USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. I > Part 44
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. I > Part 44
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The formation of the surface is such that natural drainage is here displayed in its highest state of perfection. The beds of the creeks and water courses are much depressed and sloughs of standing water are here comparatively unknown, which is not the case in some of the other counties. The soil is from two to three feet deep, and in many places much deeper and resembles a composite of artificial mold, more than wild, natural soil. There is no doubt that the soil of this county will stand more drouth and more rain than any other county in the state. It is possessed of natural drainage, in the highest degree, absorb- ing water like a huge sponge, and in a time of drouth, sending it back to the surface from its greatest depths, by capillary attraction, for the needs of vegetation. This is the reason why crops in this county are rarely dried up or drowned out.
THE SOIL
Is like the finest garden mold, dark color, easily worked, and eminently productive. The soil in this county is from two to three feet deep, and when properly tilled has never been known to disappoint the husbandman, good and sure harvests being the result of honest labor, enabling the farmer to pro- (luce a variety of crops, being equally good for corn, wheat and other -mall crops. You have only to tickle it with the plow and it will laugh a harvest that will gladden the hearts and make joyous the homes of the husbandmen. . There seems to be hardly a limit to the wide range of grain, grasses and vegetables produced here. There is not a domestic product of the soil adapted to this climate that fails of perfect development here. Even many of the semi-tropical plants makes a wonderful showing on this soil when climate and altitude are considered. Winter and spring wheat, rye, corn, barley, oats. buckwheat, sorghum, flax, hemp, broom corn, millet, hungarian, tobacco, beans, peas, Irish and sweet potatoes, onions, turnips and all of the garden vegetables, all the domestic grasses, apples, peaches, peats, cherries, plums, grapes, currants, and all the endless list of small fruits, osage orange and
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
everything that grows in the medium latitudes flourishes in this comome to perfection.
The soil here is not too porous so that it will not hold water for the sus- tenanee of vegetation, nor is it too compact or solid, holding all the water that falls upon it, at the surface. The soil of this county is of such a nature that the fibrous roots of trees and plants have been found at a depth of from fifteen to twenty-five feet.
CHAPTER II
EARLY SETTLEMENTS BY TOWNSHIPS
FIRST SETTLEMENTS-STILL HERE IN 1890-A FARM SURVEY BY TOWNSHIPS (1897)- SCOVILLE-UNION PRECINCT-ORVILLE PRECINCT-FARMERS VALLEY PRE- CINCT-BEAVER PRECINCT-AURORA PRECINCT-HAMILTON PRECINCT-DEEP- WELL PRECINCT-PHILLIPS PRECINCT-MONROE PRECINCT-GRANT PRECINCT -VALLEY PRECINCT-OTIS PRECINCT-SOUTH PLATTE PRECINCT-BLUFF PRE- CINCT-THE STORY OF THE CENSUS.
FIRST SETTLEMENTS
The first settlement made in the county for the purposes of agriculture was made on the Blue River, near the south line of the county, by Jarvis Chaffee and George Hicks, who settled on Section 34, Township 9, Range 6, in the month of June, 1866. Mr. Chaffee built a "dng-out," which was the first residence constructed in the county, its size being 10x12 feet. In January, 1867, James Waddle and John Brown made settlements on Section 26, Town- ship 9, Range 5, in Farmer's Valley Precinct. These, with their families, were the next to make Hamilton County their home, and they built the first log- houses in the county. J. D. Wescott, C. O. Wescott, N. M. Bray, Michael Stein- metz, arrived in May of the same year, and also located in Farmer's Valley. In the month of June, 1867, Robert Lamont and James Cameron settled on Section 26, Township 9, Range 6, and John Harris took a claim on Section 28, Township 9, Range 5. In October of the same year, James Cummings and William D. Young located in Farmer's Valley Precinct.
In the month of February, 1868, George Proud settled on Section 26, Township 9, Range 6, and in December John Salmon, Alexander Salmon, James Rollo and Frank Dickson made settlements. The Messrs. Salmon made their claims on Section 28, Mr. Rollo on Section 30, Township 9, Range 5, and Mr. Dickson on Section 26, Township 9, Range 6.
In April, 1869, S. M. HIunter and Philip IInnter settled on Section 34, Township 9, Range 5, and in the month of June, John Laurie settled on the claim of John Harris, Section 28, Township 9, Range 5.
The first settlers on Lincoln Creek were Martin Werth and family. William Werth and August Werth, locating on Section 24, Township 10, Range 5, in October 1869. Jacob Erickson also settled about this time on Section 22. The following spring of 1870, S. W. Spafford and family and N. P. Spafford set- tled on Section 32, and Henry Spafford on Section 34, Township 11, Range 6. L. W. Hastings and James MeBride settled on Section 2, Township 10, Range 6. In the fall of 1870, G. C. Boyce, Noah Brotherton, William S. Boyce, came out here from Iowa to locate, but returned and came out the next spring.
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
J. M. Fodge, G. Haner, A. P. Hendrickson, A. Mongenson, J. M. Sechler, John Mathews, J. C. Rateliff, J. P. Elliott, John Hagerman, P. C. Culver, John Tweedy, D. Grant, C. H. Kimball, John and Christopher Hazelbaker made settlements during the spring and summer of 1871, and in the fall of 1871 Messrs. Fodge and family made settlement on Section 32.
The Blue Valley in the north part of the county was settled by W. L. Whitte- more in 1870, who took up his claim on Section 2, Township 12, Range 5. B. F. Webb also settled on Section 12, Township 12, Range 5. T. W. Man- chester, M. Vandnzen and others loeated here in 1872.
John Danhauer settled in South Platte Preeinet in 1871, Stephen Platz and James Odell in 1872.
Mr. Hewett settled in the extreme northeast corner of the county on Sec- tion 24, Township 10, Range 5, in 1872, and shortly after J. W. Ward, C. Thur- man, James Foster and J. A. Foster, who took up their claims in Bluff Precinet.
S. K. Butler and Henry Jennings are also among the early settlers who came to Hamilton County with the heavy frosts of many years resting upon their honest faces, but showing as much youth and vigor in subduing its fertile soil as many of the younger settlers. Mr. Platz brought with him quite a herd of eattle, but most of them perished during the Easter storm of 1873, while that tremendous storm of snow and wind was sweeping over the county. Among the older settler of the extreme west side of the county are Charles Tompkins and family, Jacob Jeffers and family, and Mrs. Charlotte Ward, who arrived and camped on their homesteads on Section 4, Township 10, Range 8.
The next settlers were H. B. Hall and Rev. A. D. Tremball. Mr. Hall settled on Seetion 28, and Rev. Tremball upon Seetion 32, Township 11, Range 8, and S. P. Cowgill, another early settler, located upon Section 4, Township 10, Range 8.
The first settler in Hamilton Precinct, formerly a part of Deepwell Precinct, was G. K. Eaton, who took up his claim in the spring of 1872, and shortly after was followed by H. B. Miller, Robert Eyres, S. B. Gebhart, B. F. Isaman and Samuel Miller.
A post-office was established here in 1874 under the name of Hamilton and afterward changed to Alvin. Benjamin Abbott was appointed post-master.
The southwest part of the county embracing Scoville and Union Precinets was settled in 1871; Union, by M. Farrell, D. Kensinger, J. E. Jackett, A. V. B. Peek, W. H. and C. M. Garrison, taking up their claims on Sections 20 and 28. Township 9, Range 7: Scoville, by D. A. Seoville and D. W. Garrison, who held full possession until the spring of 1873. when they were joined by A. Murdock, J. M. Livingstone, T. D. Case and S. N. Case. Messrs. Scoville and Garrison settled on Seetion 24. Township 9, Range 8.
In the fall of 1872 there was quite a sensation created in this precinct caused by a party of men hunting antelope. The report of their guns frightened a woman into the belief that the Indians had made a raid upon the settlement. Taking her two small children she fled from her home, partly dragging them across the prairie spreading the news of carnage and desolation among the settlers as she went, and finally concealing herself in an old sod stable.
Brave men were soon under arms willing to die for their homes and families. The women, after the first occasion of alarm had passed, showed themselves
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
worthy, and quietly went to work running bullets and preparing ammunition for their husbands, who were out waiting to give the first Indian that appeared a warm reception. After a time the true state of affairs was discovered, and after a hearty laugh all returned to their homes, and peace and quiet once more prevailed.
The first settlers on Beaver Creek were R. M. Hunt, Samuel Yost and S. B. Chapman, in 1870, and very soon after they were followed by J. W. Jones, H. M. Graham, Henry Newman and Franklin Jacoby.
During the years 1872 and 1873 settlers poured into the county from all parts of the country. Since that date settlers have continued to arrive with each succeeding season, transforming its fertile soil from a mere uninteresting plain of rolling billowy prairie into a very garden, teeming with a busy popu- joyed by communities having greater opportunities and hoary with the frost of a century.
STILL HERE IN 1890
A survey in 1890 showed quite a number of the old settlers yet remaining to till the soil, many of them being in comfortable circumstances, and some having accumulated respectable fortunes; among them were the following, with a statement of important official positions which they had already occupied in the county : Jarvis Chaffee, James Waddle, J. D. Wescott (county clerk, 1870 to 1874), N. M. Bray (commissioner, 1870 to 1875), George Proud, James Rollo (coroner, 1870 to 1872), Alex Salmon (coroner, 1872 to 1874), John Laurie (superintendent, 1870 to 1872), Martin Werth, James McBride, John Mathews, John Hagerman, P. C. Culver, T. W. Manchester, John Danhauer, J. M. Hewitt, O. Thurman, Jacob Jaffers, G. K. Eaton, Robert Eyres. B. F. Isaman (county commissioner, 1875 to 1878; a member of a later board, his term expiring January, 1893), Benjamin Abbott, M. Farrell, D. Kensinger, J. M. Liv- ingstone, T. D. Case, J. W. Skelton, W. J. Carver, Frank Jenison, W. H. Hardin, F. C. Putman (State Senator, 1885 to 1887; commissioner, 1887 to 1890), Ed Huling (commissioner, 1879 to 1882, and member of a later board, his term ex- piring January, 1891), Edward Nugent (commissioner, 1873 to 1878), Jonathan Foster (commissioner, 1879 to 1881), Samuel Yost, J. W. Jones, C. O. Wescott (treasurer, 1870 to 1874), P. C. Housel (commissioner, 1873 to 1875).
The following named pioneers of the county abandoned the peaceful pursuit of agriculture during the eighties to engage later in other occupations: N. P. Spafford, merchant, Aurora; L. W. Hastings, editor Republican, Aurora; George Hauer, Hampton; John Tweedy, postmaster, Aurora; C. H. Kimball, retired, Aurora; S. B. Gebhart, constable, Aurora; A. V. B. Peck, postmaster, Bromfield (served as commissioner from 1878 to 1880) ; D. A. Scovill, police judge (served as State Senator in 1879 and 1880, and one of the members of the Legislature in 1889, also served one term as sheriff from 1876 to 1878) ; S. B. Chapman, merchant, Aurora; Henry Newman, retired, Aurora; J. F. Glover, retired, Hamilton (served as commissioner in 1871 and 1872) ; William Glover, banker, Aurora and Bromfield; A. M. Glover, merchant, Aurora; Robert Lamont, drayman, Aurora (served as first probate judge in 1870 to 1872).
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
A FARM SURVEY BY TOWNSHIPS
The foregoing short survey of the earliest settlers has located them in the various parts of the county to a small degree. It has furthermore recounted the later careers and departure of many of those first sturdy pioneers.
Naturally space forbids our hunting up each one of the pioneer settlers, homesteaders or original purehasers of each quarter of railroad land, and trac- ing down their eareer. We feel that those who came during the decades of the seventies and eighties, when things were harder and eomforts were searcer in Hamilton County and stayed from ten to twenty and some for thirty years, are the founders fraternity who did the most toward building up and develop- ing the county. This, jocularly, is upon the theory that the "first twenty years was the hardest," and especially that portion of it which may have fallen within the drought period of the middle nineties. Therefore, recourse has been had to a farm survey made by the Editor of the Aurora Sun late in 1897, at which time he endeavored to visit every farm in the county, record the length of residence and from where its owner, tenant or resident eame to Hamilton County. While, no doubt some have been left out who should have been in- cluded in this survey, it will serve also to record the character, type, nationali- ties and general tenor of the early populace of Hamilton County.
SCOVILLE PRECINCT
This precinct, in the furthermost southwest corner of the county, was named after D. A. Scoville, who, with D. W. Garrison, was one of its original settlers in 1871.
Most of the residents of this precinct herein noted claimed either Giltner, Hamilton County, Trumbull, Clay County, or Doniphan, Hall County, as their post office.
E. M. Carter came to the county in 1886; W. Z. Pollard from Iowa in 1873, settling first in Beaver Precinct. Michael Sullivan, Henry Wunderlich, Thomas McKee, J. A. Shafer, from Wisconsin, and James A. Kirk came to the county in 1878. Others who had arrived earlier during the decade of the seventies were: Mrs. Augusta Waltman, Jonathan Foster, Henry Kroutwick, Thomas Herr, Phillip H. and E. L. Case, T. D. Case from Leesburg, Indiana, J. J. Smith, Frank L. Munn in 1873 and William F. Smith, in 1872. Herman Bretenfeldt, from Minnesota in 1874. E. F. Simmons came from Canada, in 1875, and later married Hattie Washburn, daughter of G. H. Washburn. J. W. C'arriker came in 1874 from Illinois. William H. Case came in 1873. Jolin Boag arrived in 1874, while David Boag had arrived from Wiseonsin three years earlier. Abont 1880, eame William Roche, W. C. Devereaux, and John R. Gallentine, from Pennsylvania, who for a time was in the implement business in Giltner. Sidney White came from Illinois in 1881. The year 1882 brought a goodly influx into this locality, among whom were Eldoras Lane, from Illinois, Mr. and Mrs. Solomon White, Mrs. White still living in the precinct in 1897; Fred Wagner, from Minnesota, and William Headtke, while in 1883 among those who came were J. E. Schertz, Eli Harrison, John J. Kline, M. Pressler, Robert Il. Gilmore. In 1886 William Chishold came, also Emil
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
Pearson, and in 1887 C. E. Gossard and G. M. Reeder. John M. Livingston and Robert Gray were also prominent pioneers of this precinct, the latter having arrived in Nebraska in 1865. Jonathan Burbower came in 1889, and bought the H. M. Kellogg farm.
UNION PRECINCT
Among the pioneer residents of this precinet, whom the Sun compiler visited in 1897, we find the following: W. H. Lumberger came from Pennsylvania in 1879. Among those who also came during the decade of the seventies were: Earl Tuttle, from Wisconsin in 1874; James D. Snodgrass, from Pennsylvania, in 1875; J. F. Spotts came in 1875 and later moved to Orange, California; Robert Thompson, 1872; C. R. Walker, Wisconsin, 1872; George A. Field, 1873; Joseph Powell, 1875; Unele Elisha Soward, 1872; David D. Snider, from Wis- consin, in 1879; Sarah E. Bush, widow of Charles Bush, who came in 1872, from Pennsylvania; S. E. Evans, from lowa in 1873; H. G. (Gabe) Ocker came to Nebraska in 1872 and settled in Hamilton County, in 1879; M. R. Worthington, from Iowa, in 1872; J. S. Bickford, 1874; Aaron Fry, 1875; Owen McMahan, 1871; E. E. Snyder, 1878; W. H. Lee, from Iowa in 1873; George E. Jackett, in 1871; C. T. Torgeson, 1878; Thomas Howard, an old soldier, in 1822; William Townsley, as early as May, 1820; only the Waddles, Lauries, Sandy Salmon and McCann had preceded Mr. Townsley in this vicinity ; William P. White, who came from Dane County, Wisconsin, in 1871; Samnel Kensinger, from Illinois, in 1870; Thomas Townsley, from Pennsylvania, in 1872; C. L. Valentine, from Iowa, in 1878; Moses Gaw, from Indiana, in 1872; James C. Hutchinson, 1873; Daniel Danielson, 1878; Elijah Criddle, from lowa, 1874; Madison Hawkins, 1876; George N. Pieree, 1873; Henry Severson, 1872, and C. Knudsen, a Norwegian, who came in 1878.
Some of those who came in the following decade of the eighties and were still here in 1897 were Charles E. Ilagemeister; D. L. Hackett, 1887; Ernest Rarup, 1889, from Wisconsin; T. B. Cross, 1885; R. J. Barnett, 1888; Charles Thompson, 1887, from Wisconsin ; Frank Purvines, 1888; Richard Giltner, from Wisconsin, in 1881; Daniel Gallentine, 1880; Z. R. Dummick, 1883. The re- markably long list of settlers of the seventies who remained in 1897, attest that Union Precinct was settled by a bunch of "good stayers," and the small list of the eighties, though not complete for that period, indicates that the earlier residents did not vacate very fast and make room for new arrivals by early migration.
ORVILLE PRECINCT
The settlement of this precinct began as early as 1866, with Jarvis Chaffee and George Hicks' arrival, and continued in earnest in 1868, with George Proud's arrival in February, followed in December of that year by John and Alexander Salmon, James Rollo and Frank Dickson. The survey of residents in 1897 who had been in the precinct since the decade of the seventies, indieates a complete settlement during that period, corresponding to the record of its neighbor to the west, Union Precinct.
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
Other very early arrivals in this precinct were, Philip E. Housel, who came from Wisconsin, and J. W. Swearingen from Illinois in 1870. The survey in 1897 found still living in this precinct of the very earliest arrivals Alex Sal- mon, Sandy Salmon and George Proud.
Of those who had resided in the district any great length of time there were then William Boyer, who came from Iowa in 1872; O. A. Hiatt, from Iowa in 1879; John Fairbairn, 1886; W. H. Kimer, from Iowa in 1880; Wm. Mercer, from Illinois in 1879; Alfred Dresback, from Wisconsin, in 1873; John Beat, also from Wisconsin, 1879, and David Beat, in 1873. Other resi- dents of this precinct who came from Wisconsin in the years indicated were : N. H. Cline, 1872; George R. Kline, 1877; William Boag, 1873; James Cameron, 1867 and they were residing here thirty years later. Iowa was well repre- sented by W. R. McKern, who came in 1875; J. B. Cain, son of G. W. Cain, de- ceased, who had arrived in 1872; A. J. Benson, son of Wm. B. Benson, 1872; D. W. Allen, 1884; J. A. Hunter, 1880; J. W. Stokesberry, 1872; F. M. Wilson, 1884, and E. E. Bird, 1875. From Illinois had hailed J. W. Woods, Pike County, 1879; William Mercer, 1879; John Lulow, 1872; John C. Lampe, 1875; J. W. Swearingen, 1870; S. C. Wineman, 1882; John Williams, 1880; Ed Huling, 1887, and from Indiana, W. G. Ricker, 1889. Other early settlers were Chris Kroger, 1871; H. W. Hart, from Michigan and O. W. Cass, from Oswego County, New York, in 1873; W. S. Patterson, 1884, and J. K. Hartnell, also from Michigan, in 1886, and William Stephens, in 1871, from Pennsylvania.
FARMERS VALLEY PRECINCT
In 1897, there were yet several of the original pioneers of Farmers Valley Precinct still living in this southeastern corner of the county. James Waddle, who had reached the county on January 5, 1867, from Wisconsin, preceded only by Chaffee and Hicks, in Orville Precinct, was still here. John Laurie, Jr., had succeeded his father, John Laurie, Sr., who came in 1869 from Wis- consin; Mrs. Catherine Brown, widow of John Brown, a sailor, who came from Wisconsin in 1866, and one of the first in the county, was here. Mrs. W. J. Stockham was on the old Joseph Stockham place, and James Rollo, who came from Wisconsin in 1868, had been preceded by only a half dozen or so in the county when he came with his team and $500 from Wisconsin.
Early settlers of the seventies, still in the county, were, Uncle John Lupold, who came from Pennsylvania in 1871, as had Hiram A. Fever. C. C. Pelen came from Illinois in 1871. His father had built the first house in that part of the country, on the place where Dodds lived in 1897. Other early arrivals were Frances G. Smith, 1877; Jacob Harter, from Pennsylvania, in 1871; Fred II. Clark, from Vermont, in 1870, and from Russia had come George Fuhrer and Jacob Ochsner, in 1874: Henry Greiss, 1874; and from Illinois, Julius Klinkhardt, in 1884, and early in the eighties, Ole O. Strand, Michael Sleffgren, and William Splinter, in 1882. From Wisconsin came Willis Van Meter, in 1879; John Reed, in 1877, and David Ely, in 1881. S. E. Moore, in 1881, from Iowa, and Alonzo Lewis, from Michigan, in 1872. James Beat came also from Wisconsin in 1876. and Tom Klumb, who came in 1873,
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
taught the first school in District Number One, and was County Clerk in 1878-9, and James W. Hunnell, ex-County Commissioner, was an early arrival in this precinct.
BEAVER PRECINCT
P. C. Culver came from Iowa in 1871; Paul Holm came from Denmark in 1882; August Stettner came from Sutton in 1882; James H. Anderson came from Wisconsin in 1872; Charles Regalean came from Wisconsin in 1871; John Collett came from Wisconsin in 1872; Fred Smith came from Illinois in 1873; Wm. Steele came from Iowa in 1873; David Huebert came in 1879; George F. Prosser came from New York in 1886; John Taylor came from Iowa in 1872; O. F. Arnold came from Pennsylvania in 1885; R. W. Powers came from Illi- nois in 1887; Frederick Castle came from Iowa in 1877; Stephen Pollard came from Iowa in 1870.
AURORA PRECINCT
Carl F. Huenefeld came here from Wisconsin in 1878; Ed. Preston came from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1872; Robert Graham came from Missouri some- what later; L. B. Worthington came from Iowa in 1876; Wm. Catlett came in 1891; Charles D. Maranville came from Illinois in 1879; Andrew Oesch came from Illinois in 1888; M. M. Hagerty came from Warren, Illinois, in 1872, homesteaded a soldier claim; John II. Long came in 1871; W. H. Cox came in 1893 and bought out Ed Murry; B. O. Burgeson came from Illinois in 1870, bought and broke out railroad land; Alice Mather came from Illinois in 1888; Wm. Glover and S. N. Powers farmed very early in this township; George Broadbent came from Illinois in 1884; George P. Craft came from Iowa in 1884; Henry Newman and J. C. Oliver came from Kansas in 1879; E. R. Barton was an old-timer here; A. S. Nicholas, a carpenter, who owned a farm west of town; J. P. Bute had one of the best farms in the county; F. E. Valen- tine, old settler here, bought the D. R. Heist place; D. L. Toff came from Illinois in 1880; George C. Bute came from Pennsylvania in 1890; W. T. Ronan came from Illinois in 1887; James Aleck Wilson came in 1890; Wm. Jeffries came from Illinois in 1885; Wm. Schrock, on the old Whittlesey place, came from Fill- more County, Nebraska, in 1894; J. E. Hutsell came from Iowa in 1878; M. Hanawald came from Michigan in 1882, bought places of Widow Spafford and James Moore; G. W. Curry was on the Online farm; J. E. McBride came from Iowa in 1870; M. H. Severy came from Illinois in 1885; W. W. McCoy came in 1893; C. M. Sears came from Kendall County, Illinois, in 1883, and bought out N. P. Spafford, Wm. Hull and John Riley; W. H. De Water came in 1883 from Van Buren County, Michigan; D. M. Hitta from Iowa in 1882, and E. J. Eggert from Princeton, Illinois, in 1879. In 1883 Albert Detamore from Illinois and August Scheveck came from Ohio; J. L. Grisel from Iowa, came the year before ; M. T. Kerr, on the Joseph Kerr place, came also in 1882 from Pike County. Illinois, and Luther Bristol from Silver Creek, Michigan, in 1881, and bought out Russell Bristol. L. M. Wright came from Indiana in 1884 and bought out W. E. Brainard; Robert McConnell came to Aurora from Illinois in 1875. F. M.
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
Iloward from Illinois bought out the L. G. Strickler place, coming here in 1889. Gilbert Johnson came in 1886 from Wisconsin. Henry Warner came in 1889, and in 1890 bought the Bergeson place. E. S. and O. C. Phelps came from Illinois in 1879.
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP
Frank Wanek came from Wisconsin in 1873; P. M. MeCarthy came from Iowa in 1878; C. E. Genoways came here in 1885 from Saunders County ; E. E. Mighell came from Maryville, Missouri, in 1883; Henry A. Morris came from Iowa in 1885; Jacob Donner came here from Illinois in 1882; Agnes Ilagey and Abraham Hagey came from Illinois in 1870; Joseph Mourer came from Illinois in 1881; Wm. Halane eame from Illinois; J. B. Mourer came from Illinois in 1883; Ilenry Gimbel came from Illinois in 1889; W. E. Starbuck came from Illinois in 1884; Dan C. Huffman eame here from Pennsylvania in 1875; M. T. Huff- man and T. W. Huffman came from Pennsyvania; Christian Otto came from Illinois in 1890; Thomas Talish came from Wisconsin in 1897 ; Charles Gray came from California; M. Wagner came from Illinois in 1882; G. W. Smith came from, Pasadena, California; John Garber came from Wisconsin in 1882; John Wanek and Charles Wanek settled near Giltner; W. F. Bobst came here in 1885; Milton Williams came from Peoria, Illinois, in 1872; Charles M. Juett came from Iowa in 1874; Charles Shanahan came from Benson Mines, New York, in 1891; John D. Potter came from Pike County, Illinois, in 1882; Andrew Saltzman estate place was being farmed by Joseph Saltzman; G. W. Norman came from Keane, Ohio; Joseph Omel came from Illinois in 1889; Ed. Williams came from Page County, Iowa, in 1882; W. P. Gardner came from Illinois in 1872, and took a soldier's claim; Daniel Krabiel came from Illinois in 1883; W. E. Cutts came from Wisconsin in 1876; George and Ed Cutts came from Wisconsin in 1877; Elizabeth Wright came from Wisconsin in 1873; U. V. Menzie came from Mis- souri in 1887; Jacob Barrick came from Illinois in 1873; W. II. Wright came from Wisconsin in 1872; the Mart Wheeler place was rented to Wm. Talbot and James Wright's place to Thomas Wright; James Garber came from Wis- consin in 1878; Silas Gray came from California; W. S. Mattern came from Fillmore County in 1885; Wm. Graham came from Wisconsin in 1877; Peggy Briggs came from Wisconsin in 1878; Owen Wright came from Wisconsin in 1872; Herman Mersch came from Germany in 1884; Peter Farney came from Illinois in 1888; Michael Murry came from Illinois in 1872. Ile died in 1895 and the heirs rented the place. Its improvements suffered in the 1890 Bradshaw cyclone.
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