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 26
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 26
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 26
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 26
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In 1873 the "troublesome question " was
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brought before the Legislature. In 1875 a bill reg- ulating the granting of licenses was passed. In 1878 the banded legions asked for prohibition. Among their opponents was R. A. Batty, of Adams County. A. H. Bowen worked against him in the lobby, as the latter was not a member of the House. Mr. Batty pointed out the danger of church and State government, and his speech aided in the defeat of the bill. In 1880 another defeat was experienced. In June, 1881, the license law was passed, and de- elared constitutional by the supreme court in July, 1881.
The Adams County Sunday-School Association, organized in 1874, may be said to have only per- fected organization in May, of 1880, with J. B. Heartwell, president; O. A. Buzzell, C. S .: L. B. Palmer, R. S .; W. H. Burr, treasurer; A. F. Powers, Davis Lowman, W. Klingerman, J. A. Davidson, D. P. Maryatt, L. Parmenter, W. White, and C. F. Orvis, vice-presidents. The report showed 1,200 Sunday-school scholars in the county. The work of this society has been carried on methodically since 1880. The Eleventh Annual Convention of the County Sunday-School Association was commeneed at Ayr, May 21, 1885. D. D. Norton was chosen secretary; Prof. H. B. Gilbert, correspondent; L. M. Campbell, recorder; Nettie Winter, treasurer; James Newell, George F. Work and A. N. Hall, executive committee. Some changes have been made in the official list within the last five years, bnt the workers in the Sunday-school movement have retained their interest in it under every change of administration.
The woman's suffrage question, or the Bloomer movement, was presented to Nebraskans January 8, 1856, when Mrs. Amelia Bloomer delivered an ad- dress before the State Legislature. A bill was at once introduced providing for women the right of voting. This bill was carried in the House by 14 to 11, Representative Laird voting with the minor- ity. It failed, however, to be brought up for third reading in the Council. In 1867, the trio, George Francis Train, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, reviewed the question, but it was not well received, as the constitution of 1871 made no pro- vision for enfranchising women. In 1877 the
Woman's Suffrage Association, of Thayer County, was organized, and this society asked for a constitu- tional amendment, omitting the word male and giv- ing the franchise to every person a citizen of the United States. On January 27, 1880, the Nebraska Woman's Suffrage Association was formed. Mrs. J. H. Bowen, of Hastings, was a member of the first executive committee. This association worked so earnestly that eighty-four of the two hundred jour- nals then published in the State espoused its cause; while only eighteen journals opposed it. Adams County Woman's Suffrage Association was organized March 30, 1882, by Mrs. M. A. Brass. Mrs. S. H. Henderson was elected president, Mrs. S. H. Williams, R. S., and Mrs. Liveringhouse, C. S. The vice-presidents chosen were Mrs. A. Wal- deck, of Little Blue precinct; Mrs. J. Bovard, of Ayr; Mrs. M. Renfrew, of Denver; Mrs. M. Van Fleet, of West Blue; Mrs. B. Smith, of Juniata; Mrs. L. A. Boley, of Kenesaw; Mrs. B. F. Evans, of Cottonwood, and Mrs. Clinton Soper, of Silver Lake.
The pioneer railroad of Adams County, and in- deed, of Nebraska, south of the Platte River, is the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad, now connect- ing Denver with Chicago, and bringing Hastings within seventeen hours distance of that city. This road was constructed in 1871-72, from Omaha to Kearney, and in July, of 1872, the first office in this county was opened at Hastings by Agent Wiggins. This road was built without asking aid from the pioneers of Adams County. In April, 1878, the question of granting financial aid to the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad Company, on their prop- osition to build a road from Hastings, throngh Lit- tle Blue and Pawnee to Red Cloud, took practical shape, and resolutions favoring the proposition were widely circulated and signed. This project was carried out in 1878, Denver precinct voting the bonds referred to in the transactions of the com- missioners and in the political chapter. Work on the Hastings & Republican Valley Railroad was be- gun June 12, 1878, by the chief contractor, John Fitzgerald. About a month later a small band of Hibernian workmen, dissatisfied with the presence of labor-competing Russians, rebelled and drove the
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2
peaceful ex-slaves of the Czar from the place. The local press was full of praise for the great contract- or's methods.
The Hastings & Oberlin road and the Hastings & Aurora road are branches of this system. The great strike of locomotive engineers and firemen on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy system began at 4 A. M. on February 29, 1888, when ten engines were laid up at the Hastings round house. "Pap " Willis, an old conductor, and formerly an engineer, took charge of No. 6, running to Lincoln, and re- turned with No. 5, being his own fireman. A meet- ing to consider the rates on grain, charged by the Burlington & Missouri River and other roads from Hastings to Chicago, resulted in a resolution boy- cotting the Burlington & Missouri River, and favor- ing the St. Joseph & Western.
At the crossing of the Grand Island & St. Joseph Railroad within the limits of Hastings two wrecks have already been recorded. That of December, 1889, resulted in the death of Fireman Cahill and injury to mail car No. 37, of No. 1 Flyer.
The St. Joseph & Grand Island Railroad was constructed in 1872 without financial aid from the county, and was at that time known as the St. Joseph & Denver City. It was the original inten- tion of the projectors of the enterprise to construct the line through to Denver, Colo., and, in pursuance of that intention, the road was graded and the track laid for some miles west of Hastings. Afterward, when the idea of building to Denver was abandoned, the track that had been put down west of the city was taken up, and Hastings remained the western terminus of the road until the fall of 1879, when the construction of the Hastings & Grand Island Railroad formed a connection between the St. Joseph & Denver and the Union Pacific. The two com- panies were then put under the same management, and the consolidated line became the St. Joseph & Grand Island, which name it now bears.
During the heavy snow storm of January, 1886, a train on the St. Joseph & Western Railroad was snow bound between Hastings and Hansen, near the S. M. Bates farm. The cold was extreme, so that the passengers who remained in the coaches during the blockade suffered severely.
The Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Rail- road Company was incorporated in December, 1886, the capital stock being placed at $30,000,000. The road was completed to Hastings in October, 1887, thus giving the Chicago & Northwestern commu- nication with this rich prairie section. In January, 1886, there were construction contracts sold for 297 miles of the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad, including the twenty-six miles from Hast- ings to Aurora. It was an interesting sight to see a band of forty or more Russians, of all sizes, rig- ging up a team to go to work on the grade, with Fitzgerald in their midst talking Chenook, and gesticulating some sense into them. The road was completed to Hastings, October 10, 1887. One branch extends from Fremont to the Black Hills and into Wyoming. Another line stretches out to- ward the Kansas field, and a line from Hastings to Denver is projected.
On October 15, 1887, the question of subscribing $20,000 aid to the Pacific Railroad Company, in Ne- braska, was carried by a majority vote of the tax- payers of Hastings. The county subscribed $100,- 000 and the bonds were issued April 24, 1888. A few days later a temporary injunction to prevent delivery of bonds was granted by the district court, an act at once condemned by the Hastings Board of Trade.
The workmen on the Missouri Pacific Railroad camped at Hastings February 28, 1888, and placed the houses on the depot site on rollers to be moved from right of way. Track laying was commenced April 4, when the depot building was completed. The first arrival and departure of a Missouri Pacific Railroad train at Hastings took place April 21, 1888, when locomotive 168, in charge of Raymond, hauling a regular train with W. P. Davis, conductor, steamed into the city, thence proceeded to Juniata, where the first agent was installed, and thence to the western terminus at Prosser, just at the county line, where J. H. Korner was the first agent.
The Burlington & Missouri River Railroad, built in 1871-72, and the St. Joseph & Western Railroad, in 1872, were constructed without financial aid being asked from the pioneers. Not so the branch of the Burlington & Missouri River-the Republican Val-
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ley Railroad-built in 1878. Denver township donated $20,000 in bonds. In 1879 the Northern branch was built from the north to Hastings; so that the fifty-seven miles of railroad in Adams County in 1880 cost the people directly only $2,000 and that sum was confined to the few residents of one precinct.
In February, 1874, the record of land sale con- tracts by the Union Pacific Company with buyers began in this county.
In April, 1888, Secretary Lamar issued his cele- brated order restoring to the United States the un- earned land grants of several railroads companies. The St. Joseph & Denver Railroad lost 12,000 acres, a large portion of which belong to the south- ern townships of Adams County. Settlers who pur- chased from the railroad company were alarmed, but the vacating act secured for the buyers from the company a preference right to re-purchase.
The Kansas City, Wyandotte & Northwestern Railroad has been built from Kansas City to Beatrice, and regular trains were running into the latter city in December, 1889. In the fall of 1885 Mayor Yo- cum and Charlie Dietrich took an active interest in the organization of this road. Both gentlemen were members of the board of directors.
The Rock Island Railroad, which now reaches Nelson in Nuckolls County, the Chicago & Santa Fe, the Kansas City, Lawrence & Nebraska are all look- ing over the prairie toward Hastings; while the roads already represented here are equally watchful in planning extentions or in carrying their plans forward.
The first school in Adams County was opened one mile south of Juniata early in 1872, by Miss Emma Leonard, and that fall Miss Lizzie Scott was employed to teach a school at Juniata. In the rec- ords of the county commissioners, summarized for this work, the official dealings with the pioneer schools are related. By April 1, 1872, there were thirteen districts organized, and by October 1, 1873, no less than thirty-eight districts reported organiza- tion. The enumeration of children of school age gave a total of 467, of whom 251 were males and 216 fe- males. The expenditures for school purposes in 1875 amounted to $10, 350.46, or an expense per child of
$6.60. In the thirty-eight districts were twenty-five school-houses, one of which was a log-house. In 1880 sixty-six districts and fifty-five school buildings were reported; 3,275 children of school age-1,083 males and 1,032 females. Thirty-two male and 41 female teachers were employed during the first year of the past decade (1880), who received $12,505.61 as salary. The school buildings were valued at 831,492.20, and the school grounds at $911. The first statistics of apportionment of school moneys, published in October, 1873, on the bases of the con- sus of April of that year, form a little history of the beginnings of the common schools of Adams County.
The amount received from the State was $626.83. and that from the county $238.59, making a total of $865.42. It will be seen that all organized distriets received $7.46, being each district's share of the one-fourth of the whole amount. Some will be no- ticed marked *, which denotes that they had three months school prior to the taking of the census in April, 1873, and hence were not entitled to the pro rata apportionment. District No. 18, which includes Hastings, was organized more than three months before the taking of the school census in April, 1883, and had no school until after that time, hence was not entiled to the pro rata apportionment.
District No. 1, 37 children, $114.02; district No. 2, 29 children, $90.98; district No. 3*, $7.46; district No. 4, 33 children, $102.50; district No. 5*, $7.46; distriet No. 8*, $7.46; district No. 9*, 87.46; district No. 10, 10 children, $36.26; distriet No. 12, 8 children, $30.50; district No. 13, 6 chil- dren, 824.74; district No. 14*, $7.46; district No. 16, 7 children, $27.62; district No. 17*, $7.46; district No. 18*, $7.46; district No. 19, 21 chil- dren, $67.94; distriet No. 21*, 87.46; district No. 22, 22 children, $76.82; district No. 13*, $7.46; district No. 24*, $7.46; district No. 25, 19 chil- dren, $62.18; district No. 26*, $7.46; district No. 28*, $7.46; distriet No. 29*, $7.46; district No. 31*, $7.46; district No. 32, 7 children, $27.62; district No. 33, 11 children, $39.24; district No. 34, 8 children, $30.50; district No. 35, 7 children, $27.62; district No. 37 *, $7.46.
Superintendent A. E. Allyn, of Adams County,
6
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reporting on the schools for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1888, credits the county with 5 brick, 77 frame and 2 sod school houses, and places the value of school property at $173,014. The number of acres of common school lands in the county on No- vember 30, 1888, was 16,560. During the year theu ended 1,515 acres were sold, and 4,160 acres leased at $3,462. 95 per annum. The apportionment of school funds to Adams County in 1888 was $8,279.44. On July 11, 1887, there were 2,713 males and 2,709 female pupils, or children between the age of five and twenty-one; 35 males and 102 female teachers were employed; 4 graded schools were in existence, and 75 of the 80 districts had
school for six months or more each year. At Hastings J. B. Monlux was principal, and at Jnniata J. H. Albright (succeeded by Mr. Webster). Miss Bertha Green was principal of the partially graded school at Ayr, and H. H. Monlux at Kenesaw. The enrollment of school children at the close of 1888 was 281 over that of the former year, but the in- crease in attendance was only 9. During the year 1889 a marked increase in ennmeration was reported, and an improvement in the system of teaching and qualification of teachers.
The first flag raised over a school honse in Adams County was hoisted over the school building in the Wallace district, January 6, 1890, by W. E. Nute.
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CHAPTER XVII.
HASTINGS CITY-LOCATION AND ADDITIONS-TOWN COMPANY-JUDICIAL HISTORY-KINNAN CLAIM-FIRST SETTLE- MENT-BEGINNINGS OF RELIGIOUS AND BUSINESS ENTERPRISES-BUILDING THE CITY-FIRES-STORMS-IM- PROVEMENTS-TRANSACTIONS OF CITY COUNCIL-FINANCIAL-OFFICIALS, ETC .- BOARD OF TRADE- BUSINESS MEN'S ASSOCIATION-POST OFFICE-BANKS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS-WHOLE- SALE HOUSES-COMMERCIAL INSTITUTIONS-MANUFACTORIES-CHURCHES-SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES-SECRET AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES-Y. M. C. A .- HOME
FOR THE FRIENDLESS-INSANE ASYLUM-SUNDRY SOCIETIES.
She shakes the rubbish from her mounting brow, And seems to have renew'd her charter's date .- Dryden.
ASTINGS, also known as the "Queen City of the Plains," dates back to 1872. A little while prior to that day, in Oe- tober of that year, when Charles W. Colt and his assistants drew their lines over a part of the southeast quarter of Section 12, the site was part and parcel of Fremont's Great American Desert. The spirit of progress had spread its wings over the country, and a glim- mer from the head-light of the first locomotive on the Burlington & Mis- souri River Railroad shot across the prairie and seemed to rest here. In July the rail- road to this point was an accomplished fact, and the dream of town-builders took possession of those who entered the lands in 1871. Within six months this dream was partly realized, and, while the shadows of the panie of 1873 ebbed and flowed over the land, the new town of the prairies leaped forward like a young fawn freed from maternal restraints.
The town was surveyed hy Charles W. Colt, of Lowell, Neb., in October, 1872, on the west one-
half of the southeast quarter of Section 12, Town- ship 7, Range 10, under orders from Walter M. Mieklen and Thomas E. Farrell. The plat shows the crossing of the Burlington & Missouri River and St. Joseph & Denver Railroads between Ilast- ings and Lincoln Avenues, south of First Street. This street is paralleled with numbered streets, See- ond to Sixth. The north line is shown by North Street and the south line by South Street. Burling- ton Avenue, running north and south along the west line of the plat, is paralleled on the east by Lincoln, Hastings, Denver and St. Joseph Avenues. On October 15, 1872, Mieklen appointed Thomas E. Farrell, "my true and lawful attorney," to convey any part of the west one-half of the southeast quar- ter of Section 12, Township 7, Range 10. Ile also conveyed to him, for $500, a half of the west one- half of the southeast quarter of Section 12. Town- ship 7, Range 10.
Moore's addition was surveyed by N. P. Cook in November, 1872, for John Gillespie Moore. This traet extended north from South Street to Sixth Street, and west from Burlington Avenue to the alley west of Bellevne Avenue. On October 28, 1872, E. Worthing, receiver of the land office at Lowell, entered the east one-half of the southwest
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quarter of Section 12, Township 7, Range 10, to John G. Moore, for $2.50 per acre.
Johnson's addition was surveyed in March, 1873, by Surveyor C. W. Colt, east of St. Joseph Avenue, within the north and south lines of original town site. The numerical order of east and west streets in original town was retained, while the streets run- ning north and south were named Kansas Avenue, Colorado Avenue, Minnesota Avenue and Wabash Avenue, later occupied by the Hastings & Grand Island Railroad. The railroad addition was snr- veyed by A. B. Smith, in July, 1873.
The articles of incorporation of the Hastings Town Company were filed at Juniata, April 17, 1873; but acknowledged before John L. Jones, of Buchanan County, Mo., April 8, that year, by James D. Carl, W. L. Smith, W. B. Slosson, Thomas E. Farrell and Walter M. Micklen. On April 23, the above named (except Carl), with Thomas Johnson, Louise Slosson and Julia Micklen, gave power of attorney to the president and secre- tary of the company to convey or mortgage all lots in Johnson's addition to the original town. The company was organized April 9, 1874, with James D. Carl, Thomas E. Farrell, William L. Smith, R. Beitel, Henry Beitel, George H. Pratt, C. K. Law- son, W. B. Slosson, and S. Slosson, members.
St. Joseph addition was surveyed by A. R. Buttolph, in July, 1873 (east of railroad addition and south of Johnson's and original town), for D. M. Steele, of Buchanan County, Mo. A. M. Ghost's addition was surveyed by A. B. Smith, October 6, 1873, on the northwest corner of Section 13, Town- ship 7, Range 10, for A. M. Ghost. It was named originally Junction Land Company's addition. Johnson's addition to the Town of Hastings Com- pany was organized in April, 1874, with Thomas E. Farrell, Thomas Johnson, George H. Pratt, C. K. Lawson, William L. Smith, Henry Beitel, Ru- dolph Beitel, and Slosson Brothers, stockholders. In May, 1880, the forty-acre tract of J. V. Lewis, west of the city, was surveyed into five-acre building lots.
In the celebrated case, R. A. Batty, adminis- trator of the estate of John O. Barada, deceased, Delilah Barada and Margaret Barada vs. the Com-
missioners of Adams County and Thomas E. Far- rel, William L. Smith, Walter M. Micklen, Rudolph Beitel, Henry Beitel, George H. Pratt, Charles K. Lawson, William Slosson and Samuel Slosson, the history of the town site of Hastings is judicially re- lated by Judge Gaslin. On March 17, 1881, he delivered judgment in this case in favor of the defendant county. He pointed out clearly that the conveyance of the Town Company, on October 8, 1878, to the county, of Block 15, and the contract to convey, made in 1875, were binding, and further, that the sale to Barada was made without a consid- eration for Block 15, and ordered the persons named as plaintiffs and the individuals named as defend- ants, heirs and legal representatives of Barada, and grantee of Carl, to make quit claim deed to Adams County for Block 15, within sixty days.
In December, 1886, a quit claim deed from Lorenzo H. and Caroline O. Dow to Charles Dietrich was filed in the county office. This instrument showed a consideration of $2,000, and was made in the interest of the owners of the original town plat, and to settle a suit of long standing in the United States court. The site as hitherto stated became the property of a stock company, who delegated to certain persons the power to sell lots. Members of the company complained of the manner in which the power was used, and the old Town Company dis- banded, and a new one was formed, whose agents sold the balance of the property, Mr. Batty buying some of the property, the same to which Dow held title under the original company. In the summer of 1886 the latter began ejectment proceedings, and the former asked the United States court to quiet the title of Dow. The property involved was then valued at $200,000.
The " Kinnan claim " suggested itself in Decem- ber, 1889. It affected Johnson's addition and the original town. If there was any real justice in the claim it would be a very serious matter indeed, but the vigorous steps being taken to show the character of the title alleged to be held by Hnrlbut by quit claim from Mrs. Kinnan, will doubtless succeed in break- ing it down completely. There are altogether about 700 lots in the body, 399 in Johnson's addition and 300 in the original town site land.
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The owners organized to defend their rights and appointed John P. Keedle, M. Van Fleet, Jay Cherry and A. Van Sickle members of a committee for this purpose. Propositions from Ragan, Capps, Me- Creary & Stephens, A. II. Bowen, C. H. Tanner, and from Batty, Casto & Dungan, all agreeing to elear title, were received, and on December 30, 1889, the proposition of the last named firm to clear title to lots for $750 was recommended and subsequently adopted.
In April, 1871, a small colony located here- Walter Mieklen, Thomas Johnson, John G. Moore and Thomas Watts being the members. During the summer and fall others arrived, so that at the elose of 1871 there were twenty-nine voters and a number of foreign adults, or ten more voters than there were persons in the county in June, 1870. Mieklen erected his little sod house on Lineoln Avenue, just north of the N. L. & T. Company's bloek.
Hastings Stock, son of W. H. Stock, was the first child born in Hastings, and to him the company deeded a town lot.
In 1871 Walter Micklen homesteaded the south- west quarter of Section 12, Township 7, Range 10, west, and proving his elaim in 1872, was granted a patent. The Hastings Town Site Company was organized with Walter Mieklen, W. L. Smith, Thomas E. Farrell, secretary; Walter B. Slosson, Samuel Slosson and James D. Carl, members. Miek- len's land was surveyed into lots and the name Hastings given to the surveyed traet. The origi- nal owner built a sod house in 1871. Early in 1872 Samuel Alexander moved from Lincoln to this point and established the first business house here. In October of that year he was commissioned first post- master. The Burlington & Missouri River Railroad was constructed to Jnniata and trains were running in July, 1872. In September following the St. Joseph & Denver City Railroad (later St. Joe & Western) was completed to Hastings. The Metho- dist Society was founded here in 1872; the Congre- gational Society was organized in 1871.
As has been stated, Mr. Alexander is the pion- eer of the commercial cirele. He hauled the goods from old Inland, then the nearest railroad depot.
In October he was appointed postmaster, the consideration being $I per month. In December Capt. Weeeler became his partner and their building on Second Street and Hastings Avenue was erected, where Morledge & McWade established their house in later years. In January the partnership was dis- solved, but Mr. Alexander still had the post ofllee in the new building.
C. B. Nelson came to Hastings October 1, 1872, as land agent of the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad Company. Prior to this J. Ross opened his blacksmith shop in a sod house, but later erceted a good shop on Denver Avenue, and was joined by L. W. Miller.
S. S. Dow arrived from Wisconsin May 28, 1872. In June he established a land office here and within a year located 270 homesteads. He cast the first ballot ever east in Denver preeinet. In May, 1871, J. G. Moore homesteaded what is Moore's addition. In March, 1873, he became a partner of George W. Donahey and built a law and land office at the corner of First and Burlington Streets. C. C. Ingalls built a small house, the third in the village, about September 1, 1872, and soon after joined Benedict in the coal and agricultural implement business. D. S. Cole, who resided east of the town site, set out his nursery in the spring of 1873. B. II. Brown & Son (lumber dealers) built the third house in Sep- tember, 1872, and in October Pratt & Lawson began the building in which they opened the " Headquar- ters " store in November. Capt F. S. Wells (U. S. N.) built the Inter Ocean Hotel near the St. Joseph & Denver Railroad depot early in the winter of 1872- 73. E. Steinau came October 10, 1872, and within ten days opened store in a building just west of his second store completed in May. Silas Crooker built a shop on Front Street in October, 1872, and in No- vember opened his shoe store. A. Andrus erected his drug store on Second Street and Hastings Avenue in March, 1873. Within six months from the founda- tion of the town between forty and fifty houses were erected, and at the elose of the first year of its ex- istence there were fifty-one distinet business and professional men here.
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