USA > Nebraska > Dodge County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume I > Part 45
USA > Nebraska > Washington County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume I > Part 45
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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
STREET SCENE, BLAIR
founding of Blair was almost a certainty. The old Sioux City & Pacific as well as the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad, became the property (wheel within a wheel) of the great Chicago & Northwest- ern systems of railroads, and also the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha line, another road of the Northwestern system, gridironed this part of Nebraska. The latter crossing the line from California Junction to Fremont, at Blair, the same being constructed in 1871, from Omaha to Sioux City, through Fort Calhoun, De Soto, Blair, Herman on the north to Sioux City from which point it extends to the twin cities-Minneapolis and St. Paul.
With these lines of railway extending to terminal points in the great eastern, western, northern and southern cities, Blair very naturally has had the benefits of good transportation outlets.
FIRST EVENTS IN BLAIR
Blair was established in 1869 by John I. Blair.
The first postmaster was Charles E. Laughton.
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The county seat of Washington County was removed from Fort Cal- houn to Blair in 1869.
The first building erected on the townsite was the "railroad store" occupied by Messrs. Clark and Donovan. It was in this building that the first really permanent store was established by J. J. Adams.
The first family to settle in Blair was probably that of C. H. Eggle- ston, who arrived in December, 1868.
J. E. West & Company were also among the pioneer firms to engage in general merchandising.
Other dealers included H. C. Riordan, hardware, from De Soto; A. Castetter & Company established themselves in collection, real estate and banking. Jesse T. Davis and Dr. F. H. Longley moved from De Soto in April, 1869.
The first child born in Blair was Henry Seirt, Jr., son of Henry Seirt and wife, May 21, 1869. The first marriage was that of Hans Grimm to Miss Lizzie Harder.
The first Independence Day celebration in Blair was in the first year of its existence, John S. Bowen being orator on the occasion, while Dr. F. H. Longley was marshal.
The first republican political convention in Blair was held in the autumn of 1870, Elam Clark presiding.
Blair was incorporated as a town in 1869 and as a city in 1872.
The earliest public school was taught in 1869, by Sarah E. Kibby, but at the same place a school had been previously taught before the founding of Blair, by Miss Lida M. Newell, in 1868.
The first newspaper in Blair was the Register, establised in May, 1869, by Hilton & Son. (See press chapter.)
The first sermon preached in Blair was in the summer of 1869 by Rev. Jacob Adriance, in a car at the railroad station, previous to the removal of the church from Cuming City.
The first Baptist sermon preached was in April, 1869, by Rev. E. G. O. Groat, on the platform of the railway station.
MUNICIPALITY
Blair at first was incorporated as a "town" in 1869 by the county commissioners. The original officers were: J. H. Post, chairman ; Alex- ander Reed, Dr. F. H. Longley, C. B. Herman and M. V. Wilson, trustees.
In September, 1872, the "town" became a "city" under a new incor- poration proceedings-a city of the second class-when the following were elected : Mayor, J. H. Hungate ; councilmen, William Maher, E. M. Denny, John W. Tew and M. Gallagher ; police judge, John S. Bowen; marshal, Rice Arnold.
The mayors of Blair City have been as follows: J. H. Hungate, 1875; F. W. Kenny, 1876. Blair municipal records do not show the mayors from 1876 to 1883, but from that year on to the present they are shown to have been: W. D. Haller, 1883; V. G. Lantry, 1884; W. C. Walton, 1885 to 1889; W. D. Haller, 1889 to 1891; A. C. Jones, 1891 to 1893; J. McQuarrie, 1893; E. A. Stewart, 1894 ; Perry Selden, 1895; M. D. Bedal, 1896; A. C. Jones, 1897; John McQuarrie, 1899; J. H. Flock, 1900; W. D. Haller, 1901-2; Clark O'Hanlon, 1903; L. A. Williams, 1904; W. G. Harrison, 1905-06; W. D. Haller, 1907; C. R. Mead, 1908; W. R. Williams, 1909-10; J. F. White, 1911; W. D. Haller, 1912 to 1915; J. F. White, 1915; Magnus Johnson, 1916; S. W. Chambers, 1917; J. S. Roberts, 1918; Henry Christensen, 1919-20.
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Blair has an excellent system of water works and the quality is second to none in Nebraska, by frequent rests made at Lincoln. Two deep wells afford plenty of water. One of these wells is 171 feet deep and a later one is much deeper than this one. Water is forced to a large cemented reservoir on the high bluff to the south of the city proper. This affords a pressure, at the curbing in the business part of the place, of something over 100 pounds per square inch. These water works were first installed in 1885, or thereabouts, and improved and extended from time to time as the city grew, really rebuilt. The cost as shown in the several bond issues was $34,000.
In 1917 the city took over the private corporation of the old Nebraska Gas and Light Company, the exact date being September 2, 1917. This cost the city $35,000, for which bonds were issued, running twenty years.
(By Courtesy of Blair Tribune)
CITY HALL. BLAIR
The water and light plants are now combined and run by the city, with T. H. Trenberth as superintendent.
A fire department exists and sixty (the limit) members of a volun- teer fire company guard well the matter of fires. when one occurs, so that loss is slight in this direction. The department is finely equipped with modern appliances, including 3,000 feet of workable hose, plenty of long and shorter ladders, four hose-carts, a new Ford fire truck, and a large capacity chemical engine, just installed into use.
Street paving commenced in 1920 and the contract was let to an Omaha firm to lay a cement-base brick paving over the streets of Blair during 1920-21 to the amount of sixty-seven blocks, or equal to about four and one-half miles.
Other city improvements at this date is the construction of 82,180 feet (fifteen and one-half miles) of sanitary sewer, of which the lot- owners pay about $66,000 and the city pays $25,000.
A very handsome.well-built city building was erected of pressed brick in 1912. In this are kept the city offices, the fire department, and other city works, including water and light offices. It is just across the street south from the Government postoffice building.
(By Courtesy of Blair Tribune)
WARE FARM
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PRESENT CITY OFFICERS
The 1920 city officers are these: Mayor, Henry Christensen ; clerk, C. E. Krause; treasurer, R. G. Allen; chief of police, Samuel Stevens ; chief of fire department, K. A. Petersen; health officer, Dr. E. R. Stewart ; members of the city council, F. S. Bigelow, George Carmichael, L. A. Farnberg, Henry Grimm, J. E. Lutz, J. W. Newell and P. C. Sorensen.
COMMERCIAL INTERESTS-EARLY DEALERS, ETC.
The following shows the names of many of the business and profes- sional men and women of Blair, the same all having been there prior to 1876 and a number were there from the earliest history of the place- 1869-70.
The first real business house in the place was that of Herman Brothers, dry goods, and the next was Clark & Donovan, dealers in groceries and hardware, who later sold to John Adams. West & Lewis were early in dry goods business ; also Ross & McBride. Drugs, by Haller & Lane and Jone Zehrung, later the Peterson-Zehrung firm. Matthiesen & Logan carried a stock of dry goods and groceries; M. C. Huyett, clothing ; H. McBride, dry goods and groceries ; Haller Brothers, dry goods and groceries ; William Maher, in the last named line ; R. W. Dawson, photog- rapher ; William McCormick, had a grocery store, and a dry goods and grocery was kept by E. Frederick. Hardwares were kept by H. C. Rior- dan & Kenny, and later Kenny & Stewart. Agricultural implements by Gus Lundt, Graves & Frederick; Charles Schurig, bakery; J. Nestel in same line; later another bakery was established by A. Casper. Boots and shoes were kept by Lewis Valentine. Miss Lantry, Mrs. W. C. Wal- ton, Mrs. McKay, Mrs. Hilton, Mrs. Sarah E. Higley and Mrs. R. W. Lawson, millinery.
Among the pioneer hotels in Blair are remembered these: Kelly Brothers, Martin Kloos, William Maher, William Carson, Mrs. A. M. Quimby, Mrs. E. E. Sketchley, George Seirt and Henry Seirt. Hein- zerling and John Connell were the first to deal in harness goods. Butchers of the first five years in Blair's history were: Sheeley & Ervey, William O'Hara, William Miller, J. Hart, M. V. Wilson, John Connell, Bowen & Parks and John Parks. The grain dealers were Elam Clark & Son, C. C. Crowell and the Blair mill. The pioneer blacksmiths were John Tew, Frank Stanfield, Ed Cochrane and John H. Smith. The physicians were Drs. F. H. Longley, S. B. Taylor, S. H. Fawcett, C. Emerson Ten- nant, McLean, D. H. O'Linn, William H. Palmer. Lawyers included : Davis & Carrigan, later Carrigan & Osborne, W. C. Walton, B. F. Hil- ton, J. S. Bowen, M. Ballard, A. D. Brainard and J. W. Tucker. Real estate agents : Alexander Reed, Alonzo Perkins, A. Castetter. The early banker was A. Castetter.
The Blair City mill was completed about 1876. It was the property of H. B. Dexter, Eli H. Turton, V. G. Lantry, Messrs. Carter and Wortendyke.
In 1875 Blair dealers shipped out $300,000 worth of cattle and hogs to the market places of the country.
1920 BUSINESS INTERESTS IN BLAIR
As the years come and go it will doubtless be of some interest to future readers of this work to know who all were engaged in various
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business and professional callings in this sprightly city, now rapidly growing and destined ere long to become a much larger city-hence the subjoined business directory of today :
Automobile Garages-G. A. Rathmann, Van Huss-Antill, Walter Larsen, Lucien Haller, Arndt Hardware, George Corson, B. H. Holmes, S. J. Johnson, Jensen & Nielsen.
Attorneys-Grace Ballard, E. B. Carrigan, A. C. Debel, I. C. Eller, E. C. Jackson, John Lothrop, William J. Meher, Henry Mencke, D. Mum- mert, Clark O'Hanlon, Reed O'Hanlon.
Automobile Dealers-G. A. Rathmann, Van Huss-Antill, Walter Lar- sen, Lucien Haller, Arndt Hardware.
Abstract Firms-Ricker & Chambers, Ove T. Anderson, Claus Mencke.
Agricultural Implement Dealers-Smith Brothers, Peterson Brothers and the Farmers Co-operative Union.
Banks-The State Bank of Blair, Banking House of A. Castetter, Citizens State Bank and Farmers State Bank.
Barber Shops-C. E. McComb, Fred Nemetz, Charles Antrim, H. C. Petersen.
Bakeries-Hansen & Andersen, and Mrs. William Beyer & Son.
Blacksmith Shops-C. Molgaard Jensen, Miller Munk, R. M. Ludwick.
Clothing (exclusive)-James L. Pounds.
Cement Works-Crowell Lumber & Grain Company.
Cream Stations-T. H. Wright, Soren Rasmussen, J. C. Christensen, Frank Jenkins.
Drugs-Stewart Pharmacy, W. W. Witherby, and Ed Wolff.
Elevators-Crowell Lumber & Grain Company, Holmquist Grain & Lumber Company and the Farmers Co-operative Union.
Furniture-J. E. Campbell and J. I. Unruh.
Feed Stores-John McKay and John A. Rhoades.
Groceries-J. Mueller, H. J. Wimble, Jens Nielsen, A. Christensen.
General Merchandise-Sas Brothers, C. J. Beekman, Henry Christen- sen, "P. Z. The Shoe Man."
Hardwares-Thone & Farnberg, Julius Petersen, Arndt Hardware Co. Hotels-The Clifton, T. G. Rodgers, proprietor.
Harness Goods-Gus Scheffler.
Ice Dealers-Axtell Brothers.
Jewelry Shops-H. Ollermann.
Lumber-Crowell Lumber & Grain Company, Christensen Lumber Company.
Livery-J. P. Everson.
Monumental Work-J. E. Lutz, S. W. Schmidt.
Meat Markets-Jens Nielsen, Alexander Swansen, A. Christensen, Brown & Kemner, Chris Hansen.
Millinery-Mrs. Willa M. Jenkins, Mrs. T. C. Hilton.
Mills (Flouring)-Blair Milling and Grain Company.
Newspapers-Tribune, Pilot, Enterprise and Danskeren. (See Press Chapter.)
Photographers-J. A. Kuhn, H. C. Olsen.
Picture Shows-The Home, C. J. Robinson, proprietor.
Produce Houses-Blair Produce Company.
Physicians-Drs. Morris Nielsen, L. J. Kilian, R. J. Murdoch, G. A. Langstaff, J. V. Hinchman, E. R. Stewart, W. H. Palmer.
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Restaurants-S. H. Pounds, Ed Rann, M. Carlson.
Stock Dealers-Rathmann & McCracken, W. C. Allen.
Shoe Stores (exclusive)-Blair Shoe Company.
Shoe Repair Shops-Hansen Brenholdt, Hans Sorensen, J. E. Fischer. Tailor Shops-A. F. Garske, J. P. Johnson.
Veterinary Surgeon-D. C. Peebles, Hammond & Tilden.
Music House-The Bee Hive.
Manufacturing Plants (Industries)-Blair Horse Collar Company, The Blair Canning Company, The Foolproof Spark Plug Company, The Porter Incubator Company, Liberty Stock Remedy Company, Haller Proprietary Company, Aye Brothers Seed House and Mount Hope Fruit Farm.
POSTOFFICE, BLAIR
Blair postoffice, now an office of the second class, was established in 1869 with John E. Lawton as the pioneer postmaster. There are now nine mail trains daily at Blair. This was made a free delivery office August 1, 1913; its present city carriers are Leslie R. Offen, John C. Anderson, Delmar C. Feer, with substitute Alfred N. Feer. The office force includes the following: Margaret McMillan, assistant postmaster ; Bruce McMillan, Mrs. Eva Cook, clerks; Robert L. Widner, janitor ; Mrs. Mary Nelson, charwoman.
There are four rural delivery routes extending out from Blair to the surrounding country. The carriers on these routes are at this date (1920) : Howard Sutherland, James Reid, Raymond Hewitt and Cylde Allen.
The following list of postmasters serving at the Blair office is now to be seen preserved (with photographs of the postmasters), in the post- master's office in the new Government building: John E. Lawton, Dr. Silas Fawcett, L. F. Hilton, Cara Clark, John E. Boggs, Thomas Wilkinson, W. J. Cook and Thomas T. Osterman. Of this number all have passed from earth, save Miss Cara Clark, W. J. Cook and the present postmaster, Thomas T. Osterman, Mr. Hilton being the last to die.
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HOW THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT BUILDING WAS SECURED
Perhaps no better method of preserving the history of how so small a city as Blair secured an appropriation for so large and costly a post- office building than to quote from the columns of the Blair Tribune of July 15, 1920:
"Here is a clipping from the Tribune's 'morgue' and thinking it might interest our readers who have forgotten the fight Dave Mercer put up to get our government building, as well as to those who never heard of it, we are reprinting it. The appropriation was made February 7, 1899, and the story is as follows :
" 'The house committee of the whole passed a number of bills provid- ing for the erection of public buildings at points in Nebraska. The bill appropriating $43,000 for the purchase of a site and the erection of a public building at Blair was passed, but some opposition developed after its passage on the ground that Mercer had exaggerated the population of Blair.
"'In order to gain time Mr. Mercer said he would ask the unani- mous consent to strike out the Blair bill and substitute the Omaha public building for it. On this agreement the Omaha bill was read and passed. It extends the limit of cost to $1,800,000.
"'Mr. Handy then reminded Mr. Mercer that he had not yet stricken out the Blair bill, and Mr. Mercer asked the unanimous consent of the house to do it, but on the objection of Mr. Handy of Pennsylvania, a member of the committee, the house refused to grant its consent and both bills were passed. The clever move on the part of Mr. Handy to let Mr. Mercer out of a tight place was greeted with shouts of laughter and there was great applause.'
"Blair was one of the very few small cities in the United States to get an appropriation for a public building in those days, although during the past ten years a number of towns of this size have been made the recipients of buildings of this kind.
"If the writer's memory is correct Blair was reported to have had a population of 4,000 at that time. It probably only actually had about half that number. More than twenty years later we have less than 3,000 and have taken in considerable outside territory that the city limits didn't claim those days.
"The promise of a Federal building was made by Mr. Mercer while making a speech down at the old Germania Hall, when he stated 'that if he were again returned to Congress and Blair and Washington counties gave him their usual large majority, he would see that we got a govern- ment postoffice building.'
"The idea was laughed at by the democrats who ridiculed it as merely a campaign promise. But 'Dave' made good and the Tribune editor was the first democrat to occupy the building as postmaster.
"W. J. Cook was postmaster at the time and when the building was completed in 1901, moved the postoffice from the room in the Pilot build- ing now occupied by the Bell telephone offices. Mr. Cook followed the late Thomas Wilkinson as postmaster and held the position nearly seven- teen years. The Tribune editor took over the job July 1, 1914."
THE BLAIR PUBLIC LIBRARY
Among the public utilities and municipal possessions of which the City of Blair may feel a just pride is its public library. As the stranger
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approaches the northwestern corner of this structure they observe the conspicuous corner-stone of the public library which has this inscription : "Erected 1916 by the Nebraska Masonic Fraternity, Andrew A. Viele, Grand Master. Dedicated to the City of Blair, December 12." Then follows the names composing the first Library Board: Mrs. Charles R. Mead, president; N. T. Lund, vice president; Mrs. D. C. Van Deusen, secretary ; Mrs. J. P. Jensen, John A. Rhoades, Rev. A. E. Marsh, W. H. Myers, E. M. Beaty and J. B. Gibson.
The following should be preserved as the record of the early history connected with the present public library: In 1877 the people of the then little Hamlet of Blair established a small library. At first it was known as "The Ladies Library Association." It was soon changed to the "Blair Library Association." The first books were donated by the members and included classics, history, travels and some fiction. After a time the books were divided up and only a part of them kept at the home of Mrs. George Sutherland. In June, 1880, the society was reor- ganized and the home of Mrs. E. C. Pierce was the home of the library for a time. At least it appears of record that at that place new officers were elected as follows: F. W. Kenny, president; Miss Cara Clark, vice president ; Mrs. E. C. Pierce, secretary ; Mrs. A. Castetter, treasurer. The books were then moved to a room in the Pierce block, where it was kept open one day each week. Miss Carrie Wiseman was the first librarian there. She was succeeded by Miss Miriam Castetter, Miss Cara Clark, Miss Melitia Taylor and Dr. E. A. Palmer.
The next move of the library was when it was located over the Cas- tetter Bank, and from there it was removed to a room in the courthouse. While located there the librarians were: Clara Kenny, Daisy Lutz, Agnes Slater, Agnes Olermenn, Mr. McMenemy, Mrs. D. C. Van Deu- sen, Flora Bradley, May McQuarrie, Edith Schmahling. The library was then moved to the city hall. The first librarian after coming under city control was Miss May McQuarrie. Other well-known persons have been connected with this library, including: Judge I. C. Eller, Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Jackson, Mrs. L. L. Lantry, Mrs. F. W. Kenny, Mrs. W. C. Walton, Mrs. George De Temple, Mrs. H. H. Hahn, Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Van Deusen and Mrs. C. T. Farnham. Prof. W. L. Johnson in the early years gave freely of his time and talent to further the interests of this public library.
Later the library passed to the management of the Monday After- noon Club. In 1913 it was removed to the city hall, meantime members of the Woman's Club, etc., agitated a permanent home for the library which had no abiding place, and under the supervision of no real author- ity. At a meeting held Mrs. C. R. Mead, chairman of the club, took action, managed a campaign to induce the city council to take over the library, to make a levy for its support and endeavor to get a Carnegie building donated to Blair. Nels M. Jensen then took the matter in hand and got the council on his side. Just at this juncture two Blair news- papers-Democrat and Pilot-with Editors Thomas T. Osterman and D. C. Van Deusen, commenced their hearty support for the enterprise, giving free space for all who desired to have their say in print on the subject. After a lively campaign the library building measure was won. A site was selected on Lincoln Street and purchased; Andrew Carnegie donated $10,000 for the building and it was erected and opened to the general public October 6, 1917. It is a pressed brick building of modern construction. At the formal opening of the completed library building the Woman's Relief Corps had a "flag raising" and speeches were made.
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The library now has 3,500 volumes of excellent books, besides many regular newspapers and periodicals in the reading rooms.
The 1920 Library Board is as follows: Mrs. D. C. Van Deusen, Mrs. Dr. C. R. Mead, Mary Beaty, Rev. A. E. Marsh and George B. Riker.
CROWELL MEMORIAL HOME FOR THE AGED
This beautiful home is the gift of Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Crowell to the Methodist people of Nebraska that its superannuated ministers, their wives or widows, deaconesses and aged lay members of the church may spend the evenings of their life free from anxious care in the arms of the church to which they have given their love, their labor and their lives.
This charming spot, just joining the City of Blair on the west, con-
CROWELL MEMORIAL HOME FOR THE AGED, BLAIR
tains 111/4 acres of park, lawn, garden, orchard, vineyard and pasture. The original home contains twenty-two rooms of all sizes, with all mod- ern improvements. The new building has nine rooms finished on the first floor and eighteen rooms on the second floor yet unfinished.
This home was established in 1907, on a part of the old Crowell homestead place with its more than 100 varieties of shade trees, no two alike, originally.
There are three ways by which Methodists can find a home in advanced life; first, by paying in from a few hundred dollars up to whatever they may possess and this insures them a home the remainder of their days. Second, one without means may here find a home and receive the exact attention given to those of means. Third, if any time a Methodist of Nebraska should desire to become a member of the Home circle, he or she can do by paying a monthly board bill within the reach of anyone who boards now-a-days.
At this date, September, 1920, the Home has a membership of thirty- seven, of which ten are men and twenty-seven are women. The ages run from sixty to ninety-three years.
The present superintendent, Rev. W. H. Underwood and his excellent wife who is matron, published the following statement in Septem- ber, 1920:
The receipts of the institution show a balance on hand September 6, of $669.59.
From the church, $8,142.91; from guests, $4,007.60; miscellaneous, $710.52; from maintenance fund, $2,167.55.
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The disbursement fund shows among its items: Groceries, $1,643.95 ; meats, $690.43 ; coal, $847.25 ; building material, $4,144.80; gas, $386.05; feed, $675.47 ; salaries, $4,680.89; insurance, $1,012.85; light, $302.65; miscellaneous, $1,357.83.
Total amount of fund, August 1, $10,001.84. Cash on hand, $3,084.15. This is the only home for aged Methodists in Nebraska and but few other commonwealths have such a plan.
CHAPTER XVIII CUMING CITY TOWNSHIP
BOUNDARY-STREAMS-RAILROAD-BIG DRAINAGE DITCH-POPULATION -TYSON STATION-CUMING CITY (DEFUNCT)-HIGHLAND
Cuming City Township is bounded on the north by Herman Town- ship, on the east by the west shore of the Missouri River, on the south by Blair Township and on the west by Grant Township.
The streams of this part of Washington County include Stewart Creek, Lippincott Creek, the headwaters of Long and New York Creeks, and also Fox and Mckinney Lakes.
The railway line of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Company runs through this township from north to south with a station point at Tyson in section 15.
The Cameron Drainage Ditch courses its way through this part of the county, and finally empties into the Missouri east of Blair.
The population of Cuming City Township for three census periods- from 1890 to 1910, was as follows: In 1890 it was 665; in 1900 it was 638, and in 1910 it was 613-the late census is not yet completed for use.
HIGHLAND
Highland, a small station point on the railroad between Blair and Herman, originally known as Mead Station, in honor of Giles Mead, a large stock shipper from this place. The name was changed to Highland in September, 1881. The postoffice at Highland was named Giles and was established January 1, 1882; Giles Mead was first postmaster. For many years the place was noted for its brick industry and for the amount of wild hay pressing that was annually carried on.
CUMING CITY-DEFUNCT
Concerning this "has been" village it was written by the author of the Nebraska State History in 1882, which is excellent authority, as follows :
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