USA > Nebraska > Dixon County > History of Dixon County, Nebraska > Part 16
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
Jolın Maskell, an excellent citizen and farmer, settled in Hooker in 1856, and resided there until he removed to Ver- million, S. D., in 1894. During his long residence in that township he has been successful in business and has seen the hardships of frontier life give place to the comforts and in- dependence of the present. His farm is now occupied by his. son Andrew Maskell.
H. Weidenfeldt. from Wisconsin in 1870. Homesteaded 160 acres and still occupies it. In addition to cultivating and improving his farm, he has been largely engaged in the stock business. His family consists of himself, wife and twelve sons and daughters.
Mr. MeCleary settled at an early day where Lime Grove postoffice now is. Moved away about twelve years ago.
H. Tarsony took a homestead in Hooker over twenty-five years ago. Now has about a section of land and fine im- provements. Has been mainly engaged in stock raising.
O. K. Anderson, an early settler was successfully engaged in farming and stock raising until five years ago, since which time he had been in the western part of the state. His family still occupy the farm in Hooker. Has four sons and two daughters.
Mons Nelson, farmer and stock raiser since he located there in the fall of 1856 up to 1880, when the Missouri river ent across North Bend and swept out his farm. In 1880 he removed to South Dakota. and now lives in Gayville, in that state.
John Connery became a resident in 1568. Has now a sec- tion of land profitably farmed.
Dexter Rice. (See lonia township).
Charles Brookey lives near the Missouri river, and is well fixed. He came there at an early day with his father, John Brookey, who was one of the county commissioners in 1865.
James G. Bailey and sons came to Hooker more than twenty-five years ago. He was a prominent and influential citizen up to his death four years ago. His sons. John, William, James and S. D. Bailey, are successful meu in busi- ness and all reside in Hooker, except JJames, who lives on his farm in New Castle township.
Nels Johnson and his sons. Nels C. Johnson, Casper John- son and Christ Nelson, are prosperous farmers and own val-
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
uable lands. They came to Daily township from Florence, Nebraska, in 1871, and afterwards removed to Hooker and bought the farm of MeCleary at Lime Grove, where Nelson is postmaster and has a general store.
NEW CASTLE TOWNSHIP.
The face of the country in New Castle township is much like that in the towns adjoining. Hills, fertile to their tops, fertile valleys and numerous unfailing streams, furnish a farming and stock growing region that can hardly be sur- passed. The township is well settled np. Many of the citizens are wealthy, and nearly all are in independent cir- cumstances.
The citizens never had a market near at hand until the extension of the C .. St. P .. M. & O. R. R. from Ponca to New Castle in 1893. When that extension was made. the hitherto dormant hamlet of New Castle developed rapidly. as related in a former chapter, into a brisk railroad town. Gustavus Smith, the leading spirit of that locality up to the time of his death, (July 27. 1850.) would have been glad to have lived to see such growth and advancement in the place he founded and named years before.
One of the first settlers in what is known as New Castle township, was William Pfister, who came from Harden county, lowa, in 1858. He was a man possessed of good judgment and courage, and came with the expectation of finding a wild and unsettled country with Indians for neighbors. He was not greatly mistaken in his forecast of the future. The country was indeed wild when he came, white settlers were miles away, and for years his most frequent visitors were the roving Indians passing through that part of the country on their road between the Omaha and Santee agencies. He took a claim a few miles from where New Castle village is, and cul- tivated and improved it from year to year, built a farm house, barns and fences, started a grove and orchard. raised wheat and corn, cattle and hogs, and in due time was rewarded with plenty. For years after he located there, he could look in every direction and see no house or cultivated fields ex- cept his own. It was a solitary life, yet with his constant labor in improving and cultivating, his time was occupied, and life, though on the remote frontier, was pleasant. The
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
Indians who often passed, became acquainted and friend- ly, he could talk with them, and they showed no disposition to plunder or harm him. Sixteen years ago when the great prairie fire swept over that part of the county, he lost house. fences, stacks and nearly everything on his farm that would burn. In time he recovered from that visitation. He died in May, 1895, after an industrious life of 65 years. On the same place where he first located, he lived up to the time of his. death. He left a valuable farm of 320 acres, good buildings. and a large amount of stock. His wife survives him and now resides on the farm.
New Castle village, incorporated May 16. 1893, has a class of citizens whose energy and enterprise is seen in the con- tinned improvement of the place.
Among the most prominent of the citizens is Thomas Hoy, to whose efforts, as described in chapter XII. the exten- sion of the railroad to that place is mainly due. Mr. Hoy came when young to New Castle from Pittsburg. Pa., in the spring of 1872. Heattended school, developed business habits. and finally taught school three terms. In 1878, he engaged in the mercantile business and has continued it all the time. substantially, since then. In ISSO, was appointed postmaster which position he still fills. In 1882 his store and goods burned, there being a total loss, and soon after he rebuilt. He was a member of the board of supervisors in '92 and '93. and since the incorporation of New Castle has had a leading and progressive part in the official life of that place. His mercantile business is large. and after so many years in it. he has the acquaintance and confidence of a great share of the people in that part of the county. He was married in 1884 to Ellen McAndrews, and has five children, four girls and one boy.
W. P. Logan. another prominent young business man of New Castle, the cashier of the Farmers State Bank of that place, has already been noticed in the part devoted to Ponca city, where he formerly lived. His portrait is seen in this chapter.
E. E. Carder, the depot agent, came to New Castle in Sep- tember, 1893. He is married and has two children. Is an efficient and popular railroad man.
John Coleman came from Sioux City in 1877, farmed three
W. P. LOGAN. (See pages 226 and 183.)
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
Dr. W. R. Talboy located here in '93 and Dr. C. L. Roland in the spring of '95. Both are experienced physicians and surgeons.
H. W. Hopkins, stock buyer, came in '93.
Pat Bennett commenced buying grain here a year or more ago, and J. B. Flack for Peavey & Company last summer.
Suecker & Anderson, contractors and builders: Fred Calvert, market: Smith & Davis, blacksmiths; Frank Pletsch and Dougherty & Bennett, billiard halls; have been in New Castle from two to three years.
The school house at New Castle was recently built by Snecker & Anderson at a cost of about $4,000. It is a fine building and a credit to the town.
New Castle has a large Catholic church, built many years ago, and of which Father O'Toole was pastor for about twelve years. He removed to Grand Island three years ago and Father Waldron has since been in charge.
The Congregational society at New Castle has also a fine church, of which Rev. John Roberts is pastor.
A. S. Palmer came from Floyd county. lowa, in 1868. Was married in 1872 to Marcelia L. Rice, daughter of Dexter Rice. Was, as mentioned on page 141. representative two terms, being the only representative ever re-elected in the county. He was also twice elected superintendent of schools. He has 200 acres, well improved, etc. He has four danghters. one of whom was married in June last to JJ. V. Pierson of Ponca.
John Malone. one of the pioneers of the county, is a well to do farmer of New Castle. He has a large farm pleasantly located on the road between New Castle and Ponca.
Alexander Curry, living near Malone's place, is also a farmer in excellent pecuniary circumstances.
Andy O'Conner is another old timer: came from New Orleans with his brothers in 1856, and farmed in the county ever since.
Gottleib Rahn, came in 1870, has a large farm and like most of the New Castle farmers is well off.
Henry Richards, from Wisconsin in 1860. Has 320 acres and is in fine circumstances and a leading citizen of the township. He was supervisor in '88 and '89.
Thomas and W. A. O'Toole were from Pennsylvania in
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
ISSO. Each has a good farm of about 240 acres. They have families.
Wm. Sullivan. an early settler and has 160 acres well improved. Is married.
Owen Finnigan, 1870, married, and is a farmer with 160 acres.
There are other notable citizens and business men in Newcastle village, and many other farmers in the township, who on account of lack of information we are unable to mention.
CLARK TOWNSHIP.
Is thinly settled and has much uncultivated land. The land is rolling, the soil is excellent and water is good and abundant. It has no timber except the groves that have been planted. There are four school districts in town. The population is about 325, mostly American born. Clark town- ship is six miles square and is directly south of and adjoins Daily and has Cedar county on the west.
Captain Burdick was the first to settle in this township. He came here twenty-three years ago as agent for the Bos- ton Land Co., which owned 45,000 acres in Dixon and Cedar counties, and a large tract of it was in this township. Cap- tain Burdick purchased 160 acres of it for himself. built a house and made many improvements, and on his own land as well as that of the Land Company planted numerous large groves, several hundred acres in all. Captain Burdick sold his farm about fifteen years ago to A. J. Sparks and moved to Kansas.
A. J. Sparks has lived on the Burdick place since he bought it fifteen years ago. Among the many improvements and attractions on this farm may be mentioned the large groves and the orchard of apple and cherry trees.
John Donovan is the oldest settler now living in the township. He has been here nineteen years. He has three fourths of a section of land and is a enterprising farmer.
A. Coleman came here from Jones county, Iowa, fifteen years ago. Has a quarter section on which is the largest grove in the county. He has a large family, ten sons and danghters.
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
Perry Dempster was elected supervisor of Clark township a year ago and served until January 1st, 1896. He removed to the township in March. 1892, from Crawford county. Iowa, where he was census enumerator for that county in 1890. He has a half section of land, of which 190 acres are under cultivation, fine house, barn, groves and other improvements. His family consists of himself. wife and seven children, (four sons and three daughters.) all of whom are in Nebraska, excepting one daughter, who lives in Shelby county, lowa.
J. Sullivan came here twelve years ago from Indiana. Has a farm of half a section, and buildings, grove, orchard, etc. Last winter he removed to Dixon village. His family consists of himself, wife and five sons and daughters. He was supervisor for Clark two or three terms and up to January. 1895.
O. C. and Henry Tuttle, farmers, have half a section. fairly improved. Came from Iowa fourteen years ago.
J. D. Reising, from Minnesota, fourteen years ago, has a farm of 320 acres, improved and well farmed.
W. H. Gibson came here from California about fourteen years ago and bought 160 acres of land. He and his family now live in Dixon village.
A. D. Morgan and J. L. Schouten are also well-to-do farmers, concerning whom we have been unable to obtain information, except their names.
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
CHAPTER XVIII.
OTTER CREEK, GALENA SPRINGBANK AND EMERSON TOWNSHIPS. OTTER CREEK TOWNSHIP,
Bounded on the north by Ponca township, east by county line between Dixon and Dakota counties. south by Emerson and west by Galena and Springbank. It is nine miles north and south, and three miles east and west.
Otter Creek is hilly in the main, but has some fine bottom land. It has abundant cold, clear water in the creeks, as also in wells from ten to twenty feet below the surface. There is a small amount of timber along the streams, and nearly every farm has a fine grove. The soil is good even to the top of the hills.
The fertile South Creek valley passes across the north- western part of the township, and settlement was there made in the early days of the county. Prominent among the first settlers may be mentioned P. J. Winston, the Bigleys and Maurice Scollard, all of whom are dead. Maurice Scollard was one of the county commissioners in 1860-'61-'62-'63. Of his nephews. John Scollard still resides there, and Patrick Scollard died several months ago. In the north- western part of the township is the South Creek Catholic church, built in the spring of 1875.
Otter Creek has one village. Waterbury, a station on the Short Line railroad. which passes through the township.
The townsite of Waterbury. about eighty acres. was on May 29, 1889, donated to the Pacific Townsite Company, by George Herrick. The location is in a beautiful valley, twenty miles from Sioux City. twelve miles west of Jackson, seven and one-half miles from Allen, and eight miles south of Ponca.
The village is still small, containing only about forty buildings and 125 inhabitants, but it is a No. 1 market for grain, produce and live stock. It has a railroad depot. two
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
grain warehouses, two coal yards, three general stores, a. harness shop, blacksmith shop, shoe shop. etc.
The leading business men are J. F. Hall, insurance. U. T. Forney (who built the first store here in July. 1890) and L. H. Whitman, merchandise: H. Sayre, postmaster; C. R. Noe. lumber dealer, and P. S. Beekley, station agent and grain buyer.
The Waterbury Creamery company completed this season a large creamery at the cost of $4,000. An M. E. church costing $1,200 was also built this year, (1895). Waterbury is especially favored as to water, which from the "big spring" (so called) near the railroad depot. ever flows a copious stream. pure and cold, which winter cannot freeze nor sum- mer warm.
Those who have been or are now among the prominent citizens in Otter Creek, are the following:
George Herrick, formerly of Racine, Wisconsin, and after- wards of Yankton, Dakota, removed from the latter city in August, 1874 to where he now lives adjoining the townsite of Waterbury. There he has S80 acres of land, admirably improved and a residence not surpassed in the county.
C. C. Cleveland. from Wisconsin about 1875 located where he now lives. Has half a section, good improvements. and the best orchard in the township. His apples took the first premium at the Sioux City corn palace fair in 1892.
Henry and John Harney. are prosperous farmers, living near the South Creek church.
James Harding came in 1SS1 from Dakota county, owns two large farms.
James H. Cole came in 1882, had 200 acres. Moved to Ponca in 1894.
H. J. Stinger came in October. ISSO. from Webster county. lowa. Taught school three years and then bought a farm. He now has 120 acres. well improved by grove, orchard. fences. buildings, etc. Has a wife and four children. Has been supervisor for Otter Creek for three years, up to the re-or- ganization in 1895.
M. Burgett, old settler, and moved in 1882 to a farm three miles south of Ponca.
J. E. Chase came from Jasper county, Iowa. in 1SS3 and has 200 acres where he now resides.
PATRICK SCOLLARD AND HIS SISTER, MRS. BLAKE. (See page 237. )
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
Jacob Fegley located in Otter Creek in 1881 and in 1895 moved to Allen. Has a large family of grown up sons and daughters, all married and mostly living in the county.
C. M. Crowell. 1866, 160 acres, was county commissioner one term. Lately removed to Central City, Nebraska.
John Delaney, 1870, bought and settled on the 160 acres where he now is. Large family. mostly living in his vicinity. Has a magnificent grove of 80 acres.
Pat Cavanaugh, 1871. Has 420 acres, orchard, grove, etc. John R. Hoopingarner has been here fourteen years, and has a fine farm of 160 acres.
Patrick Scollard, one of the wealthy and prominent citizens of the county, died at his home in Otter Creek town- ship. May 1, 1895. Mr. Scollard was born in Ireland. and at an early age crossed the ocean to this country. He was one of the pioneers of Dixon county, coming here in 1856 with his brother and his uncle Maurice Scollard, who, during several of the first years of the county, was one of the commis- sioners. In 1862 the subject of this sketch enlisted in Co. I of the 2nd Nebraska cavalry, and was honorably discharged after a service of thirteen months. During his youthful ex- perience as a pioneer, he and his mother and sister traveled across the plains with ox teams to Montana. While there. he was in the business of hauling freight to Fort Benton. On such trips he would be on the road five days without see- ing a white person or white settlement. During those lonely trips he carried his provisions with him and slept in his wagon bed at night. He followed this hard life five years. Afterwards he returned to Dixon county and became a farmer. He was shrewd and careful and was generally suc- cessful in all business matters. He was married in January, 1875. to Isabella Tracy. from Holly, New York. They have eleven children living, seven boys and four girls, the young- est two of whom, twins, were born seven months after his death. His death was very sudden. In the morning at about S o'clock he was busy at work in the field, riding a corn planter, and apparently in good health. Suddenly he was prostrated by paralysis, and was brought to the house, where he died at 1 o'clock, five hours after he was attacked. At the time of his death he left 440 acres, most of it fenced and cultivated, fine buildings, groves, orchard. etc., together
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
with cattle and horses and other property there and elsewhere. Mrs. Scollard and the family now reside on the pleasant. farm which his energy provided for them. His portrait is seen in this chapter.
R. P. Williams, a native of Iowa, came to Dixon county in ISSI and bought a farm in Otter Creek of 120 acres, which he has since made valuable by improvements. In 1894 he was appointed superintendent of Dixon county's poor farm for a year, and gave entire satisfaction. Mr. Williams was all over Nebraska while a soldier of Uncle Sam during the war.
Fred Hall came to Otter Creek with his father. Geo. W. Hall. 24 years ago from lowa. Each took homesteads of 160 acres. Geo. W. Hall died in 18SS, leaving one son and seven danghters, all of whom but one reside in that neighborhood.
Among the many other good farmers of Otter Creek, we will mention the following:
John Bones. Fred Bollmier. M. Benton. Pat Bergen. Henry Marron. David Curry. Thomas Casey. J. B. Fleming. C. H. and H. A. Harper, J. C. Harrington, J. E. McGuire. Michael Mullaly. John O'Hara, L. P. Harper (now lives in Allen) and Samuel Roberts.
GALENA TOWNSHIP.
Is bounded on the north by Silver Creek. east by Otter Creek, south by Springbank, and west by Clark.
The township has the same kind of productive land which is general throughout the county and is well watered by creeks and springs. There are no more beautiful valleys than those along South Creek. Dailey and their tributaries. and no better water powers in the country for mills and machin- ery than are afforded by those streams. The land in the val- leys is nearly level, back of which are low hills and rolling prairie. Throughout the township are excellent farms. good residences, orchards and groves, some of the latter along the creeks being of natural growth. The township has one vil- lage. Martinsburg. the commencement and growth of which has been traced in former chapters.
The founder of Martinsburg. Jonathan Martin, still re- sides there. He came to Dixon county in 1867 from Peoria.
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
Illinois. He was born at Fall River, Mass .. in 1822. Came west as far as Chicago in 1839. when that place was a frog pond, and land there could be bought for $3 an acre. He stopped there a number of years. worked at carpenter work and became a contractor and builder. Afterwards went to Peoria and was engaged in the distillery business, which in due time became extensive and profitable, and employed forty men for several years. In '66 he was assessed as worth $70,000 but was soon after defrauded of a large amount, and selling out he removed to Dixon county, saving about $20,000 with which to commence life anew. His first enterprise here was to build a mill two miles east of Ponca. In '72 he started Martinsburg, and built a grist mill and opened a store, which latter he still continues, and was postmaster several years. He was one of the county commissioners during '75. '76 and '77. Mr. M. was married in 1848 to Amanda Douglass of Onondaga county. New York. They have had five children. three of whom. daughters. are living and married. Mr. Martin is a citizen whose business energy in the past has been valuable to that locality, and he is rewarded by the general respect of the citizens.
Another prominent citizen of Galena township was P. G. Wright, who died in 1891 at his residence near Martins- burg, aged 73 years. Mr. Wright came from lowa and had been a resident of Galena about fourteen years. During that time he was county commissioner several years and repre- sented the county in the legislature one term. He was a just and reliable man and clearly understood his duties as an offi- cer of the county.
John E. Schultz, one of Martinsburg's popular merchants. came from Wisconsin in '79, does a large business.
Ben and Burt MeClary, sons of Thomas MeClary of Silver Creek. have had a general store in Martinsburg since 'SS.
John Duren owns and runs the Martinsburg grist mill. He came from Wisconsin in '74. His mill is doing a large business and furnishes excellent flour.
Harry Filley. a soldier during the war, came in 1866 from Alamakee county, lowa, and has in Galena a large farm on which he lived until a few years ago. He has since been landlord of the Martinsburg Hotel. In list of pioneers which is published in one of the first chapters. Mr. Filley's
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
name is erroneonsly placed among those who came here between the spring of '56 and the fall of '58.
Fred Jeffrey is Martinsburg's postmaster and has been since 1889.
Martinsburg has two churches, viz: The Congregational, Rev. Nichols, and the Lutheran, Rev. Hansen. Both of the church buildings are good and are largely attended. In the village is a well built, well arranged school house with two teachers and about fifty scholars.
Martin and William Lockwood came here from Waukon. Iowa in '70. Martin first lived in Springbank township and in '74 moved to Martinsburg and purchased an interest in the town site and mill. Afterwards was in the drug busi- ness at Ponca and in '89 went to South Sioux City where he now is. Wm. Lockwood first settled and still resides on a farm in Galena. Martin Lockwood Jr., a son of Wm. Lock- wood, is also a good farmer of Galena township.
Wm. White came about '70 from Indiana and has a good farm near Martinsburg of half a section, where he and his family reside.
Matt Engle and John Engle are successful Galena farmers who came in '75. They have about 200 acres each.
Gottleib Keoppie has been here many years and has a large farm.
William Gillan whom we have mentioned as one of the pioneers, has a good farm of 200 acres near Martinsburg, where he and his family live.
Jacob and Sol Bombard live on a farm of 280 acres a short distance from Martinsburg.
Hugh Sweeney came from Galena, Illinois, in '70 and has a farm of 200 acres.
David Murphy, one of Galena's most thorough farmers, was born in Ireland, came to New York in '56; to Chicago in '59 and to Dixon county in '66. He has 450 acres in South Creek valley where he resides.
Frank and John Jourdan, bora in England came to Galena about thirty years ago. Both took homesteads which they made into valuable farms. Frank Jourdan died Angust 1, 1894, leaving a wife and one daughter. He owned at the time of his death 311 acres of land all in a fine state of im- provement. John Jourdan still resides on the farm he first
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
occupied and is well off. He has a wife and one son.
James Jeffrey located in Galena in '67 and died in '94. Left a large family.
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