USA > Nebraska > Dodge County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume I > Part 27
USA > Nebraska > Washington County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume I > Part 27
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THE CITY BUILDING
Fremont's "fine city building" as it was known a third of a century and more ago, was erected on the corner of Fourth and F streets and finished in 1889 at a cost of $15,000 including the lots on which it stands. In this building are the various city offices, the firemen's par- lors, fire apparatus rooms, city jail, etc. It is furnace heated throughout.
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
There had been a few attempts at providing a permanent public library for the city, but none were very successful until the great iron master,
CARNEGIE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Andrew Carnegie, offered a proposition to the city, as he did in so many hundreds of cities of this country. The business men and active citizens -- both men and women-accepted this generous offer and by the purchase of a suitable lot on Military Avenue, near the city park and agreeing to provide a certain amount annually for books, etc., the work went forward to speedy completion. The building is an ideal library home, with all that is desirable for both old and young. It costs the taxpayers of Fre- mont about $1,700 a year to support this worthy institution. From thirty to fifty newspapers are constantly on hand in the reading rooms; mag- azines galore and suitable books from the best authors of the world are to be seen on the numerous "stacks." This is one of the useful public utilities which the good citizens ever. take unalloyed pride in presenting to their visiting friends.
THE ORPHANS' HOME
In 1893 there was erected by the German Evangelical Lutheran Asso- ciation a beautiful three-story brick building on East Military Avenue which was dedicated to homeless children. It lies in the midst of a four-
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teen acre tract of land, including gardens, lawns, play-grounds, etc., for the unfortunate orphans. Pretty shade trees make the spot cool and shady in the heated summer months. Several hundred orphans have here found a comfortable Christian home and are being educated. In 1904 about $4,000 was expended on the land and buildings. A German school was established not a great distance from the home. When of the proper age and having first been fairly well educated in all the common branches, these children are given good homes outside.
This institution is employed as a home for orphans, especially of the northeastern Nebraska district of the Lutheran Church and annual picnics and reunions are held on the grounds at Fremont every summer, when hundreds come in from far and near, and several days are spent. At such times the children and the institution are visited and inspected by the authorities of the church; liberal donations are also made in aid of the home.
THE CITY'S DEVELOPMENT
Fremont has never had the name of being much of a "boom town" but ever on the up-grade. From 1868 to 1875 the following improve- ments were reported by builders for the respective years as follows: In 1868, $140,000; in 1869, $196,000; in 1870, $125,400; in 1871, $124,000; in 1872, the panic year, $42,000; in 1873, $138,000; in 1874, $108,100.
AMOUNT OF MANUFACTURING IN 1886
The sub-joined shows the volume of manufacturing done in Fremont in 1886: Flour and feed, $175,000; butter, $88,000; iron works, $50.000; clothing, $41,000; beer, $40,000; brick, $100,000; woodworks, $15,000; cigars, $10,000 ; cornice, $15,000; medicines, $10,000; gloves and mittens, $5,000; brooms, $4,000; blank books, $3,500. Total, $556,500.
"IN A NUT-SHELL" 1905
Under the above title the leading local paper of Fremont in 1905 said as follows: "Fremont has now over forty manufacturers and jobbers; factories that employ almost six hundred and fifty persons ; eighty travel- ing men representing local concerns; seventeen churches, all flourishing ; seven banking houses, to which list may be added sixteen laywers, nine public schools; two daily, one weekly and two tri-weekly newspapers; a commercial club with over two hundred members ; a normal school ; build- ing and loan institutions second to none in Nebraska and many other features of a growing modern city."
CLASSIFIED BUSINESS INTERESTS-1892
In March, 1892, Fremont published a list of its commercial interests and such list shows there were 385 different places of business, including shops, retail and wholesale stores and factories. The list is as follows: Agricultural implement dealers. . 5
Architects' offices 4
Attorneys at law 20
Boarding houses 9
Bakeries 3
Boiler works 1
Banks 6
Breweries
1
Barber shops 10
Book bindery
1
Bicycle agents 1
Boot and shoe stores. 5
Billiard halls 5 Book and stationery stores 4
Broom factories 2
Blacksmith shops 6
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Brick makers 2 Horse importing companies 2
Butter makers 2 Hotels .. 9
Canning factories 2
Harness and collar factory 1
Carpenter and builders' shops . .
2
Insurance agents . 25
Carriage makers' shops 4
Investment companies 4
Carriage painters 4
Jewelers 5
Cigar factories 4
Land companies 2
Cigar box factories. 1
Laundries 4
Cigar stores 7
Lithographers 1
Clothing stores 6
Livery stables 5
Creameries 1
Loan offices 15
Coal dealers 5
Lumber dealers 4
Confectionery dealers 12
Marble works 1
Dentists 3
Meat markets 7
Dressmakers 6
Merchant tailors 8
Druggists
4
Millinery stores 5
Dry goods stores.
5
Nurseries 4
Dye works 1
Oil companies 4
Express companies 2
Opera house
1
Feed and sale stables 3
Papers, daily 3
Feed stores 3
Papers, weekly 7
Fence works 1
Physicians 10
Florists 2
Photographers 5
Flouring mill
1
Planing mills 2
Foundry .
1
Plumbers 2
Furniture stores
4
Pork packers 2
General merchandise stores 5
Railroads 3
Gas and electric light companies. 1
Real estate dealers 16
Gent's furnishing goods. 2
Restaurants 7
Grocery stores . 14 Saloons 12
Gunsmiths' shops 2
Wholesale grocers 1
Hardware stores 6
Harness shops 4
Wholesale produce
1
Hemp and twine mills 1
MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES-PAST AND PRESENT
The immense number of factories in Fremont is due to several reasons : The city's location; easy access to the markets of the world ; its being within the great natural garden spot of the West; the class of business men at the head of affairs, each and all have had to do with the establishing of so many excellent manufacturing enterprises. Some of these factories have been operated a number of years and ceased to exist, but for the most part they are all operating today in some form or other.
The Fremont Foundry, one of Fremont's oldest big concerns, backed by pioneer men of means and brains, makes all kinds of castings and does light and heavy machine work. It was established in 1883 on a $20,000 capital, but in 1905 it had increased its working capital to over $100,000. It still does a thriving business and employs many men.
The Nye, Schneider, Fowler Company, dealers in grain and lumber, established in 1892 with a capital of $450,000, now has a capital of $2,500,000. This firm handles millions of bushels of grain annually- the largest plant in the great Missouri Valley section of the West.
Another great industry launched in 1892 was the Fremont Brewery -finest plant of its kind in all this section-its erection cost the stock-
Wholesale liquor 1
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holders (home men) $125,000. The capactiy is 30,000 barrels per year ; its malt house holds 60,000 bushels. The product of this brewery was sold over a large area of country until the state and finally the United States wisely enacted their prohibition laws by which such products are prohibited from being made or used. Since the enactment of these laws this plant has turned its attention to making a beverage non-intoxicating in its character, and are now running full capacity in this line.
The Atlantic Canning Factory of Fremont (branch of a similar one in Atlantic, Iowa) adds to the legitimate number of excellent factories. The old three-story creamery building near the railroad was remodeled at a cost of $23,000 and converted into a canning factory which is sup- plied by the raw products from more than a thousand acres. Sweet corn is the sole product now put up at this canning factory.
The Golden Rod and other large ice cream factories have come to be looked upon as among the city's best advertising agents-for their prod-
Brown Mijhr
FACTORY DISTRICT, FREMONT
ucts go out daily over a large circuit of country. Tons upon tons of "Golden Rod" and "Polar Maid" as well as "Real Ice Cream" are shipped weekly.
The Fremont fence works, three large brick kilns, cement stone indus- try, numerous sand and gravel pits and artificial ice plants, a great poul- try and produce house, immense public stock yards, all come in for their share of industrial value to the busy city.
It goes without saying that the flouring mill industry never ceases to be known far and near.
Looking over the list again comes to view the nurseries, the planing mills, the Hammond Printing Company, the Parlor Furniture and Mat- . tress Company, and dozens of lesser plants complete the factory interests.
Away back in the years gone by the city also had its miles of horse-car street railway system (before electric cars were operated) ; it also had its great harness and saddle factory, established in 1892 on a $100,000 capital by Fremont men, including its founder in fact, D. M. Welty. Over fifty men found employment in this plant and many more on the road. Almost every article cut from leather was made up here, including saddles and harness. A four-story brick factory was erected in 1892-93; also had another warehouse building as large. This industry was not well managed finally and went out of business a few years since and the build- ings are now used by the produce company, etc.
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The Hammond & Stephens Company is another large publishing and printing concern that carries on a large business and has customers for educational publications and blank books all over the country. Dan V. Stephens was the originator and copyrighted many forms used by the company.
One of the largest institutions of an earlier date was the hemp and twine factory which utilized thousands of acres of the rank growth of hemp growing on the flat lands to the east of the city. This produced a wonderful amount of binding twine for a number of years when the trade for various causes shifted to other sections of the country and was finally in the "binding twine trust" and was made elsewhere. Also the fertile lands on which the hemp grew here was better utilized for other crops.
The beet sugar industry was also a very extensive one at Fremont not so many years ago, but this industry, like the twine mill, was con- trolled by trusts and the difficulty in securing help in the cultivation of the beet, caused the great and useful industry to seek other locations. This was operated by the Standard Cattle Company and sprang into existence in 1893. Most of the capital employed was from the East. They had a capital of almost a million dollars and had a plant here with the largest beet house in the world. This industry employed many men and it was a great financial loss when the company ceased to operate here.
The Fremont stock yards has a history too lengthy for publication in this volume, but it should be said that it has been backed by home capital. A description of these yards in 1905 by a local writer said: "The dipping plant can accommodate over 5,000 sheep per day; the barns are ready for about thirty carloads of sheep at once ; the yards occupy about 1,000 acres of land in the most fertile portion of the valley, and thousands of sheep are here fed annually. The Stock Yards and Land Company has been one of the most prominent undertakings in the city for many years. Sheep may come and sheep may go but the Fremont stock yards are here forever."
FREMONT GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY (By Lloyd W. Phillips)
The Fremont business men, with others from Lincoln, Nebraska, owned a gas and electric plant in Fremont until December, 1909, when it was purchased by Henry L. Doherty & Company who owns and controls eighty public utility concerns, such as gas, electric lights, ice, street rail- way and water companies in North and South America, Canada and Mexico, with interests in Europe.
At Fremont this company was reorganized by the Doherty company under the name of Fremont Gas, Electric Light and Power Company, of which Mr. Doherty is the president. The local management of this com- pany is in charge of L. W. Phillips, general manager ; M. W. Thernes, secretary ; E. A. Newlon, superintendent, and G. H. Here, manager of the new business.
The company employs thirty persons in all departments. They also own thirty gas and oil wells in various parts of the country. During the coal strike in 1918-19, at Fremont, through foresight and their own resources, the people of the city were not hampered for fuel or lights. The company realizes the important position it holds in the welfare of Fremont and its growing industries, and they have ever made the service fully up to standard.
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BUSINESS DIRECTORY-1920
A recent business directory of the City of Fremont-the last one published-gives the following list of business men and women in the city. There have been some changes, but all herein given were here in 1919:
Abstract of Land Titles-J. F. Hanson & Company.
Agricultural Implements-W. A. Carroll, Fremont Farmers' Union Co-operative Association, Fremont Manufacturing Company.
Ambulance Service-A. C. Jens.
Architects and Superintendents-A. H. Dyer, F. A. Herfurth.
Art Store-E. Anderson & Company.
Artists-Mrs. Wilhelmina Eagle, Kubista Studio, A. F. Umphrey. Asylums and Homes-Eastern Star (boys), Eastern Star (girls), Fre- mont Hospital, Lutheran Orphanage, Nye Avenue Hospital.
Attorneys at Law-Abbott & Rohn, Cain & Johnson, J. C. Cook, Court- right, Sidner, Lee & Jones, J. E. Daly, A. K. Dame, Frank Dolzal, A. B. Hinman, M. H. Hunter, H. M. Kidder, Loomis, Laird & Loomis, N. H. Mapes, Robins & Gleeson, F. L. Spear, D. A. Van Donselaar, F. W. Vaughn.
Auto Batteries-Fremont Storage Battery Company.
Automobile Dealers-Chandler Automobiles, Electric Garage, Krohn Motor Company, Larson Auto Company, John Monnich, Schurman & Carroll, White Motor Cars and Trucks.
Awnings and Tents-Rogers Tent & Awning Company.
Bakeries-Loyal Bakery Company, Vienna Bakery, F. J. Wislicen.
Banking-See chapter on banks in this work.
Barbers-Twelve shops.
Bee-Keepers' Supplies-J. J. Funk.
Bicycles and Repairs-William Burtz.
Blacksmiths-Three in number.
Blank-Book Makers-Hammond Printing Company.
Book Sellers-Five in number.
Building-Block Makers-Fremont Artificial Stone Building Block Co.
Building and Loan Associations-Equitable, Nebraska State and Occi- dental.
Canning Factory-Fremont Canning Company.
Carriage Manufacturers and Dealers.
Cigar Manufacturers-Five in number.
Cigars and Tobacco-Brunswick Cigar Store, Phelps Cigar Store, Saeger & Son.
Cigars ( wholesale)-Phelps Cigar Company.
Cloaks and Suits-Block's Outfitting Store.
Clothing-Abraham Bordy, Hein Clothing Company, Victor Krelstein, John Sonin, Union Clothing Company, Ephraim Weinberg, Abraham Zlotky.
Creameries-Farmers' Union Co-operative Company, Fremont Creamery Company, Fremont Pure Butter Company, Golden Rod Creamery. Dentists-Nine in number.
Department Stores-Eddy Brothers, H. G. Gumpert, T. H. Quinn.
Druggists-Brown-Fredericksen Company, Clarke Drug Company, Devries Pharmacy, Fidelity Pharmacy, Pohls' Drug Store.
Dry Goods (retail)-Eddy Brothers, H. G. Gumpert, T. H. Quinn. Electric Light Company-Fremont Gas, Electric & Power Company. Electric Supplies-H. J. Trotter.
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DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Embalmers-E. Anderson & Company.
Fence Makers-Fremont Fence Company's Works.
Five and Ten Cent Stores-F. W. Woolworth Company, F. E. Wroe. Florists-C. H. Green.
Flouring Mills-Brown Seal Mills, Fremont Milling Company.
Founders and Machinists-Fremont Foundry & Machine Company. Fremo Manufacturers-Fremont Beverage Company.
Furniture Dealers-E. Anderson Company, J. R. Bader Company, Carl Dengler, Jacob Kavich, Parlor Furniture & Mattress Company. Garages -- The Zapp Garage, Electric Garage, Larson Auto Company, Farmers' Garage, John Monnich, Fred the Ford Expert, Johnson Auto Company, Nelson, Nash Sale Company, Schurman & Company, Joseph McKennan, Mercer Auto Company, William Pedersen, Ray Pettit, Carl Heinrich & Son, Dunbar's Auto Shop, C. H. McKissick, Bushnell & Son.
General Stores- Peoples Co-operative Store.
Grain Elevators-Fremont Farmers' Union Co-operative Company, Nye, Schneider, Fowler Company.
Granite and Marble Works-American Granite and Marble Works, Fre- mont Granite and Marble Works.
Grocers-Twenty in number.
Grocers (wholesale)-May Brothers Company.
Gunsmith-William Burtz.
Hardware Stores-Doering Henry, N. M. Hansen, Holloway & Fowler, Pilsbury, Veazie & Company, Thomas & Courtright Hardware Com- pany. The last named firm also does a wholesale business.
Harness Manufacturers-J. M. Christensen, Emil Cloos.
Hotels-Nine, including the Pathfinder and the Terry.
Ice Cream Manufacturers-Golden Rod Company, Fremont Company, Candy Kitchen Company and the Loyal Bakery Company.
Incubator Manufacturers-Fremont Manufacturing Company.
Jewelers-H. G. Anderson, H. F. Haman, J. T. Herre, G. C. Spangler, Marshall Brothers.
Laundries-Ideal, New Fidelity, Rosa M. Andrews.
Live Stock Dealers-B. F. Custer, Fremont Farmers' Union Co-operative Association.
Lumber Dealers (also Coal)-Farmers' Co-operative Union, Melick Lum- ber Company, Nye, Schnedier, Fowler Company.
Market Gardener-Hans T. Nielsen.
Meat Markets -- Seven in number.
Merchant Tailor-Herman Petersen.
Mill Work-Fremont Planing Mill Company, W. R. Reckmeyer. Milliners-Seven in number.
Music Dealers-Boggess Music Company, C. L. Dudley, Music Store.
Medicine Manufacturing Company-Widhelm Remedy and Manufactur- ing Company.
Photographers-Kubista Studio, Mohler Studio, D. L. Yocum.
Physicians-Twenty in number (see medical chapter of this volume). Poultry Dealers-Four in number.
Real Estate-Twenty-four in number.
Restaurants and Cafes-Eight in number.
Sand Dealers-Fremont Ice & Sand Company, Richey Sand Company.
Shoe Stores-Harry's Shoe Shop, Morris Horstman; J. H. Knowles, Bernhardt Shamberg, R. P. Turner.
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POPULATION OF FREMONT
The matter of arriving at the exact population of the cities of the United States is not always an easy problem to solve. The system employed by the government at Washington by which the person who takes the census for so much a name, instead of a stated salary, is not always fruitful in arriving at the true number residing in a given city or town. For instance, the census taker calls three times at a house and finds no one at home he usually never returns to get the names of the household. It has come to light that many such errors have taken place in the 1920 enumeration. The figures given below are such as the depart- ment have sent out as correct, whether they are or not. The census periods of 1890, 1900, 1910 and 1920 run thus for Fremont. In 1890 it was 6,747 ; in 1900 it was 7,241 ; in 1910 it was 8,718, and in 1920, 9,549. It is generally believed that the city has at least 10,450.
FREMONT COMMERCIAL CLUB
All modern, enterprising cities in this country have boards of trade or commercial clubs by which the commercial interests of the place are advanced and sustained. Away back in May, 1880, Fremont, at the city hall, had organized what was known as the Board of Trade with the following charter membership: Z. Shed, G. W. E. Dorsey, L. D. Rich- ards, Manley Rogers, Andressen & Meyer, L. M. Keene, C. Christensen, H. J. Lee & Co., Nye, Colson & Co., Otto Magenau, Cole & Pilsbury, Arthur Gibson, D. Crowell, Huette & Son, Hopkins & Millard, J. J. Haw- thorne, E. H. Barnard and Welty & Shervin.
By this organization there was the utmost harmony among the busi- ness factors of Fremont. As time went on factories were secured and aided by this institution to the great betterment of the city.
After this organization had filled its mission another of similar aim was formed-the present Commercial Club, which in 1905 had a mem- bership of 250 business men. This club favors the bringing of conven- tions to the city, believing this to be the best advertising plan than can be had. Through this club Fremont is ever ready to do its best at enter- taining and showing up the city's interest to good advantage.
RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE FREMONT COMMERCIAL CLUB
Some of the more recent achievements and improvements for which credit must be given to the Fremont Commercial Club should be men- tioned in this connection. The club has always been efficient in securing the location in the capital of the county of desirable factories and varied manufacturing establishments, which employ considerable numbers of men and constantly add to the profitable business of the county. Among these may be mentioned the great canning company, and the Fremont Manufacturing Company. A second achievement of the club is the crea- tion of a drainage district, of incalculable value to the whole section. A third is the establishment of a dyking district and a dyking system of the first value; and still another, the achievement of making Fremont "The City Beautiful" through the work of the park board, in rendering our urban park spaces the delight of citizens an'd strangers together; and in the removal of unsightly poles from the business streets, and the estab- lishing of the electrolier lighting system, which renders our night appear- ance one of brilliant and fascinating beauty. Our city Commercial Club
.
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has a most enviable reputation throughout the state, and in adjoining regions, for wide-awake activity and incessant vigilance in behalf of the highest weal and progress of our municipality. It makes the whole county proud of its capital.
EARLY DAYS IN FREMONT
In the 1916 volume of the publication entitled "Nebraska Pioneer Reminiscences" under authority of the Daughters of the Revolution, there is a good description of the pioneer days in and near the City of Fremont, by two local ladies-Sadie Irene Moore and Mrs. Theron Nye-from whom we are at liberty to quote :
The first habitation of any sort was constructed of poles surrounded by prairie grass. It was built and owned by E. H. Barnard and J. Koontz in 1856, and stood upon the site of the present Congregational Church. In the autumn of 1856 Robert Kittle built and owned the first store. A few weeks later his house was occupied by Rev. Isaac E. Heaton, wife and two daughters, who were the first family to keep house in Fremont. Alice Flor, born in the fall of 1857, was the first child born in Fremont. She is now Mrs. Gilkerson of Wahoo. The first male child born in Fre- mont was Fred Kittle. He was born in March, 1858, and died in 1890. On August 23, 1858, occurred the first marriage. The couple were Luther Wilson and Eliza Turner. The first death was that of Seth P. Marvin, who was accidentally drowned in April, 1857, while trying to cross the Elkhorn River seven miles northeast of Fremont. The Marvin home was a mile and a quarter west of Fremont and this house was the rendezvous of the parties who laid out Fremont. Mr. Marvin was one of the town company.
The first celebration of the Fourth of July was in 1857. Robert Kittle sold the first goods. J. G. and Thomas Smith conducted the first regular store. In 1860 the first district school was opened with Miss McNeil teacher. Then came Mary Heaton, now Mrs. Hawthorne. Mrs. Margaret Turner, followed by James G. Smith, conducted the first hotel situated where the First National Bank now stands. This was also the "stage house" and here all the traders stopped en route from Omaha to Denver. In the evening the old hotel resounded with music of violin and the sound of dancing. Charles Smith conducted a drug store where Holloway and Fowler are now. A telegraph line was established in 1860. The first public school was held in the building owned by the Congregational Church at the corner of Eighth and "D" streets. Miss Sarah Pneuman, now Mrs. Harrington of Fremont, was the teacher. When court convened, school adjourned, there being no court- house. In three years the school had grown from 16 to 100 pupils, with three teachers. The first public schoolhouse was built at the corner of Fifth and "D" streets.
In 1866 the Union Pacific was built. The first bank was established in 1867. The Tribune, the first paper, was published July 24, 1868. The "Central School" was built in 1869 and the teacher, in search of truant boys, would ascend to the top of the building, where with the aid of a fieldglass, she could see from the Platte to the Elkhorn. Today can be seen on the foundations of this old landmark the marks of slate pencils which were sharpened by some of our middle-aged business men of today.
Mrs. Cynthia Hamilton of Fremont gives an interesting account of the early days. In June, 1857, she, with her husband, Mr. West, their
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