USA > Nebraska > Gage County > History of Gage County, Nebraska; a narrative of the past, with special emphasis upon the pioneer period of the county's history, its social, commercial, educational, religious, and civic development from the early days to the present time > Part 35
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connection with his farm work, built a harness shop in Adams, and this he conducted until his death, in 1913, the business still being car- ried on by his son, George Horrum. The se- nior Horrum built the first brick business house in Adams. Dr. J. W. McKibbin, the first resident physician of Adams, located in the village in 1881, and has been in constant prac- tice of his profession here since that time.
Early in the history of Adams, H. J. Mer- rick organized a patrons' cooperative com- pany, with a capital stock of five hundred dol- lars, its object being the conducting of a gen- eral merchandise business. Stephen Disher became president of the company ; H. J. Mer- rick, secretary ; B. P. Zuver, manager. This was the pioneer business of Adams, it being established in June, 1874. From it has de- veloped the Tourtelot-Barber Company, which conducts one of the best general stores any- where to be found in a village of seven hun- dred inhabitants, the present population of Adams.
The grain business has been an active in- dustry at Adams from the moment the rail- road came. Many individuals and companies had helped develop it until finally the Cen- tral Granaries Company obtained control of the business. In 1908 this company sold its elevator to the Farmers Elevator Company, incorporated, with a capital stock of $10,000, held by two hundred farmers and business men of Adams and adjacent territory. J. B. Zuver was its first president, J. W. Campbell its first secretary, and J. B. Zuver its manager. The officers at present are: H. J. Merrick, president ; Henry Bable, secretary ; and J. B. Zuver, manager ; capital and surplus, $40,000.
In 1905 W. E. Bryson and J. E. Miller erected a large, first-class flouring and feed mill, which was later sold to the Nebraska Corn Products Company, and was dismantled, the machinery being removed and the building sold to the Farmers Elevator Company.
The lumber business first operated at Adams was known as the Chicago Lumber Company, with A. Huyser, manager. This company was succeeded about 1880 by the Stewart, Chute Lumber Company and others,
including M. J. Mitten, who is now engaged in that business.
The first bank at Adams was a private bank, owned by Messrs. Holber & Bauer, who began business in 1884. It was followed by the State Bank of Adams, in 1889; capital stock, $10,000. The board of directors under the original charter comprised W. P. Norcross, H. J. Merrick, J. W. McKibbin, B. P. Zuver, J. H. Spellman, W. W. Barnhouse, W. E. Bryson ; - Norcross, president; Mckibbin, vice-president ; and Merrick, cashier. March 1, 1902, the controlling interest was purchased by C. S. Black and L. B. Howey, of the First National Bank of Beatrice, and F. B. Draper, of Lincoln, Nebraska, W. P. and H. H. Nor- cross retiring. Mr. Black became president and Mr. Draper the cashier, the capital stock being increased to $15,000. Directors : Black, Draper, Howey, Merrick, Barnhouse, McKib- bin, and Bryson. In 1908 the bank was re- organized as the First National Bank, with a capital of $25,000. The former officers and board of directors were retained. The insti- tution is a depositary of the Federal Reserve Bank.
In 1908 the Farmers' State Bank was or- ganized, with a capital stock of $25,000. President, G. W. Meeker ; vice-president, W. E. Bryson ; cashier, Frank O'Neal. After some changes in management, a controlling interest of the capital stock was purchased, in 1917, by Mr. Christiansen and Frank M. Stapleton. Stapleton being the cashier and A. M. Replogle the vice-president.
The bank known as the Adams State Bank was organized with a capital stock of $20,000. Officers and directors : Chris Hennies, presi- dent; Frank Schoen, vice-president; Frank Grammann, cashier; F. H. Hennies, August Hoehne, Adolph Hoehne, Thale Tholen, di- rectors. The three banks here named are all in flourishing condition, which indicates a prosperous and wealthy community.
In the spring of 1859, Mrs. Hannah Hicks Shaw invited the settlers with their children to meet at her home to study the Bible. A dozen of all ages responded. The older ones were taught by Miss Phoebe Gale, daughter
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of George Gale, and the younger by Mrs. W. W. Silvernail (Rebbecca Shaw). Mrs. Shaw then visited Nebraska City and ob- tained second-hand Sunday-school supplies from Mr. W. L. Boydston, of the Methodist church of that place. From this lively root have sprung all the religious activities of Adams township. In 1861 D. H. Wheeler, representing the American Sunday School Union, came to the township for the purpose of establishing a Sunday school, but he found the work already advanced and in good hands. In 1861 and 1862 the school was held at a new school house in district No. 2, old Clay county, but continuing under the superin- tendency of Mrs. Shaw. In 1866 the school was held in a log house on what was known as Chambers' farm, and afterward at the Disher farm, now owned by S. B. Fraper ; the superintendent was William Curtis. It was afterward held in a barn recently built by John Lyons, and in 1868 and 1869 again was held in the school house of district No. 2. In 1870 school district No. 30 was organized and a dug-out school-house was made on the land now a part of Adams village. In this place Matthew Weaverling (afterward, for three terms, county superintendent of schools of Gage county) taught the first school in that district. In 1871 a new frame building was erected one-half mile west of what is now the village of Adams and the Sunday school was transferred to it, where it remained until 1882, when it was transferred to the newly built Methodist Episcopal church, on the present high-school grounds in the village of Adams.
This had been a union Sunday school until this time, when the Presbyterians withdrew to their own newly built church, and organized as a denominational school, with W. C. Gray as superintendent. The remainder ·organized as a Methodist Episcopal school, with Silas Bryson as superintendent. In the early '70s the Baptists organized a Sunday school in school district No. 2, with J. H. Lynch and Charles Whyman as principal supporters.
The first sermon preached in Adams town- ship was by Z. B. Truman, at the home of Stephen and Hannah Shaw, in November,
1859, followed in 1860 by Rev. Kindall, both Methodists. From this time until 1867 Rev. Luther Gibbs, a Baptist homesteader, served the people. In that year Rev. Leroy F. Britt, Methodist minister of Tecumseh, preached during the summer, and organized a class of seven persons, namely: William Curtis, Silas Bryson, Mrs. Clara Bryson, Mrs. Almira Lyons, Mrs. Letitia Adams, Mrs. Harriet Adams, Mrs. Robert Howard. Robert How- ard was appointed leader. In 1868 Silas Bry- son was elected leader, with Rev. George Paddock pastor in charge. In 1869-1870, Rev. A. L. Folden and Rev. J. H. Presson were pastors in charge, followed, in 1872, by T. A. Hull. In 1873-1874 J. H. Presson ; 1875, H. P. Mann; 1876, N. W. Van Orsdal; 1877, T. A. Hull, who died in his chair while holding ser- vices in the Hooker school house; 1878, H. A. S. King; 1879, G. W. Walker; 1881, Isaac New - all were pastors of the Methodist con- gregation. Within these years the first Methodist Episcopal church was built and the congregation thereafter was served by J. W. Taylor, in 1883; B. C. Phillips, 1884-1885; J. S. Orr, 1886; M. C. Smith, 1887-1891; A. L. Folden, 1891 to 1894; J. J. Stannard, 1894- 1898; Duke Slavins, 1899-1902, when the new church was built, at a cost of $10,000.
Rev. Mr. Wharton, a missionary Baptist, organized a church in 1869, with J. H. Lynch and wife, Charles Whyman and family, and others as its supporters.
The First Presbyterian Church was organ- ized February 22, 1880, by Rev. George L. Little, of Omaha, assisted by Rev. A. B. Irwin, of Beatrice. William A. Gray and F. G. Dick- inson were chosen as ruling elders. This church, in connection with its Sunday school, Christian Endeavor and other organized ac- tivities, has been a directive force in the de- velopment of the moral uplift of the commun- ity. Rev. W. I. Boole is the present pastor.
The Freewill Baptists and the Christian church each has an active organization, with Sunday schools and Christian Endeavor so- cieties in connection therewith.
The following named societies were early organized in Adams: Independent Order of
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HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA
Odd Fellows, Ancient Free & Accepted Ma- sons, Grand Army of the Republic, Women's Relief Corps, Sons of Veterans, Woodmen of the World, Royal Highlanders, Independent Order of Good Templars, and others.
In November, 1905, the village board of trustees granted to E. J. Shaw and his suc- cessors, or assigns, the right to install an elec- tric light and power plant, and this has been in constant operation since that date. In 1915 the village acquired control of this plant, en- larged its capacity and placed it on a modern basis, since which time it has been giving its patrons the best of service.
The Adams Gazette, Volume I, No. 1, was issued March 25, 1886, by W. H. Fitzgerald, and this was the beginning of newspaper en- terprise in Adams. The paper soon passed into the hands of Mr. Snyder, who continued this publication until 1892, when M. D. Hor- hamn became editor and proprietor. In 1907 the present owner and publisher, E. W. Var- ner, purchased the plant and he has given to Adams and vicinity probably the best weekly newspaper now published in Gage county.
This brief summary of the origin, business interests, religious and social life of Adams was prepared in the main by Hon. Homer J. Merrick, whose life has been so long identi- fied with the community of which he writes, and it modestly omits extended reference to the citizens of Adams and the country tribu- tary to it. It is no exaggeration, nor is it ful- some praise, to state that no community in our county is more distinguished as possessing a large intellectual life and all those qualities and attributes of character which go to make up a loyal, enterprising and wholly reliable citizenship than the one of which he writes.
BARNESTON
The village of Barneston, one of the inter- esting and pretty villages of southern Gage county, stands on historic ground. It em- braces within its boundaries the site of the ancient village of the Otoe Indians and their agency buildings, a location which serves as a perpetual reminder to the old settlers and their descendants of the original inhabitants of
Gage county. Barneston is located on the Union Pacific Railway line from Valley, Ne- braska, to Manhattan, Kansas, via Lincoln and Beatrice. It is named for Francis M. Barnes, who was a member of the original townsite company and who was affiliated by marriage with the Otoe Indian tribe, his wife being a half-blood Indian woman, a daughter of Andrew Drips. Mrs. Barnes was born November 15, 1827, in Bellevue, Nebraska, where her father was stationed as a repre- sentative of the American Fur Company. She was educated at the Convent of the Visitation, at Kaskaskia, Illinois, and in 1856, at Kansas City, Missouri, she became the wife of Fran- cis M. Barnes. In 1859 they moved to the Territory of Nebraska, and later they settled near the Otoe and Missouri Indians in Gage county. As far as known, Mrs. Barnes is the oldest living native born Nebraskan.
The townsite of Barneston comprises the greater portion of the northwest quarter of section 18, township 1 north, range 8 east, while West Barneston, an addition to the original town, lies in the northeast quarter of section 13, township 1 north, range 7 east, where the railway line, sidetracks and station are located. The owners of the original town- site were F. M. Barnes, of Barneston; H. R. W. Hartwig, of St. Joseph, Missouri; I. N. Speer, of Hiawatha, Kansas; and H. L. Ewing, John Ellis, Charles O. Bates, and Al- fred Hazlett, of Beatrice, Nebraska. The plat of the town of Barneston was filed in the of- fice of the register of deeds of Gage county, May 17, 1884. The plat of West Barneston was filed on August 3, 1883. The larger por- tion of the business establishments of the village and nearly the entire residence district are in the original town of Barneston, which is a part of Liberty township. Some years ago, however, the county board annexed the quarter section on which the town is located to Barneston township for voting and other administrative purposes.
The surroundings of the village are roman- tically beautiful. Near by on the north is Wolf creek, a living, well timbered stream, and on the south is beautiful Plum creek, a
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HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA
never-failing stream of water. Towards the west is the Big Blue river, and on every hand what was once a rolling prairie now shows cultivated, highly improved, thrifty farms. It is to the eastern part of the old Indian res- ervation what Odell is to the western part, with this difference, that about Barneston clings the romance of another race.
As early as 1873 there was a trading post at the Indian village where Barneston is now located. That year F. M. Barnes opened a store with a general stock of goods, near the agency· buildings, which he maintained until the Indians removed to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma), in 1881. In 1882, prior to the founding of Barneston village, he again estab- lished a store at this point, to accommodate land seekers and the early settlers on that part of the old Otoe and Missouri Indian reserva -. tion. The first merchant in Barneston after it was surveyed and platted was Patrick Raw- ley, who conducted a general merchandise store there until 1910; he now lives at Falls City, Nebraska. He was soon followed by A. G. Keyes, with a hardware store. The first district school-teacher at Barneston was a man named Harris. In 1883 he taught a school in the old Indian school building, a structure fifty by ninety feet, two stories in height. This building was located on the quarter-sec- tion of land just east of Barneston. It was erected by the United States government for the education of the Indian youths and maid- ens of the Otoe and Missouri Indian villages, and some years ago it was destroyed by fire.
The school district of Barneston was or- ganized November 22, 1883, at the residence of William Tauer, and it has since been known as district No. 116. The Barneston district possesses at present a frame, two- story school house and the school district em- ploys four teachers, with an enrollment of ap- proximately ninety pupils. The course of study includes only two years of high-school work. Recently the district has been greatly augmented by being consolidated with districts Nos. 119, 121, 177, 136, and 137 into a county high school, with approximately one hundred and fifty pupils. It is planned to erect for the
consolidated district a new school building in the village of Barneston, at a probable cost of $40,000, and when this building is com- pleted there will be installed, with the usual grades, a high school providing four years' work.
A United States postoffice was early estab- lished in Barneston, with F. M. Barnes as the first postmaster. Those who have succeeded him are A. G. Keyes, Edwin Huddert, Jesse C. Wyatt, and Bertha Hablitzle, the present incumbent. Rural free delivery of mail is maintained at Barneston, the service now be- ing performed by a single carrier.
The first physician in Barneston was Dr. C. S. Smith, who remained three years. Those who have followed him were Drs. Hinton, J. I. Gumaer, J. L. Kirby, U. D. Stone, G. W. Strough, F. J. Bachle, and F. J. Woods. All abandoned the field but Dr. Woods, who has pursued his calling in Barneston and vicinity so many years and so successfully that he has become not only a professional but a social and political force.
About the year 1884 James Craig opened a private bank in Barneston and he continued in business there until 1890. He was succeed- ed by the Bank of Barneston, incorporated, about 1890, by F. M. Barnes and C. M. War- ren, of Barneston; John Ellis, Horace L. Ewing, W. F. King, and Harriet Ewing, of Beatrice ; and W. Q. Bell, of Lincoln, Ne- braska. This banking institution is still in existence, and is owned and officered by J. A. Spencer, president, and A. D. Spencer, cash- ier. Since 1903 the banking business at Barneston has been shared with the Commer- cial State Bank of that village. J. M. Howe is the president, and Henry Monfelt the cashier of the Commercial State Bank. Both banking institutions are in a flourishing condition.
In addition to the banks, Barneston has two general stores, a drug store, hardware store, grocery store, two restaurants, a hotel, two garages, a blacksmith shop, barber shop, lum- ber and coal yard, pump and plumbing estab- lishment, two elevators, a meat market, and such other business concerns as one would ex-
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HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA
pect to find in a village of like size and char- acter.
The benevolent and other orders of the village consist of a lodge of the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, Chapter of the Eastern Star, camp of the Modern Woodmen of America, and organizations of the Royal Neighbors and Royal Highlanders.
In 1889 the Presbyterians erected a fairly good church building in Barneston, at a cost of $1,200, and they have since maintained a church organization in the village. The Catholics also have an organization there, their church edifice having been erected in 1892, at a cost of $1,800.
By the census of 1910, Barneston was given 228 inhabitants. Its population at present (1918) is approximately 300. In general ap- pearance Barneston is a very neat, pretty, at- tractive town. Its business men are active, accommodating and public-spirited. Barnes- ton has furnished members of the legislature, Hon. A. D. Spenser having served in both branches of that body.
Among those who have been prominent in shaping the destiny of Barneston and in the management of its affairs are F. M. Barnes, W. P. Wyatt, Matthew Weaverling, C. W. Warren, George Pace, A. L. Cook, Patrick Rawley, James Ryan, William Tauer, Joseph Guittard, Jesse C. Wyatt, Julius Vogel, A. G. Keyes, G. D. Barry, William Monfelt, A. D., Hugh, and J. A. Spencer, Edward Huddert, S. S. Ratcliff, Timothy Rawley, Dennis Sulli- van, James Maliscky, John Wolken, Lon Tur- ner, Harry Zook, John Anderson, Frederick Barnes, Jacob Gutbrot, and F. J. Woods.
CLATONIA
Tucked away in the northwest corner of the county is the substantial village of Clatonia, located on a creek of that name, in Clatonia township. The original townsite comprises a forty-acre tract, in sections 22 and 27. Henry Albert and J. H. Steinmeyer, both highly es- teemed pioneer residents of the county, were the proprietors of Clatonia, and having caused the townsite to be surveyed and platted in the spring of 1892, they filed the plat for record in
the office of the register of deeds, December 3. 1893. Some additions have been made to Cla- tonia and the townsite now includes about eighty acres of land. It is a station on the main line of the Rock Island Railway from Chicago to Denver, via Omaha, Lincoln, and Jansen. It is about twenty miles northwest of Beatrice and about the same distance south- west of Lincoln. Prior to the construction of this line of railroad and the founding of Cla- tonia the farmers of this section were without immediate market facilities for the produce of their lands, and Clatonia township and other portions of the northwest corner of the county divided their trade with Cortland, DeWitt, Wilber, and Crete; but since the founding of the village, that scope of country has been given an excellent market.
Trains began operating on the railway line in May, 1903, and Clatonia quickly grew into a thriving country village. It was incorporated as a village about 1893, with one of its founders, J. H. Steinmeyer, as chairman of the village board, and J. I. Moore as clerk. At present the village board is composed of the following well known Clatonians: E. J. Chittenden, president; J. E. McCormick, clerk ; and C. A. Miller, J. H. Meyer, and H. Suders.
The first family to establish a residence in the village was that of Frank W. Jones, and Mr. Jones was also Clatonia's first postmaster. The first merchant in Clatonia was a Mr. Jac- quith. The first child born in the village was Gladys Berkheimer. The first church was the German Methodist Episcopal, an organization which as early as 1871 had erected a church building on the tract of land which afterward became Clatonia. In 1903 the English-speak- ing Methodists organized a church and erected a house of worship.
About 1893 John H. and William Stein- meyer organized the Farmers' Bank of Cla- tonia, and about 1900 erected a substantial, brick, bank building, which it now occupies. Henry Albert is now president of this bank ; J. H. Steinmeyer, vice-president ; and E. J. Chittenden, cashier. Later the Steinmeyers built a substantial village inn, and in 1894 J.
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HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA
H. Steinmeyer built a large grain elevator, which is now owned by the Farmers Elevator & Grain Company of Clatonia.
The school district of Clatonia was organ- ized in 1894, at the house of Henry Albert. The district has a frame, two-story school- house of three rooms, employs three teachers and has an enrollment of about sixty pupils. In addition to the usual eight grades it offers a two years' high-school course of study.
In addition to the various business and other interests here mentioned, Clatonia has two general stores, two hardware stores, a lumber yard, drug store, hotel, elevator, privately
land township, within a mile of the north line of the county. It is a station on the Union Pacific Railway line from Valley, Nebraska, to Manhattan, Kansas. The original town- site comprises the east half of the northeast quarter of section 11 in this township. The land was bought from Alfred Gale by Joseph H. Millard, of Omaha, in 1883, about the time of the construction of what was then known as the Omaha & Republican Valley Railroad, a branch then, as now, of the Union Pacific system. Millard caused the tract to be surveyed and platted and the plat was filed for record February 4, 1884. Mr. Millard,
GARAGE
ELBOKING LAST, GORTLAND, NE BK
owned electric-lighting plant, two garages, a blacksmith shop, and such other business en- terprises as are common in Nebraska villages of its population. The village also owns its waterworks system.
The postoffice, with Mr. G. M. Ludick as postmaster, gives rural free delivery to Cla- tonia patrons, a service performed by a single carrier.
Clatonia has a population of 180 by the fed- eral census of 1910. It is substantially built, many of the business houses being of brick, and is the center of a large German-American neighborhood, some of whose members were pioneers in Gage county, - notably Henry Al- bert, J. H. Steinmeyer, Henry Steinmeyer, and William Steinmeyer.
CORTLAND
The village of Cortland is situated in High-
who was afterward United States senator from Wisconsin, was at that time a director in the Union Pacific Railway Company. The station buildings and the railroad yards at Cortland are situated on this tract of land. The depot was built in the spring of 1884. A strip of land in section 12, east of the railroad right-of-way, platted in 1884 by the owner Frank H. Oberman, and Malone's Addition, on the north, also platted in 1884, have been added to the original townsite.
The first merchant in Cortland was Henry Spellman, who hauled lumber from Firth, in Lancaster county, and erected a building upon the townsite in the winter of 1883-1884, where he conducted a general merchandise store. In the spring of 1884 Wallingford & Masterman established a farm-implement store in Cort- land, Downs & Hickman a general store, and Fred Wittstruck erected a building used by
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HISTORY OF GAGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA
him as a boarding house or hotel. In the winter of 1883-1884, L. A. Simmons, now sheriff of Lancaster county, erected the first residence on the townsite. Some of the early merchants in Cortland were LaSalle & Fisk, J. C. Warner and Kurtz Brothers, who con- ducted general stores ; I. M. Scott, a hardware merchant ; and Baum & Scott, druggists.
In its early history Cortland acquired bank- ing facilities, James Scanlon and J. H. Ballard having established the Bank of Cortland about 1885. They were succeeded by Jacob Bond. During the great panic of 1893 this bank failed; but later Thomas Burling re- opened it, and after conducting it for some
one of the first settlers in Highland township, having located on a homestead in 1872. In 1889 he was one of Gage county's representa- tives in the state legislature and he was always recognized as a citizen of sterling worth. At the present time Mrs. Martha Gletty is post- mistress. The rural districts at Cortland are supplied with free mail delivery, this service being performed by two carriers.
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