Logan Township

Logan Township

Albert Curtis was the first settler in this precinct, and came in March 7th 1871. Following him came John Yandle, Riley Thurber. May, 1871, Wright Sta cy, E M, Isham, JNattian Tucker. A the Pascall brothers, Fletcher. Page. - so rapidly did this precinct settle up that ail these men had settled, built

/ugu.st3d '71, the first school distrlcl in the tjrecinci was organized as district number 21, with .T, B Dinsmore director, A. ^. Hatdv moderator and A. N. Walworth Treasurer, '1 he (irst school bouse was partly dug out and partly sod built by a "bee" everybody turning out to li^-lp, If w »s heated by a miserable old t<heel iron stove. Tha first teacher there was Josepbir e Reed, at ^25 per month. District 24 was organized ten dwys thereafter; the first school house was built in this district. The Big bandy Grange was organized in this precinct in the spnug of 1S73. J. K. Sanborn, Secretary-.

In July 1872, F'layius Northrup came from Budalo county, Wisconsin, snd settled iu Marshall, and was the first seitler in the precinct. He brought with him about seventy five sheep, the first ones brought into the county for permanent rearaae. When he first cam-^, the wolves troubled me flock considerably, and in the treat scow storm of the following spring, many of thfm perished; but the .Sock afterwards increased, and and sheep raising here is counted a success.

In September, 1872, W. S. Randall and his brothers Addison and Warner, came in from Washington county, Icwa, and settled upon sections 28 and 30, acd have since erected comfortable frame houses.

VV, S. Randall was a candidate for member of the constitutional convention ofthissiate, from Clay county iu April 1875. He was put iu nomination by a number of citizens, wilbnut reference to party, and wat barely defeated by Dr. il. W, Wilcox. Mr. Randall has been County Deputy of the Patrons of Husbandry.

Wm Towl aud J. Prawl came in from Missouri and settled in Oct, 1872; This is the Ceutie precinct JM the county aud has a post office at Marshall Centre.

Leicester precinct is situated in the northwest corner of the county aod is watered by branches of the West Blue river. Among thf^ first settlers were Wm. Woolman, A. Woolmau, Joseph Kovve and Stephen Brown, who came jn the winter of 1871.

Miss Truelove Tibbies, an adopted daughter of Rev. Wm. Woolman, was drowned accidentally in April 1876 wbile attempting; to cross one of the creeks in this precinct. The Coroner's inquest in this case was the third in the county and the first one under Dr. Clark, the present Coroner.

G. W. Briggs, and George Mclntire were among the first settlers in this precinct. It is situated on lite west boundary ol the county direct'y south of Leicester. The B& M railway passes tt rough the northern portion and the St. Joe « Denver railroad cuts across a very tmali pflrtof the southwest corner of the precinct.

Lone Tree precinct is east of Scott and was first settled by -John P. Scott in 1871. who was for some time the only settler between Spring Rauche and School Creek. He settled near the "Lone Tree" from which the precinct received its name. He was postmaster of White Elm pcjstoflBce in this precinct until the winter of 1872 and 1873 when the oflBce was moved to Fairfield. Charles Osborn wasanongthe early settlers. The St. Joe & Denver rtilroad crosses a considerable portion of the southwest part of this precinct.

Glenville precinct was first settled by Daniel Fitch, a frontier trapper, in 1871. Later by J. W. Small a»d Leroy Winters. The St. Joe. * Denver railroad passes northwest through this precinct. The town of Glenville is in this precinct, and consists of a railroad depot and station bouse, two stores, a school house and postoffice. Bennett Cox is postmaster and merchant and Benjamin Hoi brook keeps the other store.

The feltlement of this precinct comipenced at Liberty Farm Banche at the uioutb of Liberty creek on the Little Blue. The first settler in the precinct was at the Ranche and was agent of Wells, Fargo and Co.'s Pony Fxpress. It was a post on thoi route from Atchison Kansas across the continent to Pikes Peak and San Francisco Caliloruia, These posts were also the depots of the U. S. overland mail service. So troublesome were the war like Sioux in those days that the Pony Expreiss riders were wb«n carrying on the business of the company ufually chased by ihera from one j>o6t to another; their custom was to ride always at tall gallop through this part of the countiy, then considered a dangfTOES pait of the route. The Indians repeatedly broke up the route and at timesit was entirely abandoned to them. Some time in 1858. Jame^. h. Lemon kept the ranebe and was succeeded by Renjbmiu Royce, who, with his brother John, mtlves of Ogle county. 111., settled in the latter part of 1867. Ben. was at that time a state militia man, in the United State service, and siatioaed at the military post at Kiowa, on tae Blue, in Thayer county. He was in the numerous battles between the Sioux and the settlers.

Soonafiche took hi« claim the Indians broke up the entire settlement along the Bine, stealing tbe stock, burniug the ranches «nd driving the settlers down the river to Kiowa.

In the fall of 186S and spring of 1869 the Indians were driven t>atk, and practically gave up their hold on the country, and from this time forward settlements took place with aittonisbing rapidity.

T. A, Shaw, John R. Lavvhead, Cyrus Griffith, John R. Thompson and Reuben Peachy were among ihe early settlers; Mr. Peachy built and stocked a store sometime in 1870. He was the first postmaster appointed in this county after the re-establishment of tbe mail routes. The mail was brought from Hebron via. Kiowa, Liberty Farm and Spring Ranche to the stockade at Red Cloud on the Republican liver.

Early in 1870. Richard Bayly, %- worker in metals and one of the present Commissioners of Clay county, settled on his farm at tbe moutli of Butfalo Creek and operated a blacksmith shop. H, J. Higgins settled soon after. Up to this time ihe settlements bad been confinedr to the river and its tributaries, but in the falh oi 1871 tbe table lands on either side of tha Little Blue began to be occupied.

xlfred Mills built a water saw mill on the river near the old Liberty Farm Ranche in tbe year 1871. In 1872 a small ruD ol stone was i>ut iii to grind feed. Among the ear'y settlers, coming in 1872 are A.S. WiUis and his son in law W. H. Frey, both justices of the Peace.

In norember 1871, J. K. Sanborn made the first settlement, in this precinct and bniltalog hoo«e. A.F. and .Tacob Rit- Jerbush came in the spring of 1872 and settled on lands adjoining the town site of Edgar. Mr. Carr came in soon after. Henry Gipe preempted the land upon Edgar now utandp. The first store in what ia now Edgar was started by iJilterbusb & Graham, in a lo» house S. 2' <7aldweU staried the second store and Rilterbush & Mills the third. Ihe first postoffice in that part of the County was established at Edgar; A, F* Ritterbush was the first postmaster; W. A. Gunn the second, and W. J. Waite tbe third and present postmaster. Situated in tbis precinct on tbe !St. Joe. & Denver City Railroad is tbe flourisbing; town of Edgar, witb a weekly newspaper; it is tbe tbird town in sizein »he county.

Some time in 1871, Maxmilliaa Reed took up tbe nortb east^ of section 4 town 6, range 7. Tbis claim be sold to A. B. Smith, H. J Higgins. H. Bayly, Cornelius Durn and otbers - twenty in all - and tLey projected a town upon it. Smith in 1872, and John Epley in 1873, opened stores on the site, and there was a blacksmith shop started'. Soon after sellin?, Jleed shot and killed* himself accidentally.

^ June 1872, the Ht Joe, and D. C, rail road company built a depot on land adjoining on tbe east of the little town started by the citizens. Near and arouud tbe depot the town site company of that road projected a town and invited the owners and business men of tbe old town to come over. The ue^r to'vn site being on railroad land, and they not being able to perfect the title to the same until a foreclosure suit against all the lands ol that company was settled, the old town refused to move, even in tbe face ot a threat from the company to remove their depot from the vicinity. However, in the summer of 1873 the company succeeded in perfecting their title; the new site was surveyed, and the citizens weut over and established the town thsre.

J. W. Small, Irom Ked Oak, Iowa, one of the early settlers at Glenville, came in and ejjgaged in the real esrate businesfc and the sale of the town site pioperty, in the fall of 1874. He is a notary public, having been appointed July I7ttb, 1874.

J. E. Hopper & Co. started in tbe general assortoieot trade in Sept. 1875. Hopper sold out to tbe '"Co.," which was J. W. iSmall, who operated it until April. 1876, when ha sold back to Mr. Hopper and went into the agricultural implement business.

H J. Hisgins started the first meat shop, and afterward sold to the Bissels, who ran away. Tbe business is now carried on by Hayes & Gerrard.

Tbe postoflSce now at Fairfield was originally at White Film, in Lone Tree, tiom which place it was removed early in the winter of '72 and '73. ' Leander Brewer, a U. 8. pensioner, was the first and is the present postmaster. The office wag kepi in the store of J. E. Hopper and Co,

C0Ngbe0A.T10Nal Chuboh

A Congregational church was organised in the spring of 1872. by Rev. J. Jones, with 11 members. The membership at present numbers abount 30. Rev, Thos. Pugb is the present pastor.

E. J. Stone, George Vangilder, Eli Mosier and Newman Brass settled ^ upoa and pre-empted section 84, town 8, range 7, July 13tb 1871, taking one quarter each, and building frame residences thereon. After perfecting their title, they ajld the whole section to the Eastern Land Association, commonly known as the B. and M. R. R. town site company, ia February 1872. and the town site of Harvard was laid out on the same in th« following spring by the company.

The Burlingfton & Missouri River railroad was completed to this place in September 1871. and a depot was tmilt in December of the same year,

L. J. Keeney, M. Mann and - Decker each started a store early in the spring of 1872, Peck 4nd Meston ettrted the first lumber yard, in Maich 1872.

Cheenev and Farmer Bfarted the first livery stable in January '72: Chteney soon at! er went west, and Farm« quit tbe busine-s, anc" turned bis atteotion towKrd law; the buflines* i« now carried «o by Risley and Moor*. - E J. /Stone was ibe first pottmaater, beintr appoint* d in January '72; be repiarned in the t'ollowing nfffing and M. Eslpis wap appointed and has held the oflBce ever since.

Jotn T Fleming came in May '72 and bougbt out Decker and started a druar store, the tirst in the town; be soon after closed out his stock, and has since been piacticins: dentistry.

C. K- Morrill started the second drujr store in tlie fall of '72, adding books; he also has cbarse of the books of the Clay couuty branch of the American Bible bcciety.

C. D. Moore moved his stock of drugs, dry jroods and groceries from Orville, in BatHilton county, in Deceubpr '72, and com mencerl business in Harvard, which he still outinues.

E, P. Burnett was tbe first lawyer to Sfliie in ihetown, coming in the fall of 1872 He was soon afLer appointed a nniary public. In tbe fall of 1873 bo was elected Probate Judge of the county and

W, A. Farmer was ad milled to the bar Msiy 23d, 1874, apd commenced the practice of law at Harvard in connection with John D. Haves, Esq , of Grand Island, Neb, He was also B. & M. ag"t for the sale of town lots for some time.

Ezra Brown settled in July 1871 and commenced ihe business of plastering; he has been twice elected to office of Couuty Commi«sioaer and 13 a member of the present board. He is also a justice of the peace.

T. A. Barbour, carpenter and cabinet maker, settled in July 1872. He is & notary public, atid is also associated with E P. Burnett in the insurance business. He is district deputy for (;!lay and /Vdamg counties, of the order of Good Templars,

Mrs. C. K. Morrill taught the first prbiic scboo!, in tbe winter of '72 and '78 at her residence iu town. The nexc term was taught in the new school bon!=e by E. P, Burnett in tbe 8uma:er of 1S73,

The new public school building was completed in the spring of 1873. at a cost of jjt4,000. It is a two «tory irame with a cupola, and is well furnished with school furniture and aparatus.

Stone & Dimick built the 'Howard House' and commenced the liotel businessi in June '72, Ii is now conducted by J M Jacobson ur<der tbe name of the 'Commercial Hotel.'

The Harvard Champion was tbe first paper published in the town and cornty. and was stalled in tiie summer of 1872 and continued weekly for ab.)ut a year, when tbe proprietor, Julius Eaton, suspended its (lublicatioo and moved tbe press away. It was a 7 column folio.

The Haronrd Advocate was established by W. A, Connull in tbe spring of 1874 as a 7 coivimn folio, patent inside; it is printed all at home at present.

There are three church societies in the town, the Congregation il, Methodist; Episcopal and Baplisi; services are held at piesent in the public school bailding.

Harvard lodge of Free Masons, No. 44, bad an informal meeting at the homestead hoase of F M Davis norlbeast of town, in December 1872 at which were piesent seven members of the order; The Lodge worked U. D., occupying their present ball in town, until Ju'y 24th 1873, when it was constituted, and was the lirst lodge in the county. The first ofiicers were A J .McPeak W M. F M Davis S W, Ezxfi Brown J W, Samuel Sloat Treas., and Warren C Massev Secretarj', In Decembsr '74 F M Davis was elected W M, Present officers are Ezra Brown W M; W J Turner S W; S W Harney J W; Geo W Howard !Sec Louis Steio treasurer; Present strength 40;^

Edgar is located on the south west quarter of section 26, town 5, range 6, west, being about one mile from the south line and 8 anc' one half asiles from the east line of the county

Glazier Bro's commenced business in / he Sprine of 1874, first as J.G. Glarier jnd then as Glazier Bro's, ttiey building the storeroom tbey now occupy.

Gyrus Stayntr located here in 1872, buiWing a furniture store on the site now occupied by his block. Mr. Stayner also purchased the N. E. quarter of sec, 26 ©1 Asa Gipe, and W. A. Gunn at nearly the same lime purcbtised ot Marion Gipe the Koiith-eart q.uarter of section 26 which they still hold.

In the lall of 1874 A. B. Cautield built the building now occupied by bim as a store but did jjot use it for that purpose until th;? text year.

C. E. Green built a building for a billiard hall m 1873, T^hich after varions changes, having been used for an office, residence, billiard hal! and shoe shop, it is now occupied as a restaurant and shoe shop.

The Edgar Exponent, a weekly newspaper, 6 column folio was stirted by F. M. Comsiock in November 1876, and is now owned and piTblished by W. J, Waite & E, B, Dewey.

Cyrus Stflyner built the build'ng now used as the postofflce and Exponent printing office. S. J. Whitteu built the lumber office now owned by Tidball and Fulh-r: C. F. Shedd & Co. an office; A. 3. Briggs a blacksmith shop; W, Y^ Whitmore a livery stable; W. A. Guiin au office; C. E. Green, shoe shop; J. P. Hawkins, the Method'st Episcopal church parsonage and other buildings were also built within that time.

3 real estate agents, 2 lawyers, 2 notary publics, 2 physicians, 1 newspaper and job printing office, 3 grain dealers, 2 restaurants, 2 resident ministers, 3 church organizationfe, 2 Sunday school^.

Edgar was incorporated as a town oni the 15th ot March 1875, and John Glazier, Andrew Sherwood, S. J. Whitten, Henry Gipe and E, E. Howard were appointed: town tros'ees for one year.

Conclusion

lu tbe foregoing summary of lacls relating to the settlement of Clay County and its seireral towaa, we bave endeavored to sliew ILeir progFcss by submitting a sketcb of the business represented in each locality, their public isnpro'vements and such incidents as bave become prominent in their loeal history.

It shows "what has been accomplished in a county from which the red men were expelled but ten y*-ar8 ago, nearly all of the present improvements having been made during the last six years.

This county, situated in the central portion ol' the fertile '^Soath Platte' country, (onslstiog of prairie land, excepting the strips of timbered land on the borders ol all streams ol wat^r, has been tiansformed li< m an apparently barren waste into a tiuitful garden. Groves of young trees are springing up on evtry l«rm. each settler striving to add to the beauty and fertility ol the country by raising not only fruit, but also lorest decs, that will make this a 'timbered' county lu the near future. We impoit lumber now» and start thetoresis that in ages »o come are lo supply the present waste in the lorests of tbe ea&t. Each succeeding "Arbor Day'' adds, thousands upou thaii-

The two railways that span the county have given an impetus to immigration and swelled our property valuation, lessening taxes and aflording competing trans|)ortatiou faciliites. And it is comtorting to know thai, the county is free from bonded debt, and I'jat the entire debt on all other accounts does r-ot now exceed three thousand dollars.

Where six years ago the deor and tbe antelope skipped over the plain in their native freedom, new roam great herds of cattle, fattening on the luxuriant grass.

Then the wild flowers blooB:ed in their virein beauty unnoticed. Now, great fields of waving grain are wu every Irind, telling,, in silent clocpuence, a story of peace and plenty.

Gathered heie from every dime are representatives of the strongest and b^st dicipUned races of the earth,, wiio arebui'ding up a communily on a foundation most lavoiable to the permanent prosperity Ol the --b.'^ne and sinew" of the woiil - wliere leligious freedom, a free press, free speech and Iree schools flourish under a Constitution extending equal protection to all men.

Errata

Page 5, Alter the word 'Crete/ read. Turner Bros., V,. M. and O. M , had a general assortment store lu the building next to the Central Hotel, occupying it as such trou: the tall oi 1874 until the summer ot 1875, at which time it was moTed oyer to 1 mner & iluncer'* store.

County History

Page 15,, Harvard preci net - Read,, the lirst a^tileiuput was by Isaac Daw.-on and John. Hockeuthaler, in the fall of 1871 iu the northern part of the precinct.

Page 20, Town of Harvard - Dr. Yanderslice setlei iu '/lay 1872 and moved away the follovvius year. Drs, Todd, .Tr. ->nd Sen., came in the spring ot 1872, iht; ohl peullemaii is still practicing. L)r. I. U. Howard, Ecieciic. settled iu May 1873 and IS still in the practice.

Page 17, Logan precinct - lu the last line", read Jonalhai' Sanderson instead of J. K. Sanborn. Also iusirl the word ""liame" before ^'school house," in the l«,uvlh line from tlie last. ;