Custer County, Nebraska - The whole text, 1901 (part 8 of 9)

And Short Skbiches Of Early Days In Nebraska

On the 28th day of November, 1881, O. M. Keiu and the writer boarded 51 train at East Lynn, Vermilion county, Illinois, and started for the ^and ^tate of Nebraska. The gentlemen who introduced us to Custer county were O. D. Pelham, pioneer merchant and postmaster of Broken Bow, and John J>eMerritt, and with the aid and kindness of Mr. Pelham and County Clerk- <^lect Wilson Hewitt, we located claims and returned to Kearney to make preparations to return to our new homes. In March, 1882, we returned and took up our residence in Custer county, about five miles northeast of Broken 3iow", my neighbors at that time being H. C. Rayner, Charley Riiymond, J. D. Ream, O. M. Kem, and James Courtney. During the following summer and fall others began to locate in our neighborhood, and by the spring of 1883 we had plenty of neighbors. We had no preaching at all. During the winter of 1883 I was introduced to the Rev. ThcK)dore Squires, who was stopping with Attorney J. S. Kirkpatrick at Broken Bow. I invited him to preach at my home, so he made an apx>ointment, and when the time came, he had a good audience, and invited all who wished to unite with the United Brethren Church to meet him on Wednesday following at Broken Bow at the home of J. S. Kirkpatrick. At the time appointed a class was organized consisting of the following members: John S. Kirkpatrick and wife, James Courtney and wife, and M. F. Blankenship, who was chosen class leader. James Courtney was chosen steward and the class was named the Custer Center Class. In about three weeks the Rev. John F. Green was sent to preach for us and was our pastor for two years, loved and respected by all. Our numbers increased and religious interest was aroused until we began to feel that a church building was a necessity, but we were all so poor that we did not feel able to build it. I was led to speak to J. S. Kirkpatrick about it, but he thought it a pretty big undertaking. I asked him to draw up a subscription paper and I would do the soliciting and also give the ground for the building. He did so, and headed the paper with flO opposite his name. I put my name next with JIO. Then came C. T. Crawford with |:10, R. H. Miller with f5. This was encouraging. I had $35 pledged before leaving town and I felt sure that the church would be built. In May we met and laid up the walls of sod. A few days afterwards, as I was plowing in my field, a man with a mule team drove up and inquired if I was the man who was building the church. I replied that I was as much interested in it as anv one. He then said his name was David Weimer; that he was on his way to Kearney, and that with my x)ermission he would stay with me all night on his return and give me $10 to apply on the church building fund. 1 made him welcome, and true to his word he did as he said he would. In June two of our bachelor neijj:hbors, John R. Street and Elmer Morris, volunteered to haul the lumber from Kearnev, and bv the latter part of that month we had the roof on and the buildinj^ was inclosed. But we had no seats, neither money with which to procure them, so we built some sod pillars and laid boards on them, scattered some hay on the dirt floor, and the next Sunday tlie whole neijj:hborhood assembled in the new church, as much pleased as if they had been in the finest buildinji: iu the state. We had a place in which to worship, and it was with a feeling of pride that we wrote back to our friends in the East that we had a new church in our neijj;hborhood. At the first meeting in the new church we organized a Sunday school and I think L. L. Southmayd was the first superintendent. In December following we met and arranged for a (,'hristmas tree to be had Christmas eve, but having no floor on our place of worship money had to be raised to ]»rocure one. By Christmas (*ve we had not only a floor, but a rostrum and a few seats, homely, but good enough, and we felt proud of our success. Our Christmas tree and exercises were a grand success, and I have often thought I never saw a happier nuin than was Judge W. W. Cowles on that night - in fact everybody seemed happy. On the sunnner following we finished the seating and our church was compl(»ted and paid for. SJiortly after the church was inclosed the Rev. Pierce from Broken Bow canu* and organized a M. E. class at the church, and held meetings tliere for several years, p)reaching everv alternate Sundav, and I mav sav tliat both the V. P. and M. E. classes worshipped in harmony and with few exceptions were in lov(* and sweet friendshi]) until the M. E. class was finally dissolved, some going to Broken Bow, some imiting with the* V. P.'s while others left the neighborhood. Custer Center church still stands in a very good state of preservation, a monument of the struggles for a higher and nobler life made by the early pioneers of Custer countv.

The plea for the restoration of primitive Christianity has met with the usual amount of dithculties and opposition in Custer sounty, as the plea has been against division and creed. The first preacher of the plea for a return to primitive preaching and ])ractice in the county was Elder E. D. Eubank, who lives at Broken Bow and preaches at various places. Elder Eubank and wife came to what has since become Custer county in 1874. Mr. Eubank was the first county su|K4*intendent of schools of Custer county, and his wife the first school teacher.

And Short Sketches Op Eablv Days In Nebraska

The first Church of t'liriat in the county was organized by Elder L. J. Correll, a much loved and vfm'rahle fjither in Israel, who still resides near Arnold near the scene of his first labors in the county. Father C'orrell, as he ia familiarly called, moved to Arnold in the spring of 1883, and preached his first sermon there on April Ist to twenty-five hearers. Meetings were held in the house of William Fra/.ier for a time, until a church was organized, which occuVred on July 11, 1S84, witli lliirteeu charter members. The follow ing are some of them: L, J. Correll, Mattie Correll, Marcellus Sargent, William Frazier, tlharles Tremble and wife, lirother MoRit and wife, and four others. During the y<»ar 18H.") Kldcrs Henderson and Correll held meetings, with ten added (o the niemlKisbip. A church was built the same jeai- and dedicated by Htate Evangelist K. C. Harrow, Hrother Barrow commended the members for building and dedicating to the Lord a house built of lumber, while they were contenled lo live Iheniaelves in sod houses. The church at Arnold has had protracted meetings at different times, conducted by Elder CorreU, Elder .1. T. Smith. Elder E. 1). Eubank and perhaps others. In the year 188i) Father ("oiiell lieh] a meeting at Powell Valley in a so<l school house, with fourteen accesMions to the cinirch. These received the hand of Christian fellowBhiji at Arnold. The next year a church was organized at Powell canon with -1. 1). Jlyler and C. E. ('hesJey as elders, and I. L. AVonch and C. H, Sanderson as deacons. This congregation has met with varjing fortunes, but has been able to keep up a Sunday school most of the time. Father Correll has been preaching for this church since its organization, except for two or three years when he was away. During a part of this period ilrother David YouIkv acted as pastor.

The second organization in Custer county was at Broken Bow, in the month of May, 1886. State Evangelist N. B. Alley was the organizer. The church met for a time in the Baptist church building and for a brief period in a hall. Among the names of the charter members were John Vanhorn, J. B. Farrell, J. J. Brown and wife, and David Brinson and wife. Others wpre added the same year. Of the charter members there still remain enrolled David Brinson and wife, W. S. Boyce and wife, Mrs. Mary Brown and Mrs. Nellie Humphry. The first officers were appointed by N. B. Alley as follows: Elders, J. J. Brown, W. R. Wiley and B. W. Blair; deacons, John Vanhorn and E. E. Hastings; deaconesses, M. Louisa Brown and Nettie Atkinson and Mrs. Nellie Humphry. In 1887 Elder Eubank became pastor, since which time the work has been firmly established. Meetings have been held by Evangelists Hedges, Shields, Copp, Hunter, McDonald and others. The church building was erected in 1887 and some of the members still tell how the carpenters WTOught during the day and the congregation sat on boards and nail kegs at night listening to the preaching of the gospel. The following named preachers have been pastor of the congregation: Eubank, Youtzy, Porter, Pace, Surgeson, Hill, Teagarden and the writer, whose work closed September 1, 1900. The church has a membership of about 150, with R. Ryerson, J. C. Moore and P. H. Munk as elders. This church is strong in its consecrated young people, of which it is quite largely composed.

In 1889 Evangelist Barrow organized a church at Ansley with the following charter members: Brother and Sister Hagin, Gaines, Rigby, Sargent. Rich Hagin, Mary Hagin, Janet Stephenson, Annie Anthony and Fred Hagin. They worshipped in a hall until 1882, when they built a house of their own. This church, like the one at Broken Bow, has had a goodly number of ministers: R. C. Barrow, Fred Hagin, T. A. Hedges, Sherman Hill, J. W. Walker, R. C. Bailey and the present pastor, J. R. Teagarden. The church is prosi>ering, with a membership of loO. The congregation is also doing some missionary work at the Cat Creek church and the Mcintosh school house. Other congregations in the county having regular preaching and organized churches are: Coburgh and Gates, where E. D. Eubank ministers. The latter congregation worshipped for a time in the Methodist church. A faithful few still meet at the White Pigeon school house to break bread and keep up the Sunday school. Several other points have been organized, but for lack of workers have disbanded. May the word of the Lord accomplish that whereunto it is sent.

The Nebraska eldership of the Churches of God -was organized at Cropsy, Nebraska, October 1, 1875, with the election of the following officers, committees and boards:

Persons having held license from the body not new members of tlie eldership: E. D. Aller, P. Shaw (dead), P. K. Shoemaker. J. L. Jackson, John Etherton, John Kager, John Figart, A. G. Bogart, Jesse Evans (dead), Jav C. Forncrook, A. Wilson, T. D. Conkliu, M. A. Wright. F. C. Gilbert, G. F. McElwee, H. G. Moore, G. E. Ining, J. A. Miller. William Miller, A. R. Sly-ror (dead), E. A. Slytor, S. M. Wann. S. S. Sheldon (dead). - M*arple, G. W. Mizner (dead), E. K. Howe, Mrs. Hattie Ronsev. Sarah L. Hinklev, David Andrews, S. J. Winch, I. V. S. Ford. J. M. Stone. *J. G. Young, H. A. Barry. Seth L. Larned, James McCrea, Frederick Brenneman (dead). J. R. Paxton. A. Howe (dead), W. D. Frazie. J. M. Witter, J. J. Hughes, I. S. Claiiborn. J. W. Adams, W. W. Parish. A. N. Riness.

Present enrollment of ministers and their address: Elder J. H. Barkey, Jjamonre, South Dakota; Richard Bellis, Berwyn, Nebraska: C. W. Clonse, Amelia, Nebraska; W. T. Harris. Barada. Nebraska; E. M. Hickman, Garher, Oklahoma; C. S. Kilmer, Table, Nebraska; A, Marks. Garfield, Nebraska; T. A, Moss. Amelia, Nebraska; I. H. Russel, McKinley. Nebraska: Ell Stark, Berwjn, Nebraska; W. H. Ward. Berwyn, Nebraska; D. B, Zook. Crete, Nebraska; E. J. Thomas, Broken Bow. Nebraska; Sister \. E. Sharp, Courtland, Nebraska; Elder F, A. Sharp, Fairfax, South Dakota. Present number of organizations as local churches, twenty-five. Membership not reported.

Pioneeb History Of Custbb Codntit

ling to give to the piiblir n verj brief historj- of the orgaaization and growth of the Sunday schools of our county, I littl-? thought of the obHtacies and difficulties which would have to be overcome in order to gather data from which to give a true hiHtorv. After much frui'iesa corre- dpondeuce aud begging for Information from those who were, in many cases. |)articipants in the oi^anizalion of some of the tirst schools in the county, and after weary months of awaiting answers from living witnenses. I am forced to conclude that the Sunday schools, like very many other objects and entwprises which go to make up the history of a people, state or county, hare failed to keep records of any kind, or at best very imperfect records, so thai 1 shall not attempt to give a history of this, one of the greatest factors in the civilization and christianizatioa of our great commonwealth.

In the article to follow, I shall endeavor to give to the public in a general way something of the development and growth of the Sunday school cause since my residence in the county, from the information at my command. Knowing that he who chronicles past events for the scrutiny of the pablic often receives criticism and even ridicule, 1 shall, at all times, be goTemed. by the truth as I understand it. SufSce it to say that such a daring, heroic^ and God-fearing people as make up the citizenship of our county would not live in any place long without raising to the God of our fathers some altar SkB a remembrance of His mercies to them since leaving the old home, which could be done in no more appropriate way than by meeting together to read is word and study His dealings with the children of men. Indeed, to such extent were they permeated by this spirit of reverence and thankfulness, "that in some cases where a little settlement was formed, even though there "were none among them who prayed, they would meet and form an organiza- 'tion for the purpose of praising God and civilizing the community. In some biases this work was begun by missionaries, and in others by some local minister, who, with his family, had come west to find a temporal home.

In this connection I am indebted to Elder E. D. Eubank for an account of the organization of the first Sunday school in our county, in what is now Douglass Grove township. This school was organized in the spring of 1875 "by Mrs. E. D. Eubank, who was elected as sui>erintendent and secretary, with a membership of twelve, who met at the home of Elder Eubank. It bore the name of "Christian Union Sunday School,'- and upon application to I. D Gage, state missionary of the American Sunday School Union, was supplied with second-hand books. It was afterward moved to the liome of Charles Hales and changed to a Methodist Episcopal school, and afterward ceased to exist. Prior to the uprising of the Indians, a few men of adventurous and hardy spirits, had settled with their famili^^s here and there over parts of the county, viz: on the South Loup, Clear creek. Middle I^up and Victoria creek, abandoned their homes until the dangers were past. Not until about the year 1S80 did the pioneers with families settle in number's sufficiently strong as to begin for the purpose of bringing about a higher state of civilization and Christianity in their respective neighborhoods. We are informed that on the Middle Loup near where Walworth now stands, also on Clear creek near Westerville, schools were organized in the year 1881, but can give no particulars. During the years 1881 and 1882 the settlements in the county extended further west, chiefly along the streams, and in 1883 schools were formed at Broken Bow, Custer Center, Arnold, Delight, Rose Valley and Ortello.

Elder F. M. Graham, a local minister of the M. P. denomination, gathered a few persons at the old sod school house just north of Merna in May of that year, and the school has continued ever since, except, perhaps, the first winter, and now numbers a membership of more than 100. The Ortello school was organized by D. F. Weimer in June at his own home with his family and A. L. Embree and J. H. Edwards - nine persons in all - as members. A year later the place of meeting was changed to the Ortello school house, where it continues to meet during the whole of each year. Rev. Savidge, a Methodist minister, having located near the present site of Callaway, a Sunday school was organized, which languished after a year or two, but was reorganized in 1886 after the town of Callaway was started. In 1883 or 1884 Elder Correll of the Christian church at Arnold gathered a few persons at his home and organized the first Sunday school in that vicinity, and the year following both the Methodist and Baptist people started at and near the same place.

During 1884 and 1885 schools were organized on tlie JSouth Ix)iip at Burr Oak and Eudell; on Clear creek near Myrtle and Lee Park; on the Muddy near Algernon and Mason City; on the Middle Loup at Sargent, West Union, Oxford school house, and near Milburn; in 1885 on Wood river near Lodi; at Stop Table, Koten Valley, Sand Creek, Cliff, Maple Grove, Berwyn and Keota, many of which have continued to flourish both summer and winter, wielding a most healthful influence for good in the respective localities; while others did '*run well for a season" and then when the dark days of drought and financial panic came, succumbed. Up to 188G the work was carried on in the county locally. Then, as my memory serves me, a movement was made toward organizing a county association for more perfect work, and for the purpose of organizing schools in every settlement, which had by this time spread over nearly the entire county. Among those who were prominent in this movement were Kev. E. A. Russell, a Baptist slate Sunday school missionary, located at Ord; Rev. English, of Arnold: I. X. Atkisson, D. M. Amsberry, Willis Cad well, W. A. Gilmore and Dr. .1. J. Pickett of Broken Bow: Mr. J. H. Blair and D. S. Weimer of Ortello. A call was nuide for a meeting of Sunday school workers at Broken Bow, a program prepared and date fixed for holding a county convention. A temporary organization was effected by electing as president, I. N. Atkisson. and as secretary. Willis Cadwell, and when the convention met a p(*rmanent organization was made by adopting a constitution and by laws. The county was divided into four districts, each part of the county to be under the supervision of a vice president of the county association, elected by that body. It was the intention of the association to divide each of the districts into minor districts, to be known as township associations, with a vice president for each of them, under whose supervision a Sunday school would be organized in every community. This outline of work succeeded admirably in the southeast and northwest (juarters, especially to such an extent that in every settlement a school was organized, but in the northeast and southwest quarters there was not such perfe<!t organization and, in fact, the south wc^st district was practically unrepresented in the county association until ten years later. This association held annual conventions in the years following until the year 1891. when for some unexplained reason there was no call made by the president for the executive committee to meet and prepare a program, so in 181)2-3-4 the president, Mr. D. S. Weimer, having removed from the county, leaving the association without a head, it ceased to exist. Many schools in the county died partly from lack of the fostering care of county and district associations, but perhaps more because of tbr discouragements incident to the excessive drought of 1892-3-4, coupled with the panic which followed, many families removing from the county, leavingr homes and all that had been gathered about them since their settlement This languishing condition of the cause led some of the more zealous wort crs to take the initiative steps in the resurrection of the county association, or the formation of a new one. Accordingly in the fall of 1895 a call was made for those interested to meet in Broken Bow for the purpose of taking action in the matter. The res]Kmse thereto met fully the expectations of those who had taken the leading steps, the different parts of the county being represented. The records of the former association not being obtainable, it was voted to form a new county organization. This was done by electing li. W. F. Cole of Sargent as president, and Mr. Herring as secretary, and apj>ointing Mrs. Herring W. C. Elliott of Mason City and J. M. Fodge of OrteUo as a committee on constitution, and the county was again divided into disi riots, each with a vice president, selected by the district association. Among Those prominent in this organization were T. J. Strickler, W. H. Hornday, Oeorge Bailey, H. Lomax, E. J. Pittaway, Mrs. Daniel Hagin, W. C. Elliott «nd others, whose names I do not recall. By means of this association new ^energy was given to the schools over the county, new schools organized, anxiual conventions held and a pledge of $50 made by the old association to the state association was paid, followed by a more hopeful outlook for the future. The present officers of the county association are E. J. Pittaway, president; IRev. Burns, secretary, and David McGugin, P. Wymore, R. E. Allen and W. O. Elliott executive committee.

Many of the noble men and women who were active in the upbuilding of ^he Sunday school work, have gone to other fields of labor, and others have "been caUed to their reward bevond this life, and their works follow them, "While yet others are still doing the Master s work, awaiting that call. Whatever else can be said of the efforts and labors of these consecrated ones all xnust admit that a higher state of civilization and Christianity pervades our fcociety by reason of the upholding of the Master's standing in this line of work.

Lone Star Sunday school was organized on the second Sunday after the general election of 1881, which makes the date about November 22, 1881. Rev. L. W. F. CoL, then, as now, residing at Sargent, w^as laboring as missionary of the Methodist Episcopal church in the valley of the Middle Loup and the territory contiguous. At the time named he preached at the residence of Mr. J. L. Walker, a sod building, still standing, a mile north of Walworth bridge, and after the sermon the Sunday school was organized. Mrs. J. L. Walker was elected superintendent and held the office for many years. Mr. Herbert Peters was elected secretary, and Mrs. Herbert Peters treasurer and chorister. There were three classes - ^the Bible class, taught by Mrs. Walker for sixteen or seventeen years; the intermediate class, taught by John Pfrehm, and the children's class, taught by Mrs. Peters. The school was organized as a union school, but after two years was reorganized as a denominational

Pioneeb Hi8Tobi Op Costbb Coohtv

T\>f school has ncvw dud. alihiiii;;li iis work bus usuaJlv been suspended from January 1st to April 1st. At the sunRt'Stion of Mrs. Peters the schoot was named "Tbc I^iin- Star, " in iLc liope that, as the stars shine on from age to age, this school, jilauted in the wilderness, niiclit continue to be a beacon light to guid<- the people to a better life. Several of the early workers in thiB school have been promoted to the school above - Mr. Herbert Peters, Mrs, J. C. Prednioi-e, Mrs. Walter Bedwell and others. The school has itinerated a iittie in ordor t^> secure accommodations. Organized in the dwelling of Mr, Walker, it was moved to Mr. Peters', thence to Mr. Predmore'*, thence to a school house east of Mr. Peters', thence to a sod church built by the MethodistB at the Walworth bridge, thencp to the Walworth school house, whence the "Lone Star" continues to shed forth its cheerful light upon all around.

In the spring of IS.S0 a union Sundav school was organized in what wan then called the Osborne school house at I'ilot. on Elk creek. As no chnrches were organized this was the onlj- religions meeting held for miles arouDd. George Hoag was elected superintendent and acted as such for four months, -ifter which the school was superintended by Mrs. J. H. Kerr. Sod walls.

And Short Skettches Of Barlt Days In Nebraska

broken benches and no floor made up the surroundings, but peace and good will reigned. S. Flynn, Mr. Collins, W. J. Flagg and wife, J. Osborne, Bert Tracey, George McNeel, William Reese, Mr. Hoag and wife and dozens of others were faithful workers, and from this school has grown the German Evangelical church, a fine frame building. In two jears a Sunday school was organized there. Thus the early Sunday school paved the way tor the future and Charles Chrisman and family, William Lewis and family, Levi Pringle and family, William and Lester Gibson and families, B. L. Nicholas, J. H. Kerr and family, Mrt*. B. L. Larue and children, and many others, labored for years. A frame Baptist churdi was afterwards built and now has many of the early settlers as members. Some time later a school was organized in Gibsim valley, William ShoemakcM* and wife, lister Gibson and wife, Mrs. B. F. Larue and others carrying it on, and now a l*resbyterian church is organized near where Eudt*ll is now located. Tills, too, was in a sod house, church organization, and many still look back to the primiti^*? Sunday school as a time of gre»at enjoyment and much protit in the sparsely settled west.

The United Brethren in Christ were among the pioneers in Custer county, coming in the late 'TO's. Rev. W. S. Spooner was the first preacher of this denomination to hold regular services in the county, preaching about the year 1876 on the Muddy near Mason City, and also on the Middle Loup near where Sargent now is. Under his supervision Rev. A. L. Pense organized a class near Algernon in LS80, and one in Three's Park in 1881. In 1882 J. F. Green preached at Algernon, Box Elder, Pilot, Lee's Park, Westerville, Lone Tree, Custer Center and Ortello. From these w^ere organized in 1884 Algernon, Westerville and Custer missions. The first was served by J. F. Green, T. Aikman. J. E. Hawley, S. Dean, B. E. Smith, W. C. Williams and J. L. Brown, and during the drought of LS1)4 was disorganized by removals. The second was served by S. Dean, J. E. Hawley and B. E. Smith. The last was the only one that survived the drought and removals incident to the early history of our county. In 1885 and 188G G. F. Deal organized the church in Broken Bow and the following year Ortello circuit, comprising Mount Hope, Ortello, Custer Center and Union valley appointments, was cut off and thus remained until 1894. Broken Bow church was built in 1887 and was served by G. F. Deal, I>. W. Proffit, F. W. Brink and G. D. Stromire until 1894, when, losing almost the whole membership by removals, the church was closed until 1897, when F. M. Bell took charge and the church is slowly but surely regaining its strength. L. L. Epley has charge at this writing, 1900. The people of Custer Center deserve much credit for their loyalty to the church through the years. A class was organized in 1897 by C. W. Bohart in Hoosier valley, and one in 1900 at the Marquis school house. This church has suffered from removals more than any other church in the countr. Among those who have been well known throughout the county who were active in the early work of the church we would name J. S. Kirkpatrick, D. F. Weimer, G. R. Street, J. J. Pickett, J. C. Maulick, W. M. Harrell and M. F. Rlankenship.

There has been no agency employed thai is entitled to more credit for the rapid development and advancement of Custer county from its organization than its newspapers. During the first five years of the county's history there was not a newspaper published in the county. The following is a complete list of the various papers that have been published in the county up to the present time as the writer can procure from the records at his command. While there may be some mistakes, and possibly a few unimportant omissions, we think it is in the main correct:

WesterviUe - In the fall of 1880 James Wester velt established a store on Clear creek, which was then called Elm Bridge. The name was given the place because of a bridge near by which the settlers had built^across the creek of elm logs cut from the canons. Other business men located there that winter and the following spring and in honor of the first resident, James Westervelt, the new town was christened WesterviUe. It was here that Custer county's first newspaper, the Custer County Leader, was born, on June 13, 1881, with George Trefren, publisher, and Samuel C. Beebe, editor. The Leader continued at WesterviUe until 1883, when Mr. Beebe moved with it to Broken Bow, where the county seat had been located the fall previous. The Western ille Times was started at WesterviUe in 1883 by C. H. Dalrymple. It was moved after a few months to Nonpareil, a town in the northern part of the state. The third paper to be published at WesterviUe was the W^esterville Echo, which was started in 1884 by a young Englishman named Knox, but soon becoming tired of journalism, he disposed of the Echo to James Westervelt, who put his son, Eugene, in charge. In 1886, on the occasion of rhe building of the B. & M. railroad up the Muddy valley, the viUage of Ansley was platted and established by the railroad company, the Echo being one of the institutions moved to the new town, where Eugene Westervelt had full charge of it.

And Short Sketches Of Early Days In Nbbbasra

Broken Bow - ^The first paper published in Broken Bow was the C duster County Leader, which was moved from Westerville in 1883 by S. C. ^Beebe. Mr. Reebe was its editor until 1888, when he was appointed postxnaster at Broken Bow by President Harrison, which caused him to dispose of the paper to the Central Nebraska Bank October 26th of that year. It "v^as then published for a short time by J. H. Inman and R. H. Miller, after ^^'bicb it was leased to Jake Horn of Callaway and W. O. Chapman of Ansley, Hn the course of a year or two the paper again came under the management xof Mr. Inman. It was then leased to Fred Shaffer, who is now publishing a £3ai>er in Colorado. The frequent changes of management went against the X.-i cider, and under Mr. Shaffer's administration it was suspended and the niaterial sold in 1891. The second paper established in the county was the Cluster County Republican, at Broken Bow, June 29, 1882, by R. H. Miller, xvhu had been pubMshing a paper at ^Vood River, in Hall county. The plant "was freighted across the country, a distance of nearly tt)0 miles, to Broken Bow. Tlie village of Broken Bow had iust been platted. For lack of lumber ^w railroad facilities, and owing to the great distance from any point where lumber could be procured, the first office of the Republican was built of sod, on the corner now occupied by the Broken Bow State Bank, northwest of the public sciuare, the building furnishing (juarters for the paper and also for Mr. Miller and his family. The Republican continued under Mr. Miller's management and control until March 3, 1887. While the county seat had been located at Custer, or Young's ranch, near the mouth of Spring creek, on the South Loup, it was, in fact, wherever the county clerk happened to live. At the election the countv seat was relocated at Broken Bow and the following spring the T^eader was moA ed to that city by Mr. Beebe. In March, 1887, the Republican was purchased by D. M. Amsberry, who continued it in the sod building until July of the same year, when it was moved to new quarters, the center room of the Custer block, which was built by Mr. Amsberry on lots leased from the county. For a time in the history of the Republican it was owned by a stock company and its equipment enlarged by the purchase of type and machinery that had been used by the Broken Bow Times. The stock was finally all purchased by Mr. Amsberry, the present owner. The third paper published in Broken Bow was the Broken Bow Times, established in 1885 by G. W. Trefren and S. 1. Meseraull. Financially, the limes was lui a short period a great success, as land notices were plentiful. But owing to some misunderstanding between the proprietors of the Times and Mr. Higgins, register of the land office at Grand Island, where most of the land notices came from, the latter induced R. E. Mattin, an ex-Confederate soldier and forcible writer, to establish another paper at Broken Bow. The paper was launched in March, 1886, by R. E. Martin and J. S. DiUinger, and was christened the Statesman. To it Mr. Higgins transferred his land office patronage and the Statf^sman prospered immensely. It established a branch paper at Mason City, named the Mason City Transcript. The Times, not to be outdone, started a daily edition and christened it the Broken Bow Daily Times. Messrs. Martin and Bellinger disposed of the Mason City Transcript to James Whittaker, and two or three weeks later Mr. Whittaker sold it to M. C. Warrington, who is still its ownei and publiaher. Martin & Dellinger dissolved partnership, Martin retaining: the Statesman, while Dellinger & Walters established th«* sixth papei' for Broken Bow, known as the Broken Bow World. The Daily Times and the Daily World were soor consolidated, Mr. Walters becoming editor-in-chief and the meclftinical work being done in the Times oflQce. In 1888 Trefren & Meseraull disposed of the Times to R. E. Martin and about the KJime Mine tie World suspended. R. H. Miller then started the Daily Reporter, and had the mechanical work done at the Republican office. In the course of thre<» months the Reporter sus[)ended and was succeeded by the Daily Republican, published by D. M. Amsberry in connection with his weekly edition. The Daily Republican was continued until October, 1895. when the plant was leased to J. n. Chapman for one year and the daUy edition discontinued. In the fall of 1888 E. M. Webb and George S. Tappan established the Nebraska Citizen in Broken Bow. The paper continued until the followinj^ sprinjj. when its publication was suspended. It was largely due to this paiKM- that the Alliance or People's Inde pendent ticket was elected in the fall of 1889. A few of the leaders of the Alliance resurrected the Citizen ana established the Alliance Motor and installed A. J. Evans of Thedford as editor. The ^lotor was not a financial success and soon suspended. In April, 1S90. the Motor matenal was gotten together, C. W. Beall. president of the Farmer's Alliance, installed as presi dent and manager. The paper was called the Custer County Beacon. In 1890 E. M. Webb became associated with Mr. Beal in the publication of this paper, which was soon recognized as the leading Populist pap<n- of central Nebraska. In the course of three vears E. L. Beal of Anslev was induced to leave his farm and join his brother, <\ W.. in promoting the Alliance doctrine. The Beal brothers eventually purchased the stock of the other members of the company, and are now sole proprietors of the plant. Except during the year 1898, when C. W. Beal served one term in the state Senate, the two brothers have done all the editorial and mechanical work of the office since 189*^. In 1898 F. A. Amsberry of Mason City was employed as assistant editor. In April, 1882, the Custer County Chief \vas establisin^d by W. G. and E. R. Purcell under the firm name of l*urcell Bros., which they published in connection with their job office. Both the Beacon and the Chief have a liberal share of the advertising patronage of the business men of Broken Bow and both are doing a prosperous business. In 189:^ W. H. l*redmore and E. M. Webb started the Custer County Citizen, which was rtm during the campaign in opposition to some of the Populist candidates. After a few weeks Mr. Webb returned to his claim near Callaway, and Mr. Predmore continued the paper for some time and then leased it to Mrs. l>juisa Raymond, who ran it for a short time in connection with the job printing business. A Mr. Cook succeeded Mrs. Raymond, who continued the paper for some months longer, when it was discontinued in 1894. For a time Rev. George Bailey, pastor of the Presbyterian church from 1898 to 1899, published a church paper in connection with his work, as also did Rev. Epley. pastor of the U. B. church. The Populist, a paper started in opposition to fusion, was published in Broken

And Short Sketches Of Eablt Dats In Nebraska

Ansley - Ansley's first paper was the Echo, which was moved to that 13laco from Westerville iu 1880 by Eugene Westervelt. In April, 1887, the paper was sold to J. H. and W. O. Chapman, two practical young newspaper fxien who came from Cambridge, Illinois. The name of the paper was changed tro the Ansley Chronicle, and it was published by the Chapmans until 1895, ^^vhen it passed into the hands of Tom Wright, a young Scotchman then but years of age, who is the present publisher. The Chronicle is a live sind prosperous paper. Two other papers have sprung up in Ansley since the CJhronicle was established, but both have passed into history. The Andey Argus was the Chronicle's first rival, and was started in 1886 or 1887 by C. B. Hargrove. It lived only a few months. The Ansley Advocate was first published at Ansley iu 1890 by .J. M. Amsberry, who, previous to that time, liad published the i)aper ai Mason City. In the fall of 1900 Mr. Amsberry disposed of the papier to W. F. (Ireenlee, an iucxpt'rienced man iu the newspaper business, under whose manag(Mneut it was susf)euded iu March, 1901, the type and other equipniouts being shipped to Yoik, where they are used in a job office.

Algernon - I'pon the advent of the H. «S: M. railroad up the Muddy valley, in 1880, the Champion was started at Algernon, by a Mr. Watkins, who, after the village failed to secure a depot, removed the paper to Mason City and changed its name to the Mason City Advocate. He disposed of the plant to J. M. Amsberry, who continued it until 1895, when he suspended it for a .year, subsequently resuming its publication at Ansley under the name of the People's Advocate.

Berwyn - For a few months in 1890-1 the village of Berwyn sported a newspaper called the Berwyn IMmes. It was published by Dr. Nickerson and died a natural death after a short and not brilliant career.

Mason City - The Mason City Transcript was established in 1886 by Martin & Bellinger, proprietors of the Broken Bow Statesman, who sold it to James Whittaker. A few weeks later Mr. Whittakc^r sold it to M. C. Warrington, who is still its editor and publisher. The Algernon Champion was moved from Algernon to Mason City some time in 1880. and the name changed to the Mason City Advocate. It was purchased from its original owner, Mr. Watkins, by J. M. Amsberry, who continued its publication at Mason City until 1895, and in 1890 moved it to Ansley.

Sargent - The Ix)up Valley Eagle was the first publication to herald the rise and growth of the village of Sargent. It was established by E. P. Savage, owner of the townsite, and was edited by C. D. Kelly. The Eagle was succeeded by the Sargent Times, owned by F. M. Currie and edited by J . E. McCray. The paper was discontinued in 1894, and the material sold to tin* drip, of Alliance. From that time until 1897, Sargent was without a newspaper. In the latter year J. C. L. Wisely started the Commoner, afterwards changing the name of the paper to the Sargent Era. its present name. In 1900 C. S. Osborne established the Sargent Leader. In the course of a few months he sold it to Howard Sav-

West Union - West Union for a number of years enjoyed the luxury of a newspaper which was known as the West Union Gazette. Among the editors of this paper we recall Ham Kautzmau, Jud Woods and W. H. Predraore. The Gazette was suspended during the drouth period, and since that time West Union has been newspaperless.

Comstock - This little village, the last born of Custer County's towns, has had a newspaper for about a year, called the Index. It is published by Harold Cooley, who is also publisher of the Arcadia Champion.

Mema - Merna is not without a newspaper history. In November, 1886 Purcell Bros, established the Merna Record, which was edited bv E. R. Purcell. The Record flourished for a number of vears. In Gotoin his place. Subseiiueuily the paper was moved to Callaway, and the name changed to the Custer County Independent. A. Z. Lazenby started another paper in Merna which he christened the Merna Reporter, in the latter part of 18I>1, but it had a short life. It was resurrected in 1893 by Capt. Gatchell and continued until the fall of 1894, when he moved it to Sheridan, Wyoming, continuing in the newsi>aper business there until his appointment as register of the land office in that state. In 1899 Rev. Clifton commenced the publication of the Merna Sun, which, in the spring of 1900 he sold to Theo. A. Miller, who abandoned the paper in January of the present year, and returned to his home in Omaha. Most of the material was shipped back to York, from whence it had been leased.

Dale - Dale for a very short time had a newspaper, which was started by Trefren & Meseraull in 1886, in anticipation of the railroad being built through that valley. But when they failed to realize their anticipation the plant was moved to Anselmo and named the Anselmo Sun.

Anselmo - The first issue of the Sun was from a tent and S. I. Meseraull was its editor. J. H. Zehrung, Ben Sanders and others tried their hands at making the Sun shine, with but indifferent success, until it finally fell iiito the hands of J. J. Tooley, present superintendent of the Custer County schools, who, in connection with teaching the Anselmo school, succeeded, with the assistance of his wife, in causing the Sun to cast weekly rays of light and glory over the people of the little village. Becoming tired of his double duty, the professor sold his interest in the paper to Al Hummel, of Gandy, in 1890, and was finally sold to E. R. Purcell, who added it to the outfit of his Merna Record.

Arnold - The first paper published in Arnold was the Tribune, established in the year 1886, by Francis Ainsworth, and whch had an existence of something like a year. The Bugle Call, state organ of the Independent Grder of Good Templars, was also published at Arnold for a time about 1887. but the mechanical work was not done there. Miss Anna M. Saunders was its editor and publisher. After the suspension of the Tribune Arnold was without a new spaper until February, 1888, when the News was established there by S. L. Carlyle, who continued to publish it until 1894, when he removed

Callaway - Callaway's first newspaper was the Standard, which made its first bow to the public August 19, 1886, the town being at that time just seven weeks old. The Standard was a newsy paper published and edited by A. Sherwood. The Standard grew and prospered with the town until it tihe News. In the fall of 1887 J. Woods Smith, head of the Callaway townsite syndicate, purchased a newspaper outfit and on October 15th of that year estab- 1 ished the Callaway Headlight, with O. H. Barber as editor and F. W. Conly ss manager. The paper was named the **Headlight-' in anticipation of the ^^arlv comi)letioh of the railroad. The paper wa^ purchased on February 24, 1888, by II, M. Baley, and on October 20th following by F. W. Conly, who'^sold it to the Independent April 30, 1892. Shortly after the beginning of the People's Independent party movement, the political managers of that organization concluded that they needed a newspaper to spread their gospel at Callaway, and E. M. Webb was sent over from Merna with the old Merna Record outfit and the Custer County Independent was founded, and for several years the Independent enjoyed a good patronage. In the fall of 1896 E. M. Webb elected a member of the Nebraska I^egislature, and in 1898 retired from the newspaper business, being succeeded by W. A. Overman, who conducted the Independent until 1901, when the paper was discontinued. Shortly after selling the Headlight, F-. W. Conly established the AVeekly Tribune, on July 2, 1892, which he has continuously published since that date with the excep tion of fifteen months, during which it was consolidated with the Index)endent.

In 1875 James L. Oxford made the first settlement in what is now Lillian township. He built log buildings and established a ranch on the east bank of Lillian Creek, near where his frame buildings now stand. His father-in-law, John Henderson, and family, came from Missouri and settled near him in 1.878, imtil the spring of 1879, when th(» level and fertile plains became so attractive to those seeking homes that they began to wend their way up the south side of the Middle Loup river. During this season Perry Lyle, J. E. .\«h, J. C. Hunter, J. M. Ash, S. Gates, with their families, and David Mc Guigan, A. C. Ash and Ervin Ash, old bachelors, settled on the river botsee PIONEER HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY torn and J. O. Taylor, Ole Johnson, N. K. Lee, S. K. Lee, John Lee and Nelson T. Lee. with their families, settled in Round vallev. As if bv masric the sod houses arose one by one, and dotted the valley and plain in every direction. In the spring of 1880, Jesse Gandy started a ranch at the place afterwards known as the Hartley ranch, and the following-named settlers, with their families, if they had any, and with good digestive organs, if they were bachelors, made their appearance on the scene of action and became permanent residents, or homesteaders as they were then called to distin^ish them from the ranchmen: Thomas Lampman, Frank Luse, E. X. Bishop, Frank Doty. Hugh M. Goheen. John Goheen. J. M. Goheen, Austin Goheen, James McGraw, D. O. Luse. Jarvis Kimes, A. W. Squires. O. S. Woodward, Charles GriflSths. J. E. Gwinn, William Gwinn, J. N. Peale, A. N. Pciile and Samuel Oxford. The winter of 1880 1 was what has been since known as the *'hard winter." To coiivev some idea of the diflScultv of traveling where a track was not broken out I will endeavor to give a short description of a trip I made one day of but two miles and back, which took me from early in the morning until after dark. The layers of sleet cut the horses' legs so that instead of wading through the snow they would jump up on it, as if climbing on top of ice, which kept breaking and letting them through. In a few minutes they were so exhausted that I had to stop and let them rest. Their legs were cut and bleeding so badly that they left a crimson trail behind them in the snow. To make matters worse the grass was verv short and entirelv covered bv snow, so that one could not tell what was under the drift ahead. The first thing I knew the horses dropped down into a draw about five feet deep, where they floundered about, unable to get out. I went to work with a scoop shovel I had brought with me, and by noon had the team out on the level ground. Although it was dinner time and I was somewhat hungry, yet I had no dinner to eat, as I was on my way with a sack each of wheat and corn to be ground in a feed grinder that was owned by one of our neighbors. T. J. Butcher, where I arrived about four o'clock, having had to dig my horses out of draws four times on the way. It took but a few minutes to grind my feed and jjs I had broken the road on my way over pretty thoroughly, the return trip was made with comparative ease and without incident.

During this winter S. Gates and the writer circulated a petition for the formation of Lillian precinct, this territory at that time being a part of Victoria precinct with the voting place at New Helena. As some of the citizens had to go twenty-four miles to vote, the county commissioners readily granted our request and established Lillian precinct wtih nearly the same territory as the present township of Lillian embraces. From this time forth public improvements were made as fast as the financial condition of the county would permit. Among these were three bridges across the Middle Loup river on the northern boundary of Lillian precinct.

Early in the spring of 1880 a preacher from Harper's Ferry, West Virginia, named Stephenson, took the claim now owned by Robert Ross and commenced preaching at New Helena, but as he tired of keeping "batch" he returned back east and left the people without a minister. Learning that a Pres- byterian minister of the name of Burbank, living at Georgetown, on the South Ijoup, could be procured to preach once a month, the people of all denominations interested sent for him. He came, organized a Presbyterian church and preached about two years, or until the Methodists made arrangements to start a class which included this appointment, on the Westerville circuit, withpreaching every two weeks. Some years later, I have forgotten the date, a preacher of the name of Ross, living in Indiana, offered to come to Broken Bow if the church there would pay his fare to Grand Island. As Broken Bow was not able to support a preacher at that time the class at Gates united with them and helped to pay the passage of the Indiana preacher to Grand Island. He came, reorganized the class and preached in the old sod school house, near where the Gates school house stands at this time. Since tliat time this church has always maintained an organization and Sunday-school, even keeping a minister during all the years of drought, About 1888 the Christian church organized a society at the White Pigeon school house, and have maintained it ever since, as have also the Free Methodists at the Oxford school house and the Lutherans at Round Valley. In the fiill of 1880 A. N. Peale taught a threemonths- school in district No. K^. now generally known as the Oxford district. As this was the first and onlv school within fourteen miles the children either went to it or went a-fishing. During the first few years of our settlement the ranchmen and new settlers consumed everything the farmers could raise, but when farming became more general and on a larger scale, and new settlers ceased to come in so fast, the farmers commenced to raise hogs to consume their produce; consequently when the fall of 1890 came the country was just full of them. Having no corn to feed them, some of the farmers sold their stock hogs to eastern feeders, some knocked them in the head, while others let them stand around and squeal.

On February 16, 1880, Eri postoffice was established at the residence of J. E. Ash, with his wife, Alice Ash, as postmistress. It was named Eri, after Mr. Ash's brother, and was located on section 14, township 19, range 20. It w^as on the route to New Helena, and connected with the Kearney and New Helena mail at the latter point. The mail was carried twice a w^eek, by way of Westerville and Round Valley, the latter office being established some time in 1880. Mrs. Ash resigned in favor of Frank Doty and recommended the removal of the office to his residence, three miles distant, which appeared to meet the approval of the authorities at Washington. The office was removed and remained there until it was discontinued when the Walworth postoffice was removed to the bridge by W. H. Predmore in 1885. Mr. Gates sent in a petition for the establishment of Gates postoffice, with himself as postmaster, which was granted, and the first mail was delivered there July 4, 1884. Soon after this Mr. Gates put in a small stock of groceries, which was the beginning of the first store in this vicinity. The following year he built another room on his sod house, enlarged his stock of groceries, added hardware and dry goods, and in 1886 built a good frame store building. For several years, during the prosperous seasons he kept a good store and did quite an extensive business. But in 1893 it had all evaporated except the postoffice. But like everything else, also, in this western country, it could not be stopped entirely. Another small store was started by Joseph Beckwith, the new postmaster, who in about two years sold out to S. M. Hinkle. Mr. Hinkle kept the store and postoffice about a year and then sold out to Peter Fackley. When the railroad was built to Ord, the mail route was changed and came from there to New Helena instead of from Loup City, and ran tri- weekly until the B. & M. railroad was built through Anselmo, when the route was changed and ran from Anselmo to Sargent, daily, via New Helena, Lillian. Gates, Walworth and West Union, giving to all this section, as at present, a mail service that it may well be proud of, esin^cially since the railroad was completed to Sargent last fall.

Everv citizen in Cusier count v is familiar with the general features of the table lands of the Loup forks of the Platte, and the little valleys and ])arks or depressions in them generally approaching the circular in form, and surrounded by hills from tifty to an hundred feet in height. Such is the location of Lillian Park, in township UK range 20 wej^t of the 6th principal meridian. Its greatest length is about three and one-half miles, with a width of about two and one-half miles. It contains in all about 4,000 acres. This valley has a physical peculiarity which marks it as an exception to the general plan ui)on which the surrounding country is formed, mainly that unlike other depressions, canons and valleys, it has no drainage outlet, but is surrounded entirely by hills and terminates at the western extremity in a lagoon which becomes in times of floods a considerable reservoir. Water is obtainable here at depth of from seventy-five to 100 feet, and is superior of quality.

The soil is a rich black loam, from two to four feet deep, with the productive qualities peculiar to Custer county soil. The sub-soil is an immense bed of light-colored or whitish clay, 30 to GO feet deep, and is strongly impregnated with lime, doubtless decayed marine shells, many of which can still be seen in various stages of decomposition. This fine-grained sub-soil acts as a perfect regulator to the surface against extremes of drouth or too much rainfall, and the wonderful capabilities of the soil to produce large yields in drouths has been fully demonstrated in the past three years.

Probably the first men who ever looked upon this valley with a serious idea of possession were J. M. and H. A. Goheen and Wm. H. Gwinn. The located their claims, made a **dugout" and cut some hay, and prepared for winter.

Some time during that fall John W. Goheen, a brother of the first arriv als, came with their parents, quite old x)eople, who had been pioneers in the settlement of western I^ennsylvania. The aged couple, fuU of the fire of youth, were delighted with the new found earthly paradise and soon filed on a homestead, which they occupied until the death of the aged James Goheen, which occurred in August, 1887.

The greatest obstacle to the settlement of these table lands as yet, was the great depth to fine water. Many of the first settlers along the streams had seen and admired this valley, but they did not dare venture too far from the running water. The Goheen boys were fortunate enough to secure the services of two settlers north of the Middle Loup river, Charles Bishop and Burton Gates, who owned a rig for putting down tubular wells. They were successful in obtaining a l)ountiful supply of good water at a depth of 80 to 100 feet. l)iercing a soft manganese rock and finding water in gravf^l just beneath:

The next settler to make his appearance was J. E. Gwinn. Wm. Gwinn had returned to Nebraska county to remove his cattle to the rich grazing grounds of the west, and uniting their little herds these two, accompanied by the writer, on his tenderfoot exploring expedition, started April 17, 1882, with forty head of cattle, and emigrant wagon and a herd of ponies. We were twenty-two days making the journey.

Some idea of the seclusion of this valley at this time may be gained from the fact that while J. E. Gwinn was engaged in breaking fifty acres on his claim in the summer of 1882 he saw only two travelers and one of these had lost his way.

In October, 1882, came J. O. Bates with his son, J. M., and daughter, Susie, all prosi)ecting for land that they found to their liking adjoining the new settlement, J. M. Bates the next spring removed from Omaha with all his effects, to his future home. A. G. Page and wife, also from Vermont, people and parents of J. M. Bates' wife arrived with the Bates family, and settled in Sec. 19. Mr. Bates provided himself with a large tent, sufficient to shelter the whole party. On their arrival it was pitched on the claim of Susie Bates and became the temporary home of the party while more permanent buildings were being erected on their respective claims. All went merrily enough in their Arab-like mode of existence until the latter part of May, when one day there came the most furious rain and wind storm ever yet seen in this locality, and when at its height the tent was lifted from over their heads and left them to the mercy of the raging elements. Beding, pans of milk, wearing ap- I)arel, and sundry other unmentionables, suddenly sought wonderful affinity for each other, and uniting, attempted to form a new compound. Bedrenched, bedraggled and almost drowned, the occupants thus suddenly rendered homeless, dodged and cowered, and grasped at straws in the way of shelter until the brief deluge was over. Then with more haste than grace, they sought shelter, bag and baggage, in the bachelor quarters of Wm. Guinn, a single room about 10x12 feet. One end of the room was devoted to a range of trunks, boxes and bedding from the ceiling to the floor, a stove in one corner, a table and some chairs, and where, oh where, did the eleven animated beings find a resting place for their wet feet? Reader, you must picture the inter-family dinner according to yonr imagination. As for sleeping arrangements^ they consisted of the airy apartments on wheels, in which the men f(dks sought nightly repose.

Two young Englishmen. E. E. Bird and Arthur Clark, built their sod houses in the autumn of 1882. Clark soon tired of homesteading and returned to England. Bird also sold his claim and removed to another part of the neighborhood a few miles distant. The purchaser of the claim was T. A. Leisure, who resides there still, and if Clark were to return he would hardly recognize the farm which had taken the place of the raw prairie which he bartered away.

Clark had a tree claim also which was purchased from Jabez Bowman from Cass county, Nebraska, and Bird had one which w^as bought by A. G. Bowman, Jabez's father. Clark received a horse for this quarter, and it is now valued at f 1,300. Chas. Bowman purchased E. E. Bird's homestead and converted it into a line farm.

Some of the settlers who did not prove to be permanent ones were Chas. and Amos Meeker, David Daniels and E. B. Bartlett. During 1884 came also Joseph Pickner.

Thos. Maupin, a worthy old gentleman from Iowa, came with his family the same spring and filed his statement on a part of sections 27 and 34. A great event had happened on the western extremity of the little settlement while we were thus watching the progress in the eastern part.

In the spring of 1883 F. M. DuPray and wife made their appearance with a large family of groWn up daughters. It seemed like the advent of full civilization to the wilds of Lillian Park. Lonely bachelors hung up their flap-jack pans, scraped the dough from their pantaloons and hastened to see if Mr. DuPray was, as reputed, a blacksmith, and to consult him about breaking plows, other farming implements, etc., etc. The result was that several of the bachelors were made happy and several new homes were founded instead of the mere staying places, as formerly. Among these were H. A. Goheen, on 31 and Fred Frances on 30, where he begun the task of redeeming 160 acres of land from the power of the Great American desert.

Joseph Chrisman, the patriarch of another large family of sons and daughters, and Abraham-like, a keeper of a large herd of cattle, with complete Gypsy outfit, begun in the spring of 1883 a gradual progress towards the "Loup country" from Nemeha county. He found a large, fine stock location about the head waters of Lillian Creek, section 3 - 18 - ^20. It is not likely that he or his family will ever forget the trials of their first winter here, a severe one, and being inexperienced in the usages of Custer county blizzards, the shelter and feed provided for their stock were insuflScient and many head perished, though since then prosperity has smeared itself all over the old jrioneer in great dabs, and a large increase has blessed his efforts.

Mary E. Howard, a widow lady, with her daughter, settled in section 32, and bravely went to work to make a home. She has succeeded in bringing thirtv acres under cultivation, mostlv her own labor.

In 1888 a small church organization was effected, of which Rev. Basker- *ille of Broken Bow was pastor. With a Sunday-school in connection this >irnishes a means of grace to the settlers.

During the 3'ear 1884 Uncle Sam, not unmindful of his far-away subjects, stablished a postoffice at the residence of H. M. Goheen, and that gentleman "Was called "Nasby.^'

The mail service, which was at first twice a week is now daily. And so, being devoutly mindful that the God of the universe has smiled upon our efforts to replenish the earth and subdue it, and trusting His ben- Isou will follow us still.

We come to the parting words to our readers, wishing them success in their c^fforts to gain a home and country here - in the end a better country, whose IMaker and Builder has prepared for us on that other bright shore, and in Him let us trust.

Early in the '80s the pioneers on the Middle Loup put in most of their time in winter hauling wood from the canons and getting out cedar for posts. They also went on the islands in the the river and cut white willow for making corrals. There was a fine willow island about ten miles above the settlement, near the Rankin ranch, which the ranch people rather laid claim to, but for all this the settlers hauled a great portion of it away, especially a German, whom we will call Hans would go up and get his load, puU to the ranch for supper and lodging and breakfast. Of course, no charges were made by Mr. Rankin for such trifles.

It finally became an old story. One night Hans came as usual and it happened on this particular night Billie Erickson, better known among the cow boys as "Bill America," Charles Austin and Wright Rankin were at the ranch, and all you have to do after twenty years have elapsed to get a hearty laugh out of the boys is to say ^*Hogs in the ranch.'' It seems it was a put up job to have some fun at Hans' expense. Rankin was to play crazy, and after supper the boys very confidentially told Hans Rankin was crazy, and no difference what he done he mustn't make him mad. Presently Rankin took a fit, chewing soap to make foam run out of his mouth, grabbed Hans and danced him all over the room until he almost wore the poor man out. There was a red-hot cook-stove in the room and Rankin in his grand right and left would try to force Hans on top of the stove, which he avoided by nimbly jumping over it, taking the whole thing as a huge joke rather than get the crazy man mad. Finally they unrolled their beds on the floor, and Austin and nankin occupied one bed, while Bill and Hans took the other. In a little while fiankin took another fit and declared there were hogs in the ranch. "Listen, Charlie; can't you hear 'em breathe?'' "No, Wright,*' responds Austin, "that's XIans and Billie." "But I say it is not and, I am going to kill one and we will iiave some meat. Hand me my Winchester, easy, so as not to scare 'em."

After awhile Rankin imagines there are hogs in the ranch - Bang! Bang! Bang! goes the old Winchester in that direction. Another scuffle with Rankin by Billie and Austin to get his gun, while poor Hans darts out into the chilly night very thinly clad, and after awhile manages to slip in without disturbing the crazy man who sleeps quietly till morning. While Hans is out next morning caring for his team, Charles Austin bored a hole about six inches above Hans' pillow, blackening it so it would appear like a fresh bullet hole, and to this day Hans thinks his life was only spared by a miracle.

"Arkansas Bob" and Bill "America" were at Valentine on a lark, both weD loaded, and were in the dance hall, enjoying a good fire, as it was pretty cold; finally Bob dropped off to sleep and was snoring away at a great rate. This attracted the attention of the fioor manager who said: "Bill, you must get this man out of here." "Certainly, Certainly," hiccoughed Bill, rousing himself from a doze. The floor manager shook Bob and lifted him onto his feet by main force, and half carried and half dragged him to the door. BiU having pulled himself up by Bob pretended to be helping to get Bob out but in reality holding on to steady himself so he could walk. When the door was reached he opened it and they were pushed out on the narrow platform, which was only about six feet square. The door shut and they were forgotten. They stood there holding on to each other, waiting for the stairs to come around so they could descend to the ground, which was about twenty feet below. They looked at the stars but they, too, seemed to be going faster than the stair steps. **Now, Bill ; when she comes round agin let -er go.'' *^\11 right, Bob; here ye are," and the two drunken men take a header, locked in each other's arms and bumpty thump they go end over end and roll out in the middle of the street before they stopped, with the breath entirely knocked out of them. Thev finally came to their senses somewhat sobered by their jolting and start out to find some place to get in f^nt of the cold. They lose their way in the darkness and wander out over the prairie, as Valentine was not very large at this early day. At last Bob shoots downward like a rocket out of sight, leaving Bill utterly dazed. He stands perfectly still trying to realize what has happened; at last he regains his voice and shouts: "Where are you at. Bob?" "Down hyar. Bill, I've fell in a well, but for heaven's sake keep back, or yer goin' to fall on top of me." Bob, by this last fall, was thoroughly sobered, and fully realized the danger of having a drunken man fall about fifteen feet on top of him, and Bill was just drunk enough to have some fun by playing on Bob's fear. So getting down on his hands and knees he crawled to the edge of the old well, then put his feet over into the well, sat there swaying to and fro, like he was just going to faU in, and there was just enough light so Bob could see the swaying body and was almost paralyzed with fright. After cursing Bill for awhile to no effect, he pleaded with him as an old friend to go for help. Bill started and got a few rods away, when Bob breathed a sigh of relief. Just then he could hear Bill pitching along in the dark coming back, and in another instant Bill was standing on the very brink peering down, and in a thick voice said: "Say Bob; will you stay there till I get back?'' '*Of course I will, you fool!'' Then changing his tone: "Say, Bill; if you are my friend go for help, and don't get so near the edge or you will fall in.'' "All right. Bob, but I want you to agree to stay here till I get back." "Yes, yes, Bill; I'U agree to anything."

Bill meanders off down town and strikes Charlie Sherman, who is drunk as a lord. Charlie has a bottle and the pair wander around till daylight, when they come to themselves. They are out south of Valentine, coming in locked arms, Charlie carrying his shoes in his hands. Bill all at once recollects Bob had fallen into a well somewhere and he went for help. A search was instituted and some one at last remembered of an old dry well out by the graveyard, and sure enough. Bob was found waiting just as he promised.

Id. June, 1872, the writer, then a boy of eleven summers, with his father, mother, brother and four sisters, bade adieu to his New England home and friends near the old witch town of Salem, Massachusetts, and started westward by rail. Our destination was Nebraska. We boys, of course, had to shrink considerably in size and age whenever the conductor came around, in order that we might get through on half fare tickets, but it may be remarked right here that we took full rations wiienever the grub basket was passed around. At Omaha we saw our first Indians, robed in their red blankets, as they sold their trinkets alongside the train and through the car windows. We arrived at Gibbon, our destination, tired and hungry, and being turned loose on a box of sweet crackers, I ate so many of them that I have never had any appetite for that form of bread since. Gibbon was at that time an ideal western town, being the county seat of Buffalo county and surrounded by as fine land for homesteaders as the most exacting could wish. The sound of the hammer w^as heard from early morning until late at night. Many people were living in box cars and tents until they could erect something to call a home.

I made my first trip to Custer county in 1875. We had some horses stolen and my father thought he had a clue to their whereabouts. He and I started to hunt them up. We traveled about fifteen miles to the north the first day and stayed all night with a settler, whom my father hired to go with us the next day as a guide. We struck the South l^up river about where Pleasanton now stands. From there we worked up the river for several miles, seeing but one house until we arrived at the old Streeter ranch. Near this place w^e met a cowboy with a fine deer strung across his saddle, and a little further along another cowboy who w^as carrying a saddle on his shoulder. He told us that his horse had fallen and broken one of its legs and that he was obliged to shoot it and return to camp on foot. The next place we struck was a very small dugout belonging to an old trapper by the name of Jeff Hooley. There was nobody at home, but a card on the door bore this inscription: "Help yourself, but for God's sake shut the door." The "shut the door" part was in a good deal bigger letters than the rest of the sentence. We had not yet been educated up to the point of walking into a man's house during his absence and helping ourselves, so did not accept the kind invitation. But we dug about a dozen potatoes out of a patch near the dugout, put them in the buggy and drove on. We wanted to get to some settlement where we could spend the night, our guide assuring us that we would come to one not very far ahead. We traveled as long as we possibly could, it being very dark, and still no sign of any house could we discover. All at once our horse came to SL sudden stop and could not be urged to go a step further. My father got out of the buggy to investigate and found that we were on the brink of a deep S^ch or canon, with a camp-fire burning away dow^n below. We thought of XndianSy of course, and wondered how we were to get across, as the bank was silmost perpendicular and appeared to be at least seventy-five feet high. We xmhitched the horse, and by looking around a little found a place where we c^ould descend, and were soon beside the camp fire, which consisted of a few flying embers, but with no signs of any human being about. We were considerably scared, not knowing but that a band of Indians might be lurking ^bout somewhere in the darkness ready to spring out upon us. But we were there and must make the best of it; so we got our potatoes and proceeded down the gulch about two hundred feet to a big cottonwood tree which was hollow at the butt. We built a fire in the butt of this tree and baked our potatoes, which, being tlie only food we had, comprised our supper. We sat on the ground all night with our gims at hand. Just about nightfall we had passed a place called Death creek, so named from the massacre of two Buffalo county boys and another man, at that place about a year before. The Buffalo county men w^ho were murdered were Dr. Cutterback and a harness maker's son by the name of I^eak, from Gibbon. The three were out trapping and were surprised and killed by a band of Indians. With this circumstance on our minds we put in a terrible night, and were not sorry when daylight came again. Our guide returned home in the morning and I wanted to do the same, but my father would not hear to it. We traveled most of that day without seeing a human habitation, but finally arrived at Woods and Kilgore's ranch about half past tw^o in the afternoon. Having eaten nothing but our dozen potatoes and a small lunch since four o'clock in the morning of the previous ^^Jn it goes without saying that we had a good, healthy appetite which Mr. Kilgore proceeded to appease by mixing up a big milk pan full of batter and turning it into pancakes as fast as he could bake them. We found one of our horses at this place and were informed that the other had been run oif into the hiUs near Wood river. I started early in the morning on my return trip of seventy miles over the trail, rushing into the arms of my dear old mother at ten o'clock that same night. And she never seemed dearer to me before or since. Two days later my father returned with the other horse. My next trip to Custer county w^as after posts to Cedar canon, and with six others made the trip in the month of April. My father was greatly pleased with my success, and these posts may still be seen on our old homestead near Gibbon. In 1878 my sister moved into Custer county, locating where Berwyn now stands, and my mother became uneasy and sent me over to find out how they were getting along. I made this trip on horseback, found my sister's home, and found them getting along all right.

In 1887 I came into Custer county, locating permanently, and leased the ranch where I now live, which I afterwards bought from my uncle, H. W. George. It consists of 1,550 acres of deeded land and a lease of 640 acres of school land, located on the South Loup river in Loup township. In 1888 I bought out a small store that had been started on the ranch by a firm named

Sterk & Means. In 1893 we sold out the store and engaged in ranching exclusively. We have added to the place until it comprises over 4000 acres ot deeded land and one school section of leased land. We have over forty miles of fence and our live stock at this time consists of three hundred cattle, two hundred and fifty hogs and seventy-five hordes, with wagons, buggies, tools and farm machinery sufficient to carry on the place. We have the Baptist church on the east, the Presbyterian on the west, the Christian on the north and the Methodist on the south. Our schools are laid out about three miles apart, which places all the pupils within easy access to them.

Among the old settlers of Loup township who might be mentioned as landmarks are D. and J. M. Downey, Will P. Trew, Lon Davis, Nc. George, Al. Morgan, Diah Woodruff, Phil. Campbell, J. E. Myers, Peter Beck and Josh Woods, the latter being a member of the firm of Woods & Hamer. To these may also be added Kalph and Silas Drake, Jasjxn* Robinson and J. E. Cavenee, all old settlers and successful stock-raisers and farmers. We also have some young men who will successfully carry on the w^ork that the older ones commenced. Space forbids mention of them all, but I must speak of S. S. McConnell, who has resided among us but three years. In 1898 he formed a partnership with Matt Stuckey, and leased what is known as the Stuckey ranch. He had very little money, but plenty of grit and vitality. In 1899 his partner died and Mr. McConnell leased the entire ranch of 5,500 acres, and is to-day the owner of four hundred and fifty cattle, one hundred hogs and thirty horses, with everything necessary to handle them to the best advantage. Mr. McConnell and the writer have recently been instrumental in organizing a stock company known as the Georgetown Koller Mill and Power Company, with a capital stock of |8,000, ow^ning the water power and flouring mill on the South Loup river at Georgetown, and other interests in the same locality, which are to be enlarged and improved as the coimtry advances. This portion of the South Ivoup valley is now the chief stock-raising portion of Custer countv. One of the finest ranches in the countv, or in this part of the state for that matter, is the Black ranch owned by George Adams of Chicago. The principal crops raised are corn, wheat and oats, with alfalfa, sorghum and wild hay for rough feed.

In 1878 my uncle, John S. George, located the ranch where I now live. My uncle will be remembered by all of the old settlers as a jolly, whole-souled fellow. lie is now located at Winterset, Iowa. While here he discovered upon this ranch a very i>eculiar cave, which has been a great mystery to people who have seen it. It is located on Deer creek, on the east bank, and up to 1892 a person could go in and look over the interior. The entrance was down under the bank about twenty feet below the top of the cave. The cave had three apartments which were connected by arches carved out of the clay soil. The room which was entered from the outside had a hole in the top large enough for a man to get his head through, from which position he could get a very good view of the surrounding country without being in much danger of being seen by any one in the vicinity, as the hole was surrounded by long grass which would hide the head of the lookout. This cave has been the subject of a great deal of conjecture as to its origin and use, and the mystery surrounding it wiU probably never be revealed. It was certainly the wcwrk of human hands, and it has always been my impression that it was a hiding place for robbers and cattle thieves during the very earliest days of the cattle men of the country. They are on the south side of the Loup river about half a mile from the bank. During the first years of our residence here we thought but little of these caves, there being so many new and strange things to engage the attention, but as time goes on they have become of more interest to us, and we have since been sorry that we did not make some attempt to preserve them as they were when discovered b}- my uncle. As it is they are now somewhat sunken in and ^Tecked, yet plain enough to be readily distinguished. I understand that there is another cave of the same character about fifteen miles further up the creek, and still others beyond that. They present an opportunity for some one with an antiquarian turn of mind, and it is to be hoped that their history will yet be written.

My first introduction to the Soutli I^up rivt^r occurred in April, 1880, at a point about half a mile above the moutli of Ash cieek. Having made the journey from l*luni (.'reek in a heavily loaded wa^on, we stnick the river just as the sun was sinking into the western prairie and tinging the tops of the eastern hills with a glow of red. The log shanty in which we intended to camp was on the other side of the stream and we started across. Before proceeding ten feet our team stopped and the wagon settled to the axles in quicksand, the water gently washing the bottom of the wagon box. A portage was necessary, and not only was the cargo all carried across, but we had to wade back and forth with the different parts of the wagon, taking out a wheel at a time. Having at length arrived at our destination, cold, wet and weary, we proceeded to prepare our supper. Our log shanty in the middle of a dense grove of Cottonwood and willow, had the river on one side and a bayou on the other. Before supper was ready a whirr of wings called me to the door. O, land of ducks I Hundreds were there before me of all colors and sizes - flying, swimming, diving, in the security of their ignorance. After this, duck was too common a food to be mentioned in our cuisine. Our shanty had been shingled with cow hides, thrown on the roof. During the night a cold north wind whistled through the crevices between the logs of our dwelling, which had not been chinked, and we arose, took off the roof covering and pinned the hides up against the wall to serve as siding. After this, whenever it rained we put the hides on the roof to keep out the water, and when it blew we put tbem on the side of the house to keep out the wind, a very simple and effective device which furnished additional proof of the truth of the old saying that "necessity is the mother of invention." One of the settlors in this part of the country was Saul Garringer. He was a perfect architect in the construction of dugouts, and he evolved from the original trapper's hole in the ground a series of apartments which lacked only electric lights and steam heat to make them equal to any modern palatial residence. Whenever he was not making a new dugout he was building some addition to the old one. He was also a lineal descendant of Nimrod of old and hunted exclusively with the rifle. He it was who gave me the first clear conception of the poBsibilities of rifle-shooting. While hunting ducks with him one day he observed that 1 always aimed at the body of the bird; he explained to me that this cut the flesh up too much, and that he always hit them in the head.

The spring of 1880 was extremely dry; so dry that the wheat in the Platte valley refused to sprout, and had to be plowed up and com planted in its place. On the third day of July it began to rain and the rest of the summer was excessively wet, August 10th a cloudburst occurred in the vicinity now occupied by the village of Callaway, which caused a serious flood in the South Ivoup and Wood river valleys. The Loup bottoms were running with three or four feet of water for twelve hours, and the fringes of willows that lined the river banks were filled with cedar posts and rails that had been washed down from the corrals of ranches above. The rain, which fell during the greater portion of September, turned to snow in October, which continued to faU in enormous quantities all winter. During the fall the work of the bea- ver which was plentiful along the river amounted to a veritable massacre of the timber which lined the banks. During the months of October and November they could be seen working in droves preparing for a long winter which their instinct warned them was coming on.

Thousands of sheep had been driven into the country during the summer of 1880, and the winter which followed left in manv cases not more than twenty per cent, of the herds alive. Aftt^r a severe snowstorm in October and cold weather in November the ice on the river was strong enough to bear heavy loads. The real winter snow began to fall December 16th, and from that time until March the ground had a covering of eighteen inches on the level, with drifts twenty feet deep. The wind was almost continuous and the cold at times intense. The cloudy days were unusually numerous for Nebraska. In December the clear davs amounted to seventeen, in Januarv sixteen, in February eighteen. The average temperature at eight o'clock a. m. in December was 33; in January 25.9; in Febi'uary 30.4. Cattle on the range stood day after day, week after week, chewing leaves, twigs, branches and bark, until the trees were eaten bare as high as a cow could reach, and the branches were chewed so they looked like frayed ropes. Thousands of the poor brutes died, and it has always been a mystery to me how any survived. In the spring many of them which survived lost their horns and hoofs, which had been frozen and dropped off when the thaw came. When the ice broke up in the river it was a month before it could be crossed in safety. John McGinn was then located two miles up Ash creek, where the Plattsmouth i*anch now is. He had purchased some com in Wood river valley but waa unable to haul it across the Loup river, and it had to be dragged across with a rope, one sack at a time. At that time there was not a bridge across the Loup in Custer county.

Spencer Park, located in township sixteen, range nineteen, comprises about 3,600 acres of level land surrounded by hills, and opening into the Muddy valley by a narrow passage half a mile northeast of the village of Berwyn. Its greatest length is three miles and its greatest width two miles. The soil is a black loam from three to six feet deep, underlaid with a fine, light-colored clay from thirty to fifty feet in depth. The soil is particularly adapted to hold moisture in seasons of drouth. An abundance of the finest water is had at from fifty to eighty feet, at which depth coarse gravel is struck.

Probably the first white men who looked over this park with a view of locating were George Early and Clark Wellman, in 1879. They took claims, but ther did not make permanent settlement on the land. The first permanent settler was Ira D. Spencer, in whose honor the park was named. When he got to Seneca, now Westerville, he made his first stop to look about for a location, fixing upon this little park as the place which best suited him. He staked out his claim in the summer of 1880, almost in the center of the park. J. E. Spencer, son of Ira D. Spencer, a bachelor, also took a claim. He is still living on the same claim, but he is no longer a lonely bachelor, and the dugout has been exchanged for a frame house. Several children call him "pa," and the wild claim has bc^n converted into a well improved farm.

In the fall of 1880 an old man by the name of Gaskell and his son-in-law located and moved their families there; but being unprepared for the hard winter that followed they lost all their stock and abandoned their claims, selling their relinquishments to their present owner, W. H. Mauk, for twenty-five dollars apiece. Mr. Mauk, in May, 1887, made a dugout 8 by 10 feet, covered it with poles, brush and sod and began housekeeping as a bachelor, with a stove, bedstead and bedding, one dishpan, a skillet, a bread pan, a coffee pot, two plates, two knives and forks and a spoon. He has a better house now, and also a good housekeeper, and to his children he sometimes relates the following incident in his early housekeeping efforts: In the winter of 1882 a friend from the East made him a visit and it being extremely cold at the time, the larder was in a sadly depleted condition and no way of replenishing it until the weather became more moderate. About the time it should have become more moderate, a blizzard set in which lasted four days, and the guest was compelled to take his choice of bean soup, baked beans or starvation. As he had alwavs detested beans in anv form, he almost came to the conclusion that he would take his chances with starvation, but before the blizzard w^as over he changed his mind and took a sort of liking for beans, which have been a favorite food with him ever since.

In the summer of 1881 II. J. Dui>es settled in the park. He still lives on this place, and from his comfortable home looks back over the hardship of the early days as if it were a dream. He also took a timber claim on section 9, which in 1887 he sold to Charles Kemp. Miss Juletta Wellman came from Lincoln in 1881, entered a homestead, built a sod house on it, and staid until she perfected her title, living alone and enduring the hardships incident to the times. She also entered a timber claim and is still the owner of both places. Clark Wellman bought the relinquishment of George Earley's homestead and sold it later to G. B. Greenwood, the present owner.

In the summer of 1882 Nathan Davidson and son, James, entered land- Both are still in possession of the original claims. The second son, Henry, entered land and bt^gan keeping bachelor's hall. His two grown up sisters helped him out with the household duties and also became general favorites with the young bachelors of the community. When w-e went over to their house we always "spruced up'- a little, being particular to see that there was no flour on our clothing nor any dough on our hands. Henry still lives on his claim, but he has a wife and all the comforts that can be found on any well-improved farm. In the summer of 1883 R. W. Barton settled on a table overlooking the park. In the spring of 1884 Peter Rapp and his family made settlement. C. Caswell located in 1884, and led the life of a bachelor, made a few improvements and sold out in 1889, since which time the place has changed hands several times, H. S. Wayne being the present owner. In the fall of 1883 J. B. Brown and his brother, D. O. Brown, took claims. Henry Webb settled with his family in 1883. In the summer of 1884 John McManigal and his wife, an aged couple, came here from Ohio to spend their last days in the pure air of the West, and are still living on their claim. Henry Thomas and his family came in 1885 and has built for himself a comfortable home.