USA > Nebraska > Buffalo County > Buffalo County, Nebraska, and its people : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 24
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46
INCORPORATING THE CITY OF KEARNEY
On December 3, 1873, the "Town of Kearney Junction," one year and one month old, ceased to have a legal existence and "Kearney," a city of the second class, with a population of approximately three hundred was incorporated, the officials of the Town of Kearney Junction serving as like officials of the City of Kearney until a regular election was held. Hence it was that E. B. Carter, L. R. More, J. N. Keller, H. H. Achey and James O'Kane were the members of the first city council; E. B. Carter the first mayor, Thomas S. Nightengale city clerk and Samuel Wenzell chief of police or marshal. In this brief history of the Town of Kearney Junction, is given, as appears in the record and in published proceedings available, the name of every person mentioned (about one hundred in all), because, having no other records of those who took part in the founda- tion and life of the town, from these we may learn and record the names of a portion of the residents and of those who took a more or less prominent part in public affairs.
THE FIRST POSTOFFICE
On February 9, 1872, a postoffice named Kearney Junction was established with Asbury Collins as postmaster. It is understood that at that date Mr. Collins and family were residing in the Junction House, located on section 2, and that the postoffice was kept there.
PERKINS AND HARFORD'S ADDITION TO KEARNEY JUNCTION
In the month of September, 1872, Asbury Collins had C. W. Colt and James MacGonegal, surveyors residing at Lowell, Neb., survey South Kearney as an addition to Kearney Junction, the same being on the northwest quarter of section 12, town 8, range 16. In July, 1872, D. N. Smith bought of the Union Pacific Railway Company the east half of section 35, town 9, range 16, for a consideration of $960, and sold the same to Perkins and Harford for a con- sideration of $16,000. In volumes No. I and No. 3, issue of the Buffalo County Beacon, published at Gibbon and dated July 27, 1872, appears the following item: "Esquire Collins of Kearney Junction made us a pleasant call a few days ago. He informs us that real estate at that point is on the rise in price. Mr. Smith (D. N. Smith) sold to parties from Minnesota (Minneapolis), (Per- kins and Harford), a short time since the east half of section 35, town 9, range 16, for the snug sum of $50 per acre." In the month of August, 1872, Perkins
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and Harford had Anselmo B. Smith survey and plat into city lots Perkins and Harford's first and second additions to Kearney Junction, being the east half of section 35, town 9, range 16. Thus it will be noted that before the Burlington had made junction with the Union Pacific there had been surveyed and platted into city lots and such plats made a matter of record, 960 acres of land in a solid body.
It is a matter of tradition that because of the unfair advantage taken by the townsite company in obtaining possession, in advance, of the townsite and because of the extravagant prices asked for city lots, the first buildings erected were on school section No. 36 and the Perkins and Harford Addition. The county records show that on April 2, 1872, A. Collins was appointed agent for the county to notify all parties not to occupy or erect any buildings on section 36, town 9, range 16, the same being school lands. In March, 1872, F. N. Dart erected a store building on the school section. An advertisement of Mr. Dart's business appeared in issues of the Buffalo County Beacon in the year 1872. Rev. Wm. Morse also erected a building on a lot in Perkins and Harford's Addition, purchased in September, 1872. As before noted, the first lots sold in the original townsite was to L. R. More in May, 1873. The building erected by Rev. Wm. Morse was occupied by James Jenkins as a shoe store, Mr. Jenkins being a shoemaker by trade. The first saloon opened at Kearney Junction was either on section 35 or section 36.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL
School district No. 7, embracing 120 square miles of territory, was organized March 8, 1872; the place of organizing was at the "Hotel Collins" (known also as the Junction House), James Smith being chosen director. The first district report discloses thirty-six children of school age in the district. An enumera- tion of school children made in April, 1873, shows forty-five children of school age.
The first term of school taught in this district (No. 7-Kearney) was by Miss Fannie Nevius, who was first licensed as a teacher in the county in the year 1873. Dan A. Crowell, county superintendent, under date January 24th, records: "Visited school in district No. 7, taught by Miss Nevius. Owing to some disagreement between the school officers and citizens relative to the selec- tion of a site, no house has yet been built and the school is at present domiciled in a room rented to suit the emergency. It is, however, poorly furnished and but illy adapted to the purposes of a school." On January 24, 1874, J. J. W. Place, county superintendent, records: "Visited district No. 7, found two schools in session taught by O. E. Hansen and Miss Fannie Nevius."
FIRST COUNTY TEACHERS' INSTITUTE
The first county teachers' institute was held at Kearney, November 25, 1875, J. J. W. Place superintendent. The teachers in attendance were enter- tained by the people of Kearney. State Superintendent J. M. Mckenzie was in attendance and delivered two lectures. Prof. D. B. Worley had charge of
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the music. There were twelve teachers from the county in attendance. A county teachers' organization was formed with O. E. Hansen, chairman; J. S. Zerbe, secretary; Miss Bunnell, treasurer; and Miss Fannie Nevius, critic. Dan A. Crowell was one of the teachers in the Kcarney school at that date.
KEARNEY JUNCTION TIMES
As the writer understands the Kearney Junction Times, established by Mendel, Clapp and Cunningham (L. B. Cunningham, editor) was the first newspaper published at Kearney Junction. Its first issue was October 12, 1872. The Times was ever loyal to the best interests of Kearney Junction, and the City of Kearney and exceedingly helpful in the upbuilding of the town and community; in the discussion of public affairs it maintained a high moral standard, its editor having no sympathy with the belief of many that open saloons and dens of vice were essential to the up-building of the city and hence the Times was not in close touch and fellowship with certain elements which exerted a powerful influence in the early history of Kearney Junction and Buffalo County, influences which at times largely controlled in the distribution of public printing and public patron- age. In later years the Times became the Buffalo County Journal, having a general circulation throughout the county and exerting a large influence.
CENTRAL NEBRASKA PRESS
The exact date of the establishment of the Central Nebraska Press at Kearney Junction is, to the writer, not known. Official records disclose that February 10, 1873, the Press was made the official organ for publication of ordinances of the Town of Kearney Junction, and that on June 3, 1873, there was being published both the daily and weekly Press. In the days of the founding of the Town of Kearney Junction it was generally understood that the owners of the townsite and the promoters of the town donated to "Web" Eaton a considerable number of city lots as an inducement to establish a newspaper, daily and weekly; in March, 1873, Mr. Eaton secured the subscription list and good will of the Buffalo County Beacon being published at Gibbon. "Web" Eaton had a love for politics and was a very shrewd politician ; he secured, by appointment, political preferment and left the management of the Press largely in the hands of his brother, R. H. Eaton. Rice Eaton, as he was familiarly called, was born in Rochester, N. Y., in 1838; by profession and training he was a printer and newspaper man. He was a soldier of the Civil war, had traveled somewhat and was a keen observer of mankind. He was of a lovable disposition, witty, original in thought and expression, a versatile and apt writer.
He had a liking for politics and a nose for news of a political nature.
Under his management the Press soon secured a state wide reputation, was widely quoted, and exerted a large influence. Of the days of which this article treats, the Central Nebraska Press easily took first rank among the newspapers published in the county. In the year 1879 Mr. Eaton disposed of the Press to W. C. Holden.
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CENTRAL NEBRASKA STAR
The Central Nebraska Star was established (as recalled) in the year 1871 by Moses H. Sydenham; its publication was not regular and no files of its issues are known to exist. Its date line hailed from "Centoria," a paper-boom town in Kearney County, a few miles west of Fort Kearney. Centoria was surveyed and platted by Mr. Sydenham but had no existence except on paper. The Star advocated the removal of the national capitol to the Fort Kearney military reservation, the geographical center of the nation, urging that by surveying the reservation (ten miles square) into city lots the sale of the lots would provide for all expense of erecting Government buildings and the removal of the national capitol. While the Star had a considerable circulation in Buffalo and Kearney counties in the years 1871-2-3, it can not be said to have exerted much influence in the settlement and development of Central Nebraska; it was the personal organ of its editor who was without experience in public affairs and seemingly not in touch or sympathy with the development of the agricultural resources of this portion of the state. Mr. Sydenham was an Englishman by birth, served first at Fort Kearney as a sutler's clerk and later as postmaster at the fort; he also served a term as county commissioner when Kearney County was organized in 1872. Fort Kearney was abandoned as a. fort in 1871.
EARLY REMINISCENCES OF KEARNEY
L. B. Cunningham
August 18, 1872, I arrived at Lowell, the then terminal point of the Burling- ton & Missouri River Railroad in Nebraska, about 5 P. M. One other man beside myself desired to get to Kearney and a third desired to reach the Union Pacific Railroad as soon as possible.
Lowell was then a flourishing railway station, crowds coming and going, business lively, hotels full, cow boys, whiskey and roustabouts galore. We three hired a livery rig and driver to take us to the south and east terminal of the Burlington Railway bridge across the Platte River. We had learned that the main pillars of the bridge were laid across and that one could walk over. We arrived at the bridge about dark. The night was starlight but no moon. The third man proved to be well acquainted with directions and locations; he knew about where Kearney Station (now Buda) was and we gladly permitted him to lead the way. The meadows north of the river were luxuriant with grass, some of which was higher than our heads. After wading the high grass and over buffalo grass sod, carrying our grips, we arrived at the station and found a lodging house conducted by Mrs. Johnson and her son, Wm. C., the latter a lad of about fourteen, who died in Kearney about four years ago. His mother later married M. W. Benschoter. The traveling man rose at 3 A. M. and boarded a passenger train for Omaha. Years after I met him in Iowa, only once.
My remaining companion and self took a tie-path late Sunday morning for Kearney. When about half the distance a brother of Jacob Gabriel drove up with a wagon and team and asked us to ride, which kind invitation we gladly accepted. We were directed to the Smith Hotel (sometimes called Junction
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House-sometimes Hotel Collins) then located in the center of section 2-8-16, later removed to south part of town and used as a hotel. We found there James A. and George E. Smith, also Frank Woods, each of whom, with a fourth man we now disremember his name, each a homesteader (pre-emptor) holding down a quarter of that section. The house was four big rooms below and also above, one room by survey on each quarter of the section, thus questionably complying with the law. James A. Smith and wife kept public house for the accommodation of travelers.
CHURCH SERVICES HELD
We were surprised to see almost immediately on our arrival, homesteaders coming in for church services and two gray haired preachers present, Rev. Wm. Morse, a pioneer, Methodist, and Rev. Nahum Gould, likewise a pioneer, Presby- terian, both homesteaders. Then there was Asbury Collins whom we sub- sequently learned was a minister also, and his good wife, Mrs. Louisa Collins, whom I believe is still living.
We had church services, preaching and singing; James A. Smith and wife, and James Jenkins were each fair singers, and they with others and an organist made the building ring with melody. C. S. Greenman and wife, also daughter and son, the daughter now Mrs. T. N. Hartzell, then a pretty young girl blooming into womanhood, Herbert the son, then five years of age. Roswell Gould was present, a prominent figure then, and I believe still living. Judge and Mrs. F. G. Hamer were there, which was, of course, my first sight of them. I went to Kearney with the intention of starting a newspaper, and had not thought of taking land, but on Monday most all were taking land, homesteads, and Frank Woods saddled two ponies and induced me, I having taken the homestead fever, to mount one of the ponies and accompany him on a hunt for a claim. He took me out to where is now Riverdale-the Fort Kearney reservation not then being open for settlement-where I selected the northwest quarter section 6-9-16 and filed upon the same the next day at the Grand Island land office. J. R. King, C. Sisco, Peter Calhoun, and Wm. Stevenson had already settled on section 8. Jake Bunnell had located on the east half of section 6; Cosmo Hill, and father, Charles Porter and W. F. Piercy were further east and John Sammons, John Henning, Fred Cuddebeck, Wilson Hewitt, J. F. Chase, James Carson and others were settled in the neighborhood of where now is Glenwood Station. On return- ing to Kearney Frank Woods refused to accept a cent of pay for his time and trouble in assisting me to select a claim; he said, at the time, it was the best claim then untaken within twelve miles of Kearney and thereafter I proved by my crops that he prophesied truly.
F. G. Hamer, Rev. N. Gould and Roswell Gould were located north of the present electric light plant, Rev. Wm. Morse, James Jenkins and others two miles north of the hamlet called Kearney, while Wm. Schram, L. D. Forehand, and George N. Smith were six or seven miles northeast. Of these early homesteaders the following named have passed to their rewards, Rev. N. Gould, Rev. Wmi. Morse, C. Cisco, J. R. King, C. Hill, Sr., W. F. Piercy, J. F. Chase, and James Carson, but I believe the others are still living. Aside from the Smith House,
MOSES H. SYDENHAM
Editor of the Central Nebraska Star published in 1871-72-73. Postmaster at Fort Kearney. County commissioner, Kearney County, 1872-73.
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which was in reality westward from the town site, there were six houses in Kear- ney. John Mahon, the oldest settler, had a cottage and blacksmith shop on the south of the Union Pacific track. Simon and Dr. J. T. Murphy were constructing the Harrold House which still stands. David Anderson, later sheriff of the county, lived with his family in a little cottage upon what is now West Twenty- fourth Street, then or soon after, known as Smith Avenue. F. N. Dart and brother-in-law, W. H. McClure, had a shanty well filled with a general stock of goods located on almost the extreme southwest corner of section No. 36. Charley Christenson was the drayman of that day and lived with his horses in an adjoin- ing stall.
After filing on my claim in Grand Island, on Tuesday, August 21st, I returned to Iowa, arranging my affairs, and again landed in Kearney on a Burlington freight at midnight September 6, 1872, the passenger train not yet running. During my two weeks' absence Kearney hamlet had moved some, almost to the character of a village. Union Pacific trains did not stop at the town proper but would let off passengers and mail at the Smith House. Freight had to be hauled from Kearney Station (now Buda). D. N. Smith, of Burlington, Iowa, a Burlington Railway right-of-way man and construction agent, had played snap judgment upon the Union Pacific Railway Company and had slipped in and purchased as a private citizen, several sections of railroad lands in that vicinity, of the Union Pacific Company, knowing that the Burlington would form a junction with the Union Pacific at some point very near, hence the Union Pacific would not stop its trains at the new hamlet (Kearney Junction) until some satisfactory arrangement could be made about lands and lots. This logger-head business went on for some weeks while the new comers suffered inconveniences.
L. R. MORE STARTS A BANK
L. R. More and Will C. Sunderland started lumber and coal yards. L. R. More soon started a little bank, first doing business in his coal and lumber office and later erected a small frame on a corner on Main Street, then called Colorado Avenue and Twenty-first Street, where now stands the opera house. This corner has practically been the foundation and support of a banking house ever since. Charles W. Dake removed his family from Mount Ayr, Iowa, and soon started another bank in the north part of town, later known as the Buffalo County National Bank. Owing to grasshopper depredations, drouth and general hard times this bank failed some years later and Mr. Dake went to Denver.
Mr. St. Clair started a bank, he having moved from Schuyler, Nebr .; he failed inside of a year, but he proved strictly honorable and paid every cent of indebted- ness. L. D. Grant came from Schuyler about August 25th and removed his wife and daughter the following January. S. S. St. John came in October from Wisconsin. Peter W. Wilson from Mount Ayr, Iowa; Samuel Wenzell accom- panied the latter, each with their families. H. C. Andrews came the following December from the same place as the latter two. V. B. Clark soon started a hardware store in October; T. J. Parish and Byron Marsh came some months later as did C. J. Burke, the latter the tinner, the former two clerks for Mr. Clark. Mr. Williams came from Lincoln, built a frame building on Smith Avenue and
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placed therein a stock of groceries. James O'Kane built on the south side just north of the Harold House and kept groceries and produce. J. S. Chandler of St. Joe built in the corner where the Presbyterian Church now stands; Doctors D. A. Vance and C. T. Dildine came in June, 1873. Doctor Bolton came from Illinois and started a drug store and practiced some and had a partner in the store, the firm known as Bolton and Barlow.
I built a two story building on Smith Avenue for a printing office and under the firm name of Mendel, Clapp and Cunningham started the Kearney Junction Times, the first issue being dated October 12, 1872, and the first paper in Kearney. Messrs. L. D. Gant, L. D. Forehand and perhaps Judge F. G. Hamer, each has a copy of the first issue. For a couple of months the paper was printed at the Union office in Albia, Iowa, until we could establish our material in the upper rooms of the building above referred to. Webster Eaton, of Red Oak, Iowa, started the Daily Press in January or February following (1873), and in a few months was joined by his brother, Rice Eaton.
A SCHOOL ESTABLISHED
Families of children came and a school was in demand. I leased the lower room of the Times Building to James A. Smith, director of the newly organized school district for a term of six months school and Miss Fannie Nevius, now deceased, was employed as the first teacher in Kearney, who immediately started in to teach the young hopefuls.
This room in the Times Building was also leased to the Methodist and Presbyterian Church people, a few of each, who held union services during the winter (1872-73), and to a literary society organized, called the "Philomathean," at the instigation of F. N. Colwell, J. C. McAdams, Walter Colby, S. S. St. John and the writer and we held weekly debating societies therein on Saturday even- ings. The Methodist people had a preliminary church organization. Rev. L. B. Fifield built Walworth Hall on corner of Smith Avenue and Colorado Street (now Central and Twenty-fourth) in which he continued to preach and later organized a Congregational Church. The Baptist people organized the following summer (1873) with V. B. Clark and family as principal force.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ORGANIZED
About March 7th ( 1873) the synodical missionary with Rev. Nahum Gould organized the first Presbyterian Church of Kearney in the Times Building with a membership of eight beside the minister, as follows: Dr. J. T. Brown, Roswell B. Gould, Eddy Lloyd, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. George E. Smith, Emma Greenman, Mrs. C. S. Greenman, and L. B. Cunningham, and the former two named were elected elders.
A SOUVENIR OF EARLY DAYS
E. B. Carter came in the fall of 1872 and started a jewelry store in a small building near where the Downing-Bartlett Block now is. We have in our home
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a pleasant reminder of my old friend Carter. In June, 1873, I bought a plain walnut case eight-day alarm clock of him for which I paid $7. We still have this clock in good condition, keeps perfect time and it will awaken you at any hour if you but set the alarm right. It now times our cook in egg boiling and biscuit making. E. B. Carter was a veritable yankee, sharp and shrewd, always active in the upbuilding of the town. He was a member of the early town council and third mayor, Marsh (D. B.) being the first and Nathan Campbell, a settler coming in June, 1872, being the second. (Note-The records disclose that E. B Carter was chairman of the board of trustees of the Town of Kearney Junction when organized in November, 1872, was elected a member of the board of trustees May 5, 1873, and served as chairman of the board when the City of Kearney was incorporated in December, 1873, and served as mayor of the City of Kearney until the first election held in the city when Nathan Campbell was elected mayor.)
NAMING TIIE NEW TOWN
At a meeting in the lumber office of More and Sunderland, it was voted to lay out (incorporate) the town four miles square-sixteen square miles-thus putting down on paper a big foundation for a big city. On account of there being so many places and things called "Kearney," such as, Kearney County, Kearney City (in Kearney County), Fort Kearney and Kearney Station (now Buda), it was seriously discussed to change the name of the new town. I do not recall all of half a dozen names proposed, but one gentleman (Commercial Hotel pro- prietor) very much desired to name it "Inter Ocean"-half way between the oceans-thus you see that "Midway City" was thought of as early as October, 1872. I remember distinctly that I wanted "Permanence," as I believed we were laying the foundation for a permanent city, and how surely my early ideas arc coming true, you citizens of Kearney best know. But there were too many present, of whom L. R. More, a very positive sort of man, who had the Kearney fever very badly, and they outvoted us and Kearney it is and no doubt Kearney it will remain while time lasts.
Attorneys E. C. Calkins and Warren Pratt came, if I mistake not, in June, 1873. These gentlemen were partners in law for a number of years and now still living, and as separate attorneys, are prosperous. James Harron and Thomas C. Roberts came from St. Joseph, Mo., and conducted a store for a while ; the former branched off into farming and the latter returned to St. Joseph; both have passed to the unknown. F. J. Switz came from Ohio and established a furniture store and is still a very prominent figure in Kearney. W. J. Perkins was a '72 recruit. A. H. Connor with F. G. Hamer made a strong law firm. Nightengale and F. G. Keens opened the first drug store. J. P. Johnson, the "inevitable" as I used to advertise him, came from Mount Pleasant and Red Oak, Iowa; he engaged in various occupations, among them, hardware and also a general stock of clothing and dry goods. Hiram Randall should not be over- looked nor Robert Haines now an honored councilman. John J. Bartlett, W. A. and R. L. Downing, all time-honored early pushers for Kearney. Doctor Hull, Joseph, Samuel and Charles Black, C. B. and E. B. Finch and Jack Crocker were
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on the ground a little later, as were Wm. H. Roe, John H. and Dan W. Roe. Col. John H. Roe did a nice thing for Kearney, which deserves a special mention : as agent for Union Pacific lands and lots he secured the handsome block of lots where the Kearney High School now stands as a permanent school ground for the city.
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