Kearney, Nebraska - Buffalo County, Nebraska, and Its People : a Record of Settlement, Org (part 1 of 2)

Buffalo County, Nebraska, and Its People : a Record of Settlement, Org

Of the history of the City of Kearney mention is made in various ways in this volume. Because the founding of the city was unique, no other city in the state founded under like conditions, a quite lengthy history is herein given under the title, "Founding the City of Kearney." To the student of history it seems most unfortunate that promoters and boomers should have so largely had control in the development of the city in the years of its early history.

The reaction which followed the boom period was most disastrous in a financial sense and for a considerable period retarded the further growth of the city. The extent to which promoters and speculators boomed the city and the reaction following is perhaps best made plain by the relation of the following bit of history bearing on the point. In the '90s, following the boom period, Capt. L. D. Forehand was employed to take the enumeration of school children in School District No. 7, and in this district is embraced the City of Kearney. It was rec|uired that the enumerator visit each dwelling house in the district. Mr. Forehand relates that for his own information he made note of the number of dwelling houses and the number vacant. He found 1,4.00 dwelling houses in the city and 700 vacant. Of these vacant houses hundreds were moved out on the farms of Buffalo County, some of them quite twenty miles from the city. As a matter of history it might be added that few if any of the promoters remained as citizens of the city. Like birds of prey, when the bones were picked clean (when the bubble burst), they departed for fresh fields, greener pastures.

It is well to state that some of the buildings erected during the boom period have been of lasting benefit. The Opera House Block, Iniilt at an expense of about ninety thousand dollars, still remains a landmark, its hall a source of much pleasure and usefulness to the people of the city and surrounding country

The City of Kearney of today (191 5), the county seat town of Buffalo County, with a population of 6,202, as recorded in the 1910 United States census, is a substantial city, well supported by the country tributary thereto, assured of future growth and prosperity by reason of its location in the midst of a country having a soil of great fertility and abounding in agricultural resources as yet largely undeveloped. While certain features of the life and activities of the city and its people are treated elsewhere somewhat in detail, it may be said, that it is a city of homes, wide streets bordered wath ornamental trees, miles of sidewalks and beginning in the year 191 3 its principal streets and avenues are being paved.

Through the center of the city runs the Lincoln Highway, a great national highway extending across the continent from coast to coast and in the year 191 5 a "seedling" mile of pavement was laid leading westward from the city.

The city owns a public waterworks system, with direct pressure, the mains extending to all parts of the city and to the cemetery, furnishing pure water for domestic purposes and the best of fire protection.

There is a privately owned gas plant and electric light and power plant, a history of which is elsewhere given. A city sewerage system was installed in the year 1888 at an expense of $70,000, city bonds for that purpose having been voted. The city cemetery is beautitfully located on the bluffs overlooking the city and Platte \^alley, title to the Kearney cemetery grounds having been acquired June 28, 1876.

A city library, conveniently located, on valuable lots generously donated by Mrs. C. O. X'orton, and under the efficient management of Mrs. Pauline Frank as librarian, is a strong educational force in the city and also reaches out to school districts and smaller towns adjacent to the city. An interesting history of Kearney's public library achievements is elsewhere given by Mrs. C. V. D. Basten.

The public schools of the city are the pride and boast of its people and in the matter of school buildings, school equipment, the educational advantages offered are fully up-to-date in all particulars. The postoffice of the city is housed in a Government building, beautiful in design and finish, an ornament to the locality. In a beautiful park, conveniently located, there has been maintained a Chautauqua course for several years. There are two hospitals with up-to-date equipment and managed in accordance with scientific methods. The Buffalo County bar has numbered among its members men eminent in their profession and of recognized ability. The medical profession in the city is represented by men of ability, large experience and extensive practice. In the nature of things, in the history of the city, there have been bank failures, but to relate the history of such failures can serve, in a history way, no good purpose. The banks of the county seat town of 191 5 are conservatively managed, fully serve the financial interests of the city and county, and are safe depositories of public and private funds, the last reports for the year 1915 showing a total of capital stock, $125,000; surplus, $108,041; deposits, $1,631,725.

Since the year 1876 there has been maintained, at Kearney, a company of state militia but whether continuously or not history does not disclose. In the beginning the company w^as known as "The Kearney Guards" with E. C. Calkins as captain, R. A. Julian, first lieutenant, James Jenkins, second lieutenant.

Jn the year 1915 it was known as Nebraska National Guard, Company L, J-ourih Infantry, "Norris Brown Guards." Captain, Lyn J. Butcher; first henlenant, W. E. Harper; second Heutenant, F. G. Tracy.

.\ woman's club organized in 1888 was among the first of such clubs organized in the slate and has proven a helpful factor in the social and educational life of the city.

In a newspaper way the city from the beginning has been well and abundantly served. The Kearney Junction Times, L. B. Cunningham editor, was established in October, 187 J, before the Towai of Kearney Junction was incorporated. Later the name was changed to Buffalo County Journal and enjoyed a county wide circulation and exerted a strong and helpful influence through the county.

In I<\"bruary, iS/2,, The Central Nebraska Press was established by Webster and Rice 11. Eaton, the latter managing editor. It was understood that "Web" Eaton recci\ed, as subsidy to induce the publication of a daily at Kearney Junction, lots donated by promoters interested in the sale of city lots. This publication, daily and weekly, served in an efficient manner, the interests of the city and surrounding country, taking rank as one of the leading papers of the state. The Press (weekly) passed into the hands of W. C. Holden and in a large sense became the personal organ of its editor, used too often to "get even," as it might be termed, rather than in the dissemination of news and the upbuilding of the community. In the history of the press of Buffalo County, W. C. Holden, as an editor, is in a class by himself as one given to what in later days was termed "muck raking;" he seemed to take pleasure and delight in personal attacks on individuals, through the columns of his publication, and it would have occasioned little surprise had he been killed by some whom he thus attacked. It is true, that in some cases the provocation was great, and the parties guilty as publicly charged, but the Press under ]\Ir. Holden's management lost public favor, public influence and public support.

In the year 1888, M. A. Brown, R. H. Eaton and others organized the Flub Printing Company and began the publication of The Daily Hub and also continued the iniblication of the original Central Nebraska Press, whose publication began in the year 1873. The Press was at first issued as a weekly but later as the -Semi-Weekly Hub.

Mr. Eaton soon retired from editorial connection wath the Hub, to become postmaster of Kearney, and M. A. Brown became publisher and editor.

The Hub in the twenty-five years of its publication has been the leading paper published in the county both in general circulation and as a molder of public opmion. In local news it covers both the city and county. The Hub carries a strong editorial page. As an editorial writer Mr. Brown shows wide reading and acquaintance with the thought of the day; his editorials are brief, timely, never dull or out of date and are widely quoted in the press of the state.

The Kearney Hub and The Kearney Flub Publishing Company represent in large measure the life work of M. A. Brown; a work useful and helpful to mankind.

"The Hub w\as founded upon the rather shaky foundations of the old Central Nebraska Press, established in 1873, by Webster and Rice Eaton. In the fall of 1888 the present editor and manager of the Hub came to Kearney upon the sohcitation of a then Kearney citizen who had been visiting in Beatrice. The writer had a few months before disposed of the Beatrice Express, was comfortably situated in Beatrice and was not looking for a new location; but he visited Kearney, was pleased with what he saw, and impressed with the possibilities of the newspaper held in Central Nebraska. Rice Eaton and J. P. Johnson owned the plant of the Central Nebraska Press, which they had just revived. The writer bought the Johnson interest, retained Mr. Eaton, and organized the Hub Publishmg Company. The writer was business manager and managing editor. Mr. Eaton for a short time conducted the editorial column. The name was changed to the Hub at the writer's suggestion, in harmony with the then greatly advertised fact that Kearney was the 'hub" of the continent, 1,733 utiles from Boston and 1,733 niiles from San Francisco.

"Then trouble began. Immediately followed the Kearney Daily Enterprise, subsidized with money and land by the 'boom' interests rampant at that time. The Kearney Journal was then printed as a daily but ceased publication long ago. The New Era was a weekly printed by Rhone Brothers, who disposed of the plant; it became the New Era-Standard, and the last publishers dropped the name and substituted the Times. Other newspapers have started up meantime. The Democrat, weekly, survives. But no other newspaper printed in Kearney twenty-five years ago, except the Hub, is now living. The boom went up the flume and caused many wrecks. Drouth came and the country was poverty stricken. Came also the panic and widespread insolvency. Nothing, barring pestilence, was lacking. The experience of those years, looked back upon, seems now like a frightful dream.

"So far as the Hub was concerned it had ceased to hope. There was nothing left except 'grit' and the determination to hang on. In 1896 the Hub was down in the lowest financial depths. In 1897 the writer effected a turn by means of which he secured entire personal control. The editor, his wife, and two daughters, went to work to rebuild the paper's fallen fortunes."

The Kearney Democrat

In the year 1891, The Kearney Democrat was- established with F. L. W'heedon as editor and publisher. The Democrat has steadily grown in excellence and influence and its editor has achieved much in experience and wisdom. The Democrat has been a helpful factor in the development of our civilization towards higher ideals and has been the leading newspaper in the county in support of temperance legislation, the abolition of the open saloon.

While its editorial page shows study, investigation and a deep interest in matters relating to conditions affecting the City of Kearney, the state and the nation, its editor has seemed to have little interest in the development of the agricultural resources of the county the most vital of our interests in a material way.

One feature in the history of the Democrat is of special interest to a historian, and possibly has a bearing on both the success and influence of the Democrat as a newspaper and that is, that payments of subscription are acknowledged in its columns by a notice so skillfully and diplomatically worded as to give pleasure and, as .he saying is, "leave a pleasant taste in the mouth."'

The Kearney Enterprise

During the "boom" period there was started a daily known as The Kearney Enterprise. It was a subsidized publication, advertised to publish dispatches of the press association, and as a disseminator of world-wide news of the day, to equal dailies published in the metropolitan cities.

New Era-Standard

About the year 1884 was established The New Era Standard, Rhone Brothers editors and publishers. It was understood it was established in the interests of George W. E. Dorsey, who was a candidate for Congress in the then "Big Third" District, and later elected. The Rhone Brothers were job printers by trade and by preference, and the Standard was, wath them, a secondary consideration.

For a time it enjoyed a considerable circulation, but did not win favor as a disseminator of local news or a strong, convincing force in the shaping of public opinion.

The Kearney ^lorning Times was established in 190G. Its publisher, T. B. Garrison, Sr. ; editor, Martin F. Blank. The several changes which have occurred in both the ownership and editorial management of the Times, have not had a tendency to establish a fixed policy or to develop force and strength as a molder of public opinion, which should be the ideal, the goal, striven for by every newspaper publication and in the realization of which time is an important factor. The editor of the Times in 191 5 was F. W. Brown.

The Watson Ranch

During the boom period in the life of the city, there was established, within the incorporated limits of the city what was known as The Watson Ranch. It embraced several hundred acres of land devoted ta farming, along certain lines, on an extensive scale. The ranch was largely a promotion scheme and was featured extensively in advertising sent out from Kearney. It attracted more than state-wide notice and was given much space in not only the daily press but in agricultural journals. The value and importance of the alfalfa plant was just beginning to be recognized in the state and on the Watson Ranch, about one thousand acres were devoted to alfalfa growing and with marked success. Unusual efiforts were being put forth to encourage and develop the dairy business in the state and on the Watson Ranch, was kept one hundred or more dairy cows, a large dairy barn built, a creamery established, and R. K. Emily, an experienced creamery man who had won high honors in a national competition of butter exhibited was employed to manage the creamery. The poultry yards

Parochial School, Keaexey

While the Watson Ranch is, in 191 5, but a memory, it served, in its day a useful purpose, demonstrating, as Secretary R. W. Furnas used to say of exhibits at a state fair or exposition, "possibilities in agriculture.'' Of H. D. Watson's activities at \\'atson Ranch, one remains to bless his memory and for long years to come will stand as a living monument to his foresight and wisdom : along the right of way of the Union Pacific Railway running through Watson Ranch, and along the public highway leading to the city he planted trees and cared for them, and a century hence these trees which Mr. Watson planted and cared for will still add to the beauty of the landscape, and give pleasure to those who travel the great Overland Trail across the continent.

In recognition of Air. Watson's worth and worthiness, the Commercial Club of Kearney adopted a set of resolutions asking that the seedling mile on the Lincoln Highway be named the H. D. Watson Boulevard. The city council acted on the request on Xovember 16, 1915, and passed a city ordinance whereby the west part of Twenty-fourth Street was named "The H. D. Watson Boulevard," as a token in appreciation of the public services of Mr. Watson. Mr. Watson has planted or caused to be planted ten miles of trees in and adjacent to the City of Kearney, nine miles of which are still (1915) living. The H. D. Watson Boulevard is that part of Twenty-fourth Street lying west of the Kearney Canal tail-race and extending to the southeast corner of the State Industrial School grounds.

Citizens Gain Distinction

Of citizens of Kearney who have gained recognition as state officials the following named are recalled : Joseph Scott, commissioner of public lands and buildings; E. C. Calkins, Supreme Court Commissioner and regent of the university ; \Y. D. Oldham, deputy attorney general and Supreme Court Commissioner; Norris Brown, deputy attorney general, attorney general, United States senator; L. B. Fifield and John T. Mallalieu, regents of the university; R. R. Greer, president of the State Board of Agriculture ; Francis G. Hamer, justice of the Supreme Court; John T. Shahan, deputy state auditor; A. O. Thomas, state superintendent ; C. H. Gregg, X. P. McDonald and Dan Morris, members of the board of education, state normal schools ; J. X. Dryden. trustee of X^ebraska Wesleyan University and president of Xebraska State Bar Association, 1916.

The churches of the city, its schools, public and sectarian, its lodges, social, fraternal, beneficial, are treated elsewhere somewhat in detail.

The activities of the city are best represented by its commercial club, composed of the business men of the city. The commercial club of the city, organized at an early date, has been a strong and directing force in the upbuilding of the city's business interests. At this date and for some years previous the club has maintained a salaried secretary with rooms in the city hall.

Located at Kearney are three state institutions : The State Industrial School for Boys, established in 1881 ; the State X^ormal School, established in 1905 ; the State Tuberculosis Hospital, established in 1911.

The City of Kearney, for its municipal government, is divided into four wards, electing two councilmen from each ward, these with the mayor constitute the city council.

The officers of the city in 1915 were: Mayor, C W. Kibler; city clerk, T. N. Ilartzell; city treasurer, 11. A. Webbert; police judge, John Wilson; city attorney,

Founding Tpie City Of Kearney

Both the Union Pacific and Burlington and Missouri River railways were land grant roads, the charter of the latter, from the general government, requiring that it make junction with the Union Pacific at a point east of the one hundredth meridian.

Locating The Junction Point

April II, 1871, D. N. Smith, agent for the town-site department of the Burlington Railway, in company with Moses Syndenham and Rev. Ashbury ColHns, visited Bufifalo County and located the junction point of the two roads. The records disclose that on May 3, 1871, D.'^J. Smith purchased of the Union Pacific Railway Company all of section one ( i ) and part of eleven (11), township 8, range 16 in Buffalo County - in all 993.10 acres for the sum of $2,979.30, an average price of $3 per acre. On April 21, 1871, friendly parties filed pre-emption claims on the north one-half of section two (2) town 8, range 16 and at the earliest possible date pre-emption proof was made on these claims and on November 21, 1871, D. N. Smith purchased these two claims, 300 acres in all, for the sum of $500 each. In February, 1872, another quarter section of Section No. 2 was purchased by Mr. Smith, agent for the South Platte Land Company. Thus it will be seen that nearly a year before the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad made junction with the Union Pacific, the South Platte Land Company, by its agent, D. N. Smith, had secured in a body, covering the junction point, 1,473.10 acres of land at a total expense of approximately $4,419.00.

School Section Number 36

It was doubtless the intention of the South Platte Land Company to secure possession of school section No. 36, adjoining, on the north, the town-site, the

L. E. More

Located at Kearney Junction in 1872. Organized first bank and was president and owner. One of tb.e first board of trustees of the Town of Kearney Junction.

D. X. Smith

minimum price for such lands being $7 per acre, some $4,480 for the section. At that date school lands were in charge of the county board and the county commissioners of Buffalo County would not permit the sale. C. Putnam was employed to survey this section into lots and acreage property. In June, 1873, the county board appointed F. S. Trew, D. Allen Crowell and J. Marsh Grant to appraise the value of these lots; the appraised value as reported was $49,108.00. At a later date - 1874 - these lots were sold at public auction by the treasurer of Buffalo County, the state realizing, from this sale, approximately $67,000 for the lots in school section No. 36.

Surveying The Town-Site Of Kearney

During the summer of 1871 Anselmo B. Smith surveyed, into city lots, the original town-site of Kearney Junction and the original plat was filed for record in the county clerk's office October 27, 1871.

Completion Of The Burlington

The Burlington was completed and made junction with the Union Pacific at Kearney, September i, 1872. The Burlington built a union station at the junction point but the Union Pacific refused to stop its trains at the union station and continued to make its stop at the Junction House station on section No. 2, about a mile to the west ; the Union Pacific demanded an interest in the town-site, and on September 14, 1872, title to one-half of the lots in the original town-site of Kearney Junction was conveyed to John Duff", trustee for the Union Pacific Railway Company, the consideration being $1,075.18.

A Dream Of The Future

Let us consider briefly the period between the completion of the B. & M. Railway to Kearney, September i, 1872, and the incorporation of the Town of Kearney Junction, November 30, 1872, three months of time.

The spirit of the West, the accomplishment of results regardless of obstacles, legal and otherwise ; regardless of customs or well established precedents of older communities was forcibly illustrated in the founding of the Town of Kearney Junction and more especially in the incorporation thereof. Their optimism, like the prairies about them seemed without limit, their faith in the ultimate success of their plans unbounded. In old and well established communities it is customary for a stranger or new comer into such a community, if he does not bring with him credentials or letters of introduction, to at least seek introduction and to generally take an interest and an active part in public affairs. Not so the early settler in Buff'alo County, those who helped found the City of Kearney Junction ; they "arrived,'' possibly in a prairie schooner, possibly on the evening train of the Union Pacific or the B. & M. and the next morning we find them fullfledged citizens, coat off, sleeves rolled up, not only taking part in public affairs but taking a leading part, originating new plans,- directing what shall be done.

These pioneers confidently believed that at the junction point of these two great railway systems there would grow and develop one of the largest cities on the plains west of the Missouri River and firm in such faith and belief those on the gruunil lloor planned llic founilations accordingly.

The prospect alluring - To doubt was a crime; Though we question their judgment and smile at their boasting, \W' all must admit that their faith was sublime.

Population At Date Of Incorporation

It would be a quite natural conclusion that at the date of incorporating the Town of Kearney Junction there was a town, or a village at least, of considerable size, many houses and a few hundreds of population necessitating incorporation in order that its afifairs might be properly regulated and controlled, but this appears not to have been the case; there seems to be the best of evidence to warrant the statement that at the date, November 30, 1872, when was incorporated the Town of Kearney Junction, the population of the incorporated area was not to exceed one hundred souls. During this period Jasper L. Walker and Paul Moore, living in the eastern portion of the county, while en route for a buffalo hunt south of the Platte River, visited the junction and Mr. Walker states that he took pains to count the buildings erected or nearing completion and that the number was fourteen (14) ; these buildings were all located on either the Perkins and Harford addition on section 35 or on school section No. 36. He recalls that workmen were engaged in excavating and laying the foundation for the Burlington round house.

In Vol. I, Number i, of the Kearney Junction Times (L. B. Cunningham, editor), under date of October 12, 1872, in an editorial describing conditions, mention is made as follows: "Kearney Junction has two hotels (Harrold House, S. & J. Murphy, Depot House, E. E. Clark) ; one dry goods store (J. S. Chandler); one meat market; one painters shop; one blacksmith shop (John Mahon) ; four lumber yaiv. - (one More and Sutherland); one furniture store (N. H. Hemiup & Allison) ; one tin and hardware store; about twenty dwelling

List Of Taxpayers

The only unit of assessment for taxation purposes to which reference can be made at that date is school district No. 7, which was organized March 8. 1872. Ihis school district had an area of more than one hundred and twenty square miles and embraced within its limits all of area incorporated in the Town of Kearney Junction. The tax list of the county for the year 1872 discloses that in school district No. 7, there were in that year nineteen (19) persons against whom personal taxes were levied ; it also appears that of the nineteen named, seven did not pay the tax levied, also against seven only a poll tax was levied.

The names of these persons against which said personal tax w^as levied were : John Bugler, Asbury Collins, M. M. Collins, Fred and E. Cuddebeck, F. N. Dart, Edward Delhanty, George Enderly, Jacob Enderly, M. F. F^agly, Wilson Hewett, E. T. Jay, John Alahon, W. F. Marsh, Joseph McClure, W. W. Patterson, James A. Smith, F. R. Wood, T. J. Walker. The original town-site of Kearney Junction, platted and recorded in 1871, was, in the year 1872, valued for assessment purposes at $4,375, or at the rate of about $7 per acre.

The enumeration of school children, taken in April, 1873, gave a total of 467 for the county, making the population of the county at that date approximately one thousand six hundred and fifteen ; this enumeration of school children in district No. 7 (as abo\ej disclosed forty-five children of school age, making the total population in the district approximately one hundred and fifty-five; this population for school district No. 7 in which was embraced the incorporated Town of Kearney Junction.

Of the nineteen taxpayers herein named, the records disclose that twelve of the number had, at that date, filed upon homestead or pre-emption claims : J. A. Smith, W. F. Alarsh, Asbury Collins, Fred Cuddebeck, J. Cuddebeck, F. N. Dart, E. T. Jay and W. W. Patterson, within the limits of what is now (1915) Riverdale Township, and that George Enderly, Jacob Enderly, John Mahon and Jacob McClure had filed on like Government claims in what is now Center Township.

At the date in mind (November 30, 1872), the statutes of Nebraska required in order to incorporate a town or village, "That whenever a majority of the inhabitants of any town or village within this state shall present a petition to the board of county commissioners of the county in which said town or village is situated, setting forth the metes and bounds of their town or village, and the commons belonging thereto, and praying that they be incorporated, * * * and the county commissioners shall be satisfied that a majority of the taxable male inhabitants of such town or village have signed such petition, and that the prayer of the same is reasonable, the board of county commissioners may declare such town or village incorporated * * *."

\Miile the legal requirements to incorporate a town or village were not difificult to comply with it will be well for students of history to question whether "The prayer of the petitioners was reasonable."

Incorporation Of The Town Of Kearney Junction

At a meeting of the board of county commissioners, November 30, 1872, W. F. McClure, Patrick Walsh and Dan A. Crowell, commissioners, the records disclose that : "A i)Ctition was presented by citizens of Kearney Junction praying to be incoq)oralcd into a town to be known as 'Town of Kearney Junction/ to include the following described lands, viz: sections i, 2, 3, 10, 11 and 12, town No. 8, range No. 16; sections 24, 25, 26, 27, 34, 35 and 36, town No. 9, range No. 16; and sections 6 and 7, town No. 8, range No. 16; sections 30, 31, town No. 9, range No. 15, and also the territory extending southward from the mainland in front of said sections 10, 11 and 12, town No. 8, range No. 16, and section No. 7, town No. 8, range No. 15, and of the same width to the channel of the Platte River, was received and on motion agreed to, and the appointment of the following trustees ratified: John Mahon, D. B. JMarsh, L. R. More, E. B. Carter and J. S. Chandler." The records do not give the names of the petitioners, neither does a prolonged search disclose that such a petition is on file in the otifice of the coimty clerk. The records do not disclose the number of petitioners, whether the petitioners were a majority of the inhabitants or whether a majority of the taxable inhabitants had signed the petition. Thus on November 30, 1872, not to exceed one hundred inhabitants (men, women, and children), a majority of the men not legal voters, less than a score of the men listed as taxable even to the extent of a poll tax, incorporated an area of more than eighteen sections of land and named it Town of Kearney Junction.

In the light of today (1915), in the effort to comprehend and make plain the sublime faith, the magnificent dream of the future, which inspired a mere handful of pioneers to incorporate, on the treeless and wind-swept prairies of Nebraska, where yet blanket Indians, carrying bows and arrows, hunted the wild game, a town having an area exceeding eighteen sections of land, whereon were living, of white people, less than one hundred souls, let us consider and compare conditions, requirements as to population and incorporated area in the cities of Lincoln and Omaha in the census year 1910:

Personnel Of The Trustees

In the absence of official record or published accounts giving the names of individuals who were chiefly instrumental in the incorporation of the Town of Kearney Junction, it seems fair to presume that the men named as its first trustees were among the prime movers, the leading spirits in the matter. This being assumed, as a matter of history, it seems pertinent to inquire, what manner of men were these whose visions of growth and development are marvelous to contemplate? Who among them might be termed leading spirits, enthusing and directing all with whom they came in contact?

Hon. John D. Seaman Mks. Hadassah J. Seaman

Pioneer settler of Bulialo County in 18H(). Elected treasurer of School District No. 1 when first organized in 1S71 and has held the office continuouslv to date - 1915.

E. B. Carter

The chairman of the board of trustees, E. B, Carter, engaged in the jewelry business, but after a few years moved to Omaha. He w^as a man pleasing in address and manner, prominent in Masonic circles, popular in the community, but lacking in originality of thought and force of character necessary in leaving a lasting impress even in the early history and establishment of a community.

J. S. Chandler

J. S. Chandler erected a frame store building, engaged in the mercantile business for a brief period of time, disposing of his interests to R. R. Greer in 1873.

D. B. Marsh

D. B. Marsh was a carpenter by trade and took a Government claim in Center Township (town 9, range 15) in the year 1872. He serv^ed for a short time as deputy sheriff of the county in the year 1876.

John Mahon

John ]\Iahon enjoys the distinction - in this connection - of being the only member of the board of trustees, who, when appointed, was on the list of taxpayers in the county ; in fact, of all persons of which mention is made in the official records of the Town of Kearney Junction during the incorporation period and until ^larch 3, 1873, Johii Mahon is the only one whose name appears as a taxpayer in the county. Mr. Mahon was of Irish descnt, born in Delaware County, N. Y., in 1824. In 1846 he enlisted, at Brooklyn, N. Y., in the navy and served on board the Trenton in the Alexican war. In the year 1848 he went, by water, to California, where he engaged in mining and other enterprises. In his published biography it is stated: "He came to Buft'alo County in October, 1871, and was the first settler on the site where now stands the magnificent City of Kearney. He built the first house and helped to lay out the townsite. He had charge of the real estate belonging to the Union Pacific and B. & M. companies for about two years." Later he moved to Custer County and engaged in stock raising for about ten years and in 1889 was living on a farm near Armada, in Buft'alo County.

L. R. More

It is believed that L. R. More was the leading spirit in the incorporation of the Town of Kearney Junction as well as a directing force for more than a score of years in its early history. L. R. More, of Scotch descent, was born in Delaware County, N. Y., in 1839. In a published biography of Mr. More it states that he was a cousin of Jay Gould, the railroad king. That he came to Buffalo County in 1871, having accumulated the sum of $25,000. That he established the first lumber yard, built the first brick building, the upper story being the only opera house in town; he also established the first bank, in 1872, known as More's Bank; he owned the first hotel, Grand Central, and was partner of John D. Seaman, the first wheat buyer in Kearney; that in 1873 he was appointed captain of the Kearney Guards by Governor Furnas and under his leadership the cow-boy's "reign of terror" came to an end, they losing two of their number in a running fight. That in 1884 he sold what was known as Alore's Bank and the brick store adjacent for $22,000, taking $16,000 in stock in the Kearney National Bank and becoming its first president.

When Kearney had a beginning, Mr. More was thirty-three years of age; he had already been engaged in business and accumulated $25,000 as before noted. His subsequent career demonstrated that in business matters he was far-seeing and while always conservative was not adverse to making a venture when there was a reasonable prospect of success. There seems no cjuestion that on arrival Mr. More at once determined to make here his future home and to engage in business; a hasty and somewhat superficial search of the deed record of the county seems to disclose that the first deed of record for a lot in the Town of Kearney Junction was to Rev. Wm. Morse, lot 16, block 57, Perkins and Harford Addition, date September 20, 1872, consideration, $200. October I, 1872, to L. R. More, lots 11 and 12, block 29, Perkins and Harford Addition, consideration, $200.

The proceedings of the town trustees, January 20, 1873, disclose that on motion of Mr. More the ordinances were so amended as to permit Mr. More's business partner to be appointed town treasurer and an additional office created, town collector (to which office Attorney F. G. Hamer w^as appointed) ; at a later date the business partner of Mr. More served as deputy county treasurer. From an early date the L. R. More Bank had for many years - at first a monopoly - and at all times a large per cent of deposits both county and city and Mr. More exerted much influence in the politics of both the city and county. As illustrating some of the methods by which county business was conducted at that date and of Mr. More's influence in county affairs, it can be stated: First in explanation, that to furnish material for numerous bridges needed and demanded by early settlers was one of the most perplexing problems which confronted the county commissioners and very many requests for material for bridges, even where the parties ofifered to l)uild the bridge without expense to the county for labor, were refused for lack of means to pay for material. Instances are recalled where, failing to secure lumber for a bridge from the county commissioners, parties of some prominence and influence in their locality went direct to Mr. More with the result that the lumber firm of More & Sunderland furnished the material for the bridge, Mr. More remarking, "We'll take our chances in getting pay from the county."

In the long drawn out and expensive fight in the courts, over the awarding of the contract to build a bridge across the Platte, south of Kearney, the real "bone of contention" was whether the lumber firm of More & Sunderland should furnish the lumber for the structure.

Of the immediate period of which this article treats, Mr. More was the wealthiest man in the county and as he had the ready money to put into his ventures, he directed and controlled them and many others as well; he was aggressive but not popular and while he aspired to official positions such as state treasurer, lieutenant governor, and state senator, he failed in securing a nomination in the case of the first two named and was defeated for the office of state senator by Gen. A. H. Connor, yet he was quite successful in securing the election of local candidates whom he favored.

F. Q. Hamer A. H. Connor

An active force in the founding of the Town of Kearney Junction and the City of Kearney was Attorney F. G. Hamer. The first store building erected in the town was that of F. N. Dart, on the Perkins and Harford Addition. (This building was moved to Central Avenue, on the East Side and of late years has been used by A. H. Boltin in his fruit business.)

In these days of beginning. Attorney Hamer was regularly employed by L. R. More to look after the legal features of his business and of much of public business as well. In the fall of 1872 ^Ir. Hamer was the preferred candidate of the Kearney faction for the Legislature but was defeated for the nomination by D. P. Ashburn. Mr. Ashburn was the nominee of the republican party and W. F. Cody ( Buffalo Bill) of the democratic, Mr. Ashburn being elected. At this period, an effort was made to divide Buffalo County by creating a new county out of portions of Buffalo and Dawson counties, the real object being to retain the county seat at Gibbon. The Kearney Junction people bitterly opposed such a division and Mr. Hamer spent much time during the legislative session of 1872-3 in securing the defeat of this measure. While Mr. Hamer took an active part in the founding of the city and in its development, his greatest efforts have been along legal lines in which he has won both a name and fame. His partner for long years. Gen. A. H. Connor, also took an active part in these early struggles to found a city. General Connor was a man of striking personality, charming in manner and address, yet while the law firm of Hamer & Connor had a state wide reputation. General Connor seemingly trusted more to the inspiration of the moment, to his strength as an advocate, his skill as an orator, rather than as a student of law and familiar with all the details of the case at bar..

Meetings Of The Town Trustees

The incorporation of the Town of Kearney Junction completed, the trustees proceeded to the business of providing ordinances for the government of its municipal affairs. At the first meeting, January 16, 1873, E. B. Carter was chosen chairman and Sylvester S. St. John clerk.

On January i8th at a meeting, propositions for a place of meeting for the trustees was submitted by L. B. Cunningham, (L. B.) Fifield and L. R. More, the proposition of L. R. More being accepted. On January 20th, a committee appointed to submit nominations for town officers, submitted a report as follows :

Town treasurer and collector, H. V. Hoagland, David Anderson, Walter Colby, and W. C. Sunderland; for marshal, George E. Evans, A. I. Aitken, J. H. Mitchell, and David Anderson; for assessor, J. W. Leland. The officers appointed were: Assessor, J. W. Leland; collector, David Anderson; treasurer, W. C. Sunderland; marshal, Cieorge E. Evans; town attorney, A. H. Connor.

On January 28th, before Simon Murphy, notary public, the town officers took the oath of office. At the February 3d meeting it appears the marshal had resigned and the following named persons received votes for the office : John Bradley, W. P. P. St. Clair, J. IL Mitchell, and on third ballot, Samuel Wenzell was chosen marshal. At this meeting town ordinances were adopted in which the license fee for the sale of liquors was fixed at $50, and the bond of saloon keepers at from $1,000 to $5,000; also the license for billiard table and ball alleys $3 per month. The board of county commissioners had fixed the license fee for the sale of liquors at $300, and on January 18, 1873, had granted to W. H. H. Fogg a license to sell liquors at Kearney Junction and it appears that Fogg had paid the fee of $300. While the fee for license to sell liquors had been fixed by the trustees at $50, it appears from the record of the proceedings of the board that saloons were openly in operation, the proprietors refusing to take out license and that more difficulty was experienced by the trustees in their efforts to control the liquor business than with any other or all other branches -of business in the .town.

Provide For Pavements

Among the ordinances adopted at this February 3d meeting of the trustees, was one relative to the construction of pavements in the town. Doubtless had anyone suggested that it was hardly necessary to pass such an ordinance at that date, he would have been termed a knocker, and had he further ventured to prophesy that forty years would come and go ere any pavement was laid on a street in the city (which was the case) he certainly would have been stigmatized as an "undesirable citizen."

Proceedings Of The Board Of Trustees

At the February 7, 1873, meeting, Samuel Wenzell having resigned as marshal, John Bradley was appointed, and T. J. Murphy engineer. On February loth, the Central Nebraska Press (Webster and R. H. Eaton, editors), was made the official organ for the pubHcation of town ordinances. Felt and Coffman made application for liquor license; their bond was fixed at $1,000, and license granted February 17th. This appears to have been the first liquor license granted by the town trustees. This saloon appears to have been located on Nebraska Avenue, Perkins and Harford Addition. At this meeting the first dray license was issued to John Dermody. On March 3d, the office of marshal being vacant and on petition of numerous citizens, William Thomas was appointed. Among the ordinances adopted was one imposing a yearly tax of $1 on each dog owned or harbored by a resident of the town ; licenses to keep a dog were issued to Jas. A. Smith, F. N. Dart. A. H. Connor, Nathan Campbell,

JOSEPH SCOTT A homestead settler in Center Township, 1873. Served as county clerk, county treasurer and for two terms as state commissioner of public lands and buildings. Was a soldier of the Civil war.

First Town Election

On May 5, 1873, was held the first election of the Town of Kearney Junction, at which the trustees chosen were: E. B. Carter, L. R. More, J. N. Keller, H. H. Achey and James OTvane. Mr. Keller was station agent for the Union Pacific, Mr. Achey a contractor and builder and Mr. O'Kane a grocery and restaurant keeper south of the railroad. Mr. O'Kane was very popular with farmers and for some years enjoyed a large patronage until failing health necessitated his giving up the business.

At the May 19th meeting of the trustees, I. D. Bishop was appointed marshal, J. C. McAdams clerk, W. C. Sunderland treasurer, P. W. Wilson assessor, ¥. G. Hamer collector and A. H. Connor town attorney.

The Town Printing

At the June 3d meeting, Mendel, Clapp and Cunningham submitted bids to do the town printing in the Kearney Junction Times at 25 cents per hundred words; Webster Eaton submitted a like bid of 9 cents in the Central Nebraska Weekly Press and 18 cents in the daily Press; the bid of Mr. Eaton was accepted in both the weekly and daily.

Licenses Issued

On June 23d dray licenses were issued to Charles Christensen, John Dermody, John T. Wright and J. S. Harrington. Liquor licenses to James Kelly, Stimpson and Decker, H. H. Achey and A. J. Spaulding. Mention is made of the Grand Central Hotel.

A Knights Of Pythias Organization

On June 22d, arrangements were made with the Knights of Pythias to use their hall as a place of meeting for the town trustees. August 12th Thomas S. Nightengale was appointed town clerk; on October 12, 1873, an opinion was asked of Judge N. H. Hemiup as to best method to pursue to organize a city. November 3d, Wm. R. Firlong appointed town engineer and D. B. Clark, assessor; Attorney Sam L. Savidge employed to look over the town ordinances with a view to corrections and revision. Samuel Wenzell took oath of office as marshal; the chairman reported small success in obtaining the names of responsible parties who would become security for the cost of a fire engine if purchased by the town.

Taking A Census Of The Town

The statutes of the state provided, "Section i. All cities and towns of the State of Nebraska, containing more than five hundred and less than fifteen thousand inhabitants, shall be cities of the second class."

October 12, 1873, J. W. Leland was appointed to take a census of the Town of Kearney Junction with a view of organizing a city of the second class. In a pubhshed biography of Mr. Leland it is stated, "He took a census of Kearney in 1873, when the population numbered only 245." There seems no question that this was the census ordered by the trustees of the Town of Kearney Junction with a view of organizing a city of the second class, the returns of this census disclosing a population of 245.

Incorporating The City Of Kearney

On December 3, 1873, the "Town of Kearney Junction," one year and one month old, ceased to have a legal existence and "Kearney," a city of the second class, with a population of approximately three hundred was incorporated, the officials of the Town of Kearney Junction serving as like officials of the City of Kearney until a regular election was held. Hence it was that E. B. Carter, L. R. More, J. N. Keller, H. H. Achey and James O'Kane were the members of the first city council; E. B. Carter the first mayor, Thomas S. Nightengale city clerk and Samuel Wenzell chief of police or marshal. In this brief history of the Town of Kearney Junction, is given, as appears in the record and in published proceedings available, the name of every person mentioned (about one hundred in all), because, having no other records of those who took part in the foundation and life of the town, from these we may learn and record the names of a portion of the residents and of those who took a more or less prominent part in public affairs.

The First Postoffice

On February 9, 1872, a postoffice named Kearney Junction was established with Asbury Collins as postmaster. It is understood that at that date Mr. ColHns and family were residing in the Junction House, located on section 2, and that the postoffice was kept there.

In the month of September, 1872, Asbury Collins had C. W. Colt and James MacGonegal, surveyors residing at Lowell, Neb., survey South Kearney as an addition to Kearney Junction, the same being on the northwest quarter of section 12, town 8, range 16. In July, 1872, D. N. Smith bought of the Union Pacific Railway Company the east half of section 35, town 9, range 16, for a consideration of $960, and sold the same to Perkins and Harford for a consideration of $16,000. In volumes No. i and No. 3, issue of the Buft'alo County Beacon, published at Gibbon and dated July 27, 1872, appears the following item : "Esquire Collins of Kearney Junction made us a pleasant call a few days ago. He informs us that real estate at that point is on the rise in price. Mr. Smith (D. N. Smith) sold to parties from Minnesota (Minneapolis), (Perkins and Harford), a short time since the east half of section 35, town 9, range 16, for the snug sum of $50 per acre." In the month of August, 1872, Perkins and Flarforcl had Anselmo B. Smith survey and plat into city lots Perkins and Harford's first and second additions to Kearney Junction, being the east half of section 35, town 9, range 16. Thus it will be noted that before the Burlington had made junction with the Union Pacific there had been surveyed and platted into city lots and such plats made a matter of record, 960' acres of land in a solid body.

It is a matter of tradition that because of the unfair advantage taken by the townsite company in obtaining possession, in advance, of the townsite and because of the extravagant prices asked for city lots, the first buildings erected were on school section No. 36 and the Perkins and Harford Addition. The county records show that on April 2, 1872, A. Collins was appointed agent for the county to notify all parties not to occupy or erect any buildings on section 36, town 9, range 16, the same being school lands. In March, 1872, F. N. Dart erected a store building on the school section. An advertisement of Mr. Dart's business appeared in issues of the BufTalo^ County Beacon in the year 1872. Rev. Wm. Morse also erected a building on a lot in Perkins and Harford's Addition, purchased in September, 1872. As before noted, the first lots sold in the original townsite was to L. R. More in May, 1S73. The building erected by Rev. Wm. Morse was occupied by James Jenkins as a shoe store, Mr. Jenkins being a shoemaker by trade. The first saloon opened at Kearney Junction was either on section 35 or section 36.

The Public School

School district No. 7, embracing 120 square miles of territory, was organized March 8, 1872; the place of organizing was at the "Hotel Collins" (known also as the Junction House), James Smith being chosen director. The first district report discloses thirty-six children of school age in the district. An enumeration of school children made in April, 1873, shows forty-five children of school age.

The first term of school taught in this district (No. 7 - Kearney) was by Miss Fannie Nevius, who was first licensed as a teacher in the county in the year 1873. Dan A. Crowell, county superintendent, under date January 24th, records : "Visited school in district No. 7, taught by Miss Nevius. Owing to some disagreement between the school officers and citizens relative to the selection of a site, no house has yet been built and the school is at present domiciled in a room rented to suit the emergency. It is, however, poorly furnished and but illy adapted to the purposes of a school." On January 24, 1874, J. J. W. Place, county superintendent, records : "Visited district No. 7, found two schools in session taught by O. E. Hansen and Miss Fannie Nevius."

The first county teachers' institute was held at Kearney, November 25, 1875, J. J. W. Place superintendent. The teachers in attendance were entertained by the people of Kearney. State Superintendent J. M. McKenzie was in attendance and delivered two lectures. Prof. D. B. Worley had charge of the music. There were twelve teachers from the county in attendance. A county teachers' organization was formed with O. E. Hansen, chairman; J. S. Zerbe, secretary; Miss Bunnell, treasurer; and Miss Fannie Nevius, critic. Dan A. Crowell was one of the teachers in the Kearney school at that date.

Kearney Junction Times

As the writer understands the Kearney Junction Times, established by Mendel, Clapp and Cunningham (L. B. Cunningham, editor) was the first newspaper published at Kearney Junction. Its first issue was October 12, 1872. The Times was ever loyal to the best interests of Kearney Junction, and the City of Kearney and exceedingly helpful in the upbuilding of the town and community; in the discussion of public affairs it maintained a high moral standard, its editor having no sympathy with the belief of many that open saloons and dens of vice were essential to the up-building of the city and hence the Times was not in close touch and fellowship with certain elements which exerted a powerful influence in the early history of Kearney Junction and Buffalo County, influences which at times largely controlled in the distribution of public printing and public patronage. In later years the Times became the Buffalo County Journal, having a general circulation throughout the county and exerting a large influence.

Central Nebraska Press

The exact date of the establishment of the Central Nebraska Press at Kearney Junction is, to the writer, not known. Official records disclose that February 10, 1873, the Press was made the official organ for publication of ordinances of the Town of Kearney Junction, and that on June 3, 1873, there was being published both the daily and weekly Press. In the days of the founding of the Town of Kearney Junction it was generally understood that the owners of the townsite and the promoters of the town donated to "Web" Eaton a considerable number of city lots as an inducement to establish a newspaper, daily and weekly ; in March, 1873, Mr. Eaton secured the subscription list and good will of the Buft'alo County Beacon being published at Gibbon. "Web" Eaton had a love for politics and was a very shrewd politician ; he secured, by appointment, political preferment and left the management of the Press largely in the hands of his brother, R. H. Eaton. Rice Eaton, as he was familiarly called, was born in Rochester, N. Y., in 1838; by profession and training he was a printer and newspaper man. He was a soldier of the Civil war, had traveled somewhat and was a keen observer of i^iankind. He was of a lovable disposition, witty, original in thought and expression, a versatile and apt writer.

Under his management the Press soon secured a state wide reputation, was widely quoted, and exerted a large influence. Of the days of which this article treats, the Central Nebraska Press easily took first rank among the newspapers published in the county. In the year 1879 Mr. Eaton disposed of the Press to W. C. Holden.

Central Nebraska Star

The Central Nebraska Star was established (as recalled) in the year 1871 by Moses H. Sydenham; its publication was not regular and no files of its issues are known to exist. Its date line hailed from "Centoria," a paper-boom town in Kearney County, a few miles west of Fort Kearney. Centoria was surveyed and platted by Mr. Sydenham but had no existence except on paper. The Star advocated the removal of the national capitol to the Fort Kearney military reservation, the geographical center of the nation, urging that by surveying the reservation (ten miles scjuare) into city lots the sale of the lots would provide for all expense of erecting Government buildings and the removal of the national capitol. While the Star had a considerable circulation in Buffalo and Kearney counties in the years 1871-2-3, it can not be said to have exerted much infiuence in the settlement and development of Central Nebraska ; it was the personal organ of its editor who was without experience in public affairs and seemingly not in touch or sympathy with the development of the agricultural resources of this portion of the state. Air. Sydenham was an Englishman by birth, served first at Fort Kearney as a sutler's clerk and later as postmaster at the fort ; he also served a term as county commissioner when Kearney County was organized in 1872. Fort Kearney was abandoned as a. fort in 1871.

Early Reminiscences Of Kearney

18, 1872, I arrived at Lowell, the then terminal point of the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad in Nebraska, about 5 P. AI. One other man beside myself desired to get to Kearney and a third desired to reach the Union Pacific Railroad as soon as possible.

Lowell was then a flourishing railway station, crowds coming and going, business lively, hotels full, cow boys, whiskey and roustabouts galore. We three hired a livery rig and driver to take us to the south and east terminal of the Burlington Railway bridge across the Platte River. We had learned that the main pillars of the bridge were laid across and that one could walk over. We arrived at the bridge about dark. The night was starlight but no moon. The third man proved to be well acquainted with directions and locations ; he knew about where Kearney Station (now Buda) was and we gladly permitted him to lead the way. The meadows north of the river were luxuriant with grass, some of which was higher than our heads. After wading the high grass and over bufi^alo grass sod, carrying our grips, we arrived at the station and found a lodging house conducted by Mrs. Johnson and her son, Wm. C, the latter a lad of about fourteen, who died in Kearney about four years ago. His mother later married M. W. Benschoter. The traveling man rose at 3 A. M. and boarded a passenger train for Omaha. Years after I met him in Iowa, only once.

My remaining companion and self took a tie-path late Sunday morning for Kearney. When about half the distance a brother of Jacob Gabriel drove up with a wagon and team and asked us to ride, which kind invitation we gladly accepted. We were directed to the Smith Hotel (sometimes called Junction

House - sometimes Hotel Collins) then located in the center of section 2-8-16, later removed to south part of town and used as a hotel. We found there James A. and George E. Smith, also Frank Woods, each of whom, with a fourth man we now disremember his name, each a homesteader (pre-emptor) holding down a quarter of that section. The house was four big rooms below and also above, one room by survey on each quarter of the section, thus questionably complying with the law. James A. Smith and wife kept public house for the accommodation of travelers.

Church Services Held

We were surprised to see almost immediately on our arrival, homesteaders coming in for church services and two gray haired preachers present. Rev. Wm. Morse, a pioneer, Methodist, and Rev. Nahum Gould, likewise a pioneer, Presbyterian, both homesteaders. Then there was Asbury Collins whom we subsequently learned was a minister also, and his good wife, Airs. Louisa Collins, whom I believe is still living.

We had church services, preaching and singing; James A. Smith and wife, and James Jenkins were each fair singers, and they with others and an organist made the building ring wath melody. C. S. Greenman and wafe, also daughter and son, the daughter now Mrs. T. N. Hartzell, then a pretty young girl blooming into womanhood, Herbert the son, then five years of age. Roswell Gould was present, a prominent figure then, and I believe still living. Judge and Mrs. F. G. Hamer w^ere there, which was, of course, my first sight of them. I went to Kearney with the intention of starting a newspaper, and had not thought of taking land, but on Monday most all were taking land, homesteads, and Frank Woods saddled two ponies and induced me, I having taken the homestead fever, to mount one of the ponies and accompany him on a hunt for a claim. He took me out to where is now Riverdale - the Fort Kearney reservation not then being open for settlement - where I selected the northwest quarter section 6-9-16 and filed upon the same the next day at the Grand Island land office. J. R. King, C. Sisco, Peter Calhoun, and Wm. Stevenson had already settled on section 8. Jake Bunnell had located on the east half of section 6; Cosmo Hill, and father, Charles Porter and W. F. Piercy were further east and John Sammons, John Henning, Fred Cuddebeck, Wilson Hewitt, J. F. Chase, James Carson and others were settled in the neighborhood of where now is Glenwood Station. On returning to Kearney Frank Woods refused to accept a cent of pay for his time and trou1)le in assisting me to select a claim ; he said, at the time, it was the best claim then untaken within twelve miles of Kearney and thereafter I proved by my crops that he prophesied truly.

F. G. Hamer, Rev. N. Gould and Roswell Gould were located north of the present electric light plant. Rev. Wm. IMorse, James Jenkins and others tw^o miles north of the hamlet called Kearney, while Wm. Schram, L. D. Forehand, and George N. Smith were six or seven miles northeast. Of these early homesteaders the following named have passed to their rewards. Rev. N. Gould, Rev. Wrrt. Morse, C. Cisco, J. R. King, C. Hill, Sr., W. F. Piercy, J. F. Chase, and James Carson, but I believe the others are still living. Aside from the Smith Flouse, which was in reahty westward from the town site, there were six houses in Kearney. John Mahon, the oldest settler, had a cottage and blacksmith shop on the south of the Union Pacific track. Simon and Dr. J. T. Murphy were constructing the Harrold House which still stands. David Anderson, later sheriff of the county, lived with his family in a little cottage upon what is now West Twentyfourth Street, then or soon after, known as Smith Avenue. F. N. Dart and brother-in-law, W. H. McClure, had a shanty well filled with a general stock of goods located on almost the extreme southwest corner of section No. 36. Charley Christenson was the drayman of that day and lived with his horses in an adjoining stall.

After filing on my claim in Grand Island, on Tuesday, August 21st, I returned to Iowa, arranging my aft'airs, and again landed in Kearney on a Burlington freight at midnight September 6, 1872, the passenger train not yet running. During my two weeks' absence Kearney hamlet had moved some, almost to the character of a village. Union Pacific trains did not stop at the town proper but would let oft' passengers and mail at the Smith House. Freight had to be hauled from Kearney Station (now Buda). D. N. Smith, of Burlington, Iowa, a Burlington Railway right-of-way man and construction agent, had played snap judgment upon the Union Pacific Railway Company and had slipped in and purchased as a private citizen, several sections of railroad lands in that vicinity, of the Union Pacific Company, knowing that the Burlington would form a junction with the Union Pacific at some point very near, hence the Union Pacific would not stop its trains at the new hamlet (Kearney Junction) until some satisfactory arrangement could be made about lands and lots. This logger-head business went on for some weeks while the new comers suffered inconveniences.

L. R. More Starts A Bank

L. R. More and Will C. Sunderland started lumber and coal yards. L. R. More soon started a little bank, first doing business in his coal and lumber office and later erected a small frame on a corner on Main Street, then called Colorado Avenue and Twenty-first Street, where now stands the opera house. This corner has practically been the foundation and support of a banking house ever since. Charles W. Dake removed his family from Mount Ayr, Iowa, and soon started another bank in the north part of town, later known as the Buffalo County National Bank. Owing to grasshopper depredations, drouth and general hard times this bank failed some years later and Mr. Dake went to Denver.

Mr. St. Clair started a bank, he having moved from Schuyler, Nebr. ; he failed inside of a year, but he proved strictly honorable and paid every cent of indebtedness. L. D. Grant came from Schuyler about August 25th and removed his wife and daughter the following January. S. S. St. John came in October from Wisconsin. Peter W. Wilson from Mount Ayr, Iowa ; Samuel Wenzell accompanied the latter, each with their families. H. C. Andrews came the following December from the same place as the latter two. V. B. Clark soon started a hardware store in October; T. J. Parish and Byron INfarsh came some months later as did C. J. Burke, the latter the tinner, the former two clerks for Mr. Clark. ]\Ir. Williams came from Lincoln, built a frame building on Smith Avenue and placed therein a stock of groceries. James O'Kane built on the south side just north of the Harold House and kept groceries and produce. J. S. Chandler of St. Joe built in the corner where the Presbyterian Church now stands; Doctors D. A. X'ance and C. T. Dildine came in June, 1873. Doctor Bolton came from Illinois antl started a drug store and practiced some and had a partner in the store, the firm known as Bolton and Barlow.

I built a two story building on Smith Avenue for a printing office and under the firm name of Mendel, Clapp and Cunningham started the Kearney Junction Times, the first issue being dated October 12, 1872, and the first paper in Kearney. Messrs. L. D. Gant, L. D. Forehand and perhaps Judge F. G. Hamer, each has a copy of the first issue. For a couple of months the paper was printed at the Union office in Albia, Iowa, until we could establish our material in the upper rooms of the building above referred to. Webster Eaton, of Red Oak, Iowa, started the Daily Press in January or February following (1873), and in a few months was joined by his brother, Rice Eaton.

A School Established

Families of children came and a school was in demand. I leased the lower room of the Times Building to James A. Smith, director of the newly organized school district for a term of six months school and Miss Fannie Nevius, now deceased, was employed as the first teacher in Kearney, who immediately started in to teach the young hopefuls.

This room in the Times Building was also leased to the Methodist and Presbyterian Church people, a few of each, who held union services during the winter (1872-73), and to a literary society organized, called the "Philomathean," at the instigation of F. N. Colwell, J. C. McAdams, Walter Colby, S. S. St. John and the writer and we held weekly debating societies therein on Saturday evenings. The Methodist people had a preliminary church organization. Rev. L. B. Fifield built Walworth Hall on corner of Smith Avenue and Colorado Street (now Central and Twenty-fourth) in which he continued to preach and later organized a Congregational Church. The Baptist people organized the following summer (1873) with V. B. Clark and family as principal force.

Presbyterl'Xn Church Organized

About March 7th (1873) the synodical missionary with Rev. Nahum Gould organized the first Presbyterian Church of Kearney in the Times Building with a membership of eight beside the minister, as follows : Dr. J. T. Brown, Roswell B. Gould, Eddy Lloyd. Mrs. Smith, Mrs. George E. Smith, Emma Greenman, Mrs. C. S. Greenman, and L. B. Cunningham, and the former two named w^ere elected elders.

A .Souvenir Of Early Days

E. B. Carter came in the fall of 1872 and started a jewelry store in a small building near where the Downing-Bartlett Block now is. We have in our home a pleasant reminder of my old friend Carter. In June, 1873, I bought a plain walnut case eight-day alarm clock of him for which I paid $7. We still have this clock in good condition, keeps perfect time and it will awaken you at any hour if you but set the alarm right. It now times our cook in egg boiling and biscuit making. E. B. Carter was a veritable yankee, sharp and shrewd, always active in the upbuilding of the town. He was a member of the early town council and third mayor, ^larsh (D. B.) being the first and Nathan Campbell, a settler coming in June, 1872, being the second. (Note - The records disclose that E. B Carter was chairman of the board of trustees of the Town of Kearney Junction when organized in November, 1872, was elected a member of the board of trustees May 5, 1873, and served as chairman of the board when the City of Kearney was incorjjorated in December, 1873, and served as mayor of the City of Kearney until the first election held in the city when Nathan Campbell was elected mayor.)

Naming The New Town

At a meeting in the lumber office of More and Sunderland, it was voted to lay out (incorporate) the town four miles square - sixteen square miles - thus putting down on paper a big foundation for a big city. On account of there being so many places and things called "Kearney," such as, Kearney County, Kearney City (in Kearney County), Fort Kearney and Kearney Station (now Buda). it was seriously discussed to change the name of the new town. I do not recall all of half a dozen names proposed, but one gentleman (Commercial Hotel proprietor) very much desired to name it "Inter Ocean" - half way between the oceans - thus you see that "Midway City" was thought of as early as October,

1872. I remember distinctly that I wanted "Permanence," as I believed we were laying the foundation for a permanent city, and how surely my early ideas are coming true, you citizens of Kearney best know. But there were too many present, of whom L. R. ]More. a very positive sort of man, who had the Kearney fever very badly, and they outvoted us and Kearney it is and no doubt Kearney it will remain while time lasts.

1873. These gentlemen were partners in law for a number of years and now still living, and as separate attorneys, are prosperous. James Harron and Thomas C. Roberts came from St. Joseph, Mo., and conducted a store for a while; the former branched ofif into farming and the latter returned to St. Joseph ; both have passed to the unknown. F. J. Switz came from Ohio and established a furniture store and is still a very prominent figure in Kearney. W. J. Perkins was a '72 recruit. A. H. Connor with F. G. Hamer made a strong law firm. Nightengale and F. G. Keens opened the first drug store. J. P. Johnson, the "inevitable" as I used to advertise him, came from Mount Pleasant and Red Oak, Iowa; he engaged in various occupations, among them, hardware and also a general stock of clothing and dry goods. Hiram Randall should not be overlooked nor Robert Haines now an honored councilman. John J. Bartlett, W. A. and R. L. Downing, all time-honored early pushers for Kearney. Doctor Hull, Joseph. Samuel and Charles Black, C. B. and E. B. Finch and Jack Crocker were on the ground a little later, as were Wm. H. Roe, John H. and Dan W. Roe. Col. John H. Roe did a nice thing for Kearney, which deserves a special mention: as agent for Union Pacific lands and lots he secured the handsome block of lots where the Kearney High School now stands as a permanent school ground for the city.

Alisscs Libbie Wilson and Ella Grant were the first, or among the first, young ladies of the place. Charles W. Porter and Miss Osterhiel were the first to get married in Kearney although George E. Smith and Miss Clemm were married in Logansport, Ind., and came to Kearney before the Porter-Osterhiel wedding.

Frank Kearney Clark, son of Mr. and Mrs. V. B. Clark, was the first child born in the city. I was married September 3, 1872, to Mary E. Clapp at Fairfield, Iowa, and arrived home in Kearney, September 30th. But I must find a stopping place ; from hamlet to village, Kearney grew rapidly, having three hundred or four hundred people by Qiristmas, 1872, and one thousand within twelve months from that time, and her magnificent growth has been, in the main, gradual, steady, and permanent ever since.

Having a fire in my newspaper office in 1890, all my newspaper files were burned and now I have not the record of a single issue from which to copy, and neither have I a line or word anywhere with which to refresh my memory in gathering together these events of long ago days, but if any old or new friend or neighbor becomes interested in what I have here contributed of early events, early history of Kearney I will feel amply repaid for the time and trouble.

(Note - ]Mr. Cunningham and son are in the newspaper business at Glenwood, Iowa, and in the year 191 1, at the request of the writer (S. C. Bassett) contributed this very interesting and valuable history of the founding of Kearney Junction and reminiscences of those early days.)

Sedgwick Post No. i, Department of Nebraska. Grand Army of the Republic, has the distinction of being the first G. A. R. post organized in Nebraska.

Past Post Commander A. H. Boltin furnishes the following history of the post: Sedgwick Post was organized at Fort Kearney in the year 1870, under jurisdiction of the Department of Illinois. In 1874, at Kearney, the post was reorganized under jurisdiction of the Department of Iowa. On December i, 1879, the post was again reorganized and chartered as Sedgwick Post No. i, Department of Nebraska.

In the life of this post thirty-three comrades have served as post commanders in order as follows: E. C. Calkins, J. W. Wilson, Joseph Black, Robert La Fountain, James Jenkins, A. H. Boltin, J. W. Parker, W. J. Perkins, R. M. Grimes, J. M. Tisdell, W. Smith, D. A. Dorsey, I. A. Arnold, I. B. Wambaugh, John Barnd, Dr. H. S. Bell, Dwight Phelps, Henry Seaman, W. W. Dye, J. C. McKeene, Phil Bessor, B. H. Goulding, John Hoge, J. C. Beswick, E. W. Thomas, George N. Smith, George C. Ray, Freeman Merryman, J. A. Larimer, Rev. Henry Wood, Simon Landis, A. D. Rice, Lorenzo Smith.

In the year 19 15 the post was in a flourishing condition, with seventy members. There are buried in the cemetery at Kearney 162 soldiers of the Civil war.

Sedgwick Woman's Relief Corps No. i, Department of Nebraska, G. A. R., was organized at Kearney in January, 1884, with the following charter members : Josephine Gillespie, president ; Julia McKelvey, Mary La Fountain, Maria Miles, Mrs. Lacy, Laura Perkins, Sarah Parker, Mrs. Fields, Mrs. Fitch, Mrs. Vanhorn, Mary Lotterman, Mrs. Harding, Sarah Hoge, Mrs. R. M. Grimes, Mrs. Shiers, Mrs. William Hunt, Martha Goulding, Mrs. J. W. Wilson, Mary Jenkins, Mrs. Bicknell, Harriet Worley, Mrs. Wilks.

In the year 1915 the corps had a membership of thirty-five. Its officers: Grace Hardy, president ; Lucinda Ball, S. V. P. ; Melissa Wiley, J. V. P. ; Effie Boltin, chaplain; Phoebe J. Lancaster, secretary; Aurelia Whitney, treasurer; Anna Kilgore, conductor; Louisa Lowe, A. C. ; Louisa Haase, guard; Mary Bailey, A. G. ; Effie Boltin, patriotic instructor ; Anna Kilgore, press correspondent ; color bearers. Elizabeth Smith, Jennie Shiers, Maria Reed, Mary Llarper.

Smith Gavitt Woman's Relief Corps No. 106 at Kearney received its charter March 18, 1890, and was instituted with the following officers and charter members : Marie Y. Miles, president ; Mary J. Tottersman, S. V. ; Hattie J. Worsley, J. V. ; Lucy A. Willoughby, secretary; Estelle Rogers, treasurer; Maggie McKain, chaplain; Frances Woodruff, conductor; Sarah A. Seaman, G. ; Kate A. Tucker, A. G. ; Nancy Murphy, A. G. ; May Demar, Jennie Coleman, Mary A. Webbert, Mary J. Triggs, Hannah N. Hyatt, Mattie O'Kane, Jennie Wood, Martha E. Tague, Eva Uhrig, Lucy Willoughby, Jennie Calhoun, Victoria Brundage, Marion Steigle, Cleronne Ray, Eleanor Hawk, Ada Caswell. In the year 1915 the corps had a membership of twenty-five. Its officers : Mrs. Barbara Scheiling,

Phil Kearney Circle No. 4, Ladies Of The G. A. R.

Phil Kearney Circle No. 4, Department of Nebraska, Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic, was organized at Kearney, May 12, 1904, with ten charter members. The first officers were: Lizzie Trimble, president; Christie Hoge, S. V. P. ; Lizzie Wambaugh, J. V. P. ; Josephine Stephenson, secretary ; Jane Larimer, treasurer; Mary J. Stear, chaplain.

In 1915 the membership of the circle was seventy-five. The officers: Flora Rawell, president; Fannie Wilson,vS. V. P.; Mary Webbert, J. V. P.; Effie SulHvan, secretary ; Anna Warren, treasurer ; Lillie Rahn, chaplain ; patriotic instructor, Emily Stark; Sophia Brown, guard.

F'ort Kearney Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, was organized at the home of Mrs. Charles Oliver Norton, Kearney, May 16, 1908, with the following charter members and first officers: Mrs. Lottie Gove Norton, chapter regent; Mrs. Florence Valentine Miller, vice regent; Airs. Henrietta Bearce Roby, historian ; Miss Isabel Amanda Tabor, secretary ; Mrs. Maybelle Nye Miller, treasurer; Mrs. Anna V. A. Peterson, registrar; Mrs. Irene Holbrook Clark, chaplain; Mrs. Elijah Atwood Gove, Mrs. Frederick R. Kingsley, Miss Arathusa Calkins, Mrs. Leroy V. Patch, Mrs. Harry J. Reed, Mrs. E. St. Claire Snyder, Miss Agnes M. Tabor, Mrs. Henry Gibbons, Miss Catherine A. Nye, Mrs. Robert A. Moore, Miss Alice Ruth Miller, Mrs. Burton Lothrop, Mrs. Joseph Plumb.

Among the patriotic work accomplished by the Fort Kearney Chapter has been the placing in the Union Pacific Park in Kearney of a granite monument to mark the "Oregon Trail," which had its beginning in the Valley of the Platte River in the year 1811, this monument being the first stone to mark this historic trail erected in the State of Nebraska.

Bufifalo Lodge No. 38, I. O. O. F., was instituted at Kearney, May 31, 1873, by Grand Secretary John Evans, with the following charter members : N. H. Hemiup, Henry W. Morse, James P. Johnson, I. B. Wambaugh, D. B. Marsh, Philip H. Allison, W. F. Marsh, HughStotler, H. A. Wakefield.

In the year 1907 the lodge erected, on a lot owned by the lodge, a substantial brick building at a cost of $15,000, the upper rooms of the building being used for lodge purposes.

Kearney Encampment No. 18, I. O. O. F., was instittited at Kearney, September 3, 1881, by Grand Patriarch J. W. Walters and Grand Secretary D. A. Cline, with the following charter members : A. T. Cannon, Swan J. Johnson, L. L. Ketchum, William Schram, W. F. Pickering, James Wallace, H. C. Andrews, W. H. Bushell, C. R. Clapp, L. D. Forehand, C. D. Ayres, H. W. Morse, Theodore AMlhelmy, C. J. Burke, I. B. Wambaugh, \\\ H. Hunt, Thomas H. Ayres.

In the year 1915 the encampment had a membership of seventy-five. Its officers: T. J. Scott, chief patriarch; E. E. Gardner, senior warden; E. A. Miller, scribe; M. N. Troupe, treasurer.

In the year 1915 the membership of the lodge was 203. Officers: Margaret Webbert, N. G. ; Nellie Wilkins, V. G. ; Aurelia AMiitney, secretary ; Frances Whitney, treasurer.

Robert Morris Lodge No. 46, A. F. & A. M.

Robert Morris Lodge No. 46, A. F. & A. M., of Kearney, was organized at Gibbon soon after the completion of the courthouse, the lodge meetings being held in the courtroom of the building. The preliminary organization was early in the year 1873, the date of the charter June 26, 1874. The charter members were : A. H. Brundage, Frank S. Trew, L. Worthington, Christopher Putnam. George S. Thomas, Benjamin Sartoria, Michael Coady, Rollin L. Downing, Simon C. Ayer, Alva G. H. White. Officers : Christopher Putnam, W. I\I. ; Frank S. Trew, S. W. ; Simon C. Ayer, J. W.

Kearney Chapter No. 23, R. A. M., was organized September 13, 1881. The charter members were: H. P., A. L. Webb; K., James H. Davis; S., H. L. Strong; treasurer, F. J. Switz; secretary, T. N. Hartzell; Ross Gamble, Reuben E. Barney, Paul Kalmuk, Charles B. Finch, Lawrence Ketchum.

Mount Hebron Commandery No. 12

Mount Hebron Commandery No. 12 was organized in January, 1882. The charter membership : Henry Gibbons, E. C. ; Rheuben E. Barney, Gen. ; Sylvester S. St. John, C. G. ; Frederick J. Switz, prelate ; Paul Kalmuk, S. W. ; Lawrence Ketchum, J. W. ; A. L. Webb, warden ; James H, Davis, Sent. ; William C. Villson, Rec.

Tuscan Chapter No. 35, 0. E. S.

In 1915 the membership of the chapter was 160. The officers: W. M., Mrs, Dorothy Clifton; W. P., C. B. Manuel; secretary, Bessie Manuel; treasurer, Mrs. Minter Todd.

Kearney Lodge No. 984 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks was instituted on June 30, 1905 by the initiation of a class of ninety. At this same meeting the following officers were elected :

On July 2 1st of the same year the lodge secured the top floor of the City National Bank Building for lodge rooms and have held them ever since. In connection with the lodge room a fine suite of club rooms are maintained for the convenience and comfort of the members. Under the supervision of a steward these rooms are always open to members and visiting brothers.

Kearney Commercial Club

On the following Thursday, April 7, 1881, the above committee met in the Nonpareil office and organized by electing E. C. Calkins president and J. J. Saville secretary. At this meeting Mr. J. N. High presented suggestions for a plan to organize a company and raise funds for the purpose of building a canal from the Platte River to supply water to the City of Kearney and water power for manufacturing purposes. After a careful discussion of the subject a committee was appointed to procure an estimate of the cost of the work, and another committee to draft a plan for forming a company and devise a method to be used in raising money for the project.

At this meeting ]\Ir. Hodges, a citizen of Sweetwater, appeared before the executive committee and made a statement regarding the bridges over Cedar Creek and the Loup River. It seemed that the bridges were in very poor condition and Avould require piling and lumber to repair them and the people in the vicinity were not in a financial position to buy the material. A committee of five was appointed to raise the needed funds and the results of their efforts were explained at the following meeting held on April 9, when Mr. Andrews reported that the committee had obtained five piles from the B. & M. Railroad Company and had telegraphed the agent of the Union Pacific Company requesting a donation of five piles from them, and by circulating a subscription paper had secured from the citizens of Kearney cash subscriptions amounting to $113.95 with which to purchase lumber.

At this meeting a committee was appointed consisting of Messrs. Calkins, Savidge and Roe, which secured the co-operation of Mr. F. G. Hamer, with instructions to correspond with the Nebraska delegation in Congress, with the secretary of the interior and the law department at \A'ashington and procure from them charter, department regulations and laws relating to subsidised railroads

This meeting was adjourned to meet Thursday evening, April 14, 1881, when the canal subject would again be discussed. Of this meeting there are no records, neither of any subsequent meetings. However the Board of Trade remained in existence for some time after this date and was directly responsible for the initial work on the Kearney Canal.

Several years passed by before another organization of this nature was perfected in the city. On March 21, 1887, the second Kearney Board of Trade was launched with the following officers: President, C. B. Finch; first vice president. Homer J. Allen; second vice president, F. J. Switz; treasurer, E. C. Calkins; secretary, K. O. Holmes. This organization was perfected in the third story of the Bufifalo County Bank Building, now known as the Porterfield Building. Afterwards rooms were taken in B. D. Smith's office in a building near where V. C. Chase's store now stands.

The records and minutes of this organization have been destroyed and the actual progress of the association as revealed by substantial records is not known. Several members of this organization are still in Kearney and many of these will be found among our leading merchants. Upon their recollection and upon the newspaper files of that epoch I must rely for data of its activities.

At that time Kearney was in a transitory period. She was expanding very rapidly and growing from a small town of the plains into a city of business and a mart of trade. Eastern capital was flowing into the town in large quantity and expansion was the watchword. Business became rushing, money was easy and the spirit of enterprise filled the air. With these conditions it was natural that the newly organized Board of Trade found much to do. The business men represented on its directorate w^orked until the early hours of the morning planning new methods to attract capital and to advertise Kearney. There was no lack of funds flowing into the treasury and with these, alluring literature telling of "Kearney's Gait" was prepared and mailed broadcast over the land. Committees were appointed to follow up every tangible prospect and money was spent freely but judiciously in interesting such prospects.

This organization during 1887 and 1888, under the leadership of C. B. Finch and K. O. Holmes accomplished much good and was instrumental in securing many enterprises for the city. At that time Mr. Finch was mayor of the city and much of the success of the Board of Trade was due to the harmony that existed between it and the city council.

During the summer of 1888 many real estate promoters from the east formed a combination in Kearney and in March, 1889, secured control of the organization when a reorganization was eft'ected under the name of the Kearney Chamber of Commerce. The officers elected were : President, O. S. Marden ; first vice president, George W. Frank ; second vice president. Homer J. Allen ; treasurer, E. M. Judd ; secretary, K. O. Holmes. The membership of the new organization was 108 and the meetings were held in room 11 of the old Midway Hotel.

By this time Kearney had developed a portentous boom and the men at the head of the Chamber of Commerce were directly interested in the boom, consequently the efl:'orts of the association were directed to that end. The cotton mill was built, factories of various kinds and on an elaborate scale were secured, subsidised and built, street railways were constructed, steam railroads were projected and bonds voted to assist them in building. Men of affairs had wonderful visions ; they saw Kearney a second Chicago, the big city of Nebraska. Times were feverish. The people became aquiver with expectation, a wonderful city was in the making and then the crash came. The Chamber of Commerce was forgotten, its officers moved to other parts and at last the organization passed into history. Later on an effort was made to resuscitate the association, but the move failed and it went the way of the boom.

The present Commercial Club was organized during 1907, but the first minutes of its meetings now available are dated March 3, 1908. At this meeting Mr. Henry Gibbons served as chairman and W. W. Barney was elected temporary secretary.

The organization of this Commercial Club, like the inception of the others, was demanded through an exigency arising that effected the people of Kearney. The first club was organized to build the Kearney Canal and thus furnish Kearney with a water supply, the second club was an outgrowth of a necessity that furnished a medium through which the boosting of the city could better be accomplished, while the organization of this present association was demanded to furnish a co-operation of the business men in a struggle to secure just and equitable freight rates into and out of the city.

Mr. J. W. Patterson was elected its first president and Mr. J. G. Lowe was chosen secretary of the newly organized club. During the succeeding years the following men have served as president and secretary :

During these years the club has been actively engaged in the fight for better freight rates for the city. It launched the Buffalo County Fair, it has consistently advocated better roads, it has promoted street paving, and during the last three years its scope of action has broadened until it has developed into the community forum. Every question effecting the city and its environs is brought to the club for discussion. Its attitude on public questions is eagerly sought.

For several years the club has maintained a Monday noon lunch for its members, which service has become very popular. The meeting of its board of directors is held weekly, directly after the Monday lunch.

The original board of directors was composed of fifteen members. This number was soon increased to twenty-five and at the annual election of 19 16 was raised to fifty. This allows a large percentage of the membership a voice in the weekly deliberations of the directors and creates added interest in the activities of the club.

The club's activities are rapidly multiplying and instead of being an organization working alone for the interest of the merchants it is striving to become a community builder, a city builder, where the farmer, the city dweller and the business man can meet on mutual footing and work harmoniously for the advancement of the entire community.

Loyal Lodge No. I4, K. Of P.

Forman Lodge No. 12, A. O. U. W., was organized August 13, 1883, with a charter membership of twenty-five. Officers : Byron D. Smith, P. W. M. ; J. A. Regnell, M. W. ; W. H. Hurst, foreman; W. M. Knutzen, overseer; S. M. Nevius, Rec. ; H. Fred Wiley, Fin.; J. C. Philbrick, Treas. ; P. Lindgren, guide; G. A. Olson, I. W.

In the year 1915 the lodge had 350 members. Officers: C. E. Bloomfield, P. W. M. ; T. A. Pickrell, M. W. ; C. Lancaster, foreman ; E. A. Miller, Fin. ; John Frasier, overseer ; E. F. Winn, Rec. ; A. T. Olson, Treas. ; George Clark, guide; A. M. Sherman, inside watch.

Kearney Lodge No. 43, Degree of Honor, A. O. U. W., was instituted March 16, 1893, with a charter membership of sixty-eight. The names of its first officers could not be obtained.

In 1915 the lodge had a membership of 103. Its officers were: Ella Killgore, P. C. of H. ; Maggie Dority, C. of H. ; Lena Olson, L. of H. ; Carrie Richard, C. of C. ; Mary LaCornn, R'dr. ; Ida Haynes, Fin. ; Emma M. Hibberd, Rec. ; Phoebe Lancaster, usher; the minor officers being Fern Lancaster, Ada Holmes, Nellie Fenton, Lucy Hall, Etta Temple, Rilla Flannery, Elsie LaCornn.

Hope Camp No. 316, M. W. A., was instituted at Kearney in April, 1887, with seventy-six charter members. Its first officers were : W. A. Howard, V. C. ;

Kearney Council No. 12, Loyal Mystic Legion Knights Of Columbus

St. James Council No. 1728, Knights of Columbus, was organized with a charter membership of ninety, April 21, 1914. The first officers: Dr. E. A. Watson, G. K. ; Prof. B. H. Patterson, R. S.

The object of the order as stated : "To perpetuate and keep alive the memory of Columbus by fitting and appropriate ceremonies on October 12th of each year."

Tribe Of Ben Hur

Kearney Court No. 108, Tribe of Ben Hur, was instituted September 16, 1903, with a charter membership of thirty-five, the officers being: Dr. M. A. Hoover, chief ; E. A. Miller, scribe.

The first official reference to this church is contained in the report of A. G. White, presiding elder of the Omaha District, made at the annual session of the Nebraska Conference, held at Plattsmouth, April 18, 1873. The Nebraska Conference then comprised the entire state. Kearney Junction Circuit was at that time a part of the Grand Island Mission. The report referred to contains the following :

"The Grand Island Mission was an extensive field, requiring the labor of two men. Brother J. S. Smith, the pastor, preferred to confine his operations to the east part of the work, and he consented voluntarily to divide the missionary appropriation with another man, if he would take charge of the western part of the circuit. I therefore employed Rev. Wilham Morse, a supernumerary of Wisconsin Conference, appointed him to the western portion, and called it Kearney Junction Circuit. Brother Morse has labored very efficiently, and reports a large increase of membership."

This indicates that the work at this point began after the preceding annual conference, which met at Nebraska City on the 20th of March, 1872, at which conference the records disclose that J. S. Smith was appointed to Grand Island. The membership at Kearney at the end of Reverend Morse's first year was forty-five. At the Plattsmouth conference, of 1873 ^^"^^ Kearney District was formed, with A. G. White presiding elder. The report of the elder for the succeeding conference year, from 1873 to 1874 (the time of holding the conference had in the meantime been changed, and that of 1874 was held October ist of that year, making an interim of eighteen months between the conferences of 1873 and 1874) states :

"Kearney Circuit in BuiTalo County was left to be supplied, and Rev. D. A. Crowell, a supernumerary of Erie Conference, was appointed pastor. The success of his labor is evidence that he is a workman that needeth not to be ashamed. A neat church has been built, 30 by 50 feet in size, with a projecting tower and bell, at a cost of $4,000, and the membership has been increased by the addition of nearly 100."

In the report of the district superintendents at the conference of 1875, li<^^d at Lincoln September 15th, the outlook at Kearney was discouraging. The record says :

"When the church at Kearney was dedicated last year, pledges were taken sufficient to cover the indebtedness, but the grasshopper plague swept away the resources of the people and they were unable to meet their obligations. The indebtedness amounted to $1,246, and an execution was issued for the sale of the premises. We obtained half this amount in the East, including $300 from the Board of Church Extension, and the whole debt was paid."

The local history of the church differs somewhat from that reflected by the official records above. The manuscript, written probably in 1874, by the minister in charge, is as follows :