Washington County, Nebraska - The whole text, 1876 (part 2 of 2)

Florence, when they were stopped by writ of injunction and the machinery all recovered and put into the hands of a receiver (Mr. James Thompson) appointed by the court. Mr. Thompson replaced it in the mill and run the same until the termination of the suit which transferred the property from the Vaniers to Clark & Hale. Excitement over this matter ran high for a long time, some sympathizing and siding with the Vaniers' and others with Clark & Hale, and the community was pretty eqally divided between the two. The cause of this sympathy and division,however,dated back to the entry of the town site in 1857, at which time about half the citizens, with the Vaniers were on one side, and they still clung to them through the mill difficulty. This difference over the town arose from a conflict of town authorities. In January, 1856 the town was incorporated by act of the legislature as a city and a Mayor and Board of Aldermen authorized to be elected the following March and annually therefrom, and which were not elected until March, 1857. The land coming in market that year a board of trustees was quietly elected and organized under the general incorporation law of the Territory by Alonzo Perkins, the Voniers and their friends, who constituted the one side, and entered the town at the government land office in Omaha, claiming that as the Mayor and Board of Aldermen were not elected at the first election appointed in the act of incorporation, the charter was forfeited and they were not a legal body. The Mayor, however, filed caveat smd contested the matter, and after a re-hearing was succesful, the entr^'^ of Board of Trustees being cancelled and the town Avas entered by Elam Clark, as Mayor, and the lots by him deeded to the several owners. This so embittered the two parties that it kept a division in the town for five years.

During this contest of the authorities over the town site, claim jumping was tried. Col. Stevens had built a residence on one of the most valuable lots in the west part of the town and, having temporarily moved out of it, a Mr. Elisha Aldrich, one of the opposite party, moved his family in and took possession, whereupon the Claim Club went to move him out. Mrs. Aldrich sat herself down in a chair and said they would have to "carry her out if they got her out,"so the chair with Mrs. Aldrich in it was gently carried out of door and she was left sitting on the prairie. The house was locked up and was not invaded or molested neither was any claim jumping of any kind afterwards indulged in.

By this time so many settlers had come in that it would be impossible to enumerate all. Among those now remembered, however, ia the precinct of Calhoun were Maj. Arnold and family, Geo. W. Nevell and family', Wm. Connor and family, Wm. Shipley and family, John Ryan and family, John Kelly and family, W. H. Russell and family, D. B. Havvley and fjimily, James Goodrich and family, Orrin Rhodes and family, Thos. J. Allen and family Jesse Estlock and family, Hugh McNeely and family Mr. Johnson and family, .Tames Craig, sr., and family, A. Reed and family, Wm. Moore and family, Dr. J. P. Andrew and family. Col. George Stevens and family, E. H. Clark and family, Daniel Franklin and family, N. Runyon and family, A. P. Allen and family, John Allen and family,

Robert Allen and family, Pat .Stettsand family, Miss Mary Ann Tew and family, Ela Stetts and family, Perkins Allen and family, Alonzo Perkins and family, E. Aldrich and family, Wm. Frazier and family, Thos. Frazier and family, H, J. Rohwer and family, Geo, W, Doane and family, James Borland and family, W. B. Beals and family, Newton Clark and family, W. H. Jacoby, W. P. Rowford, James M. Piper, Chester Lusk, James S. Wiseman, Dean C, and Charles Slader, David McDonald, Chris Rathman, J. B. Kuony and family, Joel Neff, M. Gales, Levi Kline, Clark Irvine, James S. Riddler,Dan. W. Case, James L. Barbor,John and William Apple,A. S. Paddock, now United States Senator,Dwight A.Clark Michael Upton, Mr. Alexander (a noted Scotchman, who died at Calhoun in 1858), John Everheart, George Everheart and wife, Jacob Kreitter and family, C. Bannister and family, Geo. W. Homan, sr. and family, Paul Stallenburg and family Henry Frabm.

As stated previously the county seat of Washington county was located by act of legislature at Ft. Calhoun in 1855. Three years later by special legislative enactment, it was removed to De Soto ; la 1861 it was again located at Calhoun, this time by a vote of the people, and in lSt)(3 it was fixed at Blair - also by a public vote, and there it will probably re main permanently.

In May, 1856, the first Sunday School was organized and in 1857 there was a religious revival at Calhoun, De Soto and Fontenelle, at the eame time, brought about, mainly by the earnest, zealous efforts of Rev. T. B. Lemon, then stationed at De Soto.

The following named lawyers have practiced their profession while residing at Fort Calhoun ; E. H. Clark, Levi Kime. Clark Irvine, Geo. W. Doane, W. AV. Toole, E. N. Gray. E. N. Grennell, and John D. Howe (now of Omaha.) Senator A. S. Paddook was admitted to the bar, while living at Calhoun, but did not practice. Judge L. Crounse, now our representative in Congress, located at Calhoun in 1857, upon being appointed to the third Judicial district. He still resides there and spends his tioae with his family, in their charming home, when not at Washington.

Dr. J. P. Andrews (still a resident of the town) Dr. Wm. Moore, and Dr. Charles Lawrence, are the only medical gentlemen who have taken up their abode at Calhoun.

The town of De Soto was ineortjorated by act of the legislature in March, 1855, having been laid out in the fall of the year previous by Dr. John Glover, Gen. J. B. Robinsou, Potter C, Sullivan, (now a resident of Oregon, from which State he lacked only one vote of being sent to Congress) E. P. Stout, Wra. Clancy and others, Judge Jesse T. Davis locating there in the fall of 1855. In March, 1855, a charter was granted E. P. Stout to run a flat boat ferry across the Missouri. Again in January, 1856, a charter was granted to Wm. Clancy and P. (J. Sullivan, to establish and run a steam ferry, and city bonds were voted to the amount of $30,000 to aid the enterprise, P. C. Sullivan being dispatched to the east for the purpose of disposing of the bonds and i^rocuring a steam ferryboat. This projectfailing to pan out successfully the eteam ferry enterprise was abandoned together with the charter, and subsequently, in May, 1857, a flatboat ferry was established by Isaac Parrish.

During the summer of 1855 thirty hewn log houses were built in the town, and business prospects were encouraging. Dr. A. Phinny, was the proprietor of the first store, and. Charles Seltz who came down the Missouri in a skiff from the mountains, and stopped at DeSoto in the fall of 1855, was probably the second merchant to locate in the town. Harrison Critz, and Z. Jackson, each established a boarding house that year, and P. C. Sullivan was appointed postmaster.

In 1856 Levi and Marsh Kennard (both now residents of Omaha) established themselves in the mercantile line at De Soto, under the firm name of Kennard Bros. Tlios. P. Kennard, now of Lincoln, is also one of the early settlers of the town, where he practiced law and, later, kept a hotel.

In 1857, a Mr. Fake, from Chicago, brought a heavy stock of liquors to De Soto, Samuel Francis establisded a hotel and the bank of De Soto entered upon a career of brilliant, but rather short-lived prosperity, with

Samuel Hall as president, Geo. E. Scott, cashier. In the same year the Waubeek Bank was established with H. H. Hine, president, and A. Castetter, teller, the latter doing all the business, and in the following spring the Corn Exchange bank was established by a Chicago firm, with J.Tucker as teller. Town property increased in price at a rapid rate, and the old settlers point with pride to the fact that a Mrs. Johnson refused f 1,500 in gold for a certain corner lot. In 1857, the town had ten or a dozen saloons, nearly as many stores and a population of between six and seven hundred. Prosperity attended the settlers until the Pikes Peak and Cherry Creek gold excitement in the fall of 1857, when a majority of them abandoned the town and journeyed to the newly discoveied gold fields.

Of course De Soto had a " claim club" in those early days, in order tu protect the first settlers in their land claims, and prevent their being taken away by later arrivals with more money, who came in before the Lmd came into market. However, the club had no serious difficulty with any one, and when there was no longer any necessity for the organization it was allowed to die out.

The first minister who ever preached regularly at De Soto, was Rev. Jacob Adriance, of the Methodist Church. This was in 1857, services being held in a buildiiig which belonged to W. W. Wynian, then a resident of Omaha, wlierehe edited the Omaha Times, and was afterwards postmaster at Omaha. He was father of the present Treasurer of the United States. It was in 1857 that Judge Wakely, Territorial Judge, Roger T. Beall and E. A. Allen, located in De Soto ; Judge Wakely's family arriving in the fall.

The first sermon preached in the town, was in the fall of 1855, by a strange old character who wandered in one day, announced himself as a minister and asked for a room in which to hold religious services A room was Ifurnished liim by Harrison Critz, proprietor of a boarding house, and it is remembered to this day, that the old man prayed that ''this people maj'^ not become as barbarous as other heathen," to which the crowd present responded, " Amen !" Another wandering preacher was preaching there somewhat later to a congregation which filled the room full to overflowing, when a party of rowdys vented their disappointment at not being able to gain admittance by knocking the minister over his improvised pulpit, by throwing a dead dog at him.

In the fall of 1859, a young man was arrested on suspicion of being a member of a band of horse-thieves, which operated extensively in the vicinity, and was known to have its headquarters in or about the town. The young fellow '- squealed" on condition he be released, aud disclosed the whereabouts - in an old cave - of regularly drawn articles of organization, signed by the band, together with other valuable documents. The names of men standing high in the settlement and never before suspected, were found attached to these papers, and in consequence of their discovery, quite number of De Soto's leading citizens immediately decamped, and the band of horse-thieves was effectually broken up, though not until several arrests had been made.

A mile or two below De Soto, the Mormons made a settlement in 1846, after having been driven out of Nauvoo, 111., and remained several years. Here were found well burned brick, in considerable quantities, by the first settlers of De Soto, which brick were used in walling up wells. Brigham Young occupied quarters one winter on the ground on which the DeSoto flouring mill was built a few years ago.

Among the early settlers of the town, were the following : Judge Jessie T. Davis and family, Harrison Critz and family, Hugh McNeeley and family, Geo. McKinney and family, Sam Lewis, Z. Jackson, Potter C Sullivan and family, Ephriam Sullivan and family, David McDonald and family, Porter S. Walker, Stephen Cass and family, James E. Smith and family, Z. Meekam and family, George W, Marlin and family, Z. S. Martin and family, Jeremiah Barnhart, Michael Tobey, T. M. Carter, (for whom Carter's Creek was named), Aleck Carter, Jr., Elisha P- Stout, Edward and Edwin Haj'es, J. Bliss, Jacob Hill, J. T. McGiddagan, A. Phinney, Henry Way, Wm. Clancy, Jerry Sullivan, Charles Seltz, Roger T. Beall, E. N. Grennell, Geo. E. Scott and family, Samuel Francis and family, E. A. Allen, (now of Omaha,) Leroy and Lewis Tucker, with their families, Frank Goodwill and family, P. H. Knapp and family, Charles Powell, (now a member of the Board of Education at Omaha,) and family. Dr. Cutts and family. Con Orem, (who afterward became a noted pugalist in Colorado), A. Castetter and family, J. Tucker, J. W. Damon, Thos. R. Wilson, G W. Wilson, M. V. Wilson, Soloman Himeline, George Obhurst, J. P. Ames, Constant Cacheline and famil}', L'^uis Bouvier and family. Dr. John Glover and family, W. H. B Stout, (now of Lincoln,) David Stout, Ferdinand Bujon and family, Joseph Buga and family, Geo. McKenzie and family, and John Carrigau and family.

The first district school house was built in 1860, and was 22x40 feet. There had been schools taught in the town previous to this date, however.

In 1856, Isaac Parrish, an ex- Congressman from Ohio, came to De Soto and "jumped" the western portion of the town site, building and occupying a claim shanty. The claim club called upon him and asked for an explanation, whereupon he agreed to give up his claim, provided he was allowed to put in a ferry across the Missouri opposite the town, which proposition was agreed to. Parish then jumped a portion of a town site called Cincinnati, on the opposite side of the river, at Shingle Point.

The first child born in De Soto, and probably the first in the county, was John Critz, born in June 18-55. The first marriage was that of Thos. M. Carter and Miss Sullivan, sister of Poter C. Sullivan, the bride being but fourteen years of age at the time.

Blair can very properly be referred to as a " magic city." It was laid out in 1869, the first lots being sold on the 10th of March of that year, at auction. The town was locate I by John I. Blair and associates, members of the Sioux City and Pacific railroad company. The deeds to purcliasers of lots came from John I. Blair and wife through W. W. Walker "attorney-in-fact" until about two years ago, since which they have been signed by " The Nebraska Town Company." At the first sale lots to the amount of over $100,000 were disposed of, and the town built up during the summer and fall of 1S69 with remarkable rapidity. Its growth since has not been so rapid, but its prosperity has been unchecked, and the increase in population has been steady and continuous. The residents of the place have shown rare judgment and forethought in the planting of trees along the streets and about their grounds, and five years from this time Blair will be one of the most attractive towns in the State. The railroad company set a good example in the matter of tree planting, having, in the first settlement of the place, themselves i>lanted out a handsome little park directly in front of their depot. These trees are now so large that the park was used last Fourth of July for the ceremonies of the day, which were attended by hundreds from all parts of the country. The Fourth of July, 1870. was also generally celebrated at Blair by the residents of the ''ounty. Then the public exercises were held in the pavillion of a circus which happened to be in the town. The oration was delivered by Judge John S. Bowen, and the celebration was a very pleasant affair indeed.

The first business house established in Blair was that of Herman Bros., dry goods, and the next that of Clark «& Donovan, dealers in groceries and liardware, who afterwards sold out to John J. Adams. Among ufher business men who located at Blair at an early day, and are now doing business there, are West & Lewis, dry goods ; Rosa & McBride, dry goods; J. H. Post, drugs; Haller & Lane, drugs; John Zerung - afterwards Peterson & Zerung - drugs ; Smith & Dexter, dry goods; Martin Gallagher, furniture; Mathewson & Logan, dry goods and groceries; Palmer & Co., dry goods and groceries; M. C. Huyett, clothing; H. McBride, dry goods and groceries ; Haller Bros.,

Valentine Ganz, boots and shoes ; M. C. Huyett & Co., Denney & Wild, Elam Clark & Son, James Foley, Kenney & Stewart, A. M. Crowdy, C. H. Eggleson, Foley & Lippincott, and E. M. Demmy, agricultural implements ; Miss Lantry, Miss W. C. Walton, Mrs. McKay, Mrs. Hiiton, Mrs. Sarah E. Hidley, and Mrs. R. W. Dawson, millinery, Hotels have been established and kept by the following named persons ; Keiley Bros., Martin Kloos, Wm. Maher, Wm. Carson, Mrs. A. M. Quimby, Mrs. E. E. Sketchley, George Seik, and Henry Seurt. Levy & Chapman, Hammersling, and John Coanell have been or are now engaged in dealing in harness. Butcher shops have been kept or are still kept by Sheeley & Irvy, Wm. O'Hara, Wm. Miller, J. C. Hart, M. V. Wilson, John Connell, Bowen & Parks, J. G. Smith, and John Parks. Grain dealers, Elam Clark & Son, C. C. Crowell, and the Blair City Mill Co. Blacksmiths, John Tew, Frank Stanford, Ed. Cochrane, and John H. Smith. Physicians, F. H. Longley, S. B. Taylor, S. H. Fawcett, C.

B. F. Hilton, J. S. Bowcn, M. Ballard, A. D. Brainard, and S. H, Tucker. Real estate agents, Alex. Reed, Alonzo Perkins, A. Castetter. Banker, A. Castetter.

The Blair City mill, which was completed recently, is doing a fine business. It is owned by H. B. Dexter, Eli H. Turton, V. G. Lantry, T. M. Carter, and Mr. Wortendyke.

Dr. S. H. Fawcett is postmaster, with Harry M. Bowen as assistant. The asessed valuation of rea: estate, for taxable purposes was, last year $116,005 ; pei'sonal property $60,390. The amount received from taxes and licenses for 1875 was .?o,555.62. The liquor license is §(500 per annum, and the result is the town is not overrun with low droggeries. The license on theatrical exhibitions, circuses, etc., is from three to twenty-live dollars.

The town of Blair was first under control of aboard of trustees appointed by the county commissioners, and consisted of the following named :

The Blair High School building, erected in 1872 at a cost of $15,000, is one of the finest in the state; and with its efficient corps of teacher is fast acquiring reputation as a first-class institution of learning.

James Foley, $100,000; W. W. McKinney, $50,000; Herman Bros., $60,000; J. P. &W. W. Latta, $50,000; Iowa parties, $25,000; O. Dodson, $20,000 ; G. W. Wilson, $15,000. In addition to this. A. S- Warrick, Charles Blackstone, R. Blasco, Joseph Johnson, Wm. Hilgenkamp, and other farmers shipped stock extensively on their own account, which would make the total amount of money used in this business during the season, probablv $400,000.

The building used for a court house was erected for school i^urposes by a firm of contractors in Blair, as a private speculation. The school authorities did not conclude to purchase the building, however, and it was sold to the county. In it are located the offices of the county treasurer and clerk, a hall on the second floor being used for court purposes. The finances of the county have been ably managed, as a general thing, and, as it is one of the wealthiest and most prosperous counties in the State, a suitable and commodious court house is doubtless a thing of the near future. One bill of expense, to which the county has been subjected, has arisen from three or four protracted murder trials, in each of which eases there has been disagreements by the jury, necessitating a second hearing. The expense of the Randall trial alone was about $5,000 - a sum sufficient to pay court expenses for two years, under ordinary circumstances.

The county jail is located several scpxares from the court house, and is, perhaps, less suited for jail purposes than any similar structure oti the face of the earth, being small, inconveniently arranged, and the cells damp and unhealthly. It was built sooa after the county seat was located at Blair, and cost some $S, 000. For this sum an excellent jail building, large enough to supply the wants of the county for half a century, could now be built. It seems to be au absolute necessity, however, that counties in the west should pay for some very e.x^pensive lessons, and Washington county in comparison with some of her neighbors, has passed through this experience at a moderate outlay.

Cuming City

The following sketch of Cuming ('ity, is taken from the the very interesting historical address of Mr. Perry Selden, delivered at Blair, July 4th, of the present year :

"Cuming City, one of the ancient cities of Washington county, was " claimed" by P. G. Cooper and two others, in September, 1854. No settlement was made, however, until the s^jringof 1855. when actual settlers early made their appearance, in sufltieient numbers to justify the projectof a city. Accordingly a "site" was located, mapped, surveyed, and named in honor of the Acting Governor, T. B. Cuming. It is claimed that the election for Burt county, in December, 1854, was held near Cuming City, on South creek ; while others claim for that honor, a position in the willows, on the bank of the Missouri River, near De Soto. The later is, no doubt, the most valid claim, as the parties to that election came up from Omaha on the day of voting, and were not likely, under the circumstances, to go farther than across the imaginary line, which was at that time between De Soto and Fort Calhoun. Be this as it may, certain it is» that the regular election at Cuming City, in November, 1855, was held under a Cottonwood tree, near the present bridge on South creek.

"Flattered and encouraged with the patronage of territorial officials Cuming City soon became a place of importance and great future prospects. The inevitable ferry charter was granted to P. G. Cooper in January, 1856, by the legislature, and the same month " Washington College" was incorporated and located at Cuming City, and the same act appointed a board of Trustees consisting of the following distinguished persons, viz : R. R. Folsom, James Mitchell, T. B. Cuming, Mark W. Izard, P. G. Cooper, William B. Hall, John C. Campbell and J. B. Radford.

" In 1857 the Nebraska Pioneer, a weekly newspaper was started under the management of a man named Dimmick. At the election in November, 1856, one of the representative men of Cuming City and an early settler, Mr. James S. Stewart, was chosen as a representative, together with E. P. Stout and William Connor; while William Claucy was elected councilman.

" In 1857 there was in Cuming City, fifty-three dweeling houses, three stores, three hotels, besides several boarding houses and a number of saloons. At the election this year Cu)ning City was again honored by the selection of two of its prominent citizens as representatives: Mr. James

" In 1858 came into existence, and flourished for a while, the Cuming City Star, a weekly newspaper conducted by L. M. Kline. In November 1858, by act of the legislature, the "Cuming City Ferry Company" was incorporated, and bj' the same act the former charter granted to P. G. Cooper, was revoked. This ferry company consisted of P. G. Cooper, L. M. Kline. George A. Brigham, and others.

" The first general fourth of July celebration in Washington county occurred at the grove on North Creek, near Cuming City, in 1860. Almost the entire population of the county was in attendance. Judge John S. Bowen was the orator of the day, and the Declaration of Independence was re.id by Alman Bender. A band from Tekanmh was in attendance, and altogether the affair was a grand success without precedent or parallel in the history of the county. Cuming City at this time was more flourishing and populous than at any more recent date Although it continued a place of some importance, yet the zenith of its glory had been reached and for the ensuing nine years there was no perceptible change."

It was at this celebration that a newly wedded wife came near being abandonded by her husband. Among those present was a Methodist preacher by the name of Turman, who was stationed at Fontenelle that year, and was known far and near for his eccentricities. He had married recently to the astonishment of all his acquaintances and to his own also, no doubt, and he and Airs. Turman both attended this fourth of July celebration. As the people were leaving the grove in the evening, after the festivities of the day, some one in the wagon in which Furman was riding, suddenly turned to him with the inquiry: * Why, Mr. Turman, Where's your wife ?" "Sure enough," exclaimed the absent-minded preacher, as he jumped from the wagon to return to the grove,"I knew I had forgotten something," and he ran back in search of his missing rib. Among the first setttlers of Cuming City may be mentioned Jacob Pate, Lorenzo Pate, J. Zimmerman, J, Gall, E. Pilcher, P. G. Cooper, J. S. Stewart, L. M. Kline, T. C. Hungate, O. W. Thomas, Geo. A. Brigham, A. W. Merrick, L. R. Fletcher, Giles Mead, J. C. Lippincott, J. Boice, J. Johnson.

In the fall of 1876 the Cuming City timber claim was jumped by some Irishmen. A large party, armed with guns, ropes and all the " necessaries" went down to the shanty occupied by the intruders for the purpose of forcing them to terms. They tore down the shanty and, not finding the larger "game" they expected, began shooting birds for pastime. Some of the party had been left in the rear to take care of the teams and tney hearing the firing, supposed hostilities on a scale of unexpected magnitude had commenced, and so fled to town in hot haste, taking the teams with them and giving the women folks who had assembled on Fish creek a terrible fright. An hour later their anxiety was relieved by the remainder of the party straggling in afoot and reporting nobody hurt. In the following spring the Irishmen were drowned in the big flood, and Cuming City secured her timber claim.

The town of Herman was laid out in 1871, on a tract of land owned by tlie Omaha and Northwestern railroad company, James G. Megeath. and T.W.' T. Richards, and named in honor of Samuel Herman, who has occupied the position of conductor on the Omaha and Northwestern since it was put in operation. The new town soon became an important shipping point for stock and grain as it has been the terminus of the railroad up to this time, though at the present writing, July 28, 1876, it Is being rapidly pushed through to Tekamah, the county seat of Burt county.

Dock Kimball was the first agent of the railroad at Herman, and was the first to engage in mercantile business there, in which he was quite succesful. At this time the grangers own and operate a grain elevator at Herman, as do also Elam Clark & son. J. J. Stubbs, formerly assistant engineer on the Omaha and Northwestern, is an extensive grain dealer andsois W. W. Darrell, who is also engaged in general merchandizing. W. S. Hichards is the postmaster and he, too keeps a large stock of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, etc. John Bradford sells groceries, dry goods and hardware; W. R. Fitch does the blacksmitning for the residents of that section of the country, and L. Davis supplies the travelling public with livery and buys and sells stock.

The town is surrounded by a sDlendid country for farming and stock raising, and is being rapidly settled up. It is the only town between Blair and Tekamah, and is destined to become an important point. Lots now sell at prices varying from twenty-five to one hundred and fltty dollars.

There are a great many residents of Washington county who never knew - and probably would have gone down to the silent tomb without the knowledge, but for this veracious chronicle of the past - that in 1856 a very enterj^rising citizen of the wooden nutmeg State, one W. E. Walker, was the sole owner and proprietor of a town site in a swamp in the extreme northeast corner of the count}'^, which town site he christened Hudson. More than this: He platted another town site in a like eligible locality immediately opposite, on the Iowa side of the Missouri, called it Melrose, published beautiful lithograps by the hundreds, representing the two towns, with busy steamers plying between them endeavoring to supply transportation for the enormous traffic constantly carried on between the two towns. Armed with these, aided and abetted by a tongue remarkable for the oily rapidity with which it could be inanipulated. Walker meandered up and down the eastern states, engaged in lecturing, and, at the close of each lecture, would sell off lots in Hudson and Melrose, at the rate of one dollar each, with astonishing rapidity. A plat of Hudson can be seen at the office of County Clerk Jackson, and this plat shows that the town was comprised of 8,720 lots, consisting of fifty blocks, 2,000 feet long by 200 wide, four blocks of the same length, 100 feet wide, ten blocks 2,250 feet long by 200 in width, and one block of the length last given by 100 feet in width. The streets were front 45 to GO feet wide, and there was not an alley in the town. The sale of lots in Hudson was so great for the first few years after its location, that the county clerks accumulated considerable weath by recording the deeds therefor at the rate of one dollar each. The deeds were printed, the name of Walker being also printed, so that when lots were sold all lie had to do was to insert the name of the purchaser and number of lots purchased. The deeds poured into the county clerk's office from all over the east, and it is estimated that Walker made at least $5,000 by his scheme. To this day county officials are bothered with letters from eastern suckers inquiring as to the present price of lots in Hudson, and the writer was shown recently a batch of thirteen deeds, which had been sent in one envelope from Chicago, to be recorded.

Grant, Sheridan And Lincoln

The above named precincts are of comparatively recent settlement ; but wonderful changes have been wrought within their boundaries during the past half dozen years.

Grant precinct is in the northern part of the connty, west of Herman. Among its first settlers were L. H. Thone, Martin Peterson, Gilbert Thone, Wm. Ravers, L. D. Camex'on, Fox well Fletcher, Edward Fletcher, S. C. Rose, Perry Selden, Frank Whizinand, Mr. Crane, Josiah Pace, Alfred Van Valen, Samuel Spiker, Thomas Wilson, M. P. Preston, Mr. Geary. Most of these men have now splendid farms, and are more or less engaged in stock raising. The precinct is well watered by New York creek and its tributaries, along which are beautiful valleys specially adapted to grazing, the grass growing rich and luxuriant.

Sheridan precinct extends to the western border of the county, on the north. Its first settlements were made along Clark creek in 1856-'7, when that portion of the county belonged to Dodge county, though the interior and eastern portions of the precinct were not settled until many years later. Among the Clark and Logan creek settlers were Chris. Leiser, Charles and Fred Eisley, Uriah Thomas, Harvey J. Robinson, (who built the first grist mill on the fine water power now owned and occupied by A. C. Briggs & Son,) John and Silas Seeley, Sara'l Williams, Tom and Sam. Parks, Sullivan Gaylord, J. B. Robinson, John and DickShur; (the former was accidently shot and killed by Tom Parks during the Indian scare of 1859) ; John Cayton and his father in-law Mr. Clark, Chris. Hinneman and Mr. McBroom. At one time there was a postoflice on Clark creek called Lewisburg, but it was sacked by the Pawnees in June 1859, and discontinued soon after. The following named liave located in the precinct within the past ten years: W. A. Johnson, Phillip Gozzard David Clark and his son, Hiram G. Clark, (who have this year nearly 600 head of sheep, quite a number of cattle and hogs, barns costing $2 000 and a farmof 720 acres, on which they ai'e raising 250 acres of corn in one field,) Archie Bouver, O. H. Hatch, Robert Adams, John Adams, Auson Hewitt, C. B. Sprague, Robert Schenk, Frank Hancock, J. M. Jackson,

Lincoln precinct was organized about ten years ago. The first movement towards obtaining proprietory possession of land in this precinct was made in the year 1856, by Pomery Searle on a portion of the farm now owned and occupied by E. G. Gaylord, (our present State representative.) The following year Searle broke about 20 acres and set a portion in fruit and forest trees. In 1858 he went to California, and the first permanent improvement was made in 1SG8 by the present occupant. Eight years ago there were but two families living on the route from Cuming City to Fonteuelle, viz : A. Southerland and Benjamin Taylor. F. Curtis had his cabin up, but it was unoccupied. On the north, to the line of Burt county, there were only four settlers. There were a few settlements on the southern border of the precinct.

In the year 1857, John Mattes pre-empted the place now owned by William Hilgenkamp, and the following year a Mr. Coyle settled on the adjoining place north, now owned by William's father. With the exception of Mr. Parker, who settled on the place now owned by Herman Stork, there was no new settlements made in the precinct until about 1862. Wm. Hilgenkamp bought of John Mattes, has added to and improved until he has a farm ranked among the best in the county. James R- Thorp bought the land he now owns among the early purchases, but went I think, to California and China, returning to his old home in the State of New York in time to enlist and go through the war of the Rebellion, after \»hich, he returned and located on his place in the year 1868.

In 1865 or 1866, the influx of Homesteaders commenced, and settlements were made by Geo. Morley, F'rank Curtis and John B. Young and sons, followed soon after by H. N. Mattison, his son George, Mr. Ostrander, Mr. Jenson, Henry Hilgenkamp, Peter Hilgenkamp, and others who have secured good farms and are making the wild prairies teem with fields of grain, fruit and forest trees.

In 1857, Wm. R. Hamilton, (county commissioner for six years past), and W. M. Saint, settled on the west side of Bell creek. In the fall of the same year, a party of nine Indians made a raid upon Saint's cabin, (he being absent at the time), robbed it of all the provisions, cut open the feather bed, gave its contents to the wind, replaced the same with the stolen property, secured it upon a pony, and then mounting, raised a whoop, and charged upon Mr. Hamilton and his brother-in-law, who were building a sod stable at his place, and who stood upon the defensive, arms in hand. After circlihg around them awhile in a menancing manner, and finding they "didn't scare worth a cent," the red skins came to a parly, and wanted something to eat. Upon being refused, they made a break for the house, but were beaten in the race by Mr. Hamilton who finally drove them off'. On the following day, Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Saint went to the Indian camp, on the west side of the Elkhorn river, to try to recover the stolen property, but were unsuccessful.

The spring of 1858 opened with a scarcity of provisions among the pioneers, and Mr. Hamilton with a team of three yoke of oxen, started in search of supplies, and in the course of his travels found him self at Magnolia, Harrison county, Iowa, having crossed the Missouri river on the ice. After obtaining the needed supplies and starting for home, he was told that the crossing was unsafe, but there was no alternative. The fam - ily at home were in need and the stream must be crossed at all hazards, so locking the wheel of his wagon, drove down the bank upon the ice. While trying to undo the lock, the ice sankabout eighteen inches; he not wishing to travel in that direction, whipped up his team and came over in safety.

One of the Oldest Towns in the State - The Catfish AVar - Sinking of the Steamer Mary Cole - Church Organization - Death of Logan Fontenelle.

In the year 1854, a company was organized at Quincy, Illinois, for the purpose of securing to its members and their families homes in the new Territory of Nebraska. The company was called " The Nebraska Colinization Company," though as to whether or not it proposed " colonizing" the entire area of Nebraska, tradition is silent. Certain it is, however, that in July of that year, Rev. W. W. Keep, Jonathan Smith, J. W. Richardson, Jaied Blanset, C. Bernard, William Flach and James A. Bell, (father of the writer), came to Nebraska in order to " view the land," and locate the colony on behalf of the company. They crossed Iowa in wagons - as there was not then a foot of railroad track west of the Mississippi - camj iug out on the way, and in due time reached the embryo city of Omaha, whicli had just been laid out by the Nebraska & Council Bluffs Steam Ferry Company. There is a legend to the effect that this latter company, becoming alarmed at the advent of the Quincy chaps and their contemplated rival town, offered them a one-third interest in the townsite of Omaha, if they would stop there and not locate a rival city. This offer was rejected - promptly and unanimously rejected - as our comjiany from the Sucker State desired an entire town of their own, and were not to be turned aside from their purpose by the offer of one- third of a townsite which, at that time, had no advantages over a score of other localities.

Passing out beyond tlie bluffs of the Missouri and the tributaries to that stream, these Quincy pilgrims found a section of country which, for agricultural and grazing purposes, has no superior on this continent - or any other. Arriving in the vicinity of the Elkhorn, in their northwesterly course, they came to a stream of considerable size, over which it was necessary to throw a temporary bridge, in order to cross it. To do this, some one had to " coon it" across the stream on a log, and this task was undertaken by Mr. James A. Bell. Before reaching the other bank, however, he " heard something drop" into the stream below, and was sur- prised to find that it was hiaiself. He was at once fished out and spread out on the grass to dry. In consequence of this little episode the party immediately christened the stream "Bell creek," which name it still bears. Crossing this stream, the colonizers pursued their way to the banks of the Elkhorn, and were so pleased with the surrounding country that they decided to locate there, and the town site of Fontenelle was laid out, claims made, etc., by the party, who then- proceeded to the camp of the Omaha Indians - in honor of whose chief, Logan Fontenelle, the town was named - and held a grand pow-wow with the tribe for the purpose of securing itsgood will. They also paid Fontenelle the sum of ten dollars each, with the understanding that he was to protect their interests until members of the company could be sent out and established in their new town, and then returned to Quincy.

I am not able to give the names of the entire membership of the company, as it was organized in Quincy, but it included Jonathan Smith, President, Rev. W- W. Keep, Secretary, J. W. Richardson, J. C. Bernard, Treasurer ; O. C. Bernard, H. Metz, John Evans, (now of Kvans & Durnall, Omaha), J. Armor, H. G. Mauzey, E. M. Davis, W. H. Davis,

In the fall of 1854, the company sent out Judge J. W. Richardson as their agent, to occupy the town site, on behalf of the company. Judge Richardson was accompanied by his wife - now Mrs. \Vm. Kline, and still a resident of Fontenelle. At Council Bluffs they were joined by Col. Wm. Kline and Col. Doyle, of South Carolina, who had recently been appointed Marshal for the new Territory. In November, Dr. M. H. Clark, was elected councilman, and Col. Doyle and Judge Richardson, representatives to the Territorial Legislature, from Dodge county, in which Fontenelle was then the only settlement. The colonization company at Quincy instructed their agent, .ludge Richardson, to use every effort to secure the location of the Territorial capital at Fontenelle, and also dispatched two of their number - Smith and Bernard - to Omaha, to lobby in that interest during the session of the Legislature. Their efforts were in vain, however, and Omaha secured the prize. They succeeded, though, in securing a charter for a college to be located at Fontenelle ; and to be run under Baptist auspices, a town charter and a ferry charter, the latter in favor of Col. Kline. The county of Dodge was organized and Fontenelle designated as the county seat thereof. During the session, a bill was introduced, chartering the Platte Valley and Pacific railroad company, and on the 16th of February, ISoS, Dr- Clark, as chairman of the committee on corporations, submitted thereon a report of masterly ability, showing a clear understanding of existing facts and far-sighted grasp of the future of this great enterprise, from which report, I quote the following prediction. " In view of the wonderful changes that will result, your committee cannot believe the period remote when this work will be accomplished, and with liberal encouragement to capital which yoar committee are disposed to grant, it is their belief that before fiftetn years have transpired, the route to India will be opened and the way across this continent will be the common highway of the world." Fourteen years and three months from that date, was driven the golden spike which completed this world's highway.

The erroneous idea prevailed among the founders of Fontenelle, that the Platte and Elkhorn rivere could be used for purposes of navigation, and that water communication could be established between Plattsmouth and Fontenelle. With this obiect in view, the company at Quincy secured a small steamer, of the ferry boat style, and a'portiou of them, with their families, embarked at Quincy on the steamer "Mary Cole," bound for Fontenelle. The trip was made safely, until near the mouth of the Platte river, where she was snagged and completely wrecked. The lives of the passengers were saved with difficulty, but the cargo was almost entirely lost. Among the passengers on board the boat, were Samuel Whittier, (now of Fremont), wife and daughter Mary; W. H. Davis and family ; Henry Peters and family; J. Mcintosh and family; Miss Henrietta Redner, now Mrs. John W. Pattison of 8edalia, Mo.; Miss Phoebe Bartup, afterwards Mrs. H. C. Lemon and Mike McDonald.

The first death in Fontenelle was that of two men who were killed by Indians, supposed to be a straggling party of Santee 8ioux. One Saturday evening in July, 1855, a Mr. and Mrs. Porter, and young man named Demaree - the latter the son of a wealthy farmer living near Quincy, Illinois - came up from Bell Creek where they had been breaking i^rairie and encamped on Sam Francis' lake, a mile south of Fontenelle, intending to go up into the settlement Sunday morning. As they were about to leave camp Sunday, a party of Indians rode out of the willows and approached Porter's wagon. One of them snatched Demaree's hat olThis head and was riding off with it, when the owner called to him to stop or he would shoot him, picking up his rifle as he spoke. The Indian turned, saw this demonstration on the part of Demaree called out " Pawnee!" and shot him instantly, the ball passing through Porter also, killing both men. The Indians then rode off, leaving Mrs. Porter alone with the dead. The horrified woman raised the head of her husband and vainly strove to restore him to consciousness. Failing in this effort she started for Fontenelle, perfectly frantic with fear and excitement, and the story she told upon her arrival led the settlers to believe they were in danger of being attacked by an overwhelming force of Indians at any moment. At that time the nearest white settlement was that of Omaha - forty miles distant - hence no outside assistance could be expected. Arrangements were hastily made to repulse the expected attack, but fortunately, none was made. The Indians who had caused the alarm returned to their own " range," many miles to the westward and were never again seen in that section.

In consequence of this double murder, many long and weary months were passed before the settlers coijsidered themselves safe from assault and massacre by their red skin neighbors. The Governor of the Territory was implored to send out troops, and a militia company was sent out

Fontenelle company was commanded by Captain Kline, Russell Mc- Neally being first lieutenant, and John W. Pattison second. The ladies of the colony having been deprived of religious services on Sunday for many months, after consultation, called at the camp of these warriors from abroad Sunday morning in order to see if some one of their number would not consent to lead in religious exercises ; but, upon arriving at the building in which they were quartered, were completely discouraged upon discovering the invidual, whom they had all agreed was most likely to be the person to assume these duties, lying flat on his back, with his feet perched in the air, singing " Oh darkies, how my heart grows weary." The ladies backed out at once, without making known their mission.

In the fall of 1855 Thomas Gibson - now of the real estate firm of Schaller & Gibson, Omaha, - was elected at Fontenelle to represent Dodge county in the legislature. id^^ ^^m*^/*-"-^/-^.

In May, 1856, Rev. Reuben Gaylord, of Omahayyorganized a Con- L^' '*^j gregational church at Fontenelle, consisting of the following named : Samuel Strickland, Mrs. Emily K. Strickland, Miss Emily F. Strickland, Thomas Gibson, Mrs. Sarah Gibson, James H. Peters, Mrs. Jane Peters, Rev. Thomas Waller, Lucien Kennedy, Rufus Brown, Mrs. Nancy Brown, James A. Bell, Miss Mary Bell, Edward Corless, Miss Mary Corless, John Francis, Mrs. Maria Francis, Silas J. Francis, Mrs. Celestia Francis, Cyrus Howell, Edward Holmes, Mrs. Elvinu Holmes, Wm. G. Bingham and Mrs.Lucy C. "Bingham. Thomas Gibson and James A.Bell were elected deacons, and Rev. Thomas Waller was appointed the first pastor. The new church was presented with a handsome silver communion service by the First Congregational church of Quincy, Illinois. Since that time the following named have served as pastors of the church : Rev. E. B. Hurlbut, Rev. Wm. McCandlish, Rev. L. H. Jones, Rev. C. E. Bisbee, Rev. Isiah Smith, Rev. Thomas Douglas, Rev. Reuben Gaylord. A Sunday school was organized at the same time the church was.

In addition to those named above as joining the Congregational church, there were living at Fontenelle and in the vicinity, at that time or came in during the summer of 1856, the following : Judge and Mrs. Richardson, John W\ Pattison, Chris. Leiser and faoaily. Col. Kline, Samuel Whittier and family, Rev. J. M. Taggart - now of Palmyra, ]Sreb. - and family. Miss Ellen Gritteth, Willis Carr, Eli, Harlow and Edward Carpenter, Isaac Underwood and family, Mrs. Denslow and family, B. L. Keyes and family, Wm. M. Saint, John Baty and family, John Evans and family, Rufus Brown and family, Henry Sprick, John K. Cramer and family, Ab. Yost, Wm. and Theodore Keep, Miss Caroline Davis. Wm, H. Davis and family, Christy Archilles and family, Morris Wogan and family, Arthur Bloomer, John Bloomer, D.ivid Bloomer,

Thomas Fitzsimmons and family, Sam. Francis and family, Wm. H. Johnson, Henry C. Lemon and family, George Hindlej^, Jared Blansett, Wm. Flach and family, Mr. Osterman and family, J. M. Hancock and family, Jacob Canaya and family, John Ray and family. Deacon Searle and familj', John and Silas Seeley, Pomeroy Searle, Sam. Williams and family, Hiram Ladd and family, Sumner D. Preseott, Wm. R. Hamilton and family, Henry Brinkman and family, Wm. Hecker Sr., Orlando and Pierce Himebaugh, W^m. C. Hecker, Julius Brainard and family - now of Blair.

In 1856 a college building was erected by the Congregationalists, to whom the Baptists has assigned their charter. A flourishing school was kept up for a number of years, Prof. Burt being the first teacher, and the building was used for lyceums and all kinds of public meetings, the first settlers of Fontenelle being an eminently sociable people. Annual festivals, with bounteous suppers, were held in the college building about New Year's day, until about the close of the war, to which festivals the settlers, for many miles around, came regularly, bringing well laden baskets, and when the contents of these baskets were distributed and arranged on the long tables, the only reason the latter didn't groan was because they were not of the groaning kind. (fvJ 7 I In the summer of 1856, a Methodist church was organized by Rev. '"^'^Z^ Jerome Spillman - now of Atlanta, Georgia, - and, in 1863, a Presbyterian church was organized by Rev. Wm. McCandlish, who settled in Fontenelle in 1858, and is now agent for the American Bible Society for Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado. The Lutherans organized a church about the same time, with Rev. J. F. Kuhlman, - now residing at Ponca City, Neb., - as their first pastor.

The Pawnee war of 1859, described at length in preceding pages, was a serious detriment to the settlers of Fontenelle. When the Indians first came over from their villages on the Platte, they pillaged extensively from the citizens. While thus engaged, parties of a dozen or more were driven from their respective premises, by Mrs, Kline and Mrs. Hiram Ladd. In coming down from West Point, after the killing of the Indians there> Wm. H. Johnson, Henry Sprick, Wm. C. Hecker and Mr. Artmau became detached from the rest of the party, and were compelled to foot it to Fontenelle, distant some thirty miles. They avoided the road, and, as they traveled cautiously over the wild prairie, thought tliey saw a party of savages in the distance, and at once took refuge in a slough, where they remained in the water and grass until dark. Upon reaching Fontenelle, they learned that the party they had mistaken for Indians were white men.

In March, 1857, a Mr. Martin, of Fremont, was drowned in attemnting to ford the Elkhorn at Fontenelle, and on the 5th of July, 1867, a ter rible accident befell the families of Rev. O. C. Dake and John Ray, of Fremont. They were returning home from Fontenelle, where they had been spending the Fourth, when, in crossing the Elkhorn in the flat boat ferry, their wagon was backed off into the river by the restive horses.

The water proved to be only waist deep, but in consequence of a belief that it was much deeper - Messes Dake and Ray being unable to t^wim - two of Mr. Dake's and three of Mr. Ray's children were drowned.

The first stock of goods was brought to the new settlement in 1855 by Wm. H. Davis, who also kept the first hotel - a double log house called the Fontenelle House. He was bought out by J. M. Hancock, in lSoC>,

The first child born in the town was Mattie Francis, daughter of .Samuel Francis - October 2d, 1855. A few hours later, the same night, a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Wm. H. Davis, and named Fontenella. The town company had promised a town lot to the parents of the first child born in the town, and consequently the first birth was a matter of general interest. It is said that one good lady, who had a child born a day or two after those mentioned above, consoled her somewhat disappointed family with the remark: "Well, never mind, papa is ab'.e to buy town lots for his children." fj^ >2<uv^»<»

The first marriage that occurred at Fontenelle was that of Henry Whittier and Miss Emily Strickland, in the fall of 185G. | Harlow Carpenter and Miss Ellen Griffith were married during the following winter. Also that fall there were a couple of runaway matches, the parties being married under a cedar tree on the banks of the Elkhorn in a driving rain, by Rev. Silas J. Francis. The parties were Frank Fox, and Miss Harriet Whittier, and John W. P/rttison and Miss Henrietta Reduer.

In the summer of 1855, Harlow Carpenter, John Cramer, Isaac Underwood, and ethers, commenced the manufacture of brick, but their labors were suspended by the " catfish war," of that summer, after they had about ten thousand brick ready for the kiln. The next summer John Ray burned a large kiln.

The first saw mill was erected by Samuel and Silas Francis, in the summer of 1856, They sold it that fall to Wm. H. Johnson and Henry C. Lemon.

Perhaps I cannot close my sketch of the first settlement of Fontenelle better than by giving the following interesting account of the death and burial of the man after whom it is named, which account I take from S. T. Bangs' centennial history of Sarpy county:

" Logan Fontenelle was a half breed, his father being French. He was educated in St. Louis; spoke English fluently, and was at this time about thirty years of age, of medium height, swarthy complexion, black hair and dark pierciag eyes. In the middle of the summer of 1855 a processsion might have been seen wending its way towards the old home of Logan Fontenelle on the bluffs overlooking the Missouri river and above the stone quarries at Bellvue. It moved slowly along led by Louis Sanso-see, who was driving a team with a wagon in which, wrapped in blankets and buffalo robes, was all that was mortal of Logan Fontenelle, the chief of the Omahas. On either side the Indian chiefs and braves mounted Oil ponies, with the squaws and relatives of the deceased, ex^ pressed their grief in mournful outcries. His remains were taken to the house which he.had left a short time before, and now, desolate and afflicted, they related the'incidents of his death. He had been killed by the Sioux on the Loup Fork thirteen days before, while on a hunt with the Omahas. Having left the main body with San-so-see in pursuit of game, and while in a ravine that hid them from the sight of the Omahas, they came in contact with a band of Sioux on the war-path, who attacked them. San-so-see escaped in some thick underbrush while Fontenelle stood his ground, fighting desperately and killing three of his adversaries, when he fell, pierced with fourteen arrows, and the prized scalp-lock was taked by his enemies. The Omahas did not recover his body until the next day.

" It was the wish of Col. Sarpy to have him interred on the bluffs, fronting the house in which he had lived, and a coffin was made which proved too small without unfolding the blankets which enveloped him, and as he had been dead so long, this was a disagreeabe task. After putting him in the coffin, his wives who witnessed the scene uttered the most piteous cries, cutting their ankles until the blood ran in streams. An old Indian woman who looked like the witch of Endor, standing between the house and the grave, lifted her arms to Heaven and shrieked her maledictions upon the heads of his murderers. Colonel Sarpy, Stephen Decatur, Mrs. Sloan, an Otoe half breed and others stood over the grave where his body was being lowered, and while Decatur was reading the impressive funeral service of the Episcopal church, he was interrupted by iSIrs. Sloan, who stood b.y his side and in a loud tone told him that 'a man of his character ought to be ashamed of himself to make a mockery of the Christian religion by reading the solemn services of the church.' He juoeeeded, however, until the end. After the whites, headed by Col. Sarpy, had paid their last respects, the Indians filetl around the grave, and made a few demonstrations of sorrow; the whites dispersing to their homes, and the Indians to relate their own exploits and the daring of their dead chief."

County, Nebraska. 5 7 Bell Creek

One of the most enterprising railroad towns in the county, is that of Bell Creek, situared on the Sioux City & Pacific railroad, on a beautiful stretch of table land, between the Elkhorn river and the creek after which the town was named. It was laid out by the railroad company in 1869, the company having purchased 120 acres from a Mr. Carter, 160 from John Gannon, and 160 from another party, for town purposes. Only a portion of this land was platted, however, the remainder being held as a "reserve" for further use. The lots are 60 by 1-40 feet, divided at right angles by streets eighty and alleys twenty feet wide, and are now selling at from $40 to $150. The place now has a population of near three hundred of as enterprising, energetic citizens as can be found anywhere, all of whom realize the advantages possessed by their town, and have a wellgrounded faith in her future, as is evidenced by the efforts they are making to build up the place, and the additional fact that none are willing to sell out.

The first improvements were made on the town site in 1869, when the railroad company erected a handsome and commodious depot, and a large store building, and two residences were built and a lumber yard opened by Samuel A. Francis - one of the early settlers of Fontenelle - and his brother-in-law, John Waynick, of Chariton, Iowa. Next a grain warehouse was built and successfully operated by L. H. Jones, who was the first station agent of the railroad company, and soon after, A. C. Mansfield opened a store with a large stock of goods, specially adapted to the Avants of the country. In 1870, Dr. S. G. Glover, opened a drug store. John Butler built a blacksmith shop, and John A. XJnthank. a grain elevator.

In 1872, Nathan Foster, engaged in the lumber business in the new town. E. K. Gilbert opened a shoe shop, and Butler's blacksmith shop was bought by Chris. Hamming, J. C. Blackburn engaged extensively in the sale of hardware and agricultural implements, W. J. Crane became agent for the railroad company, vice Jones, and also engaged in grain buy-

In 1873, David Bender established a grocery store, Silas Masters built the Eagle Hotel, R E. Roberts built a grain warehouse - which afterwards developed into a 1 irge elevator - Mr. Bender sold out his grocery and in company with Hayman Chapman went into the dry goods and grocery business on a more extensive scale, a lodge of Odd Fellows and another of the Sons of Temperance were organized, Williams & Curtis opened a paint shop, W. S. Cook a meat market and Henry Osterman a saloon.

In 1875, the Masons organized a lodge. Bender & Chapman having dissolved, Mr. Chapman started in business for himself in the same line, W. Crane resigned his position of station aaient, closed out a stock of goods bought of Mr. Chapman, in the following spring, and went into a general insurance, real estate and collecting business. A public school building to cost $5,000 was commenced and is now about completed, Joseph Snyder opened a shoe shop, and Dr. Elwood associated himself in the practice of medicine with Dr. Glover. Thus far this year no material business changes have taken place in the town, though it shows a steady increase of population.

The first marriage in Bell Creek was that of Mr. Joshua G. Benster and Miss Cora Jones, daughter of L. H. Jones, the first birth being that of a son of Mr. Butler whom he named Bertie. Miss Kate Parker taught the first school. The town commands the trade of a splendid section of the country, and is accessible therefrom at all seasons of the year by means of ridge roads which cross but few streams or sloughs. There is no town in the state of equal size from which more grain, cattle and hogs are shipped, for the handling of which first-class facilities have been provided. Last year Mr. Blackburn did a business of $20,000 in hardware, wagons, agricultural implements, etc., while Mansfield and Chapman, the leading merchants, each sold nearly that ainount of goods.

The settlement of what is now the southwestern part of Washuigton county was begun in the summer of 1856. Russel Miller and his three «ons-in-law made the first honajid^ settlement. They all took three hundred and twenty acre claims, agreeably to the Omaha Club law. which became the rule also of the Elkhorn club. Miller took the north halt ot section 28, and Adams, Lyons, and Dowling, his three sons-in law, tooK adjoining claims. Miller broke some prairie and they erected two or three houses. Miller bought the claim of one who had preceede.l him, and who perhaps did the first breaking and built the first house.in which Mrs Adams lived and died. When the precinct was formed it was called Richland because Miller refused to have it called by his name and suggested the name of Richland, that being the place in Ohio from which he

Henry Wright broke a strip where S. S. Blanchard lives. He sold to Mr W E Purchase, and "held" the claim for him for a while. Purchase brought a saw mill that summer or fall, the third in all the country around. The first was at Fontenelle; Shields', at Elkhorn ferry on the military road to Fort Kearney, was second, and the one at Iron tlurts or at West Point made the fourth. A man by the name of Oaks who merely held the claim without breaking the sod was located just north of L. P. Jenks. Fox, of Fontenelle carried the mail on foot to and from Omaha, forty miles. . . ^fnoTohc, r Some time that summer (1856) H. R. Benjamin, now of Omaha_ a A Whitford, and Odillon Whitford took claims in sections 8 and J. ihey tilf a substantial log house, very near where C. A. '^'-^^ ^^ dence is It was for years after known as the Indiana House, that being Upstate from whichW came. Silas Masters ^-j^f^^^ St bTu^ht farm in the fall of ISSC.-Dennis, Caleb Winch, and AdaniS^^^^^^^ claims and occupied them in the fall and winter of 18. >-, Dennis, wheie A F Warner now lives; Winch, at L. P. Jenks' residence, and Stud, thL that of F. Benard now is. Theophilus Thompson a.dRB. Brown wintered at Thompson's west of Blanchard's, on ^\a nut creek. ±>iown wmieieu ctu ^f rp^^i^,,,. orrin Colby came in the summer Brown's claim was south ot iayloi s. uinn v^uiu^ of 1856 and put up a small house near his present dwelling, and now has one of the finest farms in the country. McNaughton occupied a little cabin where George T. Taylor's farm house now stands.

In the spring of 1857, a number of settlers came in. Judge J.S.Bowen,now editor of the Blair Times, his son Will R. Bowen, now of Omaha, and Dr. Heaton took claims in sections 13 and 14. Joseph Levi and Hiram Johnson also took claims in sectton 23, and with their mothers and sisters resided on Hiram's claim. Azariah Masters, sr., father of Silas and Azariah, put np a substantial log house where Munson Downs now lives. Mc- Vickar also came and joined McNaughton in sections 15 and 22, now George T. Taylor's ftirm. In the summer of 1857 Mrs. Adams, daughter of Russell Miller,died, leaving a husband and two children, who soon after returned to Ohio, Nathaniel Brewster, early in the summer of 1857, put up a house on the hill just north of the present depot at Kennard. The house was burned down some years after.

In 1858 David Bender came and built a good house in section nine. His son-in-law, Amos Shick, came about the same time, and was engaged at the saw mill. He afterwards took and improved land in section three. John Hilton came in the summer of 1858, and lived in the Thompson house, (westofBlanchard's ) He died there not long after, and, to add to the afliiction of the widow, the house with its contents was burned up within a few weeks after his death. Dr. Benjamin sold out to Simon Hammer and his brother-in-law, Hadley. and they divided the tract in section nine between them. John B. Ultz and Mrs. Ultz, Mrs. Ultz being the mother of Mr. Hammer and Mrs. Hadley, came with them. Hadley, some years after, went to Missouri. Mr. Hammer and the old Mr. Ultz are living in Bell Creek. Milo F. Young held the land now owned by George C. Pemberton for a year or so, next north of Benjamin's. John Mattes, now residing on the old Miller claim, lived north of Silas Masters on part of \Vm. Hilginkamp's land. John A. Unthank and Azariah Masters came in the fall of 1858. Peter S. Reed and T. C. Powers came in the same season, and took claims in section twenty-four. Reed, was an energetic man, and, having seen service in the Mexican war, became captain of company A, 2nd Nebraska, which was fonned in 1862 chiefly of citizens of Fontenelle, Richland and Fort Calhoun. Richland furnished eighteen of the company. Evelin Purchase, A. J. Warner, the Tomlinson brothers, and some others came early, but did not make definite location until after several years had elapsed.

The breaking out of the Pike's Peak gold fever, and the drainage of population from that cause and from the war that soon followed, removed permanently, or temporarily, a number of settlers, and the return of some of them with the settlers of later date need not here be chronicled. The precinct has long been noted for its beautiful farms and handsome and extensive groves - its first settlers having set an excellent example to those who followed them, in the way of tree planting.

In this centennial year of national independence, throughout the length and breadth of our magnificent land, there is no section of country which offers t» the emigrant fairer prospects or more certain and speedy returns for the outlay of capital or labor, than does Washington county. The Missouri river on the east and the Elkhorn on the west, form a verdant fringe to the immense pattern in progress of weaving across which the plow speeds back and forth like a shuttle, throwing up in relief the outlines of towns and future cities as figures on its surface, while the general plan is filled in waving corn, golden wheat, nodding woodlands and running streams. Wonderful, wonderful have been the changes wrouglit in the condition of the county during the time of which this history speaks. But who can picture the still more wonderful transformations which this county will have undergone when two more decades have come and passed, and the year 189(3 dawns upon us?

At the present time, there are within the county, forty-six school districts, each provided with a good house for school purposes, varying in cost from $01 )0 to $15,000. These houses will compare very favorably in appearauce and accommodations with the school houses in many of the older states, and are well supplied with maps, charts and globes - in fact all the necessary apparatus for teaching upon the most approved modern principles. There are annually employed in the county seventy- four teachers, male and female, and the total number of children of school age is 2,323. The amount of wages paid to teachers for the fiscal year ending July 1st, 1876, was $11,626,95, and the total value of school property in the county at the present time, is $49,970.

Religious interests in the county are not neglected, there being now within her boundaries twenty-thre organized church societies, representing thirteen denominations, many of which have elegant church edifices. There are at this time in the county, four Masonic, several Temperance, and three Odd Fellow organizations, while the order of the patrons of husbandry has a large membership. The Grange movement started in Washington county early in the fall of 1873, when Washington Grange

No. 130 was organized at or near Fonteuelle, and so rapid was its progress that in the spring of 1874 there were seventeen Granges in the county, with an average membership of over thirty, making a total of over five hundred members of the order of which about four hundred were voters and one hundred ladies and young men under age. The order was very prosperous during the year 1874, and many new members were added to the several Granges, and on the 4ih of July of that year, the argest celebration ever had in tlie country, was had under their auspices in a grove at the head of New York Creek.

Early in 1874 a county council of the order was organized but for want of established rules for its government did not prove a success and a Pomona Grange took its place in March, 1876, being the second Pomona Grange organized in the State. This Grange is located at Blair the county seat and is composed of representatives from eacli Grange in the county It is expected that much good for the order will result from this organization,

Washington county contains 400 square miles, or about 256,000 acres of land; of which about one-eighth are river or creek bottoms. The rest of the country is rolling prairie, as smooth and even as is compatible with a well watered country and good drainage. The bottoms are dark alluvial, chiefly vegetable mould, 4 to 20 feet deep. The uplands which are from fifty to one hundred and fifty feet above the bottoms, are a dark loam, rich in vegetable matter, from one to six feet deep, upon a subsoil of alight marly loam from twenty to thirty feet in depth, resting on clay. The soil is coarse quality, able to resist continued drouth, and is never soggy from excess of moisture.

The prairies are covered with a heavy coat of blue-joint grass, affording rich pasturage and nutritious hay. Tame grasses are not needed, though they have been successfully raised. Timothy, red-top, white and red clover, Hungarian and other grasses do well. Kentucky blue-grass flourishes, and where started takes posession of the prairie. Every species of grain and roots grown in older settlements is raised here with ease and protit. There are now in cultivation over 180,000 acres in the county. Many farms have superior improvements. There are a number of good orchards growing, as fine fruits as those of any State to the East or West. The average crops for the last five years have been, of wheat 15 bushels to the acre, corn 50 to 75 bushels, oats the same, barley 30, buckwheat 30, potatoes 60 to 100, hay ^to 3 tons.

Several large mills have been erected upon tbe Elkhorn, and its abundant water power will soon be converted into more genei'al use. Quite a number of smaller streams water the county, some of which have good mill sites. Among these are Fish, Long, New York, Stewart, North, South, Bell, Turkey, Deer, Moore, Little Bell, Brown, Walnut and other streams, besides the Papillion with its branches, which drains a large part of the county. Lumber grows in large bodies along the Missouri and Elkhorn rivers, and upon a number of the smaller streams ; and is chiefly owned by actual settlers, and can be bought for from $10 to

^30 per acre. The timber of the bottom lands is principally cottonwood, interspersed with ash, elm and other hard wood. That of the valley hills and on smaller streams, is chiefly oak, walnut and hickory.

The county contains nearly 7,000 inhabitants. There are 20,000 acres of land in the county belonging to the Union Pacific and the Sioux City and Pacific railroads, for sale on from five to ten years time, with six and ten per cent, interest, p ayable two years after date of contract, at from, six to twelve dollars per acre, and are some of the best lands in the The rate of taxation is from two and one-half to three and onehalf per cent. The assessed valuation is far below market value.

In clo&iug this sketch, the writer desires to return thanks to John S. Bowen, E. H. Clark, Col. and Mrs. Wm. Kline, E. S. Gaylord, Perry Selden, Judge Jesse T. Davis, E. C. Jackson, J.H. Hungate, Alex. Reed, A. Castetter, E. M. Denny, W. J. Crane, J. A. Unthank, Harlow J. Carjjenter, William A. Bell and J. 0. Blackburn, for assistance rendered in collecting material therefor. It may be that some will be disappointed because this is not a volume of several hundred pages, " bound in calf," with gilt edges and a picture of a train of cars chasing a herd of buffaloes on each cover. The only reason why I do not get up such a publication, is because it wouldn't pay. That task I cheerfully leave to that much-referred-to-individual - the Future Historian, who is popularly supposed to be a man of leisurely, methodical habits, with an abundance of time and funds, and an unquenchable desire for glory.

Buckeye Drills, Buckeye and Fountain City Seeders, Spie's Harrows, Burtrand & Same's Riding, Eureka Riding and Walking, Davenport Walking and Weir Walking Corn Plows ; Furst & Bradley and Hapgood Itj-inch Sulky Plows ; 14 and 16-inch wood and iron beam Walking Plows, Prairie King Breakers, Brown and Keystone Corn Planters. Wagons, Hardware, Stoves and Tinware.

Tinware

Full and Fine assortment of Table and Pocket Cutlery. Iron, Nails, Wagon Woods, Blacksmith's Slock, Guns, Powder, Shot and Caps. A full assortment of

Hay Forks, Hoes, Shovels, Spades and Scrapers, Furst & Bradley Gang Plows. Furst & Bradley 10-inch Sulky Plow, Furst k Bradley Stirring Plows. Furst k Bradley Breaking Plows, Furst k Bradley Combined Cultivators, Furst & Bradley Sulky Rake. Scotch k. Friedman Harrow. Hope of all Sizes. The finest assortment of SHELF HARDWARE north of Omaha.

Agent For Town Lots

Taxes Paid on non-Resident Lands. Information given as to Valuta, Location, &c. Abstract of Titles sent on application. Correspondence solicited.

Noxary Pubi.Ic

Agent for the Purchase and Sale of Real Estate and Payment of Taxes. I HAVE FOR SALE IMPROVED AND UNIMPROVED LANDS in all parts of the County. Keep a complete AbBtract of Titles to all Real Estate in Washington County. IBel-^ia::*, IM'^to.

Dry Goods

Dye Stuif, Putty, Brushes and Glass. The Purest and Oldest BOURBON WHISKY^, and Imported and Native Wines and Brandies for Medical Purposes, CIGARS, 'I'oilet Articles, Trusses, Syringes, &c. Pliysician.s' Prescriptions a specialty. Very low cash prices.

Forx Calhoun, Neb Dealer In

Also in CATTTLE, HOOS and CORN. The oldest firm in Blair, where they have been constantly engaged in business since the organization of the town.