Milburn Township

Milburn Township

In March, 1917, Rev. W. C. Lessley, of Broken Bow, and pastor of the churches at Lillian and Anselnio, held a meeting in the Community hall at ]\Iilburn. In spite of bad weather and worse roads, the meetings were well attended and a decided interest was manifested. There were twenty-si.\- conversions, and arrangements were made for the evangelist to visit them regularly on Sunday afternoon each alternate week during the summer and winter. A Bible school was organized, meeting every Lord's day. In February, 1918, Rev. W. C. Lessley held a second meeting, resulting in forty-five conversions. An organization was asked for, and the new converts, with a number of the people of the community who were members of different religious bodies, came together late in February, at which time the Milburn Church of Christ was organized by Rev. Mr. Lessley, with 100 members. Officers were chosen as follows : Elders, Mr. Reynolds and G. W. Simmons; deacons, Bryan Holmes, Mr. Pike, Mrs. Holcomb, and Mr. Daley; church clerk, Aliller Books ; treasurer, Robert Farley. Mr. Reynolds was made superintendent of the Bible school, numbering si.xty to seventy-five, and he still holds that office. Eight members have since been added to the organization and preaching is maintained every alternate Lord's day, morning and evening. Services are still held in the Community hall. The present officers are the same as at the beginning, save that John Kramer is now the treasurer. The congregation looks forward to the erection of a house of worship as soon as war conditions will permit.

In concluding this sketch of the work of the Christian churches - Disciples of Christ - in this county, it should be said that much of the record sources are meagerly kept and in some cases lost entirely. The early preachers were more interested in winning souls to Christ than in keeping accurate account of the history they were making. Many of the matters that would be most interesting in this late account, are entirely omitted. There are a number of places where preaching, and for a time regular, services were held, that did not develop into a formal organization. Such a place is New Helena, where the work was maintained for a time. At this time there is no work there.

In the county the total membership affiliated with the churches is 990. There are nine houses of worship, one of them unoccupied. These, at a moderate estimate of their value, in the light of cost and state of repair, is $27,800. There are nine Bible schools conas best they could to their communicants. They have manifested, always, the spirit of strong conviction and extreme generosity. They have been responsive to all public appeals and been general contributors to the public welfare. They have been party to no denominational factions calculated to disrupt the general harmony of the religious status prevailing in the county. Custer county has had no exhibition of denominational animosity. Good will and harmony prevail to-day ducted regularly, with an enrollment of 715. At this time there are five preachers resident in the county, namely: Elder E. D. Eubank, Broken Bow : Rev. W. C. Lessley, Broken Bow ; Rev. Charles A. Shook. Ansley ; Rev. W. A. Baldwin. Broken Bow : and Rev. J. S. Reel, Sargent. The church at Liberty is disbanded and that at Mason City has no pastoral work.

throughout the county, and this statment is true of the years past. Credit is given to Frank Kelly for the following data concerning Catholic work in the county.

"The Dale mission was established some time in 1882, by Rev. Father Boyle. The first ones to ask for a ])riest. as far as the writer knows, were J. J- Downey and Robert Mc- Carthy. Father Boyle was the first priest, and visited Dale valley in 1882. to administer to the wants of the few families that first settled there. He made the Dale mission a regular station. Mass was said alternately at each house. During Father Hayes' administration the people made preparations to build a church. The building was to be of brick and for the purpose of obtaining the material with whi:h to build the church a brick yard was laid out on one of ]\Ir. ^McCarthy's claims. One hundred thousand bricks were made and burned for the church. Lumber was purchased and hauled from Grand Island, a distance of 150 miles. About this time the people had spent over $800, but on account of the new. railroad which was to be built through this section to the Black Hills, the church was not built at that time, as difficulties arose as to where the church should be located. Some wanted it on their farms or near their homes, while others wanted it built at Merna or Anselmo. The old settlers advocated building it at Dale. Father Hayes' last visit to the mission found matters in a worse condition than ever. In June, 1886, Father Hayes was appointed pastor of the church at O'Connor, Greeley county, and his assistant. Father Haley, was made pastor of Kearney and its missions, which included Dale. To his surprise, when he visited Dale mission, he found a divided people, caused by the disputes as to the location of the church. After a consultation with the principal members of the missions, it was decided to lay the matter before Bishop O'Connor. This was some time in July, 1886. In about a week Bishop O'Connor ordered the church to be built at Dale. It is easy to imagine the joy of the old settlers - J. J. Downey, Robert McCarthy, William Couhig, Con Fleischman. William Walsh, Robert Kelley, George Grove, Chris. Grove, William Brookman, and Charles Michael - when they learned of the bishop's decision. A subscription list was opened and the necessary preparations made to begin work as soon as possible. The bricks already burned were of poor quality and not sufficient in quantity for a brick building. Some were used for the foundation of the residence and church and for the chimneys. The balance were sold, out of which was realized some $400. There was a loss of about the same amount. Nearly all the lumber that had been hauled from Grand Island had been made use of by some kind friends who thought it well to help themselves. A few pieces of dimension lumber, with the shingles, remained for the use for which they had been purchased. The lumber for the church and residence was purchased from Goodman, Bogue & Company, of Kearney, and shipped to Broken Bow, then hauled to Dale by team, the hauling being done by the members of the mission. On the sixth day of November, 1886, Father Haley was appointed the first resident pastor of Dale. He arrived on the above date, at the beginning of one of the worst blizzards 'the state has ever had. For three days he was snowbound at the home of J. J. Downey. When the storm was over, the foundation for the residence was begun. Many hands made light work. In a few weeks the residence was partly completed. Father Haley moved into and lived in it for nearly two years before it was properly plastered. Mass was said in the south half of the residence until the church was built. One fine day in November' - the very last day of the month - several of the old settlers met to break ground for the church. While so doing, George Grove said to Father Haley : "Father, to-day is St. Andrew's day ; would it not be a good idea to name the church St. Andrew's church?' Father Haley paused, and said: 'Men, what do you think?' They all assented, and hence the church of St. Andrew's at Dale received its name. The church was built, but was not completed for several years. Notwithstanding the difficulties under which the church and residence were built, sufficient notes were given by the members to pay the debt, and these were deposited with the lumber company to pay for the lumber. Father Haley governed the parish with success, and in October, 1888, a successful mission was given bv the famous Father Ramen, for which the people gave him $118.25 for one week's work. After this mission. Father Hocheisel was sent to Dale as an assistant to Father

Haley. January 8th, Father Hoeheisel was appointed pastor of Dale, under the supervision and direction of Father Haley, who then moved to Broken Bow, to take charge of that church and the missions attached. Father Hoeheisel remained but a short time as pastor of Dale, and Father Donahue was sent to take his place. He in turn was succeeded by Father Flood, who was followed by Father Flanagan, the present pastor."

The Broken' Bow Catholic Church

One of the missionary spirits who did much of the initial Catholic work in Custer county was Rev. Father Thomas B. Haley, who labored in the county from 1886 to 1897, at which time he was assigned to the work at North Platte. Father Haley was a very de- voted worker and exceedingly popular with his own people and the community in general. For some time the Dale mission was the center from which Father Haley did his church work. Later he removed to Broken Bow and made the mission at this place his residence and headquarters. S't. Joseph's church, of Broken Bow, was dedicated July 29, 1888. After the removal of Father Haley this charge was ser\'ed by Father Donnelly. Among priests also serving here were Father Moser and Father Minogue, the latter of whom is now in charge at Anselmo and Dale. Both served at Broken Bow church and rendered splendid service.

Father James Hermese and his assistant. Father Cornelius, both very excellent young men, who are devoted to the parish work and generally popular with the people of the community. The mission here consists of approxiniatelv thirty families.

During the regime of Father Haley a church was built at Oconto, in 1891, and in the preceding year the church at Mason City was erected. The Oconto church is still maintained, is a progressive body of devoted peo- Y>\e. and it constitutes one of the strongest missions, if not the strongest, that the Catholics have in Custer county.

Ansley Catholic Church

B. J. Tierney. Later, in the year 1911, a small but beautiful church structure was erected, at the cost of $3,800, under the labors of the Rev. Father Moser, of Broken Bow. On the night of October 21, 1917, this building was burned to the ground, since which time the congregation has been worshiping in the old Presbyterian building. However, plans are already being laid for the erection of a larger church building in the near future. Among the priests who have been pastors of the church in recent years, may be mentioned Father Moser, Father Kavanaugh, Father Gleeson, Father Mathias, and the present incumbent. Father Cornelius. The parish comprises thirty-six families and the board of trustees is composed of Thomas EJcrry, B. J. Tiernev, and A. F. Dobesh.

the drouth of 1894 the mission was disorganized bv removals. The second was served by S. Dean, J. E. Hawley, and B. E. Smith. The last was the only one that survived the drouth and the removals incident to the early history of our county. In 1883 and 1886 G. F. Deal organized the church in Broken Bow, and the following year the Ortello circuit, comprising the Mount Hope, Ortello, Custer Center, and Union Valley appointments, was cut of?. It thus remained until 1894. Broken Bow church was built in 1887 and was served by G. F. Deal, D. W. Proffit, F. W. Brink, and C. D. Stro-

The United Brethren in Christ were among the pioneers in Custer county, coming in the late "70s. Rev. W. S. Sponner was the first preacher of this denomination to hold regular services in the county, preaching about the year 1876, on the Muddy, near Mason City, and also on the Middle Loup, near where Sargent now is. Under his supervision. Rev. A. L. Pense organized a class near Algernon in 1880. and one in Lee's Park in 188L In 1882 J. F. Green preached at Algernon, Box Elder, Pilot. Lee's Park, Westerville, Lone Tree, Custer Center, and Ortello. From these were organized, in 1884. Algernon, Westerville, and Custer missions. The first was served by J. F. Green, T. Aikman. J. E. Hawley, S'. Dean. B. E. Smith, \V. C. Williams, and T- L. Brown, and during mire. From 1894, after losing almost the whole membership by removals, the church was closed until 1897, when F. M. Bell took charge, and the church slowly but surely regained its strength. L. L. Epley had charge in 1900. The people of Custer Center deserve much credit for their loyalty to the church through the years. In Hoosier valley a class was organized in 1897, by C. W. Bohart. and in 1900, one was organized at the Marquis schoolhouse. This church has sufifered from removals more than any other church in the county. Among those who have been well known tliroughout the count}' and who were active in the early work of the church we would name J. S. Kirkpatrick, D. F. Weimer. G. R. Street, J. J. Pickett, J. C. Alaulick, W. M. Harrell, and M. F. Blankenship.

For the compilation of the facts set forth above, this vokime is indebted to the Rev. L. L. Epley, for several years a presiding elder in the United Brethren denomination.

The Uxited Brethren Begin At Custer Center

M. F. Blankenship volunteers the following information concerning the inception of United Brethren denominational work in the county, a work which began at Custer Center.

"Some time during the winter of 1882-3, Rev. Theodore Squires came to the home of M. F. Blankenship, preached the first sermon, and left an appointment to ret u r n in t w o weeks. At the appointed time a good-sized audie n c e greeted him, and the minister, at the close of the service, invited all who wished to unite with the United Brethren church to meet him on the following \\'ednesday at the home of J. S. Kirkpatrick. in the new town of Broken Bow, which had been laid out in ^larch, 1882. At the time appointed, a class was organized, consisting of John S. Kirkpatrick and wife, James Courtney and wife, and M. F. Blankenship. who was chosen classleader. James Courtney was chcsen class steward and the class was named the Custer Center Class. In a few weeks, Rev. John F. Green was sent to preach for the little church. For two years thereafter he served them faithfully, and was loved and respected by all. Our number increased and religious interest was aroused until we began to feel that a church building was a necessity, but we were all so poor we did not feel able to build. The writer was led to speak to J. S. Kirkpatrick about it.

but he thought it was a pretty big undertaking. We asked him to draw up a subscription paper and we would do the soliciting and give the ground for the building. J. S. Kirkpatrick did so, heading the paper with ten dollars opposite his name. M. F. Blankenship placed his name next, with another ten dollars. Then came C. T. Crawford, with a ten-dollar pledge, and R. H. ^liller, with live dollars. This was encouraging, for now they had a fund of thirty-five dollars to start with, and they felt sure that the church would be built. In May they met and laid up the walls of sod. A few days later. M. F. Blankenship w^as plowing in his field east of the church, when a man drove up with a mule team and asked if he was the man who was building the church. He replied that he was as much interested in it as any one. The man told him his name was David Weymer, that he was on that, with M. F. on his return he him and give on the church assured his way to Kearney, and Ijlankenship's permission, would stay all night WMth him ten dollars to apply building fund. Mr. Blankenship the man he would be quite welcome, indeed, and true to his word, he did as he said he would do. In June two of their bachelor neighbors (John R. Street and Elmer E. ^lorris) volunteered to haul the lumber from Kearney for the roofing of the building, and by the last of the month, they had it inclosed but it was seatless. We had no money, so we built some sod pedestals, laid boards on them, scattered some hay on the ground floor, and we were ready for service. The next Sunday the whole neighborhood assembled in the new church, as much pleased as they would have been if they had been in the finest building in the state. We now had a place to worship, and with great pride we wrote our friends in the east that we had a church in our neighborhood. At the first meeting in this new building, we organized a Sunday school. S. S. Southmayd was the first superintendent. In December following, we floored our new church and put in a few seats. By Christmas eve we not only had a floor and seats but we also had a rostrum. They were homely, but good enough, and we felt proud of our success. We had a Christmas tree. The exercises were a success, and we have often thought that we never saw a happier man than was Judge W. W. Cowels on that night. In fact, everybody seemed happy. During the following summer we finished the seating and our church was completed and paid for.

"In 1902 the old sod church was torn down, and in its place was erected a nice little frame building, which was finished and dedicated in the spring of 1903. This church building is twenty-six by thirty-six feet, is in a good state of preservation, and regular services are still kept up. At the present time Rev. G. B. Weaver of Broken Bow is the pastor in charge."

The following comprehensive account of Sunday-school work in Custer county is given by J. ^I- Fodge. who is the veteran Sundayschool man of the county. He and his good wife have lived in Nebraska forty-seven years and in Custer county thirty-five years. For thirty-four years ]\Ir. Fodge has been actively engaged in Sunday-s:hool work - a Sundayschool superintendent for thirty-three years, and president of the county Sunday-school conventions for a number of years.

"In assuming to give to the public a very brief history of the organization and growth of the Sunday schools of our county, I little thought of the obstacles and difficulties which would have to be overcome in order to gather data from which to give a true history. After much fruitless correspondence and begging for information from those who were, in many cases, participants in the organization of some of the first schools in the county, and after weary months of awaiting answers from living witnesses, I am forced to conclude that the Sunday schools, like very many other objects and enterprises which go to make up the history of a people, state, or county, have failed to keep records of any kind, or at best very imperfect records, so that I shall not attempt to give a history of this, one of the greatest factors in the civilization and Christianization of our great comonwealth.

"In the context to follow, I shall endeavor to give to the public in a general way something of the development and growth of the Sunday-school cause since my residence in the county, from the information at my command. Knowing that he who chronicles past events for the scrutiny of the public often receives criticism and even ridicule, I shall at all times be governed by the truth as I vmderstand it. Suffice it to say that such a daring, heroic^ and God-fearing people as make up the citizenship of our county, would not live in any place long without raising to the God of our fathers some altar as a remembrance of His mercies to them since leaving the old home, which could be done in no more appropriate way than by meeting together to read His work and study His dealings with the children of men. Indeed, to such an extent were they permeated by this spirit of reverence and thankfulness, that in some cases where a little settlement was formed, even though there were none among them who prayed, they would meet and form an organization for the purpose of praising God and civilizing the community. In some cases this work was begun by missionaries, and in others by some local minister, who, with his family, had come west to find a temporal home.

"In this connection I am indebted to Elder E. D. Eubank for an account of the organization of the first Sunday-school in the county, in what is now Douglas Grove township. This school was organized in the spring of 1875, by Mrs. E. D. Eubank, who was elected superintendent and secretary, with a membership of twelve, who met at the home of Elder Eubank.

It bore the name of 'Christian Union Sunday School,' and uf)on appHcation to I. D. Gage, state missionary of the American Sunday School Union, was supplied with second-hand books. It was afterward moved to the home of Charles Hales and changed to a ^lethodist Episcopal school, and eventually it ceased to exist. Prior to the uprising of the Indians, a few men of adventurous and hardy spirit who had settled with their families here and there over parts of the country - on the South Loup. Clear creek. Middle Loup, and Victoria creek - abandoned their homes until the dangers were jjast. Not until about the year 1880 did the pioneers with families settle in numbers sufficiently strong to begin work for the purpose of bringing about a higher state of civilization and Christianity in their respective neighborhoods. We are informed that on the ^fiddle Loup, near where Walworth now stands, also on Clear creek near Westerville. schools were organized in the year 1881, but we can give no particulars. During the years 1881 and

"Elder F. M. Graham, a local minister of the M. P. denomination, gathered a few persons at the old sod schoolhouse just north of Merna, in May of that year, and the school has continued ever since, except, perhaps, the first winter, and now numbers a membership of more than one hundred. The Ortello school was organized by D. F. Weimer. in June, at his own home, with his family, A. L. Embree and J. H. Edwards - nine persons in all - as members. A year later the place of meeting was changed to the Ortello schoolhouse, where it continues to meet during the whole of each year. Rev. Savidge. a Methodist minister, having located near the present site of Callaway, a Sunday-school was organized. This languished after a year or two, but was reorganized in 1886, after the town of Callaway was started. In 1883 or 1884 Elder Correll, of the Christian church at Arnold, gathered a few persons at his home and organized the

"During 1884 and 1885 schools were organized on the South Loup at Burr Oak and Eudell : on Clear creek near Myrtle and Lee Park; on the Muddy near Algernon and Mason City ; on the Middle Loup at Sargent, West Union, Oxford schoolhouse near Milburn ; in 1885 on Wood river near Lodi, at Stop Table, Roten \'alley. Sand Creek, Cliff, Alaple Grove, Berwyn, and Keota. many of which have continued to flourish both summer and winter, wielding a most healthful influence for good in the respective localities ; while others did 'run well for a season' and then, when the dark days of drouth and jianic came, succumbed. Up to 1886 the work was carried on in the county locally. Then, as my memory serves me, a movement was made toward organizing a county association, for more perfect work and for the purpose of organizing schools in every settlement, which had by this time spread over nearly the entire county. Among those who were prominent in this movement were Rev. E. A. Russell, a Baptist state Sunday-school missionary, located at Ord : Rev. English, of Arnold ; I. N. Atkisson, D. AI. Amsberry, Willis Cadwell, W. A. Gilmore, and Dr, J. J- Pickett, of Broken Bow ; J. H. Blair and D. S. Weimer. of Ortello. A call was made for a meeting of Sunday-school workers at Broken Bow, a program was prepared and a date fixed for holding a county convention. .A. temporary organization was efifected by electing as president, I, N. Atkisson, and as secretary, Willis Cadwell. \\'hen the convention met. a permanent organization was made by adopting a constitution and bylaws. The county was divided into four districts, each part of the county to be under the supervision of a vice-president of the county association, elected by that body. It was the intention of the association to divide each of the districts into minor districts, to be known as township associations, with a vice-president for each of them, under whose supervision a Sunday-school would be organized in every comnnmitv. This outline of work succeeded admirably in the southeast and northwest quarters especially, to such an extent that in every settlement a school was organized, but in the northeast and southwest quarters there was not such perfect organization - in fact, the southwest district was practically unreoresented in the county association until ten years later. In the years following, this association held annual conventions until the year 1891, when, for some unexplained reason, there was no call niade by the president for the executive committee to meet and prepare a program, so in 1892-3-4 the president, D. S'. Weimer, having removed from the county, leaving the association without a head, it ceased to exist. JMany schools in the county died, partly from lack of the fostering care of county and district associations, but perhaps more because of the discouragements incident to the excessive drouth of 1892-3-4, coupled with the panic which followed - many families removing from the county, leaving homes and all that had been gathered about them since their settlement. This languishing condition of the cause led some of the more zealous workers to take the initiative .steps in the resurrection of the county association, or the formation of a new one. Accordingly, in the fall of 1895. a call was made for those interested to meet in Broken Bow, for the purpose of taking action in the matter. The response thereto met fully the expectations of those who had taken the leading steps, the different parts of the county being represented. The records of the former association not being obtainable, it was voted to form a new county organization. This was done by electing L. W. F. Cole, of Sargent, as president, and Mr. Herring as secretary, and by appointing Airs. Herring, W. C- Elliott, of Mason City, and J- M. Fodge, of Ortello, as a committee on constitution. The county was again divided into districts, each with a vicepresident, selected by the district association. Among those prominent in this organization were T. J. Strickler, W. H. Hornday, George Bailey, H. Lomax, E. J. Pittaway. Mrs. Daniel Hagin, W. C. Elliott, and others, whose names I do not recall. By means of this association new enersfv w-as sfiven to the schools over the county, new schools were organized, annual conventions were held, and a pledge of fifty dollars made by the old association to the state association was paid, followed by a more hopeful outlook for the future. The officers of the county association were : E. J. Pittaway, president; Rev. Mr. Burns, secretary; and David McGugin, P. Wymore, R. E. Allen, and W. C. Elliott, executive committee.

"Many of the noble men and women who were active in the upbuilding of the Sundayschool work, have gone to other fields to labor ; others have been called to their reward beyond this life, and their works do follow them ; while yet others are still doing the Master's work, awaiting that call. Whatever else can be said of the eflforts and labors of these consecrated ones, all must admit that a high state of civilization and Christianity pervades our society by reason of the upholding of the Master's standing in this line of work.

"The result of this reorganization of the county association was to line up and get in touch with the schools of the county, establish new ones where it could be done, and to divide the county into four districts, with a president for each district, to be elected by and from the schools that comprised that district, the president of the district to be vice-president of the county, and a member of the executive committee of the Custer County Sundayschool Association. The duties of said district president were to establish sub-districts, hold convention, therein each year, and to make annual report to the county convention, as to number of schools, pupils, and officers, th2 number of conventions held, and such other items as would give the county association complete information as to the Sunday-school interests of his district.

"For example, the reports from the several districts, through their presidents, to the county convention in 1899, showed in the county fourteen district conventions held ; and seventy-six schools, with average enrollment of 3,339 pupils. Is not this well worth the eflfort to organize and to encourage the people to put forth an effort in every community to studv God's Word, to band together as Chris-

"In giving this account of the work of the Sunday-schools and the association, with what has been accomplished by their efforts, we canot. if we would dare, give the credit for the success to any one, or to all of the presi- . dents above named, although all have enjoyed the esteem of their friends and some have held positions as law-makers, place on the supreme bench of our state, comity offices, and other places of trust and honor in the formation of

"We recall with all of appreciation the faces and names of the many whom we have met so often in the almost third of a ct'ntury since the beginning of our labors in this county for the cause of the Alaster, and whom we learned to love and esteem. In the ministry we may mention the following names: Correll, Graham, Hagin, Stromire, Tubbs, English, Maze, Strickler, Brink, Stromire, Moss, Bradley, Richards, Wagner, Rasey, Smith, Sumner, Tool, Hall, Bell, Megan, Burns, Baress. and Cadwell. Of the laymen: Judson, Chumbley, Woody, Wymore, Hagin, Drums, Kerr, Damon, Cole, Barns, Chesley, Samuelson, Sanderson, Burrows, Foster, Walburn. Hanley, Lucas, Moomey, Pierce, Eastman, McGregan, Mason, Nichols, Narragan, Franklin, Mills, Needham, Skillman, Amsbern,^ Conant, and Walton and Allen, with a host of others that space forbids to mention. All of these unselfishly gave their influence, counsel, time, and voice to encourage the cause that was so dear to their hearts in those pioneer days.