History of Hall County, Nebraska, Part 16

Author: Buechler, A. F. (August F.), 1869- editor
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western Pub. and Engraving Co.
Number of Pages: 1011

USA > Nebraska > Hall County > History of Hall County, Nebraska > Part 16

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).

Where the Koehler hotel now stands the old O. K. Store was located. When Anderson first came to town, he says, there was a slough that ran through between Pine and Front, and. I went down to the house, before I could get in, on Locust street it made a very low place. It is hard for one now seeing the brick buildings that center around Locust and Pine streets, be- tween the railroad and Third streets, to realize that at one time there was a low place on this location. Mr. Anderson opines that a thousand wagon loads of manure, rubber boots, tin cans, and various materials were doubtless filled in there, and when they came to dig cellars, these places were cleaned out and dirt put in around the holes excavated. Where the Glade Mills now stands there was an especially low place. On the alley, on the west side of Locust, be- tween Front and Third streets, a bridge was fixed so when water stood there both sides of the street would not be blocked. The little frame building used by Platt & Thummel has

been taken away, and the brick building occu- pied by the State Bank of Grand Island placed there, but a frame building hauled in during early days and called the Bon Ton Free Mason building still remains on Locust street back of the State Bank building.

THE STORM OF 1873

When the great storm of 1873 came, Mr. Anderson was conducting the saloon at the corner of Pine and Locust. The entire build- ing was drifted in, with snow to the top of it. When it lessened so the boys could get outdoors, they would climb up over the snow to the roof of the building, get onto their sleds and run over onto a story and half structure at the corner where the present Hedde Block now stands. Mr. Anderson remarks incident- ally that at one time he was offered that 66 x 132 feet of ground, with the building there- on, for $1500, then owned by a Mr. Lord, an old engineer.

Mr. Anderson then lived in a story and half house on Pine street, right south of Se- cond street. For three days he was unable to traverse the distance of less than three blocks from his place of business to his home. They then had a couple of rooms and a little small kitchen in which there was a pump and a supply of coal and kindling. He says: "I knew my wife had enough to eat, but when I had to call some police and get a lot of fellows together and we shoveled in to the door. She couldn't open the door. We shov- eled that door open. Then she commenced to cry and I wanted to know what was the matter. She wouldn't stay in that house any longer - it was haunted. I said nonsense? She went over to the wall, said she could hear it there. I went over and listened and could hear an ooo! ooo! I thought perhaps it might be a man pinned in there and perhaps he might be dying. So we got busy and shoveled it out, and would you ever guess what we dug out there - we shoveled out a great big Texas steer, about fifteen hands high, immense horns, and his eyes were green. You had ought to have seen the fellows run. There was a butcher

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HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA

GRAND ISLAND IN 1879

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HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA

here by the name of Cornelius, and he rounded Sam, Eat-em-up Jake, Rebel George, Levy, up that steer and kept him all summer. His and others who could stand around and brag, "I killed my man," "I got my man," "I got an- other one," as they called, "I've got six to my credit now," "I've got three," and other re- marks showing the credit due to their skill in markmanship and dexterity. hair came off his back clear to his horns. He was some sight. He had come this way in the storm, kept coming northeast; snow had just drifted in on his hair and froze it so his hair all came out in time. In the fall he was a big fine looking fellow and then they butchered him."

THE COWBOY REGIME

During the early 'seventies Grand Island and Kearney were the principal trading sta- tions on the railroad, from which trade radi- ated to an immense territory. Cowboys would come from the Custer County and Upper Loup country and clear from the Niobrara region. Some pretty rough scenes took place, but compared to what he afterwards witnessed out around Ogallala and Sidney, Mr. Ander- son considers that Hall County did not ex:per- ience the bloody initiation into settled life that towns further west did.

THREE YEARS AT SIDNEY

About 1875, Mr. Anderson and his partner, Johnnie Williams, left the saloon and pool room business in Grand Island and went to Sidney, where they remained for awhile. At that time the Black Hills excitement was on in full blast. They went into a saloon business there. Mr. Anderson was elected coroner, but · that proved, as he expressed it, "too tough for me." He adds: "Every few mornings there would be a rap on the door and a call would come, 'Mr. Coroner, get up, we've got another stiff for you.' that being the way they put it. That got to be too much for me and I quit before my time was up. I wouldn't be annoyed with so much killing." Those were the days in Sidney when the Texan herds would be brought up to the north country. The Civil War was not so far removed but that the northern fellows would run into the southern herders and something would start right away. In those times such characters as Ben and Bill Thompson, Texas gamblers, killers, and shooters as they called them, came along. Others who would show up were Wyeth, Bat Mathiesen, Jim Fien, Grasshopper

During this time Henry Clarke of Omaha built a toll bridge across the Platte River, at the point known later as Camp Clark, about three to five miles west of the present town of Bridgeport. This bridge opened a short route from Sidney to Deadwood and Dakota points. The danger from Indians was so great the government did not undertake to carry the mail, but permitted Mr. Clarke to do so, for a charge of 10 cents. An envelope used for this purpose showing the centennial stamp of 1876 is illustrated on another page.

A FREIGHTING EXPERIENCE

One day a man came along with a freighting outfit, one of those with a large front wagon and its trailer, with six sets of teams, eight pair of mules to the team, each team handling two wagons, the main wagon and its trailer. Anderson narrates : "He came into my place of business, took a few drinks and wanted to know if I would trade my saloon for his freighting outfit. I said, I never had anything yet I wouldn't trade, so we went down in the cellar and took a kind of an inventory. The building I had built myself. I believe it was- n't two hours until I had traded the saloon for his outfit, and then I went freighting to the hills. We used to get big prices then.

"Then one time the town of Deadwood burned down. Pretty nearly the whole town burned out that time. The news came and then every freighter was wondering what he would load with to make a trip there. Some got a load of whiskey, some flour, some a load of ham and bacon, and I finally said to myself, what are you going to load with? I tried to think what might be most desired when I'd get there Anyhow I happened to think of window glass. I didn't have enough money to buy, wasn't able to buy enough window glass for loading my outfit. I went to a man there by the namgle

HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA

SIDNEY SHORT ROUTE. Clarke's Centennial Express to the Black Hills.

1776 UCHOSTAGES

In consideration of the 10 cents paid for this envelope, and of which payinent its possession bears evidence, the undersigned agrees to carry it from the Union Pacific Railroad at Sidney, Neb., to Custer Cliy, and Deadwood, Dakota, (and such other places as his route may supply), or from above places to the Union Pacific Rail- Jond at Sidney, without additional charge,. I. T. CLARKE. (ovER.)

THREE CENTS 1876

Care of H. T. CLARKE,

Sidney, Neb.

FAL-SAMLE OF ENVELOPE USED IFHE PONY EXPRESS BUSINESS

: H. T. CLARKE, FORWARDING AND COMMISSION MERT

tically of getting mail through to and from the Black Hills, Mr. filled Aud forwarded at the lowest rates of freight, Owing to the dif- Mowersand Out-Fluting Goods, SIDNEY NEBRASKA. AU orders CHANT. wholesale dealer in Grain, Groceries, Provisions, Wagons,

Express to Caster City, Deadwood and other points. Price 10 cta. which all mail must be enclosed to be forwarded by CLAAKa's LETTER Hills, Government Envelopes, similar to the old Pony Express, io Clarke bas bad priote ) and placed on sale al Sidney and Points in the

SIDNEY SHORT ROUTE THE BLACK HILLS

The New 61 Span Truss Bridge over the Platte River! 40 Miles North of Sidney, IS NOW OPEN FOR TRAVEL, AND, WITH THE ROAD, IS Guarded by the United States Troops

ONLY 167 MILES TO CUSTER CITY FROM THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD.

Wood and Water In abundance, and the Finest Roads In the World by this Route. "All Mail sent int care of H. T. CLARKE, Bidney, And Camp Clarke, Platte River Bridge, will be forwardedns directed. Sidney is oow a good out-fitting point. Large supply of Grain, Groceries, Hardware, and Produce always on bend. Hotel accommodations good.

TOTAL DISTANCE FROM SIDNEY TO LUSTER CITY 167 MILES. This distance la by the road now traveled between the two Agencies, Dear's Sidney and Black Hills Stige Lloes leaves this route and Snake River, running through lo Red Cloud ledian Agency in 17 boers, and to Custar City in a@ bouts. The distance by this route is 189 miles,

Our forwarding houses can furnish transportation for 280 000 Pouros abc Shipment FREIGHT CHARGES, Sidney to Custer City, range from 3 to 5 cents per pound, Freuen shipped care H. T. Clarke, Sidney, Neb., will be shipped at lowest raten.

PASSENGER RATES - Omaha to Custer City, 1st class $48, 24 class 836, 3d clase, $182 Tielete for sale at Jaian Pacific Railroad and principal Railroad Ticket Offices Bort, REVERSE OF ENVELOPE USED BY MR. CLARKE IN THE PONY EX- PRESS COMPANY.

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HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA

of Reddington and told him what I'd thought of and asked what he thought about it, what sizes of window glass would be wanted. He said, 'Just you telegraph to Solomon,' who then ran a wholesale glass business in Omaha ; he says, 'If he will furnish the stuff I will back you,' so I said yes. Solomon said yes. I left it to Solomon and told him about what we were going to do. I left it to him as to the sizes for I didn't know anything about that, what sizes we would be likely to want. Didn't have to wait but a few days until Solomon sent a couple of carloads of glass. I loaded up that stuff and went to the Black Hills, though the snow was flying. Before I got there they had a hundred houses or so, temporary houses, put up, with places left for windows, but had just nailed up the space with boards. Nobody had thought of window glass. I drove into town one morning, and I had to go and get the mayor and police to protect my wagons while I sold out the glass. I have forgotten how much money we made out of that, but it was a goodly sum. Solomon had said to me, we would cut the profits in two. Of course I didn't rob them and might have gotten more for it."

As Mr. Anderson put it, the life in Sidney, as it was then in Julesburg and Ogallala, was too rough to suit him. He continued the freighting for awhile, and then sold his out- fit to the man, Reddington, who had stood be- hind him in the window glass venture. Will- iams went somewhere for awhile, but Ander- son returned to Grand Island. Williams came along later and they again started a saloon.

GRAND ISLAND IN THE EARLY 'EIGHTIES

Mr McAllister then built them a brick build- ing near where the McAllister brick block at Pine and Third stands. Mr. Anderson nar- rates the story of an

EARLY HORSE RACE

"A fellow used to bring horses here from Missouri and sell to the homesteaders. I bought a young three-year old mare from him. She proved to be a pretty good 'quarter-horse.' He brought up horses two or three times a in. I remember that last time I saw him

year, and he heard that I thought this mare could beat most anything; so he brought up a little old scrub race horse from Missouri, intending to beat me out of some money. I went over and looked at his horse. He says, 'they tell me you think that mare you got from me is quite a race horse.' I said, 'yes I think she is.' I had won a couple of races with her. So he says, 'I've got an old plug here, I'll just bet you a hundred dollars she can beat yours a quarter mile.' Then I just bet him that $100. We went over on Second street to run the race. We started about where Wolbach's home is now, just go down to where the court house was, where Pioneer Park is now. We thought that was the nicest place, there was just a wagon road there then, so we measured off a quarter of a mile. We started at Wolbach's and run up by the court house. It happened that court was in session. The lawyers, the jurors, and everbody jumped up and ran to the windows to see what all the yelling was about. Judge Gaslin was here · presiding. The judge 'said to the sheriff, 'Sheriff, what's it all about?' The sheriff said, 'A hoss race.' The judge said, 'You go out and bring them in.' He brought them in. The sheriff did, he came out and hauled me and the other fellow in as the two principals and brought us up. The old judge fined us $10 apiece for running on a public highway. But I won the $100 and it cost the other fellow $110.

OTHER EARLY RECOLLECTIONS

"Once in a while there used to be something pretty rough pulled off. A policeman shot a fellow one day where the American restaurant now stands.

"Gus Koehler ran a saloon on the site where the Schuff or American restaurant is now, until after the old O. K. store was moved away and until he got the brick Koehler hotel built on the present corner. Such characters as the principals in the Olive tragedy up west used to wander through occasionally. Doc. Middle- ton, the famous horse thief from up Custer way, who never stole just a horse or two, but generally a carload or two, used to come

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was when he had his wife in the Sisters Hos- pital." Mr. Anderson remarks that he was present when the Soldiers' Home building was dedicated, and the young community and county thought it was getting to be some place to have a wonderful building as that put up here. He adds that every old buggy and plug in the county and about every person within range was here that day. In those early days the Union Pacific round house stood where the city water works is now located on Pine and Fourth streets. In the early 'seventies, Mr. Anderson says, one morning he counted four- teen antelope feeding between present Fifth street and the railroad tracks. "You could get up on a nice still morning, like this time especially, and hear the prairie chickens in a continual roar, and see roosters strutting around and it was no trouble at all to kill great numbers of prairie chickens. He says that while he was stationed out around Fort Kearny in the 'sixties, around Kearny and the present Lexington and over toward the B. and B. Divide you could ride on horseback and see buffalo just as far as the eye could see, looked just like an ocean, continual movements as far as the eye could see.

A RATTLE SNAKE ON LOCUST STREET

Mr. Anderson narrates that one day, before the time the block that now contains the City Hall, Bartenbach Opera House, Wolbach store, and other buildings was built up, the boys had a path zig-zagging across that block, to make a short cut to get to the U. P. eating house and depot, which were then east of the present freight house. One day Claus Eggers and a man he was working for went across here. There was then a blacksmith shop on the corner where the postoffice building is now. They started across this path, and while Claus and the old man were walking across there they came across a big rattle snake, and holy terrors! they had nothing to kill him with. The old man told Claus to keep the snake out of a hole and he would go over and get something to kill it with, which he did. On his return they killed the snake. It was a big fellow with sixteen rattles.

There are many more just as interesting reminicenses that Mr. Anderson could nar- rate to us and hand down to posterity, if time and space in this work permitted of their in- corporation, but nevertheless Mr. Anderson's career has been one of the moulding factors in the early history of the community.

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CHAPTER VI

THE CITY OF GRAND ISLAND

FIRST BUILDINGS - ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWN - ACTION TAKEN BY COMMISSIONERS - TOWN OFFICIALS 1872-1919 - PROPERTY BELONGING TO CITY - PARKS - AMUSEMENT PARKS - THE FIRE DEPARTMENT - PAVING - SEWERS - LIGHTING PLANTS - MUNICIPAL LIGHT AND WATER PLANT - SOURCES OF TAXATION AND REVE- NUE - GRAND ISLAND'S TAX RATE - THE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Grand Island takes its name from the older settlement, which has heretofore been treated at such length, and on the island called Grand Island of the Platte.

Here in this city is the seat of justice of Hall County and the center of commercial and manufacturing growth for the Platte Valley in Central Nebraska. Its location is one of the prairie ridges and affords natural drain- age; its elevation of 1,860 feet above the sea level renders it free from malarial influences and denies it the rigorous winters of higher altitudes.

This chapter will only treat of the early settlement and civic development of Grand Island. Its city government will be detailed and the development and growth of its public utilities and parks. The part that Grand Island has played in the manufacturing, in- dustrial, commercial, and financial achieve- ments of Hall County will be merged in the separate chapters on those subjects that are to follow this one. Likewise will the growth of her churches be included in the treatment of their respective denominations, her schools treated as a part of the school history of the county, the press, professions and social and fraternal institutions be taken up in separate chapters relating to those respective activities.

FIRST BUILDINGS

The first track of the Union Pacific railroad was laid here July 8, 1866, and the first con-

struction train run in. This train was drawn by the locomotive Osceola, in charge of George Loomis. The engine was captured in 1868 by the Indians six miles west of Plum Creek.

The first building was erected by W. Steph- ens on the intersection now of Locust and First tsreets.

During the fall the railroad house was erected, which was used until the completion of the later railroad house in December, 1875, when part of the old building was purchased by Fred Hedde and removed to the southwest corner of Third and Locust streets, and another part was converted into a dwelling by P. Touhey, and occupied in 1876 by C. W. Thomas.

The postoffice was established in 1866 with D. Schuler postmaster, and about this time the store of M. S. Hall, a railroad contractor, was opened, and the O. K. store was moved into the new town early in 1867 by Koenig and Wiebe. Henry Koenig also established the State Central Flouring Mills and the pio- neer lumber yard. William R. McAllister and C. W. Thomas also opened their stores the same year.

The original plat of Grand Island was filed for record September 29, 1866, and recorded in Book B, page 13, by Clerk Fred T. Evans. The document was found by Abstractor William Frank, at Omaha. Prior to this time Grand Island had nothing to show title to

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streets and alleys, beyond twenty-one years possession of the same, the county records then showing title only in the Union Pacific Railroad Company.

ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWN

In 1872 several meetings were held to dis- cuss matters relative to town organization.

A final meeting to consider the question was held on November 25, 1872, and a report was received from a committee previously appointed, in favor of presenting a petition to the commissioners. George H. Thummel, O. A. Abbott, A. Thorspecken, and Henry A. Koenig were the members. The persons appointed to circulate the petition were W. H. Platt, A. Thorspecken, and W. C. Buderus. On December 10, 1872, the petition for in- corporation was granted, and John Wallichs, R. C. Jordon, A. Thorspecken, H. N. Chap- man, and Christian Wasmer named as the first board of trustees.

The petition to incorporate read and was signed as follows :

"Petition of O. A. Abbott et al for incorpo- ration of town of Grand Island.

"To the Honorable, The Board of County Commissioners of Hall County, Nebraska. "Your petitioners, taxable inhabitants of the town of Grand Island, respectfully request your honorable body to declare the town of Grand Island a body politic and corporate by the name of and style of the Town of Grand Island, and they do also request that R. C. Jordon, John Wallichs, A. Thorspecken, H. N. Chapman, and Christian Wasmer be ap- pointed trustees of said town. And your pe- titioners will ever pray.

"Dated, Grand Island, Nov. 25th, 1872.

O. A. Abbott

John Wallichs

S. Thompson

Henry A. Koenig

C. P. Henderson Nick Harris

Wm. H. Platt W. C. Buderus W. H. Anderson

J. W. Cochran

Dorr Heffleman

J. Spangenberg

H. Thomas

J. Michelson

H. N. Chapman G. J. Greve S. P. Mobley Fred Stratmann H. Stratmann C. E. Lykke Jesse Turner Joseph Felt Christ Gaffner John Kraft Claus Thiessen J. G. Feller C. A. von Wasmer

D. G. Phimister Wm. W. Cummings Chas. A. Hoffman John Riss G. G. Mckenzie Joseph Jenneman F. C. Churchill A. B. Veeder James Cleary O. Conklin W. H. Mitchell Jesse Shoemaker George Leger R. C. Jordon F. Drews

J. J. Gisel A. Egge H. Baumann

P. B. McCarthy

H. C. Held

C. E. Jerome

H. P. Handy

A. H. Moses John Milson G. P. Van Dyke

D. W. Duncan

James Hammond

Samuel Remy

John Lyon

Commissioner's Record No. 2, Page 60.

ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMISSIONERS

Grand Island, Nebraska, December 10, 1872 The Board met pursuant to the roll call of the county clerk. Present Messrs. Hooper

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L. Engel H. P. Makely Peter Peterson J. C. Cornelius Joseph Kilian Fred A. Wiebe N. T. Kelley C. Probstle John Ellis George Boehm John Murry B. C. Howard C. Obermiller Geo. E. Wilson W. H. Pyne D. T. Jamieson T. H. Verpooth

Dan'1 L. Harrison Fred Nable

I. Gluck H. Avery Chas. Heusinger W. M. Spiker

W. H. Wasmer

Edw. Hooper N. P. Nelson

W. H. Platt

August Dodderstein C. W. Thomas Chas. Rollins K. W. Townsend

J. E. Baldwin John Ratcliff R. B. Sawyer Lemuel Rollow H. R. Hirst Wm. Bradford

Geo. H. Thummel

A. Frechette

E. A. Richardson

R. S. Van Wie

W. R. McAllister

J. R. Laine

B. B. Kelley Dennis Rooney Jay E. White Jens Olsen Robert Frohberg

Chas. Wasmer

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HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA

Cornelius, and Jackson. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.

A petition of the taxable inhabitants of Grand Island being presented to the board of county commissioners and it appearing that a majority of the taxable inhabitants of said town having signed said petition :

It is therefore ordered by said board of county commissioners that the town of Grand Island be declared incorporated by the name and style of "Grand Island", with the follow- ing limits : The northwest 1/4 and the north- west 1/4 of the southwest 1/4 of section fifteen (15) and the northeast 1/4 and north 1/2 of southeast 1/4 and northeast 1/4 of southwest 14 of section sixteen (16) in township eleven (11) north of range (9) west, and the follow- ing persons be appointed trustees of said. town, towit: R. C. Jordon, John Wallichs, A. Thorspecken, H. N. Chapman and Christian Wasmer.

The board then adjourned to meet on the 16th day of December, 1872. John Wallichs, County Clerk George Cornelius (Seal Hall County, Nebraska) Edw. Hooper."

During the year 1872 John Wallichs served as clerk part of the time, and W. C. Buderus part of the time.

Beginning with 1873, the officers who have been elected to the City of Grand Island, and those fiilling appointtive positions have been :

1873 ELECTED

Mayor, John Wallichs; Council, H. N. Chapman, Louis Engle, H. P. Handy, J. C. Cornelius ; Clerk, Jay E. White; Judge, W. H. Platt ; Treasurer, Geo. E. Wilson.

1874

Mayor, Edward Hooper; Council, Nick Harris, R. S. Van Wie, H. P. Handy, J. C. Cornelius ; Clerk, Wm. Wasmer; Judge, W. H. Platt ; Treasurer, James Cleary.

1875

Mayor, Edward Hooper; Council, Joseph Killian, W. C. King (no record of the other two); Clerk, John Wallichs; Judge, W. H. Platt ; Treasurer, Wm. Hagge.

1876

Mayor, James Cleary; Council, Joseph Killian, W. R. McAllister, W. C. King, Patrick Dunphy; Clerk, John Wallichs ; Judge, John D. Hayes; Treasurer, Wm. Hagge.

1877

Mayor, W. H. Platt; Council, Geo. E. Wil- son, President, Christian Wasmer, Daniel Morgan, Patrick Dunphy; Clerk, John Wal- lichs; Judge, T. O. C. Harrison; Treasurer, Wm. Hagge; Marshal, Peter D. Thomssen; Engineer, Chas. Reif; Assessor, Wm. Was- mer; Chief Fire Dept., Patrick Dunphy.

1878

Mayor, C. D. M. Washburn; Council, Geo. E. Wilson, G. H. Bush, Christian Wasmer, D. Morgan; Clerk, John Wallichs; Judge, T. O. C. Harrison; Treasurer, Wm. Hagge; Marshal, Peter D. Thomssen; Engineer, Chas. Reif ; Assessor, Wm. Wasmer.

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History of Hall County, Nebraska, Part 16

Author: Buechler, A. F. (August F.), 1869- editor Publication date: 1920 Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western Pub. and Engraving Co. Number of Pages: 1011

Author: Buechler, A. F. (August F.), 1869- editor
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western Pub. and Engraving Co.
Number of Pages: 1011