Newcastle Township

Newcastle Township

The face of the country in New Castle township is much like that in the towns adjoining. Hills, fertile to their tops, fertile valleys and numerous unfailing streams, furnish a farming and stock growing region that can hardly be surpassed. The township is well settled up. Many of the citizens are wealthy, and nearly all are in independent circumstances.

The citizens never had a market near at hand until the extension of the C, St, P., M. & 0. R. K. from Ponca to New Castle in 1893. When that extension was made, the hitherto dormant hamlet of New Castle developed rapidly, as related in a former chapter, into a brisk railroad town. Grustavus Smith, the leading spirit of that locality up to the time of his death, (July 27, 1880,) would have been glad to have lived to see such growth and advancement in the place he founded and named years before.

One of the first settlers in what is known as New Castle township, was William Prister, who came from Harden county, Iowa, in 1 858. He was a man possessed of good judgment and courage, and came with the expectation of finding a wild and unsettled country with Indians for neighbors. He was not greatly mistaken in his forecast of the future. The country was indeed wild when he came, white settlers were miles away, and for years his most frequent visitors were the roving Indians passing through that part of the country on their road between the Omaha and Santee agencies. He took a claim a few miles from where New Castle village is, and cultivated and improved it from year to year, built a farm house, barns and fences, started a grove and orchard, raised wheat and corn, cattle and hogs, and in due time was rewarded with plenty. For years after he located there, he could look in every direction and see no house or cultivated fields except his own. It was a solitary life, yet with his constant labor in improving and cultivating, his time was occupied, and life, though on the remote frontier, was pleasant, The

Indians who often passed, became acquainted and friendly, he could talk with them, and they showed no disposition to plunder or harm him. Sixteen years ago when the great prairie lire swept over that pact of the county, he lost house, fences, stacks and nearly everything on his farm that would burn. In time he recovered from that visitation. He died in May, is1.)"), after an industrious life of 65 years. On the same place where he first located, he lived up to the time of his. death. He lefta valuable farm of 320 acres, good buildings and a large amount of stock. His wife survives him and now resides on the farm.

New Castle village, incorporated May 16, 1893, has a class of citizens whose energy and enterprise is seen in the continned improvement of the place.

A.mong the most prominent of the citizens is Thomas Hoy. to whose efforts, as described in chapter XII. the extension of the railroad to that place is mainly due. Mr. Hoy came when young to New7 Castle from Pittsburg, Pa., in the spring of 1872. He attended school, developed business habits, and finally taught school three terms. In 1878, he engaged in the mercantile business and has continued it all the time, substantially, since then. In 1880, was appointed postmaster which position he still tills. In 1SS2 his store and goods burned, there being a. total loss, and soon after he rebuilt. He was a member of the board of supervisors in '1)2 and '93, and since the incorporation of New Castle has had a leading and progressive part in the official life of that place. His mercantile business is large, and after so many years in it. he has the acquaintance and confidence of a great share of the people in that part of the county. He was married in 1SS4 to Ellen McAndrews, and has five children, four girls and one boy.

W. P. Logan, another prominent young business man of New Castle, the cashier of the Farmers State Bank of that place, has already been noticed in the part devoted to Poncacity. where he formerly lived. His portrait is seen in this chapter.

E. E. Carder, the depot agent, came to New Castle in Sepfcember, 1893. He is married and has two children. Is an efficient and popular railroad man.

years, and then went into business with Mr. Hoy. Their partnership was dissolved four years after and Mr. Coleman is now engaged in the sale of hardware. Coleman Bros, have a large store and a desirable patronage. Mr. Coleman is married and has four children.

James Tobin, son of Michael Tobin who has been a resident twenty years, lives near New Castle village. He has a good farm and is successful in business. Was supervisor of the township two years. See his portrait with those of the supervisors of '1)5.

E. J. Eames is the editor and proprietor of the New Castle Times which was started about three years ago. and which has been conducted with ability by Mr. Eames since the spring of '95. He is also a lawyer, in which, as in his editorial business, he is well qualified and successful.

Mikesell & Company have a large and well filled general store in Newcastle, which was opened May 1. 1895 and since managed by J. M. Hoskinson. It has a large trade.

Suecker & Anderson, contractors and builders; Fred Calvert, market: Smith & Davis, blacksmiths; Frank Pletsch and Dougherty & Bennett, billiard halls; have been in New Castle from two to three years.

The school house at New Castle was recently built by Suecker & Anderson at a cost of about $4,000. it is a tine building ami a credit to the town.

New Castle has a large Catholic church, built many years ago, and of which Father O'Toole was pastor for about twelve years. He removed to Grand Island three years ago and Father Waldron has since been in charge.

A. S. Palmer came from Floyd county, Iowa, in 1868. Was married in 1872 to Marcelia L. Rice, daughter of Dexter Rice. Was. as mentioned on page 141. representative two terms, being the only representative ever re-elected in the county. He was also twice elected superintendent of schools. He has 200 acres, well improved, etc. He has four daughters, one of whom was married in June last to J. Y. Pierson of Ponca.

John Malone, one of the pioneers of the county, is a well to do farmer of New Castle. He has a large farm pleasantly located on the road between New Castle and Ponca,

Henry Richards, from Wisconsin in I860. Has 320 acres and is in Hue circumstances and a leading citizen of the township. He was supervisor in '88 and '89.

There are other notable citizens and business men in Newcastle village, and many other farmers in the township, who on account of lack of information we are unable to mention.

Is thinly settled and has much uncultivated land. The land is rolling, the soil is excellent and water is good and abundant. It has no timber except the groves that have been planted. There are four school districts in town. The population is about 825, mostly American born. Clark township is six miles square and is directly south of and adjoins Daily and has Cedar county on the west.

Captain Burdick was the first to settle in this township. He came here twenty-three years ago as agent for the Boston Land Co., which owned 45,000 acres in Dixon and Cedar counties, and a large tract of it was in this township. Captain Burdick purchased 1(50 acres of it for himself, built a house and made many improvements, and on his own land as well as that of the Land Company planted numerous large groves, several hundred acres in all. Captain Burdick sold his farm about fifteen years ago to A. .1. Sparks and moved to Kansas.

A. .1. Sparks has lived on the Burdick place since he bought it fifteen years ago. Among the many improvements and attractions on this farm may be mentioned the large groves and the orchard of apple and cherry trees.

John Donovan is the oldest settler now living in the township. He has been here nineteen years. He has three fourths of a section of land and is a enterprising farmer.

A. Coleman came here from Jones county, Iowa, fifteen years ago. Has a quarter section on which is the largest grove in the county. He has a large family, ten sons and daughters.

Perry Dempster was elected supervisor of Clark township a year ago and served until January 1st, 1896. He removed to the township in March, 1892, from Crawford county, Iowa, where he was census enumerator for that county in 1890. No has a half section of land, of which 190 acres are under cultivation, tine house, barn, groves and other improvements. His family consists of himself, wife and seven children, (four sons and three daughters,) all of whom are in Nebraska, excepting one daug-hter, who lives in Shelby county. Iowa.

J. Sullivan came here twelve years ago from Indiana, Has a fa I'm of half a section, and buildings, grove, orchard, etc. Last winter he removed to Dixon village. His family consists of himself, wife and five sons and daughters. He wras supervisor for Clark two or three terms and up to January, 1895.

A. I). Morgan and J. L. Schouten are also well-to-do farmers, concerning whom we have been unable to obtain information, except their names.