USA > Nebraska > Buffalo County > Buffalo County, Nebraska, and its people : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 20
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In 1915 the castle had a membership of seventy-four. Officers : Joseph Owen, Jr., C. C .; V. S. Pierce, V. C .; Joseph Owen, Sr., M. of Ex .; Lee Roberts, prelate ; F. T. Turney, M. of A .; W. H. Barnes, K. of R. & S .; Paul More, I. G .; Carl Carlson, O. G.
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CHAPTER XXXIV
GIBBON-NAMED IN HONOR OF GEN. JOHN GIBBON, U. S. A .- WILSON AND STAATS THE FIRST SETTLERS-WILSON DROWNED IN THE PLATTE-FIRST DEEDS TO LOTS PROHIBITED THE SALE OF INTOXICATING LIQUORS-I. N. DAVIS DONATED TEN ACRES FOR TOWNSHIP PARK-LIST OF POSTMASTERS-LIST OF PHYSICIANS- FIRST NEWSPAPER, BUFFALO COUNTY BEACON-GIBBON REPORTER-RIVERSIDE CEMETERY-AN INCLINE GRAIN ELEVATOR-THE GIBBON CREAMERY -- INCOR- PORATION OF THE VILLAGE-FIRST BOARD OF TRUSTEES-GIBBON COMMERCIAL CLUB-THE GIBBON CHAUTAUQUA-THE PUBLIC SCHOOL-THE FIRST WINTER TERM OF SCHOOL-WOMAN'S STUDY LEAGUE-GIBBON TOWNSHIP LIBRARY- BANKS-CHURCHES-FRATERNAL AND BENEFICIARY LODGES.
GIBBON
In the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad a siding was built at this point in 1866 and named "Gibbon Switch." As the editor of this history under- stands, the name Gibbon was in honor of Gen. John Gibbon, a graduate of the United States Military Academy in 1847. He served in the war with Mexico. Subsequently he was in garrison and on frontier duty against hostile Indians until the outbreak of the Civil war in 1861. For gallant services in battle in the Civil war Captain Gibbon received successive brevet promotions from major to that of major general, U. S. A. Gibbon is located on section No. 13, all of which would have been railroad land had it not been that a man named Wilson "squatted" on what proved to be, when surveyed, the northeast quarter of sec- tion 13. From the heirs of Wilson, J. E. Kelsey purchased the squatter's right" and filed thereon a soldier's homestead claim. John Nutter relates the following incident connected with the first family who made settlement where now is the Village of Gibbon : In the year 1865 a man named Wilson "squatted" on a claim, now within the incorporated limits of Gibbon. Here he built a habi- tation, part dug-out, part logs, and then went to Dobytown, a hamlet two miles west of Fort Kearney, for his family. His family consisted of a wife and several children, some of sufficient age and experience to drive an ox team. He had an ox team, a covered (prairie schooner) wagon and also owned a mule. Loading his family and belongings into the wagon it was arranged that the two older boys should drive the oxen and the father follow, riding the mule. To celebrate their removal to their claim the father indulged in a few drinks and the start was made. The crossing of the Platte was opposite Fort Kearney. It was in the month of June, and, as the saying is, the Platte was running full banks at high water mark. The most difficult and dangerous part of the cross-
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ing was known as "ox channel," it having a deep, swift current and occasional quicksand holes.
Crossing this channel the boys had great difficulty in extricating their ox team from a quicksand hole and in the excitement incident thereto none of the family seem to have thought to look back for the father. When the family had reached land they looked for the father, but could see nothing of either him or the mule and neither of them were seen or heard of since. It is conjectured that the mule encountered a quicksand hole and was drowned and that Mr. Wil- son, too drunk to help hemself, drowned as he floated down stream in the turbid, swift flowing waters of the Platte. Jack Staats married Sophia, daughter of Mr. Wilson before mentioned, the families living together. It is related that in the days of the building of the Union Pacific, James E. Boyd claimed nearly everything in sight, there being a story current that he was paid $500 for the privilege of permitting the wood to be cut on Wood River, although he had no rights on any land other than his claim on section No. 14, known as Boyd's Ranch. When the Staats and Wilson families squatted on their claim Mr. Boyd rode down and ordered them to leave. When Staats refused, the story as related is, that Boyd started to draw his gun, but Staats being the quicker, shot Boyd through the hand and would have killed him had not Boyd immediately left.
The names of Staats and Wilson appear in the list of tax payers in the county in the year 1867.
The Village of Gibbon had its beginning in April, 1871, on the arrival of the soldier's free homestead colony, and in the history of the colony, elsewhere given, appears much of the early history of the village.
The records disclose that the original townsite of the Village of Gibbon-the southwest quarter of section 13, township 9, range 14 west-was purchased of the Union Pacific Raiload Company, consideration, $600.
The townsite was surveyed by C. Putnam. The owners of the townsite donated one block for a public school site, one block for a courthouse site and a site for a church building.
The first deed to a lot in the Village of Gibbon was given I. D. LaBarre and signed by John Thorp, George Gilmore, Jane Gilmore. In the deed given for this lot is the following condition :
"If the said I. D. LaBarre shall sell, keep, give away or permit to be sold, kept or given away any malt, spirituous or vinous liquors on the premises, or shall keep, sell or give away or allow to be kept, sold or given away any medicated liquors, styled bitters, to be used as a beverage, then this conveyance to be void ; otherwise in full force and effect.
"Dated May 6, 1872."
As a matter of history it may be well to add that the foregoing provision in this deed and others of like nature were openly and notoriously violated by the sale of so called "bitters," which served every purpose of intoxicating liquors.
I. N. Davis donated to the Town of Gibbon ten acres of land within the incorporated limits of the village for a public park and which has been improved and is a source of great pleasure to the entire community.
In the early history of the village there was a story current that the junction of the Burlington Railway with the Union Pacific could have been secured at
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this point had the owners of the Gibbon townsite been willing to donate liberally of the lands of the townsite. Those who read of "The Founding of Kearney Junction" in this history will be convinced that the junction point of the two ยท railroads was determined before members of the homestead colony had filed upon claims, before, in fact, there was any certainty that here would be a village. The original owners of the townsite of Gibbon, as well as a large majority of the members of the colony, were temperance people, opposed to the sale of intoxi- cating liquors, and deeds to the first lots sold in Gibbon contained provisions that no intoxicating liquors should ever be sold on the premises. It was nearly twenty years before a saloon license was issued in the village.
A postoffice was established soon after the arrival of the colony, L. D. George, postmaster, the salary $12 a year, the office being kept in the store of Mr. George. In the order named the postmasters who have served at Gibbon have been I. D. LaBarre, A. J. Price, S. C. Ayer, M. D. Marsh, H. H. Haven, C. Putnam, J. E. Kelsey, J. B. Ring, D. P. Ashburn, H. N. Miller, W. A. Rodgers, R. A. St. John, H. J. Dunkin. In 1914 the salary of the postmaster was $1,500; the revenue from the office, $3,600.
In the life of the village the following are the names of those physicians and surgeons who have in largest measure and for longest periods of time practiced their profession and ministered to the bodily ills of the people of the community : I. P. George, D. H. Hite, S. D. Steere, Josiah Slick, J. C. Carson, L. B. Hill. J. W. Miller, R. S. McLain.
A station agent, like a postmaster, is a most useful official in the life of a village, and in this respect Gibbon has been well served by efficient, public spirited men who took an active interest in the life and activities of the village. James Ogilvie served from the establishment of the station in 1871 to his death in February, 1881. Following Mr. Ogilvie came D. F. Ingles, who served until 1895. Our genial agent, E. S. Harte, has completed (1915) twenty years of service and the patrons of the office hope that twenty years hence he will still be selling tickets, checking baggage, receiving and forwarding freight and serv- ing as a member of the school board.
In July, 1872, was issued the first copy of the Buffalo County Beacon, A. J. Price, editor. There was scant support for a local newspaper at that date and in March, 1873, the subscription list and good will were sold to Webster Eaton, proprietor of the Central Nebraska Press, published at Kearney. When the Nebraska Baptist College was established at Gibbon in 1882 Rev. J. M. Taggart established the Buffalo County Beacon of that date, the hand press and type being from a printing outfit brought into Nebraska Territory in the early '50s. Both Mr. Taggart and Rev. G. W. Read served as editors until 1884, when the plant was purchased by S. C. Bassett, who within the year sold to F. C. Hitch- cock, and in a short time the Beacon became the property of W. H. Carson, a practical newspaper man. In 1890 the Gibbon Printing Company purchased the Beacon plant and the publication was continued until 1900, when the entire plant was sold to E. C. Krewson and removed to Elm Creek. In 1890 W. H. Carson began the publication of the Gibbon Reporter, which in 1901 was purchased by R. A. St. John, who has since been its editor and publisher.
In 1915 Eugene Wiggins was still connected with the Reporter. "Gene," as
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PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING, GIBBON
19 HIGH SCHOOL OS
HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING, GIBBON
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his friends (and everybody is his friend) lovingly call him, first began his news- paper career at Gibbon at some dim and distant date in the last century, when the Union Pacific was a one-track road, long before the telephone and motor cars came into use, long years before a postmaster who believed in the principles of the democratic party was permitted to read the postal cards and distribute mail to the people of Gibbon and vicinity. Faithful "Gene;" when the next century shall be with us may you still be setting type, making up forms and writing the subscription list of the local newspaper.
In the year 1876 was organized the Riverside Cemetery Association, the first of its kind in the county. Those most active in its organization were D. P. Ashburn, James H. Davis, James Ogilvie, C. Putnam, A. Eddy, Henry Cook, D. B. Worley, J. J. W. Place.
The cemetery was located on the pre-emption farm of D. P. Ashburn, six acres being donated by Mr. Ashburn. The grounds were surveyed and platted, free of expense, by C. Putnam. About the year 1890 the cemetery was taken over by Gibbon Township, township trustees elected at the annual township meeting and a township tax levied for its support, this being the first township cemetery in the state and also one of the first to make provision whereby the township, for a consideration, contracted to perpetually care for a cemetery lot.
Riverside Cemetery, located on the banks of Wood River, a "city of the dead," is a beautiful spot, at all times well cared for.
In 1879 grain began to be shipped in considerable quantities, the first elevator being built and operated by D. P. Ashburn. In delivering grain at this elevator the wagon was drawn up an incline plane by means of a rope, pulley and team to the top of the elevator, where the loaded wagon was dumped. About 1881 a more modern elevator was erected on the site of the present (1915) Hoard Elevator. In 1915 Gibbon had two grain elevators with a capacity of about seventy thousand bushels.
In the year 1881 D. P. Ashburn built and operated the Gibbon Creamery. This creamery was one of the first established in Central Nebraska. It was operated on the "cream gathering" plan and was successful and profitable until other like creameries and a cheese factory were established, dividing the pat- ronage, which extended over a considerable extent of territory, until all ceased operations for want of support.
Permission to incorporate the Village of Gibbon was granted by the county board of supervisors January 14, 1885. The members of the first board of trus- tees were D. M. Fulmer, D. Carson, F. C. Hitchcock, George E. Evans, H. H. Havens.
In 1907 the village installed a waterworks plant, bonds to the amount of $15,000 being voted.
In 1908 a private corporation installed an electric light plant, the capital stock of the corporation being $10,000, furnishing light for the village and also individual customers.
An event of more than ordinary interest in the life of the village was the erection, in the year 1892, of the Babcock (L. J. Babcock) Opera House and the J. W. Harrel building, the first brick buildings to be erected in the village. The formal opening of the opera house was on October 26, 1892. The program
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consisted of music, recitations and addresses. Those taking part were: Invoca- tion, Rev. George VanWinkle ; music, Mrs. H. F. Flint, Mrs. C. M. Beck, Mrs. R. E. Rogers, Messrs. Hayward, J. N. Ashburn, I. A. and J. C. Kirk; recitations, Misses Jennie Rodgers, Mary Brady, Rosa Ogilvie and Mrs. I. W. Perdue; addresses, D. P. Ashburn, F. S. Fulmer, Prof. U. S. Conn, A. M. Eastman, George E. Evans, C. Putnam, S. C. Bassett. The reception committee was com- posed of S. H. Robb, H. F. Flint, T. J. Mahoney, O. McConnaughey, D. F. Ingles, C. C. Holloway, W. H. Buck, C. M. Beck.
In the year 1909 was organized the Gibbon Commercial Club, its first presi- dent being O. K. Campbell and the secretary E. R. Mercer.
In 1909 the club arranged to have held a chautauqua, guaranteeing its finan- cial success. A chautauqua has been held each year since with an average ses- sion attendance of about four hundred and fifty, the patronage paying all expenses. The Commercial Club took an active interest in the establishment of the public library, in securing the erection of a more modern depot building, and in the improvement of public roads. In 1915 the president was W. H. Buck and the secretary R. A. St. John.
In the year 1915 the trustees of the village board were Charles L. Wallace, W. H. Buck, B. F. Henline, J. G. DeWolf and George R. Little; W. S. Randall, village clerk; I. A. Kirk, village treasurer.
The people of Gibbon and vicinity have always taken marked interest in their public schools, mention of which efforts, in the earlier years of its history, is elsewhere made. About the year 1880 there was erected a four-room school building and a high school established. In the year 1886 was graduated the first class from the Gibbon High School, the graduates being Emma L. Davis, Nettie N. Morrow, Sue L. Morrow, Rosa E. Ogilvie. In the year 1908 the district erected a fine, up-to-date brick building at a cost of about twenty-five thousand dollars, school district bonds to the amount of $18,000 being issued for the purpose.
In the year 1915 ten teachers were employed and 260 pupils enrolled. The members of the school board were M. D. Marsh, I. A. Kirk, W. M. Ross, W. L. Randall, J. G. Walker, G. C. Lunger.
FIRST WINTER TERM OF SCHOOL IN DISTRICT NO. 2
In the fall of 1871 a schoolhouse was built in School District No. 2. This building was about 22 by 32 feet in size, set on blocks as a foundation, was not banked to keep out the cold of winter and neither lathed nor plastered. In this building a three months' term of school was held in the winter of 1871-72 with S. C. Bassett as teacher.
Blanket Indians of the Pawnee tribe, using bows and arrows, were trapping and hunting along the Platte and Wood rivers that winter and often camped near the Village of Gibbon. These Indians often visited the school; that is, without warning some of these Indians would be seen in the school room, at first greatly frightening the children. Such visits seemed to be out of curiosity, the Indians remaining but a brief time, going as quickly and silently as they came.
BUDA SCHOOL
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The names of the scholars attending that term of school are as follows: Perry, Edward, Nora and Delia, children of Thomas K. Wood; Joanna and Lena Rodig, step-daughters of R. E. L. Willard; Clara, daughter of Capt. J. H. Darby; Edith, daughter of A. D. George; Cora, daughter of I. D. LaBarre; Carrie and Edward, children of George Gilmore; John, son of Charles Walker, living at Fort Kearney Station (now Buda) ; Zara, son of L. Worthington; Frank and William, sons of A. S. Craig; Allison, son of Dr. I. P. George; Elmer E. and Flora, children of W. H. Sprague; Etta and Ella, daughters of Coe Kill- gore; John N., son of Wm. Nutter; Alice and Emma, daughters of Jeremiah McKinley ; Cora, Flora and Ida, daughters of L. D. George.
(Note-For history of the organization of School District No. 2 see chap- ter 23.)
WOMAN'S STUDY LEAGUE.
In the year 1905, June 26, was organized the Woman's Study League of Gibbon, the charter members being Mesdames Hattie Ashburn, Lucia M. Bas- sett, Susie Beck, Flora Buck, Mabel Campbell, Maud Davis, Evalyn De Wolf, Ida Drury, Robbie Dunkin, Flora Fay, Mae Ferguson, Susan Flint, Grace Hershey, John Hershey, Clara Kirk, Rosa Linger, Mary Miller, Pearl Nicholson, Blanche Noble, Jennie Rodgers, Jessie Sargent, Louise Scott, Sybil Walker, Misses Mattie Pierce, Jessie Kean ; Mrs. Grace Hershey, president ; Mrs. Blanche Noble, vice president ; Mrs. Jessie Sargent, recording secretary; Mrs. Jennie Rogers, corresponding secretary ; Mrs. Maud Davis, treasurer. In the same year the league joined the State Federation of Woman's Clubs, Mrs. Jessie Sargent attending as delegate.
The league in addition to a course of study for mutual improvement, first agitated the subject of a modern school building, which was erected in 1908 at an expense of $25,000. The league secured the establishment of a public read- ing and rest room in the town hall and were largely instrumental in the estab- lishment of a public library and the erection of a library building.
In 1915 the league had thirty-five members. The officers were, president, Mrs. Blanche Mickey; vice-president, Mrs. Lillian Webster; treasurer, Mrs. Grace Lunger; corresponding secretary, Miss Fern Leas; recording secretary, Mrs. Pauline Little.
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Elsewhere in this history mention is made of the "first library" established in Gibbon. At the close of the Woman's Study League for the year 1909, Mrs. C. M. Beck, president, there remained on hand a surplus of $45, and the league set this sum aside as the beginning of a public library fund, each member of the league pledging to earn $1 during the ensuing year to be added to the fund. This and entertainments given by the league during the year brought their contribu- tion to $245. The Good Samaritans contributed $37, and popular subscriptions by people of the community added $183, making a total of $465.
On May 10, 1910, was organized the Gibbon Public Library Association, the officers and directors being: S. C. Bassett, president ; Miss Mattie Pierce, secre-
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tary ; Miss Jessie Kean, treasurer ; Mrs. J. G. Walker, L. A. Wight, W. M. Ross and W. C. Ogilvie. The Township of Gibbon donated the use of a room in the town hall where the library was installed with Miss Mattie Davis as librarian. In the year 1912, at the annual township meeting, the library was taken over by Gibbon Township and a two-mill levy voted for its support. The first trus- tees named were W. C. Ogilvie, R. A. Francis, L. A. Wight, Mrs. J. G. Walker, Ray R. Cook, Mrs. J. G. Walker, president. From funds ($6,000) donated by Andrew Carnegie a beautiful library building was erected in 1913 on a site donated by the Village of Gibbon. This was one of the first two township libraries established in the state and the first township library building erected in the state.
The annual report for the year ending June 1, 1915, as furnished by Miss Mattie Pierce, librarian, shows :
Number volumes in library . 1,541
Number volumes issued-juvenile. .2,103
Number volumes issued-adults . 3,402
Number readers
690
GIBBON TOWNSHIP LIBRARY
By L. A. Wight
In no institution in our midst do the people of Gibbon seem to take a greater pride than in their Carnegie Public Library. It is housed in one of the finest buildings in the town, practically fireproof. More than 700 readers comprise its list of patrons. Over 1,500 volumes make up its stock of books. On its reading tables may be found a choice selection of the leading periodicals, and besides these there are innumerable pamphlets and Government bulletins. There , is also a fine collection of curios and historical relics. The Gibbon library spirit, long standing and determined, far antedates this well-nurtured forerunner of our present tax-supported township library, having come, apparently, with the first settlers of our community, surviving in spite of every adversity and thriving under any show of prosperity until now it takes its full measure of pride in a firmly established and thoroughly prosperous public library. In the early days, soon after the coming of the "colony" in 1871, in spite of adversity and the abounding cares incident upon the conversion of the wilderness into a suitable ahiding place for the new community, an unquenchable love of books made itself distinctly manifest, and, in 1872, under the auspices of the Gibbon Library Asso- ciation, we find a collection of standard books installed in the depot, under the care of Station Agent James Ogilvie. Several of these comparatively ancient volumes may yet be found doing yeomanlike book service beside the best sellers of the present day, and after having passed through the hands of the various educational institutions occupying the old courthouse, they have come finally to an ideal bookhouse in the township library. Inside their covers, modestly hiding behind the book pockets of our present library, may be found the printed rules of this first Gibbon library of 1872.
But these patriarchs of the book shelf are by no means anything like lonely
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EXCHANGE BANK BUILDING, GIBBON
CARNEGIE
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"last leaves" on account of their longevity. Crowding around them are hun- dreds of the newest and the best in literature and the stock is being constantly replenished.
The Gibbon Public Library caters to the needs of the public schools in the township, assisting students in their research work, becoming more and more a fixed department in our public school system.
The love of good books has certainly here a vigorous stimulant, and the Gibbon Public Library has undoubtedly opened upon an exceptionally useful career.
The success and the great measure of usefulness already attained by the Gibbon Public Library is due in large measure to its efficient, progressive and enthusiastic librarian, Miss Mattie Pierce.
EXCHANGE BANK
In the year 1885 James H. Davis and Horace F. Flint engaged in the bank- ing business with a paid in capital of $20,000, the firm name being James H. Davis & Company. In the year - the bank was reorganized as First National Bank with a paid in capital of $50,000. The stockholders were: James H. Davis, Horace F. Flint, L. J. Babcock, Thomas Kirk, S. C. Bassett, John Reddy, W. A. Rodgers. James H. Davis, president ; H. F. Flint, cashier. In the year 1892 the bank was reorganized and chartered as a state bank and named Exchange Bank, with a capital stock of $10,000.
In 1915 the bank had a capital stock of $16,000; surplus, $4,000; deposits, $155,000. Officers, H. F. Flint, president; I. A. Kirk, cashier; W. C. Ogilvie, assistant cashier.
COMMERCIAL BANK
In the year 1884, Frank C. Hitchcock, John Silvernail and John P. Hart- man established a bank, The Bank of Gibbon, a private affair with F. C. Hitch- cock as manager of the business.
In the year 1885 the bank was reorganized with a paid in capital of $5.000 ; the principal shareholders, Ira Holloway, H. F. Flint, J. P. Hartman, J. H. Silvernail.
The bank was chartered as a state bank under the name, Commercial Bank ; for a few months H. F. Flint served as cashier but as finally reorganized the officers were C. M. Beck, president and C. C. Holloway, cashier. In the year 1915 the bank had as capital stock, $5,000; surplus, $3,800; deposits, $97.000. The officers: I. F. Henline, president; B. F. Henline, cashier ; C. A. Torrance, vice president ; Roscoe Lunger, assistant cashier.
ORGANIZATION OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH AT GIBBON
On Tuesday evening, January 16, 1872, Rev. J. N. Webb, general missionary of the American Baptist Home Missionary Society, preached a sermon in the schoolhouse at Gibbon, after which the following named persons organized
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