USA > Nebraska > Dodge County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume I > Part 21
USA > Nebraska > Washington County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume I > Part 21
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It became known that Midland College, of Atchison, Kansas, the principal educational institution of the United Lutheran Church in America, was considering removing to some locality which would be more central to its constituency and therefore more able to serve its membership both in furnishing a college for the education of young men and women along scholastic and religious lines, but also to educate and train young men for the ministry.
Acting upon this information, some of the leading citizens of Fremont began a correspondence with the authorities of Midland. Having met with some encouragement in the matter, a committee visited Atchison for a personal consultation with the authorities of Midland. After due consideration by both parties and the exchange of visits of committees to Atchison and Fremont, it was finally decided by the board of directors of Midland College to accept the very generous offer made by Fremont to remove Midland College from Atchison and take over Fremont College, merging both institutions under the name of Midland College and Western Theological Seminary.
The final arrangements were completed on July 29, 1919, and the new management assumed control on August 15, 1919.
The formal opening of the new Midland College took place on September 10, 1919, under highly gratifying circumstances. This was a memorable day in the history of the two schools. A great gathering of former students and friends of both the old schools were present, together with many men and women notable in education and church affairs. The principal speakers upon this occasion were President Stauf- fer, Dr. O. D. Baltzly of Omaha, Hon. S. R. McKelvie, governor of Nebraska, several leading citizens of Fremont and others high in educa- tional and church circles. Many students of the former Fremont College, . together with several members of the faculty, merged into the new col- lege with the happy belief that a great educational institution had been opened at Fremont, capable of doing a work both in popular education and in religious training, which will make it one of the notable educa- tional institutions of the country.
Under the wise supervision and guidance of its worthy president, Dr. Ezra E. Stauffer, the wisdom of the board of directors and the hearty co-operation of the citizens of Fremont and all friends of Christian
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DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
education, the upbuilding and permanent success of Midland College is assured.
The school is steadily growing in reputation and popularity. It maintains a faculty of thirty-one members, all departments are strong and well equipped for meeting all calls for service within the scope of its curriculum.
CHAPTER XVII
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
DODGE COUNTY POSTOFFICES-MARKET PRICES-PAST AND PRESENT- POPULATION OF COUNTY-ORIGINAL VILLAGE PLATS-EARLY MAR- RIAGES - GRASSHOPPER PLAGUE- ELKHORN FLOOD OF 1873 - OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION-DAYS OF MOURNING-PRESIDENT GARFIELD'S DEATH - PRESIDENT GRANT'S DEATH - PRESIDENT MCKINLEY'S DEATH-HYMN TO NEBRASKA BY REV. W. H. BUSS.
POSTOFFICES IN COUNTY
Dodge County postoffices in 1893 were listed as follows: Fremont, North Bend, Scribner (Cuming Township) ; Hooper, Nickerson, Snyder, Dodge, Swaburgh (Logan Township) ; Jamestown (Platte Township) ; Mapleville (Cotterell Township) ; Ridgeley, Webster (Ridgeley Town- ship) ; Pleasant Valley, Bang (Maple Township) ; Maple Creek (Cot- terell Township) ; Everett, Ames (Platte Township) ; Purple Cane, (Union Township) ; Glencoe (Webster Township); Crowell (Pebble Township).
The adopting of the rural mail delivery by free carriers has mate- rially changed the postal affairs of this as well as other counties.
The present (1920) postoffices in Dodge County are as follows :
Ames, Crowell, Dodge, Fremont, Hooper, Nickerson, North Bend, Scribner, Snyder, Uehling, Winslow.
MARKET PRICES-PAST AND PRESENT
The local history of no county or state would be considered complete without it contained the ruling market quotations at various periods in the history of such a locality. The following paragraphs will show the prices that obtained at Fremont in 1869 and in 1892, as published from time to time in the Fremont Tribune, and were furnished that paper by local dealers : will also show the present (1920) prevailing prices which should be considered as "just after the great World war":
1869
1892
1920
Best white sugar, per lb.
$
0.20
$0.04@$0.05
$0.25@$0.30
Best green tea, per lb.
1.50
.70
1.00
Common coffee, per lb.
.40
.20
.50
Kerosene oil, per gal.
.40
.15
.22
Nails (cut), per lb
.10
(cut)
.03
(wire)
.07
Stovepipe, per joint
.30
.15
.30
Domestics, per yard (common)
.18
.08
.45
Prints, per yard (best)
.11
.06
,32
Seamless grain sacks, each
.50
.23
.90
Wheat, per bu.
.70
.50
2.89
Corn, per bu ..
.50
.30
1.67
Salt meats, per lb.
.23
.10
.42
Farm wagons, each
100.00
60.00
125.00
Harvesters, each
225.00
160.00
300.00
Sewing machines, each
85.00
45.00
80.00
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DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Live stock, produce, shoes and clothing-from cotton or wool-have gone very high since 1917 when America united with the allies in the war against the German states. At present summer of 1920, two years after the end of the war, these prices obtain, generally in the Middle West : Hogs, $16; cattle, $13.25; draft horses, $250 each; gasoline, 28c; eggs, per dozen, fresh, 35c; creamery butter, 72c per pound; men's suits, $30 to $75; men's shoes, $5 to $15; ladies' shoes, about the same. It is not now believed that present prevailing prices on many of these articles will soon, if indeed ever, go much lower. Especially produce here named.
From a history of the Elkhorn Valley published in 1892 the subject of prices was then handled after this fashion, and may well be applied to the present generation :
"The pioneer who with failing eyesight and who may chance to read this item will recall other days, early scenes. He will let memory assert itself and go back to from 1856 to 1866. He will remember how glad his family were to get wheat bread, New Orleans molasses, the old-time wet brown sugar, the tallow candle, in place of kerosene oil-that was undis- covered until 1861. Then again as he reflects there comes to his mind those dark and trying days of the Civil war when 'substitutes' were used at home as well as sent to the field. There was barley, carrot, pea and parched bran all of which the family used as substitute for coffee while various leaves including those from the red-root were used as the substi- tute for tea. Indeed the present generation ought to rejoice and be glad that they live in a land of peace and plenty and are not subject to such great hardships as were experienced by those who first came here to make for themselves a home."
POPULATION OF DODGE COUNTY
At various periods the population of Dodge County has been as follows :
In 1844 it had. 106 In 1854 it had. 139
In 1856 it had. 313 In 1860 it had 309
In 1870 it had. 4,212 In 1880 it had 11,191
In 1890 it had. 19,260
According to the census reports in 1870 the population was divided as to nationality thus : American-born, 2,556, and foreign-born, 1,656.
Thirty years ago, or in 1890, the United States census reports gave the following concerning the population of the cities, villages and townships of Dodge County :
Fremont (city)
6,741 North Bend (town) 897
Dodge (village) 338
Scribner (village) 664
Hooper (village)
670
TOWNSHIPS
Cotterell
701 Pebble 871
Cuming
715
Pleasant Valley 815
Elkhorn
412
Platte 741
Everett
680
Ridgeley 807
Hooper
569
Union 660
Logan
673
Webster
889
Maple
778
Nickerson
633 Total of county 19,254
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DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
POPULATION 1900-1910
.As given in the official census reports of the United States for the census periods of 1900 and 1910 the figures are these :
1900
1910
Cotterell Township
1,194
831
Cuming Township, including Scribner (village)
. 1,514
1,488
Scribner (village)
891
827
Elkhorn Township
513
442
Everett Township
612
546
Fremont City
7,241
8,781
Hooper Township, Including Hooper and Winslow
(villages)
1,439
1,496
Hooper (village)
840
741
Winslow (village)
99
Logan Township, including Uehling (village).
621
857
Uehling (village)
1,409
606
Nickerson Township
717
637
North Bend (city)
1,010
1,105
Pebble Township, including Snyder.
973
990
Snyder (village)
229
314
Platte Township
1,358
1,134
Pleasant Valley Township
734
646
Ridgeley Township
847
675
Union Township
723
632
Webster Township, including Village of Dodge.
1,393
1,342
Dodge (village)
554
661
The 1920 census is not yet reported.
ORIGINAL VILLAGE PLATS
The original village plattings in Dodge County, according to the plat- book records at the courthouse, are as follows :
FREMONT was originally platted in the summer of 1856 and filed for record January 6, 1857, by the Fremont Town Lot Company, James G. Smith acting for such company. The Government had not as yet sur- veyed the land in this vicinity at that date, hence in platting the surveyor described the location as being so many rods and chains, from the guide-line, or to a point to the south which had been surveyed. The Military Road which runs east and west through the city was not sur- veyed true, and the original platting of Fremont conformed to that, consequently the streets and alleys of the present city are not square with the compass by a few degrees. As now surveyed and described, the city stands on sections 22 and 23, township 17, range 8, east of the sixth principal meridian.
HOOPER was platted by John I. Blair, February 15, 1871. It is located on the east half of section 17, and the northeast quarter of section 20, township 19, range 8.
NORTH BEND was platted October 12, 1867, by S. S. Caldwell, M. S. Cotterell and the Union Pacific Railroad Company in sections 6 and 7, of township 17, range 6.
SCRIBNER was platted December 6, 1870, by John I. Blair, on the north half of section 31, township 20, range 7.
PEBBLE was platted September 19, 1870, by J. B. and H. J. Robinson and their wives. It is located in section 36, township 20, range 6.
228
Maple Township
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DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
DODGE was platted August 10, 1886, by the Western Town Lot Com- pany, in the west half of section 8, township 20, range 5.
SNYDER was platted August 5, 1886, by the Western Town Lot Com- pany in the southwest quarter of section 18, township 20, range 6.
NICKERSON was platted by John I. Blair, January 13, 1871, on the northeast quarter of section 13, township 18, range 8.
CROWELL was platted or filed for record, December 22, 1883, by the Elkhorn Land and Town Lot Company. It was surveyed and located in the southwest quarter of section 2, and the north half of section 11, township 20, range 6.
UEHLING was platted December 6, 1895, by Theodore Uehling and Frank B. Hutchens, in section 3, township 20, range 9, east.
WINSLOW was platted by the Sioux City and Ashland Development Company, in section 22, township 19, range 8, east, December 1, 1895.
AMES was platted (second time) December 18, 1913, by N. J. John- son and Albert D. Graham and wife. Location, section 9, township 23.
EARLY MARRIAGES
The earliest marriages in Dodge County included the following list : William N. Whittier and Miss Emma Strickland, both of Fontanelle, were granted licenses to be married by Judge S. I. Frances, Octo- ber 6, 1856.
J. W. Pattison and Miss Henrietta Rednour, October 30, 1856, both of Fontanelle.
F. W. Fox and Harriet Whittier, November 30, 1856.
William Mosepage and Minna Dittmar, November 13, 1856.
Harlow J. Carpenter and Ellen G. Griffin, March 9, 1857, were united in marriage by Rev. Elder M. M. Hann.
Seth A. Holton and Miss Elizabeth Roe, both of Fontanelle, obtained license of Probate Judge Samuel Strickland, and were married by Reuben Gaylord, a minister of the Gospel.
Henry Brinkman and Hannah Stork were married November 7, 1857, by Rev. Thomas Waller.
Theodore F. Keep, of Fontanelle, and Miss Caroline Davis, January 4, 1858.
Abram I. Warner and Miss Lucinda Whitford, before Judge Strick- land, October 23, 1858.
Luther Wilson and Eliza W. Turner, by Rev. Isaac E. Heaton, August 23, 1858.
Timothy L. Felton and Miss Mary Bogan, before Samuel Strick- land, probate judge, September 20, 1858.
Jerome Spillman and Estabella C. Hancock, May 14, 1859.
George Hindey and Miss Rachel Denslow, united by Rev. J. M. Taggart, May 17, 1859.
William E. Larkin and Rebecca Ann Keeler, by Rev. Isaac E. Heaton, July 16, 1859.
John W. Waterman and Elizabeth R. Graham, July 27, 1859.
George Young and Miss Elizabeth Stoss, July 23, 1859, by Rev. Isaac E. Heaton.
THE GRASSHOPPER PLAGUE
The years between 1873 and 1878 were dark, hard years for the settlers in Nebraska and Western Iowa, on account of the grasshoppers, which came down in vast armies, even like the stars of heaven or sands
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DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
on the sea-shore, innumerable. They destroyed all kinds of vegetation. This occurred not alone one season, but for four or more in succession. No one but he who has gone through a like experience can begin to know the feelings of the husbandmen whose crops bid fair to yield a bounti- ful harvest, and then within three days have all in ruins. There were debts to meet, the good wife and children to care for and clothe during a long, cold winter and no bank account to draw on. Indeed those were days that tried men's souls.
A citizen writing to an eastern friend said: "This summer (1874) is the hottest I ever experienced. For three weeks the thermometer registered from 90 to 106 degrees. A strong south wind has been con- stantly blowing. It has hurt our wheat badly-part of my own is burned up-Saturday, August 11, grasshoppers began to drop down. They are now in seven counties and more to hear from. When they first came, man or beast could not travel. The air was filled with them and it gave the appearance of a great snow storm with a heavy wind; they covered everything on the ground, buildings, fences and all. Such a sight I never wish to behold again. Turkeys and chickens had no use for them and retired in seeming disgust. Think of them commencing at ten in the morning and constantly coming until night- fall. Just above me is a side track on the railway line and in the after- noon they wanted to switch some cars but were foiled in the attempt as the grasshoppers covered the ties and rails in such masses that they caused the wheels to slip instead of roll on the rails. This is no fancy picture but can be vouched for and proven.
"You can't kill the infernal cusses. I took two and held them under water ten minutes and when I released them they were spry as ever. These I send in my letter I pinched the heads off of as you can see. You can't kill them by stepping on them. I hope these will have a good time on their way to New York and may they die on the journey for I assure you they are not dead yet! One I pinched Sabbath last and I see he still kicks defiantly! I also send you the tail of a rattle snake and if you like them I will send you a whole one in my next letter."
In 1875 the farmers had been so badly eaten out by the grass- hoppers that they could not procure seed grain. They had paid, a number of years, as high as sixty per cent interest on money to pur- chase seed with. That extortion was bad as the "hoppergrass" was himself and yet of selfish human origin. Hon. George W. E. Dorsey, later Congressman, came to the front and advertised to lend needy farmers money in all amounting to five thousand dollars, at 10 per cent which at that date in Nebraska was but half value of general interest.
ELKHORN RIVER FLOOD OF 1873
There had been no record of higher water in the Elkhorn River than was seen in the flood of 1873. It was in the month of June, when the water spread from bluff to bluff. Large quantities of stock and buildings were floated off down stream many miles from where they had been erected or kept. Growing crops were materially injured and many of the settlers had to seek refuge in second stories of houses. No damages were sustained by bridges in Dodge County but in Cuming the loss was great.
Sunday, June 8, 1873, a Union Pacific express train from Omaha while crossing the Elkhorn bridge met with an accident. The tender,
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DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
engine and a car load of living fish in transit west, fell through the approach to the bridge caused by the washout. The engineer and firemen escaped but road master Carey was drowned.
OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCIATIONS
To a true and intelligent pioneer there are few if any gatherings of more real interest than that of old settlers' reunions. Every county has at one date or another organized such societies, but alas how few keep them up from year to year, continuously.
In 1889 such a society or association was organized in Dodge County and its first meeting was held at North Bend, July 4, that year. Fully five thousand persons were in attendance. The acting presi- dent was George Young, a pioneer of pioneers. He stated that the first Fourth of July celebration in this county was celebrated in 1856 by the little colony who had arrived from the East on that very morning in their "prairie schooners" and celebrated the day by the side of their wagons, without flag or fire-crackers.
The regular set speech of the first old settlers' reunion above mentioned in 1889 was made by a Methodist preacher named Brooks. H. P. Beebe also gave a graphic description of his experiences during the winter of 1856-57.
A most excellent glee club was composed of the following : Mrs. Lee, Mrs. Doubrave, Mr. and Mrs. Dowling, Mr. Flater, Elmer Davis, Doctor Brown, Miss Gertie Rice, with Mrs. C. O. Armstead as organist rendering "Oh, Hail ye Free."
J. H. Graham and Robert Kittle as well as M. S. Cotterell gave addresses causing merry shouts and others brought many a tear to the cheek.
The first officers of this Old Settlers' Association were these: W. H. Ely, president ; George Young, first vice president ; J. H. Peters, second vice president; J. B. Robinson, third vice president ; Eli Hager, fourth vice president ; Robert Kittle, secretary; L. J. Abbott, recorder ; Henry P. Beebe, treasurer; Chaplain, Rev. Isaac E. Heaton.
The following was one of the important articles in their constitu- tion (No. 3). "Residence prior to February 1, 1867, or for twenty- five consecutive years in Dodge County, the payment of fifty cents to the association and subscribing to this Constitution shall constitute any person, their wives, husbands and descendants, members of this association."
Among other meetings of this association may be recalled the ones held at the park in Fremont in June, 1890; also one held in 1891 at the Village of Hooper. Since these annual re-unions the association has not prospered, in fact has entirely gone down and it is to be regretted.
THE NEBRASKA PRIZE HYMN
Composed by a Dodge County author for the semi-centennial of the State, in competition with volunteer writers throughout the State.
Now sing NEBRASKA through the years; Extol her stalwart pioneers ; The days, when staunch and unafraid, The State's foundations well they laid, To long endure :
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DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Yea, sing the proud Tree-planter State, Nebraska, free, enlightened, great! Her royal place she has in Song; To her the noblest strains belong, Her fame is sure!
The land where Coronado trod, And brave Marquette surveyed the sod; Where red men long in council sat, Where spreads the valley of the Platte Surpassed by none ; The land, beside whose borders sweep The big Missouri's water deep-
Whose course erratic, through its sands, From Northland on, through many lands Does sea-ward run.
The foothills of the Rockies lie Afar athwart her western sky; And rolling prairies, like the sea, Held long in virgin sanctity Her fertile loam. Her wild-life roamed o'er treeless plains Till came the toiling wagon-trains,
And settlers bold, far westward bound, In broad Nebraska's valleys found Their chosen home.
Her heaving bluffs uplift their heads Along her winding river-beds, And, pleasing far the traveler's view, Well guard her Elkhorn, and her Blue, Encrowned with wood. And there, by landmark, ne'er to fail, Upon her ancient westward trail; Or graven stone, securely placed, By eyes observant may be traced Where wigwams stood.
Her honored cities grow in wealth, In thriving commerce, public health; Her first: "The Gateway of the West:" Her Omaha that will not rest, Or take defeat. Her Capital of worthy fame That bears the mighty Lincoln's name, And summons to her Fount of Truth Her thousands of Nebraska youth At Learning's Seat.
Far o'er her realm, and 'neath her sky Her golden harvests richly lie. Her corn more vast than Egypt yields; Her grain unmatched in other fields; Her flocks and herds ;
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DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Her fields alfalfan; winding streams ; Her sunsets thrilling poets' dreams- These all we sing, and know that Time Has never sung a fairer clime, In mortal words.
O proud Nebraska, brave and free- Thus sing thy populace to thee ; Thy virile strength; thy love of light ; Thy civic glory joined with right ; Our hearts elate. Thy manly wisdom, firm to rule, Thy womanhood in church and school;
Thy learning, culture, art, and peace,
To make thee strong, and ne'er shall cease To keep thee great!
DAYS OF MOURNING IN THE COUNTY
Upon the sad occasion of the death of Presidents Lincoln, Garfield, Grant and Mckinley, at various places in Dodge County, appropriate memorial services were held. To show the spirit of sorrow that was manifested throughout the county it is well to note some of the partic- ulars concerning such memorial services held in the county seat- Fremont :
DEATH OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN
In April, 1865, upon the news of President Lincoln's assassination the citizens of Fremont (then a mere hamlet) gathered in a memorial service at the old Congregational Church. Reverend Heaton was then pastor and probably delivered the address. There is perhaps only one person living in Fremont at this time who was present on that mourn- ful day. From such an one it is learned that some returned soldiers were present in uniforms and "stacked" their guns inside the church during services. A gloom settled over the little county seat town over this event.
DEATH OF PRESIDENT GARFIELD
Sixteen years after Lincoln's assassination, the people of the City of Fremont were assembled in memorial services over the lamented President James A. Garfield, who fell at the hands of an assassin July 2, 1881, and died, September 19, the same year. These sad services were held in the old Crosby Opera House on Fifth near Main Street. It was filled to overflowing. The designs and general decorations were of the most befitting character. Capt. James Murray (then county judge) and county school superintendent H. G. Wolcott were chief speakers. One represented the democratic party while the other repre- sented the republican party. They were both old Civil war veterans. The usual music was provided for the mournful occasion and the Grand Army appeared in a body.
In each of these memorial services the citizens of Fremont and sur- rounding country manifested much grief and hoped that they would never be called upon to go through another like sorrow, but alas, not so! Mckinley was slain just twenty years later. But chronologically the passing of General Grant should first be mentioned.
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DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
DEATH OF PRESIDENT U. S. GRANT
While the people of the larger cities all over the country were in deep mourning over the death of the great soldier-statesman, Fremont people were more than willing to join in appropriate union services. These services were held in the city park (the time being the month of August, 1885) at 2 o'clock P. M. Before that hour arrived the fire and church bells of the city began tolling and with other evidences of mourning on all sides, it was plain that the hearts of the people of Fremont were heavy with grief.
McPherson Post Grand Army of the Republic and Company "E" Fremont National Guards, the latter headed by the cornet band, inarched to the park in uniform. More than one thousand people were assembled on, and near the speakers' stand and others stood beneath the cooling shade of the trees. Indeed it was an impressive sight. The stand with its somber drapings and the flag waving in graceful folds above, with wreathes, and crosses and harps of beautiful flowers, all bespoke of the love the citizens of the community bore for the dead hero of many Civil war battles. Peering through the trees, a dark cloud mantle was seen across the sky, while the cool breeze stirred the leaves as they breathed a sad requiem for the great soldier whose body was at that very hour being lowered to the silent tomb by the far distant sea.
The program of this memorial was replete with interest. Rev. John Hewitt was master of ceremonies. The Fremont Cornet Band opened with a solemn dirge, followed by the invocation by Rev. John G. Lange, of the Congregational Church. Then came a hymn "His Last Battle," sung by twelve male voices. Prayer was offered by Reverend Blose of the Presbyterian Church; a hymn "Weep for the Brave." The address of the day was delivered by Reverend Lawrence, who spoke tenderly in making his impressive tribute to the life and character of Gen. U. S. Grant.
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