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 42

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 42

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).

ALL LAWYERS ON THE SAME SIDE

Two members of the same family were ac-

quitted of an assault to commit great bodily injury. There were two attorneys for the state and two for defendants. The case was warmly contested for two or three days. There was not a dull moment from the opening to the close. When the verdict of acquittal was returned, one of the defendants took one of the attorneys for the prosecution by the hand. remarking that as they had been friends before he hoped their friendship would continue. The other defendant, a boy of about eighteen, as- sured the same attorney that he had nothing against him nor his associate "because both of you did as much for us in this trial as our own lawyers did."

TOO OLD FOR THE PEN

Judge Aaron Wall, of Loup City, and a local lawyer successfully defended a client wrong- fully accused of taking mortgaged chattels out of the county. The defendant's lawyers ar- gued that if their aged client was convicted he would only hear the prison doors clank when he entered ; that he would not hear them when he came out in his casket. A Norwegian juror said after the trial was over : "Das man too alt to send to pan. Send him to poor farm : das better." The prosecutor said the next crimi- nal case he prosecuted, the first fact he would establish after the venne would be the age of the defendant.

TEN WAS A PLENTY

Robert E. Moore was a rapid-fire cross-ex- aminer. On the cross-examination of a'Swed- ish witness on character, after having him tell the names of about ten men who had spoken ill of the subject of inquiry, the witness began to run low on names. After being pressed to give just one more name he refused. When asked why he replied: "Well. ay bane over my township and ay live on county line and Gothenburg man bane no good in Custer : any- how, ten names bane plenty." When order was restored in the crowded court room the witness was excused.

TRIALS BY DAY AND NIGHT

Night came on while a preliminary exami- nation in a criminal case was being conducted

315

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

before Justice Maze, at Lodi, in 1892. But night had no terrors for the valiant counsel, and when the shades of evening fell and the country-side came out to witness the usual forensic efforts, the justice adjourned court from his residence to a convenient schoolhouse, where the hearing ended a little before day- break, and the lawyers arrived in Callaway just in time for breakfast. The same thing happened in a civil case tried before a justice at Callaway in 1902. After a trial lasting all day and all night the case was finally sub- mitted in time for all parties to get breakfast.

A SQUARE LAWYER

Judge John S. Kirkpatrick was a square lawyer and dependable. A beginner in the practice undertook to get a large sum of dam- ages for the condemnation of land for a rail- road switch. The costs began to pile up. "Kirk," who represented the railroad, warned the opposing lawyer to "be careful about mak- ing costs, because your client is going to have to pay all of them." And so it turned out. In speaking of the incident afterwards the lawyer whose client "paid the costs" remarked that he often heard that "Kirk" could be de- pended on, and now he was sure of it.

CUSTER COUNTY MEDICAL MEN

Call the doctor. It doesn't make any dif- ference which one, they are all good. They are all trained school men, educated in the best schools to be found anywhere in the country. They are adepts in the latest meth- ods, they are skillful combatants of all diseases and human ailments. In the quality of her medical men. Custer county ranks with any like portion of the earth. Many of them have made reputations outside of the county and are known throughout the state, and have frequent calls for consultation far from their respective homes.

In the early days the practice of medicine was followed under many difficulties. At that time, the medical science was not so far ad- vanced. Not so many methods of resisting disease encroachments were known. Not so many appliances and commodities were to be

obtained. Sanitary conditions could not be so well maintained. Yet, the practitioners of that early day were heroes. They mercifully responded to every call. No night was too dark, no road too long, no storm too fierce. They shielded themselves from no exposure - pay or not pay. It made no difference ; their services were rendered for the sake of God and humanity.

One of the old time practitioners, Dr. R. C. Talbot, who is himself well deserving of every encomium recorded in the paragraph above. has contributed the following concerning the medical profession of Custer county :

"The members of the medical profession were pioneers in the early settlement of Custer county, the same as those representing other professions and industries. Those who first came here early, were more often lured by wanderlust for change of environment than for improvement in their professional sur- roundings. The first man to make a perma- nent home in the county, who made any pre- tensions to medical knowledge, was L. T. Bur- bank, a returned foreign missionary who. prior to his foreign work, had taken a course in medical lectures, to better prepare him for work among the heathen. Dr. Burbank settled on a homestead not far from the present loca- tion of Georgetown postoffice, about 1875 or 1876. As he went from one settlement to an- other. preaching and encouraging the pioneers spiritually, he also administered to their physi- cal needs as well.

"In September, 1889, Dr. R. C. Talbot, a graduate of Miami Medical College, Cincin- nati, Ohio, located on a homestead in the valley of the Muddy creek. near where the town of Berwyn is now located. Although desiring to relinquish the practice of medicine. he found it almost an actual necessity to continue to at- tend the sick among the sparsely settled home- steaders. The hardy pioneers of those days did not call a doctor for every little ache or pain, for to so do it would often necessitate a journey of ten to twenty-five or more miles before a doctor could be found, and the neces- sary further delay of a return trip threw them on their own resources. Consequently, a doctor

316

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY. NEBRASKA

was called only when there was something serions or alarming affecting the ailing one. "In July, 1880, T. N. Waterbury located a homestead north of where the town of Wester- ville is now situated, and he practiced his pro- fession as an undergraduate until the winter of 1882, when he went to St. Louis, Missouri, and attended the American Medical College. He returned a graduate, in the spring of 1888. and continued in the work of his profession until his final sickness and death, in September, 1884.

"During the early '80s Benjamin L. Brisbane homesteaded near Custer postoffice and he preached the gospel and practiced medicine for several years. He did not make the prac- tice of medicine a business, although he was a graduate of Ohio Medical College, Cincin- nati, believing he could be of more benefit to the people in the capacity of a preacher.

"Dr. Wyman Hull located in Broken Bow in the early establishment of the town and practiced medicine part of the time, but de- voted most of his time to the management of the famous Marble Top hotel.

"In the fall of 1883, John J. Daum, a grad- uate of Rush Medical College, Chicago, estab- lished an office in Broken Bow, and he prac- ticed his profession until his death, which occurred in the early '90s at Palmer Lake, Colorado, where he had gone in the hope of regaining his health. He had been associated with Dr. R. C. Talbot, in Broken Bow, from 1888 until the time of his death.

"In the year 1883 Dr. Lawrence L. Craw- ford. a graduate of Cincinnati College of Med- icine and Surgery, located in Merna, where he continued in business until in the late '90s. when he located in Colorado.

"In 1884 Clarence W. Mesceran located in Broken Bow, being a graduate of Bennett Medical College, Chicago, Illinois. He con- tinued in business here for several years, being associated part of that time with Rufus K. Langson, who was a graduate of the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College, Chicago, Illi- nois.

"In 1884 C. H. Morris located in Wester-

ville, taking up the work of Dr. Waterbury. A few years afterward he located in Broken Bow.

"J. W. Miller, of Rush Medical College. Chicago, Illinois, located in Mason City in 1885 and remained there until the late '90s, at which time he went to Gibbon, Nebraska.

"In 1883 J. M. Chaplin, of Dulano Medical College, came to Callaway, and he was there for a few years.

"J. H. Murry. Iowa College of Physicians and Surgeons, Des Moines, Iowa, located in Arnold in 1885, remained there for several years and then moved to Idaho. Thomas E. Stack located at or near Oconto in 1885. Af- terward he moved to Broken Bow and in a short time he located at Anselmo. William Robert Renwick, of University City Medical College of New York, located at Sargent in 1883 and remained there for a few years. During the year 1885 F. Vinsonhaler located in Westerville. Dr. Vinsonhaler was a grad- uate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York city, and remained in Westerville for several years. In 1885 Luther Michael, of the Ohio Medical College, of Cincinnati. Ohio, located in Callaway and remained for a few years.

"In 1886. the year the B. & M. Railroad was built through the county, the following named doctors located in the county: J. J. Pickett. Charles M. Luckey, J. W. Sanders. Franklin Reyner, and James W. Caldwell at Broken Bow; Hiram Chase, Mason City; E. E. Hamilton, Anselmo: Alexander L. Ma- thews. William H. Charlesworth, at Callaway. Dr. J. J. Pickett was at Broken Bow, except a short time at Greeley Center, up to the time of his death. in 1912. The others remained in Broken Bow only a short time. Of those who located outside of Broken Bow all but A. L. Mathews remained only a short time. Dr. Mathews is still at Callaway, but has retired from active practice. In the years 1887 and 1888 H. H. Wist, Cyrus Pickett, and J. J. Carpenter came to Broken Bow, but none of them is here now. Dr. Wist devoted little of his time to the practice of medicine. In other

317

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

parts of the county during this time Dr. Wam- boley came to West Union and Dr. Barton to Wescott.

"From this time on doctors came and went in such numbers that it would take up too much time and space to mention each one. Taking Broken Bow as an instance of the doctors who have located there, Dr. J. J. Pickett is the only one who has died there. The profession of this county has been and still remains quite a factor in the improve- ment of sanitary conditions, in the way of pre- venting and controlling infectious and con- tagious diseases. The Custer County Medical Society has been a large factor through united team work, placing the upbuilding of both the profession and society at the front of its ef- forts. This society was organized in the late '80s, was reorganized in the early '90s, and during this time its membership list has con-

tained the names of a large percentage of the doctors of the county. The frequent and har- monious meetings have been of mutual bene- fit, and its influence has been extended until it has reached the profession of the state through the State Medical Society.

"Last, and by no means least, the medical profession stands one hundred per cent. patri- otic in the great world-war, as every resident member has voluntarily enlisted his services to the government to be used wherever and when called upon. The county has already furn- ished more than its quota for active service, represented by the following named : Dr. O. L. Housell, first lieutenant ; Dr. R. P. Higgins, captain, of Ansley ; Dr. R. D. Bryson, captain, of Callaway; Dr. W. E. Talbot, captain, of Broken Bow; Dr. J. C. Wade, lieutenant, of Oconto; Dr. C. L. Wills, captain, of An- selmo."

CHAPTER XV

MILITARY AND PATRIOTIC CONTRIBUTIONS

THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC - BROKEN BOW ORGANIZES A POST - BERWYN POST - POST AT MASON CITY - POST AT ANSLEY - POST AT ARNOLD - THE POST AT SARGENT - POST AT COMSTOCK - POST AT CALLAWAY - POST AT MERNA -IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAAR - THE MISSING - THE COMPANY PERSONNEL - THE WORLD WAR - CLYDE G. SEINER - JOSEPH ELWOOD PALMER - RAYMOND ROSS KILLED - PAUL COFFMAN - LEWIS H. ROBERTSON - GUSTAN ROERICK - CLARIS A. TUCKER - ORRIE AMISBERRY - HENRY E. CAIN - ARTHUR BERGMAN - GLEN BUCKNER - LOYD CLOW - SAM MILLER - GAGE SAUTER - ROSCOE RHODES - JOHN M. RUDGE - JEFF ANDREW'S - CLYDE O. THOMAS - CHESTER WEBB - JAMES N. BURDICK - ROY IMBODEN - HOMER MI. YATES - HARVEY M. SLOGGETT - RALPH C. LECI -VANNER A. GUSTUS - JOSEPHI BER- VERT - CUSTER'S MILITARY ROSTER - WORLD WAR ACTIVITIES - THE EXEMPTION BOARD - BOND DRIVES - THE WAAR SWINGS STAMP DRIVE - THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION - THE FOUR MINUTE MEN - WAR SAVINGS SOCIETIES - THE AMER- ICAN RED CROSS - WOMAN'S COUNCIL OF DEFENSE - PUBLIC MEETINGS AND CELEBRATIONS - GENERAL PERSHING'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

In every national emergency Custer county has done its part. It has contributed to the man power of the national army whenever a call has been made. To every appeal for money made by any department of war work, it has contributed lavishly. In all these matters it has a record in which every citizen can delight.

The county had no population in the days of the Civil war and, consequently, was not called upon for recruits to the federal army. Imme- diately after the war. vast tracts of the public domain were thrown open to free homestead entry. The liberal policy of the government in allowing the ex-soldier to apply his army time on his homestead time. brought a great influx of northern soldiers into the middle west. and Custer county got its share. Owing to this fact. the Grand Army of the Republic, or the G. A. R. as it was more commonly called, be- came a very noteworthy organization. In the heydey of its power. nine G. A. R. posts flourished in the county. It was due to these ex-soldiers that the rising generation had in-

struction in patriotism and was taught al- legiance to the flag. In fact. the presence of so many defenders of the republic in every community. engendered an atmosphere of pa- triotism which, no doubt. had a very salutary effect upon the country.

In 1898. during the Spanish-American war. Custer county furnished her quota. as will be seen in a further perusal of this chapter. In the great war of the world, Custer county has responded to every call. It has contributed to Y. M. C. A. war work, Red Cross work. Knights of Columbus war work, bond sub- scriptions, savings-stamps subscriptions, and Red Cross war work. The people have made every sacrifice asked of them. They have heartily entered into every proposition of con- servation of either food or fuel. more detailed mention of which will follow.

THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC

J. M. Fodge, of Broken Bow. a veteran of the Grand Army of the Republic, has assem-

318

319

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

CUSTER COUNTY VETERAN MEMBERS OF THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC

320

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

bled the following data relative to the G. A. R. posts in the county. Much credit is due Mr. Fodge for the painstaking manner in which he has furnished details. Through his kind- ness we are enabled to present a brief de- scription of each post in the county.

The old soldier is mustering out very rapidly. In a few more years the veteran in blue will be gone. and his place will be taken by his sons of the second generation, who to-day are wearing the khaki and serving in the great army of the United States, either in the home cantonments or in the battle fields of France and Belgium.

BROKEN BOW ORGANIZES A POST

C. C. Washburn Post No. 98. Grand Army of the Republic, was organized August 12, 1882, with fifteen charter members as follows: R. H. Miller, H. C. Reyner, Irving Stocker, Peter Dinger, Mark King, Moses Lewis. Wal- lace Raymond, C. F. Graves, J. S. Benjamin, Albert Kemp. George Bishop, John West. I. J. Shaul, R. P. McKnight, and Charles P. Fost.

The mustering of and the first meetings of the post were held in a large sod house, situ- ed on the corner now occupied by the Broken Bow State Bank. This sod building was erected by R. H. Miller, and served as his resi- dence. Later it became the home of the Cus- ter County Republican, with Mr. Miller as editor and manager, as well as the meeting place for the post.

Of the above mentioned charter members, so far as we can learn. only Judge J. S. Ben- jamin survives. He, with his wife. continues to live upon his homestead, adjoining the city upon the north. Although in feeble health. the Judge enjoys the esteem and good will of his many friends, is always more than glad to recall with them the many thrilling and he- roic events of the early days, and to fight over again with his old comrades the battles of the '60s.

Because this post has made a number of removals. having no place in which to meet and keep its papers and records, we cannot give the names and terms of the several com-

manders, accurately. For correctness of names of those that follow, we are indebted to the memories of several comrades consulted. in addition to such records as can be used.

R. H. Miller was the first commander. then J. S. Benjamin, G. W. Frye, John C. Manlick, j. W. Bruce. M. K. Hagadorn, R. E. Glass, 11. M. Parkhurst, John Reese, James White- head. A. W. Gandy, W. W. Cowles, W. S. Boyce, G. W. Rawson, Ner Hartley, R. R. Bangs, H. W. George, A. W. Drake, W. H. Andrews. J. M. Fodge. J. B. Klump, and Henry H. Myers. Eleven of them are dead.

The roster and descriptive list shows there have been mustered into this post, up to and including August 7, 1918. in all 198 members. Of this great number, only eighteen remain on said roster, as shown by the last official report, on June 30, 1918. There are, however, that many more yet living within easy reach, who from the infirmities of age and other causes do not have membership with the post.

When one remembers that it is more than half a century since the men who compose the Grand Army of the Republic put aside the weapons of war and assumed the duties and responsibilities of the civilian, many of them already shattered in health because of service, exposures and hardships of camp life, then can we find the reason for the thinning ranks, and can only wonder that as many as above re- ported now live.

It is due to these, and to their posterity, that some recognition, at least, be given to a few of those noble men who so unselfishly sacrificed their time and comfort, that suffering be relieved, that civil laws and authority be established - in short, in leaving as a heritage an enlightened, patriotic, peace-loving, and Christian community in which to live.

Of this great number of men you have known, we can only mention a few that have contributed to this end, as follows: W. D. Hall. John Ingham, R. C. Talbott. W. W. Cowles. Isaac Merchant, Milo Young, James Whitehead, Charles T. Crawford, James L. Oxford. A. W. Gandy. M. H. Deem, who with a host of others, in their various positions, and capacities, contributed so much to the social,

321

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

economic, and religious condition of our pres- ent society.

We cannot refrain from mentioning the ladies of the Woman's Relief Corps, an auxil- iary of the Grand Army - the wives, daugh- ters, and other loyal women of the community who have aided so grandly in ministering to the sick and the needy of these comrades and the widows through all the years the post has existed.

BERWYN POST

Berwyn Post, No. 307, was mustered and held its first meeting in the schoolhouse in the village of Berwyn, July 12, 1890, with eight members. John Low was chosen com- mander, with I. McAllister adjutant, and R. WV. Buckner as quartermaster. The date for meeting was the second Saturday.

In point of numbers, this was perhaps the weakest post organized in the county, and yet it was organized at a time when the patriotic fervor in the county was at its highest, be- cause of the district reunions that were being held annually under the management of the Central Nebraska Veteran Association, com- prising the counties of Custer, Dawson, Sher- man, Valley, Loup, Blaine, and Logan. These reunions lasted two and three days, with tents for camping, sham battles with artillery, cav- alry, and infantry, with programs and camp- fires for the evenings, and conspired to fire the "old war spirit in old soldiers." The last one of these reunions was held at Ansley, in which a novel engagement took place. Others had been held at Broken Bow and at Ord, in Valley county.

Hundreds of the comrades with their fam- ilies enjoyed these camping and educational gatherings. So it was under such influence this post was instituted and lived. We do not have the date on which they were suspended or surrendered charter, more than they re- ported in the annual report of December, 1894, and it must necessarily have been later. De- partment headquarters have no account of it.

POST AT MASON CITY

Stone River Post, No. 339, was mustered

April 20. 1895, with fifteen names on the charter. The first commander was H. J. Davis, with T. S. Crossley, adjutant, and Jacob Cover, quartermaster. The meetings were held the first and third Saturday evening of each month.

We have no authentic account of how many members have been mustered into this post since the primary muster. The last annual report to the department headquarters was made December 31, 1917, and gave at that

MEMBERS OF STONE RIVER POST, G. A. R., OF MASON CITY

Standing (from left to right) : John Mulvaney, R. K. Miller, D. F. Weimer, Sitting: T. S. Crosley, L. B. Hill.

date seven members still on the roll - John Mulvaney, commander ; H. J. Davis, adjutant ; and R. K. Miller, quartermaster.

The comrades who have belonged to this post, as in every other Grand Army post in our order throughout the nation, exerted an influence for good upon society, in that the young have been taught patriotism and love of home and native land.

POST AT ANSLEY

Steadman Post. No. 180, located now at Ansley, was originally mustered at Wester- ville, February 20, 1884. There were 108 names on the charter at organization. The

322

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

first commander was M. Richtmyer, the name This post had more ups and downs than fall of an adjutant is not given, but M. M. Lam- phear was quartermaster.

The last semi-annual report to department headquarters, made June 30, 1918. gave the membership as eleven, with George William as commander, and O. B. Foster, adjutant. The post meets the last Thursday in each month.

The ladies of the Woman's Relief Corps, a patriotic organization that is composed only of the wives and daughters of veterans of the Civil war, and is an auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic, have greatly aided in keeping the patriotic spirit that dominates the whole people of the community.

Of the many comrades who have in the past comprised this post, we recall Isaac Clark, M. Johnson, J. F. Sharpless. T. T. Varney, C. S. Ellison, Tip Daniels, Daniel Hagin. S. B. Harris, H. Alberts. T. T. Williams, with others whose names we have not space to mention, but who have by their sterling vir- tues and patiotic lives, aided so materially in the making of one of the best and most desir- able communities in which to live.

The spirit of liberty inculated, is evidenced by the ready response to the country's call by the many young men who went "over there." or have been in training to aid in the over- throw of autocracy and tyranny.

POST AT ARNOLD

Excelsior Post, No. 196, was organized at Arnold August 25, 1884. The officers reported at organization were: R. C. Callahan, com- mander : A. H. Needham. adjutant : and M. S. Pasko, quartermaster. We cannot give names or number of members of muster, as the post never filed descriptive list or report at sus- pension. The post was suspended in 1910. as shown by department records. It was rein- stated May 22, 1911. and suspended again November 19, 1913, at which time T. C. Bab- cock was the commander and A. H. Needham was the adjutant.

There were reported six members at this time, but their names were not returned to the adjutant general at date of suspension.

to the lot of many, perhaps for two reasons - first, because of the long distance from the railroad, which has proven such a factor in the civilization of our great state, and partly, it may be, because the spirit of war that per- meated the "boys" in the '60s, was still so . strong upon their lives that it was the domi- nating passion. Whatever the causes for the post's lapses and suspensions, we can say for the members of this post, and the citizens of Arnold and community, that there are no finer citizens and people, or more progressive, than settled upon the homesteads surrounding that village.

We are sure that her citizens of the past and the present can point with a just pride to the lives and example of such men as B. F. Mar- row. C. T. Robinson, Thomas Halliday, Com- rades Brown, Blowers, H. M. Graham, Needham, and Babcock, and others whose names we do not recall. The fact that no au- thentic account of the members and the several parts that each played in those days, as officers, and who of them have answered to the last roll call, or those who remain in the vicinity, is due to their not having a permanent meet- ing place, in which the papers and records could be kept. This reason also applies to many other Grand Army posts in Nebraska.

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.

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 42

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