Rulo Precinct

Rulo Precinct

Rulo precinct occupies die southeast corner and takes its name from the city of Rulo. The town was founded by Charles Rouleau, a bYenchman, who settled on the site of the town in 1855. The town is located on the Missouri river alx)ut two miles north of the Great Nemaha, and lies on what was l(irmerl\- known as the Half-Breed tract: consequently, the town and the land surrciunding it were allotted to and for a long time held by the halfjjreed Indians and white men who bad married into the Lo family.

This class of occupants was not particularly distinguished for enterprise, if we accept the lively manner in which the}- conducted their real-estate transactions, frequently disposing of the same piece of land two or three times, and their very liberal patronage of the dealer in the fluid extract of sod corn.

For some years this element seriously retarded the progress ant! growth of this section of our county, but they disappeared before the tide of immigration that was attracted to this \icinity by its many natural advantages. The town of Rulo contained several hundred (perhaps seven or eight hundred) people prior to the coming of the railroad in 1871 and thereafter rapidly improved. In the year 1870, just prior to the coming of the railroad, which was built in from the south on this side of the river, this point handled more than one hundred thousand bushels of corn. A steam corn sheller was used for shelling the corn and the grain merchants there had much to complain of in regard to transportation facilities. One line of steamers had a monopoly upon the entire carrying trade on the river and practiced extortion in the way of high freight rates and, like the later and greater railroad monopoly, were as much displeasing to the shipper, as they carried the grain when they pleased, witliout reference to the convenience or interest of the shippers. This condition caused the shippers to pray for the speedy arri\al of the "iron horse," which forever (or at least to the present time), has put the boats out of business. They felt that the first snort of the iron horse coming from the south or east, along the valley of the Missouri, would spoil the nice little thing so long enjoyed by the steamboat men exclusively.

This precinct embraces a very excellent body of land, all of which is now highly improved. The character of the farm buildings, improvements and so forth, will compare favorably with those of any other part of the state.

In the early days cheap lumber was obtained from the Rush bottoms just across the river and from the extensive establishment of Mr. Sprinkle, near the Yankton townsite north of Rulo. The Great Nemaha river runs through the southern part of the precinct. The uplands of this valley consist of smooth undulating prairie, which in most cases slopes gradually doAvn to the bottom lands of the Nemaha, which are from one to two miles wide. Several small streams afiford an abundance of water and groves of timber.

"Ordered that the Boundaries of Rulo Precinct Number Four be established as Follows : Beginning at a Point on the Missouri River where the section line dividing Sections 18 and 19 in Township No. 2 North of Range No. 18 intersects the same; thence west along said line to the center of Township No. 2, North of Range No. 17 E. Thence South along the section line to the Great Nemaha River ; Thence down the main channel of the Great Nemaha river to the Missouri river; Thence up the middle of tlie main channel of the Missouri river to the place of beginning, and that tlie town of Rulo be the voting place therein."

In almost every new county opened for settlement there are organized many new towns which, in the minds of the promoters, are destined to become famous. There are usually multitudes of reasons why each town should become a metropolis, but these reasons are usually apparent only to the minds of the promoters.

.\rcher, our first county seat, was the most important of such little towns in the early days of this county. That it did not prosper and remain the county seat is due not so much to lack of interest on the part of the people or to the purely visionary qualifications as seen by the promoters, as to the Territorial Legislature which, in granting the land for a townsite, located it upon what was thought to be the Half-Breed Indian Reservation.

Early in 1855 a grant for a county-seat townsite was secured through the efl'orts of Col. Neil J. Sharp, who had been elected to the Legislature at the first election held in the territory. December 12, 1855. This tract was on the east side of the .Miuldy, about three and one-half miles northeast of the present site of Falls City, in section Xo. 36, township No. 2, north of range No. 16, in what is now known as Ohio township, and from the townsite Falls City is easily visible. In the summer of 1855 a townsite company was organized. Among those taking an active part in starting the new town were John C. Miller, the father of Mrs. Margaret Maddox, at present (191 /J a resident of Falls City; Colonel Sharp. AM D. Kirk, Huston Xuckols, Ambrose Shellcx- and Robert Archer, for whom the town was named. The affairs of the count} were then in the hands of county officers appointed by Acting-Governor Cuming during the previous winter and the offices were purely nominal. The first county election was held in Xovember, 1855, when John C. Miller was elected probate judge: Col. Neil J'. Sharp, clerk and register of deeds : M G. McMullin, sheriff, and, it is believed, Ambrose Shelley, or Isaac Crook, as treasurer.

Gretna Green Of Kans.A.S.

Wilson AL Maddox and Margaret A. Miller, the daughter of Judge John C. Miller, were the first couple married after the county seat was established at Archer, and the thirtl couple to be married in the county. Licenses were not required then, but marriages were recorded by the clerk and certificates issued by the judge and officiating minister, if one was present. The countsseat became the Gretna Green of Kansas couples, where a license and age limit were not observed. For a few years the present age limit and license were not required in this territory.

The little village seemed to thri\e wonderfull\- for a new town in a sparsely settled country and all went well until early in January, 1856. when it became known that I)}- \irtue of an early treaty the town was on the halfbreed lands. This treaty was made in 1840. when the Omahas, Otoes and lowas, who also represented the Santie and Yankton bands of Sioux, asked that a tract of land be set aside for their half-breeds or mixed-bloods. William Clark, superintendent of Indian affairs and Willoughby Morgan acted for the government, .\mong the rivers designated in this treaty as boundaries of the half-breed lands are the Big or Great Ne-mo-haw and Little Xe-mo-haw, which afterwards become known as the Nemahas. \\'hat a pity the old Indian names and their true meanings could not lie retained.

The first survey, which pmved incorrect, did not include Archer. Init liefore it wa^^ hardl)- lucated. a new line was run and though it added little to the half-breed lands, it took in the townsite. It was the death warrant of tlie county scat, though numerous efforts were made to save it. Aljel D. Kirk, prominent here at that time, was sent to Washington, D. C. but his efforts were of no avail. 1 1on. KUner S. Dundy, then a young man without money or renown, Init with unliounded ambition, had settled at Archer and took up the light for the villagers and settlers, whose claims laid in the condemnefl tract. He entered into an agreement with them that for two per cent of the assessed \alue of their property he would go to Washington and tr\- to save their lands. Right well, too, did he plead their cause, for he succeeded in getting an act through Congress by which the settlers were permitted to retain the lands they had started to improve. Tn many cases the settlers would have been better off fmanciall)- to have let their claims revert to the government, moved their buildings and taken other claims; but most of the people had a horror of getting away from the river and the timljer along its banks, out upon the open prairie.

It might truthfull) be stated that right here was where Judge Dundy laitl the foundation of his success of later years. When he landed at Archer his sole possessions were die clothes on his l)ack; a limited - very limited - nun-.ber of law books in a "satchel", and a fiddle. Clients were few, fees fewer and small, when they could be collected at all, and Dundy's only equipments for life at that time were, a fine education, a cheerful disposition, coupled with a keen sense of humor, faith in tlie new country, amljition to succeed, assets that did not balance well against dollars when pay-day rolled around - but the stuff that makes a man.

Judge Dundy w^as in every sense a social favorite in the settlement. Alanv a dance at the hotel in Archer was arranged by him and he seemed happiest when doing the fiddling. At every social gathering, Dundy, the future federal judge at Omaha, and his fiddle were on hand. He is remembered in later years as a white-haired but distinguished old man. still fiddling, alwavs coming down with his heel to mark the time and was watched with as much admiration perhaps as are the noted violinists of the present day.

Hut, back to .Archer. As soon as it became evident that the townsite a.uM not be saved, many other towns were started. Falls City was backed bv most of the Archer residents and many buildings were moved there from the old town. The house now owned by I'" red Keller, at the corner of Xineteenth and Stone streets in block No. 2j. was a two-story house built

Rulo became prominent because of river advantages; Salem, because of its central location and because in the meantime several settlers, considered wealthy in those days, had located there. All the new towns wanted the county seat and the contest which finally settled between Falls City and Salem was long and bitter, extending over a period of nearly seventeen years, resulting in an enmity which has never been entirely overcome in many instances.

Considerable time elapsed before Archer was entirely extinct. Eventually, all the town lots and adjoining land were bought up by Wilson M. Maddox and Ijecame a part of the old Maddox farm across the Muddy, now owned by Benjamin Poteet.

The old Archer cemetery still exists, though the remains of the first settlers who were buried there, have in many cases been removed to other cemeteries. But many were left and the old-time headstones mark not only the graves of the loved ones, pioneers young and old, but the graves of hopes and ambitions and the grave of the first county seat of Richardson county.

Incorporation Of Archer

The following petition bearing the date of January 19, 1859, was presented to the county commissioners at Salem, and the following copy of same is taken from the minutes of the board :

"Your Petitioners, residents and legal voters of the town of Archer, Richardson County, respectfully pray your Honorable body to Incorporate the said Town of Archer and appoint Five Trustees to form and constitute the corporate authorities of the said town under and by Notice of the statute in such cases made and provided and they will pray.

The plat of Archer was filed for record on July 4, 1855. The streets were named for the founders of the town, Trammel, \\'^hite. Miller, Sharpe, Shelley, Kirk, Hare, Crook, and Howard. There were one hundred blocks in the town with an open square in center for court house.

Plat of Archer, Richardson County, Nebraska Territory, 1855. "We the undersigned proprietors of the Town of Archer, Richardson County, Nebraska Territory, have caused to be surveyed and platted the town of Archer and have set apart the claim upon which the same is located for that purpose with lots, streets and alleys with out lots and reservations as designated upon the within platte. July 4th, 1855."

On the loth day of July personally appeared before me Ambrose Shelley, A. D. Kirk, John C. Miller, and N. J. Sharp known to me to be the identical persons whose names appear to the foregoing instrument and acknowledged the same to be their voluntary act and deed for the purpose therein set forth.

I, Christian Bobst hereby certify that I have examined the within survey and platte of the town of Archer and believing that the requirements of the law has been substantially complied with by the owners of the claim upon which the same is located do hereby direct the same to be placed upon record.

All lots are 132 feet Nortli & South by 66 feet East and West. Out lots show their own size. All streets are 66 feet wide except Hickory and Sharp which are 99 feet wide. All alleys are i6i/< feet wide. Lots on the East and West side of the Square are reserved but are the same size of others. All lines are run east and west and North and South at a variation north 10', 30" East. I hereby certify that the within platte of the Town of Archer is surveyed as thereon set forth and that the same is correct with the exceptions of a few Blocks. July 9th, 1855.

Articles of association Archer Townsite Company made and entered into the 14th day of June A. D., 1855, by and between Ambrose Shelley, John C. Miller, A. D. Kirk, and N. J. Sharp, all of the County of Richardson. Territory of Nebraska, the object and purpose of this association is and shall be to purchase claims for the purpose of establishing the Town of Archer, the Seat of Justice, for the County of Richardson, Nebraska Territory, and deal in town lots and lands, in said county. The said Town of Archer is to be Located upon the prairie tract of land at a stake about 30 rods East of the South East Corner of a Piece of Brakeing or plowed land extending 80 rods South, east North and west to be 160 rods square said stake being in the center which is together with the remainder the claim now occupied by the said Shelley and known as the M inter Claim and the claim now owned by P. Pollard embracing the mill site near the Indian Ford and Stone Druary (320) acres on the Muddy Creek the whole containing (600) acres with the improvements thereon are hereby conveyed by the said Shelley to the said company for and in consideration of the sum of five hundred and fifty dollars which sum is to be paid as per agreement.

County Commissioners met according to law, November 24, 1856. the whole Board being present and the following business was transacted. Viz : Account of Jacob Cofifman for acting as Clerk of election McMahan's Precinct at the November election of 1856 allowed. $1.50.

The County Commissioners met according to law. January 5th. 1857, the whole Board being present. The following business was transacted : Petition of Citizens of McMahan's Precinct for the Appointment of a Justice of the Peace for said Precinct and recommended J. N. Johnson be appointed.

J. N. Johnson was appointed. Justice of the Peace for McMahan's Precinct. Account of F. L. Goldsbury presented and allowed for Canvassing election Pawnee County August 25th, 1856. $1.50.

A Visit To Archer

On a bright Sunday afternoon last summer, 18 - , while John W. Dorrington, of Yuma, Arizona, an old-timer in Falls City, was here on a visit. he proposed that we go out to Archer, that is to say, where it once stood, and take a look at the old place. It was agreed and we went. There were four of us; three have seen the town in its decadency, the other had seen only its abandoned site, and the cemetery over the ravine to the north, in which many of its early settlers lie buried. There is nothing in the prospect suggestive of the fact that a town of three hundred people or more ever stood there or that it had ever been anything but the cornfield it now is.

I had in mind the fear that the place might have been neglected and become overgrown with weeds and underbrush. Such things happen sometimes to these places, especially where they are isolated from a town and left for whoever may be willing, to give them attention and care. In this case I was agreeably disappointed in my expectations.

We found the cemetery in good presentable order, finely located on grounds gently sloping to the west and south, with a thick covering of grass over which the lawn mower had recently passed : there was no sign of neglect anywhere, but just the reverse.

What interested me most was the community of the dead who lie buried there. Some have been there - two to my knowledge - for more than half a century. Dr. B. S. Hutchins was one, McMullen the other. Doctor Hutchins died in the summer or fall of 1858. I never met him but once, and then I knew he was going slowly down to his grave, with that fell disease, consumption. He left a little daughter, ten or eleven years old. who grew to womanhood in the county and is with us yet, the wife of our respected townsman, F. M. Harlow.

Passing from one gravestone to another, I found that I had known all those people when in life, and I regret to say, though I have lived in the near vicinity of this out-of-the-way God's acre for more than fifty years, that was my first visit to it. It was like a revival of old acquaintance, going among those silent heralils, each announcing the resting-place of someone I had known in the days of yore : each one of them as I read the names of the gravestones, w^as present to my mental \isi()n, as I last saw him or her in life, and the time in which they lived.

W'ith Judge Miller and Doctor Hutchins, I saw the spreading, vacant prairie again, and the crumbling town they helped to build. The old, vanished life and surroundings came back td me like ghnstly xisitations, and so with all the others.

.\ little to the west on the south side of die creek, is the old camp meeting ground, where the pious Alethodists of Archer and surrounding countrv used to repair exery \ear to worship God in one of His first temples, according to the poet, a ijeautiful grove of }Oung timber, but that, too, is gone. Without the grove the camping ground could not be located, or at least we could not do it, and so that, with the shadowy congregation that worshipped there in the long ago, have become mere misty and confused memorx".

We finally stood on the spot wliere the town once was. A plowshare had passed over it and in all the wide expanse about us, there was nothing that even whispered of the times when a bustling and energetic people li\ed there, except the graves of some of their dead.

But what of the others of the three hundred or more ( and that was a considerable population for a town in those days), who inhabited, hoped, and wrought here? Gone, in their several and restless wanderings about the world and out of it, with only the two ladies I ha\e mentioned above, remaining. The story of Archer is both pathetic and tragic.

Town Of Stella

Ancient history of Stella chronicles that the town had its beginning when, in August, 1881, a public meeting was held at the Muddy school house in the Tynan- Vandeventer district, where farmers of this locality and business men from Falls City discussed the proposition of trying to get a railroad and locate a new town at this point. A proposition was submitted to the Missouri Pacific Company and a few weeks later the preliminary survey for a road to run from Hiawatha to Omaha was made. Grading was begun September 6, and finished as far as Stella, November 25. The next month the track was laid and a switch put in. On Saturday. January 7. 1882, the station building was raised. From a mere switch Stella began to spread out, and in the fall of the same year there were twenty-five business firms in the new town. One thing necessary to the existence of the place was a postoffice and this was moved bodily to Stella from Dorrington, a star route office which stood on the corners one and a half miles west.

The first house erected in Stella belonged to D(ictor Livingston and occupied a prominent position in the middle of what is now Alain street. It was first built near the present site of the Lutheran church, hut when the streets were laid out it was moved south onto a lot near the Christian church. The house was struck by lightning and burned in April, 1S8-'. .Mrs. Livingston was killed by the same bolt.

The pioneer merchants of Stella were Moore & Higgins, Graham & l^aslev and Hull & Coldren. John Higgins started the creamery and Xutter & Knapp were the first stock buyers, Metzger & Fisher the first millers.

Nearly all the first stores were located on Second street, which runs south of the lumber yard, but as the town grew it became evident that Main street, which runs lengthwise of the ridge on which the town is built, was a much better location for business houses, and the first merchants either moved their buildings or built new ones on that street.

The village of Stella was incorporated in 1882 and the first village board consisted of L. G. Ciphers, chairman ; A. Graham, Sol. Jameson, John Higgins and G. M. Gates. C. M. Shepherd was clerk and George Smith, marshal, all of whom are dead or moved away long ago. Mr. Gates entered the ministry; he resides at University Place, and the past two years has preached at the Methodist church in Stella, on alternate Sundays.

Tlie school district was organized in October, 1882. H. D. Weller was moderator; T. W. Moore, director; L. F. Quint, treasurer. Like the village officers, all are dead, or moved away. The first settlers in the town sent their children to the country to attend Muddy school in the Tynan- \'andeventer district, but in those days the Muddy school building was nearer town than now - located near the J. L. Hay's home, where D. S. Hinds now lives.

The First School In Stella

The first school in Stella was begun in July. 1884, in the Ferguson & Coldren hall, and continued with but one week's vacation until the next June. This hall was then located on the corner, east of the lumber yard. Later, it was moved to Main street, on the corner north of J^Iartin's store, and there it was burned with several other buildings in the spring of 1908. The wife of the Rev. G. M. Gates was the first teacher.

.\ school house was built in 1884, on the hill east of town, on the site now occupied by C. M. Harrison's bungalow. This school building burned in the spring of 1889, and the remaining six weeks of the term were taught Ijy the principal and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Lawson, as a private school in the Christian church.

.\. new building was erected on the site of the burned building, and school opened in it in November, 1889. In 1898, the school became so crowded that more space was necessary, and a school building was erected for the primary department. In 1914 this school building was converted into a residence by .\lfred Shellenbarger.

In June, 191 3, bonds were voted for a new building, and earl\- in T914, it was readv for occupancy, and "the bell on the hill" called fi>r the last time. The new school building is modem, and with equipment and campus, has an approximate valuation of $20,000. The location is at the north end of Main street. Seven teachers are employed for the twelve grades. R. A. Clark is president of the school board; ]\Irs. I. L. Callison, secretary, and E. C. Roberts, treasurer. The other membe*-,. are Mrs. Fred Gilbert, J. F. Folly and J. F. Weddle. Graduates of the school have reorganized the alumni, and are endeavoring to build a strong society.

The First Church In Stella

The Baptist church at Prairie Union was the first religious organization in this part of the county. It was organized March 3, 1867. Within the corporation of Stella the Methodists are the oldest organization and they began the erection of their church in October, 1882. The edifice was dedicated on Sunday, August 26, 1883, and the first pastor was Rev. G. W. Southwell. The next denomination to establish a church in Stella was the Christian, whose building was dedicated November 25, 1883. The church was organized by Rev. R. C. Barrow, state evangelist. The Lutherans organized their church here in March, 1884, and the first minister was Rev. J. Vy. Kimmel. The Baptist church of Stella, was organized on March 19, 1891. This church is modern in its construction, and on July 15, 1917, held dedicatory services for the completion of a new modern basement under the entire building. The Lutheran and Methodist churches each have parsonages.

The first flouring-mills were built in 1882 and were owned and operated by Metzger & Fisher. In 1887 the Metzger & Clark mill burned, a loss that was a great blow not only to the owners but to the community. .V new mill was built, however, with the finest of improved machinery and in 1896 this, too, was burned. Jameson Brothers and the Clarks were among those interested in this mill.

The first elevator in Stella was erected by JamesiMi Brothers in 1882, and for five years they merely bought and sold grain. In 1888 they enlarged their plant by adding machinery' for making corn meal. On April 30, 1889, their plant was destroyed by fire, but they rebuilt immediately on the same site and moved into their new quarters in July, 1889. Three years later this mill was sold to the Stella Grain Company and was run as a Farmers Mutual Elevator for two years.

Then, Jameson Brothers went into a stock company known as the Stella Corn Meal Mills, and a six-hundred-barrel mill was built at a cost of $11,000. This mill (burned in 1896), was closed on account of the depression of Inisiness in 1894, and Jameson Brodiers leased tlieir former building from the Stella Grain Company, and operated it until they built a flour and cnrn meal mill in 1899. This new mill had a capacity of three hundred barrels, and cost $8,000. About 1902, Jameson Brothers dissolved ]jartnership. The mill was dismantled about 1905, and part of the machinery shipjied away. Henry Brenner is now the owner of the building, which he uses fi)r a grain elevator, and which also houses the electric light plant. John .\. Mayer owns and manages the other grain elevator in Stella. In iHHj. Stella boasted a waterworks. A reservoir was Iniilt on Main street, where now stands the Baptist church. Pipes were laid and water was served to patrons of the works. The old creamery building on the hill east of town, once did a flourishing business here. It finallv passed out of usefulness for lack of an active manager.

Fire, at dift'erent times, has wrought great destruction in the business part of Stella. In 1888, several buildings were burned on the corner where The Press ofiice now stands. Ten years afterward several buildings on the solid business blocks on the west side of Main street were burned, and in 1903 almost all the east side went up in one smoke.

Stella has a good opera house, erected in 1898 by a stock company - now owned by R. .\. Clark and managed by A. E. CambUn. The Stella Telephone Company was organized in 1899, ''^"'^' ser\-es both Stella and Shubert, with a central station at each town. The lines of the company extend east as far as the Missouri river. In all, about .seven hundred patrons are served.

About i8gy, an electric light, heat and in)wer company was granted a franchise. In 1907, John H. Brenner ol)tained this franchise, installed a plant, and in the spring of 1908 Stella was electric lighted. In a few years transmission lines were built and Shubert supplied with current fron> Stella. In March, 1916, an accident happened to some of the machinery at the light plant, and the Ihenners <lid not care to go to the e.xi)ense of replacing it. In the fall, they dispo.sed of their plant to the Nebraska Cas and I-'lectric Com[)any. of Cle\e!and. ( )hio, with \\'estern headquarters at Omaha. By January, \')\J. the new owners had rehabilitated the plant and again Stella and Shubert l>ecanie electric lighted.

Stella has .s])lendi(] sidewalks of brick or cement. bVom the new school building, or the home of U. .\. I'lark. in the extreme north part of the town, to the Stella cemetery gate, a mile awav, there is a continuous walk of brick or cement. The cement walk from town to the Stella cemetery, with a bridge of cement and iron across the little stream in the east part of town, is one of the big achievements of the community within the past few years, at a cost of considerably more than a thousand dollars.

At the time this history is written, July, 191 7. Stella and vicinity are actively engaged in Red Cross work, and nearly two thousand dollars in money has been subscribed. The officers of the Stella Red Cross auxiliary are R. A. Clark, president; Dick Curtis, vice-president: ]\Iiss Lucile Harris, secretary, and J- M. Wright, treasurer.

The Research Club

The Ladies' Research Club, organized March 13, 1896, has taken a leading part and has been a tremendous force for good in the community for more than twenty years. This club has far outgrown the original purpose of organization, which was to study history and literature. The club has earned money in various ways to be used for public purposes, such as the improvement of the city park. Mrs. A. W. Montgomery is president.

The Ladies' Auxiliary of the Stella Cemetery Association has done nobly during the ten years of its existence. During that time the Stella cem.etery has been changed from an unkept place to a thing of beauty ; various improvements and conveniences added to the cemetery: strong, attractive front entrance gates built, and the cement walk with bridge, made between town and cemetery. Mrs. Angeline Raper is president. Each of the four churches has strong, active women's societies, each doing a good work. Various lodges and other societies flourish in the town. The Stella orchestra gives its services free to play whenever the occasion demands.

Stella has been a good business town, from the very beginning. The town and railroad were badly needed by the farmers, and that gave the place a good start. J. W. Clark, of Covington, Kentucky, was the father of Stella. The town is named for a daughter. Stella, who is dead; and the Florence hotel, which he built here when the town fir.st started, was named for another daughter, also dead.

In 1857, treaties were concluded with the Indians which enabled the government to sell the land, and by attending these sales Mr. Clark obtained titles to numerous tracts in this vicinity. He himself never lived here, but after the town started he sent his son, H. E. Clark, to Stella to look after his interests. H. E. Clark moved to Kansas City in 1904, and since then his

The original townsite of Stella comprised forty acres. It was four blocks square, extending from the street south of the Christian church to the street north of the Lutheran church. The boundaries on the east and west were the same then as now.

Two Strong Banks

Stella has two strong banks, The Bank of Stella, owned by Hull and Ferguson, and the State Bank of Stella, at that time owned by Sweet Brothers, were purchased by J. R. Cain for a corporation, and both merged into the present State Bank of Stella in January, 1886. The incorporators were Sol Jameson, J. L. Slocum, George W. Holland, B. R. Williams, J. R. Cain and Charles Metz. Mr. Cain is still connected with the bank. He is the president, and is assisted by E. C. Roberts, as cashier and H. V. Davis, as assistant cashier.

The Farmers State Bank was organized with fourteen stockholders in the fall of 191 5, and opened for business in January, 1916. I. L. Plasters is president; George W. Lambert, vice-president, and J. M. Wright, cashier. The directors are I. L. Plasters. G. W. Lambert. C. A. Larimore, John Sayer and J F. Shubert.

The Stella Press was started by Gird Brothers in August, 1882. The paper changed names a time or two. and had eleven differeent editors during the first twenty years of its existence. For fifteen years the Stella Press has been owned and edited and published by Clyde G. Haskins and Miss Eunice Haskins. The Press had strenuous times until alxiut twenty years ago, and for a while had to battle for existence with other papers in the field.

Professional And Business Men

Three physicians are located at Stella at the present time: Dr. G. -M. Andrews, Dr. A. \\\ Montgomery and Dr. George Egermayer. Dr. I. L. Callison and Dr. E. W. James are the dentists. Dr. J. H. Brey is the veterinarian. .\. J. Baldwin and L. R. Chaney are engaged in the real-estate and insurance business. E. E. Marr is agent for the Missouri Pacific, and H. T. Wilson is postmaster. Miss Mabel James has the millinery store, and W. K. Knight, of Falls City, kcejis his Stella photographer's studio open on Monday.

High School Building. Stella Residence Stueet. Stella

The Hays lumber yard is managed by Neil Duncan. J. \\'. Curtis, Jr., does the town draying, and Amil Moritz keeps the livery stable. John S. Mann runs the harness shop, as he did in the beginning of things at Stella. H. C. Frankell sells implements and automobiles, and J. M. Goodloe, in his garage, and Stine & Freed, in their blacksmith shop, do repair work.

Dishman & TomHnson dispense drugs at the Rexall store ; J. F. Weddle sells hardware, furniture and implements; C. M. Byrd manages the Farmers Union Store; J. S. Kimsey is owner of the city meat market and sells ice; H. W. Wolf still keeps his carpenter shop open; Marion C. Marts does a big business at his poultry station; W. K. Frankel stays at his jewelry store when he is not papering and painting; J. M. Loney and E. B. McCann run the restaurants; E. C. \^erhune and Guy Dodson are the barbers; G.

E. Hansen sells dry goods and groceries ; Joe Wagner is the live stock dealer. Esburn Wheeler and Ira H. Martin have the big general stores in Stella. Mr. Wheeler's store is a department business, with a balcony for furniture and undertaking. Mr. Martin is conducting the business founded by his uncle, the late W. H. Hogrefe, soon after the town started.

Stella is an ideal small town - clean, well kept and pretty; a good place in which to live, and to trade; a good market for live stock and grain; near to the big markets of the west - Kansas City, St. Joseph and Omaha; on the main line of the Missouri Pacific railway, with good shipping facilities and good passenger service. It has good schools and good churches: a healthy place, with good water, situated on a hill rising from the valley of Muddy creek, where the boys go swimming in summer, and where they skate and ice is cut in winter. On the route covered by three great automobile highways - the Scenic, between Omaha and Kansas City; the George Washington, between Savannah, Georgia, and Seattle, Washington, and the King of Trails between Galveston, Texas and Winnipeg, Canada. Truly, the people of Stella live in a community that is wonderfully blessed.

The site for the village was chosen by J. C. Lincoln, Thomas Hare and J. W. Roberts oli the 30th day of January, 1855, and a plat of the original town may still be found in the first record kept b)- the county commissioners.

where it was recurded. West Salem, which was an addition to the original town, was laid out to the west on May 14th, 1857, and is now well built up. The latter addition was surveyed by Joseph B. Nickle and was the property of Charles McDonald and J. C. Lincoln. In an effort to get the counly .seat a large portion of the lots in what is known as West Salem was deeded to Richardson county.

The first to visit the site of the town were Joseph and Thomas Hare, John Roberts and John A. Singleton, who, with Jesse Crook, came upon the scene in 1854 from Missouri, while on a trip of inspection of the new country with an idea of locating here permanently. These men were at once pleased with the place from the fact that they found the waters of the ri\er available to furnish power for mill sites, while the banks of the streams were at that time heavily wooded with a growth of heavy timber which could be used for building purposes. The Hare brothers conceived the idea of establishing a saw-mill to provide lumber for early settlers and soon had machinery on the ground and set up a lumber mill.

The same year J. C. Lincoln, a relative of President Abraham Lincoln, who greatly resembled the martyred president, arrived and opened up the first trading post, selling to the Indians and white settlers who came in. John W. Holt, who was later to play an important part in the business history of the county, was an early arrival and became associated in the business with Mr. Lincoln, which firm continued as one of the leading business concerns for more than a quarter of a century.

Salem became early an important factor in county affairs from the fact that the county seat of government was removed to it from Archer. This incident attracted many of the early settlers to that vicinity and materially assisted in making it one of the permanent towns of the county.

J. C. Lincoln was the first to serve the people as postmaster and was succeeded by John W. Holt,- who resigned the office in March, 1869. The office was first located in the store building of Mr. Lincoln, while he served.

D. .\. Tisdell was the pioneer hotel man at Salem and remained in the business for many years and owned a number of the hotels at that place. The first was built in 1859 and stood on the brow of the hill. It was destroyed by fire in 1878.

erected in 1869. At that time they were joined h-v the Presbyterians. It was located in a prominent site and had a seating cap:icit\- of three hundred. The first pastor to serve the congregation was Rev. E. D. Thomas.

The Salem Lodge Xo. 21. Independent Order of Odd h'ellows, is one c>f the oldest and most prosperous of the Odd h^ellow lodges of the count_\- and was first established on July 9th, 1870, with the following charter members: D. H. Hull, X. Snyder, D. C. Simmons, Joseph H. .\llen, G. Hard and X. Snider.

The Salem of tixla}- is a town of six or se\en hundred inhabitants, situated on the Burlington & Missouri railroad, se\-en miles west of b'alls C^ity. .\t this point the railroad branches, the branch forming a short line to Xebraska City, in Otoe county, to the north, and intervening points. The depot is located more than half a mile from the business section of the city and the visitor having entered a conveyance, that makes all the trains, is driven past the grain elevator and stockyards and along a beautifully shaded street that leads past the old fair grounds across the iron bridge that spans the Xemaha, near one of the first mill sites of the county, and thence winds uj) the long hill and on to the main street of the town.

Along this street are the business houses, being for the most part substantial brick structures, the fine nati\e building stone having been largely used in their construction. All lines of business usually found in a thriving, up-to-date city, are to be found represented there anil represented by a li\e bunch of business men.

The people of Salem are progressive and enterprising and in the long vears since the town was founded, it has kei)t |)ace with the growth of the country that surrounds it. .\bove the tree tops in the valleys, the church spires ascend to the very summit of the highest hill, two public school buildings accommodate the sons and daughters of Salem, and capable teachers attend to the educational wants of the community. It is from this hill that the magnificent view before mentioned is afforded. To the north and northeast the eve can see for miles and miles.

Early Settlement Of Salem Precinct

In 1854 two men named John A. Singleton and William Roberts, took claims on the south fork of the Nemaha and one Mr. Short took a mill claim at the junction of the north and south Nemahas, where Salem now stands. The first election in Richardson county, which then included what is now Pawnee count)^ was held in the fall of 1854, and John A. Singleton, from our precinct, was elected to the House of Representatives of the Territorial Legislature, being the first, with D. M. Johnson, to represent our county in the Legislature, which convened in Omaha, January 16, 1855. The next settlers in the precinct were : J. W. Roberts, Thomas and Joseph R. Hare. J. C. Lincoln and Charles McDonald. The two latter located and laid out the town of Salem, in January, 1855, J. Cass Lincoln starting a trading post and Thomas R. Hare erecting a sawmill to supply lumber to the three settlers who preceded him, and afterwards a gristmill to crack the corn that Singleton and Roberts raised to feed McDonald, who was in the real estate business and who disposed of corner lots in Salem at fabulous prices to Eastern capitalists.

West Salem was laid out on May 14th. 1857. This addition, now practically included in the town, was surveyed by Joseph B. Nickle, and was the property of Charles McDonald and J. C. Lincoln. (J. C. Lincoln was a second cousin of President Abraham Lincoln.) A part of West Salem was donated to the county as an inducement to retain the county seat.

Among the number who settled in the precinct in 1855 were : John and Weston Ogden, Galliger, Abe Roberts. W. H. Whitney and J. W. Headrick. Those of 1856 were Mr. Oliver and Green. Additions of 1857 were A. J. Currence, Lara Hoppes, David and Robert Boyd.

Up to that time nothing unusual transpired outside of the usual walks of life incident to the settling of a new country. In the spring of 1859 there was (juite an influx into the precinct. Among those who settled in the precinct were: F. .\. Tisdell, Sr., and Jr.. J. W. Leverett. J. M. Wa.shburn. J. R. Brooks, M. D.: \\'illiam Slossen Peres, .\. Tisdell. John Billings, A. Rising. Levi Wheeler. .\. I-Vitz. Lemmon lioys. H. C. Jennings, and S. \'andervort. The two latter returned to Illinois in the following fall.

Tisdell & Company brought a steam saw-mill with them that was kept running for several years supplying lumber for the needy. In the winter of i860 I came to Nebraska and located at Salem on the 26th dav of Februarv.

Soldiers' Moxiimext. Shubert

Soon thereafter I bought eighty acres of land adjoining the townsite from John Billings, and got some of it liroke tlie following spring, with the expectation of bringing my family in the near future and making that my permanent home. The gold excitement in the far West induced me w ith others to seek our fortune, if possible, among the mountains near Pike's Peak.

Town Of Shubert

About sixteen miles due north of Falls City the town of Shubert is located, and of all the towns in the county this is one of the most important, from the standpoint of business transacted and general commercial activity. It is the principal trading point for a wide extent of country, that is not only well adapted for all kinds of farming and agricultural pursuits, but for stock raising as well.

Having a most advantageous location, it is not wonderful that there should have grown here a thriving town of some five hundred people and tiiat the town should from the first show a degree of progress and a growth that showed the site to be well chosen and the town to fill a want in that section of the country. Those who have built up Shubert to what it is today, have not only built wisely but they have built well. The town is laid out on a generous scale, the streets being, very wide, and along the main street are to be found many business blocks of brick that would be a credit to larger towns. One thing that impresses the visitor is that nothing seems to be overdone, but each branch of industry is just sufficiently represented to induce good, healthy competition, which is the life of trade and hence the very life of the town. Shubert is fortunate in possessing a class of business men who are not only progressive and up-to-date, but who are accommodating and congenial. Their stores are all large and well kept and are stocked with a sufficient variety of merchandise to meet the demands of an ever increasing trade.

What is true of the business section of the town, as to appearance, applies to the residence section. There are many substantial homes, whose appearance stands as evidence of the prosperity of the owners and their pride in living well and in the appearance and beauty of the town.

The Nebraska City Branch of the Burlington & Missouri Railroad passes through Shubert and in the course of a }ear immense amounts of stock, grain, etc., are shipped out. Shubert is also reached by the county telephone lines.

is a large two-story brick structure and as fine as any in the county. The schools are kept ever in the front rank, and no teachers but the most competent are ever employed. In the way of churches the town is supplied with a number of creditable edifices and all churches are largely attended and are in a prosperous condition.

One newspaper, the Slmhcri Citizen, is published there by J. L. Dalby, who is a veteran newspaper man of the county, and his paper has always championed the best interests of Shubert.

Town Of Rulo

The town of Rulo, might well be termed the "front door of Richardson county." It is located on the eastern boundary of the county on a series of high hills that overlook the Missouri river and at a point where the old .^.tchison & Nebraska, now known as the Burlington & Alissouri railroad, enters the state.

There is much of historical interest connected with the town of Rulo, and much of the earlier history of the county was formed in the vicinit}- of this place. It was originally one of the many settlements that were made along the Missouri river at the time when the flood of emigration first met the flood waters of this river and rested a moment as it were, before sweeping westward to inundate the great plains that lay beyond and to ultimately sweep away the last vestige of all that was aboriginal and uncivilized. The land upon which Rulo now stands was originally part of the lands granted to the wife of Charles Rouleau under the terms of the treaty of Prairie Du Chien. It is from her that the town takes its name and it should be so spelled, but time has brought into use the shorter form (^f spelling.

It was first laid out in 1856 and incorporated in 1859, at which time l)art nf the lands belonging to Mrs. Bedard, a sister of Mrs. Rouleau, was included in a plat of the townsite. The location is one that nnist have commended itself strongly to the pioneers, as a better site for a town couUl not be found. It stands on a cluster of hills from the top of which the eye may follow the graceful curves of the Missouri river for miles and miles, and may gaze across the bottom land upon the opposite side until vision is shut out by the veil of distance. The person standing on one of these hills may look into three states for he is standing in Nebraska and to the south loom the hills of northern Kansas, and to the east the spreading flats of western Missouri.

The older residents of this county will recall many names that are closely linked with the history of Rulo. Charles Rouleau, Eli Bedard, E. H. Johnson, Charles Martin. Eli Plante, F. X. Dupuis and scores of others have long since gone to their last long rest, but it seems as though their spirit still dwells amid the familiar haunt of the hills. The earlier settlers of Rulo came with the various expeditions that set out to explore the mysteries of the then unknown West, but who stopped to cast their lots on the banks of the turbid Missouri. The Rulo of today is a far different place and the linger of time has so marked it, as it has the whole West. Many of the descendants of the pioneers still reside there and have shared m the foresight of their ancestors, who knew a good thing when they saw it, and founded the town of Rulo.

When the Atchison & Nebraska railroad was built (the first rail of this road was laid across the Nebraska-Kansas state line on May 12, 1871), a station was established a few miles west of Rulo known as the "Rulo Y," and from there a stub line was built to Rulo. But in 1885 the railroad company found that this arrangement was unsatisfactory and accordingly a magnificent steel bridge was built to span the Missouri at Rulo and the line built to connect with what is known as the Kansas City and Council Bluffs line on the other side of the river. This line connects at Napier, Missouri, and thus rail connection was had with Kansas City and St. Joseph, iNIissouri, on both sides of the river. The bridge is one of the largest spanning that stream. The Missouri at this point is quite treacherous and the cutting by the current has given the government and the railroad companj^ much trouble and large sums of money have been expended in trying to curb it. The bridge was more than two years in process of construction and cost more than a million dollars. The bridge came to be the subject of warm legal controversy soon after its completion, when it came to be assessed for taxation. Richardson county wanted it taxed ( i. e., that is. the west half of it, ) at its value, independent of the other part of the company's roadbed in the c<junty. The case was carried to the supreme court and in course of time a decision was rendered adverse to the county, which in efifect allows it to be taxed the same as other mileage of the railroad in the county. The company, however, has alwa\s charged an additional sum of fifty cents extra for each passenger carried over it, and the same is true as to freight, which is burdened with an extra charge for transport over the structure.

The early days, with their thrilling history, have passed away, and where lawlessness once reigned in a rough river town of the border, a thoroughlv modern little citv now stands, inhabited by more than a thousand prosperous and contented people. The town is well built, the business blocks for the most part being two-story brick structures and occupied by successful merchants, who enjoy a good trade and a patronage that is merited.

The rugged topography lends a peculiar beauty to the town and neat and comfortable homes nestle in the valleys and on the hill sides, hidden beneath a veritable forest of trees. Above the tops of these trees the spires of many churches testify to the religious sentiment that prevails and on the quiet Sabbath morning the sound of the bells float out on the air that once bore the red man's war song or the cry of wild animals, succeeded first by the weird song of the steamboat whistle, followed by the song of civilization, the church bell. Rulo boasts of as fine a public school building as may be found in the county. It is a large, brick building, equipped with all the modern appliances and capable teachers are always employed. Rulo is also a good market, having a large territory to draw from and affording good shipping facilities. A large grain and stock business is transacted here and a great deal of all kinds of produce is shipped out.

Town Of Preston

The town of Preston was laid out and plattetl on land bordering the edge of the great Sac and Fox Indian Reservation, which comprised thousands of acres of land lying in the southeastern part of the county. It was for many years one of the principal shipping points of the county. Jeft'erson precinct, in which Preston is located, is one of the most fertile and productive precincts in the county and the great majority of the products is shipped to the outer world from Preston. The town is located about a mile south of the point where the Muddy flows into the Nemaha and six miles southeast of Falls City. Its existence dates from 1881, when the town was first platted by a man from Hiawatha as "Bluffton," but as there was at that time another town in the state having the same name, or one \ery similar, the postal authorities made objections and the name was changed to Preston.

The construction of the Atchison & Nebraska railroad line marked the beginning of an era of development and prosperity for the surrounding country and rendered imperative the need of a station with adequate shipping facilities, .\round this station the pretty little town of Preston sprang up. A big elevator was constructed to take care of the grain that was to l>e shipped while the railroad yards furnished accommodations for the stock raisers who desired to ship stock to the markets of Kansas City and St. Joseph. The town was very nicely located on the high banks that adjoins the Nemaha bottoms on the south and overlooks the rich lands that stretch away on every side.

The close proximity of the large tribe of Sac and Fox Indians was a great source of revenue to the merchants of Preston. Here a great portion of the Indian annuities were paid and spent and the presence of the red man on the streets was a very common sight.

Nims City

This little inland town was located several miles south of the town of Dawson, in Nemaha township, on the southwest quarter of southeast quarter of section 17, township i, north of range 14 east of the sixth principal meridian, by Mrs. Betsey U. Nims. The little place occupies the space of about one city block and was regularly platted and the same duly recorded. The plat bears the date of July 20, 1903. Its promoters probably started it as a rival of a much older little place to the southwest of it, which was known as Middleburg. The latter had been a little mail station from the very early days, and was in the same township. Nims City was at its best in 1906-7-8, and boasted of a church, several stores, a blacksmith shop, barber shop and a large public hall and hotel. The hall, or opera house, was and is still used much like a town hall and was a very popular place for many years past for the young people who desired to gather there in the winter evenings to dance away the hours. Frank Nims of Falls City, a son of the founder, was the moving spirit in the place and resided on a farm nearby. Since his departure and that of others prominent there, the place has not continued to prosper as formerly.

Verdon is the second station north on the Missouri Pacific line from Falls City ; Strausville, being the first, and is eleven miles distant. The land on which stands the village is the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 10, township 2. north of range 15, east of the sixth prime meridian, and was patented to William McK. Maddox, under date, September 15, i860. The land was later owned by Mr. and Mrs. John A. Hall and it was they who founded the town. The plat, signed by John A. Hall and his wife Julia, was (16) filed in the office of the register of deeds on February 22. 1S82, at the time of the building- of the ^Missouri Pacific railroad north and south across Richardson county. Since the original plat was made a part of the otificial records of the county a number of additions have been added to the village as follows : By Joseph H. Meyers antl wife Maggie A., on the west, being a part of the west half of the southeast (|uarter of section 10, township 2, nordi of range 15, dated November 10, 1884. This addition was surveyed by Creighton Morris, of Humboldt, on October 6, 1884, and the plat was filed on Noveniljer 12, 1884; and another addition by Miss Camma Hall, being the southeast onehalf of the nortlieast quarter of the southeast quarter, filed on September 1, 1885. This addition was also surveyed by Creighton Morris, October 8, 1 884 : and another by the Lincoln Land Company, on the east side of the town.

The town is beautifully located on a hill overlooking Muddy Creek valley and occupied a most picturesque location. The town has a village government, a board of trustees, constituted as follows : G. C. Goolsby, chairman ; C. H. Wear, H. J. Corn, trustees: C. G. Humphrey, clerk; H. X. Timmerman. treasurer, and Frank Waggner. marshal. The population of \'erdon has been reported as follows, according to the United States government census: 1890, 253: 1900, 340: 1910, 406. The town has electric lights and a good .-vstem of local telephones, and nearly every line of business is well represented.

There was for a time much uncertainty as to where the town which we know as Verdon would be located. This uncertainty was the result of the railroads, or the uncertainty of the location of the railroad. Prior to the locatiiin of the Missouri Pacific right-of-way. the Republican River \ alley Railroad Company, which is the Burlington Line, now extending from Salem to Nemaha City, had surveyed a line from Salem to Nemaha City, by way of the present line, and had graded the road from the north down to Muddy creek, just south of the town of \'erdon. As Salem was the trading point of that entire communit\- in those da\s, the community was anxious that the Burlington be extended to tap -the main line of the Burlington at Salem. It was at this time tliat John A. Hall, then one of the foremost men and progressive citizens of that section, together with other public-spirited citizens of that community, worked up an interest in the matter and the precinct voted bonds, the proceeds of which were to be used in the constructiim of a railroad. The line was to lie run to Salem, but after the l)on(ls were voted the railway company changed its surveys and turned the road down Muddy creek, from the point where X'erdon now is located, and ran the line to Falls City by way of the Muddy vallev and over the divide east of Freeling Switch, which is now. or was, located on the Missouri Pacitic. |ohn Hall then brouijlit an iniunction siu't.

Richardson Cointv, Nebraska

enjoining collection on the I)on(ls. This suit was successful and accounts for the fact that Liberty precinct was relieved from paying the bonds that were voted. All the other precincts involved in this action were parties in the suit and escaped liability for payment on the bonds with the exception of Muddy, which, in default of appearance, was held and obliged to pay, which it did. The Republican River \'alley Railway Company's project was then abandoned; this all being prior to the building of the Missouri Pacific.

The Missouri Pacific then acquired its right-of-way and J. l^^. Houtz, of Omaha, located the towns on that line. It is alleged that his nnethods of doing so were by going to different landowners along the proposed line of rightof-way, and undertaking to work up a contest between them for the location of the towns on the line. In this way the farmers of one section were induced to bid against one another. They knew that the\- were reasonably sure that it was only a cjuestion of time until the Burlington would build a cut-off from Salem to Nemaha City and knew that the point where Verdon was afterward located would be the junction between the two roads, but, nevertheless Houtz got Captain Ewing interested and it is said that the latter offered thirty acres of land if he would locate the town at a point designated by him, about two and one-half miles ea.st of the present location of Verdon. John Hall gave to the Missouri Pacific, or to the representative, J. E. Houtz, the undivided half of the southeast c|uarter of the southeast (|uarter of section 10, township 2, north of range 15, in consideration of the location of a depot and depot facilities at that point. Besides this he granted a right of wa\' north through the north half of that section.

August Schoenheit, of Falls Cit\-, was at that time local representatixc or attorney for the Missouri Pacific and when the townsite was platted he made a visit to the home of Mr. Hall (near \'erdon) for the puqwse of making a division of the lots between Mr. Hall and the railway company. Mr. Hall was away from home at the time and was represented in the division by his son, Thomas L. Hall, now chairman of the Nebraska state railwa\- commission, who was familiar with the lay of the ground, and who proceeded to assist in dividing up the lots. The di\ision was made by each in turn taking a lot, Mr. Hall taking the first and Mr. Schoenheit the second. This procedure was continued to the end. The action <jn the part of the younger Hall was made subject to the approval of his father on his return, and was later ratified by the elder Hall. In 1883 or 1884 the Burlington jjuilt its line down from Xemaha City to Salem and established its depot, which location has remained the same until this day.

now be used in tlie location of depots an<l townsites in tlie state of Nebraska. The state railway commission would not now allow the railroads to become entangled in real-estate deals and locate the depots and arrange station facilities for their sole satisfaction and profit. The public, which patronizes such places, is now considered to have an interest and the same is protected by the commission. In this connection is worthy of note that the commission has compelled the removal and change of several depots in the state of Nebraska that had been located by the railroads without taking into consideration the interest of the community and the traffic in each particular community in locating the roads, or rather the depots, on account of some real-estate entanglement. This was true of Gering, I'^linchville, Gandy and a number of other places, so it is said.

Verdon is just one of those little centers which serves its own particular community and is typically representative of a great class of this size towns in the county and state. There are those who believe that it is much lietter to have a great number of small towns serving each community, rather than to have great cities. It tends to better moral and civic conditions in e\ery respect. It tends to a more economic way of living. It tends to prevent people in general from getting the wanderlust. People in the smaller towns are often happier and more contented than those in the larger cities.

Strausville is the youngest village in the county and was laid out b\' its founder, Gustave Strauss, and his wife on land owned by them and bears liis name. It is located on parts of the southeast quarter of section 29 and parts of the southwest cjuarter of section 28 of township 2, north of range 16, Ohio township. The little village, which contains four blocks, was surveyed and platted by M. N. Bair, at that time a resident of Falls City, IVIay i, 1901, but the plat was not filed for record in the register's office at Falls City until June i. 1912. Straussville has always been quite a grain-receiving station fur the farmers in that section and boasts of a store and Iilacksmith shop.