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 27

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 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).

a store and restaurant. Later, McKnight made application for a postoffice and was himself commissioned the first postmaster of Berwyn. The following winter the Dierks Lumber Com- pany established a branch office and put in a fine stock of lumber and such other accessories as generally pertain to the lumber business. A little later the West elevator was erected and a blacksmith here located early the next spring. About this time W. H. Mauk and H. S. Wayse put in a general hardware store, and the town was well started if not full fledged. It is to- day a prosperous vilage of modest proportions, with a population of about 300.

THE HUSTLING TOWN OF MERNA

One of the best little towns in the central part of the county is Merna, located twelve miles northeast of the county seat, on the main line of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. For many years it enjoyed the dis-

MERNA ELEVATORS

tinction of being the grain market of the coun- ty. Before the Union Pacific was extended to Arnold and much of the grain from the West table found an outlet through that town, Mer- na handled and shipped more grain than any other town or railroad point west of Lincoln. In the days when the West table grain came down the west hill, Merna kept three elevators working almost night and day. She developed then the energy and push which present to- day a neat, brick-built village with modern homes and all municipal improvements.

The citizens of Merna are patriotic to a de- gree and in every war-drive have far exceeded their allotments or quotas. One of the most remarkable public sales ever held in the county

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GROUP OF RESIDENCES, AT MERNA

I-Max Venger. 2-R. D. McCarty. 3-A. L. Woods. 4-Mrs. W. H. Reader. 5-A. L. Cosner. 6-J. W. Taylor. 7-R. R. Duncan. 8-II, K. Atkisson, 9-C. W. Layton.

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

was the Red Cross sale held on the streets of Merna in May, 1918, in which donated articles to the amount of $4,400 were sold and the pro- ceeds contributed to the American Red Cross war work. This sale far exceeded the one held in Broken Bow one week previously, and stimulated the people of Anselmo to make a $6,000 sale one week later.

ATKISSON SPEAKS FOR MERNA

H. K. Atkisson, one of the leading spirits of Merna, who has been long in the town. gives us the following concerning town his- tory :

"In 1881 W. G. Brotherton took a claim where the town of Merna now stands, build- ing a small sod house, which he occupied with his wife, as a home, postoffice and store, he being the second postmaster. Mr. Sam Dun- ning had been the first postmaster and the town was named after his daughter. Other early settlers in the community were C. P. Foote, Scott Hanna, S. H. Read, Reuben Gor- don, Warren Gordon, William Reede, Andy Somner, Joe Siltter, Samuel Dunning, Al. Thomas, Charles Thomas. Most of these men were unmarried, there being but three women in the settlement - Mrs. Brotherton, Mrs. Foote and Mrs. Dunning. These people were all farmers and homesteaders. In 1883 the postoffice and store, which comprised the town, were moved two miles west and north, in sec- tion 36, and a townsite company formed. J. D. Strong, Milt Casteel and W. E. Warren were added to the community at this time. Warren built a little shack and sold drugs, and Strong and Casteel formed a partnership with Brotherton in the general store. In 1886 the Lincoln Townsite Company purchased Brotherton's claim and relocated the town on its former site, and the 'town' moved back again. In the fall of 1886 the railroad was built through the place and on to Anselmo. The town has grown not rapidly, but steadily. and is now a prosperous village, with good farms surrounding it. and real estate sells at a figure that the pioneers would have consid- ered an impossible dream in the early days.

"The postmasters have been as follows :

Samuel Dunning. W. G. Brotherton, C. P. Foote, R. J. Kelly, J. S. Francis, and Joe Fen- nimore.

"The first newspaper was published by E. R. Purcell. After his removal to Broken Bow the town was without a paper for some time. Then a young man named Miller started a paper. This was not very long-lived and again the town was without its local news. Then Albert Lazenby tried the field of journalism and found it barren. In 1906 F. E. Pincli came into the town and, being an old news- paper man, established a paying business, nam- ing his new paper the Merna Postal Card. Af- ter two years he disposed of his business to Claude Hall, who was the owner and pub-

RESIDENCE OF DR. J. H. MORROW, MERNA

lisher for some four or five years, when he sold it to Mr. Dutton, who is the present owner and editor. The name has been changed to Merna Messenger and it is a live local paper, receiving a good support.

"Merna at the present time is prospering very satisfactorily. During the last year the large, brick store building belonging to H. K. Atkisson and occupied by the firm of C. R. Atkisson & W. Davis has been built. also the fine garages of B. S. Wells, and W. Ferritor. Several fine dwelling houses have been erected, among them are the homes of Mrs. W. H. Reeder, John Hipsley, Mrs. J. S. Francis, Miss Anna Kloven, and H. K. Atkisson. The business of the town consists of two general stores, one grocery store, two banks, one drug store, four garages, two blacksmith shops, one collecting agency, one hotel, one restaurant, one exclusive auto agency, one real-estate

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

agency, two hardware stores, two machinery agencies, one jewelry store, one furniture and undertaking establishment, one moving-picture theatre.

J. C. Moore has arrangements made for a new brick garage to be erected as soon as the material can be secured.

"The professional men are represented by two physicians, one dentist, three clergymen and a splendid corps of teachers in the public school. Merna has had fine Chautauquas for the past five years, and a lecture course every

valley, is located on the Grand Island and Wy- oming branch of the B. & M. Railroad, fifty- seven miles northwest of Grand Island, twenty- three miles southeast of Broken Bow, and forty-five miles north of Kearney. The loca- tion of Mason City, situated, as it is, in almost the central part of the southeastern quarter of Custer county, is worthy of the attention of all who desire to locate in a town for which not only nature but also circumstances have pro- vided for so abundantly, and one which will undoubtedly make a busy, hustling town of

[Photo by S. D. Butcher]

MASON CITY TWENTY YEARS AGO

year, much longer than that. The Chautau- quas are well attended and self-supporting, the lecture course not quite so fortunate, as there are so many other attractions during the lec- ture course season.

"Merna furnished one soldier to the Span- ish-American war, Roy Luce, who after the close of that unpleasantness returned safely and is at present living in Colorado. In all the contributions for the present war Merna and vicinity have done their part."

MASON CITY

Mason City, the "Queen City" of the Muddy

importance. The townsite was located by the Lincoln Land Company in April, 1886. The land on which the town now stands was pur- chased of Nels Anderson and Mrs. George W. Runyan, 160 acres being secured from each of these parties. About one-half of this 320 acres has been platted into lots, the other half being held by the company for the same purpose in case the growth of the town demands it. The siope from the hills to the valley is gradual, just sufficient for good drainage. Nearly all the dif- ferent branches of business, trades, and profes- sions are represented here by a live and ener- getic set of people. The following is a full list

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

of the different branches of business, and those who represent them as recorded by M. C. Warrington in 1901 :

The Mason City Banking Company, with P. HI. Marley, president, J. J. Marley, vice-presi- dent, and R. B. Walker, cashier. In addition to the banking business, Mr. Marley is exten- sively engaged in the real-estate business. The Mason City Transcript is the only newspaper published in Mason City. The paper was es- tablished by Martin & Dellinger in June, 1886. M. C. Warrington, the present proprietor and editor, has had active control of the paper since August. 1886, making him the oldest editor in point of service and continuous con- nection with one paper in Custer county. For some years past the editor has been ably as- sisted in the publication of the paper by Will- iam A. Anderson. The mercantile business of Mason City is represented by E. G. Bur- rows, general merchandise ; W. C. Elliott, gen- eral merchandise: T. J. Wood, general mer- chandise; O. H. Moomey, general merchan- dise: S. M. Chase, general merchandise : A. O'Brien, hardware and groceries ; G. P. Meek, fruit and groceries ; Hurley & Warrington, hardware, harness, and farm machinery : P. A. Carlson, veterinarian ; John M. Browning, ho- tel: J. H. McAdams, furniture : H. C. Chase, Jr., successor to Chase Brothers, druggist : J. P. Nelson, harness and machinery ; Moomey Brothers, butchers; Deardorf & Duke, farm machinery, Miss Nannie Serven, millinery ; Mrs. O. H. Moomey. millinery ; M. L. Lamb, collections and insurance ; L. S. Ellsworth, at- torney and solicitor ; John Meek, livery ; Dr. A. E. Robertson, physician and surgeon ; John Taylor & Son, blacksmiths: J. T. Castellaw. blacksmith. Grain dealers: Central Granaries Company, W. C. Rusmissel, agent ; Tierney & Wirt. James Fairfield, agent. Dierks Lumber & Coal Company, E. Myers, agent: M. B. Bunnell and James Fairfield, live stock : H. L. Crowley, dray and express : M. E. Kellenbar- ger, agent for the B. & M. Railroad; J. H. Welch, miller; G. F. Frasier, barber ; Weimer Brothers, painters and paper hangers ; Harvey Myers, photographer ; H. W. Snook, optician and jeweler : Mason City Mill, John Seeley,

proprietor (former owner, J. W. Willis). The postoffice was established in 1886, George W. Runyan, postmaster, who was succeeded, in the spring of 1887, by W. C. Rusmissel. In April, 1889, L. B. Hill was appointed post- master. M. C. Warrington succeeded Mr. Hill in September, 1893, and served until January 1, 1898, when he was succeeded by R. K. Mil- ler, who is still postmaster.

The first merchant to do business in the vil- lage was A. Gates, who opened a store in July. 1886, in a small shed building. R. B. Walker was Mr. Gates' clerk. Mr. Gates retired from business in 1900. The first railroad train to

RESIDENCE OF JOHN T. WOOD, AT MASON CITY

enter the townsite was on July 27, 1886, and the then few residents of the town had a joy- ful celebration. Mason City was incorporated in 1887, and the school district, No. 169, was also organized in 1887. The schools of the village have always been kept up to the high- est standard of excellence.

There have been some exciting occurrences in the history of Mason City. In November. 1886, a store building owned and occupied by Mack & McEndeffer, was destroyed by fire. and three persons. J. J. Hoagland, Malcolm Miller, and Malcolm McEndeffer, lost their lives. On July 2. 1892. a cyclone visited Mason City and vicinity, and damage to the amount of $20.000 was done in the village. The schoolhouse, two churches, and many other buildings were destroyed. A great deal

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

of damage was done also in the country sur- rounding the town.

The religious interests of the people of Mason City were well looked after. There were three church buildings - the Baptist, J. R. Woods, resident pastor (this was the first church organized. and had a large membership) ; the Methodist Episcopal' people erected a handsome edifice in 1899; the Catho- lic church organization has a neat and com- modious place of worship, and services were supplied by Rev. Father Flannigan, of Dale.

The valley of the Muddy, in which Mason City is so favorably located, is from two to three miles wide and has been so often de- scribed by the enthusiastic tourist that to speak now of its superior advantages and adapta- bility in the requirements of the farmer and stockman would be superfluous. It is tra- versed throughout its length by the Muddy. a clear stream of pure, spring water, which at many places, and particularly at Mason City, has been utilized as water power of an almost unlimited capacity, by simply throwing a short dam across it. The valley at this point is about three miles broad. Going north across the valley we come to the hills, which at a glance seem rough, but a closer inspection discloses beautiful sequestered parks, broad terraces and level prairie land, very inviting to the eye of the agriculturist. Actual expe- rience has demonstrated the soil of these lands to be as rich and productive as the valley land. Even the rougher hills and steeper declivities show the prolific nature of the soil by covering themselves to the very top with a luxuriant growth of grass that affords for stock a pas- turage second to none in the Union. Further north a few miles is Clear creek valley. from two to three miles in width, thickly dotted over with unmistakable signs of thrift and prosperity. Here is one of the oldest settle- ments in the county, and the farmers are com- fortably wealthy and happy. This valley ex- tends from the northwest to the southeast, and is almost parallel with the Muddy valley, with which it unites some distance below. Mason City is reached from this valley through can- yons which nature has provided as natural

road-beds, with easy road grades over the sum- mit. An arm of this valley is called Elk val- ley and winds up to the high lands and spreads out. forming Lee's Park, a broad expanse of level land of several thousand acres in extent. and containing a thriving settlement of well- to-do farmers. This country is all tributary to Mason City. For a distance of three or four miles south of the town the country is gently rolling, well adapted to cultivation and graz- ing, and answering well the description of the country on the north side, except instead of terminating in several valleys, it rises to a level valley called "The Basin," which contains some ten square miles of extraordinarily rich farming land and is occupied by a class of farmers that would do credit to any country. What we say of the people of the basin, how- ever, may equally apply to those of the whole country we are describing. They are Ameri- cans, as a rule, of education, and intelligence, with here and there one of the better class of Germans, Swedes, Danes, and Norwegians.

From Mason City, in every direction in the highlands, we find, in addition to the valleys and tables mentioned, a system of narrow val- leys, small tables, high parks and terraces. separated by hills too steep and irregular for cultivation, but richly covered with a generous coat of native grass, which affords pasture much superior to the longer grasses upon the meadow of the valleys and tables. This pas- ture has a peculiarity which distinguishes it from all others. The grass is equally nutri- tions in winter and summer, and stock will fatten here in January, when there is nothing in a state of nature in the meadow to sustain life. The valley of Elk creek, one of the beau- tiful little valleys of Custer county, is almost wholly tributary to Mason City. This valley is settled by a good, thrifty class of farmers. who have fine homes and farms and are a prosperous and happy people. The shiftless. restless, migrating homesteader, who remained long enough to prove up and get a mortgage on his land, has given way to the more thrifty. more prudent, and more industrious farmer and stock-raiser. The business men and farm- ers of the southeastern quarter of Custer

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

county welcome the oncoming years with a feeling that there is still greater prosperity for all who apply business methods, honesty and industry to their transactions.

PRESENT-DAY BUSINESS INTERESTS

In the last decade and a half, Mason City has not made pretentious growth, but her business interests have been solidified and es- tablislied on a permanent and paying basis. It makes no pretensions to be a city and has small ambitions in that direction. It does claim, however, to be a thriving village, with every facility for home-making that could be ex- pected.

Concerning its business status at the present time M. C. Warrington, to whom the public is indebted for this story of Mason City, has this to say :

"Nearly every line of business and industry is well represented in Mason City. The differ- ent lines are represented as follows: The Mason City Banking Company is the oldest bank in Custer county, having been established in May. 1886, by Austin V. Hathaway. It is capitalized at $25,000, and is recognized as one of the solid financial institutions of Custer county. Its officers are : R. B. Walker, presi- dent : P. H. Marley, vice-president ; and Cor- nell Newman, cashier. Mr. Walker, under whose management it has been for the past fifteen years, has been connected with the bank for more than a quarter of a century. Mr. P. H. Marley, who is now a resident of Los An- geles, California, and who still retains large interests in Custer county lands, has been con- nected with the bank for thirty years, and it was his guiding hand which safely piloted the bank through the dangerous shoals and rough seas of panics and financial distresses, and drouth which overwhelmed the country in the '90s. The Mason City Banking Company has a large clientele of patrons and carries heavy deposits.

"The Farmers State Bank is another insti- tution in which the people of Mason City take pride. This is comparatively a new concern, when its competitor is taken into considera- tion. The Farmers' State Bank was founded

nine years ago and its officers are: C. B. Lauridsen, president ; E. W. Hiser, vice-presi- dent, and John T. Wood, cashier. The bank, which is capitalized at $25,000. has a list of customers and patrons and carries a line of deposits which make it the envy of many older institutions. Since its establishment the Farm- ers' State Bank has been under the exclusive personal management of John T. Wood. Mr. Wood is a pioneer of Custer county, coming here at an early age. in 1884. He lias had ex-

- ITE

FARMERS STATE BANK, AT MASON CITY

perience as a farmer, merchant, and public official, serving four years as register of deeds, of Custer county. This bank erected for its own use, in 1916, a fine $12,000 building.

"The Mason City Transcript, Mason City's only newspaper, so long owned and published by M. C. Warrington, is now owned and edit- ed by J. F. Peebles, who is ably assisted by his wife. The Transcript has a big circulation in the country surrounding the town and is a fac- tor for much good in the community. The paper is Democratic in politics.

"W. C. Elliott, E. G. Burrows, S. M. Chase, and H. L. Crosley have large stocks of gen-

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

eral merchandise. Mr. Elliott is the pioneer merchant of Mason City, commencing busi- ness in 1891. A. O'Brien, a resident of Cus- ter county since 1882, now carries on an ex- clusive hardware store, but until recently also carried groceries. C. E. Bass & Company, with J. G. Bass as manager, carry hardware, farm implements, automobiles, windmills, pumps, etc. George J. Anderson is proprietor of the only meat market. R. H. Duke has the exclusive drug store. J. C. Nelson & Com- pany have a harness and shoe-repairing store. Mrs. G. W. Whitehead has millinery and la- dies' furnishings. Chase Brothers and Charles O. Lamb are proprietors of automobile gar- ages. Mr. Lamb is completing a new cement- stone garage building, fifty by a hundred feet, for his business. Meek & Hawkins are pro- prietors of the livery barn. W. N. Hurley and J. W. Taylor are the village blacksmiths. Schultz Brothers, L. L. Narrazon, and T. J. Wood are the carpenters. Hans G. Arp and the Farmers' Shipping Company handle live stock. G. F. Frasier and Cleir Chrisman are barbers. W. C. Taylor is proprietor of a flour and feed store. A. A. Coxon and son main- tain a restaurant. M. S. Fairfield has temper- ance drinking parlors. M. C. Carroll is resi- dent agent and distributor for the Standard Oil Company, which has a large plant here. Will- iam F. Davis has the hydraulic-well and wind- mill business. E. W. Edwards and son have an automobile-repair shop. W. C. Elliott and F. S. Moomey are proprietors of the fine opera house, which contains three large store rooms on the first floor and a splendid hall and office rooms on the second floor. This beautiful building was erected in 1912. Dr. Ralph MF. McClaughan is our resident dentist. Dr. A. C. Rumery and Dr. P. H. J. Carothers are the physicians who administer to the ills of the people. Dr. Carothers also maintains a fine, large hospital in connection with his practice. The Mason City Flour Mills is another local institution of which the town is justly proud. It is a large four-story structure, equipped with model machinery and uses water power furnished by Muddy creek. A. A. Karinow is proprietor and

enjoys a prosperous business. H. A. Doane owns and operates a cement plant in which a number of men find employment in the summer months. The Hotel Melvin is owned by Frank N. Mossman, and is operated by Charles Kennedy, a popular landlord. The Farmers' Shipping Company, a co-operative association, owns the creamery and handles cream, poultry, and live stock. Frank G. Hall is manager. The Central Granaries Company runs the elevator, with J. W. Fairfield as man- ager. Levi King and F. N. Mossman are land agents. The two banks also deal in lands. The pleasure and recreation of the people of the town are supplied by two motion-picture theatres, one owned by Lamb & Miller, the other by F. S. Moomey. There are two lum- ber and coal yards. Dierks Lumber & Coal Company, and the J. H. Melville Lumber Company. W. S. Moore, local manager."

The postoffice at Mason City was established in the month of October, 1886, with George W. Runyan as postmaster. For the first six months of the town's history the mail facili- ties were very poor and caused endless annoy- ance. The mail was brought across the coun- try on a Star route to Algernon and then brought to Mason City by some one who vol- unteered to go after it on mail days. The let- ter mail was taken care of by H. B. Austin, .cashier of the bank, while the paper mail was thrown into a box. for each individual to help himself. After holding the postoffice a few months Mr. Runyan resigned and was snc- ceeded by W. C. Rusmissell. On the change of administrations in 1889. Captain L. B. Hill, an honored veteran of the Civil war, was ap- pointed postmaster. M. C. Warrington was postmaster from 1893 to 1898, when he was succeeded by R. K. Miller, who is also a Civil war veteran. J. W. Fairfield succeeded Mr. Miller, and was succeeded in turn by W. C. Rusmissell, who is now postmaster. The post- office has kept pace with the growth of the town and the surrounding country, and has two rural free-delivery routes and one Star route, supplying mail to a large territory. J. C. Spencer and Leo Spencer, father and son. are carriers on the free-delivery routes, and

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

E. W. Edwards on the Star route. It is rather an unusual incident that all the men who have been postmasters of Mason City live here yet except Mr. Runyan, who resides at Broken Bow.

OLDEST INHABITANTS

Among the present citizens of Mason City who were residents during the first year of the town's history are W. N. Hurley, H. L. Cros- ley, M. C. Warrington, and W. C. Rusmissell. Those who have lived in the town twenty-five years or more are: Messrs. T. J. Wood, G. F. Frasier, J. P. Nelson, E. G. Burrows, and Mesdames W. N. Hurley, H. L. Crosley, M. C. Warrington, Belle V. Robertson, Martha Chase, J. P. Nelson. Niels Anderson, from whom the west half of the townsite was pur- chased, with his family, has been an honored citizen of the village since he sold his home- stead, in the spring of 1886, to the Lincoin Land Company.

FEDERAL OFFICERS

M. C. Warrington bears the distinction of being the only Mason City man who has been honored by appointment to a federal office out- side of home. He is now register of the Unit- ed States Land office at Broken Bow, having been appointed in May, 1916. Mr. Warring- ton was postmaster of Mason City under the second administration of Grover Cleveland. He has also been member and chairman of the vil- lage board, and has served as village clerk and treasurer, justice of the peace, chairman of the township board, besides serving ten years on the school board.

SARGENT

Sargent, a hustling village of over 800 in- habitants, is situated in the northeastern part of Custer county, in the midst of a fine agri- cultural and stock-raising district. It is lo- cated on the north side of the Middle Loup river, about one mile from that stream. Sar- gent is one of the oldest towns in the county. having been laid out in 1883. The first bank in the county is located here. The first build- ing erected was the general store of J. K. .. Spacht, in the summer of 1883, and the loca-

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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 27

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