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 96

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 96
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 96
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 96
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 96

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).

HALL COUNTY.

567

Raine, G. L. Rouse, C. P. Rathburn, George F. Ryan, D. S. Roush, Otto L. Rice, T. O. Russell, N. W. Richards, H. A. Kose, William Stolley, J. D. Schuller, Fred Sears, Jacob Shoemaker, E. Searson, Martin Schimmer, Charles Scherzberg,. G. W. Stevens, George J. Spencer, Samuel Smith, Gilbert Slater, R. H. Stuart, C. Stoltenberg, Henry Shoel, William N. Sherman, G. W. Sherbondy, W. M. Spiker, P. Scheschinger, Mrs. P. Smith, William A. Shields, D. Sass, Arthur Sears, Thomas E. Smith, Frank Sears, Hayden Strong, J. G. Schaupp, H. B. Skeels, C. W. Scarff, Lafayette Smith, George H. Thummel, W. W. Thompson, Peter D. Thompson, C. W. Thomas, Claus Tagge, Patrick Tonhy, John Thompson, D. H. Vieths, Edgar Varney, D. H. Vantine, C. H. Van Allan, C. D. M. Washburn, Robert Waugh, James Wear, John Wallichs, Jay E. White, W. H. West, E. C. Walker, George L. Warner, Fred Wingart, S. N. Wolbach, W. F. Watkins, L. O. Watson, H. S. Winn, Christian Wasmer, C. P. R. Williams, Charles Wasmer, Fritz Wiese, J. H. Watts, W. F. Whitecar, Isaac Waldron, John E. White and Rob- ert W. Watson. Of all the above named only one, W. M. Spiker, died prior to September 20, 1889.

The office of president has been filled by Peter Harrison, 1874-78; Fred Roby, 1879-80; Eli A. Barnes, 1881-85; Martin Ennis, 1886, H. J. Pal- mer, 1887, and G. H. Denman, 1888-89. The latter was re-elected in October, 1889, with J. D. Moore and D. F. Jamieson, vice-presidents; H. J. Palmer, W. H. Harrison, W. B. Knox, H. H. Glover, Joseph Roach, T. O. Russell and T. J. Mehaffie, executive committee. The president died in No- vember, and D. F. Jamieson was chosen. The treasurers are named as follows: William Stolley, James Baldwin, George Cornelius, Ed Searson, Ed Hooper, Z. H. Denman and S. J. Bateman.

The office of secretary has been filled by Seth P. Mobley, Eli A. Barnes, now of the United States land office, Frank Sears, D. H. Vantine, H. A. Ed- wards and D. H. Vantine in the order given up to September, 1889. Ed Searson is the present in- cumbent.

A summary of the financial report of the agri- cultural society, published on October 26, 1889,

shows the total receipts to be $26,059.65, and the total disbursements $26,045.38. The indebtedness of the society is $998.40.

Early in September, 1889, Mayor Platt called attention to the fact that the State board of agri- culture advertised, at large, for the selection of a location for the State fair, during the ensuing tive years, and he appointed a committee of fifty-four to take measures to secure to Grand Island such | fair. A deputation from the committee attended the meeting of the State board at Lincoln Jann. ary 21, 1890.

On January 21, 1890, Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island, Kearney, Columbus, Long Pine and Hast- ings bid for the fair for the ensuing five years. The different bids were received with marked attention. Grand Island offered to con- struct the art and memorial halls of stone and brick, while Columbus offered to provide buildings which would accommodate 50,000 persons. Ou the first ballot Lincoln led, and on the second ballot received a majority of the votes. Hastings and Grand Island made a strong and brilliant fight, but the prestige and diplomacy of the cap- ital won the prize.

The old fair ground is now surveyed into building lots for J. M. Marsh, the owner. .

The State Farmers' Alliance held the ninth an- nual meeting at Grand Island in Jannary, 1890. Eight hundred delegates represented every county in the State. Although the Alliance was organized eight years ago, but little attention was given to it by the farmers until last year, when a permanent or- ganization was effected. At this time there were but sixty-nine Alliances in the State, with a mem- bership of only 381. The report of the secre. tary this year shows 501 Alliances with a member ship of over 20,000. From this some idea may he had of the marvelous growth of the organiza- tion during the year just closed. It is non-polit- ical and its chief objects are to protect the interests of the farmers. Only actual farmers are allowed to become members. In many localities where they are strong they control and own stores, ship their own grain and buy their own fuel at the mines. One of the leading members in Hall

568

HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.

County states that three new Alliances were to be organized at once in this county-at Wood River, Shaupp's Mills and one just west of Alda. One of the most interesting features of the convention's work was the appointing and report of committee to start a farmers' insurance company in the State. It was decided to establish this at once, and the State executive committee and three others were appointed as the officers.

The enterprise of the citizens of Grand Island promises to give to the prairie States a new indns- try, which will dwarf the primitive grain industry of the past and present. This is the growing of sugar beets, and their conversion into sugar; it is well to examine the history of this industry.

Margraff demonstrated 140 years ago that there was sugar in the beets; and the total product of France and Germany in the last half century alone demonstrates its value. The reflecting reader who sees nothing in Napoleon save that of the great mili- tary leader, has failed to note the early, substantial encouragement he gave the beet sugar industry in France, which in turn gave it greater impetus and success in Germany, albeit there were three fac- tories in Germany as early as 1805, but the war- like situation was not favorable for such an enter- prise. . Very soon, however, Napoleon issued his famous decrees shutting out all English goods and material, which, if the effect was to raise the price of sugar, ruined the French wine trade and com- pelled the French to look for ways and means to dispose profitably of their grape crops and obtain a supply of sugar. In 1810 he gave two experi- menters $28,000 for discovering grape sugar; the amount to be expended in the erection of factories. Soon after this Napoleon gave $40,000 to twelve grape sugar factories by way of bounty or special encouragement. In 1811 he decreed that 79,000 acres should be planted to beets, and he established six experimental stations to give instruction in the beet sugar industry, ordering that all farmers who desired to attend lectures given there might do so free of charge, and the sum of $200,000 was set apart to pay the expense. In 1812 he established four special beet root sugar schools, directing that 100 students be attached thereto. In addition,

and by way of special encouragement, he ordered to be granted 500 licenses for beet sngar produc- tion, to run to proprietors of factories and to man- ufacturers of sugar from beets; and those who made a ton of raw sugar were to be exempt from tax on their product for four years. In 1812 he directed the erection of four imperial beet sugar factories to produce 2,100 tons. During this time Germany was not idle. The king of Prussia gave Archard, a pupil of Margraff, a good sum of money to estab- lish a school or factory for instruction in beet sugar production, and from this school Russia drew her practical knowledge of the work, and the Czar gave $39,000 and exempted all land of those who built beet sugar factories from tax. At least one great discoverer and experimenter in this field, in Ger- many and France, was offered $100,000 if he would declare that his supposed discovery was a failure, but it did not attract him. The Napoleonic wars destroyed this great industry in Russia, Germany, and finally in France - after Napoleon had appro- priated millions of dollars to give it a substantial footing. It did not rise again in France until 1825-26, nor in Germany until 1835. From that time forward both France and Germany, as well as Russia, Austria and Belgium, have put forth great efforts to extend the production of beet sugar, both by bounties and by drawbacks on exported sugar from beets, as well as a tariff on imported sugar. The stimulants offered resulted in such a measure of success in France, that, in 1839, a special tax of 15 francs on every 220 pounds of raw sugar was imposed. This operated harshly, and the product fell off over one-half. New laws more lib- eral were passed from time to time, a tax going hand in hand generally with bounties and draw- backs, until, in 1878, France collected as tax, on sugar made in that country, upward of $22,000, - 000. This, in brief, is only a part of the early history of beet sugar production in France; and Germany as a matter of economic policy, followed in swift pursuit. Such was the development of the industry that in 1883-84 there were 2,000,000 acres devoted to the production of the sugar beet in France, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia, Poland, Belgium and Holland; and the aggregate

Yours Truly, Edward Hooper.

569

HALL COUNTY.

beet sugar product, leaving ont Russia and Hol- land, was 1,485,000 tons with 1,242 factories. At that time Germany had outstripped her great rival, France, because of her liberality and superior knowledge of the subject. So great was the quan- tity of beet sugar produced in 1883, that there was a temporary glut of it in the English market, in- ducing some farmers to ask a change in the laws, while others resorted to less acreage to reduce the surplus; meantime our people are paying from 6 to 9 cents for their sugar, entailing an expense to our population annually of over $75,000,000, the great part of the raw material of which goes abroad for refineries from Cuba; 240,000,000 of pounds imported by us in 1887 coming from Eng- land, Germany, France, Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands. Consul-General Walker says on the point: "It is to be noted that the sugar production of Germany had been stimulated by heavy protect- ive duties and by bounties on export sugar, and the French tariff act of 1884 was a step toward adopt- ing the policy which her great rival, France, had found so effective."

To show the effect of these laws, it seems only necessary to say that while the acreage in beets in Germany, in 1879, was 282,500, in 1883 it was 352,100, and tons of sugar produced in 1879 was 2,850,000, while in 1883 it was 4, 205,000 tons.

It must not be assumed that Germany has been offering her bounties and drawbacks at the expense of her treasury. Her revenue from tax on un- manufactured beets in 1883-84 was $33,960,000; duties, $330,000; total, $34,290,000; she paid in bonnties and drawbacks, $22,919,000; leaving a net revenue of $11,374,000.

These few figures, therefore, our legislators can well study with possible profit to the country. A great industry abroad has been built up under the beneficent policy of "bounties," with a net revenue flowing therefrom of several millions annually, the farmer and manufacturer getting rich and millions saved to the German nation, which but for the beet sugar industry must have gone abroad to pay for a product.

In 1887 H. A. Koenig and many members of the Agricultural Society took steps to establish

beet culture on a firm basis here, and to provide a market for the growers. At the close of 1889 the project took practical shape, and in December of that year the Oxsnard beet sugar factory was established in the county, as related in the history of Grand Island.

The record of mortgages, it is apparent, in this as in other counties unfortunately is not a credit to Hall. A few years ago the era of booms swept over the West like the great glaciers of old, and the moneyed men of the East shipped their millions hither to be invested in loans ou real estate. The agents of the capitalists realized large profits from this great transaction; but the people obtained money at a much lower price than it was ever offered before in a new country. When the bottom fell out of this unnatural booming the flow of Eastern capital almost ceased, and local money agents were again enabled to raise the rate of interest to their old standard. Politicians and others nttered an alarm against this action, and even preachers denounced the usury, some going so far as to state that the whole country was mort- gaged for more than it was worth. They never halted to consider that day by day the lands were growing in value, and that, while the greater num- ber of farmers had met interest and installment of principal, the amount of the original loan still appeared npon the record, or, to simplify it, a man who borrowed $1,000 four years ago for five years has now paid up four-fifths of principal with all interest due, thus leaving one-fifth due, although the record shows the original $1,000 outstanding. Two-thirds of the mortgages are fixed in this way, so that the record is far from showing the true condition of farm mortgages.

In 1867 the primitive schools of the settlements may be said to have given way to the common- school system. The transactions of the old com- missioners show this to be the case, for in the pages devoted to such transactions reference after refer- ence to the newly formed school districts occur. Superintendent H. A. Edwards' report, published in December, 1888, points out that at the beginning of the year the balances in hands of district treasurers amounted to $18,777.99, to which the following

570

HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.

sums were added: $11,307.09 from State school fund; $26,658.30 from direct tax; $3,100.41 from school bonds; $140.60 from non-resident pupils; $20,736.71 from fines and licenses, or a total of $80,722. 10. Of this total $14,040. 21 was paid male teachers, and $24,657.27 female teachers. There were 4,326 pupils enrolled of the 5,250 enumer- ated, and 3,964 attended school regularly. The average cost per pupil was $6.38.

The enumeration of children of school age in Hall County, made in May, 1889, shows a total of 5,342 in the seventy-five districts, distributed as follows:

District No.

No. of Children.

District No.

No. of Children.

123456789 5 6 7

2,058

263

In District 73 there were four children; in No. 74, seventy-six children, and in No. 75, twenty- seven children of school age.

The first teachers' institute was organized June 27, 1874, with John D. Hayes, president; Henry Nunn, principal, and J. F. Cummings, vice- president; Miss Minnie Wood, secretary; Miss Evelyn Smith and L. C. Harrison, correspondents, and James Ewing, treasurer. The teachers' insti- tute held in January, 1885, was presided over by Superintendent D. H. Vantine, the names of F. L.

Morris, Nettie Broderick, J. E. Marshall, May L. O' Neil and numerous others appearing on the roll.

The County Reading Circle, a society of teach- ers, was organized November 21, 1885, with Prof. H. A. Edwards, president; R. J. Barr, J. H. Thompson, Mrs. Anna Budenberg and H. A. Goodrich, vice presidents; Charles A. Teeters, sec- retary; H. H. Bock, treasurer, and E. E. Cole and A. D. Tilley, managers. Superintendent Vantine presided. The teachers continue to meet annually.

The register of physicians in possession of County Clerk Ackerman dates back to May, 1881. The following names and dates of graduation are recorded, together with their alma mater:

1879. William A. Carter, practice, | A. S. Fishblatt, New York, 1837.

Caswell T. Poe, Cincinnati, 1853. Peter Janss, Keokuk, 1877. A. L. Stevenson, Keokuk, 1875.

John T. White, Chicago, 1875.

Henry A. Krick, Austria, 1874. A. J. Sanders, Brooklyn, 1863.

J. M. Fitch, practice, 1863. C. D. W. Gibson, practice, 1863.

M. J. Gahan, Dublin, 1867. Henry J. Brickett, N. Hamp- shire, 1875.

Louise Buns, Germany, 1869. Margaretha Kennedy, Mis- souri, 1867.

Horace Lashlee, St. Lonis. 1876.

Nicholas Child, practice, 1836.

George W. Whipple, Kansas City, 1836.

M. H. Street, Ohio, 1873. Sarah E. Whipple, practice, 1877.

G. M. Dixon, New York, 1871.

Benjamin M. Shockey, prac- tice, 1868.

Hogan J. Ring, Chicago, 1877. C. G. Hurford, Keoknk, 1882. William T. Royce, Colum- bus, Ohio, 1882.

Welcome Smith, practice, 1854.

John H. Galligan, St. Louis, 1882.

Alfred F. Naulteus, Balti- more, 1882.

James Mclean, Fort Wayne, 1877.

Mary J. Breckenridge, Chi- cago, 1882.

Francis M. Oshorn, practice, 1858.

Emanuel Stringfellow, Chi- cago, 1883.

J. C. Brubaker, Philadel- phia, 1858.

Ira N. Barker, New York City, 1874. E. Christiansen, Germany, 1872.

Martin L. Carter, practice, 1870. John Janss, Philadelphia, 1884. Henry J. Smith, Philadel- phia, 1865. James N. Harrison, Phila- delphia, 1883. Thomas J. Eaton, Cleve- land, 1847.

Wm. Tanner, St. Louis, 1884. Frank J. Wright, Keokuk. 1883.

G. J. Pnhek, Austria, 1873. John S. Curtis, Ohio, 1878. Francis M. Smyley, Chicago, 1879.

Rosa Day, Germany, 1885. Edward D. Barrett, prac- tice, 1861. P. J. Scallon, Detroit, Mich., 1885.

Milo Leonard Kinsington, Joplin, 1882.

J. E. Andersen, Ohio, 1877. S. E. Delhorhe, Chicago, 1884.

A. J. Coffman, Nebraska, 1886.

Anna D. Jackson, Chicago, 1884.

H. S. Aley, Chicago, 1885. W. B. Kern, St. Louis, -. Edwin L. Smith, Chicago, 1884.

Joseph Weyerhorst, French Frontier, 1884.

+ 61

571

HALL COUNTY.

Arthur D. Smith, practice, G. M. Freeman, Baltimore, 1885. 1873. J. (' Cave, Dental College, 1878. Almond B. Sage, Omalıa, S. D. Smith, practice, 1887. C. D. Severe, Iowa, 1887. 1887. Charles H. Waldschmidt, Chicago, 1886. Louis Turner, practice, 1874. Albert Eisenbeiss, Indiana, 1887. A. W. Fleming, St. Louis, 1887. Louis H. Engelkin, Bavaria, 1878.

J. L. Sutherland, Chicago, 1882.

William McGregor, New

George B. M. Free, Eastern Colleges, 1883.

M. A. Otterbonrg, practice, 1874.

York, 1861. W. J. Bonesteel, Boston, 1876. Jennie Ellen Tarbox, Chi- cago, 1877. Bell English, Kentucky, 1881.

Frederick J. Bricker, Ohio, 1876,

The physicians registered in 1881 were in prac- tice here prior to that year. Those who registered in later years settled in or visited the county subsequently.

The State Medical Association assembled at Grand Island in May, 1885, Dr. M. J. Gahan. presiding. W. H. Lyman, A. L. Stevenson, A. H. Keller, M. W. Wilcox and F. J. Bricker were present from this section of the State. Among the physicians admitted were T. R. Clark, of Sutton, and J. M. Barker, Grand Island.

The State Dental Association, in session at Hastings in May, 1887, elected Dr. King, of Fre. mont, president; Dr. H. C. Miller, of Grand Island, vice-president; Dr. Funk, secretary, and Dr. Striker (both of Beatrice), treasurer.

The main line of the Union Pacific road was constructed to Grand Island in July, 1866, and the village was made the terminus of the first division of that road. Here are located the largest and best shops on the Union Pacific line. The shops and yards cover over thirty-five acres, but have never been used to anything like their capacity. The buildings, three in number, are magnificent structures. built of stone, in 1880 and 1881, at a cost of $350,000. The company construct their own locomotives and utilize the shops in Omaha for that purpose, while the repair work and car building are carried on in the shops here. The company also erected a round house with a capacity of forty five engines. These changes increased the number of men employed from 200 to nearly 700, and the pay roll from $150,000 per annum to over $500,000, making the total amount paid out to employes of railroads at this point nearly $700,-

000 per annum. The Union Pacific rail mill, cost- ing $80,000 and employing thirty-six men, is also located at this point, and now all old rails of the main line and branches are worked over.

In the fall of 1889 the Chicago & Northwestern entered into a traffic arrangement with the Union Pacific by which through trains from Chicago to Denver and other points on the Union Pacific system might be run.

The Loup Branch, or Grand Island & Ord Railroad, runs north from the city. The Omaha & Republican Valley Railroad and the Grand Island & Wyoming Central Railroad terminals are at Grand Island City.

The St. Joseph & Grand Island Railroad Com. pany was incorporated October 25, 1873, with F. A. Wiebe, E. W. Arnold, W. A. Platt, R. C. Jor- dan, H. N. Chapman, James Michelson, W. R. McAllister and William Hagge, members. On December 4, 1873, the question of issuing bouds to aid this company was carried by a majority of 212 in Grand Island. Work was begun by Con- tractor Andrew Sheridan, May 9, 1874. On May 2, 1874, ground was broken, the ceremony being witnessed by a large concourse of people. H. N. Chapman was marshal, with W. A. Deuel and W. H. Platt, assistant marshals. A grand ball was given at Liederkranz Hall. H. P. Handy was credited with being the prime mover in obtaining this road.

The Burlington & Missouri River Railroad, part of the great Chicago, Burlington & Quincy system, gives another direct means of communication with Chicago and the East.

In February, 1884, contracts for the building of the Aurora & Grand Island branch of the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad were sold to S. M. Mallory.

The above are railroads which are actually in Hall County, and the value of their property in Grand Island is over $1,200,000. The prospect- ive roads are the Chicago & Northwestern, which has surveyed a line into that city and recently pur- chased $25,000 worth of property, and the Chi- cago & Rock Island system, which has also sur- veyed a line into the city.

572

HISTORY OF NEBRASKA.

To enumerate all the accidents which occurred here even from July 8, 1866, when the road was completed as far as Grand Island, to Jannary 1, 1890, would indeed be a difficult task. From 1870, when the first newspaper (other than the old Mormon magazine, of Wood River) was estab. lished, there is a partial record, and from the files the following memoranda are taken:

The first accident recorded is that of John Hamann, who was killed prior to 1876, while rid- ing in his wagon across the railroad. Charles E. Van Pelt, a brakeman on the Union Pacific, was killed near Shelton, in November, 1876. During the work of repairing the railroad bridge over the Platte, in March, 1884, some timbers gave way and engine, derrick and pile-driver fell into the river. James Dennon was killed and two men in- jured. Eleven of the 180 horses belonging to Palmer & Talmage, which broke through the cor- ral just north of the city, in September, 1885, were killed by the Denver Union Pacific train, and several animals injured. John C. W. Longnecker, of Steelton, Pa., was killed by a St. Joseph & Grand Island train, in September, 1885. Dick Hughes and George Donaldson, brakemen on this road, were killed in November. D. B. Thompson, of the Union Pacific, was killed March 27, 1886. The Union Pacific passenger, No. 1, was wrecked at Grand Island in September, 1886.

An unknown man was run over and killed by a Union Pacific locomotive (No. 743) at the coal house, April 7, 1887. Other deaths on the rail are referred to, but the dates have not been ascer- tained. Trains have been ditched in many in- stances, and snow-bound inside the lines of this county more than once.

Other accidents have occurred in Hall County, reference to which may properly be made at this point. A most deplorable occurrence was that of 1872, which resulted in the death of Jesse Turner, of the United States land office. Hans Barnholt was caught in the machinery of Koenig & Wiebe's steam grist-mill and killed in Janu- ary, 1873. Mrs. E. V. Clark was fatally burned, through the explosion of a kerosene lamp, in 1878.

In April, 1884, John W. Sanders shot and killed himself. John Cubic, who resided near the old school building, shot and killed his wife and cut his own throat, May 30, 1884. Julius Kopski, of the Omaha House, Grand Island, shot and killed himself September 2, 1885. Other suicides have been recorded, such as that of Fred Vatge, prior to 1876, other deaths at railroad crossings have been described, but of all of them authentic information could only be obtained in the cases named, enough to satisfy the reader that danger lurks everywhere, and that too many or too radical precautions can not be taken.

573

HALL COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXVI.

FOUNDATION OF GRAND ISLAND CITY-FIRST EVENTS-ORIGINAL PLAT -MEETING TO ORGANIZE A VILLAGE GOV. ERNMENT -ORGANIZATION-TOWN AND CITY ELECTIONS 1873-1889 - PIONEERS OF THE CITY - BUILDING AND GENERAL ADVANCEMENT-SOLDIERS' HOME-PUBLIC LIBRARY-MERCHANTS' CLUB-BOARD OF TRADE-POST-OFFICE-BANKS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS-FIRE DEPARTMENT AND FIRES- MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES-BEET SUGAR FACTORY AND IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIA- TION-TRADE STATISTICS-HOTELS-UNITED STATES LAND OFFICE-CHURCH

ORGANIZATIONS-CITY SCHOOLS-SECRET SOCIETIES-MILITARY SO. CIETIES-TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES-MUSICAL ASSOCIATIONS AND OLD BASE BALL TEAMS.

How blest is he who crowns, in shades like these, A youth of labour with an age of ease !- Goldsmith.

RAND ISLAND takes its character of the citizens. The most amiable re- lations exist between merchants and manufacturers, agriculturists and bankers, the trades and the profession and the religious elements. It is a great community, grown up on the free prairies of the State, and, like the land, broad in everything. A thousand happy homes, modern in equipment, bear testimony to what future years will bring-the sigus are brightening with the colors of a fair destiny. name from the older settle- ment opposite the Grand Is- land of the Platte. Here is the seat of justice for the county and the center of commercial and manufactur- ing enterprise. Its location on one of the prairie ridges affords natural drainage; while its elevation of 1,860 feet above sea level renders it free from Dr. J. P. Patterson, in his Centennial sketch, states that the city, as it now stands, was located by the Union Pacific Railroad Company, in the spring of 1866, and received its name from a large tract of land of the same name located sonth of the city, and surrounded by the channels of the Platte River. The first track of the Union Pacific Railroad was laid here July 8 of the same year, and the first construction train run in. This train was drawn by the locomotive Osceola, in charge of George Loomis. The engine was captured in 1868 by the Indians, six miles west of Plum Creek. malarial influences and denies it the rigorous winters of higher altitudes. The population is estimated at 12, 000, but without the census returns of this year it is impossible to estimate closely. The directory, published September 1, 1889, credits 14,958 inhabitants. The city is one of the great railroad centers of the State, and holds substantial claims to recognition as a city of the first class which go unchallenged. Many of the graces of culture give a charm to social life and a spirit of hospitality and friendliness mark distinctly the . The first building was erected by W. Stephens, on

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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