History of Custer County, Nebraska; a narrative of the past, with special emphasis upon the pioneer period of the county's history, its social, commercial, educational, religous, and civic developement from the early days to the present time, Part 24

Author: Gaston, William Levi, 1865- [from old catalog]; Humphrey, Augustin R., 1859- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western publishing and engraving company
Number of Pages: 1180

USA > Nebraska > Custer County > History of Custer County, Nebraska; a narrative of the past, with special emphasis upon the pioneer period of the county's history, its social, commercial, educational, religous, and civic developement from the early days to the present time > Part 24

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).

LEE'S PARK

In April, 1884, the town of Lee's Park was laid out in Custer county, on the town line, and the same year, the Lilly & Houder addi- tion to Lee's Park was laid out, adjoining the original town, and in Valley county, with the postoffice in Valley county. Then came quite a little boom for a new town. A general mer- chandise store was built by Lilly & Houder, to which the postoffice was removed; then fol- lowed a blacksmith shop, a hotel, a wagon shop, and a feed stable. This little town was progressing finely when the B. & M. Railroad concluded to outdo the Union Pacific Rail- road, and so built past Loup City, the terminus of the Union Pacific Railroad, and stopped at Arcadia, five miles from Lee's Park. The little town held out for a while, but the railroad town of Arcadia took away. its vitality, and after some struggles the

town of Lee's Park was no more. All the buildings were torn down or removed, and an attempt was made to take away even the post- office. The attempt was nearly, or quite, suc- cessful, as the postoffice was actually removed to Arcadia, but prompt action was taken by patrons of the office, and an order came for its return, only a day after its removal. The postoffice was afterward removed from Valley county across the line into Custer county, where it remained until mail delivery made it unnecessary. The fact that originally the postoffice was in Valley county, and is now in Custer county, has caused some confusion as to the real location of Lee's Park, some think- ing it in Valley, and some in Custer county. The name of the town and postoffice has also been confused with the name of the valley. Originally the postoffice had the same name as the valley, but Jay Hamlin, while postmaster, had the name of the office changed to Lee Park, consequently the name of the postoffice is Lee Park, and the name of the valley is Lee's Park.

At the time of the laying out of the town, a cemetery association was formed, and five acres of land were purchased from W. S. De- lano, and laid out as the Lee's Park cemetery. Trees were soon set out and cared for, and in consequence the cemetery is a fine one. The following year the Catholic cemetery was laid out, one-half mile north of Lee's Park ceme- tery.

OTHER DEAD ONES

When the railroad was built up the Middle Loup valley, Wescott was not in line. The road went on the other side of the river and the town of Comstock was located just north of the river. Wescott could not survive the shock.

Algernon, on the Muddy, was put off the map in much the same way. The railroad com- pany located its depot where Mason now stands, and Algernon surrendered. Merna. old Merna, was three miles off the road when the Burlington located its line and depot at the present site of Merna, and the town had to move. There was a first Callaway and a sec-

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

ond Callaway ( see story of Callaway) before the arrival of the Union Pacific Railroad. Both of these towns are no more, both capitu- lated and helped to form the present town. The stroke that killed old Merna, killed Dale. Without a railroad it was left stranded. West Union was in the way of the river line of rail- road and if Sargent had not been made a ter- minus of the line West Union would have gotten a railroad and have been on the map as a good Custer county town.

Towns, then, died and were buried, and

new townsite, which was named in honor of him. Frank Lemon opened up a grocery store in this building. On September 25th James Hines began the blacksmithing busi- ness. On October 1st Frank and John Currie began buying grain, commencing at the same time the erection of an elevator. On October 3d the railroad company opened its station for business, P. C. Croaker agent. On October 4th Dierks Lumber & Coal Company, John Dierks, manager, unloaded its first shipment of coal at this point. On October 10th Robert

[Photo taken in 1904 by S. D. Butcher]

COMISTOCK

their streets, that were once marked for the avenues of commerce, hear no sound save the rattle of the harvester and the chug of the passing autos. The story changes to live towns.

COMSTOCK

The village of Comstock, the youngest town in Custer county, is located on the east bank of the Middle Loup river, on the Aurora and Sargent extension of the B. & M. Railroad. The town was located and surveyed in 1899. A store building was moved over from Wes- cott, by W. H. Comstock, and located on the

Stone began buying stock, with H. H. Wheeler as agent, followed in December by Mr. Parks, both building stock yards. In October a gen- eral hardware and implement store was opened. The postoffice opened for business November 19th, with S. T. Stevens as post- master. The hotel was completed and opened to the publie in November, but was soon found too small for the proper accommodation of the traveling public. A feed and sale stable was in operation in December. Walter Ham- mond opened a barber shop in December, and Albert Apperson commenced the draying busi- ness at the same time. In January, 1900, MI.

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

SECTION OF RESIDENCE DISTRICT IN COMSTOCK

BANK

-----

FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANK, COMSTOCK

MAIN STREET, COMSTOCK

WOODMEN FRATERNITY BUILDING, COMSTOCK

GENERAL STORE OF WESCOTT, GIBBONS & BRAGG, AT COMSTOCK

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

I. Fried opened with a line of implements. Elias Cleveland finished his dwelling and moved into it in February. J. F. Westcott, contractor and builder, moved into town in February, but did not complete his dwelling until the following May. F. H. Kernohan had his brick store and residence ready for occupancy in May. In September J. W. Com-

RESIDENCE OF CHARLES D. BRAGG, AT COMSTOCK

stock opened a harness store and repair shop. In December Wescott & Gibbons moved their general merchandise store from the west side of the river and began business in Comstock. In January, 1901, Frank Hammond began business in a new blacksmith and wagon re- pair shop. R. R. Bangs moved into the hotel in January. C. N. McWorthy built his house for a residence, millinery and dressmaking store in February. In March the Modern Woodmen commenced the erection of a two- story building. the ground floor to be used as a drug store, bank, and meat market, and the upper floor for a public hall. A commodious schoolhouse was built in the fall of 1900. The first child born in the village of Comstock was Helen Apperson, February 23, 1900. Concerning the town to-day, E. F. Skolil makes the following resumé :

Comstock is a thriving, growing and up-to- date town on the Aurora and Sargent branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail- road, located in the Middle Loup valley on the east side of Custer county and about at the center of the state of Nebraska. It is an all-around good and prosperous little town of

over five hundred inhabitants. It contains three churches, Congregational, Methodist, and Latter-Day Saints, three good and pros- pering general merchandise stores - Wescott Gibbons & Bragg, the leading store, estab- lished in 1886; F. C. Dworak, established in 1900: J. C. Kiker, established 1917. Two good banks - the Citizens State Bank, the leading bank, established in 1906; and the Farmers' & Merchants' State Bank. estab- lished in 1909. The banking resources of this little town are over $600,000. which tends to show that it is a prosperous and growing town, as it is only about eighteen years old. Com- stock can well boast of the two most modern, up-to-date bank buildings in the county. Two good lumber yards - Dierks Lumber & Coal Company. starting in business about the time the town was platted, and S. A. Foster and Company. in 1911. Two good hardware stores, and furniture store in conjunction with one of them-J. T. Arthur. established in 1907, succeeding S. T. Stevens - and C. E. Brandt, established in 1914, succeeding R. R. Bangs, who conducted a hardware and furni- ture store for over ten years previously. One

RESIDENCE OF EDWARD F. SKOLIL, AT COMSTOCK

blacksmith shop, one of the most up-to-date and neatest drug stores in the county, owned by E. C. Gibbons and operated by J. D. Rock- hold since 1912. One harness shop, estab- lished with the town by J. W. Comstock and still owned by him and operated by his son, A. L. Comstock. Two good implement stores, two automobile garages. one livery barn, one

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

butcher shop, one barber shop, one pump and general-repair shop, one of the largest and best flouring mills in that part of the state, (owned and operated by C. F. Eller), one farmers' live-stock shipping association, two live-stock dealers, one hotel, one of the best and most up-to-date restaurants in this sec-

RESIDENCE OF ROBERT S. STONE, COMSTOCK

tion. under the name of Woodman Café. owned by W. E. Gibbons, E. F. Skolil and Aley Shafer, established in 1918 in the Wood- man Fraternal building. One modern moving- picture theater, established in 1912 by Charles D. Bragg and E. C. Gibbons, along with an electric plant from which the people of Com- stock are deriving much good and comfort, as the service is as good as in large cities. One grain elevator, owned by W. T. Barstow al- most since the town originated. One printing office where the Comstock News is edited and published and which deserves a great deal of credit for the prosperity and advancement of this town. One large and modern opera house, in the Woodmen Fraternal building, which was built in 1917, and contains also a large banquet hall and two large stores on the main floor.

In Comstock there are the following lodges : Knights of Pythias. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Modern Woodmen of America. One doctor, four cream stations, one city hall one telephone exchange (which has been un- der the good management of E. B Wait since

1917 and is all rebuilt and giving good ser- vice), four coal yards, one good public school, with eleven grades. Comstock has some fine residences, a growing park, and the best sidewalks in the state.

Following are the members of the town board in 1918: E. F. Skolil (chairman), John F. Westcott, Ed. B. Wait, J. C. Kiker, and S. T. Stevens. Comstock has had four success- ful Chautauquas and many elaborate Fourth of July celebrations. Chautauquas and lecture courses have been maintained for many years.

THE BEGINNING OF CALLAWAY

One of the most enterprising towns of Cus- ter county is Callaway, located on the South Loup river, in the midst of a valley that is beautiful and fertile enough for an Eden. The town is on the Kearney branch of the Union Pacific Railroad.

SITZEND STAJE BANKY.

CITIZENS STATE BANK, AT COMSTOCK

The following record of the early settle- ment and growth of the town was written by George B. Mair several years ago and is re- liably authentic.

"The most of those who were here in the beginning and who took an active part in the

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

organization of the town have removed to other parts. The birth of Callaway, in the minds of the citizens of to-day, is apparently in the dim, distant past - a dust-covered tradi- tion, and as an introduction to the history of Callaway a brief account of the settlement of the territory contiguous may not be out of place.

"Probably the first settler to locate in the South Loup valley between the present towns of Callaway and Arnold was Frederick Schreyer, who came in June, 1875, with a large family, and located a claim about four miles above Callaway. Mr. Schreyer soon found himself in trouble with the cowboys, who at- tempted to drive him away. He was a shining mark for practical jokes at the hands of the cowboys, and ac- cepted in dead earn- est everything they did to torment him. When they attempt- ed to stampede a herd of cattle over the roof of his dug- out, or destroyed his watermelon patch, and such other innocent diversions, Mr. Schreyer positively refused to see the point of the joke.

Naran Pina

[ Photo by S. D. Butcher] THE FIRST BUILDING IN CALLAWAY

"The next settler to arrive in the valley was David E. Sprouse, who located two miles northwest of the present town of Callaway. In October of the same year came Ira Graves and George T. Ricker, in search of land, the former filing on a homestead and timber claim, adjoining the future town, and the lat- ter locating a mile north of the Sprouse claim. Charles C. Kingsbury and Mark Schneringer came about the same time. In 1880 came N. M. Morgan. M. N. Deems, H. B. Schnerin- ger. Noah Welch, Norman Brendle, Gabriel Payton. Ira McConnell. the Whipples, and per- haps others.

1880. which was given the euphonious name of 'Letup,' with Ira Graves as postmaster. On petition of Ira Graves and Clara P. Graves the name of the office was changed to Delight in September of the same year. Mark Deems was installed as mail carrier, his route being from Custer to Arnold, and from Olax ( now Oconto) and Lexington to Delight, all of these offices being supplied from Plum Creek.

"The county was organized into townships in 1883, and the territory embracing the entire southwestern part of the county was named Delight township, by N. M. Morgan, the first supervisor. Out of the origial township the towns of Grant, Elim, and Wayne have since been formed, leaving the township of De- light with seventy- eight square miles. At the time of the settlement here, there was no other settlement between the Platte valley and Victoria creek. During the few years that follow- ed, newcomers ar- rived almost week- ly, until there was quite a community. In 1885 Mr. Graves induced John Moran, a merchant of Olax. to build a store on his farm, which stood on the northeast corner of the property now owned by John Frederick. The question as to who is entitled to the credit of founding the town of Callaway has been often disputed, and will be perhaps never fully determined to the satisfaction of all, but from what we can learn, J. Woods Smith is fully entitled to whatever honor the distinction confers, as it was in his brain that the scheme originated which materi- alized in the laying out of the town a few months later.

J. WOODS SMITH HAS A DREAM

"As Mr. Smith tells it, Callaway was first

"A postoffice was established in August, conceived in the lobby of the Paxton hotel at

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

LAYING CORNER STONE OF CALLAWAY HIGH SCHOOL

CALLAWAY HOTEL

MASONIC TEMPLE AT CALLAWAY

RESIDENCE OF HALL B. SCHNERINGER, CALLAWAY

chiangy MuFC

courMay Neb.

PLANT OF CALLAWAY MILL COMPANY

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

Omaha, in the fall of 1885. While reading the morning paper, he chanced to come across an item stating that the Omaha & Republican Valley Railroad was going to survey a line up the South Loup river the next spring, to intersect with another road, which was to be surveyed up Wood River valley from Kearney. Mr. Smith went to a map which was hanging on the wall, and at once made up his mind that the point where these two roads came to- gether would be an ideal place for a town. With his usual decision, Mr. Smith had a town laid out and thickly populated - in his mind - within five minutes. Ile immediately com- municated the scheme to Hon. A. B. Chard. a personal friend, and the two started for Cus- tur county to look over the situation. They found the location even more promising than they had anticipated, and made partial ar- rangements for the purchase of the Graves farm for a townsite, intending to return early in the spring to complete the deal. When spring came, Mr. Chard had other business and Mr. Smith proceeded alone. Upon his return to Delight he was unable to close the deal with Mr. Graves, and he succeeded in making an arrangement whereby the claims of Albert and M. H. Deems, comprising the east half of section 11, township 15, range 23. were secured for a townsite. the Deemes tak- ing shares in the syndicate in payment for their land. Mr. Smith also purchased of C. W. Gray the northwest quarter of section 11. on his own account, which is the land upon which the railroad addition to Callaway was afterward platted. E. B. Needham, capitalist from St. Paul, Nebraska, also took an interest in the townsite company, and the work of plat- ting was commenced at once.

TOWN CHRISTENED

"The town was named in honor of S. R. Callaway, then general manager of the Union Pacific Railroad, and the streets were named after the general officers of that road and the members of the townsite company. The first to erect a building in the new town was Dr. L. Michael. The second building was erected by Harry E. O'Neill, for his brokerage business.

which theretofore had been conducted on his claim half a mile west of town. The next building was a store by Albert Deems. Then John Moran moved his general store down from the corner of Mr. Graves' farm, Baker & Yates put up a store and put in a stock of groceries. Smith Brothers put up the opera- house building and put in a stock of hardware. These were followed in quick succession by W. B. Maze, hardware; Smith & Needham, lumber and coal : Maze & Burbank, flour and feed; Rogers & Johnson, the Bank of Calla- way; Theron E. Webb, drug store; C. W. Root, drug store, moved from Arnold : Hol- way & Schneringer, livery; I .. Palmer, feed stable; Lewis & Holman, meat market ; M. L. Savage, furniture store ; Clark & Owens, real estate, loans, and insurance : B. L. Brisbane, real estate; C. C. Hayes, James Suhr, black- smiths; Alex Mallert, G. A. James, restaur- ants : P'. Wymore. John Calligan, McConnell & King. Tidey & Smea, carpenters; F. A. Clarke & Company, general store, moved from Arnold; M. H. Deems, Hotel Excelsior, op- erated by A. L. Mathews; J. C. Naylor, law- yer ; George H. Lafleur, barber shop. On August 19th appeared the first issue of the Callaway Standard, which was published and edited by Charles A. Sherwood, a first-class printer imported by the townsite syndicate. On Sunday, August 8th, a small hurricane swept down the valley and partially wrecked most of the buildings that were in the course of construction, among them being the opera house. Dean's hotel, and the Baker & Yates building, but the damages were soon repaired and work progressed rapidly.

SMITHI WAS AN ADVERTISER

"The new town boomed all summer. . Woods Smith, its founder and promoter, was well known all over the state. He also had the knack of getting himself interviewed in the Omaha papers every time he visited that city, and the result was that Callaway was soon the best advertised town in Nebraska. While to the ordinary individual Callaway ap- peared destined to become a prosperous vil- lage, in the Utopian vision of J. Woods Smith

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

nothing less than the state capital awaited it. " During the summer of 1886 the Omaha Bee said: 'Callaway is six weeks old, with fifty houses ; a hotel, seventy by fifty-six feet ; an opera house, forty-eight by sixty feet ; and a population of 200 inhabitants. Its repre- sentation in business houses is excellent, though at present it is in need of a watch- maker and jeweler and a harness man. A first-class outfit for a newspaper, to be called the Callaway Standard, together with an edi- tor. have already been shipped, and the first sheet of the new journal will appear next week. It will be followed by the issue of a rival paper one week later. The crops in the vicinity are said to be the finest in the state, and Mr. Smith says that he has never seen finer corn than they are now cutting down on the site upon which the town is built.

A NEW TOWNSITE

"The survey of the railroad was completed that summer and the grading done. The grade is still there, from Pleasanton to Calla- way, but no iron has ever been laid on it. The Wood river line was graded soon afterward, but it was not until four years later that the road was finished from Kearney to Callaway. This scheme materialized in the formation. of the New Callaway Townsite & Improvement Company, with C. W. H. Luebbert, president ; N. M. Morgan, vice-president ; Harry E. O'Neill, secretary ; Ira Graves, treasurer ; John Reese, solicitor. The land was purchased of Ira Graves, the site of New Callaway platted, and inducements offered to old-town business men to move up, as it was expected that the New Callaway promoters had influence enough to secure the depot. The inducements, how- ever, did not draw any of the old-town people away, except Harry O'Neill. Upon the or- ganization of Callaway the postoffice had been moved from Mr. Graves' farm to town, and the name changed from Delight to Callaway. Harry O'Neill was postmaster when he moved up to the new town, but he had to leave the postoffice behind.

A TOWN FIGHT IS ON

"The old-town citizens patrolled the streets

at night with shotguns, to prevent the post- office from being stolen. A newspaper plant was purchased by the New Callaway Syndi- cate, and on June 29, 1887, the New Callaway Courier was born in a frame building which was then located near the present residence of John Frederick, with M. C. Miller as editor. Then commenced one of the biggest townsite fights in the history of central Ne- braska. The new town was derisively chris- tened 'Podunk' by the old-town people, and the new Callawayites were termed 'Mudhens.' The failure of the Wood river line to be built that fall, put somewhat of a damper on the New Callaway project. The few residents of the town, who had been induced to locate with the understanding that it was to have the railroad depot at once, became discouraged and moved away. In October, 1887, when the writer first arrived on the scene from Chicago, to assume charge of the New Callaway Cour- ier. he found the two rival towns lying on their arms awaiting developments. Every business enterprise in New Callaway had gone away except the Courier, but it was doing a flourishing business. It was published in the frame building later occupied as a photograph gallery by Isaac Bryner. It was then located on the corner of Pearl street and Third ave- nue, New Callaway. On the corner diagonally across the street, was a gopher hole, and the two other corners were occupied by a bullfrog and another gopher. The Courier had a big circulation, and was well filled with advertise- ments from merchants of Broken Bow, Cozad, Lexington, and Arnold ; but it had none from Callaway, as that would have been considered high treason by the old-town people, and would have been sufficient reason for a boycott against the offender. The Courier, however, did a flourishing business, and became famous all over this part of the state, as the paper that was published in the town that had no other business.

PODUNK NEWS ITEMS

"Sometimes, when local news were scarce. the Courier was filled out with local items from Podunk. Here are a few samples :

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

"One of our prominent quails made a flying trip to Triumph yesterday.

"One of J. Woods Smith's cows was over visiting friends in Podunk yesterday.

"One of Morgan's brindle steers was taking in the sights of Podunk Tuesday. He is a rustler.

"Several influential prairie dogs have inti- mated their intention to locate in Podunk early in the spring. Still the boom continues.

"We acknowledge a pleasant visit one day this week from a black dog with one ear partly chewed off. Call again. You will al- ways find our latch string out.

"One of our jack rabbits fell on a slippery sidewalk Monday and as a result he now walks with a limp.

"The stake which marks the site of the First National Bank, at the corner of Hayfield square, was knocked over by a bay cow on Wednesday. It ought to be repaired at once.

"One of our most respectable and highly esteemed coyotes was villainously assaulted by Graves' dog while out taking a walk Monday. Such rowdyism is a disgrace to Podunk.

"Three coyotes from Sand Valley gave a concert in Jake Horn's corncrib Saturday night.

"Three strange jack rabbits were in town all day Thursday, looking around our streets. Their business was not ascertained, but it is supposed they were locating a railroad depot. "Intense excitement was caused in our city Tuesday by the appearance of a man coming toward town from the east. Business was en- tirely suspended and the whole town turned out to see him, but he turned south at the cor- ner of Smith's cornfield and escaped.

"Our friend McConnell says he is not much of a believer in signs, but he believes animals often know what is going to happen in the future. The other evening as he was going home wondering whether the railroad depot would be located at Callaway or Podunk, a big bullfrog jumped out of Wiggle creek and said 'Podunk! Podunk! Podunk! On the strength of the tip Mr. McConnell has invested in several corner lots.

ACKNOWLEDGES THIE "CORN"

"During the winter of 1887 the weather was very cold, and as coal had to be hauled from Cozad, there was sometimes a dearth of fuel. The office building was made of boards that were mostly knot holes, and unplastered, con- sequently not over warm, and the paper was not infrequently 'run off' when the temperature

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History of Custer County, Nebraska; a narrative of the past, with special emphasis upon the pioneer period of the county's history, its social, commercial, educational, religous, and civic developement from the early days to the present time, Part 24

Author: Gaston, William Levi, 1865- [from old catalog]; Humphrey, Augustin R., 1859- [from old catalog] Publication date: 1919 Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western publishing and engraving company Number of Pages: 1180

Author: Gaston, William Levi, 1865- [from old catalog]; Humphrey, Augustin R., 1859- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western publishing and engraving company
Number of Pages: 1180