USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. I > Part 1
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. I > Part 1
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Gc 978.201 H18s v.1 1192537
M. L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01066 5872
HISTORY
OF
Hamilton and Clay Counties
NEBRASKA
Supervising Editors GEORGE L. BURR, Hamilton County 0. O. BUCK, Clay County Compiled by DALE P. STOUGH
VOL. I ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1921
HYMN TO NEBRASKA
BY REV. WILLIAM H. BUSS, FREMONT
Now laud the proud tree planter state, Nebraska,-free, enlightened, great ; Her royal place she has in song : The noblest strains to her belong : Her fame is sure. Then sing Nebraska through the years ; Extol her stalwart pioneers : The days when, staunch and unafraid, The state's foundations, well they laid, To long endure.
The land where Coronado trod, And hrave Marquette surveyed the sod : Where red men long in council sat : Where spreads the valley of the Platte Far 'neath the sun. The land, beside whose borders sweep The big Missouri's waters, deep, Whose course erratic, through its sands, From northland on, through many lands,
Does seaward run.
The foothills of the Rockies lie Afar athwart her western sky: Her rolling prairie, like the sea. Held long in virgin sanctity HIer fertile loam. Her wild-life roamed o'er treeless plains Till came the toiling wagon-trains, And settlers bold, far westward bound, In broad Nebraska's valley found Their chosen home.
Now o'er her reahn and 'neath her sky, Her golden harvests richly lie; Her corn more vast than Egypt yields : Her grain unmatched in other fields: Her cattle rare.
Alfalfa fields, by winding streams : And sunsets, thrilling poets' dreams, These all we sing, and know the time Has ne'er revealed a fairer elime, Or sweeter air.
O proud Nebraska, brave and free ; Thus sings thy populace to thee. Thy virile strength, thy love of light ; Thy civic glory, joined with right, Our hearts elate.
Thy manly wisdom, firm to rule ; Thy womanhood in church and school ; Thy learning, culture, art, and peace Do make thee strong, and ne'er shall cease
To keep thee great.
(to be included on occasion )
Her heaving bluffs uplift their heads Along her winding river beds, And, pleasing far the traveler's view,- Well guard her Elkhorn and her Blue, Enerowned with wood. And there, by landmarks, ne'er to fail, Upon the ancient westward trail; Or graven stone, securely placed, By eye observant may be traced Where wigwam stood.
Her honored cities grow in wealth ; In thriving commerce, public health ; Iler first, the gateway of the west ; Her Omaha, that will not rest. Nor take defeat. Her capital of worthy fame, That bears the mighty Lincoln's name, And thousands of Nebraska youth E'er summons to her fount of truth, At learning's seat.
ii
PREFACE
THE STORY OF A STATE
Events do not necessarily have to be a century behind in the dim past to be history. Nebraska is making history at a dizzy speed. Here lies an opportunity for the chronicler not only to dig into the past, but from the raw material of the present form valuable foundations for future reference. There are men yet living in this vicinity who can remember the time when its connection with the human story would have seemed absurd. They have seen the buffalo, the antelope, the prairie dog and the coyote, the rattlesnake and the owl, and even the occasional friendly Indian retire before the explorer, the trader, the Mormons, the immi- grants, the homesteader, the stalwart pioneer, and seen the endless prairies dotted with the soddy, then the hut, and finally the luxuriant farms and prosperous towns of present Nebraska.
1192537
Full volumes have been written on the history of Nebraska, going into long, laborious detail upon each important topic. But so many readers feel that the task of familiarizing themselves with volume after volume is too exacting upon the time of the busy, hurried twentieth-century individual. So it has been considered expedient to introduce the county historical section of this work with an abridged review of the historical development of the State of Nebraska. That this may be equally interesting to readers of all classes, be brief enough to be thoroughly examined, be systematized so that the salient facts can be found whenever reference is desired, this part of the work has been compiled by the undersigned and many others, whose work has assisted him in a synoptical, chronological and encyclopedie arrangement.
A work of this character is not the product of one person's research, energy or ideas, but a compilation of the earnest fruitful endeavors of many persons. Par- ticularly do the compiler and publishers wish to acknowledge thankful indebtedness to Hon. Addison E. Sheldon, secretary; Mrs. Clarence E. Paine, librarian ; Albert Watkins, historian ; and E. E. Blackman, curator of the Nebraska State IIistorical Society : George E. Condra, director of the Nebraska Conservation Commission, whose careful research of years "boiled down" in the Bulletin 14 of that depart- ment has gratefully been received as authority for a major portion of Chapters I, XIII and XIV of this work; and due gratitude and credit is extended to the work of Prof. Samuel Aughey and others who assisted in compilation of his- torical material in the early '80s, Harrison Johnson of Omaha, Prof. H. W. Foght, in his "Trail of the Loup," Gen. G. M. Dodge, and the authorities of the Federal Government for data furnished from their publications.
DALE P. STOUGH,
Grand Island, Nebraska.
iii
CONTENTS
HYMN TO NEBRASKA
.. .. . .. ii
CHAPTER I GEOLOGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES OF NEBRASKA
CREATIVE FERIODS-THE ARCHAIC AGE-ERAS IN GEOLOGICAL HISTORY-THE PALEO- ZOIC ERA-THE PERMIAN AGE-THE MESOZOIC AGE-TIIE CRETACEOUS PERIOD- THE CENOZOIC ERA-THE TERTIARY AGE-THE QUATERNARY EPOCII-THE GLACIAL PERIOD THE LOESS PERIOD-THE SOIL SURVEY AND ITS USE-THE SOIL RE- SOURCES AND REGIONS OF NEBRASKA-LOESS REGION-SANDIIILE REGION-PHYS- ICAL FEATURES-RIVERS OF NEBRASKA-THE MISSOURI-THE PLATTE-THE REPUBLICAN-THE NIOBRARA-TIIE WHITE-THE ELKHORN-THE LOUPS-THE NEMAHAS-THE BLUES-THE CLIMATE OF NEBRASKA-NEBRASKA'S GAME RE- SOURCES-MAMMALS OF NEBRASKA-WILD LIFE RESOURCES-WILD GRASS RE- SOURCES-FOREST RESOURCES-WILD FRUITS-FISH RESOURCES-MODERN GAME RESOURCES-FUR BEARING ANIMALS.
CHAPTER II THE NEBRASKA INDIANS
CHRONOLOGICALLY, 1673-1804-THIE PAWNEES-PAWNEE WAR OF 1859-FAWNEE- SIOUX MASSACRE, 1873-MAJOR FRANK NORTII AND PAWNEE SCOUTS-TIIE SIOUX -DEPREDATIONS, DAWSON COUNTY-BUFFALO AND HALL COUNTIES-HALL COUNTY MASSACRES-THAYER COUNTY-GENERAL CARR'S BATTLE WITH SIOUX-THE OMAHAS-THE OTOES-THIE WINNEBAGOES-THE PONCAS-IOWAS, SACS AND FOX -ARAPAHOES AND CIIEYENNES-BATTLE OF AUGUST, 1860-BATTLE OF ASH HALLOW-WHITE MAN'S TREATMENT OF TIIE RED MAN . 3%
CHAPTER III "THE BIRTH OF A STATE" Before Territorial Days
DISCOVERERS-THE QUEST OF QUIVERA-FRENCHI EXPLORATIONS-NEBRASKA UNDER FRENCH AND SPANISHI RULES-AMERICAN EXPLORATIONS-LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION-TIIE ASTORIAN EXPEDITION-LONG'S EXPEDITION-TRAIL BLAZERS- GOVERNMENTAL CHANGES IN NEBRASKA TERRITORY-THE MORMONS-THE GOLD HUNTERS-"LIFE ON THE PLAINS"-OVERLAND TRAILS-"HAVE YOU AN EYE?" OREGON TRAIL-OTIIER TRAILS-DECLINE OF THESE TRAILS-STAGE COACHIES PONY EXPRESS SYSTEM-TIIEN AND NOW 55
V
CONTENTS
CHAPTER IV
THE GRADUAL SETTLEMENT OF THE STATE
COUNTIES IN THIE ORDER OF SETTLEMENT-SETTLEMENT OF INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES -1810-1819-1826-1844-1846-1853-OMAHA - BROWNVILLE - NEMAHA CITY-PLATTSMOUTH-NEBRASKA CITY-1851-1855-1856-COLUMBUS-FRE- MONT-BEATRICE-GRAND ISLAND-1858-1860-1863-1866-NORTH PLATTE- 1867-1868-1869-SCHUYLER-WAHOO-BLAIR-FAIRBURY-NORFOLK - 1870 -18:1-2-KEARNEY-1873-1877-1880-1881-2-1883 46
CHAPTER V DEVELOPMENT OF NEBRASKA-BY COUNTIES
ORDER OF ORGANIZATION-EIGHT ORIGINAL COUNTIES-CHANGES BY FIRST LEGISLA- TURE-ACT OF JANUARY 26, 1856-ORGANIZATION, YEAR BY YEAR-INLAND COUN- TIES-TIIE COUNTIES OF NEBRASKA INDIVIDUALLY-POPULATION OF COUNTIES- SHORT SKETCH OF FIRST SETTLEMENTS, GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF EACH COUNTY (ARRANGED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER )-ORIGIN OF NEBRASKA NAMES- COUNTY NAMES 89
CHAPTER VI TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT
FORMATIVE STEPS-AREA-OFFICERS-GOVERNOR CUMING'S ADMINISTRATION-GOV- ERNOR IZARD'S ADMINISTRATION- GOVERNOR RICHARDSON-GOVERNOR BLACK -- GOVERNOR SAUNDERS-NEBRASKA'S PART IN THE CIVIL WAR-NINTHI TO TWELFTHI LEGISLATURES-EVOLUTION INTO STATEIIOOD-CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF 1866-OFFICIAL ROSTER OF THE TERRITORY. 146
CHAPTER VHI NEBRASKA'S GOVERNMENT AS A STATE
GOVERNOR BUTLER'S FIRST ADMINISTRATION (1867-9)-CHANGE IN CAPITAL- BUTLER'S SECOND ADMINISTRATION-BUTLER'S THIRD ADMINISTRATION 1871- THE IMPEACHIMENT OF A GOVERNOR -- GOVERNOR FURNAS'S ADMINISTRATION (1873-5)-GOVERNOR GARBER'S ADMINISTRATION ( 1875-7)-THIE CONSTITUTION OF 1875-GOVERNOR GARBER'S SECOND ADMINISTRATION (1877-9)-GOVERNOR NANCE'S ADMINISTRATIONS ( 1879-1883)-GOVERNOR DAWES' ADMINISTRATIONS (1883-1887)-GOVERNOR THAYER'S ADMINISTRATIONS ( 1887-1891)-GOVERNOR BOYD'S ADMINISTRATION ( 1891-3)-GOVERNOR CROUNSE'S ADMINISTRATION (1893-5)-GOVERNOR HOLCOMB'S ADMINISTRATION (1895-1899) -NEBRASKA IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR-GOVERNOR POYNTER'S ADMINISTRATION ( 1899- 1901) -GOVERNORS DIETRICHI-SAVAGE (1901-3)-GOVERNOR MICKEY'S ADMINISTRATIONS ( 1903-1907) - GOVERNOR SHELDON'S ADMINISTRATION ( 1907-1909)-GOVERNOR SHALLENBERGER'S ADMINISTRATION (1909-1911) - GOVERNOR ALDRICH'S ADMINISTRATION (1911-13) -GOVERNOR MOREILEAD'S AD- MINISTRATIONS ( 1913-1917)-GOVERNOR NEVILLE'S ADMINISTRATION (1917-1919)
vii
CONTENTS
1919)-SEMI-CENTENNIAL STATEIIOOD CELEBRATION, 1917-NEBRASKA IN THE WORLD WAR-GOVERNOR 1 MIC KELVIE'S ADMINISTRATION (1919-1921)-CON- STITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF 1920-STATE INSTITUTIONS-ROSTER OF STATE OFFICERS
.156
CHAPTER VIII THE RAILROADS OF NEBRASKA
THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD-WHAT THE ENGINES SAID THE BURLINGTON SYSTEM -RAILROAD BUILDING AND EXTENSION ( BY YEARS ) -- THE STATE RAILWAY COM- MISSION-RAILROAD'S PALMY POLITICAL DAYS .200
CHAPTER IN RELIGIOUS, EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
DURING THE THIRTIES-DURING THE FORTIES-DENOMINATIONAL BEGINNINGS-THE CHURCH, THE SCHOOL, AND THE SOCIETY-BELLEVUE-NEBRASKA CITY-OMAHA -- GRAND LODGE, MASONIC-GRAND LODGE K. OF P .- PLATTSMOUTH-BROWNVILLE- NEMAHA COUNTY-WASHINGTON COUNTY-TEKAMAH-COLUMBUS-FREMONT- TECUMSEH-FALLS CITY-BEATRICE-GRAND ISLAND-KEARNEY-NORTH PLATTE -LINCOLN-SCHUYLER-WAHOO-BLAIR-FAIRBURY-NORFOLK-MADISON-SEW- ARD-MILFORD-YORK-HIGHER EDUCATION IN NEBRASKA-THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-PROF. SAMUEL AUGHEY'S REVIEW OF THE STARTING OF THE UNIVERSITY-NEBRASKA COLLEGES, BY SOURCE OF SUPPORT-BY THE STATE- BAPTIST-CATHOLIC-PRESBYTERIAN-UNITED BRETHREN-DANISH LUTHERAN- LUTHERAN-METHODIST EPISCOPAL-CONGREGATIONAL-NEBRASKA'S CARE FOR HER NEEDY 215
CHAPTER X THE PRESS OF NEBRASKA
THE NEBRASKA PALLADIUM-THE OMAHA ARROW-TIIE NEBRASKIAN-THE NEBRASKA NEWS-THE BROWNVILLE ADVERTISER-THE OMAHA TIMES-EARLY PAPERS BY COUNTIES (taking about first seventy counties in alphabetical order ) -NEBRASKA NEWSPAPERS OF TODAY-NEWSPAPERS IN 1920. 242
CHAPTER NI BANKING IN NEBRASKA
TERRITORIAL WILD CAT BANKING-EARLY BANKS AT: NEBRASKA CITY-OMAHA- LINCOLN - BEATRICE - BLAIR-BROWNVILLE-COLUMBUS-CRETE-FAIRBURY- FREMONT-GRAND ISLAND KEARNEY-MADISON-NORFOLK-PAWNEE CITY- PLATTSMOUTH-SCHUYLER-TECUMSEH-WEST POINT-YORK-BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS 268
viii
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XII
TIIE BENCH AND BAR OF NEBRASKA
THE STATE SUPREME COURT-THE DISTRICT BENCH OF NEBRASKA-LEADERS OF THE BAR OF NEBRASKA-THE EARLY BAR OF THE STATE (TAKEN BY ALL. LARGER COUNTY SEATS, IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER ) -OMAHA-LINCOLN-OTHER TOWNS- MORRILL COUNTY BAR IN THE WORLD WAR. .276
CHAPTER XIII AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES OF NEBRASKA
AGRICULTURAL NEBRASKA-THE CORN INDUSTRY (W. W. BURR)-THE WHEAT INDUS- TRY (W. W. BURR)-FLOURING MILLS-CREAMERIES IN NEBRASKA-THE DAIRY INDUSTRY (J. H. FRANSDEN )-ALFALFA IN NEBRASKA (R. P. CRAWFORD)-BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY (ANDERSON-LASSEN ) -THE POTATO INDUSTRY ( R. F. HOWARD) HORTICULTURAL RESOURCES (R. F. HOWARD)-DRY FARMING (C. S. HAWK)- IRRIGATION IN NEBRASKA (GEO. E. JOHNSON)-THE BEEF CATTLE INDUSTRY (HOWARD GRAMLICH)-THE SWINE INDUSTRY (SAM MIC KELVIE)-THE SHEEP INDUSTRY (J. D. WHITMORE)-THE HORSE INDUSTRY ( THOMAS BRADSTREET)- THE POULTRY INDUSTRY (F. E. MUSSEHL)-BEES IN NEBRASKA ( FRANK G. 291 ODELL)
CHAPTER XIV MANUFACTURING AND COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES
NEBRASKA FACTORIES-MANUFACTURERS OF NEBRASKA ( FRANK I. RINGER)-RAIL- ROADS AND INTERURBAN COMMUNICATION ( H. G. TAYLOR ) -THE TELEPIIONE INDU'S- TRY (R. E. MATTISON )-MINERAL RESOURCES (G. E. CONDRA )-SAND, COAL, OIL, CLAY, CEMENT AND POTASH (G. E. CONDRA) . .309
CHAPTER XV
OUTLINE OF AUTHORITIES .318
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
CHAPTER I THE SETTLEMENT OF HAMILTON COUNTY
LOCATION OF THE COUNTY-CLIMATE-EARLY RANCHERS-COMING OUT WEST- EARLIEST SETTLERS-INDIAN DAYS-HEALTH-WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU- EDUCATIONAL-STOCKHAM MILLS-INHABITANTS, WEALTH-SHEEP, SWINE AND GARDENS-STOCK BREEDING-SMALL VEGETABLES-SMALL GRAINS-CORN- GRASSES-TIMBER CULTURE FRUIT-RAINFALL-CLIMATE-TOPOGRAPHICAL AND SOIL. .335
ix
CONTENTS
CHAPTER HI EARLY SETTLEMENTS BY TOWNSHIPS
FIRST SETTLEMENTS-STILL HERE IN 1890-A FARM SURVEY BY TOWNSHIPS (1897)- SCOVILLE-UNION PRECINCT-ORVILLE PRECINCT-FARMERS VALLEY PRECINCT -BEAVER PRECINCT-AURORA PRECINCT-HAMILTON PRECINCT-DEEP-WELL PRE- CINCT-PHILLIPS PRECINCT-MONROE PRECINCT-GRANT PRECINCT-VALLEY PRECINCT-OTIS PRECINCT-SOUTH PLATTE PRECINCT-BLUFF PRECINCT-THE
STORY OF THE CENSUS. 351
CHAPTER III REMINISCENCES OF PIONEER SETTLERS
OLD SETTLERS REMINISCENCES-NARRATIVE BY MIRS. BRAY-NARRATIVE BY JOHN HARRIS-NARRATIVE BY MRS. CAMERON-LAST PAWNEE HUNT, BY L. ISAMAN- LIFE AMONG PLAIN INDIANS, JAMES MOONEY-DEATH AND BIOGRAPHY OF ROBERT MILLER- OBITUARY, LANA A. BATES-STORY OF HOW GENERAL DELEVAN BATES WON HIS STAR-THE BLACK REGIMENT-WHERE ARE THE OLD SETTLERS ? (MIRS. LORA I. RUSSELL) 366
CHAPTER IV
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY IN THE SEVENTIES-IN THE EIGHTIES-ROSTER OF COUNTY OFFICERS-COUNTY CLERK -COUNTY TREASURER-SHERIFF-COUNTY JUDGE-COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS-SURVEYOR-CORONER-LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATION-COUNTY GOV- ERNMENTAL AFFAIRS-ELECTIONS DURING THE NINETIES-ELECTIONS FROM 1900- 1910-OFFICERS FROM 1910 TO 1921-WAS A VERY LONESOME DEMOCRAT, A. M. GLOVER-POLITICAL REVIEW OF HAMILTON COUNTY, 392
CHAPTER V AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF HAMILTON COUNTY THE CHANGE OF YEARS-NEBRASKA IN 1895-1915-FIRST COUNTY FAIR AND HIS- TORY OF ASSOCIATION-MINUTES OF MEETING OF 1879-MODERN FARM ORGAN- IZATION-WHEN THE GRASSHOPPERS CAME-HARD TIMES IN NEBRASKA, BY GEN. DELEVAN BATES. 426
CHAPTER VI THE CITY OF AURORA
HAMILTON COUNTY'S PRIDE, THE CITY OF AURORA-HISTORY OF AURORA BY MRS. ROBERT MILLER-CITY GOVERNMENT-POSTMASTERS-MATERIAL PROGRESS OF CITY-THE BANKS- INDUSTRIES-AURORA BRICK YARDS-AURORA'S STORES-PE- TERSON STORE-DAVIDSON STORE-BUSINESS HOUSES 1905-1920 AND IN 1920. . 446
CHAPTER VII OTHER TOWNS
ORVILLE CITY - HAMPTON - STOCKHAM - BROMFIELD-GILTNER - MARQUETTE - PHILLIPS-HORDVILLE-HAMILTON-OTHIER TOWNS. .479
CONTENTS
CHAPTER VIH SCHOOLS OF HAMILTON COUNTY
FIRST SCHOOLS-GROWTH OF SCHOOLS-EDUCATIONAL REVIEW-AURORA SCHOOLS- AURORA SCHOOL BOARD-AURORA IHIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI .. 502
CHAPTER IX CHURCHES OF AURORA
EARLY HAMILTON COUNTY CHURCHES-FREE WILL BAPTIST-METHODIST-PRESBY- TERIAN-DEDICATORY SERVICES-CHURCH OF CHRIST-UNITED BRETHREN-CON- GREGATIONAL-CATHOLIC-SEVEN DAY ADVENTIST-GENERAL CHURCHES. . . . 515
CHAPTER X LODGES AND ORGANIZATIONS
HAMILTON GRANGE-EARLY LODGES AND FRATERNITIES, J. II. GROSVENOR- A. F. & A. M .- I. O. O. F .- G. A. R .- W. R. C .- K. OF P .--- A. O. C. W .- R. N. A .- AMERICAN LEGION-Y. M. C. A .- ROTARY CLUB. 536
CHAPTER XI THE PRESS AND PROFESSIONS
HAMILTON COUNTY'S EARLY NEWSPAPER MEN-HAMILTONIAN-HAMILTON COUNTY NEWS-PAPERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY-THE EARLY BAR-EARLY ATTORNEYS -LATER ATTORNEYS- EARLY COURT-HAMILTON COUNTY MEDICAL CIRCLES. . . 547
CHAPTER XII HAMILTON COUNTY IN THE WORLD WAR
THIE BEGINNING-AURORA COMPANY ACCEPTED-SECOND PATRIOTIC MEETING-DUR- ING THE SUMMER-JUNE 5THE REGISTRATION-RED CROSS ORGANIZATION-COUNCIL. OF DEFENSE-HAMILTON COUNTY LEADS THEM ALL-CAMP HAMILTON-RED CROSS WAR FUND-HAMILTON COUNTY'S BANNER-WOMEN'S ORGANIZATION-HOME GUARDS-THIE ABANDONED CAMP-WOMEN'S REGISTRATION AND ACTIVITIES-Y. M. C. A. DRIVE-HONOR ROLL BEGINS-FOURTHI LOAN-FURTHER HONOR ROLL-FOOD COMMISSION-GILTNER HOME GUARDS-STAMP DRIVE-HONOR ROLL AND GOLD STARS. .560
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
CHAPTER I
THE EARLY SETTLEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF CLAY COUNTY SKETCH INCLUDED IN COURT HOUSE DEDICATION BOX-THE FIRST SETTLERS-JAMES BAINTER-OLD SETTLERS ASSOCIATION-WHAT BECAME OF THE OLD SETTLERS (R. G. BROWN). .591
CHAPTER II T. A. BARBOUR'S HISTORY OF ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT OF CLAY COUNTY
EARLY ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT-1855 TO 1890-COUNTY SEAT CONTESTS -SUTTON RELINQUISHIES HOPE-COUNTY SEAT LEAVES SUTTON-THE EARLY EIGHTIES-RESUME OF COUNTY OFFICIALS-LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATION .. . 609
xi
CONTENTS
CHAPTER III EARLY DAYS IN CLAY COUNTY
FAMILY HISTORY AND REMINISCENCES, BY F. M. BROWN, SUTTON-EARLY DAYS IN CLAY COUNTY, BY DISTRICT JUDGE W. A. DILWORTH. 639
CHAPTER IV GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF CLAY COUNTY
THE STORY OF THE CENSUS-RIVERS- SOIL- GRASSHOPPERS-EARLY TRAFFIC-BLIZ-
ZARD-STORM-PRAIRIE FIRE-HOMESTEADERS-AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY ..... 659
CHAPTER V MODERN FARM ORGANIZATIONS
GOOD ROADS IN CLAY COUNTY-MATERIAL ASSETS OF CLAY COUNTY. .665
CHAPTER VI SUTTON
SUTTON-SKETCH OF SUTTON, BY R. G. BROWN-GRADUAL GROWTH, IN THE SEVENTIES -COMMERCIAL INSTITUTIONS OF SUTTON- BANKS-CITY GOVERNMENT-SCHOOL OFFICIALS-CHURCHES. 670
CHAPTER VII HARVARD
SKETCH OF HARVARD, BY GRIFFITH J. THOMAS-IN THE SEVENTIES-CITY GOVERN- MENT-HARVARD SCHOOLS-LIBRARY BOARD-RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES-BANKS- STORES. 700
CHAPTER VIII FAIRFIELD
EARLY FAIRFIELD-CITY GOVERNMENT-EARLY FACTS, MIKE CLANCY-HISTORY OF SCHOOLS- BANKS-RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES-STORES. 724
CHAPTER IX EDGAR
EARLY EDGAR- WILLIAM WATTS-CITY GOVERNMENT-SCHOOLS-BANKS-CHURCHES -LODGES-REVIEW OF EDGAR IN 1914-STORES. 751
CHAPTER X CLAY CENTER
CLAY CENTER-CITY GOVERNMENT-SCHOOLS-SKETCH BY GEO. A. ALLEN-STORES- BANKS-BIG SUCCESSES IN LITTLE PLACES-INCUBATOR FACTORY-BUILDING THE NEW COURTHOUSE .. 771
CHAPTER XI OTHER TOWNS
OTHER TOWNS OF THE COUNTY- GLENVILLE (BY L. L. BRANDT)-ONG ( BY CARL SAND- BURG ) -SARONVILLE-SPRING RANCH-INLAND. 797
xii
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XII THE PRESS AND PROFESSIONS
CLAY COUNTY PRESS-RENCH AND BAR OF THE COUNTY-REVIEW OF BAR OF CLAY COUNTY-THE MEDICAL PROFESSION-DOCTORS IN RECENT YEARS-DENTISTS- T. E. CASTERLINE-A. R. RAY. .808
CHAPTER XIII CLAY COUNTY IN THE WORLD WAR
WORLD WAR-THE JUNE 5TH REGISTRATION-COUNCIL OF DEFENSE-RED CROSS CAMPAIGN-HOME PATRIOTS DOING BIT-FOUR MINUTE MEN-RED CROSS RE-ORGANIZED EDGAR'S ROLL OF HONOR-CLAY COUNTY'S FIRST WAR LOSS- HARVARD HOME GUARDS-COUNTY Y. M. C. A .- FIFTEEN MEN LEAVE, APRIL 29- THE HARVARD QUILT-RED CROSS SALE AT TRUMBULL-INLAND QUILT-MAY DETACHMENT LEAVES-HARVEST HANDS AVAILABLE-JUNE DETACHMENT LEAVES -TO TRAINING SCHOOLS-NURSES-SEPTEMBER DEPARTURES-BREHM LETTER- ARMISTICE-COLONEL PAUL ON FIFTH REGIMENT-HISTORY OF COMPANY G .. . 82:
CHAPTER I
GEOLOGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES OF NEBRASKA
CREATIVE PERIODS-THE ARCHIAIC AGE-ERAS IN GEOLOGICAL HISTORY-TIIE PALEO- ZOIC ERA-THIE PERMIAN AGE-THE MESOZOIC AGE-THE CRETACEOUS PERIOD- THE CENOZOIC ERA-TIIE TERTIARY AGE-THE QUATERNARY EPOCH-THIE GLACIAL PERIOD THE LOESS PERIOD THE SOIL SURVEY AND ITS USE-THE SOIL RE- SOURCES AND REGIONS OF NEBRASKA-LOESS REGION-SANDHILL REGION-PILYS- ICAL FEATURES-RIVERS OF NEBRASKA-THE MISSOURI-THE PLATTE-THE REPUBLICAN- THE NIOBRARA-THIE WHITE- THE ELKHORN-THE LOUPS-THE NEMAIIAS-THE BLUES-THE CLIMATE OF NEBRASKA-NEBRASKA'S GAME RE- SOURCES-MAMMALS OF NEBRASKA-WILD LIFE RESOURCES-WILD GRASS RE- SOURCES-FOREST RESOURCES-WILD FRUITS-FISH RESOURCES-MODERN GAME RESOURCES-FUR BEARING ANIMALS.
"To me it seems that to look on the land that was ever lifted above the wasted waters, to follow the shore where the earliest animals and plants were created when the thought of God first expressed itself in organic form, to hold in one's hand a bit of stone from an old sea-beach, hardened into roek thousands of centuries ago, and studded with the beings that once erept upon its surface or were stranded there by some retreating wave, is even of deeper interest to man than the relies of their own race, for these things tell more directly of the thought and creative aets of God."-Jean Louis Agassiz.
Of course the history of a particular county named in the title of this work, and to the modern history of which the major portion of this work will be devoted, is inseparably wrapped into the history of the State of Nebraska. The history of the State of Nebraska cannot be creditably and comprehensively written without going further back than its early settlements and embracing a great deal of national history, and perchance even delving back into realms beyond that.
While it does not come within the scope of this work to dwell at any length upon the evolution of our state from the primal rock, it is necessary to go briefly that far back to correctly start the evolution of Nebraska, or any particular county therein.
Since the discussion of the geological formations of the state and the treatment of its natural resources and features belongs more correctly in the realm of science than of history, only such a treatment of such subjects will be made here as is necessary to carry out the chronology of the development of the state.
CREATIVE PERIODS
Of course, the true history of Nebraska begins with the creative formation of this part of the Western Hemisphere that lies within the boundaries of this state. Likewise, the particular county involved most particularly in this narration gains its first sources from the same forces.
Vol. I-2
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HISTORY OF NEBRASKA
In the aeons of time since the Creation, our planet, the Earth, has passed through many marvelous changes. We will make no effort, for it stands to reason that we could not, to define at what particular time the creative forces began their operation on our part of the Earth's surface. It is enough to point out briefly that the story of the Creation, as familiar to all readers of this work, brought forth another planet, the Earth. After countless ages slipped away and the first surface of the Earth, a universal, shoreless ocean, so the scientists tell us, cast forth folds of contracting firerock-erest and a surface crust appeared of the first dry land. In the Western World the first lands attributed by some scientists to have appeared were the wedge-shaped Laurentian Highlands, approaching the shores of Hudson Bay, and other strips of land were slowly emerging to the east of the present Appalachians, and also in the western part of the United States stretching from Colorado to California.
THE ARCHAIC AGE
It was during this first, or Archaean era, that the process of formation hereto- fore partially described took place. It was during that period that our globe started from its position as a companion star to the Sun to pass through its cooling process. The basaltie rocks are believed best to represent the physical character of the earth's erust at the beginning of recorded geological history. Some rocks of this epoch are still believed to exist in Canada, 40,000 feet thick, and at least as extensive in the Rocky Mountains and in the Sierras. So far as known, during this period, there was no dry land in Nebraska, but the territory in which we are interested was probably still boundless ocean, so we ean pass this period swiftly by.
ERAS IN GEOLOGICAL HISTORY
Before passing to the next era in geological history, it is aptly fitting that we pause a moment and define Geology, and briefly list the various geological periods.
Geology has been defined as the poetry and romanee of science. That alone would justify us pausing before we come to the more human manifestations of our historical narrative. It reveals the causes that make the prosperity of a region pos- sible. It is the somber, undecorative, but highly essential material foundation to the structure we are going to build and weave in this work. We cannot funda- mentally understand the structure of our state without a brief review of this phase of its development.
As now best understood from its rock memorials, to which our scientists turn when making research for this part of our state's history, there have been five great geologieal eras, viz: The Archaean era, of which we have already briefly made a review; the Paleozoic, the Mesozoic, the Cenozoic, and the Psychozoie.
THE PALEOZOIC ERA
This is called the Animal Life era. During this era the areas were gradually enlarged, and myriad forms of strange organisms appeared. Geologists usually divide this aeon into three distinct ages: The Age of Invertebrates subdivided into the Upper and Lower Silurian eras-when numberless sponges, corals, starfishes, molluska and other strange animal types dominated the ocean depths, and a few
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HISTORY OF NEBRASKA
terrestrial plants appeared; the Age of Fishes, or Devonian era, when the ocean plants swarmed with sharks, gar-pikes and turtle-like placoderms of huge size; and the Carboniferous Age-subdivided into Subcarboniferous, Carboniferous and Permian eras-when coal plants grew and the coal measures were formed.
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