Berwyn Township

Berwyn Township

At the time of this writing the village of Berwyn is thirty-two years old, and if it is small for its age, let it be understood that the size in no way reflects on the enterprising spirit of the citizens. It is a convenient trading point and community center for the people on the adjacent farms and makes no pretensions to being anything else.

It was laid out in 1886, by the Lincoln Townsite Company, on the north side of the railroad grade that was then being extended up the Muddy valley. The location centers on the section line which runs east and west between sections 16 and 21, township 16 north, range 19 west. The half-section line running north and south through these sections divides the town east and west and forms the principal business street. In the same summer, J. O. Taylor, a substantial pioneer farmer, erected on the new townsite the first store and put in a stock of dry goods and groceries. About the same time R. P. McKnight put up another store building and used it jointly for a store and restaurant. Later, McKnight made application for a postoffice and was himself commissioned the first postmaster of Berwyn. The following winter the Dierks Lumber Company established a branch office and put in a fine stock of lumber and such other accessories as generally pertain to the lumber business. A little later the West elevator was erected and a blacksmith here located early the next spring. About this time W. H. Mauk and H. S. Wayse put in a general hardware store, and the town was well started if not full fledged. It is today a prosperous vilage of modest proportions, with a population of about 300.

The Hustling Town Oe Merna

One of the best little towns in the central part of the county is Merna, located twelve miles northeast of the county seat, on the main line of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. For many years it enjoyed the dis- tinction of being the grain market of the county. Before the Union Pacific was extended to Arnold and much of the grain from the West table found an outlet through that town, Merna handled and shipped more grain than any other town or railroad point west of Lincoln. In the days when the West table grain came down the west hill, Merna kept three elevators working almost night and day. She developed then the energy and push which present today a neat, brick-built village w.ith modern homes and all municipal improvements.

The citizens of Merna are patriotic to a degree and in every war-drive have far exceeded their allotments or quotas. One of the most remarkable public sales ever held in the county was the Red Cross sale held on the streets of Merna in May, 1918, in which donated articles to the amount of $4,400 were sold and the proceeds contributed to the American Red Cross war work. This sale far exceeded the one held in Broken Bow one week previously, and stimulated the people of Anselmo to make a $6,000 sale one week later.

Atkisson Speaks For Merna

"In 1881 W. G. Brotherton took a claim where the town of Merna now stands, building a small sod house, which he occupied with his wife, as a home, postofifice and store, he being the second postmaster. Mr. Sam Dunning had been the first postmaster and the town was named after his daughter. Other early settlers in the community were C. P. Foote, Scott Hanna, S. H. Read, Reuben Gordon, Warren Gordon, William Reede, Andy Somner, Joe S'iltter, Samuel Dunning, Al. Thomas, Charles Thomas. Most of these men were unmarried, there being but three women in the settlement - Mrs. Brotherton, j\lrs. Foote and Mrs. Dunning. These people were all farmers and homesteaders. In 1883 the postofifice and store, which comprised the town, were moved two miles west and north, in section 36, and a townsite company formed. J. D. Strong, Milt Casteel and W. E. Warren were added to the community at this time. Warren built a little shack and sold drugs, and Strong and Casteel formed a partnership with Brotherton in the general store. In 1886 the Lincoln Townsite Company purchased Brotherton's claim and relocated the town on its former site, and the 'town' moved back again. In the fall of 1886 the railroad was built through the place and on to Anselmo. The town has grown not rapidly, but steadily, and is now a prosperous village, with good farms surrounding it. and real estate sells at a figure that the pioneers would have considered an impossible dream in the early days.

"The first newspaper was published by E. R. Purcell. After his removal to Broken Bow the town was without a paper for some time. Then a young man named Miller started a paper. This was not very long-lived and again the town was without its local news. Then Albert Lazenby tried the field of journalism and found it barren. In 1906 F. E. Pinch came into the town and, being an old newspaper man, established a paying business, naming his new paper the Merna Postal Card. After two years he disposed of his business to Claude Hall, who was the owner and pub- lisher for some four or five years, when he sold it to Mr. Dutton, who is the present owner and editor. The name has been changed to Merna Messenger and it is a live local paper, receiving a good support.

"Merna at the present time is prospering very satisfactorily. During the last year the large, brick store building belonging to H. K. Atkisson and occupied by the firm of C. R. Atkisson & W. Davis has been built, also the fine garages of B. S. Wells, and W. Ferritor. Several fine dwelling houses have been erected, among them are the homes of Mrs. W. H. Reeder, John Hipsley, Mrs. J. S. Francis, Miss Anna Kloven, and H. K. Atkisson. The business of the town consists of two general stores, one grocery store, two banks, one drug store, four garages, two blacksmith shops, one collecting agency, one hotel, one restaurant, one exclusive auto agency, one real-estate agency, two hardware stores, two machinery agencies, one jewelry store, one furniture and undertaking establishment, one moving-picture theatre.

"The professional men are represented by two physicians, one dentist, three clerg>'men and a splendid corps of teachers in the public school. Merna has had fine Chautauquas for the past five years, and a lecture course every valley, is located on the Grand Island and Wyoming branch of the B. & JNI. Railroad, fiftyseven miles northwest of Grand Island, twentythree miles southeast of Broken Bow, and forty-five miles north of Kearney. The location of Mason City, situated, as it is, in almost the central part of the southeastern quarter of Custer county, is worthy of the attention of all who desire to locate in a town for which not only nature but also circumstances have provided for so abundantly, and one which will undoubtedly make a busy, hustling town of year, much longer than that. The Chautauquas are well attended and self-supporting, the lecture course not quite so fortunate, as there are so many other attractions during the lecture course season.

"Merna furnished one soldier to the Spanish-American war, Roy Luce, who after the close of that unpleasantness returned safely and is at present living in Colorado. In all the contributions for the present war ^lerna and vicinity have done their part."

Mason City

importance. The townsite was located by the Lincoln Land Company in April, 1886. The land on which the town now stands was purchased of Nels Anderson and Mrs. George W. Runyan, 160 acres being secured from each of these parties. About one-half of this 320 acres has been platted into lots, the other half being held by the company for the same purpose in case the growth of the town demands it. The slope from the hills to the valley is gradual, just sufficient for good drainage. Nearly all the different branches of business, trades, and professions are represented here by a live and energetic set of people. The following is a full li.st

The Mason Cit}^ Banking Company, with P. H. Marley, president, J. J. Marley, vice-president, and R. B. Walker, cashier. In addition to the banking business, Mr. Marley is extensively engaged in the real-estate business. The Mason City Transcript is the only newspaper published in Mason City. The paper was established by Martin & Dellinger in June, 1886. M. C. Warrington, the present proprietor and editor, has had active control of the paper since August. 1886, making him the oldest editor in point of service and continuous connection with one paper in Custer county. For some years past the editor has been ably assisted in the publication of the paper by William A. Anderson. The mercantile business of Mason City is represented by E. G. Burrows, general merchandise ; W. C. Elliott, general merchandise : T. J. Wood, general merchandise ; O. H. Moomey, general merchandise ; S. M. Chase, general merchandise ; A. O'Brien, hardware and groceries ; G. P. Meek, fruit and groceries ; Hurley & Warrington, hardware, harness, and farm machinery ; P. A. Carlson, veterinarian; John M. Browning, hotel; J. H. McAdams, furniture; H. C. Chase, Jr., successor to Chase Brothers, druggist: J. P. Nelson, harness and machinery ; I\Ioomey Brothers, butchers ; Deardorf & Duke, farm machinery. Miss Nannie Serven. millinery ; Mrs. O. H. Moomey, millinery; M. L. Lamb, collections and insurance ; L. S. Ellsworth, attorney and solicitor ; John Meek, livery ; Dr. A. E. Robertson, physician and surgeon ; John Taylor & Son, blacksmiths; J. T. Castellaw, blacksmith. Grain dealers : Central Granaries Company, W. C. Rusmissel, agent; Tierney & Wirt, James Fairfield, agent. Dierks Lumber & Coal Company, E. Myers, agent ; M. B. Bunnell and James Fairfield, live stock ; H. L. Crowley, dray and express; M. E. Kellenbarger, agent for the B. & M. Railroad; J. H. Welch, miller ; G. F. Frasier, barber ; Weimer Brothers, painters and paper hangers ; Harvey Myers, photographer; H. W. Snook, optician and jeweler; Mason City ]\Iill, John Seeley, proprietor (former owner, J. W. Willis). The postoffice was established in 1886, George W. Runyan, postmaster, who was succeeded, in the spring of 1887, by W. C. Rusmissel. In April, 1889, L. B. Hill was appointed postmaster. M. C. Warrington succeeded Mr. Hill in September, 1893, and served until January 1, 189S, when he was succeeded by R. K. Miller, who is still postmaster.

The first merchant to do business in the village was A. Gates, who opened a store in July. 1886, in a small shed building. R. B. Walker was Mr. Gates' clerk. Mr. Gates retired from business in 1900. The first railroad train to enter the townsite was on July 27, 1886, and the then few residents of the town had a joyful celebration. Mason City was incorporated in 1887, and the school district, No. 169-, was also organized in 1887. The schools of the village have always been kept up to the highest standard of excellence.

There have been some exciting occurrences in the history of Mason City. In November. 1886, a store building owned and occupied by Mack & McEndeflfer, was destroyed by fire, and three persons, J. J. Hoagland, Malcolm ]\Iiller, and ^Malcolm McEndeffer. lost their lives. On July 2, 1892, a cyclone visited Mason Cit}' and vicinity, and damage to the amount of $20,000 was done in the village. The schoolhouse. two churches, and many other buildings were destroyed. A great deal

The religious interests of the people of Mason City were well looked after. There were three church buildings - the Baptist, J. R. Woods, resident pastor ( this was the first church organized, and had a large membership) ; the Methodist Episcopal' people erected a handsome edifice in 1899; the Catholic church organization has a neat and commodious place of worship, and services were supplied by Rev. Father Flannigan, of Dale.

The valley of the Muddy, in which ^lason City is so favorably located, is from two to three miles wide and has been so often described by the enthusiastic tourist that to speak now of its superior advantages and adaptability- in the requirements of the farmer and stockman would be superfluous. It is traversed throughout its length by the ^luddy, a clear stream of pure, sjiring water, which at many places, and particularly at Alason City, has been utilized as water power of an almost unlimited capacity, by simply throwing a short dam across it. The valley at this point is about three miles broad. Going north across the valley we come to the hills, which at a glance seem rough, but a closer inspection discloses beautiful sequestered parks, broad terraces and level prairie land, very inviting to the eye of the agriculturist. Actual experience has demonstrated the soil of these lands to be as rich and productive as the vallev land. Even the rougher hills and steeper declivities show the prolific nature of the soil by covering themselves to the very top with a luxuriant growth of grass that affords for stock a pasturage second to none in the Union. Further north a few miles is Clear creek valley, from two to three miles in width, thickly dotted over with unmistakable signs of thrift and prosperity. Here is one of the oldest settlements in the county, and the farmers are comfortably wealthy and happy. This valley extends from the northwest to the southeast, and is almost parallel with the Muddy valley, with which it unites some distance below. Mason City is reached from this valley through canyons which nature has provided as natural road-beds, with easy road grades over the summit. An arm of this valley is called Elk valley and winds up. to the high lands and spreads out, forming Lee's Park, a broad expanse of level land of several thousand acres in extent, and containing a thriving settlement of wellto-do farmers. This country is all tributary to Mason City. For a distance of three or four miles south of the town the country is gently rolling, well adapted to cultivation and grazing, and answering well the description of the country on the north side, except instead of terminating in several valleys, it rises to a level valley called "The Basin," which contains some ten square miles of extraordinarily rich farming land and is occupied by a class of farmers that would do credit to any country. What we say of the people of the basin, however, may equally apply to those of the whole country we are describing. They are Americans, as a rule, of education, and intelligence, with here and there one of the better class of Germans, Swedes, Danes, and Norwegians.

From !Mason City, in every direction in the liighlands, we find, in addition to the valleys and tables mentioned, a system of narrow valleys, small tables, high parks and terraces, separated by hills too steep and irregular for cultivation, but richly covered with a generous coat of native grass, which affords pasture much superior to the longer grasses upon the meadow of the valleys and tables. This pasture has a peculiarity which distingitishes it from all others. The grass is equally nutritious in winter and summer, and stock will fatten here in January, when there is nothing in a state of nature in the meadow to sustain life. The valley of Elk creek, one of the beautiful little valleys of Custer county, is almost wholly tributary to Mason City. This valley is settled by a good, thrifty class of farmers, who have fine homes and farms and are a prosperous and happy people. The shiftless. restless, migrating homesteader, who remained long enough to prove up and get a mortgage on his land, has given way to the more thrifty, more prudent, and more industrious farmer and stock-raiser. The business men and farmers of the southeastern quarter of Custer county welcome the on:oniing years with a feeling that there is still greater prosperity for all who apply business methods, honesty and industry to their transactions.

Prbsent-Day Business Interests

In the last decade and a half. Mason City has not made pretentious growth, but her business interests have been solidified and established on a permanent and paying basis. It makes no pretensions to be a city and has small ambitions in that direction. It does claim, however, to be a thriving village, with every facility for home-making that could be expected.

Concerning its business status at the present time M. C. Warrington, to whom the public is indebted for this stor\' of Mason City, has this to say :

"Nearly every line of business and industry is well represented in Mason City. The dififerent lines are represented as follows : The Mason City Banking Company is the oldest bank in Custer county, having been established in May, 1886, by Austin V. Hathaway. It is capitalized at $25,000. and is recognized as one of the solid financial institutions of Custer county. Its officers are : R. B. Walker, president : P. H. Marley, vice-president ; and Cornell Newman, cashier. Mr. Walker, under whose management it has been for the past fifteen years, has been connected with the bank for more than a quarter of a century. Mr. P. H. Marley, who is now a resident of Los Angeles, California, and who still retains large interests in Custer county lands, has been connected with the bank for thirty years, and it was his guiding hand which safely piloted the bank through the dangerous shoals and rough seas of panics and financial distresses, and drouth which overwhelmed the country in the '90s. The Mason City Banking Company has a large clientele of patrons and carries heavy deposits.

"The Farmers State Bank is another institution in which the people of Mason City take pride. This is comparatively a new concern, when its competitor is taken into consideration. The Farmers' State Bank w^as founded nine years ago and its officers are : C. B. Lauridsen, president ; E. W. Hiser, vice-president, and John T. Wood, cashier. The bank, which is capitalized at $25,000, has a list of customers and patrons and carries a line of deposits which make it the envy of many older institutions. . Since its establishment the Farmers' State Bank has been under the exclusive personal management of John T. Wood. Mr. Wood is a pioneer of Custer county, coming here at an early age, in 1884. He has had ex- perience as a farmer, merchant, and public official, serving four years as register of deeds, of Custer county. This bank erected for its own use, in 1916, a fine $12,000 building.

"The Mason City Transcript, Mason City's only newspaper, so long owned and published by M. C. Warrington, is now owned and edited by J. F. Peebles, who is ably assisted by his wife. The Transcript has a big circulation in the country surrounding the town and is a factor for much good in the community. The paper is Democratic in politics.

eral merchandise. Mr. Elliott is the pioneer merchant of Mason City, commencing business in 1891. A. O'Brien, a resident of Custer county since 1882, now carries on an exclusive hardware store, but until recently also carried groceries. C. E. Bass & Company, with J. G. Bass as manager, carry hardware, farm implements, automobiles, windmills, pumps, etc. George J. Anderson is proprietor of the only meat market. R. H. Duke has the exclusive drug store. J. C. Nelson & Company have a harness and shoe-repairing store. Mrs. G. A\'. Whitehead has millinery and ladies' furnishings. Chase Brothers and Charles O. Lamb are proprietors of automobile garages. Mr. Lamb is completing a new cementstone garage building, fifty by a hundred feet, for his business. !Meek & Hawkins are proprietors of the livery barn. W. N. Hurley and J. W. Taylor are the village blacksmiths. Schultz Brothers, L. L. Narrazon, and T. J. Wood are the carpenters. Hans G. Arp and the Farmers' Shipping Company handle live stock. G. F. Frasier and Cleir Chrisman are barbers. W. C. Taylor is proprietor of a flour and feed store. A. A. Coxon and son maintain a restaurant. M. S. Fairfield has temperance drinking parlors. ~SL C. Carroll is resident agent and distributor for the Standard Oil Company, which has a large plant here. \M11- iam F. Davis has the hydraulic-well and windmill business. E. W. Edwards and son have an automobile-repair shop. W. C. Elliott and F. S. ^loomey are proprietors of the fine opera house, which contains three large store rooms on the first floor and a splendid hall and office rooms on the second floor. This beautiful building was erected in 1912. Dr. Ralph M. McClaughan is our resident dentist. Dr. A. C. Rumery and Dr. P. H. J. Carothers are the physicians who administer to the ills of the people. Dr. Carothers also maintains a fine, large hospital in connection with his practice. The Mason City Flour Mills is another local institution of which the town is justly proud. It is a large four-story structure, equipped with model machinery and uses water power furnished by Muddy creek. A. A. Karinow is proprietor and enjoys a prosperous business. H. A. Doane owns and operates a cement plant in which a number of men find employment in the summer months. The Hotel Melvin is owned by Frank N. ^lossm'an, and is operated by Charles Kennedy, a popular landlord. The Farmers' Shipping Company, a co-operative association, owns the creamery and handles cream, poultry, and live stock. Frank G. Hall is manager. The Central Granaries Company runs the elevator, with J. ^^ Fairfield as manager. Levi King and F. N. Mossman are land agents. The two banks also deal in lands. The pleasure and recreation of the people of the town are supplied by two motion-picture theatres, one owned by Lamb & Miller, the other by F. S'. Aloomey. There are two lumber and coal yards, Dierks Lumber & Coal Company, and the J. H. ^Melville Lumber Company, W. S. Moore, local manager."

The fxistoffice at Mason Citj' was established in the month of October, 1886, with George \\'. Runyan as postmaster. For the first six months of the town's history the mail facilities were very poor and caused endless annoyance. The mail was brought across the country on a Star route to Algernon and then brought to Mason City by some one who volunteered to go after it on mail days. The letter mail was taken care of by H. B. Austin, cashier of the bank, while the paper mail was thrown into a box, for each individual to help himself. After holding the postoffice a few months Mr. Runyan resigned and was succeeded by W. C. Rusmissell. On the change of administrations in 1889, Captain L. B. Hill, an honored veteran of the Civil war, was appointed postmaster. M. C. Warrington was postmaster from 1893 to 1898, when he was succeeded by R. K. Miller, who is also a Civil war veteran. J. W. Fairfield succeeded Mr. Miller, and was succeeded in turn by W. C. Rusmissell, who is now postmaster. The postoffice has kept pace with the growth of the town and the surrounding country, and has two rural free-delivery routes and one Star route, supplying mail to a large territory. J. C. Spencer and Leo Spencer, father and son. are carriers on the free-deliverv routes, and

E. \y. Edwards on the Star route. It is rather an unusual incident that all the men who have been postmasters of ]\Iason City live here yet except Mr. Runyan, who resides at Broken Bow.

Oldest Inhabitants

Among the present citizens of Mason City u'ho were residents during the first year of the town's history are VV. N. Hurley, H. L. Crosley, M. C. Warrington, and W. C. Rusmissell. Those who have lived in the town twenty-five years or more are : Messrs. T. J. Wood, G. F. Frasier, J. P. Nelson, E. G. Burrows, and ]\Iesdames W. N. Hurley, H. L. Crosley, M. C. Warrington, Belle ^'. Robertson, Martha Chase, J. P. Nelson. Niels Anderson, from whom the west half of the townsite was purchased, with his family, has been an honored citizen of the village since he sold his homestead, in the spring of 1886, to the Lincoln Land Company.

Federal Officers

M. C. Warrington bears the distinction of being the only ]\Iason City man who has been honored by appointment to a federal office outside of home. He is now register of the LTnited States Land office at Broken Bow, having been appointed in Alay, 1916. ]\lr. Warrington was postmaster of Mason City under the second administration of Grover Cleveland. He has also been member and chairman of the village board, and has served as village clerk and treasurer, justice of the peace, chairman of the township board, besides serving ten years on the school board.