USA > Nebraska > Dodge County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume I > Part 37
USA > Nebraska > Washington County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume I > Part 37
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
CHAPTER III COUNTY GOVERNMENT
COUNTY BUILDINGS-FIRST COURTHOUSE-PRESENT BUILDING-VARIOUS COUNTY JAILS- LIST OF COUNTY OFFICERS-VALUATIONS OF COUNTY -FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR 1920, ETC.
Washington County like other Nebraska counties has had various kinds of county governments-the precinct and later the township organ- ization form-first one and then the other. The offices of county com- missioners and the county supervisors are in reality about the same. As a general rule the affairs of Washington County have been well managed by representative citizens who had held local offices for the best interests of the tax-paying citizens. No great political or office- holding scandals have blackened the pages of its history of more than three score years. One thing is noticeable here-that when men pos- sessed the right qualifications for offices to which they have been elected, they have been allowed to remain in office so long as they did their official duties, and not changed for new men simply because it was some other man's turn to hold office, which has too frequently been the case in other sections of the state.
COUNTY BUILDINGS
Washington County's first courthouse was erected at Fort Calhoun in 1856, of cottonwood lumber. It was built by subscription, and some declare it was also used for school purposes, but others dispute this claim. Governor L. Crounse once stated his experiences, when he was judge of the State Supreme Court and rode the circuit. Fort Calhoun was one of his stations and he held court here for the first time after his election. It was also in this building that the famous Senator Paddock was admitted to the bar. The building above mentioned served as seat of justice until the county seat was removed (by force) to De Soto, five miles north of Fort Calhoun, in 1858. The county seat remained at De Soto until the autumn of 1866, but no regular court- house was erected by the county at De Soto. From there the county seat was returned to Fort Calhoun, where it remained until 1869, then went to Blair.
A courthouse was built at Blair. This building, however, was erected by a firm of contractors for school purposes, as a private specu- lation, but the school authorities failed to purchase it from the builders, hence when the county seat was moved to Blair, bought by the county and was used as the first courthouse there and continued in use as the home of the various county offices and courtroom until the present magnificent structure was built in 1889, an account of which follows:
PRESENT COURTIIOUSE
June 14, 1889, the question of building a new courthouse was sub- mitted to the tax-payers of Washington County and the result was 1,263 for bonding the county for $35,000, and the number of votes against the proposition was 874.
323
(By Courtesy of Blair Tribune)
COURTHOUSE, BLAIR
325
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
About the same time the City of Blair voted on a proposition to give $5,000 toward the courthouse building, in case a suitable structure was erected. The vote at that special city election stood 236 for and only 7 against the measure.
The first committee on courthouse building was composed of the chairman of the board, the clerk and Thomas Wilkinson, whose duty it was to have properly printed and registered the several bonds which were to be floated upon the market.
The county board ordered that the new courthouse should be erected on block No. 75, in the City of Blair-the so-called "Jail Block."
The regular building committee was composed of the chairman of the board, E. M. Cook, of Lincoln Township; P. J. Gossard, of Sheri- dan Township. The chairman was then L. C. Weber, member of the board. A local man named Lou Vaughan was appointed by the board as superintendent of construction. Bids were advertised for and the follow- ing were received and acted upon: Julius Schlup, $37,954; Robert McHale, $41,000; H. B. Dexter, $38,165; M. T. Murphy, $40,700; George Sutherland, $39,999; Fred Mingadodt, $37,439; Richards & Company, $35,842; Seeley & Son, $41,879; Lyone & Sweet, $36,900. Richards & Company were awarded the contract at $35,842. The building was constructed of St. Louis pressed brick, trimmed with Warrenburg stone.
At the session of the county board held September 11, 1889, the site for the building was staked off and decided upon. The county sur- veyor was ordered to set the stakes. At the same session it was ordered that the numerous shade trees upon the courthouse square should be "boxed" in order to protect them from being bruised while building operations were going on. The people of Blair have always been passionately fond of shade trees and used much care to get them well started.
The architect employed by the county to draw plans and carry for- ward the same was O. H. Placey, who, after the building was partly built, became offended and resigned, as is shown by the following clause in the record-book of the court board: (Date was November, 1889.)
"And now comes O. H. Placey, architect, and announces to the board in open session, that from this time on, he positively refuses to have anything to do, in and about the further work and completion of the new courthouse, and bid the board good-bye and took his hat and passed out."
The contract called for the completion of the building January, 1891, but for various good reasons it was not turned over to the county until March 24, that year. A long statement concerning the acceptance of the building is found recorded on page 220 of Book No. 3, Super- visors Records.
The old courthouse was sold to F. H. Matthiesen February 3, 1891, for $725.
THE COUNTY JAIL BUILDINGS
No matter how good a community may be, there is at times use for a jail. If it is not by reason of unruly citizens of the county in which it is situated, it is for some act of an unlawful character committed by persons coming in from outside communities, who must needs be punished and it is but wisdom to have provided some safe, secure place in which to confine such unruly persons until tried, or till a penalty has been paid for their illegal acts.
326
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
An account of the pioneer jail for Washington County was given by an earlier writer of Washington County history, in which he remarked :
"The county jail is located several squares from the courthouse and is, perhaps, less suited for jail purposes than any similar structure on the face of the earth, being small, inconveniently arranged, and the cells dark and unhealthy. It was built soon after the county seat was located at Blair, and cost some $8,000. For this sum an excellent jail build- ing, large enough to supply the wants of the county for a half century, could now be built. It seemed to be an absolute necessity, that counties in the West should pay some very expensive lessons, and Washington County in comparison with some of her neighbors, has passed through this experience at a moderate outlay." (This was written in 1876.)
The first jail was situated on the north side of the public square; it was a two-story building and had a jailor's residence in connection. This jail building served until 1904, when the jail was torn down and the present modest brick one-story jail just to the east of the courthouse was built.
It was the jail that was torn down in 1904, in which was placed a murderer from near Fontanelle, early in the nineties, for safe keeping, until he could have his trial for killing his foster father, Mr. Baldwin, in cold blood. Before time for his trial, he succeeded in making his escape by scraping the soft lime stone foundation stones of the jail, in the form of a circular hole large enough for him to crawl out. He was never again seen in this county. The hole in the jail wall was repaired but it ever afterward showed the outline of the hole and was pointed out to hundreds of people, as the place where the murderer made his escape with a table knife.
THE COUNTY FARM
Washington County has always cared well for her unfortunate poor, but never encourages shiftlessness on the part of poor people. The needy cases have been sought out by the county authorities and all who are entitled to aid receive it. Many years ago it was thought the wisest thing to purchase a tract of land which is now known as the "Poor Farm." It consists of eighty acres, just outside the city limits of Blair. The last annual report shows there were only four inmates in the County House-all being men.
The present superintendent and wife are Mr. and Mrs. Henry P. Hansen.
LIST OF COUNTY OFFICERS-PAST AND PRESENT
COUNTY CLERKS
E. Mathers, 1857 ; Abraham Castetter, 1861 ; re-elected every election to 1869, when Peter R. Benner was elected and re-elected in 1871 and 1873; E. C. Jackson, 1875; E. C. Jackson, 1877; J. S. Cook, 1879; Thomas P. Lippincott, 1881; Joe S. Cook, 1883; Wesley J. Cook, 1885; C. Rathman, 1887; C. Rathman, 1889; C. Rathman, 1891; C. Rathman, 1893; Watt Gauldrie, 1895; Watt Gauldrie, 1897; Watt Gauldrie, 1899; F. W. Kenny, Jr., 1901 ; George H. Faber, 1903: George H. Faber, 1905; M. R. Lippincott, 1907; Ove T. Anderson, 1909; Ove T. Anderson, 1911; Ove T. Anderson, 1914; Ove T. Anderson, 1916; Mary C. Debel, 1918.
327
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
COUNTY TREASURERS
George Stevens, 1857; Lewis Tucker, 1858; E. N. Grennell, 1859; re-elected each election until 1863, when Alexander Reed was elected and continued in office until 1875, when J. H. Hungate was elected. In 1877, J. H. Hungate; re-elected in 1879; Frank Harriman, 1881; Frank Harriman, 1883; H. C. Chapman, 1885; E. C. Jackson, 1887; E. C. Jackson, 1889; Joe S. Cook, 1891; Joe S. Cook, 1893; James H. Platz, 1895; James H. Platz, 1897; George H. Faber, 1899; George H. Faber, 1901; E. Z. Russell, 1903; E. Z. Russell, 1905; John F. White, 1907; John F. White, 1909; George Bruse, 1911; George Bruse, 1914; R. G. Allen, 1916; R. G. Allen, 1918.
SHERIFFS
Orrin Rhodes and Hugh McNeely (the latter to fill unexpired term), 1856; Hugh McNeely, 1857; Chester Lusk, 1860; Israel Swihart, 1861 ; Dan Case, 1868; A. T. Chapin, 1869; Rice Arnold, 1871 and re-elected in 1873 and 1875; J. W. Boggs, 1877 to 1881; W. D. Gross, 1883 to 1885; H. Schneider, 1885 to 1888; F. Harriman, 1889 to 1893; Claus Mencke, 1893 to 1911; Alf A. Compton, 1911 to 1916; M. Mehrens, 1916 and re-elected in 1918.
PROBATE JUDGES
Up to the seventies this county had the office of probate judge; these were the persons who served: James A. Goodrich, 1857; Z. Jack- son, 1861; John S. Bowen, 1869 and re-elected 1871; Jesse T. Davis, 1873 and re-elected in 1875.
COUNTY JUDGES
The following is a list of the county judges for Washington County : A. Perkins, 1877-81 ; E. N. Grennell, 1881-83; Alonzo Perkins, 1883-87 ; E. T. Farnsworth, 1887-89; P. Hammang, 1889-93; E. C. Jackson, 1893-01 ; G. C. Marshall, 1901-07 ; Clark O'Hanlon appointed to succeed Marshall, serving until February, 1911; I. E. Eller, appointed to succeed O'Hanlon and served until 1918; E. B. Carrigan, 1918 to present date.
COUNTY SURVEYORS
Thomas Wilson, 1857, re-elected in 1858; George A. Bingham, 1861; V. C. Lantry, 1869; re-elected 1871; J. C. W. Kline, 1875; W. H. Hill, 1881-89; W. C. Catherwood, 1889-91; W. H. Hill, 1891-1914; Christ Rohwer, 1914.
COUNTY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS
Eli Bacon, 1857; D. McLacklin, 1858; Charles G. Bisbee, 1869, re-elected 1871; Charles Gross, 1873, re-elected 1875; I. N. Jones, 1877-79; W. V. Miller, 1879-85; J. Henderson, 1885-97; G. C. Marshall, 1897-01; Alfred L. Cook, 1901-05; J. H. Rhoades, 1905-14; N. T. Lund, 1914-18; Mabel Marsh, by appointment upon resignation of Mr. Lund.
328
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
CORONERS
Jesse T. Davis, 1861; Charles Emerson Tennant, 1869; H. P. But- ler, 1871; Dr. S. B. Taylor, 1873; E. C. Pierce, 1875-85; F. Macumber, 1885-87; J. F. Pettegrew, 1887-89; E. G. Pierce, 1891-1914.
CLERK OF THE DISTRICT COURT
Up to 1881 the county clerk was ex-officio clerk of the court. Thomas P. Lippincott, 1881; E. C. Jackson, 1882; I. C. Eller, 1883-87; C. Schmachtenberg, 1891; Harland Fawcett, 1895-99-02; Theo. Haller, .1903-07; I. C. Eller, 1908-11; E. C. Jackson, 1911-18 and still in office.
COUNTY ATTORNEY
Formerly there was the office of district attorney in Nebraska, but the law was changed and now a county attorney obtains instead. Those of Washington County have included these: L. W. Osborn, 1887; W. E. David, 1893; Clark O'Hanlon, 1894-96; W. C. Walton, 1897; Herman Aye, 1898-1900; Edmund B. Carrigan, 1902-10; Henry Menecke, 1912; George A. Dall, 1914; Henry Menecke, 1916; Grace Ballard, 1918.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
The following is a list of the county commissioners who have served in and for Washington County since its organization :
David Franklin, A. Phinney, and John West, 1856; J. B. Wickshire, elected in 1857; E. A. Allen, 1858; E. B. Hamilton, 1859; John Parks, 1860; John Evans and James Stewart, 1861; Silas Masters, 1862; Jacob Carter, 1863; James S. Stewart, re-elected in 1864; John A. Unthank, 1865; W. B. Beals, 1866; Alonzo Perkins, 1867; Thomas Frazier, 1868; Watson Tyson, 1869; Wm. R. Hamilton and David Couchman, 1870; David Couchman re-elected 1871; Wm. R. Hamilton, 1873; H. J. Rohwer, 1874; Charles, Selleck, 1875; the board in 1876 consisted of these: W. R. Hamilton, H. J. Rohwer and Charles Selleck; 1877- H. J. Rohwer, Charles Selleck and W. P. Viele; 1878 same as in 1877; 1879-W. P. Viele, H. J. Rohwer and A. M. Bovee; 1880-H. J. Rohwer, A. M. Bovee and R. Blaco; 1881-R. Blaco, A. M. Bovee and H. J. Rohwer; 1882-R. Blaco, O. N. Unthank and H. O. Morse; 1883-O. N. Unthank, H. O. Morse and R. Blaco; 1884-G. A. Cran- nell, Charles S. Griffin, F. E. Hall; 1885-John Spencer, M. Cameron and S. C. Rose.
At this date a change was made and one supervisor from each precinct in the county became a member of the county board, beginning in 1886 these officers were: Soren Jensen, Watson Tyson, Lee John- son, James W. Wild, M. Cameron, J. J. Smith, D. P. Scott, John Klotz, John Spencer, John Patrick, Patrick McCarty, L. C. Weber, C. H. Beckman.
1887-J. W. Gaines, C. H. Beckman, W. R. Hamilton, L. C. Weber, John Patrick, Patrick McCarty, M. Cameron, W. Van Arsdale, W. G. Harrison, Thomas Crouch, John H. Maguire, E. M. Cook, James M. Wild.
1888-E. M. Cook, Frank Jahnel, J. S. Stokes, Henry Osterman, L. C. Weber, J. M. Wild, P. J. Gossard, Theo. Haller, M. H. B. Rosen-
329
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
balm, Thomas Wilkinson, M. Cameron, Joseph Johnson, Patrick McCarty.
1889-L. C. Weber, Eugene Cook, Frank Jahnel, Henry Boucher, P. J. Gossard, Henry Osterman, W. G. Harrison, Joe S. Cook, Samuel Warrick, J. M. Souder, John Henrichsen, Thomas Wilkinson, O. V. Remington, L. C. Weber.
1890-L. C. Weber, J. M. Souder, E. M. Cook, S. Warrick, J. S. Cook, W. G. Harrison, John Henrichsen, W. W. McKinney, Henry Osterman, P. G. Gossard, Henry Boucher, John Klotz and George Neff.
1891-W. G. Harrison, James Cruickshank, G. W. Neff, George Rohwer, Thomas Wilkinson, W. W. Mckinney, E. M. Cook, L. C. Weber, P. J. Gossard, John Klotz, Henry Osterman, J. M. Souder and S. Warrick.
1892-L. C. Weber, W. G. Harrison, Samuel Warrick, J. M. Souder, R. Broderson, T. B. Pawling, E. M. Cook, H. Savage, George Rohwer, James Cruickshank, Henry Osterman and Thomas Wilkinson.
1893-James Cruickshank, Joseph Hammang, George W. Matteson, H. J. Carpenter, George Rohwer, D. H. Noble, Frank Jahnel.
From this date on the districts in the county were represented as follows :
1894-Frank Jahnel, Wm. Gray, G. Mehrens, George Drevsen, T. B. Pawling, W. W. Mckinney, R. Broderson, W. R. Downs.
1895-B. P. Miller, Chester C. Marshall, Henry Rohwer, James R. Smith, James Cruickshank, H. J. Carpenter, E. Castetter.
1896-C. C. Marshall, T. B. Pawling, J. R. Smith, B. P. Miller, Frank Jahnel, William Gray, James R. Smith.
1897-William Gray, W. D. Gross, H. Rohwer, G. M. Whitford, T. B. Pawling, W. W. Mckinney, J. M. Whitford and R. Broderson.
1898-M. Johnson, R. Broderson, W. D. Gross, T. B. Pawling, John D. Eakin, William Gray, Henry Rohwer.
1899-(Record of names not clear in Minute book.)
1900-A. O. Pound, William Wilson, H. J. Carpenter, F. A. Reyn- olds, L. K. Davies, H. Rohwer, John Blaco.
1901-Messrs. Day, Meier, Blaco, Davies, Gray, Wrich and Wilson. 1902-John Blaco, Meier, Reynolds, Magnus Johnson, J. L. Day, Hy Wrich, Wm. Gray.
1903-Henry Wrich, Joe S. Cook, P. T. Badgerow, H. D. Schoettger, F. A. Reynolds, Magnus Johnson, John Blaco.
1904-Joe S. Cook, Hy Wrich, P. T. Badgerow, H. D. Schoettger, S. W. Cushman, Fred Echtenkamp, Lee Smith.
1905-Joe S. Cook, Lee Smith, P. T. Badgerow, S. W. Cushman, Fred Echtenkamp, H. D. Schoettger, Henry Wrich.
1906-(No record.)
1907-Elected-E. W. Burdick, James E. Maher, Fred Ramser.
1909-Fred H. Heuermann, James E. Maher.
1911-Elected-E. W. Burdic.
1912-James E. Maher, Fred Heuermann and E. W. Burdic.
1913-James E. Maher, E. W. Burdic and Fred Heuermann.
1914-Same as above.
1915-Same as above.
1916-Same as above.
1917-James E. Maher, Fred Heuermann and Charles Nelson.
1918 Same as above.
1919-Charles Nelson, H. C. Blaco and John F. White.
1920-Same as above.
330
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
VALUATIONS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY-1920 FARM PROPERTY
Per
Land
Improvements
Total
Acre
Arlington Township
$4,829,650
$323,225
$5,152,875
$210
Sheridan Township
4,222,890
299,750
4,522,640
225
Fontanelle Township
5,159,440
410,450
5,569,890
224
Richland Township
4,719,335
344,760
5,064,095
213
Lincoln Township
4,908,075
330,920
5,238,995
210
Grant Township
4,189,320
226,075
4,424,395
187
Blair Township
4,028,760
341,360
4,367,920
169
Herman Township
2,786,555
138,850
2,925,305
155
Cuming City Township
3,516,810
162,400
3,667,510
159
Fort Calhoun Township
. .
4,105,875
250,100
4,355,975
135
De Soto Township
947,070
64,120
1,011,190
110
Total
$43,422,780
$2,982,010
$46,300,790
CITY PROPERTY-1920
Land value Improvements
Total
Blair City
$681,345
$3,183,175
$1,865,020
Arlington Village
185,725
351,005
586,730
Calhoun Village
82,110
115,100
197,260
Herman Village
160,310
197,075
357,385
Kennard Village
76,355
171,550
247,905
Washington Village
46,400
49,550
95,950
Total
$1,232,295
$4,067,455
$3,301,250
TOTAL VALUATIONS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY-1920
Actual value
Assessed value
Real estate (farm property)
$46,300,790
$9,260,158
Real estate (city property)
3,301,250
620,250
Personal property of county.
9,769,820
1,953,964
Railway terminal valuations.
2,146,475
423,295
Western Union Telegraph Company
24,275
4,855
Telephone companies
94,770
18,954
Insurance companies
335,425
67,085
Pullman Car Company
2,685
537
Express Company
4,785
957
Total valuation of county
$61,950,275
$12,390,055
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
The following is a copy of the county treasurer's semi-annual state- ment in Washington County for the half year ending June 30, 1920:
Name of fund
Receipts
Disbursements
Balance
State funds
$75,727.41
$84,005.43
$5,520.11
County general
23,001.06
27,132.29
1,145.77
County road
14,109.01
21,711.86
11,109.60
County bridge
16,631.38
18,263.07
3,855.21
331
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Name of fund
Receipts
Disbursements
Balance
Advertising
$ .20
$
.20
O. & N. W. interest.
325.31
$ 862.26
107.81
O. & N. W. sinking
5,298.97
5,003.31
1,878.23
S. & P. interest
805.21
925.71
463.19
S. C. & P. sinking
4,004.38
10,013.90
640.54
Soldier's relief
422.78
422.91
County ditch
4,569.06
3.91
6,434.31
Elkhorn drainage
200.50
650.00
12.12
Burt and Washington county drainage
1,193.20
15,000.00
272.73
Inheritance
9,442.65
2,201.18
9,881.69
District school
44,475.55
105,843.11
27,746.58
School bond
10,412.67
1,032.46
13,746.77
Blair City
4,867.07
10,288.74
3,180.33
Arlington Village
3,015.70
2,875.50
2,086.96
Kennard Village
644.47
1,788.01
174.11
Fort Calhoun
858.92
1,378.00
431.71
Herman Village
2,777.30
2,740.00
785.68
Washington Village
237.49
347.60
Fines
120.00
80,00
Fees
3,177.32
1,624.00
1,590.75
Redemptions
253.17
6,495.54
689.93
Motor licenses
3.75
536.35
De Soto ditch
346.33
346.33
Calhoun ditch
320.88
320.88
Interest on deposits
. .
Total
$279,646.28
$319,841.95
$90,411.28
CHAPTER IV RAILROADS OF THE COUNTY
THE OLD SIOUX CITY & PACIFIC-THE OLD OMAHA & NORTHWESTERN -THE PRESENT CHICAGO & NORTHWESTERN SYSTEM THROUGH THE COUNTY.
For the earliest railroad projects in this and adjoining counties the reader is referred to the Chapter on Railroads found in the Dodge County section of this work.
It may be stated in this connection, however, that in 1864 what was designated as the Northern Nebraska Air Line Railroad Company was organized, but nothing was done towards its construction. In 1867 the company was re-organized, consisting of John S. Bowen, John A. Unthank, Dean C. Slader, Jesse T. Davis and T. P. Kennard, the object being to build a railroad from De Soto to Fremont. A land grant of seventy-five sections of State land was donated the company in aid of the enterprise, and a temporary line was built from De Soto to the present site of the City of Blair.
In 1868 the company disposed of its rights and franchise to John I. Blair, the great railroad builder and his able associates, who the follow- ing year completed the road from Missouri Valley, Iowa, to Fremont, Nebraska. Washington County aided this project by voting bonds to the amount of $75,000.
THE PRESENT NORTH AND SOUTH RAILWAY
Evidently satisfied with the result of the above named company's operations, the people of this county in 1870 voted on and issued bonds to the amount of $125,000 in favor of what was styled the Omaha & Northwestern, and in 1872 this railroad was finished as far north as present Herman, this county, and a few years later was extended on to Sioux City. This road has long since been the paying property of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Company, and is closely allied with the great Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company. This gives the people of Washington County a direct outlet to the Twin Cities and the Great Lakes of the North, as well as to the South, via Omaha and Kansas City.
THE CHICAGO & NORTHWESTERN RAILROAD
Prior to about 1900 the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Com- pany owned and operated the roads in this and adjoining counties, but at that date the consolidation with the "Northwestern" system took place. It was early in the eighties that the company built a branch line from Arlington, this county, to Omaha, via South Omaha, thus giving direct shipping facilities for live stock with the Omaha markets. This line runs through Washington Village, and has sidings at other points in the county today. So in fact, today every railroad within Washington County is under the control of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Corporation. These lines connect with the Union Pacific both
332
333
DODGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
at Fremont and Omaha; also at Fremont with the lines running to the great northwestern country, including the Black Hills and Wyoming districts. Indeed these roads are worth every dollar they cost the tax-payers back in the eighties.
PRESENT MILEAGE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY
The clerk's books at Blair show the county's mileage to be at this date (1920) as follows :
The Chicago & Northwestern lines amount to 26.23 miles; The Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha amounts to 24.70 miles; total mileage in Washington County, 50.93 miles.
CHAPTER V AGRICULTURE AND STOCK RAISING
GENERAL FACTS - COMPARATIVE AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS - THE GRANGE MOVEMENT-ANNUAL PREMIUM LIST-REGISTERED FARM NAMES.
Washington County is among Nebraska's finest agricultural districts. From the early times the county has been noted for its rich soil and excellent annual crops. At first small grain was the larger of the crops grown, but as time went on, corn became the staple as it still continues to be. Stock-growing has for many years been a leading and most profitable farm industry. The present beautiful rural scenes-the well tilled fields, the great pastures of clover and alfalfa, the orchards and general departments, even to the poultry yards, each and all show the passerby a scene of thrift and prosperity seldom observed in the state. Aside from the few manufacturing concerns in the City of Blair, this is almost exclusively a farm county. With the passing years the farmers have paid off the former debts contracted-have made the best of improvements in way of farm buildings, including the modern silos, the neat poultry and hog houses, the many miles of stock-tight wire fencing, etc., have made farming a pleasure in place of a drudge. To be the owner of a Washington County farm is to be an independent, prosperous and contented person, whose lot has been cast in pleasant places.
COUNTY FAIRS
There were at least two attempts at Agricultural Annual Fairs in Washington County prior to the one two years ago which has brought into existence a society that will doubtless remain permanent for the good of every agriculturist within the "Kingdom of Washington." Along in the seventies a fair society was organized and grounds secured to the northeast of the City of Blair. After a few years of success that society went down. Again another society was formed and had its grounds to the southeast of the City of Blair and there many good annual exihibits were had, but in time that too, for various reasons, suc- cumbed to the almost inevitable in county fairs and also died. No trace of the grounds covered with improvements is to be seen today at Blair.
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.