Doniphan Township

Doniphan Township

After the St. Joseph and Grand Island railroad was in operation it was inevitable that a town should grow up between Grand Island and Hastings. So in 1879 Mr. Burger, who owned the land where the town of Doniphan was built, platted a town site, laid out the first lots, sold a number of lots and started the town, which was named Doniphan, in honor of Colonel Doniphan, who was attorney for the St. Joseph & Grand Island railway.

Samuel Biedelman lived a half-mile west of the town and later moved down after the town was started. H. C. Denman had a farm that joined the new townsite, and while he did not live in the town he became a leading citizen of the new community. Charles Dufford, a farmer in that vicinity, moved down a short time after the new town got started. S. H. Lakins moved in after the town had been going for something like three years. Upson Brothers came right in, during the first few months, and started a store in August, 1879. W. H. Gideon lived at the edge of the town and helped lay out the new town. Samuel Gibson came in rather early and worked for Mr. Burger in the blacksmith job. Dr. Caswell T. Poe came the year after the establishment of the town. He had located in South Platte precint and farmed there for five years, and also practiced medicine. He had then gone to Grand Island, but after the new town started he relocated in the southern part of the county and began practicing from the new village. These who have just been named were among the first settlers of the new town, whose early arrival contributed materially to establishing the town that was to be in that part of the county, Doniphan.

As remarked before, the first store was that of Upson Brothers, started in August, 1879. W. J. Burger operated a livery stable which he sold in 1880 to Scudder Brothers. In the spring of 1880 Mr. Burger built a new building for a store and a hall was put in upstairs, which was known thereafter as the Burger & McCulloch Hall. The growth of the town commercially is detailed in a section of a separate chapter treating of that special phase of the life of each community.

Early Events In The Community

The first girl born on the new townsite was Jennie M. Stout, on February 9, 1880, but she lived only a short time. The first boy born in the new town was Mr. Burger's son, Albert Doniphan Burger, in 1879. The first marriage in the town took place October 30, 1881, and the contracting parties were L- M. Brewer and Miss Anna M. Wharry, performed at the hotel.

The religious side of life was early cared for by the residents of the new community and occasional sermons were enjoyed from the very beginning. The first sennon of which present record is given was that preached by a Rev. Mr. Rockaway, presiding elder of the Methodist Episcopal church at Burger & McCulloch's Hall, on Monday evening, July 18, 1881. On the following Sunday sermons were preached by Rev. E. A. McCullom, of the Presbyterian church, a Rev. Mr. Sweeney of the Christian, and a Rev. Mr. Thurber of the Methodist Episcopal. Church societies were at once organized by the Methodist, Presbyterian and Christian people, though it was quite a number of years before any of the denominations completed the erection of a building for its special needs.

The first school in the town was taught in the fall of 1879 by Miss Emma Smith. There had been a school house built in 1874 at the corner cross-roads near town. That building was later converted into a residence. The flouring mill which Mr. Burger started in 1881 was practically the beginning of the industrial development of the young community. The town was just seven years old when a bank was started, the Bank of Doniphan, with W. J. Burger president, John Schwyn cashier, and S. N. Wolbach, C. F. Bentley, Messrs. Burger and Schwyn stockholders. The community had a newspaper as early as April, 1881, when

Doniphan's big fire The town had secured a good start by the year 1887. On November 26, 1887, a fire broke out that swept one side of the main street, destroyed the town records then compiled, and became a most notable event in the history of the community. Though like those fires in the early history of a town that leave a severe loss and dreadful inconvenience for the time being, new and better buildings spring up to replace the older ones and the general appearance of the town is eventually improved. This fire destroyed the only brick building the town then had, the one occupied by the postoffice, William Gideon then postmaster, the bank, Carmichael's grocery, a millinery store, a general store, and a butcher shop. The fire resulted from the attempt of burglars to blow open the door of the bank safe.

The Incorporation Of The Town

The little village had assumed enough of the pretensions of a town by the time it was five years old so that on January 9, 1884, on the petition of thirty-three resident tax-payers the south half of section 5 and all of section 8, town 9, range 9, and southeast quarter of section 1 and east half of section 12, town 9, range 10 was incorporated as the village of Doniphan. A. M. Sweeney, James Scudder, J. W. Burg, D. O. Grice and Samuel Beidelman were appointed to constitute the first board of trustees.

Succeeding Town Trustees

Due to the destruction of the village records in the fire of November, 1887, the records of membership of the board of trustees during the two years that intervened between the expiration of the term of the first board and the board that took office in the spring of 1887 is missing. A new village record was started on February 6, 1888, and this shows that at that time the town trustees were: J. W. Carmichael, John Schwyn, T. M. Scheaff, Jas. H. Scudder, vice J. N. Joice, who resigned that month, W. E. Moore. W. J. Burger was town clerk but he was succeeded in February by Markwood Holmes when he became a member of the board to succeed Mr. Carmichael who resigned then. The succeeding boards were :

J. M. Fitch, Frank Scudder, and W. E. Moore, the last three resigning during the year and John Walker and W. J. Burger coming on in place of latter two trustees.

W. Walker, John Schwyn and H. T. Ingalls, who resigned in January 1894 and Dr. Fitch returned to the board. 1894 - H. D. Williams. J. H. Scudder, Wilbur W. Welch, John Schwyn and D. C. Gideon, who was succeeded by L. M. Brewer during the year.

Clarno, M. E. Bowlin and Amos Beagle. In 1901 a period began during which the members were elected for a two year term. The members of the board of

Village Clerks

An important office in the history and development of the affairs of a town is that of village or town clerk. In 1888 W. J. Burger was serving as town clerk. His successor for about three years was ^larkwood Holmes. H. N. Lord served a few months, then O. B. Hawk, and short terms of service were filled out in the next three or four years by O. B. Hawk,. Dr. J. D. Jackson, W. H. Gideon, H. T. Ingalls, B. F. Scudder, J. Schwyn, J. E. Hitt, and in 1895 the clerkship settled down in the hands of John Schwyn, who served in that capacity until August, 1899.

I. T. Ward served a few months. The next spring Schwyn again took over the books. In 1901 J. H. Scudder served and was succeeded in 1902 by S. W. Burch. After three years of that work, he was followed for two years by

D. B. Skills. I. T. Ward served in 1909. 1910, and 1911 and L. G. Scudder in 1912 and 1913. W. S. Pickens took over the office in 1914 and continued until February, 1918, when A. W. Bauman became clerk, whose successor was Percy Button. In October, 1918, the present clerk, H. E. Clarno, took charge of the books.

Town Treasurers

Some of the town treasurers have been, John ]\I. AlcCulloch, John Schwyn for about ten years during the decade of the 'nineties, A. D. Burger from 1901 until A. L. Scudder became custodian of city funds in 1904. He was succeeded by H. E. Funk in 1907 and A. D. Burger returned to that responsibility in 1911.

Marshal

Sweney, Orville Ellsworth, C. N. Munroe and others back in the 'nineties. Al Bamgarten, J. E. Nelson, Monroe, A. B. Smith, C. C. Underwood served in the next decade. R. Decker, M. J. Meseraull and Martin Brewer were later marshals. In the last few years Wes Pickens and Elmer Orr have combined that duty with many others they had.

The task of looking after the streets was entrusted in 1889 to I. L. Meseraull. Through the 'nineties among the various custodians of the streets were Aaron Duffield, John Ward, arrgange for a waterworks system for the town were C. J. Humphrey, B. F. Scudder, H. E. Funk, H. G. Rainz, S. Crawford, O. Ellsworth, A. Cleal, R. L. Msmullin, and D. B. Skiles. The water bonds were carried on September 17, 1912, and bonds for $16,- 000 for water purposes and $2,000 for a light plant authorized The electric light plant built for the town by the Doniphan Light and Power Co. was sold in 1916 to the Central Power Co. and hitched onto the Grand Island plant for electric serviNK OF Doniphan,

J. L. Meseraull, John Walker, B. Scudder, Geo. W. Orr, L. Howerton, C. B. Smith. From 1900 to 1910, Mart Demster, J. E. Nelson, A. B. Smith, Chas. Munroe, Jas. Gideon, Chas. Balmer, V. Clarno, Orville Ellsworth and R. Decker took on this task at various times. In 1914, Wes Pickens assumed the multiple burden of water, street and light commissioner, town marshal and clerk of the village board. His successor was Elmer Orr, who is still carrying most of those responsibilities.

Doniphan has kept in pace with other towns of her class in the matter of public improvements and securing modern conveniences of life for her people. She faced the problems of water tanks, hitching posts, a chemical engine all before 1910.

Commercial Changes

Despite the close proximity of Hastings and Grand Island to the farmers living on the south side of the Platte in Hall County, Doniphan has maintained her position of supremacy as the trading point for this South Platte community. Her commercial importance is easily evidenced by an examination of the history of the business houses that have flourished in Doniphan.

The first store, established in August, 1879, by Upson Brothers has undergone a series of changes in management. It was later sold to Francis, who passed it on to Meseraull,

Late in 1880 the Camp and Alexander store was sold to Burger & McCullough. This opened the career of W. J. Burger in the general merchandise line and the management of this store remained continuously in the hands of Mr. Burger, his partner and his family for thirty-nine years, when it was recently sold to D. A. Jones of Hastings. For about fifteen years the business was conducted under the firm name of Burger & McCullough. Mr. Burger then purchased the partner's interest in the store. About twenty-three years ago, after his son had finished his education he came into a share of the management of the business, and later the son, A. D. Burger, became a partner, and the business in recent years has been known as W. J. Burger & Son. In thirty-nine years of service of the wants of the public, this business has grown from a small country trading station to one of the largest and best equipped mercantile establishments in the county.

Samuel Fry established a store in 1880 that flourished for a long time as Fry & Beidelman, was later sold out, and finally the stock was disposed of and the establishment went out of business.

Another early store was that handled by a Mr. Joice, and at another period by Mr. Morrow, and of which A. L. Scudder was manager for McNal & Wisner. W. A. Camp sustained a fire about 1895 or 1896. Mr. Scudder then conducted this business in his own right for fourteen years, and Hess & Son had it for a year. Then Garrett & Moss came in, and a Mr. Child of Oklahoma acquired the stock, after which it was moved away.

John Burg opened a drug store in Doniphan at an early date. W. J. Burger at one time owned this stock. S. W. Birch conducted the store for some time, and later Dr. C. A. Stone

Mr. Burger established a blacksmith shop in early days, which was conducted by Si. Gibson. Gregg Bros, of St. Joseph had the first grain elevator. The second elevator belonged to Mr. Burger and to C. W. Thomas, later to Meseraull and a Hastings man, and eventually became the Hall County Grain Company, under management of R. L. Mc- Mullin. Ben Orcutt built another elevator which was sold to Scudder & Ingalls. Doniphan now has two farmers' elevators one of which the farmers built new and the other being the successor of L. G. Scudder's elevator business. These are the Farmers Grain Co. and the Farmers Mill & Elevator Co.

Doniphan had a livery stable in 1879, owned by W. J. Burger, who sold it in 1880 to Scudder Brothers. The livery stable is now conducted by Cash Richmond.

R. L. McMullin started a garage for Doniphan early in the days of the automobile business. This is now conducted as the Doniphan Auto Co. and has the Ford agency. W. R. Augustin and Son have the Augustin Auto. Co. and have a splendidly equipped garage.

Doniphan has been well supplied with halls for places of public meetings. Burger & Mc- Culloch's hall was built in 1880 and long remained the place where public gatherings could be held. The Odd Fellows have had a hall, and the Masonic Hall was installed over the old Bank of Doniphan building. Doniphan also has an opera house, of which J. C. BoroiT is manager.

C. F. Raymer, as agent for Paine & Co. of Grand Island, conducted the first lumber yard, in 1880. During recent years the Aspegren- Stroud Lumber Co. of Lincoln has been in charge of the lumber yard, which is now conducted as the Doniphan Lumber Co. H. E. Clarno is the present manager.

fire in 1887. They later reestablished across the street. S. S. Shultz afterwards conducted the market, and in recent years O. L. Pearson. Charles Braman is the present proprietor.

The newspapers, treated in the chapter on "The Press" have been the Index, founded in 1881 by Charles Kesley, the Leader, founded in 1889, the Bagle, founded by I. M. Augustine, and after a gap during which the town had no newspaper for a few years, its present journal, the Enterprise.

The Bank of Doniphan, Commercial Exchange Bank, Doniphan Sand & Gravel Co., Doniphan Brick Yards, Skiles Barber shop, Frank M. Hitch, blacksmith shop, C. L. Boyd, Fred Pent, Saml. B. Marsh and Orr Bros., carpenters and builders, Ellsworth, Taggard, and Shehin's restaurants, McCleery drug store, D. O. Jones, general store (successor to W. J. Burger & Son), A. L. Scudder, general store, Henry Olthofl:, general store, Walter Augustine and S. H. Crawford, Inmplements and farm machinery. Farmers Grain Co., Doniphan Grain Co., Farmers Mill & Elevator Co., Augustine and S. H. Crawford, implements Wood, hardware, Joseph Wortman, harness shop, Richmond livery stable, Doniphan Lumber Co., Braman meat market, the Enterprise, J. C. Bierbower editor. Dr. Geo. L. Wagner and Dr. C. A. Stone, physicians, Doniphan Produce Co., with H. S. Altensee, manager, the Jewell Theatre, and telephone offices.

Cairo

The founding of the town of Cairo long postdates the early history of Mayfield and South Loup Townships. When the railroad was surveyed the town of Cairo sprang up in the spring of 1886. Established on the line of th& Grand Island & Wyoming Railroad, now the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, this beautiful little town lies eighteen miles northwest of Grand Island. The National Lumber Company hauled in lumber and established small yards in anticipation of the town, doing this late in 1885 or early in 1886. It was not long before the town had several business houses. Geo. Elfus had a grocery store, Thomas Shurtz a drug store, and George Willing a furniture store. George W. Wingert became postmaster. Mr. Wingert has been an active business spirit in the community since that time.

The Town Governmknt

I. M. Cole, C. M. North, Geo. A. Dove, Geo. W. Wingert, Geo. F. Shindel. Later in the year, on account of resignations, Geo. Brewer, L. Watkins and W. C. Ofield took seats on the board.

kins. It was during the administration of this board that the epidemic of smahpox became so contagious and dangerous throughout the country that action was taken similar to that taken generally during the influenza epidemic of 1918 - no assembly was allowed for 30 days from December 20, 1900, in church, hall, or other public place. This order was revoked early in January, 1901, when the situation had improved.

Powers, A. H. Shull, C. M. North. N. C. Nelson and L. Watkins. A district court decree changing boundaries of Cairo unseated Mr. Watkins and his successor was I. M. Cole.

over, S. W. Snyder came on ; Cole resigned and W. S. Bellows was appointed, and Powers moved out of town and H. G. Still came back to the board.

1918 - Ingalls and Goodrich held over; Cox was reelected and Harry Prohl and Geo. Whitefoot came onto the board. In October, 1918, Prohl resigned and G. H. Vant was appointed ; in March, 1919, Cox resigned and the place was left open until the spring election selected new members.

The important office of village clerk was first filled in 1892 by John A. Kalus. In the succeeding years, the books were taken care of by Wm. Moore, 1893; F. W. Spencer, 1894-5; Geo. W. Hood for a few months; Chas, Shindel from 1896 to 1899; Geo. C. Adwers for about nine months ; A. L. Barneby from February 1900 until May, 1901 ; R. W. Wirt for a few months ; A. L. Omer, 1901 to 1903 ; W. C. Wingert and J. H. Harrison in 1904; C. Blease, 1905; A. L. Barneby, October, 1905 until May, 1908 ; C. Hugo Hehnke became clerk in 1908 and held this position until June, 1914. The next clerk was H. P. Bellows who served until the spring of 1919, when E. H. Whitehad, the present clerk, took charge.

Village Treasurers

L. W. Lyon first assumed the task of custodian of the village funds, serving from 1892 until June, 1898. W. C. Wingert assumed the office until in 1901. George W. Wingert then took up the responsibilities of village treasurer which he held from 1901 until October, 1905. J. H. Harrison then served until 1908, when Geo. W. Wingert again assumed the office and has held it continuously during the past eleven years.

Commissioner And Marshal

June 3, 190L During that time the duties of street commissioner were performed by Geo. F. Shundel and Jos. Hancock until 1900. D. C. Roush and John Stogger were the next commissioners. Murphy returned to the duties of marshal in a short time and served until he again resigned on August 6, 1904. Geo. Wabel and J. W. Hancock served as marshal for short periods and Murphy served again in 1905. In 1902 and 1903 L. W. Mc- Cormack and H. D. McWilliams served as street commissioners. In 1904 Murphy was serving as both marshal and street commissioner, which he later did in 1905 and 1906. During 1906 C. E. Clark took over this joint burden and remained until 1910. Gust Erickson succeeded him, and in the latter part of 1910 added the duties of water commissioner to those he already had under way. Henry Thompson served in 1911 as marshal and Robert Day as water commissioner. But in 1912 Alfred Boyd had taken up the duties of street commissioner and marshal and Gust Erickson was water commissioner. Boyd continued his service until 1917, when A. B. Congrove succeeded him, and then E. Blauvelt came into office, but Alfred Boyd returned to the positions of marshal and street commissioner and now holds the same. Erickson was succeeded as water commisisoner by Karl Rasmussen.

At an election held on May 18, 1909, Cairo voted bonds for the construction of a water plant by a vote of 82 for to 27 against. On the basis of an $8,000 issue, a contract was let to the National company of South Bend, Indiana, for $6,735. In 1910 a jail was ordered built, to be 10 X 14 feet, with two cells.

Business Houses

The store established by Geo. Elfers in 1886 came into the hands of I. M. Cole about 1891 or 1892. Hehnke-Lohman afterwards turned this business into the Cairo Mercantile Co., which is still managed by C. Hugo Hehnke.

The store established by Dell Thompson was at one time conducted by a Mr. Bristol. F. W. Goodrich once burned out with this stock. Dell Thompson rebuilt on the old site and handled hardware and later dry goods and groceries. Later Thompson Brothers conducted the business. The old established store of H. P. Bellows & Co. is now being closed out. Another stock in Cairo was formerly handled as Bellows & Goodrich, but is now the store of F. W. Goodrich. A stock handled by Chas. Wood burned out about 1892.

The pioneer hardware store of Geo. Willing, established in 1886, was later handled respectively by Dell Thompson, Will Parker, W. S. Bellows, and while in the hands of E. W. McAllister burned out in January, 1908. McAllister Brothers put in a stock of groceries, dry goods, furniture, and hardware which burned out in January, 1915. Lloyd Mc- Allister rebuilt and restored a stock, which later became the store of Dove & Son.

The first hotel in Cairo was built by Jim Irwin on the bank comer. Later this was handled by Hancock's, by Grandma Stoeger, by Mrs. Carlson, but for the past ten or twelve years, A. R. Boyd has been "Ye Host."

Scudder Brothers, of Doniphan, opened a livery stable early in the history of the town, but the North-Robinson barns afterwards acquired that site and another livery stable has since sprung up. The Isaac Dunlap stable has recently been converted into a garage. Frank Hilderbrand had the first meat market. Wingert Brothers conducted a market for some time, and Geo. Weibel and Emil Leucht were later market proprietors, and the present meat market owner, Adolph Runge, has built a new building for that purpose.

The Gacettc was an early newspaper in the community. J. H. Harrison established the Record about 1902 and conducted it for about six years. His successors with the editorial pen have been Elliott Harrison, A. C. Ofield, W. H. Daly, and A. C. Ofield again returned to the editorial desk and now J. W. Mahaffey publishes the Record.

Business Directory

The business interests in Cairo in 1907 were: S. R. Benton, E. J. Peters, agricultural implements ; J. H. Harrison, cashier Cairo State Bank; O. E. Littler, barber; Fred Erickson, blacksmith; A. L. Bameby, books and stationery ; W. H. Harrison, building material; Wm. D. Billis, Henry J. Cole, Jos. W. Hancock, Frank W. Keeley, J. Shaugnessy, contractors and carpenters ; Dell Thompson,

Business Directory 1919

Automobiles: E. H. Whitehead (Boodry ;Motor Car Co. now out), Schlund and Tully, Earl Veeder ; agricultural implements : Karl A. Rasmussen ; banks : Cairo State, Geo. W. Wingert, cashier; Farmers' State, G. C. Raven, cashier; Dye & Swan and J. Sorrenson, barbers ; The W. H. Harrison Co. and Nelson Lumber & Supply Co., lumber; coal and grain: H. T. Ingalls & Son (for about six years) and S. M. Beadle & Co. until cement blocks ; Hans Runge, cream station ; John H. Pedley, dray line ; Wm. Brand, The New Drug Store; Dr. Jas. M. Tische, drugs; Cairo Mercantile Co., Fred W. Goodrich, Wingert Bros., general merchandise; John E. Cox and Oscar Wells & Co., grain dealers and elevators; A. H. Simmons, groceries ; E. W. McAllister and Cairo Mercantile Co., hardware; Henry Rathman, harness maker; Cairo Hotel, John Omer, proprietor; Commercial Hotel, Mrs. Emma Carlson ; North & Robinson, horse importers and dealers ; J. H. Harrison, law ; Chas. D. Bowker, livery stable; W. H. Harrison, lumber; Cairo Opera House, Dell Thompson, manager; Lee Shouse, painter; Drs. M. R. Piersol and Jas. M. Tiesche, physicians; Philip K. Hile, plasterer ; A. L. Bameby, postmaster ; Cairo Record, newspaper and printing office; Henr}- Arlt, saloon; A. B. Congrove, recently, but now Highland Grain Co. ; creamery interests : fonnerly Beatrice Creamery Co. and Farmers Co-operative Co., but now Lincoln Pure Butter Co., F. E. Blauvelt, manager, and Harding Cream Co., Hans Runge ; dray lines : A. Boyd and F. M. Alderman ; drug stores : The Cairo Pharmacy, operated for the past ten years by J. M. Ruth. Between Thos. Schurtz who established the first drug business in Cairo in 1886 and Mr. Ruth this line was handled at various times by John Boeck, Chauncey North, Dr. Milliken, Harry Wright, and Dr. Tish. The other drug store, the City Drug Store, fonnerly conducted by Opal M. Piersol, is now operated by M. E. Tennant. The stores handling dry goods and clothing are Cairo Mercatnile Co., Thompson Brothers, F. W. Goodrich, and the H. P. Bellows Co., stock being closed out during 1919. Those handling groceries, in addition to the stores just named, are A. L. Barneby, and Dove & Son. The flour mill industry is handled at the Ligalls mill. John Orndoff and J. R. Herrick are the recent live stock dealers ; Adolph Runge, meat market ; Mrs. Nettie Boyd, millinery ; B. F. Clark and W. S. Veeder, painters ; printing at the Record office; Dr. M. R. Piersol and Dr. Dodd, physicians ; Dr. Earl Metheny went into military service and has not returned to Cairo ; Frank R. Skupa, tailor.

North & Robinson Co

The history of Cairo would not be complete without a resume of the growth and operations of the business institution that did a great deal toward spreading the name and fame of Cairo broadcast throughout Nebraska and neighboring states.

The firm of importers and breeders was started by C. M. North in 1900. Mr. North was born on a farm in DeWitt County, Illinois, in 1860. Associated with horses from his childhood and naturally a lover of live stock, he commenced his active business life at the home farm. He met with many discouragements in his career but always managed to have something at the end of the halter. In 1889 he moved to the young town of Cairo, Nebraska, bringing with him seven brood mares and a stallion. His work among blooded horses was practically a pioneer venture in Nebraska in that line. He was interested in various enterprises in Cairo, in which he was more or less successful. Later he joined partnership with W. C. Robinson, also of Cairo.

Mr. Robinson is a Nebraska product. He was born just north of Grand Island at St. Paul, in 1875, but at the age of twelve years moved to Cairo where he lived on a farm. He always showed a decided interest in horseflesh.

The business was carried on at Cairo under the name of North & Robinson for several years. Eventually the demand for good horses such as this firm was handling grew so great that they came to Grand Island and chose headquarters. A large barn was erected opposite the Bradstreet & Clemens Company's sales stables. In 1910, desiring to have broader quarters, they united with H. T. Dean at Bridgeport, Nebraska, and incorporated under the firm name of North-Robinson-Dean Co., with capital of $200,000. After building up a vast ranch near Bridgeport upon which to handle their hundreds of brood mares, Mr. Dean disposed of his interests to North and Robinson. This firm operated through the heavy war period, but a couple years ago dropped their activities in this line of business, after a singularly successful career. The operations of this firm, originating in Cairo, served to advertise their home town throughout the country in a very creditable manner.

The prosperous little town of Alda is located eight miles southwest of Grand Island on the main line of the Union Pacific railroad. The first settler in the vicinity of Alda was W. G. Eldridge who settled on the northeast quarter of section 14, township 10, range 11, in May, 1859. In the fall of that year he erected the first dwelling house in this part of the country. Charles and Arthur Lamberson located in Jackson township in the fall' of 1866, having settled in the county the year before. Wood River was being settled up in the meantime, to the west of Alda.

W. W. Mitchell came to Hall County in 1871 and two years later he opened a store in Alda, also bought grain and sold farm machinery there. Mr. Mitchell continued this pioneer mercantile venture of Alda community for a number of years. In 1889 he moved to Wood River and engaged in the general merchandise business there. Mr. Mitchell has been one of the active constructive spirits to whom considerable credit is due for the upbuilding of both Alda and Wood River.

The original name of the community formed here was Pawnee and this name was carried for quite a number of years, when it became necessary to abandon it, upon postal difficulties, and the name Alda was chosen.

store in the "eighties. The Mitchell stock was passed on to Dan O'Kane, then to W. W. Gallup, and finally closed out. At present the town has four important stores. The J. W. Alodesitt store is operated in a building which .Mr. Modesitt buiU for it in 1911. The John McLellan store, recently sold to J. D. Shriner, has a long and varied history. It passed from the hands of ^Ir. Steubel to Wilson and Andrews, and to Frank Powell, who closed out. Then Frank Hastings started the stock in and passed it to J. W. Modesitt, who not only ran the store, but bought grain, and in 1886 assumed the duties of postmaster. He remained in charge of this store for twenty years and sold it to Mr. Knox, about 1906, who passed it on to John McLellan. After ten years operation of this business, Mr. Mc- Lellan sold the business to Messrs. Osborn and Graham of Gibbon, who did not move to Alda and can hardly be counted as having operated the business, but who sold it to J. D. Shriner, the present owner.

Alda had a good lumber yard. About 1910 a local company was formed to handle a lumber business. John McLellan became president, P. C. Kelley, vice-president, and Mr. Gallup, secretary-treasurer. This yard has been conducted until very recently with John McLellan as president and W. W. Gallup, secretarytreasurer. It was sold during 1919.

Alda has two banks, the Alda State Bank, and the Farmers' State Bank. It had a blacksmith shop as early as 1886, Inman's. It now has three shops, those of D. W. Forrest, Alva Phillips, and Dan George.

The church activities are carried on through the Friends' and Methodist's organizations. The first services of the Methodist people were held in an old school house. There had been one Specht, a Christian minister, holding meetings. Jeremiah Parker, John Fleisher, Gilbert Slater, and J. W. Modesitt joined forces, bought the old school house, and gave a note for $450 for the same. Mr. Modesitt relates that Zachmont Joy came to him and wanted to convert the enterprise into a Unitarian church. Slater, Parker, and Fleisher turned in their stock. They said they would support it, so go ahead. Zachmont Joy had the note taken up, and carried it on awhile. Herbert Mott, a cowboy preacher for the Friends, came in next. Mott got to talking agaipst baptism. McReynolds and Campbell were later pastors. Powers came out from Grand Island. An irritation had been aroused by Mott's talks against baptism, and the Methodists took over the building.

The creamery operations in the community are carried on by the Omaha Cold Storage Co., which has maintained a station here for some years. The Trans-Mississippi Elevator, with A. J. Fulsinger manager, and Omaha Elevator Co., with Geo. Calnon, manager are now out of business. The Farmer's Elevator Co., formerly managed by W. W. Gallup and now by G. E. Calnon, remain. The newest enterprise is that of the Farmers Cooperative and Educational Union.

J. W. Modesitt was postmaster from 1886 until 1906, when he was succeeded by John McLellan. Miss Pearl Balmat succeeded him in 1916, and still conducts the office.

The community of Abbott is a trading center on the Burlington line between Grand Island and Cairo. Sidings have been placed at Taylor's Spur (the Robert Taylor ranch, more fully described in biographical sketch of Robert Taylor in another part of this work), and local passengers stop there. At that place Mr. Taylor maintains a small store and loading facilities for his shipments. But the town of Abbott sprang up shortly west of his ranch.

For more than twenty years there has been a well stocked general merchandise store at Abbott. The proprietor has at most times also been postmaster, and agent for the grain elevator.

About 1900 this store was handled by Reed & Vandling; T. J. Vandling conducted the hotel; Reed & Vandling were agents for Wilson Grain Co.; Nellie Vandling, teacher, and J. A. Reed, postmaster. By 1904 Bert E. Watson was conducting the store, the telephone office, and the elevator for McCloud Grain Co., and Hera Kroger, the feed and livery stable. A Union Sunday school had been conducted in Reed's Hall and the Royal Neighbors Lodge was flourishing. In 1910 Peter Todsen had the store, hotel, elevator, livery barn, express office, and postoffice. His successor was Frank Hitchler, who has been conducting this group of businesses for some years.

A town was planned some thirty-five or forty years ago, to have been the first station out of Grand Island, westward, on the Union Pacific. To this day the name Schauppsville can be seen, under the paint, on the large barn that stands on that site. Its founder, Schaupp, built a large mill with elevator facilities there and conducted it through the late 'seventies and early 'eighties. He then moved to Grand Island when the hope of a town there was abandoned, and built a five story elevator and three story up-to-date roller patent mills. When this plant burned down in 1886, that fire was about the largest and most disastrous in the city's history.

While Grand Island, Wood River, Doniphan, Cairo, Alda, and Abbott are the only towns, at present, in active existence in Hall County, there have been numerous trading communities that have flourished in the past history of the county.

Underwood

Underwood was the name given to a postoffice, established on section 28, town 9, range 10, January 16, 1885. Mrs Cleantha A. Underwood was appointed postmistress, and she established the office in the farm-house of B. G. Underwood, six and one-half miles distant from Hansen depot, on the St. Joseph & Grand Island Railroad. But this did not thrive and grow into an established community and the post office succumbed to the advance and development of the free rural delivery system.

Spencer-Orchard-Easton

In July, 1878, a postoffice was established at Spencer, with George J. Spencer as master. Orchard post office, upon W. J. Burger's place, was established about the same time, but it dwindled away after Doniphan started Eason was another post office that was discontinued as it failed to develop into a community.

This town, established twelve miles from Grand Island, came nearer making a settlement than some of the others just mentioned. In 1879 it boasted a flouring-mill, operated by E. Bussell. At one time it had in the way of business enterprises, Robert Johnson's hardware store, V. S. Runel's general store and post-office, J. W. Stone's saloon, Mrs. E. M. Runel's millinery store, J. G. Phelp's harness shop, and H. P. Hulett's law office