Buffalo County, Nebraska - Chapter 43: Organization of Telephone Companies in Buffalo County the Farmers, 1916

Independent Telephone Company

The progressive and enterprising spirit of the people of Buffalo County is no better iUustrated than in the ahnost universal use made of the telephone, in the homes on the farm, as well as in the towns. The beginning of telephone systems in the county was through people living on farms, people of small means. The writer well recalls his first use of a telephone - a wire reaching from the house to the barn, the phones a tin can at either e^dOf the wire.

At first a number of farmers co-opesj|fcjQ^in extending a wire into the nearest village, a friendly business man serving as '"central." Often the wire was attached to fence posts and quite often a fence wire served also as a telephone wire.

Beginning with about the year 1902, farmers' co-operative telephone companies were organized in various parts of the county, and in a comparatively brief time the county became a network of telephone wires, with a telephone in every home.

No attempt is here made to compile an acurate and complete history of the beginning and development of the telephone in Buffalo County, but enough is here presented to record the date of the beginning, the methods used, the growth and development to date (1915).

The Farmers' Telephone Company of Buff'alo County was organized ^larcli 2, 1902. The incorporators were W. J. Smith, Albert Allen, Joseph Buck. Jr., Jacob Stearley and W. H. Maurer of Shelton Township. The first officers wore : W. J. Smith, president; W. H. Alaurer, vice president; George \V. Barrett, treasurer; Joseph Buck, Jr., secretary. The authorized capital stock was $10,000 and the company had about one hundred shareholders. The territory first covered was confined to Shelton Township, and the company began business with a]> proximately twenty-five phones.

In the year 1915 the company covered territory embraced in Shelton. Sharon. Gardner, Schneider, Platte, Gibbon, Valley, and Center townships, in Buff'alo County, two townships in Hall County, and its lines extending into Kearney

County and having in use i,ioo phones. The capital stock is $10,000, but instead of paying dividends the company has invested its earnings in the extension and improvement of its plant, which is estimated to be worth thirty thousand dollars.

The company now has about thirty-five shareholders. Its present officers are: George W. Barrett, president and secretary; C. M. Beck, vice president; H. J. Dugdale, treasurer.

(Note - The editor is indebted to Mr. C. M. Beck, vice president and manager of the Gibbon office, for data as to the history of the Farmers' Telephone Company.)

In the year 1903 several meetings of farmers residing in Thornton and adjoining townships resulted in the organization on April i, 1903, of the Buffalo County Telephone Company, those signing the articles of incorporation being: George Bischel, Peter Wink, H. G. Rieter, J. D. Lowenstein and W. D. Stadleman. The officers elected being : Peter Wink, president ; Joseph A. Waters, vice president ; George Bischel, secretary; John L. Hopper, treasurer; W. J. Stadleman, manager. The board of directors was : George Bischel, Joseph A. Waters, John L. Hopper, P. F. H. Schars and Peter Wink. The lines of the company covering territory embraced in Center, Thornton, Valley, Schneider, Cedar, Beaver and Loup townships. At the close of the year 1906 the company had 225 miles of wire and 225 phones installed. By January, 1908, the company was out of debt and in September, 1908, a dividend of 15 per cent was declared. In January, 1909, it was decided to divide the territory, those tributary to Pleasanton to go with the Pleasanton company and be called the Bufifalo County Telephone Company and a new company to be formed to cover the territory tributary to Kearney.

It appears that the Union Valley Telephone Company began business with a capital stock of $5,000 and with ninety-five phones in operation. This company rebuilt its lines and in 1915 has 175 phones installed, rents its phones at $1 per month, declares an annual dividend of 15 per cent and on payment of a 25-cent switching charge at the Kearney central office its patrons can talk to about twentyone hundred phones.

(Note - The data for the foregoing history of the Buffalo County and Union Valley Telephone companies was kindly furnished by George Bischel.)

The Buffalo County Telephone Company was organized by the people of Pleasanton and vicinity in the year 1903 and incorporated in 1910, with S. B.

In the year 191 5 the capital stock of the company was $6,500. Surplus, $2,000. Phones in operation, 324. Officers: A. H. Valentine, president; Adolph English, vice president; B. S. Wort, manager; M. S. Booher, secretary; F. L. Grammer, treasurer.

Fairview Telephone Company

The capital stock was $5,000. When the line first became established it had fifteen phones in operation and extended about ten miles north of Elm Creek.

In 191 5 the company had as capital stock $10,000, with 225 phones in use and covered a territory of about one htmdred and seventy-five miles, and also operated a thirty-mile toll line extending to ^liller and Amherst.

The Miller Independent Telephone Company

This company was organized in 1906 with a capital stock of $2,500. Its officers were: J. P- Xorcross, president; L. W. Hall, manager; F. D. Brown, treasurer.

The names of those most active in promoting the company were : J. P. Norcross, L. W. Hall, F. D. Brown, L. P. Wells, N. Maddox, C. IM. Huston, R. M. Pierce. The company began business with forty phones in use. In the year 1915 the company had as capital stock $4,500, and 150 phones in use. Its officers were : J. C. Power, president ; P. W. Jacobson, vice president ; L. W. Hall, manager; F. D. Brown, treasurer.