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 51

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 51

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).

In some of the valleys farmers have turned their attention to the raising of alfalfa. They are thus enabled to raise their young swine at a very low cost. and are only put into the vard to be finished. In 1887 Custer county shipped 32.640 hogs from the various stations of the railways within her borders. Allowing for a reasonable number that were shipped

from stations outside of Custer county, but contiguous thereto, it is safe to estimate the number of hogs at 50.000. The future of the swine industry of Custer county is very prom- ising. and it will always be one of the most important industries of the county.

THE PURPLE BLOOD OF HIGH BREEDING

The low grade of poorly selected stock with which the early settlers had to begin opera- tions in the county was, of course, a tremen- dous handicap to stock-breeding operations. But it has been overcome, and the high-grade, pure strain in every department of live-stock breeding marks a commendable progress. Cattle, hogs, horses, sheep, have been bred for the last twenty years on the lines of best se- lection. and the fine-stock breeders of the county to-day, with their products, constitute one of our proudest assets. The following are some of our breeders who are making Custer county fine stock famous throughout the state :

Over in the Comstock region, Charles Viel- horn is producing Poland-China hogs and red polled cattle. He is making fine progress and has developed both species to high-class types.

J. A. Kellenbarger, west of Merna. has some very fine specimen of Durhams. Joe has been in the business for several years and is, first. a good selector of type, and then. a good feeder. both of which characteristics are necessary in fine stock-raising.

John Dietz, northwest of Broken Bow, is one of the progressive farmers of the com- munity. He is perfecting a fine line of red polled cattle.

Benger & Son, of Callaway, are in the ring with classy white-faces. mokled on long-lin- eage patterns and well marked and classic in color.

Sam Waddington, in Ortello valley, has been breeding white-faced Herefords for the last thirty years, and it would be hard to find a better marked, more evenly molded herd than his to-day.

II. C. Grabert & Son are hog breeders who are attracting attention in the region between Broken Bow and Westerville. They have pens full of the big rangy types of Duroc-Jerseys.

Hon Ash, north of Broken Bow, has already

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

established a reputation as a breeder of P'o- land-China hogs. He has made a crowning success and has very materially boosted the hog production of Custer county by contribut- ing classy herd-heads to the community in which he is operating.

South of Broken Bow, the Miller Sons, con- tinuing the breeding operations of the late Benjamin Miller, are producing Poland- Chinas of pure strain and acme style.

Teddy Scott, two miles from Broken Bow, is a young, progressive farmer who is mak- ing his mark in the Poland-China world. He has scarcely become an extensive breeder, but he has a foundation of fine selects and has al- ready producer some types that might be en- vied by an older breeder.

John Amsberry, down in the region of Mason City, breeds black Polled-Angus cattle that are blocky types of beef and profitable farm cattle. John and his son are veterans in the cattle business and deserve well the repu- tation they have established.

Charles Wright, who has a good farm on the Muddy, is in the Jersey cattle business. He breeds the fawn-colored milkers and has some of the finest types of dairy and town Jerseys the country produces.

Bill Tenant and Joe Sittler are two other fine-stock breeders dealing in Jerseys and con- tributing to the cream and butter supply.

For years Dr. Brenizer has been one of the shorthorn producers and one of the county's most ardent advocates of selected blood. He has contributed as premiums many of the best Durham males ever bred in the west. Custer county owes much to Dr. Brenizer.

Zachary & Sons, substantial and progressive farmers of the West table, have given their attention to the high types of draft horses and are very successful home breeders. They have a line of home-grown Percherons that would be a credit to most any county.

George Stoffer, three miles north of Merna, likewise has given much attention to horse- breeding. Years ago he made purchases of classy Percherons, both stallions and mares, and to-day has produced the most magnificent types.

Cole Brothers, two miles east of Broken Bow, are quite extensive breeders of Shetland and Welch ponies.

Ivan L. Leech, a progressive young farmer in the Westerville country, is turning attention to blooded strains in cattle and hogs, inclining to the Durocs and the Durhams.

Charles Mytton, of Ansley, is an extensive breeder of Duroc-Jerseys and has reached a place where his annual sales attract attention over the central part of the state.

In the Ansley district, B. J. Tierney is a very extensive breeder of shorthorn cattle and has established a reputation second to none in

[Photographed in 1886 by S. D. Butcher] AN EARLY-DAY TEAM

the middle part of the state. His productions head herds all over the county.

K. F. Dietsch is a new-comer who brought with him the best blood to be found in the northeast corner of the state. He has pur- chased a farm north of Broken Bow and named it Cedar Lawn Stock Farm.

H. E. Pressey, of Oconto, is an established breeder of Duroc-Jersey hogs. He has been long in the business and has made a very creditable showing. He has on his stock farm everything that makes of breeding a profitable occupation.

SHEEP IN THE WILD AND WOOLY COUNTY

If Custer county was ever "wild and wooly." the wool was not furnished in any great quan- tities by home-grown sheep. If it was a Cus- ter county Mary who had a little lamb with

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

fleece as white as snow, it was before Mary moved west. There have been a few sheep in the county all of the time since the winter of 1875, but only a few. There are a few good-sized flocks in different parts of the county to-day, but Custer has never been rated as a sheep county. In the days of cattle, conditions were the same here as in all range countries, and more or less antagonism has always existed between sheepmen and cat- tlemen. The early cattlemen of Custer coun-

storms have been natural enemies of the flock, yet natural conditions have not been unfavor- able to the mutton industry.

In Butcher's history there is a picture of a splendid flock of sheep, marked "Sheep In- dustry in Lee's Park, in 1887," which is re- produced here. In 1882 the Haumont brothers, Jules and Ed., wintered sheep on the French table. In 1881 the Finlen brothers, Charles, Mike, and Tom, came from Streator, Illinois, and settled on the South Loup. They brought

[Photo by S. D. Butcher ]

SHEEP INDUSTRY, LEE'S PARK, 1887

ty did not encourage the sheepmen. If one slipped into the country there was no reception committees appointed to extend the glad hand and say to him, "Welcome, welcome to our prairies. Turn your sheep loose and let them graze at their own sweet will." This was a so- cial function that the cattlemen, not given to formalities, grossly neglected. They acted as if they never cared whether there were any sheep in the country or not. Sheep came, how- ever, and sheep have stayed, and sheep are here to-day. Sheep-killing dogs, coyotes, and

into the country 1.000 sheep. They did not stay in the sheep business very long but merged into the cattle business as soon as possible. Pres Richardson started a sheep industry on his ranch north of Broken Bow and was very successful as long as he stayed on the ranch himself.

In 1910 Custer county had but 3,901 sheep. In the last report. given in 1917. Custer has 2,884, which is a decrease in the last seven years.

Judge John Reese is now and has been for

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

a number of years the prominent sheep man of the county. His ranch is about nine miles southwest of Broken Bow. The Judge has made a success of sheep raising.

A CITY MAN MAKES GOOD

An instance that illustrates how the rich soil of Custer county responds to energy and management, is related by James Pierce, and this is the personal experience and accomplish-

good boys and two good girls, all of whom believed, with Benjamin Franklin, that "Ile who by the plough woukl thrive, himself must either hold or drive." Improving on this adage, we have both held and driven the most of the time. The house is on the old homestead, and is one of the four frame houses owned by the family. There are also two good sod-houses and one small building owned by an invalid son, who makes his home with us on the old homestead. One son settled in Valley county. The rest are all near Somerford postoffice.

LIVE STOCK ON FARM OF GEORGE CHIPPS, NORTHEAST OF MASON CITY

ment of a man, city-bred and born, who. to- gether with his family, has conquered the Cus- ter prairie and made toil profitable and land productive. He says :

In the spring of 1880 we moved to Custer county, Nebraska, where we have since made our home. Having no experience in farming, except such as was to be obtained on salt water and on the paved streets of a city. I was not very successful at the new business and brought but little to Nebraska in the way of capital. A part of what we did bring was lost in the hard winter of 1880 and 1881. We brought with us, however, a family of six

where together we own seven farms, contain- ing in all 1.720 acres. Besides the improve- ments of all kinds, in the way of barns, hog houses, etc., 480 acres have been bought by carnings of the old homestead. Besides this we have had a comfortable living, without crowding other people.

The farms are all well stocked with horses, cattle, and hogs. Most of the land is fenced and cross-fenced, with yards for different kinds of stock. Roughly estimated, I should say that the family had last year 10,000 bushels of oats. 12,000 bushels of corn, and perhaps enough of other grain to make up 25,000 bushels altogether. One piece of land, bought

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

by a son seven years ago. has never failed to produce enough each year to more than pay the purchasing price. Some years, last year for example. the crop brought more than twice what the land cost.

When we took the land in 1880 there was no wood on it. not enough for a riding switch. Now, if we want a load of fence posts, or sev- eral loads, we can cut them. Apple trees have been bearing for many years. All this with our own labor. What man has done, man may do. Stand up for Nebraska! There is room for many more here.

The above statement was written in 1904. The remarkable showing made up until that time has continued since in the same ratio. The writer has since moved to that greater country where all homesteads are river fronts. His sons and daughters are still here and are numbered among our best citizens.

A SAMPLE OF CUSTER COUNTY THRIFT

Anton Smock, with his wife and a three- months-old babe, landed in Custer county in In the summer of 1881 a little band of homesteaders met at the town of Westerville and organized what was known as the Custer County Agricultural Society. The organizers were C. S. Elison, S. C. Beebe. George O. Waters. A. W. Squires. D. M. Amsberry. R. C. Talbot. J. H. Westervelt. J. L. H. Knight. April. 1886, and settled on a quarter-section of land near Oconto. To commence the oper- ation of farming he had a yoke of oxen. a breaking plow, and a stone-boat sled. He had one cow and a calf. The above invoiced all his stock and implements. He had never had hold of a plow-handle in his life. His wife . F. D. Miller. John Welsh, Thomas Blowers, was city-bred. He says they did not make much of a success the first few years. He en- countered dry years. hail storms, and all the drawbacks and hindrances that the law allows. so that when he got through the memorable hard year of 1894. he had but little more than the amount with which he started. He says he had learned, however, that milking cows and raising hogs was the most profitable thing he could do, and he made up his mind that he would stick to that.

Ten years later he owned and paid taxes on 1.400 acres of good Custer county land. of which 300 acres were under cultivation and the balance in pasture or hay land, the whole farm fenced and cross-fenced, and equipped with good buildings, ninety head of stock-cat- t'e. twelve head of horses. 100 head of hogs. and thirty milch cows. In addition to stock and improvements, he had fine sheds, filled with

all kinds of farming implements. In relating his experience, he says: "My wife and I worked hard, but we did too much work with our hands and not enough with our heads." He loudly praises Custer county and declares that good soil, favorable weather. helped out with a little hustle, is the Custer county way of spelling success.

CUSTER COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY

One of the most important organizations in the county is the Custer County Agricul- tural Society. It has done much toward the development of the county and is an insti- tution to which Custer county people point with no little degree of pride. The large scope of territory from which the annual fair draws, makes it an attraction that brings to Broken Bow an immense concourse of people every fall. It has gained the well earned reputation of being one of the very best fairs in the state.

Edgar Varney. Martin Gering, C. T. Craw- ford. and B. E. Lamphear. The first officers were: C. S. Elison, president : George O. Waters, vice-president; S. C. Beebe, secre- tary: and C. T. Crawford, treasurer. The first fair was held the latter part of August of the same year, and while it was a primitive one. yet it was a great event for a new county. and the attendance included every home- steader within a radius of a good many miles. The attractions were limited. horse-racing be- ing the main feature. while a pulling match, between Frank Doty, of Lillian, and HI. Weakling. of Berwyn, was an important event. The exhibits were. of course, light, but never- theless the display of corn, wheat, and oats was far better than one woukl expect in a country that was but sparsely populated. The pumpkin and melon show at this fair was something marvelous.

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

Another fair was held at Westerville in the fall of 1882. The following year Broken Bow had gained sufficient prominence to become a rival of Westerville, and divided honors with her by the fair being held three days at cach place.

The first fair held in Broken Bow occurred about the middle of September, 1883, shortly after the Westerville fair. It was a great event. The grounds were located where the present court house stands, and the race course circled around a couple of blocks, where' exciting races took place. It is hardly necessary to add that in those days, with the population made up largely of young men and with the sturdy cowboy element predominating, that favorite horses were backed with plenty of money and plenty of nerve. At both the Westerville and Broken Bow fairs that year a leading attrac- tion was the walking of the tight-rope by Eli Armstrong, who was later sheriff of Custer county. Broncho-riding was a great attrac- tion. and the cowboy who could rope, bridle, saddle, and mount a wild horse, unaided, and ride to a given point first, was sure of a good purse.

In 1884 the fairs were again held at Broken Bow and Westerville, during September and October. under the direction of the same so- ciety, which met at Westerville and voted the exclusive rights to a fair at Broken Bow. Shortly after this the society was incorporated under the laws of the state, its official title be- ing the Custer County Agricultural Society and Live Stock Exchange. Forty acres of land were purchased, a mile east of Broken Bow, early in 1885, and permanent quarters were established. Suitable buildings were erected and a splendid half-mile track was made. The fair has been held regularly every year and has been constantly enlarged from its small beginning, with only a few dollars offered as premiums, until its premiums and purses have, during the past few years, reached $3,500, while its crowds come from fifty miles in every direction. Its list of life-members is well up in the hundreds and it is, without doubt, one of the most progressive agricultural societies in Nebraska. Through the efforts of

the agricultural society. Custer county cap- turned the gold medal offered by the state fair for the county exhibit which could take three successive first prizes. These prizes were won in1 1888, 1889, and 1890, and this medal is prized very highly, as an everlasting monu- ment to the agricultural resources of the great "State of Custer." A county that can win such a prize in three successive contests with nearly one hundred competitors, surely has some merit to its claim as an agricultural county.

Perhaps a word would not be out of place regarding those who have served as officers of this society. The official roster up to 1902 is as follows :

Presidents -C. S. Elison, 1881 ; George O. Waters, 1882 to 1884, inclusive ; F. Zimmerer. 1885; Edmund King, 1886 and 1887 ; J. D. Ream, 1888 to 1896, inclusive; L. H. Jewett, 1897 to 1899, inclusive; J. O. Taylor, 1900 and 1901. Secretaries - S. C. Beebe, 1881 ; J. L. H. Knight, 1882 to 1885, inclusive ; A. R. Humphrey, 1886; J. L. H. Knight, 1887 to 1890, inclusive; W. H. Cramer, 1891; Cary Kay. 1892; F. H. Young, 1893 and 1894; L. McCandless. 1895: J. M. Fodge, 1896; E. R. Purcell, 1897 to 1901, inclusive. Treasurers -C. T. Crawford, 1880 to 1882, inclusive : D. M. Amsberry, 1883 to 1886, inclusive ; O. P. Perley, 1887 to 1893, inclusive; E. F. Mc- Clure, 1894 to 1898, inclusive; J. A. Harris, 1899: A. R. Humphrey, 1900; W. D. Black- well, 1901.

The board of directors consists of nine members, three of whom are elected every year. This board has always been selected from among the very best and most progress- ive farmers, stock-raisers, and business men of the county. The officers during the year 1901 were: President, J. O. Taylor; vice- president, Thomas Finlen ; secretary, E. R. Purcell; assistant secretary, F. W. Hayes : treasurer, W. D. Blackwell ; directors, Ed Mc- Comas, G. R. Russom, John Finch. A. F. Hanna, W. A. George, H. Lomax, C. H. Miller, E. C. Gibbons, and P. F. Campbell.

Since the foregoing roster of officials ren- dered service, the following prominent men of the county have served on the official board

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

and have done much to attain the present status of the association: Judge H. M. Sulli- van. Alpha Morgan, Emery F. Bush, 1. A. Reneau. James Stockham, Tom Finlen, and Judge N. Dwight Ford.

OUT OF DEBT

The organization is in splendid financial condition. The 1917 fair was pronounced a successful event by all who attended, and the Thursday crowd was conceded to be the lar- gest in the history of the fair. All of the stock premiums were paid to the winners on the

Its present officers are : E. R. l'urcell, edi- tor Custer County Chief, president ; Tom Fin- len, retired farmer, vice-president ; N. Dwight Ford, county judge, secretary ; Alpha Morgan, lawyer and banker, treasurer. Directors - E. C. Gibbons, banker and rancher: C. H. Zachary, rancher and horseman : B. J. Tierney, rancher and stockman; J. O. Taylor, mer- chant ; Charles Wright, rancher and stockman ; James Stockham, farm-machine expert : J. J. Douglass, rancher and banker ; Charles Mel- ham, rancher and stockman; Herman F. Grabert, rancher and stockman.

CUSTER COUNTY

A CUSTER COUNTY EXHIBIT AT THE NEBRASKA STATE FAIR

last day of the fair, and premiums in the other departments were paid in full within one week. After the business of 1917 was closed. all expenses of the fair were paid and all debts and judgments cleaned up, so that the organ- ization stands to-day with a substantial balance to its credit and with every stockholder and 1917 attendant as boosters.

The 1918 management has made a special effort to carry out all of the instructions and requests of our government in regard to the stock and agricultural departments, which will be instructive and educational in every way and of great value to all. It will be Custer county's school of agriculture and stock- raising.

RACES TWENTY YEARS AGO

Just as an exhibit of the old-time fair held in the day when the horse was king and "Fords" unknown, the race program is here given of one of Custer county's fairs, just as it took place twenty years ago.

The program of races was exceptionally good this year and the field of horses large, while the minor sports created the usual amount of interest. The Wild West show was the main attraction and pleased the crowd.

The management of the fair honestly en- deavored to give the people some genuine at- tractions, and advertised nothing that did not take place. Below we give a list of races and winners:

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

Three-Minute Trot: Purse, $75.00 1st - Gold Dollar, owned by E. C. Gibbons. 2d- Maud M., owned by F. C. Embree. 3d- Dr. Keeley, owned by E. B. Harper. 4th - Prairie Queen, owned by Daniel Sweeney.

Pony Running Race; Purse, $10.00 1st - Crickett. owned by William Salling. 2d - Baney, owned by J. M. Landers. 3d - Louie S., owned by William Spear.

Green Trot and Pace; Purse, $20.00 1st -Satshaw, owned by Savage Brothers. 2d- Ed. L., owned by E. K. Litzenburg. 3d-J. R., owned by J. O. Russell. 4th - Don, owned by R. J. Vinton. Slow Mule Race; Purse, $6.00 1st - Fay, owned by Frank Doty. 2d - Jewel, owned by G. W. Pulliam. 2:40 Trot and Pace; Purse, $75.00

1st - Fib, owned by J. R. Vinton.

2d-Maud M., owned by F. C. Embree.

3d - Bradshaw Girl, owned by E. K. Lit- zenburg.

4th - Tiddledewink, owned by J. N. Auble. One-Half Mile Running Race : Purse, $50.00 1st - John Corbin, owned by W. L. Cramer. 2d - Alice G., owned by C. A. Bailey. 3d -My Trump, owned by John Webb. Green Running Race ; Purse. $15.00 1st - Midnight, owned by Isaac Reed.

2d - Butte, of Callaway, owned by J. MI. McConnell.

3d - Brown Billie, owned by W. L. Hack- ney.

Special Race ; Purse, $60.00

1st - Pocahontas Billy, owned by J. Knight. 2d - Jesse Jewett, owned by Jesse Gandy. 3d - Monteno, owned by Savage Brothers. Free-for-all Trot and Pace: Purse. $75.00 1st - Fib, owned by R. J. Vinton.

2d - Pocahontas Billy, owned by J. Knight. 3d - Jesse Jewett, owned by Jesse Gandy. 4th - Gold Dollar. owned by E. C. Gibbon. Novelty Running Race : Purse, $40.00 1st quarter. Cadaverous, owned by Henry Crow.

One-half, one-fourth, and one mile. John Corbin, owned by W. L. Cramer.

Two-Year-Old Special Running Race ; Purse. $20.00

1st -Crickett, owned by William Salling. 2d - Midnight, owned by Isaac Reed. 3d - Baney, owned by J. W. Landers.

Colt Trot and Pace : Purse, $25.00

1st- Ed. L., owned by E. K. Litzenburg. 2d - Satshaw, owned by Savage Brothers. 3d - Lady Winks, owned by J. N. Auble. 4th- Buck, owned by D. W. Laterman.

BICYCLE RACES

One-half Mile Handicap: Purse, $6.00 1st - H. Kenoyer.

2d - Wilbur Holcomb.

3d- Ed. White.

One-half Mile Handicap: Purse, $6.00

1st - Fred Maulick.

2d- Ed. White. 3d - H. Kenoyer.

One Mile Handicap: Purse, $6.00

1st - R. B. Johnson.

2d - Wilbur Holcomb.

3d - Fred Maulick.

Slow Bicycle Race; Purse, $2.25

1st - Frank Rublee.

2d - Fred Maulick.

One-fourth Mile Open : Purse. $6.00

1st - Chestney Thompson.

2dl- Fred Maulick.

3d- Ed. White.

Two-Mile Handicap: Purse, $9.00 1st - Ed. White.

21-R. B. Johnson.

3d - Chestney Thompson.

4th - Charley Shinn.

Broncho Riding: Purse, $10.00

1st - Bill Pursell.

2d - Jim Kelley.

Team-Pulling Match: Purse, $2.50 Won by H. L. Granger, of Wescott.

LAKE DORIS, JUST ABOVE THE POWER HOUSE

SIDE-GATES TO IRRIGATION DITCH, LAKE DORIS

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POWER HOUSE AND INTAKE OF DORIS HYDRO-ELECTRIC PLANT

MIDDLE LOUP RIVER ABOVE HYDRO-ELECTRIC PLANT NEAR SARGENT

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

EQUESTRIANSHIP

Riding by Ladies. Ist - Mrs. C. R. Eubank.

2d- Miss Eva Jewett.

Riding by Girls 1st - Clara Jeffords. 2d - Lena Osborne.

THE LUNDY HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER PLANT

One of the most promising industrial devel- opments ever inaugurated in the county is the so-called hydro-electric plant which is in course of construction at Doris, Nebraska, by James W. Lundy. Mr. Lundy is enthusiastic over the project and feels confident that he has power enough to transform Custer county, and central Nebraska as well, into a manufactur- ing center. Mr. Lundy is the owner of 1,600 acres of land abutting both banks of the river for a distance of nearly three miles. All of his land is under irrigation ditches, and this in itself constitutes a valuable asset. Although the average width of the river is 700 feet, Mr. Lundy has narrowed the river-bed through his land until it is confined to a channel 100 feet wide. The Middle Loup river, which is the main fork of the Loup, has an average velo- city, at the Lundy point, of about 600-second feet.

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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 51

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