southern states. The Methodists, here as everyhere, were
among the pioneer band; also the Congregationalists, from York State
and New England.
As soon as the various communities had built for themselves such
buildings as were needed for residences and stables, they at once com-
menced to cast about and agitate the matter of building schoolhouses
and churches. Frequently the schoolhouses, though of logs, were built
with the view of using the building for both school and church services.
The sturdy pioneer who came in from the East, having crossed the
two great rivers — Mississippi, and Missouri — had left homes where
the sound of the church-going bell still echoed in their ears, though
here they had settled on a trackless prairie, far removed from chapel
or church. They had been reared under religious influences and wanted
to raise their sons and daughters in the faith of their fathers, hence
assisted in providing convenient church edifices, when possible to do so.
First Church in County
The distinction of having organized the first church in Dodge County
must be credited to the First Congregational Church of Fremont. It
was organized August 7, 1857, with seven members. From this small
beginning it has grown to a strong active church of five hundred mem-
bers, forty of which number are now absent members. This church
was formed by Rev. Isaac E. Heaton, and seven persons as follows:
Edward H. Barnard, William R. Davis, Nathan Heaton, Isaac E.
Heaton, Mrs. Miranda N. Heaton, Mrs. Alice Marvin and Henry A.
Pierce. Mr. Davis soon returned to his former home in Wisconsin
and Father Nathan Heaton died the following October, so the good
minister and wife, with three charter members, commenced in reality
to build up the interests of the church — the first within Dodge County
of any denomination. Rev. Isaac Heaton served as pastor twelve years
during which he increased the membership to fifty. In the spring of
1869, Rev. Isaac Heaton resigned and in October that year. Rev. J. B.
Chase was called and served two years. Following is a list of other
178
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 179
pastors: Rev. Roswell Foster, three years, during whose pastorate
the church edifice was enlarged; Rev. George Porter, one year; Rev.
A. T. Swing, in 1878 a pastorate continuing eight years ; and Rev. F. L.
Berry, who served two years. Rev. William H. Buss followed with a
pastorate of nearly twelve years and was succeeded by Rev. John
Doane whose service was of three years. He was succeeded by Rev.
William H. Buss who conducted a second pastorate of twelve years
resigning in 1918. The next minister was Rev. O. O. Smith who began
September 1, 1918.
First Parsonage in Nebraska
The first few years after the organization of this church, services
were held in a small frame building later incorporated into a resi-
dence still standing at the corner of Eighth and C streets. An outline
of the various places where services have been held by this church is
as follows : While the above building was being used and in 1860,
material was gathered for a church building. This was all destroyed
by fire. Soon after (probably 1861), a small unfurnished dwelling
was used for a church and continued to be used for a number of
years. In 1868 a frame church was erected, its size was 28 by 40 feet.
In this building's tower was placed the first church bell. In 1874 this
church was enlarged, under pastorate of Rev. Roswell Foster. About
1880, the building was again enlarged under Pastor Swing, and during
his pastorate a thousand dollar pipe organ was placed in the church.
In 1885 the present beautiful brick church was erected at a cost
of $25,000 and the pipe organ formerly in the old frame building was
transferred to the new edifice. In 1907, under the pastorate of Rev.
180 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
William H. Buss, the new Austin pipe organ was dedicated. It was
purchased through the efforts of the Ladies' Aid Society. Its cost was
$3,200. The present church building stands on the same site of the
former frame structure at the corner of Military Avenue and Broad
Street. It was dedicated June 6, 1885. Its seating capacity is about
seven hundred — five hundred in the main auditorium and two hundred
in the social rooms.
Under the pastorate of Rev. William H. Buss, the church has
celebrated both its fortieth and its fiftieth anniversaries, {attracting
prominent visitors from all parts of the country and adding luster to
the annals of the organization. In each of these years large improve-
ments were made in the property at the cost of thousands of dollars;
and the church made a record in the last quarter of a century for
benevolence and membership growth. It also built a parsonage at
Thirteenth and I streets that cost nearly four thousand dollars. This
building was sold and an old parsonage property near the church was
rebuilt in 1914 at a cost of $2,000 and in 1919, improvements in the
church property were made to the value of $2,000. The entire property
is now valued at $75,000.
The Scribner Congregational Church
The Scribner Congregational Church was organized in 1871 and
now has a total membership of ninety-four. A building was erected
in 1882 and was later enlarged to meet the demands of the growing
congregation. The society also owns its own parsonage. The Sunday
school connected with this church has an attendance of about one hun-
dred and twenty. The present superintendent is E. H. Koch.
The charter members included these: (Rev. Thomas Douglas of
Fontanelle, being the moderator of the organized meeting) Andrew
and Sarah Warwick, Lina Clayton and Maria Wright.
The various pastors have been: Rev. Andrew Warwick, L. E. Bar-
ton, Wallace Bruce, A. L. Seward, A. Doremus, M. B. Harrison,
R. W. Birch.
The Dodge Congregational Church
A Congregational church was formed at the village of Dodge Febru-
ary 14, 1887, by Rev. J. D. Stevenson. The first members included
these: S. Lant,'E. H. Lant, H. Stormer, H. S. Stormer, Helen Camp-
bell, W. Hatton, A. A. Hatton.
At first services were held in the railroad depot but in 1887-8 an
edifice was built costing $1,000.
A good parsonage was soon provided for the pastor, costing $640.
Among the earlier pastors here were Revs. J. D. Stevenson, Samuel
Pearson, P. H. Hines.
This denomination has churches at Uehling, and possibly other
points in the county not reported to the writer.
Methodist Churches in Dodge County
Methodism was early in the religious field of Dodge County, coming
only second to the Congregational denomination.
"The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Fremont" was organ-
ized in the winter of 1857-58 with the following as charter members:
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 181
E. H. Rogers, Lucy J. Rogers, Mary Flor. Wealthy Beebe, L. H. Rogers.
The first pastor was Rev. J. Spillman. At first services were held at
the residence of E. H. Rogers, but a frame church building was erected
in 1866, which stood on the corner of Eighth and Broad streets, the
site of the present edifice. This frame structure served well its pur-
pose until the end of twenty years when the present frame church was
erected, a portion of the edifice being worked into the new church. Its
total cost, originally was $10,000. About 1900 the building was inade-
quate for the growing congregation and it was enlarged considerably,
but for a number of years it has been altogether too small for the con-
gregation with the various departments of church and Sunday school
work, hence the matter of rebuilding was agitated recently and it was
voted to build a new edifice costing about $90,000. The preliminary
work of raising funds is now (July, 1920) going forward. The build-
ing will stand on the present site — opposite the beautiful city park —
an ideal place around which clusters many a hallowed memory of
earlier days in Methodism in the City of Fremont.
In 1875 a parsonage was erected at a cost of $1,000. In 1903 a
new parsonage was built costing $5,500.
The charter members of this church are now all deceased. The
present total membership is nine hundred and sixty (960) at this
writing.
The present Sunday school has a membership of 500 and its capable
superintendent is Miss Linna Barnett.
For a few months this church occupied jointly with the Congregation-
alists, their church building; the Methodists here have been independent
as a society and owned their own church property. The various pastors
who have served this church are as follows :
Revs. Jerome Spillman, J. Adriance, 1858-59; L. W. Smith, 1859-60;
David Hart, 1860-61; Theodore Hoagland, 1861-62; J. H. Ailing,
1862-63; M. Pritchard, 1863-65; J. Adriance, 1865-67; Joel A. Van
Anda, 1867-70; E. J. Mechesney, 1870: Charles McKelvey, 1870-72;
G. W. De La Matyr, 1872-73 ; J. M. Richards, 1873-75 ; C. G. Lathrop,
1875-76; G. W. De La Matyr, 1876-78; L. B. W. Long, 1878-79; J. W.
Shank, 1879-81 ; W. F. Warren, 1881-83; J. Fowler, 1883-84; George M.
Brown, 1884-87; T. B. Hilton, 1887-89; J. W. Robinson, 1889-92;
George M. Brown, 1892-94: F. M. Sisson. 1894-97; W. P. Murray,
1897-99; F. H. Sanderson, 1899-1905 ; John A. Spyker, 1905-08; Thomas
Bithell, 1908-11; F. M. Sisson, 1911-17; Emory D. Hull, 1917— to the
present date, 1920.
Other Methodist churches of Dodge County are located at Hooper,
North Bend, Ames, Purple Cane, Bethel Church, southeast of Hooper
and Nickerson. Some of the information blanks sent out to the churches
have not been returned to the historian, hence only meager account is
given of such societies.
The Hooper Methodist Episcopal Church
This church was organized in 1872 by Rev. George De La Matyr.
The first members were : Mr. and Mrs. Orlando A. Heimbaugh, Mrs.
Andrew Baker, and either two or three other persons. The first meet-
ings were held in the railroad depot. A neat frame church was built
in 1884, at a cost of $3,200. This building was dedicated by J. B.
Maxfield, D. D.
The present membership is one hundred and forty.
t
182 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
The Sunday school connected with this church has an enrollment
of 125 scholars ; its superintendent is George \V. Heine.
The pastors who have served at Hooper have been : Revs. L.
Charles, 1882; W. G. Pyle, 1883; W. A. Davis, 1884; Charles C.
Wilson, 1885-86; J. E. Q. Flahartv, 1887-88; O. Eggleston, 1889-92;
J. B. Leedom, 1893 ; William J. Hatheral. L. D. Matson. W. W. Shenk,
William Esplin, 1895-98; B. B. Kiester, 1898; A. A. Luce, 1901;
William Esplin, 1902-03; L. R. De Wolf, 1904; George B. Warren,
1905-06; T. H. Hard, 1907-08; C. O. Trump, 1909; T. E. Smith,
1910-12; B. F. Eberhardt, 1913; W. W. Whitman, 1914-15; A. H.
Brink, 1916-18; E. H. Tipton, 1919, still serving in 1920.
North Bend Methodist Episcopal Church
This church is unfortunate in having many of its earliest records
lost, but from what can be now, at this late day, gathered from quite
reliable sources it may be stated that the following is about the out-
line history of this Methodist Church : It was organized in 1858 by
the pioneer minister. Rev. Jacob Adriance. In 1869, Rev. J. Van Anda
formed a Sabbath school, the first members of which were: Dora V.
Johnson, Mary H. Skinner, Mrs. Benjamin, and Mrs. S. L. Lester.
At first they assembled in the school house, but in 1872 a frame build-
ing was erected for their use. The present (1920) total church mem-
bership is 146.
The following have served as pastors of the North Bend Methodist
Episcopal Church: Revs. John Van Anda, J. M. Adair, Reverend
Charles, C. W. Dawson, D. Marquette. John Brooks, C. C. Wilson,
Peter De Clark. No record at hand for further pastors except the
present one, Rev. W. H. Jackson, whose salary the last year was $1,700.
The present church edifice was erected a few years since at a cost
of $15,000, including parsonage and grounds.
NiCKERSON Methodist Episcopal Church
Up to 1888 religious services at Nickerson were held by various
denominations at the school house but during that year the Methodists
built a neat chapel costing $1,300. The railroad donated $200 towards
the purchase of the lot on which to erect the church building.
The present total membership of this church is 275 ; present Sunday
school membership 201; value of church property $1,700. The present
pastor, Rev. E. O. Johnson, receives a salary of $400 a year from this
church.
Ames Methodist Episcopal Church
No data was furnished the historian from which to compile a his-
tory of this church organization. Conference reports in 1919 gave the
membership at 114; its pastor Rev. Frank L. Reeder, salary, $1,110.
The total value of the church property is $11,500.
Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church
This church is situated in Maple Township, Dodge County, and
was organized February 16. 1874, by charter members as follows:
Edgar Adriance, Anna Adriance, Louisa Bemar, James Hanson, Sr.,
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 183
James Hanson, Jr., Charles Brown, Catherine Brown, and Ann Brad-
bury. At first services were held at the Brown schoolhouse, but in
1878 a neat frame church was erected and was dedicated by Presiding
Elder Slaughter. This building was built on the southeast corner of
section 4, township 18. In 1891 there was a total membership of
forty persons here.
Among the earlier pastors of this church may be recalled: Revs.
[acob Adriance, Reverend Dans, J. O. A. Flaharty, W. G. Harrigan,
j. Adair, Peck, W. J. Pyle, W. S. Davies, C. C. Wilson, and Rev. O.
Eggleston. (No record.)
The present pastor is Rev. H. S. Grimes; membership is 98; salary,
$1,250; value of church property, $1,250.
Jamestown Methodist Episcopal Church
This was organized in October, 1888, by Rev. T. C. Clendening
and the first members were: J. Adriance and family, T. Craig and
wife, R. Kemp and wife. The schoolhouse was first used as a meeting
house for this society, but in the fall of 1890 a frame building was
erected and dedicated by Rev. P. S. Merrill, of Omaha. The build-
ing referred to stood on the southwest quarter of section 20, township
18, range 7, east. The facts concerning this church since the nineties
is unknown to the compiler of this chapter.
Other Methodist Churches
Besides the above churches of this denomination there are others
at country stations where services are held in schoolhouses.
The Free Methodist Church of North America
March 19, 1903, there was organized at the City of Fremont a Free
Methodist Church under the above auspices. Its charter members
included: William McElfresch, J. P. Dibble, W. S. Johnson (trustees) ;
A. S. McClure, Ida McClure, Maud McClure, James McCreath, Mrs.
McCreath, Etta Guthrie, Joseph Dibble, Dellia Dibble and S. Anderson.
This society now has a membership of sixty, with a usual congre-
gation of 150.
A frame church was built in 1913, as well as a neat frame parsonage
at the same date.
The Sunday school has for its superintendent Alice Pettit ; the attend-
ance is about ninety.
The pastors who have thus far served this church at Fremont have
been : Rev. A. S. McClure, W. McElbreth, T. W. Rutledge, H. Hayden,
W. McElbreth, Mary Mclntire, F. E. Miller. L. M. Rutledge, H. Wil-
liams, F. E. Miller, W. W. Whyte, H. C. Williams, L. M. Roby and
present pastor, W. M. Adams.
United Presbyterian Church
There was a society of this denomination organized at North Bend
in 1861. The exact date was July 19. Rev. Thomas McCartney was
organizer of this church. The charter members were as follows : Alex-
ander Morrison and wife, John Miller and wife, Mrs. W. S. Cotterell,
George Young, James Slass and wife, Robert Graham and wife, James
Graham, Thomas Patterson, Edward Johnson.
184 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
There are now 225 members in this church, with 150 attending
Sunday school, with Mrs. Gertrude Johnson as superintendent.
The pastors have included these : Revs. Joseph G. McKee, T. P.
Proudfit, Isaac A. Wilson, Robert Campbell, David Inches, L. W.
Williamson, G. T. Scott, Peter Swan, Charles W. Ritchie, James Black,
J. A. Kennedy, D. D., W. C. Davidson, D. D.
At first services were held in schoolhouses but as the schoolhouse
used mostly was a mile west of town, in 1869 a church edifice was
erected at an expense of $1,700. It was erected on the corner of Eighth
and Sycamore streets and was still owned by the church in 1893, but
not used, as in 1885 a neat frame edifice was built on Ninth and Chest-
nut streets. The belfry was provided with a clear-toned heavy bell.
The cost of this edifice, aside from its furniture, was $5,000. Dr. John-
son of College Springs, Iowa, dedicated this structure in February, 1888.
A parsonage was built in 1895 and the present one in 1920.
Fremont Presbyterian Church
The Presbyterian Church at Fremont was organized November 23,
1873, and incorporated April 12, 1874, with charter members including
jr.; these : James G. Kinnier, Mrs. Annie Kinnier, John A. Kinnier, Robert
'*-^-' *^- Kinnier, Thomas S. Kinnier, James M. Kinnier (from a Presby-
^'•■-' terian Church in Ireland), and William Porterfield, Mrs. Mary Etta
Porterfield (from Council Bluff^s, Iowa), Mrs. Mary E. Fullinneider,
Mrs. Clara B. Pilsbury (from the Congregational Church of Fremont).
A frame edifice was erected in 1875, which with the lot cost $3,600.
This was built on Fifth Street, between C and Union streets. The
present building was erected in 1910; dedicated December 4, 1910.
The parsonage in use now was erected in 1914.
The present Sunday school superintendent is D. D. Rowe and the
school has an enrollment of 275 scholars. For a number of years this
church has supported Dr. J. F. Kelly on the foreign field in China and
is known as a strong missionary church.
The only other Presbyterian Church in Dodge County today is the
Webster Church in Webster Township in the northwest part of the
county, located nine miles to the north of North Bend.
The pastors of the Fremont Presbyterian Church have been : Revs.
Edwin Schofield, A. B. Byrons, P. S. Hurlbert, George M. Brown,
R. M. L. Braden, Daniel Blose, Noah H. G. Fifer, Nathaniel Chestnut.
Clarence W. Meyer, J. Frank Reed, Nathaniel McGriffin.
The Fremont Baptist Church
The largest church of the Baptist faith in Dodge County today is
the one in the City of Fremont. This society was organized July 15,
1869, by Rev. George W. Freeman. The charter members included
these: 'George H. Morrell, H. R. Harmon, William H. Wick, Grace
M. Wick, Abraham Tice, James Tice, J. C. Blackman, H. C. Ward,
"Charles H. Lewis, Amanda A. Lewis, Miranda Condit, Maria Harmon,
Mattie L. Harmon, Deborah Whittier.
The first services were held in the old courthouse. The first baptism
was administered February 23, 1870. In the autumn of'^S?! a church
building was erected at a cost of about $2,500. It was built on Fifth
and C streets. It was enlarged and remodelled several times and the
property is now estimated to be worth $14,000.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 185
The present total membership is 350.
The Sunday school superintendent is Mrs. D. E. F. Manter, and .
the attendance is about one hundred and sixty.
The pastors of this Baptist Church have been: Revs. J. McDonald,
Reverend Guild, Thomas Jones, A. Hitchcock, T- H. Storms, J. W.
Osborn, J. C. Lewis, E. R. Curry, H. W. Tate, C. W. Bringstad, T. L.
Ketman, E. F. Jordan, H. B. Foskett, I. W. Corey, J. Batzle, R. B.
Favoright, who came in March, 1918, and is still pastor of the church.
There is also a Baptist Church at the Village of Dodge, the partic-
ulars of which were not forthcoming.
The Lutheran Churches
This denomination is well represented within Dodge County, and is
divided into several branches and nationalities — German, Danish, Swed-
ish, and Danish-Norwegian.
The City of Fremont has the following Lutheran churches : German
Lutheran with a good frame edifice on the corner of Third and C >^
streets and in the same block is a two story frame parochial school
building, well attended and properly conducted. The Salem. Danish,
Swedish, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran and Danish-Norwegian churches
of this faith have good frame buildings and have regular pastors and
services. Salem church just mentioned, has a frame building on the
corner of Fourth and D streets, erected in 1902; the Danish Evan-
gelical Church has a frame structure on the corner of Fourth and Union
streets, erected in 1907.
Zion's Lutheran Church — Hooper
This church was organized March 1, 1890, by Karl Kruger. The
first membership was largely from among the German settlers in that
vicinity. In 1890 a neat frame church was erected over which stood
a seventy foot tower. This building cost $2,000. It was dedicated
by C. Huber and C. Kruger. The present value of the church is $6,000
and the parsonage, $3,000. Reverend Schrader is Sunday school super-
intendent and has sixty pupils. This denomination also has a church
work and society in Logan Township, Dodge County.
The total membership of the Hooper Church is 248 confirmed
persons.
The pastors have been these : Revs. Karl Kruger, 1890-92 ; L. Grauen-
horst, 1893-1900; E. Walter, 1900-08; E. OsthofF, 1909-11; F. Mat-
thiesen, 1911-14; Rev. J. Schrader, 1914, and is still serving the con-
gregation as pastor.
Grace Lutheran Church — Hooper
I
The last organized Lutheran Church in Hooper is that known as
Grace Lutheran Church which was organized in 1915 by Rev. W. T.
Kohse, missionary superintendent. A frame edifice was erected in 1916,
valued at $14,000. The only pastor called thus far has been the present
pastor. Rev. K. de Freese.
The present membership is 178. The Sunday school has a mem-
bership of 125 and has for its superintendent Mrs. A. E. Herker.
The sub-joined is a list of those included in the charter member-"
ship of this church: B. Monnich, Dr. W. Howard Heine, J. Sanders,
186 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Mrs. M. T. Gellers, Mrs. J. Sanders. W. E. Sanders, Mr. and Mrs. A.
E. Herker, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Herker, Mrs. F. J. Egan, Mrs. J.
Killenbach, Mrs. C. C. Cushman, Mrs. J. Schwab, Miss F. Geisert,
Mr. and Mrs. William Bucholz, Dr. and Mrs. C. N. Ralph, Harold
Kallenbach, R. L. Scharb, Mrs. C. W. Conyers, Mrs. J. Ring, E. M.
Uehling, B. Monnich, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Ed Schwab, Mr. and Mrs. J. R.
Bott, Charlotte M. Monnich, Mrs. A. P. Larson, Mr. and Mrs. H. T.
Ring, Martha Kallenbach, Mrs. Ida Easier, Mrs. P. J. Ewold, Mrs. H.
Wagner, Norman Wagner, Harry Wagner, Mr. and Mrs. Ike Brondt,
Mr. and Mrs. H. F. Waterman, Gifford Zellers, Chelsea Cushman,
Monroe Zellers, Harry Schwab, Frank Schwab, Louis Alperstedt,
Walter Killenbach.
Other points in the county where this denomination is represented
are : Fremont, Ridgeley, Scribner, Uehling, Ames, Winslow, and
Snyder.
Roman Catholic Churches
Dodge County has numerous Catholic congregations including those
at Fremont, Scribner, North Bend, Dodge and Snyder. The Fremont
congregation is a strong organization and dates back early. It has a
handsome, large, red brick edifice at the corner of Fourth and C
streets; also a fine red brick school building built in 1913. It is three
stories high and modern appointments throughout. It faces Fourth
Street and is next to the church property.
Unfortunately the writer was not furnished with the usual informa-
tion blank sent to the churches of the county, hence no details on the
various Catholic congregations can be had in this connection. Rev.
Father O'Sullivan is pastor of the Fremont church at this time.
The Adventist Church
Only one organization of this denomination is foimd within Dodge
County and that is at the City of Fremont. The society is not large
and is not supplied regularly with a pastor. They own a small chapel,
centrally located.
The Christian Churches
The Christian (Disciple) Church is represented in Dodge County at
points as follows : North Bend, Fremont.
Christian Science Churches
Fremont and North Bend each have a Christian Science organiza-
tion, and the few of this faith in the two communities meet for regular
weekly services, but so far no buildings have been provided for the
societies. The believers in this denomination and its teachings hope
not far distant to be strong enough to have a church edifice of their own.
St. James Protestant Episcopal Church
This church was organized at the City of Fremont July 14, 1865.
Episcopal services were held, however, at this point at a much earlier
date. At first they worshiped at the house of pioneer Robert Kittle,
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 187
and later at the schoolhouse. It was in the summer of 1867 that they
reared the first edifice which stood near the present one. It was a frame
building and was consecrated September 15, 1867. The original mem-
bership of this church was as follows: Robert Kittle, Helen Kittle,
Ella Kittle, Wm. V. Johnson, O. C. Dake, J. F. Reynolds, Rebecca A.
Reynolds, John Ray, Lucy Ray, Harvey H. Robinson, Benjamin Turner,
Emily J. Turner, Samuel W. Hayes, Sarah Hayes, Abraham Howes,
Sarah Howes, George Turner, John S. McCleary, Aletha C. McCleary,
Theron Nye, Caroline M. Nye, Luther J. Abbott, M. D., Clara F.
Abbott, Anna E. Abbott.
The following include the various rectors of this church and parish :
Rev. O. C. Dake. Rev. J. May, Rev. Martin F. Sorenson, Rev. Frank
E. Bullard, Samuel Goodale, D. D.. Rev. John McNamara, D. D., Rev.
Timothy O'Connell, Rev. Alexander Allen, Rev. John Hewitt, Rev.
C. McCracken, Rev. A. B. Spaight. Rev. James Cochran Ouinn, D. D.,
Ph. D., LL. D., and after resigning he was succeeded by Rev. C. E.
Brandt July 1, 1895, and in 1896, he resigned and was followed by Rev.
J. C. Gallandet and he in turn was succeeded by Rev. E. Warren Clarke
in 1901-02 and was followed by Rev. H. B. Jefferson and then came
Rev. Harry Moore, then Rev. W. H. Frost. The last mentioned clergy-
man connected with this parish, according to the record-book of the
parish was Rev. George S. G. Tyner.
The parish is without a rector at this time (1920).
Of the building operations let it be said that Bishop Talbot appointed
Reverend Dake as first rector in July, 1865, as a missionary clergyman
to organize a parish here. Fifteen hundred dollars was donated by
St. James Episcopal Church of Chicago toward a building fund and
that is how this church in Fremont took its name — "St. James." The
citizens of Fremont including Episcopal members raised $1,500 more
toward building. A number of lots were bought where now stands
the church at the corner of Fifth and D streets. At first a cotton-
wood hall was erected for school and church uses, but on account
of the warpy character of the home grown wood this building proved
a failure after a few months use and was abandoned for the use
intended. The present brick edifice was completed May 1, 1888, at a
cost of $9,800. The rectory, etc., added to this made the total
outlay ?1 5,000.
CHAPTER XIX
THE CIVIC SOCIETIES OF THE COUNTY
Free Masonry — Odd Fellowship — Knights of Pythias — The Wood-
men— Workmen — Knights of Columbus — Eastern Star
Chapters — Rebekah Degree Lodges — Ben Hur — Workmen and
Various Other Secret and Semi-Secret Lodges.
In these modern times one may go to all parts of the globe and where-
ever civilized man is found, there is found some one of the various
civic societies or orders which have for their object the betterment of
the brotherhood of man. A century ago it was not popular to have it
universally understood that a man belonged to a secret society. Many
of the religious bodies would not tolerate its members in becoming active
members of lodges. But as time passed,' and the people by degrees
began to understand something of the benefits of such orders, the preju-
dices became less, until today Masonry, Odd Fellowship and other lodges
have become very popular and are rapidly increasing in number and
membership.
There are legions of life insurance beneficiary lodges, some of
which are herein noted, while the great, real secret orders are confined
chiefly to the Masons, the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.
Free Masonry
The most ancient of all secret orders is that of Masonry. The first
lodge of this high order to be instituted in Dodge County was Fremont
Lodge No. 15. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, organized June 20,
1867, by the following charter members: S. W. Hayes, J. H. Crabbs,
Robert Kittle, E. H. Rogers, Thomas Wilkinson, S. C. Curtis, William
G. Bowman, Joseph Lambertson, O. C. Dake. S. W. Hayes was the
first Worshipful Master.
In 1892 the total membership of this lodge was 162. The present.
(1920) total membership is 416. Its present elective officers are : Edward
G. Bauman, worshipful master; Charles E. Miller, senior warden;
Lawrence M. Nichols, junior warden ; Otto H. Schurman, treasurer ;
Mathew A. Priestley, secretary ; Harold D. Keene, senior deacon ; David
H. Ohlmutz, junior deacon; Lawrence E. Taylor, Senior steward;
John E. Long, junior steward; Charles A. Morse, tyler. Trustees —
Fred E. Lee, Fred C. Laird and Henry Wohner.
All degrees of Free Masonry are here represented. Signet Chapter,
No. 8 was instituted, or worked under dispensation from August 1,
1871, and under its charter from June 17, 1872. The charter mem-
bership was: Lewis M. Keene, H. B. Nicodemus, William H. Munger,
Samuel Hayes, Frank W. Hayes, John N. V. Biles, S. Bullock, Henry
Fuhrman, E. H. Gray, M. H. Hinman, A. C. Hull, Fred Jenewein,
James A. Moe, J. S. Shaw, W. D. Thomas, Ashbury Townsend, E. Van
Buren.
Mt. Tabor Commandery, Knights Templar, No. 9, at Fremont, was
instituted, October 29, 1879, with the following Sir Knights as charter
members: Cornelius Driscoll, William Fried, Samuel G. Glover, E. F.
188
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 189
Gray, Joel A. Green. M. H. Hinman, L. M. Keene, William F. Lee,
William H. Munger, H. B. Nicodemus. L. D. Richards, L. B. Shephard,
William D. Thomas, A. Townsend. E. Van Buren. In 1892 this Com-
mandery enjoyed a membership of 104 and at the present date (sum-
mer of 1920) it has a membership much greater.
Emett Lodge of Perfection No. 5 of Scottish Rites, at Fremont, was
instituted March 24. 1888. with charter members as follows: John
Hewett (thirty-second degree), Venerable Master; L. M. Keene (thir-
ty-second degree), S. W. ; L. D. Richards (thirty-second degree), Aim.;
C. M. Williams (fourteenth degree), secretary; Frank Fowler (four-
teenth degree), treasurer; Nathan H. Brown (thirty-second degree).
Arthur Truesdell (thirty-second degree), Julius Beckman (fourteenth
degree), William C. Brady (fourteenth degree), \'. S. Hoy (fourteenth
degree), George W. Sellers (thirty-second degree), Leander B. Smith
(thirty-second degree), James H. Hamilton (fourteenth degree), Edwin
T. How (thirty-second degree).
Arbor \'itae Chapter No. 92 of the Eastern Star was organized in
1894 and its present membership is 400.
The Masonic Temple
The present beautiful Masonic Temple at Fremont was erected in
1888. It was built by the Masonic Temple Craft, an incorporated stock
company, made up of the Lodge, Chapter and Commandery. Its cost
was $26,000, exclusive of the lot on which it stands, and furnishings.
The capital stock of this corporation was $36,000. The first ofificers
were; L. M. Keene, president; A. Truesdell, vice-president; Robert
Kittle, secretary ; W. D. Thomas, treasurer.
The comer-stone ceremonies were of a very impressive character.
They took place August 23, 1888. Grand Master George B. France had
charge of the work. A metal casket or chest was enclosed within the
corner-stone and overtopped by it. This contained, among other arti-
cles of historic interest and future value : Officers of the Fremont Lodge
at that date ; the "Great Lights of Masonry" ; by-laws of Signet Chapter
No. 8; charter and names of Mount Tabor Commandery, K. of T. No. 9;
names of the Masonic Craft at Fremont; photographic views of the
temple to be constructed ; municipal records of Fremont ; Dr. L. J.
Abbott's Centennial History of July 4, 1876; records of Company "E"
Nebraska Guards; records of McPherson Post Grand Army of the
Republic ; records of Women's Christian Temperance Union ; copies of
the Daily Tribune and Daily Herald of Fremont ; an account of the pub-
lic schools of Dodge County ; an account of Odd Fellowship in Fremont.
M.\soNic Home for Children
In 1916 and 1917 the Masonic Home for Children, under care of the
Eastern Star, was completed. The Grand Lodge of the state and the
Local Masonic order at Fremont purchased sixty-seven acres of land,
just to the north of the city. The cost of the land, the superintendent's
home and farm buildings was $37,500. The home for the boys and
the home for the girls cost about $28,000. Fremont Mdsons contributed
$10,000 for the purchase of the land and for the homes. The average
number of resident children is thirty — half boys and half girls. John W.
Sexton is superintendent of the farm and buildings ; Mrs. Edna Boor-
man is matron of boys' home and Mrs. Bess Bauer is matron of the
girls' home.
190 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
ScRiBNER Lodge No. 132
Ancient Free and Accepted Masonic Lodge at Scribner was organ-
ized July 9, 1884. The charter members were as follows : Jesse A.
Nason, Chauncey D. Gardanier, James Booth, J. J. Barge, John Rom-
berg, William B. Gardanier, Gustave A. Diels, Robert Moodie, Robert A.
Hasson, Walter A. King, Charles Inches, Carl T. Pulsifer, Joseph L.
Baker. John Baker.
The present (1920) lodge has a membership of sixty-two.
Of the original officers it may be stated the following served as first
elective officers: Jesse A. Nason, worshipful master; Chauncey D.
Gardanier, senior warden: James Booth, junior warden: John L. Bar-
ker, treasurer; Robert C. Hasson, secretary; J. J. Barge, senior deacon;
William B. Gardanier, junior deacon ; Gustave A. Diels, tyler.
The present or 1920 elective officers are as follows : Paul L. Keller,
worshipful master ; Emanuel A. Bauer, senior warden ; Harold Christy,
junior warden ; John F. Drenguis, treasurer : Clarence Ranslem, secre-
tary; Peter L. Bauer, senior deacon: John Beaver, junior deacon; James
M. Beaver, tyler.
This lodge rents a hall at $190 per year: it is situated on the west
side of Main Street.
Hooper Lodge No. 72
Hooper Lodge No. 72, Ancient Free and .Accepted Masons was
organized March 19, 1878. The charter members were as follows ;
Abner D. Harwood, Jerry Denslow, William .'\. G. Cobb, Samuel Krea-
der, James P. Lamberson, H. C. Craigg, Frank E. Wickwire, James F.
Burns, William H. Aldrich, John F. Romberg, Oswald Uehling, James H.
Caldwell, Robert M. Peyton, George Briggs, Edward H. Airis, James F.
Briggs.
The lodge has increased with the passing years until it now has a
total of 100 Master Masons.
The first and present elective officers have been as follows :
Title First Officers Present— 1920
Worshipful Master. . . .James F. Burns Herman R. Meir
Senior Warden H. C. Craigg J. Sherman Zellers
Junior Warden Jerry Denslow Edward H. Schwab
Treasurer Samuel Kreader F. H. Maryott
Secretary Wm. A. G. Cobb Norman E. Shafifer
Senior Deacon Frank E. Wickwire .... John A. Feinaigle
Junior Deacon James P. Lamberson ... P. Edward Peppmiller
Tyler William H. Aldrich. . . .William O. Anderson'
The lodge owns its own lodge room — a two-story brick building with
basement, located on lot No. 5, in block No. 2, Hooper. It is valued at
$10,000 and has no incumbrance against it.
North Bend Lodge No. 119
The Ancient Free and Accepted Masonic Lodge at North Bend, this
county, was organized June 24, 1884, with charter members as follows:
James A. Bonner, Thaddeus W. , Christopher Cussack, Michael
Dowling, George A. Eanos, Peter Gillis, Anson J. Hasting, David A.
Hopkins, Wesley Lynch, Joseph E. Newsom, Milton May, Goldsmith
H. Norris, Bissell P. Rice, John Y. Smith, Frederick L. Thompson,
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 191
Chauncy B. Treadwell, W. J. T. Wallace, Hermon F. Wilcox, Charles M.
Williams, William H. Yaw.
The present (1920) total membership of the lodge is 110. The value
of the property now owned by this Masonic Lodge at North Bend is
about $10,000. First and present elective officers are these :
Title First Officers 1920 Officers
Worshipful Master M. Dowling John R. Tapster
Senior Warden C. B. Treadwell Harry Cussack
Junior Warden J. A. Bonner R. A. McWhorter
Treasurer P. Gillis Roy J. Cussack
Secretary C. M. Williams Henry J. Newsom
Senior Deacon D. A. Hopkins Leonard B. Woods
Junior Deacon T. J. Chapin Thomas G. Grimes
Tyler Joseph E. Newsom .... Joseph E. Newsom
Order of Eastern Star
This fraternity is an auxiliary of the Masonic Order, and is made
up very largely of the ladies whose relatives are Masons. Dodge County
has a number of such chapters, as these societies are known. This order
has within the last decade become very popular and seems to be of much
interest and value to the women who are active members of such auxil-
iaries to Masonic lodges. Especially is this true in traveling among
strangers, as members of the Masonic Order readily recognize and pro-
tect those who are known to be members of the Eastern Star. The work
of this order, founded on Bible characters, is very impressive and uplift-
ing in its character.
Ruth Chapter No. 119 — North Bend
This Chapter was organized September 27, 1897, with charter mem-
bers as follows: Rachel Hiett, C. H. Walrath, W. D. Foote, Mae B.
Walrath, M. Dowling, Bertha A. High, Susan High, Anna M. Johnson,
Florence Main, J. B. Foote, J. E. Newsom, May P. Dowling, Jessie
Sherwood, Iva Main, D. M. Strong, Mabel C. Cussack, James H. John-
son, Ralph Main, Gertrude Sherwood, B. D. Sherwood, Mary E. Dow-
ling and Anna M. Kastle.
The total membership in 1920 of this Chapter is 124.
The original and present elective officers are as follows :
Title Original Present
Worthy Matron Rachel Hiett Jessie Emerson
Worthy Patron M. Dowling Fred A. Howe
Associate Matron Mrs. M. Dowling Sarah Howe
Secretary Mabel Cussack Maude Raitt
Treasurer Mae Walrath Wealthy Foote
Conductress May Dowling Grace Sidner
Associate Conductress. . Florence Main Gertrude Johnson
Warder • Wealthy Foote Grace Haverfield
Adah Mary Walker Hortense Lehmer
Ruth Gertrude Sherwood .... Hazel Armstead
Esther Anna Johnson Cedelea Brownwell
Martha Elizabeth Hoff
Electa Cora M. Lehmer
Organist Alma Hatcher
Sentinel J. E. Newsom Laura M. Thorn
192 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Friendship Chapter No. 122 — Hooper
This Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star was organized February
26, 1898. Its charter members were as follows: Mrs. A. M. Denslow,
Mrs. Charlotte Uehling, Mrs. O. Dooley, Mrs. Emma Briggs, Mrs. B.
Kreader, Mrs. E. Hibler, Mrs. John Ring, Mrs. Barbara Monnich,
Mrs. E. Renkin, Mrs. H. A. Harris, Mrs. P. Kroeger, Mrs. Mary Cush-
man, Miss Hattie Caldwell, John Ring, Bernard Monnich, Edward Ren-
kin, Theo Kroeger, Charles Cushman, Charles Rogers and O. Dooley.
The total membership of this Chapter in June, 1920, was 134. The
first and present set of elective officers were:
Title Original Present
Worthy Matron Mrs. Anna Denslow Miss Katherine Rebbee
Worthy Patron Mr. E. Renkin Mr. Edward Rogers
Associate Matron Mrs. Mary Cushman Mrs. Sherman Zellers
Secretary Bernard Monnich Mr. H. Schimmel
Treasurer Charlotte Uehling Mr. Henry Rebbee
Odd Fellows Lodges of County
Odd Fellowship is well represented in the various places of Dodge
County. Its membership is large and the interest in the order is deep
and productive of much good in the county.
Without regard to the chronology of the time in which these various
lodges of the "three-linked-brotherhood" were organized, the following
account of the order will be given :
North Bend Lodge No. 161
North Bend Lodge was organized May 12, 1888, with charter mem-
bers as follows : A. B. Elwood, Isaac Banghart, L. C. Holmes, Van
Banghart, J. E. Newsom, Harry Fertig, Joseph Datel, S. J. Fertig,
W. W. Roberts, Joseph Hodgin, Harry Bogge and a few others whose
names were not reported to the historian.
This Odd Fellows Lodge has a present total membership of 102.
Its present officers include : Roy Lamby, noble grand ; J. C. Mines,
vice-grand ; Frank Howe, secretary, and V. W. Jansen, treasurer.
A lodge hall is owned by the order in block 44 of the North Bend
City platting, a portion of which is used for store purposes.
Nickerson Lodge No. 390
Nickerson Odd Fellows Lodge No. 390 was organized June 17, 1920,
with a charter membership as follows : George W. Hansell, Cordie F.
Diercks, John W. Ward, W. H. Routh, Don D. Hill, Ernest Sexton,
George S. Robertson, Peter W. Johnson, Fred Brackett and Bert L.
Sidel.
The first and also present elective officers are : Noble grand, John
W. Ward ; vice-grand, Ernest Sexton ; secretary, George W. Hansell ;
treasurer, Bert L. Sidel.
The present membership, is' seventeen. This is the last Odd Fellows
Lodge organized in Dodge County.
Centennial Lodge of Odd Fellows No. 59
This lodge was organized April 19, 1876, and had charter members
as follows : Martin Higgins, A. B. Dawson, Milton Cook, John McCarn,
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 193
John Stein, Charles Mitchell, William Durkee, Jackson Lee, Morris
Davidson, Wilbur Roseman, George Ruggles.
The present total membership of this lodge is 332.
The third floor of the Farmers and Merchants Bank Building is
owned and occupied by this order for lodge room uses.
The 1920 elective officers are : L. M. Nichols, noble grand ; Edward
Bentz, vice-grand ; Milard Steen, secretary ; Fred Bader, treasurer.
Other lodges of this order are those at North Bend and Nickerson,
both within Dodge County.
The auxiliaries — the Canton and Rebekah degree lodges — are also
well represented in Fremont.
Rebekah Degree Lodges of I. O. O. F.
Both Fremont and North Bend have auxiliaries to the Odd Fellows
Order, the same being the two Rebekah lodges.
Golden Rule Lodge of Rebekahs No. 59, at the City of Fremont, was
organized March 26, 1891, and now enjoys a total membership of 331.
The charter members were as follows : I. P. Gage, M. G. Cook, P. Peter-
son, C. A. Ryan, Rila Ryan, C. C. Pollard, H. H. Pratt, E. Nilson, T. W.
Gibson, J. H. Williams, H. L. Goodrich, T. J. McKinney, Ida H.
McKinney, Carl B. Elsworth, O. H. P. Shively, F. M. McGiven, Rose
McGiven, T. L. Nesbit, J. C. Knudsen, C. O. Pillsbury, A. Truesdell,
A. C. Jensen, Sr., B. F. Stoufifer, Arthur Gibson, Jennie A. Gibson,
George F. Wolz, Maggie Wolz, Jennie Lee, J. C. Lee, C. Christensen,
Maria Christensen, Manly Rogers, Mariah Rogers, George L. Loomis,
Alice H. Loomis, W. J. Bullock, Nellie Bullock, Estella Baldwin, Bela
Baldwin, J. V. N. Biler, Theresa Biler, Gilmore King, Ida L. King,
Samuel Sickel, C. H. Perrigo, Mrs. Perrigo, Josephine Elliott, O. D.
Harms, Charles H. May, J. A. Sill, F. I. Elick, W. H. Fowler, J. S.
Seeley, P. B. Cumings, E. Schurman, Henry Breitenfelt, Nannett McCam,
S. F. Moore, Nora F. Moore, Cora M. Smith, L. B. Smith, Thomas
Frahm, Rickia Tully, Otto Hueitti, Charles Balduff, Sr., George A. Mur-
rell, Nancy L. Murrell, W. C. Wiley, George Easier.
The first elective officers were: Ida H. McKinney, noble grand;
Jennie A. Gibson, vice-grand ; Nannett McCam, secretary ; Maggie Wolz,
treasurer.
Present (1920) elective ofificers: Evelyn Lane, noble grand; Ella
EickhofiF, vice-grand ; Emma Balduflf, secretary ; Clara Stewart, treasurer.
Knights of Pythias
This is one of the more modern civic societies — founded at the close
of the Civil war in the City of Washington, where Lodge No. 1 was
instituted. It has grown wonderfully and now ranks along third in the
great secret orders — Masons and Odd Fellows only being ahead in this
class of fraternities. In Dodge County this order is not strong, although
some lodges have been organized.
Triumph Lodge No. 32
This lodge at Fremont was organized October 13, 1885, and now
enjoys a membership of 260.
194 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Its first and present (1920) elective officers have been as follows:
First Officers Title Present Officers
J. E. Frick Past Chancellor .
C. D. Marr Chancellor Commander. G. W. Nagel
F. D. Ellick Vice-chancellor H. C. Koplin
F. A. Harmon Prelate J. W. Cattern
G. H. Staube Keeper of Rec. & Seal. . H. M. Weeks
George F. Looschen. . . Master of Finance L. C. Spangler
A. Truesdell Master of Exchequer. . . W. T. Jlobertson
Frank Dolezal Master-at-Arms W. F. Primley
T. L. Stribbling Inner Guard Ray Moller
August Reitz Outer Guard H. D. Groetzinger
Master of Work F. B. Snyder
This order owns no hall, but has a handsome property on the banks
of Platte River, four miles west of Fremont, known as Knights of
Pythias Park, purchased in September, 1919, at a cost of $2,000, and
has here made many improvements so that today it is well worth
double its cost price.
The only other active lodge of this order in Dodge County now is
at Hooper.
Modern Woodmen of America
This is one of the numerous mutual beneficiary life insurance orders
which of recent years has become very popular. The Woodmen of the
World and the Modern Woodmen of America, rivals in a way of each
other, are both represented in Dodge and Washington counties to quite
an extent.
Snyder Lodge No. 470
This lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America was organized May
25, 1898, and had for its charter members these persons : R. O. Jung-
hand, Carl Schneider, A. J. Schneider, Otto Sievers, E. Sievers, Claudi
Wendorf, David Weggund, Claus Plahn, Jens Peterson, Emil Zalm and
one other.
The present membership is seventeen, in good standing:
The 1920 officers are: Venerable consul, William J. Wolsleger;
advisor, Doctor Mead; banker, Otto Sweres ; clerk, Claudi Wendorf;
escort. Otto Dallman; watchman, Fred Bilke.
Connected with this lodge is also an auxiliary by the ladies of mem-
bers of this lodge. At present Mrs. Will Wolsleger is clerk of the
auxiliary.
North Bend Lodge
This lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America was organized June
14, 1889. The charter members were as follows : E. E. Davis, C. K.
Watson, Ernest Kern, S. J. Hyatt, Ira Doane. J. A. Newal, J. E. New-
som, H. G. Snyder, C. O. Armstead, Peter Gillis, O. M. Scott, F. S.
Millar, C. W. Dodge, Robert Wyatt, John Ross, Burlingame Walker,
J. H. Chalmers, F. S. King, A. E. Kemper, Harry Walker, A. J. Siders,
F. J. Kastle and G. O. Dodge.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 195
The present total membership of this lodge is 221. The first and
1920 elective officers are as follows :
First Officers Title 1920 Officers
E. E. Davis Consul M. L. Tharp
Ernest Kern Advisor R. G. Miner
M. G. Snyder Banker R. H. Haverfield
S. J. Hyatt Escort H. A. Millar
C. O. Armstead Secretary C. C. Frahm
J. E. Newsom Watchman C. C. Frahm
Ira Doane Physician P. R. Howard
Past Consul A. W. Millar
The present trustees are : F. S. Millar, James Coen, E. H. Rector.
Ancient Order of United Workmen
This is the oldest of all the fraternal insurance orders that have ever
been instituted in the United States. It was formed by laboring men
at Meadsville, Pennsylvania, in 1868, and now has its members in
all parts of America by the tens of thousands. Millions of dollars
have been paid to beneficiaries in the last half century and more. All
other similar institutions have been patterned after this order. This
lodge provides for $2,000 to be paid upon proof of death, and thus far
they have never failed to pay within thirty days — the limit.
Fremont Lodge No. 23
This lodge was organized at the City of Fremont, December 8, 1883.
Its original members were : F. M. Smith, N. H. Brown, A. E. Stewart,
A. G. Weander, H. D. Brooks, A. O. Noreen, C. C. Beverage, E. J. Boyd,
S. R. Patten, R. C. Vaughn, B. F. French, W. G. Yost, S. L. Cleland,
H. K. Middekauff, P. D. Denney.
The present (1920) total membership of this lodge is fifty. Other
lodges of this order are found at Nickerson, Hooper, Scribner, Snyder,
Dodge and North Bend.
The first elective officers were: H. D. Brooks, master workman;
H. K. Middekaufif, recorder; B. F. French, financier; E. G. Boyd, treas-
urer; N. H. Brown, one of the trustees.
The 1920 officers are: C. K. Coleman, master workman; C. R.
Shaffer, recorder and financier ; A. K. Dame, treasurer ; Louis Hanson,
trustee.
Hooper Lodge No. 226
Ancient Order United Workmen Lodge No. 226 was organized at
Hooper January 8, 1892, and now has a membership of fifty-one. The
first or charter members of this lodge were inclusive of the following
persons : Frank Hegenbotham, Angus Philips. John Ring, Bernard
Monnich, C. E. Ingelsby, T. W. Lyman, E. W. Renkin, John McKeage,
Fred Bruse, Fred F. Heine, W. Adkins, Fred Burbank, George W. Swei-
gard, A. E. Tunberg, H. D. Dodendorf, W. E. Wilson, J. L. Alperstead,
William Borkenhagen, Carl Kahlbeck, Charles Buckolz, J. D. Stroup,
E. W. Renkin, Louis Edelman, Dan C. Foley, George W. Wolcott.
196
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
This lodge leases its hall and has regular meetings. Of its first and
present (1920) elective officers the subjoined is a list:
First Officers Title Present Officers
John Ring Past Master Workman . John Edelmaire
Angus Philips Master Workman W. C. Springer
E. W. Renkin Foreman
Bernard Monnich Overseer . .
C. E. Ingelsby Recorder . .
T. W. Lyman Treasurer .
John McKeage Guide ....
Fred Bruse Inside Watch.
Fred F. Heine Outside Watch
..W. F. Bayer
. . Frank H. Nelson
. . John Ring
. . A. E. Tunberg
. . Lester O. Jeflfers
. . A. E. Tunberg
. . Christ Dethelf sen
Ben Hur
This modern beneficiary order was organized in Crawfordsville,
Indiana, in the eighties and its name was taken from Gen. Lew Wallace's
celebrated novel of the Orient called "Ben Hur" who was the leading
character of the wonderful literary production. Dodge County at this
date has only one such Lodge or Court as it is called, and this one is at
Fremont. It was organized January 14, 1895 and now has a member-
ship of thirty-nine, but at one time had a large following. It may be
of interest as the years slip away to know who were charter members
in this lodge, as herein is found the names of many of the city's best
known business and professional men :
Frank Hammbnd
N. H. Brown
A. Truesdell
P. E. Lumberd
C. R. De La Matyr
W. H. Atwood
Ira Wallingford
T. L. Mathews
A. K. Dane
B. Franklin
Charles L. Olds
F. M. Claflin
George F. Wolz
R. E. Parker
J. A. Murrell
E. E. Cochran
J. C. Ferguson
J. R. Bader
J. D. McDonald
N. J. Walker
William H. Lucraft
Fred Gumpert
W. H. Tones
C. D. Marr
R. D. Kelly
T. W. Miller
Ira A. Wood
L. D. Richards
H. L. Himes
George B. Eddy
C. Johannsen
O. H. P. Shively
L. C. Truesdell
Jacob Brown
B. H. Siepker
C. T. C. Lollich
Harry R. Pettit
W. R. Van Dusen
F. I. Ellick, Jr.
L. S. Moe
J. T. McGinnis
William W. Fish
C. C. Pollard
C. W. Wallace
E. A. Truesdell
A. D. Smith
James S. Seeley
R. L. Hammond
James D. Bell
C. R. Schaeflfer
Paul Colson
Henry Jurging
George Haslam
Dan Miller
T. R. Churchill
L. B. Comon
M. H. Hunter
D. B. Gary
William Marshall
0. Anderson
Lewis Leedom
Al D. Sears
M. S. Short
A. Truesdell
Fred Drew
Edward Benton
Charles H. Brunner
L. M. Keene
G. Nieman
F. T. Hanlon
J. H. Mathews
I. McKennon
R. C. McDonald
Z. P. Stephens
W. H. Munger
J. Hughes
F. W. Sisson
J. E. Frick
W. H. Clemmons
C. W. Jones
Grant Parsons
R. A. Twiss
T. P. Mallon
J. H. Rogers
Frank Dolezal
C. Sigafoos
F. A. McGinnis
J. H. Knowles
M. L. Godfrey
Wm. R. Brunner
M. B. Croll
P. A. Nelson
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 197
The 1920 elective officers are: past chief, J. A. Murrell ; chief,
H. L. Himes; scribe, C. C. Pollard; judge, S. S. Sidner
Order of Maccabees
There are only two of such insurance orders in Dodge County at
the present time — the one in Fremont and one at Hooper. The one at
Fremont is known as Forest City Lodge No. 50, was organized Octo-
ber 15, 1882, and now has but thirteen members.
The first officers were : D. R. Franklin, I. D. Bell, H. Horner,
F. O. McGinnis, E. N. Ellerbrock, August Wonderling.
The elective officers in the summer of 1920 are: I. Donahue,
E. N. Ellerbrock, E.' W. 'Martin, F. A. McGinnis, A. B. Miller,
B. R. Peters.
The Danish Brotherhood
This fraternal insurance lodge was organized at Fremont, as Lodge
26, on October 26, 1895, and now has a membership of 168. They meet
at the Morse Hall the first and third Thursday of each month.
When first organized the elective officers were as follows : L. P.
Hansen, president ; C. T. C. Lollich, vice president ; C. H. Christensen,
secretary : Soren Jensen, treasurer ; Michael Steen, conductor ; F. H.
Hansen, inside guard : N. P. Holm, outside guard ; trustees — S. P.
Christensen, Hans C. Hansen and Jach Christensen.
The officers in 1920 are: Christ J. Jensen, president; E. B. Ber-
telsen, vice president; C. H. Christensen, secretary; S. P. Christensen,
treasurer; C. H. Jensen, conductor; Niels Nielsen, inside guard; Jens
Weiser, outside guard ; physician, J. S. Devries ; trustees, Fred Jacob-
sen, Ole Johnson and T. C. Willumsen.
Danish Sisterhood
This is an auxiliary to the Danish Brotherhood and is also of the
mutual beneficiary life insurance nature. Lodge No. i7 was organized
in Morse Hall December 10, 1896, with charter members as follows:
Mrs. C. H. Christensen, North Main Street ; Mrs. A. F. Anderson, North
Irving Street; Mrs. Japanne Jackson, R. F. D. route No. 1 ; Mrs. L. Lar-
son, Union Avenue, Mrs. D. Petersen, 738 North Broad Street.
There are now sixty-seven members in this lodge. Its present officers
are: President, Mrs. H. Seymonsberger ; vice president, Mrs. E. Bertel-
sen; secretary, Mrs. H. Henninger; treasurer, Mrs. Otto Petersen.
Fraternal Order of Eagles
Among the flourishing fraternal, mutual orders for life assurance is
the Order of Eagles of which Fremont Lodge No. 200 was organized in
the City of Fremont in February, 1902, with a large charter membership
— too lengthy to insert in this work, the number being about eighty. The
first meeting was held in what was then styled the Budweiser Building.
For many years they have occupied the upper story of the J. Rex Henry
Building, between the Y. M. C. A. and First National Bank Building.
The present total membership is 338.
The first elective officers included these : George Howe, worthy presi-
dent; L. P. Hansen, worthy vice president; C. H. Christensen. secretary;
198
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
J. C. Hein, treasurer; trustees, L. P. Larson, John Gumb, J. A. Doerr;
physician, Dr. A. P. Overgard.
The only other point within Dodge County where there is another
lodge of this order is at North Bend.
The elective officers in the summer of 1920 are as follows; H. J. Bum-
gardner, president ; A. F. Diels, vice president ; C. C. Parker, secretary ;
C. H. Christensen, treasurer ; trustees, Ernest Hahn, W. C. Schultz and
L. P. Hansen.
Yeoman Lodge
The only lodge of Yeomanry in Dodge County is the one at Fremont,
styled Ivanhoe No. 775, organized August 31, 1901, with charter mem-
bers as follows : M. A. Mark, O. P. Overgard, A. Bav, M. C. Scott, W. E.
Sundell, W. F. Harbach, Charles Madsen, W. S. Ball, N. G. Ubs. W. L.
Windsor.
The present membership is 342.
The first elective officers were: M. A. Mark, foreman; O. P. Over-
gard, correspondent ; A. S. Bay, master accounts.
The present officers (1920) are as follows: S. C. Sillick, foreman;
B. B. Miller, correspondent ; W. A. Edwards, master of ceremonies ;
E. Colaran, master of accounts.
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
The only lodge of Elks in Dodge County is No. 514 at Fremont. This
was organized December 16, 1902. It now enjoys the exceptional large
total membership of 360. The popularity of this order in Fremont may
be seen by glancing at the list of charter members :
August J. Albers
Julius Beckman
Frank Brown
Otto Brechlin
W. R. Brunner
E. E. Benjamin
Olive Bird
G. B. Baird
C. Christensen
Arthur Christensen
L. B. Coman
H. S. Carroll
Paul Colson
P. B. Cummings
W. J. Davies
H. P. Dowling
C. O. Eigler
A. J. Eddy
B. E. Fields
John K. Fuchs
D. Franklin
Will T. Fried
William Fried
Frank Fowler
Ed Forney
H. T. Fish
J. W. Gofi
I. P. Gage
John Graham
F. Hollenbeck
Ed Hanlon
Geo. Haslam
Guy M. Hinman
Rex Henry
N. M. Hansen
J. D. Johnson
Bruce Johnson
J. H. Knowles
F. H. Knowlton
Lloyd Killian
Albert Killian
J. N. Kelser
L. M. Keene
Louie Keene
Frank Koss
C. H. Kirkpatrick
Geo. A. Kendall
John Knoell
A. E. Littlechild
H. J. Lee
J. T. May
Charles H. May
Bert May
Lou Mav
E. S. Mitterling
Pete Mitterling
Harvey Milliken
|. F. Mitterling
E. N. Morse
C. D. Marr
Zach Marr
Mark Mortensen
C. C. McNish
R. C. McDonald
Ray Nye
A. P. Overgard
L. M. Ormsby
C. E. Pascoe
Dr. O. W. Peterson
Otto Pohl
Thad Quinn
L. D. Richards
F. H. Richards
John L. Schurman
Otto Schurman
J. W. Stewart
C. H. Stoner
R. B. Schneider
Dan Swanson
Merrill Shephard
Ray Thomas
Fred \Y. Vaughn
Fred Weachter
Dick Welty
C. M. Williams
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 199
The first elective officers were : Ray Nye, exalted ruler ; H. D. Dun-
ning, esteemed leading knight; I. P; Gage, esteemed loyal knight; J. W.
Stewart, esteemed lecturing knight; L. B. Coman, secretary; G. M. Hin-
man, treasurer; Harvey Milliken, esquire; Frank Hollenbeck, tiler; R. C.
McDonald, chaplain ; John L. Schurman, inner guard.
The 1920 officers are: R. H. Chappel, exalted ruler; Alexander Niel-
sen, esteemed leading knight ; George R. Cheney, esteemed loyal knight ;
Walter E. Jones, esteemed lecturing knight ; W. S. Balduff, secretary ;
G. M. Hinman, treasurer; Cassius J. Reynolds, esquire; N. M. Hansen,
tiler ; C. Christensen, chaplin ; Don B. Wintersteen, inner guard. The
trustees are : J. W. Goff, O. F. Turner, H. S. Murphy.
The Highlanders Order
At the Town of Scribner is located a lodge of Highlanders known
as Kilsyth, No. 376, which was formed August 14, 1903, with charter
members as follows: Alfred Henatsch, W. G. Henatsch, George
Menske, W. R. Dreuguis, A. C. Schien, R. S. Honey, Catherine Honey,
J. H. Johnson, Augusta Johnson, J. E. Cusich, M. C. French, G. C.
Stewart, Edgar Christy, B. C. Richards, Radoff Fischer, William Knoth,
August Selle, P. W. Lockmiller, Margaretha Brown, A. G. Adams,
Andrew Warwick.
The present total membership of this order here is sixty-seven.
They occupy a leased hall belonging to G. Koplin, on east side of Main
Street.
The first and present set of elective officers are as follows :
First Title 1920 Officers
Alfred Henatsch Past Illus. Protector. . .L. B. Spear
Milton C. French Illus. Protector Elmer Hubler
D. A. G. Adams Chief Counselor Margaretha Milligan
Mrs. Catherine Honey. Worthy Evangel Hulda D. Ehlers
George Mencke Secretary Elsie V. Ehlers
Wm. R. Dreuguis Treasurer
R. Fischer John Brass
CHAPTER XX
MILITARY HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY
Civil War — Loyalty of Settlers — Assassination of President
Lincoln — The Indian Troubles— The Spanish-American War
—The Great World War— 1917-18.
Dodge County was not settled early enough to have a large enough
population during the period of the Civil war to have sent many
soldiers to that conflict. Her spirit of loyalty was, however, manifested
to a good degree and all that could be spared manfully oflfered their
services in defense of their country's flag. What few enlisted from
this county were credited to Omaha and other points in the state, as
no full company was sent from Dodge County.
When the war had ended and victory was to the North and the
slaves of the Southland were forever free, came that awful blow to
the nation when President Lincoln was assassinated by J. Wilkes Booth,
April 14, 1865. At Fremont solemn memorial services were held in the
Congregational Church, an account of which appears under the head of
"Days of Mourning." With few exceptions the people in this county
were loyal and did what they could to support the men in the field. With
the exception of a few Indian scares after the Civil war ended. Dodge
County and this part of Nebraska in general were at peace with all man-
kind until the difficulty arose between the United States and Spain in
1898. (See below.)
The Spanish-American War
In the month of April, 1898, in Havana harbor, the warship Maine
belonging to the United States was sunk and many lives lost and it was
later proven to have been the work of Spain. From this incident war
was declared on Spain by Congress under the administration of President
William McKinley. It was largely a marine warfare and after a few
weeks ended in the complete destruction of the Spanish war fleet in
Manila Bay. The result of this short, decisive war was the independence
of Cuba and the Philippines, and the haughty spirit of Spain broken.
President McKinley, so far as available, used the National Guards
for soldiers for the army he raised in so few weeks and which did such
splendid service, both on land and sea. (See below.)
Roster of Dodge County Soldiers
The following list of officers and men who saw service in the Spanish-
American war in 1889 from Dodge County has been compiled from the
Adjutant-General's reports of Nebraska, and in the main may be consid-
ered correct. (These men served in Company F, Third Nebraska Regi-
ment) :
Captain — McVicker, William J., aged 47 years. North Bend.
First Lieutenant — Cummings, Peter B., aged 36, Fremont.
Second Lieutenant — Thompson, William O.. aged 30, Fremont,
First Sergeant — Abbott. John W. C, aged 33, Fremont.
200
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 201
Quartermaster Sergeant — Breitling, August W., aged 36, Fremont.
Sergeants — Fuchs, Carl, aged 22, Fremont; Seider, Ernest, aged 18,
Fremont.
Corporals — Cruickshank, George C, aged 22, North Bend ; Burns,
Willis P., aged 28, Scribner; Cook, Artie E., aged 21, Fontenelle ; Mines,
Herman A., aged 29, North Bend ; Simmons, Charles D., aged 33, North
Bend ; Williams, Wm. M., aged 19, Fremont ; Sweet, Clarence, aged 22,
Fremont ; Jeffries, Solomon G., aged 29, Hooper ; Wilbur, Claude, aged
26, North Bend ; Benson, Albert P., aged 40, Fremont.
Wagoners — Panbone, Myron, aged 29, North Bend.
Musicians — Glenn, Guy, aged 20, Fremont; Scott, Elmore J., aged 25.
North Bend.
Artificer — Becker, Otto, aged 32, Fremont.
Privates
Baughman, Charles, aged 24, Arlington.
Burtz, Charles, aged 20, Fremont.
Burtz, Henry, aged 22, Fremont.
Cantiln, George, aged 26, Fremont.
Collins, Millard, aged 40, Ames.
Cook, Guy, Nickerson.
Elm, William, aged 29, Fremont. ■
Esplin, Lucius, aged 21, Ames.
Evans, Phinander C, aged 21, Fremont.
Gorey, Thomas J., Jr., aged 23, North Bend.
Hall, Nelson, aged 23, Fremont.
Haverfield, Hayes, aged 20, North Bend.
Jarmin, Harry aged 20, Fremont.
Jones, Ira F., aged 21, Nickerson.
Karges, John, aged 27, Ames.
Krotchvel, John, aged 27, Dodge.
Lehman, Charles, aged 21, North Bend.
Lehman, James, aged 25, North Bend.
Leist, Jacob, aged 23, North Bend.
Leist, John, aged 24. North Bend.
Loss, Isaac, aged 32, Fremont.
Manzel, Charles, aged 22, Fremont.
Meier, Henry W., aged 21, Hooper.
Nelson, Chris, aged 18, Fremont.
Olsen, Chris, aged 27, Hooper.
Olsen, Lars, aged 32, Fremont.
Petersen, John F., aged 26, Fremont.
Pfaff, Daniel W., Hooper.
Saare, Alfred H., aged 26, Scribner.
Skippes, Fred, aged 32, Hooper.
Strayer, George W., aged 29, North Bend.
Strayer, Chauncy, aged 22, North Bend.
Troutt, Henry M., aged 24, North Bend.
Ulrich, John, aged 34, Dodge.
Head, Charles, aged 22, Everett. Died September 3, 1898, in hospital.
Underbill, Charles, aged 38, Scribner.
Zajicek, Joseph, aged 27, Dodge.
Zellers, William M., aged 18, Hooper.
202 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Death List
These two soldiers from Dodge County sacrificed their Hves : William
O. Thompson, aged 30 years, Fremont, died September 12, 1898. Charles
Head, died in the hospital.
The World War
This, the greatest war ever waged on the globe, was fought on Euro-
pean soil between the German Empire and a score and more of allied
nations, including the United States of America. For an extended
account of the causes and final outcome of this conflict the military
chapter in the Washington County section of this work will treat fully,
hence is omitted in this connection.
Dodge County did its full share in this great war for Democracy
and in trying to forever obviate more wars on the face of the earth.
Life was sacrificed and much material wealth expended between April,
1917, and 1919, when the war ended its active field operations.
Roster of Dodge County Soldiers
The following is the "Honor Roll" or roster of soldiers who served
in the late World war from Dodge County, Nebraska, as far as the
present county records show. It may be stated, however, that a number
more went from the county but entered the service outside this county,
hence were not credited here. For additional names of those known to
have enlisted away from this county, see later. No absolute list has ever
been compiled as yet by either Nebraska or the War Department at Wash-
ington, but the following roster must stand for the time being as correct
a list as there is data from which to compile one :
Allen, Harry H. Brown, Clarence Albert
Anaston, Tom Benton, George A.
Abraham, Arthur H. Baza, John
Arnold, Harry Allen Bates, Bruce
Arps, William Charles Bruton, Wm. Wilson
Alberts, Herman Bayer, Henry August
Anderson, Jacob Peter Bicak, Joseph
Archard, Dwight Abner Book, Joseph William
Andrews, Forest Le Roy Brazda, Daniel Steven
Ackermann, Frederick Wm. Brown, Thomas Gilbert
Augustus, Frederick H. Berry, Jettie Frank
Adams, Frank B. Burnham, Leland Alfred
Ashenbrenner, Albert Bodell, Myron Lome
Adams, John L. Brandert, August Henry
Adams, Roscoe C. Boehler, Leonard Victor
Anderson, Dale Bradley, Frank P.
Abel, Paul Charles Baker, Harlan K.
Allen, Lewis Wm. Bauman, Charles D.
Arthur, Lloyd Keith Bowersox, Franklin Peter
Anderson, Clarence R. Brooke, Harry T.
Anderson, Robert W. Bunker, Hubert Andrew
Beaty, Edward Floyd Bauer, Peter L.
Butterfield, Clarence Burke, John Joseph
Brannon, Clyde R. Brown, John H.
Bauman, Edwin George Bogner, Emil Mike
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
203
Brudeen, Charles A.
Beers, Raymond
Buck, Carl Francis
Block, David Michael
Brokenicky, Frank John
Blakslee, Edwin Wilder
Basler, Wm. F. J.
Beachler, Leo Henry
Bucklin, Irving Barrett
Benson, Roy A.
Benfiel, Robert M.
Brunning, Wm. George
Behrens, Fred Henry
Busch, Wm. M. A.
Block, Emil E.
Beachler, Fred L.
Borcherding, Martin A.
Brown, Erma
Beach, Earl Glendy
Brown, George Raymond
Bullock, Charles
Boldt, Alfred C.
Bart, Edward
Brown, Thomas John
Bennett, Marshall
Bronson, Leonard G.
Busch, John Ernest
Blair, Glenn Dale
Bullock, Frank
Boyd, Wilmer Warnock
Baldwin, Arthur
Borg, Gustav Adolph
Chism, Clinton Roy
Curran, Leo Leonard
Curry, James H.
Chapman, Wm. Thomas
Croghan, Cecil La Verne
Campbell, Geo. D.
Cheney, Byron Malcolm
Coash, Tenis Philip
Crowder, Ernest Guy
Cook, Addison Benj.
Carpenter, Donovan Harry
Christensen, Albert
Cobble, Beaureguard B.
Connelly, Emmet L.
Christensen, Frank
Clark, Ed Alden
Courtright, Carroll C.
Carstenes, Ralph
Cohn, Louis
Cheney, Robert
Crooks, Carroll E.
Crocker, Louis Ray
Carstens, Alfred Hugo
Comer, Isaac.
Campsey, Joseph
Carlson Albert Gustave
Cavender, Frank Edson
Clement, Albert
Cotterell, Roy
Clevenger, Harry Horace
Carlson, John Edwin
Cohn, Samuel Francis
Cuseck, Harry C.
Curran, William John
Christensen, Anton
Cregg, Fred
Christensen, Fred
Christensen, Henert N.
Curran, Edward Francis
Chappell, Roy Henry
Carpenter, Earl A.
Chard, Welton Peter
Chase, John Warren
Cusick, Clarence
Capesius, Peter
Copple, Sumner E.
Chambers, Charles H.
Chapman, John Jose
Cushman, Chelsea C.
Cover. Joseph
Conrad, Benjamin Franklin
Challman, Jr., Samuel K.
Cochran, Thomas Murray
Carroll, John A.
Controres, Francisco
Campbell, Lynn Gerner
Christensen, Martin C.
Chapman, Wm. F.
Carstens. Frank Wm.
Cain, John
Cobble, Houston I.
Chambers, Thorne E.
Cerv, Lewis
Curtis, George Logan
Dobrovolny, Jaroslay
Demsey, Leo Joseph
Duhigg, Michal J.
Draemel, Harry O. G.
Danner, Fred A.
Dolberg, Oscar
Daubert. Edward
Dodge, Herbert G.
Dolan, Edward M.
Duffield, Clarence A.
Diederich, Michael
Denham, Sanford Ray
Dau, Peter John
Durham, Donald
204
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Doyle, Patrick Ambrose
Dworak, Frank
Divine, James Curtiss
Doerr, Harold Frank
Donegan, Frank A.
Daum, Frank Joseph
Dorr, Burton Leland
Draper, Arthur R.
Doerr, Glenn H.
Davis, Glenn Burnie
Dengler, Frederich A.
Davis, William Lewis
Dake, Charles
Doerr, De Forest J.
Dahl, Clarence Henry
Douglas, Clinton H.
Davis, Elwin Clair
Dana, Jr., Herbert R.
Drake, Earl Le Roy
Emanuel, Patrick T.
Ernest, Tom
Estergard, Thomas
Easter, Earl Joseph
Evanofif, Vasil
Ehlers, Wm. John
Endicotte, Jesse J.
Ehlers, Walter H.
Edelman, Louis H.
Egbers, Carl
Egbers, Willie
Ehninger, E. R.
Emerson, Paul
Eidam, Clarence C.
Emerson, Joseph
Ehlers, Edwin E.
Ellerbrock. Orville R.
Eskilsen, Stanley J.
Edelmaier, Raymond A.
Farrari, Jacob
Frederickson. Axel A.
Franks, Harold L.
Fitzsimmons, Lovane L.
Ferguson, Harry Jay
Flor, Martin E.
Fry, Harry Wesley
Flora, Grover Cleveland
Frederickson, Edward William
Farmer, Earl Roy
Fredericks, Harry
Frost, Irving K.
Fowler, Alfred W.
Forest, James M.
Fleckenstine, William Vincent
Farley Harry G.
Flick, Charles R.
Foley, John Patrick
Feinauer, William
Foutes, George Gust
Farnloff, Ben Eugene
Ferree, Charles
Fraggos, George
Frost, Hubert M.
Fowler, James Humphrey
Fitzsimmons, Rollin J.
Farrell, Leonard J.
Gunther, Joseph
Gleason, James J.
Golding, Joe K.
Gaddie, Charles Edwin
Gahagen, Guy Calander
Gage, Frank Wheaton
Gutch, Jr., WilHam
Garfield, Leo Eugene
Gunderman. Stuart A.
Gumb, Phillip G.
Gaughen, Michael R.
Goss, Carl
Gerwick, George F.
Gerke, William
Garfield, George Perry
Guefifroy, Charles H.
Gottsch, Henry F.
Graham, Kent Wallace
Gasnike, Jo
Gaines, Clyde Cecil
Ginakis, William G.
Green, Russell E.
Gorey, Michael
Gibson, Charles Marion
Gage, Ralph Harold
Grubbs, Heavey W.
Garrison, John
Gilmore, Hubert Leonard
Gribas, George
Hopnuk, Tom
Henze, Le Roy Arnold
Harton, Omar A.
Hartwig, Wm. F.
Heine, Harman
Hawley, Jesse
Howard, Earl Harry
Hansen, Adolph
Hull, Jesse Lowery
Hanson. Donald Everett
Hayes, Harvey
Hinricks, Kurt Theodore
Herman, Ralph Harry
Howard, Claud
Huffaker, Irvine Harold
Hartwig, Herman John
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Hutchison, James Robert
Hrabak, Howard Frank
Hornyak, Oscar
Hirsch, Ferdinand John
Hauser, Herbert Saunders
Hammond, Le Ross
Hrouda, Robert Jerome
Haslam, George Alfred
Hoffman, Joe
Hainer, William
Holcomb, Kelly Lee
Hesse, Jr., Chas. G.
Hansen, Otto Christian
Hawkins, Mark Powell
Herman, Edward Thomas
Hick, Earl
Hollister, Frank Finch
Hausner, Gerald
Horn, Logan Albert
Hackstock, Louis
Hausner, William George
Hecht, Jacob
Hanson, Arthur
Hendricksen, George
Hoppel, Claud H.
Hemme, Harry
Holmes, Bernard
Hoover, Benjamin Aaron
Hund, William F.
Hodges, Henry Claussen
Holmberg, Erick Hugo
Hansen, Roy Carl
Hartman, Paul Chauncey
Hasen, Jens Marinus
Harms, August Frank
Hanson, James Rogers
Hendrichson, Lloyd Wm.
Herzberg, Arthur
Hansen, Peter J.
Hoadley, Herbert Eugene
Hanson, Louis Peter
Hatcher, James Floyd
Hagerbaumer, William A.
Havel, Anton Frank
Hansen, James
Holten, Ulrik
Holtberg, Wesley A.
Heckman, Clarence E.
Hager, Lester Roy
Honey, Roy R. S.
Huntman, George H.
Haines, John R.
Hanshel, Herman H.
Hoffman, James
Hansen, Edward B.
Horak, Anton
Horak, Joseph
Holmes, William N.
Houghan, Elmer Charles
Hoaglan, Roy
Hensil, James Henry
Hatch, Orville Ernest
Hickman, John Clarence
Harrison, Bailey W.
Hetmanek, August R.
Hansen, Walter
Howard, Gerald
Hammond, Ross Everett
Hager, Ely Benjamin
Her, Leonard
Jeffers, Ivan Raymond
Johnson, Lenard Theodore
Jorden, Fred Carl
Johnsen, John Henry
Johnson, William Robert
Jensen, Max
Jones, Ollie
Jones, Lawrence C.
Johnson, Wm.
Jensen, Eric Wilhelm
Janowski, Emil Ewald
Johnson, Victor C.
Jensen, William Bryan
Jones, Irvin Edward
Janssen, Fred
Jones, Carl Preston
Jensen, Ole
Jensen, Carl Erik
Jenssen, Charles Bernard
Johnson, Frederick L.
Johnsen, John Peter
Jansen, Viggo Alfred
Jorden, William Herman
Johnson, Jason F.
Jensen, Victor Emanuel
Jensen, Hans Peter
Jacobs, William S.
Jones, Willis Ernest
Jeseph, Leo G.
Jenkins, Henry
Jackson, Lloyd S.
Jensen, Jamie
Johnson, Hilbert Louis
Johnson, Benjamin H.
Johnson, Walter Emil
Johnson, Charles Fall
Jensen, Arthur
Jonas, Charles Edward
Jones, Forest Harry
Jensen, Arthur E.
206
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Jensen, Peter
Johnson, Daniel
Jennings, Floyd Everet
Johnson, Ray Walter
Janowski, Albert
Jensen, Chris
Krause, John A.
King, Lloyd
Krupinsky, Archie
Knoell, Albert Raymond
Kremser, Harry E.
Krupinsky, Benjamin
Kerstein, Edward Ludwig
Kinder, Geo. Washington
Kroenke, Frank
Kostlan, Alvin
Kallenbach, Harold Arthur
Kallman, John Milton
Kallenbach, William J.
Keene, Harold D.
Kastrau, Albert Herman
Kalk, Benjamin F.
Keeler, Horace George
Kouba, Robert Fred
Kerlin, Lloyd Wyman
Keller, Samuel Luther
Kern, Marion John
Kruger, Rudolph Frederick
Kiel, John Raymond
Klare, George C.
Kriz, Jerome D.
King, Arthur J.
Kirtley, William Beauford
Kallstrom, Herman
Katz, Harrison Raymond
Korbles, Paul
Konge, Christian Olsen
Kelly, John Greggory
Kuehm, Arnold Carl
KuU, William
Koehler, Jr., William
Katsumis, James
Kalinsusky, Stanislaus
Kappeler, Jacob Carl
Koons, Harry Jay
Larson, Edward Peter
Lockwood, Ward Dustin
Lundberg, Alvin T.
Lee, Victor Carlton
Larison, Victor
Lehmer, Warren Meyers
Leister. William
Lund, L. Noble
Larson, Elmer Oliver
Libbert, Theodore
Lane, Asa King
Londot, Camille
Luther, Carl Oscar
Lunan, Frank Alexander
Lukl, Charles
Laderlee, Joseph
La Violette, James
Looniis, Howard Waldron
Lichtenberg, Joseph J.
Larson, Julius Oliver
Lawrence, Wilfred S.
Loomis, Wayne Victor
Ladehoff, Gilbert C.
Lange, Wm. J.
Larson, Kimball E.
Larson, Ernest Gustav
Lou, Charles Fred
Larsen, Lars A. E.
Lanwermeyer, Joseph
Larsen, Arthur Harry
Leigers, Henry J.
Luther, Howard John
Lawrence, Albert F.
Launer, Jacob G.
Larsen, Ben F.
Lazazzars, Michael
Likousis, Gust
Lea, Fred Edgar
McHenry, Benjamin Harrison
McGee, Pelham
McConnell, Raymond
McGuire, George Edwin
McFarlane, Harris
Mcintosh, Earl
Mcintosh, Vern
McNamara, Walter P.
McKennan, John E.
McDill, Homer Kester
Meyer, Otto Hansen
Maring, Ralph
Moyer, Miles Foster
Millar, Harold Allison
Maben, Luther Benjamin
Morrow, James Henry
Madden, Louis
Murry, George Roland
Moeller, John Christ
Minarik, Mike Lambert
Mohr, John Frederick
Mrsny, Charles Adolph
Millar, Wilmer Leland
Metzinger, George Ross
Mehaffey, Raymond Jerome
Millar, Gilbert Alexander
Miller, Earl Oliver
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
207
Monnich, Bernard C.
Meyer, John D.
Maxwell, Charles V.
Maiker, Fred
Moseley, Frank A.
Mehon, Bluff Earl
Meyer, Henry F. A.
Morlin, Gottfried Leon
Meister, William Henry
Marquardt, Gustav Carl
Meyer, Henry
Milhken, James Dale
Mortensen, Alex Emil
Madsen, Alfred Peter
Mortensen, Laurits
Miller, Nathan
Mason, Le Roy George
Moench, August
Moffett, Orville Leone
Martin, Francis Bernette
Martin, Bruce
Monnich, Edward Jacob
Mulloni, Arthuro
Mines, Robert August
Melcher, William Ludwig
Miller, Jesse A.
Matthews, William Valentine
Mahlin, Eugene L.
Moore, Benjamin Allin
May, Richard, Col.
Muselbach, Edwin
Murninghan. Peter J.
Morris, Earl Calvin
Manni, Adolph
Miller, Charles
Morgan, George B. A.
Montrey, Victor Le Roy
Miller, Clarence Homer
Marek, Rudy
Marek, Frank
Marquis, Harry Stanton
Muir, Harry Davis
Malloy, Le Roy Edward
Morris, Robert Nathaniel
Marquardt, Elbert
Mattson, Albert
Metteis, Henry
Marr, Lewis Keene
Moseley, Wm.
Morrs, Scotty J.
Melton, Ernest
Martinek, Frank
Nicholson, Bert
Nolte, Leonard
Nielsen, Harry M. C.
Nelson, JuHus W.
Nelson, Carl Herbert
Nusz, Stoddard Goddell
Nelson, Niels Christian
Nelsen, Theodore Marius
Nelson, Clinton E.
Nelson, Alvy
Nelson, Chris Beck
Nelson, Edward Oliver
Nugent, Leo
Newlon, Clyde Arthur
Nelson, Charles F.
Olson, Gustus L.
O'Connor, Harold Joseph
Ohmsted, Grover
Olson, Ivan
Oaks, Harry Richard
Olson, Jacob
O'Hare, Willie
O'Connor, Patrick
Owens, Ray F.
Odstrcil, Frank
O'Donnell, Ernest J.
Olson, John E. A.
Olson, Louis
Olmstead, Guy Arthur
Payne, Roland J.
Petersen, Peter A.
Peterson, Luther A.
Parchen, Henry E.
Parsons, Robert Ira
Peterson, Ernest
Pfeiffer, Herbert Harry
Poole. Clarre Othello
Porter, Edwin Le Roy
Pierce, Russell Kurtz
Phillips, Louis Harold
Parr, Joe William
Peterson, Harry B.
Pribnow, August B.
Phillips, Vernon L.
Pegden, Carl Raymond
Pinckney, Thomas Lee
Pitzer, Joseph Chris
Pederson, Anton
Pruss, Edward
Pettit, Ray
Powell, Wm
Pederson, Frank
Perkins, Frank S-
Poppe, Calus F.
Peck, Ralph Frank
Porter, Guy Matthew
Paulsen, Louis Peter
Popa, Frank
208
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Pyeatte, Elmer Crozin
Pierce, Lawrence Pillsbury
Parkert, Albert Charles
Porter, Charles Earl
Price, Cratton M.
Pott, Henry
Pocholnke, Nick
Peters, Alfred Wesley
Peters, Oswald
Peterson, Paul Kline
Pott, Edmond John
Pollock, Joe Irving
Phillips, Frank Leslie
Quigley, Ralph Harrison
Rowe, William Raymond
Rasmussen, Fred L.
Rasmussen, Alfred
Rasmussen, John
Realph, Harvey W.
Rose, Alex
Ruppert, Frank
Rowe, Arthur Morton
Robinson, Russell Alex
Rink, Arnold
Royer, Charles W.
Rasmussen, Louis P.
Royer, Milo C.
Ralfs, Charlie
Rohn, Henry Edward
Reynolds, Cassius J.
Richards, Henry Herman
Rubinek, La Verne F.
Rapp, Herman
Rosech, Geo. F.
Rasmussen, Victor
Remm, Wm.
Robertson, Guy A.
Ruzicka, William Frank
Robertson, Earlyon Howard
Ruwe, Elmer C. H.
Reichman, Walter Chris
Reitz, James Donald
Robertson, Anson J.
Ronin, Charles Ehnes
Robinson, Clay Aaron
Robins, Edward John
Robinson, Sumner Willis
Rogers, Roy Elmer
Roberts, Earl Joe
Randall, Albert Ray
Robinson, Jay Miles
Ray, Logan
Rasmussen, William Parrott
Rose, Alex
Risor, Elmer William
Ruff, Emil J. D.
Rump, Harry Frank
Realph, William Bryan
Roush, Harry Albert
Roesch, Leo Joe
Reninger, John Albert
Spath, Ray Louis
Smith, Jo T.
Stark, Ben Bowden
Shanahan, William Lyle
Schurman, Teobold H.
Shanahan, Leo John
Singer, Anton John
Smith, Fred L.
Snover, Walter
Schreck, Peter
Stenvers, Albert J. D.
Srb, Gilbert Joseph
Smith, W. F.
Stubbert, William Fred
Schultz, Carl Henry
Schneider, Charles
Scott, Charles Francis
Schellenberg, August C.
Schellenberg, Henry C.
Steen, Raymond Alfred
Sorensen, John Mark
Srb, Hugo Frank
Shull, Clair Alex
Stevens, Harry Everett
Schreier, Clifford C.
Slater, Dwight Edward
Sears, Alfred Richard
Scharf, Albert
Steil, Henry Adolph
Seger, George D.
Siders, Cyrus W.
Tillman, John Wm.
Tiegler, Jr., Henry
Tillma, Arthur C.
Turner, Harvey Ray
Tienken, Charles
Timpe, Conrad Christoful
Timpe, Fritz Arthur
Tiedeman, Fred C.
Thomas, Wm. Earl
Theede, Harry George
Tedford, Lee Brainard
Tillman, Cornelius Herman
Temple, Thomas
Torrey, David Hjalmar
Tatman, Earl Ray
Thomas, Cecil Charles, Col.
Thomas, Gordon R., Col.
Soil, Ludwig L.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
209
Softley, Bruce J.
Scott, Rex L.
Shaffer, John A.
Smith, Irwin F.
Steen, Earl C.
Stewart, Augustus L.
Smith, Charles Herald
Schmale, Carl Henry
Spath, Arthur W.
Sorby, Lloyd A.
Snyder, Roy Hamilton
Studnicka, William Ciellie
Schlote, Wilmer Herman
Struve, Fred John H.
Sellhorst, Joe
Strube, Fred F.
Sager, James William
Sullantrop, Alois
Steil, John Ernst
Schmoldt, August
Sinamark, George
Soukigian, Hagop
Strand, Barton
Stuck, Charles I.
Stewart, James J.
Spotts, Earl K.
Sempeck, Frank James
Spangler, Louis
Schroeder, Edwin Wm.
Slack, Henry Delno
Smith, Con
Seger, George D.
Stark, Elmer Emil
Sterner, Lloyd Henry
Schulz, Emil J.
Swanson, Charlie
Sorenson, Mamius
Scott, Forest Alexander
Stecker, Joe James
Sturbaum, Joe L.
Strand, Walter Theodore
Schlomer, Wm. G. F.
Saunders, Harry B.
Shomshor, Edwin David
Stell, Irvin Clark
Sheeley, Ira
Sander, Wm. E.
Schmidt, Wm. Fred
Stecker, Arnold C.
Swartz, Arthur Franklin
Swanson, Kristian Wm.
Smith, Floyd A.
Stock, Louis Andrew
Softley, Arthur
Sandberg, Henry
Stone, Clarence Lewis
Sorby, Roy Seal
Snyder, Vival Dow
Schwab, Robert Louis
Strube. Will
Schurman, Harry Herman
Schwanke, Herman John
Softley, Earl Henry
Simmerman, Lenel Ely
Steinkoff, Lester D.
Sours, Hobert
Spangler, Howard Andrew
Stenvers, Wm. Henry
Spangler, Mason T.
Stevenson. Arthur
Schwab, Elmer
Saeger, Paul John A.
Schumacher, Wm. L.
Schoeneck, Hilbert
Salroth, Iver
Scott, Everett Floyd
Siggers, Phillip Harold
Thompsen, Thomas Fred
Till, Rex
Tesar, John Jim
Totten, Wm. V.
Thomas, James, Rector, Col.
Timpe, Somer Eugene
Thornton, Jesse E.
Tiemken, Gustav H. A.
Theede, Clarence Irving
Thorn, Wm. Harris
Trumbull, Drayton Le Roy
Thomsen, Carl
Uehling, Arthur L.
Ulcek, Joseph
Uehling, Harold Theo.
Vrba, Charles
Valk, John
Vitek, Emil
Van Anda, Ralph Woodward
Van Cleave, Leslie D.
Van Loo, John
Vrba, Adolph Frank
Villias, Geo. J.
Walraven, Edwin Wilder
Waterman, Albert Herman
Walter, Joseph
Wallien, Carl Rudolph
Weist, Karl Anton
Williams, Edward J. J.
Wiegle, Herman A.
Wagner, Ralph Roy
Warner, Louis
Winkleman, Ernest Fred
210
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Wegner, Jr., Win.
Witt, Rudolph
Wormwood, Jay
Ward, Con Luther
With, Holger Pedersen
Winther, Holgar Carl
Woslager, Tony J.
Wedegren, Earl Irving
VVhitford, Le Roy Earl
Wright, Victor Paul
Wright, James H.
Westphalen, Paul Henry
Wintersteen, Glen Dale
Wolf, Fred H. R.
Willeberg, Einer Johannes
Wheelock, Leon
Wise, Floyd Baker
Weidner, Leo N.
Weldon, Floyd
Woods, Perry
Wickert, Albert
Wolff, James C.
Weidner, Wm. L.
Warner, Joe Andrew
Wintersteen, James Horace
Wright, Carl Thomas
Winn, Victor
Wells, Jess C.
Weihe, Wm. Gottlob
Webb, Henry C.
Weimann, Oscar J.
Wallick, Gilbert Roy
Whitford, Arthur John
Whitton, George
Whitcomb, Leslie L.
Wheaton, Frank G.
Ward, John Wesley
\\'ilson, Leo
Weisberger, Otto Lawrence
Waterman, John Herman
Wegner, Oscar B.
Wilch, Charles C.
W'entzel, Larry Adam
Watt, Arthur
Wecke, Joseph F.
Wertz, Benjamin H.
Yoder, Jacob Samuel
Yoder, Jay Arnold
Young, William James
Yates, Jr., Walter S.
Zwickey, Harry John
Zemlicka, Clarence
Zuber, Herman
Zevitz, Sam
Zellers, Henry Clayton
Zellers, Monroe Theodore
Financial Aid in Dodge County
Besides the brave sons who left the homes and firesides of this
county, to aid in putting down the World war, the loyal citizens in
each township of the county freely gave of their wealth, and some even
at quite a sacrifice. The following shows totals for War bonds War
stamps and Red Cross funds. The county and every section of it,
raised more than their quota, and a handsome balance was left on hand
to be used as needs may require.
These contributions included the noble work of the Young Men's
Christian Association, the Young Women's Christian Association, War
Camp service, the Salvation Army, Jewish Welfare, the A. L. A.,
Armenian, Jewish Relief and Near East work, in all amounting to
one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000).
Of the five Liberty loans in Dodge County the records show :
Loan Quota Subscription
First Liberty loan $524,000 $568,000
Second Liberty loan 873,300 868,150
Third Liberty loan 762.800 1,375,250
Fourth Liberty loan 1,670,000 1,740,650
Victory Liberty loan 1 ,353,800 1 ,489,050
Totals $5,183,900 $6,041,100
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 211
The records of the sales of War Savings securities for Dodge County
show the following:
To November 1. 1918, $611,295. Quota for 1918, $442,900. Jan-
uary 1 to August 31, 1919, $18,915. No quota assigned for 1919.
The State of Nebraska gave for the above savings securities
$27,450,189.85, or $21.18 per capita up to December 31, 1918.
Red Cross Work for County of Dodge
Dodge Chapter of American Red Cross was called upon to raise,
in the various "drives," approximately $125,000, but so eager were the
good people of this county to aid the Red Cross interests, that it was
found when the war ended that this county had nearly doubled its
quota — a record to be proud of by the present and future generations
who may look back and read this record in the annals of the county.
CHAPTER XXI
CRIMES COMMITTED
Dodge County has never been the scene of a large number of
revolting crimes within its history of more than threescore years, how-
ever, it has had some cases which should be recorded in this volume.
First Murder
The first murder known to have been committed in Dodge County
occurred at Fremont in 1870. A man named Smith, proprietor of the
St. Charles Hotel, was engaged in a dispute over a ten cent feed bill,
at the hotel barn, with one Gallon of West Point. Blows followed and
Smith picked up a neckyoke and struck Gallon over the head killing
him almost instantly. He was arrested, tried and convicted of murder
in the second degree and received a sentence of ten years in the
penitentiary. But before he was taken to prison he made his escape.
Al Norris was jailer at that date and he was induced to enter the
cell to play "razzle dazzle" and when there was overpowered, the convict
escaped and was never afterward seen.
H. B. Hoxie was prosecutor and Z. Shed, attorney for the defense.
St. Louis Wife Poisoning Case
In 1877 what was known as the "Dr. St. Louis wife poisoning
case" blotted the fair pages of Dodge County court records. This
was a premeditated murder of a man's bosom companion — his wife.
The case appeared in court October 12, 1877. N. H. Bell and John
Corrigan appeared for the murderer. Marlow and Munger were
appointed to look after the State's cause. The case lasted a week and
finally went to the jury who could not agree. The following March
the case was tried in Saunders County. He was convicted, sentenced
to be hanged and on the morning of the date he was to have been
executed, he hearing the sherifi^'s footsteps to take him to the scaffold
deliberately pulled a revolver he had hidden about his person and shot
himself, so that two days later he died, thus ended the miserable exist-
ence of a wife-murderer and suicide.
PuLsiFER Murder Case
By all odds the darkest, bloodiest and most uncalled for murder
in all Nebraska up to 1892, happened in Dodge County near the little
Village of Crowell in 1889 and is known as the "Pulsifer Murder" for
which Charles Shepherd and Christ Furst, two very young men finally
sutifered the death penalty at Fremont, December 10, 1889, at 6:30 P. M.
Carl C. Pulsifer, a grain buyer at Crowell and a time honored citizen
was murdered by two of his neighborhood young men. He lived on
his large farm three-fourths of a mile from Crowell and used generally
to walk to and from his business place to his home ; the part of the
way he went over a private pathway and the remainder on the F. E. &
M. V. railway tracks. It was at the point where he left the track to
go cross-lots where the foul deed was committed. He was found shot
212
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 213
through the heart, his person and pockets rifled while his assassins
had fled. When he was yet on the grade his youngest son, John Pul-
sifer, who had gone on home in advance of his father a few minutes,
saw him coming home and noticed he had a lantern. In a few minutes
the boy heard three shots from a revolver whereupon he at once started
in the direction of the light which soon disappeared. He pressed on
speedily and upon nearing the fatal spot tried to find his father but
could not. Finally he came to the narrow culvert along the track and
there found his father lying on the grade with his feet in the ditch.
The shattered lantern lay by him. He lay upon his back, his white
face looking up into the starry heavens. The boy approached the silent
form (his heart in his throat) his face blanched and a sickening dread
came over him. He had already divined what had happened. He
touched the form before him. He called, "father, father," there was
no reply, no movement, no sign of life ! He felt his father's pulse
but there was no response. He placed his hand over his father's
heart and there found blood flowing freely. Then he knew his father
was dead.
Alarm was given — the murdered man was an honored member of
the Masonic Order and a bright light in that order. He was beloved
by all, and in less than two hours hundreds of men were on the alert
to detect the murderers. The second day after the murder the guilty
men were captured, one in the morning and the other later on. They
had fled and been at various villages and stopped at a farm house for
bread but finally returned to their old hiding place along the Elkhorn,
in the neighborhood in which they lived. They were brought to Fremont.
The same night they confessed their guilt t6 a newspaper reporter of
the Fremont Tribune. They wanted to rob the man but only got a few
dollars and claimed a sort of self-defense in shooting, while one of them
played the insanity dodge for a time.
County Attorney Loomis and Frick and Dollzal prosecuted in
Shepherd's case and T. M. Franse of West Point defended.
Fifty men were called before a petit jury could be obtained. The
twelve were: John Farrell, J. A. Kline, Joel Forbes, John Thomson,
Dan Monday, Reuben Collins, James Stover, Henry Weisenbach, James
Killeen, James Jacobson, John Braman, Henry Hartford.
The trial lasted a week and resulted in a verdict of "murder in the
first degree." Judge Marshall tried this case.
Furst's trial came on before the same judge, C. Hollenbeck appear-
ing for the defense. The trial lasted three days longer than Shepherd's
and resulted in the same verdict. The jury consisted of W. E. Haw-
kins, G. W. L. Mitchell, James Morgan, Joseph Pollock, J. H. Blaver,
W. H. Brunner, Henry Mayer, Nels Martinson, J. E. Jones, J. H.
Caldwell, D. A. Boggs, George Caskey.
These cases went before the Supreme Court and were sustained.
Then Governor Thayer was implored to save them from hanging — all
was done that could be done in fairness and justice, but it was deter-
mined they must hang and June 9, 1891, they were executed within
the jail at Fremont, between the hours of ten and eleven o'clock. The
militia was on guard.
A very striking coincidence in this connection was the singular fact
that the murdered man was near neighbor and "homesteader," living
close to Shepherd's parents prior to the birth of the man who finally
took his life. When Charles E. Shepherd's mother was about to deliver
him in childbirth, Mr. Pulsifer volunteered to ride against an angry
214 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
storm in cold weather for a physician at West Point. Then to think
that twenty-one years later, this same boy should take the life of one
who had aided in bringing him into the world.
Famous Crimin.al Cases
Dodge County has furnished its quota of celebrated criminal cases to
the history of the State of Nebraska. It would be utterly impossible in
the "space" allowed to give a complete review of the noted tragedies and
dramas that have been enacted in Dodge County criminal courts within
the past fifty years, and, of necessity, the writer must limit the recital to
a brief narrative of the facts and with but a passing casual glance at the
principal actors. Judicial investigation with a view of discovery and
punishment of crime as they involve the highest interests of society, always
attracts an attention commensurate with their importance.
The law provides for the preservation of the testimony and the
records, and the public press chronicles the "side lights" but it is the
actual witnesses who are thrilled by these dramas of real life. There is
nothing in the Grecian drama that surpasses the touching pathos in the
trial of men and women charged with the graver offenses of the law.
We enter the halls of justice ; we behold the learned judge and watch
the solemn faces of the jury, the final arbiters of whether the prisoner
shall again breathe the blessed air of freedom or suffer the extreme and
dire penalties of the law. We see the pale-faced prisoner; behold the
anguish of relatives and friends; hear the dramatic, eloquent appeals of
famous lawyers fighting on one side for conviction; on the other for
acquittal, and then your heart stops beating when the clerk starts to read
the verdict which sends the accused back to wife or child or mother
or friends, or to the scaffold or the dark and dreary walls of prison
cells.
In every murder case, the sociologist, the criminologist, the judge
and the lawyer — in fact, every man or woman who attends the trial, will
find open before him many new phases of human life.
The first celebrated murder case tried in Dodge County was the case
of Dr. George J. St. Louis, charged with murdering his wife by wilfully
and maliciously administering to her arsenic. There remain but few
official records and nearly all of the witnesses and actors have passed on.
The crime was committed on the 30th day of May, 1877, and on the
2d day of June, 1877, a coroner's inquest was held in Fremont by
Doctor Crabbs, the medical partner of Doctor St. Louis. George
Blanchard, Peter Denny, E. C. Usher, D. B. Short, M. H. Hinman
and George Marshall composed the coroner's jury. The preliminary
hearing was held before L. M. Keene, county judge, and the defendant
was bound over to the District Court for trial. The defendant was
tried in the District Court of Dodge County in the months of
January and February, 1878. The prosecution was conducted by N. B.
Reese, district attorney and later chief justice of the Supreme Court of
the State of Nebraska, who was assisted by Marlow & Munger of Fre-
mont. N. H. Bell of Fremont, John Carrigan of Blair and Charles Brown
of Omaha defended St. Louis. He was put on trial in Dodge County
on the 5th day of February, 1878, but the jury did not agree upon a
verdict and was discharged. The case was then taken upon a change
of venue to Saunders County, where a trial was had in April, 1878.
A verdict of murder in the first degree was returned against St. Louis
and the date of execution of the sentence of death fixed for September
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 215
20, 1878. The judgment of the District Court was affirmed and the
execution of the sentence was suspended until Friday, April 18, 1879.
The late E. F. Gray and W. A. Gray prosecuted the appeal for the
defendant to the Supreme Court. A postmortem examination was con-
ducted upon the body of Mrs. St. Louis and a subsequent analysis by a
most able and accomplished chemist and toxicologist. Professor Haines
of the Rush Medical College, Chicago, who discovered over nine grains
of arsenic in the stomach of the dead woman. The late N. H. Bell, one
of the most celebrated criminal lawyers of the West, conducted the cross-
examination of Doctor Haines and the thrilling contest between these
two brilliant men is well remembered by many Fremont citizens, namely:
John Hauser, L. D. Richards, John Goff and Nat Smails.
On the evening of the 17th day of April, 1879, John Hauser of
Fremont was sent over to the county jail by Smails and Weedin, edi-
tors of the Fremont Daily Herald, to secure from Doctor St. Louis
tickets to the execution which was to be held in Wahoo the following
day. Doctor St. Louis refused to give tickets to the editors, stating that
he thought they had not treated him fairly, but was willing to give
Mr. Hauser a ticket, which Mr. Hauser politely refused to accept.
Robert Gregg, then sheriff, insisted upon Mr. Hauser remaining over
night with the condemned man. Mr. Hauser distinctly remembers every
incident that occurred during that fateful night. He described vividly
how nervous Doctor St. Louis appeared and about midnight insisted
on Mr. Hauser sending for his sister-in-law, Mrs. John B. Geitzen.
Mr. Hauser complied with the request and brought Mrs. Geitzen to the
jail. About half past 1 o'clock on the morning of April 19th, Mr. Gregg
came in and told Doctor St. Louis that he was ready to start for Wahoo
and for the doctor "to put his boots on." St. Louis said to the sheriff:
"Must I go now?" and walked into his cell, secured a pistol that he had
secreted, and shot himself in the head. He lingered from that time until
Sunday noon following, when he died. Hundreds of Fremont citizens
in the meantime viewed the stricken criminal.
The case of Charles C. Carleton, charged with the murder of August
Gothman, on the 8th day of June, 1893, near Ames, Nebraska, was tried
in the District Court in the month of September, 1893. Gothman was
shot three times in the head. The prosecution was conducted bv Conrad
Hollenbeck, then county attorney, assisted by George L. Loomis, and
Carleton was defended by the law firm of Frick & Dolezal. Carleton
was convicted and sentenced to be executed. Appeal was taken to the
Supreme Court and the judgment affirmed. However, sentence of death
was commuted to life imprisonment and thereafter Carleton was par-
doned. This ended one of the most bitterly contested criminal cases
ever tried in the State of Nebraska.
State against William Rhea, et al. On the 4th day of January, 1901,
Edward Gardner, William Darrow and William Rhea walked into the
saloon of Herman Zahn of Snyder, Nebraska, and shot him to death,
robbed his body, lined up the customers, rifled the safe and engaged in
a pitched battle with the marshal and citizens who were attracted by the
shooting. John M. Kreader, then sheriff of Dodge County, with a posse
composed of hundreds of Dodge County citizens armed with all sorts
of weapons from heavy bored rifles to pitchforks and with the aid of
bloodhounds, took up the trail. The following morning, Rhea and
Gardner were "flushed" out of a haystack near Crowell, Nebraska.
Gardner surrendered, but Rhea made a running fight for several miles
and only gave up when painfully wounded.
216 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
These three men were placed on trial in February, 1901. Rhea and
Gardner were defended by Harry Maynard. now of Roswell, New
Mexico, and the late E. F. Gray. Both defendants were found guilty
and Rhea sentenced to be executed. Gardner was sentenced to life and
William D'arrow, who was defended by Judge F. W. Button and the
writer, was acquitted. The late Robert Stinson and Judge Grant Martin,
now of Lincoln, conducted the prosecution. Rhea was executed at the
penitentiary after the Supreme Court had affirmed the judgment of the
District Court. Judge James A. Grimison of Schuyler, Nebraska, pre-
sided at the trial. Gardner has since been pardoned.
State against Louis Rogers. During the month of August, 1911, the
dead body of an infant child was found in a box car at Colon, Nebraska,
with a towel tightly twisted around its throat and the ends forced into
the mouth. Death was caused by suffocation. "M R" was the laundry
mark on the towel. Suspicion lead to the arrest of Louis Rogers, an
itinerant vaudeville actor, who was in Fremont at the time, and arrest
followed. The late Otto Bauman, commonly known as "Dutch," then
sherif?, and the present sheriff, who was then deputy sheriff, William C.
Condit and the writer, then county attorney, addressed communications
to over 200 police officials of the principal cities of the United States to
discover whose laundry mark was upon the towel. After weeks of inves-
tigation it was discovered that Martha Rodier of Detroit, Michigan, the
proprietor of a boarding house catering to vaudeville people, was the
owner of the towel found around the baby's neck. She was well
acquainted with the defendant, who had been a guest at her place but a
short time before coming to Fremont. This, with other evidence, led
to the conviction of Rogers. His defense was conducted by Judge F. W.
Button, now one of the district judges of Dodge County, and Frank Dole-
zal. The conviction was sustained by the Supreme Court and Rogers
after serving a short sentence, was paroled.
State against George Osborne. On the morning of August 12, 1910,
the dead body of John Hoctor was found lying in the Chicago & North-
western Railroad yards at Fremont. His head had been crushed by a
bridge bolt that lay near the body. On a pile of lumber was a bottle
partly filled with alcohol. During the night there had been a heavy rain
and the label on the bottle had been washed off and the wind had blown
this "evidence" against an adjoining pile of lumber. On the label was
written the figures 90. being the alcoholic "proof" of the liquor. A bar-
tender in the Baltimore saloon identified the label and recalled having
sold a bottle of alcohol to George Osborne of Blair, Nebraska, the
evening before. 1 his evidence furnished the first "clew" which led to
the arrest of Osborne, who confessed to the murder. Osborne was
placed on trial during the following November term of the District Court.
His defense was conducted by Harry Maynard of the firm of Loomis &
Maynard and John W. Graham, now located at Sidney, Nebraska. The
defense was insanity. A dramatic incident occurred during the closing
argument. Osborne, becoming enraged, threw a book at the prosecuting
attorney, which landed with terrific force in the jury box. Osborne was
overpowered after a violent struggle and went into an epileptic fit. The
court was compelled to adjourn the case for two days before finally
submitting the same to the jury. Osborne was convicted of murder in
the second degree, sentenced to serve fifteen years in the penitentiary,
escaped, was convicted of highway robbery in Missouri, again escaped,
and is now a fugitive from justice.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 217
There have been other brutal murders and noted criminal trials
within the past fifty years of Dodge County's history, but good citizens,
friends and relatives of victims and author of these crimes reside within
our midst and in consideration of their feelings, the writer has concluded
it would be unfair and unnecessary to revive the sad memories of these
lamentable tragedies.
J. C. Cook,
Dodge County Attorney.
CHAPTER XXII
THE CITY OF FREMONT
The Name — Origin of City — Entering Land for Plat — Money
Scarce — First Houses — Lots Donated — First Events — Citt's
Developments — Manufacturing in 1886 — Postoffice — Civic
Societies — Municipal History — Indebtedness — City Hall —
Water Works — City Building — Orphan's Home — Classified
Business in 1892 — Business Directory, 1920 — Reminiscences —
Industrial Interests — Commercial Club — Population — The
City Library.
The City of Fremont has a history running back to 1856 — sixty-four
years ago. This was soon after the great "Pathfinder" Gen. John C.
Fremont passed through the country, a Httle to the south of the present
city. That was during the Fremont-Buchanan presidential campaign in
which the latter was successful, but in honor of the first republican
standard-bearer of the newly formed republican party, the founders of
their embryo city named it "Fremont." Military Avenue was the only
highway to the place. Fremont was made the county seat of Dodge
County in 1860.
Origin of Fremont
August, 1856, the first stakes were driven, and an association known
as Pinney-Barnard & Co.'s Town Plat Company began its operations,
but as the political campaign advanced that autumn, a town had been
named Buchanan over in Colfax County (now known as Schuyler) and
hence it occurred to the town site members that they should change
their company name to "The Fremont Town Company" which they did
at a meeting held at the home of Seth P. Marvin, September 23. 1856.
The first stakes were really driven on August 23, 1856, but the full
boundaries were not fixed until the 26th of that month. On the morning
of that day a town company was organized under the name of Pinney,
Barnard & Company, consisting of George M. Pinney. James G. Smith,
Robert Moorland, Robert Kittle, John A. Kountz, Seth" P. Marvin, and
E. H. Barnard. The territory west of the guide meridian had not yet
been surveyed, but a military road had recently been located from Omaha
to Fort Kearney, so the company adopted this road as their base line
and thus laid out Fremont. Military Avenue of today marks the exact
line of that road through the city. It varies only a fraction more than
three degrees from a true east and west line, as proven by later surveys.
The first platting covered one mile square and was bounded by what
is now known as Irving Avenue on the east, and on the south by First
Street on which Lincoln Highway now enters the city from the east.
This plat was later laid of? into lots and blocks, and then parceled out
to the proprietors in shares of nine lots each, except 100 lots reserved
and set apart, to be used in building up the town. The record reads:
"About eighteen lots for church and school buildings; about the same
number for commercial purposes; the building of a saw mill, etc., and
seventy lots set apart for residences."
218
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 219
By reason of the financial panic of 1857, the town site owners were
unable when the government land was offered for sale, to pay for the
full section they had "claimed" and platted the town on, so they con-
tented themselves with one-half of the tract or 320 acres. This was in
1859 and the village contained twenty-seven houses.
So scarce was money in the late fifties that the town site men sold
Judge E. W'akeley, of Omaha, town lots at 75 cents each, in order to
pay up what they had borrowed to purchase the land on which they had
platted Fremont.
The proprietors advertised to the world that they would donate two
town lots in the new place to any person building a hewn log house
16 by 20 feet, a story and one-half high with suitable doors and windows
and to have a board floor and shingled roof. They would also throw in
logs in the tree, and fire wood for one year. In a few months Fremont
had come to be a hamlet of thirteen houses and a blacksmith's shop.
All historians agree that the first human habitation at Fremont, as
made by white men, was the one built in 1856 by E. H. Barnard and
John A. Kountz. It was constructed of poles from the islands, thatched
with prairie grass. It stood on the site of the present Congregational
Church.
The second house was built by Robert Kittle late in the autumn of
1856. He purchased a lot of hewed logs of a man a few miles west of
Fremont, and gathered them together at the corner of what is now
known as Broad Street and Military Avenue. The roof of this pioneer
cabin was excellent, as it was formed of red cedar shingles shaved by
Mr. Kittle from logs which he floated down the Platte River. Such
trees were found growing on the blufifs to the southwest of town.
Later, little cabins began to appear eastward, on either side of Mili-
tary Avenue, and business began to grow in connection with the com-
mercial enterprises of James G. and J. Towner Smith, who first did the
merchandising in a dugout, and afterward in a log store.
First Events
There usually clusters around the first and important events in the
settlement of any township or village, much of unusual interest, and
because of this universal sentiment, the following paragraphs of "first
events" is inserted in this chapter at this point, before going on with
the development of the city to be :
The first house was built by Robert Kittle in the fall of 1856.
The first habitation (the pole and grass shack) was made by Messrs.
Barnard and Kountz, the same autumn.
The first child born was Alice Flor, in the fall of 1857.
The first male child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kittle; his
name was Fred and the date of his birth was March 28, 1858; he died
September 26, 1890.
The earliest marriage in Fremont was Luther Wilson and Miss Eliza
Turner, August 23, 1858.
The first death was that of Seth P. Marvin, who was drowned two
miles west of town. The next to die was Father Nathan Heaton,
October, 1857.
The first National Independence Day celebration was held July 4, 1857.
A flag was improvised from goods purchased in New York and brought
west by Robert Kittle. It floated from a cedar Liberty pole seventy
feet high, "and was planted in loyalty on Military Avenue," the
pioneers say.
220 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Robert Kittle was first to sell general merchandise in Fremont. This
stock was a small assortment brought from Buffalo, New York, by
Mr. Kittle.
The first railroad service was commenced here in the fall of 1866,
over the Union Pacific line.
The first newspaper in Fremont and the county was the Fremont
Tribune, established July 24, 1868, and is still the leading paper in
Eastern Nebraska.
The first bank was established by "E. H. Rogers & Co." in 1866
and from it came the First National Bank of today.
The first family to "keep house" in Fremont was that of Rev. Isaac
E. Heaton, who arrived in October, 1856, and occupied the Robert
Kittle house.
The first postofiice was established in 1857, with James G. Smith as
postmaster.
The pioneer blacksmith was John Hormel, who had a shop where
now stands the Gumpert Department Store on Main Street.
PosTOFFiCE History of Fremont
One of the best indexes of any community as to its intelligence
and prosperity is to know its postal history. The postal service here has
always been large and excellent, even from pioneer days. Fremont was
granted a postoffice in the month of June, 1857. That was under
James Buchanan's democratic administration. Gen. John C. Fremont
being a candidate for the presidency during that campaign and the
petitioners for a "Fremont" postoffice being republican, it has been said
this fact retarded the establishment of the postoffice several months. At
least the long delays finally ended and the office was established with
James G. Smith as its first postmaster. No mail route had as yet been
established west from Omaha, and patrons of Fremont office were
compelled for a time to carry their own mail that distance. In Novem-
ber, 1857, Postmaster Smith visited the East and during his absence,
Rev. Isaac E. Heaton, the pioneer Congregational minister, served as
his deputy. In December, 1858, Mr. Smith pressed by other cares,
resigned in favor of Rev. Isaac Heaton, who held the office until
December, 1866 — clear through the Civil war period, and longer. The
history of this office was given in interviews with that grand old man.
Rev. Isaac E. Heaton, in the early nineties, hence may be relied upon
as correct. He stated that during January, 1868, his residence was
burned, with all the papers, books, etc., he had. But upon memory,
he stated that in 1862, about 600 letters were mailed each quarter. And
in the rush of gold seekers to Colorado, there were 1,600 mailed. During
1864 over $7,000 were mailed through the Fremont office in drafts and
money.
July, 1858, the Overland Stage Line started en route from Omaha
to California, via Fremont, after which mail was received each week
at three o'clock in the morning. December, 1866, Benjamin Turner
was made postmaster, the office then being kept on Main Street. Upon
U. S. Grant's election as President, the office was virtually tendered to
Rev. Isaac E. Heaton, again in these words: "As you have kept the
office so long when you had to rise in the night six times each week to
open and close mail sacks, would you like to resume the office?" From
the fact that Rev. Isaac E. Heaton did not believe it necessary to trans-
act postal business on the Sabbath day, he declined the re-appointment
at Grant's hands.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
221
Fremont became a Money Order office in July, 1869. The first
order was issued July 14, to Thomas Campbell, on Kenosha, Wisconsin,
for the sum of $15. 'There had been issued 47,975 money orders up to
1892; also 16,866 postal notes. The latter system only obtained a few-
years, since which time money has been transmitted by Money Order
altogether, the Postal Note having been done away with. Only sums
of less than five dollars were sent by the Postal Note system. In
1891 Fremont's money order business was the third largest in Nebraska
and amounted to $52,278.78. As far back as 1892 there were fifteen
tons of local newspapers sent from this postoffice. Fremont com-
menced its free delivery system July, 1888, when four carriers were
engaged and twenty-six mails were received each twenty-four hours.
The Fremont office lost by fire, flood and burglary but little in
all of its hi^tnrv Postmaster Paine was robbed twice and sent one
Postoffice, Fremont
man "over the road" for a term of years, while Postmaster Murray
was robbed of a package of registered letters; he also sent one man
to U. S. Penitentiary.
The original government postoffice building was erected about 1895
at a cost of $60,000: its location is the corner of Sixth and Broad
streets. It was remodeled in 1910 and made about twice its former
size; this rebuilding cost $50,000. During the construction period of
the second building the business of the postoffice was carried on in the
Morse Block. The work of re-construction was finished and the office
again opened up December 1, 1911.
The following is a correct list of regular postmasters at Fremont:
James G. Smith, from June. 1857, to December, 1858; Isaac E. Heaton,
from December, 1858 to December, 1866; Benjamin Turner, from
December, 1866, to December, 1869 : Charles A. Smith, from December,
1869, to September, 1870; H. O. Paine, from September. 1870, to
October, 1885; James Murray, from October, 1885, to September, 1889;
Henry G. Wolcott, from September, 1889, to October, 1893; Thomas
Carroll, from November, 1893, to November 13, 1897; Ross L. Ham-
mond, from November 14, 1897, to February 28, 1903 ; Daniel Swanson,
from March, 1903, to March 31, 1911; B. W. Reynolds, from April 1,
222 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
1911, to March 31, 1915; Nathaniel W. Smails, from April 1, 1915, to
February 28, 1919; Frank W. Fuhlrodt, acting postmaster March 1,
1919, to May 10, 1920; Frank W. Fuhlrodt by appointment as post-
master confirmed May 11, 1920.
Hence it will be seen that Fremont has had fourteen postmasters
in the sixty-three years of its history, making four years and a half
average term.
There are now four rural delivery routes extending out from Fre-
mont. The present rural mail carriers are: Orval R. Dixon (tem-
porary) ; George Keeler (temporary) ; Frank A. Chilcoat and Gordon
Wallace.
The names of the city carriers and substitutes are : Edward Benton,
Harry W. Buffington, Fred M. Davis, Viggo A. Jensen, Frederick
Moller, Fred W. Moller, Gerald A. Moller, Charles W. Mulloy, Sumner
W. Robinson and Frank J. Sasse. Also Adelbert H. Schick (temporary
substitute).
The total amount of business transacted during the last fiscal year
was $73.593.44 — this means from July, 1918, to July, 1919.
Amount on hand in savings department, $1,502.
At the date of June, 1920, there are postoffices in Dodge County as
follows: Fremont, Ames, Crowell, Dodge, Hooper, Nickerson, North
Bend, Scribner, Snyder, Uehling, Winslow.
Secret Societies
Fremont is well supplied with secret societies — the list at a recent
date was as follows: Ancient Order of United Workmen; Benevolent
Protective Order of Elks ; Brotherhood of American Yeomen ; Danish
Brotherhood ; Danish Sisterhood ; Fraternal Order of Eagles ; Fraternal
Union of America; Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Knights of
Columbus; Knights of Pythias; Knights of Maccabees; Knights and
Ladies of Security; Masonic Order; Modern Woodmen of America;
Mystic Workers of the World ; Royal Highlanders ; Royal Neighbors ;
Tribe of Ben Hur; United Commercial Travelers; Woodmen of the
World.
Blanks were sent to the above orders, and wherever they were
responded to, a brief history of such society appears in the general
chapter on lodges in this work.
Municipal Government
Fremont became an incorporated village May 24, 1859. The first
board of trustees were as follows : Theron Nye, chairman ; R. W.
Hazen, clerk; and E. H. Barnard, treasurer; James G. Smith, E. H.
Rogers, and J. F. Reynolds. The first record book was very small
and the bill for it was 40 cents. In the June meeting, 1859, it was
resolved to make a loan of $400 for which 30 per cent interest was
paid annually, the same to run one, two or three years as desired by
the village. The minutes of the September meeting were signed by
James G. Smith, secretary pro tem.
In May, 1861, the trustees engaged H. A. Pierce to break up the
land where now the beautiful city park is located, allowing him $12
for the work. Bids were also received for fencing the park.
In 1865. at the September session the trustees appropriated $68.58
for the purchase of town lots, to be held and used for courthouse and
county building purposes.
HON. J. C. CLELAND
FOR SEVERAL YEARS ^^AYOR OF FREMONT,
AND FATHER OF THE FIRE
DEPART ^^ EXT
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 223
Such routine work constituted the chief work of the board until
1871 when Fremont became a "city" of the second class. The following
will show the principal elective city officers from 1871 to the present
date— 1920 :
1871 — Theron Nye, mayor; William Martin, clerk.
1872 — Theron Nye, mayor; I. C. Crabbs, police judge.
1873 — A. P. Hopkins, mayor; E. H. Barnard, police judge; Wil-
liam Martin, clerk.
1874 — John E. Shervin, mayor; C. E. Usher, police judge; James
Davis, Clerk.
1875 — John E. Shervin, mayor; C. E. Usher, police judge; Check
H. Toncray, clerk.
1876 — W. A. Marlow, mayor; William Martin, police judge; Check
H. Toncray, clerk.
1877 — W. A. Marlow, mayor; Check H. Toncray, police judge;
J. W. Goflf, clerk.
1878 — N. H. Bell, mayor ; William Martin, police judge ; Fred
De LaMatyr. clerk.
1879 — L. D. Richards, mayor; William Martin, police judge; Fred
De LaMatyr, clerk.
1880 — L. D. Richards, mayor; James Huff, police judge; T- W.
Goff, clerk.
1881 — Charles Sang, mayor; James Huiif, police judge; Peter Brun,
clerk.
1882 — Charles Sang, mayor; George F. Looschen, clerk.
1883 — J. C. Cleland, mayor; W. H. Ely, police judge; George F.
Looschen, clerk.
1884 — J. C. Cleland, mayor; F. W. Vaughan, police judge; T- H.
Wheeler, clerk.
1885 — C. Christensen, mayor ; F. F. Kuen, police judge ; F. M.
Claflin, clerk.
1886 — B. F. Stouffer, mayor; F. F. Kuen, police judge; G. W.
Sellers, clerk. ,
1887 — B. F. Stouffer, mayor; F. F. Kuen, police judge; A. W.
Forbes, clerk.
1889 — J. E. Shervin, mayor; A. W. Forbes, police judge; C. L.
Williams, clerk.
1891 — William Fried, mayor; C. L. Williams, police judge; E. D.
Percy, clerk.
1893-94 — William Fried, mayor; L. C. Holmes, police judge; E. D.
Percy, clerk.
1895-96 — William Fried, mayor ; L. C. Holmes, police judge ; W. J.
Bullock, clerk.
1897-98 — William Fried, mayor; Charles H. Coman, police judge;
John Hyatt, clerk.
1899-1900 — Fred W. Vaughn, mayor; Charles Coman, police judge;
John Hyatt, clerk.
1901-02 — Wallace Wilson, Mayor; Charles Coman, police judge;
John Hyatt, clerk.
1903-04— Geo. F. Wolz, mayor; J. C. Cook, police judge; S. F.
Stiles, clerk.
1905-06— Geo. F. Wolz, mayor; J. C. Cook, police judge; S. F.
Stiles, clerk.
1907-08— Geo. F. Wolz, mayor; J. C. Cook, police judge; S. F.
Stiles, clerk.
224 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
1909-10 — Fred L. Burrell, mayor; Fred C. Laird, police iudee:
S. F. Stiles, clerk.
1911-12— Geo. F. Wolz, mayor; Fred C. Laird, police judge; S. F.
Stiles, clerk.
1913-14 — R. M. Herre, mayor; Fred C. Laird, police judge; C. R.
De LaMatyr, clerk.
1915-16 — George A. Murrell, mayor; A. K. Dane, police judge :
C. R. De LaMatyr, clerk.
1917-18— W. C. Wiley, mayor; A. K. Dane, police judge; C. R.
De LaMatyr, clerk.
1919-20 — G. M. Hinman, mayor; A. K. Dane, police judge; Fred
G. Pierce, clerk.
City Officers of 1920
Mayor, G. M. Hinman; clerk, Fred G. Pierce; treasurer, A. F.
Plambeck ; police judge, A. K. Dane ; commissioner of water, lights and
sewers, P. H. Larson; city attorney, W. M. Cain; chief of police, M. J.
Frederickson ; chief of the fire department, Harry S. Morse; street
commissioner. T. A. Adams; city physician, Dr. J. C. Agee ; city engi-
neer, L. M. Roesler; president of council, J. A. Yager; board of public
works, C. H. Green, E. Sanderson, John Monnich; city councilmen,
J. A. Yager; -H. C. Meadows, H. D. Muir, Fred D. Drew, F. H.
Wallace, H. C. Dahl, Eric Ericson and Z. M. Marr.
Indebtedness of City
The present indebtedness of the City of Fremont is $311,000, which
is in the shape of bonds (original and refunded). These bonds run
forty years, but may be paid off at any five-year period. They bear
5 per cent interest ; $107,000 of these city bonds were issued for paying
for the intersection of paving work.
City Hall, Water Works, Etc.
As late as 1886 Fremont depended on a few shallow street cisterns
at different corners from which water was pumped by means of a hand-
pump, known as the "Mud-Sucker." This was a strangely and imper-
fectly constructed machine but commercially styled a force pump. This
pump, a chemical engine and hook and ladder apparatus protected ( ?)
the city from the fire fiend's ravages !
In 1885 the city voted bonds in the sum of $25,000 for water works;
again in 1889 $35,000 more in bonds were voted. These bond issues
of $60,000 provided the city's first real water system. The purest of
living water was procured from more than fifty drive wells at a depth
of from fifty to eighty feet. The original stand-pipe is still doing
service after all these three decades and more, and is situated at the
south side of the city park and is 112 feet high. Another stand-pipe
was subsequently erected and the combined capacitv of the two is
176,000 gal. The pumping capacity is 2,000,000 gal. 'a day. In 1892
the city had 9j/^ miles of water pipes and mains, while today (1920)
it has in excess of forty miles. The Fire department is excellent.
It had its start away back when the old volunteer company was organ-
ized in November, 1868, as the "Fremont Frontier Fire Company."
Later on other volunteer companies were formed and well furnished
rooms were given to them in the new city building. Thousands of
dollars worth of improvements and fixtures have been showered upon
the various companies and the rooms occupied by them. The citizens
have always appreciated the services of these firemen.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
225
Today the city is kept safe by a large fire company of expert firemen
who are provided with all the latest fire-fighting machinery extant.
The City Building
Fremont's "fine city building" as it was known a third of a century
and more ago, was erected on the corner of Fourth and F streets
and finished in 1889 at a cost of $15,000 including the lots on which
it stands. In this building are the various city offices, the firemen's par-
lors, fire apparatus rooms, city jail, etc. It is furnace heated throughout.
The Public Library
There had been a few attempts at providing a permanent public library
for the city, but none were very successful until the great iron master,
Carnegie Public Library
Andrew Carnegie, offered a proposition to the city, as he did in so many
hundreds of cities of this country. The business men and active citizens
— both men and women — accepted this generous offer and by the purchase
of a suitable lot on Military Avenue, near the city park and agreeing to
provide a certain amount annually for books, etc., the work went forward
to speedy completion. The building is an ideal library home, with all
that is desirable for both old and young. It costs the taxpayers of Fre-
mont about $1,700 a year to support this worthy institution. From thirty
to fifty newspapers are constantly on hand in the reading rooms ; mag-
azines galore and suitable books from the best authors of the world are
to be seen on the numerous "stacks." This is one of the useful public
utilities which the good citizens ever, take unalloyed pride in presenting
to their visiting friends.
The Orphans' Home
In 1893 there was erected by the German Evangelical Lutheran Asso-
ciation a beautiful three-story brick building on East Military Avenue
which was dedicated to homeless children. It lies in the midst of a four-
226 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
teen acre tract of land, including gardens, lawns, play-grounds, etc., for
the unfortunate orphans. Pretty shade trees make the spot cool and
shady in the heated summer months. Several hundred orphans have
here found a comfortable Christian home and are being educated. In
1904 about $4,000 was expended on the land and buildings. A German
school was established not a great distance from the home. When of the
proper age and having first been fairly well educated in all the common
branches, these children are given good homes outside.
This institution is employed as a home for orphans, especially of the
northeastern Nebraska district of the Lutheran Church and annual picnics
and reunions are held on the grounds at Fremont every summer, when
hundreds come in from far and near, and several days are spent. At
such times the children and the institution are visited and inspected by the
authorities of the church ; liberal donations are also made in aid of the
home.
The City's Development
Fremont has never had the name of being much of a "boom town"
but ever on the up-grade. From 1868 to 1875 the following improve-
ments were reported bv builders for the respective years as follows : In
1868, $140,000; in 1869, $196,000; in 1870, $125,400; in 1871, $124,000;
in 1872, the panic year, $42,000; in 1873, $138,000; in 1874, $108,100.
Amount of Manufacturing in 1886
The sub-joined shows the volume of manufacturing done in Fremont
in 1886: Flour and feed, $175,000; butter, $88,000; iron works, $50,000;
clothing, $41,000; beer, $40,000; brick, $100,000; woodworks, $15,000;
cigars, $10,000; cornice, $15,000; medicines, $10,000; gloves and mittens,
$5,000 ; brooms, $4,000 ; blank books, $3,500. Total, $556,500.
"In a Nut-Shell" 1905
Under the above title the leading local paper of Fremont in 1905 said
as follows: "Fremont has now over forty manufacturers and jobbers;
factories that employ almost six hundred and fifty persons ; eighty travel-
ing men representing local concerns; seventeen churches, all flourishing;
seven banking houses, to which list may be added sixteen laywers, nine
public schools ; two daily, one weekly and two tri-weekly newspapers ; a
commercial club with over two hundred members ; a normal school ; build-
ing and loan institutions second to none in Nebraska and many other
features of a growing modern city."
Classified Business Interests — 1892
In March, 1892, Fremont published a list of its commercial interests
and such list shows there were 385 dififerent places of business, including
shops, retail and wholesale stores and factories. The list is as follows:
Agricultural implement dealers. . 5 Broom factories 2
Architects' offices 4 Blacksmith shops 6
Attorneys at law 20 Boarding houses 9
Bakeries 3 Boiler works 1
Banks 6 Breweries 1
Barber shops 10 Book bindery 1
Bicycle agents 1 Boot and shoe stores 5
Billiard halls 5 Book and stationery stores 4
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
227
Brick makers 2
Butter makers 2
Canning factories 2
Carpenter and builders' shops. . . 2
Carriage makers' shops 4
Carriage painters 4
Cigar factories 4
Cigar box factories 1
Cigar stores 7
Clothing stores 6
Creameries 1
Coal dealers 5
Confectionery dealers 12
Dentists 3
Dressmakers 6
Druggists 4
Dry goods stores 5
Dye works 1
Express companies 2
Feed and sale stables 3
Feed stores 3
Fence works 1
Florists 2
Flouring mill 1
Foundry 1
Furniture stores 4
General merchandise stores 5
Gas and electric light companies. 1
Gent's furnishing goods 2
Grocery stores 14
Gunsmiths' shops 2
Hardware stores 6
Harness shops 4
Hemp and twine mills 1
Horse importing companies 2
Hotels 9
Harness and collar factory.
Insurance agents
Investment companies
Jewelers
Land companies
Laundries
Lithographers
. 1
.25
. 4
. 5
. 2
. 4
. 1
Livery stables 5
Loan offices 15
Lumber dealers 4
Marble works 1
Meat markets 7
Merchant tailors 8
Millinery stores 5
Nurseries 4
Oil companies 4
Opera house 1
Papers, daily 3
Papers, weekly 7
Physicians 10
Photographers 5
Planing mills 2
Plumbers 2
Pork packers 2
Railroads 3
Real estate dealers 16
Restaurants 7
Saloons 12
Wholesale grocers 1
Wholesale liquor 1
Wholesale produce 1
Manufacturing Industries — Past and Present
The immense number of factories in Fremont is due to several
reasons : The city's location ; easy access to the markets of the world ;
its being within the great natural garden spot of the West ; the class of
business men at the head of affairs, each and all have had to do with the
establishing of so many excellent manufacturing enterprises. Some of
these factories have been operated a number of years and ceased to exist,
but for the most part they are all operating today in some form or other.
The Fremont Foundry, one of Fremont's oldest big concerns, backed
by pioneer men of means and brains, makes all kinds of castings and does
light and heavy machine work. It was established in 1883 on a $20,000
capital, but in 1905 it had increased its working capital to over $100,000.
It still does a thriving business and employs many men.
The Nye, Schneider, Fowler Company, dealers in grain and lumber,
established in 1892 with a capital of $450,000, now has a capital of
$2,500,000. This firm handles millions of bushels of grain annually —
the largest plant in the great Missouri Valley section of the West.
Another great industry launched in 1892 was the Fremont Brewery
— finest plant of its kind in all this section — its erection cost the stock-
228
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
holders (home men) $125,000. The capactiy is 30,000 barrels per year;
its malt house holds 60,000 bushels. The product of this brewery was
sold over a large area of country until the state and finally the United
States wisely enacted their prohibition laws by which such products are
prohibited from being .made or used. Since the enactment of these laws
this plant has turned its attention to making a beverage non-intoxicating
in its character, and are now running full capacity in this line.
The Atlantic Canning Factory of Fremont (branch of a similar one
in Atlantic, Iowa) adds to the legitimate number of excellent factories.
The old three-story creamery building near the railroad was remodeled
at a cost of $23,000 and converted into a canning factory which is sup-
plied by the raw products from more than a thousand acres. Sweet corn
is the sole product now put up at this canning factory.
The Golden Rod and other large ice cream factories have come to be
looked upon as among the city's best advertising agents — for their prod-
Factory District, Fremont
ucts go out daily over a large circuit of country. Tons upon tons of
"Golden Rod" and "Polar Maid" as well as "Real Ice Cream" are
shipped weekly.
The Fremont fence works, three large brick kilns, cement stone indus-
try, numerous sand and gravel pits and artificial ice plants, a great poul-
try and produce house, immense public stock yards, all come in for their
share of industrial value to the busy city.
It goes without saying that the flouring mill industry never ceases to
be known far and near.
Looking over the list again comes to view the nurseries, the planing
mills, the Hammond Printing Company, the Parlor Furniture and Mat-
tress Company, and dozens of lesser plants complete the factory interests.
Away back in the years gone by the city also had its miles of horse-car
street railway system (before electric cars were operated) ; it also had
its great harness and saddle factory, established in 1892 on a $100,000
capital by Fremont men, including its founder in fact, D. M. Welty.
Over fifty men found employment in this plant and many more on the
road. Almost every article cut from leather was made up here, including
saddles and harness. A four-story brick factory was erected in 1892-93 ;
also had another warehouse building as large. This industry was not well
managed finally and went out of business a few years since and the build-
ings are now used by the produce company, etc.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 229
The Hammond & Stephens Company is another large pubHshing and
printing concern that carries on a large business and has customers for
educational publications and blank books all over the country. Dan V.
Stephens was the originator and copyrighted many forms used by the
company.
One of the largest institutions of an earlier date was the hemp and
twine factory which utilized thousands of acres of the rank growth of
hemp growing on the flat lands to the east of the city. This produced a
wonderful amount of binding twine for a number of years when the
trade for various causes shifted to other sections of the country and was
finally in the "binding twine trust" and was made elsewhere. Also the
fertile lands on which the hemp grew here was better utilized for other
crops.
The beet sugar industry was also a very extensive one at Fremont
not so many years ago, but this industry, like the twine mill, was con-
trolled by trusts and the difficulty in securing help in the cultivation of
the beet, caused the great and useful industry to seek other locations.
This was operated by the Standard Cattle Company and sprang into
existence in 1893. Most of the capital employed was from the East.
They had a capital of almost a million dollars and had a plant here with
the largest beet house in the world. This industry employed many men
and it was a great financial loss when the company ceased to operate here.
The Fremont stock yards has a history too lengthy for publication in
this volume, but it should be said that it has been backed by home capital.
A description of these yards in 1905 by a local writer said : "The dipping
plant can accommodate over 5,000 sheep per day ; the barns are ready
for about thirty carloads of sheep at once; the yards occupy about 1,000
acres of land in the most fertile portion of the valley, and thousands of
sheep are here fed annually. The Stock Yards and Land Company has
been one of the most prominent undertakings in the city for many years.
Sheep may come and sheep may go but the Fremont stock yards are here
forever."
Fremont Gas and Electric Company
(By Lloyd W. Phillips)
The Fremont business men, with others from Lincoln, Nebraska,
owned a gas and electric plant in Fremont until December, 1909, when it
was purchased by Henry L. Doherty & Company who owns and controls
eighty public utility concerns, such as gas, electric lights, ice, street rail-
way and water companies in North and South America, Canada and
Mexico, with interests in Europe.
At Fremont this company was reorganized by the Doherty company
under the name of Fremont Gas, Electric Light and Power Company, of
which Mr. Doherty is the president. The local management of this com-
pany is in charge of L. W. Phillips, general manager: M. W. Themes,
secretary ; E. A. Newlon, superintendent, and G. H. Here, manager of
the new business.
The company employs thirty persons in all departments. They also
own thirty gas and oil wells in. various parts of the country. During the
coal strike in 1918-19. at Fremont, through foresight and their own
resources, the people of the city were not hampered for fuel or lights.
The company realizes the important position it holds in the welfare of
Fremont and its growing industries, and they have ever made the service
fully up to standard.
230 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Business Directory — 1920
A recent business directory of the City of Fremont — the last one
pubhshed — gives the following list of business men and women in the
city. There have been some changes, but all herein given were here in
1919:
Abstract of Land Titles — J. F. Hanson & Company.
Agricultural Implements — W. A. Carroll, Fremont Farmers' Union
Co-operative Association, Fremont Manufacturing Company.
Ambulance Service — A. C. Jens.
Architects and Superintendents — A. H. Dyer, F. A. Herfurth.
Art Store — E. Anderson & Company.
Artists — Mrs. Wilhelmina Eagle, Kubista Studio, A. F. Umphrey.
Asylums and Homes — Eastern Star (boys). Eastern Star (girls), Fre-
mont Hospital, Lutheran Orphanage, Nye Avenue Hospital.
Attorneys at Law — Abbott & Rohn, Cain & Johnson, J. C. Cook, Court-
right, Sidner, Lee & Jones, J. E. Daly, A. K. Dame, Frank Dolzal,
A. B. Hinman, M. H. Hunter, H. M. Kidder, Loomis, Laird &
Loomis, N. H. Mapes, Robins & Gleeson, F. L. Spear, D. A. Van
Donselaar, F. W. Vaughn.
Auto Batteries — Fremont Storage Battery Company.
Automobile Dealers — Chandler Automobiles, Electric Garage, Krohn
Motor Company, Larson Auto Company, John Monnich, Schurman
& Carroll, White Alotor Cars and Trucks.
Awnings and Tents — Rogers Tent & Awning Company.
Bakeries — Loyal Bakery Company, Vienna Bakery, F. J. Wislicen.
Banking — See chapter on banks in this work.
Barbers — Twelve shops,
Bee-Keepers' Supplies — J. J. Funk.
Bicycles and Repairs — William Burtz.
Blacksmiths — Three in number.
Blank-Book Makers — Hammond Printing Company.
Book Sellers — Five in number.
Building-Block Makers — Fremont Artificial Stone Building Block Co.
Building and Loan Associations — Equitable, Nebraska State and Occi-
dental.
Canning Factory — Fremont Canning Company.
Carriage Manufacturers and Dealers.
Cigar Manufacturers — Five in number.
Cigars and Tobacco — Brunswick Cigar Store, Phelps Cigar Store, Saeger
& Son.
Cigars (wholesale) — Phelps Cigar Company.
Cloaks and Suits — Block's Outfitting Store.
Clothing — Abraham Bordy, Hein Clothing Company. Victor Krelstein,
John Sonin, Union Clothing Companv, Ephraim Weinberg, Abraham
Zlotky,
Creameries — Farmers' Union Co-operative Company, Fremont Creamery
Company, Fremont Pure Butter Company, Golden Rod Creamery.
Dentists — Nine in number.
Department Stores — Eddy Brothers, H. G. Gumpert, T. H. Quinn.
Druggists — Brown-Fredericksen Company, Clarke Drug Company,
Devries Pharmacy, Fidelity Pharmacy. Pohls' Drug Store.
Dry Goods (retail) — Eddy Brothers, H. G. Gumpert, T. H. Quinn.
Electric Light Company — Fremont Gas, Electric & Power Company.
Electric Supplies — H. J. Trotter.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 231
Embalmers — E. Anderson & Company.
Fence Makers — Fremont Fence Company's Works.
Five and Ten Cent Stores — F. W. Woolworth Company, F. E. Wroe.
Florists — C. H. Green.
Flouring Mills — Brown Seal Mills, Fremont Milling Company.
Founders and Machinists — Fremont Foundry & Machine Company.
Fremo Manufacturers — Fremont Beverage Company.
Furniture Dealers — E. Anderson Company, J. R. Bader Company, Carl
Dengler, Jacob Kavich, Parlor Furniture & Mattress Company.
Garages — The Zapp Garage, Electric Garage, Larson Auto Company,
Farmers' Garage, John Monnich, Fred the Ford Expert, Johnson Auto
Company, Nelson, Nash Sale Company, Schurman & Company,
Joseph McKennan, Mercer Auto Company, William Pedersen, Ray
Pettit, Carl Heinrich & Son, Dunbar's Auto Shop, C. H. McKissick,
Bushnell & Son.
General Stores^Peoples Co-operative Store.
Grain Elevators — Fremont Farmers' Union Co-operative Company, Nye,
Schneider, Fowler Company.
Granite and Marble Works — American Granite and Marble \^'orks, Fre-
mont Granite and Marble Works.
Grocers — Twenty in number.
Grocers (wholesale) — May Brothers Company.
Gunsmith — William Burtz.
Hardware Stores — Doering Henry, N. M. Hansen, Holloway & Fowler,
Pilsbury, Veazie & Company, Thomas & Courtright Hardware Com-
pany. The last named firm also does a wholesale business.
Harness Manufacturers — J. M. Christensen, Emil Cloos.
Hotels — Nine, including the Pathfinder and the Terry.
Ice Cream Manufacturers — Golden Rod Company, Fremont Company,
Candy Kitchen Company and the Loyal Bakery Company.
Incubator Manufacturers — Fremont Manufacturing Company.
Jewelers — H. G. Anderson, H. F. Haman, J. T. Herre, G. C. Spangler,
Marshall Brothers.
Laundries — Ideal, New Fidelity, Rosa M. Andrews.
Live Stock Dealers — B. F. Custer, Fremont Farmers' Union Co-operative
Association.
Lumber Dealers (also Coal) — Farmers' Co-operative Union, Melick Lum-
ber Company, Nye, Schnedier, Fowler Company.
Market Gardener — Hans T. Nielsen.
Meat Markets Seven in number.
Merchant Tailor — Herman Petersen.
Mill Work — Fremont Planing Mill Company, W. R. Reckmeyer.
Milliners — Seven in number.
Music Dealers — Boggess Music Company, C. L. Dudley, Music Store.
Medicine Manufacturing Company — Widhelm Remedy and Manufactur-
ing Company.
Photographers — Kubista Studio, Mohler Studio, D. L. Yocum.
Physicians — Twenty in number (see medical chapter of this volume).
Poultry Dealers — Four in number.
Real Estate — Twenty-four in number.
Restaurants and Cafes — Eight in number.
Sand Dealers — Fremont Ice & Sand Company, Richey Sand Company.
Shoe Stores — Harry's Shoe Shop, Morris Horstman ; J. H. Knowles,
Bernhardt Shamberg, R. P. Turner.
232 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Population of Fremont
The matter of arriving at the exact population of the cities of the
United States is not always an easy problem to solve. The system
employed by the government at Washington by which the person who
takes the census for so much a name, instead of a stated salary, is no*
always fruitful in arriving at the true number residing in a given city or
town. For instance, the census taker calls three times at a house and
finds no one at home he usually never returns to get the names of the
household. It has come to light that many such errors have taken place
in the 1920 enumeration. The figures given below are such as the depart-
ment have sent out as correct, whether thev are or not. The census
periods of 1890, 1900, 1910 and 1920 run thus for Fremont. In 1890 it
was 6,747; in 1900 it was 7,241 ; in 1910 it was 8,718, and in 1920. 9,549.
It is generally believed that the city has at least 10,450.
Fremont Commercial Club
All modern, enterprising cities in this country have boards of trade
or commercial clubs by which the commercial interests of the place are
advanced and sustained. Away back in May, 1880, Fremont, at the city
hall, had organized what was known as the Board of Trade with the
following charter membership : Z. Shed, G. W. E. Dorsey, L. D. Rich-
ards, Manley Rogers, Andressen & Meyer, L. M. Keene, C. Christensen,
H. J. Lee & Co., Nye, Colson & Co., Otto Magenau, Cole & Pilsbury,
Arthur Gibson, D. Crowell. Huette & Son, Hopkins & Millard, J. J. Haw-
thorne, E. H. Barnard and Welty & Shervin.
By this organization there was the utmost harmony am9ng the busi-
ness factors of Fremont. As time went on factories were secured and
aided by this institution to the great betterment of the city.
After this organization had filled its mission another of similar aim
was formed — the present Commercial Club, which in 1905 had a mem-
bership of 250 business men. This club favors the bringing of conven-
tions to the city, believing this to be the best advertising plan than can
be had. Through this club Fremont is ever ready to do its best at enter-
taining and showing up the city's interest to good advantage.
Recent Achievements of the Fremont Commercial Club
Some of the more recent achievements and improvements for which
credit must be given to the Fremont Commercial Club should be men-
tioned in this connection. The club has always been efficient in securing
the location in the capital of the county of desirable factories and varied
manufacturing establishments, which employ considerable numbers of
men and constantly add to the profitable business of the county. Among
these may be mentioned the great canning company, and the Fremont
Manufacturing Company. A second achievement of the club is the crea-
tion of a drainage district, of incalculable value to the whole section. A
third is the establishment of a dyking district and a dyking system of
the first value ; and still another, the achievement of making Fremont
"The City Beautiful" through the work of the park board, in rendering
our urban park spaces the delight of citizens an'd strangers together ; and
in the removal of unsightly poles from the business streets, and the estab-
lishing of the electrolier lighting system, which renders our night appear-
ance one of brilliant and fascinating beauty. Our city Commercial Club
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 233
has a most enviable reputation throughout the state, and in adjoining
regions, for wide-awake activity and incessant vigilance in behalf of the
highest weal and progress of our municipality. It makes the whole
county proud of its capital.
Early Days in Fremont
In the 1916 volume of the publication entitled "Nebraska Pioneer
Reminiscences" under authority of the Daughters of the Revolution,
there is a good description of the pioneer days in and near the City of
Fremont, by two local ladies — Sadie Irene Moore and Mrs. Theron
Nye — from whom we are at liberty to quote:
The first habitation of any sort was constructed of poles surrounded
by prairie grass. It was built and owned by E. H. Barnard and J. Koontz
in 1856, and stood upon the site of the present Congregational Church. In
the autumn of 1856 Robert Kittle built and owned the first store. A
few weeks later his house was occupied by Rev. Isaac E. Heaton, wife
and two daughters, who were the first family to keep house in Fremont.
Alice Flor, born in the fall of 1857. was the first child born in Fremont.
She is now Mrs. Gilkerson of Wahoo. The first male child born in Fre-
mont was Fred Kittle. He was born in March, 1858, and died in 1890.
On August 23, 1858, occurred the first marriage. The couple were
Luther Wilson and Eliza Turner. The first death was that of Seth P.
Marvin, who was accidentally drowned in April, 1857, while trying to
cross the Elkhorn River seven miles northeast of Fremont. The Marvin
home was a mile and a quarter west of Fremont and this house was the
rendezvous of the parties who laid out Fremont. Mr. Marvin was one
of the town company.
The first celebratioh of the Fourth of July was in 1857. Robert
Kittle sold the first goods. J- G. and Thomas Smith conducted the first
regular store. In 1860 the first district school was opened with
Miss McNeil teacher. Then came Mary Heaton. now Mrs. Hawthorne.
Mrs. Margaret Turner, followed by James G. Smith, conducted the first
hotel situated where the First National Bank now stands. This was also
the "stage house" and here all the traders stopped en route from Omaha
to Denver. In the evening the old hotel resounded with music of violin
and the sound of dancing. Charles Smith conducted a drug store where
Holloway and Fowler are now. A telegraph line was established in
1860. The first public school was held in the building owned by the
Congregational Church at the corner of Eighth and "D" streets.
Miss Sarah Pneuman, now Mrs. Harrington of Fremont, was the
teacher. When court convened, school adjourned, there being no court-
house. In three years the school had grown from 16 to 100 pupils, with
three teachers. The first public schoolhouse was built at the corner of
Fifth and "D" streets.
In 1866 the Union Pacific was built. The first bank was established
in 1867. The Tribune, the first paper, was published July 24. 1868.
The "Central School" was built in 1869 and the teacher, in search of
truant boys, would ascend to the top of the building, where with the
aid of a fieldglass, she could see from the Platte to the Elkhorn. Today
can be seen on the foundations of this old landmark the marks of slate
pencils which were sharpened by some of our middle-aged business men
of today.
Mrs. Cynthia Hamilton of Fremont gives an interesting account of
the early days. In June, 1857, she, with her husband, Mr. West, their
234 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
daughter Julia, Mrs. West's brother, the late Wilson Reynolds, and
Mrs. Reynolds, reached a few dwellings then comprising Fremont, after
an eighteen or nineteen days' trip in moving wagons from Racine, Wis-
consin. They first stopped at the house of Robert Kittle, corner of Mili-
tary Avenue and Broad Street. This house was made from trees grown
on the bluffs southwest of town, and had red cedar shingles for a roof,
the shingles shaved from logs that had floated down the Platte River.
After two days they all moved into a log house in "Pierce's Grove".
While living here Mrs. Hamilton tells of hearing a great commotion
among the tinware and upon investigation, found it was caused by a
huge snake. In August of the same year they moved to their homestead
northwest of town, on the Rawhide. It is now known as the Rohr place.
Here they remained two years. In the winter the men made trips to the
river for wood, and the women must either remain at home alone far
from another house, or else accompany the men. Thus alone one day
she saw a large band of Indians approaching. The chief picked up an
ax from the wood pile and placed it under the window where she sat.
He indicated that she must take care of it or else someone might steal it.
He then led his band northward. During all the residence on the home-
stead the three members of the family suffered continually from ague.
In the fall of 1859, Mrs. West and her child returned to Wisconsin,
where they remained ten months. During her absence, Mr. West became
a trader with the Indians and once in Saunders County, as he was selling
a quantity of meat on a temporary counter, the Indians became rather
unruly. His white companions fled, and Mr. West, seizing a club, went
among the Indians, striking them right and left. For this they called
him brave and ever afterwards called him "Buck Shadaway," meaning
curly hair. When Mrs. West returned from Wisconsin, she came down
the Mississippi and up the Missouri to Omaha, then a small town. From
there they drove to Fremont, with horse and buggy, via Florence.
Mr. West now bought a cottonwood house, battened up and down. It
consisted of two rooms and stood on the site of the present residence of
Thad Quinn. Wilson Reynolds bought two lots on the south side of
Sixth Street near the West home for 75 cents. Here he built a house
made partly of black walnut taken from the banks of the Platte. In this
house was born our present postmaster, B. W. Reynolds. Mrs. Hamil-
ton relates that the Indians were frequent callers at her home, one
evening teaching her how to make "corn-coffee," by taking a whole ear
of corn, burning it black and then putting it into the coffee pot. Food
consisted of vegetables, which were grown on the prairie sod, prairie
chickens, small game and corn bread. Butter was 25 cents a pound.
Syrup was made by boiling down watermelon. Boiled beans were
mashed to a pulp and used as butter. Everything was high and when
the money and supplies were exhausted it was hard to get more. Screens
were unknown and flies and mosquitoes were terrible. In the evening
everyone would build a smudge so that they could sleep. Not a tree was
to be seen except those on the banks of the streams. Tall prairie grass
waved like the billowy ocean and prairie fires were greatly feared.
Everyone began setting out trees at once.
In those days Broad Street was noted as a racing road for the Indians
and now it is a boulevard for automobiles, says Mrs. Hamilton. "Yes,"
she continued, "I well remember the Fourth of July celebration of 1857.
There were about one hundred people in attendance. Miss McNeil was
my little girl's first teacher and Dr. Rushtrat our physician." In 1861,
after a short illness, Mr. West died. He was buried beside his infant
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 235
daughter in the cemetery, which at that time stood near the present brew-
ery. The bodies were afterward removed to Barnard's Cemetery and
later to Ridge Cemetery. The following year, Mrs. West, with her
daughter, Julia, returned to her parents at Racine, Wisconsin, where she
remained for many years. In 1876, as the wife of William Hamilton,
she returned and made her home on one of her farms near the stock-
yards. Twenty-five years ago (1891) this place was sold at $100 per
acre, while the old homestead northwest of town brought $25 per acre
in 1875. After selling the south farm she and Mr. Hamilton, who died
a few years ago, bought the present home on Broad Street. Everyone
should honor the early settlers, who left their eastern homes, endured
the hardships and privations, that a beautiful land might be developed
for posterity. They should be pensioned as well as our soldeirs. As we
of the younger generation should respect and revere their memory.
Early Days in Fremont
(By Mrs. Theron Nye)
From the year 1856 until the beginning of the Civil war in 1861, the
early settlers in Nebraska experienced nearly all of the ills and hardship
incidental to a pioneer life. Fifty years have passed since then and to
one having lived through those trying days — or to a stranger who merely
listens to the almost incredulous tales of a past generation — there arises
a question as to why any sane person or persons should desire to leave a
land comparatively full of comfort and plenty for one of deprivation
and possible starvation.
The early settlers of Fremont were for the most part young people
from the eastern states, full of ambition and hope. There is in the youth-
ful heart of a spirit of energy, of going and daring, in order to realize, if
possible, dreams of a possible glorious future in which may be won
honor and fame and wealth. Then again, the forces of nature are never
at rest and man, being a part of the great whole, must inevitably keep in
step with the universal law. A few lines written for a paper several
years ago give the first impressions of the landscape which greeted the
eves of the stranger on entering the valley of the Elkhorn River in
1858, April 26:
"This is the picture as I see it plainly in retrospect — a country, and
it was all country, with a smooth, level, gray surface which appeared to
go on toward the west forever and forever. On the north was the blufTs
of the Elkhorn River but the great Elkhorn Valley was a part of an
unknown world. South of the little townsite of Fremont the Platte
River moved sluggishly along to meet and be swallowed up by the great
Missouri. Ten or twelve log cabins broke the monotony of the treeless
expanse that stretched far away, apparently to a leaden sky. My heart
sank within me as I thought but did not say, 'how can I ever live in this
place?' " And yet the writer of the above lines has lived in Fremont for
forty-seven years.
The histories of the world are mostly men's histories. They are the
stories of governments, of religions, of wars, and only in exceptional
instances women appeared to hold any important place in the affairs of
nations. From the earliest settlement of the colonies in the New World
until the present time, women have not only borne with bravery and for-
titude, the greater trials of pioneer life, but frorii their peculiar organi-
zation and temperament suffered more from small annoyances than their
Residence of Hon. Ray Nye, Fremont
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DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 237
stronger companions of the other sex. The experiences of the home
and the family life of the early settlers of the great West have never
entered into the annals of history nor can a truthful story be told with-
out them, but thus far no doubt the apparent neglect has been due to
woman herself, who until quite recently has felt that she was a small
factor in the world's affairs.
In the beginning of the new life in Fremont women had their first
introduction to the log cabin which was to be their home for many years.
It was not as comfortable as it is pictured in romance on printed paper.
It was a story and a half high, sixteen by twenty feet in size. The logs
were hewn on two sides, but the work performed by the volunteer car-
penters of that time was not altogether satisfactory, consequently the logs
did not fit in closely, but the open spaces between filled with a kind of
mortar that had a faculty of gradually dropping off as it dried, leaving
the original holes and openings through which the winter winds whistled
and Nebraska breezes blew the dirt.
The houses were made of cottonwood logs and finished with cotton-
wood lumber. The shingles warped so the roof was somewhat resembling
a sieve. The rain dripped through it in the summer and the snow sifted
through it in the winter. The floors were made of wide, rough boards,
the planing and polishing given them by the broom, the old-fashioned
mop, and the scrubbing brush. The boards warped and shrunk so that
the edges turned up, making wide cracks in the floor through which many
small articles dropped down into a large hole in the ground miscalled a
cellar. It was hardly possible to keep from freezing in these houses in
the winter. Snow sifted through the roof, covering beds and floors. The
piercing winds blew through every crack and crevice. Green cottonwood
was the only fuel obtainable and that would sizzle and fry in the stove
while water froze while standing under the stove. This is no fairy tale.
The summers were not much more pleasant. It must be remembered
that there were no trees in Fremont, nothing that afforded the least pro-
tection from the hot rays of a Nebraska sun. Mosquitoes and flies were
in abundance and door screens were unknown at that time. The cotton
netting nailed over the windows and hung all around the beds was a slight
protection from the pests, although as necessarily the doors must be
opened more or less no remedy could be devised that would make any
perceptible improvement. To submit was the rule and the law in those
days, but many, many times it was under protest.
The first floor was divided off by the use of quilts or blankets, into
kitchen, bedroom and pantry. The chamber, or what might be called
the attic, was also partitioned in the same way, giving as many rooms as
it would hold beds. The main articles of food for the first two years
consisted of potatoes, cornmeal and bacon. The meal was made from a
variety of corn raised by the Indians and called Pawnee corn. It was
very soft, white and palatable. Wheat flour was not very plentiful the
first year. Bacon was the only available meat. Occasionally a piece of
bufifalo meat was obtained, but it being very hard to masticate, only
served to make a slight change in the gravy, which was otherwise made
with lard and flour browned together in an iron frying pan, adding boil-
ing water until it was the right consistency, salt and pepper to suit the
taste. This mixture was used for potatoes and bread of all kinds. Lard
was a necessity. Biscuits were made of flour, using a little cornmeal for
shortening and saleratus for rising. Much of the corn was ground in an
ordinary coffee mill or in some instances on a large grater or over a tin
pan with perforated bottom, made so by driving nails through it. The
238 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
nearest flouring mill was Fort Calhoun, over forty miles away, which was
then a three days' journey, taking more time than a trip to California at
the present day. Nothing, however, could be substituted for butter. The
lack of meat, sugar, eggs and fruits, tea, coffee was borne patiently, but
wheat flour and cornmeal bread with its everlasting lard gravy accompa-
niment was more than human nature could bear, yet most of the people
waxed strong and flourished on bread and grease. Oh, where are the
students of scientific research and domestic economy? There were pos-
sibly three or four cows in this settlement at Fremont, and if there was
ever an aristocracy in the place, it was represented by the owners of
said cows.
In 1858 a little sorghum was raised. "Hope springs eternal in the
human breast." Men, women and children helped to prepare the stalks
when at the right age for crushing, which was done with a very primitive
home-made machine. The juice obtained was boiled down to a syrup,
but, alas, the dreams of a surfeit of sweetness vanished in the thin air,
for the result of all the toil and trouble expended was a production so
nauseous that it could not be used even for vinegar.
Wild plums and grapes grew in profusion on the banks of the river.
There was much more enjoyment in gathering the fruit than in eating or
cooking it. The plums were bitter and sour, the grapes were sour and
mostly seeds, and sugar was not plentiful.
The climate was the finest in the world for throat and lung troubles,
but the breaking up of the soil caused a malaria and many of the inhabi-
tants suffered from ague and fever. Quinine was the only remedy.
There were neither physicians nor trained nurses here, but all were
neighbors and friends, always ready to help each other when the occa-
sion required.
In 1856, the year in which Fremont was born, the Pawnee Indians
were living four miles south of the Platte River on the bluffs in Saun-
ders County. They numbered about 4,000 and were a constant source
of annoyance and fear. In winter they easily crossed the river on the
ice and in summer the water was most of the time so low they could
swim and wade over, consequently there were few days in the year that
they did not visit Fremont by the hundred. Weeks and months passed
before women and children became accustomed to them and thev could
never feel quite sure they were harmless. Stealing was their forte. Eyes
sharp and keen were ever on the alert when they were present, yet when
they left almost invariably some little articles would be missed. They
owned buffalo robes and blankets for which the settlers exchanged
clothing which they did not need, jewelry, beads and ornaments, with a
little silver coin mixture added. The blankets and robes were utilized
for bedding and many of the shivering forms they served to protect from
the icy cold of the Nebraska winters. In 1859 the government moved
them to another home on the Loup River and in 1876 they were moved
to the Indian Territory.
Snakes of many kinds abounded, but rattlesnakes were the most
numerous. They appeared to have a taste for domestic life, as many
were found in houses and cellars. A little four-year-old boy one sunny
summer day ran out of the house barefooted, and stepping on the
threshold outside the door felt something soft and cold under his foot.
An exclamation of surprise caused a member of the household to hasten
to the door just in time to see a rattlesnake swiftly gliding away. In
several instances they were found snugly ensconsed under pillows, on
lounges and very frequently were they found in cellars.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 239
For more than two years there was no way of receiving or sending
mail only as one or another would make a trip to Omaha, which was
usually once a week. In 1859 a stage line was put on between Omaha
and Fort Kearny. No one can tell with what thankfulness and rejoicing
each and every improvement in the condition and surroundings were
greeted by the settlers. Dating from the discovery of gold in Colorado
the pioneer was no more an object of pity or sympathy. Those who
had planted their stakes and made their claims along the old Military
Road to California were independent. Many of the immigrants became
discouraged and turned their faces homeward before getting a good
glimpse of the Rocky Mountains. On their way home they sold loads
of provisions for a song. The same fall the soil of the fertile Platte Val-
ley, after two years of cultivation, responded to the demand of civiliza-
tion. There was a market west for everything in the way of grain, and
every pound of vegetables grown. So at last the patient and persever-
ing ones received their reward.
The sources of amusement were few and yet all enjoyed the new,
strange life. A pleasant ride over the level prairie dotted with wild
flowers in any sort of vehicle drawn by a pair of oxen was as enjoyable
to the young people then as a drive over the country would now be in the
finest turnout that Fremont possesses. A dance in the room twelve by
sixteen feet in a log cabin, to the music of the "Arkansas Traveler"
played on a violin, was "just delightful." A trip to Omaha once or twice
a year was a rare event in the women's life particularly. Three days
were taken — two to drive in and out and one to do a little trading (not
shopping) and look around to view the sights. A span of horses, a
lumber wagon with a spring seat in front, high up in the air, was a con-
veyance. Women always wore sunbonnets on these occasions to keep
their complexion fair.
Several times in the earlier years the Mormons passed through here
with long trains of emigrants journeying to the promised land and a
sorry lot they were, for the most of them were footsore and weary, as
they all walked. The train was made up of emigrant covered wagons
drawn by oxen and handcarts drawn by cows, men, women and dogs.
It was a sight never to be forgotten.
This is merely a short description of some of the trials and sufferings
endured by the majority of the early settlers of this state. Many of the
actors in the drama have passed away — a few only now remain and soon
the stories of their lives will be to the coming generation like forgotten
dreams.
Reminiscences
In a paper read before the Woman's Club of Fremont by Rev. Wil-
liam H. Buss of the Congregational Church, in December, 1919, were the
following interesting and historic reminiscences which should be pre-
served in the present History of Dodge and Washington Counties,
hence have been inserted :
"In the days of the '70s, when, horses and mules were in demand, a
dealer of this city shipped this kind of stock in from the coast and sold
it to the farmers. It was a common sight to see a horse with a bell tied
to his neck, and a small boy, on his back, coming up Main street with a
lot of mules following along for a block or more, and entirely loose.
Unloaded from the cars, they followed the 'bell horse' and without any
straying, to the company barnyard."
240 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
"In the early history of Fremont the place frequently suffered from
disastrous fires. There had been erected a skeleton fire tower at the top
of which hung the fire bell, and the structure stood opposite the site of
the present courthouse. A Chinaman conducted a laundry across the
street, and one of his customers (evidently not a real Fremonter) one
day called for his wash, took it, and withdrew hastily, without paying the
bill. With his pig-tail flying, John rushed out immediately resolved to
raise the city, and spread the alarm. He crossed the street to the fire bell
tower, and vigorously pulled the cord, without stint or limit, summoning
the usual crowd. When the volunteer firemen learned that there was no
fire and only a Chinaman's laundry bill in peril, they were mad enough
to hang the celestial, up beside the bell.
"It has been stated that secretly it was regretted there was no record-
ing phonograph-mechanism at hand to preserve to posterity the dialogue
of mingled Chinese and fireman profanity."
"Pioneer Mr. Kelly used to relate how 'The farmers broke the open
prairie, and planted corn and turnips, and other vegetables, including
squash and pumpkins. I used to go to a farm, with a top-box on the
wagon and the farmer would sell me for fifty cents all the pumpkins
and squash I could put in the wagon. In one load I counted 203, and
some of them were all I could lift. We cut them up with spades for the
cattle. At this time corn was worth only nine cents in the crib. I have
bought several loads at this price. Coal was rather difficult to get, as we
lived thirteen miles from Fremont. We could drive anywhere we pleased
over the prairies. In the winter of 1870-71, we burned corn for months.
The ears were large, and I put one into the stove as I would a stick of
wood. Corn makes an intense heat, and even burns out the grate.
" 'Farming was not as pleasant work as it is now. Pork could hardly
be sold. I sold good thick spare ribs for one cent a pound. Today
(1919) spare ribs are spare indeed!'"
"One fine autumn morning there might have been seen one of Fre-
mont's very earliest pioneers — J. J. Hawthorne — coming down town
from his residence, carrying something very unique and precious, to show
his friends, and he produced a sensation, when, on Main Street, he exhib-
ited a number of Fremont grown apples. People looked at them with
wonder and admiration, and with as much curiosity as if they were
meteors from without our planet's orbit. But the Hawthorne apples
were a foretaste of the future golden age."
"Among the numerous railway wrecks occurring in or near Fremont
may be described the one near the city and on the Union Pacific line in
1869 — the worst ever had here. The only hotel in the city then was the
Fremont Hotel kept by Samuel H. Fowler. Many wounded and dead
from the wreck west of town were brought to the hotel, while others
were borne to the Union Pacific station, a small one story frame
building."
"Bank robbers gave Fremont much excitement many years ago. It
was learned that bank robbers were on a certain train coming through
the city and were intending to stop. Sheriff Gregg had sworn in as one
of his deputies, to assist in the arrest, the intrepid veteran of the Civil
war, the late Ed. Morse. As the train pulled in, the robbers alighted,
sure enough, and began shooting at once. One bullet struck Morse in
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 241
the mouth, and passed into his throat, leaving an ugly and dangerous
wound. The thieves stole horses near at hand, rode to the river and
jumped into a skiff and hurried out into the middle of the Platte River.
The man who shot our fellow townsman, was in turn shot by the sheriff,
while on the river, and his companion surrendered, was brought back to
the county jail, and threatened for a time with lynching. He was later
convicted and sent to the penitentiary. After long and patient suffering,
Mr. Morse returned to health and a long service as a valuable citizen of
Fremont."
Doctor Buss, in concluding his paper before the Woman's Club,
said: "Who does not remember the disappointments that came in the
past in the failure to materialize of the long promised and seemingly
assured railroad shops that were to make us metropolitan in industry; in
the like failure to appear of the Great Packing House which would have
made us as important as South Omaha ; in the falling down of the Hemp
factory industry that promised so brilliantly for a long period?
"Who does not recall the hopes entertained by the Street Railway
Company of Old Fremont and the dismal issue and dwindling end of the
whole enterprise? There was the great Chautauqua Assembly, too, and
its fine auditorium with its brilliant programs of oratory and discussion
to which I listened with pride in the first of the nineties, but which faded
away in -financial failure to the disheartening of the friends of culture
and literary hope for the town.
"These and others were the tragedies of the disappointment which
came in the later days and which tried men's souls as truly as did the
grasshoppers and drouths of early times.
"But Fremont triumphed over all, as she will triumph over every
hindrance that the years unfold.
"In conclusion then let all hearts salute the men and women of Old
Fremont and cherish their memory, emulate their courage and perse-
verance."
Historical Sketch of William B. Lee
(Contributed by Mrs. Eliza Lee Flynn)
William B. Lee was born in County Monaghan, Ireland, November
13, 1832. He came to America in 1851, and to Nebraska in 1856. In
Ireland, when William Lee was a boy, the main industry was the raising
of flax. His father, grandfather and great-grandfather, in their day,
were foremost in their neighborhood, both in the form of industry and
also in the manufacture of linen. Their fine linens found a ready mar-
ket in all parts of the world. So experienced was his grandfather in this
business that at one time he held a government appointment, as an expert
linen examiner. In the early days of English dominance in Erin there
were many of the name of Lee who became settlers in southwestern
Ireland, and belonging as they did to the Church of England, took a
lively part in the religious wars of the period. On his mother's side,
among these were the Martins and Brownlees, who were Scotch Cov-
enanters, and whose ancestors had emigrated to Ireland when King Wil-
liam of Orange entered England to aid the Protestant cause. They joined
his army and fought through the Irish wars, receiving for their service
grants of land in the County of Tyrone. The people of Mr. Lee's mater-
nal grandmother were known as the Brownlees of Bothwell, Scotland.
242 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Thomas Brownlee, Earl of Bothwell, held a high place in King William's
army, and made his home continuously in Ireland. Of his grand-uncle
Brownlee Mr. Lee loved to relate tales learned at his uncle's knee, espe-
cially those about the bonfires he and others were in the habit of kindling
upon the highest neighboring hills whenever word was received of an
American victory over the British. At that time, little did he think that
one day he would himself be a citizen of America, "the land of the free
and the home of the brave." But to America came William B. Lee, in
1851, crossing the Atlantic in a sailing vessel which was five weeks and
three days in making the voyage. Five years later he traveled from the
coast westward to Nebraska.
He was married in September at St. Joe, Missouri, to Miss Margaret
Cassidy, like himself a native of County Monaghan, Ireland, and the
ceremony was performed by Bishop Hennessey, afterwards Archbishop.
He was educated in London. After fifty-five years of happy union
Mrs. Lee died at her home in Fremont, Nebraska, January 30. 1918, and
in just five months to a day, while on a visit to his daughter in Douglass,
Wyoming, Mr. Lee also passed away. For sixty-two years he had made
his home in the City of Fremont, in the founding of which he had promi-
nently participated, and in which for fifty years he had been honored
as a worthy and valuable citizen ; the last of a little band of pioneers
who lived as one family in the summer of 1856 in a log cabin at the
corner of Broad Street and Military Avenue.
His experience in numerous Indian engagements makes an interesting
page in the history of Nebraska pioneers. He acquired land along the
Platte River, east of Fremont, a part of which today constitutes the
Fremont stockyards. Mr. Lee built a substantial log cabin, to which
came at length his bride from the City of London. Great must have been
her courage and resolution, for vast indeed was the change from the
City of London to the open plains of our great West. She frequently
told her children in after years that an Indian seemed peeking at her
from every tree, so frequently did they appear. She had come in the
second or third year of the Civil war and the times following that conflict
were pressingly hard. Later Mr. Lee replaced his cabin with a substan-
tial frame building, commodious and comfortable, and life became more
worth while. Mrs. W. B. Lee has the distinction of being the first Catho-
lic woman resident in Fremont. She was the hospitable hostess to Catholic
missionaries and also to those of the Protestant faith, and to this day
people speak in admiration of her gracious hospitality to the travelers
of the plains.
The coming of William B. Lee to Fremont antedated its founding by
a few weeks. They left Grant County, Wisconsin, in search of a home-
stead in the summer of 1856 traveling from Prairie du Chien to Rock
Island, Illinois — thence by train to Iowa City, then the terminus of the
railroad. They made the trip to Fremont on foot. There was a stage
line running to Council Bluffs, but the "Foot and Walker" was more
appealing to these young adventurers. In speaking of the pioneer days
of William B. Lee, the name of his cousin, Commish Lee, frequently
appears, for they were comrades in adventure. Together they had left
Grant County, Wisconsin, hoping to join the army then being organized
by General Lane against the abolitionists. Reaching Council Bluffs they
found the company they had intended to join had left for Kansas, and
the spirit of adventure having well taken hold of the Lee boys, they
decided to go on west and look over the Territory of Nebraska. The
country was sparsely settled but they managed to find a hospitable cabin
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 243
for the night stops. Saturday night, just at sunset, they reached Council
Bluffs and to their delight found a steamboat about to cross the river to
Omaha, so their first Saturday night in Nebraska was spent in Omaha,
then claiming a population of 100 souls, not including the Omaha Indians.
Next morning they saw their first Indian fight on the very spot where
the state capitol building was to be erected.
An Indian was beating his squaw when the brother of the woman
interfered. The clash was short and decisive. A knife flashed, then a
bow fitted with an arrow twanged a death song. But the murderer fled
to the hills.
This was their introduction to Indian life : little did they think then
of the many encounters they were to have with the redskins, ere Nebraska
would be a safe place for the settler.
Had they foreseen it all would they have gone forward? We know
they would not have turned back, they had come from a line of people
with a spirit of freedom strong in their breasts, pioneers by nature,
whose parents, born under the rule of England, had not been afraid to
brave the seas and emigrate to the shores of America, seeking indepen-
dence, liberty and freedom and they feared no man when knowing that
what they were doing was approved by Almighty God.
Onward these two young men marched ever westward; on toward
that glorious dream of a home on the plains, that they might help to
build a state and play their part in the building of a new West.
By night they had reached Elkhorn City and spent that night in com-
pany with a man who had decided to take a claim in the Elkhorn Valley.
Next morning they continued the journey to a point seven or eight miles
north, where they found a ferry across the Elkhorn. Reaching the great
valley of the Platte, they followed the old Mormon or California trail
to a point, IJ^ miles northwest of the present site of Fremont, staying
that night with the Bebee family, who were the first real bona fide inhabi-
tants of this part of the state.
William B. and Commish Lee rightfully claim to be the, second set
of inhabitants, as they arrived here August 7, 1856, about three weeks
before the townsite was named Fremont. While seeking land they went
as far west as Columbus, but found no place they liked as well as the
territory of the Platte Valley.
It was on returning to the valley the second time, that they fell in
with Messrs. Barnard, Koontz, Smith, Kittle, Moorland and a Mr. Pinney
and they thus participated in the founding of Fremont. Stakes being
driven for a site the day after they returned, Commish Lee holding one
end of the rope, in lieu of the regulation surveyor's chain. He always
maintained that the irregularity of the streets and blocks of the original
plot of the city was due to the stretching of the rope.
At this time Buchanan was democratic candidate for President and
an effort was made to name the town Buchanan, but the townsite com-
pany found the "Pathfinders" more popular so they honored John C.
Fremont. The townsite then did not include anything east of Union
Street. Later land east of the site was pre-empted and the Lees invested
there.
Often in recent years, previous to the death of William B. Lee, has
he recounted the great entertainment of the younger generation — pages
from his memory, of those pioneer days when the principal occupa-
tion of the settler was fighting the redskins, freighting to Kearney,
Columbus and Buffalo, Wyoming, and hunting the wild buffalo that
roamed the prairies in immense herds ; yes, and fighting, too, the destruc-
244 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
tive prairie fires that spared nothing in their mad race over the plains.
As Mr. Lee had said they endured all sorts of privations and hardships,
such as only pioneers could understand. Back in those days they dwelt,
as one family, at the corner of Broadway and Military where the old
marble works used to stand, in a cabin built of logs that had been taken
from the island in the Platte River. There were William B. and Commish
Lee, Barnard, Judge Smith and Koontz in a cabin twelve feet square.
As late as 1918 William B. Lee was the only one left of that com-
munity of pioneers living in Fremont, his cousin, Commish Lee, having
been called by death some five years before. E. H. Barnard had by
several years preceded Commish Lee. Mr. Koontz, early in the life of
the City of Fremont, had gone to the Territory of New Mexico, there
bought an Indian village, and there ended his days. Judge Smith of the
household of pioneers, years ago, gave up Fremont as his home and estab-
lished his residence in California.
In the cemetery in Fremont sleep the three, who together began life
pioneering on the plains of Nebraska, establishing their homes in a city
of their building; there raising their families and promoting the best
interest of the ever increasing community, and there at last ending their
days, surrounded by the respect and admiration of the second and third
generation, living to see their children's children, and leaving for them
a heritage of honor and integrity.
Many of the trees standing in Fremont and so much admired by our
visitors were planted by the hand of William B. Lee. The oldest tree in
Fremont was planted by him at the corner of Sixth and Union streets,
and for over half a century lent its limbs to many a rope for an old-
fashioned swing, to be used by the children and grand-children of the
pioneers. Bravely withstanding storms for more than half a century, it
was finally overcome and completely destroyed, in a high wind in 1917.
Trees in the days of the earlier settler were even more welcome than
flowers in springtime, and every day was Arbor Day to the progressive
pioneer.
Mr. Lee was also a member of the townsite company of Wahoo,
Nebraska.
Speaking of the fall of 1856, Mr. Lee has said: "By Christmas our
circle had grown considerably larger and, oh, how heartily we welcomed
each newcomer, only a pioneer can say. That year winter came, Decem-
ber 2d : snow falling three nights and days : on the level the snow was
about three feet deep. I made a pair of snowshoes in order to get around,
going to the island to hunt deer and wild turkey, of which I killed many.
In February the snow disappeared only to be followed in April by a
heavier fall adding greatly to our misery, it was a winter that none of us
ever could forget.
"Unwelconied visitors were too frequent so that we dwelt in constant
expectation of a massacre by the Indians. In early and late fall it was
our custom to go on an extended buffalo hunt and secure sufficient meats
to last us until spring. These expeditions were full of interest and some-
times vividly thrilling, especially when we would meet a herd of several
thousand buffalo, running in advance of a prairie fire, and we, soldier
fashion, would be compelled to He down beside our prostrate ponies and
let the entire herd pass over us. It was then that our hearts beat hard
and fast, for while we knew a buffalo would never step on a prostrate
animal, still we feared they might do so by chance, enraged as they were,
by the ever hastening flames of the advancing fire."
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 245
Such tales of real life on the plains Mr. Lee has left for his children
and grand-children to read, and as they do so they can but read with
pride of the adventures of a brave, noble and Christian gentleman. In
character Mr. Lee was honest to a fault, upright and ever dignified, of
modest, kindly disposition and deeply religious, living his religion into
his daily life.
Almost his last thought was of Fremont where so many of his best
years were spent, for to those about his deathbed he said : "Say to Fre-
mont, for her I have nothing but the kindest and best of thoughts ; tell
this to Fremont when I am gone." After an illness of ten days while
visiting at the home of his daughters, this sturdy man, last and earliest
of the pioneers, answered the call. He was buried from the Prebysterian
Church, with which he had long been identified, and laid to rest beside
his wife, July 3, 1918.
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. William B. Lee were six in num-
ber. Four of them are living at the time of this sketch : Mrs. A. R. Mer-
ritt being the eldest, Frank T. Lee, Mrs. John M. Flynn, and Edward
A. Lee.
Mr. Lee early acquired much real estate in Fremont, and his time in
later years was devoted to the care of these interests, having retired from
stockraising and other business activities about the year of the organiza-
tion of the Fremont Stock Yards Company, when he sold to that com-
pany his first farm in Nebraska, on the site of which stands the Fremont
Packing House. Partial loss of hearing caused Mr. Lee to withdraw
from active business life in late years although his memory up to the very
last was unfailingly true. Having seen so much of the stress of pioneer
life, he was regarded as an authentic fountain of information regarding
the history of the early days of his town and county, and his last years
were devoted to the effort of faithfully recording for his children the
birth and development of Fremont, his adopted home, together with
many tales of early life on the plains of Nebraska.
CHAPTER XXIII
FREMONT TOWNSHIP
Before the "Township Organization" obtained in this county in 1886,
what was known as "Fremont Precinct" existed, and Fremont City was
within such subdivision of Dodge County. Fremont Precinct included
present Platte Township, and other additional domain of the county and
was created a precinct by the County Commissioners in 1857. The first
election was held at the house of Barnard & Koontz. The judges were
E. H. Rogers, Jackson Davis and A. McNeil. Much of the early history
of the "beginnings" in Dodge County transpired within Fremont Pre-
cinct. At this time the Township of Fremont simply contains the terri-
tory covered by the incorporated city, but like North Bend, has its rep-
resentation on the board of county supervisors, same as all other outside
townships.
Early D.\ys in Dodge County
[In 1884 on the occasion of the farewell services held at the old Con-
gregational Church at Fremont, a reminiscence was written and read by
pioneer E. H. Barnard. Now that thirty-six years have passed and the
"new" Congregational Church is styled the "oldest church in town" these
historic items seem more interesting than ever to many present-day read-
ers, hence the story is here repeated.]
When in the early autumn of 1856, from the bluffs near Elkhorn
City, my eye first beheld this portion of the great Platte Valley, I thought
I had never seen so goodly a landscape. For many miles the windings
of the Elkhorn and Platte rivers were outlined by a fringe of timber,
bounding the valley on either side, while the meanderings of the now
classic Rawhide Creek were so distinctly traceable by an occasional clump
of trees and bushes. The sight filled me with rapture and made the blood
fairly bound within my veins. In all my life I had never seen its like and
I never expect to again. Here was this grand and beautiful fertile coun-
try spread out like a pretty map at my feet. And what made it the more
fascinating was the fact that it was all unoccupied except by the Indians
and wild beasts. What wonder that those who saw this valley then
should be seized with a strong desire, as was Moses of old, to go in and
possess the land?
Well, we went in — a few of us — and just here the poetry of the nar-
rative ends. Instead of the flesh-pots of Egypt, made ready and waiting
for us, we found privations and hardships on every hand. Nobody had
been in advance to build us houses and dig us wells, to lay out roads and
build bridges, schoolhouses and churches, nor men to plant groves for us.
We had all these things to do ourselves. The man who has a good house
to live in while he builds a better one does a good thing, but he who
builds a shelter while he himself is unsheltered does quite a different
thing, and just what the first settler in a new country always has to do.
Everything had to be done in way of building before we could begin to
live, and all the while we were preyed upon most persistently by flies
and gnats in the daytime and flees and mosquitoes by night. Insect life
was animated and held high carnival, and I can assure you there is quite
246
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 247
a difference between the music of the festive mosquito just outside the
screen and the same voice — and bill, too — on the rim of your ear, as
some of you may know. Well, we did not have screens then, or any
place to hang them either, which was worse. And further, besides all
these impediments and pull-backs we had the Indians to pacify. All this,
however, was expected, and as long as money held out to buy provisions
with, we were content. The first human habitation, so far as is known,
was built upon the very spot where a part of this church now stands.
I say human habitation because it sheltered men, and you may regard
it as an inhuman place to live in when I tell you that it was built of logs
about twelve by sixteen feet and covered with hay. It was occupied first
as a boarding house and afterwards as a hotel, furnishing lodgings to as
many as fifteen on one occasion over night. Such was the first building
in the City of Fremont. In due time it gave place to this edifice, and
now that we are to remove the old building from this site, how fitting
that a monumental church should be erected in its place, thus marking
the precise spot where that first cabin stood.
The first winter which followed was one of great severity, and a large
portion of the stock which had been brought into the settlement in the
fall, having nothing to eat but hay, mostly cut in October after it had
been struck by the frost, perished.
I well remember that one of eight oxen brought here by Mr. Heaton,
or perhaps I might say that brought him and his effects here, only three
survived. And here I want to relate a little incident. One of the most
respected citizens, then as now, built a sled — an ox-sled — rather large,
as it was intended to haul house-logs on, and as the weather was bad he
was delayed in his work so that the vehicle was not completed until mid-
winter. Then all was ready, and when he hitched his oxen to it, they
had become so poor and the snow was so deep and the sled so very heavy
that they were unable to stir it out of its place. How handy it would
have been if he could have had a span of those fat Percheron horses, of
which Fremont now boasts, to put in their places. But then we did not
have Percheron horses.
During the winter provisions had to be brought from Omaha through
snow drifts that were well-nigh impassable. It used to take a week to
make a trip and sometimes much longer. On one occasion toward spring
when there was a crust on the snow strong enough to bear the weight of
a man in most places, a couple of sacks of flour were brought over from
Fontanelle on a hand-sled to piece out till our regular supplies could be
got from Omaha. The winter was tedious, both in its monotony and its
weather. But in the spring all was bustle and stir in the settlement.
Every man in health had good courage and hope. Considerable prairie
was broken up in time for corn planting. The sod corn was of the variety
known as squaw corn, from the fact of its having been planted by the
squaws prior to our coming to the country. It was similar to Nevada
corn, except that the kernel was softer. It was all colors and when
ground or beaten into meal was the most perfect specimen of variegated
colors imaginable.
This corn, while it was good for food, could not at that time be sold
for cash nor even traded for other provisions, for the simple reason that
there was not any cash or provisions in the country demanding it. It
had a value, however. It was good to donate to the minister and for
some other purposes ! I have been particular to describe this corn because
soon it became the staple article of diet in the little hamlet of Fremont.
If it had not been for that little crop of sod corn there is no knowing
248 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
what would have become of the colony. The settlement must have been
retarded if not scattered permanently. This may seem strange to the
present well-fed inhabitants of this prosperous city, but it should be
remembered that like most first settlers in a new country, the first here
were for the most part poor in this world's goods and it will be readily
seen that the expenses incident to building houses and buying everything
for a year's subsistence, and without any income whatever, were consid-
erable, so that it was not strange that the second winter found most of
the settlers with very lean or quite empty purses. One man who had
spent all, applied to his grocer in Omaha for credit on a supply of gro-
ceries until he could raise another crop. He got an answer "Groceries
are cash !" He offered to sell dry goods on time — but they were not
needed.
Our friend came home without either and with Puritanic firmness
sternly determined to stay and go without until such time as he could pay
cash. That man was E. H. Rogers, afterward and for many years
cashier and the presiding genius of the First National Bank of Fremont.
How he and his family luxuriated in cornmeal that season I leave you to
imagine.
I well remember the case of two families, father and son, living in
one house on cornmeal alone for several weeks until, toward spring,
their cow taking compassion on them graciously consented to add the
luxury of fresh milk to their diet. I say luxury because I mean it. The
necessaries of life are really very few and as a certain ex-judge of this
county once expressed it, "They are mostly imaginary."
People sometimes get discontended and complain of hard times, sim-
ply because they are not quite as well ofT as some of their neighbors.
They think they are frugal and saving, but what would they think of a
regular diet of cornmeal and salt with variations and plenty of good
water three times a day for ninety days or so?
One thing is evident, if the early settlers of Fremont are not all in
comfortable circumstances it is not for any want of enforced lessons in
practical economy for they certainly had them and plenty of them, and
fully illustrated.
A little anecdote may serve as a pointer and to illustrate the style of
those early days. A small boy recently transported from a house in
western New York had taken his place at the table and was about to
begin his repast when his grandma told him he had not said grace. The
little fellow looked up with surprise and impatience : "I don't see what
we have to give thanks for; we live in beggar houses and eat beggar
victuals and have to sit on old trunks and three-legged stools instead of
chairs." He couldn't see it and the old lady had to perform the duty
for him.
In 1857, with many others, came a man with three P's which being
interpreted read : Poverty, Perseverance and Pluck. He reached the
little hamlet of log cabins on foot — worn, dusty and penniless — as did
many another. He at once sought and found a place where he could
work for his board — and such board ! — until he could do better. Well,
he managed by hook and crook to keep soul and body together and by
the next spring succeeded in borrowing money enough of some friend
East to buy a breaking team consisting of two yoke of oxen and a plow,
but before he had turned a furrow the Indians stole three of his oxen
and while searching for them the other ox strayed of?, so he lost all and
had the borrowed money to pay. That was a little discouraging, was it
not? He might have sat down and wrung his hands and prated that the
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 249
world was against him, or he might have packed his knap-sack and gone
oflf cursing the country, but he did neither. He stayed and kept at it.
That man today is at the head of one of the great commercial houses of
this city and a bank president.
About the same time a family settled here from one of the western
states. Some of the ladies called on the newcomers, as you know ladies
do sometimes, and the hostess informed them that she had not been
accustomed to such society or to living in such houses, with such furni-
ture. "Why," she said, "where I came from we had our houses painted
on the inside and had painted furniture, too." As if the ladies of Fre-
mont had never seen paint. The next spring there was a rush of travel
to Pike's Peak and this very woman had tacked up on her house a sign
which read: "Butter for SAIL Here." She was believed to be the first
codfish aristocrat of Fremont — she does not live here now.
I have spoken thus of the humble beginnings, of the hardships and
poverty and self-denial of those early days as in contrast to the present
time that the dishonest and unfortunate may take courage by knowing
what others have had to endure, that the lavish may learn to save, that
the haughty may be humble, and that all may remember not to despise the
day of small things.
CHAPTER XXIV
NICKERSON TOWNSHIP
Description — Boundary — Early History — Population — Settlement
— First Things — Educational and Religious — Village of Nick-
ERSON — Present Development — The Two Railroads.
Nickerson Township is government township 18, range 8, and a part
of range 9 — that part west of the Elkhorn River. Originally this was all
a part of Maple Township, but after various changes the present bounds
were made in 1886.
Geographically, this township is bounded on its north by Hooper
Township, on the east by Washington County, on the south by Platte
and Elkhorn townships, on the west by Maple Township.
W^hat is known as the Black Hills line of Northwestern Railway runs
through the township from north to south, with a station point at the
Village of Nickerson, situated in section 11. The Sioux City branch of
the "Burlington" system also touches this point. (See railroad chapter.)
Population
The United States census reports for various decades gives the popu-
lation of this township: In 1890 it was 633; in 1900 it was 717, and ten
years later it only had 637, which has increased probably in the last
decade, although the present census figures have not as yet been made
public.
Pioneer Settlement
The first person to take land in this township was an attorney-at-law
named Henry Depew, who bought a quarter section in "thirteen," in
1857. He finally let the land go back for the taxes and it was bid in by
Michael Herman, who subsequently sold a part of it to the railroad com-
pany, and they platted the Village of Nickerson on it. Depew went to
Germany as counsul to Baden and later was made an Indian agent on
the Pawnee Reservation, Nebraska.
July 2, 1859, came Michael Herman, and he stated that when he
arrived the only actual settlers in the township were Thomas Fitzsimons,
Morris Wogan, O. A. Heimbaugh, Henry C. Campbell, Arthur Bloomer,
J. H. Peters and a Mr. Bingham. In 1861 August Milligan and E. Abbott
settled in the township. Other settlers were as follows:
John K. Cramer came to Dodge County in 1855, before the organiza-
tion and was numbered among the first Fontanelle colony. After remain-
ing there twelve years, he moved to section 14 of Nickerson Township
where he was still residing in the '90s.
James H. Peters, of section 8, was a pioneer of 1855, and located at
Fontanelle, but later moved to this township.
Christopher Knoell, of section 32, came to Dodge County in 1859 with
his parents, and in 1862 they moved to a new place in Nickerson Town-
ship. The experiences this family had with the Indians at an early day
were really of an interesting character.
250
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 251
Michael Herman came to the Elkhorn Valley in 1859 and finally pur-
chased land in section 12 of this township. Subsequently he retired in the
nearby village.
Rasmus Johnson, section 23. came to Dodge County in the fall of
1867, at first settling in section 20, homesteading twenty acres. Later he
sold and purchased land in section 23.
xA.nother settler of 1867 was William H. Sweet, Jr., who finally settled
in section 4, and secured a half section of land prior to 1892. He was a
native of New York State.
In 1876 came Romanzo M. Havens, who first located at Fontanelle in
1868 and lived there until 1876, when he moved to Nickerson and bought
a hotel property which he still owned in the early '90s.
Francis M. Healey, section 28, came to Douglas County in 1870 and
at first worked by the month for others. He then farmed in Wisconsin
till 1874, then returned to Nebraska and bought land on the Maple
Creek, living there until he moved to section 28 in 1880.
Other settlers included Andrew P. Sliepard. section 27, who was a
resident of Dodge County from 1871 and in 1893 owned 680 acres of
excellent land in this county.
Philip Gentzler, section 20, came to Dodge County in 1868, first
stopping at Fremont, but four years later moved to Nickerson Township.
Gerhart Harms located in section 3. He came to the county in 1870.
He settled on Logan Creek, purchasing a place in Nickerson Township
three years after his coming.
Another settler of Nickerson in 1870 was John Thede. He located
in section 28, lived there five years then moved to a new place in sec-
tion 16.
Reuben Falconer purchased 240 acres of land in this township in
1872 and built in section 17.
Jerry S. Diehl, section 23. came to Dodge County in the spring of
1877. He worked on a farm for others three years, then bought a quar-
ter section of land to which later he added considerable.
Nels Christiansen, section 21, located in Fremont, and eight years
later, or 1882, removed to his farm in Nickerson Township.
Charles Diers, section 32, came to this township in 1874.
Jorgan Larson, later of section 16. came to this county in 1879 and
bought eighty acres of land. All was wild prairie then, but in a few years
he had developed his land into a very attractive and valuable place.
Isaac H. Brown, section 5, came in 1881. He bought cheap land and
within a few years was surrounded by a comfortable home.
Lewis Larson, section 9, first located after coming in 1883 on the
old Doctor Sexton land, which he leased six years then bought in Nicker-
son Township and made himself a good home.
Christopher Johnson, of section 21, came to Nickerson in 1887 and
bought his land there.
Henry E. Heimbaugh came in 1889, worked by the month a year or
two and then engaged in business in the Village of Nickerson.
First Events in the Township
Henry Depew was the township's first settler or land-owner.
The first child born in the township was a son to Mr. and Mrs. Mor-
ris Wogan, early in the '60s.
The first death was that of Mr. Higgle about 1858. He was buried
on the hill west from the present Village of Nickerson, but later the
remains were removed to the City of Omaha.
252 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
The first residence was a log building on the old Depew place. The
first frame building was built by Jacob Easier soon after the close of
the Civil war.
Schools and Churches
The first school in Nickerson Township was taught a mile west of the
present Village of Nickerson. See educational chapter, and for churches
also see index for general chapter on all churches in the county.
Village of Nickerson
This little village is located in section 13 of Nickerson Township, and
was platted January 13, 1871, by John I. Blair, for the railroad company.
The land was originally purchased from the United States by Henry
Depew. It was sold for taxes and the man Herman who bid it in sold to
the railroad company for $500.
The earliest attempt at business at this point was about 1872, when
the nearby farmers formed an association and handled grain from a ware-
house they erected. Soon thereafter, a postoffice was established and
among the early postmasters in charge were O. B. Rippy, R. B. Schneider,
W. H. Havens and George E. Herman.
O. B. Rippy opened a general store about 1872. The first black-
smith was Adam Niece, who built a shop in 1887. He sold to "Cal"
Lehnier and he, in turn, to Charles Ladd, whose father was an early
settler in Washington County.
The grain and stock business finally passed into the hands of W. R.
Wilson, and the Nye, Schneider Company got the business in 1888.
R. M. Havens opened a hotel in 1876.
A beer saloon was started early in the history of the village by Christ
Basel, but finally he moved his "place" to Hooper.
In the summer of 1892 the commercial interests of Nickerson were:
Lumber and Grain — The Nye, Schneider Company.
General Dealers — W. H. Bruner, N. J. Lefiler and H. E. Heimbaugh.
Blacksmithing — Ladd Brothers.
In the spring of 1892 a fire destroyed a greater part of the business
houses.
Schools and Churches
From the platting of Nickerson up to 1883 the scholars from this
locality had to attend school at the district building a mile to the west
of the village. (See educational chapter.)
The Methodist people built the first church building, the same cost
$1,300. (See church chapter.)
Present Village of Nickerson
In the summer of 1920 the commercial and other interests of the
village were as follows:
General Merchandise — Seidel-Anderson Company, Farmers' Co-oper-
ative Association.
Implements — Freeman Brothers.
Garage — Freeman Brothers.
Grain Elevator — Farmers' Co-operative Association.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 253
Pool Hall — Ross Wickersham.
Hotel — The Havens.
Lumber and Coal — Nye, Schneider Fowler Company, Farmers' Co-
operative Association.
Banks — First Bank of Nickerson, Farmers & Merchants Bank.
Hardware and Coal — Same as lumber dealers.
Jeweler — A. B. Crocker.
Barber — John Litz.
Postmaster — C. M. Ward, with one rural free delivery route.
Physicians — Dr. R. C. Byers.
Nickerson was incorporated October, 1910, and among the various
village officials may be recalled: H. J. Sidner, 1910-13; Calvin Spangler,
1913-18; A. P. Coulter, 1918; all having been chairmen of the village
board. The village clerks have included: C. M. Ward, J. C. Brown,
W. L. Seidel and A. P. Coulter.
CHAPTER XXV
CUMING TOWNSHIP
Description — Boundaries — Population — Nationality of People —
Railways — Homesteaders — First Settlement — First and Early
Events — Pioneer Schools and Churches — Village of Scribner
— Business Interests — 1920 Commercial Directory — Municipal
History — Water Works — Postoffice History — Price of Farm
Lands Today — Public Library.
In the northern tier of civil townships of Dodge County is Cuming,
which constitutes all of Congressional Township 20, range 7, east, hence
is six miles square. It is south of the Cuming County line ; west from
Logan, north from Everett and east from Pebble Township. In 1890
this township had a population of 715; in 1900 it had 1,514, including
the Village of Scribner ; in 1910 it was placed by the United States census
as only 1,488, including Scribner. The figure's for the present (1920)
census have not yet been made public. This subdivision of Dodge County
is highly developed by a thrifty set of people, many of whom are foreign
born. Many of the early homesteaders laid well the foundations for the
present prosperity. They came to a wild, prairie land where nothing had
been done to make the scene attractive, save that which Nature had
bestowed in the way of wild grass and sweet-scented flowers. It took
many years of hard toil upon the part of this band of sturdy pioneers
to bring about the scenes and intrinsic value found in the domain today.
The Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railway crosses the south-
west corner of the township, Scribner being the enterprising station
point. Cuming Creek and the Elkhorn River course through the town-
ship, affording an excellent drainage and water system.
The only town or village within its borders is the Village of Scribner,
of which more is given later.
First Settlement
There were no such things as a government homestead until 1864,
hence the earliest to locate within Cuming Township could not avail
themselves of such free lands, but had to purchase at government price.
The first man to brave the dangers and hardships of frontier life here
was B. B. Moore, who with his family came in 1856, locating near
Dead Timber. Among the next to settle was James B. Robinson, who
claimed land at first in section 21. Subsequently, he became the pro-
prietor of Pebble Creek Roller Mills. Still later he was connected with
the Scribner State Bank. His settlement dated from 1859. His brother,
William Robinson, came the same year, and remained until 1869, when
he moved to Pebble Township and there made an excellent farm home,
which today is worth htmdreds of dollars per acre.
Thomas Parks and his son, S. B. Parks, came in from Galena, Illi-
nois, prior to the Civil war. Thomas remained two years, moved away,
but in 1870 returned again. S. B. Parks entered lands amounting to over
1,000 acres, with College scrip which he possessed.
Before the year 1870, these elTected a settlement in this township:
E. C. Burns (who later served as postmaster at Scribner) came in 1869,
254
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 255
locating in the west half of the northeast quarter of section 28, where
he farmed until 1888, then moved to Scribner to educate his children.
W. L. Golder also came in 1869, settling in section 16. but later availed
himself of the homestead act, as applied to returned Civil war soldiers.
His claim was in section 30. After a number of years there he retired
at Scribner.
James Booth, section 20. came in 1868. as did George Romberg, both
entering land in section 22.
J. G. Meyer settled in section 26 in 1869; he was from Germany
and came to the country without means and by utilizing the chances
given to foreigners, he became wealthy in a few years.
Section 10 was settled and developed largely by Germans who immi-
grated here in 1869. This colony included such stalwart pioneers as
Fred Lucking, A. Van Seggan and A. Gross, all locating on good lands
in sections 10 and 3.
J. C. Seeley, who had lived near Fontanelle since 1856. at the close
of the Civil war, settled in section 9 of this township.
Sometime during the '60s William Meyer located in section 30. His
father and family came at the same time and all took homesteads.
In 1868 Christian F. Miller settled on the northwest of section 34.
About this time other immigrants came to this township as follows :
Christian Matwick. section 32 ; Cleister Kow, in the same section ; Louis
Swartz, section 18; Wesley A. Conley, section 18; Edward Conley,
George Conley. A. H. Briggs. John C. Briggs. William Matson. A. Wil-
kinson. Newton Pitzer. Hal Christy. Lawrence Skibowsky. John Dren-
gus, Joseph Beck, G. W. French, Henry Munke. Otto Pribno, William
E. Gammage.
D. Maynard, of section 6, made his settlement in April, 1872, when
he became a homesteader.
Frank Brezina homesteaded land in this township in 1876. Later he
conducted a hotel at both Scribner and Fremont.
Thomas Hall, deceased many years ago. was among the homesteaders
of 1870 and died on his farm in 1887.
Herman Suhr, who later engaged in the farm implement business at
the Village of Scribner. became a permanent resident of Cuming Town-
ship in the autumn of 1871 — year of the Chicago fire.
John Romberg and Christ M. Sasse located in the township in 1868.
Among the settlers recalled as having arrived in 1869. was Gerhard
H. Heyne, who located in section 25. but later went to section 24. A Ger-
man settler named Gerhard Rastede took land in section 27 of this town-
ship about that ciate. too.
First and Early Events
Galena postoffice was established at the house of J. B. Robinson late
in the '60s. S. B. Parks was commissioned postmaster and held the office
many years and was succeeded by Mrs. Mary S. Dentler, who conducted
it until it was discontinued when the railroad was completed through the
country.
The first settler was B. B. Moore and family in 1856.
The first child born was J. H. Robinson in 1868.
The first death in the township was J. B. Robinson in 1864.
The earliest marriage was that of S. B. Parks and Mary E. Robinson
in 1864.
The first religious services were conducted by the Methodist people
in 1870-71.
256 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
The pioneer school was taught by Mrs. Mary E. Parks, wife of S. B.
Parks, at her own house in the summer of 1871. A schoolhouse was
erected in 1873 in the northeast quarter of section 28.
The Village of Scribner
This incorporated place is centrally located in Dodge County, is an
important station-point on the former Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Val-
ley system of railway (now Chicago & Northwestern), twenty-four
miles northwest of Fremont. It is also a junction point of the main line
and the Albion branch of this railroad; is situated in section 30, town-
ship 20, range 7, east.
Pebble was platted in September, 1870, in section 36, of the same
Congressional township with the view of securing the coveted railroad,
Business Street, Scribner
but its proprietors were unsuccessful in their attempt. Scribner was
platted in December, 1870, by John I. Blair, president of the Railroad
Company.
The population of Scribner in 1890 was 664; in 1900 it was 827; in
1910 it had increased to 891 and its present population is 1,100. Its
population is a mixed one, but largely German. Of its excellent schools,
churches and lodges other special topics in this volume will treat at length
under their respective headings.
The first building on the town site was raised in the autumn of 1873
by John Rochford. It was a frame building 22 by 40 feet and was at
first used as a residence, but later as a barber shop.
Of the pioneer hotel of Scribner let it be stated that it was known as
the Clifton House : was built in the summer of 1874 by George Horton.
He soon sold to Mrs. Culver, who a year later sold to August English.
Early in the '90s it was closed, another better planned hotel having been
erected.
The first store in Scribner was the general merchandise stock car-
ried by Gustaf C. Kerkow, later a worthy county clerk of Dodge County.
The harness business was first represented in Scribner by L. H. NefiF
about one year after the town was started. He continued until 1885
when he sold to F. A. Schulz.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 257
Among other "first events" should be the recording of the birth of
Emma Spear, daughter of Lewis Spear and wife, of Scribner.
In 1883 one of the largest flouring mills in Dodge County was put in
operation, the same having a capacity of 100 barrels per day. This was
built by John M. Diels.
Business Interests of 1892
From a publication known as the "History of the Elkhorn Valley,"
published in 1892, the manuscript of which was submitted to competent
local committees and by them approved, gives the following as the busi-
ness interests at Scribner the summer of that year:
Agricultural Implements — Schnack & Suhr, Sullivan & Boll. Attor-
neys— A. H. Briggs. Banks — Scribner State Bank, Merchants & Farmers
Bank. Blacksmiths — Solomon Spangler, C. White. Creamery — By a
stock company. Drugs — A. Lendnicky, Herbenthall & Priess. Furni-
ture— C. T. Horton. General Stores — G. J. Milligan, W. Drucker & Co.,
Gus Martens, F. A. Huston, K. A. Horwich. Hardware — William Gar-
danier, C. W. Marquedt. Harness Shops — F. A. Schulz and E. A. Nason.
Hotels — Clifton, Windsor. Jewelers — J. A. Nason. Lumber — Crowell
Lumber Company, J. W. Diels. Livery — W. A. King, William Becker.
Millinery — Mrs. W. E. Royce. Meat Markets — Ehler Brothers. Milling
— ^J. M. Diels, Steam Roller Mill. Photographic Studio — Fritz & Good.
Physician — Dr. Charles Inches. Newspaper — Scribner News. Societies
— Modem Woodmen, Masonic and Grand Army of the Republic.
The Present (1920) Commercial Affairs
Agricultural Implements — J. O. Milligan, Jr., John Themess, Sol
Spangler.
Auto Garages — Service Garage, Nast & Themes, Scribner Garage,
White Front.
Auto Dealers — August Shellenberg.
Banks — First National, Scribner State Bank and Farmers State Bank.
Barber Shops — A. B. Roberston, C. H. Reimers.
Bakeries — Ed Shornshor.
Blacksmith Shops — Henry Polster, Fred Harmel.
Clothing (Exclusive) — John Moller.
Cream Stations — Produce and cream by Emil Follgner, E. Hubler.
Cement Blocks — Gus Koplin.
Drugs — Peterson Drug Store, Guy L. Thompson.
Dentists— Dr. B. Davis, Dr. B. Krajicek.
Elevators — Farmers' Co-operative Company, Mercantile Company
and the Crowell Grain and Lumber Company.
Furniture — Arthur Furniture Company.
Flouring Mills — Farmers' Co-operative Milling Company.
General Stores — J. O. Milligan, Jr., Peoples' Co-operative Store, J. F.
Drenguis Company.
Hotel— The Miller.
Picture Shows — "Crystal" Theater.
Hardwares — F. H. Ranslem & Son, Fred E. Romberg.
Jewelry — Fred Dietz.
Lumber — Same as grain dealers.
Meat Markets — Ferdinand Sievers, John Ehlers.
Milling — Co-operative Farmers' Company.
258 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Newspaper — The Rustler.
Opera House — L. L. Soils.
Physicians — Drs. G. Bartlett, E. L. Hustead.
Photographic Studio — William Fahk.
Plumbing — Scribner Plumbing and Heating Company.
Restaurant — Mrs. Margaret Kunce, Ed Shomshor.
Shoe Repairs — Fred Meyer.
Veterinary— Dr. Behnard Witt.
Ice Dealer — Scribner Ice and Light Company.
Harness — William Baits.
Wagon Shop— George Stockamp.
Municipal History
In 1882 Scribner was incorporated as a village and down to and
including the year 1891, the following were elected as its municipal
officers :
1882— John M. Diels, Daniel McBain, Will Hassen, trustees; L. H.
Neff, clerk.
1883— J. L. Baker (chairman), J. A. Nason, C. T. Horton, William
Kerkow, James Booth, trustees ; L. H. Neff, clerk.
1884 — J. A. Nason (chairman), R. C. Hassen, Ernest Borkenhagen,
E. Kerkow, A. Berry, trustees : L. H. Neff, clerk.
1885— J. L. Bak€r, J. O. Milligan, James Booth (chairman), G. A.
Diels, R. Dirshaus, trustees: L. H. Neff, clerk.
1886 — Henry Schnack, John C. Seeley, W. B. Gardanier (chairman),
R. Drishaus, N. A. Hagenstine, trustees ; L. H. Neff, clerk.
1887 — A. H. Briggs, H. Schnack, N. A. Hagenstine, August J. Albers,
R. Drishaus, trustees ; F. A. Schulz, clerk.
1888— C. L. Horton (chairman), S. B. Parks, H. Schnack, F. A.
Schulz, Peter Bowen, trustees ; W. B. Gardanier, clerk.
1889— E. F. Blumer, S. B. Parks, Henry Schnack, C. W. Marquedt,
E. C. Burns (chairman), trustees; W. K. Fowler. Jr., clerk.
1890— E. F. Blumer, S. B. Parks, H. Schnack, J. P. Smith (chair-
man), H. Suhr, trustees; L. A. Seeley, clerk.
1891 — James Booth, J. H. Clausen (chairman), J. M. Diels, John
H. Jones, Peter Preiss, trustees ; W. H. Weeks, clerk.
From 1891 to the present time the chairmen or mavors have been:
1892— Hal Christy; 1893— Hal Christy; 1894— Hal Christy; 1895 to
1906, : 1907— Alex Ross; 1908— Alex Ross; 1909— Alex Ross;
1910 — Fred Volpp, who served until 1917, when Charles Arnot served
during the terms of 1917-18; the next was Henry Nast, present mayor.
The Clerks have been since 1891 : W. K. Fowler, Jr., to 1894 ; Frank
Diels from 1894 to 1895; Hal Christy from 1895 to 1917, when Henry
Buehring was elected and is still serving as village clerk.
The present (1920) villiage officers are as follows: Mayor — Henry
Nast ; Clerk — Henry Buehring ; Treasurer — Hal Christy ; Marshal —
G. M. Mass; Trustee — Henry Nast (chairman), J. O. Milligan, Jr.,
Ernest Dau, Fred Volpp, Hans Bowl.
The vote on waterworks and city building propositions was in 1906,
when it was carried and such improvements were instituted. At first
the improvements included a gas plant, which was conducted till the
present private corporation was organized by home capital, and now
electric light and a "municipal" ice plant are in successful operation.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 259
The water wells for the waterworks system are four in number
and run from 67 to 72 feet deep and land in the strata of gravel, which
gives a superior quality of water.
Here also finds a beautiful park, though only partly improved as
yet. The public library of the place is supported by state and county
tax.
Farm lands in the neighborhood of Scribner range from $275 to
$400.
PosTOFFiCE History
A postoffiice was established at Scribner in the fall of 1874. with
William B. Gardanier as postmaster. He was succeeded November
25, 1885, by Jesse A. Nason and he by Edward C. Burns. Since then
the postmasters have included the following: Gus Martens, R. H. Schur-
man, James M. Beaver and present postmaster, Arthur G. Schoeneck,
who was appointed June, 1914. It is now a third-class office and has
five rural routes, ranging from twenty-five to thirty miles in length.
In August, 1880, Scribner became a money order office, the first
order being issued to Alvira Barge, August 2, 1880, in favor of Doyl^
& Adolph, of New York.
CHAPTER XXVI
COTTERELL TOWNSHIP
Its Boundary — Population — Pioneer Settlement— Once Included
Village of North Bend — General Natural Features and Pres-
ent Condition of Township.
This subdivision of Dodge County comprises all of Congressional
township 18, range 8 east, and about all of the north half of township
17, of the same range. It is bounded on the north by Ridgeley Town-
ship, on the east by Maple and Platte townships, on the south by the
south bank of Platte River and on the west by Union Township.
The Town of North Bend, second largest in Dodge County, once
within Cotterell civil township. From an early day in the county's
history, this subdivision was included in North Bend precinct, but upon
the date of "Township Organization" in 1886, the division was made.
The present townships of Cotterell and Union were both a part of
North Bend precinct.
But few, if indeed any, portion of Dodge County can boast of better
soil and improvements that Cotterell, in which township there is but
a very small amount of land that can truthfully be classed as "waste
land."
Population
The United States census reports give the population of this town-
ship in 1890 as 701 ; in 1900 as 1,194, and in 1910 as 831. The change
in extent of territory accounts for the decrease in population largely.
Pioneer Settlement
The township was named for its first settler — Hon. M. S. Cotterell.
In company with James Humphrey, Alexander Morrison and John M.
Smith, he came from Ohio and the party brought a steam saw mill in
with them. Mr. Cotterell claimed a half section of land, including that
upon which North Bend now stands. Other members of the party
located across the line, west, in Union Township. The date of this set-
tlement was 1857.
In 1858 came George O. Dodge, of section 11. He came in com-
pany with his father, and they soon went back to their native country —
New England. He enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil con-
flict and did not return to this township until 1866.
During 1858 another settlement was effected by James Sloss, who
entered a quarter section of land near North Bend, he being among
the first to make actual improvements in Cotterell township. In 1880
he moved to the village of North Bend, leading a semi-retired life,
although he had a landed estate in 1892 amounting to 1,100 acres.
Richard Hooper came in the spring of 1858 and entered a quarter
section of wild land four miles northwest of Fremont. Subsequently
he took land near Scribner and at other points in Dodge County. He
died July 13, 1887.
260
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 261
Robert McVicker, later a loan and insurance agent in North Bend,
arrived in Dodge County in the spring of 1864, purchasing a quarter
section of land two miles east of the village of North Bend. In 1875
he removed to Peru, Nebraska, lived there till 1885, when he engaged
in business at North Bend.
A portion of section 11 was taken up by E. J. Howe, and in the
spring of 1866 came Patrick O'Connor to section 22. He and his wife
boarded some of the railroad hands in a sod shanty. In 1868 he took
a homestead, to which he removed in 1869 and later owned considerable
more land.
The same year last named came Thomas F. Keeton. who taught
school in the winter of 1866-67. He was variously engaged and finally
in 1889 was made the manager of the Farmers' Co-operative Associa-
tion at North Bend.
A tree-claim and homestead was taken in section 14 in 1867 by
John P. Eaton.
Thomas J. Cotterell, a carpenter, came to Dodge County in June,
1867. He was the son of a shipbuilder and was a soldier in the Union
ranks in Civil war days. Later he settled in North Bend Villiage.
Another who made his settlement here in 1867 was Andrew M.
Jackson of section 30. The same time came Jacob Miller, who located
at Fremont, started a blacksmith's shop and conducted it three years,
then went to his farm in section 10, of Cotterell Township.
William J. Gregg located in this township in section 17, in 1867,
remained some time with his uncle M. S. Cotterell, and followed school
teaching winters. He pre-empted a quarter of section 8 in 1869 and
later bought forty acres of land adjoining it.
Another settler should here find prominent mention — Charles R.
Ogilvie is referred to. He was later of the firm of Cusack and Ogilvie.
He came to this county in April, 1868, and worked at railroading for
two years. He then spent many years in the far away West and fol-
lowed railroading until 1885, then engaged in the newspaper business
on the "Flail" in company with C. W. Hyatt. He sold out his interest
in 1887 and became the manager of the Farmers Elevator Co.
In 1868, in the spring, came John Tym to section 4. He home-
steaded land in this township and later purchased more adjoining it.
John Haun, of section 2, settled in 1868 and became a prominent
fanner.
Archibald H. Elson first claimed land on the low flats in Cotterell
Township in the autumn of 1868, where he homesteaded, but later
changed for land in section 8, where he died in January, 1891, an hon-
ored and successful citizen.
Leander Smith dated his settlement in Cotterell Township from the
spring of 1869, when he homesteaded eighty acres.
In 1872 John T. Zorn arrived in the township with his parents and
located in section 13. In 1876 he went to work for himself and farmed
four years in Platte Township, when he bought a farm of his own.
C. W. Hyatt settled on wild land north of the village in North
Bend in 1873 but only remained there two seasons.
The same season came George Faist to section 11.
Thomas Acom settled in Cotterell Township in the spring of 1873,
and claimed land in section 9, township 17, range 6.
George Mittonberger settled in the spring of 1878 in section 6,
remained there seventeen years, when he traded it for a ranch in Holt
County, Nebraska ; but he never moved there. He conducted a dairy
262 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
business until 1891, when he embarked in the livery business at the
Village of North Bend.
William H. Divine, section 5, came to Dodge County in the early
spring of 1879, locating and purchased over 200 acres of wild land in
Maple Creek Valley.
Later settlements were effected by Messrs. Silas M. Stanley, section
29 ; Charles High, section 28 ; Albert McGahey in section 10 ; WiUiam
Wheeler, section 9; Stedman P. Beebe, section 12, the last named locat-
ing on land of his own in 1885.
CHAPTER XXVII
PEBBLE TOWNSHIP
Location — Description — Boundary — Railroad — Population — Vil-
lages OF Crowell and Snyder — "Pebble" Now Defunct — Schools
and Churches — Milling Industry — The First Settlement of
THE Township.
On the northern boundary line of the county and the second from the
west, is Pebble Township, comprising all of Congressional township 20,
range 6, east. It is bounded on the north by Cuming County, on the east
by Cuming Township, Dodge County, on the south by Ridgeley Town-
ship and on the west by Webster Township. The two villages within this
township are Crowell and Snyder. The railroads are the main line and
Albion branch of the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley (Northwest-
ern system), which run diagonally through the township.
United States Census for Three Periods
The United States census returns for the periods of 1890, 1900 and
1910, show the following figures on this township: In 1890 it had 871
population; in 1900 it was 973 and in 1910 it was 990; the returns for
the 1920 census have not yet been compiled and made public.
First Settlement of the Township
Pebble Township is settled by a thrifty class of people of a mixed
nationality. The first to locate and make a permanent home was Daniel
Beckwith in 1868. Alexander V. Rich took land in section 14, township
20, range 6, east. He homesteaded an "eighty" and was forced to farm
a few seasons with no team but oxen and he was thankful to have a good
yoke of faithful cattle with which to turn over the virgin sod.
Another 1868 settler was W. T. Cohee, of section 2. He also drove
an ox team and owned a few head of cattle. He lived in a sod house for
two years and saw all the early-day hardships.
Frederick Molle came to the township in March, 1868, and in May
located on his homestead and lived in a dug-out. Subsequently, he
engaged in brick-making at the Village of Snyder.
John Herder, section 6, came in 1868, as did Fred G. Becker and
Ferdinand Helgenberger.
During 1869 came John N. Sommers to section 30 ; he filed on eighty
acres of government land and within a dozen years became a well-to-do
farmer.
Charles C. Sievers, section 20, came to the county in October, 1869,
remained one winter at his brother's in Ridgeley Township, and the fol-
lowing March located in Pebble Township. He was a homesteader but
later bought other lands.
Casper Gutt, section 28, made settlement here on a homestead in 1869.
Frederick Pilgrim, section 30, also came in 1869 and took a home-
stead.
263
264 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Fred Zarmsdorf, section, 20, homesteaded here in October, 1869. To
the list already given should be added the following settlers who came in
the 70s and '80s: Peter J. Flanagan, 1869-70; Herman Wolsleger, sec-
tion 21; Henry C. Martens, section 20; Charles Moehring, M. C. Blake,
August Schilling, Fred Mewis, M. Lehman, M. Fisher, John Meyer,
M. Covett, L. Kratz, L. Brunke, J. Yunck, Henry Holl, J. Durst, J. Wer-
blow, Charles Grovier, August Zahn, C. Bilke, Frank Otterman, August
Kingbaum, Fred Kingbaum, Christ Wendorf, Ludwig Englebrecht,
A. Bauman, Peter Wise, C. Dammus, H. Conrad, Carl Metschke, John
Gordon, Henry Swigar, Frank Laird, L. D. Richards, August Schultz,
Wilborn Metschke, T. W. Putnam, Fred Steinhofel, John Seeley.
Conrad Schneider came in 1880, and soon erected a mill.
The first persons married in the township were J. Burns and Mary
Wright.
Schools and Churches
In 1891 this township had seven schools, besides the village school of
Snyder.
The first churches here were the Lutheran and Roman Catholic — see
Church chapter elsewhere in this work.
An Early Milling Plant
In 1869 a flouring mill was placed in operation by J. B. Robinson and
Harvey J. Robinson on Pebble Creek and the waters of that stream pro-
pelled the machinery. It was built a mile and one-fourth from Scribner
and for years was owned by Joseph Preininger. At first it only had one
run of stone ; in 1871 a second pair of stones were placed in working order
and these served until 1886. when a new milling plant was placed on the
site of the old original mill. Ten thousand dollars worth of machinery
was purchased and the mill had a capacity of fifty barrels per day. As
the years went by this mill went out of commission, with many others in
this county.
Village of Pebble — Defunct
What was originally known as Pebble Village was platted September
6, 1870, in section 36, township 20, range 6, east. Its proprietors attempted
to induce the railroad officials to construct the railway through that point
of the county, but Scribner finally succeeded in securing the railroad. In
the '60s there had been a postoffice established at Pebble, but it was dis-
continued as soon as the railroad was completed. A general merchandise
store was about all the business interests this village ever amounted to.
Village of Snyder
Snyder is situated in section 18, township 20, range 6, east, and was
platted August 5, 1886, and is a station on the Albion branch of the
Northwestern (Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley line) seven miles
from the Village of Scribner. It was legally incorporated in 1890 and
then, according to the United States census, contained about two hundred
people. At this point a grist mill was built in 1880 by Conrad Schneider.
In 1881 a few dwellings were erected. In 1886 the grain and lumber
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 265
business was represented by Conrad Schneider and the Crowell Grain and
Lumber Company. The first general merchandise store was kept by
John Bolte in 1883. The hardware business was first represented here
by Kammiec Brothers in 1887. They sold to H. Wolslager. The first
lumber yard was established by James Jones. Mrs. Katie McGraw estab-
lished the first inn or hotel at Snyder in 1886. In 1887 Ferdinand Know-
sky started a livery business. The first to deal in drugs was William
Millenz in 1886. Conrad Schneider was first in the farm implement busi-
ness. Carl Schinkel opened a beer saloon in 1886. A meat market was
started in 1889 by Conrad Nolte.
A postofi^e was established at Snyder sometime in the '80s. with
Conrad Schneider as postmaster. In 1888 John Kemnitz succeeded him.
A roller flour mill was in operation there in the '90s ; fifty barrels was
the daily capacity of the mill.
The State Bank of Snyder was formed in 1892, commenced opera-
tions August 17, 1892, with Conrad Schneider as its president and John
Looschen, cashier.
A good public school building was erected here in 1891 at a cost of
$3,000.
Commercial Interests in 1920
Auto Garages — Seebeck Brothers, W. A. Schoeneck.
Banks — Snyder State, Farmers and Merchants.
Barbers — Bettus Siems.
Blacksmiths — Thomas Wyant.
Bakery — James Pateil.
Cream Station — Otto Blyhl.
Drugs — John Godel.
Dray and Truck Lines — Adams & Wolfe, Otto Dollmann, Jo Hall.
Elevators — Farmers Union Milling and Grain Company, Crowell
Lumber and Grain Company.
Furniture- — Stephen Ehrenberger.
General Dealers — C. J. Schneider, John Bolte & Son.
Farm Implements — C. J. Lennemann.
Hardware — William J. Wolslager.
Harness — George Stengel.
Hotel — Mrs. Prenzlow.
Ice — William Pateil.
Lumber — Farmers Union Milling and Grain Company, Crowell Lum-
ber and Grain Company.
Meat Market — William Pateil.
Milling — The Farmers Union Milling and Grain Company.
Newspaper — The Snyder Banner.
Opera Hall — The "Schneider," W. A. Schoeneck, pool hall.
Restaurant — George Stockman.
Stock Buyer — Henry Bleyhl.
Shoe Repairs — John Moench.
Tailor Shop — Kovarick & Son.
Plumber — John W. Bentz.
Painter — Ernest Roberts.
Contractor and Builder — Gottleib Hoffmann, W. C. Bohne, August
Finke.
Physicians — Dr. George Byers and Dr. Kinyoun.
266 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Lodges, Churches, Etc.
Special general county chapters treat on the churches, lodges, etc.
The churches include the Roman Catholic, Emanuel Lutheran and Saint
Peter's Lutheran denominations.
The civic societies include the Knights of Columbus, the Ancient
Order of United Workmen and Modern Woodmen of America.
The postmasters at the Village of Snyder have been as follows: Con-
rad Schneider, one of the founders of the village; Herman Wolslager,
John Cusack, Doctor Pachen, John Zeman and present postmaster, John
Bolte, Jr., since 1915.
Municipal History of the Village
Snyder was legally incorporated July 30, 1886, and the mayors have
included Conrad Schneider and John Bolte, Sr., who have usually been
in charge of the affairs of the sprightly village.
In 1912 the council published a revised ordinance book, and at that
date the village officers were : John Bolte, Sr., mayor ; Robert Frahm,
clerk: J. R. Bolte, treasurer; Albert Wolfe, marshal. Trustees: J. H.
Seebeck, Henry Schooner, William J. Wolslager and Battus Siems.
The 1920 village officers are as follows : Mayor, John Bolte. Sr. ;
clerk, Robert Frahm ; treasurer, John Bolte, Jr. ; marshal, Herman Seidel,
who also acts as street commissioner and water commissioner.
Village of Crowell
This is a small village on the line of the old Fremont, Elkhorn & Mis-
souri Valley Railroad (now Chicago & Northwestern system), in Pebble
Township. It was laid out December 22, 1883, by the Elkhorn Land
Company in sections 2 and 11, township 20, range 6, east. Before this
platted village was known, there was established to the southwest of this
point, what was styled "Oak Springs." In 1873 an office was established
three-quarters of a mile to the east of where now stands the Village of
Crowell, and its name was Crowell. The postmaster was Hamilton
McClintock, and he was succeeded by W. T. Cohee, who was postmaster
until January, 1884, and was followed by J. J. King. As soon as a station
was established and a depot erected it was named "Crowell," and the
postoffice was moved there from the Cohee farm.
The first move to developing the place was in the autumn of 1883,
when J. J. King came from Fremont and erected a frame store building
and placed on sale a stock of general merchandise.
The same fall (1883) J. L. Baker built a grain warehouse which he
continued to run until it was purchased in the spring of 1892 by the Nye,
Schneider Company.
In the fall of 1884 C. T. Pulsifer engaged in the grain trade here.
Later on he was murdered. The business changed hands several times
and in 1893 was in the hands of the Crowell Grain & Lumber Company.
A general store was opened by Fred Mundt in 1884. He was fol-
lowed by John Mundt, and he by Herman Diers, who continued in trade
many years.
Herman Diers built a hotel known as the City Hotel in the autumn of
1884. A livery barn was established in Crowell in 1884 by James Cusick.
A hardware store was built and conducted by John B. Taylor in 1884.
A blacksmith shop was started by John Harmal in the spring of 1884.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 267
A schoolhouse was moved in from the country east of Crowell in 1886.
It was first erected in 1873, north of the farmhouse of pioneer Cohee,
in the northeast quarter of section 2.
Business Interests in 1920
Crowell now has only about a hundred population and its business is
no more extensive than it was a quarter of a century ago. General mer-
chandise stores, a few small shops, etc., is all the commercial interests
amount to at present time. It affords a small trading point for the sur-
rounding farming community, but the heavier trading goes to larger
places not far distant.
CHAPTER XXVIII
WEBSTER TOWNSHIP
Location — Boundary — Railroads — Organic — Early Settlement —
Village of Dodge — Postoffice — Incorporation — Schools and
Churches — Business Development — Roller Mills — Commercial
Interests in 1920 — Population.
In the extreme northwestern corner of Dodge County is Webster
Township, comprising Congressional township 20, range 5, east, contain-
ing 23,040 acres of land. It is bounded on the north by Cuming County,
on the east by Pebble Township, on the south by Pleasant Valley Town-
ship and on the west by Colfax County. The Albion branch of the
Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad traverses its territory,
with a station in the northwest corner of the township known as the Vil-
lage of Dodge.
Population
The United States census reports for three enumeration periods gave
the population of the township as follows: In 1890 it was 1,227, inclu-
sive of the Village of Dodge, which at that time had a population of 338.
The 1900 census, 1,393, and in 1910 it was given as only 1,342. The
present census is not yet reported.
Organic
The township was organized as a district precinct by the County
Board of Commissioners in 1870, but its present boundary lines were not
fixed until 1886, when its territory was cut down to conform to the town-
ship plan of surveys — six miles square.
Early Settlement
As bounded now, the first settlement in Webster Township was
effected by a few Bohemians, Polanders and Germans, in the northern
part of the township.
D. C. Westfall came from Illinois in 1871 and took a homestead in
section 34 and lived there until 1889, then moved to the "Dodge Farm"
in Pleasant Valley Township. Henry Hensel came in at the same date.
J. B. Imsieke located in 1869. Another pioneer of that date was
V. Wensel in section 34. Henry Kopitschka, section 20, settled in 1869
and about the same time came John Schodenick, V. Herman, Patrick
Delaney, John Schwanke, M. Militz, H. Vakenir, Ernest Busch, James
Glenn and others.
Anton Bartosh was among the very earliest pioneers to make a home
within the township.
Joseph Brodhun came in 1870, and located in section 6. Later he was
associated with the Farmers State Bank at Dodge.
Andrew R. Hasson first located in Pleasant Valley where he home-
steaded, but later moved to this township and was postmaster at the Vil-
lage of Dodge.
268
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 269
Charles G. Williams, of section 22, came to this county in 1879 and
purchased eighty acres of wild prairie land where he made a comfortable
home. James B. Vickery in section 31, came to the township in 1881,
and the following season came his neighbors, John Forney and James
M. Atkinson.
The first term of school was taught in a sod house belonging to
Andrew Derick, in section 26. (See Educational chapter for further
school history.)
The first church in the township was the Lutheran Church in section
14. (See Church chapter.)
Glencoe postofiice was the first established in Webster Township, the
date being 1871 and the location section 34. It was named for the early
settler, James Glenn, who was its postmaster for twenty-one years, and
conducted a general store for a like period.
Ogan postoffice was established in 1887 in section 30. This office was
discontinued in 1891 ; its postmaster was George Whitmore.
Village of Dodge
The Village of Dodge is situated in section 8, township 20, range 5,
east, and was platted August 10, 1886. This is an enterprising little sta-
tion point of the Albion branch of the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Val-
ley Railroad. The place is surrounded by a handsome, fertile farming
district, the original population of which were German and Bohemian.
In 1900 the place had a population of 338, in 1905 it was 554, and in 1910
it was placed at 661. As early as 1892 it was an excellent trading point,
had a fine roller flouring mill, and handled much grain, live stock and
lumber.
A postoffice was established at Dodge more than a mile to the east, in
1872, with Antone Bartosch as postmaster. When the railroad was com-
pleted the ofike was re-established at the new village platting. The first
to hold the postoffice — Antone Bartosch— held the office until 1889. when
he was succeeded by R. Hasson. The office was made a money order
office in April, 1892. Other postmasters have been as follows: The
present postmaster, O. A. Stemkraus, was appointed January 1, 1920.
There are three rural routes ranging from twenty-six to twenty-nine
miles each. This is now a third-class postoffice.
Village Incorporation History
Dodge became an incorporated village April 19, 1887. The following
were members of the village board until 1892:
1887— Charles Woodruff (chairman), Fred Schreiber, G. M. Wil-
liams, A. Steuf er, Charles Hrabak, trustees ; W. Hatton, clerk.
1888 — Fred Schreiber (chairman), A. Steufer, W. C. Gorman,
Charles Woodruff, Charles Hrabak, trustees ; S. Lant, clerk.
1889— W. B. Gardanier (chairman), Charles Hrabak, V. J. Yunek,
August Kurz, A. F. Steufer, trustees ; Charles Woodruff, clerk.
1890 — Charles Hrabak, A. F. Steufer (chairman), Herman Holstein,
August Kruz, Charles Woodruff, trustees ; G. W. Roas, clerk.
1891 — A. R. Hasson (chairman), August Kurz, Joseph Brodhun,
L. W; Schlote, H. Quesner, trustees; G. W. Roas, clerk.
1891— L. J. Roubinek, A. R. Hasson, C. A. Manville, W. Hatton, W.
A. Blynn, trustees.
(The records are missing from 1892 to 1898.)
270 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
1898— L. J. Roubinek, mayor; A. J. Hasson, clerk. 1899— L. J.
Roubinek, chairman ; Robert Reed, clerk. 1900 — L. J. Roubinek, chair-
man ; Robert Reed, clerk. 1901 — L. J. Roubinek, chairman ; Robert Reed,
clerk. 1902 — Herman Holstein, chairman ; Robert Reed, clerk. 1903 —
L. J. Roubinek, chairman ; Robert Reed, clerk. 1904- — Robert Reed,
chairman ; E. P. Popelar, clerk. 1905 — F. G. Kloke, chairman ; E. P.
Popelar, clerk. 1906— F. G. Kloke, chairman ; F. R. Beebe, clerk. 1907
— C. W. Hepburn served as chairman until 1912, and James H. Hook
served as clerk from 1907 to 1918, when he was succeeded by A. J.
Miller, and he in 1918 by the present clerk. Will S. Derr. In 1912 F. J.
Srb was elected chairman and served one year and was succeeded by
A. Schloser, who in turn in 1917 was succeeded by Thomas Vogtlane
and he was followed in 1920 by J. F. Reznicek.
In 1905 the village voted on a proposition to bond for water works
and electric lights. The proposition was carried and bonds for $8,000
were issued and bonds for $2,000 issued for an electric light plant, since
which time the village has had these modern improvements.
In 1895 it appears from an ordinance book that the chairman was
Henry Starmer and the village clerk was then C. C. Whipps.
First and Early Business Interests
The first business house to open its doors in the Village of Dodge
was that of Hilligan & Hrabak, the same being a fair-sized general store.
In 1891 this firm built a fine two-story block and continued their business
in that.
The first hotel was the Commercial House, built in September, 1886,
by W. Krull.
The earliest drug store was that of Dr. Edward Persons.
G. M. Armbruster opened the first hardware of Dodge and George
Woytcke was the first blacksmith.
A livery barn was opened for business by A. F. Steufer.
The Crowell Lumber and Grain Company was first to operate in
Dodge.
The Congregational denomination was the first to build a church
edifice in the village.
In 1887 a large frame hall was erected by Charles Gohr, known as
Bohemian Hall.
Grand Army of the Republic was organized here as Post 326, April
12, 1892, by seventeen ex-Civil war soldiers as charter members. They
kept the camp-fires burning as long as they had a quorum.
For an account of the banks and newspapers, the lodges, etc., see spe-
cial chapters for the entire county on these topics.
Dodge Village Conditions in 1920
In the summer of 1920 the following were the business factors of the
Village of Dodge :
Agricultural Implements (with furniture) — J. F. Yunek. Auto
Garages — D. M. Hook, H. Parr, J. G. Vosacek. Banking — First National,
and State Bank. Barbers— F. }. Stener and J. W. Ralston. Black-
smiths— G. W. Hormel. Bakery — J. F. Mlnarik. Cream dejders —
Farmers Union, A. Kurtz, J. M. Patterson. Drugs — J. W. Bobisud, V. C.
Johnson. Elevators — Nye, Schneider. Fowler Company, Crowell Lumber
and Grain Company, Farmers Union Grain and Lumber Company. Fumi-
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 271
ture — F. J. Srb. General dealers — Ryan & Co., Farmers Union Com-
pany, and J. F. Reznicek. Hardware— J. C. Nitz, Musil & Weidner.
Harness — Ben Leham. Ice Dealers — (see Meat Markets). Millinery —
Mrs. W. S. Derr. Jeweler — A. Schlosser. Meat Markets— R. J.
Zaloudek and Fred Dramel. Newspaper — The Criterion, McFarland &
Son. Restaurant — William Parr, F. J. Steiner, V. J. Yunek, Jo Bicak,
J. F. Mlnarik. Stock Dealer — William Schulte. Veterinary Surgeon —
Dr. J. S. Karnik. Pliysicians — Doctors Guidinger, F. B. Patterson.
Photographer — C. Brazda.
The churches include the German Catholic, German Lutheran, the
Baptist and Congregational denominations.
CHAPTER XXIX
ELKHORN TOWNSHIP
This civil township derives its name from the fact that its eastern
border is washed by the waters of the Elkhorn River. It is situated in
the extreme southeastern part of the county, and comprises parts of
ranges 8 and 9 in township 17. On its north is Nickerson Township and
Washington County; on the east is Washington County; on the south is
Douglas County, and on the west is Platte Township. Originally, the
boundary line between this township and Washington County was the
Elkhorn River, but by an act of the Legislature in 1875, it was changed
to conform to section Hnes regardless of the river, as it made great trou-
ble in the assessment of lands.
Several small lakes, fed by living springs, are found in this township.
Here are to be found fish, especially the wall-eyed pike species.
Rawhide Creek courses through this township, entering from the west
in section 18, township 17, range 10, flowing southeasterly three miles
and then empties into the Elkhorn River. The topography of this por-
tion of Dodge County is quite flat, as the bottom lands divide the Platte
and Elkhorn rivers.
The railroads are the Union Pacific and the Chicago & Northwestern
railways.
The population of the township in 1890 was 412; in 1900 it was 513,
but in 1910 it had fallen oflf to 442. The present census returns (1920)
have not yet been made public, but probably will show little increase.
Original Settlement
The following is an account of many persons who came to this town-
ship for the purpose of making a permanent settlement between 1856
down to 1887, when the territory was well taken by actual settlers.
Elkhorn Township was first settled by Thomas Lee in 1856. He
located in the northwest quarter of section 19, and there built him a
cabin. At that place he lived about twenty-five years and then moved
to Wahoo, where he soon died.
Albert Johnson, of section 19, township 17, range 9, came to Dodge
County in the fall of 1857 and made a settlement and later became
prominent in the development of his part of Dodge County. He worked
at the carpenter's trade in New York until 1877, then had made enough
to come back and make the desired improvements on his land in this
township.
John A. Close, Union soldier of the Civil war from Wisconsin, after
that great conflict had ended sold his property in Wisconsin and moved
to section 26 of Elkhorn Township, Dodge County, Nebraska.
In 1863 Elijah G. Brugh, later of Fremont, came in 1863 to this county
and was then but a sixteen-year old lad. He followed freighting across
the western plains for four years, at a time when all was wild and dan-
gerous. After having his fill of such a life he settled down on his land
which was then all covered with a luxuriant growth of prairie grass.
Joseph Snyder, of section 16, came to Dodge County in the winter of
1865, establishing the first shoe shop in Fremont. Eight years later he
272
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 273
bought his farm, going direct from the shoe shop to the plow field, where
he made a successful and worthy farmer.
Section 14 was originally settled in by Montgomery Pollock, who
came here in 1866. A part of his land he purchased and another portion
he got through the United States liberal homestead law.
George Close came into section 25, in 1867, accompanied by his par-
ents. He remained at home until he was of age, and then bought and also
homesteaded land of his own.
Adam Hindmarsh, of section 19, settled here in 1869, first living
fifteen years in section 30, then sold out, moving to section 19.
Another settler in section 16 was William H. Hawley, who came in
1871. He located at Fremont as a contractor and builder. He com-
menced his farming operations in 1880.
About 1870-71 a colony of Scandinavians located in the eastern part
of Elkhom Township. This company was made up mostly of home-
steaders, and as soon as they proved upon their lands, sold out and
relocated in Burt County, near Oakland, on account of better religious
privileges. Among this colony was Jonas Johnson, who remained ten
years, took a homestead and bought other pieces of land.
At the same time came John Johnson, settling on the west half of
the northwest quarter of section 30, township 17, range 10.
Andrew Johnson homesteaded a part of section 26, sold and bought in
section 25, later owned by George Close.
William Harkness was another early settler. He came to section 24,
township 17, range 9, and homesteaded in 1866.
John N. Foye homesteaded in 1866, proved up and left the county.
Joseph Lamberson settled in section 33-17-9 on July 4, 1866, and died
in 1880.
F. G. Parcell located in section 15 at Parcell's Lake.
John Castle homesteaded in section 30, township 17, range 10, about
1869. He died on his place in 1877.
Mrs. R. A. Cottle, of section 30, township 17, range 9, was ^mong
the very earliest pioneers of the township. Her husband operated the old
stage station on the military road which passed her house. It was also
an old freight ranch and had much interesting history connected with it.
Isaiah Crist, section 36, came to Dodge County in 1872 and took
eighty acres of wild land.
Charley Johnson, of section 11, came to the township in 1874. At
first he worked by the month a year or more, then rented land, and was
driven from the farm by the ravages of the grasshoppers and went to
Fremont and clerked in a store. Later he returned to his farm which
finally consisted of a half section.
Other settlers were Samuel C. Wynn, section 28; Bertel Frandssen,
section 22 ; first located in Fremont where he engaged in the dyeing busi-
ness. Two years later he took up a homestead ; also Gustavius G. Going,
of section 33, came to this county in 1880. He located in Fremont and
handled cattle, later engaging in the restaurant business.
The schools and churches of this part of Dodge County are men-
tioned in special chapters on such subjects elsewhere in this volume.
An Omaha man named Fauss came to this township and undertook
to excavate a canal, and utilize the water power of the Elkhorn River for
the purpose of operating a mill for grain grinding. But for various rea-
sons this seemingly worthy enterprise failed to materialize.
CHAPTER XXX
HOOPER TOWNSHIP
Its Boundary — Description • — Population — Organization — Rail-
roads— First Settlement — Later Settlers — Village of Hooper
— Business Beginnings — Original Flour Mill — Commercial In-
terests, 1920 — Municipal History — Waterworks.
On the east line of Dodge County and the second from the northern
line is Hooper civil township, which contains all of congressional town-
ship 19, range 8, east, or 23,040 acres of land. The township is bounded
on the north by Logan Township, on the east by Washington County, on
the south by Nickerson Township, and on the west by Everett Township.
The German element obtains almost wholly here and has from the first
settlement. The United States census in 1890 placed this township at
569 inhabitants. The same authority gave it in 1900 as 1,439, including
the two villages of Hooper and Winslow. In 1910 the population was
1,496. At the last named date the Village of Hooper had 741 and
Winslow had 99.
Organization, Railroads, Etc.
Hooper was organized into a separate precinct (as then called) very
early in the 70s. Its precinct and later its township government has
been managed fully up to the standard of other Dodge County sub-divi-
sions.
The Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad (Northwestern
System) passes through this township with stations and villages named
Hooper and Winslow. For the history of these see later.
First Settlement
The first man to locate in this township was Hiram H. Ladd, who
came to section 30, in 1856, He it was who built the first house in the
now famous Elkhorn Valley, north of Fontanelle.
The next pioneers were Jerry Denslow, Jr., accompanied by his
mother, a widow at the time, to Dodge County in 1856. The son was
only eleven years of age. The mother pre-empted a quarter section of
land at Fontanelle.
John Osterloh came to section 8 in 1858. As soon as the homestead
law came into effect in the '60s, he took him a homestead. The same
year, 1858, W. C. Hecker came to the township. He was a single man
and took eighty acres of land upon which he subsequently made excel-
lent improvements. Another settler in 1858 was Christ Henneman.
Charles Baker located in Hooper Township in the 70s. He came to
Dodge County with his parents in 1860, locating near Nickerson.
In 1861 came George Wagner to section 11.
Jacob Schwab, section 4, came in the spring of 1861 with his parents,
who settled in section 9, where the father homesteaded a quarter section
of land.
Albert Wagner came in 1861 to section 11, also Adam Schwab and
Henry Schwab, Jr.
274
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 275
In 1863 George Weigle settled on Logan Creek. He remained on
hi? farm until 1890, then moved to the Village of Hooper. At the same
time came Edward Fleischhauer and claimed land rights on Logan Creek.
Henry Busch located in section 9. He came with his father to Fon-
tanelle in 1862. Two years later Henry moved to Hooper Township.
The year 1864, first year in which homesteads were to be taken, saw
a very heavy immigration in this part of Dodge County. Oswald Ueh-
ling took his homestead that year : others settled there, including
Henry Penning, Jr., James F. Briggs, August J. Heller, Martin Luttherns,
Christ Easier, John Phelps, W. H. Patterson, G. W. Wolcott, Chris
Kroger, R. A. Calkins, William Hartung and A. Y. Sutton.
Later Settlers
While the names of all the persons who invaded this township
cannot be here named, it is certain that in addition to those already men-
tioned came Jacob Lurk. Nicholas Parkert, in 1868: Winfield S. Bishop,
1870; J. H. Caldwell, John M. Kreader and Samuel Kreader. in 1871;
Thomas Bullock, 1872; Charles Bayer, who later moved' to Hooper Vil-
lage and engaged in the pottery business; also W. H. Aldrich and
Carl Geiser, settlers in 1873.
Jacob C. Schaffer effected his settlement in the township in 1876;
Charles Diehl, of section 23, came in 1885, and later moved to Nicker-
son Township ; John Haje, section 26, moved to the township in 1890.
Great has been the transformation of the scenes of Hooper Township
since the days of the Civil war period, when all was wild and undevel-
oped. The land is all taken up and finely improved by a thrifty class of
Germans and other European peoples. The villages are enterprising,
and though not large, are just such places as farmers desire in their com-
munities. The churches, schools and all that is dear to the average father
and mother are here found in all of their latter-day excellence.
Village of Hooper
This enterprising, thrifty-going incorporation in Hooper Township
is in the eastern part of Dodge County and is within Congressional town-
ship 19, range 8, and is in sections 17 and 20. It was named for a
prominent railroad official of an early date. The winding Elkhorn River
courses its way along the eastern boundary of the village, making the
scenery really beautiful. The main portion of the place is nestled at
the foot of a high bluff. It was platted by that great "railroad king,"
Hon. John I. Blair, of New Jersey, who had so much to do with building
the Northwestern, Illinois Central Railroad, and was the president of
Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad Company.
The United States and state census reports show that its population
at various periods was as follows: In 1890 it was 670; in 1892 it had
grown to 800; in 1900 it was 840, but in the next decade it decreased to
741, but at the present it is estimated at about 1,000.
Special chapters on the schools, lodges, churches and banks of Dodge
County will contain such topics for the Village of Hooper, hence are
not further mentioned in this chapter.
Business Beginnings
Aside from the railroad depot and buildings, the first house in
Hooper was one built by Myers & Sherman in 1871, and in it was kept a
general merchandise stock for a half dozen years. In reality, the earliest
276
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
house on what became the village plat of Hooper, was that built for a
residence by O. A. Heimbaugh. This gentleman built the first grain
warehouse and started a lumber yard.
The first schoolhouse was hauled in from a district west of the village
platting.
James Caldwell was the pioneer blacksmith.
The first merchandise sold at Hooper was by George W. Pew.
Asa Briggs was the first station-master and a most capable man he
was and did much toward aiding the first business interests of rfooper.
Hotel No. 1 at Hooper was built in 1870 by August Koppelcom, and
later was styled the Tillman House.
The first exclusive hardware store was kept by Charles Eisley, in
1871. He continued until 1881 and sold to Jack Dorsey, who in turn
H.
H(
sold to A. F. Bott & Co., and finally they sold to Peague & Uehling. In
1892 the business was handled by the firm of Uehling & Monnich.
The first to handle drugs was G. S. Peyton, 1873-4. He remained
in trade until 1889.
The first furniture dealer was Charles Buchholz, in 1875.
Original Flour Mill of Hooper
The Hooper Roller Mills were first built on Logan Creek by
A. C. Briggs, but owing to the unsteady current of water, the expense
of keeping up the mill-dam, etc., it was sold to Oswald Uehling, who
moved the plant to Hooper in 1888, converting it into a roller process
mill. It had six rolls, giving a daily capacity of seventy-five barrels. It
was run by an eighty-horsepower steam engine. In 1889 a large grain
elevator was constructed alongside the mill and the two were covered
with galvanized iron sheeting. It produced large quantities of excellent
family flour that found ready sale all the year round in Dodge and
adjoining counties. This mill cost (in cheap times) $20,000.
The milling interests of Hooper are now (1920) in the hands of the
Hooper Milling & Grain Company.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 277
Commercial Interests — 1920
Agricultural Implements — A. E. Tunberg.
Auto Garages — Dau & Son, Anton Tunberg, Ewald & Schwab.
Banks — The First National and Dodge County Bank.
Barber Shops— S. L. Whitcomb, Frank A. A. Sellman, E. R. Talley.
Bakery — F. H. Crisman.
Cream Station — Peter Eberhard, C. S. Basler, manager of Beatrice
Creamery.
Cement Blocks, etc.- — Alfred Stroh.
Confectionery — R. R. Marshall, F. H. Crisman.
Drugs — L. E. Davies, E. L. Geisert.
Dentists — Drs. J. Sherman Zellers, Howard C. N. Ralp.
Elevators — Latta Grain Company, Farmers Union Co-operative Com-
pany, Nye, Schneider, Fowler Company.
Electric Light Supplies — Frank Basler.
Feed Store — Julius Bott.
Furniture — Buchholz Brothers.
Grocers (exclusive) — Peter Eberhard, Jacob Sanders.
General Dealers — H. Cullamore, A. H. Harms, Uehling & Cahoon.
Hotel — "Hooper Inn."
Hardware — Olson Hardware Companv (G. S., A. G. and O. G.
Olson), E. H. Schwab. _
Harness Shop — Martin Martinsen.
Jewelry — William M. Kusel, John Ring.
Ice Dealer — The municipal plant, called the "Hooper Ice Company."
Lumbermen — Farmers Union Co-operative Company, Nye, Schneider,
Fowler Company.
Laundry — Minnie Marlinsen.
Meat Market — R. Stroh, Uhlig Market.
Mills— Hooper Milling and Grain Company.
Millinery — Mrs. John Feinaigle.
Newspaper^Hooper Sentinel, by Herbert T. Ring.
Opera House — Tilson's Opera House, Mrs. Annie Tilson, proprietor.
Physicians — Drs. M. T. Zellers, J. Howard Heine, Clinton D. Heine,
B. B. Hauser.
Photographs — P. Traulsen.
Plumber — William Parkert.
Pantatorium — A. J. Wiswall, proprietor.
Photoplay House — Sanders & Shaffer.
Real Estate — Bernard Monnich.
Restaurant — Mrs. C. W. Tilson.
Telephone Company — The Hooper, M. E. Shipley, manager.
Tailor — J. E. Stipsky.
Veterinary — P. Simonson, Charles M. Elliott, Doctor Darling.
Other branches of trade include the "Standard" Oil Station, the
extensive brick works by the Builders Brick Manufacturing Company,
J. Schole, shoe repair shop, and Hi Hogroefe, blacksmithing, and the
new works of the Hudkins Auto Body Company. The proprietor of this
concern is Perry Hudkins. Perhaps one of the best enterprises, and the
most far-reaching in its trade, is the serum making plant near the village
and which is known far and near, through its circulars and its numerous
traveling salesmen.
278 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Municipality of Hooper
Hooper was legally incorporated and placed under a board of
trustees in October, 1876. The first board consisted of the following
gentlemen: A. D. Harwood (chairman). William Pellens. E. H. Aris,
Peter Dressen, John Beebe, trustees ; George B. Parsons, clerk. By
years the boards have been made up as follows:
1877— A. D. Harwood (chairman), William Pellens, E. H. Aris,
John Heimrich, Charles F. Eisley, Jacob Lurk, trustees; George B.
Parsons, clerk.
1878— John Heimrich (chairman), Jacob Lurk, George F. Heine,
C. F. Eisley, W. A. G. Cobb, trustees ; George B. Parsons, clerk.
1879— W. J. Smith (chairman), H. Steen, Peter Dressen, C. F.
Eisley, E. H. Aris, trustees; Goethe B. Parsons, clerk.
1880— E. Van Buren (chairman), E. H. Aris, H. Steen, George F.
Heine. C. F. Eisley. trustees: Henry H. Looschen, clerk.
1881 — E. Van Buren (chairman), E. H. Aris, C. F. Eisley, George
F. Heine, Chester L. Morse, trustees; H. H. Looschen, clerk.
1882 — O. A. Heimbaugh (chairman), John Henrich, Carl Kroeger,
C. L. Morse, Henry H. Looschen, trustees; C. C. Stanley, clerk.
1883 — O. A. Heimbaugh (chairman), John Henrich, Henry H. Loos-
chen. Carl Kroeger. E. Van Buren, trustees ; T. W. Lyman, clerk.
1884 — F. M. Tillman, chairman; A. M. Spooner, H. H. Looschen,
John Dern, John F. Heine, trustees; T. W. Lyman, clerk.
1885— Same as for 1884.
1886— F. M. Tillman (chairman), John Dern, E. H. Aris, John F.
Heine, G. S. Peyton, trustees ; W. A. Crandall, clerk.
1887— F. M. Tillman (chairman), William F. Basler, Charles Buch-
holz, John Dern, John F. Heine, trustees ; T. W. Lyman, clerk.
1888 — John F. Heine (chairman), Louis Keller, W. F. Basler,
G. Thomsen, E. Fleischhauer, trustees ; T. W. Lyman, clerk.
1889— F. M. Tillman (chairman), Ed Fleischhauer, John F. Heine,
Louis Keller, Carl Kroeger, trustees; T. W. Lyman, clerk.
1890— F. M. Tillman (chairman), Ed Fleischhauer, John F. Heine,
Louis Keller, W. S. Basler, trustees ; T. W. Lyman, clerk.
1891— J. F. Briggs, John F. Heine, Louis Keller, E. W. Renkin
(chairman) ; T. W. Lyman, clerk.
1892— John F. Heine, Louis Keller, Carl Kroeger, E. W. Renkin
{chairman). T. W. Lyman, clerk.
1893 — E. W. Renkin, chairman; H. H. Looschen, clerk.
1894 — E. W. Renkin, chairman; Henry H. Looschen.
1895 — E. W. Renkin. chairman ; Henry H. Looschen.
1896 — J. F. Heine, chairman; Henry H. Looschen.
1897 — J. F. Heine, chairman ; Henry H. Looschen.
1898 — J. F. Heine, chairman; Henry H. Looschen.
1899 — John Hough, chairman ; Henry H. Looschen.
1900 — John Hough, chairman ; Henry H. Looschen.
1901 — John Hough, chairman ; Henry H. Looschen.
1902 — John Hough, chairman ; Henry H. Looschen.
1903 — John Hough, chairman ; Henry H. Looschen.
1904 — John Hough, chairman; Henry H. Looschen.
1905 — Jacob Sanders, chairman ; Henry H. Looschen.
1906 — Jacob Sanders, chairman ; W. G. Thompson.
1907 — Jacob Sanders, chairman ; W. G. Thompson.
1908 — Jacob Sanders, chairman; W. G. Thompson.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 279
1909 — Jacob Sanders, chairman ; W. G. Thompson.
1910 — Jacob Sanders, chairman ; W. A. Hecker.
1911 — Jacob Sanders, chairman; W. A. Hecker.
1912-18 — Jacob Sanders, chairman; W. A. Hecker.
1918 — Wm. G. J. Dau, chairman; Stephen Broene.
1919 — Wm. G. J. Dau, chairman; Stephen Broene.
1920 — Perry Hudkins, mayor ; Charence Dahl.
The 1920 officers of the village are as follows : Mayor — Perry Hud-
kins ; clerk — Clarence Dahl ; treasurer — Henry Schroeder ; the above
and Edwin Edelman and William E. Frock are of the board.
The village now has an indebtedness of water bonds amounting to
$6,900; of town hall bonds, $8,000.
Electric lights are furnished by the Hooper Electric Light Company.
It is estimated carefully that the present census will give Hooper a
population of 1,000.
Waterworks «
Hooper was provided with a splendid waterworks system in 1890,
at an expense of $5,600, which was the best outlay ever made by any
corporation in the history of Nebraska. Fifty "points" or drive wells
were put in and these furnished an abundance of the purest water. A
pumping plant forced the water to a tank on the nearby bluflf, the same
having a capacity of 32,000 gallons. With a volunteer fire company of
hook and ladder the village has been safe against great fires, which was
not true prior to the construction of this practical system of waterworks.
The first five years the village had a contract with Mr. Uehling,
proprietor of the roller flouring mills, by which he furnished steam power
for forcing the water to the tank on the blufifs overlooking the village
from the west.
Village of Winslovv
Winslow was platted in 1906. Its present population is about 275.
It has a German Lutheran Church, mentioned elsewhere in detail. The
village was incorporated May 28, 1909. It has a volunteer fire depart-
ment, whose chief is now Julius Borcherbing. Electric lights are fur-
nished by the plant at Fremont. The 1920 village officers include the
following: C. J. Kruse, chairman; O. H. Black, clerk; VV. A. Lallman,
treasurer; other members of the board are H. P. Weitkamp and Fred
Borcherbing.
Commercial Interests, Etc. — 1920
Banks — The Winslow State Bank, The Farmers State Bank.
General Merchandise Stores — Lallman Brothers ; C. J. Kruse.
Grain Elevators — Farmers' Union Co-operative Association ;
Nebraska-Iowa Grain and Coal Company.
Lumber Dealers — Handled by the grain men of the village above
named.
Hardware and Furniture — H. P. Weitkamp.
Blacksmithing — Chris Martinsen.
Cream Buyers — E. M. Fletcher.
Druggists' Sundries — O. R. Marks.
Postmaster — O. R. Marks.
Garage — Schmidt & Son.
Livery and Draying— Fred Borcherbing.
Soft Drinks — Henry Kruse ; also runs a pool hall.
CHAPTER XXXI
EVERETT TOWNSHIP
Boundaries — Organic — Population — Settlement — First Events —
Schools and Churches — Postoffice — General Condition Today
— Land Values, Etc.
Everett, one of the centrally located townships of Dodge County, is
the second subdivision from the east as well as from the north side of
the county, and comprises all of Congressional township 19, range 7, east.
While it is without a village or railway station, the Northwestern (old
Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railway) traverses the territory
from the southeast to the northwest, between the stations of Hooper and
Scribner, in adjoining townships. The township is bounded by Cuming
Township on the north. Hooper on the east, Maple on the south and
Ridgeway on the west.
Organic
Everett Precinct (now township) was organized in 1871, and at that
time included much more territory than at present, its present lines being
defined in 1886, when "Township Organization" obtained in Dodge
County,
Population of Township
The population of this township at various periods has been as fol-
lows: In 1890 it had 680; in 1900 it had 612; in 1910 it had but 546.
Its 1920 figures have not yet been made public by the census enumerators.
Early Settlement
J. Monnich had the honor of being the first man to locate in Everett
Township. He came in 1857 from Iowa to Cuming County, Nebraska,
in the fall of 1856, and the next spring to this township.
A son of the first settler, Herman Monnich, located in section 1.
He took a squatter's claim in 1857 and built a log cabin which he covered
with a thatched roof. Their nearest mill was at Fort Calhoun — forty
miles away.
In 1864 came Martin Uehling, of section 2. He took land which
later made up a part of his 400 acres in one well-improved farm.
John Raasch located here in 1865.
Christopher Kroeger located in 1867 in section 3 with his parents, he
at the time being but a lad in his teens.
Peter Bodewig, of section 26, came to the township with his parents,
who were homesteaders, in 1869. The same season came John Mohr.
He homesteaded and saw many hardships. By trade he was a carpenter.
John H. Wenkel, section 14, located in 1869. John Wagner claimed
a part of the same section of land that year. John Bodewig, father of
Jacob Bodewig, purchased an eighty-acre tract of land in the township
in 1869 and improved the same.
Section 29 had for a settler in 1870, Edward Gamble ; also August
Schroeder, of section 8, was another homesteader that year.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 281
Theodore Windhausen, section 14, came in 1871. He worked by the
month for a couple of years, then purchased eighty acres of land where
he made for himself an excellent home.
John H. Dahl, section 18, came to the township in 1872. He first
located on Maple Creek, section 12, of Cotterell Township, where he
homesteaded eighty acres. He moved to another place later on.
Charles Schroeder came to section 18 in 1872.
Eighteen hundred and seventy-three found Gustaf Nast in section 10
of Ridgeway Township, where he leased land three years, then moved to
Everett township. Herman Bohling settled near Hooper, worked by
the month several years and then bought land in the township and made
a comfortable home.
James P. Lamberson settled in 1873; he worked and rented land
about ten years and then purchased a farm.
James Bradbury came to Dodge County in 1874, first locating at
Fremont, where he followed the trade of a carpenter one year, then
moved to Everett Township and there leased land three years, after
which which he purchased an eighty-acre tract.
Other pioneers in the township whose names should not be over-
looked were: Peter Eberhard, section 21, 1875; Nicholas Mohr, section
19, 1875; Martin Luttherns, section 18, 1876; James G. Gamble, 1876, to
section 27 ; Carl and Ernest Axen, two brothers, settled in section 7 in
1883. Others of an early date in the '80s were: James Murray, John
Seeley, Carl Schoenick, Fred Wendt, Christ Matwick, John E. Erb,
William Radkie, H. Wandle, Carl Shoenfeldt, August Koppel, John
Mueller, N. H. Meir, R. D. Kelley, A. J. Hall, Joseph Moser.
Schools and Churches
The first school held in the township was in section 34 in 1868. It
was taught by Mary Weber.
Concerning the schools and churches of the township the special
chapters on these topics will be found elsewhere in this volume.
First Important Events
The first settler was Jared Monnich, in 1857.
The first birth was a pair of twins, girls, born to Mr. and Mrs. Jared
Monnich, in 1857. The mother of these twins died in the autumn of
1857, hers being the second death recorded in the township.
The first death was that of a government surveyor, who was killed
by lightning in the summer of 1857 and buried in section 1, the site of
a later cemetery.
Jared Munderloch built the first frame house in the township.
POSTOFFICE
Everett postoffice was established about 1870, with S. D. Pickard as
postmaster. Henry Block was postmaster in the early '90s. A small
general store was conducted at that point several years.
In 1920
After the toils and perplexities of more than three-score years, for
the first and second generations of men who have had to do with the
282 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
development of this goodly agricultural section, one today finds a charm-
ing country where land ranges from $150 to $300 per acre and- is a good
investment at these seemingly high prices. If one could view the vast
hundreds of thousands of tons of various farm commodities that have
been harvested from the soil of this inland subdivision of Dodge County
with the coming and going of more than sixty years since its first settler
invaded its domain, it would indeed be a wonderful amount to behold.
This includes hay, grain, stock and vegetable growth.
CHAPTER XXXII
RIDGELEY TOWNSHIP
Location — Boundaries — Population — Organization — • Schools and
Churches — Ridgeley Postoffice, Etc. — Webster Postoffice —
Miscellaneous Items — Mutual Insurance Company — Early
Settlement of Township.
Second from the west and also from the north line of Dodge County,
comes Ridgeley Township, which is constituted of Congressional town-
ship 19, range 6. It is bounded on the north by Pebble Township, on
the east by Everett Township, on the south by Cotterell and on the west
by Pleasant \'alley. Strictly speaking, this is one of the truly inland sub-
divisions of Dodge County, as it is without railroad or hamlet. Its
chief trading point and market place is Scribner, while Crowell and
Dodge villages are not far distant from parts of the township's territory.
Population
The United States census gives the population in 1890 as being 807 ;
in 1900 it was 847, and in 1910 — ten years later — it had decreased to
675, while the present (1920) enumeration has not yet been made
public.
Organization
\Miat is now known as Ridgeley Township was formed as a separate
township when the county was placed under township organization in
1886. The first election after it was a "precinct" in government, was
held, in section 28, at Mat Robert's house. The township afifairs have
been well managed and is today fully up to the Dodge County township
standard.
Schools and Churches
The pioneer school was kept in 1871 and some of the scholars were
over twenty-one, but many things illegal then went for lawful. For
school history see Educational Chapter elsewhere in this work.
The earliest church in this township was the Evangelical Lutheran,
formed in 1874. See Church Chapter for details.
POSTOFFICES
The first postoffices of this township were Ridgeley and Webster.
The former was established in 1868 with A. Holbrook as postmaster.
In 1882 it was removed to the home of Patrick Owen, remained a few
years and then rotated back to Mr. Holbrook, his wife being made post-
mistress. It was discontinued and after a time re-established. It was
about 1885 that it was located in section 26, when H. L. Shomsher was
postmaster. He also conducted a country store at this point. Mail was
received tri-vveekly on a mail route from Fremont to Webster.
283
284 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Webster postoffice moved from place to place. In the early '90s it
was on the extreme western line of the township, with Isabelle Honey
as postmistress, whose husband was a mail carrier, and ran a small gen-
eral store in connection with the postoffice. This office was established
in 1870 at the pioneer home of F. C. Scott, who served seven years, when
John Ferguson took the office and it was then removed to Pleasant Valley
Township. Other changes were made in its location until it was finally
abolished.
First Settlers
In an account of this part of Dodge County found iri the volume
entitled "History of the Elkhorn Valley," published about 1891, there is
found the following account of the early settlement in this township. It
seems to have been corrected and approved by competent committeemen,
hence as such events are unchangeable, we will assume the statements
made therein to be correct at this time :
To have been the first settler to invade and make his permanent
abiding place in so splendid and highly fertile domain as the Township
of Ridgeley is composed was indeed an honor to be appreciated by any
man. To such honor, the record says, is attached the name of Frank M.
Tillman, who located by right of pre-emption in the northeast quarter
of section 26, in June, 1868— fifty-two years ago. He and several others
brought their families from the Lake Superior country. Mr. Tillman
proved up and continued to cultivate his land until 1880 when he moved
to the Village of Hooper and purchased a hotel property, conducted it
for a time, after which his son, Frank, took over the property and became
landlord.
Vangilder Banghart, section 28, homesteaded eighty acres in 1868.
With others, this pioneer homesteader saw great hardships for a decaae
or more when prosperity smiled upon his eflforts. Henry Banghart
arrived the year last named as did Isaac Banghart, claiming land in sec-
tion 28. At one time he sold lumber and bought grain in the Village of
Scribner. Peter Therens and John Mohr came to the township to effect
their settlement the same year.
About 1869 the following made settlement in the township:
James M. Cruickshank, section 31 ; John Eckroat, section 21 ; Daniel
Jones, John Yosten and a few others came. In 1871 came Thomas H.
Hey wood to section 10.
Old Mr. Berriman homesteaded in section 30; he died many years
ago. Others settlers in this goodly township were: Nicholas Reise, sec-
tion 24 ; Henry Sievers, section 18, in 1869 and in 1890 was counted one
of the richest men in the township ; A. L. Holbrook, section 28, came in
1869 and sold out in 1882 and moved to Kansas. August English settled
here in the '70s in section 7, and died in 1887. William Herman located
in section 6 in 1870. D. Stagerman came at about the same date; also
Mr. Schuler of section 8. Dr. Thomas Street and Matthew Themis
were pioneers.
In the grasshopper days — the times that tried men's souls — lands
were ofifered at $1 per acre, but fortunate indeed for the owners, no
buyers could be found to take it off their hands. This land is today
selling as high as $300 per acre in several instances.
Among the first events in this township may be mentioned the birth
of August, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank M. Tillman, born in August,
1870. He was beyond question the first child born in the township.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 285
Other Items
The German speaking farmers of this vicinity organized a strong
insurance company known as the Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Com-
pany, in 1885.
Pebble Creek Farmers' Club commenced its operation in about 1885
and in 1888 in section 11 was built a large two-story frame hall build-
ing. In this building was conducted the business of the Mutual Insur-
ance just mentioned. This club had in 1890 over 200 excellent farmers
enrolled on its books as regular members.
A branch of the Farmers' Alliance had headquarters at what was
known as the "Red School House."
CHAPTER XXXIII
UNION TOWNSHIP
Location — Boundary — Organization — First Death — First Birth —
First Land Plowed — First Religious Services — Settlement —
Schools, Churches, Etc. — Population.
Union Township is the extreme southwestern civil township in Dodge
County, and comprises all of township 18, range 5, east, and a small por-
tion of township 17, of the same range. It is bounded on the west by
Colfax County, on the north by Pleasant Valley Township, Dodge County,
on the east by Cotterell Township, and on the south by the Platte River
and Saunders County.
The Union Pacific Railroad courses through the township from east
to west, following the meanderings of the Platte River largely.
Before 1886 when township organization obtained in Dodge County,
this was within what was known as North Bend Precinct. The rule of
the new law was to have each civil township conform to the lines of the
surveyed township of six miles square, and this holds good in Dodge
County, except in places along the Platte River, where a part of other
townships are included.
Population
According to the United States census returns this township had at
various periods a population as follows : In 1890 it was 660 ; in 1900 it
was 723, and in 1910 it had decreased to 633. The 1920 figures have
not been made public as yet.
First Events
The first death in the township was the wife of pioneer George Young,
December 20, 1856.
The first white child born here was Seth W. Young, in November,
1856 — also the first birth in Dodge County.
The first furrow turned in the township by a plow was the garden
patch of Robert Miller, in the fall of 1856.
The first religious services in the township were held by Rev. Isaac
E. Heaton at a private house. He was the pioneer Congregational min-
ister who founded the Fremont Congregational Church.
First Settlers
Union Township has the distinction of being the first place where
Dodge County's pioneer settlement was made — Union and Cotterell town-
ships had the first, or 1856-57 colonies of immigrants within their borders.
July 4, 1856, was "commencement day" for the county, for it was on that
date that the newcomers camped and got their breakfast where now stands
the thriving City 'of North Bend.
This colony consisted of Robert Miller and family, and his brother,
John, with his family ; George Young and family ; George McNaughton
286
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 287
and family; William and Alexander Miller, single men and brothers of
Robert and John Miller, also the sister Elizabeth, who became Mrs. Ely,
of Fremont. (See account of colony in history of North Bend.)
Robert Miller located in what is now Union Township, in section 12.
William Miller settled later in Sarpy County, Nebraska, and Alex-
ander in Utah. McNaughton becoming disheartened after a few days
returned to his old home in the East. George Young remained and
became one of the county's well-known citizens. He chose a part of sec-
tion 12 for his home. His son, James R., when old enough took land in
section 11.
J. Mason Smith, a farmer of section 12, came to the county June,
1857, with Mathew S. Cotterell, Alexander Morrison and James Humph-
rey, who brought with them a steam sawmill. (See North Bend history.)
In 1859 Michael Johnson pre-empted a part of section 8, Union Town-
ship, and there constructed a dugout in the side of the hill, and there he
managed to live two years or more. He moved to his place in section
21 in the spring of 1877. His brother, Edward Johnson, located in the
county in the spring of 1859, first locating on Maple Creek. About 1866
he homesteaded eighty acres in Union Township where he was living in
the '90s.
Part of section 18, this township, was settled by the parents of John
M. Dickerson in the autumn of 1860. As soon as the homestead law went
into force David Dickerson, the father, took his homestead.
Charles Thrush came to the county in March, 1861, and became a
permanent settler in Union Township.
David Scott, section 23, located in Dodge County in the autumn of
1863.
Josiah Dickerson took a homestead in 1865, the same being in sec-
tion 34.
James and William McVicker arrived in the spring of 1867, locating
in sections 30 and 20 respectively.
In the fall of 1866 Hiram Burger effected his settlement, rented until
the summer of 1867, then homesteaded in section 28.
Andrew Quigley came to Dodge County in 1869, rented land and
finally settled permanently in section 18, Union Township.
Mathias Ruff and John Kern arrived in the spring of 1869. Ruff
took a homestead in section 26.
William R. Black, section 18, came to Dodge County in July, 1874;
Thomas Gaughen, section 15, came in 1875, and Daniel A. Boggs,
March, 1877.
Later settlements Were made by : Martin Gaughen, section 9 ; William
L. Hatcher, 1880; Joseph Krause, section 28, in the fall of 1881 ; George
J. Campbell, manager of the Bay State Stock Farm, arrived in the
county in 1882 ; C. M. Black, section 16, spring of 1884.
Dennis Killeen came here in the spring of 1877 ; was a native of Ire-
land and arrived in America in 1868. His son became county clerk of
Dodge County.
Another settler who should not be left from the record was James
Sloss and family, who located in Union Township in October, 1858,
locating in section 12.
Eighteen hundred fifty-nine saw the following immigrants locate in
the township : David Dickerson and family, of New Jersey, and John
B. Waterman, of New York. Waterman remained until 1864 then
removed to California.
288 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
It should be here stated that during the eventful years of 1869-70,
the greater portion of the land within this township was taken up by
actual settlers, who flocked from all parts of the globe.
Schools and Churches
The reader is referred to the special chapter on such subjects for these
are treated in general with all other schools and churches in the county.
(See index.)
The Protestants and Catholics both have a cemetery within Union
Township.
General Items of Interest
Purple Cane postoffice in section 18, of Union Township, existed from
1885 to 1892.
The Bay State Live Stock Company had a very extensive ranch in the
southeastern part of the township. There immense numbers of cattle
and horses were raised and fed annually. The ranch included all of sec-
tion 11, upon which the Bay State station of the Union Pacific Railroad
was located. There large barns and yards for stock and extensive corn
and grain warehouses were erected.
From this point a branch railroad was projected, and known as the
"North Bend and Elkhorn Valley" Railroad. For reasons best known to
railway men, this line was never constructed.
CHAPTER XXXIV
PLEASANT VALLEY TOWNSHIP
Description — Population — Organization — Schools and Churches
— PosTOFFicES — General Condition Today — List of Early Set-
tlers.
Pleasant Valley Township is situated on the west line of Dodge
County, second from the north line, and hence comprises Congressional
township 19, range 5, east. It is bounded on the north by Webster Town-
ship, on the east by Ridgeley Township, on the south by Union and on
the west by Colfax County. This is another of the civil subdivisions of
Dodge County in which there are no towns or villages, neither a railroad.
The Federal census in 1890 gave the population as 815, but a state census
of schools gave it 1,000 in 1892. In 1900 it had dropped down to 734
and in 1910, the same authority gave its population as only 646. The
figures on the present (1920) census have not yet been given out.
Organization of Township
Up to 1886 this township was included in Webster precinct, but at
the time this precinct system of the county was changed to township
government, it was changed to conform to its present territory and its
domain has since been known as "Pleasant Valley Township."
Pioneer Settlement
A single man named James Ferguson is supposed to have been the
first person to permanently locate within this township. He claimed land
in section 24 in the autumn of 1868.
In the early spring of 1869 came John Ross, locating in section 22.
He homesteaded a quarter section and became a permanent figure in
Dodge County. He had served in the army and navy of the United States
from 1861 to 1865.
John L. Brown came here in June, 1869, and pre-empted a quarter
section of land in section 10. He also took a homestead of eighty acres in
the same section.
John Emanuel, of section 28, this township, was postmaster and store-
keeper at Pleasant Valley, was numbered among the pioneers of this
tovraship. He came in during 1869, taking a homestead.
Among those who came to this township from other parts of Dodge
County may be recalled: Eben Ives, who first located in section 32,
Ridgeley Township, but later moved over to section 36, Pleasant Valley.
Also James Robertson, who came with his family and located in section
14 in March of that year, but later moved to section 26.
Joseph Cross came to Fremont in the early autumn of 1870. In the
spring of 1871 he rented in Union Township. In 1872 he homesteaded in
section 28, where he died in August, 1891.
Henry Rose came to the county in 1870 and made his settlement in
Pleasant Valley Township in 1871. John Andrews took his homestead of
a quarter section in section 8, in the fall of 1870. He had been a soldier
289
290 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
in the Civil war and therefore entitled to a quarter of a section in his
homestead.
Besides those already named as being settlers in Pleasant Valley
Township in 1870, were also these : James Harvie, whose parents set-
tled in section 14; Henry Sturbaum, section 2; John Arps, section 32;
in 1871 came Hans P. Stoltenberg, located a homestead which had been
claimed by another, in section 28, but he paid the former claimant $100
and thus secured what soon came to be a valuable place.
In 1873 Peter Emanuel located in this township, purchasing railroad
land. Edwin Hook also located in section 6 that year.
Frederick Zadehoff, of section 31, came to Dodge County in 1874
and bought 200 acres of land.
Hon. Charles Feichtinger, section 22, came to Dodge County in 1868.
He was a native of Germany where he mastered the jewelry trade. He
came direct from the fatherland to Dodge County, Nebraska.
Jacob Longacre came in the spring of 1873.
John Haase, section 29, dated his settlement from the spring of 1880.
Frederick Haase settled in section 19, in 1883.
In 1869 when John Ross came to this township he found residing
here : William, John and James Ferguson, who belonged to a Scotch
colony on the eastern line of the township. They all came in 1869 ; John
Johnson, who took a homestead, came that year, and later moved to
North Bend.
William Ross came in 1870 and took his homestead, remained until
1884, when he sold and went back to New York State. He sold to John
Hair. John Ross came in 1877, purchased railroad land in section 27,
remained in the township until 1889, then moved to Box Butte County.
Hon. John R. Cantlin, section 26, came in as a homesteader in 1870.
Quite a goodly number of Germans located in the northeast part of
the township in 1870; these included the family of Martin Heckenroder,
in section 12.
Charles Warnsdorf claimed a part of section 22. J. W. Porter
bought him out in 1881, and he returned to Germany. He was an odd,
character, but highly educated. He had been wealthy before coming to
this country, but had spent most of his fortune before settling here. He
took a homestead and lived a single man, doing his own cooking.
Other early settlers were Thomas M. Stubbert and Hugh Robertson.
It may be stated that many of the first settlers in this part of Dodge
County were young single men, who took land, made rude houses from
sod and other cheap material, and then sent for their intended wives,
their marriage taking place after they had arrived from some of the older
settled places in the East, and in many cases from across the great Atlan-
tic Ocean. It took stout hearts and strong bodies to thus leave home and
firesides where they had been reared and attempt to make a home in a
wild, prairie land like Nebraska was at that date. These women made
the best wives and mothers and have centainly accomplished their share
of developing this township and county.
The first marriage in this township was that of James Ferguson.
This marriage was dated sometime in 1869.
Schools and Churches
The first school was held in a sod shanty — see special chapter in this
volume on Educational interests.
Reverend Wilson, of North Bend, held the first religious meeting —
see chapter on various churches of the county.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 291
POSTOFFICES AND CEMETERIES
Prior to 1890 there were two cemeteries laid out in this township —
one in section 28, and one in section — "Pleasant Valley" and "Glencoe."
It is Hkely that the first death in the township was that of the mother
of John L. Brown.
The first birth recorded was that of Bessie Ferguson, May 22, 1869,
the daughter of John and Jane Ferguson.
Pleasant Valley postoffice was established in 1871, with Matthew
Stubbert first postmaster, section 34. Other postmasters were : Messrs.
Huffland, Hans P. Stoltenberg, section 28, who was followed by John
Emanuel. The postmaster then conducted a general store.
General Historic Items
During 1873-4 and 75 the grasshoppers ruined the fair prospects of
scores of farmers in Pleasant Valley. Excellent "eighties" of land could
have been purchased for $100, but most of them held on because they
found no one to buy them out, and their sons and daughters can now sell
the same acres at not less than $300 an acre. Twenty-five years ago
these lands sold at $40.
A town hall was built for public meetings and election purposes in the
northeast quarter of section 21, in 1891, costing $200.
A Grange or Farmers' Alliance hall was also erected in section 24.
A German Farmers' Club hall was erected in the '80s in the western
portion of this township. This cost $500. It was a six-sided building
and built by a stock company.
CHAPTER XXXV
LOGAN TOWNSHIP
Its Extent — Boundaries — Population — Railroad Facilities —
Swedish Colony — Later Settlement — Village of Uehling —
General Conditions Today — Organization of Township or
Precinct as Then Known — First Township Election — Swa-
burgh postoffice.
Logan Township is in the extreme northeastern corner of Dodge
County. It comprises all of the Congressional township 20, range 8, east.
Until a few years ago it was without railroad facilities and purely an
agricultural section, but in recent years transportation facilities have been
furnished by the building of a branch line of the great "Burlington"
system, with a station near the northern line of the township and county
— Uehling. Logan Township is bounded on the north by Burt County,
on the east by Washington County, on the south by Hooper Township,
Dodge County, on the west by Cuming Township, making a six-mile
square tract of land.
Population and Organization
The township was organized as a precinct in 1857. The first election
was held at the house of C. H. Lisers ; the judges were Hiram H. Ladd,
Willis Carr and Martin Shearer. The population in 1890 was, according
to the United States census, 673, in 1900 it was only 621, and in 1910
had increased to 857. The 1920 enumeration figures have not yet been
given out.
Settlement Notes
A colony from the north of Sweden, just at the close of the Civil
war in this country, made the pioneer settlement in Logan Township,
aside from a few who preceded them. This Swedish colony was headed
by Peter Saspair, of section 15. Many remained and took homesteads,
while some went to Omaha for settlement. Among those who may be
termed "first settlers" were: Andrew Larson, O. Larson, Lars Lund,
M. M. Frost, Peter Dahl, Andrew Linn, M. Olson, P. A. Anderson, Nels
Hanson, Oscar Bergquist, Carl Morrell, Christian Dueholm and N. P.
Westlin.
Theodore Uehling came to this county in 1860, settling in section 18,
township 19, range 9, and there built him a log house and covered it with
slough grass. He bought and traded for many tracts of land until he
owned 1,000 acres.
In 1865 Andrew Bowman and his mother came. They homesteaded
eighty acres in section 10 and built a log cabin which was burned, and
later they were driven from the premises by high water, but they were
not the type of people to easily give up, and after a few years of great
privation and hardship they became well circumstanced.
In 1867 George Briggs, later of section 34, located in this township.
He purchased a quarter section of wild land and made his own improve-
ments as best he could.
292
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 293
In 1868 the township had other settlers in the persons of John Samp-
son, section 26. He stopped in Fremont one year and then took his home-
stead. Peter Swanson, Peter Anderson, T. H. Mallett and others came
about the same time or a little later.
Hon. N. P. Nelson settled here in 1869. His mother took a homestead
in the fall of that year, in the west half of the northeast quarter of sec-
tion 34.
Ole Johnson was another settler of the last named year and he claimed
a part of section 34. He also bought railroad lands in section 35.
Fred Daubert settled in section 7 in 1872.
Gus J. Bergquist bought eighty acres of wild land in section 24 in
1875.
Other settlers included Gus Swanson, John Daubert, J. G. Myer and
Howard Myer.
Of the churches and public schools the reader is referred to special
chapters in this volume on such topics covering the entire county.
Early Postoffice
Swaburgh postoffice was established in 1881 in section 14, but in 1888
it was moved to section 24. E. Morrell was postmaster in the '90s. Mail
was then being received at that date three times a week on a route from
Hooper to Herman station.
Vast indeed has been the transformation in this portion of the goodly
"Kingdom of Dodge" since those days away back in the '60s. One now
sees in traveling through the country, a splendid agricultural section, well
developed, with handsome farm houses and barns, and the passer-by is
greeted by the smiling faces of a contented and prosperous people.
The Village of Uehling
This village is a station on the "Burlington" Railroad situated near
the north county line.
It was platted in a great cornfield and construction of the "Burling-
ton" road was carried forward in 1905 and the track laid to Uehling
February 17, 1906. The first building in the place was erected by
Mr. Uehling on the corner where now stands the Farmers State Bank
Building.
Uehling now has a population of about 400. It was incorporated as
a village November 20, 1906. The following have served as village
chairmen of the board: 1906 — Henry Piefer; 1907 — L. A. Green; he
served until 1911 and was followed by H. R. Suhr, who served till 1914,
when Andrew Frost was elected chairman and held the position until
1919, when the present chairman, M. Peterson, was elected.
The various village clerks have been in order as follows : H. F. Meyer,
V. P. Hart, L. A. Larson, H. F. Meyer. 1912-18, A. J. W. Koehler,
1918-20.
A fine system of waterworks was installed in 1909. The cost was
$10,000. The source of water supply is three deep wells from which
water is forced to a steel tower and tank 120 feet high. Electric lights
were installed in 1914. The village has a two-story brick and frame
town hall in which the fire department and village officers are housed.
294 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
PosTOFFiCE, Hospital, Etc.
The first postmaster was F. J. Uehling, who served from February
to July, 1906, then it passed into the hands of R. S. Honey, who held it
till October, 1917, then H. Christensen held from October, 1917, to
October, 1919; the next postmaster was Mrs. R. S. Honey, who still
serves. It is a fourth-class postoffice.
Doctor McKnight, a newcomer to the village, established a hospital
in the season of 1920 and is doing nicely at this date.
One of the finest baseball parks within Nebraska is to be seen at
Uehling, on the banks of the Elkhorn River.
The village supports a Congregational Church and a Lutheran
Church.
A Modern Woodmen of America and a Woodman of the World
lodge are found here — see Lodge Chapter.
Commercial Interests — 1920
Banking — Farmers State Bank and the Logan Valley Bank.
Doctors — Doctor McKnight.
Auto Garage — Barton Strand, H. N. De Molin.
Blacksmiths — Oliver A. Larson.
Barber Shop — Marshall Bennett.
Cream Station — Russell Anderson.
Drugs — The Hansen Drug Company.
Elevators — Farmers' Co-operative Association and the Holmquist
Company.
Furniture (with Hardware) — Fred J. Uehling and L. W. Larson.
General Dealers — Fred H. Steckelberg, W. A. Stach, Christemen &
Rinderhogen.
Harness— W. H. Miller.
Hotel — Mrs. Chris Nelson.
Ice — C. J. Shaw.
Lumber — Farmers' Co-operative Association, Bowman, Kratz Lum-
ber Company.
Meat Market — C. J. Shaw.
Newspaper — The Uehling Post. See "Press Chapter."
Opera Halls— The Uehling Hall, Larson Hall and Lodge Hall.
Restaurant — Otto A. Graves.
Farm Implements — Larson Brothers.
CHAPTER XXXVI
MAPLE TOWNSHIP
Description — Boundary — Old Precinct of Maple — Census Returns
^Schools and Churches — Postoffices — Settlement.
Maple civil township comprises Con_s:ressional township 18, range
7, east, hence is six miles square and it is bounded on the north by-
Everett Township, on the east by Nickerson, on the south by Piatt Town-
ship and on the west by Cotterell Township. Originally Maple Town-
ship as now constituted formed a part of Everett and Nickerson town-
ships or precincts as then known, but in 1886, when "Township Organi-
zation" came into effect, the present limits were fixed. This is one of
Dodge County's inland townships and has neither railway line nor village
within its borders.
Population
In 1890 the United States census gave this township a population of
778; in 1900 it was placed at 1,409, but in 1910 it was decreased to 606.
Its population is about equally divided between American and foreign
bom.
Schools and Churches
The reader is referred to the special chapters in this work on the
schools, churches and lodges of the whole county for facts concerning
such subjects in this township.
Postoffices
Maple Creek postoffice was established in this township in 1870, on a
mail route from Fremont to West Point. This postoffice in 1892 was
being kept in section 3.
Jamestown postoffice was located in section 20, and Bangs postoffice
in section 15.
The pioneer postmaster was Father Monroe, who kept the Maple
Creek office at his home in section 4. The advent of the free rural
delivery postal system has greatly changed the mail facilities in this
township and daily mails come from various postoffices right to the very
dooryard of the farmer.
First Settlement
Maple Township was first settled by Seneca Hager, in section 20.
He came from Platte Township, where his parents had settled in 1856.
Rev. Jacob Adriance, section 20, came to Dodge County in 1858,
first locating at Fremont as a Methodist Episcopal minister. In that
work he continued many years. In 1862 he located land with a land
warrant, and in 1879 moved to the premises to remain. His settlement
and labors were indeed full of interesting incidents and pioneer
experiences.
295
296 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
George Knoell of section 26 came to this county in the spring of 1859,
locating at first in Platte Township with his father, he himself being only
sixteen years old at the time of his father's settlement.
Charles A. Bang, of section 14, came in very early. He came from
Denmark, worked about three years and returned to his native land.
After a visit in Denmark he returned to this county and was employed
in a mill at North Bend until 1869, when he purchased and improved
eighty acres of land, to which he added until he owned a half section.
Ole Hanson settled in section 26 ; in 1866 he went to work at Fremont
and about three years later, 1869, he homesteaded land, where he resided
many years.
Rasmus Hansen, section 35, came to Dodge County in the autumn
of 1867 and engaged at sawmill work near Fremont. Eighteen months
later he rented land upon which he lived two years. He then took a
homestead, lived thereon five years, sold and purchased 120 acres nearer
Fremont. He sold again and moved to Oregon, but six years later
returned and finally settled on land in section 35.
James C. Nelson of section 22, came to Dodge County in the spring
of 1867, first stopping in Fremont. At the time he was a young single
man, and he hired out by the month as a farm hand. He soon claimed
eighty acres of wild land as his own and there made a good home.
Eighteen hundred and sixty-seven saw another truly representative
settler in the person of Lewis A. Warner in section 3, who came to
Dodge County in the fall of that year. For three years he rented land
near Nickerson, after which he moved to the Maple Creek county and
there engaged in farming and stock-raising.
J. E. Dorsey settled in Maple Township on Maple Creek, section 1,
in 1867; later he moved to North Bend.
L. M. Keene came from Maine in Company with Chester Morse in
1867 and located in section 12, Maple Township. Later he moved to
Fremont, where he soon became one of the successful financiers of the
city.
Chester Morse located in section 4. Not many years later, however,
he moved to North Bend, and later in company with others, platted the
Village of Morse BluflF, south of the Platte River from North Bend.
"Old Mr. Monroe" settled in section 3 at about the last named date —
1867 — and remained there until overtaken by death.
Thomas and W. F. Wilson came in from Ohio and located on the
north line of the township. In 1869 came Melcher Endley, locating in
section 10, a part of which he homesteaded and another portion he
bought. After proving up he sold and returned to Ohio.
Another homesteader of 1869 was James Hiscock, who in 1887 sold
to J. A. Sill and removed to Colfax County, Nebraska.
James L. Davis came in 1869, took an eighty-acre tract as his home-
stead right, and lived on the same until 1887, then moved to Fremont,
where after a few years he died.
In 1870 came Seth Harkness to section 13. He bought railroad land
and resided in this township until 1880, when he sold and moved to
Hamilton County, Nebraska.
G. W. R. Pettibone became a resident of section 2 in 1870. He
bought out a homesteader and lived in the township until 1876, when he
moved to Fremont and there embarked in business. Subsequently, he
went to Deadwood, South Dakota, and there traded for a time but
returned to Fremont and later settled in the City of Lincoln, where he
became general agent for a Des Moines insurance company, and in 1892
was reported to have made $200,000 at the insurance business.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 297
Among the settlers in the "seventies" was John L. Ritter of section
4. Later he engaged in the grain trade at Hooper; also at Nofth Bend,
and finally became a member of the Town Site Company of Morse &
Ritter, platting Morse Bluff.
Other pioneer settlers were — C. E. Forbes, section 14; William
Springer, 1870; W. C. Aiken, section 10; Casper Eidam, a farmer of
section 16, came to the county in 1870 and located in Platte Township,
where he rented land for a time before purchasing.
David Brown, section 4, came in the spring of 1870, then rented land
on Maple Creek four years, then bought eighty acres of his own.
William C. Wallingford located in section 34 in 1870. He rented
land near Fremont five seasons, after which he bought in section 7,
Platte Township, farmed there ten years, then went to section 34.
Peter Johnson, another 1870 immigrant to Dodge County, followed
railroad work two years. He then went to breaking prairie and a year
later purchased eighty acres of land in section 15.
In 1872 Edward Hooker located at Fremont, near which city he
rented land a year or more, then homesteaded part of section 5, this
township.
Edward Rannie, section 15, came to the county in May, 1872. He
took up a quarter section of unimproved land.
Hon. Julius A. Sill, section 11, came to this county in the early spring
of 1872. In 1892 he owned 400 acres of valuable Dodge County land.
Frank F. and Hugh C. Brown, Christian Hansen, Hans Hansen,
John G. Dykeman, Henry Rebbe, B. C. Allen, Ezra Philips, James L.
Brown, Peter Slack, William Philips, Eugene M. Tarbell, Theodore R.
Stout and Philip Sullivan all came to this township at an early time and
helped to subdue the tough prairie sod and transform the wild prairie
into the present beautiful and high-priced farming lands one now sees
throughout this and adjoining townships in Dodge County. They
"builded better than they knew."
CHAPTER XXXVII
NORTH BEND TOWNSHIP
Formerly North Bend Precinct — Its Interesting History — First
Colony — First Election — City of North Bend — Pioneer His-
tory— Early Events — Commercial Interests of North Bend —
Business Interests in 1920 — Postoffice History — Municipal
History — Miscellaneous Improvements — Parks, Etc.
What is now styled North Bend civil township was within Cotterell
Township before township organization took place in Dodge County in
1886. North Bend Precinct, as once known, is not without its interest-
ing local history, and the same is covered by the village history in this
chapter. It was here that the first little colony of pioneer emigrants
from Ohio settled in 1856. The first election after Dodge County was
organized was held in North Bend the first Monday in February, 1860,
at which time Fremont was made the county seat.
North Bend Township is now confined to the corporate limits of the
village of the same name — see its history.
City of North Bend
This is a thriving city situated fifteen miles to the west of the City of
Fremont, on the north bank of Platte River, in township 17, range 6,
east. It now has a population of about 1,200, according to the latest
United .States census. It was platted October 12, 1867, by S. S. Cald-
well, M. S. Cotterell and the officers of the Union Pacific Railroad Com-
pany. The population in 1876 was 250 souls and in 1890 it was placed
at 897. It is within one of the richest agricultural sections of the state,
where land is now worth from S250 to $400 per acre. The main line
of the Union Pacific Railway runs through North Bend, which place is
fifty miles from Omaha, the terminus of that great rail route from the
Missouri River to the far-away Pacific coast. The altitude of North
Bend is 1,275 feet.
Pioneer History
The first twenty years' history of North Bend was well described
"Centennial Year" (1876) by J. Mason Smith, who responded to the
general call made by President U. S. Grant that every township in the
country make an effort to preserve its history on that occasion. This
historical sketch was read before those who assembled on July 4th that
year, and the same (by permission) is here inserted, and it is believed
that no better account of the place between 1856 and 1876 can be given
than Mr. Smith's graphic account of its first settlement, which runs
thus:
The Town of North Bend takes its name from the bend in the Platte
River 'on which it is located. Long before the settlement was made this
point was a favorite camping ground for emigrants going to California,
Utah and other points west. Here was an abundance of grass and water
for their weary cattle ; here was wood and water by which the hungry
298
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 299
traveler could cook his victuals and refresh the inner man ; here in the
Platte's swift running waters they bathed their weary limbs and started
anew on their journey, refreshed and invigorated.
Nebraska Territory was not long organized when some of its leading
men saw that at North Bend was a good point to locate a town.
Governor Izard, Secretary Cummings, John I. Redick, Judge Mathews,
Squire Hallock and others — sixteen in all — formed themselves into a
company known as "The North Bend Town Company." About the first
of April, 1856, Mathews and Hallock came and located a town for this
company. About the first of July, 1857, the town was surveyed and laid
out by Charles Turner, United States deputy surveyor.
God made the country — man made North Bend a "Paper Town."
Most of the towns in the territory at that time were paper towns. Specu-
lations ran very high and a number of land sharks made what they called
Hk.H SCIIUUL, X(IK
a good thing out of it. They sold lots from $50 to $100 each to parties
who never saw the lots and it may be reasonably supposed never will.
The first settlement in the vicinity was made on July 4, 1856, by a
few Scotch families who had for a few years previous been living in
Illinois. The party consisted of Robert Miller, his wife and four chil-
dren ; John Miller and wife : William and Alexander Miller, brothers of
Robert and John, and Miss Eliza Miller, now the wife of W. H. Ely of
Fremont.
This little party had the night previous camped about four miles east
of North Bend; finding no wood to cook their supper with they each
drank some milk and went to bed. They arose early the following morn-
ing— July 4th, yoked up their oxen and arrived at North Bend about 9
o'clock A. M., where they found plenty of w'ood and water to cook their
breakfast with. They liked the appearance of the country, but thought
they would go further on and prospect. They got ready and started ;
after going a few miles they came to the conclusion that they would turn
back and settle at North Bend, which they did. As soon as possible they
put up shanties to live in, which were made of willows and hay. That
fall two log houses were erected and were located on section 12, near the
present farm of James Sloss.
300 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
In August that year the little colony was increased by the arrival of
George Turton", who was strong and robust and a good practical surveyor.
He was a host in himself and the right man in the right place ; his experi-
ence as a surveyor was of much benefit to the little colony.
Early in the fall the town company put up what was called the "Town
House." The contract was let to George J. Turton and William Miller.
Its dimensions were 16 by 40 feet. It was built of cottonwood logs and
stood a few rods west of what is now called 0876) the Old Bend House.
It was fearfully and wonderfully made — a kind of cross between Noah's
Ark and the house that Jack built. In 1866, it being too near the railroad,
it was taken down and moved away. Part of the logs are now (1876)
used, as they are rebuilt in a stable. (Many of the first events of the
settlement were told in this history, read July 4, 1876, which have been
cut out and added to the history of the surrounding townships.)
June 29, 1857, an important addition was made to the settlement by
the arrival of Alex Morrison, J. Humphries and J. M. Smith.
M. S. Cotterell, Jr., belonged to this party but did not arrive until
July 12th. This party was from Cleveland, Ohio, and brought a steam
sawmill with them as far as Omaha ; they were looking up a site for their
mill. They were pleased with the country and concluded to locate the
mill here, which they did. They had left their wives behind, but August 2d
Mrs. Morrison. Mrs. Smith and Mrs. James Humphries with her five
children arrived. In the anticipation of their coming, the Town House
had been chinked and shingled, but the women were much disappointed
with the looks in general, still with stout hearts they accepted the situa-
tion and went to work earnestly and energetically, cheered by the hope
that by and by they would get their reward for all their toils and
privations.
Mrs. Morrison and Mrs. Humphries brought chickens with them
from Cleveland, these being the first chickens in the town and settlement.
Now, with the prattle of children, the cackling of hens and a crowing
rooster, things commenced to wear a little aspect of civilization. John
Sloss arrived in September; he soon went to work for the sawmill com-
pany. He located on section 11, four miles east of North Bend, Cotterell
Township. He later married a Miss Kelley. Robert Graham and wife
and James H. Graham from Cleveland arrived late in 1857 and located
in what was later Union Township.
On the first of January, 1858, the number of persons in the settle-
ment was twenty-eight. Of this number fifteen were children under
twelve years of age. «
In the spring of 1858, as the town company had not complied with
the law, failing to make the impfovement the law required, it left them
without a legal claim to the property, therefore the townsite was jumped
by M. F. Cotterell and J. M. Smith. The company did not make much
fuss, it may be supposed they had realized about all they saw any chance
of doing, therefore let go without showing much fight !
When the colony first located here their nearest postoffice was Omaha,
fifty miles away, which was very inconvenient for those who had left
their wives behind them. It is related that M. F. Cotterell is one who
whistled "The Girl I Left Behind Me" and footed it to Omaha for mail
that was not there, returning the next day. It was a long ways back to
North Bend. On December 31, 1858, the number of persons in the
vicinity was thirty-seven, twelve of these being under twelve years of
age.
The above paragraphs bring the settlement of North Bend down to
what its citizens today are pleased to call "modern times." Before going
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 301
into the details of business interests in this enterprising little city, some
of the early events of interest will be narrated.
Early Events
The first election was held on the second Tuesday of November,
1856, when the County of Dodge was in three precincts. Robert Kittle
and George Young were elected justices of the peace and George Turton
was elected county commissioner.
The first marriage within the place was John B. Waterman to
Elizabeth R. Graham, July 28, 1859. This refers to the "settlement"
and the first marriage in the Village of North Bend was not until 1860,
when George Bathrick and Miss Nancy Rhodes were united in marriage
by Rev. I. A. Wilson, pastor of the United Presbyterian Church.
The first male child born in this vicinity was Seth W. Young,
November, 1856; he was also the first in Dodge County. Roderick C.
Smith, son of J. Mason Smith, was born December 21, 1858.
The first family to set up housekeeping in the Village of North Bend
was that of George J. Turton, May, 1857. He came to the county the
year before, a single man, but in March, 1857, went east and returned
with his bride.
The first sawmill of Dodge County was placed in running order in
this vicinity and was operated until the fall of 1860, when it was burned
by a prairie fire. This mill was brought from Cleveland, Ohio, in July,
1857, by Messrs. Cotterell, Smith, Morrison and Humphries. Indeed,
this was the pioneer sawmill in all the far-reaching Platte Valley. It
proved a financial failure to its various owners, but was of much value
to the settlers. Persons came from Fremont and obtained small loads of
lumber, cut from cottonwood logs sawed by this mill. This lumber took
the place of the former hay roofs in use ; also furnished their shanties
with solid floors. A small iron grain-grinding mill was later attached to
this sawmill and corn was ground constantly until the burning of the
mill.
Commercial Interests of North Bend
The Union Pacific Railroad made its appearance at North Bend in
the spring of 1866, and that marked a second era in the settlement of
that part of the county. There was only one house on the site of the
place when the iron horse first entered that green, glad solitude, that being
one owned by M. S. Cotterell, Jr. George Canfield opened a small grocery
store in July of that year, the first goods being sold on Independence
Day.
The earliest hotel was built by Williams & Perkins in 1867. In 1872
it was moved to the tracks and converted into a grain warehouse by
Dowling & Purcell.
From 1866 to 1876 there were shipped 19,000,000 pounds of grain
from the North Bend depot. The first wheat shipped to Omaha was by
John Burger. The freight rate was $18 per car. The first livestock
was shipped by Robert Hall.
The first real, up-to-date grocers were T. B. Purcell and M. Dowling,
at first in the Canfield Building, but built for themselves on Sycamore
Street. For many years these men were heavily engaged in the grain
trade at North Bend.
The first exclusive grain dealer was N. Merriam, who shipped the
first car of wheat to Chicago in August, 1874. Down to that time the
302 DODGE AXD WASHINGTON COUNTIES
home-grown grain was usually all consumed by the flouring mills located
at Fremont. This dealer paid Fremont prices at his warehouse at North
Bend, which caused his business to be very extensive. He was always
noted for his correct weights and honorable dealings.
In passing it should be stated that the first fat cattle were shipped
from North Bend by rail on June 22, 1876.
A lumber vard was started in North Bend in the autumn of 1875 by
J. B. Foote.
The pioneer "Village Blacksmith" was Robert Graham, who came in
the spring of 1867, but soon sold his forge to Jerry Dion.
Smith Brothers in 1867 built what was styled the "Corner Store."
The first man to practice medicine at and around North Bend was
Doctor Bell, a North Carolinian, who arrived here in 1868. He finally
met with an accident by which he lost both his feet. He was caught out
on a professional visit and had his feet frozen. Doctors Abbott of Fre-
mont and Moore of Omaha amputated his feet.
For an account of the schools, churches and lodges the reader is
referred to special chapters on such topics elsewhere in this work.
The various newspapers and banks are likewise treated in chapters
on such subjects for the entire county.
A good nursery was established by J. \V. Stevenson in 1882. Froin
this nursery he shipped transplanted stock to many western states and
territories. The nursery joined the town plat and a large annual business
was transacted. This being the only nursery in this part of Nebraska, his
shipments were made many miles.
Many persons have been engaged in business in North Bend for a
greater or less period of time with the passing years — some are still resi-
dents of the place, but most all have left for other fields or departed this
life. At this time (summer of 1920) the historian finds the commercial
and professional interests to be in the hands of the following persons :
Business Interests — 1920
Attorney — J. J. Gleeson.
Auto Garages— W. H. Westthal, U. S. Tym. W. H. Snyder, City
Garage and Ford Garage.
Banks — The First National and First State Bank.
Barbers — Al Hammond, N. L. Thorp, P. J. Laughlin.
Bakery — H. A. Miller, Frank Kenney.
Blacksmithing — G. A. Millar, Anderson Brothers, C. J. Lehmer.
Community Club — J. J. Gleeson, secretary.
Cream Station — Lincoln Butter Co.
Cement Tile Works — A home concern.
Drugs— J. R. Tapster, W. A. La Violette.
Dentists— Drs. J. H. Stebbins, T. F. Frederick.
Elevators — Farmers' Co-operative Association, C. A. Millar Grain
Company.
Electric Supplies — All hardware dealers.
Furniture — P. F. Carey, who also does undertaking.
Farmers' Telephone Company, F. A. Howe, president..
General Merchandise — Houerfield Mercantile Company, and Fred
Young, also the "Baskett Store No. 46."
Hotel — The Hackney House, by C. O. Wagner.
Harness Shop — Adolph Kemper.
Hay Dealer — W. N. Pruyn.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 303
Hardware — Griffin & Co., T. J. Gaughen, V. W. Jansen.
Implements — (See list of lumbermen.)
Ice Dealer — Earl Street.
Jeweler — J. T. Ostry.
Lumber — Cherny & Watson, Farmers Union Company.
Milling — North Bend Milling Company.
Meat Markets — William Buchta, John Buchta.
Millinery — Mrs. Roy Clay.
Newspaper — The North Bend Eagle.
Nursery — The "North Bend Nursery."
Picture Show — The Lyric, by Fred Mehaffey.
Public Library — "The Carnegie."
Photographer — G. C. Armstead.
Physicians— Doctors Hamod, A. E. Hoff, W. E. Doane, S. W. Yates.
Restaurant — Kenney Bakery and one more (proprietor's name
unknown).
Tailors — R. S. Palmer.
Veterinary Surgeons — Drs. O. O. Wallace, James Thom.
Variety Store — V. W. Vauter.
PosTOFFiCE History
The North Bend postoffice was established early in the spring of
1858, with G. J. Turton as the first postmaster. July 4th that year the
first mail arrived over the tri-weekly stage line operated by the North-
western Stage Company between Omaha and Fort Kearney, with a sta-
tion point at North Bend. The first stagekeeper here was Alexander
Morrison. A daily stage line was had in the spring of 1859. when the
famous Pike's Peak gold mining excitement set in. Before the postoffice
was established at North Bend the few settlers there had to depend on
trips by someone to Omaha for their mail facilities.
A money order office has been maintained here since July, 1879, and
the first order ever issued from the West Bend postoffice was in favor of
George W. Gray for the sum of $5.50 to be paid at Omaha. O. A. Hough
was then the postmaster. Up to 1892 more than 11,000 money orders had
been issued from this office. Since then the record is not accessible.
For a number of years what was known as the "Postal Note" was also
issued from postoffices as well as regular money orders.
The postmasters from the establishment of the office to 1892 were :
George J. Turton, Charles Dickinson, Thomas Jones, M. Dowling, J. A.
Hough, C. W. Hyatt, H. Williams and J. P. Yost. Since the last named
the list of postmasters has included these : A. L. Norris succeeded Yost,
served one year under President Cleveland's administration. Next was
C. A. Long from May 17, 1897, served nine years and one month; John
Cusack then served eight years, ending April 25, 1914, since which time
the present postmaster, J. E. Newsom, has been postmaster. This is a
third-class postoffice and the last year's business amounted to $5,800.
Three rural free delivery routes go out from this postoffice.
Municipal History
North Bend has been twice incorporated into a municipality — first,
April 20, 1876, as a village and again in 1886 as a "city." The original
village officers were as follows: James H. Hough, M. Dowling, Peter
Gillis, C. C. Kendal and A. L. Norris, as trustees ; C. W. Hyatt, clerk ;
304 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Thomas B. Purcell, treasurer; Jerry Dion, assessor; Duncon Smith,
marshal.
The following shows who served on the village board up to the time
of reincorporating into a "city" :
1877 — Trustees: J. H. Hough (chairman), Merriam Dowling, A.
Foote, D. M. Strong; clerk, Thomas Love.
1878 — Trustees: Milton May (chairman), J. H. Hough, Peter GilHs,
C. Cusack, B. P. Rice ; clerk, Thomas Love.
1879— Trustees : J. H. Hough (chairman), J. J. Kelser, John Pur-
cell, C. B. Treadwell, C. Cusack ; clerk, N. M. Vedder.
1880 — Trustees: J. H. Hough (chairman), Peter Gillis, C. Cusack,
John Keith, Frank Stouffer ; clerk, H. B. Millard.
1881 — Trustees: A. J. Kenyon (chairman), F. F. Doubrava, A. Craw-
ford, T. F. Keeton, D. M. Strong; clerk, R. Spence.
1882 — Trustees: James Sloss (chairman), Frank Stouffer, Peter Gil-
lis, A. K. Walla, T. F. Keeton ; clerk, T. F. Keeton.
1883 — Trustees and clerk same as for 1882.
1884 — Trustees: Q. B. Skinner (chairman), A. Crawford, D. A.
Hopkins, M. Dowling, A. K. Walla; clerk, C. B. Treadwell.
1885— Trustees ; O. B. Skinner (chairman), A. K. Walla, J. Fur-
cell, J. B. Foote, H. Williams ; clerk, C. B. Treadwell.
1886 — During this year the place was incorporated into a "city"
since which time the mayors have been as follows:
1886— Q. B. Skinner. 1887— Q. B. Skinner. 1888— D. M. Strong.
1889— A. L. Norris. 1890— A. L. Norris. 1891— Same as for 1890.
1892— M. Dowling.
1892 — M. Dowling, mayor; J. E. Newsom, clerk.
1893— T. J. Catterell, mayor ; C. K. Watson, clerk.
1894 — Spencer Day, mayor; C. K. Watson, clerk.
1895— C. W. Dodge, mayor ; C. A. Long, clerk.
1896 — Hugh Robinson, mayor ; C. A. Long, clerk.
1897 — Hugh Robinson, mayor; C. L. Norris, clerk.
1898 — J. H. Johnson, mayor ; J. C. Newsom, clerk.
1899 — Hugh Robinson, mayor; J. C. Newsom, clerk.
1900— C. H. Wolrath, mayor; J. C. Newsom, clerk.
1901 — John Cherny, mayor ; J. C. Newsom, clerk.
1902— (No record).
1903— D. M. Dodge, mayor; Mr. Main, clerk.
1904 — T. B. Percell, mayor; D. M. Dodge, clerk.
1905— T. B. Percell, mayor ; D. M. Dodge, clerk.
1906 — A. Harvey, mayor; D. M. Dodge, clerk.
1907— T. B. Percell, mayor ; F. D. Howe, clerk.
1908— Alex Thorn, mayor ; F. D. Howe, clerk.
1909— T. B. Percell, mayor; F. D. Howe, clerk.
1910— L. B. McClaren, mayor; F. D. Howe, clerk.
1911 — William Nichol, mayor; F. D. Howe, clerk.
1912— L. B. McClaren, mayor ; F. D. Howe, clerk.
1913— L. B. McClaren, mayor ; F. D. Howe, clerk.
1914 — L. B. McClaren, mayor ; F. D. Howe, clerk.
1915— R. C. Brownell, mayor; F. D. Howe, clerk.
1916 — R. C. Brownell, mayor ; J. C. Newsom, clerk.
1917— R. C. Brownell, mayor; C. K. Wilson, clerk.
1918 — Alex Thorn, mayor; J. C. Newsom, clerk.
1919 — Alex Thorn, mayor; John Emerson, clerk.
1920— Alex Thom, mayor; John Emerson, clerk.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 305
The present (1920) municipal officers are: Mayor, Alex Thorn;
clerk, J. A. Emerson; marshal, D. G. Lehmer; councilmen, C. M. Black,
D. F. Carey, Levi Williams, Martin Rees ; treasurer, Roy J. Cusack ;
physician. Doctor Yates.
The place has a good system of water works, is lighted by an electric
plant ; has good streets with paving put down the present year. These
improvements have all cost much money but the taxpayers are not find-
ing fault, knowing that these things must needs all go with the building
of a modern city.
A good city building was provided North Bend in 1890 — a two-story
brick structure on Seventh and Maple streets, costing $6,000.
The beginning of the fire department in North Bend was in 1880,
when the hook and ladder company was formed, as a safeguard against
the ravages of the fire fiend. In 1892 the place had hook and ladder and
engine company as well as a hose outfit well handled by competent men.
At that day the company of volunteer firemen were all well uniformed
and drilled for actual, practical service as fire fighters.
Among the greatest fires in North Bend were those of 1885 and 1892.
The former occurred in August, when the southeastern block of the busi-
ness portion was totally destroyed, but most of the property was well
insured, and was soon all rebuilt. The 1892 fire was on September 29th,
at 3 o'clock in the mOrning. This fire destroyed the opera house. First
National Bank, postoffice. Star printing office, as well as other buildings
on the west side of Sycamore Street, between Sixth and Seventh.
Miscellaneous Improvements, Etc.
The first opera house in North Bend was erected in 1884 — a fine, large
two-story brick block costing $4,000 and seated nearly 500 persons. It
stood on the west side of Sycamore Street and was burned in the month
of September. 1892.
The real flour mill industry commenced here by the construction of
the roller mills in 1890, with a daily capacity of fifty barrels. The pro-
prietors of this plant were York & Thomas, who sold to the firm of Col-
lins & Thomas.
First Platte River bridge at North Bend was the result of county
bonds issued in 1875 to the amount of $10,000, and again another issue
in 1880 of $4,000 was voted by the Precinct of North Bend. The bridge
was completed and opened to the public in March, 1881. Its total cost
was $15,300. It was built by the Union Pacific Company. Prior to this
a ferryboat and later a pontoon bridge was used for passage over the
Platte between Dodge and Saunders counties.
The public park of North Bend consists of two full blocks of land,
and is only partly improved as yet, but will in time provide the city with
a most attractive spot. Then there is a small tract used for park pur-
poses known as the Union Pacific Park — land belonging to the railway
company.
CHAPTER XXXVIII
PLATTE TOWNSHIP
Boundary — Organization — Settlement — Early Events — First
Birth — First Death — First Marriage — First School — Village
OF Ames — Standard Cattle Company, Etc. — Population —
Indians.
Platte Township is south of Nickerson and Maple townships and
north of the Platte River. It comprises fractional one-half of Congres-
sional township 17, ranges 7 and 8, east. The seat of justice of Dodge
County, City of Fremont, is situated in the southeastern part of Platte
Township, but is now a civil precinct by itself.
The Union Pacific Railroad passes through Platte Township, follow-
ing the general course of the Platte River.
Population •
The Federal census of 1890 gave the population of this township as
741 ; in 1900 it was 1,358, and in the next ten-year period it decreased to
1,134. The present enumeration's figures have not as yet been made
public.
Organization
From the organization of Dodge County down to 1875, this part of
the county was included in Fremont Precinct, but during that year the
Board of County Commissioners created Platte Precinct. Its present
bounds were defined and taken on by the adoption of the township organi-
zation plan in 1886.
Indian Scare
When this county was first settled, in the early '50s, the Indians were
quite numerous and somewhat troublesome. They did not attempt to
kill the whites, but bothered them otherwise. It was related by John C.
Flor, who settled in Platte Township in the autumn of 1856. that at one
time the Indians were thought to have some grievance against their pale-
faced brothers and demanded the scalp of his wife, but were finally
frightened away by the whites who were present. They stubbornly
demanded to look upon the pale-faced woman and agreed to smoke the
pipe of peace, after which she shook hands with all and they departed.
Settlement
The first settlers in what is now known as Platte Township were also
the original settlers in Dodge County, as now constituted. This distinc-
tion belongs to the McNeal and Beebe families, who emigrated from
Wisconsin in 1856. May 25th of that year Mrs. Beebe (mother of the
later known Hon. Henry P. Beebe) and her sons, C. C, John, Martin
and Charles, together with her son-in-law, Abraham McNeal, and his
family, landed in this county and located two miles west of Fremont.
306
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 307
A former county historical record gives the following concerning the
first settlement:
John C. Flor, residing in section 14, located here in the summer of
1856. In those early days the sod house, the log house and shanty had
to suffice.
Henry P. Beebe above named, came in September, 1856, to his land
in section 4, range 8. He remained and became one of the leading men in
Dodge County. He was the first county treasurer, the first to represent
the county in the Legislature after its admission into the Union. He was
also one of the county judges.
Eli Hager came to the county in the fall of 1856 and for many years
resided in section 18 of Platte Township. He came to the country when
only seventeen years of age with his parents. That never-to-be-forgotten
winter of 1856-57, when the snow was the deepest and average tempera-
ture the lowest all over the United States of any season recorded by
white men. caught this pioneer man with a blinding storm December 1,
1856. His remains were not found until spring when it was observed
that the wolves had eaten most of the flesh from his bones. This left Eli
Hager the head of the family and only through a great struggle was he
able to succeed in keeping the family together.
Another settler in 1856 was Seth T. Marvin, who located a mile and
one-half west of where Fremont now stands. Later he moved into town
and was indeed one of the incorporators of the town site. Subsequently
he was accidentally drowned in the river near here.
Three miles to the west of Fremont settled Charles Waldo and George
Peck. They were "squatters" and only remained two years.
In 1857 John D. Dodge came to where Ames, Nebraska, was later
located. He originally owned the land later owned by the Standard Cat-
tle Company.
The same time George Dane located north of Fremont. He served as
a Union soldier in time of the Civil war. His was among the strangest
cases on record. He was shot in the lower part of his heart by a rebel
bullet, and carried the same the remainder of his years.
John Farnsworth settled in Timberville in 1857 and platted that vil-
lage. He resided here many years but finally sold and moved to Fort
Scott, Kansas. Another who settled at the same point was William
Payne.
Thomas Knoell. of section 5, range 8, came to the county with his
parents in 1859. The family were renters for five years, then bought
land. Scott Davis came the same time as the Knoell family.
Henry K. Goflf located in section 11, range 8, in 1866. He purchased
his farm a year after coming to the county.
Andrew J. Howard settled in section 13 in 1868; Harlow Goff, George
Lombard, Frank Griswold, Edward Rohr all settled here before 1873.
Charles W. Sheldon came to Platte Township in the autumn of 1881,
buying a quarter section of wild land.
Early Events
The first birth in Platte Township among white people was also the
first in the county. Twin girls were born to Mr. and Mrs. Abraham
McNeal July 8, 1956. The first death of a white person here was that
of Stedman Hager, who perished in the fearful storm of December,
1856, his body being partly devoured by wolves. The remains were found
along the bank of Platte River the following spring.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 309
Marriage No. 1 in the township was that uniting John D. Dodge to
Miss Dickerson.
The pioneer school was the term taught in District No. 2, in a log
cabin at Timberville. While taught in a private house, it was a public
school. The teacher was Miss Lottie Heaton, who later became Mrs. L. H.
Rogers. This school was taught in 1860.
Ames Station
This small railway station on the line of the Union Pacific Road was
named for Oaks Ames, the great Union Pacific Railroad builder. There
was a time when Ames was of much more commercial importance than it
has been of later years. It is situated near the site of old Timberville,
which faded away with the building of the railroad and in fact never did
have much business aside from the postoffice kept by John Dodge. The
chief business at Ames came from the offices and yards of the great
Standard Cattle Company, located at that point. Its population is now
about 100. Years ago this was the point where shippers unloaded, fed
and watered stock before entering the Omaha markets. But with faster
shipping facilities, this feature of stock-shipping was eliminated, hence
this work was all done away with at Ames. Then the activities of the
Standard Cattle Company were many years the real source of business at
Ames. See an account of this cattle company below.
The Standard Cattle Company
In 1886 the Standard Cattle Company bought at Ames station, almost
5,000 acres of land, and soon added enough more to make a total of 6,300
acres. The object of this company was to feed range cattle from its
immense stock- ranches in Montana and Wyoming. A barn was
biiilt to fully shelter 3,000 head of cattle. The first six years of the
operation of this cattle company they shipped and marketed after feed-
ing at Ames, 37,000 head of cattle ; average days fed, 201 ; average
weight when received, 986 pounds; average when sold, 1,217 pounds.
Total quantity of grain fed, 103,919,307 pounds, or 1,855,495 bushels,
equal to 57 bushels, per head — 16 pounds a day each animal for 201 days
feeding.
The farmers of Dodge County were greatly benefited by the increased
price paid for corn which amounted to more than 3 cents a bushel above
the regular market shipping rate.
The company engaged fifty-three men for the first six years of the
company's history. This company was made up largely of Boston capi-
talists, and their worthy manager was R. M. Allen, of Massachusetts.
History of Washington County
INTRODUCTION
As the changes of less than three score years are contemplated, one
can scarcely realize or comprehend that the wonderful results of Time's
marvel-working hand are the achievements of a period so brief as to be
within the memory — almost of the present generation.
Let us turn back, as it were, the leaves of Time's great book to but
sixty years ago and the stranger would have gazed upon a landscape of
rare beauty ; selected by the Omaha, the Sioux and the Pawnee Indian
tribes as their camping and hunting grounds, with that singular appre-
ciation of the beautiful which Nature made an instinct in the savage.
These vast and rolling prairies were as green then as now ; the prairie
flowers bloomed thickly and diffused their fragrance as bountifully. We
are in the haunt of the redmen, with scarcely a trace of civilization. But
what a contrast! Then all was as Nature had formed it, with its varie-
gated hues of vegetation ; in winter a dreary snow-mantled desert, in
summer a perfect paradise of flowers. Now all traces of the primitive
are obliterated ; in place of the tall prairie grass and tangled underbrush,
one beholds the rich waving fields of golden grain and an almost endless
sea of ripening corn. In place of the dusky warrior's rude cabins are the
substantial and frequently elegant dwellings of the thrifty farmers, and
the "iron horse," swifter than the nimble deer, treads the pathway so
recently the trail of the red man. Then the sickle of fire annually cut
away the wild herbage and drove to its death the stag, now it is the home
of the cereals and nourishes on its broad bosom thousands of tons of
the staple products of the great commonwealth of Nebraska. Then the
storm drove the wolf to its hiding place ; now the blast drives the herd of
the husbandman to a warm and comfortable quarter. Indeed, the trans-
formation is complete.
In place of an occasional steamboat stopping on the western shore of
the Missouri to "wood-up," now one sees dozens of freight and passenger
trains heavily laden with valuable freight and wide-awake passengers
going and coming hither and von. What was sixtv vears ago styled in
the common school geographies as "The Great American Desert," includ-
ing, Nebraska, is now known as the Central Garden Spot of the West.
Ten years before the Civil war Washington County was a howling
wilderness — no settlers to speak of ; no churches or schools ; no towns and
cities ; no railroads, all was yet one green, glad solitude. How the trans-
formation has been wrought, the various steps by which the wilderness
has been changed into habitations for civilized men, is the plain duty of
the local historian to show in the following pages, with the hope that his
efforts will be duly appreciated, and that the facts contained therein may
be of interest, and the lessons of the past may be instructive to each and
every reader.
311
CHAPTER I
TOPOGRAPHY, GEOGRAPHY, NATURAL PRODUCTIONS
AND ORGANIZATION
Location — Boundary — Topography — Natural Resources — County
Organization — -First Census — Present Resources Within the
County — Present Civil Townships Named.
Washington County is on the eastern border line of Nebraska, is
bounded on the north by Burt County, on the east by the Missouri River,
with Harrison County, Iowa, at its eastern shore, Douglas County at the
south and Dodge County on its west. It comprises 4tt) square miles or
equal to 256,000 acres. Its latitude and longitude will be shown by the
chapter on County Organization.
The surface of this county is of a diversified character; about one-
third of its domain is composed of beautiful river and creek bottom-
lands, while 10 per cent is very broken and hilly blufT-land. The remain-
der of the county is either upland or rolling prairie. The valley on the
western side of the Missouri River runs from three to seven miles in
width. Those along the famous Elkhorn are from three to six miles
wide. Bell Creek flows from north to south through this county and
empties into the Elkhorn, and this valley is from one to three miles wide.
There are numerous other smaller streams within Washington County,
including the beautiful Brown, Little Bell, Deer, Fish, Long, New York,
North Papillion, South, Stewart, Turkey and Walnut creeks. Every
township in the county has running water within its borders, making it a
delightful region for agriculture and stock-raising. The uplands run from
50 to 150 feet above the bottoms and are usually a deep dark and very
fertile loam soil. Along the creeks and rivers the soil is for the most
part a dark, sandy alluvium.
Originally, the prairies in this section of Nebraska were covered with
a luxuriant growth of blue-joint grass, but since the development of the
county the grasses common to this section are all grown in immense
amounts, including alfalfa which of recent years has become the most
profitable and popular grass grown in the county. Red top, timothy, blue
grass and clover all flourish here well.
Timber has never been known to be very heavy within the county.
Although along the streams, at an early day considerable good timber
was found. The varieties included cottonwood, ash, elm, willow, soft
maple, oak, hickory, and the two walnut varieties. But very early the
pioneer settler out on the upland and prairies saw the wisdom in planting
out artificial groves of box-elder, cottonwood and other trees. The census
of 1880 shows the county had about 1,895 acres of forest trees and
twenty-five miles of hedges within its borders. Sandstone and brick clay
are the only minerals of any note found in Washington County. Hence
it is considered almost exclusively an agricultural county — this, of course,
includes grain, stock-raising, fruit, vegetables and poultry, all coming in
for their share at this writing toward making up the sum total of farm
wealth. The chapter on Agriculture will make clear some of the state-
ments contained herein.
312
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 313
Much relative to the geological formation found in Washington
County will be given in the State History section of these volumes.
Organization of Washington County
Thomas B. Cuming, of Iowa, became acting governor of the Ter-
ritory of Nebraska on the death of Governor Burt, who passed from earth
October 18, 1854. One of his first acts was to issue a proclamation divid-
ing the territory into counties. Among the several counties was Washing-
ton, whose boundaries were fixed as follows : "Commencing at a point
on the Missouri River one mile north of Omaha City ; thence due west to
the dividing line ridge between the Elkhorn and Missouri rivers; thence
northwesterly twenty miles to the Elkhorn River ; thence eastwardly to
a point on the Missouri River two miles above Fort Calhoun; thence
southerly along said river to the place of beginning."
There was only one voting place within the new county — Florence
postoffice — with judges of election as follows : Anselum Arnold, Charles
Howe and William Bryant.
The first census was taken under atting Governor Cuming in Octo-
ber, 1854, and it was the base for apportionment and one councilman
and two representatives in the assembly of the territory were granted this
county. James C. Mitchell was chosen councilman and Anselum Arnold
and A. J. Smith members of the lower house.
The first legislature convened in Omaha January 16, 1855. On Feb-
ruary 22, 1855, an act was passed reorganizing Washington County with
boundaries as follows : "Commencing at a point on the Missouri River
two miles north of Florence ; thence north following the meanderings
of the Missouri River to a point in a direct line twenty-four miles, from
place of beginning; thence west to the dividing ridge betwen the Elk-
horn and Missouri rivers, or to the eastern boundary line of Dodge
County; thence south along said line twenty-four miles; thence east to
the place of beginning."
By the same act Fort Calhoun was made the county seat ; the organiza-
tion of the county was then completed by the appointment by the gover-
nor of the following county officers : Stephen Cass, probate judge ;
George W. Neville, clerk; George Martin, treasurer, and Thomas J.
Allen, sheriff.
Washington County was placed in a judicial district made up of
Washington and Burt counties, with Judge James Bradley as presiding
judge. This was in 1854, but in 1856 Washington County together with
Douglas, Dodge, Washington, Dakota and Burt counties into one judicial
district, presided over at first by Judge Fenner Ferguson.
For the organization and description of local history of the several
township histories the reader is referred to the Township History section
of this work. It may be added, however, in this connection that the pres-
ent civil townships in Washington County include the following: Her-
man, Sheridan, Grant, Lincoln, Cuming City, Fontenelle, Arlington, Rich-
land, Fort Calhoun, De Soto and Blair.
An Abstract of Nebraska and Washington County
The present State of Nebraska and Washington County have been
carved from territory located, bounded and possessed by countries as
follows: Pioneer W. H. Woods, of Fort Calhoun, and correspondent
of the State Historical Society, in a paper published in 1915, is our
authority for the subjoined abstract of this county and state :
314 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Louisiana Purchase, 1803. Louisiana Territory, 1805. Territory of
Missouri, 1812. Indian Territory, 1834. Nebraska Territory, 1852.
Separated from Kansas, 1854. Nebraska State, 1867. Washington
County, 1854. Reorganized Washington County, 1860. Cavillier History :
Fur trading post, 1802. Lewis & Clark two camps ; and one council with
the Indians — "Council Point" and "Pumice Stone Camp," 1804. General
Atkinson and the farthest mihtary post in the United States — "Camp
Missouri," "Camp Hook" and Fort Atkinson, Fort Calhoun, 1819-27.
and Major Long's engineers' cantonment and outfitting station, 1819-20.
The oldest known cavalier in Nebraska, Captain Contal, who was
brought by his parents to old Fort Atkinson, died in Blair, 1903. And
old Rockport, in this county, claims Madame Lesa, 1819. the first white
woman to settle on Nebraska soil. Fort Calhoun, Washington County,
claims the first apple orchard in the state, the first county courthouse
and the first church parsonage in Nebraska. Fontanelle the first seminary
in the state, and Cuming City the first $20,000 college incorporation in
the state. Blair holds a chip over her shoulder over her pioneer Jacob
Goll who came to Washington County in 1847 and settled on his claim
in 1849 and was buried in Blair in 1906. In 1854 the Fontanelle colony
purchased twenty miles square from the Indians for $100 dollars in gold
(some aver the amount was a $10 gold coin). The Lewis & Clark monu-
ment was erected at Fort Calhoun in the school campus with military
ceremonies August 3, 1904, The old fort was established here by Gen-
eral Atkinson in 1819, 780 miles from St. Louis and 580 miles from a
postofifice and abandoned in 1827. In 1822 they farmed 556 acres of land;
had a grist and sawmill, library and school. In 1823 the troops raised
and gathered 8,839 bushels of corn. Antone Barada, the strongest man
ever known on the Missouri River, was born near the mouth of Fish
Creek in 1807. Fort Calhoun with its beautiful park, history and scenery
is the finest place in the state for the gatherings of the pioneers and old
settlers.
Fort Calhoun is one of the chief corner-stones in the history of the
West, between St. Louis and the British possessions. Beside Lewis and
Clark and old Fort Atkinson here at the fort is recorded the story of the
first New Year celebration in what is now nine states, in 1821, and here
too, the first white child born in that region in 1824. Here, soon after
the great chief, Logan Fontenelle, and Mary La Fleshe, the wife of his
successor, and here too is buried the first white girl that made her home
in the present City of Omaha, and the very first mail route north of
Kansas was established by act of Congress in 1854 to run from Table
Creek and end at Fort Calhoun.
Ten miles southwest of Fort Calhoun was the winter quarters of the
Mormons on their way to Salt Lake, who raised 300 soldiers for the
Mexican war, probably in 1846 and probably one or two years after the
famous Mormon Prophets Brigham Young and Oscar Pratt spent one
winter in log cabins four miles northwest of Fort Calhoun. Brigham
Young's cabin still remained in 1871. Previous to 1860 the north line of
Washington County lay one mile north of Fort Calhoun and the south
line two miles south of Florence. Florence or "Winter Quarters" was the
county seat. Fontanelle was then the countv seat of Dodge County.
Fort Calhoun was sixty years old in March. 1915, and celebrated her
second pioneer centennial for Fort Atkinson September 19, 1919. to follow
her Lewis and Clark centennial celebrated in 1904. Thus Washington
County from 1804 to 1860 contained more real pioneer history than all
the rest of Nebraska.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 315
Nebraska Territory in 1852 contained all the lands belonging to the
United States for 800 miles west of the State of Missouri and north to
British Columbia, now seven states and territories, and in that entire
region there were 300 white men, each holding a license from the govern-
ment at Washington, and the soldiers were ordered to see that no more
white men be permitted to make homes in this territory now peopled by
millions.
County Seat of Washington County
The following is a concise description of locating the various county
seats of Washington County, the same is by the pen of Frank McNeely
and may therefore be relied upon as correct :
"In 1855 an act was passed by the Territorial Legislature reorganizing
Washington County and designating Fort Calhoun, as the county seat.
"De Soto, a small village five miles north of Fort Calhoun, wished the
coimty seat to be moved there. In the winter of 1858 a crowd of De Soto
citizens organized and with arms went to Fort Calhoun to take the county
seat by force. Fort Calhoun citizens barricaded themselves in the log
courthouse and held off the De Soto band until the afternoon of the sec-
ond day when by compromise the county seat was turned over to De Soto.
One man was killed in this contest in which I was a participant.
"The county seat remained in De Soto until an election in the fall of
1866, when the vote of the people re-located it at Fort Calhoun where it
remained until 1869. An election in the latter year made Blair the county
seat.
"A courthouse was built in Blair, the present county seat of Wash-
ington county, in 1889 at a cost of $50,000.
"In the early days every new town (and they were all new) was
ambitious to become the county seat and many of them hoped to have the
honor of becoming the capital of the territory. Washington County had
its full share of aspiring towns and most of them got beyond the paper
stage. There were De Soto, Fort Calhoun, Rockport, Cuming City and
last but not least — Fontanelle then in ^^'ashington County, now a deserted
village in Dodge County. Of these only Fort Calhoun remains more than
a memory. De Soto was founded by Potter C. Sullivan and others in 1854
and in 1857 had about five hundred population. It began to go down in
1859 and when the city of Blair was started its decline was rapid. Rock-
port, which was in the vicinity of the fur trading establishments of early
days, was a steamboat landing of some importance and had at one time a
population of half a hundred or more. Now only the beautiful landscape
remains. Cuming City like De Soto, received its death blow when Blair
was founded and now the townsite is given over to agricultural purposes."
CHAPTER II
INDIAN TREATY AND EARLY SETTLEMENT
Lewis and Clark Explorers Hold Council with Indians in 1804 —
Burial of Big Elk, Last Chief to Die in Washington County
— Buried Near Fort Calhoun in 1854 — Early Settlement by
White Men — Forts Atkinson and Calhoun — Settlement in
Various Parts of the County — An Interesting Reminiscence
on Early Days — Where the Pioneers Emigrated From — The
Mormon's Sojourn — The Quincy Colony — Claim-Jumping and
Early Murder.
First White Settlement
The first white settlement to be effected within what is now known as
Washington County was that made about old Fort Atkinson — later called
Fort Calhoun, hard by the west bank of the Missouri River in the south-
eastern part of the present limits of the county, in about 1819, when Fort
Atkinson was constructed by the United States Government, and which
event was made the subject of a well-attended centennial celebration at
Fort Calhoun in 1919. Some time after Lewis and Clark made their
report on this section of the country, and prior to 1818, the first white
men commenced to invade this territory as traders and explorers. The
reader is referred to further articles on the settlement as shown in the
various township and village histories of this work, wherein names and
dates are entered into more in detail than is necessary in this connection.
The Second Settlement
After the settlement by army families and traders at Fort Calhoun
vicinity, came the Fontenelle settlement in the western portion of the
county, by the Quincy Colony, who settled under the auspices of the
"Nebraska Colonization Company," in 1854. The account of this noted
settlement is found in this work in the township history section. (See
Fontanelle Township.)
The De Soto Settlement
The settlement made at and in the vicinity of De Soto, was made
in 1854-55, and within a few months more than thirty log cabins were
erected and soon occupied by newcomers. Just below that point the
fleeing Mormon band (Latter Day Saints) in their flight from Nauvoo,
Illinois, had stopped about 1846 and remained several years before going
on to the Promised Land — Utah. Near De Soto lived their illustrious
leader — Brigham Young and Orson Pratt, on land where later the
De Soto flouring mill was built. The early gentiles found many brick-
bats left from the brick kilns burned by the Mormon settlers. (See
De Soto history.)
Other Settlements
An account of other settlements in this county will be found in the
several township and village histories in this volume. (See index.)
316
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 317
Departed Pioneers
In August, 1920, historian W. H. Woods of Fort Calhoun, of the
Old Settlers' Association, reported the following persons who had
passed from earth's shining circle since last year, the same being Terri-
torial pioneers, those who resided in Washington County when it was
yet in the Territory of Nebraska:
Ephriam Gilliam, Herman Stork, James R. Hastings, George N. Weise
Oliver O. Fox, Mrs. Anna Ruwe, Mrs. Soren Asmussen, Anna H. Web-
ber, Mrs. J. P. Wishart, Carl Otto Jensen, F. N. Gilliand, Oliver
Bouvier, Mrs. Mary Teats, George Sutherland, Charles Osterman, Mrs.
Cornelia Olsen. Mrs. J. W. Newell, Sr., Mrs. Mary E. Parker, W. G.
Cunningham, Duane Brown, A. C. Jones, I. N. Branhall, Thomas P.
Kennard. George W. Watson.
Historic Items of Washington County
Mrs. May Allen Lazure, well-known to the people of Washington
County, a few years since made this historic record of some interest-
ing items on the early day history of the county, and from such writings
we are permitted to quote freely:
Alfred D. Jones, the first postmaster of Omaha, tells in the Pioneer
Record of the first Fourth of July celebration in Omaha and Nebraska,
as well.
"On July 4th, 1854, I was employed in the work of surveying the
townsite of Omaha. At this time there were only two cabins on the
townsite, my postofifice building and the company claim house. The
latter was used as our boarding house. Inasmuch as the Fourth would
be a holiday, I concluded it would be a novelty to hold a celebration
on Nebraska soil. I therefore announced that we would hold a cele-
bration and invited the people of Council Bluffs, by inserting a notice in
the paper, and requested that those who would participate should prepare
a lunch for the occasion.
"We got forked stakes and poles along the river, borrowed bolts
of sheeting from the store of James A. Jackson, and thus equipped,
we erected an awning to shelter from the sun those who attended. Anvils
were procured, powder purchased and placed in charge of cautious
gunners, to make a noise for the crowd. The celebration was held on
the present high school grounds.
"The picnickers came with their baskets, and the gunner dis-
charged his duty nobly. A stranger in our midst was introduced as
Mr. Sawyer, an ex-congressman from Ohio."
I had a life-long acquaintance with one of those early picnickers,
Mrs. Rhoda Craig, a daughter of Thomas Allen, who buih the first
house in Omaha. She often told the story of the first Fourth of July
celebration there. Their fear of the Indians was so great that as
soon as dinner was over, they hurried to their boats and rowed across
to Council Bluffs for safety.
Another pioneer woman was Aimee Taggart Kenny, who came to
Fontanelle with her parents when a small child. Her father was a
Baptist missionary in Nebraska, and his earliest work was with the
Quincy Colony. I have heard her tell the following experience :
"On several occasions we were warned that the Indians were about
to attack us. In great fear we gathered in the schoolhouse and watched
all night, the men all well armed. But we were never molested. Another
318 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
time, mother was alone with us children. Seeing the Indians approach-
ing we locked the doors, went into the attic by means of an outside
ladder and looked out through the cracks. We saw the red men try
the door, peep in at the window, and then busy themselves chewing
up mother's home-made hop yeast, which had been spread out to dry.
They made it into balls and tossed it all away."
John T. Bell of Newberg, Oregon, contributed the following:
"I have a pleasant recollection of your grandfather Allen. My
father's and mother's people were all Southerners and there was a kind-
liness about Mr. and Mrs. Allen that reminded me of my own folks
back in Illinois. I often stopped to see them when going to and from
Calhoun mill.
"I was also well acquainted with Mrs. E. H. Clark, and Rev. Mr.
Taggart and his family were among the most highly esteemed residents
of our little settlement of Fontanelle. Mr. Taggart was a man of fine
humor. It was the custom in those early days for the entire com-
munity to get together on New Year's Day and have a dinner at the
'College.' There would be speech-making, and I remember that on one
occasion Mr. Taggart said that no doubt the time would come when we
would all know each other's real names and why we left the States.
"The experiences of the Bell family with the early Nebraska days
were ones of privation. We came to Nebraska in 1856, quite well
equipped with stock — four good horses and four young cows which
we had driven behind the wagon from Western Illinois. The previous
winter had been very mild and none of the settlers were prepared for
the dreadful snow storm which came on the last day of November and
continued for three days and nights. Our horses and cows were in
the stable made by squaring up the head of a small gulch and covering
the structure with slough grass. At the end of the storm when father
could get out to look after the stock there was no sign of the stable.
The low ground it occupied was leveled off by many feet of snow.
He finally located the roof and found the stock alive and that was
about all. The animals suffered greatly that winter and when spring
came we had left only one horse and no cows. That lone horse was
picking the early grass when he was bitten in the nose by a rattle snake
and died from the effects. One of those horses 'Old Fox' was a noble
character. We had owned him as long as I could remember and when
he died we children all cried. I have since owned a good many horses
but not one equalled Old Fox in the qualities that go to make up a
perfect creature.
"After the Civil war my brother Will and I were the only members
of our family left in Nebraska. We served with Grant and Sherman
and then went back to Fontanelle, soon afterward beginning the improve-
ment of our farm on Bell Creek in the western part of the county.
By that time conditions had so improved in Nebraska that hardships
were not so common. I was interested in tree planting even as a boy
and one of the distinct recollections of our first summer in Nebraska
was getting so severely poisoned in the woods on the Elkhorn, when
digging up young sprouts, that I was entirely blind. A colored man
living in Fontanelle told father that white paint would cure me and
so I was painted wherever there was a breaking out with satisfactory
results.
"Later the planting of Cottonwood, box elder, maple and other
trees became a general industry in Nebraska and I am confident that
I planted 20,000 trees, chiefly cottonwood. To J. Sterling Morton, one
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 319
of Nebraska's earliest and most useful citizens, Nebraska owed a
debt of gratitude. He was persistent in the advocating of planting
trees. In his office hung a picture of an oak tree; on his personal
cards was a picture of an oak tree with the legend 'Plant Trees' ; on
his letterheads, on his envelopes was borne the same injunction and
the picture of an oak tree. On the marble door step of his home was
cut the picture of an oak tree and the words 'Plant Trees'; on the
ground glass of the entrance door was the same emblem. I went to a
theater he had built and on the drop curtain was a picture of an oak
tree and the words, 'Plant trees' ; today the body of this useful citizen
lies buried under the trees he planted in Wyuka Cemetery, near
Nebraska City."
Claim-Jumping and an Early Murder
Fort Calhoun was the scene of one of the earliest murders in Wash-
ington County — the date was in the month of June, 1855. From the
most reliable data concerning this unfortunate affair, and which has
found its way into the annals prepared by the Daughters of the
American Revolution, we are permitted to here give in brief its history :
In June of the year 1855, for the consideration of a one-ninth
interest in the town, E. H. Clark contracted with the proprietors to
put up a building on the town site for a hotel, said building to be
24 by 28 feet, two stories high and with an ell of the same dimensions,
the structure to be of hewn logs and put up in good style. The con-
tract was in writing and as soon as the building was completed each
member of the company was to deed Mr. Clark by quit-claim, his
proportion of the lots to be taken indiscriminately from all parts of
the town. He immediately, w^ith six men, commenced the getting
out of the timber, boarding in the meantime with Major Arnold's
family and laboring under many disadvantages, both for want of skilled
laborers and teams. The men were newly arrived from Virginia none
of whom had ever done manual labor but were out of money and must
do something; so had imposed themselves on Mr. Clark as men from a
timbered country and used to such work and as hands were not readily
obtained in those days he had to submit, paying them $2 a day each, and
their board. For teams he hired a yoke of oxen from the settlers as
they could spare them from their own work. What lumber was neces-
sary for the building had to be obtained from Omaha (where a mill
had been started) at $60 per thousand and hauled in a circuitous route
by the old Mormon Trail, a distance of eighteen miles.
About August 10, the claim cabin of the town company having been
vacated, one Charles T. Davis in a very unostentatious manner moved
in and filed a claim on the town site and served a written notice on
Mr. Clark to quit trespassing on the claim. The latter notified the
company of his action and kept on drawing material on the ground
for his building and after three days, Davis sued him for trespassing,
fixing his damage at $100 for which he afterwards obtained judgment
and Clark paid it. Mr. Clark then notified the company that he should
sell his material and leave unless they took steps to put the title out
of controversy. They returned word for him to go on with the work
and they would guarantee the title. A day or so afterward, when
engaged with all the neighbors in raising the building, a number of
the company with some friends, ten or twelve in all, came up and
wanted Clark to join them in removing Davis forcibly from the claim,
320 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
which he declined to do. While parleying over the matter, a man was
seen going at full speed on horseback from the claim cabin toward De Soto
and as it was already known that the settlement at De Soto was to
back Davis in his attempt to hold the Calhoun townsite (De Soto being
a rival), Clark told the company the sooner they got over the better,
if they were going, for Davis would soon have help from De Soto.
They thought not and still insisted that all the settlers around Calhoun
were interested and should go and assist. The talk was continued
until dinner time and then the party went off to dinner and when return-
ing they saw two wagon loads of armed men coming from De Soto
and going into the house with Davis. It was thought by representatives
of the company useless to attack them but they proposed that the entire
party should go, so as to show as strong a force as possible in order
to scare Davis off and that if he would not go that they would come
again when he was not expecting it and put him off. To this the settlers
agreed and all marched over to the house and were drawn up in line
in front of the door which was closed. Col. Addison Cochran, as spokes-
man, knocked at the door which was answered by Davis within, demand-
ing what they wanted. Cochran told them he knew the claim belonged
to the town company and they wanted him to leave peaceably and that
if he did not, they should put him off by force. Davis' attorney, Potter
C. Sullivan, replied claiming some legal ground for Davis' action and
it was agreed that he should come outside and talk the matter over
with Cochran. While they were talking, the door was opened and
someone from the inside said he would like to "put a bullet through
Thompson" — one of the party outside — whereupon some words passed
when Thompson and the man making the remark, each drew their
revolvers and fired at the same time but neither shot took effect. The
line was drawn up about twenty-five feet from the door, and as soon
as these shots were fired, a dozen guns were seen pointed from the
cabin and shot after shot was fired upon Cochran and his retreating
party, three of which shots took effect, one through the heart of John
Goss, Sr., killing him instantly: one through the arm of H. C. Purple, so
shattering it that it was two or three years before he recovered and only
after seven surgical operations had been performed by the most skilled
surgeons of Chicago. Both of these parties were the proprietors in
the town site. The third shot took effect in the thigh of Mr. Thompson,
who had words with the man inside, but it was only a flesh wound from
which he soon recovered. When Mr. Goss fell, Mr. Clark was still
standing before the door and his escape was miraculous, as bullets
whistled on every side. He immediately ran to Mr. Goss' assistance
and while holding his head a number of shots were fired at him and
after laying him down and going in search of his son who returned
to the body with him, the occupants of the house kept firing at them
but with no effect though not over fifty feet distant. The escape of
the two men can only be accounted for by the excited condition of those
who held the guns. The body of Goss was put in a wagon and con-
veyed to his home in Iowa and there buried. This sad affair was a
terrible blow to the community and none knew what would happen next
as it was feared that such feelings were aroused that many more would
be killed by being waylaid or otherwise.
The night after this affray, Davis sent his attorney, Sullivan, to
Omaha, to compromise the matter, he doubtless fearing another attack.
The town company agreed with Sullivan to arbitrate the right to the
townsite, and that all hostilities on both sides, and all work on the
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 321
site should be suspended until after the arbitration, which was to be
by disinterested parties chosen, one from Bellevue, one from Nebraska
City, and one from Glenwood. The time fixed was a month from that
date and when the time came the arbitrators could not get together
and in fact never did meet. Thus the matter rested till November
when Davis, who all the time had not felt safe, made a sale, or pre-
tended sale, to Major Anselum Arnold, Thomas J. Allen, Jesse Esttock,
and James M. Taggart and they with Cassady and Test, John Goss,
Mrs. John Goss, Sr., formed a new town company, taking Mr. Clark in
as an equal proprietor, providing he should go on and complete his hotel
building according to the original contract, which he did, and in March,
1856, gave Col. George Stevens, then in the Douglas House at Omaha,
a one-half interest in the building on condition he would move into it
and open a hotel. This Colonel Stevens did during that month and the
house was long celebrated as one of the best kept hotels in the West.
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(By Courteiiy of Blair Tribune)
First House in Which U. S. Court and District Court Was Held
IN De Soto in 1859 as It Appeared Before It Was Torn Down
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First Courthouse ix Blair as It Appeared Propped Up Prior to
Erection of Present Building
CHAPTER III
COUNTY GOVERNMENT
County Buildings — First Courthouse — Present Building — Various
County Jails — List of County Officers — Valuations of County
— Financial Statement for 1920, Etc.
Washington County like other Nebraska counties has had various
kinds of county governments — the precinct and later the township organ-
ization form — first one and then the other. The of^ces of county com-
missioners and the county supervisors are in reality about the same.
As a general rule the affairs of Washington County have been well
managed by representative citizens who had held local offices for the
best interests of the tax-paying citizens. No great political or office-
holding scandals have blackened the pages of its history of more than
three score years. One thing is noticeable here — that when men pos-
sessed the right qualifications for offices to which they have been elected,
they have been allowed to remain in office so long as they did their
official duties, and not changed for new men simply because it was some
other man's turn to hold office, which has too frequently been the
case in other sections of the state.
County Buildings
Washington County's first courthouse was erected at Fort Calhoun
in 1856, of cottonwood lumber. It was built by subscription, and some
declare it was also used for school purposes, but others dispute this
claim. Governor L. Crounse once stated his experiences, when he was
judge of the State Supreme Court and rode the circuit. Fort Calhoun
was one of his stations and he held court here for the first time after
his election. It was also in this building that the famous Senator
Paddock was admitted to the bar. The building above mentioned
served as seat of justice until the county seat was removed (by force)
to De Soto, five miles north of Fort Calhoun, in 1858. The county seat
remained at De Soto until the autumn of 1866. but no regular court-
house was erected by the county at De Soto. From there the county
seat was returned to Fort Calhoun, where it remained until 1869, then
went to Blair.
A courthouse was built at Blair. This building, however, was
erected by a firm of contractors for school purposes, as a private specu-
lation, but the school authorities failed to purchase it from the builders,
hence when the county seat was moved to Blair, bought by the county
and was used as the first courthouse there and continued in use as the
home of the various county offices and courtroom until the present
magnificent structure was built in 1889, an account of which follows :
Present Courthouse
June 14, 1889, the question of building a new courthouse was sub-
mitted to the tax-payers of Washington County and the result was
1,263 for bonding the county for $35,000, and the number of votes
against the proposition was 874.
323
•^^4^-
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 325
About the same time the City of Blair voted on a proposition to
give $5,000 toward the courthouse building, in case a suitable structure
was erected. The vote at that special city election stood 236 for and
only 7 against the measure.
The first committee on courthouse building was composed of the
chairman of the board, the clerk and Thomas Wilkinson, whose duty
it was to have properly printed and registered the several bonds which
were to be floated upon the market.
The county board ordered that the new courthouse should be erected
on block No. 75, in the City of Blair — the so-called "JaW Block."
The regular building committee was composed of the chairman of
the board, E. M. Cook, of Lincoln Township; P. J. Gossard, of Sheri-
dan Township. The chairman was then L. C. Weber, member of the
board. A local man named Lou Vaughan was appointed by the board as
superintendent of construction. Bids were advertised for and the follow-
ing were received and acted upon : Tubus Schlup, $37,954 ; Robert
McHale, $41,000; H. B. Dexter, $38,"l65 ; M. T. Murphy, $40,700;
George Sutherland, $39,999; Fred Mingadodt, $37,439; Richards &
Company, $35,842; Seeley & Son, $41,879; Lyone & Sweet, $36,900.
Richards & Company were awarded the contract at $35,842. The building
was constructed of St. Louis pressed brick, trimmed with Warrenburg
stone.
At the session of the county board held September 11, 1889, the
site for the building was staked off and decided upon. The county sur-
veyor was ordered to set the stakes. At the same session it was ordered
that the numerous shade trees upon the courthouse square should be
"boxed" in order to protect them from being bruised while building
operations were going on. The people of Blair have always been
passionately fond of shade trees and used much care to get them
well started.
The architect employed by the county to draw plans and carry for-
ward the same was O. H. Placey, who, after the building was partly
built, became offended and resigned, as is shown by the following clause
in the record -book of the court board: (Date was November, 1889.)
"And now comes O. H. Placey, architect, and announces to the
board in open session, that from this time on, he positively refuses
to have anything to do, in and about the further work and completion
of the new courthouse, and bid the board good-bye and took his hat
and passed out."
The contract called for the completion of the building January, 1891,
but for various good reasons it was not turned over to the county
until March 24, that year. A long statement concerning the acceptance
of the building is found recorded on page 220 of Book No. 3, Super-
visors Records.
The old courthouse was sold to F. H. Matthiesen February 3, 1891,
for $725.
The County Jail Buildings
No matter how good a community may be, there is at times use for
a jail. If it is not by reason of unruly citizens of the county in which
it is situated, it is for some act of an unlawful character committed
by persons coming in from outside communities, who must needs be
punished and it is but wisdom to have provided some safe, secure place
in which to confine such unruly persons until tried, or till a penalty has
been paid for their illegal acts.
326 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
An account of the pioneer jail for Washington County was given
by an earlier writer of Washington County history, in which he
remarked :
"The county jail is located several squares from the courthouse and
is, perhaps, less suited for jail purposes than any similar structure on
the face of the earth, being small, inconveniently arranged, and the cells
dark and unhealthy. It was built soon after the county seat was located
at Blair, and cost some $8,000. For this sum an excellent jail build-
ing, large enough to supply the wants of the county for a half century,
could now be built. It seemed to be an absolute necessity, that counties
in the West should pay some very expensive lessons, and Washington
County in comparison with some of her neighbors, has passed through
this experience at a moderate outlay." (This was written in 1876.)
The first jail was situated on the north side of the public square;
it was a two-story building and had a jailor's residence in connection.
This jail building served until 1904, when the jail was torn down and
the present modest brick one-story jail just to the east of the courthouse
was built.
It was the jail that was torn down in 1904, in which was placed
a murderer from near Fontanelle, early in the nineties, for safe keeping,
until he could have his trial for killing his foster father, Mr. Baldwin,
in cold blood. Before time for his trial, he succeeded in making his
escape by scraping the soft lime stone foundation stones of the jail,
in the form of a circular hole large enough for him to crawl out. He
was never again seen in this county. The hole in the jail wall was
repaired but it ever afterward showed the outline of the hole and was
pointed out to hundreds of people, as the place where the murderer
made his escape with a table knife.
The County Farm
Washington County has always cared well for her unfortunate poor,
but never encourages shiftlessness on the part of poor people. The
needy cases have been sought out by the county authorities and all who
are entitled to aid receive it. Many years ago it was thought the wisest
thing to purchase a tract of land which is now known as the "Poor
Farm." It consists of eighty acres, just outside the city limits of
Blair. The last annual report shows there were only four inmates in
the County House — all being men.
The present superintendent and wife are Mr. and Mrs. Henry P.
Hansen.
List of County Officers — P.\st and Present
County Clerks
E. Mathers, 1857; Abraham Castetter, 1861; re-elected every election
to 1869, when Peter R. Benner was elected and re-elected in 1871 and
1873; E. C. Jackson, 1875; E. C. Jackson, 1877; T- S. Cook, 1879
Thomas P. Lippincott, 1881; Joe S. Cook, 1883; Weslev J. Cook, 1885
C. Rathman, 1887; C. Rathman, 1889; C. Rathman, 1891; C. Rathman
1893; Watt Gauldrie, 1895; Watt Gauldrie. 1897; Watt Gauldrie, 1899
F. W. Kenny, Jr., 1901 ; George H. Faber, 1903 ; George H. Faber, 1905
M. R. Lippincott, 1907; Ove T. Anderson, 1909; Ove T. Anderson
1911; Ove T. Anderson, 1914; Ove T. Anderson, 1916; Mary C
Debel, 1918.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 327
County Treasurers
George Stevens, 1857; Lewis Tucker, 1858; E. N. Grennell, 1859;
re-elected each election until 1863. when Alexander Reed was elected
and continued in office until 1875, when J. H. Hungate was elected. In
1877. J. H. Hungate; re-elected in 1879; Frank Harriman, 1881; Frank
Harriman, 1883; H. C. Chapman. 1885; E. C. Tackson. 1887; E. C.
Tackson, 1889; Joe S. Cook, 1891; Joe S. Cook. 1893; James H. Platz,
1895; lames H. Platz. 1897; George H. Faber, 1899; George H. Faber.
1901 ; "E. Z. Russell, 1903 ; E. Z. Russell. 1905 ; John F. White, 1907 ;
John F. White. 1909; George Bruse, 1911; George Bruse, 1914; R. G.
Allen, 1916; R. G. Allen, 1918.
Sheriffs
Orrin Rhodes and Hugh McNeely (the latter to fill unexpired term),
1856; Hugh McNeely. 1857; Chester Lusk. 1860; Israel Swihart. 1861;
Dan Case, 1868; A. T. Chapin, 1869; Rice Arnold, 1871 and re-elected
in 1873 and 1875 ; T- W. Boggs. 1877 to 1881 ; W. D. Gross, 1883 to 1885 ;
H. Schneider, 1885 to 1888; F. Harriman, 1889 to 1893; Claus Mencke,
1893 to 1911; Alf A. Compton, 1911 to 1916; M. Mehrens. 1916 and
re-elected in 1918.
Prob.\te Judges
Up to the seventies this county had the office of probate judge;
these were the persons who served ; James A. Goodrich, 1857 ; Z. Jack-
son, 1861 ; John S. Bowen. 1869 and re-elected 1871 ; Jesse T. Davis.
1873 and re-elected in 1875.
County Judges
The following is a list of the county judges for Washington County:
A. Perkins, 1877-81; E. N. Grennell, 1881-83; Alonzo Perkins, 1883-87;
E. T. Farnsworth, 1887-89; P. Hammang, 1889-93; E. C. Jackson,
1893-01 ; G. C. Marshall. 1901-07: Clark O'Hanlon appointed to succeed
Marshall, serving until February, 1911 ; I. E. Eller, appointed to succeed
O'Hanlon and served until 1918 ; E. B. Carrigan. 1918 to present date.
County Surveyors
Thomas Wilson, 1857, re-elected in 1858; George A. Bingham, 1861;
V. C. Lantry, 1869; re-elected 1871; J. C. W. Kline, 1875; W. H. Hill,
1881-89; W. C. Catherwood, 1889-91; W. H. Hill, 1891-1914; Christ
Rohwer, 1914.
County School Superintendents
EH Bacon. 1857; D. McLacklin. 1858; Charles G. Bisbee, 1869,
re-elected 1871; Charles Gross. 1873, re-elected 1875; I. N. Jones,
1877-79; W. V. Miller. 1879-85; J- Henderson, 1885-97; G. C. Marshall,
1897-01; Alfred L. Cook. 190r-05 ; J. H. Rhoades, 1905-14; N. T.
Lund, 1914-18; Mabel Marsh, by appointment upon resignation of
Mr. Lund.
328 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
' Coroners
Jesse T. Davis, 1861 ; Charles Emerson Tennant, 1869 ; H. P. But-
ler, 1871 ; Dr. S. B. Taylor, 1873 ; E. C. Pierce, 1875-85 ; F. Macumber,
1885-87; J. F. Pettegrew, 1887-89; E. G. Pierce, 1891-1914.
Clerk of the District Court
Up to 1881 the county clerk was ex-officio clerk of the court. Thomas
P. Lippincott, 1881; E. C. Jackson, 1882; I. C. Filer, 1883-87; C.
Schmachtenberg, 1891; Harland Fawcett, 1895-99-02; Theo. Haller,
.1903-07; I. C. Filer, 1908-11; F. C. Jackson, 1911-18 and still in office.
County Attorney
Formerly there was the office of district attorney in Nebraska, but
the law was changed and now a county attorney obtains instead. Those
of Washington County have included these: L. W. Osborn, 1887;
W. E. David, 1893; Clark O'Hanlon, 1894-96; W. C. Walton, 1897;
Herman Aye, 1898-1900; Edmund B. Carrigan, 1902-10; Henry
Menecke, 1912; George A. Dall, 1914; Henry Menecke, 1916; Grace
Ballard, 1918.
County Commissioners
The following is a list of the county commissioners who have served
in and for Washington County since its organization :
David Franklin, A. Phinney, and John West, 1856; J. B. Wickshire,
elected in 1857; E. A. Allen, 1858; E. B. Hamilton, 1859; John Parks,
1860; John Evans and James Stewart, 1861 ; Silas Masters, 1862; Jacob
Carter, 1863; James S. Stewart, re-elected in 1864; John A. Unthank,
1865; W. B. Beals. 1866; Alonzo Perkins, 1867; Thomas Frazier, 1868;
Watson Tyson, 1869; Wm. R. Hamilton and David Couchman, 1870;
David Couchman re-elected 1871; Wm. R. Hamilton, 1873; H. J.
Rohwer, 1874; Charles. Selleck, 1875; the board in 1876 consisted of
these: W. R. Hamilton, H. J. Rohwer and Charles Selleck; 1877—
H. J. Rohwer, Charles Selleck and W. P. Viele ; 1878— same as in 1877 ;
1879— W. P. Viele, H. J. Rohwer and A. M. Bovee; 1880— H. J.
Rohwer, A. M. Bovee and R. Blaco; 1881— R. Blaco, A. M. Bovee and
H. J. Rohwer: 1882— R. Blaco, O. N. Unthank and H. O. Morse;
1883— O. N. Unthank, H. O. Morse and R. Blaco; 1884— G. A. Cran-
nell, Charles S. Griffin, F. E. Hall; 1885 — John Spencer, M. Cameron
and S. C. Rose.
At this date a change was made and one supervisor from each
precinct in the county became a member of the county board, beginning
in 1886 these officers were: Soren Jensen, Watson Tyson, Lee John-
son, James W. Wild, M. Cameron, J. J. Smith, D. P. Scott, John Klotz,
John Spencer, John Patrick, Patrick McCarty, L. C. Weber, C. H.
Beckman.
1887— J. W. Gaines, C. H. Beckman, W. R. Hamilton, L. C. Weber,
John Patrick, Patrick McCarty, M. Cameron, W. Van Arsdale, W. G.
Harrison, Thomas Crouch, John H. Maguire, F. M. Cook, James M.
Wild.
1888— E. M. Cook, Frank Jahnel, J. S. Stokes, Henry Osterman,
L. C. Weber, J. M. Wild, P. J. Gossard, Theo. Haller, M. H. B. Rosen-
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 329
balm, Thomas Wilkinson, M. Cameron, Joseph Johnson, Patrick
McCarty. ' '
1889— L. C. Weber, Eugene Cook, Frank Jahnel, Henry Boucher,
P. J. Gossard, Henry Osterman, W. G. Harrison, Joe S. Cook, Samuel
Warrick, J. M. Souder, John Henrichsen, Thomas Wilkinson, O. V.
Remington, L. C. Weber.
1890— L. C. Weber, J. M. Souder, E. M. Cook, S. Warrick, J. S.
Cook, W. G. Harrison, John Henrichsen, W. W. McKinney, Henry
Osterman, P. G. Gossard, Henry Boucher, John Klotz and George Neff.
1891 — W. G. Harrison, James Cruickshank, G. W. Neff, George
Rohwer, Thomas Wilkinson, W. W. McKinney, E. M. Cook, L. C.
Weber, P. J. Gossard, John Klotz, Henry Osterman, J. M. Souder and
S. Warrick.
1892— L. C. Weber, W. G. Harrison, Samuel Warrick, J. M. Souder,
R. Broderson, T. B. Pawling, E. M. Cook, H. Savage, George Rohwer,
James Cruickshank, Henry Osterman and Thomas Wilkinson.
1893 — James Cruickshank, Joseph Hammang, George W. Matteson,
H. J. Carpenter, George Rohwer, D. H. Npble, Frank Jahnel.
From this date on the districts in the county were represented as
follows :
1894 — Frank Jahnel, Wm. Gray, G. Mehrens, George Drevsen, T. B.
Pawling, W. W. McKinney, R. Broderson, W. R. Downs.
1895— B. P. Miller, Chester C. Marshall, Henry Rohwer, James R.
Smith, Tames Cruickshank, H. J- Carpenter, E. Castetter.
1896_C. C. Marshall, T. B. Pawling, J. R. Smith, B. P. Miller,
Frank Jahnel, William Gray, James R. Smith.
1897— William Gray, W. D. Gross, H. Rohwer, G. M. Whitford, T.
B. Pawling, W. W. McKinney, T- M. Whitford and R. Broderson.
1898— M. Johnson, R. Broderson, W. D. Gross, T. B. Pawling, John
D. Eakin, William Gray, Henry Rohwer.
1899 — (Record of names not clear in Minute book.)
1900— A. O. Pound, William Wilson, H. J. Carpenter, F. A. Reyn-
olds, L. K. Davies, H. Rohwer. John Blaco.
1901 — Messrs. Day, Meier, Blaco, Davies, Gray, Wrich and Wilson.
1902 — John Blaco, Meier, Reynolds, Magnus Johnson, J. L. Day,
Hy Wrich, Wm. Gray.
1903— Henry Wrich, Joe S. Cook, P. T. Badgerow, H. D. Schoettger,
F. A. Reynolds, Magnus Johnson, John Blaco.
1904— Joe S. Cook, Hy Wrich, P. T. Badgerow, H. D. Schoettger,
S. W. Cushman, Fred Echtenkamp, Lee Smith.
1905 — Joe S. Cook, Lee Smith, P. T. Badgerow, S. W. Cushman,
Fred Echtenkamp, H. D. Schoettger, Henry Wrich.
1906— (No record.)
1907 — Elected — E. W. Burdick, James E. Maher, Fred Ramser.
1909 — Fred H. Heuermann, James E. Maher.
1911— Elected— E. W. Burdic.
1912 — James E. Maher, Fred Heuermann and E. W. Burdic.
1913^ — James E. Maher, E. W. Burdic and Fred Heuermann.
1914 — Same as above.
1915 — Same as above.
1916 — Same as above.
1917 — James E. Maher, Fred Heuermann and Charles Nelson.
1918 — Same as above.
1919— Charles Nelson, H. C. Blaco and John F. White.
1920 — Same as above.
330 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Valuations in Washington County — 1920
Farm Property
Per
Land Improvements Total Acre
Arlington Township $4,829,650 $323,225 $5,152,875 $210
Sheridan Township 4,222,890 299,750 4,522,640 225
Fontanelle Township 5,159,440 410,450 5,569,890 224
Richland Township 4,719,335 344,760 5,064,095 213
Lincoln Township 4,908,075 330,920 5,238,995 210
Grant Township 4,189,320 226,075 4,424,395 187
Blair Township 4,028,760 341,360 4,367,920 169
Herman Township 2.786,555 138,850 2,925,305 155
Cuming City Township .. . 3,516,810 162,400 3,667,510 159
Fort Calhoun Township . . 4,105,875 250,100 4,355,975 135
De Soto Township 947,070 64,120 1,011,190 110
Total $43,422,780 $2,982,010 $46,300,790
City Property — 1920
Land value Improvements Total
Blair City $681,345 $3,183,175 $1,865,020
Arlington Village 185,725 351,005 586,730
Calhoun Village 82,110 115,100 197,260
Herman Village 160,310 197,075 357,385
Kennard Village 76,355 171,550 247,905
Washington Village 46,400 49,550 95,950
Total $1,232,295 $4,067,455 $3,301,250
Total Valuations of Washington County — 1920
Actual value Assessed value
Real estate (farm property) $46,300,790 $9,260,158
Real estate (city property) 3,301,250 620,250
Personal property of county 9,769,820 1,953,964
Railway terminal valuations 2,146,475 423,295
Western Union Telegraph Company 24,275 4,855
Telephone companies 94,770 18,954
Insurance companies 335,425 67,085
Pullman Car Company 2,685 537
Express Company 4,785 957
Total valuation of county $61,950,275 $12,390,055
Financial_ Statement
The following is a copy of the county treasurer's semi-annual state-
ment in Washington County for the half year ending June 30, 1920:
Name of fund Receipts Disbursements Balance
State funds $75,727.41 $84,005.43 $5,.520.11
County general 23,001.06 27,132.29 1,145.77
County road 14,109.01 21,711.86 11,109.60
County bridge 16,631.38 18,263.07 3,855.21
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 331
Name of fund Receipts Disbursements Balance
Advertising $ .20 $ .20
O. & N. W. interest 325.31 $ 862.26 107.81
O. & N. W. sinking 5,298.97 5,003.31 1,878.23
S. & P. interest 805.21 925.71 463.19
S. C. & P. sinking 4,004.38 10,013.90 640.54
Soldier's relief 422.78 422.91
County ditch 4,569.06 3.91 6,434.31
Elkhorn drainage 200.50 650.00 12.12
Burt and Washington county
drainage 1,193.20 15,000.00 272.73
Inheritance 9,442.65 2,201.18 9,881.69
Di.strict .school 44,475.55 105,843.11 27,746.58
School bond 10,412.67 1,032.46 13,746.77
Blair City 4,867.07 10,288.74 3,180.33
Arlington Village 3,015.70 2,875.50 2,086.96
Kennard Village 644.47 1,788.01 174.11
Fort Calhoun 858.92 1,378.00 431.71
Herman Village 2,777.30 2,740.00 785.68
Washington Village 237.49 347.60
Fines 120.00 80.00
Fees 3,177.32 1,624.00 1,590.75
Redemptions 253.17 6,495.54 689.93
Motor licenses 3.75 536.35
De Soto ditch 346.33 346.33
Calhoun ditch 320.88 320.88
Interest on deposits
Total $279,646.28 $319,841.95 $90,411.28
CHAPTER IV
RAILROADS OF THE COUNTY
The Old Sioux City & Pacific — The Old Omaha & Northwestern
— The Present Chicago & Northwestern System Through the
County.
For the earliest railroad projects in this and adjoining counties the
reader is referred to the Chapter on Railroads found in the Dodge County
section of this work.
It may be stated in this connection, however, that in 1864 what was
designated as the Northern Nebraska Air Line Railroad Company was
organized, but nothing was done towards its construction. In 1867 the
company was re-organized, consisting of John S. Bowen, John A.
Unthank, Dean C. Slader, Jesse T. Davis and T. P. Kennard, the object
being to build a railroad from De Soto to Fremont. A land grant of
seventy-five sections of State land was donated the company in aid
of the enterprise, and a temporary line was built from De Soto to the
present site of the City of Blair.
In 1868 the company disposed of its rights and franchise to John I.
Blair, the great railroad builder and his able associates, who the follow-
ing year completed the road from Missouri Valley, Iowa, to Fremont,
Nebraska. Washington County aided this project by voting bonds to the
amount of $75,000.
The Present North and South Railway
Evidently satisfied with the result of the above named company's
operations, the people of this county in 1870 voted on and issued bonds
to the amount of $125,000 in favor of what was styled the Omaha
& Northwestern, and in 1872 this railroad was finished as far north
as present Herman, this county, and a few years later was extended
on to Sioux City. This road has long since been the paying property
of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Company, and is closely
allied with the great Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company. This
gives the people of Washington County a direct outlet to the Twin
Cities and the Great Lakes of the North, as well as to the South, via
Omaha and Kansas City.
The Chicago & Northwestern Railroad
Prior to about 1900 the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Com-
pany owned and operated the roads in this and adjoining counties, but
at that date the consolidation with the "Northwestern" system took
place. It was early in the eighties that the company built a branch
line from Arlington, this county, to Omaha, via South Omaha, thus
giving direct shipping facilities for live stock with the Omaha markets.
This line runs through Washington Village, and has sidings at other
points in the county today. So in fact, today every railroad within
Washington County is under the control of the Chicago & Northwestern
Railway Corporation. These lines connect with the Union Pacific both
332
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 333
at Fremont and Omaha; also at Fremont with the Hnes running to the
great northwestern country, including the Black Hills and Wyoming
districts. Indeed these roads are worth every dollar they cost the
tax-payers back in the eighties.
Present Mileage in Washington County
The clerk's books at Blair show the county's mileage to be at this
date (1920) as follows:
The Chicago & Northwestern lines amount to 26.23 miles; The
Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha amounts to 24.70 miles; total
mileage in Washington County, 50.93 miles.
CHAPTER V
AGRICULTURE AND STOCK RAISING
General Facts — Comparative Agricultural Statistics — The
Grange Movement — Annual Premium List — Registered Farm
Names.
Washington County is among Nebraska's finest agricultural districts.
From the early times the county has been noted for its rich soil and
excellent annual crops. At first small grain was the larger of the
crops grown, but as time went on, corn became the staple as it still
continues to be. Stock -growing has for many years been a leading and
most profitable farm industry. The present beautiful rural scenes — the
well tilled fields, the great pastures of clover and alfalfa, the orchards
and general departments, even to the poultry yards, each and all show
the passerby a scene of thrift and prosperity seldom observed in the
state. Aside from the few manufacturing concerns in the City of Blair,
this is almost exclusively a farm county. With the passing years the
farmers have paid oiif the former debts contracted — have made the best
of improvements in way of farm buildings, including the modern silos,
the neat poultry and hog houses, the many miles of stock-tight wire
fencing, etc., have made farming a pleasure in place of a drudge. To
be the owner of a Washington County farm is to be an independent,
prosperous and contented person, whose lot has been cast in pleasant
places.
County Fairs
There were at least two attempts at Agricultural Annual Fairs in
Washington County prior to the one two years ago which has brought
into existence a society that will doubtless remain permanent for the
good of every agriculturist within the "Kingdom of Washington." Along
in the seventies a fair society was organized and grounds secured to
the northeast of the City of Blair. After a few years of success that
society went down. Again another society was formed and had its
grounds to the southeast of the City of Blair and there many good
annual exihibits were had, but in time that too, for various reasons, suc-
cumbed to the almost inevitable in county fairs and also died. No trace
of the grounds covered with improvements is to be seen today at Blair.
Second Annual Premium Lists
Within the handsome second annual premium lists of the Washington
County Agricultural Society (1920) appeared this announcement, and
is indeed worthy of preservation in the county's annals :
"Washington County is recognized as one of the richest counties
in Nebraska. In soil, rain fall and general climate conditions it is not
excelled by any county in our state or in adjoining states. The farmers
of Washington County are progressive, alert, and at least equal in their
methods and achievements to those of any other locality in the great
Middle West.
334
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 335
"It is therefore desirable that once every year the splendid products
of our county should be displayed in a county fair, not in a spirit of
boasting of what has been accomplished, but rather in the spirit of
emulation with a desire and aim at greater achievement and perfection.
"A fair rightly conducted is educational. If by comparison we
find ourselves in the front rank in our line of endeavor, we know that
our methods are right and we emphasize them ; if to improve our own
methods.
"The Washington County Agricultural Society was organized for
the purpose of stimulating greater interest in the almost unlimited agri-
cultural possibilities of our county, to improve the live stock and other
products of the farm, to promulgate better methods in food and feed
conservation, to promote domestic science and art-craft and to foster
and encourage anything that will tend to the highest possible develop-
Cattle
ment of the resources of our county and thus promote the prosperity
of its people.
"With all these ends in view we will hold our second annual fair at
Arlington, September 22, 23 and 24, 1920. You are cordially invited
to attend and participate in the exhibition. The premiums herein ofifered
are not intended as the main object of exhibiting your products or work,
but merely as a recognition of its merits as compared with those of
your neighbors.
"We realize the need of co-operation. A few cannot innaugurate
a successful fair. It requires the co-operation of all the 'live wires' in
the county. Counting on your participation, we hope to have a fair
worthy of the name 'Washington County.' "
Comparative Agricultural Statistics
According to the assessor's books for 1880 the following returns on
agricultural products for Washington Countv were made : Spring wheat,
18,165 acres, 217,980 bushels; corn, 35,876 acres, 1,400,000 bushels: bar-
ley, 205 acres, 2,460 bushels; oats, 5,016 acres; 235,750 bushels; buck-
wheat, 66 acres raised 585 bushels ; sorghum, 106 acres produced 10,357
336 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
gallons of syrup; flax, 211 acres, 1,776 bushels; broom corn, 9 tons;
potatoes (Irish), 543 acres yielding 39,706 bushels.
The number of fruit trees in the county in 1879 was 387, mostly
apple, pear, plum and cherry trees. Number grape vines, 13,000 vines.
Assessor's Statistics in 1920
According to the assessor's books and reports for 1920 the following
figures have been compiled for Washington County:
Yearling steers, 2,998; yearling heifers, 3,079; two-year-old steers,
1,092; two-year-old heifers, 2,060; three-year-old steers, 52; cows and
calves, 1,559; dairy cows, 1,267; milk cows, 5,973; bulls, 573; fat cattle,
2,329.
Horses — Yearling colts, 464; two-year-old colts, 428; three-year-old
Threshing
colts, 399; work horses, 5,194; range horses, 118; ponies and plugs,
1,480; stallions, 19; mules, 1,068.
Hogs — All ages and weights, 25,879.
Sheep and Goats— 1,997.
Stands of Honey Bees — 435.
Poultry — Dozens on hand, 11,791; dogs owned, 1,317; automobiles,
2,062.
Bushels of wheat, 6,590; bushels of corn, 360,315; oats, 120,665;
potatoes, 816 bushels ; alfalfa hay, 5,718 tons.
Total actual value in county, $9,266,275.
Assessed value of all property in county, $1,853,255.
Registered Farm Names
About 1910 the Legislature of Nebraska enacted a law ordering the
county clerks of the state to keep in their offices a record book in which,
for a small fee, any land-owner in the county might select a name for
their farm, providing it was not already selected by another within the
county — no two farms in a county to have the same name. In this county
the following have taken advantage of this wise provision:
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 2,2,7
July 1, 1911, the first farm name was recorded in Washington
County — that of S. W. Stewart in Lincoln Township, in section 13,
township 18, range 10, the same to be styled "Cloverdale Farm."
"Pleasant Dale Stock Farm," September 11, 1911, in De Soto Town-
ship, in section 20, township 29, range 18, by W. D. Hughes.
"Green Valley Stock Farm," November 13, 1911, by A. D. Reeh &
Sons, in the north half of the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter
of section 13, township 18, range 10.
"Pine Valley Farm," by Henry Rohwer, in Calhoun Township, sec-
tion 5, township 17, range 12, on December 21, 1911.
•'Oak Hill Farm," December 28, 1912, by j. A. Dowden, in section
24, township 18, range 11.
"Woodlawn Farm," by Leslie E. Cooper, March 20, 1914, in Arling-
ton Township, section 25, township 17, range 10.
"Hillcrest," by R. A. Davies, April 22, 1914, in Arlington Township,
section 18, township 17, range 10.
"The Oaks," by J. A. Dixon, in section 18, township 17, range 10.
"Pleasant View Farm," May 2, 1914, by C. L. Husk, in section 16,
township 19, range 11.
"Golden Gate," in Arlington Township, in section 20, township 17,
range 10, by Cortez U. Cook.
"Walnut Grove Farm," June 5, 1915, by Peter Peterson, in Richland
Township, in sections 24, 25 and 26, of township 17, range 11.
"Fairview Farm," by Jens Christensen, in Blair Township, in section
28, township 18, range 11, September 18, 1915.
"Valley View Farm," in Blair Township, by Jens L. Petersen, in
section 10, township 18, range 11, August 31, 1915.
"Plain View Farm," April 9, 1918, by John M. Compton, in section
27, township 19, range 11.
"College View Farm," by Nels Nelson, section 22, township 11,
range 18.
The Grange Movement
The Grange or Patrons of Husbandry Order which spread from
coast to coast in the '70s and '80s, and was the greatest order ever yet
supported by the thrifty farmers of the United States. In Washington
County this order was organized in the autumn of 1873, when Washing-
ton Grange No. 130 was formed at or near Fontanelle, and so rapid was
its progress that in the spring of 1877 there were seventeen granges in
the county, with an average membership of thirty, making a total of
500 members in the county, of which 400 were voters and 100 ladies and
young men. In 1874 the largest Fourth of July celebration ever held in
the county was under the auspices of the Patrons of Husbandry. It
was held at the head of New York Creek.
Many farmers were benefited for years by their membership and
interest taken in the work of the organization. Finally, other methods
developed among farmers, co-operative stores and grain elevators
obtained in the country until at present the Patrons of Husbandry are
seldom spoken of. The present system of farmers uniting and owning
their own joint stock stores and grain warehouses and stock yards, by
which they believe they get higher prices for produce, as well as pur-
chase at a much less rate such articles as they need in their homes and
on the farm. Fremont, Scribner and other places in Dodge County do
an extensive business in this way. Washington County also has its
co-operative unions and handle much grain and livestock in this same
manner.
CHAPTER VI
THE ATTORNEYS OF THE COUNTY
In all parts of the civilized world the legal profession is in constant
demand — especially is this so of later years, when great state, interstate
and international questions must be solved. New laws governing our
own, as well as foreign people coming to our shores, have to be enacted
and executed under our constitutions — state and national — and this is
largely the work and duty of a well-read and practical expounder of the
law. It is no sign because a person "goes to law" that they are mean
and quarrelsome, for the rights of all citizens in this country must be
respected and the law vindicated for the poor as well as for the rich.
This is the business of the attorney-at-law.
There have been many lawyers in Washington Couaty since its
organization. The record they made before passing away from here has
not been kept, except in the few instances where obituary notices, or
removal notices have been published in local newspapers. There are
but few now living within Washington County who remember the ear-
liest lawyers who practiced when courts were held at Fort Calhoun and
De Soto, before the removal of the county seat to Blair. However, the
author of this work is fortunate in having the memory of Judge I. C.
Eller, still a resident of Blair (and who has practiced the profession of
a lawyer in this county since 1880), to prompt him in the personnel of
these various members of the Washington County Bar. From an inter-
view had with Judge Eller recently, as well as from other sources, this
may be said concerning the past and present lawyers of this county :
When Judge Eller came here in 1880. he found Elias H. Clark, who
had located at Fort Calhoun in 1856. He surveyed and platted the Vil-
lage of Fort Calhoun and was active in all the public interests of this
newly formed county. He practiced law until Blair had got to be quite
a village, down at Fort Calhoun and De Soto. About 1904 he moved
from Blair to Omaha ; he is now deceased. The early history chapters
of. this work has further in regard to this man who was among, if not
the first attorney within the county.
In Bell's Centennial History of Washington County he mentions the
following lawyers of this county: At Fort Calhoun is named — E. H.
Clark, Levi Kime, Clark Irvine, George W. Doane, W. W. Toole, E. N.
Grennell and John D. Howe ; also United States Senator A. S. Paddock,
who was admitted to the bar while a resident of Fort Calhoun.
At De Soto was listed P. C. Sullivan, Charles D. Davis, Thomas P.
Kennard, Roger T. Beal, Jesse T. Davis, John Carrington and
W. W. Foote.
Levi Kime, noted above,' was a partner of E. H. Clark at Fort Cal-
houn back in territorial days in Nebraska.
George W. Doane settled at Fort Calhoun late in the '50s, established
his law practice and was very successful. Late in the '60s he moved to
Omaha and was often elected as judge of the Third Judicial District
and resided at Omaha.
Eleazer Wakeley established his residence in De Soto in 1857-58
and when the county seat was moved he followed it and practiced law.
He was from Wisconsin and was appointed a supreme judge for the
338
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 339
Territory of Nebraska, under James Buchanan. He moved to Omaha,
practiced law there and was elected jud^e of the District Court. He
was the father of Judge Arthur C. Wakeley, present judge.
Roger T. Beal came with the elder Wakeley to this county as his
clerk, and remained until about 1869, then went to Omaha, where he
died in the early '70s. During Beal's practice in this county, he asso-
ciated himself with Edwin A. Allen in the practice of law at De Soto.
He dealt in real estate and especially in tax-title lands, in which he
made much money.
Edwin A. Allen, a bachelor, was appointed as receiver of the land
office in Western Nebraska and died a few years ago ; once an attorney
here.
Another very earlv lawyer in Washington County was Hon. Thomas
P. Kennard who established a law business at De Soto in the '50s and
remained till Nebraska was admitted to the Union, when he was elected
secretary of state. He died in the spring of 1920.
Jesse T. Davis settled at De Soto about 1856. He studied law and
was admitted to practice in this county. He became coimty judge and
held other county positions. When the county seat was moved to Blair
he went there and practiced until he removed to Washington or Oregon,
where he died about 1900. He was an able man and enjoyed a good law
practice.
In the early days of the county. Gen. John S. Bowen of Philadelphia
settled between Arlington and Kennard. When the railroad was built
through the county it went directly through his farm. He farmed and
attended to his law practice; he was an able lawyer and well liked by
the community in which he located. He was later employed by the rail-
road company and moved to Blair, served as county judge of this county
and had a large law practice until about 1880, when the Sioux City
Railroad Company and its successors employed him as their land agent
to handle their real estate in Washington County. This position he held
until death, about June, 1889.
John Carrigan settled at De Soto late in the '60s. He was a returned
Civil war soldier and he died in 1880. He was a great criminal lawyer.
Martin Ballard, father of the present county attorney, Grace Ballard,
practiced law in Blair till 1885, when he moved to Chadron, Nebraska,
where he died. He was associated in Blair with Wellington C. Walton,
who came here about the time Blair was laid out. Walton was admitted
to the bar about that date. He came here from Michigan and built up a
large law practice in Blair, where he remained until 1917, when he died.
He was also judge of the District Court at one time here. His daugh-
ter, Mrs. Farnham, still resides in Blair.
Luther Washington Osborn, a native of New York State, settled in
Blair about the year of its organization, and became a partner of
John Carrigan in law until Mr. Carrigan died in 1880, after which he
had numerous partners. One of his associates was William H. Farns-
worth, who read law under Mr. Osborn and practiced law until 1890;
he moved from Blair to Sioux City, Iowa. Mr. Osborn enjoyed a lucra-
tive law practice many years in this county. He was appointed by
President William McKinley as Consul-General to the Samoan Islands,
where he died and was brought to Blair for burial. He was a brilliant
man, honored his profession and had legions of friends.
Potter C. Sullivan laid out the old Village of De Soto in the early
'50s and practiced law there a number of years successfully.
Judge Edward C. Jackson was elected county clerk about 1875 for a
four-year term. He was a partner with William H. Eller about 1879,
340 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
continued until 1881. Judge Jackson was appointed clerk of the Dis-
trict Court and served till elected county treasurer, then for eight years
was county judge of Washington County. He practiced law for a time
with Colonel Osborn. In 1911 he was appointed clerk of the District
Court and then elected to the same office and is still serving.
William H. Eller read law under Carrigan & Osborn ; was admitted
to the bar in 1878, continuing until 1892, when his health failed and he
moved to South Carolina and became a Baptist minister there. At one
time he owned a Keeley institute or "cure" for drunkenness, but later
sold out at an advance of the amount invested in the concern.
Judge I. C. Eller, brother of William H. Eller, just mentioned, came
from Iowa in 1880 and read law with his brother and was admitted at
Tekamah, Nebraska, in the autumn of 1882. He at once commenced the
practice of law. He was clerk of the District Court for eleven years;
served as county judge eight years and engaged in realty and title
specialty cases. (See his biographical sketch elsewhere.)
Ed T. Farnsworth read law under Colonel Osborn and in 1882 was
admitted to the bar and practiced until 1888 in this county and then
moved to Douglas County, where he still practices law.
John Lothrop, of Michigan, came to this county in 1880 from South
Dakota and has practiced law in Blair ever since.
David Z. Mummert came in from Illinois, read law under Judge Wal-
ton and was admitted to the bar about 1887 — or 1888; he still practices
and makes tax-titles his specialty.
Clark O'Hanlon, a Washington County boy, born in 1869, read law
under Colonel Osborn at Blair and was admitted to practice early in the
'90s; at one time he was a partner of Colonel Osborn. He has held
many important positions in this county; attorney several terms ; county
judge from 1908 to 1911. He is now associated with his son. Reed
O'Hanlon and William J. Maher, as the firm of O'Hanlon, Maher &
O'Hanlon. The elder O'Hanlon is counsel for the Commonwealth Life
Insurance Company of Omaha, where one-half of his time is spent.
Henry Mencke is a native of Washington County, Nebraska, born in
the '70s and reared in Blair. He graduated from the Blair High School.
His father was sheriff of Washington County many years, and under
him he received his first instructions in public office. He read law under
Judge Walton and was admitted to the bar about 1902.
Edmund Burke Carrigan. son of John Burke Carrigan, read law with
Judge Walton and was admitted to the practice of law at Blair. He con-
tinued in law until 1918, when he was elected county judge, which posi-
tion he still holds.
Perry Selden was admitted to the bar about 1882. Most of his life
was devoted to newspaper work. He was with the Blair Pilot as editor
and proprietor; was county judge in the early '80s and mayor of Blair
several terms. He died about 1896.
William S. Cook, of Arlington, has a fine farm and resides there
most of his time. He read law and was admitted to the bar and is still
in the practice, at Arlington, but resides on his farm. His son, J. C. Cook,
is present county attorney of Dodge County and very successful in his
practice of criminal cases.
Another lawyer of this county who should not be overlooked was
Alonzo Perkins, who first practiced at Fort Calhoun, then in Fontanelle,
after which he moved to Blair; was elected county judge in 1878, served
ten years; was admitted to the bar at Blair, practiced in Herman and
Blair; was mayor of Blair in the '80s and died in Portland, Oregon,
in 1919, aged ninety-three years.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 341
Present Pr.\cticing Attorneys
In the autumn of 1920 the following attorneys were resident lawyers
of Washington County:
Grace Ballard (county attorney), E. B. Carrigan, W. S. Cook,
A. C. Debel, I. C. Eller, E. C. Jackson, John Lothrop, William J. Maher,
Henry Mencke, D. Mummert, Clark O'Hanlon and Reed O'Hanlon.
CHAPTER VII
PHYSICIANS OF THE COUNTY
Concerning the Science of Medicine — Its Advancement — Sur-
gery— Old-Time Physicians — Saddle-Bags — Long Drives — The
Medicine Chests — List of Physicians — The County Medical
Society — Present Physicians — The Hospital.
No community is ever exempt from the need of a "family doctor."
In all ages of the world's history there has been need of physicians to
heal the sick. The Science of Medicine is among the greatest and most
useful of all the professions. When in full health we are sometimes
heard to speak lightly of the physician, but when the sick chamber
encloses us — when the hand of death is reaching out towards our form,
it is then that we seek aid from the best doctor known in the community.
The science and understanding of medicine have greatly advanced for
the better within the memory of many now living. Especially in surgery
the strides have been wonderful in the last forty years. There are numer-
ous "schools of medicine," but each and all have their friends and their
merits. In the early days in- Washington County, Nebraska, the allo-
pathic school of medicine was almost universally used, with now and
then an herb doctor. A little later, several homeopathic physicians set-
tled in the county and built up a good practice. Today the number of
schools of practice has come to be many, but still by a large majority
the standard is the allopathic physician.
Physicians, as a rule, are all too busy to leave any record of their
practice, even no data as to when they located in a given place. It is to
be regretted that we have not a personal paragraph on every doctor who
has ever practiced within this county, but such is the case. The earliest
physicians of the county have long since ceased to practice and nearly
all of the pioneer doctors are deceased.
Among the early physicians of the county are recalled the names of
Drs. J. P. Andrew, William Moore and Charles Lawrence, all of whom
practiced medicine at Fort Calhoun prior to 1876.
Up to the last-named date, at De Soto were Doctors Cutts, McLaugh-
lin, John Glover, Doctor Cannon, Charles Emerson Tennent, F. H.
Longley and S. H. Fawcett.
From bits of information gleaned from the records of the Washing-
ton County Medical Society, now in the hands of Dr. G. A. Langstaff,
of Blair, and from other reliable sources, the writer has compiled the
following imperfect list of the physicians who have at some time or
other practiced medicine within Washington County. The mere men-
tion of their names will bring to mind some recollection of the good
doctor who used to travel, perchance by horseback, with his saddle-bags
thrown over his horse's back. Another will recall a dreary night-drive
with the pioneer doctor, against a severe wintry wind, to some distant
part of the county. Some middle-aged man or woman will recall when a
child the face of another doctor who frequently visited at their place in
the '60s or '70s, driving in an old weather-beaten bugg}', carrying with
him a medicine chest filled with remedies that were strong and unpleasant
to the taste, and were not mixed in tablet form as today, but had to be
342
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 343
administered, because that was as far as medical science had gone at that
date. Another scene may pass before your vision. You may remember
that night when a dear mother or father was not expected to Hve from
hour to hour, and you recall how after hours of patient waiting and
prescribing for the sick one, the doctor looked up and assured the family
that the worst was over and that the ill one would recover. The physi-
cians have been no better nor worse in this county than in any other. It
should be said that most all of these doctors were honorable persons and
did the best they knew how.
Without much attention being paid as to the dates the doctors of this
county commenced or quit their medical practice, the long list of physi-
cians known to have been here a greater or less period have been as
follows :
Doctor Langley, Doctor Post (a druggist). Doctor O'Linn died in
1880 in Blair, Dr. W. H. Palmer, of Blair, still surviving but not in
active practice, and is the only one of the older physicians of the county
now living.
Dr. Samuel B. Taylor, Dr. Byron F. Monroe (homeopathic),
Dr. Parris G. Cooper of Cuming City, Silas H. Fawcett moved from
De Soto to Blair where he practiced; Dr. Samuel G. Glover, Arlington;
Doctor Hadley, Dr. J. P. Andrew, at Fort Calhoun in an early day, and
was the father-in-law of pioneer lawyer E. H. Clark; Doctor Love of
Herman practiced there before the '80s.
The names of other physicians of Washington County will appear
in the following account of the County Medical Society — see below :
Washington County Medical Society
This society was organized January 20, 1903, at Dr. M. D. Bedal's
office in the City of Blair. Those present at the first meeting were
Doctor Bedal, Doctor McDonald of Fremont, Dr. H. Noble of Blair,
Dr. W. H. Palmer, Dr. E. R. Stewart of Blair, Dr. J. F. Curtis of Fort
Calhoun, Dr. P. J. Clark of Herman, Dr. G. A. Langstafif of Blair.
The first president of the society was Dr. M. D. Bedal; secretary,
Dr. G. A. Langstafif, who has served most of the years since the society
was formed ; Dr. W. H. Palmer, vice-president ; Dr. P. J. Clark, treas-
urer ; Dr. E. R. Stewart, delegate. The censors were Dr. J. F. Curtis,
Dr. W. H. Pruner and Dr. C. O. Robinson. In 1911 the total member-
ship was eleven and today it is only nine.
The present (1920) officers are: Dr. L. J. Kilian, president; Dr. E.
R. Stewart, vice-president; Dr. G. A. Langstafif, secretary; Dr. James
B. Anderson, delegate. Board of censors — Drs. A. J. Cameron, E. R.
Stewart and J. V. Hinchman.
The society meets the first Tuesday of each month at Blair. Every
physician in the county is a member of this society save one, and he is
not really eligible.
In the spring of 1920 the membership included the following physi-
cians: Drs. R. J. Murdoch. G. A. Langstafif, E. R. Stewart, L. J. Kilian,
J. V. Hinchman (all practicing at Blair at present), A. J. Anderson,
Kennard, E. S. B. Geessaman, Fort Calhoun, A. J. Cameron, Herman.
Others are Drs. Marie Anna Nielsen, William H. Pruner, Kennard
(now deceased), Somers Pettingill, Fort Calhoun, later of California;
Marshall B. Bedal, Charles O. Robinson of Blair, recently removed from
county ; P. G. Grimm, at Blair five years, was only an honorary mem-
ber of the society. L. L. Burnstein, now in California, practiced in the
344 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
county six years; A. W. Fees (homeopathic) was formerly a member,
but not at this time ; W. G. Orr, for a short time only ; Dr. Marian Orr
Wilson, Dr. W. R. Wagner, Blair.
The oldest doctor in years of practice in the county at this date is
Dr. J. V. Hinchman. Dr. H. Noble died at Blair and Doctor Bedal died
after removing from this county. Doctor Robinson is gone.
The City Hospital
A few years since the old two-story brick school building in the
central part of the city was purchased and converted into a private hos-
pital. Diilferent ones had charge until 1917, when it passed into the
hands of Mrs. F. A. Washburn, who continues to conduct it. While it is
not large, it does supply the demand for any ordinary hospital cases.
Local physicians may take patients there and operate on them, in most
cases as well as though they were operated on in Omaha.
CHAPTER VIII
BANKING IN WASHINGTON COUNTY
Early Banks in Nebraska — First Banking in Washington County
— Plateau State Bank — The Herman State Bank — Washing-
ton State Bank — Farmers & Merchants Bank, Kennard —
Home State Bank — Arlington State Bank — First National
Bank — Washington County Bank — Citizens State Bank —
Fort Calhoun State Bank — State Bank, Blair — Farmers State
Bank, Blair — Bank Summary.
The early banks in Nebraska were established by specific acts of the
Legislature, naming the incorporate powers, capital and place of busi-
ness. June, 1856, the Legislature chartered the Platte Valley Bank of
Nebraska City, the Fontanelle Bank of Bellevue, the Bank of Florence,
the Bank of Nebraska at Omaha and the Nemaha Valley Bank at Browns-
ville. There was great hostility, even here in the wilds of frontier
Nebraska, against "wild-cat banks" and foremost among the men who
fought them hard was the late Hon. J. Sterling Morton.
The first general regulatory banking law was that approved March
29, 1889. An act approved April 8, 1895, created a banking board
composed of the state auditor, state treasurer and attorney-general.
This act provided for the chartering of all banks operating under state
law by the banking board. A general banking law approved March 25,
1909, repealed the existing laws and provided for the banking board to
consist of the governor, as chairman, the auditor and attorney-general.
The first State Bankers' Convention of Nebraska assembled at Omaha
January 22, 1890. The complete organization, however, was not effected
until 1900, so far as the present group system obtains.
First Bank in Washington County
"The Banking House of A. Castetter" at Blair, a private bank owned
by A. Castetter, was incorporated in 1898, but had been doing business
as a private concern since 1869. When incorporated its first president
was A. Castetter, its manager was F. M. Castetter and F. H. Claridge,
cashier. The present officers are : F. H. Claridge, president ; Mary J.
Cook and Clarkson Haller, assistant cashiers.
At first the capital was $60,000, but its present capital is $100,000.
It also now carries a surplus of $32,000, with resources and liabilities
amounting to $1,240,000. Its recent deposits are $970,000.
This concern is located in a brick bank building erected in 1877 and
now valued at $8,000, besides fixtures, etc., amounting to $6,000 more.
It has been stated by some that this was the earliest bank in Washington
County, but its own officers do not so affirm, but say the earliest attempt
at banking in this county was at De Soto in 1858, when the "Waubeek
Bank of De Soto" was established. About that date the same village
had two other banks (so-called) — the Bank of De Soto and Corn
Exchange Bank — but all three were short lived, the Waubeek lasting
longer than the other two mentioned. Nothing definite is now to be had
of the founders and final outcome of their pioneer projects. De Soto
345
346 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
went down eventually and all early history, if ever recorded, went down
too ! But to keep history straight it should be understood that the Wau-
beek Bank at De Soto was Bank No. 1 of Washington County and the
next and first to become a permanent fixture in the county was the bank-
ing house of A. Castetter, established in 1869 at Blair.
The Plateau State Bank
This bank is situated at the Village of Herman and was established
in 1888 by G. C. Latta, president, and W. H. Clark, cashier.
The 1920 officers are : G. C. Latta, president ; E. W. Burdic, vice-
president ; Earl C. Burdic, cashier; George W. Stangel, assistant cashier;
La Verne Lowe, assistant cashier.
This bank at first had a capital of $20,000, which has been increased
to $50,000, with a surplus of $10,000. Its recent deposits amounted to
$600,000.
The statement issued by this bank May 15, 1920, shows resources
and liabilities amounting to $762,388.70. At that date its deposits were
$593,457.78 and its undivided profits were $24,325.71. Amount of cash
on hand was then $80,611.31.
The Herman State Bank
This bank was established at Herman in September, 1907, and its
first officers were : E. P. Hanson, president ; Charles Nelson, vice-presi-
dent, and Charles Bott, second vice-president. The same officers still
serve in their respective capacities and to the list should be added Fred
Robertson, cashier, and assistant cashier, T. R. Swanson.
The original capital was $15,000, which is now $30,000, with a sur-
plus of $2,000. Its recent deposits were $257,000.
This bank owns its own building erected of Bedford stone in 1919
at a cost of $18,000.
On September 2, 1916, at noon, an attempt was made to hold up this
bank. The bank's officers armed themselves and with the assistance of
the county sheriff the robbers were arrested and sentenced to two years
in the penitentiary at Lincoln.
Washington State Bank
The Washington State Bank at the Village of Washington was estab-
Hshed April 5, 1904. Its first officers were: H. B. Waldron, president;
Henry Simonson, vice-president ; W. T. Waldron, cashier.
The officers of today (1920) are as follows: Jabe B. Gibson, presi-
dent; George T. Hedelund, cashier, and H. E. Lyons, director.
This bank was established on a capital of $10,000, which has increased
to $15,000, with a surplus of $3,000. Its recent deposits amounted to
$190,000.
Farmers & Merchants Bank — Kennard
This bank was established April 16, 1898, by officers as follows:
Magnus Johnson, president ; John Japp, vice-president ; W. H. Harrison,
cashier.
The 1920 officers are: Magnus Johnson, president; C. A. Schmidt,
vice-president ; G. E. Krongberg, cashier ; F. W. Vybiral, assistant cashier.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 347
The original capital was $10,000; present capital is $30,000, and a
surplus is carried of $7,000.
Recent reports show deposits to the amount of $290,000. The
resources and liabilities are now $412,000.
In 1911 a red brick building was erected as the home for this bank.
Its value is more than $6,000.
In 1904 in the old building this bank lost $3,000 by yeggmen blowing
open the safe.
Home State Bank
This banking house is situated at the Town of Kennard, and was
organized in 1915 by John Blaco, J. C. Neal, A. L. Cook and others.
The first officers were: John Blaco, president; William Jahnel, vice-
president; J. C. Neal, cashier, who died in the spring of 1917.
The present or 1920 officers are: William Jahnel, president; J. F.
McCann, vice-president ; M. T. Cederlind, cashier.
The first and present capital is $15,000; present surplus, $2,500;
resources and liabilities amount to $140,000.
In the spring of 1915 a brick bank building was constructed and is
valued at about"$6,000.
The deposits in this bank in the month of June, 1920, were $100,000.
Arlington State Bank
The Arlington State Bank whose charter number is 12, was organized
in the month of April, 1890, by T. E. Stevens, president ; H. Chapman,
vice-president; H. W. Schoettger, cashier.
The present officers are : C. C. Marshall, president ; H. W. Schoett-
ger, vice-president ; R. E. Planck, cashier ; L. E. Peterson, assistant
cashier.
This bank started on a capital of $25,000 but now has $30,000, with
a surplus of $30,000.
Its reports show recent deposits amounting to $542,416.15 and
resources and liabilities amounting to $671,732.29.
In June, 1891, a brick bank building was finished and is valued at
$6,000."
First Nation.m. Bank — Arlington
This bank was established May 26, 1891, with officers as follows:
George H. Jewett, president; J. T. May, vice-president; Otis M. Dye,
cashier.
The present officials are: J. T. May, president; Fred De Weber,
vice-president; G. I. Pfeififer, cashier; F. W. Pfeiffer, assistant cashier.
This bank started on a $50,000 capital but reduced to $25,000, with
a surplus of $6,000. Its resources and liabilities are $250,000 and
recent deposits were $200,000.
A fine bank building was erected in 1913 and is valued at $5,000. This
bank succeeded to the old Bell Creek Valley Bank, a private bank, at
Arlington when the town was known as Bell Creek. It was the first
bank of this vicinity.
Washington County Bank — Fort Calhoun
This bank was established in 1889 on a capital of $5,000, but today it
has $30,000, wath a surplus of $6,000. Its recent reports show deposits
to the amount of $250,000.
348 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
This bank was established or started by Henry Rix. The present
officers are as follows : Henry Rix, president ; Ernest Rix, cashier ;
May Rix, vice-president.
In 1905 a $20,000 brick bank building was constructed for this
concern in which a general banking business is transacted after a
modern method.
The Citizens State Bank — Blair
The Citizens State Bank at the City of Blair was organized May 18,
1904, by F. H. Matthiesen and D. Z. Mummert.
The first officers of this banking house were: F. H. Matthiesen,
president ; M. Matthiesen, vice-president ; D. Z. Mummert, cashier.
The present (1920) officers are: A. R. Brock, president; George
Bruse, cashier; E. R. Brock, assistant cashier.
The capital at first was the same as today — $50,000. It now has a
surplus of $10,000. Recent reports show deposits amounting to
$504,178.47.
The present resources and liabilities are $579,812.38.
In conjunction with this bank is also the Citizens Savings Bank,
whose charter is numbered 989; has a capital of $12,500; surplus of
$2,500.
The combined statement of these two banks shows resources and
liabilities amounting to $836,128.79. Their combined loans amount to
$571,601.10; they carry $35,000 in Liberty Bonds and have cash and
sight exchange to the amount of $202,174.71. Total deposits in the
combined concerns is $728,389.75.
Fort Calhoun State Bank
This bank was organized at the Village of Fort Calhoun, December
14, 1914. The first officers were Henry Rohwer, president ; William P.
Cook, cashier. The same persons hold the same positions today.
The first capital was same as today — $20,000, but now they have a
surplus of $4,000. Recent reports show this bank to have deposits in the
sum of $225,000.
The present resources and liabilities are $287,496.31.
The loans and discounts amount to $176,288.50.
One special feature in this bank is the fact that they are carrying
undivided profits amounting to $40,644.50.
This bank moved into the new brick building they had erected on
December 14, 1914. The building and fixtures are valued at about $7,800.
The State Bank — Blair
The State Bank at Blair is the successor of the old Blair National
Bank, and was organized January 3, 1916, with officers as follows:
C. A. Schmidt, T. E. Stevens, Thomas Finnell, A. C. Roberts and
C. J. Schmidt.
This bank carries the same stock as when organized — $50,000, but to
this they have the use of $50,000 more in surplus and undivided profits,
which makes them a financially strong concern. Their resources and
liabilities amount to $1,219,962.61. Recent deposits are $980,635.72.
A most excellent brick bank building is owned by this company; its
value is about $11,000.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 349
The present (1920) officers are as follows: C. A. Schmidt, president;
T. E. Stevens, vice president; A. C. Roberts, director; C. J. Schmidt,
director; Thomas Finnell, cashier; C. J. Schmidt and D. J. Hundahl,
assistant cashiers.
Farmers State Bank — Blair
The Farmers State Bank at the City of Blair was organized Septem-
ber 27, 1919, with first officers as follows: John H. Gibson, president;
E. B. Redfield, vice-president ; W. F. Gutschow, assistant cashier.
The same set of officials are still holding their respective positions.
The original and present capital stock is $35,000. The surplus and
undivided profits amount to $10,716.13.
The present resources and liabilities amount to $153,848.42.
The deposits in July, 1920, were $97,221.28, but one month earlier the
bank had deposits amounting to $108,382.11.
This bank has the confidence of the entire community in which it
operates and stands high in banking circles of Nebraska.
County Summary of Banks
The following is a summary of all banks in Washington County,
Nebraska, showing the name, date of organizing, present capital and
surplus; also present (recent) amount in deposits.
Date Capital Surplus Deposits
The Banking House of A. Castetter,
Blair 1869 $100,000 $ 32,000 $ 970,000
The Plateau State Bank, Herman. . . . 1888 50,000 10,000 660,000
The Herman State Bank, Herman . . . 1907 30,000 2,000 257,000
Washington State Bank, Washington
Village 1904 15,000 3,000 190,000
Farmers & Merchants Bank, Kennard. 1898 30,000 7,000 290,000
Home State Bank, Kennard 1915 15,000 2,500 140,000
Arlington State Bank, Arlington 1890 30,000 30,000 542,416
First National Bank, Arlington 1891 25,000 6,000 200,000
Washington County Bank, Fort Cal-
houn 1889 30,000 6,000 250,000
Citizens State Bank, Blair 1904 50,000 10,000 504,178
Fort Calhoun State Bank, Fort Cal-
houn 1914 20,000 4,000 225,000
The State Bank, Blair 1916 50,000 50,000 980,635
Farmers State Bank, Blair 1919 35,000 10,716 97,221
Totals $480,000 $172,716 $5,306,450
CHAPTER IX
WASHINGTON COUNTY NEWSPAPERS
Newspapers of Blair — The Register — Washington Democrat
(Defunct) — The Pilot — The Enterprise — The Tribune — The
Times — The Courier — Kennard Weekly News^Herman Record
— The Calhoun Chronicle — The County's Earliest Newspapers
— The De Soto Bugle — De Soto Pilot — The Sun — Enquirer —
Register — Nebraska Pioneer — Cuming Star.
Newspapers of Blair
From what seems to be reliable sources it is believed that the first
newspaper in Blair was the Register, established in May, 1869, by Hilton
& Son. January 1, 1870, L. F. Hilton, junior member of the firm,
became editor and proprietor, publishing the paper until the following
spring, having an actual circulation of 1,200 paying subscribers in Wash-
ington, Burt and Douglas counties. At this time the publication was
suspended and the material sold under foreclosure of mortgage.
The next paper established in Blair was the Republican, started in
June or July, 1870, as the Blair Times, by a stock company consisting
of W. H. B. Stout and other citizens of Blair. Its first editor was
J. C. Lillie. Gen. John .S. Bowen succeeded Lillie as editor and edited
a most e.xcellent paper. After numerous changes in proprietorship the
property passed into the hands of C. B. Sprague in August, 1880, he
succeeding Vic Lantry and others. Sprague changed the name from
Times to Republican, also changed it to a republican organ. In 1904 it
was purchased by Theo. T. Osterman and changed to a democratic
paper and called the Democrat ; it was merged with the Courier in
1907, and absorbed the Tribune in 1917 and the name "Democrat"
dropped. The Tribune was founded by \Y. R. Williams in 1907 and has
been in the hands of the present owner, Thomas T. Osterman, since 1917.
Then the Tribune derives its ancestry from the old Times, established
in 1870. Politically, it is democratic. Subscription rate $2 in advance.
It circulates mostly in Washington County; is a six-column, eight to
twenty-page all home print paper. It is published every Thursday.
The office from which it issues is equipped with a linotype, drum
cylinder press, folder, gordon jobber, etc.
The building is owned by Thomas T. Osterman, and it is a frame
structure.
The Blair Pilot
It is believed generally by the newspaper craft of Washington
County that the first newspaper published in this county was the one
known as the Register, just prior to the Pilot of today. It appears that
what is now known as the Pilot was established at Tekamah, Burt
County, in 1871, by J. Y. Lambert, but it was removed by him to Blair
in 1874. In 1875 George Sutherland purchased it and L. F. Hilton
became its editor. In 1879 Mr. Sutherland sold to B. F. Hilton, and
son, L. F. Hilton. Finallv it became the property of the Pilot Printing
. 350
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 351
Company, with L. A. Williams as its editor. The present owner,
Don C. Van Deusen, purchased the paper July 1, 1907. This was at
one time a progressive republican journal, but at present does not
advertise its politics, but is supposedly "independent."
The Pilot circulates mostly in Washington County; is printed each
week on Wednesday and its subscription rate is $2 per year in advance.
It is well equipped as a modern printing office, with a modern
linotype, propelled by an electric motor ; a Standard Babcock six-
column quarto cylinder press, purchased in the summer of 1919. It
also has a folding machine, two jobbers, a paper cutter, a stapler, and
everything found in offices in places the size of Blair at this date.
Mr. Van Deusen, proprietor, owns the brick building in which his
plant is kept ; it is a good brick structure.
The Washington Democrat — Defunct
This newspaper was established by Blue and Sampson, September
22, 1881, in Blair, but November 28, that year, it was moved to Bell
Creek (now Arlington), where after a five-months struggle it ceased to
exist. Politically, this was a democratic organ, but in those times demo-
crats were not very numerous in Washington County !
The Blair Enterprise
This newspaper was established at Kennard in 1896 by E. L. Tiffany,
of Kennard, who sold in 1913 to L. F. Hilton, of Kennard, who moved
into Blair in August, 1913. Politically, it is an independent republican
journal with a circulation in Washington County, mostly. In form and
size it is of the eight-page six-column size. It is published each Thurs-
day (originally on Friday). Its yearly subscription rate is $1.50 in
advance.
This office is equipped with up-to-date machinery, including a lino-
type, job presses, paper press, paper cutter, imposing stones and proof
press. Local news, of course is the main object of newspapers in
this sized towns and cities. This paper a few years ago, published por-
tions of Bell's History of Washington County, written in 1876. and
from its columns, containing such historical items, the publishers of this
later history are greatly indebted.
The Blair Courier
The Courier was established at Blair the summer of 1889, Vol. 1,
No. 18 bears date November 2 of that year. It was established by the
Blair Publishing Company with W. H. Eller, associate editor, S. L.
Hamilton, secretary and B. C. Maynard, manager. It was a six-column
folio, and politically, it was democratic. It was a well edited paper and
had an excellent circulation. It was merged in 1907 with the Democrat.
The Kennard Weekly News
This enterprising local newspaper was established at the Village
of Kennard, June 14, 1916, and is an independent local journal with no
special political trend. The paper was started by its present owner
and editor. Otto F. Olsen. It is an eight-page, six-column paper and
circulates within a radius of about six miles of Kennard. Its sub-
352 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
scription rate is $1.50 per year in advance. Its publication day is
Wednesday of each week.
The equipment of the News office consists of modern appliances
including one 10 by 15 Chandler & Price jobber; one Diamond cylinder
news press and one 13-horsepower Mogul kerosine engine, with such
other fixtures as make up a modern printing office.
The News aims to give the local happenings within the radius of
its circulation and to have the same in readable shape such as will be
interesting and instructive to the subscribers.
The Herman Record
The Herman Record was established October 14, 1908, and among
its publishers and owners have been: F. L. Fassett, Paul E. Hubbell,
and present owner, H. L. Swan.
It is non-political ; circulates in Washington County mostly ; is an
eight-page, six-column paper with six pages home print. It is pub-
lished every Thursday at $1.50 per year in advance.
This newspaper is published in Rooms 1, 2 and 3 in Plateau Bank
Building. Its outfit includes a good cylinder press, two jobbers and a
modern linotype.
The Record is a well edited and neatly printed paper and is duly
appreciated by the large list of well satisfied patrons who find all the
news of the community each week.
Danish Lutheran Publishing House Papers
The Danish Lutheran Publishing House at Blair publish and print
the following publications that go broadcast all over the United States
and Canada :
Danish Lutheran Kirkeblad is now 50 years old — published in Blair
for 30 years.
The Danskeren (a newspaper) was published in Wisconsin until 1899
since which it has been published in Blair, Nebraska. Since 1903 its
editor has been Rev. A. M. Andersen. Subscription rate is $2 a year.
Our Lutheran Youth — (for young people) a semi-monthly is now
15 years old.
Bornebladet is now in its thirty-first year of publication. This is
a Danish Sunday school paper.
The Little Lutheran — (a Sunday School in English) in its eighth
year of publication.
Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Blair, Nebraska, are the only two points in
America where church papers are published by the Danish Lutheran
Church. Their mailing list is immense — their postage bills are more
than $800 per year, all told.
Washington Count\''s First Newspapers
The first newspaper published in Washington County, Nebraska,
was the De Soto Bugle, established in 1856 at the little pioneer Village
of De Soto, by Hon. Isaac Parrish, who in a speech over in Harrison
County in 1859 declared that there would be railroads over the Rocky
Mountains to the far oflF Pacific Coast within a score of years. The
people called him "daflfy," but it was only half that length of time
before the Union Pacific Railroad was completed.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 353
The next newspaper started in this county was the De Soto Pilot,
established in 1857 by Merrick and Maguire; the third paper was the
Washington County Sun, established in 1858 by Potter C. Sullivan,
and the fourth paper was the De Soto Enquirer, established in 1858 by
Z. Jackson. No other attempt at starting a newspaper in this county
was made until 1869, when the Register was established at Blair, by
B. F. Hilton and son. In 1870 the publication of the Blair Times was
undertaken by a company made up of a number of citizens of the
county, as will be seen by reference to the history of that paper else-
where in this chapter.
The Nebraska Pioneer, a weekly newspaper was started under the
management of a Mr. Dimmick, at Cuming City in 1857, and soon
was numbered among the dead enterprises of the young "city."
The Cuming City Star flashed out and made the second newspaper
attempt in Cuming City, the date of its issue being 1858. It was a good
weekly paper edited by L. M. Kline. This paper remained as long as
there were any hopes for the town's future greatness.
The Calhoun Chronicle
Fort Calhoun's present local newspaper is the Chronicle, established
about 1914 and is now conducted by its owner, Frank C. Adams. It
is a six-column folio sheet, published each Thursday at a subscription
rate of $1.50 in advance. Further data concerning this publication was
not furnished the historians.
CHAPTER X
POLITICAL AFFAIRS OF COUNTY
Presidential Elections — Special Elections — Lists of Senators —
Representatives in State Government, Etc.
At Special Elections
In 1883 at a special election the issue was on "Township organiza-
tion" and it stood as follows : For "Township organization," 994 ;
against the measure, 436.
In 1886 a special election was held on the question of voting on
courthouse bonds and the result was: For bonds, 500; against
bonds, 1,256.
In 1894 the question again came up before the people at a special
election as to whether Washington County should be governed under
the township system or not. The votes stood: For organization, 1,165;
against township organization, 601.
In 1889 a special election was held in this county on the question
of selling the Poor Farm. The result at that election was for sale of
County Farm, 501 ; against sale of County Farm, 1,528.
Politics of Washington County
Without entering into a detailed account of the various political
campaigns had in Washington County since its organization, the follow-
ing election statistics will show the general politics of the county and
results at the presidential election, beginning with centennial year — 1876:
1876 — The Republican candidate, Rutherford B. Hayes, received a
majority of 512 in the county.
1880 — James A. Garfield, republican candidate, received a majority
of 790.
1884 — James G. Blaine, republican candidate, carried the county.
1888 — Benjamin Harrison, republican candidate, carried this county
by 331.
1892 — Benjamin Harrison, republican candidate, carried the county
by 340.
1896 — William McKinley, republican, carried the county by a hand-
some majority.
1900 — William McKinley, republican, again carried the county over
William Jennings Bryan.
1904— -Theodore Roosevelt carried county.
1908 — William Howard Taft, republican, carried the county by 129.
1912 — Woodrow Wilson, democratic candidate, carried the county by
a safe majority.
1916 — ^\'oodrow Wilson, democratic candidate, carried the county
again.
Representation
It will be remembered that Washington was one of the original
counties in Nebraska Territory, and that the first Legislature convened
354
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 355
in Omaha in the winter of 1854-55 and consisted of eight councilmen —
four from each side of the Platte River — and thirteen representatives,
Washington County sending as councilman, James G. Mitchell, and as
representatives, Anselum Arnold, and A. J. Smith.
The first county officers for this county were appointed by the
governor as follows: Stephen Cass, probate judge; Thomas Allen,
sheriff ; George W. Neville, clerk ; George Martin, treasurer ; Z. Jackson,
registrar, and Thomas Wilson, surveyor.
Since that date the following have been elected to the positions
designated: Councilmen — William Clancy, 1856; E. G. Scott, and George
W. Doane, floater, 1858; John A. Unthank, 1860; E. A. Allen, and
Frank Welch, of Burt, 1862 ; John D. Neligh, of Cuming, floater, 1866.
State Senators
Jesse T. Davis, 1866; W. F. Goodwill, of Burt, floater, 1868; B. F.
Hilton, 1870; L. W. Osborn, 1872; Waldo Lyon, of Burt, floater, 1874;
L. W. Osborn, 1874; George F. Blanchard, 1877; S. B. Taylor, 1881;
Charles Sang, 1883; Henry Sprick, 1887; John Dern, 1889; M. J.
Brown, 1891 : John Thompson, 1893; S. W. Hayes, 1897; W. D. Haller,
1897-09; Fred Volpp, 1909-13; Geo. F. Wolz, Wallace H. Wilson,
1915-17.
State Representatives
William Connor, Elisha P. Stout and James Stewart, 1856; P. C.
Sullivan, R. H. Peterson and James S. Stewart, 1857; P. G. Cooper,
L. M. Kline and Charles Davis, 1858; James S. Stewart and John S.
Bowen, 1859; Giles Mead and Henry W. DePugh, 1859; E. A. Allen
and John S. Bowen, 1861 ; L. R. Fletcher and Dean C. Slader, 1862.
[By act of Congress the session of 1862-63 was dispensed with and the
amount it would have cost was applied to "war purposes."] John
Evans and H. J. Rohwer, 1863; H. M. Hitchock and Nevin McCandlish,
1864 ; E. H. Clark and Charles Eisley, 1865 ; A. S. Warrick and Dr. L. J.
Abbott, territorial and John A Unthank and Dean C. Slader, state repre-
sentatives. 1866; there were two sets elected on account of a State
Constitution having been drafted ; W. H. B. Stout and Christian Rath-
mann, 1868; Elam Clark and H. C. Riordan, 1870; Henry Sprick, 1872
^a new apportionment having given the county but one member of the
House — E. S. Gaylord, in 1874.
In July, 1866, a special session of the Legislature was held in which
Frank Welch of Burt County represented Washington County as senator
and William R. Hamilton, D. McDonald and ThomasR^XVilsoiij^ as
representatives. Since that date the following have included' the mem-
bers of the House from this county :
W. R. Hamilton, 1866; Elam Clark, elected in 1871; H. C. Riordan
1872; E. S. Gaylord, 1875-76; P. Seldon, 1877; Giles Mead, 1879;
J. C. Homer, 1883; Richard Blacp. 1885: |ohn H. Cameron and Watson
Tyson, 1887: John H. Cameron. 1889; William S. Frost, 1891; William
D. Haller. elected in 1893, 1895, 1899 and 1911; I. C. Filer, 1907;
Henrv Rohwer, 1901 ; W. G. Harrison, 1903 ; H. D. Schoettger, 1907-09 ;
William D. Haller, 1911; H. H. Herzog, 1911; Claude C. Van Deusen
1913: Claude C. Van Deusen, 1915; Albert H. Miller, 1917.
Governors of Nebraska
The reader is referred to the Dodge County section of this work
for a list of the governors of Nebraska. (See index.)
CHAPTER XI
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS
First Public Schools in Washington County — Later Develop-
ments IN Matters of Education — The Fort Calhoun Schools
— The De Soto Schools — Fontanelle Schools — Cuming City
Schools — Blair City Schools — Other Schools in the County
— Condition of Public Schools in 1920 — Superintendent's
Report — School Buildings-^Teachers — Pupils — Wages — Paro-
chial Schools — The College.
The first public school taught in what is now Washington County,
was probably the one taught at Fontanelle in the winter of 1855-56 by
Miss Emily Strickland. It was about that date, at least in 1856, that a
school was taught in the Village of Fort Calhoun, although the first public
school record and warrant is dated in 1866. Early records were usually
carried in "poor memories" and not in books of paper.
De Soto certainly had a public school in 1860 in a new school house,
22 by 40 feet in size, but it is known that it had several terms of school
before that date.
If the Mormon settlement of 1846-47 had any schools they left no
record of them.
Coming to this country as they did, the pioneer settlers carried with
them, no doubt, the notions of schools they had been used to in the
several states in the East and South from which they had emigrated.
Hence it was no easy matter to estabhsh the free common schools here
on the start. It will also be remembered that the free school had not
been tested out only about a dozen years anywhere, and some still
clung to the idea of private schools at private expense. But by the
close of the Civil war things had materially changed in this respect and
the schoolhouses were among the things called "necessity" as they have
been ever since. To begin with, rough log houses answered for school-
houses — slabs made good enough seats and desks, while very hot and
very cold schoolhouses were the common structures to attend school in.
Later the frame and, still later, the occasional brick schoolhouse,
was provided in this county. Maps and charts were purchased by the
school boards and now and then a globe and patent blackboard inserted.
Of more recent years, the accommodation of pupils and teachers has
come to obtain largely and many of the latest buildings are indeed models
of schoolhouse architecture. In this connection to illustrate the point
sought to be made by the writer, a minute description of one of the late
schoolhouses of Washington County, standing at Cuming City, which
was dedicated in 1916, is here given: (We quote from the Enterprise
of that year.)
"The new rural high school in Cuming City, District No. 6, was
dedicated last week with appropriate ceremonies. Dr. A. O. Thomas,
state superintendent, was present and delivered the address and gave
the following description of the building to us : 'This school is built
after our community center plans. There are three fine rooms on the
main floor and three well lighted and well ventilated basement rooms;
two large rooms on the main floor are thrown together for social func-
356
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
357
tions of the community. The building is beautiful in design and con-
forms to the high standards of architecture in light, heat and ventilation.
The building is situated in a beautiful grove located on the Washington
Highway between Omaha and Sioux City. There is no school in the
state, not even in our cities, which presents more perfect appointment
and more up-to-date and satisfactory arrangement. There is a play
room in the basement and laboratory for domestic science and manual
training, then beside an up-to-date furnace and ventilating apparatus.
The school has an enrollment of fifty pupils with two teachers carrying
nine grades of work.' "
Conditions of Schools in 1876
From the school records of Centennial year — 1876 — the following
may be of interest after the flight of forty-five years :
Log Schoolhouse
"At the present time there are within the county forty-six school
districts each provided with a good house for school purposes, varying
in cost from $500 to $15,000. These houses will compare very favorably
in appearance and accommodations with the schoolhouses in many of
the older states and are well supplied with maps, charts, globes — in fact,
all the necessary apparatus for teaching upon the most approved modern
principles. There are annually employed in the county seventy-four
teachers, male and female, and the total number of children of school
age is 2,323. The amount of wages paid to teachers for the fiscal year
ending July 1, 1876, was $11,627; value of all school property, $49,970.
The First Courthouse and School Building
W. H. Woods, of Fort Calhoun, states that Bell's History of this
county compiled in Centennial year, says : "A day school was opened by
Miss Graham in 1856." And Benjamin Miller remembers well going
to school to Miss Rhodes in 1865. But the first warrant we find recorded
is marked No. 1, August 1, 1866, for $190 to Miss Jennie Rhodes for
school term beginning May 14th and ending August 6th and the same
is signed by T. Bradley, clerk pro tern of the board of education.
Receipts were found also for nine weeks board due to E. H. Clark for
boarding teacher at $4 a week, and washing bill amounting to $6.40."
Bell's History also states that a courthouse of cottonwood boards
was built on the present school campus, by subscription, in 1856. E. N.
358 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Grennelle claims it was a schoolhouse, but he then Hved in De Soto, and
the Clarks and others who gave the money, tell us that it was a court-
house, and the late Governor L. Crounse told us that when he was
circuit and supreme judge in this district, he held his first term of court
in Washington County, in that building. In this building Senator Pad-
dock, who homesteaded and studied law on the old Logan Fontanelle
summer camp-ground, was in that building admitted to the bar and A. P.
Allen told us that when the committee from the State Bar Association
asked Paddock how much his fighting weight was, the color of his hair,
etc., they asked him how much money he had and when they adjourned
to Allen's store where the railway track is now — west of the depot —
Paddock threw a $20 gold piece, on the counter and said: "Mr. Allen,
these gentlemen look weary ; never mind the change."
After the new building was erected the cottonwood became a tene-
ment house and was accidentally burned dov/n by a pan of hot ashes.
The new building was one room frame. Hans Rohwer cut the sills and
hewed them with a broad axe — the pine timber was hauled from
Des Moines in wagons. Through the kindness of August Schroeder, we
last month gave portions of these sills to E. E. Blackman for the His-
torical Society, both fine and sound, this year, 1919. Hans Schwager
bought the building some years ago for a barn on his farm south of
town and this year tore it down to make room for a new residence
by Mr. Schroeder.
Blair Public Schools
Blair, the seat of justice for Washington County, has always prided
itself on its educational institutions, including its most excellent public
schools. It was said of its schools in 1911 : "Blair has long been known
for the effective work of its public school system. Three school build-
ings, including the high school, costing $20,000, offer advantages of a
superior nature to the pupils of the locality. A most competent corps
of teachers and an admirable system of management of the school
work, all tend to show a higher and better work and broader results
with each successive year."
As an historic fact of some interest it may be stated that the first
teacher in Blair was Miss Sarah E. Kibbey, who opened the school in 1869.
Fort Calhoun School Grounds
One hundred and sixteen years ago (1804) the famous explorers,
Lewis and Clark, pitched their camp on the present site of Fort Cal-
houn, and for a time made headquarters in this vicinity, as is shown by
their reports to the government.
In the school grounds at this place is a massive granite tablet weigh-
ing many tons, erected by the Sons and Daughters of the American
Revolution, marking the spot where the great and original pathfinders
made their temporary abode.
Across the campus of this same school grounds are low undulating
ridges, which are all that remain of the sunken ramparts of old Fort
Atkinson. This army post was built by Brevet Brigadier General Atkin-
son in 1819-20 and at that time the nearest supplies were brought from
stations at St. Louis. Prairie Du Chien and the Pacific Coast. At that time
Fort Atkinson was only about a half mile from the Missouri River,
but the changing channel has now left the site of the old fort several
miles inland.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
359
Those were days of tragedy, action and romance. Calhoun as it was
afterward named was the scene of many a fierce struggle, of hardships
and stirring events incident to frontier life.
Superintendent's Report — 1920
The subjoined are facts taken from the annual report of the county
superintendent of public schools for Washington County, July, 1920:
No.
Dist.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
Name
Kind of
Schoolhouse
Blair City 4 brick, 1 frame
Cruickshank 1 frame
Fort Calhoun ....1 frame
Whitford 1 frame
Fontanelle 1 brick
Cuming City 1 brick-frame
De Soto
Long Creek 1 frame
Garryown 1 frame
Masters 1 frame
Brinkman 2 frame
GoU 1 frame
Pleasant View ...1 frame
Telbasta 1 frame
Hilgenkamp 2 frame
Brewster 1 frame
Hewett 1 frame
Kindred 1 frame
Summers 1 frame
Sutherland 1 frame
Thone 1 frame
Herman 1 brick
New England 1 frame
Arlington 1 frame
Wranch 1 frame
Lecrone 1 frame
Colby 1 frame
Maney 1 frame
McCarthy 1 frame
Oram 1 frame
March 1 frame
Dornacker 1 frame
Belle Center 1 frame
Hancock 1 frame
Rispin 1 frame
Hill Creek 1 frame
Lallman 1 frame
Nefif 1 frame
Rose Hill 1 frame
Vacoma 1 frame
Mattes 1 frame
Bisbee 1 frame
Slader 1 frame
Bono 1 frame
Enroll-
ment
847
10
142
26
51
53
24
44
33
14
33
34
33
20
23
23
13
30
34
11
165
38
242
45
14
23
24
51
22
57
46
39
23
29
55
18
16
47
11
33
40
31
22
Teachers School
Male Female Mo.
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
Year
W'ks
Enroll-
Teachers
School Year
ment
Male Female Mo. W'ks
24
9 ..
21
8
152
9
22
9 ..
44
9
13
9
20
9
20
9
30
9 ..
24
8 3
24
9
36
3
7
24
1
9
40
2
9
s IN County
360 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
No. Kind of
Dist. Name Schoolhouse
45. Glendale 1 frame
46. Sunnyside 1 frame
47. Kennard 1 frame
48. Spiker 1 frame
49. Greene 1 frame
50. Johnson .1 frame
51. Hartung 1 frame
52. Lincoln High school
53. Broderson 1 frame
54. Riverview 1 frame
56. Plainview 1 frame
57. Peaceful Hill ... .1 frame
Fr. 1 Timpe 1 frame
Fr. 37 Washington . . .1 frame
Fr. 21 Alder Grove
Parochial Schools
In the season of 1920 the following were the parochial schools of
Washington County:
St. Paul's West School, Lutheran, enrollment, forty-five.
St. Paul's East School, Lutheran, enrollment, forty.
Immanuel's, Lutheran, enrollment, forty-one.
County Superintendents of Schools
As near as can be learned from the records, the following persons
have served as school superintendents in Washington County:
Eli Bacon, in 1857; D. McLacklin, 1858; Charles Bisbee, 1869;
re-elected 1871 ; Charles Gross, 1873, re-elected in 1875 ; I. N. Jones,
1877-79; W. V. Miller, 1879-85; J. Henderson, 1885-97; G. C. Marshall,
1897-01 ; Alfred L. Cook, 1901-05; J. A. Rhoades, 1905-14; N. T. Lund,
1914-18; Mabel Marsh, by appointment upon resignation of Mr. Lund.
Dana College and Trinity Seminary
This institution is under the auspices of the United Danish Evan-
gelical Lutheran Church in America. It was organized as a college and
theological seminary. In 1899 the church convention in Minnesota decided
to unite the two schools of the church, the college at Elkhorn, Iowa, and
the Trinity Seminary at Blair, Nebraska. The following have served as
presidents of this institution: Rev. A. M. Andersen, Rev. A. B. Chris-
tiansen, Rev. P. S. Vig, Rev. J. P. Jensen, Reverend Krbuker, C. X.
Hansen, Rev. L A.. Sorensen, C. X. Hansen.
This school was originally opened in October, 1886, with Rev. A. M.
Andersen as president. The first two years it was kept at the president's
residence. Building operations were commenced in 1885 ; it was dedi-
cated in October, 1886. The largest attendance was in the school year
of 1914-15, the total number being about 200. The last year there were
140. From all departments there have graduated 265 students. The
property is worth $80,000 and a committee is now out raising funds to
the amount of $500,000. With this, the property will be greatly improved
and new buildings erected.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 361
The present (1920) officers of this corporation are as follows:
C. X. Hansen, president of the faculty; Rev. P. S. Vig, president of
Trinity Theological Seminary department. The board of trustees com-
prises the following: Rev. G. B. Christiansen, president; Rev. I. Gert-
sen, vice-president; Rev. M. N. Andreasen, secretary; Mr. L. Vedsted,
Mr. C. D. Skow.
Connected with this institution there is also the publishing house for
the whole church system in this country. It is known as the Danish
Lutheran Publishing House, Rev. J. J. Keldsig, manager. This was
organized in 1893. Here all publications of the church in America are
published and distributed to the various districts in the country.
This college is situated in a beautiful location about a mile and one-
half northwest of Blair. Originally there was a campus of four acres.
Ten years ago this property was valued at $70,000.
CHAPTER XII
SECRET SOCIETIES OF COUNTY
I
Free Masonry — Odd Fellowship — Knights of Pythias — Woodmen
OF THE World — Modern Woodmen of America — Danish Broth-
erhood— Ancient Order of United Workmen — Eastern Star —
Rebekah Degree Lodges — Etc.
In all enlightened portions of the globe today one finds numerous
secret or semi-secret fraternities of both men and women, separate and
in conjunction, all of which have for their one high aim the betterment
of humanity and formation of true, lasting friendship, and while not all,
many of such societies or lodges, as they are usually denominated, have
sick benefits and life insurance connected with their charters. It should
be stated, however, that there are at least three great secret orders whose
history dates far back and which do not have such insurance features
connected with them. We refer especially to the Masonic Order, the
Odd Fellows Order and the Knights of Pythias Order, which are secret
fraternities pure and simple.
The beneficiary orders, or really mutual life assurance societies, have
grown to legion in number in the last score of years. The first of all
such lodges was the Ancient Order of United Workmen, established at
Meadsville, Pennsylvania, in about 1868, and from such lodges has
grown up many others along similar lines, including Modern Woodmen
of America, Woodmen of the World, Ben Hur, Eagles, Maccabees, Red
Men of America, Yeomen, etc. They aflford a cheap rate of life assur-
ance, some are standing the test of time, while many others are fast
sinking on account of the fees required not being sufficient to meet the
death losses. The beneficiary orders that furnish members life insurance
worth much are those whose charges are nearly as much as "old line"
insurance costs.
Free Masonry in Washington County
Masonry is without doubt the most ancient of all secret fraternities
known to men.
The oldest Masonic Lodge in Washington County, Nebraska, is
W^ashington Lodge, at Blair, which was first organized at Cuming City,
but later removed to Blair.
Masonry at Blair
The oldest Masonic Lodge in Washington County, Nebraska was
organized at Cuming City, February 25, 1868, and known as Cuming
City Lodge No. 21. Its officers included: Mathew Carter, master;
J. W. Hungate, senior warden; S. R. Fletcher, junior warden.
The charter members were: Nathan Carter, J. W. Fletcher, J. W.
Hungate, A. T. Johns, Wm. E. Hill, James H. Thompson, Ben Newkirk,
M. Cameron, W. H. Cuming.
August 5, 1869, there was a dispensation authorizing Cuming City
Lodge No. 21 to change place of meeting from Cuming City to Blair,
362
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 363
October 27, 1869, by resolution of grand lodge the name of the lodge
was changed to Washington Lodge No. 21, Ancient Free and Accepted
Masons.
The present total membership in September, 1920, is 111.
The present elective officers are : Harry Morris, master ; Fred W.
Jones, senior warden ; Walter Larsen, junior warden; Charles E. Gay-
dou, secretary ; William Palmer, treasurer.
The Masonic degrees at Blair include the Blue Lodge, Washington
No. 21; Adoniram Chapter No. 13; Jordan Commandery Knights
Templar No. 15; McKinley Chapter, Order Eastern Star No. 161.
In 1919 the old Masonic hall of Blair was sold and ground purchased
for a new Masonic hall, but owing to the high price of building material
it was decided to postpone the work for some later date.
John S. Bowen Lodge No. 232 — Kexxard
The Blue Lodge of Free Masonry at the Villagee of Kennard was
organized in 1895 and had for its charter members the following:
John Klotz, W'illiam H. Pruner. John W. LeCrone, James M. Parker,
Abram D. Rose. Henry F. Hetrick, Charles M. Weed, Jabez Charles,
William T. Burgess, Eugene M. Cook, Jay \'estal, Isaac McCann,
James Hawley, William Murley.
The present membership is forty-nine. Other lodges of this order
are found in this county at Arlington, Blair, Herman and Fort Calhoun.
The present, or 1920, elective officers are : John Blaco, worshipful
master ; Edward F. Cushman, senior warden ; Francis E. Dolan, junior
warden; Charles W. Weed, treasurer; J. Floyd McCann, secretary;
J. Ansel Toft, senior deacon; Edward E. Cushman, junior deacon;
Gabriel R. Stewart, tyler.
This lodge owns its hall over the Home State Bank ; cost $2,200 ; built
in 1915, of brick.
Masonry at Fort Calhoun
From an early date Fort Calhoun has had a Masonic Lodge. Infor-
mation blanks were sent to this lodge by the compiler of this chapter,
but no response, hence no history appears. Suffice to say that a Blue
Lodge and Eastern Star are both represented in Fort Calhoun. The
history of the Order of Eastern Star will be found with other Eastern
Star chapters within this work.
Hiram Lodge No. 52, at Arlington
This lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at Arlington was
organized June 26, 1874, by Charter Members S. G. Glover, J. A. Unthank,
L. F. Jenks, H. F. Christ, N. R. Turner, Z. G. Wilcox, L. H. Wilcox,
J. S. Thompson, Peter Hammang, J. C. Blackburn, W. S. Cook, G. Tripp
and U. S. Wilcox.
The present (1920) total membership of this lodge is seventy-seven.
The first and present elective officers of this lodge have been:
S. G. Glover Worshipful Master Joseph C. Chapman
John H. Unthank Senior Warden Raymond E. Planck
Z. T, Wilcox Junior Warden Harold D. Weber
L. F. Jenks Treasurer D. C. Weber
John J. Thompson Secretary James C. Badger
L. S. Wilcox Senior Deacon
S. Tripp Junior Deacon
364 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
The lodge building occupied by this lodge is mostly owned by stock-
holders in the order ; it is a two-story brick and stone structure.
Landmark Lodge No. 222, A. F. & A. M.— Herman
This Masonic Lodge was formed June 21, 1894 and its records were
all destroyed by the great cyclone of 1899. But transcript records from
the Grand Lodge of Nebraska show the following facts:
The charter members were as follows: John C. Bailey, first wor-
shipful master; Thomas B. Bailey, John M. Bovee, Eugene W. Burdic,
Frank F. Burdic, Charles H. Burdic, John H. Chambers, Malcolm
Cameron, William C. Cameron, Jesse L. Conant, Jr., Orton C. Dorsey
(secretary), Samuel Dorsey, John Estaque, Stanley Gray, Levi Johnson,
Thomas Leonard, Isaiah Luckens, E. C. McConnaha, John Patrick (treas-
urer), William Rutledge (tyler), John A. Sullivan and Melville S.
Wilcox.
The total membership is now about 120.
The present (1920) elective officers are: C. J. Thone, worshipful
master; Fred Robertson, senior warden; James Van Horn, junior war-
den; E. W. Burdic, treasurer; C. R. Gray, secretary; Charles Nelson,
tyler.
Order of Eastern Star
This is an auxiliary of the Masonic Order and within the last few
years has become quite universal and popular in the great field of
Masonry.
Sarepta Chapter No. 48, Order of Eastern Star, at Arlington, was
organized June 15, 1892, under direction of the Masonic fraternity.
The chapter now has a membership of sixty-eight. Herman and Blair
in Washington County also have chapters in this fraternity.
The sisters who made up the charter membership of the Arlington
Chapter were as follows : Minnie Jewett, Rita M. Badger, Alida Dyer,
M. A. Whitney, Jessie Turner, Johana Olesen, Jennie Glover, Barbara
Hammang, Z. G. Sharp, Rose Sharp, Orilla Hammang, Jane A. Unthank,
Carrie M. Roth, Tilla Osterman, Lydia A. Mansfield, M. A. Reynolds,
Eva Fink.
The original and present (1920) elective officers of this chapter are
as follows :
Original Officers 1920 Officers
Jane A. Unthank Worthy Matron Drusilla McCann
John A. Unthank Worthy Patron Ernest Planck
Julia A. Whitney Associate Matron Jennie Glover
W. D. Badger Secretary Florence Planck
Barbara Hammang Treasurer Mary Gilf rey
Minnie Jewett. Conductress Anna Glover
Jennie Glover Associate Conductress Harriet Lawson
Naomi Chapter No. 121, Order Eastern Star
This chapter was organized at Fort Calhoun February 17, 1898, and
now enjoys a total membership of forty.
It is stated upon the best of authority that the first Eastern Star
Chapter in Nebraska was organized at Fort Calhoun, about 1868, became
defunct after two years or so, and its records and money were all turned
over to the Grand Chapter of Nebraska. It is thought this pioneer chap-
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 365
ter was formed under the Grand Chapter of the State of Iowa. Many of
the old settlers were members of the chapter
Returning to the present chapter at Fort Calhoun, let it be said that
its charter membership was as follows :
Mrs. Hannah M. Beals, worthy matron ; George R. Whitney, worthy
patron; Mrs. Caroline M. Tresler, associate matron; Hugh A. Stevenson,
secretary ; Fred H. Frahm, treasurer ; Catherine C. Beales, conductress ;
Mrs. Jessie M. Foster, associate conductress; Sadie C. Beals, Myrtle
Whitney, Elizabeth Bradley, Wm. R. Duncan, Edwin N. Grenell,
Mrs. Sarah Coflfman, N. Sheridan Craig, Mrs. Maud Craig, Dr. Thomas
A. Reed, Edward G. Grenell, Mayme Duncan, Edith H. Grenell,
Mrs. Johanna Schmidt, Mrs. Rhoda Craig, Mrs. Carrie Jipp, Camille
Saltzman, Mrs. Jessie Foster, Miss Anna A. Carter, Emma C. Craig,
Austin W. Beals.
The 1920 officers of this chapter are as follows : Mrs. Ella C. Beales,
worthy matron ; Fred H. Frahm, worthy patron, Clara H. Cofifman,
associate matron ; Catherine C. Beals, secretary ; Elsie R. Cook, treasurer ;
Sadie C. Frahm, conductress ; Mary E. Rowley, associate conductress.
McKiNLEY Chapter No. 161
McKinley Chapter Order of Eastern Star at Blair was organized
May 7, 1902, by J. D. Hawthorne, grand patron. The present total mem-
bership is 160. Other chapters in Washington County are at Fort Cal-
houn, Arlington and Herman.
The charter members of this chapter (McKinley No. 161) were as
follows: Eugene S. Beaty, Mrs. Alice J. Foley, Mrs. Nellie Smith,
Miss Maud L. Carter, Mrs. Fanny Kelly, Mrs. Lulu Hahn, Mrs. Lou
Beaty, Miss A. C. Kenny, George W. Sellers, Mrs. Belle Davis,
Mrs. Addie E. Sellers, Will H. H. Davis, John C. Johnson, William
Kelly, Miss Laura M. Lantry, Miss Bertha Crouch, Miss Sue M. Kenny,
Mrs. Sarah A. Haller, Mrs. Sophie Arndt, Frederick Arndt, Frederick
W. Kenny, Mrs. Minnie Williams, Mrs. Nanny A. Crouch, Mrs. Matilda
A. Bross, Miss Bertha Taylor, Miss Stella Taylor, Mrs. Margaret C. Pal-
mer, Mrs. Florence Carter, George Carter, Lyman A. Williams, Mrs. Anna
McKeen, Miss June Fletcher, Miss Louise Kline, Miss Genevieve Davis,
Miss Nellie Haller, Miss Cora Hester, Mrs. Nettie Carter, Miss Mittie
Foley, G. S. Haller, Henry H. Hahn, Mrs. Annie J. Kenny.
First Officers 1920 Officers
Mrs. Alice J. Foley Worthy Matron Mrs. Gussie Lippincott
Frederick W. Kenny. . .Worthy Patron Oliver M. Ireland
Mrs. Sophie Arndt Associate Matron Ethel Mead
Mrs. Minnie Williams. .Secretary Mrs. Minnie Williams
Mrs. Lou Beaty Treasurer Miss Fanny Langtry
Mrs. Lulu Hahn Conductress Mrs. Sadie Higley
Mrs. Nellie Smith Associate Conductress. . .Mrs. Blanche Rhoades
Herman Chapter No. 216
Herman Chapter Order of Eastern Star, at Herman, was organized
March 3, 1908. The present membership of this chapter is 138.
The charter members in this chapter were as follows : Clara Bailey,
worthy matron ; Allen J. Cameron, worthy patron ; Cora Burdic, asso-
ciate matron ; Axylphia Hungate, secretary ; Dora Rose, treasurer ; Lena
Russell, conductress; Josephine Hart, associate conductress; Eugene
366 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Burdic, Miss Birdie Fletcher, Carl Hansen, Mrs. Josephine Hansen,
Floyd Van Valin, Charles Gray, George Hart, John Bailey, Minnie
Ackerman, Maimie Cameron, Bessie Meador, Estella Gray, Thomas
Hungate, Louie Fitch, Iredale Van Valin, Emma Spoore, Miss Alma
Fletcher, Mrs. Elizabeth Gray, George Rose.
This chapter assemble in Masonic Hall, erected soon after the great
cyclone in Herman. June 13, 1899.
The present (1920) elective officers are: Estella Gray, worthy
matron; Hiram B. Cameron, worthy patron; Mrs. Mae Johnson, asso-
ciate matron; Mrs. Effie M. Godsey, secretary; Miss Caroline Wachter,
treasurer.
Independent Order of Odd Fellowship
This ranks next in the age of its organization to Free Masonry and
is now over a century old in this country.
Probably the first lodge of this fraternity, representing Friendship,
Love and Truth, in Washington County, was Blair Lodge No. 14, organ-
ized in 1869 and now has a membership of 165. Its charter members
were as follows: J. W. Hewell, Sr., S. B. Taylor, M. C. Huyett, James
Denny, B. F. Hilton, Niles Noyes, J. H. Van Horn, James S. Stewart.
The original Noble Grand was S. B. Taylor and the vice grand was
J. W. Hewell.
The officers today (1920) are: George Kuhr, noble grand; A. W.
Rose, vice grand; J. L. Pounds, treasurer; T. H. Wright, secretary.
Washington Lodge No. 41
Washington Lodge No. 41, Independent Order of Odd Fellows was
organized at the Town of Arlington, October 11, 1873, with charter
members as follows: William J. Crane, William Unthank, William H.
Kingdon, William Shulze and Haman Chapman.
This lodge owns a handsome lodge room property consisting of
the lower floor of the opera house. It is a two and one-half story
building constructed of brick. It was erected in 1892 and is worth
$10,000. Prior to this the lodge owned another building which was
burned in 1891 ; the first was a frame building.
The first and present officers were as follows:
First Officers 1920 Officers
William Unthank Noble Grand M. W. Winset
William J. Crane Vice Grand Frank Wolf
H. Chapman Secretary G. I. Pfeiffer
William H. Kingdon . . .Treasurer F. W. Pfeiffer
Kennard Lodge No. 266
Kennard Lodge Independent Order of Odd Fellows, No. 266. was
organized at the Village of Kennard, July 23, 1902. The charter mem-
bers were as follows : William E. Swihart, L. A. Green, John Nissen,
W. H. Menking, Henry Drevsen, B. Widener, Andrew D. Andersen,
Mark I. Swihart, W. H. Harrison, Willis E. Anderson, Rasmus Larson,
Nils P. Hansen, H. C. Blaco, Charles E. Edmondson.
This lodge now has a membership of 121 in good standing.
The first elective officers were : W. H. Menking, noble grand ; W. E.
Swihart, vice grand; L. A. Green, secretary; John Nissen, treasurer.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 367
The present ( 1920) officers are : Carl A. Monson, noble grand ;
Peter Cook, vice grand ; E. E. Cashman, secretary ; C. E. Kronberg,
treasurer; H. C. Blaco, C. B. Hansen and O. W. Marshal, trustees.
This lodge owns its own hall, costing $2,000, purchased in 1914.
Rebekah Degree of Odd Fellowship
This auxiliary to Odd Fellowship is represented at several points in
Washington County including the following places:
Rebekah Lodge No. 42 — Arlington
This lodge was organized December 3, 1888, with charter members
as follows: J. Blessing, H. Chapman, O. Unthank, R. E. Roberts, John
Hammang, Nellie Blessing, R. C. Smith, Mrs. L. B. Wilson, John Close,
A. Masters, C. Saffenfield, D. C. Kennecutt, James Hitchcock, Fred
Menking, W. J. Crane, P. Z. Wilson, Mrs. W. J. Crane, Mrs. R. C.
Smith, Mrs. D. C. Kennecutt, Mrs. E. Fuller, Miss Lottie Fuller.
The original and present-day elective officers of this lodge are :
First Officers Titles 1920 Officers
O. N. Unthank Noble Grand Miss Carrie Cowles
Mrs. E. Fuller Vice Grand Mrs. Euphemia Osterman
Miss Lizzie M. Wilson.. Secretary Mrs. Bessie Gaines
Mrs. R. E. Roberts. . . . Treasurer Miss Inez Wages
Chaplain Miss Gertrude Gaines
Mrs. J. G. Blessing. . . .Ward Mrs. Maymie Winset
Mrs. Letta A. Fuller. . .Conductor Mrs. Sophia Conley
Mrs. W. J. Crane Inside Guard Helen Menking
H. C. Saffenfield Outer Guard Addie McKibbon
"Faithful" Rebekah Lodge No. 332
This lodge was organized at Kennard April 16, 1918, with charter
members as follows : Merie Blaco, Mamie Wright, Mae Jones, Tillie
Nelson, Belle Bouch, Nathan Bouch, Ernest Nelson, Emma Nelson,
Edna Anderson, Helen Berry, Elna Nissen, Charlotte Berry, Cleo Ander-
son, Christina Hansen, Anna Rosenbaum, Elizabeth Kronberg, Anna
Kempche, W. B. Rosenbaum, Taylor Meadows, Chris Hansen. H. C.
Blaco, Gus Kempcke, G. E. Kronberg, Adolph Kroigard, Homer Ward,
J. B. Anderson, Burr R. Jones.
The present total membership of this lodge is seventy-one.
Other lodges in Washington County of this order are at Blair and
Arlington. The 1920 officers are : Tillie Nelson, noble grand ; Nena
Meadows, vice grand ; Edna Anderson, secretary ; Leona Nelson, treas-
urer; Mae Jones, warden; Angle Hall, conductor; Merie Blaco, chaplain.
Knights of Pythias Order
This is one of the more modern secret societies in this country.
It was established with Lodge No. 1, at the City of Washington, soon
after the close of the Civil war in 1866, and has become quite popular
in many portions of the country, not as strong, however, in this county
as elsewhere.
Garfield Lodge No. 6
This lodge was instituted at Blair April 7, 1883 by Deputy Grand
Chancellor of Nebraska. The charter members were as follows : J. Alt-
368 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
schuler, E. S. Noble, J. R. Bryan, Perry Selden, Fred Noble, Douglass
Smith, O. W. Cook, J. H. Sheen, Chris Boyer, Harry Higley, Thomas
Finnell, H. Noble, T. P. Noble, W. G. Higley, Henry Hunter, E. S.
Hewett, Charles McClatchie, Dr. H. Noble, C. A. Buffoon, J. Keppel,
J. L. Conant, Jr., J. Brookwalter, E. Perry.
Only one of the original charter members are still with this lodge-
Thomas Finnell.
This lodge was formed in the Masonic Hall, and has used various
halls to the present date.
The present or 1920 elective officers are: Thomas T. Osterman,
chancellor commander; J. H. Stewart, vice chancellor; C. R. Mead,
prelate; Ed Matthiesen, master of exchequer; J. E. Carver, master of
finance; H. N. Thone, keeper of records and seals; L. A. Farnberg,
master at arms ; A. J. Croudy, outside guard ; Henry Grimm, inside guard.
Ancient Order of United Workmen
On account of the charter of this lodge at Herman, Washington
County, having been destroyed in the great cyclone of 1899. the date of
its organization cannot be here given, but it was a number of years
previous to that never-to-be-forgotten wind storm.
It is, however, known that the following were first elective officers :
Charles A. Marshall, past master workman; John H. Cameron, master
workman; Elsworth Z. Russell, foreman: Carlton Saunders, overseer;
Walter G. Cleuver, recorder; Silas Harris, Financier; John H. Cham-
bers, receiver; James E. Dorsey, guide.
The present total membership of this Workman lodge is fifty.
The lodge does not own its hall but leases one.
The 1920 elective officers are as follows: Fred Robertson, master
workman; J. P. Lowe, foreman; Charles Nelson, financier.
The Danish Brotherhood
In Washington County among the beneficiary lodges is what is well
known among the Danish people — the Danish Brotherhood of America.
Lodge No. 173 of such an order was organized at Herman, this county,
September 5, 1903. It now enjoys a total membership of forty-eight.
Its charter members were as follows : C. A. Beck, N. P. Iversen, H. P.
Hansen, John P. Ericksen, Hans A. Nelson, James Jacobsen, R. N.
Rasmussen, Peter Knudsen, L. P. Ericksen, Fred D. Christensen, Peter
N. Petersen, L. P. Skov, Lars Jacobsen, H. P. Christensen, Thorwald
Hansen, C. M. Hansen, W. H. Christensen, Hans Petersen, H. F. Enges,
C. H. Kruse.
The present elective officers are as follows: W. H. Christensen,
president; R. P. Rasmussen, vice president; R. H. Rasmussen, secre-
tary; Anton Rasmussen, treasurer; J. M. Jensen, H. P. Christensen and
one more, are the trustees.
Blair and Kennard in this county also have lodges of this order.
Kennard Lodge Danish Brotherhood No. 159
This lodge was organized February 5, 1903, and now has forty-six
members— three more than the original charter members.
The first officers were as follows: John Niessen, C. B. Hamen,
Hans Andersen, A. P. Andersen, Nick Cook, Jens P. Sorensen, Hans
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 369
P. Christensen, John C. Jensen, Jens P. Hansen, Mogens Petersen,
D. Hall.
The 1920 officers in charge are : C. B. Hansen, Ben Haaselstiam,
L. Buck, Nick Cook, Nels E. Clovertemen, Nels O. Hansen, Peter Jor-
gensen, and Nels Andersen.
Modern Woodmen of America
Blair, Fort Calhoun, Arlington and Kennard, all have lodges of this
fraternity which is really one of the leading beneficiary orders in which
many people are insured on the mutual plan.
Kennard Camp No. 1347 of Modern Woodmen of America was
organized March 6, 1891, at the Village of Kennard and now has a total
membership of 156.
The first charter members were: G. A. Compton, David Demaree,
W. H. Epling, Frank McCracken, W. J. McCann, Christian F. Nelsen,
W. H. Pruner, John Rosenbaum, W. H. Rosenbaum, H. J. Rosenbaum,
S. M. Wright and F. P. Vannicle.
The first elective officers included these: H. J. Rosenbaum, worthy
advisor; Chris S. Neilsen, banker; G. A. Compton, clerk; F. P. Van-
nicle, Escort; W. H. Rosenbaum, watchman; S. M. Wright, sentinel;
Dr. W. H. Pruner, physician. The present elective officers are : George
Nelson, venerable consul ; A. E. Wright, advisor ; E. E. Cashman, banker ;
C. M. Weed, clerk; I. C. Lantrup, escort; E. R. Cunningham, watch;
Harold Bates, sentinel; Dr. J. B. Anderson, physician.
Trapbois Camp No. 1295 of Modern Woodmen of America was
organized January 5, 1890, by J. C. Root. The charter members were
as follows : John G. Power, John A. Schmahling, A. M. Schumaker,
B. F. Monroe, W. C. Vaughn, M. M. Tomlinson, D. McMurtrie, W. E.
Marsh.
The original officers were : John G. Power, counsel ; W. C. Vaughn,
adviser; J. A. Schmahling, clerk; W. E. Marsh, banker.
The present (1920) elective officers are as follows: N. W. Cole,
counsel; E. F. David, adviser; T. H. Wright, clerk; J. E. Carver,
banker; the trustees are Lou Vaughan, W. J. Koopman, W. H.
Underwood.
CHAPTER XIII
CHURCHES OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
The Congregational Churches — The Methodist Episcopal
Churches — The Baptist Churches — The Catholic Churches —
The Lutheran Churches- — Danish Lutheran Churches —
Episcopal Church.
Congregational Churches
The first church of this denomination to be formed in what is now
Washington County was the one organized by Rev. Reuben Gaylord, of
Omaha, at Fontanelle, the date being in the month of May, 1856. Its
charter members were as follows: Samuel Strickland, Mrs. Emily K.
Strickland, Thomas Gibson, Mrs. Sarah Gibson, James H. Peters, Mrs.
Jane Peters, Rev. Thomas Waller, Lucien Kennedy, Rufus Brown, Mrs.
Nancy Brown, James A. Bell, Miss Mary Bell, Edward Corless, Miss
Mary Corless. John Francis, Mrs. Maria Francis, Silas J. Francis, Mrs.
Celestia Francis, Cyrus Howell, Edward Holmes, Mrs. Elvina Holmes,
William G. Brigham, and Mrs. Lucy C. Brigham.
Thomas Gibson and James A. Bell were appointed deacons ; Rev.
Thomas Waller was appointed the first pastor ; the new church was pre-
sented with a fine silver communion set by the parent church at Quincy,
Illinois. Among the pastors serving the Fontanelle Congregational
Church may be recalled: Revs. E. B. Hurlbut, William McCandlish,
L. H. Jones, C. G. Bisbee, Isaiah Smith, Thomas Douglas, Reuben
Gaylord.
With the building up of other towns, the construction of railways
and the almost abandonment of Fontanelle this church went down.
Blair Congregational Church
The Congregational Church of Blair was organized February 10,
1870, by Rev. M. Tingley, and charter members were as follows:
Rev. Marshall Tingley, Mrs. Cornelia Tingley, Niles Noyes, Mrs.
Catherine Noyes, Mrs. Fanny Lantry, Mrs. Amy Kenny, Charles G.
Maynard, Charles H. Eggleston.
The present (1920) total membership of this church is 115. The
present Sunday school has a membership of forty-nine and its super-
intendent is R. J. Murdoch.
A Gothic type of church building was dedicated for this church
November 22, 1874, the cost of which was $2,070. At one date there
was a parsonage, but that has been sold some years ago.
The only other Congregational Church in Washington Countv is the
one at Arlington.
The pastors who have served faithfully and well at Blair are as
follows : Revs. Marshall Tingley, Randolph Campbell, George W.
Wainwright, Henry M. Goodell, Albert M, Case, Alonzo Rogers. John
Power, Thomas D. McLean, George G. Perkins, Frank W. Gardner,
J. Wallace Larkin, Arcline G. Axtell, Jesse B. Burkhardt, A. M. Abbott,
370
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 371
Royal C. Moodie, George R. McKeith, Charles A. Gleason, Jordan M.
Kokjer, Abram R. Jones.
Arlington Congregational Church was organized in 1883 by C. W.
Merrill, superintendent of Congregational Home Missionary Society for
Nebraska. The charter members were these: Messrs. and Mmes.
W. Hatton, J. E. Dole, J. B. Chapman, W. J. Crane; Mrs. O. K. Lewis
and Mrs. S. Delo.
The present total membership of this church is eighty-five. The
Sunday school has a membership of about fifty and has for its super-
intendent Miss Leta Marshall.
The following pastors have served the church at Arlington: Revs.
B. F. Diffenbacher, W. P. Clancy, J. B. Bidwell, A. W. Ayers. John
Kidder, T. E. Horton, G. T. Nichols, James Valier, L. S. Hand, Guy
H. Rice, Gilbert Rindell, Jacob Flook, E. Lehman, Reverend Barnett,
A. T. Davies, Wm. Kline and A. E. Bashford. W. H. Buss of Fremont
has served recently as a supply.
Methodist Episcopal Churches
The first Methodist Episcopal Church at Arlington, was organized in
1869 when the place was known as Bell Creek. Rev. Jacob Adriance
was the organizer of this as well as most churches in the county for this
denomination. The names of charter members are not now available.
The present total membership is 202. Total Sunday school attendance,
183. The 1920 superintendent is E. W. Eisner.
This church owns its own frame church edifice and parsonage,
valued at about $6,500. The present pastor is Rev. Joseph Stopford,
whose salary is now $1,625.
Other points in Washington County where Methodist Episcopal
churches are established at this date are : Herman, Kennard, Rose
Hill, Blair, Colby.
The subjoined is a list of the pastors for the Arlington church from
date of formation until now : Revs. J. Van Anda, Jacob Adriance,
William Peck, George W. De La Matyr, Peter Van Fleet, S. A. Baer,
Jacob Charles, Alfred Hedgette, R. B. Wilson, W. J. Pyle, H. K. Bald-
win, Oscar Eggelston, H. Trazona, J- Q- Fleharty, T. W. Mathews,
R. J. Cocking, William Van Buren, W. D. Strambaugh, W. H. Under-
wood, Reverend Frazee, G. M. Coufifer, Amos Fetzer, G. M. CoulTer.
H. A. Chappel, William Esplin, T. A. Truscott, J. D. Hummel, Joseph
Stopford.
Herman Methodist Episcopal Church has a membership of 141 ;
property valued at $6,000; the pastor in 1920 is Rev. A. C. Rice.
Kennard Methodist Episcopal Church has a property worth $3,000;
pays a salary of $1,400.
The Blair Methodist Episcopal Church, according to the last con-
ference reports, has property valued at $14,500; pays a salary of $1,640;
has a membership of 191.
Lutheran Churches
St. Paul's Lutheran Church, situated four miles north of Arlington,,
was organized in 1860 by A. W. Frese and now has a total membership
of 665. Its parochial school has a membership of eighty.
A brick church edifice was erected by this congregation in 1890,
costing $15,000.
372 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
The following is a list of pastors serving this congregation since its
Organization : Revs. A. W. Frese, E. J. Frese, J. Hilgendorf , H. Haller-
berg, G. W. Wolter.
This denomination also has a church at Blair, and one north of
Fontanelle.
Emmanus Lutheran Church — Kennard
This Lutheran Church is located at the Village of Kennard and was
organized in 1895. The early records are not to be had now, says the
pastor, hence all that can be recorded in this connection is that the
church today has a total of fifty-four souls, and thirty-six confirmed
members.
The present worth of church property is $2,500 for the church and
$4,000 for the parsonage property.
Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church
A branch of this denomination is situated at Blair, Washington
County. It was organized January 22, 1884, by Rev. A. M. Andersen.
Charter members were — Morten Rasmussen, Lawritz Nyboe, Hans
Smith, Mads Hensen, Peter Therkelsen and Christen Pedersen.
The present (1920) total membership is 273 men, women and children.
The congregation owns a good brick church edifice estimated to be
worth $12,000; it is a handsome brick structure. The parsonage is
estimated to be worth $7,000.
A Sunday school in connection with this church has an attendance of
130. The present superintendent is Mrs. Ove T. Anderson.
The pastors who have faithfully served this congregation are:
Revs. A. M. Andersen, G. B. Christiansen, A. Rasmussen, H. Jensen,
K. Anker, A. H. Schultz, H. L. Kjoller and present pastor. Rev. A. H.
Schultz.
Baptist Churches
The First Baptist Church of Blair, Nebraska, was organized
September 18, 1869, by Rev. E. G. O. Groat and these as charter mem-
bers— Rev. E. G. O. Groat, Mrs. Groat, Nathan Carter, Mrs. Nathan
Carter, Burtis Rosa, J. S. Stewart and wife.
The 1920 total membership of this church is 235. The average Sun-
day school attendance is seventy-five, under Superintendent H. B. Taylor,
The first building occupied by this society was the one donated by
the Baptist Church at Cuming City where the work was organized Feb-
ruary 20, 1858, and later erected a church building at a cost of $3,500,
completed in the autumn of 1867. When the railroad was built and a
town site made at present City of Blair in 1869, Cuming City was
deserted and many moved to Blair. The Cuming City church was
moved to Blair in the summer of 1872. This served until 1893, when
the present church was erected at a cost of $5,800. A parsonage was
erected in 1879 and an addition made in 1884. When the new church
was built the parsonage was moved from the church lot to its present
location. It was remodeled at a cost of $538.
Other Baptist churches are located at Herman and at Fletcher (New
England Church) about seven miles west of Herman.
The following is a complete list of pastors who have served this
Baptist congregation since its formation: Revs. E. G. O. Groat, J. F.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 373
Taggart, I. Elkin, J. D. P. Hungate, A. Hitchcock, W. H. Eller, John
Young, G. W. Taylor, J. C. H. Read, Amos Weaver, O. A. Holmes,
Thomas Anderson, W. A. Brown, John V. Whiting, James Sheppard,
S. C. Green, C. E. Tingley, S. W. Richards, George L. Conley, J. W.
Cabeen, F. M. Sturderant, F. E. Yolck and Rev. C. M. Foreman, the
present pastor.
First Baptist Church — Herman '
The Baptist Church at Herman was organized December 20, 1879.
The charter members were these: Turner Bailey, Lucy Bailey, John
Bradford. Henrietta Bradford, John C. Bailey, Clara Bailey, James
Fitch, Charlotte Fitch, James Allen.
There are now eighty-seven members in this church. Mrs. O. H.
Godley is Sunday school superintendent and the school has an average
of 125 scholars.
The first church building of this society was destroyed in the great
cyclone of 1899 and rebuilt in 1900. The present church is valued at
$3,500.
The following have been the pastors of this church : Revs. John
Patrick, 1880-85; W. M. Allen, 1885-86; T- M. Bav. 1887-88; P. A.
Tinkham, 1888-91; C. B. Gary, 1892-93; A. M. McFarland, 1893-96;
T. L. Kimball, student, 1897-99; G. A. Smith, 1901-02; T. C. Shafifer,
1903; C. T. Duholm, 1904-06; S. E. Bishop, 1907-09; Charles I. Naston,
1910-11; Edmond Clark, 1912-13; G. A. Smith, 1915-18; M. W. Bal-
langer, 1918-19; Rev. Kesterson, 1920.
Catholic Church
St. Francis Catholic Church at Blair was organized in 1871 by
Father Bums. There are now fifty families connected with this Catholic
congregation.
The original church edifice was erected in 1871 costing $1,000; the
second and present edifice was erected in 1889 at an expense of $4,000.
In 1900 a good parsonage was built under the pastorate of Father
Barrett.
The only other Catholic Church in Washington County is the one
situated at Fort Calhoun.
The present pastor is Rev. C. O. Beyersdorfer, appointed here
Thanksgiving Day, November, 1918. Other pastors, in order given,
have preceded the present pastor ; Rev. Fathers Burns, Flanigan, Daxae-
her. Emblem, Killion, Aherne, C. Schmidt, Barry, N. J. Barrett, M.
Brophy, T. O'Driscoll.
Episcopal Church
St. Mary's Episcopal Church is situated at Blair, and was organized
June 5, 1882, by the Rev. Robert Doherty. The charter members included
the following persons :
John Wilbur, warden; Harry Higley, warden; Edward C. Jackson,
E. H. Clarke, E. A. Stearns, Jessie S. Hoke, I. M. Castetter, treasurer,
the same constituting the vestry. Other members included these : Helen
M. Castetter, Flora Castetter, Eva Phelps, E. C. Jackson, William Jack-
son, Ada Jackson, Joseph Jackson, Mrs. John Wilbur, E. H. Clarke,
William Clarke, Harry Higley, Miriam Castetter.
374 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
The present total membership of the Sunday school is thirty-five.
Rev. Marsh is present superintendent.
In 1882 a frame church building was erected at a cost of $2,500.
The following pastors have had charge of this parish : Revs. Jacobs,
SafFord, McGill, 1884; S. A. Potter, 1890; Talbot, 1892; Young, 1893,
and present pastor, who came in 1901.
Presbyterian Churches
May 4, 1904, a Presbyterian Church was formed at Fort Calhoun by
Reverend Braden, D.D., of Bellevue. A. W. Stanley and W. H. Woods
were elected elders. The. same j^ear the society purchased the old Congre-
gational Church building — a small one-room structure. In 1908 it was
enlarged at a cost in excess of $2,000 and dedicated January 29, 1911.
The regular pastorates have been : Reverend Black, followed by
Rev. William Nicoll, William Primrose, Calvin Rice, Reverend Shall-
cross, August Hilkeman, Reverend Shimien, Benton Cleveland, Doctor
Ramsey, Reverend Werner, H. M. Hanson, Rev. S. A. Hutchison.
While the church is not strong, it is in the fight to win and has been
the means of doing much religious good for the community about old
Fort Calhoun.
CHAPTER XIV
MILITARY HISTORY OF THE COUNTY
Its Part in the Civil War — Indian Troubles — Spanish-American
War and the Late World War— 1914-18 — Fort Calhoun — Its
Ruins.
Washington County bore her share of burden during the Civil war
from 1861 to 1865. Although she sent no organization of soldiers to the
Southland, yet between thirty and forty of her citizens bore arms in
regiments of other states, one of whom was second lieutenant of Com-
pany "I," Eighty-seventh Iowa Infantry, in the person of Abram C.
Andrew, who was killed at Chickamauga. Besides these there were two
companies of the Second Nebraska Cavalry, "A" and "B," raised in
Washington County. Capt. Peter S. Reed commanded Company "A"
and Capt. Roger T. Beall was in command of Company "B." This regi-
ment was raised in the autumn of 1862, as a nine-months regiment,
served about one year, guarding the settlements against threatened
Indian invasions in western Nebraska and Dakota.
The Spanish-American War — 1898
Soon after the sinking of the United States Gunboat "Maine" in the
waters of Havana Bay, near our southern borders, it was believed that
the boat had been destroyed, with many precious lives, by authority of
Spain. This brought on a war between this country and Spain in which
within a few weeks nearly all of Spain's war fleet was destroyed in
Manila Bay, away out in the Pacific. This victory for the United States
was declared by act of Congress in April and virtually ended by
Admiral George Dewey, who had charge of our splendid navy at that
time. By this war Cuba and the Philippine Islands were declared free
and independent countries placed under the protection of the United
States, instead of under Spanish rule, as they had been for nearly 400
years.
The army raised by this country for land and sea activities included
our National Guard companies, so far as available. (See below.)
Roster of Soldiers from Washington County
From the Nebraska adjutant-general's reports the following list of
soldiers from Washington County in the Spanish-American war is given,
and is supposed to be correct. These men served in Company "E" of
the Third Nebraska Regiment :
Captain — Van Dusen, Don C, Aged 25, Blair.
First Lieutenant — Underwood, William H, aged 38 years, Arlington;
Kenny, John M., aged 20 years, Blair.
Second Lieutenant — Underwood, William H., aged 38, Blair; Erick-
son, Fred A., aged 30, Fort Calhoun.
Quarter-master Sergeant — Hubler, Ellsworth G., aged 31.
Sergeants — Van Dusen, C. C, aged 23 ; Whitfield, Lewis D., aged 21,
Arlington ; Fitch, Scott M., aged 22, Herman.
Corporals — Sutherland, Earl B., aged 25, Blair; Blakesley, C. E.,
aged 23, Blair; Lorhbaugh, William H., aged 21, Arlington; Haller,
375
376 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
William M., aged 21, Blair; Alloway, Simon, aged 22, Kennard; Glover,
Guy L., aged 21, Arlington; Grimm, Arthur, aged 21, Blair.
Wagoner — DuLaney, Thomas L., aged 18, Blair.
Musician — Jacobson, John A., aged 20, Fort Calhoun; Noble, Thomas,
aged 22, Blair.
Artificer— Stull, Willis L., aged 21, Blair.
Privates
Armende, John, aged 21, Arlington.
Beck, Andrew, aged 19, Blair.
Brahmstadt, Louis, aged 27, Blair.
Banister, William F., aged 25, Fort Calhoun.
Bedal, Eugene L., aged 19, Blair.
Bedal, Albert A., aged 22, Blair.
Cannon, Charles L., aged 28, Blair.
Clarkson, Harry H., aged 19, Arlington.
Dunn, Darley P., aged 18, Blair.
Daniels, Richard, aged 30, Blair.
Fawcett, Edw. E., aged 34, Blair.
Greene, Harry F., aged 23, Fort Calhoun.
Harrison, Charles A., aged 21, Fort Calhoun.
Hillman, Benj. S., aged 44, Fort Calhoun.
Hulse, Harvey B., aged 28, Fort Calhoun.
Haller, William M., aged 21, Blair.
JefFers, William, aged 42, Fort Calhoun.
Kiefer, Lewis O., aged 24, Herman.
Krause, Eugene F., aged 31, Blair.
Kelly, Thomas P., aged 24, Blair.
Morton, George R., aged 21, Herman.
Mundorf, Albert, aged 21, Herman.
Morton, Richard E., aged 22, Herman.
Noyes, Clinton, aged 18, Blair.
Newton, Page C, aged 19, Blair.
O'Hanlon, William F., aged 18, Blair.
Peck, Benj. F., aged 24, Cumings City.
Pardew, Charles M., aged 23, Blair.
Phillips, Daniel A., aged 22, Blair.
Rathmann, George R., aged 32, Blair.
Rohwer, Marcus, aged 35, Fort Calhoun.
Sanden, Leonhardt C, aged 38, Herman.
Smith, Fred, aged 21, Blair.
Smith, Henry F., aged 22, Blair.
Saum, Gus A., aged 23, Fort Calhoun.
Schenk. William, aged 29, Blair.
Thomsen, Peter, aged 28, Blair.
Van Dusen, Claude C, aged 28, Blair.
Warrick, Charles A., aged 26, Blair.
Wisdom, William, aged 26, Blair.
Wolfe, James, aged 22, Herman.
Death List
The only soldier from this roster who paid the "supreme sacrifice"
was Harry H. Clarkson, aged 19, of Arlington, who died at hospital,
September 22, 1898.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 177
The World War— 1914-18
Eastern Nebraska, not unlike all other loyal sections of this Republic,
had her part in the last great conflict which is now known as the
"World war."
The underlying reason of this war was, as it developed in the course
of the conflict, the desire of Germany through Emperor William II
and the Junker or military class to dominate the world. That is now the
settled belief of the best thinkers and historians of today. Other
causes were frequently mentioned soon after the beginning of the
conflict among which the more important included the following:
First — Commercial and industrial rivalry, especially as developed
between Germany and Great Britain.
Second — International jealousy as to their power and predominance
in the world. This involved —
Third — Excessive armaments entailing heavy burdens on the people
and developing a spirit of —
Fourth — Militarism and growth of military parties and military
castes.
Fifth — Conflict of Slav and Teuton races, resulting from national
aspirations for territorial expansion ; racial antagonism.
Sixth — Desire of certain rulers to put an end to international strife
by consolidating public opinion through the agency of a foreign war
appealing to the patriotism of the people.
Seven — Desire to preserve the status quo in Europe by preserving
the neutrality and independence of the smaller nations.
Eighth — Revenge resulting from former conflicts such as the War
of 1870 between Germany and France and the more recent Balkan wars.
Nine — Conflict of democracy as opposed to autocracy and bureaucracy.
Tenth — Conflict of national ideals, "cultures."
Eleventh — Persons ambitious of men high in position, authority and
power.
Twelve — Persistent talk of war by yellow journals and Jingoists.
Thirteen — Publication of books, like those of General Bernhardi,
declaring war to be a blessing, a necessity and a great factor in the
furtherance of culture and power.
Fourteen — Formation of international alliances presenting localizing
of any conflict.
The Murder of Archduke Ferdinand
It may be said that the immediate cause of the war was the assas-
sination in Sarajevo, Bosnia, June 28, 1914, of the Archduke Francis
Ferdinand, nephew of the Emperor of Austria, heir to the throne of
the dual monarchy and commander-in-chief of its army, and his wife,
the Duchess of Hohenberg, by a Serbian student, Gavrio Prinzip, aided
by a number of others. It was the outcome of years of ill-feeling between
Serbia and Austria-Hungary due to the belief of the people in the
smaller state that their aspirations as a nation were hampered and
blocked by the German element in the Hapsburg Empire. These coun-
tries had been on the verge of war several years before over the annexa-
tion of Bononi and Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary, and later, over
the disposition of Scutari and certain other territory, conquered in the
Balkan-Turkish struggle.
378 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Great Britain Enters the War
Resentment in Austria-Hungary, because of the murder of the heir
to the throne, was deep and bitter, and the authorities decided imme-
diately to take radical measures against Serbia. An ultimatum was
issued July 23, 1914, and war was declared against Serbia two days
later. Russia insisted that an attack on Serbia was equivalent to an
affront to itself and in a few days Russia, Germany, Austria-Hungary
were all in a state of warfare. France began to mobilize its military
resources. Germany invaded the Duchy of Luxembourg and demanded
free passage for its troops across Belgium to attack France at that coun-
try's most vulnerable point. King Albert of Belgium refused his consent
on the ground that the neutrality of his country had been guaranteed
by the powers of Europe, including Germany itself and appealed to
Great Britain for diplomatic help. That country which it was asserted
had sought through its foreign secretary, Sir Edward Grey, to preserve
the peace of Europe was now aroused. August 4th it sent an ultimatum
to Germany demanding that the neutrality of Belgium be respected. As
this demand was not complied with Great Britain formally declared war
against Germany. Joined with Germany and Austria-Hungary in what
is known as the Triple Alliance was Italy, but the last-named country
claimed it was not bound by the terms of the compact to assist the others
in what it looked upon as a war of aggression. It declined to be drawn
into the conflict so long as its own interests were not threatened. The
sympathy of its people was with the French and British. Before the end
of the second week in August, Germany and Austria-Hungary were at
war with Russia, Great Britain and its Dominions, France, Belgium,
Serbia and Montenegro. August 24th, Japan, Britain's ally in the Far
East, entered the fray by declaring war against Germany. They also
attacked the Fatherland's colony of Klaochow, in China. October 29th,
Turkey suddenly attacked Russia. Thus by November 5th there were
ten nations and their dependencies at war.
Thousands of American tourists and business men traveling in
Europe found great inconvenience and met with great losses. The war
upset the whole system of international credit, the railroads were monop-
olized for war purposes and tens of thousands of Americans found
themselves stranded abroad. Hundreds of their automobiles were seized
by the Germans and almost every American was looked upon as a spy
for other countries against Germany. This brought about a radical and
sudden change of public opinion in the United States. Our Congress
appropriated $2,500,000 for the relief of American travelers thus stranded
in Europe. By the end of August, 1914, the German army was across
the line, over into France, and heavy fighting was going on daily by
German, French and English soldiers, and the death rate was very
heavy.
The Outlook in 1917
Three years after the war had commenced, or rather in 1917, from
an American viewpoint the entry of the United States into the war was
an outstanding feature — it was the important factor of the great con-
flict. This was not willingly but an act of expediency upon the part of
America. It will be recalled that the terrible submarine warfare carried
on by the German Government as early as 1915 had killed hundreds of
innocent Americans. A war zone had been established by the Germans
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 379
which prohibited any of our vessels from sailing inside such zone, either
passenger or freight boats. May 6, 1915, the "Lusitania," a 32,(X)0-ton
passenger boat, was destroyed and a thousand lives lost, including more
than 100 men and women from America. President Wilson resented
this ruthless sinking of an American passenger-laden steamer, reminding
the Germans that such an act must not be repeated, whereupon Germany
appeared to put in an apology and agreed that it should not again happen,
but still the horrible sea-war went forward and the submarines were
more numerous in the destruction of our boats and sinking our property
than before. Our merchant marine vessels were sunk by the hundreds
in direct violation of all German promises toward neutral countries.
Congress Votes War April 6, 1917
From the Chicago Daily News "Year-Book" and other reliable sources
the foregoing is quoted so far as the causes of the war is concerned, and
in speaking of the United States entering the war as one of the Allies,
that publication says :
"Congress was overwhelmingly in favor of the course advised by the
President and on April 6, a joint resolution was adopted formally declar-
ing the existence of a state of war between the government of the United
States of America and the' Imperial government of Germany. Only six
Senators and fifty Representatives voted in the negative. After taking
this momentous step Congress urged by the President, passed measures
providing for the immediate creation of a national army and the increase
to war strength, of the national guard, the marine corps and the navy.
It passed laws against espionage, trading with the enemy and the unlaw-
ful manufacture and use of explosives in time of war. It provided for
the insurance of soldiers and sailors, for priority of shipments, for the
seizure and use of enemy ships in American waters, for conserving and
controlling the food and fuel supply of the country, for stimulating agri-
culture, for the increasing of the signal corps, for issuing bonds, for
stimulating an aviation corps and for the providing additional revenues
for war expenses by the increasing old and creating new taxes."
"War to Victory" the Slogan
Having determined to engage in war, this country bent every known
factor toward success. Its first step was to increase the army through a
system of select draft and also by securing as manv volunteers as possi-
ble for the national guard, the marine corps and the navy. The enlist-
ments were numerous, but it was soon seen that a select draft must come,
if a large enough army and navy be obtained. Men between the ages
of twenty-one and thirty years, inclusive, registered June 5th, under the
Act of May 18 providing for the temporary increase of the military
establishment of the United States. The total number inscribed was
9,683,455. The quota of men to be supplied by each state and territory
was determined by the population. The total number called, for the first
"draft" was 687,000. This number were summoned, examined, and
either accepted or rejected.
The troop movement was something wonderful, in view of the great
danger by reason of the submarines. But by November of the same
year, more than 2,000.000 men from America had been landed in France,
England and Italy. This immense number of men was transported over
the seas without the loss of a single east-bound transport. It was the
380 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
thought of the United States government to place within European coun-
tries at least 4,000,000 men by the summer of 1919 and by this it was
believed Germany might finally be conquered, but happily the armistice
was signed November 11, 1918, and the transportation of American
soldiers was stopped.
Signing of the Armistice
President Wilson issued the formal proclamation on Monday morning,
November 11, 1918:
"My Fellow Countrymen — The armistice was signed this morning.
Everything for which America fought has been accomplished. It will
now be our fortunate duty to assist by example, by sober friendly council
and by material aid in the establishment of just democracy throughout
the world. Woodrow Wilson."
What is known as the "Peace Celebration" occurred on November
11th, and it commenced just as soon as the thousands of towns, cities
and villages heard the glad news that the Germans had signed the armis-
tice which, according to Chicago time, was about 1 o'clock in the morn-
ing of that day. No place in the United States and Canada was without
its wonderful celebration stunts — some one way and some another. The
noise and outburst from every loyal citizen was as if all the Fourth-of-
July celebrations this country has ever had were boiled down into one
hour of this day with the other twenty-three left to re-celebrate in.
General Chronology of the War
June 28 — Archduke Ferdinand and wife assassinated in Sarajevo,
Bosnia.
July 28 — Austria-Hungary declares war on Servia.
August 1 — Germany declares war on Russia; general mobilization
begun.
August 3 — Germany declares war on France.
August 4 — State of war between Great Britain and Germany is
declared.
August A — Germany declares war on Belgium.
August 8 — Germans capture Liege.
August 20 — Germans enter Brussels
August 23 — Japan declares war on Germany.
September 2 — Lemberg captured by Russia; seat of French govern-
ment transferred from Paris to Bordeaux.
September 5 — England, France and Russia sign compact not to con-
clude peace separately.
September 6 — Allies win battle Marne.
October 9 and 10 — Germans capture Antwerp.
October 29 — Turkev begins war with Russia.
1915— A. D.
February 19 — British and French fleets bombard Dardanelles forts.
March 10 — Battle of Neuve Chappelle begins.
May 7 — Liner Lusitania torpedoed and sunk by German submarine.
May 23 — Italy formally declares war on Austria and mobilizes army.
July 29 — Warsaw evacuated; Lublin captured by Austrians.
August 4 — Germans occupy Warsaw.
September 20 — Austrians and Germans begin drive on Serbia.
September 29-30 — Battle of Champaign.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 381
December 8-9 — Allies defeated at Macedonia.
1916— A. D.
February 21 — Germans under Crown Prince begin attack on Verdun
defenses.
April 18 — President Wilson sends final note to Germany.
April 19 — President Wilson explains in speech before Congress in
joint session.
April 2-1 — Insurrection in Dublin.
June 5 — Lord Kitchner lost with cruiser Hamshire.
July 1 — Battle of Somme begins.
August 3 — Sir Roger Casement executed for treason.
August 27 — Italy declares war against Germany.
August 28 — Roumania declares war against Austria-Hungary.
December 5 — British cabinet resigns.
December 10 — New British cabinet formed with Lloyd George at its
head.
December 12 — Germany proposes peace negotiations.
December 18 — President \\'ilson sends note to belligerent nations ask-
ing them to make known their peace terms and to neutral nations and
suggesting they support America's action.
December 30 — Allies make joint reply to Germany's peace proposal
rejecting it as a war maneuver.
1917_A. D.
January 22 — President Wilson addresses the United States Senate on
subject of world peace and the establishment of a league of nations.
January 31 — Ambassador Count Von Bernstorfif hands note to Secre-
tary Lansing in Washington announcing the inauguration by Germany of
an unrestricted submarine warfare, February 1st; Germany proclaims
boundaries of blockade zone.
February 1 — Germany begins unrestricted warfare.
February 3 — President Wilson orders that Ambassador Count Von
Bernstorfif be handed his passports, directs the withdrawal of Ambassador
James W. Gerard, and all American consuls from Germany and announces
his action in a speech before Congress ; suggests to neutral countries that
they follow America's example.
February 7 — United States Senate endorses President Wilson's action
in breaking with Germany.
February 8 — Germany detains Ambassador Gerard in Berlin ; liner
California torpedoed and sunk with loss of forty lives.
February 25 — "Hindenburg retreat" from Somme sector in full
progress.
March 1 — President Wilson, at request of Senate, confirms existence
of German plot in Mexico; House grants President power to arm mer-
chant ships.
March 15 — Extra session of Congress; Czar Nicholas II of Russia
abdicates throne for himself and son.
March 30 — Foreign Secretary Zimmerman in Reichstag explains his
efiforts to embroil Mexico and Japan with the United States ; President
Wilson and cabinet decide that war with Germany is the honorable
recourse left to the United States.
April 2 — Special session of American Congress opens ; President in
address asks that existence of a state of war with Germany be declared.
April 6 — House passes war resolution ; President signs resolution and
issues war proclamation ; all American forces mobilized ; German vessels
in American ports seized.
382 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
April 7— Cuba and Panama declare war on Germany.
April 8 — Austria-Hungary announces break in relations with the
United States.
April 10 — Brazil breaks off relations with Germany.
April 20 — "America Day" in Britain ; special services held in Saint
Paul's Cathedral.
April 21 — Turkey breaks off relations with the United States ; Balfour
mission arrives in United States.
April 24 — Joffre-Viviani French mission arrives in America.
April 25 — Joffre-Viviani French mission gives great ovation in Wash-
ington ; President appoints Elihu Root head of mission to visit Russia.
April 28 — Senate and House pass draft bill ; Secretary McAdoo says
the bond issue will be called "Liberty Loan of 1917."
May 5 — Great Britain joins in asking that American troops be sent to
France at once : Marshal Joffre speaks in Chicago.
May 9 — Liberia ends relations with Germany.
May 17 — First American Red Cross unit hospital arrived in England
for service with the British in France.
May 18 — President Wilson orders the sending of a division of regu-
lars to France under Major-General J. J. Pershing: announces that he
will not approve of raising volunteers by Theodore Roosevelt for service
in Europe. Issues proclamation fixing June 5th as the date for the regis-
tration of men eligible for service under the draft law.
May 19 — President Wilson asks Herbert C. Hoover to take charge of
food administration in America during the war.
May 20 — German plot for world domination laid bare in Washington.
June 5 — Registration dav under selective draft law in the United
States: about 10,000,000 men registered.
June 27 — American troops arrive in France.
June 29 — Greece severs relations with Germany and her allies.
July 9 — President Wilson proclaims mobilization of national guards.
July 20 — Draft day in the United States.
July 31 — British drive in Flanders begun.
August \4 — China declares v.'ar on Germany and Austria-Hungary.
August 2 — General embargo on exports beginning August 30th pro-
claimed by the President ; full aid to Russia pledged by the President.
December 7 — Congress passes resolution declaring state of war to
exist between the United States and Austria-Hungary.
December 17 — Red Cross drive commenced in the United States.
December 26 — United States takes over all railroads (beginning
December 28th)-, Secretary McAdoo appointed director-general of the
railway lines.
December 28 — Order turning railroads over to the United States
carried.
1918— A. D.
January 16 — Fuel Administrator Garfield orders factories to shut
down five days and also on IMondays until the end of March to save coal.
January 25 — Britain asks for 75,000,000 bushels more of grain from
the United States.
May 7 — Nicarauga declares war on Germany.
May 25 — Second Red Cross fund of America over-subscribed.
June 3 — Ten American ships sunk off the Atlantic coast by German
submarines, between May 26th to June 3rd.
July 2 — President announces that there were 1,019,115 American sol-
diers in France July 1st.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
38.^
July 21 — Germans driven out of Chateau Thierry by French and
American soldiers.
November A — Austria makes complete surrender.
November 9 — The Kaiser renounces the throne.
November 11 — German envoys sign armistice terms and fighting
ceases. The exact time was 11 o'clock A. Al. and this order applies along
the line. President Wilson announced to Congress, "The war thus comes
to an end." Great peace celebrations were held all over this country.
December 4 — President Wilson and peace party sail for France from
New York on the steamer George Washington.
Washington County's Part in this W.\r
When it was known that the United States was to take part in this
conflict between the European states, many doubted the wisdom of the
act on the part of the Government, but as time passed on nearly all in this
county came to believe that the great civilized world demanded our coun-
try to have a part in spreading democracy and helping to cause wars to
cease everywhere, if possible.
While the Government has not as yet compiled any absolute roster of
the men furnished in this war, the various county and state records to
which we have had free access, we are enabled to give a fairly complete
list of the soldiers who served from Washington County. It is true,
however, that many more went into the service from other places, hence
were not accredited to this county, but the roster as compiled for the
enlistments known to have been from this countv are as follows:
Abbott, Aubry E.
Abbott, Mons E.
Ackerman, Floyd
Alexander, Hyman E.
Ames, Charles W.
Anderson, Alfred C.
Anderson, Christian
Anderson, Dean D.
Anderson, Gustav L.
Anderson, John E.
Anderson, William C.
Anderson, Roy A.
Anderson, Ruthven C.
Anderson, Silas C.
Anderson, Clayton
Anderson, Everett E.
Andrews, Charles W.
Barry, James F.
Bartlett, William H.
Barton, Arthur L.
Bates, William C.
Beck, Wilhelm
Berry, Charles L.
Berry, Leslie T.
Bergman. Bernard
Bick, August
Bilberdorf, Leonard
Bierman, Otto C. H.
Bififar, Lonnie
Blackball, Rowland
Blackstone, Robert C.
Blockenbeckler, Archie
Blackenfeld (Corp.)
Rollin. William
Antrim, Archie Arthur Bowman, Fay
Antrim, John Lewis Bowman, Virgil Clare
Antrim, Wallace ElwoodBoss, Ralph
Arp, Henry O.
Aubury, Henry L.
Auch, Gustav
Autzer, Johannes
Axtell, Leonard E.
Bandor, Joseph
Barr, Clarence
Barry, John L.
Bandert, Edward W.
Bradley, Raymond
Banbarger, Charles A.
Brennan, Fred T.
Brinkman, John M.
Burt, Merle S.
Burgess, John A.
Bustein, Louis L.
Caldwell, Earl C.
Cameron, M. Leo
Cameron, Whit
Cannon. Cornelius
Vanderbilt
Capps, Stanley M.
Carmichael, Walter
Carpenter, Evan Henry
Carpenter, Henry W.
Carpenter, Eric G.
Carter, Charles J.
Christ, John E.
Christensen, John
Christensen, Francis
Christensen, Harry ,
Christensen, Calvin C.
Christoflferson, Fred
Christofiferson, Morse
Chubatai, Fred
Clasen, Henry
Clasen, Lewis
Claycomb, James
Colden, Archie J.
Calger, Frank
Calger. Thomas L.
Collea, Angelo
Compton. Allen
Cornelius, Frederick
384
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Cornelius, James
Cornelius, Nils
Craig, Elmer Sheridan
Ciunmings, James E.
Crouse, Lorenzo
Dockson, Fred P.
David, McKinley
(Deceased)
Dennis, Charles E.
Dennis, Ottis C.
Debal, Anders C.
Denton, Frank R.
Dennison, Fred L.
Detlef, Harry William
DeWitt, Walter G.
DeYapp, H.
Dickmeyer, Frederick
Dixon, Arthur E.
Dixon, Gifford
Dixon, William B.
Dixon, Curtis L.
Dolan, Warren E.
Dolan, John J.
Dowden, Ray L.
Dunn, Willis G.
Eakin, Samuel
Edwards, Earl
Eistrup, Peter T.
Elliott, Walter
Erickson, Emil B.
Farr, Howard E.
Farnburg, Lewis C.
Frick, John W.
Flake, Henry
Fleege, George
Frankson, Chris R.
Frederickson, Hans E.
Frederickson, Erick
French, Earl D.
Fuhrhop. August G.
Gaines, Clyde
Gaylord, Fred H.
Geary, Robert A.
Gibbs, John
Giesselman, Henry A.
Gilbert, John T.
Gilfrv. Harold R.
Goll.'Walter R.
Goreham, Charles R.
Greumke, Frederick
Greumke, George H.
Greumke, John G.
Greenle, Albert D.
Griffin, Norris
Gustason, Arthur D.
Gustason, Vetre
Gutchow, Walter
Gustin, Orin B.
Hain, Howard Earl
Hain, Stanley Elwood
(Deceased)
Hall, Bernard Richard
(Deceased)
Hall, Lawrence
Hall, Wilber D.
Halstead, Roy
Hansen, Hans
Hansen, Edward B.
Hansen, Erke C.
Hansen, Hans K.
Hansen, Herold
Hansen, Rasmus P.
Hansen, Thorvald H.
Jensen, Leslie
Jensen, Martinus
Jensen, Oscar H.
Jensen, Theodore
Jessen, John P.
Jessen, Thomas P.
Jessen, Herald Curtis
Jesperson, Otto
John, Arthur H.
John, Perry T.
John, Ralph C.
Johnson, Albert
Johnson, Carl
(Deceased)
Johnson, Erwin T.
Johnson, Harvey B.
Johnson, Hugo
Johnson, Martin Luther
Hanthone, Verne Alvin Jones, Charles
Hammang, Leonard E. Jones, Raymond B
Hartung, Elmer G
Jones, Richard W.
Jorgenson, Thorvold
Kuhre, Julius
Kudsk, Ben Jens
Kruse, Paul W.
Kruse, Victor
Hastings, Glenn A.
Hawes, George F.
Healey, Anthony F.
Hedelund, George T,
Helmsing, Fred E.
Hemphill, William, Dr. Kruse, Louis
Henningsen, Herbert Kruger, Eli F
Henricksen, Jens
Hindley, George D.
Hineline, Charles
Hineline, Rupert
Hilgenkamp, William H.Kramer, Albert
Hoenemann, Will H. KroUman, Gust
Holeton, Ora V.
Holtman, Adolph
Hoover, John E.
Horn, Robert T.
Hossman, Everett M.
Hulbert, Harold WallaceKrud, Krudsen
Hull. Wyatt T, Knott, Floyd H.
Hullinger, Christopher Klindt, Henry
Hundahl, Raymond A. Klenk, William G
(Deceased) Klahn, Ben
Kroger, John
Krause, William
Krause, Otto
Krause, Earl G.
Krajicek, Berj
Krajicek, Lewis
Korshoj, Chris
Krudsen, Carl
(Deceased)
Ireland, Louis
Jackson, Thomas R.
Jacobs, Raymond N.
Jansen, Ole R.
Jansen, Anton H.
Jansen, Carl G.
Jensen, Dewy M.
Jensen, Elmer B.
Jensen, Fred H.
Jensen, Fred W.
Jensen, Jacob
King, Ralph J.
Kiefer, Alford
Kerr, Henry L.
Kelly, Paul
Kelley, Harold M.
Kelley, Floyd M.
Keegan, Francis
Kassti, Raymond M.
Kahnk, John C.
La Fronz, Julius
(Deceased)
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
385
Loakes, Ernest
Lake, Albert
Lamb, George
Lang, Leo M.
Lang, Roy M. D.
Larsen, Lawrence C.
Laursen, James
Leorned, Sylvester
Lewis, George
Liesemeyer, Louis
Lothrop, C. C.
Lothrop, Grant
Lothrop, Norman K.
Lottman, Charlie
Lottman, Paul
Ludwig, Glen
Ludwig, Henry
Ludwig, Otto
Ludwig, Raymond
Luebker, Fred
Lueninghoener, Arthur
Lundt, Gustav
Lundt, Albert J.
Lund, Henry
Lund, Leonard
Madsen, Albert
Madsen, Harry
Madsen, M. P.
Madsen, Maurice
Magnusson, Rudolph
Maher, Roland
Malmberg, Fred P.
Marshall, Victor
Mathews, Wilber A.
Maynard, Benj.
McBride, Lyle E.
McComb, Percy D.
McCourtie, Glenn E.
McCune, Samuel W.
McDonald, Glen
McDonald, Robert
McFarland, Herman
McKercher, Louis
Meador, Aaron
Meador, Wm. Howard
Miesner, Richard G.
Menking, Lawrence
Menking, Roy E.
Metzler, Clyde Waldo
Michaels, Walter
Millner, Louis C.
Miller, A. H.
Miller, George C.
Miller, Harvey E.
Miller, Robert E.
Milikan, Earl S.
Misfeldt, Charles
Missina, G.
Monson, Carl A.
Morley, N. G.
(Deceased)
Mortensen, Robert D.
Morse, George
MuUer, F.
Munson, Elmer C.
Murphy, Stephen M.
Nelson, Andrew
Nelson, Andrew
Nelson, Arthur
Nelson, Carl
Nelson, George
Nelson, Hans K.
Nelson, Henning F.
Nelson, Martin L.
Newcomb, Floyd
Neumann, Herman
Nicoline, Louis
Niederdippe, Ezra
Noeberg, John
Nielsen, Andrew
Nielsen, Anton
Nielsen, Chris E.
Nielsen, Juul C.
Nielsen, Laurite
Nielson, Otto
Nonnamaker, Edward
Nonnamaker, Zeno
Northway, Edward
Noyes, Lisle G.
Novak, Walter J.
Nyegaard, Kay K. H.
Oberg, Amel
Offen, Lisle Roflfe
Ogorodwick, Julius
Ohrt, WillianTH.
Oleson, Arthur
Oleson, George A.
Oleson, Jacob Neils
Osborn, Charlie
Osborne, Thomas J.
Ottomoeller, Henry
Parrish, Lynn
Paulsen, Hans
Paulsen, John
Pearson, Oscar
Peebles, Leland T.
Peters, Carl
Peters, Charles
Petersen, Amandus
Petersen, Christ J.
Petersen, Emanuel
Petersen, Peter
(Deceased)
Petersen, Soren
Peterson, Ernest C.
Peterson, Alfred E.
Peterson, Ledie Ed.
Peterson, Leonard
Peterson, Harold Olaf
Peterson, Henry
Peterson, Lawrence
Pfieffer, Chester
Pickell, George
Pierson, Otis E.
Pilpik, Joseph
Plugg, Henry
Pohlman, Albert
Prochnow, Albert J. F.
Pruner, Gifford
Pruner, Orin
Rabes, Chris (Deceased)
Rabes, Jens
Rask, Anton (Deceased)
Rask, Ernest
Rasmussen, Carl
Rasmussen, Esk.
Rasmussen, Howard L.
Rasmussen, James
Rasmussen, Lars
Rasmussen, Sofus
Rathman, J.
Reeh, Lyle R.
Reeres, Opal
Reid, Earl C.
Reid, Raymond
Rennard, Ed. John
Rhea, Don L.
Richter, Harry
Riessem, Edward
Rix, Howard John
Rix, Ernest
Roberts, Lawrence
Robinson, Raymond H.
Rodgers, Thomas
Rodman, Roland
Rosenbalm, Floyd
Rosenbalm, Hayes
Rosenkilde, George
Ross, George
Rurup, Henry C.
Russ, Carl L.
Salsberry, William
Scheffler, Orval
Schmidt, Carl John
Schmidt, Ernest
386
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Schmidt, Henry
Schmidt, WilHam
Schroeder, Carl
Searing, Voorhees P.
Shinkle, Cleo
Shoemaker, Albert
Short, Grove J.
Silvey, William C.
Simpson, Arthur
Simpson, George
Skinner, John
Skow, Walter
(Deceased)
Smith, Grover I.
Smith, Clifford P.
Steppat, Eddie
Stewart, Donald
Stewart, Guy
Stewart, Thee M.
Stork, Frederick
Stork, Martin W.
Stricklett, Cecil Victor
Stricklett, Gail
Stricklett, J. M.
Strode, Jacob C.
Struve, Herman
Soverkrubbe, Albert
Vybral, Frank
Wahlgren, Howard
Waldenstrom, Carl H.
Walkenhorst, August
Ward, Leland Earl
Waterman, August A.
Waulborn, Henry
Webb, Fred
Weber, Harold De
Weber, Leo
Wehmeyer, Walter
Wentworth, Forest
Sydod, Alfred George C.West, Ben
Sylvis, James
Taylor, Carleton S.
Smith, Phillip Clifford Theede, William F.
Smith, Henry FrederickThielfoldt, John
Snowden, George W. Thies, Sigmond
Sproker, Ernest
Sproker, Fred Henry
Sorenson, Martin C.
Sorenson, Chris
Stapers, Fred
Stofford, James
Stalcup, Chester A.
Stangle, George
Stanley, Walter
States, C.
Steel, James
Steel, Robert
Stender, Emil
Steensen, Anders
Thompson, Neale
Thompson, Robert
Thornbert, Earl
Timpe, Karl
Truhlsen, Henry
West, Elmon Dayton
West, Everett
Westerman, Edward
White, David
Whitford, Murray
Wilcox, Marshall Ray
Wilkinson, Clyde
Williams, John
Wolf, Berry
Wolff, Frank
Utterback, John Millard Wolff, Louis
Utterback, Elmer Floyd Wolsman, Detlef
Vaughn, Burl B
Vail, Sydney
Vesper, David
Vifguair, H.
Vig, Bennett
Von Knuth, C
Woodward, Lyman
Albert, Jr.
Wright, Howard
Wright, William
Wulbern, Henry E.
Zimmerman, Fred
Financial Support
Besides sending to the front, and overseas, the full quota of men called
for in the several drafts, Washington County also opened up her treasury
and responded liberally in the several "dri^^es" made to sell United States
war bonds and stamps; also in the work of the Red Cross. The total
amount of government war bonds sold in this country, as shown by rec-
ords kept in the banks, was $1,961,300.
The Red Cross funds raised in the county were far in excess of the
quota demanded of the people of the county, and the several thousand
dollars on hand today is being used in the various noble charities of the
Red Cross Society in Nebraska. Let it be said that both men and
women throughout Washington County did their "bit" as was asked by
President Wilson himself early in the war when urging people to give
liberally.
Civil War Monument
At the northwest corner of the public or Courthouse Square, in Blair,
stands a fine granite shaft at the intersection of the two streets. It was
erected to the memory of the Civil war soldiers who lie buried in Wash-
ington County soil. Its north face bears the inscription: "1861-1865 — To
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 387
the Memory of the Union Soldiers Buried in Washington County,
Nebraska. 1898."
The heavy and numerous granite bases and shafts are surmounted by
a life-sized statue of an infantryman soldier holding his musket. The
monument was erected by subscription among the citizens of the county
and city, while the statue just mentioned above was purchased of the rail-
road company in Omaha for the freight charges held against it, the bill
being only $60. The total cost of the monument was $1,160. It is now
enclosed by a neat iron fence, built in a substantial manner.
Concerning Forts Calhoun and Atkinson
[The following are notes furnished by W. H. Woods, of Fort Calhoun,
in the month of September, 1920, especially for use in the volume now
in your hands. These statements may be safely relied upon, as he has
made the subject a special study many years and has a larger number
of valuable and interesting documents and relics from the foundations
of the old fort and surrounding buildings, perhaps, than any other living
man. His narrative is as follows:]
There were perhaps forty cellars and foundations visible at the old
fort before the lands were plowed up into fields and wagon roads made.
There was a fur-trading station here and it was guarded by a dozen or
more soldiers, a thing that we never quite understood why the Govern-
ment would protect private interests in that expensive manner. When
we commenced investigating the subject of this fort, we asked the
Government authorities about this feature and were simply told that the
fort was established in 1820 and abandoned in 1826. We attempted to
get a history of this fort to please Governor Furnas, and make a school
history of it. A few years later the State Historical Society found a lot
of papers in the hands of the grandson of Colonel Atkinson, and at great
expense and much time, the click of typewriters was heard for more
than ten days in compiling from such papers and other sources the story
of the fort. The writer had much to do in assisting in this work. Only
a few years ago the grandson of Colonel Atkinson and one of his sons
from Fort Crook were here. The Government sent him and another son
from New York to our 1919 centennial celebration at Fort Calhoun.
Fine portraits of the various members of the Atkinson family were
donated to us here and suitably framed. These were given to the public
schools. It has been definitely learned that Atkinson and sons came
here in 1819 and left in 1827. The Government has changed their dates
to correspond to these dates.
The powder house of this fort Lieutenant Dudley saw in 1854 — a
building eight by ten feet of limestone walls two feet thick. This the
pioneers later burned into lime and we found the big padlock belonging
to the building, in August, 1920. The flagstaff, a number of my neigh-
bors told me, was for several years standing, but only a few feet high.
It stood in front of the powder house, but was later destroyed entirely.
Jacob Miller, a Mexican soldier, told me most of the stone hearths
were also collected for lime, or taken away for various uses, and that he
himself took the brick from over twentv cellars and sold them to farmers
and others. Probably twenty cellars and foundations can still be found
in this September (1920), also hundreds of buttons and gun flints are
still to be found. September 23, 1920, a man found a brass gun trigger.
Cupboard latches, wagon irons, wrought hand-forged nails are to be
picked up now by the dozens, after many hundreds have been taken away
388 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
from the foundations. In the '50s it was learned that the officers were
buried on the hill west of town. The owner of the land then wanted to
plow and came to me and together we dug up the remains of two that
slept in my corncrib for over a year till the Government sent me an
officer from St. Louis, when we removed three more from the grounds
and shipped all to Fort McPherson to the State Military Cemetery.
Only a few years ago more bodies were discovered in our very streets,
and they were buried in the city cemetery and the government sent me a
fine tombstone for them, bearing the inscription "Unknown American
Soldiers."
They made 90,000 brick the first year the fort was established ; these
were produced about a half mile west of the fort.
On October 23, 1822, two men on horseback met a steamboat and
started for a trip of 780 miles to St. Louis for Peruvian bark (quinine)
for 720 sick men in camp at Fort Calhoun.
In March, 1823, men were ordered to build the Council House, half
a mile west of the fort, on the hill. This was a large two-story log cabin
with a shingled roof, plank floors and brick chimney.
No large bodies of Indians could come near the fort proper.
In September, 1822, they reported four hewed log buildings, shingle
roof and brick chimneys in all making eighty-eight rooms. The officers
were to have windows nine feet long.
In October, 1823, a new term of school was commenced. January,
1822, they sent for blank music books. They sent $500 to Philadelphia
for books to come via New Orleans.
Lime was made and stone quarried at Long's camp, at old Fort Lesa,
now known as Rockport, four miles down the Missouri River.
The courtmartials and punishments were something wonderful.
Lewis and Clark camped in 1804 one mile north of the fort. The
duel grounds were a half mile south of that famous camp of Lewis and
Clark.
CHAPTER XV
MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS
Population of Washington County — Hard Winter of 1856-57 —
Original Village Plats — Markets at Various Times — Days of
Mourning — Garfield^ Grant and McKinley.
Population of Washington County
At various periods the population in Washington County has been as
follows : In 1855 it had a total population of 207 ; in 1860 it had reached
1,249; in 1870 it was 4,452; in 1880 it was 8,631. The last three United
States census returns gave Washington County the subjoined figures, by
townships and villages:
1890 1900 1910
Arlington Township 1,167 1,378 1,380
Blair Township 1,443 1.011 645
Cuming City Township 665 638 613
De Soto Township 277 370 313
Fontanelle Township 803 759 766
Fort Calhoun Township 1,187 1,495 1,447
Grant Township 926 866 775
Herman Township 827 996 978
Lincoln Township 856 850 791
Richland Township 1,000 1,179 1,292
Sheridan Township 649 575 546
Blair Citv 2,069 2,970 2,584
Arlington Village 412 579 645
Fort Calhoun Village 346 324
Herman Village 319 321 345
Kennard Village 275 319
Totals 11,869 13,086 12,788
The returns for the 1920 United States census are not yet made public
by townships and precincts, hence cannot be given in this connection.
Original Village Plats
Since the organization of Washington County the following original
village plattings have been executed, a number of which have long since
been defunct:
DE SOTO, platted in section 27, township 18, range 12, by an act of
the Legislature, March, 1855, having been surveyed out the autumn
before by Dr. John Glover, Gen. J. B. Robinson, Potter C. Sullivan,
E. P. Stout, William Clancy.
FORT CALHOUN was platted in sections 11 and 12, township 12,
range 17. See its village history elsewhere.
COFFMAN, platted in section 31, township 17, range 13; it is a
siding on the "Omaha " railway line, but not a place of importance.
WASHINGTON, platted in section 32, township 17, range 11, and is
now an enterprising town and important station on the Northwestern
Railwav.
389 ,
390 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
KENNARD, platted in section 5, township 17, range 11, is an
excellent town today.
BLAIR, platted in sections 11 and 12, in township 18, range 11. It
was platted by the officers of the Northwestern Railway Company (old
F. E. & M. v.).
TYSON, platted in section 15, township 19, range 11 ; it is simply a
railway siding.
HERMAN, platted in section 30, township 20, range 11, and was the
result of the construction of the railway.
DALE, platted in section 26, township 17, range 10. Today there
is a siding and a grain elevator at this point.
BOWEN, platted in section 14, in township 17, range 10.
VACOMA was platted in section 7, township 19, range 10. A county
store is now located at that point today.
FLETCHER, platted in section 32, township 20, range 10. This also
has a general store at this time.
TALBASTA, platted in sections 26 and 27, in township 19, range 9,
It is a small hamlet with a store.
FONTANELLE, platted in sections 8, 9 and 17, by the old Ouincy
Company, is situated in township 18, range 9. It now has a postoffice
and store.
ADMAH, platted in section 34, township 20, range 9.
ARLINGTON, platted as Bell Creek, in section 12, township 17,
range 9.
ORUM, platted in section 10, township 18, range 10.
CUMING CITY, platted in sections 34 and 35, township 19, range
11. A large part of this village plat has been vacated.
HUDSON was another early platting, in the extreme northeastern
part of this county. It was one of the early paper towns and had much
pioneer notoriety. It was heavily advertised in the East, and many
lots sold at good prices. Even to this day, it is related, there are now
and then inquiries from the far East about the town which has long
since been in the midst of excellent farms. No trace of a village is to
be seen — corn and wheat fields are there to be seen today.
The location of this much-talked-of "Town" was in the north half of
sections 26 and 27, township 20, range 11, now within Herman Civil
Township. It was platted and offered for sale by one William E. Walker,
a schemer of the Eastern States.
Markets at Various Times
The following will show the reader of history the prices that prevailed
in this county at various dates, beginning when they were about at the
lowest ebb since the settlement of the county — in 1889:
Blair Quotations : Wheat — No. 2, 55c ; No. 3, 55c ; corn, 20c ; barley,
35c; oats, 15c; rye, 30c.
Butter, 15c to 20c; eggs, 15c; new potatoes, 20c; onions, 25c; hogs,
$3.40 to $3.55 per cwt., live weight: steers. $2.50 to $3.50; cows, $1.50
to $2.00: chickens, per dozen. $1.50 to $2.00.
It should be stated that merchandise purchased at the stores at the
date above given was as low in proportion — calico, 5c to 7c ; grain sacks,
25c each ; good factory cloth, 9c per yard. Sugar was retailing at twenty
pounds for the dollar. Farm machinery was never sold at a lower rate
than between 1888 and 1893.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 391
Present (1920) Prices
Eggs. 40c; butter. 60c to 70c: hogs, $14 to $15; cattle. $14 to $15.60;
wheat, $2.51 to $2.54; corn. $1.56 to $1.59; oats, 71c to 76c; potatoes,
$3.00 per bushel; beans. $7.00; chickens, per pound. 30c; sugar. 29c;
coffee, 50c to 66c ; grain sacks, 90c ; calico. 35c ; factory cloth (good), 38c.
Farm machinery was never higher in price than at this date. The same
is true of shoes and clothing, fully three times as high as in 1889. But
on the other hand, in 1889 land in this county was not over $100 an acre
but today it sells from that figure up to $300 and even $400 per acre,
when it will be parted with at all.
Hard Winter of 1856-57
A local writer thus describes that never-to-be-forgotten winter:
"The winter of 1856-57 found the settlers of Washington County
little prepared for its hardships. The winters of 1855 and 1856 had
been remarkably pleasant and mild and it was supposed by the few white
residents of the county at that time that that was a fair sample of the
Nebraska winters. The houses were generally of a temporary character,
many of them having been built the summer before of new cottonwood
lumber, which material makes beautiful "open work" after a few days'
exposure to the sun, rendering the building cool and airy for summer use,
but not so pleasant for winter. Little or no shelter had been prepared
for stock and as there was a dearth of feed cattle were allowed to wander
here and there through the small patches of breaking finding an occasional
stalk of sod corn with which to astonish their stomachs. No one was
provided with wood for more than a few days' use. Provisions were
very scarce and money scarcer. Such was the condition of things when
the sun went down on the evening of the thirtieth of November, 1856. A
light snow was falling and had been for an hour, but the air was mild
and pleasant with a light wind. During the night the wind increased to
a terrific gale ; the weather grew intensely cold and the air was filled with
a driving snow which was forced into the houses through a thousand
and one crevices, covering beds, chairs, tables, stoves, etc., with a cold
mantle of white. The day dragged by with the wind surging and roaring
and the air so thick with cutting, blinding snow that one could not see a
house five feet distant ; thus rendering it impossible for the stock to be
fed, as a man could not find his way back to the house after leaving it.
Several made the attempt and perished in consequence, their bones being
found when the snow melted the next spring, in some instances within
short distances of their homes. Night settled upon the country cold and
dreary and another day of suffering dawned and passed without the
least prospect of relief.
A second night and third day passed by during which the wind
seemed to have lost none of its fury while the snow seemed to come
from some inexhaustible source, whirling, eddying and driving; piling
and drifting in the houses to a depth of two or three feet. As the evening
of the third day came on the anxious settlers were rejoiced to find that
the storm was gradually losing its force. Another miserable night passed
and the fourth day dawned. The wind had gone down and the sun rose
bright and clear upon a brilliant, glistening, dazzling sea of snow stretched
away as far as the vision extended, covering the ground to a depth of
three or four feet on the level, while in the ravines it was drifted in
places to the depth of twenty feet. Snow was found as late as June 1st
392 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
the next spring. The storm having subsided the settlers turned out to
care for their stock. In many places stables were built down in the
ravines and were so completely covered with snow that some time elapsed
before they could be found and the horses they sheltered — and very
effectually, too — dug out. Great difficulty was also experienced in gath-
ering together the roaming cattle, and many perished in the storm."
Days of Mourning
Every county has its seasons of deep mourning over the death of some
honored citizen, or for some state and national character claimed by death
in some exceptional manner, as was the cases when Presidents Garfield,
Grant and McKinley passed from earth's shining circles ; two by the hand
of an assassin and the other by a dreaded, incurable disease.
Some interest always clusters around the ceremonies of memorial
services held for the nation's departed, and the facts as chronicled at the
date should be preserved that our children and children's children may
know of these days of sorrow upon the part of a civilized, Christianized
people.
On the Death of President Garfield
Tuesday following the receipt of the sad news of the death of Presi-
dent James A. Garfield, September 19, 1881, Mayor Perkins issued the
following proclamation at Blair, this county:
"Great calamity has befallen the nation. The assassin's bullet has
accomplished its mission and James Abraham Garfield, is no more. He
died last evening at 10:05. As the chief magistrate of a great people, it
is proper that due respect should be shown the illustrious dead.
"I, therefore, call upon the citizens of Blair and vicinity to meet at the
park at 3 P. M. to take such action as the sad event requires and that
business be suspended during the meeting. I further request that at the
hour named the bells of the several churches toll.
(Signed) "Ai.onzo Perkins,
"Mayor."
The preliminary meeting resulted in the appointment of a committee
(to make arrangements for a memorial) of the following citizens: J. S.
Bowen, Theodore Haller and J. H. Hugate.
At the appointed time many came in from the country and the town
people usually turned out at the park. It was estimated that 1,500 were
present long before the hour of 2 P. M. The Grand Army of the Repub-
lic met at the barracks and from there they marched to the park, over 100
strong in a single column, with colors draped, muffled drums and arms
reversed, each veteran wearing a badge of mourning on his left arm.
Theodore Haller called the meeting to order and Warren Billings, of
Grant precinct, was elected chairman. Rev. John Patrick, of Herman,
made a very touching and appropriate prayer, followed by G. W. Wain-
right in a forty minute address in which he, with signal ability, reviewed
the lessons of moral responsibility to be evolved from the death of Presi-
dent Garfield.
Hon. Lorenzo Crounse next spoke upon his political life. He spoke
without notes and his words were dictated by a feeling that frequently
brought tears from the eyes of the hearers. He had been a personal
friend of the lamented president.
Gen. John S. Bowen then gave a short address upon the loss to the
people, followed by Rev. J. P. Andrew, upon the moral and Christian
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 393
character of Garfield. Last on the program was L. W. Osborn, who gave
an able address upon the military career of Garfield. The exercises
closed with an address by George Bigelow, of Ohio. It was an eloquent
speech and well received. Those present will long remember the solemn
memorial services in Blair for President Garfield, second president to be
assassinated in the United States.
On the Death of Gen. U. S. Grant
August 8, 1885, the loyal citizens everywhere throughout the country
assembled in mourning for the death of President Ulysses S. Grant, who
died after many weary months, caused by a throat affection. He was a
great sufferer but bore all his pain with fortitude and patience.
The Blair memorial services over this great military chieftain and
honored ex-president, were observed in an appropriate manner. An
immense throng of people lined the streets early in the forenoon. Various
societies and organizations joined in the procession, some in uniform, and
took up the line of march under command of J. S. Cook, of the Grand
Army Corps, headed by a martial band composed of William Swihart,
James Denny and J. W. Boggs. Arriving at the park, there was a short
address by Judge Crounse, also by Messrs. Davis and Halmar, all of
which were listened to by a large multitude. After appropriate resolu-
tions had been offered the exercises ended.
The business places in Blair were all closed, flags were at half-mast
and draped in mourning. At the close, all retired orderly to their respec-
tive homes, to perpetuate the memory of one to whom the country still
owes a debt of gratitude.
On the Death of President Wh.liam McKinley
The assassination of President McKinley at the Pan-American Expo-
sition at Buffalo, New York, in September, 1901, caused a very deep-
seated sorrow throughout the entire country — north, south, east and west.
At Herman, this county, appropriate memorial services were held in the
Baptist Church. Reverend Patrick spoke. The saloons of the country
were then running under full sanction of the law of the land, but on that
day all were closed out of respect for the fallen president. Indeed, all
business houses were closed from 1 to 4 o'clock P. M.
At Blair there was no regular memorial exercises in a united form,
but the Pilot, the local newspaper, published a bulletin each day for about
a week prior to the final passing of the beloved president, giving the
physicians exact reports at certain hours of the davs and nights. He died
at 2:15 A. M. Saturday, September 14, 1901. The following day (Sab-
bath) the ministers in the various churches of Blair and other points in
Washington County, made appropriate remarks concerning the death of
the beloved President.
CHAPTER XVI
INDIAN TROUBLES
The following reminiscence by pioneer J. H. Peters was read before
the Old Settlers Association of Dodge County at one of their early annual
meetings. It relates to "The Pawnee War" and reads thus:
I arrived at Fontanelle, a part of which was then Dodge County, April
28, 1855, after a long and tedious voyage on the ill-fated steamer Mary
Cole, which sunk a total wreck twenty miles below Omaha. I was a
member of the Quincy colony that located and settled in Fontanelle.
When we arrived we found men engaged in the survey of a townsite and
after we came it was determined to lay out fifty twenty-six-acre lots
around the town on three sides so that each member of the company
could have a small farm adjoining the town.
Indians were then very numerous and by this arrangement each mem-
ber of the colony could live in town and cultivate his farm. On May 1,
1855, the colony made a division of town lots, timber claims and a quarter
section of land near town. The division was by lot. All went on peace-
ably about a month, when 100 Indians came yelling and running their
horses and making war-like demonstrations and stayed around about two
hours. They did no violence, only alarmed the settlers. All went well
until the last of June while Porter and his wife and George Demoree
were coming home from breaking prairie on Bell Creek ; on Saturday
evening they were overtaken by a heavy rain storm and camped. On
Sunday morning they heard heavy firing of guns near a lake a half mile
south of them. They thought it was the Fontanellers down there shooting
fish as that was a favorite sport, so they all went down to see them.
When they arrived they found a large number of Indians on horseback
and one rode up to Demoree and took oflF his hat. Demoree could not get
his hat back from the Indians ; their demonstrations were unkind.
Demoree said he would go to his wagon and get his gun and shoot that
Indian. They all started for the wagon ; when they had gone but a short
distance an Indian rode hastily up and raised his gun and shot Demoree
through the head, and Porter, who was near in range turned that way to
look at the Indian and the same ball pierced his breast and they both
fell dead. The wife, while bending over her dying husband saw a hole
in his breast and the blood rapidly gushing forth ; while in that position
an Indian rode by and with a spear pierced her hip and motioned for
her to "go to white man." She saw the Indians scalping Demoree — they
did not scalp her husband — then she ran towards Fontanelle, throwing
off all of her heavy skirts and all her clothing but her dress so that she
could run faster. I, and others saw her coming and went out to meet
her. Among others present was John Cramer, the man they were work-
ing for. She threw her arms around Cramer's neck and cried out:
"My God, the Indians have killed my dear husband George," then she
fainted away, but upon coming to herself again told the sad story.
Whereupon excitement ran high in every breast, the men all rushing
around for their guns ; the women rushing around to get their children
together.
A wagon was soon ready to convey the smaller children, while the
women and older children walked hurriedly up the hill, to the remainder
394
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 395
of the settlement. When we got a half mile away the Indians got around
the horses we had left, but saw the white men coming with guns in hand
so only had time to rob a tent and cut it loose. They had taken some skil-
lets and pans and when so closely followed they threw them all away and
ran through the river to evade the pursuers into thick brush and thus
escaped unhurt. We then sent out and brought home the dead men. A
council was held to see what we had better do and it was decided to send
two men to Omaha to the governor who, with General Thayer, hurried
around and got thirty men with Captain Moore and Lieutenant Reaves
and on their arrival we mustered thirty men with Captain Kline and Lieu-
tenant Patterson. In a few days General Thayer and Secretary Cuming
came up to review the little army and see how the war progressed.
General Thayer said to our men:
"All you men who have horses put them in service for we cannot keep
these livery horses at five dollars per day ; and you men of a family must
board yourselves ; you shall be amply paid, for the Governor and I have
to provide these single men on our own responsibility" ; so we furnished
horses, wagons and boarding through the campaign. We mustered at
ten and four and patroled the camp which took in all the settlers. Some
gave alarm one night, just after dark, that Indians were seen and fired
upon by our soldiers going to a spring in a hollow, northwest of the
Fontanelle house ; then the drum beat the alarm, all the families rushed
to the Fontanelle house for the fort. I grabbed my two little girls in
my arms, my wife took Jim and the ax and Sam carried the musket to
the "fort." Mr. Whittier brought his family ; he had no gun but brought
a pitchfork ; then he borrowed a gun of the landlord and hurried to the
ranks; all was dark and great excitement prevailed. The soldiers were
forming line on the higher ground, near the hotel, and the squad of us
were hunting the Indians and were observed by the men in ranks and
mistaking us for the Indians, they had their guns to their faces with
orders to "make ready," "take aim," and the captain discovered it was
his men and did not fire on us. That was only one of the many alarms,
but after drill the "boys" would get furloughs to hunt and fish. Lieu-
tenant Reaves was the champion deer hunter, he nearly always shot one
or two each time out. The men said he could shoot them as well where
there wasn't any as where they were thick ! The two hard winters of
deep snow nearly exterminated the deer.
The Omaha company went home and we all went to preparing for
winter and had no further trouble with the Indians until 1858. In June
that year, the Pawnees, 5,000 strong, were going to join the Omahas
way up the Elkhorn and there both tribes would join and hunt buffalo
in the Sioux country. They camped near the lakes southeast of where
the Village of Nickerson station now is, for several days. I was amused
to see the lake full of children like a pond full of ducks. After a few
days they passed on, but as soon as they got eight or ten miles up the
river they began robbing the settlers. A bachelor named Thomas they
tied in his cabin, robbed him of his provisions and $100 in money and
left him tied in the house. They drove away his work oxen and went on
to Cuming Creek. There they found a large drove of cattle in care of
the Parks boys ; they compelled them to drive them up for them to
slaughter, and when the boys saw they were to kill all the cattle they
said : "Let us go and get more cattle," but when they got away they ran
toward Fontanelle and several families came down in the night and told
Captain Kline how the Indians were destroying the settlements above
and north of Fontanelle. In the morning Captain Kline was around mus-
396 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
tering his army into service ; when he came to me he said : "Peters, the
Indians are driving out all the settlers — we want to go and start them
out." I replied : "As soon as I eat my breakfast and load my musket I
am ready." He said : "Take me a lunch along for we will have to go to
Cumings Creek at least and we will drive around to get you." So the
teams were soon ready and we in pursuit of the Indians. We went on
till we came to Logan Creek where we had to cross the men on a large
tree fallen across the creek and swim the horses, and put ropes to the
wagons. At noon we reached Cuming Creek ; we found no cattle, but
of bones, heads and horns a plenty. There we lunched and looked for the
herd, but found no trace of them and thought they had driven them
along so they could have plenty of meat.
We started for West Point and about five miles out we saw the whole
tribe in camp, on the west side of Elkhorn River. They had tents. At
West Point we were greeted with a right hearty welcome. The Indian
foragers had been there. They tried to compel a man to take his oxen
from a wagon, saying: "Heap Indians must have heap meat." The only
way he could get rid of them was by giving them a fine heifer. The
ladies of West Point hastened to get us our suppers. Messengers were
sent over the river to bring in all the settlement and before sunrise all
were in West Point and most of their valuables, too. The Indians did
not know we were there after them until after breakfast. Then about
twenty came on the trail of the settlers and their cattle. We held a coun-
cil as to how to protect West Point and the settlement at DeWitt, five
miles above. The agreement was to send Lieutenant Patterson and
twenty-five men to that settlement and. Captain Kline in command of
the remainder of the army to protect West Point, and in a few moments
were were enroute by wagons. On arrival we found the settlers
unalarmed, having heard nothing, but having seen a few foragers that
morning, they readily believed the report. In a few moments we saw
eleven Indians approaching on foot, all having guns or bows.
They were more than a mile away, so we again councilled. We would
leave the old man Moore and his neighbor at the gate to entice them into
the house, and we conceal ourselves in the kitchen and when the Indians
came in we rush upon them and take them prisoners, not to shoot them,
and I think twenty-five of us boys could tie eleven Indians. The plan
was complete. The Indians came in and wanted powder of the old man
and in one minute we were at the door. Lieutenant Patterson at front
with Thomas Canaga by his side. John Evans and I came next. Patter-
son grabbed the door knob to shut it, but the Indians seeing they were
trapped made a desperate rush for the door and came with such force
as to tramp Patterson and Canaga under foot, and Evans and myself
grasped our guns with both hands and by the boys at our backs pushing
on our shoulders, we held them back for a while. They made a terrible
"Oh, Ouh, Ouh." Plart of the men came in at the kitchen door. They
were knocked down and while we held sway at the front door, I heard
two shots fired; the third hit my left arm near the shoulder and it was
paralyzed. My gun went down and the blood flowed from my arm
freely. Evans saw this and while I was still holding an Indian back as
he was passing me, Evans shot him in the breast and he fell at my side.
As the rest of the Indians ran out over the dying Indian and Patterson
and Canaga, the boys stepped back a few steps and everyone was his
own captain, shouting, "Shoot that Indian," and they nearly all got some
shot as they ran away. They went first to the right, then to the left to
avoid bullets, but when fifty yards away, they ran straight. One Madison
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 397
laid his gun on the fence and as soon as an Indian quit going crooked,
he dropped him dead. Those who could, got away in great haste ; some
of the wounded hid in the brush on Plum Creek, but the rest ran for-
ward. After the skirmish Patterson and Canaga got up. Thomas, the
man who the Indians had tied in his own house and robbed, came along
in time to meet the dying Indian at the door and he struck him with his
fist, cursing him for stealing his money.
One Indian gun was picked up by Mr. Sprick, who gave it to me, as
I was the only white man shot. While I was getting my arm bandaged
the families of the settlement were getting stock and teams together to
leave in haste. The soldier boys gathered up two dying Indians and put
them in the wagon. There was still another too heavy to load. We soon
hurried back to ^^'est Point, but soon one of the Indians died. The boys
yelled to Patterson that one of the Indians died, and the order came to
throw him in the creek ( we were then on Plum Creek ) . As the other
Indian saw what we did with his comrade, he feigned to be dead, and we
had orders to throw him into the creek, which we did, and as he commenced
swimming out, one of the company fired a charge of buckshot which
caused his death. We were then at West Point and the whole town and
settlement determined to leave, fearing that the Pawnees would turn in
and wipe the whites all out. We had but little ammunition and knew the
Pawnees had many brave warriors. Before the families could get loaded
up our company was hurrying for Fontanelle, some men hurrying the
cattle after the army and the wagons. Then the men in charge of the
cattle looked back and saw the wagons stop and were sure the Indians
were killing the families and they then threw off their shoes and ran
after the soldiers, letting the cattle run on the prairie. The men ran until
they were exhausted, but could not overtake the soldiers so they saw a
flag pond nearby and there they hid with their mouths out of the water
until after dark, when they came forth but feared to go on the road for
fear the Indians would kill them, so they went through the prairie bare-
footed to Mr. Hinerman's on Clark Creek.
He took them in. fed and lodged them and brought them to Fontanelle
the next day. When the families came up to the cattle they drove them
along, arriving safe without seeing a single Indian. But two young rnen
hastened to tell the news at Fontanelle, of the battle with the Indians
and they feared all would be killed soon. When we arrived at Fontanelle
those who remained at home railed on us for killing any Indians, as it
would excite the blood-thirsty savages. Some families loaded their valu-
ables and left that night for Omaha ; some went out part way and camped.
We gathered the rest into the old college building and I assured them
no Indian would come in range of a white man's gun and we kept a
strong guard all that night. In the morning the excitement had cooled
off, but those who went to Omaha saw (or said they did)' the college
building in flames, when they got ten miles out of Fontanelle. That wild
report caused an alarm in Omaha and some went over to Council Bluffs
for safety. Then Governor Black and General Thayer gathered an army
of 300 men, with cavalry and artillery, determined to wipe the Pawnees
out, and when General Thayer arrived in Fontanelle he congratulated the
soldiers and said : "I give you the greatest praise for scourging them
yourselves. I have often been called on to scourge them, but before I
can do it they raise the white flag, then if I should scourge them I
should be called a murderer." He also gave the citizens of Fontanelle a
Fourth of July address while he was waiting for Governor Black and
reinforcements, and he finally arrived and the army pursued until they
398 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
overtook them. There was no bloodshed, but there were many things of
interest, including a big pow-wow and a settlement of damages of the war.
Indians
At the time of the now famous expedition of Lewis and Clark, which
was organized in 1803, but which did not start out on its tour of explora-
tion until May, 1804, the Indians inhabiting what is now Nebraska, were
the Missouris, Otoes, Omahas and the Pawnees. There were other tribes
in Nebraska at the time, but not in this portion. Since the organization
of Nebraska Territory in 1854, no tribes have made their headquarters in
Washington County. Up to 1855 a few Omahas were still lingering
around this county. Big Elk, a chief, was the last Indan to die in this
county. He died and was buried in 1854, near Fort Calhoun. The early
history of Washington County was not without interesting Indian inci-
dents. Among these incidents should not be forgotten the celebrated
council held at Fort Calhoun, near the present southern boundary line
of the county, between Captains Lewis and Clark on the one side, and
the deputation of six chiefs from the Missouris and Otoes on the other.
This council was held August 3, 1804, and established friendly relations
between the expedition and the Indian nations represented thereat.
It was claimed by citizens at Council Bluffs many years ago, that this
council was held near their city, but there is no doubt from the best of
evidence that such treaty was held at Fort Calhoun.
It was in 1819 that the government established Fort Atkinson, after-
ward Fort Calhoun, on this same spot of ground. As a regular military
post this fort was abandoned in 1827. To show that this council was
actually held here it may be stated that a letter was written by Father
De Smet, bearing date December 9, 1867, in reply to a letter of inquiry
by N. Ramsey, secretary of the Historical Society, of St. Louis. Father
De Smet replied as follows : "During the years 1838 and 1839, I resided
opposite what is now called the City of Omaha. In 1839 I stood on the
bluffs on which the old fort was built in 1819 ; some rubbish and remains
of the fort were then visible, and some roots of asparagus were then
visible in the old garden. Fort Atkinson was located where now stands
the Town of Fort Calhoun, Nebraska Territory, about sixteen miles in a
straight line above the City of Omaha, and forty miles by river. I met
Captain Joseph and Capt. John LaBarge, and proposed the question of
the former site of Fort Atkinson, in order to test the accuracy of my
memory, and they confirmed it in every particular."
CHAPTER XVII
BLAIR TOWNSHIP AND CITY
Boundary — Streams — Railroad Lines — Population — General Fea-
tures— Drainage Ditch — City of Blair — Platting — Commercial
Interests — Railroads — Postoffice and Municipal History —
Factories, Etc.
Blair Township, carved from other precinct territory when John I.
Blair built the railroad through the county in the later '60s. It is now
bounded on the north by Cuming City Township, on the east by the Mis-
souri River and De Soto Township, on the south by De Soto and Rich-
land townships, on the west by Lincoln Township.
Its streams include Pappillion Creek, besides there are numerous lesser
streams that drain and water the goodly farming section.
The railroads of this township are the various divisions of the great
Chicago & Northwestern system, including the "Omaha" line running
from Omaha to Sioux City and on to St. Paul and Minneapolis.
The lower end of a great drainage ditch coming down from the north-
west, courses through the northeastern sections of Blair Township.
The population of this township according to the last three United
States census enumerations was: In 1890 (including City of Blair),
2,069 ; in 1900 it was 2,970 and in 1910, 2,584. It is now about 3,400.
It is an excellent agricultural district and the hundreds of fine farm-
homes with modern improvements are indeed a charming sight for the
traveler to behold as he glides along over good roads in his automobile.
The City of Blair
The beautiful City of Blair, the county seat of Washington County,
has a history dating back to 1869. It is situated about two miles from
the western shore of the Missouri River, and its altitude is eighty feet
above the low water mark of that stream. It is in latitude 41 degrees
and 30 minutes. The first of the white race to permanently locate here
were three brothers — Jacob. Alexander and T. M. Carter — who set their
stakes here in the month of May, 1855.
Blair was platted on a 1,705 acre tract of land purchased by that great
railroad builder, John I. Blair. This land was bought from the three
Carter brothers, James S. Stewart, William Temple and C. H. Beekman.
Town lots were sold at public auction to the amount of $61,000 worth
the first day of the auction which was March 10, 1869. The highest price
of any single lot was $350. John I. Blair being in reality the owner of
the land and controlled the railroad operations was very naturally the per-
son for whom the town should be named. In fact, Mr. Blair has a num-
ber of townsite namesakes — Blair, New Jersey, his old home ; Blairstown,
Iowa, and Blair, Nebraska, as just shown.
The county seat was removed from Fort Calhoun to Blair the same
year of the town's platting — 1869.
399
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
401
Railroads
Blair was really a child of the railroad interests of the locality. In
1864 the Northern Nebraska Air-Line Railroad Company was organized,
and three years later received a land grant of seventy-five sections of
land, which grant was transferred to the old Sioux City & Pacific Com-
pany, during the same year, the company being composed of John S.
Bowen and four other men. In 1868 John I. Blair and associates got
control of the franchise, and in June, the people of Washington County
voted at a special election to the Sioux City & Pacific Company $75,000
in county bonds, and immediately thereafter Mr. Blair pushed the road
forward across the Missouri from California Junction, and on through
this county to Fremont, Nebraska, which point it reached December 1,
1868. From the date of Mr. Blair's purchase of the Carter property the
founding of Blair was almost a certainty. The old Sioux City & Pacific
as well as the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad, became
the property (wheel within a wheel) of the great Chicago & Northwest-
ern systems of railroads, and also the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis &
Omaha line, another road of the Northwestern system, gridironed this
part of Nebraska. The latter crossing the line from California Junction
to Fremont, at Blair, the same being constructed in 1871, from Omaha to
Sioux City, through Fort Calhoun, De Soto, Blair, Herman on the north
to Sioux Citv from which point it extends to the twin cities — Minneapolis
and St. Paul'.
With these lines of railway extending to terminal points in the great
eastern, western, northern and southern cities, Blair very naturally has
had the benefits of good transportation outlets.
First Events in Blair
Blair was established in 1869 by John I. Blair.
The first postmaster was Charles E. Laughton.
402 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
The county seat of Washington County was removed from Fort Cal-
houn to Blair in 1869.
The first building erected on the townsite was the "railroad store"
occupied by Messrs. Clark and Donovan. It was in this building that the
first really permanent store was established by J. J. Adams.
The first family to settle in Blair was probably that of C. H. Eggle-
ston, who arrived in December, 1868.
J. E. West & Company were also among the pioneer firms to engage
in general merchandising.
Other dealers included H. C. Riordan, hardware, from De Soto;
A. Castetter & Company established themselves in collection, real estate
and banking. Jesse T. Davis and Dr. F. H. Longley moved from De Soto
in April, 1869.
The first child born in Blair was Henry Seirt, Jr., son of Henry Seirt
and wife, May 21, 1869. The first marriage was that of Hans Grimm
to Miss Lizzie Harder.
The first Independence Day celebration in Blair was in the first year
of its existence, John S. Bowen being orator on the occasion, while
Dr. F. H. Longley was marshal.
The first republican political convention in Blair was held in the
autumn of 1870, Elam Clark presiding.
Blair was incorporated as a town in 1869 and as a city in 1872.
The earliest public school was taught in 1869, by Sarah E. Kibby,
but at the same place a school had been previously taught before the
founding of Blair, by Miss Lida M. Newell, in 1868.
The first newspaper in Blair was the Register, establised in May,
1869, by Hilton & Son. (See press chapter.)
The first sermon preached in Blair was in the summer of 1869 by
Rev. Jacob Adriance, in a car at the railroad station, previous to the
removal of the church from Cuming City.
The first Baptist sermon preached was in April, 1869, by Rev. E. G. O.
Groat, on the platform of the railway station.
Municipality
Blair at first was incorporated as a "town" in 1869 by the county
commissioners. The original officers were : J. H. Post, chairman ; Alex-
ander Reed, Dr. F. H. Longley, C. B. Herman and M. V. Wilson,
trustees.
In September, 1872, the "town" became a "city" under a new incor-
poration proceedings — a city of the second class— when the following
were elected : Mayor, J. H. Hungate ; councilmen, William Maher, E. M.
Denny, John W. Tew and M. Gallagher; police judge, John S. Bowen;
marshal, Rice Arnold.
The mayors of Blair City have been as follows : J. H. Hungate, 1875 ;
F. W. Kenny, 1876. Blair municipal records do not show the mayors
from 1876 to 1883, but from that year on to the present they are shown to
have been: W. D. Haller, 1883 ; V. G. Lantrv, 1884; W. C. Walton, 1885
to 1889 ; W. D. Haller, 1889 to 1891 ; A. C. Jones, 1891 to 1893 ; J.
McQuarrie, 1893 ; E. A. Stewart, 1894 ; Perrv Selden, 1895 ; M. D. Bedal,
1896: A. C. Jones, 1897; John McQuarrie, 1899; J. H. Flock, 1900;
W D Haller. 1901-2: Clark O'Hanlon. 1903; L. A. Williams, 1904;
W G Harrison, 1905-06: W. D. Haller, 1907; C. R. Mead, 1908; W. R.
Williams, 1909-10; J. F. White, 1911 ; W. D. Haller, 1912 to 1915; J. F.
White, 1915; Magnus Johnson, 1916; S. W. Chambers, 1917; J. S.
Roberts, 1918; Henry Christensen, 1919-20.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 403
Blair has an excellent system of water works and the quality is second
to none in Nebraska, by frequent rests made at Lincoln. Two deep wells
afford plenty of water. One of these wells is 171 feet deep and a later
one is much deeper than this one. Water is forced to a large cemented
reservoir on the high bluff to the south of the city proper. This affords
a pressure, at the curbing in the business part of the place, of something
over 100 pounds per square inch. These water works were first installed
in 1885, or thereabouts, and improved and extended from time to time as
the city grew, really rebuilt. The cost as shown in the several bond
issues was $34,000. '
In 1917 the city took over the private corporation of the old Nebraska
Gas and Light Company, the exact date being September 2, 1917. This
cost the city $35,000, for which bonds were issued, running twenty years.
The water and light plants are now combined and run by the city, with
T. H. Trenberth as superintendent.
A fire department exists and sixty (the limit) members of a volun-
teer fire company guard well the matter of fires, when one occurs, so that
loss is slight in this direction. The department is finely equipped with
modern appliances, including 3,000 feet of workable hose, plenty of long
and shorter ladders, four hose-carts, a new Ford fire truck, and a large
capacity chemical engine, just installed into use.
Street paving commenced in 1920 and the contract was let to an
Omaha firm to lay a cement-base brick paving over the streets of Blair
during 1920-21 to the amount of sixty-seven blocks, or equal to about
four and one-half miles.
Other city improvements at this date is the construction of 82,180
feet (fifteen and one-half miles) of sanitary sewer, of which the lot-
owners pay about $66,000 and the city pays $25,000.
A very handsome. well-built city building was erected of pressed brick
in 1912. In this are kept the city offices, the fire department, and other
city works, including water and light offices. It is just across the street
south from the Government postoffice building.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 405
Present City Officers
The 1920 city officers are these : Alayor, Henry Christensen ; clerk,
C. E. Krause; treasurer, R. G. Allen; chief of police, Samuel Stevens;
chief of fire department, K. A. Petersen ; health officer, Dr. E. R.
Stewart ; members of the city council, F. S. Bigelow, George Carmichael,
L. A. Farnberg, Henry Grimm, J. E. Lutz, J. W. Newell and P. C.
Sorensen.
Commercial Interests — Early Dealers, Etc.
The following shows the names of many of the business and profes-
sional men and women of Blair, the same all having been there prior to
1876 and a number were there from the earliest history of the place —
1869-70.
The first real business house in the place was that of Herman Brothers,
dry goods, and the next was Clark & Donovan, dealers in groceries and
hardware, who later sold to John Adams. Weet & Lewis were early in
dry goods business ; also Ross & McBride. Drugs, by Haller & Lane and
Jone Zehrung, later the Peterson-Zehrung firm. Matthiesen & Logan
carried a stock of dry goods and groceries; M. C. Huyett, clothing;
H. McBride, dry goods and groceries ; Haller Bi;others, dry goods and
groceries ; William Maher, in the last named line ; R. W. Dawson, photog-
rapher; William McCormick, had a grocery store, and a dry goods and
grocery was kept by E. Frederick. Hardwares were kept by H. C. Rior-
dan & Kenny, and later Kenny & Stewart. Agricultural implements by
Gus Lundt, Graves & Frederick ; Charles Schurig, bakery ; J. Nestel in
same line; later another bakery was established by A. Casper. Boots
and shoes were kept by Lewis Valentine. Miss Lantry, Mrs. W. C. Wal-
ton, Mrs. McKay, Mrs. Hilton, Mrs. Sarah E. Higley and Mrs. R. W.
Lawson, millinery.
Among the pioneer hotels in Blair are remembered these: Kelly
Brothers, Martin Kloos, William Maher, William Carson, Mrs. A. M.
Quimby, Mrs. E. E. Sketchley, George Seirt and Henry Seirt. Hein-
zerling and John Connell were the first to deal in harness goods. Butchers
of the first five years in Blair's history were: Sheeley & Ervey, William
O'Hara, William Miller, J. Hart, M. V. Wilson, John Connell, Bowen
& Parks and John Parks. The grain dealers were Elam Clark & Son,
C. C. Crowell and the Blair mill. The pioneer blacksmiths were John
Tew, Frank Stanfield, Ed Cochrane and John H. Smith. The physicians
were Drs. F. H. Longley, S. B. Taylor, S. H. Fawcett, C. Emerson Ten-
nant, McLean, D. H. O'Linn, William H. Palmer. Lawyers included:
Davis & Carrigan, later Carrigan & Osborne, W. C. Walton, B. F. Hil-
ton, J. S. Bowen, M. Ballard, A. D. Brainard and J. W. Tucker. Real
estate agents : Alexander Reed, Alonzo Perkins, A. Castetter. The early
banker was A. Castetter.
The Blair Citv mill was completed about 1876. It was the property
of H. B. Dexter, Eli H. Turton, V. G. Lantry, Messrs. Carter and
Wortendyke.
In 1875 Blair dealers shipped out $300,000 worth of cattle and hogs to
the market places of the country.
1920 Business Interests in Blair
As the years come and go it will doubtless be of some interest to
future readers of this work to know who all were engaged in various
406 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
business and professional callings in this sprightly city, now rapidly
growing and destined ere long to become a much larger city — hence the
subjoined business directory of today :
Automobile Garages — G. A. Rathmann, Van Huss-Antill, Walter
Larsen, Lucien Haller, Arndt Hardware, George Corson, B. H. Holmes,
S. J. Johnson, Jensen & Nielsen.
Attorneys— Grace Ballard, E. B. Carrigan, A. C. Debel, I. C. EUer,
E. C. Jackson, John Lothrop, William J. Meher, Henry Mencke, D. Mum-
mert, Clark O'Hanlon, Reed O'Hanlon.
Automobile Dealers — G. A. Rathmann, Van Huss-Antill, Walter Lar-
sen, Lucien Haller, Arndt Hardware.
Abstract Firms — Ricker & Chambers, Ove T. Anderson, Claus
Mencke.
Agricultural Implement Dealers — Smith Brothers, Peterson Brothers
and the Farmers Co-operative Union.
Banks— The State Bank of Blair, Banking House of A. Castetter,
Citizens State Bank and Farmers State Bank.
Barber Shops — C. E. McComb, Fred Nemetz, Charles Antrim, H. C.
Petersen.
Bakeries — Hansen & Andersen, and Mrs. William Beyer & Son.
Blacksmith Shops— C. Molgaard Jensen, Miller Munk, R. M. Ludwick.
Clothing (exclusive) — James L. Pounds.
Cement Works — Crowell Lumber & Grain Company.
Cream Stations — T. H. Wright, Soren Rasmussen, J. C. Christensen,
Frank Jenkins.
Drugs — Stewart Pharmacy, W. W. Witherby, and Ed Wolfif.
Elevators — Crowell Lumber & Grain Company, Holmquist Grain &
Lumber Company and the Farmers Co-operative Union.
Furniture— J. E. Campbell and J. I. Unruh.
Feed Stores — John McKay and John A. Rhoades.
Groceries — J. Mueller, H. J. Wimble, Jens Nielsen, A. Christensen.
General Merchandise — Sas Brothers, C. J. Beekman, Henry Christen-
sen, "P. Z. The Shoe Man."
Hardwares — Thone & Farnberg, Julius Petersen, Arndt Hardware Co.
Hotels— The Clifton, T. G. Rodgers, proprietor.
Harness Goods — Gus Scheffler.
Ice Dealers — Axtell Brothers.
Jewelry Shops — H. Ollermann.
Lumber — Crowell Lumber & Grain Company, Christensen Lumber
Company.
Livery — J. P. Everson.
Monumental Work— J. E. Lutz, S. W. Schmidt.
Meat Markets— Jens Nielsen, Alexander Swansen, A. Christensen,
Brown & Kemner, Chris Hansen.
Millinery— Mrs. Willa M. Jenkins, Mrs. T. C. Hilton.
Mills (Flouring)— Blair Milling and Grain Company.
Newspapers — Tribune, Pilot, Enterprise and Danskeren. (See Press
Chapter.)
Photographers — J. A. Kuhn, H. C. Olsen.
Picture Shows— The Home, C. J. Robinson, proprietor.
Produce Houses — Blair Produce Company.
Physicians— Drs. Morris Nielsen, L. J. Kilian, R. J. Murdoch, G. A.
Langstaflf, J. V. Hinchman, E. R. Stewart, W. H. Palmer.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
407
Restaurants — S. H. Pounds, Ed Rann, M. Carlson.
Stock Dealers — Rathmann & McCracken, W. C. Allen.
Shoe Stores (exclusive) — Blair Shoe Company.
Shoe Repair Shops — Hansen Brenholdt, Hans Sorensen, J. E. Fischer.
Tailor Shops — A. F. Garske, J. P. Johnson.
Veterinary Surgeon — D. C. Peebles, Hammond & Tilden.
Music House — The Bee Hive.
Manufacturing Plants (Industries) — Blair Horse Collar Company,
The Blair Canning Company, The Foolproof Spark Plug Company, The
Porter Incubator Company, Liberty Stock Remedy Company, Haller
Proprietary Company, Aye Brothers Seed House and Mount Hope
Fruit Farm.
PosTOFFicE, Blair
Blair postoffice, now an office of the second class, was established in
1869 with John E. Lawton as the pioneer postmaster. There are now
nine mail trains daily at Blair. This was made a free delivery office
August 1, 1913; its present city carriers are Leslie R. Offen, John C.
Anderson. Delmar C. Feer, with substitute Alfred N. Feer. The office
force includes the following: Margaret McMillan, assistant postmaster;
Bruce McMillan, Mrs. Eva Cook, clerks ; Robert L. Widner, janitor ;
Mrs. Mary Nelson, charwoman.
There are four rural delivery routes extending out from Blair to the
surrounding country. The carriers on these routes are at this date ( 1920) :
Howard Sutherland, James Reid, Raymond Hewitt and Cylde Allen.
The following list of postmasters serving at the Blair office is now to
be seen preserved (with photographs of the postmasters), in the post-
master's office in the new Government building: John E. Lawton,
Dr. Silas Fawcett, L. F. Hilton, Cara Clark, John E. Boggs, Thomas
Wilkinson, W. J. Cook and Thomas T. Osterman. Of this number all
have passed from earth, save Miss Cara Clark, W. J. Cook and the
present postmaster, Thomas T. Osterman, Mr. Hilton being the last to
die.
408 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
How THE Present Government Building Was Secured
Perhaps no better method of preserving the history of how so small
a city as Blair secured an appropriation for so large and costly a post-
office building than to quote from the columns of the Blair Tribune of
July 15, 1920:
"Here is a clipping from the Tribune's 'morgue' and thinking it might
interest our readers who have forgotten the fight Dave Mercer put up to
get our government building, as well as to those who never heard of it,
we are reprinting it. The appropriation was made February 7, 1899, and
the story is as follows:
" 'The house committee of the whole passed a number of bills provid-
ing for the erection of public buildings at points in Nebraska. The bill
appropriating $43,000 for the purchase of a site and the erection of a
public building at Blair was passed, but some opposition developed after
its passage on the ground that Mercer had exaggerated the population of
Blair.
" 'In order to gain time Mr. Mercer said he would ask the unani-
mous consent to strike out the Blair bill and substitute the Omaha public
building for it. On this agreement the Omaha bill was read and passed.
It extends the limit of cost to $1,800,000.
" 'Mr. Handy then reminded Mr. Mercer that he had not yet stricken
out the Blair bill, and Mr. Mercer asked the unanimous consent of the
house to do it, but on the objection of Mr. Handy of Pennsylvania, a
member of the committee, the house refused to grant its consent and
both bills were passed. The clever move on the part of Mr. Handy to let
Mr. Mercer out of a tight place was greeted with shouts of laughter and
there was great applause.'
"Blair was one of the very few small cities in the United States to
get an appropriation for a public building in those days, although during
the past ten years a number of towns of this size have been made the
recipients of buildings of this kind.
"If the writer's memory is correct Blair was reported to have had- a
population of 4,000 at that time. It probably only actually had about
half that number. More than twenty years later we have less than
3,000 — and have taken in considerable outside territory that the city
limits didn't claim those days.
"The promise of a Federal building was made by Mr. Mercer while
making a speech down at the old Germania Hall, when he stated 'that if
he were again returned to Congress and Blair and Washington counties
gave him their usual large majority, he would see that we got a govern-
ment postoffice building.'
"The idea was laughed at by the democrats who ridiculed it as merely
a campaign promise. But 'Dave' made good and the Tribune editor was
the first democrat to occupy the building as postmaster.
"W. J. Cook was postmaster at the time and when the building was
completed in 1901, moved the postoffice from the room in the Pilot build-
ing now occupied by the Bell telephone offices. Mr. Cook followed the
late Thomas Wilkinson as postmaster and held the position nearly seven-
teen years. The Tribune editor took over the job July 1, 1914."
The Blair Public Library
Among the public utilities and municipal possessions of which the
City of Blair may feel a just pride is its public library. As the stranger
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 409
approaches the northwestern corner of this structure they observe the
conspicuous corner-stone of the public library which has this inscription :
"Erected 1916 by the Nebraska Masonic Fraternity, Andrew A. Viele,
Grand Master. Dedicated to the City of Blair, December 12." Then
follows the names composing the first Library Board : Mrs. Charles R.
Mead, president; N. T. Lund, vice president; Mrs. D. C. Van Deusen,
secretary: Mrs. J. P. Jensen, John A. Rhoades, Rev. A. E. Marsh, W. H.
Myers, E. M. Beaty and J. B. Gibson.
The following should be preserved as the record of the early history
connected with the present public library: In 1877 the people of the
then little Hamlet of Blair established a small library. At first it was
known as "The Ladies Library Association." It was soon changed to
the "Blair Library Association." The first books' were donated by the
members and included classics, history, travels and some fiction. After
a time the books were divided up and only a part of them kept at the
home of Mrs. George Sutherland. In June, 1880, the society was reor-
ganized and the home of Mrs. E. C. Pierce was the home of the library
for a time. At least it appears of record that at that place new officers
were elected as follows: F. W. Kenny, president; Miss Cara Clark,
vice president; Mrs. E. C. Pierce, secretary: Mrs. A. Castetter, treasurer.
The books were then moved to a room in the Pierce block, where it was
kept open one day each week. Miss Carrie Wiseman was the first librarian
there. She was succeeded by Miss Miriam Castetter, Miss Cara Clark,
Miss Melitia Taylor and Dr. E. A. Palmer.
The next move of the library was when it was located over the Cas-
tetter Bank, and from there it was removed to a room in the courthouse.
While located there the librarians were: Clara Kenny, Daisy Lutz,
Agnes Slater, Agnes Olermenn, Mr. McMenemy, Mrs. D. C. Van Deu-
sen, Flora Bradley, May McQuarrie, Edith Schmahling. The library
was then moved to the city hall. The first librarian after coming under
city control was Miss May McQuarrie. Other well-known persons have
been connected with this library, including: Judge I. C. Eller, Mr. and
Mrs. E. C. Jackson, Mrs. L. L. Lantry, Mrs. F. W. Kenny, Mrs. W. C.
Walton, Mrs. George De Temple, Mrs. H. H. Hahn, Mr. and Mrs. D. C.
Van Deusen and Mrs. C. T. Farnham. Prof. W. L. Johnson in the early
years gave freely of his time and talent to further the interests of this
public library.
Later the library passed to the management of the Monday After-
noon Club. In 1913 it was removed to the city hall, meantime members
of the Woman's Club, etc., agitated a permanent home for the library
which had no abiding place, and under the supervision of no real author-
ity. At a meeting held Mrs. C. R. Mead, chairman of the club, took
action, managed a campaign to induce the city council to take over the
library, to make a levy for its support and endeavor to get a Carnegie
building donated to Blair. Nels M. Jensen then took the matter in hand
and got the council on his side. Just at this juncture two Blair news-
papers— Democrat and Pilot — with Editors Thomas T. Osterman and
D. C. Van Deusen, commenced their hearty support for the enterprise,
giving free space for all who desired to have their say in print on the
subject. After a lively campaign the library building measure was won.
A site was selected on Lincoln Street and purchased ; Andrew Carnegie
donated $10,000 for the building and it was erected and opened to the
general public October 6, 1917. It is a pressed brick building of modem
construction. At the formal opening of the completed library building
the Woman's Relief Corps had a "flag raising" and speeches were made.
410 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
The library now has 3,500 volumes of excellent books, besides many
regular newspapers and periodicals in the reading rooms.
The 1920 Library Board is as follows: Mrs. D. C. Van Deusen,
Mrs. Dr. C. R. Mead, Mary Beaty, Rev. A. E. Marsh and George B.
Riker.
Crowell Memorial Home for the Aged
This beautiful home is the gift of Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Crowell to the
Methodist people of Nebraska that its superannuated ministers, their
wives or widows, deaconesses and aged lay members of the church may
spend the evenings of their life free from anxious care in the arms of
the church to which they have given their love, their labor and their lives.
This charming spot, just joining the City of Blair on the west, con-
Crowell Memorial Home for the Aged, Blair
tains 11 '4 acres of park, lawn, garden, orchard, vineyard and pasture.
The original home contains twenty-two rooms of all sizes, with all mod-
ern improvements. The new building has nine rooms finished on the
first floor and eighteen rooms on the second floor yet unfinished.
This home was established in 1907, on a part of the old Crowell
homestead place with its more than 100 varieties of shade trees, no two
alike, originally.
There are three ways by which Methodists can find a home in
advanced life ; first, by paying in from a few hundred dollars up to
whatever they may possess and this insures them a home the remainder of
their days. Second, one without means may here find a home and receive
the exact attention given to those of means. Third, if any time a
Methodist of Nebraska should desire to become a member of the Home
circle, he or she can do by paying a monthly board bill within the
reach of anyone who boards now-a-days.
At this date, September, 1920, the Home has a membership of thirty-
seven, of which ten are men and twenty-seven are women. The ages
run from sixty to ninety-three years.
The present superintendent, Rev. W. H. Underwood and his excellent
wife who is matron, published the following statement in Septem-
ber, 1920:
The receipts of the institution show a balance on hand September 6,
of $669.59.
From the church, $8,142.91: from guests, $4,007.60; miscellaneous,
$710.52; from maintenance fund, $2,167.55.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 411
The disbursement fund shows among its items: Groceries, $1,643.95
meats, $690.43; coal, $847.25; building material, $4,144.80; gas, $386.05
feed, $675.47; salaries, $4,680.89; insurance, $1,012.85; light, $302.65
miscellaneous, $1,357.83.
Total amount of fund, August 1, $10,001.84. Cash on hand, $3,084.15.
This is the only home for aged Methodists in Nebraska and but few
other commonwealths have such a plan.
CHAPTER XVIII
CUMING CITY TOWNSHIP
Boundary — Streams — Railroad — Big Drainage Ditch — Population
— Tyson Station — Cuming City (Defunct) — Highland
Cuming City Township is bounded on the north by Herman Town-
ship, on the east by the west shore of the Missouri River, on the south
by Blair Township and on the west by Grant Township.
The streams of this part of Washington County include Stewart
Creek, Lippincott Creek, the headwaters of Long and New York Creeks,
and also Fox and McKinney Lakes.
The railway line of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha
Company runs through this township from north to south with a station
point at Tyson in section 15.
The Cameron Drainage Ditch courses its way through this part of
the county, and finally empties into the Missouri east of Blair.
The population of Cuming City Township for three census periods—
from 1890 to 1910, was as follows : In 1890 it was 665 ; in 1900 it was
638, and in 1910 it was 613 — the late census is not yet completed for use.
Highland
Highland, a small station point on the railroad between Blair and
Herman, originally known as Mead Station, in honor of Giles Mead, a
large stock shipper from this place. The name was changed to Highland
in September, 1881. The postoffice at Highland was named Giles and
was established January 1, 1882; Giles Mead was first postmaster. For
many years the place was noted for its brick industry and for the amount
of wild hay pressing that was annually carried on.
Cuming City — Defunct
Concerning this "has been" village it was written by the author of
the Nebraska State History in 1882, which is excellent authority, as
follows :
"Cuming City was claimed by P. G. Cooper and 'two others' in
September, 1854, but no settlement was effected until the next spring,
when a site was mapped and surveyed, and named in honor of the then
acting governor, Cuming. Cuming City, like many another western town,
aimed high, but has failed to reach the coveted elevation. A ferry charter
was granted P. G. Cooper in January, 1856, and in the same month the
legislature incorporated 'Washington College,' and located it at Cuming
City, at the same time appointing a board of eight trustees consisting of
the following distinguished gentlemen : B. R. Folsom, James C. Mitchell,
T. B. Cuming, Mark W. Izzard, P. G. Cooper, William B. Hall, John C.
Campbell, and J. B. Radford.
"In 1856 the Nebraska Pioneer was started, under the editorial man-
agement of a Mr. Dimmick, and in 1858 the Cuming City Star was started,
and flourished for a while, conducted by L. M. Kline.
412
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 413
"Cuming City was frequently represented in the Territorial Legisla-
ture. In 1856, James S. Stewart, who was one of the earliest settlers, was
chosen Representative. In 1857 Mr. Stewart was re-elected with P. G.
Cooper, also of Cuming City, as colleague. In 1858 Mr. Cooper was
re-elected, with L. M. Kline."
This was about as near a "paper town" as one could conceive of, its
plat having been a part of a farm ever since the oldest settler can well
remember its name and location.
Bell, in his Centennial History of this county speaks of Cuming as
follows : Flattered and encouraged with the patronage of territorial
officials, Cuming City soon became a place of importance and great future
prospects. The inevitable ferry charter was granted to P. G. Cooper in
January, 1856, by the Legislature, and the same months "Washington
College" was incorporated and located at Cuming City, and the same act
appointed a board of trustees consisting of such famous characters as
B. R. Folsom, James Mitchell, T. B. Cuming, Mark W. Izzard, P. G.
Cooper, William B. Hall, John C. Campbell and J. B. Radford.
In 1857 there were in Cuming City fifty-three dwelling houses, three
stores, three hotels, besides several boarding houses and a number of
saloons. At the annual election that year Cuming City was again hon-
ored by the selection of two of its prominent citizens as representatives :
James S. Stewart was re-elected with P. G. Cooper of Cuming City, and
Alonzo Perkins, of De Soto as colleagues.
The first fourth of July celebration in the county was held at Cuming
City on North Creek in 1860. Judge John S. Bowen was orator of
the day.
Among the first settlers in Cuming City were : Jacob Pate, Lorenzo
Pate, J. Zimmerman, J. Goll, E. Pilcher, P. G. Cooper, J. S. Stewart,
L. M. Kline, T. C. Hungate, O. W. Thomas, George A. Brigham, A. Mer-
rick, L. R. Fletcher, Giles Mead, J. C. Lippincott, J. Boice and J. Johnson.
CHAPTER XIX
DE SOTO TOWNSHIP
Boundary — Streams — Railway Line — Population — Early History
OF THE Township and De Soto Village — First Events — Once
Settled by Fleeing Mormons — Mills — Newspapers — Incorpora-
tion— Pike's Peak Boom — First Church Services — List of Early
Pioneers.
De Soto Township is situated on the eastern line of Washington
County, with the Missouri River at the east, Fort Calhoun Township at
the south, Blair Township at the west and Blair Township and the Mis-
souri River at the north.
Its streams are the many small creeks including Long Creek, but
there are no large streams, the Missouri River washes its northern and
eastern shores, and thus originally there was much swampy bottom land,
much of which has long since been reclaimed, however.
The Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway runs diagonally
from the southeast to the northwest parts of the township, with a station
at the old Village of De Soto in section 27.
The population of De Soto Township, including the village has been
at various times as follows: The village itself had in 1857 about 650;
in 1890 the township and village had 277 population ; in 1900 it was 370,
and in 1910 was placed at only 313.
De Soto Village
De Soto is situated about four miles southeast of Blair, on the Mis-
souri bottoms, and is a station on the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis &
Omaha Railway (now controlled by the Northwestern system). It was
platted in the autumn of 1854, by Dr. John Glover, Gen. J. B. Robinson,
Potter C. Sullivan, E. P. Stout, William Clancy and a few others. No
settlement was really effected until the following spring. It was incor-
porated as a town March 7, 1855, and during that season thirty hewed
log houses were built there.
The first store was built by Dr. A. Phinney ; the first postmaster was
Potter C. Sullivan; the earliest mercantile firm was styled Kennard
Brothers, established in 1856. One of the pioneers of the place was
Judge Jesse T. Davis, who later moved to Blair.
Three banks were established at De Soto — the Bank of De Soto, the
Waubeek Bank and the Corn Exchange Bank. The first soon winked
out; the other two were never old enough to be called adults.
For many years De Soto continued to be a lively place — was Wash-
ington County's seat of justice at one time — held it eight years, when
Fort Calhoun recovered her lost prize again.
The population of De Soto in 1857 was about 650. A dozen saloons
and as many stores flourished there for a number of years, but fate
decided against the place and in 1881 there were not in excess of twenty
people residing there. The Pike's Peak gold excitement in 1859-60, the
building up of Blair and loss of county seat all tended to ruin the place.
414
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 415
It was just below De Soto where the fleeing Mormons from Nauvoo,
Illinois, settled in goodly numbers and remained several years. The
early "Gentile" settlers found many brickbats from brick kilns burned
by this Mormon colony. Brigham Young had a cabin on the ground
where later stood the roller flouring mills, of De Soto. This mill was
removed to Blair in 1876.
Among the newspapers published from time to time in De Soto, may
be recalled by old-timers such papers as the Pilot, established in 1857
by Isaac Parrish; the Washington County Sun, established in 1858, by
P. C. Sullivan : and the same year was issued the De Soto Enquirer,
by Z. Jackson.
In 1883 the old site of once prosperous De Soto was being occupied
solely by three families of farmers. Today it is only a small flag sta-
tion on the "Omaha" line between Fort Calhoun and Blair.
Bell in his Centennial History of Washington County, usually con-
sidered quite accurate, states the following concerning De Soto :
The town of De Soto was incorporated by an act of the Legislature
in March, 1855, having been laid out in the fall of the year previous
by Dr. John Glover, Gen. J. B. Robinson, Potter C. Sullivan, E. P. Stout,
William Clancy, and others. Judge Jesse T. Davis locating there in the
fall of 1855. in March, 1855, a charter was granted E. P. Stout to run
a ferry-boat across the Missouri River. Again in January, 1856, a
charter was granted to William Clancy and P. C. Sullivan to establish
and run a steam ferry and city bonds were voted to the amount of
$30,000 to aid the enterprise. P. C. Sullivan was dispatched to the
East to dispose of the bonds and procure a steam ferry boat. This
project failing to pan out successfully the steam ferry enterprise was
abandoned with the charter and subsequently in May, 1857, a flat-boat
ferry was established by Isaac Parrish.
During the summer of 1855, thirty hewn log houses were built in
the town and business prospects were encouraging. Dr. A. Phinney
was the proprietor of the first store and Charles Seltz, who came down
the river in a skifl from the mountains and stopped at De Soto in the
fall of 1855 was probably the second merchant to locate in the town.
Harrison Critz and Z. Jackson each established a boarding house that
year and P. C. Sullivan was appointed postmaster.
In 1856 Levi and Marsh Kennard, both later residents of Omaha,
established themselves in the mercantile business at De Soto under
the firm name of Kennard Bros.
In 1857 a Mr. Fake from Chicago brought a heavy stock of liquors
to De Soto. Samuel Francis established a hotel and the Bank of
De Soto entered upon a career of brilliant but rather short lived pros-
perity with Samuel Hall as president and George E. Scott, cashier.
In the same year the Waubeek Bank was started with H. H. Hine as
president and A. Castetter, teller, the latter doing all the business and
in the following spring the Corn Exchange Bank was established by a
Chicago firm with I. Tucker as teller.
Town property increased in price at a rapid rate and the old settlers
used to point with pride to the fact that a Mrs. Johnson refused $1,500
in gold for a certain corner lot. In 1857 the place had ten or more
saloons and nearly as many stores and a population of about seven
hundred. Prosperity attended the settlers till the Pike's Peak and
Cherry Creek gold excitement in the fall of 1857 when a majority of the
men abandoned the town and journeyed to the newly discovered gold
fields.
416
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
The first minister who ever preached regularly at De Soto was
Rev. Jacob Adriance of. the Methodist Church. This was in 1857,
services being held in a building belonging to W. W. Wyman, then of
Omaha where he edited the Omaha Times and was later postmaster of
that city. He was father of the present (U. S.) Treasurer.
Early Pioneers at De Soto
Judge Jesse P. Davis and family.
"Harrison Critz and family.
Hugh McNeely and family.
George McKinney and family.
Samuel Lewis.
Z. Jackson.
Potter C. Sullivan and family.
Ephriam Sullivan and family.
Davis McDonald and family.
Porter S. Walker.
Stephen Cass and family.
James E. Smith and family.
George W. Martin and family.
Z. S. Martin and family.
Jeremiah Barnhart.
Michael Tobey.
T. M. Carter.
Leroy and Lewis Tucker with their
families.
Dr. Cutts and family.
Con Orem.
I. Tucker.
M. B. Wilson.
Alex Carter, Jr.
Elisha P. Stout.
Edward and Edwin Hayes.
J. Bliss.
Jacob Hill.
J. T. McGiddagan.
A. Phinney.
Henry Way.
William Clancy.
Jerry Sullivan.
Charles Seltz.
Roger T. Beall.
Grennell.
George E. Scott and family.
Samuel Francis and family.
A. E. Allen.
Frank Goodwill and family.
H. Knapp and family.
Charles Powell and family.
A. Castetter and family.
J. W. Damen.
Thomas R. Wilson.
Solomon Himeline.
Constance Cachelin and family.
W. H. B. Stout.
Joseph Buga and family.
George Oberst.
Louis Bouvier and family.
David Stout.
George McKenzie and family.
J. P. Ames.
Doctor Glover and family.
Ferdinand Bujeon and family.
John Carrigan and family.
CHAPTER XX
ARLINGTON TOWNSHIP
Boundary — Population — Towns and Village — A Farming Section — ■
Market Facilities — Surrounded by a Beautiful Country and
A Large City to Trade at — City of Arlington — Bowen Hamlet —
The Marshall Nurseries — Railroad Lines.
This subdivision of Washington County is in the extreme south-
western portion of the county. It is bounded on the west by Dodge
County, on the north by Fontanelle and Lincohi Townships, on the east
by Richland Township and on the south by Douglas County.
Two branches of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway system now
pass through this township with stations at Arlington and Bowen. The
western boundary line of the township is made by the meanderings of
the crooked Elkhorn River.
The population of this township for three decades has been: In
1890 it was 1,167: in 1900 it was 1.378, and in 1910 the Federal census
gave the township and Village of Arlington as having a population
of 1,380.
This is a splendid farming region and the fields yield their annual
crops of wheat, corn and grasses to the enrichment of the farm ovmers.
The railway facilities are excellent and the great city of Omaha
within an hour or two ride by steam cars or automobile. The enter-
prising City of Arlington of which later account will be had, aflFords
a most satisfactory marketing point for all ordinary merchandise. This
township is also the home of the celebrated Marshall Brothers Nursery
— see account of it within this chapter also.
Village of Arlington
Arlington is situated in the extreme southwestern corner of Wash-
ington County in sections 12 and 13, of Congressional township 17,
range 9. It was platted by Sioux City & Pacific Railway Company in
1869; the compa:ny purchased 440 acres for townsite purposes.
It is on the Elkhorn River and is a station on the Fremont, Elkhorn
& Missouri Valley Railroad (now a part of the great Chicago & North-
western Railroad system). Arlington is a junction point, one branch
running to Missouri Valley, Iowa, and the other to Omaha, while the
main line runs to Fremont and on to the northwest. It has a popula-
tion of about eight hundred and is an incorporated village, of which
the present postmaster, J. C. Badger is -village clerk. It is beautifully
situated on high charming uplands, with a rural landscape seldom found
anywhere. Its schools, churches, lodges and banks are mentioned in
special chapters in this work, covering those of the entire county, hence
need not further be referred to in this connection.
Arlington was first known as Bell Creek and continued as such
until early in 1882 when the name of the postofifice and village was
changed to its present name.
The first improvement on the town plat was effected the same year
the railway went through the place, and the depot was erected. Sam-
417
418
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
uel A. Frances, one of the early settlers of Fontanelle and John Waynick
of Chariton, Iowa, built two residences and opened a lumber yard.
A grain warehouse was built by L. H. Jones; a blacksmith shop by
John Butler; and E. K. Gilbert opened a shoe shop in 1872.
Mrs. Kate Parker taught the first school. A fine school building was
erected in the fall of 1876, at a cost of $5,000, and in 1877 a Methodist
Episcopal Church was built.
Municipal History
The Village of Arlington was incorporated April 10, 1882, and the
first village ofiicers were: John A. Unthank, chairman; W. J. Crane,
clerk; the trustees were: J. A. Unthank, B. Conway, J. C. Blackburn,
William D. Badger, N. Foster.
Tribune)
High School. Arlington
The following have served the village as chairmen of the board to
the present date: John A. Unthank, William D. Badger, L. C. Weber,
Peter Hammang, W. H. Whitney, A. B. Batson, H. W. Schoettger,
J. C. Blackburn. Fred Echtenkamp, S. G. Glover, J. C. Badger, W. A.
Reckmeyer, O. S. Roberts, H. C. Rurup, C. G. Marshall, P. L. Cady.
The present (1920) officers of the village are: P. L. Cady, chair-
man; J. C. Badger, clerk; G. I. Pfeififer, treasurer; F. Wolf, street com-
missioner, marshal, and water commissioner.
The village has an indebtedness of $12,500 in outstanding bonds.
The water works cost the taxpayers of the village quite an amount,
but already the persons who opposed the original proposition are con-
vinced it was but the part of good business judgment to issue such bonds.
The water plant was installed in 1906.
There are two wells — one 30 feet and one 214 feet, from which most
excellent water is obtained and in endless quantity. The water is
pumped by means of gas and oil engines.
The village is lighted by the Platte Valley Power Company, a
private institution.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 419
The old frame school building is the property of the village and it
stands in the park and is used as a Town Hall.
Early Factors of the Place
A newspaper account of Bell Creek (now Arlington) in 1876 said:
"In 1875 the Masons organized a lodge, Bender & Chapman having
dissolved, Mr. Chapman starting in business for himself in the same
line. W. J. Crane resigned his position of station agent, closed out a
stock of goods bought of Mr. Chapman, in the following spring, and
went into general insurance business, real estate and collections. A
public school building was contracted for that year to cost $5,000.
Doctor Elwood, a physician, commenced his practice in Bell Creek that
year as a partner of Doctor Glover."
Business and Professional Interests — 1920
In the summer of 1920 the business and professional interests of
Arlington consisted of the following :
Auto garages — Walter Echtenkamp, Fred Menking, and others in
the same line.
Banking — The First National and Arlington State Bank.
Bakery — Chris Legband.
Barbers — Messrs. Dickson and Melvord.
Drugs — D. C. Weber, Leo Snyder.
Elevator — Nye, Schneider, Fowler Co., Farmers' Co-operative Co.,
and O. C. Roberts.
Brickyard — Utterback Bros.
Furniture — Reckmeyer Co.
Hotel — Ed Ludwig.
Hardware — John Jackerot and the Reckmeyer Hardware Co.
Harness — J. R. Grimes.
Ice dealer— Schmehl Brothers.
Lumber — Farmers Grain & Lumber Co.
Livery — L. C. Gaines.
Meats— E. S. Newell.
Opera House — Connected with the Odd Fellows Building.
Stock Dealers — J. Newcomb and Mr. Newell.
Variety Store — Mrs. Vail.
Implements — J. C. Blackburn. C. W. Breuing.
General Merchandise — Fred Weber, P. Z. Wilson.
Nursery — Marshall Brothers.
Stock Remedy Manufacturing Company — E. O. Burroughs, prop.
Repair and Machine Shop — W. G. Pfeiffer.
Newspaper — The Review-Herald.
Veterinary Surgeon — Doctor Cady.
Physicians — Davies & Newcomb — firm.
Dentist — Dr. L. M. Peterson.
The schoolhouse is a large two-story brick building, but to it must
soon be added one as large in order to accommodate the pupils.
The beautiful village park contains a large city block of land and the
same has its shade trees and drinking fountain, as well as the Town
Hall which was made out of the old school building. It is a frame
structure.
Arlington Nurseries
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 421
Marshall's Nurseries
The Arlington Nurseries were started the spring of 1887 by Chester
C. Marshall, and George A. Marshall, the first planting being done on
their farm two miles east of Arlington. These boys came from Ohio a
few years earlier, and the open prairies of Washington County and
eastern Nebraska impressed them as a great field for the sale of nursery
products. The wide variation in native forest trees and wild fruits
growing along the streams, as well as the generous numbers of kinds
and varieties of trees, fruits, and plants set by early settlers, indicated
that eastern Nebraska was adapted to horticulture in its several branches.
To supply hardy trees and plants to Washington County home owners
and those of adjoining counties was the aim of the originators. They
organized on the partnership plan under the name of "Marshall Brothers."
The business grew steadily from the beginning and within a few years
the demand was such that the local part of the business no longer pre-
dominated, but goods were shipped to all nearby counties, the territory
reaching out further from year to year until at the present time this
company enjoys a large trade not only in practically every part of
Nebraska, but in many of the west central states.
In 1890 H. W. Marshall was added to the firm and in 1907 a fourth
brother, A. C. Marshall also joined the partnership. In 1916 the busi-
ness was incorporated, and is now operating under the corporate name
of "Marshall's Nurseries," the Marshall family retaining the larger
part of the stock and the general management. The present officers
are G. A. Marshall, president: C. C. Marshall, vice president; C. G.
Marshall, secretary ; H. W. Marshall, treasurer.
Twelve to fifteen trained nurserymen are employed throughout the
year, and fifteen to thirty-five additional men are needed during the dig-
ging and shipping periods in fall and spring. About fifty salesmen are
employed in Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri,
and Illinois.
The natural development of Nebraska and the central west, and the
building of thousands of comfortable and modern homes, has created
a demand for much ornamental stock, and the company seeing the
need of a landscape department, whereby the home owner could have
scientific advice and aid in the planning of his home grounds, have
instituted same, with C. W. Andrews as head architect. While this
department is comparatively new, still the demand along this line is
such that from 20 to 30 per cent of the entire business is handled
through this channel.
A block of land is always retained strictly for experimental pur-
poses, where new promising varieties are thoroughly tested out before
being ofifered to the customers.
The elevation and soil at Arlington seem particularly adapted to
the propagation and growing of nursery stock, the soil being of the
loose type, which produces heavy fibrous root systems, and solid, well-
ripened top growth, which means success in transplanting and renders
the stock grown here an advertisement in itself.
CHAPTER XXI
HERMAN TOWNSHIP
Boundaries — Streams — Lakes — Railway Line — Big Drainage Ditch
— Population — Hudson — the "Paper Town" — ^Village of Her-
man— Hamlet of Fletcher.
Herman is a "T" shaped township in Washington County. It is
bounded on its north by Burt County, on the east by the Missouri River
and part way by Cuming City Township, on the south by Cuming City
and Grant townships, on the west by Grant and Sheridan townships.
Its streams include New York Creek, Hill Creek, and numerous
lesser water courses. Tysons Lake and another smaller lake are found
in the eastern portion of the township. The Chicago, St. Paul, Min-
neapolis & Omaha Railroad line runs through it from north to south,
with an enterprising station point at the Town of Herman of which
see history in this chapter. One of the county's largest drainage ditches — ■
the Cameron — runs through Herman Township, taking about the same
course as the railway right-of-way does, between Herman and to a point
east of Blair.
Fletcher is an inland village in section 32.
Population
The LTnited States census gives Herman Township in 1890 as having
a population of 827 ; in 1900 it was placed at 996, and in 1910 it had fallen
to 978, including the Village of Herman which at that date was 345.
There was not much settlement in this part of the country until the
building of the "Omaha" railway running from Sioux City to Omaha,
after which immigrants flocked in at a lively rate.
Hudson — The Famous "Paper Town"
A "town" better advertised and more generally known in the Eastern
States than here in Washington County, was known as "Hudson." It
was supposed to be situated in the extreme northeastern part of this
county, on the Missouri River and just on the Iowa side opposite was a
town platted as "Melrose," both of which were great early day schemes
for taking money from lot owners in the far off eastern country. Con-
cerning this town of Hudson, Bell in his Centennial history of this
county has the following :
"There are a great many residents of Washington County who never
knew — and probably would have gone down to the silent tomb without the
knowledge, but for this veracious chronicle of the past — that in 1856 a
very enterprising citizen of Connecticut, one W; E. Walker, was the sole
owner and proprietor of a town site in a swamp in the extreme north-
east corner of this county, which he christened Hudson. More than this :
he platted another townsite in a like eligible locality immediately oppo-
site on the Iowa side of the Missouri, called it Melrose, published beauti-
ful lithographs by the hundreds representing the two towns with busy
steamers plying between them and endeavoring to supply transportation
422
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 423
for enormous traffic constantly carried on between the two towns. Armed
with these, aided and abetted by a tongue remarkable for the oily rapidity
with which it could be manipulated. Walker meandered up and down
the Eastern states engaged in lecturing and at the close of each lecture
would sell off lots in Hudson or Melrose at the rate of one dollar each
with astonishing rapidity. A plat of Hudson can be seen at the county
clerk's office and this plat shows that the town was comprised of 8,720
lots, consisting of fifty blocks, 2,000 feet long by 200 feet wide. The
streets were from forty-five to sixty feet wide and there was not an
alley in the town. The sale of lots in Hudson was so great for the
first few years after its location that the county clerks accumulated con-
siderable wealth by recording the deeds therefor at the rate of one dollar
each. The deeds were printed, the name of Walker being also printed
so when lots were sold all he had to do was to insert the name of the
purchaser and the number of lots purchased. The deeds poured into
the countv clerk's office from all over the East and it is estimated that
Walker made at least $5,000. To this day (1876) county officials are
bothered with letters from eastern suckers inquiring as to present prices
in Hudson and the writer was recently shown a batch of thirteen deeds
which had been sent in one envelope from Chicago to be recorded."
This "paper city" has long since been drained out and used for farming
purposes, such parts as have not been washed away by the uncertain
waters of the Missouri River.
Hamlet of Fletcher
Fletcher was platted in section 32 a number of years since and
now has a country store and a shop, but has never grown to much
importance, yet a useful hamlet for the community about it.
Village of Herman
Herman is situated in southeast quarter of section 30, township 20,
range 11, east, within a half mile of the northern line of Dodge County.
It was platted in 1871, by the railroad officials of the old Omaha &
'Northwestern Railroad Company, and is a prominent station point on the
Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha division of the Northwestern
railway system. In 1910 the population according to the United States
census reports was 328, but since then it has greatly increased, but the
present-year census reports have not as yet been made public, hence
cannot be quoted here.
Municipal
The only clear and available village records begin with 1905 and
show the following to have served as chairmen and clerks of the village
to the present date :
1905 — Chairman, Dr. A. J. Cameron ; clerk, F. Van Volin.
1908 — Chairman, Ross Harper; clerk, F. Van Volin.
1909— Chairman, Dr. A. J. Cameron; clerk, O. H. Godsey.
1910 — Chairman, Dr. A. J. Cameron ; clerk, O. H. Godsey.
1910-11— Chairman, William Meadors ; clerk, O. H. Godsey.
1911— Chairman, E. P. Hanson; clerk, R. G. Allen.
1912— Chairman, C. J. Kruse ; clerk, R. G. Allen.
1913— Chairman, C. J. Kruse; clerk, R. G. Allen.
1913-14 — Chairman, Wm. Shafersman ; clerk, L. B. Hugelman.
1914 — Chairman, Wm. Shafersman ; clerk, L. B. Hugelman.
1915 — Chairman, Wm. Shafersman; clerk, Henry Truhlsen.
424
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
1916 — Chairman, Wm. Shafersman; clerk, Henry Truhlsen.
1917— Chairman, Henry Truhlsen; clerk, E. C. Burdic.
1918— Chairman, Henry Truhlsen; clerk, E. C. Burdic.
1919— Chairman, L. V. Ackerman; clerk, E. C. Burdic.
1920 — Chairman, R. P. Rasmussen; clerk, E. C. Burdic.
The 1920 village officers are as follows: Chairman — R. P. Ras-
mussen; clerk — E. C. Burdic; with trustees — Messrs. Waldo, Hancock,
and C. E. Johnson.
The village first installed a system of water works in 1889, just before
the terrible cyclone swept through the village and nearly wiped it from
the face of the earth. The standpipe was blown down and other mate-
rial damage done by the storm. The system is now excellent. The
High School, Herman
village has a block of ground really a park — on which the pumping
plant and fire department buildings are situated. From the center of
this high elevated city park the steel water tower or standpipe stands,
while shaded trees ornament the grounds and the surroundings can be
made a place "beautiful."
1920 Business Interests
In the month of June, 1920, the commercial and professional affairs
in Herman was made up as follows:
Banking — Herman State Bank, Plateau State Bank.
Cement Contractor — R. P. Rasmussen.
Clothing — A. H. Smith.
Cream Buyers — David Cole Creamery Company, Fairmont Creamery
Company, Farmers Union Co-operative Company.
Drayage — O. L. Hilsinger.
Drugs — The Johnson Drug Company.
Elevators — Crowell Grain & Lumber Company, Holmquist Grain &
Lumber Company, Latta Grain Company, Roberts & Rose, Woods-
Updike Grain Co.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 425
Garages — Ed Olson, Louis Rasmussen, R. J. Schenck, West Brothers.
General Merchandise — L. V. Ackerman, H. P. Dulaney (Fletcher),
Gray & Gossard, Nels Rasmussen (Spiker), Mrs. E. A. Wachter.
Hardware — Truhlsen Brothers.
Hog Breeders — W. C. Cameron, H. O. Williamson.
Hotel— The West Hotel.
Implement Dealers — C. H. Blanchard, Hancock Implement Company.
Jewelry — O. H. Godsey.
Lumber Dealers — Herzog Lumber Company.
Meat Market — J. B. Jensen.
Newspaper — The Herman Record — see Press chapter.
Oil Dealers — C. H. Blanchard, C. W. Ford, Hancock Implement
Company, Standard Oil Company.
Physician — Dr. A. J. Cameron.
Pantatorium — Fern West, proprietor.
Plumbing — Frank J. Kastl.
Restaurant — L. E, Nelson.
Schools — Broderson School, Herman Schools, Hillcreek School, New
England School.
Stock Buyers — Burdic Brothers.
Veterinary Surgeon — Dr. C. V. Weeces.
The village is surrounded by a very fertile country and its farmers
are a thrifty, intelligent class of people, of many nationalities, but
generally speaking, are truly thoroughgoing American citizens, who are
good citizens and great home builders and appreciate the country in
which they reside.
CHAPTER XXII
FONTANELLE TOWNSHIP
Historic Location — Correct Spelling of Name — Boundary — Popu-
lation— Streams, Soil — Improvements — Village of Fontanelle
— Talbasta — Reminiscences by Eda Mead — Extracts from Bell's
History of Washington County in 1876 — Death and Burial of
Logan Fontanelle.
Fontanelle Township and village of this county is the background
for much pioneer history and personal experience had by men and
women who must have possessed iron constitutions and hearts of steel,
yet full of human kindness. In order to be correct the writer has con-
sulted the relatives of old Indian Chief, Logan Fontenelle, and learned
that the name was spelled Fontenelle, and not with an "a"
— Fontanelle, as so many Nebraska historians, even historical societies
of the state, insist on spelling the name of the old honored chief for .
whom this township and village were named back in the '50s.
Fontanelle Township is situated on the west side of Washington
County, and is eight miles from north and south by five miles from
east and west. It is bounded on the north by Sheridan Township, on
the east by Grant and Lincoln townships, on the south by Arlington
Township and a small portion by Dodge County. On its west it is
bounded by Dodge County of which it was once a part.
The streams coursing through this township include Bell's Creek,
Brown's Creek, and the Elkhorn River, with many smaller streams.
This part of the county is one of Nature's real garden spots and man
has made it one of beauty and intrinsic value by tilling its fertile
soil, erecting its many handsome farm houses and constructing
its scores and hundreds of wagon-bridges and culverts after modern
specifications. To be a landowner in this township is to be known as
an independent, contented and happy person who should be thankful
that his lot was cast in such a goodly place.
Population
In 1890 this township had a population of 803; in 1900 it was 759
and in 1910 it was only 766. The returns for the present (1920) enum-
eration have not as yet been made public by the department at Wash-
ington.
First Settlement
The account given of the first settlement of the Village of Fontan-
elle, in 1854, by the Quincy (III.) Colony, is in fact the history of the
pioneer settlement in Fontanelle Township, as will be discovered by the
following account of that event:
The colony organized at Quincy, Illinois, in 1854 was for the pur-
pose of securing for its members, homes for themselves and their
families in the then new Territory of Nebraska. The style of the
company was "The Nebraska Colonization Company." In July that
year. Rev. W. W. Keep, Jonathan Smith, J. W. Richardson, Jared
426
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 427
Blanset, C. Bernard, William Flach and James A. Bell (the father of
the John T. Bell who wrote the small, but reliable history of Wash-
ington County in 1876) came to Nebraska in order to "view the land,"
and locate the colony on behalf of the company. They crossed Iowa in
wagons, as there was then not a foot of railway track west of the
Mississippi River. They camped out on the way and in due time
reached the small city of Omaha which had then just been platted by
the Nebraska & Council Bluffs Ferry Company.
Historian Bell continues his narrative as follows : Passing beyond
the bluffs of the Missouri and its tributaries, the Quincy pilgrims found
a section of country which for agricultural and grazing purposes has
no superior on this continent — or any other. Arriving in the vicinity
of the Elkhorn, in their northwesterly course, they came to a stream of
considerable size, over which it was necessary to throw a temporary
bridge, in order to cross it. To do this someone had to "coon it"
across the stream on a log, and this task was undertaken by James A.
Bell. Before reaching the other shore, however, he heard something
drop into the stream below, and was surprised to find that it was
himself. He was at once fished out and spread on the grass to dry.
In consequence of this little episode the party immediately christened
the stream "Bell Creek," the name it still bears. Crossing the creek
the colonization party pursued their way to the banks of the Elkhorn,
and were so pleased with the surrounding country that they decided
to locate there, and the townsite of Fontanelle was laid out. claims made
by the party, etc., who then proceeded to the camp of the Omaha Indians
— in honor of whose chief. Logan Fontanelle, the town was named,
and held a grand pow-wow with the tribe for the purpose of securing its
good will. They also paid Fontanelle the sum of $10 each, with the
understanding that he was to protect their interests until members of
the company could be sent out and establish their new town, and
then return to Quincy.
I am unable to give the entire list of names belonging to this colony,
as it was formed in Illinois, but it is certain that these were among the
membership: Jonathan Smith, president; Rev. W. \V. Keep secretary;
J. W. Richardson, J. C. Bernard, treasurer ; O. C. Bernard, H. Metz, John
Evans, J. Armor, H. G. Mauzey, E. M. Davis, W. H. Davis, Jared Blan-
sett, G. Williamson, J. Mcintosh, Rufus Brown, Root and James A. Bell.
In the fall of 1854, the company sent out Judge J. W. Richardson
as their agent, to occupy the town site on behalf of the company. Judge
Richardson was accompanied by his wife — later Mrs. William Kline.
At Council Bluffs they were joined by Col. William Kline and Colonel
Doyle, of South Carolina, who had been recently appointed marshal for
the new territory. In December, Dr. M. H. Clark was elected council-
man, and Colonel Doyle and Judge Richardson representatives to the
Territorial Legislature, from Dodge County, in which Fontanelle was
the only settlement.
Fontanelle Wanted the Territorial Capital
Judge Richardson was instructed by members of the colony to put
forth every effort possible to insure the locating of the capital of Nebraska
Territory at Fontanelle. But Omaha won the coveted prize. They did
succeed, however, in getting a charter to establish a college for Fonta-
nelle; and to be run under the auspices of the Baptist Church; also a
town charter and a ferry charter, the latter in favor of Colonel Kline.
428
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
The County of Dodge was organized and the county seat was designated
asFontanelle. During the territorial session of that winter a bill was
introduced chartering the Platte Valley & Pacific Railroad Company, and
February 16, 1855, Doctor Clark, chairman of the committee on cor-
porations, submitted his report, showing clearly the object of this rail-
road bill and during his speech remarked :
"In view of the wonderful changes that will result, your committee
cannot believe the period -remote when this work will be accomplished,
and with liberal encouragement to capital which your committee are
disposed to grant, it is their belief that before Fifteen Years have
transpired, the route to the Indies will be opened and the way across
this continent will be the common highway of the world."
Fourteen years and three months from that day the golden spike
which completed the world's highway was driven on the summit of the
Rockies.
Pioneer Settlers
Prior to the autumn of 1856 the following had become settlers in
Fontanelle, with those already mentioned: Judge and Mrs. Richardson,
High School, Fontanelle
■ John W. Pattison, Chris Leiser and family, Colonel Kline, Samuel Whit-
tier and family. Rev. J. M. Taggart and family. Miss Ellen Griffith, Willis
Carr, Eli Harlow, Edward Carpenter, Isaac Underwood and family,
Mrs. Denslow and family, B. L. Keyes and family, William M. Saint,
John Beaty and family, John Evans and family, Rufus Brown and family,
Henry Sprick, John K. Cramer and family, Christy Archilles and family,
Morris Wogan and family, Arthur Bloomer, John Bloomer, David
Bloomer, Thomas Fitzsimmons and family, Sam Francis and family,
William H. Johnson, Henry C. Lemon and family, George Hindley, Jared
Blansett, William Flach and Family. Charles Osterman, J. M. Hancock
and family, Jacob Canaga and family, John Ray and family, Deacon
Searle and family. John and Silas Seeley, Pomeroy Searle, Sam Wil-
liams and family, Hiram Ladd and family, Sumner D. Prescott, William
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 429
R. Hamilton and family, Henry Brinkman and family, William Hecker,
Sr., Orlando and Pierce Himebaugh, William C. Hecker, Julius Brainard
and family.
Important Events
In 1856 a college building was erected by the Congregational people,
to whom the Baptists had assigned their charter elsewhere named. A
flourishing school was here kept alive a number of years, Professor Burt
being the first instructor. This building was used for public meetings,
lyceums, etc. Annual festivals were held and bounteous suppers were
held in the college buildings about New Year's day, until the close of the
Civil war, to which festivals the settlers for many miles around came
regularly, bringing well-laden baskets and when the contents of these
baskets were distributed over the tables the only reason they did not
groan was because they were not of the groaning kind !
In the winter of 1858-59 Fontanelle became a part of Washington
County, in consequence of reorganization of county lines.
The first school was taught by Miss Emily Strickland in 1856-57.
The first stock of goods in the settlement was kept by William H.
Davis in 1855, he also had the first hotel — a double log — called the
Fontanelle House.
A town lot was oflfered by the company to the parents of the first
child born on the plat and much rivalry ensued, for it is known that
two children were born the same night, although Mattie, daughter of
Samuel Francis, born October 2, 1855, was by a few hours the earlier.
Fontanelle of Today
After a wonderfully romantic and somewhat strange history, the
once flourishing Village of Fontanelle has dwindled down to a few
houses and the few inhabitants trade at a small store and get mail from
the little country route. The most of the village platting is now doing
good service as excellent farm land, yielding up its annual harvest.
The Passing of Chief Logan Fontenelle
No more appropriate farewell can be given to the reader of this
chapter than to give what S. T. Bangs of Sarpy County said in his Cen-
tennial History of Sarpy County in 1876:
Logan Fontenelle was a half-breed, his father being French. He
was educated in St. Louis; spoke English fluently and was at this time
about thirty years of age, of medium height, swarthy complexion, black
hair and dark piercing eyes. In the middle of the summer of 1855, a
procession might have been seen wending its way toward the old home
of Logan Fontenelle on the bluffs overlooking the Missouri River and
above the stone quarries of Bellevue. It moved slowly along, led by
Louis San-so-see, who was driving a team with a wagon in which was
wrapped in blankets and buffalo robes all that was mortal of Logan Fon-
tenelle, the chief of the Omahas. On either side was Indian chiefs and
braves mounted on their ponies, with the squaws and relatives of the
deceased showing their grief in mournful outcries. His remains were
taken to the house he had left a short time before and now desolate and
afflicted they related the incidents of his death. He had been killed bv
the Sioux on the Loup Fork thirteen days before, while on a hunt with
430 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
the Omahas. Having left the main body with San-so-see in pursuit of
game and while in a ravine that hid them from the sight of the Omahas,
they came in contact with a band of Sioux on the warpath who attacked
them. San-so-see escaped in some thick underbrush while Fontenelle
stood his ground fighting desperately and killing three of his adversaries,
when he fell pierced with fourteen arrows and the prized scalp-lock was
taken by his enemies. The Omahas did not recover his body until the
next day.
It was the wish of Colonel Sarpy to have him interred on the bluffs
fronting the house in which he had lived and a coffin was made which
proved to be too small without unfolding the blankets which had
enveloped him, and as he had been dead so long this was a disagreeable
task. After putting him in the coffin his wives who witnessed the scene
uttered the most piteous cries, cutting their ankles until the blood ran
in streams. An old Indian woman who looked like a witch of Endor,
standing between the house and the grave, lifted her arms to heaven and
shrieked her maledictions upon the head of his murderers. Colonel Sarpy,
Stephen Decatur, Mrs. Sloan, an Otoe half-breed, and others, stood over
his grave where his body was being lowered, and while Decatur was
reading the impressive funeral service of the Episcopal Church, he was
interrupted by Mrs. Sloan, who stood by his side, and in a loud tone told
him that "a man of his character ought to be ashamed of himself to make
a mockery of the Christian religion by reading the solemn services of
the church." He proceeded, however, until the end. After the whites,
headed by Colonel Sarpy, had paid their last respects, the Indians filed
around the grave and made a few demonstrations of sorrow. The
whites dispersed to their homes and the Indians to recite their own
exploits and the daring of their dead chief — Fontenelle.
Another History of Fontanelle
A few years since, Mrs. Eda Mead, in "Nebraska Pioneers," wrote
the interesting story of the rise and fall of the Village of Fontanelle,
Nebraska. These facts, as she avers, are largely from her own obser-
vation and memory, she having been reared in the vicinity herself. It is
believed that no better account of this defunct village can be given at
this time than the one .she gives, and from which we take the liberty to
quote freely, that the story may be preserved in the annals of the county :
When Nebraska was first organized as a territory, a party of people
in Quincy, Illinois, conceived the idea of starting a city in the new terri-
tory and thus making their fortune. They accordingly sent out a party
of men to select a site.
These men reached Omaha in 1854. There they met Logan Fon-
tenelle, chief of the Omahas, who held the land along the Platte and
Elkhorn rivers. He agreed to direct them to a place favorable for a
town. Upon reaching the spot, where the present village is now situated,
they were so pleased that they did not look further, but paid the chief
$100 for the right to claim and locate twenty square miles of land. This
consisted of land adjoining the Elkhorn River, then ascending a high
bluff, a tableland ideal for the location of a town.
These men thought the Elkhorn navigable and that they could ship
their goods from Quincy by the way of the Missouri River, Platte River
and the Elkhorn.
Early in the spring of 1855 a number of the colonists, bringing their
household goods, left Quincy on a small boat, the "Mary Cole," expect-
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 431
ing to reach Fontanelle by the way of the Elkhorn ; and then use the boat
as a packet to points on the Platte and Elkhorn rivers.
But the boat struck a snag in the Missouri River and, with a part of
the cargo, was lost. The colonists then took what was saved overland
to Fontanelle.
By the first of May, 1855, there were sufficient colonists on the site
to hold two claims. Then each of the fifty members drew by lot for the
eighteen lots each were to hold. The first choice fell on W. H. Davis.
He chose the land along the river, fully convinced of its superior situation
as a steamboat landing. The colonists then built houses of cottonwood
timber, and a store and a hotel were started. Thus the little town of
about 200 inhabitants was started with great hopes of soon becoming a
large city.
Land on the edge of the bluff had been set aside for a college build-
ing. This was called Collegeview. Here a building was begun in 1856
and completed in 1859. This was the first advanced educational insti-
tution west of the Missouri River.
In 1865 the building was burned. Another building was immediately
erected, but after a few years' struggle for patronage, they found it was
doomed to die, so negotiated with the people of Crete, Nebraska, and
the Congregational organizations (for it was built by the Congrega-
tionalists) in Nebraska. It therefore became the nucleus of what is
now Doane College. The bell of the old church is still in use in the
little village. The first religious services were held by the Congrega-
tionalists. The church was organized by Rev. Reuben Gaylord, who also
organized the first Congregational Church in Omaha.
In Fontanelle the Congregationalists did not have a building but
worshiped in the college. This church has long since ceased to exist, but
strange as it may appear, after so many years, the last regular pastor was
the same man. Rev. Reuben Gaylord, who organized the church.
There was a little band of Methodists, about fifteen in all, who
formed the Fontanelle Mission. In 1857 an evangelist, Jerome Spillman,
was sent to take charge of this little mission. He soon had a membership
of about threescore people. A church was organized, a church and
parsonage built. This prospered with the town, but as the town began to
lose ground the church was doomed to die. The building stood vacant
for a number of years but was finally moved to Arlington.
The settlers found the first winter of 1855-56 mild and agreeable.
They thought this was a sample of the regular winter climate ; so when
the cold, blizzardy, deep snow winter of 1856-57 came, it found the
majority illy prepared. Many were living in log cabins which had been
buih only for temporary use. The roofs were full of holes and just
the dirt for floors. On awakening in the morning after the first blizzard,
many found their homes drifted full of snow ; even the beds were cov-
ered. The snow laid four or five feet on the level and the temperature
was far below zero.
Most of the settlers lost their stock. Food was scarce, but wild game
plentiful. Mr. Samuel Francis would take his horse and gun and hunt
along the river. The settlers say he might have been seen many times
that winter coming into the village with two deer tied to his horse's tail
trailing in the snow. By this means, he saved many of the colonists from
starvation.
Provisions were very high priced. Potatoes brought four or five
dollars a bushel ; bacon and pork could not be had at any price. One
settler is said to have sold a small hog for $45 ; with this he bought
432 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
eighty acres of land, which is today worth $300 per acre. A sack of
flour then cost from $10 to $15. '
At this time many who had come just for speculation left, thus only
the home-builders or those who had spent their all and could not return
remained.
Then came trouble with the Indians. In the year 1859 the Pawnees
were not paid by the Government, for some reason. They became des-
perate and began stealing cattle from the settlers along the Elkhorn
around Fontanelle. The settlers of Fontanelle formed a company known
as the "Fontenelle Mounted Rangers," and together with a company sent
out by Governor Blac^c from Omaha with one piece of light artillery,
started after the Pawnees who were traveling west and north. They
captured six persons and held them bound. While they were camped
for rest, a squaw in some way gave a knife to one of the prisoners. He
pretended to kill himself by cutting his breast and mouth so that he bled
freely. He then dropped as if dead. Amidst the confusion the other
five, whose ropes had been cut by this same squaw, supposedly, escaped.
As the settlers were breaking camp to still pursue the fleeing tribe,
they wondered what to do with the dead Indian. Someone expressed
doubt as to his being dead. Then one of the settlers raised his gun and
said he would make sure. No sooner had the gun been aimed than the
Indian jumped to his feet and said, "Whoof ! Me no sick !" They then
journeyed on to attack the main tribe. When near their camp the set-
tlers formed a semicircle on a hill, with the artillery in the center.
As soon as the Indians saw the settlers they came riding as swiftly as
possible to make an attack, but when within a short distance and before
the leader of the settlers could call "Fire !" they retreated. They advanced
and retreated this way three times. The settlers were at a loss to under-
stand just what the Indians intended to do ; but decided they did not know
of the artillery until near enough to see it, then were afraid to make the
attack, so tried to scare the settlers, but failing to do so, they finally
advanced with a white rag tied to a stick.
The Indians agreed to be peaceable and stop their thieving if the set-
tlers would pay for a pony accidentally killed, and give them medicine
for the sick and wounded.
Some of the men who took part in this fight say that if the leader
had ordered the settlers to fire on the first advance of the Indians every
settler would have been killed. There were twice as many Indians in the
first place and the settlers afterwards found that not more than one-
third of their guns would work; and after they had fired once, while
they were reloading, the Indians with their bows and arrows would have
exterminated them. They consider that it was the one piece of light
artillery that saved them, as the Indians were very much afraid of a
cannon. Thus ended any serious Indian trouble, but the housewives had
ever to be on the alert for many years.
Each spring either the Pawnees or Omahas passed through the
village on their way to visit some other tribe, and then returned in the
fall. Then through the winter stray bands would appear who had been
hunting or fishing along the river.
As they were seen approaching everything that could be put under
lock and key was made secure. The doors of the houses were also made
secure. The Indians would wash and comb their hair at the water
troughs, then gather everything about the yard that took their fancy.
If by any chance they got into a house they would help themselves to
eatables and if they could not find enough they would demand more.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 433
They made a queer procession as they passed along the street. The
bucks on the horses or ponies led the way, then would follow the pack-
ponies, with long poles fastened to each others' sides and trailing along
behind loaded with the baggage came the squaws with their babies fas-
tened to their backs, trudging along behind.
One of the early settlers tells of her first experience with the Indians.
She had just come from the far east, and was all alone in the house, when
the door opened and three Indians walked in — a buck and two squaws.
They closed the door and placed their guns behind it, to show her that
they would not harm her. Then they went to the stove and seated them-
selves, making signs to her that they wanted more fire. She made a very
hot fire in the cook stove.
The old fellow examined the stove until he found the oven door ; this
he opened and took three frozen fish from under his blanket and placed
them upon the grate. While the fish were cooking he made signs for
something to eat. The lady said she had only bread and sorghum in the
house. This she gave them, but the Indian was not satisfied : he made a
fuss until she finally found that he wanted butter on his bread. She had
to show him that sorghum was all she had. They then took up the fish
and went out of doors by the side of the house to eat it. She said they
must have eaten every bit of the fish except the bones in the head, all
else was eaten up.
Among the first settlers v.'ho came in 1855 was a young German who
was an orphan and had had a hard life in America up to this time. He
took a claim and worked hard for a number of years. He then went
back to Ouincy and persuaded a number of his countrymen to come out
to this new place and take claims, he helping them out, but they were to
pay him back as they could.
Years passed ; they each and all prospered wonderfully well. The
early settlers moved away one by one ; as they left he would buy their
homes. The houses were torn down or moved away ; the trees and
shrubs were uprooted, until now this one man, or his heirs — for he has
gone to his reward — own almost all of the once prosperous little village,
and vast fields of grain have taken the place of the homes and the streets.
It is hard to stand in the streets of the little village which now has
about 150 inhabitants and believe that at one time it was the county seat
of Dodge County, and that it lacked but one single vote of becoming the
capital of Nebraska. There are left only two or three of the original
buildings. A short distance south of this village, on a high bluff over-
looking the river valley, and covered with oaks and evergreens, these
early pioneers started a city which has grown for many years, and which
will continue to grow for years to come. In this "city of the dead" we
find many people who did much for the little city which failed, but who
have taken up their abode in this beautiful spot, there to remain until
the end of time.
The story of Fontanelle has been gathered from my early recollec-
tions of the place and what I have learned through grandparents, parents
and other relatives and friends.
My mother was raised in Fontanelle, coming there with her parents
in 1856. She received her education in that first college.
My father was the son of one of the first Congregational mission-
aries to be sent there. I received my first schooling in the little village
school.
CHAPTER XXIII
FORT CALHOUN TOWNSHIP
Boundaries — Old Fort Calhoun — Village History — Lakes and
Streams — Schools — Municipal Affairs of Village — Railroad —
Population — Business of Village Today — Centennial Celebra-
tion— Postoffice History — Reminiscences — Account of Place
By W. H. Allen. Mrs. E. H. Clark and W. H. Woods.
This, the extreme southeastern subdivision of Washington County,
embraces a tract of land nine miles east and west by five north and south,
except the parts of several sections cut off by the Missouri River at its
northeastern corner. It is bounded on the north by De Soto Township
and the Missouri River, on the east by the Missouri River, on the south
by Douglas County, and on the west by Richland Township. Its villages
are Fort Calhoun and Cofifman — see later. Its railroad is the Chicago,
St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha. The water courses of this township
include these : Long Creek, Little Pappillion, and their numerous smaller
branches ; also Horse Shoe Lake, Kelly Lake, Stillwater Lake, and other
lakes or ponds. Within this township was the old Government posts,
Fort Atkinson now known as Fort Calhoun — see their interesting history.
Population
The United States census reports gave this township a population in
1890 of L187, including the village of Fort Calhoun ; in 1900 it was 1,494,
and in 1910 it was placed at 1,447.
Settlement
The within historical accounts of old Fort Calhoun Village, at various
periods, will cover the list of those who would in ordinary townships be
known as first settlers. Hence there will be no attempt at tracing out the
first to claim the land of this fertile and historic township, but refer the
reader to the village and fort histories found herein.
Reminiscences of Fort Calhoun
The following story concerning Fort Calhoun by W. H. Allen,
appeared in the 1916 volume of the "Pioneer Reminiscences of Nebraska"
issued under authority of the Nebraska Chapter of Daughters of the
American Revolution.
I reached Fort Calhoun in May, 1856, with my friends, Mr. and
Mrs. John Allen, coming with team and wagon from Edgar County, Illi-
nois. I was then eleven years old. Fort Calhoun had no soldiers, but
some of the Fort Atkinson buildings were still standing. I remember
the liberty pole, the magazine, the old brickyard, at which places we chil-
dren used to play and pick up trinkets. There was then one general store
there, kept by Pink Allen and Jacoby, and but few settlers. Among those
I remember were : my uncle, Thomas Allen ; E. H. Clark, a land agent ;
Col. George Stevens and family, who started a hotel in 1856, and Orrin
435
436 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Rhoades, whose family lived on a claim five miles west of town. That
summer my father took a claim near Rhoades, building a log house and
barn at the edge of the woods. We moved there in the fall, and laid in a
good supply of wood for the huge fireplace, used for cooking as well as
heating. Our rations were scanty, consisting of wild game for meat, corn
bread, potatoes and beans purchased at Fort Calhoun. The next spring
we cleared some small patches for gardens and corn and tended the same
with a hoe. There were no houses between ours and Fort Calhoun, nor
any bridges. Rhoades' house and ours were the only ones between
Fontanelle and Fort Calhoun. Members of the Quincy Colony at Fonta-
nelle went to Council Bluffs for flour and used our place as a half-way
house, stopping each way over night. How we children did enjoy their
company, and stories of the Indians ! We were never molested by the
red men, only that they would come begging food occasionally.
I had no schooling until 1860 when I worked for my board in Fort
Calhoun at E. H. Clark's and attended the public schools a few months.
The next two years I did likewise, boarding at Alex Reed's.
From 1866 to 1869 inclusive, I cut cord wood and railway ties, which
I hauled to Omaha for use in the building of the Union Pacific Railroad.
I received from $8 to $15 per cord for my wood and a dollar apiece
for ties.
Deer were plentiful, and once when returning from Omaha I saw an
old deer and fawn. Unhitching my team I jumped on a horse and
chased the young one down, caught and tamed it. I put a bell on its
neck and let it run about at will. It came to its sleeping place every night
until the next spring when it left never to be seen by us again.
In the fall of 1864 I was engaged by Edward Creighton to freight
with a wagon train for Denver, carrying flour and telegraph supplies.
The cattle were corraled and broke at Cole's Creek west of Omaha,
known then as "Robbers' Roost," and I thought it great fun to break and
yoke those wild cattle. We started in October with forty wagons, seven
yoke of oxen to each wagon. I went as far as Fort Cottonwood, 100
miles beyond Fort Kearney, reaching there about November 20th. There
about a dozen of us grew tired of the trip and turned back with a wagon
and one ox team. On our return, at Plum Creek thirty-five miles west
of Fort Kearney, we saw where a train had been attacked by Indians,
oxen killed, wagons robbed and abandoned. We waded rivers, Loup
Fork and Platte, which was a cold bath at that time of the year.
I lived at this same place in the woods until I took a homestead three
miles farther west in 1868.
My father's home was famous at that time, also years afterward, as
a beautiful spot in which to hold Fourth-of-July celebrations, school pic-
nics, etc.. and the hospitality and good cooking of my mother. "Aunt
Polly Allen" as she was familiarly called, was known to all the early
settlers in this section of the country.
The Story of Thom.\s N. Carter
In the spring of 1855 with my brother Alex Carter, E. P. and D. D.
Stout, I left the beautiful hills and valleys of Ohio to seek a home in the
West. After four weeks of travel by steamboat and stage, horseback
and afoot, we reached the Town of Omaha, then only a small village.
It took us fourteen days to make the trip from St. Louis to Omaha.
While waiting at Kanesville. or Council Bluffs as it is now called, we
ascended the hills back of the town and gazed across to the Nebraska
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 437
side. I thought of Daniel Boone as he wandered westward on the Ken-
tucky hills looking into Ohio. "Fair was the scene that laid before the
little band that paused upon its toilsome way to view the new found
land."
At St. Mary we met Peter A. Sarpy. He greeted us all warmly and
invited all to get out of the stage and have a drink at his expense. As
an inducement to settle in Omaha, we were each offered a lot anywhere
on the townsite, if we would build on it, but we had started for De Soto,
Washington County, and no ordinary offer could induce us to change our
purpose.
We thought that with such an excellent steamboat landing and quan-
tities of timber in the vicinity, De Soto had as good a chance as Omaha
to become the metropolis. We reached De Soto May 14, 1855, and found
one log house finished and another under way. Zaremba Jackson, a
newspaper man, and Doctor Finney occupied the log cabin and we
boarded with them until we had located a claim and built a cabin on land
we subsequently entered and upon which the City of Blair is now built.
After I had built my cabin of peeled willow poles the Cuming City
Claim Club warned me by writing on the willow poles of my cabin that
if I did not abandon that claim before June 14, 1855, I would be treated
to a free bath in Fish Creek and free transportation across the Missouri
River. This, however, proved to be merely a bluff. I organized and
was superintendent of the first Sunday school in Washington County in
the spring of 1856.
The first board of trustees of the Methodist Church in the county
was appointed by Rev. A. G. White on June 1, 1866, and consisted of
the following members : Alex Carter, L. B. Cameron, James Van Horn,
M. B. Wilds and myself. The board met and resolved itself into a build-
ing committee and appointed me chairman. We then proceeded to devise
means to provide for a church building at Cuming City by each member
of the board subscribing $50. At the second meeting it was discovered
that this was inadequate and it was deemed necessary for this subscrip-
tion to be doubled. The church was built, the members of the commit-
tee hewing logs of elm, walnut and oak for sills and hauling them with
ox teams. The church was not completely finished, but was used for a
place of worship. This building was moved under the supervision of
Rev. Jacob Adriance and by his financial support from Cuming City to
Blair in 1870. Later it was sold to the Christian Church, moved off and
remodeled and is still doing service as a church building in Blair.
Jacob Adriance was the first regular pastor to be assigned to the
mission extending from De Soto to Decatur. His first service was held
at De Soto May 3, 1857, at the home of my brother, Jacob Carter, a
Baptist. The congregation consisted of Jacob Carter, his family of five,
Alexander Carter, myself and wife.
The winter before Reverend Adriance came, Isaac Collins was con-
ducting protracted meetings. One night they threw a dead dog through
the window, hitting the minister on the back, knocking him over, and the
candles went out, leaving all in darkness. The minister straightened up
and declared, "The devil isn't dead in De Soto yet."
I was present at the Calhoun claim fight at which Mr. Goss was killed
and Purple and Smith were wounded. The first little log school was
erected on the Townsite of Blair, the patrons cutting and hauling the
lumber. I was the first director and Mrs. William Allen (nee Emily Bot-
torff) first teacher.
438 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
I served as worthy patriarch of the first Sons of Temperance organi-
zation in the county and lived in De Soto long enough to see the last of
the whisky traffic banished from that township.
I have served many years in Washington County as school director,
justice of the peace and member of the county board.
In October, 1862, I joined the Second Nebraska Cavalry for service
on the frontier. Our regiment lost a few scalps and buried a number
of Indians. We bivouacked on the plains, wrapped in our blankets, while
the sky smiled propitiously over us and we dreamed of home and the
girls we left behind us until reveille called to find the drapery of our
couch during the night had been reinforced by winding sheets of drifting
Fort Calhoun in the Later Fifties
Mrs. E. H. Clark, well known in Washington County, wrote as
follows, and under the above heading, in the 1916 volume of "Pioneer
Reminiscences" by the Daughters of the American Revolution Society,
and herein is found much that should not be lost in the permanent annals
of Washington County. Her article reads as follows : E. H. Clark came
from Indiana in March, 1855, with Judge James Bradley and was clerk
of the District Court in Nebraska under him. He became interested in
Fort Calhoun, then the county seat of Washington County. The town
company employed him to survey it into town lots, plat the same and
advertise it. New settlers landed here that spring and lots were readily
sold. In June, 1855, Mr. Clark contracted with the proprietors to put up
a building on the townsite for a hotel ; said building to be 24 by 48 feet,
two stories high with a wing of the same dimensions ; the structure to
be of hewn logs and put up in good style. For this he was to receive
one-ninth interest in the town. Immediately he commenced getting out
timber, boarding in the meantime with Major Arnold's family, and
laboring under many disadvantages for want of skilled labor and teams,
there being but one span of horses and seven yoke of cattle in the entire
precinct at this time. What lumber was necessary for the building had
to be obtained in Omaha at $60 per 1,000 feet and hauled a circuitous
route by the old Mormon trail. As an additional incident to his trials,
one morning at breakfast Mr. Clark was told by Mr. Arnold that the last
mouthful of food was on the table. Major Arnold was absent for
supplies and delayed, supposedly for lack of conveyance; whereupon
Mr. Clark procured two yoke of oxen and started at once for Omaha
for provisions and lumber. Never having driven oxen before he met
with many mishaps. By traveling all night through rain and mud he
reached sight of home next day at sunrise, when the oxen ran away,
upsetting the lumber and scattering groceries over the prairies. Little
was recovered except some bacon and a barrel of flour.
Finally, the hotel was ready for occupancy and Col. George Stevens
with his family took up their residence there. It was the best hostelry
in the West. Mr. Stevens was appointed postmaster and gave up one
room to the postoffice. The Stevens family were very popular everywhere.
Mr. and Mrs. John B. Kuony were married at the Douglas House in
Omaha about 1855 and came to the new hotel as cooks ; but soon after-
ward started a small store which in due time made them a fortune.
In March, 1856, my husband sent to Indiana for me. I went to
St. Louis by train, then by boat to Omaha. I was three weeks on the
boat, and had my gold watch and chain stolen from my cabin en route.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 439
I brought a set of china dishes which were a family heirloom, clothes and
bedding. The boxes containing these things we afterward used for
table and lounge. My husband had a small log cabin ready upon my
arrival.
I was met at Omaha by Thomas J- Allen with a wagon and ox team.
He hauled building material and provisions and I sat on a nail keg all
the way out. He drove through prairie grass as high as the oxen's back.
I asked him how he ever learned the road. When a boat would come up
the river everyone would rush to buy furniture and provisions ; I got a
rocking chair in 1857, the first one in the town. It was loaned out to
sick folks and proved a treasure. In 1858 we bought a clock of John
Bauman of Omaha, paying $45 for it, and it is still a perfect timepiece.
My father. Dr. J. P. Andrews, came in the spring of 1857 and was
a practicing physician, also a minister for many years here. He was the
first Sunday school superintendent here and held that position until 1880
when we moved to Blair.
In 1858 the Vanier brothers started a steam grist mill which was a
great convenience for early settlers. In 1861 Elam Clark took it on a
mortgage and ran it for many years. Mr. Clark also carried on a large
fur trade with the Indians. They would go east to the bottoms to hunt
and camp for two or three weeks.
At one time I had planned a dinner party and invited all my lady
friends. I prepared the best meal possible for those days, with my china
set all in place and was very proud to see it all spread, and when just
ready to invite my guests to the table, a big Indian appeared in the door-
way and said "hungry" in broken accents. I said, "Yes, I get you some,"
and started to the stove, but he said, "No," and pointed to the table. I
brought a generous helping in a plate but he walked out of doors, gave a
shrill yell which brought several others of his tribe and they at once sat
down, ate everything in sight, while the guests looked on in fear and
trembling. Having finished they left in glee.
Retrospective View of Fort Calhoun
Local Historian W. H. Woods, who it is stated by his neighbors,
knows all worth knowing about ancient and modern Fort Calhoun, has
recently written the following in the columns of the Blair Tribune :
"I perhaps now know more of this place than any man living. The
Iowa Town Company which had the fight over the location ; then
employed E. H. Clark to build the log tavern and lay out the new town
west of the disputed dead man's claims.
"This at that time was to be a great commercial city and why not?
The old fort at one time held the greatest business depot on the whole
Missouri River, and in ten years the fur trading posts in walking dis-
tance of the townsite had shipped thousands of dollars worth of furs and
probably outrivaled the whole British Columbia ; and where else on
earth had a great statesman seen a merchant handling his silver coin
with a scoop shovel, as General Cass had seen John Cabbanne, only six
miles away: and so great was the possibilities for this city that when
thousands of acres of land hereabouts could be homesteaded or bought
for a dollar and a quarter per acre of the government, the town ofifered
Judge Stiltz $100 an acre for his farm to add to the town.
"So in laying out the town, room must be provided for the great
markets, etc., yet to come ; so they set aside four plats of land for such
needful purposes. East Market Square, Washington Square, West
440 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Market Square and a schoolhouse site that some day might roam back
toward the Elkhorn River as a college or university town.
"East Market Square on Seventh street, the west guard line of the
old fort, w-as sold by the city some years ago, and is now known as the
StefTen block. Washington Square in the center of the city was for the
county seat and other such public utilities and on that was the first
courthouse built for that purpose in Nebraska. It became, of course, a
general utility building and was church and school as well. West Mar-
ket Square is now the city park and the real pioneer school site is the
property of Peter Schmidt. In some way the original school site had
been pre-empted for residences, or a part of it, by some persons who had
moved away and had got on the assessor's books as private property.
This was explained to us by Elam Clark and Doctor Andrews, when we
were asked to seek a new site for the schools in the seventies. Over
two hundred acres of town lots have lost their streets and alleys and
become either tax lots or joined onto other people's property. Probably
in 1876 Judge Jackson helped me to throw out great areas of town
lots now in surveyed and numbered tax lots that my predecessors had
double assessed, entering them as town as well as tax lots, and when I
went to two of them for advice they kindly told me that it was none of
the assessor's business. But I failed to take my oath that way. So got
the books cleaned.
"Granddad Woods."
Centennial Celebr.\tion of Settlement
Washington County, Nebraska, is noted for its "Centennial Celebra-
tion" events, as follows : Lewis and Clark's Expedition, 1804 ; Fort
Lesa, 1812; Fort Atkinson, 1819; First brickyard, farming, library and
school at Fort Atkinson, 1820; the birth of Logan Fontenelle at Fort
Atkinson, 1825. So it is seen that this county leads all others in
Nebraska in its centennial history.
The Fort Calhoun Centennl-vl Celebration, 1919
On October 11, 1919, the quaint little village with so much of real
importance connected with it, celebrated its centennial with an historic
pageant and basket picnic dinner in the small handsome park. There
addresses were given by Governor McKelvie, Mayor Smith of Omaha
and Mayor Frahm of Fort Calhoun. This centennial marked the land-
ing of the first United States troops sent into this portion of the Mis-
souri Valley country.
No better description is needed in this connection than to refer the
reader to one page of the neat folder program issued on that occasion,
which reads as follows :
"It was at Fort Calhoun, later known as Fort Atkinson, that the
soldiers, coming up the Missouri on a steamer, landed and there erected
an army post that was garrisoned until 1829, when it was abandoned.
However, white men and women continued to occupy the site and con-
sequently Fort Calhoun is one of the oldest towns of the United States,
barring those of the Atlantic States.
"Co-operating, the people of Fort Calhoun, Omaha and Nebraska
have laid their plans for making this centennial celebration an event that
will long be remembered in the future history of Nebraska. Working
with them are the members of the Nebraska Historical Society, Sons and
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
441
Daughters of the American Revolution, the Sons and Daughters of the
War of 1812, Grand Army of the RepubHc and veterans of the recent
war with Germany.
"This centennial will be an all-day affair and will be observed in the
Calhoun Public Park, just west of the business portion of the village.
There will be a pageant that will portray the landing of the soldiers and
their meeting with the Indians, who at that time occupied the lands on
both sides of the Missouri River. To make this feature strictly realistic,
there will be soldiers from Forts Omaha and Crook and Indians from
the Omaha Reservation. The pageant, in which there will be a number
of floats, will pass over the village streets and to the park, where the
exercises will be held.
Courttsy of Blair Tribune)
Lewis-Clark Monument, Fort Calhoun
"This centennial is to be a gathering of the pioneers and others of
Nebraska, but it is not to be for them alone, as indications are that there
will be hundreds of visitors from Iowa and other nearby states.
"An immense picnic dinner is to be served at noon, and that none
may go away hungry, other arrangements have been made for feeding
the multitude. On the grounds will be numerous cafes and eating houses,
and in addition a regulation army kitchen will dispense hot food and
drinks during the day."
Everything promised — more too — was fulfilled and a large gathering
assembled will long remember the noted celebration.
Among other features was the circulating of a "Centennial pocket
coin," same size as the United States dollar piece, and about its weight.
It has the dates "1819-1919" inscribed on its face; also the thirteen
emblematic stars of our coins. One can but ask himself the question:
"What will the conditions be on these grounds at old Fort Atkinson
(Calhoun) when another hundred years have rolled away into oblivion?
Will the day be observed as a celebration day? Will there be in evidence
a single one of these pretty pocketpiece-coins ?" Time alone can answer
this for we will not be present to record the proceedings of the day.
442 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
RocKPORT — A Town of the Past
Bell's History of this county, written in 1876, gave the following con-
cerning a long-since-passed-away "town" :
"Time was when Rockport, situated on the Missouri river, about a
dozen miles above Omaha, was one of the best known, and one of the
most flourishing towns in Nebraska. It was settled in 1857. William
H. Russell was one of its founders, J. P. Burkett. Hawley Bros., David
and Stephen Neal and Doctor Lewis were also among the early settlers
of Rockport. Burkett was later agent of the Yankton Sioux Indians.
"Rockport boasted at one time a fine large hotel building, but for
some reason was never furnished, and was finally moved down to Flor-
ence. It was built by the Town Company. A splendid body of hard-
wood timber surrounded the town, and extensive stone quarries were
opened up and successfully worked in the vicinity. But the timber was
cut down by the Union Pacific railroad company, who also bought the
quarries. There was no good agricultural country surrounding the place,
hence soon dwindled down to almost nothing after the stone and timber
interests passed away. In the long ago the heavy timber and deep
ravines surrounding this settlement, afforded excellent facilities for the
hanging of horse thieves, which facilities were utilized, until finally
extensive and prosperous leaders of lawless horse-fanciers who made
their headquarters near De Soto were effectually broken up. It is a sig-
nificant fact that the county lost a number of its most prominent citizens
in consequence of the disorganization of this band of horse thieves."
Today there is no evidence that there was ever a village here. News-
paper files and old men's memory must be depended on today for all
that is known of Rockport.
An account of this old-time village was given in 1912 in the World-
Herald, Omaha, in which the writer stated that the changing of the
river's channel was what put Rockport out of commission. When this
article was written there was still the remains of a good-sized foundation
built from brick at that point. At one time it had almost 500 people and
was an important steamboat landing. It was built up in the early years
of the nineteenth century, about the date of old Fort Atkinson. Its
site is near the present Carl Hoist farm home. The shifting waters and
uncertain river-beds of the Missouri caused it to vanish in a few days.
Village of Fort Calhoun
Fort Calhoun Village is the oldest village in Nebraska, and was
incorporated in 1855, one year earlier than Omaha was. It is situated in
section 11, township 17, range 13, east. It is about two miles west of the
present banks of the Missouri River. The early annals of this historic
place is treated later in this work, and has descriptions by local writers
whose lives have been spent largely in this vicinity.
Here one finds the most picturesque scenery in all the commonwealth.
Just to the west of the village is a high blufif overlooking the pretty
meanderings of the Missouri as well as a glimpse of the waters of the
Elkhorn. From near the cemetery one can view the country up and
down the valley and from west to east for a distance of many miles, both
on the Nebraska and Iowa sides of the Missouri. The public park in
the village, proper, was set to artificial trees more than forty years ago,
by the hand of that much-beloved and highly honored pioneer and local
historian, W. H. Woods, who still survives to tell the story of old Fort
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 443
Calhoun. The many beautiful shade trees in this park now tower up
thirty, forty and fifty feet ; their branches and great trunks stand out
as so many living, growing monuments to the forethought and good sense
of the pioneer who planted them out, just on the eastern slope of the
ridge which runs just to the west of the village. This park reminds one
of the saying, "A thing of beauty and a joy forever."
The first store in Fort Calhoun Village was that conducted by A. P.
Allen, in the '50s. He kept groceries and also a good stock of "Wet
Goods" (liquors).
The second business house was the store of Col. George Stevens.
With the passing years many have been connected with various busi-
ness enterprises in this village. Today the commercial and professional
interests of Fort Calhoun consist of the following:
General Merchandise — Otto Kruse, William Sievers.
Drugs— William R. Goll.
Banking — Washington County Bank, Fort Calhoun State Bank.
Blacksmithing — Henry Schmidt, Louis Clausen, G. V. Beadle.
Meat Shop— Frank Wolff.
Newspaper — The Chronicle.
Lumber — Calhoun Lumber Company.
Garage — Henry Schmidt.
Real Estate — Adams & Cook.
Hotels — The "Clary Chicken Dinner Inn," R. A. Johnson's Hotel.
Physician — Dr. E. S. B. Geesaman.
Milling — The Washington County Alfalfa Milling Company.
Municipal History Items
Through the untiring energy of that wonderful "historical digger,"
W. H. ("Granddad") Woods of Fort Calhoun, it has been learned that
this is Nebraska's oldest incorporation — older than Omaha — incorporated
in 1855 and its first mayor was W. B. Beals. When the Town Com-
pany was incorporated in August, 1857, Elam Clark was elected presi-
dent of the town ; again in 1867 he was elected and doubtless held the
office until 1873, when E. N. Grennel was mayor ; also in* 1874. Under
Grennel, Farm Brooks got a license to sell liquor from a saloon. Whis-
key was considered "groceries" then and sold over the counter by such
men as A. P. Allen and Norman Jacoby, who moved to Salt Lake. The
records also show mavors as follows: L. Crounse, 1886; A. R. Toozer,
1887; George Neale, 1890; Henrv Tavlor. 1891; Henry Rix, 1893;
L. Crounse, 1896; B. F. Adamsons,' 1902; John Hendrichsen, 1904; I. I.
Wager, 1905: Doctor Curtis, 1907; Fred Frahm, 1909; James Walton,
1912; W. Sievers, 1913-14; Fred Frahm, 1915; W. Sievers, 1916;
James Walton, 1917; Wallie McMillan, 1918; John Hendrichsen, 1919,
who died and was succeeded by James Vaughn in 1920.
Present Village Officers
The 1920 village officers of Fort Calhoun are as follows : Mayor,
James Vaughn ; clerk, Mr. Wagers ; treasurer, Henry Picke.
The corporation has a town hall — a two-story frame structure; also
a small cement block jail ; the fire department and its equipment of hook
and ladders, chemical engine, etc., are all well housed in the town build-
ing. Electric lights are provided by connection with the City of Omaha.
This improved means of lighting was had first in January, 1917.
444
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Schools, Etc.
The village has excellent educational advantages for so small a place.
It has a good two-story frame schoolhouse which stands on the old
courthouse site. (See account of County Seats of Washington County.)
This schoolhouse was erected in 1900 but has been added to since. It
has six rooms. On the ground which the house stands stood the first
courthouse ever erected in Nebraska.
Fort Calhoun Postoffice History
Through the genius of getting at the facts of local history possessed
by W. H. Woods, the editors of this volume are enabled to give the fol-
lowing on the postoffice at Fort Calhoun :
(By Courtesy
Blair Tribune)
High School. Fort Calhoun
He writes as follows: In 1854 Congress passed a bill for a United
States post road from Table Creek, now Nebraska City, to Bellevue,
Omaha and Florence to Fort Calhoun, probably called for by the Iowa
Company at Kanesville, or Council Bluffs, that employed veteran E. H.
Clark to lay out our town and build a log cabin opposite our present Fort
Calhoun City Park.
"Omaha, August 16, 1904.— Friend Woods: — The following were
the first postmasters in Fort Calhoun: George W. Newell, 1856, (2);
E. H. Clark, (3) ; Lewis McBride, (4) ; George Stevens, (5) ; W. A.
Tacoby, (6) ; George Stevens, second time and I became the seventh in
1865 and resigned thirteen years later when I took my family to Europe.
"Yours truly,
"John B. Kuony."
The first paper on our desk reports that George Stevens has been
appointed postmaster at Fort Calhoun, Territory of Nebraska, and
swears he will perform his duty as regards postoffice and postroads in
the United States and support the Constitution and his wife, on the
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 445
same blank affirms that she will do the same and signs herself, Helen D.
Stevens in the presence of William B. Beals, mayor of the City of Fort
Calhoun, who swears he believes them to be over 16 years old and this
required 15 cents revenue stamp for him and 5 cents for her.
Again required by an act of Congress in 1862, he again has to swear
that he has never voluntarily borne arms against the United States while
a citizen or voluntarily given any aid, counsel or encouragement to per-
sons engaged in armed hostility thereto. He has never yielded any
authority to any pretended government of the United States and he
promises to help defend against any domestic or foreign foes of the
United States ; and he received notice from Washington that his bond for
$1,000 required 50 cents in revenue stamps and his security was given
by Dr. J. P. Andrews and Hiram Craig; and Mayor Beals had to swear
that he believed that they were worth double the amount of the bond.
The next one reported was Hon. P. W. Hitchcock, at Omaha, that
John B. Kuony has been appointed postmaster to succeed George Ste-
vens then running without bonds. Kuony's commission, instead of letter
size, blossoms out in spread-eagle style. He had to have an assistant
and give bonds for both. He must not give credit for postage but make
his returns at least two days after the ending of each quarter, and want
of funds will be no excuse for not mailing funds as ordered; neither
must he change the name of the postoffice without Government consent.
In those days the postmaster was not allowed to loan, use, deposit in
banks or exchange for any other funds. Those were days of "wild-cat"
bills and counterfeit silver and as the postmaster was supposed to know
all such by smell or otherwise, the exact money taken in must be sent
to Washington. As occasionally a postmaster was robbed at night and
his only recourse if he had enough to make a squeal about was to apply
to his congressman to have a special bill' passed through Congress that
was worded, "For the relief of John Doe who had met with a fire, tor-
nado, thieves, etc., and wanted reimbursement from the government."
Of this list George Stevens and E. H. Clark are buried here. Jacoby
the Mormon, that the boys when he was drunk laid on the floor and
turned the molasses faucet loose on him and pried him loose with shovels
in the morning, went to Salt Lake City.
Later Postmasters
More recent postmasters here have been these: Mr. Fenner fol-
lowed John B. Kuony, then George Neale and Miss Minnie Neale. With-
out giving the order in which they served it is certain that others have
been : Mrs. George Stevens and two daughters, Mrs. Deane Slader and
two daughters, Mrs. Pettingill and two daughters, Robert Livingston,
Mr. Rowher, Henry Taylor, W. R. Goll, Wallie McMillan, Frank Adams,
Miss Freda Paulen and in July, 1920, came Miss Finch.
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Explanation to Old Fort Atkinson Map
(Later known as Fort Calhoun)
The readers of this work are indebted to the untiring efforts of
W. H. Woods, a pioneer and veteran of the Civil war, now residing at
the Village of Fort Calhoun, for the information contained herein con-
cerning this, the oldest United States fort west of the Missouri River.
It was established in 1819 and abandoned in 1827.
Nos. 1 and 2 represent stone houses north of the fort and northeast of
the present locust grove.
No. 3, locust grove planted in 1822 — still growing.
No. 4, headquarters buildings.
No. 5. blacksmith shop.
No. 6, gun shop.
No. 7, moat running west from the river bluff to present school build-
ing and then south to Turkey Creek (see dotted line).
Nos. 8, 9, 10 and 11 was the parade ground.
The river bluff to the east of the reservation or grounds, where the
buildings stood, are from 75 to 100 feet high, and the river now runs
almost three miles to the east of where the channel then ran.
No. 12 is steamboat landing.
No. 13, a path or trail to the river and a wagon road running to the
stream also. The officers and hospital gardens were south of the ravine.
No. 14, bakery.
No. 15, the flouring mill.
Nos. 16 and 17, two warehouses with stone foundations near the mill.
No. 18, powder house.
No. 19, probably the flagstaff.
No. 20, guardhouse.
No. 21, Contell's residence.
* * * Rifle-pits along the high bluff overlooking the Missouri River,
still visible.
Note by W. H. Woods : "This map of course is not perfect, but we
have spent much time and labor over it and is the nearest I can outline
after years of study. Sergeant Contell was a large, portly man, a soldier
under Napoleon, then emigrated to Canada and in 1819 passed over to
New York and enlisted as drum-major and came with the first troops
and left with the last ; his son, a small boy, was here the whole time ;
was educated by the government at Jefferson Barracks, served in the
regular army twenty-one years and retired as a captain and came to
Blair several years before his death and with the writer (W. H. Woods)
walked over the fort grounds to the brick-yard west of the present city
park, pointing out the position of the Council House, the rifle-pits, and
placed the guard line at what is now Seventh Street in West Calhoun,
First Street then being Water Street, below the bluff and as near as he
could determine, they lived just west of the guard-line at No. 21 —
see diagram."
CHAPTER XXIV
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP
An Old Settlement — How It Obtained Its Name — First to Set
Stakes — Beauty and Actual Value of Township Agricul-
turally— Population — Boundary — Organization — First a Pre-
cinct Then a Township — Villages of Kennard and Washington.
Richland Township is situated on the southern line of Washington
County, bounded on the north by Blair Township, on the east by Fort
Calhoun, on the south by Douglas County and on the west by Arlington
Township. The villages of Washington and Kennard — both good rail-
road points — are within this subdivision of the county. Its chief stream
is the Pappillion River, flowing from north to south, and has many
smaller tributaries or little creeks. Its present population is about 1,400.
In 1900 it was placed at 1,179 and in 1890 at 1,000. Up to 1883 it was
under "precinct government" but since then with other subdivisions of
the county, is under "Township Organization." For long years this part
of Washington County has been noted for its beautiful farms and natural
scenery. The pioneer settlers lost no time in setting out shade trees,
which have long since towered skyward as much as fifty feet. These
beautiful artificial groves give a cooling shade for both man and beast
in the heated days of midsummer, while in the wintry season they provide
a duly appreciated windbreak for stock.
Settlement
This settlement in the southwestern part of the county, was effected
in part, as early as the summer of 1856, when Russell Miller and his
three sons-in-law made the first actual settlement. Each of these men
took a half section claim of land agreeable to the Omaha and Elkhorn
Land Clubs. Miller took the north half of section 28. Adams, Lyons
and Dowling, the sons-in-law, took adjoining claims. Two or three
houses were built and Miller broke out some prairie. Miller bought the
claim of another who did not long remain in the country, but possibly
had broken a small patch of ground before leaving. That "first" squatter
here built a log house in which Mr. Adams lived and died. When the
township (precinct) was formed it was called Richland because Mr. Mil-
ler refused to have it called by his name and suggested "Richland," that
being the place in Ohio from which he came.
Henry Wright broke a strip where S. S. Blanchard later resided. He
sold to W. E. Purchase, and "held" the claims for him for awhile. Pur-
chase bought a sawmill that summer or fall, the third in all this section
of the Territory of Nebraska. The first was at Fontanelle ; Shield's, at
Elkhorn Ferry, on the Military road to Fort Kearney, was second, and
the one at Iron Bluffs, or West Point, made the fourth.
A man named Oaks also held down a claim and carried the mail on
foot to and from Omaha, forty miles.
Some time during the summer of 1856 H. R. Benjamin, C. A. Whit-
ford and Odillon Whitford, took claims in sections 8 and 9. They built
a good log house very near the C. A. Whitford place. It was for years
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 449
known as the Indiana house on account of that being the state from
which they came. Silas Masters built a log house on his farm in the
autumn of 1856. Dennis. Caleb, Winch and Adam Studt bought claims
and occupied them in the fall of 1856 and winter of 1857 — the "hard
winter." Theophilus Thompson and R. B. Brown wintered at Thomp-
son's on Walnut Creek. In the summer of 1856 also came in Orrin
Colby and built a small house and improved as fast as possible his
claim. In 1876 Bell's history of the township stated Colby had one of
the finest farms in the township, if not in the whole county.
In the early spring of 1857 a number of settlers wended their way
into the township. Judge J. S. Bowen, later editor of the Blair Times,
his son. Will R. Bowen and Doctor Heaton took claims in section 13 and
section 14. Joseph, Levi and Hiram Johnson took claims in section 23.
Azariah Masters, Sr., father of Azariah, built a large log house.
McVicker also joined McNaughton in sections 15 and 22. In the sum-
mer of 1857 Mrs. Adams, daughter of Russell Miller, died, leaving a
husband and two children, who soon after returned to Ohio. Nathaniel
Brewster, early in the summer of 1857, built a house on the hill north
of the present depot at Kennard.
In 1858, David Bender came in and erected a good house in section 9.
About the same time came his son-in-law, Amos Shick, and he engaged
in the sawmill work. Later he improved his claim. John Hilton came
to the township in 1858, but died in a short time at the old Thompson
house. After his death the house and contents was burned. Doctor Ben-
jamin sold to Simon Hammer and his brother-in-law, Hadley. The Ultz
family, being related to Hammer, came in about that date.
John A. Unthank came in the fall of 1858, as did also Peter S. Reed
and T. C. Powers. They took land in section 24. Reed was an energetic
man ; had seen service in the Mexican war : became captain of Company
"A," Second Nebraska Regiment, formed in 1862, chiefly from citizens
of Fontanelle, Richland and Fort Calhoun. Richland Township fur-
nished eighteen men for the company named.
The breaking out of the Pike's Peak gold fever, the on-coming Civil
war, caused this township to depopulate considerable. But when peace
was finally restored in 1865, the settlement again commenced to increase
with returned soldiers and others.
The Village of Kenn.\rd
Kennard is situated on the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley
Railroad in section 5, township 17, range 11, east. It was platted by the
Sioux City & Pacific Railway Company, named after Hon. Thomas F.
Kennard, secretary of state in 1867. Its present population is about 400.
It was incorporated as a village April 29, 1895, and its chairmen have
been as follows : Al Brewster, John Nissen, O. A. Alloway, W. H. Har-
rison, C. M. Weed, L. E. Ward, J. C. Neal, E. C. Nelson, O. W. Mar-
shall, H. C. Blaco.
The list of village clerks to date is: J. I. Norton, W. H. Terwillager,
John Butts, W. E. Swihart, Charles E. Kelley, George Menking, L. E.
Ward and the present clerk, G. E. Kronberg, who has served since 1916.
The 1920 village officers are : Chairman, H. C. Blaco ; clerk, G. E.
Kronberg: treasurer, R. H. Denton. The board consists of the last
named gentlemen, together with James A. Sip and W. R. Seger.
A system of waterworks was installed in 1909, costing $7,000. The
bonded indebtedness of Kennard is now only $2,000. It has a volun-
450 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
teer fire department of twenty-four members. The present fire
chief is C. E. Lautrup. The equipment of the village for furnishing
water consists of the old well, 100 feet deep and the new well 180 feet,
with double-acting pump, 850 feet usable hose, with a building suitable
for the equipment to be stored and where the council now assembles.
Churches, Lodges, Etc.
The lodges of Kennard include these : Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, Rebekahs, Masons, Modern Woodmen of America Danish
Brotherhood.
TribiljK)
Kennard School
The churches are the Methodist Episcopal, Lutheran, Church of
God, all of which, with the lodges above mentioned, are treated in
detail in special chapters on such subjects elsewhere in this volume.
The public schoolhouse is a frame structure two stories high with
basement. It contains six school rooms and there are now five instruc-
tors. 'The building was erected about 1910. (See Educational chapter.)
Business Interests in 1920
The following constitutes the chief business factors of Kennard in
the summer of 1920:
Auto Garages — Minking & Seger.
Banking — Farmers and Merchants Bank, Home State Bank.
Barbers — Chris Petersen, John Wagner.
Blacksmiths — J. A. Swihart.
Cream Stations — David Cole Company and the Almito Company.
Drugs — B. R. Jones.
Elevators — Farmers Co-operative Company, Nye, Schneider, Fowler
Company.
Furniture and Hardware — E. O. Fairchild.
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 451
General Merchandise — Farmers Co-operative Company, James Sip
and D. Hall.
Hotel — "Dixon."
Harness — James Applebee.
Implements — H. C. Blaco.
Lumber — This is handled with coal, etc.. by the above named elevators.
Meat Shop — Samuel Hall.
Millinery— Mrs. D. Hall.
Newspaper — Kennard Weekly, by Otto Olsen.
Physician — Dr. J. B. Anderson.
Photographer — J. B. Wright ; also handles school books.
Postmaster— William McCourdy.
Restaurant — B. Abels.
Stock Buyers — Burgess Brothers.
Shoe Repairs^ — S. Olsen.
Temperance Billiard Hall — Frank Franksen.
Veterinary Surgeon — Doctor Mock.
Village of Washington
Washington is situated in the southwest quarter of section 32, town-
ship 17, range 11, east. It is a station on the Chicago-Northwestern
Railway between Arlington and Omaha and has a population of about
125. The place was incorporated in 1915 and its present (1920~) officers
are: Chairman, Herman Busch ; clerk, Gus H. Peterson; treasurer,
S. K. Rosenkilde ; other members of the board are J. B. Wardell and
W. A. Kerstetter.
So far the village has made but few improvements, has neither elec-
tric lights or waterworks. It has a brick-frame school building, with
two rooms, and employs two instructors. This schoolhouse was erected
about 1916.
There is one church in the place — the Methodist Episcopal — which
owns its own building. (See Church Chapter.)
Business Interests — 1920
Bank — The Washington State Bank.
Barber— R. G. McDonald.
Blacksmithing — S. K. Rosenkilde.
Dry Goods and Notions — Mrs. H. Busch.
General Merchants — Gus Peterson, Theo Jensen.
Grain Dealers — Roger Gorman and Herman Busch.
Lumber — Roger Gorman.
Postmistress — Miss Carrie Peterson, since 1917.
Meat Market — Theo Jensen.
Garage — C. E. Lee.
Farm Implements — H. E. Lyons.
Restaurant — Kerstetter & Co.
The postoffice has one rural delivery route of about twenty-eight miles
in length. The office is a fourth-class postofifice.
The only lodge in the village at present is the Woodmen of the
World.
CHAPTER XXV
GRANT, SHERIDAN AND LINCOLN PRECINCTS
Grant Township — Its Character — Its Name — Its Organization —
Its Population at Decade Periods — First Settlers — General
Features — Sheridan Township — Boundaries — Population — Set-
tlement— Postoffice — Later Settlers — Killed in Indian Scare
— Lincoln Precinct — Organization — Boundary — Pioneer Set-
tlers— Population — Settlers of 1856-57 and 1858 — Experience
with Indians — Going After Provisions.
When Local Historian Bell wrote his Centennial History of Wash-
ington County in 1876, he mentioned the then quite new townships of
Grant, Sheridan and Lincohi in language as follows :
"The above named precincts are of comparatively recent settlement ;
but wonderful changes have been wrought within the past half dozen
years.
"Grant precinct is in the northern part of the county, west of Herman.
Among its first settlers were L. P. Thone, Martin Peterson, Gilbert Thone,
William Raver, L. D. Cameron, Foxwell Fletcher, Edward Fletcher,
S. C. Rose, Perry Selden. Frank Whizinand, Mr. Crane, Josiah Pace,
Alfred Van Valin, Samuel Spiker, Thomas Wilson, M. A. Preston, Daniel
Geary. Nearly all of the men have splendid farms, and are more or
less engaged in stock raising. This part of the county is well watered
by New York Creek and its tributaries, along which are fertile, beautiful
valleys especially adapted to grazing, the grass growing rich and
luxuriant."
Organization, Population, Etc
Grant Township was organized after the Civil war and named for
that illustrious commander and President — U. S. Grant. It had a popu-
lation in 1890 of 926; in 1900 it was placed at only 886, and the United
States census returns in 1910 gives it at only 775. The writer is at a loss
to account for so great a decrease in population, but such seems to have
been the fact. Possibly a change in boundary lines may account for a
part of the loss in population. The 1920 enumeration has not yet been
made public.
Sheridan Township is situated in the extreme northwestern corner
of Washington County. It is bounded on the north by Burt County, on
the east by Herman Township, on the south by Fontanelle Township
and on the west by Dodge County. It contains thirty sections of land.
Within its borders and in section 33 is situated the little Hamlet of
Admah. There is no railway in this township. It is chiefly given over
to extensive farming and stock raising. There are no large streams but
a large number of small water courses break up the otherwise monotonous
appearance of the territory.
The population of the township in 1890 was 649 ; in 1900 it was 575,
and in 1910 placed at 546. The 1920 census returns have not yet been
made public.
452
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454 DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Its Settlement and History
Sheridan had for its original settlers people who stopped along the
banks of Clark Creek in 1856-57, at a date when this part of the county
was yet counted as a part of Dodge County. The interior and eastern
parts of this township were not settled until many years later. Among
the Clark and Logan Creek settlers may now be recalled such men as
Chris Leiser, Charles and Fred Eisley, Uriah Thomas, Harvey J. Robin-
son, who built the first grist mill at the fine water power later owned by
A. C. Briggs & Son, John and Silas Seeley, Samuel Williams, Tom and
Sam Parks, Sullivan Gaylord, J. B. Robinson, John and Dick Shur (who
was accidentally killed by Tom Parks during the Indian scare of 1859),
John Clayton and his father-in-law, Mrs. Clark, Chris Hinneman and
Mr. McBroom.
Once there was a postoffice in this township called Lewisburg, on
Clark Creek, but it was sacked by the Pawnees in June, 1859, and dis-
continued soon thereafter.
Between 1866 and 1876 the following located in this township: W. A.
Johnson, Phillip Gossard, David Clark and son, Hiram G. Clark, Archie
Bovee, W. O. Hatch, Robert Adams, John Adams, Anson Hewitt, C. B.
Sprague, Robert Schenk, J. M. Jackson, Joseph Cook, Henry E. Meser-
vey, L. L. Arnold, Matthew Maloney and Thomas Dunn.
Admah Hamlet
In the northwest corner of Washington County, in section 33, town-
ship 20, range 9, east, is the Hamlet of Admah (named for a Bible
name). The earliest settler there was G. Pegau, who was appointed first
postmaster there also. A general store and a shop or two, a physician,
a Presbyterian Church and a Lutheran Church, with possibly a hundred
souls constituted all the interests the place ever had in its best days.
Lincoln Precinct (as formerly called but now township) is situated
almost in the central portion of Washington County, with Grant Town-
ship at its north, Blair Township at the east, Arlington Township on the
south and Fontanelle on the west. It contains thirty-six sections. It is
without a railroad or town, except the Hamlet of Oram in section 19,
where there has been for years a country store and a shop or two for the
accommodation of farmers.
There are no large streams, but numerous small watercourses of value
in watering and draining the domain within its borders. The largest
stream is Little Bell Creek in the western part of the territory.
Population
In 1890 the population, according to the Federal census reports, was
856; in 1900 it was 850, and in 1910 had decreased to 791. The depart-
ment at Washington has not made the 1920 enumeration figures public
as yet for the subdivisions in Washington Covmty, hence they are not
here added.
Settlement
This township was organized about 1866. The first attempt at
claiming land within this part of Washington County was in 1856, by
Pomeroy Searle on a portion of the farm later owned by E. S. Gaylord,
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES 455
who was state's representative in 1876 from Washington County. Bell's
Washington County History, published in 1876, gives the best account
extant of the first settlement in this township.
In 1857 Searle broke out about twenty acres and set out both fruit
and forest trees. In 1858 he went to California and the first permanent
improvement was made in the township in 1868. In that year there were
only two families living on the route from Cuming City to Fontanelle,
viz. : A. Sutherland and Benjamin Taylor. F. Curtis had his cabin up
but it was unoccupied. On the north to the line of Burt County there
were only four settlers. There were a few settlements on the southern
border of the township.
In 1857 John Mattes pre-empted the land later owned by William
Hilgenkamp and the next year a Mr. Coyle settled on the adjoining place
north, subsequently owned by William's father. With the exception of
Mr. Parker, who settled on land later owned by Herman Stork, there
were no new settlements made in the township until about 1862.
James R. Tharp bought the land he later owned among the early
purchasers but went, it is believed, to California and then to China,
returning to his old home in New York in time to enlist and go through
the Civil war, after which he returned and located on his place in this
township in 1868. In 1865 or 1866 the influx of homesteaders com-
menced and settlements were efifected by George Morley, Frank Curtis
and John A. Young and sons, followed soon after by H. N. Mattison, his
son George, Mr. Ostrander, Soren Jensen, Henry Hilgenkamp and others,
who secured good farms and made valuable improvements in this
township.
In 1857 William R. Hamilton, county commissioner for six years
prior to 1876, and W. M. Saint settled on the west side of Bell Creek.
In the autumn of the same year a party of nine Indians made a raid on
Saint's cabin, he being absent at the time, robbed it of all the
provisions, cut open a feather bed, gave its contents to the winds and
replaced the same with the stolen property secured upon a pony and then
mounting, raised a whoop and charged upon Mr. Hamilton and his
brother-in-law, who were building a sod stable at his place and who stood
upon the defensive, arms in hand. After circling around them a while
in a menacing manner, and finding they "didn't scare worth a cent" the
redskins came to a parley and wanted something to eat. Upon being
refused they made a break for the house but were beaten in the race by
Mr. Hamilton, who finally drove them off. On the following day
Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Saint went to the Indian camp on the west sid^
of the Elkhorn River to try to recover the stolen property but failed.
The spring of 1858 opened with scarcity of provisions among the
pioneers and Mr. Hamilton with a team of three yoke of oxen started in
search of supplies and in the course of his travels found himself at
Magnolia, Harrison County, Iowa, having crossed the Missouri River
"on the ice. After obtaining the needed supplies and starting for home
he was told that the crossing was unsafe, but there was no alternative.
The family at home was in need and tlie stream must be crossed at all
hazards, so locking the wheels of his wagon he drove down the bank
upon the ice. While trying to undo the lock the ice sank about eighteen
inches: he not wishing to travel in that direction whipped up his team
and came over in safety.
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