Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties, Part 19

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co.
Number of Pages: 820

USA > Nebraska > Adams County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 19
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 19
USA > Nebraska > Hall County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 19
USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 19

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Lots were assessed at $15 each, and a tax of $2.79 levied on each lot. A poll tax of $2.00 on each male inhabitant of legal age was also levied, and the dog tax amounted to $54, the total tax on personal property levied being $978.06.

Charles F. Morse's 1,063 lots in Juniata village were assessed $15,945, and his 308 acres in Section 12, Township 7, Range 11, $6,160, on which amounts a tax of $1,658.06 was levied.

The acreage of Burlington & Missouri River Rail- road lands was 105,423, valued at $3,200 per 640 acres, and assessed at $74.40 per section. The Union Pacific Company claimed 72,270 acres in this

county, valued and taxed the same as the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad lands.

In 1873 the Eastern Land Association's lots at Juniata were assessed at $10 each and a levy of $4. 053 cents made on each. The lots were assessed to Morse in 1872. The Association's lots at old In- land numbered 528, assessed at $3 each, on which a tax of $1.35 each was levied. At Kenesaw the same association had 334 lots, valued at 83 each, on which atax of $1.24 each was levied. The Hastings Town Company's lots were assessed for the first time in 1873. Their thirty-three blocks containing about 500 lots were assessed varionsly, also 16} sec- tions in Township 5, Range 9, and 721 miles of rail- road in Denver precinct.

Personal property was first assessed in Silver Lake, as a precinct, in 1874. Among the names of tax-payers that year are S. E. Blesh, J. M. Black- ledge, N. D. Blackley, E. M. Beach, J. R. Chap- man, M. V. Hatfield, A. and R. Hohlfeldt, W. S. Milner, Jacob Morgan, Benj. Morgan, J. B. Roscoe, W. W. Philleo, W. H. Shaw, J. D. Van Houten, H. A. Wilson, J. C. Wilson, John Wade, Henry Wade and Daniel Wilson.

In Juniata precinct in 1874 were the persons named in the list of 1872 with J. R. Royce, James Laird, A. H. Brown & Brother, W. S. Bonebrake, J. P. Conger, Fred Cook, John Corven, T. N. Crit- tenden, James Clark, W. B. Cushing, William Cal- ler, William Doolittle, George Demster, William Der- rick, Hilbry Dean, D. L. Eagle, Peter Fowlie, Sam Fancher, W. H. Gardner, Harris, Freeman & Co., F. Henry, E. A. Haselton, F. H. Hall, D. H. Holmes, William and Ned Hodgson, Ransom House, T. I. Howard, George Henderson, Niles Johnson, C. R. Jones, MI. B. Kelley, T. and W. L. Kemp, Peter Lawson, Larkin Brothers, J. G. Moore, C. B. and W. A. Moorehouse, James Norrish, William Norton, James Patterson, Orlando Stiver, J. H. and W. Skinner, S. J. Shuley, J. E. Smith, William Tivedale, Job Tanner, Myron Van Fleet, A. E. Wells, W. H. White, William Woolman, I. D. Wadsworth, Ezra Warren and R. Wood.

The persons assessed in Kenesaw in 1874 were E. N. Adams, C. D. Bennett, James Cockley, L. Cline, S. M. and G. J. Holman, S. K. and H. C.

*Amount not known.

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ADAMS COUNTY.

Humbert, Josiah Hodges, John S. Jewell. John Kent, Osear Kent, M. W. Knapp, E. H. Macklin, Samnel Min, Miller & Knapp, W. Parmenter, C. Peters, J. T. Raglan, James H. Roekafellow, G. L. and J. W. Stine, O. W. and F. B. Spellman, David Shattuck, George Spindler, G. B. Staples, William Shultz, F. R. Staples, W. L. Stark, John Vannen Kirk, E. J. Willis, W. T. Wright, A. D. Williams, T. G. Whiting and I. W. Worsley.

On November 1, 1873, a party of four Indians visited L. G. King's house, at Kingston, and took formal possession. King went for help and return- ing found the red men in his bed. Ordering them to leave, they resisted, but King put Texas Jim ont. Another Indian leveled his revolver at Abbott and Mason, but looking into the muzzles of their rifles did not carry the threat further. A party of settlers, headed by J. M. Bird, drove the few aborigines out of the county.

The first Fourth of July celebration at Juniata was held in 1873. Col. E. M. Allen presided. The vice-presidents were R. H. Crane (Rev.), James Morrish, L. P. Hawley, of Juniata; Charles Clntz, F. S. Wells, V. S. James, of Denver; I. A. Matliek, E. G. Knapp, E. J. Willis, of Kenesaw; W. W. Selleck, I. J. Draper and C. G. Wilson, of Little Blue ; B. H. Scott, J. J. Hoyleman, R. K. Daily,

of Silver Lake. Miss Rosa Kelley was reader; R. S. Langley, marshal; Rev. A. D. Williams, chap- lain, and James Laird, orator. The fete at Hastings was attended by 1,500 people.

The Adams County Old Settlers' Association was organized at Ayr, Angust 14, 1886, with M. N. Kress, of Ayr, president; Gen. A. H. Bowen, of Hastings, vice-president ; Isaae Le Doiyt, of Hast. ings, secretary and historian, and George F. Brown, of Juniata, treasurer. The assistant secretaries elected were R. S. Spicknall, of Silver Lake; W. W. Philleo, of Zero; J. C. Woodworth, of Ayr; W. P. Davis, of Roseland; S. L. Martin, of Cottonwood; John Shellhamer, of Logan; John Overy, Little Blue; M. E. Palmer, West Blue; William Brown, Highland; E. J. Hanchett, Verona; L. A. Boley, Kenesaw ; Israel Spindler, Wanda; A. H. Brown, Denver; H. B. MeGaw, Blaine; John Jung, Han- over, and S. L. Brass, Juniata. A. II. Bowen, A. H. Brown and A. L. Wigton were appointed a commit- tee to prepare a constitution and set of by-laws.

The Poweshiek (Iowa) County Association was organized at Hastings in June, 1888, with M. K. Lewis, president; C. F. Royce, secretary ; L. B. Palmer, treasurer; W. A. Chapman, L. A. Royce, A. L. Wigton, Mrs. L. B. Palmer and Mrs. Wigton, members of executive committee.

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HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.

CHAPTER XIII.

ESTABLISHMENT OF COUNTY-BOUNDARIES-TRANSACTIONS OF COMMISSIONERS AND SUPERVISORS-COUNTY SEAT WAR-COURT AFFAIRS-TERMS FROM MAY, 1873, TO JANUARY, 1890-IMPORTANT CRIMINAL CASES-NUMEROUS MURDERS, HANGINGS, ETC .- DEFALCATION.

Laws do not put the least restraint Upon our freedom, but maintain 't .- Butler.

HE county of Adams was established under the act approved February 16, 1867, within the following de- scribed boundaries: From the point where the east line of Range 9 west crosses the Platte; thence up the river chan- nel to the intersection of the west line of Range 12; thence south to southwest corner of Township 5, Range 12; thence east to south- east corner of Township 5, Range 9, and north to place of begin- ning. It was a piece of legislation common to the times, as was that of Pennsylvania in the first decade of the century. Establishing a county where two or three persons resided was so strange in itself that the legislators themselves were willing to forget their acts, and in this instance the act of February 16, 1867, "fell into innocuous desnetude," and the county within these boundaries was formed.

On November 7, 1871, Acting Governor James, responding to a petition presented by the few resi- dents of Adams, ordered the county to be organized for judicial and executive purposes, fixing the day of election on December 12, following. As told in the political chapter, this election was held and the chosen officers duly qualified.

The first regular meeting of the county commis- sioners was called for January 2, 1872, but Commis- sioner W. W. Selleck being the only official present, au adjournment to January 16 was ordered. The record is signed by Titus Babcock, deputy county clerk. The adjourned meeting was duly held, W. W. Selleck and Samuel L. Brass being present. The county was divided into three commissioners' dis- tricts-the first of which comprised Township 5, in Ranges 9, 10, 11 and 12, and the two southern tiers of sections in Township 6. Wellington W. Selleck represented this district on the board. District No. 2 comprised that portion of the county north of district No. 1, and west of the line between Ranges 10 and 11, with Edwin M. Allen representative on the board; while district No. 3 comprised all the territory in Adams north of district No. 1 and east of the line between Ranges 10 and 11. Samuel L. Brass was representative. The county was sub- divided into seven road districts, No. 1 being Town- ships 5 and 6 in Range 9, with Eben Wright, super- visor ; No. 2, Townships 7 and 8 in Range 9, Volney Jones; No. 3, Townships 5 and 6 in Range 10, L. G. King; No. 4, Townships 7 and 8 in Range 10, John M. Myer; No. 5, Townships 5 and 6 in Range 11, R. K. Daily; No. 6, Townships 7 and 8 in Range 11, Pliny Allen, and No. 7, Townships 5, 6, 7 and 8, in Range 12, with James H. Sweeting supervisor. Accounts aggregating $74 were allowed -- McNally & Co. receiving $12 for seats; A. H. Bowen $17 for

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registration ; T. Babcock $25.15 for rent and fuel and $4 for election expenses; R. D. Babcock, $2; Simeon Johnson, $2, and Judson Burwell, $2 for election expenses. A day later $2 was allowed I. W. Stark for election expenses.

The salary of the county clerk (R. D. Babcock) was fixed at $150 per annum (raised on January 30, to $300); of county commissioners, $3 per day for time actually employed and legal mileage, and of probate judge, $75. On January 17 a building for county offices was ordered to be erected within ten days, and the sheriff authorized to advertise for proposals for building a house 20 feet long, 16 feet wide and 8 feet high between joists, with rafters coming down to upper joists, frame of pine lumber, boarded and battened on outside, shingle roof, four windows, one door, one matched floor and ceiled overhead with building paper. The building was to be finished ten days after the sale of contract, ma- terial was to be furnished by the commissioners, except door and window frames and case. The payment was to be made by county warrant, draw- ing 10 per cent until paid. Joseph Stuhl bought this contract for $30. S. L. Brass was building superintendent.

The county treasurer was authorized to take pos- session of any books formerly obtained for Adams County, and give to the holder his receipt therefor. On the 18th C. C. Babcock was allowed for printing 200 county orders the sum of $2. On January 29 a meeting to approve treasurer's bond was held; but owing to J. S. Chandler, the treasurer-elect, hand- ing in his resignation, the subject was postponed until the 30th when George Henderson was ap- pointed, but S. L. Brass was ordered to act as tem- porary treasurer. An order for blank books was given to Acres, Blackman & Co. through C. L. Wundt. On January 31 Thomas C. Fleming was appointed county surveyor, owing to failure to elect such officer. On February 15, 1872, Deputy Sheriff Hummel produced H. H. Ballou, overseer of the poor, who stated he employed Dr. Laine to amputate the feet of a county charge. The Doctor presented a bill for $150, but the wily commissioners allowed only half that sum. H. H. Ballou resigned the of- fice of justice, and A. D. Rust was appointed.

Treasurer Henderson qualified February 15, and received $94.84 from temporary Treasurer Brass ; 8872.50 bank certificate, and cancelled warrants for $255. 15, or 81,222. R. K. Dailey resigned as road supervisor, and Charles Wilson appointed to that office. On the 16th the report of Commissioner Selleck on the indebtedness of other counties to Adams pointed out the sum of $3,370.11 collected by Hamilton County in Adams from 1867 to 1870 inclusive, of which 8927.90 was paid out for State taxes ; $243.28 collection fees to attorney ; $12.50 clerk's fees; $14.08, treasurer's fees, and $29.86 assessor's charges, a total expenditure of $1,227.62; but owing to accounts in the hands of Attorney A. H. Bowen the actual amount could not be ascer- tained. This report was adopted. The sheriff was ordered to proceed to Hamilton County and notify said county that the funds belonging to Adams, paid to A. H. Bowen, was done without authority, and that Hamilton County would be held responsible for 8883.43, which A. H. Bowen refused to pay. Com- missioner Selleck also reported on moneys due by Fillmore and Saline Counties, and obtained the tax lists of Adams and Kearney Counties. He expressed his belief in the statement that Saline County owed Adams County about $8,000 of back taxes. The board ordered the employment of an attorney to collect from Saline. The lists for Adams and Kearney for 1871 were placed in the hands of the treasurer. During this session the commissioners resolved themselves into a committee of the whole to select a site for poor farm and buildings, and S. L. Brass was specially appointed to confer with the owners of the town site of Juniata in the matter of obtaining a donation of twenty acres for such pur- pose. Jacobson's charge of malfeasance was read before the board February 17, 1872, and .1. H. Bowen was cited to answer the charge. Accounts aggregating $259.01 were ordered to be paid.

On February 27, 1872, a resolution by Com- missioner Brass gives to the money trouble of the period another complexion; showing that Deputy Clerk Babcock issued to A. II. Bowen an order, duly sealed, to receive Adams County funds from Ham- ilton. His motion to concur in the transaction was adopted. Immediately after the adoption of this

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resolution O. A. Abbott, agent of Hall County, pre- sented the claims of that new county against Adams for taxes collected in 1870 and prior years; but in response, heard the resolution of Commissioner Brass, asking for the employment of the best coun- sel in the State to consider Hall County's claim. On February 28, Isaac W. Stark, superintendent of schools, presented his complaint against A. H. Bowen. Jacobson's charge was withdrawn, and on February 29, the other charges against him were dismissed by the commissioners, owing to the fact that a copy of the complaint was not furnished to him with the citation. At this time Commissioner Allen moved that a license fee of $200 per annum be adopted, while Selleck wanted it fixed at $300. The lower figures were adopted. The attack by A. H. Bowen, made in the Gazette, was denounced by the board, and a resolution ordering the assessment of the Union Pacific lands in the county adopted. In March, 1872, Kearney County was set apart as a distinct precinct for revenue purposes only, and Adams County was divided into two precincts- No. 1 comprising all the county north of an east and west line from the southeast corner of Section 12, Township 6 north, Range 9 west, to the northwest corner of Section 7, Township 6, Range 12. Dis- trict No. 2 comprised all the county south of such line. The first was named " Juniata Precinct," and the second " Little Blue Precinct."

The removal of the court house to lot 551, with- out expense to the county, was ordered to be carried out under the direction of Commissioner Brass. Mr. Brass on this occasion proposed that the charge of embezzlement preferred by the State against Adna H. Bowen should not be further prosecuted. This proposition was adopted. Abbott and Thum- mel, attorneys for Hall County, were notified that the commissioners of Adams did not consider the county indebted to Hall County, and refused to pay any of the money received from Hamilton County. In April, ten road districts were established. On April 4, the commissioners selected Section 2, Town- ship 6, Range 11, for poor farm purposes, and its acquisition by preemption or otherwise ordered. The commissioners appointed to locate roads were offered a compensation of $2 for every ten miles of

road laid out by them, and the salary of the probate judge was increased from $75 to $100 per annum. The request for $75,000 aid to the St. Joseph & Denver Railroad was presented April 17, by E. E. Brown, and a special election on the subject was ordered. On April 30, a proposition to buy some quarter sections from the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad was favorably received; Commis- sioner Allen was authorized to move the court house at an expense of $10. He performed this work, and, with the original grant, $29.78 for repairs. The license for sale of liquor was increased to $300 in May, 1872. In July Treasurer Henderson re- signed and Ira G. Dillon was appointed to fill the vacancy. The amount of State taxes to be levied in 1872 was 52 mills or $5,503.61; general fund, in- cluding support of poor, $4,785.76 at 5 mills on the dollar; road and land fund, $4 on each quarter section; poll tax, $2 on each poll; sinking fund, 2} mills; bridge tax, 5 mills; school tax, $905.75 in district No. 1; $144 in No. 2; $300 in No. 9; $870 in No. 12; $650 in No. 16, and $175 in No. 17. The total valuation was $957,153.

The valuation of Kearney County was $722,736, on which a State, general and poor, land, road and poll tax were collected, the rates being the same as in Adams County. No bridge or school tax is recorded. The south } of Section 1, Township 6, Range 11, was purchased from the Burlington & Missouri Company at this time for the purposes of a poor farm. A junketing expedition was subse- quently, in July, organized; when the commis- sioners proceeded in a body to locate a bridge over Thirty-two Mile Creek. The expense of this expe- dition, it is alleged, was much heavier than that of the bridge subsequently built. After this resolution was adopted the clerk presented thirty-two wolf scalps and one wild cat scalp, which were ordered to be destroyed. An election on the question of granting $6,000 aid toward the building of a steam grist-mill, at Juniata, was ordered to be held at the time of holding general election. In July, 1872, the balance due by Adams and Kearney Counties to Fillmore was fixed at $45.25, and by Adams to Kearney at $934.68. In August the board adver- tised for proposals to build a poor house 16x24 feet,

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and one and one-half stories high, and appointed Peter Fowlie poor-master at $25 per month. Ira G. Dillon's proposal to erect the poor honse for $1,400 was accepted. On October 9, 1872, Township 7 and 8, Range 12, the west tier of sections in Town- ships 7 and 8, Range 11; the north tier of sections in Townships 6, Range 12, and Section 6, Township 6, in Range 12, were set off to form the precinct of Kenesaw, while Townships 7 and 8, Range 9, the north tier of sections in Township 6, Range 9, Sections 1 and 2 in Township 6, Range 10, and the two eastern tiers of sections in Townships 7 and 8, Range 10, set off under the title of Denver precinct.

Silver Lake precinct was established October 9, 1872, within the following described lines: The west half of Townships 5 and 6, Range 10, except the north tier of sections in Townships 6, all of Town- ship 5, in Ranges 11 and 12, and Township 6 in the same ranges, except the north tier of sec- tions in Township 6, in each range. During the month of October H. L. Clark's proposition to erect Queen Truss wooden bridges over the Little Blue and Thirty-two Mile Creek for $1, 795, was received and acquiesced in. Poor-master Fowlie reported six poor persons as charges on the county on November 1, 1872, and on the 4th took possession of the new poor house, but from December 5 to the close of the year there were none chargeable to the county. In January the board asked the representa- tives in House and Senate to introduce a bill, making all section lines in Adams County public roads. The subject of purchasing artificial feet for Peter Fowlie was then discussed; but the opinion of the county attorney and the law set aside the good intentions of the commissioners toward him.

In January, 1873, the State land commissioner was petitioned to place the school sections of the county on the market; the salary of the clerk was placed at $300; of the probate judge, $100; of the superintendent of schools, $4 per day while on duty, and of the poor-master $25 per month, and in February R. S. Langley was appointed sheriff, vice Haselton resigned. The question of increasing license fee was discussed in March and the amount raised to $400. Charles Kohl was granted a license for Hastings village at this time. In April W. H.

Martin, R. R. Crane and George Kuder were ap- pointed commissioners to appraise the school lands of Adams County. A statement by Treasurer W. M. West per the deputy treasurer, Peter Fowlie, was presented to the board in May. This showed a balance of $534.78 on December 2, 1872, and $2,128.65 received from that period to May 5, 1873. Of this total ($2,663.43) there was $1,418.59 ex- pended. In July the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad Company asked damages by reason of loss sustained through the act of the Legislature in set- ting off section lines for road purposes. The board appointed Ira G. Dillon, Eli B. Dailey and William L. Kemp assessors in the matter. D. S. Cole peti- tioned for the erection of a temporary jail. This was granted and the question of tax levy for 1873 con- sidered. The levy ordered for State tax was $6,- 738.90; for county tax, $29,238.60 and for poll tax, $2 per poll. In Juniata, $600 interest on grist-mill bonds was authorized; while the direct school tax was as follows: District No. 1, $1,300; Nos. 2 and 3, 10 mills on the dollar and $400; No. 4, $340; No. 5, 10 mills on the dollar; No. 19, 13 mills on the dollar; No. 10, 40 mills on the dollar; No. 12, $465; No. 13, $438; No. 14, $600; No. 16, 10 mills on the dollar and $170; No. 17, 82,900; No. 18, $2,000; No. 19, $370; No. 21, 25 inills on the dollar; No. 22, 15 mills on the dollar; No. 23, 8285; No. 24, $670; No. 25, $600; No. 28, $200; No. 31, $945; No. 32, $350; No. 33, $500; No. 34, $200, and No. 35, 8300. Prof. A. D. Williams, the immigration agent for Adams County, was granted the use of room in the court house at Juniata. A petition signed by Simon Rankins and 327 other citizens and a remonstrance signed by C. H. Chapman and 201 citizens, on the question of county seat removal, were received, but not granted. James Laird, agent of the Eastern Land Association, asked for the vacation of streets and alleys in the villages of Kenesaw and Inland, and commissioners were appointed to report upon the justice of the demand. Such reports were favorable to the petitioners in each case and the vacation was ordered. On January 5, 1874, A. Il. Cramer signed the record as clerk and the salary was placed at $400. Charges against Peter Fowlie were not sustained by the board-the ill-treatment of a horse being the

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only evidence of any carelessness by the poor- master.

In February A. H. Cramer was named as mem- ber of the Centennial Board for Adams County. Letters from James Beach, A. C. Wright, E. W. Morse, N. D. Blakely, M. B. Kelley, George Rob- bins, S. B. Webb and J. C. Woodworth, asking to be appointed poor-master, vice Fowlie, were received, and Kelley appointed. An election ordered on the questions of granting $45,000 aid to the St. Joseph & Denver Railroad, and on issuing bonds to cover indebtedness of the county on May 1, 1874, amount- ing to about $22,120.98. In June a meeting held at Juniata adopted resolutions in favor of the erection of county buildings at that point, and the use of the sinking fund for that purpose. A. H. Bowen, E. M. Allen and B. F. Smith formed the committee appointed by this meeting to present the matter to the board. This body took prompt action and asked for plans and specifications for a building, the cost of which was not to exceed $15,000. On June 30, a remonstrance against such action was presented by Frank Sears and eighty-eight others; but it had not the power expected and the bid of D. H. Freeman ($14,000) was accepted, but the authority of the commissioners in the matter was questioned and the subject referred to Judge Gantt. The contract was set aside later and again petition and remonstrance on the vexatious re-location subject claimed the attention of the board-a petition of 584 praying for re-location and a remonstrance of 349 against the proposition being the signals of war. A number of persons withdrew their names from the former petition, and the commissioners taking cognizance of the remonstrance denied an election on the subject. In February, 1875, C. C. and R. D. Babcock, of the Gazette, and R. A. Dague, of the Journal, proposed to print the transactions of the commissioners, as officially reported by the county clerk, at five cents per line for both papers or two and a half cents per line in fact. A second proposition was $125 per annum to each newspaper for publishing the official reports.

On March 5, 1875, the " troublesome question" was resurrected. A petition by J. L. Parrott and 491 other citizens asking for an election "Ou Re-

location of County Seat" was granted, and April 1, 1875, fixed as the day of voting. Fifteen per centum of the amount of taxes recovered for this county in re Union Pacific Company vs. McShane and others, was adjusted and settled as attorneys' fees and expenses due to Bowen, Laird, Briggs and Cowin as counsel fees as decreed by the court. In May, E. C. Shellhamer's charge of neglect of duty and partiality in office was preferred against A. H. Cramer.

In July the assessed value of Adams County was fixed at $1,160,529, on which a State tax of 7 7-20 mills was levied, and a county tax of 17 1-2 mills. The $2 poll tax yielded $1,566, while the $1 tax on dogs and $2 tax on female dogs was not estimated. The direct school tax by districts was $19,338. The road tax ranged from 5 to 25 mills on the dollar. Denver's bond interest tax was $2,660, and Juniata's interest and principal on bonds, $800. W. W. McDonald was poor-master in 1876, and N. F. Chamberlain builder of addition to house. In the fall of 1875 road and bridge con- struction assumed large proportions, and a few iron bridges were erected. In February, 1876, a petition was read from S. Alexander and other citizens ask- ing the board to employ Abbott & Batty to prosecute the case of Charles H. Paul ex. rel. vs. William B. Thorne et al., for the purpose of cancelling and de- stroying bonds of Denver Township ($33,250) issued in May, 1874, to aid in building the Hastings & Grand Island Railroad. The board granted this prayer.

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Author: Goodspeed Brothers Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co. Number of Pages: 820

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co.
Number of Pages: 820