USA > Nebraska > Dodge County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume I > Part 34
USA > Nebraska > Washington County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume I > Part 34
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49
Vast indeed has been the transformation in this portion of the goodly "Kingdom of Dodge" since those days away back in the '60s. One now sees in traveling through the country, a splendid agricultural section, well developed, with handsome farm houses and barns, and the passer-by is greeted by the smiling faces of a contented and prosperous people.
THE VILLAGE OF UEHLING
This village is a station on the "Burlington" Railroad situated near the north county line.
It was platted in a great cornfield and construction of the "Burling- ton" road was carried forward in 1905 and the track laid to Uehling February 17, 1906. The first building in the place was erected by Mr. Uehling on the corner where now stands the Farmers State Bank Building.
Uehling now has a population of about 400. It was incorporated as a village November 20, 1906. The following have served as village chairmen of the board: 1906-Henry Piefer; 1907-L. A. Green; he served until 1911 and was followed by H. R. Suhr, who served till 1914, when Andrew Frost was elected chairman and held the position until 1919, when the present chairman, M. Peterson, was elected.
The various village clerks have been in order as follows: H. F. Meyer, V. P. Hart, L. A. Larson, H. F. Meyer, 1912-18, A. J. W. Koehler, 1918-20.
A fine system of waterworks was installed in 1909. The cost was $10,000. The source of water supply is three deep wells from which water is forced to a steel tower and tank 120 feet high. Electric lights were installed in 1914. The village has a two-story brick and frame town hall in which the fire department and village officers are housed.
294
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
POSTOFFICE, HOSPITAL, ETC.
The first postmaster was F. J. Uehling, who served from February to July, 1906, then it passed into the hands of R. S. Honey, who held it till October, 1917, then H. Christensen held from October, 1917, to October, 1919; the next postmaster was Mrs. R. S. Honey, who still serves. It is a fourth-class postoffice.
Doctor McKnight, a newcomer to the village, established a hospital in the season of 1920 and is doing nicely at this date.
One of the finest baseball parks within Nebraska is to be seen at Uehling, on the banks of the Elkhorn River.
The village supports a Congregational Church and a Lutheran Church.
A Modern Woodmen of America and a Woodman of the World lodge are found here-see Lodge Chapter.
COMMERCIAL INTERESTS-1920
Banking-Farmers State Bank and the Logan Valley Bank.
Doctors-Doctor McKnight.
Auto Garage-Barton Strand, H. N. De Molin.
Blacksmiths-Oliver A. Larson.
Barber Shop-Marshall Bennett.
Cream Station-Russell Anderson.
Drugs-The Hansen Drug Company.
Elevators-Farmers' Co-operative Association and the Holmquist Company.
Furniture (with Hardware)-Fred J. Uehling and L. W. Larson.
General Dealers-Fred H. Steckelberg, W. A. Stach, Christemen & Rinderhogen.
Harness-W. H. Miller.
Hotel-Mrs. Chris Nelson.
Ice-C. J. Shaw.
Lumber-Farmers' Co-operative Association, Bowman, Kratz Lum- ber Company.
Meat Market-C. J. Shaw.
Newspaper-The Uehling Post. See "Press Chapter."
Opera Halls-The Uehling Hall, Larson Hall and Lodge Hall. Restaurant-Otto A. Graves.
Farm Implements-Larson Brothers.
CHAPTER XXXVI
MAPLE TOWNSHIP
DESCRIPTION-BOUNDARY-OLD PRECINCT OF MAPLE-CENSUS RETURNS -SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES-POSTOFFICES-SETTLEMENT.
Maple civil township comprises Congressional township 18, range 7, east, hence is six miles square and it is bounded on the north by Everett Township, on the east by Nickerson, on the south by Platt Town- ship and on the west by Cotterell Township. Originally Maple Town- ship as now constituted formed a part of Everett and Nickerson town- ships or precincts as then known, but in 1886, when "Township Organi- zation" came into effect, the present limits were fixed. This is one of Dodge County's inland townships and has neither railway line nor village within its borders.
POPULATION
In 1890 the United States census gave this township a population of 778; in 1900 it was placed at 1,409, but in 1910 it was decreased to 606. Its population is about equally divided between American and foreign born.
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES
The reader is referred to the special chapters in this work on the schools, churches and lodges of the whole county for facts concerning such subjects in this township.
POSTOFFICES
Maple Creek postoffice was established in this township in 1870, on a mail route from Fremont to West Point. This postoffice in 1892 was being kept in section 3.
Jamestown postoffice was located in section 20, and Bangs postoffice in section 15.
The pioneer postmaster was Father Monroe, who kept the Maple Creek office at his home in section 4. The advent of the free rural delivery postal system has greatly changed the mail facilities in this township and daily mails come from various postoffices right to the very dooryard of the farmer.
FIRST SETTLEMENT
Maple Township was first settled by Seneca Hager, in section 20. He came from Platte Township, where his parents had settled in 1856. Rev. Jacob Adriance, section 20, came to Dodge County in 1858, first locating at Fremont as a Methodist Episcopal minister. In that work he continued many years. In 1862 he located land with a land warrant, and in 1879 moved to the premises to remain. His settlement and labors were indeed full of interesting incidents and pioneer experiences.
295
296
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
George Knoell of section 26 came to this county in the spring of 1859, locating at first in Platte Township with his father, he himself being only sixteen years old at the time of his father's settlement.
Charles A. Bang, of section 14, came in very early. He came from Denmark, worked about three years and returned to his native land. After a visit in Denmark he returned to this county and was employed in a mill at North Bend until 1869, when he purchased and improved eighty acres of land, to which he added until he owned a half section.
Ole Hanson settled in section 26; in 1866 he went to work at Fremont and about three years later, 1869, he homesteaded land, where he resided many years.
Rasmus Hansen, section 35, came to Dodge County in the autumn of 1867 and engaged at sawmill work near Fremont. Eighteen months later he rented land upon which he lived two years. He then took a homestead, lived thereon five years, sold and purchased 120 acres nearer Fremont. He sold again and moved to Oregon, but six years later returned and finally settled on land in section 35.
James C. Nelson of section 22, came to Dodge County in the spring of 1867, first stopping in Fremont. At the time he was a young single man, and he hired out by the month as a farm hand. He soon claimed eighty acres of wild land as his own and there made a good home.
Eighteen hundred and sixty-seven saw another truly representative settler in the person of Lewis A. Warner in section 3, who came to Dodge County in the fall of that year. For three years he rented land near Nickerson, after which he moved to the Maple Creek county and there engaged in farming and stock-raising.
J. E. Dorsey settled in Maple Township on Maple Creek, section 1, in 1867 ; later he moved to North Bend.
L. M. Keene came from Maine in Company with Chester Morse in 1867 and located in section 12, Maple Township. Later he moved to Fremont, where he soon became one of the successful financiers of the city.
Chester Morse located in section 4. Not many years later, however, he moved to North Bend, and later in company with others, platted the Village of Morse Bluff, south of the Platte River from North Bend.
"Old Mr. Monroe" settled in section 3 at about the last named date- 1867-and remained there until overtaken by death.
Thomas and W. F. Wilson came in from Ohio and located on the north line of the township. In 1869 came Melcher Endley, locating in section 10, a part of which he homesteaded and another portion he bought. After proving up he sold and returned to Ohio.
Another homesteader of 1869 was James Hiscock, who in 1887 sold to J. A. Sill and removed to Colfax County, Nebraska.
James L. Davis came in 1869, took an eighty-acre tract as his home- stead right, and lived on the same until 1887, then moved to Fremont, where after a few years he died.
In 1870 came Seth Harkness to section 13. He bought railroad land and resided in this township until 1880, when he sold and moved to Hamilton County, Nebraska.
G. W. R. Pettibone became a resident of section 2 in 1870. He bought out a homesteader and lived in the township until 1876, when he moved to Fremont and there embarked in business. Subsequently, he went to Deadwood, South Dakota, and there traded for a time but returned to Fremont and later settled in the City of Lincoln, where he became general agent for a Des Moines insurance company, and in 1892 was reported to have made $200,000 at the insurance business.
297
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Among the settlers in the "seventies" was John L. Ritter of section 4. Later he engaged in the grain trade at Hooper; also at North Bend, and finally became a member of the Town Site Company of Morse & Ritter, platting Morse Bluff.
Other pioneer settlers were-C. E. Forbes, section 14; William Springer, 1870; W. C. Aiken, section 10; Casper Eidam, a farmer of section 16, came to the county in 1870 and located in Platte Township, where he rented land for a time before purchasing.
David Brown, section 4, came in the spring of 1870, then rented land on Maple Creek four years, then bought eighty acres of his own.
William C. Wallingford located in section 34 in 1870. He rented land near Fremont five seasons, after which he bought in section 7, Platte Township, farmed there ten years, then went to section 34.
Peter Johnson, another 1870 immigrant to Dodge County, followed railroad work two years. He then went to breaking prairie and a year later purchased eighty acres of land in section 15.
In 1872 Edward Hooker located at Fremont, near which city he rented land a year or more, then homesteaded part of section 5, this township.
Edward Rannie, section 15, came to the county in May, 1872. He took up a quarter section of unimproved land.
Hon. Julius A. Sill, section 11, came to this county in the early spring of 1872. In 1892 he owned 400 acres of valuable Dodge County land.
Frank F. and Hugh C. Brown, Christian Hansen, Hans Hansen, John G. Dykeman, Henry Rebbe, B. C. Allen, Ezra Philips, James L. Brown, Peter Slack, William Philips, Eugene M. Tarbell, Theodore R. Stout and Philip Sullivan all came to this township at an early time and helped to subdue the tough prairie sod and transform the wild prairie into the present beautiful and high-priced farming lands one now sees throughout this and adjoining townships in Dodge County. They "builded better than they knew."
CHAPTER XXXVII
NORTH BEND TOWNSHIP
FORMERLY NORTH BEND PRECINCT-ITS INTERESTING HISTORY-FIRST COLONY-FIRST ELECTION-CITY OF NORTH BEND-PIONEER HIS- TORY-EARLY EVENTS-COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF NORTH BEND- BUSINESS INTERESTS IN 1920-POSTOFFICE HISTORY-MUNICIPAL HISTORY-MISCELLANEOUS IMPROVEMENTS-PARKS, ETC.
What is now styled North Bend civil township was within Cotterell Township before township organization took place in Dodge County in 1886. North Bend Precinct, as once known, is not without its interest- ing local history, and the same is covered by the village history in this chapter. It was here that the first little colony of pioneer emigrants from Ohio settled in 1856. The first election after Dodge County was organized was held in North Bend the first Monday in February, 1860, at which time Fremont was made the county seat.
North Bend Township is now confined to the corporate limits of the village of the same name-see its history.
CITY OF NORTH BEND
This is a thriving city situated fifteen miles to the west of the City of Fremont, on the north bank of Platte River, in township 17, range 6, east. It now has a population of about 1,200, according to the latest United States census. It was platted October 12, 1867, by S. S. Cald- well, M. S. Cotterell and the officers of the Union Pacific Railroad Com- pany. The population in 1876 was 250 souls and in 1890 it was placed at 897. It is within one of the richest agricultural sections of the state, where land is now worth from $250 to $400 per acre. The main line of the Union Pacific Railway runs through North Bend, which place is fifty miles from Omaha, the terminus of that great rail route from the Missouri River to the far-away Pacific coast. The altitude of North Bend is 1,275 feet.
PIONEER HISTORY
The first twenty years' history of North Bend was well described "Centennial Year" (1876) by J. Mason Smith, who responded to the general call made by President U. S. Grant that every township in the country make an effort to preserve its history on that occasion. This historical sketch was read before those who assembled on July 4th that year, and the same (by permission) is here inserted, and it is believed that no better account of the place between 1856 and 1876 can be given than Mr. Smith's graphic account of its first settlement, which runs thus :
The Town of North Bend takes its name from the bend in the Platte River'on which it is located. Long before the settlement was made this point was a favorite camping ground for emigrants going to California, Utah and other points west. Here was an abundance of grass and water for their weary cattle; here was wood and water by which the hungry
298
.
299
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
traveler could cook his victuals and refresh the inner man; here in the Platte's swift running waters they bathed their weary limbs and started anew on their journey, refreshed and invigorated.
Nebraska Territory was not long organized when some of its leading men saw that at North Bend was a good point to locate a town.
Governor Izard, Secretary Cummings, John I. Redick, Judge Mathews, Squire Hallock and others-sixteen in all-formed themselves into a company known as "The North Bend Town Company." About the first of April, 1856, Mathews and Hallock came and located a town for this company. About the first of July, 1857, the town was surveyed and laid out by Charles Turner, United States deputy surveyor.
God made the country-man made North Bend a "Paper Town." Most of the towns in the territory at that time were paper towns. Specu. lations ran very high and a number of land sharks made what they called
HIGH SCHOOL, NORTH BEND
a good thing out of it. They sold lots from $50 to $100 each to parties who never saw the lots and it may be reasonably supposed never will.
The first settlement in the vicinity was made on July 4, 1856, by a few Scotch families who had for a few years previous been living in Illinois. The party consisted of Robert Miller, his wife and four chil- dren ; John Miller and wife; William and Alexander Miller, brothers of Robert and John, and Miss Eliza Miller, now the wife of W. H. Ely of Fremont.
This little party had the night previous camped about four miles east of North Bend; finding no wood to cook their supper with they each drank some milk and went to bed. They arose early the following morn- ing-July 4th, yoked up their oxen and arrived at North Bend about 9 o'clock A. M., where they found plenty of wood and water to cook their breakfast with. They liked the appearance of the country, but thought they would go further on and prospect. They got ready and started ; after going a few miles they came to the conclusion that they would turn back and settle at North Bend, which they did. As soon as possible they put up shanties to live in, which were made of willows and hay. That fall two log houses were erected and were located on section 12, near the present farm of James Sloss.
300
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
In August that year the little colony was increased by the arrival of George Turton, who was strong and robust and a good practical surveyor. He was a host in himself and the right man in the right place ; his experi- ence as a surveyor was of much benefit to the little colony.
Early in the fall the town company put up what was called the "Town House." The contract was let to George J. Turton and William Miller. Its dimensions were 16 by 40 feet. It was built of cottonwood logs and stood a few rods west of what is now called (1876) the Old Bend House. It was fearfully and wonderfully made-a kind of cross between Noah's Ark and the house that Jack built. In 1866, it being too near the railroad, it was taken down and moved away. Part of the logs are now (1876) used, as they are rebuilt in a stable. (Many of the first events of the settlement were told in this history, read July 4, 1876, which have been cut out and added to the history of the surrounding townships.)
June 29, 1857, an important addition was made to the settlement by the arrival of Alex Morrison, J. Humphries and J. M. Smith.
M. S. Cotterell, Jr., belonged to this party but did not arrive until July 12th. This party was from Cleveland, Ohio, and brought a steam sawmill with them as far as Omaha ; they were looking up a site for their mill. They were pleased with the country and concluded to locate the mill here, which they did. They had left their wives behind, but August 2d Mrs. Morrison, Mrs. Smith and Mrs. James Humphries with her five children arrived. In the anticipation of their coming, the Town House had been chinked and shingled, but the women were much disappointed with the looks in general, still with stout hearts they accepted the situa- tion and went to work earnestly and energetically, cheered by the hope that by and by they would get their reward for all their toils and privations.
Mrs. Morrison and Mrs. Humphries brought chickens with them from Cleveland, these being the first chickens in the town and settlement. Now, with the prattle of children, the cackling of hens and a crowing rooster, things commenced to wear a little aspect of civilization. John Sloss arrived in September ; he soon went to work for the sawmill com- pany. He located on section 11, four miles east of North Bend, Cotterell Township. He later married a Miss Kelley. Robert Graham and wife and James H. Graham from Cleveland arrived late in 1857 and located in what was later Union Township.
. On the first of January, 1858, the number of persons in the settle- ment was twenty-eight. Of this number fifteen were children under twelve years of age.
In the spring of 1858, as the town company had not complied with the law, failing to make the improvement the law required, it left them without a legal claim to the property, therefore the townsite was jumped by M. F. Cotterell and J. M. Smith. The company did not make much fuss, it may be supposed they had realized about all they saw any chance of doing, therefore let go without showing much fight!
When the colony first located here their nearest postoffice was Omaha, fifty miles away, which was very inconvenient for those who had left their wives behind them. It is related that M. F. Cotterell is one who whistled "The Girl I Left Behind Me" and footed it to Omaha for mail that was not there, returning the next day. It was a long ways back to North Bend. On December 31, 1858, the number of persons in the vicinity was thirty-seven, twelve of these being under twelve years of age.
The above paragraphs bring the settlement of North Bend down to what its citizens today are pleased to call "modern times." Before going
301
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
into the details of business interests in this enterprising little city, some of the early events of interest will be narrated.
EARLY EVENTS
The first election was held on the second Tuesday of November, 1856, when the County of Dodge was in three precincts. Robert Kittle and George Young were elected justices of the peace and George Turton was elected county commissioner.
The first marriage within the place was John B. Waterman to Elizabeth R. Graham, July 28, 1859. This refers to the "settlement" and the first marriage in the Village of North Bend was not until 1860, when George Bathrick and Miss Nancy Rhodes were united in marriage by Rev. I. A. Wilson, pastor of the United Presbyterian Church.
The first male child born in this vicinity was Seth W. Young, November, 1856; he was also the first in Dodge County. Roderick C. Smith, son of J. Mason Smith, was born December 21, 1858.
The first family to set up housekeeping in the Village of North Bend was that of George J. Turton, May, 1857. He came to the county the year before, a single man, but in March, 1857, went east and returned with his bride.
The first sawmill of Dodge County was placed in running order in this vicinity and was operated until the fall of 1860, when it was burned by a prairie fire. This mill was brought from Cleveland, Ohio, in July, 1857, by Messrs. Cotterell, Smith, Morrison and Humphries. Indeed, this was the pioneer sawmill in all the far-reaching Platte Valley. It proved a financial failure to its various owners, but was of much value to the settlers. Persons came from Fremont and obtained small loads of lumber, cut from cottonwood logs sawed by this mill. This lumber took the place of the former hay roofs in use; also furnished their shanties with solid floors. A small iron grain-grinding mill was later attached to this sawmill and corn was ground constantly until the burning of the mill.
COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF NORTH BEND
The Union Pacific Railroad made its appearance at North Bend in the spring of 1866, and that marked a second era in the settlement of that part of the county. There was only one house on the site of the place when the iron horse first entered that green, glad solitude, that being one owned by M. S. Cotterell, Jr. George Canfield opened a small grocery store in July of that year, the first goods being sold on Independence Day.
The earliest hotel was built by Williams & Perkins in 1867. In 1872 it was moved to the tracks and converted into a grain warehouse by Dowling & Purcell.
From 1866 to 1876 there were shipped 19,000,000 pounds of grain from the North Bend depot. The first wheat shipped to Omaha was by John Burger. The freight rate was $18 per car. The first livestock was shipped by Robert Hall.
The first real, up-to-date grocers were T. B. Purcell and M. Dowling, at first in the Canfield Building, but built for themselves on Sycamore Street. For many years these men were heavily engaged in the grain trade at North Bend.
The first exclusive grain dealer was N. Merriam, who shipped the first car of wheat to Chicago in August, 1874. Down to that time the
.
302
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
home-grown grain was usually all consumed by the flouring mills located at Fremont. This dealer paid Fremont prices at his warehouse at North Bend, which caused his business to be very extensive. He was always noted for his correct weights and honorable dealings.
In passing it should be stated that the first fat cattle were shipped from North Bend by rail on June 22, 1876.
A lumber yard was started in North Bend in the autumn of 1875 by J. B. Foote.
The pioneer "Village Blacksmith" was Robert Graham, who came in the spring of 1867, but soon sold his forge to Jerry Dion.
Smith Brothers in 1867 built what was styled the "Corner Store."
The first man to practice medicine at and around North Bend was Doctor Bell, a North Carolinian, who arrived here in 1868. He finally met with an accident by which he lost both his feet. He was caught out on a professional visit and had his feet frozen. Doctors Abbott of Fre- mont and Moore of Omaha amputated his feet.
For an account of the schools, churches and lodges the reader is referred to special chapters on such topics elsewhere in this work.
The various newspapers and banks are likewise treated in chapters on such subjects for the entire county.
A good nursery was established by J. W. Stevenson in 1882. From this nursery he shipped transplanted stock to many western states and territories. The nursery joined the town plat and a large annual business was transacted. This being the only nursery in this part of Nebraska, his shipments were made many miles.
Many persons have been engaged in business in North Bend for a greater or less period of time with the passing years-some are still resi- dents of the place, but most all have left for other fields or departed this life. At this time (summer of 1920) the historian finds the commercial and professional interests to be in the hands of the following persons :
BUSINESS INTERESTS-1920
Attorney-J. J. Gleeson.
Auto Garages-W. H. Westthal, U. S. Tym, W. H. Snyder, City Garage and Ford Garage.
Banks-The First National and First State Bank.
Barbers-Al Hammond, N. L. Thorp, P. J. Laughlin.
Bakery-H. A. Miller, Frank Kenney.
Blacksmithing-G. A. Millar, Anderson Brothers, C. J. Lehmer.
Community Club-J. J. Gleeson, secretary.
Cream Station-Lincoln Butter Co.
Cement Tile Works-A home concern.
Drugs-J. R. Tapster, W. A. La Violette.
Dentists-Drs. J. H. Stebbins, T. F. Frederick.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.