USA > Nebraska > Dixon County > History of Dixon County, Nebraska > Part 10
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At New Castle the Congregational church wasturnedaround and near there, in lonia township, Warner's mill and num- erons houses and barns were greatly damaged. At Martins- burg. J. Martin's store was torn down. Shultz and Matteson's store and the mill were unroofed, and many buildings in Galena and Springbank were either destroyed or greatly in- jured.
At Wakefield and Emerson the loss was comparatively light. though in the country tributary to those towns, a few honses and barns were wiped out of existence. In the storm but one loss of life occurred. Henry Erickson, who was killed six miles west of Wakefield by the timbers of a falling house.
Among other damage was that to the agricultural society buildings, on the fair grounds. The fences were blown away together with nearly everything inside of them, excepting the race course and the well. The agricultural hall was blown entirely off the grounds, and its fragments were dis- tributed throughout the length and breadth of Hammel's corn field on the east.
The foregoing is but a partial list of the losses in the county. Nearly every building, grove and fence was injured, some slightly. others irreparably. The total loss in the county was estimated to be from $35,000 to $50.000. As to
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the crops, the damage done to them was not so severe as might have been expected. Small grain was but little injured, and corn, though badly whipped about, was not so hurt that two weeks time would not restore it. Hence. after people recovered from the fright and saw that no material injury was done to the crops they were not dis- couraged but went to work to clear away the wreck and re- pair the damage. This was their first great storm and their hope that it would be the last has up to date been realized. But the storm induced nearly everyone to build a storm cave, to which when the clonds threatened they could retire and feel secure.
The census of the county which was taken in JJuly showed a great increase in the number of its inhabitants. It had 5,590 a gain of about 40 per cent in five years.
In following the path of events as they occurred. the reader is now brought to another tragedy. the most horrible in the life of Dixon county since the murder of Mr. Dunn in 1870 by Mat Miller who therefor was promptly hanged by the citizens as related in a former chapter.
James Alexander, one of the pioneers of the county, had lived on his farm about six miles west of Ponca many years. Robert C. Blair, a young man 26 years old, had been working a farm adjoining. and boarded with Alexander. On the even- ing of October 22. (1885.) Alexander and Blair went to the granary to sack wheat and while there Blair shot and killed Alexander and then mounting his horse tried to escape out of the country. Immediately pursuit was made and the day after the murder Blair was captured. Alexander was un- armed at the time he was killed and hence Blair's claim that he shot him in self defense was exploded. The further fact that Alexander had been shot in the back, made proof con- clusive that the murder was cold blooded and deliberate.
Blair's trial came before the district court at Ponea. November 5, less than two weeks after the crime was com- mitted. After a careful investigation of the facts the jury found Blair guilty of murder in the second degree and he was sentenced by Judge Crawford to imprisonment for life. A week after he was taken to the penitentiary by Sheriff Pomeroy.
As township organization was to go into effect the
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next January the county was in the fall divided into town- ships and at the election in November a board of fifteen supervisors were elected in place of the three commissioners. The first meeting of the board under the new order of things was held January 12. 1886, and consisted of the following members: A. Reynolds. Ponca township: Dr. Hasson, Ponca village; G. W. Waitt, Wakefield: P. G. Wright, Galena: C. W. Sherman, Daily; J. W. Ellyson. Ionia; Frank Reuter. Logan; W. Jenkins, Concord; W. H. Pomeroy, Springbank: M. L. Rossiter, Emerson: D. F. Curtis, Clark: H. C. Fields, Hooker: G. C. Wilson, Silver Creek; H. Sayre, Otter Creek; H. Richards, New Castle.
In the early part of the winter of '85-'86, Sioux City parties bought lands of W. H. Porter, F. Conrad. A. Reynolds. F. Baker and others, 600 acres in all. along the bluffs north of Ponca and near the river. The sudden de- mand for land in an unattractive locality, gave plausibility to the assertion that it was purchased for a company which had in view the building of a railroad and bridge across the river. In connection with this purchase, we will add that in the following August a Mr. Massey of Rockford, Illinois. came and bought another large tract of bluffy land near that of the Sioux City parties. He said he wanted it for an "Angora goat farm." a business that needed the roughest land. It was noticed that the land touched Lime Creek ravine where the Nebraska end of the much imagined rail- road bridge was to be. For some land which had been deemed too worthless to pay the taxes on, Mr. Massey paid from fifty to one hundred dollars per acre.
There is no doubt of the fact that a great project was in view. which, had it been carried out. would have brought one or more railroads and a bridge into Dakota. But like many other schemes in the west it resulted in nothing. The only ones who received benefit were those who had unloaded their worthless lands on the bluffs.
In the fall of '86. the Dixon County Agricultural fair had some novel features which will be useful as hints to the managers of fairs in future. There were special premiums by which the handsomest couple who would be married in Floral Hall on the third day of the fair, received an elegant rocking chair. The most attractive girl. the hand-
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somest woman and the best appearing man, all of Dixon county, had an appropriate gift to each. To the prettiest baby under twelve months, five dollars in gold. To the man with the longest nose, and he who had the largest feet, were also remembered by special premiums. With such a re- markable combination of attractions it may safely be said that the fair was a great success. It was held four days that year and had an attendance of between three and four thousand.
On November 6th. the trustees completed by ordinance the organization of Ponca into a city of the second class.
Thus we have briefly touched on the main events which transpired up to the close of 1886. At that time the country and the towns seemed on the high road to prosperity. Dixon county was gradually emerging from obscurity and the truth was generally becoming known that in agri- cultural wealth it was nearly at the top of the column of the counties in the state.
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
CHAPTER XII.
RAILROAD RUMBLINGS - THE BUILDING OF THE SHORT LINE THE EXTENSION OF THE PONCA BRANCH TO NEW CASTLE
THE BURNING OF THE MILL AT PONCA -- THE FAILURE OF THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK -- THE STARTING OF ALLEN, CONCORD, WATERBURY AND NEW CASTLE.
The life of a county, like that of an individual, is generally made up of a succession of little events, scarcely one of which, detached from the others, would be worth mentioning. This fact has thus far appeared in this as in every other history, and without doubt will be seen in the future. The small incidents separately not of much account. which occur in the course of a month or a year, make up the great bulk of its history. out of which arises, at rare intervals like a solitary rock on the prairie. some conspicious event of real importance.
Looking back from the commencement of 1887 we saw the growth of business up to that time had been rapid. As a sample, take the railroad business at Ponca. The total amount of freight received at that station during the year 1885 was 8,981.628 pounds: during the year 1886 it was 10 .- 159.419 pounds. Total amount of freight forwarded during the year 1885 was 9,703.013 pounds: during the year 1886 it was 11.750.851. Total increase of tonnage 3.225.575. Gross earnings of station for 1885 was $44.451.18; for year 1886 was $49,968.35, an increase of $5,517.17 in station earnings. Such an amount showed that the people of the northern part of the county who sent or received it, were not idle. Nearly the same amount of business was done at Wakefield. in- dicating altogether. as reliably as a barometer of the weather, the condition of business in the county.
In 1887. as in 1886. there were innumerable rumors of new railroad prospects affecting Dixon county. Parties of railroad surveyors would pass through. diligently running
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lines and driving stakes, but answering no questions. Some came from the southwest and others from Sioux City. The Springbank region frequently had hope excited by the sight of such surveyors in all the panoply of compasses, levels. transits and chains, moving to and fro. Surveyors claiming to be from North Platte ran a line along the Otter Creek valley and soon after was followed by Union Pacific sur- veyors over the same ground, and another surveying outfit was seen measuring and staking its way along the valley of Elk Creek. Surveyors ran a line from Clairmont station in Cedar county, down Tarbox Hollow. so called, to the South Creek valley and from thence to Martinsburg and Ponca. Others came down Daily valley to Martinsburg and from there headed towards Sioux City leaving Ponca ont in the cold. It was confidently asserted by those who claimed to know all about it, that the Union Pacific railroad would be extended from Norfolk to the Missouri river at Ponca and there by a bridge cross into Dakota. It was also said by others with equal confidence that the Union Pacific would not build such a line to Ponca but would branch off through Springbank and the Elk Valley to Jackson and from there to Covington. In such a multitude of reports, many of them conflicting, no one could tell which to believe. The safest way was not to believe any, and as matters turned out, such a general disbelief would have been the most correct method of dealing with the subject.
At the time of these rumors, a new excitement, not quite so important as the railroad stories but more interest- ing, was started by a man named Keyser, who claimed he had found a diamond. He had in fact found in Lime Kiln ravine a transparent stone, weighing about two ounces, but whether a genuine diamond or a diamond of the Alaska variety, was the question. If it were genuine, it was worth enough to build a railroad and a bridge across the Missouri. but if an Alaska diamond. it was not as valuable as an equally sized seed potato. Excited by the "diamond" dis- covery, several parties went prospecting in the bluffs along the river for gold. and an enthusiastic resident of Ionia township claimed he had discovered a rich deposit of plumbago.
These various excitements .- railroad, diamond, gold and plumbago .- caused some one on April 1 (All Fools' Day) to get
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up a burlesque report that five large companies of railroad surveyors were approaching Ponca from as many different directions. The story in full, as it was told. although not exactly the right thing to put into the pages of a sedate history, will still be useful as showing what a healthy and vivid western imagination can do, as also the fact that people had in those days lots of fun occasionally. Here it is: "A large force of railroad engineers are now beating up the ground in 'Tarbox Hollow.' One of the engineers was heard to say to another that they would in 24 hours be where they could get their canteens filled.' That, consider- ing the direction they were moving and the time indicated. meant Ponca. Therefore the surveyors will soon be in Ponca.
"Another large crowd of surveyors are now advancing down South Creek, preceded by a full military band led by a drum major in the gorgeous custume of an Abyssinian prince. As they march along. the neighboring hills resound to the music of trumpets and shawms. A long line of wagons are carrying the surveying instruments and camp equipage. They will get to Ponca tomorrow.
"Two full corps of opposing railroad engineers are neck and neck running lines down Silver Creek. The needles of their compasses point toward Ponca. The chief engineers on sorrel horses ride in front cheering on their men. It is impossible to determine which will get there first.
"A company of forty surveyors approach by the way of New Castle. The chief engineer in the costume of a Turkish pasha, is leading the procession mounted on a burro and followed by a company of bespangled sword swallowers, ball tossers, wire dancers, tumblers and contortionists, who in their professional capacities entertain the party as it comes down the valley. After these comes a large platform or float on wheels drawn by a long train of oxen. On the float the surveyors are stationed with theodolites and other instruments, and determine as they move along, the heighth of the hills and all questions of grade. cut, fill, etc.
"A tremendous firing across the river is said to indicate a salute on approach of the surveyors from Elk Point."
During the year there were few matters of any great im- portance occuring in the county. Railroad rumors, Lime
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. .
Kiln ravine bridge matters and other fictions for boom pur- poses, furnished something to talk about while the crops were growing and the cattle on the thousand green hills and valleys were getting fat and ready for market. On the Fourth of July the various towns had their celebrations largely attended. There was building and improvement as usual and an increasing demand and higher prices for farms. The county fair in the fall was well attended and a big balloon and an oration from Hon. J. M. Thurston of Omaha were drawing attractions.
When at the end of the year Christmas and New Year's days came with the usual church decorations, gifts and re- unions of families and friends, the citizens of the county had reason from the experiences of the past to face the future with confidence.
The commencement of the year ISSS was marked by the greatest blizzard (January 12) that this country ever saw since its settlement by white people. In this state as well as in lowa. Dakota and Minnesota. the oldest inhabitants could remember nothing approaching it in severity. In all. about two hundred and fifty persons were frozen to death and the loss of stock, especially in the western part of Ne- braska, was very great. Dixon county came out of the ordeal much better than most localities. There was much suffering here and some narrow escapes by being caught out. in the storm but none were frozen to death and the cattle were generally well sheltered and in safety.
During this year. as in the year before, there was a con- tinuous succession of rumors and surmises on future rail- road possibilities. In June a party of railroad surveyors commenced at Randolph. Cedar county. to run a line east- ward towards Sioux City. When on their route the sur- veyors came to Dixon county, they ran various lines, so that scarely a valley in the central part of the county was not decorated with the stakes of a preliminary survey. One route crossed South Creek valley at Martinsburg and another several miles above. The lines came together at Mr. Her- rick's place in Otter Creek valley where it was thought would be a railroad town. Where Tarbox Hollow opens into South Creek valley another town was deemed liable. If the Mar- tinsburg route was followed. that village being near the cen-
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ter of the county. would become a place of importance. The final result of the various surveys was that the Sioux City and Ogden Short Line Railroad was located and built through the county.
In April. 1889, contracts were let to build 100 miles of it. Work soon after commenced and in the spring of 1890 the track was completed through the county. On this part of the route three new towns were started. One of them, Allen. was on the farm of Henry Allen in Springbank township, about twenty-nine miles from Sioux City and twenty from Ponca.
Another town was on Mr. Herrick's land in Otter Creek township and on the eastern side of the county and was given the name of Waterbury. The third town located was Con- cord near the county's west line. All the three places had encouraging growth, and Allen, on account of its central location, might. it was claimed, become the county seat of the county.
The county thus, with these three additions, had nine thriving young cities, viz: Ponca, Wakefield, Martinsburg. Concord, Emerson, New Castle. Allen. Dixon and Water- bury, all of which excepting New Castle and Martinsburg were railroad towns.
In May. 1892, there were rumors that the C., St. P., M. & O. R. R. would soon be extended from Ponca to New Castle. In the course of a few months it was seen that the rumor would be a certainty. In September a committee of New Castle business men, the most prominent being Thomas Hoy. the leading merchant of that place. went to St. Paul. where they met President Hughitt and General Manager Winters of the Omaha company. They were given audiences by those gentlemen and made a statement of their case. They show- ed that the extension they asked would be a cheap one to build, and would be certain to secure enough business to be profitable. As a result of this interview. the Omaha people made a proposition to the New Castle men. They stated that if they made the extension they would have to buy about sixty-five acres of land for right-of-way and forty to fifty acres more at New Castle for yards. station room, etc. They did not place any figures on this property, but told the New Castle people to go back home and find out on what
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terms it could be secured. After they had done this if they would raise the money or secure donations enough to meet half the expense of purchasing it, the road would give serious consideration to the proposition for an immediate extension. The committee returned home and at once called a meeting to discuss ways and means for complying with the demand of the road. At such meeting subscriptions to the amount of $3.000 were secured. This promptness and energy on the part of Mr. Hoy and his friends resulted in the decision of the railroad company to make the extension.
In November the contract was signed by the company to build its line to New Castle and have it in operation not later than September, 1893.
Aside from these railroad matters which had occupied general attention for several years, the progress of the county had continued at its usual speed. There had been new el- terprises and a long succession of good crops. People were in fact. if they but realized it. on the high road to wealth. and all that was required to attain it was industry. energy and a determination to avoid debt. A great number of new families had moved in and but few went away, and those who went some to California and others to Florida in nine times ont of ten returned in a year to Dixon county more contented than ever before.
Life was not. however. without an occasional drawback. Sometimes we had too much rain or too little for the good of the crops and at long intervals a prairie fire or a heavy wind would do some damage. In the spring of '89 quite extensive prairie fires were in Silver Creek. Ponca, Ionia and Daily and occasioned much loss of property. These fires were not as bad as those that occurred a few years before. but they were bad enough.
The year 1893 was in some respects an unfortunate one for Ponca. Up to that time it had grown and prospered. and its good fortune for years had been uninterrupted. But. this year a series of troubles came upon it, perhaps none that. would materially interfere with its future prospects, but troubles which were discouraging and exasperating.
First. in February. the Ponca mill with itsadjacent build- ings and a great quantity of flour and grain was burned. The night of the fire was extremely cold and disagreeable.
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and a fierce, cutting gale blew from the northwest making the work of fighting the flames most difficult. The mill and contents, including 4,000 bushels of wheat and about four carloads of flour, together with the elevator containing 14,000 bushels of wheat, and the dwelling, was a total loss. and the flour house was practically destroyed, making a loss on the buildings of about $32,000 and on the grain and flour of $12.000. The mill and machinery had an insurance of $14,700 and the elevator was insured for $1,500, and there was some insurance on the grain and flour.
The mill was built by John Stough, Sr. and S. P. Mike- sell in 1882-83. and was operated by the founders until Sep- tember 13, 1883, when S. K. Bittenbender was taken into partnership. The mill was incorporated in 1886 and was con- ducted from that time under the corporate name of Ponca Mill Co. It was distinguished as being one of the best con- structed mills in the west, with every adjunct and improve- ment that would facilitate its work and enable the making of high grade Hour for which it had an enviable reputation.
The main building. 40x60 feet, had four stories, and was built of stone and brick. The floors were of white oak and hard maple, and all of the spouting were hard dressed. bead- ed and shellaced, thus showing, in part, how well the struc- ture was built. The machinery was of the "long system style." and, always kept in repair, was by no means inferior to any modern mill. Its average yield, as shown by auto- matic scales, was forty-two pounds of flour for every bushel of cleaned wheat, which fact alone placed it among the best mills of the day. In fact it would be folly to try to build a better mill or one that would maintain a higher standard of effective work.
The mill usually ground 100,000 bushels per year and found a ready market in Nebraska. Iowa and South Dakota. and great quantities of flour were also furnished to the United States army as well as to the Indians in Dakota and Montana.
The system of waterworks which had been building in town was not yet fully completed and hence on the occasion of the fire was nearly useless.
A second misfortune was the disastrous failure of the First National Bank of Ponca on April 27. On that day a
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notice was posted on the door of the bank stating that "owing to the recent failures in Sioux City and elsewhere. and being called upon for money due, the bank is compelled to close temporarily, and that depositors will be paid as soon as mat- ters can be adjusted." It was hoped by depositors that the suspension was as stated in the notice, only temporary. The sworn statement made out under the supervision of the bank examiner the month before, showed conclusively that depos- itors were absolutely safe. Under that statement the re- sources of the bank were over $200.000 and the indebtedness to the depositors about $100,000.
But notwithstanding the assertion of the entire safety of depositors, a thousand rumors were soon in circulation as to the cause of the failure and the amount of assets and liabil- ities. By some it was said that the bank was and had been for a long time hopelessly rotten, that depositors had been hood- winked, and that their money had been unscrupulously used in extravagance and recklessness in transactions outside the legitimate business of the bank.
The man who seemed to have the most to do with the control and management of the bank up to the time of its failure was F. M. Dorsey. A few years before, he came to Ponea and opened a private bank in the name of Dorsey Brothers, and from that commencement the First National Bank was developed and Ex-Congressman Geo. W. E. Dorsey became president of it. F. M. Dorsey was a man whose ex- travagances, enterprises and expenses required a large amount of money. He built on East street a residence cost- ing several thousand dollars. He had a large stable of fast. horses, and was the main stay of the "Diamond Stock Farm." so called. He was also one of the leading managers of the "Ponea Driving and Fair Association," and in all respects appeared to be a "high roller" with plenty of money at all times and always ready to expend it for his own gratification.
As receiver of the bank. Albert Watkins of Lincoln was appointed soon after the failure and immediately entered upon the duties of the office.
The failure of this bank created great distress among many. There was a large num'er of depositors, some of whom had placed in the bank every dollar they had in the world. They were old men and women and even children.
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who deposited and lost their little savings, and starvation or the poor house seemed to be the only relief for them. As people began to believe that the wreck was caused by cir- cumstances not beyond the control of F. M. Dorsey and his coterie of sympathetic aiders. public indignation grew until almost unbearable.
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