USA > Nebraska > Hall County > History of Hall County, Nebraska > Part 25
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TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT
Township offices are not usually very keenly sought, nor sometimes considered such high honors. But, nevertheless, it is unques- tionably the few men in any given township who will year after year discharge the duties of township clerk, treasurer, assessor, justice of the peace, or road overseer who constitute the foundation stone of an individual struc- ture for that township. The American town- ship is a unit small enough to cement the neighborhood within its borders into a com- munity with distinctive individuality. This was perhaps never more strikingly and con- cretely illustrated than in the late war when the plan was universally resorted to of divid- ing the county's quota in each campaign and drive into township quotas. The townships
then entered into a friendly, but nevertheless, sincerely keen rivalry to gain early place in answering their quota and an honorable record in exceeding it.
FIRST DIVISION
Prior to 1872 the county was not divided into townships, but into three precincts. Elec- tion officials, road workers, and various public servants were selected from these respective precints. As a fairly accurate indication of the personnel of the residents of this division, the following two lists are incorporated to show who were the registered voters in April, 1871, of the first and second precincts. This, no doubt, was not a complete list of voters in eother precint for the precinct registrar sat on later dates to recieve further registration.
Precinct 1, O. A. Abbott, Registrar
Abbott A., Asterp L. B., Beall Enos, Bunx James Boehm P., Berherns H., Brumstette B., Becker F., Bunz John, Chapman H. N., Camp- bell William., Cleary James, Dall J. F., Dietz Phillip, Engel L., Egge H, Felt Joseph, Forney John, Felsov H., Graham John W., Grammlar J., Grotzsky C., Hooper E., Hald Hugo, Hagge William, Hensley J. P., Hann John, Hunter J. D., Hurley William, Hansen C., Hey James, Jordon R. C., Jenzen John, Johnson W. C., Johnson Ben, Koenig H. A., Kraft John, Arnold E. W., Adams C. W., Borsen H., Baumer H., Bergfelt P., Baldwin J, Baylor P. H., Buderus W. C., Hishoff John, Cronan Edw., Clark Joe H., Cochran J. W., Detlef- scheel C., Engel A., Englike C., Fredericksen M., Froberg R., Giesse H., Groner C. F., Greve J., Hutchinson F., Hollingshed, Hanchitt L. J., Handy H. P., Hepner A., Heesch P., Hare S., Hamilton H. G., Jones John W., Jenemer J., Johnson A. C., Johnkee John, Keuscher A. H., Kilian Joseph, Kelley P., Klinger G., Kruse H., Kelley S., Lloyd W., Lillienthat C. J., Larsen Chris, Lilienthal H., Mitchell R., Mil- sen C., Moll T., Moeller F., McAllister W. R., Meves Claus, Marquette D., Miller Jacob, Mobley S. P., Mohr P. Sr, Mohr J., Meth J. E., McArthy P. B., Norris J. F., Obermiller Hans, Oldsen John, Peterson Peter, Peterson H. A., Pamell M., Rief Henry, Rief S., Ridell
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C. W., Rauert N., Rollins S. A., Rief C., Ridell C., Ruge Hans, Kuehl P., Kauser Fred, Kelly B. B., Kosborie C. K., Loan Geo., Lar- sen Jno., Lillienth All C. Lorenzen P. Michel- son Jas. Melson L., Morclter G., Makely H. P., Menck C. H., Matthewson F., Moore J. D., Marler D. E., Morrow J.,
Meunch E., Mohr P., Mckenzie George, Mckay H., Murray John, Nelson N. P., Na- gey H. G., Obermiller Claus, Ottman John, Obermiller John, Platt W. H., Prahm E., Peterson P. C., Riss John, Reif L., Renicken C, Roeder W., Rogers J., Rueter D., Rief Hans, Ruff John A., Sass D .. Spiker Wm., Stuhr P., Schaurup E. A., Scherzberg C, Stark Fritz, Scherzberg H. C. Schuey W, Spafford W. H., Shoemaker J., Sharpless O. B., Stelk M., Schuller J. D., Schaaff H., Stolley A., Suhr John, Seier John, Saxe G. L., Schuey F., Thurwell Geo. H., Thompson W. L., Thurwolt Geo., Tout J., Thiessen C., Thomas C. W., Thorspecken A., Timike H., Tribsch T., Thompson P. D., Unger C., Voitl P., Van Vleet H., Voss J., Wallichs John, Windolph John, Wilson G. E., Wiebe F. A., Wendt A., Wolcott E., Waugh R., Pohnks H.
Second precinct, Fred Roby Registrar.
Arp Hans, Bonson Nic, Bonson Asmus, Boehl Chas., Boehl John, Boehl Joachim, Bock- man H., Buchmann Aug, Berhens Hans, Brok- man Claus, Bergfelt Peter, Boach Adolph, Doty Wallace W., Ewoldt Cai, Ewoldt Hans, Engle William, Gardner George G., Garn Henry. Hann Christian, Hann Carl, Han- sen N. V., Hans Frank, Hause John, Lorenzen Geo,. Lorenzen Louis, Loren- zen John, Lamb W. H,. Ludemann John, Murdock Phineas, Moeller Carl, Mahn Carl, Majors John, Moodly George, Ohlsen John C., Peper Heinrich, Pehrs John, Pehrs Peter, Powell Luther, Powell Wm., Pein Peter, Roby Fred, Rooney Pat, Rauert Nie, Stuhr Claus H., Sihvel Henry, Stoltenberg C., Schimmer Martin, Shoemaker Jesse, Shoe- maker Elisha, Thompson John, Thompson Claus, Tiedge Peter H., Wiese Fritz, Wrage Hans, Wainright D. J., Wiesman John.
After 1872 the county began to be divided
into various precincts, and the different com- munities began to take on individual form along the lines that the township eventually emerged. In the fall of 1872 the call for the general election embraced four precincts, with the fourth located around Martinsville.
In the fall of 1874 the election notice called for elections at an increased number of pre- cincts. Several names appeared for these pre- cincts that afterwards attached to various townships, namely: Grand Island, Prairie Creek, Alda, South Loup, Wood River, South Platte, and Martinsville. Among officers elected at that time for various precincts were: Assessors, H. C. Denman, South Platte, A. V. Potter, Prairie Creek, W. H. Harrison, Alda, Anthony Moore, Wood River, Isaac Madlick (appointed) for Martinsville. L. J. Abbott for Wood River and Lester Houghton for South Platte as road overseers. Showing the rela- tive importance of the various precincts, it might be noted that the 1874 elections showed 302 votes cast in Grand Island precint, 140 in Alda, 67 in South Loup, 48 in South Platte. 56 in Prairie Creek, and 133 in Wood River.
The election of 1876 was held along the same precint divisions, and on the question of township organization showed a vote of 628 for and 157 against. Assessors who served in the spring of 1877 along the old line of organization were: A. A. Lyon, South Platte, N. M. Depue, Prairie Creek, Anthony Moore, Wood River, R. C. Perkins, South Loup, Henry Giese, Grand Island, and A. Bordon, Martinsville. No organization along different townships was effected during 1877 and when the call was issued that fall for a general election it designated the same seven precints. On a vote on township organization at the election of November 6, 1877, a major- ity of 478 was shown in favor.
The following township organization was then named :
1st, Washington, comprising all of township 11 range 9, and township 10 range 9, north of river; practically the present Washington township.
2nd, Lake, all of township 12, range 9; pres- ent Lake township.
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3rd, Prairie Creek, township 12, range 10, High; treasurer, J. H. Leonard ; road overseer, present Prairie Creek.
4th Mayfield, 12, range 11, (present May- field).
5th, South Loup, 12, range 12 (present South Loup).
6th, Lee, 11, range 12 (present Cameron township).
7th, Zurich, 11, range 11 (present Harrison township).
8th, Sheridan, 11, range 10 (present Center township).
9th, Alda, 10, range 10 (present Alda town- ship).
10th, Wood River, along lines of present Wood River township.
11th, Union, range 12, township 10, along lines of present Jackson township.
12th, Martinsville, along lines of present Martin township.
13th, Grant, along lines of present South Platte township.
14th, South Platte, along lines of south end of present Doniphan township in southeast corner of county.
15th, Douglas, along lines of present South Platte township.
Before the county board appointed under this arrangement could qualify the supreme court handed down an act declaring the legis- lative act under which the said organization was created unconstitutional. In the mean- time the board had appointed for each town- ship a set of officers. ' This list might be mainly valuable to show who were the lead- ing and active spirits in local governmental affairs of the county at that time :
Union : Supervisor, Patrick Nevills ; clerk, Patrick Moore; Treasurer, Issah Lewton ; road oversear, Edward O'Brien; justices of the peace, E. F. Jonte, Geo. H. Peck ; constables, J. Ross, J. Dunn.
Wood River: Supervisor, N. T. Britton ; clerk Chas. E. Towne; assessor, Stephen Jones; Treasurer, David Barrick; road over- seer, James Tracy ; justices of the peace, John G. Schaupp, J. B. Firman; constables Wm. G. Eldridge, H. Jones.
Zurich: Supervisor, W. H. Harrison; clerk,, Jas. A. Veeder; assessor, Henry W.
John L. Johnson ; justices of the peace, Louis Richard and Lafayette Martindale; constables, Jesse Boring and O. H. Taylor,
Mayfield: Supervisor, William Partridge ; clerk, W. C. Calvert ; assessor, R. C. Perkins; treasurer, J. C. Bishop; road overseer, C. C. Alford; justices of the peace, J. H. Hulitt, Geo. P. Dean; constables, Eugene J. Mix and Wm. E. Preston.
Sheridan : Supervisor, Ira M. Ware; clerk, Wm. A. Gillett ; treasurer, George Cornelius ; assessor, Edgar Varney ; justices of the peace, John Leckenby and Jacob Shoemaker; con- stables, James Walsh and Martin Powers.
Alda : Supervisor, William Powell; clerk, Henry Lamb; treasurer, Squire S. Lamb; assessor, Z. H. Denman, Sr .; justices of the peace, Andrew Hofmeister, George Moody ; constables, Peter Pehrs and Dan Baker.
South Loup : Supervisor, J. E. Locke; clerk, J. T. Mahaffie; treasurer Edmond Locke ; assessor, Geo. Bellany; justices of the peace, T. P. Rundlett and Calvin Goodrich; con- stables, Edward S. Rundlett and James Paul.
Cameron : Supervisor, S. E. Benton ; clerk, J. B. Stephens; assessor, E. O. Palmer; treasurer, Lester Houghton; road overseer, S. K. Guy; justices of the peace, J. P. Good- rich and H. C. Streator ; constables, W. Stuart and S. H. Rader.
Martinsville : Supervisor, Seth W. Wilson ; clerk, Wm. H. Austin; treasurer, Walter Miller ; assessor, O. F. Foote ; road overseer, Austin Wilson; justices of the peace, R. Wes- cott and D. J. J. Hornbeck ; constables, Jas. H. Sweeting and James Gowd.
Grant: Supervisor, J. M. Powers; clerk, George Humphrey; treasurer, Irving Cole; assessor, Wm. Olthoff ; road overseer, John R. Britt; justices of the peace, Lucas Henry and John Walker ; constobles, J. L. Brookover and John Creason.
South Platte: Supervisor. J. W. Smith; clerk, Geo. H. LaMonte; treasurer, Wm. Reese ; assessor, S. L. Loucks ; road overseer, Jacob Mushrush ; justices of the peace, L. S. Orcutt and S. S. Shultz ; constables, Thomas Caldwell and Geo. W. Burger.
Douglas : Supervisor, Henryd @. c. Gennagle
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clerk, S. Smith; treasurer, W. J. Burger; officers elected were: Assessors, M. Murphy, assessor, Martin Ennis; road overseer, D. Whittecar ; justices of the peace, Walter Smith and Moorefield ; constables, Joseph Hilton and C. Lowery.
Washington: Supervisor, Wm. Larrabee; clerk, D. M. Amsberry ; treasurer, Fred Roby ; assessor, Henry Geise; road overseer, Christ- ian Menck
Grand Island City: Supervisors, 1st ward, H. P. Makely, 2nd ward, C. E. Jerome, 3rd ward, James Cleary, and 4th ward, C. E. Lykke.
Lake: Supervisor, E. C. Walker; clerk, A. D. Tilley; assessor, Frederick Suehlsen ; treasurer, Frederick Locscher ; road overseer, Peter Mohr; pustices of the peace, Emerson Rogers and H. E. Kent; constables, Chas. Peterson and Dunning Giccu.
It became necessary to appoint a new set of officers along the old precinct lines, and among these many named above were listed.
The fall election of 1878 brought into office, among others, the following :
Justice of Peace: J. H. Hulitt, South Loup, Lucas Henry, South Platte, J. H. Bliss, Wood River, Russell L. Bruce, Martinsville, Edwin S. Lee, South Loup, Austin L. Smith, South Platte, C. S. Ellison, South Platte, John Leck- enby, Alda. Constables: David Barrick, Wood River, Jos. T. Ross, Wood River, John B. Stevens, South Loup, M. H. Gideon, South Platte, Henry A. Gallup, Alda, Edward Rund- lett, South Loup. Road Supervisors: Geo. C. Humphrey (county assessor in 1919), South Platte, John Leckenby, Alda, Edw. O'Brien, Wood River, S. K. Guy, South Loup. Assessors : E. M. Burger, South Platte, John A. Demaree, Martinsville, Z. H. Denman, Alda, Fred Roby, Grand Island, Haydn strong, South Loup, Anthony Moore, Wood River.
During 1879 and 1880 several new precincts were formed, and the call for an election in the fall of 1880 designated the following voting precincts : Grand Island, Prairie Creek, Lake, Alda, Cameron, South Loup, Wood River, Martinsville and South Platte, By 1882 more townships had joined the list and among the
A. H. Wilhelm, and F. M. Claflin for East, West and North Grand Island, W. C. Mullen, Alda, John O'Connor, Wood River, J. Demary, South Platte, S. Veeder, South Loup, T. W. Dodd, Cameron, Z. Avery, Martinsville, N. M. DePue, Prairie Creek, Frederick Suehlsen, Lake, W. H. Harrison, Harrison, C. L. Alford, Mayfield, Patrick Nevills, Jackson, and M. V. Marsh, Doniphan, By 1889 the list had de- veloped until it included all of the present townships. Inasmuch as all of the present existing township units of the county are thus more than thirty years old it would be imprac- ticable to continue the list of local officers, however dersirable such a roll of honor would be.
In closing this phase of township history it will not be amiss to record a list of citizens of the various townships who are carrying the responsibilities of local government at this time, in 1919.
Lake: Clerk, Henry Stolle; treasurer, Al- bert Quandt ; justice, Chas Mettenbrink ; road overseer, Fred Moeller.
Prairie Creek Clerk, Chas. Rauert; treas- urer, Aug. Helmbrecht; justice Geo. Geisen- hagen; road overseer, Geo. Schroeder.
Mayfield: Clerk, Max J. Voss; treasurer, T. F. Shoopman; road overseers, Ernest Meyer, Peter Shultz.
South Loup: Clerk, J. R. Herrick; treasurer, Ray Green ; Justice, F. A .Meith Sr .; road overseer, M. A. Benton.
Cameron : Clerk, W. J. Porter; treasurer, C. O. Jameyson ; justice, E. S. Lee ; road overseer H. A. Powers.
Cameron : Clerk, R. L. Harrison; treasur- er, John Martin; justice, Edw. Sprague; road overseer, Thos. Caveny.
Center: Clerk, Jos. Black ; treasurer,, W. W. Rouse; justice, Wm. Friesman ; road over- seer C .E. Ross.
Washington : Clerk, Aug. Schimmer ; treas- urer, John Schuller; justice, W. A. Hagge Jr .; road overseer, Ernest Reher.
Alda : Clerk, Henry Duettner; treasurer, John Thompson ; justice, Rudolph Sass.
Wood River : Clerk, W. H. Packer;
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treasurer, M. L. Wiseman; road overseer, Sam W. Wells; justice, M. L. Moors; road John J. Carey. overseer, L. E. Saddler.
Jackson: Clerk, L. A. Watson; treasurer, W. E. Moore ; road overseers, W. J. Riesland, Luther Wiseman.
Martin: Clerk, E. E. Young, treasurer,
South Platte: Clerk, W. M. Gideon.
Doniphan: Clerk, T. S. Hackler; treas- urer, C .M. Carlson; road overseer, W. D. Perkey.
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CHAPTER IX
ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT OF THE COUNTY
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COUNTY - BOOK "A", COMMISSIONERS RECORDS - EARLY PROCEED- INGS OF THE BOARD - PLATTE RIVER BRIDGE - BUILDING A COURT HOUSE - PROCEEDINGS FROM 1873 - TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION - SUBSEQUENT COUNTY BOARDS- NEW COURT HOUSE - COUNTY CLERK'S - CLERKS OF DISTRICT COURT - SHERIFFS - COUNTY JUDGES - SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS - SUPERVISORS - CORONERS - COUNTY ATTORNEYS -
VOLUME OF WORK IN COUNTY OFFICES NOW - REPORT OF COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE - TAX LEVY FOR 1919 - FIFTIETH SEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 1907
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COUNTY
As established by the act of November 4, 1858, Hall County extended "From the northeast corner of township 16 north, range 9 west, south to the southern bank of the Platte River, west along the river to the west line of range 12 west, north with that line to the northwest corner of township 16, range 2, and east with the line of the fourth par- allel to the place of beginning." That act did not consider the county seat or its loca- tion. The above description included that part of Hall County as it now exists lying north of the southern bank of the Platte River and virtually all of the present Howard County. On February 24, 1864, the boundaries were re-defined, but the act was repealed on February 15 following. On March 1, 1871, a third act received approval, which estab- lished the territory comprised in townships 9, 10, 11, and 12 north, in ranges 9, 10, 11 and 12 west, as a county under the title of Hall. At this time the territory south of the river, now a part of Hall, was thereby added to it, and the territory which now comprises Howard County was taken away from Hall. Parts of Buffalo and Dawson counties which before definite organization had been thrown in with Hall had been taken away before then and definitely organized into separate counties.
The following letter, dated Executive De-
partment, Omaha City, Nebraska, December 9, 1858, conveyed the information of the organization of the county's working ma- chinery to
"Hon. Richard Barnard, "Dear Sir
"I have this day appointed the following officers in and for the County of Hall in this Territory :
"For County judge, Richard C. Barnard; Sheriff, Herman Vasold; Recorder, Theodore F. Nagel; Justice of the Peace, William A. Hagge; Treasurer, Isaac Thomas; County Commissioners, Frederick Hedde, Daniel B. Crocker, Hans Vieregg; Constables, George Shultz, Christian Menck.
"Your commissions will be forwarded to you by John McCorcihe, Esq., private sec- retary, by same mail herewith.
"In relation to your taking the oath of office, giving bonds, etc., you are referred for your guide to the statutes of 55, 56 and 57 which I believe were forwarded to you some- time since by Hon. J. A. Parker, Jr., register of the land office at this place.
"Very Respectfully "Your Obt. Servt. "J. Sterling Morton,
"Secretary and Acting Governor of Nebraska Territory."
William Stolley, in his centennial article,
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stated that upon the organization of the isfied with, and the proceedings were dropped. county, in 1859, the first officers elected were :
Probate judge, Fred Hedde; county clerk, Theo. Nagel; county commissioners, Hans Wrage, James Vieregg, Henry Egge; justices of the peace, William Stolley, R. C. Barnard; sheriff, Herman Vasold; treasurer, Christian Andresen ; assessor, Frederick Doll; con- stables, Christian Menck, Matthias Gries.
FIRST RECORDS
The first pages of Book "A" of Commis- sioners' Records are occupied by Frederick Hedde's docket.
The first entry made appears: "November 8th, 1862. Today appeared Johannes Wal- lichs, who at the late election, held October 14th, 1862 in Hall Co. was elected justice of the peace and wished to be sworn in." On November 28, 1862, Joachim Selkin took the oath as constable and on December 1, 1862, Theodore Nagel was sworn in as commis- sioner. The first case in his court is entitled Philip Feldman vs. John Windolph, the former demanding $75 from Windolph for opening a letter belonging to plaintiff and fail- ing to forward it. In September Jacob Weidig charged Charles Peterson with threatening to kill, but witnesses failing to prove such charge the defendant was set at liberty. On October 14, 1863, Charles Boehl sued John Verges for $48.25, consideration for mowing and raking hay as employee of Verges. The hearing of this case occupied the attention of the court for three days, and resulted in a judgment for plaintiff in the sum of $39.20 and costs. Justice Hedde was a "squire" in all respects, for on November 12, 1863, he recorded: "Today were married by me : James Harrison and Lucinda Shoemaker, in the presence of Henry Leach and Amanda Hurley - License given in absence of probate judge, by Co. Clerk, F. Evans."
On March 1, 1869, Justice Hedde married Henry Schoel and Mary Becker, and the next entry records a complaint filed against Charles Peterson for threatening to kill John Win- dolph. Charles Peterson signed an abject apology which Windolph declared he was sat-
On March 20, 1864, John H. Staats and Sophia Wilson were joined in the bonds of matrimony. William Wasmer and Fred Bhonsan complained that their fences were destroyed and posts carried away by certain unknown parties. On May 15, 1864, the justice journeyed to the house of Mr. Knapp at Wood River and joined in matrimony Cornelius Hurley to Mrs. Elizabeth Owens. In June a jury in justice court gave John Moser a $15 judgment against J. Michelson. William Behrens took his oath of office as justice of the peace, on November 4, Justice Hedde performed the ceremony of marriage for Johannes A. Wallichs and Gretje Sahn, and on December 23, 1864, signed his name for the last entry as justice of the peace. On April 2, 1865, Justice Behrens made his first entry, recording the marriage of Hascall Skinner and Mary J. Mitchell, and on May 26, brought like happiness to Marx Stelk and Antje Ruger.
The first record of the commissioners is dated at Grand Island, January 7, 1867, when . the county was divided into three precincts. William Hagge was appointed assessor for precinct No. 1, John Wallichs for No. 2, and William Eldridge for No. 3; Dr. Joseph Reese was appointed county attorney at $100 per annum; a license fee of $25 for every dealer in liquors was ordered to be collected and the proceeds applied to the schools funds. On April 8, 1867, licenses were issued to seven persons, and an eighth person, Charles Hyler, ordered to take out one. The original seven were Fred Hedde, Koenig & Wiebe, J. D. Schuler, H. Stevens, M. S. Hall, John Seiers, J. Killian.
The commissioners at that time were Hans Wrage, Dr. A. Thorspecken, and Chris Wasmer, with Fred Evans clerk and W. H. Platt deputy clerk. In July the total valuation of the county was $144,793 on which a county tax of six mills was ordered to be levied and an equal tax on the value of Buffalo County, then only $21,250. It is of interest to divert at this point long enough to show the develop- ment of the county in the next
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From the valuation returned in 1867 of $144,793, it had grown in 1871 to $695,071; 1872, $949,473; 1873, $1,276,955; 1874, $1,554,955; in 1875 there was a decrease shown, falling to $1,528,155, and in 1876, still lower, to $1,379,909, a mark, no doubt, of the grasshopper devastation; in 1877 the total again went up to $1,608,230; in 1878 it was $1,712,733. Thereafter it gained so that in 1879 it was $1,815,280, and in 1880, $1,919,069; in 1892 it was $3,109,260, a de- crease of $200,602 from the assessment of 1891; in 1893 it was $3,082,400, but in 1894 it dropped to $2,599,520, a decrease of $482,880.
EARLY PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD
On July 1, 1867, the board ordered the county clerk to procure at the county's ex- pense one book for records, one for roads, one county map, one county order book, and one blank book for county orders. Augustus Schernkau was appointed commissioner to locate .one county road running east and west through the county and one from Grand Island station to Grand Island. Joseph Reece was dismissed as county attorney. Bills for services were allowed to Wm. H. Mitchell, acting justice of peace, to Probate Judge Mitchell, to Hugo Hald as county surveyor, A. Thorspecken as coroner, and Clerk Evans, also to O. A. Abbott and Fred Evans for serv- ices as registers of voters in the first and second precincts. Commissioner Wasmer re- signed, and in January, 1868, Commissioners James Jackson and Hans Wrage met and transacted considerable business. Enos Beall was appointed school examiner, and Fred A. Wiebe was elected commissioner vice Was- mer. John Wallichs succeeded Evans as clerk.
On August 4, 1868, the board met and con- sidered an offer made by the Union Pacific railroad through S. C. House, "To take in ex- change for that portion of school section 16, town 1 north, range 9 west, which is now occupied and laid out as the town of Grand Island station, the nearest railroad land to the said town of Grand Island station, that is, so many acres as said company has laid out at
the above town site." On August 25th, action for the purpose of attaching unorganized counties west of Hall to the state for election purposes was postponed, but Buffalo County was set off as Buffalo precinct and Dawson County as Dawson precinct of Hall County.
In September the board took action on the county seat matter and called an election for October 13, 1868, to vote upon the county seat question and a two mill levy for a county jail. Enos Beall, Robert Mitchell, and Mr. Voitle were appointed judges and O. A. Abbott and Wm. H. Platt, clerks for the first pre- cinct ; Cai Ewolt, N. Hansen and C. Stolten- berg were appointed judges and Wm. Sey- mour and F. Roby as clerks for the second precinct. A. Moon, S. T. Reese and A. F. Beaman were named judges and S. E. Cook and T. Moore clerks for the third precinct. The board made a request in October to Judge Crounze to hold a term of district court in Hall County as soon as convenient and the clerk was ordered to procure records for the district court. On October 31, the board found that the county seat was located at Grand Island station, and the clerk was ordered to give notice of that fact.
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