Seward City (part 1 of 2)

Seward City

The county seat and principal city of Seward county, was founded by Lewis Moffitt, and surveyed as a town site in the spring of 1868, by Hon. Thomas Graham. At this time one hewed log cabin graced this beautiful plateau, which was the home of its founder, Mr. Moffitt. Lots were treely offered to those who desired to make improvements. John Roberts, Sr., built the first building for the new town. We well remember passing over the ''site" one morning in June and seeing the pile of lumber lying just where Joel Tishue's store now stands, and how our heart swelled with emotion as we witnessed the signs of the coming birth of a new city; and well do we remember standing in our cabin door and watching frame after frame arise, as they appeared week after week, and rejoicing fo see what we long had waited for; and how exhilarating it seemed as we would leave the field for dinner, and on approaching the house and casting our eyes toward the embryo city, we would exclaim, "Mother, just see, there is another house going up in town." We remember that David Figard helped do the carpenter work on that little store. Beaty & Davis (J. N. Beaty and W. R. Davis) were the pioneer merchants. They sold groceries and dry goods, and were right clever fellows, too; they used to credit us, and then take their pay in butter, eggs, cottonwood lumber, fire wood, and promises, and the promises were the most plenty of any article produced in those days. I shouldn't wonder if they have some of those same promises yet.

J. N. Beaty built the first residence, and if you desire to see it just call at our house some day at dinner time and you will see the same old residence (our dining room). W. R. Davis erected the second where his house now stands, but in the march of progress it has given way for a better one. (Orlando Pierce claims his to be the third house.) Then Dr. Walker and W. H. Tuttle each commenced building about the same time. The Doctor's old house now stands on 4th street, just east of the opera house, and Mr. Tuttle's house was the beginning of what is now the Commercial House, but it was named the Blue Valley House. A public well was dug by E. L. Ellis and paid for by subscription. This old well stood in the center of the square. Some subscribed work, turning windlass, others Cottonwood lumber for curbing. The well was a prime necessity to all the people, but the residents of the town were not able to pay all the cost of the well, and the farmers were invited to chip in, wliich they did freely. At first a bucket and windlass were used, but A. L. Strang, now of Omaha, had settled on section 9, just north of town, and he had secured an agency for the famous Halliday windmill, and he began to talk windmill for the public well. Mr. Strang had already put up one on his farm, which the people were invited to go and examine, and it being the first windmill whose sails were unfurled in all this great region, people were not slow to go and examine its work. The windmill was bargained for, by Mr. Strang being the principal subscriber to the fund. It proved to be ''a thing of beauty and a joy for years."

Will the reader just imagine how things looked around here, with only eight or nine small buildings on the town site, and all the great prairie to the north and west yet almost an unbroken wilderness, with only one low water bridge on Blue river within ten miles (the one where the iron bridge now spans the river) ; not a grove of planted timber or a shrub, except along the water-courses ; not a single legal road yet leading to the town ; with but about five hundred inhabitants in the county, and nearly all of them in the southern half; no church spire yet pointing toward heaven ; only a log school-house,

The spring of 1869 brought recruits. School district No. 9 was organized, and L. G. Johns built a little shanty where Butler block now stands, and the district rented it, and Mr. Johns opened a school in it. Mr. Mauley built three small houses, one for a drug store, one for a hardware store, and one to live in. He painted them red, and that was the first attempt at ** painting the town red." About this time H. L. Boyes & Son got their little mill to grinding grain, after a long and tedious struggle. Their saw-mill had been running the previous season, and had been of great value to the settlement. The grist-mill was a God-send to the village and country, as previous to this we had depended largely on the Camden mill, although it was five miles further from us than Milford mill. Our reasons were that the Camden folks were our last friends, and Milford folks were our rivals, and our prejudice could easily carry us five miles through a blizzard.

We must give an incident of one of our trips to mill. In the summer of 1868 we were on the way to Camden with a load of wheat, and when nearing Clark's branch, two miles below Seward, a peddler came rushing past in a tremendous hurry, fearing, we suppose, that we would get stuck in the mud at the ford, and that he would be hindered. There was a short turn in the road just where it went down the bank, and his ponies gave a sudden spring, and over went the wagon, and Mr. Peddler went sprawling into the soft mud ; his wagon-box burst, and his fine jewelry, dry goods, laces, etc., were in like fix with himself, hopelessly imbedded in the mud. We rushed to his assistance, secured the team, and helped to pick his jewelry, brushes, silks, and linen out of the horrible pit and spread them on the grass, and lamented with him the sad loss, when he finally gave way to grief in the following strain: " Mine Gott ! Vat shall I do? Vat shall I do? I is in debt for dese goots. Mine Gott ! Mine Gott! I goes and gets a rope and hangs mineself. Mine Gott! Mine Gott! " He refused to be comforted, and when we finally left him he was still giving vent to his feelings in loud lamentations. We would like to know whether he found a rope while he was yet in the notion of hanging himself.

north half of the south-west quarter of section 21, town 11, range 3 east, and was made into thirty-two blocks, including the public square, which was dedicated to public uses. Great numbers of the more valuable lots were given away in order to get improvements started. John Roberts received several valuable lots. J. N. Beaty received block 22 entire, for his residence ; W. R. Davis, E. |^ block 23, and the firm also received other valuable lots for business purposes ; Tattle received the quarter block now occujiied by the Commercial House, and many others received lots, and perhaps it is not out of place to mention that W. W. Cox was presented with the lot upon which stands the Butler block, for services rendered in getting Seward started. We wish we had kept that present. Liberality and energy were manifested on every hand, and were more than anything else the cause of the success of the infant city.

The year 1869 gave us quite a number of new citizens and business enterprises. Fred Lankins opened a new general store. Mr. Humphrey put in a stock of drugs, and Mauley a small stock of hardware. Charles Beaty was born in the spring of 1870, and received the gift of a lot, as an inducement to others to be born. Joel Tishue opened his store on the east side of the square. Ewing built a hotel (St. Nicholas) one block south of the square. Beaty and Davis built a new store building (now the harness-shop of Mr. Landes). Several new residences were also built, and the frame school-house. This year brought the Nebraska Atlas, and the Presbyterian church was built. During this summer Wm. C. Cloyd bought of Lewis Moffit the south half of the south half of the north-west quarter of section 21 (40 acres), and laid out Cloyd's Addition. Cloyd platted a great number of business lots on Jackson avenue, surrounded block 35 with business lots facing it, and made a struggle to change the business center to that point, which created strife and contention during that fall and following winter. It was Mr. Cloyd's intention to secure the location of the court-house on block 35, should we ever get the county seat. Mr. C. made a public sale in the fall of 1870, and a large number of lots were sold, at prices ranging from $15 to $30.

In the early spring of 187i James H. Harris, "our one-eyed benefactor," put in his appearance and played a well-devised scheme on the proprietors and citizens. We very much dislike to be obliged in this work to be compelled to say anything that would in the least reflect upon the life and character of the dead, and in this case we will say just as little as is possible for a historian to say and do justice to the subject. Mr. Harris was a brother of the land commissioner of the B. & M. R. R., and about this time our people were much scared on account of a project being sprung to make a railroad town just at the center of the county. With much show of plausibility, Mr. Harris represented himself to be a man of ample means, and that he M^as in position to make Seward or kill it; that he could bring the B. & M. company to Seward or keep it away ; and he worked upon the almost panic-stricken people until they were ready and anxious to do anything to gain his influence and co-operation. The result of the final negotiations was that Mr. Moffit deeded Mr. Harris an undivided one-half of the S. E. quarter of section 20, and also the undivided half of the forty acres north of Cloyd's addition, the only consideration being his influence and an agreement that he should make all public bequests necessary in all public enterprises, and be at all the expense of surveying the same into lots, but we understand that Mrs. Moffit did exact, and obtained, a silk dress pattern. But all this magnificent gift was not enough ; Mr. Roberts must be wrung into the scheme, but he came out pretty well. Mr. H. must have the south eighty of Mr. Roberts' homestead, or half interest in it. A compromise was effected by which the south half of the N. E. quarter of section 20 should in like manner be deeded to him and become a part of the new addition; but Mr. Roberts hardly ever drives a bad bargain, and he will only do it provided Mr. Harris will secure a deed in fee simple of eighty acres where Mr. Roberts lives, Mr. R. to pay only $300 for it. Well, this is all fixed up, but our "benefactor" is not yet satisfied; he wants Mr. Cloyd's interest at other people's expense, and it would take something over $600, and this he did not have, or if he had, he did not propose to use his own money while other people were so ready to do him any kindness. This money must be raised by popular subscription, but the people did not have money. Well, a good note would be taken. So a note of six hundred dol-ars was made and was presented to the business men, while the terrible B. & M. club was held over their heads, and about twenty blockheads, ourself included, signed it. The miserable sell was soon discovered, and there was some very unpretty words used and a great amount of self-abuse indulged in, but the note was in a Lincoln bank and must be paid, or a racket would ensue. Wheu the note became due there was some stubbornness manifest, and a suit was commenced. A large number of the signers were not to be found, and others were financially played out; still there were enough yet to fight, but after comparing notes with one another, ten of us offered to pay $30 each, or $300 in full satisfaction, and accept as our pay the experience.

Well, the large new addition known as Harris, Moffit & Roberts' addition was laid out, which comprises two hundred and eighty acres of land. A great number of our present residents know how valuable that influence has been.

But one good result followed: confidence was restored for a little while, and we all were resting under the impression that we had done something very smart, when all of a sudden we woke up to find that Mr. H. had about the same influence with the B. & M. folks as any other dead-beat; that their road would not touch Seward county, much less Seward. But this much was settled: we had Harris on our hands, and the railroad would not kill us, for it was out of reach-

This year we had the acquisition of the Reporter, quite a goodly number of new buildings, many new people, and in the fall by sharp turns of the wrist we got the county seat. We were naturally gathering force and wealth as the county settled around us, but the progress was slow. Our railroad bond battles occupied our time and thoughts pretty effectually during the first half of 1872, and not much was done while the railroad was an uncertainty.

[Tiie bond fights are discussed in another place, and we pass them here.] When it became a certainty that we were to be blessed with a railroad there was a marked improvement.

We must now go back to 1870 and notice a calamity that befell the town and community. Mr. Boyes' mill had become so loaded with grain, principally grists, that the bottom fell out of it, and the community were surprised one morning to see perhaps a thousand sacks of grain and all the machinery of the mill in the river. This was a sad blow for the owners and for the community, but immediate steps were taken to rebuild the mill, and during the fall everything was set to rights and at work.

Perhaps it is well here to describe the capacity of the water-power of tiie river here. Mr. Boyes informs us that with only eight-foot head they have fifty horse power, and a head of sixteen feet can easily

During the autumn of 1872 there were numerous accessions to our business houses, and great numbers of residences were also added. W. H. Tuttle built a new hotel on the corner of Seward and 8th streets (Park House); many new workshops of various kinds were opened in anticij)ation of the new business when the cars should arrive. A new life was infused into the community, everybody's step was more elastic, all classes of people wore smiles on their faces, property advanced rapidly in value and was ready sale. We were happy in the anticipation of a glorious future.

Just as the sun began to shine out brightly in the early spring of 1873, we were gladdened by the whistle of the locomotive. "Oh! was sound ever so sweet ! " Inasmuch as the situation was discussed in a former chapter we will only add points not mentioned there. We rejoiced that we had a railroad, and it was a great blessing to us, although it cost us a large sum of money, yet it was worth much more to us than the cost. In other words, we made a good bargain, and yet our freight and passenger tariffs were scandalously high. The fare to Lincoln was $1.25, and freight on wheat, our staple product, was fifty-four cents per hundred pounds in car lots to Chicago, and all other rates correspondingly high.

The depot being placed at the foot of the hill, near Boyes' mill, Mr. Boyes thought wise to lay out what should properly have been an addition to Seward, but it was platted as an independent town and named South Seward, and what was still more strange, a margin was left between the new town and the old of sixty feet, which has been known as the " dead line." There were some other peculiarities about the new town. The proprietor carefully left his mill and his own residence outside of the platted town. There was great energy displayed on the part of the proprietor and the new-comers to overshadow the old village. Several grain houses were erected, a mammoth lumber yard (Mohawk) was opened, and a large hotel erected by Geo. Boyes; also great numbers of dwellings; and it having the depot, mill, grain houses, and the great lumber yard, they had some show to rival Seward, but their efforts all proved abortive. Seward was too firmly planted and deep rooted to be overshadowed by a sprout of a summer's growth. South Seward, however, was very tenacious of life, and although her greatness (what she had) and all her expectations were gone, yet she maintained her separate organization for many years, and never united her destinies with the city until May 30th, 1885, when she became attached, "dead-line" and all, to the city, and henceforth she is a part of our city.

Having noted in the "Reminiscences" the more important events in the growth and advancement, and as there are special chapters on the more noteworthy institutions of the city, and on the city government, which will comprise as much of interest as it would be possible to crowd into the limited space, we refer the reader to the interesting chapters furnished by able pens of the history of our churches, schools, G. A. R. post, Odd Fellows, and Masons; also chapters on post-office, agricultural society, etc., etc., and finally the closing chapter on Seward as we see it January 1, 1888.

Incorporation Of Seward As A Village

Occurred in the first days of April, 1870. (The records are conflicting: in one place they say April 2d, and in another they say April 5th.) The county commissioners passed an order as the statute provides declaring the village incorporated, and Dr. L. Walker, F. F. Larkins, W. R. Davis, Geo. Crumb, and Sara Manly were appointed trustees, and O. T. B. Williams, attorney for the corporation.

June 5, 1871, we find S. E. Ewing and Wm. Olmstead on the board, but can find no record of their election. We also find W. B. Thorpe, clerk, L. Parish, marshal, H. A. Lewis, treasurer, H. P. Kennard, assessor, and Thomas Darnall, attorney. Street commissioner, E. W. Clinton.

May 10, 1872, L. G. Johns, W. H. Tuttle," V. Daniels, Sam Stevenson, and H. Diers took the oath of office as trustees, and at their first meeting O. T. B. Williams was elected clerk, Geo. Whiting, marslial, and I. B. Compton, fire warden. O. T. B. Williams was also elected assessor.

September 24, 1873, ordinance No. 28, organizing Seward as a city of the second class, was oifered by T. L. Norval and adopted, and an election was ordered for October 18, 1873, for city officers. At said election A. Castle was elected mayor, W. R. Davis, police judge, J. W. McCabe, marshal, T. L. Norval, clerk, Y. Daniels, city engineer, and W. B. Thorpe, treasurer. Thos. Graham and A. J. Combs, council men in 1st ward, and Wra. Leese and J. R. Paul in the 2d ward.

Feb, 17th, a resolution of inquiry in regard to protection from fire was passed, in which they required of J. N. Edwards that he furnish information about the cost of a dozen rubber buckets, 48 feet of ladder, and some other tools, etc.

At the April election of 1875 the following persons were elected to fill the various offices: Ed. Mclntyre, mayor; S. B. Mills, judge; W. B. Thorpe, treasurer; T. L. Norval, clerk; J. W. Gladwish,

April 8, 1876, the following persons were declared elected city officers: I. B. Sarter, mayor; Thos. Osborne, marshal; F. H. Newton, clerk; William Leese, police judge; E. A. Polly, city engineer; W. B. Thorpe, treasurer; James Reed, councilman tor 1st ward; J. F. Goehner, councilman for 2d ward.

In 1883, Whitcomb was for the third time elected mayor; clerk, A. J. Callender; treasurer, J. N. Edwards; councilmen, John Mulfinger and John Zimmerer.

In 1884, mayor, W. R. Davis; clerk, C. S. Ailing; treasurer, J. N. Edwards; police judge, Frank P. Pingree; councilmen, Samuel Welch and T. E. Sanders.

In 1864, 1865, and 1866, the settlers of this vicinity got their mail in a sort of hap hazard way. Some of it was directed to Camden, some to Lancaster, and some to Nebraska City, and perhaps some to Plattsmouth ; and it was the custom for every person visiting any of the offices to enquire for all the neighborhood.

In the winter of 1866-67 the citizens met and consulted about getting a post-office. It was urged that Lewis Moffitt ought to take the office, as he lived on the prospective town site, but he declined the honor, and the settlement was nonplussed and did not know just what to do.

During that winter the writer took it into his head that he would try and find a solution to the question, and wrote to our delegate in congress (John Taffe) and begged him to go over to the department and secure the appointment of Lewis Moffit as postmaster for Seward, Neb., which he immediately proceeded to do, and all of a sudden Mr. Moffitt received his appointment. He felt sold, but it would not do to back square out, so he qualified and accepted the inevitable ; ^nd when he fully realized the munificent salary of $1 per month or twelve dollars year he became fully reconciled. Now we had a post-office, but no mail route. Government allowed two dollars per quarter for mail service, but men were not quite so anxious for place then as now, and we had to hold out other and better inducements. So we made up a pony purse sufficient to pay one dollar and fifty cents per week, and hired E. L. Clark, a one-armed soldier, to make the trip once a week to Camden at the freight road. Mr. Clark made his trips on foot and carried the mail in an old haversack, so we were pretty well supplied with mail facilities, but it cost many of us pretty dearly. Mr. Moffitt retained the office until July, 1868, when he resigned his lucrative trust to W. R. Davis. Mr. Davis held the office in the store of Beaty and Davis. His salary was twelve dollars per year at first, but under fine manipulation an advance to twenty-five dollars was soon secured. At that time the pay of the postmaster was gauged by the amount of postage sold, and friend Davis urged everbody to take just as many postage stamps as possible in the way of change, etc. He had to make a good showing and he did. Postage stamps were good property and everybody had plenty of them.

Our first government mail route was established in July, 1869, between here and Lincoln, via the Oak Groves. At first it was a weakly concern, and within the following year it became a semiweekly, and finally a tri-weekly. Some said it was tri-weekly because they tried every week to get mail through but frequently failed. Mr. Davis retained the office until the spring of 1871, when he resigned and E. L. Clark secured the appointment. The salary had advanced to fifty dollars per year under Mr. Davis' administration, and his last quarter had shown such an increase of business that the salary was raised to $240 per year, and in 1872 it was further advanced to |.320. L. G. Johns was appointed in January, 1873, and held the office until January, 1877. His salary was increased by degrees until it reached $1,300 per annum and $240 per year for clerk hire. When he took possession there was one daily mail from Lincoln. During 1873 railroad mail service was introduced. There were established during his administration star routes as follows: To York, tri-weekly; Crete to Columbus, tri-weekly ; Orton and Stromsburg, semi-weekly; Seward and Dorchester, tri-weekly.

Money order office was established in July, 1872. The largest money order business was done in 1873, prior to the opening of our first bank.

When Mr. Johns took possession the fixtures of the office consisted of a desk and a case of pigeon-holes worth about $20. He placed about $300 worth of fixtures in the office.

Redford received his appointment in January, 1877, and held the place about four years, when Chas. Vanpelt received the appointment, in 1881. During Mr. V.'s tenure the Morris keyless lock was introduced into the office. During his term the salary was at the maximum, or $1,700 per annum, where it remains to the present.

John Kittle received his appointment July 1, 1885. Star routes all closed. Six daily mails, and arrangements nearly perfected for two more. Present value of lixtures, about $2,000, having just put in a new and most complete outfit of improved Morris lock boxes, which is said lo be one of the finest in the West. Box rent now amounts to $170 per qiiarter. Money order business is about $2,000 per quarter.

Thus we have endeavored to trace as nearly as possible, step by step, our post-office business and mail service, through all its stages from the beginning of our settlement here until the present.

The first office was established at the old Camden bridge, just by the south line of the county and at the forks of the river, at the old ranch, in 1863.

AVe now have eleven offices, viz. : Seward, Milford, Pleasant Dale, Ruby, Germantowu, Tamora, Utica, Staplehurst, Orton, Marysville, Beaver Crossing, and three new offices that will come into existence ere this will be read, viz.: *'B," Goehner, and Hunkins, each on the Y., E. & M. Y. road.

First Sabbath-School In Seward

In the month of May, 1866, a union Sabbath-school was organized at the log cabin of Lewis Moffitt. The families engaged in the enterprise were Grandfather Imlay's, Rev. E. L. Clark's, R. T. Gale's, Wm. Imlay's, Mr. Moffitt's, and W. W. Cox's. We believe this was the first Sabbath -school between Lancaster (Lincoln) and Denver. The school was a success and produced excellent results. Previous to this, meetings for Bible reading had been held at the diffiirent houses in the neighborhood.

There are now in the county about thirty Sabbath-schools in flourishing condition. Most of them have good libraries and nearly all of them maintain their schools all the year.

Temperance Work

Temperance work commenced at a very early day in the history of Seward county. As early as J 869 a lodge of Good Templars was organized in the old school-house, and flourished for a number of years, exerting a wide and salutary influence, especially on the younger people. We remember that many people were regular attendants who lived from seven to ten miles distant. About the same date there was a lodge instituted at Milford. In 1874 a lodge of Sons of Temperance was started and did good work, which was followed by another Good Templars' lodge.

In 1874 the women's crusade was made, and created a wide interest. Many of the best Christian ladies of the city united in their efforts to suppress the liquor traffic, by visiting daily the saloons and earnestly pleading with the saloon-keepers and their customers. These ladies would fervently pray with these abandoned men, and implore them in the name of their divine Master to abandon their ungodly ways, and lead better lives. These efforts were persevered in for about six weeks, and exerted a good influence. It was sowing good seed, and it did not all fall on stony places, but some found lodgment in good ground and is bringing forth good fruit.

In 1872, after a night's carousal on the part of a number of men^ they were suddenly awakened by a sense of their own shame, and they agreed with one another that that night's debauch should be their last, and they bound themselves by a most solemn oath, which was attested by an officer with his official signature, in which they pledged not only their sacred honor but their solemn oath that they would forever abstain from the use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage. This same document emerged from that place the next morning to be signed by the peo])le in sympathy with the movement, and was signed by a large number of people, and we are happy to say that we believe that many have sacredly kept that oath, and it happily proved to be a good turn in the lives of some who may be counted among our best citizens. It is our pleasure to have the custody of that old document.

Tiie Good Templars did a noble work for many years, and in 1876 the Temple of Honor was instituted, and created a sensation, and was the means of much good for a year or more. Internal dissensions caused its early demise and cut short a life that promised valuable service in the temperance work of the community. Very many were rescued and many saved from falling by the Temple of Honor.. Other attempts were made later to revive the Temple and rebuild- its broken walls, but a deep-seated prejudice so filled the minds of the people that the uew organization failed to aceomj)lish its purpose. A Red Ribbon club was organized by the lamented John B. Finch, in 1879, and secured a very large membership, and was a power in Seward for a year or more. The Good Templars' lodge was again organized and flourished for a year, and was followed by the Women's Christian Temperance Union and the Young Women's Christian Temperance Union. Of these the reader will learn more from a chapter devoted to their work, furnished by their order, as their organization is yet a working force. A Proiiibition club was organized about 1883, and a Reform club was organized by C. J. Holt in 1885. The Reform club work is remembered by our people for grand work and grand results. They secured columns in the city papers and published many productions on different phases of temperance work, and together with the lectures and discussions at their weekly meetings were instrumental in doing much good.

The wiser political economists have concluded that the best interests of the whole people demand that the farm and the workshop should be as nearly side by side as possible. Where the crude material is grown or digged, there it should be wrought into proper shape for the use of man. Here in Seward county are countless millions of material that needs to be transformed into products of use and luxury. The cattle grazing upon a thousand hills call for dairy products and packing-houses, tanneries, and soap factories. Our sheep call for carding machines, spinning-jennies, and cloth factories, and tailoring establishments. Our hogs are inviting packing-houses. Our flax demands oil mills, and twine mills, and rope factories. Our huo-e straw stacks speak loudly in behalf of paper mills. Our illimitable corn fields are a standing invitation to more and more feeders corn starch factories, hominy mills, etc. Our inexhaustible soils, rich in all ingredients favorable for the production of vegetables and fruits of the best, call for more canning establishments.

but we have only commenced, and it seems to us to be no stretch of the imagination when we venture the prediction that ere the close of the century we may liave a hundred manufacturing establishments within the city. At present we have six arms of railway reaching in as many directions, and a certain promise of more in the near future. We are happily situated iu the midst of the finest fields for the production of raw material in the West, and with such grand facilities for reaching out to the world's markets, nothing should hinder the investment of capital in these enterprises.

Sea7Ard Schools

The first school-house built on the town site was the frame house that is now the residence of Hugh Htinter, and it stood on same ground now occupied by the high school building. The schools, previous to the fall of 1870, were taught iu the old log cabin, in the winter of 1866-67 by W. W. Cox, and in the following summer by S. C. Ross, and by Miss Ella Tuttle (now Mrs. Martin Liggett, of Broken Bow) iu 1868. In the summer of 1869 the old cabiu was moved away, and what was known as the old sway-back house, on the site of H. Vanderhoof's house, was rented, and Miss Mattie Boyes (now Mrs. Kellogg Olmstead, of Orleans, Neb.) taught. Then L. G. Johns taught in a little building where Butler's block now stands; also, Miss McKillip (now Mrs. L. G. Johus) taught in the same place.

H. M. Coleman taught the first term in the frame school-house, and was followed by J. D. Messenger. Prof. O. S. Ingham taught several terms of a private school iu the old court-house, in 1872; also, Miss Ella Benson (now Mrs. C. L. Lewis, of Rapid City, D. T.) taught one or two terms in the same place, and this lady was afterwards employed in the various departments of the schools for twelve consecutive years.

The high school building was erected in 1874, and Prof. Ingham was principal for two years, with three assistants - Mrs. Paddock, Mrs. Merrill (now of California), and Miss Benson. The principals since that date have been: - . Phillips, H. H. Wilson, J. M. Scott, H. Cummings, W. J. Wise, and N. F. Daum.

they have also added to the high school building so that it has near double its original capacity. The building is amply supplied with all modern apparatus and improvements. It requires twelve teachers to manage the various departments of the schools. Ten respectable classes have graduated from the high school. The present cost of maintaining the schools is about $5,600 per annum. The attendance has increased through the years from 32 to about 500, and is still rapidly increasing.

Some of the more distinguished members of the school board through the years were - Claudius Jones, R. S. Nerval, H. L. Boyes, G. Babson, Jr., Mrs. E. M. Spear, Mrs. S. C. Langworthy.

From the able corps of teachers that have helped to build our schools, and that have finished their work, we mention A. A. Dershimer, who died at his post, and the noble and intelligent Miss Birge, of Milford, and Miss June Taylor.

Seward As We See It January 1, 1888

Beautiful city ! She that has been celebrated in poetrv and songas the "sleeping beauty of the Blue valley" has awakened to a new life. She has awakened from her restful sleep refreshed and streuo-th ened, and to-day she sits a " very queen" upon this commandino- hill overlooking vast stretches of scenery most magnificent, witli the meandering river gently gliding by her feet and stretching from away in the northward to the southward, marked by its long line of timber in graceful curves, loops, and bows, singing in its ripples a sweet song of her power to turn the wheels of mills and factories as she wends her way toward the sunny south ; Plum creek, coming from the north-east, adding a charm as it winds among the beautiful farms and meadows, with its clusters of timber and varied landscapes - and from the north-west comes that grand stream, with name immortal Lincoln creek, through "verdant fields," a "very paradise."

Here she sits rejoicing in the richness and splendor of the surroundings. These lands, rich in verdure, rich in all things necessary to make happy homes, orchards, meadows, and fruitful fields, rich in the "cattle upon a thousand hills," rich in hogs and horses rich in its pure, sweet water and running streams, rich in railways and all the means of an extended commerce, rich in factories and workshops rich in merchant princes, rich in churches with their spires pointing to the only better land, rich in schools and all opportunities for niental culture and advancement, and "last, but not least," rich in strong arms and brave hearts, ready and willing to pursue in the pathway of progress and achievement.

In the blazing light of the electric torch we may count to-night near three thousand souls within the city, and quite a large number in its immediate environs, which will soon become a part of the city. Forty substantial brick business houses grace our streets, many of which would be a credit to the largest cities. Three great lines of railway reaching in six directions, and making accessible to us the whole business of the world - the silks and teas of the Orient, the fruits of the Occident, the gold, silver, and rich gems of the mountains, the products of the great plains, the factories of New England, and all the vast and varied interests of our great country. Three lines of telegraph bearing to us on lightning's wing words of hope and cheer from all lands. A telephone through which we may talk to one another and to a hundred cities beside. An electric light to brighten our pathway. Well may we exclaim in the language of the old prophet, "Our light is come and the glory of God is risen upon us."

Our Morris keyless lock factory, one of the most extensive manufactuiing institutions in the West, and the most national in its character of any lactory in Nebraska, in fact we may say the field of its operations is the world. Its trade will soon reach into all lands, even to the islands of the sea. It is a matter of pride that the inventor of the lock is a citizen of Seward. Our oat meal mill, with its capacity of a hundred barrels of meal per day and using a thousand bushels ot oats per day, freighting in and out from six to eight hundred car loads of grain and products per year. Our canning establishment, with its enormous capacity for using vegetables and storing them up for winter food for tens of thousands, and giving a grand market for the produce of the farms and gardens, and giving out labor for hundreds of men, women, and children. A machine shop and foundry of large capacity, a creamery, four banks, with a multitude of mercantile establishments in all the various lines of trade, with one of the best hotels in the West, ''The AViudsor," and several smaller ones, and numerous boarding houses, six restaurants, and nearly a hundred workshops, large and small, including factories, etc., etc.

We mention blacksmiths, wagon makers, wire fence, tailoring, dress makers, millinery, cigars, broom makers, tinners, barbers, carpenters, newspapers, butchers, photographs, etc. With one of the best graded schools of our state, with a fine structure for the high school, seven departments, and four primary buildings, and employing twelve teachers. With eight church edifices, with large congregations of worshipers and flourishing Sabbath-schools. A magnificent Odd Fellows hall, a good opera house, three weekly newspapers, an excellent flouring mill, many splendid residences and beautiful yards, splendid streets, and handsome parks, all amply supplied with trees and shrubs lending their enchantment and refreshing shade.

During the year just closed the growth in population and improvement has been wonderful. Her waste places have been made glad by the accession of a splendid new railroad, of three great new factories, of a host of new buildings, several almost princely dwellings, one grand church, a great host of new people, and best of all a perfect restoration of confidence, and closing the old year with the electric torch - a grand triumph. We close this sketch of this beautiful city, our home, feeling the inspiration of our hope, always buoyant, now doubly sure that the possibilities of Seward are grand.

Source changes here: from History of Seward County, Nebraska, and Reminiscenses of Territorial History, by Cox, William Wallace, published 1905; 6,697 words in this source stream.

Seward City

Seward is not a great city and makes no pretentions in that line, but among the many beautiful cities of Nebraska that are doing nobly, Seward stands without a rival in its class as a city of beautiful homes and of substantial wealth. Nearly every business interest of the city is housed in good substantial brick structures built on modern plans. The streets cross at right angles and are broad and clean. The drainage is as near perfect as nature could make it. The city stands upon a broad plateau sloping westward, southward and eastward. Blue river, with its beautiful fringes of timber forms the w^estern and southern boundary, and Plum creek forms the eastern boundary. Lincoln creek, grand and beautiful, joins the river just at the west line of the city and materially helps to form a grand panorama. On this commanding ground the city stands in a place of scenic beauty , overlooking these streams as they meander through verdant fiekls forming graceful curves and semicircles. The city is -nicely shaded throughout with handsome trees. Splendid brick sidewalks grace nearly all streets, there being now over ten miles of these walks that would be an ornament to a city of a hundred thousand people. Nearly all the residence streets are neatly parked along the walks.

About fifty commodious brick structures adorn the business streets where every mercantile interest is represented. Three lovely parks furnish ample play grounds for the people where rest and shade are attractions. These, be- sides the fair grounds, known as the finest and best improved of any in the west. These with scores of palatial residences adorning every street;. with gardens of transcendent beauty, with nine churches where the good people may worship, with her splendid high school and growing college, with her great mills, and last but not least, her new grand court house that will adorn our public square. With her excellent water and water system, and her electric light plant, with her perfect telephone system. Her well kept publi ; library and thousand other conveniences, with ten daily mails and ten regular passenger trains, and ten regular fr'-' rht trains reaching out in six directions, with twenty-five li dred prosperous and happy people, making Seward ke an "apple of gold set in a picture of silver."

It is an ideal home place, growing more and more ^ tiful as the years roll on, surrounded by a farming cot equal to the best on this green earth. She will grow in - portance through all the years to come. She that was known in other years as the ' 'sleeping beauty of the Blue valley" has thoroughly awakened and is now known as ^ most busy sparkling gem of these western prairies.

Seward Schools Our Old Log School House

Away back in 1866 when this land of our was yet new and while Seward had not yet been named, a few" pioneers decided that a school was a necessity. Our district was yet without a number and its boundaries were quite indefinite. Its eastern boundary was the east line of the county, its northern and western boundaries were the channel of the Platte river and the southern boundary was a matter of contention between we people and the settlement at Milford. Some portions of our district did not take much interest in our school house or our school. The three or four ranchmen along the Platte seemed quite indifferent. The one settler at the Oak Grove, John Scott, had not heard of the arrangement, and those fellows away down the river were looking for something nearer home. So we only had help from those living within a radius of about five miles. The interested parties consisted of thirteen familes scattered along Plum Creek, Lincoln Creek and the Blue. A school meeting was called late in the summer of 1866. We met on the prairie near Mrs. Spears' present home. We had no school officers, no school fund, no money and no credit.

We voted no bonds, but we voted a school house. We taxed ourselves each four round logs to be delivered on the ground. Lewis Mottit taxed himself one acre of ground, worth a dollar and a quarter, and we taxed ourselves with the necessary labor to construct the edifice. We searched our premises to find a few 8x10 window glass and a few rough boards to construct a door and a few benches. We made w^ooden hinges to hang the door. We used the virgin prairie sod for a ttoor. We cut willows along the river to cover the structure, then we ploughed sod with which to shingle it, and soon we rejoiced that we had a place to send our children to school, and that we had a meeting house, a court house, and an election booth all our own and not a cent in debt. This log shanty served a noble purpose for several years and until the village was on a footing to grapple with something better.

The first term of school was commenced in early November and ended into a violent blizzard in January, 1867. There were thirty-two scholars in attendance. As a matter of curiosity we will mention their names as far as memory serves us. Miss Sarah Imlay, later Mrs. A. Anderson, Josephine Imlay, now Mrs. J. Williams, Addison and D. M. Imley, John Clark, .Tames Jasper, Marrian and Douglas Roberts, Mary Moftitt, now Mrs. D. P. Imlay, Elsie Clark, now Mrs. C. Boyes, Mirum Clark, now Mrs. Stubb, Moulton and Victor Clark, Leroy Moffitt, Fred Garner, Kate J. Cox, now Mrs. J. A. Ruly, Nettie M. Cox, later Mrs. F. Pingree, Rolla Cooper, Lucy Clark, two other Cooper boys, names forgotten. The balance of the little flock are lost to us in the hurrying crowds of the world. Many of that company have gone to their long home, yet it is a source of pride and pleasure that so many scholars that waded snow drifts across bleak prairies that dreadful winter to that humble cabin, have made honorable marks in the world. Among them we count two ministers, four business men, two successful teachers, both gone to their reward, one doctor, some good farmers, some noble mothers and some grand mothers. We are glad tiiat we had the honor of being the first teacher in the long line of honorable men and women who have led the youth of our community along the plain to higher ground.

As stated in the above, the old log cabin served the people until the fall of 1870. x\Ir. Cox was succeeded by S. C. Ross and Miss Ella Tuttle, now Mrs. Martin Ligett. Then the old cabin was pulled down and moved away, and what was known for years as the old sway backed house, which occupied the lot where H. Vanderhoof 's house now stands, was rented and Miss Mattie Boyes, now Mrs. K. 01mstead, taught. Next L. G. Johns built a little building on Butler l:loca- cDri^or and taught and was followed by Miss McKillip, now Mr. Johns' good wife.

school house on the grounds now. occupied by the high school buildings and H. M. Coleman taught the first term in it, and was followed by J. D. Messenger. About this time Prof. O. S. Ingham taught several terms of private school in the old court house, and was followed by Miss Ella Benson, now Mrs. C. L. Lewis. This lady was employed in various departments in our schools twelve consecutive years. The old high school building (brick) was erected in 1874 and Prof. Ingham was principal for two years with Mrs. A. S. Padock, Mrs. Merrill and Miss Benson as assistants. Since that time (1876) the following persons have superintended the schools: Mr. Phillips, H. H. Wilson, J. M. Scott, H. Cummins, W. J. Wise, N. P. Daun, J. F. Burkett. J. S. Van Eaton, W. W. Stoner and P. C. Williams.

Among the noble teachers that finished their work and gone to their reward were, A. A. Dershimer, Miss Berge, Miss June Taylor and Miss Nettie M. Cox.

The board of education soon found a lack of room for the growing school and added a large addition to the high school building, and added from time to time frame buildings for the lower grades until they had five of these frame buildings in different parts of the city. In 1904 these frame structures were disposed of and a large new brick was erected at a cost of thirteen thousand dollars. It is a beautiful structure, built on modern plans with all useful furnishings. It contains one audience room with seating capacity for five hundred guests. It was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies in September, 1904. This is considered one of the finest school buildings in the state. In 1888 there had been ten classes graduated and at that time the cost of maintainance was $5,600 per annum. In 1905 they graduated the 23d class. The present corps of teachers are 13; scholars enrolled in 1905, is about 500. Cost of maintainance in 1904 was about $9,000.

The school is progressive and ranks high among the schools of the state. Among the many prominet members of the school boards of the past, Claudius Jones, H. L. Boyes, G. Babson, all now dead, and R. S. Norval, Mrs. S. C. Langworthy, Mrs. E. M. Spear, A. J. Calender, andD. C.

In 1H64, lH6r>, 1H60, the settlers of this vicinity s:ot their mail in a sort of a hap-hazard way. Some of it was directed to Camden, some to Lancaster, some to Nebraska City, and perhaps some to Plattsmouth; and it was the custom for ev

In the winter of 1866-67, the citizens met and consulted about getting a postoffice. It was urged that Lewis Moffitt ought to take the office as he lives on the prospective town site, but he declined the honor, and the settlement was nonplussed and did not know just what to do.

During the winter the writer took it into his head that he would try to lind a solution to the question, and wrote to our delegate in congress (John Taffe) and begged him to go over to the department and secure the appointment of Lewis Moffitt as postmaster for Seward, Nebr., which he immediately proceeded to do, and a'l of a sudden Mr. Moffitt received his appointment. He felt sold, but it would not do to back square out, so he qualified and accepted the inevitable; and when he fully realized the munificent salary of $1 per month or twelve dollars per year, he became fully reconciled. Now we had a postoffine but no mail route. The government allowed two dollars per quarter for mail service, but men were not quite so anxious for place then as now, and we had to hold out other and better inducements. So we made up a pony purse sufficient to pay one dollar and fifty cents per week, and hired E. L. Clark, a one-armed soldier, to make the trip once a week to Camden at the freight road. Mr. Clark made his trips on foot and carried the mail in an old haversack, so we were pretty well supplied with mail, but it cost many of us pretty dearly. Mr. Moffitt retained the office until July, 1868, when he resigned his lucrative trust to W. R. Davis. Mr. Davis held the office in the store of Beaty & Davis. His salary was twelve dollars per year at first, but under fine manipulation an advance to twenty-five dollars was soon secured. At that time the pay of the postmaster was gauged by the amount of postage sold, and friend Davis urged every one to take just as many postage stamps as possible in the way of change, etc. He had to make a good showing, and he did. Postage stamps were good property and everybody had plenty of them.

Our first government mail route was established in July, 1869, between here and Lincoln, via the Oak Groves. At first it was a weekly concern, and within the following year it became a semi-weekly, and finally a tri-weekly. Some said it was a tri-weekly because they tried every week to get mail through but frequently failed. Mr. Davis retained the office until the spring of 1871, when he resigned and E. L. Clark secured the appointment. The salary had advanced to fifty dollars per year under Mr. Davis' administration, and his last quarter had shown such an increase of business that the salary was raised to $240 per year, and in 1H72 it was further advanced to $320. L. G. Johiis was appointed in January, 1873, and held the office until January, 1877. His salary was increased by degrees until it reached $1300 per annum and $240 per year for clerk hire. When he took possession, there was only one daily mail from Lincoln. During 1873, railroad mail service was introduced. There were established during his administration, star routes as follows: to York, tri-weekly; Crete to Columbus, tri-weekly; Orton and Stromsburg, semi- weekly; Seward and Dorchester, triweekly.

Money order office was established in July, 1872. The largest money order business was done in 1873, prior to the opening of our first bank.

When Mr. Johns took possession, the fixtures of the office consisted of a desk and a case of pigeon holes worth about $20. He placed $300 worth of fixtures in the office.

Redford received his appointment in January 1877, and held the place about four years, when Chas. Vanpelt received the appointment, in 1881. During Mr. V's tenure, the Morris keyless lock was introduced into the office. During his term the salary was at its maximum; or $1700 per annum.

John Kettle received his appointment July 1, 1885. Star routes all closed. Six daily mails and arrangements nearly perfected for two more. Value of fixtures, about $2,000 having just put in a new and complete outfit of improved Morris lock boxes, which is said to be one of the finest in the west. Box rent amounts to $170 per quarter. Money order business is about $2,000 per quarter.

E. A. Polley succeeded Mr. Kettle in 1889 and C. S. Al ling succeeded Polley in 1893. Died in ofltice and was succeeded by Joseph Dupin in the summer of 1894, and in 1897, P. G. Simmons succeeded Dupin, and he resigned in February, 1900, and Wm. Royer, the present incumbent, was appointed in April, 1900. Seward is now served with ten mails six days in the w^eek and four on Sunday. There are at the present writing six rural routes" out of Seward. There are nineteen in the county. The county has twelve postofftces. Seward is yet in the list of third class offices, but almost ready to enter the second class list. Her showing of business during 1904 was $6,594.80, and only lacking less than $1,500 to place it on the second class list. Salary now paid the postmaster is $1,800, with office rent, fuel and lights furnished. The government pays $450 per annum rent with fuel and lights. Box rent collected in 1904 was $493.23. Money orders sold in 1904 were 6,595, aggregating approximately $20,000.

The rural routes have a tendency to cut down receipts from box rent. During the fall of 1904, the location of the office was changed to new and more commodious quarters. Nasby used to have much to say about the postoffice at the corners, but Sew^ard can talk about her postoffice on the alley. The present quarters are quite an improvement on the old, yet it is nothing for our flourishing city to be proud of. The room is cramped and narrowly constructed to say the least: It is not up to the needs of a growing and prosperous city like this. The office at Milford, probably less than half the patronage of this, maintains an office that would make any citizen of Seward ashamed of his town, or rather his postoffice at the alley. What Seward needs and is fully entitled to is a government postoffice built on modern plans, with rooms and fixtures commensurate with the growing needs of this wide-awake community, and we deem it high time for the citizens to take this important matter in hand and see that our congressman "gets a move on himself." The large towns have been most wonderfully provided for. Now it is about time that the county towns of the country should have a hand in the creek.

The amount of money spent on that great castle in Omaha would put a very respectable office building in every county seat in Nebraska. The time has fully come when the country people should let congress know that they have some rights that should be respected.

The first office was established at the old Camden bridge just by the south line of the county, and at the forks of the river, at the old ranch, in 1863.

Thus we have endeavored to trace as neatly as possible, step by step, our postoffice business and mail service through all its stages from the beginning of our settlement here until the present time.

We would not have the reader understand that we are casting any reflection upon the owner of our postoffice building, but the narrow policy of the postoffice department in dealing with small cities.

German Normal School

German Evangelical Lutheran Teachers' Seminary of Seward, Nebraska, was founded in the spring of 1894. Some of the enterprising German American citizens, led by such men as Herman Diers, J. F. Goehner and O. E. Bernecker, determined that it was the right thing to do to build an institution of learning where their children could have an opportunity of a classical education, and especialliT^ an education as would qualify the young people for teachers.

The school was organized under the control of the Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other states. Twenty acres of beautiful land was secured by the citizens of Se- ward just to the northeast and adjoining the city, where a very commodious and creditable brick building was erected and ready for the opening of school in the autumn of 1894.

The first board of directors were Rev. J. Hilgendorf, John F. Goehner, Herman Diers and O. E. Bernecker. Herman Diers became treasurer. The present board consists of Rev. C. H. Becker, Rev. H. Miesoler, of Columbus, Neb., Herman Diers, J. F. Goehner and O. E. Bernecker, with Herman Diers, treasurer.

The main building is of brick on a, stone foundation, 43x70 feet and three stories above the basement. A dormatory annex 32x32, a substantial two-story frame structure. The school opened with an enrollment of but sixteen students, but it was destined to grow and it has grown from year to year. In 1904, or in just ten years, it numbered eighty-four students, twenty-one of which graduated in the class of 1904. The students of 1904 came from the following states: Nebraska 96, low^a 6, Kansas 5, Missouri 2, Colorado 1, Wyoming 1.

Professor Geo. Weller has been principal from the beginning, and has associated with him for the last two years, Prof. Geo. Ritzmann, and also for the last year. Prof. F. Strieker. Thus far the school has been preparatory to the Adison Normal School of Illinois, but is designed in the near future to extend the course of instruction to that of a full normal course. Thus far the school has been ably con- ducted and made very successful under the able corps of instructors and wise and generous management of the directors. .It is the design to expend about $35,000 in new buildings within the next two years.

There is much here to encourage a rapid growth in this institution whose foundation has been so well and firmly laid in this rich soil. The denomination has a very strong hold in Nebraska and especially in Seward county, where they have twelve large congregations of thrifty people. We can see in this institution in the years to come, one of the great rich institutions of which our country is so proud. We are informed that the English language holds the most prominent place in the course of study. German and Latin take next rank. All the branches of the normal course, also music, are taught. We are proud of this good beginning and have abiding faith that it will, in the years to come, grow and prosper and be a great blessing to our people, shedding beams of light to brighten the lives of our young people and prepare them for honorable positions in life. We hope that every good intelligent citizen of the county may at all times lend a helping hand and words of encouragement to this grand undertaking.

Seward City Water Works

At a meeting of the city council, held July 25, 1889, notices were ordered of an election to be held on the 19th day of August, 1889, for the purpose of voting for or against a proposition of issuing thirty thousand dollars of six per cent twenty year bonds, payable at option of the city at any time after five years from date of issue, and to bear date of Sep. 16, 1889. The proposition also provided that the city authorities should levy an annual tax upon the property of the city to pay the interest upon the bonds and also to provide a sinking fund for the liquidation of said bonds; the money obtained from the sale of the bonds to be used for

The election took place on the 19th day of August, 1889, and resulted in a majority for the bonds of two hundred and seventy-two, there being only forty-seven votes against the proposition. The bonds were issued bearing date of Sep. 16, 1889, sixty in number of $500 eacii, with twenty, six per cent couiDons attached. They were sold to Stull Brothers for a premium of eighty -one dollars.

Now with $30,081 cash capital, the council proceeded to business and made contracts as follows, all within a few weeks. First contract was let to A. F. Cook for the sinking of two two-hundred-foot wells for $1200 each, with a proviso that contractor was to have two dollars per foot for each additional foot. He guaranteed one hundred thousand gallons of water for each well every twenty-four hours. Next was let to Tamaqua Mfg. Co. for forty-eight hydrants at $29 each. The third contract was awarded Brownell & Co. for two boilers at $1380.

Now the real trouble begins. Many attempts to secure an amx^le supply of water failed. A deep well was put down near the standpipe, six hundred and ten feet deep, but no water supply was obtained. Then a well was sunk down near the P. E. & M. V. tracks, Which for a time promised well. Good buildings were erected there and all the machinery was set in motion; but soon the water failed. Then experiments were resorted to by sinking many wells and drawing the water to a common center. The standpipe was completed and four and one-half miles of mains were laid, and a mass of first class machinery was placed, and the water works were very complete, but where, Oh, where was the water!

After many years of trouble and vast expenditure of means, the present great well was sunk in 1901, and happily at last an abundant supply of most excellent water was reached. The water works proper have cost the city something over thirty-three thousand dollars, but the water has cost over forty thousand dollars additional.

The system is now very complete with a capacity of over a million gallons of the best water per day. The sale of water to citizens now pays running expenses and very nearly pays the interest on the outstanding bonded indebtedness. Two thousand dollars of the bonds are taken up, and between forty and fifty thousand dollars additional expenditures are all paid. Seward now is proud of the magnificent plant and its supply of clear cold water.

Electric Light Plant Of Seward

In 1888, an electric light plant was first installed in our city, and was probably an up-to-date plant for that day. It was a private corporation, and like all such concerns, it ran the machine for the money in sight and did not render satisactory service. This caused a deep seated feeling on the part of the more progressive citizens that the city should own and operate its own plant in the interest of the people. This culminated in a proposition to issue city bonds in the sum of seven thousand dollars. This action was ratified by the voters of the city on the 28th of August, 1903, when three and one-half per cent bonds were issued. At the same time there was a fund of thirty-five hundred dollars in the treasury and it was found entirely practical to utilize the city water plant so far as the buildings, boilers and pumps were concerned, and thus save something like five thousand dollars of outlay. The plant was so far completed that the new plant was installed in the spring of 1904.

The total cost of the plant aside from the machinery of the water works was twelve thousand three hundred dollars. They have at this writing twenty-five miles of wire in use, with twenty-three arc lights in the streets, and three thousand incandescent lamps in operation; of the latter, the number is rapidly increasing. A one hundred and twenty horse power Westinghouse dynamo of the latest and most improved pattern is in use, and it is a "dandy."

So far the plant is furnishing the street lights, paying the running expenses, earning interest on the bonds, and saving the ten per cent per annum on the total cost of the plant and from the earnings the city was prepared .Tart. 1, 1905, to take up one thousand dollars of the bonds. The patrons are well pleased with the service, and are receiving this most excellent service at greatly reduced cost, so the system and management are most satisfactory. It will soon pay the entire debt and be an important source of revenue to the city. In this Seward is a leader among young western cities, and has set a pattern that other cities will gladly follow. Much of the success of this important undertaking is due to our most efiicient electrician and manager, Mr. Martz.

Seward Fire Association

The Seward Fire Association was organized March 20, 1885, with H. Diers, J. C. Mulfinger and L. J. Simmons as a board of trustees; articles of incorporation were filed in the county clerk's office. Before this date the records are incomplete, but it is knowti that the association had existed as the Seward Fire Depart;iient and was organized about 1879, with three companies. Some think it may have been at an earlier date, but the earliest enrollment we can find in the records is Herman Diers and J. J. Blodgett, dated May "29, 1879, and the next date found in records is B. L. Krouse, May 30. 1881.

At this date, Feb. 1005, we find the department has sixty active members, twenty-four in the hook and ladder company, and eighteen in each of two hose companies. The last treasui-er's report shows a cash balance in the treasury of $1011.88. The present officers are L. H. Diers, chief; J. Goering, assistant chief; and Harry Graft", secretary and treasurer.

"In 1878, the only fire apparatus was a three gallon Babcock extinguisher, owned by Thos. Wolf, editor of the Reporter. In April, 1879, it did excellent service in putting out a fire in the basement of Kribler's furniture house. In the following spring the council purchased two three-wheeled Babcock extinguishers and a hook and ladder truck. They were stored in Marshall's livery barn. Our first call one night we had an awful struggle to get the apparatus from behind carriages and buggies just to find a pile of brush and weeds on fire. The department was organized May 20, 1879. J. C. Henderson was appointed chief by the city council; Ed. Polly was appointed foreman of Company No. 1, Wm. Ashton, No. 2, and Geo. Blodgett, No. 3, hook and ladder, with Jack Hanly, assistant. Our drill practice was regular for a time. Once we had a small tire, but the engines had stood idle so long that they refused to work. Later the company was re-organized with J.C. Henderson, chief: G. Babson, assistant; John Multinger, foreman of No. 1, Dick Sampson, No. 2., and H. Diers, No. 3. From this time drills were held regularly, and the department became efficient and ready for business. Gus. Babson was chief from 1883 to 1887 and F. Wooly assistant for most of the time, and in 1887 he became Babson's successor. We had many hard runs and were usually fortunate in being able to stop tii-es before much damage was done. In Feb., 1883, we were all frostbitten in a long ru7i to the northeast part of town when the thermometer registered thirty degrees below zero. We had many fires, such as Stillwell's barn, the old skating rink, Grand Central hotel, and in 18S6, the Park hotel. In 181)0, Feb. 2()th, the department established a reading room and library and at the end of that year had 274 books in use. Five years later this was turned over to the city with about six hundred volumes. It was the nucleus of the present city library. At the tirst firemen's tournament held at Lincoln in the fall of 1884, our department attended with tifty men in uniform, with Gerke's band. We won the hook and ladder race and Mr. Multinger's company won the ladies' silk banner for the best drilled company. We came home happy. Jan. 12, 1886, the state association met at Seward, which was a pleasant time for all the boys."

It has been a pleasure to know how efficient and selfsacriticing the Seward tire boys have been all through the years. Their work is entirely voluntary, but somehow they are always ready at the tap of the bell. They ran like wild cats and work like tigers. They have saved many disastrous contiagrations and are entitled to the gratitude of all our people. All the consideration they receive is they ar.j freed from poll tax and exempt as jurors, and after live years' service they are entirely free from poll tax. Some of the boys have now served ten years or more. We are ready to vote the lire department any reasonable favor they can ask for.

Burlington Rail Road Business For 1904

Received during the year, 64 cars of lumber, 215 cars of coal. 16 cars of implements, 311 car of miscellaneous articles, and 3,970,697 pounds of general merchandise, equaling 260 car loads. Total freight collected, $75,000. Trains passing Seward daily; Passenger - 8 trains six days in the week and 4 on Sundays. Freight - 8 daily except Sunday and 6 Sundays.

Some seasons of the year when grain and stock moves freely, the number of extra trains is surprisingly great. One noticeable feature of the out-going freight is the eggs. Sixty car loads, or twenty-four thousand cases, or seven hundred and twenty thousand dozen.

Freight business reported by Utica for the year 1904 is as follows: Shipped out 389 cars of gram, 68 cars of live stock, 14 cars of merchandise, total 471 cars. Received 71 cars of coal, 27 cars of lumber, 91 cars of merchandise, total

179 cars. Freight in less than car lots, 1,648,575 pounds. Freight charges collected, $16,423.31. Other stations refused to report. Let the responsibility rest where it belongs

C. N, W. Rail Road

The Northwestern Rail Road company received at Seward station during the year 1904, 224 cars of freight of all kinds and shipped out 357 cars of stock, grain and other merchandise, including 47 cars of poultry.

Seward Cereal Mills

This is certainly an institution that we may all feel proud of. The present plant was erected on the ruins of the one destroyed by fire in the Autumn of 1895 and was ready for business in April of 1898. As it now stands it cost about twenty-five thousand dollars. It is owned by Seward people exclusively. The builders and principal owners are John Mulfinger, Geo. Harrison, John Zimmerer and Charles Barkley. The principal structure is 36x68, three stories above the basement and filled throughout with the latest and most approved machinery known to the trade for the manufacture of oat and corn products. Beside the main structure are the engine room, kiln room, grain ware house, storage building and oflice, each under separate roofs. The capacity of the mills is one hundred and forty barrels of rolled oats and two hundred barrels of corn products per day, or three hundred and forty barrels per day, and gives employment to from twelve to twenty persons at good wages. We are informed that pay checks are always ready for the workmen Saturday evening.

It is a noteworthy fact that this institution can and always does pay the farmers for a good article of oats or corn much better prices than the shippers can possibly pay, and it is safe to say that the farmers of Seward and surrounding counties are many thousands of dollars gainer by the existence of this grand plant. The company enjoy a large trade in everystate and territory west of the Mississippi and is extending to our island possession in the Orient. The trade mark, the "White Dove," is known far and wide as one of the best brands of rolled oats in the markets of the world. The business men of Seward and the laboring people as well as the farmers all have great reason to feel a great interest in the Cereal Mills of Seward.

Seward Mills

The history of this valuable property is a part and a very important part of the history of this city. It was with great difficulty that the title of the water power was secured as an old land shark at Cincinnati, by the name of Geo. Hilton, had at an early day entered a large tract of timber land just near the mouth of Plum creek which included the forty acre tract where the mill now stands. The old fellow steadfastly refused to sell the property for a long time and seemed very obstinate in the matter until some of the neighbors took a hand, and wrote some letters to him that would not look well in print, which brought the old fellow to his senses and he concluded to sell the forty acre ti-act at ten dollars per acre to H. L. Boyes and tlie first work on the mill site was done in 1867. A brush dam was built and a s;iw mill was started, without shelter or roof, on the river bank in the spring of 1868. For a time this was a scene of great activity, as logs by the thousand were hauled long distances and the log yard, covering quite a space, was a sight to all beholders. In 1870, the company started the first mill to grinding grain. This little affair was known far and wide as "Banner Mills." It was draped in red, white and blue, like the star spangled banner. It did good work and was run at its full capacity until an evil day came in 1871, when it became overloaded with farmer's grists. One night the whole bottom of the mill fell out and dumped the machinery and grain into the river. It was a woeful looking mess that we beheld one bright Sabbath morning. The river was strewn with grain in bursting sacks, loose grain, flour, feed and wrecked machinery all tangled in a heterogenious mass.

This was a sad blow to the owners and to the community but, it must be rebuilt and the courageous owners immediately set to work and in due time all was set to rights and the mill wheels began again to turn. Some years later the little mill was torn down and a much larger one built in its place and as the business expanded, that one had to give way for a larger one. Then in 1«91, the third one was replaced by a large roller merchant mill, and in 1893, that great beautiful structure burned, but that will power and energy of its owners knew no such word as fail and in just one hundred days after the cruel flames had destroyed it, another and grander mill was ready for business. At that time Mr. Deane was associated with Mr. Carlos Boyes & Co. and remained a valuable partner for a number of years, when Martin Hulsizer and Burdette Boyes, a grandson of the founder and son of Carlos, became partners.

Size of the present mill is 40x72 feet and five stories high, with the best modern machinery throughout, having six double standard rollers for flour and three set for corn products, working capacity, one hundred and fifty barrels per day. Storage capacity, sixteen thousand bushels, waterpower capacity, over one hundred horse power. Water gage of river at low water stage, four thousand cubic feet per minute. The company at this writing are engaged in filling a government contract of one million pounds of flour or forty car loads.

Brick Yard

to be proud of. It is what is known as a draw kiln, where the fires never go out. With its great smoke stack towering one hundred and ten feet, makes it conspicuous.

Under the able management of WiUiam Worthman and son, it is destined to add greatly to the business of our city. We are pleased to present to our readers a splendid picture of this valuable plant.

Building And Loan Association

Seward Building and Loan Association was organized late in 1893, and early in 1894 articles of incorporation were filed. February 6th the first officers were elected as follows: J. J. Blodget, president; John Zimmerer, vice president; Geo. Merrium, secretary and J. F. Goehner, treasurer; J. P. Dunham, J. H. Erford, W. H. Debolt, W. E. Longworthy, S. D. Atkins, J. J. Thomas and O. C. Reynolds, directors. Object of the association is to encourage people of moderate means to secure homes on easy payments. The plan contemplates the loan of means to assist in building or purchasing homes on payments about equal to the rent of like premises, with low rates of interest. Each payment is divided so that the interest is kept up and part of the principal paid and thus in a few years the party has a home paid for.

Under the faithful administration of the present president, John Zimmerer, the association has been quite a factor among the financial institutions of our city At the last report its assets amounted to $52,954.47. It is accomplishing much good in the community and has already helped scores of poor men to secure pleasant homes of their own.

Mutual Protective Rre Association Of Nebraska

The Mutual Protective Fire Association of Nebraska was organized at Seward, January 14, 1894. First officers were as follows: E. Polley, president; Geo. Merrium, secretary; directors. Dr. J. T. Potter, H. C. Atwood, G. W. Meeker, I. L. Dermond, W. C. A. Hartman, J. M. Calder, J. F. Guss, E. J. Hartman, and Thos. Bishop.

the state. The business is confined by the charter to risks in cities and towns except such risks in country as churches, school houses, factories, etc. Had to July 4, 1904, issued 5886 policies and to same date, paid in losses $23,608, and have $10,000 in the reserve fund and not a dollar of indebtedness.

The hio^hest amount ever collected in premiums is 75 per cent of old line rates, and are writing policies at same rate now. The amount of insurance now in force is one million three hundred and forty-five thousand dollars.

The present officers are, John Kribbeler, president; John Zimmerer, vice-president; J. P. Goehner, treasurer; Geo. A. Merrium, secretary; Landis & Shich, attorneys; directors, J. M. Calder, Seward; Dr. J. T. Potter, Seward; P. W. Rodenbrock, Nebraska City; T. J. Rademacher, Crete; H. C. Atwood, Milford; I. J. Dermond, Beaver Crossing; D. J. Hartrum, Utica; Wm. Grabe, Wahoo; and Delevan Bates of Aurora.

Source changes here: from General History of Seward County, Nebraska, by Waterman, John Henry, published 1916; 9,434 words in this source stream.

Seward City

In those interesting days in the birth of the county and the country in general in which it is located, Seward was not a town. It got its name about the time that Camden and Milford were springing into prominence, but as the party who owned the real estate desired for the new townsite hesitated about having a town built upon his property, the city of Seward was somewhat like the "chicken counted before the egg was hatched." And the town not only had a name, but it got a post office before it had a location which was almost forced into the log residence of Lewis Moffit and that gentleman conscripted into Uncle Sam's service as postmasster by the enterprising citizens. These matters together with the little log school house, serving the purpose as church, school and county court house have been previously dealt with in the reminiscences of pioneer days in this history, and we have now before us Seward, a modern city.

Seward today with a population of between three and four thousand inhabitants is supplied with numerious daily mails by railway. The Chicago Burlington & Quincy rail road, known as the B. & \L, enters the city from the east, west and north, and the Chicago & North Western passes through it from north-east to south west. While the weekly mail - carried a distance of twenty miles in an army haversack by a man on foot - has been supplanted by the daily mails as stated, the log house postofhce has been replaced by an improved structure at an expense of several thousand dollars supplied with a complete set of modern post office fixtures, including eight hundred and forty private mail boxes at an expense of three thousand five hundred dollars. In addition to these facilities for handling the city mail there are six rural mail routes, upon which mail is delivered daily from the Seward post office to several hundred of the farmers' homes now occupying the old homesteads of pioneer days.

To meet the requirements of advancing changes in the citv, new and expensive high school houses have come and gone smewhat in line with the appearing and disappearing of the sod and log school houses of pioneer days, until the third commodious school building has recently been built at a cost of fifty thousand dollars.

The modern public improvements in the city of Seward consist of a fine county court house, one of the best in the state, a jail in line with it, a public park, high school building, seventeen thousand dollar city hall and fire department, twelve thousand dollar Young Mens' Christian Associotion building, Carnigie Library building, cost, eight thousand dollars, forty-five thousand dollar city water works, twentyfive thousand dollar light plant. The city has fifty-two blocks of street pavement and more being added, and twenty miles of brick and cement sidewalks. The streets, which in the days of street grain buying, were outlined with invisable corner stakes and a few wagon ruts, are now lined with large forest and ornamental shade trees, telephone and electric light poles while fine, commodious residences fronts them on all sides.

There are eight church buildings in the city. The German Lutheran is perhaps the finest church building in the state of Nebraska outside of the large cities. It was erected at a cost of twenty-five thousand dollars. The M. E. church is also a very fine and imposing edifice, built at a cost of fifteen thousand dollars. The Catholic church was built at a cost of six thousand dollars, and the Congregational near the same amount. The Prysbeterian church was. originally built in 1872 and although it has been removed from its first foundation and rebuilt in later design, it can still be called a pioneer church building. And notwithstanding this it is one among the fine church buildings of Seward county. The Adventists, United Breathern and Evangelicals all have good, substantial houses of worship.

One of the most interesting and laudable enterprises in the city of Seward is the German Normal College, which was instituted in 1894 by members of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church throughout Nebraska, led by such prominent business men of Seward as Herman Diers, John F. Goehner and O. E. Bernecker. The school was opened in the fall of 1894 in one brick building built that season, with an enrollment of but sixteen students. There has been a gradual growth in this institution and it is now occupying six large school buildings, including a training department and music hall four stories high where several pianos and pipe organs are in daily use. In addition to the six school structures there are eight beautiful private residences occupied by the instructors. The estimated cost of this enterprise is one hundred thousand dollars. The increase in number of students brought the 1916 enrollment up to one hundred and forty.

An artificial ice plant, installed in 191 2 by Graff, Stevenson & Company at an expense of thirty-two thousand dollars, marks the progress of times from the pioneer days. This enterprise is said to be of the greatest benefit to the largest number of people of any establishment in Seward.

Among the many expensive public buildings within the limits of the city is the B. & M. railway depot which was built at an expense of eighteen thousand dollars. It occupies historic ground - within the boundaries of the pioneer grain market - from the ground upon which it stands, out across the still remaining, well remembered bridge, upon the bot- torn, mounted grain buyers watched for the approach' of wagons loaded with grain, each eager to get in the first offer for the load; at the first appearance of a team they were off under whip and spur to meet it. About twenty rods northwest of where the depot now stands, a little up the incline, was the grain office and weighing scales of E. C. Carnes, and just south of it at the track were the two elevators. Upon the site of the depot stood what was known to farmers as a "shoveling elevator" where they elevated their loads of grain with a scoop shovel, generally upon an empty stomach after a ride of eighteen or twenty miles. Farmers didn't ride in automobiles in those good old times, and felt mighty proud to have a spring seat to ride on. But the "good old times" are gone and with them the pioneer grain market of Seward.

The business of Seward at the present time is conducted in ninety-two establishments. Three hardware stores, one operated by J. F. Goehner, who has been in the business since 1879. S. C. Oaks, an 1870 settler in the county has been in the hardware trade since 1891, and Rupp & Dietz have the hardware business established by John Zimmerer.

Five grocery stores are in opperation. The business of W. R. Davis & Sons was established in 1879, and although the elder member of the firm passed to his eternal reward many years ago the business is still conducted in the original firm name; T. C. Sampson has the next oldest grocery store, having been in the business since 1901 ; the other three more recently established stores are conducted by C. T. Joren; J. E. Croy; and T. H. Feary.

Three drug stores dispense medicine for the city and surrounding districts. They are conducted by M. J. Douglas; A. Schuler; and H. J. Cooper.

(I wish to digress here to make correction of an error in regard to the location of E. C. Cams' grain buying office, mentioned on preceding page. It stood a few rods north-east instead of north-west of where the 13. & M. depot stands.)

Henry Campbell is the proprietor of a prosperous business in the buying and selling of seeds. He is established on fitth street; has an extensive trade every year.

The city is supplied with two first class hotels, two upto-date cafes, and a number of lunch rooms which make the eating facilities equal to the ordinary demand.

There are three first class blacksmith shops in operation in the city; Chris Vogel is conducting one of the highest grade shops in the state of Nebraska. His welding of iron is done by electricity, and all other work by the latest modern system. This shop has a floor space of four thousand five hundred feet. It was established in 1887. George Knipple has a fine shop on the corner of Eighth and Main streets, and A. R. McCord is doing a good business on Seward street.

One of the oldest established shoe stores perhaps in the state of Nebraska, is conducted by C. F. Kroeger who has been continually in the business in Seward forty-one years, it being a pioneer trade of 1875.

Three grain elevators and two alfalfa mills are located in the west part of the city. Harrison & Son are operating an elevator on the Columbus branch of the B. & M., and the Updyke Grain Company have one on the Northwestern. Imig, Graff & Hentzen run a large elevator in connection with their alfalfa mill. This mill has a capacity of thirty

History Ok Seward Cclnty, Nebraska

The two flouring mills of pioneer days are, with improved appliances and modern machinery, grinding away. The old Banner Mill, established in 1869 by Hiram L. Boyes, is now owned and conducted by Boyes & Hulshizer. It has a grinding capacity of one hundred and twenty-five barrels of flour per day. The mill built in the seventies by Cooper & Henderson, two miles south of the city, is owned and run by Heuman Borthers and is doing excellent work. It has a capacity of fifty barrels of flour per day.

In the way of clothing stores Seward is certainly on the map, there being four different exclusive clothing establishments in the city. William P. Berdolt has been in the business since 1882; the Graff Clothing Company since 1888; Curry Brothers since 1906 and Hershberger & McCoy established their business in 1914.

Four first class drygoods stores are doing business in the city. Pete Goehner is a pioneer in the trade, having been continually in it since 1873. M. C. Miller has been doing business eighteen years. The Seward Dry Goods Companv have been in the city about six years, and D. S. Chappel, successor to Diers Brothers, two years.

Percy Ost manages the electricial supply store. Two city photograph galleries are conducted by W.D. Givens and J. H. Walford. The former has had a gallery in the same location for thirty-five years and it was established in the pioneer period. Mr. Walford has been in his present location about four years. The Seward brick yards are owned and managed by J. W. Turner. This business is am ng the best up-to-date brick works in Nebraska. A pop factory and bottling works are managed by H. M. Wiese. Two cigar factories are in operation in the city, by H. F. Busche and F. Kaufman. H. G. Dunphy has been in the business of repairing and painting buggies and carriages for twentyfive years. The city has five coal yards. John Fleener and W. H. Whiteneck are each in the poultry trade. R. G. Buchanan is proprietor of the city steam laundry.

Three bakeries supply the city with "the staff of life," excellent bread, pies and cakes. They are opperated by Wm. Leibhart, W. T. Mickleson and J. H. Feary.

J. F. Gereke, Seward's artistic musician, repairs and sells all kinds of musical instruments. Also deals in sewing mamachines, wall paper etc. Mr. Gereke has been a Seward business man for thirty-six years, being a pioneer druggist and jeweler for several years, and was successor to Cyrus Chapin in the music trade in 1887.

E. A. Polley is one of two early pioneer merchants in Seward, Pete Goehner being the second, and both gentlemen established their business in 1873. Mr. Polley deals in jewelry.

There are three banks in Seward. Two of them are outgrowths of pioneer enterprises. The State Bank of Nebraska was the first bank in Seward county and was founded by Claudius Jones in 1873. The Frst National Bank was or- ganized as the Seward County Bank by S. C. Langworthy in 1876. It merged into and was chartered as a national bank in 1882. The Jones National Bank was established in 1884 by Claudius Jones who was its first president, being succeded by his son, H. T. Jones in 1895.

Six rural mail routes lead out from Seward ranging in length from twenty-seven to twenty-nine miles each. Devoe Konkright is the regular carrier on route number one. Has carried the mail on said route since 19 10. D. C. Work, the original carrier on route two, started in 1901 and is still performing that service. John C. Konkright is carrier on route three, has been in the service since May 1st, 1906. S. H. Beaver is the carrier on route four. Has been running regular since April 1st, 1904. Alfred Hiller who drives on route five started it November 2nd, 1903. Maurice Leger started route six December 15th, 1903 and is still in the service.

The Noxall Grain and Seed Cleaner and Grader was invented by T. J. Hatfield and F. N. Wullenwaber in the fall of 1907 and patent issued December 22, 1908. A manufacturing company was organized and incorporated under that name by Seward business men in February 1909 with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars. This factory employs several men. The company manufacture the Noxal machines which are sold throughout the north-west, also window screens, screen doors and medicated chicken perches.

The following are professional men of Seward at the present time, and some of them may be numbered with the pioneers of the county while one of them is a Seward born citizen. L. H. McKillip, son of Daniel C. McKillp, Seward county's first attorney at law, was born at Seward, January 21, 1879 and commenced the practice of law in 1903. T. L. and R. S. Norval are pioneers, and have been practicing law since 1873. J. J. Thomas, Roy Schick, Edwin Vail, H.D. Landis and S.C.Stoner are additions to the city's legal practitioners from 1891 to 1911