USA > Nebraska > Buffalo County > Buffalo County, Nebraska, and its people : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 27
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).
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
In 1873, a school building was built, its estimated cost being twenty-two hundred dollars. This building still stands on Twenty-third Street and Avenue A, now used as a rooming house. In this building were four rooms; (at that date there were four grades in the Kearney School) Oscar Hansen was principal and Miss Fannie Nevius the primary teacher, but Miss Nevius also taught algebra to half a dozen of the older pupils.
Later the Whittier School Building was erected at a cost of $25,000.
One interesting bit of history in connection with the Times Building, is that not only was the first school organized and kept here, but also the first Presby- terian Church was organized in this building with only seven charter members.
(Note-It is worthy of mention that in the early history of Kearney, the Times Building served a most useful purpose in the educational and religious life of the town; a newspaper was published here, whose editor was a man of high ideals, earnestness of purpose, a desire to be useful in the world; here was organized and kept the first term of school; here was organized one of the first churches in the town; here were held religious services conducted by ministers of different denominations ; here was organized and met a literary society, where were debated questions of public importance; the foundations here laid, the early influence here exerted, has been felt in the life of the city, has been for the best interests of the people of the city down to this day and generation and will continue for long years in the future .- Editor.)
THE KEARNEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
From the Silver Anniversary edition (1913) of The Kearney Daily Hub is taken the following well written and most valuable history of the public schools of the city :
Kearney may be justly proud of her educational advantages, for no city of its size in the entire state can boast of superior facilities for preparing the boys and girls for their life work. The system is thoroughly up-to-date in methods and equipment. It has commercial, domestic science and manual training courses as complete as any in the state-the first branch introduced last year and the second this year. It has a very large library, a fully equipped gymnasium, eight pianos,
-
220
HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY
and the entire school is accredited by the state university and the Central Associa- tion of Colleges and High Schools, and there is no school in the land but accepts Kearney High's credits. It has its own official publication in "The Echo," which is strictly a high school product ranking well with similar school papers, in fact there are none better or brighter. And there are other features creditable to the school too numerous to mention in an article of the limited scope of this one . which tend to facilitate efforts along the lines of higher education. The hand- some new building completed last year and dedicated last autumn signally enlarged the facilities for generally effective school work, and gave opportunity for the better equipment of boys and girls in the way of efficiency and practical work, upon leaving school.
A business undertaking of ponderous proportions is the management of the Kearney High School District which, since the establishment of the first school in the city, has grown from a very small beginning into an investment of $205,850, including in its property list, besides its thorough equipment of all kinds, eight blocks of ground and seven fine buildings all constructed of brick and stone, and named as follows: Longfellow High School, Whittier, Emerson, Bryant, Haw- thorne, Alcott, Kenwood; all but the latter named for the poets.
The sum of money required last year to carry on the work of this vast educational system was $47,066.83. The number of pupils was 2,087, and teach- ers forty-four from superintendent down.
This splendid school system of Kearney is under the supervision of six members of the board of education as follows :
F. J. Everett, president.
Clyde W. Norton, vice president.
Dr. M. A. Hoover, secretary.
Messrs. J. A. Miller, Gilbert E. Haase, Fred A. Nye.
BEAUTIFUL ENVIRONMENTS
The beautiful surroundings of the different school buildings are an incentive to the student body to do the best and most thorough work, and instil a keener insight into the advantages of a good education. The school grounds have capacious campuses and all appliances for the enjoyment of outdoor sports during respites from study, with see-saws, swings, teeter-boards, turning poles, basket ball, football, all of which go to make school life enjoyable for the pupil.
It can be truthfully said that Kearney High is one of the best "balanced" schools in the country.
While no general system of study as laid out by educational publications is followed in the Kearney schools there is, however, a much closer supervision of teachers than is observed in most cities. The class room work is carefully planned and laid out in the office of the superintendent so that, practically, the same method and interpretation of the work is followed so perfectly in all the rooms of the grade schools that it has been said that the observer can visit the classes in one of the grade schools in one part of the city then go to another building and pick up the work just where he left it in the first school.
Six courses are followed in the high school-Latin, English, German, com-
mis
LONGFELLOW AND WHITTIER SCHOOLS, KEARNEY
avery
著州水索
STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, KEARNEY
221
HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY
mercial, normal training and domestic science. The normal training course for teachers is said to be one of the best for the purpose intended of that of any high school in the state.
BY WAY OF REMINISCENCE
One of the first, if not the very first, buildings used for school purposes in the City of Kearney is the two-story frame building standing at the southwest corner of Twenty-fourth Street and A Avenue, owned by one of the Nyes and fitted up now for a boarding and rooming house. The construction of this building was commenced in 1872, and owing to a mistake in the location of the lot lines it stood in the middle of Twenty-fourth Street. There was strong opposition to the building's location there and at one time there were three petitions out to have the structure located elsewhere. Finally, but before the building was anywhere near completed it was decided to move it to what is now the northwest part of the city, and near the present sites of the Hamer and Keens residences. Shortly after the removal to that location the elements took a hand in the campaign and one night sent along a wind of such force that the structure was razed to the ground and scattered about the prairie. What frag- inents of the demolished building that were available were gathered up and a reconstruction of the building on its former site was begun. There it was built and there it stood until was discovered the error in the street lines when it was moved over on the lot where it now stands.
There was another frame structure used awhile as a school building which stood on the present site of the Whittier Building, formerly the high school building. This building was obliterated when plans had been laid for the con- struction of the Whittier School.
THE KEARNEY PUBLIC LIBRARY
By Mrs. Adah Basten (C. V. D.)
The Kearney Public Library was established in the summer of 1890. The first board appointed by the city council was : Dr. O. S. Marden, Ira D. Marston, Judge A. H. Connor, Rev. John Askin, Capt. Joseph Black, H. H. Seeley, Mrs. Nancy Hull, Mrs. Nora M. Jones and Mrs. Etta R. Holmes.
This board held its first meeting July 8, 1890. Judge Connor served as tem- porary chairman. Dr. John Askin was elected president, and Mrs. Holmes secretary. Mr. Marston drew up the rules and regulations : No. 2, provided that books should be drawn only on Tuesdays and Saturdays; the reading room to be open every day.
The purchasing committee, Doctor Marden, Mr. Marston and Mrs. Jones, bought the private circulating library of Wm. Skinner-1,400 volumes-with fixtures and list of publications. This purchase made it possible to open the library in the city hall with Mrs. Hadassah J. Seaman as librarian on September 1, 1890.
Judge Connor's place, at his death, was filled by the appointment of Mrs. B. S.
222
HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY
Smith, and that of Mrs. Nora M. Jones by Mr. Yost, who was succeeded by J. P. Johnson as a representative of the Fourth Ward.
The roster of the board of trustees for the ensuing twenty-five years includes well known names: Mrs. Holmes was trustee for nine years and acted as secretary for that time; this long service has not been exceeded except by Captain Black, who served nineteen years, 1890-1909, and by Mrs. Adah Basten, who was appointed in 1899 and is still (1916) a member of the board. In addition to those mentioned the following citizens have served as trustees : Rev. W. S. Barnes, Mrs. H. S. Robertson, George W. Frank, Jr., Marvin Trott, Wallace Bierce, Mary A. Squires, W. W. Barney, T. N. Hartzell, H. A. Webbert, John N. Dryden, Mrs. Hazelton, Miss M. I. Stewart, Rev. G. S. M. Montgomery, C H. Gregg, Frank Varnes, E. Frank Brown, Mrs. V. E. Jakway, George Ray, W. S. Clapp, Mrs. C. V. D. Basten, Miss Blanche Finch, Mrs. J. F. Daniels, Carl O. Lund, Mrs. W. D. Oldham, Judge B. O. Hostetler, J. S. Adair, V. C. Chase, Jas. L. Tout, Rev. George Allen Beecher, Mrs. Walter Nye, Clarence A. Murch, A. O. Thomas, C. F. Bodinson, Dan Morris, Rev. M. McMinn, G. A. Burgert, H. N. Russell, Mrs. Henry C. Andrews, Mrs. T. J. Parish, W. A. Tarbell, Rev. M. L. Daly, Mrs. A. L. Bertig, Mrs. J. N. Dryden, George N. Porter, H. E. Bradford, Philip G. Snow, R. E. Cochran, N. P. McDonald, Mrs. F. F. Roby, John G. Lowe.
Mrs. Seaman was librarian for nine years. Miss Belle S. Earley succeeded her in October, 1899. The library was still in the city hall, occupying the former council chamber, a platform had been removed to increase floor-space, but the needs of the public were not adequately supplied by the meager facilities. Com- munication with Mr. Andrew Carnegie resulted in a gift of $10,000, in January, 1903. The city council appointed a committee to decide on a site; this was not settled until June. The generosity of Mrs. Charles O. Norton, who gave a valuable lot on the corner of Twenty-first Street and First Avenue, finally decided the location. Its accessibility has made it a good location. The builders' and architects' bids were passed upon, the contract going to Knutzen and Isdell of Kearney and James Tyler and Son of Lincoln, on September 28, 1903. An additional gift of $2,000 was asked from Mr. Carnegie, on the ground that the levy for library purposes would meet this requirement for maintenance. This request was graciously granted, and the library board were thus enabled to put the building into shape for occupancy. The books were removed from the city hall December 29, 1904, and the new building was ready for the public February 4, 1905.
1892
1915
Number of books in circulation .. 39I Number of books in circulation. 54,000 Number of books on shelves 2,000 Number of books on shelves. .. 10,800 Number of borrowers 1,263 Number of borrowers 4,427
The library has always been a depository for public documents, a highly valued asset.
In the twenty-five years of existence there have been four librarians: Mrs. Hadassah J. Seaman, 1890 to 1899; Miss Belle S. Earley, 1899 to 1904; Miss Mary Katherine Ray, 1904 to 1907; Mrs. Pauline Frank, 1907 to -. These
223
HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY
women, alike competent, conscientious and ambitious for the success of the work, reflect credit upon the discrimination of the various boards of trustees who selected them to this responsible post. Mrs. Seaman, the first librarian, had the longest term of office.
From a published report of July 29, 1893, the following is quoted: "The affairs of the library and reading-room have been faithfully looked after by Mrs. Seaman, the librarian. Competent, attentive, and intelligent, with the experience of age and the instinct of a good mother, she is a wise advisor as to what our boys and girls should read." Mrs. Seaman went to Tulsa, Okla., in October, 1899, and died there May 30, 1911. Her interest in founding a library in her new home was recognized by a special memorial service to her at the laying of the cornerstone of a new Carnegie library in October, 1915. Her portrait will adorn its walls and a delivery desk, with her name carved above its panels will be placed there in her honor.
Mrs. Seaman was the wife of John D. Seaman, pioneer settlers in Crowellton Precinct (now Odessa), Buffalo County, in the year 1872.
Miss Belle S. Earley was born in Kennedy, N. Y .; she prepared for her work by a course in library science, then in its infancy, at Madison, Wis .; it was a sad circumstance that she did not live to see the new library building completed, but died after a short illness on the 29th of December, 1903.
An extract from the secretary's report at that time reads: "Everywhere were evidences of her busy hands, trying with the poor means at her disposal, to make her little domain come up to the ideal library which existed in her mind, planted there by instruction, study and an innate desire to do whatever she did well. She was away from her work one day less than a week, and was laid to her rest with tears and loving remembrances on the last day of the year 1903."
Miss Mary K. Ray was elected on April 18th, the post being filled in the interval by Miss Earley's sister, Mrs. Mary E. O'Brien.
Miss Ray attended a library summer school at Iowa City, Iowa, and assumed her duties on her return. She resigned May 6, 1907, to take a like position in the state library at Lincoln, Neb.
Mrs. Pauline Frank was elected to succeed Miss Ray and took up her work August 1, 1907. She was born in Madison, Wis., educated in a Chicago high school and in St. Xavier's, Chicago.
She has fitted herself for her work by numerous courses at library schools. It is owing to Mrs. Frank's genius for administration that the Kearney Public Library is one of the best in the state. It is third in point of distribution of books in the state: that is, it comes next to Omaha and Lincoln, though there are four other towns with greater population between Kearney and Lincoln. The board of trustees not infrequently receives letters asking for points in management as the "Kearney Library is known to be a model small library."
The activities of the library outside of the care and loaning of books are many. It is, in fact, in touch with whatever intellectual life there is in the city. It has study clubs, meetings in the reference room under the direction of the librarian, besides its relation to all the other clubs and schools. Mrs. Frank has also stimulated work in domestic science. A notable achievement was the ob- servance of the Shakespeare tercentenary.
.
224
HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY
NINETEENTII CENTURY CLUB
Mrs. Etta R. Holmes (K. O.)
The history of Buffalo County would be incomplete without mention of the woman's "Nineteenth Century Club," of Kearney.
On June 15, 1888, Mrs. Elizabeth Lisle Saxon, vice president for Tennessee, of the National Suffrage Association, addressed the Clio Club of Kearney on "Equality of Women Before the Law." As a result of the lecture an organiza- tion was formed which was named, "The Nineteenth Century Club of Kearney."
The officers elected were: Mrs. F. G. Hamer, president ; Mrs. F. Y. Robert- son, vice president; Mrs. J. L. Tout, treasurer; Mrs. E. B. Jones, secretary.
The motto chosen was, "Interdependence not Independence," which certainly absolves the members from a militant suffrage policy.
The charter members were: Mesdames Rebecca Hamer, Eva Robertson, Martha Tout, Nora M. Jones, Amelia E. Pratt, Fanny M. Gilcrest, Etta R. Holmes, Mary C. Barnd, C. J. Raymond, S. M. P. Holmes. The last named three are deceased and five have moved from the city.
For twelve years this was a live culture club, limited to fifty members. In 1910 it was made a department club. The membership immediately doubled and the club joined the state federation and later the national federation. During all these years while annually pursuing a liberal course in study, the aim of the club has been service and a desire to assist in whatever tended toward an uplift in the community. The special days regularly observed are: Federation, Library, Civics and Education.
Mrs. A. O. Thomas, while acting as chairman of the educational committee of the state federation, became founder of educational day, which has since acquired state-wide observance.
Donations to the public library have included Poole's Index to Periodicals, several sets of fiction, juvenile works, and a valuable picture.
In educational work much more has been done than there is space to enumerate. Many lectures of great value have been secured from prominent educators. By special tax, a fund was raised to assist in sending a teacher for a much needed kindergarten in the South. The club once placed by special effort two efficient women on the school board. It worked and voted for a $40,000 addition to the high school building; contributed $25 to the Nebraska University scholarship fund, and to several other scholarship funds liberal con- tributions have been made from time to time. Two lectures on domestic science by Mrs. Harriet McMurphy have been supported by the club.
The following benefactions stand to their credit: A set of dining-room furniture to the City Hospital; $200 in stock subscribed to the Chautauqua Asso- ciation ; $5 monthly for one year to the Salvation Army rest room; $5 monthly for one year to the Mother Hull Hospital; $400 was given to the Community Club for boys and a committee from the club took active part in its management.
For several years the club has taken charge of the sale of Red Cross seals, and three public drinking fountains have been secured with a little addition from the club treasury.
MRS. REBECCA A. HAMER
Charter member and first president of the Nineteenth Century Club, or- ganized at Kearney in 1885, the first woman's club organized in Buffalo County and among the first organ- ized in the state.
(Photo taken in ISSS) MRS. JOHN II. HUGHES The first school teacher in Ravenna
MISS MARY FRANCES NEVIC'S Taught the first term of school in Kearney, 1872
225
HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY
The club now numbers about eighty-seven members. It has three depart- ments : Home Economics, Art and Literature, and History. The present (1915) officers are: Mrs. Emma Wort, president; Mrs. Nora L. Killian, vice presi- dent ; Mrs. Alice Cavanee, recording secretary ; Mrs. Huldah Saylor, correspond- ing secretary ; Mrs. Elizabeth Troupe, treasurer; Mrs. Helen Dryden, historian.
Within a few weeks the Child's Conservation League has elected to join the club and this will greatly add to its strength and value to the public.
We have thus set forth the public work of the club and we may well add that it has all been done on the modest entrance fee of $I at first, increased later to $1.50 and for the last two years to $2.50 for admission and $2 annually.
The subtle and more powerful influence on its members and their families cannot be estimated. One remarkable fact in the history of the club is the low death rate among its members. So far as I have knowledge of the hundreds who have been enrolled in the twenty-eight years, only eighteen have passed away, and two of these were octogenarians. Shall we not attribute the low per cent of death to intelligent, careful living and to the co-operative study and work which contribute to it ?
The following have served as president of the club: Rebecca A. Hamer, three terms; S. M. P. Holmes, Eva R. Robertson, Etta R. Holmes, four terms ; Mary W. Newman, Mary A. Ripley, Ida Brady, Margaret E. Fox, Helen H. Dryden, three terms; Cuddie L. Marston, Margaret B. Hostetler, two terms; Ethelwyn G. Brown, Mary T. W. Graves, Helen A. Packard, Ellamae C. Thomas, three terms ; Cora D. Neale, Ella L. Bessie, two terms ; Emma C. Wort, 1914-15.
The membership of the club for the year 1915 was as follows: Mrs. Mary Andrews (H. C.), Mrs. Anna Barney (W. W.), Mrs. Annie Bell (H. S.), Mrs. Laura Berbig (A. L.), Mrs. Elizabeth Barber (Emory), Mrs. Augusta Blanchard (J. S.), Mrs. Effie A. Boltin (A. H.), Mrs. Sarah Brindley, Mrs. Alice Beardsley (Chas.), Mrs. Darlen Burgert (G. H.), Mrs. Ella L. Bessie (C. D.), Mrs. Mabel Bower (A. G.), Mrs. Adah Basten (C. V. D.), Miss Anna Bishop, Miss Marie Berkman, Mrs. Alice M. Cavanee (J. N.), Mrs. Catherine Carrig (C. C.), Mrs. Irene Conklin (J. D.), Mrs. Susan A. Davies (C. K.), Mrs. Josephine Doherty (J. G.), Miss Katherine Dickerman, Mrs. Una Donnell (J. S.), Mrs. Helen Dryden (J. N.), Mrs. Mary F. Downing (W. F.), Mrs. Elliott (R. L.), Mrs. Viola Easterling (J. M.), Mrs. Elleen G. Fountain (L. D.), Mrs. Estelle Fowler (J. H.), Mrs. Pauline Frank (Agustus), Mrs. Rue Good (Chas.), Mrs. Winnie V. Giest (F. G.), Miss Sarah L. Garrett, Mrs. Flora Harrison, Mrs. Mary L. Haase (G. E.), Mrs. Mary E. Heasley (C. J.), Mrs. Lana H. Hecox (D. W.), Mrs. Bernice Hamer (T. F.), Mrs. Lavina Horn, Mrs. Grace Hardy (Ward), Mrs. Margaret Hostetler (B. O.), Mrs. Clarissa L. Huntley (F. C.), Mrs. Clara Hawthorne (J. D.), Mrs. Harriett Hendrys (L. D.), Mrs. Anna Hyatt (M.), Mrs. Etta R. Holmes (K. O.), Mrs. Etta K. Hallowell (F. M.), Mrs. Anna L. Halstead (George), Mrs. Nellie Henline (S. A. D.), Mrs. Leah Inks (Thos.), Mrs. Minnie A. Jones (H. N.), Mrs. Nora S. Killian (A. C.), Mrs. Minnie S. Keoppa (L. A.), Mrs. Elizabeth King (W. O.), Mrs. Gertrude Lambert (A. C.), Mrs. Phoebe J. Lancaster (Thos.), Mrs. Nellie Landis (S.), Mrs. Ella Lee (A. J.), Mrs. Clara E. Martin (L. D.), Mrs. Etta Manuel (C. B.), Mrs. Phoebe A. Miller (E. A.), Mrs. Alice Mocre (D. C.), Mrs. Anna Moore (C. H.), Mrs. Vol. I-15
226
HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY
Ella M. Morris (Dan), Mrs. Helen Nye (F. A.), Mrs. Edith E. Offil (A. V.), Mrs. Rebecca Offil (M.), Mrs. Helen Packard (F. A.), Mrs. Henrietta Roby (F. F.), Mrs. Emma Robinson (F. L.), Mrs. Annie Scott (E. J.), Mrs. Anna Selleck (J. M.), Mrs. Ina Sammis (H. B.), Mrs. Grace Steadman (Jos.), Mrs. Irene Stuart, Mrs. Mattie Shafto (E.), Mrs. Louise Smith (L.), Mrs. Olive M. H. Strong (J. A.), Mrs. Frances Sumption (A. O.), Mrs. Esther Sward (C. G.), Mrs. Effie Sweeley (S. M.), Mrs. Huldah Saylor (J. C.), Mrs. Effie Sullivan (R.), Mrs. Maude Scoutt (W. J.), Mrs. Ruth Sowles (B. W.), Mrs. Sue G. Tarbell, Mrs. Louella Tolbert (L. W.), Mrs. Mary Tompkins (C. O.), Mrs. Sletta Turner (W. T.), Mrs. Elizabeth Trindle (J. F.), Mrs. Elizabeth Troupe (M. N.), Mrs. Hattie G. Webbert (H. A.), Mrs. Emma D. Whiteaker (G. W.), Mrs. Mary Whedon (F. L.), Mrs. Emma C. Wort (D.) and Mrs. Rosa Wilson (John).
THE KEARNEY POSTOFFICE
A postoffice was established at Kearney Junction February 9, 1872, with Rev. Asbury Collins as postmaster. It is understood the office was kept at first in the Junction House, located in the center of section No. 2. Later George E. Smith was appointed postmaster and moved the office to the business center of the city.
The silver anniversary edition of the Kearney Daily Hub, 1913, relates the following interesting account of those who have served as postmaster at Kearney following the term of George E. Smith :
"R. M. Grimes was appointed postmaster at Kearney by President Garfield, and that is as far back as this history need to go. Postmaster Grimes was removed by President Cleveland when the administration changed and J. C. Morgan was appointed, but was soon succeeded by E. R. Watson, who died while in office, and E. Fred Wiley was appointed during the latter part of Cleveland's administration, and was postmaster when the Hub was established twenty-five years ago.
"Rice H. Eaton, one of the founders of the Central Nebraska Press, which the Hub succeeded, and for a short time connected with the Hub after it suc- ceeded the Press, was appointed postmaster soon after President Harrison was elected, and served four years.
"Four years later Cleveland again succeeded Harrison and J. C. Crocker was appointed, serving some months longer than his 4-year term because of delay in making an appointment after President Mckinley was elected. His successor was Henry Gibbons, who served four years. Next in succession was K. O. Holmes, who also held the office during a 4-year term.
"M. A. Brown, the present incumbent, was appointed in January, 1906, and took possession of the office on February 19th following. The first appointment was made by President Roosevelt and the second by President Taft. The second term will expire on January 31, 1914.
"In 1888, when the Hub first did business with the postoffice, it was located on Central Avenue in what is now the Hazlett jewelry store. Soon after the appointment of Postmaster Eaton the office was removed to the Scott Block to
-
CE FE FF FF
POSTOFFICE, KEARNEY
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.