York County, Nebraska - The whole text, 1913 (part 2 of 4)

York County has an efficient body of teachers all holding first or second grade or life certificates. The Reading Circle for all teachei's meets one Saturday in each montli. Educational problems are discussed beside the work in the regular text books.

Reading contests between pupils of the various districts have been most successful. This plan for the improvement of reading originated in York Countj^ but has now found a place in many ether counties in Nebraska.

In York County there are 5658 children of school age, and there was paid to Male Teachers $12,865.00; Female Teachers $61,722.40 for the year closing 1912. School receipts for year ending July 1911, $115,982.76.

Mrs. Nellie H. Young

Justice G. B. Lake, presided, and Hon. G. W. Post served as District Attorney, Court sat one-half day in the fall of 1872, and transacted the e-^tire busines that the docket called for. The only case of any importance called was the injunction suit, to restrain the county from issuing bonds in the sum of $150,000 to the Midland Pacific Railroad Company. After hearing the case. His HoUou decided in favor of the plaintiffs and made the injunction perpetual.

There were two divorce cases, the first cases on the docket to disfigure the pure white records and can be seen by examining trial docket No. 1 at page No. 1 and appearance docket No. 1 at page No. 1. The divorces were granted May 29, 1872. But the first Court trial in York County was not a white man's trial, nor a trial for divorce but a trial among the original occupants of the country, the Pawnee Indians; they were not educated in modern civilization and knew nothing of the divorce business, but understood that when a man and woman were legally contracted to marry, they should be man and wife. The trial is related by N. A. Dean in his own words, as follows:

Quoted by N. A. Dean "It was the winter of 1870 the Pawnees' Chief camped on the west side of tlie Blue River, Section 9, Township 9, Range 1, AVest. In that tribe there was a young man who wanted to get him a wife. Their custom was that if a young man wanted a wife he must pay the price. This young man fell in love with a young girl that was also camped with these people. The contract for their marliage was to be made with the girl's father. The contract was made and the price paid, which was in ponies and furs. The mariage ceremony consisted of the contract with the father of the girl and a whip made of three strands of raw-hide fastened to a horn handle of elk prongs presented to the young man by the Chief of the tribe.

girl's father and tlie young man, and the time set for the ceremony everybody in the ease was happy except the girl. Here is where the trouble began with these parties. The girl objected; she tlioght that she was the one who should be consulted, and refused to carry out her father's contract with the young man, and her father could not persuade her. The matter was reported to the Chief; the Chief with his select warriors were called together as a council of war. After they had heard the evidence of the father and the young man and the girl; the girl's objections were that there was another young man she preferred; still the verdict of the Chief and his counselors of war was that the girl should carry out the contract and accept the young man as her bridegroom'. The girl still refused and was forced to be married to the former young man.

The young man, father and mother could not persuade her to accept, and the next morning the matter was referred back to the Chief. Their mode of punishment for what they considered a crime was to be whipped; so the Chief ordered the young girl whipped. She was taken by two young men of her own tribe, a rope was put around her neck, her back was bared, she was then bound to a tree; the Chief had ordered one of the young men to give her ten lashes with the whip that had been presented to her husband at their marriage ceremony.

Her cries and screams, so severe was her punishment, that they were heard a half a mile away. They were then camped on the soutli side of the Blue and Heller's folks were on the north side. Heller's folks hearing the cries and screams supposed that one of their neighbors was sick and had started across the river to the neighbor's house to find out the cause. After they had crossed the river they saw this young girl coming crying and hallooing. Not understanding their language, they could not make out what it was only they saw the welts that were upon the girl's body and motioned her to go to the house on the other side of the river.

liallooing*. Heller's women folks not knowini>' what it meant ran out of the house and waited until the men came home. Not understanding what the case was, we went to the Chief's wig"- warn and there through the interpreter found out what is stated above. In talking to the interpreter and he talking to the Chief we were given to understand that that was their law and their custom of punishment for all crimes. Through us and the interpreter the Chief sent the father to tlie house and brought tlie young girl back to camp. Father, mother and her intended persuaded the young girl to carry out her father's contract. We watched the couple through the winter and they seemed, after knowing one another, to enjoy one another's company and left in the spring their camping ground for Omaha, their old home."

Edward Bates opened the first law office in York and a short time after he was joined by Hon G. W. Post. During the first year of his i)rofessional life at York, while sitting one morning in the door of his office anxiously waiting for a client. Judge Post saw a herd of antelope cross the town site, passing over the ground now occupied by the high school building- York College.

York College was founded on August 26, 1890, and is -now in the twenty-third year of educational work. The following persons constituted the first Board of Tnistees: - Judge. D. T. Moore, Rev. E. A. Leeper, D. D.; Lee Love, Judi>e N. A. Dean, C. J. Nobes, D. E. Sedgwick, M. D., Judge A. C, Montgomery, Rev. J. C. Countermine, D. D., F. 0. Bell, Judge G. W. Post, Rev. G. F. Deal and Rev. F. W. Jones.

It was the noble ])urpose of its founders to establish under United Brethern auspices an institution of higher learning, where the young people of Nebraska and the West could secure a thorough education at the minimum expense of time and money and under the most pleasant and healthful surroundings and the best moral and religious influences.

This fact has also contributed much to the rapid growth which has characterized its work with the on-go of the jeixiy.. Character is the great need of every age Srfe environments will always be of first consideration in choosing a College. In this particular, York College has no equal in the West.

It must not be accounted a sectarian institution. It does not stand for any special creed. Several different denominations are always represented on the Faculty and Board of Trustees. But the institution is earnestly Christian. It stands for the Bible and employs all diligence to upbuild good character, and no less than one thousand students have within itslialls been led to en^er tlie Christian life.

Rev. J. George, D. D., served as president the first four years; Rev. W. S. Reese, D. D., tor the nc-xt three years; and Rev. Wm. E. Schell, A. ^f. J). D., has since been its official head, being now in his sixteenth year of service.

The College has a beautiful campus of eleven acres and three fine buildings: CoUegiates, a'^ndmny, normal, busiiies, music, oratory and art departments are maintained. The equipments are first-cla -s in every respect. The institution holds official recognization from the state department of public instruction on the basis of the State University and cf the State Normal Schools, and issues all grades of State certificates. The endowment is $50,000 and the total assets aggregate the sum of $160,000.

The suroundings are ideal, the advantages are second to none, and the rates of expense are moderate. The enrollment of adult students for the twenty-second year was 4()8. Hundreds of graduate have gone forth from its halls and are now doing a good and honorable ])art in the business and professional work of the great world; and a far larger number, though not completing courses, have been benefitted by terms of years of study and by reason of the help secured at York College are now wielding a better influence and filling a larger sphere of service to their fellow men. Ten are missionaries in the foreign field, one hundred nnd fifty have entered the ministry of the Gospel, more than one thousand have become teachers in the public schools, and thousands of others in shop and mill and store, on the iarm and in the learned professions, are bestowing the benefactions of broad culture and high character for the uplift of society in the state and nation.

If York College has accomplished so much in the few short years of its beginning history, who can measure the vast, far-reaching influence of its greater work in the golden years to come?

The members of tl\e Executive Board at the present time are: Wm. E. Schell, Chairman; N. A. Dean, Treasurer; J. W. Purinton, Secretary; W. B. Johns, J. M. Bell, and E. A. Grilbert. Vernie R. Porter is the president of the Board of Trustees.

Methodist Episcopal. - The first attempt made to organize a class in York County, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, took place at the house of David Baker, in the spring of 1871, Mr. Baker acting as class leader. Tha members of this pioneer class were: David Baker, Elvira Baker, J. H. Bell, Thomas Bassett, L. D. Brakeman, Ella Brakeman, Sarah N. Moore, Thomas Myers, John Murphv, Mary Murphy, S. W. Pettis, Mrs. Shackelford.

In the fall of this year Rev. W. E. Morgan was appointed pastor to this charge. It was given the name of York Mission and included the entire county. Immediately after taking charge. Judge Morgan re-organized the few members that resided in the county at this date into two classes, one on the West Blue, and the other, the original class of the York Methodist Episcopal Society, at the liouse of David Baker, the total membership of both classes reaching twentyseven. Mr. Morgan officiated as pastor until the close of the conference year in 1875. He held the first service after his appointment in the store of Brahmstadt & Kleinschmidt and. from this time until the completion of the school house in the summer of 1872, at the residence of Mr. Baker. Services were held at the school house until the spring of 1873, at wHich date the Presbyterian Church was completed. It was used by the Society until the following September, when the Methodist Episcopal Church was completed, Rev. Minor Raymond, D. D., of Evanston, 111., officiating at the dedication services. At the fourth quarterly conference of the year 1871-72, held during the montli of February, 1872, Rev. Morgan presiding, the following Board of Trustees were elected: David Baker, S. W. Pettis, C. Ta gg, Albert Deems, recording steward.

The lots upon which the church formerly stood were donated to the society by the South Platte Laud Company, and $100 was received from the Church Extension Society. The balance was contributed by the citizens of York and members of its several church societies. In 1880 the society conveyed this building to the Swedish Lutheran Church Society, and it was removed to its present site in 1881, and services were held at Bell's Hall. A parsonage was erected in 1887. Rev. Edwin Buck was the successor of Judge Morgan, closing his ministry in the fall of 1877, being succeeded by Rev. E. J. Willis, who also remained for a period of two years. . Rev. W. S. Blackburn was appointed to this charge in the fall of 1879, remaining one year. Rev. G. A. Smith came to York in October, 1880. The officers of the church at that time were: Trustees, L. J. Gandy, A. B. Codding, Geo. Beck, G. W. Woods, A. W. Wirt, E. M. Cheeney, E. M. Battis, J. C. Tenney, T D. Knapp; E. M. Cheeney, recording steward.

Presbyterian Church. - The organization of the Presbyterian Church of York took place in a grove of elms, since destroyed, situated on the banks of the Beaver, not far from the mill site, July 23, 1871. Rev. George H. Carroll, District Missionary of the Board of Home Missions for western Iowa, presided and preached the sermon, after which the society was formally organized by the following members: A. C. Montgomerv, Annie M. Montgomery, Robert Charlton, F. 0. Bell, Elizabeth Dixon, R. R. Crawford, J. A. Crawford, M. C. French. A. C. Montgomery was elected Ruling Elder and Clerk and the pulpit was supplied during the first year. Rev. D. B. Fleming became the first pastor in 1872 and during this year the church edifice was commenced and com- pleted^ the dedication services taking place November 17. Rev. T. K. Hedges officiated as pastor in 1873, and in 1874 the church was again supplied. Rev. A. S. Powell was called as pastor in 1875, and in April 1876, D. P. Temple was elected and ordained Ruling Elder. Rev. W. F. Gibson was pastor for one year, commencing in 1877, being succeeded by Rev. B. F. Sharp, who began his labors in April, 1878. In March, 1879, W. AV. Gift'en was ordained Ruling Elder and during the summer of 1880 the church building was enlarged at a cost of $100, making it 21x56 feet. It was then a comfortable frame building, elegantly furnished with oak pews, while the walls and ceiling were tastefully decorated. The i)roperty was va-lued at $1,500. Since the organization niuty-seven persons have united with the church out of which number five have been removed by death, viz: Robert Charlton, Mrs. Annie M. Dickey, Mrs. Clara Vanvalkenburgb, Mr<. George W. Miller, and Miss Minnie Sleirart, and se^'- eral others have been dismissed at their own request and recommended to other churches, leaving a present membership in 1882 of eighty-four.

St. Joseph Catholic Church was first attended as a mission in 1877 by Father "William Byrne, and by him organized into a church. It was under his charge until the spring of 1878 when he was succeeded by Father O'Brien, who was in attendance until 1880. Father Wallace attended during the years of 1880 and 1881 and was succeeded by Father C. J. Quinn, of Uticii. The church was commenceld ii^ 1879 and completed in 1881 at a cost of $1,100. The liarish then liad a membership of 300.

The CongTegational Church, of York, was organized in May 1872, at the office of F. A. Bidwell. The organizing members were F. A. Bidwell, Mrs. F. A. Bidwell, Austin Harris, Mrs. Austin Harris, L. D. Stilson, Dr. W. Anderson, Mrs. Dr. Anderson. The society erected a large frame building, designated as a school building, in 18'"4, which was used as a house of worship until transferred to Messi's. Buckman and AVorley. The first Board of Trustees were elected shortly after the organization and included F. A. Bidwell, Austin Harris and Dr. William Anderson. First church clerk, L. D. Stilson. The membership at that time was 100. Board of Trustees: George P. Chessman, George B. France, F. A. Bidwell. The church now has one of tJie finest church buildings in the west, located at "the corner of Platte and 7th Street.

Universalist. - The organization of this cliurcli dates back to June, 1880, at which date it was organized by Eev. L. S. Roripaugh. Rev. E. R. Earl, pastor. This house of worship was completed in April, 1881, and the propertywas valued at $1,800. The Trutees of the church were: John Itner, J. D. P. Small, Charles LeCount.

First United Brethern Church. - The United Brethern Church was organized in June, 1887 by Elder Johnson of Seward. Held the first meeting in the Universalist church on East Hill with six members to organize. During the summer of 1887 they held part of their meetings in a vacant store room in North York belonging to Wooley. At the meetings there were about twenty members . joined the church and conference stationed Rev. Schwartz here and called it the York station.

In the Spring of 1888 they built a little frame building in ^hat is now known as the Cheney's addition, and worshipped in that church until the congregation got too large to hold them.

In 1893 they moved the church to York College C*hapel and sold their building to the German Lutherans. They worshipped in this chapel until 1900, then they built a commodious church which they now occupy. -

The First Baptist Church. - Organized AugTist 23, IST'S with David Graham and wife, Thomas Porter and wife, Mrs. Ellen Johnson as charter members, Mrs. Porter and Mrs. Johnson still living at York.

L. I). Stilson, Mr. Wliitlock and David Graham were elected as Trustees in 1874. F. M. Dillon elected as Treasurer October, 18, 1879, there being very little finances to handle up to this time as the pastor was supported by missionary funds, and what donations he received from the different churches which he served.

Rev. A. W. Clark came to the church as pastor August 1, 1883 and on December 25 of the same year, the building of the present church building was decided upon.

Church of "Christ. - York, Nebr. In the Spring of 1883 E. (\ Barrow, who was then State Evangelist of the Church in Nebraska, held a meeting in the old Town Hall in York.

June 3rd, 1883 a meeting of the members of the church incorporated with T. J. Hatfield, Wm. Williams, and Jas. S. Hiatt, Elders and Trustees. With the help of the Church Building Association they built a building in which to worship, which was dedicated in June, 1884 where they met for a number of years. There was a congregation of the church who owned what is now the Lockridge Town Hall, who because of so many members moving away sold the building and deposited the money for the purpose of aiding, in building more centrally in the city. In 1896 this money was a]:)pied toward the purchase of Lot 5 Block 30 to which the old building was removed and remodeled and where it stands now at the corner of Platte avenue and Eighth street. This was dedicated in 1897 by Z. T.Sweeney of Ohio.

The growth of this church has been steady and the loyalty of its^members inspired by the word of God and the 7ni]iisters in charge have helped to give it the influence it has in the community.

Ministers who have beeu in charge are M, H Wilson, A. W. Harney, T. J. Olliver, J. H. MeSparrow, H. A. Lemon^ T. L. Reed, J. M. Fisher, J. A. Kieferle, G. J. Chapman, E. B. Widger, T. A. Maxwell, W E. Brandenburg, and the present minister (1913) A. F. Ritehey.

In 1912 a full sized basement was finished for the use of the church. This was equipped so that it adds much to the convenience of the building for Sunday school, social and manj^ purposes.

The first German emigrants from the Volga region of Russia to settle in York came here in November 1888. Even before they had homes of their own or visible means of support, they appealed to the pastors of their denomination in Sutton, Nebr. for spiritual supply, and in answer to this appeal different pastors of the Reformed church preached to these people for years.

The first resident pastor was Rev. J. Vollprecht, now of Humboldt, and under his pastorate the congregation was organized in 1891 as: The German Reformed Emanuels Congregation, affiliated with the Nebraska Classis of the Reformed Church in the United States.

In 1906 under tlie ])astorate of Kev. F. Maurer of Harvard, the cong-rei»ation erected its first clinrcli home, the little frame building- on the corner of Nebraska Ave. and 11th St. From 1907 to 1908 it was part of the charge of Rev. U. Zogg- of Sutton.

In 1910 the congregation declared itself self-supporting and elected Rev. W. Bonekemper; since November 1911 the present pastor Rev. J. Biery has been in charge.

Five of the charter members are still among us. They are: Mr. and Mrs. Peter Pfenning, Mr. John Hesler, Mr. and Mrs. John Reisbig. The congregation now has 116 adult members, and as all are in comfortable circumstances, hope soon to enlarge its present church edifice and build a l^arsonage.

In October 1902 a committee composed of Revs. M. D. Berg, J. N. Lentz and A. B. Leamer made a canvass of the city of York to ascertain the feasibility of establishing an Enlgish Lutheran church. Meeting witli encouraging results they appointed a Sunday service in the Swedish church on W. 8th Street and Platte Avenue. The response was so favorable that the President of the Nebraska Synod sent supplies for a time.

The following winter, Rev. W. T. Kahse, a student of the Western Theological Seminary, Atchison, Kansas, spent his Christmas vacation in York. He made a canvas for Lutheran people, and started a Sunday School. It was the intention of the President of the Synod to send supplies intention of the President of the Synod to send supplies having been rented to the Free Methodists the Sunday School was disbanded and the supplies for the winter postponed.

in rallying the Lutheran forces. With the aid of the Board of diurch Extension, he was enabled to secure the Fraternal Hall for Sunday services. He organized the Sunday School, and on August 2, 1903, 'the congregation was regularly organized by Rev. L. P. Ludden, D. D., the Western Secretary of the Board of Home Missions. There were 29 charter members. The following composed the Offical Board: Geo. Harr, L. M. Worman, S. F. Hansen, W- M. Swartzwelder, J. P]. Johnson and C. D. Dreier.

' From September 1, 1903 until April 1, 1904, Rev. J. G. Grilfeth, D. i)., acted as a supply pastor. During his incumbency, the Ladies' Aid Society was organized- six new members received and the church now owned by the congregation was leased.

June 1, 1904, Rev. George F. Scheese of Selinsgrove, Pa., took charge and served until November 1, 1904 and resigned and returned to the East.

January 12, 1905 at the earnest solicitation of the South Platte Conference of the Nebraska Synod, Rev. R. A. White took charge and served the congregation until Apjil 1, 1913. He found the membership very much discouraged and scattered. By heroic effort he rallied them and soon infused new life in the congregation. The Ladies' Aid Society has been a very important factor in the development of the work. Though only a few in number, they raised and expended about $2800 during the l)astorate. Each year the church raised her full apportionment for all benevolent purposes. July 28, 1908 the church was bought for $1480. The transfer was made November 14, 1908. The Trustees signing legal documents were R. A. White, Pastor L. M. Worman- C. D. Dreier and August Dreier. J. E. Johnson was one of the Church Council, but he was away from home at the time, so his name does not appear. Following the purchase were extensive repairs and renovations of the building. The old rickety tower was taken down, a new roof was put on, a basement was constructed underneath the entire church, the doors were changed from the center to the .southeast corner, a beautiful art glass window was put in the east end of the church where the doors had been, an art glass transom was placed over the doors, a (libloii furnace by which the cliurch is heated was installed, the interior was beautifully papered, the woodwork painted and grained, and beautiful oak pews were i)ut in. Beside these there were many smaller im])rovements made which giv^es the congregation a delightful auditorium in which to worship- The membership is now about 55. It would have been more than a hundred except for removals. At the present time it is in a state of growth and from all outward appearances there will be rapid development in the future.

Rev. C. K. S])arks of Auburn, Nebraska has been called and will begin his work as pastor June 1, 1913. The Church Council as now constituted will be the new pastor, Rev. Sparks, M. L. Warner, Fred C. J. Voss and William H. Newcomer, Jr.

On April 10, 1879 at a session of the Des Moines Conference of the Evangelical Churches of Iowa, it was resolved that York Center, Waco and surrounding country be taken up as a mission to be known as York Center Mission. Rev. E. D. Einsel was sent as the first preacher in charge. A couple of years later some of the appointments were attached to charges outside of York County and York Center Mission was discounted.

On March 13, 1903 at a session of the Platte River CVmference of the United Evangelical Church, it was resolved that York and surrounding country be taken up and called York Mission. Rev. Arthur E. Miller was appointed the first pastor and with his wife and the families of E. Reisinger, E. P. McCoy and Elias Anderson constituted the charter membershi]) of the church. In May of the same year the lot at the corner of Grant avenue and Eighth street was purchased and on the first Sunday in June the first service was held in the building then there. This was a part of the

Boyer's old drug store building. A class was organized on June 14, 1903 with 12 mem'bers. The corner stone of the present church building was laid in the spring of 1907, and on October 27th, under the pastorate of Bev. W. G. Brewer, the church was dedicated to the worship of God. The property is now valued at $10,000.00 The membership of the church is 93. The pastors have been as follows:

York Lodge, Xo. 56, A. V. & A. M., was granted a dispensation August 2, 1874, issued to the following members: Malcolm G. Barney, Charles Lee Count, Samuel McConuaughv, William M. Knapp. Lee Love, Andrew Rowley, J. J). P. Small, J. W. Foster, Albert A. Burtch, Heury Smith, James A. McKillip, John A. Fatherly. A charter was granted to the same members June 24, 1875, by Grand Mas- Frank Welch, and Grand Secretary William R. Brower. The first meeting was held November 3, 1874- at which the following officers were chosen: W. R. Knapp, W, M.; Lee Love, S. W.; M. G. Barnev, J. W.; J. A. Eatherl}^ Secretary; J. D. P. Small, Treasurer; J. A. McKillip, S. D., Charles Lee Count, J. D. ; Andrew Rowley, Tiler. Trustees: M. G. Barney, Charles Lee Count, J. A. McKillip. The lodge is in a prosperous working condition, and one of the strongest in" the state.

York Lodge No. 35, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was granted a charter October 2, 1872, and is the pioneer lodge of York County. The charter members are: William H. Keckley, S. E. Gandy, J. P. Miller, Austin Lindsay, D. A. Ritner, E. H. White, A. E. Streeter, Francis Brooks, E. B. Stevens. At the first meeting held October 2, 1872, the following officers were elected: W H. Keckley, Noble Grand; S. E. Gandy, Vice Grand; E. H. White, Secretary; J. P. Miller, Treasurer. The lodge built a line large frame building, in 1878, the chambers of which are devoted to the lodge and ante-rooms of the Order. The membership in 1882 reached seventy-five (75) with the following officers: A. F. Rice. Noble Grand; C. F. Day, Vice Grand; A. L. McClellan, Secretary; W. H. Gould, Treasurer.

Robert Anderson Post, No. 32, Grand Army of the Rel)ublic, was granted a charter June 23, 1880, by James W. Sorogage, Department Commander, and Jno. S. Wood, Assistant Adjutant General.

private, Company E, First Indiana Artillery; H. D. Wright, private, Company I, Eleventh Illinois Infantry; T. V, Smith, musician, Company A, One Hundred and Second Iowa Infantry; G. W. Albem, private. Company C, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Pennsylvania Infantry; N. M. Morgan, private. Company L, Second United States Artillery; S. R. Lichtenberger, Captain, Company D, Fifteenth Illinois Infantry; W. H. Keckley, private. Seventh Iowa Battalion; A. M. Fansler, private, Company B, United States Marines. The first Post Commander was B. Crabb, First Senior Vice Commander' J. B. Lacock ; First Adjutant, John Lett. The post meets the first and third Thursdays in each month, has a membership of ninety-nine, and is one of the strongest in the State.

The first newspaper published in York was the "York Monitor," E. H. White, Editor and Proprietor; the first issue was on June 6tli, 1872, a five-column, four page paper, subscription price $1.50 per year, cash in advance. The first issue contained an add: Bell Bros., Groceries, Dry Goods, Hardware, Queenswarc, Boots, Shoes, and Agricultural Implements. They offered to take Railroad Bonds and Green backs for goods. It is presumed the early settlers had their pockets full of Railroad Bonds, or they would not have offered to take them. This issue also contained an Add. for Brahmstead & Kleinschmidt, General Mdse., Post & Warrington Attys., L. D. Stilson Contractor and Builder, D. Stonecypher, Furniture; also a notice for sealed bids for the erection of a Schoolhouse in Dist. 27, size 16 X 20 and to be built of pine lumber.

The ' ' Tribune ' ' started by Frank and Arthur Wellman, brothers of Walter Wellman, who made the famous attempt to reach the north pole, and cross the Atlantic in a baloon.

There were several editorial writers on the paper at tliat time and their well known characteristics are apparent to those who knew them well in after years. Here is one from W. E. Dayton's liand, you may be sure.

"We challenge the paltry wretch to do his dirtiest. The cleanest thing he can do is dirty beyond expression and the nastier he becomes the sooner he w^ill die of his own rottenness. ' '

There was some humorous advertising in the paper that week which old residents well acquainted with the parties will enjoy as a reminiscent story.

There was here at the time a very cranky and grouchy gentlemen, J. K. Philli})s by name, selling musical instruments. At the same time John Oppfelt, our present neighbor, was dealing in the same line, as well as the late P. N. Elarth. Phillips was always suspicious of something or somebody and seemed to imagine that the other two dealers mentioned had combined against him, so lie published this:

"In view of some malicious combinations that have been formed by certain persons to injure my business, I have concluded to sell organs and pianos at cost for the next five years, if necessary.

John Oppfelt

Mr. Elarth has gone to a better land, while the frosts of time have whitened and thinned the locks of neighbor John. Phillips left here nearly twenty years ago but if alive he no doubt remembers the kindness of the two men who came to his assistance when combinations threatened his business.

The "VVellmans sold to Whedon & Culley, who changed the name of the paper to the York Democrat. The ' ' Tidal Wave" was started by Adams & Woolman in the interest of Greenback currency, run three weeks and was bought by T. E. Sedgwick changed to a Republican paper, " The Times," and has been built up to a daily and semi-weekly paper with a large circulation. Besides the Daily Times, York has another daily, "The York Daily News" published by the York Blank Book Co., Thos. Curran Mang., and three weekly papers, The York Democrat, York Republican, and The New Teller.

The historian of south York county mentioned in an article published last week the valuable services rendered early settlers by Dr. Deweese who proved a good friend to many sick and suffering ones. The northern portion of the county was also fortunate in having a pioneer physician in the person of Dr. S. V. Moore, whose home has been in York for a number of years. Though his days of strenuous effort are long since ended and failing health keeps him by his fireside during the winter days, he has a very keen memory of tlie time when cold and storms had no terrors for him and he willingly braved the worst blizzard to respond to a call for help. Dr. Moore came to York county in 1869. He took a homestead nortli of the jiresent site of Bradshaw -aud built liis sod house on a hill about a half mile from Lincoln creek. He had both studied and practised medicine in his former home in Illinois but had not expected to continue to follow the profession in Nebraska. But the need of his neighbors was so great and their wish for the medical treatment he alone could give so urgent that he gradually yielded to their demands and soon found himself practising medicine over the most of York county aud parts of Polk and Hamilton. If a call to a sick bed came in plowing time the plow must be left in the furrow till the sick were visited and if a winter storm was brewing the wife and children must be left to care for themselves and the stock as best they could until the father-doctor could reach home again. _ ^/iiM^iffl

There were few contagious diseases to contend with, thouglT the children of the plains succeeded in catching measles and kindred ailments as do those of the towns. Dil)theria was a dreaded visitor sometimes and pneumonia was greatly feared. Dr. Moore remembers being called to the bedside of a young woman who was very sick with this disease. A storm was raging and lighted lanterns were hung outside the door of the house to guide the doctor. As he entered the little room where the woman lay he found her bed surrounded by weeping friends who believed her to be dying. The doctoi left the door wide open and someone in the room suggested that it be closed. "No, leave it open" commanded the doctor as he made his way toward the sick woman. When she had recovered the power of speech the patient told the doctor that she heard his command and blessed him for it for she was perishing for lack of oxygen and the air in the little room was rendered the more imi)ure by the number of people who were crowded in. All of these friends save the husband and a woman to serve as a nurse were banished by the physician and since it was too cold to send them to their homes he told them to make themselves as comfortable as possible in a sod annex to the house. To those who insisted that the ]iatient was dying he said "she is not dead yet," and she did not die. She too is living in York todav.

On one occasion the doctor was gone from his home for three days and nights, being prevented from returning by a blizzard. As he was nearing home on the evening of the third day he was stopped b}'' a settler whose wife was sick and who besought him to tarry with them. Though doctor Moore had not been able to send word to or hear from his family during his absence he yielded to the settler's prayer and watched with the sick woman till nearly morning. As a little mule which carried him many a mile through heat and cold and never failed to find the way home over trackless fields of grass or snow. Sometimes when homeward bound Billy would lower his head and sniff the trail like a dog. "Nell," a beautiful mare of high degree, had her part too, in carrying relief to the suffering. Sometimes the way, there were no roads in those rays, led through the water filled basins and across streams and more than once it was necessary for the rider to lift his feet and saddlebags to the horses back to escape a wetting while fording the waters. The travel in winter of course called for the most endurance and frequently led to exposure to the elements sufficient to endanger life. The pioneer physician was not supplied with fur coats or robes and was often chilled through and felt the pangs resulting from frosted hands and feet. Once a woman in a household where he had a patient insisted on preparing the doctor for the homeward trip by wrapping his legs in old quilts tied with strings. Before he reached shelter he was most grateful for the kindly solicitude, for without the extra wrappings he knew he might have frozen.

Once when the physician was watching by the child of a neighbor which had been attacked by membraneous croup he was summoned home to find that his little son was similarly afflicted and his wife had been fighting the disease with all the remedies at her command. The question of medicine was an important one to the doctor of the early seventies. Drugs must be procured from Lincoln or Milford and then compounded by the doctor himself. A good supply of medicine must be carried on every triyt for often one call was the only one the doctor could make and at the best, medicine must be left for several days with

Often tlie doctor was called to a home consisting of one room sod house with only a strip of carpet for a door and heated by a cook stove in which cornstalks were used as fuel, it requiring the constant labors of one person to re]ilenish the fire. The patient in such a home had usually a bed of straw covered with carpet for a couch and almost ]iothing in tlie way of comforts. Yet Dr. Moore recalls that by far the greater majority of his patients recovered in spite of adverse conditions. There were a few cases of tuberculosis under his care in those early days but he held out no hope of recovery to the patients or their friends while doing all in his power to alleviate their distress and make their last days easier.

In many cases the only compensation Dr. Moore received was that of tlie deep gratitude of his patients. There was little to pay with then and it was not unwillingness but lack of means which left him unrewarded. Some men payed their debts in farm labor and their services were greatly needed at times by one who left his own things so frequently to care for the things of others. When the grasshoppers took the settlers' crops they also took the hopes of the doctor for ready money which had been promised him by those who lost their all. But of these things he never complained and indeed it is necessary to question him closely concerning this part of his experience. Sometimes the doctor traveled twenty-five or thirty miles to see a patient and sometimes a trip of sixty or more miles would be necessary in order to make two or three visits. Charging at ])resent professional rates for visits calling for such an ex])onditure of time and strength would have given Dr. Moore a good start on the road to wealth, if the charges could have been paid.

This story of heroism might be indefinitely prolonged, for hundreds of thrilling incidents doul)tless crowd the history of that fourteen years. "Hero" is a very appropriate name for a man who lived the life of a pioneer doctor but after all it does not express much. For the name is often bestowed for one act of supreme self risk, while the doctor practices self sacrifice year in and year ont with no great crisis, save the ordinary cries of life, to nerve him to endeavor.

First School District organized in West Blue Twpt. in 1869, was organized by Hon. G. B. France School Supt. of Seward County. (York Co. was part of Seward Co. at that date for judicial purposes).

First school house, built in said Dist. in 7-9-1 in 1869, N. A. Dean helped haul logs to saw mill in Seward Co. to get lumber for helping build the house.

First Fourth of July celebration was held around the unfinished school house, West Blue Twp. in 1869, Rev. Mr. Caldwell was orator of the day.

First baptism, Andrew Houston, fall of 1871, by Rev. W. E. Morgan, at Brahmsteads & Kleinschmidt's unfinished store room, in York ; J. H. Bell held the bowl of water.

First Newspaper ''The York Monitor" June 6, 1872, E. H. White Editor and proprietor, a copy framed, can be seen at the York Republican Office.

First case tried in the Dist. Court, Febr. 7th, 1872, a divorce case, before Judge Lake, Edward Bates Atty. for l^laintiff, divorce granted.

First couple married in Y^ork, Mr. William Heideman and Miss Caroline Reets, married by Judge D. T. Moore, Aug. 9, 1870, Mrs. Sarah N. Moore and^Mrs. Cap. Reed were witnesses.

First Christmas gathering at Randall Fairbanks in Henderson TAvp., 1867, the gathering was composed of the Waddles, Georges, Copseys, "\Yescots, Hendersons, Barses and Chaffees. The weather was so warm the children went barefooted, and Mr. Fairbanks took off his front door to enlarge his table.

I came to York County in the spring of 1871. That is, my parents brought me here. I was a kid in those days, and "Granny Biby, peace to her memory, said that with the exception of Dick Martin I was the meanest boy on the Blue River. Granny only said this, however, when she didn't want me to "cut her a stick of wood." At such times it was "Elmer, honey, won't you please cut old Granny a stick or two .of wood?" And the wood was always forthcoming, and Granny was always liberal in payment for the same. That in which she paid would not pass, with everybody as coin of the realm, but it would with a good many people, and it always did with me. It consisted of liberal twists of "long green terbacker," with an occasional "boiighten" piece thrown in.

The Inmber with which my father bnilt his little hon^^e on the homestead was hauled from Lincoln. I remember that the neighbors who lived in soddies and dug outs thought Dayton was putting on too much style with his new frame house. It was a poor affair, compared with the house there now, and with the other houses in York County that have sprung up out of the prairies, but it was home. And that word "home" in the early days meant all the world to hundreds and thousands of hard working, brave men and women who sat down for the first meal under their own sod and willow brush, and they said the word and it had its full meaning. There was no landlord to divide the ])rofits. The roof was their own. And though it was not a very good one, and leaked somewhat, yet it was not long before they made a better one to replace it. No matter how fine the houses may be now, we must always remember the cosy old soddies and dugouts that cradled Nebraska's greatness as a farming and commercial state.

We will always remember the free, cordial life of those days, gone now for an easier, if not a better. Every man's house was his neighbor's. What one lacked was easily and freely macle up by another, and the bonds of universal brotherhood were never stronger any place on God's green earth than they were in York County in the good old homesteading days.

A miracle was accomplished when these broad prairies were peopled. The buffalo had hardly disappeared from sight, frightened at the white spread of the prairie schooner's sails, till his trail was turned under by the braking plow of advancing civilization. Unbroken solitude here today. Tomorrow you passed the same s])ot and a habitual home was nearly ready for its occupants. Almost before the claim was staked the school district was organized and the teacher employed, justices and peace officers were elected, and the civil law that governed it in the old homes in the east had scarcely time to draw a full breath until it, was in perfect operation in the new home The church and the Sunday school came in with the movers' wagons in a little box under the feed box at the rear end, and it was taken out and set up before camp was pitched. With such men and women composing: the nucleus around which was built the population of Nebraska she could not have been otlier than the great State she is. Her good name and her peaceful character will stand monuments to their enterprise and integrity until men shall move no more.

McCool Junction was organized on the advent of the K. C. & 0. R. R. in York County, March the 28th, 1888, it is situated on East Half of the S. E. 1/4 13-9-3 and the S. W. 14 18-9-2 and part of the N. E. 1/4 24-9-3 and is beautifully located on the banks of the West Blue river in the Blue River Valley and has one of the finest natural parks found in the state, "and is a great resort for Class Day, School and Sunday School Picnics. The village formerly had a saloon, but by the effort of the good people of the place, greatly assisted by the Catholic Church, rid themselves of the saloon, and the village has been built up and improved till it is one of the nicest little towns in the county, full of enterprise, and surrounded as it is by a rich farming district, enjoys a good healthy business in all its lines of indi^stry. The first village officers were: J. J. Gilmore, W. E. Butler,. James Grier, H. Tolles and Thomas Henahan. Its present officers (1913) are: Frank Montgomery, Arthur Marshall, Lewis Walbrecht, Lloyd Hays, and Emmit Finney.

The Village of Henderson is located on the N. E. ^A Section 6-9-4 in Henderson Township, was incorporated October the 4th, 1899, soon after the F. E. & M. V. R. R. was built through the county, this road gave them direct communication with York and the east, and was a great convenience. The first Board of Village Trustees were: A. C. Neufeld, chairman; Peter Goosen, D. H. Tessman,^ D. J. Kroeker, J. P. Funk, and A. Franz secretary.

Mr. And Mrs. Dan George

The village was located in the midst of a thrifty German settlement, which by their economy, frugal living and industry has become the wealthiest settlement in the county, and the village and country surrounding has more fine automobiles, and indications of luxury than almost any other part of the county.

Henderson has a good public school building and the Mennonites who constitute the principal part of the population have a large school of their own, and the only church building.

Henderson had a saloon for several years, but it was a source of trouble and the good people of the place, in tho spring of 1912 voted to get along without a saloon. In the' spring of 1913 the friends of the saloon in some way secured enough votes to have the saloon again, but there seemed to be a legal question about reestablishing the saloon that could not be overcome and the saloon has never been reopened.

The present board of Village Trustees are J. J. Morse, chairman; J. C. Wenzlaff, Johann Doell, D. D. Weins and A. M. Youst, with F. H. Tuschoif , secretary.

Benedict was incorporated in 1890 with J. W. Downing as chairman and G. M. Douglass as clerk. The Board was: J. W. Downing, 0. D. Keeler, Walter Scott, Robt. Cavender and Cris Sparling. Scott and Cavender, deceased, J. W. downing in California and 0. D. Keeler and Cris Sparling yet in Benedict. G. M. Douglas the clerk, holds down a good position in Columbus. The present Board is W. J. Degraw, chairman; P. F. Conant, B. J. Huff, F. C. Wirth and James Marvel, with M. L. Cavender as clerk. A. Schneider has the credit of serving 14 years on the Board and 8 years as chairman.

In the winter of 1886-7, bonds were voted by Morton Township to aid the Kansas City & Omaha R. R., and in January 1887, there were slight evidences along the right of way on section 13, that a town was to be started there. A small grain office and scoophouse were the first, and for two months the only buildings. This village was named in honor of E. C. Benedict, president of the K. C. & 0. R. R. John Lett and the firm of Oughton & Stillwell drove into town the same day and same hour; the one from the West and the other from the East These men built houses at once for their business and also as residences for their families. Mr. Lett went into the hotel business and Oughton & Stillwell opened the first grocery store. The Eckles building adjoining the hotel was put up at the same time, and used at once and for years after by the firm of Knott & Sparling, our first general merchandise dealers. These were followed by Miller & Downing, hardware; S. M. French, restaurant and confectionery; Baum, the druggist. In the meantime Dr. J. A. Van Dyke located and at once picked up a large practice, and proved to be a fine physician. Mr Levens erected a billard hall on the site of the present residence of F. M. Brabham. James Stoddard erected a building north of the livery barn of C. E. Anderson, and Barney Davis put up a second billard hall. These buildings were afterward moved south onto Sherman street. Stoddard's building is now occupied by J. B. Marvel as a restaurant, and the other was owned and occupied for some years by J. B. Johnson, but is now fallen into decay and will soon be torn away to make room for a better building.

Frank McConaughey opened the first bank with B. B. Crownover as cashier. The place now contains two banks, the First National and the Farmer's State Bank. Martin & Crownover were the first firm engaged in shipping live stock. Martin (Lee) died on his farm one mile south of Benedict, May 17th, 1893. Mr. Crownover (Elmer B.) resides at present uj5on a farm which he has just sold to H. A. Johnson for $204 per acres - this lies adjoining the village on the west, and was formerly the home of Henry Harrington.

(Jn Sunday, June 27tli, 1887, the first train, a construction train, pulled into our little village; there was a large concourse of people from the surrounding country to see it, and great was the rejoicing that now we could go to York without driving a team. The townsite had been taken oft' the farms of K. B. Crownover and Henry Harrington - sixty acres from each. Geo. Kinyon erected a blacksmith shop and a residence; Joe Downey a residence, and S. P. Stryker, a small hardware store in which he lived until able to i)ut up a residence on the block now owned by H. W. Hotf master, Sr. Here the first child born in Benedict first saw the light. Miss Alta Stryker, now a lady of some 26 summers. The Doctor built him a cosy home where at ])resent the M. K. ])arsonage stands. C. H. Dovenbarger erected a livery barn on the southwest corner of the block on which Dr. Karrer is building a fine residence. Later, Fairman & Harrington opened a general store on the west side of the E. E., east of the present residence of ( ). B. Canfield. In August, E. B. Bi-abham came to town from his farm, and took upon himself the duties of Post Master, which office he held during the remainder of Pres. Cleveland's first term, and was followed by John Le,tt, who in turn gave way to Mr. Brabliam again, when in 189"2. Mr.. Cleveland defeated Harrison for a second term. In 1896, however, the scales turned again, and John Lett was returned to power. He is yet Post Master and, if he can stand the Civil Service examination, is likely to serve for many years.

In the fall of 1887, Jolni I^c tt was elected Justice of the Peace and served for six years or to January, 1894, wlie7i J. E. Hoover succeeded him and has held the office ever since, and Woe unto the man who falls into his clutches if ))r()ven guilty of any serious misdemeanor.

Benedict owns the Electric Lighting and Water plant, thus making a little money ou the side for the village. Our plant is acknowledged to be among the best to be found outside of the larger cities of the state.

We have three Fraternal Lodges : The Modern Woodmen, A. 0. U. W., and Degree of Honor. These orders, in 1907, with the help of some public spirited citizens, erected a fine Fraternal building- on the main street of the town, and all are justly proud of their Fraternal Hall, which cost $3,000, and was begnin without a dollar in the treasurey. There remains less than $500 of a debt against the i>ro.perty.

The Presbyterian Congregation had, in 1884, built a church near the cemetery two miles west of the town, this building and the Parsonage was moved in, the summer of 1889, and the Lutheran people erected their church the same 3^ear. Rev. B. F. Sharp of York was the first Presbyterian Pastor, and Eev. Schneur was the first Lutheran Pastor. The Methodist people built some years later with the Eev. D. M. Buckner as their first Pastor.

^Ir. "^""andeveer built a large grain elevator, Mr. Stryker also went into this business and A. L. Spragiie built a fine elevator north of the depot - these three grain firms went out of business and James & Bro. purchased the Vanderveer plant which is yet in operation under the management of the Hastings Grain Company, N. G. Ensey, manager. The other Elevators were taken down and removed to points in Kansas. The farmers some ten years ago, met and organized the Farmer's Grain Association, erecting a large elevator, which has done a good business every year, paying a better price for grain than any of the surrounding towns have been paying, and, also, i^aying an 8 per cent dividend each year. The elevator has been under the management of A. J. Houston nearly ever since it was completed. E. E Conahaiighy put in a lumber yard here in 1888, which passed into the hands of the Rogers Lumber Co., which was bought out by the new Benedict Lumber & Fuel Association, another organization formed by the Farmers. This has proven to be a great success financially. In 1907, on the 15th of April the six buildings on the south half of the block 22, on Sherman street were destroyed by fire. A very heavy wind was blowing from the North West and it was with the greatest difficulty that the S. E. quarter of the town was saved. The Post Office and Miss Lett's Queensware stock, the barber shop, drug store, E. B. Brabham 's building and stock and the building and hardware stock of C. H. Dovenbarger were destroyed with some salvage on the stocks. Mr. Dovenbarger built a fine brick store building on his lot, and

Lushton is situated on Section 25 in Henderson Township, was surveyed and platted in the spring of 1887. The first board of village trustees was: A. Holmes, chairman; M. W. Strater, A. Cookus, M. D. Calkins, F. C. Williams, witli Ed. Allison Clerk and Homer Hager Treasurer. The K. C. & 0. R R. was completed through the county the same year. The first general store building was built in the spring of 1887 by the Dorsey Bros. They stocked up, and operated the store for one year then sold to Dailey & Farber who carried on the business for 10 years, Mr. 'Bailey moved to University Place and Mr. Farber died. During the summer of 1887 Mr. Albert Holmes built a general store building, stocked it, and has carried on a merchantile business, ancl kept the post office in connection with it for 26 years.' Mr. Holmes has always been identified with the interests, and prosperity of the village, and is really a part of it. Henry Grosshans of Sutton, and Philip Schwab built Suttons first elevator m the spring of 1888, the first load of grain was delivered in Lushton in the fall of 1887 and shovelled in a car, our genial friend, Mr. M. B. Thompson helped shovel the grain; the farmers at that time were very much elated over_ having a grain marl>:et right at their door instead of haulmg the long distance they had been accustomed to. During^the latter ]iart of 1887, J. J. Burras of Lincoln and C. N. Kincade of Lincoln organized the first lumber company and stocked up October 1st of the same year. The yard was purchased by Mr. M. B. Thompson and successfully operated by him for a number of years. Mr. P. H. Purcell built and operated the first hardware store; and Mr. Edwin Moore the first drug store. William Cookus put in the first blacksmith shop and at this date, June 1913 will pound iron m any shape you ask for. Mr. William Walters built and operated the first hotel, a two story frame building on the east side of the main street. The first bank, ''The State Bank of Lushton" was organized in the spring of 1888 by George and Tom Clawson, and Mrs. Susan Dailey represented the ladies in the first millinery store, and sold millinery for a number of years. AVill E. Vanderburg built and operated the first elevator in 1888, and the first church that graced the village of Lushton was moved in and rebuilt by the United Bretheren church.

Lushton is a village of about 200 population in the midst of a thriving farming district, now has 2 elevators, 1 harness shop, 2 cream stations, 1 hardware store, 2 general merchandise stores, 1 drug store, M. AV. A. Hall, blacksmith shop, furniture and undertaking establishment, bank, hotel, meat market, confectionery, lumber yard, 2 churches, and an up-to-date school building. The Town has always done a good business, had a saloon one year but soon tired of it and joined the Prohibition ranks.

The present Village Trustees are: A. Holmes, chairman; J. L. Labart, V. A. Sickler, Fred Franz, J. L. Ashmore with K. Anderson Clerk and Treasurer.

In the fall of 1880 when the B. »Jc M. R. R. was extended from York to Grand Island the town of Bradshaw was established. The town was first located on Mr. AV. F. Morrison's farm a little east of where it now is, but was soon moved from there and located on the land owned by Messrs. 0. E. and J. M. Eichards.

Mr. W. D. Post opened up the first general store in Bradshaw in the fall of 1889, in the building now occupied by Mr. Yoder. The postoffice was then moved from Plainlield to his store and he became Bradshaw 's lirst ])ostmaster. Mr. Post also acted as depot agent and telegraph operator, besides running a drug store and elevator and handling live stock. As a competitor in the grain business he had our then worthy citizen, Mr. 0. E. Eichards, who began buying grain the same time. To Mr. A. Linsley, now deceased, belongs the distinction of being the oldest resident of Bradshaw. He opened up a blacksmith shop, as soon as the town was located, near where the hotel now stands. About the same time Messers. LeCount and Knapp opened the first liardwjire store. In the spring of 1881 Mr. O. A. Stiiljbs opened tlie second general store and became one of Bradshaw's business men. As a resident physician, Dr. A. R. Allen came first in the spring of 1882 and is thus one of Bradshaw's oldest residents. Thus the business enterprises began to increase and develop imtil at the present time we have an array of business firms of which we can well feel proud.

The village of Bradshaw has had a sad as well as eventful history, which placed her for a time in the long list of the ruined cities of the world. In the evening of the third day of June 1890, the residents of this little village and the surrounding country stood in helpless suspense and watched two peculiar storm clouds approaching, one moving from the northwest to the southeast, and one moving from the southwest to the northeast. The clouds met near the edge of Bradshaw and before the citizens could seek a place of safety the cyclone was upoji them. Not a house in the village but was damaged and most of them were entirely demolished. Business houses were ruined and many of thorn were swept away entireh'. The flood of rain and the intense darkness that followed made the situation most pitiable. Some of the residents were buried beneath the debris and many of them were injured - some fatally. As soon as l)Ossible the news was sent to York and right royally did the residents of that city respond with every possible assistance.

It will ever ])e a credit to the pluck and energy of our citizens, some of whom lost every dolhir of their property, that in the face of tlie most appalling disaster and discouragements they arose with faith and determination, and over the ruins of the past tlioy rebuilt their homes and re-es-. tablished their business. A stranger would never suspect now that this pleasant little village with its beautiful homes was ever in such utter ruin.

Doctor Babcoek built the first Methodist church in Bradshaw in 1882 and the name of the circuit was changed from York circuit to Bradshaw circuit. Eev. H. F. Tyler was appointed to this circuit in 1882 and moved the cldss from Eberhart to Harmony church. Then from 1883 to 1886 came Eev. A. J. Marsh. He moved the class from Harmony church to Bradshaw and built the main part of the present parsonage. Following him came A. J. Whitmore for one year. From 1887 to 1889 Eev. L. C. Lemon preached at Bradshaw and attended the Methodist college at York. From 1889 to 1890 Eev. W. H. Prescott labored on this charge, building an addition to the parsonage and rebuilding the church as it now stands after the destructive cyclone of June 3rd 1890.

The Christians in the vicinity of Bradshaw were organized May 15th, 1875, the congregation meeting for worship consisting of seven members: Benjamin !N[apes and wife, Christopher Owings and wife, Margaret Higgs, Wm.iViapes, Mary C. Hasbrouck, with Elder Noah Brotherton of Hamilton county, presiding. In the fall of the same year Sarah Hasbrouck and William F. Morrison were added.

In the winter of 1879 E. Evans held a meeting in the Plainfield school honse just north of Bradshaw on the Owing- 's farm and organized a Sunday school, five additions were the fruit of that meeting. In the spring T. A. Parkinson was hired as pastor. In 1881 they moved their place of worship to Bradshaw, where nine were added by letter.

The church of Christ at Bradshaw was organized May 18, 1884, with twenty-eight members. Elder Wohlgamuth presiding. In the spring of 1885 they commenced to build the church house that was blown down at the tinie of the cj^clone in 1890. Of that congregation three are here, some are deceased, most of them went west to find homes. In the fall of 1885 Wm. Eckerman held a revival, the fruit of that meeting was thirteen added, of that number five are still in the church. The evangelists who have held meetings since that time are: R. C. Barrows, D. A. Youtzy, J. &. Beem, A. W. Henry, A. W. Harney, N. B. Alley, A. D. Finde. The pastors who have labored for the church are C. W. Henry, A. W. Harney, E. C. Whitaker, H. E. Hotter. The student preachers are: H. J. Kennedy, Earl Boyd, F. W. Henry.

In the latter part of 1879 Rev. Wm. Woolman of Hastings held services in the small school house a little northeast of what is now Bradshaw, then called Plainfield. Some time in February of 1880 a proposition was submitted to the Christians of the i)lace to organize a C^ongregational church. The following named persons consented to enter the organization: Dr. S. V. Moore, L. A. Moore, H. E. Simmons, A. P. Simmons, L. N. Buell, Mary Buell and H. E. Linsley. A council was called at the home of L. N. Buell IMarch 19, 1880 and was composed of pastor and delegates from the Arborville, Grafton, Seely, York and Council churches and H. N. Gates, superintendent of missions for Nebraska. Rev. C. S. Harrison of York was chosen moderator and Rev. W. S. Hampton, clerk. This council recommended that we be organized as the Congregational church of Bradshaw. The church was incorporated May 1, 1880, with Rev. Wm. Woolman pastor. The corner stone of the

The following ministers have served this church: Revs. Dyas, Winslow, Benton, Geer, Baker and Otis. The evening of June 3, 1890, the building was made a total wreck by the cyclone.

The first public school in the western half of York county was held in a little dug out over on Lincoln creek in 1872, with Mrs. A. Linsley as teacher. The district was eight by twelve miles in extent and known as district No. 15. As the country was settled up the district was divided and other litle soddies were built. Then a "frame school" was started in Owens Bros, old store building, which stood on Mr. Steinberg's farm. In 1881 the first little school house was built in Bradshaw. To this additions were made from time to time as needed. But this, the toil and savings of many years, like the most of Bradshaw was laid in ruins in one brief hour. After the cyclone, as the district was already bonded to the limit, fifteen hundred dollars of the "cyclone fund" was used for a new building. To this was added five hundred dollars from the public schools of York county and five hundred dollars from the county board.

The following teachers have served as principals of the Bradshaw schools since 1881. Misses Sylvia Butler and Carrie Moffitt. Messrs. Geo. Greer, A, B. Codding, E. S. Franklin, Chas. Harlan, Wm. Bartz, H. B. McDermed, W. T. Oats, Fred Archard, W. S. Wright, W. T. Utterbeck, T. A. Gierins, J. H. Frew, E. C. Bishop, R F. Marquis and J. N. Peck.

He grew to manliood on the farm where he was born, and in 1874 came with his parents and brother Francis A. to Nebraska, settling on Sec. 21, T. 12, R. 3, in York County near the site of his present home. In 1879 he married Esther A. Bhick at her home in Pennsylvania. He has been engaged in farming all of his life, but taught a few terms of school before getting established as a farmer. When still a young man Mr. Baker began to take an active interest in public affairs and was thereby soon led to accept various offices. He has been director of his home school district for 21 years. He was a member of the York County board of Supervisors from 1894 to 1898. In 1902 he assisted in organizing the Farmers' Grain Association of Benedict and was chosen president of the company. Was deputy assessor from 1904 to 1906. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1906 and took an active part in the iml)ortant legislation of the session of 1907. He was re-elected in 1908, and again in 1910, and although his party was in the minority during these latter sessions he was given a place on some of the most important committees of the House.

John Lett was born in Richland County, Ohio, February 28th, 1841, and as a consequence, looks forward to the day when he shall be elected to the Presidency of this great Republic, as have so many sons of that favored state.

When he was but four months old his parents moved to Cedai- County, Iowa, settling in the town of Tipton, and entering 80 acres of government land adjoining the town. His mother died when he was but eight months old, leaving his father with five small children, one, a brother two years older, blind. His father, Abraham Lett, was in a bad predicament for with so many little children, he could do but little work himself and so he looked about him for a good woman to mother his little flock, and fortunately, he sue- ceeded in finding a splendid woman who came into the family and proved to be a blessing to that group of motherless young ones, for, although she had reared 18 children of her own, she managed the household well and gained the confidence and affection of her new brood.

At the age of 20 years, Mr. Lett enlisted in Co. E, 11th Iowa, Vol. Infantry for three years "or during the war," and at the expiration of his first term of enlistment reenlisted for another three year term. He participated in the battles of Shiloli, Corinth, luka, Vicksburg and Kenesaw Mountain. It is now generally admitted in ami about Benedict, where he has reigned as Postmaster for twenty years, that he and W. V. Powell were chiefly instrumental in winning the battle of Shiloh, and if their attention had been called to the matter a little earlier in the day they would have saved Gen. AVallace's Division from capture.

He was in Sherman's Atlanta campaign and made the ''march to the sea" with other thousands of brave men. From Savanah to the battle of Bentonville, N. C. and then on to Washington to take part in the "Grand Eeview" which marked the end of the great Civil War. In the last year of the conflict he had been promoted to the rank of Corporal, and then to Quartermaster Sergeant of his Eegiment.

Discharged from the service, he came home and soon thereafter, November 25, 1865 was married to Miss Carrie Draucher, a sister to Arthur and David, who were for a long time residents of this county. Mrs. Lett was born in Clearfield County, Pa., June 13th, 1844. They went onto the old home farm of his father, and lived there happily until the Spring of 1871, the great tide of emigration rushing through Iowa for the free lands of Nebraska set them to thinking that they too, were entitled to a quarter-section of land, and John came out and took up the N. E. Quarter of Section 32, Town 12, Range 3 in what is now Morton Twp. Going back to Iowa to clear up his affairs, he returned to his homestead with his family in October, 1871. He was forced to occupy a sodhouse owned by R. M. Lytle until he could put up one like it. He had just $3.00 in money to winter his wife, three children, two horses and two cows. They wintered after a fashion that would not at all be popular with the average young couple of today. They had a little hominy and one sack of flour in their wagon when they arrived, and a can of kerosene that kept company with his food supply, and John says that he can taste that oil to this day, for they had to eat it for it was a groundhog case. Mr. Lett was a member of the first Grand Jury held in this county. In the summer of 1872 he lost a horse and traded for a yoke of oxen, which were used on the farm and to go to church and to York to do his trading. The ox team made a great hit at 4tli of July celebrations. Eight children were born to him, one of which died in infancy, and Estella at the age of 27. The great Easter blizzard and the several raids of the grasshoppers are vividly remembered. In 1875 the family moved to York, where he engaged in the selling of farm machinery and seeds. While living in York he served two years as assessor, and was also elected Commander of the Grand Ainny Post. In 1880 he moved back to the homestead, where going behind year after year, he moved to the new town of Benedict, and was one of the first two families settling in that village. Here he built and operated the first hotel. About this time he was elected Justice of the Peace and sei'ved with satisfaction for six years, also procuring a notary's commission, in which capacity he still serves the public. When Mr. Cleveland retired from the presidency, he secured the post office and is yet postmaster, after more than twenty years' service. He has served under Lincoln (as a soldier), Harrison, Cleveland, McKinley, Roosevelt and Taft, and thus far under Professor T. Woodrow Wilson.

In 1885, he was elected Department Commander of Nebraska G. A. P., and had the intense satisfaction of leading 20,000 men at the Reunion in Denver, Colo. Mrs. Lett passed away August 1, 1912 at the age of 68 years She was buried by the side of her two daughters in beautiful Greenwood Cemetery at York.

in the spring of 1873, just in time to get the full benefit of the Great Easter Storm while living in a half finished frame house. The storm raged for three days and nights with such fury it was at the risk of one's life to venture from the house to the stable. After the storm was over I took my shovel and went to the home of S. W. Sidwell, who lived in a dug-out. The only sign of a residence was the stove pipe sticking up through the snow. I went to the pipe and asked Mr. Sidwell what he was doing down there! He promptly -t-eplied he was reading the B. & M. advertisements about the beautiful climate of Nebraska. After the destructive grasshopper raid of 1876 we decided to sell out aud leave the country, and sold our fine 160- acre farm, with frame house, 120 acres broke out, stable and well, for $1000.00, but the purchaser failed to complete the settlement till too late to go elsewhere: the next spring, and C. R. Keckley was about to marry a girl who had a claim she could not hold if married, and I bought her 160 acres for $100.00 and moved on the land in the spring 1877, remained and improved the farm till elected County Clerk in the fall of 1881. While living on our homestead we found congenial neighbors and friends. I think the early settlers in York County among the best in all the qualities that go to make first-class citizens. A neighbor family who had moved in the best circles in the East, came in their lumber wagon and ox team one afternoon - five miles, to make us a visit, we had a splendid time till about midnight, they hitched their ox team to their wagon and started across the prairies to their home.

In the fall of 1881 I was nominated on the republican ticket for County Clerk, and ran against Mr. Black of West Blue Township, the democrat nominee. In canvassing the county I frequently met my friend, T. E. Sedgwick, who was working for the other fellow, but since my election Mr. Sedgwick has been one of my warmest friends.

After I was elected County Clerk we moved to York, I served four terms, and have made York my home since. Was elected Mayor of the city for 1906-7 and am proud of the fact that witli the able assistance of every member of the city council, and the city attorney, the. first paving contract was let, and work begun on the first paving district ; ground was secured free for East Hill Park; the Gas Plant was installed; the first cement crossing in York was made across Academy Avenue, on the north side of West 6th St. Lincoln Cox did the work under the supervision of H. W. Brott, a practical mason, and member of the city council. I remember with pleasure the concerted action of the Council in all these improvements, and all the business of the city. The Council were half democrats and half republicans, and I remember but one vote taken during the two years that was not unanimous. I have now, this year of 1912 lived out all my own time, three score years and ten, and am living on borrowed time, and feel that I would like to borrow as long as they have any time to lend. In writing these few incidents many events in my life come fresh to my mind, some I would like to forget, and many are refreshing and inspiring as a morning shower.

Nathaniel A. Dean was born in Allegheny County, Maryland in 1850; with his parents he moved to Somerset County, Pa., in 1852, and attended the public school until 1866, the close of the war. In 1867 with his brother-in-law, R. Brooke, he made a trip over the greater part of Kansas, and sto])i)ed for the winter at Maryville, Nodaway County, Mo., where Brooke purchased a farm and lived.

In the year 1868, being a boy of 18 years, I saddled up my pony, took my lariat rope and started for the Great American Desert; I crossed the line into York County and the second day of October, 1868, my first sto]) was at John Anderson's who had ,iust homesteaded the first homestead in York County, and I wintered with ''Uncle" Elias Gilmore on the "Blue."

I was one of the first that signed the petition to Gov. David Butler for the permanent organization of York County; April, 1870 we had our first election; there were three voting precincts organized, one on the "Blue," one where York now stands and one in the Northern ])art of the County; at the same election we voted and located the

County Seat, wliieli is now York. I voted on the ''Blue" and we polled fifty-one votes and elected the first officers on the lot now stands the Blodgett Hotel. (See names York County Historj'^). My first two years in York County were full of experiences, - buffalo hunting, elk and antelope; part of the time I associated with the Indians, but when it came to their eating- I preferred my own cooking as they relished stale animals, and skunks. In the fall of '79 I spent some of that time at "Old Fort Kearnej^" reading novels of "Buffalo Bill," "Kit" Carson and "Calamity" Jane, I was anxious to see them, and I spent some happy days with them.

In 1870 Peter Heller, with his family, moved from Iowa to York County; fortunately for me he had a young lady of seventeen years, and I persuaded her parents to give her to me; on Christmas day 1871 at high noon in a sod house, on a dirt floor was where she promised to protect me; to this union there were eight children, four boys and four girls, all born raised and schooled in York County, and they have made York County their homes all their lives.

We were like all young married people in those days in York County; all we had was our name, money was a thing of the past, everything was purchased through trade. We dried buffalo meat and traded for dishes and furniture to commence housekeeping. We made our bedstead, chairs and tables out of slabs sawed out of cottonwood that I sawed myself on the Blue River in the first saw mill in this county. We have held our own these 44 years, as the old saying is - "a poor man for babies." I helped cut the logs and with ox teams we hauled the same to Milford, Nebraska saw mill, and with the lumber we built the first school house in York County. The first team that I ever owned was an ox team, I paid for the same by breaking prairie, now on the quarter section that Geneva, Nebraska, stands upon. Our first trading after coming to this country was done in Nebraska City; it would take with our ox teams two weeks and over if the weather was good to make the trip. We have experienced in these forty years all kinds of Nebraska weather; went through the grass-hoppers' season, the storm of 1873 and also in 1888 which his- tory has so well recorded. My homestead was on the 'Beaver," nine miles east of York, and I afterwards moved np on the divide south of York. In 1886, with my family, I moved into the city and tried all kinds of business, and, the citizens of York know the results. In '89 four of us organized the U. B. church and in '90 with the Rev. Jones from Gibbon we organized what is now our York college; that year I was elected Treasurer of the College, and have held the position ever since.

Daniel Graves was born in Ruthland County, Vermont, June 22nd, 1844. In 1847 he left the Green Mountain state with his parents by the way of the Great Lakes, there being no railroads east of Chicago at that time, and settled in Mc- Henry County, Illinois, where he was reared, and in the common schools of that state obtained his education. At an early age he began work upon the farm, and throughout life has continued to follow agricultural pursuits. Although lie started out for himself at the age of twenty-one empty handed, he soon became the owner of a small farm of fiftysix acres in Illinois.

In 1872 Mr. Graves was united in marriage with Miss Martha Loonier, to this union was added the birth of seven children: two little daughters are deceased; while the living are, Almira G., Nora M., Daniel, Jr., Mabel P., Henry C. Mira G., and Nora M., were born in Marengo, Illinois, the rest being born in York County, Nebraska.

On selling his farm in Illinois, in 1877 he came to York County, Nebraska, and purchased four hundred acres of railroad land on section 11, Arborville Township, and as his financial resources increased, he has added to his possessions until lie now owns one thousand and forty acres, which he has transformed from wild prairie into highly cultivated fields .

In connection with his farming he fed cattle for over twenty-five years. His five living children are at this date located on his various farms in York County, Nebraska. In the year 1901 lie was afflicted with a paralj^tic stroke which unfitted him for manual labor. After remaining on the old farm eight years longer, he decided to move to York, purchased property, and built a modern home in the fall of 1908, at 916 East Avenue. He has passed the past eleven years in California and Florida, the winters here being too severe for health.

I came to York County in 1881 - I know something of the disapi)ointments and sacrifices one has to make to live in a new prairie countr}^ Driven from the Southwestern part of the state by hot winds and prairie dogs, we were very discouraged and finances low. I decided to locate in York for my future home. 1 took up the vocation of nurse. I have seen the gradual rise, but no fall of York for 28 years; saw the big fire on the South side in which my son, AY. T. Brown at present a resident of Fairmont, Nebraska, got hurt and was left a cripple.

York is called the banner city of Nebraska; I love it for its high standard of morals and enterprise of citizens wearing the wonderful fabric of life that shall be a contribution to the Heavenly World.

When about three years old the family removed to Hibbardsville, Ohio, where the family resided until about the year 1859 when the entire family removed to Clay County, Missouri. This was just before the War of the Rebellion. Political animosity soon became so pronounced that men known to be in sympathy with the Union were not safe in that part of the country. The father of the subject of this sketch was an outspoken anti-slavery advocate and friend of the Union. As a result practically all of his property was confiscated and destroyed and he, glad to get away with the members of liis family luiinjiirecL The family then located at Leon, Deeatnr C'onnty, Iowa, from whieli place they removed a year later to Davis County, Iowa, near Bloomfield, where the father died in 1868 leaving a widow and six children, two danghters and four sons. In May 1864 the subject of this sketch enlisted in Company D. 45th Iowa Infantry and was di charged in September of the same year by reason of the expiration of the term of service.

In addition to the Public Schools he was educated at the Troy College, an instituLion then flourishing at Troy, Iowa. By teaching school and working In- the month lie earned the money to assist his mother and family and pay his way through school. While in school he also devoted a ]iart of his time to reading law and in 1871 was admitted to the Bar at Bloomfield, Iowa. Soon after this he came to York, Nebraska and engaged in practice of his profession. From 1871 to 1875 he was active in his profession, oemg engaged in much of the important litigation in this ])art of the State. In 1875 he was elected District judge of the Fourth Judicial District, which comprised the counties of Dodge, Colfax, Platte, Merrick, Hall, Howard, Hamilton, Polk, Butler, Saundei's, Seward and York. Four years later he was elected to the same office. Before the expiration of his second term he was forced to resign his office by reason of ill health, which was induced by overwork. On March 5th, 1883 he was appointed Collector of Internal Revenue and United States Disbursing Officer for Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. This appointment came to him without solicitation on his part. Pie discharged the duties of that office until October 188(), at which time he resigned in order to devote himself to his personal business. In 1872 he issued the first call for a Republican Convention in York County and ])i'csided over the convention. He was Chairman of the Coimty Republican Committee for many years. He was the chief attorney for the Northwestern Railway Company south of the Platte River during all of its construction ]>eriod.

He was united in mai-riage on January 1, 1879 with Miss I^aura McConaughy, at Mount Pleasant, "West Moreland County, Pennsylvania. To them have been born five children, four daughters and one son.

On retiring from public office lie devoted himself to the business of banking, in which he was already interested. On March 20, 1884 he was elected President of the York Exchange Bank. This bank was soon reorganized as the York National Bank, of which he was elected President and continued as such until October 1893 at which time he and his business associates bought the First National Bank of York, and consolidated the two banks and operated the same as the First National Bank. He served as President of this bank until August 1912. He organized and became President of the First Trust Company of York in August 1911. He organized and became President of the Bank of Benedict November 27, 1889, and continued as such President until February 8, 1906, at which time the bank of Benedict was converted into the First National Bank of Benedict. He served as President of this bank until August 1912. On May 14, 1897 he and his business associates organized the State Bank of Bradshaw. He served as President of this bank until March 1906, at which time this bank was converted into the First National Bank of Bradshaw. He was elected President and served until August 1912. In June 1889 he became President of the Blue River Bank of McCool Junction and served as such until August 1912. In April 1902 he bought the controlling interest in the Bank of Lushton and served as Vice-President until August 1912. In iMay 1885 he became President of the Farmers & Traders Bank of "Waco and served continuously as President until August 1912. In November 1890 he and his business associates or- August 1912. Thus making an aggregate bank sers^ice in York County of almost one hundred and fifty years.

As president of the First National Bank of York he erected the present bank building on the Corner of Lincoln aVenue and Sixth Street, in which the bank at this time is situated. At the time of writing this sketch he has sold a large part of his property in York County and is about to remove with his family to California.

First visit to Free-soil Nebraska and first State Fair held at Lincoln, Sept. 1872. With Brother, A. B. Codding from Mendota, 111., filed on Sec. 14, T. 12, R. 3. A. B. C. on Sec. 3-1:. (Moved Mar. 1873). On Easter Snnday, April 12, at Sunset we watched the approach of the noted Easter Blizzard coming from the northwest in a perfect half circle like a new hemisphere had broken loose, snre it was a "scare sight." Fleeing before it birds of all kinds, buzzards, hawks, owls and crows. They were frightened, wearied and fell to the ground. The storm lasted three days and nights, many families had just moved into new sod shanties. There was much suffering and lack of fuel and shelter for stock; one young man perished in the effort to care for his team. Other families took their team - their only support - ^into the shanty with them, it was the only refuge, they could not see them perish at the door. Many cattle drifted with the storm and snow and perished. The wind and snow was so fierce and blinding that tlie only safe ])]ace was the sod shanty, and stay there.

Then, there cometli another evil that no man knowetli from whence it came - That grasshopper raid, Aug. 1874. They came as clouds, dropping to the earth and covering the ground and consumed immense stuff for a meal. They remained three days and nights and ate the entire corn crop of the county, which was earing fine; they ate leaf, ear and stalk. (Wheat was in shock). Their green eyes beheld every tender leaf and ])lant. Wife's garden was her summer's delight and promise, but while we slept they ate it top and root; with open hole in the ground, turkeys and chickens feasted till ashamed and disgusted; faithful teams shook their maius and snorted like "Pharaoh's Horses." Cows broke loose and ran for relief, the women cried. The grasshoppers went as they came - suddenly and in clouds, they shadowed the sun and the men said, "Lord we are willing," and we went nine miles to Sunday school. Wife and baby Nellie and papa, (to balance) went, on a riding corn plow rig and bnggy box to Capt. Eberliart's school house in 1875. New frame school house on Sec. 8, Town 11, R. 2, by M. Sovereign's homestead. A Sunday school was easily organized, - house full - Sovereign, Superintendent; Hon. Wm. H. Keckley, Bible teacher. The whole vicinity rallied like soldiers to their flag, it was a place for prayer, song and cheer. Stronisburg Sunday School sent invitations to visit them. Father Keckley moved: "If anybody goes, we all go." We had two four-horse (long reach) rigs, decorated, mounted by U. S. flag, school banner, and a set of sleigh bells on both teams to lead the way. With F. J. Parris and Samuel Sidwell as marshals to kee]) the music quiet, for it was Sunday. To say the least, Stromsburg gave a happy greeting and the shady grove on the Blue River for our ])icnic dinner - "Remember the Jov Life as Well."

The last wild buffalo: Three stray grazers were seen the summer of 1874 in Northwestern part of county and just northwest of York. One was shot by Jess Gandy near the Washburn Ranch on Lincoln Creek; the other two unawares, came very close to three women who were taking a walk to Joe Boyers, they were Mrs. R. B. Brabham, Mrs. Wm. Greer and Mrs. Ronaga, (One lost her knitting, another her shoes) The two remaining bufl^alo were shot, one near Stromsburg in a pool, the last at South Bend on the Platte.

For 20 miles around - (The Corn Stalk Fire.) Rather lend than borrow - (The flour sack.) Rather help than pay money - (The money bag.) Rather visit than hunt or fish - (The men.) Rather be at ease than curse the flees - (The women.) Rather be content than quench the spirit - (The wolf.) Rather stay than fail getting away - (The family.) "Fortv Years Ao-o" 1912.

Charles M. Sandall was bom in Sweden, Dec. 28, 1845, came with his parents to America in 1858, settling in Henry county, Illinois, where they lived one year, then moved to Hening- connty, Iowa. Here he lived with his parents nntil the fall of 1871 when he came West, taking a homestead in York county, Nebraska, on Sec. 34, Twp. 11, Range 3. The following si)ring he returned to Iowa and on Feb. 20, 1872 was married to Miss Fredricka Anderson; they started the next Spring in a movers' wagon for their new home in Nebraska and lived on the homestead five years and then sold and moved one mile west, where they have lived ever since.

They were blessed with nine children: Clars, Silas, Kebeka, Oscar, Esther, Othillia, Ernest, Fred and Rudolph, of which eight are still living. Othillia leaving her earthly home Feb. 14, 1910, also a little daughter who now makes her home with her grandparents.

Mr. Sandall and wife are charter members of the Swedish Lutheran church which was organized 1874, and are still active members. His wife being the first Swedish lady in York county. Mr. Sandall has been largely instrumental in bringing the Swedish people to this community.