USA > Nebraska > Dixon County > History of Dixon County, Nebraska > Part 17
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Charles F. Schram, settled here many years ago and with his family lives on a good farm of half a section.
Lyman Wright, son of P. G. Wright, lives about three miles from Martinsburg where he has 200 acres.
Bernard Cavanagh, once a prominent citizen of Galena now lives in Allen. The large farm in Galena of several hundred acres to which he devoted many years of improve- ment he still owns.
D. Hurley, a prominent citizen of the county. was born in Ireland, and at an early age came with his parents to Watertown, Wisconsin, and in 1866 to Galena township. He was treasurer of the county from January, 1876, to Jannary, 1882, six years, and afterwards represented Galena township on the board of supervisors one term. Mr. Hurley has a very valuable farm of 200 acres about a mile northeast of Martins- burg. on which he and his family reside.
Wm. Donlin, the first born in the county, as heretofore mentioned. now lives near Martinsburg and on the farm where that event took place. He has 240 acres.
Daniel Crowley. from Watertown, Wis., settled here in ISSO. He has a good farm of 300 acres and is one of the leading citizens of the township. He was supervisor from January. '94, to January, '96.
Nick Wallenstein came in 1873 from Germany, where he was a soldier. Has 570 acres of valuable land. a fine house costing $1.300, and other good improvements, among which is a mammoth barn. 58x60 feet. He is one of the most suc- cessful farmers in the county.
In addition to the foregoing are B. Dunlavey who came in '79 or '80: Hiram Wright, '76; Wm. Witham, '65; Wm. Kranse and his sons. Gottleib. Henry and William, Jr .. '75. and Joseph Prue, '6S: all of whom have farms of from 160 to 320 acres.
The farms above referred to are generally all well im- proved and desirable for profitable farming, and are pleasant homes for families. As a general thing also, the residents are in good circumstances and have enjoyable surroundings.
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
SPRINGBANK TOWNSHIP,
Is six miles square and is between Galena on the north and Wakefield on the south, and has Emerson and Otter Creek on the east and Concord on the west. The Pacific Short Line R. R. passes through the north half of the township. The business center of Springbank in Allen.
There are no other villages in the township. About three miles due east of Allen and near the head of Elk Creek, is a small settlement where is the old Springbank post office. a. school house, church. (Friends.) and a few dwellings. A few miles south of this settlement is another church of the same kind. (the South Valley church.)
Two large streams. South Creek and Elk Creek, together with a small branch of the North Logan rise in this town- ship. These streams, with numerous smaller tributaries provide water in abundance.
Like most of the farmers of Dixon county, the residents of Springbank have devoted much time and energy to im- proving their farms and surroundings. Good dwellings. houses and barns, large groves and orchards, good fences and nicely arranged and cultivated fields are almost invariably seen.
It was not until 1869, that this township could boast of more than a handful of settlers. Some had come in the earliest days of the county but from fear of Indians or dis- taste for the lonely lives they had to lead, remained but a short time. Andy O'Conner and his brothers. James and John, are said to have been the first settlers. They took claims there in '56 or 57. two or three miles south of the Cavanagh farm in Galena, remained but a short time, and removed to new claims between Ponca and New Castle.
Among the most noted settlers who came there in 1869 and since then, may be mentioned the following:
E. E. Ellis. '69. He has been a prominent farmer and was Dixon county's representative in the legislature in 1893 and 1894. His farm (280 acres) is three miles from Allen village. Wm. Ellis, came in '69.
Aaron Smith also came in the same year. Has a well im- proved farm of 240 acres near the old Springbank post office.
V. H. Herfel and his family came from Wisconsin in '69.
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
Has 240 acres, well improved, fine house, orchard, etc. Has six children.
John Herfel. brother of the above. moved here the same year, settled on 160 acres and now lives there. His family consists of a wife and seven children.
In 1870 the arrivals greatly increased. Among them were:
Joseph Isom, lives two miles south of Allen; has 420 acres, farmer and stockman.
Wm. H. Pomeroy, prominent farmer and citizen. Was supervisor of Springbank several terms and chairman of the board of supervisors in IS87 and 1888. He now resides in Allen.
Henry Allen. A part of his large farm became the town- site of Allen, which place was named after him.
Sol. Koser. J. Kellogg. Charles Kellogg. John Green and John Allen also came in 1870.
A. D. Whitford. 1871. Came from Wisconsin; lives one and one-half miles south of Allen where he has a farm of 240 acres: large family. Represented Dixon county in the legislature in 1889-90.
John F. Pomeroy. 1871. Farmer, has 240 acres. Was sheriff of Dixon county in 1884 and 1885, and was supervisor of Springbank five years and chairman of the board in 1890. '91 and '92. An excellent and popular county officer.
R. H. Pomeroy, 1871. For sketch and portrait see Ponca City.
Nelson Pomeroy. father of W. H. Pomeroy. John F. Pom- eroy and R. H. Pomeroy, located in Springbank in 1871. He died about ten years ago.
Seth Hamlin. 1872. Is a successful farmer owning 900 acres of land. He was one of the county commissioners in 1884 and 1885.
S. H. Wheeler, 1872.
S. 1. Hart, in 1877. Came from Dakota county where he had lived since 1867. Has 280 acres of choice and well cul- tivated land two and one-half miles from Allen, in which village he now resides.
James Stewart, who came in 1861 and Elijah Roberts and John Borg. are prominent residents of Springbank, and have
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
large farms. John Borg has one of the best in the county. containing 480 acres, five miles southeast of Allen.
Allen is situated on a slight elevation from which a view is had of a fine farming country, beautiful valleys and roll- ing prairie. It is on the Short Line railroad. and hence is a. good market town, being in the centre of a very rich country and one which is thickly settled by well to do citizens. Allen naturally has a large business and a continued growth.
Allen was incorporated May 16. 1893. and now contains (Jan. 1, 1896) about 300 people.
As in all localities where education and religion are con- scientionsly looked after and advanced, Allen has a fine, new. two story school house. a graded school and good teachers. The town also has two churches, viz .: Catholic and Metho- dist. and the Campbellites have an organization. All have good attendance. There are also the Masonic. I. O. of O. F .. and M. W. A. societies, each of which has a good hall and a. large membership.
Among its prominent business men is W. A. Morgan who came to Allen about three years ago from Dakota county where he was born. Since coming here, he has been actively engaged in the mercantile business, and is a member of the firm of Armour & Morgan. He has been an efficient supervisor of Springbank for '94 and '95, and under the new law relating to supervisors, was in the fall of '95 elected to represent Spring- bank and Galena on the board of Supervisors for two years longer. With the other members of '95, his portrait is seen on another page of this book.
Another of Allen's prominent young business men is H. H. Hart, whose popularity with the citizens last fall elected him sheriff of the county. Mr. Hart was born in Richland. Keo- kuk county, lowa. April IS. 1867. and came to Dakota county with his parents the same year. and to Springbank, Dixon county, in 1876. Was married. November 24. 1857, to Nellie Isom, who was born in Dane county, Wis., and came with her parents to Springbank. Mr. and Mrs. Hart have one child. A portrait of the group is in this chapter.
Wilson Brothers and Wm. Filley also have large stores and good stocks of goods.
W. L. Mote is the popular and gentlemanly cashier of the Allen State Bank.
MR. AND MRS. H. H. HART AND CHILD. (See page 244. )
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
The two hardware stores are those of Tripp & Company and C. A. Coffin, the latter being also postmaster.
The Edwards & Bradford Lumber Company and Snyder & Company. have each large lumber yards in town.
One good newspaper, the Allen News, has been estab- lished several years.
J. K. Lennox has a real estate office. J. F. Hall deals in farm machinery, Jack Cavanagh has a livery stable. Mrs. Put- nam keeps a good hotel, and C. A. Thompson and H. H. Hart buy grain.
Allen's physicians are Dr. Wanzer and Dr. Puffet. Such is a brief outline of a few of the leading kinds of business in Allen.
In Allen resides Henry Allen the founder of the town. S. 1. Hart. Bernard Cavanagh, one of the first settlers of the county, and many other worthy and respected citizens.
In addition, Allen has a good railroad depot and telegraph office. freight office. warehouses, etc. A number of trades and kinds of business not above referred to are well repre- sented in town.
EMERSON TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE.
The village of Emerson is situated in the extreme south- eastern part of the county, on the Chicago, St. Paul. Min- neapolis & Omaha railroad, with a population of about S00. The Winnebago reservation, Thurston county. borders it on the sonth. and the county line between Dixon and Dakota counties is its Main street north and south. It was estab- lished in 1881 and is the junction of the Chicago. St. Panl. Minneapolis & Omaha railroad and its Norfolk branch. The first building erected was the depot. followed by three sec- tion houses. Boyle brothers built the fifth building where they kept a store, and Wm. Warnock built the sixth, which was the first dwelling house there.
In 1883 R. E. Kuhn platted the original town site and commenced the erection of a bank. which was completed in 1884, since which time additions have been made by D. W. Mathews, Atlee Hart. W. Warnock. Emerson Mill & Im- provement Company. James Monier and others. The first lumber yard was started by J. J. McCarthy and M. L, Ros- siter, which is now known as the Edwards & Bradford
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
Lumber Company. A man by the name of Dean opened a real estate office at the same time, and afterwards removed to Sioux City, la. Two general stores were then opened. one by O. B. Morey and one by Paul & Flint. Flint dying soon after. the business was conducted by Paul.
Among the first residents who located upon the prairie and hills and founded the town of Emerson were Wm. Warnock. P. H. Boyle, H. S. Boyle. Patrick Bannan, W. S. Lippold. John Engelen. M. Pruden. M. L. Rossiter, J. J. McCarthy, D. W. Parmalee, R. E. Kuhn, C. A. Johnson and Nelson Feauto. There are a few of the old homesteaders left on the homesteads in Emerson township yet: among them are Enos Demme. P. Kerwin, T. J. Beith, Wm. O'Neill, Sr., Wm. Kerwin. J. A. Mandaville and Wm. O'Neill, Jr.
The Echo was the first newspaper venture in the town. established in the spring of '83 by Nelson Feauto who was succeeded by Joshua Leonard. July 21. 'S5. Mr. Leonard changed the name of the paper to the Emerson Era and con- ducted it until '92, when it expired. In a few weeks thereafter Harry S. Swanson and Chas. S. Packard started the Emerson Enterprise, and the paper was sold to Frank Bancroft, who in December of the same year sold to H. W. Conley, he selling to S. E. Cobb, June 2. '93. The Emerson Times was established March 25. '93. with A. L. Moore as editor, but two weeks of journalistic life was enough for him. and the paper was sold to Z. M. Baird. he selling to E. E. Smith in March, '95, who is its present editor.
There are three good church buildings in the town. The Presbyterian. L. W. Scudder, pastor: St. Paul Lutheran, J. Bohnstengle. pastor: Catholic, J. Barry, pastor. The Presbyterians and Catholics have erected parsonages for their pastors. In '85 the school district was bonded for $5.000 and a large, fine school building was erected which is a credit to the district.
The first secret society organized in the town was the Grand Army of the Republic. which established C. R. Weaver Post 185 on April 19. '94: J. F. Warner, then commander of the post at Dakota City, being installing officer. Among the charter members were William Warnock. B. F. Goodwin, John Bennett. I. M. Shockley, N. Feauto. J. Dixon, Charles Boyle. E. Barber and John Ward. The Masons organized
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
here Jan. 25, '93. with M. H. Evans, W. M., and J. W. Fisher, secretary.
In November, '92. a meeting was held in the town at which time the Emerson Mill & Improvement Company was organized, and the following spring. work was com- menced on the Emerson Roller Mills, which were completed Jan. 1. '94. The mill completed cost $15,000; has a capacity of 100 barrels per day and bin room for 10,000 bushels of wheat. The officers of the company are G. Y. Bonus, presi- dent: R. L. Currie, vice president: P. G. Fancher. secretary and treasurer.
Emerson has four general stores; Davis & Fuller, Kuntz & McCarthy. E. H. Monroe & Co .. and the "Fair" with J. K. Lenox, proprietor; two hardware stores, Painter & Isenberg, and Krattle & Brustkern: two drug stores. John Connor and H. O. Armour & Co .: laundry. D. Beck. proprietor; two boot and shoe repair shops. Aug. Yenger and A. Assenan: one furniture store. Parmalee Bros .: two banks. Farmers State Bank. Geo. H. Haase, president, Fred Bloom, vice president. C. C. King cashier, German American Bank, J. J. McCarthy, president. Wm. Warnock. vice president. H. F. Moseman. cashier: two physicians, M. H. Evans and W. A. Lee; three attorneys. W. A. Martin. Paul Bergin and Joshua Leonard; two saloons. O. E. Danielson and McCoy & Hamm: meat market. Ang. Paul: two blacksmith shops. J. C. Winters and Doyle & Wellington: two lumber yards. Edwards & Brad- ford. Wm. Crahan, manager, and Jansen & Wiseman: two livery barns, Mark Engelen and Robt. Poole: contractors and builders. Jansen Bros .. I. A. Omsted. Chas. Anderson, John Schaub; grain, flour and feed, L. F. Demers; two ele- vators. L. F. Demers and F. H. Peavey & Co., J. H. Ritchie, manager: school. T. E. Stevens, principal: S. E. Cobb, Myrtle Foget. Lulu Neihart, teachers: real estate. Wm. Warnock, Joshua Leonard and Boyle Bros .: dress making and millin- ery. Mrs. O. H. Lowe, Mrs. I. F. Squires and Miss Anna Clark: station agent. F. O. Paulger: operators, F. J. Hayden and F. B. Smith: live stock. Kellogg. Jensen & Schopke. Davis & Fuller: brick and tile works. M. A. Mines: creamery, Wm. Warnock: hotels. B. J. McDonald, Frank Jones, Mrs. Fligg, Enoch Beals: mail carrier, Chas. Varvais; postmaster, P. Kerwin: loan and insurance, notary public and justice of
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
the peace. W. Warnock: wagon shop. windmills and pumps, A. N. Carlile; harness shop, W. Metz: confectioners, John Estaque and Frank Jones: barbers, H. Parmalee, Jack But- ler. Geo. MePherron: masons, Englen & McCallough: village board. H. F. Moseman. chairman: Jacob Jensen. Louis Swartz. L. F. Demers. A. A. Davis, trustees: H. Parmalee. clerk: C. C. King, treasurer: W. A. Martin, attorney: R. A. Poole. marshal.
We have been unable to obtain the particulars concern- ing the residents of Emerson township outside the village. except in a very few instances. Among them is J. I. Brown who has lived in the township about nineteen years, and has 200 acres nicely located and improved.
Patrick Kerwin has also been a farmer and land owner there for years before the village was started. He has been and is now a leading citizen of the township and is well known and well liked throughout the county. Aside from farming he has had other business enterprises, in all which he has had success. He is now the postmaster there. To Mr. Kerwin we are greatly indebted for valuable assistance in collecting facts in relation to Emerson village.
Another popular and influential citizen of Emerson is Wm. Sweeney, who has been the supervisor for that town- ship during '92, '93. '94 and / 95. His portrait is seen with the other members of the board for that year.
Wm. Warnock who from the foregoing is seen to be one of Emerson's most enterprising citizens, came there in 1881 and served as postmaster ten years, giving entire satis- faction to the citizens.
Emerson has many other worthy citizens in the township and village, than those we have mentioned. Outside the town is a fine region of country. good farms and farmers. and the buildings and improvements show unmistakable prosperity. In the town there are many fine residences and business honses.
Being an important railroad point, Emerson, has an assured future growth. The time is not far distant when its business and population will be at least double what it now has.
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
CHAPTER XIX.
LOGAN, WAKEFIELD AND CONCORD TOWNSHIPS.
LOGAN TOWNSHIP
Is west of and adjoins Wakefield, and is bounded on the south and west by Wayne county and on the north by Con- cord township. It is a superior farming country. The land is rolling, the soil rich and water is plenty. The North and South Logan rivers pass through the township.
As in Wakefield and the other townships in the southern part of the county the soil is especially adapted to the growth of sugar beets. Fifteen tons to the acre is about the average crop.
Logan has no timber, except the numerous groves planted in the past twenty years, some of which are very large. The township has no village, and the market places are either at Wayne or Wakefield. Logan also has no post office. It had one established in an early day. Park Hill post office, so named after William Park, the postmaster. It was discon- tinued about January 1, '82.
Logan has 750 inhabitants, six school houses and one church, German Lutheran. A large proportion of the resi- dents of the town are Swedes and Germans. They are an enterprising and reliable class of citizens, and as a general rule are prosperous and successful farmers.
George Fenton, who came with his family in the fall of '69, was the first settler. He and his wife now live in Wakefield. His old homestead in Logan. a well improved farm of 240 acres, he still retains.
A. F. Hinds. '70. and Pitt M. Hinds, '72. and their families; each had a good farm of 160 acres. A. F. Hinds sold out and moved away a few years ago, and now lives in Tennessee.
Pitt M. Hinds died in '94. His wife died in '72. Hers was the first death known to be natural in that part of the county.
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
Irvin Packer, one of Logan's settlers in '71, now lives in Minnesota.
G. W. Packer, who also came in '71, still resides in that township, and has a valuable 160 acre farm.
William Park, '72, lived in the township until '93, when he removed to Wakefield, where he now resides. He still retains his old farm of half a section in Logan.
T. J. Postlewait came in '73, and has been engaged in farming and stock growing.
Thomas Graham came to Logan in '74 or '75. He is now temporarily in California. Owns a farm of 160 acres in the township.
Frank A. Hypse came to Logan in '82, from Ford county, Ill., and has a farm of 160 acres, improved, with orchard. grove, etc. His family consists of himself, wife and five children. For several years Mr. Hypse has ably served Logan township as supervisor, his term ending in October, '95. when the board of supervisors was reorganized under the new law. His portrait is seen with those of the other mem- bers of the board on another page.
J. W. Hypse located in Logan in 'S3, has a large family and is a successful farmer. Was supervisor of the town for three years.
Frank Ruyter, an old settler, was county commissioner and supervisor several terms.
Gustus Johnson, from Ford county, Ill .. in 'S2. The first Swede to locate in Logan. Has a 400 acre farm and good improvements and buildings. Has seven sons and daughters, all grown up.
Chris. Wischhof, '84. farmer, has 220 acres. Prominent in township affairs and a reliable citizen.
Henry Lessman, '84, farmer, 160 acres, improved. stands high in the township.
The following are a few of the other farmers in town. Their farms are generally large and in fine condition as to buildings, groves, orchards, etc. The date of arrival, and the amount of land follow the names.
Andrew Beckstrom, '82. 160 acres: C. J. Swanson. '83, 320 acres: C. J. Frederickson, '84. 160 acres: Henry Meyer, 'S4. large farm: Henry Henrich, '84, large farm: Wm. Henrich, '84, large farm: Henry Rober. '84. large farm: Wm. Wilmer
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C. T. BARTO, 25 years ago. (See page 255.)
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MRS. C. T. BARTO, 25 years ago. ( See page 255.)
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
'84, large farm; Wm. Lillie, '84, large farm; Flage, 'S4, about 400 acres: Ellis Ellison, '86. large farm: Olof Elliason, '87, 320 acres; S. M. Anderson 'S5. 160 acres; J. A. Johnson, large farm.
WAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP.
Is bounded on the north by Springbank, east by Emer- son, south by Wayne county and west by Logan. The justly celebrated Logan river. and valley from two to three miles wide, passes through the southwestern part of the township, furnishing the excellent water power facilities which have been utilized by the flouring mills at Wakefield village.
One of the first settlers in this part of the county was C. T. Barto, whose frontier experiences here form an interest- ing part of the history of Wakefield. C. T. Barto was born in Bradford county. Penn., February Sth, 1837. His father. N. H. Barto, who was born at Bainbridge. N. Y .. 1812, and still living, removed to Chemung county. N. Y .. near Elmira in 1843. C. T. Barto married Estella Cooley, January Brd. 1861, and removed to Illinois in April, 1861. There they rented a farm in DeKalb county, which they after- wards bought. In IS68 they sold their farm and started on their pilgrimage west and located in what is now Wakefield township on May 3rd, 1869. At that time the nearest settler on the road to Sioux City was Boedkey. twelve miles east of Wakefield, and the next Jesse Wigle, twenty-one miles east of Barto's place on Wigle creek. two miles south of the present town of Homer. South there was no settlement short of the Elkhorn river. West, no settlement short of Norfolk. at that time called Yellowbanks. The nearest post- office was twenty-four miles east in Dakota county and Major C. H. Potter was postmaster, and there also was located the nearest flouring mill run by a man named David and now operated by Sam Coombs. North there was prac- tically no settlement nearer than South Creek, the Pome- roys settling in Springbank in '70 or '71. and the Herfels and George O. Lampher about the same time.
At that time Sioux City was the only market and over that forty miles Mr. Barto had to do all his hauling until 'S2. In the winter of '73. he spent sixty days on the road between his place and Sioux City, and carried his own hotel right
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HISTORY OF DIXON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.
with him, and this was one of the coldest winters he has ex- perienced since he has been in the state. For fuel he used wood which he brought from the Missouri river on his return trips. He would haul to market grain or hogs and bring back wood which he ent himself. Had he not come from a. long lived race and hard to kill, these privations would have eut short his early career.
Mrs. Barto was born May 5th. 45. also in Bradford county, Penn. Her parents removed to Chemung county. N. Y .. in '55. Her mother. Mrs. Elizabeth Cooley. died at Mr. Barto's place in January. '95, aged eighty-two years.
Mrs. Barto is well preserved, hale and hearty and prom- ises to reach as good an old age as her predecessors in the family line.
The portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Barto. taken on their road to this country twenty-six years ago, will be seen on another page. Mr. Barto's long hair as seen in the picture. used to be greatly admired by the Indians, and to prevent their stealing it, 'and perhaps his scalp at the same time). he had to cut it off. Mr. and Mrs. Barto have had seventeen child- ren. of whom fifteen are living. They have a beautiful farm of 560 acres, all under cultivation or in use. groves, orchards. ete. Mr. Barto is a prominent citizen and much esteemed in the county. He was county treasurer for four years and has been and is now a leading member of the board of super- visors. With Mr. Barto. when he came, was C. I. Blake, also from Illinois.
In the fall of '69 George Fenton and family came and A. F. Hinds and family the following year. G. W. and Irving Packer and Pitt M. Hinds and family came in 1871. William Park in 1872 and T. J. Postlewaite in 1873. Of these. Mr. Blake settled near Mr. Barto, and the others located in what is now known as Logan township.
Mr. Blake now occupies the same place he located on in 1869. He has eighty acres and is a good farmer. 'His family consists of self, wife and several children.
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